Gifting

Since I don't have control over much in my life, I love to take charge of the things I can control. Like holiday shopping. I am halfway through my list with either items I know I will purchase or ones I already have. I even have a few of the hard ones out of the way. I do have a dilema with my neices and nephew. Their ages are 5, 3, and 1. They don't have as much family around like my kids do, but I do know they are not hurting in the toy department. I might be projected my own feelings onto those of my bro-in-law and sis-in-law, but I know that it makes me sick to think of all the money wasted on toys my kids will never use.

So, should I buy one big gift for all the kids, something that they will use? Hard to know what that range of age could all use though. Or should I buy them all savings bonds? Not exciting for them to open, but quite useful (although not nearly as much with the dollar as weak as it is now). I know I should discuss with the parents, but we still have not caught up with them to drop off the 3 year olds birthday present from four weeks ago.

It's a ......

Boy! Not that I was surprised- I was fairly confident since I was first pregnant. Actually, I knew I'd have a boy then a girl than a boy. Everything looks good, growth right on track.

The weekend was nice. The boy played with friends on the street most of the day Saturday and Sunday. Saturday morning, Mom and I drove halfway across town to spend 10 minutes at a place that sells stone to pick out the slate for the hearth then scrambled around looking for birthday presents. Saturday afternoon, hubby took the boy to a birthday party (hence the scrambling for the presents) and the girl and I checked out the ArBOOretum. Sunday, I sorted through the piles of mail and got caught up on our books for both businesses. We ate dinner at the in-laws last evening. It's nice when hubby's home for the weekend.

I'll try to take some pictures of the house and post soon. It really looks like a house now. Electric fixtures should all be installed today. The stairs are halfway stained. Kitchen cabinet doors painted and installed this week, along with all the hardware. Counter tops go in Thursday or Friday. HVAC wrapped up the end of this week. Electricity run by the middle of this week, gas is going in today. Water turned on today, so the plumber can install fixtures and toilets. Hopefully, the trim work will also be complete so the touch up painted can be finished by the end of this week, beginning of next. That just leaves flooring and the final cleaning, I think. It will still probably be a month more, though. Just trying not to get my hopes up.

Unrealistic expectations

I would like to say that every day that passes we are one day closer to move in, but it does not appear to be the case. More like every 3 or 4 days that pass.....

I am afraid I have set up completely unrealistic expectations for when we finally are in the house and settled. We did spend nearly a year designing the house- not for the way we want to live, but for the way we actually do live and tried to anticipate the changes for when the children grow older. I seem to think our life will be simple and perfect when we move in- it will all be organized and clean. As much as I would love to live that way, it hasn't been that way since we had children.

I have always wanted a vegetable garden. Me, the one who has killed ivy in the past. And the landscape architect has incorporated my wishes. The space in the backyard, behind the garage, is dedicated for my garden. I want the children to love vegetables as much as I do and what better way than to nurture and grow vegetables themselves? Yet the lemon tree I owned for 5 years is still nothing more than a few sparse twigs.

Living the way I want to live- peaceful, organized, will require change in every one's behavior. Am I being unrealistic?

Two days!!!!!

Arghhhhh!!! The painters finished up this weekend. The house should be crawling with people. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters- oh my! But NOT ONE person has been at the house working Monday or Tuesday. I am so angry right now I'm afraid my head might pop off. And the builder has not returned calls from last evening or today.

I hate to say it, but the next innocent person to irritate me is likely to regret it.

Just when you think all hope is lost...

Something amazing happens. Just to give a little background information, the boy not only struggles in school, but also in baseball. Coach started him off as catcher but soon sent him to outfield due to his lack of attention. During practices, he is regularly sent to the bench for goofing around, disrupting others, not listening. His father and I stand out by his position at left field so we can yell at him to stop playing with his hat, taking off his glove, talking to his friends on the other team....

That is why batting practice took all of us by surprise Friday evening. He stepped into the cage and was determined and focused. Coach couldn't find any flaws in his technique and was amazed after he hit time and time again. He told me after practice he'd seen kids turn around, but never that soon in the season. He was truly amazed. Saturday morning was the game and the boy again brought that focus and determination. He even brought in the winning run.

After the game, the coaches give their take on how it went overall and the head coach gives out the game ball. As soon as he started talking about the turn around in attitude and amazing batting practice, I knew it was the boy. The boy knew as well because he turned around to look at me and gave me a knowing nod. I cried I was so proud. I retold the story to his father later that afternoon as he was working and missed the game. He cried as well.

It is wonderful to see him reaching his potential and being recognized for it.

It was the best of days....and the worst of days

Yesterday started off great. Even though I had to wake up an hour earlier than usual, all was right with the world as I was heading across town to play in a golf tournament on one of the most perfect days since last spring. We didn't win, be we did have a great time and I actually had some good hits despite the fact that is has been 4 months since I've touched a golf club.

Yesterday afternoon was parent/teacher conferences. Now I knew it was not going to be pretty for several reasons. First, it involves my son. Second, his teacher has the reputation of being the meanest teacher the school. Third, I have been getting notes home with the same theme- he doesn't listen! Not cooperating! And lately, they are written in all caps, underlined with many exclamations marks following.

Of course hubby has perfect timing and is out of town for this event. Right when I walked into the classroom, she jumps on me because the boy did not put his things back in his desk at the end of the day. Yes, the only one in the room who did not. It went downhill from there. She thinks he does not receive any structure or discipline at home and that he is disrespectful. I can see how she would get that impression, but I do not think she knows who she is dealing with. I've been known to scare friends when I throw the kids 'the look'. And I never, ever cave and we have been structured and disciplined with him since he was a young toddler and already becoming quite the handful. The 30 minute supposed to be only 10 minute discussion ended with her saying that he will not win. And some alluding to corporal punishment on our part and locking him up in a sparse, nothing but a bed and a book bedroom. It was times like these that make me really regret I can't down a fifth of whiskey. Or even a shot.

We're considering seeing a professional to help us deal with him. It is possible that we are doing something terribly, terribly wrong. Or at least they can help us deal with the anger building up because of his behaviour.

New Braunfels

This weekend was the much anticipated annual extended family trip to New Braunfels. It was also our 11th wedding anniversary. Hubby and I took advantage of all the family and spent Friday evening over a quiet dinner in Gruene. The weather was perfect- warm enough to jump in the fresh, cool spring waters of the Comal and cool enough to not have to stay in the water. It all passed much too quickly and it is back to the reality of our crazily busy daily lives.