Early on a Thursday

I think I am beginning to enjoy being up and moving by 5:30 or 5:45.  It gives my brain a chance to wake up before dealing with the demands of getting everyone ready, fed, combed, brushed, and out the door on time.  For the most part it makes the morning feel more smooth.

The downside (if it really is a downside) is that I am actually exhausted by 10 pm.  That has never happened to me.  I have always been a total night owl.  I guess my inner clock can be adjusted.  My fear is that this will all be good until the time change in the spring and then it will be back to the sleep till 6:30 or 6:45 and rush, rush, rush to get out the door on time. 

Either way, I'll enjoy it for now.

Tonight is one of our easy nights - no extras for the kids, just 2 piano lessons for me.  New recipe night.  Spicy curry chicken in coconut basil sauce.  Sounds exotic.  And tasty.  I hope it is.  We had all the ingredients (including coconut milk - how random is that?! - found it when I cleaned the cupboards the other day, and it isn't even expired!!!), so it is proving to be an economical dish.  If we hate the sauce, I think I will try it another day with just the spice mix that you toss the chicken with.  We'll see.

Survived my observation yesterday.  I don't know why I get all worked up about it, because really, it's not like our principal is mean.  In fact, she was laughing right alongside the kids yesterday.

And the kids were fabulous.  Until she left.  Then it was like they had used all their good up.  The afternoon was quite insane.

Luke and I got our seasonal flu shots yesterday.  Need to get the kids in to get theirs.  My arm hurts.

Anyway.  Have a super Thursday.

Still just thinking

1. New boundary options for the district are posted on the website.  http://www.ccsdut.org/. Option 1 will keep us with virtually the same boundaries.  I so hope that happens.  I think a lot of phone calls need to be made and e-mails sent.  This really is the best option with the least amount of impact.

2. Money.  yep.  Still.  So grateful for the talents I have that help close the gaps in our income vs. our outcome.  Piano lesson money and card making money and photography money have truly been an answer to our prayers this past year.  Still needing to be more responsible and accountable though.

3. Cleaning.  Organizing.  Our home is a disaster.  Clutter in every room.  Piles.  In every room.  On every surface.  We're working on it a little at a time.  The desk has remained cleared off for nearly 2 weeks.  The kitchen table for nearly a week.  The kitchen counter (which was a cleaning surprise from Luke!) for the past few days.  And last night we went through 3 of the kitchen cupboards.  Combined the open bottles/jars/containers of like spices.  Threw out the expired stuff.  Put the stuff we don't like that wasn't open or expired into a box for the food pantry.  Used some plastic bins to keep things in their places.  It looks awesome.

4. Cooking.  Dinner every night.  That's my goal.  Eating out is so convenient.  But so expensive.  And we feel so uuuggghhh when we're done.  Last night was sweet and sour chicken.  45 minutes start to finish.  And that was only because Kenton was at scouts so I let it cook longer.  Really a 30 minute meal time hit.  Everyone loved it.  And then after the kids went to bed and Luke and I had cleaned the cupboards, I mixed all the dry ingredients in a bowl to make muffins this morning.  All that's left is to add the eggs, bananas, and applesauce.  Quick and easy.  Dinner tonight is turkey steak with saucy rice and broccoli.  I love having a plan.

5.  Observations.  Today is my big one at school.  I should probably get going this morning so I can be there a little early to get everything ready.  I have been asked to move part of my schedule around so that she can see the new math timing program in action.  Not a big deal, just a little bit.

6.  Christmas.  How much is too much?  How little is too little?  Will I ever get these projects finished in time?

7. Photography.  Having wwwaaayyy too much fun playing in photoshop lately. . .  :)

Before

After:

Happy Wednesday!

Thoughts from my brain. . .

1. I committed to do a MaryKay facial party on Thursday.  I need four friends to come with me.  It's Tuesday and I have yet to find the friends to come.  Anyone want to be my friend?

2. Math.  Long day yesterday.  Gearing up for another district first grade meeting on Friday.  Behind in my own classroom.

3. Money.  My not so free adventures on Saturday left us scraping the bottom of the barrel financially.  We're not destitute.  Not even close.  We have money in savings.  But I really really hated transferring some of that to checking this morning.  Really hated it.  Why can't I just be responsible?

4. School.  Big observation tomorrow.  45 minutes.  And I was gone all day yesterday.

5. Food storage.  Ours is okay.  Not great.  Not by a long stretch.  Thinking how we can get it built up.  Thinking of using part of our Christmas gift budget to stock up on some things this week that are on sale (canned/frozen veggies, canned pumpkin, cream of chicken soup).  I think that it is more comforting to know that if something happens, we have food to eat rather than a new toy to play with.  Been doing a weekly piece on food storage for the ward bulletin.  Thinking of adding that thought to this week's bulletin.

6. Dreams.  From H1N1 vaccinations (where I was teaching my first graders, left them in charge of someone (not sure who), and went to go through with McKayslin to get her vaccination - suddenly my Mom showed up, so we had her get a shot too - and then I decided to get mine - and we three had a lovely little party at the refreshment table - I never did go back to check on my class. . .) to new houses and food storage (where we lived was actually a combination of our apartment we had when we were first married, our house now, and a house that I have never seen before - after Mom, Goose, and I went home after our vaccination adventure, we walked in to find that someone had broken into our food storage and taken ONLY the canned soups and chili - so weird).

7. People that have died this past year.  I had the best dream the other night about my Uncle that died this summer.  It was hilarious and I actually woke myself up because I was laughing out loud.  I miss him.  A lot.  And so does the rest of my family.  Christmas was his favorite time of year.  As we enter this season, I find myself thinking of him more often.  After our first snowfall this week, I fully expected to hear our neighbor Mel fire up his snowblower and be out clearing off the sidewalks.  My heart has been a little sad this week missing these two great men.

8. Time.  I am becoming a professional time waster.  I can look like I am busy.  I'm not.  And my Christmas list isn't getting finished.  Or even getting anything crossed off it.  I need to be accountable for the time I am given.  I think wasting time and money are my two greatest weaknesses.

Speaking of time. . .I'd better get moving.
Happy super cold Tuesday.
And remember, if you want to be my MaryKay facial friend, let me know. 

Early, early Monday morning

So Luke set the alarm clock after the power outage the other day.  And he set it ahead.  Way ahead.  Like 45 minutes ahead. 

So this morning, my alarm goes off, I hit snooze.  Twice.

And then I jump out of bed freaking out because I will now be running late.
I go to the bathroom.
Turn on the computer.
Put on my comfy clothes.
Come back to the computer.
And realize it is not 6:15.
It is 5:30.
In the am.
Seriously?

Oh well. 
At least I am awake and able to get done the things that need to get done this morning.
Namely those sub plans that need to be finished up.
And kids and self ready for the day and out the door by 7:30.
Providing I actually get off the computer. . .

The snow plow just went by.
Uuuggghhh.
So not ready for this.

Ahhhhh. . .

Lesson over.
Photo session over.
Some photos edited.
(See the photo blog for photos).
Going to bed early.

This week is going to be something close to crazy.

Night.

Wasting ________________ (fill in the blank)

So, yesterday was a free day.

Free to do whatever we wanted all day.
Free to stay home and enjoy the warmth and comfort at home.
To bake.
To craft.
To edit photos.
To work on my RS lesson.

FREE.

And what did we do instead?
Played on the computer.
Went to town.
Twice.
Spent lots of money that we should not have spent.
Ate out.
Twice.
Did minimal prep on the lesson.
Baked nothing.
Crafted nothing.

Wasted time.
Wasted money.
Wasted the gift of a free day.

I am so mad at myself right now.
Maybe next week will be better.

Hurt.

They are realigning the boundries in our district to accomodate the needs of a new school.

We will lose many of our children and gain many more.

The families that are leaving are good, good families. 
The families that are staying are good, good families.
The families that would be coming are good, good families.

Except they don't want to come to Lincoln.
And they are making that known very loudly.
Very clearly.
In every public forum possible.

They are my neighbors. 
My friends.
Real life and facebook friends.
Who are discussing this in both venues.

And their attitude about the school I love is breaking my heart.
I am hurt.
I am sad.

What is so wrong with Lincoln?!

Feeling Old, movie coupon, and an interesting spud

I was working on a card kit order last night.  It needed to be finished by Friday, but I was super close to getting done, so I just kept working.  Until 11.  And then I e-mailed my mom, got ready for bed, and went to bed around 11:30.  When my alarm went off at 5:30, I could barely move to hit the snooze button. 

I hit the snooze button every 7 minutes until 6:12 when I finally decided that getting up was the only option for today.  So I'm up.  Not really awake.  Feeling very lethargic.

And realizing, yet again, that my body cannot take late nights and early mornings.  I simply must have my sleep.  I am extremely grateful that tonight is an easy night at our house.  The Goose has a birthday party to attend.  That is all that is on our calendar.

Dinner is new recipe night.  Luke picked some random chicken thing called poppy seed chicken that you mix up like a casserole and then serve over noodles.  It sounds like it might be good.  We'll see.  Never know till you try it, right?

Because our calendar is virtually empty tonight, we will watch Up! together as a family while we enjoy dinner and then some ice cream.  Or maybe make some cookies.  Who knows.  Nowhere to go.  Nothing pressing to do.  Just a good night for hanging out together.

Speaking of Up!  If you haven't purchased it and are planning to, go to this website and print yourself a $10 off coupon.  Our Wal-Mart has the movie for $15.97.  Luke picked it up last night for $5.97 plus tax using the coupon.  It says that it is for the blue-ray combo pack, but he used it on the regular dvd with no problems.  You can't beat a new release movie for $6!  Plus, you can print the coupon twice from a computer, so you could pick one up for a friend.  And perhaps pick them up a yummy pizza and some treats and drop it off at their house for a little surprise.  That would be so fun!  Wish I would have thought of that last night!!!  COUPON EXPIRES ON SATURDAY!!!

Okay - one more thing to share and I need to get running this morning.  When we were in Idaho for Halloween, one of Mom's friends said we could get some potatoes out of the cellar to bring home.  Yum.  Real, delicious, fresh Idaho russets.  My favorite!  If you've never seen potatoes other than in the store, trust me when I say that they don't always come as perfect ovals. . .

Have a great and exciting day!