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TechieWifeRamblings of a Modern Day Mom
May 11 Hello WorldI recently sent out the following email to my pals because many had asked me about fun sites for kids on their computers. I am still VERY new at this (I know I know how is that possible with a blog and Lord know what else - but it is easy to get lost in the sea that is web searching!) so it put this together for my pals - maybe you will find it useful on how to gather sites for Pre-K and Kindergarten kids resource materials....happy printing! Hey all~ Brain teasers - for ALL ages 5 and up - try this site http://www.funbrain.com/ you will want to help the 7 and "under's" navigate at first but then let 'er rip - everything here from reading to math. I will get more going but that is a start. If you know any good ones, let this begin our resource database! I am sorry it took me so long to get this out - some of you have asked me about this forever. Please let me know about the resource boot camp - I would be very happy to host it but we want to get on that soon so you have time to get the resources together by Summer. Remember to schedule specific times for educational activities and do them at that time every day that you do them so it is predictable....this helps them feel ready for what lies ahead in their detailed classrooms. If you want to start your day with a brain teaser after breakfast for instance, just switch it up every day, but plan on it every day so that the schedule is what they can count on. This will help them feel secure AND it will help them absorb what you are teaching. Talk soon! Julianne Livin' Up To The HypeThe hype for the Iron Man movie has been insane. Ven by Washington standards this movie is a HIT. When we moved here 7 years ago, Star Wars something was opening. We bought our tickets several days in advance and then got to the theater several hours in advance to get in line. Th line never existed - we the realized our LA days where people had literally been camping ou at theatres were over. We were even able to exchange our tickets for an earlier time rather than loiter outside like a couple of jerks. That memory sorta sticks.....
SO this weekend we went to dinner with friends and were set to go to a 9pm showing of Iron Man at a local mall with newer theatres in thestadium style seating. It was SOLD OUT. This is honestly the first time since I have lived here that I have seen that. We were lucky enough to have appealed to the manager who had informed us at 5:30 pm not to worry about tickets that he would get us into the 9:30 show and Happy Mother's Day. Sweet. Unfortunately Laura wold have to leave a tad early to get home to her sitter because she had to leave Laura's house AT 11:00 pm. No negotiating. That was a bummer - but not really.
Robert Downey, Jr. as alays was fun. His off the cuff obviously improvised dialogue was witty and comfortable. He had a LOT of screen time and the gadgets were nifty and the music was cool. The plot though, LORD above - I mean I know you are supposed to eat your popcorn or milk duds and be entertained but it was the worst kind of implausible - they wanted you to believe it so they showed you some science - it would be one thing to say "Yea, this is fantasy, geton the bus" but they were trying to play it a little too straight. Which left you sitting there often times reminding yourself to chill and say "It is not to be questioned - enjoy". But even with the flash and the hype and the cool cast (Gwenneth was pretty good too - not too anything - good for her - I usually do not like her much but gotta say she was perfect for her role) it just was not as tottaly rippin' awesome as I was expecting. What is I guess.
Will I see # 2 - yes. SO I guess that is the key - but go with a healthy grain of salt. When we got home we saw this on you tube and I laughed myself to sleep - it was SO funny....no spoilers really so safe to watch if you have not seen the movie yet, though not for the kiddies.
Speaking of which - even at the 9:30 pm showing of themovie there were several little kids ages 3 and up. First of all, what 3 year old stays up that late? Second of all, with theWar, the blood, the total destruction and oh yes the extreeme torture scenes (at one point my good friend had to ask me when it was over - it got pretty graphic) I cant imagine it was appropriate really for a kid under say 10 or so. As a teacher, I used to HATE It when my 3rd graders would come in Mnday after having seen whatever new horror or action flick with an R rating was just released - these were savvy kids but it still rocked their little worlds and made playground and classroom time hard. Just realize it is OK to do some stuff without the kiddies.
That said - who can afford to? Last night cost $130 before gas. Between dinner, the movie, the sitter - $130. Boom - gone. Movies better step it up and start livin' up to the hype Red Box is looking better and better! May 10 Bikes, Man!
Anyway - these be the kids. I can tell this will be an active Summer for us! Last summer Rileyanne just could not do it - that is here on the bike that the lovely Provost family gave to us before they returned to Colorado (miss you guys!) and today it is like she was born on it. No diapers, no pacifier, riding bikes - sob - where did my babies go?!?!?!? But when you look at those happy little faces EVERYTHING is good. Happy early Mothers day - I am headed back to the mine shaft that is my bedroom - if you dont hear from me in a few hours something heavy has fallen on me, please send a rescue team in immediately! Movie Reviews Are Not EverythingOr so I hope! My son, admitedly, is only 5 years old. He is SO looking forward to Speed Racer, much like his Daddy is looking forward to Iron Man. Living withboys is fun! :) Still, I let him watch the first 8 minutes that they have on the net to drum up interest and cant imagine why peopl are crapping the movie o badly. I mean sure, you get it, it is not a dramatic piece or an Oscar piece, it is an entertainment piece and it seems to deliver - eye candy? Check. Loud rev'd up music? check, check! STars? Check! I guess the panning haters are attacking its lack of plot....are you kidding me? It is a movie, based on a cartoon, about a car racer - what plot? You get cars, your get racing, you get stunts and beautiful CGI effects - whats the problem? I dont get it. They say you will only like the movie if you are a 6 year old boy - well I have one of those and he wants to see this so badly He cant see....so I guess you know what I am doing this week. Better hurry before they pull it from bad reviews. I tell you, it looks fantastic visually. Just go and leave your inner critic at home - have some soda with your kid and sit back....well I guess I better make sure on that kid friendly site that it is OK to take Patrick but I would be surprised if I cant.
On Iron Man - we go tonight and I am actually pretty excited. It has been a long time since seeing Mr. Downing, Jr. on the screen and he rarely disappoints. yum. Plus my husband will be happy - bonus!
So this entry really is not about what I have seen I am just excited about my prospects. SPeaking of prospects - Caspian is coming, y'all! I CANT WAIT! The book series was my favorite and the first movie was fun. It was milk dud eatin, popcorn swallowing mind blowing spoon fed entertainment fun - sometimes you need that.
Looking at these I realized sometimes I never grew up - I guess that is ok. It is what it is anyway. :) Get some popcorn and ride the bus to the movies - the gas will cost you more than your ticket! May 07 TIRED!Dude - I am freaking exhausted! I could go to bed this minute but I MUST stay awake and help put the kids to bed it is only fair. But I tell you I could crash hard right this minute! URGH!
I went to my surgical pre-operative appointment at Northwest Weightloss Surgery today. We met the Dr and had all our questions answered - which was nice. We set up the surgery date but I am not ready to talk about that just yet. Probably just too tired. I was SO excited about today I could not sleep and stayed up too late - but we got up at 6 am after only 7 hours of sleep and now after running all day I am just plain wiped out!
Poor kids. EVERYTHING the do and say is getting to me because I am tired. Too loud, too whiny, too whatever. Just too much. They cant help it, little guys, but Mommy just needs a LONG nap.
SO I will go to sleep - the narcoleptic Mommy will return tomorrow bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to dish the deal on the weight loss surgery. One thing we DID decide on was having it as an out patient proceedure at the center rather than going to teh hospital for the night. Too many germies in hospitals - if you can avoid it I suggest trying. I am not a germ-a-phobe but I have a healthy fear of the little bastards. Seriously - Mersa is no joke people. That is not even the worst culprit in a hospital lurking about. Some things you cannot avoid, others, you can and should. SO I will do this at the center and go home THAT DAY. WHOO HOO.
G'Night May 06 Summer Camp Pierson ScheduleHello Campers! In order to reach all my campers I am posting the much anticipated Camp Pierson Summer Schedule!! So, here goes - expect LOTS Of pictures as the summer progresses!
**SATURDAY*** 08-23-08 OVERNIGHT CAMP at Camp Pierson - arrive at 4:00 pm for fun/games/tent set up. We will have some games set up for the kids while the Mom's and Dad's set up tents. Then we will run some relays - complete with PRIZES! and more Camp Crafts on the front deck. If you have a guitar, please bring it for the camp fire! Campers will be contacted with items needed for campfire skits that they will perform for their parents as the time draws near. Please bring items that are detailed in the Camp Invitations that will be mailed to you. Dont forget your food sharing items for Dinner or breakfast! Interested parties must RSVP Space is limited - babies welcome - if you need it I will set up cribs in rooms in teh house for nursing Moms who want to camp with older children - one parent much stay outside with camper child while Mom gets the "SPA" treatment inside the house.
Monday 08-25-08 Camp Pierson FINAL DAY - Back-to-School Party! At Pierson House. Please come at 10:30 am - 2:00 pm. Please bring supplies to give to a friend - One box of school supplies (one clear tool box filled with one box of crayola washable crayons, one box of crayola washable markers, one box of #2 sharpened pencils, one child scissors and one pink eraser) we will have games, resource tables, reading centers, math centers and a "Class Picture". We will also practice "Walking to school" and walk to Louisa May Alcott, Elementary - remembering the "rules of the road" (Look both ways, dont talk to strangers, stay with your Mom or safe side adult) for some play time. Please pack a lunch but know that there will be a special "treat" provided by Camp Pierson. Please wear clothes comfortable to do crafts in, CLOSED TOED shoes (no sandals) for the walk, sunblock and hats. This is a stroller friendly activity, babies are welcome - but obviously attention is being paid to the children about to go to Kindergarten. Happy School Year '08/09! May 05 Lap Band UpdateSO....I am seriously thinking about starting a blog and titling it "A Year In The Life" and chronicalling my surgical dates and progress from the Lap Band. Today I met with the Nurse who evaluated me prior to surgery. Other than needing a few normal tests and one not so normal test before we start I am good to go. The normal tests, pregnancy tests and a urinalysis should be done the week before surgery and make sense. Because my family has a serious history with colon cancer I am needing to schedule a coloscopy too so that makes sense too - though it is hardly looked forward to if you catch my drift! :) Then the not-so-normal test is a TB test. Because of the places I have worked, every now and then Dr's offices get prickly and want this done. I have had a questionable positive followed by a negative in the past but continued to work in at risk areas - shelters, group homes, rehabilitation centers and schools where the population was mostly migrant workers' children. So it makes sense but it is never fun. The test itself is pretty benign, just a skin test, but I hate the stigma. Whatever; you do what you gotta do. Suck it up, Julie - ok I get it I just dont like it. Then, after the RN I saw the psychologist. This was a little nerve wracking. First of all, she says, "I would like to talk to you about depression" and I replied, "Good, because I was not depressed till I took your survey!" Yikes - not the best foot to start out with, I recognize, but seriously; I was FINE till I did these questionares! Then I realized I wanted someone to hold me and feed me chocolate. Uh oh. Denial, party of one. Actually, depression is nothing to joke about and it has a real place in my lineage. If depression did not get you, the alcohol you used to self medicate usually did. Gotta love us good 'ol Irish Catholics! But seriously, we had a good LONG talk. It seems that many people with my background and similar history are heavy. It appears that many of us put the weight on much like a wall used to protect ourselves. Well, when the Lap Band goes on, and the weight comes off, that is a HUGE comfort zone going away. You would think everyone would be happy as clams loosing weight - but think about it really - if you have had this wall up, as I have, for almost 15 years, that is a huge adjustment. If I really loose the projected 100+ pounds I am sure I can, my husband has never ever known me in that way before. He has never seen me much smaller than I am now. I am glad he loves me as I am - but the adjustment from this me to the me I will be will be huge for all of us. Another thing to consider is overall chemistry - things will change as I deny myself my old habitual crutches and dont I know it! No more bread or rice or pasta will be GREAT for the PCOS! I should not be eating them anyway, but have proven rather powerless over my ravenous desire for the carb heavy wonderlust that is french kissing a gormet warm Sour Dough. Ah...memories. That and soda. No Carbonation drinks of any kind, and Lord help me I LOVE a good beer. Not a crappy beer - but a good one. This a no joke either. Bread is one thing, you eat that crap and you throw up - got it. There is a reason I am not nor have I ever had the serious problem of bulemia. I am sure you can guess that one - I "aint got time for" sick. No thanks. But with Carbonation there could be serious consequences. Carbonated drinks can cause your new pouch to expand. Since nothing was cut or permanently holding it in place, this can make the band slip and sometimes the only way to correct that is with MORE SURGERY! Hello - there is no draft beer or champagne or diet coke on the planet worth that mess. Gone, bye bye, see ya. But there goes another "friend". So no "wall", no bread, no beer/soda, no chocolate (alas little friend - you too must go away. You have been a good friend through it all - but you must make new friends on the playground of life and leave my obese butt alone. I mean it, run away and dont look back!) what will I do? I am not sure yet. I do know that going to the groups will be key. So critical in fact I will be placing them on my calendar immediately. No joke. Then, I guess I will have to get cozy with my new friend, water and its sister friend exercise. It is about time, though, really. They have been flirting with me for some time, now I must seek them out, woo them into my bed and life and take them forever as my new loves. They are not as flashy as the little chocolate numbers, but then, you date the flashy ones and you marry/commit to the ones that make you a better person. Kinda like real life, you know? Though, Harry was a charmer - flashy, fiery and real enough to make me a better person so I hit a home run there, but you get the drift. I suppose if you gotta settle somewhere, having to settle on water and exercise is a hell of a lot better than making the mistake of settling on a real life partner - but I digress. SO I passed the Psych eval with one caviat - she wanted me to make very clear to my family and friends to watch my mood. Carefully. I have slipped before with the Metformin & Topamax (apparently both have some mood affect ability - who knew) but with this, the surgery, I could easily slip into a post-partum like depression and it is imperitive that I am honest about it and seek help fast. SO there you have it. Here is for honesty. I have talked to my Mom and my husband about it. I have explained to my kids that soon we will have no more sugars, mommy will not be cooking with rice and pasta for a while and we all need to help each other in the Team Pierson house. I am not just doing this for me, I am doing this for my kids. We ALL need an adjustment in how we look and think about food. Not just what we eat but how we eat it. We also talked tonight about not drinking while we eat. Apparently that pushes food through faster and you do not get the "full" feeling long enough to register - so you eat more, more calories, etc. It is vicious. SO the recommendation is to stop drinking 1/2 an hour before you eat and wait about 1-2 hours after you eat to drink again. How about that for change?!?!? SO Wednesday I see the Dr who I hope will do the surgery. I cannot proceed till we get the go ahead from the Insurance because the surgery costs about $8700 on its own which is a lot to us right now. Not that I am not worth it - but the insurance should cover it so I want to KNOW that they will before we do anything, I mean that makes sense. They asked me to sign a form today that said I would pay for it myself, and then get re-imbursed if the insurance paid them. Uh huh, nope not today Josephine. If the Isurance approves it, great, if not we wait til they do. I am not in THAT much of a rush. Who does a life long commitment change on an impulse? (OK quicky Vegas and Carribean marriages aside?)
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