The White House

The White House

Friday, February 11, 2011

A Very Full Day

It's 10:39PM and -13* below at my house.  I'm exhausted and it's been a great day raising these crazy kids.  Maybe not all kids are a full-time job, but mine are. I'm okay with that.  Made my daily trip to the high school and then got a few phone calls back.  After so many years of special ed services this kid can't do it on his own.  It does take a good portion of my time for the daily trips to the school to talk to each teacher, but he's worth it.  He's not a kid you can tell to go do his homework, you have to do it with him. When there is research to be done, I spend a few hours finding the information, decipher it into something he can understand and then teach it to him.  The older he gets the harder it is for him, but I'm right here every step of the way.  His grades have gone way up (although online it doesn't show yet) and we are finding a groove that works.  For that I am thankful. Last week I spent that eight hours downloading editing programs, getting the movie clips out that he picked and helping him create a power point.  It was a project that took about ten hours of my time and another three hours of our time.  I am so thankful for my husband who works so hard so that I can give my son what he needs. He definitely needs a full-time parent. Oh, and  he got an A on the presentation!! :) Tomorrow I have to read "River Danger" so I can help him with his book outline. Oh, and there is math.  And Nick's has economics. And Em has some work to finish up.  I think we have more schooling going on at home than happens at school!!

So why else am I exhausted?  Well, we've been putting in as much time as we have left into Emily's room.  The trim needs nailed down, the carpet stretched and outlet covers and she can move the rest of her stuff in.  We are still in search of just the right furniture, but there's no hurry.  She has a bed and that's what is important for now.





These bottles have a little shelf that is still drying.  We'll put some of the dried flowers from my garden in them.
Why else am I exhausted?  We don't have cable, but today I watched an episode of The Hoarders on Netflix.  OMG!  We are not "filthy", but we are definitely hoarders. It freaked me out so I started tossing stuff.  You've seen this closet before and it's full again.  The photos do not adequately show the change, but trust me there was change.

We've always had enough extra winter stuff to outfit ten additional kids.  Cody, Nick and Elijah always brought home extra hockey players so we kept the stuff around.  The kids are older now and aren't bringing home entire teams so we can let some of it go.

Apparently, Nick couldn't find just the right game?!  I just cleaned that all up.  I walked away.  He's 18.  He can do it. Of course, if you know me, he won't and I will, but in the end I'm okay with that, too.  I do stuff like that for him, he opens the tough jars for me. :)

I can't wait to move Emily's stuff into her room.  I need to get my craft stuff out of my grow room so I can plant!  Remodelling involves shuffling piles from one part of the house to the next, but the good part is that every time we do we get rid of some of it!
Next I went to the linen closet.  This is a pillowcase from Nick's bedding when he was three.  He's 18.  Must be good quality stuff! :)  I can't bear to let that go.  I wish I had the matching comforters that I picked out, but unfortunately aside from a random pillow case I didn't get squat of my household belongings in my divorce. 

More hoarding?  Really, my "baby" is four and I still have a stack of baby blankets.  I couldn't quite part with them, but they did go into storage.  One day my boys will bring me home grand-babies and I will be able to wrap them in the same blankets.  I'm a sentimental fool like that.
So I got it emptied pretty good and now it is ready for the blankets that are scattered about the house. Oh, I can't wait until every inch of this house is fixed and I don't have to look at that panelling anymore!
This was a baby quilt made for Olivia that is so nice.  Another item that can't be discarded.  I hung it on her bedroom wall.
It wasn't that long ago that Elijah and I went through his room, but somehow I missed storing the Halloween costume.  He also has random stuff that we don't "need".  My kids have all got their mom's hoarding bug.
That's two of four typewriters that have been stacked in his room for the last five or so years.  Ya, they are outta here!  (I think).
Emily and I were gazing out her window and saw Daisy having a conversation with a raven.  Actually, the raven just wanted her food and she wasn't giving it up.  Then Daisy started playing with her. See the big tree behind her to the right?  She would walk off, stand behind it and then just as soon as the raven went for the food dish she would run out at it.  This went on for quite awhile.  It was so funny.  I didn't realize Daisy could play.  See the smoke from the Hen House?  They are all toasty warm.
Also zapping my energy was a birthday party for my great-niece Jadyn.  I brought my "good camera", but left the memory card at home.  Good thing my little one was in my pocket.  They are crappy shots, but you can kind of see how Nick and Olivia are laughing.
Jadyn and her friends.
Em and Justise (Jadyn's sister).
Her dad was telling me that she has been watching some cooking show, but I can't remember the name of it.  Anyhow, Jadyn created her cake.  Too awesome!
Four of our five were with us.  Elijah was supposed to go to the movies, but he and his friends ended up staying in.  Too long of a day at school so they vegged.
And there is the crazy birthday girl who is now double digits!  What a ham!
Well, here we are at 11:15PM and my eyes feel like they have sand in them.  The three littles are curled up watching the end of a movie.  Nick hit the sack early and so did Homer.  I felt so bad as he was so tired tonight, but he still went to the party as family is so important.  Getting up before 5:00AM every day and then getting Elijah to weight lifting three days a week by 5:50AM makes him pretty beat by the weekend.  The adults in this house get very little sleep and zero "free" time, but we wouldn't have it any other way.  Soon enough they'll be grown and it will just be the two of us with more time than we can fill.  For now, I'm quite happy with these exhausting days.  What will tomorrow bring???  (Besides all that homework!).

10 comments:

Gail said...

I am crossing my fingers that get rid of it meant donating.

It is a constant job to keep thinning as things come in but in the middle of construction, it can look worse than it is.

The new room is beautiful.

I wish I had your energy.

B said...

Finally got caught up on your blog.

We are moving the bedrooms around too here. Our oldest is ready for his own room (I am not) and we are moving our office so he has room.
Wow, did not realize the snowball effect moving one room would have.

It is so wonderful what you are doing to help your son at school. It is a lot of work but your committed and he will forever be grateful.

Around these parts if you hit the animal you keep it! We have yet to bag a moose but we are munching on deer sausgae every day.

Emily's room looks great!

Great to get caught up with your corner of the world.

Janie said...

Emily's room is so cheerful! You did a great job with it.
When my kids were home, I spent most of my time helping them with school related stuff. You're a devoted, concerned, interactive parent, and that's the most important thing you can offer your kids.

Queen-Size funny bone said...

I love Emily's room. Words are my favorite to decorate with. We did my daughters with bright handprints when she was young.
I've started cleaning out and intend on having a tag sale in the spring if we still don't have snow.glad everyone is well.

Corey~living and loving said...

WOW! you rocked it out, and got more done than I can even imagine.

Emily's room is darling. ♥

anymommy said...

Keeping those blankets in the sweetest thing ever and it validates all my baby-stuff hoarding tendencies. Thank you.

Considering the climate you live in, I don't think you should EVER get rid of snow gear or blankets.

gpc said...

I love Emily's room! It's pretty, and bright, and fun, and fresh, and young, and cheerful -- just as I imagine her!

blondevue... said...

You sound like a great Mom!!
Emily's room looks so pretty! Sounds like a full but happy weekend for you all, have a great day with the ones you love.

thecrazysheeplady said...

Yep, that hoarders show will scare you straight! I tossed a bunch of stuff from the basement the other day because of it :-).

RottenMom said...

I saved all of the baby blankets. Every one of them. I also saved Zachary's umbilical cord thingy that fell off after a week. I can't seem to part with it. I also have their baby teeth.

Emily's room is awesome!

I wrote a special Valentine for you in the comments on my post today. I hope you like it! Love you lady!