baby bellies...

ryan scared me today. We were in the car and he started asking baby questions. Those sweet innocent ones that usually lead up to the big one...how do babies get into your tummy mommy? I'm not sure why he started talking about babies today because there is most certainly not one brewing in this family, but anyway...I offer our sweet converstaion up for your amusement.

Ryan: Do boys ever have babies in their tummies?

Me: nope, just girls.

Ryan: why?

Me: because boys can't handle the pain. Only girls can, and God has a sense of humor like that.

Ryan: Oh.


:::::::::::pause::::::::::

Me: (silent- fearing pause is the lead up for the "big question")

Ryan: so why is daddy's tummy so big?

Me: HA! because sweetie, daddy likes to eat good food and that's what happens.

Sorry, Matt.

laugh out loud....

it's friday...it's funny...
This almost caused a diet coke out of the nose reaction.
Enjoy...

cool mom...

i was sitting in my communications class on wed., listening to the children talk amongst themselves about their Halloween plans. I was chuckling to myself because their plans are quite funny to me. You know basically stumbling from one party to the next in a drunken stupor. If that doesn't scream the true Halloween spirit to you, well then...I don't know...me neither. One of the boys who usually sits next to me was particularly funny. He always is. He likes to run his ignorant ideas by me before he calls his own mom. You know, to get an old lady's opinion first. He decided to ask me what I was doing for Halloween. I told him I was doing what I always do. Sipping spiked hot cocoa while passing out candy. He started laughing and said "you have got to be the coolest mom I have ever known!" Really??? Because I drink spiked hot cocoa? You should meet some of my other mom friends then. I must be hanging with a cool crowd :)

friday funny...

this cracked me up today. Sorry for the severe lack of posts. There's a lot of studying going on and it is really hindering my ability to do fun stuff on the internet. My 2 main websites are now brittanica.com and merriam-webster.com. Go figure.
Anyway...I happened to cruise past this today and laughed out loud.
Enjoy!

janet rocks it...

gotta love someone who makes you blog headers before you even ask for them :)
I especially love that the little pumpkin in the middle is much like my middle child in her grumpy demeanor. Spot on Janet!

week one down....

several thousand more(i think) to go.
Thoughts on the first week:
-You can't feel truly old until you're in a classroom with 30 people and you are the oldest by a good 20 yrs.
-The next oldest person after you is your professor, who appears to be at least 10 yrs your junior.
- No, really. My professor is YOUNGER than me. By 10 or so years.
-Life science classes are always going to be taught to me by a cranky, gnarly old man. Who is 97. But not YOUNGER than me.
-Did I mention that my communications professor is younger than me? Oh! and she'd like us to call her Ashley. Because that's what name was popular for little girls born in the 80s.
-I was the only one in my class this morning would had actually
r-e-a-d the reading assignment. Proven by the fact that in our small groups, I had all the answers because I had highlighted them in my text. The 18 yr old CHILDREN in my group were impressed by my thoughtfulness. So sweet of me to do the reading for them.
-When asked to design a theory of our own, I was the only one in class whose theory had something to do with my own children.
-Sweats and a t-shirt are still good campus duds. Even 15 yrs later.
-I am lovin' learning again. Even if I am RIDICULOUSLY old. To them.

it's the end of the world as i know it...

and i feel fiiiiiine....
so tomorrow I am back to the world of academia. Yesterday as I stood in line to get my parking pass, there were 2 YOUNG girls behind me whining because "like omigod, I had to get up at 10 this morning. I am, like, so TIRED!" And I had to do my best to keep from poking sharp objects into my ears. I know I am going to be that old lady in their class. I hope I'm the old lady that is always screwing up the curve. As if! Either way, I remember being them and staring at the old ladies in my class (who were probably younger than I am now) and wondering why in the world they were in school at their age, because,like omigod! Don't you have anything better to do at your age? I know I'm in for a rude awakening. I know that the time I have cut out for myself to study is not going to be nearly enough- especially since I'm going to be that old lady that actually READS the text. As if! I know that the next couple of years are going to be tough. I also know that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing right now, and this is when I was supposed to do it. Not when I was 18, but now. I'm not nervous, I am ecstatic.
I am totally going to be the dorky old lady who blows the curve :)

addict...

add me to the twilight fan club. I read the first book in under 24 hrs and my plan is to go and get the 2nd today. I LOVE Edward. Love him. Love. I've never been a huge fan of vampire stories, but I love the way these are written. Love them. Love. No really, I'm a fan.
I don't know how far Stephenie Meyer will run with these, but it sure is fun to have a good series to devour again!

never forgotten...

last first day...

it was ry's last first day of preschool today. ***sigh*** mah baby...he is growing so fast!

from the other side...

today was the first real day of preschool for us. Today all of the 3 year olds came- for most of them it is their first time away from mom, and tomorrow is the big day for the 4 yr olds. It was a little surreal watching from the office (and the hallway, and the classroom, and the playground) all of the things that happen during the kid's time at school. I got to be the one comforting the moms whose children had to be peeled from their legs, screaming and crying. Most of the kids where fine as soon as mom walked away, but mom was not. I had more than one tearful mommy in the hallway. It's all the stuff that happened after I walked away and went home last year. The things that I missed because I was at home, being a mom (probably cleaning toilets). This has been a very exhausting experience for me, mentally and physically. I've put in about triple the hours in the past 2 weeks just getting everything together and making sure it runs as smooth as possible. I've had many sleepless nights, worrying that I am going to miss something huge. It's my personality to make sure things are done completely before walking away. I'm lucky that school doesn't start for me for another couple of weeks, and hopefully then the preschool will be running smooth and won't require me to be "ON" 100% of the time. I actually FELL ASLEEP at 8:30 last night. And slept the whole night until my alarm went off this morning. A testament to how worn out I am, since I usually hang on until at least 11:30 every night.
All that being said, it is a very rewarding spot to be in. To get a giant bear hug from a 3 year old who I just met last week. To get a big thank you from a mom because I checked on her son 4 or 5 times to make sure his nerves were calm. A thank you from a teacher because I got done something she asked me to do.
The good is out weighing the bad right now, but DUDE I can't wait until the weekend!!

this is my life...

this picture is the goat version of my two youngest children. They are frequently on the "naughty step" (thank you super nanny) at the same time, and having that same conversation.

the daily crack up...

ryan strikes again. The kid has a daily mission to make me laugh, and he usually accomplishes it. Yesterday I was cleaning up the mess of the day after they had all gone off to bed. He was up in his room playing, but not in bed yet and I heard his door creak open.
Ryan: (at the top of his lungs) Mooooooooom?? Where you at?
Me: (exasperated- it's bedtime and I want to chill with a beer) In the kitchen, what do you want?
Ryan: I want to sleep like Spiderman tonight.
Me: ??? you want what ???
Ryan: I want to sleep just like Spiderman.
Me: You want to sleep WITH your Spiderman?
Ryan: (exasperated because his mother never GETS him) NO! I want to sleep LIKE Spiderman.
At this point I'm like "Whatever you want son. Just GO TO BED." Keeping in mind that I am downstairs and he is upstairs and we're screaming all of this back and forth at each other.
After I chilled with my beer and watched the Olympics for awhile, I went upstairs to do my kid check and this is what I found:

He had the mask, gloves, everything. He must have gotten hot because the mask ended up next to him, but he still had the whole get-up- including gloves- on this morning when he wandered out of his room.
He says to me this morning, "Now I know what Spiderman sleeps like."
I hope he at least sleeps comfortably :)

first day...

no jitters today. I'm glad because I was a little worried that when it came down to it, Hannah would be nervous. Our district is weird about the way they do things. They have a kindergarten center the feeds into all 3 elementary schools. So she went to kindergarten last year in a different and much smaller building than she is in now. I think because Justin promised to show her where to go and because she's heard from about 100 people that her teacher is wonderful, she was a lot more at ease. Justin is a pro at it now, so it was all just another day to him.









Now I get to sit and sip coffee in quiet. Ryan is watching tv and has no one to fight with, it's a beautiful thing to behold :)

As a total aside to my Minnesota friends- Matt just got back from Minneapolis and is a fan of your fair city. He loved it there and I had to remind him several times that I was pretty sure is was nice- since it's August. I'm guessing it pretty much sucks a big one in February. Not that Ohio isn't a frozen wasteland in February also, but I think I'll take my chances and stay here a little further south :)

has everyone seen this???

everyone needs to. I thought the whole world had seen it, but the last 4 people I have mentioned it to were completely clueless. It makes grown men cry. You MUST watch it. Have volume on please and thank you. Part of the making "grown men cry" is the song. As cheesy as it is, it's part of the experience. Trust me. Now go watch it already. What are you waiting on? GO!

you'd think we never buy him toys...

so... a few years ago, at justin's 6 yr old check up, i promised him he wouldn't have to get a shot. Because I was sure he wouldn't. Except he did. So to soothe his scarred psyche (they had to drag him out from under the chair kicking and screaming- he's not a huge fan of needles), I took him to Target and let him pick out a toy. Thus, the start of that little tradition. Go for your check-up, get a shot, get a toy.
Because I am vying for mom of the year once again, I forgot to schedule Ryan's 4 yr old check up. Last April. I realized it when I was putting together parent packets for all of the other preschool parents. I noticed that I was stuffing in medical forms to be filled out by the Dr. and *OOOPS* I won't be able to get Ryan's in because *OOOPS* I forgot to take him this year. Yep...mother of the year is pretty much sewn up for me this year. Sorry girls, it's all mine.
So this morning Ryan comes down and starts up this conversation:
Ry: do I have to go to the Dr. today?
Me: yep, for your check up.
Ry: YES!!
Me: why are you so excited?
Ry: Do you think I'll have to get a shot?
Me: maybe. I don't know if you get any this year or not.
Ry: AWESOME!!!! I hope I get a shot. I want to get a prize!

Me=Baffled.
Who wants a new Star Wars figurine that bad? Ryan. That's who.

free week...

so, summer is winding down. In less than 2 weeks the monkeys will return to school. Where-o-where has my summer gone? It's gone to kid's camps and working. I signed the kids up for a lot of camps and workshops this summer and I don't know if I'll do that many again. It has kept them busy and that was the plan, but maybe a little too busy. We haven't had NEAR enough time to just veg out. And isn't that what summer is all about? This is the first week that I don't have to take any kids to camp or have to work a bunch of hours. It feels blissful!
Aside from a crazy camp schedule and shuttling them to and from their various activities, I have been learning slowly how to be a working parent. It ain't easy. I have been extended an offer to continue on as director of the preschool. Once we get a few contract things ironed out, it's a go. And that is exciting and scary as all get out. I love the job and all of the people that I work with, but between that and a full time college schedule, I worry that my kids and family will suffer. For the first time ever I will require a babysitter. Only for a few hours every afternoon for Ryan, but that is a huge leap for me. I am blessed to have a friend whom I have known since childhood, who also has a son Ryan's age who is willing to take him on. She already babysits one other little girl (also Ryan's age) and her son goes to preschool with Ryan. So it seems to be the perfect situation. It's just hard to let go. I have always been there for my kids when they are picked up from school. Now 3 days a week, I'll be on campus in the middle of a class when he gets done and instead of running out of his classroom into my arms, he'll walk out to someone else. I know in the long run it will be good for them to see what I am going through to further my education and how important it is to me, but I don't ever want them to feel like I am sacrificing them or our family for something. Even if it is something that will make our family better in the long run.
I have pondered holding off and going back to school once Ryan goes off to 1st grade but I figure at that point, I'll almost be done with college all together. Plus if our district goes into a split session like they are talking about doing, I'll run into a whole new set of scheduling obstacles then too. No...now is the time. The doors are open for me and I won't shut them again. It is just painful. Almost physically so, to shift our family around and try to make this all work out. But it will work out. It always does. I may be a lunatic for the next couple of years, but it will work out.

for the love of shakespeare...

to say i've been busy this week would be a gross understatement. More like a completely disgusting understatement. There's a lot going on around here. Stuff that involves scheduling fall quarter classes and figuring out how to maintain my mommy status while taking said classes. But you're all sick of reading about me going to college. I know. Matt is enjoying being able to tell his buddies he's sleeping with a college chic again. So that's at least a funny little college anecdote.
Anyways...college...classes...blah...blah...blah... Amy's busy again. Been there, heard that, but it is Fun Friday, so in keeping with my Education concentration of choice (English Lit) here is my Fun Friday nod to Shakespeare (who is I'm SURE rolling in his grave right now) But it's funny damn it! Admit it!!

where did my june go???

how old and crotchety do I sound when i say time is going by too fast?
I fail to believe June has come and gone already. Because when I was a youngun' July meant my summer vacation from school was 1/2 over. The 4th of July has always been on my list of favorite holidays, but once it was over all I could do was look with dread upon the impending doom of the start of school. But I don't have to do that now that I'm all growed up. Oh but wait, I do. Because I've lost my rocks and decided that since I have approximately 7.6 extra seconds every day, I should head back to the collegiate game. At least I've chosen a school that doesn't go back until mid-September so that gives a couple of extra weeks of summer. Right?? Right?!?!?
The difference is, that for some bizarre reason I am looking forward to it. I think kicking my brain back into gear and working again, has made me see how much I have missed using adult brain cells. Don't get me wrong, I have loved being a mama bear and raising my chiclets. I'm grateful for it. However, even though I'm just getting started, I can see a dim light at the end of the tunnel. When Ryan goes to school all day in 1st grade, we can have 2 incomes. We haven't had that in YEARS. It will be so cool!!
I keep waiting for someone to find out I'm going back and look at me like I've lost my mind, but so far only one person has done that, and I don't value her opinion much. Everyone else has been uber-supportive and been excited for me. That makes me think maybe, just maybe, I can do it.

lucky 13...

so, 13 years ago today, I walked down the aisle and entered into the state of wedded bliss. Not all of our 13 years have been blissful, but that would just be boring and make you throw up in your mouth a little bit, now wouldn't it? I thank my lucky stars that Matt & I found our way to each other and that we still like each other after living in the same house together for this long. He puts up with my quirkiness (aka bitchy mood swings) and I put up with him leaving his dirty socks on the floor and used tissues on whatever he happens to be standing next to. And we still love each other. Better yet? We still LIKE each other. He's still my best friend. The first person I tell my brilliant plans to, the first person I bounce ideas off of. The person whose opinion I value the most.
He didn't snicker at me when I told him last week I wanted to finish my degree. I expected him to roll his eyes because as long as he's known me, I've been deciding what I want to be when I grow up. I feel like I have finally come to a plan (at least for the next phase of Amy-as-a-grown-up), and I was nervous to mention it to him. I was afraid he'd list all of the negative stuff that was brewing in my own head (like where will I find time, how will I afford it, and homework, and exams, and homework, and exams) instead he said he couldn't wait to watch me graduate in the shoe. And that's just one of the reasons why 13 years later I still love him the bestest.