Holidays and all the trimmings

The holidays always have so many faucets to them that is hard to appreciate each of them. And they can mask the true meaning of Christmas and what we are really supposed to be remembering. Christ's birth and what that has given us.

A. decorating, the house on the inside, outside and the yard (for those of you who are that ambitious)

B. thinking up what gift we think each person would like

C. gift buying

D. buying all the wrapping supplies

E. wrapping them all

F. hosting parties and all of the preparation for that

G. attending parties and figuring out what to bring and what to wear

H. cleaning for the different festivities

I. writing, making, addressing, labeling, mailing cards (which mine are still in this process)

J. menu planning

K. shopping for all the supplies and ingredients

L. baking all of the yummy treats that I love to give to people

M. getting all the treats set up in the tins or gift boxes and labeling

N. giving the treats to everyone, hoping to give them a feeling of how important they are to me

O. taking time to get the tree with the family and create that special memory for that year of what we did and how we did it

P. having guest stay over and trying to make them feel comfortable, welcomed and enjoying their time...i.e. clean sheets, towels, meals, privacy, activities to do together

Q. putting together the tunes for the parties and creating the playlists

R. having kids with the flu and sinus infections - trying to comfort them and get them well

S. going in for surgery and having to get things set up for after, who is going to do what while I'm laid up for 1-2 weeks

T. squeezing in time for working to pay for all of this, just kinda important

U. scheduling places for the kids to go while on break during the day so that we can work

V. all of the running around that accomplishes that

W. trying to take care of yourself

X. doing activities as a family to make memories and time to cherish each other

Y. taking down of the decorations, lights both interior and exterior

Z. cleaing up after the whole mess is done and everything is put away. Starting with a clean slate for the New Year.

That is just a few of the things that we do over the holidays that can cloud the true meaning.

migraines...a curse

I have suffered from Cluster Migraines for many, many years. I've learned to adapt to it and get through my day as best I can. I just went to the E.R. 2 weeks ago because mine was so severe that no amount of meds would put a dent in it.

Last night at midnight Chloe came down with one. I felt so terrible to see her in that much pain. She didn't fall asleep until after 3 then woke up due to the pain at 5:30. She was crying which is unusual for her. She didn't even cry when she broke her arm the first time.

She skipped band this morning and just went straight to school. She want to miss out doing her first Conflict Manager with Monique. She called me, at 3, and when I asked about her head she said that it was worse. You know when your kid is trying to hold it together but they are just on the edge? I could hear this in her voice. Made my heart hurt to hear that in her voice. As soon as she was done with safety patrol and was in the car she immediately started to sob.

I drove like the wind home. I cut up one of my maxalt migraine pills and gave it her on the drive home. When we got home she went to her room and sat in the heater and I rubbed her head and face for a long time. She felt a bit better and ate some dinner but the migraine is still there.

I hope that a good nights sleep will take care of this migraine and that she will feel like herself tomorrow morning.

I don't want her to be cursed with migraines like I have been. She recieved a referral for and ENT, at her 11 yr. well child check up, for her ear problems. I made her appointment today to see the ENT specialist at Children's. I am praying that her ear problems, sinuses and migraines can be treated by the ENT. I also don't want her to struggle with sinus infections that don't go away even with massive amounts of antibiotics, like I have. I want to make a premptive strike on going down this line of problems.

Pray for Chloe that the ENT doctor will have some answers and that she feels better tomorrow. It makes my heart hurt to see my babies in pain and suffering.

Do Not Call Law

This is from the FCC on the 'Do Not Call' law. It seems according to this paragraph that the non-profit organizations are still legally to abide by the 'Do Not Call' law.

Here is the link to the excerpt below.

Here is the link to lodge a complaint against whom ever you think isn't following the law correctly, and bugging you with their incessant phone calls. Click here.

C. Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the Proposed Rules Will Apply

22. The RFA generally defines "small entity" as having the same meaning as the terms "small business," "small organization," and "small governmental jurisdiction" and "the same meaning as the term 'small business concern' under the Small Business Act unless the Commission has developed one or more definitions that are appropriate for its activities. A small business concern is one which: (1) is independently owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in its field of operation; and (3) satisfies any additional criteria established by the Small Business Administration ("SBA"). The Small Business Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA) provision of the RFA also applies to nonprofit organizations and to governmental organizations such as governments of cities, counties, towns, townships, villages, school districts, or special districts with populations of less than 50,000. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 601(3), the statutory definition of a small business applies "unless an agency after consultation with the Office of Advocacy of the SBA and after opportunity for public comment, establishes one or more definitions of such term which are appropriate to the activities of the agency and publishes such definition(s) in the Federal Register."

high expectations

“High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.” ~ Charles F. Kettering

After talking and thinking over last night PTA meeting I realize that this is part of the issue. And it may be hard to always achieve but it also is the best place to be.

I can't speak for other parents but Mike & I do have very high expectations of our kids' teachers and of our kids themselves. I think that if you have high expectations for your kids, and they believe you think that they can reach them, they will try to do just that. For my kids and teachers alike. There will always be times when I am disappointed in the outcome of this but there are more times when my expectations are exceeded. And that, I think, is a great thing!!

I love to see my kids proud of themselves for what they may have just accomplished. I love to listen to them tell me the story of how they did it. Giving them goals to reach for and teaching them how to do that I think is a good life lesson.

And I think this also goes for the teachers. Seeing low scores was a shock. Wait a second here, how did this happen?? Back the truck up. Where are we? Did my kid score low or will my kid score low? Does my kid have what they need to score higher?

Last night some of our teachers took the time to come to the PTA meeting and explain how things are being improved and what is being added to the curriculum. Although I am still a bit fuzzy on a few points but I do appreciate them coming and working with the parents to try to make themselves better teachers, make our kids better students and to score higher on the MSP this year and help me be a more vigilant parent.

Education is a shared commitment between dedicated teachers, motivated students and enthusiastic parents with high expectations. ~ Bob Beauprez

a bit overwhelmed...

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed right now.

I had a follow up doctor appointment from my sinus surgery, which I am having problems with still, and pain from. Top that with a cluster of my migraines and I'm feeling fantastic right now!

I dropped off a PTA board position but picked up Art Docent Chair.

So I guess it is less work but so far I am not seeing it...tonight is the training for the art docents. I LOVE being an art docent!! It is one of my favorite things that I get to do every month. I really hope that I can encourage and inspire those that have signed and share my passion for it with them.

I still have Reflection and Hospitality chairs (which I totally love also).

Chloe's 11th birthday is Saturday. I can not figure out where those 11 years went! How can she be that big? I don't feel that old! An I really that much older? I have to get her party organized and all the supplies for it...i.e. mainly the quads that girls are going to ride...home on Friday. Cake baked, posted painted, gifts bought and wrapped. I don't remember birthdays being like this when I was growing up, where yours?

I love my baby though and would do anything for her. She is such a blessing everyday!! She puts a smile on my face no matter what is going on and how I am feeling.

She has x-c meet and band 3 mornings a week now. The band is a bit much but we are going to try it and see how it goes. I'm not quite sure what Hudson and I are going to do for an hour 3 days a week before school starts and after we drop her off but we'll find something.

And I have an audit to start tomorrow with the state. Big fun...ugg!

But I do try to keep a smile on my face and remember that it can get worse and try not to think to long on what the could be. :)