Major Schedule Change

School is back in and I'm doing after-school-pick ups again. This time, my daycare school aged boy has started jr. high. He gets to the bus stop at 2:10pm. Last year, in elementary school, he got there at 3:20pm.

This causes a huge problem with both the day care preschoolers' naptime and with picking up my son from high school. The 2:10pm pick up time cuts a whole hour off naptime for the preschoolers. I have to wake them up an hour earlier, load them in the van, then pick up the boy. We come home for another hour, then REload everyone AGAIN to go pick up my son.

This is tuesday, wednesday and friday schedule. Friday is not so bad. However, tuesday and wednesday are late nights. Yesterday was the first time on this new schedule. The boy's mother did not tell me he had to be picked up at 2:10pm until 2:00pm!! Yes, extreme last minute!! I had to rush to get the preschoolers and the baby up. Poor kids!...they were all in such a peaceful, deep, relaxed sleep...lol. They sat int he van looking lost and disoriented, lol. These are not my kids in this picture, but it gives you an idea of naptime for them.

My school boy was very animated and excited about the pros and cons of jr high school...of course, no recess, lol. He was extremely talkative. After picking up my son, I had everyone settle down to watch a movie so that I could get my focus to fix dinner for the late nighters.

All day long, my grandson was a total stinker! He had Nana-itis and wanted Nana to hold him. I have never really done that because I don't want him to be spoiled. For some reason, that is what he wanted yesterday. My only thought, after checking his diaper, feeding him and cuddling him for a bit, was that he missed his mommy. At the last minute, her job called her in to work another shift. She made it home about 3:00 this morning. She works graveyard.

When I finally got to sleep, the phone kept ringing every couple of hours. I'd get up to answer it (my phone is on the other side of the room) only for it to be a fax machine!! Finally, I called the operator to see if anything could be done. She told me I can call another number...don't think so at 2:30am! I just unplugged the phone which I was very uncomfortable doing. Never know when an emergency might arise. Shortly afterwards, my daughter gets home and I am awakened by her activity in the bathroom as he turned on the light. From that point on, sleep was just not happening....Grrrr!

I will have to pace myself today. Coffee is defnintely on the menu for breakfast. Today is pretty much a repeat of yesterday with the pick up schedule and the late nighters...Uggghhh! Will have to think of a remedy...quick! Maybe my older son can pick up my daycare boy and I can pick up my youngest son from school...:)! Ooooh! that just might work!

Thanks for listening...:)

A Note For My Daughter

I've decided to find a poem and make a special note for my dear daughter. She is definitely not the 'mushy' type. Expressing words of adornment or appreciate to her is not exactly comfortable for her. At the same time, she so totally appreciates it in her heart. She cherishes things like gifts and child memories, songs, and events.

I'm not particularly creative when it comes to poems. So, I have found a few that I will put together to make my own. Then I will make a card for it. I just want her to know how special she is to me and how proud I am of her with all that she has been through. I want her to know how I appreciate her strength to overcome so many battles that she has been through at such a young age.

This is what I am going to do...:) I'm going to stop now before I get tearful!

The Inspection

The guy inspecting the house got a spur up his rear and deemed the inspection as inconclusive. He suddenly became annoyed and picked on small things that delayed the completion of the inspection. Ok... you know me, can't accept that. It's fine he is having a bad day, however, I have a mission to complete.


I made a few phone calls to the office and we are going to work things out via fax. The rep at the office was awesome...:) Apparently, this inspector tends to change personalities from time to time. They said he tends to be "like that" sometimes. I remained professional and calm. Getting upset would only make everyone involved angry. They told me to have the tenant sign the form once the electricity is turned on. Then fax it to me. I will sign it and fax it to the office.


The rep was such a sweetheart. She said she will get the paperwork through the process as fast as she can. Patience is certainly a virtue! If you don't possess it, experience will certainly teach you!

Update on Date St.

Things are finally starting to go forward with my rental unit on Date St. :). The exterminator came and I had a professional carpet cleaning done.

The contractor managed to get the toy that was jammed in the garbage disposal out and the sink in the bathroom flowing again! Electricity goes on today and we can try out the garbage disposal to determine if it needs to be replaced. He also replaced the cracked window in the front bedroom and painted & cleaned the cabinet under the kitchen sink where there was mold...Grrrr!

The inspector stopped by and acknowledged the work, which is a really good thing. He will be back today to complete the inspection. By tonight, the tenant can begin moving her things in!....YAY! The completion of this project will be a HUGE load of my shoulders. I did sleep better last night. My grandson seems to sleeping through the night these days :).

Both Monday and Tuesday, I worked 15- hour days. Yesterday was an 11 hour day. Today and tomorrow are 15-hour days. Today & tomorrow's 15-hour schedule won't be too bad. It's only one child and he is really, really well behaved. He has dinner, plays for a while, then I have him lay down to watch a movie till his mom comes. I have him upstairs in the loft where I can keep an eye on him while I do my own evening routine.

A place like this would be such a beautiful thing! It's been a long time since we've been camping....hmmmm, sounds like an idea that 'needs' to be developed into a reality!

Inspiration at Last!

I wanted to share with you all that I have been inspired, by many of you, to pick up my hobby again. Though I am not an "artist" with watercolors, fine markers and other paints, I like to crotchet.

Here is the pair of slippers I made for my grandson, freehand, no pattern. Yes, lol, they look kind of awkwardly shaped, but they fit well. Of course, he won't need them until winter time.

Here is the one of him walking down the hallway from the daycare room...lol! Sorry it's not too clear.

I videoed from my cell phone, then emailed it to myself and downloaded it to the blog. It was fun playing around with it. Never did that before. Feeling pretty proud of myself....:)

The Little One

Well, my grandson is now 10 months old as of this past monday. It seems, over the past few days, he has really mastered the whole walking thing!...lol! He also has what we call the "spider crawl" cause that's what he looks like when he doesn it....:)