Category: Mothering

Ryan’s Concert

Ryan woke up today with a sore throat. He said he did not want to go to his concert, but I figured he would change his mind as he got up and moving.

When we arrived at Grandma’s house, he still was saying he did not want to go the concert; his throat hurt. Grandma hugged him and told him she knew he would feel better soon. I love seeing Grandma and Ryan interact. I know Ryan loves me, but he adores his grandmother. I had to get going to work, and I figured if anyone could make him feel better, Grandma could.

Yesterday when I picked Ryan up from school, one of his teachers told me the kids were going to have costumes- I sighed. Then she said they were going to have penguin costumes (their song was about penguins)- I wailed, “Penguin costumes- how cute.” But I did not say what I was thinking, “I’m not going to be there.” But the teacher did tell me they usually always record the concerts, and they would burn a DVD for me.

I had a hard time trying not to think of Ryan all morning, especially when the time of the concert rolled around. I hoped his throat was feeling better and he was singing his heart out as a little penguin.

When I arrived to pick the boys up after work, Ryan’s grandma told me how cute the concert was. She said the school did a really great job. She said Ryan was also a snowflake, and at the end of the program they had a slide show with all the kids pictures, and of course there was a picture of Ryan. I asked Ryan how it went, and the first thing he said to me was,

“You should have been there Mom.”

He didn’t say it sad or mad- just matter-of-fact. Then he told me he was a penguin and got to stand behind a big curtain, and when they opened the curtain, it was time to sing. He also said Grandma gave him some hot chocolate before the concert to help his throat. Then they went out to lunch afterwards.

I am so glad and so fortunate that Ryan has such loving Grandparents that made sure he was able to participate today, even though his parents couldn’t work it out. Cole knows the song Ryan was singing, and he sung it for me when I got home. I think they all had a nice time. Grandma even brought me home a program so I can see my little penguin’s name in print-twice.

As we were driving home, Ryan told me again that I should have been there, and they showed his picture up on a big screen after he was done singing. I told him in my most happy, non-guilty voice, that I was so sorry I missed him today, but when school starts again, we will have the concert on a DVD, and we can watch a movie of him on TV. He was excited about seeing himself on TV. He asked if I would be able to see him behind the curtain too. 🙂

I just hope someone actually recorded the concert-that will be one movie I will watch over and over again.

Tags missing children's activities, missing kid event because of work, working mothers

Me Mothering Parenting Ryan School Work

Working Mama Guilt

Ryan will be five in a few weeks, and when he was born, I had a full-time job. I took 3 months of maternity leave when he was born, and returned to work part-time for a few months, to ease back into work. Before I returned full-time, the company I was working at was sold, and my job was eliminated. We were in a position where I didn’t have to work, so I decided to become a full-time stay-at-home-mom. I loved it.

When my second son, Cole, was 18-months old, I was offered a very part-time job, working one and a half days a week, that would allow me to keep my professional skills current, but still allow me to be with boys, most of the time. Ryan and Cole’s grandparents graciously offered to watch the boys one day while I work, and we found a great child care provider who watches them on the other day.

I have been at my job for fifteen months, and I haven’t missed anything that I felt guilty about in my boys’ lives. But that is going to change this week. Ryan’s preschool is having a winter concert later this week. The kids have been practicing their songs for a few weeks now. I hear Ryan practicing his song, and humming the tune. He sounds so cute singing it, and he is so excited. The school is having the concert at a local church, so it is a very big deal.

Except I can’t go. The day of the concert is one of the days I work, and this week I have to be there. Normally, I could switch my schedule around so I could attend, but I have to cover for vacations and my co-workers working off site. I am the only one who is scheduled to be in the office, and I take that responsibility seriously. But it is breaking my heart that I am going to miss my son’s first and probably only preschool concert.

The school is rehearsing at the church all week, and I am hoping tomorrow and on Wednesday, I’ll be able to catch some of the rehearsal to at least hear him sing a bit. Ryan’s teacher told me someone should record the concert and they can burn it on a DVD for me, but it isn’t quite the same thing as being there in person. Thanks to Ryan’s grandparents, he will more than likely be able to attend the concert, because Joe can’t change his schedule this week either.

I know I shouldn’t be sad- I should be thankful I have a job, and I am, but how do you balance out the grown-up responsibilities that you must fulfill with knowing you will miss your little boy singing about seven little penguins who are cold?

This is really hard for me- I’ll take any words of wisdom you can offer.

Tags missing children's activities, working mom, working mother, working parents

Activities Cole Mothering Ryan

Bowling

On Sunday, Ryan and Cole were invited to a bowling birthday party. It was the first time they had ever been bowling, and the were oh-so excited to go.

Ryan thought it was great, he got to put on the ever-popular bowling shoes. Cole wanted a pair too, but they didn’t have a pair small enough, so the lady said he could wear his Crocs.

Cole gave it his best shot, but I think he is still a little too young to get the whole concept. One of the workers brought out a ramp, where Cole could just roll the ball down. He liked that-but he liked moving the levers back and forth on it more than bowling. He did slow down long enough for me to capture him with his goofy smile:

The first time Ryan was up, he placed the ball down, and then kicked it with the sole of his foot- good thing it wasn’t with his toe! He quickly caught on, and he had a little warm up move, and one he did afterwards. I was happy for him, that he usually knocked down several pins- he was really into it!

The warm up

Watching

Doing the post-move

For some reason when it was my turn to bowl, the automated bumpers stayed up. I haven’t bowled in such a long time, I was happy the bumper was up. But as a testament to my awful bowling, Ryan beat me! He’s a 4.5 year old, who had never bowled, getting a higher score than his ol’ mom- even with the bumpers up! Guess I need to work on my bowling game-in my spare time.

The birthday boy’s mom, mentioned to us the alley we were at, had night bowling where they turn off the lights, and light up the lanes, and all of that. Ryan heard that, and has been asking everynight when we get to go night bowling. We are hoping we can take him soon.

I wonder if I can have them leave the bumpers up for me. At least it will be dark, and no one will actually see my bowling ball hit the bumper. On the other hand, maybe I’ll have them take the bumpers down for Ryan, and leave them up for me. Then we will have an even match up. 🙂

It is so fun to see your child enjoy something, and just have 100% fun. Even if I am an awful bowler, it was still the best time I ever had bowling.

Tags bowling, bowling birthday party, bowling for the first time

Activities Cole Family & Friends Holidays Household Mothering Parenting Ryan

Another Thrilling Update

I wish I had a brilliant or at least somewhat exciting update for you, but I don’t.

We’ve been working on the house, and trying to get everything else done in daily life that must get done, like work, errands, parent, spend time with the boys, etc. I still haven’t started packing yet, but that is soon to change. Joe started bringing home boxes the other day, so now that fun chore is on my plate.

I really don’t mind, but there is always way more stuff you realize you have. I am hoping we can donate or just get rid of the stuff we haven’t used in years, and be done with it. Like the extra microwave that has been sitting the pantry now, for eight years. If our microwave ever broke, we had a spare. Except it hasn’t and we have had a microwave sitting in the pantry for eight years.

I usually blog at night- but I have been so tired physically and mentally, I think I have blogger’s block. If you don’t see very many posts here in the upcoming weeks, I haven’t dropped off the face of the earth. But with moving, fixing up the house, and the upcoming holiday season, I’m not sure how much time or motivation I will have to blog. Please continue to check in- I know I’ll get my blogging mojo back eventually. 🙂 You can find me on Twitter, and I seem to be able to post 140 character items, much easier and regularly than actual blog posts these days.

I pinkie swear I will post pictures of the new house and the progress we have made. Joe finished painting the boys’ rooms today, and he’s going to start on our bedroom tomorrow. I placed the carpet order last week, and that should be installed right after Thanksgiving. We are ordering our engineered hardwood flooring tomorrow. We have decided on a honey hickory color which is a golden brown- not too dark or light. We should have it around Thanksgiving. It has to cure at room temperature for a week, so Joe should be able to install the floor, the beginning of December.

The brand we are getting has a locking system, so there is no need to glue or nail the pieces together. Joe is optimistic he can install it in a few days, rather than a few weeks. So it appears we are on schedule to move into the house by the end of December. Not sure where we will end up having Christmas- in the old house, or the new one, but Ryan is already wondering about the tree this year, and how Santa will find us. 🙂 Cole has just been talking up a storm and telling us he wants Santa to bring him a dump truck.

I’m also trying to plan Ryan’s fifth birthday party, which always sneaks up on me, since it is just two weeks after Christmas. I booked the venue this year in JULY- so that is set. Now I just have to get save the dates out to people, and hope I’m not over the number of guests we are allowed to have. Guess I had better double check on that. Ryan of course, is just thrilled to be turning five. I’m wondering where the time went, and how did my ‘baby’ become a little boy, who is just weeks away from being five years-old?

My mom is coming out for a visit the week of Christmas and will be able to spend an entire evening, and the next day with us. I’m excited for that, and to be able to show her our new house. Ryan and Cole are excited to bake cookies for Santa with Nana.

So that is all we have been up to. Stay tuned for another exciting update in the near future. 🙂

Tags baking cookies with grandma, engineered hardwood flooring, moving, turning five

Activities Cole Household Mothering Ryan

Home Improvements

Joe was out of town this week- he came home a day early, so that was nice, but it has been an exhausting week.

Since we would like to move into our new house, before next spring, I had grand plans this week to remove all of the ugly wallpaper border, and clean the walls, in the three bedrooms in our new house, so they would be ready for Joe to paint this weekend.

We have decided to hire a professional painter to paint our living room, entry way, and dining room. The living room has what I think is a 16-foot ceiling, but no, we haven’t measured. There are some interesting angles in the room as well.

Furthermore, the previous owners were hunters (no they were not related to Sarah Palin- a little shot of humor- I need it these days, 🙂 ) and on these tall walls, they had a lot of their catches stuffed, (I believe taxidermy is the correct phrase for this), and mounted on the walls. Evidently, it takes a lot of nails to hold up stuffed wild game. I can’t count how many thick nails are in the walls, at various heights, and how many nail holes are in the walls. Did I mention, there is animal hair stuck the one of the walls, oh, about ten-feet up?

Joe is a great painter. He is meticulous, but you have to have time to be that precise. Even if he had the time, the nails, holes, and heights of the walls would take sometime to paint. We found our painter, savior, who will remove all the nails, patch the holes, clean the walls (animal hair included for no extra charge), and then apply two coats of paint. He has a crew, so it should just be a three or four day project.

We have to get this area done because we are having hardwood floors installed by none other than Joe. (We really are lucky he knows how to do all of these projects!) But we don’t want to install the floor until the walls are painted. In the master bedroom, and the boys’ rooms, we are having carpet installed, and again, we don’t want to paint with brand new carpet down.

So I thought I’d spend all day Tuesday removing wallpaper border. The border was glued, super-glued, three quarters of the way up on all the walls. I had forgotten how much I HATE wallpaper. After five hours, I only had three walls done in the master bedroom. I didn’t have the right tools either, and I had the duct cleaner there as well..

Ryan had an injury from earlier in the morning, (trust me- you don’t want to know-let’s just say it was in the worst place ever for a little boy, and the teeth of his two year old brother were involved), so he was cranky (but who could blame him?) and trying to work on a ladder removing wallpaper that is ten years old, with a cranky four-year old, and a curious two-year old who keeps trying to climb up the ladder-is not the formula to get much accomplished.

After five and a half hours, we headed home. I had to go to work for half-day on Wednesday, and after I picked up Ryan from school, we went back to the house, and I was able to finish the last wall in our bedroom. I inspected the wallpaper in the other two rooms, and it was stuck on more firmly than the stuff I had just gotten off.

After work today, and the nice surprise that Joe was home early, we went to Home Depot, to get a wallpaper scorer and some paint. Fortunately, Joe has tomorrow off so he can get started in the master bedroom, and after the boys’ music class, I’ll start me vs. the wallpaper-Round 2.

It is a lot of work, and a bit stressful, but it will be worth it. I can picture the rooms in the colors we picked out- the soft yellows against the wood floors and I get really excited. The work makes me tired, but I still enjoy it.

As the boys and I were sitting on a blanket on the floor in the living room, which is just sub-flooring right now, having a picnic on Tuesday, I knew someday when the room had been done for years, and has seen more of its fair share of living, I would always remember sitting there eating PB&J sandwiches with Ryan and Cole. We ate with badly-in need of paint-holes-in-the-walls, with animal hair stuck on them. Not the most glamorous lunch, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I do plan to post pictures, but I want to post before and after pictures at the same time. In the meantime, I’ll leave you the paint colors of the rooms a paint consultant helped us pick out, since we are so awful at picking colors:

Colors for the entry way, living room, and dining room:

Yellow Freeze & Man on the Moon