Yes, Friday! I'm listening to the Spotify playlist "Have a Great Day!" and it's so fun! Definitely putting me in a good mood while I work.
I'm feeling much better than yesterday, thankfully. I think a little more catch up on sleep this weekend and I'll be back to feeling normal. So excited for a long weekend!
The girls are working on a "country fair" project at school. They each wrote a research paper on a country, made a tri-fold poster, and have to bring in items and food for a fair next week. Parents get to go and walk around to get passport stamps from each kid. They are both so pumped about this project. The other night DD1 told me she couldn't sleep because she was so excited to make her poster. We'll be attempting to make a Scottish candy called tablet (it looks like fudge?) for her to bring in. If that recipe fails, we'll go to World Market and buy shortbread cookies. DD2 is bringing in sliced kiwi for her New Zealand food, so that's an easy win. I'm going to use the Cricut to make them shirts this weekend to wear at the fair. I love their super nerd level of excitement over this school project.
Beau's son is also working on a big school project. They've been doing a lot with family trees and now he's learning about immigration and Ellis Island. They have to all dress as Ellis Island immigrants and pack a bag with the meaningful things they'd take from their home country. While I love learning about history, it does feel a bit weird because beau's family didn't come through Ellis Island. Beau's dad came from China when he was kid. So we're trying to balance out the history lesson with what the family history actually is. Not to mention, the family tree is kind of problematic for modern families.
Post by librarychica on Jan 13, 2023 10:24:36 GMT -5
DD is a Christmas baby so we are having a delayed birthday pizza and s’more party tonight. Some number of kids are coming for the party, some number for the sleepover. Almost all the kids RSVPed directly to DD, which I feel is weird for 11 year olds many whose parents have never met me? But here we go!
One girl may stay the night and may not, depending on my vibes I guess. DD1 asked me what she was looking for and I said probably to see if we keep a clean house. She replied just by looking around skeptically.
H is leaving for a drivable business trip sometime between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning. He refuses to pin this down, which I find annoying. DD2 has music lessons Saturday afternoon and I’m checking on our dog sitter’s dog periodically as she is in town but playing tour guide to visiting relatives.
Our dog drama continues unresolved as I am still playing phone tag with the vet.
Monday the girls have off but I am working so they’ll either ricochet around here or maybe go hang with a teacher friend of mine and her kids.
It was a moderately busy week that will be followed by a really busy weekend. Work has ramped up, but we wrapped up a project today so I'm happy about that. It was a frustrating project, a lot of screams to hurry up, but the person screaming was the one holding things up. But it's mostly done, and what's left can just be completed as we all have time.
Tonight DD2 has soccer foot skills right after school, and DD1 has an 8pm basketball game at school 25 mins away. I have to stop at two different Staples to pick up her last-minute printout changes to a project assigned in September at some point before picking them up from school.
We have so many games, practices, lessons this weekend. Saturday we have 3 basketball games between the two kids, Sunday we have an indoor soccer game, a basketball game, and an indoor soccer practice for a different team. Monday is a holiday, and the kids have piano when I have to take the dog to the vet, and then we have a marathon 3 hour family therapy session. I'm hoping that DH and I can sneak out for a dinner at some point because we need to catch up and connect in a way that just doesn't happen when we stay home. It's been really busy and he's... off. So we need to talk.
I started therapy this week, and I really like the person I met with. She is giving me good, actionable advice and homework. Just enough tough love to motivate me.
I also started working out this week. I can't believe how much it affects me mentally. I just feel so much better.
I forgot Monday is a holiday for me and for the kids. So yay!
This week, I got a new larger kitchen table and a padded bench/couch for our kitchen. And I sold our old table for $150 on a buy sell Facebook page for DD’s school. Score! This Saturday, the old table is being picked up and DD has a birthday party to attend. I still haven’t taken down our Christmas decorations, so that needs to happen.
I am loving the new kitchen table. Our old one was oval with cutouts on the corners. It’s really a lovely piece of furniture, but it wasn’t big enough for two kids and 3 adults. So every evening we had to drag a dining room chair in to eat dinner, and I was crammed with the kids while DH and MIL took up like half the table. Now, with the bench, we could squeeze 4 adults and 3 skinny kids around the table if we wanted, and day to day we can easily and comfortably seat the 5 of us. It’s really so much better of a set up for us. Last week I got rid of this rickety cart that was a little “kitchen island” when we moved into the house. We put it in the corner and it was a junk heap. Now I have a bakers rack in the corner that holds baskets of kitchen towels, our electronics charging station, homework supplies, and our placemats neatly so it’s not just a gigantic junk heap.
twinmomma, DD1 is wrapping up a similar project for school! She is so into it - she did it last year and focused on tourism in Brazil, and made brigadeiros to bring in - they were delicious, but what a mess in my kitchen! This year her class is focused on African countries, so she has to figure out what food to make for Malawi. I did a little research myself and the food all looks delicious! The project is due early next week, and then the fair is in a few weeks. I skipped it last year, but DH said it was excellent. Music, dancing, food, lots of fun!
DD saw a mouse in the kitchen this morning. I called DH at work and said "come home and put traps down and I'll take the dog to work". He was oh I'll deal with it over the weekend and I was no this morning traps! I'm in total burn it down mode with him right now.
We've been dealing with rats in the garage and woodshed but have gotten them taken care of. I just can't deal with them in the house.
I am working a half day because I have to clean for the sleepover party which is tomorrow. I guess librarychica and I are living parallel lives this weekend. But we are only having 3 girls, and I think 2 are sleeping over. It's unsure because 2 have never done a sleepover before, so based on comfort level. But they have both been to my house before. And no smores because it is cold out.
We have 2 games but there are at the same time for each kid, so we will divide and conquer. Sunday is recuperating from the sleepover party. And Monday, I have my pre-op appointment.
Post by supertrooper1 on Jan 13, 2023 13:16:36 GMT -5
twinmomma, what about Angel Island? Beau's dad probably wasn't old enough to go through immigration at Angel Island, but it is similar to Ellis Island.
Tomorrow is going to be.. something. And I could use WP advice. DS has hockey at 8:30. DD has a birthday party at 9:30. DS is also invited to the party (he's friends with the birthday boy's little bro, little bro has asked to have him there). We're also watching a friend's daughter (A) while her mom works, and she has skating at 11:30.
DH has suggested that we can just pay for A to go to the party place so she can jump (they generally have open jump hours the same time as party hours), but I feel like that's kind of unfair? A won't know a single person there. So DD would either need to ignore her party friends to keep A entertained, or we risk A feeling left out since A is not the kind of kid who would just slide into a new group easily OR be happy on her own. I also don't want party mom to feel like this extra kid should be in the party room, party favor, etc. Either DH or I can take her friend to Target or for Starbucks or something other special treat I havene't thought of yet.
Waiting to fill dds prescription from her wisdom teeth and she is looped. She has said hi to all tge ataff on the way out and the Wendys drive through people.
Tonight I may play volleyball depending on dd and how motivated I feel. Tomorrow we are going to a lipsinc battle. Its a fundraiser for a local nonprofit and should be a lot of fun.
Post by supertrooper1 on Jan 13, 2023 14:18:11 GMT -5
We have tentative celebration plans this weekend but nothing booked yet. I told Beau I wanted to go to the fancy steakhouse in Seattle that we were supposed to go to on my birthday in March of 2020, but COVID squashed those plans. We would book a hotel, but I don't know if it would be for 1 or 2 nights. Tomorrow it looks like there is a window without rain and we could go riding. I'm not sure if we could fit all that in one day. He keeps saying it's up to me and I can plan whatever, but then when I suggest something, he'll say, "oh I have to get the bikes ready" or "I'll have to go to the mall and get dress clothes since mine don't fit anymore". I know it's him being easy going and telling me what he needs to do, but it stresses me out knowing ex-H would have made those comments as if I was burdening him.
supertrooper1 , I totally get it. I get so anxious making decisions when beau leaves it up to me because I don't want to pick the wrong thing and then deal with the fall out. Even though there's no fall out from him, it's just ingrained in me. I'd go with the fancy restaurant and the hotel! You get to go riding enough other times, splurge a little for this celebration!
In divorce world updates over here, beau officially paid a retainer to a divorce attorney today to take his ex back to court and hash out all this BS she's been putting him through. He's hoping for a total rewrite of the parenting plan. I'm excited and nervous, but mostly relieved that he's actually putting it into action.
k3am- I have to give your provider props for coordinating care though. I think if you had a decent PCP to quarterback this whole thing, you would be in pretty decent shape since it appears at least they are getting you in to see the right specialists in a semi-timely manner. I’m lucky our pediatrician gives us lists of recommended specialists, but I’m on my own to call and do all the things to get in to see them.
Tomorrow is going to be.. something. And I could use WP advice. DS has hockey at 8:30. DD has a birthday party at 9:30. DS is also invited to the party (he's friends with the birthday boy's little bro, little bro has asked to have him there). We're also watching a friend's daughter (A) while her mom works, and she has skating at 11:30.
DH has suggested that we can just pay for A to go to the party place so she can jump (they generally have open jump hours the same time as party hours), but I feel like that's kind of unfair? A won't know a single person there. So DD would either need to ignore her party friends to keep A entertained, or we risk A feeling left out since A is not the kind of kid who would just slide into a new group easily OR be happy on her own. I also don't want party mom to feel like this extra kid should be in the party room, party favor, etc. Either DH or I can take her friend to Target or for Starbucks or something other special treat I havene't thought of yet.
Am I totally over thinking this? WWYD?
I quoted so I can see what you wrote when I responded.
So I’m a canceler when I am in those kinds of situations. I would cancel DS’s hockey assuming it’s a practice not a game? I also hate getting up early and can you do hockey skate and right to a party all that easily? I would take all 3 kids to the party. Text the mom as a heads up and pay for the extra child but I bet mom would include the child (if you paid) and with kids running around I don’t think it would be a big deal. I mean I used to stress about that stuff and now I don’t because that’s how big parties are. Extra people show up and some that said yes never show. If A is being a pill (and I presume you are staying at the party) then an adult can try to intercede.
I think it would be weird when she sees your kids dropped off and then you are like let’s go to Starbucks.
Post by librarychica on Jan 13, 2023 15:14:55 GMT -5
k3am, I’d go with your plan. I’d say differently if A was a kid who would just sort of fold naturally into the larger group or be cool jumping solo, but since they’re not I’d definitely go with your plan.
k3am I’m with waverly. Text party mom and give her a head’s up, pay for A (either to Party Mom or directly at the place), and have one of your kids give up their favor if needed. Jump places are chaos and lots of parallel play. The only way I would not do that is if A has sensory issues that preclude the jump place or if her parents don’t let her go to places like that.
supertrooper1... you've been waiting on this steakhouse dinner for 2 years and now you have a perfect excuse to celebrate! DO IT. Also, beau needs to have one set of nicer clothes in his closet for his new size since you never know what will pop up.
k3am - I have to give your provider props for coordinating care though. I think if you had a decent PCP to quarterback this whole thing, you would be in pretty decent shape since it appears at least they are getting you in to see the right specialists in a semi-timely manner. I’m lucky our pediatrician gives us lists of recommended specialists, but I’m on my own to call and do all the things to get in to see them.
This is what we love about Kaiser.. they are the insurer and the provider and everything is in house. It has it's plusses and minuses. But if you go to the doctor and need lab work, specialty care, whatever, it's all under one roof and you know they'll cover it. The providers all "talk" since they all have access to the same systems and medical record.
I compare this to my mom who sees a PCP, an allergist, a rheumatologist, a neurologist, a GI, and likely others that I can't remember, and none of them know about each other, they don't know what medications she's taking, if insurance will cover them (or if they're even available), etc, and it's just a PITA.
On the downside, it's basically the Costco of doctors. If you're lucky, your well check appointments are with your assigned PCP, but anything outside of that is whoever is available. We've only ever seen the kids PCP once ever since she was assigned to us (after our prior amazing PCP retired due to covid.. WITHOUT CONSULTING ME).
We went through cancer/brain tumor issues with DD and two brain surgeries and I have zero complaints about the care we received in those instances. But honestly all of my complaints with them are in regards to DD and I don't know how much of that is the new state of medicine vs. the PCP we were assigned. I hated her before all of this.
k3am I’m with waverly . Text party mom and give her a head’s up, pay for A (either to Party Mom or directly at the place), and have one of your kids give up their favor if needed. Jump places are chaos and lots of parallel play. The only way I would not do that is if A has sensory issues that preclude the jump place or if her parents don’t let her go to places like that.
A doesn't have sensory issues (that I know of), but definitely has some behavioral issues/diagnoses that can become a problem in the right instances. I'm honestly not entirely sure how much of those would pop up if she were on her own vs. with mom - DD can be a flipping angel in situations with people she's not super comfortable with and completely crazy with friends/family she's comfortable with.
I was traveling for work this week so my house was a mess - I just spent an hour working on it and feel so much better.
I flew up to Portland late Tuesday night and was regretting booking a flight that got in at midnight. But then when I woke up and saw that the FAA had shut down all flights Wednesday morning right when I would have been boarding if I'd flown the next day, I was really glad to already be at my destination. It was good to travel and see my colleagues and my firm's new offices in Portland, and host a client dinner and stuff. It was also fun to be back in a really urban environment for a couple days, since I live and work in the suburbs. But man, being around people a lot really wore me out - I slept 9 hours Wednesday night and could have gone longer.
One of my old coworkers and her husband who used to be our really good friends when we all moved to San Diego at the same time 15 years ago will be visiting from Austin this weekend. Our babysitter is going to watch our combined 6 kids tomorrow night so we can go to dinner kid-free, and I'm excited about that. We're supposed to get a lot of rain this weekend - DD was supposed to have softball tryouts both days and DS1 was supposed to have a baseball tryout tomorrow in addition to a soccer game. They moved one of the softball tryouts to 7-8:30 pm tonight - we'll see if DD can keep her eyes open - and the other to an indoor facility. Soccer is on turf so they say that's on rain or shine. So I guess we'll just see if it's dry enough for the baseball tryout.
Monday I'm taking DS1 and 3 of his friends to LegoLand to celebrate his 9th birthday (which is a week later). He wanted to do that in lieu of a party this year. MIL arrives Tuesday (for 9 days....eeek) so we'll just have a family celebration with her on his real birthday.
Post by supertrooper1 on Jan 13, 2023 17:56:34 GMT -5
twinmomma, that anxiety is so strong! When we went to the TransSiberian Orchestra in November, the restaurant I picked for dinner ended up not being very good. It would have put a damper on the whole experience with ex-H and I worried about it the whole time. But nothing with Beau. I made Beau decide today that we're not going riding. We can only go on kid free weekends and it's usually either too rainy or there's snow. Tomorrow was the first chance in two months, but I'm sure it would have been miserable and muddy. So we'll watch the Seahawks instead and go to the steakhouse.
k3am, I agree he needed dress clothes that fit. He just text pics of his new outfit and he looks hot in it! In his construction world everything is so casual. But you never know when a funeral will pop up or something of the like.
Tomorrow is going to be.. something. And I could use WP advice. DS has hockey at 8:30. DD has a birthday party at 9:30. DS is also invited to the party (he's friends with the birthday boy's little bro, little bro has asked to have him there). We're also watching a friend's daughter (A) while her mom works, and she has skating at 11:30.
DH has suggested that we can just pay for A to go to the party place so she can jump (they generally have open jump hours the same time as party hours), but I feel like that's kind of unfair? A won't know a single person there. So DD would either need to ignore her party friends to keep A entertained, or we risk A feeling left out since A is not the kind of kid who would just slide into a new group easily OR be happy on her own. I also don't want party mom to feel like this extra kid should be in the party room, party favor, etc. Either DH or I can take her friend to Target or for Starbucks or something other special treat I havene't thought of yet.
Am I totally over thinking this? WWYD?
Are your daughter and A friends? If they are old enough to be involved in these decisions, could you ask your daughter what she thinks is best? If she's on board with A going to her friend's party, then give A the option of going or hanging with you.
If you're better off making the decision without kid input, I'd go with taking her for a snack then getting her to ice skating.
Tomorrow is going to be.. something. And I could use WP advice. DS has hockey at 8:30. DD has a birthday party at 9:30. DS is also invited to the party (he's friends with the birthday boy's little bro, little bro has asked to have him there). We're also watching a friend's daughter (A) while her mom works, and she has skating at 11:30.
DH has suggested that we can just pay for A to go to the party place so she can jump (they generally have open jump hours the same time as party hours), but I feel like that's kind of unfair? A won't know a single person there. So DD would either need to ignore her party friends to keep A entertained, or we risk A feeling left out since A is not the kind of kid who would just slide into a new group easily OR be happy on her own. I also don't want party mom to feel like this extra kid should be in the party room, party favor, etc. Either DH or I can take her friend to Target or for Starbucks or something other special treat I havene't thought of yet.
Am I totally over thinking this? WWYD?
Are your daughter and A friends? If they are old enough to be involved in these decisions, could you ask your daughter what she thinks is best? If she's on board with A going to her friend's party, then give A the option of going or hanging with you.
If you're better off making the decision without kid input, I'd go with taking her for a snack then getting her to ice skating.
Sorry...just saw all the other posts! Go with your plan!
Tomorrow is going to be.. something. And I could use WP advice. DS has hockey at 8:30. DD has a birthday party at 9:30. DS is also invited to the party (he's friends with the birthday boy's little bro, little bro has asked to have him there). We're also watching a friend's daughter (A) while her mom works, and she has skating at 11:30.
DH has suggested that we can just pay for A to go to the party place so she can jump (they generally have open jump hours the same time as party hours), but I feel like that's kind of unfair? A won't know a single person there. So DD would either need to ignore her party friends to keep A entertained, or we risk A feeling left out since A is not the kind of kid who would just slide into a new group easily OR be happy on her own. I also don't want party mom to feel like this extra kid should be in the party room, party favor, etc. Either DH or I can take her friend to Target or for Starbucks or something other special treat I havene't thought of yet.
Am I totally over thinking this? WWYD?
Are your daughter and A friends? If they are old enough to be involved in these decisions, could you ask your daughter what she thinks is best? If she's on board with A going to her friend's party, then give A the option of going or hanging with you.
If you're better off making the decision without kid input, I'd go with taking her for a snack then getting her to ice skating.
I ended up asking DD and she said she thought it would be okay. So I asked her mom if she’d rather go jump or just hang out and do something with me and she chose not to jump. But who knows if she changes her mind tomorrow.
I feel like medical care doesn’t have to be all (Kaiser) or nothing (your mother’s situation). There are two large medical systems in my city and if you are diligent about picking providers in one system or the other then communication from provider-to-provider is easy in MyChart. We’ve aligned ourselves with providers mostly from the same system for the kids but for my own self I’ve chosen more of a patchwork quilt assortment of physicians. Maybe when I’m old and visiting doctors more regularly for geriatric care will I try to chose all from one system. k3am
vasc, same. Somehow I gave permission for both systems to view each others records so now everything from the two are viewable from both my charts and on the doctor /provider side also.