Here is a little video of our basement before and after. It doesn't do all the work we did justice. I know I've mentioned it before but we had to fix/change/jerryrig so many things. It sure is an improvement from the mess we bought. Sorry, there weren't lights in a lot of the basement when we moved in so it's dark. And all the bedrooms are filled with stuff right now so I didn't go in there, besides they were already done when we moved in. Also, I know my little blue accent wall looks a little out of place but I have big plans to tie it all together with the decor. ;) Enjoy! I know I will.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
A List
Here's a few reasons why I haven't been blogging much and a few more thoughts in slightly more complete sentences.
1. The basement has carpet! And it's so nice! It's amazing what flooring does for a place. Of course it's not the end, we have doors that no longer work because there is 2 inches of luxurious plush where there was once hard cement... so we gotta fix that. Then we just have to shift the mess around a bit and get back to work. Pictures are coming... I'm trying to work out some before and after pictures. The before was 9 years ago. I had a film camera then and we took about 5 pictures that year. We do have some video so I'm working on getting that all put together first.
2. I started a job this week. Well sort of. It's actually just more of the same. If you didn't already know, I have been sewing from my home for the last 7 years. After Roman was born I was bored because one kid is just so crazy easy (I can say that now that I have three). So I started selling my little creations on eBay. EBay's fees got out of control, my "group" I was selling with dissolved and I had two children so I started selling mostly pettiskirts with the occasional odd thing here and there on a website that a friend helped me create and on Etsy.
I decided to close my website after Ezra showed up and three kids was hard and I wasn't making any money. I sewed a wedding dress. I still sold the occasional skirt here and there on Etsy but the fact of the matter is that, seven years later, I just don't have the time and motivation to really run my own business and do it well (it takes a lot of time). I always considered it a hobby because I rarely made much money. Any money I did make was minimal and I never really thought about it because I didn't value my time much, but it took a lot more time than the hour or so that it took to sew a skirt. There was another hour or so of listing, picture taking, editing etc, packaging and shipping and then I would get sucked into the internet and come out two hours later wondering what on earth happened (please tell me I'm not the only one this happens to). Not to mention packaging materials and etsy/paypal fees. So... I've actually been at this crossroads for years I just never wanted to quit because I like sewing as an outlet and sewing for money (no matter how minimal) was nice because when I'm sewing for myself it only costs money (sometimes a lot).
Back to the point. I started working for a company in the next town over that makes swimsuits and dance-wear. I've known about this place and had considered working for them for a long time but wasn't ready to give up the "freedom" of sewing whatever (and whenever) I wanted to. We'll see how it goes but so far it's been great. It's an adjustment, sewing all this super stretchy material. But for now, the best part is that I just sew. I don't have to worry about the marketing end of things. The less time I spend on the computer the better I say. Of course I get paid by the piece so the faster I get the more I get paid in a sense. That will come in time. My goal (although I have yet to accomplish it even once) is to wake up at 6 am. and sew till the kids are up. I wake up so slowly. It might be a bad idea, but we'll give it a few weeks at least. Monday... I'll wake up early on Monday.... I think. ;)
3. We are finally getting Roman over his cough (he caught it a week or so before Christmas) I had had enough and took him to the doctor and got him on a antibiotic to kill the bug. So he's finally under control now Ezra is coughing up a lung. Can't we just be done with winter yet? (I know it's only just started with this fun little snow storm but I don't care) I'm ready to work in the garden and enjoy walking to ballet and swimming lessons and hide from the heat in our freshly finished basement.
4. Teaching basketball is just about as scary as I imagined. I think this will be a one time thing. I know Roman likes it when I'm the coach, but it is SO not my thing. We'll survive but I'm so glad it's just once a week. At least after this I can say I've done my time.
5. Ezra keeps saying he'll use the potty.... talk is cheap my friends.
6. We had fried food on Thursday. Our house still stinks. I think I say this every time.... never again! But those fried onion strings are just so good. And Scones and fried chicken.... Drat! I guess it's good since it keeps us from having such bad foods all the time.
7. Watched Napoleon Dynamite tonight. Priceless.
So... What's up with you?
1. The basement has carpet! And it's so nice! It's amazing what flooring does for a place. Of course it's not the end, we have doors that no longer work because there is 2 inches of luxurious plush where there was once hard cement... so we gotta fix that. Then we just have to shift the mess around a bit and get back to work. Pictures are coming... I'm trying to work out some before and after pictures. The before was 9 years ago. I had a film camera then and we took about 5 pictures that year. We do have some video so I'm working on getting that all put together first.
2. I started a job this week. Well sort of. It's actually just more of the same. If you didn't already know, I have been sewing from my home for the last 7 years. After Roman was born I was bored because one kid is just so crazy easy (I can say that now that I have three). So I started selling my little creations on eBay. EBay's fees got out of control, my "group" I was selling with dissolved and I had two children so I started selling mostly pettiskirts with the occasional odd thing here and there on a website that a friend helped me create and on Etsy.
I decided to close my website after Ezra showed up and three kids was hard and I wasn't making any money. I sewed a wedding dress. I still sold the occasional skirt here and there on Etsy but the fact of the matter is that, seven years later, I just don't have the time and motivation to really run my own business and do it well (it takes a lot of time). I always considered it a hobby because I rarely made much money. Any money I did make was minimal and I never really thought about it because I didn't value my time much, but it took a lot more time than the hour or so that it took to sew a skirt. There was another hour or so of listing, picture taking, editing etc, packaging and shipping and then I would get sucked into the internet and come out two hours later wondering what on earth happened (please tell me I'm not the only one this happens to). Not to mention packaging materials and etsy/paypal fees. So... I've actually been at this crossroads for years I just never wanted to quit because I like sewing as an outlet and sewing for money (no matter how minimal) was nice because when I'm sewing for myself it only costs money (sometimes a lot).
Back to the point. I started working for a company in the next town over that makes swimsuits and dance-wear. I've known about this place and had considered working for them for a long time but wasn't ready to give up the "freedom" of sewing whatever (and whenever) I wanted to. We'll see how it goes but so far it's been great. It's an adjustment, sewing all this super stretchy material. But for now, the best part is that I just sew. I don't have to worry about the marketing end of things. The less time I spend on the computer the better I say. Of course I get paid by the piece so the faster I get the more I get paid in a sense. That will come in time. My goal (although I have yet to accomplish it even once) is to wake up at 6 am. and sew till the kids are up. I wake up so slowly. It might be a bad idea, but we'll give it a few weeks at least. Monday... I'll wake up early on Monday.... I think. ;)
3. We are finally getting Roman over his cough (he caught it a week or so before Christmas) I had had enough and took him to the doctor and got him on a antibiotic to kill the bug. So he's finally under control now Ezra is coughing up a lung. Can't we just be done with winter yet? (I know it's only just started with this fun little snow storm but I don't care) I'm ready to work in the garden and enjoy walking to ballet and swimming lessons and hide from the heat in our freshly finished basement.
4. Teaching basketball is just about as scary as I imagined. I think this will be a one time thing. I know Roman likes it when I'm the coach, but it is SO not my thing. We'll survive but I'm so glad it's just once a week. At least after this I can say I've done my time.
5. Ezra keeps saying he'll use the potty.... talk is cheap my friends.
6. We had fried food on Thursday. Our house still stinks. I think I say this every time.... never again! But those fried onion strings are just so good. And Scones and fried chicken.... Drat! I guess it's good since it keeps us from having such bad foods all the time.
7. Watched Napoleon Dynamite tonight. Priceless.
So... What's up with you?
Monday, January 16, 2012
My Thoughts in Incomplete Sentences
carpet day didn't happen.... boo
took Marisa to Beauty and The Beast in 3D... I like it better in my livingroom and and in 2D...still fun.
Took an ibuprofen... anyone else get headaches in 3D movies?
supposed to teach 6 seven year-olds how to play basketball tomorrow (and all month).... terrified! don't know what it is about other peoples kids that is so scary to me... Top that with teaching... I'm horrible at verbally expressing myself. Can't I just email them the rules?
two home movies down twelve to go. Finally got the point where Ezra was born... he thought that was cool. Marisa is cute now... she was absolutely adorable at 18 months of course we didn't video tape ALL the crying.
about a billion things on my have to do and want to do list.... nothing is getting done... typical.
So COLD! We haven't even had winter yet round here and I'm SO done with it
Christmas tree is still up... thinking about decorating it with valentines.
bed time.
took Marisa to Beauty and The Beast in 3D... I like it better in my livingroom and and in 2D...still fun.
Took an ibuprofen... anyone else get headaches in 3D movies?
supposed to teach 6 seven year-olds how to play basketball tomorrow (and all month).... terrified! don't know what it is about other peoples kids that is so scary to me... Top that with teaching... I'm horrible at verbally expressing myself. Can't I just email them the rules?
two home movies down twelve to go. Finally got the point where Ezra was born... he thought that was cool. Marisa is cute now... she was absolutely adorable at 18 months of course we didn't video tape ALL the crying.
about a billion things on my have to do and want to do list.... nothing is getting done... typical.
So COLD! We haven't even had winter yet round here and I'm SO done with it
Christmas tree is still up... thinking about decorating it with valentines.
bed time.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
For 2012
I don't like to think of myself as a "resolution" person. But here I am going on my third or fourth year of setting goals for the year... I guess I am a resolution person. I think that somewhere in my head a resolution is something that you can either keep or not. Whereas a goal seems more like something I can strive for and at least accomplish to some degree... and then try to do better the next year. Whatever it is... here is what I've come up with for this year:
1. Go to the temple 1 time a month. I've been so bad since having kids. Horrible really. We never get babysitters. Our oldest is going on 8 and I can count on one hand how many times I've hired a non-relative babysitter for my kids. The temple usually takes 3 hours minimum and while I think there is no valid excuse for not going... this is my biggest one. So...what do I do? I'm going to try going by myself one time a month. I've come to the conclusion that we will never really be babysitter types so until the kids are all in school and/or they can watch over themselves, we will make do.
2. Cut back on the sugar. I'm an addict. A horrible, rotten addict. I've tried thinking of ways to accomplish this because I know I can't/won't/would never want to go all out. I'm considering no soda. I love soda and I don't drink it often, but it just has no value whatsoever. If I do this... Vacation is off limits. Two words...Cherry Crush. And maybe any parties that we throw (we don't have many but Roman is getting baptized this year you know). The only thing that worries me about this is that sometimes a simple cherry Pepsi can absolutely turn around a bad day. So...if not that... maybe only candy on holidays. I don't know that seems too hard and I'll start searching for any holiday to "celebrate". Any good ideas? Keep in mind I have very little self control so it's got to be simple but straight forward.
3. I'm going to try the home movie thing again. I'm already doing better than last year. I'm uploading a home movie as we speak and I have all the mini DV's labeled and I've bought a program that is not completely useless. Come on LeAnn! You can do it!
4. Finish the sewing room. I KNOW we can accomplish this. We have the momentum and we really need to be done so we can rid ourselves of all the extra building materials that are scattered throughout our basement. Another reason I know we can finish this is because it's just a ceiling. A CEILING! No ceiling should take longer than oh.... a few weeks. Right? .... Riiiiiight?...... Hello?
My poor sewing room.... It was an unnatural disaster when we moved in. It was constructed by someone who had NO IDEA what he was doing. It will never be really pretty, but it will be adequate and it will have a ceiling with lights that aren't hanging from wire hangers. Honestly, If I don't get an A on this one.... I will have failed at life. (not really, I'm just being dramatic)
5. Get happier. Not sure how to accomplish this. And I'm not sure to even say I want to be happier because it's not that I'm not happy (I've got it pretty good). And it might just be another way of saying "get a better attitude." I don't feel like I'm as generally cheerful as I was even a few years ago. So be it really getting into one of my million hobbies, taking a little more time for myself, Getting more exercise or eating better, waking up earlier (I actually think this would help a little but I can't seem to make myself do it) forcing myself to interact with more adults, taking more pride in what I do at home, working on goal #1, or getting myself a nice bottle of Prozac ;) Whatever it is... Ima gonna work on it.
6. This is another repeat.... Spend some time in my garden. I was thinking about this so much that I couldn't sleep last night. My garden has been squashed by the neighbors trees (which I gave them permission to plant mind you). Nothing produced because it's just too shady. Problem... I don't know what to do with it. I've got some ideas but I have a really hard time visualizing it. In the end I might just put in grass. That would be OK too. Honestly, we don't need more than a couple raised beds for my garden and raised beds can go anywhere and are less maintenance. Then I might just put in a flowerbed in another part of the yard that I've been thinking about for years. Oh... the time and money involved but in the end, it might just provide a little more shade for our house and deck which would be nice.
And... I better stop there. I may be in over my head with the first one. What's your goals for this year? Any big plans?
1. Go to the temple 1 time a month. I've been so bad since having kids. Horrible really. We never get babysitters. Our oldest is going on 8 and I can count on one hand how many times I've hired a non-relative babysitter for my kids. The temple usually takes 3 hours minimum and while I think there is no valid excuse for not going... this is my biggest one. So...what do I do? I'm going to try going by myself one time a month. I've come to the conclusion that we will never really be babysitter types so until the kids are all in school and/or they can watch over themselves, we will make do.
2. Cut back on the sugar. I'm an addict. A horrible, rotten addict. I've tried thinking of ways to accomplish this because I know I can't/won't/would never want to go all out. I'm considering no soda. I love soda and I don't drink it often, but it just has no value whatsoever. If I do this... Vacation is off limits. Two words...Cherry Crush. And maybe any parties that we throw (we don't have many but Roman is getting baptized this year you know). The only thing that worries me about this is that sometimes a simple cherry Pepsi can absolutely turn around a bad day. So...if not that... maybe only candy on holidays. I don't know that seems too hard and I'll start searching for any holiday to "celebrate". Any good ideas? Keep in mind I have very little self control so it's got to be simple but straight forward.
3. I'm going to try the home movie thing again. I'm already doing better than last year. I'm uploading a home movie as we speak and I have all the mini DV's labeled and I've bought a program that is not completely useless. Come on LeAnn! You can do it!
4. Finish the sewing room. I KNOW we can accomplish this. We have the momentum and we really need to be done so we can rid ourselves of all the extra building materials that are scattered throughout our basement. Another reason I know we can finish this is because it's just a ceiling. A CEILING! No ceiling should take longer than oh.... a few weeks. Right? .... Riiiiiight?...... Hello?
My poor sewing room.... It was an unnatural disaster when we moved in. It was constructed by someone who had NO IDEA what he was doing. It will never be really pretty, but it will be adequate and it will have a ceiling with lights that aren't hanging from wire hangers. Honestly, If I don't get an A on this one.... I will have failed at life. (not really, I'm just being dramatic)
5. Get happier. Not sure how to accomplish this. And I'm not sure to even say I want to be happier because it's not that I'm not happy (I've got it pretty good). And it might just be another way of saying "get a better attitude." I don't feel like I'm as generally cheerful as I was even a few years ago. So be it really getting into one of my million hobbies, taking a little more time for myself, Getting more exercise or eating better, waking up earlier (I actually think this would help a little but I can't seem to make myself do it) forcing myself to interact with more adults, taking more pride in what I do at home, working on goal #1, or getting myself a nice bottle of Prozac ;) Whatever it is... Ima gonna work on it.
6. This is another repeat.... Spend some time in my garden. I was thinking about this so much that I couldn't sleep last night. My garden has been squashed by the neighbors trees (which I gave them permission to plant mind you). Nothing produced because it's just too shady. Problem... I don't know what to do with it. I've got some ideas but I have a really hard time visualizing it. In the end I might just put in grass. That would be OK too. Honestly, we don't need more than a couple raised beds for my garden and raised beds can go anywhere and are less maintenance. Then I might just put in a flowerbed in another part of the yard that I've been thinking about for years. Oh... the time and money involved but in the end, it might just provide a little more shade for our house and deck which would be nice.
And... I better stop there. I may be in over my head with the first one. What's your goals for this year? Any big plans?
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Goal!
I thought about postponing grading myself on my goals for the year until April... but I'm ready for new goals and ready to drop the guilt for not completing some of them.
1. Get a better attitude.
I think i did OK on this one. If my attitude didn't change, I know that I successfully kept the whining to a minimum. There were many blog posts, face book statuses etc. that I did not do because they were just too negative. But as for actually having a better attitude... I will give myself a C.
2. Try to keep a cleaner house
I did fantastic on some things and horrible on others. I set daily "chores" for myself. Monday was bathrooms and laundry and I will give myself an A-. There were very few weeks where the bathrooms didn't get cleaned and the laundry was almost always done by Monday night... occasionally Tuesday morning if the kids went to bed before I could get their clothes in their closets. As for the other days of the week.... I failed totally and completely. I don't know if it's because I'm motivated and rested come Monday or if it's because I clean the kitchen twice a day anyway and pick up the living room at least once a day but it made it really hard to "really" clean them again. Maybe I will have to switch it up a little. Maybe put all the big stuff on Mondays and use the rest of the week for "maintenance."
3. Build up our food storage a little more.
I did OK. I'll give myself a C-. More work needs done but it will require cleaning out the storage room and that will require finishing my next goal...
4. I want to finish the basement.
Even though it's not done, I'm giving it an A+ because it even started. It was a lofty and dreamy hope more than a goal. Seriously. I can't tell you how excited for our basement to no longer be an issue. We've spent many nights thinking about, talking about and planning for this lemon of a basement. If we had our way, it wouldn't be a thing like it is, but moving in with it half finished according to a plan that doesn't fit our family's needs or wants so much... well... it's going to be lemonade gosh darnit! We picked out some carpet yesterday! YEAH! We found an almost perfect living room set yesterday too.... matched all my color schemes and everything...it's that "almost" part that gets in the way..... and the $2,000 but whatever. ;) After the carpet is in, we can do some re-arranging and put a ceiling in my sewing room and then... It will be done. Or at least done enough for me to actually fell like it's done.
5. Get every last home movie edited and on DVD.
F..... next.
6. Stay in shape.
I did pretty good for my lack of inspiration. I decided after my half marathon to stop running. It's been a good thing. My leg is feeling much better, I'm enjoying Zumba and I'm not completely jello. If not for November and December I would say A but the basement took over and I'll give myself a B
7. Use cash more... well, not more... just more than a credit card.
I've done OK, but I have a LONG way to go. I'll give myself a D. The old addage that Cash is harder to spend... doesn't apply to me apparently.
This year... I have to think about. I'm not sure yet. Did you set any goals? How did you do?
1. Get a better attitude.
I think i did OK on this one. If my attitude didn't change, I know that I successfully kept the whining to a minimum. There were many blog posts, face book statuses etc. that I did not do because they were just too negative. But as for actually having a better attitude... I will give myself a C.
2. Try to keep a cleaner house
I did fantastic on some things and horrible on others. I set daily "chores" for myself. Monday was bathrooms and laundry and I will give myself an A-. There were very few weeks where the bathrooms didn't get cleaned and the laundry was almost always done by Monday night... occasionally Tuesday morning if the kids went to bed before I could get their clothes in their closets. As for the other days of the week.... I failed totally and completely. I don't know if it's because I'm motivated and rested come Monday or if it's because I clean the kitchen twice a day anyway and pick up the living room at least once a day but it made it really hard to "really" clean them again. Maybe I will have to switch it up a little. Maybe put all the big stuff on Mondays and use the rest of the week for "maintenance."
3. Build up our food storage a little more.
I did OK. I'll give myself a C-. More work needs done but it will require cleaning out the storage room and that will require finishing my next goal...
4. I want to finish the basement.
Even though it's not done, I'm giving it an A+ because it even started. It was a lofty and dreamy hope more than a goal. Seriously. I can't tell you how excited for our basement to no longer be an issue. We've spent many nights thinking about, talking about and planning for this lemon of a basement. If we had our way, it wouldn't be a thing like it is, but moving in with it half finished according to a plan that doesn't fit our family's needs or wants so much... well... it's going to be lemonade gosh darnit! We picked out some carpet yesterday! YEAH! We found an almost perfect living room set yesterday too.... matched all my color schemes and everything...it's that "almost" part that gets in the way..... and the $2,000 but whatever. ;) After the carpet is in, we can do some re-arranging and put a ceiling in my sewing room and then... It will be done. Or at least done enough for me to actually fell like it's done.
5. Get every last home movie edited and on DVD.
F..... next.
6. Stay in shape.
I did pretty good for my lack of inspiration. I decided after my half marathon to stop running. It's been a good thing. My leg is feeling much better, I'm enjoying Zumba and I'm not completely jello. If not for November and December I would say A but the basement took over and I'll give myself a B
7. Use cash more... well, not more... just more than a credit card.
I've done OK, but I have a LONG way to go. I'll give myself a D. The old addage that Cash is harder to spend... doesn't apply to me apparently.
This year... I have to think about. I'm not sure yet. Did you set any goals? How did you do?
Monday, January 2, 2012
Sunbeams
I like sunbeams.... the ones that come through our window in the winter and warm up our house. They are glorious.
Sunbeams is also the name of the class at church for the kids who are turning 4 during the year. Before that they just play in the nursery. It really is a charmed existence until that first Sunday in January when the 3 year olds get the boot. (honestly, I think they should go by school year)
When Roman was about to become a Sunbeam he was 3.5 years old and was afraid of turning into an actual SUN-BEAM and would have to go live in the sky. When that was all straightened out he was totally bummed when Jesus didn't show for the first day of class. After all, Jesus wanted him there. ;) (You have to know the song to get it)
I thought Marisa would be a total wreck when it came time last year to go into Sunbeams but she was comforted by the fact that both Roman and I would be in the same room with her at the start and she did really well.
Ezra is just young. Since his birthday is at the end of the year he's the youngest in his class. Most of the kids in his class will be in the grade above him. Fall birthdays are the pitts!
We tried to prepare him the best we could, but he was never on board. And who would be? Let's see... you can go to nursery where you get to play with toys eat snacks and do just about anything you feel like doing. OR...you can go sit quietly in Primary, then go sit in class...where they don't have snacks or toys. He's no dummy. A few years ago they used to make the transition slowly. They would bring the kids in for singing time for a month or so and they would still give them a snack and some play time for a few months. I'm not a fan of this abrupt change even if it is a little easier. But that's just me.
Marisa was excited to help him. I even thought they might be in the same class since there are only 4 kids in Marisa's class and 4 in Ezra's class, but it didn't turn out that way.
Marisa and Ezra and I walked into primary and Marisa was very upset that she no longer sits on the front row. She was even more upset that she had new teachers. She glued herself to my legs.
Ezra's teachers came and he had no interest in sitting with them. I had to go play the piano so I walked to the piano with Marisa practically pulling my skirt off and left Ezra standing there crying.
A teacher picked him up which started him squirming and boy he can squirm really good. He escaped and headed down the hall straight for nursery. I tried to concentrate on playing the piano but for some reason I couldn't exactly focus.
The Sunbeam teacher held on to Ezra the entire time and except for the few moments where he was distracted by singing time, he squirmed and fought that poor man the whole 45 minutes. I wish I had a picture of Ezra...he was SO mad. He just kept glaring at me and pouting.
I told Marisa I was taking her to class...she bawled. I picked her up...she screamed. I took her to her class and she grabbed on to my shirt so tight she almost ripped off my sleeve.
The good news is that by the end of church both of them were just fine. Honestly, I think they would have been at least 50% better if I didn't have to be in the same room with them. They both perked up when I was no longer in sight. Are any of your kids like that? The only day Marisa has cried at preschool is the day I was a helper.
Ezra came home and fell asleep in a sunbeam. I hope his teacher got to take a nap too. He earned it.
Next week has got to be better. I can't imagine it being much worse.
I know there are some parents who just let the kids win. We've got a whole club of foyer dwellers in our ward, which is fine...but I'm not one of them. It's against the rules to sit with mom or wander the halls with dad during class (a rule Marisa has broken twice this month, the stinker). Going to the foyer is an absolute last resort and I make it miserable for them. I hope I'm not totally screwing my kids up. How did your kids handle sunbeams (or something similar)?
Sunbeams is also the name of the class at church for the kids who are turning 4 during the year. Before that they just play in the nursery. It really is a charmed existence until that first Sunday in January when the 3 year olds get the boot. (honestly, I think they should go by school year)
When Roman was about to become a Sunbeam he was 3.5 years old and was afraid of turning into an actual SUN-BEAM and would have to go live in the sky. When that was all straightened out he was totally bummed when Jesus didn't show for the first day of class. After all, Jesus wanted him there. ;) (You have to know the song to get it)
I thought Marisa would be a total wreck when it came time last year to go into Sunbeams but she was comforted by the fact that both Roman and I would be in the same room with her at the start and she did really well.
Ezra is just young. Since his birthday is at the end of the year he's the youngest in his class. Most of the kids in his class will be in the grade above him. Fall birthdays are the pitts!
We tried to prepare him the best we could, but he was never on board. And who would be? Let's see... you can go to nursery where you get to play with toys eat snacks and do just about anything you feel like doing. OR...you can go sit quietly in Primary, then go sit in class...where they don't have snacks or toys. He's no dummy. A few years ago they used to make the transition slowly. They would bring the kids in for singing time for a month or so and they would still give them a snack and some play time for a few months. I'm not a fan of this abrupt change even if it is a little easier. But that's just me.
Marisa was excited to help him. I even thought they might be in the same class since there are only 4 kids in Marisa's class and 4 in Ezra's class, but it didn't turn out that way.
Marisa and Ezra and I walked into primary and Marisa was very upset that she no longer sits on the front row. She was even more upset that she had new teachers. She glued herself to my legs.
Ezra's teachers came and he had no interest in sitting with them. I had to go play the piano so I walked to the piano with Marisa practically pulling my skirt off and left Ezra standing there crying.
A teacher picked him up which started him squirming and boy he can squirm really good. He escaped and headed down the hall straight for nursery. I tried to concentrate on playing the piano but for some reason I couldn't exactly focus.
The Sunbeam teacher held on to Ezra the entire time and except for the few moments where he was distracted by singing time, he squirmed and fought that poor man the whole 45 minutes. I wish I had a picture of Ezra...he was SO mad. He just kept glaring at me and pouting.
I told Marisa I was taking her to class...she bawled. I picked her up...she screamed. I took her to her class and she grabbed on to my shirt so tight she almost ripped off my sleeve.
The good news is that by the end of church both of them were just fine. Honestly, I think they would have been at least 50% better if I didn't have to be in the same room with them. They both perked up when I was no longer in sight. Are any of your kids like that? The only day Marisa has cried at preschool is the day I was a helper.
Ezra came home and fell asleep in a sunbeam. I hope his teacher got to take a nap too. He earned it.
Next week has got to be better. I can't imagine it being much worse.
I know there are some parents who just let the kids win. We've got a whole club of foyer dwellers in our ward, which is fine...but I'm not one of them. It's against the rules to sit with mom or wander the halls with dad during class (a rule Marisa has broken twice this month, the stinker). Going to the foyer is an absolute last resort and I make it miserable for them. I hope I'm not totally screwing my kids up. How did your kids handle sunbeams (or something similar)?
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