Five for Friday

I haven't done one of these in a while, so I thought today would be a good time to do one and catch up.  I know I haven't been blogging much the past two weeks.  Partly because I just have nothing to say.  Partly because I just haven't felt like it.  And partly because we went from having nothing to do to having all sorts of things going on and we are just trying to get into the swing of this new fall routine.

ONE

(Picture sent by teacher.  She says she loves to dance)

Preschool is going well.  We have now finished 4 weeks, and Olivia loves it.  We had a little bit of a rocky start.  Long story short, one of her teachers was basically trying to have 3 year old behave and do work of 5 year olds.  Luckily it is not the lead teacher and it seems to now have been cleared up.  I did speak with the director (who is also new to her position) and she agreed and has already addressed the issue.  Olivia comes home singing the songs and talking about how she loves going.  We know it is good for her on many levels.  I just wish I didn't feel like I ran a marathon every Tuesday and Thursday trying to get out of the house on time.  I have to wake her every single time (despite the fact that she goes to bed at a decent time).  Hopefully that part will get better.

TWO

A RARE moment of sitting still

I have started babysitting two little boys on Fridays.  They are both about the same age as my children.  When I was originally looking for something to do part time, my girlfriends were all telling me to watch kids in my home.  It's not something I ever want to do full time.  First of all, Michael would not be game for that.  And second, I need to be able to take Olivia to preschool and to have the freedom to go places on other days.  So I was open to the idea, but only if the right situation presented itself and for very part time.  Well, this situation sort of just fell in my lap and it is perfect.  They are here from about 9 to 3.  So with lunch and naps and play, play, play the day usually goes pretty quickly.  I make a little extra money and Olivia LOVES having a weekly play mate.  Plus, it is really good for her to have someone in her space, playing with her toys.  She is learning to share, take turns, and play nicely.  It is a win/win.

THREE

Olivia has finally started her swimming lessons.  We are doing it through a rec center, and we had to wait for the fall sessions to start.  We aren't a resident of that city, so by the time registration was opened to us, all of the Saturday slots were filled.  So Michael and Olivia have been going on Monday and Wednesday nights.  I plan on going and watching and taking pictures and I'm sure there will be a whole new blog post about it, but that is another thing that is taking up our time this month.  Olivia has loved it.  It has been a while since she has been in the water (since Texas, really), so we weren't sure how she would do.  So we signed her up for a Three and Me class.  Michael gets in with her and it is a class to help them transition into the 3 year old get in without a parent class.  Now that we know that she is doing great, we are thinking of signing her up for the next session where she goes by herself.  This last session was a birthday gift, but I don't want to just do one month and then just drop off.  I really want her to learn how to swim and be comfortable in the water.  So far, so good!  Of course, she also loves the special time with Michael, and the facility is really nice and they can stay and play after the session is done. :)

FOUR

Well, I decided to give MOPS another go around this year.  Because of Olivia's preschool schedule, I couldn't attend any of the day time ones in the area.  I would never have been able to pick her up on time.  So I went for a night session.  That means there is a mix of working moms and stay at home moms.  Which is good for different perspectives, but harder when it comes to things like play dates.  Again, I knew going into it that it wouldn't be ANYTHING like the MOPS in Texas, and it wasn't.  But... it was better than the group I was briefly in last year, so that is progress.  I know I need this for myself, and I know I need to not compare groups.  I liked the leader and she happens to be at my table.  So I'm hoping for a good year.  Although I will say that my MOPS group in Texas had their first meeting this week, and after seeing pictures on Facebook I really did just want to cry.  But moving on...

Also at my table was a girl that I knew from my teaching days.  She student taught at my school and then actually took my job when I left.  I got to talking to her afterwards. The theme for MOPS this year is "Be You Bravely" (this video explains it).  Half way through the conversation she says, "You are 'Be you Bravely'.  There isn't anyone I know who embodies that more than you.  You don't need MOPS.  You are already there. I wish I could be like that."  Wow. Well, clearly she sees me a little different than I see myself.  But it did open up the conversation for me to encourage her, and then I felt like maybe God did have me there in that group for a reason.  So here I go... joining a new group... being me bravely.

FIVE

The other thing that is taking up my time is sorting, organizing, and selling.  I am in the mood to purge.  Both Logan and Olivia are about to move to the next size and need all new clothes for the fall/winter, so I am going through their closets and weeding out the old.  I've even started going through my own closet to weed out the old.  I am also itching to get our basement organized, so I am trying to purge and sell items from there as well.  I go through phases with the selling.  It can be a lot of work, but it can also be beneficial.  I think I am going to try to sell things at a consignment sale this year, but before I do that I am trying to get rid of some of Olivia's old clothes on FB.  I have done pretty well.  I have also sold our bassinet, our play gym, the infant car seat and more.  I just need it all GONE!

So that is what I have been doing.  Working, raising kids, dropping and picking up from preschool, babysitting, cleaning, organizing, going to MOPS, laundry, laundry and more laundry, cooking, shopping, checking homework, bathing.... you know, being a wife and MOM. :)  Hopefully I will get back to posting more soon.