Life’s too short...to never sleep in a treehouse! 8/27 TR is up! Link in siggie

[jordanyosh]

Hope you can talk Jeff into the original.

1) Buy your tix before you go the park the lines are horrendous.

2) If at all possible don't drive to the park. With construction going on, they closed a parking lot. Parking is a nightmare, but if you read Miceage, you're familiar with those problems.

 

[eandesmom]

Good afternoon all !! I have the pleasureof being the babysitter this afternoon !! I am taking them briefly t aChistmas party at my on call house !! That should set them straight as to appreciating anything else I decide to do or not do with them The last time I took them they hid in the kitchen to escape an "inmate "
We are goingto Denny's to eat cuz have a coupon

I hope it went well Rosie! Denny's = Grand Slam = yum!

Ooooo, Food and Wine!!! I'm so excited for you.

Thanks, me too!

Hope you can talk Jeff into the original.

1) Buy your tix before you go the park the lines are horrendous.

2) If at all possible don't drive to the park. With construction going on, they closed a parking lot. Parking is a nightmare, but if you read Miceage, you're familiar with those problems.

I do too, I'm not sure how we could buy tickets ahead of time though as if we only want a 1 day, you can only get those at the parks and the 2 day is a lot more. We will see, I'll keep my eye out but I think we may be stuck on buying there as I don't see Jeff changing his mind before that. But I'll work on him, after Christmas!

Right now neither of us are feeling like the E's deserve a trip anywhere (can you say BAD weekend?) and so I won't be bringing it up until we get a bit closer. lol.

I haven't read Miceage much but need to.

The hotel offers a shuttle so we will definitely do that!

 

[All7OfUs]

Right now neither of us are feeling like the E's deserve a trip anywhere (can you say BAD weekend?) and so I won't be bringing it up until we get a bit closer. lol.

I think I'd rather have no water, than cranky kids!! Hope they have gotten their tudes in check!!

I hear what you're saying about adding the extra park day. EXPENSIVE!! But I"m with Jordan!! The original park is so worth it. Even just for NOS itself.

 

[jordanyosh]

Sorry about the kids. Hope it was kids being kids more than a tip of the iceberg kinda thing.

 

[eandesmom]

I think I'd rather have no water, than cranky kids!! Hope they have gotten their tudes in check!!

I hear what you're saying about adding the extra park day. EXPENSIVE!! But I"m with Jordan!! The original park is so worth it. Even just for NOS itself.

Oh I wish it was cranky. Sadly it was entitled, arrogant, selfish, defiant and disrespectful. Sucked the Christmas Spirit right out of me.

Blessedly two little angels (literally, it was the children program) filled me back up this morning, children I don't even know. I really needed that.

Evan did a turn as a wise man this morning with an unexpected speaking part that came up last night (and being the ham that he is, he jumped on the chance to perform in front of a captive audience) and promised in front of the whole church to "seek".

I really hope it came from his heart.

God is good.

We will see on the original, I would like to! And I'd really like to do a retro report if I can get my pics from my mom!

Sorry about the kids. Hope it was kids being kids more than a tip of the iceberg kinda thing.

More like the iceberg that finally sank. Or the straw that broke the camel's back.

Me being the camel. LOL.

Today was better.

 

[jordanyosh]

Glad to hear they were better...

 

[eandesmom]

Glad to hear they were better...

yesterday was better. This morning, not so much.

 

[All7OfUs]

Morning Cynthia!!

Kids pulling themselves together in the selfish department?

I have to know... did you go get a tree from a farm this year, or from a lot? I'm so missing that scent, and size, and whole experience of "TREE" this year!

Give me a NW fix!

 

[eandesmom]

Ok, so I have been in a FUNK this weekend. A rollercoaster. From Highs, to LOW’s.

Jeff was gone this weekend, celebrating the miracle of his Dad’s recovery. I had a busy weekend planned for the E’s and I, full of Christmas Magic.

Except somehow my children were not filled with the same spirit. Oh they were all for the “getting” aspect, the “giving” not so much. Somehow, the message of Christmas seems to have escaped them this year and well, I had it. I quit. Winkers (I think) had mentioned a book “Quitting Christmas” and that’s truly how I felt Saturday, like quitting. I’d read it again but I’m not sure it would really make me feel any better.

So far my quitting efforts have not resulted in an iota of change.

Sadly, the report cards that came home today completely reflected what is going on at home. Stellar academic grades for the most part, either at or above grade level across the board. “Needs Improvement” in the listening, collaboration, cooperation and self management categories.

Sigh.

Much like a child, when I am in a funk, I need a distraction. So what’s a planner to do?

Make a new spreadsheet!

I finally sat down and made a flexible spreadsheet that has all my options set up into drop down menu’s that change depending on my choices. So if I pick x park on xx day it will show me the hours for the park for that day, whether it has EMH or not and fireworks times based on my PM touring plan, crowd levels, which parks to hit/avoid, etc! It makes it SO much easier to move things around and see how a whole day looks! I've broken it up into three time periods, AM touring plan, Midday and then PM.

That's been the hard part for me. We are late starters and then we just GO without stopping. With Sandie and Paul and the August heat, that just won't work. So the plan is Red-eye to force the time change, earlier starts and mandatory mid day breaks. Which truly does make the daily planning more complicated!

Now I can let kids look at menu’s (once I actually tell them about the trip lol!) and whatever ends up getting picked, I can now easily tweak things! It’s super easy to update.

I’ll still be doing my binder pages mind you, but I need the spreadsheet to house all the info they are based on. No changes to the binder pages posted so far but I did tweak the ones that follow and then based on the kid ADR input, it could tweak from there! I'm running about 50/50 on parks to avoid versus best parks but as a general rule, EMH=parks to avoid on the touring plans and I can't say I agree...if you are there primarily for the EMH! Right now only 1 day looks horrible crowd level wise (assuming our dates don't change) so that's cool, it will be a refreshing change from last President's days weeks trip which was...nightmarish.

Spreadsheets make me happy. Single tabbed ones that have everything I need at my fingertips, that look up info for me and auto populate, versus multiple tabs that I'm then consolidating.

IF,THEN is my friend. And a better distraction than a new binder page. I tried that first but I NEEDED the master fabulous new spreadsheet first!

I my new spreadsheet.

Yes. I am a dork.

Oh and even though I HAVE NOT SAID A THING....Jeff and I were bemoaning how broke we are and how everyone is hitting us up left and right for donations to this that and the other thing and travel specials, special sales, etc.

We got a REALLY great offer for a Vegas trip. I mean REALLY great. 3 nights at the Wynn INCLUDING 2 tix their Cirque water show, for $199. Flights there are dirt cheap. Of course that's not a kid trip!

His exact words.

"We can't ...we are going to Disneyland!"

Methinks there is hope for a rendezvous with the Matterhorn and NOS!

And the BRAT saw Cirque in SF with his dad and stepmom Sat night! Lucky Dog. He is all over seeing Cirque on our date night in August though.



Next. Decking the Halls, Trimming Trees and Breaking Through

 

[All7OfUs]

I"m sorry that the kids' junk has pulled you into a slump. Ick!

Maybe they would benefit from a day serving the homeless in Downtown Seattle?? A day at the Salvation Army certainly might be eye-opening in a lot of respects.

I'd love to see your new spreadsheet. I wish I knew more about how to really work with them; I'm actually thinking of taking a class when I get back! I can totally see where you'd need the spreadsheet before you do the pages. But it's like a chicken vs. egg sorta thing, I think.

 

[jordanyosh]

I was hoping to see that masterpiece and then you could do a Excel for dummies for me so I could understand all those things that you were talking about in your post that had me going...HUH?

Sorry about the kids...

 

[glennbo123]

Oooo I love spreadsheets too. My DVC ones are more intricate....they pull in the number of points based on the date and the room size from a big table I built. My planning ones are pretty basic.

 

[TarzansKat]

Sorry about the kiddos. I know how you feel. We're going through a serious case of the "I wants" over here and it's getting frustrating.

I love your spreadsheet concept! I think I'm going to have to ask you to make one for me the next time ago, which won't be for a while. Can I book your skills a couple of years in advance?

 

[eandesmom]

I"m sorry that the kids' junk has pulled you into a slump. Ick!

Maybe they would benefit from a day serving the homeless in Downtown Seattle?? A day at the Salvation Army certainly might be eye-opening in a lot of respects.

I'd love to see your new spreadsheet. I wish I knew more about how to really work with them; I'm actually thinking of taking a class when I get back! I can totally see where you'd need the spreadsheet before you do the pages. But it's like a chicken vs. egg sorta thing, I think.

Well it isn't so much the greedy I want's, their xmas lists are relatively reasonable and include things for others...and heaven knows they do service projects up the wazoo so it's not lack of exposure to that. It's more the total disregard for the rules of the house and general rudeness and defiance in general. A host of little things that add up and clearly it's happening in class too.

Stuff like....

It's a school day. It's time to eat breakfast.

• They are under the tree.
  
• They are opening advent calendars
  
• They are playing with the stuff from the advent calendars
  
• They are making up songs (they have their own version of 12 days that they are making up a new verse each day, it's a riot)
  
• They are NOT eating breakfast. Or making lunch. Or getting ready for school.

Is any of that bad in and of itself? Of course not. It's all adorable. And they are welcome to do it every day, AFTER they eat, get dressed, make lunches and brush our teeth. Instead, they do that instead of what they are supposed to, I spend an hour every morning yelling/nagging and WE MISS THE BUS almost every day.

Stuff like I go to pick up Eric from a bday party. Pick up was early due to a conflict with another party. He looks up, yells across the room, in front of everyone.

"BUT I HAVEN'T HAD CAKE YET!"

They hadn't even cut the cake.

Can you say mortifying? He is nine. Far too old for that.

It is just a constant disregard for anything I ask them to do. On Saturday we were to see Santa. I Santa pictures. Especially with this Santa. He is the real deal. Check him out!

We had a crazy crazy weekend and this was the only slot. They have been aksing to go since the day after Thanksgiving. "When are we going? Can we go today? Can we go now? Are we going this weekend?"

They were told we needed to be out of the house by 9:30 to beat the line and be able to do it.

They were up in plenty of time.

They were making up songs. Hanging out in jammies. Arguing about what to wear. Arguing about how early we needed to get there. Arguing (backtalk) simply for the sake of doing so. They were warned. And warned. And warned that they were going to blow it, to miss seeing him, that this was the only chance. They LOVE seeing Santa.

We left at 10:30. Evan had a 2 hour workshop that started at noon. We get there, Santa opens at 10, line is snaking all the way down the middle of the mall.

I don't have another chance to take them until their break starts next week which is too late to get the pictures in the grandparent cards. We left.
I don't know that we will go back. It bums me out in a big big way.

Evan didn't get to decorate the tree this year with us as a direct result of defiance and choosing not to fulfill his responsibilities around the house (which are not much!) He has had many a chance to earn them back, his ornaments are still off to the side. Though he cried and cried when it happened, I know he thought I'd change my mind, he isn't doing anything to earn it back.

Sunday, after the Santa fiasco, they were actually ready for church on time, no issues, all on their own (they really wanted to go to the Children's program, plus Evan had a small part).

Yesterday they were back to "normal"...we missed the bus. I had to take the Playmobil Advent Calendar away. Today we made the bus but BARELY.

I just don't get it. It is all such silly stuff but the mountain of it is overwhelming and I am so so very tired of the constant nagging that doesn't even work. So I'm not nagging anymore, but there are consequences.

Based on the report cards it's the same stuff at school. Just general silliness and doing what they want, when they want to, regardless of whether it is the right time or place. They are good kids but boy they could really use a heavy dose of respect! Of cooperation and collaboration. I think that's the part that floors me. It's not like we are asking for much. Silly and harmless or not, the cumulative effect of it on me is...draining and frankly it hurts when you don't feel heard by your own kids.

Sorry for the vent. In the big picture of life I know it's nothing but I also know it is NOT the model they are given and I just don't get it!

I'd be happy to send you a clean copy of the spreadsheet with instructions if you like It's pretty basic. You just input your info and go from there.

I was hoping to see that masterpiece and then you could do a Excel for dummies for me so I could understand all those things that you were talking about in your post that had me going...HUH?

Sorry about the kids...

I can post images though I'm not sure it translates all that well as a picture. But if you want to see it I'd be happy to send it with instructions, it's all set up with links for easy updating.

Oooo I love spreadsheets too. My DVC ones are more intricate....they pull in the number of points based on the date and the room size from a big table I built. My planning ones are pretty basic.

Ahh...tables....

My planning ones have been more basic in the past and it isn't like this is all that fancy but it sure saves a lot of re-entry! And human error.

Sorry about the kiddos. I know how you feel. We're going through a serious case of the "I wants" over here and it's getting frustrating.

I love your spreadsheet concept! I think I'm going to have to ask you to make one for me the next time ago, which won't be for a while. Can I book your skills a couple of years in advance?

Why of course! 2 years sounds about right, 2 is a bad age (or it was for me...I mean Eric) but 1 works! Baby !

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Yippeee for the spreadsheet! I'm very, very big on spreadsheets so I don't think your a dork In fact, my whole job used to be based on spreadsheets. Billions of spreadsheets

I'm so sorry about the boys I swear it's all from the pre-holiday excitement! Mine have been pretty good so far (knock on wood) but I've had countless friends mention how terrible their kids are being right now! I hope it all gets better!!!

 

[eandesmom]

Yippeee for the spreadsheet! I'm very, very big on spreadsheets so I don't think your a dork In fact, my whole job used to be based on spreadsheets. Billions of spreadsheets

I'm so sorry about the boys I swear it's all from the pre-holiday excitement! Mine have been pretty good so far (knock on wood) but I've had countless friends mention how terrible their kids are being right now! I hope it all gets better!!!

I wish I could blame it on the holidays, the behavior is not new.

 

[TarzansKat]

Awww, baby Or , who can say?

Sorry for that mini-hijack. I just wanted to say I SO empathize with you about the boys. I may have one and he may be younger, but I know exactly how frustrated you must be feeling. We often have the same issues with DS about not doing things he's asked. I know he's four (five in February), but there are certain things that I think are reasonable to expect, and the dawdling, not listening, basically playing around...which is cute, I totally agree...can really really grate on me sometimes. Maybe that makes me sound mean, I don't know, but for once...just once...I would love for him to do something the first time I ask.

Not the fifth or sixth. After I've had to resort to yelling.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Spreadsheets make me happy. Single tabbed ones that have everything I need at my fingertips, that look up info for me and auto populate, versus multiple tabs that I'm then consolidating.

IF,THEN is my friend. And a better distraction than a new binder page. I tried that first but I NEEDED the master fabulous new spreadsheet first!

I my new spreadsheet.

There's nothing like a perfectly executed pivot table to cleanse one's soul!

I am learning that once you have kids, life is never predictable and sanity is relative. I too have pondered the apparent personality shift which seems to overtake them from time to time and bring chaos along for the ride. And then there are other moments. When they laugh at my jokes (usually involving a finger needing pulled), or when then invite me to their tea party, or ask God to help me have a good day at work when they say their prayers at night. Those moments are what get me through the more trying times. It’s amazing how fast they grow, how quickly they change, and how brief my time is to teach them the lessons they won’t learn any place else. It’s the most important and difficult thing I’ve ever done or will ever do. But it’s also the most rewarding. Breath deep and let not your heart be troubled; for as chaotic as life seems, this too shall pass.

Sending a prayer of encouragement your way.

 

[TarzansKat]

Here here! You put that perfectly.

 

[eandesmom]

Morning Cynthia!!

Kids pulling themselves together in the selfish department?

I have to know... did you go get a tree from a farm this year, or from a lot? I'm so missing that scent, and size, and whole experience of "TREE" this year!

Give me a NW fix!

Ah, 2 steps forward, 2 back you know?

Evan's had a good day for the most part but they both were beyond rude at the post office just now. It's not like they didn't have the entire time I was in line to talk to me but saved it all up until I'm trying to determine priority versus parcel or insurance or not. I don't even know what I ended up doing! Hopefully their grandmothers gift will arrive on time, I'm fairly sure I paid more than I should on insurance and not enough on actual postage! Heaven only knows what else I did there.

'cept maybe send a card to blank-a-stan



On the tree. Oh my gosh...I have to let you down on this one. I am SO sorry!

Historically we have always cut down our tree. But...5 years ago we built the house we live in now. Our very first Christmas in it we had a disastrous attempt to find a decent farm to cut a good one down. It took multiple trips, was a bit of an ordeal and not really all that fun for anyone by the time it was done.

And then the tree fell OVER! Causing nasty water damage to my oh so new and fabulous bamboo floors!

Floors were refinished, not correctly but that's a whole 'nother saga.

Next Christmas the actual procuring, cutting and finding part was a dream. Absolutely perfect.

We used a different stand. One that had NO chance of toppling. Impossible to get at to fill and as a result...water got UNDER the stand and actually caused more damage than the first tree had.

Floors have not been refinished. I bought a chair which hides the worst of it.

The next year, after MUCH deliberation and copious amounts of research and comparison shopping we...

bought a fake one.

I just couldn't do it again.

I have real garland outside though! I had it inside last year hoping it would give me the "smell" but it really didn't (and made a mess). It is pretty though...

Except it spins and I don't trust Melvin not to eat it.



Then it's just broken ornaments and dings in the floor I guess.

Awww, baby Or , who can say?

Sorry for that mini-hijack. I just wanted to say I SO empathize with you about the boys. I may have one and he may be younger, but I know exactly how frustrated you must be feeling. We often have the same issues with DS about not doing things he's asked. I know he's four (five in February), but there are certain things that I think are reasonable to expect, and the dawdling, not listening, basically playing around...which is cute, I totally agree...can really really grate on me sometimes. Maybe that makes me sound mean, I don't know, but for once...just once...I would love for him to do something the first time I ask.

Not the fifth or sixth. After I've had to resort to yelling.

You know TK, or ...that baby will still be a pirate.

The multiple requesting, resorting to yelling is a bit more understandable, or at least tolerable, at 4 and 5 then at 9 and 10! I mean I suppose I shouldn't expect so much. It's not like K or T do anything the first time we ask either....I just see them less so it's less grating!



Still. I just don't think it's unrealistic. Evan's teacher told me I should go through his backpack every day. He is in FIFTH grade! If I can't make him accountable to pull stuff out of there now, when? Never? That's just reinforcing that I think he can't do it. What would motivate him to learn?

There's nothing like a perfectly executed pivot table to cleanse one's soul!

I am learning that once you have kids, life is never predictable and sanity is relative. I too have pondered the apparent personality shift which seems to overtake them from time to time and bring chaos along for the ride. And then there are other moments. When they laugh at my jokes (usually involving a finger needing pulled), or when then invite me to their tea party, or ask God to help me have a good day at work when they say their prayers at night. Those moments are what get me through the more trying times. It’s amazing how fast they grow, how quickly they change, and how brief my time is to teach them the lessons they won’t learn any place else. It’s the most important and difficult thing I’ve ever done or will ever do. But it’s also the most rewarding. Breath deep and let not your heart be troubled; for as chaotic as life seems, this too shall pass.

Sending a prayer of encouragement your way.

Well I confess, no pivot tables here, it's a pretty simplistic little tool but suits my purposes.

The moments make ALL the difference and do get me through, it is just hard when you feel the lessons aren't sticking!

There are plenty of delicious moments no doubt.

My personal favorite at the moment is Evan's theory of how Santa gets the presents down the chimney.

He farts them down.

The mind of the 5th grade boy busily at work!

That's some powerful wind!

Here here! You put that perfectly.

Yes he did!