September '20 WISH Challenge - New Beginnings

[Summer2018]

Woohoo... someone picked up the desk yesterday. There were some nice dining chairs out up the street for almost a week before someone got them, so I wasn't sure how long it would take. I'm happy to be rid of it and happy someone who can use it has it.

Woohoo... my kitten appointment for Saturday is set. The kitten that I thought was Pippa's sister is still there but isn't really her sister, but the gal said there was a real nice little boy coming in and lots of other ones to choose from. Still sad and grieving but also looking forward to getting our little family put back together.

Woohoo... for getting so much stuff out of the house, even if there is a lot still do do I have gotten started and made good progress. This was my thing to accomplish this year and I was beating myself up for getting such a "late" start, but realized I had given myself the year to accomplish it, but that didn't mean it was going to take all year to get it done. For September I'll do this next trip to OC, then another trip to GW, and get the recycle cardboard out. Then one side of the basement will be where I start to pile stuff for the junk people to pick up, which I'll plan for early November. Fun times.

The house is all shut up today, except for the fan in the living room, all the windows are shut to keep the smoke out. I should have done this yesterday. We don't have rain in the foreseeable forecast, which would really help with the forest fires and the smoke. There are over a dozen fires going in the state right now, a couple have devastated towns. Heart is aching for all those impacted.

I hope that you stay safe from the fires.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Thanks for the encouragement, @Summer2018! Mom got some e-mails from the school and forwarded them on to me, including the first week's schedule, so that's good! We just have to test their log-ons and "explore the platform" Monday, and then we have a real-time meet-n-greet Tuesday morning. The rest is tech instructions parent info I'm going to read tomorrow.

I've also spent some time today putting together first-day-of-school "swag bags" for the kids - magnets with their names to hang up their work, customized clip boards, a special snack... I hope to do some pictures Monday as well. They grew a cute little garden with dad this summer, and it has a really tall sunflower I want to take their first day of school photos with!

 

[Summer2018]

Thanks for the encouragement, @Summer2018! Mom got some e-mails from the school and forwarded them on to me, including the first week's schedule, so that's good! We just have to test their log-ons and "explore the platform" Monday, and then we have a real-time meet-n-greet Tuesday morning. The rest is tech instructions parent info I'm going to read tomorrow.

I've also spent some time today putting together first-day-of-school "swag bags" for the kids - magnets with their names to hang up their work, customized clip boards, a special snack... I hope to do some pictures Monday as well. They grew a cute little garden with dad this summer, and it has a really tall sunflower I want to take their first day of school photos with!

It all sounds awesome!

 

[Oneanne]

Favorite WDW memories... I guess it would have to be the trips with my Niece and Nephews when they were around 11. With my Niece it would be when we were in line at Space Mountain. She kept seeing kids her age bail out of line and shortly after we passed the “if you’re pregnant, have a bad back, heart condition... you should not ride this ride.” She told me she couldn’t ride... because she had tennis elbow. We rode and she survived. My Nephew J wanted to do all the scary rides, until he saw the promo on Splash Mountain on the tv in the room. Somehow when ever we were in that area he had a reason why he didn’t want to ride... last day we were walking past talking and I saw there was literally no line, so I just steered him that direction. We were right at loading when he realized where we were and froze, but didn’t want to look un-cool so I managed to get him in to the boat. It was his favorite thing we did. Nephew T was the only one who actually read the WDW for Kids book I gave him, front to back. So the entire trip he was telling me what to do. My favorite memory is sitting by the fountain in Germany at dusk eating pretzels when the night lights came on.

 

[4Mickeys]

@Summer2018 That sounds so hectic! I hope those kids settle into the routine soon - it sounds like you are doing an amazing job in a very challenging situation

Disney Memories.

I have a few wonderful memories from my trip with the kids in 2014 - prior to that I had been once before as a young adult in 1997 (I think it was!). Oh and mine are all DISNEYLAND trips.

#1 We were waiting in the Royal Theatre for the the Tangled play. It was too hot to run the performance that day (we went in September SOOOOO HOT). Instead they had the Characters come out to do a meet and greet. When we were in line some of the supporting characters were chatting with everyone finding out where you were from and general chit chat. When it was my kids turn to meet with Flynn and Rapunzel the other characters let them know we were from Australia and some of the other things they had been chatting about. Rapuzel and Flynn ended up interacting with my kids for about 15 minutes in a fun almost little skit with hiding and finding the tiara. They LOVED it and I got so many photos but for some reason forgot to think to film it on video.

#2 Again this started out at the Royal Theatre - we were waiting after the Beauty and the Beast show for a meet and greet. It did not go ahead. DS10 (at the time) was mucking around with his sword and almost took out one of the lady staff cast members who had let us know it wasn't going ahead. He only had the sword as he and DD had had the Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique makeovers. I made him apologise, we struck up a conversation, she was a grandmother, we chatted for quite some time, she sent someone to get a little Cinderella slipper for DD10 and then offered us a front of line pass for anyride in Fantasy Land. We said the only one we hadn't been on yet was Peter Pan and we didn't think it took front of line passes. She said "oh that doesn't matter we can take care of that" she sent for another cast member and we got a personal escort to Peter Pan and onto the ride bypassing the line. She was so lovely, her name was Pat, and as you can see her and her kindness was never forgotten. I must say DS10 did not actually make physical contact with her and was just being a typical 10 year old boy not watching what he was doing before he leaped off the bench swashbuckling lol The theatre was empty by this stage and it was just us having a chat.

#3 Darth Vader, storm troopers and Darth Maul making fun of my boys because the only pen I had on me when they had a meet and greet to get their autograph books signed was DD pink princess Disney pen. The reaction of Darth Vader, Storm Troopers and Darth Maul at having to use a Princess pen has HILARIOUS.

We have so many more - we had such a wonderful 10 days as a family in Disneyland together. I knew I would not be able to afford to get us back there whilst they were children and that was our one and only childhood Disney trip so we had the Aussie 10 day pass and we loved every moment of it. It was so bonding and healing for us after a tough few years beforehand. I get teary just talking about it. It is one of my proudest achievements that I was able to take them there on my own. It was part of a 21 day holiday that also included the rest of our time split between Hollywood and Santa Monica.

We are all determined to come back - but by then they will be grown - and we will have a different experience of it all. I would love to come back for my 50th - twins will be 19 that year and older son will be turning 23. That is if we can all travel around the world again by then - lets all hope so. Until then I can still dream about it.

Self-Care Sunday - I have had a lazy start to the day and now I am determined to go and work out my meal plan for the week and then go shop for it!

 

[MickeyMom76]

It’s Self Care Sunday!
What are you doing to refuel today?

 

[MickeyMom76]

Planning, prepping and organizing are not necessarily easy tasks. But I find that when I do them, it is a huge stress reliever for me! And when we have other plans on Sundays, it causes me more stress if I am unable to get my prepping and organizing done for the week. So today I will be picking up our groceries, prepping my lunches and snacks to take to school for the week, prepping for my first day of hybrid schooling and prepping the kids for their first day. After groceries, we are going to the outlets for some back to school clothes/shoes. Then I’ll do my prepping while they watch football (Eagles fans in this house). And our kids were both hired at Giant, so they need to go in to fill out paperwork today too.

 

[ShannyMcB]

Self care today is end of summer family time. Got DS's Google classrooms set up and stopped by my parents house yesterday so today is veg. Going to DH's aunt's house for birthday cake for his cousin then home for football! Yesterday's walk wasn't too rough on my back so if feeling up to it will get out to my garden hopefully it's not completely dead. I can see some flowers from the window so I have hope.

Been really struggling with my response to handling things at my parents. They are homebound but far from helpless. Since my back has been hurt I have been using instacart for their groceries. And it has made my life so much easier! But some nagging voice in my head makes me feel guilty at having someone do their shopping. From a logical standpoint this seems a good choice: they get their groceries, delivered when its convenient (I generally schedule in the morning prior to the health aid's arrival), I do the order well in advance so there is no "I forgot to mention we need" right after I've gone to the store (so frustrating), it saves me time away from work or away from my kids during the weekend, the person doing the delivery makes some money and its contactless so very little germ danger. Relationship with my parents is...not awful but let's say complicated. So why do I feel guilty with this option? Logically it's great! Anyone else experience this?
Anyway have a great day all. Stay safe (in general with everything) and LETS GO PATS!

 

[Summer2018]

View attachment 525662









View attachment 525663Planning, prepping and organizing are not necessarily easy tasks. But I find that when I do them, it is a huge stress reliever for me! And when we have other plans on Sundays, it causes me more stress if I am unable to get my prepping and organizing done for the week. So today I will be picking up our groceries, prepping my lunches and snacks to take to school for the week, prepping for my first day of hybrid schooling and prepping the kids for their first day. After groceries, we are going to the outlets for some back to school clothes/shoes. Then I’ll do my prepping while they watch football (Eagles fans in this house). And our kids were both hired at Giant, so they need to go in to fill out paperwork today too.

1000%!

Organization at home and at work are crucial for my mental health. When I'm not organized, I feel out of control, and that leads nowhere good. I'm a big time planner...including plans A, B, C, and even D...worst case scenario. When work throws me curveballs, I now have backup plans for that. When I was a new teacher, I didn't anticipate what could go wrong, and it would throw me off the rails. Now a veteran of 20 years, I'm more prepared for the you-know-what to hit the fan. I plan Disney down to the minute. Creating order in a chaotic world is how I cope.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Nephew T was the only one who actually read the WDW for Kids book I gave him, front to back. So the entire trip he was telling me what to do.

Love it!! I had that book when we took DS at 5. It was great!

Since my back has been hurt I have been using instacart for their groceries. And it has made my life so much easier! But some nagging voice in my head makes me feel guilty at having someone do their shopping.

No guilt!! I think it’s an excellent solution, and you should keep doing because it works well for you. The best kindness is something that helps others without hurting ourselves.

View attachment 525655View attachment 525661
It’s Self Care Sunday!
What are you doing to refuel today?

I love today’s quotes, and they are so true!! This weekend, DH and I have both been chipping away at some household things...which sounds like work, but will really reduce daily chores and make me feel better in my space.

But right now, I’m outside with one of the cats. I’m trying to transition them from the early morning walks to later in the day, since I’ll be leaving the house at 7:00 next week, so I watched some TV this morning and did a craft project. But by a certain point, I actually found myself feeling weird without my morning sunshine!

 

[Oneanne]

Self care today is end of summer family time. Got DS's Google classrooms set up and stopped by my parents house yesterday so today is veg. Going to DH's aunt's house for birthday cake for his cousin then home for football! Yesterday's walk wasn't too rough on my back so if feeling up to it will get out to my garden hopefully it's not completely dead. I can see some flowers from the window so I have hope.

Been really struggling with my response to handling things at my parents. They are homebound but far from helpless. Since my back has been hurt I have been using instacart for their groceries. And it has made my life so much easier! But some nagging voice in my head makes me feel guilty at having someone do their shopping. From a logical standpoint this seems a good choice: they get their groceries, delivered when its convenient (I generally schedule in the morning prior to the health aid's arrival), I do the order well in advance so there is no "I forgot to mention we need" right after I've gone to the store (so frustrating), it saves me time away from work or away from my kids during the weekend, the person doing the delivery makes some money and its contactless so very little germ danger. Relationship with my parents is...not awful but let's say complicated. So why do I feel guilty with this option? Logically it's great! Anyone else experience this?
Anyway have a great day all. Stay safe (in general with everything) and LETS GO PATS!

You've more than met the need that they have, in a creative way - well done you!

 

[Oneanne]

Self-care today is hunkering down and staying in doors as much as possible. Air quality is bad again today, but will improve tomorrow, and we're even going to get a little bit of rainy stuff. We are so lucky that the air can clear here whereas other areas, such as Portland in particular, the air is so hazardous no one really knows what the lingering effects will be. And then there is everyone impacted by the fires themselves. We have to do our forest management differently, our Governor is a climate change advocate, yet I can't think of anything he's specifically done with forest fire prevention, but need to research because there may be stuff that just isn't getting the press.

I brought a kitten home yesterday - meet Queen Ester.



She is a month younger and half the size of Pippa, but can hold her own. Some serious roughhousing has been going on since they met... including last night... and on the bed. So she seems like a good match, and she definitely thought I was her person when we met so I'm looking forward to having a good connection with her as well.

Other self-care plans for today: first Seahawk's game is in about an hour, so I'm going to curl up on the sofa and watch a bunch of guys run around and knock each other over. After that there will be some reading, I'm still working on "The Invention of Wings", I really like it but the font size in the book is small so I can only read for so long. My next book "Adventures in Opting Out", the new book by Cait Flanders, who wrote "The Year of Less" arrived, but I want to finish what I'm working on before I pick it up.

Other than that, it's trying to figure out a way to turn off my brain. I was going around and around with losing Whitehall and did I do enough, but felt like I'd finally worked that out. Then when I was visiting with my Sister yesterday she said she'd had a dust-up with my Brother over political stuff. I'm pretty pissed that after just losing my other Brother last fall this Brother would do what he did knowing what the result would be. And at the same time, I don't have space for the way he (and his family) behaved so I'm opting out of that relationship for the time being. I just have to get my brain to let go of it.

 

[Summer2018]

Self-care today is hunkering down and staying in doors as much as possible. Air quality is bad again today, but will improve tomorrow, and we're even going to get a little bit of rainy stuff. We are so lucky that the air can clear here whereas other areas, such as Portland in particular, the air is so hazardous no one really knows what the lingering effects will be. And then there is everyone impacted by the fires themselves. We have to do our forest management differently, our Governor is a climate change advocate, yet I can't think of anything he's specifically done with forest fire prevention, but need to research because there may be stuff that just isn't getting the press.

I brought a kitten home yesterday - meet Queen Ester.

View attachment 525730

She is a month younger and half the size of Pippa, but can hold her own. Some serious roughhousing has been going on since they met... including last night... and on the bed. So she seems like a good match, and she definitely thought I was her person when we met so I'm looking forward to having a good connection with her as well.

Other self-care plans for today: first Seahawk's game is in about an hour, so I'm going to curl up on the sofa and watch and watch a bunch of guys run around and knock each other over. After that there will be some reading, I'm still working on "The Invention of Wings", I really like it but the font size in the book is small so I can only read for so long. My next book "Adventures in Opting Out", the new book by Cait Flanders, who wrote "The Year of Less" arrived, but I want to finish what I'm working on before I pick it up.

Other than that, it's trying to figure out a way to turn off my brain. I was going around and around with losing Whitehall and did I do enough, but felt like I'd finally worked that out. Then when I was visiting with my Sister yesterday she said she'd had a dust-up with my Brother over political stuff. I'm pretty pissed that after just losing my other Brother last fall this Brother would do what he did knowing what the result would be. And at the same time, I don't have space for the way he (and his family) behaved so I'm opting out of that relationship for the time being. I just have to get my brain to let go of it.

 

[dsnyfn1022]

I’m trying to transition them from the early morning walks to later in the day

How did you train your cats to take walks?! I’ve always wanted to walk mine and is a big NOPE lol.

I just have to get my brain to let go of it.

Have you ever tried journaling? That’s how I get my brain to shut off when I’m thinking too much. It helps to just throw the thoughts on paper and work through them. Then shut the journal and be done.

 

[dsnyfn1022]

Today, the BF got up with the baby so I got to sleep in! AND he made brunch happy mama! Set-care today will be a walk with my baby while I listen to my book. I’ll get groceries this afternoon and then do some meal prepping for the week!

 

[Oneanne]

How did you train your cats to take walks?! I’ve always wanted to walk mine and is a big NOPE lol.

Have you ever tried journaling? That’s how I get my brain to shut off when I’m thinking too much. It helps to just throw the thoughts on paper and work through them. Then shut the journal and be done.

Yes, totally agree with the power of journaling. I’m also finding talking things out helpful, which I never used to do.

 

[PollyannaMom]

How did you train your cats to take walks?! I’ve always wanted to walk mine and is a big NOPE lol.

We started with getting them comfortable wearing the harness in the house. Put it on when kitty is calm, and then give a favorite treat. If they fuss a lot, don’t leave it on too long the first time, but gradually increase it.

Then move on to attaching the leash and walking around inside...then going out at a fairly quiet time...

I don’t want to give you the wrong impression, though! - My cats just sort of lead me around the yard. The leash keeps them from running off, but it's not like walking a dog.

 

[Oneanne]

MOTIVATION MONDAY

I really liked the parade of inspirational posts last week, so let's do it again. What is currently motivating you?

 

[Oneanne]

 

[Oneanne]