Journey to our children: Two Week Break!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Two Week Break!

Yesterday I posted the grades for my 6 classes (about 60 students total) that ended on Thursday. I also wrote the evaluation for the professor at the University of Pittsburgh, and I put that in the mail today. I think I'm pretty well set up for the fall semester; so aside from email, I shouldn't have to do any schoolwork over the next two weeks. YAHOO! The fall semester begins on August 29, but the first assignment isn't due until September 8, so I haven't lined up any babysitters until September 8. Over the past six weeks Paul helped me with the kids for 19 hours while I was doing schoolwork. Sometimes that meant he sat by my computer to let me know if a student came online to talk with me while I went and changed Ian's diaper, but most of that time he was taking care of the kids. The kids also spent 20 hours over the past 6 weeks at our neighbor's house. Considering I was working full-time the past six weeks, I think it's pretty great that I only missed out on about 40 hours of being with them during that time. Unfortunately it did mean some days we couldn't go swimming. We would have swam more if I wasn't teaching. My ability to keep up with my MoMo chores around the house also wasn't very good the last couple of weeks. A week from today we'll be flying to Florida, so I want to use this week to get caught up on housework plus start packing for our trip.

Yesterday I worked on a photo book at a different site because they are giving anyone $40 in free products this month. All you have to pay is shipping, which is $5.95 for the item I've picked. I picked a hardback ABC photo book. I think it will be a fun way to work on teaching Nadia and Ian their ABC's. A is for Adam (their nephew), M is for Mommy, I is for Ian, N is for Nadia, Z is for zoo and all the pages have pictures of our family in them. For example "B" is for ball, and I have a picture of Nadia in the balls at Knoebels. You might want to check that site out and order something for yourself! I contemplated a growth chart, but then decided on the photo book in part because the shipping is twice as much for the growth chart.

Today in the mail we received several rash guard shirts from Lands End. They were $3.99 each (free s/h) so I got one in several sizes to last Nadia the next few years. It's perfect timing as it means I won't have to use as much sunscreen in Florida in about a week! Ian has been wearing a rash guard shirt all summer at the pool. Paul's mom recently got him a new swimsuit, which he adores as it's covered in animals. He also loves the new pjs she got him with cars all over them! Thanks, Grandma!!

On Thursday I made stuffed shells for the first time in a long time for our anniversary dinner because it's one of Paul's favorite meals. It was Nadia's first time having them I think, and she loved them! She even ate green beans the last two nights. Paul's parents are coming up in a couple of hours to watch the kids so Paul and I can go out on a date. We're having dinner at Friendly's and doing some shopping. I usually prefer something with a romantic ambiance for our anniversary, but we have gift cards for Friendlys, and I do love their ice cream! We went to a more romantic place for my birthday this year so at least once this year we will have gone somewhere that had ambiance. I got Paul a $100 gift card for Sears for our anniversary as he's been wanting some tools. I decided it would be better if he picked them out as I don't know anything about ratchets! I paid for the flowers for church tomorrow, which means I get to take them home after the service. I hope they're pretty! Normally I'd feel weird buying myself flowers, but this seemed a good way to do it since Paul hasn't gotten me any flowers for more than 6 years.

The last 3 times I mowed the lawn I wasn't able to do it at one time. Today it was because the rain interfered. It should be much easier to mow now that Ian is napping in his crib. Yesterday he slept for 20 minutes, cried for 20 minutes, slept another 20 minutes in his crib, and then slept another 40 minutes in my arms. Today he slept 20 minutes, cried for 15 minutes, and then slept 65 minutes in his crib. Yay! I'm giving him 1.5 mg of melatonin 30 minutes before I put him down. It seems to be working. I'm hoping eventually he won't cry after sleeping only 20 minutes. At least the amount of time he cries after that first 20 minute stretch has been going down (30 minutes two days ago, 20 minutes yesterday, and 15 minutes today). I hope our vacation doesn't mess him up too much as I am loving him sleeping until 7am each morning! One thing I'm looking forward to about our vacation is that others might be able to relieve me some of my duty of feeding him solid food. It's not exactly my favorite part of the day, and it will be great to do that a little less for a few days.