need an emergency chiropractor?

We received snow. For one day (really only a few hours) that due to freezing temperatures lasted for over a week. Luckily, we had finished our grocery shopping and gassed up the cars. The buses were able to pick up the kids and the dry roads made driving easy. But our street, it had an ice slick at the top that kept Marc from being able to leave. It was quite humorous to me. I've found a reason to love my minivan. It's heavy enough to get up the hill and across the ice to the dry roads!!

Our sidewalks were a similar story. I walked the kids up to the bus and did a little two steps forward, one step back slipping on the ice. I made a final huge slip at the bus stop. Now I'm thinking "uh-oh, there goes my back". I was feeling good though and decided I would take my alone time to clean the sidewalks. Since we don't have a snow shovel (or a flat shovel), I used a hoe to break up the large chunks of ice and then a large rake to break everything up and get it off of the sidewalk.

I spent about 30 minutes breaking and raking the ice off the sidewalk in front of our home and then up the hill to our next neighbor. I felt wonderful getting this job done and more than earned my 45 minutes of couch time to catch up on my DVR'd "Brothers and Sisters" while sipping a coffee.

 (before)

 (after)

The happiness didn't last for too long. By the time I went to bed and had a HUGE knot (or pinch nerve) in my left shoulder, neck area. The pain caused shooting pain down my left arm. Nothing I was doing, any position I tried to get into would not ease the pain. I tried having Marc rub it. I tried laying on a heat pad. I went to the living room with a rolled up towel and laid any way I could on it to try and pop my neck or upper back or put some pressure on the knots that were causing me pain. Here is where I tell you, I'm not a crier. I'm not. This, this made me cry. I called my chiropractor's office to ask that they schedule me first thing only to here they are closed on Thursdays (this was 3am). My doctor left his home number, but I'm not calling at 3am. Marc came out when he heard the back massager going full blast. I was pressing it into the painful areas and making the fillings in my teeth rattle. He tried me to another mini massage. I finally tried an ice pack and fell asleep.

I woke up feeling better. I went to help my friend set up her booth for the weekend wedding shoot. I felt great all day, then at bed time the pain started to set in again. I really should have seen the chiropractor.

Update:

My chiropractor called me Friday after he got my message and asked if I had an appointment set up. He got me in right away and after a lot of pops and movement, my neck feels fantastic and I'm back to normal. Getting old sucks!

PTSA President

Being a stay at home Mom is a hard job. A rewarding and fulfilling job. It my current job and I love it, but I'm ready to go back to work. I'm ready to make some money for our family. I'm ready to add a new level of insanity to my already busy days.

To help me transition back into this life, I've been volunteering at the kids school. I started out on a committee or two. Then I volunteered as our PTSA Secretary for 2 years. Now, I'm busy being the PTSA President. In addition, to being more busy, this job brought me some happiness and got me through the long, cold, dark winter. I was happy being so busy, but having control over how busy I would be. I'm very nervous about going back to work (and very excited).

But back to my busy, as President I oversee (barely) our day to day business. I run our monthly meetings. I'm to go to for any questions and problems. Really, I've found it very easy and happy I have something to add to my resume (rather than a 10 year blank). In addition to being President, I like to be in charge of a committee or two. In November, I coordinated our schools Food Drive (very successful - over 3000 items) and leading into February, I'm coordinating our annual Science Fair.

This extra task required (because I thought it was needed) me to rewrite our science fair packets. To make the packets more in line with state standards and our schools wording from grades K-6. This (president and science fair) required me to be at school for 2 days for several hours making photocopies. 475 copies of 2 page (double sided) newsletter to go home to our parents (I'm very happy that we are leading into a online newsletter, but it's taking awhile for parents to adjust to this idea). Then, I went back to school to make the science fair copies. A full class set from grades 3-6 and a few copies for the younger kids. Now it's time to email and line up all those judges for our kids.

 (I was chained to this machine until 5pm one day - worth every minute)

Busy and exciting. I hope I choose the right roads and enjoy my travels.

Regularly Scheduled Program

Mr N and I had a great 1st day back to our regularly scheduled program. The kids got on the bus (3 out of 4)!! We drove over to school to drop off Miss M's cello (I'm afraid it will get broken on the bus). Mr N and I stopped at Starbucks for some morning caffeine. And decided to stop to play at the park on the way home.

Despite the park being covered in snow (it's just in our little 4 mile radius), we played anyway. The sun was shiny. Rain was predicted. We played. 

Our first park surprise was a pair of bald eagles in a tree. We then walked out on the pier and found that part of the lake was frozen. Mr N had a great time throwing chunks of ice on the lake to see how far they would slide. The echo sound was pretty cool. We then found that we could kick the loose powder snow out onto the ice. It was like powder sugar on a cookie! Lastly, we walked around to the other side of the park and found a frozen puddle. Just thick enough to be frozen all the way through. He was able to slide and dance away. We did have a long talk about some kids that walked out on the lake when it was frozen and fell into the water. I don't want my kids thinking they can walk on any frozen water.

2/365

Will I try this again?

If I remember (I'm always taking photos with my phone) and If I can figure out how to post said photos from my phone to this blog - I'll be updating with a photo each day of some randomness of my day.

Today:

This is our icy road. Let me tell you, it snowed last week! One day! We woke up Monday to snow. Random and wonderful. I went grocery shopping Tuesday. No problem. By Wednesday, everything had melted just enough to turn into a sheet of ice! It's been like watching our own funny movie to see the cars at the bottom of our cul de sac try to make it to the top. Everyone drives down to the bottom, revs it and tries to get to the flat spot in front of our house. Tires screaming. Rubber burning along the curb (to get some traction). Sometimes they make and you feel their triumph. Others times, we see they don't have the momentum and back down they go. Problem is, once they hit the flat spot, they slow just enough to not make it up the last incline from our house to the main road. Most are stopped right in the middle as they try to figure out what to do. I say, don't slow down!! Try and find the crusty spots and cross your fingers. 

I can't figure out why the neighbors haven't gotten together to buy bags of sand or de-icer to spread on this part of the hill. We, luckily, have been blessed to stay home. Only 12 more hours until I find out if I will be the hilarious one trying to get up the hill to get my kids to school, make the newsletter photocopies, deliver a cello for orchestra practice, get Mr N to preschool and back again. Plus, a pick up of said 4 kids to have their crackly lungs listened to. Hopefully the doctor has an antibiotic shot they can give them to get them started until we can pick up the meds on Thursday.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! We had a great night celebrating with friends and family. It's our first year (in many years) that we've had people over. There was plenty of drinks, snacks and talking going on. 

Today, 1/1/11, we spent the day relaxing, watching cars try to make in up our icy hill and reading. We ended our 1st day of the new year watching "Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief" with the kids. Great movie and fun family night with the kiddos.

Hope you are ready for a Great New Year and many happy travels!

66/365

Wed, March 10:
Today is the last of the last of our basketball season. The trophies are bought and the pizza is ordered. We met at a local pizza parlour to pass out the trophies. Our coach even made it. We all had a fun time talking about the season and what we were doing next. 5 of the 10 boys played Fall Soccer together and are moving forward to play Sping Soccer (or is it ok to call it Futbol?).

Anyway, I forgot my camera and this is the cruddy remembrance I have of the evening, besides my memories that may fail me someday.

 It's not so bad at the small size. Most of my photos are taken with my iPhone because it's the easiest fastest way to upload (although you wouldn't know it with me being behind by 10 days).

64/365

Saturday, March 6:

We took an amazing little wandering to Friday Harbor today. It will
have it's own post. But here's my photo of the day. This is what I
looked like for a few hours.

63/365

Friday, March 5:
I had a wonderful surprise yesterday. Marc texted me to ask if he
could take the 4 kids to dinner. I have PTSA Thursday night and
grudingly volunteered to take the little two with me. His generous
offer to take them to dinner was for a work gathering. He said he
wanted to take all four. OK says I. I dropped them off at 5:20 and
warned them to be super good for daddy's work friends. They went to
sichuanese and I asked him to bring me the "fire" chicken. That would
be what my photo is. It's a plate of hot peppers with some of the most
delicious fried chicken bits. I love it. But don't touch anything if
you eat with your fingers. Boy did my nose burn after I scratched it.

62/364

Thursday, March 4:

School day. We had class pictures and individual photos taken. I had
to actually fix my hair since I am the Jr PTSA leader and we were
taking group photos too. I wonder how embarassed the kids will be to
see me in their yearbook? I'm sure it will be just those wonderful
tween/teen years. I am very buay at school this year and next year
will be even more.

61/365

Wednesday, March 3:

Absolutely disgusting looking. I know. But, I made Brussels sprouts
with heaving whipping cream and Parmesan cheese. Mr C (age 7) asked
for 2nd and 3rd servings. I'm impressed. There is no way I would have
ever ate sprouts at that age.

60/365

Tuesday, March 2:

57/365

Saturday, Feb 27:

Marc is back and he is tired. I believe he fell asleep around 8 last night and we didn't get up until about 10am this morning. I love to sleep in, but usually Marc gets up and entertains (feeds) the kids. But he is seriously jet-lagged from a 3 hour time difference suck it up! Seriously though, we are both tired. Being a 24 hour Mom with no break in site for the week was exhausting (a little). I actually had it pretty easy this week. We got into our routine and did our thing. I actually made a great dinner every night and managed to get them all in bed at a normal hour. Usually Marc does the nighttime routine and I just get frustrated that they are still awake. I've learned some patience and appreciation for having a husband around. He is a really big help (and part of our lives). 

That being said, my honey bear of a man decided we needed a night out after him being gone. We debated about going out with friends (last minute = no one available) and then dinner vs. a movie. Personally, I like popcorn movies better. He wrangled up a babysitter (thank you Aunt Becky) and we went to see "Valentines Day". I'm the lucky one who has a husband you will sit through romantic comedies with me. He has my brother to go with for those scary, gory movies. That aside, we had a great Saturday and enjoyed sitting in the dark, holding hands and eating buttery popcorn (diet be damned).

(image credit)

56/365

Friday, Feb 26:
Marc comes home today. This is his second week in Atlanta. We miss him
and I am ready to be a assisted parent again (not a single parent). We
do well without him here, but it's so much better when he is here.

Miss R, Mr N and I headed over to the mall to burn off some energy.
They are at the verge of being too big to play here. They have such a
great time. With as much as it rains and is cold, you would think
there would be more indoor playgrounds. I have a great idea for one,
but lack the funds and time to start up a company right now. For now,
we play and shop (had to visit the Disney store since it's 2 doors
down from the play area).

55/365

Thursday, Feb 25:

Math night at school. It wasn't very well attended, but my kids had a
blast. They had to visit 7 stations to get a sticker on their card. At
the end, they received a math night ribbon and goodie bag. It was
great for them and I got a chance to talk to their teachers.

54/365

Wed, Feb 24:

My guilty pleasure is reading. I LOVE to READ! Lately, I spent a lot of time playing with games on facebook and just wasting some time. I woke up realized that these games were appealing to my small OCD tendencies to get to the next level and that I wasn't reading anymore. So, I deleted those games (though I still facebook to keep up with friends) and started reading. I have finished 4 books in the last 2 weeks.

It helps that Marc is out of town. You would think that I would have less time to read with him gone, but the kids and I have a great system and while they play, I read. I try not to overload my schedule while he's gone so that I don't go crazy running the kids everywhere. Plus, I stay up until midnight to finish a book and start the next one.

I'm slowly realizing that I am a Young Adult reader. They are easy and fast to read. I'm not so much into the romance novels or thinking books. I just like to sit, get lost and let the book play like a movie in my head. I am moving into historical bibliographies. I always wonder what it would be like to live in different times and places.

So, my disjointed mind is wandering and I will live you with a vision of my latest book. I just realized today that the camera on my MacBook takes the photo in reverse and I haven't figured out how to flip the photo. (This could explain why I think photos of myself look off - because they are flipped from what I see). Therefore, my picture is flipped. Nevermind, while trying to add the photo (so that it's vertical, not horizontal) I found the flip button. Go Me!

 

53/365

 

Tuesday, Feb 23rd: My favorite time of day. While getting the kitchen cleaned up, Mr C sits down to read a bedtime story to Miss R and Mr N. He gets to work on his reading skills and they get an extra bedtime story. The are so sweet and attentive.

We had a great day today. I find that I pace the day since Marc won't be home at the end. It keeps me from going crazy and drinking more than a glass of wine. After Miss R got off to school, Mr N and I braved Costco together and spent way more than I planned, but we are so stocked up again. Part of the spending included a Sonicare. Marc and I have been talking about getting this toothbrush forever!! So, I brushed Miss R's teeth tonight (she is not a fan) and Mr C's teeth (cried about it) and tried it on myself. It will take some getting used to. Mostly it tickles my sensitive mouth (insert dirty joke here).

After Costco, we signed Mr. N up for preschool and stopped at Lowe's for some wallpaper for the bathrooms. Tomorrow I plan on tackling said bathrooms with a fresh coat of paint and some wainscot looking wallpaper. We are hoping to tile the bathrooms this next month (they are tiny, so it should be a 10 2 day job). We are looking at doing small improvements and using more of our time and money for some small local wanderings.

52/365

Sunday, Feb 21:

I have some great photos of the kids at the park Sunday. We are running out of a sunny forecast and need to get out. We went to the inlaws for a turkey lunch (delicious) and went to a local park with them and our nephew. The kids had a great time running around and the adults had some fun shooting baskets. But, I can't find my camera at the moment. Seriously, where did I set it? We came home so that Marc could pack and I ended up needing a little power nap (sad, I know). My SIL is arriving from Las Vegas tonight and I'm the designated pick up person since she gets in at 10:30 PM and everyone else needs to get up for work in the morning (stay at home Mom doesn't count as work). Kidding!! I'm a major night owl and stay up until midnight most nights anyway, so I volunteered to get her. Besides I get all the sordid details of the bachelorette weekend to keep me awake driving back home.

So, my little update with photo is that Marc is leaving for Atlanta Monday morning (at 5:30am). We had a great 48 hour weekend with him. The kids are sad to see him go, so he is taking 2 star wars legos to do battle in Atlanta and send us daily photos. Here's our 1st update:

 

They will put their guns down on Monday for National Margarita Day!

47/365

Tuesday, Feb 16:
This delicious, dense bread was brought to me courtesy of my brother, Scott. I was discussing what a loss it was that my grandfather got rid of his 100 year old sourdough starter when my grandparents moved into their retirement home. He decided to make his own starter and has done a great job. He says that this loaf is dense because it rose on a pan and he had to move it into the bread pan and it collapsed. It was still very delish and went well with several dinners this past week. I'm actually feeling a small amount of desire to make my own starter. Maybe I'll just have him divide his instead!

51/365

The nicest bowling alley ever. Lucky Strike in Bellevue, WA. I think
we've found our next date night spot.

46/365

Mon, Feb 15:

Today is day 4 of the kids being home on a mini vacation. Not exactly mid-winter break, but they have 2 Teacher In Service days (Friday and Tuesday) with Presidents Day today. Also, Marc flew out this morning for 5 days. Miss M and I drove him to the airport at 5:30am. We came home and napped after that! You would think that with 5 days off we would be off doing a little wandering, but time and schedules did not allow us. What a waste of some perfectly good time off. But, soon...I am planning lots of moving about, soon!

Back to today, most of the day was filled with lazing around and a little laundry and cleaning. I was babysitting my nephew, Mr T, whose preschool was closed for the day. I never was able to convince him to change out of his pajamas. After many hours of playing, we finally decided to venture outside. It was overcast, but surprisingly warmer than I thought. They kids all took their bikes down the hill to ride for awhile. Miss M crashed and bruised her ego and was not having any of me taking her photo. Mr C was more than happy to mug a few shots for me. My neighbor came out with her kids and I got some much needed adult talking time. I'm always grateful when she comes out to play.