Dude, I am suddenly really excited about politics.
Hockey mom of 5, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, nominated Republican VP candidate
(Note: this is not and never will be a political blog and I probably won't mention this ever again but this is too cool not to say something right now.)
Today is a spend money day. I don't like to spend money. Unless maybe it's on yarn or fabric. Then I can usually be convinced to spend money...
So far I've been to the post office, farmer's market, Linens-n-Things, and Costco. I've bought fruit, table clothes, drinking glasses, a curtain rod, a toaster, a trash can, a gabillion plates/cups/plastic ware, and some food for the party. I still need to buy more food and go to the party store, office store, and fabric store.
I'm kinda missing my days chained to the sewing machine. And I think my Amex card may melt...
Last night was Back to School night here for 4th and 5th grades. Only I would be the mom running between 4 classrooms (Zach has a different teacher for math).
Parent/Teacher conferences are not going to be fun. Especially since they are "student lead" which means you bring the child in question with you. The kicker is they ask you not to bring your other children. So either I need to schedule them all half an hour apart and run back and forth from the school like half a dozen times for a whole day or tell them they are idiots and my other kids can hang out in the hallway.
Besides that's the whole reason they invented the Gameboy DS.
And with that I'm back to the daily grind...
Zach has the flu bug and spent most of last night throwing up. Poor kiddo, he didn't feel well last week either. I'm not exactly 100% myself, I think I've been running on adrenaline for the last two weeks and now my body is saying, hey enough! I'm tired, I'm losing my voice, and I'm a bit achy.
Right, I also have the Kyle & Great-Grandpa early birthday/Labor Day/house warming/bouncy castle party to plan for this weekend. First thing on the list: buy Mountain Dew.
I'm home!
I'm still processing the weekend (I have orders! And money! And a bit of inventory left!) but I have to say the weekend was a great success. If nothing else, I have never laughed harder and longer in my entire life. Sarah and Liz should take their comedy routine on the road.
I did miss the kids terribly all weekend. It was really hard sending them all off to school this morning (they were in bed when I got here), I just wanted to keep them with me for a little bit longer to hear about their weekend. But I have to admit, it is nice putting away all my stuff in peace right now. They'll be home in a few hours...
I promise to try to catch up on all your lives this week (I do have orders to sew, yay!) but in the time being, I'd love if you'd take a minute and give me a quick update in the comment section. Thanks and I hope you all had a great weekend!
Whoa, yesterday was crazy! It didn't help I was up at 6am printing signs for the booth...
The drive to Chicago was fine, we hit some traffic after passing downtown, go figure. And I completely forgot we gained an hour in Illinois. It was like bonus set up time!
Pictures are here.
The Market Preview went well, we sold several items and met some wonderful ladies. The preview was for people who took classes on Thursday, they have a special 3 hour window to buy before the Market really opens today at 10am. It was good trial run for us all since there were only about 100 shoppers there.
I'm told today will be busy, Saturday will be insane and Sunday will be more mellow. I'm looking forward to mellow.
(I promise this will turn back into a normal mommy blog next week. In the time being, bear with me.)
Ack the show is tomorrow!
I did finish 4 more tote bags bringing my grand total to 6. They do take about an hour each so I do plan to sew a few more later today. And then I'll just have to take orders and hope that the knitting community is kind and patient with this poor little stay at home mom of 5 kids. I think they will be because heck, they take months to knit a sweater or a blanket that they can buy at Target in 5 minutes (well not exactly but you get my point.)
Today I'm also doing another Staples run (I know, I know, I said I was switching office stores but their copy & print department has been wonderful to me), craft store for odds and ends, and the grocery store so my children (and Greg) do not starve while I'm gone. The laundry is also done so they will have clean underwear and socks. At least available, who knows if they'll actually change them...
I did buy a carpet (at Lowes for a little under $100, *grumbles*) and I just finished printing out wholesale packets, email/raffle lists, and inventory sheets. I'll begin packing later tonight when my sister-in-law arrives. It feels good to be crossing stuff off the to do lists.
I'm excited, filled with dread, and nervous all at the same time. Less than 24 hours from now, we'll be driving to Chicago. EEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!
368
Unfortunately that number only includes two tote bags. I forgot how much I
Also?
We overslept and miss the bus this morning. I thought I had set my alarm when I went to bed at 4am but it did not go off (4am brain isn't the best in the first place). And the twins usually have multiple alarms going (their alarm clocks and Gameboy DS alarms) but they must have skipped this morning too. I did get to use the school's fancy little tardy computer program which spits out tardy slips, that was cool. My excuse was we missed the bus. Because technically we missed the bus...
Today I need to sew (totes, *grumble*), work on signage, and um, build www.katiefleckdesigns.com Is there some contest I can enter for Procrastinator of the Year? Cause I think I would win.
20 tote bags before:
Yeah, I know I said 24 but I'm out of 2 fabrics and I'm making a large and a small of each. 20 is good. (Plus we're talking less than 3 days so it's good.)
Also see our new kitchen table and chairs set! The bar stools for the island are still on order. Which sucks cause we have no bar stools and at least before we did have a kitchen table and chairs. I am related to the Murphys, you know.
Wonder why I'm cutting fabric in the kitchen? Well I like the change of scenery because when I'm sewing I'm stuck in my office/craft room. And I can also keep a better eye on the children. Plus my office/craft room kinda looks like this at the moment:
Honestly it kills me to post a messy picture of anything so consider this a once in a lifetime event. I'll post a "tidy" picture another day. Like hopefully next week when this madness is over.
Back to the sewing machine!
A quick rare weekend post before I chain myself to the sewing machine again.
Thanks for all your help with Thursday's post, I appreciate all the suggestions from the bottom of my heart. Who knew tri-fold brochures were so emotionally moving to me? I think the show will be a success and if nothing else I'll get to hang out with two of my favoritest people in Chicago for a weekend. (We'll just ignore the expenses for now... hehe)
The kids survived their first week of school very well. Kelly reported that yesterday was her "best day of school ever!" Considering it was her second day, I'll believe her. Oh oh, Zach's already been bumped up to GT math without any more pushing on my part. I think the teacher quickly realized that yes, he has honestly already advanced beyond the regular 5th grade math curriculum.
And in case you were wondering about the Stitches show and my sewing (please check out my Etsy shop if you don't know what I'm sewing or selling), way back I made a goal of 500 items to bring. I'm currently sitting at 309 items sewn and ready to sell (ouch). To get a good mix of items (and not kill myself), I'm now trying for a revised amount of 450. That means I still need to sew 140 between now and Wednesday night. I average 3 sewn per hour so that means I only need 48 hours. Except I need to make 24 tote bags and those are actually almost an hour each to make. So I need 39 hours for the regular 116 items and 24 hours for the tote bags. I have 4 days. It's totally possible, right?
Back to the sewing machine!
See anything wrong with picture?
Kyle's bike
The story goes Kyle and a couple of neighbor boys were racing down the cul-de-sac and Kyle hit the curb. Not only did he hit the curb at full speed, he managed to get the front tire caught in the metal slats of a drainage grate, flip himself over the handle bars and land on his head on the sidewalk.
I may goof some aspects of parenting, the kids probably should take baths more often and their fingernails always need cut and does anyone manage to get enough vegetables into their children? But one thing Greg and I have actually done "right" is the kids always, always put their bike helmets on before their feet touch the pedals of their bikes.
Kyle was wearing his helmet. He is fine. I also know where and what our local children's hospital looks like now as we spent 3 hours there last night double checking he was fine. They ran an x-ray on his neck because that's the only complaint area he had, he said his head never hurt.
I'm not going to go all crazy with pro-helmet wearing lectures here but any accident that bends the metal frame of a bike like this and Kyle is as right as rain this morning (not even a scratch on the kid), I'm going to be a little rah-rah wearing helmets for awhile.
Course now I need to go buy him a new bike and helmet...
And also? I'm so not looking forward to when the kids start driving cars.
The Help "katiefleck" Edition*
Okay so I just realized that I may be a tad insane. Today's To Do list includes things like "build a website", "sew 35 items", "call the insurance guy cause we're way under-insured", and "Kelly ped check up, fabric store, post office, groceries, Zach's soccer practice." Did I mention I've been up since 4:10am to take Greg to the airport? I have to say I'm getting spoiled by the quiet, the dishwasher and dryer are nice ambient background noises.
Anyway I've figured out I may need to ask for help once and awhile. My sister is currently in our guest room sleeping since I didn't want to wake all the kids up to take them to the airport this morning (or have Greg pay $60 in parking fees/taxi). Score one for thinking ahead! She's also getting homemade waffles for breakfast.
Oh and while I'm thinking about it, if you've sent "Ramblings of a SAHM" an email recently, thank you. I would like to respond but my inbox is one of those "put out the fires" type places in my life and I'm not great at replying if the subject line doesn't involve "URGENT" or "Notification of Payment Received" (a BKD order).
(Three paragraphs in and she gets to the point...)
To the fun part: Your mission, if you chose to accept it, is to take one of the following tasks I need to do but don't really have time to do and give me a suggestion or a solution or just tell me to take the blue pill. Honestly I suck at asking for help. Unless it's loading or unloading the dishwasher, I pawn that job off every chance I get.
1. Find me a 10x10' carpet remnant in the greater Indianapolis area (I'm on the north side but willing to travel some miles if necessary). I need one for the Stitches booth and I don't want to spend more than $50. Actually I'd like to spend nothing but we'll cap my desire for "not so stressed feet and back" at that.
2. Suggest a new cell phone. We're with Sprint PCS and I've actually never bought a "new" phone. My current one is like 4 years old (oh lord, it is 4 years old, I bought it off of eBay in Aug 2004). It vibrates and text messages. No camera, no fancy ring tones, it doesn't even accept picture mail. I'm really fine with the most boring phone ever (it's blue!) but the battery is dying (won't hold a charge for more than a day) and I'm willing to join the next generation of phones.
3. Where's the best place to shop for a pair of khaki pants? I love the way Gap jeans fit but my local store didn't have khakis in stock. I'm willing to go up to $50, I'm a size 8-10, 5'3" and curvy (ie: big butt).
4. Opinion Please: when at a convention and you just want to grab a piece of literature on a shop (which is online) to pursue later, do you want a business card, flyer (half sheet or whole), or tri-fold brochure? What are you least likely to lose and will actually follow up on later? I so need a marketing and ad department.
5. Opinion Please 2: still at the convention (getting your money's worth!) have you ever seen a cute gimmick that you thought was so awesome and brilliant (and are willing to tell me)? Also what turns you off to a booth?
I can't promise you all homemade waffles but I really appreciate any help you can throw at me. Especially since I'm still feeling like a dumbass because I've been spelling the name of the kids' new school wrong in all my teacher emails and paper-filling-out. It's one of those words that sometimes has an "E" and sometimes doesn't. I've been using the wrong version. Doh...
"Butt reely mi sun desurves too bee N teh smurt clas!"
* I just realized that sounds like I'm asking for a handout. Please do not send money! We're good. Or wait, what am I saying...
First Day of School #2
Kelly, kindergarten
*sobs*
I'd write more (probably with crying) but seeing I'm a terrible procrastinator (or I have 5 children, just moved across the country, and don't have a good grasp on the whole time space continuum thing) I need to sew my fingers to the bone over the next week in preparation for the huge knitting convention show in Chicago ( Stitches Midwest if you'd like to go. I'll be in booth 824 trying to remember how to breath).
The quiet is really weird.
Is it time for the kids to come home yet?
First Day of School 2008 #1
Ally (4th grade), Kyle (1st grade), Emily (4th grade), and Zach (5th grade)
Kelly's on an alternating day kindergarten schedule and starts tomorrow. Which is good for me. Because honestly having never being alone in my house for any substantial amount of time (like more than an hour) in 11 years, the drastic change might have been too much.
Although I think I'll be able to adjust...
The Weekend Recap
Subtitled: It is so awesome to have friends and family nearby.
Friday night: Steph and the kids swung by for dinner. My Kelly and her Erin are crazy funny friends, the two of them are so cute together. Then I cut some fabric, we watched some Olympics, and it was great to just hang out.
Saturday, Zach's actual birthday: I made biscuits and sausage gravy (gravy from scratch with whack'em biscuits) as requested by the birthday boy. Then I sat down to sew and... well started a few pieces but felt out of sorts so I started cleaning. I scrubbed the kitchen hardwood floor on my hands and knees... It looks fabulous (this is the second time I've done it) but it really sucks for my hands and knees. Then I cleaned all the bathrooms. I do love me a shiny clean house but a maid would be nice already. lol Meanwhile the boys (Greg, Zach, and Kyle) were off playing golf.
Saturday night: I went to the State Fair! Right, it's no big deal but I was a 4-H member for 10 years (kinda like being a high school salutatorian, I did a bunch of work for the honor and no one cares) and had projects reach the State Fair level but never attended. I have to cut my parents a lot of slack though. The State Fair? Not so exciting really. Anyway it was a good time being out with Greg, Sarah, and Steven. Oh right, I was that awful mom who went out on her son's birthday but we ordered him his favorite pizza for dinner and let him open a new Wii game and I honestly don't think he noticed we were gone. Plus the babysitter let him stay up way later than we would have. lol
Sunday morning at 4am: I puked. I'm still not positive the cause but I think it had something to do with the fried fair food I ate Saturday night. Or the margarita and two shots at the bar after the fair. But I usually hold my liquor well and I never eat fried foods so we're blaming the food. Even thinking about the fried mushrooms is making my stomach turn again. Yuck.
Sunday afternoon: I pulled myself together mostly to have Zach's actual birthday party with my parents, Greg's parents, Steph and family, and Sarah and Steven. See this is the whole point of this post, it is so awesome to have friends and family nearby! The weather was gorgeous, I didn't burn the burgers too bad (I didn't eat one though, see queasy stomach above), and Zach is 11! Wheee!
And now onto today. I'm not ready for school to start tomorrow. The kids have supplies and new shoes and today we'll attend a Back to School Social thing. But I'm not ready to deal with early mornings and homework and filling out papers (Kelly already has a folder full of them for me from last Thursday). I finally found out the bus number, stop, and pick up time yesterday afternoon. My back up plan there was to let them sleep on the sidewalk tonight. *winks*
Still working on Zach's school stuff although I may have gone off a little too much at the township secretary on Friday. She said she left me a phone message about the test time (in the tone of "you're an idiot for not showing up at a test that you didn't know was happening in a school district where we do everything in the most illogical way possible to screw with your head") and they can't do anything until January. January?!?!? Also? I'm 99% sure there was no phone message. This is as she finally returned my phone calls from Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday morning and now there was nothing they could do on a Friday afternoon as her boss (again I've always dealt with this secretary) was out. The whole "there is nothing we can do" is what is killing me because you're telling me that if some super smart kid moved into the school district tomorrow and just because he missed one test last Tuesday at 9am, he couldn't be put in the challenge class until January? Grrr...
Okay right enough ranting, that's the weekend update and I really should be either sewing or running around freaking out because today is the Last Day of Summer for the kids. And I'm so not ready.
11 years ago today I was pregnant, working at a flower shop, preparing for my junior year at college, living in a trailer (hehe), and engaged to Greg (kids, do as I say, not as I did).
It's amazing what can change in 11 years.
Tomorrow my Zach Zach will be 11 years old. I'm usually at a loss for words when it comes to talking about him. Unlike the twins who drive me nuts (in a good way, Greg thinks they are too much like me, crap) and Kyle with his personality quirks and Kelly, well being Kelly and the baby, Zach probably has the least amount of face time on the blog.
The thought that keeps popping up first in my head is he's a good kid. He's smart and funny and behaves most of the time (dude, I still pick on my siblings so I'm cutting him some slack). He's my first baby, the one that kept me up at night first, the one we bathed in the kitchen sink, the one who attended organic chemistry lectures, the one who fed his sisters kitty litter, the one who took off ten years of my life with a hockey concussion, the one who taught me you can love someone so much your heart bursts.
Happy 11th Birthday Zach, I love you to pieces and I'm so proud to be your mommy.
I'd really appreciate it if one thing could go my way sometime in the near future.
So remember all the faxes and phone calls and crap I did to get Zach's GT records to the new school system?
Well...
The information paper was very specific about "don't call us, we'll call you" to find out if your child was eligible for testing. So I waited. And then honestly kinda forgot because Greg signed up the boys for golf lessons this week and then there is that small matter of sewing a gabillion items for Stitches (2 weeks away, ack!) and oh yeah, for some reason the kids want to eat yet another meal (2 a day should be enough I swear). Oh and the poison ivy. All the itching made me scatterbrained (more so than usual).
Then Tuesday I received a letter in the mail. Zach was eligible for testing! Yay! That happened Tuesday morning at 9am. (Our mail arrives around 4pm). Grrr...
I've left three messages now with two different people and no one has returned my calls. I am so annoyed, why the hell would they send a letter when there was a matter of like 2 days before the test? It's not like they didn't have my phone number, I left it with everyone and it was on the test permission slip form I dropped off last week. I think I may need to deal with this at the school level (this whole testing thing is done at the county level). Again I hate being pushy but I know Zach needs to be in this class or 5th grade will be a disaster for him. And I'd really rather he start in that class next Tuesday instead of being switched weeks later when they realize, hey yeah this kid does need to be in the challenge class.
Other crap that hasn't gone my way: Kelly's kindergarten schedule and teacher have been switched (long story, I'm running out of time before the boys' two hours of golf because really I have two hours to spare...) and I don't have a babysitter for tonight's kindergarten open house and I'd really prefer it just be Kelly and I (and Greg). Oh and I have a $9 coupon to spend at Staples (office store) and I can't find one nearby to save my life. I even broke down and used Greg's GPS unit yesterday and it seems to have a block on Staples because it told me the nearest one was 56.2 miles away.
*whine, bitch, moan*
Right, off to golf camp...
Torturing the children by taking them to a fun exciting place and spending lots of money on them:
Indianapolis Children's Museum
Emily, Ally, Kelly, Zach, and Kyle
July 12, 2008
I swear, you give the kids the world and they whine they didn't get the moon as well.
Ack! How is it the last full week of summer for the kids already? Our old Maryland school doesn't start until the 25th.
A few quick updates before I dash out to run a million errands (they need shoes! and socks! and underwear!), I did go to a Minute Clinic over the weekend for my poison ivy. Drugs, how I love you. And I'm way, way behind on my sewing so if I disappear for the next 16 days, I've chained myself to the sewing machine.
Ugh, 7 days until school starts. But I'm not "tired" of the children yet...
Do you ever have those days where you just feel kinda yucky and want to hide from the world? (And the To Do list?)
My poison ivy has reached the pus stage, so gross. The itching doesn't really bother me but you know what is a pain to do when your wrists are all rashy? Everything. It's a bother to sew, type on the laptop (I'm suffering right now for you, my loyal readers), break down boxes, cook, clean, pay bills, everything. This makes me grumpy.
Oh oh and you know what else I forgot? Benedryl will knock you out like one round with Mike Tyson. While consulting Dr. Google, I read somewhere that taking it would help with the whole histamine reaction going on with poison ivy. So at the grocery store yesterday, I picked up at box. I took two pills at 4pm, laid out on the sofa with Kelly to watch some TV (Jon and Kate plus 8, has sound) and woke up at 6pm. Doh! I'm not sure it really helped any unless you count being unconcious so you don't notice the red itchy pus bubbles on your body.
Moving right along, Happy August 1st! I now have 8 days until Zach's birthday, 11 days until school starts, 20 days until Stitches Midwest, and 30 days until every person we know in the entire universe decends on our house for a joint Kyle and Great Grandpa's birthday/reunion/Labor Day party.
Where's the Benedryl again?
All Content at katiefleck.com is Copyright 2003-2008 by Katie Fleck, All Rights Reserved.
