A New Pampered Chef

I'm proud of my little guy. He made muffins all by himself the other day. Granted it was the "just add milk" to the mix kind of recipe. I'm doing my best to make sure he knows his way around a kitchen, unlike another male in the house who shall remain nameless.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Being from Minnesota, and not a lover of cold and winter and snow, I think the idea of a "white" Christmas is over-rated. Now, if I had moved away to a warmer region, maybe I would appreciate the sentiment more. Or at least fantacize about the romantic notion of it all. But, I'm sorry to say, I don't dream of having a white Christmas. I actually thought about making up lyrics to "I'm Dreaming of a Brown Christmas." Something to the effect of not having to worry about bad roads when traveling, not having plans ruined or derailed because of the weather, and not being chilled to the bone every time I go outside.

This Christmas, we had the epitome of a white Christmas complete with plenty of inches of the fluffy stuff that later became heavy and dense which was perfect snowman weather. It also meant cancelling plans and worrying about the roads. On the bright side, we got some good outdoorsy pictures.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Well, it finally happened. We put up an actual normal-sized Christmas tree this year for the first time year. We eased into it slowly. I've always done some sort of Christmas decorating but didn't put up a tree because Troy and I didn't see the need (or have the ambition) when we are always traveling over Christmas. Then Mateo came and when he was really little, we felt it would be more of a nuisance (and another excuse). Last year I put up a four foot tree so Mateo could put up some ornaments. So now this year, I felt that it was time to stop the procrastination and get a tree for Mateo's sake. He really enjoyed putting on all of the ornaments, and I feel proud of myself for finally getting with the program. I must say, I like the coziness the tree provides to the house.

Sweet Celebrations

Yesterday we celebrated Mateo's 4th birthday and then had Halloween festivities in the evening. It was one of those non-stop days filled with activity. It was so much fun to have my whole family at the party. Even Eno was there all the way from Seattle! Troy's sister from Rochester came with his mom and step-dad. We don't have a ton of friends in Bagley, but the few we have are awesome friends, and they were also able to make it. I thought about how blessed we are to have the opportunity to share this special occasion with our family and friends. It was the kind of day where you don't have to worry about anything else but enjoying time together and experiencing the day through the eyes of a little guy who is loving every minute of the presents, birthday wishes, costumes, and candy! These are the sweet moments to cherish. Life is good.

The Tide is Rising

Transitions -- I'm not a big fan. I try to be a go-with-the-flow kind of girl, but those of you who know me, might be laughing a little at that statement. I'm too Type A. Either I've always been Type A and not realized it or else have become a more rigid Type A as I got older. If that is the case, I blame it on being a teacher. There are so many details to tend to on a daily basis that I trained myself to be uber organized so I could function and survive. During my first few years of teaching, I spent a lot of time trying to keep my head above water. That wasn't much fun.

Lately, I've been having that feeling again. It's not school this time, it's the juggling act at home. Even though I knew it was coming and tried to prepare myself for it, it hasn't been easy. I'm not going to whine about the specifics. Let's just say I really appreciate the down time with my family that doesn't happen as often as it did before. I hope things get better as we work out the kinks. Last time I checked, life preservers aren't handed out until the beginning of June.

All Summer in a Day

I have about an hour before I need to get Mateo to his daycare and get us both dressed and ready for the day. Today is the second day of teacher workshop with open house tonight. I better make this blog quick. For some reason, I have not found the time to blog since early June. Maybe Facebook got in the way....hmmm.

Since my last post, we have enjoyed our summer that went as fast as I knew it would. In June Troy started teaching drivers' training and has since spent almost 200 hours in the car with students. Thankfully, he doesn't have too many eventful stories to share.

The big news is that my husband is now a "real" teacher! He got hired to work in Waubun which is an hour away. He will teach rotation classes for fifth and sixth grade. The two of us also enjoyed a couple getaway to Hawaii in August. It was so relaxing and quiet. I did miss Mateo a lot but not as much when we were sitting in restaurants enjoying an uninterrupted meal. Mateo was having more fun with Grandma Linda anyway! I could write more about what we did this summer, but I don't want this to turn into a Christmas card.

Now it's time to say goodbye to popsicles, freezies, hotdogs, visits with friends and family, summer strolls, relaxed schedules and all of the other things we love about June, July, and August. This time of year is always a little tough for me. I sometimes wonder what it would feel like not to have to go to school in the fall. I've been doing it for 29 years now. It's hard to transition from vacation mode to full-on work mode. I know, I know, you're shedding tears for me. While you get the Kleenex, I better log out and get ready.

Follow Up Blog to Previous Blog

Tuesday 6/2
Mateo to Mom: I am making you happy so much.

Wednesday 6/3
Mateo to Mom: I am making you prouder and prouder of me.

Two separate responses said after using the potty.

First Week of "Vacation"

Another year of school was officially over on Friday. I said goodbye to my students who were ever-so-sad to start vacation. Yeah right. What they don't realize is that teachers probably look forward to it more! Then Troy, Mateo and I enjoyed a pleasant weekend with just enough grad parties to appreciate all the delectable options but not too many to feel overwhelmed. We also got to enjoy some time with friends on Sunday and Mateo caught his first fish.

Then Monday came. The first official day of vacation. Ah! Relaxing. Enjoying warm weather. Right? No to both. This week has been crazy! I actually found myself thinking that if I was "working" things would be a lot less hectic. Here's what has been going on in the Reynolds' household this week: Troy started teaching driver's training in the mornings and then has driving time with students in the afternoon, 3 dentist appointments, 3 chiropractor appointments, 1 doctor appointment, 1 job interview (Troy), cleaning closets and other nooks and crannies for a garage sale on Friday, and oh yes, did I mention potty training? Yesterday I was seriously wondering about my sanity.

You may be thinking that it's the potty training that has me stressed out. But it's been the garage sale stuff! That is a lot of work! I better turn at least a little profit to make this worth it. Intrinsic rewards aren't going to cut it.

So how's the potty training going? Unbelievably...great...so far! (And I hope hope hope that I'm not jinxing things by blogging about it.) My son has been adamantly against anything to do with an activity that hindered him from peeing or pooping in his diaper. Prior to the official training, he only used the potty about 5 times. I am not underexaggerating. This kid did not want to train. So Monday rolls around and I make him wear underwear. Long story short, he realized Monday night what it means to use the potty so his underwear doesn't get wet, and it has been very smooth sailing since. I am still in shock and am hoping that it continues.

If by the end of the week I have managed to clean out my closets (made a little extra money) and have a potty trained child, I'd say I get to take the rest of the summer off. Well, except for the two weeks of summer school I'll be teaching starting next week. And I can guarantee it will be a lot more relaxing.

Mr. Reynolds

It's official! Troy is a teacher! File folder number 392032. After all this time, it seems strange that he actually finished the degree. He started his elementary ed classes over ten years ago before we got married and then switched to mass comm. He now holds degrees in the following areas: philosophy, creative writing, mass communications, and now elementary education. I think BSU is planning to name a building after him.

An odd conversation

My February blog stated that my brother accidentally hit his dog Sammy, and sadly Sammy died. Last week, my brother got a new puppy. Here is the conversation Mateo and I had on the way to grandma and grandpa's yesterday:

Me: Mateo, you are going to get to see Isak's new puppy!
Mateo: Why did Isak drive over Sammy?
Me: It was an accident.
Mateo: Did Sammy get flat?
Me: Yes, I think so.
Mateo: Did they put Sammy in the garbage?
Me, after some thought: No, they buried him in the ground.

I'm not sure what is more disturbing--an adult picturing a dead dog in the garbage or a toddler picturing a dead dog buried in the ground somewhere.

Changes

Something big happened in our house this month. It's something that Troy has been dreaming about since we first got married. Before you start to really wonder, I'll break the suspense...we got satellite. Troy has had time to enjoy it. Student teaching was done at the end of March so now he is at home every day with no major responsibilities. I, on the other hand, have been unexpectedly swamped with things at school and have had very little time to watch tv. To put it in perspective, we've had satellite for almost a month, and I don't know what channel The Food Network is on. So tonight, I have a rare hour to myself (which must mean that I'm not at a meeting somewhere) while Troy gives Mateo a bath. It only took me about five minutes to scroll through all of the channels to find where The Food Network was. I hate having so many channels most of which I will never watch. Then, once I found TFN and started watching a new show I was interested in, the channel automatically changed because Troy apparently preset the tv to record an Adam Sandler movie. So due to the fact that I haven't had my 8 hour satellite tutorial on how to watch a separate show apart from the one being recorded, I am now catching up on my blog and looking at Adam Sandler with a bad perm and beard listening to him talk in a weird accent. I have no clue what is going on, with the movie or the satellite. It's all too complicated for a girl who grew up reading the newspaper summaries of tv shows to keep up with pop culture because she didn't have a tv. True story.

March Update

I am forcing myself to blog right now so I have at least one blog in March. It will really bug me if all of the other months show up on the sidebar except March!

Since I last blogged:
-Hosea won Top Chef. Boo! I was a Stefan fan to the end. He was so sweet consoling Carla, and he wore Finn t-shirts and hats the last couple episodes. What's not to love?
-My hubby and I are going to Hawaii in August!! Happy anniversary to us. I can't wait! Except for the long flight, I am really looking forward to our trip.
-Troy finished student teaching on Friday. That means I get to get ready all by myself and leave two minutes before 8 and still make it to work on time. I don't have to fight the Bagley traffic on my way to daycare! I know there is basically no traffic, but you would not believe how many near accidents I've had in the mornings because there are too many people who think that Hwy. 92 going through town is a two-lane. I was tempted to honk at this big truck the other day that was passing me on the right hand side going down main street. Then I realized she worked at the school and would probably take me down in the parking lot!

One funny thing Mateo said today to Troy: "Dad, are you done student teaching? Education is important." I swear I have never told Mateo that before! It's more likely that he heard it watching PBS. True story.

February Happenings

I hate it when a whole month goes by and I haven't blogged. Right now it's mostly due to the time factor, but it can also be blamed on trying to figure out what to blog about. So I'll just fill in with a few things happening around here.
-Mom and Dad are in Arizona enjoying their winter vacation in the sun. Which reminds me I need to call my mom tomorrow for her birthday.
-I've heard through the grapevine that while Mom and Dad have been gone, Isak hit a deer and ran over the dog, Sammy. Unfortunately, Sammy was not destined for a long life because he developed a very bad habit of running in front of cars as they left the driveway. So his untimely death was not a surprise but a bummer none-the-less. Poor Isak. Poor Sammy.
-I spent Valentine's Day working my tail off at a speech meet.
-Mateo managed to make a $5 bill vanish in a matter of seconds. I let him open a valentine card from a great grandma and in the time I parked the car, brought my bags into the entryway of the house and came back for him, he had somehow tucked the bill into the window/door. At least that's what he told me, and for the life of me, I have no idea where that money went!
-We are at third quarter mid-quarter already. Three-and-a-half months left.
-Troy is half-way through his student teaching.
-The weather was actually warm enough to take Mateo outside and play in the snow for a little while the other day. I had to laugh when he stuck his butt out at me and told me to throw a snowball at his bumper.
-I am excited about the chance to go on a second honeymoon this summer (which will be more like a first honeymoon considering that our "honeymoon" consisted of staying in a Motel 6 for three weeks while Troy did his radio internship in Chicago--we did a little sightseeing too). It will be our tenth anniversary. We still need to decide what we are going to do. I'm hoping to upgrade a little.
-On the short list of exciting things: Top Chef finale tonight. Stefan makes me laugh. He may be cocky, but he says the funniest things in his cockiness. I would be happy if Stefan, Fabio, or Carla won. Hosea doesn't do a whole lot for me. The suspense is killing me! No, not really. But it's always fun to see who ends up with the title.

A January Meltdown

It might be freezing outside, but thanks to our own Hurricane Mateo, we got to experience a meltdown of major proportions on our way home from Bemidji today. Whew, was it a doozy! Every few months it seems we are treated to one of these very special episodes. Maybe he was just trying to warm things up because, granted, it has been ridiculously cold as of late. But not to worry, within the first few minutes of our drive home, Troy and I were getting a little hot under the collar from the whining, crying, and forceful demands of an over-tired three-year-old.

Mateo was in one of those moods that no soothing, consoling, deal-making, stern-talking, hair-pulling, time-out-threatening, computer-time-privilege-yanking, out-of-control-child-ignoring parenting tactics would resolve. After a full twenty minutes of whining turned to yelling, crying turned to sobbing, and kicking his feet so that his boots fell off, he finally wore himself, along with our patience, out. At one point, Mateo told us he wanted his grandma because she was nice and we weren't. Oh, and did I mention the three times Troy had to stop the car and pull over after Mateo unbuckled his car seat strap because he wanted me to be his "friend" and sit next to him?

About three minutes before we got to Bagley, Mateo realized that he was tired and actually agreed with me when I told him he should rest when we got home. The last few minutes of the ride were blissfully quiet! As soon as we got inside the house, I settled Mateo in for a nap that took all of a minute before he fell asleep.

Unfortunately, he didn't sleep as long as he should have. As I write this, Troy is dealing with another time-out. I think this January deep-freeze is making one little hurricane a little stir crazy!

Baby, it's cold outside

It's almost mid-January and the usual deep freeze has descended. The forecast for the coming week is supposed to be well below zero every day. As Minnesotans we hunker down and take pride in our ability to brave the weather and conduct business as usual. I liken it to the really, really hot summer months of the south where you dash quickly from the house to the car after you have given your car the appropriate time to cool off. Well, here in northern Minnesota, we dash quickly from our house to the car after we've given our cars the appropriate time to warm up. If you're native Minnesotan, you rarely wear boots, hats, or scarves. I've people watched during the coldest times of the winter and am always amazed at how little we bundle up when it's really cold. I always get a kick out of pictures of celebrities walking around in LA with hats, boots, scarves in the fall when it's probably a chilly 70.

This post is a little rambling, but the whole reason I wrote about the cold weather is so I could show my summer flower pictures in hopes of a little warm inspiration. I am very convinced that I have yet to find my natural (warmer) habitat.

First Blog of 2009

Christmas vacation is always such a highlight. We traveled, visited, ate, stayed up late, and even managed to get a few things done around the house during the few days we were home. It's the last night of Christmas break and school starts again tomorrow. It's going to be a busy January with a slight transition since Troy is student teaching for the next three months. I've been spoiled by just having to get myself out the door before eight (and even that is sometimes a challenge). Now we will be sharing bathroom time and attempting to get Mateo up and ready by 7:45. Poor Mateo has no clue what he's in for. He's been used to sleeping in until 8:30 or 9:00 for the past couple years. On the bright side, maybe he'll be ready for bed a little earlier than 11:00.

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, blessed new year! Here's hoping Troy, Mateo, and I somehow magically turn into early birds.