We were sitting quietly, a week ago Friday night, watching "Little House one the Prairie". Bruce was out of town and the girls and I were just relaxing after a busy back-to-school week. We ordered Domino's and were just finishing dinner.
The phone rang and my friend Lisa asked if we were on our way to their birthday party. Oops.
Tacie threw her clothes into a duffle bag and we rushed to Lisa's house. It was a weekend party at their lakehouse.
Talia and I came home a little bummed. Now it was just the two of us.
Saturday I was supposed to take my CPR/First Aid recertification. Mom agreed to babysit and I drove the 35 miles to class. Unfortunately, when I got there, I found out the class was cancelled. They'd called my office to tell me at 4:50 Friday afternoon - after I'd already left. I always leave at 4 when Bruce is out of town so Talia doesn't have to spend so much time in the after school program (ASP).
Suddenly we had some extra time we weren't expecting! We did some shopping. We played games. I prepared for our first Girl Scout meeting on Sunday. Saturday night, Talia came down with a fever and sore throat. Everything was complicated with the absence of both Tacie and Bruce. If either one had been in available, I would have left Talia at home but they were not and I took her to the scout meeting anyway.
The first meeting went well! We have 5 new girls. We lost 3 last year and decided to expand our total to 16 this year. I got the parent's paperwork; they played some games (again I wished Tacie was there to help out). We did some swaps (some watchamacallit affectionately pinned somewhere). We're getting ready to go camping September 9.
Well Talia was no better Monday. I persuaded Mom to babysit for a while so I could get some work done. However, Tuesday and Wednesday Talia continued to have a fever of up to 104. She acted pretty well and ate and drank as usual. Motrin did a good job of bringing the fever down so I did not take her to the doctor. The guideline is "over 104 degrees or longer than 72 hours" to bring a healthy child into the doctor's office. We did need to go, however, on Wednesday, and she had strep throat. We got some antibiotics and she's since made a good recovery. Bruce came home on Thursday so at least then I could return to work. Talia stayed home Friday too.
It was a difficult week because I had some deadlines at work and trouble with my accessing my files from home. Taking care of Talia, though, is my first priority.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Taxes are done!
I finished my taxes! I had a few final days of avoidance but I finally did it. I finished the accounting Sunday night and filed the taxes Monday night electronically at 11:30 pm.
The girls cleaned house all weekend - not the dirty type of cleaning but the de-clutter cleaning in honor of the new school year. Tacie finally unpacked her last box from the move. She was able to get rid of a lot of clutter. There's still a bit to do that got piled in the closet when company came on Sunday but we're almost there. Talia wasn't quite as successful because she really wants someone to help her. She wants to keep all her things on her dresser and there just isn't enough room.
Bruce did an amazing job in the kitchen with all the paper clutter that had suddenly appeared with the start of school. All our counters are now cleared off.
Sunday we celebrated Tacie's 12th birthday. I baked a chocolate torte - she's 12 now and wanted something a little more sophisticated. It had whipped cream between the 4 layers of cake with chocolate ganache on top. Mom, Lynne, Carla, and Riley came over. Bruce and Carla took the kids swimming while I made dinner. We had Mexican food featuring a baked a layered soft taco dish. Tacie received a lot of nice gifts this year for her room.
I am tired now. I now get up 2 hours earlier than I did before school started but I've been going to bed late every night still. I'm looking forward to catching up on my sleep a little bit starting tonight.
The girls cleaned house all weekend - not the dirty type of cleaning but the de-clutter cleaning in honor of the new school year. Tacie finally unpacked her last box from the move. She was able to get rid of a lot of clutter. There's still a bit to do that got piled in the closet when company came on Sunday but we're almost there. Talia wasn't quite as successful because she really wants someone to help her. She wants to keep all her things on her dresser and there just isn't enough room.
Bruce did an amazing job in the kitchen with all the paper clutter that had suddenly appeared with the start of school. All our counters are now cleared off.
Sunday we celebrated Tacie's 12th birthday. I baked a chocolate torte - she's 12 now and wanted something a little more sophisticated. It had whipped cream between the 4 layers of cake with chocolate ganache on top. Mom, Lynne, Carla, and Riley came over. Bruce and Carla took the kids swimming while I made dinner. We had Mexican food featuring a baked a layered soft taco dish. Tacie received a lot of nice gifts this year for her room.
I am tired now. I now get up 2 hours earlier than I did before school started but I've been going to bed late every night still. I'm looking forward to catching up on my sleep a little bit starting tonight.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Happy Birthday Tacie!!
Today is Tacie's 12th birthday! Happy Birthday Tacie!!!
Yesterday was the first day of school. Tacie is in 7th (2nd year of middle school). Talia is in 2nd grade.
Tacie was pleased her best friend was in her pod. However, she was only in 2 of her classes, Orchestra and Algebra. Tacie did not like ANY of her teachers! Hopefully that will improve.
Talia had a great day! She was excited that she lost one of her teeth at school. Then later was upset and wanted all her baby teeth back. We put her to bed a little earlier last night.
I'll try and get the girls to post about their day themselves.
Yesterday was the first day of school. Tacie is in 7th (2nd year of middle school). Talia is in 2nd grade.
Tacie was pleased her best friend was in her pod. However, she was only in 2 of her classes, Orchestra and Algebra. Tacie did not like ANY of her teachers! Hopefully that will improve.
Talia had a great day! She was excited that she lost one of her teeth at school. Then later was upset and wanted all her baby teeth back. We put her to bed a little earlier last night.
I'll try and get the girls to post about their day themselves.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Getting ready for school tomorrow
Today was the last day of summer vacation this year.
This morning we went to Talia's school to see her teacher, see her room, find her seat, and fill out some forms. Talia's teacher is Ms. Stroud. We were able to pick her. We had been in the "family" group - a situation where the class of children stay together for 3 years and they do activities with two other classes - a kindergarden, first, and second grade class worked together. Unfortunately, the kindergarten and first grade teacher moved to another school this year but we were given the option of still staying with the 2nd grade teacher we did things with last year. The children are mostly the same as in our first grade class. Talia likes Ms. Stroud very much. Talia is happy that all of her closest friends are in her class still. All the little girls who came to her birthday party are in there.
From 2-3, we visited Tacie's school. This is Tacie's second year of middle school - 7th grade. The school is divided into 3 wings for the three grades. The three grades rarely see each other even having their own common room where they have their lunch. Then each grade is divided into 3 pods each taught by a pod team.
Tacie was most excited that her best friend is still in her pod this year. We met all of Tacie's teachers. We especially liked meeting her new advanced content teachers for math (Algebra) , social studies (mid-east and asia), and science (life sciences). The other subjects Tacie will take are Language Arts and Orchestra. There will be one period for a rotating class of either PE, health, home ec, or other elective. There is a new period for an alternating class of either math literacy or reading literacy. There are 7 periods in a day. There are 45 days in a term. There are 4 terms in a school year.
After visiting the schools, the girls came home and Bruce took them to the neighborhood pool. They spent the rest of the evening relaxing and getting their things ready for tomorrow. They're going to wear their new outfits that Grandpa and Grandma Pat bought for them in Wisconsin.
Everyone went to bed early tonight as school starts very early in the morning.
This morning we went to Talia's school to see her teacher, see her room, find her seat, and fill out some forms. Talia's teacher is Ms. Stroud. We were able to pick her. We had been in the "family" group - a situation where the class of children stay together for 3 years and they do activities with two other classes - a kindergarden, first, and second grade class worked together. Unfortunately, the kindergarten and first grade teacher moved to another school this year but we were given the option of still staying with the 2nd grade teacher we did things with last year. The children are mostly the same as in our first grade class. Talia likes Ms. Stroud very much. Talia is happy that all of her closest friends are in her class still. All the little girls who came to her birthday party are in there.
From 2-3, we visited Tacie's school. This is Tacie's second year of middle school - 7th grade. The school is divided into 3 wings for the three grades. The three grades rarely see each other even having their own common room where they have their lunch. Then each grade is divided into 3 pods each taught by a pod team.
Tacie was most excited that her best friend is still in her pod this year. We met all of Tacie's teachers. We especially liked meeting her new advanced content teachers for math (Algebra) , social studies (mid-east and asia), and science (life sciences). The other subjects Tacie will take are Language Arts and Orchestra. There will be one period for a rotating class of either PE, health, home ec, or other elective. There is a new period for an alternating class of either math literacy or reading literacy. There are 7 periods in a day. There are 45 days in a term. There are 4 terms in a school year.
After visiting the schools, the girls came home and Bruce took them to the neighborhood pool. They spent the rest of the evening relaxing and getting their things ready for tomorrow. They're going to wear their new outfits that Grandpa and Grandma Pat bought for them in Wisconsin.
Everyone went to bed early tonight as school starts very early in the morning.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Harry Potter and Avoiding Tax Forms
In my continuing avoidance of doing accounting and 2004 taxes, I read the latest Harry Potter book this weekend! We got the book July 16 but I let Tacie read it first. She finished it while in Wisconsin.
I have a problem with reading. When I read a well written book, I become so consumed with it that other responsibilities in my life are completely ignored. I find it difficult to sleep, or even talk to people. Because I know this about myself, I will refrain from starting a book when I have something else that needs to be done.
Well, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince certainly is enthralling! I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to a time when I can read it again. I won't give away the plot but I will say that Tacie and I had some very different opinions about the ending of this book. We'll have to wait until the seventh book to see who is right.
We did spend some time putting reflective film on our palladium window this weekend. We needed to get that done before finishing up the painting. I want to get the ladder out of my foyer before Tacie's birthday party Sunday.
Back to tax form avoidance. It has been suggested that I just hire someone. However, it isn't the taxes that I am so reluctant to do. They're complex but not that difficult since the forms change little from year to year. What is tedious is doing the business accounting for our internet business and rental house. I enter invoices during the year to keep the inventory straight. However, I do not like to enter in all the other receipts during the year. I have a giant pile of receipts that need to be categorized and entered. Then there are all the expenses that don't have receipts. I have to go through Quicken to get the rest. I can't really hire someone to do that. I'd hate to spend all our profit on something I just don't care to do. So I typically file for an extension every April and put it off until August. I do get a lot of unpleasant tasks accomplished in avoiding doing taxes! Then I have a busy week getting it all done on time.
Tonight, my goal is to get the first half of 2004 expenses all entered in the computer.
I have a problem with reading. When I read a well written book, I become so consumed with it that other responsibilities in my life are completely ignored. I find it difficult to sleep, or even talk to people. Because I know this about myself, I will refrain from starting a book when I have something else that needs to be done.
Well, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince certainly is enthralling! I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to a time when I can read it again. I won't give away the plot but I will say that Tacie and I had some very different opinions about the ending of this book. We'll have to wait until the seventh book to see who is right.
We did spend some time putting reflective film on our palladium window this weekend. We needed to get that done before finishing up the painting. I want to get the ladder out of my foyer before Tacie's birthday party Sunday.
Back to tax form avoidance. It has been suggested that I just hire someone. However, it isn't the taxes that I am so reluctant to do. They're complex but not that difficult since the forms change little from year to year. What is tedious is doing the business accounting for our internet business and rental house. I enter invoices during the year to keep the inventory straight. However, I do not like to enter in all the other receipts during the year. I have a giant pile of receipts that need to be categorized and entered. Then there are all the expenses that don't have receipts. I have to go through Quicken to get the rest. I can't really hire someone to do that. I'd hate to spend all our profit on something I just don't care to do. So I typically file for an extension every April and put it off until August. I do get a lot of unpleasant tasks accomplished in avoiding doing taxes! Then I have a busy week getting it all done on time.
Tonight, my goal is to get the first half of 2004 expenses all entered in the computer.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Home and getting ready for school
Tacie made it home safely on Monday. Dad was able to take her all the way onto the plane in Milwaukee. Bruce was waiting at the gate for her here in Atlanta. On the plane she got to sit in the front passenger seat next to a lady pilot. The stewardess and pilot both talked to her and made her feel comfortable on the flight.Tacie and Charlie have been getting reacquainted although we need to take him back to obedience training class. No one is more pleased than Talia to have her sister home. Bruce has taken the girls to Six Flags today! They just rode the new roller coaster. They want to get to White Water (a water park) too before school starts a week from today.
Although we have to return to school August 10, I like the school schedule we have. We still have just 180 days of school/year. The girls get a whole week off at Thanksgiving and 2 weeks off for the Christmas break. They'll get a spring break in April and school ends May 26. The school board even considered an extra week off in February and finishing out the school year June 2; I would have liked that even better. We would love to have a winter vacation to go skiing and snowboarding. We prefer not to take the girls out of school for vacation.Speaking of school boards. Cobb county tried to purchase laptops for every teacher in the county and every child in middle and high school to use. They made a deal to get them for $235 each. They are trying to bridge the technical divide that occurs with some families being able to afford computers and others not. Tacie was very excited. Unfortunately, some busybodies decided to bring a suit against the county and now just teachers are getting the computers. There had been a special 1% sales tax in the county for school improvements and to "upgrade school computers" and the judge decided that it didn't mean laptops. I think it was a little fuzzy. Now the county has to pay the court costs of over $100,000. That would have paid for a lot of computers! Who profited from this? Not the children, certainly.