get your head in the game
August 9, 2010 by Stephanie · 4 Comments
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or keep it in the game. The kids have kind of outgrown High School Musical, but we still listen to the soundtrack pretty often when we’re on long car rides (from the first movie, the second and third movies didn’t do much for me/them). One of my favorite songs is the “get your head in the game” song that Troy and his friends do on the basketball court.
We’re in the homestretch of summer vacation, and I do believe it’s been the best summer we’ve had. We’ve kept insanely busy, and have gone on quite a few little weekend getaways, with another scheduled before school starts.
I love the idea of not having a schedule, and being completely “whatever” to anything the day brings. It’s a fantastic way to be.
In theory.
In actuality (is that a real word, or just one that spell check has decided is real because it’s so commonly used?), my kids and I need to stick to somesort of schedule. Routine is probably a better term for this time of year, because we’re not really in jeopardy of being late to anything. No matter how easy going I try to become, their behavior quickly plummets when things get too loosey-goosey.
We’re home this week, and I’ve decided to go back to the basic family rules and stick to them. Beds made by breakfast, TV off at 9am, stick to the meal plan, you must eat at the table (or at least on a blanket if having a carpet picnic), 1 hour of rest time after lunch, etc.
and I need to get back to some sort of work routine!
Today:
get back in the game
Wednesday, speed dust and vacuum
August 4, 2010 by Stephanie · Leave a Comment
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Happy Wednesday!
Speed dust and vacuum today–super quick, just get the main areas of the rooms. No need to obsess.
PROM the front entry way closet and guest bathroom—anywhere where a guest might hang out by his or herself—make sure the area is decluttered and maintained.
Today:
PROM guest areas
Monday August 2, 2010
August 2, 2010 by Stephanie · Leave a Comment
213
It’s August! You’ve only got a few more weeks of summer—make it count. Pack as much fun as you possibly can these last few weeks, even if it means leaving dishes in the sink and laundry unfolded. It’s okay. Let it go, and soak in this time and make lots of memories, and take tons of pictures. There will be plenty of rainy (and snowy!) days to come.
Today:
sweep/hose off the front porch
clorox wipe/Lysol off the doorknobs
saturday & sunday
212 & 213
Goodbye July, Hello August!
It has been the coldest July around here that I can remember. I’ve been running the HEAT in the morning, because it’s been so chilly that I can’t seem to warm up even with cozy socks and hot coffee. The fog burns off by noon, but it’s stays cooler than it normally does for summer time. If you’re planning a trip to SF this summer, bring lots of layers!
We’re having a birthday party for my dad today, and are celebrating a belated birthday with Adam’s extended family tomorrow.
lots of sugar on the menu.
This weekend:
keep up with the daily 7
while back to school shopping, keep an eye out for potential holiday gifts. snatch them up, and mark your list accordingly.
day 210
210
It’s Thursday. Thursday is meltdown day in the O’Dea household. I can already feel it in the air—the kids and I have been going non-stop since 6am Monday morning, and we’ve got a full weekend lined up.
we need to stay in today and veg.
if I’m lucky there’s a Life on the D List marathon on Bravo…
Today:
meal plan for the weekend, and for next week. We’re hosting 2 parties, are you entertaining this weekend?
be nice.
hug your kids close.
Monday, July 26
July 26, 2010 by Stephanie · Leave a Comment
207
Welcome to a brand new week! Anything big on the agenda?
Thank you so much for all of your game suggestions over the weekend! Not only do I have a bunch of great thoughts for additions to our family shelves, I’ve got some fantastic ideas for holiday presents. Thank you!
Here’s the list of game suggestions—maybe you can pick up some for your family or for future gifts for the gamers in your life:
parcheesi
dominoes (the Mexican Train game)
Qwirkle
Scrambled States of America
Blokus
Othello
Apples to Apples Jr
Camp
anything from Cranium
anything from Gamewright
Cranium Family
Hullabaloo
Hoopla
Pictureka
Jenga
Monopoly Jr
SkipBo
Guess Who?
Guess Where?
Trouble
Moose in the House
Dicecapades
Whoonu
Ziggity
Scrabble Apple
Bananagrams
Today:
Tuesday, run errands
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Good morning! How’d your weekend recovery go yesterday? I got a lot accomplished, and the kids did a great job, and did not argue once.
so we drove through McDonalds and got McFlurries.
win-win!
Today:
clean out under the kitchen sink, and srub the cabinet down. If you’ve got a lot of icky build-up, open the windows and spray Fantastik or 409 (or something similar) and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Then scrub away with an old sponge. Let the area air dry for a good 30 minutes before closing up again.
it’s the 200th day of the year!
July 19, 2010 by Stephanie · Leave a Comment
200
Monday!
We’re back from a weekend get-away, and I really, really like being on vacation more than being back in the “real world.” I love watching the big kids jump on hotel beds, squeal at 3-year old reruns of Dora, and find all the “free” soap and pens. The kids are ecstatic to eat chips in bed and leave wet towels on the floor.
I like how in only two nights, the hotel is the new home, and that a routine quickly sets in.
it trips me out.
Today I’ll catch up on laundry, and fold the beach towels. I’d like to say I’ll vacuum the sand out of the van, but I’d be lying. It’ll probably stay there until it’s so ground into the carpet you can no longer see it.
The kids will fight today. They’ll be over-tired, and the morning will be filled with meltdowns.
I’ll lose my cool around mid-afternoon and promise myself to never ever leave the house ever again.
My goal is to keep this inevitable freakout internal, and only show my frustration to the coffee pot.
I may need a reminder at 3pm.
Today:
laugh hard and often
the weekend, days 198 & 199
July 17, 2010 by Stephanie · Leave a Comment
198 & 199
Happy Weekend!
I hope you’ve got fun planned. We’re celebrating our 11th anniversary this weekend by attending a wedding! I’m thinking that’s got to be some sort of good luck.
I love weddings.
This weekend:
play outdoors
stay patient
any yard work need to be done? are the cars in good shape?
Friday Fun Day
July 16, 2010 by Stephanie · Leave a Comment
197
I had a ball last night chatting about The Help on twitter. I’ve never participated so attentively to a twitter discussion, and I really enjoyed the “real time” aspect. It reminded me of the days I spent refreshing message board posts on my favorite parenting website as a new mom. The internet is both ginormous and teensy all at the same time.
LOL. spell check highlighted “teensy” but not “ginormous”!
Today:
have fun with your family
count your blessings
work on your projects/hobbies
Is not life a hundred times too short for us to bore ourselves? –Friedrich Nietzsche
