Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Bonfire
We love the tradition of a giant bonfire to kick off fall at Gona and Baca's house! The kids look forward to it every year!! The weather was perfect, the pile of wood giant and the smores were flowing. Great evening!
BUNCO
It all started with my amazing 35th birthday celebration, and thinking "man I have a lot of wonderful friends, yet we never all get together!" And so, my BUNCO group was born. I created a list, arranged everything via facebook and then assigned hostess pairs each month. Well - what fun we have! I truly love spending time with such wonderful like-minded women! So happy that the tradition has stuck and become more and more fun each month!
Bunco is just a simple dice game, but a great excuse to get together and enjoy these great ladies!
Bunco is just a simple dice game, but a great excuse to get together and enjoy these great ladies!
Scouts
I have been so pleased with the scouting program so far! Zach has really thrived in the environment. We have helped with the can drive, gone on an overnight campout to Dover State park (dad and zach) acquired his bobcat badge, and got to experience native american drumming and mad science!
The mad science experience introduced Bernoulli's Principle. I called Josh on the way home to talk about it, he got all excited. He could pinpoint the moment in time he learned about Bernoulli when he was in high school. I'm happy that he and Zach can share a love of science! smile
Soccer
Zach has always been my reluctant starter. I mean that in the most nurturing way! He is cautious - never wanting to commit to something until he is sure about it. But when it is his decision, he is so positive about it, and in 100%!!
This is completely the case with soccer this year. He said he wanted to try it, and as someone who loved/loves soccer, of course I was stoked! I was even more stoked to learn that his volunteer coach was the varsity coach for the Centennial Jaguars and that I worked with him :)
Zach just loved playing. The boys on his team had been playing for years, and he was a little intimidated, but he went every practice, every game with a positive attitude, and tried his best - and I was so happy that he ended each soccer interaction with a huge smile. Glad he has found a sport that he will hopefully continue to enjoy for years! And how cute is he in shinguards?
Reflection
Being a stay at home mom is hard.
I say that knowing how ridiculous it sounds! I have been the market HR support for over 20 stores, nearly 2000 employees spanning 6 states. I've been the change manager for major corporate changes and layoffs, supported Texas and Arkansas from my desk in Iowa (virtual support had never been done before) and integrated the Community model/mentality into a company that had never differentiated in that way. I've spearheaded jobshare for a corporation of 100,000 people and paved the way for female leaders with the WOLF program - yet watching and managing my 3 children has brought on a new set of challenges I never thought I'd face!
I had the opportunity to cover for Kari Joel the last 3 months as she took maternity leave. This was the second time I had covered for her. I was a 10-12 grade counselor at the high school and at the risk of sounding arrogant did a really good job! The principal said she'd hire me on the spot if she had an opening, and I heard many times that the transition was "seamless." Where I struggled is that I felt like I wasn't as good of a parent during my time at the school. I resolved major conflicts that had been brewing for years between parents and the school, helped kids with suicidal ideation, struggles with teachers and grades, college planning and was an outlet for bullying and difficult times. And as much as I excelled as a counselor, I struggled in the parental department. I yelled more, I had less patience, I had little time to plan and make healthy meals and every day was about getting through that day and getting their kids to all their activities.
We had two kids in soccer, for Kenna that meant 3 days a week, 3 days a week of karate, piano lessons and horseback riding lessons. Zach had 2 days of soccer a week, started choir and boy scouts. Poor Grayson I had to opt out of music because there physically wasn't a time that we could squeeze it in! I want my kids to be well rounded and involved but I was constantly exhausted! I didn't have any time for myself and little time for Josh. I sometimes fell asleep at 8:30, and really stopped getting up at 5am to exercise about a month after I started the assignment. I'm not really sure how people balance doing both parenting and a full time job well. How can I be a great employee and a great mom/wife?
When I worked for Best Buy, while the hours were long - I planned when I worked for the most part. I could do things at home in between my hours of working. I could plan my travel (somewhat) around my kids and their activities. Its so much harder when you have a set time to be places. I found myself feeling guilty for not staying late at work when I had to get my kids somewhere. But I loved the fulfillment I got from the work -and I liked being interesting again. I had adult interactions daily and was part of problem solving teams again. I was learning and challenging myself, and when I spoke to my friends I had intriguing stories to share and opinions on schools and where they were going. I felt.....interesting.
On the flip-side, I have been back home for a few weeks now and NOTHING makes me happier than when Grayson comes running out of school to give me a big hug, or gets excited at the idea of us doing puzzles together. I've heard more "I love you moms" in the last few weeks than in the last year. My kids are so much better behaved because I am picking them up, or am home when they get home versus having to fend for themselves for an hour. I get to have long talks with Kenna about her day, and can work with Zach on his homework right after school so he doesn't get so worked up about doing it later. I can plan and make dinner and we can all sit down and eat it together. And to my kids I am so so interesting!
I do not regret my choice to stay home at all. I love every second I get to spend with my precious babies. They will only think I am cool for so long, and I plan to eat it up! I am going to continue to work really hard not to lose a piece of myself in the process and try to focus on self-betterment during this time.
To the stay at home moms out there I salute your efforts and your ability to balance and make a better life for your family - it is hard work but well worth it!
I say that knowing how ridiculous it sounds! I have been the market HR support for over 20 stores, nearly 2000 employees spanning 6 states. I've been the change manager for major corporate changes and layoffs, supported Texas and Arkansas from my desk in Iowa (virtual support had never been done before) and integrated the Community model/mentality into a company that had never differentiated in that way. I've spearheaded jobshare for a corporation of 100,000 people and paved the way for female leaders with the WOLF program - yet watching and managing my 3 children has brought on a new set of challenges I never thought I'd face!
I had the opportunity to cover for Kari Joel the last 3 months as she took maternity leave. This was the second time I had covered for her. I was a 10-12 grade counselor at the high school and at the risk of sounding arrogant did a really good job! The principal said she'd hire me on the spot if she had an opening, and I heard many times that the transition was "seamless." Where I struggled is that I felt like I wasn't as good of a parent during my time at the school. I resolved major conflicts that had been brewing for years between parents and the school, helped kids with suicidal ideation, struggles with teachers and grades, college planning and was an outlet for bullying and difficult times. And as much as I excelled as a counselor, I struggled in the parental department. I yelled more, I had less patience, I had little time to plan and make healthy meals and every day was about getting through that day and getting their kids to all their activities.
We had two kids in soccer, for Kenna that meant 3 days a week, 3 days a week of karate, piano lessons and horseback riding lessons. Zach had 2 days of soccer a week, started choir and boy scouts. Poor Grayson I had to opt out of music because there physically wasn't a time that we could squeeze it in! I want my kids to be well rounded and involved but I was constantly exhausted! I didn't have any time for myself and little time for Josh. I sometimes fell asleep at 8:30, and really stopped getting up at 5am to exercise about a month after I started the assignment. I'm not really sure how people balance doing both parenting and a full time job well. How can I be a great employee and a great mom/wife?
When I worked for Best Buy, while the hours were long - I planned when I worked for the most part. I could do things at home in between my hours of working. I could plan my travel (somewhat) around my kids and their activities. Its so much harder when you have a set time to be places. I found myself feeling guilty for not staying late at work when I had to get my kids somewhere. But I loved the fulfillment I got from the work -and I liked being interesting again. I had adult interactions daily and was part of problem solving teams again. I was learning and challenging myself, and when I spoke to my friends I had intriguing stories to share and opinions on schools and where they were going. I felt.....interesting.
On the flip-side, I have been back home for a few weeks now and NOTHING makes me happier than when Grayson comes running out of school to give me a big hug, or gets excited at the idea of us doing puzzles together. I've heard more "I love you moms" in the last few weeks than in the last year. My kids are so much better behaved because I am picking them up, or am home when they get home versus having to fend for themselves for an hour. I get to have long talks with Kenna about her day, and can work with Zach on his homework right after school so he doesn't get so worked up about doing it later. I can plan and make dinner and we can all sit down and eat it together. And to my kids I am so so interesting!
I do not regret my choice to stay home at all. I love every second I get to spend with my precious babies. They will only think I am cool for so long, and I plan to eat it up! I am going to continue to work really hard not to lose a piece of myself in the process and try to focus on self-betterment during this time.
To the stay at home moms out there I salute your efforts and your ability to balance and make a better life for your family - it is hard work but well worth it!
Sunday, October 04, 2015
Love Montessori!
One thing I so love about the Montessori philosophy is independence. Grayson INSISTED on doing dishes after we made cake the other day as that is what he "did in school." He was so meticulous and adorable...can I just stop time?
OTP
To say I am having a good time at my job is an understatement. I find myself really enjoying the silly parts of high school all over again!
Every year the week of homecoming both highschools have a big event. At the north school its called On The Prowl (fitting as they are jaguars.) It consists of a team and about 20 ridiculous games from ring toss, to crawling through pudding. The kids LOVE it! I would guess we had at least 400-500 kids out of the 1200 attend. Each team gets a different color shirt and has to find a sponsor.
I couldn't say no as they were in needs of sponsors and I'm glad I didn't because team "headless horsemen" had a great time :)
Choir
We have been struggling to find a passion for Zachary. About this age for Kenna she was very excited and "into" karate. Its never been a question for her. And we love it because it teaches great life lessons and allows her to do something that keeps her active and in a great network of kids.
Zachary has ALWAYS had a gift for music - we knew this at a young age. And when he really liked choir camp this summer, I was hopeful! We signed him up for heartland youth choir and I am soooo thrilled! There are multiple choirs some of which you have to audition for, but his age group all are welcome. We went to the kick off a few weeks ago, and got to listen to the Chamber Choir perform. They were breathtaking! I got teary eyed. They get to tour in Ireland singing in many of the cathedrals there....wow!
And to make things even better Zachary is constantly singing now, in the car, in the bathroom, to his animals before bed...I just love it!
Block Party
September brings block party fun! With the main coordinator moving this year, we had to move locations, but Kestners stepped up big time! Alayna's brother brought his tractor and 5 gallon ice cream maker! The kids thought this was the coolest!
We also opted for bigger playhouse this year which the kids loved....the boys were absolutely fried by the end of the night.
There was a hawks game on, so Norths pulled out their projector and watched it on their garage.
The evening ended with firetruck and ambulance visits. Grayson was enthralled.
Family Fun Night
Trying to find time to spend together doing fun things as a family is tricky with our busy schedules. But we try to keep Friday nights sacred. A few of the latest are watching Inside Out and mini golf. The mini golf was a little less than successful as Kenna got SUPER frustrated that the boys were naturally better than her...I attribute it to a long week at school.
Scout Can Drive
Almost all of these cans were collected with the help of my awesome neighborhood and co-workers! The scouts spent the rest of the morning going door to door collecting cans for our fundraiser. Zach did an awesome job helping sort everything. He was most interested in the glass bottles, and the grasshopper he found...but it was a success nonetheless!
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