"I dont wana be a cowgirl when I grow up anymore!"
"you dont?"
"nope, I wana be a republin!" "they get to throw ballons in the house!!"
"Thats great baby, but if you are a republican, you can still be what ever you want to be"
"So I can still be a hunter and be a republin?, or a princess?, or a cowgirl? "
"Yes, you can. Heck Bertha Sue, you can even be President. "
"then can I boss the boys around?"
"sure, but you might have to give them a pardon first"
and with that she went back to dancin. Hey, if all it takes is some balloons and confetti being thrown to get my kids involoved in politics then I am ALL for it!
They have actually watched most of the RNC with us. ANd they watched the DNC. They have questions, and we answer them as best we can. They dont necisarily know this is a ground breaking year, but they know that its important. And amazingly enough they ask important questions.
Anyway, that was this afternoon while we were watching the DVR. This morning was NOT alot of fun.
5:30 came WAY too early. The alarm was going off right as BR walked in the door. I had to wake up the kids. They were NOT all excited.. But there were no tears. They had laid out their clothes last night, so they just put them on and came in here and sat down. I had to make them get up and brush their teeth, then I let them go back to sleep. And I did too. The alarm was set for snooze, so it kept waking me up. In less than 4 minutes BOTH kids were dressed and ready to go.
But alseep.
At 6:10 we headed down to the hiway. I made Brett get a Dr Pepper. I never let my kids have cokes. Sprite yes, Cokes NO. But this morning I fiqured they would need one. So we loaded up and headed down. They drank the whole DR pepper between them. It was a 16 oz bottle and they had it gone in 2 minutes. I didnt even get drink! LOL
I came back home and Bow was wired. I did get him to settle down so I could take a little nap. Then Rayley woke up. So I gave up. I started cleaning up. I wasnt doing any laundry. While the boys room got searched last night for Matts belt I had found quite a bit of laundry. So they were going to have to do laundry when they got home.
At 10:30am the phone rang. It was the school. The subsitute assistant principal was calling. To tell me that Matt was in her office. I was afraid of this. He was up all night, got less than 5 hours of sleep and doesnt do well when he is tired. He is my child that will ask me if he can go to bed. He has always been this way. Very few things interest him enough to keep him awake past his bedtime.
But she assured me he wasnt in trouble. Instead he was in her office cause he wasnt wearing a belt. I told her I was aware he wasnt wearing a belt, I had written a note to his teacher this morning explaining that I couldnt find it. I was still looking. Well she went on to explain it was the dress code. I told her I realized that, but fiqured it was best to come on to school and learn, then to worry about a belt. I asked her if his pants were dragging below his rear. No, he looked real nice. a starched shirt, clean and starched jeans. A fresh hair cut. (this is a weekly occourance, and its not just cut, its shaved. to the scalp, except on the very top). I asked her what she wanted me to do. COuld I bring him a belt.
UMMMM NO. I couldnt. I dont have one. I cant afford one this week, and I live 20 plus miles from town!
But I did her one better, I offered to just come and get him.
I got both Rayley and Bow up and got them dressed, hair brushed, and ready to go. I had to get dressed too. This did NOT make me happy.
As I was walking out the door she called back. Sorry she had upset me. She would even aquire a belt for matt. That is NOT what I wanted. I would find a way to get him a belt. I just wanted to find the 25.00 cowboy belt he already has. He just had it a week ago. She begged me to let him stay. Why I am not sure. He had already made it to 10:00. thats the cut off for being counted there and them getting paid for his attendance. (convient that I didnt get teh phone call till 10:30). She stressed how she wanted him there to learn. I told her I did too. But last time I checked wearing a belt was not condusive to learning. and the fact that she had him and a dozen other kids lined up outside her office from the start of the school day until then was not exactly teaching them anything.
I am not disputing that the kid needs to follow the dress code. But there was MUCH better ways to go about this.
1.) Give him a warning. and then call me. But leave him in class
2.) Call me and remind me that he needs a belt, but dont interupt his class time
dont make these kids sit outside, like criminals because they dont have on a belt. There was over a dozen of them. I talked to a friend who had seen them. When I called her she KNEW what I was calling about. They had sat out there from the time of the Friday Pep Rally being over before 9 till after 10:30.
I also informed her that I wasnt happy about all the homework last night. She tried to give me the crap about knowing it was hard cause the kids were still on a summer schedule, and the week out cause of the huricanne didnt help. My kids DIDNT get off schedule cause of the huricanne. they still went to bed at 8. My kids got off because the teachers expected them to do 5 days worth of work in ONE night. Less than 3 hours as a matter of fact.
I also told her that I am VERY picky about what my children wear, and they had been wearing belts to school every day LONG before it was part of the dress code that they tuck in their shirts and wear a belt. That they dont get to wear T shirts EXCEPT on friday, and have ALWAYS tucked in their shirts. She agree'd that he did look nice, and then told me that she understood kids loosing stuff. Cause just last night she had driven to walamrt at 10:00 just to buy her nephew who is living with her a belt. Cause he had already lost his.
Well, I am glad that she is able to
1.) afford to buy something on a whim. AND the gas to go and get it
B.) doesnt have 4 kids that she has to take everywhere with her cause she is the only one at home at 10 at night and
3.) lives close enough to consider a trip to walmart as a 'quick trip'.
But I cant.
I agree'd to leave Matt at school. But only cause BRett had gotten Bulldog of the week. and if I pick up one, I have to pick up the other. And he was the big man is his class today so I didnt want to disturb him. PLUS I have dealt with these kids for over a week. when they should have been in school. If I brought him home I would have a tired, whiney kid on my hands. And since it was the teachers who wanted that homework done, they should have to put up with them.
But I went on to town. Went to the western store, woke up both kids and got them out, went in, found the belts, and got Matt a new belt. Loaded the kids back up, drove to the school, got the kids BACK out having to rewake Bow, walked in, NICELY put it on the desk, and wisely decided NOT to ask to speak to the principal, had it sent to his class, and took the kids BACK out, strapped them BACK in, MUCH to Bow's displeasure, and drove home. That is 1/4 of a tank of deisel. around 6 gallons, a new belt and wasted time. Because a BELT was keeping my child from learning. On the 8th day of school.
I do plan to speak to the acting principal when I go in for my PTA meeting. Our regular principal is out sick, so our assistant has taken over her job, wth a retired principal coming in to work in her position.
I try very hard to make sure my children respect the rules, and dont make a fool of me. I work very hard at the schools. Spending my time and money to help them. I am one of the VERY few volunteers up there. And honestly, I think part of the reason we dont have more is because of the way they treat parents. They are so tired of having to deal with stupid crap that they dont even want to come up and better the school for their children. I dont expect special treatment for my children because of it. I really dont. When they are bad, bust them for it. But you need to think before you waste the time and money of the parents for something so trivial as a belt. His pants were NOT down around his knees. he was very nicely dressed, he just didnt have a peice of leather wrapped around his waiste.
I havent decided yet what we are going to do when one of them looses their belt again. I know it will happen. Its inevitable. I have 2 options. A.) tie a peice of twine around his waiste and send another note.
OR 2.) keep him home, and write a note stating:
"Please excuse Matt/Brett for missing school yesterday, He was unable to learn due to the lack of a belt. We have since located it and therefor he was qualified to return to school."
Of course this will result in an unexcused absense. But thats okay. They already get one a year. On Presidents day. I refuse for them to go to school that day.
The Boys did come home and do a load or two of laundry. Nothing major, Towells and socks. And Brett was VERY proud of his Bulldog of the week award. I am too. Last year he got it at the very end of the year. I fiqure it was given to him then 'cause you are supposed to give each child the honor at least once. I am hoping that this time he earned it. He has gotten a few complement tickets. Those are tickets you get for doing something nice and you get to turn them in for a prize.
Oh and According to the 'cone of uncertainty' Huricanne Ike is headed into the gulf. I am guessing enough of the media prayed or sold their souls that it has changed course and is headed for the New Orleans area. Unfortunatly, we are JUST CLOSE enough that if it gets off course just a little bit, we could be hit. Not a good thing..
Friday, September 5, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Gustav GO AWAY! and take IKE with you!
Its 11:00 and Matt is still working on his homework. I kid you not.
Every week on Monday they get a packet of 4 or 5 pages for language arts that they have to do and turn in on Thursday, and then they have to do math and anything else they decide to send home.
This is fine. Except when you dont go to school ALL week because of a freakin huricanne, go in on Thursday and all of this is due on Friday.
The kids have to get up at 5:30 every morning. They catch the bus a little before 6:20. Then they dont get home till pert near 5:00. God forbid I have anything I have to do in the evening, or they want to do something other than eat and do work.
So, they came home at 5:00. Were starving to death, I let them eat a little bit, We tried to find Matts belt. The rules state each child must wear a belt and tuck in their shirt. Well, Matts belt went missing the week before school started. And we havent been able to find it since.
After a little while, of me looking and them holding and loving on Bow, we had to stop. I knew they had homework. Brett had a project that is one that they would send home at the begining of the week and turn in on Friday. Plus he had to read like 20 pages our of a text book. I think he had laungage arts too. But honestly, it wasnt worth it.
His project was to draw a map from the school to his house. And color it.
We worked on that, Matt worked on his and Brett went to bed at 10:45. Matt is still working and crying at 11:25. (I keep having to stop wrighting to help him and keep him awake).
I know they are exhausted. I am. ANd tomorrow they will get in trouble cause they are not minding, or are irratible. I like for them to be in bed by 8. I am pretty strict about this. even on a good night that only leaves us 3 hours to visit, eat, bath and for them to see Bow and I.
I really dont get the point of homework for a 3rd or 4th grader. They have spent all day at school. Why torture them when they get home too? And why torture the parents? Seriously. I end up being the bad guy, because I have to keep on them. Make them redo it, scream, holler and threaten. They end up crying, being miserable and hating the whole concept of school. so honestly, what good does it do?
In the real world I am not expected to bring home work with out compensation. Why should they be? I cant fiqure out if its trying to force us to spend time with our kids, or what. But if the time spent is spent having to ride them to get something done, what good has it done?
Bow woke up a few days ago with a stuffy nose. And he is steady getting worse. He has been a good baby today. But you can tell he doesnt feel good.
He is really growing. He is standing on his own, and I expect him to walk any day now. He will say a few things. Although dada is still his favorite. He will hit the bedroom door and holler it when he knows BR is in there asleep.
He said "sugar' the other day when I was asking him for some sugar.
He will say "ice cream" if he sees the bluebell tub or an ice cream cone.
This last week has been awful. It started with the realization that Gustav was headed our way. well last week ended that way. I knew what I needed, and my grocery shopping day fell right on the day that everyone else decided to go and pillage and plunder the stores. There was NO water at walmart, Bread was runnign short and I almost never found crackers. there was no veinna sausages, hot dogs or other stuff I needed.
I had to drive BACK to a differnt store to get water. BR was out for work. I came home, filled up my truck, then gathered up all the gas cans I could find and filled them up. of course right as I pulled into the gas station to fill them I was lucky enough to feel the first drops of rain. The huricanne was still days out. But we had quite a few rain showers last week. Well when this one hit it REALLY hit. I was standing out there, trying to fill up gas cans. The wind was whipping so hard that I could barely stand up. And the rain was coming down in SHEETS. I was under a canopy and it was coming in strait across. I was soaking wet before I could even get the first can filled up. I just went ahead and finished. When I finally got home I was so wet that I was wiping water OFF me. I literly wrung out my bra and panties. I was able to wash my hair with out getting under the water when I got in the shower to wet it. I kid you not.
Then the next day I decided that there was no sense in waiting until we ran out of gas around here and the lights got knocked out and you couldnt get gas, that I should fill up the 55 gallon drum. This meant getting the pump out. IT was NOT coming out easy. I ended up having to call my brother i law and asking him to drive over here and help me unscrew the cap. It was too hard for me to do it. Then we put in a little gas, cleaned it out and got it all loaded. Then I was off to fill er up. NOT fun. It cost me a fortune! But if the lights go out and you have to run a generator you need it. IT takes about 10-12 gallons a day to run one. And last time we were with out electric for over a month.
that was on Friday. BR was trying his hardest to pull some oil, but with all the people evacuating he couldnt drive on the roads. People litelry were bumper to bumper and wouldnt let him out. He came on home not long after I finished getting the barrel all squared away. I reckon he got home about 11 that night.
Saturday we cleaned up the yard. stuffed all the possible projectiles under the house or under a low tree. And he built up some water dams on the road. Our driveway is VERY steep and the water runs off our hill and cuts HUGE ruts in it. So he was trying to save what little bit of driveway we have left. Its almost to the point that to come and see me you either have to put it in 4 wheel drive or walk.
Of course BR didnt work that night either. They were evacuating Jasper and between the people out of Beaumont, the people in Jasper and the people from Lousianna you coulnt drive out there to save your life.
They had gustav headed to New Orleans by then, but we were supposed to get hit by a cat one. And its hard to tell if the news media just wants it to hit NO o bad that they are trying to wishful thinking it over there, or if its gona hit there. But folks from south of us were takin it serious.
Most folks I talked to here at home were staying put. Noone could afford to go far, and unless you have ever evacuated with 2 million other people at the same time, driving 30 hours strait, you just dont realize how taxing it is. Plus with the horses, and BR's job, plus the high gas prices, staying here and finding a place to hunker down was just much more feasable.
On Sunday they decided that we didnt have to leave. But they had shut down all the wells and BR couldnt haul oil. Of course they had cancled school for Tuesday and Wend. With Monday being a holiday anyway I was already dreading the long weekend. We went ahead and continued to prepare for no electric, and that also means no water, so we moved extra stock tanks to the horses, filled up bathtubs and tried to make sure that everything was as prepared as we could get it.
BR and I just sat here and watched TV with the kids. We got lucky this time. Gustav barely even gave us any rain. it turned and we didnt even get the 10 plus inches of rain they told us we would get.
And the lights never blinked. I am sure we will end up getting one this year. There are just too many out there for one to not hit us.
Tuesday when BR tried to go back to work he couldnt even cross the intersection. The cars were just bumper to bumper.And the love bugs were so thick you couldnt breathe. So again we sat around watching TV. The kids have been watching the RNC with us, and are starting to really grasp the conecpt. I hope they continue to be interested. I have always tried to be informed. and always vote. but this year I am watching everything I can about it.
BR finally tried to go to work on Wend. unfortunatly there still wasnt any oil to haul, and there were still thousands of people on the road, Not to mention the love bugs. so he was home by 7:45. which worked out well for me. He cut the boys hair. Well, technically, he shaved their heads. They have a little on top, but he shaves the rest with a razor. They were excited to go back to school today. And I was excited for them. belive me. I was so excited for school to start and then this happened and they were out for a week.
Tonight BR went back to work, and there is still not much out there. When they turn back those wells they really turn them back. They cant afford an oil spill.
of course there are a few downsides to NOT getting a huricanne. We ended up with ALL of lousianna's Love bugs. if you have never had the privledge of seeing a love bug your life is sorely lacking. AND you get triple the skeeters.
The skeeters are a health hazard, they are agervating and miserable. But they are NOTHING compared to love bugs. Or telephone bugs, there is another name for them, but its not socially acceptable.
At least with skeeters you can get a repelant. Love bugs are about the size of a fly. they have no purpose in life except to breed. The minute they find a member of the opposite sex they 'hook up' and fly around like that. unfortunatly unlike flies they are NOT scared of you. They land ALL over you. in your hair, on your face, your clothes, your arms. They stink. They eat the paint off your car. They get in your house, in your fridge, your cabinets, your nose, your front seat. your back seat, you cant put your hand on the banister to walk up the steps with out killing them, open a door with out smushing them, Bow eats them, heck, everyone eats them, you cant help it, they fly in your mouth. But Bow picks them up off the floor to eat them. And they STINK. I dont know why they smell, but they do. on bad days you cant drive more than 10 minutes with out having to stop and clean off your windshield.
I reckon I should quit whining and go to bed. 5:30 comes early and I cant seem to get enough sleep here lately.
Every week on Monday they get a packet of 4 or 5 pages for language arts that they have to do and turn in on Thursday, and then they have to do math and anything else they decide to send home.
This is fine. Except when you dont go to school ALL week because of a freakin huricanne, go in on Thursday and all of this is due on Friday.
The kids have to get up at 5:30 every morning. They catch the bus a little before 6:20. Then they dont get home till pert near 5:00. God forbid I have anything I have to do in the evening, or they want to do something other than eat and do work.
So, they came home at 5:00. Were starving to death, I let them eat a little bit, We tried to find Matts belt. The rules state each child must wear a belt and tuck in their shirt. Well, Matts belt went missing the week before school started. And we havent been able to find it since.
After a little while, of me looking and them holding and loving on Bow, we had to stop. I knew they had homework. Brett had a project that is one that they would send home at the begining of the week and turn in on Friday. Plus he had to read like 20 pages our of a text book. I think he had laungage arts too. But honestly, it wasnt worth it.
His project was to draw a map from the school to his house. And color it.
We worked on that, Matt worked on his and Brett went to bed at 10:45. Matt is still working and crying at 11:25. (I keep having to stop wrighting to help him and keep him awake).
I know they are exhausted. I am. ANd tomorrow they will get in trouble cause they are not minding, or are irratible. I like for them to be in bed by 8. I am pretty strict about this. even on a good night that only leaves us 3 hours to visit, eat, bath and for them to see Bow and I.
I really dont get the point of homework for a 3rd or 4th grader. They have spent all day at school. Why torture them when they get home too? And why torture the parents? Seriously. I end up being the bad guy, because I have to keep on them. Make them redo it, scream, holler and threaten. They end up crying, being miserable and hating the whole concept of school. so honestly, what good does it do?
In the real world I am not expected to bring home work with out compensation. Why should they be? I cant fiqure out if its trying to force us to spend time with our kids, or what. But if the time spent is spent having to ride them to get something done, what good has it done?
Bow woke up a few days ago with a stuffy nose. And he is steady getting worse. He has been a good baby today. But you can tell he doesnt feel good.
He is really growing. He is standing on his own, and I expect him to walk any day now. He will say a few things. Although dada is still his favorite. He will hit the bedroom door and holler it when he knows BR is in there asleep.
He said "sugar' the other day when I was asking him for some sugar.
He will say "ice cream" if he sees the bluebell tub or an ice cream cone.
This last week has been awful. It started with the realization that Gustav was headed our way. well last week ended that way. I knew what I needed, and my grocery shopping day fell right on the day that everyone else decided to go and pillage and plunder the stores. There was NO water at walmart, Bread was runnign short and I almost never found crackers. there was no veinna sausages, hot dogs or other stuff I needed.
I had to drive BACK to a differnt store to get water. BR was out for work. I came home, filled up my truck, then gathered up all the gas cans I could find and filled them up. of course right as I pulled into the gas station to fill them I was lucky enough to feel the first drops of rain. The huricanne was still days out. But we had quite a few rain showers last week. Well when this one hit it REALLY hit. I was standing out there, trying to fill up gas cans. The wind was whipping so hard that I could barely stand up. And the rain was coming down in SHEETS. I was under a canopy and it was coming in strait across. I was soaking wet before I could even get the first can filled up. I just went ahead and finished. When I finally got home I was so wet that I was wiping water OFF me. I literly wrung out my bra and panties. I was able to wash my hair with out getting under the water when I got in the shower to wet it. I kid you not.
Then the next day I decided that there was no sense in waiting until we ran out of gas around here and the lights got knocked out and you couldnt get gas, that I should fill up the 55 gallon drum. This meant getting the pump out. IT was NOT coming out easy. I ended up having to call my brother i law and asking him to drive over here and help me unscrew the cap. It was too hard for me to do it. Then we put in a little gas, cleaned it out and got it all loaded. Then I was off to fill er up. NOT fun. It cost me a fortune! But if the lights go out and you have to run a generator you need it. IT takes about 10-12 gallons a day to run one. And last time we were with out electric for over a month.
that was on Friday. BR was trying his hardest to pull some oil, but with all the people evacuating he couldnt drive on the roads. People litelry were bumper to bumper and wouldnt let him out. He came on home not long after I finished getting the barrel all squared away. I reckon he got home about 11 that night.
Saturday we cleaned up the yard. stuffed all the possible projectiles under the house or under a low tree. And he built up some water dams on the road. Our driveway is VERY steep and the water runs off our hill and cuts HUGE ruts in it. So he was trying to save what little bit of driveway we have left. Its almost to the point that to come and see me you either have to put it in 4 wheel drive or walk.
Of course BR didnt work that night either. They were evacuating Jasper and between the people out of Beaumont, the people in Jasper and the people from Lousianna you coulnt drive out there to save your life.
They had gustav headed to New Orleans by then, but we were supposed to get hit by a cat one. And its hard to tell if the news media just wants it to hit NO o bad that they are trying to wishful thinking it over there, or if its gona hit there. But folks from south of us were takin it serious.
Most folks I talked to here at home were staying put. Noone could afford to go far, and unless you have ever evacuated with 2 million other people at the same time, driving 30 hours strait, you just dont realize how taxing it is. Plus with the horses, and BR's job, plus the high gas prices, staying here and finding a place to hunker down was just much more feasable.
On Sunday they decided that we didnt have to leave. But they had shut down all the wells and BR couldnt haul oil. Of course they had cancled school for Tuesday and Wend. With Monday being a holiday anyway I was already dreading the long weekend. We went ahead and continued to prepare for no electric, and that also means no water, so we moved extra stock tanks to the horses, filled up bathtubs and tried to make sure that everything was as prepared as we could get it.
BR and I just sat here and watched TV with the kids. We got lucky this time. Gustav barely even gave us any rain. it turned and we didnt even get the 10 plus inches of rain they told us we would get.
And the lights never blinked. I am sure we will end up getting one this year. There are just too many out there for one to not hit us.
Tuesday when BR tried to go back to work he couldnt even cross the intersection. The cars were just bumper to bumper.And the love bugs were so thick you couldnt breathe. So again we sat around watching TV. The kids have been watching the RNC with us, and are starting to really grasp the conecpt. I hope they continue to be interested. I have always tried to be informed. and always vote. but this year I am watching everything I can about it.
BR finally tried to go to work on Wend. unfortunatly there still wasnt any oil to haul, and there were still thousands of people on the road, Not to mention the love bugs. so he was home by 7:45. which worked out well for me. He cut the boys hair. Well, technically, he shaved their heads. They have a little on top, but he shaves the rest with a razor. They were excited to go back to school today. And I was excited for them. belive me. I was so excited for school to start and then this happened and they were out for a week.
Tonight BR went back to work, and there is still not much out there. When they turn back those wells they really turn them back. They cant afford an oil spill.
of course there are a few downsides to NOT getting a huricanne. We ended up with ALL of lousianna's Love bugs. if you have never had the privledge of seeing a love bug your life is sorely lacking. AND you get triple the skeeters.
The skeeters are a health hazard, they are agervating and miserable. But they are NOTHING compared to love bugs. Or telephone bugs, there is another name for them, but its not socially acceptable.
At least with skeeters you can get a repelant. Love bugs are about the size of a fly. they have no purpose in life except to breed. The minute they find a member of the opposite sex they 'hook up' and fly around like that. unfortunatly unlike flies they are NOT scared of you. They land ALL over you. in your hair, on your face, your clothes, your arms. They stink. They eat the paint off your car. They get in your house, in your fridge, your cabinets, your nose, your front seat. your back seat, you cant put your hand on the banister to walk up the steps with out killing them, open a door with out smushing them, Bow eats them, heck, everyone eats them, you cant help it, they fly in your mouth. But Bow picks them up off the floor to eat them. And they STINK. I dont know why they smell, but they do. on bad days you cant drive more than 10 minutes with out having to stop and clean off your windshield.
I reckon I should quit whining and go to bed. 5:30 comes early and I cant seem to get enough sleep here lately.
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