I'd like to think that if I assign each child a colored pen and meticulously write down every school activity, doctor's appointment, sports practice, open house, friend's birthday party and due dates for fundraisers that I will have an organized, orderly life. The reality is that it is still chaos...it is just color-coded.
This fall marks many new beginnings for the Sawdon household. We put an offer in on a house, and are not so patiently waiting to hear any progress on the excruciating process of buying a home listed as a short sale (which, by the way, is totally deceiving...it is anything but short.) Both teenagers are in high school this year, and shortly after the new year the oldest will turn sixteen. Irelynn will be starting kindergarten, and my babies will be starting preschool. The past couple of years have been spent anticipating the days when all of my kids were finally in school. I am currently a mixed jumble of emotions: relief (I'm not going to lie, getting a break from Captain Destructo and his sidekick, Chaos Boy, will be nice,) and sadness, reflecting on how quickly time has gone by and how my babies are no longer babies.
This whirlwind of emotions and changes also bring an enormous amount of activity...I have already been bombarded with paperwork and fundraisers. We have to squeeze in back-to-school shopping, soccer fees, the boys' 3rd birthday party, and all the things entailed with trying to buy a new home. Our beer budget is dwindling.
During all of this, I am still pulling the boys off of the top bunk, sweeping cat litter that they threw on the floor, explaining to Irelynn that we do not call the dog "that damn dog" when we are angry and begging Owen to watch something other than Dora. Oh, and pulling poor Maggie out of the big plastic cat food bin after the boys have sealed her up in it.
Okay...yes...I am definitely ready for school to start. Even if it means colorful chaos...because at least that chaos is on paper, and not in my living room...kitchen...dining room...and bathroom. Did I mention the boys are potty-training? That adventure will have to wait for another blog entry...
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Dogs and Cats
I should probably take a lesson from the numerous plants I've killed over the years...I'm not good with living things. Unfortunately, explaining the loss of a pet is much more difficult than a plant to a child.
Tiberius started to fit into the family...befriending Irelynn, and claiming his spot in our bed at night. He had issues with his food, but other than that, he was a happy, affectionate dog. When we drove across the state for Bruce's family reunion, we brought him with us to leave at my parents' house while we went to the reunion. Unfortunately, Tiberius had other plans. Soon after we left, the next time the door opened he shot out and ran off. After weeks of searching, posting "missing" ads and posters, and pleas on Facebook to watch for him...we got a call from our vet, letting us know that he had been found. He had been hit by a car, and had not survived. To make matters worse, this followed in the wake of the death of our cat, Samson, who had a long battle with cancer. I had to explain to a five-year-old not once, but twice, why she would not be seeing her pet again. I don't know who's heart broke more...her's or mine.
On the last search for Tiberius, I had come home with a new family member: Maggie. Maggie was a barn kitten who latched on to me while I was out there (or perhaps it was me who latched onto her...I'm not sure.) Jay, though he thought she was cute, was disappointed that I had come home with a kitten, and not a dog.
We did find a new dog...an 8-month-old Lab/Boxer mix. After a long debate over names, most of them Harry Potter-esque in nature, we finally decided on something entirely different: Kenobi.
Kenobi has settled right in, and the kids are in love. Hopefully we will have better luck with our newest members of the family. I think I'll avoid plants for awhile and just focus on the animals.
Tiberius started to fit into the family...befriending Irelynn, and claiming his spot in our bed at night. He had issues with his food, but other than that, he was a happy, affectionate dog. When we drove across the state for Bruce's family reunion, we brought him with us to leave at my parents' house while we went to the reunion. Unfortunately, Tiberius had other plans. Soon after we left, the next time the door opened he shot out and ran off. After weeks of searching, posting "missing" ads and posters, and pleas on Facebook to watch for him...we got a call from our vet, letting us know that he had been found. He had been hit by a car, and had not survived. To make matters worse, this followed in the wake of the death of our cat, Samson, who had a long battle with cancer. I had to explain to a five-year-old not once, but twice, why she would not be seeing her pet again. I don't know who's heart broke more...her's or mine.
On the last search for Tiberius, I had come home with a new family member: Maggie. Maggie was a barn kitten who latched on to me while I was out there (or perhaps it was me who latched onto her...I'm not sure.) Jay, though he thought she was cute, was disappointed that I had come home with a kitten, and not a dog.
We did find a new dog...an 8-month-old Lab/Boxer mix. After a long debate over names, most of them Harry Potter-esque in nature, we finally decided on something entirely different: Kenobi.
Kenobi has settled right in, and the kids are in love. Hopefully we will have better luck with our newest members of the family. I think I'll avoid plants for awhile and just focus on the animals.
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