The question of how much screen time is too much--or is there such a thing as "too much" screen time? came up on a local homeschool discussion group, and my thoughts were so varied and all over the place that I decided to try to sort through them here...
I go back and forth on how much screen time I think is too much, with input from the older kids (kids are 13g, 11b, 9b, 5.5b, 3.5b, 4-monthg). Generally speaking, the older kids get 20-30 minutes of game time a day (usually Minecraft or Terraria) and the younger boys get 10-20 (usually PBS Kids or cool math games).
***update 10/25/2015***
A few months ago game time started to become an obsession at my house. I would be asked multiple times a day by multiple children if today would be a game day. How much time? When can we do it? Can we do it now? How about now? Can we play yet? And then when they'd get to do it they would watch each other and game time would drag on all afternoon, leaving cranky kids and a cranky mama.
One day, I'd decided I'd taken enough. And I had.
And that plain little me got a little bit mad.
And that plain little me did a very plain thing:
Threw a fit!
And that fit broke the game time fiasco!
Okay, so that was a really bad re-mix of Dr. Seuss (and it doesn't even rhyme), but the fit part is totally true. I felt a bit like a 3-year-old. I even went so far as to explode, "When I was a kid I played outside! I hardly ever played computer games! And I was happy! And inventive! And didn't bug my mother about game time EVERY SINGLE HOUR OF EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! ARGH!!!!"
I said "no more!" and "if you ask me again you don't get games for at least a week!" and "go outside and explore these amazing 17 acres we just purchased so that you will have so much to do outside at any time of your life!"
Phew! It felt good!
So now we have a new plan: game day is Friday. They get 45 minutes in the afternoon after our field trip and quiet time. And everyone has to play at the same time. They can choose to watch or play, but when the 45 minutes is up, that is the end. Sorry the internet was being slow, time is up! Sorry you had to go to the bathroom, time is up!
Now no one asks me all day every day about playing games--they know when they get to do it, and that is that. And I haven't had any fits. It's a total win-win. !!
Showing posts with label craziness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label craziness. Show all posts
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Thursday, November 6, 2014
A snapshot of my life
Every year my older kids take the Peabody Test--an annual test is required by the state, and this is our test of choice. Every time our tester tells me that this test on this day is just a snapshot of what my kids know--things are always in motion and always changing; the test just catches one moment.
So this post is me noting down a moment of my life...
Last week Elise and Sammy were pretty sick--so sick Elise had to sit out some ballet. She wasn't getting better when Sammy was, so I took her in to the doctor to have her hemoglobin checked. Turns out she had pneumonia. Well, that explained a lot! Today was the first day she has felt well in 2 weeks. She danced all of technique and pointe, which hasn't happened in 2 weeks. She came home feeling so good that she got the little boys ready for bed, organized the laundry room, started the laundry and cleaned up in the family room. It's good to have her back!
Now, the reason I thought that maybe her iron counts were low is because I went to the cardiologist last week for some heart palpitations I've been having. They took some blood and turns out my hemoglobin counts were at 9.6 (the bottom of the normal range is 11.8). Then I went to the midwife the following day where they took some blood...hemoglobin was at 9.3. So I'm totally anemic right now...which explains my constant fatigue and heart palpitations. But I thought maybe Elise was suffering from the same thing as me. We'll find out when her blood draw results come back.
Because of my anemia, I did something I haven't done in years: I bought red meat. Okay, so maybe it hasn't been years, but it's only been once or twice a year for the past many years (since we've been in school...it's SO expensive!!). However, I'm at a total loss as to what to do with it, because I'm not used to cooking with it anymore. I'm also taking iron supplements, and have the option to have iron delivered to my blood stream intravenously if I'm not feeling better in a week or so. I have little energy so am highly motivated to bring up my hemoglobin counts! I also can't deliver at my birthing center if my iron is below 10. :(
My mom's cancer is stage 4 and very aggressive. My brother who lives next door (practically) says there is an almost daily change in her, and not on the improving side of the scale. She has good days and bad days, and is on hospice care. I have good days and bad days with that news. All of my brothers and their families and my family and I are gathering together the week after Thanksgiving to go to a beach house and be all together in one place. We've been having family Skype calls that have been so much fun! We try not to tack on any "for the last times" in our planning and merriment. But it's always hanging there.
I bought 100# of apples last week, with the goal to do 10# of applesauce a day in my crockpot. I'm about 30# down with applesauce, and we've probably eaten at least 20#. I'll do another batch tomorrow, but I might end up canning it instead of freezing it as I am out of containers and my freezers (both of them) are full. I also need to make apple crisp filling...yummy!
I signed the three older kids up for an online charter school that gives us some of our taxpayer money back in the form of reimbursements for educational expenses--up to $800/child. Our part of the deal is that each child submits 1 worksheet in 4 core subject areas (History/Social Studies, Language Arts, Math & Science) every other week, which works out to 9 weeks/semester. However, we just got signed up, so I've been trying to get everybody logged in, download worksheets and organize everything for 3 kids. Phew!
Plus, now we have to get all the worksheets completed by the end of the semester...which is something like 7 weeks away. Mason, Sammy and I started working on them last night, and they were having loads of fun! The fun continued this morning...until it was no longer fun and the kids learned the true meaning of "busy work". We'll push through these next few worksheets, then pace ourselves with more time to work on each one. Funny how me helping them has reminded me of all the time I wasted doing things like this when I was a kid. I'm sure there is useful information, but man! I'm glad we have so much fun learning without worksheets to tie us down!
I've spent much of the last two days (and nights) doing my Board of Directors work for the North Ballet Youth Company. My main roles are very much under control, but some immediate needs came up with things I help with, so I've been doing that. Amazing how my brain continues to stretch and grow--the older I get the more I realize I don't know. :) Thankfully I'm also more adept at figuring things out and I know more people who do know.
I'm in charge of costumes and the Silent Auction again this year. The huge difference between costumes this year and costumes last year is that I have a costume organizer and a head seamstress, along with other parent volunteer seamstresses. They make my life wonderful!! I also put a potential Board member in charge of the Silent Auction, so in both roles I am mostly just a manager. It's delightful!
So that's all the extra stuff going on right now. Normal life includes ballet 4 days/week, choir 2 days/week, Virtus (our homeschool co-op) once/week, teaching piano, making bread, having friends over, YW, Scouts and the day-to-day cooking and cleaning that accompanies a family of 7+. It's wonderful, and I wouldn't have it any other way!
So this post is me noting down a moment of my life...
Last week Elise and Sammy were pretty sick--so sick Elise had to sit out some ballet. She wasn't getting better when Sammy was, so I took her in to the doctor to have her hemoglobin checked. Turns out she had pneumonia. Well, that explained a lot! Today was the first day she has felt well in 2 weeks. She danced all of technique and pointe, which hasn't happened in 2 weeks. She came home feeling so good that she got the little boys ready for bed, organized the laundry room, started the laundry and cleaned up in the family room. It's good to have her back!
Because of my anemia, I did something I haven't done in years: I bought red meat. Okay, so maybe it hasn't been years, but it's only been once or twice a year for the past many years (since we've been in school...it's SO expensive!!). However, I'm at a total loss as to what to do with it, because I'm not used to cooking with it anymore. I'm also taking iron supplements, and have the option to have iron delivered to my blood stream intravenously if I'm not feeling better in a week or so. I have little energy so am highly motivated to bring up my hemoglobin counts! I also can't deliver at my birthing center if my iron is below 10. :(
My mom's cancer is stage 4 and very aggressive. My brother who lives next door (practically) says there is an almost daily change in her, and not on the improving side of the scale. She has good days and bad days, and is on hospice care. I have good days and bad days with that news. All of my brothers and their families and my family and I are gathering together the week after Thanksgiving to go to a beach house and be all together in one place. We've been having family Skype calls that have been so much fun! We try not to tack on any "for the last times" in our planning and merriment. But it's always hanging there.
I bought 100# of apples last week, with the goal to do 10# of applesauce a day in my crockpot. I'm about 30# down with applesauce, and we've probably eaten at least 20#. I'll do another batch tomorrow, but I might end up canning it instead of freezing it as I am out of containers and my freezers (both of them) are full. I also need to make apple crisp filling...yummy!
 |
| At Caddie Woodlawn's house in Wisconsin |
Plus, now we have to get all the worksheets completed by the end of the semester...which is something like 7 weeks away. Mason, Sammy and I started working on them last night, and they were having loads of fun! The fun continued this morning...until it was no longer fun and the kids learned the true meaning of "busy work". We'll push through these next few worksheets, then pace ourselves with more time to work on each one. Funny how me helping them has reminded me of all the time I wasted doing things like this when I was a kid. I'm sure there is useful information, but man! I'm glad we have so much fun learning without worksheets to tie us down!
 |
| At a nature center class--taking samples of the creek |
I'm in charge of costumes and the Silent Auction again this year. The huge difference between costumes this year and costumes last year is that I have a costume organizer and a head seamstress, along with other parent volunteer seamstresses. They make my life wonderful!! I also put a potential Board member in charge of the Silent Auction, so in both roles I am mostly just a manager. It's delightful!
So that's all the extra stuff going on right now. Normal life includes ballet 4 days/week, choir 2 days/week, Virtus (our homeschool co-op) once/week, teaching piano, making bread, having friends over, YW, Scouts and the day-to-day cooking and cleaning that accompanies a family of 7+. It's wonderful, and I wouldn't have it any other way!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Lincoln in the bathroom
This week Lincoln learned how to climb on the bathroom counter. He stands on the bathroom stool, pulls himself onto the toilet (yes, I know, totally gross!!!), then leans over, kneels on the TP and pulls himself onto the counter. He has so much fun up there! He sucks on the toothpaste, turns on the water, plays in the soap, plays with the toothbrushes...sometimes he even combines the last two! I went to brush my teeth the other morning--just a quick brush, so I didn't put any toothpaste on--and was baffled at all the froth that was building up. That's when I remembered about Lincoln + soap + toothbrushes. I washed my own mouth out with soap!
I really need to get to Lowe's and get a new door knob!!
One Sammy stuck
Around 1pm the day of the snow cone stand, a drama was unfolding in the house. Soon after I put Lincoln down for his nap I hear Sammy calling me from the bathroom. "Mommy! Moooooooooooommmmmmmy! MOMMY!!!!! I'm stuck!!!" Sure enough, the bathroom door knob would not open. It wasn't locked, it just wouldn't open. I figured that the latch must have malfunctioned and would no longer retract. Oy.
I sent a coloring book under the door to keep him occupied while I frantically tried to get a hold of Stephen and posted my dilemma on facebook, looking for advice.
Over the next hour, Sammy went from a pessimistic "I'm never going to get out of here!" to a more upbeat, "I'm coloring in my book in the bathtub!"
My neighbor came over. My friend came over. We bashed in the door knob, but it would not come off! We tried sending a screw driver under the door to Sammy, but it wouldn't fit. There are no windows in the bathroom for him to squeeze out of, or for us to send in tools.
Finally I was able to reach Stephen. His advice worked: remove the trim and try to push back the latch. The latch was so stuck that it wouldn't budge with a credit card (actually it was my Costco card--I didn't want to hurt my more valuable plastic), so I wedged a giant screwdriver between the door and frame and my friend used it as a lever to pry back the door enough so that I could use another giant screwdriver to slowly push back the latch.
He made it out! The door is a little the worse for wear, and we don't have a door knob currently, but he made it out safe and sound! He was in there nearly an hour.
The lack of a door knob on the bathroom leads right into my next exciting stay-at-home-mom adventure. And in case you were wondering, these adventures really aren't the "choose-your-own" type...
I sent a coloring book under the door to keep him occupied while I frantically tried to get a hold of Stephen and posted my dilemma on facebook, looking for advice.
Over the next hour, Sammy went from a pessimistic "I'm never going to get out of here!" to a more upbeat, "I'm coloring in my book in the bathtub!"
My neighbor came over. My friend came over. We bashed in the door knob, but it would not come off! We tried sending a screw driver under the door to Sammy, but it wouldn't fit. There are no windows in the bathroom for him to squeeze out of, or for us to send in tools.
Finally I was able to reach Stephen. His advice worked: remove the trim and try to push back the latch. The latch was so stuck that it wouldn't budge with a credit card (actually it was my Costco card--I didn't want to hurt my more valuable plastic), so I wedged a giant screwdriver between the door and frame and my friend used it as a lever to pry back the door enough so that I could use another giant screwdriver to slowly push back the latch.
He made it out! The door is a little the worse for wear, and we don't have a door knob currently, but he made it out safe and sound! He was in there nearly an hour.
The lack of a door knob on the bathroom leads right into my next exciting stay-at-home-mom adventure. And in case you were wondering, these adventures really aren't the "choose-your-own" type...
Friday, April 15, 2011
Oregon trip: Day One--getting there
My Grandma Lagerstedt's funeral was a week ago today. My aunt knew how much she meant to me, so flew Lincoln and I to Oregon for the funeral. My original plan was to not attend, as the whole family went to visit her at Christmas-time, and plane tickets are pretty expensive for a grad student's family.
I got up at 4:30am on Thursday, and a few minutes after 5am the family was in the car on our way to the airport for my 6:50am flight. We were supposed to arrive in Denver at 8am and take off for Portland at 8:35am, arriving at PDX at 10:20, then after a stop at Ikea, home to Corvallis around 2pm. Sounds great, right?
Not so much.
Fortunately the flight was only half full, so I was able to have Lincoln in his car seat, and he slept from MSP to Denver. That was the one nice thing. Denver was foggy, so after circling for 40 minutes, the pilot attempted to land. That was a no-go, however, and the pilot pulled up when he couldn't see the runway. Since we were low on fuel, we headed to Colorado Springs, where we refueled and waited in the plane for over an hour. Then back to Denver to try to find connecting flights for most of us.
I had held it together really well until after I got my connecting flight info--3 hours away. I went to my gate and cried. And cried. (I'm not usually so weepy, but being pregnant, off schedule with a tired baby and on my way to my grandma's funeral, I was pretty much a basket case.) I called Stephen, who called his brother who lives in Denver, who called his wife, who called me. I told her I didn't know what to do, so she said she was putting her kids in the car and coming to get me. Oh, thank you, Deanna!!
I eventually made it through the (very complicated) airport and we met up, went to her house and had a delicious lunch. It was SO NICE to be in a home, not a busy, cold airport, especially when I wasn't feeling like myself. Lincoln caught a 15-minute nap in the car. Deanna took me back to the airport, Lincoln and I went through security and we went back to the gate. Unfortunately the flight was full, so Lincoln couldn't be in his car seat. I prayed that someone kind would sit next to us, and my prayer was answered. Lincoln didn't sleep at all, but I caught a 10-minute nap while my kind neighbor watched Lincoln.
I finally met up with my mom a little before 5pm, and we stopped by Ikea for some meatballs (they don't really do take-out there, so thank goodness Mom keeps plastic forks in her emergency car bag!), then off to Albany (with a sleeping baby--hooray!) to prepare Grandma's body for burial. That was a very sacred experience.
Finally we rolled into Mom's house about 8:15pm. Exhausted. Before I did anything I put my extremely tired baby to bed. It was an incredibly long day for both of us, and I knew I'd be waking up early with the time zone change (2 hours).
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Patience isn't a free gift, in case you were wondering
Why do I do things like pray for patience? Do I not realize that I will be given opportunities to have my patience tried and thus increase my capacity for it? I think I should just be given patience as a free gift. And yet, I keep having to earn it.
Anyhow, if any of you ever need to gain more patience, please take all my children to JoAnn Fabrics. You will have ample opportunity to gain more!
Anyhow, if any of you ever need to gain more patience, please take all my children to JoAnn Fabrics. You will have ample opportunity to gain more!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Random
While shoveling my incredibly long driveway this morning it hit me: All the women are strong here in Lake Wobegon because while our men-folk go off to work every morning, we are left to shovel snow.
***
Mr. Monk always said that, "It's a blessing...and a curse." I really get that. Sometimes I wish I could not see both sides of a situation. But I always do. It is impossible for me to stay mad, even when I would like to wallow in my misery. I just can't do it.
***
The older three kids sang in Sacrament meeting yesterday--"The Chapel Doors" and "Reverence is Love". They did a great job!
***
Today I have two extra kids over (homeschooling friends--their newborn sister is in the hospital with RSV), including a birthday girl! Funny how on busy days I get so much done! Fresh bread (with helpers), birthday decorations up, personal pizzas for lunch (including for 4 missionaries), and 3 missionary hair cuts. Oh yeah, and shoveling 3-4 inches of snow off my driveway. When the elders got here they shoveled another inch or two, as well. I love having missionaries in my home!
***
I'm always a little bit proud when we are in the produce section at the grocery store and Mason yells, "Mom! There's asparagus! Can we pleeeeeeeease buy some today?" And then Sammy and Elise chime in, "Pleeease, Mom? We haven't had any in a long time!"
***
Mr. Monk always said that, "It's a blessing...and a curse." I really get that. Sometimes I wish I could not see both sides of a situation. But I always do. It is impossible for me to stay mad, even when I would like to wallow in my misery. I just can't do it.
***
The older three kids sang in Sacrament meeting yesterday--"The Chapel Doors" and "Reverence is Love". They did a great job!
***
Today I have two extra kids over (homeschooling friends--their newborn sister is in the hospital with RSV), including a birthday girl! Funny how on busy days I get so much done! Fresh bread (with helpers), birthday decorations up, personal pizzas for lunch (including for 4 missionaries), and 3 missionary hair cuts. Oh yeah, and shoveling 3-4 inches of snow off my driveway. When the elders got here they shoveled another inch or two, as well. I love having missionaries in my home!
***
I'm always a little bit proud when we are in the produce section at the grocery store and Mason yells, "Mom! There's asparagus! Can we pleeeeeeeease buy some today?" And then Sammy and Elise chime in, "Pleeease, Mom? We haven't had any in a long time!"
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Frisbee & potty-training
The kids and I are in Corvallis for the week, picking raspberries and blueberries. It's hard to stay away from home at this time of year! So I don't. :o)
Last night we went to my little brother's frisbee game (they won 12-1...or more...I was a little distracted). Sammy, as you know, is in underwear full-time, and last night was no exception. I could tell he had to go, but he's not so great at going behind trees yet (tho we got a lot of practice on the trip here...), so I just told him to hold it. Dumb, yes, I know.
Towards the end of the game I looked around and saw him a ways off, standing in a frozen pose. Uh-oh. I went over to him to ask if he needed to go potty.
"Potty and poop...I already went poop. What are you going to do with me?" Asked with a deer-in-the-headlights look.
What am I going to do with him? Where did that come from?
So I borrowed a baggie and a doggie and went behind a tree and did a little pooper scooping. Disgusting, but he was already in his extra underwear! (note to self: put several pairs of extra underwear in the car)
Last night we went to my little brother's frisbee game (they won 12-1...or more...I was a little distracted). Sammy, as you know, is in underwear full-time, and last night was no exception. I could tell he had to go, but he's not so great at going behind trees yet (tho we got a lot of practice on the trip here...), so I just told him to hold it. Dumb, yes, I know.
Towards the end of the game I looked around and saw him a ways off, standing in a frozen pose. Uh-oh. I went over to him to ask if he needed to go potty.
"Potty and poop...I already went poop. What are you going to do with me?" Asked with a deer-in-the-headlights look.
What am I going to do with him? Where did that come from?
So I borrowed a baggie and a doggie and went behind a tree and did a little pooper scooping. Disgusting, but he was already in his extra underwear! (note to self: put several pairs of extra underwear in the car)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
What a week!!!
This last week was literally a marathon week! We did so many little things - which really add up, especially when Stephen is super busy at work and I still have to run the household (i.e. laundry, cooking, normal cleaning, etc., etc.). Here is a look...it's long...it's more for me to write than anyone to read! :o)
TUESDAY:
Normal laundry day (meaning it didn't get finished)
Put up FSBO sign @ 5pm (thanks, Brett!)
Worked on flyer - I've worked on this forever because it took me a long time to get the pictures that I wanted (because the rooms had to be perfectly clean). Here it is:
WEDNESDAY:
9:15 - Dropped kids off @ FunSchool
9:30 - Bought shutters @ Home Depot, came home to paint said shutters
10:00 - Had a woman stop by with a request to see the house (remember laundry??? It was still out...)
10:15 - 1pm Worked like a crazy woman to get the house ready to show - THANK YOU Rose & Kelli!!!!! Rose helped clean & Kelli took my kids for the afternoon. :o)
1:30pm - 2:45pm Relaxed for a bit...I'm 600 pages into "The Count of Monte Christo"
3:00 - 4:45 Picked up neighbor kids from school, dropped them off at Activity Days & Scouts, picked up my kids and back home
6:30pm - worked in the garden, had another couple (the Yorks) drive by and request a flyer. I showed them the house, and they really liked it.
7:15pm - the EQ presidency came by in their painting clothes to help finish up the house painting. THANK YOU!!!!!
THURSDAY
8:30am - back in the garden (it's all planted now and looks beautiful! It's killing me that I'm going to have to leave it just at harvest time!), received a call from the Yorks' realtor, letting me know that they want to make an offer. I told him that I wasn't going to pay a broker's commission.
I don't know what happened the rest of the day - I think that I was on cloud nine thinking about an offer before I even put signs and flyers out!
Oh yeah, I did go to James (my physical therapist) to get my knees taped in the afternoon. I also picked up my orthotics. They are kind of weird, but I'm sure that they'll help!
FRIDAY
Played with kids and worked on house all day long. At 4:30 or so, the Yorks' realtor, Bill, came over with an official offer!!!! I wasn't very impressed...but Stephen was all for accepting it, just to get the headache of selling the house out of the way.
SATURDAY
6:20 - 11:30am - Helvatia Half!!! Woohoo!!! The race began at 8am, and I finished in 2:02:50. It was a tough race for me. I started off strong - my first miles were 8:16, 8:04, 8:15, 9:22 (the first big hill), 8:25, 8:35, 9:25...then I started dying. I got tingly all over and had to walk. I don't walk. I just don't. It killed me to do it, but my body wasn't working like it needed to. I'm sure it had to do with my not eating well for the 2 weeks prior to the race, my jittery nerves, not having eaten that morning, and not being hydrated like I should have been. I barely made it to the water stops from miles 7-10, when I would down 3 cups of glukos, dump water on me and walk a few paces. I probably walked 1/2 mile. It was awful. I felt like I was going to faint, and my legs were cramping up. My friend Christy caught up with me at mile 10, and we ran most of the last bit together, though I had to stop and stretch my calves a few times. My brother, Brett, ran with me, and he really pushed me - I don't think if I could have made it without him. THANK YOU!!!
I had a bunch of friends run the half: Kelli, John, Christy, Rose & Brett. And Monica, Camille & my grandpa (!!!) did the 10k. It is so fun to have good friends to run with! And the cheering squad at the end was fantastic!!! There were so many people to cheer me on. I'm glad that I could finish. My goal was to beat my previous time (1:58), which I didn't do, but I did make it. I wasn't sure I would, but I did, so I'm happy! My knees didn't hurt either (Vitamin I is wonderful...), and I'm only a little sore today.
Anyhow...after getting home from the race we did the last few things to get the house ready for the open house at 1pm. We had 3 interested people, 1 friend and 1 realtor stop by. Mom took the kids to visit my friend Michell, and Stephen and I did stuff in between visitors. One of my friends came over in the evening and spent 3 hours with us going over the offer from the Yorks. She was SOSOSO helpful! We wrote up a counter offer, which I am happy with. I really hope that they accept it, because they are just the couple we have been praying for - I love my house so much, and want it to go to a young family who will appreciate all the kid-friendly touches.
The kids have been troopers while Stephen and I have been so busy with the house. It has been such a great blessing!
That was long. I should write little bits more frequently.
TUESDAY:
Normal laundry day (meaning it didn't get finished)
Put up FSBO sign @ 5pm (thanks, Brett!)
Worked on flyer - I've worked on this forever because it took me a long time to get the pictures that I wanted (because the rooms had to be perfectly clean). Here it is:
WEDNESDAY:9:15 - Dropped kids off @ FunSchool
9:30 - Bought shutters @ Home Depot, came home to paint said shutters
10:00 - Had a woman stop by with a request to see the house (remember laundry??? It was still out...)
10:15 - 1pm Worked like a crazy woman to get the house ready to show - THANK YOU Rose & Kelli!!!!! Rose helped clean & Kelli took my kids for the afternoon. :o)
1:30pm - 2:45pm Relaxed for a bit...I'm 600 pages into "The Count of Monte Christo"
3:00 - 4:45 Picked up neighbor kids from school, dropped them off at Activity Days & Scouts, picked up my kids and back home
6:30pm - worked in the garden, had another couple (the Yorks) drive by and request a flyer. I showed them the house, and they really liked it.
7:15pm - the EQ presidency came by in their painting clothes to help finish up the house painting. THANK YOU!!!!!
THURSDAY
8:30am - back in the garden (it's all planted now and looks beautiful! It's killing me that I'm going to have to leave it just at harvest time!), received a call from the Yorks' realtor, letting me know that they want to make an offer. I told him that I wasn't going to pay a broker's commission.
I don't know what happened the rest of the day - I think that I was on cloud nine thinking about an offer before I even put signs and flyers out!
Oh yeah, I did go to James (my physical therapist) to get my knees taped in the afternoon. I also picked up my orthotics. They are kind of weird, but I'm sure that they'll help!
FRIDAY
Played with kids and worked on house all day long. At 4:30 or so, the Yorks' realtor, Bill, came over with an official offer!!!! I wasn't very impressed...but Stephen was all for accepting it, just to get the headache of selling the house out of the way.
SATURDAY
6:20 - 11:30am - Helvatia Half!!! Woohoo!!! The race began at 8am, and I finished in 2:02:50. It was a tough race for me. I started off strong - my first miles were 8:16, 8:04, 8:15, 9:22 (the first big hill), 8:25, 8:35, 9:25...then I started dying. I got tingly all over and had to walk. I don't walk. I just don't. It killed me to do it, but my body wasn't working like it needed to. I'm sure it had to do with my not eating well for the 2 weeks prior to the race, my jittery nerves, not having eaten that morning, and not being hydrated like I should have been. I barely made it to the water stops from miles 7-10, when I would down 3 cups of glukos, dump water on me and walk a few paces. I probably walked 1/2 mile. It was awful. I felt like I was going to faint, and my legs were cramping up. My friend Christy caught up with me at mile 10, and we ran most of the last bit together, though I had to stop and stretch my calves a few times. My brother, Brett, ran with me, and he really pushed me - I don't think if I could have made it without him. THANK YOU!!!
I had a bunch of friends run the half: Kelli, John, Christy, Rose & Brett. And Monica, Camille & my grandpa (!!!) did the 10k. It is so fun to have good friends to run with! And the cheering squad at the end was fantastic!!! There were so many people to cheer me on. I'm glad that I could finish. My goal was to beat my previous time (1:58), which I didn't do, but I did make it. I wasn't sure I would, but I did, so I'm happy! My knees didn't hurt either (Vitamin I is wonderful...), and I'm only a little sore today.
Anyhow...after getting home from the race we did the last few things to get the house ready for the open house at 1pm. We had 3 interested people, 1 friend and 1 realtor stop by. Mom took the kids to visit my friend Michell, and Stephen and I did stuff in between visitors. One of my friends came over in the evening and spent 3 hours with us going over the offer from the Yorks. She was SOSOSO helpful! We wrote up a counter offer, which I am happy with. I really hope that they accept it, because they are just the couple we have been praying for - I love my house so much, and want it to go to a young family who will appreciate all the kid-friendly touches.
The kids have been troopers while Stephen and I have been so busy with the house. It has been such a great blessing!
That was long. I should write little bits more frequently.
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