Saturday, December 08, 2007

Blogger's Time-Out!

Ok...it's quiet enough that I feel secure in taking some time out to update my blog and read others'. Only problem now, is where to begin?!

Ok...me first. I have been super busy since Thanksgiving (which went nicely) at my parents' house. Dave actually thinks now we should be in our house by the end of the year. I can only hope he is right, but I am not holding my breath. If it takes another month, I would be neither disappointed nor surprised. But, the week after T-day, I worked pretty hard to prepare my presentation at the math teachers' conference in Asilomar. It went very well. I had a classroom with about 35 desks that was totally filled by3:10. With 20 minutes to go before start-time, I ended up sending people down the hall to get chairs. I think I had about 50 people in there by the time I started the presentation and then a few more drifted in after that! It was a pretty full house! People LOVED my songs and I sold over 20 CD's! AMAZING!

After Asilomar, I spent the past week helping my mom prepare for the Chanukah party for the congregation. I also found out that we bought a building! YAY! Our little congregation is going to have a home! It's pretty exciting news for the community because the congregation has been around for over 30 years and this is the first time they have been able to secure their own establishment. I think it will go far to tying down roots and getting the younger members more involved. This is especially good for me because I want my kids to get a Jewish education and now we have a place to associate with and not just a group of people.

Anyway, the party was last night and went pretty well. I was tired when I got home though and it was only 9:30!! All in all, it's been a pretty busy couple of weeks. Not that I expect it be much less busy in the upcoming couple of weeks....especially if Dave is right and we are moving home soon!

I am working with some other moms and we have adopted a family for Christmas. I am spearheading this thing (not that I really know what I am doing, but....) and I need to figure out how to divvy up the purchasing. Probably ought to get on that today! Also, I am on the committee for teacher appreciation at the kids' preschool and this month is my month! YIKES!

Speaking of preschool...Jayden has decided he no longer wants to go to school. When I talked to him the other day, he told me that they (I think he decided it was the teachers and not the kids) always take his toys away. I think there is probably more going on here that I don't recognize because I don't speak "4". But, I hope we can figure it out soon. He's been different at home too. He always has an argument about everything I want him to do. He negotiates everything to DEATH! I am kind of at my wits' end with it. I fear giving in because it will add fuel to the fire, but I don't want to end up with a kid who hates me or worse--me hating him! I need help! The advice his teachers gave me is not really helpful because they said, "Give him power in the small things." Well, I do. "Do you want peas or carrots?" is not a big deal for me, but when he comes back with "I am not eating any vegetables!" I can't do much about that. Taking toys away seems unfair to Eliana, but then it wasn't working anyway.

Ok...clearly I had more to say about Jayden than anything else! HELP!! I need an expert on age 4!!

3 comments:

Lori said...

Wow! You're super busy. You take so much upon yourself! I admire that -- I could not picture myself maintaining sanity if I had all that on my plate. Congratulations on doing so well at your conference talk, your CDs, and a home for your congregation! That is awesome news.

As for Jayden's problems with school, maybe the teachers can explain why he says they're taking away toys?

Julie said...

Rebecca is giving me grief too. Her teacher told me it's just being 4 years old. She negotiates everything too. Hang in there. I hear it gets better!

Violet the Verbose said...

I feel your pain but love reading that I am not alone in this... some days it takes SO MUCH ENERGY to deal with Sweet Pea and there are definitely times when I just want to give up and walk away, but that's not something I want to teach her to do so I have to stick with whatever decision I made. Bleh. Thank goodness for school. Though I must say that I am really enjoying having her home for the holidays, and am already looking forward to her summer break. ha ha!