Small Successes Thursday - Feburary Thaw edition

Hello,,
Well I missed last week and the week before I linked up to the previous week's post...

On Valentines day, we had a snowstorm and my favorite Valentine's flight home was cancelled. He came in Saturday afternoon where I fixed him a steak and potatoes dinner. But the night was not lost as I babysat my 6 week old Grandson.

Filed our taxes. I was waiting on one last statement. and realized we had sold some stock. Ugh, But it was finished and filed. With the refund I don;t think I will need to make any changes to account for losing a dependent for 2014.

I don't know if it is a pair of new shoes or Arnica Gel, but my chronically sore ankle is feeling better. I have flat feet that give me plantar fasciitis and a sore ankle. My orthotics and athletic shoes were not helping. But this si not an excuse to not call the podiatrist (And I need a new one... Yuck).

So after 2 days of tems above freezing, we still have snow on the ground. Here in Sw Ohio, we usually have several freeze-Thaw cycles. But this snow has been around for a few weeks and the pile had been growing. Here's praying we don't get flooding.

Oh My goodness - Monday - A Holiday (not that contractors get paid for Holidays..) But it was a very productive day at home. I actually used powertools and installed 2 sliding shelves in one of my kitchen cabinets. I also ran some errands that had been nagging at me, Took the 14 yo to get new shoes (size 13 people!) Made a pot of homemade Chicken noodle soup for the same son's lunches... Wow, I got a lot done! I needed that day...

Linking up with Catholic Mom

Small Successes - Jan 30

Hello everyone,

This week is a bit sad for me as I don't currently have a kid in Catholic schools for the first time since 2001. But that will change next year when my younger son moves on to the Catholic high school. Even though his public Junior High is a wonderful place, I am ready for him to go back to being immersed in Catholic values throughout his entire school day. (Gory details of how I yanked him from the Catholic school in 2010 can be found here.)

But anyways, My successes for this week:

- Went with Hubby to the gym twice, Sunday and Tuesday. We will go again tonight. Although my foot\Ankle hurts, I will go and ride the bike or use the rowing machine.

- I have all my paperwork together to do our taxes. I plan to install my software later today and get started.

- Got the scrapbook for My Grandson started. I orders prints form his Baptism, but all the pcitures take his first 2 weeks are nicely scrapbooked.

Joining up with Catholic Mom

Small Successes - Passing on the Faith Edition

1. This isn't so small, but we were passing on the faith to our children.
Saturday my grandson was baptized at the request of his young parents. They want to bring him up in the faith. Then Sunday my youngest son was Confirmed.

2. I made 2 Cross-shaped cakes for the events. And the first try stuck in the poorly-prepared pan. I did not freak out.

3. Had a made-ahead dinner ready for after the Confirmation and it was proclaimed delicious. I don;t think I hit full panic made at all.

(And I did not think I had much. Forgot the weekend is included.)

Linking up with Catholic Mom

Small Successes - Jan 16

1. Survived three meetings in 3 evenings at the High school where I don't currently have a son enrolled.

2. Asked for a received permission to work from home on Thursdays so I can get my 8th grader to the high school to practice with the high school Jazz band.

3. Got the registration and enrollment forms completed so Hubby can be at the High school for registration day tomorrow and make the tuition deposit.

Linking up with Catholic Mom

Favorite Five

 My grandson, born Tues, Jan 7. See this post for more of the story. But here are 5 of my favorite pictures of him.

Dad and Son

Looking at Grandma (Me)

Just like Daddy

With his Uncle/Godfather

After his first bath

 Linking up with Hallie

Small Sucesses - Grandma edition

Hello everyone,

So I became a Grandma this week. You can read about it in this post.

-Getting along with very excited family members who were not always thinking.. For exampy, the other Grandma, in her excitement put up a Facebook post tagging me about going to the hospital. I (nicely, I hope) asked her to untag me since her tag makes the news show up to my friends in the feed. She did apologetically.

- I got frustrated that Great Aunts were trying to hold the baby before all the Grandmas and Grandpas did. (Oh the little things)

- I did get to spend a about an hour and a half just me and the new little family. I worked hard to be supportive of every decision and to gently guide them away from the idea that they need to get pre-made formula bottles for babysitters...

-and woo-hoo, he will be Baptized in a week and a half. His uncle will be confirmed that weekend, so the baby's great-grandparents will be in town.

Scroll down to the previous 2 posts for pictures.

Joint the fun at Catholic Mom

Another Grandson picture...

He was 20.5 Inches long, 8 lb 14 OZ.
His Baptism is schedule for Jan 18. Yes, a whole 11 Days old, but his Uncle is being Confirmed on the 19th and My parents will be in town. We will have a very Holy Weekend.

This was sent to us last night as a text.

Just call me Grandma....

Today was a big day, my first Grandchild came in to the world, a health baby boy.  While I am thrilled with this little boy, there is still the feeling that he came in to the world way too early. you see his parents are only 18 and graduated from High School last spring. I have to fight the feeling that I did something wrong as a Mom, but then again I take comfort in a few facts:

My Son and his Girlfriend have been seeing each other for over three years.
They decided to give this unexpected baby life
They are staying together and planning a Summer 2015 Wedding.

So as parents whoa re pro-life, we are working to find a balance between helping out the kids and helping them to develop their independence.

Dad and Baby:

 Grandpa and Baby:

 Me and Baby:

 

Small Successes - Jan 2, 2013

So I really have not had a huge break. As a Contractor, I do not have vacation time and we do not visit out of town relatives, I have been going into the office and working on business days. We have snow this morning and my son's school was cancelled. So he gets another day of playing XBOX without Mom or Dad nagging him.

So my small successes:
1. yesterday I took down the live Christmas tree and swept and vacuumed up the fallen needles. The Faux tree is still up until after the Epiphany.
2. I have been conservative about my after-Christmas shopping. I don't really NEED new clothing. At my current job, anything that can be called "business casual" to just short of beach attire goes.
3. I did, however, get a new shelf for my hanging shelving until in the basement. Amazing how much better organized the storage corner of the basement looks with more stuff off of the floor.

Linking back to Catholic Mom

Small Success Thursday 12-19

4 days between now and Christmas Eve, 2 quilts to finish and I work 3 of those days. ..

1. Woke early this morning so I got up and made the guest room bed for my Mom and Dad who arrive later today.

2. Started over from scratch Tuesday on my nephew's quilt. In one day I managed to sketch a simple design, acquire the fabric from the fabric store on my lunch hour, then that evening piece the top, the back and got it mostly pin basted.

3. Managed to whip up 2 mug rugs and a batch of cookies as some teacher gifts.

Tune in next week. Will I finish the quilts? Will I have a melt down over my 18yo's lack of interest in his continuing education?
Linking up with Catholic Mom

Small Success Thursday

1. My employment contract (I work in IT) has been extended for another 3 months. The problem is there are 3 other contractors on my team that did not get extended. I am hoping I handled it with grace and compassion personally talking to each to tell them so they did not overhear the news. I am saying prayers they find another position by the first of the year.

2.  Hear I was thinking I would not get renewed and as of Monday would have a lot of time on my hands. So I made plans to make three (more) quilts as Christmas presents. I finished the first on Sunday. I have the second top about half done. They are going quickly but I need to work on them everyday.

3. I was being very conservative about my Christmas shopping. I was notified of the contract renewal Tuesday afternoon. I finished shopping for Hubby with a few online purchases.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Advent wreath link up

Here is my DIY advent wreath. Simply some baby food jars with tissue paper decoupaged on it and tea lights. The wreath is a remnant of artificial greenery shaped into a wreath. We just started a ritual of Sunday night diners with the recently-move-out 18YO and his Girlfriend. As a direct result of the 18 YO moving out, we moved the home office from the dining room to the newly spare-bedroom. So we have a formal dining room and can dust off my Mother-In-Law's China. So we not have the advent wreath as our center piece and light the appropriate candles during dinner this year.

 Linking up with Sarah's Advent wreath link up.

7 Quick takes Snowy Feast of St. Nicholas edition

--- 1 ---

St. Nicholas filled our stocking with about 3 pieces of candy and left a full candy dish sitting on the hearth. I told the 14YO that his new USB Power Pack should have come in his stocking.

--- 2 ---

So we are in the path of the big ice storm. My workplace is about 20 miles north and issued a 2- hour delay. Fortunately, as a contractor, I can work from home. So I am set up in the bedroom as Hubby, too is working from home and drew the office.

--- 3 ---

The freezing rain came, but still waiting for the snow. 4-7 inches is being predicted for my area.

--- 4 ---

Looking for the roads to be clear by tomorrow morning. We are headed to the state championship football game. It will be a 3 hour drive North. If you can see the header of my blog, we are involved with the high school band. Our older boy graduated last year. The younger will enroll next year but he marched with the band at the football games (Band director is no fool, he did not want to lose 2 of his most reliable parent boosters.)

--- 5 ---

So in preparing for the frigid weather and the (outdoor!) football game, I picked up some snow pant on Monday.

--- 6 ---

But the 14 YO still turns down offers of long underwear/runner's tights. He prides himself on wearing shorts in all but the coldest/snowiest weather. (He walks home from school)Last night he did say that if he had to go to school today it might be worth wearing long pants

--- 7 ---

Next year, at the Catholic High School, he will have a dress code. Can't wait.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Small Success Thursday

Another Thursday and my small successes. 

-1-

Keeping a good attitude with the job uncertainty. My Contract expired a week form tomorrow. There were some signs of a possible extension again, buy this week it has been crickets. So I am trying to finish up any loose ends I have and keeping a smile on my face. (And I do keep getting emails about open opportunities)

-2-

Over the weekend I completed a simple quilt top for a Christmas gift. The backing is also ready to go. It is all waiting to be pin basted. It is looking like I will have plenty to time to complete 2 more.(See #1) 

-3-

Seasonal Affective disorder is an issue in our house this time of the year. An affected person is resisting sitting in from of the "Happy" light. I gently and calmly got the 15 minutes in this morning. 

And one Failure: 

Hubby gave me a card and gift this morning for a our 21st Anniversary. My success will be getting something small for him before I arrive home from work. 

Join Catholic Mom for more. 

Look, another post. And another MEME from a Catholic Mom.

--- 1 ---

My 14Yo Son had his first Bass guitar lesson last night. He's been taking percussion lessons for several years. Even though he's an 8th grader, he's marched with the High School band this year. Mostly because Hubby did not want to give up being the lead Truck Crew Dad in the year after the Older son graduated and the younger one started. But now playing the bass guitar, he can be a part of the Jazz band next year and not have to fight for a spot among the percussionist. After his lesson we could hear him picking out the leading bass guitar note to a popular song played by the marching band.

--- 2 ---

I will be setting up my dining room this weekend and we will eat a pre-Thanksgiving dinner in it Sunday night. When we moved into this house with the formal dining room, we did not have proper furniture and used the room more as a home office. Since then we acquired a buffet and the 18YO moved out. So that freed up a bedroom for the home office and with three of us, I have a small table we can put in the breakfast nook and the big table can go into the living room. I mentioned getting out the china. Neither son remembered we even have china.

--- 3 ---

And speaking of my china, which had been my MILs, to go with it I have a set of goldplated silverware. It is a hysterical story of how Hubby's grandmother won them playing BINGO. She was so excited that she could give the set to us. Gold is not my style, and it clashed with the silver rim on the china, but the memory of that gift makes me smile, so i will use it.

--- 4 ---

Refer to number 1 and the 14yo marching with the high school band. They don't do many competitions, they are there to support the football team. And the football team is deep into post-season play. Last year the team won the state tournament. So we could be playing in December. I volunteered to help with the truck crew that gets the equipment to the game and on and off the field. It's supposed to be cold tomorrow.

--- 5 ---

Is it a bad thing to complain that your winter jacket is too warm? I will be thankful for it at the football game, but it is too warm for this spoiled suburbanite who goes from garage to car to parking lot to building. I got it towards the end of last year. The zipper on my old one was separating too often for my liking. I ordered this one from LLBean. I am thinking that I'd love to have a short wool coat for when the air is merely cold as opposed to arctic. But what about those people who don't even have warm coats... Oh the guilt.

--- 6 ---

Every Thanksgiving we get together with my Aunts, Uncles and Cousins on my Dad's side every Thanksgiving. Many years ago, my reluctant-leftover-eating husband said the only problem is not having Thanksgiving leftovers. Well, I could certainly fix that. So I fix a big dinner the Sunday before with Turkey and traditional sides. Hubby gets his leftovers, I get to take advantage of cheap turkey prices.

--- 7 ---

I need a sign "Caution: Busy weekend ahead" and not try to do too much. DS14 is taking his Catholic High School entrance exam, football game, cooking a big meal, moving furniture and dished around... I do too much. My feet and my back will hate me if I am not careful.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Small Successes Link up - Nov 21, 2013

My poor, neglected blog. It has been awhile. But as my kids grow older, they are a bit more particular about what Mom shares. But today I want to participate in the Small Successes at Catholic Mom

1. Monday when the 14 YO failed once again to bring the trash can and the recycle bin up from the curb when he came home, he knew. He heard me pull into the garage and he flew out the door to get them. I just quietly made meatloaf for dinner (It's not his favorite and I postponed our trip to the music store for a Bass Guitar. All done very quietly and without lecture. (I usually rant or lecture - or both).

2. Silently agreed to Hubby's plan to finish cleaning up the tarps and equipment form painting the dining room on Friday - rather than last night or tonight and found another project to complete, even though I am tired of the crammed furniture in the living room.

3. I am doing well at improving my health by sticking to the eating plan recommended by my doctor, my blood sugar testing is showing the results as is the scale. It was really hard with lots of candy and donuts sitting around at the office.

I tried it and did not like it

Well, I tried it and I hated it. It is working from home. What's not to like? I was home for my teen and almost-teen aged sons to check in with me. I could make dinner most nights. We saved on lunches and gas (especially since Hubby drove my Prius and left the gas-guzzling mini van in the driveway.) What went wrong?

I felt like a prisoner in my own home. I regularly worked a 9-10 hour day. But most of all, I missed co-workers. I miss chit-chat around the water cooler. I missed getting to know my co-workers, I missed eating lunches with others.

I was working with my boss to be able to go to the local office a day or two a week, but my husband convinced me to take a contract position. it is with the same company I worked at last Fall until this current job came along at the first of the year. It might have worked if I had an office to go to once or twice a week,but I also seem to prefer project work as opposed to operations.

My kids cheered last night when I told them I was taking a new job.

Summertime challenges

Today is my youngest son's first day of Summer break. I am worried. How will I manage working from home when he dislikes watching TV in the basement? When he was coming home from school, the first thing he liked to do is turn on the Family room TV. This was a problem when I am working in the dining room. The Dining room is off the kitchen, which is open to the living room.

Last night he was already moaning that he was bored. I am on the lookout for rules that will help. I also fashioned a door from Foam core art board. (I now feel close in in the office.)Wish me luck.  

Confession

In case anyone is still following my blog, quick update, my job was eliminated June 2011. Spend July and Aug at home hanging out with my 11 YO. We did a hometown touristy thing a week. Then the week after he went back to school, I got a call to work a temp job. Then Jan 3 I started a new job, working from home.

I saw a line in a blog this morning. The Author loved being a WAHM, but she did not always like it. Hey, that's me. I am doing work that I mostly enjoy. I get paid well. I love being home when my boys leaved for school. I love being home when they get home (even if they are a bit loud at times). I love being able to take 4 steps into the kitchen to make dinner before practice rather than leaving a boy to his own devices. I love knowing where they are (usually..). I love leaving my car at home (rather Hubby's, he drives my Prius to work and his Mini van stays here.) I love being able to make my own lunch in my own kitchen.

What I don't like: I miss the people. the co-workers. I miss knowing what my co-workers are working on, is someone following up on this issue? It gets lonely at home. Then I made my home's dining room my office. However, there is a door way to the kitchen and the kitchen is open to the family room. the now-12 YO tends to come in form school and flip on the TV and watch DVRd episodes of MythBusters and Good Eats. Not bad programs, but it is distracting to me. Hubby said "tell him he's not allowed to turn on the TV until 4:30." Well, D-oh. Great idea. Worked well yesterday. I am worried about this summer. So I am working on some sort of homemade barn-style door for the office. Wish me luck.

update

Hey, I think I will post more often and this poor neglected blog. I created a gmail account back in January when I traded in my Blackberry phone for an Android phone. This resulted in me being logged into my browser whit my gmail account but I would have to log off and log back in whit the email account I created this blog with. It was a pain.

So anyways, here is my update... When I was first notified that my job was being eliminated, I had a lot of co-worker express dismay and a lot of people calling their favorite recruiters on my behalf. I even had an interview two weeks out as well as a possible contract job. So I felt like I'd be "doing" something soon. But the Contract job fell through. The interview was for a sales position, but we expect some technical sl;aes support positions to open up in the third quarter that you'd be perfect for. " (yeah, I know, there is still 5-6 weeks left in the quarter.)

Three weeks ago I attended a job search networking group. The once a week meetings have interesting topics but I have to be careful because there are a lot of people who have been there for a long time and you can almost see the Eeyore-type rainy cloud hanging above their heads. I have been fortunate enough to meet with some expert networking and have friends contact me with job openings. So it is a hurry up and wait situation. Guess what, I am not very good at waiting.

I am blessed to have a paycheck through November and my husband is still working so we can maintain shelter, food, clothing and transportation.