I spent Monday at a child care center and saw some very unsettling practices taking place. It's upsetting to think that I've been working with this center for several months and they aren't making much progress. Child care in Missouri is so pathetic. Children are pretty much at the bottom of the list in this state. Our legislators have some pretty twisted priorities, but from what I've seen, this is pretty typical of children's issues in our country. I think that hoping to someday see a change in how we treat our children in this country is what keeps me and my coworkers plugging away at our jobs. We're certainly not there for the pay. I'll step off the soapbox for now!
Monday afternoon I had a very scary moment. I was on my way to an appointment at a home I had never visited before near Marble Hill. I reached forward to set my trip odomoter and when I looked back at the road, I was about a foot away from a traffic sign warning of a drop off on the side of the raised road. I overcorrected, went across the center line and nearly off the other side of the road, overcorrected again and went back across the center line and nearly off the side of the road, overcorrected once more and crossed the center line for the third time, then hit a gravel driveway, spun 3 times and came to rest facing the direction I had just some from. I was about a foot from smashing into a huge brick pillar at the entrance of a park. By the grace of God, no other cars were in sight when this happened, which is truly a miracle, given that school had just dismissed right down the road. A man stared at me from across the street, but never approached my car. No one else saw it happen. I still made it to the appoinment on time. I'm still not sure what I was supposed to learn from this, but I was feeling pretty close to God as I watched the brick pillars spin in front of me.
I had a hard time getting through the child's assessment. I kept getting distracted by this huge, hot pink, wooden sign on the family's entertainment center that said "I Love Sex!" I couldn't bring myself to ask her where she got that fine piece of home decor. There are 4 kids in the house, two of whom sleep in their parents' bedroom. Personally, that would really deter my bedroom activity, but to each his own. Just when I think I've seen it all.
Not much else is going on for us until the weekend. We bought the game, Apples to Apples, on Sunday, so we plan to invite my sister and her fiance over Friday or Saturday to play. They are game nuts, especially my soon-to-be brother-in-law. On Sunday, we're having a Karoke party at my parents' house. Mom needed to see how much baked ziti she needed for the wedding reception, so we're having a "ziti run through" on Sunday. The groom is a huge fan of my mom's ziti and asked for a pan of it to be served at the reception. It doesn't exactly go with the rest of the menu, but I guess they can do whatever they want at their wedding. My family and lots of friends are coming over to eat ziti and sing some karoke. I haven't decided what tunes I want to sing yet. Any requests!?!:)
Tomorrow I visit a Perryville center in the morning and see a little guy for developmental therapy in the afternoon. I am looking forward to getting my house clean and working on Carson's birthday invites tomorrow while Greg is at band practice. Hopefully things will go as planned. Thanks for checking in!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Pirates and Showers
The grand plan for today got shot to hell quicker than the downpour we had all afternoon. After church we went to Red Lobster for lunch with my mom. Lunch was good and Carson pretty much behaved, which is unusual these days. I think he was too busy peeling all the breading from his popcorn shrimp to get in trouble. He's weird.
We went to Barnes and Noble to pick up a birthday gift for the brother of one of the kids I see for therapy. I'm still debating whether to go to his party or not, but wanted to give a present either way. It's not that I don't want to go, but there is a fine line between being a professional and being a friend when you visit a family in their home each week. I really like this family, but I'm afraid things may seem a bit too "familiar" if I go to a family birthday party. I went to my other client's party, but we know their entire extended family, so that's a little different. I'm rambling.
By this point, Greg and Carson had reached the "we'll just sit in the car and wait" stage of shopping. I tackled Dollar Tree and Factory Card Outlet on my own for the rest of the things I needed for Carson's pirate birthday party. I still need material to make bandana's for the kids. It seems like I keep thinking of "one more thing" that will make the party really great. I should really be stopped. Carson's parties have gotten a little over the top, but oh well. I only have one kid.
We headed home, where the grand plan was for me to make all of the birthday invitations, print Juli's bridal shower invitations, and wrap 2 birthday gifts. It started pouring as soon as I decided to rest on the couch for a few minutes. I woke up at 5:00. So much for today! I'm off to read a bedtime story and watch a little Discovery Channel with Greg.
We went to Barnes and Noble to pick up a birthday gift for the brother of one of the kids I see for therapy. I'm still debating whether to go to his party or not, but wanted to give a present either way. It's not that I don't want to go, but there is a fine line between being a professional and being a friend when you visit a family in their home each week. I really like this family, but I'm afraid things may seem a bit too "familiar" if I go to a family birthday party. I went to my other client's party, but we know their entire extended family, so that's a little different. I'm rambling.
By this point, Greg and Carson had reached the "we'll just sit in the car and wait" stage of shopping. I tackled Dollar Tree and Factory Card Outlet on my own for the rest of the things I needed for Carson's pirate birthday party. I still need material to make bandana's for the kids. It seems like I keep thinking of "one more thing" that will make the party really great. I should really be stopped. Carson's parties have gotten a little over the top, but oh well. I only have one kid.
We headed home, where the grand plan was for me to make all of the birthday invitations, print Juli's bridal shower invitations, and wrap 2 birthday gifts. It started pouring as soon as I decided to rest on the couch for a few minutes. I woke up at 5:00. So much for today! I'm off to read a bedtime story and watch a little Discovery Channel with Greg.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Time Off
So I had these big plans to get a lot done today. I always think I can get a ton more stuff done than I actually do. We started the day with Carson's physical therapy in Cape until 10:30. He and I then went to Target to look at my sister's registry list and grab some lunch before he went to preschool. Somehow, we ended up getting out of the store with a package of Cars underwear lodged under his butt in the seat of the cart. Normally, I would have gone back in to pay for it, but seeing as I had just been charged $7 for a bag of Hershey's kisses that were advertised for $3.50, I decided that Target and I were even and threw them in the car. I never thought the day would come when I would willingly shoplift size 3T undies from Target. I am so jaded. The fact that we had 10 minutes to get to school on time had a lot to do with it too. We were still late.
After dropping him off, I got to browse leisurely at the scrapboook store for about an hour. I hadn't been there in almost 2 months and it was like a whole new store with all the CHA stuff coming in. I picked up a few things to make favors for Juli's rehearsal dinner and some paper and embellishments to finish up the New Orleans pictures from our cruise album. I've been stuck on these pics for quite a while and I really want to be finished with the album. Hopefully I'll get to scrap tomorrow night and Sunday afternoon.
Tomorrow I'm headed to St Louis to teach my child development class all day. We're going on a field trip to several places in South County, St Louis so it should be fun. I'm ready for it to be finished. Only 5 more weeks of driving to Festus every Tuesday night. I am not signing up for this again.
After class I'm looking forward to doing a little shopping by myself. We have several birthdays coming up and I need a few more things for Juli's shower. I really enjoy shopping by myself, especially in St Louis. I like shopping with others too, but it's nice to take my time and go where I want without worrying about anyone else.
I'm off to spend some time with Greg. He put Carson to bed a few minutes ago and I feel like we haven't really spent time together this week. It seems like one of us has something to do every night. Have a great weekend!
After dropping him off, I got to browse leisurely at the scrapboook store for about an hour. I hadn't been there in almost 2 months and it was like a whole new store with all the CHA stuff coming in. I picked up a few things to make favors for Juli's rehearsal dinner and some paper and embellishments to finish up the New Orleans pictures from our cruise album. I've been stuck on these pics for quite a while and I really want to be finished with the album. Hopefully I'll get to scrap tomorrow night and Sunday afternoon.
Tomorrow I'm headed to St Louis to teach my child development class all day. We're going on a field trip to several places in South County, St Louis so it should be fun. I'm ready for it to be finished. Only 5 more weeks of driving to Festus every Tuesday night. I am not signing up for this again.
After class I'm looking forward to doing a little shopping by myself. We have several birthdays coming up and I need a few more things for Juli's shower. I really enjoy shopping by myself, especially in St Louis. I like shopping with others too, but it's nice to take my time and go where I want without worrying about anyone else.
I'm off to spend some time with Greg. He put Carson to bed a few minutes ago and I feel like we haven't really spent time together this week. It seems like one of us has something to do every night. Have a great weekend!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Technology, Teaching, and Travel
Long day today. I got to work at 7:30 and already felt tired. It seemed to take forever just to get to the office. I'm still not used to the school traffic. I have to remember to leave earlier from now on.
Late in the morning we lost all internet connections at work. It turns out that a large portion of eastern Missouri lost internet connections for several hours due to a line being breached somewhere. It was still not on when I left at 3:00. Strangely enough, Greg said our home connection was fine when he came home for lunch. Weird. I ended up getting almost all of my reports caught up at the office since I couldn't do anything on the internet. It was a blessing in disguise because I feel so much better about being almost completely caught up at work.
At 3:00, I drove 90 miles from Cape to teach my class at Jefferson Memorial hospital. I ended up staying an extra hour to help some students with a room layout for their childcare center. I am pooped! I finally got home around 10. I'm off to talk with Greg for awhile before I crash for the night. Nothing exciting on the agenda for tomorrow, but you never know what might come up!
Late in the morning we lost all internet connections at work. It turns out that a large portion of eastern Missouri lost internet connections for several hours due to a line being breached somewhere. It was still not on when I left at 3:00. Strangely enough, Greg said our home connection was fine when he came home for lunch. Weird. I ended up getting almost all of my reports caught up at the office since I couldn't do anything on the internet. It was a blessing in disguise because I feel so much better about being almost completely caught up at work.
At 3:00, I drove 90 miles from Cape to teach my class at Jefferson Memorial hospital. I ended up staying an extra hour to help some students with a room layout for their childcare center. I am pooped! I finally got home around 10. I'm off to talk with Greg for awhile before I crash for the night. Nothing exciting on the agenda for tomorrow, but you never know what might come up!
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Return of the Queen
I'm back. I never really left. I haven't blogged since I turned 30, but not for lack of blogging material. I have been so incredibly busy since turning 30 that I literally have been asleep when my head hits the pillow for the past few months. That leaves little time for blogging, but I promise to be better from now on. (ok...I promise to try to be better!)
The past few months have flown by. I still have my 4 jobs. I still play Bunco. I still scrapbook. I no longer go to Weight Watchers, but am eating much more healthfully and losing some weight. I still suck at getting my exercise in.
Carson took swimming lessons this summer and did great! He loves going under the water. He also started having physical therapy in the pool and loves it. He's now seeing an occupational therapist at Healthpoint in addition to the OT he sees at school in order to help him cope with his limited depth perception. The therapy is going well.
Carson started attending school all day on Tuesdays and Thursdays last week. He just goes in the afternoon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He is very tired after a full day at school, but he loves it. When I told him to get ready on Thursday morning, he was standing with his huge backpack on, waiting for me. He smiled this gigantic grin and said, "I am so big!" He is one pretty amazing 4-year-old.
Two weeks ago we took a family vacation to St. Louis for a few days. We went to the Magic House, Grant's Farm, The Anheuser Busch Brewery, Eckert's, Purina Farms, St. Louis Mills, Laumeier Sculpture Park, Chuck E. Cheese, the transportation museum, and Union Station. Here are a few pics. The rest of our summer pics can be viewed at www.carsonfranklin.net. Click on "photos". For some reason I can't link from my blog. We had a great time until we got a flat tire on the way home. Carson's favorite part of the trip was helping load our car onto the tow truck to get towed to the tire store. That was not my favorite part.
The first photo is Carson with Bailey, my friend, Christy's daughter an the birthday girl, at Chuck E. Cheese. The second is Carson having a blast taking an order at the Italian restaurant inside the children's village at The Magic House.
In July, I met 18 of my closest online friends for a private scrapbooking convention in Salt Lake City. I had a blast and had so much fun meeting all of these girls that I get to talk to online everyday. I also came home with a ton of free scrapping stuff!!!! You can see more pictures on Carson's website. Click on photos and browse the QFK album.
In June, we went to Pensacola, FL for Greg's cousin, Christy's, wedding. We hit the beach and learned several lessons about traveling with extended family members. As in, we probably won't again. These pictures are also on Carson's site.
For now, I'm glad to be back in a routine and looking forward to being in my sister's wedding in November. We bought Carson's tux while we were in St. Louis and I have my choice of three different dresses hanging in the closet. I keep finding very reasonable, very pretty black formals, so I have 3 sizes to choose from. Hopefully, I'll fit in to the one I like the best.
I'm also studying to take the GRE test. I am going to apply for a doctoral program through the University of Missouri that would start next summer. I won't be crushed if I don't get in, but I think I would like to be a full professor some day. We'll see! Thanks for checking back in with me! Let me know you stopped by!
The past few months have flown by. I still have my 4 jobs. I still play Bunco. I still scrapbook. I no longer go to Weight Watchers, but am eating much more healthfully and losing some weight. I still suck at getting my exercise in.
Carson took swimming lessons this summer and did great! He loves going under the water. He also started having physical therapy in the pool and loves it. He's now seeing an occupational therapist at Healthpoint in addition to the OT he sees at school in order to help him cope with his limited depth perception. The therapy is going well.
Carson started attending school all day on Tuesdays and Thursdays last week. He just goes in the afternoon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He is very tired after a full day at school, but he loves it. When I told him to get ready on Thursday morning, he was standing with his huge backpack on, waiting for me. He smiled this gigantic grin and said, "I am so big!" He is one pretty amazing 4-year-old.
Two weeks ago we took a family vacation to St. Louis for a few days. We went to the Magic House, Grant's Farm, The Anheuser Busch Brewery, Eckert's, Purina Farms, St. Louis Mills, Laumeier Sculpture Park, Chuck E. Cheese, the transportation museum, and Union Station. Here are a few pics. The rest of our summer pics can be viewed at www.carsonfranklin.net. Click on "photos". For some reason I can't link from my blog. We had a great time until we got a flat tire on the way home. Carson's favorite part of the trip was helping load our car onto the tow truck to get towed to the tire store. That was not my favorite part.
The first photo is Carson with Bailey, my friend, Christy's daughter an the birthday girl, at Chuck E. Cheese. The second is Carson having a blast taking an order at the Italian restaurant inside the children's village at The Magic House.
In July, I met 18 of my closest online friends for a private scrapbooking convention in Salt Lake City. I had a blast and had so much fun meeting all of these girls that I get to talk to online everyday. I also came home with a ton of free scrapping stuff!!!! You can see more pictures on Carson's website. Click on photos and browse the QFK album.
In June, we went to Pensacola, FL for Greg's cousin, Christy's, wedding. We hit the beach and learned several lessons about traveling with extended family members. As in, we probably won't again. These pictures are also on Carson's site.
For now, I'm glad to be back in a routine and looking forward to being in my sister's wedding in November. We bought Carson's tux while we were in St. Louis and I have my choice of three different dresses hanging in the closet. I keep finding very reasonable, very pretty black formals, so I have 3 sizes to choose from. Hopefully, I'll fit in to the one I like the best.
I'm also studying to take the GRE test. I am going to apply for a doctoral program through the University of Missouri that would start next summer. I won't be crushed if I don't get in, but I think I would like to be a full professor some day. We'll see! Thanks for checking back in with me! Let me know you stopped by!
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