tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Jan 2, 2019 13:57:37 GMT -5
I'm impressed by the organization and decluttering work in progress by everyone, and dispirited by what I have to do. It's overwhelming right now, the sorting and cleaning to be done and the major clean-up and work on my home needed. I don't have the habits of organization. When I do declutter an area it ends up covered again. The one shining thing I was able to organize last year was the part of my too-small kitchen devoted to baking, and it now needs some help again in the wake of the holiday wave. Plus most of my more-expensive clothes are too big now. They make me look dowdy. Small, medium-term and long-range organization and clean up efforts are needed everywhere. Ugh. Hang in there. My house is a disaster and I always start the year strong, but usually fall off the organizing bandwagon. I remind myself that it didn’t reach its current unorganized/too much stuff status in a day (or a week or month or even year), and I’m not going to conquer it in a day. I also have two small kiddos (ages 6 and 2), and I think it was underwaterchloe who reminded me in the last year or two that I’m in a season of life right now that is busy and full of things and stuff, so to focus on what I can do.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Jan 2, 2019 13:54:14 GMT -5
Peter Walsh’s 31 Days to Get Organized Challenge:
Day 1 -Set up a donation bin. And, everyone in your house finds 5 items to place in the bin.
Day 2 of #31Days2GetOrganized - Shoes. Gather all of your shoes up from your closet. If they have dust on them, don’t fit, etc, put them in your donate bin. Only keep shoes you love, wear, and that fit you well.
#31Days2GetOrganized
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Jan 2, 2019 0:17:15 GMT -5
Got the donation bin set up, and DH and I each added at least 5 things.
Went through part of the playroom and threw a few broken toys away, put a few in the donation bin, and at least got stuff put away. I’ve also got some books to take to M’s daycare class. We still have too much stuff, but at least a few things are gone/going away.
We also went through the clothes in C’s dresser today to take out the ones that are too small or he doesn’t like. Those are in a box to give to a friend with a son who will be able to use them.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Jan 1, 2019 12:28:28 GMT -5
Happy 2019, friends!
Here is the start of Peter Walsh’s 31 Days to Get Organized Challenge.
Day 1 -Set up a donation bin. And, everyone in your house finds 5 items to place in the bin.
#31Days2GetOrganized
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Jan 1, 2019 0:51:38 GMT -5
We had a few awesome family trips this year - both of my kids got passports so we could attend a wedding in Toronto, and as part of the trip spent a night at Niagara Falls (Canadian side) overlooking the falls. It was my first time there and it was breathtaking. DH had a work trip to Hawaii so we all tagged along for a vacation.
Work is going well for DH and I. I was selected to participate in a BD Academy at work that involved a group project that we presented to our XO group and we rocked it, which was awesome!
My kids are in good health, and are growing and learning and being typical kids, which is to say that there are days I love parenting and days I question why I ever wanted kids. 😉 Thankfully, the good outweighs the bad.
I made a couple of “mom” friends of kids from my son’s kindergarten class. All 3 kids are in different first grade classes this year, but it’s so nice that we text pics of kids and help each other out when one of us is up at the school.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 31, 2018 15:10:41 GMT -5
Welc me back, red wagon!!
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 31, 2018 9:56:36 GMT -5
Yikes, bsb, so glad you’re both okay! I can’t imagine how scary that must have been. Hugs to you both - hope you get a chance to rest and recuperate.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 30, 2018 17:01:24 GMT -5
Reading Becoming by Michelle Obama. I'm enjoying it I like learning more about them as people and not getting only what the media chooses to portray and dissect. I’m reading this right now as well - soooo good, so far!
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 29, 2018 23:36:11 GMT -5
For this with older kids, when did they start using deodorant? DH has mentioned a couple of times that C needs to start using deodorant, but he’s 6, and I think that’s too early. My current strategy is to make sure he showers more often, and does a better job washing his armpits (because DH says those smell the worst).
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 29, 2018 1:22:52 GMT -5
DH and I have somewhere between $11-12k deposited in our 401ks each year between 401k matches and profit sharing (total, not each). I don’t reevaluate or change our forecasts based on employer contributions. We’re each fully vested, so it’s included in our net worth calculations once the money hits our 401k accounts, but that’s it.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 29, 2018 1:07:15 GMT -5
Yay, clhen!! Super exciting!
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 28, 2018 21:32:37 GMT -5
Okay, change of plans. We are both on board for trying for baby #2 in 2029. I’m also applying for a new job, so I’ll wait to see how that works out before we decide on timing. We’re crazy, we are too old for this!😜 2029?!?!?!?!?
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 28, 2018 20:44:05 GMT -5
Are there any good kid/family movies recently out worth renting/buying? I'm just not finding much. C loves Incredibles 2.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 28, 2018 18:36:16 GMT -5
I decluttered and cleaned my work desk before I left for the weekend - woo hoo! I never have a completely clear desk, but it was too messy even for me, so it’s mostly clean and ready to go for 2019. I managed to throw some old papers away, gathered a few mugs and what not to donate, and put things away.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 28, 2018 13:51:26 GMT -5
I want to declutter some kid stuff (other stuff as well, but kid stuff is my priority), and get more organized, specifically in my kitchen and pantry, and my craft room (which is currently a catch-all).
Assuming he does them again, I'm going to follow the Peter Walsh challenge in January, as I feel that even doing some of them helps me start my year off on the right foot. Every other year I fall off the decluttering bandwagon fairly quickly due to life, but I try to be kind to myself and remember that any steps, even a few baby ones, are progress.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 28, 2018 13:47:16 GMT -5
That stinks, rae. Can you ask your MIL/FIL if the gift(s) came from them to help narrow it down since SIL isn't responding?
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 28, 2018 13:30:12 GMT -5
Can I just say I hate toddler eating habits??? M seriously hates nearly every vegetable, and frankly, most meats. She does eat fruit, and sometimes pasta. Oh, and dairy - girl loves cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt. And carbs, naturally. At home, she gets a variety on her plate, including what we’re eating, plus at least one thing that I know she usually eats. I seem to throw a ton of food away, but she’s not asking for snacks, so whatever. All of that is just background info for the daycare update that made me LOL. M LOVES her room teacher, Miss E. Like practically runs away or leaps out of our arms to go to her each morning. Miss E tells us that her M is perfect - which we just laugh and say, no she’s not. So those two adore each other. Today, M didn’t eat much lunch (a little of the chicken and rice, and none of the fruit or vegetable), so Miss E also gave her a whole wheat tortilla since she didn’t eat much, which of course she ate (because carbs!). That girl of mine has Miss E wrapped around her finger. And seriously - peer pressure at daycare to eat what the other kids were eating worked for C. Why won’t it work for M?
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 26, 2018 13:50:53 GMT -5
Croup has the barking seal cough sound. If her breathings becomes stridor breathing, take her in ASAP. That’s not usually as big of an issue in older kiddos, but something our pediatrician always warned us about.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 25, 2018 22:12:10 GMT -5
Merry Christmas!! 🎄
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 25, 2018 11:18:27 GMT -5
Santa brought one gift to each kid, and the rest are from mom and dad. Santa doesn’t wrap what he delivers to our house, so that makes it easy to spot. C got the fidget cube he asked for, and M got a small indoor trampoline because mom and dad didn’t want to wrap it. 😉
Merry Christmas to all celebrating, and peace and joy and love to all!
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 23, 2018 21:59:27 GMT -5
DH is one of 3 boys, all have kids, and DH and one brother are married. When they all were married, we drew names. Once oldest brother got divorced, we changed the rules up so SIL and I always get a gift for each other, and the brothers rotate so A has B, B has C and C has A one year. Then the next year, A has C, B has A, and C has B.
We currently buy for all nieces and nephew, though oldest niece is now married and has a daughter about 6 months younger than my daughter. We currently get her and her H a joint gift, and then gift for the great niece. I’d like to just add them to the adult exchange, but we’ll see what happens next year.
If you want a joint gift from all your kids, you will likely need one of them being willing to coordinate it. My sis and I do a joint gift for my mom frequently, but we talk all the time and have an idea of what she needs or wants. For instance, we got her a concert ticket for her birthday and she went with my aunt and uncle. For Christmas, she’s getting a Dyson vacuum.
We’ve never done a joint gift for DH’s parents with his brothers because I’m not willing to coordinate it and neither DH nor his brothers have done so. Until this year - yes!! Their oven went out a couple of months ago and they’ve been making do with a toaster oven, microwave and their stove as theirs is a built-in and apparently pricey (it might be a convection oven - not sure). We never know what to get them, and this seemed like a no-brainer, so DH coordinated with his brothers. It’s more than we’d typically spend, but I’d rather get them something they need than more stuff they don’t need.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 23, 2018 14:13:23 GMT -5
That’s developmentally typical tcu. How long does this phase last??? And thanks for the reassurance this is normal.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 22, 2018 21:09:16 GMT -5
My 6-1/2 year old is getting caught in lies, which is frustrating to no end. DH saw scotch tape on our couch today - not completely unusual as C was using it yesterday while MIL watched him at our house as school was out and we still had work. DH removed it to find something sharp clearly made a hole in the fabric of our couch. We ask C what happened, and he denies any knowledge. Ask again, pointing out he had the tape yesterday and we will be far less upset if he is honest, and he tells us he finds the couch like that and decides to put tape on it. Right. And if so, then why didn’t you tell someone. Let it go for a few minutes while we’re all cleaning up, and DH finds the missing scissors in C’s stocking - busted, plus the guilty look on his face.
There have been a few other recent incidents like that, usually related to sneaking candy or saying he’d done something when he hadn’t yet. He’s currently restricted on art projects - no scissors anytime soon, and we’ve taken away screen time. That said, nothing seems to impact or really bother him. As soon as we express disappointment or frustration, he is the kid who immediately asks why we hate him, or do we hate him, or something along those lines. 😞
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 21, 2018 10:26:22 GMT -5
If you need a laugh, here you go. A couple of days ago, DH and I noticed that one of our cars wasstarting to smell. It almost smelled like rotten milk. DH and I don’t let the kids have milk in the car, and we’re trying to figure out what in the world they might have snacked on and left in the car. Nothing. Next day it still smells, so DH decides to clean it out after work. In the back of the car, in a reusable shopping bag, is the chicken I bought at the grocery store. On Sunday. Holy smells, Batman, that was rank. And whoops. Clearly I’m tired and overloaded if I couldn’t remember I bought chicken and never put it away. 🤦♀️
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 20, 2018 11:34:33 GMT -5
Yeah, I can't really process cookies being unwanted either. I used to be in that boat, but this week, I am on sweets overload. It’s treat week at work, so everyone is bringing in treats (not all sweets, but still a ton of sweets), DH and I made sugar cookies (C decorated) for his team/our house, and then my secret Santa at work gave me 4 doz cookies (1 doz each of 4 kinds) - I feel bad, but I am really unexcited about it because I’m on sweets overload. Any other time of year and I’d be thrilled about them, but not this week.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 19, 2018 21:14:44 GMT -5
I’m cheap and I hate the cold. I’d wait until preseason next year to create a better experience there. I hate freezing at outdoor sporting events, though, so that clouds my judgment.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 19, 2018 21:12:24 GMT -5
I've got nothing for my grandma. Well she'll get the usual candy, gift cards and word find books but I have nothing extra. Some years we do a big combined gift but she doesn't need anything this year. I just want to get her something extra as she's done a ton to help me in the past. Photo shoot with her and you?
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 19, 2018 21:08:03 GMT -5
Not sure how far out of this thread you all tend to venture, but incase you missed it, our sweet Jaguar passed away I saw it on FB this morning. They were talking about it over on EE too. I hadn’t heard. How sad - thinking about her family. Thank you for sharing.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 17, 2018 12:07:30 GMT -5
Anyone have any book suggestions for 12 and 13 yo girls? I’ve found a few suggestions looking at various lists online, but thought I’d ask here as well.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Dec 17, 2018 12:06:12 GMT -5
Carl, Carlie is a cutie!! Glad you’re popping back in to say hi and update us!
|
|