New semester

I am taking an insane 11 credits this semester, and my babysitter is coming a week and a half later than planned. Needless to say, I'm a little bit frazzled. Just a tiny bit. Thank goodness for kind neighbors and friends, and an understanding and supportive husband!

The new semester started 5 weeks ago with an online class, American Government and Politics. To be honest, I was really dreading this class-- it sounds like a total snooze-- but I'm actually somewhat enjoying what I'm learning. Shocker! The downside is that there are 3-4 quizzes per week, and each quiz requires at least 2 hours of study and preparation. Yikes.

Monday, I started the Family Law class with a professor that I had for all 3 classes last Summer. It took me the whole semester last year to decide that I liked him. Now I have to start all over. Have you ever talked to someone that made you feel stupid every time you ask a question, no matter how valid? Yup. That's him.

Last night was my first Litigation class. The teacher is a hoot, but I've heard her tests are brutal. Lovely. She had us do a getting-to-know-you activity to find things in common with each other since we were going to have to work together closely in groups for the next 8 weeks. One guy, right off the bat, asked me to guess how old he was. Not going to happen, my friend. He then asked if I played chess (I don't) and proceeded to tell me that learning to play the game would turn me into an excellent conversationalist. Um, is there something wrong with my current conversation skills? One woman, when she found out I am a stay-at-home mom, said, "Yeah, I don't work either." Excuse me?

My last class, also online, is Language Structure in Thought and Action...yeah. I'll keep you posted on what I think of that.

Anyway, in spite of some "interesting" fellow students and a hectic schedule, I think this will be one crazy, informational, memorable Summer. Things should simmer down in 3 weeks when my Am. Gov't & Pol. class wraps up and then I can have some FUN before it snows again. =) In the mean time, I have my monkeys to keep things lively and entertaining.

Don't you just love his unique sense of style? This kid is hilarious!

Glimpses of the AWESOME Minnesota Children's Museum that we will be visiting as many times as possible in the next six months.
SO much fun!

(He did the face painting himself.)

End-of-School-Year Teacher Gift

My 2nd grader had an awesome teacher this year. It was her first year in charge of a classroom, and there were a lot of children my son's class that had serious behavior problems. It was quite a challenge, but she is a brilliant, fun, and enthusiastic teacher who worked very hard to get to know and understand the children as individuals.

For our end-of-school gift, my son wanted his teacher to have homemade bread and some new earrings. I had to tweak his original design, but he was happy with the finished earrings and the surprise matching bracelet.
I used white glass pearls and pink glass beads. I love how the opacity and irregular shape of the pink beads contrast but complement the perfect roundness of the pearls. I may have to recreate this for myself!

*UGH*

I've had kind of an "ugh" couple of weeks. You know the kid that I mean? The days are way too long, yet not long enough; the kids are tired but won't sleep enough; Mom is tired but somehow ends up staying up way too late every night trying to get stuff done that never seems to actually get done, etc.... Oh, and my baby finally figured out he could get out of his crib. That's been fun. Ha ha! Anyway, I found myself alone last night in a quiet house after everyone, including hubby, was asleep by 8:30. Did I jump on those projects I've been dying to get to, crank out a few more pairs of fun earrings,clean up the messy living room, or make bread because we've been out of it for 3 weeks? Nope. I curled up on the couch and watched two episodes of Veronica Mars, talked to my prego sister about baby names, talked to my brother about what he can buy me with all the money he's making this Summer, and ate chocolate cereal at midnight. Fun, right? I thought so. =)

Here's what I did accomplish, though, just so you know it's not all soap operas and bon bons around here:
I completed all my homework assignments early and aced my first 2 quizzes. I sorted through every file and several boxes of "stuff" that has been piling up for...um...a while, and got it somewhat organized. I posted our 12-year-old car on craigslist and sold it in 3 days for the full asking price (I had to fight for that one). I planned and hosted a successful baby shower that included mini cheesecakes, spinach and artichoke dip, and chocolate mint brownie bites (oh, yeah). I also cleaned and organized the little boys' room and started teaching my 8-year-old how to play the piano.

But now I'm determined to get out of the slump I've been in. I went to the gym this morning, even though I really just wanted to watch some more Veronica. I joined Weight Watchers (again) because I have finally accepted that my jeans are too tight because I have (once again) lost all self-control when it comes to food and really have not been bloated for 2 months. I am cleaning my living room tonight so my little guys can have a play date tomorrow. I will make bread tomorrow because it really is not that hard or time-consuming. I will make sure my kids have loads of fun. I will finish and send my brother's and two nephews' birthday boxes this week (better late than never, right?). And I will enjoy my 12th anniversary afternoon date with my husband this Saturday!

Here's to future "ugh"-free weeks, looser jeans, a cleaner house, fresh bread, and a happy family!!!