Lots of stuff on my mind....
Sophia was really good all weekend and today with the promise of a reward at the end of each tantrum-free day. She started to have a tantrum a few times, but I quickly reminded her that she would lose her reward if she didn't stop it immediately. She was able to turn it off pretty quickly each time and I think she's getting even better at stopping it cold. Today, for example, she wanted mini marshmallows and pretzels before supper. She only complained for about a minute when I said no. That's practically a miracle. Her reward (her choice) has been some soda pop (not too much, about 1/3-1/2 cup; caffeine-free, of course) each evening shortly before bed. It actually drives me crazy to let her drink pop at all, but I figure if this is what motivates her right now, it's worth it. Plus, we brush her teeth soon after she drinks it.
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Madeline has been using the potty or toilet and has not had an
accident for a whole week! I'm very very proud of her! And last night
she slept for a full 12 hours and woke up with a dry Pull-up. She has
never had a dry diaper overnight (and she usually sleeps for 10
hours, not 12). Craziness!
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I worked my butt off on Saturday around the house and with the kids. My feet and legs ached at the end of the day and I was really tired. My reward though was that I spent all day yesterday scrapbooking with my friends at one of their homes. I completed six pages and am really happy with that (haven't had time to scan them in yet, but will soon). I only have five pages left in "My First 10 Years" album! Can't wait to finish and start something new.
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While I was scrapbooking, Neil was home with the girls. He also took them to the Canada Games Festival for fun. The girls had their faces painted and jumped in a jolly jump thingy. Sophia also went on a ferris wheel and in a bumper boat. Sounds like they had a good time. My dear husband also did several loads of laundry and after the girls were asleep for the night (which was really early), he made two lasagnas and a Bison Torte (yum!) and put them in the freezer for me to eat while he's harvesting! How sweet is that?
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This is pretty cool! I had a phone message today from a lady in Kansas who said she's related to me because her Great Grandfather was Charles Byrns, brother to Robert Byrns, my Great Grandfather. I've had many email contacts and inquiries since I put my genealogy stuff on the web (summer of 1997), but this is the first phone call I've ever received! She said she'll phone again sometime and give me some info about that side of the family. Looking forward to it! I always wish I had more time to spend on genealogy research and documentation.
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I am bracing myself for the school year. Sophia will be attending preschool on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. I'll have to pick her up at Sharon's during my lunch hour and take her to preschool, then I'll have to leave work to pick her up and take her back to Sharon's in the middle of the afternoon. I'll have to work late each of those days to make up for the time. Also, I've registered both girls in swimming lessons--Madeline on Tuesday evenings and Sophia on Thursday evenings. So there's something on every weekday. Ugghh. Not really looking forward to that. And with the sky-high price of gas right now ($1.06/litre), this is when I'd like to cut back on driving, not the reverse.
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Sharon told me today that she may have to quit babysitting if she doesn't get enough kids enrolled. This is not what I want to hear! Four of the mothers (with five kids among us) are expecting babies between September and January. I'm keeping one spot during my mat leave, so effectively that's four kids leaving. Another child is going to kindergarten (and won't be there at all anymore), and all of the other kids (four or five) are moving away between September and December. Her concern is understandable. I told Sharon I'll tell everyone I know that she has daycare spots open.
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I'm amazed that I haven't had coffee for 10 weeks. I did have a decaf coffee today though because I wanted something hot to drink (it has been so cool out lately and it's really frigid in my office building). It tasted really good, so I
certainly don't have an aversion to coffee anymore--but I'm no longer addicted to it either. I've saved more than $100 in the past 10 weeks, and probably a good chunk more on gas because I would drive to Tim Horton's at lunch time almost every day. I'm not saying I'll stay off coffee for good; in fact, I rather doubt it, but it's a good thing right now.
