Check this out!!!

Here is a great blog post by Dan.  Check it out:

"I want it fast and now" syndrome

Reasons to be THANKFUL!!!!

I seem to be surrounded daily by a lot of negative people or at least people that tend to lean toward the negative things.  You know, the ones that the world is always coming to an end.  Every situation becomes tense around them.  So I decided to write down a few things that I am THANKFUL for:

1.  My Boys - They are the best thing in my life.  Even through all of the noise, sicknesses, messy rooms, homework, ect.  they are still the delight of my life everyday.  They make everyday better.

2.  I love my job.  I get to work with some of the most talented kids!

3.  I have great friends.  I would say that I have only a select few great friends, but those that I have are great.  When I have needed someone to lean on, they have been there for me.

4.  Although money is tight, I have been able to make all payments to the house, credit cards, car, ect.  I even have a plan to get out of the mess I have gotten myself into.

This is just a start of this list.  There are many things to be thankful for every day. 

What are you thankful for? 

  

What to do when the kids are at mom's for the weekend?

I'm sure we have all had that feeling, what am I to do this weekend?  I choose to get as much busy work done as possible, you know the stuff that the kids complain about.

So on Friday evening, I descended upon the desk and got to work.

By the time I left home Sunday morning to get the bounce house for the previously mentioned party I had accomplished a great deal:

    - Work budget in order

    - Work inventory updated in computer system

    - Tax Return spending plan taken care of

    - Home budget for 2011 mapped out

    - Debt analysis for 2011-2012 mapped out (I plan on being debt free in 24 months)

    - Grocery shopping for the next week done

    - Coffee and Bible study with a great friend completed

    - Watched my oldest play his best basketball game to date

    - Planned out my teaching for the next week

    - Cleaned my office area and upstairs of my house

    - Washed, folded and put away all the laundry

See now that I am done with all of that, I am ready for the monsters to come back to dad's house and get some good play time in and it feels great to get stuff done.

Have a great day!



Co-parenting Rule #2 - Celebrate special days TOGETHER!!!

In the 3 years that me and my ex have been split, we have spent all of those "Special" days as a four person unit.  You know, mom, dad, 2 boys.  Well this years birthday for our youngest was no different. 



So my youngest's "Birthday Week"  started last Thursday.  He wanted spaghetti for his birthday dinner, so the four of us went to the local Italian place for pizza and spaghetti.  This was his actual birthday, so mom and I gave him his presents at dinner.  Friday evening Cooper spent the evening with the ex's new family. 

Sunday was the party day.  For the first time the party was at her house.  I picked up the bounce house on my way over and we spent the afternoon at party with the boys and their friends.

See, in this situation, everybody gets what they want and need.  Mom and Dad both get to spend the special day with their children and even more important, on Cooper's special day he had his both mom and dad by his side.

It was a great day!!

A Great Argument, Avoided!

You know there are always those times when you have to decide; Do I argue this one, or not.

When it comes to your children's other parent, the best choice is normally not.  Take the last 24 hours chain of events. 

Saturday afternoon - While I am at work (yes on a Saturday) their mother texts me and very graciously asks if I would like a few extra hours with the boys Sunday since I have to work next Friday and Saturday (my days with the boys next week). 

I respond, that sounds great!

Saturday evening - I go over to mom's house to get a few hugs with the boys (normal routine when they are at their mom's) and we settle on a time for them to come over.  We discuss that between 3:00 and 4:00pm would be a good time...aiming for 3:30pm.

Sunday - I get most of my Sunday chores done (see previous post) and head to the store for my weekly grocery shopping around 2:30, thinking I can fit it in, I still have an hour.  Well, she comes by at 3 to drop them off.  No text, no call.  Not a big deal, Grandma is there.  Everything should be fine.  Yet Mama is not a happy camper.  I was not there.  Apparently she leaves in quite a tiff.  I arrive home at 3:25 to discover all this and have two choices, call her and ask why she is so angry or just let it disappear. 

I choose option 2.  In fact, when she calls that evening to say good night to the boys still sounding a bit perturbed at the situation, I completely change gears and talk about the upcoming birthday party for our youngest and how to work out the spending for the party.  I take that opportunity to even throw in a "Why don't I just take care of the bounce house, remind me to order it tomorrow."

Instead of firing back a comment that she would never agree on, I chose to deflect the issue, take some of the birthday party pressure off of her and throw her a bone with the reminder request.  She gets to hang up the phone with a completely different mindset then "Why weren't you home"

Any thoughts, comments?

The Sunday Routine

The Sunday Routine...The Sunday before my children get to come back to my house that is.  This is a twice a month occurrence. 

So, here is what takes place before my children come over:
  1.  General housekeeping - vacuum, clean the bathrooms, ect.
  2.  Laundry
  3.  Check the monthly budget and pay any bills that need to be paid
  4.  Plan the meals for the week
  5.  Laundry...wash and put away
  6.  Yard work (during the spring and summer)
  7.  Grocery shopping
  8.  Spelling homework printed out and ready for review.
  9.  Dinner prepared so it is ready when they walk through the doors at 6pm

I try my best to get all of this done before they arrive, this way they get full dad time when they get here.  Even then it is dinner, spelling review, 30 minutes of reading and showers all before bed.

You gotta have a game plan when when you are a single parent!
 

New Year's Eve Trip!

So our last trip of 2010 and first trip of 2011 has been completed.  Success or failure?  I rate it a success.

This was going to be a trip to see my brother's family (brother, finance, 2 boys) for the new year.  Now taking to young boys on a 4 hour car ride is not the most enviable task ever.  So first I had to think about the drive.  We would be driving most of the way in the dark.

     1.  DVD  player - Loaded

     2.  Nintendo DS's - Charged and ready to go

     3.  Snacks and drinks for the drive - Check

Once the inside of the truck was loaded, gotta check for the extra things to go in the back. 

    1.  Bikes - Loaded

    2.  Scooters - Loaded

    3.  Helmets - Loaded

    4.  Sleeping Bags - Loaded (you never know if there with be enough places to sleep)

Now it's time to get on the road.  The trip there, although late in departure, was great.  Dinner once we arrived, great.  Four boys playing together - OK, at least they didn't break anything.

Our time at my brother's house was pretty good.  The boys rode their bikes, scooters and played video games.  The adults rode bikes, watched college football games and celebrated a little on New Year's Eve. 

Our first real snag came on the way home.  I had planned to eat dinner at a BBQ place about 2.5 hours into the trip home.  Well, they decided to close early on New Year's day.  The boys were looking forward to it the whole way home.  So when we pulled into the parking lot of a dark BBQ place I had to think quick.  I noticed there were several other eating establishments in the area, so I told the boys look around and pick your favorite place.  Luckily we came to an agreement quickly. 

We were still home in plenty of time for mom to come by and see the boys for a few minutes before bedtime.

Overall a great trip.  One thing I learned quickly about trips with my children - Over Prepare.  Bring more things to do then you ever think you will need.  Especially when the plans are just to relax.  Bored children are not a fun thing to deal with and I never like the "Why didn't we bring _______?"

Happy New Year to everyone.  I hope 2011 is a great year for all.