3 Down, 1 To go

We've got 3 Wizard of Oz performances under our belt so far.....one left today.  It's going to be kinda sad when it's all over. :(  I know Katie will miss it.  (She's reciting the play from start to finish right now.....)

Yesterday was a loooong day.  We arrived at church around 12:45 in order to be ready for our 2:00 show.  By 4:30, we were done with the first show and all cast members and helpers were treated to Subway sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, homemade mac and cheese, corn, mashed potatoes, chips, cookies, and jelly beans while we watched a movie.  It was a nice time to relax together.  But by 6:00 everyone was gearing up to get ready for the 7:00 show. 

I'm so proud of Katie - she's done an amazing job.  In the past 3 days I've had roughly 150 people tell me how much they've enjoyed Katie's performance and how well behaved she is, how relaxed she is up on stage, and how impressed they are with her.  (Basically, stuff we already know.) :)

And to say I'm proud of her doesn't even begin to capture how I feel - it's more than that.  I'm so happy for her that she has been able to have this experience.  Not everyone gets to stand on stage, under the lights and have everyone in the room clapping and cheering for you.....Katie has gotten that. :)  Also, she's made so many friends over these past 6 weeks and has been able to be a part of such a wonderful group who sincerely care about her. 

For those of you who haven't been able to make it to the show....I should have a video in a couple of weeks that I guarantee I'm going to make you sit through. :)

GREAT Opening Night!!

Last night was the first Wizard of Oz show, and it was wonderful!!  Katie had a fun time.  She said she was nervous before it started, but then once she got on stage, she wasn't nervous anymore.  She remembered all her cues, entrances, exits, dances, everything!  Daddy had flowers for her after the show. :)

Not only did Katie have a good night, but we won 2 of the raffled off gift baskets too!  I bought 5 tickets for $20.....put 2 tickets in a bucket for $120 worth of kids' books and 3 tickets in a bucket for a restaurant gift certificate and one night hotel stay here in Chanhassen.  We won both. :)

Today we have 2 more shows, and one tomorrow.  Sure makes the weekend fly by.....

Careful...she bites

A sneak peek....

Miracle upon miracles....I remembered my camera at practice last night AND it was charged.  So, here are just a few peeks at the musical this weekend.

 Dorothy and her buddies, Tinman, Scarecrow and Lion

Toto and Lion - two fuzzies of a kind. 

Scarecrow, Dorothy and Toto - with an Emerald City Guard in back

That's it so far....stay tuned for peeks at Glinda, munchkins, and the Wicked Witch!

I meant to include a picture with my plea for help.......

Will playing the role of "Angry Toto" - this is before I gave it a "haircut".

This is after.....

looks cooler already, don't you think?
Picture this with black shoes/socks.....and I'll either re-make the ears black...or just glue on extra bits of fur fabric, if there's any left over from the cut off parts.

It'll work, because I've kind of given up and made peace with it.

HELP!

We had our first dress rehearsal last night for Katie's Wizard of Oz musical.  It was the first time I would be able to get to see her costume finished.  The costume ladies were going to take a Halloween costume and cut off the head, add a few panels in to allow air to circulate through and dye/spray it brown. 

When I got there last night, nothing had been done to it. 

There's only 2 women making ALL the costumes for everyone in the musical.  They are swamped.  And believe me, when you get to see pictures of all the costumes....which are coming....you'll be impressed.  BUT I'm still upset that 5 days before the first show, I now have to worry about Katie's costume.  She tried it yesterday for a bit.  45 minutes in and she was beet red, about to fall over.  I took her out, talked to the costume lady who immediately chopped off the head, feet, and hands.  Ok - that's a start.

Katie work it again for the run through and was still red an hour into it.  And yes, she'll get a break during intermission....I can take it off, BUT it's not like we do this show once and that's it.  We do it 4 times in 3 days, so I'd like to make her as comfortable as possible. 

I said I would take it home and do what I can to it. 

As we speak, I'm giving the entire suit a "haircut".  With the amount of hair I'm chopped off this thing, I think I could make 10 more dogs.  And that's only the backside.  Once I get all the "hair" off that I want....I'm going to cut about 3 inches off under the arms, from the wrist down to the waist.  Then, I'll sew in cotton pieces...that should help.  I'm thinking I'll also cut off 3 inches in the inner leg area, from the crotch down on both sides and sew in the same material.  If nothing else, it'll be easier to move in.

Then the problem.....turning it brown. 

It was suggested to me to use the Halloween hair spray that people use to turn their hair crazy colors.  First problem - brown isn't that crazy so I can't find it in any stores.  Second problem - the guy at Party City told me that the stuff rubs off like crazy and gets everywhere.  I do NOT want Dorothy's white and blue checkered dress brown from her dog.

I can't use Rit dye or any thing like that because the suit is all polyester, and unnatural fibers don't soak up the dye.  I don't want to use regular "spray paint" because it would be irritating to Katie's skin and mat all the hair together in clumps.

Worst case, I guess it gets left white and blue (yes, the damn thing has blue spots).  Trouble is, I already made her stinking ears brown.  Yes, yes, I know - dogs are all kinds of colors.

So help me out, crafty brainstormers.....have any of you used the colored hair dye?  Does it rub off badly?  ( I am testing a patch out in the garage right now cuz I was able to find black color....not sure how long I have to let it set.)

What else can I use to color it brown/black???

Oh, and I was told she now has to have black socks and black shoes.  Black socks are do-able...but where they hell have you seen plain black shoes for little kids?  It's too late to order anything, so I'm taking a sharpie to an old semi-black pair of sandals and praying they fit her. 

Hmmm...maybe not

Ok - remember when I said I would still help out the elderly lady while I was babysitting?  Hmmm...after today?  I'm thinking maybe not.  Can I vent a bit?

Today was a rough one with the elderly woman.  (Is that how I should refer to her?  I don't know....seems weird....let's call her "Edith".) Anyway - boy, was she agitated and angry.  When I arrived there was a hospice nurse there visiting, doing a check-up, etc.  Hospice has a locked box of medication they keep in her apartment - for them to administer to her.  Edith screamed she wanted me to have the code to be able to open it anytime so I could give her what she needed.  I certainly didn't feel comfortable doing that.  So THAT upset Edith more.

Then the hospice nurse left and another "helper" came.  We busied ourselves with the trash, cleaning up tables, dishes, etc.  The other helper left to start the laundry and Edith went on about how much she hated the other helper.  Ugh.  (Personally, I love the other helper...she's sweet, funny, helpful, you name it.)  When the other helper came back she asked Edith a question and that set her off yelling again, "Don't talk to me!  leave me alone!"  etc.  Ok.....

Once we were getting her lunch ready, Edith was sitting up in bed waiting for it and Will came in because he was getting antsy and was ready to go home.  Edith started yelling "Get him away from me!  I don't want him in here!"  Ok - that's my cue to leave, so I left immediately with no good-bye. 

What this "Edith" is looking for is someone to stay overnight with her every night and stay with her all day long.  Hmmm...that doesn't sound like assisted living to me - that sounds like a nursing home.  Oh, and you can't talk to her or ask her questions, you just have to do what ever she wants you to do.  I was hired to do 1 hour of help, 3 times a week.  Right now, I'm at 3 hours, 3 times a week - at least...and even then it's hard to get out of there.  I told her son that I wanted to do 1-2 hours 2 times a week once I started babysitting the extra little girl, but now I'm concerned about even doing that.  And at this point, Edith needs a lot more than what I am willing or able to give her. 

So - I'm thinking about writing her son an e-mail expressing my concerns and letting him know that I'll help out next week, but then I probably shouldn't.  They need to look for more help.  And it sounds like they've been through a LOT of help....Edith tries someone for a week or two, then decides she hates them.  She tells me she loves me, wishes I could stay longer, come more often, stay overnight, etc.  Nope, not gonna happen. 

We're having another girl!

Yep, you read that right.  We are adding another little girl to our household.  This is the kind of little girl that I get to give back at 5:30 and only have Monday - Friday.  :)

In a week or so I will start watching a friend's beautiful little girl - she's so sweet....it will be a lot of fun.  For her privacy sake, I won't mention names or post pictures of her.  After all, she's not REALLY mine. :)  Maybe I can make up a pseudo name for her; an alias that I can refer to...or maybe just "baby girl."

Anyway - I'll still be helping out my older lady, and keeping up with my volunteer work - it'll just take a bit more scheduling and organization. :)  But now that Katie's in school all day - it'll be like having 2 kids at home again.  And when Katie is here, well, it'll be 3 for a few hours, and I'll get to know what that's really like.  The REALLY nice part is that the ages are nicely spaced.  I'll have 6, 3, and 1 1/2.  Very doable.

I'll revisit this situation after week #1. :)

What am I?

Some time has passed now, and I feel comfortable telling you a little bit more about the work I'm doing for the elderly lady I told you about a few weeks ago.  I go see her on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings for a few hours.  It ranges from 2-3 hours right now.  She's been able to find some extra help on Friday's so I could see eventually even dropping that day all together, if the help works out. 

It's basically like taking care of another child.  I run errands for her - picking up items she thinks she needs.  Then, 2 days later, she realizes she doesn't need that item...and I return it.  THEN, days later, I go back and pick up the item again because she really does need it.  The staff at Walgreen's already knows me very well after 3 weeks. 

I clean up after her - picking up dirty clothes, dirty dishes, junk on the floor, etc.  I do laundry, wash dishes, empty the trash and occasionally accompany her to the swimming pool.  It's my morning routine anyway...except I'm getting paid.  And occasionally yelled at.  Oh wait, that happens with the kids too.  (This woman has a brain condition that causes her to snap at odd times, and then become very appreciative again.  So far, only happened twice.  When the kids yell at me, it's NOT a brain condition....it's cause for a "mom stare")

So my question is....what am I?  Does this VERY part-time position (if you can call it that) label me as a "working mom".  I guess so....but it also sheds light on what REAL working moms go through day in and day out.  After spending just 3 hours helping this woman, I'm ready to call it a day.  Will has spent that time playing with toys she has provided for him, reading books, eating snacks, etc.  So, he's had a good time...and is ready for lunch.  I can't even bring myself to make him more than a peanut butter sandwich and some carrot sticks or applesauce....if that.  

Then I'm at home and have to tackle all those chores all over again....but this time at my own house.  I don't want you to think I'm looking for pity - I'm not.  I'm looking for pity for the FULL time working moms who are working 8-9 hours...three times the day I put in....and still have to tackle all that other stuff at home. 

And while I appreciate the money and the opportunity to do something extra for my family....I really appreciate the chance to take a small step in other moms' shoes.  It's really hard! 

Sooo...on this Valentine's Day, give a working mom you know a great big hug.

Church choir

Last Sunday both children's choirs sang at church.  It was, of course, adorable.

Here is Will's choir....ages 3-5 year olds.

Forgot to snap a picture of Katie's.....but I just realized that her first dress rehearsal for The Wizard of Oz is ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!!

Sledding...well, trying anyway

Last weekend since it was quite warm out - (above 25) - we decided to treck outside and give sledding a whirl.  It's only the second time all 4 of us have gone sledding together...usually it's just Dad and Katie.

I think it would have been great under normal conditions.  However, it's near impossible to get a 3 year old up a hill when the snow goes up to his hips, which means it goes up to my thighs.  Will and I slid down the hill twice....and then he gave up, wanted to go back to the house. 

It's going to be warm this weekend....maybe we'll try it again.

This is a view from the other side of the pond in our backyard.   

Will was able to (somewhat) walk across the pond.  It wasn't too deep until you got to the hill on the other side... 

...then Will had to army crawl to try to get himself out of the holes!

An afternoon of reading

Not sure if Molly is getting a lot out of this, but she sure hung around on the couch one afternoon while Katie spent almost an hour reading to her.

King and Queen of the Mountain

...and yes, there literally IS a mountain in our yard.

Last week a big bulldozer went through the neighborhood and randomly pushed snow way up onto people's yards.  We're thinking that it was done so that the post office could make it easier for their drivers to deliver mail, BUT it still would have been nice if they asked first.  Just hoping that the yard wasn't damaged.  Some neighbors have yard decorations under the snow - hoping those weren't broken. 

However, Katie and Will enjoyed climbing the mountain which now reaches up to our tree.

Will is REALLY happy he made it to the top. 

Katie can even get it the tree....normally she is about 6 feet shorter. ;)

Oh yeah....

I almost forgot - you all don't know this yet.  (Thanks Denise!)

Katie lost her first tooth last Friday!  We were eating lunch, (she didn't have school due to teacher workshops) and we were talking about things normally discussed over lunch.  I said "Katie - look at me....your tooth is gone!"  She had been unaware that it came out.  I had her spit out her mouth full of food and I searched through the gobby mess.  (Something only a parent would do.)  I couldn't find it. 

I was in the process of explaining that she may have swallowed it, and we'd have to write a note to the tooth fairy, when I noticed something on her plate.  I picked it up, and sure enough - there it was. 

"Oh, THAT was my tooth?  I thought it was a hard piece of bread."

The tooth fairy visited that night and left her $1.

Catch up

Or as Katie would say, "Catch up, Ketchup....get it?!"

Let me see if I can catch you up on the last week of our lives, in case you're interested.  Well, you must be interested if you're here.  I'm not twisting your arm.

Last Saturday we met John's mom and brother for lunch and some shopping in a town that's about halfway for both of us.  The kids each got a book - a Superhero book for Will and a kitty book for Katie.  We ate lunch downtown and, as usual, was yummy.
Sunday was a busy day, as most of them are getting to be.  We had play practice in the afternoon and I had to make some "doggie" ears for Katie, or at least get an idea of how it will look.  I'm glad I tried because I ended up not liking the way I tried, so....on to Plan B.  Play practice til about 4, then I fell asleep on the couch, pretty much refusing to get up and make supper. 

That brings us to this week.  I'm still helping out the older lady on M/W/F.  It started out as an hour a day, right - do you remember that?  HA!  I think I was there for an hour only one day.  Usually it's 2-3 hours....and so far it's ok, but she's saying she wants more and I've made it clear I can't do more.  I don't feel bad about that - it's not like she doesn't have 8 other people coming every week too.  Basically, there's someone there all the time from 10 am to 6 pm.  It's been a source of funny stories and I really feel like I earned that cold beer on Friday nights.  Second paycheck comes on Monday.

We got a letter saying that Will is all registered for preschool in September.  He was able to get into the classes I wanted him to, at the location I wanted him to.  Only about 40 spots open, so I'm glad we got one.  Still no bus next year, I'll be taking him every M/W/F - but that's ok. 

We had friends over for supper Tuesday night.  My friend is thinking about going back to work full time and currently looking for work.  She's trying to talk her husband into having me watch their daughter while she's at work.  He wanted to meet me to make sure I wasn't a raging lunatic.....always a prerequisite when it comes to looking for daycare. 

Play practice again last night - we did the "I'm meeellllttting" scene, as well as the scene where the witch locks Toto and Dorothy in her tower and threatens to drown Toto just before he escapes and runs away.  Katie had fun and is getting excited to start dress rehearsals in 16 days!  Then it will really start coming together.  Right now, it seems like it's all in pieces.

That's it so far....book sale at the library tomorrow....and free book fair at the high school on Saturday.  February is "I Love To Read" month....so there's a lot of book stuff. :)