Tackles to Come

Tackle it Tuesday, oh how I miss you, I'm going to post what I have tackled this week at least...I registered for my 24 hour pre-service class to get my Alternate Route Teacher's Certification. Beyond that, well I tackled getting healthy, we've been really sick around here.

I will be finished my temp job on Friday which will open up a whole lot of free time, at least until I get another call from either the temp agency or to sub, please let it be to sub, please, please, please. So for the next month, I will be doing lots and lots of tackling...starting with my bedroom. This is the bedroom now.

I have a tendency to put any clothes that are waiting for mates on my dresser, and, well since I have pillows piled in front of my dresser, my sweaters get piled there too...as does pretty much everything else. I also will be tackling this:

Yes, that would be the laundry pile, I've gone from doing 2 loads a day to maybe one and though my hubby is home right now due to a layoff, I don't trust him (or anyone really) to do our laundry. The most important thing I will be doing though is studying for my Praxis II exams so I can actually get that Alternate Route Certification after I am done the 24 hour class.

This is what I'm tackling this week, head on over to 5MFM to see what other Mom's are tackling and let us know what you're tackling!

Tackle It Tuesday - To Do list

I've been battling some illness for the past several weeks, add to that being blue because of my parents heading back to FL and having to go back to work (not that I've found anything yet), not a lot has gotten done around this house lately. So this morning, I decided that, since, if I was working outside the home, I wasn't sick enough to stay home, I had to treat this job as any other job and get some stuff done. So today, my to do list is:

1. Switch laundry ( I went to bed with clothes in the washer & dryer) - Done
2. Change sheets - Done
3. Wash dishes - Done
4. Switch laundry (wash towels)
5. Straighten Living Room
6. Find something to organize Kid Jedi's Art Supplies
7. Call Dr. Mintz to make appointment

This is what I'm tackling today, let us know what you're doing and head on over to 5MFM for more tackles.

Tackle it Tuesday - Halloween costume

This week has been busy, to say the least, with looking for a job, I'm really trying to organize around here, but this week has been spent making Kid Jedi's costume. For Halloween, he'll be...a Jedi, Luke Skywalker to be specific. We went and looked at the costumes they were selling, and I didn't like them. I couldn't justify spending $40 for a costume made of cheap polyester when I could make it myself. So for $14, including the pattern, I made this.



The belt is a regular belt, it's a Pirates of the Caribbean Disney belt, but it's what he wanted to wear (and we already had it). This is Kid Jedi after Trick or Treating at Adventure Aquarium, they do a free trick or treat night (2 actually) each year for passholders.




This is what I've been tackling, let us know what you are tackling and check out 5MFM to see what others are tackling.

Tackle It Tuesday - Tackling Everything.

Well, Kid Jedi seems to be adjusting ok to school. We still don't have enough information on what we need to do, but that's coming. In the mean time, we, like everyone else are facing tough financial times and I need to go back to work. I signed up to substitute, I think I'm going to go to a temp agency too to put my name in. It's tough here because I still need to make myself available for Kid Jedi so he doesn't get worse and since we don't know everything we need to look into appointments, and we also have the issue of his anxiety and a major change like this could spiral that out of control, but well, this isn't really about that, though I am tackling deciding how to bring in more $$ (any advice is welcome).

Anyway, this week, with looking at going back to work soon, I will be tackling some organization around this house. I have no pictures because I don't really have the time to take them. The plan is to get the kitchen and dining room cleaned up, the tables are magnets for clutter, and get caught up on laundry this week. I will take pictures today and post all my progress next week.

We also had a wonderful celebration this weekend, my nephew made Eagle Scout this weekend. He got lots of great letters, though he got one from Shane Victorino from the Phillies which looked more like a response to a general fan letter than for an Eagle Scout, and more importantly he became one of a few Eagle Scouts, about 1% of all scouts become Eagle Scout, it's a lot of work and I'm very proud of my nephew.

This is what I'm tackling, check out 5MFM and see what other Moms are tackling.

Chugging along

So, Tuesdays I usually try to do a tackle, to say that it's been difficult to do the last few weeks is, well, an understatement. We have been dealing with Kid Jedi's school problems in that he's still not back in school, but we are getting a tutor today and she'll be with him 2 hours per day until he's back in the classroom. We should have an IEP meeting on Thursday, we don't have a definite time yet, but I'm hopeful that it will happen.

So, this week's tackle is just to get Kid Jedi learning some things, we did 1 hour of lessons this morning, he finished his lowercase alphabet section of the workbook and is almost finished the math readiness section, which is pretty good for an ADHD kid, we are taking a break right now and this afternoon we'll finish math readiness and do some reading. Library either today or tomorrow.

I also need to make Kid Jedi's allergist appointment for his Asthma, which is needed because he's starting to cough again.

I feel like the Little Engine that Could, and if I don't say "I think I can", I'm afraid I won't. I'll just keep going and we'll make it.

Check out 5M4M for Tackles.

Tackle it Tuesday - Ending summer

Well, Kid Jedi starts Kindergarten one week from today. I'm happy for him, but sad for me, I'll miss him being here. Next week I'll do my back-to-school post about what we did to get him prepared, but this week, I'm just cleaning up summer.

We have this one last week of summer, though I don't think we'll be heading to the pool since it's in the 70s this week. This week is the week that I make sure Kid Jedi goes to bed on time and gets up by 7 so he can be ready to be at school by 8:20. We are also reorganizing our home with a lunch station in the kitchen (Kid Jedi has full-day Kindergarten so we get to pack lunches for the first time), cleaning the launch pad and setting it up for backpacks instead of beach bags, getting an area in the kitchen or dining room set up so we have anything he'll need for homework together, and, well taking advantage of these last free days before schedules become our life.

I don't have any pictures yet since I'm still in the cleaning up stage, but, they will come (probably next week). I'm also looking for good, healthy, ideas for school lunches for a kid who doesn't eat a whole lot of fruits and veggies.

This is what I'm, sadly, tackling this week, head on over to 5MFM to see what other Moms are tackling and let us know what you are doing.

Tackle it Tuesday - miscellaneous changes

With all the changes that we have happening here, there's a lot going on. So, my tackle is more of a to do/done list than one task.

Yesterday we signed Kid Jedi up for Karate which was recommended by the Child Study Team to help him focus, but in the evaluation, of course, he got distracted by the mirrors and ran around so he could see himself run and almost couldn't get signed up because he wouldn't refocus. So, we're hoping that he will pay attention in class and stay on task, otherwise we'll be looking for something else for him to do.

I have another yard sale this Saturday at the campground my parents stay at during the summer, so I'm getting lots of stuff together, I already sent down 2 totes full of baby toys, books, other baby equipment with my sister, and I'm working on getting more together, and though we could use the money to help pay down our credit cards, anything that doesn't sell is getting sent to VVA for a donation. We really need to get rid of the clutter in the house.

I have some more baby blankets and burpies to make, I may sell some of them at the yard sale, depending on if I can get them made.

And lastly this week I'm getting all my paperwork in for substituting. I was approved by the board, had an interview with the Junior/Senior High School yesterday and picked up my transcript, I am getting my fingerprinting done today and then I just have to get my drug screening done and go to the Dept. of Health to get my PPD/Mantoux test done.

Good bye clutter, hello freedom!!

This is what I'm tackling this week, let us know what you're tackling and head on over to 5MFM to see what other Mom's are doing.

Grandmom's Ginger{bread}

Ok, so this is more of a modification of Gingerbread than anything. I made this because my Mom had made Tastefully Simple's Ginger Snappy Bread when we were over there last week and my son loved it, to the point that he kept asking for Grandmom's Ginger, so I tried to make it myself, and to say it was a success is really understating the reaction. I don't have a picture of the cake because, well, it got eaten and I wasn't really planning on posting this today until I saw that the MckLinky Blog Hop was for a recipe. So, here's the recipe:

Grandmom's Ginger{bread}

2-1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup shortening
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup molasses
3/4 cup HOT water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of 9x9x2 pan with shortening and lightly flour.

2. Beat all ingredients together with electric mixer (the electric mixer helps to break up the shortening) on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan.

3. Bake 50 - 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. You can serve this plain or with vanilla pudding, however you like your gingerbread.

Check out 5MFM for Tackle it Tuesdays and MckLinky for other recipes.

Tackle It Tuesday - Getting ready for changes

Well, things they are a changin'. With Kid Jedi going to Kindergarten next year, and our financial situation needing help, it's time for me to look for something to bring in some income. First thing is I got an order for a receiving blanket and some burpies which I will do, maybe I'll make some more to see how I can do with that. I need something that will keep me on Kid Jedi's schedule especially since he had so much trouble at preschool this year, and I enjoy having the summers at home and can't bear the idea of having to put him in camp or hire a babysitter for him for an entire summer.

In preparation for me not having so much free time (or at least not being home as much), and with the realization that I'm probably done having children since being pregnant at 41 doesn't appeal to me too much, it's time to start really de-cluttering and getting ready for a fall yardsale. Everything is in the planning stage this week since Kid Jedi's been sick with a fever and cough since last Wednesday, finally feeling a bit better yesterday and Saturday, I got the fever.

I will be posting my progress on this endeavor. I think I'll start with going through Kid Jedi's toys, I gave him the incentive of whatever money we make with selling his toys he can use it to buy some Legos, now to figure out how to store them.

This is what I'm tackling head on over to 5MFM to see what other Moms are tackling.

Tackle It Tuesday - More baby gifts *Updated with pictures*

Well, now that I'm home from the free movie at our local United Artist Theater, I'm ready to finish my tackle. My Mom has a baby shower for a friend this weekend and she asked me to make some burpies, I usually make the ones made out of diapers with flannel down the middle and ribbon on either side of the fabric, and I am making them, but I got a pattern from YouCanMakeThis.com for a receiving blanket and one for burpies and I'm making them. Last night I cut everything out and pinned it up, today it will be sewing. Come by tomorrow to check out my pictures of the finished product.

****Update - Pictures****

This is everything I made: 4 burpies in 2 different styles, 1 receiving blanket:

This is the receiving blanket:
These are the burpies I usually make:

These are the burpies that match the receiving blanket:

This is what I'm tackling, let us know what you're tackling and check out other tackles at 5MFM.

Tackle it Tuesday #28 - Lego kits

Kid Jedi loves Lego bricks, and I mean loves them, he would play with them all day and night if we let him. Until the last few months though, he would ask for kits, his Daddy and I would build them with him and he'd proceed to tear them apart within days, sometimes hours. Well, since our collection is getting large, I decided that we should go through the pieces to the kits and rebuild the ships. This process has actually been going on for about a month.

I don't actually have any before pictures of this, but sad to say, this is where I am after putting all the remaining pieces into kits again.


This is what I did with the kits. If there were any pieces missing I put a note in the bag, and we are missing several pieces for some of the kits.

This is where we are putting his completed kits for now, we are working on a system to store his completed kits and his loose bricks, but we decided it would be best to build the kits we had first and go from there.

What I discovered in doing all this is:

1. We have a lot of kits.
2. We need a good system for storing pieces and keeping kits together or we will be replacing kits.
3. We need to get said system in place ASAP because...
4. We will be getting lots more Lego kits/bricks in the future.
5. If we are going to keep kits together we may want to buy duplicate kits so Kid Jedi can use the pieces to build his own creations too.

This is what I tackled this week, check out more tackles at 5MFM.

Tackle It Tuesday #27 - Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

So I live in a house of chocoholics, to the point that my wonderful husband bought chocolate peanut butter when he saw it in the store, he and Kid Jedi say it is good, I couldn't tell you, I'm not a big chocolate person. I decided that for Kid Jedi's preschool graduation (June 5) that I was going to make chocolate chocolate chip cookies, but since, as usual, I had more to do than I had time I made them from mix. Well, today I made the recipe that I found on Food Network and it got 2 thumbs up from Kid Jedi. Here's your recipe:




Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies



2-1/4 c flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 sticks butter, softened

1 c granulated sugar

1 c packed brown sugar

2 large eggs, beaten

1 Tbsp vanilla

1/2 c unsweetened cocoa

2 c chocolate chips or M&M's or 2 Hershey's chocolate bars, chopped

1 c chopped walnuts (optional)



Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl, stir together flour, salt, and baking soda. In another large bowl, stir together butter, both sugars, eggs, vanilla and cocoa. Gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture and mix until combined. Add chocolate chips and walnuts, if using, and stir to distribute evenly.



Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets and bake about 10 minutes (I had to cook them for 12 minutes on Airbake pans). Cool for 2 minutes on pans, transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.



Enjoy!



This is what I'm tackling this week. Let us know what you're tackling, then head on over to 5MFM for more Tackle it Tuesday posts.

Check out Friday Feasts at Momtrends.

Tackle it Tuesday #26 packing

Ok, no photos for this one. Kid Jedi had a sleep study last night and that left me exhausted beyond all reason. However, we will be heading to the shore tomorrow morning early; as in get up, eat breakfast and get in the car, so today I will be tackling packing for our trip. It's only for overnight at my parents' trailer at a campground, but since it's the first one of the season, games and some books have to go down too. So today, we will be deciding what games and books we can do without at home for the summer and pack some clothes, load up the car. We will probably be at the campground by 9 am tomorrow.

This is what I'm tackling, let us know what you are tackling and check out 5MFM to see what other Mom's are tackling.

Tackle It Tuesday #25 - Foyer

Well, Kid Jedi graduates from preschool this Friday and we're having family over for a mini-celebration. So, I figured I should get some cleaning done. Today it was the foyer. These are before:


This is the bench we have to use as our launch pad, obviously nothing is launching right now.


The steps going upstairs, this is where I put things that need to go upstairs, obviously I haven't taken things up to put them away in a while.

From the front door:

The after pictures will be posted later today, I'm waiting for my floor to dry from being scrubbed so I can put the bench, coat tree and shoe basket back.

(EDIT)

Here are the after pictures:

And the on the bench/Launch Pad are the teacher gifts for Kid Jedi's teacher and assistant (Popcorn bowl with Caramel Popcorn and Chocolate Drizzle Popcorn from Dale & Thomas).

This is what I tackled, let us know what you tackled and head on over to 5MFM to see what other Mom's tackled this week.

Tackle it Tuesday #24 - Giraffe Lovey finished

Well a few weeks ago, I had blogged that I intended to finish this lovey for my friend who was due June 23. Well this past Saturday, we were blessed to have a new little girl in this world. She was a few weeks early, but healthy. She's now home with her loving Mom, Dad and big brother. Anyway, I spent yesterday finishing the lovey.


It came together really quickly and I love the way it looks. I will definitely be looking at more sewing ideas from You Can Make This. As a matter of fact, my next sewing project is a handbag pattern I got from there.

This is what I'm tackling this week, let us know what you're tackling and check out more tackles at 5MFM.

Tackle It Tuesday #23 - Giraffe Lovey

This weeks tackle it is for a friend of mine who is due with baby #2 on June 23. I got this great pattern from You Can Make This and my kid Jedi picked out the giraffe lovey to make. So far, I've pieced the pattern together and laid out the pieces.

Today I will be cutting and, hopefully, sewing. You'll have to check back to see how it looks.

In the mean time, let us know what you're tackling and check out 5 Minutes for Mom to see what other Moms are tackling.

Tackle It Tuesday #22 - laundry on the line

My favorite part of spring & summer (and a little bit of fall) is hanging clothes on the line. And, taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather we've had here on the East coast, that's what I did today.

See, clothes on the line. I love that smell, but of course now I'm sneezing all over the place.

This is what I'm tackling this Tuesday, let's hear what you're tackling, then head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom and see what other Mom's are tackling.

Tacke it Tuesday #21 - Prayers for a little boy

Today, my tackle is dedicated to Stellan, a little boy who is undergoing heart surgery today. You can check out http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ to see his story. He was found to have a heart defect in utero, but when he was born, the defect was gone. A couple of weeks ago, he started having SVT attacks, they are performing surgery today.

Today, I tackle prayers, and lots of them for a little boy, his family and his doctors and nurses. God is good!

This is my tackle, head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom to see what other Moms are tackling.

Tackle it Tuesday #20 - Photo organization and ordering

Ok, so I finally went scrapbooking for the first time in about 6 months a couple of weeks ago. I am going to an 18 hour, 2 day crop the Friday (6-midnight) and Saturday (10-10) after Mother's Day. Well as such, I need to order some pictures so this week, I will be looking through my tons of pictures from 2007, yes I am 2 years behind and ordering some. I will also be renaming the hundreds of pictures I took from February until now so that I can upload them to Winkflash and save them to a DVD-R for back up.

Spring cleaning is coming too, it would have been this week, but rain kind of makes cleaning windows difficult.

This is what I'm tackling this week, let us know what you are tackling and check out other Mom's tackles at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Tackle It Tuesday #19 - Easter Parade

This past Friday, my son had an Easter Parade at his preschool. For this parade, all the children needed to make Easter bonnets out of paper plates. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to make a non-girly Easter Bonnet? Well, we came up with a boy theme, dinosaurs. It has dinosaurs in plastic Easter eggs and a paper volcano.

Here's my son in his hat:


This is what I tackled this week. Let us know what you've tackled this week and head on over to 5 Minutes for Moms to see what other Mom's are tackling.