We found Taran's original Goober tonight.

It's been three months - it's May, so maybe more? - since we lost him, and he was replaced by a Curious George that looked a lot like him (we got him from the Hello Kitty! store). Only the original has a tail, and George doesn't.

Taran is thrilled. He's running around, "Beebo!" which is how he says Goober.

Yeah, I don't get it.

Arrr... oh. I said that.

I'm in all sorts of bad mood, and I have no idea why. I'm really frustrated, and stuff like that.

So. Arg. Yes.

When they said this morning that school was cancelled, I scoffed. Seriously, there was less than 1/4 inch on the deck! And I went to school here, I know what it's like.

So when I looked out while making breakfast, and it was really coming down.

Yeah. no school, and no walking, either.

Well, after breakfast my darling and less that sane children decided to go out and play.

I'm glad they did, because not long after they came in (to hot chocolate, yes, I CAN be a good mom!), the wind picked up and the blizzard conditions they'd talked about came in.

Whew. Sometimes, they know what they're talking about.

The problem is, they can forecast the 8-16 inches like they did - and we get a skiff.

I guess the School district lucked out today!

I just completely freaked out on Elyssa for no reason. Things were fine and then suddenly I was über-bitch.

I'm freezing and hungry, and did I mention cold? And the food I wanted to use tonight is bad, which means I have to redo my menu plans for Friday....

Gah. I need real food, not chips and salsa.

I WANT Ramen. *pouts*

ETA: and LJ is CRAWLING. What is up with that?

It scares me a little that I have used this as a subject before...

Elyssa got tired of having hair in her face. Did she say something about it?

No. She cut her hair.

It's out of her face...

We went and got it trimmed so it at least looks... presentable, but... gah.

Help!

"You have school in the morning! Go to sleep!"

This is the kind of day I want to fall over and just sleep.

Right now. We had Elyssa's birthday party today, and it was rather stressful.

But we're leaving shortly, and I don't have time to elaborate. I'll be back later....

Preschool starts up again next week! YAY!

I'm really excited. I can not WAIT, and Elyssa is happy too. Just... yay!

One of Maggie's church friends had a birthday party today, at the pool at her apartment complex. We got there, and because I had (again) been running behind, I got Taran's coat off, and then turned to Maggie and Elyssa to get them their swimsuits, so they can change. I turned around just in time to see Taran finish going down the "step" and drop into 3 ft. of water.

So, yeah, I screamed his name, grabbed his hand, and hauled him out of the pool, got his clothes off and some kind soul offered me a towel, wrapped him up in it, and just held him on my lap.

He cuddled. He wasn't crying, but he leaned against me, and some time later, Susannah's mom gave me a dry towel for him, he really didn't want to let go so I could wrap him up again. Same kind soul let me borrow some socks, too, and he warmed up.

He eventually sat up and took notice of what went around him, I changed his (very wet) diaper and zipped him up in his jacket. He had lunch, dessert, and generally enjoyed the last half hour of the party.

So he's fine - I was walking dead once we got home.

Maybe no more swimming for a while....

I found myself yelling at the kids again today. I'm not sure what's going on... it's a little disturbing.

I'm all out of sorts, I guess, with my PDA out of commission. Or something.

Maggie has a project due next week, a poster of a hundred things on it because it's her 100th day of school. She made a representation of her bear, with cotton balls for the body, craisins for the claws, jelly beans for the eyes, ears, and nose, and mini marshmallows for the face.

She finished it yesterday after school, and then left it on the table.

We babysat yesterday, a friend of mine was in a tight spot. Sebastian is a little older than Taran. They found the bear.

And ate the marshmallows. Maggie was so frustrated!

It was hilarious!

I'll try to get a picture of the rebuilt bear with her, and post it.

I thought to write this morning because of the exception.

Elyssa loves the dressup box. We got it for the girls for Christmas in 2007, and suplimented it with shoes (it came with one pair). The dresses are falling apart, and she doesn't care. She also doesn't care if the slippers match, as long as she has two.

Well, today, she had two that matched. I was stunned.

And figured that was worth recording.

I went to get Taran up because he was crying, got to the top of the stairs, and Elyssa had fallen asleep at the top of the stairs.

She woke up before I could get my dh to see it. Darn.

Elyssa will not have preschool this month, most likely. It's hard, and all so stupid!

She says this, in her email:

How sorry I am to tell you that I still don't know anything about the zoning for preschool. I met with yet another person from the zoning division on Friday (Jan. 2nd) and he explained (nicely) that he unfortunately could not speed up this process. I am, needless to say, heartbroken. We will not be starting school on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. In fact, I feel I must cancel school for the month of January. I have high hopes that things will all be in order for us to go back to regular school in February, and I plan to teach into June to make-up the time we miss in January.

Man...

I wish I could spam the idiot that started this!

Tomorrow, church starts at 9:00. We will (hopefully) be there by 8:30, as if I aim for that and miss by 15 minutes, I'm still early.

At least I have an idea of what time I have to get up and get the kids moving; I have to do it during school on Tuesdays and THursdays.

Speaking of, I haven't heard from Elyssa's teacher yet. School starts on Tuesday.

Hopefully for Elyssa, too.

Some time ago, we bought the kids a cookbook - I think for Christmas last year - called Kids Cooking. Maggie has wanted to cook from this for a while, and this morning she made breatfast (with dh's help). It's called "Breakfast in a Cup" and tasted wonderful! She did such a good job!

The problem with the preschool is this:

One of the children attending has parents going through a bitter divorce. The mother signed this child up for Miss Patti's class, and the father hates that he has to drive so far to take his child to preschool. So, as a fireman, he decided to call into question her fire code zoning or whatever.

Seriously.

Of all the petty, idiotic....

You can't be inconvenienced, so you take away a single woman's INCOME?

You give a good name to fire fighters, you do.

I hope you're proud of yourself.

I had a couple of "a-ha" moments (none of which actually had anything to do with the group) the last couple of days.

1. It is not Janowrimo - it is Jillnowrimo. MY novel writing month. I have my doubts about making the full word count, as I am still rather slow and not very... proficent at this new layout yet, but I will try anyway.

2. Speaking of that, I think I need a bad guy for the project for January. And, in fact, I think I want it to be a girl. She needs to have specfic goals, etc. I found a great book at the library - well, I don't know how good it is, but the title is great: Bullies, Bastards, and Bitches.

Seriously, how could I pass that up?

3. I'm reading books on writing again. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. At least, I have one out of the library, and two more on hold (note: Janet Evanovitch's book was useless).

4. I think I have an idea for the sequel to End of a Dream. It's still pretty... nebulous, so I'll let it pecolate and see if anything comes of it.

5. On a subject not writing, the radio in the van doesn't work. I HOPE it's just the fuse, like dh thinks. Otherwise, I'll be mad.

6. Good news! Elyssa's preschool started up again, and she went this morning. It's at the church, which isn't too far from the preschool, and that helps. I just hope things turn out okay for Patti!

7. I think that's everything. Now to go back to transcribing.

In the midst of feeling like crap and unwilling to do anything, a lot of other things have happened.

First, the fire codes at the preschool changed, so we have no preschool at least until January. I have gotten no official version of what she might have to do to get her basement up to code (possibly because they haven't told her yet), so I'm trying not to let all the random things I do hear sink in, and I'm trying to make sure I don't spread any of those around, either.

So, I have Elyssa home with Taran.

Saturday, we had the ward Christmas breakfast, which was really nice. Scott did the presentation, which was a power point presentation on the history of carols in general, and a few in specific. Really nicely done. After that, we cleaned the church (which explains the sore legs yesterday), and then we went home. Taran went to bed, and at 2:00, I went to the Elephant Bar for the THIO party with my Nano group. That was lovely.

So, home, baths, and out again to JD Harris's baptism, and a serious reluctance to go to their house for dinner. We went anyway, and I had a nice conversation and good food.

I went to bed at 8:30, and was asleep just after 9:30.

Getting up Sunday was nearly impossible; I fought with mp alarm for an hour before I dragged myself out of bed, got dressed, and got the family moving. We went over to the church early so I could take care of some of the admin parts of my calling, and then sort of waited for church to start.

After that marathon of sleep - ten hours - I still couldn't keep my eyes open in Sunday School! So I came home after church, fed the kids, and as soon as dh got home, I went up to rest. And slept for nearly an hour. Dinner at mom's was nice - the elders ate with us - and we came home.

I went up to bed around 9:00, and just vegged. Dh came up around 9:30, and we had a nice talk. I don't know how long since that happened. And I woke up early - around 4:30 - but still feel well rested.

I've done a lot this morning, in comparison to last week: filled the dishwasher/emptied the sink, run two loads of laundry, put sour rags in bleachwater, and filled the box to go out for ARC.

Doesn't seem like much, maybe, but considering what in's been like lately, this is a lot.

And now, it's Mother Goose time. I'll go see if the kids want to go.

Taran is coughing - sounding croupy - and I was up on and off last night with diarhea. Sadly, I fell asleep around four, I think, and messed up the sheets and the bed. Urg. I stripped the bed and had a shower at somewhere close to six, and I want to go back to bed. Shana gave me some medicine, so I hope it helps.

I'm rather tired, but so far, I'm doing okay. Taran went to sleep really easily, and I haven't heard any coughing - which is nice. I don't know... what I was going to say. I got distracted by CSI: New York.

I managed to get through the day; dinner was delicious, even if I didn't eat much. I kind of hope that I get home having lost weight - something good from this misery.