Saturday, October 17, 2009

I'm Turning Into My Mom and Dad!

Hi there!

How's that for a title? LOL I've been wanting to blog all week, just to let you know I'm still alive (although not crafting). I've had a busy week (but then, don't we all have busy lives?) but a very satisfying one. I've got no pictures but lots of thoughts to share, so if you aren't interested, feel free to exit now. I won't mind (much...hee, hee)

So what have I been up to? Continuing the deep clean of the house, actually. I decided early this week to tackle a project that I've avoided for years. Yes, years. When we put together Amy's room/nursery, I chose a Little Suzy's Zoo theme as I love those characters. We put up molding about half way up the wall and just above that we put up a wallpaper border of those fun critters. It looked very cute, if I do say so myself. Well, as Amy got older, she got a little destructive, and she pulled off portions of that border. Just enough that it no longer looked cute. So, I don't know how many years ago now, I pulled the rest of the border down and attempted to clean up the remaining glue. For some reason that I don't remember now, it didn't work completely and I always meant to go back and finish the job. I think I attempted it, but it was going to take more time and effort and chemicals than I had to devote to the project at the time. So for years, I've looked at this remaining mess and thought I really need to get that job done.

This is the project I started on Monday. I wondered if my homemade cleaner of 1/4 cup of borax, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/2 tablespoon of ammonia in a gallon of warm (okay hot) water would work, or would I have to go get some special glue remover? Lo and behold, it worked! Armed with lots of white cleaning rags, a Dobie scrubber (which is a sponge encased in a plastic mesh), a Pampered Chef scraper, and the cleaning solution, I started behind the girls' bedroom door, just in case. I don't know if the cleaning solution was the trick or the years of drying out time making it easy to get off or a combination of both, but I made terrific headway in the time I had that day. I finished the job on Tuesday and then started to wash the walls and ceiling. That was fun (not). Jessica had a tendency to write on walls when she was younger. Enter a magic eraser to the arsenal (God Bless the person who invented that!) By the end of Tuesday, that job I had been avoiding for years was completely done and I felt a huge sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Not that anyone else in this house has noticed or said anything, but seeing the clean walls when I go into their room brings a smile to my face. This week I also washed down the walls and ceiling in our hallway, which took a little longer than I thought it would for a relatively small space. And yesterday I started in the living room. I have one and a half walls to go. What a wonderful feeling it is to see the progress I've made with this project.

In addition to this project, the girls' school had a Walk or Wheel to School Week. The students were encouraged to walk or ride their bikes to school. Each student that did got their name entered into a raffle and a healthy snack. I volunteered to help three days this week. One morning I helped at the table passing out snacks and filling in names on the tickets. The other days I walked down to a designated spot where the kids who ride the bus were dropped off so they could walk the rest of the way to school and qualify to participate. Yesterday, the girls and I rode our bikes to school. It was a very positive experience. Although I do think it's sad they have to promote this, something that was a given when I was a kid-I know it's a different world today)

As part of this event, the school had a bike rodeo that a local company called Bicycle Colorado helped sponsor. They set up an obstacle course on the playground using cones and things for the kids to ride a bike through, demonstrating their newly gained knowledge about bicycles and safety. Kids who participated in this event got a free bicycle helmet! It was offered for students in 2-5th grade, so Jess didn't participate in this one. It was very cool, but unfortunately for me, I forgot my camera.

The reason I forgot my camera? The new session of swim lessons started and I had to change the days we go because Jessica's class was full. So, in addition to this bike rodeo after school, we had to go to swim lessons straight from school. I thought the girls had to have their bikes and helmets for the rodeo (turned out they didn't), so I rounded those up, in addition to all the swim stuff they would need. I had to pull all that together pretty quickly and I forgot to grab my camera. Oh well. It was so neat seeing Amy show off her biking skills. She wanted to go through the course a couple of times and I was worried we might be late for swim, but it worked out just fine.

On Wednesday, we had the school's Chick Fil A fundraiser night, where a portion of the proceeds from that night's sales goes to the school. After that I went to a friend's house for the evening and had a lot of fun.

In amongst all this, I've been reading a book I borrowed from the library (I've been reading books while I eat breakfast rather than the newspaper, which tends to depress me) called Stay Home, Stay Happy and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It reconfirmed something I've been feeling these days. And that is I really, really enjoy being at home mom. I'm proud of the time I'm investing for my family. I don't mind that I'm working hard at getting this house in shape because I'm doing it for the people I care the most about. I am actually enjoying this cleaning process, which may sound crazy, but the feeling of accomplishment I have after I've done the work is well worth the effort required.

How does all this make me turn into my mom and dad? Well, my mom used to go to bed pretty early in the evening (I thought) and I've been doing that, too. And my dad was notorious for sitting on the couch to watch TV and he'd nod off, complete with the head drifting down (or back) with the jerk at the end as he woke up a bit. Guess what I did last night as I was relaxing on the couch? Yup...I'm turning into my mom and dad. LOL

Thanks so much for stopping by. I know I haven't been crafty lately, and I appreciate your willingness to read what I've been up to despite that. I'm hoping once this big project of washing down the walls and ceilings is done, I can devote some more time to crafty pursuits. As it is, I've been busier now that the girls are in school all day than I've ever been, I think!

Have a great weekend!
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10 comments:

Kathi Carlson said...

Thank you so much for posting! I devoured every word. While I know (or think I know what you're up to these days) and appreciate the comments you leave on my blogs, I've been feeling a little lonely!

I am so happy you are feeling good about what you are doing. The rewards over and above self-satisfaction will come, too, my friend!

Enjoy the weekend!

Sparkplug17 said...

Wow, what an accomplishment! I dread cleaning walls too. Sounds like you've had a fun week. Enjoy the weekend!

Kim Burmeister said...

You have been a busy bee! Wiping down the walls..hmmm! I need to do that in the hallway upstairs. Thanks for the reminder. I bet the school was glad to have your help.

Take care!

Anke said...

Oh you are so funny! I thought it was just me who is turning into her mother (albeit for different reasons) I can't believe you are actually deep cleaning your house. when you are done, could you please stop over here and start for me? I dread, dread that ....

Sarah said...

Ok now can you come and wash my walls! I am so glad you are feeling fulfilled with your family and are getting so much done. It sounds like you don't have a second to spare with all the fun things you have been doing with the girls and school. I enjoyed your post thoroughly, you are a gifted writer...I struggle to sound as readable as you do.

Alanna said...

What a fun post Jeanne. I so enjoy reading what you've been up to. Good for you for tackling that project on the walls. I know your family doesn't notice but I truly think it's only something that another woman would notice and appreciate.

It sounds like you are a super busy mom and good for you. Your girls are so lucky to have you. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Carol said...

You have been very busy - I really don't like cleaning walls so if ever you are over this way and want to do it again, feel free, lol.
I love the idea of walking to school, just not something we can do here. The distance to schools is too far (especially if you choose a independent school).

gloria in Utah said...

How fun!!! ??? I'm not sure I would wash walls, but I know you are getting alot of satisfaction out of getting something done that you have been putting off for so long. It's like you start one thing, then you figure..well, why not just continue since I have the stuff out. I know the feeling.

Then there is the mother thing. I had a sign on my mirror that someone gave me years ago...it's since been passed down to my daughter who has it on HER mirror..it reads "Mirror mirror on the wall, I am my mother after all". My mom read it once and almost fell over laughing as I was an only child and vowed NEVER to do things like she did when I was growing up. Then low and behold, I have my kids and I'm doing EXACTLY what she did. My daughter agrees that she too is turning into me. TOO FUNNY!!

gloria in Utah :)

Sharli Schaitberger said...

I'm so glad you posted - and I'm proud of your accomplishments! It always gives me such a sense of peace to have "tidied up my nest". Deep cleaning, while "ugh" is even more gratifying because you can actually see the difference! I've said for years that's why I prefer yard work - but maybe I need to try more deep cleaning inside and I could experience the same peaceful feeling.

As for the busy week - you are busy in all the right places!!! HUGS!

stampmonkey said...

I'm so happy for you, Jeanne, that you're embracing EVERY aspect of being a SAHM! While I know there are reasons why some moms have to work outside the home, I do believe that being at home, being available for our families, is what God has called us to do. It truly is a blessing to be able to enjoy each day while fulfilling that calling...even the days filled with cleaning. BTW, I'm glad that your homemade cleaning solution did the trick! ;)

sending big hugs to you,
Christi