Controlled Chaos

I currently run three small businesses out of my home.
I have four children, three of them are teenagers with packed schedules.
I cook dinner every night. Not because I am a super serious health nut, but three of my kids and I are lactose intolerant, its just easier to cook and know what all goes into our dinner. We like to avoid upset stomachs at all costs.

So all of that takes some planning.
I know a lot of people rave about Google Calendar. You can access it from your smart phone or desktop. Its easy to update yada, yada, yada. I think that would be great for me if I only had to manage myself.
I'm a well known technology hater when it comes to organization.
Using an online calendar is like using a credit card over cash. You can easily add something to it but unless you're looking at your statement constantly you can forget about what you put on it. Sometimes its nice to know exactly what is in your "wallet".

I take a lot of crap for this, but I use a big desk calendar. The kind that you pick up at Staples for under $5.00. Its easy for me to glance at when I am on the phone and I need to schedule something.

But this year I've been a bit more busy with work and my kids so I needed to break it down even further.
I found these great weekly to do free printables from artsy-fartsy mama.

Weekly calendar pages from artsy-fartsy mama

The calendar pages are blank and begin on Mondays. They also have a "this week's menu" section and shopping list section. I like it. I didn't have to create it myself. I just printed off 52 of those suckers and stuck them into a half an inch binder. I also added a monthly calendar page too for each month. I really liked this one that is available from Infarrantly Creative.

The binder I picked up was $4.00 and has see through cover so you can add a custom touch to it. I decided to make mine it more "Thea".

Pardon my latin.

I just printed this onto a random piece of scrapbooking paper that I had. (I go for the hard core inspirational quotes.) The binder is really thin and it fits just fine into my bag - I carry a messenger bag.

For those that struggle with organization I highly recommend getting low tech. Sometimes mom hands are too busy to hold a phone or walk around with a laptop or tablet.  There is something about actually writing down your to do's, having them open on your desk or kitchen counter to refer to.


Thea

14

As mentioned earlier this week, it's birthday week at my house.
Today is my youngest son's 14th birthday.

My little miracle man - the toddler version.

Always super serious...(heh)

...and quite handsome too. I'm pretty sure he has groupies since kindergarten.

Scenes from my home December 2012 - Birthday boy on top of the island. I still don't know why this happened...

Like his handsome older brother girls have always "admired" him. Once in elementary school when I was an art docent for his class, a group of girls came up and asked me "What's he like at home? And what type of cereal does he eat?" I tried my hardest not to laugh, they were "fans" of my kid and wanted to know more about him. He may or may not have a fan page on Facebook...I'm not sure. :)

I'm pulling him out of school early today to go buy candy because we can and have festivities with the family later in the evening. It will be a good 14th birthday.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

Senior Year - The Senior "Ad"

Some genius through the annals of time created a money making scheme by charging parents a fee to put in a little sentiment in a dedicated section of the school's yearbook. The Senior Ad section.
As a parent it is an opportunity to show off one last cutie patootie baby/toddler picture of your now Senior child with the town you live in. That and to say something sweet & meaningful as you send them on their way.

I spent way too much time looking for the "perfect" picture. One that says "Hey this kid is something special" with a touch of humor because that's how we roll. Oddly, I was able to whip up the wording to go with the picture rather quickly once I decided upon a picture. Unfortunately, I won't share it now and save it for her to see when she opens her yearbook (although she is apart of the yearbook staff and has probably already read it).  I'll have to follow up with you all on this again.
But this photo was a strong contender for the toddler picture to give you an idea:

2001 - The classic older sibling smack down. (My sons & my eldest daughter)

It really says it all here, Jina smiling while pinning down her brother while her youngest brother is crying from defeat. Yeah, that's my house although Jina is smaller than both of her brothers so the scales weigh in the favor them now.

Let's face it, Senior year is a year to put your child that you've invested so much time into, homework hours, dance classes, soccer games, violin lessons... on display or make them the center of attention before they take off. Applaud all of their achievements and cry like a hot mess while doing it.  Even if its just emailing a paragraph and a poorly scanned photo. This shit can turn you into mush! I wouldn't say that I am a big emotional type gal. "Hard ass & tough girl" is normal but "pile of sappy mush" is quickly becoming the norm.

This year has really been flying by and there's only a few months left. It has been so surreal. I'm willing to bet that is the word (surreal) I'll over use here. Its the first thing I say when some one asks me how things are going and how I am handling things. I also have some parents asking me what they can do to help them prepare for Senior year.  At this point I have to say just be ready to spend way more money than you thought imaginable on "stuff".  School fees, diners, invitations, cap & gown, formal dresses for dances and a plethora of other things like a Senior ad.  So save your pennies now and keep the tissue box close.

 xo-Thea

11

Its birthday week in my house.
I happened to have two children in the same week but in different years.

Today my baby, my youngest, the one who has her mother's temperament, turns 11 today.

My daughters December 2012

She's still blonde and almost taller than me. Musically talented and one of the world's biggest mommy girls.  Second only to the girl who is standing next to her in the picture above.

2008

11 years of uber smiles and cuddles with my baby-baby.

xo-Thea

Senior Year - And We're In

One application.
One application fee.
One acceptance certificate.
One happy girl.
One very proud mom.

...entering Class of 2013

We found out right before Christmas that Jina was accepted to her college of choice.
All the build up and coaching of do's and don'ts for college applications we hit the goal in one big swoop.

She came running like a mad woman screaming all the way from the mailbox into the house screaming with joy.  I was equally as happy and especially proud.
Now the real works begins - financial aid, loans, scholarships hopefully. I am now admitting that I am scared shitless. It doesn't really help that the kid has a count down to graduation and her expected move out date. Gah!

Thea