I have a situation that I am not sure what to do about.

My children have been at a home daycare since they were newborns. They love Ms. T and she seems to genuinely care for my kids as well. However, we fall victim to the usual home day care dilemma...She is closed on ALL holidays plus a few more days. In addition, she also closes a week in the summer and a week at Christmas. We don't have to pay when she is closed for a full week, but all the days here and there are paid and are becoming all the more frequent. She posted just this morning that she will be closed February 22nd for a medical procedure. In addition, because she is a home daycare she doesn't teach. So other than socialization (which I know is important) my children receive no educational benefit.

I was debating sending my oldest, Drama Queen who just turned 4, to preschool. However, I was told this morning that the rates are the same even if she only comes part time. I was told that the new comers are paying more than we are, and most day cares now charge almost $200 a week. While this is certainly true, the other daycares also claim it on their taxes which means that I can as well. No such luck when you pay in cash, but that has its advantages too. At this time there isn't an all day 4K in our District. There might be one in the Fall, but they don't know yet (which it a topis for a WHOLE other post-how can you NOT know what you are going to be doing in a few short months when registration is in March?) Ms. T asked me today to make a decision as far as preschool goes because there are other people waiting on a spot. :sigh:

I have been on the phone calling upteen day care centers and I am now emotionally distraught. I really can't afford it. There is no way I can afford $100+ more a week than what I am paying now. There are a few that are within our price range, but they don't have the best reputations. I have a call into DSS to find out exactly what complaints they have recieved over the last several years and I think I am going to visit one this afternoon. But herein lies my dilemma. My kids aren't babies anymore, so I don't worry as much about them as I did when they couldn't speak up for themselves, but I still worry. As much as I know that Ms. T takes good care of my kids, I am sure that there are things that go on when no parents are around that might make my head spin. No child care facility is perfect and I am realistic in that expectation. There is one that has immediate openings that is mere minutes from my work. But it doesn't get rave reviews from most of the people I have spoken to about it. It is run by a local church. More than one has claimed that it is dirty. That one I guess I will have to see for myself. The other option is another church run facility. The only problem is that they only have openings for DQ right now. That and I have to pack their lunches everyday. Which I guess isn't that big of a deal really. Do I go ahead and get DQ in the program and then wait for an opening for WM or get on the waiting list and hope that something opens up soon?

Ugh! What to do? It is a heart-wrenching decision for me. I am terrified that I am going to make the wrong decision. What if I pull them out of Ms. T's and later find out that the place I chose was deplorable? Can I trudge through and deal with the current situation for the next 2.5 years? I just want whats best for my babies and I don't want to put them in any situation that could be potentially harmful.

Why can't this be easy?

Labels: Parenting

I was never a huge fan, but I am completely in shock over the untimely death of Heath Ledger. I was in total disbelief when AM called me into the living room while making dinner last night. How sad for little Matilda. She was just getting to know her Daddy and now he is gone. I can't help but think back to when River Phoenix died. Of course, he death was obviously a drug overdose but in my opinion the two actors mirror each other in many ways. Both were brilliant at their craft to say the least.

Labels: Pop Culture

I thought that I would try something new and maybe get some lurkers to come out and play. I totally stole this from Jesse at Apropos of Something but I am calling mine Tuesday Toss Up. Here's what you do:

Each Tuesday I will post lyrics to the first 10 songs that play on my ipod. Your job is to take a guess to the name and artist of the song. Once it is correctly guessed I will post the correct answer and who answered it in italics. Oh~ and NO CHEATING BY GOOGLING!

And without further adieu:

1. “She's got a brother. We don't get on with one another, but I quite fancy her mother. And I think that she likes me.”

2. “Move in now move out , hands up now hands down , back up back up , tell me what you're gonna do now.”

3. “I walk a lonely road, The only one that I have ever known. Don't know where it goes, but it's home to me and I walk alone.”

4. “We got winners, we got losers. Chain smokers and boozers, and we got yuppies. We got bikers. We got thristy hitchhikers, and the girls next door dress up like movie stars.”

5. “One, don't mess with the radio. Two, don't tell me which way to go. Three, just leave it up to me …”

6. “Tell me now if you came sneaking up behind, would you know me and see behind the smile. I can change like colors on a wall."

7. “I wanna tell you that I'm sorry. I wanna say that I was wrong. I wanna tell you that this circus …” .

8. Some people don't worry 'bout nothing, don't know what's going on. I'm not one Who can't say they're sorry.”

9. "Someday I'm gonna buy a big fat car and go to work to be a movie star. I know I'm gonna have it all some day, hey, hey.”

10. “If I never think about her, I'll never miss her at all. Never wonder what she's doin, never give her a call.”

Labels: Tuesday Toss Up

Four years ago today I brought that beautiful face into the world at 12:36 pm after 18 hours of labor. It sure has been an adventure. I can only begin to imagine what the next 14 years or so will hold.






You are a sensitive girl with an inquisitive and sometimes bossy nature. You love everyone in your life with all your heart and always wear your heart on your sleeve (just like your Momma!) Sometimes I just watch you and wonder who that little person is sitting in front of me. You still look the same, but you are getting so big that I barely recognize you. You don't forget a thing, and are smart as a whip. I have to watch what I say and do now, since you are always listening and watching and quick to tell Daddy when I use a bad word :)

I may be biased, but you are one of the most beautiful little girls I have ever seen. With my auburn hair and your Daddy's big brown eyes. You are no doubt going to be a heart-breaker and are already a flirt. I am going to have to pad lock your door and chase away the boys with a stick in a short few years. I'm not looking forward to that ;)





You love to sing and dance and right now your favorite thing to watch is Happy Feet and Ratatouille. You always sing the Gloria parts. And you do the booty dance whenever you get a chance. You know your ABC's (except for H for some reason) and your 123's and almost know your colors too. You love to color.....on anything. Only one more year, and my baby will be in kindergarten.





I always knew that I would love you, but my heart hurts with the amount of love that I feel for you everyday. We might not always get along (we are both hard-headed females after all) but I will always feel more joy and pride than is imaginable knowing that you are my daughter. I hope that this year is the best year yet.

I love you Punky! Happy Birthday!

Labels: Birthdays

All I can say is debt sucks!

I sat down this morning to add up my monthly credit card/loan bills and the total made me cry! Due to my reckless abandon with the good ol' plastic, I am now into debt over my head to a whopping total of $24,000+!!! OMFG! I currently pay out over $660 a month just in minimum payments. This doesn't include house-hold contributions, car payment, child care, groceries, and gas. Holy Shit Batman!!!!

Last week I received a letter from Bank of America for a Clean Sweep personal loan. After seeing the grand total above, I decided to give them a call. Based on the plethora of questions and promising them the fruit of my loins for the next 8 years, I qualified for $20,000. It isn't the entire amount, but I will be able to pay off the majority of it and a pay off the remaining debt I owe since is it significantly lower than what I am paying now.

No more extras for me. Aldi's here I come. Packing my lunch will be an everyday occurrence. Goodbye morning stops for breakfast. And Wild Man...hate to be the one to inform you but you will be potty trained before the year is out if it freakin' kills me. Those pull ups are hella expensive!!

Labels: Money Is The Root Of All Evil

Just wanted to make sure that all was well in the world. I downloaded FireFox since IE7 sucks monkey butt!

Labels: Test

Sorry I have been MIA. The New Year's has started with a bang and I am so busy at work that I can hardly see straight. I will be posting my New Year's Resolutions a little late( I know I am a slacker) and a few other meaty tid-bits along the way for those of you who are still around.

In the meantime, I 'll leave you with a story....

Last night something strange happened to AM. Max was being a bum and sleeping on the sofa around 9 pm and AM took it upon himself to try to wake him up. So he scooped him up and proceeded to run around the house (wearing Sponge Bob Boxer's, a t shirt, and socks) all the while passing gas and whooping and hollering. He say's the gas was to help "propel" himself around the room. I don't think I have laughed that long and hard in a long time. We both laughed so hard that we woke DQ up! [Maybe you had to be there?]

Labels: Random Thoughts