One great thing about staying home is being able to see a huge bond develop between Amy and Diana. When they were in separate day cares, they barely got to see each other during the day. The only time they got to see each other was at night when we all got home from work. It was only a couple hours during dinner and then play time after that.
Now, they are with each other all day for the most part. They have breakfast together, play before Diana goes to school and then we pick up Diana from school (which Amy loves - it's the highlight of her day).
Sure, they have their moments when they are playing together when they don't get along. Amy will take something that Diana is playing with and D gets upset or vice versa, but there are a lot of moments when I hear them laughing together and having a great time.
These are the moments I am grateful for. The moments that I am glad I am here to witness my girls developing a special relationship that will hopefully last a lifetime. I know that they are young and that things might change when/if I get a job someday, but for now...I am very glad that they have the chance to play together and share this time with one another.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Staying busy
It's been a month since I lost my job and I feel like I am finally into a routine. It probably helps that I have found some part-time work to keep me sane and keep my creativity flowing. I have had five photo shoots (paying photo shoots, I must add), covered a high school basketball game for a local website and even got to take photos at it and wrote some feature stories for the same site. I do all the "me" stuff on weekends and while Amy is sleeping and Diana is at school.
The photo shoots have been really fun. My sister even came with me on one shoot and I can't express enough how grateful I was that she was there. She's a great assistant!
Being a sports writer again has been a blast too. It makes it even better that I got to take photos at the game. I really enjoyed that part of my working career, though I don't want to go back full time. I like being able to work from home on features and cover a high school or college game at night time for a couple hours. The schedule works for me right now.
In the meantime, I am still searching for full-time work. I applied for a ton of jobs, but I don't think anyone is hiring or even in the process of hiring right now. Hopefully I will hear something after the holidays are over.
We enrolled Amy in gymnastics one day a week. I knew she would love it and she does. In class today, the instructors wanted the kids to stretch and get some basic exercise in before they let them play, but Amy and this other little boy weren't having it. They fled like those teachers were holding needles. Amy never rests during the 45-minute class. She is constantly moving and if I let her go all over that building to where the big kid equipment was, she would go. It's good exercise for me too, I guess. This is also a good lesson for Diana. She has to tag along because the City of Vacaville only offered classes in the morning. I feel bad for her, because all my attention is on Amy and D can't really play because she might crush a baby. Through two classes, it's been hard for her, but she's adjusting and understanding that I can't really take my eyes off Amy for one second or she might fall into the trampoline pit.
As for Diana, she sang the other night at Chevy's. The Spanish Immersion kids from her school got together and sang Christmas songs for the folks dining. It was a fundraiser for the program - you know...eat there and 25 percent of what you spend goes to the school. It was fun to see her sing the Spanish version of popular Christmas songs.
Tonight, she sang Jingle Bells to me in Spanish. Quite a kid that one.
I truly feel blessed as everything in my life is coming together. I knew I would settle into a routine and have some sense of normalcy again. It took a while. I am very grateful for this time and for my awesome family who continues to help and support me every day.
The photo shoots have been really fun. My sister even came with me on one shoot and I can't express enough how grateful I was that she was there. She's a great assistant!
Being a sports writer again has been a blast too. It makes it even better that I got to take photos at the game. I really enjoyed that part of my working career, though I don't want to go back full time. I like being able to work from home on features and cover a high school or college game at night time for a couple hours. The schedule works for me right now.
In the meantime, I am still searching for full-time work. I applied for a ton of jobs, but I don't think anyone is hiring or even in the process of hiring right now. Hopefully I will hear something after the holidays are over.
We enrolled Amy in gymnastics one day a week. I knew she would love it and she does. In class today, the instructors wanted the kids to stretch and get some basic exercise in before they let them play, but Amy and this other little boy weren't having it. They fled like those teachers were holding needles. Amy never rests during the 45-minute class. She is constantly moving and if I let her go all over that building to where the big kid equipment was, she would go. It's good exercise for me too, I guess. This is also a good lesson for Diana. She has to tag along because the City of Vacaville only offered classes in the morning. I feel bad for her, because all my attention is on Amy and D can't really play because she might crush a baby. Through two classes, it's been hard for her, but she's adjusting and understanding that I can't really take my eyes off Amy for one second or she might fall into the trampoline pit.
As for Diana, she sang the other night at Chevy's. The Spanish Immersion kids from her school got together and sang Christmas songs for the folks dining. It was a fundraiser for the program - you know...eat there and 25 percent of what you spend goes to the school. It was fun to see her sing the Spanish version of popular Christmas songs.
Tonight, she sang Jingle Bells to me in Spanish. Quite a kid that one.
I truly feel blessed as everything in my life is coming together. I knew I would settle into a routine and have some sense of normalcy again. It took a while. I am very grateful for this time and for my awesome family who continues to help and support me every day.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Oompa Loompa Doopadee Doo
Diana's stage debut was this weekend. She was an Oompa Loompa and a Candyman kid in the J&S Center for the Performing Arts production of Willy Wonka. There are four more shows this weekend so we are only halfway there but so far so good.
It's fun to watch her on stage - she squints when the lights come on because they are so bright and she's fascinated by all the other kids on stage, so a lot of the time, she's watching the main characters or her fellow Oompas. She's the youngest one in the cast and the least experienced, but I am super proud of her for getting up on stage.
They have been preparing for this since August and Diana has never complained one time about the rehearsals, the late nights, her role in the production, the other kids - nothing! She's loved every minute of it.
I actually went down to their dress rehearsal two nights before opening night and watched them run through it and was pretty amazed. There are some really talented kids in this company. The show is all kids - ages 5-13. Some can sing well, some can't. They are all trying very hard though and have a true passion for what they are doing.
I was really amazed at Diana's ability to remember her songs and dances (that's pretty much all she does as a Candyman kid and Oompa Loompa) when there are tons of people in the audience. I don't know if she sees them or not, but it's fun to watch her sing and dance and do her thing.
I would post a picture, but Matt hasn't seen the show yet because he had a tournament this weekend and I don't want to spoil it for him!
It's fun to watch her on stage - she squints when the lights come on because they are so bright and she's fascinated by all the other kids on stage, so a lot of the time, she's watching the main characters or her fellow Oompas. She's the youngest one in the cast and the least experienced, but I am super proud of her for getting up on stage.
They have been preparing for this since August and Diana has never complained one time about the rehearsals, the late nights, her role in the production, the other kids - nothing! She's loved every minute of it.
I actually went down to their dress rehearsal two nights before opening night and watched them run through it and was pretty amazed. There are some really talented kids in this company. The show is all kids - ages 5-13. Some can sing well, some can't. They are all trying very hard though and have a true passion for what they are doing.
I was really amazed at Diana's ability to remember her songs and dances (that's pretty much all she does as a Candyman kid and Oompa Loompa) when there are tons of people in the audience. I don't know if she sees them or not, but it's fun to watch her sing and dance and do her thing.
I would post a picture, but Matt hasn't seen the show yet because he had a tournament this weekend and I don't want to spoil it for him!
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
The aftermath of the first field trip
Diana went on her first field trip yesterday. All the way to UC Davis where the entire Spanish Immersion Program listened to Christmas music and mariachi music at the Mondavi Center. I was pumped for her, she was pumped. They even got to ride a big yellow school bus.
It was raining when I dropped her off at school and the teachers decided to have the kids leave their lunches at school (instead of having them bring them on the trip so they could eat them picnic-style on campus).
When I picked Diana up later, she was beaming. She told me about the pretty dresses the people were wearing, the music they played and she sang Feliz Navidad (her new favorite Christmas song) the rest of the day.
When I was lingering around with other members of the Drop Your Kids Off at School Club this morning, the parents said their kids were bored at the event. Some said their kids fell asleep. One kid was biting another kid and got sent to the principal's office when they returned to campus that afternoon.
Granted, not every kid thought the event was boring. I am just glad my kid could tell me details about the event and that she enjoyed it. I have a cultured kid...yay!
It was raining when I dropped her off at school and the teachers decided to have the kids leave their lunches at school (instead of having them bring them on the trip so they could eat them picnic-style on campus).
When I picked Diana up later, she was beaming. She told me about the pretty dresses the people were wearing, the music they played and she sang Feliz Navidad (her new favorite Christmas song) the rest of the day.
When I was lingering around with other members of the Drop Your Kids Off at School Club this morning, the parents said their kids were bored at the event. Some said their kids fell asleep. One kid was biting another kid and got sent to the principal's office when they returned to campus that afternoon.
Granted, not every kid thought the event was boring. I am just glad my kid could tell me details about the event and that she enjoyed it. I have a cultured kid...yay!
Saturday, December 04, 2010
A new club
I joined a new club two weeks ago - the Drop Off Our Kids club. I am part of a select group of parents who drop off their kindergartner in the "afternoon." Since I am a new member of this club and am joining midway through the school year, many of the original members were curious as to why I was joining this club so late. I informed them of my current job status.
During one of our first "meetings" two dads (yes, moms and dads are allowed to be part of this club) were talking about how they have a hard time falling asleep at night. They don't get to sleep until 4 in the morning. This is a foreign concept to me. I go to sleep at 9:30 and once my head hits the pillow, I am out.
I informed them of this wonderful invention called chamomile tea. They had no idea that something natural could get them to sleep so well.
The next day, I was a good club member and brought them each one tea bag of Sweet Dreams tea. One dad asked where he could buy it. Any store, was my reply.
This club is a mixed bag. There are grandmas, grandpas, moms and dads. Every day there are different members but everyone is very friendly. Some members have even exchanged phone calls and texts.
After a meeting one day, I walked home with one club member who lives down the street from us. She's very nice. Miss D and her son are actually really good friends. We had a nice chat.
Maybe next meeting, I will remember her name.
During one of our first "meetings" two dads (yes, moms and dads are allowed to be part of this club) were talking about how they have a hard time falling asleep at night. They don't get to sleep until 4 in the morning. This is a foreign concept to me. I go to sleep at 9:30 and once my head hits the pillow, I am out.
I informed them of this wonderful invention called chamomile tea. They had no idea that something natural could get them to sleep so well.
The next day, I was a good club member and brought them each one tea bag of Sweet Dreams tea. One dad asked where he could buy it. Any store, was my reply.
This club is a mixed bag. There are grandmas, grandpas, moms and dads. Every day there are different members but everyone is very friendly. Some members have even exchanged phone calls and texts.
After a meeting one day, I walked home with one club member who lives down the street from us. She's very nice. Miss D and her son are actually really good friends. We had a nice chat.
Maybe next meeting, I will remember her name.
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