Life is good!

Work, school, soccer, gymnastics, laundry, dishes, no tv, and what else is going on at the Wetzig home

2010-09-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

Oh, where do I begin? I haven't posted since before we moved to Austin and now we've been here for almost 2 months. 2 months? Really? It seems like longer to me.

About me:
I am a happy Librarian at Dripping Springs Elementary School. It really is a great place to work. 20-25 minute drive from my house and pretty much no traffic. The kids, parents and staff there are a dream come true. I love being back in the library, but there is still that nagging guilt that I am not being a very good mom. I got my first paycheck today and the guilt went away for a while. It is so hard to make sure my kids are eating healthy, getting enough exercise and having lots of time to play and just be kids. We do OK for breakfast, snacks and lunch... but by dinner, I'm wiped out! One of these weekends I am going to make lots of dishes and freeze them so I can come home and pop things right into the oven. I'm tired, especially by Friday, and keep thinking that any day now my body will adjust to this new schedule. I know I am going through the same struggles every other working mom is going through. Hats off to all the single parents out there... there is a special place in heaven for you! I have not been running but I'd like to get back into it. If I only had a few extra hours in my day...

About Madison:
She's doing great at Kiker in 2nd grade! Fantastic teacher, sweet class, fabulous school! She goes to after school there and is with the Librarian and PE teacher until I pick her up. She also goes to an art class one day and a science class another (before I pick her up) and she thinks she is in heaven. Beyond school stuff, she is in a great Brownie troop (cookies anyone?) and is back on the soccer team she was on last time we were here. She's on the waiting list for her old gymnastics class and she's antsy to get back in. Homework is still unpleasant in our house, but not as bad as Kindergarten and I expect it to get better soon. She did not have homework in 1st grade so she's just not in the habit. She still talks about her friends and school in Keller but I know that she is in the perfect place for her.

About Mackenzie:
Mackenzie turned 5 at the end of August and we enrolled her in the private Kindergarten at the Children's Courtyard right next door to Madison's school. It was so convenient and nice when Matt was out of town and I could take both girls there early. She enjoyed school but we did not feel she was learning anything and that we were paying way too much for a private school that was basically just babysitting our child. So, today was her last day there. Starting Monday, Mackenzie will go to school with me. She will be in a Kinder class there and then next year, she will go to Kiker (with Madison) for Kindergarten. She still needs lots of work with her fine motor skills and applying her letter/sound knowledge. I hope, and believe, that she will be reading a little before she starts at Kiker which will make a BIG difference once she starts there. She plays soccer and is in a fantastic gymnastics class. She's making new friends and still loves being with her "old" friend, Lucy.

About Matt:
He's been working here since August and there has been such a difference in him since we've been back. Much more laid back, patient, happy, lower blood pressure, helpful, involved, home earlier. This whole crazy situation and move has been the greatest thing that could have happened to ALL of us. He didn't want to pay someone to clean the house, but has yet to really clean the entire house himself as he promised so I will be looking for a cleaning person again because I'm not doing it, and apparently... neither is Matt. He's been running some and just enjoying Austin.

Whew! That's us in a nutshell. I really want to write more and hope to be better at just getting on here. Maybe I'll be back next Friday with my peanut butter pretzels and wine (dinner).

Keep On Movin'

2010-07-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

The past month has been an absolute whirlwind at the Wetzig household. I haven't had time to completely explain what is going on but I am up a little early this morning, armed with a hot cup of coffee and now seems like the best opportunity I've had in some time. So, I'll just start from the beginning...

Let me start off by saying that Matt does not come home an talk about work. When he's home, he wants to relax and enjoy his family. I have no problem with this. Around the beginning of May he cam home and told me that he truly felt he was going to lose his job any day due to a series of circumstances and issues that had him taking one step forward and three steps back at work. He told me that I needed to get a job before he lost his. So, I started applying for jobs the next day.
If Matt were to lose his job here, even if I got a job as a teacher/librarian, we could not afford to stay in this house. If we were going to HAVE TO move again, and we had a choice of WHERE to move, Austin would be our first choice. So, I applied with Austin ISD, Hayes CISD and Dripping Springs ISD because if we were going to move back, we'd want to live in South Austin and I wanted Madison back at Kiker Elementary where she went to Kindergarten.
A week and a half after I did my online applications, I was called to interview for the Librarian position at three different schools. I went down, interviewed, received offfers from 2 of the 3 schools and took the first offer; making me the new librarian at Dripping Springs Elementary.
A day or two after I came home from accepting the position, Matt was chatting with his boss and it turns out his job was not in jeopardy. Matt told his boss 3 weeks later what our situation was and that the girls and I were going to Austin and he'd stay here and work as long as he had a position. He'd just commute - and be in Austin on weekends. This would not make any difference in our family dynamic because since we have lived here, we typically only see Matt one full day on weekends. He's ALWAYS working.
Not long after that, Matt was offered the chance to go back to Austin, to his former job. He starts working in Austin on September 1, 2010.
The house...
We called a couple of realtors, decided on one that seemed very agressive towards selling, signed the papers, a stager was sent here to tell me what to move, pack and get rid of, The Vendurs came from Tennessee and Niki helped me pack and "stage" for 3 days then our house went on the market on June 25th. On June 27th, we had our first showing and I had been planning on going to Leakey the following day but the kids could NOT keep things picked up and put away like I wanted so instead of being Monster Mom and in a horrible mood, we left for Leakey 15 minutes before our 1st showing. On June 29th, we had a contract on our house.
I went from Leakey to Austin on July 5th to look for a house because the buyers wanted to be in ours on July 14th (it has now been moved to July 20th) and to get Mackenzie into Children's Courtyard next door to Kiker for their private Kindergarten. Cathy (Matt's mom) took the girls with her to Houston (THANK THE LORD!) so I could find a house then go home and pack. Trish (my aunt) came up and helped me pack for 4 days (THANK THE LORD!). I had 6 movers come give me quotes, went back to Austin with Matt to look at houses again, couldn't find anything we loved so we decided to rent for a year. There was only one house zoned for Kiker that had 4 bedrooms and was vacant... so that's the one we "chose".
Once we were back from Austin, Trish left and the girls were back home. We had 3 days of pool and waterpark then I met my parents between here and Houston to pass the kids off to them (THANK THE LORD!) because I cannot get all this final stuff taken care off without just putting them in front of the TV for 8 hours a day. All the toys are packed and I am on th phone most of the morning sorting out "what's next".
So, the movers come Sunday to pick up our stuff. They are delivering it to our house in Austin on Friday (7/23) because the house won't be ready until then. I am going to Houston to relieve my parents on Sunday after I do a final cleaning. The closing is Tuesday but may get moved to Thursday due to a window that needs to be replaced in our bathroon. I don't have to be here for that, Matt's going to sign for me. He will stay here in an extended stay hotel until the end of August, and on September 1st, we'll all be living in the same city, in the same house again.
Yes, I'm getting tired of moving. But, as I told Matt, I don't believe that any part of this whole experience has been a matter of timing, coincidence or luck. I think we are truly meant to be in Austin. It was a perfect fit for our whole family. We absolutely loved living there! We love our house in Keller, but it's just a house. Our stuff is just... stuff. What really matters is spending quality time with your family doing things you enjoy, in a place that makes you happy. We'll be closer to our family. We'll be closer to Leakey. And I'll get to be a librarian again!
I've been a little busy and haven't had time for "proper" good-byes for the girls and their friends or for my new wonderful friends here. So, I apologize to everyone for that.
We're praying for a smooth closing, smooth transitions (into 3 different schools, a new house, Matt's new job, me back to work), and that we will use this opportunity to grow individually and as a family. I believe something truly amazing will come of this. I just can't wait to find out what it is!

Roller skaing part 2

2010-01-26T19:27:00.000-08:00

So we went to the roller skating birthday party on Sunday - ALL of us. Matt, of course, asked again as we were walking out the door if I was sure that he needed to go. He had tried several times, unsuccessfully, to convince me to call and tell the party people that we weren't going to be there because Mackenzie was sick - I took her to Urgent Care on Saturday and she had a REALLY bad ear infection... very painful, made her vomit and she didn't sleep much Saturday night... neither did I! But she was fine by Sunday afternoon.
At the skating rink, the skate guys said it would be better to put the girls in roller blades since the have never skated before. I chose regular roller skates and Matt chose his sneakers. He took Mackenzie out to the rink and taught her how to skate. She did AWESOME! We both thought she'd try it, fall a couple of times and then be ready to go home.
I skated with Madison. She does not like instruction in areas where she believes she can figure it our herself so I tried not to talk to her too much. She also wanted no help. She fell many times but popped right back up. Actually, she fell on her knees a lot and we had to ice them when we got home because they were awfully "lumpy" from all of the falls. Both girls really impressed us with their skating! Neither wanted to leave and both want to go back ASAP.
Matt survived missing part of the Colts game but he was able to watch it there with the small congregation of men gathered around the 2 small TVs. So, it really wasn't a horrible, painful experience - like he had convinced himself it would be.
While I was skating with Madison, near the end of our time there, a kid (probably 12ish) was (I think skating backwards) not paying attention to where he was going and rammed right into me. I fell RIGHT on my tailbone and instantly felt dizzy and started sweating. I am certain I have never fallen on my tailbone before. I would have remembered that pain.
I went and sat down for a few minutes - to breathe through the pain - and then went back out... at a very slow pace.
After dinner that night I cranked up the hot tub hoping it would help my sore backside. I got the kids in bed and went outside with a glass of wine (Matt was watching the Saints game so I'd have the whole hot tub to myself!). As I was about to step in (in the dark) it seemed as though there was no water in the hot tub, which was odd because when I turned it on, I saw the water bubbling. I went and got a flashlight just to be sure. And, what do ya know? There really was NO water in there. I was so disappointed! I went and got Matt and asked what heppened (his exact words were "What did you do?")- he had no idea, this has not happened before.
So, I took a hot shower instead which really did not to anything for my pain. About 30 minutes later, the hot tub was full again. What gives?!
It doesn't hurt as much right now. Just depends on how and where I sit and what I do. I am planning to run tomorrow so I'm hoping it it much better when I get up in the morning.

Roller skating vs. Football

2010-01-23T06:46:00.000-08:00

Matt came home yesterday after being out of town all week for work. We all went out to dinner to celebrate Madison's awesome report card and while we were there Matt asked if we have anything going on this Sunday because he has invited some people over. I told him that we have a skating birthday party that day that he needs to go to because I can't take both girls roller skating (1st time for both)at the same time. I also reminded him that I had told him about this already.
I cannot even explain his reaction. But it went something like, "Are you kidding?! Someone is having a birthday party on CHAMPIONSHIP Sunday?! The two best teams are playing on Sunday at 12:00 and 3:00. There are NOT going to be ANY dads there. Have fun! Are you sure it's on Sunday? Where's the invitation? Girls, would you rather go skating or watch football?"
I assured him that at least ONE dad will be there- the birthday girl's and that they may have the games on there. He asked our waiter if he'd rather watch football or go skating on Sunday. You can surly guess what the answer was. I said, "That's fine. Go ahead and have people over. Just keep thinking of me, by myself, at the skating rink with both girls trying to help them skate."
He finally said, "OK, I'll go skating. I don't have to wear skates, though, do I? I can't believe this."
I'll definitely have a new posting about the saking saga very soon.

Grown-up TV

2010-01-21T19:26:00.000-08:00

When I was in Middle School and High School I remember watching my mom's tv shows - Falcon Crest, Dallas, Taxi, Trapper John, M.D., The Young and the Restless (on summers and days I was home sick). Tonight I came home and my high school sitter was watching Grey's Anatomy. I made the comment that I love the show and was taping it and she said she watches it every once in a while but a friend of hers is obsessed with it. So that is what started me on thinking about the shows I watched with my mom in high school... and then thinking that my daughters will NOT be watching my shows!
But on the other hand, is that being very realistic? I want my kids to be exposed to things that other kids are being exposed to so that they can hold their own in conversations and situations without feeling like a total dork. It will be very hard for me not to produce a commentary on all of the situations in these shows that I do NOT want my daughters to be in (the situations, I mean). When you look at the 8:00 and 9:00 shows that are on now and compare them to the ones my mom watched "back then" at the same times, they are SO different. So, I guess I need to pray that my relationship with my girls is always an open, non-judgemental, ongoing conversation about life and choices and consequences. AAARRRGH! What did I get myself into?

1/2 Marathon Training - day 3

2010-01-20T18:02:00.000-08:00

I am so pumped to be doing the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in April! It's my first one and the longest I will have ever run previously. I am super excited to be running it with Christen (a friend from college) and all the other friends I am trying to recruit! I did my first sprint triathalon in June 2009 and it was a fantastic experience! As I was training for the tri, I often thought that I should be journaling about it because the whole process would have made for some hillarious and quite entertaining reading at some point. I was constantly laughinging at my pitiful, weak self... and I just should have been writing it down.
So, I don't want to miss the opportuniy to capture, what might be even funnier!

On Sunday, I officially started training. I ran/walked for about an hour just before dinner. It was lovely. Mondays are my day off because I eat lunch with Madison and volunteer at school. Yesterday I did a weights class at the gym for my "strength training" day. Today, my plan was to drop Mackenzie off at school, come home and run for 45 minutes, grab a quick shower, head to the running store, then to meet a friend for lunch before picking the kids up from school.

Here's what actually happened:
I decided I would run for 30 minutes without stopping and then up my minutes each run and then in a few weeks, I'll focus on running a certain distance each time. So, I'm running. I'm sore from yesterday and feeling like I'm moving SO slow. But I kept going and was doing great. My Nike+ lady told me I'd gone 20 minutes so far. Great! 10 more minutes and then I can stop - I thought to myself. About this time, I realize that my nose has been running a lot all of a sudden. So I look at my hands and there is blood all over the backs of both of my hands from wiping my nose with them. Damn it! So, I have to stop. I stood on the side of the trail and pinched my nose with my sleeve until it stopped. Then I walked a few minutes before I started running again. I ran for about 15 minutes when... I REALLY had to go the the bathroom! I tried the mind over matter thing but that did not work. I started walking and the urge passed so I started running again. Oh, but the urge was back! By this point, I was pretty far from home because I thought I took a street that cut through closer to my house, but it actually doesn't. I had to walk 30 minutes, at least, to get home. I was so pissed off! Now I wouldn't have time for the running store and my possibly have to skip the shower. As I entered my neighborhood and the urge was a distant memory I decided to run the rest of the way home. I did not walk 30 minutes to NOT go to the bathroom. I took a super quick shower, got ready faster than Speedy Gonzalez and got to the restaurant at exactly 12:00 (the time we planned to meet). Whew! What a morning!
So, I guess I need to take a fanny pack with me next time with a hanky/tissues, my phone in case I really cannot go any further and some toilet paper in case I can just sneak back into the woods.
Tomorrow is yoga and Friday, another run. We'll see how it goes!

I love my kids!

2010-01-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

I absolutely LOVE my children! I know everyone (hopefully) says that about their kids, but mine really are awesome. Sure, there are days I'd like to trade them to the zoo for something calmer, like a gorilla, but for the most part, I really like having them around.
I remember after Madison was born...
She wasn't a good sleeper (or I wasnt good at just letting her cry and soothe herself to sleep), she had been so sick right after she was born that I thought she was WAY more fragile than she actually was, Matt was still working long hours after he said he'd be home more once she was born, I had NO idea what to do with a baby and daily, I was thinking, "What in the hell did I get myself into?".
Thanksfully I was surrounded by wonderful mothers in my neighborhood and at work that I felt more comfortable as time went on. By the time she was 2, I was ready for another baby. Not because I was really comfortable with baby-hood but because I thought she needed a sibling.
So, I became pregnant with Mackenzie. Madison was great all during the pregnancy. Mackenzie was born and 3 days later, Madison turned THREE! I don't know what it is about 3 that makes kids act the way they do... but 3 is (or at least was for both of mine) a sassy, bossy, ME, I can do it myself age. Which drove me crazy - especially with a baby in the house as well.
Again I was thinking, "What the hell did I get myself into?.
My kids are 7 and 4 now. I love that they will play with each other for hours. I love that they wake each other up in the mornings and climb into each others bed and just lay there talking and laughing. I love that they look out for each other and love on each other and can't wait to see each other at the end of the day. I love how different their personalities are :

Madison is thoughtful, serious, a rule follower, concerned about others feelings, tries to include everyone, a pleaser, smart, athletic, a great helper, silly.

Mackenzie is a cuddle-bug, so funny, always smiling or laughing, typically pushing herself (or others) just to the point where she knows she can get away with things, loud/boisterous, care-free.

Sure, they fight. Sure they get on each other's nerves. And, of course, they can drive my absolutely crazy. But it keeps me on my toes and makes for a more interesting story at the end of the day. Plus makes my glass of wine at night taste even better. I love my kids so much! I don't know what I would ever do without them. (Although, I'm always open to sending them to you house for a week!)

American Girl Stalking

2009-10-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

So it is Madison's day to check the mail and she brought it all in the house and proceeded to start sorting it and reading the sale fliers to me. Then she sits down with a catalog and starts looking very intently through it. Next I hear, "Mom! You can get a doll to look just like you!" I see that she has the American Girl catalog. "Oh no!" I think to myself. Where did that come from? I never asked for this to be sent to our house! I think the American Girl people search out new blood. They are stalking my seven year old! She went from page to page saying things like, "Hey! They even have pets!" and "Look, this one is a swimmer!" and "It's Kit! And Julie! And Kaya!" With every turned page and every excited comment I saw dollar signs and heard a cash register sound. Ka-ching!

At the back of the catalog was an insert that she pulled out and asked me what it was for. I told her it was to order a free catalog of everything American Girl sells. You guessed it! She wants that catalog. I said, "I thought you wanted more Groovy Girls." (They are too cute and MUCH less expensive.) She said, "Yeah, I want both."

I figured I would throw the card away when she wasn't looking. Then I decided that there are so many less wholesome toys and junk with tiny pieces and commercialized crap to rob her of her innocence, so... I filled it out and she mailed it already.

Country Music

2009-07-21T18:18:00.000-07:00

I am almost certain that in a prior life I was a fiddle playin', barrel racin', ranch workin' country music singer. I LOVE country music! I hear it and my heart beats faster. I am in the midst of someone playing the fiddle and I melt. I watch barrel racing and I wish more than anything that I were the one on that horse.
I don't know where these feelings came from because I was raised no where near a ranch (unless you count my brothers' rooms which resembled one by smell). I rode on horses at carnivals and once in Colorado. I never touched a fiddle - but played the flute for part of 6th grade.
Oh how I tried to love other music. I got as far as Wham in Junior high and Bon Jovi and the Beastie Boys in high school. But I always ended up right back with my twangy, heart breakin', whiskey drinkin' country music.
I guess you could say "I was country when country wasn't cool". Now, I didn't wear boot, jeans and pearl snap shirts (except once for a Rick Trevenio video in college). Nor was I in FFA, although had I known about it I probably would have been.
Currently, no one would want to listen to me sing or attempt to play the fiddle and I have no idea what I'm doing on a horse. But I'm thinking that with a karaoke machine for Christmas and some riding lessons, I could be well on my way to whatever it is I am going to be when I grow up. And that just makes my heart beat faster!