Thursday Thirteen

Questions to ask a Babysitter:

1.   How long have you been babysitting?
2.   Do you have any experience babysitting for infants?
3.   How many children have you cared for at one time?
4.   What do you like about babysitting and being around children
5.   Have you taken a First-aid and CPR course?  If so, are you certified?
6.   Will you always be available on the days I'm scheduled to be in class?
7.   Are you interested in being called for other babysitting times?
8.   Do you have references?  Can I call your references?
9.   How much do you normally charge for someone with two children?
10. Do you Mind coming by and letting my acclimate you to the children and the job?
11. Do you prefer payment in cash or check?
12. Are you a non-smoker?
13. Do you have any questions for me?

Books I Want to Read - Thursday 13

If I had the time!

1.   The Book Thief  (Markus Zusak)
2.   The Shack (WP Young)
3.   Choke (Chuck Palahniuk)
4.   The Time Traveler's Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)
5.   Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist... (Steven D Levitt)
6.   The Five Love Languages (Gary Chapman)
7.   Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus (John Gray)
8.   Boys Should be Boys: 7 Secrets to Rasing Healthy Sons (Meg Meeker)
9.   A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
10. Financial Peace Revisited (Dave Ramsey)
11. Shutter Island (Dennis Lehane)
12. Push (Sapphire)
13. Love and Logic Magic (Jim Fay)

Thoughts Floating in my head (Thursday Thirteen)

I feel overwhelmed.  There's always so much that needs to be done. The housework never ceases, bills always need to be paid, and meals need to be prepared.  Then of course there are all the things that I want to do.  I love to read, scrapbook, listen to music, watch tv, and make various crafts but when do I have time.  I make lists and more lists and I rarely get to the bottom of the list.  A few of the things floating around in my mind at any given second are listed as today's Thursday Thirteen.

1.   The Big Boy Room.  It needs painted and decorated.
2.   Aaron's ability to adjust to the big boy room
3.   School.  I applied and I'm waiting to find out if I've been accepted.
4.   Our expenses.  We need to work on a budget.
5.  I'm trying to decide if I should buy a new diaper bag
6.   I want a giant beach bag.  I haven't seen one in any local store.
7.   Several podcasts to listen to
8.   Several books to read - there are so many
9.   Family coming to visit and trying to coordinate activities
10. The need to lose weight.  I can't control my sweet tooth.
11. I need to paint the letters or Ethan's room
12. Changes to our home/yard. 
13. Baby books need to be updated and photos need to be organized

Thursday Thirteen

I became a mother for the first time June 4, 2008.  Tomorrow Aaron will be 2 years old!  So the following is a list of 13 things I've learned in the past two years.

1.    That love just grows and grows and grows
2.    I'm a good Mom  (a very, very good mom...maybe even great)
3.    I love baby laughs, they warm my heart
4.    Watching a newborn grow into a toddler is amazing
5.    How to survive on little sleep
6.    Children are sooooo resilient (and smart)
7.    How to speak up for myself
8.    How to speak up for my kids
9.    That I am competent and capable
10.  Let babies be babies - stop rushing them to grow up
11.  Everyone's a perfect parent before they have kids
12.  How to ignore stupid advice
13.  Time Flies!!!!!!!

Thirteen Ways I Saved

1.    I used coupons
2.    I bought baby food that was on sale & I used a coupon
3.    I didn't buy a  wallet
4.    I didn't buy a tote bag
5.    I didn't buy a new book
6.    Added books to my list to borrow from the library
7.    Purchased Target brand diapers
8.    Organized coupons
9.    Watered plants with left over drinking water
10.  Temperature of the house is 78 degrees
11.  Found a 20% off coupon for Babies R Us (future savings)
12.  Earned register rewards at Walgreens
13.  Had Aarons Bday gift shipped to the store instead of to our home

Thursday Thirteen

Things I HATE!!!

1.   People that don't use turn signals
2.   Smokers that throw their cigarette butts anywhere/everywhere
3.   Pants worn hanging below the butt
4.   Not having enough time
5.   Worrying
6.   Lousy customer service
7.   Mosquitos, fireants, wasps
8.   Debbie Downers (People that never see the positive)
9.   Irresponsible dog owners
10. Irresponsible parents
11. Nintey-eight percent of all commercials
12. Washing dishes
13. Cleaning toilets