Big improvement!

Ok -- as you'll remember -- I failed to follow the advice of the exchange student people and discuss rules from day one

but I've made a recovery!!!!

Oh -- wait! -- here's some funniness from this morning first...

I made a huge breakfast for the managers at work today -- Breakfast burritos for all -- 3# of bacon -- 2 dozen eggs -- and 2 dozen homemade muffins

I'm a nice HR manager sometimes....

I set off the smoke alarm and asked Miss M to open the doors to vent out the smoke. I told her to get some eggs and bacon and (I kid you not)

she had 9 slices of bacon

I made her put some back -- Jeez - that kid can EAT!

While we were sitting there we noticed a HUGE spider on the rug -- about the side of a coaster

DANG -- never a man around when you need him - after some girly squealing (her) and the untimely death of the spider via flip flop (I think it was only stunned) -- I chucked it in the yard

I'm never sleeping again-- maybe I'll remarry -- just for THAT!

**********************

After dinner -- we sat down with some paper-- we each wrote out the rules as we decided them.

Curfew
Dating
School work
School activities

but one tough one remained -- INTERNET

She learned a new word today - NEGOTIATE

I offered 1 hour of social internet per day

But we settled on 2 -- IF -- she has all her homework done - AND she joins a social club at school

DEAL!

We even shook on it.

I'm very pleased -- and feel like we have a new start!

PS
We added one rule at the end that she loved -- EVERY DAY - I must learn one Mongolian word -- and she may test me on them

I'm very excited -- SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW!!!!

Sleepover -- Night 2

Miss J stayed again

The remake of Fame was not enough to keep either of them engaged tonight.

Miss J conked out early and Miss was not far behind her.

They had a blast at the pool today

Miss M needs to learn to swim -- but there's time for that.

This morning -- they got up at a reasonable hour and pretended to like the blueberry pancake I made --

We headed off for some school supply shopping. Miss M go a book bag at Target and asked where the mirror was......

:)

adorable

She instead made Miss J put it on so she could decide if it was cool enough.

Ok -- on a serious note

I fucked up.

I felt bad about laying down the rules and it was a mistake. She is spending too much time isolated in her room -- she's even shyer than I am -- and I'm going to have to FORCE her to socialized.

Being anti-social is a reason for the AC to intervene and put them on probation......we can't have that. Big Brother must be kept at bay.

We talked today

Me: Vacation ends tomorrow
Her: Yes -- last day
Me: Tomorrow we will sit down and go over the school time rules- study time -- internet time

She seemed to expect this

We also talked about spending more time with me -- even if it is watching US TV -- HEARING English will help her.

We WILL make this work.

Rock Paper Scissors

When I woke up today -- there was no sign of life

I could tell that they were up late -- 1/2 the crate of clementine oranges was gone.

I was starving -- and had planned on pancakes -- but as the hours ticked away -- I gave up on that.

I fried up some bacon and ate my share leaving some for the girls. Finally I wrote a note for the girls and put it on the TV

I got my haircut -- and went to the store -- and made my friend Jill's crockpot pulled pork recipe (it's in the crock pot) for tomorrow night

and they slept on and on

Finally -- a sign of life!

they emerged -- groggy -- crabby -- hungry

Miss M just waved at Miss J and I and went directly into the bathroom -- showered and emerged cleaner but no less groggy.

I kept my distance.

Today -- I asked Miss M if she wants Miss J to stay another night -- she said "Yes!"

So I said -- "good -- you should ask her" -- She said, "No, YOU ask her" I said -- do you want to do 'rock paper scissors?'

apparently they also have this in Mongolia -- only I can't pronounce it (more giggles at my attempt)

I won

(Ha!)

The jury is still out -- the shy Miss M has not yet asked....stay tuned...

Sleepover

I feel bad for Miss M and Miss J -- I drug them all over town after we picked up Miss J -- we had to get movies and junk at the store.

Pizza
Chile and Lime chips
Popcorn
Skittles
Starburst
Mango sorbet
soda

they're very quiet
and very polite

but they have something important in common

they are strangers in a strange land.

I wish I were hosting 2 students -- having someone to hang out with would be nice for Miss M -- I told her today that some kids still need families -- she said she could share her room

She's lonely

I can't wait for school to start

Balanced

Crappy horrible awful day at work

Total beating

But then I came home to my lonely girl -- happy to see me -- and hungry (as always!)

I made grilled chicken salad and mango for dessert

Miss M being in the house is making me healthier-- I am making lunch each day and my house is filled with fruit!

Miss M's English is growing daily -- which is awesome to see (uh hear) -- today she was describing photos of her family and teaching me words in Mongolian -- She laughs at my pronunciation -- I must sound very funny

Ok -- short post today -- tomorrow is the much anticipated sleepover

pray for me!

Workaholic

I feel like my work life is taking over

and it's not my imagination

really

its not

I was at work for 13 hours today

It will get better -- I'm just a little over committed right now at work

Home is going well

Miss M had an awesome day --the girls had a great time -- and can't wait for Friday's sleepover

Miss M's friend (Miss J) is in a bind.

Her exchange program put her in the wrong school -- and there's no bus service

none

and her host mom just got word that there's no chance she will get into that school

That's a disaster

Her host Mom is a single mom who works nights -- she can't drive her to school each day and pick her up.

I am so damn lucky

We're home -- and bofh of us are tired -- but it was a good day

Shit Mom

Today was my first day back to work -- and I feel bad that she just got here and I abandoned her.

Ok -- Ok -- not abandoned-- I mean -- I spent tons of time by myself at that age -- but she hasn't had any time to make friends yet.

I gave her all my numbers and instructions on how to call if there's a fire....and left her to her own devices

Work was insane

hardly a minute to think about Miss M

I got home and she was fine

no fire

also -- the chicken I hoped to make for dinner was still frozen

shit

Off to Sonny Bryan's

She claims to like BBQ -- we'll see if she ever asks for it again (that will be the test)

However, I have worked to correct my shit Mom status

Tomorrow -- she will be picked up by one of the other exchange student's mom -- and Friday

drumroll

there will be

a

sleepover

here

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't planned a sleepover since the 80's -- think I should buy a bunch of blue eyeshadow

you can never have too much blue eyeshadow.