Saturday Morning Lazies

I am just enjoying my second cup of coffee as the girls are wandering in. Having a lazy Saturday morning (or any morning) is something to be cherished as we fly through the weeks and months. I've been reading Kelly's blog (sister-in-law) and am motivated to post. Not to mention that she "tagged" me with a little game:

Take your middle name and describe yourself with each of the letters:

According to my drivers license my middle name is Yungblut. I dropped Vicki from Vicki Cherisse when I married Danny and held onto my maiden name. My answer to a ridiculous hypenation of Cherisse Yungblut-Flanagan!

So, here goes:

Yack - Ok, if you know me, you know I like to talk (-:

Unstructured - I am not able to live like this as much as I'd like, but it definitely my preference to "keep my options open" as far as structuring my days.

Gorgeous. Ha! Especially sitting here in my PJs!

Busy - I like to be busy, have always been busy, and will probably continue this. However, as mentioned above, I do enjoy my downtime and work to include it in the days of myself and my family.

Loving - hopefully my family would describe me this way.

Unfettered. More what I aspire to be. Not necessarily by responsibilities - I love most of my responsibilities including the day to day stuff of being a mom and wife. I am referring to my capabilities and professional life. I feel less restricted than ever in terms of opening my arms to fly and reach my potential. I am excited about doctoral work!

Tapestry. As it relates to what I am weaving in this life. The weave becomes more sophisticated and individualistic each year. It requires forethought, creativity, and a little bit of spontaneity. Woven in is the joy, strength, vividness, softness, grief, and love of a lifetime. Hopefully the result will be a lasting piece of beauty.

Tagged:
Tonia
Jane
Mark
Danny (yeah, right)
James
Lecia
Sandy

Dr. Flanagan?

Maybe in a few years. On Friday I hit "send" on the final piece of my application for a PhD program in Clinical Psychology at Fielding University. It is a distance/online program. Last time I was thinking about this I mentioned it to my dad who responded, "Dr. Yungblut....I like the sound of that". You would think he would remember after 14 years, that my name is now Flanagan. My brother, Scott thought that Flanagan-Yungblut was an awfully long hyphenation, but thought it could work for me.

If I am accepted, I would "orient" in March in Santa Barbara, CA. I would travel a few times a year for clinicals. There would also be a 9-month period where I would go to Dallas monthly to meet with my cohort.

I am ready!

So what is a Flankinz?

Danny laughed at the name of my blog but assured me that most people would not get it. Hannah joined the millions of schoolers obsessed with webkinz this summer, and we have spent much of our time playing Webkinz, searching for charms, moderating the amount of computer time. The upside is that we have discovered a terrific incentive program using bonus Webkinz time or in dire times, taking away Webkinz times for the serious attitude infractions at our house.

Hannah has two Webkins, Shimmer the pink horse and Furball the Bulldog. Kyla has a Lil'Kinz kitty named Pancake that Hannah takes care of as well. The whole obsession began with Danny driving across Lubbock while on a business trip to find a Webkinz Horse for her birthday. Little did we know what we were getting into! Hannah was on the phone with her cousin Alexa earlier this week (whom we recently gave a chocolate lab Webkinz), part of the conversation went like this, "have you taken Chocolate to Dr. Quack? Allright, well she might be sad because you just lost a game..." and so on.



I am sometimes uncomfortable with the amount of emphasis we have on technology in our home. I want to say that I actively encourage my children to use their imagination and spend time just playing outside and exploring their world. Like the time recently when they went running down to the Ross' house to see the frogs hanging out on the side of their house. Or Friday when Hannah made a shower out of the backyard hose while Kyla and I were in front cleaning my car. Unfortunately, those times are fewer than I would prefer. With every video console out on the market, and literally thousands of games in the house (have I mentioned that Danny is a serious gamer?), it is hard to compete. Sometimes the tired Mom in me just wants to park them in front of another game or tv show.

Does anyone else find it ironic that I am using this particular forum for complaining about my children's obsession with technology (-; Using what little spare time I have while they are in the tub right now sitting in the hallway with my laptop.

new pencils, shoes and tissues

The Flanagan girls, including me, begin another school year. Kyla actually started Rainbow Bible School last week. She is flexible with a capital F. She had been eagerly looking forward to being a Panda or a Pony at her new school. She is a pony, and has happily marched to her room each day.

As a new mom, I remember vividly thinking that "daycare" just wasn't good enough for my baby, and juggled private care and a mother's day out to avoid it. Interestingly, the structure has been great for Kyla and for the most part it has been painless for us both.

Hannah met her new teacher last night and was wishing she didn't have to wait four more days to begin school. I am thankful that both of my girls are happy at this point to go to their respective schools, so I can happily go to mine.

I am so thrilled to be working at ACU as full-time faculty. The last week I have been through new faculty orientation, which I missed by starting mid-year in January. It has made me feel much more part of the ACU community. I was prepared when I left McMurry in January to miss it, but surprised by my sadness this fall to be missing VisionQuest and the traditions that I was a part of for eleven years. The "Welcome Home McMurry students" billboards have been bittersweet reminders that I am away from the comfortable professional home that I have loved. I have only just begun creating a place for myself in my new professional home but I am excited about the new beginning this year.