Monday, February 26, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
letterboxing and clubs
The boys and I have discovered a new hobby-- "Letterboxing"
I read about it in Family Fun Magazine a few months ago and it looked way to complicated and like a lot of work.
On further review, my friend Jenny helped simplify it for me. Her kids are even younger than mine and if she could scratch interest in it, I thought I could give it a try.
So with stamp pads and directions in hand we started out. Part scavenger hunt, part nature hike, part math/reading assignment and stamping project we hunted for the hidden treasure.
The boys were thrilled.
This morning, as K readied for school he said, "Me and Joey have started a 'Get Rich Quick Club." As part of their public school experience, they have fast learned fund raising and salesmanship.
This is a marked departure from last year when he said to me as a kindergartener, "Lindsey and Erin let me in their "Girls Only Club." And they let me be the president!"
I read about it in Family Fun Magazine a few months ago and it looked way to complicated and like a lot of work.
On further review, my friend Jenny helped simplify it for me. Her kids are even younger than mine and if she could scratch interest in it, I thought I could give it a try.
So with stamp pads and directions in hand we started out. Part scavenger hunt, part nature hike, part math/reading assignment and stamping project we hunted for the hidden treasure.
The boys were thrilled.
This morning, as K readied for school he said, "Me and Joey have started a 'Get Rich Quick Club." As part of their public school experience, they have fast learned fund raising and salesmanship.
This is a marked departure from last year when he said to me as a kindergartener, "Lindsey and Erin let me in their "Girls Only Club." And they let me be the president!"
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
of boys and dogs
The baby is better. Praise God.
He is still out of sorts though, because his sleep schedule is all out of whack. We brought him into bed with us during his illness so we could get a little sleep. Now he is having a hard time being by himself in his bed.
He has developed what appears to be a run of the mill cold and is still a little clingy.
But life is good.
Thank you for Fat Tuesday. I am giving up desserts for lent. So next to me sits a Godiva chocolate cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. I am waiting for my friend to arrive and hope she will share her turtle cheesecake with me.
I thought I should give up my biggest vice...diet pop, but I know that I am not ready for that yet.
The older boys are great. Q has been taking swimming lessons at the Y. K has begun rock wall climbing there too and soccer is about to begin for both of them.
They are in love with the two puppies of our neighbors (who were pictured in an earlier post). And luckily the neighbors endulge them and let them play and walk them and it gives everyone just enough of a puppy fix to get us through until 2.3 years go by and we get our own.
At this point, my carpet is trashed. The furniture is in rough shreds covered with slip covers. We'll get a dog before we get new anything.
My hunka is not thrilled about a dog. He says we should give the money we'd spend on a dog to the church. My friend AE says it is spending money taking care of God's kingdom.
The debate goes on.
He is still out of sorts though, because his sleep schedule is all out of whack. We brought him into bed with us during his illness so we could get a little sleep. Now he is having a hard time being by himself in his bed.
He has developed what appears to be a run of the mill cold and is still a little clingy.
But life is good.
Thank you for Fat Tuesday. I am giving up desserts for lent. So next to me sits a Godiva chocolate cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. I am waiting for my friend to arrive and hope she will share her turtle cheesecake with me.
I thought I should give up my biggest vice...diet pop, but I know that I am not ready for that yet.
The older boys are great. Q has been taking swimming lessons at the Y. K has begun rock wall climbing there too and soccer is about to begin for both of them.
They are in love with the two puppies of our neighbors (who were pictured in an earlier post). And luckily the neighbors endulge them and let them play and walk them and it gives everyone just enough of a puppy fix to get us through until 2.3 years go by and we get our own.
At this point, my carpet is trashed. The furniture is in rough shreds covered with slip covers. We'll get a dog before we get new anything.
My hunka is not thrilled about a dog. He says we should give the money we'd spend on a dog to the church. My friend AE says it is spending money taking care of God's kingdom.
The debate goes on.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
a sunday for the dogs
So the baby is sick again. Oh how I hate it.
A fever this time. This is the third day in a row he's had this mysterious fever. He shivers and shakes when his Motrin wears off and is just generally miserable.
And to add another mark in my "Mother of the Year" resume, I left the sick baby and two older perfectly healthy children ((Griper and Hyper)) in my husband's care all day yesterday so I could go scrapbook.
I tend to get in a bit of a downward spiral when I have a sick kid. I start to worry. And then I obsess.... maybe this is the start of something worse? Isn't this just how Ebola begins? ! General malaise and a fever? OH wait. I'm starting to not feel so well myself. Oh wait you over there, do you have a runny nose... Isn't that how a brain hemorrhage starts?
So needless to say, it probably was better I was out of the house.
Speaking of obsessing, I am warning you I may write about this for 2.3 years until the event finally takes place, but I've begun looking at taking the plunge and getting a dog. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. I've been on petfinder and a local Lab rescue website, looking for that hole in my head which I've been so desparately missing.
A fever this time. This is the third day in a row he's had this mysterious fever. He shivers and shakes when his Motrin wears off and is just generally miserable.
And to add another mark in my "Mother of the Year" resume, I left the sick baby and two older perfectly healthy children ((Griper and Hyper)) in my husband's care all day yesterday so I could go scrapbook.
I tend to get in a bit of a downward spiral when I have a sick kid. I start to worry. And then I obsess.... maybe this is the start of something worse? Isn't this just how Ebola begins? ! General malaise and a fever? OH wait. I'm starting to not feel so well myself. Oh wait you over there, do you have a runny nose... Isn't that how a brain hemorrhage starts?
So needless to say, it probably was better I was out of the house.
Speaking of obsessing, I am warning you I may write about this for 2.3 years until the event finally takes place, but I've begun looking at taking the plunge and getting a dog. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. I've been on petfinder and a local Lab rescue website, looking for that hole in my head which I've been so desparately missing.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
vday
befoe I stat i have to mention on thing....i am typing on my hubby's laptop....and the "R" key is broken off....which means sometimes it types and sometimes it doesn't....so please keep this in mind while eading.....
I'm about to sound like a foagie here, but I remember the day when Valentines Day at school was about making those constuction paper coveed boxes and eveyone put in the small little cards.
Nowadays, it is not enough to put just a card....there must be attached a pencil, candies, rubber animal, eraser....some kids....(childen of the alpha moms)....come with an entie gift bag full of crap.
i miss the letter R.....I will sign off for now..
I'm about to sound like a foagie here, but I remember the day when Valentines Day at school was about making those constuction paper coveed boxes and eveyone put in the small little cards.
Nowadays, it is not enough to put just a card....there must be attached a pencil, candies, rubber animal, eraser....some kids....(childen of the alpha moms)....come with an entie gift bag full of crap.
i miss the letter R.....I will sign off for now..
Monday, February 12, 2007
Weekend Warriors
We have emerged from the wreckage.
Bruised but not broken.
Weak but not worn.
Operation Stomach Influenza commenced Thursday night.
Son #2 woke to the pounding pains of stomach turmoil.
One by one we fell.
literally.
For me, I had my first fainting experience.
Over the days and nights of infantry battle, younger troops shouted and cried,
"This is the worst _____ ever." Fill in the blanks here, because it was used many times.
Though we tried hard for days to protect the youngest and perceived weakest in our company, the babe woke from his nap and played happily in his own vomit, Sunday 2100 GMT. The last of our battalion to go.
Now we walk among the wreckage, piles of laundry and linens piled high and low like the forgotten dug trenches of war. Cups, spoons and crusts litter the landscape. Lysol and bleach wipes laugh at our attempts to do damage control.
The worst is over, for now.
As one of the soldiers proclaimed in the heat of battle, "this is the worst night of my life."
All I could tell him was "Oh how I wish it could be."
Bruised but not broken.
Weak but not worn.
Operation Stomach Influenza commenced Thursday night.
Son #2 woke to the pounding pains of stomach turmoil.
One by one we fell.
literally.
For me, I had my first fainting experience.
Over the days and nights of infantry battle, younger troops shouted and cried,
"This is the worst _____ ever." Fill in the blanks here, because it was used many times.
Though we tried hard for days to protect the youngest and perceived weakest in our company, the babe woke from his nap and played happily in his own vomit, Sunday 2100 GMT. The last of our battalion to go.
Now we walk among the wreckage, piles of laundry and linens piled high and low like the forgotten dug trenches of war. Cups, spoons and crusts litter the landscape. Lysol and bleach wipes laugh at our attempts to do damage control.
The worst is over, for now.
As one of the soldiers proclaimed in the heat of battle, "this is the worst night of my life."
All I could tell him was "Oh how I wish it could be."
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
oh baby
We are in full blown climbing stage around here. KC also got his first dose of "what happens when you torment a cat." It usually only takes one facial scratch, and the babies' tend to learn.
black hole of the internet
I am sucked into the internet tonight like an addict chasing a fill.
I bounce from bill pay to a charity search.
I check the baby care schedule of a friend to a search for a dog which I clearly do not need.
I have six email accounts.
I check my sister's, niece's my space pages. I check in on two blogs that I like.
I delete 2893 emails from my work account....I do this one at a time until I cleverly call the tech guy at work to ask him how to highlight the emails to speed this thing up....so now I delete 25 at a time. brutal.
I check out the vacation bible school curriculum for ideas for charities the kids can work for.
I try to put money in an IRA, but the page has rejected me.
I want to pay a bill, but can't find the account number.
I am so tired, but yet I cannot stop. I will regret this at 6am when my morning son will come and wake me for the day.
I feel like I get nothing done, and this is why I don't.
I bounce from bill pay to a charity search.
I check the baby care schedule of a friend to a search for a dog which I clearly do not need.
I have six email accounts.
I check my sister's, niece's my space pages. I check in on two blogs that I like.
I delete 2893 emails from my work account....I do this one at a time until I cleverly call the tech guy at work to ask him how to highlight the emails to speed this thing up....so now I delete 25 at a time. brutal.
I check out the vacation bible school curriculum for ideas for charities the kids can work for.
I try to put money in an IRA, but the page has rejected me.
I want to pay a bill, but can't find the account number.
I am so tired, but yet I cannot stop. I will regret this at 6am when my morning son will come and wake me for the day.
I feel like I get nothing done, and this is why I don't.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Thursday, February 01, 2007
OH brother....
Yesterday these are the words I heard my four-year old speak to his brother, "Who art thou?"
"Who art thou?"
As I type this I can hear him upstairs....chanting that classic Queen song "We Will Rock You."
The boys were exposed to this ditty at a Braves baseball game. Here's how it goes in our house, You know how it starts.....STOMP STOMP CLAP....STOMP STOMP CLAP....STOMP STOMP CLAP....
"we will we will....rock you
and sock you
and flush you down the toilet.
We hope you enjoy it. "
Oh brother who art thou?
"Who art thou?"
As I type this I can hear him upstairs....chanting that classic Queen song "We Will Rock You."
The boys were exposed to this ditty at a Braves baseball game. Here's how it goes in our house, You know how it starts.....STOMP STOMP CLAP....STOMP STOMP CLAP....STOMP STOMP CLAP....
"we will we will....rock you
and sock you
and flush you down the toilet.
We hope you enjoy it. "
Oh brother who art thou?
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
real world
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to join the land of the paid working. It gave me the opportunity to work a different part of my brain.
I also feel more like a granny when I do things like that. When I go back to work I feel a little like Rip Van Winkle.....
The new technology....how do I turn this thing on?!
HEY where did they put the break room?!
I rub my eyes and wonder, "how did everyone get so old....so fat?"
Then I think they must be thinking the same thing of me.
I also learned a thing or two about the new world of music. One of my younger collegues...gave me some suggestions for my workout music selection.
I also feel more like a granny when I do things like that. When I go back to work I feel a little like Rip Van Winkle.....
The new technology....how do I turn this thing on?!
HEY where did they put the break room?!
I rub my eyes and wonder, "how did everyone get so old....so fat?"
Then I think they must be thinking the same thing of me.
I also learned a thing or two about the new world of music. One of my younger collegues...gave me some suggestions for my workout music selection.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
i'm back....hail to the chief
I couldn't stay away from my blog for too long....ten days. big deal.
I went back to work for a few days. So that had me scurrying around a bit.
Here is a letter I came across in my foyer.
It was in an envelope.....the paper was folded four times and decorated with red white and blue and pictures that resemble an American flag. Here is what it said......
"Dear Gorge bush
how is evry thing going
if it is to hard I can do it
and I Know that it is hard to be the presadint.
so try your best.
Love your friend K..."
I went back to work for a few days. So that had me scurrying around a bit.
Here is a letter I came across in my foyer.
It was in an envelope.....the paper was folded four times and decorated with red white and blue and pictures that resemble an American flag. Here is what it said......
"Dear Gorge bush
how is evry thing going
if it is to hard I can do it
and I Know that it is hard to be the presadint.
so try your best.
Love your friend K..."
Thursday, January 18, 2007
blog break
I'm taking a break from my blog for a while....I'm giving it two weeks.
I used to have constant blog dialogue running around in my brain. I'd take a pause in my day to write about our lives documenting it like a mini-Truman show.
Blogging is strange....therapeutic....challenging.....
I started out looking at it as a way to have conversations with my far away friends and family, but it has become more than that....part on-line scrapbook, part family history, part dear diary, part...it's cheaper than therapy.
But I need a break from it for now.
We'll see if I can do it.
I used to have constant blog dialogue running around in my brain. I'd take a pause in my day to write about our lives documenting it like a mini-Truman show.
Blogging is strange....therapeutic....challenging.....
I started out looking at it as a way to have conversations with my far away friends and family, but it has become more than that....part on-line scrapbook, part family history, part dear diary, part...it's cheaper than therapy.
But I need a break from it for now.
We'll see if I can do it.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
If you could
Random meaningless thoughts run are running around in my brain......
If you had a time /space machine and could go back and tell yourself some things you just would NOT have believed. What would they be?
Tonight these are the only three things I can think of...
1.) You will eat blue cheese....and like it.
2.) You will have THREE sons.
3.) You will drink coffee.
If you had a time /space machine and could go back and tell yourself some things you just would NOT have believed. What would they be?
Tonight these are the only three things I can think of...
1.) You will eat blue cheese....and like it.
2.) You will have THREE sons.
3.) You will drink coffee.
And you wonder where I get it?
I love this picture.This is a picture of my grandfather in the 1960's in White Sands, NM doing some version of Lawrence of Arabia.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
saturday
There is this odd feeling I had today. It is called, "I think I got enough sleep."
I put the baby down for a nap and then did the same to myself. I think I must have slept for well over an hour maybe two.
Now my head is remarkably clear...It is a very weird feeling.
Tonight K said he wanted to camp in the baby's room and "take care" of him. So he is in charge of fumbling around in the dark for a pacifer to stick in that baby's mouth if he needs it. Sounds good in theory to me, but this seven year old kid sleeps like a rock. This, despite his first two years of life when a creak in the floor in another part of the house would raise him fully awake and crying.
Q says he wants to be in charge of baby duty tomorrow night. Funny, as this is the kid, who can appear fully awake while he runs circles around your bedroom but is in full blown REM. One night, he came into my room crawled up on the bed, stood, and started to pull his PJ's down to pee on me. "DO YOU HAVE TO GO PEE PEE?!" I shouted. "Yes," he answered as I pulled him to the bathroom. He remembered none of it.
No wonder I don't get enough sleep.
I put the baby down for a nap and then did the same to myself. I think I must have slept for well over an hour maybe two.
Now my head is remarkably clear...It is a very weird feeling.
Tonight K said he wanted to camp in the baby's room and "take care" of him. So he is in charge of fumbling around in the dark for a pacifer to stick in that baby's mouth if he needs it. Sounds good in theory to me, but this seven year old kid sleeps like a rock. This, despite his first two years of life when a creak in the floor in another part of the house would raise him fully awake and crying.
Q says he wants to be in charge of baby duty tomorrow night. Funny, as this is the kid, who can appear fully awake while he runs circles around your bedroom but is in full blown REM. One night, he came into my room crawled up on the bed, stood, and started to pull his PJ's down to pee on me. "DO YOU HAVE TO GO PEE PEE?!" I shouted. "Yes," he answered as I pulled him to the bathroom. He remembered none of it.
No wonder I don't get enough sleep.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Monday, January 08, 2007
food
One of the many great reasons to have kids is to live out all those great food memories.
Today I think I perfected the "inside s'more"
Q had a friend over to play. I pulled out the microwave popcorn and started making my s'mores.
2 long graham crackers
chocolate chips on top.....microwave for 1 minute
top with the mini marshmallows and broil until they brown in the toaster oven.
My two kids were psyched. The friend didn't want anything to do with it and I was glad. As my mom used to always say....more for me!
I had to make a pot of coffee because I always crash in a terrible way after eating that much sugar. So I use one food drug to counteract the other.
In other food news, a friend is having a girls night out at her house for a home cooked Italian meal tonight.
And Friday, I'm organizing another girls night at Super Suppers on Friday so I can get out of my cooking rut. I'm even tired of my own cooking.
Today I think I perfected the "inside s'more"
Q had a friend over to play. I pulled out the microwave popcorn and started making my s'mores.
2 long graham crackers
chocolate chips on top.....microwave for 1 minute
top with the mini marshmallows and broil until they brown in the toaster oven.
My two kids were psyched. The friend didn't want anything to do with it and I was glad. As my mom used to always say....more for me!
I had to make a pot of coffee because I always crash in a terrible way after eating that much sugar. So I use one food drug to counteract the other.
In other food news, a friend is having a girls night out at her house for a home cooked Italian meal tonight.
And Friday, I'm organizing another girls night at Super Suppers on Friday so I can get out of my cooking rut. I'm even tired of my own cooking.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
You know THAT look
It is the look. You know it.
When you approach the door of the child's classroom, and the teacher has THAT look on her face.
Today, I got THAT look twice.
I approached to pick up baby KC from the church's nursery. The nursery worker was standing, holding him and looked at me with relief in her eyes "thank God you are here."
"Ahm, we had a little thing with him...He crawled to the top of the bookshelf and was standing there like he was surfing."
He found a little chair pushed it to the shelf and started climbing. He hollared when he reached the victory of his everest, and they approached as quickly as they could without scaring him down.
When I approached the 4-year-old room, the Sunday school teacher had THAT look too. Apparently Q decided he couldn't part from his mother and protested when his father forced him into the room with the rest of them. So he stood in the corner for the hour kicking the cabinet.
School starts tomorrow for elementary and Tuesday for Q. I just realized that when people look at me I may have THAT look on my face all the time.
When you approach the door of the child's classroom, and the teacher has THAT look on her face.
Today, I got THAT look twice.
I approached to pick up baby KC from the church's nursery. The nursery worker was standing, holding him and looked at me with relief in her eyes "thank God you are here."
"Ahm, we had a little thing with him...He crawled to the top of the bookshelf and was standing there like he was surfing."
He found a little chair pushed it to the shelf and started climbing. He hollared when he reached the victory of his everest, and they approached as quickly as they could without scaring him down.
When I approached the 4-year-old room, the Sunday school teacher had THAT look too. Apparently Q decided he couldn't part from his mother and protested when his father forced him into the room with the rest of them. So he stood in the corner for the hour kicking the cabinet.
School starts tomorrow for elementary and Tuesday for Q. I just realized that when people look at me I may have THAT look on my face all the time.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Christmas morning 2006
K was really patient. He woke up early and waited upstairs until 745am when we finally could wake his brother. Here he is waiting for his papa to get the video camera ready.
Yeehaa!
Mr Grumpy Pants.....unhappy because we woke him up so early. He refused to be photographed in his pajamas so we had to wait for him to get dressed.
Rescue Heroes command center
K opens his telescope from Aunt Pat. This is the face of jubilation.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
better her than me
I went to try to help my friend that has the 4 year old, the 3 year old and newborn triplets. TRIPLETS.
Man, thankfully that is not me. whew.
I fed two babies, cleaned bottles, changed two diapers, and planted a small flat of pansies with the oldest boy. It was only two hours, there was so much more to do, but I had to leave.
She said once that she always looked at me with three small boys as the ultimate of busy and overwhelmed.
Let me tell, you she trumped me. big time.
Man, thankfully that is not me. whew.
I fed two babies, cleaned bottles, changed two diapers, and planted a small flat of pansies with the oldest boy. It was only two hours, there was so much more to do, but I had to leave.
She said once that she always looked at me with three small boys as the ultimate of busy and overwhelmed.
Let me tell, you she trumped me. big time.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
A new year
Things are in shambles around here.
More shelves and a light fixture for my ever evolving craft room. Two trips to IKEA and another two to Target, and now it is time to stay home and get things together.
Except oh yes, I have three kids. Two that fight and argue and bicker. And another that climbs and walks and falls and eats things he shouldn't. So I run interference, follow a toddler around, put grumpy kids in the corner, feed, wipe.....
Hunka and I went out for the first time as a couple on new year's eve. We were home by 9:30pm. So lame are we.
K has written Santa a thank you note. Here's what it says....
"Santa,
Thank you very much for the toys and books."
Then he adds an insert, an early request for next year,.... a picture of a boy playing with what looks like a large conch shell and a note that reads....
"I want a tuba Santa OK?"
More shelves and a light fixture for my ever evolving craft room. Two trips to IKEA and another two to Target, and now it is time to stay home and get things together.
Except oh yes, I have three kids. Two that fight and argue and bicker. And another that climbs and walks and falls and eats things he shouldn't. So I run interference, follow a toddler around, put grumpy kids in the corner, feed, wipe.....
Hunka and I went out for the first time as a couple on new year's eve. We were home by 9:30pm. So lame are we.
K has written Santa a thank you note. Here's what it says....
"Santa,
Thank you very much for the toys and books."
Then he adds an insert, an early request for next year,.... a picture of a boy playing with what looks like a large conch shell and a note that reads....
"I want a tuba Santa OK?"
Thursday, December 28, 2006
winter
Ah winter vacation...
the best part is the sleeping in. I get about an hour extra now adays. If I would have stopped at two kids. I could easily have slept into 10 am today. Q sets a daily goal on how late he can sleep in. He is so proud in the morning when he walks in full dressed and says "Guess how late I slept in today?"
K is a morning person. He wakes up early with a clear head and voice. He happily putters around alone making crafts, quizzes and experiments all without interuption from younger siblings. Last week he was in tears at 10am sobbing, "I LOOOVE morning. I don't want it to end!"
Yesterday KC started climbing, climbing, climbing. everything. As a result, he's been falling down quite a bit. Today for some reason when I went to get him from his crib, he looked more like a boy than a baby. His hair is growing out and becoming more parted and less baby like. Little man.
the best part is the sleeping in. I get about an hour extra now adays. If I would have stopped at two kids. I could easily have slept into 10 am today. Q sets a daily goal on how late he can sleep in. He is so proud in the morning when he walks in full dressed and says "Guess how late I slept in today?"
K is a morning person. He wakes up early with a clear head and voice. He happily putters around alone making crafts, quizzes and experiments all without interuption from younger siblings. Last week he was in tears at 10am sobbing, "I LOOOVE morning. I don't want it to end!"
Yesterday KC started climbing, climbing, climbing. everything. As a result, he's been falling down quite a bit. Today for some reason when I went to get him from his crib, he looked more like a boy than a baby. His hair is growing out and becoming more parted and less baby like. Little man.
Friday, December 22, 2006
the jeans oh the jeans
The jeans are a lot tighter right about now.
Oh wait...the boys are screaming. I was about to write another insightful bit about my life.
But they are screaming at each other.
Santa comin+g6
n in
a couple days doesn't mean a thing to these jokers.
the mistyping is from a 14 month old that likes to grab the mouse and the keyboard while I type. This is my mental health escape. blogging4653210
He has just wandered off to eat the food from the cat's bowl.
ho ho ho
Oh wait...the boys are screaming. I was about to write another insightful bit about my life.
But they are screaming at each other.
Santa comin+g6
n in
a couple days doesn't mean a thing to these jokers.
the mistyping is from a 14 month old that likes to grab the mouse and the keyboard while I type. This is my mental health escape. blogging4653210
He has just wandered off to eat the food from the cat's bowl.
ho ho ho
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
one wish
Today I helped with K's Christmas party. Since it is a public school, technically was an "international holiday party." So I did a little thing with the kids on Japanese new year.
I had the kids toss coins into a box, make a wish and clap three times. Then they picked a fortune (written by yours truly Confucius) and tied it to a small tree branch so the wind could carry the wishes away to come true.
One little girl, who was apparently new to the class said she wished for friends, and surprisingly her fortune said that her good and kind nature would bring her many friends. Her eyes lit up with her sheer excitement.
Most of the kids wished for a remote control robot, this or that kind of game. My kid wanted to go into outer space. One kid even wished that his birthday would come more than one day a year.
When I asked a little girl what she wished for she quietly told me that she wished her mommy would get better from brain cancer. This quiet little girl struck a nerve with me in the midst of the mayhem of dredels, donuts and candy poppers. I told her I would make the same wish, so I threw my coins in, clapped three times and said a prayer for her mothers health. Then the rest of the kids asked for more coins so they could wish for her mom to get better too.
I had the kids toss coins into a box, make a wish and clap three times. Then they picked a fortune (written by yours truly Confucius) and tied it to a small tree branch so the wind could carry the wishes away to come true.
One little girl, who was apparently new to the class said she wished for friends, and surprisingly her fortune said that her good and kind nature would bring her many friends. Her eyes lit up with her sheer excitement.
Most of the kids wished for a remote control robot, this or that kind of game. My kid wanted to go into outer space. One kid even wished that his birthday would come more than one day a year.
When I asked a little girl what she wished for she quietly told me that she wished her mommy would get better from brain cancer. This quiet little girl struck a nerve with me in the midst of the mayhem of dredels, donuts and candy poppers. I told her I would make the same wish, so I threw my coins in, clapped three times and said a prayer for her mothers health. Then the rest of the kids asked for more coins so they could wish for her mom to get better too.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
look in the sky
What should I be doing the past few days, decking my halls? baking delicious holiday treats? wrapping presents? What could it be in this last week before Christmas would this mom of three be doing?
Nope, raking leaves of course. Because the weather is something like 100 degrees outside and the leaves didn't get the attention they needed a month or two ago AND because this is the south where trees take their own sweet time dropping leaves.
So I'm outside raking, while my hunka hunka honey lay inside with a bum back. Merry Christmas, I think and then start to obsess about global warming and what damage we are doing to the earth. My hyacinths are poking through the earth about two months before they should be. Buds are forming on trees. OH THE AGONY!
What is going on? Hunka says I (aka "Chicken Little") should just enjoy the 75 degree weather. La la la, how nice it is to send our children to live in a green house.
I watched the Oprah show about global warming and the "Inconvenient Truth" documentary. Let me tell you, it scared me. So now I'm carpooling with another mom and saving about three hours a week in drive time.
I'm out to get my oldest from the bus stop. Then off to rake more leaves...They just keep falling. Or is that the sky?
Nope, raking leaves of course. Because the weather is something like 100 degrees outside and the leaves didn't get the attention they needed a month or two ago AND because this is the south where trees take their own sweet time dropping leaves.
So I'm outside raking, while my hunka hunka honey lay inside with a bum back. Merry Christmas, I think and then start to obsess about global warming and what damage we are doing to the earth. My hyacinths are poking through the earth about two months before they should be. Buds are forming on trees. OH THE AGONY!
What is going on? Hunka says I (aka "Chicken Little") should just enjoy the 75 degree weather. La la la, how nice it is to send our children to live in a green house.
I watched the Oprah show about global warming and the "Inconvenient Truth" documentary. Let me tell you, it scared me. So now I'm carpooling with another mom and saving about three hours a week in drive time.
I'm out to get my oldest from the bus stop. Then off to rake more leaves...They just keep falling. Or is that the sky?
Friday, December 15, 2006
Circle of fuzz
I remember like it was yesterday. My mom took me to the town's fire station for a visit with Santa Claus. I wore very yellow patent leather shoes with buckles, sweater stockings which I hated with all my being, and a very 70's navy and red dress. When I saw the jolly man, it was if a celebrity had appeared. Getting close to him was like a dream. And just like a dream was his beard. All fluffy and flowing, pure white....I had to get my hands on it. So I did. And like I said it was like a dream. The picture shows me sitting on Santa's lap with the side of my face and neck snuggled into the old man's hair and my behind hanging to the side on his knee. If I were good I'd find the picture and post it here. But that is a little too much right now. But I post today because life has an amazing way of going in circles.
Notice how Santa casually grappled the little boy's hands into place.
Notice how Santa casually grappled the little boy's hands into place.I
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Doggone it
Friends have two new puppies. So cute. They couldn't decided between the two which to pick, so they took both.
She says it is a little crazy, like too much puppiness.
I feel the same way, like I have too many kids. But don't know which one to get rid of.
Friday, December 08, 2006
cart -a what?
"cartilaginous"
This is the word my 7 year-old used on me yesterday.
I had to look it up....
–adjective
1.of or resembling cartilage.
2.having a skeleton composed either entirely or mainly of cartilage, as vertebrates of the class Chondrichthyes, which includes the sharks, rays, and skates.
Ah ok, when did he get smarter than me? Oh I see, at seven, I get it.
But then when we got out a shark book, he laughed for 15 straight minutes about two words "anal fin."
This is the word my 7 year-old used on me yesterday.
I had to look it up....
–adjective
1.of or resembling cartilage.
2.having a skeleton composed either entirely or mainly of cartilage, as vertebrates of the class Chondrichthyes, which includes the sharks, rays, and skates.
Ah ok, when did he get smarter than me? Oh I see, at seven, I get it.
But then when we got out a shark book, he laughed for 15 straight minutes about two words "anal fin."
uganda be kidding me
I don't know who or why would be reading my blog in Uganda, (or at least that is the closest African country I could figure from my hit map,) but wow, or weird. What a strange little global community we live in.
I made Chicken Tortilla Soup tonight. My friend I went on the scrapbooking weekend with made it the first night we were there. I tried to recreate it from memory and a little help from the internet. The boys topped it with three or four handfuls of cheddar cheese and lots of tortilla chips.
Here's the recipe more or less
2 Poblano peppers chopped
1 onion chopped
2-3 cloves garlic
1 tea cumin
4 chopped tomatoes
3 or 4 C cooked chicken (rotisserie or canned)
1 -2 cups frozen corn or one can corn drained
2 large boxes chicken stock
2 tea worchestire sauce
salt to taste
1 C cilantro chopped
1 lime
1. cook onions, peppers, garlic and cumin in large stock pan until soft
2. add tomatoes and cook a few minutes longer
3. add the rest of the ingredients and simmer
4. squeeze lime in before serving. top with more cilantro, cheese and tortilla chips.
I love cilantro and lime together so I add more than a normal person would I think. I'm also thinking about adding black beans next time.
I made Chicken Tortilla Soup tonight. My friend I went on the scrapbooking weekend with made it the first night we were there. I tried to recreate it from memory and a little help from the internet. The boys topped it with three or four handfuls of cheddar cheese and lots of tortilla chips.
Here's the recipe more or less
2 Poblano peppers chopped
1 onion chopped
2-3 cloves garlic
1 tea cumin
4 chopped tomatoes
3 or 4 C cooked chicken (rotisserie or canned)
1 -2 cups frozen corn or one can corn drained
2 large boxes chicken stock
2 tea worchestire sauce
salt to taste
1 C cilantro chopped
1 lime
1. cook onions, peppers, garlic and cumin in large stock pan until soft
2. add tomatoes and cook a few minutes longer
3. add the rest of the ingredients and simmer
4. squeeze lime in before serving. top with more cilantro, cheese and tortilla chips.
I love cilantro and lime together so I add more than a normal person would I think. I'm also thinking about adding black beans next time.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
back to reality
Each day on my weekend, I opened my eyes and looked out the curtainless floor to ceiling windows to the tops of trees as they reached up to the sky. A small river ran through the back yard with small waterfalls.
My weekend was everything I hoped it would be, and then some.
I completed 81 12x12 pages of my scrapbooks. Over half of those pages were of a trip, my mom, sister and I took back in 1985. The magnetic album the photos were stored in had started eating away at most of the pictures. Remarkably the pictures we had developed in Japan had color and form as brilliant as 21 years ago.
The rest of the pictures were of baby's first year.
The baby got sick on Friday while I was gone. Fever and a cough that made him cry. Hunka handled it remarkably well. He talked frequently with the call nurse and took him in to be checked on Saturday. Yesterday was the first full day of him being back to his happy self. Now we just have to get him back on his sleep schedule.
In addition to massive hours spent scrapbooking, I walked daily, ate nutritious food, drank lots of diet beverages, excercised, watched movies, showered when I felt like it, took care of myself...filled up my tank.
My weekend was everything I hoped it would be, and then some.
I completed 81 12x12 pages of my scrapbooks. Over half of those pages were of a trip, my mom, sister and I took back in 1985. The magnetic album the photos were stored in had started eating away at most of the pictures. Remarkably the pictures we had developed in Japan had color and form as brilliant as 21 years ago.
The rest of the pictures were of baby's first year.
The baby got sick on Friday while I was gone. Fever and a cough that made him cry. Hunka handled it remarkably well. He talked frequently with the call nurse and took him in to be checked on Saturday. Yesterday was the first full day of him being back to his happy self. Now we just have to get him back on his sleep schedule.
In addition to massive hours spent scrapbooking, I walked daily, ate nutritious food, drank lots of diet beverages, excercised, watched movies, showered when I felt like it, took care of myself...filled up my tank.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Mountain bound
You know I couldn't leave without one more post about how thrilled I am to be going to my scrapbook extravaganza. I can't wipe the smile off my face.
I've got my aqua green sweats on with the drawstring waist. Three more pairs of sweatpants and a pair of jeans (you know. for dressing up--for going out to eat).
Hunka says he thought perhaps the rain would cause the event to be cancelled. But scrapbooking doesn't work that way, pal.
yeehaa
I've got my aqua green sweats on with the drawstring waist. Three more pairs of sweatpants and a pair of jeans (you know. for dressing up--for going out to eat).
Hunka says he thought perhaps the rain would cause the event to be cancelled. But scrapbooking doesn't work that way, pal.
yeehaa
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Seven is heaven
Here are some pictures of K on his 7th birthday. This year we decided to let him have a "friend" birthday party, so he chose four friends to go to Chuck E Cheese for the grand event.
I am not a birthday party mom. I do not have the ideas or the patience for all the party details. Chuck E was the way to go for me.
I know why now people have these crazy birthday parties for their kids. The look on that kid's face was pure joy.
Q and I left the party a little early. I took him to the doctor to look for an ear infection, turns out he had that, plus strep throat.
T-minus
It's T-minus two until the scrapbooking extravaganza. I've got a 12-pack of Diet Dr Pepper ready to go.
I'm packing my gear, my pictures....my snacks.
As this is a girls only weekend in a cabin in the woods, when I wake up at whatever time I feel like it, I'll decide then.....hmmmm should I wear the gray sweatpants or the darker gray sweatpants? Or maybe I'll just stay in PJs.
all day
I'm packing my gear, my pictures....my snacks.
As this is a girls only weekend in a cabin in the woods, when I wake up at whatever time I feel like it, I'll decide then.....hmmmm should I wear the gray sweatpants or the darker gray sweatpants? Or maybe I'll just stay in PJs.
all day
Monday, November 27, 2006
Theres a new sherriff in town
Q with his new police man shirt and badge from Aunt, Uncle and Cuz in So.Cal.He really wants me to spike his hair straight up, but his hair really wants to lay down flat.
I added this tough-guy-pose only because it shows some of the bow I went on and on about in a previous post.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
My curly Q
I really do love this age. Today I asked the boys a series of questions that I save in the scrapbooks....things like....favorite color? what do you want to be when you grow up?
Q's answers haven't changed that much in the year and a half since I last asked.
His favorite person --Mama
Who does he like to play with -- Mama and KC
What makes him happy? when I see Mama the most
Often when I point out something gorgeous like a sunset or flowers in full bloom. He'll say "but Mama, it's still not as pretty as you. You are the beautifulest."
What a change from the day when he said, "mama, do you know what is special about you?...." A big fat zero
For the record here are the questions and answers for both boys
Q -age four
Fave food?
--hot dogs, pizza, macaroni and cheese and chicken
Fave drink?
-Kefir (a drink yogurt)
What do you want to be when you grow up?
- a policeman, a highway 'control' ('patrol' - like his uncle Rob), President, ambulance driver
what do you like to do?
-watch TV, play computer
fave person?
-Mama
Fave animal?
-crocodile, alligator, lion, tiger and leopard
what makes you happy?
-When I see Mama the most
Fave person to play with?
Mama and KC
If you could change your name what would it be?
still Q
What are you proud of?
-Mama and KC
Favorite color
Red
K's answers as a seven year old
1. food?
Stouffer's chicken parmesan
2. drink?
ginerale and sprite
3. Be when you grow up?
Mostly a mayor, a bus driver, a judge, an inventor
4. hobbies?
Teach, invent
5. Fave person?
himself
6. fave animal?
Gila monster (lizard)
7. what makes you happy?
doing scientific stuff
8. fave people to play with ? Matt, Alex, Andrew, and David
9. If you could change your name what would it be?
"Kaz"
10. What are you most proud of?
himself....
"Me!....inventor me, scientific me, bus driver me, mayor me, judge me!"
Q's answers haven't changed that much in the year and a half since I last asked.
His favorite person --Mama
Who does he like to play with -- Mama and KC
What makes him happy? when I see Mama the most
Often when I point out something gorgeous like a sunset or flowers in full bloom. He'll say "but Mama, it's still not as pretty as you. You are the beautifulest."
What a change from the day when he said, "mama, do you know what is special about you?...." A big fat zero
For the record here are the questions and answers for both boys
Q -age four
Fave food?
--hot dogs, pizza, macaroni and cheese and chicken
Fave drink?
-Kefir (a drink yogurt)
What do you want to be when you grow up?
- a policeman, a highway 'control' ('patrol' - like his uncle Rob), President, ambulance driver
what do you like to do?
-watch TV, play computer
fave person?
-Mama
Fave animal?
-crocodile, alligator, lion, tiger and leopard
what makes you happy?
-When I see Mama the most
Fave person to play with?
Mama and KC
If you could change your name what would it be?
still Q
What are you proud of?
-Mama and KC
Favorite color
Red
K's answers as a seven year old
1. food?
Stouffer's chicken parmesan
2. drink?
ginerale and sprite
3. Be when you grow up?
Mostly a mayor, a bus driver, a judge, an inventor
4. hobbies?
Teach, invent
5. Fave person?
himself
6. fave animal?
Gila monster (lizard)
7. what makes you happy?
doing scientific stuff
8. fave people to play with ? Matt, Alex, Andrew, and David
9. If you could change your name what would it be?
"Kaz"
10. What are you most proud of?
himself....
"Me!....inventor me, scientific me, bus driver me, mayor me, judge me!"
sunday food
We let the kids pick a restaurant when it is their birthday for a family meal.
K picked Macaroni Grill. The boys always eat everything and things are fairly healthy there for them. They eat broccoli, chicken, spaghetti and mac and cheese. There is always at least one cup of chocolate milk and a big bowl of ice cream with fudge at the end.
Tonight there wasn't even much to put in the to-go bag.
K picked Macaroni Grill. The boys always eat everything and things are fairly healthy there for them. They eat broccoli, chicken, spaghetti and mac and cheese. There is always at least one cup of chocolate milk and a big bowl of ice cream with fudge at the end.
Tonight there wasn't even much to put in the to-go bag.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
there are still...
There are still boxes in my foyer.
I still have an annoying cough.
But I am packing my things for my scrapbooking extravaganza. hope.
The weather has been beautiful, so I just don't know why it feels like winter to me. 60 and 70 degrees is not winter, but still it feels like it.
The boys have been off sinceTuesday. Maybe that's why I'm a little stir crazy. .
Hunka comes home and wants to go to Home Depot. We decide that he will delay it until after boys are in bed. He says he has to "get out."
I look at him with glazed eyes. "Get out," I think, honey let me tell you about not getting out.
I still have an annoying cough.
But I am packing my things for my scrapbooking extravaganza. hope.
The weather has been beautiful, so I just don't know why it feels like winter to me. 60 and 70 degrees is not winter, but still it feels like it.
The boys have been off sinceTuesday. Maybe that's why I'm a little stir crazy. .
Hunka comes home and wants to go to Home Depot. We decide that he will delay it until after boys are in bed. He says he has to "get out."
I look at him with glazed eyes. "Get out," I think, honey let me tell you about not getting out.
Friday, November 24, 2006
thoughts of santa
Thoughts from the oldest the seven year old about the jolly man.....all uttered today while adults tried to assemble a "self-lit" tree.
"Why would I waste my time talking to the mall Santa? The real Santa doesn't have time to sit in a mall all day. "
"Does Santa ever die?"
"Does Santa have kids? Because if he dies, one of his kids could take over."
"Does Santa Claus know what you are thinking?"
"Maybe Santa Claus will know that you have really been trying to be good, but sometimes you just make mistakes."
"Why would I waste my time talking to the mall Santa? The real Santa doesn't have time to sit in a mall all day. "
"Does Santa ever die?"
"Does Santa have kids? Because if he dies, one of his kids could take over."
"Does Santa Claus know what you are thinking?"
"Maybe Santa Claus will know that you have really been trying to be good, but sometimes you just make mistakes."
scrappin
I'm going scrapbooking. Three glorious days of scrapbooking. It is keeping me going, just the thought of it.
Technically it is a girls weekend in the mountains, but it is full blown scrapbooking time for me, baby.
My scrapbooking passion comes and goes depending on what is going on in my life. I'm just heading out of a scrapbooking famine, which would be also be known as labor, delivery and post partum. OK so post-partum for me equals a full year, but who's counting.
Technically it is a girls weekend in the mountains, but it is full blown scrapbooking time for me, baby.
My scrapbooking passion comes and goes depending on what is going on in my life. I'm just heading out of a scrapbooking famine, which would be also be known as labor, delivery and post partum. OK so post-partum for me equals a full year, but who's counting.
deck em
I don't know how people do it.
As I put up the holiday, I mean Christmas, decorations (I know some people are very sensitive about that...more on that later). I don't feel all that merry or bright.
Though the boys are so thrilled with deck the halls and fa-la-la.
I made a big gold bow. My mom was the maker of all bows fancy. She did teach me how to make them years ago, but I have been salvaging her bows from the boxes year after year. Because to use another bow, would seem to be well, just plain wrong. Her bows are sad and ratty by now.
I pulled them out once again and thought that mom would be annoyed with me for hanging such a bad bow for another year.
So I bought a big roll of gold wired ribbon and set to work. I could hear her coaching me from years gone by. And let me tell you I did it. It took a few times, but it is now hanging on my front door. I'm so proud and she must be too.
The boxes of decorations sit in the foyer. There is so much to do. I wonder how I can decorate, when I can barely find the time to do the normal things I'm supposed to do....like take care of kids, feed them, wash them and their clothes.
Oh and here is another thing that gets under my skin lately.
Merry Christmas....Happy Holidays...... Some people seem so bothered that people are taking the "Christ" out of Christmas. I remember being a kid hearing people getting all riled when people would abbreviate Christmas to Xmas.
I say who cares. Say something, say anthing, as long as it is nice. What a change that would be.
People also get all riled about the sacredness of the "Christmas tree." And don't want people calling them "Giving trees," "Holiday trees"....whatever. Isn't this one of Bill O'Reilly's big complaints.
I say puuleeeze. First of all I don't remember Mary and Joseph taking time in Bethlehem to decorate an evergreen pine tree. Second of all, you can call a french fry a "freedom" fry...but it still is what it is....bad for your thighs.
Take a kid to the mall, point out a tree and say what is it? No matter what religion or ethnicity....I bet any kid will say.....ahm it is a Christmas tree, duh.
I wonder why in a nation that is predominately Christian are we so worried that others may have any voice. And for the most part, I think it is Christians trying to be sensitive to other peoples, and concern that they may exclude others. For once as Christians, excluding others, is probably something we should be able to avoid at Christmas.
As I put up the holiday, I mean Christmas, decorations (I know some people are very sensitive about that...more on that later). I don't feel all that merry or bright.
Though the boys are so thrilled with deck the halls and fa-la-la.
I made a big gold bow. My mom was the maker of all bows fancy. She did teach me how to make them years ago, but I have been salvaging her bows from the boxes year after year. Because to use another bow, would seem to be well, just plain wrong. Her bows are sad and ratty by now.
I pulled them out once again and thought that mom would be annoyed with me for hanging such a bad bow for another year.
So I bought a big roll of gold wired ribbon and set to work. I could hear her coaching me from years gone by. And let me tell you I did it. It took a few times, but it is now hanging on my front door. I'm so proud and she must be too.
The boxes of decorations sit in the foyer. There is so much to do. I wonder how I can decorate, when I can barely find the time to do the normal things I'm supposed to do....like take care of kids, feed them, wash them and their clothes.
Oh and here is another thing that gets under my skin lately.
Merry Christmas....Happy Holidays...... Some people seem so bothered that people are taking the "Christ" out of Christmas. I remember being a kid hearing people getting all riled when people would abbreviate Christmas to Xmas.
I say who cares. Say something, say anthing, as long as it is nice. What a change that would be.
People also get all riled about the sacredness of the "Christmas tree." And don't want people calling them "Giving trees," "Holiday trees"....whatever. Isn't this one of Bill O'Reilly's big complaints.
I say puuleeeze. First of all I don't remember Mary and Joseph taking time in Bethlehem to decorate an evergreen pine tree. Second of all, you can call a french fry a "freedom" fry...but it still is what it is....bad for your thighs.
Take a kid to the mall, point out a tree and say what is it? No matter what religion or ethnicity....I bet any kid will say.....ahm it is a Christmas tree, duh.
I wonder why in a nation that is predominately Christian are we so worried that others may have any voice. And for the most part, I think it is Christians trying to be sensitive to other peoples, and concern that they may exclude others. For once as Christians, excluding others, is probably something we should be able to avoid at Christmas.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
eve of joy
My boy will be seven tomorrow.
I don't know when this happened exactly.
Seems so big to me.
He got a bike today. He found it by doing an extensive treasure hunt to our friends' (his babysitters) house.
(btw--babysitter family-- I think I deleted the message I told you about. anyway a shout out to babysitter and family)
This boy has been struggling lately with a bad case of the grumpies. I don't know how he got so mean. Though sometimes when he growls to his brother, "You know better," I think I may have a hint of a mini mirror in front of me.
Q spent one day playing with a friend. Just before K got home, he warned his friend, "Be careful, he can be very grouchy."
We work with him daily.... almost to the point of insanity. Relax we tell him, through clenched teeth. RELAX!
I don't know when this happened exactly.
Seems so big to me.
He got a bike today. He found it by doing an extensive treasure hunt to our friends' (his babysitters) house.
(btw--babysitter family-- I think I deleted the message I told you about. anyway a shout out to babysitter and family)
This boy has been struggling lately with a bad case of the grumpies. I don't know how he got so mean. Though sometimes when he growls to his brother, "You know better," I think I may have a hint of a mini mirror in front of me.
Q spent one day playing with a friend. Just before K got home, he warned his friend, "Be careful, he can be very grouchy."
We work with him daily.... almost to the point of insanity. Relax we tell him, through clenched teeth. RELAX!
Though tonight when I went to his room to check on him I kissed him on his head. He woke up momentarily and drowsily asked, "Mama, how big is heaven?"
"Oh very big. Infinity. It has no end." I told him.
"Oh cool," he said and drifted off to sleep.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
a frisket a frasket a freezer full...
I have a freezer full of promise.
This week I walked through the frozen food section with a thankful heart for all the people out there that grow, wash and prepare food.
I call it my ode to Marie Callender.
Nevermind her 17 grams of fat in her chicken pot pie. That woman has single-handedly saved my behind at 530pm many a night.
Walmart has expanded their organic and gourmet lines of food lately. So now I can get so much of the foods that I had to make a different trip for right there with all my massively marketed items.
I also buy in bulk. It is a genetic thing. I don't just buy a loaf of bread. I buy four. I've realized that milk freezes and thaws with the same taste.
We bought a freezer four years ago, and life has just never been the same. I love my freezer. It ranks up there with the appliances I love....microwave, TV, refrigerator, washer, dryer.....all things invented to make my life easy. right?
This week I walked through the frozen food section with a thankful heart for all the people out there that grow, wash and prepare food.
I call it my ode to Marie Callender.
Nevermind her 17 grams of fat in her chicken pot pie. That woman has single-handedly saved my behind at 530pm many a night.
Walmart has expanded their organic and gourmet lines of food lately. So now I can get so much of the foods that I had to make a different trip for right there with all my massively marketed items.
I also buy in bulk. It is a genetic thing. I don't just buy a loaf of bread. I buy four. I've realized that milk freezes and thaws with the same taste.
We bought a freezer four years ago, and life has just never been the same. I love my freezer. It ranks up there with the appliances I love....microwave, TV, refrigerator, washer, dryer.....all things invented to make my life easy. right?
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
why didn't i think of that
After an exhausting trip around the block trying to teach a 4-year-old how to ride a bike with woobly training wheels, the two of us stretched out on the floor of the toy room staring at the ceiling.
Boy, were we tired and thirsty, but mostly just tired. Way too tired to get up and get a drink. At some point I realized that K's bus would be coming soon, I tried to convince my tuckered pal to get up and check the clock in the kitchen for the time.
"No Mama, I'm too tired." I begged some more in a way you only do when you are tired.
"Mama, what time is it?," he asks also concerned about our schedule. I don't know I say pleading with him to go look at the clock.
"But mama, we have to meet the bus. What time is it?"
back and forth we play this game....get up....no you....not me....i'm too tired...you go....
"Mama," Q says, "Why don't you look at your watch?"
So I did. silly me
Boy, were we tired and thirsty, but mostly just tired. Way too tired to get up and get a drink. At some point I realized that K's bus would be coming soon, I tried to convince my tuckered pal to get up and check the clock in the kitchen for the time.
"No Mama, I'm too tired." I begged some more in a way you only do when you are tired.
"Mama, what time is it?," he asks also concerned about our schedule. I don't know I say pleading with him to go look at the clock.
"But mama, we have to meet the bus. What time is it?"
back and forth we play this game....get up....no you....not me....i'm too tired...you go....
"Mama," Q says, "Why don't you look at your watch?"
So I did. silly me
Friday, November 10, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
rainy days and elections
The boys are primed for the elections. Today they had campaigns for mayor and president in the living room. They are interested in this electoral process, which in turn is interesting for me because I never remember caring when I was a kid. 
I suppose I am planting the seeds of what they will become when they grow up. I don't know if my mom realized she was doing it when I was growing up. But I have a good idea that my grandfather knew he was grooming my political thought. And he was absolutely right, I mean correct.
I suppose I am planting the seeds of what they will become when they grow up. I don't know if my mom realized she was doing it when I was growing up. But I have a good idea that my grandfather knew he was grooming my political thought. And he was absolutely right, I mean correct.Saturday, November 04, 2006
so far so good
so far so good today.
boys are happy.
playing school.
they are healthy.
as my non native English speaker friends say...
Thanks God
my purple room is coming together
slowly
I try a new thing
for 15 minutes
I clean sort organize--one space.
then I stop or am stopped
I have coffee
and cereal
so far so good
who could ask for more?
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Jon Stewart
He's just so funny. I hate to admit, if I'm crunched for time. His Daily Show maybe the only bit of "news" I get....and it is usually while I'm folding laundry.
This week he is broadcasting from my home state of Ohio. If you haven't seen last night's version, it replays a couple time throughout the day...I think there may be a repeat show at 8pm. The top of the show for anyone that lives there now or is from there.
I'll be updating soon with Halloween pictures of GI Joe, Captain Police Dude and their canine friend.
I've talked the boys into getting Kit Kats and Snickers for their mom.
This week he is broadcasting from my home state of Ohio. If you haven't seen last night's version, it replays a couple time throughout the day...I think there may be a repeat show at 8pm. The top of the show for anyone that lives there now or is from there.
I'll be updating soon with Halloween pictures of GI Joe, Captain Police Dude and their canine friend.
I've talked the boys into getting Kit Kats and Snickers for their mom.
Monday, October 30, 2006
strange day
When you attend the children's halloween party and a neighbor compliments you on your witch's wig....only you aren't wearing one.....that's a bad day.
How is it my baby can be in the 19th percentile for his body weight and yet his melon head is in the 90th percentile?
What kind of freakish family are we?
How is it my baby can be in the 19th percentile for his body weight and yet his melon head is in the 90th percentile?
What kind of freakish family are we?
Friday, October 27, 2006
Rain Rain....
It rained today, all day.
The baby crawled after me biting me on my legs, my shoulders, my arms, all day.
Q followed me all day...."Mama, pick a card. Mama, stand like this. Mama, let's dance. Mama, you want to play school, mama mama mama mama."
K came home from school. His neighborhood pal, followed. Four little boys, yelling, bouncing, jumping, biting....
I ate cake and Doritoes to help me feel better.
It worked for a little while.
Now...
I sit on the floor typing with my keyboard at eye level.
No chair.
My new craft room
Purple
with piles of furniture and junk pushed to the middle.
That is why not many updates this week to my blog....
Things still messy.
All day.
Everyday.
The baby crawled after me biting me on my legs, my shoulders, my arms, all day.
Q followed me all day...."Mama, pick a card. Mama, stand like this. Mama, let's dance. Mama, you want to play school, mama mama mama mama."
K came home from school. His neighborhood pal, followed. Four little boys, yelling, bouncing, jumping, biting....
I ate cake and Doritoes to help me feel better.
It worked for a little while.
Now...
I sit on the floor typing with my keyboard at eye level.
No chair.
My new craft room
Purple
with piles of furniture and junk pushed to the middle.
That is why not many updates this week to my blog....
Things still messy.
All day.
Everyday.
KC as he turns one
KC protests when someone takes something from him.
Mr. Cutie with one of his new bday gifts
KC and one of his favorite books.He like monkeys and makes the monkey sound when we ask him. He also started to sign "milk" and "eat". He has started to take his first steps this week...the max number is about four though. He can also show us his hair and belly when we ask.
This is when it starts to get fun. The baby starts showing that there is a real person in there and that all those months of endless talk and care are starting to show up in his personality.
He really is a good baby. A really really good baby.
Monday, October 23, 2006
i give
K wanted to be a mad scientist for halloween. I looked all over for a lab coat and the odd wig or something. After running all over town looking for the kid's size lab coat or anything resembling it. I decided I would have to cobble something together on my sewing machine.
I don't let them play with guns and frequently launch into a very anti-second amendment speech....you know how guns are for killing and yes, killing would be ranked as a bad thing. Unless of course you are fighting bad guys...and that is where things get tricky. Then of course, you'd just use your arm lazers.
And I really don't like the boys wearing camoflage gear of any kind, army, hunting...you know the basic killing machine kind of stuff.
But in the aisles of Walmart I had great inner struggle. Terminator dude comes with a plastic grenade, water bottle, helmet and knife. Full blown costume for $12, no sewing required.
After all just because a kid dresses like a pirate, ghost or grim reaper, doesn't mean he'll be one. right?
Sometimes I think waaaaay too much.
But today I worked my motherly magic in the aisles of Walmart, pushing the merits of premade Superman, ninjas and other things I had no idea what they were. K spotted the camo. Army commando!
Despite my concentrated attempts to keep my boys free from warfare in any organized sense, I caved in today.
I don't let them play with guns and frequently launch into a very anti-second amendment speech....you know how guns are for killing and yes, killing would be ranked as a bad thing. Unless of course you are fighting bad guys...and that is where things get tricky. Then of course, you'd just use your arm lazers.
And I really don't like the boys wearing camoflage gear of any kind, army, hunting...you know the basic killing machine kind of stuff.
But in the aisles of Walmart I had great inner struggle. Terminator dude comes with a plastic grenade, water bottle, helmet and knife. Full blown costume for $12, no sewing required.
After all just because a kid dresses like a pirate, ghost or grim reaper, doesn't mean he'll be one. right?
Sometimes I think waaaaay too much.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Tragedy of a lost enchilada
Chaos pure chaos....
My house is all upside down. I can't find a thing.
In addition to the baby's $22 shoe that is MIA, I have lost assorted things which includes my mind.
I selected a book for next month for our ladies group to read...."Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons." I picked it mostly b/c I liked the title and I already had it. Now I lost it.
We have also misplaced a child's school bag. Again.
Socks oh the poor lonely socks in this house.
While driving Q to school the other day, I noticed an entire pan of chicken enchilada on the floor boards of the van. After a trip to Costco, the boys (large and small) unloaded the car. The enchilada secretly hid between the seats before sliding out to give me a nice howdy-do a day later. The enchilada is still there...in my van, ripening.
I still have the three kids, which is a good thing. Mostly because they keep following me around, looking for provisions.
And I don't even have an enchilada to offer them.
My house is all upside down. I can't find a thing.
In addition to the baby's $22 shoe that is MIA, I have lost assorted things which includes my mind.
I selected a book for next month for our ladies group to read...."Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons." I picked it mostly b/c I liked the title and I already had it. Now I lost it.
We have also misplaced a child's school bag. Again.
Socks oh the poor lonely socks in this house.
While driving Q to school the other day, I noticed an entire pan of chicken enchilada on the floor boards of the van. After a trip to Costco, the boys (large and small) unloaded the car. The enchilada secretly hid between the seats before sliding out to give me a nice howdy-do a day later. The enchilada is still there...in my van, ripening.
I still have the three kids, which is a good thing. Mostly because they keep following me around, looking for provisions.
And I don't even have an enchilada to offer them.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
how do you measure a tuesday
8 -- number of diapers changed
3 -- number of times I loaded the dishwasher
2 -- number of times I ran the dishwasher
8 -- thank you notes
1 -- load of laundry (still unfolded of course)
5 -- number of times I ran to the preschool and back
98.35 -- amount I spent at Target
15 -- number of individual meals served today
3 -- number of times I swept up after a baby's meal/snack
3 -- butts wiped besides my own
12 -- times I said "Quinn --stop yelling....turn your voice down....if you scream one more time..."
3 -- babies birthed by my friend (all in the same day)
4 -- bills paid
1 -- $22 baby shoe lost
44 -- amount for another pair of baby shoes
why is it I got nothing done today?
3 -- number of times I loaded the dishwasher
2 -- number of times I ran the dishwasher
8 -- thank you notes
1 -- load of laundry (still unfolded of course)
5 -- number of times I ran to the preschool and back
98.35 -- amount I spent at Target
15 -- number of individual meals served today
3 -- number of times I swept up after a baby's meal/snack
3 -- butts wiped besides my own
12 -- times I said "Quinn --stop yelling....turn your voice down....if you scream one more time..."
3 -- babies birthed by my friend (all in the same day)
4 -- bills paid
1 -- $22 baby shoe lost
44 -- amount for another pair of baby shoes
why is it I got nothing done today?
Monday, October 16, 2006
monday
My darling hunka let me sleep in today. I feel like a teenager waking up at 9am. wow.
My house is in even more chaos than normal. After KC's fete de bebe, things are all over the place. Plus, we moved all my craft room furniture downstairs so we can create an office for Hunka. I absolutely hated moving my place of peace downstairs, but my "crafts" aren't exactly making us any dough.
This is what happens after that first year of the baby's life, you look around and say whoa, I gotta do something about this place I've been living in unconsciously for the past two years of pregnancy and baby days.
I'm inspired to paint my new space purple.
My house is in even more chaos than normal. After KC's fete de bebe, things are all over the place. Plus, we moved all my craft room furniture downstairs so we can create an office for Hunka. I absolutely hated moving my place of peace downstairs, but my "crafts" aren't exactly making us any dough.
This is what happens after that first year of the baby's life, you look around and say whoa, I gotta do something about this place I've been living in unconsciously for the past two years of pregnancy and baby days.
I'm inspired to paint my new space purple.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
hair
I got my hair done today. Roots, cut and a straight blow dry....All in time for me to come home, eat a hot dog, mac and cheese, plant five pansies, three snap dragons, write in my blog, move some stuff around the house, watch a couple of my shows...and go to bed. A couple neighbors walked by while I was planting pansies as night fell, I made it a point to tell them I got my hair done. Sounds like something a four year old would do right!?... but a four-year-old wouldn't spend $95 on getting gorgeous.
I should probaby take a picture of my hair. In fact that blurry dreamy picture of me kissing baby KC was taking on a day I got my hair done the last time. Just refer to that picture for reference
I should probaby take a picture of my hair. In fact that blurry dreamy picture of me kissing baby KC was taking on a day I got my hair done the last time. Just refer to that picture for reference
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Friday the 13th
I'm writing this today, because the festivities may just be too much on Friday the 13th that I just may not have time to jot a note.
I have a weird superstition about the number four. So much so that when we delivered our last baby, the nurse told us we were to go to delivery room number 4. Hunka Hunka looked at me with great understanding as my face and eyes filled with panic and fear. He turned around and asked the nurse if we couldn't have another room, without implicating his neurotic wife. The nurses reacted with disbelief and rolling eyes, but we were sent to room number ONE, thank you very much.
That day was October 12th, 2005 around 10pm. They next morning was Thursday October 13th and our third son rolled into the world as healthy and beautiful as could be. Of course, all thanks to room number ONE.
It reminds me of the book and movie Where the Heart Is where a pregnant girl lives in the Walmart and has a weird unrational thing about the number five. As she labored in one of aisles certain she was about to give birth, she looks up and sees that she is aisle number 5. She crawled to another aisle to deliver her baby. All I could think about was Oh I hope she doesn't go to aisle number four!
Number 13 not a problem. Number four, no thanks.
I have a weird superstition about the number four. So much so that when we delivered our last baby, the nurse told us we were to go to delivery room number 4. Hunka Hunka looked at me with great understanding as my face and eyes filled with panic and fear. He turned around and asked the nurse if we couldn't have another room, without implicating his neurotic wife. The nurses reacted with disbelief and rolling eyes, but we were sent to room number ONE, thank you very much.
That day was October 12th, 2005 around 10pm. They next morning was Thursday October 13th and our third son rolled into the world as healthy and beautiful as could be. Of course, all thanks to room number ONE.
It reminds me of the book and movie Where the Heart Is where a pregnant girl lives in the Walmart and has a weird unrational thing about the number five. As she labored in one of aisles certain she was about to give birth, she looks up and sees that she is aisle number 5. She crawled to another aisle to deliver her baby. All I could think about was Oh I hope she doesn't go to aisle number four!
Number 13 not a problem. Number four, no thanks.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
what happens
I sat among the five loads of laundry sprayed all over the living room floor. It was that fatiguing time of day, you know it, when you want to eat a back of chips and gallon of chocolate chip ice cream (oh wait, that is all the time)
Somewhere between checking small tags of underwear to see if it is a size 6 or a size 4, I lie down among the piles of clean lumps.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't sure how much time as past. I felt a clutching panic in my chest. I had fallen down on the job. The two older boys played in the room next to me.
"Where is the BABY?" I asked in a panic.
They looked at me, as they should, with wonderment as to when exactly they became the responsible grown up.
We sprinted around chasing all the dangerous corners of downstairs, shouting at each other. Then I saw the gate to the stairs was open, my heart sank even more. We noisily clammered upstairs. When we hit the the baby's nursery doorwary, the baby startled awake from a deep slumber.
How is it I can forget chunks of my day? How can I forget where I put the baby?
Somewhere between checking small tags of underwear to see if it is a size 6 or a size 4, I lie down among the piles of clean lumps.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't sure how much time as past. I felt a clutching panic in my chest. I had fallen down on the job. The two older boys played in the room next to me.
"Where is the BABY?" I asked in a panic.
They looked at me, as they should, with wonderment as to when exactly they became the responsible grown up.
We sprinted around chasing all the dangerous corners of downstairs, shouting at each other. Then I saw the gate to the stairs was open, my heart sank even more. We noisily clammered upstairs. When we hit the the baby's nursery doorwary, the baby startled awake from a deep slumber.
How is it I can forget chunks of my day? How can I forget where I put the baby?
Monday, October 09, 2006
Happy Columbus Day
Do we say that? Happy Columbus Day! Probably not PC.
I'm out of whack today. I've got the oldest one home today b/c of parent teacher conferences. He's usually the one we are running around for. Q still had school.
The baby is on the verge of walking. In the past week, he has become more like a little person. He's started doing little baby tricks on demand. Like slapping his head when we ask him, or clapping his hands. He appears to have a funny little sense of humor forming, too This what has to happen when you are the third born. You have to show dramatic changes to get noticed around here.
My jeans shopping adventure proved somewhat successful. I did find a pair of jeans that looked decent, which is all I can ask at this stage of the game. My sister said she can fix them to fit my freakishly large saddle bags and proportionately smaller waist. She's good at things like that.
I'm out of whack today. I've got the oldest one home today b/c of parent teacher conferences. He's usually the one we are running around for. Q still had school.
The baby is on the verge of walking. In the past week, he has become more like a little person. He's started doing little baby tricks on demand. Like slapping his head when we ask him, or clapping his hands. He appears to have a funny little sense of humor forming, too This what has to happen when you are the third born. You have to show dramatic changes to get noticed around here.
My jeans shopping adventure proved somewhat successful. I did find a pair of jeans that looked decent, which is all I can ask at this stage of the game. My sister said she can fix them to fit my freakishly large saddle bags and proportionately smaller waist. She's good at things like that.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Super!
The four year-old boys are apparently playing some version of rescue or super heroes on the preschool playground. I occasionally hear "oh, Kyle is batman," "Some girl was being the monster and we had to stop her....."
But who it this new character?.....start super hero music here....
"Able to check your time card for any inaccuracies, able to jump off the swing in a single bound....look down the hall, it's a bird, it's a plane....NO IT'S SUPER-VISOR!"
Don't ask me where he got it but Q has determined he is not Superman.... he is Supervisor!
He received a Superman shirt with a big "S" on the front of it for his birthday. He insists it is perfect for everyday of school and I must wash it immediately when I deem it too disgusting to wear any longer.
He insists that Supervisor doesn't fight bad guys (which is a popular goal in Q's life)....no no none of that. I haven't really found out what Supervisor does yet. I think he may hang out by the water cooler and check the fridge for left over lunches.
The adventure continues...
But who it this new character?.....start super hero music here....
"Able to check your time card for any inaccuracies, able to jump off the swing in a single bound....look down the hall, it's a bird, it's a plane....NO IT'S SUPER-VISOR!"
Don't ask me where he got it but Q has determined he is not Superman.... he is Supervisor!
He received a Superman shirt with a big "S" on the front of it for his birthday. He insists it is perfect for everyday of school and I must wash it immediately when I deem it too disgusting to wear any longer.
He insists that Supervisor doesn't fight bad guys (which is a popular goal in Q's life)....no no none of that. I haven't really found out what Supervisor does yet. I think he may hang out by the water cooler and check the fridge for left over lunches.
The adventure continues...
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
short and pudgy
I spent three hours today trying to find a pair of jeans. What a grueling and mentally depleting adventure.
Of course, I'm a year out from giving birth. I don't know how much longer I can defend myself with the "I just had a baby" excuse.
A youngish teenish girl asked if she could help me as I walked into a store. I told her I needed something for a short pudgy girl like myself.
Ah well, all of their jeans are cut for "long, slender waists," she said.
I certainly thought this Miss Skinny Pants was joking, until she said she believed my size was the largest they carried.
She handed me a pair of jeans she thought would fit me....size 7 Regular!
I told her to double the width and cut the length in half.
My friend says I was just asking for trouble and perhaps I should add bathing-suit-shopping to my to-do list as long as I'm up for the punishment.
I bought nothing today except for an outrageously expensive first pair of shoes for the baby.
Of course, I'm a year out from giving birth. I don't know how much longer I can defend myself with the "I just had a baby" excuse.
A youngish teenish girl asked if she could help me as I walked into a store. I told her I needed something for a short pudgy girl like myself.
Ah well, all of their jeans are cut for "long, slender waists," she said.
I certainly thought this Miss Skinny Pants was joking, until she said she believed my size was the largest they carried.
She handed me a pair of jeans she thought would fit me....size 7 Regular!
I told her to double the width and cut the length in half.
My friend says I was just asking for trouble and perhaps I should add bathing-suit-shopping to my to-do list as long as I'm up for the punishment.
I bought nothing today except for an outrageously expensive first pair of shoes for the baby.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Mad as...
I'm hopping mad.
I am following this news about another perv, this time in the US Congress, Mark Foley. This comes after watching another Oprah show about men who think kids really enjoy being molested.
I am sickened by this and mad as hell. I don't know what to do. I wrote my congressman, two senators and both gubernatorial candidates.
blah blah blah.
My mom always said that child molesters should be castrated. I agree completely, but castration is only a first step. If the castration for some reason won't work, repeat offenders should be extinguished.
I am following this news about another perv, this time in the US Congress, Mark Foley. This comes after watching another Oprah show about men who think kids really enjoy being molested.
I am sickened by this and mad as hell. I don't know what to do. I wrote my congressman, two senators and both gubernatorial candidates.
blah blah blah.
My mom always said that child molesters should be castrated. I agree completely, but castration is only a first step. If the castration for some reason won't work, repeat offenders should be extinguished.
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