I don't really have much to post, but I feel as if I should since it's been a while. So, here are just a few things going on in my house:
-We have a new Friend that came to visit us today. Her name is Fay. Some of you mat have heard of her. We'll see how long she stays around.
-Son is still loving school. He thinks it is the greatest thing to be able to go every day. I am soooo glad that he likes it. It has changed his attitude around the house, too- always a plus to have a happy kid.
-Daughter is really enjoying her alone time with Mommy and Daddy. She is very excited when "Bruder" gets home for the day though!
-Husband is enjoying being at home, I think. Since his surgery was last week, he still has a week and a half before he has to go back to work. I'll miss having him around during the day.
-I registered for school on Thursday. That could be a post in and of itself. Maybe tomorrow. I will start on Tuesday of next week.
-My parents are coming for a visit. They will be here for 10 days. We are looking forward to having them around and being able to spend time with them!
Husband just cam in and informed me that I am missing the 50m Men's Race Walk. You all know just how much "I love me some" Race Walk (some more Southern vernacular for you). I hope the skinny little guys git to the end of their race to no where quickly!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
First Day Of School
Son started preschool today.
He went 3 mornings a week last year, but this year is different. He is gone 5 mornings a week. At his school last year, I had to take him and drop him off at his class each morning, and wait outside his class in the hall for him to be done. It sometimes seemed more like a glorified play group than tyre preschool. This year, I can walk him to his class in the morning if I want to (otherwise we can use the carpool lane and just drop him at the curb where he will be "escorted" to his class by school staff) and then, if I'm not using the carpool lane to pick-up, I have to wait in the lobby for the class to be dismissed and the children to be brought out. I have to say... this all seems awfully grown-up to me.
Last year, Son cried every morning that I left him at school. About 2 minutes after I was out the door, he was over it and playing (I would wait outside the door or watch through the window where he wasn't able to see me). He had a good time every school day, but there was always a bit of dread when the time came to actually go to school. Lots of questions... "Who is going to pick me up? Do I have to stay for naps? Is my regular teacher going to be there? When are you going to come get me?" If I were an outsider listening to his questions, I would think that his mother routinely failed to fetch him from school so that he had to stay all day, take naps on rocks, was left with a new teacher each day and then had a total stranger arrive at the end of the day to take him home. Please note... not once did I forget to pick my child up from school. Only once was I late, and I called the school to let them know it was going to be 5 extra minutes. Son never had to take a nap, he had the same teacher in his class almost all year, and Husband and I were the only people to pick him up from school. Ever.
So, being the kind and thoughtful mother that I am, I figured I would launch a preemptive strike against his fears. Last night while Son was in the tub, I was telling him about how he was going to go to school, I would drop him off, pick him up, his teacher was named ___ and would be there all year (he met her at Open House on Friday), ect. His response was "I know. I know. I know. I know. I met her already and she's nice. Can I smell the shampoo when you wash my hair?" I guess we didn't need to have that conversation!
This morning, he was up and ready to go. He got himself dressed- shoes and all- before he even came out of his room (he did have to change before we left for school though... a ratty t-shirt and high water jeans are not the most appropriate school clothes), ate breakfast, brushed his teeth and was ready to head out the door about 45 minutes early. Once we got to school, there were no tears, no hesitations, no nervousness... just 5 kisses, 5 hugs, and confidence as he walked into the room and started his new school year. I was so proud!
Now the true test will be how things go once he realizes that he gets to do this every morning! As some people know... the next day isn't always as great as the first.
He went 3 mornings a week last year, but this year is different. He is gone 5 mornings a week. At his school last year, I had to take him and drop him off at his class each morning, and wait outside his class in the hall for him to be done. It sometimes seemed more like a glorified play group than tyre preschool. This year, I can walk him to his class in the morning if I want to (otherwise we can use the carpool lane and just drop him at the curb where he will be "escorted" to his class by school staff) and then, if I'm not using the carpool lane to pick-up, I have to wait in the lobby for the class to be dismissed and the children to be brought out. I have to say... this all seems awfully grown-up to me.
Last year, Son cried every morning that I left him at school. About 2 minutes after I was out the door, he was over it and playing (I would wait outside the door or watch through the window where he wasn't able to see me). He had a good time every school day, but there was always a bit of dread when the time came to actually go to school. Lots of questions... "Who is going to pick me up? Do I have to stay for naps? Is my regular teacher going to be there? When are you going to come get me?" If I were an outsider listening to his questions, I would think that his mother routinely failed to fetch him from school so that he had to stay all day, take naps on rocks, was left with a new teacher each day and then had a total stranger arrive at the end of the day to take him home. Please note... not once did I forget to pick my child up from school. Only once was I late, and I called the school to let them know it was going to be 5 extra minutes. Son never had to take a nap, he had the same teacher in his class almost all year, and Husband and I were the only people to pick him up from school. Ever.
So, being the kind and thoughtful mother that I am, I figured I would launch a preemptive strike against his fears. Last night while Son was in the tub, I was telling him about how he was going to go to school, I would drop him off, pick him up, his teacher was named ___ and would be there all year (he met her at Open House on Friday), ect. His response was "I know. I know. I know. I know. I met her already and she's nice. Can I smell the shampoo when you wash my hair?" I guess we didn't need to have that conversation!
This morning, he was up and ready to go. He got himself dressed- shoes and all- before he even came out of his room (he did have to change before we left for school though... a ratty t-shirt and high water jeans are not the most appropriate school clothes), ate breakfast, brushed his teeth and was ready to head out the door about 45 minutes early. Once we got to school, there were no tears, no hesitations, no nervousness... just 5 kisses, 5 hugs, and confidence as he walked into the room and started his new school year. I was so proud!
Now the true test will be how things go once he realizes that he gets to do this every morning! As some people know... the next day isn't always as great as the first.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Tag... I'm It!
OK- so I mentioned yesterday that I was tagged by Some People Call Me Mom... here we go!
Four jobs I’ve had:
1- Barista
2- Nanny
3- Restaurant Manager
4- Administrative Assistant/ Office Manager
Four movies I’ve watched more than once:
1- Never Been Kissed
2- Back to the Future (all 3!!)
3- Sweet Home Alabama
4- Moulin Rouge
Four places I’ve lived:
1- California
2- North Carolina
3- Alabama
4- Alaska
Four TV shows I watch:
1- Lost
2- How I Met Your Mother
3- Divine Design
4- Jon and Kate Plus 8
Four places I’ve been:
1- Mexico
2- Victoria, Canada
3- Fairbanks, Alaska
4- Kingsburg, California (Home of Sun-Maid raisins!!)
Four people who email me regularly:
1- My Mom
2- Husband
3- Sis J
4- Small Group Folks
Four of my favorite foods:
1- Cheese
2- Ice Cream
3- Grilled Veggies
4- Beans
Four places I would love to visit:
1- Egypt
2- Ireland
3- Paris... at the finish of the Tour de France
4- the Caribbean
Four things I’m looking forward to in the coming year:
1- Son enjoying his new school
2- Watching Daughter discover who she is outside of being around her brother
3- Visiting Sis J and BW in Chicago
4- Getting to develop new relationships through the new year at CBS
Four -3- 2- friends I’m tagging: (I don't have that many Friends)
1- Ashley's Adventures
2- The Musings and Thought of Anna
Four jobs I’ve had:
1- Barista
2- Nanny
3- Restaurant Manager
4- Administrative Assistant/ Office Manager
Four movies I’ve watched more than once:
1- Never Been Kissed
2- Back to the Future (all 3!!)
3- Sweet Home Alabama
4- Moulin Rouge
Four places I’ve lived:
1- California
2- North Carolina
3- Alabama
4- Alaska
Four TV shows I watch:
1- Lost
2- How I Met Your Mother
3- Divine Design
4- Jon and Kate Plus 8
Four places I’ve been:
1- Mexico
2- Victoria, Canada
3- Fairbanks, Alaska
4- Kingsburg, California (Home of Sun-Maid raisins!!)
Four people who email me regularly:
1- My Mom
2- Husband
3- Sis J
4- Small Group Folks
Four of my favorite foods:
1- Cheese
2- Ice Cream
3- Grilled Veggies
4- Beans
Four places I would love to visit:
1- Egypt
2- Ireland
3- Paris... at the finish of the Tour de France
4- the Caribbean
Four things I’m looking forward to in the coming year:
1- Son enjoying his new school
2- Watching Daughter discover who she is outside of being around her brother
3- Visiting Sis J and BW in Chicago
4- Getting to develop new relationships through the new year at CBS
Four -3- 2- friends I’m tagging: (I don't have that many Friends)
1- Ashley's Adventures
2- The Musings and Thought of Anna
Saturday, August 16, 2008
The Funniest Thing I Have Seen In A Long Time
Husband had shoulder surgery on Thursday, so we have been doing a whole lot of nothing as a family for the last several days. That happens to work out well since it is time for the Olympics.
Husband has the DVR set to record all the Olympic coverage we can get. As we don't get NBC at our house, we don't get to watch the "good"Olympics. You know, all the stuff that people really want to watch. Swimming, diving, gymnastics... Instead we get things like handball, white water rafting, table tennis, field hockey, weight lifting, air-rifle... and the crowning glory of all the cast-off Olympic sports (please note that I use the term "sports" loosely here) race walking. Are you kidding me? Race walking? I thought that was something ladies did to try and shrink their hip size!
We turned the recorded Olympics on tonight after the kids got into bed (as has become our custom for the last few nights) and on came the funniest thing I have seen in a long time. Mens' 20km Race Walk. If you are in the mood for a giggle, check out all the skinny little men with their hips waggling along, trying their hardest to get somewhere (or no where since they are on a set loop course) quickly without running. Husband said he thought they needed some good music playing as a sound track- something along the lines of "What Is Love"... think Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell. I said they needed to have polyester jogging suits and hips about a mile wide. I just can't help thinking of the stereo-typical group of older ladies that "power walked" downtown in the evenings of the small town that I grew up in. I can't laugh too hard though, as the reason I saw those ladies so often is because I was out there with them!!
And now... I have been "tagged" by my friend over at Some People Call Me Mom. But, I'm going to cheat and wait until tomorrow to share and to tag others. I have some more obscure Olympic sport coverage to watch tonight.
Husband has the DVR set to record all the Olympic coverage we can get. As we don't get NBC at our house, we don't get to watch the "good"Olympics. You know, all the stuff that people really want to watch. Swimming, diving, gymnastics... Instead we get things like handball, white water rafting, table tennis, field hockey, weight lifting, air-rifle... and the crowning glory of all the cast-off Olympic sports (please note that I use the term "sports" loosely here) race walking. Are you kidding me? Race walking? I thought that was something ladies did to try and shrink their hip size!
We turned the recorded Olympics on tonight after the kids got into bed (as has become our custom for the last few nights) and on came the funniest thing I have seen in a long time. Mens' 20km Race Walk. If you are in the mood for a giggle, check out all the skinny little men with their hips waggling along, trying their hardest to get somewhere (or no where since they are on a set loop course) quickly without running. Husband said he thought they needed some good music playing as a sound track- something along the lines of "What Is Love"... think Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell. I said they needed to have polyester jogging suits and hips about a mile wide. I just can't help thinking of the stereo-typical group of older ladies that "power walked" downtown in the evenings of the small town that I grew up in. I can't laugh too hard though, as the reason I saw those ladies so often is because I was out there with them!!
And now... I have been "tagged" by my friend over at Some People Call Me Mom. But, I'm going to cheat and wait until tomorrow to share and to tag others. I have some more obscure Olympic sport coverage to watch tonight.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Random Conversation of the Evening
Daughter (lying in bed): Mommy, come in here. Mommy, come in here. Mommy, come in here.
Me (entering Daughter's room): What is it Daughter?
Daughter (standing up in her bed, reaching for a hug): I want nose napkin.
Me (wondering if I heard correctly): You want a nose napkin?
Daughter: I want nose napkin, please.
Me (moving toward tissue box): Here's a nose napkin.
Daughter (waiting patiently as I clean her nose): Thank you, Mommy.
Me (moving toward door after laying Daughter back in bed): Goodnight, Daughter.
Daughter: Thank you, Mommy. Goodnight.
Thanking me for wiping her nose with a "nose napkin"? (By, the way... not what the rest of the family calls it!!) Do I have the most polite 2- year old on the planet? If not, she has to be right up toward the top of that list!!
Me (entering Daughter's room): What is it Daughter?
Daughter (standing up in her bed, reaching for a hug): I want nose napkin.
Me (wondering if I heard correctly): You want a nose napkin?
Daughter: I want nose napkin, please.
Me (moving toward tissue box): Here's a nose napkin.
Daughter (waiting patiently as I clean her nose): Thank you, Mommy.
Me (moving toward door after laying Daughter back in bed): Goodnight, Daughter.
Daughter: Thank you, Mommy. Goodnight.
Thanking me for wiping her nose with a "nose napkin"? (By, the way... not what the rest of the family calls it!!) Do I have the most polite 2- year old on the planet? If not, she has to be right up toward the top of that list!!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The Saga Continues
I have AFB baking in the oven right now.
It looked sad and wimpy when I pulled it out of the fridge. I added the final ingredients and began to mix. The dough began to look angry. And then... it grew. I quickly finished the mixing, spooned it into the bread tins and popped it into the oven. That is where it is now. I just went to peek at it and it is still growing. Yes, I realize that bread is supposed to rise in the oven, but this seems to be rising very quickly. We'll see. I also realized that I pushed a button on my oven and I don't know what it does. Again, we'll see.
Has anyone ever seen that episode of "I Love Lucy" where she bakes the bread and when she opens the oven door it just keeps on coming out until she is pinned against the wall? If you don't hear from me tomorrow, assume that I am pinned against the wall... and send Ethel for help.
It looked sad and wimpy when I pulled it out of the fridge. I added the final ingredients and began to mix. The dough began to look angry. And then... it grew. I quickly finished the mixing, spooned it into the bread tins and popped it into the oven. That is where it is now. I just went to peek at it and it is still growing. Yes, I realize that bread is supposed to rise in the oven, but this seems to be rising very quickly. We'll see. I also realized that I pushed a button on my oven and I don't know what it does. Again, we'll see.
Has anyone ever seen that episode of "I Love Lucy" where she bakes the bread and when she opens the oven door it just keeps on coming out until she is pinned against the wall? If you don't hear from me tomorrow, assume that I am pinned against the wall... and send Ethel for help.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Bad Bread Juju
Maybe I shouldn't even try to make all of the variations of Amish Friendship Bread that I had previously decided to do. I think my negligence may be creating some negative bread-related feelings.
My thought was that, every 10 days, it would be great fun to have some new and wonderful smells filling my home with the scent of homemade loveliness. It was going to be wonderful to have fresh baked bread that my husband and children would cherish with each delicious nibble because of all the love that was stirred into the batter with each whisk of my wrist. I was going to be that mom on my street that always had some yummy treat just waiting for the neighborhood kiddos to much on whenever they stopped by. Not that it happens now... my kids are only 4 and 2. Not so much in the friends-stopping-by-to-snack stage of life yet. But I was thinking waaaaay in the future here, people!
Not so much.
The first batch went swimmingly, as some of you may remember. The next batch didn't go well at all. As in, I was late "feeding" the starter and it started to bubble and foam like a big, mushy, rabid blob. That bag of starter took a trip to the dump before it decided that it was so hungry and neglected that it needed to feed on my small, sweet children in the middle of the night. A friend gave me one of her starters, and that was going well. I fed it, got it separated, and started to mix the ingredients for another batch of bread tonight. I then realized that I don't have any eggs. My recipe calls for 3. SO, I decided to break ALL of the rules and see what happens tomorrow. I put it in a glass bowl (not glazed ceramic or plastic per the instructions), mixed it with a metal whisk (you are specifically told not to use anything metal) and then put cling wrap over the top and stuck it in the fridge (do. not. refrigerate.). I'll pick up some eggs tomorrow and we'll see how it goes.
Stay tuned and see how the Great Bread Saga of 2008 turns out.
My thought was that, every 10 days, it would be great fun to have some new and wonderful smells filling my home with the scent of homemade loveliness. It was going to be wonderful to have fresh baked bread that my husband and children would cherish with each delicious nibble because of all the love that was stirred into the batter with each whisk of my wrist. I was going to be that mom on my street that always had some yummy treat just waiting for the neighborhood kiddos to much on whenever they stopped by. Not that it happens now... my kids are only 4 and 2. Not so much in the friends-stopping-by-to-snack stage of life yet. But I was thinking waaaaay in the future here, people!
Not so much.
The first batch went swimmingly, as some of you may remember. The next batch didn't go well at all. As in, I was late "feeding" the starter and it started to bubble and foam like a big, mushy, rabid blob. That bag of starter took a trip to the dump before it decided that it was so hungry and neglected that it needed to feed on my small, sweet children in the middle of the night. A friend gave me one of her starters, and that was going well. I fed it, got it separated, and started to mix the ingredients for another batch of bread tonight. I then realized that I don't have any eggs. My recipe calls for 3. SO, I decided to break ALL of the rules and see what happens tomorrow. I put it in a glass bowl (not glazed ceramic or plastic per the instructions), mixed it with a metal whisk (you are specifically told not to use anything metal) and then put cling wrap over the top and stuck it in the fridge (do. not. refrigerate.). I'll pick up some eggs tomorrow and we'll see how it goes.
Stay tuned and see how the Great Bread Saga of 2008 turns out.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Friends
I know this is going to sound sappy, but Husband and I have been blessed with wonderful friends. Being a military family, we have friends all over the globe (literally!) and are truly thankful for each and every one. There are lots of friends that we don't get to talk to or see as often as we would like to, but that doesn't mean that we care for them any less.
I have a friend that used to live next door to me. She put out a fire inside my house while I stood outside panicked. Enough said.
I have a friend that I grew up with. We literally grew up just a couple of houses down the street from each other. We have known one another longer than we have known our own siblings. Even after 25 years of knowing each other and living in opposite ends of the country, we still talk on a regular basis. We have grown up. Boyfriends have come and gone, jobs have changed, moves have been made, husbands have come along, babies have been born, but we are still friends... and I love it!
Husband and I have friends that we met when we were stationed at our first duty station. They were a little further along in life (not older!). While it was just Husband and I (and the dog, of course) they had 2 kiddos with another one to join the family soon. When She friend went into labor with kidlet #3, Husband and I went to stay with the older 2. Wow! To let 2 people with no children care for their 2 children... that's trust (or foolishness on their part- you decide which!). Between our families there have been more moves than one would care to count. But whenever possible, we make the effort to spend time together. Our lives have all changed dramatically... illness, moves, job changes, moves, adding more children to the mix, moves... yet we still remain friends.
My family meets with a group of people each week to "do life" together. We are able to get to know one another as both individuals and as couples. When things are tough, we are able to pray for one another and encourage one another. When things are going well, we are able to be celebrate together. These are the type of friends that lend you a car while yours is in the shop. These are the type of friends that will take care of your children while your husband is having surgery so that you don't have to worry a bit about them. These are the type of friends that offer to take your children after your husband has surgery so that you can have a break! These are the type of friends that feel comfortable enough with you to ask how the stud stays in your nose and then follow up with the question of weather or not boogers stick to it. Now how's that for friendship?
I have a friend that I went to high school with, whom my husband dated, and that I shared an apartment with in college. We too, have remained friends over the years. Are we as close as we used to be? No, life changes things. (Not living in the same house really can change how often people see one another!) But does that mean that I love her any less or think of her less than daily? Certainly not.
Sitting at dinner tonight, with some of our friends, I was overcome with gratitude. I have been blessed with truly wonderful people in my life. I have friends who love and care for me. I have a husband who loves me with every fiber of his being and is so much more than I ever dreamed of. I have children who adore me and look up to me and really are the sweetest little people I have ever met (even though they are on the stinker list occasionally!). I have a family that loves and supports not only me as part of their flesh and blood, but my Husband and children, just as if they were their own. I have a God who loves me so much that He truly gave ALL just for me... so that I could have the life that I don't deserve.
I hope that in my life I can be a friend to someone- even just one someone- that will be able to make a difference in their life as much as just one of the wonderful people in my life has for me.
I have a friend that used to live next door to me. She put out a fire inside my house while I stood outside panicked. Enough said.
I have a friend that I grew up with. We literally grew up just a couple of houses down the street from each other. We have known one another longer than we have known our own siblings. Even after 25 years of knowing each other and living in opposite ends of the country, we still talk on a regular basis. We have grown up. Boyfriends have come and gone, jobs have changed, moves have been made, husbands have come along, babies have been born, but we are still friends... and I love it!
Husband and I have friends that we met when we were stationed at our first duty station. They were a little further along in life (not older!). While it was just Husband and I (and the dog, of course) they had 2 kiddos with another one to join the family soon. When She friend went into labor with kidlet #3, Husband and I went to stay with the older 2. Wow! To let 2 people with no children care for their 2 children... that's trust (or foolishness on their part- you decide which!). Between our families there have been more moves than one would care to count. But whenever possible, we make the effort to spend time together. Our lives have all changed dramatically... illness, moves, job changes, moves, adding more children to the mix, moves... yet we still remain friends.
My family meets with a group of people each week to "do life" together. We are able to get to know one another as both individuals and as couples. When things are tough, we are able to pray for one another and encourage one another. When things are going well, we are able to be celebrate together. These are the type of friends that lend you a car while yours is in the shop. These are the type of friends that will take care of your children while your husband is having surgery so that you don't have to worry a bit about them. These are the type of friends that offer to take your children after your husband has surgery so that you can have a break! These are the type of friends that feel comfortable enough with you to ask how the stud stays in your nose and then follow up with the question of weather or not boogers stick to it. Now how's that for friendship?
I have a friend that I went to high school with, whom my husband dated, and that I shared an apartment with in college. We too, have remained friends over the years. Are we as close as we used to be? No, life changes things. (Not living in the same house really can change how often people see one another!) But does that mean that I love her any less or think of her less than daily? Certainly not.
Sitting at dinner tonight, with some of our friends, I was overcome with gratitude. I have been blessed with truly wonderful people in my life. I have friends who love and care for me. I have a husband who loves me with every fiber of his being and is so much more than I ever dreamed of. I have children who adore me and look up to me and really are the sweetest little people I have ever met (even though they are on the stinker list occasionally!). I have a family that loves and supports not only me as part of their flesh and blood, but my Husband and children, just as if they were their own. I have a God who loves me so much that He truly gave ALL just for me... so that I could have the life that I don't deserve.
I hope that in my life I can be a friend to someone- even just one someone- that will be able to make a difference in their life as much as just one of the wonderful people in my life has for me.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Birthdays and Cakes and Presents, Oh My!
BIRTHDAYS:
We have been involved in celebrating no less than 8 I kid you not kiddo birthdays since the beginning of July. We are just about birthdayed out around here. "Happy Birthday" has become the family theme song. We have done enough renditions of it that Daughter sings it to everyone (including the dog and her beloved Bear) and that she sings it to you whenever she brings you some of the delicious cake or "birthday soup" that she cooks in her new kitchen. Today we were supposed to be at 2 birthday parties... at the same time of course. Obviously that didn't happen. We did have a great time at the one we did attend though.
CAKES:
I didn't post last night because I was working on a birthday cake. A friend of ours asked me to make a Spider Man themed cake for her 4-year-old's birthday... the first one turned out pretty well, but the second one rocked- if I do say so myself. There were cement-block buildings of various sizes with Spider Man perched on the top and his web thrown over the city streets below onto the neighboring buildings. The larger of the towers began to lean as the humidity grew here, so I wasn't thrilled about that. I think that the birthday boy and his mom were excited about them though, and that's what matters.
PRESENTS:
Since both Son and Daughter have July birthdays, we have received presents in the mail at least once a week for the last 6 weeks now and the kids will soon grow disappointed when the Mail Man- excuse me- Postal Carrier no longer leaves packages for them at the door step. We have also purchased numerous gifts for kiddos of many different ages. I have the 4-year-old boy gift giving down pat, and the 2-year-old girl gift is like second nature, but beyond that I have a bit of trouble. We went for the cool kid sport watch for the 7-year-old boy tonight. Boys that age are into racing and timing stuff, right? What better way to keep track of all things competitive than with a sport watch?! Weather he ends up liking it or not... that is what he got. I'll probably think back on this night in 3 years (when Son is 7) and wonder just what I was worried about. In 15 minutes he won't remember anything but the new bike (or Rollerblades, or skateboard, or whatever the cool thing is at the time) that Mom and Dad got for him!
OH MY!
I'm tired. There are a zillion things going on and no end in sight. That must mean that the Summer is winding down and school is starting up! At least in our house a full calendar (usually) makes for happy people. This family does NOT like to be bored! I guess I'll take a breath and dive right in! Wish me luck!!
We have been involved in celebrating no less than 8 I kid you not kiddo birthdays since the beginning of July. We are just about birthdayed out around here. "Happy Birthday" has become the family theme song. We have done enough renditions of it that Daughter sings it to everyone (including the dog and her beloved Bear) and that she sings it to you whenever she brings you some of the delicious cake or "birthday soup" that she cooks in her new kitchen. Today we were supposed to be at 2 birthday parties... at the same time of course. Obviously that didn't happen. We did have a great time at the one we did attend though.
CAKES:
I didn't post last night because I was working on a birthday cake. A friend of ours asked me to make a Spider Man themed cake for her 4-year-old's birthday... the first one turned out pretty well, but the second one rocked- if I do say so myself. There were cement-block buildings of various sizes with Spider Man perched on the top and his web thrown over the city streets below onto the neighboring buildings. The larger of the towers began to lean as the humidity grew here, so I wasn't thrilled about that. I think that the birthday boy and his mom were excited about them though, and that's what matters.
PRESENTS:
Since both Son and Daughter have July birthdays, we have received presents in the mail at least once a week for the last 6 weeks now and the kids will soon grow disappointed when the Mail Man- excuse me- Postal Carrier no longer leaves packages for them at the door step. We have also purchased numerous gifts for kiddos of many different ages. I have the 4-year-old boy gift giving down pat, and the 2-year-old girl gift is like second nature, but beyond that I have a bit of trouble. We went for the cool kid sport watch for the 7-year-old boy tonight. Boys that age are into racing and timing stuff, right? What better way to keep track of all things competitive than with a sport watch?! Weather he ends up liking it or not... that is what he got. I'll probably think back on this night in 3 years (when Son is 7) and wonder just what I was worried about. In 15 minutes he won't remember anything but the new bike (or Rollerblades, or skateboard, or whatever the cool thing is at the time) that Mom and Dad got for him!
OH MY!
I'm tired. There are a zillion things going on and no end in sight. That must mean that the Summer is winding down and school is starting up! At least in our house a full calendar (usually) makes for happy people. This family does NOT like to be bored! I guess I'll take a breath and dive right in! Wish me luck!!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
This Week
I realized this morning that it had been a week since I last posted. It has been quite an "interesting" week, and I was just too pooped-out to post.
This last week was not particularly pleasant... lots of stuff going wrong, people getting sick, and stuff needing to be fixed. Let's just put it this way... if there were a game show (hosted by Chuck Woolery- of course!) titled "How Many Ways Can You Hemorrhage Money?" we would be the winners of this week's show!
It hasn't been a week of total yuckiness though- we have had some good things too. Daughter turned 2 this past week. My how time flys! We have had some small victories with Son and a few bad habits that he had gotten into. (2 weeks in a row now of no clinging and screaming when he was dropped off at school or church!!) I got some really great deals on school clothes for the kids during our tax-free weekend. Husband and I got to go out and see Batman. AWESOME!!! I don't know that I have ever said this about any movie, but I would go see it again in a heartbeat... and not just because Christian Bale is so easy on the eyes! One of our crepe myrtle trees in the front finally bloomed.
I am off now to eat ice cream and then work-out. That way the ice cream doesn't have a chance to settle into anything and it doesn't count that I ate it.
This last week was not particularly pleasant... lots of stuff going wrong, people getting sick, and stuff needing to be fixed. Let's just put it this way... if there were a game show (hosted by Chuck Woolery- of course!) titled "How Many Ways Can You Hemorrhage Money?" we would be the winners of this week's show!
It hasn't been a week of total yuckiness though- we have had some good things too. Daughter turned 2 this past week. My how time flys! We have had some small victories with Son and a few bad habits that he had gotten into. (2 weeks in a row now of no clinging and screaming when he was dropped off at school or church!!) I got some really great deals on school clothes for the kids during our tax-free weekend. Husband and I got to go out and see Batman. AWESOME!!! I don't know that I have ever said this about any movie, but I would go see it again in a heartbeat... and not just because Christian Bale is so easy on the eyes! One of our crepe myrtle trees in the front finally bloomed.
I am off now to eat ice cream and then work-out. That way the ice cream doesn't have a chance to settle into anything and it doesn't count that I ate it.
No Bread Today...
No bread when it should have been Bread Day, either. I missed a day or two (which turned into about 5 days) on the Amish Friendship Bread, so there is a bit of delay in the bread tasting. I have a friend that has offered to let me have one of the starters from the starter that I gave her, so hopefully I will be back on track soon. There are about a zillion recipes just waiting for me to try out!
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