Things I should probably clean, but mostly likely won't (at least today or next week or maybe ever).
1. The computer desk
2. The printer shelving unit
3. The garage (it's still suffering the aftermath of the Great Room Switch)
4. Underneath the kitchen sink. I don't go spelunking in that cupboard if I can help it. I'll gladly pay any of my children $10 to clean it out.
5. Behind the washer and dryer
6. In front of the tall bookshelf where I keep all clothes to be ironed in a messy, wrinkle-inducing pile. I want to make sure the clothes really need ironing.
7. Under my bed.
8. The headboard unit of my bed. Whole colonies of dust have evolved there, as my mother knows, since she swiped her finger on one of the Beatle figurine boxes (don't ask) on top to see just how dusty it was. She killed over 15 trillion dust mites with that one swipe of her finger...
9. Jim's side of the bedroom. Ever. I like to throw things away and he would probably have a heart attack if I ever had my way with his closet and his side of the room.
10. The storage space underneath the entryway. The only way anyone will EVER get me into that crawlspace is if I've been murdered and the murderer needs to hide my body. And even then, my dead body would put up a fight if it was being put in that creepy crawly spider-infested claustrophobia-inducing cement coffin.
This list is designed to induce guilt in me so that I will at least do SOMETHING housework-y today. Like my cleaning job, which is sweep and mop the kitchen and living room. Best go do that now, so I won't be murdered and stuffed into the crawlspace by people who have already done their cleaning job.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Short!
No time today! I have one day off this week, and of course I've jam-packed the schedule with appointments (one of which is a painful reminder that I am a "woman of a certain age") and to-dos.
So you'll hear no more from me today, unless I grab an internet moment while making a cake that I had for the first time last Saturday. We'll see if it works. And thanks to Marissa for introducing the goodness that is the pineapple coconut cake to me, and YES I EVEN ATE THE COCONUT AND I DIDN'T DIE. It was even really good!
UPDATE: SO NOT PAINFUL!
So you'll hear no more from me today, unless I grab an internet moment while making a cake that I had for the first time last Saturday. We'll see if it works. And thanks to Marissa for introducing the goodness that is the pineapple coconut cake to me, and YES I EVEN ATE THE COCONUT AND I DIDN'T DIE. It was even really good!
UPDATE: SO NOT PAINFUL!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Reminding myself that I am happy
I have a case of the blahs that is threatening to turn into a full-blown woe-is-me episode. So in order to counteract it I think I need to remind myself of some of the happy things in my life. I'm trying for ten things, but we'll see if I get there without getting mushy and gushy. Cuz you know I hate that.
1. The living room has been much cleaner since I started keeping fake child's toys in the new sewing room (I wonder when I'll stop calling it "the new" sewing room?). The room is habitually much less cluttered and I'm calmer when there is less clutter.
2. I am keeping to my dinner menu plan this week. No bailouts yet!
3. I've knitted three fun dishcloths in the last week or so since the January mid-month finished up. I think I'll save them for a giveaway for my first anniversary of blogging, which is coming up in early March.
4. I am taking a mini vacation a week from tomorrow. Mom, Matt, Hayley and I are driving to visit a concerned citizen and his family in Wisconsin next Friday and we'll stay the weekend. I'm glad the Citizens live close enough to drive.
5. I love my wool socks! I had to get up in the middle of the night a few nights ago and put a pair on because I was so cold. My feet warmed right up!
6. On the one hand, this has been a long work week for me--nearly 38 hours. It's not hard, but it does wear me down. On the happy side, I'm getting paid twice as much as what I normally expect! Who doesn't like money?
7. I exercised every weekday this week and hopefully I'll do it again today.
8. Early church on Sundays so I can spend a Sunday afternoon playing Settlers of Catan with any children who happen to have all their homework done. And if no one wants to play, I get a NAP!
9. Fat free, high fiber (the box says 5 grams), 100 calorie, pretend chocolate fudgesicles from Aldi's. They are flavorless, but the texture is intriguing enough for me to want to eat more than one.
10. OK, I'll get a little gushy but don't tell anyone. I love you, Jim. You make my days brighter.
There. And I got to ten! I feel better. Time for breakfast.
11. Oatmeal without brown sugar is not so bad.
1. The living room has been much cleaner since I started keeping fake child's toys in the new sewing room (I wonder when I'll stop calling it "the new" sewing room?). The room is habitually much less cluttered and I'm calmer when there is less clutter.
2. I am keeping to my dinner menu plan this week. No bailouts yet!
3. I've knitted three fun dishcloths in the last week or so since the January mid-month finished up. I think I'll save them for a giveaway for my first anniversary of blogging, which is coming up in early March.
4. I am taking a mini vacation a week from tomorrow. Mom, Matt, Hayley and I are driving to visit a concerned citizen and his family in Wisconsin next Friday and we'll stay the weekend. I'm glad the Citizens live close enough to drive.
5. I love my wool socks! I had to get up in the middle of the night a few nights ago and put a pair on because I was so cold. My feet warmed right up!
6. On the one hand, this has been a long work week for me--nearly 38 hours. It's not hard, but it does wear me down. On the happy side, I'm getting paid twice as much as what I normally expect! Who doesn't like money?
7. I exercised every weekday this week and hopefully I'll do it again today.
8. Early church on Sundays so I can spend a Sunday afternoon playing Settlers of Catan with any children who happen to have all their homework done. And if no one wants to play, I get a NAP!
9. Fat free, high fiber (the box says 5 grams), 100 calorie, pretend chocolate fudgesicles from Aldi's. They are flavorless, but the texture is intriguing enough for me to want to eat more than one.
10. OK, I'll get a little gushy but don't tell anyone. I love you, Jim. You make my days brighter.
There. And I got to ten! I feel better. Time for breakfast.
11. Oatmeal without brown sugar is not so bad.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Matt-tastic
Don't you hate it when people make up words using "fantastic" and some other word? I do. But I still do it.
Matt had pack meeting last night. I would have gone, but fake child's mother was scheduled to pick up fake child at the same time as pack meeting started. Plus it was another long day with fake child (and I have two more this week, making the week a full-time job). Yeah, excuses, excuses. But I have promised to go to the Blue and Gold dinner. It'll be the last one I ever attend (at least as a parent). Matt will be out of Cubs in October.
Jim took the camera with him and caught Matt in Limbo.
How do his ankles survive that much rotation and stress??? Seriously, his back foot looks like it is nearly folded up against his leg!
Matt had pack meeting last night. I would have gone, but fake child's mother was scheduled to pick up fake child at the same time as pack meeting started. Plus it was another long day with fake child (and I have two more this week, making the week a full-time job). Yeah, excuses, excuses. But I have promised to go to the Blue and Gold dinner. It'll be the last one I ever attend (at least as a parent). Matt will be out of Cubs in October.
Jim took the camera with him and caught Matt in Limbo.
How do his ankles survive that much rotation and stress??? Seriously, his back foot looks like it is nearly folded up against his leg!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A gooshy mooshy post
But not gushy or mushy. I try not to get gushy or mushy.
We are getting back into having Family Home Evening (or abbreviated FHE, it's on Monday nights and it's a family togetherness night when we have a gospel-oriented discussion, sing a song, and EAT TREATS!). FHE with teenagers has been a bit of a challenge because of scheduling. Katie was always gone somewhere and now Jimmy works. Paul isn't in a sport right now, but when he is, he could be gone on a Monday night. And on and on. Many nights of "oops, we're too busy to have FHE" eventually turned into many months. But like I said, we are getting back on track.
Last night, Hayley was in charge of the treats for FHE, which we pointed out to her on Sunday. She said, "Can I make gooshy mooshy?"
Smiley
Gooshy mooshy is a family favorite (except for Jim, who would likely rather go without a treat than eat it), and when the kids were all about 10 years younger (which would make Matt either nonexistent or only a little existent) they wanted to make it ALL THE TIME. For a couple of years, we had gooshy mooshy every week for FHE (which might explain why Jim doesn't like it).
Gooshy mooshy is basically a peanut butter based edible playdough. The kids have called it gooshy mooshy ever since first setting hand in the dough. If you want the recipe, it's 1 c. dry nonfat instant milk, 1/2 c. peanut butter, and 1/2 c. honey. Mix with your hands, roll into balls or whatever shape you want to, and chill for a bit. That's it. Easy! That's why it's such fun for the kids.
So they made gooshy mooshy yesterday afternoon.
We even involved fake child, who got her own bowl to mix. Paul participated too; he is not beyond reliving his childhood. But I didn't remember the camera until he had already finished and washed his hands.
So later that night, Jimmy came home from work and we were just about to sit down for our FHE, and Jimmy asked, "Are we still gonna make gooshy mooshy?"
I replied, "The kids did it this afternoon."
"Did they make enough for everybody?"
"Yes, I told them that they will be sharing with you."
Jimmy paused.
"Can I still make my own?"
Heehee! He still wanted to make gooshy mooshy! I frankly thought he would have considered himself to old and mature to make gooshy mooshy anymore. I got out a bowl for him and he went to town (eating most of it while he was gooshing and mooshing the dough). Sadly I didn't take a picture.
But here is one of him taking a nap.
He says he wasn't sleeping. I say he was.
We are getting back into having Family Home Evening (or abbreviated FHE, it's on Monday nights and it's a family togetherness night when we have a gospel-oriented discussion, sing a song, and EAT TREATS!). FHE with teenagers has been a bit of a challenge because of scheduling. Katie was always gone somewhere and now Jimmy works. Paul isn't in a sport right now, but when he is, he could be gone on a Monday night. And on and on. Many nights of "oops, we're too busy to have FHE" eventually turned into many months. But like I said, we are getting back on track.
Last night, Hayley was in charge of the treats for FHE, which we pointed out to her on Sunday. She said, "Can I make gooshy mooshy?"
Smiley
Gooshy mooshy is a family favorite (except for Jim, who would likely rather go without a treat than eat it), and when the kids were all about 10 years younger (which would make Matt either nonexistent or only a little existent) they wanted to make it ALL THE TIME. For a couple of years, we had gooshy mooshy every week for FHE (which might explain why Jim doesn't like it).
Gooshy mooshy is basically a peanut butter based edible playdough. The kids have called it gooshy mooshy ever since first setting hand in the dough. If you want the recipe, it's 1 c. dry nonfat instant milk, 1/2 c. peanut butter, and 1/2 c. honey. Mix with your hands, roll into balls or whatever shape you want to, and chill for a bit. That's it. Easy! That's why it's such fun for the kids.
So they made gooshy mooshy yesterday afternoon.
We even involved fake child, who got her own bowl to mix. Paul participated too; he is not beyond reliving his childhood. But I didn't remember the camera until he had already finished and washed his hands.So later that night, Jimmy came home from work and we were just about to sit down for our FHE, and Jimmy asked, "Are we still gonna make gooshy mooshy?"
I replied, "The kids did it this afternoon."
"Did they make enough for everybody?"
"Yes, I told them that they will be sharing with you."
Jimmy paused.
"Can I still make my own?"
Heehee! He still wanted to make gooshy mooshy! I frankly thought he would have considered himself to old and mature to make gooshy mooshy anymore. I got out a bowl for him and he went to town (eating most of it while he was gooshing and mooshing the dough). Sadly I didn't take a picture.
But here is one of him taking a nap.
He says he wasn't sleeping. I say he was.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Little boys
It's retro picture blog post day.
One day before school, Jimmy was goofing around as usual. He really was a tough kid to get to school in those early years. (Now he does just fine by himself. He gets himself to seminary and does not have to be persuaded, begged, bribed, or threatened to go).
So this one day, Jimmy decided to have fun with Matt. Matt really wanted to go to school too and they decided that Matt would just hop in Jimmy's backpack and go with him.
And as you see, Matt fit quite well at the time. He really wanted to go to school. I couldn't yell at Jimmy much that day for goofing around.
Here is one of my favorite childhood (not mine but Paul's) characters ever.
Buckethead. Paul wore this around for several weeks when he was about 18 months old.
Awwww. I miss my little boys.
One day before school, Jimmy was goofing around as usual. He really was a tough kid to get to school in those early years. (Now he does just fine by himself. He gets himself to seminary and does not have to be persuaded, begged, bribed, or threatened to go).
So this one day, Jimmy decided to have fun with Matt. Matt really wanted to go to school too and they decided that Matt would just hop in Jimmy's backpack and go with him.
And as you see, Matt fit quite well at the time. He really wanted to go to school. I couldn't yell at Jimmy much that day for goofing around. Here is one of my favorite childhood (not mine but Paul's) characters ever.
Buckethead. Paul wore this around for several weeks when he was about 18 months old.Awwww. I miss my little boys.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Parent-teacher-child conferences without the teacher
In other words, I should have stayed at home.
Conferences at the middle school are now TEACHER-LESS. I brought Hayley to the school at the appointed time yesterday (8:20 a.m.---arggh! what was I thinking?). Since I'd been given fake child at 6 a.m., she came along too. So the three of us drive the 10 minutes to the school, get out of the van straight into an arctic blast (it's another cold weekend here in the land of 10,000 frozen nosehairs). We can't run on the sidewalk because it's an ice sheet, so it was slow going to the front door, miles away from where we parked. Finally we insert ourselves into the warmth of the foyer of the school and walk the next several miles in relative comfort. I don't see anyone but a few other parent/child combos. I don't see any staff. No one points the way. There is one signpost in the middle of a hallway intersection that wobbles slightly as the ghost of a breeze passes by. The sign says "Boo Fa r." Someone must have erased the "k" and "i" from "Book Fair."
We get to the cafeteria where the 6th grade conferences are held. Not a school district employee in sight. Seriously. The only other humans present were another parent/child couple sitting quietly at a far table. Sitting on one table as we walked in were bins with blue folders, grouped according to homeroom (in this district they call it "primetime" and it's in the middle of the day) teacher. I found Hayley's folder and she ducked out to use the bathroom. Fake child and I sat down and fake child chattered away about this and that. Finally Hayley came back. We looked over her grades, decided all was well, and looked around, wondering what we were supposed to do next. The actual conference took all of two minutes.
Still no teachers. I suppose we could have hunted them down, but I didn't want to expend any more energy into this farce.
Next time, I am writing a note when conference sign-up forms are sent home. This is what I am going to say:
"It is ridiculous for me to drive all the way down here to the school to sit at a cafeteria table (with not a teacher in sight) and talk to my daughter about her grades. I can have a teacherless conference with her at home. If you, or any of her other teachers, need to discuss an issue with me that you think I am not aware of, email or call me. I encourage the discussion of any problems. But I'm not going to chase you down just to ask you if there are issues that I need to be made aware of. And if I thought there were concerns, I would contact you. But I am not wasting my time by driving all the way to the school just to talk to my daughter. I know how she is doing in school--the ability to track her grades, absences, tardies, and disciplinary issues on the internet make that very easy to do from home."
I do like public school. It's a better option for our family than homeschooling. Not that I don't think I am capable of teaching them or that they are capable of learning at home; it's more that I am not organized enough to do it and we would probably all hate it and hate each other. I need that time while they are at school to clear my head. And they need to be away from me too. They need to interact with others. And they wouldn't get that here. I don't like to leave the house. Which is why I am so mad that the parent-teacher-child conference was WITHOUT THE TEACHER.
Conferences at the middle school are now TEACHER-LESS. I brought Hayley to the school at the appointed time yesterday (8:20 a.m.---arggh! what was I thinking?). Since I'd been given fake child at 6 a.m., she came along too. So the three of us drive the 10 minutes to the school, get out of the van straight into an arctic blast (it's another cold weekend here in the land of 10,000 frozen nosehairs). We can't run on the sidewalk because it's an ice sheet, so it was slow going to the front door, miles away from where we parked. Finally we insert ourselves into the warmth of the foyer of the school and walk the next several miles in relative comfort. I don't see anyone but a few other parent/child combos. I don't see any staff. No one points the way. There is one signpost in the middle of a hallway intersection that wobbles slightly as the ghost of a breeze passes by. The sign says "Boo Fa r." Someone must have erased the "k" and "i" from "Book Fair."
We get to the cafeteria where the 6th grade conferences are held. Not a school district employee in sight. Seriously. The only other humans present were another parent/child couple sitting quietly at a far table. Sitting on one table as we walked in were bins with blue folders, grouped according to homeroom (in this district they call it "primetime" and it's in the middle of the day) teacher. I found Hayley's folder and she ducked out to use the bathroom. Fake child and I sat down and fake child chattered away about this and that. Finally Hayley came back. We looked over her grades, decided all was well, and looked around, wondering what we were supposed to do next. The actual conference took all of two minutes.
Still no teachers. I suppose we could have hunted them down, but I didn't want to expend any more energy into this farce.
Next time, I am writing a note when conference sign-up forms are sent home. This is what I am going to say:
"It is ridiculous for me to drive all the way down here to the school to sit at a cafeteria table (with not a teacher in sight) and talk to my daughter about her grades. I can have a teacherless conference with her at home. If you, or any of her other teachers, need to discuss an issue with me that you think I am not aware of, email or call me. I encourage the discussion of any problems. But I'm not going to chase you down just to ask you if there are issues that I need to be made aware of. And if I thought there were concerns, I would contact you. But I am not wasting my time by driving all the way to the school just to talk to my daughter. I know how she is doing in school--the ability to track her grades, absences, tardies, and disciplinary issues on the internet make that very easy to do from home."
I do like public school. It's a better option for our family than homeschooling. Not that I don't think I am capable of teaching them or that they are capable of learning at home; it's more that I am not organized enough to do it and we would probably all hate it and hate each other. I need that time while they are at school to clear my head. And they need to be away from me too. They need to interact with others. And they wouldn't get that here. I don't like to leave the house. Which is why I am so mad that the parent-teacher-child conference was WITHOUT THE TEACHER.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Listening to the voice
Jimmy has a date tonight. (heehee!) Because MN has a law that prohibits teenagers from driving after midnight, I drove him to his date's house (they are going to a midnight movie) and his date's mom is driving them to the movie--and attending the movie with them.
Tangent: According to Jimmy, AW's (Jimmy's date) mom teased them that she was going to sit in the very back and throw popcorn and scriptures at the two of them during the movie. I so wanted to do that too! I asked Jimmy several times if he wanted me there too. Guess what his answer was? Sigh. I want to be an annoying mom!
ANYWAY...
So I was driving Jimmy to AW's house using my Christmas present--the still unnamed sister of Aunt Roady. So my tomtom was sitting on the console of my van and as I turned from HWY 13 to N street, my tomtom fell on the floor and slid under my seat, face down. Jimmy tried to reach it while I was still driving, but he couldn't find it. I wasn't at a good place to stop the car to look for it, but I could hear it, so I kept driving. I tell you, it is strange to drive while listening to a voice coming from underneath the driver's seat. A muffled voice would drift up from underneath me, telling me to "Turn left. Then take the second left." Very surreal.
Guess you had to be there. Otherwise I got nuthin'. Tomorrow, Matt is the only one who has to go to school. The not-elementary schools in the district have parent/teacher conferences. And I have to attend Hayley's. Matt is indignant that he is the only one who has to go to school. I keep hearing "It's not fair!" Poor put-upon Matt. Boo-hoo.
Tangent: According to Jimmy, AW's (Jimmy's date) mom teased them that she was going to sit in the very back and throw popcorn and scriptures at the two of them during the movie. I so wanted to do that too! I asked Jimmy several times if he wanted me there too. Guess what his answer was? Sigh. I want to be an annoying mom!
ANYWAY...
So I was driving Jimmy to AW's house using my Christmas present--the still unnamed sister of Aunt Roady. So my tomtom was sitting on the console of my van and as I turned from HWY 13 to N street, my tomtom fell on the floor and slid under my seat, face down. Jimmy tried to reach it while I was still driving, but he couldn't find it. I wasn't at a good place to stop the car to look for it, but I could hear it, so I kept driving. I tell you, it is strange to drive while listening to a voice coming from underneath the driver's seat. A muffled voice would drift up from underneath me, telling me to "Turn left. Then take the second left." Very surreal.
Guess you had to be there. Otherwise I got nuthin'. Tomorrow, Matt is the only one who has to go to school. The not-elementary schools in the district have parent/teacher conferences. And I have to attend Hayley's. Matt is indignant that he is the only one who has to go to school. I keep hearing "It's not fair!" Poor put-upon Matt. Boo-hoo.
A visitor from the Golden State
I failed yesterday in my attempt to have a non-blogworthy day. (I wasn't really trying to have a non-blogworthy day yesterday, but it's been a dry month for ideas or events)
We had a visitor! He wasn't totally unexpected, but we weren't sure if he was close enough to stop by. But he was! Jim's brother-in-law, Will, had a truck route up here and was in Inver Grove Heights, which is a hop-skip-and-a-15-minute drive from here. Will is a truck driver and has only recently had loads that brought him here to the Upper Midwest from California.
Will and Jim met at church (youth activity night at church) and then Jim brought Will back home for a quick chat and to show him around the house. It was wonderful to see him--it's been quite a while since we've seen Will--nearly 10 years, Tammy and I were thinking. We saw Tammy and some of the kids last summer in Durango, but Will was trucking and couldn't make it.
Tammy (Jim's sister and Will's wife) hasn't ever been here before--in fact only Jim's dad and Uncle Art have ever been to our house before--but hopefully Will will get another Minnesota delivery in the summer time and bring Tammy with him.
After the visit at our house, Jim took Will back to church with him (Will had parked the truck there) and gave Jimmy a bit of surprise. Jimmy got to church after Jim left with Will (Jimmy had been working) and when they got back, Jimmy did kind of a double take when he saw his Uncle Will and said, "Hey, what are you doing here?" Jimmy said that Paul told him that Uncle Will had come but that Jimmy didn't believe him.
The visit was so quick though that I completely forgot the camera. So Will needs to visit again soon and he has to bring some family with him.
We had a visitor! He wasn't totally unexpected, but we weren't sure if he was close enough to stop by. But he was! Jim's brother-in-law, Will, had a truck route up here and was in Inver Grove Heights, which is a hop-skip-and-a-15-minute drive from here. Will is a truck driver and has only recently had loads that brought him here to the Upper Midwest from California.
Will and Jim met at church (youth activity night at church) and then Jim brought Will back home for a quick chat and to show him around the house. It was wonderful to see him--it's been quite a while since we've seen Will--nearly 10 years, Tammy and I were thinking. We saw Tammy and some of the kids last summer in Durango, but Will was trucking and couldn't make it.
Tammy (Jim's sister and Will's wife) hasn't ever been here before--in fact only Jim's dad and Uncle Art have ever been to our house before--but hopefully Will will get another Minnesota delivery in the summer time and bring Tammy with him.
After the visit at our house, Jim took Will back to church with him (Will had parked the truck there) and gave Jimmy a bit of surprise. Jimmy got to church after Jim left with Will (Jimmy had been working) and when they got back, Jimmy did kind of a double take when he saw his Uncle Will and said, "Hey, what are you doing here?" Jimmy said that Paul told him that Uncle Will had come but that Jimmy didn't believe him.
The visit was so quick though that I completely forgot the camera. So Will needs to visit again soon and he has to bring some family with him.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Hopes and Dreams
It used to be that I hoped and dreamed big things: that I would write wonderful stories or be a great teacher (when I was in 4th grade, I wanted to teach 4th grade) or be an astronomer (I loved the astronomy class in college). While I was in the one high school play, I dreamed that someday I would be an actress.
Now I just hope and dream that I'll get some exercise and a shower before noon, that I'll get dinner made in a timely fashion, that the kids won't fight with each other and I won't feel like I have to yell at them for something, and that the living room will remain fairly clean for another day. And I'm fine with that.
Now I just hope and dream that I'll get some exercise and a shower before noon, that I'll get dinner made in a timely fashion, that the kids won't fight with each other and I won't feel like I have to yell at them for something, and that the living room will remain fairly clean for another day. And I'm fine with that.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
In which I survive a trip to see the doctor.
I had a checkup today.
Good news: blood pressure is significantly lower than when I saw the doctor four years ago.
Bad news: She says I still have to lose weight. What does she want from me??? I just can't please my physician!
At least I didn't cry this time. People who know me know that I have a very sensitive and fickle waterworks trigger. But I kept it under control this time and I didn't smear my light slathering of eye makeup on the hideous hospital gown. And I didn't relieve them of the every last tissue in the room to blow a drippy nose.
The doctor asked me if I had tried a gym membership. I told her that I had but I gained weight over the year that I was a member and then quit. I said I could jolly well gain weight at home without having to pay for it. She chuckled.
All is quiet on the kid front. No concerts, no athletic events, no ceremonies to attend. I feel at a loss for blogging material because of the lack of children's activities. And the Great Room Switch is done. I could blog about the inauguration, but I'm not watching it. I should actually turn in on though. I really should pay more attention to political events like this. Jim did record some stuff yesterday, but mostly because U2 were playing. He likes watching events like these because the music is pretty good.
Good news: blood pressure is significantly lower than when I saw the doctor four years ago.
Bad news: She says I still have to lose weight. What does she want from me??? I just can't please my physician!
At least I didn't cry this time. People who know me know that I have a very sensitive and fickle waterworks trigger. But I kept it under control this time and I didn't smear my light slathering of eye makeup on the hideous hospital gown. And I didn't relieve them of the every last tissue in the room to blow a drippy nose.
The doctor asked me if I had tried a gym membership. I told her that I had but I gained weight over the year that I was a member and then quit. I said I could jolly well gain weight at home without having to pay for it. She chuckled.
All is quiet on the kid front. No concerts, no athletic events, no ceremonies to attend. I feel at a loss for blogging material because of the lack of children's activities. And the Great Room Switch is done. I could blog about the inauguration, but I'm not watching it. I should actually turn in on though. I really should pay more attention to political events like this. Jim did record some stuff yesterday, but mostly because U2 were playing. He likes watching events like these because the music is pretty good.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Frankencouch
No this is not a post about our wannabe Senator's sofa.
Can you say "cheap couch?" I can. Even through gritted teeth.
Remember when I blogged about the stupid broken couch? (and by the way, this is the second time it has broken) Jim fixed it on Saturday. And then reinforced it yesterday. Wanna see what the underside of my couch looks like? Sure you do.
This is where it broke the first time.
Sandwiched in all that wood, metal, and duct tape mess is a 1 x 4 that served as the support for the back of the couch--where the couch receives the most stress from hefty backsides. A 1 x 4. CHEAP STUPID (but oh so comfortable ) COUCH.
This is the most recent break.
See Jim. See Jim fix the couch. See Jim not get frustrated like his wife at the cheap manufacturers of furniture.
And now our couch is cobbled together with bits and parts of past projects.
One more section to break.
You would think paying as much as we did for this couch that it would be well-made. But I guess I'm showing my ignorance of the way companies really do business. Then again, maybe a 1 x 4 is fine and we are just hippos or are abusive to furniture.
Thanks, Jim, for fixing the couch. Both times. I would have just gone to buy a new couch. I would have assumed that it was too far gone for repair, and I wouldn't have known what to do. Although maybe I'm selling myself short; I did fix the piano that one time (well, I removed a coin). Anyway, thanks.
In other news, no school today. On the agenda: Matt will go to a day camp thingie at the local fitness club with a friend, Hayley will have a friend over, Jimmy will register for the ACT test, I will go grocery shopping and babysit fake child, Paul will do whatever it is that he does when he has nothing to do. And just because Jim works for a bank doesn't mean he gets these minor holidays off, sad to say.
Can you say "cheap couch?" I can. Even through gritted teeth.
Remember when I blogged about the stupid broken couch? (and by the way, this is the second time it has broken) Jim fixed it on Saturday. And then reinforced it yesterday. Wanna see what the underside of my couch looks like? Sure you do.
This is where it broke the first time.
Sandwiched in all that wood, metal, and duct tape mess is a 1 x 4 that served as the support for the back of the couch--where the couch receives the most stress from hefty backsides. A 1 x 4. CHEAP STUPID (but oh so comfortable ) COUCH.This is the most recent break.
See Jim. See Jim fix the couch. See Jim not get frustrated like his wife at the cheap manufacturers of furniture.And now our couch is cobbled together with bits and parts of past projects.
One more section to break.You would think paying as much as we did for this couch that it would be well-made. But I guess I'm showing my ignorance of the way companies really do business. Then again, maybe a 1 x 4 is fine and we are just hippos or are abusive to furniture.
Thanks, Jim, for fixing the couch. Both times. I would have just gone to buy a new couch. I would have assumed that it was too far gone for repair, and I wouldn't have known what to do. Although maybe I'm selling myself short; I did fix the piano that one time (well, I removed a coin). Anyway, thanks.
In other news, no school today. On the agenda: Matt will go to a day camp thingie at the local fitness club with a friend, Hayley will have a friend over, Jimmy will register for the ACT test, I will go grocery shopping and babysit fake child, Paul will do whatever it is that he does when he has nothing to do. And just because Jim works for a bank doesn't mean he gets these minor holidays off, sad to say.
Friday, January 16, 2009
I learn something new every day
But sometimes the things that I learn, I'd rather NOT learn. And I think Matt probably feels the same way.
This morning we each learned something new.
Matt learned not to put a bag of frozen bread (bag and twist-tie included) in the microwave. As subset issues, he learned:
1) to look harder around the kitchen for already thawed out bread
2) that if he absolutely has to thaw bread out in the microwave to take a couple slices out of the bag
3) not to put twist-ties in the microwave because they will start on fire
4) that he is capable of putting out a small microwave fire by himself.
I learned:
1) that I really need a bathrobe so that when my son wakes me up with the phrase "Mom, um, there is a fire in the microwave" I can jump up and attend to it right away
2) that it is possible to not yell at a child for something that was really an accident and thankfully did no damage.
Actually, the last one was more of a reminder because I already know that yelling does not help when it really was an accident. He truly did not realize that the metal in the twist-tie would start a fire.
It was a very small fire, I believe. I didn't see it because Matt had doused the fire with a cup of water (guess who mopped up all the water? Not Matt) before I was able to stumble out of my room dressed appropriately for parenting and for putting out of small fires. If you looked into my microwave, you wouldn't be able to even tell there was a fire, unless I pointed out the small scorch mark and the sooty spot on the top. The plastic bag melted a little and we only lost one piece of bread besides the heel, and not because it was literally toast, but because it had some plastic on it.
All's well that ends without fire damage.
This morning we each learned something new.
Matt learned not to put a bag of frozen bread (bag and twist-tie included) in the microwave. As subset issues, he learned:
1) to look harder around the kitchen for already thawed out bread
2) that if he absolutely has to thaw bread out in the microwave to take a couple slices out of the bag
3) not to put twist-ties in the microwave because they will start on fire
4) that he is capable of putting out a small microwave fire by himself.
I learned:
1) that I really need a bathrobe so that when my son wakes me up with the phrase "Mom, um, there is a fire in the microwave" I can jump up and attend to it right away
2) that it is possible to not yell at a child for something that was really an accident and thankfully did no damage.
Actually, the last one was more of a reminder because I already know that yelling does not help when it really was an accident. He truly did not realize that the metal in the twist-tie would start a fire.
It was a very small fire, I believe. I didn't see it because Matt had doused the fire with a cup of water (guess who mopped up all the water? Not Matt) before I was able to stumble out of my room dressed appropriately for parenting and for putting out of small fires. If you looked into my microwave, you wouldn't be able to even tell there was a fire, unless I pointed out the small scorch mark and the sooty spot on the top. The plastic bag melted a little and we only lost one piece of bread besides the heel, and not because it was literally toast, but because it had some plastic on it.
All's well that ends without fire damage.
Some think witches use magic to turn people into toads.
Children's choir on Thursday evenings is back in session--starting last night. It was the first time I'd been out of the house in several days.
Last night, DM, the director, hosted a pizza party, which was a good thing because I didn't manage to put dinner on the table before we left. After the kids ate (DM and I chatted), one of the girls suggested a game to play, and it turned out to be a really funny activity. I would like to share the activity just in case you want to try this sometime.
Get a couple of books. Any book will do, but we used a children's dictionary and the Home Depot manual detailing just about any household repair job imaginable. Each kid or group of kids then opens one of the books, picks a random short paragraph, and then sings that paragraph. Hearing the children's dictionary definition of "magic" (see title of this post) sung quite operatically sent us all into giggles. So did the operatic version the definition of "drain." There was also a good one on how to lay ceramic tile. Matt started out his singing rendition of some home repair job with a couple of measures of beat boxing (a "talent" that lay hidden until now). DM and I snorted with laughter several times. All the kids participated and begged to do it one more time.
It's still cold. But life goes on and so does the furnace, thankfully. I am so glad that Jim weatherstripped the front door and the door to the garage because for years those two doors let in a lot of cold air. And I am glad that he put plastic up on the big windows in the house. The basement is much warmer this winter than it has ever been before. In previous winters, we used the fireplace nearly every day when the temp dropped below 20 degrees. But I haven't felt the need to turn it on once (that doesn't mean that other people didn't--but it's been used MUCH less frequently this year). So yay Jim!
Last night, DM, the director, hosted a pizza party, which was a good thing because I didn't manage to put dinner on the table before we left. After the kids ate (DM and I chatted), one of the girls suggested a game to play, and it turned out to be a really funny activity. I would like to share the activity just in case you want to try this sometime.
Get a couple of books. Any book will do, but we used a children's dictionary and the Home Depot manual detailing just about any household repair job imaginable. Each kid or group of kids then opens one of the books, picks a random short paragraph, and then sings that paragraph. Hearing the children's dictionary definition of "magic" (see title of this post) sung quite operatically sent us all into giggles. So did the operatic version the definition of "drain." There was also a good one on how to lay ceramic tile. Matt started out his singing rendition of some home repair job with a couple of measures of beat boxing (a "talent" that lay hidden until now). DM and I snorted with laughter several times. All the kids participated and begged to do it one more time.
It's still cold. But life goes on and so does the furnace, thankfully. I am so glad that Jim weatherstripped the front door and the door to the garage because for years those two doors let in a lot of cold air. And I am glad that he put plastic up on the big windows in the house. The basement is much warmer this winter than it has ever been before. In previous winters, we used the fireplace nearly every day when the temp dropped below 20 degrees. But I haven't felt the need to turn it on once (that doesn't mean that other people didn't--but it's been used MUCH less frequently this year). So yay Jim!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Do I have to?
Sadly, I have to talk about the weather. Yes, it is cold. My little google reader app that tells me the temp says that right now at 8:45 a.m., the temperature outside is -25. Windchill is supposedly subtracting another 15 degrees.
It is cold enough so that the schools are two hours late starting today. The kids are pleased about that. Paul used his extra hours to sleep and play a few minutes of Wii. Jimmy did homework that he left for today (we knew about the late start last night). Hayley and Matt slept in a little bit. And fake child will be late getting here because her dad's car won't start.
It's a hot chocolate day. It's soup day. It's warm wooly socks day. A fuzzy sweater day. A curl up on the couch with a tattered quilt and a piece of escapist fiction day. A use the cats as foot warmers day. A go nowhere day. A leave the mail in the mailbox until tomorrow day.
Keep warm, all you upper Midwesterners! And everybody else, enjoy above zero temps for me please! Where are Hawaii and Mexico when you need them?
It is cold enough so that the schools are two hours late starting today. The kids are pleased about that. Paul used his extra hours to sleep and play a few minutes of Wii. Jimmy did homework that he left for today (we knew about the late start last night). Hayley and Matt slept in a little bit. And fake child will be late getting here because her dad's car won't start.
It's a hot chocolate day. It's soup day. It's warm wooly socks day. A fuzzy sweater day. A curl up on the couch with a tattered quilt and a piece of escapist fiction day. A use the cats as foot warmers day. A go nowhere day. A leave the mail in the mailbox until tomorrow day.
Keep warm, all you upper Midwesterners! And everybody else, enjoy above zero temps for me please! Where are Hawaii and Mexico when you need them?
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Reasons #26, #52, and #57 why I don't have a lovely, beautifully decorated house
#26 My kitchen counter has an affinity for pieces of paper. It loves paper of any kind, any size, any purpose, but it especially loves notices from schools. And pictures drawn by Hayley and Matt. I cannot keep paper off this surface to save my life. No sooner do I remove the papers from the counter, but it immediately turns on its magnetic-like pull and the papers come tumbling from odd corners of the house and leap up onto the counter to be hugged and cuddled by the laminate surface that really should be reserved for the preparation of meals. The kitchen counter will not listen to me. As a side hobby, it also collects dust and food particles.
#52
Somebody likes to mutilate my pine-scented decorative candles. This is an ongoing problem. What gets me is that this person is so blatantly flouting my rule to LEAVE THE DECORATIVE ITEMS IN THE HOUSE ALONE. Not only does this person flout, but he makes sure that I know he did it by CARVING HIS NAME IN THE CANDLE. He used a knitting needle.
#57 Chocolate. And not because I eat it. Chocolate works against my housecleaning because kids make brownies. And somehow they get splatters of brownie batter on the walls in the kitchen. What were they doing with the brownie batter so that it spattered on the wall, I'd like to know? Brownie batter is too precious, too delicious to use it in a food fight. Or as a painting medium.
Anyway. My house is not clean, and it never will be. My house is not tastefully decorated either, and again, it never will be. That is that.
#52
Somebody likes to mutilate my pine-scented decorative candles. This is an ongoing problem. What gets me is that this person is so blatantly flouting my rule to LEAVE THE DECORATIVE ITEMS IN THE HOUSE ALONE. Not only does this person flout, but he makes sure that I know he did it by CARVING HIS NAME IN THE CANDLE. He used a knitting needle.#57 Chocolate. And not because I eat it. Chocolate works against my housecleaning because kids make brownies. And somehow they get splatters of brownie batter on the walls in the kitchen. What were they doing with the brownie batter so that it spattered on the wall, I'd like to know? Brownie batter is too precious, too delicious to use it in a food fight. Or as a painting medium.
Anyway. My house is not clean, and it never will be. My house is not tastefully decorated either, and again, it never will be. That is that.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
FINALLY
After nearly two weeks, VOILA!
We can go back to eating at the table. Tomorrow. I have to leave it up for now so Jim can see it when he comes home from work.
We can go back to eating at the table. Tomorrow. I have to leave it up for now so Jim can see it when he comes home from work.
List of Stills
This is in no way a complaint of things not getting done. It is just a list of facts. It is what is.
1. The couch is still broken. I don't want anyone sitting on it, but they do anyway.
2. The puzzle is still not done. But Jim and I worked on it last night and we are getting closer to being able to use the dinner table again as an actual dining surface.
3. My sewing machines are still not set up in the sewing room, but I'm claiming Katie's visit as an excuse. She used that room as a basecamp, although she did not sleep in it.
4. I'm still not down to my target weight for my doctor's appointment.
5. A book I purchased with a Christmas gift card is still only half read. I do plan to finish it.
6. I still haven't eaten breakfast this morning. Time's a-wastin'.
7. A Halloween pillow is still on the floor in my bedroom. But Katie's T-shirt has been returned to its owner, so progress has been made there.
8. The half wall is still dusty from lack of care during the holidays. I'm hoping that Servo's predilection for lying on that wall will take care of the dust.
9. Jimmy's shaved eyebrow picture is still on the desk. He did take it to school, and the right people were impressed. I'll let it sit here on the desk a little longer so I can remember that smily, dimply, hugable yet stubborn little imp.
10. We still haven't learned to pick up after ourselves. Oh well.
1. The couch is still broken. I don't want anyone sitting on it, but they do anyway.
2. The puzzle is still not done. But Jim and I worked on it last night and we are getting closer to being able to use the dinner table again as an actual dining surface.
3. My sewing machines are still not set up in the sewing room, but I'm claiming Katie's visit as an excuse. She used that room as a basecamp, although she did not sleep in it.
4. I'm still not down to my target weight for my doctor's appointment.
5. A book I purchased with a Christmas gift card is still only half read. I do plan to finish it.
6. I still haven't eaten breakfast this morning. Time's a-wastin'.
7. A Halloween pillow is still on the floor in my bedroom. But Katie's T-shirt has been returned to its owner, so progress has been made there.
8. The half wall is still dusty from lack of care during the holidays. I'm hoping that Servo's predilection for lying on that wall will take care of the dust.
9. Jimmy's shaved eyebrow picture is still on the desk. He did take it to school, and the right people were impressed. I'll let it sit here on the desk a little longer so I can remember that smily, dimply, hugable yet stubborn little imp.
10. We still haven't learned to pick up after ourselves. Oh well.
Monday, January 12, 2009
I asked Jimmy if it was ok and he said it was
Jimmy is going to take this picture to school to show a friend. I told him he better not lose this picture and it better be returned in perfect condition. I love this photo. Jimmy was 2 1/2.
Have I told this story before? On this blog? I know I've shared it many times verbally.
One day before Christmas, I noticed that Jimmy's face looked off balance. I looked at his face for a little bit wondering what the deal was. The deal was he had SHAVED OFF HIS LEFT EYEBROW. His loving, but occasionally forgetful, father had left his razor on the COUNTER and little Jimmy decided to play with it. You can see that he took two swipes and cleared most of his eyebrow acreage pretty cleanly.
After my legs regained their non-jelly-like state and I had calmed down sufficiently (I nearly had a heart attack at the possibility that he might have scalped his own brow ridge) I grabbed the camera to record the event for posterity.
Now he wants to show off his predilection for sharp things at a young age to his friend at school. He doesn't even remember this event. But he likes the story.
He also doesn't remember the day he flung most of his duplo block supply into the toilet one at a time.
Or the time he scissored up his shirt with Grandma's fabric scissors.
Or the time he (at age 4) and his friend Kenny went to Kenny's house WITHOUT TELLING ME and I called the police (Kenny's dad wasn't home).
Or the time he and Katie covered a puzzle and all the pieces with vaseline.
Or the time he chucked his giant Brachiosaurus through his bedroom window (the window was CLOSED at the time).
Or the time he puked deep purple all over the front windshield in the Impala. Windshield wipers don't get the stuff on the inside of the car!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Back down to four
Katie went back to Utah. Her week here was full of fun and nagging. Guess who had the fun and who did the nagging?
No, I wasn't all nagginess. The three Evans females FINALLY went to see "Twilight" (Katie had seen it before) together late Saturday night. Perhaps we were a little to talky-talky during the film, but I think I've watched too much Mystery Science Theater 3000 to not make snarky comments during any movie. My motto regarding movies is if I go in with really low expectations, I can't be disappointed and therefore my potential to enjoy the movie is actually increased. I had heard the movie definitely wasn't perfect, so I vowed to expect very little from the movie. And I had a good time. Although I really couldn't help myself after Mr. Vampire-who-wears-lip-gloss Edward said to his girlfriend/ideal snack, "You're like a drug" and I leaned over to Katie and said, "You're like Nasonex!" We had to snort our laughter into our parkas to keep from being pelted with fossilized popcorn from peeved teenage girls behind us. And we spent the walk back to the car thinking of silly prescription drugs that Bella could be like to Edward. Kate had some good ones, since she had worked in a doctor's office for two months.
Katie achieved almost all of her vacation goals: meeting up with various friends, seeing lots of family, playing the Wii, helping with the puzzle, playing duets with her flute teacher, seeing "Twilight" with me, eating cake, seeing her former employers, going to church, irritating us with her lack of appropriate footwear, and getting back into the high-flying life of cat allergies. By the end of the week, she had irritated eyes (I TRIED to get her to take the eye drops and the Claritin but she refuses to listen to me) and a runny nose. It was time for her to go back to a cat free house.
OK, enough about Katie. We were discussing chicken wings on Friday night and making jokes about how many chickens does it take to fill up a bucket of chicken wings and Matt asked, "What part of the chicken does the patty come from?" I can see his point. Chicken legs, chicken wings, chicken breast....chicken patty? heeheehee!
No, I wasn't all nagginess. The three Evans females FINALLY went to see "Twilight" (Katie had seen it before) together late Saturday night. Perhaps we were a little to talky-talky during the film, but I think I've watched too much Mystery Science Theater 3000 to not make snarky comments during any movie. My motto regarding movies is if I go in with really low expectations, I can't be disappointed and therefore my potential to enjoy the movie is actually increased. I had heard the movie definitely wasn't perfect, so I vowed to expect very little from the movie. And I had a good time. Although I really couldn't help myself after Mr. Vampire-who-wears-lip-gloss Edward said to his girlfriend/ideal snack, "You're like a drug" and I leaned over to Katie and said, "You're like Nasonex!" We had to snort our laughter into our parkas to keep from being pelted with fossilized popcorn from peeved teenage girls behind us. And we spent the walk back to the car thinking of silly prescription drugs that Bella could be like to Edward. Kate had some good ones, since she had worked in a doctor's office for two months.
Katie achieved almost all of her vacation goals: meeting up with various friends, seeing lots of family, playing the Wii, helping with the puzzle, playing duets with her flute teacher, seeing "Twilight" with me, eating cake, seeing her former employers, going to church, irritating us with her lack of appropriate footwear, and getting back into the high-flying life of cat allergies. By the end of the week, she had irritated eyes (I TRIED to get her to take the eye drops and the Claritin but she refuses to listen to me) and a runny nose. It was time for her to go back to a cat free house.
OK, enough about Katie. We were discussing chicken wings on Friday night and making jokes about how many chickens does it take to fill up a bucket of chicken wings and Matt asked, "What part of the chicken does the patty come from?" I can see his point. Chicken legs, chicken wings, chicken breast....chicken patty? heeheehee!
Friday, January 9, 2009
I am hyperventilating
and I think I'm going to revisit the pizza I had for dinner.
I blame the cats.
My reasoning:
About six months after we got our little Magic and Servo (or four years ago), I developed a perpetually plugged sinus cavity.
So I went to the doctor.
The doctor said I had to lose weight because my blood pressure was too high (and then as a side note, she prescribed Nasonex for the nose problem because she said the tissues were swollen per an allergic reaction and not from a viral cold).
I cried because the doctor said I was fat.
When my prescription ran out, I resorted to sneaking whiffs of Nasonex from Matt's prescription, rather than go to the doctor again and be told things that my fragile self-image cannot handle.
When his ran out, I went to urgent care where I knew they would only deal with the problem I came in for and leave the other issues alone.
This afternoon, I got a call from my clinic.
I answered it.
I shouldn't have.
The cheerful scheduler said, "Your Nasonex prescription is being renewed. When can we schedule you for your yearly checkup?"
I made the appointment.
I have a week and a half to lose XX pounds. And lower my bp. Or I get lectured.
And then I will cry again.
I don't like crying.
Dumb cats.
I blame the cats.
My reasoning:
About six months after we got our little Magic and Servo (or four years ago), I developed a perpetually plugged sinus cavity.
So I went to the doctor.
The doctor said I had to lose weight because my blood pressure was too high (and then as a side note, she prescribed Nasonex for the nose problem because she said the tissues were swollen per an allergic reaction and not from a viral cold).
I cried because the doctor said I was fat.
When my prescription ran out, I resorted to sneaking whiffs of Nasonex from Matt's prescription, rather than go to the doctor again and be told things that my fragile self-image cannot handle.
When his ran out, I went to urgent care where I knew they would only deal with the problem I came in for and leave the other issues alone.
This afternoon, I got a call from my clinic.
I answered it.
I shouldn't have.
The cheerful scheduler said, "Your Nasonex prescription is being renewed. When can we schedule you for your yearly checkup?"
I made the appointment.
I have a week and a half to lose XX pounds. And lower my bp. Or I get lectured.
And then I will cry again.
I don't like crying.
Dumb cats.
Katie's visit part 3: Random things, and some are not about Katie
1. Katie has been going to her high school band class this week. And seminary. She has actually been on time for both, which I don't think ever happened when she was SUPPOSED to be going to both. The band director doesn't mind having her there I guess, although her little brother Paul minds somewhat because one of the other horn players says really loudly, "HEY PAUL, YOUR SISTER IS HERE!" And Paul doesn't "do" extraneous attention.
2. Speaking of Paul, he got into grades 9-10 regional honor band. He is still waiting to hear about state honor band. But I didn't hear this from him, oh no. Katie texted me from band class. I have a feeling that Paul will come home from school today and I will ask him about it and he will say, "What?" even though the band director announced it in class. And Paul will have no information about it and will say, after I explain it to him, "Um, I didn't really get what Mr. K was saying. I think I have to go somewhere, but I can't remember when." So I told Katie to have Mr. K email me with the particulars.
3. And speaking of getting into things, Hayley has been invited to sign up or apply or audition or whatever for Pre-AP 7th grade math. News to me. She was in the gifted program on a trial basis in 1st and 2nd grade, but wasn't given an invitation to participate after that. So this is kind of a surprise. Now if she'd been invited to take the Pre-AP art class (Mike, you can understand my excitement for a program like this... ;) ) I would have said, Oh yeah, this is what she is good at.
4. Not speaking of any previous things, I was called upon yesterday to inconvenience myself to do a good deed for someone else. And without hesitation or malice, I said I would do it. And this morning I was rewarded for my willingness to be all charitable with my time: the helpee called and said, "Nevermind!" And out loud I said, "Are you sure you don't need my help?" but inwardly I said, "Yippee!" So do I still get points?
5. Grandma bought Katie some shoes yesterday. Katie has been going about in our MN weather with flipflops. *bangs face against wall* Katie and her disregard for actual real shoes has been a thorn in my side for as long as she has been able to refuse to tie her own shoes. I have begged, pleaded, ordered, threatened and bribed that girl to opt for weater-appropriate footwear, to no avail. But Grandma, her years of wisdom and with a little cold hard cash (or flexible plastic cash), inspired Katie to cover up her footsies with something that I think Katie will actually wear even when I'm not around to "counsel" her.
6. We are making very slow progress on the puzzle.
7. I need to exercise this morning.
8. I'm filling numbers because I like consistency (the "ten things" thing. It can never be any less than or greater than ten)
9. NOTE TO JENNI FROM FLORIDA: DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE KNITTING PROJECT YET AND WANT TO BE SURPRISED! THIS IS A KAL SPOILER! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED......
I knit the first dishcloth in the bi-monthly series of knit-alongs and it's a cute cloth with a picture of an ice skate on it.
23 more to go!
10. Despite what I said earlier about resolutions, I actually have some (most of what I said in that post was for laffs. And I didn't get any. So I'll try to be less jokey from now on). And I'm failing miserably. I ate ice cream and Kit-Kats last night. I am addicted to high fructose corn syrup. I am ashamed. (Movie reference! Jenni in FL knows it, who else does?)
2. Speaking of Paul, he got into grades 9-10 regional honor band. He is still waiting to hear about state honor band. But I didn't hear this from him, oh no. Katie texted me from band class. I have a feeling that Paul will come home from school today and I will ask him about it and he will say, "What?" even though the band director announced it in class. And Paul will have no information about it and will say, after I explain it to him, "Um, I didn't really get what Mr. K was saying. I think I have to go somewhere, but I can't remember when." So I told Katie to have Mr. K email me with the particulars.
3. And speaking of getting into things, Hayley has been invited to sign up or apply or audition or whatever for Pre-AP 7th grade math. News to me. She was in the gifted program on a trial basis in 1st and 2nd grade, but wasn't given an invitation to participate after that. So this is kind of a surprise. Now if she'd been invited to take the Pre-AP art class (Mike, you can understand my excitement for a program like this... ;) ) I would have said, Oh yeah, this is what she is good at.
4. Not speaking of any previous things, I was called upon yesterday to inconvenience myself to do a good deed for someone else. And without hesitation or malice, I said I would do it. And this morning I was rewarded for my willingness to be all charitable with my time: the helpee called and said, "Nevermind!" And out loud I said, "Are you sure you don't need my help?" but inwardly I said, "Yippee!" So do I still get points?
5. Grandma bought Katie some shoes yesterday. Katie has been going about in our MN weather with flipflops. *bangs face against wall* Katie and her disregard for actual real shoes has been a thorn in my side for as long as she has been able to refuse to tie her own shoes. I have begged, pleaded, ordered, threatened and bribed that girl to opt for weater-appropriate footwear, to no avail. But Grandma, her years of wisdom and with a little cold hard cash (or flexible plastic cash), inspired Katie to cover up her footsies with something that I think Katie will actually wear even when I'm not around to "counsel" her.
6. We are making very slow progress on the puzzle.
7. I need to exercise this morning.
8. I'm filling numbers because I like consistency (the "ten things" thing. It can never be any less than or greater than ten)
9. NOTE TO JENNI FROM FLORIDA: DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE KNITTING PROJECT YET AND WANT TO BE SURPRISED! THIS IS A KAL SPOILER! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED......
I knit the first dishcloth in the bi-monthly series of knit-alongs and it's a cute cloth with a picture of an ice skate on it.
23 more to go!10. Despite what I said earlier about resolutions, I actually have some (most of what I said in that post was for laffs. And I didn't get any. So I'll try to be less jokey from now on). And I'm failing miserably. I ate ice cream and Kit-Kats last night. I am addicted to high fructose corn syrup. I am ashamed. (Movie reference! Jenni in FL knows it, who else does?)
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Katie's visit part 2: All my small appliances for hair styling have mysteriously migrated downstairs to Katie's favorite bathroom
Hmmmph.
Yesterday I was pondering the mom that I was 19 years ago. Being a mom way back then didn't involve much more than baby care (feeding, changing, and washing). Yes, I did get frustrated when the baby was fussy, but other than that, mothering was like carting a favorite toy around with me every where I went. I didn't have to argue with the baby over who got the last piece of cake, I didn't have to tell it for the tenth time to GO TO BED and QUIT TORMENTING THE CAT, FERCRYINOUTLOUD and STOP ARGUING OVER WHO MAKES MORE NOISE WHEN THEY SNEEZE. I didn't have to clean up after the baby, other than spit up--no toys, no backpacks, no books, no craft supplies, no Legos, no drawings, no jackets on the floor. I'm not saying it was easy, because it wasn't, but these days, I feel like my brain has been taken over by my children and all I do is wander around the house looking for ways to help them remember to be civilized people. When did I become a nag?
If you had told me when I had the first baby that I would eventually have five babies, I wouldn't have flinched because that's how many I wanted. If you had told me that my life would be overwhelmingly busy because I would have five children, I wouldn't have flinched either, because I saw what life was like with five children when I was a child. I was a member of a five-children household. So I don't ever regret it.
But sometimes I look forward to these children moving on. I want them to be on their own and nagging their own selves to pick up their clean socks from the family room floor.
Then sometimes I see a little newborn and miss my babies terribly. I miss the time when Matt was 3 and he came into my room and asked me what I was doing, sitting on the bed by myself. I said, "Oh, just wasting time." And Matt said, "Can I waste time with you?" He was so charming that even though I had wanted a moment to myself, I couldn't help but pull him up on the bed and cuddle with him.
Anyway, yesterday. Katie's birthday. We didn't see a lot of Katie yesterday; she had things to do, places to go, and people to see. But we did manage to squeeze in a family dinner (on top of the still unfinished castle puzzle) and cake. Then Katie had more galavanting to do with friends. These are those friends.
They went to their old Normandale hangout, the Bloomington McDonalds.
Yesterday I was pondering the mom that I was 19 years ago. Being a mom way back then didn't involve much more than baby care (feeding, changing, and washing). Yes, I did get frustrated when the baby was fussy, but other than that, mothering was like carting a favorite toy around with me every where I went. I didn't have to argue with the baby over who got the last piece of cake, I didn't have to tell it for the tenth time to GO TO BED and QUIT TORMENTING THE CAT, FERCRYINOUTLOUD and STOP ARGUING OVER WHO MAKES MORE NOISE WHEN THEY SNEEZE. I didn't have to clean up after the baby, other than spit up--no toys, no backpacks, no books, no craft supplies, no Legos, no drawings, no jackets on the floor. I'm not saying it was easy, because it wasn't, but these days, I feel like my brain has been taken over by my children and all I do is wander around the house looking for ways to help them remember to be civilized people. When did I become a nag?
If you had told me when I had the first baby that I would eventually have five babies, I wouldn't have flinched because that's how many I wanted. If you had told me that my life would be overwhelmingly busy because I would have five children, I wouldn't have flinched either, because I saw what life was like with five children when I was a child. I was a member of a five-children household. So I don't ever regret it.
But sometimes I look forward to these children moving on. I want them to be on their own and nagging their own selves to pick up their clean socks from the family room floor.
Then sometimes I see a little newborn and miss my babies terribly. I miss the time when Matt was 3 and he came into my room and asked me what I was doing, sitting on the bed by myself. I said, "Oh, just wasting time." And Matt said, "Can I waste time with you?" He was so charming that even though I had wanted a moment to myself, I couldn't help but pull him up on the bed and cuddle with him.
Anyway, yesterday. Katie's birthday. We didn't see a lot of Katie yesterday; she had things to do, places to go, and people to see. But we did manage to squeeze in a family dinner (on top of the still unfinished castle puzzle) and cake. Then Katie had more galavanting to do with friends. These are those friends.
They went to their old Normandale hangout, the Bloomington McDonalds.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Katie's visit part 1: It's mostly about food and Katie's birthday
I spent most of the day with Katie yesterday. She helped me shop for groceries, mostly by saying, "Mom! Get me some bacon! Mom, can we have fish sticks?" and repeating that she can't wait to have an actual real meal. Single people eat out of boxes over the sink, I guess.
Then after the shopping, Katie wanted her hair cut. This is before.
This is after.
In the afternoon, I made all the kids who were still at home, everyone but Jimmy who had to work, help me with food prep for a family gathering at my mom's. I was hosting, but Mom has more room at her house, so she was nice enough to let us meet there instead of at my house. The gathering was mostly so Katie could see family, but I brought a couple of cakes to celebrate her birthday, and anyone else's who wanted to be remembered.
This is the kids' table. Someone chose to break the "kids only" rule, though.
Mom just has to be a rebel and a rule breaker.
Way back at Thanksgiving, I noticed that whenever I bring my camera to family gatherings, I miss getting Stephanie in any of my pictures. So I stalked the elusive in-law and finally caught her on camera.
Steph, thanks for being a good sport about me taking a picture of you.
The younger kids played with duplo blocks for most of the non-eating phase of the gathering.
Today is Katie's 19th birthday. As per usual with birthday posts, I'll have to show off some pictures of her from her younger years. Hold on a moment while I go dig some up. You may putter around the room while I'm off picture hunting. Or get yourself a snack. I promise I'll be right back.
OK, I'm back.
Pictures of the birthday girl:
A few months old
A few months older
At age three and wearing one of my favorite little girl dresses
Happy birthday to our grown up daughter who is living on her own, being responsible for herself, and enjoying it.
Then after the shopping, Katie wanted her hair cut. This is before.
This is after.
In the afternoon, I made all the kids who were still at home, everyone but Jimmy who had to work, help me with food prep for a family gathering at my mom's. I was hosting, but Mom has more room at her house, so she was nice enough to let us meet there instead of at my house. The gathering was mostly so Katie could see family, but I brought a couple of cakes to celebrate her birthday, and anyone else's who wanted to be remembered.
This is the kids' table. Someone chose to break the "kids only" rule, though.
Mom just has to be a rebel and a rule breaker.Way back at Thanksgiving, I noticed that whenever I bring my camera to family gatherings, I miss getting Stephanie in any of my pictures. So I stalked the elusive in-law and finally caught her on camera.
Steph, thanks for being a good sport about me taking a picture of you.The younger kids played with duplo blocks for most of the non-eating phase of the gathering.
Today is Katie's 19th birthday. As per usual with birthday posts, I'll have to show off some pictures of her from her younger years. Hold on a moment while I go dig some up. You may putter around the room while I'm off picture hunting. Or get yourself a snack. I promise I'll be right back.
OK, I'm back.
Pictures of the birthday girl:
A few months old
A few months older
At age three and wearing one of my favorite little girl dresses
Happy birthday to our grown up daughter who is living on her own, being responsible for herself, and enjoying it.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Return of the Katie and another lost item
She's back! We took her on a tour of the new room situation and she was duly impressed with the change.
Jen, I showed her the book and she loves it!
Pictures will be forthcoming, I'm sure.
We indulged in a little Wii bowling after sending the rest of the kids to bed and as I sat on the couch, I noticed that it felt really low. So I pulled off the couch cushions and sure enough, THE COUCH IS BROKEN. Our wonderful microsuede, ultra comfy couch has a broken back beam. It's not just cracked, it's BROKEN, as in jagged points rip the flesh and give you slivers of screaming pain if you stick your hand back there. We just can't have nice things! (that's a quote from my favorite TV show, not me being angry, although I am angry. But nobody likes it when I am anything but happy funny pink and bubbly on my blog. But I am fairly sure that anybody would be angry if their favorite couch--the most expensive thing in the house, even more expensive than this computer--BROKE). On the up side (because I know you all don't want to hear about the bad things that happen) I FOUND THE OTHER PHONE! I thought Batmanuel was lost (yes, I named the phones. The other black handset is Queenie) for months. When we did the Great Room Switch, I though for sure we'd find Batmanuel and I was very sad when we didn't. But I reached down into the couch to investigate the cause of the low-rider couch, and my hand discovered the little lost handset! What rejoicing there was upon the return of the prodigal phone! So out of the black ashes of ruined furniture comes the happy ending of a found phone.
Yay.
I'll post more about Katie when we actually do stuff with her. She got here at 10 p.m. so it was too late to do anything but show her around, bring in her stuff, play a round of bowling, and annoy the cats. How Katie loves to torment Servo and Magic. Especially Magic.
Jen, I showed her the book and she loves it!
Pictures will be forthcoming, I'm sure.
We indulged in a little Wii bowling after sending the rest of the kids to bed and as I sat on the couch, I noticed that it felt really low. So I pulled off the couch cushions and sure enough, THE COUCH IS BROKEN. Our wonderful microsuede, ultra comfy couch has a broken back beam. It's not just cracked, it's BROKEN, as in jagged points rip the flesh and give you slivers of screaming pain if you stick your hand back there. We just can't have nice things! (that's a quote from my favorite TV show, not me being angry, although I am angry. But nobody likes it when I am anything but happy funny pink and bubbly on my blog. But I am fairly sure that anybody would be angry if their favorite couch--the most expensive thing in the house, even more expensive than this computer--BROKE). On the up side (because I know you all don't want to hear about the bad things that happen) I FOUND THE OTHER PHONE! I thought Batmanuel was lost (yes, I named the phones. The other black handset is Queenie) for months. When we did the Great Room Switch, I though for sure we'd find Batmanuel and I was very sad when we didn't. But I reached down into the couch to investigate the cause of the low-rider couch, and my hand discovered the little lost handset! What rejoicing there was upon the return of the prodigal phone! So out of the black ashes of ruined furniture comes the happy ending of a found phone.
Yay.
I'll post more about Katie when we actually do stuff with her. She got here at 10 p.m. so it was too late to do anything but show her around, bring in her stuff, play a round of bowling, and annoy the cats. How Katie loves to torment Servo and Magic. Especially Magic.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Tis a puzzlement
The New Year puzzle tradition continues at the shoebox castle, and what better image on the puzzle than an actual castle?
This year, though, the kids haven't been too interested in helping. Katie has always been the traditionist and the avid puzzlist in the home, and she's not here! Jim and I worked on it on and off yesterday (I took a time out to go to Target and buy a bookshelf for the new sewing room). 
I watched "Firefly" episodes while puzzling and ate WAY too many peanut m&ms.
Speaking of Katie, she comes home for a visit on Sunday. I fully expect a battle of ownership over vehicles, since she seems to think she will be larking about, visiting friends and former flute teachers. I may have to arm wrestle her for the van once or twice.
This year, though, the kids haven't been too interested in helping. Katie has always been the traditionist and the avid puzzlist in the home, and she's not here! Jim and I worked on it on and off yesterday (I took a time out to go to Target and buy a bookshelf for the new sewing room). 
I watched "Firefly" episodes while puzzling and ate WAY too many peanut m&ms.Speaking of Katie, she comes home for a visit on Sunday. I fully expect a battle of ownership over vehicles, since she seems to think she will be larking about, visiting friends and former flute teachers. I may have to arm wrestle her for the van once or twice.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
You say you want a resolution
Once upon a time in another blog-iverse (on the blog-planet CGB), I wrote a blog post about New Year's resolutions in which I determined that I was just fine as I am and resolutions were stupid because they were guaranteed to fail. I won't repost it here, because I wrote it as a different person and it's a bit edgier (inasmuch as I get edgy--I'm as edgy as a glob of Silly Putty) than what I usually post here.
I still roll my eyes at New Year's resolutions. I can't even keep to a schedule for more than three days; what makes anyone think I can keep a resolution for the whole year? I was pretty pleased with myself for keeping up the Halloween Decoration Special Feature for a whole month, but notice I didn't try anything similar for Christmas!
But still, federal holiday law mandates that I must make some resolutions, otherwise I am subject to New Year's holiday penalties such as, but not limited to: severe restrictions in the amount of fun I am allowed to have on subsequent holidays, enforced celebration of solstices, Presidents' Day (or is it President's Day?), Singles Awareness Day, and International Earth Day (meaning I'd have to send out a card to everyone on Earth), and all holiday treats I would be allowed to consume would have to be carob-based and sugar free.
So I am pretty much forced to make resolutions. Fortunately, I have full liberty of resolution creation; no one can tell me what to resolve to do.
Therefore, I, Shoebox Princess resolve to:
1. Buy a new pair of pretty pretty walkaround shoes this spring (maybe even two pairs!). My old sneaks are disintegrating after severe bullying and multiple piledriving by the teegage boys' muscular tennis shoe-boats.
2. Restrict the use of pizza delivery to once a week, unless I really need a break from making dinner.
3. Keep on blogging nearly daily. I might take a day off here and there, but for the most part, I'll keep pace as usual. Look forward to a first blogging anniversary post March 9th (somewhere aroudn there anyway).
4. Do my Saturday chores. I've been slacking, especially when it's my turn to vacuum the basement. Although, if I really just don't have the motivation to do my job, then I am allowed to bribe one of the kids to do it for me.
5. Hoard food. My favorite food item to hoard is spaghetti sauce and mayonnaise. Sadly, I won't be hoarding these two items in the girls' room any more and will never over hear a friend of my daughter ask "Why do you have several jars of mayonnaise in your closet?" and I will nevermore be able to answer for my daughter, "I collect mayonnaise!" And I will never see that friend scootch a few inches away and avoid my gaze.
6. Sew something. Maybe that bathrobe that my mother purchased material for me for my 40th birthday over a year ago. Or at least fix a hem. Or perforate paper in a straight line with an unthreaded sewing machine.
7. Practice my Wii power-bowling. Jimmy broke my record and I must practice and get better at it. The record stands at 538 (Paul and Jimmy tied). My best is 512.
8. Prune the techny arborvitae. I'm only putting this on the list because a concerned citizen arborist told me I had to.
9. Not ever use the word "threnody" correctly in a spoken sentence or written passage.
10. Not make a 10th resolution.
There. New Year's resolution obligation fulfilled. Happy 2009!
I still roll my eyes at New Year's resolutions. I can't even keep to a schedule for more than three days; what makes anyone think I can keep a resolution for the whole year? I was pretty pleased with myself for keeping up the Halloween Decoration Special Feature for a whole month, but notice I didn't try anything similar for Christmas!
But still, federal holiday law mandates that I must make some resolutions, otherwise I am subject to New Year's holiday penalties such as, but not limited to: severe restrictions in the amount of fun I am allowed to have on subsequent holidays, enforced celebration of solstices, Presidents' Day (or is it President's Day?), Singles Awareness Day, and International Earth Day (meaning I'd have to send out a card to everyone on Earth), and all holiday treats I would be allowed to consume would have to be carob-based and sugar free.
So I am pretty much forced to make resolutions. Fortunately, I have full liberty of resolution creation; no one can tell me what to resolve to do.
Therefore, I, Shoebox Princess resolve to:
1. Buy a new pair of pretty pretty walkaround shoes this spring (maybe even two pairs!). My old sneaks are disintegrating after severe bullying and multiple piledriving by the teegage boys' muscular tennis shoe-boats.
2. Restrict the use of pizza delivery to once a week, unless I really need a break from making dinner.
3. Keep on blogging nearly daily. I might take a day off here and there, but for the most part, I'll keep pace as usual. Look forward to a first blogging anniversary post March 9th (somewhere aroudn there anyway).
4. Do my Saturday chores. I've been slacking, especially when it's my turn to vacuum the basement. Although, if I really just don't have the motivation to do my job, then I am allowed to bribe one of the kids to do it for me.
5. Hoard food. My favorite food item to hoard is spaghetti sauce and mayonnaise. Sadly, I won't be hoarding these two items in the girls' room any more and will never over hear a friend of my daughter ask "Why do you have several jars of mayonnaise in your closet?" and I will nevermore be able to answer for my daughter, "I collect mayonnaise!" And I will never see that friend scootch a few inches away and avoid my gaze.
6. Sew something. Maybe that bathrobe that my mother purchased material for me for my 40th birthday over a year ago. Or at least fix a hem. Or perforate paper in a straight line with an unthreaded sewing machine.
7. Practice my Wii power-bowling. Jimmy broke my record and I must practice and get better at it. The record stands at 538 (Paul and Jimmy tied). My best is 512.
8. Prune the techny arborvitae. I'm only putting this on the list because a concerned citizen arborist told me I had to.
9. Not ever use the word "threnody" correctly in a spoken sentence or written passage.
10. Not make a 10th resolution.
There. New Year's resolution obligation fulfilled. Happy 2009!
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