This is a little late, but just wanted to give a shout out to my mom, my sis, my cousin, and my little girl.
Y'all know I hate to shop (except for groceries and running clothes, go figure...), but I was really in need of some new clothes, and these ladies spent part of our girls' weekend helping me find some. Four {four!} pairs of jeans, several tees, tops, & tanks, and even a summer dress (on clearance!) later, I'm well ahead of the game. Most of y'all are thinking, "Isn't girls' weekend all about shopping?" Maybe, but not of the "I'm desperate, the seasons are changing and I have no pants" variety. And besides, we like to eat and then check out the clearance racks at Target. These ladies took me to the mall!
And my little girl, well, she is not only growing up into a responsible young lady, but she's got a great sense of style, too. Not to mention her awesome sense of humor! We had some awesome mom-and-daughter time on the drive down and back.
It would be a shame if I didn't mention that my husband and son enjoyed their weekend, too. My son asked me last night if we could have kid-and-parent time every weekend! Or at least more often :)
I think it's a wonderful idea!
Showing posts with label Things That Make You Go Ugh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Things That Make You Go Ugh. Show all posts
Monday, September 30, 2013
Saturday, July 6, 2013
And the rain...
We had big plans to head to the drive-in movie theatre on July 4th. It had been raining all week, and Thursday looked to be our best chance for a clear evening. After a day of off-and-on showers with sun in between, the sky really started to look dark in the afternoon. The drive-in is an hour away, so we really didn't want to risk getting there and then have the movies (always a double feature!) cancelled due to weather. So, we passed on our plans for the drive-in, hopeful for another family-friendly double feature (maybe in the fall?).
The kids were looking forward to popping a big bowl of popcorn (we recently tried and succeeded at popping it on the stove), so we did that anyway and had an indoor picnic and a movie at home (I got the movies from the Redbox just before our big evening shower began). We made three flavors of popcorn and everyone was happy.
{Hmmm, this sounds a lot like our rained-out plans two years ago!}
{Hmmm, this sounds a lot like our rained-out plans two years ago!}
It's been rainy for several days now - the same on-and-off showers. It's not so bad, I guess, except there's never enough time for the grass to dry out and time to mow. It's starting to get tall! And it's humid, but thankfully the temps are not too, too warm.
Today, it was sunny and dry enough for the kids to go to tennis lessons. Big J and I played on a nearby set of courts. Well, "played" might make it sound like we could volley more than about 4 hits in a row - but we still enjoyed the time outside!
As we settled back in at home this evening following a search for a new microwave, the rain started again. It's really a nice, gentle rain for the most part, but its completely unpredictable. I'm ready for all-day sun again!
{Aside from books, movies, video games, and complete stir-craziness from being indoors, here's something I did with Miss this week. It was fun, and we've even gotten a couple of compliments! M picked my colors - I'd have never chosen these myself, but I really like them!}
Friday, September 16, 2011
Two great tips
First tip - from my FB status today:
"Reply" does not equal "Forward" - and mistaking one for the other often equals embarrassment.
Oh, yeah - it was a doozy. I'm not ready to talk about it.
Second tip:
If I'm doing a load of laundry at night, especially after the kids are in bed, I turn off the chimes on the washer and dryer and also close the door to the laundry room. So that I don't completely forget about the load that's in there, I leave the light on. When I come upstairs at night, I notice that the light in the laundry room is on, and that's a (quiet) reminder to me that there's laundry to be dryed/hung up/folded.
In other news - it's not 90 degrees here anymore! Yay! To celebrate, I laced up my sneakers and went for a run today after a most-of-the-summer hiatus. And then I ate Doritos for lunch. I'm not proud of that last bit.
So, what's happening in your world?
"Reply" does not equal "Forward" - and mistaking one for the other often equals embarrassment.
Oh, yeah - it was a doozy. I'm not ready to talk about it.
Second tip:
If I'm doing a load of laundry at night, especially after the kids are in bed, I turn off the chimes on the washer and dryer and also close the door to the laundry room. So that I don't completely forget about the load that's in there, I leave the light on. When I come upstairs at night, I notice that the light in the laundry room is on, and that's a (quiet) reminder to me that there's laundry to be dryed/hung up/folded.
In other news - it's not 90 degrees here anymore! Yay! To celebrate, I laced up my sneakers and went for a run today after a most-of-the-summer hiatus. And then I ate Doritos for lunch. I'm not proud of that last bit.
So, what's happening in your world?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Thriving in Chaos?
Here's another post that's rooted in a tweet/Facebook status update, and I'll let you know know that the comment I received in return put me immediately on the defensive.
My tweet/status:
Aaaand.... My momAgenda has started to get crowded enough that color-coding is in order. I resisted as long as possible : /
Comment on my status:
Being a mom is messy, scattered and often disorganized. Let it go and enjoy the chaos!
My gut reaction was, "Isn't it obvious that, if I have a calendar going, that I don't like disorganization?" (Never mind what my house looks like, ok?) I felt criticized for trying to keep my life in order! I mean, if I'm not organized, who's going to do it? It's my job to keep it all together - that's why I'm a SAHM!
After taking a few moments to step back and take a few deep breaths (and pound some chicken with the bottom of a cast iron skillet - for grilling), I tried to take the "not as harsh as you think it was" perspective.
Of course being a mom can be messy, scattered, and disorganized. It can certainly be chaotic. And sometimes, that fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants attitude can be fun (mainly - for me - in the summer time). I also wonder if this attitude is related to the age and gender of your children. My commenter has two teenage boys involved in sports. I have elementary-aged children, a boy and a girl, who do not participate in the same activities as each other.
However, if I allow chaos to be our version of normal, I'm not doing anyone any favors. And I'm not doing my job effectively. My kids don't know what's coming next, which invites bad attitudes. And things like clean clothes and dinner and bedtimes won't happen in a timely fashion. And we won't make plans to do things like see the grandparents or go camping with friends because, well, you can't plan in the midst of chaos.
I'm not trying to be the perfect mother and wife, I'm just trying to be sure that everyone is where they need to be, when they need to be there, with the things they need to bring along with them. Which, for me, means making note of things like swimming, library, market, and other special event days at school, scout/scout leader meetings, and my husband's on-call schedule. And I'm trying to be sure that we do have special things (trips/activities/visits) planned beyond our day-to-day routines. All of that fills up a calendar pretty quickly, even for a family with relatively few activities outside of work and school.
What are your thoughts on enjoying the chaos? Are you a planner? Do your kids respond well to "go with the flow"?
My tweet/status:
Aaaand.... My momAgenda has started to get crowded enough that color-coding is in order. I resisted as long as possible : /
Comment on my status:
Being a mom is messy, scattered and often disorganized. Let it go and enjoy the chaos!
My gut reaction was, "Isn't it obvious that, if I have a calendar going, that I don't like disorganization?" (Never mind what my house looks like, ok?) I felt criticized for trying to keep my life in order! I mean, if I'm not organized, who's going to do it? It's my job to keep it all together - that's why I'm a SAHM!
After taking a few moments to step back and take a few deep breaths (and pound some chicken with the bottom of a cast iron skillet - for grilling), I tried to take the "not as harsh as you think it was" perspective.
Of course being a mom can be messy, scattered, and disorganized. It can certainly be chaotic. And sometimes, that fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants attitude can be fun (mainly - for me - in the summer time). I also wonder if this attitude is related to the age and gender of your children. My commenter has two teenage boys involved in sports. I have elementary-aged children, a boy and a girl, who do not participate in the same activities as each other.
However, if I allow chaos to be our version of normal, I'm not doing anyone any favors. And I'm not doing my job effectively. My kids don't know what's coming next, which invites bad attitudes. And things like clean clothes and dinner and bedtimes won't happen in a timely fashion. And we won't make plans to do things like see the grandparents or go camping with friends because, well, you can't plan in the midst of chaos.
I'm not trying to be the perfect mother and wife, I'm just trying to be sure that everyone is where they need to be, when they need to be there, with the things they need to bring along with them. Which, for me, means making note of things like swimming, library, market, and other special event days at school, scout/scout leader meetings, and my husband's on-call schedule. And I'm trying to be sure that we do have special things (trips/activities/visits) planned beyond our day-to-day routines. All of that fills up a calendar pretty quickly, even for a family with relatively few activities outside of work and school.
What are your thoughts on enjoying the chaos? Are you a planner? Do your kids respond well to "go with the flow"?
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Remember that time...?
... that Mister J got treated for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?
You know, because his symptoms were pretty much a perfect match for RMSF. And although it could be just your run-of-the-mill nasty virus, there's still that chance that it's RMSF. Which you should treat no later than the fifth day of symptoms. And since the second trip to the ped this week for the crazy fever, combined with nausea, chills, and some "who is that?!?" crankiness happened to be on the fourth day of the fever, the ped called in the prescription.
Better to err on the side of caution - but as a friend of mine put it, I just might win the 'strange illnesses my child has had' contest in the after-school pick-up line. This from the friend whose daughter has a fever so high that the thermometer simply said, "HIGH." (She's thankfully doing ok with some good meds for a big ol' ear infection.) And I'd likely have to compete with a school mom friend whose son's spider bite just might be MRSA instead. They each had a visit to the emergency room. We just rated a "can-you-be-here-in-45?" appointment with the pediatrician. This is a contest I'd be glad to lose.
(PS - With a dose of acetominophen, this afternoon's fever, headache, and crankiness subsided. However, the fever spikes at night, even with ibuprofen. Hoping we see and end to this very soon.)
You know, because his symptoms were pretty much a perfect match for RMSF. And although it could be just your run-of-the-mill nasty virus, there's still that chance that it's RMSF. Which you should treat no later than the fifth day of symptoms. And since the second trip to the ped this week for the crazy fever, combined with nausea, chills, and some "who is that?!?" crankiness happened to be on the fourth day of the fever, the ped called in the prescription.
Better to err on the side of caution - but as a friend of mine put it, I just might win the 'strange illnesses my child has had' contest in the after-school pick-up line. This from the friend whose daughter has a fever so high that the thermometer simply said, "HIGH." (She's thankfully doing ok with some good meds for a big ol' ear infection.) And I'd likely have to compete with a school mom friend whose son's spider bite just might be MRSA instead. They each had a visit to the emergency room. We just rated a "can-you-be-here-in-45?" appointment with the pediatrician. This is a contest I'd be glad to lose.
(PS - With a dose of acetominophen, this afternoon's fever, headache, and crankiness subsided. However, the fever spikes at night, even with ibuprofen. Hoping we see and end to this very soon.)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
My Week - and I'm still Thankful (also Thursday Thanks Tank #25)
It's been an interesting one, for sure, but I still have a lot for which to be thankful.
We had lunch at school with the kids on Monday. Our Valentine treat to them was bringing in Chick-Fil-A! With the "lunch in the classroom" arrangement of their school, we aren't sitting in front of the preschool or K1 classes with our 'special' lunch - we get them from their classrooms all sit together at a special table. We typically have some really fun family time when we do this, and Monday was no exception. Have I mentioned this is a great treat for Mommy, too? No lunches to pack! And with the "free milkshake when you buy two meals" special that was running that day, Daddy got his favorite cookies-n-cream shake for dessert! Thankful for a fun Valentine's Day (even though I forgot to get pictures)!
The interesting part of the week started when I picked the kids up from school that afternoon. Miss M, who'd been feeling great at lunch, had a sore throat and her voice was hoarse and squeaky-sounding just a few hours later. As a precaution, I took her to the pediatrician on Tuesday. Turned out just to be a virus (thankfully!), but since she had laryngitis she also needed vocal rest. Miss M on vocal rest? That's funny. So I kept her home on Wednesday as well - to be sure she didn't make things worse before her class field trip on Thursday.
Did I mention that I was scheduled to chaperone the field trip? And did I mention that around midnight Wednesday night/Thursday morning Miss M vomited? On the carpet? And that we are scheduled for company this weekend?
Both kids woke up due to the ... event. Which resulted in midnight bath time and early a.m. laundry. And also carpet cleaning - as well as I could, at least, for something that really needed professional attention.... Thankful that Mister J got back to sleep pretty quickly and that the guest room was easily made ready for Miss M to relocate for the night (that's not always a guarantee, especially when clothing exchange season is on the horizon!).
Big J saved the day by working from home since Miss M could not go to school and arranging for the carpet to be cleaned approximately 12 hours after the event. (Rock star, he is!) Miss M woke up on time, hungry, and wanting to limbo (I'm not joking). It wasn't a stomach bug, just a case of church supper not sitting well. Thankful on all of those counts, too!
I still chaperoned the trip, which was a good thing since two of Miss M's classmates got sick while we were there. Then I came home and cleared out Miss M's room and the landing at the top of the stairs so the carpet could be cleaned. I figure if it's getting cleaned, then we might as well have it cleaned to the corners! So thankful for a local company that can come out and clean carpets on the same day you call. They were already near our neighborhood. Also, the cost was less than we expected - the bonus for being a repeat customer (yes, there have been other carpet cat-tastrophes - not a typo).
With all of these surprises, I've managed to stay relatively calm - surprising even to me! How am I maintaining my sanity? Perhaps yesterday's walk with a friend was preventative medicine. I'm so thankful for that spur-of-the-moment opportunity! Now if I just had some spur-of-the-moment movers to help me get the upstairs back in order.... :)
We had lunch at school with the kids on Monday. Our Valentine treat to them was bringing in Chick-Fil-A! With the "lunch in the classroom" arrangement of their school, we aren't sitting in front of the preschool or K1 classes with our 'special' lunch - we get them from their classrooms all sit together at a special table. We typically have some really fun family time when we do this, and Monday was no exception. Have I mentioned this is a great treat for Mommy, too? No lunches to pack! And with the "free milkshake when you buy two meals" special that was running that day, Daddy got his favorite cookies-n-cream shake for dessert! Thankful for a fun Valentine's Day (even though I forgot to get pictures)!
The interesting part of the week started when I picked the kids up from school that afternoon. Miss M, who'd been feeling great at lunch, had a sore throat and her voice was hoarse and squeaky-sounding just a few hours later. As a precaution, I took her to the pediatrician on Tuesday. Turned out just to be a virus (thankfully!), but since she had laryngitis she also needed vocal rest. Miss M on vocal rest? That's funny. So I kept her home on Wednesday as well - to be sure she didn't make things worse before her class field trip on Thursday.
Did I mention that I was scheduled to chaperone the field trip? And did I mention that around midnight Wednesday night/Thursday morning Miss M vomited? On the carpet? And that we are scheduled for company this weekend?
Both kids woke up due to the ... event. Which resulted in midnight bath time and early a.m. laundry. And also carpet cleaning - as well as I could, at least, for something that really needed professional attention.... Thankful that Mister J got back to sleep pretty quickly and that the guest room was easily made ready for Miss M to relocate for the night (that's not always a guarantee, especially when clothing exchange season is on the horizon!).
Big J saved the day by working from home since Miss M could not go to school and arranging for the carpet to be cleaned approximately 12 hours after the event. (Rock star, he is!) Miss M woke up on time, hungry, and wanting to limbo (I'm not joking). It wasn't a stomach bug, just a case of church supper not sitting well. Thankful on all of those counts, too!
I still chaperoned the trip, which was a good thing since two of Miss M's classmates got sick while we were there. Then I came home and cleared out Miss M's room and the landing at the top of the stairs so the carpet could be cleaned. I figure if it's getting cleaned, then we might as well have it cleaned to the corners! So thankful for a local company that can come out and clean carpets on the same day you call. They were already near our neighborhood. Also, the cost was less than we expected - the bonus for being a repeat customer (yes, there have been other carpet cat-tastrophes - not a typo).
With all of these surprises, I've managed to stay relatively calm - surprising even to me! How am I maintaining my sanity? Perhaps yesterday's walk with a friend was preventative medicine. I'm so thankful for that spur-of-the-moment opportunity! Now if I just had some spur-of-the-moment movers to help me get the upstairs back in order.... :)
Monday, February 14, 2011
Valentine's Day!
We did things a little differently around here for Valentine's Day 2011 - no gifts! And we still had a lovely day!
In the past, I've gotten the kids books or music - usually something small - to celebrate. I think I spent the most ever for Valentine's Day last year - I spent about $35 on two beanbags for the kids' rooms. It was usually around $16 for childrens' books in previous years.
Today, I spent about $25 - on all four of us! I brought Chick-Fil-A lunch to school, Daddy met us there, and we all had lunch together. It was actually a nice bit of family time, since we get to eat a table away from the activity of lunch in the classrooms. The kids are always excited to have us come for lunch, I got a day off from packing lunches, and Daddy got a cookies-n-cream milkshake for his treat! (CFA was running a buy-two-combos-get-a-shake special today!)
Also - the weather was gorgeous today, and the next session of 5K training began this evening. My goal is an all-running 5K in the spring, and I ran 1.25 miles tonight - no intervals! That's the longest distance I've ever gone without intervals - woohoo!
Of course, it wasn't all sunshine and running shoes today.... Miss M came home from school sounding very hoarse and even a bit squeaky (sad face). Mister J has had a nagging cough, too. So, with both kiddos sick, there was no basketball practice for Mister J tonight. Miss M will be home with me tomorrow, and we've had to cancel our after-school doughnut date with a friend. (sigh)
That's just life, though, you know? Thankful that I've got these three to share it with - the ups and the downs.
In the past, I've gotten the kids books or music - usually something small - to celebrate. I think I spent the most ever for Valentine's Day last year - I spent about $35 on two beanbags for the kids' rooms. It was usually around $16 for childrens' books in previous years.
Today, I spent about $25 - on all four of us! I brought Chick-Fil-A lunch to school, Daddy met us there, and we all had lunch together. It was actually a nice bit of family time, since we get to eat a table away from the activity of lunch in the classrooms. The kids are always excited to have us come for lunch, I got a day off from packing lunches, and Daddy got a cookies-n-cream milkshake for his treat! (CFA was running a buy-two-combos-get-a-shake special today!)
Also - the weather was gorgeous today, and the next session of 5K training began this evening. My goal is an all-running 5K in the spring, and I ran 1.25 miles tonight - no intervals! That's the longest distance I've ever gone without intervals - woohoo!
Of course, it wasn't all sunshine and running shoes today.... Miss M came home from school sounding very hoarse and even a bit squeaky (sad face). Mister J has had a nagging cough, too. So, with both kiddos sick, there was no basketball practice for Mister J tonight. Miss M will be home with me tomorrow, and we've had to cancel our after-school doughnut date with a friend. (sigh)
That's just life, though, you know? Thankful that I've got these three to share it with - the ups and the downs.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Strike three four!
On the Saturday before our trip, Mister J developed a cough. He asked to stay home from church on Sunday, so I knew he wasn't feeling well - and the cough was worse. Guess where we were on Monday morning? After confirming with the doctor that we'd still be okay to travel, we left with a prescription for a z-pack and an inhaler to treat walking pneumonia.
It's hard to get a 6-year-old to rest - and I mean, lay on the couch and do nothing for 2 days - but we managed. It's also hard to get the little sister to lave the 6-year-old alone so she doesn't catch the same thing - but we managed. The hardest part, by far, was putting Mister J back into his own room. The kids were more than disappointed since they'd been bunking in the same room for over a month - and they are asking when they can return to that arrangement.
We continued to prepare for our long weekend away, including going to Miss M's 4-year well-visit, my orthodontist visit, and a dental visit that I'd rescheduled to accommodate our previous travel schedule. Oh, and Big J's doctor appointment on Wednesday because he, too, needed a z-pack. That night, my ears were itchy and I had a sore throat. Great. So on Thursday I finished packing, went to my doctor for the 3rd z-pack of the week, and we left town only an hour latter than planned. I'd contacted the friends we were to visit on Friday and rescheduled to Sunday. I also confirmed with the friends we'd be seeing on Saturday that we were still good to go. After resting most of Friday, we continued with our Saturday and Sunday plans - hooray!
Guess who got her own z-pack today? Whatever she has is still in the very early stages, but the doctor decided to go ahead and prescribe anyway. And guess what? She's congested and miserable this evening, along with the cough that started today. Hopefully, the meds will kick in quickly and she'll bounce back in time for Grandma's visit this weekend!
It's hard to get a 6-year-old to rest - and I mean, lay on the couch and do nothing for 2 days - but we managed. It's also hard to get the little sister to lave the 6-year-old alone so she doesn't catch the same thing - but we managed. The hardest part, by far, was putting Mister J back into his own room. The kids were more than disappointed since they'd been bunking in the same room for over a month - and they are asking when they can return to that arrangement.
We continued to prepare for our long weekend away, including going to Miss M's 4-year well-visit, my orthodontist visit, and a dental visit that I'd rescheduled to accommodate our previous travel schedule. Oh, and Big J's doctor appointment on Wednesday because he, too, needed a z-pack. That night, my ears were itchy and I had a sore throat. Great. So on Thursday I finished packing, went to my doctor for the 3rd z-pack of the week, and we left town only an hour latter than planned. I'd contacted the friends we were to visit on Friday and rescheduled to Sunday. I also confirmed with the friends we'd be seeing on Saturday that we were still good to go. After resting most of Friday, we continued with our Saturday and Sunday plans - hooray!
Guess who got her own z-pack today? Whatever she has is still in the very early stages, but the doctor decided to go ahead and prescribe anyway. And guess what? She's congested and miserable this evening, along with the cough that started today. Hopefully, the meds will kick in quickly and she'll bounce back in time for Grandma's visit this weekend!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Update on Hope
When I posted this yesterday, I felt sure that it would be two days until we had the results of Miss M's blood test. I considered that we might even have to wait through the weekend.
Imagine my surprise today when our allergist, Dr. M, with whom we also attend church, called this afternoon. Her first words were, "Rejoice! Rejoice!" The blood test results were back today - and they were also negative!
We won't start feeding her peanut butter right away. Miss M will have an in-office food challenge next week. Over the course of an hour she'll be given peanut butter while she's monitored for any reaction. From there? Well, I'm not sure. I can't even think about that yet.
After avoiding it for nearly three years, the idea of feeding my daughter peanut butter is really very ... weird. Surreal. I can't even begin to imagine life on the other side of a successful food challenge. Of course, I'll keep you posted.
In other wonderful news, my dad's 18-month post-treatment CT scan was clear! We are celebrating blessing upon blessing this week!
Imagine my surprise today when our allergist, Dr. M, with whom we also attend church, called this afternoon. Her first words were, "Rejoice! Rejoice!" The blood test results were back today - and they were also negative!
We won't start feeding her peanut butter right away. Miss M will have an in-office food challenge next week. Over the course of an hour she'll be given peanut butter while she's monitored for any reaction. From there? Well, I'm not sure. I can't even think about that yet.
After avoiding it for nearly three years, the idea of feeding my daughter peanut butter is really very ... weird. Surreal. I can't even begin to imagine life on the other side of a successful food challenge. Of course, I'll keep you posted.
In other wonderful news, my dad's 18-month post-treatment CT scan was clear! We are celebrating blessing upon blessing this week!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Eco-Smart?
I was trying to be a smart, environmentally-conscious consumer by purchasing a product that uses less plastic. And I was using it to refill a soap pump (a glass one) that I already have. Apparently, though, this product is designed for someone who's not planning to recycle, so they can feel good about putting less plastic that usual into the landfill. Well, I don't feel food about that. Note to self: look for the recycling symbol before purchasing!
I guess it's a non-issue at this point, really. I'm slowing making the move to all-natural products. As I run out of things, I'm trying hard to replace them with something healthier for our home, our bodies, and the planet. (Now I sound all crunchy-granola, don't I? Trust me, I've got a long way to go!) My point is, this soap won't be on my grocery list again. Even if it did have a recycling symbol.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Random Thoughts
It's been lovely in our part of the world this week. A little warm for my taste, but mostly sunny and nice out. In fact, I started this post while I was sitting out on my back porch. My kids were outside, too. My son was sitting next to me, working on his homework. My daughter was running about using a toy butterfly net to scoop up grass clippings and put them in a pile to carry down to the curb. She wasn't asked to gather the clippings, she was just having fun with a project. Aaaaaand pretending the loaded-up net was a giraffe - the filled-up net was the head and the handle was the looong neck! She's really got a great imagination and is very artistic. So different from me, and very entertaining!
It's been a good week. It started last Saturday when a good friend came over to help me get started on what will (hopefully) be a whole-house project to minimize and organize. My kitchen has been a much more peaceful place, and I'm looking forward to creating this feeling in the rest of our home. I must say, though, that even my newly-organized kitchen still looked a little, um, messy when someone (me) forgot to put detergent in the dishwasher. And didn't realize it until the next mealtime rolled around. So I had to re-wash a load of dishes while the next round waited patiently by the kitchen sink. Still, it's a pretty quick fix. I also cleaned out the fridge today, and I'm thinking about tackling the pantry over the long weekend. The hardest part for me is avoiding the, "ooh, shiny" syndrome - that is, avoiding distraction so I can complete the project at hand. There's only one (small) downside to these projects. I have temporarily given up parking in the garage so that we have a space to store everything until we are ready to have a garage sale.
Speaking of garage sales, Miss M was playing in the den this afternoon. She was setting out several items on our ottoman and informed me that she was having a yard sale. Too cute! I wonder if she will be as excited when it's time to start paring down the toys. We sold quite a bit of toys at a garage sale last summer, and I always put a few toys in our church's clothing exchange each year. Still, the toys are completely out of control. The good news - if I can't regain control of the toy chaos, Muffy can! Now if I can just get my parking space back before the worst heat of summer sets in!
We've got just two weeks of school remaining before summer break, and these last weeks are flying by! So of course, we seemed to have hit on a very good nap schedule for Miss M and a good homework strategy for Mister J. As far as Miss M's naps, she really does still need to nap most days even though she doesn't want to. Although her new nap schedule eliminates any alone time for me in the afternoons, it's certainly worth it to have this improvement in our routine. I've been doing most of my work on my laptop, and Miss M has been snuggling with me while I work. She's never been a big snuggler, so I'm enjoying every minute! Now that I think about it, maybe over the summer we should institute nap time for everyone!
Back to that new homework strategy. After several weeks of struggling to get homework completed, we seem to have figured it all out. Two weeks in, this new strategy seems to be working pretty well for everyone. Not just Mister J, but the whole family. Yes, those rough homework nights were rough on all of us. Of course, this is the last week of homework before school is out for the summer. At least we'll know how to have a smooth start in the fall!
I have been anxious about the approach of summer break. As much as I love the freedom of summertime, I also love the routine of the school year. However, the fun and freedom is getting pretty tempting! I'm looking forward to the fun things we will do: swimming, going to the movies, summer camps for the kids, daytrips with friends, and (maybe most of all) being able to sleep in if the kids will let me! While it's tempting to push back bedtime - after all, it's tough to put kids in bed before the sun goes down - I still hope to keep it relatively early so I can preserve some of the evening to spend with Big J. Maybe even plan some at-home date nights - my favorite kind!
It's been a good week. It started last Saturday when a good friend came over to help me get started on what will (hopefully) be a whole-house project to minimize and organize. My kitchen has been a much more peaceful place, and I'm looking forward to creating this feeling in the rest of our home. I must say, though, that even my newly-organized kitchen still looked a little, um, messy when someone (me) forgot to put detergent in the dishwasher. And didn't realize it until the next mealtime rolled around. So I had to re-wash a load of dishes while the next round waited patiently by the kitchen sink. Still, it's a pretty quick fix. I also cleaned out the fridge today, and I'm thinking about tackling the pantry over the long weekend. The hardest part for me is avoiding the, "ooh, shiny" syndrome - that is, avoiding distraction so I can complete the project at hand. There's only one (small) downside to these projects. I have temporarily given up parking in the garage so that we have a space to store everything until we are ready to have a garage sale.
Speaking of garage sales, Miss M was playing in the den this afternoon. She was setting out several items on our ottoman and informed me that she was having a yard sale. Too cute! I wonder if she will be as excited when it's time to start paring down the toys. We sold quite a bit of toys at a garage sale last summer, and I always put a few toys in our church's clothing exchange each year. Still, the toys are completely out of control. The good news - if I can't regain control of the toy chaos, Muffy can! Now if I can just get my parking space back before the worst heat of summer sets in!
We've got just two weeks of school remaining before summer break, and these last weeks are flying by! So of course, we seemed to have hit on a very good nap schedule for Miss M and a good homework strategy for Mister J. As far as Miss M's naps, she really does still need to nap most days even though she doesn't want to. Although her new nap schedule eliminates any alone time for me in the afternoons, it's certainly worth it to have this improvement in our routine. I've been doing most of my work on my laptop, and Miss M has been snuggling with me while I work. She's never been a big snuggler, so I'm enjoying every minute! Now that I think about it, maybe over the summer we should institute nap time for everyone!
Back to that new homework strategy. After several weeks of struggling to get homework completed, we seem to have figured it all out. Two weeks in, this new strategy seems to be working pretty well for everyone. Not just Mister J, but the whole family. Yes, those rough homework nights were rough on all of us. Of course, this is the last week of homework before school is out for the summer. At least we'll know how to have a smooth start in the fall!
I have been anxious about the approach of summer break. As much as I love the freedom of summertime, I also love the routine of the school year. However, the fun and freedom is getting pretty tempting! I'm looking forward to the fun things we will do: swimming, going to the movies, summer camps for the kids, daytrips with friends, and (maybe most of all) being able to sleep in if the kids will let me! While it's tempting to push back bedtime - after all, it's tough to put kids in bed before the sun goes down - I still hope to keep it relatively early so I can preserve some of the evening to spend with Big J. Maybe even plan some at-home date nights - my favorite kind!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Move!
When we were looking for our current home, I found the neighborhood pond quite charming. I find the pond's warm weather residents less so. I encountered these geese one day last week. They didn't seem too concerned that I was on the way to school....Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The $20 T-Shirt
I went shopping today, and when I got home I got a hug from my husband for buying 5 new t-shirts. They were not for him, they were for me. Yes, my friends, the clothing situation around here had gotten so bad that Big J was glad I went shopping for clothes.
"How?" you ask. It's not a budget thing. It's an I-hate-clothes-shopping thing. To be more specific, I hate to buy clothes for myself. They never fit "right." I hate the size on the tag. It doesn't look good on me. I don't want to pay that much for a shirt/skirt/pair of jeans. That's the biggest reason I've spent the last 6 years in t-shirts and jeans/shorts - I hate to pay a lot for clothes, and I can typically find t-shirts that are inexpensive (under $10).
I had a little extra time this morning between an appointment and preschool pick-up, so I stopped into a clothing store to look for some t-shirts. Most of the t-shirts were on sale for $6.99 - yeah! I found a few colors that I thought I could wear without looking like I bought the same shirts from the last two summers all over again, and then I saw some t-shirts with (mostly) monochromatic designs on the front. I picked up a few of those, too, and it was off to the fitting rooms. I wasn't wild about how the t-shirts fit, but - hello - they were only $7, they are just t-shirts, and if they aren't as thin as tissue paper, I'm happy. Can't be too picky.
And then ... then I tried on the dark grey t-shirt with the black design. I loved it. I have no pants/shorts to wear with it, and it's too hot for jeans, but I loved it. And then I looked at the price tag. $20! $20? Really? Because it's just a t-shirt. When I took my 'rejects' back to the rack, I got a bit of good news. The $20 t-shirt was on sale for $11.99. Still more that I usually pay for a t-shirt, but I decided to get it anyway. Once I was home, it got a thumbs up from Big J, who found it amusing that I thought $20 was too expensive for a t-shirt.
So, friends, do I have a skewed sense of how much I should spend on clothing?
I really do think the What Not To Wear folks should come and help me out. I truly believe they would take every item out of my closet. Every one. Even the two pairs of jeans I have (that I think fit me well, by the way). Oh, and they would probably leave my new running clothes that I got a few weeks back (now those weren't cheap, but man, they were a good investment - talk about wicking away the moisture - I had no idea - but I digress). Maybe they'd leave 2 or 3 pairs of shoes. I know there wouldn't be much left. And that might not be a bad thing....
"How?" you ask. It's not a budget thing. It's an I-hate-clothes-shopping thing. To be more specific, I hate to buy clothes for myself. They never fit "right." I hate the size on the tag. It doesn't look good on me. I don't want to pay that much for a shirt/skirt/pair of jeans. That's the biggest reason I've spent the last 6 years in t-shirts and jeans/shorts - I hate to pay a lot for clothes, and I can typically find t-shirts that are inexpensive (under $10).
I had a little extra time this morning between an appointment and preschool pick-up, so I stopped into a clothing store to look for some t-shirts. Most of the t-shirts were on sale for $6.99 - yeah! I found a few colors that I thought I could wear without looking like I bought the same shirts from the last two summers all over again, and then I saw some t-shirts with (mostly) monochromatic designs on the front. I picked up a few of those, too, and it was off to the fitting rooms. I wasn't wild about how the t-shirts fit, but - hello - they were only $7, they are just t-shirts, and if they aren't as thin as tissue paper, I'm happy. Can't be too picky.
And then ... then I tried on the dark grey t-shirt with the black design. I loved it. I have no pants/shorts to wear with it, and it's too hot for jeans, but I loved it. And then I looked at the price tag. $20! $20? Really? Because it's just a t-shirt. When I took my 'rejects' back to the rack, I got a bit of good news. The $20 t-shirt was on sale for $11.99. Still more that I usually pay for a t-shirt, but I decided to get it anyway. Once I was home, it got a thumbs up from Big J, who found it amusing that I thought $20 was too expensive for a t-shirt.
So, friends, do I have a skewed sense of how much I should spend on clothing?
I really do think the What Not To Wear folks should come and help me out. I truly believe they would take every item out of my closet. Every one. Even the two pairs of jeans I have (that I think fit me well, by the way). Oh, and they would probably leave my new running clothes that I got a few weeks back (now those weren't cheap, but man, they were a good investment - talk about wicking away the moisture - I had no idea - but I digress). Maybe they'd leave 2 or 3 pairs of shoes. I know there wouldn't be much left. And that might not be a bad thing....
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Firsts
Yes, my kids are older - potty-trained and all of that - but we still have firsts! Tonight, I have a 'first' to share for each of the kids!
Mister J has been taking swim lessons at school, and today he swam on his own - face in the water, and no floaties - for the very first time! I'm so proud of him! He was very timid in the water last summer, so I'm incredibly excited for him. He has been so proud of his accomplishments after each swim lesson (twice a week) - and I can't believe he waited until bedtime tonight to tell me this!
Miss M - well, this isn't exactly the same kind of milestone, but I think all kids do it... Miss M decided to take things into her own hands today and take a chunk out of her hair. Thankfully, she only snipped off part of a little ponytail (just the front section of hair that I'd pulled back for her dance class this afternoon), and it seems to blend into the rest of her hair pretty well. However, "Dr. Sabrina" will certainly notice it at our next hair appointment!
Mister J has been taking swim lessons at school, and today he swam on his own - face in the water, and no floaties - for the very first time! I'm so proud of him! He was very timid in the water last summer, so I'm incredibly excited for him. He has been so proud of his accomplishments after each swim lesson (twice a week) - and I can't believe he waited until bedtime tonight to tell me this!
Miss M - well, this isn't exactly the same kind of milestone, but I think all kids do it... Miss M decided to take things into her own hands today and take a chunk out of her hair. Thankfully, she only snipped off part of a little ponytail (just the front section of hair that I'd pulled back for her dance class this afternoon), and it seems to blend into the rest of her hair pretty well. However, "Dr. Sabrina" will certainly notice it at our next hair appointment!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Hair and Nails
Don't tell Daddy... Maggie was such a good girl during her haircut today that "Dr. Sabrina" polished her nails afterwards.(Miss M has always called her Doctor Sabrina - that's the only way I could convince her to get her hair cut the first time I took her.)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Sick Day
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
ETA - Still can't get the photo upright argh! This was taken holding the BB vertically. I give up, I think.... Time will tell....
We are still puny, so probably home most of tomorrow, too. I have an unavoidable commitment tomorrow evening, however, so I have to get moving sometime.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sweet Thoughtfulness
My daughter and I were shopping at T@rget on Friday afternoon before we picked up my son from school. We just needed a couple of things, and as we were checking out Miss M asked for a treat (aka candy).
What's every mom's first answer to that question? "Not now, honey." And let the begging begin....
Admittedly, I'm a PA* mom, so there's more than just the sugary-high-followed-by-crash to be concerned about. A lot of the check-out aisle candy contains peanuts or is potentially cross-contaminated. So I moved on to my next tactic - I offered to give Miss M a snack at home, trying to talk it up by mentioning that she could have snack time with her big brother. I am not winning....
There's another little girl with her mom ahead of us in the checkout line. Of course, they are overhearing the entire conversation I'm having with Miss M - including the whiny parts and the 'no-you-may-not-have-candy' parts. I noticed that the little girl ahead of us did get to pick out a sweet treat, that she whispered something to her mother, and that she walked back to the candy display to select another sweet treat. Her mother paid for their items and handed one of the treats to the little girl. The little girl then turned around and handed it to my daughter and said, "I heard you asking for some candy."
Along with expressing our appreciation of the little girl's generosity, the PA mom panic was setting in and I was feeling a couple of other emotions, too:
a - Put in my place by a little girl who sees the joy in a little surprise treat every once in a while.
b - Split second decision of whether or not I should decline the candy, explaining my daughter's allergies, and thereby squash this little girl's sweet, loving, giving spirit?
c - Do I let Miss M accept the treat, allowing my daughter the joy of receiving the gift, and also allowing her to learn from the example set by the other little girl?
d - WARNING! WARNING! POTENTIAL PEANUT CONTAMINATION! WARNING! WARNING!
And my responses to all of that panic?
a - Have I mentioned that Miss M's love language is gifts?
b - Um, no. There will be no squashing of sweet little girls hearts today.
c - Well, yes - but will read the label once we get to the mommy-van and I'll deal with any tears (if it's not a safe treat) once we are in the relative privacy of the vehicle.
d - That is no joke, y'all - it's like there ought to be flashing caution lights, too. I really don't think I'm hypervigilant - I can't tell you how much candy is off limits to someone with a peanut allergy.
We paid for our purchases and walked back to the mommy-van, Miss M holding on to her newly-gifted treat. As we were across the parking lot, Miss M asked me, "Does it have nuts?" You can't imagine how tight I wanted to squeeze my sweet girl right then. I am so proud of how much more aware of her allergies she has become in the last few months, and I was super proud to know that her excitement over this unexpected gift didn't lessen her vigilance.
As it turned out, it was a safe treat - mommy's anxiety melted away, Miss M's happiness multiplied even more, and I realized I could probably learn a big lesson from a generous little girl who was in line with us at T@rget.
*peanut-allergy
What's every mom's first answer to that question? "Not now, honey." And let the begging begin....
Admittedly, I'm a PA* mom, so there's more than just the sugary-high-followed-by-crash to be concerned about. A lot of the check-out aisle candy contains peanuts or is potentially cross-contaminated. So I moved on to my next tactic - I offered to give Miss M a snack at home, trying to talk it up by mentioning that she could have snack time with her big brother. I am not winning....
There's another little girl with her mom ahead of us in the checkout line. Of course, they are overhearing the entire conversation I'm having with Miss M - including the whiny parts and the 'no-you-may-not-have-candy' parts. I noticed that the little girl ahead of us did get to pick out a sweet treat, that she whispered something to her mother, and that she walked back to the candy display to select another sweet treat. Her mother paid for their items and handed one of the treats to the little girl. The little girl then turned around and handed it to my daughter and said, "I heard you asking for some candy."
Along with expressing our appreciation of the little girl's generosity, the PA mom panic was setting in and I was feeling a couple of other emotions, too:
a - Put in my place by a little girl who sees the joy in a little surprise treat every once in a while.
b - Split second decision of whether or not I should decline the candy, explaining my daughter's allergies, and thereby squash this little girl's sweet, loving, giving spirit?
c - Do I let Miss M accept the treat, allowing my daughter the joy of receiving the gift, and also allowing her to learn from the example set by the other little girl?
d - WARNING! WARNING! POTENTIAL PEANUT CONTAMINATION! WARNING! WARNING!
And my responses to all of that panic?
a - Have I mentioned that Miss M's love language is gifts?
b - Um, no. There will be no squashing of sweet little girls hearts today.
c - Well, yes - but will read the label once we get to the mommy-van and I'll deal with any tears (if it's not a safe treat) once we are in the relative privacy of the vehicle.
d - That is no joke, y'all - it's like there ought to be flashing caution lights, too. I really don't think I'm hypervigilant - I can't tell you how much candy is off limits to someone with a peanut allergy.
We paid for our purchases and walked back to the mommy-van, Miss M holding on to her newly-gifted treat. As we were across the parking lot, Miss M asked me, "Does it have nuts?" You can't imagine how tight I wanted to squeeze my sweet girl right then. I am so proud of how much more aware of her allergies she has become in the last few months, and I was super proud to know that her excitement over this unexpected gift didn't lessen her vigilance.
As it turned out, it was a safe treat - mommy's anxiety melted away, Miss M's happiness multiplied even more, and I realized I could probably learn a big lesson from a generous little girl who was in line with us at T@rget.
*peanut-allergy
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Killing time...
... while we wait to check out at Costco. Now I'm glad I let him bring the book into the store. The lines are very long again today since another 'winter event' is due tonight/early tomorrow morning. We were already running low on a few things due to the most recent storm that kept us cooped up for a few days. After this run, I still have to swing by the post office and a 'regular' grocery store. PS - My apologies to those of you who saw this while the photo was upside down! I really to need to figure out how to post right-side-up from my phone....
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Retirement
We are approaching a new milestone. One that we, as parents, have yet to mark with one of our children. We are approaching the end of the life cycle of Mister J's lovey, whom he calls "Blanket."
Each of our kids has a blanket as their lovey. We [Big J and I] have always called them 'your blanket' when we referred to either one of them in conversation. "Mister J, please pick up your blanket and put it back on your bed." "Miss M, you left your blanket in the playroom." The 'name' stuck, so we actually have two Blankets - one blue, one pink; one referred to in the masculine singular, one in the feminine singular. "Blanket doesn't want to stay in bed, she wants to come downstairs with me."
As I took Mister J's blanket out of the dryer this evening, I noticed a spot where the yarn was thinning - a lot. It's a hand knit blanket - something I could never recreate - and Mister J has been sleeping with it for close to 5 years.
As expectant parents, we heard lots of tips from experienced parents. One of those tidbits was to "make sure you have a double." Mister J never really got attached to anything until he was around a year old. I had no idea how attached he would become when I started putting Blanket into his crib when I was trying to teach him to soothe himself to sleep. As much I adored holding and rocking him, letting him fall asleep in my arms, and then just snuggling with my sleeping baby, I knew I couldn't do it forever. So I started putting him to bed with a blue and white knit blanket that we'd received as a baby gift. It was given to us by someone who cared for me when I was young, so it seemed, in a very sentimental way, to be the most perfect lovey. I really didn't give much thought to having a double "just in case." When it got dirty, it "got a bath" just like Mister J (well, except Blanket got his bath in the washer, of course). It didn't leave the house, except on long trips, so we didn't worry about accidentally leaving it behind. (Well, there was that one time that Blanket didn't get into the van when it was time to go...)
It has been a perfect lovey. It's traveled with us through the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, up to Indiana, and even to Seattle this past summer. And, as all loveys certainly do, it is finally starting to wear out.
I have always explained to Mister J that Blanket is unique - that there isn't another one like it (him). That if Blanket gets broken, we can't just go buy a new one. There was a phase of pulling on the yarn - and I'd spend hours 'unsnagging' Blanket, only to have to do it again, on a different spot, a few days later. There have been times when I have found loads of lint between Mister J's bedsheets after he'd spent some time taking the 'pills' off of Blanket. On days when Mister J is rough-housing, I remind him that if Blanket gets broken, I can't fix it (I have no idea how to knit!). Blanket stays at home, and usually in bed, unless we travel - but it (he) is still wearing out.
As I noticed the thinning area, I pointed it out to Mister J. I told him that I needed to make a knot in the yarn so it would be stronger - so that it wouldn't break and start to unravel. I was surprised, in a sad sort of way, that he said, "Maybe we need to get a new one." "What kind of new blanket would you like? Can you tell me what you like about Blanket so I can look for a new one that you will like?"
And then the tears came.
After several assurances that I was not going to take Blanket away, and that we could talk about it another time, we let the discussion go. But I know we will have to have it again. And I know the discussion will be full of emotion. And I know that I will be torn - how old is too old for a lovey? Do we let this one wear out completely, and the just go lovey-free? Do we attempt to replace it another one? Even if we could find one that looks like (the original version of) Blanket, a new one will never feel the same as the well-worn version. Even if we find something else that he likes, it will still never be Blanket.
I never knew how attached a child - and a mother - could become. After all, it's just a blanket. Isn't it? No, it's not just a blanket. It is so much more. He loves it, and by that fact alone, so do I. It's going to be a milestone for both of us, whatever lies ahead.
Each of our kids has a blanket as their lovey. We [Big J and I] have always called them 'your blanket' when we referred to either one of them in conversation. "Mister J, please pick up your blanket and put it back on your bed." "Miss M, you left your blanket in the playroom." The 'name' stuck, so we actually have two Blankets - one blue, one pink; one referred to in the masculine singular, one in the feminine singular. "Blanket doesn't want to stay in bed, she wants to come downstairs with me."
As I took Mister J's blanket out of the dryer this evening, I noticed a spot where the yarn was thinning - a lot. It's a hand knit blanket - something I could never recreate - and Mister J has been sleeping with it for close to 5 years.
As expectant parents, we heard lots of tips from experienced parents. One of those tidbits was to "make sure you have a double." Mister J never really got attached to anything until he was around a year old. I had no idea how attached he would become when I started putting Blanket into his crib when I was trying to teach him to soothe himself to sleep. As much I adored holding and rocking him, letting him fall asleep in my arms, and then just snuggling with my sleeping baby, I knew I couldn't do it forever. So I started putting him to bed with a blue and white knit blanket that we'd received as a baby gift. It was given to us by someone who cared for me when I was young, so it seemed, in a very sentimental way, to be the most perfect lovey. I really didn't give much thought to having a double "just in case." When it got dirty, it "got a bath" just like Mister J (well, except Blanket got his bath in the washer, of course). It didn't leave the house, except on long trips, so we didn't worry about accidentally leaving it behind. (Well, there was that one time that Blanket didn't get into the van when it was time to go...)
It has been a perfect lovey. It's traveled with us through the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, up to Indiana, and even to Seattle this past summer. And, as all loveys certainly do, it is finally starting to wear out.
I have always explained to Mister J that Blanket is unique - that there isn't another one like it (him). That if Blanket gets broken, we can't just go buy a new one. There was a phase of pulling on the yarn - and I'd spend hours 'unsnagging' Blanket, only to have to do it again, on a different spot, a few days later. There have been times when I have found loads of lint between Mister J's bedsheets after he'd spent some time taking the 'pills' off of Blanket. On days when Mister J is rough-housing, I remind him that if Blanket gets broken, I can't fix it (I have no idea how to knit!). Blanket stays at home, and usually in bed, unless we travel - but it (he) is still wearing out.
As I noticed the thinning area, I pointed it out to Mister J. I told him that I needed to make a knot in the yarn so it would be stronger - so that it wouldn't break and start to unravel. I was surprised, in a sad sort of way, that he said, "Maybe we need to get a new one." "What kind of new blanket would you like? Can you tell me what you like about Blanket so I can look for a new one that you will like?"
And then the tears came.
After several assurances that I was not going to take Blanket away, and that we could talk about it another time, we let the discussion go. But I know we will have to have it again. And I know the discussion will be full of emotion. And I know that I will be torn - how old is too old for a lovey? Do we let this one wear out completely, and the just go lovey-free? Do we attempt to replace it another one? Even if we could find one that looks like (the original version of) Blanket, a new one will never feel the same as the well-worn version. Even if we find something else that he likes, it will still never be Blanket.
I never knew how attached a child - and a mother - could become. After all, it's just a blanket. Isn't it? No, it's not just a blanket. It is so much more. He loves it, and by that fact alone, so do I. It's going to be a milestone for both of us, whatever lies ahead.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
No words....
Sorry for the scarcity of posting lately. There's plenty that I'd love to post, but time is not on my side right now. Hope to be back soon!
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