(That's not actually Nick. Ours was grey and bloated, so I used my old friend Google Images to bring you a better picture of what Nick might've looked like at the height of his time in our tank...which was all of 3 days...)
Friday, August 15, 2008
It Is "Fin"ished
It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of one of the Jonas Brothers. Yes, our Nick died today. May he rest in peace.
(That's not actually Nick. Ours was grey and bloated, so I used my old friend Google Images to bring you a better picture of what Nick might've looked like at the height of his time in our tank...which was all of 3 days...)
(That's not actually Nick. Ours was grey and bloated, so I used my old friend Google Images to bring you a better picture of what Nick might've looked like at the height of his time in our tank...which was all of 3 days...)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Bubble... Bubble... Toil and Trouble...
I knew it would happen.
You can barely see it for the crowd of children jockeying for position around it, but that's our new fish tank.
What, you say? Didn't you just get a 5-gallon tank on Monday?
Why yes, you're right, dear readers.
But that wasn't enough. Once my husband got the small tank home, he started dreaming of bigger, better tanks. He assured me he would gradually build on this fish obsession, but yesterday he called me and asked me to measure the only empty wall in our den. He was standing in the fish section in Wal Mart when he called. Maybe I should've fudged the measurements a little, because he took the children back to PetSmart and bought the biggest tank he could find that would fit on that wall.
The kids and hubby were all up until 9:30 last night filling the tank with gravel, faux underwater flora, structures and of course, water.
At last, the bubbles rose, the light was turned on and the children sat mesmerized in front of the tank. It is quite pleasant to watch and listen to.
There were no fish in the tank until this morning. Something about the temperature having to rise and all that hoo ha I know nothing about. It's nice to watch, but I have resigned all fish care to my husband. I have killed fish in the past, and I don't want their blood (do fish have blood?) on my hands.
On another note, I made an awesome purchase myself yesterday:
That, for the unscrapulous of you out there, is the much sought after Fiskars Threading Water punch. It makes that pretty scalloped edge you see on the paper. Ain't it purty?
You can barely see it for the crowd of children jockeying for position around it, but that's our new fish tank.
What, you say? Didn't you just get a 5-gallon tank on Monday?
Why yes, you're right, dear readers.
But that wasn't enough. Once my husband got the small tank home, he started dreaming of bigger, better tanks. He assured me he would gradually build on this fish obsession, but yesterday he called me and asked me to measure the only empty wall in our den. He was standing in the fish section in Wal Mart when he called. Maybe I should've fudged the measurements a little, because he took the children back to PetSmart and bought the biggest tank he could find that would fit on that wall.
The kids and hubby were all up until 9:30 last night filling the tank with gravel, faux underwater flora, structures and of course, water.
At last, the bubbles rose, the light was turned on and the children sat mesmerized in front of the tank. It is quite pleasant to watch and listen to.
There were no fish in the tank until this morning. Something about the temperature having to rise and all that hoo ha I know nothing about. It's nice to watch, but I have resigned all fish care to my husband. I have killed fish in the past, and I don't want their blood (do fish have blood?) on my hands.
On another note, I made an awesome purchase myself yesterday:
That, for the unscrapulous of you out there, is the much sought after Fiskars Threading Water punch. It makes that pretty scalloped edge you see on the paper. Ain't it purty?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Not Much Has Changed, But They Live Underwater...
Meet the newest members of our family:
Those are 3 Neon Tetras. We call them the Jonas Brothers. We're not really sure what their genders are, but we thought since they're a trio and our 10 year-old is in LOVE with Nick, Joe and Kevin, the name fit.
My husband had a 10-gallon tank when he was in school, and he's longed to bring fish back into our home since then. We've had cats since 1995, so he didn't want to tempt the cats with the fish. I guess he changed his mind, because while I was in Hair Masters with the girls getting haircuts, the mister took the boys into PetSmart and bought a 5-gallon tank, some accessories and these cuties. I kinda like 'em. I hope we graudate to a larger tank soon.
The cats don't seem the least bit interested in the fish. Maybe they fish are too small to be seen. Either way, the lid can't be penetrated by the kitties, so I think we're safe. We'll see. Our trio may be a duo by tomorrow.
Oh, and here's Lillian's haircut. Quite a drastic change, but I was sick to death of hearing her (fake) screams of (fake) pain every time I touched her hair.
Those are 3 Neon Tetras. We call them the Jonas Brothers. We're not really sure what their genders are, but we thought since they're a trio and our 10 year-old is in LOVE with Nick, Joe and Kevin, the name fit.
My husband had a 10-gallon tank when he was in school, and he's longed to bring fish back into our home since then. We've had cats since 1995, so he didn't want to tempt the cats with the fish. I guess he changed his mind, because while I was in Hair Masters with the girls getting haircuts, the mister took the boys into PetSmart and bought a 5-gallon tank, some accessories and these cuties. I kinda like 'em. I hope we graudate to a larger tank soon.
The cats don't seem the least bit interested in the fish. Maybe they fish are too small to be seen. Either way, the lid can't be penetrated by the kitties, so I think we're safe. We'll see. Our trio may be a duo by tomorrow.
Oh, and here's Lillian's haircut. Quite a drastic change, but I was sick to death of hearing her (fake) screams of (fake) pain every time I touched her hair.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Golden
SO PROUD
TO BE
AN AMERICAN
GO USA!
TO BE
AN AMERICAN
GO USA!
And to the French team:
"True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes." ~Edward Frederick Halifax
"It is always the secure who are humble." ~Gilbert Keith Chesterton
"None are so empty as those who are full of themselves." ~Benjamin Whichcote
"A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle." ~Benjamin Franklin
Saturday, August 09, 2008
The Best Friends...
....are good books.
"Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book." ~Author Unknown
"A good book should leave you... slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it." ~William Styron, interview, Writers at Work, 1958
I just finished a great book. I climbed into bed around 7 pm last night, exhausted from being sick and just plain tired of being awake. I wasn't really ready for sleep, though, so I picked up a book I'd purchased at Barnes & Noble on Wednesday. I'd read a brief review in People magazine and seen the book listed as one of my choices in the Book of the Month Club to which I belong. I bought it on a complete whim, but I'm oh, so glad I did. It's a treasure. One of those rare tomes you just do not want to end. I loved it.
The book?
The book is made up entirely of letters written between the main character, Juliet, and the people in her life in post-World War II England. I'm now fascinated with the Channel Isles and Guernsey and so many other things that were part of the book. It was a charming read, a great refuge from the in-your-face, skirt-the-edges of vulgarity I've found in a lot of modern books. This one just captured my heart. I highly recommend it.
In fact, I'm going to give it away. Post a comment, a greeting, a single letter... anything... and I'll put your name in a hat. At the end of a week or so (or whenever I remember...) I'll choose a name out of the hat and send my copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society onto the lucky winner.... because.....
"Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind." ~James Russell Lowell
"Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book." ~Author Unknown
"A good book should leave you... slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it." ~William Styron, interview, Writers at Work, 1958
I just finished a great book. I climbed into bed around 7 pm last night, exhausted from being sick and just plain tired of being awake. I wasn't really ready for sleep, though, so I picked up a book I'd purchased at Barnes & Noble on Wednesday. I'd read a brief review in People magazine and seen the book listed as one of my choices in the Book of the Month Club to which I belong. I bought it on a complete whim, but I'm oh, so glad I did. It's a treasure. One of those rare tomes you just do not want to end. I loved it.
The book?
The book is made up entirely of letters written between the main character, Juliet, and the people in her life in post-World War II England. I'm now fascinated with the Channel Isles and Guernsey and so many other things that were part of the book. It was a charming read, a great refuge from the in-your-face, skirt-the-edges of vulgarity I've found in a lot of modern books. This one just captured my heart. I highly recommend it.
In fact, I'm going to give it away. Post a comment, a greeting, a single letter... anything... and I'll put your name in a hat. At the end of a week or so (or whenever I remember...) I'll choose a name out of the hat and send my copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society onto the lucky winner.... because.....
"Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind." ~James Russell Lowell
Friday, August 08, 2008
Friday Feast
Again, a meme, because I think I've thrown up my creativity along with everything else lately. I picked this one up from this site. Bon Appetit!
Appetizer: When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed?
Dare I say the lack of responsibility? I mean, I did have responsibilities within my family (chores, etc.), but not like I do now. I can't abandon my children or chores on a whim to go read a book or shop or do things I could truly spend hours doing (scrapbooking, watching movies, etc.) The children and this house and all things associated with it are my responsibilities, and that's what I signed up for when I got married and bore children. I just miss the freedom of someone else having all that responsibility.
Salad: Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.
Buttah. I love me some real butter. One of my fondest childhood memories is churning butter with my kindergarten class. It was around Thanksgiving and we were learning about the Pilgrims and such, and Ms. Loretta brought in a real churn and cream and we made butter. She served it on crackers; we each got ONE measly cracker with the most heavenly substance I'd ever tasted spread across it. The skies opened and the angels sang and I was besotted with butter from that day forward. I was very fond of the butter tub as a kid, too. I have a vivid memory of sitting on my booster seat in the middle of the kitchen when I was maybe 3 or 4, tub of butter on my lap and knife (surely not? Maybe a spoon...) in my hand, eating butter. You can have your margarine and your olive oil. I may have clogged arteries, but buttah is bettah!
Main Course: If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?
Forty. I don't think too far ahead. I prefer to live life day to day. It's less stressful that way.
Appetizer: When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed?
Probably 3 or 4 months ago. I've gone through so many hairdressers in the past few years. I had a great one that could do whatever I asked with my hair. I showed up one day for my regular 6-week appointment, and she was gone. No notice at all. Just vanished. I found out later through a friend that she was a drug addict. I haven't heard from her since, and I haven't been able to find anyone that I click with, either. It's a shame, because I really enjoy getting my hair cut, but I've gotten frustrated with the search.
Soup: Name one thing you miss about being a child.Dare I say the lack of responsibility? I mean, I did have responsibilities within my family (chores, etc.), but not like I do now. I can't abandon my children or chores on a whim to go read a book or shop or do things I could truly spend hours doing (scrapbooking, watching movies, etc.) The children and this house and all things associated with it are my responsibilities, and that's what I signed up for when I got married and bore children. I just miss the freedom of someone else having all that responsibility.
Salad: Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.
Buttah. I love me some real butter. One of my fondest childhood memories is churning butter with my kindergarten class. It was around Thanksgiving and we were learning about the Pilgrims and such, and Ms. Loretta brought in a real churn and cream and we made butter. She served it on crackers; we each got ONE measly cracker with the most heavenly substance I'd ever tasted spread across it. The skies opened and the angels sang and I was besotted with butter from that day forward. I was very fond of the butter tub as a kid, too. I have a vivid memory of sitting on my booster seat in the middle of the kitchen when I was maybe 3 or 4, tub of butter on my lap and knife (surely not? Maybe a spoon...) in my hand, eating butter. You can have your margarine and your olive oil. I may have clogged arteries, but buttah is bettah!
Main Course: If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?
I took 4 years of Spanish in high school and one junior level class of Spanish my freshman year of college, so I'd probably choose to build on that knowledge. Plus, our community seems to have a high concentration of Hispanic people, so it would serve me well to brush up on my Espanol, si?
Dessert: Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be…Forty. I don't think too far ahead. I prefer to live life day to day. It's less stressful that way.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
And here we go again
Last night. 11 pm.
Me.
Sick.
Again.
This morning.
4(ish).
Aiden sick.
Again.
This morning.
5(ish).
Me. Again.
I am starting to think we're never, ever going to stop throwing up. Thank goodness my sister is here to help.
Me.
Sick.
Again.
This morning.
4(ish).
Aiden sick.
Again.
This morning.
5(ish).
Me. Again.
I am starting to think we're never, ever going to stop throwing up. Thank goodness my sister is here to help.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Kodak Moments
I call the following series of pictures, "What Happens When Your Kids Get Ahold of Your Camera".
Monday, August 04, 2008
Gimme' Five
The blogging well has been drying out much like the lakes around here, so I turned to my old friend Google for some inspiration. I told Google to find me topics related to "Blog Memes" and I came across this blog. Every Monday she posts a new "Gimme Five" topic, so I'm going to tackle this week's subject:
Give Me Five things you haven't done in a long time that you would like to do again.
The blog owner says, "I love thinking back to old times and every time I do, I always end up with the same question, 'Why has it been so long since I've done that?' So let's make a list and then *maybe* think about doing them!"
Gotcha.
Ahem.
(1) I haven't jumped on a trampoline since I was a little kid. We had a round one in the backyard, and I loved jumping on it. I loved everything about it: the feeling of temporary weightlessnes, the ability to turn flips, the up and down and up and down, and the soaring. Nowadays I cringe when I think of how badly I could've gotten hurt on that trampoline. That was in the 80s, before there were nets and safety measures for trampolines. I don't know where I lost my sense of daring, but it's gone. I would never even consider buying a trampoline for my children, but I sure would love to jump on one again. In private, of course, 'cause who wants to see all my flabby bits fly up in my face?
(2) I used to be a roller skating fool. My dad used to back the cars out of the garage so my sister and I could skate in the shade on the smooth floor. Round and round and round and round. LOVED it. Loved the skating rink, too. I've been to our local skating rink a handful of times, and although it's not the same rink I went to as a kid, it could be. It looks (AND SMELLS!) exactly the same. It's a time capsule, with the swirly 70s carpet, Disco ball and the same old brown skates with red toe stops. Good times, good times.
(3) I used to spend my summer days beside the pool. I'd go out early in the day with a radio, a towel and a good book, and I usually wouldn't go back inside until the book was finished (or if it started raining or got darker...) I still love going out to the pool, but now I rarely get to read. Between refereeing the kids' arguments and fulfilling their requests to play with them in the water, I can't read. They get tired of swimming after 2 hours or so, and there is the sun factor, too, so we just can't be outside all day anymore. I miss that.
(4) Before I became a scrapbooker I was a cross stitcher. I have several cross stitched pieces framed and hung around my home. It was a soothing hobby, and I really enjoyed it, but I just don't have time for it anymore. I have lots of unfinished projects in a bin in the basement. I'll probably have diminished eyesight by the time my schedule is open enough to pursue that hobby again.
(5) I used to enjoy the company of women. I still do, for the most part, but I can't say I trust a whole lot of women anymore. I'm always wondering what they're thinking of me and what they will say behind my back. I didn't used to be that way, but experience has taught me that a lot of women have a hidden agenda.
I have my sister, my husband, my children, my college roommate and my parents. That's the entire list of people I can trust 100%. I'm very guarded with other folks because I've been burned so many times by people (WOMEN) I THOUGHT were my friends. Catty, judgmental, controlling, narcissistic, shallow, insecure (!),cliquish, self-inflated women that will turn on you in the blink of an eye and have no problems tearing you apart or even inventing stories about you to turn people against you. Sounds like high school, no? Ha. The immaturity doesn't end there. Some women never grow up.
In the past few years, the word "bitch" has come out of hiding. It used to be a slur, but now most women wear it like a badge of honor. Women are proud to be bitches. I don't get it.
"And she'll promise you more
Than the Garden of Eden
Then she'll carelessly cut you
And laugh while you're bleedin'"
Billy Joel hit the nail on the head, 'cause that's women for you. Sad, but true. I'm so sick of it. Sorry, ladies, but there needs to be an anti-bitch movement. We need an infusion of gentility, kindness, HUMILITY. You can be strong without being mean. It does work.
(And I'm not saying that all women I've met are like that... I have a handful of lovely female acquaintances about whom I think very highly. They're a very rare bunch, though...and I'm sorry if the B-word offends you. There's just no better way to put it, unfortunately.)
Give Me Five things you haven't done in a long time that you would like to do again.
The blog owner says, "I love thinking back to old times and every time I do, I always end up with the same question, 'Why has it been so long since I've done that?' So let's make a list and then *maybe* think about doing them!"
Gotcha.
Ahem.
(1) I haven't jumped on a trampoline since I was a little kid. We had a round one in the backyard, and I loved jumping on it. I loved everything about it: the feeling of temporary weightlessnes, the ability to turn flips, the up and down and up and down, and the soaring. Nowadays I cringe when I think of how badly I could've gotten hurt on that trampoline. That was in the 80s, before there were nets and safety measures for trampolines. I don't know where I lost my sense of daring, but it's gone. I would never even consider buying a trampoline for my children, but I sure would love to jump on one again. In private, of course, 'cause who wants to see all my flabby bits fly up in my face?
(2) I used to be a roller skating fool. My dad used to back the cars out of the garage so my sister and I could skate in the shade on the smooth floor. Round and round and round and round. LOVED it. Loved the skating rink, too. I've been to our local skating rink a handful of times, and although it's not the same rink I went to as a kid, it could be. It looks (AND SMELLS!) exactly the same. It's a time capsule, with the swirly 70s carpet, Disco ball and the same old brown skates with red toe stops. Good times, good times.
(3) I used to spend my summer days beside the pool. I'd go out early in the day with a radio, a towel and a good book, and I usually wouldn't go back inside until the book was finished (or if it started raining or got darker...) I still love going out to the pool, but now I rarely get to read. Between refereeing the kids' arguments and fulfilling their requests to play with them in the water, I can't read. They get tired of swimming after 2 hours or so, and there is the sun factor, too, so we just can't be outside all day anymore. I miss that.
(4) Before I became a scrapbooker I was a cross stitcher. I have several cross stitched pieces framed and hung around my home. It was a soothing hobby, and I really enjoyed it, but I just don't have time for it anymore. I have lots of unfinished projects in a bin in the basement. I'll probably have diminished eyesight by the time my schedule is open enough to pursue that hobby again.
(5) I used to enjoy the company of women. I still do, for the most part, but I can't say I trust a whole lot of women anymore. I'm always wondering what they're thinking of me and what they will say behind my back. I didn't used to be that way, but experience has taught me that a lot of women have a hidden agenda.
I have my sister, my husband, my children, my college roommate and my parents. That's the entire list of people I can trust 100%. I'm very guarded with other folks because I've been burned so many times by people (WOMEN) I THOUGHT were my friends. Catty, judgmental, controlling, narcissistic, shallow, insecure (!),cliquish, self-inflated women that will turn on you in the blink of an eye and have no problems tearing you apart or even inventing stories about you to turn people against you. Sounds like high school, no? Ha. The immaturity doesn't end there. Some women never grow up.
In the past few years, the word "bitch" has come out of hiding. It used to be a slur, but now most women wear it like a badge of honor. Women are proud to be bitches. I don't get it.
"And she'll promise you more
Than the Garden of Eden
Then she'll carelessly cut you
And laugh while you're bleedin'"
Billy Joel hit the nail on the head, 'cause that's women for you. Sad, but true. I'm so sick of it. Sorry, ladies, but there needs to be an anti-bitch movement. We need an infusion of gentility, kindness, HUMILITY. You can be strong without being mean. It does work.
(And I'm not saying that all women I've met are like that... I have a handful of lovely female acquaintances about whom I think very highly. They're a very rare bunch, though...and I'm sorry if the B-word offends you. There's just no better way to put it, unfortunately.)
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Nothing Magical About August
Turning 3 will not cure the terrible 2s, and August 1st didn't hold any magic as far as getting rid of this stomach bug. I was attacked again yesterday.
I had a To Do list about a mile long, and since yesterday was the beginning of Tax Free Weekend here, I decided to knock out the whole list in one day. We had lunch with my husband, then set out on our adventure.
Our first stop was the local gift shop where we buy our Webkinz. I'll admit that I'm a hopeless addict.
How could you resist faces like this?
I never got excited by the whole Beanie Baby craze (I owned a select few), but these Webkinz are like cuddly crack. I bought the cocoa dinosaur for myself (her name is Matilda, in case you're curious... I thought about going with Puff, because she looks like a dragon, but that is so cliched.) The yellow critter is a Wacky Zingoz, and he's my favorite. He has the cutest little voice. I am going to keep him on my desk so I can squeeze him every now and then. He doesn't mind. ; )
The goldfish belongs to one of the children. I bought each of them their own fish. The fishes' names are Cheeto, Cleo, Splash and Whirlpool. They arrived in stores just yesterday, and they are the first Webkinz pets to get underwater rooms. It's WAY cool. Can you believe it? Can you believe that I'm this STOKED about stuffed animals imported from China?!? Yeah, me either, but it is what it is.
After we bought our Webkinz, we went to AC Moore to pick up a few things. That's when I started feeling icky. I kept going, though, stopping in at Old Navy for dressy shorts for Quinn and then to Shoe Carnival to buy back-to-school sneakers for the 3 youngest kids. At least that went quickly, because I felt like I was going to pass out. It didn't help that the stores were jam packed because of the tax free weekend on top of it being near 100 degrees. Stupid, stupid me.
I had one more stop before I could get home: Target. That's not a place I like to take the kids on days I feel 100%, but I gathered up my courage and forged ahead. The list was short, and I promised the children rewards if they'd behave in Target like they had all day long. They were amazingly well behaved given all the shopping, walking and sweating we'd been doing all day. They acted exactly as I had requested, so Lillian chose a Barbie, the boys chose a Lego set (to share! Yes! I offered them one BIG Lego set to share vs. getting one tiny set each, and they chose to SHARE! Score!) Camryn chose a bead curtain to hang in her bedroom doorway. We were done, and just in time.
When I got home, things just went from bad to worse. I feel much better today, but last night was not fun. To put a positive spin on it, I can say that I'm so thankful that it all happened during the day so I could go to bed on time. I'd be a zombie if I'd had to get up in the middle of the night. Be grateful for the little things, I guess. Today is a new day. I just hope it doesn't come back.... again. That is one visitor that is NOT welcome in my home. EVER.
I had a To Do list about a mile long, and since yesterday was the beginning of Tax Free Weekend here, I decided to knock out the whole list in one day. We had lunch with my husband, then set out on our adventure.
Our first stop was the local gift shop where we buy our Webkinz. I'll admit that I'm a hopeless addict.
How could you resist faces like this?
I never got excited by the whole Beanie Baby craze (I owned a select few), but these Webkinz are like cuddly crack. I bought the cocoa dinosaur for myself (her name is Matilda, in case you're curious... I thought about going with Puff, because she looks like a dragon, but that is so cliched.) The yellow critter is a Wacky Zingoz, and he's my favorite. He has the cutest little voice. I am going to keep him on my desk so I can squeeze him every now and then. He doesn't mind. ; )
The goldfish belongs to one of the children. I bought each of them their own fish. The fishes' names are Cheeto, Cleo, Splash and Whirlpool. They arrived in stores just yesterday, and they are the first Webkinz pets to get underwater rooms. It's WAY cool. Can you believe it? Can you believe that I'm this STOKED about stuffed animals imported from China?!? Yeah, me either, but it is what it is.
After we bought our Webkinz, we went to AC Moore to pick up a few things. That's when I started feeling icky. I kept going, though, stopping in at Old Navy for dressy shorts for Quinn and then to Shoe Carnival to buy back-to-school sneakers for the 3 youngest kids. At least that went quickly, because I felt like I was going to pass out. It didn't help that the stores were jam packed because of the tax free weekend on top of it being near 100 degrees. Stupid, stupid me.
I had one more stop before I could get home: Target. That's not a place I like to take the kids on days I feel 100%, but I gathered up my courage and forged ahead. The list was short, and I promised the children rewards if they'd behave in Target like they had all day long. They were amazingly well behaved given all the shopping, walking and sweating we'd been doing all day. They acted exactly as I had requested, so Lillian chose a Barbie, the boys chose a Lego set (to share! Yes! I offered them one BIG Lego set to share vs. getting one tiny set each, and they chose to SHARE! Score!) Camryn chose a bead curtain to hang in her bedroom doorway. We were done, and just in time.
When I got home, things just went from bad to worse. I feel much better today, but last night was not fun. To put a positive spin on it, I can say that I'm so thankful that it all happened during the day so I could go to bed on time. I'd be a zombie if I'd had to get up in the middle of the night. Be grateful for the little things, I guess. Today is a new day. I just hope it doesn't come back.... again. That is one visitor that is NOT welcome in my home. EVER.
Friday, August 01, 2008
I Am a Yellow Crayon
You Are a Yellow Crayon |
 Your world is colored with happy, warm, fun colors. You have a thoughtful and wise way about you. Some people might even consider you a genius. Charming and eloquent, you are able to get people to do things your way. While you seem spontaneous and free wheeling, you are calculating to the extreme. Your color wheel opposite is purple. You both are charismatic leaders, but purple people act like you have no depth. |
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Greatest Swimmer Interviewed
This is a video I shot right after Lillian swam without her floaties on Monday. That's Camryn doing the interview, and at the end it's Aiden's voice you hear saying, "And we're off." That was a totally spontaneous moment that made me laugh. Don't know where he picked up that phrase, but we all had a good laugh after he said it.
(That's Quinn in the red shirt. His SuperSoaker was being used as a camera. He must've been getting another view of the interview...)
(That's Quinn in the red shirt. His SuperSoaker was being used as a camera. He must've been getting another view of the interview...)
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
I Need To Buy Stock In Lysol
I don't know which company makes Lysol, but I need to buy stock in whatever company it is. I've used so much of it this summer, I should start buying it in bulk. I wish they made Lysol bombs (like flea bombs). I could set one off and the whole house would be sanitized. Maybe I should e-mail the Lysol people. That's a brilliant idea.
I was watching Big Brother 10 last night when Camryn came into the den clutching her stomach. Yeah. You know the rest. She snuggled me on the couch for about an hour (and when I say "snuggle", I mean she moaned and groaned and whined while I stroked her hair...) When the clock struck 11 pm, I told her to get up and go to bed, 'cause that's where I was headed and I didn't want her staying in the den alone. She shuffled off and I thought maybe she would be okay. I was turning off lights, TV, etc. when I saw a flash and I knew instantly it was her, in the bathroom.... I couldn't even go in there. I was frozen. I felt like the world's worst mother, because I should've been in there holding back her hair, but I couldn't go. It was too close to my own experience. I knew if I stepped into the bathroom there would be two of us fighting over the throne. I wet a rag and waited for a lull in the action (if you know what I mean). I helped her get cleaned up and tucked her into bed and prayed with her, and then I went to bed, hoping that was the last tango for her and the stomach yucks. Maybe so. Maybe not. I feel like the JoBeth Williams character in "Poltergeist", screaming for the aliens to leave my children alone. I'm so ready for this cloud of sick to go away already. Seriously.
On another note, the most amazing thing happened yesterday. I helped the boys tidy their room and closet, and once we were done we had a whole bag full of trash. Things were organized and put away and the floor was clean. Best of all, their entire Lego collection was safely tucked into 2 boxes. No stray Legos in sight. Miracle of miracles. But the best part was that neither boy touched a Game Cube controller or a computer keyboard, nor did they ask to play the Wii. All afternoon long they built with Legos and then used their green plastic Army men to have a battle in their floor. Even more surprising was that the fighting was done solely by the green Army men. I didn't have to break up one skirmish between the boys themselves. It was a niiiiiiiiice treat.
Aiden loved his Lego setup so much, he asked to borrow my camera to capture his work. Below are the photos he took. Reminds me of the time I borrowed my dad's Topcon 35mm camera to take fashion shots of my Barbies.
(A note about those headless Lego guys in the photo above... they're not really headless. Aiden says those are the diving suits that the guys wear when they have to get in the water... just so you know....)
It looks like these guys rumbled, and the one on the ground didn't fare so well. Nice to see that guy on the right is still smiling, though.
Doesn't look like the kind of Lego you want to meet in a dark alley... Look at the size of that blaster!
Battle over....
I was watching Big Brother 10 last night when Camryn came into the den clutching her stomach. Yeah. You know the rest. She snuggled me on the couch for about an hour (and when I say "snuggle", I mean she moaned and groaned and whined while I stroked her hair...) When the clock struck 11 pm, I told her to get up and go to bed, 'cause that's where I was headed and I didn't want her staying in the den alone. She shuffled off and I thought maybe she would be okay. I was turning off lights, TV, etc. when I saw a flash and I knew instantly it was her, in the bathroom.... I couldn't even go in there. I was frozen. I felt like the world's worst mother, because I should've been in there holding back her hair, but I couldn't go. It was too close to my own experience. I knew if I stepped into the bathroom there would be two of us fighting over the throne. I wet a rag and waited for a lull in the action (if you know what I mean). I helped her get cleaned up and tucked her into bed and prayed with her, and then I went to bed, hoping that was the last tango for her and the stomach yucks. Maybe so. Maybe not. I feel like the JoBeth Williams character in "Poltergeist", screaming for the aliens to leave my children alone. I'm so ready for this cloud of sick to go away already. Seriously.
On another note, the most amazing thing happened yesterday. I helped the boys tidy their room and closet, and once we were done we had a whole bag full of trash. Things were organized and put away and the floor was clean. Best of all, their entire Lego collection was safely tucked into 2 boxes. No stray Legos in sight. Miracle of miracles. But the best part was that neither boy touched a Game Cube controller or a computer keyboard, nor did they ask to play the Wii. All afternoon long they built with Legos and then used their green plastic Army men to have a battle in their floor. Even more surprising was that the fighting was done solely by the green Army men. I didn't have to break up one skirmish between the boys themselves. It was a niiiiiiiiice treat.
Aiden loved his Lego setup so much, he asked to borrow my camera to capture his work. Below are the photos he took. Reminds me of the time I borrowed my dad's Topcon 35mm camera to take fashion shots of my Barbies.
(A note about those headless Lego guys in the photo above... they're not really headless. Aiden says those are the diving suits that the guys wear when they have to get in the water... just so you know....)
It looks like these guys rumbled, and the one on the ground didn't fare so well. Nice to see that guy on the right is still smiling, though.
Doesn't look like the kind of Lego you want to meet in a dark alley... Look at the size of that blaster!
Battle over....
Saturday, July 26, 2008
How long until August 1st?
I'm officially declaring July the Month of Upchuck. Seriously. I know you're tired of reading the Vomit Chronicles, too, so I'm praying this ends SOON. I'm ready to move into August and leave July behind.
I previously posted about our round with tummy troubles earlier this month, and it struck again this week. More technicolor yawning. This time it was Lillian that started, early Thursday morning. She started whining, which I heard on the baby monitor (can't seem to give that one up yet). I got up to check on her and she said she felt sick, so we went to the potty. Nothing happened, so I took her to bed with me. As soon as I got her tucked into our bed, I felt the need to use the facilities. My husband was blissfully unaware of the goings-on (he sleeps with a CPAP machine and a noise machine going, so he sometimes doesn't hear anything... lucky dog). Anyhoo, when I came out of the bathroom, Lillian was bent over the trash can I'd placed beside our bed. My husband was saying, "HELP! I've been yelling for you!" Darn that bathroom fan. I can't hear a thing when I'm in there.
It just got worse from that point. I was helping to clean up Lillian when I heard Aiden starting his morning song in the den. I raced to him, and bless his heart, all he could say was, "I'm perfecting my aim!" (We'd been kidding him about missing the mark when he was sick so much before, so he said he had to be sick again to work on hitting the target...)
I got Aiden cleaned up and fetched him some Ginger Ale, and then I became the next victim. I would honestly rather be in labor than have a stomach virus. That's how much I hate throwing up.
My husband cancelled all of his patients on Thursday and stayed home with us. What a sweetheart. Everyone seemed better by bedtime, but I had another dance with the porcelain pony early Friday morning. My throat hurts so badly from the stomach acid, but it's healing slowly. My oldest child has been a trooper, nursing everyone back to health and taking care of things while I was recuperating yesterday. She deserves a big reward.
Unfortunately Lillian woke me up at 6 am today, crying because she'd been sick again (and wet her pants, which I think upset her more than the throwing up did...) I stripped the bed, changed her clothes and took her to bed with me. She had some dry heaves, but now she's had some applesauce and is prancing around the den like nothing ever happened. I'm still lethargic and sore, but she's made a remarkable recovery. Aiden is fine as well. I wish I had their energy. I can't even get up off of the couch. Dishes are piled in the sink and the laundry is backing up and I just want to sit here and watch HGTV.
Since I'm surfing the 'net more than usual this morning, I've had a chance to visit some blogs that I haven't read in awhile. I found this on Brandi's blog, and she stole it from her friend Kaye. I liked it, so I'm putting it here as a break from all the puke talk.
I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments. What do you buy?
1. Produce: bananas
2. Bakery: freshly made French bread
3. Meat: bottom round roast
4. Frozen: Sister Schubert's yeast rolls
5. Dry goods: angel hair pasta
Let's say we are heading out for a warm weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?
1. khaki shorts
2. comfy t-shirt
3. swimsuit
If I was to listen in on one of your conversations throughout the day, what 4 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?
1. Stop fighting over the Wii or I will turn it off!
2. Turn off the light in (your bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen).
3. Aiden, QUIT RUNNING in the house!
4. Lillian, stop yelling.
So, what 4 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn't get to do, you probably wouldn't be in the best mood?
1. sleep
2. scrapbook
3. spend time with the children and my husband
4. spend a few minutes by myself, watching TV or reading
You're driving down the road, and suddenly you're hit with this sense of road rage. What 3 factors probably contributed to it?
1. someone tailgating me
2. seeing a child riding in a car either not properly buckled or not in a car seat when they should be
3. someone talking on a cell phone and not paying attention to the road.
Sweet, you just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We're talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?
1. Watching a movie
2. Catching up on TV shows I've DVRed
3. scrapbooking
4. reading
5. taking a long bath
We're going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it will have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?
1. reptile house
2. the sea lions
3. giraffes
You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on TV. You can pick between 4, so what are you deciding between?
1. Jeopardy
2. The Office
3. Dirty Jobs (just so I could meet Mike Rowe!)
4. Iron Chef America (I have a thing for Alton Brown)
You're hungry for ice cream. I'll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?
1. mint chocolate chip
2. spumoni
3. Heavenly Hash
Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what's in there?
1. hand sanitizer
2. checkbooks (2: one with a Vera Bradley Medallion fabric cover and the other with a Longaberger Market Stripe cover)
3. crayons from assorted restaurants
4. black accordion cash wallet
5. key ring with a blue plastic daisy punch card from the local scrapbook store
You are at a job fair, and asked in what areas you are interested in pursuing a career. Lets pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?
1. graphic designer
2. advertising
3. OB nurse
4. professional scrapbooker/scrapbook store owner
I previously posted about our round with tummy troubles earlier this month, and it struck again this week. More technicolor yawning. This time it was Lillian that started, early Thursday morning. She started whining, which I heard on the baby monitor (can't seem to give that one up yet). I got up to check on her and she said she felt sick, so we went to the potty. Nothing happened, so I took her to bed with me. As soon as I got her tucked into our bed, I felt the need to use the facilities. My husband was blissfully unaware of the goings-on (he sleeps with a CPAP machine and a noise machine going, so he sometimes doesn't hear anything... lucky dog). Anyhoo, when I came out of the bathroom, Lillian was bent over the trash can I'd placed beside our bed. My husband was saying, "HELP! I've been yelling for you!" Darn that bathroom fan. I can't hear a thing when I'm in there.
It just got worse from that point. I was helping to clean up Lillian when I heard Aiden starting his morning song in the den. I raced to him, and bless his heart, all he could say was, "I'm perfecting my aim!" (We'd been kidding him about missing the mark when he was sick so much before, so he said he had to be sick again to work on hitting the target...)
I got Aiden cleaned up and fetched him some Ginger Ale, and then I became the next victim. I would honestly rather be in labor than have a stomach virus. That's how much I hate throwing up.
My husband cancelled all of his patients on Thursday and stayed home with us. What a sweetheart. Everyone seemed better by bedtime, but I had another dance with the porcelain pony early Friday morning. My throat hurts so badly from the stomach acid, but it's healing slowly. My oldest child has been a trooper, nursing everyone back to health and taking care of things while I was recuperating yesterday. She deserves a big reward.
Unfortunately Lillian woke me up at 6 am today, crying because she'd been sick again (and wet her pants, which I think upset her more than the throwing up did...) I stripped the bed, changed her clothes and took her to bed with me. She had some dry heaves, but now she's had some applesauce and is prancing around the den like nothing ever happened. I'm still lethargic and sore, but she's made a remarkable recovery. Aiden is fine as well. I wish I had their energy. I can't even get up off of the couch. Dishes are piled in the sink and the laundry is backing up and I just want to sit here and watch HGTV.
Since I'm surfing the 'net more than usual this morning, I've had a chance to visit some blogs that I haven't read in awhile. I found this on Brandi's blog, and she stole it from her friend Kaye. I liked it, so I'm putting it here as a break from all the puke talk.
I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments. What do you buy?
1. Produce: bananas
2. Bakery: freshly made French bread
3. Meat: bottom round roast
4. Frozen: Sister Schubert's yeast rolls
5. Dry goods: angel hair pasta
Let's say we are heading out for a warm weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?
1. khaki shorts
2. comfy t-shirt
3. swimsuit
If I was to listen in on one of your conversations throughout the day, what 4 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?
1. Stop fighting over the Wii or I will turn it off!
2. Turn off the light in (your bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen).
3. Aiden, QUIT RUNNING in the house!
4. Lillian, stop yelling.
So, what 4 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn't get to do, you probably wouldn't be in the best mood?
1. sleep
2. scrapbook
3. spend time with the children and my husband
4. spend a few minutes by myself, watching TV or reading
You're driving down the road, and suddenly you're hit with this sense of road rage. What 3 factors probably contributed to it?
1. someone tailgating me
2. seeing a child riding in a car either not properly buckled or not in a car seat when they should be
3. someone talking on a cell phone and not paying attention to the road.
Sweet, you just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We're talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?
1. Watching a movie
2. Catching up on TV shows I've DVRed
3. scrapbooking
4. reading
5. taking a long bath
We're going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it will have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?
1. reptile house
2. the sea lions
3. giraffes
You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on TV. You can pick between 4, so what are you deciding between?
1. Jeopardy
2. The Office
3. Dirty Jobs (just so I could meet Mike Rowe!)
4. Iron Chef America (I have a thing for Alton Brown)
You're hungry for ice cream. I'll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?
1. mint chocolate chip
2. spumoni
3. Heavenly Hash
Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what's in there?
1. hand sanitizer
2. checkbooks (2: one with a Vera Bradley Medallion fabric cover and the other with a Longaberger Market Stripe cover)
3. crayons from assorted restaurants
4. black accordion cash wallet
5. key ring with a blue plastic daisy punch card from the local scrapbook store
You are at a job fair, and asked in what areas you are interested in pursuing a career. Lets pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?
1. graphic designer
2. advertising
3. OB nurse
4. professional scrapbooker/scrapbook store owner
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Aiden Update
The kids came home last night and I smothered them with kisses. My husband checked Aiden's eyes and took a picture with his retinal camera and didn't find any lesions or abnormalities, so we didn't take him on to the pediatrician. He hasn't thrown up since last week, and the cycle had been for him to vomit every 2 to 3 days, so we think he's over it. Aiden says he feels better than he has "in weeks". We think he's cured. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts. I was one worried momma!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Prayer Request
My sweet Aiden has been sick for awhile. He had a stomach bug on Wednesday, June 25th, but seemed better the next day. I got it on the 28th, then Camryn was sick on the 29th. We thought it was just a bug working its way through the house.
Aiden threw up again on Tuesday the 1st of July, but again, seemed to get better. We packed up and got ready for our mountain vacation. The morning of the 3rd, Camryn and Aiden both got sick again. We went on our trip anyway, both children seemingly better by the time we got to the cabin.
We had an uneventful few days in the mountains, but on the morning of Sunday the 6th, Aiden got sick again. He spent the day in the car as we traveled home, then hit the couch as soon as we walked through the door. He stayed there, but ate a little bit and kept it down.
Then Quinn threw up before bed on Sunday night.
Monday everyone was again better. I thought maybe that was the last of it. I did the kids' laundry and packed them up for a week long stay with my parents.
Tuesday morning, Aiden was sick AGAIN. He decided he still wanted to go to my parents, so we left. We stopped at McDonald's on the way out of town and surprisingly, Aiden wanted an egg and cheese biscuit. He ate it and drank some Coke and kept it down. He ate a little lunch when we met my parents in Atlanta, and said he felt a ltitle better. He was fine on the trip to Birmingham.
I talked to the kids again last night. Aiden was sick again yesterday morning. So far, this has been going on over 2 weeks. I did some Google searches, and it only served to scare me. Cyclic vomiting syndrome and brain tumor are not things a mom wants to read when her son is over 300 miles from home.
The kids will be home on Tuesday. I'm scheduling a doctor appointment for Aiden on Wednesday. Until then, I can only pray that he won't be sick anymore, and that when I do take him to the doctor, it turns out to be nothing more than a lingering virus or something innocent like that.
Will you join me in praying for Aiden? Last night the last thing he said to me was, "Will you pray for me?" in a weak voice. I wanted to reach through the phone and hug him close. I know my parents are taking excellent care of him, but I feel helpless.
Aiden threw up again on Tuesday the 1st of July, but again, seemed to get better. We packed up and got ready for our mountain vacation. The morning of the 3rd, Camryn and Aiden both got sick again. We went on our trip anyway, both children seemingly better by the time we got to the cabin.
We had an uneventful few days in the mountains, but on the morning of Sunday the 6th, Aiden got sick again. He spent the day in the car as we traveled home, then hit the couch as soon as we walked through the door. He stayed there, but ate a little bit and kept it down.
Then Quinn threw up before bed on Sunday night.
Monday everyone was again better. I thought maybe that was the last of it. I did the kids' laundry and packed them up for a week long stay with my parents.
Tuesday morning, Aiden was sick AGAIN. He decided he still wanted to go to my parents, so we left. We stopped at McDonald's on the way out of town and surprisingly, Aiden wanted an egg and cheese biscuit. He ate it and drank some Coke and kept it down. He ate a little lunch when we met my parents in Atlanta, and said he felt a ltitle better. He was fine on the trip to Birmingham.
I talked to the kids again last night. Aiden was sick again yesterday morning. So far, this has been going on over 2 weeks. I did some Google searches, and it only served to scare me. Cyclic vomiting syndrome and brain tumor are not things a mom wants to read when her son is over 300 miles from home.
The kids will be home on Tuesday. I'm scheduling a doctor appointment for Aiden on Wednesday. Until then, I can only pray that he won't be sick anymore, and that when I do take him to the doctor, it turns out to be nothing more than a lingering virus or something innocent like that.
Will you join me in praying for Aiden? Last night the last thing he said to me was, "Will you pray for me?" in a weak voice. I wanted to reach through the phone and hug him close. I know my parents are taking excellent care of him, but I feel helpless.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Who I Am...
I belong to a scrapbooking message board. It's really like belonging to a family, because the women there have come to mean so much to me. I'm going on a board-sponsored retreat in October, and the hostess of the retreat asked everyone to make an 8x8 layout using one of the questionnaires she provided. She's going to scan them all and we can put them on a memory card and take them home to print them. Instant retreat scrapbook with very little work. I love the idea!
Here is the layout I did (my name on the board is Basket Lady, because I sell Longaberger baskets.)
Cilck on the picture to see a larger version.
And if that's not enough about me, here's a 20 questions article I found in a magazine. I changed the answers, of course. I just love talking about myself ; )
1. What is your idea of a perfect day?
Sitting in a comfy chair on a slightly windy (but not chilly) beach, reading a great book while the kids play nearby.
2. The mountains or the beach?
Beach in the summer, mountains in the winter.
3. Soft drinks, tea or water?
TEA
4. Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate
5. What's your favorite childhood memory?
Anytime we'd pull out the Christmas decorations, put the Christmas records on the big stereo, and decorate the tree.
6. What's your favorite dinner?
Roast with carrots and potatoes and my mom's Pop Up rolls.
7. What's your favorite way to relax?
a hot bath with something fragrant in the water
8. What's the best place to take the kids?
To my parents' (HA!) Really, Disney World. We always have a BLAST.
9. What's your favorite TV show?
Probably a tie between Grey's Anatomy and The Office.
10. What's the best night out you've ever had?
Our church used to do Parents' Nights Out. They'd keep the kids from 5:30 until 10 pm. My husband dropped off the kids at church, picked up some Ruby Tuesday takeout and came back home. We had a bed picnic and watched a movie, then he went to get the kids. It was nice. I'm not hard to please.
11. What's your favorite restaurant?
The Olive Garden
12. What are your talents and hobbies?
I don't think of myself as having a particular talent, but I love to scrapbook. It's a great hobby.
13. What is something important life has taught you?
Others' opinions of me do not change who I am, so therefore they do not matter.
14. What do you wish you could do?
Take a cross-country train trip with my family.
15. What would surprise people about you?
I enjoy listening to talk radio. It's all my husband's fault.
16. What do you wish you could share from your childhood with your children?
My maternal grandparents. My grandfather died when my oldest was only 18 months-old, so she never really knew my grandfather. By the time he died my grandmother already had Alzheimer's disease, so the kids never knew her like she was before she got sick.
17. What are three things that brighten your day?
Sunshine. (I hate cloudy days!)
My children's affection.
My husband's dry sense of humor.
18. What is your favorite indulgence?
Time alone.
19. What's the best book you've read recently?
Boundaries by Cloud & Townsend. I just started it, but I know it's going to change my life.
20. What celebrity have you met?
Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) and Vanessa Williams (when she was still Miss America). I met them at a car show. I also met former South Carolina governor David Beasley at a private fundraiser when he was running for Strom Thurmond's Senate seat in 2004.
Here is the layout I did (my name on the board is Basket Lady, because I sell Longaberger baskets.)
Cilck on the picture to see a larger version.
And if that's not enough about me, here's a 20 questions article I found in a magazine. I changed the answers, of course. I just love talking about myself ; )
1. What is your idea of a perfect day?
Sitting in a comfy chair on a slightly windy (but not chilly) beach, reading a great book while the kids play nearby.
2. The mountains or the beach?
Beach in the summer, mountains in the winter.
3. Soft drinks, tea or water?
TEA
4. Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate
5. What's your favorite childhood memory?
Anytime we'd pull out the Christmas decorations, put the Christmas records on the big stereo, and decorate the tree.
6. What's your favorite dinner?
Roast with carrots and potatoes and my mom's Pop Up rolls.
7. What's your favorite way to relax?
a hot bath with something fragrant in the water
8. What's the best place to take the kids?
To my parents' (HA!) Really, Disney World. We always have a BLAST.
9. What's your favorite TV show?
Probably a tie between Grey's Anatomy and The Office.
10. What's the best night out you've ever had?
Our church used to do Parents' Nights Out. They'd keep the kids from 5:30 until 10 pm. My husband dropped off the kids at church, picked up some Ruby Tuesday takeout and came back home. We had a bed picnic and watched a movie, then he went to get the kids. It was nice. I'm not hard to please.
11. What's your favorite restaurant?
The Olive Garden
12. What are your talents and hobbies?
I don't think of myself as having a particular talent, but I love to scrapbook. It's a great hobby.
13. What is something important life has taught you?
Others' opinions of me do not change who I am, so therefore they do not matter.
14. What do you wish you could do?
Take a cross-country train trip with my family.
15. What would surprise people about you?
I enjoy listening to talk radio. It's all my husband's fault.
16. What do you wish you could share from your childhood with your children?
My maternal grandparents. My grandfather died when my oldest was only 18 months-old, so she never really knew my grandfather. By the time he died my grandmother already had Alzheimer's disease, so the kids never knew her like she was before she got sick.
17. What are three things that brighten your day?
Sunshine. (I hate cloudy days!)
My children's affection.
My husband's dry sense of humor.
18. What is your favorite indulgence?
Time alone.
19. What's the best book you've read recently?
Boundaries by Cloud & Townsend. I just started it, but I know it's going to change my life.
20. What celebrity have you met?
Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) and Vanessa Williams (when she was still Miss America). I met them at a car show. I also met former South Carolina governor David Beasley at a private fundraiser when he was running for Strom Thurmond's Senate seat in 2004.
Friday, June 27, 2008
These Are Some Good Times...
She was starin' out the window of their SUV
Complainin' sayin' I can't wait to turn 18
She said I'll make my own money
And I'll make my own rules
Momma put the car in park out there in front of the school
And she kissed her head, and said
'I was just like you'
You're gonna' miss this
You're gonna' want this back
You're gonna' wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna' miss this
Before she knows it she's a brand new bride
In her one bedroom apartment
And her daddy stops by
He tells her it's a nice place
She says, 'It'll do for now'
Starts talkin' about babies, and buyin' a house
Daddy shakes his head
And says baby just slow down
Cuz' you're gonna' miss this
You're gonna' want this back
You're gonna' wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna' miss this
Five years later there's a plumber
Workin' on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin'
One kid's cryin' one kid's screamin'
And she keeps apologizin'
But he says they don't bother me
I've got two babies of my own
One's thirty-six, one's twenty-three
Huh, it's hard to believe
But you're gonna' miss this
You're gonna' want this back
You're gonna' wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna' miss this
You're gonna' miss this
Yeaahhhh... you're gonna' miss this...
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away Now!
A couple of weeks ago, as I stuffed socks and bras into overflowing plastic carts in my closet, I grumbled to my husband, "Grrrr! We reaalllllly need MORE DRAWER SPACE in here!"
Within a couple of hours, he had taken the necessary measurements and settled into the chair in my office to plan our new closet configuration online. Who says men don't listen?
Once the plan was done, my sweetie called two of the children to accompany him to the store to fetch the required materials to commence Operation: Overhaul.
Some men go golfing. Some men go to strip clubs. My man goes to Lowe's.
My personal Bob Vila returned home 2 hours or so later, his truck bed laden with ClosetMaid boxes. My tireless husband then proceeded to empty the closet of all of our clothes, shoes, belts, boxes, medicines, etc. He said that was the easy part. By his account, my job was the hard part. Once the closet was installed (it took him half a Sunday and the better part of a Tuesday) it rested on me to put the whole shebang back together.
Easy. Peasy. Lemon. Squeezy.
I filled up 12 trash bags with clothes and shoes that were either too small, out of style, covered in stains or just simply hadn't been worn in a long time. It felt GOOD. The only items allowed back into the new inner sanctum were things we actually WEAR. Go figure.
See that rack of hangers below? That's just part of what came out of my closet. There is a huge basket of extras in the basement storage area. I'll use them for consigning the kids' clothes.
There are so many hangers, it's ridiculous. I don't ever want to use them all at the same time again. If I buy something new, I need to give something away. That's the only way to stay on top of the clutter.
The closet overhaul has inspired me to declutter other areas of the house, too. I did the laundry room counter on Monday.
It's easy to clean when I can use the kids as gophers. "Here, go put this in the (insert location here)." Kids will work in the summertime! Myth debunked!
I saw a tip on DIY that lead me to clean off the master bathroom counter.
I bought this $5 shoe rack at Target and hung it out of sight on the back of the bathroom door. Then I took my toiletry basics and loaded the thing down. Voila! Clean countertops.
Today while the cleaning lady was tidying up the living areas, the kids and I went to the playroom. Within an hour we could see the floor again, and all of the toys were back where they belong.
And now the kids are actually PLAYING in the PLAYROOM.
Will wonders never cease.
Don't tell them, but when they go to Alabama in July, I'm going to make some toys disappear from the playroom, too!
Shhhh..... be vewwwwwwy quiiiiiet. I'm hunting Widdle People!
Within a couple of hours, he had taken the necessary measurements and settled into the chair in my office to plan our new closet configuration online. Who says men don't listen?
Once the plan was done, my sweetie called two of the children to accompany him to the store to fetch the required materials to commence Operation: Overhaul.
Some men go golfing. Some men go to strip clubs. My man goes to Lowe's.
My personal Bob Vila returned home 2 hours or so later, his truck bed laden with ClosetMaid boxes. My tireless husband then proceeded to empty the closet of all of our clothes, shoes, belts, boxes, medicines, etc. He said that was the easy part. By his account, my job was the hard part. Once the closet was installed (it took him half a Sunday and the better part of a Tuesday) it rested on me to put the whole shebang back together.
Easy. Peasy. Lemon. Squeezy.
I filled up 12 trash bags with clothes and shoes that were either too small, out of style, covered in stains or just simply hadn't been worn in a long time. It felt GOOD. The only items allowed back into the new inner sanctum were things we actually WEAR. Go figure.
See that rack of hangers below? That's just part of what came out of my closet. There is a huge basket of extras in the basement storage area. I'll use them for consigning the kids' clothes.
There are so many hangers, it's ridiculous. I don't ever want to use them all at the same time again. If I buy something new, I need to give something away. That's the only way to stay on top of the clutter.
The closet overhaul has inspired me to declutter other areas of the house, too. I did the laundry room counter on Monday.
It's easy to clean when I can use the kids as gophers. "Here, go put this in the (insert location here)." Kids will work in the summertime! Myth debunked!
I saw a tip on DIY that lead me to clean off the master bathroom counter.
I bought this $5 shoe rack at Target and hung it out of sight on the back of the bathroom door. Then I took my toiletry basics and loaded the thing down. Voila! Clean countertops.
Today while the cleaning lady was tidying up the living areas, the kids and I went to the playroom. Within an hour we could see the floor again, and all of the toys were back where they belong.
And now the kids are actually PLAYING in the PLAYROOM.
Will wonders never cease.
Don't tell them, but when they go to Alabama in July, I'm going to make some toys disappear from the playroom, too!
Shhhh..... be vewwwwwwy quiiiiiet. I'm hunting Widdle People!
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