I'm thankful for Tim's job - three years of employment in a position he loves with great insurance. It took a while to get there and we don't take it for granted.
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
FREE ADVERTISING #8
Here are a few sites I think you should know about. Ready? Here goes.
.
.
.
.
ReBag by Sachi - I know I've mentioned Sachi a few times and have shown you the bag she made me. Well, she finally has a site for selling her bags!! It's on Facebook, so if you aren't registered there, then you'll need to open an account in order to see the bags. She primarily makes bags (small, large, backpacks, clutches, etc) out of used, plastic shopping bags. However, she also has a few made from t-shirts. Due to the fact she makes new bags out of whatever used bags are available, she can't guarantee a particular look. However, she'll do her best to accommodate custom orders, which is perfect for those who like the look of one bag, but the shape of another. I love the bag she made for me and gave one of her bags as a Christmas gift this year!
.Here are a few of the bags that are currently available. The first three are made from recycled bags. The fourth and fifth pics are the both sides of a reversible bag made from t-shirts.
.
.
.Nibord - Robin is a friend of mine who is a talented seamstress. When I was pregnant with Naomi she surprised me with a beautiful baby quilt she had made. This year I was able to give one of her handmade aprons as a Christmas gift. Shipping was super fast and the apron was perfect. Robin makes full and half aprons in different styles, fabric, and sizes, so you're bound to find one that you love! You can check out her site on etsy to see what she currently has available, both in aprons and other items. The stock is always changing, so be sure to check back often.
.Here are a few aprons that are available right now, which show the variety of styles offered. The third apron is a child's size.
.
.
.
.
Swagbucks - Ok, this isn't a newsflash, but I love Swagbucks! One of the Christmas gifts I bought this year was purchased from Amazon using gift cards I earned from Swagbucks. Free gift giving. Cool, huh? They've set a new rule that you can't "buy" more than five of the same prize per month, which means I'm no longer racking up Amazon credit like I used to. However, I've started "buying" PayPal money, which will help me purchase handmade items from friends on etsy. I've also been able to give some Amazon gift card codes as gifts. Swagbucks is just an awesome program!!.
.
.Swagbucks - Ok, this isn't a newsflash, but I love Swagbucks! One of the Christmas gifts I bought this year was purchased from Amazon using gift cards I earned from Swagbucks. Free gift giving. Cool, huh? They've set a new rule that you can't "buy" more than five of the same prize per month, which means I'm no longer racking up Amazon credit like I used to. However, I've started "buying" PayPal money, which will help me purchase handmade items from friends on etsy. I've also been able to give some Amazon gift card codes as gifts. Swagbucks is just an awesome program!!
Cade and Anya Accessories - Mindy is one of those people who received an excessive amount of creative and artistic genes. It's people like her that compensate for people like me. She's recently been making super cute headbands for infant and toddler girls. They are the perfect accessory for little girls who were born with heads that are noticeably lacking in hair, though I'm sure they'd look cute on girls that aren't bald too. How do you all think they'd look as a base for a certain two year old's blonde fro? I may have to do some research on that. Mindy first makes her headbands available on a blog devoted to the accessories, then posts them on her etsy site.
Here are a few that haven't sold yet.
.
.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
A STORY OF WINTER, TRADITION, & A GREAT FATHER
Once upon a time there was a dad. And some boys. And a mom. And a cold winter. And dark evenings.
The dad was gone a lot because he officiated basketball after work. The cold days and dark evenings meant the boys were trapped inside. The boys had cabin fever and were bouncing off the walls. The mom was about to go insane. The dad came up with a solution. The solution was "W" style hide and seek.
One night the dad was home. The sky was dark. The dad was dark. One of the boys was dark. All three males put on dark clothing. The boy who was not dark was given a black beanie to hide his non-dark, otherwise known as "blonde", curls. The mom, whose mood was dark, though her body was non-dark, was locked in her room with a computer and a light on. The lights in the rest of the house were turned off. The blinds were closed. The house was dark. Very dark.
The darkly clothed males played hide and seek in the very dark house for at least an hour. They all loved it. The non-dark mom's dark mood began to brighten because she got a break from her very energetic boys. A tradition was born. A tradition that all the males looked forward to each winter.
Years passed. About three, in fact. During that time a non-dark girl joined the family. Two dark winters ago she was a nursing infant who ate one of her meals with her non-dark mom in a non-dark room while the darkly clothed males hid and sought in a very dark house. One dark winter ago the non-dark girl played with her non-dark mom in a non-dark room because she was no longer able to nurse during the game and too young to join the fun. This year the non-dark girl joined the darkly clothed males as they played hide and seek in the very dark house. She joined the tradition.
On Saturday night two dark males put on dark clothes. One of them wore a dark beanie because he felt like it. One non-dark male put on dark clothes. He opted to wear the hood to a sweatshirt instead of a beanie because he was hot. One non-dark female put her non-dark mom's dark shirt over her own clothing and a dark beanie on her over non-dark, otherwise known as "blonde", curls. The non-dark mom was happily banished to her non-dark room to relax and work on the computer while the dark dad entertained the dark and non-dark children.
The female took turns hiding in the very dark house with the darkly clothed males. She was excited to play. When her dark father hid her on the couch, she sat quietly until found. When her dark brother hid her in the bathroom she blurted "Daddy! Bathroom!" as soon as the dark father came to find those who had hidden. The dark brother wasn't amused by her outburst until later in the evening, after the shock wore off. The non-dark girl then decided she wanted to hang with her non-dark mom in a non-dark room and load pictures onto the computer. Though she though it was cool to play, she thought identifying everyone in the pictures was more fun than hiding in the very dark house.
The non-dark boy was in tears, disappointed that he never got to hide with the non-dark girl. Then the dark boy told him how the non-dark girl had given away a hiding place. Suddenly the non-dark boy was laughing, not feeling quite as disappointed as he'd felt thirty seconds earlier. He didn't want the non-dark girl to give away his hiding spots in the very dark house.
The dark dad, dark boy, and non-dark boy continued playing "W" style hide and seek for an hour. They had fun. They'll play it again a few times before winter is over.
The end.
The dad was gone a lot because he officiated basketball after work. The cold days and dark evenings meant the boys were trapped inside. The boys had cabin fever and were bouncing off the walls. The mom was about to go insane. The dad came up with a solution. The solution was "W" style hide and seek.
One night the dad was home. The sky was dark. The dad was dark. One of the boys was dark. All three males put on dark clothing. The boy who was not dark was given a black beanie to hide his non-dark, otherwise known as "blonde", curls. The mom, whose mood was dark, though her body was non-dark, was locked in her room with a computer and a light on. The lights in the rest of the house were turned off. The blinds were closed. The house was dark. Very dark.
The darkly clothed males played hide and seek in the very dark house for at least an hour. They all loved it. The non-dark mom's dark mood began to brighten because she got a break from her very energetic boys. A tradition was born. A tradition that all the males looked forward to each winter.
Years passed. About three, in fact. During that time a non-dark girl joined the family. Two dark winters ago she was a nursing infant who ate one of her meals with her non-dark mom in a non-dark room while the darkly clothed males hid and sought in a very dark house. One dark winter ago the non-dark girl played with her non-dark mom in a non-dark room because she was no longer able to nurse during the game and too young to join the fun. This year the non-dark girl joined the darkly clothed males as they played hide and seek in the very dark house. She joined the tradition.
On Saturday night two dark males put on dark clothes. One of them wore a dark beanie because he felt like it. One non-dark male put on dark clothes. He opted to wear the hood to a sweatshirt instead of a beanie because he was hot. One non-dark female put her non-dark mom's dark shirt over her own clothing and a dark beanie on her over non-dark, otherwise known as "blonde", curls. The non-dark mom was happily banished to her non-dark room to relax and work on the computer while the dark dad entertained the dark and non-dark children.
The female took turns hiding in the very dark house with the darkly clothed males. She was excited to play. When her dark father hid her on the couch, she sat quietly until found. When her dark brother hid her in the bathroom she blurted "Daddy! Bathroom!" as soon as the dark father came to find those who had hidden. The dark brother wasn't amused by her outburst until later in the evening, after the shock wore off. The non-dark girl then decided she wanted to hang with her non-dark mom in a non-dark room and load pictures onto the computer. Though she though it was cool to play, she thought identifying everyone in the pictures was more fun than hiding in the very dark house.
The non-dark boy was in tears, disappointed that he never got to hide with the non-dark girl. Then the dark boy told him how the non-dark girl had given away a hiding place. Suddenly the non-dark boy was laughing, not feeling quite as disappointed as he'd felt thirty seconds earlier. He didn't want the non-dark girl to give away his hiding spots in the very dark house.
The dark dad, dark boy, and non-dark boy continued playing "W" style hide and seek for an hour. They had fun. They'll play it again a few times before winter is over.
The end.
The non-dark girl with a cheesy smile, the dark dad, the dark boy, and the non-dark boy all dressed and ready to play "W" style hide & seek.
.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
Wednesday - I started the day doing prep work in the kitchen - one batch of sugar cookie dough, one batch of ginger cookie dough, and sauce for Thursday's penne & sausage casseroles. We also spent a chunk of time cleaning, as our house was trashed from several busy days in a row. There was no Bible study that night, so we bundled up the fam after naps and headed off to ZooLights. It was about 30 degrees outside, but we had a great time. Lots of fun lights, a train ride, and some delicious elephant ears. Then we drove down to Panda Express for dinner, thanks to a gift card I earned a while ago.
.
Thursday - I did some more work in the kitchen, including baking the ginger cookies. I intended on making the sugar cookies that evening with the kids, but that never happened. The dough is still in the fridge, so I suppose I'll bake it after I finish this blog post. Mid-morning Tim and I opened gifts the boys had purchased for us from the money in their giving budget. Silas gave me a candle that smells great (he knows I love candles) and Devon hooked me up with gum and a package of Baby Ruth bars (he knows it's one of my two favorite candy bars). Our boys are such cheerful givers. I love it!
We also opened gifts someone gave us anonymously. So thoughtful of them and fun for us. In case the giver reads my blog, the boys played with their cars for two days straight, Naomi has been curled up in her blanket every chance she gets, and Tim and I look forward to using our present. Thanks!
We picked up Granny (my mom's mom) around 3:00, then my dad, his wife, and her daughter arrived around 4:30. Debra, that's my dad's wife, brought over a plate piled high with cookies that were delicious. I'll have to get the recipe and post it on my recipe blog. I ate so many of them, that it's probably good I didn't get the sugar cookies baked. We spent the evening visiting, eating, and the males had some teamed up to race in completing some Christmas puzzles. That night, as tradition goes, the kiddos got to open one present. And, as tradition goes, it was jammies from Tim and I. After everyone went home we cleaned up and got baked oatmeal prepped for the next morning.
.
Friday - Tim read The Legend of the Three Trees with the kids, they opened their stockings, and I got breakfast started. My dad and crew showed up about 9:00 and we scarfed baked oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and oranges. Yum! Then we picked up Granny and dove into presents. All nine of us were blessed with some great gifts!!
Here's something funny. The boys did their Christmas shopping separately. So, imagine our amusement when Naomi opened her gifts from them and we discovered they'd bought her the same thing - bumpy balls! And imagine our further amusement when we discovered what they bought each other - Fritos! That's right, they bought the exact same gifts for their siblings.
I didn't serve lunch, but just put out a bunch of snack foods for people to graze on throughout the day. Made my life easier and I earned some "good wife" and "cool mom" points by buying fun chips, instead of the usual, plain, tortilla chips. I also discovered that I love rosemary and olive oil flavored Triscuits. So glad Granny picked those out when we went shopping!! Next time Triscuits are free, I'll be getting more of them!!
The kids all went down for naps or out of sight for downtime, Granny went home to rest, and the other adults spent some time reading, blogging, doing puzzles and other mellow things.
Things picked up again around 4:00. We pigged out on ham, rolls, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and salad for dinner. The evening wrapped up with all of us playing Apples to Apples Jr., a game the kids got from my sister's family. That was a major hit!! They'd played it with friends in July and I'd told them I'd use some of my Amazon gift cards from Swagbucks to get it for them. For about three months I kept forgetting, despite their reminders. I've spent the last two months saying "oh yeah, I'll get it done" and then not getting it done, as I knew they were getting it from the Moffits. Needless to say, they were thrilled to open that package!
Granny headed home around 6:30 and my dad's crew left around 9:30, then we just cleaned everything up, balanced the checkbook (me), and watched TV (Tim). I went to bed around midnight.
As a sidenote, my dad blogged about his time here and you can check out his pics right here.
.
Saturday - I slept til about 8:45. I felt like I'd been run over by a train. Too many late nights and busy days, forgotten vitamins, lack of adequate water, and too much sugar had done me in. I told Tim I felt like doing nothing and he suggested that's what I should do. Major "good husband" points! So, I stayed in jammies, Tim served leftover pumpkin bread for breakfast, I hung out with Naomi while the guys ran errands, Tim heated leftovers for lunch, I napped for three hours, Tim heated leftovers for dinner, and I've stayed in my bed all evening loading pictures onto the computer and blogging while Tim has played with the kids, bathed Naomi and supervised the boys' getting showered and jammied up.
That nap was a miracle. I'm rarely able to nap and always have a hard time falling asleep, but I so was exhausted that I konked out almost immediately. Tim didn't snore, Silas was totally quiet during his downtime, and once Devon woke from his nap the two boys played quietly until we woke up. Awesome!
I guess I was in desperate need of a day off. Now that I've had one I'm feeling way less emotional, way more rational, way less achy, and way more refreshed than I was feeling this morning. If I can get a good night's sleep tonight, then I think I'll be back to normal tomorrow.
And that's that.
All aboard! We're ready to ride the train around the zoo. And yes, I am wearing an ear muff headband thing (guess I don't know what they're called) and a knit hat. It was cold and I didn't care how dorky I looked.
..
Thursday - I did some more work in the kitchen, including baking the ginger cookies. I intended on making the sugar cookies that evening with the kids, but that never happened. The dough is still in the fridge, so I suppose I'll bake it after I finish this blog post. Mid-morning Tim and I opened gifts the boys had purchased for us from the money in their giving budget. Silas gave me a candle that smells great (he knows I love candles) and Devon hooked me up with gum and a package of Baby Ruth bars (he knows it's one of my two favorite candy bars). Our boys are such cheerful givers. I love it!
We also opened gifts someone gave us anonymously. So thoughtful of them and fun for us. In case the giver reads my blog, the boys played with their cars for two days straight, Naomi has been curled up in her blanket every chance she gets, and Tim and I look forward to using our present. Thanks!
We picked up Granny (my mom's mom) around 3:00, then my dad, his wife, and her daughter arrived around 4:30. Debra, that's my dad's wife, brought over a plate piled high with cookies that were delicious. I'll have to get the recipe and post it on my recipe blog. I ate so many of them, that it's probably good I didn't get the sugar cookies baked. We spent the evening visiting, eating, and the males had some teamed up to race in completing some Christmas puzzles. That night, as tradition goes, the kiddos got to open one present. And, as tradition goes, it was jammies from Tim and I. After everyone went home we cleaned up and got baked oatmeal prepped for the next morning.
Aren't they cute in their cozy, new jammies (that I got for 75% off back in January)?
.
.
Friday - Tim read The Legend of the Three Trees with the kids, they opened their stockings, and I got breakfast started. My dad and crew showed up about 9:00 and we scarfed baked oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and oranges. Yum! Then we picked up Granny and dove into presents. All nine of us were blessed with some great gifts!!
Here's something funny. The boys did their Christmas shopping separately. So, imagine our amusement when Naomi opened her gifts from them and we discovered they'd bought her the same thing - bumpy balls! And imagine our further amusement when we discovered what they bought each other - Fritos! That's right, they bought the exact same gifts for their siblings.
I didn't serve lunch, but just put out a bunch of snack foods for people to graze on throughout the day. Made my life easier and I earned some "good wife" and "cool mom" points by buying fun chips, instead of the usual, plain, tortilla chips. I also discovered that I love rosemary and olive oil flavored Triscuits. So glad Granny picked those out when we went shopping!! Next time Triscuits are free, I'll be getting more of them!!
The kids all went down for naps or out of sight for downtime, Granny went home to rest, and the other adults spent some time reading, blogging, doing puzzles and other mellow things.
Things picked up again around 4:00. We pigged out on ham, rolls, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and salad for dinner. The evening wrapped up with all of us playing Apples to Apples Jr., a game the kids got from my sister's family. That was a major hit!! They'd played it with friends in July and I'd told them I'd use some of my Amazon gift cards from Swagbucks to get it for them. For about three months I kept forgetting, despite their reminders. I've spent the last two months saying "oh yeah, I'll get it done" and then not getting it done, as I knew they were getting it from the Moffits. Needless to say, they were thrilled to open that package!
Granny headed home around 6:30 and my dad's crew left around 9:30, then we just cleaned everything up, balanced the checkbook (me), and watched TV (Tim). I went to bed around midnight.
As a sidenote, my dad blogged about his time here and you can check out his pics right here.
Despite some serious faces in this picture, we all had a fun day! The smiley pictures are just too dark to post. You'll also notice stickers on some people. That's a result of Naomi decorating us with her stocking stuffers. More of us had stickers in strange places by the time the day was over.
.
.
.Saturday - I slept til about 8:45. I felt like I'd been run over by a train. Too many late nights and busy days, forgotten vitamins, lack of adequate water, and too much sugar had done me in. I told Tim I felt like doing nothing and he suggested that's what I should do. Major "good husband" points! So, I stayed in jammies, Tim served leftover pumpkin bread for breakfast, I hung out with Naomi while the guys ran errands, Tim heated leftovers for lunch, I napped for three hours, Tim heated leftovers for dinner, and I've stayed in my bed all evening loading pictures onto the computer and blogging while Tim has played with the kids, bathed Naomi and supervised the boys' getting showered and jammied up.
That nap was a miracle. I'm rarely able to nap and always have a hard time falling asleep, but I so was exhausted that I konked out almost immediately. Tim didn't snore, Silas was totally quiet during his downtime, and once Devon woke from his nap the two boys played quietly until we woke up. Awesome!
I guess I was in desperate need of a day off. Now that I've had one I'm feeling way less emotional, way more rational, way less achy, and way more refreshed than I was feeling this morning. If I can get a good night's sleep tonight, then I think I'll be back to normal tomorrow.
And that's that.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
GREAT HOLIDAY RECIPES
Christmas is only two days away! Want to know a few of my favorite holiday treats? What? You're upset that I said "holiday" instead of "Christmas"? Well, that's because these recipes are appropriate for Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I make them during November and December. The holidays.
Now, here we go.
I love cookies. I particularly love soft cookies. I love the flavor of gingersnaps. But, again, I love soft cookies. Well, Big Soft Ginger Cookies satisfy my love of soft texture and gingersnap flavor. It's from allrecipes and is on their Top 20 list.
As a sidenote, I'm still not on the list. Thanks to those who tried to get me there, but apparently it takes more than your number of stars and reviews to make the cut. That's all right. It was a frivolous goal anyway.
Sugar cookies are the staple of holiday baking, and I mean holidays all year long. While I'm sure she didn't create it, I got this recipe from my friend Mary, over at the Sonlight forums. I think almond extract is the magic ingredient. The kids love decorating, so we usually do some with icing and candies. Tim loves them plain, so we also leave some untouched. Yum!
Another favorite is pumpkin bread. The recipe I use came from a box of old Betty Crocker recipes and it's perfect. I love it fresh out of the oven, room temperature, toasted, or refrigerated; with butter, plain, or with apple butter. It's wonderful! The bonus for me is that Tim doesn't like it, so I get his portion. Unfortunately, the kids think it's great, which means I have to share with them.
Now, if you're looking for something to drink, you should try Honey Mulled Cider. It's made in the crockpot, tastes great, and smells wonderful too!
I realize none of these recipes are fancy or new, but they're the ones I make every year. Simple classics. Hope you like them!
Now, here we go.
I love cookies. I particularly love soft cookies. I love the flavor of gingersnaps. But, again, I love soft cookies. Well, Big Soft Ginger Cookies satisfy my love of soft texture and gingersnap flavor. It's from allrecipes and is on their Top 20 list.
As a sidenote, I'm still not on the list. Thanks to those who tried to get me there, but apparently it takes more than your number of stars and reviews to make the cut. That's all right. It was a frivolous goal anyway.
Sugar cookies are the staple of holiday baking, and I mean holidays all year long. While I'm sure she didn't create it, I got this recipe from my friend Mary, over at the Sonlight forums. I think almond extract is the magic ingredient. The kids love decorating, so we usually do some with icing and candies. Tim loves them plain, so we also leave some untouched. Yum!
Another favorite is pumpkin bread. The recipe I use came from a box of old Betty Crocker recipes and it's perfect. I love it fresh out of the oven, room temperature, toasted, or refrigerated; with butter, plain, or with apple butter. It's wonderful! The bonus for me is that Tim doesn't like it, so I get his portion. Unfortunately, the kids think it's great, which means I have to share with them.
Now, if you're looking for something to drink, you should try Honey Mulled Cider. It's made in the crockpot, tastes great, and smells wonderful too!
I realize none of these recipes are fancy or new, but they're the ones I make every year. Simple classics. Hope you like them!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
THE HIT & RUN
Evidently there's a method of communication that is gaining in popularity. I'm seeing it everywhere lately! I don't know what the official name of this method of communication is, but I call it "the hit & run".
You all know what a vehicular hit & run is, right? It's where one person's vehicle does damage to another person's property, then the driver flees the scene instead of taking ownership of what they did and working toward a resolution.
Well, I'm going to give you directions on how to perform a relational hit & run. Ready?
1. Disagree with a specific person or be offended by what they say or do.
2. Write to them, either publicly (such as on a forum or Facebook) or privately (such as e-mail or through the postal service), letting them know exactly how upset you are or how wrong you think they are. The more details you can provide, the better. Whether or not the details are actually relevant doesn't really matter.
3. Request a response from the person. Or don't. Either option is acceptable.
4. Ignore their response. Especially if they try to make things right, clarify what you've said, or respond in an otherwise polite and civil fashion. If you feel obligated to respond, then simply state that there's nothing more to say, don't answer their questions, and cease communication on the matter.
5. Bonus points are given to those who find a way to lodge their complaint anonymously. The less responsibility you take or accountability you have for your words, the better.
You all know what a vehicular hit & run is, right? It's where one person's vehicle does damage to another person's property, then the driver flees the scene instead of taking ownership of what they did and working toward a resolution.
Well, I'm going to give you directions on how to perform a relational hit & run. Ready?
1. Disagree with a specific person or be offended by what they say or do.
2. Write to them, either publicly (such as on a forum or Facebook) or privately (such as e-mail or through the postal service), letting them know exactly how upset you are or how wrong you think they are. The more details you can provide, the better. Whether or not the details are actually relevant doesn't really matter.
3. Request a response from the person. Or don't. Either option is acceptable.
4. Ignore their response. Especially if they try to make things right, clarify what you've said, or respond in an otherwise polite and civil fashion. If you feel obligated to respond, then simply state that there's nothing more to say, don't answer their questions, and cease communication on the matter.
5. Bonus points are given to those who find a way to lodge their complaint anonymously. The less responsibility you take or accountability you have for your words, the better.
Monday, December 21, 2009
LITTLE LADY
If you've known me for more than a day, then you know I'm not very girly. Not at all. My daughter, however, is girly. It must be how she's wired, because she's certainly not learning it from anyone else in our home.
Here's a recent conversation we had concerning my pierced nose. My piercing is a tiny, fake diamond, which I've always referred to as my "sparkle" when she asks about it.
N (gently touching my nose while closely examining the piercing) - Mimi want parkul.
B - Nope. No sparkles for Naomi.
N - (spoken in her sweetest, most sincere and polite voice) Pees, mommy. Parkul, pees.
B - Nope. You've got to be older.
N - Mimi want parkul, pees. My nose, mommy. Parkul in my nose.
B - How about if you go do a puzzle or play with your dolls?
When we have female house guests she's always impressed by their hair dryers, curling irons, creams, perfumes, etc. When we're at church she'll ooh and aah over the jewelry that other women are wearing. When she gets a bag of hand-me-downs she'll pull a piece of clothing out of the bag, hold it up to herself and ask "Fit?" When we go to Ross she heads straight for the heels and prances around in them.
Now, she's not prissy. Just so you know. She'll also get filthy in the backyard, climb on everything in sight, wrestle with Tim, and all those things. She's just more into girly things than I am.
And that, my friends is why I was wearing jeans, a long-sleeved tee, and a fleece vest to church on Sunday while she wore this little outfit a friend passed down to her.
Please ignore the fact that one pigtail is puffier than the other. These are the struggles of my life. Focus, instead, on the fact she has a dress, tights, and shiny shoes ... all at the same time!!
Guess we need to work on how to sit like a lady.
She's always loved the scrunch face. Even when she's dolled up a little.
Here's a recent conversation we had concerning my pierced nose. My piercing is a tiny, fake diamond, which I've always referred to as my "sparkle" when she asks about it.
N (gently touching my nose while closely examining the piercing) - Mimi want parkul.
B - Nope. No sparkles for Naomi.
N - (spoken in her sweetest, most sincere and polite voice) Pees, mommy. Parkul, pees.
B - Nope. You've got to be older.
N - Mimi want parkul, pees. My nose, mommy. Parkul in my nose.
B - How about if you go do a puzzle or play with your dolls?
When we have female house guests she's always impressed by their hair dryers, curling irons, creams, perfumes, etc. When we're at church she'll ooh and aah over the jewelry that other women are wearing. When she gets a bag of hand-me-downs she'll pull a piece of clothing out of the bag, hold it up to herself and ask "Fit?" When we go to Ross she heads straight for the heels and prances around in them.
Now, she's not prissy. Just so you know. She'll also get filthy in the backyard, climb on everything in sight, wrestle with Tim, and all those things. She's just more into girly things than I am.
And that, my friends is why I was wearing jeans, a long-sleeved tee, and a fleece vest to church on Sunday while she wore this little outfit a friend passed down to her.
Please ignore the fact that one pigtail is puffier than the other. These are the struggles of my life. Focus, instead, on the fact she has a dress, tights, and shiny shoes ... all at the same time!!
Guess we need to work on how to sit like a lady.
She's always loved the scrunch face. Even when she's dolled up a little.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
HEADING SOUTH
Every summer we re-evaluate where to live. It's just part of living in Beaverton while Tim works in Salem. Each year we've felt the pros of staying put outweighed the cons. However, the recent opportunity to buy the house we're renting led to several discussions about housing, money, etc. and we've decided to move.
Our tentative plan, which we decided on two weeks ago, is to move to Wilsonville at the end of March. Not only will we be moving, but we'll be living below, rather than at, our means in an attempt to put more money toward school debt. Have I ever mentioned I hate debt? I have? Ok. Well, we're going to be returning to apartment life for a while.
I'm really, and I mean really, going to miss our big yard, great neighborhood, huge garden, wonderful neighbors and the privacy that comes with not sharing walls with other people. On the other hand, it will be nice to put hundreds of extra dollars toward debt each month and cut Tim's commute in half (in time, not quite in miles), which means three extra hours at home each week (that's like an extra day each month!!) and a significant drop in our gas expenses.
So, that's what's the latest news at the W house.
Now, if you or someone you know would like to rent a three bedroom, one bath house in the Cedar Hills area that's on a huge corner lot, very close to every store you can think of, MAX, library, Oregon Zoo, Children's Museum, and Nike .... let me know and I'll connect you with our landlord.
Our tentative plan, which we decided on two weeks ago, is to move to Wilsonville at the end of March. Not only will we be moving, but we'll be living below, rather than at, our means in an attempt to put more money toward school debt. Have I ever mentioned I hate debt? I have? Ok. Well, we're going to be returning to apartment life for a while.
I'm really, and I mean really, going to miss our big yard, great neighborhood, huge garden, wonderful neighbors and the privacy that comes with not sharing walls with other people. On the other hand, it will be nice to put hundreds of extra dollars toward debt each month and cut Tim's commute in half (in time, not quite in miles), which means three extra hours at home each week (that's like an extra day each month!!) and a significant drop in our gas expenses.
So, that's what's the latest news at the W house.
Now, if you or someone you know would like to rent a three bedroom, one bath house in the Cedar Hills area that's on a huge corner lot, very close to every store you can think of, MAX, library, Oregon Zoo, Children's Museum, and Nike .... let me know and I'll connect you with our landlord.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
12/17/09 THANKFUL THURSDAY
I'm thankful that Tim is about ready to get two weeks off work.
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
OPERATION: POPULARITY CONTEST
I'm going to ask you do to something that will reveal how incredibly immature I can be about certain things. Brace yourself.
I have a cornbread recipe on allrecipes.com that is only nine reviews away from making their "Top 20" list. Only nine.
If you've never made the cornbread, then you need to. If you are already hooked on it, would you go post a review for me? It will be my fifteen minutes of fame.
As an fyi, in addition to the link above, which takes you to allrecipes, I also have it right here, on my own recipe blog.
I have a cornbread recipe on allrecipes.com that is only nine reviews away from making their "Top 20" list. Only nine.
If you've never made the cornbread, then you need to. If you are already hooked on it, would you go post a review for me? It will be my fifteen minutes of fame.
As an fyi, in addition to the link above, which takes you to allrecipes, I also have it right here, on my own recipe blog.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER - 2009 EDITION
First of all, I have to say I hate trying to figure out who is going to get our newsletter and family pictures each year. Ugh. So, if you didn't get one, then please don't take it personally. I only have so many and have to draw the line somewhere on the list. However, I'm posting both the picture and newsletter here for those who didn't get a hard copy. Sorry, though, you don't get it on the cute snowman paper I printed the hard copies on.
2009 – A WEATHERSBY YEAR IN REVIEW
Please read this side if you like newsletters that focus on the high points of the year or if you want to believe our life is sunshine and roses all the time.
Wars – We hosted three marshmallow gun wars this year with a total of about 100 people battling. This is a tradition we’ll be sure to continue each year. Lots of fun!!
Education – Silas is in second grade and Devon is in kindergarten. Both boys are being homeschooled and doing really well academically.
Adorable – Naomi is a somersaulting, funny face making, phone chatting, puffy pigtail wearing, shoe loving, climbing, snuggling, popcorn eating, swinging, and completely fantastic two year old.
Teaching – Tim finished his third year at Salem-Keizer Online, which means he’s no longer a probationary employee. He also telecommutes part-time during the summer. Job security is a blessing and he loves his job.
Hawks – The boys requested mohawks that became half-hawks (Silas) and x-hawks that became 50 yard lines (Devon invented those). All versions were fro-hawks at some point.
Experimenting – Silas really enjoys creating new recipes. His baking experiments, which have been bar cookies and cakes, have moved from being edible to being pretty tasty.
Routine – Our health was uneventful. No pregnancies, deliveries, surgeries, ER visits, 911 calls, general anesthesia, x-rays, or ambulance rides this year. First time in several years that’s happened.
Stuntman – Devon is often found in the treetops, scaling doorframes, at top of the tetherball pole, hanging from or climbing along the top of the swing set, standing on his head, or doing reverse somersault flips.
Bargains – Bethany has taught a handful of classes to women who were looking for ways to stretch their household dollar. She’s enjoyed seeing them put some of her ideas into practice and get excited about blessing their family’s finances.
Youngsters - All three kids are buds. Obviously they get on each other’s nerves here and there, but the vast majority of the time they’re dancing, reading, or playing together, offering to serve each other, and sharing their candy stashes.
.
This year I decided to change up our newsletter a little. Most families, including ours, tend to list out all the highlights of the year and the accomplishments of each family member. That's all good and fine. I enjoy hearing what's good in the lives of our friends. However, I don't think your average Christmas newsletter gives a very realistic picture of that particular family's entire year. So, this year I wrote two newsletters. One side is a normal newsletter, written as an acrostic. The other side is a reality check.
.
Without further ado, and for those who didn't get the real deal, here is this year's newsletter, followed by this year's picture.
.
.
.
2009 – A WEATHERSBY YEAR IN REVIEW
Please read this side if you like newsletters that focus on the high points of the year or if you want to believe our life is sunshine and roses all the time.
Wars – We hosted three marshmallow gun wars this year with a total of about 100 people battling. This is a tradition we’ll be sure to continue each year. Lots of fun!!
Education – Silas is in second grade and Devon is in kindergarten. Both boys are being homeschooled and doing really well academically.
Adorable – Naomi is a somersaulting, funny face making, phone chatting, puffy pigtail wearing, shoe loving, climbing, snuggling, popcorn eating, swinging, and completely fantastic two year old.
Teaching – Tim finished his third year at Salem-Keizer Online, which means he’s no longer a probationary employee. He also telecommutes part-time during the summer. Job security is a blessing and he loves his job.
Hawks – The boys requested mohawks that became half-hawks (Silas) and x-hawks that became 50 yard lines (Devon invented those). All versions were fro-hawks at some point.
Experimenting – Silas really enjoys creating new recipes. His baking experiments, which have been bar cookies and cakes, have moved from being edible to being pretty tasty.
Routine – Our health was uneventful. No pregnancies, deliveries, surgeries, ER visits, 911 calls, general anesthesia, x-rays, or ambulance rides this year. First time in several years that’s happened.
Stuntman – Devon is often found in the treetops, scaling doorframes, at top of the tetherball pole, hanging from or climbing along the top of the swing set, standing on his head, or doing reverse somersault flips.
Bargains – Bethany has taught a handful of classes to women who were looking for ways to stretch their household dollar. She’s enjoyed seeing them put some of her ideas into practice and get excited about blessing their family’s finances.
Youngsters - All three kids are buds. Obviously they get on each other’s nerves here and there, but the vast majority of the time they’re dancing, reading, or playing together, offering to serve each other, and sharing their candy stashes.
2009 – A WEATHERSBY YEAR IN REVIEW
Please read this side if you like newsletters that prove other families are just as flawed as your own or if you want to feel like your family is better than ours.
Wishy-Washy – Tim and Bethany took foster parenting classes. Then they decided not to foster parent at this point in time, but vowed to help foster kids somehow. They haven’t done anything for foster kids since.
Experiments – Each of the boys have a science experiment assigned each week. Bethany and Tim never did a single one of them over the last year with the boys. Sometimes the boys did them on their own.
Attitude – When Bethany is stressed or frustrated she has a tendency to be sarcastic (the mean kind, not the funny kind), yell, and use a nasty tone of voice. It’s incredibly immature. It’s a bit hypocritical too, since she won’t let her kids act that way.
Ten –Tim & Bethany had their tenth anniversary in June. That’s a bigger milestone these days than it used be. Unfortunately, their marriage was stressful at that point and they did nothing to celebrate their anniversary.
Hands – Devon always has his fingers in his mouth. When he’s tired. When he’s bored. When he’s upset. Pretty much anytime his hands aren’t busy doing something else. He’s five years old and it’s ridiculous behavior for someone his age.
Excrement – Weathersby children poop in the toilet by the time they are two. Naomi, evidently, didn’t get that memo. She refuses to tell us when she needs to get up on the toilet. It’s disgusting that we’re dealing with poopy diapers on a two year old.
Relationships – We had friendships drift apart and people get offended by things we said. We also had someone we know steal nearly $1000 from us, and then go back and forth between admitting it and lying about it.
Scowl – Whether Tim is mindlessly staring off into space or genuinely upset he has a scowl on his face. His family is often asking if he’s in a bad mood, something he doesn’t appreciate if he’s not grumpy, which then leads to a genuine scowl.
Busy – Silas’ body and mouth are constantly busy. He’s always dancing, talking, tapping his feet, clicking his tongue, talking, snapping his fingers, running, or talking some more. It gets pretty annoying.
Yuck – Tim’s car is always a pig sty. Bethany always has piles of papers and other things she needs to deal with. The garage never stays organized. We rarely dust our furniture or windowsills. There is mold on our bathroom ceiling.
Please read this side if you like newsletters that prove other families are just as flawed as your own or if you want to feel like your family is better than ours.
Wishy-Washy – Tim and Bethany took foster parenting classes. Then they decided not to foster parent at this point in time, but vowed to help foster kids somehow. They haven’t done anything for foster kids since.
Experiments – Each of the boys have a science experiment assigned each week. Bethany and Tim never did a single one of them over the last year with the boys. Sometimes the boys did them on their own.
Attitude – When Bethany is stressed or frustrated she has a tendency to be sarcastic (the mean kind, not the funny kind), yell, and use a nasty tone of voice. It’s incredibly immature. It’s a bit hypocritical too, since she won’t let her kids act that way.
Ten –Tim & Bethany had their tenth anniversary in June. That’s a bigger milestone these days than it used be. Unfortunately, their marriage was stressful at that point and they did nothing to celebrate their anniversary.
Hands – Devon always has his fingers in his mouth. When he’s tired. When he’s bored. When he’s upset. Pretty much anytime his hands aren’t busy doing something else. He’s five years old and it’s ridiculous behavior for someone his age.
Excrement – Weathersby children poop in the toilet by the time they are two. Naomi, evidently, didn’t get that memo. She refuses to tell us when she needs to get up on the toilet. It’s disgusting that we’re dealing with poopy diapers on a two year old.
Relationships – We had friendships drift apart and people get offended by things we said. We also had someone we know steal nearly $1000 from us, and then go back and forth between admitting it and lying about it.
Scowl – Whether Tim is mindlessly staring off into space or genuinely upset he has a scowl on his face. His family is often asking if he’s in a bad mood, something he doesn’t appreciate if he’s not grumpy, which then leads to a genuine scowl.
Busy – Silas’ body and mouth are constantly busy. He’s always dancing, talking, tapping his feet, clicking his tongue, talking, snapping his fingers, running, or talking some more. It gets pretty annoying.
Yuck – Tim’s car is always a pig sty. Bethany always has piles of papers and other things she needs to deal with. The garage never stays organized. We rarely dust our furniture or windowsills. There is mold on our bathroom ceiling.
.
.
.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
CHRISTMAS PRESENT, CHRISTMAS PAST
Variety Show - We were anonymously given a ticket to the Shriner's Christmas Variety Show on Thursday night. Miraculously, it was one of the only weeknights we had free all month. The boys loved, loved, loved the magician's tricks. Silas volunteered to assist with one trick and got to go on stage. Fun times! Thanks to the giver of the ticket!
Christmas Celebration - Our church got together tonight for a bunch of Christmas songs and a dessert potluck. Silas' grade school class performed two songs and did a great job. I intended to post a video of one of the songs, but it will. not. load. no matter how many times I try. I'll give it another shot later. The desserts were wonderful, of course. Whoever made the white chocolate macadamia cookies that were in a ziploc bag is my best friend for the day!
Christmas History - During my sophomore and junior years of college I had a roommate named Jodi. We were totally broke at Christmas, but wanted to decorate. We scrounged up some money and bought a dirt cheap tree that we shoved into the trunk of Jodi's car. We borrowed an axe from a friend after a failed attempt at using a sharp kitchen knife to trim the trunk. Then we borrowed a bucket from another friend, filled it with rocks, then used it as a tree stand. Our next stop was Goodwill, where we bought a huge white sheet. We brought it home and cut it into squares, about one foot by one foot.
Then came the fun part. We invited all our friends over for a Christmas decorating party. Everyone brought glue, glitter, markers, construction paper, and an assortment of other random things. Each person got a square of the sheet to decorate with a Christmas theme, then we tacked them all to the wall. We also made decorations and hung them up with paper clips we'd twisted to serve the purpose. Meanwhile we played Christmas music and came up with some food to snack on. It was so much fun!
I've kept one ornament from those years. Actually, I kept two. One was a cow udder made from pink construction paper soley for the purpose of making people wonder why in the world an udder was on a tree. It fell apart after several years though. However one ornament still remains. It's an empty Altoids box that one of our friends smacked a Christmas sticker on before hanging on the tree with a paper clip back in 1995. It's one of my favorite ornaments because it brings back such fond memories.
While color coordinated and themed trees look beautiful, I love our tree filled with a random assortment of ornaments that remind us of the people and seasons of our past.
Christmas Celebration - Our church got together tonight for a bunch of Christmas songs and a dessert potluck. Silas' grade school class performed two songs and did a great job. I intended to post a video of one of the songs, but it will. not. load. no matter how many times I try. I'll give it another shot later. The desserts were wonderful, of course. Whoever made the white chocolate macadamia cookies that were in a ziploc bag is my best friend for the day!
Christmas History - During my sophomore and junior years of college I had a roommate named Jodi. We were totally broke at Christmas, but wanted to decorate. We scrounged up some money and bought a dirt cheap tree that we shoved into the trunk of Jodi's car. We borrowed an axe from a friend after a failed attempt at using a sharp kitchen knife to trim the trunk. Then we borrowed a bucket from another friend, filled it with rocks, then used it as a tree stand. Our next stop was Goodwill, where we bought a huge white sheet. We brought it home and cut it into squares, about one foot by one foot.
Then came the fun part. We invited all our friends over for a Christmas decorating party. Everyone brought glue, glitter, markers, construction paper, and an assortment of other random things. Each person got a square of the sheet to decorate with a Christmas theme, then we tacked them all to the wall. We also made decorations and hung them up with paper clips we'd twisted to serve the purpose. Meanwhile we played Christmas music and came up with some food to snack on. It was so much fun!
I've kept one ornament from those years. Actually, I kept two. One was a cow udder made from pink construction paper soley for the purpose of making people wonder why in the world an udder was on a tree. It fell apart after several years though. However one ornament still remains. It's an empty Altoids box that one of our friends smacked a Christmas sticker on before hanging on the tree with a paper clip back in 1995. It's one of my favorite ornaments because it brings back such fond memories.
While color coordinated and themed trees look beautiful, I love our tree filled with a random assortment of ornaments that remind us of the people and seasons of our past.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
IT'S 9:15 PM
Naomi went to bed at 8:00. I just heard the faint noises of a child's voice. Perplexed and wondering if it was someone walking past our house, I moved closer to the hall door. The noise was coming from Naomi's room. She was counting and singing. I opened the door and asked what she was doing. Her response was "biper". I look more closely and realize she's taken off her jammies and her diaper.
Folks, none of my children have ever taken off their diapers. Ever. And we don't have bedtime battles.
I sent her out to Tim and tried to discreetly snap a picture while trying my hardest not to laugh. Tim didn't laugh. He has more self-control in that department. That's why he's in charge of this little situation. It's hard to be stern when you're cracking up.
She's currently getting put back to bed almost an hour and a half after being put down the first time. Stinker.
Folks, none of my children have ever taken off their diapers. Ever. And we don't have bedtime battles.
I sent her out to Tim and tried to discreetly snap a picture while trying my hardest not to laugh. Tim didn't laugh. He has more self-control in that department. That's why he's in charge of this little situation. It's hard to be stern when you're cracking up.
She's currently getting put back to bed almost an hour and a half after being put down the first time. Stinker.
Friday, December 11, 2009
DECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY
Well, we don't deck the hall with anything and there isn't a piece of holly to be found in our home, but we did get our tree decorated, snowmen scattered around the living room, and two boxes of Christmas books (one of ours and one from the library) out for reading.
Decorating the tree is one of my favorite things to do. I eagerly await that night each December. Unfortunately, my family ruins it for me every single year. Someone is always grumpy, bickering, whining, disobeying etc. and it takes all the fun out of it for me. I'm always disappointed.
That all changed this year, though I'm not exactly sure why. I don't really care why. It was such a fun time! Tim handed out the kids' annual new ornaments, then we all started putting stuff on the tree until the ornament box was empty. We had one of our Christmas stations on Pandora, the Mannheim Steamroller one, playing in the background while everyone smiled, laughed, cooperated, wore their Santa hats, and had a good time.
It was a perfect night. Exactly what I want it to be every year.
And a little proof that our kids don't always look cute, whether due to intentional goofing off or bad camera timing.
Decorating the tree is one of my favorite things to do. I eagerly await that night each December. Unfortunately, my family ruins it for me every single year. Someone is always grumpy, bickering, whining, disobeying etc. and it takes all the fun out of it for me. I'm always disappointed.
That all changed this year, though I'm not exactly sure why. I don't really care why. It was such a fun time! Tim handed out the kids' annual new ornaments, then we all started putting stuff on the tree until the ornament box was empty. We had one of our Christmas stations on Pandora, the Mannheim Steamroller one, playing in the background while everyone smiled, laughed, cooperated, wore their Santa hats, and had a good time.
It was a perfect night. Exactly what I want it to be every year.
All 5 Ws in their Santa hats.
The whole fam in front of our decorated tree.
And a little proof that our kids don't always look cute, whether due to intentional goofing off or bad camera timing.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
12/10/09 THANKFUL THURSDAY
I'm thankful that Tim and I reached a decision that we're in total agreement about concerning our house.
I don't usually elaborate on stuff in the Thankful Thursday posts, but I wanted to let you know we will not be buying the house. We're simultaneously confident and disappointed about that decision.
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
I don't usually elaborate on stuff in the Thankful Thursday posts, but I wanted to let you know we will not be buying the house. We're simultaneously confident and disappointed about that decision.
What's one thing that you're thankful for?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
BARGAIN BREAKFAST
We eat a lot of hot cereal for breakfast around here. It's inexpensive, filling, and healthy. Occasionally we get 7-grain from WinCo's bulk section, but usually we just eat oats, also from the bulk section.
The other day I was in the cereal aisle, which is a rare occurrence, and couldn't believe the price of oats there. So, in an attempt to help you save a buck, I'll show you some price comparisons, rounded to the nearest cent.
$.03/oz - Bulk department 25 lb bag or regular bin
$.05/oz - Generic 42 oz. container
$.07/oz - Quaker 42 oz. container
$.12/oz - Generic individual packets
$.18/oz - Quaker individual packets - average, it went from $.16-$.21 depending on flavor and size
That's a significant price difference, folks!!
Now, if you just don't like plain oats, then dress them up a little. Toppings can include milk, fresh fruit, brown sugar, butter, jam, applesauce, cinnamon sugar, or this "syrup" that I like to use. If you like cold cereal more than hot cereal, then use your oats to make granola in your crockpot. I make a double batch and store it in a large, plastic container. We generally use it for breakfast, but sometimes mix it in with yogurt and fruit.
The other day I was in the cereal aisle, which is a rare occurrence, and couldn't believe the price of oats there. So, in an attempt to help you save a buck, I'll show you some price comparisons, rounded to the nearest cent.
$.03/oz - Bulk department 25 lb bag or regular bin
$.05/oz - Generic 42 oz. container
$.07/oz - Quaker 42 oz. container
$.12/oz - Generic individual packets
$.18/oz - Quaker individual packets - average, it went from $.16-$.21 depending on flavor and size
That's a significant price difference, folks!!
Now, if you just don't like plain oats, then dress them up a little. Toppings can include milk, fresh fruit, brown sugar, butter, jam, applesauce, cinnamon sugar, or this "syrup" that I like to use. If you like cold cereal more than hot cereal, then use your oats to make granola in your crockpot. I make a double batch and store it in a large, plastic container. We generally use it for breakfast, but sometimes mix it in with yogurt and fruit.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
TODAY'S PARENTING REPORT
It's 11:00 am.
Two kids are wailing. One is sulking. One has been whining all day. One had poor behavior that embarrassed me in a public place. Three are choosing not to obey immediately. One won't think past himself.
Today I'm fantasizing about kids who make me look like a stellar mom. Pride, though not a good thing, is a much more pleasant thing to feel than frustration and humiliation.
Back to the parenting trenches I go. I need to remember that wars aren't won in a day. I need to focus on today's battles.
Two kids are wailing. One is sulking. One has been whining all day. One had poor behavior that embarrassed me in a public place. Three are choosing not to obey immediately. One won't think past himself.
Today I'm fantasizing about kids who make me look like a stellar mom. Pride, though not a good thing, is a much more pleasant thing to feel than frustration and humiliation.
Back to the parenting trenches I go. I need to remember that wars aren't won in a day. I need to focus on today's battles.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
QUICK PEEK AT THE WEEK
Last Sunday we were walking into the house from our car after church and noticed a couple driving very slowly around our house. I stopped and asked if they needed help. Turns out the woman lived in our house back in the 70's. It was fun talking to her about what the house used to look like, the way she'd landscaped, and the improvements they'd made to the house.
Then Monday night I met another woman. I was leaving the library just before 9:00pm and came across a woman who had locked her keys in her car with the engine running. She was parked right in the outdoor drop-off driveway. So, I called Tim to look up the roadside assistance number for her car, then hung out with her for about an hour while we waited for the locksmith to come. It was fun to get to know a total stranger, someone I'd never have otherwise met. Plus, we provided excellent customer service to everyone who drove up, taking their things to the drop-off slot for them, since they couldn't get through the driveway.
Thursday night we headed to the home of a family from church to watch the Ducks and Beavers duke it out in a civil war game. Lots of eating, cheering, and visiting. Fun night!
Saturday morning was spent running errands. That night we took my grandma to a Christmas concert at Portland Christian Center. It was our third time going, but her first. Then we all headed to KFC for dinner, one of her favorite places to eat.
This morning we headed to church, came home for lunch, then took off again. First we dropped Devon and Naomi off at John and Yvonne's. They baked cookies, went to McDonald's, watched part of a concert, skipped naps, and had a blast. John blogged about their time with our kiddos. He's got a couple pictures on the blog with a link to a whole bunch more. Go check it out! After dropping those two off, we took Silas to The Shed. He spent a few hours eating pizza, playing games, and practicing some carols with other grade schoolers for a performance next weekend.
While the kids were all farmed out to various places Tim and I went on a date. We did some shopping for the kids' stocking stuffers, ate some Coldstone (love the combo of coupons and a gift card!), had an uninterrupted conversation about some decisions we need to make, and just enjoyed each other's company. It was great!
We had planned to decorate our tree tonight, which the guys all put up yesterday, but everyone was too tired. So, we popped in another Christmas movie from the library and just relaxed. It was a nice ending to a fun, but non-stop, weekend.
Then Monday night I met another woman. I was leaving the library just before 9:00pm and came across a woman who had locked her keys in her car with the engine running. She was parked right in the outdoor drop-off driveway. So, I called Tim to look up the roadside assistance number for her car, then hung out with her for about an hour while we waited for the locksmith to come. It was fun to get to know a total stranger, someone I'd never have otherwise met. Plus, we provided excellent customer service to everyone who drove up, taking their things to the drop-off slot for them, since they couldn't get through the driveway.
Thursday night we headed to the home of a family from church to watch the Ducks and Beavers duke it out in a civil war game. Lots of eating, cheering, and visiting. Fun night!
Saturday morning was spent running errands. That night we took my grandma to a Christmas concert at Portland Christian Center. It was our third time going, but her first. Then we all headed to KFC for dinner, one of her favorite places to eat.
This morning we headed to church, came home for lunch, then took off again. First we dropped Devon and Naomi off at John and Yvonne's. They baked cookies, went to McDonald's, watched part of a concert, skipped naps, and had a blast. John blogged about their time with our kiddos. He's got a couple pictures on the blog with a link to a whole bunch more. Go check it out! After dropping those two off, we took Silas to The Shed. He spent a few hours eating pizza, playing games, and practicing some carols with other grade schoolers for a performance next weekend.
While the kids were all farmed out to various places Tim and I went on a date. We did some shopping for the kids' stocking stuffers, ate some Coldstone (love the combo of coupons and a gift card!), had an uninterrupted conversation about some decisions we need to make, and just enjoyed each other's company. It was great!
We had planned to decorate our tree tonight, which the guys all put up yesterday, but everyone was too tired. So, we popped in another Christmas movie from the library and just relaxed. It was a nice ending to a fun, but non-stop, weekend.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
A MILESTONE FOR NAOMI
Remember when I talked about how the Nomes was tough as nails when getting her shots? Well, we've discovered more proof of her toughness.
From Wednesday afternoon through Friday afternoon Naomi mentioned that her left ear hurt a few times. Very matter-of-fact, a little bit whiny on Thursday night (which may have had a little something to do with all the screaming at the Civil War party we were at). No tugging on her ear. No redness. No pain while laying down.
When she woke from her nap on Friday afternoon I discovered that her ear had drained. A lot! So, we popped in to our ped's office this morning (it also drained a lot during the night) so they could take a peek at it. Well, not only is the left ear infected (but getting better now that it's draining), but the right one is too (she hasn't complained about that one at all).
So, there you go. Naomi's very first ear infection. A double infection, no less. We'll be picking up an antibiotic and ear drops later today to celebrate this milestone.
Let me just tell you that this is a completely different experience than Devon's ear infections a few years ago. Those had us up all night with him crying in pain, six weeks of infections and three different drugs, then a trip to Doernbecher for tubes in both ears.
The Nomes is fine though. She's tough as nails. In fact, we asked to have a shot she was scheduled to get next week done today, just for the sake of convenience. She didn't flinch, loved her pink bandaid, and thanked the nurse when we left.
I think my daughter has a high pain tolerance.
From Wednesday afternoon through Friday afternoon Naomi mentioned that her left ear hurt a few times. Very matter-of-fact, a little bit whiny on Thursday night (which may have had a little something to do with all the screaming at the Civil War party we were at). No tugging on her ear. No redness. No pain while laying down.
When she woke from her nap on Friday afternoon I discovered that her ear had drained. A lot! So, we popped in to our ped's office this morning (it also drained a lot during the night) so they could take a peek at it. Well, not only is the left ear infected (but getting better now that it's draining), but the right one is too (she hasn't complained about that one at all).
So, there you go. Naomi's very first ear infection. A double infection, no less. We'll be picking up an antibiotic and ear drops later today to celebrate this milestone.
Let me just tell you that this is a completely different experience than Devon's ear infections a few years ago. Those had us up all night with him crying in pain, six weeks of infections and three different drugs, then a trip to Doernbecher for tubes in both ears.
The Nomes is fine though. She's tough as nails. In fact, we asked to have a shot she was scheduled to get next week done today, just for the sake of convenience. She didn't flinch, loved her pink bandaid, and thanked the nurse when we left.
I think my daughter has a high pain tolerance.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
12/3/09 THANKFUL THURSDAY
I'm thankful for kids that are cooperative and helpful when we hop in and out of the car for errands about five times in thirty minutes.
What is one thing that you're thankful for?
What is one thing that you're thankful for?
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
NAOMI'S FEELINGS TOWARD ME
She hates me.
.
.
She doesn't enjoy me.
She likes me.
She loves me!!
She has fun with me. And, yes, I know it's the second time I've posted this pic this week, but it's my blog and I can post whatever I feel like posting. Plus, her litle scrunch face is pretty cute.
She likes me.
She loves me!!
She has fun with me. And, yes, I know it's the second time I've posted this pic this week, but it's my blog and I can post whatever I feel like posting. Plus, her litle scrunch face is pretty cute.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
MENU - FIRST HALF OF DECEMBER 2009
Oh man, we've got a busy month ahead of us! Basketball started last night, so we'll also have lots of dinners without Tim over the next few months.
We eat hot cereal or granola several times a week, but I always throw in a few other breakfasts. I thought I'd start including those non-cereal breakfasts in these posts. The granola recipe is one we always have a big tub of and eat from all the time, but I'll post it this week.
BREAKFASTS
Tam's granola (crockpot)
sweet potato waffles
banana poppyseed muffins
baked oatmeal
DINNERS
leftovers x2
tacos x3
rice cooker mac & cheese/frozen veggie
cracked wheat & rice pilaf/veggie stir-fry
creamy tomato & rice soup (crockpot)
bbq chicken pizza (toppings are prepped and in the freezer)
chunky potato soup (crockpot)
Thai chicken & coconut rice/frozen veggie
new chicken recipe/rice/salad (flop)
baked potatoes/salad
hot dogs/potato wedges
egg salad sandwiches/raw veggies
bbq pie (base is in the freezer)/frozen veggie
DESSERTS
pumpkin bread (four loaves - one to eat, three to freeze)
dump cake (potluck)
big soft ginger cookies
granola bars (potluck)
We eat hot cereal or granola several times a week, but I always throw in a few other breakfasts. I thought I'd start including those non-cereal breakfasts in these posts. The granola recipe is one we always have a big tub of and eat from all the time, but I'll post it this week.
BREAKFASTS
Tam's granola (crockpot)
sweet potato waffles
banana poppyseed muffins
baked oatmeal
DINNERS
leftovers x2
tacos x3
rice cooker mac & cheese/frozen veggie
cracked wheat & rice pilaf/veggie stir-fry
creamy tomato & rice soup (crockpot)
bbq chicken pizza (toppings are prepped and in the freezer)
chunky potato soup (crockpot)
Thai chicken & coconut rice/frozen veggie
new chicken recipe/rice/salad (flop)
baked potatoes/salad
hot dogs/potato wedges
egg salad sandwiches/raw veggies
bbq pie (base is in the freezer)/frozen veggie
DESSERTS
pumpkin bread (four loaves - one to eat, three to freeze)
dump cake (potluck)
big soft ginger cookies
granola bars (potluck)
BOOKS I FINISHED - NOVEMBER 2009
Some for kicks, some for school.
Dolphin Adventure by Wayne Grover
This was a school book for Devon. Quick read about the author's opportunity to save the life of a dolphin.
Mary on Horseback by Rosemary Wells
Three short stories about Mary Breckinridge, the woman who started the Frontier Nursing Service. She came to the Appalachian mountains to find people in desperate need of medical care and saved countless lives. This was Devon's school book and our second time through it. It's a favorite of the boys and mine.
Dolphin Adventure by Wayne Grover
This was a school book for Devon. Quick read about the author's opportunity to save the life of a dolphin.
Mary on Horseback by Rosemary Wells
Three short stories about Mary Breckinridge, the woman who started the Frontier Nursing Service. She came to the Appalachian mountains to find people in desperate need of medical care and saved countless lives. This was Devon's school book and our second time through it. It's a favorite of the boys and mine.
Twenty and Ten by Claire Huchet Bishop
Second time through this school book and it's also a favorite. This is the story of twenty French children who are asked to hide ten Jewish children from the Nazis during WWII. It's a great reality check for the modern American child being raised to believe that their own comfort and happiness is all that matters and a good reminder for parents to raise kids who think past themselves.
Failure to Appear: A J. P. Beaumont Mystery by J. A. Jance
This book was given to me by someone for two reasons. One, it's one of their favorite authors and two, it's set in Ashland, OR (my home for eleven years). I love mysteries, so this book drew me in quickly. The story line made me thankful I don't have a string of sexual encounters from my past that could tangle up the present! It was pretty cool to read a book and know exactly where everyone was at any given point in the story. Fun stuff.
The Girls From Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty Year Friendship by Jeffrey Zaslow
I loved this book! Such a neat thing to see the relationships these women have held together for decades, through childhood & college, marriages & divorces, birth & deaths, and all the other things life has thrown their way.
.
Cool quote - p.119 It is not our job, as parents, to go to coaches, teachers, and other parents and try to make everything run smoothly for our kids. A lot of parents try talking to the teacher to get something special for their children. They talk to coaches to get their kids more playing time. They're trying to make everything just right for their kids. They want a perfect world for them. But I've come to see that our job is to help our kids become people who are capable and believe in themselves enough to deal with the world. Our job is to help our kids function in the world.
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
This was one of Silas' school books. While the story was really good, it was super hard to read aloud. However, those who read the King James Version of the Bible would probably have no problem with it at all. Of the three medieval stories we've read, this was my least favorite, but Silas really liked it. It's about a boy who is supposed to start the path toward knighthood, but comes down with a sudden and crippling illness. Good lessons about making the best of your situation, being a help to others despite things that work against you, and the value of persevering through trials.
Fighting For Dear Life: The Untold Story of Terri Schiavo And What It Means For All Of Us by David Gibbs (With Bob DeMoss)
The author was the attorney for Terri Schiavo's parents during their battle to gain custody of their daughter while her husband fought to have her feeding tube removed. A heartbreaking story that makes you question the motives, ethics, and decisions of several people involved in the case - attorneys, family members, judges, the media. Unsettling, actually. While I'm confident that I'd side with Bob & Mary Schindler (Terri's parents) in keeping Terri alive, I am curious to see what Michael Schiavo (Terri's husband)has to say. So, I'll read his book too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)