When my parents came to visit for Thanksgiving they didn't come empty handed. They came bearing gifts. For example, they brought one of these
I was at Target yesterday, getting some flea stuff for the cats, when I saw this other stuff
The day after Thanksgiving I made this for breakfast
The other day I was in my bathroom getting ready for the day when I heard Jane, our cat, meowing at me in her diminutive little voice. She was outside, this I knew for sure, but I could tell from the sound that she was very near. And as I looked up at the sliver of a bathroom window that we have, I saw Jane's little head peeking in at me. It had begun to rain a little and Jane found a dry spot under the eaves and close enough to my window to tell me that she'd like to come inside, please.
It's the day after Thanksgiving and...
1 - you still have guests
2 - put up the Christmas tree and started decorating
3 - played a few rounds of Mexican Train while the kids were distracted with a movie
4 - wrapped Christmas presents so my parents can take them home when they leave so I won't have to jam the truck with them when we travel next month
5 - stayed up late and was about to go to sleep when I realized I have a handful of minutes to get a blog post in before 'today' turns into 'tomorrow'
I'll tell you what you do....you lay in bed as your husbands sleeps soundly next to you and you type out a blog post on your iPhone and hope that typing with just one finger can be accurate and fast enough to make the 11:59 deadline. That's what! Yikes!!
It's late and I'm too tired (and full of good food) to write anything of worth today.
Maybe tomorrow.
When my tummy is not quite so full.
I am busy getting my house ready for visitors and guests for Thanksgiving. This includes the vacuum, cleansers, paper towels and child labor. I"m also getting food things ready. For that I am employed the use of my Kitchen Aid mixer, oven, rolling pin, and lots of flour. Put all those things together and you have a house clean and ready to serve guests and good food.
But don't forget about the decor!
I rummaged through my yard and found some good things throw into a vase and adorn my table. I'm putting my college education to work here (well, some of it anyway) - thank you floral design classes!
cozy socks on chilly days
a good movie on rainy days with the kids
those tiny marshmallows that melt in hot chocolate
a new twisty scarf (made by me, admired by others)
the word 'sale' and 'clearance' followed by a color
gift cards for stores I frequent
coupons
stores that accepts coupons from their rivals
my crockpot
my crockpot when it's plugged in and turned on
getting Christmas shopping done early
having the presents wrapped early
Pinterest
new recipes
new craft ideas (also related to Pinterest)
chocolate covered almonds (protein AND antioxidants!)
I used to keep a running list of what we owed the kids for doing chores. It was handy to have, I thought. I'd add to the column of each kid after a chore was completed, then I'd dole out cash whenever I happened to find any in my possession (which wasn't often, hence the running list).
But we don't really have the accumulative list anymore. Not since Ryan opened bank accounts for the kids. Now we just transfer money into their accounts when they earn it. Which is handy, too, in it's own way since I rarely ever have cash to give them.
Now, instead of them being excited when I pass out the cash and as they load up their piggy banks, they get super-excited when their bank statements come in the mail. I've never seen such excitement over a bank statement. Though I can imagine what it's like, if I were a kid receiving one.
I wish I got that excited over mail with my name on it.
Isabel is a little preoccupied with cats. I have no idea who she gets that from either!
If she's drawing, it's about cats.
If she's writing a story, it's about cats.
If she picks out a new toy, it's a cat.
And if she's picking out books......
It couldn't be helped. I had to do it. Had to!!! It was beckoning me, and as a Borg would say 'resistance is futile'.
I succumbed. Christmas music is officially playing inside my truck.
I know, I know. Thanksgiving hasn't happened yet and here I am playing music for a season that isn't 'officially' here.
Oh well! Isabel and I are having fun rocking' out to Drummer Boy and Carol of the Bells (my favorite!). Next up, some Christmas Harry! Yay for Christmas music!!!!
The highlight of my summers, these past few years, have been boogie boarding week with my friends. We usually hit the surf when our kids are in VBS and make it back just in time to pick them up. However, as much as I look forward to that week throughout the year, and enjoy the time with friends and being pushed by fantastic waves.....I had a different highlight this past summer. For this year my mom and my brothers kids came to visit for a few days!
After I got over the shock of oh-my-gosh-there-is-going-to-be-six-kids-in-my-house!!!, I quickly got the house in order and things situated to accommodate my four visitors. Then I planned out what we would do. As it turned out, we went to the beach twice and hung around the pool most of the time. And it was GREAT! I wouldn't mind adding this to our summer every year!
(here are a few snapshots of the time we had)
Have you had a bad day? One of those terrible, horrible, really bad, no-good, kind of days? And maybe you just need to laugh and let out the yuck of the day?
Well, this clip will make me laugh. Every. Time.
*it's not a great quality video, but it get the point across. besides, it's probably the best laugh scene. ever!
Earlier this week I posted about a change we've made in the nighttime routine concerning the kids. We've let Mae stay up an extra half hour in hopes of squashing the evening fights and chaos that has become the norm. Tonight was only the third night, but I must say what a difference it's made!
You know that feeling of absolute dread and horror that comes over a mother? The feeling of not being in control and not knowing what is happening or how to stop time so you can figure it out?? Well, I had that tonight. Thankfully for just a handful of minutes.
Mae and Caleb had finished their homework and I heard the front door close behind them as they headed out to play. No one told me where they were going or what they were doing, but I assumed it was the usual, across the street to play with the neighbor kids.
It's gets dark sooner now that we are observing Daylight Savings. "Dark" is now a little after 5:00, and it was about 5:15 when I closed the blinds around the house and headed outside to call the kids in. I did not see or hear them in the neighborhood. I called out and no one came running. I went to the neighbors house to see if Mae and Caleb had gone inside to play, but the boy that came to the door said they were not there.
At this point I start telling myself not to freak out, the kids are probably playing quietly in the backyard at home. That's what I do, I shove freaked-out emotions away and tell them that there is a reason for what is going on and that they are not needed here. And usually I'm right and freaked-out-emotions never get the chance to surface. But tonight they came out a little bit, for the kids were not in the backyard.
At this point Ryan gets his jacket on and heads out front and starts yelling their names. And yelling their names. My mind doesn't want to freak out but the thoughts start coming too fast to control. Like angry bees out of a hive, I start thinking.....have I taught them enough to survive a horrible situation?, do we need to call the police?, can I check at the neighbors one more time?, it's getting dark, can someone please turn the light back on so I can find my kids??!?!?!!
As I head back outside and to the street where Ryan is yelling, I begin to hear the kids. Then I see them as they emerge from the neighbors backyard. Relief floods in and sweeps the bees of fear away. Then after talking with the kids about telling us where they are going, I get shaky with relief and fear again as my mind replays the reels of the last five minutes and what could have happened.
Thank you, Lord, for watching over Mae and Caleb. Thank you that this situation turned out well. Thank you that my children are home and safe tonight. Amen
Every night it's the same thing, tuck the girls in only to return to the room several times to tell them to 'quiet down', 'stop fighting', and/or (but not limited to) 'go to bed!'. It's so exhausting. I wish it was them that was tired out, but it's not. And after the fighting and tears last night, we knew things had to change.
Ryan and I talked about it and have come to this conclusion - Mae will stay up for a half hour after the others have been tucked in. She can read or quietly draw and have a little down time before going to bed. It is our hope that Isabel will go to sleep during this time or at least be relaxed and close to la-la land.
We are taking this change on a trial run basis. Meaning, we'll see how it goes. Tonight went ok, Isabel was not asleep, and both girls have come out of the room at separate times after Mae's 'quiet time'. I'm not too surprised, a little mix up always causes some excitement, even at bedtime.
Some things have changed since I was a kid. Others haven't, at least not by much. I heard Isabel singing this little song today. For other than obvious reasons, it made me stop and really listen.
Today is one of those days that is just unusual, with it being 11-11-11 and all. I don't' get caught up with numbers or dates. However, it does get me to thinking of how many important dates in my life are shared with other memorable or celebrated dates.
Here's my list:
January 8th - Ryan and I had our first date. It is also the birthday of my friend who was my maid of honor.
May 18th - Mae was born. also the anniversary of when Mount St. Helen's blew (she was born on the 21st anniversary)
July 13th - our wedding anniversary. Also the birthday of our friend who was Ryan's best man.
July 16th - Isabel was born. BUT if she had been born just about two hours earlier then she'd share a birthday with her late great-grandmother.
November 5th - the dated that Ryan and I were officially engaged. Also my sister in law's birthday.
December 23rd - Caleb was born. He shares his birthday with his Papou (Greek for Grandpa) who celebrated his 50th that year. Also the date of when my grandmother passed away (12
years prior).
recipe! Or maybe I should rephrase that to say our new favorite recipe, seeing how much Ryan like loved it. A friend of mine so graciously passed on the recipe and I made this past Sunday. It was ah-mazingly fab-u-lous! If you love Mexican, spicy flavors then you will love this.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After telling the kids to get ready for bed tonight, I could hear Caleb playing around instead of donning his pj's. I heard things like "arhhhhh, I'm Captain Underpants!". Then there was a noise that made me think he had playfully run into his closet door. All I could imagine was Caleb wearing his tighty whities while pretending to be Captain Underpants.
I had to go check. I mean seriously, I can't leave thoughts like that unattended, right?
Sure enough, he was playing around in his skivvies. And quite embarrassed that I opened his door.
Sorry Bud, but I had to know!!!!
I had a video that I wanted to share today, but it's not working (blast you Youtube!). Maybe I'll get it to work another day (because it's totally worth it!). However, as I was trying to get the other video to work, I found this one. It made me laugh, maybe because I remember the commercial.
Enjoy a blast from the past.
I love having an Ikea relatively close. But maybe it's not wise to go as often as I have in the past few months. Since August, I think I've been three or four times. It's not entirely my fault, I do have a friend (or partner in crime) that goes with me and she has requested that we return for certain items. And I've done the same thing. Like the other day when I realized that I should get those Christmas stockings that I'd seen a few weeks ago, and I had to go soon before they were gone!
While my friend and I were there the other day, I found something quite useful (Ikea is so stinkin' practical!). It was a hand crank flashlight. Good for emergencies. And doubly good since the batteries will never run out or need to be replaced because it doesn't have any! And triply good 'cause it comes in red. Another plus? It was only five bucks!
This little handy flashlight will be quite useful if/when there is ever a blackout or power outage. And we can take it camping too. The kids love it, of course. But I only bought one, maybe I need to pick up another one. Or two. But......that would mean another trip to Ikea. Darn! *wink wink*
Yesterday we had our family pictures taken. Of course it wasn't a simple journey to that magical appointment, it never is when more than one person is involved (or three 'smaller' ones, that is). Here are a few, um, less than fantastic things that happened while getting ready.....
~ I didn't have a new favorite shirt I wanted to wear (what a bummer!)
~ so Ryan chose his new favorite shirt and I built our color scheme around it (not necessarily a bad thing)
~ the kids had nothing to contribute, which means buying new shirts for all three of them.
~ I took three kids shopping.
~ three stores and two agonizing afternoons later.....I realized I didn't have to bring them. Duh!
~ found two shirts that would work for the girls, but Mae wanted one and Isabel the other. (and I want them matching!)
~ finally got all the kids set, then I decide I don't like the shirt I picked out for myself.
~ I have to go shopping for a color-specific shirt.
~ 4 stores and 2 outings later I found it (and it was on sale!)
~ got Mae some hair clips to wear in the photo shoot. but they matched my first shirt and not the new one. ~ she couldn't wear it.
~ Caleb got a hair cut three weeks before the shoot. could have used a touch-up before the pics (scraggly guy)
~ Isabel needed a hair cut. got one a week prior.
~ Caleb only has black jeans, we are all wearing blue.
~ kids want to go outside the afternoon of the shoot.
~ Isabel played in the dirt.
~ with her picture jeans and shoes on and we have less than 2 hours before camera time!
~ Mom is getting frantic and crazy.
~ who wants to smile and be around crazed mama after all that??!
Turns out that everything went fine. I was able to clean up Isabel's jeans and shoes and have them dry before leaving for picture time. I also had time to decide to not be crazed and frantic. And I'm pretty optimistic about how the pictures will turn out. The kids aren't so bad, they clean up pretty good. And their smiles aren't so bad either.
I am waaaaay behind in posting and sharing pictures. I have a slew of pictures that I meant to share about some of the things we did over the summer. So I'm totally taking advantage of NaBloPoMo and I fully intend to get caught up. Or at least get closer to current events.
This is a picture (albeit a poor quality one) of Isabel on her birthday back in July. She opened a card from her great grandma and found her present inside, a twenty dollar bill. Isabel is not filled with glee over her monetary gift, rather, she's laughing at the fact that there is an old man pictured on it!
I love my six year old girl, she's a hoot!
....Snack!
Today is my birthday. And so far this week I have been blessed by my family and friends showering me with cards, emails, tokens of love, and lunches. Then there was the one little email I received that got the biggest emotional rise out of me.
From my dentist.
*ugh* Nothing says happy birthday like a reminder of 'the chair of doom'.
If they really wanted to bless my day, why couldn't they push my next appointment back a few months? Or tell me that my six month check-up has been cancelled and they'll just see me in a year?
Nope. They wished me 'happy birthday' and 'look forward to seeing me soon'.
I wish there was a way to make certain emails explode.
It's that time of year again. Yep, that's right, I'm getting my typing fingers warmed up and I'm on the lookout for blog material because.......... it's NaBloPoMo!!!!
I'm going to try this posting-everyday-thing again. Day one down, 29 more to go!
In years past I think I've pretty good, but it always gets difficult toward the end of the month. So please feel free to give any suggestions for content. Consider the comment section as your own personal suggestion box. :)
See you tomorrow!
