Keeping The Peace

The kids and I recently made a trip to Modesto during their spring break. Typically on road trips I get snacks to help everyone make it between pit stops (of which I limit to only one, to the best of my ability). For this trip I got a box of wheat thins, goldfish crackers, and tootsie pops and usually I dole them out when requested, but this time I did something a bit differently. I gave them their snacks before we left.

I had an idea to divvy out the crackers between three ziplock baggies, and wrote a child's name on each baggie. The idea was that when they got hungry they could eat and not bother the driver (me!). And it worked out perfectly. No one bugged me with announcements of hunger or wanting more, and therefore, I was able to focus my attention on the road. It was one of those moments where I say to myself "why didn't I think of this sooner?".

The tootsie pops, however, were kept near me in a safe place. We can't have kids going willy nilly with sugar. Not is a confined space, that is.

Ultimate Blog Party - Sometimes I Pretend to be a Good Cook

Greetings! Welcome to my little corner of the Ultimate Blog Party! Feel free to mosey around and make your self comfortable. Now, if I was having a real-life party or a small gathering of friends, I'd have a few snacks on hand and I'd probably have a big ol' bowl of tortilla chips along with some guacamole (my favorite snacky snack). And I just got a recipe for iced coffee, so I'd most likely serve some of that too. If I was a true proficient in the kitchen then I'd probably whip up something more elaborate and exciting. But alas, I am not. When I cook it is only to survive. Although, I've been known, on occasion, to get a little creative and produce a dish of delight....

Like the time I was assigned to bring a potato dish to a bible study social event. I had no idea what to make! None. So I asked around and was given a recipe for what was called Funeral Potatoes. I don't recall too clearly how I made it or what was in it (aside from frozen hash browns) but as I was making it I decided to sprinkle some curry on top to help give it a little more taste. And the potatoes were a hit!

Then there was the time that I accidentally opened the wrong can wile I was making dinner. I was supposed to use cream of mushroom soup for my dish but instead I opened cream of chicken. So I put the cream of chicken in a plastic container and into the fridge it went, where it would wait until the next day when I would use it creatively, somehow, because I didn't want to waste it. After consulting my mother, I put some frozen chicken in the crock pot along with the cream of chicken soup (which I mixed with some curry, not too much, just enough to add some flavor) then I added some broccoli that was had been sitting around in the vegetable drawer of my fridge. After several hours, when dinner was served.....wah-lah! we had a fabulous dinner that was raved about! A called that one my happy accident (which I have served more than once).

And there have also been a few times when I just throw a couple things together and it consumed as though it was a bonafide dish. Like when I threw in some salsa from a jar into a pot of kernel corn. And the time I fried up some canned sliced potatoes with green onion, spices and cubed tomatoes (although I must admit that my husband helped with that dish, a little).

So sometimes I amaze myself. But other times I'm just throwing things together so we can live. I'm not a marvel in the kitchen, but there are times I pretend that I am and my family lives to tell about it.....and asks for more.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For the prize drawing, if I win, my choices would be;

* US39 - the 2 night stay at a Hilton Garden hotel
* US75 - $100 gift certificate to Summit Camping Gear
* US7 - Tupperware prize pack
or - any Amazon or Target gift card (I'm easy to please ;)

The Almost-Free Library

The kids and I went to the library the other day to get stocked up on books and movies for our upcoming road trip to Modesto. I'm still getting used to the library in our new city, so I wasn't sure how many books I could have out at one time, and I didn't know the policy on dvd loans either. Turns out that dvd rentals at our library is fifty cents per movie AND due back in one week. Since I'm cheap and because I wouldn't be able to return the movies in time, we did not get any movies. Instead, I left the library with two things;

1. a stack of almost 20 books

2. the wish that Benjamin Franklin had invented tv and dvd's so the movie rentals would have been free also when he instituted the free library system.

Seeing Red

I've been looking for a red belt for about a year. I haven't been looking overly hard, and at times I've completely forgotten about my desire for one. But when I'm out at certain stores, and when I remember, I'll casually look at the belts in search of a perfect red one. As it turns out, I found one recently at a second hand store that showed no signs of ever having been worn, and I only paid two bucks for it. Score!

Now all I need a pair of red shoes to go with the belt. And so my search continues.

The other day a friend and I were talking about red shoes and she told me about these little beauties;

And I became obsessed with finding them online for cheaper than their original price (which is about $95 dollars). But I was unsuccessful. I wasn't even looking for the exact pair, but something similar would do. But still, no success. Then I went to a few stores. Again, no red ballet-style shoes.

But I did find these;

They aren't exactly ballet-style, and they aren't the exact color red I was hoping to find, but they sure are cute! Oh, and they were on the clearance rack for fifteen bucks! (that makes them even more cute)

Now I just need to find another belt to go with my cranberry red shoes with the cute little buckle at the toes. I don't feel too bad about that though. It's not like I spent a lot on the first belt, which I can still wear, just not with my current red heels!

New Cats, New Things

I've had cats before, so having Jane and Edward isn't a new experience for me. However, there are a couple things that are different this time around.

Things like;

* Hearing my husband say he has a favorite cat (he always professed his aversion to them, never any devotion.) Ryan is definitely Team Edward with all the killing that cat has accomplished lately.

* Installing a cat door. Well, ok, Ryan put it in, not me. But still, we have one!

* Getting the cats to use said cat door. Teaching them to go through the hole is like trying to put them in a toilet (imagine legs and claws extended, and lots of maneuvering).

Yep. It's the life and times of excitement 'round these parts.

Rude Awakening

I enjoy sleeping in on Saturday mornings. It's delicious and something I look forward to all week. Today, however, my bliss was cut short by a crying, fit-throwing, naked, child who was out of clean underwear.

All I can say is.....it's a good thing she's cute!

Living And Active

The other night I had a bad dream that woke me up. It was the kind of dream that when I woke up I was still feeling scared and emotional. Sometimes it helps if I get up and walk around a bit instead of laying there trying to go ignore the fearful thoughts. But getting up didn't help this time.

I laid back down and tried to sleep, but my fearful emotions wouldn't go away. I knew that when morning came the fear would vanish with the rising sun, so I started to run scripture through my mind and praying for others. As I reviewed verses and prayed, the fearful thoughts dwindled and the grip it had over my mind started to lessen. At that moment I had a mental image of a tangled, knotted mess of squirming yarn that was shrinking. And I knew that God's Word and focusing on Him was releasing the strangle hold of fear in my mind. As I prayed and reviewed scripture it was making the fear dissipate.

I am reminded of a scripture that says "I have hidden your Word in my heart so that I may not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11). By reviewing the scripture I had memorized (hidden in my heart) I was able to stop worrying, and therefore not sin against the Lord. So, as much I don't enjoy bad dreams and being woken up in the middle of the night, I am thankful for the opportunity to trust the Lord and experience the living power that His Word really has!

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Their Numbers Are Dwindling

Every morning as I open the blinds in the living room I can't help but look out at the pool. I look at the pool for a couple reasons.

1 - to see how clean (or dirty) it is (depending how recently I swept it or had it vacuumed.

2 - to see if anything found its demise within its waters. (remember this from last year?)

Sure enough, today I saw a dead something floating on the surface. So I went out to investigate. And my suspicions were correct. A dead rat was making its rounds as the water circulated with the filter system running.

Nice.

So I went over and opened the garbage, grabbed the long-handled pool net, scooped up the chlorine embalmed rat and put it in the garbage.

One less rat to deal with. OR....one less play thing for Edward.

I wonder if the rat heard of Edwards exploits and decided to give up?

Who Dunnit?

Now, does this look like the face of a killer to you??

Well, ok, maybe it does. I mean, Edward is looking mighty fierce. But then again he may just be annoyed that I had the camera in his face.

However, this is the face of our resident rat killer from yesterday.

I happened to be outside when I saw him running toward the garage with something in his mouth. I followed him to see what he had. When I approached him, Edward has a wide-eyed look that told me that what he had was his, all his.

As I got closer, Edward dropped his prize of a small rat. And! It was still alive!!! It started to scurry away but Edward wasn't done. He captured it again and I heard it squeaking.

But Edward wasn't going in for the kill.

He was playing with his food.

Nice. I walked away and left him to his catch.

I wondered later what he actually did with the rat. Then I figured I'd never know since I couldn't find any remains outside in the area where he was 'playing'. But later I did find out. He left some of it in the garage for me to take care of.

Nice. Thanks Edward. But next time can you clean up after your meal?

Muerte

When we got the kitties a couple months ago it was with the hope that they would one day (soon!) keep the rat population down, if not non-existant. We have gone back and forth with thoughts and predictions about which cat would would be 'the one' to carry out it's mission.

At first I thought it would be Edward. He was more outgoing when we first brought him home. But when it came time to introduce them to the great out of doors, he promptly hid under the back patio and only came inside when he was enticed, then dragged out from underneath. It was looking like Edward was more of the 'fraidy cat variety.

Edward

Then there was Jane. She was the timid one when they first came home with us. In fact, she was so unsure of her new surroundings that she would not leave the cat carrier when we opened it. After a while of letting her sit in there, we had to physically reach in and take her out. However, Jane was in love with the out of doors the moment we let her out.

Jane

And so, with these facts, plus a few more, the debate was still on with whom we each thought would be the family's rat killer.

Until today.

Who do you think it was????

I'm Still Not Ready For This!!!

Mae just asked me what a period is.

And she didn't mean the punctuation mark at the end of a sentence (I asked).

Can you say AWKWARD?!!

~~~~~~

After I explained to her what it was, etcetera, etcetera, her response was "Ewe. That's gross."

Yeah, I think so too.

Moving on......can we talk about something else now? Hey, let's go look at pictures of cute little bunnies!

You Know When....

....your son has too much Star Wars on the brain when you have conversations that end with "The Force".

Caleb was having a rough morning this morning. He was getting upset too quickly about silly things. So, while on the way to school I tried to get his mind off his crummy mood. If I can get him to smile or laugh then he has a better chance of starting his school day with a better attitude.

As I drove, I noticed that the truck in front of me had their tailgate down and inside the bed of the truck was a backpack just like Caleb's. This gave me an idea to thwart Caleb's mindset.

Me - Caleb! How did your backpack get in that truck in front of us??!?

Caleb - Huh? What?

Me - Look! Your backpack is in that truck. How did it get there?

Caleb - (finally seeing what I was talking about. he laughs, and says) I used The Force!

Done. Mission accomplished. Caleb is no longer focused on being in a down-in-the-dumps mood as he continues with his Star Wars references and banter. And as I drop him off at school he is smiling and blowing me kisses. But still.....it makes me wonder if he will now try the Jedi mind trick to get his teacher from assigning him homework.

Quick! Hide The Scissors!

It's been a little over a year since Isabel gave herself a haircut (remember? if not, go here) After she cut her hair, I felt like my cute little girl was gone. Now, I still had my sweet little girl who happen to do and say cute things, but she just lacked her cute little bob-styled hair cut that I adored and went so well with her personality.

Well, I just want to let you know that I finally have that cute little girl back.

A few weeks ago I noticed that Isabel's bangs needed a trim and the rest of her hair was getting shaggy, so I took her in for a hair cut. While I was waiting for Isabel's name to be called, I looked at the length of her hair and was thinking of how short to get it cut. That's when I saw that her hair had grown out enough that I could now have it all one length (minus the bangs, of course). So that's what I did!

Look at my cute little girl with her stylish bob!!! Isn't she adorable?!

You Know When....

....your bathroom was beyond-dirty when you want to conduct tours to show off how fabulously clean it is when your finished.

Not that mine ever gets that dirty. I'm just sayin', is all.

It Made Me Smile Today

I ordered a new duvet cover from Ebay the other week. The day after the auction closed, the seller told me that my duvet was on back order with her supplier. Instead of the offered refund, I waited a few days to see if it would come into stock. It did! But then the holiday weekend plus winter storms on the East coast told me that I wouldn't get my new duvet until Saturday, at the earliest.

I was wrong!

So, without further ado, here is what my current duvet set looked like

And here is what the beloved UPS truck brought me!

You likey?? I was feeling that the solid red was darkening the room. I wanted something more airy, something with a modern flair. I think this new set will serve the room well. It feels more like Spring!

I Have It In Writing

Isabel continues to grow and learn new things all the time. It shouldn't amaze me, not really. But it does. She is my baby after all.

Just last month she wrote her name for the first time. Mae helped her by writing out Isabel's name a few times so Isabel could follow the example.

And because I feel like a kid myself, I took a picture so it would last longer!

Spikey Hair!

When Caleb just a little boy, 2 or 3 maybe, he would point out people who had funky hair styles. Namely, dudes with spikey hair. He would do this cute little laugh that actually sounded like a grunty giggle and as he pointed at the person he'd say "he has spikey hair!". It was pretty cute when he said it even though it sounded more like an insult when coupled with his grunty giggle.

Ever since Caleb was a baby I've been cutting his hair. I cut Ryan's hair too, and in fact they have the same style. For both of my guys I use a professional hair trimmer with a #2 attachment. It's soooo easy! But I've been waiting for the day when Caleb tells me that he no longer wants the hair style he's been sporting for the last 7 years. Well, the day has arrived.

A few weeks ago, one of Caleb's new school friend styled his own hair and showed up at a birthday party with a mohawk. The next weekend I was going to give Caleb a much-needed hair cut, when he told me that he wanted to grow it out and have a mohawk. Sadly, I put away my trimmers and told him "ok".

Well, he still needed a trim in the back and along the sides in the front, but I am no confident with giving layers or using scissors. Ryan gave it a try, figuring we could take him to a barber to fix it later if he wasn't successful. No worries, Ryan did a great job! And now Caleb runs through the house, after I used gel in hair, and yells......I have spikey hair!!!!

It's not long enough yet for his most-anticipated mohawk*, but it won't take too long until it is!

*Caleb pronounces it "mohog"....hee hee!

My Love

Happy Valentines Day, my love!

You were my first and only Valentine. Thanks for being my Valentine for 13 (+) years!

Old??

I think I should start feeling old. I have been married for over 13 years and have 3 children (really, that in itself should lend to my aging self!) one of which is almost 9 which is pretty dog gone close to the big 1-0! I also find myself thinking weird things, things like.....

when I was a kid.....

or

I remember that, it only happened 20 years ago!

and

It's been forever since I've done that!

But nothing makes me stop and think about where I am in life and where I fall on the spectrum of age like my children. Especially when they say things like this....

I was shopping with Isabel last night and I was picking out some new socks for myself. As we walked the sock isle she asked me about the socks she was seeing.

Isabel - These are socks?

Me - Yes. Socks for Mommy.

Isabel - These are Mom Socks.

Mom socks??!?! I hope that isn't anything like Mom Jeans! I don't think I'm ready to be that old!

Like Mother Like Daughter

There is a picture of me when I was about 2 years old that my mother took of me when I got stuck in the of a bottom dresser drawer. There I was, with my bottom stuck in the drawer and my little legs dangling out with tears streaming down face, and before my mother came to my rescue she had the nerve to take my picture!

The picture was the bane of my childhood existence. I think it was one of my earliest memories, I think I actually remember being stuck in that drawer and seeing my mother standing in the doorway of the room and not helping me. As I grew up I'd think about that time I couldn't understand why she'd just stand there (laughing??) and take my picture rather than help me.

Today I understand. Here's why.....

click on the picture to see Isabel's look of despair!

As I was in the house, Isabel was outside playing, and I heard her crying and calling for help. I looked outside and saw that she had climbed inside the giant pot in the backyard. And I couldn't help myself....I had to grab the camera on the way to her rescue.

Maybe one day she'll understand why I took her picture before helping her out.