Is That Why We Don't Get Visitors?

Tonight we heard coyotes in the vicinity of our backyard.  They were cackling their strange song, so Ryan went outside to scare them off.  I stayed inside with the kids and watched from our dining room window.

Caleb was quite upset about his dad being out there with coyotes.  He didn't cry, but was close.  Isabel reassured him that Dad would be ok.  She said "Dad will be ok 'cuz he smells bad".

Apparently Ryan doesn't smell so appealing to wild coyotes.  It must be a scent undetectable to the human nose.  Or maybe we all smell bad and no one is telling us?

This Week In Quotes

Isabel has been saying some pretty cute stuff, as usual.  And I feel the need to share it/write it down so I don't forget these things (I'll need bribery material come her teen years, you know).

So, here's the latest from the mouth of my babe.......

"Japan had a salami" (tsunami)

After we found a caterpillar and put him in an old fish tank with lots of leaves and sticks, Isabel asks "when will he make his raccoon?"

"I hurt my funny bone and now there are sparkles in my arm."

"Dad is runned out of hair." (yes, his hair is not as prolific as it used to be)

Day 5

It's been five days since Mae has been her usual self.  Granted, today she really does feel and act better, despite the lingering hacking cough.  It's also been 5 days since either one of us has ventured out of the house (and going to/from school to get kids doesn't really count).  So today I am putting my foot down on this silly flu thing and Mae and I are going out!

Out of the house, I say!

I have a fabulous Jamba Juice coupon (that expires today) and I fully intend to use it!  How's that saying go....'starve a cold, feed a fever'?  Or is it 'feed a cold, starve a fever'?  Whatever, doesn't matter.  Jamba feeds the 'I've been confined inside for DAYS' part of the soul.  And so Mae and I are busting outta of this joint.  Watch out world, here we come.  No, really, watch out.  And to all those that are behind us in line, you should go ahead and get the immunity boost, just in case.

Sick Days

Today marks day 4 of Mae being sick with a off/on fever and cough.  She's logged a lot of couch and movie time.  A LOT.  Thanks to streaming Netflix, Mae has watched numerous movies.  As thankful as I am for Netflix and the ability to stream instant movies, I'm also ready for this to be over and for life to return to normal.

Here's the top ten things I've said countless times over the last 4 days.

1 - How are you feeling?
2 - Better?
3 - Let's take your temperature.
4 - Here, drink this.
5 - Are you drinking your water?
6 - Drink your water.
7 - Hungry?
8 - you need to eat something.
9  - What do you want to watch now?
10 - What movie is this? This is weird.

Simply The Best

My friend Amy makes the most amazing popcorn.  Like, EVER!!!!  She pops the kernels on the stove in her handy dandy stock pot along with a secret mixture of oil and salt (not that it's really a secret secret, it's just that I don't know).  When we get together for Friday afternoon play dates Amy inevitably brings her homemade popcorn.  And instead of watching my kids or talking with my friends, I usually end up scarfing up most of the popcorn.

It's sad really, my obsession with Amy's homemade popcorn.  I really should learn how to make it myself. Then I won't be so rude during play dates or neglect my children.  Maybe.

In the mean time I will console myself with the fact that popcorn is a vegetable.  It has to be!

He Still Loves His Mama

Today is St. Patricks Day.  A day that most people (or kids) wear green so as to avoid getting pinched.  I talked with the kids yesterday about what they would wear today so they'd be prepared (and cut down on any potential morning rush to get out the door and off to school).  Seems that everyone was ready and prepared for, save me.

On the way to school this morning we were talking about what each was wearing to guard against the dreaded pinch.  Me?  I just threw some clothes on in order to get out the door, which meant no green.  No one made a move to attack me, on the contrary, Caleb said "I will guard you".  Awwwe, my sweet boy still loves me!  My plans of finding something green for the day may be scraped just to see my son provide a defensive shield of protection for his mama.

I love that boy.

Saved By Text

I was saved from a life-long grief this morning.  All because of a good friend and her handy dandy texting abilities!

My morning was not typical as I got up to get ready for the day and take the kids to school.  I had to actually get up and be ready for the day before I leaving the house.  No staggering out of bed, throw on a sweater and grumble out a 'get ready, let's go!' as I make my way to the truck.  Nope.  Caleb had his yearly doctors check up at 9:00, and this meant that I had to be presentable for the world before leaving the house to take Mae to school.  However, I did have time to put the finishing touches on between the time of the school drop off and leaving for the doctors office.  

Just as I was unplugging the flatiron and heading to the coffee pot, I got a text from a friend.  She was asking if Caleb was ok and that they didn't want to leave without him.

What??!?

It's amazing how quickly the mind can process things.  In 2.7 seconds I realized that Caleb's class was going on a major field trip and they were leaving in 12 minutes!  Good thing Caleb was ready to leave (as was I!) and that it only takes 5.3 minutes to get to school from our house.

In conclusion, I made it to school just in time for Caleb to board the bus (and exchange a few smiles and thanks with my friend and Caleb's teacher).

Whew, saved by a text.  Saved from a life-long recollection of "the time Mom didn't let me go to Wally World!".  I may be stripped of my Stellar Mom award, but this is not that day!

Project Baby Blanket

Over Christmas I asked my sister-in-law if I could crochet a blanket for her coming baby.  After agreeing, she gave me her color choices - Classic Pooh, specifically Piglet colors (sage with some pink).  Fortunately Isabel had a swatch that I used to select the perfect yarn colors to match the specifications.  Then I had to think about the pattern.  You see, I've never followed a pattern when crocheting.

For this blanket I decided to do the whole thing in the sage color then edge it with the pink.  The kicker was that I wanted to add a few flowers to it.  This is when I thought I needed outside help.  Enter the magazine.  However, after playing with the yarn, I figured out how to make the flowers I wanted without the assistance of a pattern.  I got a great scarf pattern out of the magazine, so it wasn't a loss (more on that another time.  maybe.)

Anyway, here is the finished blanket.  I'm so very pleased with how it turned out.  I hope my niece likes it. Or more specifically, my sister-in-law!

I've Been Busy

There are some projects that have been in my queue lately.  There is a little baby niece on her way very, very soon, and I took an order for her baby blanket over Christmas. While I was working on her blanket I bought a crochet/knitting magazine (I needed some tips!) and came across a lovely scarf pattern that I had to try.  Then I found this idea the other week and now I am figuring out a way to put it into action! (thanks Susie for the tip/link!!!)

As of this very moment, the baby blanket is finished and so is the scarf.  And now I'm working on scarf number two and thinking about implementing the next project.

See?  I've been a busy girl!

Wanna peek at the blanket??  Come back tomorrow!

Sick? I Think Not

Caleb is home sick today.  We had to go in and wake him up this morning, which is unusual for this boy who is usually up with the sun!  I guess he was coughing a lot through the night last night and when we got him up he still had a cruddy cough.  Ryan asked him if he wanted to stay home from school.  Of course the boy said a pathetic little 'yes'.  And so Caleb is home from school today.

However, I am thinking he is just fine now that he's been up for a while.  He rarely coughs and is doing all kinds of house work for me so he can earn money for an ipod touch.  I mentioned to him that I doubt he's sick and that he seems just fine to me.  His response???  A few quick coughs.  Yeah, I think he's fine and will be going to school shortly.  The bum!

In the mean time, he's brought in the garbage cans that have been sitting out on the street since 'garbage day', taken out the trash in the house, and vacuumed the living and family room.  After that he's going to vacuum the couch for me, and sweep the family room and kitchen.  Maybe sick days aren't so bad.  Maybe we should have routine 'sick days'?!

I've Never.....

turned the car stereo up louder as to drown out the noise of children in the back.

And I'd certainly not share a conspirator smile with my husband while doing so.

Of course he'd not smile back either.

Never.

Giddyup

Recently we took the kids to an aquarium.  Here is a little conversation I had with Isabel before we left for our outing....

Me - Isabel, we're going to an aquarium today!

Isabel - What's that?

Me - It's like a zoo for fishes.  And they have seahorses there!

Isabel - Can I ride one?!?!

She's killing me with the things she says, and I just love it.  I want her to never stop!

I'm In Love

Last night after dinner the house got pretty quiet.  Now, as a mother, this initially causes me to wonder where my kids are and what they are doing.  I start to ask myself questions like "is someone about to get hurt?", "will there be a fire?", or "I hope nothing gets broken!".

But my fears were quickly put to rest when I realized that all three were in Caleb's room quietly, peacefully, playing with Legos.

"Quietly"??  "Peacefully"???

Yes.  ALL three were together in one small room and being relatively quiet and peaceful.

I love Legos.

Pocket Full Of Kisses

Some people find money when they do the laundry.

Not me.  I found kisses!!!

*also known as 'tile spacers', but today I will think of them as a coded message of love.  

She's An Artist

Mae has displayed amazing abilities at art even at a young age.  Ryan and I have been astonished over and over throughout the years with some of the things that Mae has created.  She says she wants to be an artist when she grows up, and I certainly think she can!  It will be interesting to see what she ends up doing.

Mae's most recent product came from doodling on Ryan's ipad.  She was trying out the new stylus that he got for the ipad, and this is what she did:

You saw it here first, a Mae original.  Contact me if you're interested in purchasing a print of Mae's art. ;)

Onward and Upward

For Christmas, Isabel said (repeatedly!) that she wanted a jet pack.  She's also mentioned wanting Heely's because "I wanna roll".  But now it's something different.  I was just informed that for her next present, for her birthday (which isn't until July), she wants a pogo stick.  This girl has a thing for personal mobility.  With a side of danger.

Sleepovers

If this weekend was to have a theme, it could summed up in a word - Sleepover.

Friday night Isabel had the opportunity to go to a friends house (and stayed up until 1:30!).  Then Caleb had a friend stay the night at our house on Saturday night. 

Isabel is now obsessed with the idea of sleepovers.  It's all she talks about.  I told her that she and Mae have sleepovers together every night (especially Mae, seeing how she sleeps in the top bunk!  get it, sleepOVER?).  Now Isabel talks about how she and Mae have sleepovers.  Then comes the next part.....she wants to know if Mom and Dad have sleepovers?  Why yes, yes we do! :)

Another Re-Filling

I wenbt to the bentist tobay.

She used a lot of Nobacain.

I'm kinba glab she bib, but I wonber how long it will tabke to wear obff?

Done!

Your looking at the cookies I made for the cookie exchange.  All 102 of them.  Turns out that I didn't have to make 240 cookies after all since some ladies backed out of the exchange as well as others opted to make only 1/2 dozens instead of full dozens.  So, my final count went down to 126 (including two dozen to be eaten at the party).  I'm looking forward to the party, but I am so very glad to have the cookie making part over with.  Whew!

It's been a busy week.  Including the cookies, I also made two batches of carmel corn and two batches of chocolate pancake mix.  Those batches of holiday goodness equated to 12 small personal gifts and one large container of carmel corn (for Ryan's co-workers and the larger one for Mae's teacher).  The pancake mix made four large containers full of mix for the other kids teachers and a couple of my friends.  

Being a perpetual procrastinator, I am very proud of myself for breaking my pattern this week.  I worked on one project each day, instead of the typical rush at the end of the week to get it all done in one night.  There was only one point in the week when I got stressed, and that was when I had to make an appetizer/side dish for our couples bible study gathering, which meant I had to cut 15 roma tomatoes in half and core them and make a stuffing mix and, well, stuff them.  I was trying to make just a few more dozen cookies while starting my side dish.  But other than that, my week was pretty stress-free considering all the things that needed to be done.

Needless to say, my kitchen has seen a lot of me this week.  I think we need to start seeing other people, you know, take a break for a little while.

Brought To You By The Letter F

Isabel is learning to read and part of that process is recognizing letters.  The other day she and I were playing a game while we drove around town running errands.  A letter would be chosen, then we'd each say a word that began with that letter.  It was an impromptu game that I thought worked out rather well for my homeschooled kindergartener.  Although, it didn't take too long for me to see that we still have some work to do!

Isabel - Let's do letter F!

Me - Alright.

Isabel - Fan!

Me - Finger.

Isabel - Fumb!