hello, self

Reminders

2012-01-30T09:54:00.000-05:00

Print out the school's PDF and highlight books I think AJ will like, on his reading level, so that he will stop saying he "can't find" any Accelerated Reader books in the library, and CHECK OUT A BOOK, for the love.

Work with AJ on his King Penguin shoe-box diorama (kill me), due Wednesdsay.

Ask daycare for a list of KT's classmates; address invitations for her birthday party.

Bring various items to school on various days, for various volunteer and service projects. (So. many. different. projects! I mostly hate Catholic Schools' Week.)

Buy KT some more dresses because she is refusing all pants and t-shirts lately (she wants to "be pretty, Mommy"). I don't have the energy to fight with her on this and I don't mind buying them.

Buy AJ some new uniform sweatpants because they have now become high-waters (regular uniform pants took that road 3 months ago). Thank God that he's growing, and continue praying for it.

Don't skip my running at lunchtime, at least THREE TIMES THIS WEEK, SELF.

Go to the makeup store to see if they have something miraculous for the ~~horrifying~~ depressing dark circles that have recently appeared under my eyes. At 37.5, I guess I'm not surprised.

Figure out what dish to take to the annual Super Bowl party next Sunday. Buffalo dip (fun)?? Or veggies (smart/sad trumpet)?

Also take an adult beverage to that party.

Smile.

Clogged and Clammed Up, but Excited...

2012-01-26T09:50:00.000-05:00

Ear status: Still frakking clogged.

No, I am not kidding. The doctor gave me amoxicillin, the weakest of the antibiotics, so I hear (HA), and so far I have experienced zero relief. She said it might take up to 3 weeks. Once in a while if I perform the Valsalva Maneuver (which I did not know had a crazy name! until last week), I can get a nice crackle and pop on the right side, and hear a little better out of that one for 30 minutes. But it doesn't last and isn't worth the possibility of blowing brains out my eyes when I do it, so I don't, very often.

Aren't I lovely? I'm really over this.
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We have exciting news in our family -- BIL and SIL are having a baby! They just announced it officially last night, but we have secretly known for a few weeks and been saying some prayers since they miscarried a few years back. I actually didn't think they would try again, but they did, and she's now at 12 weeks. I'm going to be an AUNT! I thought maybe I never would, officially, although I do have some sweet little cousins-once-removed who have called me Auntie Lee-Lee in the past.

We hung up the phone last night with them, and DH said, "She sounded nervous." OH, do I ever remember that feeling, when you're first starting to tell people! It's SUCH a secret, and if it's your first baby, you've never told anyone a secret like this before. And it's personal besides, letting everyone including your in-laws know what you've been DOING! Shock! So it's uncomfortable in so many ways. I don't blame her for feeling nervous.

Besides all that, SIL never really talks to us on the phone - the brothers talk, but not us girls so much. Maybe I'll have to remedy that and become more attentive to her as she begins to experience motherhood. I've wanted to be close to this SIL -- she doesn't have a sister of her own, only brothers -- but I'm so NOT a phone person anymore, and we don't live in the same city, and she's not really (from what I can tell) an email person -- so that all makes it hard.

We do share quite a bit in common. Both like to read, and cook, both go to sleep early (her, intentionally, me, by accident most nights), both try to workout regularly (she has more success than I do), both quiet, for the most part. I like her very much and I know I'm lucky in that.

But even last night, I felt like my brain clammed up and I didn't quite know what to say. I kept saying, "That is so great, we are so happy for you...." and I truly meant those things, but I couldn't think what else you're supposed to offer at this stage. Is that weird? I didn't want to say the WRONG thing, and of course I asked her how she'd been feeling and her due date, but... isn't that it, at this point? Oh, right, and "are you going to find out if it's a boy or a girl?" I think they volunteered that info (they are). I don't know. I hope I haven't forgotten everything about being pregnant, and that I can think of all the right things to say if she asks me for any advice (which I hope she does). I feel like I HAVE forgotten. (Thank God, right?) I'm going to email her right now and hopefully sound sincere in offering whatever I can do.

An Aunt! And DH an UNCLE!!

I can't hear you

2012-01-18T08:29:00.001-05:00

My ears are stuffed with cotton. They have been for 3 days now, so I'm going to the doctor today. I expect she'll pull a Mac truck out of the left side. Last night when I lay down with Kate, my head/left ear was on her fluffy fleece blanket, which obviously muffles sound. When I lifted my head up after about 10 minutes, there was no change in the muffled-ness of my hearing on that side. No change! Sigh. This morning when I woke up it felt like something was sloshing around in that one (braaaaaains?????) but it has since stopped.

I just want to apologize IF I AM YELLING. Because seriously, I cannot hear a damn thing.

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This week I have arrived at the chapter in my Organizational/Productivity book (yes, still reading it), where you zero out your Inbox. I am excited and nervous. I am terrible about keeping every email I get. And I have 4 different Inboxes, total, so that's a lot of useless storage. Has anyone ever done this? I am planning to say, "I'm sorry, all my old emails got deleted, you'll need to resend" if I get into any sort of email-needing-situation.

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Yesterday I spent ~~a good portion of my lunch hour~~ more time than I should have reading the articles and looking at the pictures NPR posted for their special report, Russia By Rail. I've never been that interested in Russia, its language or its culture, but this report (I heard it on the radio first) was excellent. I feel like I understand the cultural climate there better, and I was surprised how well I can relate to the people's mindset, as reported in this article, anyway. It talks about how the younger generations there (30s, 40s) want to see change in Russia's government and economy, but they're not really ready to fight for that change, or take drastic measure themselves. They'd rather kind-of wait and see what happens. And this is exactly how I have felt about my husbands' and my jobs. Both of us would probably like to sweep everything away and start over in different careers, doing something we love, but neither of us is at all willing to get crazy, which is what it would require to facilitate that kind of big change. So we just kind-of wait. See what happens.

I think I like the Russians.

I can't imagine wearing the fur coats all the damn time, though like the folks in Siberia and Vladivostok (love that word and how it feels to say it!). I'm wearing a turtleneck today and it's already making me a little claustrophobic at 8:04 a.m.

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When KT is bored with something, she says, "bored out." I love this phrase and think all of us should start saying it. "I'm bored out, y'all." No idea where she got that but it's perfect.

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I read on Dr. Google that if you think your child has an ear infection, you should make sure they get plenty of rest and don't exert too much. Naturally that means I haven't run yet this week. Haven't run since last Thursday, in fact. I am super-bummed about it, but I know that in the C25K program, they allow for repeating weeks. Life happens. I think I'd rather get well first, run 6 minutes straight later. I am not quitting.

Twelve-fifteen on the treadmill

2012-01-12T12:06:00.003-05:00

It's almost time for me to head downstairs to the treadmill. On Tuesday I did my Couch-to-5K run and a miracle occurred: I ran for five minutes without stopping! I should say, "jogged," because I'm keeping the pace NICE AND SLOW, but people, this is -- truly -- a brief miracle. Five minutes!

I just wanted to TRY the program. I wasn't convinced I could actually do it. And I'm only halfway there, I guess there's still no guarantee I will finish it. But all of a sudden I realized: this form of exercise which I have heretofore abhorred and decried (yes, THAT dramatic), is the only kind of exercise that's given me a feeling of accomplishment, in great measure. When I did the 30-Day Shred I was proud for slogging through it; glad when I could get through Level Three (or heck, even Level One's cardio segments were a killer), but I definitely didn't feel like I wanted to do it any FURTHER. It's just punishment. Miserable. And she yells at you. And thus, after about 25 days or so, I basically stopped.

Plain-old walking, my typical exercise of choice, is perfectly fine, but utterly devoid of the sense of achievement.

But with this, somehow I feel each success -- even with all the yucky sweating and the bad music that the Christian Alternative C25K podcaster-guy chooses (horrible! I really need to download something else) -- and it altogether encourages me. Endorphins for the win! It makes me excited to try again, and see how far I can get. Can I do six minutes? I think maybe by next week I CAN.

I don't know who I am anymore! *back of hand to forehead, wilts to nearby chaise lounge*

(I hope it lasts.)

Grumpy pants (little things)

2012-01-09T09:47:00.001-05:00

I have the blahs today. Everyone at my office is annoying, and the work I do is stupid and not inspiring (today), and the people in charge are horrible. In fact today was described to us as a special holiday, office closed... but then the people in charge changed their minds. So I feel like I shouldn't have to be here but I AM.

My throat has been sore basically since Christmas. I don't have other symptoms so I don't feel it's necessary to go to the doctor. But I'm tired of having a sore throat.

The weather's dreary, and I feel fat and unsuccessful at losing a single pound, even though I limited myself to ONE bowl of chili during yesterday's football games when I would have gladly had two, and that doesn't seem fair.

KT fussed at me all morning and cried because of a variety of things, but mostly because she is 3.

I woke up at 3:17 this morning and thought, "Oh, good, I still have 2 hours PLUS left to sleep." But then I couldn't fall back asleep for at least 30 minutes and I just lay there and stewed about how many minutes I was LOSING.

And I have errands to do at my lunch hour, which prevents me from working out at lunchtime, and that pisses me off. I know that a good shot of endorphins would help my mood. I should go for a couple of 10 minute walks, I KNOW, but guess what? I couldn't carry my gym bag (with shoes) this morning because of all the other crap I had to carry. No shoes = no walking because the shoes I did wear are not even very comfortable.

I read yet ANOTHER article about how we should never eat anything processed, ever, because the big farms and commercial food processing plants are EVIL and FILTHY and horrible, and normally I would dismiss reports like that as bullshit, but today I wondered if maybe it isn't true, and I don't WANT to believe any of that so why do the reports keep coming out? (Don't answer.)

I think my mood is actually getting worse as I type, so I'd better sign off. I hate Mondays.

Books for 2012

2012-01-06T13:27:00.000-05:00

I want to do more intentional reading this year. I miss my Kindle. I bought The Hunger Games triology in hardback because they were clearly worth having/preserving. Although I finished them in about 3 weeks, that was right before the weekends of Christmas shopping and planning, and then celebrating. I picked up another book during the holidays (21: Bringing Down the House), and it's been good so far but I'm not quite into the thick of it yet. It's in paperback, besides... so, short story long, I haven't been on the Kindle in a long while. Not since Still Alice, I think, which was a great book but many months ago in my life!

So I've been thinking about the books I want to read in 2012. Of course the resolution I didn't write down but did actually think about -- and the one which is likely most important for having a good year -- is to grow closer to God and to nurture my faith. But the task of doing that on my own, just by adding a regular prayer-time to every day...? Probably not very realistic. (Definitely not very realistic.) Then I thought, "HEY, I could read an inspiring BOOK to help accomplish that end! Perfect!" Two birds, one stone, right?

And finally, the third reason is that my dear, darling Book Club has somehow not met for about 4 months now. This is the longest I think we've gone on a break, and yes, our kids are all older and busier now, and we know we'll get together again someday, but I think it's time to send out an email and see what the deal is! And get some book recommendations from that end!

So, here is a list of some books I'd like to read. I'm drawing some of these from the excellent lists I've seen around the blogosphere, like Lag Liv's, and Bessie V's, and Jennifer Fulwiler's! But please, feel free to chime in and suggest others!

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming, Joshilyn Jackson. I have loved her other books and it's wayyyyy past time for me to read this one. The title alone is completely intriguing and it's been in the back of my mind since before it was published.

Sharon Kay Pennman: Here Be Dragons Thank you, RRA and LagLiv! Historical fiction is my absolute favorite and I can't wait to try this author.

Committed, by Elizabeth Gilbert. I think I read Eat, Pray Love in 2011. It was fantastic. I have heard this one's even better.

Love in the Ruins: Walker Percy. This one came from Jennnifer's list of book recommendations from Catholic bloggers, hot off the press!

He Leadeth Me by Walter Ciszek. Jennifer recommends this one a lot and I think it sounds fascinating. Probably for Lent (as she suggests).

Golden Bones by Sichan Siv. The author is married to a high school friend of my Mom's, and this has been on my shelf a while. It's not my usual fare and I will likely need something to separate it from He Leadeth Me, as they're both about wrongfully imprisoned men. Might be a little much for one year but we'll see.

Bossypants, Tina Fey, since everyone else already read it. :)

Maybe something from Jodi Picoult, because it's been a while, and I have liked everything I've read of hers.

What else should I be reading?

2012 Goals

2012-01-02T15:33:00.000-05:00

There are a few things on my list this year that I didn't mention. So I don't forget them:

1. Learn how to make real frosting. We made a cake for New Year's Eve and I used Pillsbury's canned chocolate frosting. I'm sorry, Pillsbury, in general I do love you, but I've decided that canned frosting is not worth my $2.49.
2. Have our giant yard sale and clean up the basement.
3. Get my personal business files in order and create The Spreadsheet.
4. Contact a law office and get our wills written.
5. Continue working out and possibly run a 5K. Possibly, I said.
6. Do better with vegetables and my kids. (KT ate - and loved - spinach yesterday though! Cooked spinach!)
7. My photo albums. This will be finished by the end of January, so help me God.
8. Finish replacing all the blinds in our house. (There are a few rooms with old-style, crumbling venetian (metal) blinds, and I hate them.)
9. Paint/redecorate the master bath.
10. Clean all the tile/grout. Three bathrooms, one toothbrush, hands and knees. I haven't done it in a very long time and it shows!!

Ta-da!! The 2011 Year-End Meme, slighly shortened

2011-12-29T13:57:00.000-05:00

Oh, I seeee... people are getting weary of the Questionnaire. Think they don't NEED that old antiquated MEME any more, now that the Internet's all grown up and we can do it our own selves. Well. Back in MY day...

You know, I agree. I guess I'm a little tired of the format, too, but how else do we start?

Overall, I would say that 2011 has been a great year -- I can't complain, truly. We did have a broken arm situation, and some financial stuff that was annoying in our immediate vicinity, but other than that no major troubles! Woo hoo!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
The aforementioned broken arm was new! I never broke a bone and had no idea how that all works. In fact I had previously worried, as one might when one's never gone into labor before, "How will we KNOW if it's bad enough to go to the hospital?" Now I know. I also helped throw a surprise 70th birthday party for my Dad -- never done that before. :) I took the week of Spring Break off work to spend with AJ. I want to do that every year now!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year I was feeling smug and forlorn at the same time, and so I made very simple resolutions which I mostly kept. I said then, flossing more than 'hardly ever' will be EASY. Heh. I did floss a little bit more than the previous year, so I WIN. I ate a bit more yogurt in 2011, yes, but I still don't love it. Eh. Who really cares. And my 2 dinner parties, I think, happened. One of them was very early in the year, and the other was Christmas dinner which barely counts, since it was hosting my parents... but I say Win.
Funnily enough, although I REFUSED to make a health-kick "Resolution" last year, I did do better overall in 2011 than ever before. I know I have mentioned that I signed up for Sparkpeople.com, and it did help me in many ways, stick to my routine. I was quite faithful February through May, then the hot months came along and it was harder, but I used the treadmill and didn't really backslide until September/October/November. I started the Couch to 5K in the end of November and I'm still trying to do that. So perhaps the answer is DON'T RESOLVE, JUST DO.

(Good grief, this is just the 2nd question! I may skip several of them.)
No one close to me gave birth, or died, and I visited no countries.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
I always say "Lottery winnings" but I will also include Solid Nights' Sleep more often than not. This year was a tough sleep year.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
This sounds ridiculous, but Feb 21st is my "Sparkiversary" (haha, embarrassed glancing as I use nerdy insider terminology) and I'm trying to have made some real progress/success by 2/21/12;
June 10 - the weekend of, because we were all together with my parents and sister/brother-in-law, and that rarely happens;
Sept. 11 -- the 10th anniversary was quite a Thing, wasn't it? Our community did a big display of 3,500 US flags in a huge park, and it was breathtaking. We drove by it every day for a week.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I hate to say this but there was a work project that took a huge majority of my time, but it was/is successful and made me look good to my peers. I am proud of it, although I wasn't the only one on the committee. I also have to cite our PAINTING project at home, because it was so long in the making and changed the look of that room so pleasantly/dramatically.

9. What was your biggest failure?
This doesn't keep me up at night, but we did fail to save as much money as we would have liked this year, and also failed to get our wills written. That is going to be a HUGE goal for 2012 -- the wills, I mean. We've been meaning to do it for (gulp) 7 years at least, since AJ was born.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Boring question, and no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
We bought DH a new car in January, and it's been so good for him to drive something cool and not my old beat-up '97 Corolla. I think he feels like a real man again. Ha. We also bought a new refrigerator (awesome), a new water heater (unexpected) and a new water main line (lame)! So I've now answered the next question.
12. Where did most of your money go?

13. What did you get really excited about?
Seeing Guys and Dolls in August. I love the theater and especially that show. We were so excited to watch AJ's car win the Pinewood Derby in February! And I was on pins and needles when my sister came in THIRD in her first triathlon of the year! We were watching her times online and it was almost as exciting as being there! So awesome. I got really excited/emotional about that, for sure.

14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
The soundtrack of "Tangled,"which is great, and the Good Luck Charlie theme song, which is not that great. KT plays those two shows on Forever Repeat every chance she gets.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you: Happier or Sadder: Happier. I think the kids are getting to the age where DH and I are getting some of our old life back. I mean, a little bit... As much as you can when one of them's still under 5... but still. It's something.
Thinner or Fatter: Same I think.
Richer or Poorer: Poorer, probably. Cost of groceries really seems to be increasing significantly. Or is that just me?
16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Fun activities with the kids. Taking more pictures and videos. (I might have to do the "One photo a day" thing this year. Days off just for me (I did take one, and it was HEAVENLY.)

17. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Gawd, bulk shopping at Costco. I was conned into my volunteer job for the school and I will NOT be doing it again next school year.
19. What was your favorite TV program?I fell in love with Parks and Rec this year. Especially the theme song.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
I didn't read too many, but The Hunger Games series wins, hands-down.
21. What was your favorite music from this year?
I'm certain I don't listen to any current music.
22. What were your favorite films of the year?
No idea. We loved Inception (was that new in 2011?), The Help, The King's Speech (2011?) Deathly Hallows 2 (2011?)... I can't remember any others.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Sometimes you're just going to have to sweat a little.
Cookies are allowed, you're not a bad person for eating them.
Musicals make me happy.
Keep putting money in the savings account because you never know.

And now for a dash of...

2011-12-28T09:18:00.000-05:00

Last night I was making banana bread. This is something I do frequently, and I learned as I worked that my Darling Husband sometimes leaves the last 2 bananas hanging on the banana-hanger ON PURPOSE, so that I'll make it! Ha! Sneaky of you, Mister el-e-e!

My mom was sitting at the kitchen table while I measured and mixed, and my dad came up behind me right when I needed the vanilla extract. I said, "Let me just get the vah-neee-yuh..." to him, and Mom cracked up. Evidently that is the very same way she always says "vanilla" (french pronunciation, of course) when she is baking. I never even knew I did that, but we laughed and laughed over shared genes and funny habits.

I love moments like that. Like when my sister and I respond to something with the same phrase, at the same time, with the exact same tone and inflection.

First a snotty comment, and then a Christmas recap

2011-12-28T08:52:00.001-05:00

Dudes: There is a woman in my office wearing a JINGLE BELL NECKLACE and jingling her way around the halls this week. It is driving me absolutely BATTY. The fact that I'm IN the office this week is bad enough (never mind that I had all of last week off) -- well, the fact that OTHER PEOPLE are here, too -- I was hoping, at least, for silence and productive work-time. I am not getting the silence part of the deal. !!!ARRRGH. Jingle jingle jingle!!!

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Whoosh, and it's over. That's the main reason I wish the commercial world didn't spend so much time, starting the very moment the Thanksgiving turkey is packed in its Ziploc bags, counting down until Christmas. It's definitely out of balance with the ONE DAY that is Christmas, itself.

Don't get me wrong, Christmas Day was wonderful. And... well, back up: December 23rd was lovely before that. First, Mom, KT and I shopped for one additional set of gifts, just us girls out on the town looking at cheap jewelry. What fun! We met the boys for lunch that day at my favorite Mexican place which could only have been better with margaritas -- but I didn't want to get too sleepy/useless before 1:00 pm! That night we celebrated with a nice, lonnnnng dinner party at my cousin's home. Plenty of wine, good stories, good music, Brie and crackers (what could be better than that??) and lots of little 2nd cousins running around in the basement, playing happily together. THAT felt like Christmas. Don't you just crave holiday time spent with family like that? Even if it's a hassle, or lasts a little too far into the night. It's just part of the holiday and if we don't have it, I don't feel quite right.

December 24th we made our dressing to get ahead for Christmas Day dinner, and baked some more cookies, as we had somehow run out already! (How, I wonder...?) I can't remember the other details -- except I did take a NAP, in my BED (heaven!) -- but I know by 9:00 p.m. we were watching Christmas Vacation (the kids, too), and I was getting dressed to go to Midmight Mass and the choral extravaganzaaaa! Just kidding. It wasn't extravagant. The choral prelude to Midnight Mass was good... I do hope we moved someone's heart who might have been looking for a little spiritual, musical uplift. We didn't have to sing any schlock like we did last year (choral version of an Amy Grant song, gag, and I love A.G., just not like that), so I was pleased. By the end of the night... er, morning... I had nearly lost my voice, which might indicate to you that I sing incorrectly on my chords, rather than in the focal place in my head... but that is not true. And by the way, why is it that I always seem to get sick on Christmas Eve?? I am so over that and may tell Santa next year that is my one and only wish.

Anyway, FINALLY, let me tell you about Christmas Day being wonderful: We were awoken with the PERFECT excited whispering of a 3-year-old: "MOMMY! WAKE UP!! SANTA CAME!!!" I hope I never forget it. She had an exclamation point in her throat! The kids were so good and patient, waiting for all of us SLOW adults to get our pants on and go to the potty before stumbling down the stairs together. They loved their gifts. We unwrapped in a frenzy. We got the big garbage bag out to keep the mess to a minimum. We had ham and egg casserole and apple muffins for breakfast. Then we went to a not-crowded 10:45 am Mass together, I really DID lose my voice before the last hymn, and we spent the rest of the day putting together the perfect meal, in perfectly timed choreography (somehow!) -- and I just loved it all, even the hand-washing and drying of the Lenox Holiday plates afterwards.

(Here's what we ate: Cajun-fried turkey, sausage dressing, cranberry jelly, sweet potato casserole, these biscuits from Pinterest!, and steamed broccoli with red peppers. We had White Zin to drink and the kids had applesauce on the side because I wanted to be sure they ate something. (Darn kids don't even like sweet potato casserole w/marshmallows?!) For dessert a couple of hours later, we had Cherries Jubiliee over coffee ice cream... or just ice cream for those who don't DO cherries. I also had two STRONG hot toddies that my Dad made me, and they CURED my throat, by golly! I love hearing other people's holiday menus - what did you have?)

We have played and played. So far the favorites have been AJ's Lego sets and Megazords, KT's Lite Brite, and her new Rapunzel dolls and Barbie clothes. She and I have spent lots of time doing fashion shows, spread out on the new sleeping bag in the living room, changing Barbies' clothes and combing and combing and combing Rapunzel's hair.

Just what I wanted

2011-12-22T09:09:00.001-05:00

December 21st was my day with the kids, just us. I actually asked my parents not to come until Thursday (today), so I could have a day together. Selfish? Maybe. But I loved it, and the kids were GOOD, and we had a great time. Here's what we did:

• Leisurely breakfast/Christmas cartoons (Dora, unfortunately, which we're also watching again today)
• Colored wooden Christmas ornaments with markers. And listened to Christmas music, OBVS. We could have done this with paint, but washable Crayola markers satisfied AJ and KT just FINE, so why stress myself out?!
• Went out to get AJ's hair cut
• Came home for lunch, ate it and cleaned up, then
• Made Reindeer Sugar cookies with M&M noses and pretzel antlers -- so fun!
• Watched The Polar Express again; it has been the movie of the year at our house, and the other day I learned AJ wants the book for Xmas... Well guess what? Santa already thought of that! Feeling smug.
• played I guess...and I started hand-washing my crystal wine glasses, which is one of my favorite things to do. I know at one point AJ got bored, and I suggested activity books or reading, to which he probably rolled his eyes, but finally it was time to go to his jiu jitsu class.

Then we came home and had dinner (DH was home) and ...the end. There was no fighting, and very little whining, and I wasn't restless, either. It was so nice to be with my sweeties and enjoy some of the magic and quiet and fun of the days before The Big Day.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pre-planning for Christmas 2011

2011-12-20T10:24:00.006-05:00

Yesterday I went to the mall to get the last of our presents and search out Christmas Mass outfits for the kids. I found great deals at a department store and came home feeling very satisfied. Then I got to wrap presents out in the open, in a large space (as opposed to the corner of the floor after the kids' bedtime, that has somehow been my uncomfortable SOP this season). I did my C25K run, in 63-degree sunshine. I did dishes. I checked the basement stash to make sure Santa is treating each kid evenly this year (he is, pretty amazingly). After the kids went to bed I made Swistle's Mint-Chocolate cookies, as has become my tradition (thank you, Swistle!), for their teachers' gifts.

I was on my feet all day but it was good.

Today I have cleaned the kitchen even though it's not nearly the end of the Christmas production cycle, made a special, traditional snack to surprise my parents with, when they arrive Thursday, and planned my dinner menu. I listened to Christmas music -- Sugarland's Gold and Green album, which I didn't realize is SO GOOD! I love you, Kristian Bush; and Harry Connick Jr, of course -- and talked to my parents on the phone. Hope we haven't used up all the topics so we have plenty to chat about when they get here!

I'm headed out in a little while to get a haircut, take some things to the cleaners (I hope they'll be done before Thursday or Friday), and drop off a wayward toy to Toys for Tots. Apparently they're low on the turnout this year so I feel good about donating it, even thought it was a duplicate for which I could get back my $35... but some boy somewhere will enjoy it.

The kids are at school today. One of them is having his class party, and the other will miss hers, but I think she's still young enough that she won't notice or care. I miss them, but I'm SO glad I've had this time to get our house, and myself, ready for the wonderful week ahead. I love Christmas, and I love having it at my house. (When I'm not feeling stressed about having it at my house, that is.) I'm not stressed at this moment.

I'm grateful, and happy. The stockings are hung. The Santa picture is framed (our first year with both kids unafraid of him). I think I'm about ready.

Sinking Spell

2011-12-13T13:55:00.004-05:00

The 3:00 sinking spell comes at 1:00 on my early days. (For those of you just joining us, those are the days I get to my office at 6:30 in the ay-em.) And so, at the moment I am yawning and hoping that this cold bottle of water will help jolt me back to Alert... but I'm very aware that this is a high hope. What I could really use is an iced latte.

As a general rule I am NOT on board with the iced drinks at S'bux -- at least not in the morning. If I see the arm of the barista shoot out the drive-thru window toward the car in front of me, during the morning commute/pit stop, and if that arm is holding something frothy with a straw in a CLEAR cup, I get very eye-roll-y. I don't believe that's legitimate "morning coffee."

But during an afternoon shopping trip? Or after school? Or during a sinking spell? Yes, please. It Especially in the South, where it's too hot for hot coffee, anyway. It harkens those days I mentioned to my high school friend on FB, when Barnie's at the mall was the only coffee option -- they were cool before coffee was ~~cool~~ ubiquitous. Anyway, I am thinking that perhaps AJ and I will make a stop at the local caffeinating hole this very day, after carpool. He likes their cake pops.

I will also need the boost tonight, because I am planning a 9:00 pm gift-buying trip to Target, which is open until midnight in my location, woot woot! I think it will wrap everything up (har har!) that I need for the kiddos, and most of my other relatives, as well. (Everytime I mention Target by name, I think about the very first time I ever went to one, in Dallas, I believe, to buy either a trash can or a new kitty litter box with my Mom. It must have been when we were in transit, moving to Florida, and spending the night with my grandparents in Dallas. No idea why I remember this, ever so vaguely; I don't even remember last week.)

Positive Mental Attitude...

2011-12-07T08:51:00.001-05:00

I haven't gotten stressed out about the holidays... yet. I've felt like I have enough time. I have 8 lunch-hours left, and I work close to a Target, an Old Navy, a Costco, a Toys R Us, a post office, a UPS Store, and a mall! I should be able to get things done, right?

But then I remembered planning the MEAL. And the days leading up to it! Oh, hey, I am hosting Christmas! It's JUST my parents and us, no big deal... but it IS a big deal because I want there to be nice meals (or at least put-together meals and not KFC takeout!), and memmmmories. Then I remembered teacher gifts for KT's teachers (what are their names, again?). I need to get my baking started and give those gifts out EARLY -- to neighbors, coworkers, etc.

Still, I don't want to feel the stress. I banish it! Away, stress! So I'm trying my best to workout. I started the Couch to 5K program and I completed Week 1. I did my first run for Week 2 today. It's going really well and man, does exercise ever help in keeping mental stress at bay! It really does, I've been amazed by that. (Biology/chemistry... it works!) I was all sweaty and winded an hour ago after running (haha, I mistyped "funning!"), but I felt GREAT! Happy! I might even say Awesome!

PLUS, I have two full days all to myself on the 19th and 20th, before the kids (AJ) is off for vacation or my guests arrive, and I am so thrilled about those two days! I will make them extra productive. (And I will workout during them, too!) Positive, positive, positive.

The one sad situation is that I canNOT find a babysitter for December the tenth. My DH's company is having a small holiday soiree at a friend's home -- a friend I used to also work with daily, and dearly love -- and there is also a party for Le Choir that night, so it'd be really super nice to be able to go to both of those events. Even though I have nothing to wear (well, I have a dress but no BOOTS). Sad state of affairs. See, most of my church friends with teenage daughters -- backup babysitters when the main one is unavailable -- are from Le Choir, and so they and possibly their teens will be at the choir party -- or babysitting their siblings. I have about one other person I could ask. And I shall.

Anyway, yesterday I got a good chunk of Santa stuff finished, TONIGHT I am ordering my cards, and all will be well. All will be well.

Playing Santa, KT edition

2011-12-06T08:34:00.001-05:00

(these posts are really for posterity, I know they're kinda boring.)

KT's wish list includes:

"Big Rapunzel doll"
"Mommy's Baby," she calls it, and AJ clarifies she means "My Very Real Baby." After looking it up, I'm torn because she already has a doll that looks very similar to this one, and the thing costs $70! I'm thinking no.
"Rapunzel Castle with all the princesses."

I love 3-year-olds.

I had planned these things for her:

*Tangled Reusable Sticker Book
*Tangled Soundtrack CD
*Tangled playset (Rapunzel, Flynn, horse)
*Tangled/Rapunzel Barbie
Sleeping bag -- she's been using AJ's Spiderman one all this time and she likes Spiderman, but I thought it'd be nice for her to have one of her very own
Necklace (not expensive, but "real" jewelry)
Doll cradle
Amelia Bedelia books? -- there is a series of "younger" Amelia Bedelia books now (since she's still just a little too young to get the jokes in the original books)
Hair bows/headbands
Barbie clothes
Rapunzel princess (dress-up) dress
"Big Rapunzel" doll

*already purchased

For her stocking, I got her a "shimmer" lotion at Bath & Body Works, and I think I'm going to stick a bottle of "No More Tangles" in there, too. Heh. More for me than for her! What else? Besides gum, of course - I have to give my KT some gum!

It's so much fun to play Santa! Except that Santa better get ON IT; He has a lot left to do! I might try to go to TRU today at lunchtime.

Off-topic

2011-12-05T12:11:00.001-05:00

Edited to remove some stuff... my blog could be so much more interesting if I weren't afraid of the wrong people finding it.

A task of comparing the Christmas list *I* had made for 7yo AJ, with the list he, himself, wrote out for Santa last week:

MY LIST
*Thundercats Action Figures (Tygra, WilyKit, Panthro, Cheetara, Lino-O, Mumra) 4"
*Thundercats Thunder Tank
*Captain Underpants book series
*new (Shaun White) wallet
Sleeping bag
Camera?
Lemonade Mouth CD?
Claw megazord
Pokemon binder
Mindflex Duel game
(he's mentioned a couple of DS games but I can't remember which ones now)

For both:
A puzzle to share (maybe a 100-piece? To work on as a family or something?)
Ice cream maker (for the family?)

*are already purchased

HIS LIST
Nintendo 3DS (he is not getting this no matter how much he begs)
Pokemon Rumble Blast game for the the 3DS (or maybe the regular DS? Which he has?)
Power Rangers Samruai Claw magazord (WOO! A match!!)
Pokemon Trading Card Game: Victini box (what?)
Kirby: Return to Dream Land (for the Wii)
Kirby: Mass attack for the DS
MarioKart 7 for the 3DS
Radakai: Championship Tin (seriously, MORE trading cards??)
Pokemon: Unova Region Playset
Pokemon: Catch, Launch, Battle (no idea what this means)
Yahtzee Flash game

So. Sort of a bummer that we already BOUGHT all the Thundercats action figures. We went through a family surge of watching the new version of that cartoon on Friday nights back in August. And then in October, his interest disappeared into the ether and the DVR'd episodes sit there in our list of recordings, uselss.

Some of the things I've got on my list can easily be stocking stuffers (the CD, the wallet). I still think I want to get him the (non-character) sleeping bag and the camera. Those are things I suspect will be enjoyed and appreciated long-term. And the trading card tins aren't expensive. But I don't know; they don't seem that exciting, to come from SANTA. Do they? Then again, I'm not a 7yo boy. But man, if I add that wish list up, it's more than Santa's elves make in tips, I can tell you that. ;)

And, haha, aren't I quaint (delusional), thinking a 100-pice PUZZLE would be fun for everyone?

Thanksgiving recap

2011-11-30T11:01:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving seems like three weeks ago already, doesn't it? The Target commercial they're playing, where the couple waves goodbye to their friends saying, "The turkey was wonderful, as always!" and then they close the door and immediately turn around into their house, which is fully decked out for Christmas...? Have you seen that one? It's perfect, right? I feel like that's exactly what has happened. There was no transition. Just, BOOM, Christmas.

We're deep in it -- we're looking for our Elf on the Shelf every morning, the tree is up, and I've been to Michael's twice already. Doesn't get a whole lot more Christmas-y than that.

Anyway, let me tell you about our Thanksgiving, because it was really nice. We went to DH's parents' house in Savannah, and had dinner at 1:30! One! I never knew the position of the clock could make such a difference, but I'm here to tell you IT CAN. I think the one o'clock hour is the perfect time, actually. At 1:30, the parade had just finished. I hadn't had time to think "Gosh, I'm hungry," yet. I hadn't had time to wish there was a cheese ball and some Wheat Thins out on the table (or to stuff myself with them before dinner even started). I had had a Coke Zero to tide me over. The kids were playing nicely. My BIL and SIL arrived. At 1:30, it was lunchtime. A logical time to eat.

We finished around 2:30 I guess, did the dishes, and had time to chill out for a bit. At 4:00 I was ready for my pie (apple, a la mode). Then at 6:30 it was the perfect time for a turkey sandwich! Ta-da! See how that worked out?

On Friday, we took off to the beach! One thing we never take advantage of in Savannah is the fact that it's on the coast. We're usually not there long enough to make a day of it with swimsuits and buckets and the whole ordeal. But this time, since it wasn't swimming weather anyway, I just wanted to go out there and SEE it. There's a huge public pier, where the kids RAN all the way to the end, chasing pigeons and seagulls (just like in the movies). Then there's the flat sand of the beach, stretching for days. We collected handfuls of (broken) seashells, perfect in the kids' eyes, and AJ even pulled up his pants legs to wade in the Atlantic. KT wanted to "dig for pirate treasure." I can't resist sharing a photo. I loved breathing in the salty air, and I'm just not sure there's anything more restorative than a sunny day near the water, you know? It seemed to bring out the best in all of us. Especially afterwards, when we stopped at a little hamburger dive for a cheap lunch on their patio, complete with giant chocolate ice cream cones. I really feel like we made happy memories that day.

On Saturday, we set out on our own without the grandparents, who had some other tasks to attend to. I hated to miss out on time with them, but I was also happy to have a little time just to ourselves. Historic Downtown, of course, is where all the tourist action is, so we forked over a lot of cash to ride on a horse-drawn carriage through brick-lined streets and statues. I remember visiting lots of museums and historic sites when I was a kid -- in Austin, Natchez, Vicksburg, New Orleans, New Mexico, old Mexico! and Springfield, IL, among others -- and I think our kids are old enough now to get the educational benefit from that kind of thing. It was awesome. AJ sat up front with the driver and felt all special. KT managed to stop talking (mostly) and let the tour guide tell her dumb jokes. And we had lunch afterwards. (I am pretty sure the key to my personal enjoyment is scheduling these things right around 11, so we can have lunch after. Clearly, french fries are important to me deep down in my heart.)

We drove home Saturday night, after dinner. (Leftovers for the win!) That somehow felt special, too. A last hurrah, or something. The hectic pace of packing up. The kids running from BIL who tickled them without ceasing. (Something which I could seriously complain about... but... whatever. They seem to enjoy it. To the point of SCREAMING a lot. Sigh.) And we were so glad to skip dumb metro traffic on Sunday.

All in all, I'd say it was a near-perfect holiday.

Turnaround

2011-11-22T13:17:00.001-05:00

I started today in such a Bad Mood. Once again, I was awakened in the dead of night (4:00 am) by a little girl who needed comfort, or someone to talk to, or just to be reminded that all was okay. I was not very gracious about this, though at first I really did try to be. She is suffering a bit of a cold, and was swampy with coughing and sniffles. I could tell she was hot (she insists on wearing fleece jammies even though it’s been an unseasonable 74 degrees most days lately) and I worried it was an actual fever. So some children’s Tylenol was dispensed, we both made trips to the potty, and I hoped for another 2 good hours of rest for us both.

It was not to be. I got more and more mad as the minutes ticked by. The whispering, “Is it six-oh-oh yet?” questions, the light going on in her bedroom, the panting I could hear her doing next to my face as she watched to see if I was awake yet, the four-times getting her covers messed up and needing me to fix them, tissues, water, and then the dog, too, licking the carpet incessantly which I cannot stand, even in the light of day. I threw back my own covers several times, DH did the same and threatened through clenched teeth to deposit someone back in her OWN ROOM by the time he got to THREE… it just wasn’t a pretty way to start the day.

Naturally she fell back to sleep at 5:55 a.m. I hated to wake her then, but will admit to having at least one vengeful feeling about it.

I spent the morning stewing. Not about KT, but about other things. Stress about impending holidays. Things I don’t like about my job. Coworkers who Won’t. Shut. Up. in the 8:00 hour when I’m still trying to ease into things and have my coffee. I worked myself right into a little hissy fit, in my mind. (Tired, perhaps?)

And then I went to KT’s school for the class Thanksgiving feast.

It wasn’t even that special, to be honest. The teachers must be tired this time of year, because they weren’t chipper or very welcoming at all. The 4 of us parents who made it sort-of wandered around while the kids played, and we waited for the food to be ready. There were no construction-paper pilgrim hats or Indian feathers, no singing of any songs or reciting of any Gobble-Gobble poetry. (Come on, school! Are you kidding me?) But the happiness on my little one’s face, watching me watch her with her friends, was so palpable. She was proud to show me her table, willing to eat her food, and appropriately taken aback when I asked her if could I please stay and take a nap with her, on her mat?! (“You are too big for my mat, Mommy, that’s silly!”)

Such a simple thing. It wasn’t a forced counting of blessings, even – we didn’t give thanks for the meal – but I came back to my office wanting to make a better effort at not being so angry. What was it? Getting to play with kids for 30 minutes, unhindered by time constraints or my own agenda? Sitting on a miniature red chair? Maybe the challenge of talking with three-year-olds whose language is different from my own daughter's was a brain exercise that cleared away all the other gunk? Or, just seeing someone I love dearly, in the middle of the day? Being reminded of how fast it all goes by?

I’m unsure. But pretty darn grateful.

And then, other times...

2011-11-17T07:43:00.001-05:00

I tuck her in at night, and we spend 5 full mintues saying "I love you" back and forth, and when I leave she tells me again, and that she hopes I "have good sleep, Mommy."

...and we wake up and she's all kisses and cuddles and the very best, most wonderful parts of three-and-a-half.

Just so you know.

Fighting nature

2011-11-16T08:34:00.001-05:00

This is not going to be a guilt-filled post about how terrible I feel for trying to discipline my 3.5-year-old. This age can be willful and disrespectful, and I have been trying to remember that it's just a phase. Overwhelmingly, I think, "I love that little girl SO MUCH." But right now living with her is just so exhausting. I can't think straight when she blatantly tells me "No" for the forty-fifth time, or kicks me or throws things or screams in my face. I have no creativity reserves at the crack of dawn, nor at the end of a long day, and no ideas on how to solve these problems in meaningful ways. I try to give choices and consequences. I resort to time-outs (which don't actually work, imho), or taking privileges away, which only makes her scream more loudly. I can send her to her room, but she either refuses and tantrums, or just comes back out. I distinctly remember not having any solution for that problem the first time around. Her Daddy sometimes has good luck removing her from the situation,calming her down and talking her through it, but those tactics don't seem to work for me.

Last night she was particularly awful to me, and I just honestly didn't want to be with her.

I think of all the moms and dads in the world a lot, lately, and how we all have to fight battles like these. I pray for them sometimes, people I don't know, especially the moms, and their independence-testing little ones. This job can be so, so hard.

I'm okay. And she's okay. I'm not sad today or feeling despicable. But I am tired of the fighting. I really can't wait for the hard parts to pass, and I can only hope that some of the love and attempted calm is getting through to her.

Checkbook... Games

2011-11-15T07:06:00.001-05:00

I did need to vent my frustrations last week, but I have since taken down the post about money. No need to dwell on the gory details, nor share them with the world. Plus, while Doing the Bills last night I got especially reflective and grateful. Every little penny that I was sending out convincted me, whether it was going to pay for the luxury of on-demand hot water, or the fun of 3-year-old ballet lessons, or the blessing of someone to come and take our garbage away every Friday. Even writing checks for medical expenses made me feel full with everything I need.

How does your household handle the bills? Does one person own the task or do you share it? We try to switch off, so that one person handles them one month, and then it's the other's turn. We pay most things online through our bank, but still write a check here or there and -- get this -- still keep a paper check register along WITH our Quicken file. I guess it makes us feel in control? Or gives us a backup in case of a computer apocalypse? It's a pain, really, but I can't imagine not keeping it. (My greatest challenge is to keep my handwriting neat enough that it can be read!) We both "turn in" our daily debit receipts to the central billing location, and then once a week the person who's managing bills that month sits down to enter everything in, and pay what's due. I think it's a good system because neither of us is in the dark, but I'm interested in hearing how other families do it. Last night I told myself I could have a glass of wine ONLY when I sat down at the computer. It worked. :)

In related news, do you think our generation will even get to retire? I have serious doubts.

Okay, moving on: The Hunger Games, people. Requisite disclaimer: I'm the last person on earth. But I can't believe how fast I read this book, and how the characters have infiltrated my mind. I find myself thinking "Katniss Everdeen" all the time -- just her name. It's so pretty, surprisingly so. All the names, really, intrigue me. And I picture her shooting something with her bow and arrow, and think of little Rue and how I imgined her... then yesterday Twitter was talking about the movie trailer, so I had to go watch it, and WOW. The mood is exactly how I've been feeling. Despondent, kind-of, that such Games could possibly exist (even just in the author's mind) and that the Capitol could DARE to wish those poor kids favorable odds. But utterly fascinated at the idea of Panem. It is CRAZY. I bought Catching Fire immediately.

She even stayed in it, the first night...

2011-11-14T07:43:00.001-05:00

We checked a few things off our list, including this one:

Most important, I approve of the mattress' comfort level. Since I'll end up sleeping in it frequently, I bet. ;) I've done no decorating around it, but as soon as I get an idea, I'll let you know.

The Rapunzel sheets/comforter set, I have to admit, is pretty cute.

Justifiable

2011-11-10T08:25:00.000-05:00

I really was/am sick! It's weird how GOOD that makes me feel -- like all my "being so tired" and "not wanting to DO anything" and "just feeling cruddy" don't actually need the quotation marks, they were real, and I AM ALLOWED. The doctor said so! She gave me 3 prescriptions to prove it. I am hopeful that after the past 10 days of this, we will be on the uptick soon! I already feel better today after one dose, but not completely better, which, again, makes me feel good and JUSTIFIED.

Here are some things I need to buy this weekend. I have been putting them off for various reasons, but we're about to reach the tipping point on some of them.

KT's new bed. Still.
New uniforms for my high-waters-wearin' AJ (hooray, he's growing!).
Haircuts for both kids.
Bulk food for my school-volunteer postion at Costco. Have I explained this? I was basically handed this job, and told that it would be SO EASY. Every 2 weeks, I go to Costco to buy 360 snack-packs of Oreos, 480 string cheeses (an entire case from the refigerated section), and plates/napkins/bowls/lunchbags for the school cafeteria. (It's not a working cafeteria, but the parents bring in food 3 days a week from various local eateries, which the kids can purchase). It's an interesting exercise, pushing around a big, orange pallet instead of a grocery cart, and I never fail to get comments as I go by with my 30 boxes of Oreos. People seem to forget that Costco is made for BULK purchases, it is not just your general supermarket. I'm trying to come up with clever retorts for "Whoa, that's a lot of Oreos!"
Yeah, just trying to prevent people like you from getting too much trans-fat.
We make a lot of "dirt cakes" at our house; I'm headed for the gummy worms aisle, next.
This isn't a lot. You should see my storage facility back at the commune.
Ever heard of hoarding, mister?? It's a disease, you should probably pray for me.

My manager just stared at my screen for 5 full minutes

2011-11-04T09:15:00.001-04:00

... we were in a different browser Tab, but this one was up, with its "BLOGGER: hello, self!" title glaring at us. So oh well, she probably knows where to find me now. Not that I mind -- hello, $h@n (just in case)! I've told her I keep a blog, but I've never actually handed her the URL.

Happy Friday, people! It's been an "off" week, with Halloween on Monday night, hasn't it? Or was that just me? I don't know, I've felt like I'm tripping over my feet every day, not really remembering AJ's homework assignments and which days they're due, not having my usual lunchtime errands for birthday parties or volunteer-school-activities, and being out Monday night made the rest of the 4 days seem unplanned. Or something. I've also been s...l...o...w...l...y getting sick, which has been ANNOYING. Monday night after the candy madness, I got a really weird case of the shivers. I did hang out in the 50-degree temperatures for 2 hours-ish passing out candy and trick or treating, but the shivers happened after we came in and I'd been under my blankie for another hour. When we went upstairs to bed, I got the shakes and could. not. stop. It made brushing my teeth difficult. My lips looked gray/blue in the mirror. After DH did his best to hug them out of me, I bundled up and got into bed, slept well and very warm. The same thing happened on Tuesday night, but not quite so dramatically; I was just cold. Wednesday I felt mostly better. Thursday (yesterday) I had a headache. And last night and this morning, my throat has been sporting that tell-tale, pinpoint place of sore, where it hurts to swallow. I'd rather just have an all-out SICK DAY and call it done. This dragggggging on is driving me crazy (mostly because I'm not sick enough to just REST, I still have to DO STUFF)!

Bleh. It SURE makes for an interesting blog post, doesn't it?! Don't answer that.

When I went shopping with KT a few weeks ago, I let her/us buy a little bag of peach gummy rings as a treat. You know, they're made by the Jelly Belly company, and are orange and white with a sugar coating? They're so delicious and artificial-peachy. I haven't been able to get the taste out of my mind since then. They KEEP popping up in my memory! I wouldn't say they're my favorite candy, either -- just one that made a particular impression on me that day, I guess. My FAVORITE fruity candy is probably Jolly Ranchers, which I rarely buy, followed by original Skittles and Charms Blow-Pops. At work, we recently discovered some hard candies by Crystal Light, so they're sugar-free. I approve of those, too. It's fun having different kinds of candy in the house this week, I have to say -- normally we only keep M&Ms on-hand (old habit from the potty-training days, I guess, and for emergency chocolate needs). But the candy buckets are disappearing after this weekend.

I finally read The Namesake by Jumpha Lahiri, that Sherry lent me about THREE years ago. (I'm done now, Sherry!) It was quite good. I enjoy books where the main characters grow from children into adults, and this book did that in such a way it made me think about my own life cycle, and that death is part of that, and it's okay, and life goes on, and all those deep things. It's about a family of American immigrants from India and of course the colorful culture made it that much more interesting, but I think the story was really about family relationships and the timespan was exactly my lifespan (so far) -- I had the feeling that the main character was 37, just like me, at the end of the book -- and I liked that. I also enjoyed that it had a lot to do with his name, and his nickname, because I think that's such an important aspect of people's identities. Apparently it's even moreso in Indian families. The only other feeling I had of the book was that it was slightly sad, or maybe just grey. I think this was the main character's mood the majority of the book, actually. So if you need a lift, this may not be the book for you, but if you want something interesting and life-mirroring, then I recommend it.

It's hard to review books, isn't it? I know Swistle always says, "I liked it, but I didn't like it, and I recommend it, but I also DON'T." I'm feeling that very same thing right now. Next on my list is THE HUNGER GAMES, hooray!! Perhaps I'll recover from this stupid cold this weekend, in my bed, reading.

Prescription filled

2011-10-28T10:29:00.003-04:00

I did it. I took the day off yesterday. It was so simple. So full, of time, and breath, and quiet and nothing. I felt 9:00 am, outdoors. It's delicous. I took a walk. I stretched afterwards. I did the grocery shopping, without a list. Felt dangerous. But mostly comforting to fill the family's pantry once again. I had lunch with two girlfriends I hadn't seen in 7 years, at a bakery. I ate dessert. I went to the park and read my book for MORE THAN AN HOUR, uninterrupted, except to breathe in the sunshine and fallen leaves, and to brush little green aphids off the page. That's it. That's all I did.

It was an enormous gift, that simple day. Enormous.

Bed Time

2011-10-21T08:49:00.000-04:00

WELL. It's high time to move that video down the page, so I suppose I can think of something else to write about.

Think....

Think...

Ermmmm....

This is not going so well, is it? Of course I'm scattered because of the lack of sleep... two nights in a row, there's been an interloper in my bed. Gosh, I love that girl, but she's killing me softly. It'd be fine if she just came in and went to sleep, but she comes in and wants to chit-chat.

Last night it was [stage whisper] "Mommy! Help me find my CHAPTER BOOK." I had given her one at bedtime, because she was requesting a Chapter Book. "Like AJ's," she specified, "No pictures." I tried handing her an old copy of "Little House on the Prairie" -- refused. Picutres. I tried a paperback "Nate the Great" from AJ's bookshelf. Refused. So you know what I gave her? Salman Rushdie. "Haroun and the Sea of Stories." (Which is excellent, if you've never read it.) She was satisfied with that one and went to bed with it.

Evidently, it walked off sometime before 4:00 am.

We suspect the solution could be so simple, in getting her a new big girl bed and pretty new covers that she'll adore (I'm leaning toward a full-size, even though in her tiny bedroom, she really needs a lofted bed in order to preserve any sort of play-space). It feels like in order to get a new bed, we'll have to immediately redecorate the whole room. I want an armoire, new bookshelves, new toy storage... But I know I should just get the bed. At least then if she needs someone to sleep with, there will be room for two people in her own bed, or an empty bed for me to retreat into if when she takes over mine.

I've tried to look at furniture online, but I end up looking at Pottery Barn Kids photos, when I should be looking at plain mattress photos. And I'd love to create a room from shabby-chic and DIY and antiqued pieces that I spruce up with my own creativity and spray paint, but... I get stifled and discouraged by the idea of doing it all at once, which would be pretty impossible. But maybe if I just start with a mattress/box springs, and a comforter from the french boutique, Target, I can take the decor part a little more slowly.

So perhaps this first task will be prioritized here in the next few days. Like, perhaps tomorrow. Mom, I think you and I will be making a stop at the local mattress store during our Saturday shopping.

For Cayt, and for being a follower! The Silly Accent Vlog

2011-10-18T07:30:00.001-04:00

Aaaaaccccckkk! Embarrassing! But I totally did want to do this, depsite my protestations yesterday. Hi, Mom, here is my accent! The first one of these I watched last Friday was Jonniker's, and then I went into a time-warp and watched about 15 of them, some from bloggers I don't even know. So interesting! Amusing! Anyway, I thank Cayt for prodding me one time, because it was all I needed to satisfy the need to film myself (?!! why?). Hee hee.

Here are the instructions:

Say the following words:Aunt, route, wash, oil, theatre, iron, salmon, caramel, fire, water, sure, data, ruin, crayon, toilet, New Orleans, pecan, both, again, probably, spitting image, Alabama, lawyer, coupon, mayonnaise, syrup, pajamas, caught

And answer these questions:
What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
What is the bug that curls into a ball when you touch it?
What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
What do you call gym shoes?
What do you say to address a group of people?
What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
What do you call your grandparents?
What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
What is the thing you use to change the TV channel?

p.s. I forgot "ruin." But I say, "roo-in," not "run," as some of my friends do. I actually love when I hear an authentic, "ruint." I even have a Mississsippi friend who jokes and says, "rur-nt." HAAAAA!

p.s.s. I don't say, "see-rup," what was I thinking? I realized after watching this a few times, and going BACK to re-watch Arwen's, again (and others' too... obsessed much???), that I had told HER in her comments, that I couldn't IMAGINE saying "see-rup," that "suh-rup" was the ONLY WAY. So I'm feeling the need to atone for and apologize for this grave mistake.

Monday the 17th

2011-10-17T10:23:00.001-04:00

I enjoyed all the Accent Vlogs last week! I feel like I'd be presumptious to do one, myself, considering that a good portion of my readership knows me IRL. Heh. "Hey, Mom, here's what my accent sounds like." Plus, living in the South, it's pretty clear that I'll say "cokes" and "y'all." I might surprise you with "pajamas," though. (Short "a" jammies, but "ah" for pajamas. I can't reconcile the two.)

Yatt is telling me about her trip to Urgent Care last week (Friday), after she had spent the day hacking up a lung just on the other side of my cube wall. She evidently had infected tonsils and a fever of 101. Awesome. Where is my hand sanitizer? Every time she coughed last week, I squirted my hands. I wasn't having direct contact with her hands, and I know hand gel can't stop the contagions from flying around through the cube walls into my AIR, but... instinct, I guess. I should have remembered the Lysol spray this morning.

Our weekend was deliciously calm. Both days, we emplyed Divide and Conquer -- AJ and DH to jiu jitsu, and KT and I to Bed Bath and Beyond. (I shopped! For fun, decorative stuff!) In the afternoon, the kids played with the neighbors outside while DH mowed, and I vacuumed inside. I didn't mind! I was GLAD to get the house cleaned up! No one was whining for me to hold them or play with them! Then the babysitter came over, and DH and I went to a new (to us) restaurant, and to see The Help. What a movie. Loved it. It was as good as the book, no question. The casting was brilliant. Sunday was Mass, then the boys went to watch a football game and KT had a birthday party to attend. Afterwards, she crashed on the couch and I got to READ! And do 25 minutes of exercise, which was lovely!

So, another Monday begins this busy workweek. I'm so excited to see my parents on Thursday -- they're coming in to help us with AJ's "fall break," which isn't billed as such but is a 4-day weekend for the students. Us parents are held hostage by having to attend Parent-Teacher Conferences on Friday. There are guests in the office today (ugh) and I have lots of errands to do on lunch breaks. I'm thankful for:

Time to tend our home, and space to let the kids run.
A cartful (not a buggy) of groceries last night at 9:30, even though I wish I could cut down on the cost (coupons?).
Joy in our singing at Mass yesterday, despite some fun(ny) drama!
Time with my husband Saturday night, just to sit near each other and share an appetizer, and be.
A delicious cup of coffee. Well, okay, 3 cups. :)

Notes from an Introvert Mom

2011-10-12T09:24:00.002-04:00

Am I the only one who hates Halloween costume parties? Bleeerrrggg. I mean, seriously, I WINCE at the thought of dressing up and then having to also make polite conversation with people. (I am hoping for some rah-rah enthusiasm from all of you other Internet-shy-introverted-and hate to make phone calls types.) It's weird because I was such a theater-nerd in high school -- I LIVED to dress up and play a character. But... no more. I've got invitations to two "Costumes Required" parties, both on the same night, unfortunately; they are people I would like to socialize with, but *whiiiiiine* not wearing extra eye-liner and wrinkled polyester! What to do...? If you DO like dressing up, what was your very best costume idea as an adult?
We had KT's first Parent-Teacher Conference this morning. (Three year old preschool!) We haven't loved her teacher thus far -- she has NOT seemed as warm and loving as some of the previous teachers we've loved, although I've been somewhat willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, seeing as how she SPENDS HER ENTIRE DAY WITH FIFTEEN 3-Year-olds. Perhaps I would not be all sunshine and rainbows at the end of those days (or the beginning, frankly, either) if I were in her position.

However, the conference went well and she said some very nice things about my girl. She's a leader. She is very social, very emotionally aware, proud of her work, very creative, and very smart. She is writing her name without help, except for a little help with the "K." She is able to count from 1 to 39. She recognizes all the letter sounds and letters. She is starting to learn patterns in "math." She can draw the 3yo version of a person (head, arms, legs -- and she adds hands and feet!) She is a talker -- both in knowing the answers to questions, and in never shutting up. They said it's just part of being THREE, but that they also do envision future report cards with "Talks too much in class." I'm told the teacher has had to resort to "KT, Zip It!" when she just won't stop.

Hee, hee. And oh, dear.

Tangled and Teary

2011-10-10T14:23:00.000-04:00

Man, Disney has done it again... here I am, nearly 2 years late to the Tangled party, but I have to share. We watched it several months back for the first time, and of course I loved it. The kids did, too. And so this weekend, when it was just me and KT -- the boys went away on a Scouting overnight -- we watched it once on Saturday and once on Sunday. [Aside -- do your kids do this, too? Get obsessed with a movie or show and want to watch the SAME EPISODE or the WHOLE 2 HOURS over and over and over again? Or is that just mine? I have also seen the two "Good Luck, Charlie" episodes available on Xfinity On Demand about four frillion times in the last 2 weeks.]Anyway, what I was going to say is that this movie, much like Finding Nemo before it, makes me WEEP! Good grief with the mother-daughter issues, and the keeping-kids-safe dilemma, and the kids-finding-their-independence and becoming-their-own-people and now-they-can-never-go-back-to-the-way-it-was!! Not to mention the holy giving of one's own life to save another's-es!! Yeesh! I am a complete MESS by the end of it, and so KT is awfully confused about what's a happy ending and whether or not Mommy needs a teddy bear and a blankie. It kills me when she comes to sit in my lap because she sees that I am sad. Kills me!!

Craving creativity

2011-10-07T10:24:00.001-04:00

I guess Pinterest has done this to me... I'm feeling like I want to start doing more crafts and projects.

Well, okay, I'm partly motivated because KT needs a new big-girl bedOMGsheisstillsleepinginourroommostnights. Partly. Motivated. !! But Pinterest helps. I mean, you just see such adorable things there, many of which don't look hard, but require some time and effort.

I get hung up on that part, the time and effort part. But I think, "Well, Lee, if you really WANT IT, go out and GET IT." Isn't that the theme of our generation? Pshaw, you don't have time. Make the time. I have been thinking, if I'd just SAY on a Saturday, "I'm going to Michael's (or the antique store, or wherever) and then this afternoon I am going to paint something...." I have very little project-gumption, I guess, but I would like to have more. And if I want to do these kinds of things -- if they would make me happy (ier), I should definitely fit them in, right?

The other thing I love about Pinterest is that fact that I'm adding some visual beauty to my days. Even if it's just on my little iPhone screen, I'm enjoying seeing pretty things more often. Because I don't subscribe, unfortunately, to Architectural Digest like my elegant Mom did when she was my age. :)

I need a small, achievable something to get me started, and this one seems like the perfect thing.

It would be lover-ly in pinks and greens and lilacs and maybe a brown and a white, in KT's big-girl room, wouldn't it?? I am excited and hope to buy the supplies soon.

Art History, and my idea for a Music Project

2011-10-05T08:26:00.002-04:00

When my sister and I were small (probably first and third grades, or so), my clever Mom purchased a teaching guide of some sort, for Art History. It included what seem, in my memory, to have been 9 x 13" prints of works of art from many of the great masters -- Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Picasso, Cassat and Modigliani (impressive, right?). Mom instituted some sort of schedule, hung up the prints of the week (or maybe the month) around our house, with their names, dates and painters written underneath, and then we had little quizzes from time to time. It went on quite a while and I loved it.

We learned "Whistler's Mother" and "Still Life with Peppermint Bottle." I remember many of the works vividly; others not so much, but I can certainly identify styles and guess at who might've painted something, if I see it in a museum or book. I never took Art History 101 in college, which I do regret, but I still feel like I have a healthy basic knowledge, and that serves my humanities-leaning soul (?) well.

I recently had the idea to adapt the Art History plan for Music Literature, for my own kids.

There are certain works I would like them to recognize. Things that are obvious to me when they come on the radio: The Nutcracker Suite. Beethoven's 5th. Baroque period vs. Romantic. Aaron Copland! Granted, my kids are smaller right now than we were during our Art History lessons, but with music, it's never too early to start seeping it into their little ears!

They already listen to their own CDs when going to bed (only until the CD ends; I don't keep it on all night or anything) -- AJ's into kid-pop and has some Justin Bieber, some I Don't Even Know Who Else, China Anne Somebody or other? and some other tunes he picked out. KT's listening to a Disney compilation at the moment or sometimes Laurie Berkner. I want them to continue to choose their own music at times, too, but I am thinking that at dinnertime, maybe one or two nights a week, I'll just casually turn on a CD of Debussy's Children's Corner, or The Nutcracker, or Rodeo by Aaron Copland, and let it play while we eat. I might or might not make namecards for the composers, and set them up (casually!) on the kitchen counter while those songs play.

I'm so excited about this and have played the Debussy a couple of times already (they're enjoying the feel of the words "Golliwogs' Cake Walk" on their tongues when I tell them the name and they repeat it back to me).

I'm going to have to get on iTunes because I know I threw out the one (cheap) Nutcracker CD I had, years ago (the orchestration was not up to par - I think it was a reader's digest version, y'know? Not the real deal). And my classical collection is lacking in several other departments.

AJ has remained uninterested in piano lessons, much to my dismay. I hope I can convince (or force?) KT to take them, but until then, I'm happy to start them off with a little music appreciation.

Update...

2011-09-30T07:45:00.004-04:00

Turns out you CAN play a Nintendo DS with a broken arm. It is not hard! You can play it, like, for 3 or 4 hours at a time! Especially when you're at home because your Mom is a sucker and feels sorry for you, having to have a cast! It is pretty awesome, actually!

(The final report: it's a type of fracture that heals in just 3 weeks. Yay! He talked the ears off the orthopaedics staff, and chose a blue cast.)

Rite of Passage

2011-09-29T10:13:00.002-04:00

Our news this week is interesting, at least: AJ has fractured his right arm. Years from now I might want to remember it (I guess?) and it probably deserves a spot in the proverbial online “baby book,” though I think the pages in traditional baby books run out before age 7. Anyway, he was playing, at home – he loves to try to do “frog-stand,” and maybe this was what he was attempting to do – and he fell off KT’s bed, catching himself with two hands and two stiff arms… one of which went, “Pop.” Auditorally, it was a small pop, like cracking a knuckle. But already in my memory of it (2 short days ago), it’s gotten louder and…crunchier. How does the brain do that?

I am leaving the office in 20 minutes to take him to the Children’s Orthopaedics. I am anxious to finally hear from a doctor myself, since DH is the one who got to take him to Urgent Care the other night, and he has taken the follow-up calls (“Yes, it’s a fracture, now commence with the appointment-making and referral-getting. Have fun!”). I hope we get some actual details. Remind me to ask for doctor’s notes for Jiu Jitsu (we’ll get a little money back) and what he can and cannot do.

AJ, himself, is mostly handling it well. His mean mommy and daddy have made him go to school anyway. He hasn’t said we’re mean, but I feel – surprise –guilty about it. But yesterday he managed, and his friends took good care of him. I went to the school at noon and saw them on the playground, playing “Walk-Tag,” a game I think they made up in his honor. The four of them came walking up to me in a posse, and his buddies took turns telling what he had needed help with. So cute. Of course my main worry was had he gone to the restroom??! How is a kid supposed to unbuckle a belt and unfasten hook-and-eye pants with one (left) hand, I ask you? (He told me later he just didn’t go… all day.) I guess we’ll all figure out a way.

At dinner and bedtime last night, he was kinda weepy. He doesn’t like the splint, of course, and wants it OFF. (He won’t like a cast, either, if that’s what he gets today.) And I suspect he’s a little worried about how he’ll have ANY fun for the next 6 weeks, if it takes that long. The prospect of not playing his DS or Wii (hard to do with only one hand), no regular tag at recess, no trampoline jumping at the neighbors’ (ever again!!! Says Mean Mommy), no jiu jitsu, no bouncing on beds (ever again), no Daddy-wrestling…. I mean, I understand for a 7-year-old boy, this is pretty devastating. He had JUST learned a front flip on the trampoline, too.

On the other hand (heh), we’ve already promised to buy him a new set of Pokemon cards, and… there will probably be extra trips to get ice cream in his immediate future.

Rain last night

2011-09-23T09:34:00.003-04:00

It poured rain during the night. Enough to wake both kids and bring them, shivering, to our room. I don't mind so much when they come in during a storm. It makes me smile, almost; I think it's one of the blessings of parenthood to be considered the safest and most comforting person/place, when thunder makes the house shake. And it comforts ME to have to comfort them, you know? It's the one time I kind-of do wish we had a king-sized bed.

I've always liked storms -- not that they don't sometimes scare me, too. But since I was a child, I've sort-of enjoyed being awake, even if it's 2:00 in the morning. I think the unexpectedness of them is what makes them interesting. You just don't know when the next crack! is going to happen -- not even when the lightning gives warning. Could be 7 seconds later, could be right away. And Jennifer once wrote about how she prays in thanksgiving for her home, however modest, when it's coming down cats and dogs outside. YES. What a comfort to also hear the hum of the fridge or the AC cutting on, when outside all the "hum" is loudly interrupted with unpredictable fury (or even gentle drizzle). How thankful I am for our solid shelter. For a warm bed.

And for extra bodies sharing my pillow.

----------------------------------

(Of course, after a while I did have to move myself to AJ's room. There was a 3-year-old leg thrown over my neck.)

Grateful!@3

2011-09-21T09:52:00.000-04:00

^ Current password to get into my work computer, in case you ever find yourself in my cube.

Yes, I'm making a concentrated effort to count my blessings for the next few days. Yes, I'm feeling better. But gratefulness is gooooood medicine, and you can never have too much.

I made a roast in the crock pot (2-3 lb frozen roast, 1 onion cut up, 3/4c water + 1 envelope Onion Soup Mix. High for 6 hrs or Low for 8). It tasted just like my Grandmother used to make, and I made onion gravy and lima beans with rice to go with it. The only thing I forgot was spiced peaches. No one loved it but me (DH ate it willingly and said it was better than his Mom's), but I DON'T CARE. I am very grateful for Comfort Food.
It's almost fall. I love the cooler weather, football, sweaters, the rain. It's coming soon and I'm going to revel in it.
I'm grateful for my Integrated Management System. Ha! No, really, I've been reading a productivity book at work, and it, along with MS Outlook, is helping me organize my days a little more thoughtfully, which is obviously something I need. (Avoid Stress! Plan! You can Do It!)
I'm grateful for a job. Like the Desiderata says, "It is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time." (No matter how grumpy it sometimes makes me.)
I'm grateful for a husband who loves and accepts me, warts and all.
I'm grateful for fun and cuddles last night with KT (Alice in Wonderland, playing mermaids in the bathtub, and Alexander & the Terrible...Day), even while she's being a 3.5-year-old pill these days. It will pass; I'm holding on to that and trying not to wish time away.

Some Pleasantries

2011-09-19T08:55:00.000-04:00

After I wrote that post Friday, and all of you were so kind, commenting, I had a hard time getting the little silent tears to stop falling. I would think I was all finished, but then another note would start me right up again, and back to the ladies' room I would go. I don't blame you. ;) I thank you, enormously, for all your sweet words and virtual hugs. As I told my Dad, us writers/bloggers/journal-keepers rarely feel the need to spew words all over a page when things are exceptionally good. It's harder, even, to FIND those words, I think. I've said before, I seem to remember the great days in soft-focus visuals, in a "feeling." People always say they want to "bottle it up." But somehow, when the emotions are painful, the words fall all over themselves to get out, to be said. I guess that's where poetry comes from.

We went out on Friday night; I decided without consulting anyone that Mexican Food Was Happening, and I guess everyone knew better than to complain, after my outburst. Well, that's not entirely true, KT complained a little, and pretty much refused to eat, but too bad for her. Margarita? Check. Spinach quesedilla? My new favorite. And otherwise, we had a normal weekend, both productive and relaxing. The weather was gorgeous, which is a renewal in itself. I laid down to read and essentially that turned into "went to bed," at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday night. We went for a walk on Sunday.

I still feel like I want to take a Personal Day from work, but it looks like I have called a meeting for this Friday (damn). The following Friday, AJ has the day off school. So I don't know what will happen, but I'd like to figure it out. I think I've only ever just played hooky one time in my 15 years of working; I mean, taking a day that wasn't a planned vacation or Christmas holidays, just a day for me. I'm picturing a leisurely morning with my coffee, a leisurely shopping trip by myself, a day free of cleaning or chores (unless I feel like it - sometimes cleaning is good for the soul), maybe a haircut. I suppose it doesn't have to be a Friday. Tonight is Book Club, and although I still don't really feel like being jolly, I am hopeful that by osmosis, the good friendships in front of me will fill me up.

Please, please pardon this extreme brain dump.

2011-09-16T08:29:00.000-04:00

It's been a couple of rough days for me. I'm feeling underappreciated and under-loved, I guess, and I melted down about it this morning when KT fought every choice I gave her over what to wear. Normally I wouldn't bother with that battle -- I often let her go to school as the raggedy child in plain jeans and a stained t-shirt, because I simply don't have time to argue with her -- but today is school picture day and since I thought it was yesterday, and sent her in her ONE cute outfit yesterday, and had fewer options for cute outfits today, AND since I don't have time nor money to take her to the expensive studio for a three-year-old photo, this is going to HAVE TO DO, and she NEEDS TO LOOK CUTE. I envy the women whose girls are always dressed in AN OUTFIT that actually matches and was bought together, and always with the big, adorable grosgrain ribbons in their hair and cute shoes. KT never has the exact right shoes. Anyway, this morning I had a meltdown.

Times like THIS are how I simpley cannot fathom a single-parent-situation, because all I had to do was quiver like I was about to meltdown, and DH swooped in, shut KT's door, and took care of the situation while I childishly cried into a towel in my bathroom. I guess we all have our breaking point. AJ had been giving me the business earlier in the morning, because we didn't have his favorite breakfast item. "WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO THE STORE???!" he shouted at me. And that set me off.

IWORKSOHARDFORYOUANDALLIEVERGETISATTITUDE!ICANNOTGOTOTHESTOREEVERYDAYIWILLGIVEYOUAPIECEOFWHITEBREADANDSOMETEPIDWATERFORBREAKFAST,HOWWILLTHATBE????

Not to mention the dog crapping in the house TWICE in the morning, once AFTER I took him outside and he just doodled around sniffing things. Old dog, bless his heart. BUT OH MY LORD WITH THE POOPING.

Some of this started yesterday on Sparkpeople, when someone commented to me (because I was saying I haven't had time to workout) that my schedule is "insane." I've sometimes thought that, myself, on particularly busy weeks, but it kinda threw me for a loop to have someone else say it, because isn't my schedule just a NORMAL working mom with two kids kind of schedule? It has made me question nearly everything, and I guess that's what taken my emotions right off the rails. But I mean, what do you think about this kind of schedule? Objectively.

Monday
7:00 leave the house, drop off AJ
7:30 - 12 work
12 noon lunch with a friend (a rarity, I assure you)
1:30 - 4:30 work
5:00 pick up AJ, take him to his annual checkup
6:00 do homework, make dinner, etc... kids to bed, make lunches, watch TV and bed.

Tuesday
6:15 leave the house for my early day
6:30 - 11 work
11 - 11:30 drop off volunteer-job stuff at AJ's school; pop in to tell him he'll have to go to Aftercare b/c of an unexpected meeting
12-4 work (lunch was provided at work that day)
4:30 pick up AJ, homework, dinner...
6:30 boys leave for Cub Scouts
hang out with KT, etc. nighttime stuff

Wednesday
7:00 leave the house, drop off AJ
7:30 - 12 work
12 noon lunch out with my team (ran by the bank too)
1:30 - 4:30 work
5:00 pick up AJ, change his clothes, go to his jiu jitsu class
6:30 home, DH made dinner....

Thursday
6:15 leave the house for my early day
6:30 - 3:15 work (lunch at my desk, which I hate, but sometimes I have a lot of work to do, too)
3:30 pick up AJ, take him to school skating party, have no friends there, no one talks to me... (this was also a bit of an emotional glitch - when the skating rink feels the same at 37 as it did at 13... hrm.)
5:00 home, feeling guilty because KT isn't picked up yet but I need to get AJ home to do his homework before she's there to interrupt him
6:00 make dinner, listen to KT scream in complaint about not wanting what I'm making... eat my own dinner quickly because...
6:40 leave for choir practice -- which I can't decide if is another committment to stress me out, or "me-time" (I lean toward calling it me-time, but some days, especially Sundays, it feels like the opposite)
9:00 practice ends, go home, watch Project Runway, maybe help DH fold a few items from laundry... crash on the couch around 10....

I just... I don't know. It seems pretty normal to me. Maybe minus the choir thing. Is it not?

KT's in a phase of complaining and screaming. It's normal 3.5-yr-old stuff, we went through it with AJ. But it is wearing on me at the moment and I'm not handling her very well. (Can't wait 'til she's thirteen.)

I need some new clothes. That's one thing that always adds to a bad mood, when I don't feel like I have anything to wear, and no time to go shopping, and I'm always worried about spending too much money. I need a haircut and I haven't had time for that. I don't like to complain about it all, because DH will say, "Please go take some time for yourself, go shopping, get a pedicure." And then I'll feel bad for leaving him with the kids YET AGAIN, and I know HE needs some time off as well (not to mention clothes shopping), but he doesn't ever whine about it like I do... and I need a girlfriend that I LIKE to invite me to lunch or something, because I feel like I don't have any friends at the moment, and that makes it worse. I'm not even PMS-y, although this post sure sounds like it.

I'm so grateful for my beautiful kids, my wonderful husband who does the laundry and the yardwork despite how crappy he feels at the end of a work day, and all the good gifts I have. Most people think, I suspect, that I have it all together. But sometimes I have NOTHING together, nothing at all. I get tired and cranky and I don't want to DEAL with it all anymore. I would like to take a three-week vacation. Maybe by myself. At my mom's house.

Just Write: Right Now

2011-09-13T17:31:00.000-04:00

I'm going to try this free writing exercise with Extraordinary Ordinary. Thanks to Nicole for pointing it out to me! Warning: This could end up being a very boring entry!

AJ, age 7, is sitting behind me at the kitchen table. I hear his pencils, coloring a West Virginia flag picture (drawn with much angst and crying last night from a picture we found online), working so hard I can almost also hear his tounge sticking out.

The dog is under the table. I hear him breathing, snoring (a good thing for a 15-year-old lab).

I poured us Cokes, a rare treat, but I left mine over there, on the counter. I can still taste its yummy sugar in my mouth. AJ has only drunk a little of his and I'm glad he's not a Coke guzzler. Last time I gave him Coke, he was enthusiastic in telling me, "Mom, Coke is REALLY GOOD." Rare treat, rare treat.

Next we'll have to cut out a construction paper cover for this state report. But I'm supposed to be talking about right now.

I see snacks waiting by the back door, to be taken to the boys' Den meeting tonight. DH's first as a Leader; I know he's slightly nervous. It makes me smile. I see a load of recycling that needs to be taken out (and I'm glad we finally signed up with a trash service that separates recycling, because I think it's a good lesson for the kids). The kids looooooove to take out the recycling, by the way.

Now I hear the dog clicking around the wood floor on his nails (we rarely cut them). And AJ wants to show me his finished flag. Have you ever drawn the West Virginia flag? It's really a tough one, as state flags go.

I get up to look, and I'm really proud of him. I will probably shuffle off to begin the nightly stroll through the pantry/fridge, to figure out something for dinner. I'm thinking chicken.

Monday is a letdown

2011-08-29T12:42:00.004-04:00

After our exciting weekend, today is such a letdown. Between our Friday night dinner outing to Li's Asian Cuisine, where KT was adventurous, trying lo mein noodles and gyoza, and smiling after every bite, knowing how proud we were of her for being! So! Big!... and Saturday's trip to the dancewear store to buy Tap Shoes! And real leather ballet shoes! (because the cheap knock-off brand at Target simply won't do for 3-year-old ballet [apparently])... and happening upon the city's Saturday Farmer's Market (fresh! flowers!)... and then having an unknown (to us) 14-year-old babysitter come over to watch our 2 kids and our friends' 1... and driving far away to a smallish wedding and drinking 2 lovely glasses of wine... and eating red velvet cake with icing that tasted like liquid-soft marshmallows... and then... then!!! watching my sister's Ironman results on the computer, clicking Refresh every few minutes, even though I knew it was going to take more than a few minutes for her to run 4.7 miles to the next split (why do they do them at such random intervals?)... and then seeing her final result, THIRD in her division!! ...and crying with her, over the phone, when SHE learned that result...

...I mean, the fact that I have a stupid head cold on a Monday, and came to work armed with my DayQuil to do some emails and data entry, is supremely lame.

Kid Breakfasts

2011-08-23T09:25:00.003-04:00

I liked Swistle's Kid Breakfasts post, and the comments about what other peoples' kids eat. I don't know if I'm embarassed or not about our list. My kids usually eat 2 items of their choice from this list, plus chocolate milk or juice:

Gogurt or other kid-friendly yogurt

Quaker instant Oatmeal

1 slice of banana bread (I make a lot of banana bread, because we have very ripe bananas leftover every time I buy them)

Jimmy Dean's Sausage & Pancake on a Stick (sometimes turkey, sometimes regular)

Frozen mini-pancakes (4)

Nutella on toast cut into "bites"

Dry cereal (they like Fruit Loops, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Frosted Flakes, and Cinnamon Life lately)

sugar-free applesauce, grapes, strawberries, or half a banana depending on what we have

rarely, a Nature Valley Trail Mix granola bar

I amuse myself typing this up - why am I so concerned about the sugar in applesauce when I'm obviously not very concerned about any other item's nutritional value?! LOL. Also, KT rarely eats all her oatmeal although she asks for it every day. I've taken to splitting one packet up for her, which seems so measly when it's doled out, and when she barely finishes even that. But on the other hand, she also gets breakfast at daycare, so I don't worry too much (except about the waste of food).

A Bushel and a Peck

2011-08-22T09:05:00.007-04:00

I wish we could take video of some weekends in their entirety, and then go back to re-live them. I've learned this before, but once again it seems the best ones are really sometimes the least complicated.

... DH got to watch AJ at his new martial arts class, which he LOVES. It's interesting how much more enthusiastic AJ is about this than he was about baseball...

... We spent a lot of money at Target, but for things we have definitely been wanting, including a bulletin board for AJ's room (doesn't that make him seem like a BIG KID to you?), and shelves for our den (remember, I said we might do shelves??)...

... We had lunch at home on Saturday, which felt boring at the time (DH and I had lobbied for Chick Fil A but the kids weren't interested) but maybe it was just what we needed...

... We cleaned the house relax-ed-ly, vacuuming, dusting, and wiping down bathrooms (for the babysitter, and yes, it takes having someone over in order for me to get enthused about cleaning)

... The babysitter came and brought joy to the kids' hearts (KT was so cute, waiting by the window for her car to arrive), and to the parents' hearts, as we headed out for Thai food and then, the BEST MUSICAL EVER WRITTEN, Guys and Dolls. ;) I do love that show and I love my husband so much for knowing I would be thrilled to see it...

... We went to Sunday morning Mass and the kids BEHAVED, unlike the last 2 (or was it 3?) weeks running, AND we ran into some baseball friends there. We didn't know they went to our church and it was a really nice surprise!

... We did laundry, listened to music at dinner (I'll have to tell you about my new MUSIC plan), and got the pantry stocked for the week with juice boxes and oatmeal. Meals are planned for this busy week ahead, and my heart is just full with the love of family life right this moment.

7 Quick Things I Did Yesterday

2011-08-19T09:49:00.004-04:00

It was a busy day.

1. Got up at 5:00 am. I started this schedule last school year, and it did accomplish the task of allowing me to do homework with AJ twice a week at our kitchen table. I do also kind-of like being awake before everyone else, and leaving the morning shuffle of dressing kids and gathering backpacks to DH, while I drive to the office at 6:15. (They also behave better for him than for me.) HOWEVER. It’s so earrrrlyyyy! Whine. I’m unsure if I really want to keep up with it this year again.

2. Witnessed some police business going down! I was in the drive-thru line at the bank, and another guy in line was evidently not doing the right thing, to use daycare-ese. 4 cop cars and 1 plain-clothes investigator! They cuffed the dude while my teller was all, “Thank you for banking with Wells Fargo!” over the tin-can speaker.

3. Made it to carpool in time. I was not the last car, and this always pleases me. One reason I am unsure about continuing these early days is the extreme rush it takes for me to GET to carpool. Even with leaving my office at 3:30 (exactly 480 minutes after I arrive at 6:30, minus lunch), I hate that stress. AJ knows if I don’t make it, not to panic... but I panic.

4. Met an online friend IRL! A sweet lady I met on Sparkpeople.com lives right around the corner from us. She and I met up for a 30-minute walk in the park, and AJ came with us. He walked a little and played on the playground a little. I don’t know if we’ll continue to meet in the afternoons (I’d rather not have AJ there by himself, although I do think it’s important to model for him the importance of physical activity), but I think we’ll definitely meet again.

5. Cooked a real dinner for once this week. It had a protein, vegetable, fruit, and Crescent Rolls. It was not hot dogs, chicken nuggets, leftovers, microwaved, or one of my frequent dinner solutions. We hadn't had this dish in a while and I thought it was delicious.

6. Went to the 1st choir practice of the season. We had fun, and my only regret was being overly excited about some music we’re doing this year that I’ve done before. I don’t want to be THAT GUY, who acts like she knows it all, already. Yeesh. *stupid stupid!* I do wish we'd get some additional people to join. Young-ish people would be nice (average age in our choir is about 60). Edited: NOT that there's anything wrong with 60, of course (Mom)! But it would be fun to meet some singers my own age.

7. Barely saw my husband. So I bought him a pint of Cherry Garcia. We first ate that flavor on our second date, I believe it was, 12 summers ago in 1999. I remember being excited that he shared a bite, on his spoon, with me. So intimate! ;) Anyway, I barely saw him yesterday, so it’s a good thing we have a date night planned this weekend. I can’t wait.

more quick takes hosted by Jen!

The Minutes!

2011-08-12T08:16:00.003-04:00

I have a habit that is completely annoying to me. It would annoy you, too, if you knew of it, but it's concealed on the inside of my BRaaaaaaaain. So today I will share it with you, aren't you lucky? Here it is: I count the minutes that I'm away from work, and I try to make up every. single. one.

Take yesterday, for example. I somehow arrived at work about 14 minutes early. Yes, you read that correctly, 14 minutes. Not 15. I noted this in my Brain, while walking through the lobby and into the elevator. I didn't dwell on it, but noticed it.

Then at lunchtime, I had to drive through the school carpool because 2nd Grader AJ had Noon Dismissal (first week of school nonsense). I left the office right around 11:35. Of course, carpool is a long wait, and I was scheduled to meet DH at home for a kid hand-off. There's no real need for me to explain this, but I will anyway: I had stayed with AJ for the FIRST half-day on Wednesday, and DH was keeping him for this 2nd half-day. NONSENSE, these half-days, did I already say that?

ANYHOO. I'm unsure the exact minute I got home with AJ, but we scurried around grabbing lunches to take with us on the road, and by the time I was in my car and almost back to the office, I could see it was 12:48. UH-OH -- I HAVE TAKEN AN HOUR:13 LUNCH!! So I thought to myself, "Well, I'll just stay tonight until 4:45, no big deal. One kid is with Daddy, the other kid will get to have an extra snack at daycare. I can make that time up. And THEN I remembered the morning's extra 14 minutes, and I was so relieved because I came out AHEAD.

BY ONE MINUTE.

I seriously do this type of counting every day. And you know that my job does not even require me to clock in, or log my time, or any of that. My co-workers certainly don't worry about working a FULL 8 HOURS, down to the minute. If they did, they wouldn't spend 15 minutes every 2 hours or so, standing around the common areas talking about Miche bags. (This seems to be the new craze at my office - one coworker is selling Miche bags and evvvvveryone is ordering them. I think they're ugly, myself.)

Not that I never get up -- I do take plenty of bathroom breaks and even a quick yoga break in the mornings (hey, if some people get cigarette breaks, I can have a yoga break). I also don't spend every waking moment doing WORK -- obviously, as I am typing this on COMPANY TIME. But why am I so flipping concerned about the minutes?? I wish I knew. It's a bit of a sickness.

More on diet/exercise

2011-07-25T21:34:00.002-04:00

What I didn't say is that now here at the end of July, I am back to attempting at least 3x a week exercise, and eating as close to 1500 calories a day as I can. I usually go a bit over.

I am eating a lot of whole wheat tortillas and beans. Black beans, fat free refried, and hummus. Drinking water like it's going out of style. I have a bottle of wine in the fridge that I keep wanting to pour a glass from, but I forget to budget for it so there it sits, unopened. Tonight we had one of the Holy Grails of diet food, sugar free Jello. Mmmm. My diet profile on Sparkpeople says I need to eat more slowly. Habitually, I am the first to finish (clean) my small-portioned plate. I eat too fast and therefore try to also clean restaurant plates, which are not well portioned. I'd like to change that. It's hard.

I am pretty certain that nothing will really change on the scale or the clothing size until I make a drastic change to my exercise plan, like taking up running. But I am not quite in that mindframe yet. I WANT to want to run... But I am not 100% convinced the result would be worth the effort.

And I've been having heartburn lately. I know I will need to try some kind of OTC remedy first (blech, chalky torture), but I think if I have to take away my coffee and 1 bitty piece of dark chocolate every day (not to mention tomatoes, salsa, red wine and everything good that's spicy), known reflux-causers, I will just cry.

Now, you know everything about my diet & exercise lately. :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Diet and exercise lately

2011-07-22T11:14:00.006-04:00

I started an account on Sparkpeople.com, because I didn't want my kids, someday when I'm gone, to come back to this blog and think, "LORDY, Mom had some food and exercise issues, didn't she?" Frankly, I get sick of talking about it, myself, but I know most women DO think about it, and worry over it, and have to COOK and GROCERY SHOP all the time, and don't have any time LEFT for exercise... so yeah, kids, it's a bit of an issue.

So I got started on Sparkpeople in February, and had a great 2.5 months of logging exercise up to 4x a week. That's a lot for me. I was bringing my shoes to the office and walking near work. There are at least 3 different good trails/sidewalks near here, plus a treadmill (in a gym) in the basement of the office.

And then May and June happened and I don't know - I slacked off. It got hot. Although, one of the major thoughts I've been having about Diet & Exercise lately is this: I have been fairly active most of my life (if sporadically).

When I was a kid, it was swimming, gymnastics and tennis.

In middle school, I was a cheerleader and "played" basketball, and took dance lessons.

In high school, more cheerleading. 3 days a week in the hot sun practicing. I distinctly remember running laps.

In college, I went to the gym and walked all over campus.

After college, I gained a good bit of weight (beer and eating out will do that to a person), but I did still walk in a park near my apartment. And I did a shit-ton of Dance Step Reebok with Petra Kolber in my living room.

First married? Walked around our new apartment neighborhood. Tried Dance Dance Revolution a couple of times.

etc. I could go on, and I mean, I'm no athlete, but I take comfort in the fact that I've always TRIED. I've kept trying.

Other random tidbits that have crossed my mind:

-- Salmon, no matter how nicely prepared, is just not as satisfying as creamy-sauce-covered jerk chicken pasta. The salmon will never win my heart, though I force it to win my decision most times.

-- The gym, is not really that scary. Not even when the only other person there is a GUY. All you have to do is say, "Are you using the treadmill?" And he might say no. And that's it, you get on the treadmill. He's not really watching you (me)... he's watching his own MUSCLES. (Or wishing for them.) And it's funny when you catch him straining a little to lift that last rep.

-- It is not hard to cut up 1 lemon and take it to work in a baggie, to squeeze into 32-ounce bottles of water. NOT HARD. And lasts a full week, if not more.

-- Eating a cookie (or 3) does not make anyone a bad person. It is OKAY. It is okay to eat cookies and ice cream -- you are still nice, and sweet (probably sweeter), and people won't dislike you for it. You won't get in TROUBLE for messing up. Just keep eating veggies too.

-- You can tread water in the 3-foot shallow. Just act like you're swimming, but use your arms to stop yourself going forward. It IS movement/a workout.

-- My worst temptation is chips and salsa, or crackers and dips. I go insane on those. INSANE.

When we painted our kitchen (the oft-mentioned Before & After!)

2011-07-18T21:46:00.028-04:00

It took us 3 months, March - May, to actually complete this project, and it has now taken me three more months, May - July, to post any photos about it, despite really, really wanting to. And then this morning I had the post nearly finished, when Blogger decided to eat it. Drat!! I'll try again. MAY I PRESENT:

Our Kitchen and Den, Newly Painted, a photo essay.

(click pics to enlarge)

First, a "Before" shot. Please ignore the people in the foreground (mah baybee! so wittle!) and notice, instead, the details of the walls behind them. Our floral border. Our cornflower blue. Our dusty and heinous Big Blue Checkered Window Shade! The lovely plastic collander atop the cabinet! Weep a little for me, letting myself live this way for 8 1/2 years! Dumb me.

And behold, "After."

I couldn't have removed the construction-paper artwork from the dishwasher before taking this photo?!? (head smack), but here it is, finished. That's Valspar "Labrador." I thought it would possibly make the formica cabinets stand out worse than before, but I don't think it does. I found the exact number of dark wicker baskets, at the exact height I needed, to store things like plastic collanders around the top. So much neater. And I'm in love with the blind on the window. Should have definitely done THAT 8 1/2 years ago.

Just another shot of the countertop. Banana, anyone? You can see here where the Labrador ends and the "Hopsack" begins. I adore the name Hopsack. And the color, too.

Have to show one small detail. I'm not a Decorator, nor did I really care for most of the kitchen decor things I was seeing in stores, but because I have two ceramic roosters/chickens that belonged to my Grandmother, I was happy to also find these little rooster bookends. A theme! I'm trying not to go overboard with it but I like the red accent it brings to the room, and I did buy red dishtowels, as well.

Finally, the pantry door and the den. We did Hopsack on top and Labrador on the bottom. It's calming and creamy and we still love it. I haven't bought shelves to put on that big wall, but I will. And of course now I need new couches. :) Projects beget projects, don't they? Wonder how long it will be before we do another one? (Acutally, I'm anxious to paint my master bath now. Probably with the same colors. I'll let you know when it's done. HahahahatalktoyounextFebruary.)

Weekend friends

2011-07-18T08:30:00.004-04:00

We went to some friends’ house last night for swimming and dinner. They have kids, a boy and a girl, right around our kids’ ages, and our kids play pretty well with theirs. They go to our church, and I got to know the mom/wife through choir. They’re perfectly nice. We had a fine time. But it just wasn’t emotionally satisfying in the way that I want our couple-friendships to be. It never is with these friends; they’re like us in some ways, and very much not like us in others. The word I came up with was warmth -- there just isn’t a lot of warmth among us. Not a lot of laughter. Okay, I’ll say this: we don’t really care for the husband as much as I like the wife. So there’s an imbalance, for one thing. I don’t think they’re tee-totallers but they don’t ever offer beer or wine, which I feel is sort-of odd for a Sunday afternoon in the summertime…. or, for anytime at a social gathering of adults. Is it weird for me to think that? I know alcohol isn’t necessary for a good time, but frankly this party could have used some loosening up. No matter – it is what it is, and I certainly don’t require alcohol for a good time (geez, now I’m all self-conscious that I brought it up). Anyway, I’m left wondering if the friendly warmth will develop over time (although we’ve been getting together with this couple, sporadically, for 5 years now), or if it just isn’t meant to be. Sigh. I’m trying.

On Friday night I had gone out with the school moms – a group of about 8 of us. We had a fantastic outing at an art workshop, where they coached us through painting a beach scene. I was pretty darn proud of mine, and it was fun to let the artist in me try something a little different.

But I thought, if I put as much effort into our couple-friendships as I do my girl-friendships, maybe we’d enjoy that aspect of our life a bit more. What we need, we were reminded last week, is to get together with W@lt and M@rti. They’re fun to be around, if a little off the wall. W is always cracking off-color jokes (he emailed DH last week and said, “I know this is a sperm of the moment idea, but…” GROAN) but is full of warmth and humor. His wife emigrated to the U.S. and is very interesting and sweet, and they parent similarly to our style (older girl, younger boy). It’s been a long time since we saw them. And Sherry and D. (Hi, Sherry!): Some of the nicest people I know (and also fun, warm!). And Mel and Jon. Okay, maybe I need to schedule a party. Friendships require tending, and I can see I need to get into the garden and get my hands dirty. (Plus it was a NY's resolution. Eek. 2011's half over!)

Guilt of another "nature," har har

2011-07-15T08:52:00.005-04:00

We all have Mommy guilt; that's an established fact. When we don't serve our special snowflakes 100% All-Organic Juice, perhaps, or we don't schedule them for fourteen different activities during the summer like their obviously Harvard-bound peers, or we do make them clean their plates at dinnertime (the horror!). But I have another kind of guilt and lately it's been worse than Mom-guilt.

Mowing guilt.

Folks, I have a confession. I have never once mowed our yard. Never. Once. My poor, dear husband suffers yearly when the summer heat and humidity begin -- and even when it's a comfortable seventy degrees, he suffers up and down the hilly, sinkhole and rabbit-hole danger zone that is our giant yard. He bought the lawnmower, he uses the lawnmower... he hates the lawnmower.

And I don't help.

Obviously, it's a very dated picture of domestic life -- she cooks and takes care of the children, and he does the heavy yard labor. For that I feel badly, even though I hardly call myself a staunch feminist. I think in other areas, we do things mostly evenly. We both changed diapers. We both give baths. We both manage the money. We both MAKE the money. We both clean toilets. (Actually, if I'm to be fair, he does a lot more of the cleaning (vacuuming) than I do.) But I just can't bring myself to mow the grass.

Because It's HOTTTTTTTTT! Proper Southern ladies are simply not meant to sweat as much as it would require for me to tackle that task (did I tell you I was once a Debutante?)... No. No amount of iced tea could make up for it. And.... it's a big MACHIIIIIIINE! I'm slightly scared of it, I have to admit. I could cut off a foot! It's a dirty job, and, unfortunately, DH has to do it. That's just the way it is. I would say he knew this going in to the marriage... but he probably didn't, since we didn't have a lawn before we were married. Whoops.

My mother, I will have you know, has never mowed grass, either.

I suppose the obvious solution would be for us, a 2-income family, to Pay Someone Else to do it. The one time I tried that, it was an EPIC FAIL. I should have known, employing a pre-teen. Any future hire would have to be a professional service, and I feel like I've suggested it before, but... economy and unnecessary expenditures blah blah blah.

So. Guilt. Maybe it balances out slightly because I agree to play unlimited games of CandyLand with the kids while he does it?

(Do you ladies mow? I'm not sure I want you to answer that.)

Seven Quick Takes for AJ's 7th Birthday

2011-07-08T16:08:00.006-04:00

Age 1.

We think AJ is figuring out ma-ma and da-da. Real WORDS. Evidently while I was gone, he saw a picture of me and DH, and looked at it and said, "ma-ma." **Heart melts.** Sweet, sweet, boy.

Age 2.

When we're outside, he's figured out that it's fun to RUN downhill. Again, I wince when he does it and prepare myself for a trip to the ER, but the joy on his face almost makes up for the heart attacks. His immediate request, when he falls, is for me to kiss it (although, no matter what hurts, he offers his LIPS to get kissed), and then he asks for "Ice?" Ahhhh, I love it. I always remind him that I will ALWAYS & FOREVER kiss his booboos.

Age 3.

He's fun to play board games with at this stage, because he's not competitive. Whoever wins, he screams with glee, "You WIIIIINNNN!"

Age 4.

AJ's adventure of the week: sticking something in his ear "just to see what would happen." He saw what happened, alright. A nice metal forceps AND a warm earwash later, and I don't think he'll be sticking paper OR crumbs anywhere but his pockets from now on (he'd better not)!

Age 5.

[he was so small then!]

Age 6.

We have no idea how this happened, but oh, man, watching your child succeed, and seeing HIM swell with pride and excitement... it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt. I was most proud of his attitude, and those of his fellow Scouts, though. When their own cars weren’t racing, they were cheering each other on.

Age 7. We're going to start it off with a bang, try out a new bike, go to TACO MAC (your favorite), and celebrate YOU all weekend. And then we'll see what happens next. Happy birthday, my amazing, sensitive, serious, articulate, adorable boy (who knows how to swim)! There's nothing better than watching you grow.

quick takes!

Grateful for these moments

2011-07-05T09:01:00.005-04:00

It was a real three-day weekend, and we didn't travel anywhere, so we got to enjoy the full 72 hours' worth, with no major time-sucking activities like driving. Such a blessing!

Friday night: We had been telling the kids all week we would go to the new frozen yogurt place for Friday's D-Word Night. (Dessert, for the uninitiated.) And we did, and it was delicious, and non-eventful, and I think everyone was in a good mood!

Saturday: We went to the pool in the morning, got the kids well tired out, and even got some laps swum, ourselves. KT saw another couple of little girls there, and immediately wanted to swim over to them. I'm always concerned about bothering other people, but she is such a social butterfly! I'm curious how that will mesh with my own introvertedness as she gets older...

Dinner at one of our favorite restaurants (at suggestion of which AJ whined, "but we ALWAYS GO THERE!!" - luckily, we talked him down), with funny conversation and delicious pizza.

Sunday: Another restaurant outing -- brunch after Mass, at IHOP. I love going out to breakfast and we hardly ever do it.

Later, a leisurely pedicure for Mommy, during which I finished my book, and a grocery run With No Kids (you guys know what a gift that is). Just being able to set my purse down in the kid-seat, rather than keeping it on my shoulder, is such a relief!

Monday: Our city's 4th of July parade -- we got a pretty decent spot in the shade, found parking nearby (for $5.00, but still), wore our patriotic tee-shirts and waved flags! I got SO, SO teary as the parade started. Just the charm of being at a parade with my little family, I guess, must have brought back childhood memories of doing that, myself, as a kid... and then when all the Veterans marched by and shook the hand of the elderly vet (he was wearing a VFW hat) standing near us... I couldn't take it. Pride and patriotism and nostalgia all bubbled up to the surface and I let go like a leaky faucet.

Monday night: Tucking two very tired kids into their beds, and knowing that even though it was rumbling thunder outside, they would sleep well after all our activities. I love kissing those sweet little heads of theirs.

Wordy

2011-06-30T13:50:00.006-04:00

Well, then. I don’t believe I have ever gone an entire June without first whining extensively on the blog about WHEN IS MY VACATION GOING TO START???, and then subsequently reminiscing about our lovely vacation that happened completely offline.

This year I was not stressed about preparing for the trip (except that one day), nor worried that Beach Week would never get here. I was too busy at work to loll about on the Internet with my THOUGHTS. I was entering product, entering product, entering product. Furiously proofreading. Furiously changing and translating. Attending meeting after meeting. My part of the Big Project is coming to an end and I can already start to feel the familiar loll-about desire. Hence my presence today, I suppose. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like I could write a blog post for FUN during the day! But I have been reading all of yours for quick mental breaks, and on my phone when waiting for water to boil for dinner and such.

At any rate, our vacation. Was terrifically lovely. When I told my girlfriends the other night that I ACTUALLY read my book on the beach while there with KT, they all gasped. Moms with kids this age simply don’t GET to read on the beach, do we? I gather it’s a universal complaint. Admittedly, it was only KT there with me – 1 kid is less to manage than 2, aren’t I good at math? She was very serene, happy to be SITTING in the sand, digging a little bit, pouring it into her bucket of water, and I guess “building” sand castles.
I would get up every 5 minutes or so to re-fill her bucket from the surf, because she certainly wasn’t interested in the water. In fact, she was quite fearful of its loud volume. So it really WASN’T leisurely, uninterrupted reading... but it WAS reading. On the beach. It was awesome.

Also, AMAZING progress on the swimming front. Amazing. AJ is now able to doggie-paddle from one end of the pool to the other, with no floatation device (or parent) to assist!! Feels like a miracle, to be honest. We worked actively with him at my parents’ pool – it’s so helpful that their shallow end is truly shallow, and his short-kid feet could touch the bottom! It boosted his confidence tremendously. He is a bit of a fish now, and during our week away he was even eager to swim all the way to the DEEP END. I’m curious to see him at the neighborhood pool this weekend. But still, it helps my nerves a lot that he KNOWS to KICK his feet and he will move through the water. (I still try to stay pretty close.)

We returned home last Saturday buzzing with sunshine and relaxation (and Cajun food), and I think as a result of all the relaxing, had a big, philosophical conversation (DH and me) during the drive about improving our attitudes. Not worrying about money and time so much, and making sure we do fun things with the kids on purpose, with good attitudes, not grumbling every step of the way. I felt so good about that conversation. Because really, what do we have to be unhappy about? Nothing in the world. We should live and enjoy the everyday as well as the vacation-day, because we truly CAN if we just try. We held hands and really agreed. Smiled about it, even.

And then Sunday DH discovered that our water line from the street to the house was leaking. And has been for a couple of months. We got an estimate for fix it, to the tune of a LOT OF dollars. So that put a damper on the whole “Good Attitude” thing.

Last night we were all either grumpy or snippy. The kids were driving me KER-AZY and I know it had everything to do with this newly discovered, albeit temporary, stress. Doggone it, Universe. We would have liked to ride that Serenity wave a bit longer.

Although I will say it's not all the ADULTS' attitudes' faults: AJ is copping some capital-A Attitude in his own right. Exerting his independence and such, with phrases like “I don’t care,” and “This is so Stupid” under his breath. Delightful. I presume this is normal for his age, especially after being away on his own for a week at Grandma’s. He is so cool now. But still. Oh, and WHAT IS IT with little boys – or mine, specifically – that makes him think he can JUMP onto me if I am 1. Sitting on the floor, or 2. Bent forward so that my back is somewhat flat, like if I’m picking up HIS shoes or toys??! I about killed him last night after he attempted to launch himself onto my neck for the umpteenth time. HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU MOMMY IS NOT A JUNGLE GYM!?)

Tranquil to NOT SO MUCH in 7 paragraphs. Not really. Things are fine. What have you been up to this summer? :)

Happy, Dopey, or Sleepy?

2011-06-14T12:25:00.004-04:00

I took a nap at lunch today, in my car. After doing my required errand-of-the-day at Target (new swim floaties for KT, and dog treats). I parked under a tree and set my iPhone alarm for 18 minutes, the exact amount of time I had until my lunch hour was over. Not that anyone watches my timecard, but I like to be honest about working my 8 hours, you know. The weather was surprisingly NOT as humid as usual for Atlanta in mid-June, and I wished for more breezes through my open windows, but didn't really get them. No matter -- I knew the warmth and stillness might help me sleep. I breathed in.... breathed out...

I've also just finished reading Eat, Pray, Love, and am feeling very romantic about the idea of meditation, and the heightened meditative state. A blue-ish light, surrounded by love and happiness and all that? Intriguing. I would like to experience that, perhaps. (Not to mention the stress relief, fear relief, and other health benefits.) I suspect I may never achieve the deepest state of meditation, even much of a buzz, and even if I practiced for a long, long time -- I would simply fall asleep. That's what I do. At this point I probably believe that the blissed-out state that happens for other people is a form of sleep-state. Twilight-sleep, or something. At any rate, I'm fascinated by the idea right now (call me a hippie) and trying to translate it into Christian Contemplative, centering prayer, or daily devotional stuff that I can better wrap my head around, to find a starting point for a little study and trial. I mean, I know a little about the secular breathing meditations you can find by Googling "Meditation for beginners." Imagine you're in a place of calm, beauty, and peace for you...

Anyway, today I took a little nap. :)

Surprise 70th birthday!

2011-06-13T08:14:00.004-04:00

We got back yesterday from a quickie trip to Florida, to honor my Dad on his 70th birthday. It was my sister's idea, actually. She called me several weeks ago and said, "So... Dad's birthday this year is a big one... I think we should do something." From there it was easy. DH and I were planning to handoff AJ for his Week at Grandma/pa's the very weekend of Dad's birthday -- or, we hadn't exactly planned it, but we did it that same week last year -- so we could just stay, ourselves, and have a party!

It worked out pretty well that Sister's husband has recently graduated from culinary school, and they've bought a catering business. Free catering?! Ding ding ding! Yes, please, I'll take two. :)

Sister and Chef Brother in Law arrived last Thursday night, and with help from some handy cousins picking them up at the airport, they showed up on Mom and Dad's doorstep around 10:30 that night. Knock, knock. Dad was, I'm told, completely befuddled at seeing them -- he'd been sleeping in front of the TV, naturally, and besides that, they live all the way across the country. I was a little bummed not to be a physical part of the surprise, but I know they TOLD him that we would arrive the following night, all 4 of us, and that's good enough for me.

The kids were so excited up to our leaving town, and even moreso once we got there. They hardly ever get to see this aunt and uncle, and of course they love their grandparents. We left after work Friday, arriving LATE, but the kids had napped in the car and were ready to GO once we got there. (That night KT was awake until 1:15. And then up the next morning at 6! GAH!) We invited cousins and neighbors and got a cake, and Saturday night was full of life and festivity. Lots of kids to entertain each other, which meant that, for the most part, DH and I could simply enjoy the company of our family. And the (wine and) FOOD! Chef BIL worked ALL DAY to made a gorgeous table full of fancy appetizers and shortbread cookies oh my! It was decadent and very special for such a special occassion.

Dad was in his element -- he loves a social event, and even though he wasn't allowed to be in charge of the planning and executing, which he also loves, I think he truly had a good time. He kept thanking us for "sacrificing" to come down and do this for him, but no part of it felt like a sacrifice to me. We swam in their pool both days, we let the grandkids charm everyone, we spent time actually talking after the party was over... it was wonderful to all be together, and for all he's done for us, he deserves a celebration like that every year!

Shouldn't summer be LESS hectic?

2011-06-06T07:39:00.006-04:00

Hello.

I've been putting off posting because I have wanted the next post to be THE BEFORE and AFTER of our kitchen. I owe you! I love the new look. I WANT to share! But then when I'm at home with my laptop and my pictures, I never have the juice to do that task. Maybe tonight? (Don't get your hopes up.)

Summer's awesome, right? Summer's all relaxing and no homeworking and wonderful easy, light dinners, later than usual because it's still sunny out at 7:30 pm. Right? Except summer's kinda busy, too. We just got back from our annual Memorial Day road trip to Nanny's, we are taking AJ down to his grandparents' house this weekend, and then the next is OUR week off at the beach, and meanwhile, Stupid Work is ramped up to eleven and there seems to be another birthday party , with another GIFT to buy dagnabit, every weekend. And we have to plan our own AJ's party and get invites sent BEFORE we go out of town, because his falls right after we return. Gah! Not that I ever get stressed out or anything.

Camp is going well -- AJ is occupied all day, having fun with friends, and runs into his sister sometimes. They both love seeing each other at school. I asked him, theoretically, if he'd prefer 1) Me working at home so he could play all day at home (with friends, of course), and we'd go to the pool Every Day of Summer, or 2) Camp (at the daycare). He chose Camp. I'm fascinated. I would have chosen POOL EVERY DAY when I was a kid. Of course, my kid's not yet a confident swimmer (although he's getting better and better). A friend told me her two kids reported the same: Camp. This generation wants to be occupied and entertained, I suppose. And that's fine... it just doesn't match up to the lazy, "I'm BORED" kind of (wonderful) summers I remember, with Green Acres on TV and the public library's summer reading program.

We have been to the neighborhood pool twice now. I love it. I'm so happy we paid the $400 Association fee to join it. I mean, yeah, that was a painful check to write, but having pool access is just awesome. Even if I DON'T get to sit in a lounge chair with my book. It's because KT won't wear her floaties so I'm nervous about her being in the water without me, and AJ is still just getting his feet wet (pun!) about swimming. I'm unsure what would happen if he let go of the pool noodle, and imagining that gives me nightmares, literally. The other night I bolted awake TWICE because in my dream it was time to JUMP over and save him from drowning. Ack. I hope I'll get over this fear someday -- it's a doozie. Tell me I'll get over it. Please.

My birthday this weekend was lovely. Facebook was partly to thank with its 120-something wishes! I loved checking in every so often, and I got random greetings from so many fun people from my past. My college chorus director! My theater friend from 1990! My buddy who lives in Antarctica and said he wished he worked with me right now, so we could have a "professional brithday party." (Cake in the conf. room) Hahahahaha! Marvelous! DH gave me a sweet card, in which he wrote that I'm "his good ol' gal," hee hee, a little pet phrase that I adore (and hate, but really adore), and he went out at 8:00 am to buy me coffee from Starbucks. I almost refused him that, but thought - NO! He wants to pamper me this morning, I WILL TAKE IT!! So sweet. He also gave me 2 tickets to see Guys and Dolls downtown in August, and I am THRILLED about that. It's one of my favorites. He'll have to endure a musical ("people don't just BREAK INTO SONG, it's unnatural"), but I hope he'll think it's worth it when he sees me so happy -- and besides, a NIGHT OUT to look forward to! Superb gift.

Stories

2011-05-23T13:34:00.002-04:00

I went to a baby shower this weekend. I never feel like I get just the perfect thing, although I typically purchase directly off the registry for both wedding and baby showers, because that ensures that it’s something they officially want, right? You scanned it, don’t complain! But there were several unexpected adorable presents – or really practical presents – and I was disappointed with my contribution. The Mom-to-be is a good friend and I’m really excited she’s joining the Mommy club... I guess I’m just going to have to supplement this shower with another random gift sometime soon. It’s nice to have an excuse to buy baby stuff! I kinda miss that ol’ Babies R Us. If you can believe this, not a single 3-pack of Carter’s onesies was in the pile. So I’ll start with that (practical!).

***

Here was our Saturday:

9:00 am vet appointment (DH, kids, dog)

(I stayed behind to shower and then clean the bathroom)

11:30 am baby shower (me)

12:00 pm bday party at Bouncy Place (DH, kids)

3:00 pm playdate with church friend and her 2 kids

6:00 pm Girls’ Night Out (me)

6:15 pm McDonald’s, movie night (DH, kids)

DH said he enjoyed all that time with the little ones, and I'm so grateful to him for not being a Saturday golfer. (How do the golf widows do it??) And I very much enjoyed my GNO. I know I say, a lot, how I don’t feel like I have good girlfriends here. But look at that... three entirely different events with different GIRL friends. Maybe my lot is changing. The GNO was with 3 fellow school moms. One of them even said, “Think how many of these nights we have to look forward to! Our kids are just starting out!” Awwww. It’s true love. I know this will sound inordinately dumb, but I finally felt like one of the popular girls. And of course feelings and friendships will change and develop, who knows, but for this one night, I was there. My heart was full and my cheeks tired from laughing. It’s exactly what I’ve wished for.

PLUS, they have girl uniforms to hand down, they promised. YESSSSSSS!

***

KT has been SO much better about staying in her bed. Well, as I type that I’m remembering that I ended up in AJ’s bed on Friday night because she had taken over, perpendicularly, in mine. But still, it’s not every night anymore. She shared a little gem with DH sometime on Saturday – told him that he snores. (And he does, if he’s on his back. Sorry, hon!) Unfortunately, I was not immune to her opinions, either. When asked, “What does Mommy do?” she cunningly replied, “What Mommy does in the bed is I don’t like your STINKY BREATH.”

Lovely. Called out as a mouth-breather by my own daughter.

Time to Tend Them

2011-05-16T09:44:00.002-04:00

It was one of those weekends where I felt really good about spending so much time with the kids. We really were able to focus on them, which is great for any family, but especially for a 2-working-parents one. DH and AJ went out Saturday morning to see THOR IN 3D – and came home speaking like that, in all caps, by the way, calling me “MAIDEN” and “WOMAN.” Heh, heh. That left KT and me some nice girl-time to get haircuts and go shopping. One of my buddies chided me for that, saying, “You’re starting her on that already??!” ...UM, YES. Actually she didn’t want to get her hair cut after we got there, but I did, and she sat patiently with my iPhone, playing her games (Princess dress up and the Sorting game from Toddler Teasers are her current favorites). What did kids DO before iPhones, I ask you?!

During our lunch (McDonald's, her choice), KT said something directly to me like, “This is Fun, Mommy. We’re having Fun.” I can’t recall the exact words but it was so sweet. Sometimes she tacks on “..because I love you” to her sentences (“You have to hold me [whine] because I love you.”) – she may have done that. “This is fun, Mommy, because I love you.” It’s clearly the most adorable thing you’ve ever heard, and it absolutely made my day. Even though she later pitched a hissy fit over not getting to push the buttons on the card-swiper at Target (eyeroll), and was swiftly buckled back into her carseat and told something disciplinary.

Saturday afternoon we went to a last hurrah cookout at AJ’s baseball coach’s home. I feel like we’re more socially engaged with this couple than with any of our other friends (until football season, when our Good Friends invite us over nearly every weekend to watch a game) – but I’m not sure I want to continue putting time into the friendship. Lots of reasons that I don’t feel like explaining – mostly about the coaching style. On the other hand – without other nearby couple-friendship options, I should be grateful, shouldn’t I? Tend the friendship and count my blessings. I was happy on Saturday when the wife called me casually and I was able to help her out with the menu – it was like, something actual girlfriends do. I have so little of that in my daily life. It’s weird.

At any rate, it’s definitely our turn to have this family over for dinner, so that will have to be in the works, if nothing else. What do you do for couple-friendships? Date-nights with one spouse or the others’ co-workers? Leftover friends from high school or college? Neighbors? Church groups? Do tell.

New skills

2011-05-12T09:32:00.000-04:00

I have 10 minutes unaccounted for, right now, during my day. This is a good thing; I’m reading a productivity book whose first concept blew my mind: Managing your life from a to-do list is overwhelming; Why not manage your life from a 24-hour Calendar instead, since that’s all the time you have in the day?

I have long managed everything with a weekly to-do list. I’ve loved having my spiral notebook at the ready at all time, have loved writing “May 9-13” at the top of the page, have loved numbering and checking off items on that list.

But this new thought – that there are too many to-dos, and putting them all on a list is counterproductive – has really changed my thinking. I’m still in the setup phase of this, but now every morning I open my Outlook Calendar instead, and order my day by hours or half-hours, and specific tasks. “Work on X website, 1 hour.” “Check emails, half-hour.” “Lunch and walk.” “Prep for 1:30 mtg.” It’s been very helpful.

Especially when, 2 weeks ago, I agreed to a freelance project that was due the week after having my parents visit, and also the week after baseball playoffs. I keep calling it The Stupidest Thing I've Ever Done. (But it was a good mental exercise; I acutally enjoyed the work itself.) I ended up scheduling time to work on it in my personal calendar, got it done late at night and turned it in on time – but there was one rough day when I stayed up until midnight, and had to get up at 5 am. I was completely buzzed that day on coffee and fog.

Eh, I survived it. That's what we do. (It's good money I'd like to use on clothes and shoes, and maybe even put some in savings.)

One minute left. I’m so glad school's about to end, although summer brings its own challenges. We’re getting ready to do our annual road trips. I like accomplishing things. I’d like to accomplish that walk today at noon.

That’s it for now.

Sticks

2011-05-05T13:19:00.007-04:00

You know what I love about my little kids? Their attraction to sticks.

I’m unsure but I think most kids are like this. Or, maybe it’s just that our yard and our neighborhood are filled with huge old poplars and sycamores, and they self-prune, so every time we have a little rain – or a season of crazy thunderstorms and tornadoes every year – we wake up the next day to a lawnful of sticks, but… (run-on)… my kids cannot resist them.

I remember 18-month- and 2-year-old AJ wanting to Pick Up Sticks nearly every time we went outdoors. He could hold more than I expected him to, and lovingly “helped Daddy” whenever I asked, toting his load all the way down to the burn pile. We spent a lot of time in the yard that year. And now, he uses them as swords, ninja ... things I don't even know, Indiana Jones whips... whatever his little mind conjures up.

Yesterday, KT and I were home on a sick-day. It was a beautiful 70-degree afternoon, so we went outside for a while at her request. I started cleaning up the twigs from this past Tuesday’s downpour, and she was game to help. Until she found “her” stick – one just long enough for her to carry over her shoulder like a fishing pole, and coincidentally, long enough to poke into the rabbit holes to “see if they were sleeping.” When she dropped her special stick to inspect some other rock or clover, and then couldn’t find it again, we had to instigate a full-on hunt. (We found it, not to worry.)

They’ve both been told more than once that we don’t bring sticks into the house. (Unfortunately.) I mean, I understand how awesome they are, I really do – I usually tell the kids to save them by the outdoor table, or near the garage, for the next time we come to play, but they forget or move on to a new one.

Some kids pick up rocks, I guess. We like sticks.

Lame and lamer

2011-05-03T08:00:00.012-04:00

Our Thursday anniversary might have been called “lame” by the casual observer. I emailed DH a grocery list at around 3:00, for Pete’s sake, so he could stop on the way home from work to pick up Pop Tarts and chicken breasts. (You don’t want to run out of Pop Tarts!) And we had the Most Boring of Family Dinners: Spaghetti with meat sauce. I guess you could say we’ve “made” it – we really ARE ten years in, as evidenced by those items. Of course I did also receive 2 dozen roses at my office, and a pretty Pandora bracelet, which I don’t think DH even knew was something I’ve been wanting. He is an excellent gift-giver.

The next night, we did have a babysitter (scheduled long in advance). We were planning to go downtown to the restaurant where we’d dined the night he proposed. Except… that restaurant is now closed. Hahaha. It’s perfect, actually – the place we met has also since been demolished, the shop where I bought my wedding dress gone, the church where we were married is no longer a church building... why not this place, too!? But our marriage has stood the test of time, my friend pointed out. Anyway, we stayed very close to home, instead. Had a nice dinner out with no one to escort to the potty, and no crayons on the table. Afterwards, we tried going to a movie, but there was nothing we were particularly interested in seeing, so we opted to drive around a bit and then just went home.

Lame? Maybe. Tired? Always, on Fridays. But I think it’s quite special that we can celebrate even the smallest of things – a dinner when we can actually talk, and think, and share a bite of each others’ choices – and have that be good enough.

I’ve been fighting a cold the last 4 days, which has added to my less-than-social desire to do nothing. I have a lot of respect for the creators of DayQuil, seriously. Yesterday after I realized it had been 4 hours and was perfectly legitimate for me to take another dose, my fog lifted SO NOTICEABLY! I mean, it’s pretty amazing that there’s no cure for the common cold but they sure know how to zap the symptoms.

Okay, I owe you people some before and after pictures, because our painting project is just about completed. First, may I just say that it is SO HARD to get a good shot of these rooms! I have no desire for a fancy camera because I don't feel like I could ever learn about F-stops and aperture and all that, but... whimper. I wish I could get my point-n-shoot to PERFORM better. So these are kinda lame. I plan to go back to take pictures during the day sometime soon with natural light. Also, I am NOT FINISHED decorating! Therefore I can only show you the den right now - the kitchen is not yet ready for public eyes. Also-also, I didn't actually TAKE official "before" photos because the state of the house went directly from we-live-here-messy to painting-project-disarray, so my random shot from 2008 will have to suffice.

Here is how the den looked before:
(Tee hee. Funny husband playing with AJ's Hulk Smash! hands.) Floral border and cornflower blue, blech.

And here is after.
Labrador on the bottom, and Hopsack on top, both by Valspar. This is just to the left of where DH is sitting in the above photo.

I don't know - can you tell how much better this is? I hope so. It's much, much better. More to come!

Ten

2011-04-27T18:34:00.009-04:00

I can't believe it's been ten years!

I love this one because it makes me look skinny. :) And because I loved our cake. And because he was kind and didn't smoosh it into my face.

I love this one because it reminds me how much fun we had at our wedding and reception. I think I only had that one glass of wine but my mood was as if I'd had many more! Giddy! That says something, doesn't it!

and I love this one because it says it all. Happy Anniversary, my Dear, Darling, Wonderful Husband.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monday teaser list

2011-04-25T10:30:00.011-04:00

Sooooo many things I want to document here and share with my few wonderful readers. Soooo should be working and not blogging. But I just started reading a new productivity book this morning, and it’s making my To-Do List look even MORE daunting and stupid than usual. Plus, it's a post-3-day-weekend Monday, so I have very little oomph for work. My inner self is more important than my [non-life-saving] work IMHO, so inner self wins for the moment, and spills out onto the screen, in bullets:

> Three-day weekend! My company kindly gave us Good Friday off, so I spent it with both kids. I know that isn’t news to most people, but every day is so precious, especially in light of things going on around me, and I just have to treasure each extra day I get. So we went to the mall, again – I’m becoming a mall regular, which scares me just a little bit – because KT needed some 3T shorts and tee-shirts for school. I found a lot of cute things at JC Penney. Surprised me, but they’re just as good a value as our beloved Target. And, okay, I also let each kid get a toy at the Disney Store. AJ found a Perry the Platypus whoopee cushion and I PAID MONEY FOR IT. *forehead smack* But hey, it makes him laugh. KT got a Dalmation puppy (I sort-of forced it on her). She's been sleeping with it, so I guess it was a good choice -- note: Not a princess.

> Lots of singing for Easter Weekend. I was in the choir section Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday morning. It was rewarding and fun, and I had a small solo psalm, for which I was very kindly thanked and congratulated. Most lovely was that we had a soprano “ringer” join us, and she was friendly AND talented. I was thankful for her because she made me want to sing better. Kept thinking to myself, “My new friend, S.” Hope to see her again.

> Swimming lessons continue. I’ve nearly concluded KT’s portion of the show – she’s just really too young for it, given her swimming history of only one week in the summers. She can’t take the combination of a big pool, a lot of other splashing kids, an unknown grown-up, AND 3:00 on a Sunday afternoon with no nap. She's melted down each week. It’s another *forehead smack* moment for me – really stupid – and a sunk cost (hat tip: Tess), so... whatever. We’ll swim with her this summer because we’re joining the subdivision’s pool for the first time. I’m going to continue my early Tuesday/Thursday schedule, and plan to take the kids to the pool on those afternoons after camp/daycare. AJ’s making great progress in his lessons, and he had a private one yesterday because no one else showed up (who holds classes on Easter Sunday anyway?!). He needed the extra practice and one-on-one attention, and he did really well. But man, is it a challenge for kids who don't like water in their faces. I felt pretty bad every time he spit in the coach's face. (Eek.)

> Kitchen is painted! I will have the photographic evidence to post soon, right after we re-organize the entire cabinet system and put everything that currently resides on the dining table back in its new, rightful position. Ha! No big deal! I'm hoping that a lunchtime trip to Garden Ridge today will help with those tasks. (BASKETS.) We love the paint colors we chose. *Pats on back to us!* We r so smrt!

So... more to come this week: Hopefully an extra special Before/After edition, and also something else extra special (hint, the traditional gift is.... inexplicably, Tin). :)

Quick one

2011-04-14T12:41:00.002-04:00

Giving up sodas of all kinds for Lent really does not leave much in the way of lunchtime drink options, I gotta tell ya.

I am pretty sick of Crystal Light and unsweet iced tea. I like both, but NEED SOME VARIETY IN MY LIFE. I'm not even allowing myself those clear Crystal Bay "flavored Sprites," as I call them.

Come on, dawn of Easter morn!!

Surrounded

2011-04-11T09:54:00.005-04:00

We seem to be surrounded lately with news of families dealing with difficult things. I mean, my Prayer List, if I actively used such a thing, is a mile long (as it is, I say, "prayer list" in my mind, and I do think about and pray for these people when I think of it, but mostly ask God to "please remember all the friends I've been meaning to pray for," and hope He knows who I'm talking about).

-- a friend from high school whose older brother died suddenly, 2 weeks ago
-- my choir director, who went in for heart surgery and has had complications (on the mend now, thank God)
-- a college acquantaince and roommate of a good friend, who's having a drug addiction relapse, again
-- AJ's teacher, whose 4-month-old baby has just been admitted to the hospital for heart trouble
-- a former colleague, who's having surgery this week
-- DH's coworkers who were laid off last week
-- my church friend whose brother, I just found out, is homeless and she doesn't know how to help or approach him
-- my book club friend whose son is having speech delays and she's walking that scary "spectrum" tightrope, waiting for diagnosis
-- another church friend whose daughter was married less than a month before her new husband began abusing her (now going thru divorce and criminal charges)
-- my coworker whose hair is falling out from chemo

It pains me that all this is happening to people I know. I can't imagine how it feels - nothing tragic has really ever happened in my own, immediate daily life. I don't know how I got so lucky (and I can't help but wonder, so morbidly and inappropriately, when will it be our turn - am I the only one who does that)? I look at my kids laughing and running and sleeping peacefully, my husband working so hard and keeping me entertained at the same time!, my parents being attentive and loving my whole life, my job staying intact, our health fine... and I am overwhelmed with the inexplicable goodness of my life.

Spring break 2011 (cont'd)

2011-04-06T16:56:00.001-04:00

I am enjoying this week so much. It's rare time at home, doing errands, wandering, puttering, playing, and being grateful (I know it sounds nerdy but I do pinch myself and think, do I really not have to work from home while I'm here?!). (And I do not!)

Anyway, for posterity, here's what else we've been doing.

Tuesday: KT did stay home with us, and because it rained Monday night, my picnic plan was postponed, so we had our movie day instead. We met DH for lunch at Burger King and then went to see "Hop." (Much better than I expected. Russell Brand is cuter as an animated bunny.) Lots of Skittles were consumed. Afterwards there wasn't much time for anything else, but we did play outside with the neighbor kids and KT got a taste of the trampoline. She likes it. :) She crashed at 6pm and completely missed dinner, but rallied in time for a pleasant bath and regular bedtime. A great day.

Today: AJ and I had big plans to visit the local mall, where he was looking to procure a Pillow Pet. Its a pillow! It's a pet! It's a Pillow Pet! He got a blue triceratops and named it Rex, then changed that to Spike. Lunch at the Food Court! My kids think the mall is the coolest treat -- escalators, elevators, AND a Cookie Company?! Blows their little minds. KT took a Good nap at school and now the 2 of them are involved in a complicated outdoor spy and hide-n-seek game, again with the neighbors. While I sit at the patio table thumb-typing on my phone. Truly handy, these neighbors. Before I picked KT up I vacuumed and dusted the downstairs, did a load of laundry, and scheduled tomorrow (felt good to get that crap done, too):

Thursday: a picnic at Piedmont Park in ATL with my best friend from college. With the kids, of course. And frisbees.

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Spring break 2011

2011-04-04T22:26:00.001-04:00

I took spring break off this year for the first time. Monday's report: Walgreens and Target this morning, trampoline jumping with our neighbors when we returned (yes, we both jumped!), picnic lunch with them in 75-degree weather, swimming at 2 at the public (indoor) pool, AJ getting more comfortable with it and having fun, "just us, Mommy," Frostys for snack after getting KT, then home for dinner and a kid-friendly movie (G Force).

Pretty good start. :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

(i feel it necessary to explain that KT only naps at when she's at school and therefore had to attend today. Momma needs a break, too! Plus, I wanted to check out this pool with only 1 kid to watch, our 1st time there. She'll be hanging with us tomorrow! No swimming, but extra fun.)

Keep Calm and Carry On

2011-03-25T08:37:00.007-04:00

I printed a postcard size image of that wonderful old British saying (in red) a few mornings ago, and pinned it near my desk at work. I'm a cheeseball, yes. I'll see it every day when I arrive and when I leave. It makes me smile. Which is exactly what I need to do regarding The Busy: just smile, keep calm, and carry on. Things have gotten better this week (thanking God for the rain which cancels t-ball games), but I don't want the kids to know we're stressed, just that we're living Quite a Nice Life. I'm always sorry when I stress out and complain about it here, but I guess it's honest so I might as well document it. Like DH said, one day we won't have all these same commitments, and I'm sure we'll kind-of long for them.
I was thinking that same thing re: the 3-yr-old in the bed, this morning. One day, I will no longer be able to snuggle under the covers with my kids. EVER. I mean, really ever. (I never snuggle in with MY Mom, even though I love her dearly!) So I'd better soak it all up. Their little open mouthed breaths, soft hair tickling my face, feet in my ribs... Well, you know what I mean. Easy for me to say right now; she's only been in the bed with us once this week, HALLELUJAH. Ask me again when she's back in the habit again. (Please, God, no.) We bribed her with princesses - those new little Polly-Pocket-esque ones with the plastic dresses - and it has mostly worked.
Moving -- Carrying! -- On!

-- This week I got to go shopping again for work. Twice. Nice little perk - two hours walking the mall. Sadly I try to stay on task, so that means no trying on, no stopping for Starbucks, no real time to people-watch. But it's still a break from the usual.

-- The painting project is going so well. We love the new color. I can't wait to post before and afters, but not until we get everything put back together. It's going to take a long time re-decorating one large wall, from which we've removed a giant print that I bought with my college roommate, three residences ago. I'm thinking of wall art like this, and shelving similar to this but not necessarily in that color (although maybe?), and a new mantle-scape with objets d'art. Heh! But I'm very indecisive. We also have to paint over the blue checkered wallpaper in our kitchen. We hope it doesn't turn out awful!

-- Swimming lessons! Our first outing went well, considering. I knew we'd have a meltdown from one of the kids, just wasn't sure which. It was KT. She was quite tired on a Sunday afternoon at 3:00, but all signs leading up to her lesson were good. "Mommy, is it my turn yet? Is it my turn? I want to go swimming. I want to swim! My turn?" She hopped up when the clock struck three, walked all the way around the pool to where her coach was waiting, and the minute he picked her up to measure her for a back float... "Waaaaaaaa! Mommyyyyyyyyyyyy! I don't wannnnnnnna swiiiiimmmm! Mommmmmmyyyyyy!!!!!" So. Nothing to be done but let her sit it out. We tried, the coach and I, to cajole her and flirt with her and offer her a chocolate milkshake if she'd just get in the water, but she was done. I'm hoping for a better outcome next time since those lessons were NOT FREE. Eek. Maybe she's too young, but if I hadn't signed her up, I KNOW she'd have been sad/jealous that big brother always gets to do everything. Understandably.

AJ, on the other hand, was my brave little bunny. He didn't like it, but he got in the water and really tried. He paddled, he kicked a little, he FACED HIS FEARS. I was amazed at him. My big boy! So brave. He did whimper a bit, but closed his eyes and soldiered on. The one time he let go of the wall and his coach had to pull him up, sputtering, brought back all of Mommy's bad summer memories (I can't seem to find a post about it, but he went under once while we were night swimming on our last beach vacation, and it scared the bejeezus out of me), but I was brave too, telling myself, "That's why we're here. That's why we're here..."

So much

2011-03-23T08:20:00.005-04:00

I'm not stressed, I'm just... a little sad, I guess. I didn't check the calendar (but I thought I did?) and today is a baseball practice... but I scheduled a desperately needed haircut/color for myself at the same time (first world problems). No big deal, DH can take both kids to the ballpark, I know this, but it makes me feel bad. Because Monday night I left them all to go to Book Club. And Thursday night is choir practice every week, and as much as I love choir, it starts to wear on me after a full schoolyear's worth of every-week rehearsals. I've only skipped once or twice for a break, but once was last week, so I really need to GO this week. (I mean, I could be one of those people who NEVER goes to practice but shows up on Sundays and says, "What're we singing?" Except I get really irritated by those people.) And of course, this week we also have a Thursday baseball GAME. I think I can do both if we take 2 cars to the park, although I know KT will fuss and cry when it's time for me to leave without her. I don't know, maybe I'll skip again.

I want to get philosophical and come to some unique, well-written conclusions about the way I feel, but I don't think I have the mental energy for that. Everybody's crazy busy. It's not a big deal, sometimes it is a big deal... at least we got our taxes filed last night, and the painting is underway... right? I found some hand-me-downs for KT so at least she has some spring clothes and an Easter dress she can wear, but I still need to go shopping for shoes etc., and I simply can't find the time to do it. Maybe this Saturday, in between baseball pictures at 10:00 am, our game at 12:15, and me cantoring at 5:30 Mass? Er... no. And Sunday's no better -- Mass with choir goes from 10 AM until noon for me, and then we have our first swimming lesson at 2:30. I don't want to feel guilty for adding those swimming lessons -- my kids NEED swimming lessons and I think they'll enjoy them -- but MAN, do I ever feel guilty.

It's just way too much sometimes. I am so thankful I took Spring Break off - I have a week and a half to go until some much needed vacation time. No baseball, no swimming, no Fricking WORK. I hope I can make it a productive week but still feel like the days are long.

Luxury

2011-03-18T22:36:00.004-04:00

It's Friday night and our luxury is that we had nowhere to be tonight after work and school, except our own home. This, after a week full of nightly commitments, except that I did skip choir practice last night. I think the director was frustrated because several of us were missing, but I'm sorry. Sometimes life comes before choir and I was tired. So anyway, tonight I ordered cheese pizza for our Lenten sacrifice (yeah) and had a Mojito to go with it. Mojitos are so warm-weather. And we've been having warm weather. Last night I told DH that we should really get a new table and chairs for the back deck. That is a good indication of my weather state-of-mind.

Tonight after the kids went down, we officially started the painting project. We pulled off the previous owners' gawd-awful 8" floral border -- here, evidence:

...and wiped off all the glue residue. We're right to call it gawd-awful, yes? I think I had a few Laura Ashley dresses back in 1989 with that same pattern. And/or pillow shams. It looks like a room that actually exists in the 21st century now, without that border. If we hadn't already painted patches on the blue wall, we MIGHT not even need to go any further. But we did paint patches, haha! On purpose, so we WOULD have to continue. We're going with a more neutral shade -- Hopsack by Valspar -- that we hope will "open up the room," as they say... Or, I guess they say that. I'm a geniune novice when it comes to decorating.

I can't wait for the finished room but we're trying to allow ourselves to take it one wall at a time without stress. There's just no other way to do it. So tonight we did prep work. Tomorrow, one wall maybe. Sunday, we'll see.

And now I'm going to continue my evening, reading and catching up on all your blogs, with a glass of wine (I ran out of rum for Mojitos). It's luxury to be up this late, too. I should go to bed, but it's nice to ignore the "shoulds" sometimes and do what I want. :)

Cabinet chaos might be reflective of my state of mind

2011-03-11T14:42:00.009-05:00

More than a week since my last post? How can that be? Surely my brain has had some kind of drivel to share, no? ...No, I guess. Not really.

I did have a question pop into my brain the other day, as I was dusting KT's room -- a question that seemed perfect for the Internet. Dear readers, How do you, personally, corral the hairbows and barrettes if you are lucky enough to have a young girl living in your home?

Well, at the time it seemed a logical thing to ask - now it seems kinda lame, as if the answer is simply: "A wicker basket with the linen liner, DUH, don't you ever look at the Pottery Barn Kids catalog?" (No, indeed I stopped receiving it for some reason.)

Well, on with the topic anyway: In my own home growing up, we had plenty of cabinets and drawers. My mom used plastic dividers, if I remember correctly, and we kept all the millions of ribbons neatly out of sight.

When KT was a baby, I surprised myself by purchasing hairbows for the top of her head. (I'm combing the archives because I know I posted a picture here, but can't find it for the life of me!) I kept them all clipped to a long pink ribbon, hanging from a cute little hook in her bedroom. Very crafty, thought I. Now, however, there seem to be more pony tail holders than barrettes, and the barrettes I do have are too big for the small Tinkerbell jewlery box I have been using for everything.

What I need to do is rearrange the kids' bathroom cabinet so it's useful. Currently it's still storing an old shower curtain, folded up, a collection of infant bathtowels (with the little hoods!) that obviously need replacing since I have no infants, and a bunch of other crap.

Am I posting about a bathroom cabinet? LORDY. Sorry. Thinking about all that mess reminds me that last night I started feeling a bit stressy. About work, and other projects and things that I can't seem to do -- no need to recount all the details for you, I'm sure, but sometimes life is messy, amiright? We're about to embark on the painting project, sure to prove that theory. I can't wait, actually. (Maybe because it's a small excuse for everything being in disarray?) I will definitely take and post photos, especially since I now know about this site! Thank you, Swistle!

Behold, my thrill of a shopping list

2011-03-03T06:55:00.004-05:00

1. Socks. Brown and black. I have been tough on my socks this winter, I guess. I keep finding pairs with holes in them. I've thrown out 3 or 4 pairs in the last 2 weeks.

2. Shoes. Specifically, boots. On clearance since it's nearly spring. Next year I want to wear more skirts with boots. (Next year they'll probably be out of style -- I'm always at least a year behind the trends.) I also need some pretty new sandals.

3. Capri pants. I want more of these for spring and summer. Obviously I can't wear shorts to work, but I'm considering whether I even want to wear shorts on the weekends. I mean, yes, I do, but should I? Am I too old to be wearing shorts out in public? I don't quite know.

4. Tops. Never do I feel I have enough tops for whatever season it is. Never. DH and I are planning a garage sale soon, and I hope to clean out my closet to make space for new things.

5. Dresses. I would like to wear more spring dresses.

6. Kids' clothes. I need some wardrobe staples, especially for KT, for summer. Shorts, t-shirts, sandals. New Crocs. Probably for her brother, too, including new uniforms before next school year. (This list seems to be getting a little out of control.)

7. Necklaces. I almost never feel like I have the right jewelry to go with any outift I wear. It's okay, though, because I've just discovered Charming Charlie. *Drooooool.*

8. PAINT SAMPLES. We are going this Saturday to purchase them. Then we are going to test them out on the walls. Then we are going to start our spring painting project.

9. New blinds for 7 windows. 2 of those will have to be custom-sized. Am ready to do this.

10. Might as well be honest, I also want new kitchen cabinets and countertops. DH keeps saying I should go ahead and get an estimate. I'm unsure but maybe I will. Or... can you paint formica? Hahahaha. No, really, can you?

Very jumbled and at peace

2011-02-25T07:58:00.009-05:00

Lots of things swirling around in my head today, not many of which are very interesting to anyone but me. We had a great week and weekend celebrating KT's birthday. She didn't get pinkeye (thank you for your good vibes!), all the grandparents were here, we cooked, we went out, we let them babysit, she dressed up in all her princess and fairy stuff and was just the epitome of cute, and now they're gone and we're getting settled back into the rhythm of our collective daily life. I need that rhythm. I really missed it, as much as I love having everyone to visit - and I really do, having people to cook for and serve is very satisfying in its own way.

My son continues to delight me -- as the older brother, he was a star at the birthday party of 8 little 2- and 3-year old girls. He let KT be the center of attention, played his role just right, and helps "take care" of her so well on a daily basis. I watched him, this morning, as she whined and fussed for THE FAIRY ONE, an episode of Dora that he couldn't translate to the actual title, to find for her. He wanted to help her so badly, but she kept screaming at him, THE FAIRY ONE THEFAIRYONE, like a 3-year-old does, and he was very patient, up to the point he got tears in his eyes because he couldn't Figure Her Out. Poor thing. He's a great brother. He also READS constantly which is another topic altogether, obviously. This morning I was thinking of a few books I'm anxious for him to read soon: Little House in the Big Woods, Superfudge, Choose Your Own Adventure. Such fun.

DH and I got to attend another concert by our favorite band on Tuesday night. I've seen them 4 times now, more than I've seen any other band (besides a local one I followed in college). It was an amazing night, starting with the spring weather, a just-the-two-of-us chips and salsa, dinner and margaritas... then a pleasant meeting of new "friends" in line before the concert, or at least 2 dudes who also love the music as much as we do (they drove up from Florida)... getting great seats, enjoying the music so much... tweeting about it like a complete dork during the show (me)... taking pictures and just feeling very graced by the art and talent of 4 old-ish guys who can still very much rock the house. I used to not like when the guitars would soar and crash SO LOUDLY, but over the years I've come to really love the dissonance and the roar -- not to mention, I know so many more of the melodies now -- and just marveling at how the musicians are so capable, and clearly love what they do. It's a joy to watch, really. I tweeted, too, that I do love a man playing a bass guitar. I don't know - I prefer watching it to the acoustic, which surprises me because I LOVE the acoustic guitar's sound. Something very intense about the bass, though. Maybe because it's the deep beating heart, sometimes unnoticed, of the song, and that seems romantic to me. I love bass singing voices, too, and very low notes. The lead singer of The Church is a bass baritone for sure.

I laugh because, when I was pregnant with AJ, a suggestion for a name came from DH -- Kilbey, the last name of the very same lead singer. I was pretty sure he was joking, but at any rate, was firmly against it at the time. And still am... but now I at least have a healthy appreciation of WHY he would suggest it for his firstborn son. I respect the inspiration, where before I didn't have a clue. :) I love that we're able to share this years-long music experience as a couple.

Lastly, I've been trying to be more consistent about exercising and so far it's going well. I've logged 3 entire days in a row. Wooo. I will report more on that if and when there is something to report, but I'm feeling good about it.

7 Quick Takes (real quick!)

2011-02-18T08:02:00.009-05:00

1. I'm in a hurry because I have lots of Friday tasks, and I want to STAY BUSY today so it will go by quickly. (i.e., not loll around online in G-reader and TweetDeck trying to find interesting things to do/read. NO NO NO!!) Because my parents are here, and DH's parents arrive this afternoon, and I want the weekend to hurry and get here already!

2. One of the tasks I'm supposed to do today is set up our corporate blog. YOU WOULD THINK this prospect would DELIGHT ME, as I have been blogging for 6 years this month. But I have been putting it off for 3 weeks! What gives? I have no idea. Maybe I don't want to sully my love of blogging by making it a work thing? Maybe I'm afraid I won't like Wordpress? But this has been one of MY big ideas/initiatives for the company, since before I even got the job! I'm a champion procrastinator, I guess, and this proves it.

3. I plan to make mojitos for Happy Hour. I bought a mix for DH for Valentine's Day -- kinda lame but we both like mojitos, and our previous attempt to make them with actual ingredients turned out very 'meh.' The mix, naturally, or maybe NOT naturally, tastes like Kool-Aid with lime. :)

4. Mojitos feel very spring/summery to me and it is awesome that we're having summer weather today! I'm not even wearing socks! This gorgeous 70-degree stuff is supposed to last the next five days or so. Yayyyyyy!

5. I have to thank Mighty Maggie for pointing me, last week, to the Paul Haggis vs. Scientology article. Holy (haha, not) barrels of awesome. I don't know WHY I am so fascinated with the cults, but give me the FLDS, the Scientologists, the Moonies, any of them, any day... I will read it. I have theories as to why I like learning about them so much, but that's a whole other blog post. Anyway, I've always wondered what in the heck Travolta and Cruise are all 'het up' about, and I still don't understand it, but at least now I have a vague idea of what they do, and legitimate cause to laugh at them. Bravo, Mr. Lawrence Wright (author).

6. THAT bullet led us in a completely different direction, didn't it?! In other freaky-deaky news, I have had a dream twice now, where I am walking around in some big mall-like building in the Perimeter area of Atlanta, looking for an exit. When I find the exit, I become relieved because I've found Interstate 285. 285 is a giant highway that encircles the main metro area, and my dream-self always says, Oh, good, now I can just walk around 285 to get back to where I need to be. Which I then proceed to do. Last night there was also a giant black tornado cloud spinning over the East side of 285, which I could see from where I stood. And yet, I continued to walk toward it. (I actually live on the WEST side of 285.) WHAT DOES IT ALL MEEEEEEEN? Like I said, I've dreamed this twice.

7. KT's party is tomorrow, provided she doesn't turn up with PINKEYE. There are 2 cases of it at her school (not in her class), and... I fear to tell you... she's been complaining about her eyes and having a tiny bit of morning goop in 'em (sorry). I seem to remember the last time we had pinkeye in the house that it's more of a cold/fever thing, but... well, if I have to cancel the party in order to be the good mom and not infect other children, I will just cry. Especially because all the grandparents made the trip. Frickinfrackin.

Thanks to Jen for hosting 7QT!

On Waking

2011-02-16T08:50:00.005-05:00

The big-girl bed has been SO successful in curbing KT's since-she-was-born tendency to wake up in the middle of the night. I'm going to repeat: So Successful! Until last night, she had slept through the night every night since we removed the rail.

Unsure why she woke up last night at midnight, JUST as I had drifted off into a nice little dream and was so cozy and warm in my covers. She showed up next to my side: "MOMMY. [stage whisper] I NEED A KLEENEX for my EYES." She asked to come in my bed for a while and who can resist a little blond birthday girl? All I want to DO is cuddle with her during waking hours, so an explicit invitation to do so, when I'm half-asleep, is an easy (but ill-advised) decision. After an hour of her twitching and kicking and NOT SLEEPING, that was the end of that. Luckily she went back to her bed with minimal complaint. And then got up again at 5:45 while I was in the shower.

I guess she is wise to the fact that she's FREE, and thus we are at the beginning of the next phase: the getting up OUT of your bed at night, which AJ did for a couple of years, and which, my parents will remind you (me), I did myself until I was SEVEN.

Raising a glass to salute, and bid farewell to, these last two uninterrupted weeks. They have been nice.

Good things happening

2011-02-14T08:27:00.006-05:00

1. Last night, for dinner, AJ suggested and I made tuna noodle casserole... and both kids cleaned their plates!! Red letter day! I think all the playing outside (thank you, 60-degree weather) had a lot to do with their (KT's) appetites, but can I get a HALLELUJAH on that?!

This week, as promised, DH and AJ created our menu:

S - aforementioned tuna casserole, fruit salad
M - pork chops (Hot-n-Spicy Shake-n-Bake!), field pieas, white rice
T - KT's choice (it's her birthday): burgers and hot dogs, fries, and ice-cream cake
W - dirty rice w/ground beef, salad for me, V8 fusion for the kids
Th - might go out if my parents arrive
F - spaghetti and turkey meatballs, green beans, garlic toast

We haven't had a couple of those meals in a while (pork chops, dirty rice), so that's good. That was my main complaint - being tired of the Same Old Same Old. I'm like a lot of you in that I serve what I want, no matter if the kids like it or not. I do like to serve things they'll eat a few times a week. But I was sick of the 8 or 10 things that fit the bill. I feel good that AJ suggested all of these -- his palette is expanding this year and he's eating a lot more of our family favorites. (Gumbo, and maybe other casseroles, here we come!)

2. We stopped in a sports store on Saturday morning to exchange something, and took a few minutes to check out the bikes. AJ hopped right up onto one with training wheels and rode around the store a few times. He did really well, and more importantly, got EXCITED about it. We've asked him a few times if he wants a bike, and we always get a very lukewarm response. But this orange bike, I think, has him hooked -- now if we can just reel him in. It was $129 so we didn't buy it right away, but I'm thinking birthday. Until then, I'm ready to borrow a friend's - he offered, and I think we should jump on it. I learned to ride a bike when I was six, too. :) Very exciting!

3. I asked for (via Twitter!) and received, a delicous Dark Chocolate Assortment of Godiva chocolates for Valentine's Day. SO simple, and even cliche! But so happy-making. :) Thank, you, honey!

Help me save dinner

2011-02-09T10:14:00.007-05:00

I wish there were some sort of “carnival” feature on my computer screen that would only begin to play music, throw confetti and laugh uncontrollably when I logged into WORK-related websites or programs. Maybe that would make it less of a slog? I don’t know, I thought that up in 2 seconds after I opened the text window to type this.

Other things I’m bored with: Our Meal Rotation. Typical Mommy-blog topic, ahoy!! Let me tell you my meals this week, and then you can tell me yours. I’m sure we’ve done this before, but here it is, 2011, and I need some new recipes, dudes.

Monday – Picante chicken (baked with Pace Picante, brown sugar, Dijon mustard), Spanish rice w/tomatoes, guacamole/chips or, for the kids, corn on the cob. Ice cream for Dessert Night. (Do you know my kids don’t really consider it dessert unless it’s ice cream?)

Tuesday – Sausage/turkey bacon/cheese quiche (made with $5/dozen farm-fresh eggs, I might add—and aren’t I organic and impressive?), fruit salad, and all kinds of toast (some with Nutella).

Wednesday – I have frozen ravioli and sauce. Will likely cut up some bell peppers with it, and serve steamed broccoli on the side. And garlic toast sticks because pasta without garlic bread is a crime.

Thursday – no idea. Maybe we can go out or order pizza?

Friday – Maybe burgers on the grill?

I try to plan menus and usually do a better job than I did this week. But I’m sick of serving turkey hot dogs (this week is the first in a long time that I’m not PLANNING to fix them). Here are the things my kids refuse to try:

Casseroles of any kind – which rules out a HELLUVA lot of good, easy dinner meals (my DH isn’t a huge fan, either, so it’s a lost cause for me, a casserole LOVER)

Related, anything creamy. Beef stroganoff. Fettucine with cream sauce/alfredo. chicken with any kind of sour cream (delicious) sauce. OUT.

Soups/stews that aren’t “Chicken and Stars.” Heck, they pick out the teeny-tiny stars in Chicken and Stars. They say they like it but the evidence does not support this.

Quesedillas/burritos. AJ will MAYBE eat a tortilla with cheese inside. Maybe. If the planets are aligned. But anything else in there touching the cheese? Forget it.

You see, I have considered Ways to Make Dinnertime Healthy and Interesting, but I’m thwarted at every turn. Bah. I don't know. Maybe I'M the only one who's sick of our rotation (don't respond to that, DH). At least I have my freezer aisle. Fish sticks, meatballs, the dreaded chicken nuggets: I'll see you three next week, I guess. SIGH.

Front Row Seats

2011-02-07T11:32:00.005-05:00

We sat in practically the front row at Mass on Sunday, something we never do. It was Scout Sunday, though, and AJ was required to be in front with his Tiger Den (looking so adorable in their matching uniforms), so we put ourselves right across the aisle from him. I loved glancing over at him with a wink, and getting a big grin in return. I thought of how strange it is when your kids start wanting to be part of groups other than their family unit. Strange, wonderful, heartbreaking, all at the same time.

Being part of the Cub Scouts had turned out to be a big deal for AJ the day before, because his little Pinewood Derby car – his very first one, that he designed, sanded and painted all by himself, and that his Daddy blindly attempted to properly weigh and align – WON the race. The whole race. His car, which we worried was not as fancy, not as sleek, beat kids older than him who’ve been building cars for several years. We have no idea how this happened, but oh, man, watching your child succeed, and seeing HIM swell with pride and excitement... it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt. I was most proud of his attitude, and those of his fellow Scouts, though. When their own cars weren’t racing, they were cheering each other on. I’ll never forget AJ and his buddy Shane, high fiving each other in the front line behind the ropes, as they watched each race. And Shane, when I congratulated him, telling me, “AJ’s is better!” with a huge smile. With this, and the camping trip success last fall, I'm convinced this group experience is going to be one of the best of his life.

We have floated on the happy fumes of Saturday’s win all weekend. Every time I think of it, I smile again. I’m so glad we were all there to watch it together. DH was visibly moved and in love with being a father, filling me up with happiness and love for him. Even KT was excited for her brother. “He WON!” she said more than once, with an exclamation mark in her voice as she galloped off after him. Sunday morning on my knees in front of the big altar, surrounded by friends and community members going to Communion, I was very nearly overwhelmed with the simplicity and profundity of the gift, and Gifts, of this amazing life.

Poor planning

2011-02-02T08:04:00.005-05:00

I am excited about KT's first real birthday party with friends from her class. The girl at the place where we're having it said something about "sparkle sticks and feather boas," and I didn't hear the rest because my mind was going, "SQUEEEEEEE!" Life doesn't get any more GIRLY than that! I hope they'll let ME have a sparkle stick, whatever in the heck one IS.

However, when I decided we should just invite girls, I didn't actually realize that there are only 5 girls in KT's whole class. I could invite a few from other classrooms, with whom she eats breakfast every day so technically they're "friends," but I've been at the school long enough to know that the norm is to just invite people from your own classroom. I can think of maybe two other, non-school friends we could invite. One is a T-ball friend, and the other is, surprisingly, Yatt's daughter. Which doesn't feel quite right since KT doesn't even know the daughter, but on the other hand, she's three -- it's not like she has requested veto power over the guest list, nor is she going to remember half these people anyway.

Let me say that I'm now enjoying a cordial office friendship with Yatt; she hasn't been the Yatt of yesteryear who annoyed the (expletive) out of me.... except RIGHT THIS SECOND as I typeOMG she's telling me about her period!! I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW THIS INFORMTION, FOR THE LOVE!!!

Sorry. She also pops her gum.

Party planning. I'm slightly concerned because we had a party for AJ once, and only invited a handful of people, and then only half of them showed up. I want this party to SPARKLE, darn it, not be a sad trumpet.

Guess who got a big-girl bed this weekend?

2011-01-31T09:37:00.001-05:00

Guess who is almost THREE, by the way and can you believe? We have been having a heckuva time with this one at night. She wakes up twice a night crying, loudly, usually during the 12-1:00 am hour, and again between 4:30 and 5:30 am. The 2nd time is the most annoying for ME, because my alarm goes off at 5:35. Argh. But the 1st wake-up is probably most annoying for DH, who has just gotten himself into a comfortable sleep (meanwhile, I’m dead to the world and hardly ever hear the 1:00 wake-up). Same story as every other non-co-sleeping mom who ever blogged: we try not to engage her, pat her back to sleep, etc etc. DH figured out a month or two ago that she wants her bedroom door OPEN, so she can see into the hallway and our room, and that seems to help somewhat, but doesn’t solve the problem entirely.

I keep saying that it’s different this time: with AJ, we closed our doors and let him cry. “Man up!” I guess. With KT, I don’t want her to wake up AJ so I caaaaaaan’t let her just cry. (I know I CAN, but I just don’t.)

Saturday night was her coup de grace: Saturday she climbed over the crib rails and THUNKED down to the floor to perform her nighttime shenanigans. I put her back in bed and walked away. She climbed out again. And that, my friends, is not going to work for me. I know that kids will get out of beds that don’t have those handy prison bars, but at least they won’t fall and break their legs in the middle of the night (twice). So Sunday I went to Target to buy her a pretty new Tinkerbell comforter and sheets set, and tasked DH with removing the crib rail for the last time. Ta-da! Toddler bed.

She seems to love it. Dragged her new big-girl pillow upstairs and down yesterday afternoon, and wanted to make and re-make the bed after we put it together. (I also got some new fabric-covered bins for storage, which we both love. Her room has been a gigantic mess for a long time and I hope this will help. We’re practically a Pottery Barn Kids catalog now!)

She stayed in her bed all through last night, but she still woke up crying and stood up, per routine, at 4:55. Bless her heart, though – when it was finally wakeup time this morning, she was hard to rouse, all cozied up under her covers. THAT is the result I’m looking for.

Influence

2011-01-28T14:29:00.003-05:00

I’ve been fairly vocal in this space that I don’t really care for my next-door neighbor.

Finally, in the last few months, it has become apparent to me which of her quirks is the one I actually despise. It’s not her, in total, you see, but really just this ONE personality flaw. And I don’t want to get into bashing her specifically, so I’m not going to say what the flaw is... but I know you would agree with me, because you’re pretty and smart, that it’s something REALLY, supremely annoying.

During Christmas break one day I had the window blinds open so I could see out into the yard, and because our yards adjoin, I guess I could see her, or her kids, or something. And the thought occurred to me, “I wish I didn’t have so much hate in my heart towards them.” It caught me off-guard. I mentioned that feeling in my 2010 wrap-up, because it bothered me, after I’d had it. I don’t want there to be hate in my heart towards a specific person that I know. I really don’t.

I guess I’ve been trying, sort-of, to work on dissolving those feelings, but it doesn’t happen easily. As I’ve said, it’s really quite satisfying to vent about The Quirk. But yesterday her son came over to ask AJ to play, and as I watched them out the same living room window, I decided I should pray for them. The kids, specifically, and not because LORD HELP ‘EM, living with her, hahaha, but because they’re sweet kids, innocent young souls, and they’re part of my life whether I like it or not, and they deserve a prayer for blessings and kindness and happiness and all those good things. That shouldn’t be too hard; every time I have an eye-rolling thought about their mom, I can say a prayer for her kids. And in the car this morning I thought, I should also say a prayer for HER, every time. I tried a Hail Mary, since we’re both mothers and all... but I got distracted when I tried to focus good thoughts on her. (Snort.) So that skill is going to take some polishing. And, with that virtuous attempt, you’re thinking I have SUCH a golden halo for even trying, let me get to the worst part of all this:

I’m pretty sure I’ve – we’ve, I’m not going to let DH escape blame on this, too -- done a bad job disguising our feelings from AJ. When the phone rings and Caller ID tells me it’s her... I might SIGH and sometimes wonder aloud, “What do THEY want?” DH might say, “YOUR friend Neighbor is calling. You can answer it.” Not a very good example. When the weather was nice and the kids were outside every day as we arrived home after school, sometimes I’d say, “Ohgees, everyone’s out. Guess they’re going to come OVER HERE again, sighhhh.” AJ adopted that same attitude on occasion. Shame. Even yesterday, I had to convince AJ to go play with Neighbor Boy – a kid he usually has fun with. I don’t know if the pull of Sponge Bob was too much for him, but it shouldn't take so much prodding to get my 6-year-old to go play lightsabres outside after school.

Now, I can’t say that the neighbor kids are the aweswomest kids I’ve ever known – they have their own quirks (bossy, presumptious) and if AJ can pick up on those and decide, himself, that he’s not interested in playing with them, Fine. I’m proud of him, even. However, I can’t deny my own influence on him. Time to back up and re-think the message it gives him. Sure, we’re very nice to the whole Neighbor family when they’re in front of us, but we are kinda snarky behind their backs. Our kids pick up on that. I don’t want them to learn it from me, or to miss out on friendships because I’m being a brat.

So. A project in Shutting Up, I guess.

Life is an easy pasta dinner

2011-01-24T10:13:00.003-05:00

Or, life should be an easy pasta dinner. I know that because I accomplished it last night along with a good start on one of my so-called Resolutions: A friend came over to eat dinner with us!

She did the easy part by suggesting we get together, and it was easier for me to say, "Sure, come up for dinner!" than to consider getting all of us downtown to her condo. But the meal was simple -- sun-dried tomato pasta with chicken, salad, and french bread -- and the company was so easy. She was my roommate before I got married and one of the best people I know. She's great with the kids (a teacher by trade), so when I start to feel awkward about how our lives have taken such different paths and what are we going to talk about now??... she doesn't mind letting the kids chat her up. She even left early, allowing us to get them bathed and in bed on-time. I'm unsure if she was aware of how helpful that was -- she couched it as "I have to get up early tomorrow," but she may just be THAT considerate. Note for any of you single ladies who visit your friends with kids: it's nice to leave early on a Sunday night.

KT has had a cough now for 3-4 weeks. Mostly at night. I'm almost certain that it's nothing, but that 2% unsure is instigating worries about pneumonia and I wouldn't want to let that sit and percolate. So to the Pediatrician we go, this afternoon. They'll say, "Has she had a fever?" No. "Any other symptoms?" No. Well, yes, nasal stuff 2 weeks ago. "Turn on a humidifier and call us if it worsens." But this is what we have to do.

The usual, plus

2011-01-20T06:43:00.005-05:00

I have missed my blog people! I've been in an intense week of work training, and literally in meetings since Monday morning at 8:00 a.m. (That first one was 4 hours in a room with no windows, ack.) I can at least say I'm grateful the training has been with a pleasant person. And we've eaten out at places *I* got to choose, three days in a row, because he's from out of town. But actually I'm happy about getting to have a salad at my desk today. Too much of a good thing, and all.

Meanwhile, the kids went back to school this week after their 10-day snowcation. AJ told me that on Tuesday he got really sad about being back in school and his grandparents going home -- enough that they sent him to the counselor's office. He doesn't know the word "counselor," of course, just that Ms. R. is everyone's friend, and they talked about the snow days for a while, and he felt better. It made me sad in a way, but on the other hand, when I was in grade school... etc. etc. uphill both ways. I'm glad the counselor is available when my sweetie-pie is a little weepy.

Spring t-ball is about to start up, and Cub Scouts (KT calls it "Scub Scouts," and I hope she never corrects that) is intensifying with the actual Pinewood Derby coming up. Never thought I'd be involved in one of those! I'm mostly not, yet - DH is heading up that project. What else? I need to make trips to the dry cleaners, the grocery store, and to get AJ a haircut. Friday is DH's birthday and I'm a little behind on the preparations -- nothing fancy per usual, but I'd like to cook him something he likes, and have a candle, at least. I've also GOT to make plans for KT's birthday in February. I know where I want to have it, but need a reservation STAT. It'll be her first birthday party with Friends, not just family. :)

When I do have some downtime, I've been reading on my Kindle. I started and finished the Carl Hiassen celebrity-stalking novel, Star Island, and I give it a B-. I wanted to finish it and it was a subject I didn't know much about, so I learned (?) something, but it was kinda ucky overall, and not emotionally satisfying at all. Now I've gone back to Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, and it's really starting to pick up. More on that later.

I've had to avoid Twitter for the most part this week, but have been proud of Nicole for moving every day in 2011! Waiting with bated breath re: Jess' babywatch, checking in on Marie Green's snow, relating to Lag Liv's most recent post, and eager to talk more with my friend MB about her new job! Like I said, I miss all you guys! Weekend's coming! See you then!

Three Snow Days in a Row!

2011-01-13T11:33:00.005-05:00

Or: This Is Unlikely to Ever Happen Again; Glad We Enjoyed It

Predictions were dead-on over the weekend that we would have a 100% chance of snow and ice overnight Sunday. I dutifully went to the grocery store Sunday afternoon, to procure my bread and milk. (Actually it was my typical weekend trip to the store - I was embarassed to be there with all the other panickers. But in hindsight, I'm very glad about it!) It snowed, and after about 4 inches, it began the sleet/freezing rain combo that made everything crunchy on top. We took Napoleon out at 8:30 pm and it was barely sprinkling. Then at 9:30, looked out the window and everything was already covered.

This is not unusual, I'm sure, to any northerners among my readers, but for us it was strange and unbelievable. :) We woke to a winter wonderland, and even better than that, all schools closed (and even my office, kindly letting us know Sunday night that they'd be closed Monday). The ice-covered roads would make it impossible to drive, since Atlanta, and especially the suburbs, aren't prepared with plows or salters or whatever it is you guys have up there that allow you to live with this stuff all the time!

Around 9 am Monday we bundled up for our 1st snow adventure. The kids enjoyed "Snow Lollipops" (icicles, which they aptly named -- I'd never called them that as a kid); we did our snow angels though it was hard to break the ice layer on top; threw snowballs, got wet; breathed the crisp air. And then our upstate-New York neighbors, bless them, pulled out the sleds. Our street is one lonnnnng hill, and it was solid ice. Some of us had fun -- my kids and I didn't sled, although I kinda wanted to. All the neighbors were out and I love community gatherings like that. Our snowman's name is "Oatmeal."

Turns out my office didn't open until TODAY, so I've had three (five, including the weekend) full days with no responsibility other than my family, and my home. It has been delicious. Like a very extended Christmas break. I've been so grateful for the time, and grateful that my mood didn't ever -- somehow -- turn sour, or get tired of it, or cabin-fever-y. The kids have been great. DH was home with us through Wednesday morning. We've played a ton of board games, watched movies, eaten chili. My parents arrived safely yesterday (for an already-planned visit), and it worked out well because the kids are off school again today.

We'll see what tomorrow brings. The sun is shining now, and all is bright.

Messy

2011-01-07T09:08:00.002-05:00

Remember how I said my “life lesson” for 2010 was, “This is life. Life is messy.” Hohoho, remember that? That was funny. Because:

1. We are in the midst of a car-buying process. It started out so well, y’all. We (DH) had heard a lot about Ford’s new Sync system, and since he’s a tech-head, we totally wanted to check it out. We have not driven Fords in YEARS for all the obvious reasons, but the economy… cars re-tooled and improved blahblahcakes, plus: Sync. So we trooped over there dutifully during the last week of the sales year, to get ourselves a Hot Deal. Loooong story short, after we got the numbers we wanted, the color we wanted, and SIGNED everything Wednesday night with wild kids in tow… the car didn’t actually have Sync in it. DH was turning the ignition to drive it home, when this was discovered. We hadn’t thought to ask specifically because we figured all 2011 models would have it, AND there was a “Sync” sticker IN THE CAR. On the dash. “Microsoft Sync.” Purple sticker. Huge. … Anyway, we think we are going to do an easy swap tonight, for a car with Sync like we wanted, but I don’t want to jinx it so I’ll shut up now. We knew everythign had gone too smoothly to be true. This week has been mentally stressful and logistically nuts. And by the way, two kids, after school, inside a dealership for 2 hours, TWICE in one week. Exciting!

2. Something at work went up in smoke yesterday after I had left for the day. Can’t divulge, naturally, but let me say this: If you are in a company who makes things, and you launch new products periodically, IT HELPS to TELL the marketing department when a launch date is being delayed. (cough I sent out an email blast cough for a coughcough product that’s not available yet cough).

3. Our house is a messsssssssss. It’s making DH and me crazy, both of us, but with the car nonsense and the first week back at school, nothing has been done to remove the Christmas tree, for instance, or the layer of dust piling up on our dresser. We’re hopeful that we can get the car situation finalized today and move on to Cleanliness this weekend. Of course the car project is creating additional projects, like rearranging the garage to accommodate the new vehicle (we’re going from a compact Corolla to a not-so-compact SUV class). Rearranging the garage means removing some outdoor toddler toys that are old and not being used… Goodwill or yard sale decisions, etc etc. If I think too much about it, I start getting overwhelmed.

I haven’t worked out 2 nights in a row now, which is just making me pissy. I was determined, dangit. It will all resolve, I know it will, but. Well. Just keep swimming right? TGIF, people.

Reporting in

2011-01-05T08:30:00.002-05:00

I love being good-sore. Jillian Michaels' yoga is No Joke. I'm taking a break from it tonight to let my muscles recover, but planning to do a walk with my co-worker. I earned a "You Logged In 3 Days In a Row" badge from Livestrong.com! Hahahaha! Woooooo... go me. This morning I made the grown-up choice and got Starbucks' Perfect Oatmeal with my coffee.

(Tomorrow, however, I am going to try my free Spicy Chicken Biscuit from Chick-Fil-A, and I don't care how many calories it costs me. I'll have salad and water the rest of the day. You gotta live, you know?)

And I flossed. :) How are you all doing with your stuff so far?

Yogurt and floss

2011-01-03T21:13:00.007-05:00

I've been so hesitant to post Les Resolutions because on all of mine from last year, I epic-failed. It's embarrassing. Even the non-physical ones, like painting a few rooms in our house, didn't happen. Not entirely my fault, of course, just circumstances and wanting to take a break from the hectic pace of life sometimes. Still. It makes me wary. WARY!

However, I like the idea that I've seen in several places, of making resolutions that are NOT diet-related, and also of resolving to do a couple of little things that should be EASY to accomplish. Why didn't I think of that before?! So let's talk about those, and then we'll move on to the Health Kick portion of our program.

1. In 2011, I will floss my teeth more. I was originally planning to say, I will floss my teeth every day, but no, dumbass, don't set yourself up to fail on the EASY one. And do any of you floss every day? If so, I'm not sure I believe you and also, Good Job. So, floss more. (More often than hardly ever will be easy.)

2. In 2011, I will have at least 2 small dinner parties. I know that doesn't seem like a lot, if you are a good and frequent hostess, but I am decidedly not.

3. In 2011, I will try to develop a taste for yogurt. This is relative to a health kick, naturally, and I think I've mentioned before how I really don't love yogurt, but I try to eat it sometimes because of its Super Food status. Today I actually tried and finished a 5.3-oz serving of Organic Greek yogurt! It had blueberries on the bottom, and I had to eat it slowly but fast -- as in, each bite had several minutes between them, but I licked and swallowed them down as quickly as I could. And I didn't hate it, at the end. I didn't gag a single time. Progress. And organic greek, that's like Bonus Points or something!

I could make a million more resolutions (read more, connect with friends and family better, more prayer, etc), but I think three is a nice, round number and I don't care to make a huge show of it this year. I do believe in the idea of trying to make each year better than the last, I just got so discouraged looking at last year's list. I was temtped to forego this exercise altogether so consider yourselves lucky, if you like reading people's resolutions!

Now, the health kick: As every year, I have America's goals of getting fit and losing weight. 10 pounds would be a nice start, and what I'd really like is for my stinking pants not to be so tight, gahhhh. I have been tracking calories again on Livestrong.com's MyPlate. I like it best because it's fast software, it includes an App for my phone, and it has a pretty cool "Add a Glass of Water" feature which is also something I need to do, drink more water. :)

I'm also determined to try new foods with my family. Tonight we had moderate success with roasted vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, which heretofore none of my family members have liked). AJ reluctantly tried his 2 required bites dipped in ketchup; KT said they were good but didn't want anyone to KNOW she thought so, and refused to eat any more than her 2 bites. DH ate and enjoyed, I think! I loved them and the whole house still smells like them since our oven sort-of stamps and seals the scent from anything we cook over 400 degrees until at least 10 am the next day.

And Jillian and I just had a Yoga Meltdown date. First Monday, DONE. My sister in law gave me the DVD for Christmas - one thing we share in common is an interest in working out, although her follow-through is much, much better than mine! I had visions of starting a "wakeup at 5:00 am every day" plan, because that feels like the only feasible time. A real-life friend and her husband did that in 2010, every single day, they said. I was impressed. But this morning.... ugh. No good when the 2-yr-old wakes me at 4:00 am and proceeds to take up my 1/2 of the bed until the alarm beeps.

Please to send the good vibes this way for exercise mojo and no whammies.

Christmas Memories

2011-01-03T09:36:00.007-05:00

Christmas Pajamas

Christmas Dress

Christmas Snow!

p.s. Resolutions to come after I succeed at First Monday...!

2010, All Summed Up

2010-12-30T08:44:00.009-05:00

Okay, fine. I'm a sucker for a blogging prompt as evidenced by '09 and '08. I'm also bored at work. I do have some tasks, but... aykm? On Dec 30? Forget it. So here is my 2010 review:

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Hmm. Started going to the office at 6:30 am. And had an honest-to-goodness White Christmas.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Skip.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nicole! Her 6th! She is amazing. Also my neighbors next-door, across the street, and next-door in the cube! But those 3 are 'close' in proximity only.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
Oh, come on.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Lottery winnings.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I think June, because it was the first time AJ went to his grandparents' house all by himself for a week. :)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think making Flex-Time work for us was a big achievement. It's not always easy, but it satisfies one of my wishes, which is to be a little bit more present for AJ as he tackles school and homework and such.

9. What was your biggest failure?
After a decent start in the spring, and even a good idea in the fall, I let my motivation to exercise completely deflate to zero. I've got to reboot, again, in that department. FRICKINFRACKIN.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only minor ones, I guess. That one weird stomach bug during a T-ball game that made me faint and put me down for at least 2 days, in the bed! And asthma returned to my life in November, which is not cool. It's died down for the last few weeks but I should probably look into the better management of that. I.E., get myself to a doctor.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
New inhaler? No, I think all the Christmas presents we bought this year were well received. Kids and adults, alike. We did good!

12. Where did most of your money go?
We replaced one of 2 AC units in our house, so that was a big chunk, and we had to pay for Puppy's surgery, but other than that we didn't have gigantic expenses this year, thank goodness.

13. What did you get really excited about?
The Spring T-ball playoffs were such fun, and I got very excited about our trip to North Carolina in the fall. I'm about to get excited about a new car purchase!

14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
The Phineas and Ferb theme song, I'm sure. Lovers in Japan by Coldplay. The choral Christmas album my sister sent me was really magical for me this year, most especially Veni Redemptor Gentium.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you: Happier or Sadder: Equally happy
Thinner or Fatter: Fatter
Richer or Poorer: Richer, I think. All my new oil money, heh.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I'm torn because I want to say, "Having friends over." But I'm a homebody and recluse, too. I see other people having little parties -- I attend them -- and I think, "I should do something like this." I need to have our across the street neighbors over very soon, for dinner, and our T-ball buddies as well. So, fine: there are 2 resolutions for 2011.

17. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Aiming bad feelings toward my next door neighbors. But they're SOOOOOO annoying. Sigh. I can't win - I don't WANT to dislike them, but it's oh so satisfying.

18. How did you spend Christmas?
See here.

19. What was your favorite TV program?
Modern Family. And even Cougartown!

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
Loved The Help by Kathryn Stockett, and loved The Host by Stephanie Meyer. (Hey, another thing to love about the Kindle is it helps you 'remember' what you read during the year!)

21. What was your favorite music from this year?
Already answered that above, I think.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?
Finally saw Little Miss Sunshine, which I liked a lot. Saw the Twilight series, and enjoyed sharing that with DH. Still haven't seen HP and the Deathly Hallows, if you can believe. Sad about that. Oh, and I mentioned the Princess and the Frog yesterday! We saw a lot this year compared to years before!

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Turned 36 in June. We had pizza dinner at Vincent's, a cute little restaurant nearby, and then cake with a candle at home afterwards. It was lovely!

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? All in all, I think it WAS pretty satisfying. Just the lottery winnings, thanks.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? About the same, heh. Pretty bad, heh. Needs Improvement. I did buy one sweater dress and tights that I love.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
This is life. Life is messy. Just ride along and try not to worry. I feel like that's how I got through this busy, but normal year. Just ride along. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming. :)

A transition and phase

2010-12-30T07:59:00.003-05:00

KT-pie,

I know it's a long day away from Mama. I know it's hard to be left there in the morning when none of your friends are there yet; Makenzie-Maddie-n-Addie make everything more fun. I know you've had a week off and returning to school is always a bummer. Believe me, I know that. I know it's scary to watch Mama walk out the door and I pray you aren't wondering if I'll even come back, because I will ALWAYS come back for you, at the end of every day. (Or Daddy will, which is even better.)

I also know you love your teachers. I know you turn around 5 seconds after I'm gone to start helping pass out plates and juice, and chattering away in your "little mommy" voice, probably directing your friends which chair to sit in, and saying "We don't spill/hit/bite, okayyy?" which is so darling... So please, I beg you, stop giving me the Oscar-winning performances and pitiful, quiet tears after I take off your coat. I thought we were over that part of our lives--the guilty/sad feeling of leaving you at daycare. I'm sure it's a phase but it's been an unpleasant reminder, this week, of the very earliest days of leaving your brother and you to go to work. Do Not Like. Cut it out. (sniff)

Love,
Mama
(which you're inexplicably calling me again after at least a full year of "Mommy.")

…And we’re not through yet

2010-12-29T08:35:00.002-05:00

It was so lovely to have the week off before Christmas. Typically I like to take this week in-between, like most people do, but this way worked out very well. I’m not even too sad to be here in the office this week, because Monday and Friday were/are holidays, and a lot of coworkers are out, so it’s not stressful. Yesterday our daycare was closed in the morning, unexpectedly, so I went to the office to grab my laptop (with the two kids in tow), exchanged “How were your Christmases?” with two work buddies, and worked from home until 1:00. Obviously I babysat the kids with their new DVDs – first The Princess and the Frog, and then Alice in Wonderland (the original cartoon), and it was nice to have that extra half-day with them. We made popcorn.

I couldn’t resist watching the P and the F’s final half-hour, and I must say I loved the whole movie. I thought they did New Orleans perfectly, and the cast was amazing. I made the kids sit through all the credits to see the cast list, because I thought surely there would be some surprise A-listers on it. But not really! Most were people I hadn’t heard of. One of my absolute favorite things to do, movie-wise, is to figure out who voices the animated characters just by listening. Do you do that? The first time I saw Cars, I spent the entire movie trying to place the voice of the female Porche, Sally. Bonnie Hunt!! I had a hard time with that one but enjoyed the challenge. Anyway, in the P and the F I immediately loved John Goodman’s role, and Oprah’s, and… then I was at a loss. I almost thought that the Prince was Sacha Baron Cohen. Glad that turned out to be false.

Did you have a White Christmas? We did. And I need to record it because it may never happen again, or at least that's how it feels. Maybe global warming means it WILL happen, every year, but all I know is that's the first time in my 36 years that I was indoors on Christmas Day, watching big flakes fall out of the sky, and stick to the ground, ALL DAY LONG. We had the warmth of the kitchen as we cooked our 4:00 Christmas dinner, carols playing On the Eights because we kept it on the Weather Channel a good part of the day, and it just felt cozy and beautiful. (Although the floor got dirty as we tracked it in.) The kids loved their gifts. AJ's favorite was, of course, his DSi handheld, but more for the extra features (built-in digital camera and editing abilities). He is also pretty jazzed about the Lego Harry Potter board game and ALL his Ben10 action figures. KT loves playing her Dora Memory Game, and the Barbie swimming pool (without water!). I love leaving the Christmas toys out for a few days and just watching them immerse themselves.

So, after we get through these three days of supposedly very productive work (ahem), we’ll drive down to Savannah for more celebrations with DH’s brother and SIL. They have a new house and a brand-new puppy. I’m excited to see the house and I know the kids are going to go nuts over the puppy. Unfortunately, she is named “Shania.” I am sorry but I think that’s a terrible dog name. How do you create cute little poopie-doopie nicknames from “Shania?” She-She? Nia? Shanny? There’s nothing good.

Other things on my mind here as the year winds up… :: Our family’s overall diet needs to improve in 2011 – as in, more fiber, less crap, especially for my kids. :: We want to scope out and buy a new car this week (deals!) but we can’t seem to find one that we just love –we’re going to drive the Ford Edge today. :: Words with Friends! DH and I are still obsessed with this game. He’s beaten me 2 out of 3 but I’m about to win the 3rd game. :: I got a Buy One, Get One free coupon from Weightloss Wars yesterday and I’m tempted by it – anyone want to do a competition with me? I’ve never done one there but it might be fun and I definitely need to be held accountable. Even without the competition, I have a goal to get fit this year like DH did last year (and I know I say it all the damn time, but such is life). :: On an unrelated note, my parents got me the wine club membership I wanted, and sis got me the stemless glasses! So obviously 2011 is going to be a good year!

Merry

2010-12-23T16:49:00.002-05:00

We have done some baking. Sand Tarts, Swistle's Mint-Chocolate Brownies (so good!), and just now my MIL and AJ whipped up some chocolate chip cookie dough, for cookies to be baked tonight. Gotta have plenty for Santa, you know. I actually enjoyed letting her run my kitchen for a while -- I got out the ingredients for her, so she wouldn't have to go digging blind in my pantry, but I know that her normal place during the holidays is in the kitchen, so I'm sure she feels a bit untethered when she's not at her house. I don't think she felt put upon, just something fun to do to pass the holiday time. AJ has become quite adept at the counter, measuring out sugar and Tablespoons and sampling chocolate chips (he's a natural!). He won't crack eggs, but I don't blame him. I have a small fear of getting shells in my cookies, myself.

I got to do a solo shopping trip this morning -- basically I just left, with FIL in charge. Might not have been wise, heh. But I went to Target for stocking stuffers and last minute brainstorms, and then to Publix for sausage dressing ingredients and some more chips. And bread, milk, and potty paper -- did you hear we might have snow? A whole INCH! It's going to be magical and maybe icy, and maybe something will get cancelled if we're lucky.

KT is being adorable. We got her hair cut yesterday before meeting DH at his office and taking him out to lunch (something I hope becomes a tradition). Except when she's refusing to take a nap; that's not adorable. Her go-to line is "I wanna snaaaack" when she's starting to get really tired. I know what she means: she wants something but can't put her finger on exactly what it is, so... it must be food she wants. (Hmm. Might need to address this problem before she gets too emotionally dependent on food like her genes might lend her to be, ahem. And yes, I HAVE been enjoying the cookies, thank you very much for asking.) We suckered her with blankie and Elf with Will Ferrell this afternoon, and she's still out on my bed right now.

DH and I are playing Words With Friends because the App Store has had a 99-cent sale on games. (I also got Tetris! 1995 FTW!) I love it. A tiny little connection and reason to smile about him during random moments in the day. He played the word "S-E-X" today, a ten-point letter and a subtle wink, all at the same time. Hee hee. Technology is keeping us sane for the holidays (as you can see by my typing here).

We're all healthy and happy, and I wish the same for all of you sweet people who keep coming here to read my thoughts. Merry, Merry Christmas, and blessings to fill your heart.

Virus, as expected

2010-12-15T08:13:00.004-05:00

My special snowflake is properly diagnosed, and he's fine enough today to go to school. I didn't take his temp but he didn't feel abnormally warm like he has the last 3 days. So, Tylenol, brisk clap, you're going to school, Mister. Especially since the next 2 weeks are holidays. He's gotten smart enough to WANT to stay home "sick" now: Ferris Bueller syndrome, uh-oh. Good thing our thermometers are "instant-read" these days and he doesn't have time to dunk it into his hot chocolate while I'm not looking!

I only have 3 more days of work until my own Christmas break! Realizing this today has made me happy. I think my in-laws arrive on Wednesday next week (or maybe Tuesday), which will help with the entertaining of the kids - as will my neighbor's offer of a play-date with her son. Woo! I'll have a few additional shopping tasks to complete, and some dinner menus to stress over, but other than that, I'm looking forward to some one on one time with my Kindle. Book Club chose a very fluffy Carl Hiassen novel (Star Island), which should be Perfect. I've never read him before but it sounds like just what I need.

All that comes AFTER the Company Christmas Party this weekend, however. Ughhhhh. Do you hate your Company Christmas Party, too? No matter what, I think, they are destined to be LAME. Good thing I have a few good friends at work, and that we've made a pact that no one sits down until ALL of us have arrived. Last year I made that mistake, thinking a random table would be "A good opportunity to GET TO KNOW more people." Wrong-o. DH and I small-talked our way through about 7 minutes of our meal and then got up "for drinks" and never went back. Boring people! Also drunk and unappetizing (one couple were plotting their escape to the hotel room they'd booked, and having a dress rehearsal for what they were planning to do in said room FTLOG). Our friends finally got there and as soon as we could, the 4 of us booked it to the hotel bar. I also WILL NOT participate in the Electric Slide this year, no matter what anyone says!!

Sick days

2010-12-14T07:06:00.005-05:00

I'm feeling anxious this morning. AJ has had a fever now for 2 days, hovering between 100 and 102. It started Sunday afternoon, when he said he was tired -- something he NEVER says -- and slept through dinner. Later that night *I* was the one running to toss my cookies (you're welcome), so we both stayed home yesterday (Monday). My third sick day w/a child in the last month-ish. AJ felt fine all day yesterday, although I couldn't get his fever down with ibuprofen or magic. I figured he'd be completely righted by this morning, just a little 24-hour thing, until he came into my room and asked for some Sprite, because his tummy hurt. He was laying his head down on the table at breakfast. Still eating, which I thought was a good sign, but clearly not feeling great. Still a 101 fever.

This is where it gets harder as a 2-working-parent family than if one parent stays home, or even works at home. Of course, DH immediately said he would stay home with him today, which we always do. Switch off, I mean. He probably went to bed last night knowing that might be his fate today -- but I still feel guilty that I'm not there (it's a Mom thing, right?) and I'll feel bad about my work if I have to stay home with him again tomorrow (although I'll take my laptop home, obviously), and my mind's not focusing on all my catch-up work here at 6:50 a.m., not to mention an email that was waiting in my Inbox indicating I'm not completing one of my job-tasks the right way.

It's bad timing, too, since I've already requested off all next week for Christmas. I realize this is why they give us sick days, but when they're all close together like this it's uncomfortable. My boss is kind and I know she would/will say, "Take care of your son and get some rest," but still.

I'm sure I've written this very same post before. And with 2 kids, I'm sure I'll write it again in a couple of weeks when KT gets the germ. Sigh.

I wonder what this weird fever is, that won't go away? DH will take him to the doc today, and gosh, I hope they say, oh, his body's just trying to keep warm in this strangely cold winter we seem to be having, no biggie. But somehow I doubt it.

More Arts, Please

2010-12-08T10:02:00.007-05:00

I am enjoying your lists of traditions (see below); keep 'em coming. :)

Today, though, I want to document a couple of things. I've always loved the arts. And... hee, hee, the crafts. They've both been on my mind.

The Arts, because this season is filled with music, and mine has been speaking to me profoundly. My sister's chorus (oh look! there she is, right on top of their webpage!) recorded an amazing Christmas CD. I've been listening to it daily, but only as much as I can stand, because it's so emotionally moving I can only do one or two songs at a time. I'm amazed by the power that one chord, or, in "The Friendly Beasts," (a song I usually don't care for, btw) ONE NOTE at the lower end of the piano honestly moves me to tears. I've been wishing that I could fill my every HOUR with music and make a living from it. I don't know that that's my calling, but oh, what a joy it would be. I'm ever grateful for my own small part in the world of Music -- like last night, I got to cantor at the Immaculate Conception vigil Mass. Although it took me away from my home and family for yet another hour, I was truly lifted up by being allowed to sing. Even humble little ol' "Hail Mary, Gentle Woman." So, so grateful.

And The Crafts, because yesterday I went to the fabric store to buy grosgrain ribbon and barettes. I'm making KT a few hairbow stocking stuffers all by myself, and the idea of getting out my glue gun and attempting a new thing was surprisingly exciting for me. I don't have time for big craft projects anymore, but even a tiny trip into that side of my creativity gives me a little boost. I need to remember that, and find things I like doing, and DO THEM. Creativity is good! Crafts are okay!

Holidays are Here

2010-12-07T07:12:00.002-05:00

We put up our tree this weekend and got the house decorated with minimal trouble and fuss. I mean, there’s always nonsense when you’re asking a six-year-old and a two-year-old to calmly (ha!) put the ornaments on, one at a time please (ha!), and no, don’t take them off againDon’tTOUCHTHATONE (ha?)… but mostly we got it done in under 2 hours. Then Sunday I got the other inside decorations up (stockings, garlands, candles) while DH vacuumed. The kids just wandered around behind me looking at all the new things. It was peaceful. I do remember them both getting sent to their rooms for throwing things at one point. But usually I stress about the whole ordeal, and get overwhelmed when I see ALL the plastic tubs of Christmas decorations we’ve collected over the years. Yesterday I didn’t, though. We have too much stuff so I don’t even attempt to put everything up anymore. I think the house looks lovely, and wow, is it CLEAN! Cleaner than it’s been in a long while, I’m sad-but-happy to admit.

All that’s left is for me to display the Christmas china. One of my favorite things.

Tradition is a big deal for me, so our Elf on the Shelf is making his daily appearance, which the kids love. Aside: AJ had to do a Social Studies project yesterday about a family tradition. I didn't want to do the Elf because it's so common around here. I couldn’t really think of a great holiday one. I mean an Event. We haven’t ever adopted something like a Wintery Walk around the Neighborhood to look at lights, or a Christmas Pajamas and Photo on Christmas Eve tradition. I felt kind-of weird about that, but had to put something – I told him, ‘How about our summer tradition of a family reunion at the beach?’ It IS something we do every year, after all. Is that lame? I don’t know. I could have said Christmas Cherries Jubilee (see below), but we haven’t exactly done that every year. I guess we’re a young-ish family, and traditions will develop eventually And I’d rather they develop organically and not be forced. Anyway, the Elf: We suspect AJ has an inkling about the Truth, and KT is slightly afraid of Pepper, understandably, but it’s still a fun thing to do every year. We had a little festive snack after decorating the tree, as we do (tradition). This year it was pumpkin bread (from a mix) -- a HUGE hit. I’d like to make some Christmas cookies one weekend, as well. There are so many kid-friendly recipes from which to choose!

We’ll be home for Christmas, and DH’s parents will be with us. I’m singing with the choir at Midnight Mass, but I think we’ll take the kids to an earlier one and fight for parking with everyone else. I usually do some kind of soup (like baked potato) for Christmas Eve dinner, and then a festive breakfast on Christmas morning. I haven’t decided what to make, exactly, for Christmas dinner, but I am requiring myself to include my Mom’s sausage dressing, so that probably means turkey, and I want cranberry jelly from the can and I want Cherries Jubliee, even though my Mom won’t be here to light and stir the fire. Oh! I think I also want to make her bread pudding at some point this year. Lots, lots to do. :)

The grumpies, some links and Christmas Shopping!

2010-12-03T08:18:00.004-05:00

I’m in a grumpy mood, for, um…. lunar reasons, as well as my kids being growly monsters to me this morning, AND S’bux not having Christmas Blend available to drink, only to purchase as beans or grounds. Boo. I wanted to taste that today and feel cheery.

In an attempt to turn the tides, let me now talk about Things I Like. Nicole suggested I do this, as did my Darling Husband, because then my Christmas wishes would be out there for the people who need to see them. I have an Amazon wish list, but every time I go to ‘shop’ for my own list, I start feeling overwhelmed and unable to focus. For some reason writing down What I Like in a Word document is easier.

I like Wine. Swistle suggested this as a gift for people who don’t want anything, and I agreed with her! It’s slightly expensive-ish, but when you’re trying to develop a wine project, it’s an investment, am I right?? I'm concerned about delivery - someone said they ship "Signature required," and I'm never home. But I like the idea of a 3-month subscription, delivering 1 Red/1 White, every other month. (Seems rude to get so specific. I want I want I want.)

I like wine glasses (but not my cobalt blue ones). I want some stemless ones, even though they’re not “in” anymore, according to my home décor and entertaining sources. Our “thing” this year has been Netflix and wine, when we remember it and I’m not half-dead-asleep on the couch on a weekend night, and it’s uncomfortable to hold a stemmed glass when you’re trying to snuggle under a blanket in the dark.

I like Purses. I love purses, in fact. I haven't bought as many this year as usual. I've never had a Vera Bradley (and this one's on sale), so it would be a fun, new look for me. And naturally I like Coach, but they are not in a very jolly price range so I wouldn't ask anybody to buy one for me. Still, fun to look!

I like Jewelery. I say this every year, but I can never have enough new earrings. When you wear an accessory every day, it’s nice to have plenty to rotate around, you know? Even cheap ones from Target are a welcome gift for me, because I rarely buy myself new ones (except I DID buy a pair the other day, on clearance, and that was FUN)! I prefer silver as a general rule, but gold is making a comeback and I don’t have anything NEW in gold. I need a long, bangly necklace of some sort (cheap), too.

I like Coffee. My Mom always gets me Starbucks gift cards and I LURVH her for that. But coffees for my home use, or VIA instant flavored packets, would be rilly cute in a stocking! A friend has been giving me her Vanilla Gevalia coffee, and it’s delicious. Really, any pretty flavored coffee gift set would suit me just fine.

I am surprised to find I like Aprons. It's the one Amazon browsing success I've had. They seem to be making a comeback, and my husband will tell you that I am a MESS in the kitchen. I’ve ruined plenty of white blouses while cooking spaghetti. Dumb. One apron that I think is cute is this one at C&B. (Aside: I love red. It’s been my favorite color since childhood. Is that odd? Never changes. None of the other colors in the rainbow sparkle, for me, like red.) I also totally love this one, even though it is decidedly NOT red.

Can’t you just see me, decked out in my apron, with new silver earrings, and a stemless glass of red wine in-hand while I cook? Me too.

A is for Aladdin, B is for Belle…

2010-12-01T21:29:00.007-05:00

Once you start looking, you realize that Disney basically owns the entire known universe, especially the commercial parts. ESPN, the Herbie movies, both old and new, the Three Little Pigs for heaven’s sake, and ABC News. They may even station a glittery Tinkerbell over the A-B-Cs, themselves, one of these days. I wouldn’t be surprised.

You kind-of want to dislike them for that. For commercializing everything and charging an arm and a leg for it. For playing that incessant song on the Ride That Shall Not Be Named for your earworm convenience (on the boats, with the dancing dolls). For putting Princess stuff EVERYWHERE from the time your girl babies are born, including on diapers and underwear. And for making you feel like you WANT to pay an arm and a leg when you’re there at the parks, because it’s MAGIC. They have conned you! There’s nothing magic about it, it’s just the savviest of savvy businessmen getting ready to hear the ka-ching.

But, in fact, it IS pretty magical.

KT meets Princess Aurora by running up to her and promptly telling her all the things she knows, about her friend MacKenzie, and school, and going to the fair, and cake, and Dolly… like she’s just met her BFF in person for the very first time. I cried.

And AJ, seriously committed to his appointment to the Jedi Academy at Disney Hollywood Studios. He learned his moves and especially made his Daddy proud (near to tears, I hope he doesn't mind if I mention) by fighting Darth Maul. In a Jedi robe! All I can say is CUTE! And BEWARE, Dark Side.

We had a wonderful, magical time this Thanksgiving. Thank you, Mom and Dad, and thank you, Walt Disney. I'm grateful for you, too!

November: Lists, Drugs, Cone-heads and Mickey Mouse

2010-11-23T07:36:00.007-05:00

Has anyone seen the month of November? I know it was here, but somehow it got away from me and I’m looking over my shoulder, side to side... nope, gone. What happened?!

In related news: I’m not ready for Christmas yet!! I did, however, get an Advent calendar, about which I'm unreasonably excited. I got a paper one so I wouldn't have to come up with 25 days' worth of non-candy treats. Usin' the ol' noggin.

DH and I have done some shopping for the kidlets – he handles the action figures and I handle the pink stuff. I think they’re both going to have a nice Santa spread, but not extravagant. I still need to get a few small things to round it out, and stocking stuffers. The stressful part for me is shopping for family members and friends. Don’t you agree? My main issues are thus:

Distance -- We don’t know from seeing them daily what kinds of things they like, or already have.

Wish Lists – Agh. Have I whined about this before? We typically exchange “gift ideas” with each other, but I’m completely bored by it. It feels more like business and not like we give because we love the recipient and are thoughtful and creative. I struggle with this every year. Of course everyone wants to receive things they like, and sometimes coming up with ideas out of thin air is hard (see: Distance, above)... but some people in my family insist, “I need your lists!!” and there’s all this pressure, and I want to say, “Just go to Pier One and pick something pretty! Like a candle because it’s consumable and won’t stay in my house for the next 40 years. Or better yet, a tin of hot cocoa.” Why does it have to be so hard? I guess we don’t all want a pile of Hostess Gifts, but on the other hand... why not?? They’re lovely.

I don’t mean to complain. Mostly my sis-in-law was very persistent about wanting our lists this year. In AUGUST. I don’t think I ever sent her one so she’s going to have to figure it out. I’m anxious to get myself in gear for them, and for all our parents, friends and neighbors. My failsafe: I bought extra Cub Scout popcorn in yummy flavors so the neighbors might be taken care of. ;)

LISTS!

...

November has been asthma awareness month. By the end of nearly every night I’m sighing REAL LOUD and my lungs kind-of ache. I got a doctor's appointment as soon as one was available (Nov 30) and then went to the Little Clinic for a new inhaler that is not expired.

And speaking of drugs. I’m one of three of us family members on antibiotics at the moment, for the vague issue of "sinus trouble" (HATE). Frankly, the humidifier seems to have helped more in the last 2 days than 7 days’ worth of horse-pills, but whatever. AJ had strep so he’s on teh juice, too, and Napoleon the dog is also medicated. I hadn’t told you about that but long story short, he had some surgery after a difficult decision about whether or not he could handle the anesthesia. Happy to report that he handled it just fine, and we’re glad to have him back, and have him available for cuddling and patting. He is no longer a smelly cone-head, and I am no longer wiping down his reverse lampshade collar every day with a Lysol wipe. Thank GOD. Blech.

...

Let’s end this month with a flourish – we’re off to Disney World tomorrow. The Happiest Place on Earth, during The Busiest Week of The Year (a fact about which I was not aware). Could be our least favorite trip there, but somehow I think it’ll still be awesome. Happy Thanksgiving!

Seven Quick Verbs for the Weekend

2010-11-12T10:01:00.003-05:00

1. Read: I can’t wait to do some reading this weekend. It is now 5 days before my next Book Club meeting, and I’m finally dialed into the book. (The Host, Stephanie Meyer.) And oh, man, do I want to read it A LOT this weekend. I’m going to have to carve out unique times for reading, though, because prime time is OUT. I fall asleep nearly immediately once my friend, A$$, meets my friend, Couch. Especially if their buddy, Afghan, comes over. Watch out. Yesterday I read for an hour and a half in the late afternoon, outdoors, while AJ played with our neighbor friend. It was heaven. (KT was still at school which, I’m sorry to say, makes a huge difference.) Maybe I’ll get up before the kids this weekend and make my coffee, and read for an hour. HA. I said maybe.

2. Sing: We sang the first of our Christmas music last night at choir. I’m supremely excited because 1.) I haven’t sung at a Midnight Mass in YEARS because we were either traveling or I was on a choir-break. This year, I’m IN choir, we’re staying HOME for Christmas. Win win! AND 2.) we have an excellent director who’s chosen some of my very favorites (Still, Still, Still – in English, not German, but …still (heh), it’s a great piece, and In the Bleak Mid-Winter, with a soprano solo that I WANT I WANT I WANT).

3. Hike: Did I mention I hiked yesterday? Am So Proud Of Self! The best news is the Cub Scouts have a “Go See It” planned for Sunday, at “my” mountain! Avec hike! I’m excited to share this family activity. Built-in exercise for the win!

4. Wash: Laundry, of course. I shamefully let a load sit in my dryer for 3 days this week. Just folded ‘em last night. I am a terrible laundress.

5. Choose: We’ve been saying we’re going to repaint the walls of our kitchen/living area. It’s been on the goal list forever. “This year,” I’ve said. “THIS YEAR we’re going to do it.” I had October in mind. ...Whoops. Anyway, tomorrow’s only got one planned activity at lunchtime – maybe we could at least go to the paint store and choose the colors. Bring home a test pint, or something. It’d be nice to have it done for Christmas.

6. Sleep. OBVS.

7. Charge: my iPod nano. I have to go down to the basement to plug it into my now old G3 iMac (or, wait, is it even an “i” Mac? Or just a plain ol’ Mac? I can’t keep up) because this iPod is synced there, instead of our family-room laptop. But I have some great music on there for the kids, and I can’t continue to listen to the Disney Halloween CD in the car every time they shout, “Halloween music!” October is PASSED. I’m ready for some new Tunes.

What’re you doing this weekend?

More Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

Monday, Accompli

2010-11-11T12:38:00.002-05:00

Hiked today: 20 minutes. Yesssssssss. *fist pump*