Finding The Funny

Suggestions Needed!

2012-02-12T14:05:00.000-05:00

At a recent retreat my music selections were the topic of ridicule.

Hubby and I brought along Mp3 player and speakers, and hit play. We warned people, told them to bring their own music. We were not being polite, now you know why.

Let me say that my most recent music purchase was the Glee soundtrack, and that was a year or so ago. Any music purchases before that would have been made a good 10 years earlier, and usually fell under the compilation category, or movie soundtrack.

Wham came on, those in the room said "let us make fun of Erin." The Top Gun soundtrack came on, and all the women swooned as we talked about the volleyball game. ABBA began to play, and I stood my ground. After all, you can't disrespect the classics.

I've talked about this before, I am not big on music. Pandora is my DJ of choice, I even choose from one of the present channels. Unfortunately for our retreat group, there was no wifi.

Seriously, next time someone else can bring their play lists if mine were so bad.

Anywho, Christmas rolled around and I inserted several iTunes gift cards into my, and Hubby's, stockings. The other day I ventured onto the site to do a little shopping.

What are all the kids listening to these days?

Justin Bieber? Umm, no. A 39 year-old purchasing Bieber songs, that is just wrong in so many ways. Hmmm, those Black Eyed Peas look so hip. That cute Katy Perry seems to have some cute songs.

You can see the problem here. I have idea where to begin.

So, what did I end up purchasing?

Two songs from Adele, and two more from a Glee soundtrack. (Not that I've bothered to sync my Touch with the updated play list.)

:::sigh:::

Hey, I hear REM is breaking up, I wonder if they came out with a new compilation CD.

Turning Around the Left Overs

2012-02-02T13:27:00.000-05:00

Mid-January I wrote about the Christmas left overs that seem to remain hidden in our homes. No matter how often we sweep, those pine needles are still making an appearance come June, when it is mingled with the sand and grass of summer time play.

As I wrote that post I could feel convicted to write another post, but this time turning around the tongue and cheek griping of lost instructions and wayward toy ties.

All the stuff I complained about was just that, STUFF. Items we bring into our house, and lives, during Christmas, and none of it has to do with the true meaning of Christmas. None of it has to do with Christ's birth and the fulfillment of God's promises.

Bottom line, why am I complaining? I did this to myself.

And, instead of complaining, let us turn it around. Instead of rolling our eyes when we find torn up pieces of wrapping paper between the sofa cushions in March, or lost Christmas cards now found in your tax folder, let us take a moment and think on what Christmas truly means.

Instead of complaining about it, make it into a devotional moment.

A reverse Advent if you will. Meditate on peace, and hope, and love, and grace. Oh my, don't we all need to show a little more grace? Let us first start with thinking of the one who showed us the ultimate grace.

With Easter soon making an appearance on our calendars,

Common' don't groan at me, it is already February.

let us do the same thing when we sweep up Easter grass from under the sofa and find that last dyed egg in the back of the refrigerator, at the end of May.

Take a moment and reflect on God's love. On the relationship he wants with you, and not with all the stuff we bring into our lives.

Oh Irony ... I Can Do With Out

2012-01-31T16:02:00.000-05:00

Between early school dismissal, regular school dismissal, car pool, and errands, I swept ED into a well doctor visit. Simple, right? Or, it was until the doctor announced that the "scab" under his nose was actually impetigo, not a left over scrape from his bike wipe out several weeks earlier.

Impetigo is a highly contagious skin rash, one of the strep variety of infections. Or is it staph, I get those two mixed up. This was the second time ED had contracted it. This child is prone to rashes, benign rashes, so when he has impetigo we tend not to notice since they have been mild cases.

OK, enough wiki-babble, moving on.

Point is, the afternoon was filled with crazy and I now had a prescription to fill, but not enough time to fill it, and no good place to stop, drop it off, and return to pick it up. Yes, there are more pharmacies then I can count on my route, but which one to pick from so I would not have to make two trips?

I decided to drop it off at the pharmacy next to the doctor's office. Since the office and pharmacy are on the other side of town, from where we live, this is not a pharmacy we use often. It is, however, on Hubby's drive to and from work, so I figured Hubby could stop by on the way home, later that evening, and pick up the prescription. Plus, of all the other pharmacies I could choose from, this was a local store. Yes, let us support local when we can.

Simple, right?

The problem was, Hubby did not leave work that evening until 6. The local pharmacy closes at 6. No medicine for ED's infection.

The next day was just as crazy, and I ended up doing what I had tried to avoid the day before, an out of my way pick up. This was decided on when I called Hubby, asking if he might be leaving work before 6, and his answer was a long groan.

'nuff said.

So, with a car FULL of kids, lord have mercy, I took the scenic (i.e. all the way A.R.O.U.N.D. town) route home. Picked up the cream, and proceeded to drop off all children at their proper housing, and torture my own a little longer with a trip to the grocery store. "Look kid, you may be tired now, but wait until there is no food for dinner tonight, then you will be whining."

When we got home I set the tube of cream on the counter, next to an identical tube of cream.

Yes, apparently I already had the prescription cream needed for ED's infection. The first tube of cream was bought a week earlier for EM's finger, that had a staph infection. (Or, was it strep?)

Can I have my $10 co-pay back please?

Fault Lies ... Where?

2012-01-22T21:57:00.000-05:00

The kids were upstairs, playing together, playing well together, albeit a little loud, but I will accept what I can.

I was in the kitchen, cleaning and organizing.

There was a clatter of something falling, the sound of scampering feet, and total silence upstairs.

I walked around the downstairs, noticing nothing out of place I returned to the kitchen. Hey, if it is broken I will eventually learn about it. And, now there was silence upstairs.

A couple minutes later ED comes wondering downstairs and asks, "Mom, did you hear a crashing sound?"

Me: "Yes, do you know what it was?"

ED: "I heard the noise."

Me: "So, you were in your room? You weren't playing with your siblings?"

ED: "I heard a clattering noise."

Me: "Well, I don't know what it was. I'm sure we will learn eventually."

ED returned upstairs, and I returned to my cleaning and organizing. Soon after that exchange I hear children at the top of the stairs. Children chattering, and waiting. Waiting for mom to walk by so they could confess.

I discover that JT had created a slingshot out of his robe's belt, and had flung a beach ball from the top of the stairs, trying to aim for the kitchen (which would mean practically hanging over the stair's banister to reach the kitchen since the location of the kitchen is directly behind our stairs.) He did not reach the kitchen, instead he knocked down a couple of the iron letters, that spell "family", which sit on our mantel.

Hence, the clattering noise, and easy enough to pick up and return to their places, which I told JT to do.

At this point I saw ED, standing behind his siblings, and realized he had witnessed the sling shot incidence.

Me: "Wait a minute, ED, you saw the slingshot in action? You saw the letters fall down? Yet, you came downstairs, acting all innocent to not knowing what happened? Were you trying to get the other two in trouble?"

ED: "But, I just gave him the idea of a slingshot, I didn't knock down the letters."

So, to recap.

There was a crashing noise, and quiet children. ED came downstairs, acting as if he knew nothing about it; when, in fact he had witnessed the entire thing and knew exactly what had happened. When confronted, all he had to say for himself was that he only gave the idea of a slingshot.

The boys were told to put on their shoes and take the slingshot outside. No more slinging in the house, thank you very much.

:::sigh:::

Left Overs

2012-01-17T20:39:00.002-05:00

We are well into January. Our Christmas tree left our premises before 2012 began. We have already replaced a washing machine, performed a physics test in the form of a fender bender, celebrated a birthday, and dealt with sickness.

However, there are reminders of Christmas all around our house. Reminders I will find well into spring.

Pine Needles. I sweep when the tree comes into the house. I sweep while the tree is in the house, and perform the ritual deep clean sweep after the tree leaves the house. Yes, I am still finding pine needles. Under the sofa, in the sofa, under the run, hanging out of the floorboards and trim. Yes, today I was pulling pine needles out of the trim.

And, in case you are a fake tree believer, let me tell you, you will also find yourself cleaning pine needles. Yes, they may be plastic, but they will appear when you least expect them.

Tinsel, glitter, anything shiny and tiny. No need to say more.

Wrapping paper. Ripped up pieces, thrown carelessly here and there, and eventually ending up under the sofa, in the sofa, and under the rug.

Christmas Cards. Some of those late arriving ones ended up in a pile on the counter, and I am just now working my way through this pile of papers. Merry Christmas!

Those Toy Ties. (said with gritted teeth) Ties of any sort. The wire kind, the string kind. The plastic loops and rubber band types.

Instructions. Instructions for games, how to assemble, where to find the battery panel, .... Instructions. Instructions that you needed 3 weeks ago, and couldn't find; and, now that you have found them you cannot find the toy.

Christmas Cookies. Let's face it. No matter how many we ate. How many we gave away. How many we trotted off to family gatherings, there will be a cookies or two left, which no one wants to eat.

Christmas Music. Apparently I haven't listened to Pandora in awhile, because today when I turned it on Christmas music started to play. Or, what happened to me last year, was that Christmas music infiltrated a perfectly good, non-Christmas station.

My Facebook Picture. Before Christmas I posted a picture of a once 2-year-old child of mine, helping to decorate for Christmas. It hasn't changed yet.

I love Christmas as much as the next person, maybe a little more so. However, when the new year rolls around I'm ready to move on, and clean up. My house is always a wreck after the holidays, and the sooner I can wipe up all signs of Christmas excess the happier I am.

What reminders of Christmas are you still finding around your house?

Happy New Year.

Life with ADHD

2012-01-10T09:57:00.000-05:00

My ADHD son took a class on regulating his energy levels.

One of the first activities was to make a collage of his energy levels, when he feels "Low", "Just Right", and "High".

Here are the pictures he cut out to correspond with those levels:

For "Low", a motorcycle. For "Just Right", a motorcycle. For "High", a motorcycle.

Now some, like my dear son, will argue that each motorcycle is different, and in different scenarios, so they do depict different energy levels.

I, the mother, only see motorcycles. Fast moving motorcycles.

:::sigh:::

Resolve

2012-01-08T21:48:00.000-05:00

Do you resolve each new year?

I do, and I don't.

I used to do the usual, stop biting my nails ... hasn't happened yet. Save money, still working on it. Lose weight, the one thing I can't lose. Stop eating chocolate ... oh wait, that used to be a Lent item.

The joy of being on the far end of 30 is that I no longer make those resolutions, nor give up chocolate for Lent.

Yes, there are changes we work on at the beginning of each new year.

Finances are usually one of them. We adjust our budget, since salary adjustments take place at the beginning of the year. Plus, the last quarter of every year is a spending fest, it takes the first quarter of the new year to reign it back in.

Weight, yeah whatever. This is becoming a frustrating one for me. However, once again, due to circumstances (i.e. end of year baking and binge fest) it is time to hit the gym. For whatever reasons, each new year gives me new motivation to workout. I'll take it.

No longer biting my nails, I'm on the far end of 30 and it hasn't happened yet. I don't want anyone crossing their fingers.

Then there are years when I've made goals for daily living. One year I wanted to write more cards to people. Thank you cards, thinking of you cards, job well done notes, basically a hand written note of appreciation. Don't we all need to take more time and encourage each other in a more heartfelt manner. Plus, I have a thing for cute note cards, if I'm going to buy them then I need to use them.

In year's past we have worked on goals for our family. This was usually worked on over the Christmas holidays, when Hubby and I were driving the highway, from family gathering to family gathering. Unfortunately, our family planning has wained over the years. I would like to blame it on the lack of highway traveling, but it has probably more to do with my lack of organization.

Which brings me to one more goal that I'm working on, becoming better organized. Since re-entering the work force this past fall we have been getting by, but presently our house is a bit of a wreck, and working our way through the Christmas season made me realize that we will not be "getting by" for long. Plus, I don't want to be that family that just "gets by" day to day. I want us to be productive, complete projects around the house, and open our house and lives to others (another yearly goal). Something we can only do if we get it together.

So, have you made any resolutions? Do you make new ones, keep the old ones (because one of these years they have to work, right), or have you left the whole thing behind?

If Anyone Needs Me ... I'm finding my happy place

2012-01-05T13:56:00.000-05:00

I would like to think that I am not a suspicious person, but 2012 is starting out in an expensive, and explosive way, which makes me wonder about the rest of the year.

Two days into the new year and our washing machine dies. Hubby did some investigative work and discovered that the rear drum of our front loader had a big hole in it, explaining the constant leaking. Do we fix, or replace?

We replaced. And, I now have a brand new, shiny and blue, washing machine. Which is making me want to replace the dryer with a like model and color to the washing machine. And, redo my laundry room, which I've been dreaming about since the day we moved in.

Yep, 2012 is turning into an expensive year.

The following day we woke to snow. There is a reason why I usually stay home on days like these, away from the untreated, hilly streets, where southerners drive. We were rear ended at a stop sign. (And to the person sitting in front of us, who didn't seem in a hurry to turn one way or the other, until after we were hit, Seriously!)

Thankfully, we were fine. Our car, which is actually a minivan, is fine, other than a slight indentation and some read paint on the bumper. The guy who hit us, in a tiny puddle jumper, did not fair as well. His air bags deployed and the windshield broke.

That evening Hubby mentioned that his car battery was acting funny. Yes, it may be time for a new battery, or maybe it was just the cold. Since the weather has warmed up the battery is working fine, so we will blame it on the cold.

Now, some may say that all this means that we are now free and clear for a great year, we have the bad stuff out of the way.

Others may advise me to crawl under the covers and not come out until December.

A third voice would tell me to get over it. Bad things happen, and there is no great cosmic force keeping track.

Either way, if you need me, I'll be hiding under my bed until December. Enjoy 2012.

Role Reversal

2012-01-02T21:46:00.000-05:00

Today marked the end of our two week vacation at home.

Thankfully, the return to our regular schedules are staggered throughout the week. After two weeks of slothfulness I don't think I could take a cold turkey reentry to reality. I returned to work this morning, while Hubby and the kids stayed home.

I like this set up:

I was only responsible for myself, getting myself up (with Hubby's help), ready, fed, and out the door.
A "to-do" list, for everyone's enjoyment, was left behind while I went to work. The kids dusted, swept, Hubby took down Christmas decorations and washed dishes. They even stripped beds and started the laundry. Seriously, I can get use to this "mom leaves for work while everyone else stays home and cleans house" situation.
Then, after my grueling 4 hours of work (yes, that was tongue in cheek) I returned home to hugs from my kiddies, and the undying love and gratitude of my husband. He loves spending time with the kids, but he can't understand how I survived 10 years of being home, alone, with children.

Not a bad way to start the new year.

Celebrating!

2011-12-30T22:20:00.001-05:00

This past week I had one more thing to celebrate, the creation of NyQuil.

Let me just say, I. Hate. Colds. I LOVE cold relieving drugs. Even more so after spending around 5 years, straight, either pregnant or nursing, when I couldn't take medicines for colds. Believe me, I remember Every. Single. Cold/Cough I had during those times.

There was the horrendous cough I had while pregnant with our oldest; and trying a homeopathic method to calm the coughs before I cracked a rib. While warmed grapefruit juice does taste nice, it does nothing for a cough.

There was the cold I had on 9/11, and stayed up half the night, watching news recaps because I couldn't sleep. Then again, I don't think it was my lack of drugs keeping me up that night. Most of the country was up all night watching the news.

When ED was an infant we all had a cold, that lingered for weeks. The burp clothes became tissues.

... Let us just say I am now extremely grateful every time I can take medicines. Even more grateful when Hubby is home in the morning, like he has been this past week, so I can take a full dose of the medicine. That stuff really knocks me out, and unless I can sleep it off (meaning sleep till 9 or 10am) I can only take half a dose.

I know, my life is so complicated sometimes. This probably falls under the file of "First World Problems". However, a girl can still be grateful, even for the insignificant things.

I Done Good

2011-12-29T21:55:00.000-05:00

My children know me so well.

Before Christmas break, the kid's school had a Christmas Gift store, kids could exchange their good behavior tickets for gifts.

EM "bought" me this:

A little notepad. Because I love making notes. I love to-do lists. I love note pads.

ED brought home a red fleece blanket. I love blankets, especially fleece ones. My living room is covered in blankets. It is my personal belief that every living room in the world should have at least one blanket.

That is what my children gave to me for Christmas. A mother could not ask for anything more, affirmation that I am teaching them well.

Fall Into Reading Recap

2011-12-22T16:29:00.000-05:00

Another reading challenge has come and gone, and I must confess I failed miserably at this one.

Well, maybe not a complete failure; since, in order to completely fail one would have to read nothing. I at least read; and though I did not complete my list, I never do.

So, here is the link to my original list, at the start of this challenge.

This was my Youth Fiction Edition, yes, my challenges usually run a theme. And, yes, this sounds like, and was, easy reading. Despite that fact, it seemed I found ten thousand, and one things to do instead of read. :::cough:::Netflix:::cough:::

So, let us see, what did I read:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling
Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen
Flush, by Carl Hiaasen
The Naked Anabaptist, by Stuart Murray

I've started Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, however, this has been slow going.

This week, I took a detour from my list and started The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick (this I think I'll finish before Harry Potter). My son checked it out of the library, so I picked it up after he finished reading it.

If you have not read Carl Hiaasen I recommend them, for adults who enjoy youth fiction, and for young readers. The content is kid friendly, i.e. no language or undesirable situations, the main characters tend to me the underdog, who finds themselves speaking up to save the environment.

This challenge has taught me one thing, I need to set aside time to read. I began a new job in September, part time hours, but after being home for 10 years, anything is an adjustment. Needless to say, the fall has been a time of schedule juggling, as I figure out how to fit everything into my days. During this challenge I found the only time I gave myself to read was 10 minutes, between crawling into bed and turning off the lights to go to sleep. Not conducive to enjoying a book.

Over the fall my reading list has grown, and now that everyone is on Christmas vacation I'm hoping to give myself a lot of uninterrupted reading time.

Katrina, thank you for another challenge. I did learn one new thing from this challenge, to make reading more of a priority, at least more than Netflix. :::cough:::

Video Delight

2011-12-21T16:40:00.001-05:00

This makes me wish I liked egg nog:

Murphy Rises Again

2011-12-20T14:13:00.000-05:00

Otherwise known as: Next Time, Follow My Hostess Gift Rules.

As a rule, I don't give alcohol as a hostess gift.

I don't have any great prohibitionist reason. In fact, if you want to come to my house and bring a hostess gift, I'm into red wines at the moment, especially Shiraz and Malbec.

No, part of the reason comes from my cheapness, it just doesn't look good to give a cheap bottle of alcohol as a gift.

Another reason would be my complete lack of knowledge when it comes to alcohol ... sorry Dad, apparently I learned nothing from all those years with a liquor cabinet in the house.

Then, there are my office working days, where I, a lowly administrative assistant, had no use to compete with the brokers for the boss' attention by handing over an expensive bottle of liquor. Plus, how many bottles of wine/liquor does one person need ... that was rhetorical, don't answer that.

No, I usually stick with a nice ornament. Something they could hang on their tree, if they so desire, and completely forget that it came from us, or use it as a hostess gift of their own.

I am not above re-gifting.

So, all this to say that, as a rule, we don't give alcohol as a hostess gift, until last week when we did give a bottle of wine.

I had run out of "hostess gift quality" ornaments (i.e. unique). I wasn't making a trip out into the craziness we call Christmas shopping, to find some "hostess gift quality" ornaments. I do that after Christmas.

I mean, there comes a point when you just have to shut yourself inside your house and announce you are never leaving again until mid-January.

I have reached that point.

Since I had just been to the store (not the one with unique ornaments), and since I had just stocked up on wine, (we are looking at 2 weeks of Christmas vacation, with EVERYONE home. Mom is trying to make it merry) I was moving out of my comfort zone and giving a bottle of wine.

Plus, I could pass along the wine bottle bag sitting in a drawer (re-gifting people).

We arrived, Hubby hands over the wine to our host, who places it on the entry table, and leaves it there. I'm not even sure if he opened the bag to look at the bottle. Hmmm, that was strange.

We enter the party, it is Friday and I'm looking for something good to drink. Ah wine, but the bottles were not opened, and there is no cork screw in sight. Strange.

I see people drinking beer, so I begin my search.

I should note that I had already said hello to several people, and filled my plate with food. No, I have not ignored everyone in search for the alcohol.

I find a mish mash of coolers, with a mish mash of beer inside of them. Nothing to make me WANT a bottle of beer (not my first drink of choice anyway, unless it is summer). In fact, it looks like all this beer was carried in by the party attenders. Which, is not unusual, but little clues were beginning to add up.

The gift bagged bottle of wine was still sitting on the entry table, all alone. There are no other bottles, or hostess looking gifts in the vicinity.
The bottles of wine are not open. There is no corkscrew in sight. There are no wine glasses in sight. This is a swanky house. The host and hostess are past the frat house reunion stage, I can't imagine them expecting people to drink wine out of Solo cups. Not that I'm above such things, I'll take my wine from the bottle if necessary.
A BYOB assortment of beers (meaning all the cheap stuff was left for those of us out of the know.)

Ummmm, our host and hostess don't drink. Oh my goodness. The one time we give a bottle of wine as a hostess gift, it was to a dry couple.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ...

2011-12-16T14:12:00.000-05:00

As we were carrying our Christmas tree down to the shake, net and pay area, a school friend of ED's was walking up the hill.

For some reason our accident prone child was carrying the hand saw. (Hubby and JT were carrying the tree, I was busy snapping pictures, and giving it to my 6 year old made me think OSHA would be jumping out of the woods and serving me with a fine, so someone had to carry it.)

ED's school friend was walking up the hill, towards us, also carrying a hand saw.

The boys saw each other, they yelled their names, and then :::gasp::: they began to run towards each other, saws in hand, raising their arms to hug each other.

"Put down the hand saws before you hug each other", I yelled.

:::sigh::: The book I could fill, with all the phrases I've said, as a parent, the sayings I never imagined coming from my lips.

A Record

2011-12-11T13:41:00.000-05:00

We Came

We Saw

We Sawed

We all agreed, the time we spent picking out a tree was a record, we were up and down that hill in no time, and enjoying our hot chocolate before our hands had time to feel the cold.

I just wish the setting up, decorating, and cleaning up from all the decorating was just as short. I think I lost count as to how many times I swept the living room, after bringing in the tree.

That Time of Year

2011-12-08T21:41:00.000-05:00

I'm making a list, and checking it twice:

... so I only need to make one trip to the store.

Happy Baking!!!!

A Seasonal Showdown

2011-11-29T15:11:00.000-05:00

The Thankful List

2011-11-27T16:11:00.000-05:00

To go along with the theme of Thanksgiving, here is my thankful list.

Granted, I haven't had a continual theme of anything on my blog, unless procrastination counts. In that case, I'm continuing my theme of procrastination by posting my Thankful List the Sunday after Thanksgiving. (This appears to be a tradition of mine.)

I Am Thankful For:

A loving God, who doesn't give up on me.

My husband, who also doesn't give up on me.

3 healthy children, who make me smile and laugh every day.

That Hubby and I are both employed.

That I found a job that is flexible with the fact that I am a mom.

A warm house, with closets filled with clothes and cupboards filled with food.

Health insurance, eye insurance, and dental insurance.
(This was even more appreciated our 4th trip to the Optometrist to straighten ED's glasses. The new ones we had replaced, when he broke his first pair 2 months ago. It was at that time we realized all of our glasses have a 1 year warranty, and it even covers crazy kids doing crazy things with their glasses.)

Our health, so we do not need to test the boundaries of the above insurance.

------------------------------------------------------------
I'm noticing that my thankful list is running another theme, being thankful for items that many are, unfortunately, doing without. While I am thankful that we have been minimally affected by the recession, I do wonder what more we can do to help others.

Don't Eat That!

2011-11-22T09:28:00.000-05:00

At some point, during every school year, my children's teachers will receive a home made food item as a gift. Christmas, Valentine's, Teacher Appreciation, End of Year ... I have found giving gifts to teachers helps when you have a difficult child.

Every time I make a food gift my children will ask, beg, and whine to help, but they can't because I don't.

Did I mention I'm a little Type A.

I do, however, allow the children to deliver "their" gifts. I tend to hover in the background, allowing the teacher and student to have their moment. Then I hear the question, "did you help make this?"

Ah, the guilt sets in. "No", I will reply, along with the child, "I'm a little too Type A to allow the kids to help me." Well, that and I'm usually constrained by time, so I'm just looking to complete the job with minimal mess and drama.

However, the question always makes me feel guilty. No, I do not allow my children to help me, to learn a skill and craft a gift for their teacher.

I used to feel guilty, until I heard this story. Now, there is no more guilt.

I co-worker was talking about her student teaching experience, and one of the pieces of advice her cooperating teacher gave her was, "never eat any food your student gives you." Meaning, unless you know the family, you may not want to eat anything from their kitchen. Even if you know the family, if the child helped make it you may be taking your health into your own hands.

Ah, now that question is put into a new perspective. The teachers were not judging my worthiness as a parent by asking if the kids helped make it, they were just wondering if it was safe to eat.

Maybe, this year I'll attach a sticker, "No Children Participated in the Making of this Food Item."

Listen Up!

2011-11-20T21:20:00.001-05:00

It is true, my nature tends to lean on the road rage side of driving, aka I yell a lot when driving.

And, there are some drivers that cause me to yell a little more then usual.

Drivers who tend to make be yell the loudest are those who do not use the provided center lane when they are turning left. Instead they stop in the middle of the moving lane, stopping traffic behind them, waiting for traffic (2 lanes over) to clear, and then turn left.

Really?!?

The fact that there is a center lane, with a curving arrow point to the left, means nothing to you?

So, for all those who wonder why there is a third lane, in the center of the street, with a curving arrow pointing to the left, here is a short tutorial ... since you seem to have forgotten since taking that driver's ed class.

(Note, that this is taken from the Virginia DMV handbook; however, I'm taking a wild guess that it is the same in most U.S. states.)

"On three-lane roads with traffic moving in both directions, road markings show when drivers may use the center lane for making left turns or for passing.

If the center lane is marked by a single broken yellow line on both sides, drivers traveling in either direction may use the center lane for passing.

If both sides of the center lane are marked by a solid yellow line and a broken yellow line, drivers traveling in either direction may use the lane for making left turns. However, they may not travel further than 150 feet in this
lane."

OK, so, now you know. That center lane, the one that has caused you to scratch your head all these years in bewilderment, "why would they build a lane no one drives on, that darn stimulus package, what a waste", is there for a reason. I am suggesting you use it.

Thank you!

Them Be Fightin' Words

2011-11-14T20:13:00.000-05:00

OK, so I knew what I was posting would cause a few raised hackles. And, I knew that when I posted it that a few of my friends would be replying, or calling, or hunting me down.

Realizing that you may have a problem helps in preparing for the fall out.

So, here is the highly controversial post I made on Facebook:

Why do we want our kids in private school? JT's teacher (who is in private school) summed it up nicely; she can teach above and beyond the standards required by the public schools. Where in public school, they teach the standards, nothing more, nothing less.

I then had to clarify,

And, to be perfectly clear, we love our public school teachers, who excel even with SOL constraints. I do wonder what more they could achieve if they were not held back by tests.

Yes, one of our children is in a private school this year. It has always been the plan that our kids would attend the local, church associated, middle and high school; our oldest started a year earlier then planned, for a variety of reasons.

And we are thrilled with our decision. We have also been thrilled with the years we have had, and continue to spend, in public school. However, I now have a parallel look at both systems, and it does make me ponder the differences.

Of course, that is not to say that, across the board, private is better than public. Growing up, I went to public school, and looking at the few private schools in our area there really was no comparison to which was the better education.

Naturally, when a teacher has a class of no more then a baker's dozen, it is easy to be creative and push all kids to, and beyond, their abilities.

It is probably safe to say that when a parent is writing a monthly tuition check that parent is a little more invested in their child's education. That is not to say that public school parents are not, but the ratio (just speculation) is higher in private schools.

There are a variety of reasons why, if we could financially, I would place all our children in the private school. None of the reasons have to do with the teachers, because they too take my children beyond the standards, but there are so many more issues holding them back.

We all have differing opinions on schools, curriculum, and tests. To date, my experience has only been positive when it comes to our teachers, and I would like to see them excel at what they do best. I, personally, feel that the present system holds back so many talented teachers, in turn they also hold back our students.

Um, Well, Enough About Me

2011-11-07T20:09:00.000-05:00

Yep, my blog postings have been few in numbers since the summer.

Yep, the first rule in blogging is to not talk about your blogging.

Yep, the first rule in breaking the first rule in blogging is to admit that you know this rule and are about to break it anyway.

Howdy folks.

So, let us see. Summer rolled around, and we were busy with stuff, a little too busy to blog. Plus, I was too tired. The kids were staying up later, which meant, when the kids rolled into bed Hubby and I soon followed.

I've been confined to using the desktop computers in our house, since my laptop is as old as my middle child, and has seen better days (the computer, not the middle child). It may be time to let it go, but don't tell Hubby I admitted that. Having to use the desktop computer means I can't sit in front of the TV and write blog postings. Hmmm, after a long day, do I want to sit in front of a computer screen, or a TV screen? Yeah, a screen is a screen, but one does not make me think.

Well, summer ended, school started, and I began working part time. True, only part time, but add in volunteering at the kid's school, car pool, evening meetings, shopping for food, and possibly making it to the gym every now and then, my computer time has been limited to paying bills and reading TMZ.

And, here we are. I have posts running through my head. Funny posts, serious posts, venting posts. Many posts, but without the energy and creativity required to write these posts. So, I am writing a post about not blogging, and how I shouldn't write about not blogging but I'm doing it anyway because it is my blog.

HA!

So, there we are. Quick update. However, have no fear, posts are coming. They may be few and scattered, but they are coming. I promise. But for now, I must go say good night to the munchkins, and probably make it as far as the TV, after that.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T05:06:00.000-04:00

Trick or Treating, just in time, because our candy box looks like this:

A handful of those hot gob-stoppers, a broken candy cane and lots of empty wrappers.

Mama needs some chocolate!

A Weekend Update

2011-10-29T10:27:00.000-04:00

In the form of Twitter, if I did Twitter this is what my feed would look like. However, I don't Tweet, so this is what my blog looks like:

They are calling for snow this weekend. Must be a slow news day.

Friday morning: Hang on tight, it is looking like a wild day. Lots and kids, and lots of errands to complete before picking up even more kids.

Still calling for snow, but the ground is not cold enough for it to lay.

Kids were not crazy enough, today at school, no snow.

It is raining, they are still calling for snow, better head to Walmart for all our provisions.

Provisions, for the chili Brian is making, for our church's annual chili cook-off Saturday night. We are good Mennonites, no amount of snow would cancel the barn party.

It is snowing. No seriously, it is actually snowing, and laying. The ground has a cover of snow.

Saturday Morning: I am happy for the previously sick child who came into our room this morning to tell us he is now feeling better. However, at 6 AM, on a Saturday, it is hard to muster any cheer.

It is still snowing. The ground is still covered. The roads are looking slushy.

Thankfully, there are enough bibs, boots, gloves and hats to fit the four kids presently in our house. The boots may be a tight fit, but it is that or cold feet.

Did I mention it is snowing. In October.

Editing this weeks shopping list, to include snow boots.

The Signs of Change:

2011-10-27T17:06:00.000-04:00

You know that cooler weather has arrived when your kitchen table looks like this:

Had I taken a wide shot, you would have also seen the pile of fleeces and coats laying behind these boxes. Which, by the way, were all pulled out one Saturday morning, on our way to a soccer tournament. Why can't the changing weather give us advance notice? This "change on a whim" thing just causes chaos, and a frantic search for gloves, hats, scarves and coats, while simultaneously eating breakfast and getting out the door in a timely manner.

At least we are now ready for winter. One of these days I may remember to put the fans in storage and gather up those decorative Easter eggs, still sitting in a bowl from spring. :::cough:::

I Have a Confession

2011-10-25T09:29:00.000-04:00

I am a city girl. There I said it.

No, I did not grow up in a city. Our town was rural; maybe not the most rural town out there, but we certainly were not a thriving metropolis.

And, we lived next to a farm. The fact that cows, occasionally, walked through our yard has to give me some rural points. There was a pond near by, and when it froze over in the winter we ice skated on it. With that pond was also a stream, where we went inner tubing in the summer.

All this is said to give me some rural girl street cred.

And, if I am trying to give myself street cred, then I must be a city girl.

I like my shopping, and my malls. After living in the suburbs I miss the Pottery Barn, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and grocery stores with an actual selection. On the flip side, our bank account is much happier.

I need street lights. Yes, to all you city folk, there are actual roads, in this country, that have no lights to guide your way. You are left with only your car's headlights and the sky to see your way. Let me tell you, It. Is. Scary.

When I turn onto a gravel road I think I've reached a person's drive way. No, not a drive way, it is an actual, state maintained road.

I'm happy to believe that chicken cutlets come from the grocery store, wrapped in cellophane. Hubby has talked about his younger days, when they slaughtered chickens and pigs, and wouldn't it be great if our kids had that experience. I ask him if he would like to continue eating meat, or would he like me to become vegetarian.

"Look, the cows are standing up, doesn't that mean it will rain?"

The smell. No, actually, the city is just as smelly as the country. It may be a different smell, but trust me, the city has a smell, and I may just take the country smell over the city one.

Lessons Learned

2011-10-23T21:28:00.000-04:00

The other day I was making cinnamon rolls, and throughout the process I learned a few things. I should note that making cinnamon rolls is a normal event in my house; however, every now and then a lesson is learned in the process.

Actually, this could be a If I Twittered post, since I was posting on Facebook during the whole process. But, it isn't, because it is my blog, that is why.

No matter how much I prepare ahead of time, I will short on one ingredient, and realize I have triple of another. Sugar, check. Flour, check. Milk, check. Cinnamon, check. Butter, check. Oil, oops. Powder Sugar, x 3.

The day I have no dishwasher, and no hot water, may not be the best of days to bake cinnamon rolls.

The flurry of activity in my kitchen probably looks more like the Swedish Chef, then Martha Stewart.

I'm glad I have not yet swept the kitchen floor, since there is flour on the floor, and all over my feet. There is also flour foot prints in the living room, on the newly vacuumed rug.

The Real Cost

2011-10-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

JT needed a second pair of sneakers. The school he attends plays outside, A. Lot. If it is not pouring down rain, they are outside. When it has rained this means that the ground is wet, and since the most fun is found in the woods, or on the field, his shoes are a constant state of wetness.

Trying to be good financially, and the fact that he already owns a perfectly good pair of brand, spanking new sneakers, I head to the thrift store to see what we can find for a couple dollars.

I find no sneakers, but I do walk out with $13 worth of clothes for the kids.

I though of visiting a second thrift store, but thought better of it. At the pace I was going, it would be cheaper for me to go straight to Target and spend the $15 on another pair of brand, spanking new sneakers.

Total cost of my "financially responsible" shopping trip: $28

Had I not tried to be financially responsible, and instead headed straight to Target: $15

:::sigh:::

A Tale to Tell

2011-10-13T12:00:00.001-04:00

"Mom, I have something sad to say about CE'" ED begins his confession.

At the time, I did not realize this was a confession, I figured he was tattling on his best friend.

He continues the tale of woe, how CE had to move his card to the worst color of all, blue, and how he, being such a good boy, stopped at red and only had to endure a lunch time-out (they sit at a desk, in the lunch room, separate from the rest of their class).

Um, back up a minute. How did we go from CE moving his card to ED being punished, because if he was eating lunch by himself that means that my "angelic" child also moved his card.

"Oh, yes Mom, but I only had to move it to red, CE had to move it all the way to blue."

First, I find this color system all very confusing. Blue is really bad, while red is an extreme warning, yellow is just a warning, and green means all systems go.

Second; "Child, what were you doing to warrant a move in your card, by THREE colors?"

This is how my son confesses his bad doings. He starts out tattling on a third party, probably hoping I won't catch on that he is actually talking about himself. This child may just grow up to be a spin doctor, because he is already practicing his sound bites.

First World Problems: The Dishwasher

2011-10-05T20:53:00.000-04:00

Actually, this is my children's problem.

Our dishwasher recently died. Second appliance in two years. Yep, we are doing our part for the economy.

Did I mention we bought our house, brand spanking new, 7 years ago. Not loving the brand spanking new appliances the builder chose.

That is OK, I never loved them, even when they did work. Therefore, to see them die, is not such a sad event. Thankfully, we have the funds to replace them, with something we like and (we hope) will last longer then 6 years (the fridge), and the dishwasher (7 years).

So, our kids are set to wash the dishes. One washes, one dries, and the third is given some other mundane task, like folding towels.

As they complain, I tell them that one day they will thank us for giving them real world skills. I tell them of the hundreds of college students, who after a semester away at school, must drop out of school and return home. They return home because they can not manage their own laundry. I tell them, that one day they will thank me because they now, at their tender ages, know how to fold a towel, make scrabbled eggs and macaroni & cheese (yes, out of a box), and wash their own dishes. Not necessarily in that order.

Now, if only they would change their underwear every day.

These are the Times

2011-10-04T20:44:00.000-04:00

There are times, as a parent, when your child tells you how mean you are, maybe calls you evil, and you think to yourself, "Well, I must be doing something right".

Then, there are other times, like last night, when you realize you are doing something right. ED looked at me and said, "Mom, you are the best Mom. Other families have good moms, but you are the right Mom for this family".

When I tucked EM into bed she looked at me and said, "Mom, I love you so much, even when you are mean, I love you".

Yep, I must be doing something right. That, and the fact that I have yet to be able to clean up my heart because it just melted, right onto the floor.

Memo Monday

2011-10-03T08:40:00.002-04:00

To the Man, Standing Behind Me in Line for the Potato Chips,

Sir, at first I thought you were trying to laugh off the long wait for the freshly made potato chips, at the Relief Sale.

As you continued to open your mouth I realized that no, you are just being obnoxious, and that patience is not one of your strengths; however, one of your strengths is obviously sharing with everyone how hungry you were and that nothing but potato chips would suffice ... didn't you say something about it being potato chips or nothing at all?

Maybe you were suffering with Low Blood Sugar Grumpy Butt Syndrome. OK, maybe I'll give that to you. At the same time, Sir, you are the age of my parents, however your LBSGBS behavior was that of one of my adolescent children. Whatever the issue, maturity is obviously, not one of your strengths.

Maybe you were not aware of your surroundings. You were in town for one of the many celebrations happening; Parent's Weekend, Homecoming, the football game, whatever, and have never been to a Mennonite Relief Sale. Possibly, you thought this was just a quaint country fair; where people run these booths as a business, not out of the goodness of their hearts to benefit a church-based mission organization.

I will confess, when I am in a line, waiting for something that I don't understand why it is taking so long, I tend to lose my patience. My OCD kicks in and I begin to reorganize the whole process, trying to stream line it. However, that still does not excuse a bad attitude.

Maybe, you are also not aware that around the world, and in our own country, there are tens of thousands of people who are actually hungry, malnourished, and one meal away from death. There are people who stand in line, day after day, to receive their one ration of food for that day, or week, or month. Not just for a bag of potato chips.

That is what I wanted to say to you. The mother in me wanted to turn around and tell you that there are people around the world actually starving to death, and that you were far from such a state. At least, that is what I tell my children when they begin to whine about being hungry. And yes, you sir, were whining.

Later, another tactic, that I use on may children, came to mind; that would be asking what is the outcome you expect from your obnoxious behavior? Are you thinking the people working the stand will prepare the chips a little faster? Do you think they were purposely moving slowly? Do you think the potatoes, themselves, will cook faster? Were you hoping that the people in front of you would allow you to move ahead of them, just so they no longer had to hear your obnoxious comments?

Yes, the chips were good. Anything worth waiting for will be good, and yes those chips were worth waiting for. A good attitude also makes the waiting a little easier to, well, um, wait.

If you return, I hope you take the time to talk to those in line with you. If you are new to this whole Relief Sale event, ask what it is about. Ask the lady behind the counter how they make the potato chips, how long they have been doing this, and why they do this year after year. Bottom line, have a conversation with people instead of making yourself an obnoxious presence. Everyone around will will thank you, you may even thank yourself.

Sincerely,
Fellow Relief Sale Attender

The Itinerary

2011-09-30T14:38:00.000-04:00

This is the weekend of the VA Mennonite Relief Sale. This is the weekend where you eat yourself silly, to raise money for mission services around the world. Well, it is more than that, but that is what it is jokingly referred to.

While some may argue the point of promoting gluttony, to help those starving around the world, I say "Have a donut". Trust me, you do not know what you are missing until you have tried our donuts. If you live in another state that also hosts a Mennonite Relief Sale I encourage you to visit and try their known delicacies. Every Relief Sale is different. Some have donuts. For others, strawberry pies, and others .... These are Mennonites cooking and baking, it is in the genes, you can't go wrong with food.

Oh, and quilts. The quilts are beautiful, and the auction is fun to watch, and see how high some of these quilts go in price.

So, it is the Relief Sale this weekend. Here is our typical schedule:

Friday Night:

Dinner

Ice Cream

Browse the auction items and other booths, before the crowds arrive on Saturday

Saturday:

Breakfast

Donuts and Coffee

Walk around, talk to old friends, let the kids enjoy the bouncy castle and the cow train, walk around some more.

Let the kids count the change for Penny Power. They love it, and can keep the foreign coins they find.

Check out the other activities for kids, there is usually an interesting, world view, craft happening. Last year they talked about how children around the world make their own toys out of items we may consider trash. The kids then made their own toys, I love their creativity.

Avoid the Children's Auction. After ED's nuclear meltdown several years ago we stay clear of it.

Ice Cream

Lunch

Ice Cream

Last dash for take-home food items, before heading home and crashing, or walking. Definitely need to do more walking.

Fall Into Reading Challenge

2011-09-23T08:43:00.000-04:00

The weather is turning colder, meaning that it is time to curl up with a good book. As soon as I finish my gardening. We went all out in the gardens last weekend, and I'm still cleaning up; plus, I'm committed to get the weeding done, this time.

Welcome to Callapidder Days Fall Into Reading Challenge, 2011.

Ah, so why do I join in the challenge, and more importantly, what am I reading this fall.

That is the question I ask every time. I'm not a fast reader, so I will not be winning any "longest, completed list". Many times I never finish my list, that is just how life goes. I do enjoy sharing my lists with you. I am a reader, and readers like to share their favorite books. It is what we do. I also enjoy looking over other lists. I am a reader, and I am always looking for books to add to my list.

As with every challenge, I find my lists revolve around a theme. Yes, it may be a little OCD, but welcome to my world.

This challenge, I'm working on a youth fiction theme.

First up: Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. Yes, I know, shocking that I haven't yet read the book. At the time that the books were being published I could care less about youth fiction. Then Hubby and I began to catch the movies, when they were shown on TV, and I became intrigued by the series. However, at the time I was busy having, and raising, babies. No time to read a 600 page book at my house, so Hubby and I began to listen to them on CD. We quickly became hooked on the series.

Now my children are reading the series, and listening to the CD's, and watching the movies. All this means that we have the books lying around our house, so I've decided that now is as good a time as any to enjoy this series the old fashion way.

Now, I don't plan on reading the series all at once, or in a row, or .... What I'm trying to say, when I've completed Sorcerers Stone I will not move on to Book 2, instead I will start another series, starting with Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen.

And, so we go, I will finish Hoot, and move to Chamber of Secrets, then back to Carl Hiaasen and Flush, so on and so forth. However, I will stop there, in regards to my reading list, because I'm thinking 4 books will be an accomplishment for me.

On top of these books, our church is reading The Naked Anabaptist, by Stuart Murray. Unlike past years, when our church has read a book together, I am not heading our Primary Sunday school department. I get to sit with the adults for awhile, my motivation to read the book this fall.

Beth Moore's David: Seeking a Heart Like His is my Bible Study material for the fall. Which I need to start working on, as soon as I'm done with this post. The study has begun, and I am missing the first two meetings. The path of good intentions ..., and all that. Regardless of when I get around to making it to the study, I am just glad to be involved in a Bible study, it has been too long.

So, that is my very basic list. As in the past, I may easily change it up and come December, you (and I) will see what I actually did read.

Happy Reading!

First World Problems - My Inbox

2011-09-22T13:41:00.000-04:00

Recently, I came off of a 3 year stint as our church's Primary Sunday School Superintendent. Totally volunteer, and totally stuffed with emails. Emails finding teachers, organizing schedules, ordering materials, communicating with parents, writing newsletters, communicating with my fellow superintendent, and a few more emails begging people to teach.

As the months, and weeks ticked towards my eventual freedom I envisioned a lighter email in-box. Thinking of deleting all these SS related emails was causing me to giggle a bit more then one should giggle. I was ready to eradicate my in-box, and start anew with a lighter in-box, where there existed no worries of deleting someone's substitute request, or the newsletter deadline.

Come September I did delete EVERYTHING. However, my dreams of a small in-box were not coming true.

My in-box was now being filled with car-pool requests, church meetings, soccer schedules, and school newsletters.

And, it keeps growing. I've tried to organize folders, but that doesn't always work. I'm still deleting to my heart's content, but I can't delete everything.

And, so my initial joy is ending, with a thud. My in-box is back, and as cluttered and pseudo-organized as before. It is driving me crazy. I should just accept it, and live with it. But, I can't. Instead, I shall dream of a day that I'm not scrolling down, message after message, to figure out who is picking up whom, after the next soccer practice.

If I Twittered

2011-09-19T14:22:00.000-04:00

I don't Twitter, or Tweet, or chirp for that matter.

However, if I did any of the above they would have read like this, the other week:
---------------------------------------------------------------

Clam Bake, we are a plannin' and soon will send out the initiations.

Rain is forecasted for Saturday, anyone have a projector? The kids can hang downstairs, and watch a movie.

Rain is forecasted for Saturday, and are guest list is fast approaching 60 people.

Um, so you take the square foot of a room, and figure out that each person needs so much square footage to stand, comfortably ... Anyone have a second house we can borrow?

Weather Channel is telling me one thing. Our local news weather, a second forecast. Yahoo weather is giving me a third. I'm believing the one with the best outcome, and will not accept any others.

Holy Clam Bake Batman! Our little back yard shin-dig has approached 70 people. This is the size of a small wedding reception. I feel like I should have an event planner, or something.

To answer my question, "will we have enough of everything", I'm just buying an extra of everything.

After years of no pictures I finally got smart, I begged a friend to be our "official" even photographer. We are getting so official around here.

Rain, rain go away ...

35 Adults. 35 Kids. The adults are not, yet, outnumbered.

Wait, 2 of our kids are high school football players, so that makes our adult count at 39. They count as 2 adults each, when it comes to the amount of food we will need.

Clam Bake Day! Off to buy clams.

The clams are cooking. The beer is chilling. The sun is shining. A perfect day.

Great party. Thanks to all who came ... All 77 of you.

Shrimp and Clam chowder for Sunday dinner, leftovers are soooo good.

The Stuff that Come with Children

2011-09-15T18:47:00.000-04:00

One of the joys of having kids is all the stuff they bring home from school. In preschool it was lima bean or marigold seeds planted in dixie cups, and left on my kitchen windowsill to grow.

One year it was maggots. Well, they wasn't maggots, they were some sort of dirt grubbing insect, before they turned into an insect. Maybe a beetle of some sort. Whatever they were, I was so excited that their teacher sent them to our house. They were thrown away ASAP.

Then come the dirt babies. Granted they are cute; nylons filled with dirt and grass seed, usually with a face constructed on the out side of the hose. Cute, for awhile. I have enough clutter in my house, 2 or 3 of those things sitting around tend to drive me slightly crazy. Then, add the fact that my children like to give them "hair" cuts when the grass grows a certain height, though neglect to sweep up the cut grass. Then the cat tries to knock them down, or someone bumps into one.

During the summer the one ED brought home from school, had grown its last grass, and was now dry and dead. So I threw him away. A couple days later ED noticed, and oh my the wailing and mourning that took place upon this discovery.

I kid you not, the words "He was like a son" came from that boy's mouth.

So now I have this hanging in my window:

Still cute. No grass to cut. And, does not take up space as much as the original. However, one of those days I will need to clean the window, and I'm thinking the picture will be moved to his portfolio.

Speech Therapy

2011-09-12T20:14:00.000-04:00

EM has a few problems with pronouncing certain words.

Nothing of concern, just one of those problems when you are 6-years-old. That, and the fact that she is a southern girl, with a Yankee mother.

Those are two separate speech issues, and we can discuss the later problem on another post.

Back to the later. One of her speech anomalies is she cannot pronounce the word "ask". It usually sounds something like "ax". As in, "I will ax my teacher".

Ummmm, no.

So we work on it. We break down the word, one sound at a time. The only problem is that the first two sounds are an "a" and a "s", put the two together and ... well, you see where I'm going with this?

Suddenly our little speech therapy moments are sounding a little more PG-13 then I like. While my 10-year-old is in the other room commenting on the familiarity of the sounds "a" and "s", put together to a word he has been banned from saying.

And, no, it does not work to keep it at "as". As soon as you add another letter that "s" becomes long. Try it. If you have any tips, leave a comment.

The Meaning

2011-09-08T16:38:00.000-04:00

Our local Christian book store had this adorable cross, made out of wire and buttons, that would go perfectly on a wall I am decorating.

We are not big on religious items. This means we don't have cross' hanging all over our house. We have a wooden sculpture of Jesus, with children surrounding him, that was given to us. When it comes to decorative items in my house, the general rule is that it should have some significance to us. A memory, a gift, something that makes us smile when we see it and think of the time or person it is associated with.

When I saw the cross, other then "looking cute", I liked the idea of hanging the cross on a wall most of us pass, many times throughout the day. A reminder to think on a verse, or to change our attitude ... if necessary.

This morning I walked into the store to purchase the cross, picked it up, checked the price, saw where it was made, and set it back down. I walked out of the store without the cross.

What does a cross, or any other religious relic, mean to us? Or, what personal meaning do they hold? And, do they lose that meaning when it is made in a communist country known for human rights violations? Does it lose its meaning because it is "cute" (the main reason I noticed it in the first place).

One of Those Days

2011-09-02T15:50:00.000-04:00

Our family has entered a new phase of adolescence, schedule/car pool craziness.

By the end of the day, I'm just praying all children arrive where they belong, and no one is left behind. The day looks something like this:

Child #1 is picked up by Car Pool Family #1

I walk Child #2 & #3 to school, rush home and head to work.

Afternoon: I leave work to pick up Child #1 and children of Car Pool Family #1, at house of Car Pool Family #2, along with child of Car Pool Family #2. I then pick up my own Child #2 and Child #3, and drop off children of Car Pool Family #1.

Still with me?

An hour later I drop off Child #1 and child of Car Pool Family #2 at soccer practice. Child #2, Child #3 and I run a few errands and head home.

Hubby leaves work, and heads to soccer practice to pick up Child #1, child of Car Pool Family #2, and child of Car Pool Family #3 ... whom we have never met before.

Thankfully, this is not the norm. That is why there is a total of 4 car pool families in this line up.

If I Twittered

2011-08-30T21:53:00.003-04:00

The Hurricane Edition:

Two natural disasters in one week, that is a record for our little area on the East Coast, and Twitter worthy. As usual, the effects of Irene were minimal in our area, it looked and felt like a regular storm, except this time a hurricane was ripping apart the East Coast. So, maybe I don't have anything to Twitter about, and I certainly don't mean to minimalize what those who have been affected are going through.

During the Week:
The weather reports say we won't feel much of the hurricane, however some rain would be nice.

Saturday:
My Weather Channel App is telling me there will be no rain until 7 tonight.

Just walked outside, it looks like rain.

10am, it is raining. I'm losing my faith in the Weather Channel.

Sunday:

Looking at pictures from Hatteras Island. Seeing places we drove past just over a week ago, devastated.

If I Twittered

2011-08-25T14:02:00.001-04:00

The Earthquake Edition

Tuesday afternoon the East Coast experienced an earthquake. Not a common event around these here parts. Hurricanes, coming right at ya. Blizzards and heavy snow falls, if you are far enough north. Tornadoes, every now and then. But earthquakes? Not so much.

I first learned about it when my sister-in-law texted me about it, they live in Pennsylvania. Being that she is about 4 hours from the epicenter, and we are about 2, she figured we would have felt it. Well, apparently, some people did and some people didn't.

Anyway, that first text led into a few back and forth, and then several phone calls. For the interest of this post, since it is titled "If I Twittered", I'm turning those phone calls into tweets.
-------------------------------------------------------

@ME (from SIL) Did you guys have an earthquake today? We felt one at about 1:53pm.

@KK(to SIL) No, but that is funny, not the earthquake, but I just overheard a lady talk bout evacuating the Pentagon, wonder if they are related?

@ME I heard it was felt in DC and NY, and one site I looked at centered it north of Richmond at 5.8

@KK Crazy. We may have felt something and I'm just clueless. The radio is talking about it.

@KK I just drove past 3 people looking up into the western sky. Now I'm paranoid.

@JS (to friend) Still have your boogie boards in my car, though I've seen you two times in two days. Where does the car pool pick up line at school begin? I think I'm facing the wrong direction. BTW, did you feel the earthquake. I totally missed it.

@ME (from JS) That was an earthquake? Thank goodness, thought I was loosing my mind.

Typical east coast response, a lot of people attributed the earthquake to the quarry blasting, an airplane flying over head, or the train going through town. Until they realized this quarry doesn't blast, airplanes don't fly that low around here, or we don't live anywhere near the train tracks.

@ME (from Hubby) I'm fine. They evacuated the plant, left my cell in the building, borrowing someone else's.

@Hubby They evacuated the plant? So people actually felt this earthquake, something actually shook?

@ME (Hubby, now rolling his eyes) We are on the 3rd floor. We work with a lot of dangerous chemicals. Pipes and vats were shaking.

@ME (from my Mom) Checking that everyone is all right. They evacuated our building. Someone asked if the wind was strong, because the light pole outside the window was shaking. I don't think the wind makes things shake like that.

@ME (from a second JS) Was in the car, totally missed it. Feeling a little bummed.

@secondJS Ditto. And, glad I'm not the only one feeling disappointed.

Book Review: Plugged-In Parenting

2011-08-24T13:44:00.002-04:00

Bob Waliszewski writes Plugged-In Parenting: How to Raise Media-Savvy Kids with Love, Not War, a must read for all parents. Our society is inundated with media, movies, TV, video games, the Internet, ..., and most of today's technology didn't exist 15 years ago, even 10 years ago.

What is a parent to do? Waliszewski suggests a little common sense and a lot of communication.

Waliszewski is the director of Plugged In Online (a publication from Focus on the Family). He watches movies, listens to music, plays video games, and then reviews them, for a living. In this book he lays out a common sense approach to teaching our children, and us adults, how to discern when it comes to their media choices. The book is filled with quotes, interviews and research that proves that media DOES have an impact on a person.

The book is divided into parts, and it progresses from asking ourselves WHY we should be concerned with what our children watch and listen to, then walks us through addressing these issues with our children. His approach takes the emotion out of the situation, you know what I mean, the emotion that happens when a parent tells a child to stop watching a show, and the outburst from the child because their rights are violated. Let us face it, no one is happy, and the situation could have been dealt with in a much more positive way.

Waliszewski challenges us to not pick the lesser of two evils, but the right choice. He reminds us not to be legalistic in dealing with the media and our children, but to give them choices, with positive alternatives. And, while we read this book, we should also encourage our children to read articles on media discernment. Involve them in the process. Bottom line, we are teaching our children to discern without the input of a parent.

Waliszewski does take a hard line when it comes to media. If you read a review, Plugged In will outline ALL positive and negative elements of a movie, or video game. I understand that this book, and the reviews may put off some people. I recommend that you stick it out, and keep reading. The bottom line message is a good one. Movies, music, and video games, they affect people in different ways. What he writes about may seem extreme, but it is a message worth reading and internalizing.

***In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations: Tyndale Publishing Group gave me a free copy of Plugged-In Parenting: How to Raise Media-Savvy Kids with Love, Not War for this review.

A Thousand Cries of Joy

2011-08-23T15:56:00.000-04:00

If you are on Facebook, you have probably seen people post the "Tonight a teacher somewhere in your neighborhood ..." Very appropriate for this time of year, back to school, when teachers have been busy planning and organizing weeks before their contract required them to return to their classrooms.

At the same time, let us not forget the parents, who are busy trying to organize and plan for the first day of school, and the school schedule there after. I'm one of them. This year I have 3 children in 2 different schools, 2 different schedules, and one of the schools does not have door step delivery.

So, for all the parents out there, this one is for you.

Tonight a parent somewhere, in your neighborhood, is losing their mind while getting ready for their child's new school year. Supplies are being bought and labeled, yelling at their kids to turn down the television. In the minute it takes that parent to reprimand one child, who for the umpteenth time is tracking sand, dirt, and a couple bugs into the house another child has swiped their school supplies, out of their book bag, and a supply hunt ensues. Oh, the first day of school cannot come soon enough, when this poor parent can return their finances to some semblance of order, to the grocery store in peace, and return within budget. When free time means being able to complete some of one's own projects, and return to work without reorganizing every one's schedule, and spending a fortune in day care.

Two remarks about this:

1. This was "borrowed" from a friend, thank you JS, who came up with the parent concept today, the last day of summer vacation, when we were all feeling our nerves fray.

2. This is in no way ignoring what it is that teachers do for our schools and children. If you have seen the original post you know that much of what it says is true. Teachers pour so much of their energy into their profession, because they love to teach and they love the children.

You Want Us to Visit?

2011-08-22T10:39:00.003-04:00

Doesn't this sign just yell "WELCOME, come and look around"?

What I want to know is, are there signs for the snakes, asking them to NOT use the walkways since people walk on them?

For What it is Worth

2011-08-19T21:32:00.000-04:00

Over the years, vacation after vacation, I've learned. I've learned to be prepared. Complete the shopping ahead of time. Do not accept, or try to accomplish, any extra projects right before vacation.

Basically, plan and keep it simple.

Which, I am proud to say I almost achieved this year, almost.

1. There is always some extra project that needs to be completed before leaving for vacation. Kids need to be registered for school. Responsibilities at church need to be fulfilled. Always something.

2. I forgot my motivation.

I'm a procrastinator by heart. Stress is what drives me, and keeps me up at night.

I'm low on the stress, which means I'm low on the motivation. Ironically, I'm also low on sleep, thanks to Mad Men now streaming on Netflix.

Good golly that was a happening office.

But that is neither here nor there.

So, let me sum up, tasks, errands, and to-do lists have been completed in plenty of time to create a low level of stress.

However, that level of stress is so low I cannot find the motivation to complete what is needed to be completed.

Oh, and I shouldn't pat my self on the back over my uber-organizing skills. I still managed to schedule, the day before we leave on vacation, a doctor's appointment (1 hour away) for one child, and a job interview for myself.

Somehow I think it will all get done, and we will still enjoy vacation. Plus, if I forget anything, we are near stores.

Wishful Thinking

2011-08-17T21:23:00.000-04:00

This is my vacation reading list:

We are vacationing with children, so I'm pretty sure I will not complete all, or even half, of these books; but I do like having them close by. I'm also thinking it may be time for an e-reader***. (Recommendations, I have my eye on the Nook Color?) I'll let you know if we can fit the kids in the car, after we cram in everything else.

I would also like to point out that all, but one, of these books were gotten through Paperback Swap. That includes the two hardbacks. Not bad, if I do say so myself.

***I would be happy to review any e-reader out there, you just need to give me one. No return postage paid envelope would be necessary, I won't be returning it.

Labels

2011-08-10T16:12:00.000-04:00

Wouldn't it be helpful if we all wore labels.

For me, my label would read "Type A, proceed with caution" or it could read "Fixates on little things, and won't let go until answered, even if all those around her could care less."

I can only imagine that would give a few people due warning when I come walking into a room.

For others their labels would read

"At least 10 minutes late, always!" (Perfect, you know how to time events.)

"I will forget, please remind me in a couple days." (No, your not hounding them, they want to be reminded.)

"Grace is not my spiritual gift." (Yes, DB, this one is for you.)

"I tend to share TMI." (Walk in the other direction.)

Wouldn't this make everyone's lives a little easier? I'm also thinking it would grant us some permission in being straightforward. After reading my label, some may feel comfortable to tell me to "back off, they will get to it, where is the fire?

We could even slap on temporary labels.

"Having a bad day."

"Got 3 hours of sleep."

"P.M.S."

Oh, forget the last one, that would cause more problems than it would solve. How do you explain ripping off someone's head, just because they asked for the definition of P.M.S.?

It Is All in Who You Know

2011-08-07T15:51:00.001-04:00

The start of the school year is approaching, and many states around the U.S. are hosting Tax-Free Shopping weekends/days.

This weekend was Virginia's shopping bonanza. Believe it or not, we ventured out. On a Saturday afternoon. To the mall. To Old Navy. To Target. We walked out of Target with a 16 lb bag of cat food that we did not pay for. (Don't worry RD, Hubby is stopping by tomorrow to pay for it.)

My point is, it was C.R.A.Z.Y. We don't venture out, to shop, on a regular Saturday afternoon, let alone a tax-free, before school begins, weekend. Now that we shoplifted a bag of cat food I don't think we will be venturing out any time soon.

O.K. Despite our venture into shoplifting, this is not what my post is about.

Plus, I promise to no longer use the word "venture" in this post.

No, I want to discuss the items deemed tax-free worthy by Virginia's powers that be.

So, go over this list, and you have your usual items:
• Book bags
• Calculators
...
• Composition books• Crayons
• Dictionaries and thesauruses
...
• Paper: loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing
paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board and construction paper
• Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
• Pencil sharpeners

Then clothing is listed, up to $100 per item:
• Coats, jackets, and windbreakers
• Corsets and corset laces ... (Um, corsets? anyone?)
...
• Dresses
...
• Formal wear for men and women (sold, not rented)
• Fur coats and stoles, shawls and wraps
• Garters and garter belts
• Girdles
• Gloves and mittens for general use
• Golf clothing,

Again, um? Many schools require formal wear, fur coats, garters, girdles and golf clothing?

The list continues with more normal, school related apparel, like:
• Shirts and blouses
• Shoes and shoe laces
• Shorts
• Skirts
• Slacks
• Slippers (O.K., maybe not so school related)
...
Then we end on:
• Wedding apparel, including veils (sold not rented)
Who made up this list? Who approved this list? And, when was the last time they went to school, or bought supplies for a child?

"Wait", you say, "don't turn your nose up at golf clothes, my child plays on the high school golf team". Yes, that would be a relevant argument, however, a couple pages later, we come to the definition of "sports and recreational equipment" and that they are not tax-exempt. It then goes to list the equipment, and clothing, that are considered "sports and recreational equipment". Items that students, who play sports, would be purchasing.

With schools raising activity and sports fees, one way they are trying to make up for the state and federal funds they are NOT receiving, one would think our state representatives would make some concessions for our students, and include sports equipment ... and not fur coats. Seriously!

Nothing is Sweeter

2011-07-27T06:59:00.000-04:00

Want to watch me blow my temper in 5 seconds flat? Then be an 8-year-old who, every time we are in the car, worries over the gas tank gage. Apparently, it was too low for his comfort level, and felt it necessary to tell me every 2 minutes. ALL WEEK.

For the record, I do push my gas tank, but not to extreme levels. As soon as that light comes on I'm off to a gas station, even though I know I have at least 5 gallons left, or may be 6.

Every time he commented on his discomfort I would interrupt him and ask if he trusted me. I mean seriously, do I want to be stuck along side the road in this heat? With this he would protest that I did not let him finish what he was about to say, which would be the same thing he said 2 minutes ago. Nothing has changed. And, who encouraged my children to have a voice, and make sure that they were heard. I must draw the line at vocal children.

Yes, there we were, in the car, driving around town; he lecturing me on his discomfort with the gas gage level, and me with a temper hotter than outside and thinking I may drop him off at the next gas station.

As I write this, I'm wondering how may parents managed to never drop me off at the next gas station. Oh my, it truly is all nature, nurture is a load of crock.

You know all those parents begging their adult children to make them grandparents. It is not only that they want to be grandparents, all the benefits of young children without the sleepless nights and stretch marks. No, they also want revenge. Think about it, nothing must sound so sweet to a grandparent's ear then to hear the frustrations their children face as their grandchild behave exactly like their children at that age.

Sorry, I digress.

That weekend we were on the road. The gas gage was running low, Hubby was driving, I opened my mouth and stated that the gas gage was below half. ED says "that is OK Mommy, I trust Daddy".

Sweet revenge boy. I am already planning my sweet revenge.

My Own Top Ten

2011-07-26T20:32:00.000-04:00

Reasons we still have a membership to the local children's museum.

1. I'm feeling philanthropic. Though, the membership is not tax-deductible, it is nice to walk in without paying every time we visit.

2. Summer vacation, snow days, and school vacations.

3. A discount on the classes my kids would be taking anyway.

4. Unlimited admission to children's museums around the country. Trust me, at some of these prices, our membership pays for itself on one trip or two.

5. The kids are occupied, and I can sit and talk to friends. Yes, I am one of those mothers.

6. The kids love going there. One child will ask to go every.single.day.

7. Craft supplies. They use their craft supplies, and there is no dried glue, nor paint/marker drawings, on my kitchen table. No glitter that I need to clean up.

8. I am not calculating the cost of those fuz balls and goggle eyes, which my child is using to make these:

OK, that is only 8. What are your reasons for joining your local children's museum, science museum, or zoo?

Memo Monday

2011-07-25T07:53:00.001-04:00

To Whom Ever Has Recently Sent Me an Email,

I may, or may not, reply. I may, or may not lose it in my ever increasing in box.

At the moment my in box is a bit of disaster, due to a combination of my discouraged perfectionism, a not-here-soon-enough beach vacation with my family (planning meals), the end of the Primary SS year fast approaching, the start of a new Primary SS year fast approaching, handing off all my Primary SS duties to two new superintendent, oh, and needing to find ONE more Primary SS teacher.

So, if you received my email P.L.E.A.D.I.N.G. for teachers I would appreciate a "yes" from someone, anyone, Bueller? If no one answers then we are resorting to the age old "the lot" to pick a teacher.

There is the added luxury, which is aiding in my disorganization, that Hubby has set up my ITouch to receive my emails, instead of always logging into my email account. Which, is nice and all, but then I'm checking emails on my Touch, but not on the computer, meaning I now have a LOAD of unopened emails in my email account, and I'm not deleting nor replying to anything.

Everyone got that? Me neither, moving on.

At this point, I am just biding my time. I've stopped sorting my emails into files, and spending an excessive amount of time looking for the ones I need when I return to a task. I'm waiting till after the beach, to erase all emails with "beach" in the subject line. I am waiting for the first Sunday in September to erase any, and all, emails with "Sunday School" in the subject line.

And I am not looking back.

So, if I haven't replied to your email, try me in September. If you replied to one of my emails, and I'm asking the same question again, sorry. And, please reply, again.

Thank you for your patience,

Severe Activities

2011-07-22T19:52:00.000-04:00

The severe heat warnings of the past couple days have brought severe activities in our house.

A girl can only take so much, and I am not venturing outside unless the car has been sufficiently chilled, and where we are going has working, full-on air conditioning. Just sayin'.

Since the kids are also cooped inside, we have NO shade in our yard, there is just no place to hide from the heat, they have been occupied with indoor activities.

We have had severe Lego building:

Littlest Pet Shop towns popping up in the play room:

With Queen Hello Kitty presiding:

Severe Lego car races:

And, some severe picture taking:

On a side note, at the beginning of the week, right as the extreme heat moved in, I made the kids do a severe clean up of their play room. Naturally, the mess would have been perfect for these pictures: Lego storage bins every where, and Polly Pockets sitting down to tea with My Little Ponies. To no avail could I cox my kids into making that kind of mess, again. Apparently, the key to keeping the play room clean is to ask them to make a mess.

Some Things Always Remain the Same

2011-07-19T20:50:00.001-04:00

Warning: If you are a mother of young children, and dealing with melt downs around dinner time, then don't read this. I would hate to burst that certain mantra you tell yourself to get through the evening.

The other evening we relived that phenomenon I thought reserved for only those with young children.

"The Arsenic Hour"

You know that time, when the adult in the house is trying to make dinner, the rug rats are grumpy due to low blood sugar and just tired from the day. Well, everyone is suffering from low blood sugar and end-of-day fatigue.

One child was melting down, for some reason, I'm not sure. Another child was melting down because I had abandoned him, or so he says. And, another child, had lost whatever self-control had kept him in check for that day.

Add into the equation an afternoon activity that ended at 4pm and an evening activity that began at 5:30, my patience was fairly short when it came to whining as I prepared dinner and organized children out the door.

Apparently, it does not end when children reach a certain age.

And, if you are that mother who did not heed my warning, this is the time for you to cover your ears, with your hands, shut your eyes, and begin to chant "lalalalalala, I can't hear you".

Maybe it had to do with the heat. Which, on a side note, I'm in denial in regards to its return. Last week's mild temperatures has lulled me into a false sense of security, and though I know it is July, I'm expecting the days to be pleasant, and evenings to be cool.

Anywho....

During these meltdowns a friend called and asked if I wanted to head to the new wine tasting store downtown. (OK, not so new. They have been open for a year, but the point is we finally made it.) With Hubby working late, and children melting down, I was there. Enjoying the A/C. I don't know where this heat came from, but I noticed how warm it was while walking to the store. What happened to the cooler temperatures of last week?

Yep, still in denial of so many things.

Oh ... Well, Carry On

2011-07-12T13:37:00.000-04:00

When things don't work properly, need updating, or just bother me, I tend to ignore them.

In an OCD, complain but don't do anything to fix the problem, sort of way.

If a fly is buzzing around my head I swat it away with my hand, over and over again. Standing up, finding the fly swatter, then chasing the little bugger around the house is just too much work.

When my computer tells me to update an application, I ignore it. Until I can no longer open PDF files and I'm grumbling at Hubby.

Several years ago my car was having trouble starting. Not trouble starting, but the key was being difficult in the ignition, like it was resisting to turn. I ignored it; until I jumped in my car, after dropping off a kid at preschool, and the key refused to turn in the ignition. Not a problem, I opened my car manual, read how to bypass this interesting new development, and went on my merry way.

I should note that this was a Friday. The very weekend our church's Ladies Tea was being held, the one I was organizing. Non-starting cars would not deter me this weekend. Thankfully, I did take a minute to call our garage and ask if this was something I should worry about. It occurred to me that I needed my van all weekend, and it breaking down on the way to our church, with a van load of decorations and food, would cause me to emotionally break down. Our friendly mechanic informed me that this was a fail safe in the car, and it usually happens when the back break light bulbs blow out.

"Oh, so nothing will break down on me. The car is still drivable, right?" No, I did not say that to the mechanic, but I did think it. Thankfully, common sense prevailed before it tumbled out into the mechanic's ears. The garage was able to get the part by the afternoon, and I went in for the quick fix.

Last year, around April, the break light on my dashboard began to flicker, the one that turns on when the emergency break is engaged. It began to flicker while I was driving, but the break was not engaged. The flickering was so sporadic that I just ignored it, and made a mental note to check the hand book.

Well, it was a mental note, which means it wasn't until July that I checked the hand book. We were driving to my parent's house, on a major highway, during a holiday weekend. Hubby was driving, and had noticed the flickering light. Up to this point I also forgot to mention it to him. Did I mention that it was sporadic flickering; however, the flickering had become more noticeable. Since I was sitting in the passenger seat, not a normal occurrence in my car, I pulled out the handbook and looked up "Emergency Break Light".

This is what it said:

If the indicator remains lit after you have fully released the parking break while the engine is running or if it comes on while driving, it can indicate a problem in the brake system.

OK, I was fairly certain that, due to the sporadic nature of its flickering, it was most likely a sensor issue, not a breaking issue. However, when you are hurtling down a heavily traveled highway at 70 miles an hour the last thing you may want to read about is the possibility of failing breaks.

The issue is now fixed, no more light, and it was a sensor issue. However, after my father reads this he will most likely shrug his shoulders and thank the good Lord above that I am now my husband's problem, no longer his.

What An Imagination Will Create

2011-07-09T09:34:00.000-04:00

Begin starting sequence:

Steering on, check:

Search, Load and Fire buttons, check:

Engines firing, check:

T-minus 45 minutes till Mom allows me to play on the computer. What unexplored galaxies can we find until then?

Found It!

2011-07-07T21:25:00.001-04:00

HA! I finally found the pictures I wanted to post when I wrote THIS post the other day:

Look at her, holding it without any worries. That's my girl.

Here is her brother:

He is in the background, on the right. There is no way he is touching that sparking stick of flame. He even refused the candle one of the dads at camp was trying to give him.

Ode To My Vacuum

2011-07-06T21:23:00.000-04:00

I don't mean to ignore you.

I did pull you out for a purpose. To sweep. Sweep up cat hair and dandruff. Snack crumbs. Dirt. And the random Lego or Polly Pocket purse that never found its way home. (Shhh ... don't tell the kids.)

I did mean to use you. But, please understand. With three kids home this summer I'm constantly distracted. So, though I planned on immediately using you, I was pulled in another direction.

Really, it isn't you, it is me.

Back In My Day ... We walked up hill, both ways, to play with fireworks

2011-07-04T20:49:00.000-04:00

Growing up we had fireworks on the 4th of July.

Sparklers, fizzers, spinners and shooters ... Obviously, my fireworks lingo needs some brushing up.

Bottom line, we had fireworks.

Though, they may not have been legal. I'm from Pennsylvania, where anything but a sparkler is illegal (OK, maybe not that extreme, but you get my point).

My father worked for a party decoration manufacturer, he traveled to the mid west to meet with clients. He traveled to states where the laws for fireworks were a little less stringent, and his clients would sell the big fizzers, spinners and shooters, those one could not purchase in Pennsylvania. He would come home with the some of these fireworks.

Oh, but wait. They weren't any normal fireworks, they were qualified as: NQP or Not Quiet Perfect. Translation, they may, or may not go off. Let the fun begin!

Some random summer evening, we would sit on the pool deck, while my father stood further up the hill to shoot off these NQP fireworks. My mother would sit there and say, "OK kids, if the cops stop by we don't know him, he is just some random guy who came onto our property and started shooting off fireworks.

The cops never visited.

All this to say, I grew up with fireworks.

My kids? I'm not sure they have held a sparkler. And yes, we have seen fireworks, but we usually watch the (illegal) ones our neighbors set off, or the firework display from the next town over (which would be legal).

Oh wait, two of them have been introduced to sparklers. ED would have nothing to do with them. EM held hers, but I'm not sure she knew it was a sparking stick of flame.

Needless to say, my children have led a very deprived life.

It Is The Thought That Counts

2011-07-02T17:11:00.000-04:00

Several summers ago I borrowed my friend Jolanthe's idea on dealing with wet swim suits.

I love those Command Strips and hooks from 3M. They are everywhere; hooks on doors, holding up pictures and front door decorations. And, wet swimming suits:

This is the reality:

Apparently the hooks are too far away for my children to reach.
This child receives half credit:

:::sigh:::

***Full Disclosure: 3M does not know who I am, and probably does not care that I LOVE their products. Well, they may care a little bit. All this means that they did not sponsor this post. I am, independently, praising 3M's products. Now, if they wish to send me free products and coupons as a way to say "thank you", you know, if some poor soul at 3M has been employed by said company to spend their days looking for little blogs like mine, just click on "About Me" to reach me.

Stop ... Rewind ... Try Again

2011-06-29T16:15:00.000-04:00

During the school year I dream of our summer.

Lazy mornings, laid back days, family fun evenings.

Somewhere, between spring and summer, my dreams have been lost.

Oh, trust me, we are having a lazy summer, or about as lazy as it gets with 3 children in the house.

However, I am running ... after I wake up, much later, than the children.

Mornings are filled with instructions, chores, or just trying to get to the gym.

Afternoons are filled with activities, and trips to the children's museum or library. Or, when we are home I am ~~on the computer~~ working on projects or cleaning.

Then there is swim practice. I love swim practice, because I'm doing nothing but sitting and reading.

The kids are going to bed later, now that is what summer is all about to them; however, Hubby and I don't have much down time since he heads to bed soon after them. And me, well I'm taking the summer schedule to mean I can stay up as late as I want ... not the best choice and that may explain my sluggishness in the morning.

It didn't help that we began our summer vacation with 10 loads of laundry and a camping trip to unpack from. Let me point out that we stayed in a cabin. I can't imagine having to unpack tent, camping equipment, or a camper. Then I painted EM's room.

I should make a mental note that summer vacation is not for projects around the house.

This week the kids are in VBS. I have several hours of freedom, and have spent them driving wildly around town, completing as many errands as possible. Then, it is off to the park, home to prepare for the evening, or who knows what.

I need some time management help, I think. That, or I just need to restart my summer. This one is going way too fast. If I started again I would slow down the speed. Then again, trying to slow down time is like looking for the volume button on your children.

Oh Me Oh My

2011-06-25T21:10:00.003-04:00

Look what I ordered:

Note pads, scribble pads, to do pads. Exactly what I want to keep my Type-A self in line.

Did you notice the name of the company?

LobotoME.

ROFL!!! Seriously, if you are Type A you have two ways to roll. Uptight Type A, meaning you need medication to make it through the day. Or, Type A with a sense of humor, though a few prescriptions always help.

I prefer to have a sense of humor about these things.

LobotoME ... get it? It puts a smile on my face ... every time I look at the name.

The company has notepads for just about every "to do" list, and planners. Packing lists, shopping lists, to do lists, Hubby's to do lists, sitter list, what you ate lists, ....

For the Twilight fan, the Bite Me note pad:

Can't afford an iPad? Then try a MePad.

I ordered the Check Me note pad, to help keep track of our grocery needs through out the month.

Also, the List/Doodle Me note pad, hoping that this would inspire me back into keeping a to do list. I'm slightly lost without one, but can't seem to find the motivation to get one started.

Anyone who wants to psychoanalyze that feel free, please email me your results.

To top off my Type A high, I purchased my two new note pads for Free, plus $5.99 for shipping and handling.

A while back I joined Gaggle of Chicks, it is one of those deal sites, like Groupon, (Full Disclosure Moment: Those links are referral links. So, if you click through, and join, I receive a credit.) except with mom inspired deals. When you sign up you receive a $10 credit. So, when they offered this deal from LobotoME I could hardly contain myself. No seriously, there was lots of giggling and jumping up and down in my seat.

And, because I loved them so, I just had to share them, and my neurosis, with you. Enjoy

And The Winner Is ...

2011-06-24T14:54:00.000-04:00

We are two weeks into summer vacation. You can tell because I haven't been blogging as much. Oh no, I have plenty of material, you should see some of my Facebook status', however I haven't had time to sit at the computer and write. In the evening, after the kids go to bed, I'm usually falling flat on my face. Problem is, it is usually on the couch, I can't make it to my bedroom.

Before school ended I began writing two little posts about all the end of school activities, and the kids adjusting to a summer vacation schedule. A schedule, much to their dismay, that does not allow them to sit in front of the TV/DSi/Computer/ITouch playing Angry Birds all day long.

But that is for another post.

Today's topic is the Annual School Awards Assembly.

Thoughts, feelings, comments, opinions?

Well, here is mine: Oy Vey!

I've heard the reports,read the books, that we have become a society that praises our children too much. Our children have become a generation expecting a prize and applause for getting out of bed in the morning and changing their clothes.

Actually, for my boys that is applause worthy. If they change their underwear I put their name on a plaque.

:::ahem:::

Sorry, I digress.

The school awards assembly is a case in point.

Yes, there are the "Straight A" awards and "Perfect Attendance" certificate. Those are accomplishments worthy to be praised. Thought, the perfect attendance award did create some snickering. You heard it too, you may have even said it, "AKA: I was sick but my mom still sent me to school award."

Oh, and in the spirit of full disclosure, one of my children did receive the perfect attendance award. No, I never sent him to school sick, unless you call a cold being sick. I call it putting on your big boy pants, have a dose of cold medicine, don't forget your pack of tissues, and learn how to function in the real world.

We also have the "All B's Gets You A Certificate As Well" and the "Missed A Couple Days, Good Enough, Have a Certificate" award.

It may be time to raise the bar.

Is a 2 hour awards ceremony ... FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL really necessary? Do we need to recognize EVERYONE who come to school and completed their work? You are supposed to go to school, it is the law. You don't receive a certificate for completing what is expected of you.

Oh, to top of the fun and festivities, there were awards for the best lunchroom behavior.

:::crickets:::

Yes, they gave awards to students for behaving themselves in the lunchroom.

Unfortunately, there was no recognition given to the 7+ outstanding teachers and assistants we lost at the end of the school year.

But, we awarded good lunchroom behavior.

Spring Reading Thing Wrap Up

2011-06-20T22:03:00.000-04:00

This Years Spring Reading Thing is coming to an end, but my reading won't be. While I was diligently reading away my list, and modifying to add new books, I was busy stocking up my summer list (thanks to Paperback Swap), and adding some books to my Spring Thing, hence the modification.

I did finish Brad Metzler's Inner Circle. Final review, "Ehh". I would have felt better about the book had I not paid full price for it. Though the premise was intriguing, which is what drew me to purchase the book, the story itself was rather far fetched. Maybe I was looking for more intrigue and secrets, instead of youthful indiscretions and regrets.

The Daughter's Walk, by Jane Kirkpatrick, is a MUST READ. When I finished it I passed it on to my mother-in-law; who, unknown to me, was looking for it, but didn't realize it hadn't been released yet. SCORE! I fully recommend this book.

Next came The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book. The writing, the details, the characters, everything about this book makes it a classic. Not sure what I'm waiting for, but at some point I am watching the movie, again.

The Buccaneers, also by Edith Wharton, came next. So much of this book I had forgotten, and also I enjoyed it, though not as much as The Age of Innocence. Presently, thanks to Netflix, I am watching the 1995 BBC production of the former.

Before continuing with my preassigned list I continued with a series started earlier in the year, the adventures of Mrs. Pollifax, homemaker, widow, grandmother, turned CIA spy. The series, written by Dorothy Gilman, continues with The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax and The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax. The three I've read have proven to be a fun and quick read. I can't help by see my own grandmother in the Mrs. Pollifax role.

Next came E.M. Forster's Room With a View. However, I had to put it down and move on. There is something about E.M. Forster's writing that requires one uninterrupted time to read, long stretches of uninterrupted time, otherwise it is hard to get into the story. Maybe, I will take this along on vacation; though, I'm not sure if a vacation with children will give me the time needed, but I can only hope. I also enjoy his writing, but need to time to absorb it.

The other problem with continuing with my old list is that a new list was forming on by night stand, and I couldn't wait. I just finished Mr. Darcy's Daughters, by Elizabeth Aston. Aston picks up from Pride and Prejudice 20 years after Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet marry. Now Darcy has 5 daughters, who are let loose on London society without their imposing father. Overall, it is a good read, though you will find many similarities to the mishaps and happenings in Pride and Prejudice.

And there, is where my Spring Reading Thing comes to an end. I'm continuing the next book in Aston's series, titled The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, is sitting on my pile, along with the newest book by Connie Schultz, and a book about the creation of Nancy Drew, our favorite female sleuth. Sorry, I don't have the title at the moment. It is a book I picked up at a local book sale. It looked interesting, but I can't remember the title. It is now sitting on my night stand, where I haven't looked at it since purchasing the book, and I'm downstairs in the office typing. If you are interested in the title leave a comment, or simply email me, I will send it to you.

And, there ends the list. Some books were read, some were added, and some were set aside for another time. Maybe another cruise in a year or so, if I'm so lucky.

Katrina, thank you for another fun, and encouraging, reading challenge. I'm looking forward to the Fall Into Reading challenge. I have no idea what will be on my list, but it will be fun.

All For Love

2011-06-19T22:29:00.000-04:00

My idea of roughing it is any hotel below the quality of a Hampton.

With that statement, it is obvious that I am not a camper.

Yes, I was Girl Scout. I did my fair share of camping, in tents, with spiders, and rocks as my mattress. I've paid my dues. And yes, I spent many a summer at camp. However, our cabins were more like dormitories than camp cabins.

When we married, Hubby commented on the niceties of going camping.

:::crickets:::

After having children he commented on taking the kids camping. He has my full blessing to take the kids camping, I'll stay and keep the house fires burning for their return.

With saying all that, we have been camping. It appears I love our children more than my husband, since they are the ones that have dragged me WAY out of my comfort zone.

We tend to camp a cabin, or a pop-up camper. Neither of which falls under my "Hampton Inn" criteria.

Why do I not like camping, other than I'm not sleeping in my bed, and the bugs, and the lack of A/C?

First there is the planning, and packing. I must pack WAY too much stuff, household stuff, for my liking. Then there is the arrival, and unpacking. The one night of no sleep, which equals to a feeling of constant fatigue for the remainder of the weekend. All through out the weekend dealing with bugs, and dirt, and rain, and no comfortable place to sit, and bugs, oh, and the rusty nail I stepped on.

Let me give a big old call out to my midwife who kept me on top of my shots!!!!!

Then, once arriving home, there is the unpacking of household stuff, and laundry. Oh. My. Lands. The laundry. How does one weekend account for 10 loads of laundry, ... and a call to the midwives office to check on my shots record.

Why do I do it? Because the kids love it. When we head to camp (which, seriously, accounts for 1 weekend or 1 week of my year, so I can stop gripping now) the kids have such freedom. They play in the stream, catching fish and who knows what else. They bike all over the grounds. The swimming pool is only a bike ride away.

And us parents? We are able to sit, and talk with adults. Enjoy a cup of weak coffee, and the great outdoors.

Last week, as we finished our breakfast around the fire, my friend sat down, coffee in hand, and sighing, "this is the life". And it was. It was peaceful. Almost perfect weather. The kids had rushed off to play, and we were sitting under a tree, next to a fire, enjoying God's amazing creation.

Unfortunately, God created me with a jaded streak. After RY's exclamation of extreme satisfaction I had to added in the desire for a spa next door, and maybe a couple fewer bugs ... and rusty nails.

All for the love of my children.

Winds of Change

2011-06-13T21:48:00.000-04:00

Popularity is a fair weather friend around our house.

Last Friday I was the most favored mom in the world.

Today, I receive this note:

It reads: "Dear Mom, this is summer Not an a camp for werk! And I'm sereus so Don't push it ... OK? from, Eli. P.S Still Don't Push it.

Summer has begun, and it isn't all fun and games in our house. You know what they say about idle hands, and what not.

Celebrate!!!

2011-06-09T21:04:00.000-04:00

This is why I will be crowned "Best Mom Ever",

at least for the first day of summer vacation:

It May be a Long Summer ...

2011-06-08T21:33:00.000-04:00

Sound familiar to anyone:

They are upstairs, sent to change for swim team practice.

What I hear is a lot of goofing. Changing clothes doesn't make that much noise, even for my three.

First came goofing, then came rough housing, then comes EM (little sister) crying that someone hurt her.

Actually, she didn't come crying to me, but there was crying. Followed by the anxious apologies of a certain older brother. No, not that one, the other one. Every time he said, "I'm sorry EM, I'm sorry", you could hear the pleading in his voice, "please don't tell mom".

She did come tell me, not that ED hurt her, but that the boys weren't getting changed.

:::sigh:::

In ED's defense, I heard EM administer the first rough housing whack. ED was just doing what boys do. In that case, EM was just doing what little sisters do. Because it can never be her fault.

:::sigh:::

We have a saying in our house, usually administered after such rough housing episodes. You can probably guess what it is that we say.

School: A Recap

2011-06-07T23:08:00.000-04:00

The school year is near its end. Here is a recap:

First, how many painting projects did I complete and closets reorganized?

Well, I'm not employed yet, so there is always next year. Let us move on.

All three kids were in school full-time. It took a couple of weeks to get used to my new freedom.

I volunteered way to much, and began subbing at the school.

One child is receiving the Citizenship Award, for her class, at the end of the school year.

Another child spent a morning in the office due to undesirable behavior.

Just another validation that it is all nature, nurture has nothing to do about.

Apparently, I joined a paramilitary group, plotting to overthrow the school, and the entire school system

... at least that is what one may believe if you listen to the school board and certain critics. All this fuss, because a large group of parents asked for an independent, third-party climate survey to be conducted at our school (which our state's Department of Education does free of charge for any school district that asks).

The homeschool debate returned, this year I took it as far as ordering catalogs. There are some great programs out there, and if I had the money I would purchase one of them, just for fun.

Then, we began looking into private school, which is obviously more expensive than homeschooling, but worth its weight in gold when it comes to mental health and a peaceful house ... according to Hubby. So, we are looking into sending our oldest next year.

Hmm, looks like I need to put aside those painting jobs and stop volunteering.

In many ways, summer has already begun around our house, which makes the school year bed time a complete bore for the kids.

We are all looking forward to the summer break, and it is promising to be fast and furious. I can only hope that the kids learn to sleep in, because the mom will be.

The Veteran

2011-06-06T09:48:00.001-04:00

My daughter just finished up her third year of dance. This means I just survived my third dance recital.

Now, let me clarify, in the world of dance recitals, we have it easy. I've heard the nightmarish stories of stripper like costumes, that cost $100 a pop, multiple costume changes, rehearsals taking up weeks of time, and 4 hour recitals.

4 HOUR RECITALS! Seriously! People, Broadway shows and movies are not 4 hours long. Can we say, ... I have no idea what you would say to that. I just don't get it.

Sorry, I digress. Anyway. As far as dance recitals go, we have it easy. My most nightmarish story may be sitting there watching tween girls dance hip hop to a song titled Candy Store. Let me be clear, this was not the lollipop and gumdrop type of candy store :::cough::: :::cough::: I covered my own ears, and made a mental note to NEVER allow my daughter take a class from this one teacher. I wasn't worried about my boys, they were not paying attention.

Expect a learning curve the first year. There are some things I was clueless on, like how to make a hair bun, and was very thankful for a veteran mom's advice: Form a pony tale, take a sock with the toes cut off, and form the bun around the sock. We skipped the instructions that stated girls should not wear underwear. UM, my daughter's 4, she will wear underwear. As for makeup, we kept it minimal, and skipped the eye liner and mascara. I'm still traumatized form when I was 5 and my mom attempted to apply that stuff to my eyes.

Rehearsal is one evening. We come, shell out $10 to have their picture "professionally" taken, then wait, rehearse, and leave.

We don't need to stay for the whole time. We've been blessed by my daughter being one of the first classes to practice, which means we are in, and out. I've had enough time to find my favorite snarky moms, we chat, make fun of something, I tape EM's dance, and we are done, in enough time to enjoy the evening.

I also know, for the future, that if EM's class is near the end of the rehearsal, we can come late. Maybe it isn't sanctioned by the powers that be, but there is no reason to stick my daughter in her costume, in a chair, for over an hour before her class practices.

On the day of the recital, we have our regular places to sit, not real close to the stage, but close enough. And, far enough that we can sneak out after her program. This year, after EM's dance, the grandparents will leave, Hubby will leave with the boys, and I will sit outside the auditorium, with my laptop, completing some work.

One of us has to stay the entire time, the dancers are not allowed to leave till the very end, which is only fair to those who dance near the end.

After the recital the parents are to come to the stage and collect their child(ren). Meaning, the parents swarm the actual stage, causing congestion everywhere. I head to the "green room" where the dancers waited out the evening, collect EM's stuff, then head back to the auditorium to collect her. I don't try to walk onto the stage, parents are still swarming. Patiently, I wait at the end of the stage (the orchestra pit area, if there was one), until eye contact is made. Yes, it may seem like a long time, but no longer then trying to walk up onto the stage, then walk back down.

This year, I even managed the most awesome of parking spots. We pulled right out, and headed for the exit, no lines and no pedestrians to dodge as I backed up.

This year EM has been saying she no longer wants to take dance class. I'm not sure what to do with that information. Does this mean she will want to try something new, which will mean a new learning curve for me? I hope not, I feel like I've conquered dance recitals, and I'm ready to face more.

It Can't be This Hard

2011-06-02T21:54:00.001-04:00

Was it always this difficult?

We were organizing swimming suits, extra clothes, towels, bags, sun tan lotion, hats, sun glasses, and who knows what else. Granted, field day only happens once a year, but this was not our first field day.

It was a tad hectic, to say the least.

Hubby said it was because we now have 3 to organize, or get organized. I was giving them the lists, they were responsible for the rest.

There was much discussion, clarification, arguing, more clarification, reminders, and another discussion.

The idea of making the kids pack their own bags is to make my life easier.

With 3 kids, you hand over more and more responsibilities to the kids. It is supposed to make the parent's life easier.

However, I was still involved, highly involved; telling them what to pack, and how to pack.

Next step, telling 3 kids to get it done, and let them figure out what "it" is.

This helicopter mom needs to fly away. I'm thinking the Bahamas?

It's How We Roll

2011-05-30T16:05:00.000-04:00

Here lies our raised garden beds. This is how they look, as I type. Yes, it is the end of May. Planting time is about over.

Those of you with raised beds probably have lovely little plants, vegetables, flowers, herbs, maybe even some fruit plants, growing in yours.

We don't. We are a little slow on the "doing" around here.

Understand, we probably talked about having some raised beds for two years.

Earlier this spring Hubby said," I'm making them today". I said "uh, do you have any plans?" He assembled them on the coldest weekend of April.

Considering it takes us awhile to accomplish anything, like 2 years to get around to constructing flower beds. I say we may have something planted in them by next spring.

It is just how we roll around here.

I Have a Confession

2011-05-26T22:14:00.000-04:00

Earlier in the week I wrote about my lost motivation.

Well, this may be one of the reasons why:

It is a game found on Webkinz.

No, I don't have an account, but my children do, and I've been racking up the points for them. My dear daughter managed to spend 4,000 of those points, collected over several weeks of play, in one afternoon on furniture, clothes and food for her Webkinz.

I'm not a big game player. However, this has gotten serious. To the point I have found message boards, giving tips on the game. I have written out cheat sheets, which I use for each game.

Serious and crazy.

Spring Break

2011-05-23T13:15:00.000-04:00

I'm dragging.

It happens every year, usually after the time change; but lasts for several ~~months~~ weeks, so I can no longer blame it on the lost of one hour of sleep.

When we were in school this was called spring fever, or senioritis.

Since I'm no longer a student, and I don't teach, I'm not sure what to call it, or what causes it. Though, I will say my children are in school, and by this time of year we are all tired of the school schedule.

Though, I'm not sure how my weariness of the school schedule excuses the past few weeks of an inability to function, complete projects, commit to events, even return phone calls and emails.

For this year, at least, I could blame it on all the rapture talk. Maybe, self consciously, I was holding back on completing too many projects, just in case it was true. Well, now that excuse has come and gone, guess it is back to work, if I can find my focus.

Did I Just Say That?

2011-05-19T17:08:00.000-04:00

It is that time of year again, standardized test time. I am not a fan for standardized tests, but I keep my opinions to myself.

Regardless of my feelings towards something I see as limiting my children's education, my kids don't know. They will be taking the tests, so there is no reason to gripe about something they can't change.

Actually, as a rule, we toe the school line at our house. The kids may complain about this project, or that teacher, yet we simply tell them to suck it up. It does help that we have had amazing teachers, who don't ask for, or do anything, over the top. I have no problem supporting them at home, or at school.

At the beginning of the testing schedule ED was talking about how nervous he was about the tests. He was mainly worried about passing, so he could get the prize all who did pass would receive. I tried talking to him, telling him not to worry, he would do fine, and that the tests didn't really matter, and I didn't really care about the tests. The conversation went down hill from there.

Oops. Open mouth, insert foot.

The next day the stinker goes into school and announces to the whole class "my mother thinks the tests are a waste of time and she doesn't think we should take them".

Thankfully, his teacher has a sense of humor, and is much better at digging out of my holes than I am.

She laughed. I apologized, again, and again.

If your school has standardized tests you have probably received the note that informs you that tests will begin, that the kids should have a good night sleep, and have a good breakfast in the morning. Maybe, they should have also added something about parent's keeping their opinions to themselves. :::cough::: :::cough:::

Book Review: For Women Only

2011-05-18T14:37:00.016-04:00

For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men, by Shaunti Feldhahn, is a must read for any wife, wife-to-be, girlfriend, or girlfriend-to-be. Basically, every female should read this book.

Why, you ask? Well, let me back up, and tell you of when I first read this book, and why I jumped at the chance to review it.

My first reading of this book was several years ago, when it was first published. My mother had lent me her copy. With, at the time, 9 years of marriage and 3 children under by belt, along with a college degree in social studies and a minor in sociology, I thought I had a basic understanding of my husband. After reading this book I realized calling it "basic" was an understatement. I had barely scratched the surface to my man.

After reading it I gained a whole new perspective, and appreciation for who my husband is, as a man. I was also charged with useful information in helping us raise our two sons. The conversations Hubby and I had, thanks to this book, also opened his eyes to how women think.

From the beginning of the book Feldhahn outlines the origination of this book, the surveys (professional and informal) completed to compile the data used for this book, and informs the reader that this book is not about male bashing. The information given in this book is based on evidence, compiled through two professional surveys, where 400 anonymous men, for each survey, were asked 2 dozen questions. A more informal survey, of another 400 men, was conducted, between the 2 formal surveys. All that to say, yes this book does know what it is talking about. And, Feldhahn delivers the information on a personal level, as if you were talking to a girlfriend.

Since this book was first published in 2004 it has grown into the 'Only' Series. This includes, For Men Only, For Young Women Only, For Young Men Only, For Parent's Only (BTW, my next read). Discussion guides, Bible studies, a website and message boards have also joined this growing series. Now, I haven't read any of the other books; however, if its predecessor is any indication, they are all worth a read by those who fall into the book's respective categories.

Interested, but not fully committed yet to read this book, then click over to Multnomah's website, where you can download, for free, the first chapter of this book. I would guarantee that after reading the first chapter you will be drawn in, and want to read the rest.

***In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations: WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group gave me a free copy of For Women Only for this review.

Survey Says ...

2011-05-15T21:09:00.000-04:00

This is how the conversation went, between JT and ED this afternoon, after EM was given full reign of the CD player ... meaning HSM was playing at full blast.

ED: It is not fair. She always gets what she wants. It is not fair. Why do they always give her what she wants. It is not fair. She always gets her way. It is not fair. She is the youngest, and they treat her like a princess. It is not fair. JT, don't you think it is not fair that they always give her her way. JT, answer me.

JT: She is the youngest, and more delicate than us.

Oh My Word! I was laughing so hard. Thankfully, for ED, JT defused his grumbling, otherwise I was sending his grumpy, whiny self back to his room. ED had had a long afternoon, and it wasn't fair to anyone.

A Thorough Search ... AKA Type A Strikes Again

2011-05-11T21:18:00.000-04:00

We are having a neighborhood yard sale, and I am participating.

There is a box in the basement, overflowing with to-be yard sale items. The play room is overflowing with toys, period.

The kids are on board with selling certain toys, I think. Every time they see me organize and price a different toy there is a new argument as to why the toys should stay.

Hubby is restraining me from placing price tags on anything not moving.

I manged to get the boys on the selling bandwagon when they saw the most awesome toy at the local crash and dent store, and they are looking to raise some funds. And, I agree with them, it is the most awesome of toys. I don't mind getting rid of several tubs of toys, for this most awesome of toys will only take up one of those tubs.

Getting ready for the yard sale becomes a full-time, intensive job. It isn't enough for me to round up the toys and household items, sort and price. I also need to put everything together, make sure everything works, and all the pieces belonging to the toy are present and ready to leave this house. This means I am scrounging through drawers, tubs, toy chests, under beds, in sock drawers, the corners of closets, under sofas, and in cupboards for these lost pieces.

There must be an easier way?

On the bright side, our drawers, tubs, toy chests, under beds, sock drawers, closets, under sofas and cupboards are now organized.

On the other bright side, pricing is easy; I am pricing to sell. So, pray there is no rain on Saturday. I like a good yard sale, but I am not hard core. I might set up in the garage Saturday morning, but I won't be dedicated to seeing the morning through.

Recycling

2011-05-09T19:49:00.000-04:00

Over the years technology changes, and while the old technology goes by the wayside their names may not. Here are some examples, the old meaning on the left and their new meanings on the right.

Wireless

Blackberry

Snail Mail

Satellite

Star Wars

If I Twittered

2011-05-08T20:51:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I participated in Relay for Life. This is a major fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, and held, throughout the year, around the country.

I don't Twitter, but yipee skipee, the fairgrounds had wifi, and so I was updating my Facebook status during the evening, or at least I was until JT played Angry Birds for about 3 hours straight, and then the battery died.

So, here are the status updates I did make, some I didn't but thought of, and those I would have added had my battery survived the Angry Birds onslaught.

---------------------------------------------------
Relay Day! Well, more like Relay Night. Come on out to the fairgrounds and join in the fun. Food, fun, free concerts, an auction, and more. All for a good cause

Leaving the fairgrounds to grab lunch and the kids, before the fun begins. Not a cloud in sight, no rain today

Well, now there is a big cloud in sight. No rain, no rain, no rain, repeat after me

At the fairgrounds, ready to get this party started, ready for the rain cloud to go away

RAIN!!!!!!! But don't fear, we see blue skies in the distant

At the fairgrounds for Relay for Life. No rain in sight, come join us

Need dinner? Cheeseburgers, hamburgers, friend tenderloin sandwiches, fried pickles, fried mushrooms, ... All at Relay for Life

What? Too many fried, fatty options? This is about fighting cancer, not heart attacks

Discussing with JT why he can't carry the spirit stick during the parade. My response: "ADHD" His response: "I'm not going to freakin' hit anyone with the stick."

Luminary Ceremony:

Walked 3 miles so far. How many more miles till morning?

Coffee at 9:30pm, planning on being up all night!

Let's go ... auction time!

Went to put a bid on several items at the silent auction, no pens or pencils to write bids

Asked one of the auction ladies if there were extra pens/pencils, she said she didn't have any to spare. She had 4 or 5 pens hooked on her shirt. Guess I'm not putting down any bids

Live auction has started, but they are not going in order of the list. It is driving this Type A'er crazy. GO IN ORDER

Oh look, another dried flower arrangement is up for auction

Oh look, another Snuggie is up for auction

Oh look, another dried flower/Snuggie is up for auction

We must have drawn the short stick on the auction, apparently the items we want to bid on are being saved till last. Not that we would know when they were coming up, since they are going out of order

Walking, walking is keeping me warm

Look who fell asleep:

4-H is open for breakfast. They make the best egg, cheese, and sausage biscuits

4-H is out of hot chocolate! This is Code Red!

The end is in sight. We are tearing down the camp site, the sun is rising, and everyone on site is stirring

Driving home, maybe shouldn't have taken the back road. No sleep for 24 hours, and winding roads, fun

Home, and going to bed, and hoping to get warm

Another successful Relay for Life has come and gone. Thank you to everyone who donated items for the auction, donated money to our team, came to Bunko Night, or ordered Pampered Chef. Your support is appreciated, and it went to a great cause

Just Breath

2011-05-05T22:21:00.000-04:00

I'm not big on messes. Paint, Play-Doh, crafts, even cooking, I need to have some element of control in the process. "Control in the process" means I do most of it, while the kids ask, and ask, and ask again what they can do. I am uncomfortable giving the kids full reign, and letting them at it.

Over the years, giving up control has gotten a little easier. When we moved into our current house (JT was 3 and ED was 22 months) I began to loosen up. There was now linoleum, instead of carpet, under our kitchen table. The boys were allowed to play with the Play-Doh. Then we bought an art easel, and that meant the paint came out.

As the children have gotten older they are able to do more activities on their own. This means, I am able to turn my back and not see what they are doing. Get me involved, and immediately they lose any part of the process.

And then there is cooking, or allowing the children to cook, bake cookies. This usually takes place if I have had several hours to mentally prepare.

So, this afternoon, when the kids asked to help me with a painting project I said, "sure". It had been awhile since they had helped with anything crafty, I was feeling lulled into motherly guilt. We were just painting a dowel rod, about an inch round. How hard could it be?

How messy could it get?

Windy day, absent minded children, and a mother with a low threshold for messes.

The kids were happy, they got to help ... with paint.

I'll wash ED's t-shirt tomorrow, to see if the pearlescent paint will wash out.

Is This Thing On ...

2011-05-01T22:31:00.001-04:00

Yes, I watched the Royal Wedding Friday.

No, I did not get up at some ungodly hour to watch it. I did, however, get up at a semi-ungodly hour to get myself, and the kids, ready for the day.

When we returned home, at the end of school, the kids crashed in front of the TV and I crashed in front of the computer, watching wedding recaps.

That evening I went to a friend's house to watch the wedding, she DVR'd it, allowing the rest of us to have a normal day, and watch the wedding with friends.

I fully recommend watching a Royal Wedding with friends. All by yourself, your commentary just falls on no one's ears. With friends, we can all share our reactions.

With friends, you can wince and cry every time this poor girl was given a camera angle:

The hat that launched a 1,000 Facebook pages.

The fact that they were sitting directly behind the Queen made it quite fun, and painful, at the same time. We wondered if anyone checked her, and her sister, before they left the palace. And, if the Queen and their father, Prince Andrew, were restraining themselves from wiping their eyes free of the raccoon makeup?

Watching with friends meant you could share that even the Queen can wear too much yellow.

The hat that launched a 1,000 lemon cakes.

Come on old gal, I know fashion and chic cannot be your thing, being Queen and all, but when you wear that bright of a colour you need to break it up a bit.

We all reminisced 30 years ago, when we all watched Prince Charles and Princess Diana marry. And, how this wedding differed. Like the fact that Prince William and Duchess Kate displayed actual chemistry between each other.

We ohhed and ahhed over her dress, and declared that this dress would be one to be admired 30 years later.

We booed the critics, who declared that her dress was not fashion forward enough, and lacked the fairy tale design of Princess Diana's. Uhhh, fairy tale design?

We waited for the kiss. Admired the hats and dresses. And, to kick it off, listened to Rupert Everett share his opinion on the whole event. We need to remember to invite him to our next Royal Wedding viewing, because he has opinions to share!!!!

***I couldn't find a clip of his interview. If you have a chance to see in on TLC, take the time!!!

Joy

2011-04-26T15:04:00.000-04:00

Otherwise titled, why I'm glad my children are older.

Here is the annual routine:

Spring rolls around, the weather grows warmer, and the kids ask for their fans to be pulled out of storage, and placed in their rooms.

I hear the requests, but promptly forget about it; and so, it is never completed when I have the time to pull them out, wipe them down, and distribute them.

So they keep asking, I keep forgetting, until one day, when I have five minutes and am tired of hearing the constant requests, I will pull them out. Realize, that yes, they are dusty and the blades need to be cleaned, but I don't have the time, so I'll do it in the fall, when I put them away.

Fall rolls around, the frost has already arrived, and I finally remember to put away the fans ... after tripping over them for the umpteenth time and mumbling something under my breath about needing to put them away.

Which I do, when I have 5 minutes to spare. Again I look at them, realize they need cleaned, but why bother now, I'm just putting them in storage, I'll do it in the spring. I'll have more time then.

It is a vicious cycle.

Until this year. Yesterday, while I made dinner, I told ED (who had just asked for his fan for the 5th time in 2 weeks) to go ask Hubby to help him pull the fans out of storage. Then, the kids were charged with cleaning the fans.

Not a child's idea of a fun afternoon; then again, they got to take the fans a part and see the motor ... score!

This is why I like my aging children. They are getting their own breakfast ... just watch out for the cereal crumbs on the floor. They get themselves ready for bed. They clean their own bathroom, and the globs of toothpaste they leave in the sink after getting themselves ready for bed.

And, when they ask for, say, their fans. They can pull them out of storage, and clean them, themselves.

Video Delight

2011-04-19T20:50:00.000-04:00

For all of you, like me, who are anxiously waiting for the Royal Wedding.

Stop laughing. Yes, some of us are excited, and we are planning parties. I may make Hubby very happy, by saying yes to a DVR, just so I can record the wedding. I'm excited and everything, but not 6:00 am excited.

Here is a little something to tide you over:

Mud, by any other name

2011-04-18T20:48:00.000-04:00

The first rule of housekeeping, clean it as soon as you see it. Piece of paper on the floor, pick it up. Jelly smudge on the fridge handle, wipe it up. Mud on the stool in the bathroom, clean it ... right away.

It was spring. I had three children, ages 4 and under (in fact the 4-year-old might not have been 4, yet). At some point, mud was tracked into the house, and wiped off of one's foot, onto the stool in the main floor bathroom.

Now, I knew it was mud. It wasn't a lot of mud, just a smear. But, there it dried, on the bathroom stool.

A few weeks later, and yes the bathroom would have been cleaned between then and now, we invite friends over for dinner. They came, the kids played, the adults talked, we ate, everyone had a good time; and I'm sure someone, during the course of the evening, used the bathroom.

After that visit I walked into the bathroom and realized, what I know to be mud, probably didn't look like mud to our visitors. In fact, it probably looked like a preschooler had a bit too much free rein in the bathroom.

Did I mention I had 3 children, barely 4-years-old, and younger, and I wasn't on any type of medication.

So, if you have ever laughed at that first rule of housekeeping, and thought to yourself "if I cleaned every piece of dirt I saw I wouldn't move the stove to the fridge, remember, what is mud to you, may not look like mud to someone else.

Lesson learned.

Life With ADHD

2011-04-17T21:28:00.000-04:00

When it comes to school, some days are better then others. The beginning of the school year is hard as he learns the routine. Winter, in terms of bad days, comes in a close second.

And then there are the days, for whatever reason, he is elsewhere. Last week, he had one of those days. We could blame it on the rain. Everyone was dragging that day; for him, it was his focus level ... kaput.

His explanation of the day wasn't concise, but that usually means he lost focus throughout the day. Imagine my surprise, when the next day his teacher told me he had stood up, on his chair, in the middle of math class.

Sorry, Mr. C, for laughing. We chalked it up to an ADHD moment.

That afternoon I asked JT why he stood on his chair, in the middle of math class. I was fully expecting a blank stare, and no memory of said activity. He did remember, and this was his explanation:

"Mr. C. announced that the class was a bunch of airheads; so, I acted like an airhead, by pretending to float up to the ceiling."

:::sigh:::

Sorry, Mr. C, for laughing once again. I must say, I'm rather relieved that he had a reason, and that it wasn't an act of an ADHD cloud.

Some Things Need to be Said?

2011-04-12T20:42:00.001-04:00

Guess some things need to be pointed out for a reason. Then again, what happened to the good old days of Darwin's Law, survival of the fittest?

The Mean Mommy Chronicles

2011-04-11T07:45:00.001-04:00

Some of these phrases, may, or may not, have been uttered in our house:

The phrase "I'm bored" uttered from a child is followed by this response from mom: "Go to your room" or "In that case, you can clean ..."

Speaking of cleaning, a snow day, or day off of school, means the kids "deep clean" their bedrooms and bathroom. A deep clean includes dismantling all piles, and finding appropriate homes :::cough::: trash can :::cough::: for their stuff, dusting, sweeping, and giving the bathroom a good scrub.

When there is a difference in the definition of "clean" the child is given this directive: "If you want to leave your room today, you will go by Mom's definition of 'clean'."

The poor child is home early from school, due to a slightly elevated temperature: "Thanks, kid, for folding the towels for me."

"Oh, I'm sorry, that you don't like anything we are having for dinner. No, there are no substitutes, so if you don't eat, know that breakfast is over 12 hours away; and yes, you will sit with us at the table, during dinner, because this is family time."

What is your favorite Mean Mommy (Teacher/Child Care Provider) Moment, at your house?

Out of Office Reply

2011-04-09T07:01:00.002-04:00

Yes, this is the sign hanging around the house this weekend, because I am gone.

A weekend away, with girlfriends.

No kids, no husbands, no cell phone service, no internet service, no Walmart (so don't forget anything). If the government closes, I may not know until we return to civilization on Sunday.

Just good friends, food, books, movies, naps and hiking.

EM is happy that I am gone, because she thinks that makes her in charge. She began chanting that the queen was gone, and that made her princess queen.

Book Review: The Daughter's Walk

2011-04-08T07:34:00.002-04:00

The Daughter's Walk, by Jane Kirkpatrick, is historical fictions at its best. The book is based on the true story of Helga and Clara Estby, who walked 7000 miles, across the United States, to raise money for their family. The author picks up the story, and fills in the holes, where family and news records leave off.

"In 1896 Norwegian American Helga Estby accepted a wager from the fashion industry to walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City within seven months in an effort to earn $10,000. Bringing along her nineteen year-old daughter Clara, the two made their way on the 3500-mile trek by following the railroad tracks and motivated by the money they needed to save the family farm. After returning home to the Estby farm more than a year later, Clara chose to walk on alone by leaving the family and changing her name. Her decisions initiated a more than 20-year separation from the only life she had known."

The book focuses on Clara's life story, how this walk took her away from her family, and how the rest of her life experiences led her back to her family. The characters in this book are well written, showing the depths of who they are, and how the events at the beginning of the book, shape them throughout the story. Everyone in the family are changed, in one way or the other, by the walk, and the repercussions are felt years later.

Being a history buff, I'm drawn to historical fiction, and appreciate that the author gave great attention to the period. This book gives a social historical rendering of the times. I recommend this book, if you are looking for a book to read for fun, or as an educational resource.
To learn more about this book click over to the publisher's page, WaterBrook Multnomah, to order or even read an excerpt.

Note: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

Add Another Task to the Job Description

2011-04-06T20:56:00.002-04:00

You know that list of jobs a mother performs?

Chauffeur, House Keeper, Schedule Secretary, Cook, CEO, Nurse, Educator, Personal Assistant, ....

Well, there is one task that was forgotten.

Drug Pusher.

Oh, sure, nurse is in there, but for the past 7+ days, I'm more of a drug pusher. Amoxicillin, Claritin, cough medicine, cold medicine, ibuprofen, acetaminophen (because heaven forbid we combine the cold, cough, and fever reducing medicine in one bottle and over-medicate the children. In other news, my spell check is going hay wire since I have no idea how to spell any of those drugs. Apparently, neither does my spell check, it can just tell me that they are incorrectly spelled.)

I'm fine pushing the drugs, as long as they are not pushing their illness' on me, thank you very much. There is one thing moms cannot do ... GET SICK!

In the End

2011-04-03T16:47:00.003-04:00

Our spring break began in notorious fashion; snow, a doctor visit, and strep throat.

It ended on a much brighter, though not much warmer note. Here is a recap:

Only one case of strep throat, though allergies seem to be hitting the rest.

Allergies? It is cold outside, and snow was still blowing around, by the end of the week. It is rather surreal to see snow falling, and hear lawn mowers out, around the neighborhood.

While looking for extra pillows, when staying at my parent's house, I discovered a Star Trek (the original) shirt hanging in one of their closets.

One child lost his video gaming privileges for 3 days. Some like to learn the hard way.

I was reminded, again, not to hit the local crash & dent store at noon, on the first of the month, with my children. EGADS! Some like to learn the hard way. :::cough:::

We celebrated a birthday in the house.

This celebration included a trip to see Disney on Ice. *Note: We saw Princess Wishes. The boys wanted to come, and to their credit they did not complain once about all the "girlie stuff".

Our now 6-year-old said, "This is the best birthday ever".

The week ended with friends. A birthday party for another newly minted 6-year-old. Friday and Saturday night, our house was filled with friends, for the adults and the kids. *Note: It is always amazing when, no matter how cold it is outside, you put a group of kids together and they are very happy to play outside, till dark, and beyond. The parents are also very happy for a much quieter house.

The Memory of a Cork

2011-04-01T21:45:00.000-04:00

Hmmmm, this topic may become a regular on my blog. Last month I posted about The Memory of Food. The funny thing about memories is that anything can trip them. Smells, colors, a piece of clothing, someone's Facebook status.

A friend posted that she couldn't find their corkscrew. They had recently moved, and though all their belongings were unpacked, sometimes you don't realize an item is missing until you need it.

All her friends took this status update as a call for help, so like all good friends we began to give suggestions on opening a bottle of wine without a corkscrew.

Which took me back to my college days. Granted, as a college student, if we had a bottle of wine it had a screw top. That, or I walked to the apartment across from us, where the guys were brewing their own beer. (That tasted like ****; but this was college, no one was picky, especially if it was free)

Oh, did I mentioned I attended a Christian college? Drinking was not allowed, anywhere. On campus, off campus, under 21, over 21. Nada.

One night a group of us got together for a cookout. We went to open the bottle of wine, and found our selves stumped. There was a cork inside that bottle. Do they come with corks? Who got fancy and decided to upgrade from the screw top?

To make the scenario a little more humorous, the cookout was being held at a friend's place. A house, they were renting from a couple on a mission trip for a year. Do you think they had a corkscrew in this fully equipped kitchen?

What did we use? Screwdriver? Knife? I forget what we used. We attempted to dig out the cork, with a little success. We enjoyed the wine, along with a little bit of cork. Soon after that, I bought a corkscrew, it may just be the same one presently in my kitchen drawer.

The Question

2011-03-29T21:01:00.014-04:00

So, here is what I'm wondering ... Am I asking too much from my doctor's office?

We love our pediatricians. When I call to make well-visit appointments, they can get us in almost immediately (which is good, since we are usually behind on the well-visit schedule). They have walk-in hours, 7 days a week, for sick kids. And, wait time for appointments is negligible; unless you show up on a weekend, with a sick kid, during the season of sickness, at which time, all bets are off.

However, despite all of their wonderfulness I have two pet peeves, and so I am wondering, "Am I asking too much?"

First pet peeve: Never once, when I'm in there with a sick child, have they offered to call in a prescription for me. Sick kid. Mom of 3. The last think I want to do is to be dragging kids in and out of the car to fill a prescription. There is a reason why my pharmacy has a drive-thru window. The first thing I want to do, after leaving the office, it to pick up my prescription.

Twice I have asked them to call in a prescription, and both times I'm met with attitude. The first time I asked, I had to ask 3 different people, before someone owned up that this was a task they could perform. The second time I asked the doctor, who was gracious; but, from across the room, I could feel the attitude from the nurses. Then, 20 minutes later, when I called the pharmacy if the prescription was ready (we had stopped at my in-laws, hoping that this stop would give the pharmacy plenty of time to complete the order) I was told the doctor's office must have left the script on voice mail, they would check, and if it was there it would be 40 minutes.

:::sigh::: So much for my grand, time saving plan.

Second pet peeve: If you are sending a referral to another office, please follow up that they received the referral. They were to call in a referral, and I would hear from the other office in a week or so. Two weeks later I call my doctor's office. "Oh, yes, we called it in. We recommend that you wait another 2 weeks, this is the normal time frame."

Two weeks later, I'm playing "guess the extension" at the other doctor's office, to find out that they never received the paperwork, and "oh, that must have been during the time our fax machine was down".

:::crickets::::

Am I asking too much for a little compassion when I have a sick kid, and a little follow-up when it comes to sending referrals?

I realize a doctor's office is a busy place, with many tasks being juggled, so, am I asking too much?

The Smooth One

2011-03-28T21:01:00.000-04:00

He is at it again, and I'm finding it a little scary that my 8-year-old is already searching for the perfect girl ... and that he has been searching since he was 4.

Last night he announced that he found the perfect girl for him:

She likes to pretend fight, we were fighting off the zombies.

She likes to build forts.

She is compassionate.

Ladies and gentlemen, there you have it, the perfect girl, according to an eight year old.

However, does he remember her name? No. And, boy, wait until she sees your table manners. He forgot to add "understanding", which is what I constantly tell my boys, that I pray they find an understanding woman, who will over look their table manners. I know I try to.

In the Beginning

2011-03-27T20:47:00.001-04:00

Spring Break has begun.

We are only one weekend into break and here is where we stand:

Snow on the ground

One trip to the Doctor's office

One diagnosis of Strep. If any more diagnoses, we may have a very long week.

Way too much video game playing

One child has lost their video game privileges for one day, if he loses any more it may be a very long week.

A Quandary

2011-03-26T16:30:00.001-04:00

JT won an Xbox 360. Yes, won. Via an "opportunity drawing".

It was actually a raffle, but VA law doesn't allow raffles unless you have a gaming license, or filled out an insane amount of paper work, or something crazy like that, so you call a raffle an opportunity drawing so it doesn't sound like gambling. Yes, "opportunity drawing" does not sound like gambling ... about as much as saying "raffle".

Sorry, I digress.

Anywho, we bought each of the kids 14 tickets, 14 tickets for $10 x 3 comes out to $30. It was for the school.

JT won the Xbox. EM won a teddy bear, ED won some cereal bowls, a game about Moses, and a baseball hat. He wore that baseball hat all weekend. Needless to say, everyone in our family left the carnival happy.

And, for one night in JT's life, he became the most envied kid at school. Everyone has to have one night like that.

So, now what to do?

We already have a Wii. We love the Wii. You can sweat playing the Wii. Sweat and video games don't normally go together, unless your fingertips are sweating. Surprisingly, we don't play the Wii enough.

The kids all received DSi's for Christmas.

They have become great discipline tools ... the DSi's, not the kids.

Now we have an Xbox 360.

Now what?

Do we keep all of these entertainment mediums?

What gaming device do we fund? We have enough games for the Wii, though the Just Dance series looks like fun. The kids are now responsible for their DSi games, they lose them, I'm not spending any more money on them. We have found several free games for the Xbox. OK, they are demos, but the kids (and Hubby) are having fun, and we haven't had to, yet, spend any money.

Until we decide what to do, the kids are having fun with the Xbox.

And, playing outside, A LOT. The rule seems to be, 1 hour of video gaming for every 2 hours they spend outside. JT's jump shot has significantly improved.

Wordless Wedensday

2011-03-23T04:24:00.000-04:00

One Saturday afternoon I declared it to be electronic free, no video games, no computer, {{{gulp}}} no Facebook. We did allow Pandora to keep playing, somethings you need to allow.

Guess what happened:

A board game broke out. I love it when this happens.

For more great pictures, head over to 5 Minutes for Mom.

Spring Reading Thing

2011-03-20T09:22:00.001-04:00

It's that time again. When we head to the garden, do a little planting, then enjoy a comfy chair on the patio, enjoying the sun and a good book. Unless you live further north than I do; and, in that case, you may still be shoveling the snow ... I'm sorry.

It has been a reading bonanza around here. The past few Reading Things I found myself bemoaning my lost of reading mojo. Well, I found my mojo. Then again, it helped that Hubby and I took a Caribbean cruise in February, no children, and I read some most excellent books. Which, I plan on sharing below.

But first, here is my reading list for the Spring Reading Thing.

I am, or was, reading Brad Metzler's Inner Circle. The day it was released I heard an interview of Brad and a review of the book, so I ordered a copy that day. It sounded like a book both Hubby and I would enjoy, and he needed some books for the cruise. His review: Overall the book is good, but the first 100 pages makes it hard to get into the story. And, he was correct. Those first few chapters are awkward, but when you make it past them you will be rewarded.

Unfortunately, I had to set this book aside, for the moment, which is sad since it is just getting good, to read The Daughter's Walk, by Jane Kirkpatrick. This is for a book review, so it needs to be completed ASAP. I'm 50 pages in, and enjoying the book. It is historical fiction, adapted from a true story, and written in the daughter's voice. Immediately, when I began the book, I could hear the daughter's voice. No, I'm not hearing voices, just imagining how the daughter would sound as she tells the story, this is what I consider a sign of a good book.

When these two books are completed I will follow through on 1 of the 2 trends I have seen during past Reading Things. The first is noticing that many of you are reading youth fiction, that which our children are reading. This trend I have already followed, and enjoyed many of the books my children are reading, which is fun since we can then talk about them. The second trend is many like to reread old books.

I have this thing about rereading books. It is the same with using recipes more than once; I'm always looking for new recipes to try; and I'm always looking for new books to read. However, Hubby and I love to collect books, so it is a little funny that I keep books I only read once. The same with cookbooks.

Anyone is open to analyze this little bit of my psyche, I would love to hear your view.

Anywho. I plan on rereading some favorites, and I will start with Edith Wharton's Age of Innocence and The Buccanears. I fell in love with these stories after watching the movies. I'm a period piece junkie. And, as with all book to movie adaptations, the books are WAY better. Especially The Buccanears, much more sensational then the movie; which is odd since movies tend to be more sensational to draw people in.

After these, and if there is time (I'm a slow reader, and these books are slightly long) I plan on moving to E.M. Forster. Room with a View, Howards End, Maurice, Where Angels Fear to Tread, and maybe I'll finish A Passage to India. The later I began several years ago, when tiny children were running around the house, and I had no time to sit and read. Trying to read the book began to feel like my own passage through India, in the heat, trudging along, and nowhere fast. This did not make for a fun book to read, so on my bookshelf it sits.

Then, at the end of the challenge, I will celebrate with a big movie fest, watching all the movie adaptations of Wharton's and Forster's books.

Now, for my completed cruise list. Oh my, you should have seen the growing pile of books, all waiting for our cruise. I couldn't keep my hands off of them, and I did read one or two before the cruise, which was a good thing since I didn't finish all the books I did take with me.

The School of Essential Ingredients, by Erica Bauermeister
I'm thinking I found this book on someone else's reading list, and I'm so glad I did. Loved. Loved. Loved this book! It tells the stories of several students of a monthly cooking class, how their lives came to this point, where they are taking a cooking courses, and how cooking helped them to heal old wounds during the course of the class.

Nanny Returns, by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
If you read The Nanny Diaries, which came out 10 years ago, then you need to read this follow up. The antics of the X Family, and their Park Avenue counterparts made me want to scream, as did the first book. Really, do people live like this, and treat people like this? At times the book is like a horror movie, where you are yelling at the heroine not to walk down that hallway. You will find yourself yelling at Nanny, "don't answer the door, the phone, or talk to the crazy rich people". Isn't that a sterling endorsement of the book?

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, by Dorothy Gilman
Mrs. Pollifax is a widow, a grandmother, a garden club member, and a spy for the CIA. Well, not so much a spy, but she is looking for some adventure in her life. One day she walks into CIA Headquarters, and volunteers to serve her country. This is the first book in the series, and I am hooked. The next two are on their way, and I will be reading them this summer.

There are my lists, past and present. Have you read any of these books? What is your reading MO? Do you find yourself reading the same thing, or also looking for new books? I can't wait to read your list.

And, for more lists visit Callapidder Days, and see what other people are reading this spring.