It's been awhile on the SJ quotes. I'll admit I'm not so good about jotting things down these days and my memory fails me often. Luckily for me, a now five-and-a-half-year-old Savannah doesn't have quite as constant a stream of amusing quips as three-year-old Savannah.
I had to write this one down though...
We were sitting down to lunch yesterday (snow day) and I was still in gray sweatpants and an old baggy t-shirt (otherwise known as pj's around here) as we had been in and out of snow clothes all morning, had no where to go, and no real reason to get dressed.
Sitting at the lunch table together, my five-year-old daughter, who we all know is the fashion expert in this house, informs me that she hopes I know my "outfit is understated".
She went on to explain...
"that means plain. Boring."
"Oh really? Where did you learn that?"
"In my new Fancy Nancy book; it's the word for U. Understated. Like my mother wears understated clothes."
Oh yes, she did say that.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
the return of the snow hill
We utilized our snow pile hill well last year (here it is live action), and it returned again with this dump of snow we got this week.
It's not quite as big or packed as last years... ( Ryan conveniently left for work to allow me to shovel our giant driveway and I got lazy and stopped carrying it all over to the same pile),
but it gets the job done.
It's not quite as big or packed as last years... ( Ryan conveniently left for work to allow me to shovel our giant driveway and I got lazy and stopped carrying it all over to the same pile),
but it gets the job done.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
finally!
After getting our fair share of bitter cold around here this winter, we finally got our share of winter precipitation to go along with it...
It held off longer than expected, but we ended up getting 6-8 inches overnight last night. The kids (who had their second day of school closures this week)(and who tried to scrape together some good snow playtime in the inch we had yesterday) happily spent much of the day today outside in all the packed snow. They had a blast. It was a perfect sunny, snowy day!
More pictures tomorrow!
It held off longer than expected, but we ended up getting 6-8 inches overnight last night. The kids (who had their second day of school closures this week)(and who tried to scrape together some good snow playtime in the inch we had yesterday) happily spent much of the day today outside in all the packed snow. They had a blast. It was a perfect sunny, snowy day!
More pictures tomorrow!
Monday, January 26, 2009
we have snow, bullets and a winner
- We finally got some around here. The snow, that is. It snowed a bit yesterday before we woke up and then we had nice off and on snow showers all day. We're supposed to get a good amount tonight too (up to 7 inches) and hopefully it won't be mixed with the sleet and freezing rain they're predicting and we can just have a nice snow play kind of day tomorrow without closures and traffic problems.
- We went to the library yesterday and besides our usual book quota, I picked up some exercise videos, the kids got another beloved Charlie Brown and I also snagged Little House on the Prairie which I'm going to make Savannah watch with me!
- I made another yummy soup this weekend.
- I have updates I'm supposed to be writing on a few things... namely Sawyer's appointment last week and the other cryptic news I hinted at. Both are easy answers for you... no concerns, no new news. It was all an even bust of negatives. But I have a lot of thoughts rolling around in my head regarding both of these and have still been wanting to write about them. I just haven't had the
energytime. Maybe I'll get to those this week. Maybe not.
- I guess we're still recooping from being sick last week... for the past four nights Ryan and I have been in bed at insanely early hours. Like before 9 o'clock and um, on Friday? It was immediately after the kids at 7:30!! Well, we watched a movie before going to sleep, but still- it was over by 9. Crazy!
- Just five entries in the book giveaway this time. So since I had Sawyer sitting right here next to me, I thought I'd be quick and simple and random and I asked him to pick a number... one, two, three, four or five... What number do you pick? He picked... "Five! No, wait- two! No, I like three! Three! Three cuz I'm three!!" So I'm thinking I probably can't consider that very accurate or random. Heading over to random.org afterall, it picked number 2 out of my 1-5. Which means, Yay Julie! You get the book!! Now if only you had a blog so I could link to you.... hint, hint! I'll try to remember the book the next time I see you.
- Sawyer just let me know (five minutes later) that he "can't pick one, I just love all those numbers Mom..."
Friday, January 23, 2009
another friday
And another morning down the drain.
I have this problem.
On Friday mornings I send Savannah off to school and drop Sawyer off at his once weekly Mom's Day Out program. I have approximately 2.5 hrs after that completely to myself, to do with what I like (or have to do in most cases considering I like to take advantage of childless time for certain errands, phone calls, big cleaning chores) before Savannah comes home at noon.
I'm fine if I make myself go straight home after dropping off Sawyer.
The problem is when I have errands to run or just "make a quick stop" at a store. Whenever I do that I never seem to make it home before I have to to meet Savannah off the bus. I get lost in this vortex of childlessness and I lose all track of time.
If I have one return to make at Target? I'd better pick up x while I'm there... and two hours later I might make it back to the car.
It's just that I'm so seldom alone... I can peruse the aisles in peace! I can try things on! I can stand next to the shelf and be indecisive for more than two seconds and not have someone whining at me can we go home yet?! I don't have little people talking to me, begging me for things, fighting with each other.
And of course while I'm at Target, I should take advantage of the ease of "running in and out" by myself and run into Michael's next door. And Kohl's is next door to that. And before I know it I look at the time and I'm racing to beat the bus home.
It's not even like I'm shopping up a storm... I barely buy anything! I'll spend an hour in the store and still only come out with the two things I went in for.
Heck, even my grocery shopping takes twice as long when I'm by myself.
When I have my kids with me I am get-in-and-get-out, multi-tasking, go go go! And when I have time to do things on my own, it's like I get lost in that freedom... I get sidetracked and distracted and it's like I almost don't have any focus because there is nothing else demanding my attention at the moment! I wander around stores in circles just amazed at being able to take my time and having my brain all to myself!!
Sad, aren't I.
So this morning I had every intention of coming straight home after dropping Sawyer off.
Except I needed to drop off some stuff at the Goodwill. And of course then I should at least glance in the store, since you never know what good deals you might find ($10 bought me a brand new pair of TCP pants and black dress shoes for SJ and a mirror that will be gorgeous with it's ornate frame spray painted black). So there's one hour of my time gone. As I'm driving by Target I think I really should stop in and grab the stickers I signed up to bring to Sawyer's Valentine party and get that out of the way. And now over another hour later, I'm finally home.
Now Savannah will be home any minute, and then I'll have just two more hours to get this house whipped into shape before I have to go grab Sawyer.
I hate how fast my Fridays get away from me....
I have this problem.
On Friday mornings I send Savannah off to school and drop Sawyer off at his once weekly Mom's Day Out program. I have approximately 2.5 hrs after that completely to myself, to do with what I like (or have to do in most cases considering I like to take advantage of childless time for certain errands, phone calls, big cleaning chores) before Savannah comes home at noon.
I'm fine if I make myself go straight home after dropping off Sawyer.
The problem is when I have errands to run or just "make a quick stop" at a store. Whenever I do that I never seem to make it home before I have to to meet Savannah off the bus. I get lost in this vortex of childlessness and I lose all track of time.
If I have one return to make at Target? I'd better pick up x while I'm there... and two hours later I might make it back to the car.
It's just that I'm so seldom alone... I can peruse the aisles in peace! I can try things on! I can stand next to the shelf and be indecisive for more than two seconds and not have someone whining at me can we go home yet?! I don't have little people talking to me, begging me for things, fighting with each other.
And of course while I'm at Target, I should take advantage of the ease of "running in and out" by myself and run into Michael's next door. And Kohl's is next door to that. And before I know it I look at the time and I'm racing to beat the bus home.
It's not even like I'm shopping up a storm... I barely buy anything! I'll spend an hour in the store and still only come out with the two things I went in for.
Heck, even my grocery shopping takes twice as long when I'm by myself.
When I have my kids with me I am get-in-and-get-out, multi-tasking, go go go! And when I have time to do things on my own, it's like I get lost in that freedom... I get sidetracked and distracted and it's like I almost don't have any focus because there is nothing else demanding my attention at the moment! I wander around stores in circles just amazed at being able to take my time and having my brain all to myself!!
Sad, aren't I.
So this morning I had every intention of coming straight home after dropping Sawyer off.
Except I needed to drop off some stuff at the Goodwill. And of course then I should at least glance in the store, since you never know what good deals you might find ($10 bought me a brand new pair of TCP pants and black dress shoes for SJ and a mirror that will be gorgeous with it's ornate frame spray painted black). So there's one hour of my time gone. As I'm driving by Target I think I really should stop in and grab the stickers I signed up to bring to Sawyer's Valentine party and get that out of the way. And now over another hour later, I'm finally home.
Now Savannah will be home any minute, and then I'll have just two more hours to get this house whipped into shape before I have to go grab Sawyer.
I hate how fast my Fridays get away from me....
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
scatterbrained
I feel like I've been so scatterbrained lately. So random.
It doesn't help that I barely slept last night. I was in bed by 10:30, but I doubt I slept at all until almost 2. And slept fitfully after that. I just could not quiet my thoughts. And it spilled over into my dreams when I did actually drift off.
Ryan and I got some news yesterday that just sent my mind spinning... so try as I might to sleep, I spent most of the night excitedly, apprehensively, nervously, tentatively imagining, wondering, hypothesizing, planning and praying.
Hehe... I know that's cryptic; there's just no way I can begin to talk about it at this point.
Yet it's all I'm thinking about.
In other (scattered) news...
I'm feeling much better today. Past the worst, I'm at the point I think where I sound worse than I feel! HA!
*****
It's sunny and "warm" today. Warm is relative, of course, but it's supposed to be in the mid 40's today. Almost 60 tomorrow. Can't wait to get the kids outside to play for a bit!! And our garage has been suffering in this cold weather. Stuff just gets thrown out there or when we have to go out and grab something it's just dig, grab it and run back in, so it's getting a little disheveled. I finally sold my old dining room table, so it's out of there, I have a load to take to Goodwill, we have to pull out tractor and clean it up for our "trade" with the Laughlins, and all around put the garage back together and give our cars some room to breathe again.
*****
We (finally) have our appointment for Sawyer with a Pediatric Dermatology Specialist at the Children's Hospital in St Louis tomorrow. I know I haven't gone into detail on that stuff on the blog yet, but I'm hoping after seeing the dr's tomorrow there won't even be any reason to. Or at least a concrete diagnosis instead of more of the past three months of wondering. I know. Cryptic again. I'm not meaning to here, I'm just too tired to get into it.
*****
I, for some random reason, really liked this post over at Dooce yesterday. Really liked it.
*****
I picked up my produce basket this morning from my neighbor. And I weighed it today. Sometimes I think I should back my car up into her driveway to pick up my stuff... it's not always easy to carry that big full awkward basket kitty corner across the street. It's heavy! So I was curious and weighed it today. Just over 40lbs of produce for $20. That's good, isn't it? And supposedly prices are at the peak right now. Today's basket included lettuce, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, green beans, tomatoes, green peppers, acorn squash, mushrooms, limes, grapefruit, oranges, nectarines, apples, bananas and a big pineapple.
I'm hungry.
*****
I'm not a Facebook-er. I have pages on MySpace and on Facebook, not because I'm ever over there posting messages or "writing on walls" or whatever it is that people do over there (do I sound like I'm old and out of the loop or what?!), but just for a place marker of sorts... so once in a blue moon I can meander through and find some long lost friend or, more often, some long lost friend stumbles over my page and finds me.
Lately, however, it seems I'm over on Facebook almost every day. There seems to be this sudden influx of people from my past either jumping on the Facebook train, or just finally getting connected with people I've already found on there. I've been getting message after message of requests or updates and yesterday (hold on to your hats!) I actually sought out a few old classmates and sent friend requests of my own (and found an old friend's blog -yay!!). It really is fun to see where people are and what they are doing and look like some 15-20 years later. Yikes. 15 years since high school. How did that happen?!?
Anyway. All that to say, as much as I'm starting to like it, I don't like it! I don't have time for this, people!! And yes, I know I'm way behind on this bandwagon, but I've been avoiding it for a reason. I don't want to get sucked in.
I wish everyone just had blogs. I could peek more into their lives, get updates in my reader, and communicate via commenting and good old fashioned email. Forget this "writing on someone's wall" stuff.
I'm going to stop rambling now, as this could turn into what should be a post in itself.
*****
I've lost 7lbs in two weeks. Kinda happy about that.
*****
Sawyer just pulled a string cheese stick out of the fridge and came over to ask me if he could have it... with a "pretty pretty pretty pleeeeease?!?" and -get this- a complete head tilt and full on batting of the eyelashes.
Who's kid is this??
*****
Well, I should think that is enough scatterbrainedness for you for one day!
You're welcome.
It doesn't help that I barely slept last night. I was in bed by 10:30, but I doubt I slept at all until almost 2. And slept fitfully after that. I just could not quiet my thoughts. And it spilled over into my dreams when I did actually drift off.
Ryan and I got some news yesterday that just sent my mind spinning... so try as I might to sleep, I spent most of the night excitedly, apprehensively, nervously, tentatively imagining, wondering, hypothesizing, planning and praying.
Hehe... I know that's cryptic; there's just no way I can begin to talk about it at this point.
Yet it's all I'm thinking about.
In other (scattered) news...
I'm feeling much better today. Past the worst, I'm at the point I think where I sound worse than I feel! HA!
*****
It's sunny and "warm" today. Warm is relative, of course, but it's supposed to be in the mid 40's today. Almost 60 tomorrow. Can't wait to get the kids outside to play for a bit!! And our garage has been suffering in this cold weather. Stuff just gets thrown out there or when we have to go out and grab something it's just dig, grab it and run back in, so it's getting a little disheveled. I finally sold my old dining room table, so it's out of there, I have a load to take to Goodwill, we have to pull out tractor and clean it up for our "trade" with the Laughlins, and all around put the garage back together and give our cars some room to breathe again.
*****
We (finally) have our appointment for Sawyer with a Pediatric Dermatology Specialist at the Children's Hospital in St Louis tomorrow. I know I haven't gone into detail on that stuff on the blog yet, but I'm hoping after seeing the dr's tomorrow there won't even be any reason to. Or at least a concrete diagnosis instead of more of the past three months of wondering. I know. Cryptic again. I'm not meaning to here, I'm just too tired to get into it.
*****
I, for some random reason, really liked this post over at Dooce yesterday. Really liked it.
*****
I picked up my produce basket this morning from my neighbor. And I weighed it today. Sometimes I think I should back my car up into her driveway to pick up my stuff... it's not always easy to carry that big full awkward basket kitty corner across the street. It's heavy! So I was curious and weighed it today. Just over 40lbs of produce for $20. That's good, isn't it? And supposedly prices are at the peak right now. Today's basket included lettuce, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, green beans, tomatoes, green peppers, acorn squash, mushrooms, limes, grapefruit, oranges, nectarines, apples, bananas and a big pineapple.
I'm hungry.
*****
I'm not a Facebook-er. I have pages on MySpace and on Facebook, not because I'm ever over there posting messages or "writing on walls" or whatever it is that people do over there (do I sound like I'm old and out of the loop or what?!), but just for a place marker of sorts... so once in a blue moon I can meander through and find some long lost friend or, more often, some long lost friend stumbles over my page and finds me.
Lately, however, it seems I'm over on Facebook almost every day. There seems to be this sudden influx of people from my past either jumping on the Facebook train, or just finally getting connected with people I've already found on there. I've been getting message after message of requests or updates and yesterday (hold on to your hats!) I actually sought out a few old classmates and sent friend requests of my own (and found an old friend's blog -yay!!). It really is fun to see where people are and what they are doing and look like some 15-20 years later. Yikes. 15 years since high school. How did that happen?!?
Anyway. All that to say, as much as I'm starting to like it, I don't like it! I don't have time for this, people!! And yes, I know I'm way behind on this bandwagon, but I've been avoiding it for a reason. I don't want to get sucked in.
I wish everyone just had blogs. I could peek more into their lives, get updates in my reader, and communicate via commenting and good old fashioned email. Forget this "writing on someone's wall" stuff.
I'm going to stop rambling now, as this could turn into what should be a post in itself.
*****
I've lost 7lbs in two weeks. Kinda happy about that.
*****
Sawyer just pulled a string cheese stick out of the fridge and came over to ask me if he could have it... with a "pretty pretty pretty pleeeeease?!?" and -get this- a complete head tilt and full on batting of the eyelashes.
Who's kid is this??
*****
Well, I should think that is enough scatterbrainedness for you for one day!
You're welcome.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
guess what?
Now I'm the one who's sick.
Apparently a week of helping the kids stave off their colds (combined with more colds that came to visit with our friends this weekend?!) wore me down. I woke up Saturday and Sunday with a sore throat and then by yesterday (Monday) I was full blown sick. I felt like I barely left the couch. Between my stuffed up head, my sore throat, my voice coming and going, and my cough, I was great company let me tell ya.
Really, it wasn't that bad... I haven't been sick in a long time and it was kind of nice to just lay around and take it easy. It was good timing too, considering Ryan had Monday off work, there was no school, and we all had a complete hunker down and veg out, never leave the house kind of day.
The real bummer part is that Heather had her baby this past weekend and because of this sick house, we obviously haven't been able to get up to the hospital to see them. I'm actually feeling much better today (except for a killer headache) so I'm hoping I can get over there as soon as they get home midweek. I'm dying to meet that tiny baby girl!!
Let's see... what else can I fill you in on about the weekend?
We had a great time as usual with the Robertsons. We all kept saying over and over how fun it is now that the boys are older and everyone can just go play! Ben and Sawyer are less than 8 weeks apart in age and so we've of course always been hoping they'd be fast friends. In actuality, they've spent the first three years of their lives pretty much just tolerating each other. In typical toddler fashion, they've butted heads quite a bit, but mostly it seemed they kind of just tolerated each other. This time, now that they're both big three year olds (how did that happen??) they are finally playing with each other, having conversations, making up games together and having dance offs. It actually warmed up just enough to bundle up and get some fresh air for a bit:
Sawyer loved having Benny come stay with us. He was bummed when they left.
J was great fun too... he's such a sweet little guy and absolutely cracked me up!
And of course we got to meet the bay-bee... who's not such a little baby anymore. I can't believe Solomon is already 5 months old! Man, I'm afraid to blink anymore these days; these kids are going to be teenagers the next time I look!
(see previous years' stair shots -it's become a tradition of ours- here and here)
Anyway, we had a great weekend (aside from all of us nursing these stupid colds) eating a ton of good food, including a night of chinese take out, playing games, and catching up.
To see them off we all went to The St Louis Mills Mall Sunday morning to catch a little of the Blues hockey practice and to let the boys run off some energy on the indoor playground before their long drive home. After the Robertsons left we hit up a couple of the outlet stores and then had lunch before we headed home as well.
It's been snowing off and on this morning. I wish it would just really snow. It's been so freaking cold this winter, but we've had absolutely no snow worth mentioning around here. I'd like at least one good snowfall before spring arrives!
Apparently a week of helping the kids stave off their colds (combined with more colds that came to visit with our friends this weekend?!) wore me down. I woke up Saturday and Sunday with a sore throat and then by yesterday (Monday) I was full blown sick. I felt like I barely left the couch. Between my stuffed up head, my sore throat, my voice coming and going, and my cough, I was great company let me tell ya.
Really, it wasn't that bad... I haven't been sick in a long time and it was kind of nice to just lay around and take it easy. It was good timing too, considering Ryan had Monday off work, there was no school, and we all had a complete hunker down and veg out, never leave the house kind of day.
The real bummer part is that Heather had her baby this past weekend and because of this sick house, we obviously haven't been able to get up to the hospital to see them. I'm actually feeling much better today (except for a killer headache) so I'm hoping I can get over there as soon as they get home midweek. I'm dying to meet that tiny baby girl!!
Let's see... what else can I fill you in on about the weekend?
We had a great time as usual with the Robertsons. We all kept saying over and over how fun it is now that the boys are older and everyone can just go play! Ben and Sawyer are less than 8 weeks apart in age and so we've of course always been hoping they'd be fast friends. In actuality, they've spent the first three years of their lives pretty much just tolerating each other. In typical toddler fashion, they've butted heads quite a bit, but mostly it seemed they kind of just tolerated each other. This time, now that they're both big three year olds (how did that happen??) they are finally playing with each other, having conversations, making up games together and having dance offs. It actually warmed up just enough to bundle up and get some fresh air for a bit:
Sawyer loved having Benny come stay with us. He was bummed when they left.
J was great fun too... he's such a sweet little guy and absolutely cracked me up!
And of course we got to meet the bay-bee... who's not such a little baby anymore. I can't believe Solomon is already 5 months old! Man, I'm afraid to blink anymore these days; these kids are going to be teenagers the next time I look!
(see previous years' stair shots -it's become a tradition of ours- here and here)
Anyway, we had a great weekend (aside from all of us nursing these stupid colds) eating a ton of good food, including a night of chinese take out, playing games, and catching up.
To see them off we all went to The St Louis Mills Mall Sunday morning to catch a little of the Blues hockey practice and to let the boys run off some energy on the indoor playground before their long drive home. After the Robertsons left we hit up a couple of the outlet stores and then had lunch before we headed home as well.
It's been snowing off and on this morning. I wish it would just really snow. It's been so freaking cold this winter, but we've had absolutely no snow worth mentioning around here. I'd like at least one good snowfall before spring arrives!
Monday, January 19, 2009
new do
It's been a loooong time since I've changed things up around here. I decided to switch it up and use a new template with more side bar space. New year, new look kind of thing. I'll probably be playing with things, headers, rearranging and such for a bit, so bear with me if things aren't always in order!
back to the books
I've been on a mission this weekend to get caught up on computer stuff... not only my own computer housekeeping, but also on the blogs. I've been terribly behind in getting my next book giveaway posted... I was done with this book all the way back in November!!
Oh well, it's a good book for the dreary cold of the middle of the winter and we're definitely there now!
Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand is the perfect book for either curling up with on a sunny summer vacation, or else while you're stuck in your real life longing for the warm sandy beaches. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a 'beach read' as it's not light reading... it's the story of three women essentially running away from their lives for a break on the island of Nantucket for the summer. One a mom of two young boys undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer, one is her sister along for the summer to help with the boys, take care of her big sis and conveniently hide away from a scandal and law suit involving her former employer, and one is a friend tagging along at the last minute after finding out almost simultaneously that she's pregnant and her husband had been having an affair.
For as much drama as it seems coming into it, this story is very grounded and down to earth and Ms. Hilderbrand does a great job of keeping things real... everything from the varying personalities and roles of these three friends, a summer romance thrown in there, and the details and the emotion involved in a family dealing with cancer. Like I said, it's not an especially light read, it's not a fast read, but it's a good one! And with a happy ending. Which was really nice for a change!
As is my new habit, I like to pass on the good reads around here. If you're interested in a slightly used paperback copy of Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post by this Saturday, January 24th and I'll randomly pick a winner from the comments to mail the book to (be sure to leave your email or blog link if I don't already know how to contact you!).
**ETA: Congrats Julie! Enjoy the book!!**
Oh well, it's a good book for the dreary cold of the middle of the winter and we're definitely there now!
Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand is the perfect book for either curling up with on a sunny summer vacation, or else while you're stuck in your real life longing for the warm sandy beaches. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a 'beach read' as it's not light reading... it's the story of three women essentially running away from their lives for a break on the island of Nantucket for the summer. One a mom of two young boys undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer, one is her sister along for the summer to help with the boys, take care of her big sis and conveniently hide away from a scandal and law suit involving her former employer, and one is a friend tagging along at the last minute after finding out almost simultaneously that she's pregnant and her husband had been having an affair.
For as much drama as it seems coming into it, this story is very grounded and down to earth and Ms. Hilderbrand does a great job of keeping things real... everything from the varying personalities and roles of these three friends, a summer romance thrown in there, and the details and the emotion involved in a family dealing with cancer. Like I said, it's not an especially light read, it's not a fast read, but it's a good one! And with a happy ending. Which was really nice for a change!
As is my new habit, I like to pass on the good reads around here. If you're interested in a slightly used paperback copy of Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post by this Saturday, January 24th and I'll randomly pick a winner from the comments to mail the book to (be sure to leave your email or blog link if I don't already know how to contact you!).
**ETA: Congrats Julie! Enjoy the book!!**
Thursday, January 15, 2009
yup, it's cold
I'm really glad I don't live anywhere where a negative 20 degree windchill is normal. Cuz I'm not a fan.
There was talk last evening of school being called off today because of the 0* temperatures and the minus 15 to 20 degree windchill. Many districts in our area did call because of the dangerous cold, but we were still on here. It was notable though, considering that the norm for our block has kids outside 20 minutes early for the bus, even in the winter; playing foursquare or throwing footballs around or sliding around on any ice puddles. Even when it's freezing out, the kids still gather early to enjoy a little hang out time (even kids who aren't getting on the bus- preschoolers, homeschoolers, private schoolers, etc) and half the parents are out there visiting as well. This morning however, everyone waited inside their front doors and as the bus pulled up kid by kid quickly emerged from each of their houses all bundled up to basically run right on to the bus.
Twenty degrees below zero just isn't right.
There's a reason we don't live up north, thankyouverymuch.
Sawyer and I ventured out to the church this morning bible study. It was funny to see him take such notice of the cold. Normally it doesn't phase him in the least. He's not a complainer like the other little person around here and it always seems he really could care less what the weather is. This morning however, he was in awe of the chill. Even bundled up with barely half of his face showing, he kept saying over and over, "yep, it's a super freezing day today!"
Along with this cold weather we're trying to fight off our first colds of the season as well. Except for Savannah's rendezvous with strep throat the first week of school, we have been lucky enough to stay cold and flu free so far this year. Then this Tuesday Savannah came home from school losing her voice and coughing (and that's been off and on since) and yesterday Sawyer woke up looking just miserable. You can hear his head is all stuffed up and he just has those tired, almost fever eyes. No fever as of yet, but he took a four hour nap yesterday, so you know he's fighting something!
So I feel like they're both right on the edge, and I'm trying to keep them well-rested, fed and watered right so as to just kick this cold stuff right out the door.
Especially because we gots stuff to do this weekend!
The Robertsons are coming for the long weekend and we're very much looking forward to spending some fun time with them, not to mention finally meeting baby Solomon. I'm sure they'd appreciate a germ free house to stay in.
So I'm off to put together a good stave-off-a-cold lunch for the kids, get them down for naps (sleep today Savannah, please!!) and wash sheets, change toothbrushes, and all around disinfect this house!
There was talk last evening of school being called off today because of the 0* temperatures and the minus 15 to 20 degree windchill. Many districts in our area did call because of the dangerous cold, but we were still on here. It was notable though, considering that the norm for our block has kids outside 20 minutes early for the bus, even in the winter; playing foursquare or throwing footballs around or sliding around on any ice puddles. Even when it's freezing out, the kids still gather early to enjoy a little hang out time (even kids who aren't getting on the bus- preschoolers, homeschoolers, private schoolers, etc) and half the parents are out there visiting as well. This morning however, everyone waited inside their front doors and as the bus pulled up kid by kid quickly emerged from each of their houses all bundled up to basically run right on to the bus.
Twenty degrees below zero just isn't right.
There's a reason we don't live up north, thankyouverymuch.
Sawyer and I ventured out to the church this morning bible study. It was funny to see him take such notice of the cold. Normally it doesn't phase him in the least. He's not a complainer like the other little person around here and it always seems he really could care less what the weather is. This morning however, he was in awe of the chill. Even bundled up with barely half of his face showing, he kept saying over and over, "yep, it's a super freezing day today!"
Along with this cold weather we're trying to fight off our first colds of the season as well. Except for Savannah's rendezvous with strep throat the first week of school, we have been lucky enough to stay cold and flu free so far this year. Then this Tuesday Savannah came home from school losing her voice and coughing (and that's been off and on since) and yesterday Sawyer woke up looking just miserable. You can hear his head is all stuffed up and he just has those tired, almost fever eyes. No fever as of yet, but he took a four hour nap yesterday, so you know he's fighting something!
So I feel like they're both right on the edge, and I'm trying to keep them well-rested, fed and watered right so as to just kick this cold stuff right out the door.
Especially because we gots stuff to do this weekend!
The Robertsons are coming for the long weekend and we're very much looking forward to spending some fun time with them, not to mention finally meeting baby Solomon. I'm sure they'd appreciate a germ free house to stay in.
So I'm off to put together a good stave-off-a-cold lunch for the kids, get them down for naps (sleep today Savannah, please!!) and wash sheets, change toothbrushes, and all around disinfect this house!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
the year of the paint
As I think about the things I want to accomplish in this coming year, projects I want to get done, progress to be made on our house... there is one glaringly obvious theme: Painting.
We are going to be doing a lot of painting this year.
Wanna see my list so far??
Seems easy enough... starting with the little things:
I know I'm probably leaving something off the list.
Can you tell my solution for everything is paint it?!?
Seriously, when I was first out on my own I used my "crafty" tendencies and empty pocketbook and realized a nice foundation for my general outlook on life; don't like something? -paint it!!
(And yes, there were times I wished that applied to people and relationships too!)
I had one long time friend who was my perfect partner in all this... anything we came across that needed to be fixed, repurposed, renewed; Paint It was our answer for everything. It became our mantra.
To this day, I just love how a simple coat of paint can completely change something. Old furniture, old frames, vases, containers, a wall, a whole room --you name it and a few strokes of a paintbrush or a can of spray paint can give it a new life. It can become something totally different.
Anyway.
I have big plans for my paintbrush this year.
What have you painted lately?
We are going to be doing a lot of painting this year.
Wanna see my list so far??
Seems easy enough... starting with the little things:
- Paint some frames, a bulletin board and a lamp in Savannah's room.
- Paint Savannah's nightstand, her desk and her chair (these are all secondhand and are in dire need of a new coat of paint/have never matched in the first place). Hmm... should probably touch up her bed too while we're at it.
- Paint the master bathroom we patched up last summer.
- Paint the main wall at the top of the stairs.
- Paint the deconstructed closet wall in the playroom.
- Paint (two story) entryway.
- Paint all the trim and shutters on the outside of the house.
- Paint kids' bathroom cabinets and cupboard.
- Paint kitchen cabinets.
I know I'm probably leaving something off the list.
Can you tell my solution for everything is paint it?!?
Seriously, when I was first out on my own I used my "crafty" tendencies and empty pocketbook and realized a nice foundation for my general outlook on life; don't like something? -paint it!!
(And yes, there were times I wished that applied to people and relationships too!)
I had one long time friend who was my perfect partner in all this... anything we came across that needed to be fixed, repurposed, renewed; Paint It was our answer for everything. It became our mantra.
To this day, I just love how a simple coat of paint can completely change something. Old furniture, old frames, vases, containers, a wall, a whole room --you name it and a few strokes of a paintbrush or a can of spray paint can give it a new life. It can become something totally different.
Anyway.
I have big plans for my paintbrush this year.
What have you painted lately?
ironical
Found out when Ryan got home from work yesterday that he's having meetings all day today for announcements on reorganization and "restructuring".
I think we all remember that word from last time.
Of course Ryan mentions this not even an hour after I posted this.
Ironic much?
Ryan says he's not worried, that he's pretty sure he's okay. His group has still got everything slated to move into their new buildings in April (which will be cutting his commute time in half- yay!!) and knowing they've been moving forward with that has been somewhat comforting.
On an individual scale, I'm not too worried about Ryan... I think he's proven himself valuable to a lot of people. If that ever matters. It's just the possibility of groups/labs getting axed that makes me nervous.
Keep your fingers crossed that he's staying put!
Please.
(article released today)
*****
ETA: All is good for now; Ryan's group is still intact. They have some shuffling and restructuring to do, and it my involve Ryan taking on more responsibilities and mentoring roles, but that is good. Now he just can't wait to get moved into the new building this spring and be closer to home... and around the corner from Chick-fil-A for lunch! :)
I think we all remember that word from last time.
Of course Ryan mentions this not even an hour after I posted this.
Ironic much?
Ryan says he's not worried, that he's pretty sure he's okay. His group has still got everything slated to move into their new buildings in April (which will be cutting his commute time in half- yay!!) and knowing they've been moving forward with that has been somewhat comforting.
On an individual scale, I'm not too worried about Ryan... I think he's proven himself valuable to a lot of people. If that ever matters. It's just the possibility of groups/labs getting axed that makes me nervous.
Keep your fingers crossed that he's staying put!
Please.
(article released today)
*****
ETA: All is good for now; Ryan's group is still intact. They have some shuffling and restructuring to do, and it my involve Ryan taking on more responsibilities and mentoring roles, but that is good. Now he just can't wait to get moved into the new building this spring and be closer to home... and around the corner from Chick-fil-A for lunch! :)
Monday, January 12, 2009
we have a new record
I just realized today that we passed a milestone in our home this New Years.
New Years Day 2009 marks the first time we've spent a whole calendar year, from January to January, in one home.
We've actually been in our home for 18 months, which ties for our record of length of staying in one place since we've been married:
And next month we'll have beat our record for length of stay in any one spot!!
Hmmm... think we'll make it to two years?!?
New Years Day 2009 marks the first time we've spent a whole calendar year, from January to January, in one home.
We've actually been in our home for 18 months, which ties for our record of length of staying in one place since we've been married:
- Married May 31st, 2002, moved into our first townhouse together
- December 2003, moved into my parents' daylight basement (we were technically here for almost exactly a full Jan-Jan calendar year, but I'm not counting it since we weren't living in our own place)
- late January 2005, moved to Salem, Oregon
- mid May 2006, moved to Jackson, Michigan
- mid June 2007, moved to O'Fallon, Missouri
- (January 2009... still here!!)
And next month we'll have beat our record for length of stay in any one spot!!
Hmmm... think we'll make it to two years?!?
Friday, January 9, 2009
this time it was the boy
Here I was thinking, while writing up the carving situation, 'Why is it my girl, the supposed "easy" and laid-back, older one... why is she the one systematically defacing our home? I thought it was supposed to be the wild boys, one of which we do have in this house, who destroy things.'
These are were Savannah's bedroom curtains.
Could someone please invent some toddler scissors that cut paper but don't cut hair or cloth?!?
(notice it's all the way across both panels...)
Or maybe scissors that sound an alarm when they're placed at the ready over any material besides paper?
I think it would save us all a lot of headache.
I'm walking around the house today, feeling like my father, grumbling to myself,
"darn kids... can't have anything nice around here...."
Well, guess who proved that theory right...
These 
Could someone please invent some toddler scissors that cut paper but don't cut hair or cloth?!?(notice it's all the way across both panels...)
Or maybe scissors that sound an alarm when they're placed at the ready over any material besides paper?I think it would save us all a lot of headache.
I'm walking around the house today, feeling like my father, grumbling to myself,
"darn kids... can't have anything nice around here...."
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
ice day take two and my misbehaving kids
Don't forget to keep the recipes coming in!
******
School's called off again for freezing rain/ice again today. Ugh.
I wish it would just snow already. At least that looks pretty and the kids can play.
Just ice is just such a nuisance...
I had big plans for the day. None of which included being stuck inside with my five year old here and not being able to leave the house this morning.
Since I haven't done much mommy blogging lately, about the kids anyway, and since I'm stuck here staring at their faces all day, I guess I'll take some time to get started on the "updates" I've been meaning to do for weeks now...
Or just vent about their antics lately.
Somewhere along the way, Sawyer's picked up the word dangit. And suddenly started saying it all the time. With feeling. I know it's not a 'bad word' per say, but it sure doesn't sound all that nice coming out of a three year old's mouth constantly. Especially because it's muttered under his breath a lot and he's not the easiest kid to understand on a regular basis and much of the time it really does sound awfully close to the other not so nice word. So I've been trying to nip that in the bud. For awhile there he was saying "oh, Pickles!" and I liked that. That was amusing. Apparently it didn't pack enough of a punch for him though.
I've talked to Sawyer multiple times about saying dangit, letting him know that it's not a very nice word, it doesn't really make anyone feel very good when he says it, it's not helping him feel less frustrated, and it just basically makes him sound ugly. I've offered other ideas of things to say (bummer, oh man, oh pickles!... love that one!) but in the moment he still goes back to dangit. I finally said I've talked about it enough and I just flat out don't want to hear that word anymore. I told him that he'd have to go be by himself if he was going to talk like that, where no one else has to hear if he chooses ugly words. He told me very nicely he won't say it anymore.
And then the next time he was bummed or got frustrated? He popped out a Bangit!.
And then ever so sweetly turned to me...
"See mom, I didn't say dangit. I say Bangit. Bangit okay? Bangit Bangit Bangit!"
He thinks he's so clever. The thing is, I could totally tell that it wasn't an innocent, 'hey, this isn't technically mommy's "bad word" ' discovery... it was completely a 'haha mom, I found a way around your stupid rules, now what are you going to do about it?'!
Now I realize I should probably treat it the same as the original offending word, explaining that it's the thought and the tone of it that I'm trying to redirect... but I just decided to ignore it. If he says dangit, he still gets reminded and/or sent away, but when he purposely says Bangit, just to get around it and see if he gets a reaction from me, I act like I don't hear a thing. And it's pretty funny because I can tell he's actually disappointed when I don't react to it. haha!
Savannah's currently in about the worst trouble of her life this week.
This kid has always had issues with marking things up... not only has she since the age of two been obsessed with drawing and writing on every paper surface she can get her hands on, often that has spilled over to drawing/writing on walls, tables, furniture, etc. I've always been puzzled by it because Savannah is most definitely the "smart" one. I'm not talking about her pen and paper abilities... I'm talking about the well behaved, knows better, always follows the rules kind of kid. Except apparently when it comes to leaving her mark.
We went through many trials of her writing on walls and furniture. And I'm not referring to a toddler who is learning consequences. This is when she was four and five years old and most definitely knew better. She's been grounded from pens, pencils, crayons, whatever, for weeks at a time. And let me tell you, I thought every time that would turn her around because it just kills her to not be able to write or draw. She's lost without it.
But every few weeks still, I'll find a smiley face somewhere, or her initials, and let me tell you it gets really old.
Apparently she's finally gotten the fact that she can't use a pen or pencil to deface our home.
...She's now moved on to carving.
A few weeks ago we found a capital letter M etched into the newel post (the big post at the bottom of the stair rail) at the foot of the stairs in our entryway. Yes, carved in. Yes, it's pretty much the first thing you see when you walk in our front door. Nice.
Here, I'll show you a picture. Ignore the other poc marks. For now.
Ooooh, was daddy mad about that one. She didn't get much of a punishment, just a very firm talking to. I was thinking she probably didn't quite grasp the severity, the permanance of what she did. Ryan railed her up and down about taking care of our house and just like drawing on things this was hurting our house, only worse. That she was never ever to do anything like that again.
I didn't think she'd try it again. But look what I found this weekend...
Dozens and dozens of poc marks on every side of the tops of both of the newels posts she sat and made with a pole from one of Sawyer's golf flags.
These I was actually dreading Ryan seeing.
What do you do for punishment for something like this? It's not like she can pay for it... (I can't even afford to replace these). Grounding her doesn't seem like a logical consequence, although I seriously considered it as we discovered this as she was on her way out the door to spend the night at her friend's house.
In the end we talked (again!) about taking care of our home and I had Savannah sit down and help me come up with ways she can help 'take care' to make us feel better about the damage she did to our home. We came up with a list of household chores she has to do this week; she has to clean up the playroom -all herself- every night this week before bed, she has to wash the front windows and the back door, she has to hand mop the hardwoods in the entryway, and she has to wipe down the stair rails/balisters/molding and sweep the carpet on the stairs. She's definitely not happy about these extra jobs (especially the whole playroom responsibilty), but she's surprising complained very little, knowing she deserves it.
What would you have done?
Oh, and any tips for teaching a kindergartner how to tie shoes??
******
School's called off again for freezing rain/ice again today. Ugh.
I wish it would just snow already. At least that looks pretty and the kids can play.
Just ice is just such a nuisance...
I had big plans for the day. None of which included being stuck inside with my five year old here and not being able to leave the house this morning.
Since I haven't done much mommy blogging lately, about the kids anyway, and since I'm stuck here staring at their faces all day, I guess I'll take some time to get started on the "updates" I've been meaning to do for weeks now...
Or just vent about their antics lately.
Somewhere along the way, Sawyer's picked up the word dangit. And suddenly started saying it all the time. With feeling. I know it's not a 'bad word' per say, but it sure doesn't sound all that nice coming out of a three year old's mouth constantly. Especially because it's muttered under his breath a lot and he's not the easiest kid to understand on a regular basis and much of the time it really does sound awfully close to the other not so nice word. So I've been trying to nip that in the bud. For awhile there he was saying "oh, Pickles!" and I liked that. That was amusing. Apparently it didn't pack enough of a punch for him though.
I've talked to Sawyer multiple times about saying dangit, letting him know that it's not a very nice word, it doesn't really make anyone feel very good when he says it, it's not helping him feel less frustrated, and it just basically makes him sound ugly. I've offered other ideas of things to say (bummer, oh man, oh pickles!... love that one!) but in the moment he still goes back to dangit. I finally said I've talked about it enough and I just flat out don't want to hear that word anymore. I told him that he'd have to go be by himself if he was going to talk like that, where no one else has to hear if he chooses ugly words. He told me very nicely he won't say it anymore.
And then the next time he was bummed or got frustrated? He popped out a Bangit!.
And then ever so sweetly turned to me...
"See mom, I didn't say dangit. I say Bangit. Bangit okay? Bangit Bangit Bangit!"
He thinks he's so clever. The thing is, I could totally tell that it wasn't an innocent, 'hey, this isn't technically mommy's "bad word" ' discovery... it was completely a 'haha mom, I found a way around your stupid rules, now what are you going to do about it?'!
Now I realize I should probably treat it the same as the original offending word, explaining that it's the thought and the tone of it that I'm trying to redirect... but I just decided to ignore it. If he says dangit, he still gets reminded and/or sent away, but when he purposely says Bangit, just to get around it and see if he gets a reaction from me, I act like I don't hear a thing. And it's pretty funny because I can tell he's actually disappointed when I don't react to it. haha!
Savannah's currently in about the worst trouble of her life this week.
This kid has always had issues with marking things up... not only has she since the age of two been obsessed with drawing and writing on every paper surface she can get her hands on, often that has spilled over to drawing/writing on walls, tables, furniture, etc. I've always been puzzled by it because Savannah is most definitely the "smart" one. I'm not talking about her pen and paper abilities... I'm talking about the well behaved, knows better, always follows the rules kind of kid. Except apparently when it comes to leaving her mark.
We went through many trials of her writing on walls and furniture. And I'm not referring to a toddler who is learning consequences. This is when she was four and five years old and most definitely knew better. She's been grounded from pens, pencils, crayons, whatever, for weeks at a time. And let me tell you, I thought every time that would turn her around because it just kills her to not be able to write or draw. She's lost without it.
But every few weeks still, I'll find a smiley face somewhere, or her initials, and let me tell you it gets really old.
Apparently she's finally gotten the fact that she can't use a pen or pencil to deface our home.
...She's now moved on to carving.
A few weeks ago we found a capital letter M etched into the newel post (the big post at the bottom of the stair rail) at the foot of the stairs in our entryway. Yes, carved in. Yes, it's pretty much the first thing you see when you walk in our front door. Nice.
Here, I'll show you a picture. Ignore the other poc marks. For now.
Ooooh, was daddy mad about that one. She didn't get much of a punishment, just a very firm talking to. I was thinking she probably didn't quite grasp the severity, the permanance of what she did. Ryan railed her up and down about taking care of our house and just like drawing on things this was hurting our house, only worse. That she was never ever to do anything like that again.
I didn't think she'd try it again. But look what I found this weekend...
Dozens and dozens of poc marks on every side of the tops of both of the newels posts she sat and made with a pole from one of Sawyer's golf flags.
These I was actually dreading Ryan seeing.
What do you do for punishment for something like this? It's not like she can pay for it... (I can't even afford to replace these). Grounding her doesn't seem like a logical consequence, although I seriously considered it as we discovered this as she was on her way out the door to spend the night at her friend's house.
In the end we talked (again!) about taking care of our home and I had Savannah sit down and help me come up with ways she can help 'take care' to make us feel better about the damage she did to our home. We came up with a list of household chores she has to do this week; she has to clean up the playroom -all herself- every night this week before bed, she has to wash the front windows and the back door, she has to hand mop the hardwoods in the entryway, and she has to wipe down the stair rails/balisters/molding and sweep the carpet on the stairs. She's definitely not happy about these extra jobs (especially the whole playroom responsibilty), but she's surprising complained very little, knowing she deserves it.
What would you have done?
Oh, and any tips for teaching a kindergartner how to tie shoes??
Sunday, January 4, 2009
blogalicious
I have a new idea for a project. And I need all of you to help with it. In fact, it won't be a project without you! So listen up...
The majority of us bloggers fall somewhere in a wide range of first time to seasoned moms, new to veteran wives, and those of us know our way around a kitchen blindfolded along with those of us who have squeaked by with knowing simply how to doctor up a package of ramen. At the very least is it safe to say that we all might consider ourselves professional eaters?
What I'm trying to say is that we should all have a few great recipes up our sleeve. Okay, at least one. Even if we can't or don't cook. We know of them, right?
A few of us post favorite or simple recipes we come across in our time in the kitchen on our blogs. Some of us even have our own separate blogs just for a space to keep track of those recipes. I love getting recipes from people I know... recipes that come with a built in opinion!
I think what we need is to combine all of our most fabulous tips and our most favorite recipes all in one place.
I want to put them all in one cookbook.
A community kitchen. A blogger bakery.
So.
Each month this year I'm going to put out a call for your recipes...
I'll pick a "category" and ask that you all email me your ideas and recipes. They don't have to be your own, they can be your grandma's best cookies, your neighbor's casserole, your favorite dish from a magazine or website. (I will ask if you know it's from a published cookbook, magazine or website that you give credit.) Just send me the recipe --and if you have pictures please send them as well. We all love pictures to go along... I like to see what I'm making!
Then at the end of the year I'll have them all printed up (complete with url's of every contributor's blog) and made into a book and distribute copies. If you contribute, you'll get a copy. Consider it my Christmas present next year to all my blogging buddies. :)
If we have a big enough turn out, they will also be for sale for others who may want in on our bloggy baking goodies.
Doesn't that sound like fun??
Let's get on it!
To start off, for January I want to collect Appetizers and Party Food.
Just coming off the holiday get togethers, give me your best, yummiest, easiest go-to ideas for serving at a party. Fancy hors d'oeuvres, fun snacks, family favorites, whatever they may be. And don't think you're limited to just sending in one recipe per category! We need lots of them!!
Email your recipes (bonus points for pictures!!) to me at notes4heather(@)yahoo(dot)com.
Alright, so take the next few weeks and rack your brain or your pantry and think Appetizers! Can't wait to see all your fave's!!
Also, I'm going to need some help brainstorming a clever name for this collaborative cookbook! Ideas anyone??
The majority of us bloggers fall somewhere in a wide range of first time to seasoned moms, new to veteran wives, and those of us know our way around a kitchen blindfolded along with those of us who have squeaked by with knowing simply how to doctor up a package of ramen. At the very least is it safe to say that we all might consider ourselves professional eaters?
What I'm trying to say is that we should all have a few great recipes up our sleeve. Okay, at least one. Even if we can't or don't cook. We know of them, right?
A few of us post favorite or simple recipes we come across in our time in the kitchen on our blogs. Some of us even have our own separate blogs just for a space to keep track of those recipes. I love getting recipes from people I know... recipes that come with a built in opinion!
I think what we need is to combine all of our most fabulous tips and our most favorite recipes all in one place.
I want to put them all in one cookbook.
A community kitchen. A blogger bakery.
So.
Each month this year I'm going to put out a call for your recipes...
I'll pick a "category" and ask that you all email me your ideas and recipes. They don't have to be your own, they can be your grandma's best cookies, your neighbor's casserole, your favorite dish from a magazine or website. (I will ask if you know it's from a published cookbook, magazine or website that you give credit.) Just send me the recipe --and if you have pictures please send them as well. We all love pictures to go along... I like to see what I'm making!
Then at the end of the year I'll have them all printed up (complete with url's of every contributor's blog) and made into a book and distribute copies. If you contribute, you'll get a copy. Consider it my Christmas present next year to all my blogging buddies. :)
If we have a big enough turn out, they will also be for sale for others who may want in on our bloggy baking goodies.
Doesn't that sound like fun??
Let's get on it!
To start off, for January I want to collect Appetizers and Party Food.
Just coming off the holiday get togethers, give me your best, yummiest, easiest go-to ideas for serving at a party. Fancy hors d'oeuvres, fun snacks, family favorites, whatever they may be. And don't think you're limited to just sending in one recipe per category! We need lots of them!!
Email your recipes (bonus points for pictures!!) to me at notes4heather(@)yahoo(dot)com.
Alright, so take the next few weeks and rack your brain or your pantry and think Appetizers! Can't wait to see all your fave's!!
Also, I'm going to need some help brainstorming a clever name for this collaborative cookbook! Ideas anyone??
Saturday, January 3, 2009
saturday night
I think I'm officially gamed out.
Those of you who know me, know that is a difficult statement for me to make.
We got a bunch of new games for Christmas this year and took them plus our good old standbys when we went to the lake last week. We played games almost constantly for the two whole days we were there. And we played a lot here at home with my parents before that. And again on New Years Day with our friends.
Ryan and I were talking about what we should do tonight. My first instinct is "play a game?"... but I realized I'm actually for the first time in my life kind of sick of playing games right now.
We were talking at dinner tonight about the possibility of some out of town friends coming in this month. I started saying, Oh, we could have a game night if they came in on the weekend so they could see lots of friends and we could play some new games.... And then I stopped myself.
Even thinking three weeks from now, I'm not sure I'll be ready to play yet.
I'm suffering from game overload of the last two weeks!
******
Savannah's having her first sleepover away tonight, spending the night with a friend from school.
Sawyer and Ryan have spent a fair amount of "boy time" downstairs in the basement this evening bowling and playing "pool ball" as Sawyer calls it. With football on the tube of course.
We had a nice quiet dinner (of New Years leftovers) and I'm thinking some peppermint ice cream would top that off nicely.
Later Ryan and I are planning on watching Eagle Eye tonight. Hope it's good.
That's our excitement for this Saturday night. Can you beat that?
Those of you who know me, know that is a difficult statement for me to make.
We got a bunch of new games for Christmas this year and took them plus our good old standbys when we went to the lake last week. We played games almost constantly for the two whole days we were there. And we played a lot here at home with my parents before that. And again on New Years Day with our friends.
Ryan and I were talking about what we should do tonight. My first instinct is "play a game?"... but I realized I'm actually for the first time in my life kind of sick of playing games right now.
We were talking at dinner tonight about the possibility of some out of town friends coming in this month. I started saying, Oh, we could have a game night if they came in on the weekend so they could see lots of friends and we could play some new games.... And then I stopped myself.
Even thinking three weeks from now, I'm not sure I'll be ready to play yet.
I'm suffering from game overload of the last two weeks!
******
Savannah's having her first sleepover away tonight, spending the night with a friend from school.
Sawyer and Ryan have spent a fair amount of "boy time" downstairs in the basement this evening bowling and playing "pool ball" as Sawyer calls it. With football on the tube of course.
We had a nice quiet dinner (of New Years leftovers) and I'm thinking some peppermint ice cream would top that off nicely.
Later Ryan and I are planning on watching Eagle Eye tonight. Hope it's good.
That's our excitement for this Saturday night. Can you beat that?
wrapping up
Just a little mid-winter cleaning around here this weekend.
We finally got the tree down today. I hate that task more than any other of the whole holiday season. Not that I'm sad to see Christmas wrapped up and over (although I usually am), but the actual job itself. I hate taking off the ornaments and putting them away, I hate untangling the lights from the tree, and yes, I hate the emptiness in the room that it leaves.
But, *standing up, dusting off hands* it's done.
And the lights are off the house and all the holiday decorations are packed up in the half dozen tubs and put away.
And Ryan is in this strange Must Clean Everything mode. He's been on top of the kitchen, taking over the laundry today, organizing the kids cleaning their rooms, as well as doing a great job of half-jokingly criticizing the way I keep (or apparently don't keep) our house. As we were down on the floor sweeping up the pine needles on the floor, wiping them off a window sill -along with a half-inch worth of dust- he lightheartedly says, "You think maybe we should do some deep cleaning around here sometime? We've never really done any "Spring Cleaning" in this house have we?!"
Um, yes I have. I've actually cleaned these very big windows, sills and tracks (which sit hidden behind our living room furniture) at least every six months since we've lived here. But you're right honey, maybe we should do some deep cleaning more often around here sometime.
Anyway.
That's all we've been up to with these last few days off. Cleaning, packing up. Now the house seems empty without the big tree and little reminders of holiday celebrations everywhere. I'm one of those that would leave it all up till July if I could.
This was one of the very last things I took down this weekend:
I just got used to this great big collage of smiling faces and reminders of friends and family being right here in our living room. I'll miss glancing up there and being reminded of our friends scattered all over the country. I'm looking at this corner right now and it seems so sad and empty...
I'm not one who keeps many photos on my fridge or anything. But I do keep Christmas cards :)
We finally got the tree down today. I hate that task more than any other of the whole holiday season. Not that I'm sad to see Christmas wrapped up and over (although I usually am), but the actual job itself. I hate taking off the ornaments and putting them away, I hate untangling the lights from the tree, and yes, I hate the emptiness in the room that it leaves.
But, *standing up, dusting off hands* it's done.
And the lights are off the house and all the holiday decorations are packed up in the half dozen tubs and put away.
And Ryan is in this strange Must Clean Everything mode. He's been on top of the kitchen, taking over the laundry today, organizing the kids cleaning their rooms, as well as doing a great job of half-jokingly criticizing the way I keep (or apparently don't keep) our house. As we were down on the floor sweeping up the pine needles on the floor, wiping them off a window sill -along with a half-inch worth of dust- he lightheartedly says, "You think maybe we should do some deep cleaning around here sometime? We've never really done any "Spring Cleaning" in this house have we?!"
Um, yes I have. I've actually cleaned these very big windows, sills and tracks (which sit hidden behind our living room furniture) at least every six months since we've lived here. But you're right honey, maybe we should do some deep cleaning more often around here sometime.
Anyway.
That's all we've been up to with these last few days off. Cleaning, packing up. Now the house seems empty without the big tree and little reminders of holiday celebrations everywhere. I'm one of those that would leave it all up till July if I could.
This was one of the very last things I took down this weekend:
I just got used to this great big collage of smiling faces and reminders of friends and family being right here in our living room. I'll miss glancing up there and being reminded of our friends scattered all over the country. I'm looking at this corner right now and it seems so sad and empty...
I'm not one who keeps many photos on my fridge or anything. But I do keep Christmas cards :)
Friday, January 2, 2009
happy new year
So I've decided that I need to take a photography class.
But not the typical how to use your camera or how to set up a shot kind of instruction.
I need help with remembering to pick up my camera and take pictures.
Sure I grab a shot when one of my kids does something cute or funny or when I have something cool to take a picture of... but in just the ordinary hanging out? I suck.
Case in point:
Another New Years Day dinner gone by with minimal photos taken by yours truly.
I took a ton of pictures of my table setting before everyone arrived, and I did remember to get the group shot this time, but the in between?? Notsomuch.
And it's sad because it was a lovely dinner party. Big group at the table, tons of awesome food, a full kids table this year, games afterward, lots of laughs... probably lots of great memories I could have snapped.
So I think I'm adding that to my New Year's Resolutions. Attach camera to my hand.
Anyway, our dinner was great. We had the Swinigans here this year as well as the repeating Malones and both of the Laughlins this time. This was our Third Annual dinner and maybe one of these years we'll start getting the table full of consistently repeating attenders! Next year's the year, I can feel it!!
We had a Lucky New Year menu again:
(click to enlarge
and read details)
And I had a lot of fun setting the table:
way too many shots of the table (I just go crazy getting all the different glances):
I meant to, and never did, get a shot of the table settings full of food or people. Just imagine Champaigne in the goblets and Shrimp lined dipping sauce in the little martini glasses...
And here's the gang with full bellies:
At the end of dinner we passed around a Peppermint Pig to break up and share. Sawyer was impressed by getting to pound on a bag of candy! It was a "sweet" little tradition I think we'll do year after year. And get the full story next time, right Ryan??
But not the typical how to use your camera or how to set up a shot kind of instruction.
I need help with remembering to pick up my camera and take pictures.
Sure I grab a shot when one of my kids does something cute or funny or when I have something cool to take a picture of... but in just the ordinary hanging out? I suck.
Case in point:
Another New Years Day dinner gone by with minimal photos taken by yours truly.
I took a ton of pictures of my table setting before everyone arrived, and I did remember to get the group shot this time, but the in between?? Notsomuch.
And it's sad because it was a lovely dinner party. Big group at the table, tons of awesome food, a full kids table this year, games afterward, lots of laughs... probably lots of great memories I could have snapped.
So I think I'm adding that to my New Year's Resolutions. Attach camera to my hand.
Anyway, our dinner was great. We had the Swinigans here this year as well as the repeating Malones and both of the Laughlins this time. This was our Third Annual dinner and maybe one of these years we'll start getting the table full of consistently repeating attenders! Next year's the year, I can feel it!!
We had a Lucky New Year menu again:
(click to enlarge
and read details)
And I had a lot of fun setting the table:
way too many shots of the table (I just go crazy getting all the different glances):
I meant to, and never did, get a shot of the table settings full of food or people. Just imagine Champaigne in the goblets and Shrimp lined dipping sauce in the little martini glasses...
And here's the gang with full bellies:
At the end of dinner we passed around a Peppermint Pig to break up and share. Sawyer was impressed by getting to pound on a bag of candy! It was a "sweet" little tradition I think we'll do year after year. And get the full story next time, right Ryan??
Thanks for a great dinner, friends!!
Happy 2009!
Happy 2009!
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