Just a few things.
Superman and I are a special level of sick. Our new friends are:
1. Throw up bowl Superman's is pink, mine is blue.
2. Super fuzzy blanket.
3. A wind tunnel fan because it makes using Super Fuzzy Blanket more comfortable.
4. Eachother.
5. Superman made extra special friends with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies 1 and 2. I predict several times.
Soooooooo sick we two.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Cleaning the fryer and Lurkers.
Alright I would be lying if I said that stupid fryer hasn't been haunting me. The idea of it grossed me out entirely. The idea that someone else's who knows what was fried in there and then not cleaned is just gross. So being the brilliant, compassionate and often inspired mom that I am. I bribed Macguyver jr. to clean it. I know what your thinking , how could I let my child clean something I thought was disgusting. It was easy really. I should be clear, he was eager to earn his reward. Win win I thought. Hey when I was a kid I had to clean up after myself when I was sick because my mom couldn't. Everyone has deal breakers and aparrently old stranger grease is mine. Who knew?
So Macguyver eagerly took to the task and it came pretty clean but not without the utilization of an old electric toothbrush. Later today I will attack it with baking soda and a sand blaster. I hope that this appliance will be clean and useful to our family soon, I have a party to cater the first week of December so either I will be buying a new one or this one will come clean and do just fine for our needs.
I'm still miffed at that freecycler.
Moving onto to nicer topics it seems I have lurkers. People who read my blog but who choose to remain anonymous. I'm cool with that it tickled me to discover that I had more than a couple of readers. Or maybe my readers just check me multiple times a day? LOL. Well no matter, if I do have lurkers I want to say Hello and its nice to not meet you! I am so glad to have you and I hope you will keep coming back. And to the friends I have made here since I began, thank you for the support and kindness you have all shown me. I have found that I really love blogging but I will admit, it's nice to see that people are reading, commiserating, identifying or even disagreeing with me.
I wanted to mention that I will be soon posting pictures on my blogs, as well as pictures of my foodie creations on my foodie blog. I find that I really love reading blogs that have pictures so I decided that I wanted to add that to my little place in the blogosphere. I need to get a camera of course. Ours didn't make it out of the fire. Well thats not entirely accurate. It lasted about a year after the fire. The contractor said that anything we salvaged from the fire that was in any way electric or had small moveable parts, aka cameras, computers etc. They would be toast. Maybe not the day we salvaged them but shortly there after. Truth be told it was never quite right after the fire and it limped along for a year and then died. It is hard to not have a camera. I would love to take pictures of our daily life , especially since the fire. Photos are so precious to us now.
Anywhoo it's time for me to go. I have to put my soup on for supper. Mmmm Ham and Bean Soup with honey cornbread. Recipe to follow on Foodie Flabulosity.
Till next time,
Mrs. F.
P.S. If there are any lurkers out there that want to say hello, please do. I would love to meet you.
So Macguyver eagerly took to the task and it came pretty clean but not without the utilization of an old electric toothbrush. Later today I will attack it with baking soda and a sand blaster. I hope that this appliance will be clean and useful to our family soon, I have a party to cater the first week of December so either I will be buying a new one or this one will come clean and do just fine for our needs.
I'm still miffed at that freecycler.
Moving onto to nicer topics it seems I have lurkers. People who read my blog but who choose to remain anonymous. I'm cool with that it tickled me to discover that I had more than a couple of readers. Or maybe my readers just check me multiple times a day? LOL. Well no matter, if I do have lurkers I want to say Hello and its nice to not meet you! I am so glad to have you and I hope you will keep coming back. And to the friends I have made here since I began, thank you for the support and kindness you have all shown me. I have found that I really love blogging but I will admit, it's nice to see that people are reading, commiserating, identifying or even disagreeing with me.
I wanted to mention that I will be soon posting pictures on my blogs, as well as pictures of my foodie creations on my foodie blog. I find that I really love reading blogs that have pictures so I decided that I wanted to add that to my little place in the blogosphere. I need to get a camera of course. Ours didn't make it out of the fire. Well thats not entirely accurate. It lasted about a year after the fire. The contractor said that anything we salvaged from the fire that was in any way electric or had small moveable parts, aka cameras, computers etc. They would be toast. Maybe not the day we salvaged them but shortly there after. Truth be told it was never quite right after the fire and it limped along for a year and then died. It is hard to not have a camera. I would love to take pictures of our daily life , especially since the fire. Photos are so precious to us now.
Anywhoo it's time for me to go. I have to put my soup on for supper. Mmmm Ham and Bean Soup with honey cornbread. Recipe to follow on Foodie Flabulosity.
Till next time,
Mrs. F.
P.S. If there are any lurkers out there that want to say hello, please do. I would love to meet you.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Freecycle disappointment
I love Freecycle. If yo don't know what that is go to www.freecycle.org. All you have to do is find your state and then your area and then join. I think it is a fantastic idea and a great community resource when done right. I love the idea of giving away stuff you don't need or want and getting free stuff you need. Here is my beef with freecycle. Don't get me wrong , I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth but is it too much to ask that if you give something away that it be clean? I don't think that is asking too much. Last night I went to pick up from someone on freecycle and I kid you not I threw half of it away because it was either not what was described or it was so filthy that I knew it was not something I could clean.
Case in point. I got a deep fat fryer for free. They said it works great. I was thrilled. When I pulled it out of the bag my thrill turned to horror. The entire outside of this appliance is CAKED with grease and old oil. OMG. It literaly was slimey. The very idea of giving something like that away but not cleaning it is disgusting. Yes it can be cleaned and that is why I kept it but honestly it turns me off of freecycling. I would never give something away that was filthy. Certainly no appliance. I get that people sometimes want to just be rid of their junk but how hard is it to clean up the item before you give it to another family? I honestly feel like some people look at people who take their unwanted items as if they were walking landfills. Not really people but just garbage pickers. ( Mind you I have a lot of respect for garbage pickers. If you doubt then I challenge you to read The Tightwad Gazette)
It really made me feel like the person who gave these items away simply didn't care that they gave these items to people. People who could actually use these items and might have appreciated a little cleanliness. I won't go into the horror of opening the fryer and the smell that greeted me. Very disappointing.
My next beef came with a bag of makeup, prescription eyeglasses and USED contact cases. And a hair brush. This lot was described as bathroom stuff. Toiletries. I read that as soaps ( not used) cleaners, lotions (not used) maybe. Bathroom stuff. There was no inkling that this was someones PERSONAL Hygiene items. No clue that it was USED make up, USED contact cases and the like. Who in the world is going to use someone elses USED eye liner pencil? How about lipstick? Anyone? What are people thinking? I am sorry but there are just some things you MUST throw away. Some things you must spare the rest of the world. Namely your body fluids. I was stunned. Once again I would never give my used make up away to anyone but maybe my daughter. It is just shocking what people think is recyclable.
I love the idea of Freecycle but honestly this is enough for me to want to simply leave it to the less sqeamish. Perhaps it is just me. Perhaps I am being a baby but I kid you not there will never be a time when I use a strangers contact case or walk up to a perfect stranger and admire her shade of lipstick and ask :
" Can I have it?"
Never will there be a time when I am sitting in the airport ( or anywhere) and spy someone brushing their hair and ask:
" Can I have it?" " No really , it makes your hair look Faaaaabulous, yea I want that brush"
And lets be real. What are the odds that some perfect stranger will have your exact prescription?
It might go something like this.
So and so opens a random eyeglass container and sees a pair of glasses.
"SCORE!"
*tries them on and low and behold not only is it a perfect fit but......*
" Boy howdy! Imagine that they are my prescription! "
Yes ok the lenses can be removed and replaced with your prescription but come on. Luckily I can give them to my church and they will be sent to a third world country so that people who can actually use them might get a pair of glasses.
So in closing I am sorry if I sound ungrateful but maybe its too much to expect for people to be grateful for your old grease and used eye makeup.
Mrs. F
Case in point. I got a deep fat fryer for free. They said it works great. I was thrilled. When I pulled it out of the bag my thrill turned to horror. The entire outside of this appliance is CAKED with grease and old oil. OMG. It literaly was slimey. The very idea of giving something like that away but not cleaning it is disgusting. Yes it can be cleaned and that is why I kept it but honestly it turns me off of freecycling. I would never give something away that was filthy. Certainly no appliance. I get that people sometimes want to just be rid of their junk but how hard is it to clean up the item before you give it to another family? I honestly feel like some people look at people who take their unwanted items as if they were walking landfills. Not really people but just garbage pickers. ( Mind you I have a lot of respect for garbage pickers. If you doubt then I challenge you to read The Tightwad Gazette)
It really made me feel like the person who gave these items away simply didn't care that they gave these items to people. People who could actually use these items and might have appreciated a little cleanliness. I won't go into the horror of opening the fryer and the smell that greeted me. Very disappointing.
My next beef came with a bag of makeup, prescription eyeglasses and USED contact cases. And a hair brush. This lot was described as bathroom stuff. Toiletries. I read that as soaps ( not used) cleaners, lotions (not used) maybe. Bathroom stuff. There was no inkling that this was someones PERSONAL Hygiene items. No clue that it was USED make up, USED contact cases and the like. Who in the world is going to use someone elses USED eye liner pencil? How about lipstick? Anyone? What are people thinking? I am sorry but there are just some things you MUST throw away. Some things you must spare the rest of the world. Namely your body fluids. I was stunned. Once again I would never give my used make up away to anyone but maybe my daughter. It is just shocking what people think is recyclable.
I love the idea of Freecycle but honestly this is enough for me to want to simply leave it to the less sqeamish. Perhaps it is just me. Perhaps I am being a baby but I kid you not there will never be a time when I use a strangers contact case or walk up to a perfect stranger and admire her shade of lipstick and ask :
" Can I have it?"
Never will there be a time when I am sitting in the airport ( or anywhere) and spy someone brushing their hair and ask:
" Can I have it?" " No really , it makes your hair look Faaaaabulous, yea I want that brush"
And lets be real. What are the odds that some perfect stranger will have your exact prescription?
It might go something like this.
So and so opens a random eyeglass container and sees a pair of glasses.
"SCORE!"
*tries them on and low and behold not only is it a perfect fit but......*
" Boy howdy! Imagine that they are my prescription! "
Yes ok the lenses can be removed and replaced with your prescription but come on. Luckily I can give them to my church and they will be sent to a third world country so that people who can actually use them might get a pair of glasses.
So in closing I am sorry if I sound ungrateful but maybe its too much to expect for people to be grateful for your old grease and used eye makeup.
Mrs. F
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Hot Mess Halloween
Once again I am back after more time away than I anticipated. Suffice to say the title of this post should give you an inkling of my past 2 weeks.
Since the fire, holidays have been difficult on many levels. It's hard to explain to a group of eager children that they no longer have their plug in "punkin" to display. And that beloved Darth Vader costume with the sweet talking helmet is FUBAR. Oh yes and those decorations that you used to make your bedroom windows spooky and festive...gone. You see my children "know" all of this but in the frenzy that can only come with holidays they forget and the conversation goes like this.
" Mom! we need to put up that skeleton that we stuffed with newspaper and hung from the tree, remember? "
" yes I remember but we lost it in the fire."
" oh.......yea"
" Maybe you could make a skeleton out of construction paper?"
" nah I just forgot"
So yea that makes holidays hard. It's not just Halloween, its every single holiday. I just wish it didn't feel so awful to see them remember .
Enter their new art teacher. She has spend the month of october preparing them for Halloween. They painted , they played games, they made halloween decorations and they even painted T shirts for Halloween. Yay new memories! We don't have a lot of decorations or a fraction of the things we had before but the kids will want to pull out the things they made this year, next Halloween. That is a good thing.
So here is the Halloween break down you have all been waiting for.
In order of appearance :
MTA went as a Mobster named Puff Pinky. She had a fedora and all. Too bad people at church thought she was a pimp. I wonder if that reflects badly in some way. LOL. She spent the night with her girlfriends listening to thriller and no doubt gossiping. She was disappointed that her lack of attention toward trick or treating resulted in a poor haul.
MacGuyver Jr. went as Bleeding Death. He had a bleeding skull and the whole shebang. He walked around all night squeezing a little pump shaped like a human heart that pushed blood into his skull mask. He grossed out his Grandma and considered it a successful night. Namely because he grossed out his Grandma.
Sketch has worn his favorite costume for two Halloweens in a row now. He went as a Dead Metal Biker. Complete with skull mask and a pretty sweet jacket with spikes. He had a very good Halloween but his main focus was making decorations and carving pumpkins. He was very concerned that we might not get pumpkins this year. ( due to funds, can you believe pumpkins were 6 dollars for one? ) He did in fact get to carve a pumpkin and on Halloween night his focus shifted to trick or treating. He was very focused. He was pleased with his haul. He seemed to have fun being chased by the several girls that have seemed to notice his existence in the last six months.
Walker TR went as Spiderman. He even had a spiderman bucket for which to carry his ill gotten gains. He made a pretty find Spiderman and we all felt safer for our Superhero protection. He isn't nicknamed Walker Texas Ranger for nothin! He made a nice haul and spent most of his evening trading karate kicks with his friend. When he got home he proceeded to help Superman find a nice spot for his candy and only then did he put his own away. I heard him telling Superman to make sure to have Mom check all his candy before he ate any. I also overheard him telling Superman he was checking to make sure he didn't have any gold coins , because they had to be thrown away right away!
( we told the children of the poison candy and told them under no uncertain terms that they were in fact deadly and they were to throw them away should they happen to get a gold coin)
Superman oddly enough went as a Blue Power Ranger. His evening consited of running around to each and every car in the parking lot ( We did Trunk or Treating at our church) multiple times and getting as much loot as he possibly could carry. We even emptied his bucket in a pillow case so he could get more! If there was a more focused child trick or treating, I did not see one. Not even Sketch. Superman trampled small dogs and small girls to get to the good stuff. He was always polite to the candy vendor but those in line were fair game. Now mind you he wasn't being mean he was simply on his game. I couldn't believe the amount of energy he still had when it was all over.
FP and I crashed and the kids reminded us that the fun had just begun! Oh Sweet Candy Hell. We came home to our house destroyed! Clothes everywhere, diry dishes on the table, make up and costume pieces strewn about. Couch cushions askew, some on the floor. ( don't ask me why)
Enter the Hot Mess Halloween. Between checking candy, picking up wrappers, convincing a 4 year old that he cannot exist on candy alone and trying to clean up after Halloween. We live in what is no longer our home but Hot Mess Halloween. We are trying to recover. The children are in a 12 step program. FP and I are working with therapists. It is all very painful but we are managing.
I love Halloween. I even got to brush up on my special effects make up. I did a frost and ice effect for my face. I think it turned out pretty cool. I got several compliments and a lot of questions on how I did it.
FP got off of work and took us all to the church to get our trick or treat on. Bless his heart he gave out candy while I took Superman around. How sweet he looked sitting on a lonely curb with a glow in the dark pumpkin candy bucket in his lap. As we neared the end of the night I walked over to him only to discover a tidy pile of candy wrappers next to him. He had his hand in the candy jar all night! I was feeling sorry for him and all along he had the better job!
All in all a very good night.
Mrs. F.
p.s. check out my new recipe on Foodie Flabulosity.
Since the fire, holidays have been difficult on many levels. It's hard to explain to a group of eager children that they no longer have their plug in "punkin" to display. And that beloved Darth Vader costume with the sweet talking helmet is FUBAR. Oh yes and those decorations that you used to make your bedroom windows spooky and festive...gone. You see my children "know" all of this but in the frenzy that can only come with holidays they forget and the conversation goes like this.
" Mom! we need to put up that skeleton that we stuffed with newspaper and hung from the tree, remember? "
" yes I remember but we lost it in the fire."
" oh.......yea"
" Maybe you could make a skeleton out of construction paper?"
" nah I just forgot"
So yea that makes holidays hard. It's not just Halloween, its every single holiday. I just wish it didn't feel so awful to see them remember .
Enter their new art teacher. She has spend the month of october preparing them for Halloween. They painted , they played games, they made halloween decorations and they even painted T shirts for Halloween. Yay new memories! We don't have a lot of decorations or a fraction of the things we had before but the kids will want to pull out the things they made this year, next Halloween. That is a good thing.
So here is the Halloween break down you have all been waiting for.
In order of appearance :
MTA went as a Mobster named Puff Pinky. She had a fedora and all. Too bad people at church thought she was a pimp. I wonder if that reflects badly in some way. LOL. She spent the night with her girlfriends listening to thriller and no doubt gossiping. She was disappointed that her lack of attention toward trick or treating resulted in a poor haul.
MacGuyver Jr. went as Bleeding Death. He had a bleeding skull and the whole shebang. He walked around all night squeezing a little pump shaped like a human heart that pushed blood into his skull mask. He grossed out his Grandma and considered it a successful night. Namely because he grossed out his Grandma.
Sketch has worn his favorite costume for two Halloweens in a row now. He went as a Dead Metal Biker. Complete with skull mask and a pretty sweet jacket with spikes. He had a very good Halloween but his main focus was making decorations and carving pumpkins. He was very concerned that we might not get pumpkins this year. ( due to funds, can you believe pumpkins were 6 dollars for one? ) He did in fact get to carve a pumpkin and on Halloween night his focus shifted to trick or treating. He was very focused. He was pleased with his haul. He seemed to have fun being chased by the several girls that have seemed to notice his existence in the last six months.
Walker TR went as Spiderman. He even had a spiderman bucket for which to carry his ill gotten gains. He made a pretty find Spiderman and we all felt safer for our Superhero protection. He isn't nicknamed Walker Texas Ranger for nothin! He made a nice haul and spent most of his evening trading karate kicks with his friend. When he got home he proceeded to help Superman find a nice spot for his candy and only then did he put his own away. I heard him telling Superman to make sure to have Mom check all his candy before he ate any. I also overheard him telling Superman he was checking to make sure he didn't have any gold coins , because they had to be thrown away right away!
( we told the children of the poison candy and told them under no uncertain terms that they were in fact deadly and they were to throw them away should they happen to get a gold coin)
Superman oddly enough went as a Blue Power Ranger. His evening consited of running around to each and every car in the parking lot ( We did Trunk or Treating at our church) multiple times and getting as much loot as he possibly could carry. We even emptied his bucket in a pillow case so he could get more! If there was a more focused child trick or treating, I did not see one. Not even Sketch. Superman trampled small dogs and small girls to get to the good stuff. He was always polite to the candy vendor but those in line were fair game. Now mind you he wasn't being mean he was simply on his game. I couldn't believe the amount of energy he still had when it was all over.
FP and I crashed and the kids reminded us that the fun had just begun! Oh Sweet Candy Hell. We came home to our house destroyed! Clothes everywhere, diry dishes on the table, make up and costume pieces strewn about. Couch cushions askew, some on the floor. ( don't ask me why)
Enter the Hot Mess Halloween. Between checking candy, picking up wrappers, convincing a 4 year old that he cannot exist on candy alone and trying to clean up after Halloween. We live in what is no longer our home but Hot Mess Halloween. We are trying to recover. The children are in a 12 step program. FP and I are working with therapists. It is all very painful but we are managing.
I love Halloween. I even got to brush up on my special effects make up. I did a frost and ice effect for my face. I think it turned out pretty cool. I got several compliments and a lot of questions on how I did it.
FP got off of work and took us all to the church to get our trick or treat on. Bless his heart he gave out candy while I took Superman around. How sweet he looked sitting on a lonely curb with a glow in the dark pumpkin candy bucket in his lap. As we neared the end of the night I walked over to him only to discover a tidy pile of candy wrappers next to him. He had his hand in the candy jar all night! I was feeling sorry for him and all along he had the better job!
All in all a very good night.
Mrs. F.
p.s. check out my new recipe on Foodie Flabulosity.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Naptime conversations
Once again today I was reminded how much my kids are like their father FP. He tends to say things that are random and then hilarity ensues.
Today Superman and I went to my room for naptime. Yes he did his snuggle routine and then a few minutes later I got up to check on something and came back and sat next to him on the bed. We chatted a little which ended in "I love yous" and then I laid next to him. As we laid there I heard this odd tap on the window. Then I heard another noise, all coming from our backyard. I knew it wasn't our dogs so I looked out the window. Well in truth BOTH Superman and I looked out the window to see a pigeon party in our backyard. Several birds were flapping around and kicking up a fuss. I was satisfied it was a bird that tapped the window and prepared to lay next to Superman again , when he gave a soft sigh and said with a smile.
" I hope they have a son"
blink
" you hope they have a little birdy son?"
"yes"
" why?"
" because I am a son.
" baby birdies are way cute huh?"
" yea I like them. The Daddy bird can take care of the baby"
" what does a daddy birdy do?"
" he ....I dunno?"
" does he protect the mommy birdy and the baby? Get food and give it to the mommy and baby? He works hard doesn't he?"
" yea he does"
" so what does the mommy birdy do?"
*pause* as he looks at me like " don't you know?" He gives a half smile and says:
"Uh...I dunno. She farts the babies out?" He giggles a little but tries to remain serious.
The conversation continued on for a few minutes more but ladies and gentlemen this is the best part. So from what I gathered from this encounter :
Superman saw something FAR different when he looked out the window than I saw otherwise his conversation about birdy babymaking came entirely from his mind. What is he thinking?!
Superman has the notion that Daddies don't participate in the process of birdymaking. Only the Mommy farts them out. *laughs* I honestly don't know where he even got that much information. *goes to have a conversation with Supermans older siblings*
I love a childs mind.
Today Superman and I went to my room for naptime. Yes he did his snuggle routine and then a few minutes later I got up to check on something and came back and sat next to him on the bed. We chatted a little which ended in "I love yous" and then I laid next to him. As we laid there I heard this odd tap on the window. Then I heard another noise, all coming from our backyard. I knew it wasn't our dogs so I looked out the window. Well in truth BOTH Superman and I looked out the window to see a pigeon party in our backyard. Several birds were flapping around and kicking up a fuss. I was satisfied it was a bird that tapped the window and prepared to lay next to Superman again , when he gave a soft sigh and said with a smile.
" I hope they have a son"
blink
"yes"
" because I am a son.
" yea I like them. The Daddy bird can take care of the baby"
" he ....I dunno?"
" yea he does"
*pause* as he looks at me like " don't you know?" He gives a half smile and says:
"Uh...I dunno. She farts the babies out?" He giggles a little but tries to remain serious.
The conversation continued on for a few minutes more but ladies and gentlemen this is the best part. So from what I gathered from this encounter :
Superman saw something FAR different when he looked out the window than I saw otherwise his conversation about birdy babymaking came entirely from his mind. What is he thinking?!
Superman has the notion that Daddies don't participate in the process of birdymaking. Only the Mommy farts them out. *laughs* I honestly don't know where he even got that much information. *goes to have a conversation with Supermans older siblings*
I love a childs mind.
Late night musings and a little bit of snuggles.
As Halloween approaches I have found I have less and less time to write. One thing I have realized however is that no matter how little time I have or how many things are rattling around in my head or how many things I have to do , I have a constant stream of recipes I am writing in my mind. Ever since I decided I was going to write a cookbook, my mind has gone into overdrive. I have so many ideas and thoughts going through my mind that I find that I go to sleep thinking about recipes and wake up doing the same. It's like even while I slept it continued. It is very wearing.
I keep thinking some day I would love to have a little chichi shop where I sell handmade creations or run a catering company but the more I research it the more it feels like a unreachable dream. Your talking about a woman who never went to college, never had any formal business training. Everything I know is self taught. All I know is I love to cook and bake. I love every aspect of the culinary arts. I love candy making. Working with chocolate is so fun. Also it has all come really easy to me. Any recipe I have tried. Or created has always been something I thought was really good but more importantly, everyone I had try it felt the same. Somehow I feel I have a knack but I really don't think I will ever really be able to make anything of this particular love. I want to be a caterer. I love the whole idea of providing a custom experience , doing something I love.
It's funny how dreams develop. I could never have seen this being my dream when I was 16. Or even 18. However as I have gotten older and learned to feed my family on several levels, it became something I just really felt I was good at. I never anticipated actually being so much like the other women in my family. What I mean is that between my grandmother and my mother I did not have a typical food experience growing up. There was no fast food, boxed meals or even "normal" meals. My grandmother made elaborate and stunning meals whenever I came to her house and she cooked that way all her life. When my friends were eating rice a roni and chicken , my mom was making sticky bones and noodles. Or we would have fruit and cheese and crusty bread for dinner. I could recount endless moments where I was intruduced to things my friends had never heard much less had eaten. Food for my family wasn't about eating or even about the food itself. It was about people who loved you preparing something to feed your body and your soul.
The women in my life did that. I presume that is why I have such a love of this kind of work. DM lets me help with some of the food at her christmas eve party she holds every year. I should clarify a little because it sounds as if this has been a long standing tradition but in truth this is the second year. I think she lets me help because she knows I like to but not necessarily because of any particular skill or aptitude I have. I think honestly she would rather do it herself. *giggle* I like helping cater her get togethers because it gives me experience in real time application of my recipes as well as being able to judge portions and quantity. Judging quantity is the hardest for me. I tend to make far too much food compared to what is actually consumed.
I have no idea why this post is all about my catering dream..lol. Perhaps it is just that I am tired and I haven't been sleeping well. Ah well enough of that. Onto much more fun topics.
Superman. He is such sweet , spontaneously affectionate yet outspoken and independant person. Since the time he was born he has been a snuggler. He loves to crawl in my bed and lay his head on my shoulder and curl his tiny body right up next to mine. He will just lay there. He doesn't need the T.V. or a book or any outside distraction. He just likes to lay there. I can't tell you how many times I have woken up to him next to me, wide awake but just snuggling next to me. The purpose of my telling you all of this is because he has a pattern now. He waits until he determines that I am getting ready for bed and he hops in bed ( we call it monkey in the middle) He announces to me and FP " I wanna sssssnuggle! "
That is my cue to say " you do?" Then in a softer more cajoling tone he says " Yes I wanna snuggle with you " Then it's my turn to get into bed and give him my shoulder , roll to face him and put my arm around him. He puts his thumb in his mouth, closes his eyes and sighs. Its a soft sound of contentment that I can only liken to that sound a baby makes after they have finished nursing and they have nodded off. Its that sound they make just after they seperate from you , like they don't want you to go away but they are so happy and sleepy that all they can muster as a protest is a sweet little sigh. This is our routine. This routine can take place at any time of day but most often right before bed.
Someday I am going to miss that. Someday I will read this and it might make me sad for want of the past. I wonder if any other mothers have these moments where they reflect and say someday I am going to ache with missing that. Or am I just a pathetic, sappy excuse for a mom?
There is no real point to this post and it is fairly random and bounces around a bit but that comes with being unfabulous I guess.
More later.
Mrs. F
I keep thinking some day I would love to have a little chichi shop where I sell handmade creations or run a catering company but the more I research it the more it feels like a unreachable dream. Your talking about a woman who never went to college, never had any formal business training. Everything I know is self taught. All I know is I love to cook and bake. I love every aspect of the culinary arts. I love candy making. Working with chocolate is so fun. Also it has all come really easy to me. Any recipe I have tried. Or created has always been something I thought was really good but more importantly, everyone I had try it felt the same. Somehow I feel I have a knack but I really don't think I will ever really be able to make anything of this particular love. I want to be a caterer. I love the whole idea of providing a custom experience , doing something I love.
It's funny how dreams develop. I could never have seen this being my dream when I was 16. Or even 18. However as I have gotten older and learned to feed my family on several levels, it became something I just really felt I was good at. I never anticipated actually being so much like the other women in my family. What I mean is that between my grandmother and my mother I did not have a typical food experience growing up. There was no fast food, boxed meals or even "normal" meals. My grandmother made elaborate and stunning meals whenever I came to her house and she cooked that way all her life. When my friends were eating rice a roni and chicken , my mom was making sticky bones and noodles. Or we would have fruit and cheese and crusty bread for dinner. I could recount endless moments where I was intruduced to things my friends had never heard much less had eaten. Food for my family wasn't about eating or even about the food itself. It was about people who loved you preparing something to feed your body and your soul.
The women in my life did that. I presume that is why I have such a love of this kind of work. DM lets me help with some of the food at her christmas eve party she holds every year. I should clarify a little because it sounds as if this has been a long standing tradition but in truth this is the second year. I think she lets me help because she knows I like to but not necessarily because of any particular skill or aptitude I have. I think honestly she would rather do it herself. *giggle* I like helping cater her get togethers because it gives me experience in real time application of my recipes as well as being able to judge portions and quantity. Judging quantity is the hardest for me. I tend to make far too much food compared to what is actually consumed.
I have no idea why this post is all about my catering dream..lol. Perhaps it is just that I am tired and I haven't been sleeping well. Ah well enough of that. Onto much more fun topics.
Superman. He is such sweet , spontaneously affectionate yet outspoken and independant person. Since the time he was born he has been a snuggler. He loves to crawl in my bed and lay his head on my shoulder and curl his tiny body right up next to mine. He will just lay there. He doesn't need the T.V. or a book or any outside distraction. He just likes to lay there. I can't tell you how many times I have woken up to him next to me, wide awake but just snuggling next to me. The purpose of my telling you all of this is because he has a pattern now. He waits until he determines that I am getting ready for bed and he hops in bed ( we call it monkey in the middle) He announces to me and FP " I wanna sssssnuggle! "
That is my cue to say " you do?" Then in a softer more cajoling tone he says " Yes I wanna snuggle with you " Then it's my turn to get into bed and give him my shoulder , roll to face him and put my arm around him. He puts his thumb in his mouth, closes his eyes and sighs. Its a soft sound of contentment that I can only liken to that sound a baby makes after they have finished nursing and they have nodded off. Its that sound they make just after they seperate from you , like they don't want you to go away but they are so happy and sleepy that all they can muster as a protest is a sweet little sigh. This is our routine. This routine can take place at any time of day but most often right before bed.
Someday I am going to miss that. Someday I will read this and it might make me sad for want of the past. I wonder if any other mothers have these moments where they reflect and say someday I am going to ache with missing that. Or am I just a pathetic, sappy excuse for a mom?
There is no real point to this post and it is fairly random and bounces around a bit but that comes with being unfabulous I guess.
More later.
Mrs. F
Monday, October 20, 2008
Long overdue Update and Tradition commences.
It has been some time since I posted. Fear not I have not lost my desire to fill you in on the ridiculous and mundane details of my families life. Instead it was something more sinister and less dramatic. A sign of the times has manifested in us having to cut back bills to be able to pay others. Aka net,cable and phone. We were offline for a month and we just couldn't sacrifice the net so we pared down the phone and cable to make it a more manageable bill. We also rectified a problem with our electric bill so that we should see significant savings shortly.
It is safe to say that we are about as bare bones as we can take at the moment. The kids need the net for school otherwise I would say we could do without that but to be honest we do everything on the net. Bill pay, maps, homeschool materials, we get all notifications online ( insurance etc.) Not to mention just about all family correspondance. So yea internet has become a necessity. Odd that.
What is new with us? Well largely it has been more of the same. Homeschool, activities, friends and family. Tomorrow when I have more time I will update on everyone individually and I am wont to do but for now we are all doing ok. Kids are busy. Hubby and I are busy and tired. a lot. a lot a lot. We have a wedding coming up, my hubby's youngest sister. It has made me reflect a bit on my own wedding and marriage and I might post on that at a later date.
We restarted some of our old family traditions that we had to stop after the housefire. It seems a small thing but honestly to me personally its huge. We began baking bread again. Before the fire I made everything from scratch that I could. Bread, rolls, muffins, tortillas etc. We had theme nights of the week. The kids LOVED it. One night chinese, one night italian etc. After the fire I kind of stopped cooking, I mean I cooked meals ( we didn't starve ) but it wasn't "my " cooking. It was thrown together stuff that just got everyone fed. I used to really thoughtfully and lovingly prepare meals. I love to cook so it was easy. I had a very well stocked kitchen and it just felt good to make homemade pizza or calzones. Or eggrolls and wontons, potstickers etc. Over the past 18 months I have noticed the kids say things like " remember when you used to make this? or remember when we would always do this ? Or the one that hurts the most. " I wish we could make "( eggrolls, lasagna,tortillas etc.) " again" It's hard to miss the longing in a child when they say things like that and you know they long for it because YOU don't or won't do it anymore.
Personally it was hard to get back into my old swing. It felt foreign and awkward and it didn't feel like it fit anymore. It was scarey too. If I restarted some old traditions it meant I would have to remember a life we no longer had. A home we no longer had. People we no longer have. I would have to go back to that dark place and find a way past it to be able to access those memories without them smelling like smoke. Without them feeling like fear. So I just decided one night that I was taking back one tradition at a time. One memory, one action that we did . Bread baking commenced and my daughter took to it like a champ. It is amazing how the smell of baking bread doesn't smell like smoke. It's memory might bring that smell to the forefront but suddenly you are reminded that the bread baking in the oven is a new memory, an old memory reinvented. It might seem odd to someone who hasn't exprienced a housefire to hear me relating it's smells to memories. If you have never experienced it you just can't know what I mean.
Your brain attatches that smell to everything you once knew. It's like a tag. Almost a classification of that time of your life and no matter what you can't change it's tag. Now I have always said the fire was a blessing and I truly believe that. There is no measuring how much of a blessing it was because far too many good things came from it. However that is not to say it was not hard, painfull and even now continues to be a recovery process. This is a life altering event and it doesn't just go away in a couple of years. This continues. Recovering from something like this takes such a long time and often people forget or grow tired of hearing about it. So like any mourning process it takes a lot of time and it has many steps. Reintroducing small traditions into our lives again is a small step toward reinventing memories with painfull tags. So we started with bread. It was good.
Mrs. F.
It is safe to say that we are about as bare bones as we can take at the moment. The kids need the net for school otherwise I would say we could do without that but to be honest we do everything on the net. Bill pay, maps, homeschool materials, we get all notifications online ( insurance etc.) Not to mention just about all family correspondance. So yea internet has become a necessity. Odd that.
What is new with us? Well largely it has been more of the same. Homeschool, activities, friends and family. Tomorrow when I have more time I will update on everyone individually and I am wont to do but for now we are all doing ok. Kids are busy. Hubby and I are busy and tired. a lot. a lot a lot. We have a wedding coming up, my hubby's youngest sister. It has made me reflect a bit on my own wedding and marriage and I might post on that at a later date.
We restarted some of our old family traditions that we had to stop after the housefire. It seems a small thing but honestly to me personally its huge. We began baking bread again. Before the fire I made everything from scratch that I could. Bread, rolls, muffins, tortillas etc. We had theme nights of the week. The kids LOVED it. One night chinese, one night italian etc. After the fire I kind of stopped cooking, I mean I cooked meals ( we didn't starve ) but it wasn't "my " cooking. It was thrown together stuff that just got everyone fed. I used to really thoughtfully and lovingly prepare meals. I love to cook so it was easy. I had a very well stocked kitchen and it just felt good to make homemade pizza or calzones. Or eggrolls and wontons, potstickers etc. Over the past 18 months I have noticed the kids say things like " remember when you used to make this? or remember when we would always do this ? Or the one that hurts the most. " I wish we could make "( eggrolls, lasagna,tortillas etc.) " again" It's hard to miss the longing in a child when they say things like that and you know they long for it because YOU don't or won't do it anymore.
Personally it was hard to get back into my old swing. It felt foreign and awkward and it didn't feel like it fit anymore. It was scarey too. If I restarted some old traditions it meant I would have to remember a life we no longer had. A home we no longer had. People we no longer have. I would have to go back to that dark place and find a way past it to be able to access those memories without them smelling like smoke. Without them feeling like fear. So I just decided one night that I was taking back one tradition at a time. One memory, one action that we did . Bread baking commenced and my daughter took to it like a champ. It is amazing how the smell of baking bread doesn't smell like smoke. It's memory might bring that smell to the forefront but suddenly you are reminded that the bread baking in the oven is a new memory, an old memory reinvented. It might seem odd to someone who hasn't exprienced a housefire to hear me relating it's smells to memories. If you have never experienced it you just can't know what I mean.
Your brain attatches that smell to everything you once knew. It's like a tag. Almost a classification of that time of your life and no matter what you can't change it's tag. Now I have always said the fire was a blessing and I truly believe that. There is no measuring how much of a blessing it was because far too many good things came from it. However that is not to say it was not hard, painfull and even now continues to be a recovery process. This is a life altering event and it doesn't just go away in a couple of years. This continues. Recovering from something like this takes such a long time and often people forget or grow tired of hearing about it. So like any mourning process it takes a lot of time and it has many steps. Reintroducing small traditions into our lives again is a small step toward reinventing memories with painfull tags. So we started with bread. It was good.
Mrs. F.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Observations and Musings.
So yesterday I got a call from a girlfriend , she wanted to go shopping for some new work clothes and she wanted my company. It's funny how such a small gesture like a phone call " hey lets go do something" can really make you feel good. It's nice. So we head to the mall with her two small children. During the course of the afternoon I watched her do her "mommy" thing.
There were times she struggled , they are young and they are girls and I often thing in my experience that girls can be more demanding than boys. It's nature I think. There were moments where she struggled as I said but even in those moments she was and is such a good mom. I think sometimes she doesn't think so and she fears others might feel she lacks in the mom department. I think its a very real fear we all have as mothers and sometimes I think as mothers we can look at other moms as less than if they don't "do" what we do.
Let me tell you what I saw. I saw a mom desprately trying to find clothes while keeping two tired girls engaged and quiet. In everything she did she thought of them first. She got them sweets from a machine before they even asked. She just thought it would be nice for them. It's amazing how a few Runts can work magic on tots. She watched where she put her stroller, never too far from her. When she ordered food she thought of them first. She cut up a corndog in small pieces so that her 1 yr daughter wouldn't choke. She patiently let the child hold the half of a corndog still intact when her loving gesture of cutting it up went unappreciated. She walked the opposite way she wanted to go so her other daughter could use the bathroom. She did all of this because thats what moms do but let's ask ourselves one question. WHY? Why not leave them with a babysitter? Why not give yourself some peace?
My daughter babysitts for her children everyday. She could have left her with MTA but she didn't. I even offered to let her bring her girls over while we went to the mall and this is what she said to me. " Well I wanted to bring them because I have been gone a lot lately ( She has to work since her hubby is under employed right now) . I know they would be unhappy if I left so soon after getting home from work. Plus I want to spend time with them" Simple reasons but they speak volumes as to who she is and what kind of mom she is.
Iv'e done my fair share of outings with my kids and for years every grocery trip , doctors appointment, anything. They went. I remember always feeling overwhelmed and less than as a mother. To watch her yesterday brought back so much of those memories but in a way I didn't expect. I didn't remember how hard it was, or the tantrums or how inconvenient it was to nurse a baby mid shopping trip in a hideaway bathroom of a mall. I didn't recall how stressful it was to tote 4 or 5 kids around as we looked for shoes or backpacks. I didn't recall how it made me want to cry at the end of shopping trips because they wore me out so badly.
What I recalled was this. Walker TR even as a baby had the most infectious laugh( he still does) People would leave their check out lanes to come find the laughing baby. I recalled how he used to love to ride in the cart and he and Farty Papa would race down the isles of Wal Mart late at night , yes that is when we shopped. So what. He loved and still does, to help put things in the cart. When he was smaller it used to be whatever he could reach. A constant source of frusteration for me but now I just remember how serious he was about filling up the cart. We need this, and this, and this.
I recalled when MTA was a baby and she would ask questions the whole trip as we shopped. "Why is that bag purple? How much does the bread cost? What time is it? Can I have that? I want a Kasimodo pillow ( Quasimodo , it was back when the Disney movie Hunchback of Notre Dame came out ) Can I have a Kasimodo pillow? How come carrots are orange? Do you like my shoes? " It used to wear me out but now I miss it. She used to have a band aid fetish and used to wear them on her upper lip like a mustache. *laughs* People would ask her if she had an owie and she would say " No I don't" I would then have to explain that she just really liked band aids. As she slips further into teenhood I miss how everything she wanted to say, she wanted to say to me. I remember how important talking to me was to her.
Macguyver used to take it upon himself to make sure we had the best cart. Sometimes checking 4 or 5 carts before he found one that was suitable. He was about 4 at the time. Imagine how long that could take. Now imagine the time it took when we graduated to 2 carts at a time. Yea. He took a great interest in how much things cost and listened intently to Farty Papa's many lessons on price per ounce and how to determine the best price for the amount in the package. He also loved the toy aisle. It used to be an aisle I would avoid because he had so much to say on every toy. How cool it was and how it would work great with something he already had. How he wanted this builder set so he could make this cool robot . It killed me because we could never afford new toys but once a year at Christmas and most years not even then. Now I can only see the light in his eyes in those memories and how wonderous a new toy was.
Sketch is a quiet one and even as a baby he was content to just ride in the cart. Mostly what I remember was Farty Papa carrying him around in a backpack and Sketch would bang on his head as they walked and pull his hair. I remember one time I looked up at Sketch in the backpack and the butt area was soaked. Sketch had peed down Farty Papa's neck as we walked through Wal Mart. I remember as he got older his attention was drawn to crayons , markers and paper. He loved paper. It used to be overwhelming because he wanted to go to the art supplies but I had two carts I had to fill with groceries. Now I just remember his smile as he browsed supplies he knew he couldn't get. He was content to just look.
When superman was smaller ( hes still small) He could be fairly vocal about his needs. I can't say that any of my kids every really threw tantrums that I can remember but Suprman cried sometimes. He loved bananas ( he still does) When he was very young would have to carry a little teether thing that was like a net cup so that when we got bananas we could put a piece in it for him so he would just be quiet about the bananas. Now I miss that. Now he sits quietly and spends the time I am shopping, telling me how much he loves me and how he "wishes" I would get him this or that . Or how he thinks I am going to get him this or that. His way of subliminal messaging my brain I think. He thinks he is clever. In truth he's just cute and growing up too fast so I give in sometimes just because I like his smile and I know one day I will miss his shopping cart conversations.
So getting back to my story about the trip to the mall. As I watched her during the time I also began to watch other mothers. We went to a small play area in the mall ( ok so it needs to be known there were NO play areas in shopping malls when my kids were small . I am a tad miffed . ) In the play area I got to see several moms in several stages of mommyhood. Pregnant with small kids, tots and even a little older kids. All with moms either avidly and carefully watching and observing their play or with moms who were actively playing with their kids. I witnessed moms of all colors, races and nationalities doing what we all do. Mother. Women with overladen strollers and bags under their eyes, some moms were put together , with full make up and hair but mostly they looked tired and just greatful to have a moment to sit. While others hovered over little ones helping them slide or climb.
Now before I go on I want to be clear about something. I knew there were a ton of good moms in the world , in my community etc. It wasn't something that I wasn't aware of I mean I just took for granted that most moms were good moms. Different maybe but still good to their kids. However sitting there watching these moms it became really evident that motherhood surrounds us all.
There are so many good moms and not a single mom in that play area looked like another. Not a single one did things the same way , they didn't dress alike or think exactly like another. They were all inherently different yet they formed a sisterhood in my mind so suddenly and completley. Suddenly they were one woman. One purpose and one goal. The purpose to be the best mom they knew how to be. The goal to raise their children safely and well. Not a single one will do it the same as another yet somehow they will do just that. In that moment suddenly I didn't feel less than. I felt part of something so much bigger than myself . I am raising 5 parts of the world. 5 people who in some way or fashion will leave a mark on the world after I am gone. Suddenly I didn't feel like I would never get my chance to leave my mark on the world. I realized I already have.
I always knew I would be a mom but I didn't always know I would be greatfull for it. I knew I would love my children but I didn't always know I would want to be someone they could love in return. I just didn't think about it.
I know now. I might be a different mom but I am the best mom I know how to be and I try every day to be better. I hope someday when my children are raising children they will look back on their time with me and remember the good things and much as time has done for me, forget the bad.
I suppose I want to say to any moms who might read this, keep your head up and do what you know is best for your families. Do your best because that is all that anyone can expect from you. Silence your worst critic, (your own mind) Try to see the good you do and do even better tomorrow. Accept that somedays will be bad and some will be worse. Allow yourselves to be imperfect. Allow yourselves to be different. Allow yourselves to be who you are and get ok with who you are.
As soon as you do you will see that those who matter were always ok with who you are and those who aren't never really mattered.
I don't know where all this has come from but I think it has some merit. Let me know what you think, pass it on to moms you know if you wish. Leave a message if you feel impressed to do so. Thanks for listening.
One more thing.
Thank you for everything DM. Thank you for so many things I can't count. Thank you for saying once you were proud of me. Thank you for being brave enough to go it alone with a young child for the best of both of us.
also I want to thank the moms out there that mothered me and didn't have to.
Including but not limited to
MIL who taught me to crochet and encouraged me to nurse my babies. And many other things.
Kaye who took care of me and my kids when I needed it.
There were times she struggled , they are young and they are girls and I often thing in my experience that girls can be more demanding than boys. It's nature I think. There were moments where she struggled as I said but even in those moments she was and is such a good mom. I think sometimes she doesn't think so and she fears others might feel she lacks in the mom department. I think its a very real fear we all have as mothers and sometimes I think as mothers we can look at other moms as less than if they don't "do" what we do.
Let me tell you what I saw. I saw a mom desprately trying to find clothes while keeping two tired girls engaged and quiet. In everything she did she thought of them first. She got them sweets from a machine before they even asked. She just thought it would be nice for them. It's amazing how a few Runts can work magic on tots. She watched where she put her stroller, never too far from her. When she ordered food she thought of them first. She cut up a corndog in small pieces so that her 1 yr daughter wouldn't choke. She patiently let the child hold the half of a corndog still intact when her loving gesture of cutting it up went unappreciated. She walked the opposite way she wanted to go so her other daughter could use the bathroom. She did all of this because thats what moms do but let's ask ourselves one question. WHY? Why not leave them with a babysitter? Why not give yourself some peace?
My daughter babysitts for her children everyday. She could have left her with MTA but she didn't. I even offered to let her bring her girls over while we went to the mall and this is what she said to me. " Well I wanted to bring them because I have been gone a lot lately ( She has to work since her hubby is under employed right now) . I know they would be unhappy if I left so soon after getting home from work. Plus I want to spend time with them" Simple reasons but they speak volumes as to who she is and what kind of mom she is.
Iv'e done my fair share of outings with my kids and for years every grocery trip , doctors appointment, anything. They went. I remember always feeling overwhelmed and less than as a mother. To watch her yesterday brought back so much of those memories but in a way I didn't expect. I didn't remember how hard it was, or the tantrums or how inconvenient it was to nurse a baby mid shopping trip in a hideaway bathroom of a mall. I didn't recall how stressful it was to tote 4 or 5 kids around as we looked for shoes or backpacks. I didn't recall how it made me want to cry at the end of shopping trips because they wore me out so badly.
What I recalled was this. Walker TR even as a baby had the most infectious laugh( he still does) People would leave their check out lanes to come find the laughing baby. I recalled how he used to love to ride in the cart and he and Farty Papa would race down the isles of Wal Mart late at night , yes that is when we shopped. So what. He loved and still does, to help put things in the cart. When he was smaller it used to be whatever he could reach. A constant source of frusteration for me but now I just remember how serious he was about filling up the cart. We need this, and this, and this.
I recalled when MTA was a baby and she would ask questions the whole trip as we shopped. "Why is that bag purple? How much does the bread cost? What time is it? Can I have that? I want a Kasimodo pillow ( Quasimodo , it was back when the Disney movie Hunchback of Notre Dame came out ) Can I have a Kasimodo pillow? How come carrots are orange? Do you like my shoes? " It used to wear me out but now I miss it. She used to have a band aid fetish and used to wear them on her upper lip like a mustache. *laughs* People would ask her if she had an owie and she would say " No I don't" I would then have to explain that she just really liked band aids. As she slips further into teenhood I miss how everything she wanted to say, she wanted to say to me. I remember how important talking to me was to her.
Macguyver used to take it upon himself to make sure we had the best cart. Sometimes checking 4 or 5 carts before he found one that was suitable. He was about 4 at the time. Imagine how long that could take. Now imagine the time it took when we graduated to 2 carts at a time. Yea. He took a great interest in how much things cost and listened intently to Farty Papa's many lessons on price per ounce and how to determine the best price for the amount in the package. He also loved the toy aisle. It used to be an aisle I would avoid because he had so much to say on every toy. How cool it was and how it would work great with something he already had. How he wanted this builder set so he could make this cool robot . It killed me because we could never afford new toys but once a year at Christmas and most years not even then. Now I can only see the light in his eyes in those memories and how wonderous a new toy was.
Sketch is a quiet one and even as a baby he was content to just ride in the cart. Mostly what I remember was Farty Papa carrying him around in a backpack and Sketch would bang on his head as they walked and pull his hair. I remember one time I looked up at Sketch in the backpack and the butt area was soaked. Sketch had peed down Farty Papa's neck as we walked through Wal Mart. I remember as he got older his attention was drawn to crayons , markers and paper. He loved paper. It used to be overwhelming because he wanted to go to the art supplies but I had two carts I had to fill with groceries. Now I just remember his smile as he browsed supplies he knew he couldn't get. He was content to just look.
When superman was smaller ( hes still small) He could be fairly vocal about his needs. I can't say that any of my kids every really threw tantrums that I can remember but Suprman cried sometimes. He loved bananas ( he still does) When he was very young would have to carry a little teether thing that was like a net cup so that when we got bananas we could put a piece in it for him so he would just be quiet about the bananas. Now I miss that. Now he sits quietly and spends the time I am shopping, telling me how much he loves me and how he "wishes" I would get him this or that . Or how he thinks I am going to get him this or that. His way of subliminal messaging my brain I think. He thinks he is clever. In truth he's just cute and growing up too fast so I give in sometimes just because I like his smile and I know one day I will miss his shopping cart conversations.
So getting back to my story about the trip to the mall. As I watched her during the time I also began to watch other mothers. We went to a small play area in the mall ( ok so it needs to be known there were NO play areas in shopping malls when my kids were small . I am a tad miffed . ) In the play area I got to see several moms in several stages of mommyhood. Pregnant with small kids, tots and even a little older kids. All with moms either avidly and carefully watching and observing their play or with moms who were actively playing with their kids. I witnessed moms of all colors, races and nationalities doing what we all do. Mother. Women with overladen strollers and bags under their eyes, some moms were put together , with full make up and hair but mostly they looked tired and just greatful to have a moment to sit. While others hovered over little ones helping them slide or climb.
Now before I go on I want to be clear about something. I knew there were a ton of good moms in the world , in my community etc. It wasn't something that I wasn't aware of I mean I just took for granted that most moms were good moms. Different maybe but still good to their kids. However sitting there watching these moms it became really evident that motherhood surrounds us all.
There are so many good moms and not a single mom in that play area looked like another. Not a single one did things the same way , they didn't dress alike or think exactly like another. They were all inherently different yet they formed a sisterhood in my mind so suddenly and completley. Suddenly they were one woman. One purpose and one goal. The purpose to be the best mom they knew how to be. The goal to raise their children safely and well. Not a single one will do it the same as another yet somehow they will do just that. In that moment suddenly I didn't feel less than. I felt part of something so much bigger than myself . I am raising 5 parts of the world. 5 people who in some way or fashion will leave a mark on the world after I am gone. Suddenly I didn't feel like I would never get my chance to leave my mark on the world. I realized I already have.
I always knew I would be a mom but I didn't always know I would be greatfull for it. I knew I would love my children but I didn't always know I would want to be someone they could love in return. I just didn't think about it.
I know now. I might be a different mom but I am the best mom I know how to be and I try every day to be better. I hope someday when my children are raising children they will look back on their time with me and remember the good things and much as time has done for me, forget the bad.
I suppose I want to say to any moms who might read this, keep your head up and do what you know is best for your families. Do your best because that is all that anyone can expect from you. Silence your worst critic, (your own mind) Try to see the good you do and do even better tomorrow. Accept that somedays will be bad and some will be worse. Allow yourselves to be imperfect. Allow yourselves to be different. Allow yourselves to be who you are and get ok with who you are.
As soon as you do you will see that those who matter were always ok with who you are and those who aren't never really mattered.
I don't know where all this has come from but I think it has some merit. Let me know what you think, pass it on to moms you know if you wish. Leave a message if you feel impressed to do so. Thanks for listening.
One more thing.
Thank you for everything DM. Thank you for so many things I can't count. Thank you for saying once you were proud of me. Thank you for being brave enough to go it alone with a young child for the best of both of us.
also I want to thank the moms out there that mothered me and didn't have to.
Including but not limited to
MIL who taught me to crochet and encouraged me to nurse my babies. And many other things.
Kaye who took care of me and my kids when I needed it.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Frusteration and Bar graphs
Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a blank bar graph? I need a 15 row 5 column bar graph for estimating and it is like pulling teeth to find. Unless I can make one myself which I fear would take me the better part of a day to do, I am stuck.
Doesn't the great wide net world know it needs to provide for my homeschooling needs free of charge and on demand?! Sheesh the internet is FIRED today.
Oh and trust me when I tell you that drawing bar graphs by hand with sharpies SUCKS. Also doing it without a ruler is not advised and is possibly illegal. sigh.
I need a homeschool sugar daddy AND a robot slave to do all of my technical junk so I have the materials I need before I even know I need them. Yep. Yep.
Oh and it should be known that the childrens first art and music class was a smashing success! They had a great time.
Stuff to do today:
Laundry
WalkerTR's Baptism invitation.
Calling SIL's E and K and ask them if they will sing at his Baptism.
Writing out a list of groceries for his reception.
So far my friend Kelly and my mom are bringing stuff to help with the cost. SUCH a huge relief. I hate to ask for help with that stuff , it was so nice that Kelly offered. However it should be known that I shanghied DM into bringing stuff..LOL. She has always been more than willing to help with pretty much anything offers before I have to ask but this time I asked because I suppose I really wanted her to be involved. It is a huge relief that she and DBF are coming.
(Darling Boyfriend) .
WalkerTR reallllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy wanted them there but he didn't want to say anything because he knows they don't really dig the churchy stuff.
Anywhoo I am sure I will write more later but I will leave you with this parting thought.
Never ever believe your kids when they say they will clean the kitchen while you go to bed. You will wake up with a plastic cup stuck in your garbage disposal and dirty dishes that mock you incessantly. It's like a law. Oh and two sets of needlenose pliars liberates a plastic cup from a garbage disposal prison. Grunting helped. Cursing not so much.
Oh and one last golden nugget. When an 11yr old boy and a 9yr old boy get together after they both ate beans and cheese. A nuclear explosion occurs in an invisible cloud of fallout. Thus creating scene of mayhem and destruction that only a smell so bad it makes you cry can do. People we are talking devastation. Open the windows and burn every candle and pray there is no "residue" kind of devastation. It should also be noted that said boys are OBLIVIOUS to their own "brand" and even find it HIGHlarious that they can gas you out. Wicked mongrels.
*marks pinto beans off the grocery list"
Have a less gassy day than me, please for the love of all that is holy and good in the world. Oh and if you knock on my door the cloud that will greet you WAS NOT ME!
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Love,
Mrs.F
Doesn't the great wide net world know it needs to provide for my homeschooling needs free of charge and on demand?! Sheesh the internet is FIRED today.
Oh and trust me when I tell you that drawing bar graphs by hand with sharpies SUCKS. Also doing it without a ruler is not advised and is possibly illegal. sigh.
I need a homeschool sugar daddy AND a robot slave to do all of my technical junk so I have the materials I need before I even know I need them. Yep. Yep.
Oh and it should be known that the childrens first art and music class was a smashing success! They had a great time.
Stuff to do today:
Laundry
WalkerTR's Baptism invitation.
Calling SIL's E and K and ask them if they will sing at his Baptism.
Writing out a list of groceries for his reception.
So far my friend Kelly and my mom are bringing stuff to help with the cost. SUCH a huge relief. I hate to ask for help with that stuff , it was so nice that Kelly offered. However it should be known that I shanghied DM into bringing stuff..LOL. She has always been more than willing to help with pretty much anything offers before I have to ask but this time I asked because I suppose I really wanted her to be involved. It is a huge relief that she and DBF are coming.
(Darling Boyfriend) .
WalkerTR reallllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy wanted them there but he didn't want to say anything because he knows they don't really dig the churchy stuff.
Anywhoo I am sure I will write more later but I will leave you with this parting thought.
Never ever believe your kids when they say they will clean the kitchen while you go to bed. You will wake up with a plastic cup stuck in your garbage disposal and dirty dishes that mock you incessantly. It's like a law. Oh and two sets of needlenose pliars liberates a plastic cup from a garbage disposal prison. Grunting helped. Cursing not so much.
Oh and one last golden nugget. When an 11yr old boy and a 9yr old boy get together after they both ate beans and cheese. A nuclear explosion occurs in an invisible cloud of fallout. Thus creating scene of mayhem and destruction that only a smell so bad it makes you cry can do. People we are talking devastation. Open the windows and burn every candle and pray there is no "residue" kind of devastation. It should also be noted that said boys are OBLIVIOUS to their own "brand" and even find it HIGHlarious that they can gas you out. Wicked mongrels.
*marks pinto beans off the grocery list"
Have a less gassy day than me, please for the love of all that is holy and good in the world. Oh and if you knock on my door the cloud that will greet you WAS NOT ME!
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Love,
Mrs.F
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Farty Papa and Elephant Jokes
Well this week has taken off so fast and just continues to run and run. We had a decent first week of school bearing in mind that half the kids were sick.
We seem to be in a really good routine and I love that. I need routine in my life to make me feel settled. I have always been a firm believer that children need routine as well. I also don't believe in scheduling every moment of their days. We are a busy family but by no means are out children swamped with actvities.
Our days start out at 6 am with the kids getting up and dressed and tidying their rooms. We generally breakfast at 7:30 am. They generally have an hour to read or watch cartoons until my first daycare girl leaves. I have her every other week for 3 hrs in the mornings. So on weeks she isn't here they read on weeks she is they get cartoons. After I take her to school we start our school at 9am.
It goes generally as follows:
Journaling
Handwriting
Spelling and Vocabulary
Notebooking for the older kids.
Reading for 1 hour and then writing summaries on chapters read.
Language and Grammar
Math
Science
History and Geography.
Three times a week we have science experiments
Once a week art and music lessons. At least one other day will include art homework. Music practice is determined by their teacher.
All in all I think a very good school day. Speaking of homeschool. A sister in my church ward called me this morning and said there was a friend of hers who used to homeschool but her kids are grown now and she is selling all of her stuff. OH! How I wish I had any money to be able to take advantage of this because no doubt this would be a great opportunity to get some great things for much less than retail. We just don't have the funds. My friend said she had maps and a globe! I would just about kill for a globe and some maps for the walls. I really want to just go SEE what she has. Maybe I can convince FP to take me and just look. Sadly he knows me too well. :(
Speaking of Farty Papa. That man just makes me laugh. Last night we were laying in bed with a couple of the kids and just talking when he starts talking in this accent. He calls it his Bill Cosby impression. When I remember what it did sound like I will let you know. GAH I can't remember. He just had me in stitches last night. Soon Macguyver2 was telling jokes as was MTA. Soon the inevitible happened.
You see. Farty Papa is notorious for his Elephant jokes. They are such groaners. Yet he tells them over and over and no matter how hard I try not too I laugh. The kids love them and I see a very real possability that they will pass these down to their children because there will be no family heirlooms or fine china. Our legacy is going to be recipes and elephant jokes.
Life is good.
I don't know why I was allowed such a great family but there isnt a bucket large enough to hold my gratitude.
More later
Mrs. F.
We seem to be in a really good routine and I love that. I need routine in my life to make me feel settled. I have always been a firm believer that children need routine as well. I also don't believe in scheduling every moment of their days. We are a busy family but by no means are out children swamped with actvities.
Our days start out at 6 am with the kids getting up and dressed and tidying their rooms. We generally breakfast at 7:30 am. They generally have an hour to read or watch cartoons until my first daycare girl leaves. I have her every other week for 3 hrs in the mornings. So on weeks she isn't here they read on weeks she is they get cartoons. After I take her to school we start our school at 9am.
It goes generally as follows:
Journaling
Handwriting
Spelling and Vocabulary
Notebooking for the older kids.
Reading for 1 hour and then writing summaries on chapters read.
Language and Grammar
Math
Science
History and Geography.
Three times a week we have science experiments
Once a week art and music lessons. At least one other day will include art homework. Music practice is determined by their teacher.
All in all I think a very good school day. Speaking of homeschool. A sister in my church ward called me this morning and said there was a friend of hers who used to homeschool but her kids are grown now and she is selling all of her stuff. OH! How I wish I had any money to be able to take advantage of this because no doubt this would be a great opportunity to get some great things for much less than retail. We just don't have the funds. My friend said she had maps and a globe! I would just about kill for a globe and some maps for the walls. I really want to just go SEE what she has. Maybe I can convince FP to take me and just look. Sadly he knows me too well. :(
Speaking of Farty Papa. That man just makes me laugh. Last night we were laying in bed with a couple of the kids and just talking when he starts talking in this accent. He calls it his Bill Cosby impression. When I remember what it did sound like I will let you know. GAH I can't remember. He just had me in stitches last night. Soon Macguyver2 was telling jokes as was MTA. Soon the inevitible happened.
You see. Farty Papa is notorious for his Elephant jokes. They are such groaners. Yet he tells them over and over and no matter how hard I try not too I laugh. The kids love them and I see a very real possability that they will pass these down to their children because there will be no family heirlooms or fine china. Our legacy is going to be recipes and elephant jokes.
Life is good.
I don't know why I was allowed such a great family but there isnt a bucket large enough to hold my gratitude.
More later
Mrs. F.
Friday, September 12, 2008
I've been tagged by one of my favorite people.
Four Places I've Lived:
1. Phoenix, Arizona
2. Mission Bay, California
3. Mesa, Arizona
4. Mankato, Minnesota
Four Favorite Books:
1. Man's Search For Meaning
2. The Earth Children Series
3. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
4. The Frugal Gourmet
Four Favorite Movies:
1. The Abyss
2. Noises Off
3. Phanton of the Opera I prefer the Opera though.
4. Underworld
Four Embarrassing Facts About Me:
1. I don't often pay attention when hubby is talking to me and often have to have him repeat it. Its embarassing because I don't mean to zone out but I get focused on what I'm doing and everything else tends to just go away.
2. I laugh outloud at the most inappropriate times, when something strikes me as funny and when people fall down. The movie theatre, late at night in bed while hubby is sleeping, In church.
3. I have mooned an undercover cop once. I was young and unaware he was the po-po.
4. I have been known to on occasion, snort when I laugh. Don't ask me about it I won't demonstrate it.
Four Dreams Of Mine:
1. I want to write a series of cookbooks as well as a Sci Fi series I have been working on for several years.
2. I want to get my degree in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts. I want to be a Caterer.
3. I want to be my childrens friend when they are adults. I want to have close positive relationships with them all of their lives.
4. I want to further my painting hobby possibly through education.
Four Pet Peeves:
1. Drop Ins.
2. Buttinskys.
3. People who hurt you on purpose and try to pass it off as a loving gesture.
4. Gossip.
Four Things That Make Me Really Happy:
1. Dates with my Hubby.
2.Lunch with my girlfriends.
3. My children.
4.My nieces and nephews. So very happy. Being an Aunt is one of my favorite things. I wish circumstances made it so we could see them more.
People I tag:Freddie, Farty Papa, Neetzy
1. Phoenix, Arizona
2. Mission Bay, California
3. Mesa, Arizona
4. Mankato, Minnesota
Four Favorite Books:
1. Man's Search For Meaning
2. The Earth Children Series
3. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
4. The Frugal Gourmet
Four Favorite Movies:
1. The Abyss
2. Noises Off
3. Phanton of the Opera I prefer the Opera though.
4. Underworld
Four Embarrassing Facts About Me:
1. I don't often pay attention when hubby is talking to me and often have to have him repeat it. Its embarassing because I don't mean to zone out but I get focused on what I'm doing and everything else tends to just go away.
2. I laugh outloud at the most inappropriate times, when something strikes me as funny and when people fall down. The movie theatre, late at night in bed while hubby is sleeping, In church.
3. I have mooned an undercover cop once. I was young and unaware he was the po-po.
4. I have been known to on occasion, snort when I laugh. Don't ask me about it I won't demonstrate it.
Four Dreams Of Mine:
1. I want to write a series of cookbooks as well as a Sci Fi series I have been working on for several years.
2. I want to get my degree in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts. I want to be a Caterer.
3. I want to be my childrens friend when they are adults. I want to have close positive relationships with them all of their lives.
4. I want to further my painting hobby possibly through education.
Four Pet Peeves:
1. Drop Ins.
2. Buttinskys.
3. People who hurt you on purpose and try to pass it off as a loving gesture.
4. Gossip.
Four Things That Make Me Really Happy:
1. Dates with my Hubby.
2.Lunch with my girlfriends.
3. My children.
4.My nieces and nephews. So very happy. Being an Aunt is one of my favorite things. I wish circumstances made it so we could see them more.
People I tag:Freddie, Farty Papa, Neetzy
This Just In.
According to a very reliable source ( Superman) apparrently his private has a bone in it. He informed me this morning and went on to say "it's" just like Walker TR and Sketch's.
Mrs. F " with bones in?"
Superman" yes, just like theirs"
This seems to be a symbol of his big boyness. Boy howdy yes it is. Sigh. Why do boys inform eachother of their non boneless properties?
anyone?
anyone?
Thus begins his facination I presume.
Mrs. F " with bones in?"
Superman" yes, just like theirs"
This seems to be a symbol of his big boyness. Boy howdy yes it is. Sigh. Why do boys inform eachother of their non boneless properties?
anyone?
anyone?
Thus begins his facination I presume.
Your Boogers are Bigger Than That! and Lost dogs.
Yes this post needed it's own home so I didn't jsu throw it in with the bathwater of the previous post.
Ok so the background on this post is as follows. Sketch hasn't been feeling well. He made friends with a cold and it callously turned on him. Don't they all? Why didn't I mention that he was sick before? As I told you before I felt this story merited it's own place in the blogosphere. So there.
So poor Sketch has had a low grade fever and a stuffed nose that is something to behold. So for the past two days he has been laying low, reading and journaling and making BFF's with Motrin. This evening he came into FP's and I's room and asked if he needed more Motrin before bed. Upon hearing his congestiony tone asked Sketch if he thought he could swallow a pill. Sketch being timid in nature and fairly healthy most of his life has never had the need to "learn" to swallow a pill. He was pretty sure he couldn't.
FP then decided Sketch needed a Benadryl and told Sketch to get a cup of water. He freaked. Now freaking out for Sketch is a very subtle thing and unless you know him you don't see it. It's the subtle widening of eyes. No larger than saucers. It's the gentle shake in his voice. And thats about it. There is no thrashing and wailing. No tears and no drama. It is just not his style.
Sketch dutifully obeyed and left the room to get his glass of impending doom. When he returned he had brought a friend with him. Namely the bright pink throw up bowl. Yes we have a bowl dedicated to throw up. Have you ever had six kids? Have you ever had 4-6 sick at the same time with the flu? Then don't judge me. *grin* He has the trusty throw up bowl tucked under his arm and FP and I do not miss the meaning of it's presence. Though we do try hard not to laugh at his silent declaration of his torture.
Sketch knows he is going to throw up.
I wonder if I am in the mood to watch that but I want to see him succeed so I stay , impending puke or no. Hey thats the kind of mom I am. I'm supportive. Unless it involves frogs, spiders, boogers or exploding diarrhea. And Cicadas. But I'm still supportive. Yea. So FP gets out the tiny pink pill of doom and proceeds to explain to Sketch how to swallow his doom. Sketch is riveted on his Dads' words. He takes the pill and places it in his mouth , takes about half a teaspoon of water and yes you guessed it. Gags and spits it out. " I can't do this " he quivers. FP" yes you can. Try again" Sketch doesn't move. FP louder " Put it in your mouth and try again" Sketch hesitates and I wonder if we are going to have a parent child meltdown. Sketch comes through with the bravery and puts the pill back in place and resigns himself to impending death. He takes an only moderately bigger sip of water and FP says " more water Sketch" sip. FP sighs " MORE water Sketch" A gulp ensues and the pill goes down . SUCCESS!
The aftermath is as follows. Sketch begins to extoll his fears about how he was so certain he was going to choke to death. " My heart is pounding so hard Dad! I was so scared I was gonna choke" Turns out the puke bowl was his best case scenario. Puke =best outcome. Death= worst outcome. Poor guy.
Now FP is stunned and his comment illustrates that entirely. As you may or may not know Benadryl is only slightly bigger than the size of an ant. Yes an ant like you find on the sidewalk. FP proceeds to say:
" Your boogers are bigger than that!" Hilarity ensues . I laugh and FP laughs and finally Sketch decides yea thats pretty funny. He relaxes and decides he is pretty proud that he can swallow pills now. WOOHOO!
It should be noted that Sketch does not in fact eat his boogers. He never has. He's a picky eater.
So pill success and yet another one of FP's comments that are blog worthy.
On to lost dogs. If you note the time stamp of my previous entry you will note that it was written in the middle of the night. As I was writing it I heard very very loud barking right outside my house. So loud that my dogs sleeping in their kennels inside my house woke and began their own chorus. I woke FP and asked him what I should do ? I looked out the window and determined that the dog was a boxer or pitbull. That gave me pause. If I went out there then I might DIE! You see where my kids get their dramatics? Oh be quiet.
Anyway, when MTA woke from the dog barking outside her window which is actually what prompted me to ask FP his advice. His bleary eyed advice was to call 911 and report a lost dog. Seriously? yes seriously. I just love him..LOL.
So no I didn't call 911 and I didn't call animal control because they aren't open in the middle of the night. I'm pretty sure.
So I decide I am going to go meet this dog and hopefully determine it's owners or at least get it to shoo. I go out there and my daughter decides she should go with me and I agree as I tell her " If it attacks me get dad and then call 911." Hey it was a medium size dog and it was obviously a pitbull or boxer. I think she was a boxer. My only experience with a boxer was not a pleasant one. Talk about the most irritating, destructive and LOUD dog. It was not trained and it was aggressive. So suffice to say i'm just a tad.....concerned.
I go out there and I can hear that the dog is right on my carport between my two cars. She lets out a warning " woof" I speak calmly to her , almost like a baby and she trots up to me tail wagging and head down. I hold my hand out and she flops her big head into my palm and licks me and then leans against my leg in total submission. Instant love. I LOVE this dog. LOVE it. Now I have been known to fall for animals easily but not generally dogs. Dogs take me time to love and often it is a constantly fluctuating relationship. I don't know why that is . Now I don't hate dogs. I actually really do like them. I just prefer small dogs. Really small. Big dogs just are not my forte. I have had a couple of big dogs and I am not a good big dog owner. I can't invest the time they need and it's not fair to them so I decided a long time ago that I just can't have big dogs.
This dog however , she for some reason just got my soft bits and gave em a big hug. Doggie love. Too bad she isn't mine. We gave her some water and it turns out two other neighbors were woken by her antics and came over to help find her home. I haven't blogged about my neighor Anna but I just really like her. Anyway Anna comes over as well as a young man from across the street. The young man came over first and called the numbers on the dogs tags to no avail. We were at a loss until Anna came over. She knew the dogs owners and proceeded to tell us that this dog drove her crazy. It was always out and would come to her house and bark at her front window and drive her dogs crazy. Much like she did to us.
We take the dog back and fashion a tie because the owners were asleep. They suck. Their dog woke up the whole neighborhood and they get to sleep? Suckage. So MTA gets the pink throw up bowl ( yes it was clean) and fills it with water and leaves it for the dog. Thus the bowl has a new home. I find some sick satisfaction knowing that these owners who selfishly slept while the neighborhood tended their dog, are now the proud owners of our throw up bowl.
Yea thats good stuff.
So I left Choxie with her pretend owners ( cause she's really mine) . She cried as we walked away. I hated to leave her like that but there was no way to get her into her backyard. The upside is I don't hear her anymore so I think either she settled down and went to sleep or her she finally woke her owners and they let her in. So that was our eventful night.
Time for me to begin getting lessons together. Superman has been waking up in the middle of the night and he woke up a few minutes ago and wants some mommy time. I should put him back to bed but how long will he actually be wanting to spend time with me? I am going to take advantage of this while I can.
Till next time.
I hope your days are as chaotic and wonderful as mine.
Mrs. F.
Ok so the background on this post is as follows. Sketch hasn't been feeling well. He made friends with a cold and it callously turned on him. Don't they all? Why didn't I mention that he was sick before? As I told you before I felt this story merited it's own place in the blogosphere. So there.
So poor Sketch has had a low grade fever and a stuffed nose that is something to behold. So for the past two days he has been laying low, reading and journaling and making BFF's with Motrin. This evening he came into FP's and I's room and asked if he needed more Motrin before bed. Upon hearing his congestiony tone asked Sketch if he thought he could swallow a pill. Sketch being timid in nature and fairly healthy most of his life has never had the need to "learn" to swallow a pill. He was pretty sure he couldn't.
FP then decided Sketch needed a Benadryl and told Sketch to get a cup of water. He freaked. Now freaking out for Sketch is a very subtle thing and unless you know him you don't see it. It's the subtle widening of eyes. No larger than saucers. It's the gentle shake in his voice. And thats about it. There is no thrashing and wailing. No tears and no drama. It is just not his style.
Sketch dutifully obeyed and left the room to get his glass of impending doom. When he returned he had brought a friend with him. Namely the bright pink throw up bowl. Yes we have a bowl dedicated to throw up. Have you ever had six kids? Have you ever had 4-6 sick at the same time with the flu? Then don't judge me. *grin* He has the trusty throw up bowl tucked under his arm and FP and I do not miss the meaning of it's presence. Though we do try hard not to laugh at his silent declaration of his torture.
Sketch knows he is going to throw up.
I wonder if I am in the mood to watch that but I want to see him succeed so I stay , impending puke or no. Hey thats the kind of mom I am. I'm supportive. Unless it involves frogs, spiders, boogers or exploding diarrhea. And Cicadas. But I'm still supportive. Yea. So FP gets out the tiny pink pill of doom and proceeds to explain to Sketch how to swallow his doom. Sketch is riveted on his Dads' words. He takes the pill and places it in his mouth , takes about half a teaspoon of water and yes you guessed it. Gags and spits it out. " I can't do this " he quivers. FP" yes you can. Try again" Sketch doesn't move. FP louder " Put it in your mouth and try again" Sketch hesitates and I wonder if we are going to have a parent child meltdown. Sketch comes through with the bravery and puts the pill back in place and resigns himself to impending death. He takes an only moderately bigger sip of water and FP says " more water Sketch" sip. FP sighs " MORE water Sketch" A gulp ensues and the pill goes down . SUCCESS!
The aftermath is as follows. Sketch begins to extoll his fears about how he was so certain he was going to choke to death. " My heart is pounding so hard Dad! I was so scared I was gonna choke" Turns out the puke bowl was his best case scenario. Puke =best outcome. Death= worst outcome. Poor guy.
Now FP is stunned and his comment illustrates that entirely. As you may or may not know Benadryl is only slightly bigger than the size of an ant. Yes an ant like you find on the sidewalk. FP proceeds to say:
" Your boogers are bigger than that!" Hilarity ensues . I laugh and FP laughs and finally Sketch decides yea thats pretty funny. He relaxes and decides he is pretty proud that he can swallow pills now. WOOHOO!
It should be noted that Sketch does not in fact eat his boogers. He never has. He's a picky eater.
So pill success and yet another one of FP's comments that are blog worthy.
On to lost dogs. If you note the time stamp of my previous entry you will note that it was written in the middle of the night. As I was writing it I heard very very loud barking right outside my house. So loud that my dogs sleeping in their kennels inside my house woke and began their own chorus. I woke FP and asked him what I should do ? I looked out the window and determined that the dog was a boxer or pitbull. That gave me pause. If I went out there then I might DIE! You see where my kids get their dramatics? Oh be quiet.
Anyway, when MTA woke from the dog barking outside her window which is actually what prompted me to ask FP his advice. His bleary eyed advice was to call 911 and report a lost dog. Seriously? yes seriously. I just love him..LOL.
So no I didn't call 911 and I didn't call animal control because they aren't open in the middle of the night. I'm pretty sure.
So I decide I am going to go meet this dog and hopefully determine it's owners or at least get it to shoo. I go out there and my daughter decides she should go with me and I agree as I tell her " If it attacks me get dad and then call 911." Hey it was a medium size dog and it was obviously a pitbull or boxer. I think she was a boxer. My only experience with a boxer was not a pleasant one. Talk about the most irritating, destructive and LOUD dog. It was not trained and it was aggressive. So suffice to say i'm just a tad.....concerned.
I go out there and I can hear that the dog is right on my carport between my two cars. She lets out a warning " woof" I speak calmly to her , almost like a baby and she trots up to me tail wagging and head down. I hold my hand out and she flops her big head into my palm and licks me and then leans against my leg in total submission. Instant love. I LOVE this dog. LOVE it. Now I have been known to fall for animals easily but not generally dogs. Dogs take me time to love and often it is a constantly fluctuating relationship. I don't know why that is . Now I don't hate dogs. I actually really do like them. I just prefer small dogs. Really small. Big dogs just are not my forte. I have had a couple of big dogs and I am not a good big dog owner. I can't invest the time they need and it's not fair to them so I decided a long time ago that I just can't have big dogs.
This dog however , she for some reason just got my soft bits and gave em a big hug. Doggie love. Too bad she isn't mine. We gave her some water and it turns out two other neighbors were woken by her antics and came over to help find her home. I haven't blogged about my neighor Anna but I just really like her. Anyway Anna comes over as well as a young man from across the street. The young man came over first and called the numbers on the dogs tags to no avail. We were at a loss until Anna came over. She knew the dogs owners and proceeded to tell us that this dog drove her crazy. It was always out and would come to her house and bark at her front window and drive her dogs crazy. Much like she did to us.
We take the dog back and fashion a tie because the owners were asleep. They suck. Their dog woke up the whole neighborhood and they get to sleep? Suckage. So MTA gets the pink throw up bowl ( yes it was clean) and fills it with water and leaves it for the dog. Thus the bowl has a new home. I find some sick satisfaction knowing that these owners who selfishly slept while the neighborhood tended their dog, are now the proud owners of our throw up bowl.
Yea thats good stuff.
So I left Choxie with her pretend owners ( cause she's really mine) . She cried as we walked away. I hated to leave her like that but there was no way to get her into her backyard. The upside is I don't hear her anymore so I think either she settled down and went to sleep or her she finally woke her owners and they let her in. So that was our eventful night.
Time for me to begin getting lessons together. Superman has been waking up in the middle of the night and he woke up a few minutes ago and wants some mommy time. I should put him back to bed but how long will he actually be wanting to spend time with me? I am going to take advantage of this while I can.
Till next time.
I hope your days are as chaotic and wonderful as mine.
Mrs. F.
Art lessons and General chaos.
So lately we have been so busy it's like we are swimming upstream with our pants full of rocks and not in a good way. Let's see we have the kids engrossed in school, Hubby working more hours, Mrs. F's daycare open for business, Youth activities once a week for 4 of the 5 broodlets, Science experiments, music lessons,art lessons, reading reading reading, Not to mention the daily chores we all love. I still haven't been able to open my business, funny thing about capital is that you have to have it and spend it to be able to run a business. It seems like there are so many more important things that need our money and my business just is not a priority.
Farty Papa is still loving the job. He talks about retiring there and how he hopes the salary will be one that we can live on comfortably and enable him to do just that. We are just hoping for good things when he meets with the Big Boss in a couple of weeks.
We don't hear much from Textman anymore. He is 16 with a job and a girlfriend , not to mention he doesn't get much encouragement to visit us from his "other" family. Me being an evil stepmother and all. *sigh*
Miss Teenage Argumenative is up to her eyeballs in school and work and she is struggling with balancing the two. So much so that she had to have some disciplinary help this past week which she was not at all thrilled with. I am hoping that she will soon be able to juggle both and be successful but FP and I told her squarely that if she can't find a happy medium she won't be able to continue with her job. School comes first. She is loving her social life right about now though. I love that she has BFF's now. She was never able to have that when we lived so far from civilization. Aka Minnesota. So aside from a minor setback regarding scheduling her time she is doing well and seems to be as normal a teenager as a teenager can be normal. Heaven help us.
MacGyver2 has discovered he loves to read. It is an amazing thing when a child discovers that love. I checked in on him tonight and he was zonked out in his bed with his Dads' flashlight on and a book butterflied on his chest. Yay Leven Thumps! He is currently between two books. Harry Potter 1 and Leven Thumps. So now I need to find study guides for both to enable him to use them as his literature picks for school. I am thrilled that he is loving school and his desire to read makes life in the schoolroom so much better for him and for me. YAY!
Sketch has just blossomed this summer. He is still timid when asked to read out loud but his reading comprehension is awesome. His writing is better as is his spelling and he continues to improve daily. He discovered he actually likes to read. He hates to write. LOL. He is intimidated by spelling and how the english language just isn't spelled how it sounds. So we are just reinforcing his spalding phonics and the rules and keeping the pressure off of him as best we can. He loves math , art and science. He and his brother Walker TR were thrilled to find out that we are having an art major friend of mine come in once a week and teach the children art and music. I think we are all excited about that.
I love the idea of outsourcing some of my lessons. It takes the pressure off of me to provide the inspiration for art projects and lessons and allows me to let someone else help out. My friend is excited to come do this and the kids love the idea that someone other than Mom is going to teach them. Iv'e decided that I am going to investigate homeschool co-ops in my area and see what they have to offer. Who knows what will come of it but maybe they have curriculum at a discount . I am a self professed curriculum junkie.
Moving on to Walker TR. He is probably the most excited about school next to Superman ( who isn't officially IN school yet.) He is the first one up everyday and he eats breakfast before the rest of us bleary eyed suckers can even say good morning. It was funny , the other day WalkerTR was eating cereal when I came out, he said a chipper good morning and proceeded to say" I'm eating now so I don't have to worry about it later when we start school" LOL! It should be noted we eat breakfast everyday and it is in no way a special occasion. I just grinned and refrained from telling him that he was SUPPOSED to have breakfast before school and that is how we have always done it. Excitement tends to make one take leave of their senses temporarily and none more that Walker TR. Two days ago he was really sorry he ate his breakfast before Mom got up. Mom made dutch babies with ham. Needless to say he had two breakfasts that day. He makes me giggle.
Superman was THRILLED to "do school" He learned the letter one and two and colored an octopus. He got to write on his dry erase board and "read" a book or two. He liked silent reading time. I think he felt big like the other kids. He continues his infatuation with Little Miss Princess and its a good thing. For now. LOL.
I think that wraps it up for the family. I didn't really update about me but honestly im just trying to keep up with these freaks. I love my freaks.
More later
Mrs. F
Farty Papa is still loving the job. He talks about retiring there and how he hopes the salary will be one that we can live on comfortably and enable him to do just that. We are just hoping for good things when he meets with the Big Boss in a couple of weeks.
We don't hear much from Textman anymore. He is 16 with a job and a girlfriend , not to mention he doesn't get much encouragement to visit us from his "other" family. Me being an evil stepmother and all. *sigh*
Miss Teenage Argumenative is up to her eyeballs in school and work and she is struggling with balancing the two. So much so that she had to have some disciplinary help this past week which she was not at all thrilled with. I am hoping that she will soon be able to juggle both and be successful but FP and I told her squarely that if she can't find a happy medium she won't be able to continue with her job. School comes first. She is loving her social life right about now though. I love that she has BFF's now. She was never able to have that when we lived so far from civilization. Aka Minnesota. So aside from a minor setback regarding scheduling her time she is doing well and seems to be as normal a teenager as a teenager can be normal. Heaven help us.
MacGyver2 has discovered he loves to read. It is an amazing thing when a child discovers that love. I checked in on him tonight and he was zonked out in his bed with his Dads' flashlight on and a book butterflied on his chest. Yay Leven Thumps! He is currently between two books. Harry Potter 1 and Leven Thumps. So now I need to find study guides for both to enable him to use them as his literature picks for school. I am thrilled that he is loving school and his desire to read makes life in the schoolroom so much better for him and for me. YAY!
Sketch has just blossomed this summer. He is still timid when asked to read out loud but his reading comprehension is awesome. His writing is better as is his spelling and he continues to improve daily. He discovered he actually likes to read. He hates to write. LOL. He is intimidated by spelling and how the english language just isn't spelled how it sounds. So we are just reinforcing his spalding phonics and the rules and keeping the pressure off of him as best we can. He loves math , art and science. He and his brother Walker TR were thrilled to find out that we are having an art major friend of mine come in once a week and teach the children art and music. I think we are all excited about that.
I love the idea of outsourcing some of my lessons. It takes the pressure off of me to provide the inspiration for art projects and lessons and allows me to let someone else help out. My friend is excited to come do this and the kids love the idea that someone other than Mom is going to teach them. Iv'e decided that I am going to investigate homeschool co-ops in my area and see what they have to offer. Who knows what will come of it but maybe they have curriculum at a discount . I am a self professed curriculum junkie.
Moving on to Walker TR. He is probably the most excited about school next to Superman ( who isn't officially IN school yet.) He is the first one up everyday and he eats breakfast before the rest of us bleary eyed suckers can even say good morning. It was funny , the other day WalkerTR was eating cereal when I came out, he said a chipper good morning and proceeded to say" I'm eating now so I don't have to worry about it later when we start school" LOL! It should be noted we eat breakfast everyday and it is in no way a special occasion. I just grinned and refrained from telling him that he was SUPPOSED to have breakfast before school and that is how we have always done it. Excitement tends to make one take leave of their senses temporarily and none more that Walker TR. Two days ago he was really sorry he ate his breakfast before Mom got up. Mom made dutch babies with ham. Needless to say he had two breakfasts that day. He makes me giggle.
Superman was THRILLED to "do school" He learned the letter one and two and colored an octopus. He got to write on his dry erase board and "read" a book or two. He liked silent reading time. I think he felt big like the other kids. He continues his infatuation with Little Miss Princess and its a good thing. For now. LOL.
I think that wraps it up for the family. I didn't really update about me but honestly im just trying to keep up with these freaks. I love my freaks.
More later
Mrs. F
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Birthdays and The Runway to Homeschooling
It's been awhile since I wrote and I'd have to say it wasn't for lack of desire. I wanted to write but sometimes I just don't have the brain power to sit down and order my thoughts.
This past week was eventful. Walker TR had a birthday. His excitement was palpable. He has a list of requirements for his day and FP and I tried our best to accomodate. It was strange though. It was almost as if we were still across country for his birthday. It was just our family that celebrated. All extended family was absent. It felt odd to be so close and yet still fairly alone.
Walker had a specific idea about how is day should go. He planned his dinner menu and the evening activity as well. What he didn't know is that FP and I had plans for him as well. It worked out. His plans were as follows.
Walker TR's plans.
Play Nuke'em in the backyard with dad and siblings. Accomplished.
Have Mom's mac n cheese with chicken , three kinds of green veggies with cheese sauce ( broccoli, peas and green beans) His favorites. Dinner. Accomplished.
Bake a strawberry cake with strawberry frosting with sliced strawberries with Dad. No FP was not a cake topper but baking with Dad was the topper for the day as far as WTR was concerned. It is funny because WTR likes strawberry anything but not as much as this cake confection might indicate. His real reason for such a strawberry carnival? Sketch HATES strawberries. He said to me when we were planning his menu " Oooh Sketch is gonna hate me!" *insert wicked wicked giggle here* All in all it was a yummy cake and even Sketch liked it. He picked off his strawberry though.( he has an odd strawberry seed phobia, don't ask me). Accomplished.
After dinner watch Spongebob Squarepants marathon. accomplished.
Mrs.F and FP's plans for Walker TR :
We decided to take him shopping for his present. Make him part of the experience. He loved it. This was a special birthday , he turned 8. That means he will be baptized this month. Very exciting. Very important. FP started a tradition. Upon turning 8 every child receives their first pocket knife. ( please no drama about kids and knives. This is about teaching your child to be safe with knives and the proper use of knives. As a tool etc. All of our children were/are Scouts and as such need them for activities and for emergency preparedness.) The children love this birthday. They wait for it like none other. So FP picked out his pocket knife and presented Walker TR with it and he has not parted with it since. He carries it everywhere. Thank goodness he isn't a frequent flier. lol.
So after picking out his knife we went on to shop for ingredients for his meal. He was very serious about it and it was nothing short of adorable. " Mom we need this and don't forget that. " So like his father.
After shopping we took Walker TR out to lunch for his Birthday lunch. Chik Fil A. I should tell you that we have the BEST store near us. The Manager and owner are soooooo nice. They made him feel special. They made us feel valued. It was a great experience. Thank you Chik Fil A.
We left with our ice cream cones in hand and headed home to commence baking. All in all a good day. Walker TR said it was his best birthday yet.
That was great to hear.
His birthday was a geat lead in to the week. MTA and I spent the last several days printing hundreds of copies for the homeschool year. I found some awesome resources online and we will begin with this material until their tangible books arrive. Such a blessing the internet is. Of course you have to be thorough and careful what you choose to use. Not everything you find is a gem. However I have spent years compiling my net resources and I could confidently teach just about every grade from material I found off the net if I chose to do so. I buy the core curriculum so that we have physical books to use as well 1. because its a great curriculum and 2. because we all love books.
So here I sit with a good grasp on the rapidly approaching start date for homeschooling, feeling confident and mostly prepared. The kids need school supplies and FP and I don't have the funds to do that yet. So we are scrounging for stuff we used last year. Anyone have any three ring binders? folders? LOL
More later.
Mrs. F.
This past week was eventful. Walker TR had a birthday. His excitement was palpable. He has a list of requirements for his day and FP and I tried our best to accomodate. It was strange though. It was almost as if we were still across country for his birthday. It was just our family that celebrated. All extended family was absent. It felt odd to be so close and yet still fairly alone.
Walker had a specific idea about how is day should go. He planned his dinner menu and the evening activity as well. What he didn't know is that FP and I had plans for him as well. It worked out. His plans were as follows.
Walker TR's plans.
Play Nuke'em in the backyard with dad and siblings. Accomplished.
Have Mom's mac n cheese with chicken , three kinds of green veggies with cheese sauce ( broccoli, peas and green beans) His favorites. Dinner. Accomplished.
Bake a strawberry cake with strawberry frosting with sliced strawberries with Dad. No FP was not a cake topper but baking with Dad was the topper for the day as far as WTR was concerned. It is funny because WTR likes strawberry anything but not as much as this cake confection might indicate. His real reason for such a strawberry carnival? Sketch HATES strawberries. He said to me when we were planning his menu " Oooh Sketch is gonna hate me!" *insert wicked wicked giggle here* All in all it was a yummy cake and even Sketch liked it. He picked off his strawberry though.( he has an odd strawberry seed phobia, don't ask me). Accomplished.
After dinner watch Spongebob Squarepants marathon. accomplished.
Mrs.F and FP's plans for Walker TR :
We decided to take him shopping for his present. Make him part of the experience. He loved it. This was a special birthday , he turned 8. That means he will be baptized this month. Very exciting. Very important. FP started a tradition. Upon turning 8 every child receives their first pocket knife. ( please no drama about kids and knives. This is about teaching your child to be safe with knives and the proper use of knives. As a tool etc. All of our children were/are Scouts and as such need them for activities and for emergency preparedness.) The children love this birthday. They wait for it like none other. So FP picked out his pocket knife and presented Walker TR with it and he has not parted with it since. He carries it everywhere. Thank goodness he isn't a frequent flier. lol.
So after picking out his knife we went on to shop for ingredients for his meal. He was very serious about it and it was nothing short of adorable. " Mom we need this and don't forget that. " So like his father.
After shopping we took Walker TR out to lunch for his Birthday lunch. Chik Fil A. I should tell you that we have the BEST store near us. The Manager and owner are soooooo nice. They made him feel special. They made us feel valued. It was a great experience. Thank you Chik Fil A.
We left with our ice cream cones in hand and headed home to commence baking. All in all a good day. Walker TR said it was his best birthday yet.
That was great to hear.
His birthday was a geat lead in to the week. MTA and I spent the last several days printing hundreds of copies for the homeschool year. I found some awesome resources online and we will begin with this material until their tangible books arrive. Such a blessing the internet is. Of course you have to be thorough and careful what you choose to use. Not everything you find is a gem. However I have spent years compiling my net resources and I could confidently teach just about every grade from material I found off the net if I chose to do so. I buy the core curriculum so that we have physical books to use as well 1. because its a great curriculum and 2. because we all love books.
So here I sit with a good grasp on the rapidly approaching start date for homeschooling, feeling confident and mostly prepared. The kids need school supplies and FP and I don't have the funds to do that yet. So we are scrounging for stuff we used last year. Anyone have any three ring binders? folders? LOL
More later.
Mrs. F.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Who needs enemies with friends like these?!
Ok so talking to a friend of mine online while he was on his lunch break. I like a dummy ask him " whatcha havin?"
He sucks. You see I have a problem. I am impressionable. When people are eating better stuff than I am, I want it. I am a foodie to begin with and then when someone begins to extoll the virtues of their lunch I begin to think about it. And then I begin to think" yea that sounds good. " Then I begin to think " I want that" Then I begin to think " I have to have that. " So hence my friend is EVIL!
His lunch that got me started is as follows.
Salmon Sammy on sourdough WITH Crab bisque. I hate him.
I love seafood. He KNOWS that. So then being the jerk that he is he begins to ask what kind of sushi I like. ALL OF IT DUH! (mostly)
I don't like him anymore. Then he laughs because he KNOWS that he is being mean and says :
" There thats your virtual lunch served up in style!"
He sucks. So my only option is to suffer.
Im suffering. Can't you see me suffering?
*cries*
More later when I recover.
Mrs. F.
He sucks. You see I have a problem. I am impressionable. When people are eating better stuff than I am, I want it. I am a foodie to begin with and then when someone begins to extoll the virtues of their lunch I begin to think about it. And then I begin to think" yea that sounds good. " Then I begin to think " I want that" Then I begin to think " I have to have that. " So hence my friend is EVIL!
His lunch that got me started is as follows.
Salmon Sammy on sourdough WITH Crab bisque. I hate him.
I love seafood. He KNOWS that. So then being the jerk that he is he begins to ask what kind of sushi I like. ALL OF IT DUH! (mostly)
I don't like him anymore. Then he laughs because he KNOWS that he is being mean and says :
" There thats your virtual lunch served up in style!"
He sucks. So my only option is to suffer.
Im suffering. Can't you see me suffering?
*cries*
More later when I recover.
Mrs. F.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Stuff , more stuff and Constipation
So yesterday I try to give my blog this pretty background to no avail. The directions on the website make no sense to me! I really want a cute blog too!
Anyway I spent this past week musing over some personal things and getting ready to start out homeschool year. It dawned on me that sometimes friends sneak up on you. A little background is necessary here. Most of my married life I have really not had any close girlfriends that lived nearby. Ones that I could tend their kids and she mine. Go out to lunch or just call and say I need a friend can you come over? Well it seems I have been snuck up on. There is a friend at church who literally lives around the corner from me and we seem to have really hit it off. We talk just about everyday even if its just hey whats up? nothing. Ok well I'll see you later this afternoon.
My daughter babysits for her in the afternoons and it has been really nice to have a tangible friend. One that say OMG I need milk im coming to get some of yours. Or hey you need cereal? I have a ton. Or hey you need to get out of the house come to WalMart with me. For no reason at all. Just because she wants my company. I like that. I like having a friend that seems to want to spend time with me. Who thinks to call me. We vent about life and talk about problems and I just see a lot of potential for a real solid friendship there. After recent events I began to feel as though I might be unfriendable. That perhaps there was some fundamental flaw that everyone else saw and not me, that made it so hard for me to find friends that were real. I see a light at the end of the tunnel. Here's hoping.
Onto the family update. Farty Papa has recently changed schedules at work and that makes for some rough mornings but he doesn't complain. We are really hoping that this job becomes one we can support our family on. We aren't there yet but again with the hope. FP always seems to find moments to spend with the kids that somehow become these huge laugh fests. Farting contests, chasing Superman down the hall until he howls. It's moments like these when I know that things are good. I have made good choices and that any strife we have had is so very worth it. Thank you FP.
Superman has a girlfriend. Little Miss Princess. Yes you heard it here first. He LURVES her. I caught him holding her hand today. When LMP is here they are inseperable. Now mind you they fight like any married couple but the love is there. She kinda likes him too but it has become apparent when her mom arrives there will be no more hugging! So now that Superman has a girlfriend he has begun to realize heartbreak too. She won't share her cereal bar or she pushes him away when he wants to hug her. Young love, how fickle. How sweet. Ok they are 4 and 2 they don't have anything really important to fight over. What do you want from me?
MTA has had a busy week. She has a new babysitting schedule now and with her penchant for staying up late its coming back to bite her in her argumenative butt. MUAHAHAHAHA. *cough cough* Sorry had a bit of insanity there. The reason this amuses me is partly because im sick but more so because I TOLD her this was going to happen. I TOLD her life was going to get hard if she didn't manage her time. I think she is beginning to see. One day she will just know her mom is always right. She has also been enjoying time with her friends and church activities. She also likes having money. In a couple of weeks FP and I are going to take her to open her first checking account. She is thrilled about that. The stipulation will be that she must have a savings account as well and she will put aside a percentage of what she makes ( yet to be determined) in the savings account. She is growing up too fast. Far too fast.
Mr. Literal henceforth shall be renames as Macguyver2. He didn't like his nickname and in truth this fits him better. So M2 started a new year of scouts and he loves it. He goes on his first campout to the Lava Caves in Sept. Can you say excitement x infinity? I think secretly FP is excited too because I think he might get to go too. M2 is also doing a merit badge round up where he gets to pick three badges to accomplish at once. He picked fingerprinting and golf for sure. He can't remember the other one but I believe it has to do with citizenship. All in all good stuff.
Sketch has been laying low lately. His friend comes over every morning at 6am and I think that is just a little too early for him. He gets up and spends time with her but around 2pm he gets very tired and impatient. He crawled in my bed earlier today and slept for about 45min. I think he takes after me in that, if he doesn't get the amount of sleep he needs he drags and I have also noticed him having trouble settling down too. I hope its a phase. Sketch has also been enjoying scouts as well. This week we have to do a family tree and I am looking forward to that only because I hope it might actually get me started on geneology. Probably not but again with the hope.
WalkerTR was sick this past week. And now we get to the second half of my topics. Sunday WTR woke up with a fever,low grade but he complained of a tummy ache. So as any mom would do I had him lay on his back and I palpated his belly for any hardness that might indicate a problem that needed medical attention. I detected none and opted to wait it out. I gave him meds for the fever which in a day or so was gone yet his tummy ache persisted. So on day three I asked him one of the questions that young boys get embarassed about. *deep breath* I looked him squarely in the eye and I said *with a straight face* " Have you pooped today? " At this point I begin to detect a change in the color of his face. Pink I think its called. *straight face straight face* She tries not to smile when he replies. " No not today" I nod solemnly and reply " Well your body needs to do that everyday and when it doesn't stuff gets backed up in there" His face changes from mirth to panic as he blurts out" I didn't today or yesterday or the day before! " Now I know this is nothing to panic about but a 7yr old not so much. Before I can reassure him he asks " How bad is it? Do I have to go to the doctor?!" I shake my head and state " No but you need to drink water and a lot of it. Also go have some juice. You will be fine but I bet thats why your tummy hurts" He nods and dashes off to facilitate his healing. A day later needless to say it all worked out in the end. Oh gimmie a break I couldn't resist! I can't wait for the " mom my pintu' gets stiff , is it broken?" talk. He doesn't know what he's in for. MUAHAHAHAhA! *cough* hack* No seriously though he has no idea!
I love the adventures in This Motherhood.
more later. Make sure to check out my cookbook blog and leave me your thoughts.
until next time
Mrs. F.
Anyway I spent this past week musing over some personal things and getting ready to start out homeschool year. It dawned on me that sometimes friends sneak up on you. A little background is necessary here. Most of my married life I have really not had any close girlfriends that lived nearby. Ones that I could tend their kids and she mine. Go out to lunch or just call and say I need a friend can you come over? Well it seems I have been snuck up on. There is a friend at church who literally lives around the corner from me and we seem to have really hit it off. We talk just about everyday even if its just hey whats up? nothing. Ok well I'll see you later this afternoon.
My daughter babysits for her in the afternoons and it has been really nice to have a tangible friend. One that say OMG I need milk im coming to get some of yours. Or hey you need cereal? I have a ton. Or hey you need to get out of the house come to WalMart with me. For no reason at all. Just because she wants my company. I like that. I like having a friend that seems to want to spend time with me. Who thinks to call me. We vent about life and talk about problems and I just see a lot of potential for a real solid friendship there. After recent events I began to feel as though I might be unfriendable. That perhaps there was some fundamental flaw that everyone else saw and not me, that made it so hard for me to find friends that were real. I see a light at the end of the tunnel. Here's hoping.
Onto the family update. Farty Papa has recently changed schedules at work and that makes for some rough mornings but he doesn't complain. We are really hoping that this job becomes one we can support our family on. We aren't there yet but again with the hope. FP always seems to find moments to spend with the kids that somehow become these huge laugh fests. Farting contests, chasing Superman down the hall until he howls. It's moments like these when I know that things are good. I have made good choices and that any strife we have had is so very worth it. Thank you FP.
Superman has a girlfriend. Little Miss Princess. Yes you heard it here first. He LURVES her. I caught him holding her hand today. When LMP is here they are inseperable. Now mind you they fight like any married couple but the love is there. She kinda likes him too but it has become apparent when her mom arrives there will be no more hugging! So now that Superman has a girlfriend he has begun to realize heartbreak too. She won't share her cereal bar or she pushes him away when he wants to hug her. Young love, how fickle. How sweet. Ok they are 4 and 2 they don't have anything really important to fight over. What do you want from me?
MTA has had a busy week. She has a new babysitting schedule now and with her penchant for staying up late its coming back to bite her in her argumenative butt. MUAHAHAHAHA. *cough cough* Sorry had a bit of insanity there. The reason this amuses me is partly because im sick but more so because I TOLD her this was going to happen. I TOLD her life was going to get hard if she didn't manage her time. I think she is beginning to see. One day she will just know her mom is always right. She has also been enjoying time with her friends and church activities. She also likes having money. In a couple of weeks FP and I are going to take her to open her first checking account. She is thrilled about that. The stipulation will be that she must have a savings account as well and she will put aside a percentage of what she makes ( yet to be determined) in the savings account. She is growing up too fast. Far too fast.
Mr. Literal henceforth shall be renames as Macguyver2. He didn't like his nickname and in truth this fits him better. So M2 started a new year of scouts and he loves it. He goes on his first campout to the Lava Caves in Sept. Can you say excitement x infinity? I think secretly FP is excited too because I think he might get to go too. M2 is also doing a merit badge round up where he gets to pick three badges to accomplish at once. He picked fingerprinting and golf for sure. He can't remember the other one but I believe it has to do with citizenship. All in all good stuff.
Sketch has been laying low lately. His friend comes over every morning at 6am and I think that is just a little too early for him. He gets up and spends time with her but around 2pm he gets very tired and impatient. He crawled in my bed earlier today and slept for about 45min. I think he takes after me in that, if he doesn't get the amount of sleep he needs he drags and I have also noticed him having trouble settling down too. I hope its a phase. Sketch has also been enjoying scouts as well. This week we have to do a family tree and I am looking forward to that only because I hope it might actually get me started on geneology. Probably not but again with the hope.
WalkerTR was sick this past week. And now we get to the second half of my topics. Sunday WTR woke up with a fever,low grade but he complained of a tummy ache. So as any mom would do I had him lay on his back and I palpated his belly for any hardness that might indicate a problem that needed medical attention. I detected none and opted to wait it out. I gave him meds for the fever which in a day or so was gone yet his tummy ache persisted. So on day three I asked him one of the questions that young boys get embarassed about. *deep breath* I looked him squarely in the eye and I said *with a straight face* " Have you pooped today? " At this point I begin to detect a change in the color of his face. Pink I think its called. *straight face straight face* She tries not to smile when he replies. " No not today" I nod solemnly and reply " Well your body needs to do that everyday and when it doesn't stuff gets backed up in there" His face changes from mirth to panic as he blurts out" I didn't today or yesterday or the day before! " Now I know this is nothing to panic about but a 7yr old not so much. Before I can reassure him he asks " How bad is it? Do I have to go to the doctor?!" I shake my head and state " No but you need to drink water and a lot of it. Also go have some juice. You will be fine but I bet thats why your tummy hurts" He nods and dashes off to facilitate his healing. A day later needless to say it all worked out in the end. Oh gimmie a break I couldn't resist! I can't wait for the " mom my pintu' gets stiff , is it broken?" talk. He doesn't know what he's in for. MUAHAHAHAhA! *cough* hack* No seriously though he has no idea!
I love the adventures in This Motherhood.
more later. Make sure to check out my cookbook blog and leave me your thoughts.
until next time
Mrs. F.
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