I'm like a little kid. I'm so excited, I know I won't be able to sleep, and by the time I do finally fall asleep, it'll be time to get up. We're waking up at 1, and trying to be out of the house by 2. That's AM. Ouch. Hopefully Cora will sleep more of the time this way, since she is The Baby Who Hates The Car. And she's teething again, too.
The van is mostly packed. Oh my goodness, talk about anal retentive. Everything MUST be in it's proper place. I'm going to go postal the first time someone leaves a coloring book on the floor of the van, or leaves a suitcase half-zipped or toppled in the back. Okay, it won't be that bad. But I was pretty irritable when Andrew was putting his stuff in and it was not in the place I had already assigned it in my mind. Oy, I need a glass of wine.
The bad part is, I know I'm forgetting something. I always do - doesn't everyone? I just have to hope it's nothing important. The last time we went to Kansas City, I forgot my engagement ring. I had been baking bread the day before, took it off to knead the dough, and left it sitting on the kitchen counter when we left. When we went to Ouray for our "honeymoon" (plus two kids) I forgot the Snappi. That's the little rubberband-y thingy that holds diapers on (kind of like diaper pins, but cooler and not as sharp!) Anyhow, I had a bunch of cloth diapers, and no Snappi. And no intention of buying disposables. We made do, but barely.
So after I get this little baby in bed, I'm gonna do another run-through and try to remember things we missed. Then I'll sweep the floors, take out all the trash, and knit for awhile, again contemplating what I may have forgotten. Hopefully after that, I'll be able to sleep!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Organizational Freak
I regularly tease my husband about being anal retentive. Sadly, I think I've lost the right to do that.
I'm getting ready for our California trip. I started packing yesterday. We're not leaving until Monday morning, but hey, it never hurts to be prepared. I spent the day catching up all of the laundry and sorting out little piles of clothes. 5 pairs of underwear each, 5 pairs of socks, plus extra socks for each girl in each of the two diaper bags I am pre-packing. The socks and underwear then went into gallon-sized ziploc baggies, one for each of us, so they don't get all mixed up. In each baggie is another baggie to put the dirty ones in as they accumulate. Next was the"outfit preparation phase" - colums for each day, rows for each of us. Each outfit was rolled neatly together to prevent separation of articles, then wrapped in a sweater, hoodie, or other "just in case" warm piece of clothing. I fought the urge to tie each day's clothing with bits of yarn to make cute little packages, but it was a struggle. Each stack was then placed neatly into the suitcase in order of which day it will be used. Pajamas, swim suits and other extra clothing filled the rest of the space, with shoes, sole-up, on top it all. Then I laid out hair accessories and jewelry, a set for each day, and put each set into a little ziploc baggie, then put all the little ones into one big one, then into the suitcase zipper compartment.
For our visit to Disneyland, which will cover two days of the trip, I downloaded a program called RideMax - it schedules an itinerary based on the rides you want to go on and the dates and times you'll be there. Supposedly, it tells you where to go and when so you wait in line no more than 15 minutes per ride. I printed up an itinerary for each day, scheduling in lunch and dinner for which I have already made reservations.
I intend to program each destination into the van's navigational system. Our tickets, hotel confirmations and Disney itineraries are all stored safely in a folder in the van, in order of intended use. I have extra batteries in the van and the diaper bag as well as an extra camera.
All I really need to do is pack toiletries, entertainment for the girls on the trip, and some yarn and patterns for myself.
I'll mop and vacuum on Sunday afternoon and wash all the diapers so none are sitting dirty for a week. The house is otherwise mostly clean.
I feel good about myself for being so organized, but I'm afraid my family will start calling me a schedule nazi. LOL
I'm getting ready for our California trip. I started packing yesterday. We're not leaving until Monday morning, but hey, it never hurts to be prepared. I spent the day catching up all of the laundry and sorting out little piles of clothes. 5 pairs of underwear each, 5 pairs of socks, plus extra socks for each girl in each of the two diaper bags I am pre-packing. The socks and underwear then went into gallon-sized ziploc baggies, one for each of us, so they don't get all mixed up. In each baggie is another baggie to put the dirty ones in as they accumulate. Next was the"outfit preparation phase" - colums for each day, rows for each of us. Each outfit was rolled neatly together to prevent separation of articles, then wrapped in a sweater, hoodie, or other "just in case" warm piece of clothing. I fought the urge to tie each day's clothing with bits of yarn to make cute little packages, but it was a struggle. Each stack was then placed neatly into the suitcase in order of which day it will be used. Pajamas, swim suits and other extra clothing filled the rest of the space, with shoes, sole-up, on top it all. Then I laid out hair accessories and jewelry, a set for each day, and put each set into a little ziploc baggie, then put all the little ones into one big one, then into the suitcase zipper compartment.
For our visit to Disneyland, which will cover two days of the trip, I downloaded a program called RideMax - it schedules an itinerary based on the rides you want to go on and the dates and times you'll be there. Supposedly, it tells you where to go and when so you wait in line no more than 15 minutes per ride. I printed up an itinerary for each day, scheduling in lunch and dinner for which I have already made reservations.
I intend to program each destination into the van's navigational system. Our tickets, hotel confirmations and Disney itineraries are all stored safely in a folder in the van, in order of intended use. I have extra batteries in the van and the diaper bag as well as an extra camera.
All I really need to do is pack toiletries, entertainment for the girls on the trip, and some yarn and patterns for myself.
I'll mop and vacuum on Sunday afternoon and wash all the diapers so none are sitting dirty for a week. The house is otherwise mostly clean.
I feel good about myself for being so organized, but I'm afraid my family will start calling me a schedule nazi. LOL
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Some rambling
I haven't blogged much lately. Amazingly, I don't have much to say. That never happens!
Mark apparently forgot last night was his night with Chloe. He never called, never picked her up. I wonder if he'll pick her up today or not. He got a new job working at the shoe store in the mall and I'm not sure what his hours and days off will be yet. Yeah, the shoe store. Not to knock shoe salesmen at all - hey, everyone's gotta do something - but I can't imagine a mall job is really going to support a family very well. Ah well, it's not my concern anymore (thank goodness!)
His girlfriend keeps blogging about moving back to Singapore. I hope they really do, and I hope he doesn't have any intention of seeing Chloe more than once a year for two weeks in the summer, because that's about all I will agree to. That would be fine with me though!
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I bought a baby monitor. I had one with Chloe, but never did use it. Now I'm trying to figure out how I survived so long without one. These things are so great! Before, I used to watch AI in the basement, and during and after every performance I would pause it, and listen intently for the sound of a baby awake. Now, I have my handy dandy little receiver and I can hear her right away. So flippin' cool. Yes, I know, everyone has one. I'm a little late in the game. But I'm excited nonetheless. An added bonus is that if it's after bed time, I can hear Dolly Parton and her Butterfly song in the background no matter where I'm at in the house. ;o)
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I'm still trying to finish these Trekking socks. I think maybe I'll save them as a gift for someone, though I don't know anyone who would actually WANT this colorway. Socks are a two-week project for me now, which is awesome, because they used to take a month or longer.
===
Cora's ready for solids. I thought I'd delay solids till closer to a year, but she's pretty ready. She's had bananas a few times here and there, but nothing on a regular basis. I also give her a mesh feeder with apples or pears, and she likes to gnaw on carrot sticks. But I'm thinking it's time to try more stuff with her. I'm so not ready for solids yet. My baby is growing up so fast!
===
The in-laws have agreed to cat-sit for us. Bwahahaha they have no idea what a little shit head our cat is. :o) He's such a little terror... but so cute and friendly, you just have to forgive him. LOL Hopefully, he doesn't destroy their house while he's visiting.... or maybe I should hope he does, just for fun. :oX
Isabel will be going to the next door neighbors' house for the week we're in California. They are brave, brave people, but I'm sure she'll do fine. They have three large dogs themselves, so heck, what's one more? They have a doggie door - my dog has free access to their house when she's there. Are they crazy? haha Nah, they just love dogs. She'll be much happier there than in the kennel locked in a cage.
===
I desperately want my house clean before we leave, and it seems no matter how hard I try, it never looks better. Oh wait, that's what I say every time I blog about my house and cleaning it. Ah well, I'll just do my best. I love spring/summer/fall - I can just send Chloe outside and leave her out there all day, so my house isn't getting dirtier inside. The problem with the nice weather is that I want to be out there too, and sitting outside on a blanket makes it hard to get anything done inside. ;o)
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Happy Thursday to all!
Mark apparently forgot last night was his night with Chloe. He never called, never picked her up. I wonder if he'll pick her up today or not. He got a new job working at the shoe store in the mall and I'm not sure what his hours and days off will be yet. Yeah, the shoe store. Not to knock shoe salesmen at all - hey, everyone's gotta do something - but I can't imagine a mall job is really going to support a family very well. Ah well, it's not my concern anymore (thank goodness!)
His girlfriend keeps blogging about moving back to Singapore. I hope they really do, and I hope he doesn't have any intention of seeing Chloe more than once a year for two weeks in the summer, because that's about all I will agree to. That would be fine with me though!
===
I bought a baby monitor. I had one with Chloe, but never did use it. Now I'm trying to figure out how I survived so long without one. These things are so great! Before, I used to watch AI in the basement, and during and after every performance I would pause it, and listen intently for the sound of a baby awake. Now, I have my handy dandy little receiver and I can hear her right away. So flippin' cool. Yes, I know, everyone has one. I'm a little late in the game. But I'm excited nonetheless. An added bonus is that if it's after bed time, I can hear Dolly Parton and her Butterfly song in the background no matter where I'm at in the house. ;o)
===
I'm still trying to finish these Trekking socks. I think maybe I'll save them as a gift for someone, though I don't know anyone who would actually WANT this colorway. Socks are a two-week project for me now, which is awesome, because they used to take a month or longer.
===
Cora's ready for solids. I thought I'd delay solids till closer to a year, but she's pretty ready. She's had bananas a few times here and there, but nothing on a regular basis. I also give her a mesh feeder with apples or pears, and she likes to gnaw on carrot sticks. But I'm thinking it's time to try more stuff with her. I'm so not ready for solids yet. My baby is growing up so fast!
===
The in-laws have agreed to cat-sit for us. Bwahahaha they have no idea what a little shit head our cat is. :o) He's such a little terror... but so cute and friendly, you just have to forgive him. LOL Hopefully, he doesn't destroy their house while he's visiting.... or maybe I should hope he does, just for fun. :oX
Isabel will be going to the next door neighbors' house for the week we're in California. They are brave, brave people, but I'm sure she'll do fine. They have three large dogs themselves, so heck, what's one more? They have a doggie door - my dog has free access to their house when she's there. Are they crazy? haha Nah, they just love dogs. She'll be much happier there than in the kennel locked in a cage.
===
I desperately want my house clean before we leave, and it seems no matter how hard I try, it never looks better. Oh wait, that's what I say every time I blog about my house and cleaning it. Ah well, I'll just do my best. I love spring/summer/fall - I can just send Chloe outside and leave her out there all day, so my house isn't getting dirtier inside. The problem with the nice weather is that I want to be out there too, and sitting outside on a blanket makes it hard to get anything done inside. ;o)
===
Happy Thursday to all!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
AI thoughts
Wow... interesting night for songs. There are a lot of songs I wouldn't have picked for the contestants, but hey, it's not me picking the songs.
I'll be surprised if David Archuletta doesn't win this thing. He's damn good, and he's obviously insanely popular. Not sure if he's really the best, but he deserves to win as much as anyone. And he's so flippin' cute!
I really think David Cook is the best overall package. He's a wonderful singer, but along with that he's a great performer and he's really original and different. He better be in the top two. I loved him tonight - I have always loved the Michael Jackson version of that song (yes, he's a creep, but I do love some of his old music) and David rocked that.
Sayesha was really, really good. And I still don't love her. I am at least willing to admit she deserves to be in the competition, but i still don't want her to win.
Kristy Lee - holy crap, could she have picked a better song? Simon was right - very clever. It's practically sacrilegious NOT to vote for that song, if not the singer. She did a wonderful job, too, I thought -at least, as far as Kristy Lee performances go.
I was surprised the judges didn't like Carly's song. I really thought she did great. When they announced what song she was singing, my first thought was "That is THE perfect song for her." I don't love Carly, but I thought she did quite well. And seriously, her little kid pictures? Oh my goodness, she was flipping adorable. LOVED the hair.
Someone needs to put Ramiele out of her misery. She's just.... boring. :o\ Good enough a singer, I guess, but not spectacular, and really quite dull.
Jason Castro and Brooke have both disappointed me a bit. They've both been on my favorites list, but neither has greatly impressed me lately. I hope there's something useful in next week's song options for them. They both have a limited 'style' of music, I think, but when they hit those perfect songs, they are both awesome. I fear country week for Jason....
And Michael Johns. Yeah, he's was pretty damn good tonight too - loved how he mixed two songs, and he picked some great ones - you just can't go wrong with those songs that everyone knows, so long as you do them well. I always get surprised when he hits those really strong notes like he does - he doesn't appear to have that in him, so it's kind of pleasantly shocking.
Is there anyone I forgot? If so, I guess they were forgettable. :-X
I hope Ramiele goes home. I really do. Bottom three - Ramiele, Kristy, Sayesha. At least that's what I'm hoping for.
I'll be surprised if David Archuletta doesn't win this thing. He's damn good, and he's obviously insanely popular. Not sure if he's really the best, but he deserves to win as much as anyone. And he's so flippin' cute!
I really think David Cook is the best overall package. He's a wonderful singer, but along with that he's a great performer and he's really original and different. He better be in the top two. I loved him tonight - I have always loved the Michael Jackson version of that song (yes, he's a creep, but I do love some of his old music) and David rocked that.
Sayesha was really, really good. And I still don't love her. I am at least willing to admit she deserves to be in the competition, but i still don't want her to win.
Kristy Lee - holy crap, could she have picked a better song? Simon was right - very clever. It's practically sacrilegious NOT to vote for that song, if not the singer. She did a wonderful job, too, I thought -at least, as far as Kristy Lee performances go.
I was surprised the judges didn't like Carly's song. I really thought she did great. When they announced what song she was singing, my first thought was "That is THE perfect song for her." I don't love Carly, but I thought she did quite well. And seriously, her little kid pictures? Oh my goodness, she was flipping adorable. LOVED the hair.
Someone needs to put Ramiele out of her misery. She's just.... boring. :o\ Good enough a singer, I guess, but not spectacular, and really quite dull.
Jason Castro and Brooke have both disappointed me a bit. They've both been on my favorites list, but neither has greatly impressed me lately. I hope there's something useful in next week's song options for them. They both have a limited 'style' of music, I think, but when they hit those perfect songs, they are both awesome. I fear country week for Jason....
And Michael Johns. Yeah, he's was pretty damn good tonight too - loved how he mixed two songs, and he picked some great ones - you just can't go wrong with those songs that everyone knows, so long as you do them well. I always get surprised when he hits those really strong notes like he does - he doesn't appear to have that in him, so it's kind of pleasantly shocking.
Is there anyone I forgot? If so, I guess they were forgettable. :-X
I hope Ramiele goes home. I really do. Bottom three - Ramiele, Kristy, Sayesha. At least that's what I'm hoping for.
Pics
My van. Isn't she purty? :o) I'm still so in love.
A shot from the back, inside. Note Chloe's DVD player. It's on every time we leave the house. Spoiled much?
And the computer console. Doesn't look all that exciting, but it is!
A few pictures of the egg hunt on Easter Saturday.
And Miss Cora in her walker. She likes it - she can sort of move backward in it, or Chloe pushes her around resulting in lots of giggles and squeals. :o)
Speaking of Cora... I got up an hour early this morning. I'd like to train my body to get up at 5 instead of 6:30, so I can get more done around the house before the girls wake up, but still have my morning computer time. Cora has no concept of time, and only knew I had been out of bed for half an hour, so it must be time for her to get up too. :::sigh::: so she's sitting here next to me, keeping me company. So much for getting extra stuff done!
===
I borrowed a book from my parents on Sunday, one I found on their bookshelf. My father has tons of interesting books on random subjects, I love it. This one is called "Down Home Ways". It talks about ways to do nearly everything at home without paying someone else to do it. There's a whole section on fiber - wools, spinning, dying, quilting, rug braiding, etc. I now desperately want to try dying yarn with natural substances. In Ouray there's a hiking area where you can find tons of lichen and mushrooms. I want to go collect them, bring them home, and color my handspun with them. Maybe I'll take the girls for a trip once we get back Disneyland next week. We can go on a mushroom hunt. LOL There is also a section that teaches you how to make butter with your blender, cheese from scratch, lotions and soaps and shampoo, even how to make lye.
Am I strange because I find stuff like this so fascinating? I just love the thought of doing some of the things homesteaders did a hundred years ago, learning what life must've been like for them. There was a certain art to homemaking back then, and it thrills me to learn about it. I see a lot of this stuff finding it's way into homeschooling lessons. What better way to learn history than to actually do it?
===
Well, I guess I better get off the computer and get my stuff done early as planned. Now I'll just have to sing and dance for Cora while I do it. :oP
A shot from the back, inside. Note Chloe's DVD player. It's on every time we leave the house. Spoiled much?
And the computer console. Doesn't look all that exciting, but it is!
A few pictures of the egg hunt on Easter Saturday.
And Miss Cora in her walker. She likes it - she can sort of move backward in it, or Chloe pushes her around resulting in lots of giggles and squeals. :o)
Speaking of Cora... I got up an hour early this morning. I'd like to train my body to get up at 5 instead of 6:30, so I can get more done around the house before the girls wake up, but still have my morning computer time. Cora has no concept of time, and only knew I had been out of bed for half an hour, so it must be time for her to get up too. :::sigh::: so she's sitting here next to me, keeping me company. So much for getting extra stuff done!
===
I borrowed a book from my parents on Sunday, one I found on their bookshelf. My father has tons of interesting books on random subjects, I love it. This one is called "Down Home Ways". It talks about ways to do nearly everything at home without paying someone else to do it. There's a whole section on fiber - wools, spinning, dying, quilting, rug braiding, etc. I now desperately want to try dying yarn with natural substances. In Ouray there's a hiking area where you can find tons of lichen and mushrooms. I want to go collect them, bring them home, and color my handspun with them. Maybe I'll take the girls for a trip once we get back Disneyland next week. We can go on a mushroom hunt. LOL There is also a section that teaches you how to make butter with your blender, cheese from scratch, lotions and soaps and shampoo, even how to make lye.
Am I strange because I find stuff like this so fascinating? I just love the thought of doing some of the things homesteaders did a hundred years ago, learning what life must've been like for them. There was a certain art to homemaking back then, and it thrills me to learn about it. I see a lot of this stuff finding it's way into homeschooling lessons. What better way to learn history than to actually do it?
===
Well, I guess I better get off the computer and get my stuff done early as planned. Now I'll just have to sing and dance for Cora while I do it. :oP
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Quick FO pic
I suck. I didn't take pics of my van yesterday. :o( I'll do it today, I swear. I'm just a slacker. I didn't get to go many places yesterday, but I did find an excuse to go to Wal Mart just so I could drive it. :oD I'm 150 pages into the owner's manual. I am a firm believer in NOT reading directions, but this thing is way to complicated for me to figure out without them!
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So instead of van pics, I'm posting scarf pics. Not as good, but hey, scarves are cool too, right? :oP
Pattern: Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery from Knitty.com
Needles: size 8
Yarn: Gedifra Cashmerino (merino wool/nylon/cashmere) in red-orange - 1 ball, 50g
Notes: I casted on 17 stitches and just did one repeat. This yarn is the softest yarn I've ever felt. It drapes so beautifully. I want enough to make a sweater out of it! It's some of the yard sale yarn. I like the way the worsted weight yarn and bigger needles made this lace look, and I love lace that's wavy on the edges. :-) The scarf I made is about 62" long before blocking.
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I'm waiting for the sun to come up so I can go hide Easter eggs. Since Mark has Chloe tomorrow, we're having Easter today. It's not raining or snowing - that NEVER happens on Easter! I'm excited. More pics to come tomorrow, I'm sure.
===
So instead of van pics, I'm posting scarf pics. Not as good, but hey, scarves are cool too, right? :oP
Pattern: Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery from Knitty.com
Needles: size 8
Yarn: Gedifra Cashmerino (merino wool/nylon/cashmere) in red-orange - 1 ball, 50g
Notes: I casted on 17 stitches and just did one repeat. This yarn is the softest yarn I've ever felt. It drapes so beautifully. I want enough to make a sweater out of it! It's some of the yard sale yarn. I like the way the worsted weight yarn and bigger needles made this lace look, and I love lace that's wavy on the edges. :-) The scarf I made is about 62" long before blocking.
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I'm waiting for the sun to come up so I can go hide Easter eggs. Since Mark has Chloe tomorrow, we're having Easter today. It's not raining or snowing - that NEVER happens on Easter! I'm excited. More pics to come tomorrow, I'm sure.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Swimsuits for chubby girls
Alright, so I'm not really "chubby" per se, but I'm not skinny enough any more to wear a bikini. It's just not going to happen. Not only that, but I have the most disgusting blob of SKIN hanging off my midsection now after getting so gigantically pregnant with Cora. My stomach looks like an old woman's, all saggy and gross. You can feel the muscle under there, I faithfully do crunches and stuff, but that skin doesn't appear to be going anywhere.
So yeah, no bikinis for me, ever again. Which sucks, because there are SO many cute bikinis. But I could get over that. Except for one problem - apparently no one who wears juniors sizes wants to wear a one piece bathing suit. I found two at Target yesterday to try on - a medium was way too big - it was all baggy through the midsection (kind of like my stomach, ew) and the small was too tight around the legs and made me look like I had marshmallow baby legs. The ladies' section is still an option if I can find a bathing suit small enough, but then I'm looking at swimsuits with skirts attached and bodies that cover every inch of me - I dont' mind something a little sexy, just something that covers the belly. I'm so irritated!
I guess I'll just have to sit on the beach naked.
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Dani is pregnant. Oooooooh I'm so jealous. I'm happy for her, but I'm jealous. I want more babies! and I want them NOW! Gotta fill up this new mini-van, ya know.
===
So today, I drive my fancy-pants new van over to my mother's house to show it off. I'm looking forward to it. Other than that, I have no excuse to leave the house, which means I'll need to be cleaning. :::sigh::: I just wanna drive. We do need to load stuff into the van though, things we usually have with us in the car. it'll be fun with all that cool storage to find places for everything. :o)
On today's list: change the cat litter, finish going through spring/summer clothes downstairs, buy disney tickets and maybe make Vegas reservations, and do a good run-through on my bedroom with a dust rag and vacuum.
Off I go!
So yeah, no bikinis for me, ever again. Which sucks, because there are SO many cute bikinis. But I could get over that. Except for one problem - apparently no one who wears juniors sizes wants to wear a one piece bathing suit. I found two at Target yesterday to try on - a medium was way too big - it was all baggy through the midsection (kind of like my stomach, ew) and the small was too tight around the legs and made me look like I had marshmallow baby legs. The ladies' section is still an option if I can find a bathing suit small enough, but then I'm looking at swimsuits with skirts attached and bodies that cover every inch of me - I dont' mind something a little sexy, just something that covers the belly. I'm so irritated!
I guess I'll just have to sit on the beach naked.
===
Dani is pregnant. Oooooooh I'm so jealous. I'm happy for her, but I'm jealous. I want more babies! and I want them NOW! Gotta fill up this new mini-van, ya know.
===
So today, I drive my fancy-pants new van over to my mother's house to show it off. I'm looking forward to it. Other than that, I have no excuse to leave the house, which means I'll need to be cleaning. :::sigh::: I just wanna drive. We do need to load stuff into the van though, things we usually have with us in the car. it'll be fun with all that cool storage to find places for everything. :o)
On today's list: change the cat litter, finish going through spring/summer clothes downstairs, buy disney tickets and maybe make Vegas reservations, and do a good run-through on my bedroom with a dust rag and vacuum.
Off I go!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Holy Flippin' Spoiled.
Ohmigosh Ohmigosh Ohmigosh. I got my mini van. It is AWESOME. I've never driven anything so nice. I've never even imagined owning anything so nice.
Chrysler Town & Country, inferno red, gray leather interior - brand spankin' new. It's totally loaded - I don't think there's anything it doesn't have. Remote start, heated seats, climate control, two DVD players, 3 screens and wireless headsets, touch screen console with satellite radio, MP3 player, CD player, the ability to upload 20 gigs of music and/or pictures, GPS navigational system, stow & go seats, automatic flippin' EVERYTHING. It's going to take months just to figure out how to work it all.
I really can't believe it's ours. The nicest vehicle I've ever had was $5000 when I bought it. This is a FAR cry from that. My husband is so incredible. He works so hard so that we can have things like this, and I appreciate it so, so much. I'm so completely thankful that he is mine (for a lot more reasons than just him buying me a mini van!)
I really can't believe it! Ooooh I'm so dang excited. :o)
I'll take pictures just as soon as it's light enough outside to take them!
Chrysler Town & Country, inferno red, gray leather interior - brand spankin' new. It's totally loaded - I don't think there's anything it doesn't have. Remote start, heated seats, climate control, two DVD players, 3 screens and wireless headsets, touch screen console with satellite radio, MP3 player, CD player, the ability to upload 20 gigs of music and/or pictures, GPS navigational system, stow & go seats, automatic flippin' EVERYTHING. It's going to take months just to figure out how to work it all.
I really can't believe it's ours. The nicest vehicle I've ever had was $5000 when I bought it. This is a FAR cry from that. My husband is so incredible. He works so hard so that we can have things like this, and I appreciate it so, so much. I'm so completely thankful that he is mine (for a lot more reasons than just him buying me a mini van!)
I really can't believe it! Ooooh I'm so dang excited. :o)
I'll take pictures just as soon as it's light enough outside to take them!
Crazy?
Reading my last two posts back to myself, I realized I sound bi-polar, or at least indecisive. One is complaining about my kid, the next is saying how much I love her. Crazy? Or just very typical for the parent of a five year old? Probably the latter. I love her dearly, I just hate some of the five year old struggles we're starting to face.
Yesterday actually was a much better day. Getting through to her takes a lot of energy, and lots of consistency, but it does happen every so often. That kid thrives on schedules and rituals just like I do - as long as we make things a habit and happen every day, she doesn't complain so much. She cleaned her room better than I've ever seen yesterday, all without complaint. It helps when I'm not frustrated from the get-go too. Hopefully today will be as good. Her dad's out of town so I don't have to give her up, but that also means no break which I sometimes sort of look forward to.
===
My husband still isn't home. It's nearly 6 am. His work schedule lately has been horrid. They got behind one day, and just keep getting further and further behind. I can't get ahold of him because he has no service where he's working, so I don't know what's going on. And actually, I'd lost my phone up until this morning, when I had Dani call me as I ran through the house listening for it vibrating. It was in the basket of Chloe's doll stroller. I betcha she'll say Milo put it there. :-P
Speaking of Milo - I'm about ready to strangle that little shit head. He's been into EVERYTHING lately! He's knocked two plants off a shelf trying to get to some corks in a jar up there. He keeps stealing the Easter decorations, he steals the baby's ball from her, he took off with the whole sock I was knitting the other night and dragged it upstairs. If it had unraveled I would have hung him by his tail from the ceiling fan, I tell you. He's so cute... sometimes. But he's been creating a lot more work for me lately, which I certainly don't need.
===
So today, my plan is to take the car to the good carwash around 9 am, dragging both girls along. That should be pleasant. Or not. I need to get it detailed so I can get it sold. I'd also like to mop the floors, and I need to finish putting all the winter stuff away and hanging and folding the spring clothes I finished washing yesterday. Other than that, I'm gonna sit on my butt and enjoy my kids again - seems to be good for my sanity to do that!
Yesterday actually was a much better day. Getting through to her takes a lot of energy, and lots of consistency, but it does happen every so often. That kid thrives on schedules and rituals just like I do - as long as we make things a habit and happen every day, she doesn't complain so much. She cleaned her room better than I've ever seen yesterday, all without complaint. It helps when I'm not frustrated from the get-go too. Hopefully today will be as good. Her dad's out of town so I don't have to give her up, but that also means no break which I sometimes sort of look forward to.
===
My husband still isn't home. It's nearly 6 am. His work schedule lately has been horrid. They got behind one day, and just keep getting further and further behind. I can't get ahold of him because he has no service where he's working, so I don't know what's going on. And actually, I'd lost my phone up until this morning, when I had Dani call me as I ran through the house listening for it vibrating. It was in the basket of Chloe's doll stroller. I betcha she'll say Milo put it there. :-P
Speaking of Milo - I'm about ready to strangle that little shit head. He's been into EVERYTHING lately! He's knocked two plants off a shelf trying to get to some corks in a jar up there. He keeps stealing the Easter decorations, he steals the baby's ball from her, he took off with the whole sock I was knitting the other night and dragged it upstairs. If it had unraveled I would have hung him by his tail from the ceiling fan, I tell you. He's so cute... sometimes. But he's been creating a lot more work for me lately, which I certainly don't need.
===
So today, my plan is to take the car to the good carwash around 9 am, dragging both girls along. That should be pleasant. Or not. I need to get it detailed so I can get it sold. I'd also like to mop the floors, and I need to finish putting all the winter stuff away and hanging and folding the spring clothes I finished washing yesterday. Other than that, I'm gonna sit on my butt and enjoy my kids again - seems to be good for my sanity to do that!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
:o) AI notes & such
Watching American Idol with a five year old is even more entertaining than just watching the show itself.
We're getting all settled in on the futon downstairs just as Ryan Seacrest is starting his opening schpiel. You know his famous phrase, right? Well, completely in sync with Ryan, my daughter lowers her voice and announces "THIS... is American Idol." Oh my goodness, I about died laughing. If only the video camera had been on for that.
So we get over that fit of giggles and start watching. They get to the part where they show some of the mentors for the coming weeks. Chloe all but shrieks with excitement. "MOM!!!!!!!!" Her eyes were HUGE with the thrill of the announcement. "Dolly Parton is going to be on American Idol!! Do you think she'll sing the Butterfly song? I want her to sing the Butterfly song. The Butterfly song is the most beautifullest song in the whole wide world."
Let me make a quick side note here - my daughter adores Dolly Parton. Have you heard that song? Love is Like a Butterfly, I think it's called. It really is a very cute song. Until you have listened to it on repeat four nights in a row. Then, it begins to lose its charm. Nonetheless as I write this, I am listening to the Butterfly song for the fifth time tonight so far.
So we watch some more. I ask her who her favorites are. She replies "The tattoo girl and the brown boy." "Actually honey, we call them 'black'." "But Mom, his skin is brown, not black." Point taken. "Okay, well technically we should call him an African American." "But Mom, he's not from Africa. This is American Idol." :::sigh::: I digress.
"I really like the brown boy. Does the brown boy have to go with the brown girl since they are both brown?" (I pause the show for the third or fourth time... in the first ten minutes.) What follows is a quick explanation of different races, the fact that anyone can be friends with anyone regardless of what they look like, etc. See? American Idol IS educational!
Lots of dancing around, imitating Kelly Pickler happened next. My kid better not ever sway her hips that much in public or I'll be locking her in the basement indefinitely.
:::Gasp::: Horror of horrors. Tattoo girl (Carly) is in the bottom three. I ask who else she'd like to see there. "I don't really care, but I don't like the scary girl. She should be out." Holy crap! My kid called it! I don't agree with her, but apparently America does. I ought to ask her opinions more often.
:o) Having kids flippin' rocks.
We're getting all settled in on the futon downstairs just as Ryan Seacrest is starting his opening schpiel. You know his famous phrase, right? Well, completely in sync with Ryan, my daughter lowers her voice and announces "THIS... is American Idol." Oh my goodness, I about died laughing. If only the video camera had been on for that.
So we get over that fit of giggles and start watching. They get to the part where they show some of the mentors for the coming weeks. Chloe all but shrieks with excitement. "MOM!!!!!!!!" Her eyes were HUGE with the thrill of the announcement. "Dolly Parton is going to be on American Idol!! Do you think she'll sing the Butterfly song? I want her to sing the Butterfly song. The Butterfly song is the most beautifullest song in the whole wide world."
Let me make a quick side note here - my daughter adores Dolly Parton. Have you heard that song? Love is Like a Butterfly, I think it's called. It really is a very cute song. Until you have listened to it on repeat four nights in a row. Then, it begins to lose its charm. Nonetheless as I write this, I am listening to the Butterfly song for the fifth time tonight so far.
So we watch some more. I ask her who her favorites are. She replies "The tattoo girl and the brown boy." "Actually honey, we call them 'black'." "But Mom, his skin is brown, not black." Point taken. "Okay, well technically we should call him an African American." "But Mom, he's not from Africa. This is American Idol." :::sigh::: I digress.
"I really like the brown boy. Does the brown boy have to go with the brown girl since they are both brown?" (I pause the show for the third or fourth time... in the first ten minutes.) What follows is a quick explanation of different races, the fact that anyone can be friends with anyone regardless of what they look like, etc. See? American Idol IS educational!
Lots of dancing around, imitating Kelly Pickler happened next. My kid better not ever sway her hips that much in public or I'll be locking her in the basement indefinitely.
:::Gasp::: Horror of horrors. Tattoo girl (Carly) is in the bottom three. I ask who else she'd like to see there. "I don't really care, but I don't like the scary girl. She should be out." Holy crap! My kid called it! I don't agree with her, but apparently America does. I ought to ask her opinions more often.
:o) Having kids flippin' rocks.
It has to get better, right?
Ugh, man. I've had a rough couple of days. Nothing too specific, just lots of little things that all add up - you know how it is.
So, will someone with some experience please tell me that whining, talking back, snotty attitudes and selective hearing are symptoms of MOST five year olds, not just mine? Argh. This kid, I tell you. I tell her something - "don't play in the garden" for instance, or "please go put your shoes away" - and she just keeps on doing what she's doing, acting as if she never even heard me. Sadly, I don't think she *does hear me. Last night she was in the bath, I told her "As soon as you get out, I need you to pick up your Pet Shop toys." She looked at me with that blank stare, and I asked her what I had just said. She couldn't repeat it. I just don't know what to do with her sometimes! Add to that the "I don't waaaaant to" and "Hmphh. You're not nice to me" and I'm about ready to lock her in the basement for a year! We're gonna start trying a few new things around here, because I'm really, really sick of the attitude. I see a lot of time outs in her future.
So I tried to grocery shop yesterday. I failed miserably. Let me preface this by saying that, in general, I LOVE to grocery shop. I mean, I really, really love it. And I love taking my girls. Chloe has always been a dream at the grocery store - she is well behaved, asks good questions that prompt intelligent discussion (lots of learning about the underpaid children in China happens in Wal Mart LOL) and she entertains her sister beautifully when I need her to. I love it.
But not yesterday. For whatever reason, Chloe was in a mood - dancing around, walking with her head way back looking at the ceiling, practically mowing over a lady with a walker, whining about "I want this" and "I want that". And then, I forgot my sling. I am practically worthless without a sling. I tried putting Cora in the front seat of the cart like normal parents do, but that lasted about long enough for me to get through the produce section. Chloe had a pear that she brought with her, so I bit a huge chunk off of it and gave it to Cora to chew on, which made her happy for a few more minutes, but people kept looking at me like I was a psycho for letting my baby chew on a pear. What the heck would they rather I feed her? Oh, right - processed baby food and sugary teething biscuits. Argh.
so anyhow, I trucked it through the store and picked up just enough to get me through dinner last night, and then we ended our shopping trip abruptly. I'll be going again here in a few hours to get everything else. I sure hope it goes better.
===
I have so much to do to get ready to leave for Disney! My list of things to do today: make hotel reservations, print out maps, clean my car so it can be sold, get a kbb value on it, and clean out the fridge. We'll see how much I get done.
===
One last quick vent: I am going to have to put my baby in disposable diapers for our trip to California. Ugh! I'm so horrified and saddened by the thought. I don't see anything wrong with packing along all of my diapers and washing one day while we're there, but my mother said she's not riding in a van for 12 hours with a pail full of dirty diapers in the back. I know that it makes more sense as far as convenience is concerned. But I don't like the idea of disposables. I want to always be able to say "My baby has never had a disposable diaper on her butt." I think cloth diapering is part of my mediocrity complex - I need to feel like I'm different from everyone else. Blech. anyhow, I'm truly torn over this issue, and am half tempted just to order an extra couple of dozen diapers and keep her in cloth the whole time. :-\
So, will someone with some experience please tell me that whining, talking back, snotty attitudes and selective hearing are symptoms of MOST five year olds, not just mine? Argh. This kid, I tell you. I tell her something - "don't play in the garden" for instance, or "please go put your shoes away" - and she just keeps on doing what she's doing, acting as if she never even heard me. Sadly, I don't think she *does hear me. Last night she was in the bath, I told her "As soon as you get out, I need you to pick up your Pet Shop toys." She looked at me with that blank stare, and I asked her what I had just said. She couldn't repeat it. I just don't know what to do with her sometimes! Add to that the "I don't waaaaant to" and "Hmphh. You're not nice to me" and I'm about ready to lock her in the basement for a year! We're gonna start trying a few new things around here, because I'm really, really sick of the attitude. I see a lot of time outs in her future.
So I tried to grocery shop yesterday. I failed miserably. Let me preface this by saying that, in general, I LOVE to grocery shop. I mean, I really, really love it. And I love taking my girls. Chloe has always been a dream at the grocery store - she is well behaved, asks good questions that prompt intelligent discussion (lots of learning about the underpaid children in China happens in Wal Mart LOL) and she entertains her sister beautifully when I need her to. I love it.
But not yesterday. For whatever reason, Chloe was in a mood - dancing around, walking with her head way back looking at the ceiling, practically mowing over a lady with a walker, whining about "I want this" and "I want that". And then, I forgot my sling. I am practically worthless without a sling. I tried putting Cora in the front seat of the cart like normal parents do, but that lasted about long enough for me to get through the produce section. Chloe had a pear that she brought with her, so I bit a huge chunk off of it and gave it to Cora to chew on, which made her happy for a few more minutes, but people kept looking at me like I was a psycho for letting my baby chew on a pear. What the heck would they rather I feed her? Oh, right - processed baby food and sugary teething biscuits. Argh.
so anyhow, I trucked it through the store and picked up just enough to get me through dinner last night, and then we ended our shopping trip abruptly. I'll be going again here in a few hours to get everything else. I sure hope it goes better.
===
I have so much to do to get ready to leave for Disney! My list of things to do today: make hotel reservations, print out maps, clean my car so it can be sold, get a kbb value on it, and clean out the fridge. We'll see how much I get done.
===
One last quick vent: I am going to have to put my baby in disposable diapers for our trip to California. Ugh! I'm so horrified and saddened by the thought. I don't see anything wrong with packing along all of my diapers and washing one day while we're there, but my mother said she's not riding in a van for 12 hours with a pail full of dirty diapers in the back. I know that it makes more sense as far as convenience is concerned. But I don't like the idea of disposables. I want to always be able to say "My baby has never had a disposable diaper on her butt." I think cloth diapering is part of my mediocrity complex - I need to feel like I'm different from everyone else. Blech. anyhow, I'm truly torn over this issue, and am half tempted just to order an extra couple of dozen diapers and keep her in cloth the whole time. :-\
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Quick AI Thoughts
Ya know what I think? I think that we all already have our favorites, and that unless something drastic happens and one of the great ones really starts sucking over the next 10 weeks, not much is going to change. Everyone has already formed opinions as to who they love and who they don't love so much. They might be different opinions, but that doesn't really matter. But people don't vote based on just tonight's performance - they vote based on who they've come to like over the past several weeks.
David A. completely blew it last week - he forgot his flippin' lyrics for Christ sake. And I still adore him just as much as before, regardless. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, even though Sayesha's version of Yesterday was incredible and done to near perfection, I don't like her any more than I did last week and would be no more likely to vote for her, assuming I actually did vote.
And for the record, I was utterly disappointed with the fact that she did Yesterday. It is my absolute favorite Beatles song. I was hoping for David A., or at the very least Jason, David Cook or Brooke. Those are still my top four, and I don't see it changing any time soon.
I'll be glad when we're done with the Beatles. I dig the Beatles as much as the next girl, but seriously, how many people can really sing those songs and do a very good job? They were written for the guys that wrote them to sing, and it's pretty obvious in many of them.
My vote for the bottom three tomorrow: Ramiele, Kristy Lee, and Sayesha. I'd love to see Ramiele or Sayesha go home just cuz I can't help but like a country girl, but none of those three are really the same caliber as the others, in my humble opinion.
Would love to hear what the rest of y'all think!
David A. completely blew it last week - he forgot his flippin' lyrics for Christ sake. And I still adore him just as much as before, regardless. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, even though Sayesha's version of Yesterday was incredible and done to near perfection, I don't like her any more than I did last week and would be no more likely to vote for her, assuming I actually did vote.
And for the record, I was utterly disappointed with the fact that she did Yesterday. It is my absolute favorite Beatles song. I was hoping for David A., or at the very least Jason, David Cook or Brooke. Those are still my top four, and I don't see it changing any time soon.
I'll be glad when we're done with the Beatles. I dig the Beatles as much as the next girl, but seriously, how many people can really sing those songs and do a very good job? They were written for the guys that wrote them to sing, and it's pretty obvious in many of them.
My vote for the bottom three tomorrow: Ramiele, Kristy Lee, and Sayesha. I'd love to see Ramiele or Sayesha go home just cuz I can't help but like a country girl, but none of those three are really the same caliber as the others, in my humble opinion.
Would love to hear what the rest of y'all think!
Non Fiction
Chloe is currently taken with the concept of non-fiction. We read a book from the library about a black cowboy, and in the beginning it tells you "This book is based on actual events." She is thrilled with that idea, and now asks about every book. It's nice to have this way to put into words whether something is true or false, so she isn't afraid of those crazy witch and evil step mother books so much (afterall, those are fiction.) :o)
So yesterday she sits down, pen and paper in hand, and tells me "I'm going to write you a non-fiction letter, Mom." She comes to me a bit later with her letter: "Der Mom. U R A Mom. U R Mie Mom." Awww, how sweet is that? And everything she wrote was certainly true, so it qualifies as non-fiction, no?
Last night we popped popcorn and sat down to watch Newsies on Video On Demand. Did you know that Newsies is based on actual events? Ohhhhh that made her so happy. Who would've thought? hehe
===
On the subject of non-fiction, I have now finished Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac. If you are a knitter, you need to read this book. If you are not so much a knitter, it's still worth the read, though probably wouldn't be quite so fascinating and wouldn't give you shivers down your spine as often as it did for me. Truly, EZ is a genius when it comes to knitting - so many things I never thought about, but thankfully she did. I will without doubt read this book over and over again. And the little stories here and throughout about what her life really was like - imagine sitting down with an incredible, kind, intelligent old woman, having some tea, knitting up a sock, and having a little chat. That's what this book is like. She gives you suggestions on parenting, she tells you important things about a long-lasting marriage. She tells you little stories about camping and fishing and being snowed-in (her Heart's Desire as she calls it, and it finally happened.) Honestly, this book is solid gold. I want to read everything EZ has ever written now, in hopes that it will all be so wonderful.
In reading about this year in her life, I realize I probably shouldn't feel guilty for all the knitting I do. I mean really, I knit obsessively. I hardly put my knitting down except to do things like laundry and dishes. Anything else, I can usually do with knitting in hand - I can even hold a sleeping baby, or practice reading and writing, with needles clacking. Thanks to Elizabeth Zimmerman, I don't feel guilty about that anymore.
So yeah, everyone go out now, and buy that book, and love it, and read it through and through. It's worth it.
So yesterday she sits down, pen and paper in hand, and tells me "I'm going to write you a non-fiction letter, Mom." She comes to me a bit later with her letter: "Der Mom. U R A Mom. U R Mie Mom." Awww, how sweet is that? And everything she wrote was certainly true, so it qualifies as non-fiction, no?
Last night we popped popcorn and sat down to watch Newsies on Video On Demand. Did you know that Newsies is based on actual events? Ohhhhh that made her so happy. Who would've thought? hehe
===
On the subject of non-fiction, I have now finished Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac. If you are a knitter, you need to read this book. If you are not so much a knitter, it's still worth the read, though probably wouldn't be quite so fascinating and wouldn't give you shivers down your spine as often as it did for me. Truly, EZ is a genius when it comes to knitting - so many things I never thought about, but thankfully she did. I will without doubt read this book over and over again. And the little stories here and throughout about what her life really was like - imagine sitting down with an incredible, kind, intelligent old woman, having some tea, knitting up a sock, and having a little chat. That's what this book is like. She gives you suggestions on parenting, she tells you important things about a long-lasting marriage. She tells you little stories about camping and fishing and being snowed-in (her Heart's Desire as she calls it, and it finally happened.) Honestly, this book is solid gold. I want to read everything EZ has ever written now, in hopes that it will all be so wonderful.
In reading about this year in her life, I realize I probably shouldn't feel guilty for all the knitting I do. I mean really, I knit obsessively. I hardly put my knitting down except to do things like laundry and dishes. Anything else, I can usually do with knitting in hand - I can even hold a sleeping baby, or practice reading and writing, with needles clacking. Thanks to Elizabeth Zimmerman, I don't feel guilty about that anymore.
So yeah, everyone go out now, and buy that book, and love it, and read it through and through. It's worth it.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Ahh Monday
So much to do today! Andrew's back to work, so it's time to get caught up. And in addition to the usual stuff, I need to make a grocery list, and plan our trip to Disneyland in two weeks! Yay! I'm so excited to be taking Andrew with us this time - last year when we went with my mom, he had to work.
We're taking my mom with us - partly to act as a 'baby sitter' and hold Cora on the rides she can't go on, and partly because everything is just more fun with my mom. That poses a problem though - all we have is a pick up truck, and that would make for one crowded ride to California. So we solved the problem by deciding to buy one of these to make the trip more comfortable. My friend Deb uses the phrase "spoiled rotten housewife" to describe herself. I think that sounds quite fitting for me as well. Oh my goodness, that van is the coolest thing - all the bells & whistles, DVD players, mp3 player, GPS, rear camera, heated seats, remote start... holy crap. I've never driven anything nearly so cool. In the beginning, I was struggling with driving a mini van. I am NOT a soccer mom. But I tell ya, you put that many cool things inside ANY vehicle, and I'll happily drive it. :-) We went and looked at one at the Dodge lot on Saturday, they wanted $28k for a demo model, but still a pretty much new '08. After that, we talked to my daddy, and he can get an '08 for us for $10k less. If all goes well, we'll have it by the end of the week or early next week. We'll be driving to Disney in style, that's for sure!
===
So ya know all that yarn I bought? It's posing a serious problem. I have so much yarn, I don't know what to make. I see at least 8 projects I could cast on for right now, but I'm having such a hard time deciding which ones I really want to make RIGHT NOW, and which ones can wait. LOL I think I casted on and ripped out 6 or 7 projects on Friday alone. I finally settled on the Ribbon Lace Scarf made out of a red-orange cashmerino, and a pair of simple socks made with the Trekking for when I can't really concentrate on the scarf.
I truly can't wait until these are finished so I can start on a couple other new projects! :-P What do y'all think of that Trekking? I was so excited to have found a ball of Trekking, and I'm glad I've gotten to play with it, but I think it's kind of ugly. Certainly not a colorway I would have picked for myself. But hey, for $1 a ball, who am I to complain?
===
I think Chloe is done learning about worms (thank goodness!) She's not been terribly interested in them the last couple of days. I think we'll set them free in the garden today to do their work, and pick something else to start studying. A week seems to be about long enough for any one subject for her.
She's got this thing lately where, when she's mad at me because I tell her no, or tell her to clean up, or whatever else, that she says "I don't want a mom." I sat her down the other day and told her to really think about that - no one to play with her, no one to teach her to read and bake cookies and make her dinner and yadda yadda. I made it sound miserable. "What if I really did just go away and you didn't have a mom anymore?" I asked her. She got really said, cried even, and I thought maybe she'd stop saying it. But she said it again last night. I'm not sure how to get her to stop. I've seriously considered not doing ANYTHING for her today - she can get her own food (she can reach the fruit and veggie drawers, she wouldn't starve), baking cookies and not letting her help, not helping her get her shoes on, all the things during the day I usually do for her, I want to just NOT do them. I want her to really see how that would be. On the other hand, I know she doesn't actually mean it, and that seems a little excessive. But I want her to know how much it hurts my feelings when she says that.
At least though, instead of saying she wants her dad, she says she wants her step dad. :o) I'm okay with that!
Alright, off to do some lesson planning and make a grocery list. Here's to hoping everyone has a great week!
We're taking my mom with us - partly to act as a 'baby sitter' and hold Cora on the rides she can't go on, and partly because everything is just more fun with my mom. That poses a problem though - all we have is a pick up truck, and that would make for one crowded ride to California. So we solved the problem by deciding to buy one of these to make the trip more comfortable. My friend Deb uses the phrase "spoiled rotten housewife" to describe herself. I think that sounds quite fitting for me as well. Oh my goodness, that van is the coolest thing - all the bells & whistles, DVD players, mp3 player, GPS, rear camera, heated seats, remote start... holy crap. I've never driven anything nearly so cool. In the beginning, I was struggling with driving a mini van. I am NOT a soccer mom. But I tell ya, you put that many cool things inside ANY vehicle, and I'll happily drive it. :-) We went and looked at one at the Dodge lot on Saturday, they wanted $28k for a demo model, but still a pretty much new '08. After that, we talked to my daddy, and he can get an '08 for us for $10k less. If all goes well, we'll have it by the end of the week or early next week. We'll be driving to Disney in style, that's for sure!
===
So ya know all that yarn I bought? It's posing a serious problem. I have so much yarn, I don't know what to make. I see at least 8 projects I could cast on for right now, but I'm having such a hard time deciding which ones I really want to make RIGHT NOW, and which ones can wait. LOL I think I casted on and ripped out 6 or 7 projects on Friday alone. I finally settled on the Ribbon Lace Scarf made out of a red-orange cashmerino, and a pair of simple socks made with the Trekking for when I can't really concentrate on the scarf.
I truly can't wait until these are finished so I can start on a couple other new projects! :-P What do y'all think of that Trekking? I was so excited to have found a ball of Trekking, and I'm glad I've gotten to play with it, but I think it's kind of ugly. Certainly not a colorway I would have picked for myself. But hey, for $1 a ball, who am I to complain?
===
I think Chloe is done learning about worms (thank goodness!) She's not been terribly interested in them the last couple of days. I think we'll set them free in the garden today to do their work, and pick something else to start studying. A week seems to be about long enough for any one subject for her.
She's got this thing lately where, when she's mad at me because I tell her no, or tell her to clean up, or whatever else, that she says "I don't want a mom." I sat her down the other day and told her to really think about that - no one to play with her, no one to teach her to read and bake cookies and make her dinner and yadda yadda. I made it sound miserable. "What if I really did just go away and you didn't have a mom anymore?" I asked her. She got really said, cried even, and I thought maybe she'd stop saying it. But she said it again last night. I'm not sure how to get her to stop. I've seriously considered not doing ANYTHING for her today - she can get her own food (she can reach the fruit and veggie drawers, she wouldn't starve), baking cookies and not letting her help, not helping her get her shoes on, all the things during the day I usually do for her, I want to just NOT do them. I want her to really see how that would be. On the other hand, I know she doesn't actually mean it, and that seems a little excessive. But I want her to know how much it hurts my feelings when she says that.
At least though, instead of saying she wants her dad, she says she wants her step dad. :o) I'm okay with that!
Alright, off to do some lesson planning and make a grocery list. Here's to hoping everyone has a great week!
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Mother Lode
I went to a yard sale yesterday. I haven't been yard saling in such a long time, but my mom called and told me about one she read in the paper. My mother is a really, really great woman.
Here's a picture of what I bought:
Can you tell what that is from the picture? That is 43 balls, skeins, hanks of yarn and spinning fibers. Holy Crap. What am I gonna do with all this yarn?! Cottons, silks, cashmerino, soy silk chenille, sock yarn, and oodles and oodles of wool! The bag is 16 oz. of hemp top for spinning, plus there are three balls of blues and greens in a merino wool. Included among the balls - a ball of Trekking XXL (something I have been dying to own now for awhile), a skein of Euroflax Originals (a hat, maybe?), lots of Dalegarn by Dale of Norway in different shades of blue - I see something stripey in my future. Ohhhh my goodness. This is so cool. I paid $1 a ball for most of these, .50 for the cottons.
But the yarn isn't even the best part! I got books! I am now the proud owner of Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac - the coveted, the IMPOSSIBLE to get from the library, the very incredible little bit of gold that is that book. I also got Alice Starmore's Celtic Collection, a reference book of different knitted designs and patterns, a Debbie Bliss pattern book, and "Knitting Lace" - paid $1 each for the books. I've almost read through EZ's book already - it truly is bit of solid gold. I am so thrilled to own it. It was funny, I was reading and knitting in the truck when we went for a drive to look for turkeys yesterday, and Andrew commented on it - pointing out that it was rather interesting. I have knitted and read at the same time for a long time now - I find it utterly relaxing. Anyhow, there comes a point in EZ's book when she talks about how she knits and reads at the same time too. I thought it was funny. :o)
So yeah. Yesterday flippin' rocked. We also went on a drive, as I said, looking for wild turkeys. Andrew really wanted to go scout for turkey season, but wanted to do something with the family too, so that's what we did, and called it a drive. It afforded enough time to finish an entire diaper cover for the baby, though I'm going to rip the ruffles around the legs because I don't love them, and I'll put on a ribbing instead. Anyhow, here's a pic of Gateway, CO when we got out to let the dog stretch.
I really enjoy just sitting in the truck, knitting, listening to music, and spending time with my man. :o) and he enjoys driving on creepy, high-up dirt roads, so I guess it works out!
Here's a picture of what I bought:
Can you tell what that is from the picture? That is 43 balls, skeins, hanks of yarn and spinning fibers. Holy Crap. What am I gonna do with all this yarn?! Cottons, silks, cashmerino, soy silk chenille, sock yarn, and oodles and oodles of wool! The bag is 16 oz. of hemp top for spinning, plus there are three balls of blues and greens in a merino wool. Included among the balls - a ball of Trekking XXL (something I have been dying to own now for awhile), a skein of Euroflax Originals (a hat, maybe?), lots of Dalegarn by Dale of Norway in different shades of blue - I see something stripey in my future. Ohhhh my goodness. This is so cool. I paid $1 a ball for most of these, .50 for the cottons.But the yarn isn't even the best part! I got books! I am now the proud owner of Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac - the coveted, the IMPOSSIBLE to get from the library, the very incredible little bit of gold that is that book. I also got Alice Starmore's Celtic Collection, a reference book of different knitted designs and patterns, a Debbie Bliss pattern book, and "Knitting Lace" - paid $1 each for the books. I've almost read through EZ's book already - it truly is bit of solid gold. I am so thrilled to own it. It was funny, I was reading and knitting in the truck when we went for a drive to look for turkeys yesterday, and Andrew commented on it - pointing out that it was rather interesting. I have knitted and read at the same time for a long time now - I find it utterly relaxing. Anyhow, there comes a point in EZ's book when she talks about how she knits and reads at the same time too. I thought it was funny. :o)
So yeah. Yesterday flippin' rocked. We also went on a drive, as I said, looking for wild turkeys. Andrew really wanted to go scout for turkey season, but wanted to do something with the family too, so that's what we did, and called it a drive. It afforded enough time to finish an entire diaper cover for the baby, though I'm going to rip the ruffles around the legs because I don't love them, and I'll put on a ribbing instead. Anyhow, here's a pic of Gateway, CO when we got out to let the dog stretch.
I really enjoy just sitting in the truck, knitting, listening to music, and spending time with my man. :o) and he enjoys driving on creepy, high-up dirt roads, so I guess it works out!Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Wanna go fishin'?
Yesterday was a Chloe kind of day. We did lots of Chloe stuff. I think my daughter is spoiled. :o)
We bought worms for her at Wal Mart - the fishing bait kind, but she doesn't care. She loves them tremendously. Every half hour or so, she brings them upstairs and plays with them. Afterall, if kittens need to be played with, worms must need that too, right? She's having fun with them though. We're gonna get a book about worms at the library today, and then run with it as long as she's interested - this is a good time to learn the phonics lessons 'or in worm' and 'ir in dirt', and she thinks worm math is fun (if you have two worms, and you add three more, how many worms do you have?)
After we put the nightcrawlers in their new home, we went outside and painted her playhouse. We had wanted to do it before we gave it to her at Christmastime, but it was too cold and paint needs 50 degrees or higher. So we let her pick out her own little paint card (cherry cream, it was called) and had it mixed. Then I set her to work with a roller on the inside while I worked on the outside. She did really great - she was covered in paint from head to toe, her shoes and clothes are ruined, but that's fine with me. It was worth it for the fun experience. She got a little sick of it after an hour or two, but that's not bad for a five year old, eh?
Andrew tilled my harden and beds Monday. I planted a dozen summer bulbs (dahlia and gladiolus) and trimmed back last year's mums. My spring bulbs are coming in much thicker than last year, I'm so glad! I'll probably get lettuce and spinch planted today, maybe a few other cold weather crops. In April I'll buy a handful of perennials to fill in the rest of my bed out front and we're doing a wildflower garden in the back where it used to be just dirt. Our yard will be so pretty this year! I hope I can give my daughters the same love for plants that I have - gardening is good for the soul.
Chubba already likes the outdoors - she's quite content just sitting on a blanket, watching everything, and tasting an occasional leaf.
Both of my girls are a little bit snotty the last couple days. We were supposed to go to Michael's yesterday for craft class but didn't because Chloe's nose was all yucky and she's been coughing. Today is story time at the library, but Cora's all stuffy and I'm sure Chloe is still too, so we might skip it, we'll see.
Hmm... what else to ramble about today? Oh yes! American Idol! Wow....
Did you all see David A totally forget his lyrics TWICE in one song? Yeah, that was sad. But not nearly as sad as Kristy Lee's attempt to turn 8 Days a Week into hillbilly country. That was just painful and humiliating to watch. Even the hubster (who is totally crushing on Kristy Lee) admitted that it was terrible. Syesha, Ramiele, David H... totally forgettable. Chikezie - oh my goodness! I don't know where that performance came from, but it was spectacular! He was my fave all night. Jason Castro was, as usual, splendid. According to the AOL AI poll, Castro is in first place. How cool is that? David Cook's was great too - I just adore him. Amanda did well, but really, she doesn't have much capability of variety - every song she sings will eventually sound the same. I like her, but she won't win this. Carly's good, but she's kind of boring these days. Who else is there....? Brooke! How could I forget Brooke? At first I thought she was some crazy hippie-ish nice girl with a decent but boring voice. Now? She's awesome. I dig her. She has the same simplicity and vulnerable quality to her voice that Castro does, making me like her. And Michael Johns - he's damn good, but he's also kind of boring. Michael and Carly seem to be about the same for me, which is disappointing. I would like to see a bit more personality out of them, but whatever, they aren't there to please me.
I'm going to hope that David H goes home, but I'm going to guess that Kristy Lee is a more likely possibility. Either way, they both deserve to go.
Alright, 'nuff rambling for now. I gotta take care of this snotty baby girl. :o)
We bought worms for her at Wal Mart - the fishing bait kind, but she doesn't care. She loves them tremendously. Every half hour or so, she brings them upstairs and plays with them. Afterall, if kittens need to be played with, worms must need that too, right? She's having fun with them though. We're gonna get a book about worms at the library today, and then run with it as long as she's interested - this is a good time to learn the phonics lessons 'or in worm' and 'ir in dirt', and she thinks worm math is fun (if you have two worms, and you add three more, how many worms do you have?)
After we put the nightcrawlers in their new home, we went outside and painted her playhouse. We had wanted to do it before we gave it to her at Christmastime, but it was too cold and paint needs 50 degrees or higher. So we let her pick out her own little paint card (cherry cream, it was called) and had it mixed. Then I set her to work with a roller on the inside while I worked on the outside. She did really great - she was covered in paint from head to toe, her shoes and clothes are ruined, but that's fine with me. It was worth it for the fun experience. She got a little sick of it after an hour or two, but that's not bad for a five year old, eh?
Andrew tilled my harden and beds Monday. I planted a dozen summer bulbs (dahlia and gladiolus) and trimmed back last year's mums. My spring bulbs are coming in much thicker than last year, I'm so glad! I'll probably get lettuce and spinch planted today, maybe a few other cold weather crops. In April I'll buy a handful of perennials to fill in the rest of my bed out front and we're doing a wildflower garden in the back where it used to be just dirt. Our yard will be so pretty this year! I hope I can give my daughters the same love for plants that I have - gardening is good for the soul.
Chubba already likes the outdoors - she's quite content just sitting on a blanket, watching everything, and tasting an occasional leaf.
Both of my girls are a little bit snotty the last couple days. We were supposed to go to Michael's yesterday for craft class but didn't because Chloe's nose was all yucky and she's been coughing. Today is story time at the library, but Cora's all stuffy and I'm sure Chloe is still too, so we might skip it, we'll see.
Hmm... what else to ramble about today? Oh yes! American Idol! Wow....
Did you all see David A totally forget his lyrics TWICE in one song? Yeah, that was sad. But not nearly as sad as Kristy Lee's attempt to turn 8 Days a Week into hillbilly country. That was just painful and humiliating to watch. Even the hubster (who is totally crushing on Kristy Lee) admitted that it was terrible. Syesha, Ramiele, David H... totally forgettable. Chikezie - oh my goodness! I don't know where that performance came from, but it was spectacular! He was my fave all night. Jason Castro was, as usual, splendid. According to the AOL AI poll, Castro is in first place. How cool is that? David Cook's was great too - I just adore him. Amanda did well, but really, she doesn't have much capability of variety - every song she sings will eventually sound the same. I like her, but she won't win this. Carly's good, but she's kind of boring these days. Who else is there....? Brooke! How could I forget Brooke? At first I thought she was some crazy hippie-ish nice girl with a decent but boring voice. Now? She's awesome. I dig her. She has the same simplicity and vulnerable quality to her voice that Castro does, making me like her. And Michael Johns - he's damn good, but he's also kind of boring. Michael and Carly seem to be about the same for me, which is disappointing. I would like to see a bit more personality out of them, but whatever, they aren't there to please me.
I'm going to hope that David H goes home, but I'm going to guess that Kristy Lee is a more likely possibility. Either way, they both deserve to go.
Alright, 'nuff rambling for now. I gotta take care of this snotty baby girl. :o)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Life's Hard Lessons
Chloe burst through the back door yesterday, covered from head to toe in dust and dirt, squealing with delight. You could just hear the excitement in her little voice as she yelled "Mom! Can you knit Sally a sweater?!" Now, Sally and Mary are her two very favorite names in the whole world, and everything is named either Sally or Mary. Both names are also apparently interchangeable (or she forgets which one she named what.) Anyhow, most recently Sally has referred to her sock puppet and her baby doll. So my reply was "Sure, I'll knit her a sweater after I finish this duck I'm working on for Cora. Now take off those muddy shoes and don't you dare walk on my carpet."
I heard her tearing her shoes off, then running full speed into the living room where I was sitting. I don't know why she bothered to take off her shoes, because her clothes and hands were still covered in dirt. But in her hand, she held her prize, and the look in her eyes of pure love told me I better take her very seriously. In her grubby little hand was her precious Sally - half of an earthworm. You know how you can cut a worm in half and they'll still live? Yeah. There she was. "It'll have to be a slimy sweater, Mom."
So we got Sally a cup to live in and then I bathed the little mongrel. Once she was all clean, she asked Andrew to please get some dirt and a stick for Sally so that she would have a home (inside a little blue plastic cup.) About every half hour, she took Sally out for some play time. She sprayed Sally with water each time she put her back in her cup. We chopped up some apple into teeny little bits so Sally would have some food. We got on the internet and learned all about worms - worm poop helps plants grow; worms are boys and girls (how do you explain hermaphrodite to a five year old?)... we learned how to make a proper wormery and have plans to start one today, so we could move Sally in where she'll be much happier, and get her some other worms to keep her company.
Well, last night, I was taking Sally into Chloe's room to sleep on her bedside table when I realized the beloved worm wasn't moving. At all. "I think your worm is dead, Chloe." I said. "No she's not mom. She's just taking a nap, because I told her to." Hmm. Do worms take naps? Could she be sleeping? "No, babe, I think she really is dead. She's not moving and worms are supposed to move." I didn't think it would be all that big of a deal. The kid catches all kinds of bugs and they die within a day or two, never to be an issue again. But not Sally. No, Sally was one of the family. She cried pretty hard once she realized what happened. We talked about worms and how they need space and enough dirt and such, and that Sally really needed to have a better home. And I promised to buy her a container of nightcrawlers when we go to Wal Mart today.
She hasn't woken up yet today, but I betcha I hear all about Sally again. What a hard lesson for a little girl to learn. :o(
I heard her tearing her shoes off, then running full speed into the living room where I was sitting. I don't know why she bothered to take off her shoes, because her clothes and hands were still covered in dirt. But in her hand, she held her prize, and the look in her eyes of pure love told me I better take her very seriously. In her grubby little hand was her precious Sally - half of an earthworm. You know how you can cut a worm in half and they'll still live? Yeah. There she was. "It'll have to be a slimy sweater, Mom."
So we got Sally a cup to live in and then I bathed the little mongrel. Once she was all clean, she asked Andrew to please get some dirt and a stick for Sally so that she would have a home (inside a little blue plastic cup.) About every half hour, she took Sally out for some play time. She sprayed Sally with water each time she put her back in her cup. We chopped up some apple into teeny little bits so Sally would have some food. We got on the internet and learned all about worms - worm poop helps plants grow; worms are boys and girls (how do you explain hermaphrodite to a five year old?)... we learned how to make a proper wormery and have plans to start one today, so we could move Sally in where she'll be much happier, and get her some other worms to keep her company.
Well, last night, I was taking Sally into Chloe's room to sleep on her bedside table when I realized the beloved worm wasn't moving. At all. "I think your worm is dead, Chloe." I said. "No she's not mom. She's just taking a nap, because I told her to." Hmm. Do worms take naps? Could she be sleeping? "No, babe, I think she really is dead. She's not moving and worms are supposed to move." I didn't think it would be all that big of a deal. The kid catches all kinds of bugs and they die within a day or two, never to be an issue again. But not Sally. No, Sally was one of the family. She cried pretty hard once she realized what happened. We talked about worms and how they need space and enough dirt and such, and that Sally really needed to have a better home. And I promised to buy her a container of nightcrawlers when we go to Wal Mart today.
She hasn't woken up yet today, but I betcha I hear all about Sally again. What a hard lesson for a little girl to learn. :o(
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Mason-Dixon Knitting
I checked out this book from the library. What a pleasure it has been to read! I usually get knitting books so I can ooh and ahh over the patterns, but this one has actual reading too! I'm loving it. These two women who wrote the book are flippin' hilarious, and there is enough knitting related humor in the book that I just keep opening it up to read more.
A Timeline of Knitting History
1595 BC: Woman waiting for Hittite husband to return from sacking of Babylon picks up string and two sticks, begins "Support Our Troops" scarf.
1595 BC: (two minutes later) Woman drops first stitch, utters first curse word related to knitting
AD 1215: Woman waiting in lobby for husband to finish reading the Magna Carta picks up string and piece of wire left over from husband's armor; invents the fishing gansey
AD 1215: (ten minutes later) Husband comes out, says, "What are you doing, milady?" Woman says "Shut up, I'm counting."
1346: Knitting guilds form. From the charter: "For the attainment of wages and goode skilles. If ye be a male, and ye knit, ye shalle joinne. If ye be a female, buzze offe."
1620: PIlgrim ladies plan knitting circle, discover lack of yarn shops in the New World, take up decorative shoe buckle-making instead.
1793: Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin
1896: Siobahn Ogwnngyfleioghnn knits so poorly that she accidentally discovers the cable stitch.
1924: Kleenex invented
1924 (one hour later): Mildred Farnwinkle of Dubuque, Iowa, completes first Kleenex box cozy.
1968: Janis Joplin wears crochet vest at Woodstock. Jimi Hendrix is overheard saying "Nice vest, Janis. I love that colorway."
1997: Eyelash yarn invented. On the Isle ofLewis, Alice Starmore weeps into her twenty-eight shade Fair Isle sleeve.
One other quick little quote: "My house isn't picky: It doesn't care if that afghan is a little too big or the wrong color. It is the most forgiving recipient of stuff I knit, and it will wear it until I get tired of looking at it."
Aren't they great? Seriously, if you knit, you should find this book and read it. Some great patterns, and some wonderful humor!
A Timeline of Knitting History
1595 BC: Woman waiting for Hittite husband to return from sacking of Babylon picks up string and two sticks, begins "Support Our Troops" scarf.
1595 BC: (two minutes later) Woman drops first stitch, utters first curse word related to knitting
AD 1215: Woman waiting in lobby for husband to finish reading the Magna Carta picks up string and piece of wire left over from husband's armor; invents the fishing gansey
AD 1215: (ten minutes later) Husband comes out, says, "What are you doing, milady?" Woman says "Shut up, I'm counting."
1346: Knitting guilds form. From the charter: "For the attainment of wages and goode skilles. If ye be a male, and ye knit, ye shalle joinne. If ye be a female, buzze offe."
1620: PIlgrim ladies plan knitting circle, discover lack of yarn shops in the New World, take up decorative shoe buckle-making instead.
1793: Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin
1896: Siobahn Ogwnngyfleioghnn knits so poorly that she accidentally discovers the cable stitch.
1924: Kleenex invented
1924 (one hour later): Mildred Farnwinkle of Dubuque, Iowa, completes first Kleenex box cozy.
1968: Janis Joplin wears crochet vest at Woodstock. Jimi Hendrix is overheard saying "Nice vest, Janis. I love that colorway."
1997: Eyelash yarn invented. On the Isle ofLewis, Alice Starmore weeps into her twenty-eight shade Fair Isle sleeve.
One other quick little quote: "My house isn't picky: It doesn't care if that afghan is a little too big or the wrong color. It is the most forgiving recipient of stuff I knit, and it will wear it until I get tired of looking at it."
Aren't they great? Seriously, if you knit, you should find this book and read it. Some great patterns, and some wonderful humor!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Miscellaneous Banter
I got the floors swept and mopped first thing in the morning, before the baby woke up and Chloe got home. It was so nice to see them all shiny. I got a new mop too, which makes it all the more pleasant.
I got to enjoy having clean floors for all of 30 minutes.
As soon as Chloe got home, we made her Irish soda bread. I bit the bullet and let her do it all by herself. I just read the recipe and helped her figure out which measuring cups to use for what. All went well until we somehow got buttermilk all over the counter, dripping down the bowl, and covering the library book that we got the recipe out of. Ah well. She had a blast making it. So much for clean floors....
Have you ever had Irish soda bread? It's sort of like a giant biscuit with a crispy outer, full of raisins and caraway seeds. Yes, caraway. The recipe calls for 2 TABLESPOONS of caraway. Ew. It's really pretty awful. Even Chloe didn't like it, with jam smeared all over it. Ah well, it was an experience. We sent half the loaf home with her father. I asked Chloe if she'd like to live in Ireland. She said she'd rather eat potatoes there than eat their soda bread. :o)
She spent a great portion of time digging happily in the garden. It'll be sad when it's planted, she won't be able to play out there anymore. She really, really loves dirt. She also asked me to teach her to knit yesterday. I decided crocheting a chain was probably a good start, so we did that. She did actually make a bit of a chain. I told her if she makes it long enough we can make it into shoelaces for her.
We sat around for awhile inside, then sat around for awhile outside, and I really just kind of hung out and enjoyed my girls all day. They make me smile so much. I love how they love each other. I sure wish I'd have had a sister to grow up with!
Oh, and we took some cute pictures of Chubba.
Chubba now plays peek-a-boo. It is utterly entertaining. :o)
===
I always get in this weird restless funk when I finish a big knitting project. I made the pants and hat for Cora, and now I'm just sort of stuck. I don't know what to do with myself. I casted on for a ruffled pinafore, decided I didn't really feel like making something she'd never wear, and ripped it out.
And if you're anything like me, you've always wondered what it would be like to knit with plastic. That is, plastic bags, cut into strips, and then knitted. Let me tell you, it's miserable. Not any fun at all. It's really not worth trying, no matter how fascinating it sounds. I was going to knit a bag. A bag, made out of bags. WTH? Sometimes my creativity confuses me.
I got five rows in, bound it off, and chalked it up to a learning experience. I bet it would make warm insulation inside a quilt. But truly, I have no burning desire to knit with plastic anymore. Glad I got that out of my system.
After that, I casted on for the Summer Sundress from the Interweave Summer 05. I knitted 9 rows of the lace hem. I ripped it out after some weird mistake. I knitted those 9 rows again, screwed up again. After the fourth attempt, I got to row 10. It's one of those super-intricate lace patterns that requires my fullest attention at all times. and I'm a mother with two small children. That'll never happen. It took all day to get one inch completed - I'd need about two yards of this lace before I could even start the skirt. While I think it looks like a fascinating pattern, and one I'd really enjoy, I don't have that much quiet time.
So I'm stuck, with no idea what I'm going to make. I hate when that happens. :-\
I got to enjoy having clean floors for all of 30 minutes.
As soon as Chloe got home, we made her Irish soda bread. I bit the bullet and let her do it all by herself. I just read the recipe and helped her figure out which measuring cups to use for what. All went well until we somehow got buttermilk all over the counter, dripping down the bowl, and covering the library book that we got the recipe out of. Ah well. She had a blast making it. So much for clean floors....
Have you ever had Irish soda bread? It's sort of like a giant biscuit with a crispy outer, full of raisins and caraway seeds. Yes, caraway. The recipe calls for 2 TABLESPOONS of caraway. Ew. It's really pretty awful. Even Chloe didn't like it, with jam smeared all over it. Ah well, it was an experience. We sent half the loaf home with her father. I asked Chloe if she'd like to live in Ireland. She said she'd rather eat potatoes there than eat their soda bread. :o)
She spent a great portion of time digging happily in the garden. It'll be sad when it's planted, she won't be able to play out there anymore. She really, really loves dirt. She also asked me to teach her to knit yesterday. I decided crocheting a chain was probably a good start, so we did that. She did actually make a bit of a chain. I told her if she makes it long enough we can make it into shoelaces for her.
We sat around for awhile inside, then sat around for awhile outside, and I really just kind of hung out and enjoyed my girls all day. They make me smile so much. I love how they love each other. I sure wish I'd have had a sister to grow up with!
Oh, and we took some cute pictures of Chubba.
Chubba now plays peek-a-boo. It is utterly entertaining. :o)
===
I always get in this weird restless funk when I finish a big knitting project. I made the pants and hat for Cora, and now I'm just sort of stuck. I don't know what to do with myself. I casted on for a ruffled pinafore, decided I didn't really feel like making something she'd never wear, and ripped it out.
And if you're anything like me, you've always wondered what it would be like to knit with plastic. That is, plastic bags, cut into strips, and then knitted. Let me tell you, it's miserable. Not any fun at all. It's really not worth trying, no matter how fascinating it sounds. I was going to knit a bag. A bag, made out of bags. WTH? Sometimes my creativity confuses me.
I got five rows in, bound it off, and chalked it up to a learning experience. I bet it would make warm insulation inside a quilt. But truly, I have no burning desire to knit with plastic anymore. Glad I got that out of my system.
After that, I casted on for the Summer Sundress from the Interweave Summer 05. I knitted 9 rows of the lace hem. I ripped it out after some weird mistake. I knitted those 9 rows again, screwed up again. After the fourth attempt, I got to row 10. It's one of those super-intricate lace patterns that requires my fullest attention at all times. and I'm a mother with two small children. That'll never happen. It took all day to get one inch completed - I'd need about two yards of this lace before I could even start the skirt. While I think it looks like a fascinating pattern, and one I'd really enjoy, I don't have that much quiet time.
So I'm stuck, with no idea what I'm going to make. I hate when that happens. :-\
Friday, March 7, 2008
I adopted Danny Noriega's twins.
First, let me just say - Squeeeee!!!! Danny is GONE! American voters have redeemed themselves! I was so thrilled I squealed out loud, causing the baby to startle and thus cry pitifully until I snuggled her some more. So glad Kady and Luke are gone. Asia'h surprised me a little, and she could've done alright a little bit longer, but she really had no chance at actually winning, so whatever.
===
So back to the twins. There's this cute girl that works at Wal Mart - she's about my age, used to be a checker, now she's a manager. She's always so friendly and happy. She's got a couple of kids. Anyhow - she got knocked up by Danny Noriega. She didn't want the baby, and put it up for adoption. Andrew and I were to adopt the baby, which we found out during the pregnancy was a boy. So we get to the birthing center, and there is a little girl - I was all excited, they were wrong, we got another girl! We went to visit with the parents for a minute, and lo and behold, there was a boy too. So we adopted twins - Danny Noriega's twins.
What was Danny Noriega doing having sex with a woman in the first place? We'll never know...
===
Sorry for the back to back posts - that one just deserved it's own title. LOL
===
So back to the twins. There's this cute girl that works at Wal Mart - she's about my age, used to be a checker, now she's a manager. She's always so friendly and happy. She's got a couple of kids. Anyhow - she got knocked up by Danny Noriega. She didn't want the baby, and put it up for adoption. Andrew and I were to adopt the baby, which we found out during the pregnancy was a boy. So we get to the birthing center, and there is a little girl - I was all excited, they were wrong, we got another girl! We went to visit with the parents for a minute, and lo and behold, there was a boy too. So we adopted twins - Danny Noriega's twins.
What was Danny Noriega doing having sex with a woman in the first place? We'll never know...
===
Sorry for the back to back posts - that one just deserved it's own title. LOL
All in a days' work
I thought it would be interesting yesterday to make a log of all the things I did. Thought maybe it would help me feel like I actually did something yesterday.
*Got the girls dressed and grocery shopped. Went to 3 stores.
*Made smoothies, drank smoothies, did a spelling/reading lesson, changed Chloe, reviewed Ireland stuff, sent her to her dad's
*Put groceries away, washed dishes, played with the silly baby.
*Went to the mall, got a new earring back, got Easter stuff, put baby down for a nap, cleaned up the computer room a little, made two scrapbook pages.
*folded and put away two loads of laundry, took out the trash, snuggled with the baby when she woke up, made frozen burritos for myself for lunch, put away all of the Barbie shoes, work sheets, half-full juice cups, beer bottle caps, recipe cards and other things that will forever clutter my countertops and kitchen table, cleaned out the fridge (which turned out to be a profoundly disgusting chore), washed the tupperware containers after removing the moldy contents (too bad Chloe wasn't around today, we could've done a whole unit study on penicillin), screamed repeatedly at the baby during all of this (it's a game - she screams back and thinks it's hilarious), took out the trash again.
*Fed the baby an apple in her new mesh feeder, laughed at her feeding it to the dog, took pictures, turned 2 grocery bags into yarn for my new project (only about 118 bags to go...), played catch with the baby and knitted 4 rows of plastic
*Called my mom, went with her to visit my grandparents, called Andrew's aunt on the way home, played with the baby for a few, hubby came home, went out to eat, watched American Idol, went to bed.
That was a pretty average Thursday. Add in countless diaper changes and multiple feeding sessions and lots of snuggling, plus constantly keeping the cat from stealing refrigerator letters and trying to convince the dog not to keep licking the baby.
Do I feel accomplished? Not at all, really. I'm only disappointed that I didn't get the floors mopped too.
*Got the girls dressed and grocery shopped. Went to 3 stores.
*Made smoothies, drank smoothies, did a spelling/reading lesson, changed Chloe, reviewed Ireland stuff, sent her to her dad's
*Put groceries away, washed dishes, played with the silly baby.
*Went to the mall, got a new earring back, got Easter stuff, put baby down for a nap, cleaned up the computer room a little, made two scrapbook pages.
*folded and put away two loads of laundry, took out the trash, snuggled with the baby when she woke up, made frozen burritos for myself for lunch, put away all of the Barbie shoes, work sheets, half-full juice cups, beer bottle caps, recipe cards and other things that will forever clutter my countertops and kitchen table, cleaned out the fridge (which turned out to be a profoundly disgusting chore), washed the tupperware containers after removing the moldy contents (too bad Chloe wasn't around today, we could've done a whole unit study on penicillin), screamed repeatedly at the baby during all of this (it's a game - she screams back and thinks it's hilarious), took out the trash again.
*Fed the baby an apple in her new mesh feeder, laughed at her feeding it to the dog, took pictures, turned 2 grocery bags into yarn for my new project (only about 118 bags to go...), played catch with the baby and knitted 4 rows of plastic
*Called my mom, went with her to visit my grandparents, called Andrew's aunt on the way home, played with the baby for a few, hubby came home, went out to eat, watched American Idol, went to bed.
That was a pretty average Thursday. Add in countless diaper changes and multiple feeding sessions and lots of snuggling, plus constantly keeping the cat from stealing refrigerator letters and trying to convince the dog not to keep licking the baby.
Do I feel accomplished? Not at all, really. I'm only disappointed that I didn't get the floors mopped too.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Thursday stuff
I'm so weird. 5:45 am, I got up, went to the bathroom, and it was really hard for me to decide whether or not I should get out of bed for good. I always say I want to relax more, but there's just so much to do! Finally I decided that I'd get up, since I was in bed at 9:30 and that was plenty of sleep. Sometimes I wish I could have someone come, just once, and clean my whole house from top to bottom and help me organize it all. Then I'd just have to keep it up. I just always feel so behind, like there's so much to do. All day every day it's go, go, go - I rarely sit down except for a few minutes to feed the baby and mess around online, but that's not much of a break. At the end of the day though, it seems like I never accomplished anything anyway.
Blah. I'm strange.
===
So we're doing a sort of unit study on Ireland. It's hard to teach a kindergartener about Ireland, or any country for that matter, because she has no concept of the world as a whole, and what other countries are. She knows she lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, in America. I spent all this time looking at a map, pointing out Ireland, pointing out America, talking about the ocean, etc. I thought she had it. Then she asked "does my dad live in Ireland?" LOL Guess it'll take more time than I thought to get that point across. She did learn a lot from a few library books though. We're going to bake Irish soda bread when she gets home from her dad's tomorrow, and we got some Irish folk tales to read at bedtime. We'll make an Irish flag, and whatever else I find that's Irish, and we'll do some spelling words that have something to do with Ireland.
Spelling with her is funny. I spell a word on the fridge, she sounds it out, then tells me what it is and says it in a sentence. The saying it in a sentence is something she started, but I like it so we keep doing it. Mostly just because she makes me laugh. Where does she come up with this stuff?
Ten: Ten million dollars I need for my husband's coloring stuff.
When: When did the crocodile eat my dog?
Dork: You look like a dork, Mom.
:o)
===
A quick AI re-cap, then I have to get in the shower.
I think the guys, overall, are far better than the girls. Really, really far better.
David A, David Cook and Jason Castro are still my top 3 faves - all of them flippin' rocked on Tuesday. I would honestly pay for Jason Castro and David Cook's songs. David A doesn't sing anything I'd likely listen to (except for his John Mayer audition, that was cool) but I still really adore him. I told Andrew last night - I want one! He's like a puppy, I want to bring him home with me. LOL
Chikezie and Luke are my votes to be gone this week. David Hernandez (?) has surprised me. I like Michael Johns too and thought his song this week was great. And Danny? Ugh! He's like the Sanjaya of season 7, only far more annoying. I just can't handle the excessive gayness. Cute little tomato? TMTH? Oy vey. And I hate when people speak in acronym. Overall, I'd like to see him go home immediately, but I have a sneaking suspicion he'll be around awhile.
The girls are starting to dissapoint me. I do really like Amanda, and was pleased with her performance last night. Carly needs to do something good - I agree with Simon, she needs to find THAT song. She's got a great voice, but hasn't really showcased it yet. Kristy Lee Cook was another one of my faves, but she hasn't impressed me a whole lot lately. I'd like to see Kady and Ramiele go home. Kady because she just isn't that great, and Ramiele is just kind of boring - she doesn't stand out for me. Sayesha annoys me, I thought Asia'h's song last night didn't suit her and wasn't so great. Brooke is surprising me a lot - I thought this week and last week were both really great, and at first I kind of thought she was awful.
And was it just me, or did some of those girls last night have some awful outfits on? What's with the high-waisted pants that practically go up to their boobs? I hate that style. Thankfully, my husband said he's perfectly happy with my low-rise jeans. :-)
Alright, I'm off to the shower, if this baby (whom I am now holding) will let me.
Blah. I'm strange.
===
So we're doing a sort of unit study on Ireland. It's hard to teach a kindergartener about Ireland, or any country for that matter, because she has no concept of the world as a whole, and what other countries are. She knows she lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, in America. I spent all this time looking at a map, pointing out Ireland, pointing out America, talking about the ocean, etc. I thought she had it. Then she asked "does my dad live in Ireland?" LOL Guess it'll take more time than I thought to get that point across. She did learn a lot from a few library books though. We're going to bake Irish soda bread when she gets home from her dad's tomorrow, and we got some Irish folk tales to read at bedtime. We'll make an Irish flag, and whatever else I find that's Irish, and we'll do some spelling words that have something to do with Ireland.
Spelling with her is funny. I spell a word on the fridge, she sounds it out, then tells me what it is and says it in a sentence. The saying it in a sentence is something she started, but I like it so we keep doing it. Mostly just because she makes me laugh. Where does she come up with this stuff?
Ten: Ten million dollars I need for my husband's coloring stuff.
When: When did the crocodile eat my dog?
Dork: You look like a dork, Mom.
:o)
===
A quick AI re-cap, then I have to get in the shower.
I think the guys, overall, are far better than the girls. Really, really far better.
David A, David Cook and Jason Castro are still my top 3 faves - all of them flippin' rocked on Tuesday. I would honestly pay for Jason Castro and David Cook's songs. David A doesn't sing anything I'd likely listen to (except for his John Mayer audition, that was cool) but I still really adore him. I told Andrew last night - I want one! He's like a puppy, I want to bring him home with me. LOL
Chikezie and Luke are my votes to be gone this week. David Hernandez (?) has surprised me. I like Michael Johns too and thought his song this week was great. And Danny? Ugh! He's like the Sanjaya of season 7, only far more annoying. I just can't handle the excessive gayness. Cute little tomato? TMTH? Oy vey. And I hate when people speak in acronym. Overall, I'd like to see him go home immediately, but I have a sneaking suspicion he'll be around awhile.
The girls are starting to dissapoint me. I do really like Amanda, and was pleased with her performance last night. Carly needs to do something good - I agree with Simon, she needs to find THAT song. She's got a great voice, but hasn't really showcased it yet. Kristy Lee Cook was another one of my faves, but she hasn't impressed me a whole lot lately. I'd like to see Kady and Ramiele go home. Kady because she just isn't that great, and Ramiele is just kind of boring - she doesn't stand out for me. Sayesha annoys me, I thought Asia'h's song last night didn't suit her and wasn't so great. Brooke is surprising me a lot - I thought this week and last week were both really great, and at first I kind of thought she was awful.
And was it just me, or did some of those girls last night have some awful outfits on? What's with the high-waisted pants that practically go up to their boobs? I hate that style. Thankfully, my husband said he's perfectly happy with my low-rise jeans. :-)
Alright, I'm off to the shower, if this baby (whom I am now holding) will let me.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Time flies
I've been all gay the last couple of days because my baby is growing up so fast. I'm just not ready for her to be so big yet!
She's got so much personality. She is forever smiling and giggling and shrieking and squealing. I swear, she's the happiest baby I've ever seen. (As long as I'm in the room.) Lately she's been grabbing my face with both hands and planting big kisses on my face - the wet, slobbery, open-mouthed baby kind of kisses that are to die for.
You can just see her learning so much - the little gears are turning every time you set her down with a new toy, every time she experiences something new and unfamiliar.
I think it also feels like it's going so fast because everything took so much longer with Chloe. When Chloe was 6 months old, she was more like a newborn. She didn't even sit up on her own till 9 months, and Cora has been since 5 months. They are definitely two very different children!
Here's a video of Chloe playing peek-a-boo with her, and another of her shrieking 'Dada' while in her swing. (I've decided to do videos this way instead of embedding them because if I can embed them, anyone can, and I don't want other people embedding videos of my kids on their websites.)
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Begging for comments
Not really - I just want opinions. Which of these would you most like to see emblazoned across the front of my five year old? :o)
Not socialized
Fish
Homeskooled
Small words
Truant
Talking
Not socialized
Fish
Homeskooled
Small words
Truant
Talking
Complete :o)
Definitely much better with a hat.
I took the girls to the mall yesterday to mail some stuff, and let Chloe play at the play area. Cora was so fascinated watching the kids that I got a little over an hour to knit her a hat to match her pants. :-)
And isn't the shirt great? I have more shirts for her, a few for me, and I want to make something for Chloe too. Does anyone have any good 'in your face' suggestions for a homeschooling tee for her? I want something like "No, I'm not going to kindergarten" or something to that effect. I'm so sick of people asking her if she's in school!
I took the girls to the mall yesterday to mail some stuff, and let Chloe play at the play area. Cora was so fascinated watching the kids that I got a little over an hour to knit her a hat to match her pants. :-)
And isn't the shirt great? I have more shirts for her, a few for me, and I want to make something for Chloe too. Does anyone have any good 'in your face' suggestions for a homeschooling tee for her? I want something like "No, I'm not going to kindergarten" or something to that effect. I'm so sick of people asking her if she's in school!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Why is it always Monday again?
Monday. Again. :::sigh::: Monday means it's only the beginning of a very long week spent waiting for my husband to come home. We never go anywhere on Mondays anymore - Chloe's friends have school now, and her other friend's dad is off work on Mondays, so we don't see them either. I suppose that's good, an opportunity to get things done around the house. And I actually slept in a bit (till 7 LOL) since we didnt' have anywhere to go.
===
It's almost spring. In my flowerbeds you can see the leaves from daffodils, tulips and irises I planted the fall after we moved in. I actually have a slight tan line on my shoulders from time spent playing outside in the back yard wearing a tank top. I was thinking it's about time to pull all of the warm weather clothes from the basement and get them washed and ready to wear. I love spring - those first two weeks of nice warm weather, before the bugs come out - those are the best two weeks of the year, and they are almost here.
And yesterday? Yesterday, it snowed. :o\
===
I finished some longies last night for Cora:
I made a cute t-shirt to go with them. I'll get an action shot later. I think she needs a hat to match, don't you? :o)
I used this pattern. I altered it quite a bit. I didn't bother with short rows and my gauge was 4 sts per inch on size 10.5 needles. The yarn was really bulky. I also didn't bother with cuffs and just crocheted a scallop to the bottom of the legs. I'd call these a size 12 months. They're a little bit, but hopefully she'll wear them in the fall too.
Yarn: Yarn Bee's Mosaic Twist, just over 2 balls. I bought it at Hobby Lobby for .99 a ball. I think it's discontinued now, which is disappointing. It's a wool/acrylic blend, not sure the percentage, but it felts. The color is called Terra Rosa.
===
Last but not least, some pics of the girls.
Like mother....
Like daughter....
and this is what it looks like when Chloe and I try to put together a puzzle. I thought it was funny. This little baby wants to crawl so bad! It probably won't be long.
===
It's almost spring. In my flowerbeds you can see the leaves from daffodils, tulips and irises I planted the fall after we moved in. I actually have a slight tan line on my shoulders from time spent playing outside in the back yard wearing a tank top. I was thinking it's about time to pull all of the warm weather clothes from the basement and get them washed and ready to wear. I love spring - those first two weeks of nice warm weather, before the bugs come out - those are the best two weeks of the year, and they are almost here.
And yesterday? Yesterday, it snowed. :o\
===
I finished some longies last night for Cora:
I made a cute t-shirt to go with them. I'll get an action shot later. I think she needs a hat to match, don't you? :o)I used this pattern. I altered it quite a bit. I didn't bother with short rows and my gauge was 4 sts per inch on size 10.5 needles. The yarn was really bulky. I also didn't bother with cuffs and just crocheted a scallop to the bottom of the legs. I'd call these a size 12 months. They're a little bit, but hopefully she'll wear them in the fall too.
Yarn: Yarn Bee's Mosaic Twist, just over 2 balls. I bought it at Hobby Lobby for .99 a ball. I think it's discontinued now, which is disappointing. It's a wool/acrylic blend, not sure the percentage, but it felts. The color is called Terra Rosa.
===
Last but not least, some pics of the girls.
Like mother....
Like daughter....
and this is what it looks like when Chloe and I try to put together a puzzle. I thought it was funny. This little baby wants to crawl so bad! It probably won't be long.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Lots of pics
I love afternoons. It seems around 3:30 or 4:00, we end up just sitting in the living room, hanging out. I usually knit for awhile, Chloe dances around the room in dress up clothes to Disney music, Cora watches her and shrieks, and Izzy just kinda lays there. More often than not, Milo is hiding because he knows if he comes out, he'll have to be the prince, and he doesn't much enjoy that game. It's such a relaxing way to wind down after a busy day.
My partner in crime in the wooden spoon incident. She's cutting another tooth - I was looking closely at her gum and can see where it's coming in. So far she's not crying about it too much, thankfully.
My pretty Izzy dog. The vet never did figure out what her strange skin spots are. She's got another one on top of her nose now. The others are nearly healed, except for the big scab on her head by her ear. We're still finishing up the antibiotics - hopefully they stop showing up sometime soon.
I love this picture. I don't often get pictures of her NOT smiling anymore- as soon as she sees the camera, she just starts grinning.
Here's Chloe playing dress up. The apron over her head is her veil, and she's off to find her cousin Joel to marry him. :oP Joel lives in Nebraska. She said "you need to call Joel's family so they can bring him here to marry me because I love him!"
And Miss happy nekkid baby.
There's a video here of her in the tub, if you care to watch it. :o)
My partner in crime in the wooden spoon incident. She's cutting another tooth - I was looking closely at her gum and can see where it's coming in. So far she's not crying about it too much, thankfully.
My pretty Izzy dog. The vet never did figure out what her strange skin spots are. She's got another one on top of her nose now. The others are nearly healed, except for the big scab on her head by her ear. We're still finishing up the antibiotics - hopefully they stop showing up sometime soon.
I love this picture. I don't often get pictures of her NOT smiling anymore- as soon as she sees the camera, she just starts grinning.
Here's Chloe playing dress up. The apron over her head is her veil, and she's off to find her cousin Joel to marry him. :oP Joel lives in Nebraska. She said "you need to call Joel's family so they can bring him here to marry me because I love him!"
And Miss happy nekkid baby.
There's a video here of her in the tub, if you care to watch it. :o)
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