Drivel (orMy End of the Year Musings)

So.. where are those seven swans a' swimming? And there's nary a calling bird to be seen!

How could Christmas Eve have been -ll degrees and a foot of snow and today is 60?

C is talking upstairs. I can hear him say "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." A truer quote has never been made.

Why is the prospect of destroying the gingerbread house bringing more joy than the building of it?

Who does go out for New Year's Eve? It seems everyone I talk to is staying home with family or just a few friends.

Tomorrow is our last Christmas. My family will come in the evening. It does give me something to look forward to tomorrow. In the morning I'm taking E shopping to spend her Christmas money. I'm not sure if I need to pack some Jack Daniels in my purse for that trip or not. It's hard to sympathize with someone who is complaining the size 0 is too big. I do need to pick up here though so it won't be a toy obstacle course.

RESOLUTIONS

I haven't done these in years but for some reason I'm feeling inspired so here goes. You'll notice these are all comfortably vague in the sense any improvement will meet them.

1) Slow down. I'll try not to rush the kids to eat, dress, bathe, etc. We'll try to do less
put aside more time for just enjoying.

2) Take a Breath. I can be sharp without meaning to. My exasperation seeps through. Maybe
if I consciously take a breath I can say what I want without "that huffy sound" that my dd
describes.

3) I will make time for something I want to do. I have no hobbies or interests anymore. I'll
read a book, listen to music, try a craft, join a book club, something JUST for me. And I
WON"T feel guilty.

4) I'll try to live in the spirit of peace, love and goodwill all year. I'll try to remind
kids to do the same.

More Boredom Available

Having failed to resolve your insomnia issues with this blog I have started another. It will be concerned with my food/menu/budgeting issues. I'm sure it will be just as scintillating as that sounds, lol. You can see it here or use the link in the Links section. This morning was pretty much been taken up with grocery shopping and putting it away. This afternoon I'm baking bread and cinnamon rolls (the best d**n cinnamon rolls in the world if I do say so myself). The kids are making up resolutions to write down and hide on New Year's Eve. I resolved long ago not to make resolutions but they're urging me to "play" too so we'll see if I can come up with something. I wish the things I needed to change were as easy as "I will try to do 2/3 of my homework at school." 2/3?? Who comes up with that figure?

A Serious Post

I've been horrified by the loss and suffering brought on by the tsunami/earthquake in Asia. If you had a Christmas of plenty and are warm and dry please consider donating to one of these organizations. Hug your kids and say a prayer.
Scroll through the story for a list of agencies.
Donate

Christmas #2

Two Christmas' down, one to go. Dh's sister and family were here Monday and Tuesday. They left this morning. I'm sure they were ready for some quiet. My kids, true to form, never fail to put on dinner AND a show. Last night's act featured shoe throwing and lots of bleeding. Monday night's drama was an example of poor mothering. "Just put the gameboys down and shut up!" Hopefully they had a good time. They brought gifts for all the kids which they of course really liked, since it had been so long since they had gifts *TIC* My family will come on New Year's day. The festivites will finally come to an end then.
What could be better than dressing yourself up?

Why dressing up your baby sister of course.

It Was A Holly, Jolly Christmas

A very good Christmas this year. For starters, dh did not have to work afterall. The co-worker who had surgery returned. I was afraid it wouldn't be good as during the late church service I began to feel awful. I was sick all night and when I wasn't actively being sick I was worrying that my being sick would ruin Christmas. The kids, bless them, held to our rule that it needs to be 6:30 before we get up. I was shaky, had a coke vs coffee, and took no pics but I was vertical and the kids really liked their presents. The boys got gameboy sps and a game, C also got a gamecube game and S got a Yugi-oh duel disk. Oh, the joy! L got a Baby Annabell which I really balked at buying but she has played with it constantly. F got a wooden train set and E got a cell phone. I was really torn about getting a 7th grader a phone but with all her activities and the sibs doing stuff too it would be nice to be able to contact each other. Hopefully it will eliminate my sitting in a parking lot waiting for her or her standing alone waiting for me. She was over the moon and had to IM all her friends so it was a successful gift.
Dh and I don't usually get each other gifts but this year we did. I got him the 4th season of the Simpsons (his favorite show- he already had the first 3) and he got me --- a blowhorn. It also plays tunes including revelie!!! That should make getting the kids up or calling them for dinner easier.
We spent a really nice rest of the day and Sunday. We went played with our gifts, had good food, went sledding and I played uno, cranium, yahtzee and built with magnetix. We had cocoa and a fire. It was a lovely couple of days. Today my SIL, BIL and niece are coming so I must clean now :-(

Today's line up includes: more sledding, pre-shaping cinnamon rolls for baking tomorrow morning, a viewing of Miracle on 34th St and of course Peanuts Christmas after church tonight. Actually I'll be at church twice. We will go as a family to the 7:00pm service and then the youth do the 11:00pm serivce so I will go to see dd and bring her home.


STUPID JOKES

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa?
Claustrophobic

You know what would have happened if there had been three wise WOMEN instead of three wise MEN, don’t you?

The three wise WOMEN would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the Baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and given practical gifts.


Luke 2:4-19
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Let It Snow

Ooops, did I say snow might be nice. The weather gods must have heard me. We got about 12" last night, it was much worse south of here. Up to 30". We did get in a lovely hour of sledding followed by the requisite hot chocolate. I didn't have it so bad but dh had to dig out the car and get to work. I woke up with him so at 5:00 I started more baking, lol. Got 4 loaves of bread and another rum cake and some fudge and s'more cookies done. Yeah!!! Of course I'll probably drop at 9:00 pm.


MORE STUPID JOKES

What do elves learn at school?
The elf-abet.

What nationality is Santa Claus?
North Polish

Luke 1:41-56
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house

Let's Have Snow and Mistletoe

Well, the weathermen are still giving us a winter storm watch but it's not snowing yet! I would like to have some snow for the kids to play in over break. Nothing creates quiet children like an hour or two of sledding followed by some hot cocoa. We do have the mistletoe up. Dss are making sure to stay away from it. Later today I'll probably take the oldest 3 to see "A Series of Unfortunate Events" , then I'll leave them and take my youngest 3 and A (whom I babysit for) to the grocery for a few things. Dh will pick up the kids from the movie when he gets off work.


STUPID JOKE TIME
Why did the Elf put his bed in the fireplace?
He wanted to sleep like a log.

What do you get when Santa puts his finger in a light socket?
Krisp Kringle


 Luke 1:26-38




In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.

And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."

And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?"

And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy,
the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible."

And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Happy Winter Solstice!!

I always remark that today is the shortest day of the year. Dh responds it is the longest night, lol! Both of these drive my kids batty who very logically state that a day has 24hours!! So concrete those children.

Today I did my baking. I made 24 doz cookies, 2 rum cakes and some pies. I give this stuff to dh's co-workers, neighbors, the minister, etc. I will still bake some loaves of bread, make some fudge and some puppy chow, but I'm glad to have the majority of the baking done. I really don't mind it, I just hate having to pay attention so I don't get involved with something and create charcoal briquettes.

The chimney sweep came today and gave the fireplace a clean bill of health. The fire is roaring along now. The weather forecast is for a veeerrrry cold Christmas. I'm glad to have the fireplace, if not for the heat, for the psychological boost it gives me.

Martha Will Never Know

I'm so far holding firm with my resolution to just do the fun stuff for Christmas this year. Martha Stewart would not approve but she's otherwise occupied this year. Once in awhile a twinge of that feeling that I should be doing something creeps in but I find a cup of coffee and a cookie chases that away :-).Dh will likely work on Christmas so the kids want to roast hot dogs and marshmallows in the fireplace (not sure if soy dogs will roast). That should make an easy holiday meal. Maybe I'll go all out and have a side of Doritos... and stocking candy for dessert. Or we could eat the gingerbread house they made.

It is obvious why I did not become an architect. This whole thing is balanced precariously on soup cans.

Whew

Well, I survived six basketball games, the concerts, the Cub Scout carry in. I only have to make it through C's party tomorrow. Then....YEAH!!! the kids are home from school. I love Christmas Break..no homework, no classes, no games, just hanging out. It is a little respite. I think we'd get tired of it all the time but for two weeks it's heaven. Hopefully we'll make some snow flakes from here Thanks to Chris for the idea. We also have the gingerbread house to create, or fight about depending on how the mood strikes them.
Two other things I've learned this week
Advent Candles are evidently very tasty


And those with a clean conscience and a pure spirit can sleep in any position

This Week

Ahh, the last week of school before Christmas. When all activities try to squeeze just a little more in... On the itenerary this week 6 (yes 6) basketball games, dance class party, kids choir practice at church (we'll be missing this but I feel guilty), winter band concert, winter choir concert, 5th grade Colonial Day, Cub Scout Christmas party and C's birthday party in which I will be taking five 9yo boys swimming. Can you feel the joy? Actually this stuff is not that out of the ordinary what is really bugging me is dh. Ok, I love my husband, I really do (needed to put in that disclaimer) but he is annoying the bejeebers out of me. He is always borrowing trouble and worrying about things out of his control. Then he gets grumpy and touchy and mean. He does this every year at Christmas *sigh*. I know my mindless "it'll all work out somehow, we'll deal with it, not the end of the world" attitude probably drives him nuts. But hey, I'm right!!!

Happy Birthday!!

Sunday December 12 C will be 9 years old. Here he is with two other Cub Scouts after they walked for 3 hours collecting food. He is on the left.



C was my easiest baby. He only nursed about 6 times a day as a newborn. Slept through the night at 3 months, was happy to be by himself. He made up for this in his toddler years. He had a very low tolerance for frustration and didn't mind letting everyone know it. He is VERY good in Math and also does well in all the other school subjects. He adores game cube, game boy and his older brother. He has always had trouble socially. He is improving some and this year seems to have some friends. C has chosen a Subway sandwich as his birthday meal and will follow that with a double layer chocolate cake. No designs please but it must be double layer. It can be difficult to hold a conversation with him unless the conversation involves facts. He likes facts but.... sometimes he'll look up and say "I love you." Can't beat that.

Work on Ignore

The tree is still sitting in the garage, the mixer hasn't been turned on , the toys are all over and let's not even talk about all the painting that needs done but... so far this morning I have bathed one very snotty, poopy kid and made a mental note to put toys in my next bath. Judging by all the squealing it is big fun. I have been treated to "restaurant" and "hair cutter store" by 6yo. True I'm now back-teased and have blue eyeshadow but I got a scrumptious meal of spinach, biscuits and tea. Not to be outdone a small spiderman has been leaping all over the furniture yelling... "web shoot, web shoot". Nope, I haven't got a smidgen of work done but so what? *continues to click the ignore button*

More Than A River in Egypt

Hmmm, 18 days until Christmas!! My denial has been working really well up until now but, tomorrow I venture forth to start buying...presents. Lots and lots of presents. How if we don't go overboard did we end up with so many things to get? It's not the kids per se. It's the fact that school classes, dance classes, pre-school classes, teachers all need to be bought for. (OK, I know I could be a real Scrooge and opt the kids out of school parties but that would really give them fodder for their future therapy appointments.) Then it's on to extended family. Something mailable is in order. I did order stuff from the net but some things I need to see or is such piddly dollar store stuff that you have to actually go to the store to get it. I must do these things tomorrow while dh has a day off. Taking kids to the mall is beyond my powers of patience or maybe I just don't have a strong masochistic streak. Yep, tomorrow is it for free days. As for decorating... I am ardently trying to convince everyone here that a candle in the window is decorating. I was informed by L that she is the only kindergarten student whose family does not have a tree up. More therapy fodder there. Oh, and double crap, C's birthday is Sunday.

What???

You're an earth mother! Your friends sometimes
call you Gaea, because you're the original
earth goddess! You and your kids both have
dirt under your fingernails, and you spend as
much of your time as possible out of doors.
Your kids have an incredible appreciation for
nature.


What kind of a freaky mother are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Thanks to Rachel for the quiz link.
I think I'll go pot some herbs and lovingly create a bamboo crib now...NOT!

Cute

She would undoubtedly be the cutest sword swallower in the circus, if she were to run off and join the circus that is.

Attitude

Today I irked my 6yo by refusing to buy a toy. She spread her feet, crossed her arms and said "Do you know what I think? I think I was really born in a rich family and you guys just kidnapped me to be your slave!" All this said with a glower and a lisp through the hole where her tooth used to be. Boy, I can hardly wait for her teen years.

Just So You'll Know

I don't think being outside causes illness. I think germs cause illness (and then only sometimes). If my kids want to go outside with no coat and no hat and no shoes when it's 32 degrees and sleeting it's ok with me. When they are cold they will come back inside. Don't feel you need to call me about it! If you see them practicing their hatchet throwing or sacrificing small animals THAT would be the time to call me.

I'm Dreaming of a White Thanksgiving

Doing a quick catch up... We awoke Thanksgiving morning to snow. It melted off by evening but the kids had a blast. F and L even went out in the morning in their pjs. These pics are poor because mommy stood inside to take them.



We had a nice day. The kids played outside alot. We played games in the evening. This is an act of LOVE. I am not really a big game person except for cards but I gamely sat through Cadoo, Chinese Checkers and Mancala. The funny comment of the day came from S. "Why are snowmen single? They have snow balls." Ah, 10 year old humor.

Friday was our town Christmas lighting and the appearance of Santa. I asked L who is 6 what she told Santa. She told him she had been, very, very, very, very, very, exceptionally good. I guess all the verys weren't emphatic enough. I asked F who is 3 what he asked Santa for. He said "A sucker." LOL. His wants are few.

Saturday I splurged and took the oldest four kids to the Incredibles. They had wanted to see it and I had the opportunity. It also poured rain all day so it seemed like a good time. They enjoyed it but I sure couldn't afford to do movies very often.

Today I went to Lowe's. I know there are people who enjoy remodeling and decorating. I would like to state for the record I am not one of them.

Not Native Friendly

What started as a simple "What I made at Kindergarten" pose

turned into some kind of underage Chippendale's thing



Tomorrow we will be feasting by ourselves since we are a burden to others :-P but tonight I made homemade pizza and let the kids have pop (not something they get very often). My 8 year old announced that this was the best meal ever!!! Could we please have it again tomorrow?

What weekend?

It is now Monday and I can rest awhile. When did weekends get so busy? Was it when mom's went to work so things needed shifted or was it when we all thought every hour needs to be filled? I keep my kids activities to a minimum but with six of them the time seems to disappear. Saturday included three kids with basketball practice, two kids in a dance recital, a church bazaar where I needed to help and a church supper. Sunday was church, one kid staying there for youth group putting up the tree then all of us returning for supper and Hanging of the Greens. The kids did have a blast Sunday night. The kids all go downstairs and just run around. Ah, unstructured play without adult intervention. I hope it makes a good holiday memory for them. "Hey, remember when we'd all go to the basement and play chase and dodge pillow?" Before everyone comments that I could just take my kids out of all activities, we tried this. There is literally no one at the parks or playing in town for the kids to play with. Most of their close friends live on farms too far to bike ride to or in another little town 10 miles away that uses the same school. Remember when everyone ran around and it was easy to find a group to play with. I guess they should be glad they at least have some sibs to play with.

Food

It's been quite awhile since I posted about food. I thought of it because we've reached the point where I'm going to have to be exceptionally creative. You know, the point where you're thinking maybe they'll eat a sauerkraut quiche if they're hungry enough. I don't have time to go shopping today or tomorrow and Aldi's is closed on Sunday. I could go to the SuperWalmart if we're desperate but I think if I'm creative we should be able to last until then. I also think it would be good to use some of the stuff that's been sitting on the shelves. So... if you've made it this far you can now join me in organizing my thought.
Breakfasts: Toast (will make honey/oatmeal bread to use up those two ingredients) or pumpkin muffins (uses a can of pumpkin)
Lunch: peanut butter sandwiches, ramen noodles with peas (that makes it a health food, lol), peanut butter pancakes(we just roll up pancakes like crepes with peanut butter and jelly or cinnamon and sugar)
Dinner: mac&cheese with mexican tomatoes (not sure how long I've had those), hamburger gravy and biscuits (want to get rid of cheap crisco knockoff, not as good as the real thing) with green beans or corn, grilled cheese and tomato soup (will make homemade from tomato paste) I could also make rice and beans .
Snacks: popcorn, apples, I think we have a few saltines left, I might make some pudding.

We are out of potatoes, bananas, oranges, spaghetti, all the staples. We'll see how the Great Pantry Emptying goes.

Let's see, this must be the reason we spent tens of thousands of dollars remodeling the house. It was all for some cabinet boxes.

More Proof...

that I won't be winning mother of the year. If you saw a red bead on the floor would you A) let it lay, B) throw it away C) push it up your nose. We all know what a three year old will do. He started yelling the minute after he did it. After I figured out what he'd done I just shook my head. Dh was home and did not take it so calmly. He tried having him blow it out, then put him on the table and kept looking up his nose with the flashlight. He was getting really panicky (dh , not three year old, lol) I did what any sensible mom would do, I shone the light into his eyes which made him sneeze which shot that little bead right across the room. I sincerely hope if they ever sever an artery I'm here and not dh.
It also occurred to me about 20 minutes ago that L is the "Star Student" this week and I was supposed to send pictures to Kindergarten with her to share. I'm sure I'll hear about my inadequacies when she gets home. E is also upset because I'm not going to be able to attend either of her basketball games this week. I'm sure they are keeping a log of all these faults to relate to their psychotherapist some day. On the bright side (and this is bragging), the three kids who get grades were all on the honor roll, two of them with straight A's. This really had nothing to do with me but they did work hard to get those grades. It gives me hope that they may have a work ethic afterall!!!!

One Reason to Love DH

Tonight DH and I went out for a coffee. On the way home we were singing to the Eagles on the radio and talking about things from "back in the day". As we drove past a hotel he suddenly asked me "Hey, want to check in as Mr. & Mrs. Ivana Humpalot?" I had to crack up.

Looking Up

Well, my mood was much better Wednesday. The kids only had a half day of school. I'm not sure why they didn't do that on Veteran's Day. For the same reason they had the Monday before Halloween off and not the day after I guess. Something about teacher contracts. Anyhoo... I got groceries and stopped at Lowe's to buy lighting fixtures. I also bought a bakers rack to use as a microwave shelf and to replace the storage I lost when the island went away. It looks superdydooperdy (think I watch too much Barney?) The flooring guys came and started the floor. They don't appear to be the kind who are going to work too hard. They knocked off for the day at 2:30. The electrician has started wiring in lights so I have hope of power and an actual floor by next week. That just leaves trimming out and plumbing. The kids played outside all afternoon. I did hear Fletch come in and went to check on him. He was busily coloring his shirt sleeves with green marker. But look at this face, does he know how to work those eyes or what!

Sad Week

Well, this week is not shaping up too well. Monday one of my husband's coworkers was killed in a car accident. Later that evening I found out a woman I am aquainted with (kids on same teams, kids in same pre-school) has a mass in her lung. They will be doing surgery tomorrow. Her kids are 18,10 and 8. Now kim has posted about a tragedy in her church. All this makes me very sad and reminds me you really don't know when you get up in the morning what will happen. Hug your kids, even the annoying, runny nosed, whiny ones.

Eye of Newt

Why can't kids just read about stuff in school? When did all the "projects" become so popular? E's science class is required to have each group create a habitat for an animal (no mammals), get the animal, observe the animal, blah, blah, blah. I got to go buy the newt and accoutrements. No other parent "had time". I send them to public school to avoid this stuff.*sigh* I realized I would make a lousy homeschool mother because I would never want to do projects like this. Maybe I'm projecting too much of my own personality into this. I love to read, about anything, all the time. I have no real desire to do the stuff I'm reading about. I'll take the author's word about the habits of newts, or economies, or the topography of Indiana. (I used to find lots of creative ways to avoid labs in school.) I also hated group projects, with a vengence. Control issues here I know. Anyway... I delivered the slimy little amphibian, gravel, food, plastic plants, etc. I am supermom!!!

Food drive complete and a success. 957 cans of food. Not bad for a little town. I even managed not to let any of the little nippers get hurt. Today after church I finally had a chance to get E some jeans. I've checked Goodwill and the Salvation Army store but I had the results I expected. She is very difficult to fit. We made a trip to Old Navy where they were having a sale. We managed to find some size 0 with a slim fit. (I probably couldn't fit one thigh in them, lol). What I found annoying about the trip was the Christmas music, the Christmas print clothes, sacks, and even the Christmas print on my Starbucks cup. It is just the week after Halloween right?.

This Week in Fast Forward

Tuesday: voted, dusted drywall,ran kids to various events
Wednesday: helped in L's kindergarten class, decided perhaps my kids are ok afterall, cleaned,
laundered and committed housewifelyness, yuck
Thursday: primed new bath and bedroom and existing dining room (like we dine there ?), was a
planner for S's Family Fun Night at school so made sure of drinks, enough food, games,
etc.
Friday: got groceries, E has a friend staying over, they are going to the middle school dance
tonight. I forgot how much effort goes into looking good so you can stand in a dark
cafeteria

Coming Attractions: Tomorrow is the Cub Scout Food Drive-- this involves walking around town for
hours while trying to keep 8 and 9 yr old boys polite, helpful and alive since
none of them possess the ability to pay attention to the road they are walking
down. I see a bottle of wine in the future for Sat night!!

Halloween

Here is the required picture of the kids in their costumes.


And here they are "killing" the pumpkin


Halloween was nice. I thought we'd only be out for a little bit but they all hung on for the whole two hours of walking, even 3yo. If it had been a trip I wanted to make however you can bet he'd have been tired 20 minutes into it.

Monday was a loss as I had a migrane. Enough said.

Halloween in Perfect

The title refers to television advertisements from Walgreens I think, anyway... So far Halloween festivities are going well. Last night I took all the kids to the Boy Scout hot dog roast. One of E's friends was there because her little brother is a cub scout so she was happpy. We then took all the boys down town (You have to realize I live in a very small town, think Mayberry). The town was having it's Scarecrow Festival. Local businesses, schools, groups, etc create scarecrows to decorate downtown. The street is closed and all the businesses have games or treats or something for the kids to do. There was apple bobbing, donut on a string, hoola hooping, pumpkin decorating, wheel of fortune, you get the idea. We took all the boys on the haunted hayride. Lots of fun, lots of screaming. I then let everyone 8 and up wander around for awhile on their own while I took the youngest 3 around. I had 2 extra kids because they had no ride home. We met 45 minutes later and everyone had a good time. Today was pretty good. I got out the box with the costumes from lo' these many years plus anything I've picked up and garage sales and stuff given to us. We tend to be the dropping place for lots of stuff people don't know what to do with. We are having "Pumpkin Princess" E in a really atrocious orange formal from somewhere, S a hunchback monster, C a racecar driver or ninja, L a fairy princess- a gown with wings, wand and crown, F will be a dinosaur and Mel will be a cow. It is a very cute outfit some seamstress (this would NEVER be me) made and the treat bag is an udder. I will of course be Professor McGonigal. I need to get a new outfit. We carved our pumpkin. Note that was singular. This did not please the kids but it's what dh came home with. He doesn't get they'd all rather have a microscopic pumpkin that they don't have to share rather than a huge one that someone else gets to have input on. Tonight S went to a party so I'll at least have to stay awake long enough to pick him up. Tomorrow I'm teaching Sunday School so I'll probably take them treating at church and of course Trick or Treating tomorrow night followed by A Charlie Brown Halloween...because I want to see it, I don't think the kids really care. I hope they are up for school Monday. Maybe we'll just all lie around the house with insulin shock instead.

Please Stop.....

I am a firm believer in voting, I treasure my rights, I love my country but please.....stop the election noise!!! If I hear either side predict doom and gloom and be rather ungentlemanly toward the other I will scream. I actually did run screaming from the news the other night, just on principle. It shocked the kids. Come on Tuesday and lets get this over with.

What else has been going on? Wednesday the kids and I enjoyed the eclipse, Thursday I conducted the Halloween party at ds's preschool. I had to take Mel and L but they were good. Well, Mel was in the sling so she didn't have much choice but L was good. I had one other mom show up to help. I hate being one of the only sahms. It means you get elected to everything. I know you can say no but then they just cancel the party, trip , whatever. And I was a wohm for a long time, so I can sympathize. Tonight is supposed to be the cub scout bonfire/cookout but it is raining. The plan was to cook hot dogs and marshmallows and then attend our town's scarecrow festival as a group for games and a hay ride. We'll see if it stops raining.

F is now trying knock -knock jokes. What amuses a 3yr old amazes me. "Knock knock" "Who's there" "Ducky" "Ducky who" "Poop, poop!" Collapse in peals of laughter. It pales for me after the 33rd telling :-P

Will They Notice

So I'm sitting here with a headache and sore throat reading blogs. I was reading Chris' blog and was relieved others guestimate those milestones. I got Mel's baby book down to put 1st birthday cards inside and saw all those blank pages. I made up some dates just so she won't have that to report to her future therapist too. I hope they remember that I was always willing to play ball or badmitton, let them color their hair, climb way too high in trees, served ice cream for breakfast and tried to only stress about the big stuff. I don't always succeed but I hope they at least notice I tried. I guess we'll know how successful I was when I see if I rate a nice nursing home or get left at the bus station.

For excitement today I nearly electroduted myself. I was putting the panels over the breaker boxes since I am done painting the utility room. I heard a bzzzt, felt a tingle and all the power went out in the house. I'm still not sure whether I pushed on something or crosses some wires or what. It was excitement I could do without.

Well, time to pick up dd from basketball practice. Sigh... seems too early to be starting "winter" sports. Can't we have a summer do over???

This~n~That

So, just some random stuff here. Dry wall is really a pain to prep and paint. Can we say !dusty!. Of course, my lung function is worth saving the $1200 that the contractor budgeted to paint it. We're getting down to the end here. I need to paint, the floor will be here in 3 weeks, after that the electrician can come back and wire the heaters, lights, etc. The gutters need hung outside. The door ways and other trim needs put up, and as you can see in the pictures below the kitchen wall needs drywalled. I refuse to live with green styrofoam. On Sunday we had my family over for cake. Mel was 1 on 10/20, my dad was 77 on 10/22, my SIL had a birthday on 10/23 and today is me and dh's 18th anniversary. And they said it wouldn't last {smirk}. Here is the 'party' and my horrible kitchen walls.




DD is now bugging me to teach her how to download from itunes. The kids are home today for records day. I treated them to lunch at Pizza Hut. This a big deal for kids who don't go out much. We also went to get Mel her 1 year shots but they were out of MMR vaccine so we went to the park instead. All in all a pretty good day.

Happy Birthday to Mel!

My baby is one today. I can't believe how, not sad exactly,( but maybe nostalgic or wistful would be the word )that I feel. Where did the baby go???
Here she is doing her favorite thing, unloading the kitchen cabinets.

Her "today" cake. We'll have family over Sun for a nicer one.

It took her no time to decide she liked chocolate cake.

Not a cool blog....

So, I've been tooling around blogland since Mel has a cold and is in hold me/nurse me/love me mode. I've been looking at content, templates, comments and have come to the conclusion....I am as boring as I thought I was. Arghhh!!! This was just what I was afraid of in high school. Back when I thought I'd move to Chicago and have a killer apartment and an awesome career. But you know what I really wouldn't trade. Dh and I look at each other and talk about friends and aquaintances. "What do they do????"

Quiet Weekend?

I thought I was going to have a quiet weekend. Dh is working. Somehow it got busy though. DS went to a boy scout olympics, needed to drop him off and pick him up. DD wanted to go to a $.50 movie so I let myself be talked into that because DS#2 had a birthday party on the way. I put 90miles on the van. Eeek! Now it's 7:00pm and they've had the nerve to tell me there's nothing to do. Tomorrow we're really, (I mean it) going to stay home, and be bored , or else!! Maybe it will be nicer tomorrow. Cold, rainy, sleety and windy today. I'm not ready for Faaaallll. Off to oversee the dinner dishes. Don't tell me you're bored or I'll find you something to do, lol.

Not a great day. The contractor's helpers hung the screen door on the back backwards! Duh! This p*ssed off dh, so he griped at me. This means I will have to track down the appropriate people and get the door hung right. Dh (in his usual manner) displaced his aggravation with the door onto the kids. Sigh!! Two ended up in bed early. I behaved like an adult (which ain't much fun) and waited to b*tch at him until they had all gone upstairs. I wonder if my parents did the same thing? I wonder if the united front is all it's cracked up to be, LOL. I'm now going to go have a nice cup of tea and a crossword. I deserve it.

Not Much Shaking

There is not too much exciting to say today. The Colts won yesterday, yeah!! Mel learned how to clap. They continue to pound on my house, for 8 long hours at a time. They also continue to sand dry wall. Through the dust I think I see rooms starting to take shape. Dh and 4 kiddos have colds. Yuck! I haven't posted my menu for this week. I need to keep myself honest or I'll fall into the whatever you can grab habit.

Sunday : Meatloaf, potato wedges, green beans, apple crisp
Monday: Chili, peanut butter sandwiches or saltines, pumpkin pie
Tuesday: Chicken, dressing, carrots, gingerbread
Wednesday: Spaghetti, broccoli, garlic bread, oranges
Thursday: Hamburgers (on the grill), corn on the cob, ice cream
Friday: Pizza (again!! a kid request), cookies
Saturday: Ham & Beans, cornbread, fruit bowl
Sunday: Pot Roast, potatos, carrots, cake

$$$$$

It was one of those days where the money seemed to whip out of my wallet. I took E for an optometrist appointment this morning. I thought we would just renew her contact Rx and get out but her eyes had changed so we ended up getting new contacts and frames/lenses. Then she went to get the haircut I promised her. I then went to Lowe's to get lights. I got a fan/light for our new bedroom, six basic globes, a vanity bar light for the new bathroom, a light for the outside back porch and a screen door for the new back. Eeeek! $350 later I left. Tomorrow we're eating egg salad and playing board games for entertainment, lol. That sounds frugal. At least I picked the ones I liked and for once in my life things are the ones I wanted and not the ones the previous owner left.

Better Day

Well, F made it through pre-school without bullying anyone! Yeah! Now to make it through 56 more days bully free! I think the fact that the fire truck visited today and he got to climb on the truck and honk the horn helped. None of my kids are good at sitting still. Right now he is playing the part of Pinky Pie and Mel is playing Cotton Candy as designated by L who is directing their little pony picnic.

This is E running in her last cross country meet. She ended up 10th which I thought was pretty good for the county. I'm sure it's waaaay better than I could do.
I had a teacher conference at school last night with L's teacher. She is doing well and seems to be well versed in what is needed for k-garten. She is starting to read simple words . Now if the other three conferences go that well next week. I'm sure I'll hear the same old things E is so responsible, C has a gift for math and no social ability and S is shown by tests to be soooo bright but will not concentrate in class. At least they aren't biting people ;-)
On the house front, we are half sided and the dry wall is up. It's not taped and mudded yet but it's taking shape.

I need to go buy paint and light fixtures. I picked my bathroom cabinets today. He had all these books and looked positively dissapointed when I said "Plain white please." I'm just deficient in the decorating gene.

I'm a s*cky parent

My 3yo has had a hard time at preschool. It took 2 weeks to get him to go in without prying him off my leg. Today I got a call that he had pushed and bitten another child. He has never bitten anyone at home, so why does he pick someone else's kid to start with, grrr. I went to school, gave him the firm mom talk and told him his beyblades would be gone until he could act better. Dh went to pick him up 30 min later and he had scratched someone since I had come home. Double grrrr. They are giving him Thursday as a final chance and then he's kicked out of preschool. There isn't a big enough rock to crawl under. I can here the locals now "If she didn't have so many kids she could control them." and other variations on that theme. Dh went bonkers. He is so mad he can't think straight. I feel bad for the other kids and am just plain old embarrassed and am wondering why my kid can't just be good. Typical of mothers I'm sure this must be something I've done wrong. I realize I didn't do the biting but that doesnt' change the way I feel. Ok, I know in 20 years it won't be a big deal but... sigh....

Orchard Trip

It was a beautiful day (and yesterday was a loss, explain that later) so we went to the orchard!! It was sunny and the temp was perfect. The kids looked like advertisements for wholesomeness! Such exictement over the "perfect" apple. There was much running and giggling. We also made a spectacle of ourselves. We always do. The older boys spied apples high up. They were on thin branches so the obvious thing to do is hoist your 3 yo brother up to get them. I have never understood how my children can be so mediocre at sports but excel at climbing. So mom here comes around the corner and sees F hanging waaaaay out there on a TWIG. Of course I had 25# chunky baby in a sling so my run was slow motion. But hey, why should mom worry, afterall, 10 year old was hanging on to his one ankle. Obviously I am an overprotective nut. At least that seemed to be their concensus. I did bring my camera but neglected to test those pesky batteries so no pics to share :-(

Yesterday was a loss because dh and I spent 8 hours tearing out a breakfast bar, glued on carpet, 2 subfloors and 3 layers of linoleum that we counted. Oh, and endless passes over the floor pulling up nails. My knees are bruised from crawling around and my hands.... well, it's just a good thing I don't spend money on manicures. Now I am at the mercy of the subfloor gods. Until then we will be living with some circa 1930 chipped linoleum. It's a good thing Martha is in jail and won't be coming over ;-)

Amusing

Yesterday in the mail I recieved my chance to join....Planned Parenthood.LOLOLOL! Anyone besides me see irony in sending that to a woman with six kids who'd like more? I laughed all the way in from the mail box. I wonder what would happen if I showed up at a meeting with the kids in tow? Maybe they could use me as a "Don't let this happen to you"

Catching Up

Catching up... Saturday was a huge cross country invitational that took up time. In the evening dd E watched the kids while dh and I went out for pizza. It was a rare occurrence but really nice. Sunday we took family time. The kids played in the leaves outside.

and Mel played inside with a pair of socks, lol. Who needs developmental toys ;-)

Monday was dance, girl scouts, and a boy scout committee meeting. Tuesday unfortunately was calling at the funeral home. A local man crashed his ultra light. He has a 7 year old daughter. It is very sad. This morning I'm babysitting so another mom could go to the funeral. These occassional wake up calls do make you think that you should quit worrying if they picked up their socks or left their toys in the yard and just enjoy being with them. If I get hit by a bus I don't want their memories to be all about me griping. On a brighter note we're going to the orchard this afternoon. According to the kids apples taste better if you pick them yourself.

Insulation Issues

Cellulose insulation is fluffy, cushy, soft and floaty. It reminds me of wool or snow so... why does the machine that blows it into your house sound like a cross beteen an elephant belching and a dentist's drill? I'm seriously rethinking if a second bathroom was really necessary, afterall we could have let the utility room collapse and just pretended the whole mess didn't exist. I'm standing up for the ostrich with his head in the sand. I'll bet he's a very happy ostrich.

Bad Blogger

Well, try as I might, I just can't seem to post as often as I'd like. To catch you up (since if you're reading this you must be interested...go figure), Sunday was church and a bike ride. Of course the 3 year old has such little wheels on his bike this means the older four leave us in the dust. It also means I need tthe patience of a saint and just sort of sit on my bike and push Amelia and I ahead with my toe. Hmm, Monday was just the usual. Did laundry, cleaned house, scrubbed the bathroom. Sunday night dh and I watched a show called "How Clean Is Your House?" I was inspired to scrub after that. Yesterday I took F to pre-school and then L and I went biking again. I actually got to pedal that time. This morning I went to L's kindergarten class to help. My kudos to anyone who teaches school. What else? Oh, I was going to post menus , which are late but this seems to keep me on schedule so:
Wednesday: Veggie fried rice, oranges
Thursday: Homemade Pizza, pudding
Friday: BBQ Chicken, corn, broccoli, cookies
Saturday: Hamburger Stroganoff,peas&carrots,ice cream
Sunday: Turkey breast, sweet potatoes, green beans,apple crisp
Monday: Turkey&noodle soup, dinner rolls, fresh fruit
Tuesday: Spaghetti, broccoli, garlic toast, fudge bars

Last week I stuck pretty close to my menu. Now that the kids are busy it helps to know what I'm doing, at least as far as I ever know what I'm doing ;-)

Brownies ,Boy Scouts and Busy

Can you tell we made brownies? You'll notice they don't have the beater, because I did! How come the batter is even better than the finished product? I was able to make brownies because I went grocery shopping. You'll be crushed to know I threw away the receipt so you don't get a detailed list, Aw darn. I do know I spent $80 and change. I'll have to make up menus. I realize you don't care but it is a convenient way for me to keep track :-) I haven't had time to think about it because Friday morning wa sshopping, Friday afternoon I took the little three on a bike ride. We made the above brownies. Friday evening oldest dd went to a high school football game. She caught a ride in (high school is 17mi away) and I went to a boy scout meeting. I took the littles with me which is always a balancing act, help the boys, correct the kids, repeat. We went home, puttered awhile and then picked up dd and her friends at 11:00. It was too late for me. I let her go because they had a campus life event after the game, pizza, pop, kick a field goal for $100 that sort of thing. How about she stays home with the kids and I go to a fun event? Today is a cross country meet and S is going to a friend's house. The boys are missing going to the corn maze because I just can't get them there today. I offerred to take them out to a field and leave them but they didn't feel it was quite the same. Well, off to finish laundry and return library books before going to the meet.

"What do you DO all day?"

In response to Paula, after 17 years dh will now eat carrots, salad and broccoli. Not much but three more veggies than he ate when I met him, lol. Oh, and green peppers and onions if it's cooked in something. Most of the kids aren't any more thrilled than he is but they're still at my mercy.
A quick review of yesterday and this morning follows for my nephew who wonders what it is I do all day.
Monday: Cook breakfast and get all off to school. Run errands to the bank, bike shop and library. Take littlest two to the park. Come home, fix lunch, clean playroom, do dishes, vaccuum, bathe Mel. Make dinner to warm up later. When kids get home throw snacks at them and head right back out the door to a cross country meet. Carry 21 pound baby around cross country meet. Hurry home in time for mother of child I keep to pick her up, reheat said dinner, take L to dance, start laundry, supervise dishes and kitchen cleaning, pick up L, bathe F&L, call in dss from playing, reassert that it is dark and they need to shower, help check homework. Take E to dance, come home, put little three to bed, eat my own dinner, tell dss to go to bed, pick up E from dance, read paper, check computer and go to bed.
Tuesday: Breakfast and school thing. Take F to preschool, leave him kicking and screaming. Go home, take bike ride with Mel and L. Do L's homework, read stories, do dishes, hang laundry, check computer. Half day of school today so S wants to bake a cake and needs help with decimals. E plans to write a paper and will need spelling help. Etc. Etc. So that dear nephew is what I do all day. You will notice a shocking lack of TV and bon bons, lol.

Menus and Groceries

Well, I'm a little late with the grocery list/menu plan. I'm purely copying Chris and Kmom's (I don't have the energy to figure out how to link that either) idea because
1) I'm feeling decidedly uncreative this evening
2) I went shopping yesterday and have all the reciepts
3) With school and kid activities back in full swing I need to be more organized.

Let me say I understand if your eyes are glazing over. Please feel free to skip on...
Ok..We'll start with breakfast. This week I'll make in no particular order:
Breakfast--
biscuits
eggs & toast
pancakes & sausage
oatmeal/cocoa wheats
hashbrowns and bananas

Saturday is usually find your own and Sunday I make something sweet--coffee cake, cinnamon rolls, etc
Lunch--
My kids and dh take lunches so it is usually either sandwich, fruit, juice, crackers, raw veg or pudding--they pick and pack. I just keep the stuff handy. They can also take leftovers in a thermos if they want. At home we eat leftovers or pbj.

Dinner--
Sunday- Steak, oven fries, salad and biscuits
Monday- Homemade mac&cheese with ham bits, broccoli
Tuesday-Meatloaf, carrots, potatoes and yeast rolls
Wednesday-chili(any leftover meatloaf goes in too), cornbread
Thursday-spaghetti (I'll add any leftover chili),green beans
Friday-chicken or cheese quesadillas, corn
Saturday-minestrone, garlic bread sticks

Oldest dd and myself usually too, don't eat meat so I usually take a small amount of a meat entree out for us so our spaghetti and chili are veggie, mac&cheese without ham. We always have a full fruit bowl or a big fruit salad in the fridge.

Now the grocery list. I don't have a set budget I just try to get the most for the least money. I of course have some stuff and home I don't have to buy each week.

sirloin $6.99
salisbury steak $1.69
skim milkx2 $3.98
corn $0.33
alfredo noodlesx2 $0.89
skillet dinner $0.89
applesauce $0.79
sandwich bags $1.69
italian saladx2 $2.98
cheese slices $2.69
frozen peas $0.79
corn chips $0.99
carrotsx2 $1.98
chick breasts $6.99
broccoli x2 $1.98
apple juice $0.69
sp rings x2 $1.00
butter $2.29
macaroni $0.50
cot cheese $1.59
cheese sticks $1.19
gummi bears $0.99
tuna $0.49
raisins $1.29
pbutter x2 $2.58
ravioli $0.59
tomato paste $0.33
turk ham $2.97
yogurts $1.69
grape juice $0.69
choc chips $0.99
avocado $0.79
fruit $1.39
lunch meat $2.60
gr sirloin $5.58
eggs x2 $1.18
sugar $1.79
english muffxw $1.18
12 pk mt dew $3.30
12 pk 7-up $3.30
pumpkinx2 $1.98
________
I think that's $78.61

Sinking in Salsa

I've been MIA this week. Every stinking tomato became ripe at the same time so... I've been making salsa and spaghetti sauce. Also the grapes were ready so I made jelly. These must be the messiest endeavors a cook can undertake. I'm trying to put the impending visit to the orchard out of my mind. It will ultimately lead to apple butter and apple sauce making. I wouldn't bother with these things but I can't seem to waste food. It must be some psychological residue from my depression era parents. Just to add more fun the past few days the construction guys found a nest of yellow jackets under the house. This led to lots of yelling on their parts, then spraying, and swatting. All this succeeded in sending some hearty flying souls into the house so I have to periodically run to kill stinging insects. That about sums up the past three days. Oh, the excitement. Tomorrow is a cross country meet so a long day. I also need to call SILs in Florida to see if they are ready to move yet. I'll take the boring midwest anytime.

Labor Day

I warn you now, if you don't want to see a bunch of pics of my kids stop reading....ok now that only family members are left..
We went to the park for hours
We skated


We biked

We skated some more

Mom made us pose for some really lame pictures..note the thrilled looks on their faces, lol

Then we went to the kids favorite restaurant ---Ponderosa---I think it's the ice cream that's the big draw.

After this mom and dad collapsed with a beer in the swing.

My New Baby

There she is, the object of my affection, the apple (har, har) or my eye, my newest baby. She is shiny and new, is uncorrupted and free of pbj print!! I did condescend to let oldest dd IM her friends, but it took all my maternal goodness, it really did.

A pretty quiet holiday weekend here. Friday oldst dd had a friend over, Saturday oldest ds had a friend over. No one else is coming over! It poured rain all day Friday and yesterday was cloudy. It is now stinking hot and humid. This reduces our options for fun considerably. We are definitely a go to the park, go swimming, go bike riding kind of family. Yesterday we all sat around trying to think of something to do or somewhere to go that was inside. We came up with nada. Dh took the boys off to a sporting goods store (Gander Mountain--or Gender Mountain as dd and I call it) to look for glow sticks. I might take dd to look for jeans when they get back, but I dread it. It is very hard to find something to fit her and what does fit her is "ugly" thus it becomes a tad tedious for dear old mom. On the bright side Mel is showing musical prowess

Ok, maybe maracas aren't really a musical instrument but when she stands up and rattles them her little moneymaker shakes. Maybe with a feather boa and a fruit bowl on her head she could make a living?

The Big City

Today I went to the big city..Indy. It's big , really (I hear all of you who live on the coasts laughing). I went to the Apple Store and bought a new 'puter! Yeah!!! My iMac has been taken over by the kids so I saved b-day and x-mas money and got a new eMac. It is so very cool. I'm still trying to get all my favorite stuff loaded on but I think I'm going to like it. While I was in Indy at the chi-chi poo-poo mall I looked around a little. I am either hopelessly rural, boringly practical or depressingly middle aged but it was all stuff I don't need or even want. Church or the school are about it for the dressing up occasions and I can't see doing the house in Pottery Barn when I'm still living with boxes and a freezer in the living room. I wanted to post a pic of the new 'puter but the batteries in the camera are dead. Hopefully I can take care of that tomorrow. On other fronts, would anyone like a snarky, whiny 10yo boy? I'll make you a great deal! Maybe even pay you to take him?? ;-)

Too Hot!

Nope, I'm not talking about me in shorts, lol. Friday and Saturday were so humid I felt like I couldn't move. Of course Friday was the day I absolutely had to go to the laundromat. It was so humid there I swear there was fog in the air. L, F , Mel and I took a walk across the blacktop parking lot to cool off. When 90 degrees and blacktop is inviting perhaps it's time to install air conditioning in the laundromat. E was nearly melted when I picked her up from cross country practice. Saturday E was marching in a parade in a nearby town with the school band so we went. All the kids had fun gathering candy. It must be the hunter/gatherer coming out. Seems to me it would be easier to go buy some than stand outside in the heat rushing into traffic to pick up melted tootsie rolls and suckers. It rained Saturday night and blessedly cooled off some Sunday. For some reason though everyone was in a bad mood. E was having a hissy about some school project (which isn't due until the 7th of Sept., how can a child of mine not be a procrastinator?), S was just disrespectful, C kept fighting with L and F asked his new favorite question every 5 seconds...But why mommy? About 6:00pm mommy lost her temper. Everyone left me alone after that. If I'd known I would have had my own hissy fit earlier :-P

Car Conversation:

Why is daddy at work?
To make money for us?
But why mommy?
So we can buy food and have a house.
But why mommy?
We like to eat and have a bed right.
But why mommy?
Because we get hungry?
But why mommy?
Because we need to eat to live?
But why mommy?
I wonder why too! (Contemplating why the fates have sucked me into this conversation)
Oh, because mommy!

I should have asked why back earlier!

More Proof I'm an Oddball

Once in awhile it occurs to me that even though I feel quite normal, maybe even old fashioned I am actually "different". So far this week:

1. I couldn't join in the discussion of how expensive new school clothes are because I've sent mine to school in their perfectly good sandals and shorts from this summer.
2. I have told the kindergarten teacher "No, it is not a mistake that I didn't send in the requested 12 glue sticks. When she runs low let her tell me. She has not used 12 glue sticks in her whole life."
3. Yes, I understand the ramifications of being "incompletely vaccinated" and just give me the paper so I can sign the waiver.
4. No (again to the kindergarten teacher) I won't be running in her forgotten homework folder. If she gets in trouble this time maybe she won't forget it next time.
5. Yes, I see the baby is walking and about to fall. It won't hurt her, really.
6. I just need to know when to pick up dd from the cross country meet not directions to the other school.
7. No, we won't be attending (fill in the blank) we need family quiet time.

And finally
8. My children WILL NOT be participating in the school fundraiser. We and all the people we know already own enough useless geegaws and I refuse to have my kids shill for some company getting rich on the backs of little kids. Oops! I'm positive the last comments got me filed in the Oddball Parent file at school. Perhaps I shouldn't have unloaded at the PTO meeting, LOL!

Happy Birthday Lilybug!!

Life got in the way but I'm back to announce I am now the mother of a kindergartener who turns 6 today! Now if only her mom would get busy and bake her a cake. This is L and dh on the first day of school.


Dh took time off at the end of last week so we worked on all the home improvment projects. Yuck. I do not like that sort of thing. If I could leave and come back when it was done that would be fine with me. We replaced some blown off shingles, replaced the bathroom shower faucet (which ran all the time) and installed cut offs. I also changed bedrooms around. Now when the construction is finished I only have to move oldest dd who is sharing with the two youngest girls for now. It also seems the children have all taken maladjustment pills so lots of emotions that needed to be dealt with. And lets not forget the baby's two day case of diarrhea. We also managed to fit in a trip to a minor league baseball game the kids won ticket to and a final trip to the drive in. Dh is back to work today so hopefully things will return to normal. Well, I don't expect all the emotions to return to normal but maybe just quiet down a little. Well, off to bake that cake or we'll have another melt down.

I don't wanna say goodbye to the summer....

My kids are desperately cramming in fun before the start of school. Tonight we are "camping" in the backyard.

What could be better than running around with flashlights and sneaking candy (do they really think I don't know)? Sometimes living in a dinky "Mayberry" town is worth it. I could never let them do this in a big city.

On Saturday we went to some garage sales. DD L who will be 6 next week saw a pink/purple bike. She asked if I could get it for her birthday present. Since it was all of $5.00 I magnanimously said yes. She is so pleased. Somehow we just never got around to getting her one and everyone elses are too big. She is happy.

Today I got her a helmet so she can ride along the street with my supervision. This is the boring part where I tell the story of how my ds was hit by a car while riding his bike. He broke the windshield with his head. It cracked his bike helmet. I'm convinced if he hadn't been wearing it we would be visiting him in a neuro ward. Be a nag and make them wear the helmet. Ok, end of lecture :-)