Here I sit wishing I could sleep. Poor Dusty has to stay up late to close accounts for his company, so here I sit with him because I have a hard time sleeping when he's not there and I'm anticipating him coming in. Last month he was up until 2:30-3 finishing it.
Too bad the lady at Lowe's was incorrect and tomorrow is NOT 09/31, or we wouldn't have to mess with this because it's a lot easier to close on the weekends because you have the whole weekend, and not just one night. You'd think there might be a more efficient use of a worker's time. Too bad he's not hourly...well, never mind. That would be awful. At least he gets some semblance of flex time. But getting back to the lady at Lowe's. You're what 55? 60? You don't know that September only has 30 days yet? I guess some people will never learn.
Please be in prayer for Don Cheney and his family, those of you that know him and haven't heard. He was recently diagnosed with ALS, and has been given 18 months of life left. Also, you who knew Dan Fitzgerald know that those will be some of the worst moments in his and his family's lives because of the tragedy and deterioration that is that disease. It crushes me for them, but especially Ashleigh. She's trying to hold it all together for her 3 boys. Man, lots of sadness the last couple of days. Flooding in Norfolk, my friend's baby, Don. Hopefully that's the 3, and there's not anymore. Not sure I could handle much more in the way of painful diagnoses. I'm praying there aren't anymore. Only positives. Or negatives, whichever would be positive...or negative. Never mind...
Hannah gets a new-to-her bed tomorrow. It was mine when I was living at my parents' house, and it was my mom's grandmother's bed before it was mine. I know Hannah doesn't understand the heritage, but I do, and my mom does, and that makes tomorrow a very special day. She also will have the dresser and nightstand that I had that match the bed. The question is, where exactly will all of this furniture fit? Perhaps there will be a dresser smack in the middle of the room. Would that fall under Feng Shui? ... Doubtful. I think we might have to relocate the roller coaster (yes, roller coaster) that's in our guest bedroom (it was a Christmas present from his grandparents. What were we supposed to do with it?) and place a piece of the furniture in there. That may work. Right, so I'm going to go to bed now, with the hopes of falling asleep and the closings to be fast, before I start telling you about my chipped toenail polish and my frizzy hair. Shoot. Too late.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
I'm not going to be posting very much for the next two days because we have guests. They will take up most of my time, although I will try and post on occasion, just so I don't forget things. Also, I made some chocolate caramel cupcakes last night, so I will post pictures of those soon too. Oh my word, they are the best cupcakes I have ever eaten. More on that later...
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Push Over
That's me. Biggest one EVER. I have piano students. I have a piano studio policy. It requires the student to be upfront with their payments, and to either pay monthly, or bimonthly. I teach 2 girls that live right next door. She should pay for 4 lessons, 2 weeks, BEFORE the lessons. Almost since the beginning of this semester, which began the last week of July, she has been late. Not just one week late, but TWO weeks. I am now sitting here, having given two lessons yesterday and two lessons last week, without getting paid. She paid me the previous payment 2 hours after their lessons were over. I'm just tired of giving 4 lessons before getting paid, and it's awkward for me to go over to her house and knock on the door to ask for the payment. I mean, it would be one thing if I didn't know them, but I do, and they're next door. It makes me want to stop teaching them altogether (like that wouldn't be awkward). I will have to go over there after next week's lessons, if she doesn't give me a check between now and then. I will insist after those lessons that she pay me for that week, and the previous two weeks. Does any of this make sense? I feel like I'm talking in circles, unable to make myself clear on the timing. Oh well.
Last night Hannah was reading a Bible story about baby Jesus being introduced to the people in the church, Simeon and Anna. I told Hannah the man's name was Simeon. Simeon, she repeated. Then, as she read the story she said, "The took him to the temple and handed baby Jesus to Cinnamon." HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! We tried so hard to hide our laughter because she does so well reading. Every once in a while...just have to let it out.
Today we went to story time at the library. Hannah is such a good girl. The lady was reading the story and two girls kept standing up in front of the book, which makes me want to stand up and say, "Excuse me, whose kids are these? Could you possibly make them sit and act like civilized members of society?" It's not like there are 50 kids in there. There were maybe 10. Poor Hannah kept trying to look around them and see the book. Never did she complain, and never did she try and stand up and get in other people's way. Then she did stand one time to point at something, and after she did so, I said, "Hannah, sit down." She did immediately. Then all of the other kids, and when I say all, I mean, every single kid except Seth, were crowding around this puppet raccoon stuffed animal in a trash can. Sweet Hannah just sat there trying to see around them. When I noticed, I said, "Hannah, you can get up to go see it!" She did, but kept back so the other kids could enjoy it. I'm not sure how to handle this because I wish she were a little rougher so she could get in there and enjoy things too, but I do not want to encourage her to be pushy or selfish. We've tried to instill selflessness in our children, I only wish other parents did the same. I would love to reward her in some way for being so kind, but I may have missed that opportunity, since I didn't take advantage of it immediately. However, she did get to play with that raccoon later. She got to put her hand in and let Seth see it, and then Seth did the same for her. They really enjoyed being able to do it themselves. Hopefully that was enough to treat her. I'll be sure to compliment her later though. She really is the most well behaved little girl I have ever encountered. Love her. :) OH, and who knew that Itsy Bitsy Spider was full contact!? Hannah, I guess, because when she washed the spider out, she smacked the kid next to her in the head. She was unphased. I laughed out loud.
Last night Hannah was reading a Bible story about baby Jesus being introduced to the people in the church, Simeon and Anna. I told Hannah the man's name was Simeon. Simeon, she repeated. Then, as she read the story she said, "The took him to the temple and handed baby Jesus to Cinnamon." HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! We tried so hard to hide our laughter because she does so well reading. Every once in a while...just have to let it out.
Today we went to story time at the library. Hannah is such a good girl. The lady was reading the story and two girls kept standing up in front of the book, which makes me want to stand up and say, "Excuse me, whose kids are these? Could you possibly make them sit and act like civilized members of society?" It's not like there are 50 kids in there. There were maybe 10. Poor Hannah kept trying to look around them and see the book. Never did she complain, and never did she try and stand up and get in other people's way. Then she did stand one time to point at something, and after she did so, I said, "Hannah, sit down." She did immediately. Then all of the other kids, and when I say all, I mean, every single kid except Seth, were crowding around this puppet raccoon stuffed animal in a trash can. Sweet Hannah just sat there trying to see around them. When I noticed, I said, "Hannah, you can get up to go see it!" She did, but kept back so the other kids could enjoy it. I'm not sure how to handle this because I wish she were a little rougher so she could get in there and enjoy things too, but I do not want to encourage her to be pushy or selfish. We've tried to instill selflessness in our children, I only wish other parents did the same. I would love to reward her in some way for being so kind, but I may have missed that opportunity, since I didn't take advantage of it immediately. However, she did get to play with that raccoon later. She got to put her hand in and let Seth see it, and then Seth did the same for her. They really enjoyed being able to do it themselves. Hopefully that was enough to treat her. I'll be sure to compliment her later though. She really is the most well behaved little girl I have ever encountered. Love her. :) OH, and who knew that Itsy Bitsy Spider was full contact!? Hannah, I guess, because when she washed the spider out, she smacked the kid next to her in the head. She was unphased. I laughed out loud.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Oh, and another thing
Strange that last night I was thinking about the miscarriage, and my friend who's pregnant with twins. She had her babies today. One of my friends on facebook said it best, I think, "Heaven and Earth both gained an angel today."
Naptime
I went and put Seth's sheet back on his bed right before naps. Love-a-Lot bear was in his bed. I thought he had put him in there to sleep with, so I left him.
A couple of minutes after I came back downstairs Seth called, "MOMMY! There's a Care Bear in my bed!"
"Yes. If you don't want him in there, just throw him out of your bed."
"OK"
*Thud*
"MOMMY! I don't want him in my room."
I walked upstairs to retrieve the discarded bear. I picked him up and started to walk back out the door.
"Thank you, Mommy. You can put him in the guest bedroom, Mommy."
"OK, Seth."
End Scene.
A couple of minutes after I came back downstairs Seth called, "MOMMY! There's a Care Bear in my bed!"
"Yes. If you don't want him in there, just throw him out of your bed."
"OK"
*Thud*
"MOMMY! I don't want him in my room."
I walked upstairs to retrieve the discarded bear. I picked him up and started to walk back out the door.
"Thank you, Mommy. You can put him in the guest bedroom, Mommy."
"OK, Seth."
End Scene.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Not very happy-go-lucky
I was talking to a worker at the gymnastics gym where the kids play on Monday mornings, and she asked how old my kids are. I told her just under 21 months, and then I told her that I would be almost 38 weeks pregnant right now, had we not miscarried in March, and Seth and that baby would be just over 25 months apart. I'd have had 3 under 4. We talked awhile. I think Hannah overheard a lot of that conversation because tonight she asked me if I had a baby in my belly. I told her no, and she asked the question she used to ask frequently, "Did it die?" Well, that's what we told her when I miscarried because it's important to be upfront with that kind of situation with small children. They don't understand euphemisms, or weird phrases people use, like "lost the baby" or "passed away" or even miscarriage. The "lost the baby" one is what most people say, and to a literal child, a child that only understands concrete situations, they wonder if they also will be lost, so blunt was it. The baby died.
I was due October 14. Just 2 1/2 weeks away. I have a friend who is pregnant and due October 15. She's pregnant with twin girls. One of those girls has anencephaly. Very likely that baby will not live longer than a couple of hours, but they'll be lucky to even get minutes. They'll have one baby left and have very strong memories of the baby that died. They'll meet her, they named her, they've seen her in ultrasounds, they've felt her move. I had none of that. I'm thankful for that. I can't imagine the pain she's going through even now, with the wonder of how long she'll live, and how the emotional pain will feel watching that baby die. Yeah, I'm thankful I don't have to endure that.
Even without those tragic conditions, it made me cry to think about this baby that we lost. Moses. That's what Hannah said she wanted to name it when we told her we were pregnant. I asked, "But what if it's a girl." Moses. Moses it was. Tonight I put Seth in the bath, and watched Hannah get in the bath knowing how much she wanted to have that baby brother or sister. How excited she was when she looked through and read what she could of my pregnancy books, even though she'd only been reading a couple of months. Dusty offered to bathe the kids for me, just so I could have a break because I've had a bad day (I hate Mondays). He didn't know my emotions. We've been grateful for the miscarriage because I don't know how I could've handle the added stress. I don't handle stress. I don't handle it well, I don't handle it poorly; I just don't handle it. I spontaneously combust. I know I could've done it though, adding another one. Not saying I want another one.
I just wonder if it was a girl or a boy. I wonder whose characteristics this baby would've had. Hannah's obviously mine, and Seth is obviously Dusty's. Would this one have been a mixture? How in the world could the two of us be mixed? I think about how Hannah would act with that baby, and how much she'd love it and kiss it, and want to hold it, and bring me diapers, and anything I'd need. I think about that new baby feeling. The sleep deprivation that borders on not being worth it, but winds up being worth it every time. Nursing the baby and the roller coaster of emotions that come with that. All the firsts for the third time. Rounding out the grandchildren with Number 14, instead of the "unlucky" 13. Just some tough thoughts for a crappy Monday.
I was due October 14. Just 2 1/2 weeks away. I have a friend who is pregnant and due October 15. She's pregnant with twin girls. One of those girls has anencephaly. Very likely that baby will not live longer than a couple of hours, but they'll be lucky to even get minutes. They'll have one baby left and have very strong memories of the baby that died. They'll meet her, they named her, they've seen her in ultrasounds, they've felt her move. I had none of that. I'm thankful for that. I can't imagine the pain she's going through even now, with the wonder of how long she'll live, and how the emotional pain will feel watching that baby die. Yeah, I'm thankful I don't have to endure that.
Even without those tragic conditions, it made me cry to think about this baby that we lost. Moses. That's what Hannah said she wanted to name it when we told her we were pregnant. I asked, "But what if it's a girl." Moses. Moses it was. Tonight I put Seth in the bath, and watched Hannah get in the bath knowing how much she wanted to have that baby brother or sister. How excited she was when she looked through and read what she could of my pregnancy books, even though she'd only been reading a couple of months. Dusty offered to bathe the kids for me, just so I could have a break because I've had a bad day (I hate Mondays). He didn't know my emotions. We've been grateful for the miscarriage because I don't know how I could've handle the added stress. I don't handle stress. I don't handle it well, I don't handle it poorly; I just don't handle it. I spontaneously combust. I know I could've done it though, adding another one. Not saying I want another one.
I just wonder if it was a girl or a boy. I wonder whose characteristics this baby would've had. Hannah's obviously mine, and Seth is obviously Dusty's. Would this one have been a mixture? How in the world could the two of us be mixed? I think about how Hannah would act with that baby, and how much she'd love it and kiss it, and want to hold it, and bring me diapers, and anything I'd need. I think about that new baby feeling. The sleep deprivation that borders on not being worth it, but winds up being worth it every time. Nursing the baby and the roller coaster of emotions that come with that. All the firsts for the third time. Rounding out the grandchildren with Number 14, instead of the "unlucky" 13. Just some tough thoughts for a crappy Monday.
First Order and other snippets from the day
I've officially had my first order for baked goods. One of Dusty's coworkers wants to get 2 loaves of sourdough bread (this will be a continuous thing whenever I have bread freshly made near the weekend), and sometime he wants a cake, but he's an odd character, and he doesn't quite understand that I don't just randomly decide to bake a cake for someone. Yes, I do that with cupcakes on occasion to try out new recipes, but a chocolate cake with chocolate icing...done that. Not going to randomly do a cake of any kind, actually.
I dislike mortgage companies. How is it that they ordered a credit report for our refinance, but only sent us the scores, companies and the comments on our scores, not the accounts or balances. When I requested a copy of the full report from our broker, she said that they couldn't give the report to the customers anymore. What? WHY??? I know there's probably some "protection" reason for it, but for now I'm thinking it's just stupid.
All of this has made me not want to cook supper tonight. Surprise, surprise. We have leftovers we could eat, but nothing that I really want. I want to go to Chick-fil-A, but I know that we'll more than likely go there later this week because of visitors we'll have. Problem is we went out to eat for lunch yesterday, and we're trying to save money in case this refinance does go through because it's going to up our monthly payment.
I was complaining this morning to my mom about going to the gym with the kids, and everything else that was bothering me, when my knuckle hit one of the buttons on my steering wheel. It restarted the song the kids were hearing. When I realized what song it was I stopped talking. The song was the scripture, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so you may become blameless and pure, children of God." OK, God. Gotcha. It has just been one of those days where I think He tries to see just how far I can be pushed until I start complaining again. Unfortunately, it's not very far today. Yet another reason why I want to go to eat tonight. Plus, I want to see the pictures of our family on the bulletin board there! That is all.
I dislike mortgage companies. How is it that they ordered a credit report for our refinance, but only sent us the scores, companies and the comments on our scores, not the accounts or balances. When I requested a copy of the full report from our broker, she said that they couldn't give the report to the customers anymore. What? WHY??? I know there's probably some "protection" reason for it, but for now I'm thinking it's just stupid.
All of this has made me not want to cook supper tonight. Surprise, surprise. We have leftovers we could eat, but nothing that I really want. I want to go to Chick-fil-A, but I know that we'll more than likely go there later this week because of visitors we'll have. Problem is we went out to eat for lunch yesterday, and we're trying to save money in case this refinance does go through because it's going to up our monthly payment.
I was complaining this morning to my mom about going to the gym with the kids, and everything else that was bothering me, when my knuckle hit one of the buttons on my steering wheel. It restarted the song the kids were hearing. When I realized what song it was I stopped talking. The song was the scripture, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so you may become blameless and pure, children of God." OK, God. Gotcha. It has just been one of those days where I think He tries to see just how far I can be pushed until I start complaining again. Unfortunately, it's not very far today. Yet another reason why I want to go to eat tonight. Plus, I want to see the pictures of our family on the bulletin board there! That is all.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday Evening Anecdotes
Tonight we went to the "New Members' Dinner" at our church. We've been members for 1 1/2 years, but we've never RSVP'd in time to actually get to go. This time I did. They said to bring your whole family, which really means, "Bring your whole family to eat, and then expect your small children to be extremely bored, and restless, and almost to the point of being unable to sit still, while the people talk, and you don't get to hear because you're too busy shoveling carrots, grapes and ice cream in your kids so that they feel important too." Wow. No wonder they only say bring your whole family. I don't hold that against them anymore. Next point.
The Sunday school guy was talking, and said, "Can anyone say Englewood's vision?" Hannah's hand shot in the air and she said, "ENGLEWOOD'S VISION!!!" Too bad he didn't hear her. But our table did and we cracked up.
Then after the dinner we took the kids to their classes and went to the worship service. We sang the "New Doxology" which is basically the Doxology with a chorus. I watched the drummer, who I can tell is just that. Sure enough, there was a guy that is truly a musician that was cuing him when to play the downbeat. The New Doxology isn't exactly 4/4 time every measure. I'm pretty sure there were some 2/4s thrown in there. I wasn't paying enough attention to it because I was so enthralled by him having to take his cue from someone else, when the music leader wasn't sufficient enough for him, he had to have someone point at him.
Lastly, we were walking out of the church, by some really long windows. Hannah kept stopping and watching herself in the windows. Then she said, "I'm standing on a bush!" Yep. She was standing on the bush outside the window. Hilarious. :)
The kids did great though. We went to pick him up and he said, "Mommy, I didn't cry!" He's so big. :)
The Sunday school guy was talking, and said, "Can anyone say Englewood's vision?" Hannah's hand shot in the air and she said, "ENGLEWOOD'S VISION!!!" Too bad he didn't hear her. But our table did and we cracked up.
Then after the dinner we took the kids to their classes and went to the worship service. We sang the "New Doxology" which is basically the Doxology with a chorus. I watched the drummer, who I can tell is just that. Sure enough, there was a guy that is truly a musician that was cuing him when to play the downbeat. The New Doxology isn't exactly 4/4 time every measure. I'm pretty sure there were some 2/4s thrown in there. I wasn't paying enough attention to it because I was so enthralled by him having to take his cue from someone else, when the music leader wasn't sufficient enough for him, he had to have someone point at him.
Lastly, we were walking out of the church, by some really long windows. Hannah kept stopping and watching herself in the windows. Then she said, "I'm standing on a bush!" Yep. She was standing on the bush outside the window. Hilarious. :)
The kids did great though. We went to pick him up and he said, "Mommy, I didn't cry!" He's so big. :)
Creeper
OK, so this morning to church I wore a shirt my mom had made with ruffles on it. Not even low-cut enough for the shirt I wore under it to show. I wore a short skirt, but one where my fingertips could touch the bottom of it. (Granted I have the arms of a person 5' 3", but my legs of someone 5'6"-ish) Not at all inappropriate, although it was rather cooler than I expected this morning, so I would've been much warmer with longer clothes.
There is a guy who liked me in college. He's now married, and I have appreciated his friendship, but now I'm wondering if some of the comments he makes to me are slightly inappropriate for a married man to be saying at all, except his wife, much less to a married woman. Or maybe it's just since there is a history of him liking me in the past. Today, I went to change the temperature on the thermostat because it was 47 degrees in our classroom. (OK, maybe not that cold, but my goosebumps had goosebumps.) Dusty had taken off his button down shirt and given it to me, and I was using it as a blanket around the front part of my torso, arms and waist. I went around the corner, found the thermostat, and that inappropriate guy talking to some other guy, who conveniently left as he saw the opportunity arise for inappropriate guy to talk to someone else. Inappropriate Guy asked how I was. I was standing a safe distance away, so that he wouldn't side hug me, which he usually does. I replied that I was doing well, and he side stepped, and side hugged. Ugh. I stepped away to ask how he was doing. He replied, and then said in a semi-low voice, "You look very beautiful today." Now, under normal circumstances with different people it might be OK. Dusty and I both said that. Dusty said, "If it were someone like..." and together we said, "Tommy Meisel" he continued, "it wouldn't be weird. Tommy would say it in a fatherly, caring way." I had just been thinking that if it had come from someone else, how would it make me feel, and Tommy has called me beautiful before, and it isn't uncomfortable at all. It's actually appreciated. Inappropriate Guy is skeevy. This whole situation is compounded by the fact that he has recently told me that he's not doing that great because womenfolk are confusing, and that he wondered if he could talk to me sometime about some of the stuff that has been going on with that situation. Um. No. But of course, I said that talking sometimes is nice to get things in perspective, and if the timing was right, then that may be a possibility. I tried to word things so that I had as many outs as possible, but wouldn't blow him off. Why am I so afraid of offending people?
Dusty said I need to just outright tell him that it makes me uncomfortable when he compliments me like that, especially because he only does it when his wife and my husband aren't around. It's ONLY when he's alone with me, which is rare. He will, however, hug me if Dusty's around, so I know he's not trying to hide everything.
I'm just unsure. Dusty's certain that he's still attracted to me, and is keeping doors open, if any unforeseen circumstances arose. I'm not sure about that because I sometimes feel that he's just being a friendly person because I've seen him act this way to other people when we were in college. So there are my thoughts and the situation as it stands. Not really sure what to do from here...
There is a guy who liked me in college. He's now married, and I have appreciated his friendship, but now I'm wondering if some of the comments he makes to me are slightly inappropriate for a married man to be saying at all, except his wife, much less to a married woman. Or maybe it's just since there is a history of him liking me in the past. Today, I went to change the temperature on the thermostat because it was 47 degrees in our classroom. (OK, maybe not that cold, but my goosebumps had goosebumps.) Dusty had taken off his button down shirt and given it to me, and I was using it as a blanket around the front part of my torso, arms and waist. I went around the corner, found the thermostat, and that inappropriate guy talking to some other guy, who conveniently left as he saw the opportunity arise for inappropriate guy to talk to someone else. Inappropriate Guy asked how I was. I was standing a safe distance away, so that he wouldn't side hug me, which he usually does. I replied that I was doing well, and he side stepped, and side hugged. Ugh. I stepped away to ask how he was doing. He replied, and then said in a semi-low voice, "You look very beautiful today." Now, under normal circumstances with different people it might be OK. Dusty and I both said that. Dusty said, "If it were someone like..." and together we said, "Tommy Meisel" he continued, "it wouldn't be weird. Tommy would say it in a fatherly, caring way." I had just been thinking that if it had come from someone else, how would it make me feel, and Tommy has called me beautiful before, and it isn't uncomfortable at all. It's actually appreciated. Inappropriate Guy is skeevy. This whole situation is compounded by the fact that he has recently told me that he's not doing that great because womenfolk are confusing, and that he wondered if he could talk to me sometime about some of the stuff that has been going on with that situation. Um. No. But of course, I said that talking sometimes is nice to get things in perspective, and if the timing was right, then that may be a possibility. I tried to word things so that I had as many outs as possible, but wouldn't blow him off. Why am I so afraid of offending people?
Dusty said I need to just outright tell him that it makes me uncomfortable when he compliments me like that, especially because he only does it when his wife and my husband aren't around. It's ONLY when he's alone with me, which is rare. He will, however, hug me if Dusty's around, so I know he's not trying to hide everything.
I'm just unsure. Dusty's certain that he's still attracted to me, and is keeping doors open, if any unforeseen circumstances arose. I'm not sure about that because I sometimes feel that he's just being a friendly person because I've seen him act this way to other people when we were in college. So there are my thoughts and the situation as it stands. Not really sure what to do from here...
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Eventful Day
Well, it started out simply enough. Going to Lowe's for not a huge reason. Dusty happened to go to Jackson, not Milan, for some reason. We pulled up and saw a crane with a huge American flag in the parking lot. Strange. Then we went in the garden section and were looking around. We heard a helicopter, so the kids got so excited, and wanted to see it. It landed in the Lowe's parking lot. Weird! Over the loud speaker we had heard them announce something was landing in one minute, if you wanted to see it. So we went to see it. Apparently it was Safety Saturday, a day when they try to educate children about safety. They showed a rescue helicopter,
fire truck,
ambulance,
police car. The kids were so excited. :)
This evening we roasted marshmallows and hot dogs over the grill/fire pit using sunflower stalks, then corn, and some old wood. It was brilliant, and mainly because Dusty thought it up and comes up with amazing ideas to entertain and educate our children. And me. They loved it.
And he loves her.
And hot dogs.
It's ok. She loves him too. She was afraid of the fire, and asked Seth to hold touch her to comfort her. He did. She loved it.
They kept getting shocked and he thought it was HILARIOUS.
She did too. All in all, a great day. I love unexpected greatness. Like this:
fire truck,
ambulance,
police car. The kids were so excited. :)
This evening we roasted marshmallows and hot dogs over the grill/fire pit using sunflower stalks, then corn, and some old wood. It was brilliant, and mainly because Dusty thought it up and comes up with amazing ideas to entertain and educate our children. And me. They loved it.
They kept getting shocked and he thought it was HILARIOUS.
She did too. All in all, a great day. I love unexpected greatness. Like this:
Hannah Reading
I love the fact that Hannah is sitting here reading and words Jericho and prophet don't phase her at all, but famous and blind and beggar take her a second to sound out.
It also makes me laugh that she stops mid-sentence to take in the pictures surrounding the words, I guess so she can get the context in her head. Interesting.
It also makes me laugh that she stops mid-sentence to take in the pictures surrounding the words, I guess so she can get the context in her head. Interesting.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Speaking of being scared to death
Seth's balloon from his birthday floated up to his room, where the kids were playing, got caught in the ceiling fan and made an awfully loud noise, and then caused dust to rain down on Seth, who was standing under it. Hannah shrieked from the noise and was absolutely petrified to the point that she couldn't move from the rocking chair. Seth was standing there looking up at the fan and his sad balloon be "popped" as Hannah kept saying, with dust on his face and head. I ran up from the bathroom downstairs to find that scenario. I turned off the fan, removed said balloon from the fan, along with the string that was broken in half (which probably caused more noise), and then successfully brushed the dust off Seth and calmed them both down. I vacuumed everything, and the fan and consoled them to the point that they weren't terrified of the balloon.
Today-Hannah came out of my bedroom into the living room because I was doing laundry and she was coming to see me. She FREAKED out and ran crying/yelling back into the bedroom. Because everything in the world is a big deal to her, I finished what I was doing and then went to find out why she was crying into Dusty's pillow on the bed. Apparently the balloon had floated into the living room. DUN DUN DUUUUUUNNNN...
Then I tried to convince Seth not to be scared by rustling the balloon and causing it to make noise, while walking around the corner to where Hannah was. She screamed and cried and was overly scared. Seth got scared because she was scared. Mission consolation: Incomplete. Finally, I just cut the balloon, let out all the rest of the helium, and threw it away. I can't mess with that complication. I guess I'll just try again when Hannah's birthday comes around...
Sometimes I feel like I'll never blog again, and sometimes I feel like I can blog every 15 minutes about everything that happens. I think that will eventually get boring to anyone that reads it, but it will document what happens. We'll say that's my goal (but really, we all know I just want to pretend people want to know what goes on in my daily life).
Today-Hannah came out of my bedroom into the living room because I was doing laundry and she was coming to see me. She FREAKED out and ran crying/yelling back into the bedroom. Because everything in the world is a big deal to her, I finished what I was doing and then went to find out why she was crying into Dusty's pillow on the bed. Apparently the balloon had floated into the living room. DUN DUN DUUUUUUNNNN...
Then I tried to convince Seth not to be scared by rustling the balloon and causing it to make noise, while walking around the corner to where Hannah was. She screamed and cried and was overly scared. Seth got scared because she was scared. Mission consolation: Incomplete. Finally, I just cut the balloon, let out all the rest of the helium, and threw it away. I can't mess with that complication. I guess I'll just try again when Hannah's birthday comes around...
Sometimes I feel like I'll never blog again, and sometimes I feel like I can blog every 15 minutes about everything that happens. I think that will eventually get boring to anyone that reads it, but it will document what happens. We'll say that's my goal (but really, we all know I just want to pretend people want to know what goes on in my daily life).
Cookie for Tricia
I made the giant cookie for Tricia. I smeared it with leftover buttercream icing from the cake I made from the first blog. I love for Tricia to come visit. My kids ADORE her. The first thing Seth said to her was that he wanted her to read him a book, and could he sit in her lap. All day long he has said to me that he wanted to play books with Tricia and sit in her lap. Too bad her visit only is lasting about 18 hours. We'll take what we can get. I love for her to read me books too. :)
Cookie:
Cookie:
Scared to death
The kids are napping, and I was making our bed. I heard the house creak, and then heard the wind howl a little outside, so I knew that's the reason for the house creak. I continue to make the bed, turn to go to the other side, and there's a person! "Um, Mommy?" Hannah. She'd gotten up and come into my bedroom. I was very glad I didn't say anything that she shouldn't hear (and by that I mean, crap or shoot, or crap shoot for that matter).
I said, "Oh, Hannah! GOOD. NESS. You scared me!" and ran and grabbed her. I guess I thought that if I grabbed her and hugged her, then she wouldn't seem so scary. Not that a 3 feet tall person could be scary...well, I won't generalize...not this 3 feet tall person anyway. She's pretty harmless. Unless you're a fly. Then she's lethal.
I said, "Oh, Hannah! GOOD. NESS. You scared me!" and ran and grabbed her. I guess I thought that if I grabbed her and hugged her, then she wouldn't seem so scary. Not that a 3 feet tall person could be scary...well, I won't generalize...not this 3 feet tall person anyway. She's pretty harmless. Unless you're a fly. Then she's lethal.
Food for Friday
Well, Dusty had the IT cell phone this week, so that means he has to bring something for breakfast on Friday. Being who I am, I have to make something that will wow people. Why I can't just let him buy Walmart donuts, I wish I knew. I guess I feel validated when I make something great.
I wish these recipes would've gone better, but the end result was pretty good, I think.
First cinnamon bread. I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe, and I think we measure flour differently. I had to add over 3/4 of a cup more flour for the bread to turn out dough-ish at all, and not batter. The first loaf I didn't, and it is not cinnamon bread. It is heavy cinnamon glop with a little crust on the outside. The stuff in the bowl next to the bread is a spread that PW uses for her cinnamon toast, and I thought the guys would like to spread it on and maybe put it in the toaster oven at work. Here's a picture of the good loaf.
I also made Pioneer Woman's caramel apple sticky buns, but I didn't add apples, and I gave Dusty chopped pecans for people to add, if they wanted to. They turned out a little too caramelly for me, but they're still good. My dad would LOVE them. Here are the ones that were left at home. The other ones were almost left in the middle of the road. Dusty took off down the street at the same time as our next door neighbor boy, who was going to school. All of the sudden Caleb stopped in the road and got out and started walking back to Dusty. He pulled the rolls off the top of Dusty's car and handed them to him. Caleb saved the day. :)
There would've been twice as many sticky buns, but somehow half of the dough got deposited straight to the bottom of our trash can. There wasn't quite enough flour in these either. I added another 1/3 c. of flour to the half of the dough that was left. Then the dough was much more agreeable, and so was I.
Next time I will be certain to add more flour to the dough if it resembles batter. Then all frustration will be eliminated.
Next project: either a big cookie or more cookie dough cupcakes. Depends on how ambitious I feel. It's to celebrate Tricia being here. :)
I wish these recipes would've gone better, but the end result was pretty good, I think.
First cinnamon bread. I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe, and I think we measure flour differently. I had to add over 3/4 of a cup more flour for the bread to turn out dough-ish at all, and not batter. The first loaf I didn't, and it is not cinnamon bread. It is heavy cinnamon glop with a little crust on the outside. The stuff in the bowl next to the bread is a spread that PW uses for her cinnamon toast, and I thought the guys would like to spread it on and maybe put it in the toaster oven at work. Here's a picture of the good loaf.
I also made Pioneer Woman's caramel apple sticky buns, but I didn't add apples, and I gave Dusty chopped pecans for people to add, if they wanted to. They turned out a little too caramelly for me, but they're still good. My dad would LOVE them. Here are the ones that were left at home. The other ones were almost left in the middle of the road. Dusty took off down the street at the same time as our next door neighbor boy, who was going to school. All of the sudden Caleb stopped in the road and got out and started walking back to Dusty. He pulled the rolls off the top of Dusty's car and handed them to him. Caleb saved the day. :)
Next time I will be certain to add more flour to the dough if it resembles batter. Then all frustration will be eliminated.
Next project: either a big cookie or more cookie dough cupcakes. Depends on how ambitious I feel. It's to celebrate Tricia being here. :)
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Title
I bake. I train my kids. I will never be done with my baking projects, and will never be done training my children. I am forever underdone. I made a cake today. A whole array of mistakes. Started writing Sympathy only to run out of cake, so I ran over onto the border (oh, don't get me started on my border making. I'm HORRIBLE at it). So I had to take the word off the cake, and then put sweet peas and vines where I had written the word originally. The icing for the roses wasn't stiff enough, or was too warm. Who knows? The rose petals weren't staying like I wanted them to, and the writing was too big and sloppy.
My kids are whiny. I'm constantly diffusing fights over who had what toy first, and whether or not it's time to switch toys. I'm ready for them to get along well. Maybe when they move out. Not ready for that though.
In good news, I love making cupcakes, the neighbors loved the cake for them, Dusty did a ton of stuff outside today to make our house more presentable, and the kids are surviving the day (for now). First post done.
My kids are whiny. I'm constantly diffusing fights over who had what toy first, and whether or not it's time to switch toys. I'm ready for them to get along well. Maybe when they move out. Not ready for that though.
In good news, I love making cupcakes, the neighbors loved the cake for them, Dusty did a ton of stuff outside today to make our house more presentable, and the kids are surviving the day (for now). First post done.
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