Is it weird that I feel compelled to clean my house before I have any sort of service technician in my home? Example: The exterminator was coming today to rid us of our scorpion problem but I felt that i needed to clean house before he came. Mr. G. says this is crazy because (a) the exterminator doesn't care what our house looks like and (b) he probably sees houses waaaay messier than ours. What do you think?
I had a conference with lil' E's teacher yesterday. I am not embarrassed to admit that I shed a few tears in relief after our talk. I found out that E is no more likely to live a life of illiteracy then 19 other kids in his class. I cannot put into words how this eased my mind. We have had such struggles doing homework and working on reading and sight words that I just KNEW he had to be behind everyone in his class. I know that this sounds weird since I am a teacher, but to him I am just mom and my training and education makes absolutely no difference when I am working with him.
It causes me great pain to share this info with you but I feel that I must share this info with you. I am on Day 4 of no sugar and I do feel less exhausted and sluggish at the end of the day. Now, this pains me because I LOVE sugar. I was really kind of hoping that this would make absolutely no differnce in how I felt and therefore I could go back on sugar. This is NOT to say that I will never again have a doughnut---I'm not dead for goodness sakes!!!!-----but based on my 4 day experience I will continue to limit my sugar intake. Which honestly makes me said because I sure do enjoy cake, and pie, and cookies, and candy, and doughnuts, and--well, you get the idea. And fall, is PERFECT baking weather. But, not feeling like I need to sleep for 3 hours every afternoon is worth the trade off.
Hoping to get the fall decor up tomorrow. Will post pics once we are done.
Blessings!
Linus and LuLu
September 30, 2011
September 28, 2011
Sorry 'bout that
OK, so if you read yesterday's post, obviously I had not ever posted the final product pic. Sorry about that---promise to get to it soon.
We got more important things to talk about, like TV!!! It has been a really, really long time since I really cared much about TV or any shows besides maybe Grey's Anatomy and select versions of the Real Housewives. But, there are some really good shows on this fall!
Have you seen New Girl on Fox? This show cracks me up!! I really didn't expect much from this but gave it a shot last week and it was so funny and cute. I give it high marks!
I also LOVE the Sing Off. This is the third time it has been on, first time in the fall, and it is great. If you haven't seen it, it is an acapella group competition. These groups are fantastic. Love it, love it, love it.
If you haven't watched the Big Bang Theory before now, get on netflix or hulu or whatever and get the past episodes. If you don't laugh out loud, I will refund your blog membership fee (umm, that means nothing since there are no blog membership fees). Anyway, watch it. it is hysterical.
OK, now go and watch some of those shows and then when you LOVE them (or one of them) come on back here and let me know. K? Promise? K---talk to you then.
Blessings,
We got more important things to talk about, like TV!!! It has been a really, really long time since I really cared much about TV or any shows besides maybe Grey's Anatomy and select versions of the Real Housewives. But, there are some really good shows on this fall!
Have you seen New Girl on Fox? This show cracks me up!! I really didn't expect much from this but gave it a shot last week and it was so funny and cute. I give it high marks!
I also LOVE the Sing Off. This is the third time it has been on, first time in the fall, and it is great. If you haven't seen it, it is an acapella group competition. These groups are fantastic. Love it, love it, love it.
If you haven't watched the Big Bang Theory before now, get on netflix or hulu or whatever and get the past episodes. If you don't laugh out loud, I will refund your blog membership fee (umm, that means nothing since there are no blog membership fees). Anyway, watch it. it is hysterical.
OK, now go and watch some of those shows and then when you LOVE them (or one of them) come on back here and let me know. K? Promise? K---talk to you then.
Blessings,
September 27, 2011
Sunday crafts pt 2
Hi friends,
Some of you already know that I am off on Fridays this year. (Hooray, hooray, yippee, woohoo!!!!) Well, that gives me a chance to get laundry done, house cleaned, groceries bought, etc. Which means that the weekend is free to hang out with the crazy boys and do some crafts.
I posted a few months ago that I am in the process of making the home office into a shared space that is home office and craft room. Currently, I have a folding 4 foot table set up in the office that functions as my craft table. But, I recently bought a wooden table that is going to be perfect in here. The table is at my father-in-law's workshop because he is going to prime and paint it turquoise for me. But I needed a chair for my table. My father in law had this one but it was missing a seat.
Some of you already know that I am off on Fridays this year. (Hooray, hooray, yippee, woohoo!!!!) Well, that gives me a chance to get laundry done, house cleaned, groceries bought, etc. Which means that the weekend is free to hang out with the crazy boys and do some crafts.
I posted a few months ago that I am in the process of making the home office into a shared space that is home office and craft room. Currently, I have a folding 4 foot table set up in the office that functions as my craft table. But, I recently bought a wooden table that is going to be perfect in here. The table is at my father-in-law's workshop because he is going to prime and paint it turquoise for me. But I needed a chair for my table. My father in law had this one but it was missing a seat.
My father in law cut me a piece of wood to repair the seat. I bought a 2 inch piece of foam, traced the seat, and then cut out the shape. Note, I tried doing this with a pair of sewing shears but the foam was too thick even for those scissors. So, I ended up using a serrated knife to cut out the seat.
Then, I laid the seat and foam upside down on the fabric and pulled it taunt and started stapling. The trick to this is to start on one side, then staple the opposite side. If you try to start on one side and work your way around in a circle the fabric will get woompy on you.
September 26, 2011
the day before the day before
Did you used to watch Everybody Loves Raymond? Do you remember the episode where he is in the airport restroom and a guy sneezes in his face? then he is certain that he has been exposed to some horrible germ. And he says to Debra "you know how you feel the day before you get sick? Well this is the day before the day before."
Yeah, I think it might be the day before the day before. No, no one sneezed in my face. But, I do spend my days hanging out with germy little people. The reason that I think I am getting sick is because my throat hurts. And, I have that weird metal taste at the back of my mouth. You know the one that seems like you've been sucking on a nickel? And, no, I've never sucked on a nickel but I know that if I did this would be what one tasted like. And I know that at least one of you knows exactly what I mean, because my husband says he knows what I mean, and he wouldn't just say that to humor me. Would he?
Oh, and I have a headache. Actually, I've had a headache every day for the last three days. The headache may or may not be related to me getting sick. Because I also decided to un-coffee myself. I haven't had coffee since last Wednesday. So I could have a headache from that.
And I am thinking about going sugar free. which I have thought about before but have always fallen through on. Because, you know, I really, really like sugar stuff. But, I feel so stinkin' tired all the time and I think I probably need to clean up my eating habits. Have any of you gone sugar free? How did you manage to NOT eat sugar stuff? I can still have fruit right?
I've noticed that I am rambling here a bit. Maybe it is the germ. Of course, I am kind of rambly even when I'm not germy but it is nice to have something to blame the randomness on---so it's the germ.
I have another craft post for tomorrow. But I realized that I forgot to take the final product pic. So I need to take that before I can post. Or I could post it without but that would really be a lousy post. So, look forward to it. Unless I feel really crummy and don't get it done. If that happens and you look forward to it, I am sorry I let you down.
Well, that's five minutes of your life you won't get back! Sorry...I'll try to do better tomorrow.
Blessings,
Yeah, I think it might be the day before the day before. No, no one sneezed in my face. But, I do spend my days hanging out with germy little people. The reason that I think I am getting sick is because my throat hurts. And, I have that weird metal taste at the back of my mouth. You know the one that seems like you've been sucking on a nickel? And, no, I've never sucked on a nickel but I know that if I did this would be what one tasted like. And I know that at least one of you knows exactly what I mean, because my husband says he knows what I mean, and he wouldn't just say that to humor me. Would he?
Oh, and I have a headache. Actually, I've had a headache every day for the last three days. The headache may or may not be related to me getting sick. Because I also decided to un-coffee myself. I haven't had coffee since last Wednesday. So I could have a headache from that.
And I am thinking about going sugar free. which I have thought about before but have always fallen through on. Because, you know, I really, really like sugar stuff. But, I feel so stinkin' tired all the time and I think I probably need to clean up my eating habits. Have any of you gone sugar free? How did you manage to NOT eat sugar stuff? I can still have fruit right?
I've noticed that I am rambling here a bit. Maybe it is the germ. Of course, I am kind of rambly even when I'm not germy but it is nice to have something to blame the randomness on---so it's the germ.
I have another craft post for tomorrow. But I realized that I forgot to take the final product pic. So I need to take that before I can post. Or I could post it without but that would really be a lousy post. So, look forward to it. Unless I feel really crummy and don't get it done. If that happens and you look forward to it, I am sorry I let you down.
Well, that's five minutes of your life you won't get back! Sorry...I'll try to do better tomorrow.
Blessings,
September 25, 2011
Sunday crafts pt 1
Last year I bought some remnants of Halloween fabric. I knew that these would be useful this year and that I would make something out of them.
The green Halloween fabric was about 2/3 of a yard and the purple was just under a yard. I cut the two into strips about 12 inches long
Then I started typing the strips onto the wreath. There is nothing technical or fancy about this, just tie it in a knot. I did two strips of purple then two strips of green.
This is how far I got around the wreath using the fabric I had. Since I had a bit more purple then green, I could have cut more strips and filled in with purple to stretch the fabric around to cover the entire wreath. But, I actually didn't want to cover the whole wreath because I wanted to add something besides fabric to it.
So, I hot glued the black and orange flowers on, check out the bling in the middle of those, and then I cut a long strip of the purple to use as a ribbon to hang the wreath. Then, because I felt like it still needed something else, I added on the bunting that said boo! (leftover from last week's craft time), and then it was time to put it on the door.
And, I purposefully, left those twigs sticking out on the side, because I liked the look that they had and felt like they added to the Halloween-ieness of the wreath.
Next up, I have some black fabric that has eyeballs all over it. Lil' E has decided that he needs a wreath for his bedroom door and nothing says Halloween for little boys like eyeballs.
September 24, 2011
Red carpet, step, and repeat
Well, about 10 hours after starting, I still haven't finished cleaning my house. My bathroom and the boys' bathroom remains to be completed.
And it would be great to be able to tell you that the reason it has taken me all day to clean my house is that (a) I am now living in Candy Spelling's former mansion (b) I won the lotto and it has taken me all day to complete the paperwork to claim my money or (c) I have been so busy making brilliant and creative things that I have not had time for a mundane task such as toilet scrubbing. Unfortunately, none of these are true.
Here's the reality...
I got up and made scrambled eggs for me and the E-man (Mr. G and C were out buying bricks for our patio that is to be constructed). Loaded the dishwasher and then E and I went back to bed to watch Bakugan and Pokemon (shh, don't be jealous). Then I got up and wiped down the kitchen counters and mopped the kitchen. Break for facebook, email and pinterest. Clean the family room. Move all calendar appointments from blackberry to iphone. Break for chicken sandwich for lunch. Make bed, put away laundry, put bathroom rugs in washer. Take nap. Take shower. Check facebook, e-mail, and pinterest (I keep thinking that I might be missing out on something life changing if I don't check in regularly) Watch 15 minutes of Law and Order SVU that I've seen before and didn't really like the first time. Clean living room and guest half bath. Stop to check computer again. Start to clean boys' bathroom then stop because C decides to take a shower. Instead go browse Itunes and burn some CDs for work. Start supper. Write blog...
And here we are. Stunning isn't it? I would like to tell you that my life isn't always this glamourous and that I am just a regular mom but, really, that would just be lying.
Blessings!
And it would be great to be able to tell you that the reason it has taken me all day to clean my house is that (a) I am now living in Candy Spelling's former mansion (b) I won the lotto and it has taken me all day to complete the paperwork to claim my money or (c) I have been so busy making brilliant and creative things that I have not had time for a mundane task such as toilet scrubbing. Unfortunately, none of these are true.
Here's the reality...
I got up and made scrambled eggs for me and the E-man (Mr. G and C were out buying bricks for our patio that is to be constructed). Loaded the dishwasher and then E and I went back to bed to watch Bakugan and Pokemon (shh, don't be jealous). Then I got up and wiped down the kitchen counters and mopped the kitchen. Break for facebook, email and pinterest. Clean the family room. Move all calendar appointments from blackberry to iphone. Break for chicken sandwich for lunch. Make bed, put away laundry, put bathroom rugs in washer. Take nap. Take shower. Check facebook, e-mail, and pinterest (I keep thinking that I might be missing out on something life changing if I don't check in regularly) Watch 15 minutes of Law and Order SVU that I've seen before and didn't really like the first time. Clean living room and guest half bath. Stop to check computer again. Start to clean boys' bathroom then stop because C decides to take a shower. Instead go browse Itunes and burn some CDs for work. Start supper. Write blog...
And here we are. Stunning isn't it? I would like to tell you that my life isn't always this glamourous and that I am just a regular mom but, really, that would just be lying.
Blessings!
September 18, 2011
get yer craft on!
I spent the better portion of yesterday afternoon and this afternoon hanging out in the craft room/office. I hadn't made anything in a looooong time and felt the need to get craftin'.
Lookee what I made....
Lookee what I made....
here you see my first, and last yarn wreath. why is it my last, you ask? Well, let me tell you. It took forever and a year to wrap the yarn around the wreath frame. then each one of those roses had to be cut, wrapped and glued. This project took way more time then I thought it would and I don't love the final product. It's just OK. But since it took me so stinkin' long it is gonna hang on the wall for a while.
Then I decided to cut some triangles on the ol' cricut and make some bunting. (I might have made a bit more then I expected). Anyway, I wanted to redo this bulletin board to post what we have going on each week. I have a calendar on the fridge but I really wanted something weekly right by the door to refer to as we are leaving the house.
Then, because I had made more bunting, I decided to put some across these cork boards on the inside of the storage cabinet in our family room. I told the boys they could each have a side to post pics or anything they are proud of and want to display. C's side is empty and E already put a couple of things up
and then,
I saw this idea on pinterest to use a cereal storage container as a trash can in the car. I thought it was a great idea but I just was not going to spend $8 on a new one from Target. Then I scored one for a QUARTER at a garage sale!!! WooHooo!!! Now some people might think it is a little ridiculous and over the top to decoupage a cereal container that you are going to use as a trash can in the car. But those people would be lacking in creativity and imagination. 'Cuz look how super cute it is now!!!!
And finally, I did not make these today but I get lots of questions and comments on them so I thought I would post them.
I made these when we moved into this house for the "game room" which then morphed into our family room. I got the shadow boxes at Michael's---I used LOTS of 40 and 50% off coupons. The games I got from our extensive collection and around Christmas time when Toys R Us and Target runs them so super cheap. What I did: I took the back off each shadow box and laid out the game, moving things around until it looked the way I wanted it too. Small pieces like the Scrabble tiles I glued into place with super glue. The money on Monopoly and the cards I glued together in piles with regular elmer's. Then anything that was going to be attached to the back of the shadow box I used super mega strength velcro to attach. These have been hanging on our walls now for 6 years and they've stayed just the way I laid them out and glued them. To make them personal, on the scrabble board I spelled out our names, using the uno and playing cards I made dates and other numbers that are important in our family
So that's it for today! Let me know what you think. I am a comment hound!!! :)
Blessings!
September 17, 2011
of the Devil!!!
There are just some things that are bad. They may be bad because they are sooooo good and they lead you into temptation. They may be bad because they make you feel miserable. They may be bad because they are just evil. Here's my list of items that I think are "of the Devil!"
1. Homework----see previous post. I won't subject you to a rehash of my daily drama, this is of the make me feel miserable category
2. Balloons---I have mentioned these before too. Please do not offer one to my child. These are plain ol' evil and no good ever comes from giving one to a child.
3. Party horns---also pure evil. They create a teeth griding, nerve shattering screech. Unless you want my child and the horn in your hand to live with you, don't give it to him.
4. Glue guns---yes, they are a useful crafting tool. They are also great if you would like to permanently remove your fingerprints to begin your life of crime. I don't think I have used one yet without causing at least one blister.
5. Glitter----another creation of the Devil made for pure evil and the misery of mothers everywhere.
6. Fresh, hot doughnuts---Ohhh--Emmmm-Geeee, talk about leading me into temptation. Somehow I don't think it is good that I can plow through a sack of doughnut holes on the way home from the doughnut shop
7. Weeds---really?! I put down herbicide, weed blocking fabric, AND mulch and I still have weeds?!?!? Tell me THAT'S not the work of the Devil
8. Adolescence----how on earth can your sweet angel baby turn into the hound of hell of adolescence? That is not the work of the Lord!
9. Thumb print cookies with icing in the print---it is possible that someone in this house has eaten a dozen in the last 24 hours.
10. "shaping" undergarmets----yes, they do smooth out the bumps and make your clothes look great BUT the price is that you feel like a boa constrictor has wrapped itself around your rib cage and the middle of your thighs. Definitely the work of the devil.
Blessings friends!
1. Homework----see previous post. I won't subject you to a rehash of my daily drama, this is of the make me feel miserable category
2. Balloons---I have mentioned these before too. Please do not offer one to my child. These are plain ol' evil and no good ever comes from giving one to a child.
3. Party horns---also pure evil. They create a teeth griding, nerve shattering screech. Unless you want my child and the horn in your hand to live with you, don't give it to him.
4. Glue guns---yes, they are a useful crafting tool. They are also great if you would like to permanently remove your fingerprints to begin your life of crime. I don't think I have used one yet without causing at least one blister.
5. Glitter----another creation of the Devil made for pure evil and the misery of mothers everywhere.
6. Fresh, hot doughnuts---Ohhh--Emmmm-Geeee, talk about leading me into temptation. Somehow I don't think it is good that I can plow through a sack of doughnut holes on the way home from the doughnut shop
7. Weeds---really?! I put down herbicide, weed blocking fabric, AND mulch and I still have weeds?!?!? Tell me THAT'S not the work of the Devil
8. Adolescence----how on earth can your sweet angel baby turn into the hound of hell of adolescence? That is not the work of the Lord!
9. Thumb print cookies with icing in the print---it is possible that someone in this house has eaten a dozen in the last 24 hours.
10. "shaping" undergarmets----yes, they do smooth out the bumps and make your clothes look great BUT the price is that you feel like a boa constrictor has wrapped itself around your rib cage and the middle of your thighs. Definitely the work of the devil.
Blessings friends!
September 15, 2011
mmm, he's not Charlie Parker yet
As I type I am being serenaded by the sound of an alto sax being played by a saxaphonist with 1 week of experience with the instrument. If you live within a 100 mile radius of my house, don't worry that is not an animal in pain that you are hearing, it is my first year band student. Please don't think that I am not supportive of his musical pursuits. I am, I would maybe just prefer to support while he practices in the band hall.
Speaking of kids and the requirements of school---Deb over at McCormick Madness has a great post today about the torture that is homework. My first grader has homework every single night. This is supposed to be an "opportunity for individual time with (my) child" Umm, yeah, I'd rather not spend this time doing homework. Let me sketch the scene for you...
Me: Evan get your homework out of your folder so we can get it done
Evan: I need to go to the bathroom
Me: Evan get your homework now and get started
Evan: I need a snack
Me: Evan get the homework and your pencil
Evan: I need..
Me: NO! You NEED to go get your homework NOW!!
Evan: OK!! you don't have to YELL!!
Child gets homework
Me: Ok, the first one says that you need to match up the pictures with the sound they start with....
Evan: (enormous sigh)
Me: No wait, you drew a line from "spl" to a picture of the plant. Does plant start with the spl-uh sound?
Evan: MOOOOM, I can do it, you don't have to help me.
Me: (now I sigh) you need to erase those letters and rewrite them with your best handwriting. See, look at the model and do it like that
Evan: SAR-REEE
Me: OK, now lets start on the math. Trace the numbers. No, wait, slow down, use your good handwriting.
Evan: (even larger sigh)
Me: the next one says to fill in the numbers between 1 and 5
Evan: I KNOW mom!!
Me: Now you need your blue, red, and green crayons
Evan: (gets up to get crayons from the drawer) What color?
Me: red, blue and green
Evan: I can only find red and green
Me( big sigh) look again son, I know it is in there
Evan: there is no blue
Me: (go look in the drawer and find the blue crayon) here---now get back up there and get busy
Evan: Fine
Me: Let's read the book. Start here
Evan: (throws himself on the sofa. rolls around as though writhing in pain) I can't! You have to read it to me.
Me: No, you need to sit up and sound it out. i will help you if you get stuck
Evan: (insert sobbing here) I can't! It's too hard!! I can't read it!!
Me: (through gritted teeth) sit up and read it now or your daddy is going to help you with your homework.
Evan: noooooo, not daddy
(note: daddy does nothing to him, he just knows that dad will not put up with any of his foolishness)
This is a sample of the picture every day. Grrrrrrr....and it's only the 3rd week!
And then, after the 1st grade wrangling, I get to go and check the 6th graders homework. Yeah, I don't remember 6th grade math including algebra, or that it was this stinking hard! If we make it through the end of the year without hiring someone to help him with the math, it will be a miracle.
Homework stinks!!!!
Speaking of kids and the requirements of school---Deb over at McCormick Madness has a great post today about the torture that is homework. My first grader has homework every single night. This is supposed to be an "opportunity for individual time with (my) child" Umm, yeah, I'd rather not spend this time doing homework. Let me sketch the scene for you...
Me: Evan get your homework out of your folder so we can get it done
Evan: I need to go to the bathroom
Me: Evan get your homework now and get started
Evan: I need a snack
Me: Evan get the homework and your pencil
Evan: I need..
Me: NO! You NEED to go get your homework NOW!!
Evan: OK!! you don't have to YELL!!
Child gets homework
Me: Ok, the first one says that you need to match up the pictures with the sound they start with....
Evan: (enormous sigh)
Me: No wait, you drew a line from "spl" to a picture of the plant. Does plant start with the spl-uh sound?
Evan: MOOOOM, I can do it, you don't have to help me.
Me: (now I sigh) you need to erase those letters and rewrite them with your best handwriting. See, look at the model and do it like that
Evan: SAR-REEE
Me: OK, now lets start on the math. Trace the numbers. No, wait, slow down, use your good handwriting.
Evan: (even larger sigh)
Me: the next one says to fill in the numbers between 1 and 5
Evan: I KNOW mom!!
Me: Now you need your blue, red, and green crayons
Evan: (gets up to get crayons from the drawer) What color?
Me: red, blue and green
Evan: I can only find red and green
Me( big sigh) look again son, I know it is in there
Evan: there is no blue
Me: (go look in the drawer and find the blue crayon) here---now get back up there and get busy
Evan: Fine
Me: Let's read the book. Start here
Evan: (throws himself on the sofa. rolls around as though writhing in pain) I can't! You have to read it to me.
Me: No, you need to sit up and sound it out. i will help you if you get stuck
Evan: (insert sobbing here) I can't! It's too hard!! I can't read it!!
Me: (through gritted teeth) sit up and read it now or your daddy is going to help you with your homework.
Evan: noooooo, not daddy
(note: daddy does nothing to him, he just knows that dad will not put up with any of his foolishness)
This is a sample of the picture every day. Grrrrrrr....and it's only the 3rd week!
And then, after the 1st grade wrangling, I get to go and check the 6th graders homework. Yeah, I don't remember 6th grade math including algebra, or that it was this stinking hard! If we make it through the end of the year without hiring someone to help him with the math, it will be a miracle.
Homework stinks!!!!
September 13, 2011
Ten Tuesday thoughts
1. It was 101 degrees today. that makes 80 days this year that we have had triple digit tempretures. I am thinking that if I can invent some sort of pipeline to transport flood waters from rainsoaked areas to drought plagued areas I will have more money then Bill Gates and Oprah combined.
2. And speaking of money, I heard this story on the radio about a freshman college student who was trying to finalize and was going to be unable to enroll because he/she didn't have enough financial aid and a stranger wrote a check for the full year of tuition. I wish I could do stuff like that!
3. My youngest child is really struggling with learning to read. I am struggling with helping him learn to read. He is so stubborn and resistant to assistance and instruction!!!
4. I DO not like "shake it up" on the Disney Channel. I make the children change the channel when it comes on. Those girls are sooooooo annoying. And why does Disney channel feel it is necessary to make every parent on every one of their shows look like a complete idiot? Ant Farm would be cute, and not nearly as annoying as Shake it Up, if it weren't for the mornonic dad.
5. If anyone out there is a police officer, married to a police officer, related to or friends with a police officer---I have a burning question that I have wondered about for years----why, when police are on foot chasing a criminal escaping in a car, don't they every shoot the tires? Is there a rule about not shooting out the tires?
5. I am about to say something very controversial. In fact, this may well be the reason you quit reading my blog. It could potentially get me kicked out of Texas. I don't like football. There---I said it, and it's out there. Yes, i am well aware that in my state football is practically a religion. Especially high school football. But I don't like it. It's boring. It takes waaaaay too long. And people get waaaay to involved. I mean think about it.... baseball fans are no where near the fanatic lunatics that football fans are. You don't see baseball fans half naked in sub zero weather wearing paint to show their team spirit. I just don't get it.
6. I was talking with one of the boys in my 5 year old preschool music class today. He told me that he didn't like taking a bath. I told him that I really like taking a shower. And that when I get out of the shower I smell GOOOOD!! He told me that when he gets out of the tub he doesn't smell good. I told him that maybe he needed better soap. He said that no, the soap was OK he just didn't really use it. LOL This cracked me up!
7. Another student told me the other day that sometimes her daddy doesn't put his boxers on with his pants---he just put his pants on. Yup--she DID just tell me that her daddy is commando!!! You gotta love kids---you just never know what they are going to tell you.
8. Mr. G is watching IronMan right now while I am typing. I love Iron Man. Actually I love Robert Downey Jr. He is soooooo good looking. And I love that sarcastic, sardonic humor. Ummm, and I may have a little bit of a special place in my heart for his abs, and his biceps, and his lips. Ohhhkay---moving on now
9. My child is going to be 12 years old in 4 weeks. He has decided that he doesn't want a party but would like to take a surprise trip. This means that I need to plan something. Which wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that my brain feels like it has a slow leak....
10. I realized tonight that I have pinned all this really cool stuff on pinterest and not looked at it since. Which kind of defeats the whole purpose and reason I had for starting on pinterst to begin with--as I thought it would be great to have one place to keep all those recipes and ideas that I wanted to remember. I think this weekend I need to revisit my pins rather then pinning any new pins. (that was a lot of pins!)
OK that's ten. I'll try and get some "fix a flat" for my brain and be more entertaining tomorrow.
Blessings!
2. And speaking of money, I heard this story on the radio about a freshman college student who was trying to finalize and was going to be unable to enroll because he/she didn't have enough financial aid and a stranger wrote a check for the full year of tuition. I wish I could do stuff like that!
3. My youngest child is really struggling with learning to read. I am struggling with helping him learn to read. He is so stubborn and resistant to assistance and instruction!!!
4. I DO not like "shake it up" on the Disney Channel. I make the children change the channel when it comes on. Those girls are sooooooo annoying. And why does Disney channel feel it is necessary to make every parent on every one of their shows look like a complete idiot? Ant Farm would be cute, and not nearly as annoying as Shake it Up, if it weren't for the mornonic dad.
5. If anyone out there is a police officer, married to a police officer, related to or friends with a police officer---I have a burning question that I have wondered about for years----why, when police are on foot chasing a criminal escaping in a car, don't they every shoot the tires? Is there a rule about not shooting out the tires?
5. I am about to say something very controversial. In fact, this may well be the reason you quit reading my blog. It could potentially get me kicked out of Texas. I don't like football. There---I said it, and it's out there. Yes, i am well aware that in my state football is practically a religion. Especially high school football. But I don't like it. It's boring. It takes waaaaay too long. And people get waaaay to involved. I mean think about it.... baseball fans are no where near the fanatic lunatics that football fans are. You don't see baseball fans half naked in sub zero weather wearing paint to show their team spirit. I just don't get it.
6. I was talking with one of the boys in my 5 year old preschool music class today. He told me that he didn't like taking a bath. I told him that I really like taking a shower. And that when I get out of the shower I smell GOOOOD!! He told me that when he gets out of the tub he doesn't smell good. I told him that maybe he needed better soap. He said that no, the soap was OK he just didn't really use it. LOL This cracked me up!
7. Another student told me the other day that sometimes her daddy doesn't put his boxers on with his pants---he just put his pants on. Yup--she DID just tell me that her daddy is commando!!! You gotta love kids---you just never know what they are going to tell you.
8. Mr. G is watching IronMan right now while I am typing. I love Iron Man. Actually I love Robert Downey Jr. He is soooooo good looking. And I love that sarcastic, sardonic humor. Ummm, and I may have a little bit of a special place in my heart for his abs, and his biceps, and his lips. Ohhhkay---moving on now
9. My child is going to be 12 years old in 4 weeks. He has decided that he doesn't want a party but would like to take a surprise trip. This means that I need to plan something. Which wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that my brain feels like it has a slow leak....
10. I realized tonight that I have pinned all this really cool stuff on pinterest and not looked at it since. Which kind of defeats the whole purpose and reason I had for starting on pinterst to begin with--as I thought it would be great to have one place to keep all those recipes and ideas that I wanted to remember. I think this weekend I need to revisit my pins rather then pinning any new pins. (that was a lot of pins!)
OK that's ten. I'll try and get some "fix a flat" for my brain and be more entertaining tomorrow.
Blessings!
September 12, 2011
Anyone got an "easy" button I can borrow?
I gotta say I am really struggling---on multiple levels.
1. I am so absolutely exhausted that I can barely hold my head up at the end of the day. Once I get in my car to head home, all I want to do is crawl into my bed and take a nap.
2. Laundry and chores around the house are piling up and driving me crazy. My extreme lack of energy is adding to this, combined with reduced time now that I'm back at work every day, and I just can't seem to get it all done.
3. My inability to get everything done and managed is bugging me. I know that I should just let it go but that is really difficult for me to do.
4. The boys are both having homework every night. Junior high is apparently the point at which I can no longer quickly, easily, and efficiently help my child with his math homework. And first grade is apparently the point at which I will either decide to (a) homeschool my child or (b) just allow him to continue through life illiterate.
Everything is just so much easier in the summer time. No homework, no school, flexible schedules, time to get all my stuff done (or take a nap).
I keep hoping that any day now, we are all going to settle into the school schedule and hit our stride. Any day now, any day,......I'll let you know when it happens....any time now.....
Blessings,
1. I am so absolutely exhausted that I can barely hold my head up at the end of the day. Once I get in my car to head home, all I want to do is crawl into my bed and take a nap.
2. Laundry and chores around the house are piling up and driving me crazy. My extreme lack of energy is adding to this, combined with reduced time now that I'm back at work every day, and I just can't seem to get it all done.
3. My inability to get everything done and managed is bugging me. I know that I should just let it go but that is really difficult for me to do.
4. The boys are both having homework every night. Junior high is apparently the point at which I can no longer quickly, easily, and efficiently help my child with his math homework. And first grade is apparently the point at which I will either decide to (a) homeschool my child or (b) just allow him to continue through life illiterate.
Everything is just so much easier in the summer time. No homework, no school, flexible schedules, time to get all my stuff done (or take a nap).
I keep hoping that any day now, we are all going to settle into the school schedule and hit our stride. Any day now, any day,......I'll let you know when it happens....any time now.....
Blessings,
September 10, 2011
Time for the fair!
Every September the county fair rolls into town. My husband has gone to the fair pretty much every year of his life. So of course, it is an annual tradition for us. Even before we had kids we went.
Most things are exactly the same every year. There are the rickety rides that cost ridiculous amounts of money that look like they are going to drop you to your death. The carnival barkers trying to convince you to come over and play the games so that you can win some teensy tiny stuffed animal. The small town, and kinda hokey, agriculture displays. All the great arts and crafts that are entered. We always recognize a bunch of names on the entries and are excited for the friends that win. And there are some "MUST HAVE" things for us to eat each year. "Cuz really, what's better then fair food? For Mr. G, he must get a german sausage sandwich. Everyone has to have some "Aggie fries" which are just french fries but the booth is sponsored by the local Texas A&M alumni chapter. We also have to have the fresh squeezed lemonade. It is AWESOME and totally worth the $2.50 per glass.
For Evan, his must have is.....
We decided to hit the fair tonight for two reasons. 1: The kids had free tickets from school and 2: It is supposed to start getting back up into the 90's starting tomorrow. 85 degrees sounded alot better than 90+ and we also wanted to see if Chris had won any ribbons for his pottery.
Last year was the first year he had entered anything in the fair and he did really well so we couldn't wait to find out how he did this year.
Most things are exactly the same every year. There are the rickety rides that cost ridiculous amounts of money that look like they are going to drop you to your death. The carnival barkers trying to convince you to come over and play the games so that you can win some teensy tiny stuffed animal. The small town, and kinda hokey, agriculture displays. All the great arts and crafts that are entered. We always recognize a bunch of names on the entries and are excited for the friends that win. And there are some "MUST HAVE" things for us to eat each year. "Cuz really, what's better then fair food? For Mr. G, he must get a german sausage sandwich. Everyone has to have some "Aggie fries" which are just french fries but the booth is sponsored by the local Texas A&M alumni chapter. We also have to have the fresh squeezed lemonade. It is AWESOME and totally worth the $2.50 per glass.
 |
| My fair "must haves" icy cold lemondae and fresh cut Aggie fries. |
 |
| A turkey leg the size of his head |
 |
| he's channeling his inner Fred Flintstone He got it to go and tore into it as soon as we got home. He was afraid he would drop it if he tried to eat it at the fair. |
We decided to hit the fair tonight for two reasons. 1: The kids had free tickets from school and 2: It is supposed to start getting back up into the 90's starting tomorrow. 85 degrees sounded alot better than 90+ and we also wanted to see if Chris had won any ribbons for his pottery.
Last year was the first year he had entered anything in the fair and he did really well so we couldn't wait to find out how he did this year.
 |
4th place for his cowboy hat |
2nd place for his Frankenstein (which I think is AWESOME)
 |
| 3rd place for his hummingbird feeder |
 |
| 4th place for his basket |
 |
| And nothing for his hummingbird with flower :( He was not completely happy with the results. He was quite bummed that he didn't get a first place for any of his pieces. He has decided that he wants to try his hand at baking and enter cookies and a cake on Monday. I've never entered anything in the fair, even though every year I say I am going to. This year, I decided that since I was going to take pieces in for Chris anyway, I might as well take a couple of my pieces in too.  Since Chris is going to bake tomorrow, I may finally get it together and bake something to enter too. And check these out!!!  Ya' gotta love the fair!!! It's got it all: food, games, information and education---and I didn't even mention the WIDE range of folks you see there. Which, not to be judgemental, but a little deodorant can go a LONG way toward getting to know your neighbors. I'm just sayin' So that's the fair report for 2011--I hope you enjoyed your visit. |
September 8, 2011
Thursday----thank goodness tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!
Thursday, Thursday... I haven't blogged all week.
I went back to work this week.
It's been good.
but I forgot that school wears me out!!!!!!! I have come home every day DRAGGING!!! The first night I fell asleep at 8:00 with Evan.
The next night I fell asleep at 7:30 with Evan.
Today I came home a took a power nap before picking the guys up at school. I hoping to be able to remain concious til 9. I might even shoot for 10. I don't know, I may be aiming too high.
My house soooooo needs to be cleaned. it's hard to get chores done when you are passing out at night with your first grader.
We bought a tread mill on Monday. After my nap, I actually had the energy to use it. 33 minutes/1.5 miles total. Go me!!!
Evan is having a play date tomorrow after school. This is our first REAL play date. With a kid that isn't related or chaperoned while at our house. He is so excited. I'll let you know how it goes.
Toblerone is buy one get one free at Albertsons this week. Toblerone makes me really happy. And they were GIVING one to me, FOR FREE! So of course, I couldn't turn it down. It was a gift. I keep thinking between the coffee and the chocolate I should start perking up in the afternoon. So far it hasn't kicked in yet. I may have to move on to Red Bull with a 5 hour energy chaser. Then maybe I could get my house cleaned.
I know this was random---welcome to my state of mind. :) Just wanted to let you know that I didn't forget about you.
blessings!
I went back to work this week.
It's been good.
but I forgot that school wears me out!!!!!!! I have come home every day DRAGGING!!! The first night I fell asleep at 8:00 with Evan.
The next night I fell asleep at 7:30 with Evan.
Today I came home a took a power nap before picking the guys up at school. I hoping to be able to remain concious til 9. I might even shoot for 10. I don't know, I may be aiming too high.
My house soooooo needs to be cleaned. it's hard to get chores done when you are passing out at night with your first grader.
We bought a tread mill on Monday. After my nap, I actually had the energy to use it. 33 minutes/1.5 miles total. Go me!!!
Evan is having a play date tomorrow after school. This is our first REAL play date. With a kid that isn't related or chaperoned while at our house. He is so excited. I'll let you know how it goes.
Toblerone is buy one get one free at Albertsons this week. Toblerone makes me really happy. And they were GIVING one to me, FOR FREE! So of course, I couldn't turn it down. It was a gift. I keep thinking between the coffee and the chocolate I should start perking up in the afternoon. So far it hasn't kicked in yet. I may have to move on to Red Bull with a 5 hour energy chaser. Then maybe I could get my house cleaned.
I know this was random---welcome to my state of mind. :) Just wanted to let you know that I didn't forget about you.
blessings!
September 4, 2011
Last days of summer project push
The closet is DONE!!! Yes, it has been months in the making. And it took the help of my sister in law and my neice. It ended up in 5 bags for Goodwill, 1 storage tub for consignment and 3 bags of trash but it looks so pretty!!!! See for yourself
And look!!! Mr. G's side is not only organized and beautiful but it has all been converted to wooden hangers!!
In exchange for all her help on the closet project, I did these for my sis--
She teaches preschool too and needed clipboards for her sign in sheets, sign up sheets, info, etc. We chose the papers and layout then I mod podged them on to the clipboards and added ribbons to the clip. Which do you like best?
And then, for my classroom, I needed a bulletin/message board to hang outside my door. But of course, it had to be fixed up. I couldn't put up a plain cork board!
I made the pennant and flowers out of felt and once I get the board hung up at work, I will tack them on. I thought about gluing them, but I want to be able to switch them out with other colors and seasonal additions to dress up the board.
And then I made my "all about me" poster. We started doing these a couple of years ago. Some teachers "recycle" their poster from year to year, but I like to make a new one each year to update the info and change some of the info that I share. Since alot of our kiddos and families come back every year I like to change things up.
I will also have my monthly newsletter, info about the music class, and order forms for the monthly cd's on here.
How are you spending Labor Day weekend? I hope its fun!
September 2, 2011
Friday Faves---the stuff I love this week
Hello lovely friends! I hope you are having a superior week. My has been a mixed bag, but lets not get into that right now. Let's talk about all the great things that are making my days feel special this week.
Eureka Quick Up stick vacuum----I bought this kind of by accident a little over a week ago. I needed a new vac to sweep my floors (I have stained concrete throughout the house) I thought I was getting the same vac I previously had but then got home and realized this one was different. It is soooo much better then my old one. Better suction, a little heavier so it is not always falling over, and a washable filter, so I don't have to buy a new one every month (I vacuum ALOT)
Yes, this is a picture of rainbow colored straws. I use one every morning for my iced coffee. So much nicer then a regular old white/striped straw.
This may seem weird too...yes, that is a school cafeteria menu. One of my kiddos is FINALLY eating in the cafeteria and packing one less lunch each day makes my life sooooo much easier. And on the same topic....
I'm packing bento type lunches for the other kiddo and this is making the lunch packing process much better too. He is eating much, much more at lunch every day (which was a BIG problem last year) and it actually makes lunch packing much faster, (seems like it should take more time) and healthier. Can you tell that I really have issues with having to pack lunches each day?
And finally, my blankie. This is not a new blanket. Evan and Mr. G actually bought it for me about 2 years ago at Target for my birthday. It is a gigantic, king size version of a kids favorite blankie. It is soft and snuggly and has a satin edge and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. And since it is actually supposed to be below 90 degrees this weekend. I wanted to share it with you. It is part of target's shabby chic line. I have a pink one on my bed and E has a green one on his bed, and C has a blue one on his bed. (when I love a product i support it!!! )
I hope you have a great weekend!!!
Smooches,
Eureka Quick Up stick vacuum----I bought this kind of by accident a little over a week ago. I needed a new vac to sweep my floors (I have stained concrete throughout the house) I thought I was getting the same vac I previously had but then got home and realized this one was different. It is soooo much better then my old one. Better suction, a little heavier so it is not always falling over, and a washable filter, so I don't have to buy a new one every month (I vacuum ALOT)
Yes, this is a picture of rainbow colored straws. I use one every morning for my iced coffee. So much nicer then a regular old white/striped straw.
This may seem weird too...yes, that is a school cafeteria menu. One of my kiddos is FINALLY eating in the cafeteria and packing one less lunch each day makes my life sooooo much easier. And on the same topic....
I'm packing bento type lunches for the other kiddo and this is making the lunch packing process much better too. He is eating much, much more at lunch every day (which was a BIG problem last year) and it actually makes lunch packing much faster, (seems like it should take more time) and healthier. Can you tell that I really have issues with having to pack lunches each day?
And finally, my blankie. This is not a new blanket. Evan and Mr. G actually bought it for me about 2 years ago at Target for my birthday. It is a gigantic, king size version of a kids favorite blankie. It is soft and snuggly and has a satin edge and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. And since it is actually supposed to be below 90 degrees this weekend. I wanted to share it with you. It is part of target's shabby chic line. I have a pink one on my bed and E has a green one on his bed, and C has a blue one on his bed. (when I love a product i support it!!! )
I hope you have a great weekend!!!
Smooches,
September 1, 2011
Kitchen tour---for you MKJ!!!
I posted some pics on Saturday of the havoc my family can wreak on the house. And my bloggy buddy Miss Mary Kay wanted to see some more of my kitchen. So, here ya' go MK!
OK, so this is the wide shot/overview of our kitchen, I am standing in the family room
This is the "small bar" It divides the family room and kitchen, The cabinets underneath have board games inside. The baskets on top are pens, notepads, mail, etc. Yes, it usually looks that jumbled. And as you can see from the gatorade bottle and bowl, the kids are home.
To the right of the small bar is the fridge
Here you can see the open cabinet where I keep all my cookbooks. Because this is so full, I no longer allow myself to buy cookbooks. :) Below I have two jars in which I keep snacks for the kids. The cabinet under here actually rolls out and holds our trash can. To the right, you can see our pantry door.
Here's the pantry and ovens. Sorry don't know why this one is blurry
Inside of the pantry. I've posted this before. It is a DAILY job to keep up with this because my family seems determined to thwart my organization
Another shot of the ovens (LOVE my double ovens. Don't use them all the time, but when we have a lot of people over, and during the holidays, I make use of them alot!) Coffee pot, sink, dishwasher. Love my big window above my sink. The stained glass humingbird was a gift from my brother in law this past Christmas.
This is the cabinet above my ovens. Made especially to store my baking pans. I have drawer beneath the ovens too for storage of similar items
here above the dishwasher I've got jars with flour, sugar, and oatmeal. My mixer is in the corner and the blender. See my cute cupcake Scentsy? Just got that specifically for the kitchen
Here's the stove top with microwave above. The piece behind the stove top is actually an egg plate I made in pottery that is made like an artist palette. To the right is my radio---Mr. G got me this for my birthday our first year in the house and I use it daily. Below is a pic of the four of us, a plant, a lamp, and a Jim Shore angel depicting the Last Supper.
What looks like a cabinet under the stove top holds these big drawers for my pots and pans
Then when you turn to the right you see over the "long bar" into our dining area. The plates are from El Mercado in San Antonio. I got those several years ago. My curtains I ordered from overstock.com, the china cabinet I got at an estate auction last year. Dining table we got at Rooms to Go when we moved in 6 years ago. My dining are is large so it is always this size--we've never even opened it to take the leaf out of it. I wouldn't know where to put the two extra chairs anyway. The two white vases, I posted about these earlier this summer, they are from Hobby Lobby and used to be brown but I spray painted them a couple of months ago.
This is another view of the bar. The bar stools I found at Lowe's but didn't buy. Which was great because a week later I found them at Big Lots for 1/3 the price!! The metal basket with the tomatoes in it, I found this summer at Homegoods. It was only $10!!
These are the large drawers in the center of the long bar. I love these. The top one I store all our coffee cups, water bottles, etc and the bottom one is all my plastic storage containers.
So that's the tour of my kitchen! Hope you had fun. :)
Blessings!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)