Last night Tom was telling me that Smallville was ending after this Season 8. I found that confusing, because I'd just watched episode 21 and it didn't really feel like they're building to a grand finale for the whole show. So, I surfed around last night and, indeed, it looks like there will be a Season 9 since The CW has already signed Tom Welling. I'll be happy to watch another season (or more).
In the process of searching around, I came across a personality quiz. I was not surprised to be compared to Smallville's Martha Kent. :D
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Friday, May 08, 2009
Sleepover Plans
My cousin called me to see if she could drive down (2 hours), pick up my boys, and take them to her place for a couple of days. She's got two weeks off between college terms, and is missing my kiddos (we lived with her family for three months two summers ago, when we first moved to Wyoming, and she misses my boys).
Normally, I'm all a-flutter (that would be nervous) about spending time away from my boys. I almost always panic and can't sleep when I'm away from them... just for a night. But today, after the long week I've had battling Jack, this offer is just too incredible to pass up!
We just spoke again and ironed out some dates, and it looks like she'll have them the day of our Neighborhood Block Sale. Not having the boys around while I'm selling off their old toys definitely sounds appealing!
Now, the goal is for me to kick some butt this week on cleaning in the garage so that I can rest and enjoy two days without the boys... ie: I can sew to my heart's content!
Thanks Jessica! I'm so excited about your offer and for the chance for the boys to go and play for a few days at "Tia's". :D
Normally, I'm all a-flutter (that would be nervous) about spending time away from my boys. I almost always panic and can't sleep when I'm away from them... just for a night. But today, after the long week I've had battling Jack, this offer is just too incredible to pass up!
We just spoke again and ironed out some dates, and it looks like she'll have them the day of our Neighborhood Block Sale. Not having the boys around while I'm selling off their old toys definitely sounds appealing!
Now, the goal is for me to kick some butt this week on cleaning in the garage so that I can rest and enjoy two days without the boys... ie: I can sew to my heart's content!
Thanks Jessica! I'm so excited about your offer and for the chance for the boys to go and play for a few days at "Tia's". :D
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Yes. I AM Crazy!
At least I think taking five children ages (4, 4, 5, 5, & 7) to a concert qualifies as being crazy. Even if it was at the community college, and even if it was a free choral concert, and even if the choir was kinda (okay really) bad.
Who does that?
I think it would have been challenging enough with just my two boys, but my friend calls and says she’s going to a movie, but I know her hubby’s at work, and she just let Tom and I go to a movie on Saturday, and so her kids are going to a teenage who’s watching like NINE kids tonight, so, I open my mouth and say “I’m going to a free concert at the college, I can take them with me.” Then, I call and tell her “I’m making spaghetti and cooking a whole pound of pasta, so come over if you want” and then she’s like “we’ll be right down” because, I didn’t know it, but she LOVES my homemade spaghetti, even if it’s the “quick” version.
(Amy... I love you and your kids and OBVIOUSLY, this is just a total rant on my week and evening and not really about taking the kids at all, but just a great demonstration of how wacky I can be.)
Wow! I’m rambling and that’s QUITE the set of run-on sentences.
Anyway. I love being busy and going and doing and now that I’m feeling just a LITTLE BIT better (and Tom’s out of town and therefore unable to rein me in) I find myself doing crazy-fun stuff like that.
When I’m out with Amy’s kids, I always wonder what other people must think of me with the five stair-stepped kids. I mean, it looks like I cranked out one kid a year for five years in a row! Who does that? I know people do, but I honestly don’t think I could handle it. I mean, if the pregnancies, births and breast feeding didn’t kill me, trying to wash diapers and potty train all of them. And then, oy! I mean, this week, I waged war with Jack. I can't even imagine dealing with so many toddlers at one time - all.the.time.
This week, I decided it was high time Jack learn to clean up his room, on his own. The boys share a room and USUALLY, Tom or I or Erik will go in and clean it up. But no. I wanted Jack to do it.
I've learned that Jack really does know where all his toys and things go... he just honestly and truly wants someone else to clean up for him. What's more, he's OKAY with hanging out in his room all.the.time and just having occasional time-outs to interrupt his playing (because he seldom... okay, NEVER is actually CLEANING).
This week has been a long, harrowing journey for me. I’ve wanted to scream and yell (okay, I HAVE screamed and yelled). I wanted to strangle and cry (did the crying). Okay. The only thing I wanted to do and HAVEN’T done is strangle, gag, and bind my kids. I mean, I really thought about gagging them Tuesday afternoon. Which is when I first called Amy and she then came to my rescue. It’s been SO GOOD to have her support this week as I pitched this battle with Jack.
Come to think of it, that’s probably why I wound up with five kids at a concert tonight. I felt SO much more sanity this week because Amy has been coming over and calming me down when I wanted to strangle, gag, and tie Jack.
Tom would say something like “never wrestle a pig in the mud… the pig likes it and you just get dirty.” Same thing with this battle with Jack. But, I have learned somethings.
My best day, was also the one when I was the most exhausted (haven’t been sleeping well with hubby on a trip, and a good book series in my face!) Anyway, I was tired on Wednesday. Therefore, I couldn’t muster as much energy for the fight. But bigger than that, I made an effort to check on Jack FREQUENTLY, and made sure to catch him DOING WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSE TO. Then. I’d have him come sit on my lap for a cuddle and usually a story book. That little bit of positive attention was SO MUCH more productive than all the fighting, crying, etc I’d been doing.
Another change on Wednesday… some different forms of time-outs. In our house, time outs have almost always been served in a rocking chair… gives them the chance to move while still doing what you want, sit in one spot. Monday and Tuesday I was doing time outs on a step stool (little and hard and not-mobile). Well, Wednesday, we switched. Time outs were either Nose-in-the-Corner or (a new idea to me) hands above your head on the wall touching an item (either a piece of tape, or for Jack, until he figured out he could blink them off and on, he just had to put his hands on a switch plate). That worked out MUCH BETTER. I also made sure I could see him while serving these new time-outs. I’m loving the hands over the head one. It doesn’t take long until I hear “Mom! My arms are tired! Can I PLEASE go clean my room?”
I really hope I didn’t thwart my four days of effort here though… tonight, I left the concert early. And then, the five kids, when ask “do you think we should help Jack or just let him work on cleaning his room again tomorrow?” They decided to help! I gave each child an assignment (1 – clothes and hangers, 2 – stuffed animals and books, 3 – cars, 4 – little things, 5 – everything else). In TEN MINUTES, they had the pile down to small bits and trash. Another twenty minutes and the room was clean and vacuumed!
EVERY DAY this week has been a battle. I really and truly hope that I didn’t undermine my efforts by allowing the children to help.
Perhaps tomorrow I’ll have Jack do something nice to thank his friends and brother. Help him realize that he needs to be grateful to people when they do something nice for him, instead of just expecting them to do it because he’s the littlest/youngest/cutest/laziest/whatever.
Anyway. I do think I’m crazy… actually, in my family, it’s hard NOT to be Certifiable, but that’s DEFINITELY another story for another time! :D
Who does that?
I think it would have been challenging enough with just my two boys, but my friend calls and says she’s going to a movie, but I know her hubby’s at work, and she just let Tom and I go to a movie on Saturday, and so her kids are going to a teenage who’s watching like NINE kids tonight, so, I open my mouth and say “I’m going to a free concert at the college, I can take them with me.” Then, I call and tell her “I’m making spaghetti and cooking a whole pound of pasta, so come over if you want” and then she’s like “we’ll be right down” because, I didn’t know it, but she LOVES my homemade spaghetti, even if it’s the “quick” version.
(Amy... I love you and your kids and OBVIOUSLY, this is just a total rant on my week and evening and not really about taking the kids at all, but just a great demonstration of how wacky I can be.)
Wow! I’m rambling and that’s QUITE the set of run-on sentences.
Anyway. I love being busy and going and doing and now that I’m feeling just a LITTLE BIT better (and Tom’s out of town and therefore unable to rein me in) I find myself doing crazy-fun stuff like that.
When I’m out with Amy’s kids, I always wonder what other people must think of me with the five stair-stepped kids. I mean, it looks like I cranked out one kid a year for five years in a row! Who does that? I know people do, but I honestly don’t think I could handle it. I mean, if the pregnancies, births and breast feeding didn’t kill me, trying to wash diapers and potty train all of them. And then, oy! I mean, this week, I waged war with Jack. I can't even imagine dealing with so many toddlers at one time - all.the.time.
This week, I decided it was high time Jack learn to clean up his room, on his own. The boys share a room and USUALLY, Tom or I or Erik will go in and clean it up. But no. I wanted Jack to do it.
I've learned that Jack really does know where all his toys and things go... he just honestly and truly wants someone else to clean up for him. What's more, he's OKAY with hanging out in his room all.the.time and just having occasional time-outs to interrupt his playing (because he seldom... okay, NEVER is actually CLEANING).
This week has been a long, harrowing journey for me. I’ve wanted to scream and yell (okay, I HAVE screamed and yelled). I wanted to strangle and cry (did the crying). Okay. The only thing I wanted to do and HAVEN’T done is strangle, gag, and bind my kids. I mean, I really thought about gagging them Tuesday afternoon. Which is when I first called Amy and she then came to my rescue. It’s been SO GOOD to have her support this week as I pitched this battle with Jack.
Come to think of it, that’s probably why I wound up with five kids at a concert tonight. I felt SO much more sanity this week because Amy has been coming over and calming me down when I wanted to strangle, gag, and tie Jack.
Tom would say something like “never wrestle a pig in the mud… the pig likes it and you just get dirty.” Same thing with this battle with Jack. But, I have learned somethings.
My best day, was also the one when I was the most exhausted (haven’t been sleeping well with hubby on a trip, and a good book series in my face!) Anyway, I was tired on Wednesday. Therefore, I couldn’t muster as much energy for the fight. But bigger than that, I made an effort to check on Jack FREQUENTLY, and made sure to catch him DOING WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSE TO. Then. I’d have him come sit on my lap for a cuddle and usually a story book. That little bit of positive attention was SO MUCH more productive than all the fighting, crying, etc I’d been doing.
Another change on Wednesday… some different forms of time-outs. In our house, time outs have almost always been served in a rocking chair… gives them the chance to move while still doing what you want, sit in one spot. Monday and Tuesday I was doing time outs on a step stool (little and hard and not-mobile). Well, Wednesday, we switched. Time outs were either Nose-in-the-Corner or (a new idea to me) hands above your head on the wall touching an item (either a piece of tape, or for Jack, until he figured out he could blink them off and on, he just had to put his hands on a switch plate). That worked out MUCH BETTER. I also made sure I could see him while serving these new time-outs. I’m loving the hands over the head one. It doesn’t take long until I hear “Mom! My arms are tired! Can I PLEASE go clean my room?”
I really hope I didn’t thwart my four days of effort here though… tonight, I left the concert early. And then, the five kids, when ask “do you think we should help Jack or just let him work on cleaning his room again tomorrow?” They decided to help! I gave each child an assignment (1 – clothes and hangers, 2 – stuffed animals and books, 3 – cars, 4 – little things, 5 – everything else). In TEN MINUTES, they had the pile down to small bits and trash. Another twenty minutes and the room was clean and vacuumed!
EVERY DAY this week has been a battle. I really and truly hope that I didn’t undermine my efforts by allowing the children to help.
Perhaps tomorrow I’ll have Jack do something nice to thank his friends and brother. Help him realize that he needs to be grateful to people when they do something nice for him, instead of just expecting them to do it because he’s the littlest/youngest/cutest/laziest/whatever.
Anyway. I do think I’m crazy… actually, in my family, it’s hard NOT to be Certifiable, but that’s DEFINITELY another story for another time! :D
Three Important Sentences
Whenever I think of it, I smile over one thing I learned from my second husband. He often said these three VERY important sentences to me:
You were right.Today, I must offer these up to Tom... since I wrongly accused him of taking a charging plug for a cell phone. Tom is on a trip and we have two phones that use the same plug... I just found "my" plug still packed in a bag since my Arizona trip... which means I've been using his plug all month (not a big deal) until he packed it to take with him on a trip this week.I was wrong.I'm sorry.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Super Good Mornin' TO YA!
Everything comes with a price.
For instance, sleeping in an extra hour while a four and six year old are left unattended, comes with the price of walking downstairs to discover (in part) this scene:
Additionally, trash-can components were spread around the floor, old-stale-cookies were removed from the trash and set on the counter. A shiny-new-apple was on the floor, rolled under the table (apparently knocked off while retrieving the cookie tin).
Yes. The red tin marked "cookie" has cookies in it. So, it's not bad enough they decided to open a new box of sugary "snack" cereal when there were already two boxes of granola, a box of rice Chex, and a box of Cheerios open, but they also, apparently, needed to get into the cookie tin too!
What's more, the cereal spill wasn't restricted to the counter, but also the floor all around.
And, yes, that thing in the background...
Is a mirror that Jack decided he "didn't want anymore". So, he took it off the hallway wall by his bedroom door, walked into his bedroom, and "smacked it" on his upholstered chair (the same chair that Sunday I found he'd tipped over to sit on the bottom side (thus damaging the bottom cover)). Then, when the mirror (AND FRAME) broke, he walked it downstairs. Amazingly, I can't find any shards of glass anywhere in the house, and even more astounding, Jack is cut-free!
Last weekend our neighbor brought "Nanny McPhee" over to watch. While I enjoyed it, afterwords I told her "we don't usually let the kids watch movies like that, because I consider them "Training Videos". Apparently, I was right, Jack obviously got some new devious ideas about the kinds of havoc children can reek.
Flustered and flabbergasted. That's me.
For instance, sleeping in an extra hour while a four and six year old are left unattended, comes with the price of walking downstairs to discover (in part) this scene:
Additionally, trash-can components were spread around the floor, old-stale-cookies were removed from the trash and set on the counter. A shiny-new-apple was on the floor, rolled under the table (apparently knocked off while retrieving the cookie tin).
Yes. The red tin marked "cookie" has cookies in it. So, it's not bad enough they decided to open a new box of sugary "snack" cereal when there were already two boxes of granola, a box of rice Chex, and a box of Cheerios open, but they also, apparently, needed to get into the cookie tin too!
What's more, the cereal spill wasn't restricted to the counter, but also the floor all around.
And, yes, that thing in the background...
Is a mirror that Jack decided he "didn't want anymore". So, he took it off the hallway wall by his bedroom door, walked into his bedroom, and "smacked it" on his upholstered chair (the same chair that Sunday I found he'd tipped over to sit on the bottom side (thus damaging the bottom cover)). Then, when the mirror (AND FRAME) broke, he walked it downstairs. Amazingly, I can't find any shards of glass anywhere in the house, and even more astounding, Jack is cut-free!
Last weekend our neighbor brought "Nanny McPhee" over to watch. While I enjoyed it, afterwords I told her "we don't usually let the kids watch movies like that, because I consider them "Training Videos". Apparently, I was right, Jack obviously got some new devious ideas about the kinds of havoc children can reek.
Flustered and flabbergasted. That's me.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Making Progress
Now that I've been on antibiotics for a full week, I can feel my "Bronchitis, Asthma-Like-Flare-Up, Low-Blood-Oxygen, Almost Pneumonia" abating... finally.
While I've been sick these past four weeks, I've done A LOT of reading (over 1,200 pages in the past two weeks alone!), some knitting and a little crochet. Nothing's finished and not much worth mentioning (starting two different styles of sock - with the same yarn (and still not decided on a pattern), making dishcloths and coasters, continuing work on a never-ending-scarf).
Today I played with the scraps from the Happy Hour Quilt I started last July.
I finished the last four blocks of this group of String Pieced Blocks, inspired by Becky, who's inspired by Bonnie.
I was thinking of putting a sashing in between these blocks, to help with the bulk. But, after talking with Becky, I'll probably sew them together just like this (after trimming them up square). Since it's just planned as a 24" square table topper, I may not use batting. I'll have to see how it feels once it's pressed together. The muslin the strings are pieced to was cut 7.5". I'm in love with these blocks, but I'll probably be gifting this quilt away.
I always like to make one extra block, for myself. One day, I'll have this AMAZING sampler quilt full of blocks I've made in the past. Just thinking of the memories it will hold makes me smile.
After listening to my Aunt talk about making scrappy Log Cabins this week AND Amanda Jean blogging about the same thing. I took a page out of Amanda's book and added an inner border in white. I also allowed myself to go a little Wonky, remembering Jacquie's Wacky Tutorial. I'm planning to even this one up to 9.5" for a 9" finished block. I think I'll have to make some more of these fun Log Cabins.
Finally, when I was last in Arizona, Becky and I sat around one evening sewing her "crumbs" together into random little 3.5" blocks. She kindly sent one of her blocks home with me (the non-purple block you see below). So, as I was piecing the Wonky Log Cabin block, I started putting crumbs together and wound up with these two little gems:
I think I'll send one to Becky... kinda a long-distance Feel-the-Love thing. I am so tickled when I look over at the little crumb block she and I made, I think she might enjoy one from me. Actually, it's got me thinking about starting to trade little crumb blocks with my quilting buddies... since we can't always see what the others are doing, we could drop little crumbs in the mail for them. The thought makes me smile, now, to Share the Love!
I like making little scrappy things out of the bits and pieces from a specific quilt... even if you don't have the whole quilt, you get an idea for the feeling of the fabrics and colors in little things like these. As such, I actually PLANNED to do the string blocks when I was cutting the original Happy Hour Quilt, and I trimmed my selvages wide, making sure I had AT LEAST 3/4" at the narrowest point... that way I had plenty of fabric to play with scrappy things later.
It feels good to be putting thread to cloth and creating again!
I'm looking forward to cleaning up my sewing room and getting back on track with Suzy Qute Quilt Patterns again.
While I've been sick these past four weeks, I've done A LOT of reading (over 1,200 pages in the past two weeks alone!), some knitting and a little crochet. Nothing's finished and not much worth mentioning (starting two different styles of sock - with the same yarn (and still not decided on a pattern), making dishcloths and coasters, continuing work on a never-ending-scarf).
Today I played with the scraps from the Happy Hour Quilt I started last July.
I finished the last four blocks of this group of String Pieced Blocks, inspired by Becky, who's inspired by Bonnie.
I was thinking of putting a sashing in between these blocks, to help with the bulk. But, after talking with Becky, I'll probably sew them together just like this (after trimming them up square). Since it's just planned as a 24" square table topper, I may not use batting. I'll have to see how it feels once it's pressed together. The muslin the strings are pieced to was cut 7.5". I'm in love with these blocks, but I'll probably be gifting this quilt away.
I always like to make one extra block, for myself. One day, I'll have this AMAZING sampler quilt full of blocks I've made in the past. Just thinking of the memories it will hold makes me smile.
After listening to my Aunt talk about making scrappy Log Cabins this week AND Amanda Jean blogging about the same thing. I took a page out of Amanda's book and added an inner border in white. I also allowed myself to go a little Wonky, remembering Jacquie's Wacky Tutorial. I'm planning to even this one up to 9.5" for a 9" finished block. I think I'll have to make some more of these fun Log Cabins.
Finally, when I was last in Arizona, Becky and I sat around one evening sewing her "crumbs" together into random little 3.5" blocks. She kindly sent one of her blocks home with me (the non-purple block you see below). So, as I was piecing the Wonky Log Cabin block, I started putting crumbs together and wound up with these two little gems:
I think I'll send one to Becky... kinda a long-distance Feel-the-Love thing. I am so tickled when I look over at the little crumb block she and I made, I think she might enjoy one from me. Actually, it's got me thinking about starting to trade little crumb blocks with my quilting buddies... since we can't always see what the others are doing, we could drop little crumbs in the mail for them. The thought makes me smile, now, to Share the Love!
I like making little scrappy things out of the bits and pieces from a specific quilt... even if you don't have the whole quilt, you get an idea for the feeling of the fabrics and colors in little things like these. As such, I actually PLANNED to do the string blocks when I was cutting the original Happy Hour Quilt, and I trimmed my selvages wide, making sure I had AT LEAST 3/4" at the narrowest point... that way I had plenty of fabric to play with scrappy things later.
It feels good to be putting thread to cloth and creating again!
I'm looking forward to cleaning up my sewing room and getting back on track with Suzy Qute Quilt Patterns again.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Technology Essay
I just entered a contest from HP for a $5,000 Electronic Make Over. You have to write a 200 word (or less) essay about how you use electronic to help in your busy life. I'm not sure my entry was quite what they had in mind. That is, I imagine they want something about how wonderful and grand the electronics are, and my essay, well, just read it for yourself...
I think the most important way I use technology is to control how much of it we have. I am constantly analyzing if an item is really “helping” us, or if it is just taking up time and space. As such, we live without “necessities” like a TV, Microwave, Dishwasher, Stereo, and Coffee Pot. When I bring something into my home, I want to make sure it helps us to stay focused on the things that matter… which aren’t things at all, but people. The other way I use technology, is limit the amount of time we spend in front of electronic items. There is so much to see and do in this world; I encourage my family to get out there and experience the real world, instead of the one on-screen. Some days I classify as a “Power Down” day, where all electronics (including computers and phones) get turned off, and we spend the day cuddling and relaxing and playing. I really think it’s important to remember the technology is here to serve us; we have to keep that in mind so we don’t let ourselves get overrun with the latest gadget or gizmo.
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