Yesterday: Rho kept asking me how to add things together. It started with numbers- what's 4 + 2, what's 10+10+10+10...etc. But then it changed to words and letters. I tried to explain you can't really add letters, so then he asked, "What's chalk + chalk?" Exasperated I answered, " I don't know. What is it?"
To which he prompty replied "Sidewalk chalk."
Which I thought it was a pretty clever response and much better than anything I could've come up with.
This AM: Xan actually making his brother a bottle. I'd ask him to grab one and just fill it up with four ounces, he came out with a bottle, had mixed the formula and was shaking it up like a pro. I quized him three times on how many scoops he'd put in, to which he replied "Two" that sounded more like "Duh!" Alrighty then!
Baby L: discovering how to use his hands in full force. If it ain't nailed down...I don't think it stands a chance. Luckily, he's not crawling yet. Then we're all in trouble.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
...a Homeowner: it all falls apart
After this past week, I've learned that there's no way in hell I would've survived being born before, oh, probably 1920. Right now, we're having a hot water issues. The hot water ranges from warm but freezing my ass off to warm i'm not shivering. Our dryer has suddenly ceased to work, which is at least easier to deal with because we have a drying rack.
You're probably wondering why hasn't she just gotten them fixed?
Easier said than done, right now. I'm fairly sure that if we could just get one of our fathers over here, they could probably figure it out. So I hate to pay for something that we could, conceivably, figure out how to fix on our own. But, I've just about hit my limit with the hot-water issue, so I may have to break down and call someone. I'm also a little worried we'll hear something like- 'well, you're just going to have to replace the whole thing'. Which has already happened this year with our oil tank ("did you know it's been leaking into your basement?").
09 hasn't been the best year so far. The house seems to be falling apart bit by bit. The refinance we were hoping for may not happen as our house has apparently dropped over 20% in value thanks to the current economy, despite improvements that we've made. It's damn cold. Our house is just under 100 years...so needless to say does not have all the modern niceties of, say, real R18 insulation, in some areas of the house.
But, it's just a house, and it's just money. It will work itself out. I have my health, the kids are healthy...it could be worse. I'm thankful that JB isn't in danger of losing his job, as so many are right now. I'm thankful that business hasn't slowed down, but instead has been busier than I anticipated. I'm thankful my cars are running, and our families are also in good health. And last but not least, I'm thankful that I have a good friend who has kindly offered me a hot shower and dryer facilities. I'll be over soon.
You're probably wondering why hasn't she just gotten them fixed?
Easier said than done, right now. I'm fairly sure that if we could just get one of our fathers over here, they could probably figure it out. So I hate to pay for something that we could, conceivably, figure out how to fix on our own. But, I've just about hit my limit with the hot-water issue, so I may have to break down and call someone. I'm also a little worried we'll hear something like- 'well, you're just going to have to replace the whole thing'. Which has already happened this year with our oil tank ("did you know it's been leaking into your basement?").
09 hasn't been the best year so far. The house seems to be falling apart bit by bit. The refinance we were hoping for may not happen as our house has apparently dropped over 20% in value thanks to the current economy, despite improvements that we've made. It's damn cold. Our house is just under 100 years...so needless to say does not have all the modern niceties of, say, real R18 insulation, in some areas of the house.
But, it's just a house, and it's just money. It will work itself out. I have my health, the kids are healthy...it could be worse. I'm thankful that JB isn't in danger of losing his job, as so many are right now. I'm thankful that business hasn't slowed down, but instead has been busier than I anticipated. I'm thankful my cars are running, and our families are also in good health. And last but not least, I'm thankful that I have a good friend who has kindly offered me a hot shower and dryer facilities. I'll be over soon.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
...a Lazy Blogger Catching Up With My Favorite Holiday Moments
If you haven't seen "The Sixth Sense" you may not want to read the last favorite moment. There's a spoiler. A big one. Just wanted to warn you :)
From Baby L: Us staying up until 2am trying to finishing wrapping, cleaning, baking, more wrapping, more cleaning and more baking and him sleeping all night, waking up with a smile on his face and just hanging out for another hour while we were still getting things ready.
From Rho: Performing his first magic trick. It went something like this.
My uncle was trying to impress the boys Christmas Eve with his magic tricks, as he does every year. Rho decided to perform his own magic trick. He took two napkin rings and stood near the wall, then held out his hands and told my uncle to "pick a hand." My Uncle picked one. "Nope." So he picked the other. "Nope!" As it turns out, both were empty. He'd backed up to the wall and used it to hold the napkin rings between his back and the wall. It was awesome and probably the best "magic" trick of the night. Sometimes the kid is just scary smart and a little too quick on his feet.
He also called my Uncle Bob "Bobby". Which I don't think any one has ever done. It was stinkin' hysterical- "Hey Bobby! You want to see what I got for Christmas Bobby?"
From Xan: Calling out my Uncle "Bobby" on his magic tricks. Ones that took me, oh I don't know, 15-20 years to figure out. He figured them out at 7.5. Another awesome moment. This rivals when JB and I watched "The Sixth Sense" when it first came out with his younger cousin who, not knowing much about the movie, asked us within the first 5 minutes "Is he like dead or something?"
From Baby L: Us staying up until 2am trying to finishing wrapping, cleaning, baking, more wrapping, more cleaning and more baking and him sleeping all night, waking up with a smile on his face and just hanging out for another hour while we were still getting things ready.
From Rho: Performing his first magic trick. It went something like this.
My uncle was trying to impress the boys Christmas Eve with his magic tricks, as he does every year. Rho decided to perform his own magic trick. He took two napkin rings and stood near the wall, then held out his hands and told my uncle to "pick a hand." My Uncle picked one. "Nope." So he picked the other. "Nope!" As it turns out, both were empty. He'd backed up to the wall and used it to hold the napkin rings between his back and the wall. It was awesome and probably the best "magic" trick of the night. Sometimes the kid is just scary smart and a little too quick on his feet.
He also called my Uncle Bob "Bobby". Which I don't think any one has ever done. It was stinkin' hysterical- "Hey Bobby! You want to see what I got for Christmas Bobby?"
From Xan: Calling out my Uncle "Bobby" on his magic tricks. Ones that took me, oh I don't know, 15-20 years to figure out. He figured them out at 7.5. Another awesome moment. This rivals when JB and I watched "The Sixth Sense" when it first came out with his younger cousin who, not knowing much about the movie, asked us within the first 5 minutes "Is he like dead or something?"
Saturday, December 20, 2008
a Mom..."And Mom and Dad Can Hardly Wait for School to Start Again..."
Today was the first official day of Christmas vacation. This morning, Rho, upon hearing that it was vacation, asked "We goin' somewhere on a plane?"
JB: No.
Rho: We goin' to Mema's house?
JB *chuckle*: No.
Rho, with marked exasperation: We goin' anywhere?
JB: No, we're staying home for the next few days.
Rho: Vacation is boring!
And it's only day one.
JB: No.
Rho: We goin' to Mema's house?
JB *chuckle*: No.
Rho, with marked exasperation: We goin' anywhere?
JB: No, we're staying home for the next few days.
Rho: Vacation is boring!
And it's only day one.
Friday, December 19, 2008
a mom...More Favorite Moments
From the baby: Sleeping all night (at under 3 months), having him wake up happy and smiling when he sees me
From Rho: getting random "I Love you Mamas" and a beautiful macaroni necklace
From Xan: Last week, the 3-5 graders did a school store/lawn sale for kids to buy stuff and for them to raise money. Xan asks for some money, so I give him $5 of his Christmas money and tell him to keep it around $2. He comes home with a bag full of stuff.
Me: "How much did you spend?"
Xan: "All of it." has a sheepish grin on his face.
Me: "I told you to only spend $2, but as it's money that you got for Christmas..."
Xan: "Oh- I forgot" slaps his forehead, though it's pretty obvious from his terrible lying that he remembered but chose to spend it all.
And then he shows me what he bought- and I'm expecting it's all mostly junk that he had to have. All but two small things were a gift for his family. Personally, I got a "pearl" necklace, bracelet and ring- he couldn't wait until Christmas. There aren't many kids I know that would just assume spend their own money on gifts rather than stuff for themselves. So I guess we're doing something right as parents.
Which is a pretty good gift in and of itself.
From Rho: getting random "I Love you Mamas" and a beautiful macaroni necklace
From Xan: Last week, the 3-5 graders did a school store/lawn sale for kids to buy stuff and for them to raise money. Xan asks for some money, so I give him $5 of his Christmas money and tell him to keep it around $2. He comes home with a bag full of stuff.
Me: "How much did you spend?"
Xan: "All of it." has a sheepish grin on his face.
Me: "I told you to only spend $2, but as it's money that you got for Christmas..."
Xan: "Oh- I forgot" slaps his forehead, though it's pretty obvious from his terrible lying that he remembered but chose to spend it all.
And then he shows me what he bought- and I'm expecting it's all mostly junk that he had to have. All but two small things were a gift for his family. Personally, I got a "pearl" necklace, bracelet and ring- he couldn't wait until Christmas. There aren't many kids I know that would just assume spend their own money on gifts rather than stuff for themselves. So I guess we're doing something right as parents.
Which is a pretty good gift in and of itself.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
...a Mom- Playing the Santa Card
In terms of child discipline, I think the holiday season is probably the most easiest time of year to get your young children to behave. Beginning mid-to-late November, the words "You better behave because Santa is watching" inevitably come out of your mouth, if you have a child like Rho, several times a day.
As I can't quite remember all the gory details of the following exchange, let's say it started with an "I want" situation, followed by a "No" from JB, which was then followed by "but I want..." followed by "I all ready said no." Which is then topped off by "Well you're a big jerk!" from Rho.
Heh heh.
JB: "You need to go sit in a time out, and I'm going to call Santa about that." Picks up the phone and starts dialing.
Rho, from his time out stair: "Does this mean I'm only going to get clothes?"
As I can't quite remember all the gory details of the following exchange, let's say it started with an "I want" situation, followed by a "No" from JB, which was then followed by "but I want..." followed by "I all ready said no." Which is then topped off by "Well you're a big jerk!" from Rho.
Heh heh.
JB: "You need to go sit in a time out, and I'm going to call Santa about that." Picks up the phone and starts dialing.
Rho, from his time out stair: "Does this mean I'm only going to get clothes?"
Monday, December 8, 2008
...A Scrooge: Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree
We still have not yet got you.
First, I thought I had a prior committment on Saturday, which turned out to not be true, so we decided to get the house ready for Christmas. This involved cleaning, laundry (not sure of the connection other than that maybe we needed clean clothes to go and get the tree), a little rearranging. None of which we actually finished, which I will blame on a grumpy baby who had gotten his 2 months shots Thursday and was still out of sorts. So Sunday AM was round 2. By 11 am, the roads were covered with snow and it didn't really stop snowing until after it was too late to go and get our tree.
So it's Dec. 8th and we have no tree. I don't think we've ever gone this far into December without getting our tree. And because the place we usually get them isn't open past 4pm and it's about a 1/2 hour away, there's no way we can get there during the week. So we'll probably have to buy a crappy one from the New York City type stand that's in the next town south. They're all pre-cut (we usually cut our own) and not the greatest place for photo-ops.
Needless to say I'm not thrilled with this option. At all. I'm very particular about my trees- I don't like typical balsam trees, I like Concolor Firs.
What's so special about these trees? They have a blue spruce type coloring, and a unique citrus-y pine scent (plus they don't lose a lot of needles). I just really like them. Actually, I love them, and it makes me a little sad that we probably won't be getting one this year. Not that Christmas is defined by the tree. A big part of my disappointment is that we're not going to get to go through the whole process of walking out on the hills of our favorite tree farm, looking for just the right tree, freezing in our boots, complaining a little about the cold, struggling to saw it down, and making an afternoon of it. Usually we go with my parents, but my mom was sickly on Saturday and not up to taking the 1 1/2 hour drive up here, so we won't have the fun of going with them either.
No one but me will notice the tree. It's funny that when I started writing this post, I was just going to complain about not getting "my" tree and then I realized what I was really disappointed about. But, we're all healthy and here, and we'll be together on the big day. Eh...who needs a cool tree anyway. Charlie Brown certainly did just fine without one.
First, I thought I had a prior committment on Saturday, which turned out to not be true, so we decided to get the house ready for Christmas. This involved cleaning, laundry (not sure of the connection other than that maybe we needed clean clothes to go and get the tree), a little rearranging. None of which we actually finished, which I will blame on a grumpy baby who had gotten his 2 months shots Thursday and was still out of sorts. So Sunday AM was round 2. By 11 am, the roads were covered with snow and it didn't really stop snowing until after it was too late to go and get our tree.
So it's Dec. 8th and we have no tree. I don't think we've ever gone this far into December without getting our tree. And because the place we usually get them isn't open past 4pm and it's about a 1/2 hour away, there's no way we can get there during the week. So we'll probably have to buy a crappy one from the New York City type stand that's in the next town south. They're all pre-cut (we usually cut our own) and not the greatest place for photo-ops.
Needless to say I'm not thrilled with this option. At all. I'm very particular about my trees- I don't like typical balsam trees, I like Concolor Firs.
What's so special about these trees? They have a blue spruce type coloring, and a unique citrus-y pine scent (plus they don't lose a lot of needles). I just really like them. Actually, I love them, and it makes me a little sad that we probably won't be getting one this year. Not that Christmas is defined by the tree. A big part of my disappointment is that we're not going to get to go through the whole process of walking out on the hills of our favorite tree farm, looking for just the right tree, freezing in our boots, complaining a little about the cold, struggling to saw it down, and making an afternoon of it. Usually we go with my parents, but my mom was sickly on Saturday and not up to taking the 1 1/2 hour drive up here, so we won't have the fun of going with them either.
No one but me will notice the tree. It's funny that when I started writing this post, I was just going to complain about not getting "my" tree and then I realized what I was really disappointed about. But, we're all healthy and here, and we'll be together on the big day. Eh...who needs a cool tree anyway. Charlie Brown certainly did just fine without one.
Friday, November 7, 2008
...a Mom: My Favorite Moments From the Past Week
1) getting my first real smile from Baby L- a full on gummy grin. Totally made my day- hell, it really made my week.
1.5) watching Baby L make his firt roll from his stomach to back at 3.5 weeks, and again a few days ago (around 5 weeks)
2) While getting my 80s groove on watching "The Last Starfighter" having Xander ask me, "Is this "Star Wars"?"
Uh, no it's "The Last Starfighter."
"Well it looks like it."
A minute later, having followed Xan downstairs, Rho asks "Is this "Star Wars?"
No, it's "The Last Starfighter."
"Well it looks like it."
3) Actually finishing a couple of books
4) Getting out of the house for a client meeting (by myself! adult conversation!)
5) listening to JB ask Xan to spell something from his 2nd list and having 4.5 year old Rho pipe up to spell it, and then having Rho read some of the spelling list to his big brother- they're all just too smart.
They take after their mother.
1.5) watching Baby L make his firt roll from his stomach to back at 3.5 weeks, and again a few days ago (around 5 weeks)
2) While getting my 80s groove on watching "The Last Starfighter" having Xander ask me, "Is this "Star Wars"?"
Uh, no it's "The Last Starfighter."
"Well it looks like it."
A minute later, having followed Xan downstairs, Rho asks "Is this "Star Wars?"
No, it's "The Last Starfighter."
"Well it looks like it."
3) Actually finishing a couple of books
4) Getting out of the house for a client meeting (by myself! adult conversation!)
5) listening to JB ask Xan to spell something from his 2nd list and having 4.5 year old Rho pipe up to spell it, and then having Rho read some of the spelling list to his big brother- they're all just too smart.
They take after their mother.
Friday, October 31, 2008
a Mom....a Few Favorite Moments
It's been a while since my last post, as I'm in the throws of the worst sleep deprivation of my life (thank you Baby L). In fact, I set an online alarm clock yesterday for a 1/2 hour later(my laptop is normally attached to my hip), set the laptop on the floor and passed out a few minutes later. Apparently, if you accidentally turn off the wireless button, the alarm clock won't go off, and you'll be awakened to the bus honking, because they won't let your second grader off the bus unless you're out there waiting for them (which, I'm not complaining about as I like this about our school). Needless to say, I was really out of it after that for a good four hours having to be quickly awakened only then to RUN out of the house and down the driveway.
But anyway. I digress. Some favorite moments from this past week, month...not sure.
1) Overheard the other night while watching Indiana Jones 4:
Xan: WHAT THE!
Rho: HECK!
2) Watching yesterday afternoon:
Two big boys lying on the floor with the baby and talking to him. Baby L making lots of sounds that sound like he's saying "hi" so bigger boys repeat and bust up laughing. Of course, what baby L was really saying was "get me the heck off my tummy and this floor" in his nicest baby voice. Then again, maybe he really was saying "hi". My children are geniuses after all.
3) hanging out with a friend who not only brought lunch, but matched up and sorted through probably 100 socks while here, dusted, swept my kitchen floor and watched the baby so I could bring Rho to school. A debt I can seriously never repay.
4) Getting out of the house with the baby for more than just school pick ups and drop offs. granted it was just to the doctors for the four week check up, but I did have to drive a 1/2 each way. I should mention that the above nap story followed this outting.
5) having hubby stay up with me in the middle of the night while trying to get the snorting, snotty sounding baby to say asleep without waking himself up with aforemention noises- thank you for the company :)
But anyway. I digress. Some favorite moments from this past week, month...not sure.
1) Overheard the other night while watching Indiana Jones 4:
Xan: WHAT THE!
Rho: HECK!
2) Watching yesterday afternoon:
Two big boys lying on the floor with the baby and talking to him. Baby L making lots of sounds that sound like he's saying "hi" so bigger boys repeat and bust up laughing. Of course, what baby L was really saying was "get me the heck off my tummy and this floor" in his nicest baby voice. Then again, maybe he really was saying "hi". My children are geniuses after all.
3) hanging out with a friend who not only brought lunch, but matched up and sorted through probably 100 socks while here, dusted, swept my kitchen floor and watched the baby so I could bring Rho to school. A debt I can seriously never repay.
4) Getting out of the house with the baby for more than just school pick ups and drop offs. granted it was just to the doctors for the four week check up, but I did have to drive a 1/2 each way. I should mention that the above nap story followed this outting.
5) having hubby stay up with me in the middle of the night while trying to get the snorting, snotty sounding baby to say asleep without waking himself up with aforemention noises- thank you for the company :)
Monday, October 20, 2008
a Pet Owner: We All Fall Down
So last night it was apparently too cold for even the cats to beg to go out, so both were asleep, curled up on the couch. Cosmo was asleep across the top, Wanda almost directly below him on the cushions. Suddenly Cosmo slides off the top, lands smack on top of Wanda, who I thought might just give him the beat down of his life. Funniest thing I've seen in a LONG time. Wanda lay there, glaring at him, one paw raised as he settled down a few inches from her on the cushions, probably just in case she needed to cuff him a good one for the hell of it (something she likes to do if he takes too long coming inside at night).
Ahh...cats.
"I fellz off za couch! :("
Ahh...cats.
"I fellz off za couch! :("
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
a Mom, Again
On 9-30 we welcomed our third boy into our family:
I'd forgotten how joyous it is to have a baby in the house, and how utterly exhausting it is. I love to watch the different expressions flit across their faces, and even if it's gas induced, love seeing them randomly smile.
JB and I have twisted senses of humor, and he delights in nothing more than getting me going. His lastest joke has been about how boring the baby is- though truthfully all he really has done is sleep, eat and poop for the past week. Except yesterday and today when we really got to see that he does have eyes behind those tiny eyelids. Now, in order for the next bit of this story to make sense, you have to have scene the movie "Waitress". If you haven't, you probably won't find it quite as funny as I did. Granted, it was the middle of the night and I couldn't tell you how many times we'd been up at this point, but JB says to me as I nursed for the umpteenth time "I think I'm going to make a pie- Damn Borning Baby Pie. The only ingredient is crust."
I'm still laughing today- otherwise I might be crying from lack of sleep :). However, sadly, he's taken to calling the baby a little crust of bread. UGH. Men.
I'd forgotten how joyous it is to have a baby in the house, and how utterly exhausting it is. I love to watch the different expressions flit across their faces, and even if it's gas induced, love seeing them randomly smile.
JB and I have twisted senses of humor, and he delights in nothing more than getting me going. His lastest joke has been about how boring the baby is- though truthfully all he really has done is sleep, eat and poop for the past week. Except yesterday and today when we really got to see that he does have eyes behind those tiny eyelids. Now, in order for the next bit of this story to make sense, you have to have scene the movie "Waitress". If you haven't, you probably won't find it quite as funny as I did. Granted, it was the middle of the night and I couldn't tell you how many times we'd been up at this point, but JB says to me as I nursed for the umpteenth time "I think I'm going to make a pie- Damn Borning Baby Pie. The only ingredient is crust."
I'm still laughing today- otherwise I might be crying from lack of sleep :). However, sadly, he's taken to calling the baby a little crust of bread. UGH. Men.
Monday, September 29, 2008
...A Slightly Crazy Preggo: Cars Suck
As tomorrow I'm being induced, I had a lot of last minute errands to run today. Post office, the store, take the youngest for lunch at Mickey D's, then drop him off at preschool. We go to leave a little later than I wanted as I was trying to get a few things done around the house, get out to the car (a Ford Explorer), go to start it and the steering wheel locks. Ok, no biggie, right? I'll just turn it a little and it'll start...
Wrong.
I spent a good 15 minutes giggling the steering wheel, which moves, oh, about a 1/2. I press the brake pedal, I pump the brake pedal. I call the Ford roadside number. I end up talking to a local dealership. A half hour goes by and I'm FREAKING OUT because of the two cars we own- this is the ONLY ONE that fits all three car seats (nope, haven't replaced the other one YET). I call JB in tears who's trying to get me to remain calm in the midst of teaching a lesson. I call my parents, no one's home. I go back out and I jiggle. I swear. I kick it. I cry some more. Nothing.
Ok- so maybe I will try the other set of keys. Sure as hell can't hurt, right?
So, wouldn't you know, the stinkin' wheel unlocks right away, I start the car and Rho and I take off, having only enough time to eat at this point, but that's ok because I can run my stupid errands after I drop him off.
As it turns out, I don't think I even had the right key to start with. Not because I'm crazy- we have two keyless remotes, both of which have Ford keys on them. However, we also have Ford F350 sitting in our driveway (which you may be thinking why didn't she just drive that- because it's like 10 feet of the ground, there are no "Oh-shit" handles on the driver's side to pull myself into it with, I'm 18 months preggo and it's really hard to buckle a booster seat in it without being preggo).
So when JB finally calls to see what the outcome was, I ask him- "Did you by any chance put the truck key on the ring with other remote entry?"
"Oh yeah...I think I might've."
I glare through the phone and wonder if he can feel the daggers. But I only send a few as he explains he was trying to be calm with a room full of kids even though he was actually freaking out himself and didn't think of it.
Less than an hour later, my poor SIL, who is spending the night with us tonight to get the kids off to school in the AM because we've got to be at the hospital before 7:30 am, calls and says her car has died at a gas station more than an hour from our house, MIL is on the way, but she's not sure what's going on.
After about three hours of waiting, stressing and having FIL come...she'll be going back home (an hour and a half away) to get a different car before heading over sometime tonight. She's a trooper and we're VERY grateful JB's parents own a couple of cars and trucks.
So yeah, cars suck. Same car also cost us $300+ dollars for stupid brakes last week. On top of having to replace our oil tank (which we were told could have burst at anytime, losing all the expensive oil in it to the ground below).
*SIGH*
But on a happier note, the baby is getting evicted tomorrow, so we'll finally be able to meet the little bugger who has been practing his Ka-ra-te on Mommy for the past couple of hours...YAY!
Wrong.
I spent a good 15 minutes giggling the steering wheel, which moves, oh, about a 1/2. I press the brake pedal, I pump the brake pedal. I call the Ford roadside number. I end up talking to a local dealership. A half hour goes by and I'm FREAKING OUT because of the two cars we own- this is the ONLY ONE that fits all three car seats (nope, haven't replaced the other one YET). I call JB in tears who's trying to get me to remain calm in the midst of teaching a lesson. I call my parents, no one's home. I go back out and I jiggle. I swear. I kick it. I cry some more. Nothing.
Ok- so maybe I will try the other set of keys. Sure as hell can't hurt, right?
So, wouldn't you know, the stinkin' wheel unlocks right away, I start the car and Rho and I take off, having only enough time to eat at this point, but that's ok because I can run my stupid errands after I drop him off.
As it turns out, I don't think I even had the right key to start with. Not because I'm crazy- we have two keyless remotes, both of which have Ford keys on them. However, we also have Ford F350 sitting in our driveway (which you may be thinking why didn't she just drive that- because it's like 10 feet of the ground, there are no "Oh-shit" handles on the driver's side to pull myself into it with, I'm 18 months preggo and it's really hard to buckle a booster seat in it without being preggo).
So when JB finally calls to see what the outcome was, I ask him- "Did you by any chance put the truck key on the ring with other remote entry?"
"Oh yeah...I think I might've."
I glare through the phone and wonder if he can feel the daggers. But I only send a few as he explains he was trying to be calm with a room full of kids even though he was actually freaking out himself and didn't think of it.
Less than an hour later, my poor SIL, who is spending the night with us tonight to get the kids off to school in the AM because we've got to be at the hospital before 7:30 am, calls and says her car has died at a gas station more than an hour from our house, MIL is on the way, but she's not sure what's going on.
After about three hours of waiting, stressing and having FIL come...she'll be going back home (an hour and a half away) to get a different car before heading over sometime tonight. She's a trooper and we're VERY grateful JB's parents own a couple of cars and trucks.
So yeah, cars suck. Same car also cost us $300+ dollars for stupid brakes last week. On top of having to replace our oil tank (which we were told could have burst at anytime, losing all the expensive oil in it to the ground below).
*SIGH*
But on a happier note, the baby is getting evicted tomorrow, so we'll finally be able to meet the little bugger who has been practing his Ka-ra-te on Mommy for the past couple of hours...YAY!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
...a Mom: Things That Make You Go Hmmm....
The boys were outside playing earlier, and while they usually get along great, there's almost always one fight. This time it was over binoculars. Rho wanted the blue pair, Xan had them first, so he was stuck with the green ones. But, not satisfied with green, he swiped the blue which caused the fight. Both come in complaining about the other
Rho: I told Dad on you!
Xan: (coming in after) I had them first.
Rho: No you didn't...
And as it turns out Rho lied about who had them first (Xan's a lousy liar, and Rho, well, let's just say he'd clean up on that game show with the lie detector on Fox). After a short time out, JB tells him that he should apologize to his brother for taking the binoculars and that if he wants to use a pair, he's going to have to use the green ones.
Rho's musical response?
"It's too late to apologize...it's too late....It's too late to apologize..."
I start laughing- because the kid's got a damn good sense of humor (which, of course, he gets from me). He's also a little too smart for his own good.
Did I mention he's only 4 and a half?
Rho: I told Dad on you!
Xan: (coming in after) I had them first.
Rho: No you didn't...
And as it turns out Rho lied about who had them first (Xan's a lousy liar, and Rho, well, let's just say he'd clean up on that game show with the lie detector on Fox). After a short time out, JB tells him that he should apologize to his brother for taking the binoculars and that if he wants to use a pair, he's going to have to use the green ones.
Rho's musical response?
"It's too late to apologize...it's too late....It's too late to apologize..."
I start laughing- because the kid's got a damn good sense of humor (which, of course, he gets from me). He's also a little too smart for his own good.
Did I mention he's only 4 and a half?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
...a Woman: My Love List
So I thought I would write my "Love List" inspired by Operation Nice. The only catch is you can't mention anyone you know.
I love bookstores and books. I love reading. I love the feel of pen on paper when writing. I love the smell of orange. I love McDonald's vanilla iced coffees. I love time to myself, but I also love when everyone is home. I love holidays. I love that we eat kielbasa, fruit salad and banana breads for breakfast on those days. I love cranking the music in my car and singing at the top of my lungs. I love my Vermont sunsets. I love lilacs. I love a good stretch. I love making someone laugh. I love the spicy scent of summer. I love fresh cut grass. I love fresh A & W rootbeer (the kind you get at A & W- not from the store). I love a simple hot fudge sundae. Apparently I love food. I love taking photos. I love photojournalistic wedding photos. I love weddings. Paper. Designing. I love the movie "Field of Dreams". I love that it makes me cry every single time I watch it. I love classic Winnie the Pooh. I love getting flowers. I love french onion dip and chips (it's a sickness). I love little kid belly laughs. I love a good dirty joke. I love getting bookstore gift certificates (it's my favorite gift). I love the smell of baking bread, and having a hot slice with butter. I love playing sports- especially softball. I love crisp autumn days that are filled with sunshine. I secretly love snow (for a little while anyway). I have found I love gardening. I love playing the piano. I love the first day of the year when you can wear shorts. I love hugs. I love beagles (well, animals in general, but really love beagles). I love collecting barbie dolls, and I love that this always surprises people.
I love bookstores and books. I love reading. I love the feel of pen on paper when writing. I love the smell of orange. I love McDonald's vanilla iced coffees. I love time to myself, but I also love when everyone is home. I love holidays. I love that we eat kielbasa, fruit salad and banana breads for breakfast on those days. I love cranking the music in my car and singing at the top of my lungs. I love my Vermont sunsets. I love lilacs. I love a good stretch. I love making someone laugh. I love the spicy scent of summer. I love fresh cut grass. I love fresh A & W rootbeer (the kind you get at A & W- not from the store). I love a simple hot fudge sundae. Apparently I love food. I love taking photos. I love photojournalistic wedding photos. I love weddings. Paper. Designing. I love the movie "Field of Dreams". I love that it makes me cry every single time I watch it. I love classic Winnie the Pooh. I love getting flowers. I love french onion dip and chips (it's a sickness). I love little kid belly laughs. I love a good dirty joke. I love getting bookstore gift certificates (it's my favorite gift). I love the smell of baking bread, and having a hot slice with butter. I love playing sports- especially softball. I love crisp autumn days that are filled with sunshine. I secretly love snow (for a little while anyway). I have found I love gardening. I love playing the piano. I love the first day of the year when you can wear shorts. I love hugs. I love beagles (well, animals in general, but really love beagles). I love collecting barbie dolls, and I love that this always surprises people.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
...a Consumer: Oh, PETA, Really?
There was a news story this AM about PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) trying to convince Vermont ice cream company Ben and Jerry's to use breast milk instead of cow's milk because of the sometimes cruel conditions cows can be kept in. B & Js replied that breast milk is best kept for its intended recipients- babies.
Uh- yeah. I can understand wanting to protect the animals- I'm an animal lover and abhor cruelty of any kind, but breast milk? Yes- I can imagine how much fun it would be for hordes of women to sit around being pumped several times a day, OUCH. I'm not saying me or the cows, or that there shouldn't be more regulations about how cows (especially veal cows) are kept...I'm just saying eeewwww.
It reminds me of that episode of "Friends" ("The One With the Breast Milk"):
Chandler: What did you just do?
Phoebe: I licked my arm, what?
Ross: It’s breast milk.
Phoebe: So?
Rachel: Phoebe, that is juice, squeezed from a person.
Joey: What is the big deal? (Tastes the breast milk.)
Chandler: What did you just do?
Ross: Ok, would people stop drinking the breast milk?
Phoebe: You won’t even taste it?
Ross: No!
Phoebe: Not even if you just pretend that it’s milk?
Ross: Not even if Carol’s breast had a picture of a missing child on it.
Yep- that about sums it up.
Uh- yeah. I can understand wanting to protect the animals- I'm an animal lover and abhor cruelty of any kind, but breast milk? Yes- I can imagine how much fun it would be for hordes of women to sit around being pumped several times a day, OUCH. I'm not saying me or the cows, or that there shouldn't be more regulations about how cows (especially veal cows) are kept...I'm just saying eeewwww.
It reminds me of that episode of "Friends" ("The One With the Breast Milk"):
Chandler: What did you just do?
Phoebe: I licked my arm, what?
Ross: It’s breast milk.
Phoebe: So?
Rachel: Phoebe, that is juice, squeezed from a person.
Joey: What is the big deal? (Tastes the breast milk.)
Chandler: What did you just do?
Ross: Ok, would people stop drinking the breast milk?
Phoebe: You won’t even taste it?
Ross: No!
Phoebe: Not even if you just pretend that it’s milk?
Ross: Not even if Carol’s breast had a picture of a missing child on it.
Yep- that about sums it up.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
...A Pet Owner- WTF?
So, in the past week or so my cats have gone completely psycho. Particularly our female, Wanda.
She'll come up to me, meow, start attacking things, so I think she needs to go out. I haul my preggo butt off the couch, make my way to the kitchen. At this point, she turns a sharp right and starts eating.
Oookay.
And she'll repeat this behavior multiple times throughout the day. A few minutes ago I get off the phone, follow her to the kitchen because she's been complaining at me, and she goes to eat. I say to her Ms. Psychoness, "Do you know how hard it is for me to get up?" She doesn't answer.
This behavior is coupled with going in and out a gazillion times a day (both cats are guilty of this behavior), sometimes coming in right after she's gone out.
So, do my cats sense the impending baby (who, BTW, has excuted "squatter's rights" as he's completely ignoring the eviction notice I posted here last week)? I've never seen them act quite like this before. To further demonstrate the psychosis, I was about to finish this post up, but had to use the restroom. As soon as I get up, she hightails it for the kitchen and starts eating. I come out of the bathroom, she's outside the door and again, hightails it for the kitchen. Out of curiosity, I follow, and sure enough- she heads right for the food bowl. This has all happened within a 1/2 hour- no exaggeration.
Anyone a pet psychic? She's back bugging me now, and I'm NOT getting up again. Nuh-uh. Now she's on the couch adjacent to mine, and is staring at me.
Okay...shhhhh, she's sleeping. Must be all the running around has tuckered her out. But I'd put money on it- if I get up, she'll run out to the kitchen and eat.
I'll keep you posted.
She'll come up to me, meow, start attacking things, so I think she needs to go out. I haul my preggo butt off the couch, make my way to the kitchen. At this point, she turns a sharp right and starts eating.
Oookay.
And she'll repeat this behavior multiple times throughout the day. A few minutes ago I get off the phone, follow her to the kitchen because she's been complaining at me, and she goes to eat. I say to her Ms. Psychoness, "Do you know how hard it is for me to get up?" She doesn't answer.
This behavior is coupled with going in and out a gazillion times a day (both cats are guilty of this behavior), sometimes coming in right after she's gone out.
So, do my cats sense the impending baby (who, BTW, has excuted "squatter's rights" as he's completely ignoring the eviction notice I posted here last week)? I've never seen them act quite like this before. To further demonstrate the psychosis, I was about to finish this post up, but had to use the restroom. As soon as I get up, she hightails it for the kitchen and starts eating. I come out of the bathroom, she's outside the door and again, hightails it for the kitchen. Out of curiosity, I follow, and sure enough- she heads right for the food bowl. This has all happened within a 1/2 hour- no exaggeration.
Anyone a pet psychic? She's back bugging me now, and I'm NOT getting up again. Nuh-uh. Now she's on the couch adjacent to mine, and is staring at me.
Okay...shhhhh, she's sleeping. Must be all the running around has tuckered her out. But I'd put money on it- if I get up, she'll run out to the kitchen and eat.
I'll keep you posted.
Monday, September 22, 2008
A TV Junkie: New Seasons Start Tonight!!
I'm so flipping excited- the new seasons of "Big Bang Theory", "How I Met Your Mother" and "Heroes" start tonight. I detest summer programming. I hate reality TV for the most part, there's just waaaaay to much of it.
So my predictions:
HIMYM: Stella will say yes, Barney will admit to Lily he loves Robin
BBT: Penny's date with Leonard will be awkward (but this is sort-of a "duh")
Heroes: Claire will lose part of her brain to Sylar, but he won't kill her because she'll be able to regenerate (and she's too integral to the show) and the man who shot Nathan is no other than....yeah, I won't put it here, because 1) it's a biggish spoiler and 2) for some reason I have no controls to change the text color and I don't wanna ruin it for any one. But it's good.
So my predictions:
HIMYM: Stella will say yes, Barney will admit to Lily he loves Robin
BBT: Penny's date with Leonard will be awkward (but this is sort-of a "duh")
Heroes: Claire will lose part of her brain to Sylar, but he won't kill her because she'll be able to regenerate (and she's too integral to the show) and the man who shot Nathan is no other than....yeah, I won't put it here, because 1) it's a biggish spoiler and 2) for some reason I have no controls to change the text color and I don't wanna ruin it for any one. But it's good.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
...a Preggo: Holy Emotions Batman!!!
It's been a very rough month. I've just deleted all the details, so this doesn't end up like "War and Peace" but needless to say at 39+ weeks I've become very emotionally fragile. A combination of not sleeping, various running around, cars breaking down, baby due any minute (please, oh please)...so I've been a little on edge.
Friday, I was supposed to have some adult company, but she cancelled. Ok, held back the tears on that one because I was hoping for some help to get some things cleaned up and put back together after some construction projects. But something good comes out on Friday- my SIL came to pick up the kids with the intent on taking them to a hot-air balloon festival, apple picking and the like, and they would not be back until Sunday. This means that JB and I will get some much needed time to ourselves for a date before the baby comes. The summer went by sooooo fast that we didn't get a chance to do anything other than house stuff.
So Friday, we pick up the car that's been at the dealership and go out to dinner. We toy with going to the movies, but by the time dinner is over, I'm whipped off my toucas. So we decide to go home, I pass out on the couch at 8:30 and pretty much sleep until 8 the next morning. See? Told you I was tired :) We take care of some chores and decide to head back to the nearest "city" (a half our drive from our small Vermont town) to go first to Home Depot and then Wal-mart to get snacks for the week which is more than I've done in three weeks. Walking is just. not. comfortable. Once we've done all of this, we head to the movie theater to see "My Best Friend's Girl". We grab our p-corn, and I'm all set to get a blue raspberry slush puppy, but they only have smalls (which is practically dixie cup small) and can't put the slushies in a regular soda cup because it will mess up inventory (huh? really?).
I should've known then.
Still smarting from not getting the slushie I'd been jonesing for since the night before, we get a soda and take our seats. The previews start a few minutes later, then the movie...and then the sound goes. JB doesn't waste any time getting up to tell them. We wait.
And wait.
And wait.
I go out and ask about the sound- she knows nothing about it. It's been more than 20 minutes. Apparently the kid working the concession stand didn't tell any body, he just took off. So we get our money back, I get to the car and lose it. "Niagara Falls, Frankie Angel" (if you don't get the movie quote- go rent "Scrooged" with Bill Murray). I'm balling like my favorite pet just died and I can't stop for like 15 minutes. I feel like an utter moron, which I say to JB, who is completely understanding and says, "Why don't you just close your eyes and I'll wake you when we get there."
Get there? I think. Not get home? I'm a little suspicious at this point. Sure enough, after stopping at home for a bathroom break, the man confesses he has planned to drive past our home to Burlington, at hour and 20 minutes away so that we can go to dinner and see the movie in a stadium seating theater. So back in the car we go. We go for Mexican (yummy!) and then hang out for a little while before the movie starts. Luckily it wasn't a wasted trip- it's actually pretty funny if you're into crasser humor, and it's refreshing to see a female lead who isn't a goody-goody. It's definitely an "R" movie though. Enough F-bombs to wipe the entire half of the US off the map. But it was good to laugh and good to have one last date before the family changes again.
I thank JB a couple of times on the way home, who replies, "My wife was crying, what was I supposed to do?"
What a sweetie, I think.
Then he says, "Besides, if we'd just gone home and I'd ended up watching golf all night, you would've ended up pissed at me and have had a miserable evening. This was a better alternative." He grins.
I drop my own F-bomber at him. A twisted term of endearment, and grin. "Yeah, you're probably right."
Friday, I was supposed to have some adult company, but she cancelled. Ok, held back the tears on that one because I was hoping for some help to get some things cleaned up and put back together after some construction projects. But something good comes out on Friday- my SIL came to pick up the kids with the intent on taking them to a hot-air balloon festival, apple picking and the like, and they would not be back until Sunday. This means that JB and I will get some much needed time to ourselves for a date before the baby comes. The summer went by sooooo fast that we didn't get a chance to do anything other than house stuff.
So Friday, we pick up the car that's been at the dealership and go out to dinner. We toy with going to the movies, but by the time dinner is over, I'm whipped off my toucas. So we decide to go home, I pass out on the couch at 8:30 and pretty much sleep until 8 the next morning. See? Told you I was tired :) We take care of some chores and decide to head back to the nearest "city" (a half our drive from our small Vermont town) to go first to Home Depot and then Wal-mart to get snacks for the week which is more than I've done in three weeks. Walking is just. not. comfortable. Once we've done all of this, we head to the movie theater to see "My Best Friend's Girl". We grab our p-corn, and I'm all set to get a blue raspberry slush puppy, but they only have smalls (which is practically dixie cup small) and can't put the slushies in a regular soda cup because it will mess up inventory (huh? really?).
I should've known then.
Still smarting from not getting the slushie I'd been jonesing for since the night before, we get a soda and take our seats. The previews start a few minutes later, then the movie...and then the sound goes. JB doesn't waste any time getting up to tell them. We wait.
And wait.
And wait.
I go out and ask about the sound- she knows nothing about it. It's been more than 20 minutes. Apparently the kid working the concession stand didn't tell any body, he just took off. So we get our money back, I get to the car and lose it. "Niagara Falls, Frankie Angel" (if you don't get the movie quote- go rent "Scrooged" with Bill Murray). I'm balling like my favorite pet just died and I can't stop for like 15 minutes. I feel like an utter moron, which I say to JB, who is completely understanding and says, "Why don't you just close your eyes and I'll wake you when we get there."
Get there? I think. Not get home? I'm a little suspicious at this point. Sure enough, after stopping at home for a bathroom break, the man confesses he has planned to drive past our home to Burlington, at hour and 20 minutes away so that we can go to dinner and see the movie in a stadium seating theater. So back in the car we go. We go for Mexican (yummy!) and then hang out for a little while before the movie starts. Luckily it wasn't a wasted trip- it's actually pretty funny if you're into crasser humor, and it's refreshing to see a female lead who isn't a goody-goody. It's definitely an "R" movie though. Enough F-bombs to wipe the entire half of the US off the map. But it was good to laugh and good to have one last date before the family changes again.
I thank JB a couple of times on the way home, who replies, "My wife was crying, what was I supposed to do?"
What a sweetie, I think.
Then he says, "Besides, if we'd just gone home and I'd ended up watching golf all night, you would've ended up pissed at me and have had a miserable evening. This was a better alternative." He grins.
I drop my own F-bomber at him. A twisted term of endearment, and grin. "Yeah, you're probably right."
Thursday, September 18, 2008
a Mom: My Favorite Moment
Inspired by Jules at Pancakes and French Fries, I've decided to do my own favorite moment. It's not specifically from this past week, but rather an amalgamate of several similar moments. Rho (formerly known as R) usually could care less about being left somewhere (like one of the Memas (pronounced Mee-ma, what my kids called their grandmas, or an aunties). In fact, neither kid really cares, and they don't usually make a fuss when we return to get them, unless it's been a good number of days.
So, it surprises me every day, picking him up from pre-school to hear shouts of "MOMMY!" and having him run to greet me with a huge hug as if he hasn't seen me in a month (though sometimes it's only been a couple of hours). No matter how my day has gone, and lately it seems more bad than good with being sick and hugely preggo, it always brightens up my afternoon, and it's my favorite moment of the day.
So, it surprises me every day, picking him up from pre-school to hear shouts of "MOMMY!" and having him run to greet me with a huge hug as if he hasn't seen me in a month (though sometimes it's only been a couple of hours). No matter how my day has gone, and lately it seems more bad than good with being sick and hugely preggo, it always brightens up my afternoon, and it's my favorite moment of the day.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
A Woman...Things I Don't Like, But Think I'm Supposed to
1) Oprah- Girlfriend, I just don't get it
2) "Sex and the City"- maybe it's because for as long as it's been in existence, I've been married, maybe it's because while I can be just as crude and crass as the next truck driver, there's something in Kim Cattrall's delivery that I don't like. So, needless to say, I'm not waiting on pins and needles for the DVD release next week. I'm more excited for "Ironman." I can also add to this list "Lipstick Jungle" and that other all woman show that I'm pretty sure got cancelled anyway
3) Housework- ok, I don't know anyone who really likes it, so this might not count
4) Brad Pitt as a sex symbol, AKA "the man most women would sacrifice their marriage for" I like Pitt as an actor, and think he's wicked funny, but I'm, uh, just not that into him
5)High heels- because I've never been able to figure out how to walk in them, and plus, my feet are huge (size 11s baby) and my heels are narrow, making finding a good fight damn near impossible
6)Danielle Steele- I don't know why, because I love Nora Roberts, but if I had to pick, I'd read a young adult novel any day
7) Cosmo, Vogue, Elle, etc... I'd rather read the TV Guide, though there are some "Cosmo" articles that crack me up
Are there some things that you "should" love but don't?
2) "Sex and the City"- maybe it's because for as long as it's been in existence, I've been married, maybe it's because while I can be just as crude and crass as the next truck driver, there's something in Kim Cattrall's delivery that I don't like. So, needless to say, I'm not waiting on pins and needles for the DVD release next week. I'm more excited for "Ironman." I can also add to this list "Lipstick Jungle" and that other all woman show that I'm pretty sure got cancelled anyway
3) Housework- ok, I don't know anyone who really likes it, so this might not count
4) Brad Pitt as a sex symbol, AKA "the man most women would sacrifice their marriage for" I like Pitt as an actor, and think he's wicked funny, but I'm, uh, just not that into him
5)High heels- because I've never been able to figure out how to walk in them, and plus, my feet are huge (size 11s baby) and my heels are narrow, making finding a good fight damn near impossible
6)Danielle Steele- I don't know why, because I love Nora Roberts, but if I had to pick, I'd read a young adult novel any day
7) Cosmo, Vogue, Elle, etc... I'd rather read the TV Guide, though there are some "Cosmo" articles that crack me up
Are there some things that you "should" love but don't?
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