Friday, June 19, 2009
Look! Look!
My wonderful middle school art teacher has her own Etsy shop! Go visit! Beautiful stuff there!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Ain't no cure for the summertime cold
Yes. I caught a summer cold. Yes, I was miserable most of the weekend. Yes, I had to drag kids all over the place and "pretend" to be all happy and playful at Adventure Landing when all I really wanted to do was curl up in the car and GO TO SLEEP.
Saturday morning we all got up early and took Keith to his game. Not too much excitement. He got one hit, but no real action as far as plays to the infield/outfield go.
We left early to take Keith to the AL birthday party for his BFF from our previous residence. My plan was to drop off Keith then take Izzy to the mall or grocery store or something to hang out until the party got out. I knew I wouldn't know a lot of people there. But as soon as we all walked in, the mom asked Izzy if she wanted to stay and play, too. Well, how can I tell a 4-year old no to that? So we all got into the shoot-em-up-with-foam-balls room and ran around after each other. Me--coughing and gasping the whole way. Izzy showed once again how different she is from her siblings and went right down the huge curly slide--her siblings weren't so brave with that at that age. She was too little to climb on some of the equipment, so I had to help (hence the coughing and gasping from my poor, virused, respiratory system). Keith and his friend played together THE WHOLE TIME. And sat next to eat other during pizza/cake/present time. And...I just wish we could get him together with this little boy more often, because it was so sweet to see.
We ended up being the last to leave the party (UGH). Mary had a softball game at 2:00 (and wasn't SHE bummed she didn't come with us to drop off Keith at that party! heh). I pulled into the parking lot, walked Keith and Izzy across to the field, didn't recognize any of the girls/moms playing, and THEN I remembered that it was an away game (read: cold messing with synapses in brain). As we started driving away, Keith says, "Mom, I'm tired. Can we just go home?" Why YES, WE CAN. Keith played Mario Kart while Izzy and I took a much-needed nap (not that my phlegmy self SLEPT, but at least I was IN BED and not on an uncomfortable bleacher in the somewhat chilly air trying to cheer my daughter when I was so miserable! Sorry, Mare!).
Mary also had a somewhat uneventful game (although she did get to play catcher twice). She and John came home. I dragged my butt up and got to the store to throw together dinner (hamburgers AGAIN?!), and we watched some Avatar.
Sunday was simple. Laundry. Read. Chores. Read. Laundry. Read. Dinner. Read. Laundry. Read. Landry.
Well, I did start perking up around 8:00, so I dragged out the Dance Dance Revolution and made that my new cop-out work-out plan. Works great!
Then I passed out in bed. And tried REALLY HARD to focus on all the student loan debt that is forcing me to make a presence at work. @#$%. Ah well. At least I still have a job!
Saturday morning we all got up early and took Keith to his game. Not too much excitement. He got one hit, but no real action as far as plays to the infield/outfield go.
We left early to take Keith to the AL birthday party for his BFF from our previous residence. My plan was to drop off Keith then take Izzy to the mall or grocery store or something to hang out until the party got out. I knew I wouldn't know a lot of people there. But as soon as we all walked in, the mom asked Izzy if she wanted to stay and play, too. Well, how can I tell a 4-year old no to that? So we all got into the shoot-em-up-with-foam-balls room and ran around after each other. Me--coughing and gasping the whole way. Izzy showed once again how different she is from her siblings and went right down the huge curly slide--her siblings weren't so brave with that at that age. She was too little to climb on some of the equipment, so I had to help (hence the coughing and gasping from my poor, virused, respiratory system). Keith and his friend played together THE WHOLE TIME. And sat next to eat other during pizza/cake/present time. And...I just wish we could get him together with this little boy more often, because it was so sweet to see.
We ended up being the last to leave the party (UGH). Mary had a softball game at 2:00 (and wasn't SHE bummed she didn't come with us to drop off Keith at that party! heh). I pulled into the parking lot, walked Keith and Izzy across to the field, didn't recognize any of the girls/moms playing, and THEN I remembered that it was an away game (read: cold messing with synapses in brain). As we started driving away, Keith says, "Mom, I'm tired. Can we just go home?" Why YES, WE CAN. Keith played Mario Kart while Izzy and I took a much-needed nap (not that my phlegmy self SLEPT, but at least I was IN BED and not on an uncomfortable bleacher in the somewhat chilly air trying to cheer my daughter when I was so miserable! Sorry, Mare!).
Mary also had a somewhat uneventful game (although she did get to play catcher twice). She and John came home. I dragged my butt up and got to the store to throw together dinner (hamburgers AGAIN?!), and we watched some Avatar.
Sunday was simple. Laundry. Read. Chores. Read. Laundry. Read. Dinner. Read. Laundry. Read. Landry.
Well, I did start perking up around 8:00, so I dragged out the Dance Dance Revolution and made that my new cop-out work-out plan. Works great!
Then I passed out in bed. And tried REALLY HARD to focus on all the student loan debt that is forcing me to make a presence at work. @#$%. Ah well. At least I still have a job!
Monday, June 08, 2009
The Highlights
Maybe having the hair out of her face helped, but Mary KICKED BUTT at her softball game. After begging every game, the coach finally let her pitch. Hello! Skinny little thing CAN PITCH! She actually struck out the very first batter. And made a few more great plays when the opposing team was hitting the balls right back to her. It was a short inning. She showed her stuff. And coach was all, "Mary! Why didn't you TELL me you could pitch like that?" Um....she TRIED, but you kept pushing her aside (Oh! Isn't that cute! Little Mary wants to pitch!).
Perhaps the coach's attitude will CHANGE now, and Mary will get the attention (and credit) she deserves.
That's my girl!
Perhaps the coach's attitude will CHANGE now, and Mary will get the attention (and credit) she deserves.
That's my girl!
Bad haircut
John and I sort of "had it" with Mary's hair always hanging in her face and her complete lack of interest in combing it or keeping it nice. She's been trying to grow it out, but it's just a straggly mess. So we talked her into getting some of it cut off.
Saturday morning I rushed her in to the SuperCheap place--it was just a few stores down from the CellPhoneStore where I wanted to take my suddenly dead phone to get it looked at. Well, the wait ended up being longer than they said (and the CellPhoneStore had moved out! The nerve!), so Mary and I passed the time perusing the haircut books trying to pick out something that she would like. The kid who two days prior was almost crying over the fact that I said she needed to get a "good trim" as her hair was so damaged, and I wanted her to have something easier to take care of, was now, "Oh, I don't care" about the style of her hair. And then moved to, "Oh...whatever."
So, when her time was finally up (and I was getting nervous by this time as she had a softball game in about 45 minutes--in another part of town--and she didn't even have her uniform on yet....), I gave her to the stylist, showed her the length Mary and I agreed on (just below her shoulders) and then said, "If she wants bangs, it's completely up to her, I don't care," and I walked away (to put up with wiggly Izzy and a set of brothers who were pummeling each other in the waiting area while grandma was getting her hair cut--fun!).
Well, Mary decided on bangs. ("It's kind of fun to try something different!" she said.) And Izzy and I sat there and watched the lady cut them. And I immediately thought, "WHY was I so trusting to let her pick her own hairstyle! I HATE dealing with bangs! And WHY is that lady cutting them so short? And...AUGH!"
Well, we got home, John rushed Mary off to her game (for which I was mistaken--it started a half hour EARLIER than I thought). I took Keith to his game. We all met up later (@#$% inconvenient not having a cell phone!), and John had to tell me, "I hate her hair. SOMETHING must be done about her hair."
Well...WHAT can be done now? The bangs are CUT, and there is no getting those straggly pieces of hair back. And I don't think anything can be done to fix how short they look. And I'm afraid of having someone cut more off the sides (That's part of the problem--a year ago, we had the sides cut to "frame" her face--and those chunks of hair just really make the bangs look stupid. But we want to grow them OUT now, so surely cutting them even shorter would be counterproductive?) and making it look worse. And, Mary actually LIKES her hair (and she got a lot of compliments on it at her game--probably everybody was just thrilled they could see her face). And...we'll just have to start pulling the sides back (it DOES look pretty decent like that)...and wait for everything to grow back.
I should have known better than to mess with it. I should have known better than to let her pick bangs or no bangs. I should have known to just stop at "Please clean up the scraggly ends."
Two years. It'll probably take at least two years.
*sigh*
Saturday morning I rushed her in to the SuperCheap place--it was just a few stores down from the CellPhoneStore where I wanted to take my suddenly dead phone to get it looked at. Well, the wait ended up being longer than they said (and the CellPhoneStore had moved out! The nerve!), so Mary and I passed the time perusing the haircut books trying to pick out something that she would like. The kid who two days prior was almost crying over the fact that I said she needed to get a "good trim" as her hair was so damaged, and I wanted her to have something easier to take care of, was now, "Oh, I don't care" about the style of her hair. And then moved to, "Oh...whatever."
So, when her time was finally up (and I was getting nervous by this time as she had a softball game in about 45 minutes--in another part of town--and she didn't even have her uniform on yet....), I gave her to the stylist, showed her the length Mary and I agreed on (just below her shoulders) and then said, "If she wants bangs, it's completely up to her, I don't care," and I walked away (to put up with wiggly Izzy and a set of brothers who were pummeling each other in the waiting area while grandma was getting her hair cut--fun!).
Well, Mary decided on bangs. ("It's kind of fun to try something different!" she said.) And Izzy and I sat there and watched the lady cut them. And I immediately thought, "WHY was I so trusting to let her pick her own hairstyle! I HATE dealing with bangs! And WHY is that lady cutting them so short? And...AUGH!"
Well, we got home, John rushed Mary off to her game (for which I was mistaken--it started a half hour EARLIER than I thought). I took Keith to his game. We all met up later (@#$% inconvenient not having a cell phone!), and John had to tell me, "I hate her hair. SOMETHING must be done about her hair."
Well...WHAT can be done now? The bangs are CUT, and there is no getting those straggly pieces of hair back. And I don't think anything can be done to fix how short they look. And I'm afraid of having someone cut more off the sides (That's part of the problem--a year ago, we had the sides cut to "frame" her face--and those chunks of hair just really make the bangs look stupid. But we want to grow them OUT now, so surely cutting them even shorter would be counterproductive?) and making it look worse. And, Mary actually LIKES her hair (and she got a lot of compliments on it at her game--probably everybody was just thrilled they could see her face). And...we'll just have to start pulling the sides back (it DOES look pretty decent like that)...and wait for everything to grow back.
I should have known better than to mess with it. I should have known better than to let her pick bangs or no bangs. I should have known to just stop at "Please clean up the scraggly ends."
Two years. It'll probably take at least two years.
*sigh*
Friday, June 05, 2009
It's a beautiful day!
I'm always somewhat nervous about what I post here as I know my employer can find this blog if they really wanted to (maybe they already HAVE! Dum Dum DUUUUUUMMMMM!!!!)...but I guess it's public knowledge now, so I can legitimately let slip to you all that my employer just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Yeeee Haaaaaw!
They were smart and did their lay-offs BEFOREHAND, so now they can say um, with confidence?, that they are not planning any more lay-offs at this time.
I've been holding on through this whole um, "crisis" in the hopes that once the dust cleared I can perhaps move up into a better position (er, if I survived the multitude of lay-offs--which I guess I did). Cuz where I'm at right now is most certainly NOT where I want to be even six months from now.
So, employer, if you're reading this, please take note that my current position, for which I'm GRATEFUL, NO DOUBT, is in no way challenging or busy enough for my fancy. I need something with more responsibility and at which I can utilize my AWESOME, HARD-WORKING TALENTS to their fullest potential.
Thank you. And I hope you zip through that Chapter 11 "thing" just as well as you did when you did it 10 years ago.
*super-winning SMILE*
Yeeee Haaaaaw!
They were smart and did their lay-offs BEFOREHAND, so now they can say um, with confidence?, that they are not planning any more lay-offs at this time.
I've been holding on through this whole um, "crisis" in the hopes that once the dust cleared I can perhaps move up into a better position (er, if I survived the multitude of lay-offs--which I guess I did). Cuz where I'm at right now is most certainly NOT where I want to be even six months from now.
So, employer, if you're reading this, please take note that my current position, for which I'm GRATEFUL, NO DOUBT, is in no way challenging or busy enough for my fancy. I need something with more responsibility and at which I can utilize my AWESOME, HARD-WORKING TALENTS to their fullest potential.
Thank you. And I hope you zip through that Chapter 11 "thing" just as well as you did when you did it 10 years ago.
*super-winning SMILE*
Monday, June 01, 2009
Weekend in a Flash
A movie, two baseball games, concession stand duties, one softball game, one over-night (thankfully at OTHER kid's house), and a camp-out in the den (to entertain two remaining kids).
By Sunday: over-tired Mom who JUST WANTED TO READ! But had WAY TOO MUCH LAUNDRY TO DO! Smarter Dad realizing we all just needed a trip to the park.
Ahhhh.... Refocus.
That was fun.
(BTW: "Up" is completely, totally AWESOME!!)
By Sunday: over-tired Mom who JUST WANTED TO READ! But had WAY TOO MUCH LAUNDRY TO DO! Smarter Dad realizing we all just needed a trip to the park.
Ahhhh.... Refocus.
That was fun.
(BTW: "Up" is completely, totally AWESOME!!)
Friday, May 29, 2009
The answer to Muffin Tops!
Go see MommyDaisy's review site to try to win the Hip-T.
Now, can someone make one of those out of swimsuit material so that I can wear my tankini a little more comfortably? (Or am I just too self-conscious about that?) (Would you tell me if you thought I was?) (Would you tell me if I WASN'T?) (What?)
Now, can someone make one of those out of swimsuit material so that I can wear my tankini a little more comfortably? (Or am I just too self-conscious about that?) (Would you tell me if you thought I was?) (Would you tell me if I WASN'T?) (What?)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Oh yeah!
I forgot! (So much stuff happened this weekend, that--just like my mother--I was BOUND to forget SOMETHING!)
Keith had a game on Saturday. Not only did he make another great play at first and tagged a kid out, but he also FINALLY got his FIRST HIT!!! I guess all that practice last weekend and then on Thursday actually helped!
THAT'S my boy!
Keith had a game on Saturday. Not only did he make another great play at first and tagged a kid out, but he also FINALLY got his FIRST HIT!!! I guess all that practice last weekend and then on Thursday actually helped!
THAT'S my boy!
Memorable Weekend
Mom and Barry made it in Friday just in time for Pizza-and-a-Movie night. (And gave me just enough time to finish picking up the clutter and vacuum while John went out and bough a brand new self-inflating mattress!). And since they have no kids around to keep up on all those kiddie movies, we subjected them to Izzy's favorite: Wall-E.
Saturday Barry and John worked out in the yard. Barry replanted his "twig"--a lilac bush that he helped us rescue and pot last year--into a spot in the front yard. I hope it takes! Mary and I planted some of her seedlings she had started--we'll see how many of the sunflower plants take. Then the neighbor gave her a bunch of plants from her yard, and now Mary's got her own little "plot" on the side of the house.
Mom wanted to go to the movies, so we all went out to see "Night at the Museum 2." Wow. Seven people can go through a LOT of popcorn! (Especially Izzy, who spent the whole movie going back and forth to mooch off each person--I doubt she caught much of the movie.) A quick trip to a drive-thru, dinner, and bedtime! John and I stayed up late to watch "Valkyrie."
Sunday Mom and I went to the grocery store and stocked up on goodies to have a picnic at the park. We drove up to the Beach and let the kids dabble their feet in the water then grilled burgers and reds. And except for our forgetting our grilling implements (which, thank goodness, Mom remembered as we were driving by another store) and then Izzy's almost-didn't-make-it trip to the potty and then lazy me not putting on the sunscreen causing Mary to get a slight RASH with her sunburnt arms (sorry, honey!), it was a great day.
Sunday night I made spaghetti. The kids were forced into the tub (GRUBBY!). The adults stayed up late watching "Wallander" and a Queen concert.
Too soon Monday morning Grandma and Grandpa Barry made their way back onto the highway. And, as USUAL they forgot something. We can now add a pair of my mother's glasses (which fell out of her purse and were on the floor of the mini-van) to their notorious left-behind list: shoes, laptop, high dollar face cream....
Saturday Barry and John worked out in the yard. Barry replanted his "twig"--a lilac bush that he helped us rescue and pot last year--into a spot in the front yard. I hope it takes! Mary and I planted some of her seedlings she had started--we'll see how many of the sunflower plants take. Then the neighbor gave her a bunch of plants from her yard, and now Mary's got her own little "plot" on the side of the house.
Mom wanted to go to the movies, so we all went out to see "Night at the Museum 2." Wow. Seven people can go through a LOT of popcorn! (Especially Izzy, who spent the whole movie going back and forth to mooch off each person--I doubt she caught much of the movie.) A quick trip to a drive-thru, dinner, and bedtime! John and I stayed up late to watch "Valkyrie."
Sunday Mom and I went to the grocery store and stocked up on goodies to have a picnic at the park. We drove up to the Beach and let the kids dabble their feet in the water then grilled burgers and reds. And except for our forgetting our grilling implements (which, thank goodness, Mom remembered as we were driving by another store) and then Izzy's almost-didn't-make-it trip to the potty and then lazy me not putting on the sunscreen causing Mary to get a slight RASH with her sunburnt arms (sorry, honey!), it was a great day.
Sunday night I made spaghetti. The kids were forced into the tub (GRUBBY!). The adults stayed up late watching "Wallander" and a Queen concert.
Too soon Monday morning Grandma and Grandpa Barry made their way back onto the highway. And, as USUAL they forgot something. We can now add a pair of my mother's glasses (which fell out of her purse and were on the floor of the mini-van) to their notorious left-behind list: shoes, laptop, high dollar face cream....
Friday, May 22, 2009
Memorial Weekend Bop
My mother is coming! My mother is coming! And the house, albeit cleaner than normal with the drastic The-sitter-is-coming! cleaning of last week is sorely in need of a touch up. You see, Mom kept going back and forth on whether or not to come here or go to OKC to visit her sister, so I took her indecisiveness as an excuse to continue my lazy habits and NOT get the house ready. She called me at 6:30 last night to tell me they were driving here TODAY. And should be here by the time I get off work. Hmmm...gee...well, guess they're sleeping on a mattress on the floor again. And, hey, a little dust/clutter never hurt anyone, right???
John is off today. He and a neighbor took turns this week watching Izzy while the daycare provider was on vacation. I hope he finds time in-between listening to our ever-chatting daughter to pick up the den and run the vacuum before Mom rolls in around 5:30.
John is off today. He and a neighbor took turns this week watching Izzy while the daycare provider was on vacation. I hope he finds time in-between listening to our ever-chatting daughter to pick up the den and run the vacuum before Mom rolls in around 5:30.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
What a Nice Day
It's gorgeous and in the 80s, and I spent my lunch hour lazing along the highway to run some errands in another suburb. On my way out from one errand onto another, I saw a woman in the parking lot across the road buckling a load of kids into her mini-van. Hey! I know those kids! It was my good friend S. whom I haven't seen since...hmmm...gosh--I think it's been a YEAR! Wow.... What a nice surprise!
I come back to work (in no hurry, too gorgeous and the errands too many and too far away, and so I was a few minutes late) to find out that another co-worker has made themselves scarce. *sigh* There goes the nice day.
Keeping a positive attitude has never been harder than these last few months.
I come back to work (in no hurry, too gorgeous and the errands too many and too far away, and so I was a few minutes late) to find out that another co-worker has made themselves scarce. *sigh* There goes the nice day.
Keeping a positive attitude has never been harder than these last few months.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Another busy weekend at the Q household. Saturday each kid had a game. It was hot and humid with scattered showers (we got hit with a huge downpour at the last inning of each game!). Exhausting.
After the games, we headed home and took a quick nap and then feverishly cleaned the house for the baby sitter. That's right--John and I had a DATE. I know! But I was determined to see the new Star Trek movie. Last weekend we had too much stuff going on, so I made it a point to schedule the sitter for this Saturday night. A friend of mine and her husband (who works with John, ironically) were also planning on going, so we ended up all going together. Awesome movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And I'm glad I paid the big bucks for the tickets and sitter so that we could go!
After the movie, the four of us headed to a little local bar for a quick drink, then John and I relieved the babysitter around 11:30. (Mary picked on poor Keith all night. Izzy whined and cried when she had to go to bed. Otherwise, they were good and had fun.)
Sunday I did more and more laundry. Since the house was mostly clean from the "purge" the day before, the chore chart was kind of moot, so the kids kind of got it easy. Mary went to a friend's house to play. John took Keith to the park to hit some balls (we're hoping more practice will help him not be so intimidated with that pitching machine!). After Izzy's nap, I took her shopping (looking for new shorts--didn't find any!) and to the grocery store.
Another enjoyable weekend. I am seriously looking forward to the longer weekend coming up ahead!
After the games, we headed home and took a quick nap and then feverishly cleaned the house for the baby sitter. That's right--John and I had a DATE. I know! But I was determined to see the new Star Trek movie. Last weekend we had too much stuff going on, so I made it a point to schedule the sitter for this Saturday night. A friend of mine and her husband (who works with John, ironically) were also planning on going, so we ended up all going together. Awesome movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And I'm glad I paid the big bucks for the tickets and sitter so that we could go!
After the movie, the four of us headed to a little local bar for a quick drink, then John and I relieved the babysitter around 11:30. (Mary picked on poor Keith all night. Izzy whined and cried when she had to go to bed. Otherwise, they were good and had fun.)
Sunday I did more and more laundry. Since the house was mostly clean from the "purge" the day before, the chore chart was kind of moot, so the kids kind of got it easy. Mary went to a friend's house to play. John took Keith to the park to hit some balls (we're hoping more practice will help him not be so intimidated with that pitching machine!). After Izzy's nap, I took her shopping (looking for new shorts--didn't find any!) and to the grocery store.
Another enjoyable weekend. I am seriously looking forward to the longer weekend coming up ahead!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Improvements
Mary caught a line drive last night and almost caught two more--and also almost caught one from the left-fielder to make an out at third. (She was seeing a LOT of action there on third base--which she now claims is her FAVORITE position.)
Keith tagged out a kid at first. I just barely caught/missed it. I was dragging Izzy back from the playground to try to get a better view of Keith playing first base. Just as I was walking behind the dugout, I saw the hitter hit the ball, saw the ball head to first and then I RAN around the corner of theblind-spot dugout just in time to hear/see the ump/father call "OUT!" Awesome.
Keith also managed to foul on one pitch. PROGRESS! It's the first time he's made contact with the ball so far this season!
Good games last night. Too bad they were at the same time at opposite ends of the ball fields so that both John and I couldn't enjoy both. He took Mary's game; I was at Keith's. Lots of texting back and forth last night. "She caught a line drive!" "He got a kid out on frst!" Ahhh...Parenting in the information age....
Keith tagged out a kid at first. I just barely caught/missed it. I was dragging Izzy back from the playground to try to get a better view of Keith playing first base. Just as I was walking behind the dugout, I saw the hitter hit the ball, saw the ball head to first and then I RAN around the corner of the
Keith also managed to foul on one pitch. PROGRESS! It's the first time he's made contact with the ball so far this season!
Good games last night. Too bad they were at the same time at opposite ends of the ball fields so that both John and I couldn't enjoy both. He took Mary's game; I was at Keith's. Lots of texting back and forth last night. "She caught a line drive!" "He got a kid out on frst!" Ahhh...Parenting in the information age....
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Only thing you can do is laugh
Forgot to mention that we adults forgot to go to the ATM before going to the Lilac Festival on Sunday (Gah! We do that EVERY year!). As a result, we had EXACTLY enough money to park and buy 4 corn dogs, 1 hamburger, and 2 drinks. Izzy apparently did not hear the discussion whilst eating that we were NOT going to ride the hokey rides this visit 'cause Mom and Dad are LOSERS and lack organization skills. And I'm not sure if it would have mattered to a 4-year old, anyway.
As we started walking out of the park, Izzy started throwing a (fake) fit when we walked past the bounce house. John and I tried to give her reassuring words as we kept walking to the mini-van that we WILL come back to spend tons of money on a 20-second jumping spree in the bounce house later this week. She kept balling and at one point yells out, "I HATE you when you won't let me ride rides!" The couple strolling just ahead of us turned and gave us SUCH a shocked look. I just couldn't help it--I started cracking up! And I was having such an issue controlling it (I mean--seriously! That's MY kid being a BRAT!) that my shoulders shook, and I got tears in my eyes. The couple just had to laugh, too.
I apologize in advance to Izzy's teachers. Forgive me for the spoiling of my child--and then LAUGHING about it! You are soooo doomed. And I take full responsibility for my actions.
As we started walking out of the park, Izzy started throwing a (fake) fit when we walked past the bounce house. John and I tried to give her reassuring words as we kept walking to the mini-van that we WILL come back to spend tons of money on a 20-second jumping spree in the bounce house later this week. She kept balling and at one point yells out, "I HATE you when you won't let me ride rides!" The couple strolling just ahead of us turned and gave us SUCH a shocked look. I just couldn't help it--I started cracking up! And I was having such an issue controlling it (I mean--seriously! That's MY kid being a BRAT!) that my shoulders shook, and I got tears in my eyes. The couple just had to laugh, too.
I apologize in advance to Izzy's teachers. Forgive me for the spoiling of my child--and then LAUGHING about it! You are soooo doomed. And I take full responsibility for my actions.
Lovely
Friday night I got to go out with one of my best friends. And we realized once again just how OLD we are. After closing the Mexican restaurant, we decided to go out to a new coffee shop. We knew it was built on a college campus and did NOT feel any kind of pressure about the fact that we were going to be in a coffee shop full of co-eds. Until we discovered--it was actually a BAR. Packed FULL of kids and their bong beers with a band setting up. I looked at my friend, and I said, "You know, if we want to sit and CHAT, this really isn't the place." The fact that we had to pay a cover and only had $1 in cash between the two of us decided it. BACK to the old coffee shop! We had cheesecake and white mochas and nice conversation until way, way late. Heavenly--albeit a bit embarrassing! OLD!
(We'll have to go back some night when we're feeling a bit more frolicky--and actually have CASH.)
Saturday Keith had practice and then Mary had a game. Izzy was still sick with a pretty bad cold still from Friday, so I got to stay home with her. (Yay!) We sat and cuddled and watched TV, and the little feverish thing took a wonderful nap. Mary's game got rained out, so John took her and Keith to the mall for "shopping." I read a book and enjoyed the quiet. So peaceful!
Sunday Mary said she'd wake me up to give me breakfast in bed. She didn't. I didn't mind--we all slept in until 9:00! We got up and fixed frozen waffles and then sat around the house all morning reading (me) and playing (kids) and just in general ignoring the chore chart (ALL of us). Keith gave me some sunflower seed sprouts and a book about me (the picture of my Mario Cart car blowing up with a random head lying on the ground was the BEST). Mary gave me a nice poem with tea. Izzy gave me tea and a plaster mold of her foot with a candle stuck in it. I was thrilled to see it was a mold of the foot which has the "weird toe" which doesn't quite line up with the other toes--I LOVE that toe! Mary and Keith then presented the gift they'd picked out (with John's help) at the mall the day before: a Japanese tea set. So perfect!
When the sun actually peeped out, we made a run for the Lilac Festival (where I scored my final giftie for my mystery package to Japan), smelled the lilacs, ate corn dogs (YUM) and enjoyed the live band until the sun went back in and the cold creeped back. A run to the grocery store and two craft stores for last-minute school purchases, and then a dinner of Wendy's (which I did NOT eat as I've had ENOUGH fast food lately, thank you!), and a rush for showers and to bed (late AGAIN).
What a nice weekend.
(We'll have to go back some night when we're feeling a bit more frolicky--and actually have CASH.)
Saturday Keith had practice and then Mary had a game. Izzy was still sick with a pretty bad cold still from Friday, so I got to stay home with her. (Yay!) We sat and cuddled and watched TV, and the little feverish thing took a wonderful nap. Mary's game got rained out, so John took her and Keith to the mall for "shopping." I read a book and enjoyed the quiet. So peaceful!
Sunday Mary said she'd wake me up to give me breakfast in bed. She didn't. I didn't mind--we all slept in until 9:00! We got up and fixed frozen waffles and then sat around the house all morning reading (me) and playing (kids) and just in general ignoring the chore chart (ALL of us). Keith gave me some sunflower seed sprouts and a book about me (the picture of my Mario Cart car blowing up with a random head lying on the ground was the BEST). Mary gave me a nice poem with tea. Izzy gave me tea and a plaster mold of her foot with a candle stuck in it. I was thrilled to see it was a mold of the foot which has the "weird toe" which doesn't quite line up with the other toes--I LOVE that toe! Mary and Keith then presented the gift they'd picked out (with John's help) at the mall the day before: a Japanese tea set. So perfect!
When the sun actually peeped out, we made a run for the Lilac Festival (where I scored my final giftie for my mystery package to Japan), smelled the lilacs, ate corn dogs (YUM) and enjoyed the live band until the sun went back in and the cold creeped back. A run to the grocery store and two craft stores for last-minute school purchases, and then a dinner of Wendy's (which I did NOT eat as I've had ENOUGH fast food lately, thank you!), and a rush for showers and to bed (late AGAIN).
What a nice weekend.
Friday, May 08, 2009
"Essential"
More layoffs happened this week, and for some reason I'm still here. Apparently, I'm considered "essential to operations." It's nice to feel wanted...sorta. I'm relieved I don't have to pound the payment again right away. But I'm somewhat worried that I'll have to do it in a few weeks anyway.
We did get a snippet of good news around here the other day. If this is played out right, myself and the 40 other scarce people still around stand to be properly rewarded. I mean, think about it, with all these folks gone, if the company actually managed to pull ahead, that means the promotion opportunities are ENDLESS. I could practically PICK my own career here.
I will remain optimistic--tinged with just a sliver of panic. If it doesn't work out, I will start chucking out the resume and put on the interview suit again.
Good times. Good times.
We did get a snippet of good news around here the other day. If this is played out right, myself and the 40 other scarce people still around stand to be properly rewarded. I mean, think about it, with all these folks gone, if the company actually managed to pull ahead, that means the promotion opportunities are ENDLESS. I could practically PICK my own career here.
I will remain optimistic--tinged with just a sliver of panic. If it doesn't work out, I will start chucking out the resume and put on the interview suit again.
Good times. Good times.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Survival Mode
Baseball and softball and the Scout schedules are even worse than I remembered!
We are in a state of just "being" right now. No regular baths, no regular meals, no regular bedtimes (and we're starting to eek into "no homework done," too!). Sponge baths, the Golden Arches, and Grumpy Gusses are the theme of the season. And I HATE McCrapPlaceToEat!
Thursdays are proving to be the most challenging days as John now has a golf league that starts at four on those days. That leaves me with all three kids at whatever sporting event is taking place that night. I wouldn't necessarily mind if the games weren't lasting until 8:30 at night--which is way, way too late for my little Not-So-Early-Morning Riser (a.k.a. Izzy) to be out. And the other two are starting to Crank it up, too.
The spotless house I had worked so hard to achieve on Sunday was a complete disaster by last night. Clean and dirty laundry is scattered everywhere. The dining room table, no longer used for our fine McQuisine, now has crap stacked on it three feet high. I finally took a few minutes last night to load and run the dishwasher with all the bowls and spoons which are used for the only food partaken in the house: cold cereal.
This morning was actually a GOOD Izzy morning (she got a sticker, yay!), but I was so scattered with the finding of the clean socks and clean baseball uniform for Keith, wardrobe malfunction (When did THAT shirt start looking ugly on me? Where the heck did I put my shoes?), and attempted packing of a lunch (must get some salad greens in me SOMEHOW), that I was late for work anyway.
I'm so glad we don't do this all year.
I need to remember to schedule McCholesterol screenings for us for when this is all over.
Relatedly, Mary had her first softball game last night. She played pretty well. She was the very first on her team at bat, the first to get a hit, and the first to score. She had two hits the three times she was at bat. She made a couple of decent play attempts in the outfield. She looked like she was having fun. Especially when she and two other girls were eating sunflower seeds and having a spitting contest into the trash can. Yeah. That's my girl!
We are in a state of just "being" right now. No regular baths, no regular meals, no regular bedtimes (and we're starting to eek into "no homework done," too!). Sponge baths, the Golden Arches, and Grumpy Gusses are the theme of the season. And I HATE McCrapPlaceToEat!
Thursdays are proving to be the most challenging days as John now has a golf league that starts at four on those days. That leaves me with all three kids at whatever sporting event is taking place that night. I wouldn't necessarily mind if the games weren't lasting until 8:30 at night--which is way, way too late for my little Not-So-Early-Morning Riser (a.k.a. Izzy) to be out. And the other two are starting to Crank it up, too.
The spotless house I had worked so hard to achieve on Sunday was a complete disaster by last night. Clean and dirty laundry is scattered everywhere. The dining room table, no longer used for our fine McQuisine, now has crap stacked on it three feet high. I finally took a few minutes last night to load and run the dishwasher with all the bowls and spoons which are used for the only food partaken in the house: cold cereal.
This morning was actually a GOOD Izzy morning (she got a sticker, yay!), but I was so scattered with the finding of the clean socks and clean baseball uniform for Keith, wardrobe malfunction (When did THAT shirt start looking ugly on me? Where the heck did I put my shoes?), and attempted packing of a lunch (must get some salad greens in me SOMEHOW), that I was late for work anyway.
I'm so glad we don't do this all year.
I need to remember to schedule McCholesterol screenings for us for when this is all over.
Relatedly, Mary had her first softball game last night. She played pretty well. She was the very first on her team at bat, the first to get a hit, and the first to score. She had two hits the three times she was at bat. She made a couple of decent play attempts in the outfield. She looked like she was having fun. Especially when she and two other girls were eating sunflower seeds and having a spitting contest into the trash can. Yeah. That's my girl!
Monday, May 04, 2009
Chores
We had a bunch of stuff on the docket this weekend--and yet.... Well, it was just a weird weekend!
Friday night was Keith's Cub Scout picnic--where I missed half of his moving up ceremony as I was outside trying to explain to the eldest why she had to ALSO watch her brother instead of building a volcano in the sand. *sigh* (I least I finally got to eat a cookie!)
Saturday was opening day. Unlike horrible opening day experiences from the past, the weather cooperated, and we had a beautiful day. I managed to get myself and the kids up and ready in an almost timely manner. (HOWEVER, I did not realize that a 7-year old could have a 15 minute temper tantrum over the popping of a free balloon from the hair cut place. ...Now I know.) So...we arrived at the parade just as it started. John ran Mary back to her softball team (who was in the back) while I waited with Keith and Izzy for Keith's team to walk by. They did--Keith got shoved in line--and we all got to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the rest of the parade.
Keith's first game was immediately following the opening ceremony. He played well out in the field, but he didn't get a hit off the pitching machine. That's OK, no one else on his team got a hit, either! Still, it was a nice day to be out enjoying the sun and the game. Until the game was over, and Izzy threw a temper tantrum when we had to pull her off the playground. She screamed, "I WANT TO PLAY!!" all the way to the mini-van. I used to cringe when a kid would do that. But now I notice that I get a lot more looks of sympathy rather than criticism as I drag my wailing child by. Know your audience, people! And...these folks had ALL been there; done that!
The rest of the weekend we spent cleaning the house (me + the kids) and doing yardwork (John). And either because Sunday was a really, really long day or because the new chore chart I put together actually worked, we all got a LOT done. And when I saw it was only 3:00, and almost everything was done, I couldn't believe my luck. I gathered up my purse and my eldest daughter to make a run to the beauty parlor for much-needed pedicures--only to be reminded by John that Mary had practice at 4:00. Ah crap. Mary threw a fit that could teach Keith and Izzy a thing or two. I didn't blame her--it was all my fault, and she had a right to be angry! I calmed her down and offered her a cookie (see--those things work miracles!) and promised her I'd paint her toenails myself later on. And Mary went to her practice and had a good night.
I'm not sure what was in the air to create all these emotional explosions from the kids (and myself when Izzy pulled a dinger of one Saturday night, too). It was such a strange weekend of great and fun things peppered with these little minefields of erratic behavior! Too much fun; too much nice weather; not enough sleep. Perhaps.
Friday night was Keith's Cub Scout picnic--where I missed half of his moving up ceremony as I was outside trying to explain to the eldest why she had to ALSO watch her brother instead of building a volcano in the sand. *sigh* (I least I finally got to eat a cookie!)
Saturday was opening day. Unlike horrible opening day experiences from the past, the weather cooperated, and we had a beautiful day. I managed to get myself and the kids up and ready in an almost timely manner. (HOWEVER, I did not realize that a 7-year old could have a 15 minute temper tantrum over the popping of a free balloon from the hair cut place. ...Now I know.) So...we arrived at the parade just as it started. John ran Mary back to her softball team (who was in the back) while I waited with Keith and Izzy for Keith's team to walk by. They did--Keith got shoved in line--and we all got to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the rest of the parade.
Keith's first game was immediately following the opening ceremony. He played well out in the field, but he didn't get a hit off the pitching machine. That's OK, no one else on his team got a hit, either! Still, it was a nice day to be out enjoying the sun and the game. Until the game was over, and Izzy threw a temper tantrum when we had to pull her off the playground. She screamed, "I WANT TO PLAY!!" all the way to the mini-van. I used to cringe when a kid would do that. But now I notice that I get a lot more looks of sympathy rather than criticism as I drag my wailing child by. Know your audience, people! And...these folks had ALL been there; done that!
The rest of the weekend we spent cleaning the house (me + the kids) and doing yardwork (John). And either because Sunday was a really, really long day or because the new chore chart I put together actually worked, we all got a LOT done. And when I saw it was only 3:00, and almost everything was done, I couldn't believe my luck. I gathered up my purse and my eldest daughter to make a run to the beauty parlor for much-needed pedicures--only to be reminded by John that Mary had practice at 4:00. Ah crap. Mary threw a fit that could teach Keith and Izzy a thing or two. I didn't blame her--it was all my fault, and she had a right to be angry! I calmed her down and offered her a cookie (see--those things work miracles!) and promised her I'd paint her toenails myself later on. And Mary went to her practice and had a good night.
I'm not sure what was in the air to create all these emotional explosions from the kids (and myself when Izzy pulled a dinger of one Saturday night, too). It was such a strange weekend of great and fun things peppered with these little minefields of erratic behavior! Too much fun; too much nice weather; not enough sleep. Perhaps.
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