If you're mid-way through your 25 minute commute home, and the recently-potty-trained two-year old bellows out that she needs to go potty and then the five-year old also chimes in that HE needs to go potty, JUST DON'T think of the condition of the toddler's car seat and stop at the first place you see, which ends up being a Krispy Kreme donuts. Just don't. Even if the "hot now" sign is not lit. Just don't. Even if you don't particularly care for donuts (and in fact are teased a bit at work about it). Just don't.
And if the three children that you so adore start acting like complete goofballs in the restroom, making you freak out that their screams (of joy--and even one of frustration) will be echoed throughout the dining room JUST DON'T yell back. Because now YOUR louder voice is echoing too, making you sound like the stressed-out parent of the week (which you truly are, but you just don't want to publicize it to the world!).
And then when all have pottied, washed and dried their hands JUST DON'T think that letting them watch the donuts go down the conveyor belt for "just a minute" will somehow make up for your loud, panic-stricken outburst in the restroom. JUST DON'T. 'Cause now all those ooey, gooey donuts are flipping, frying, and GLAZING right in front of your children's very eyes, and the begging shall commence! And when the nice girl behind the counter offers all three kids PLUS YOURSELF a free freakin' donut JUST DON'T take it! Even if you don't like donuts--even if you think they're just too sickly sweet and not worth the lack of anything resembling good nutrition for the two seconds of sweetness WHO ON EARTH COULD RESIST a freakin' "hot now" donut that just simply melts in your mouth? And then WHO CAN RESIST the begging of the children? WHO????
And then when you cave and buy a dozen delectable donuts, JUST DON'T decide to be economical and make all four of you share one bottled water (since you're all dying of thirst after eating your sample donut). The crying and screaming that ensue (some from yourself) aren't worth the money you saved.
JUST DON'T let your kids have that sugar rush. As your own patience after the whole incredibly harassing ordeal is now GONE--and you're own blood is rushing after the glazed insulin injection you just received. JUST DON'T listen to the crying and whining of the five-year old and the giggling and taunting of the seven-year old as she mercilessly picks on him and drives your nerves to the FREAKIN' MOON. Because the more you yell, while driving in rush hour with jangling nerves, the louder you get, and the less you pay attention to the road, and then the more you panic you'll have yet another freakin' wreck which makes you yell at the kids to KNOCK IT OFF even more and turns your sugar rush into the Calgon-take-me-away headache of the week which will last the rest of the freakin' night.
And just try to keep in mind that binging on a half dozen donuts will NOT make it all go away....
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Soooo tired
Sunday was my company picnic at the local amusement park. It's always a good deal: amusement and water park and food for a small price! The kids had a ball. The adults were still lamenting that we couldn't go on the big coaster (Mary JUST hit the line--John didn't want to wait a half hour in line just to find out they decided she didn't quite stretch it). We were exhausted and slightly sunburnt, but it was a good day.
Monday Mary and I went to Girl Scout Camp where she earned three Try-Its for her Brownie sash. It was fun, but two days of walking around all day in the blazing sun was a bit much for the both of us. We were draggin' our butts last night.
My ego is getting slightly inflated here at work. Now that the list of "retirees" is posted, I'm getting a lot of phone calls from folks telling me how much they're going to miss me and how the company is losing a great employee. However I am staying humble in realizing that chances are no one's going to call to tell me that I was a terrible worker and they are THRILLED to see me go. ER, let's hope not, anyway.
John and I have a week's vacation next week--for the simple reason that our day care provider is on vacation, so we didn't have to find a back-up. We're thinking of spending one day at Sesame Place with the kids then heading back home to MAYBE finally put the finishing touches on Keith's room. One can dream, anyway.
Monday Mary and I went to Girl Scout Camp where she earned three Try-Its for her Brownie sash. It was fun, but two days of walking around all day in the blazing sun was a bit much for the both of us. We were draggin' our butts last night.
My ego is getting slightly inflated here at work. Now that the list of "retirees" is posted, I'm getting a lot of phone calls from folks telling me how much they're going to miss me and how the company is losing a great employee. However I am staying humble in realizing that chances are no one's going to call to tell me that I was a terrible worker and they are THRILLED to see me go. ER, let's hope not, anyway.
John and I have a week's vacation next week--for the simple reason that our day care provider is on vacation, so we didn't have to find a back-up. We're thinking of spending one day at Sesame Place with the kids then heading back home to MAYBE finally put the finishing touches on Keith's room. One can dream, anyway.
Adjustment
Had to adjust my countdown clock a little. In my excitement to post the news, I forgot that while I'm officially an employee until September 30, technically my last day will actually be September 28--as the 30th is a Sunday.
Duh.
Duh.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
GREAT NEWS
The company offered an early buy-out trying to refrain from laying off. John and I debated all the last month and finally decided to go for it....
I WILL OFFICIALLY BE A STAY-AT-HOME-MOM AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2007.
I'm a little freaked out, here! But I'm so happy. It was a tough decision, and I know we'll be pinching pennies like crazy, but I'm thrilled to think of the time I'll get to spend with my kids and how I'll have more time to do ten million other things that go along with the maintenance of them (and the house). And maybe I won't be so stressed out, so maybe I won't wreck the car so much. :-)
Wish us luck!
I WILL OFFICIALLY BE A STAY-AT-HOME-MOM AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2007.
I'm a little freaked out, here! But I'm so happy. It was a tough decision, and I know we'll be pinching pennies like crazy, but I'm thrilled to think of the time I'll get to spend with my kids and how I'll have more time to do ten million other things that go along with the maintenance of them (and the house). And maybe I won't be so stressed out, so maybe I won't wreck the car so much. :-)
Wish us luck!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Done!
It took me just under 11 and a half hours to read "Deathly Hallows." That's pretty good considering I had to feed and clothe kids--and even take one to the potty from time to time. They're just so darn needy, those kids! Well, it's almost 5:00 now, so I guess I should take them for a romp outside or something since I've been "absent" for most of the day.
All I can say is: Fantastic.
Maybe I'll read it again tomorrow....
All I can say is: Fantastic.
Maybe I'll read it again tomorrow....
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Goofy Goober
Yesterday when Keith was getting dressed for the day, he suddenly started cracking up. I look up at him, and he shows me his pile of clothes on the floor. "Mommy! I was wearing two pairs of underwear!" So that meant that the day before he had put on his clean underwear OVER his day-old underwear--and wore it like that ALL DAY.
I'm starting to wonder if he's going to make it through kindergarten.
:-)
I'm starting to wonder if he's going to make it through kindergarten.
:-)
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Three more days! I can't take it!!
Well, actually 2 days and 14 hours left until the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows PARTY! I pity my husband children as this weekend they will become widowed and orphaned as I spend the whole weekend reading, reading, reading. Oh good gracious me! Is Snape really evil? Will she kill off Harry? Who on earth WILL she kill off, 'cause I love these characters so, so much I won't be able to handle any of them biting it!
John and I did get to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix last Wednesday (I took off work early to go see a movie--how lame!). It's just too difficult to put books 2-6 in movie format. As a huge book fan, I will never be completely pleased with one of these movies. I did like the fight scene at the end, and I also liked the D.A. sequences. It was just too slow in the other places. I was fine with most of the changes put in the movie EXCEPT ONE. It was kinda lame and not necessary, and they kinda leave you hangin' with a confused expression on your face as it isn't really RESOLVED, per se. I won't elaborate since I don't want to spoil others' movie-going experience.
**[SPOILER: I DO want to say that the Weasley escape scene was almost FLAT compared to the book. Seriously--they could have done more there!]**
And WHAT was I thinking inviting people over to the house for a cook-out Sunday afternoon? I guess I'll just have to stay up all night Saturday night reading, so I finish it before they get here. Then I better make sure I don't doze off while flippin' the burgers. That--would be BAD.
John and I did get to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix last Wednesday (I took off work early to go see a movie--how lame!). It's just too difficult to put books 2-6 in movie format. As a huge book fan, I will never be completely pleased with one of these movies. I did like the fight scene at the end, and I also liked the D.A. sequences. It was just too slow in the other places. I was fine with most of the changes put in the movie EXCEPT ONE. It was kinda lame and not necessary, and they kinda leave you hangin' with a confused expression on your face as it isn't really RESOLVED, per se. I won't elaborate since I don't want to spoil others' movie-going experience.
**[SPOILER: I DO want to say that the Weasley escape scene was almost FLAT compared to the book. Seriously--they could have done more there!]**
And WHAT was I thinking inviting people over to the house for a cook-out Sunday afternoon? I guess I'll just have to stay up all night Saturday night reading, so I finish it before they get here. Then I better make sure I don't doze off while flippin' the burgers. That--would be BAD.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Obligatory Cerpicio and Wife Visit Post
So last weekend we had houseguests. Anybody catch that?
It was great to see Jeff and Paula, of course. The best part--free energetic entertainment for the kids. As soon as Jeff and Paula were awake, our house would suddenly turn into a circus tent filled with outstanding feats of running, jumping, shouting, and throwing of stuffed animals EVERYWHERE! I was kinda envious. I remember when I used to have the energy to play with other people's kids. It was so much fun, I had three of my own. Now I'm so tired all the time I've turned into one of those "Mmmm Hmmmm" parents. Look Mommy! Look at this toy I've shown you 27 times already today! Mmmm Hmmm. Look Mommy! Bubbles and Buttercup saved Mario from the evil Baby Bowser! Mmmm Hmmmm. Look Mommy! I just created an artistic masterpiece I'm going to submit to the Louvre! Mmmm Hmmmm.
So John took Jeff and Paula around town on Friday while I was stuck at work. Then they picked up the kids early from day care and took them to the Strong Museum. II met them there for the last bit. I was planning on cooking out Friday night, but the kids vetoed me in favor of our traditional Friday night pizza and a movie....
Saturday we sweat our pants off at Niagara Falls, but it was beautiful, as always. And the kids enjoyed it, as always. And yes, Jeff and Paula got to witness first-hand the trials and tribulations of trying to get three kids into the car, out of the car, and to go to the bathroom AT THE SAME CONVENIENT TIME. And maybe even to go when they FIRST need to and not when they've held it so freakin' long they're in pain. Then Izzy fell on the sidewalk while we were watching the not-quite-so-whirly whirlpool. She's STILL telling us about falling and hurting her knees on the sidewalk!
I love how Izzy spent the weekend complimenting Jeff and Paula (I like your eyes! I like your hair!)--but I was also amused that Izzy apparently couldn't quite pick up their names. If we said, "Go see Jeff. Go see Paula" she knew what we meant, but anytime she talked about them she would say "HER" and "HIM."
The kids were bummed when Jeff and Paula left Sunday morning. All that attention taken away from them! Being left with boring Mommy and Daddy! Gasp!
Most enjoyable visit. Too bad we didn't have time (and I couldn't take time off work) to do more. We must do this more often!
It was great to see Jeff and Paula, of course. The best part--free energetic entertainment for the kids. As soon as Jeff and Paula were awake, our house would suddenly turn into a circus tent filled with outstanding feats of running, jumping, shouting, and throwing of stuffed animals EVERYWHERE! I was kinda envious. I remember when I used to have the energy to play with other people's kids. It was so much fun, I had three of my own. Now I'm so tired all the time I've turned into one of those "Mmmm Hmmmm" parents. Look Mommy! Look at this toy I've shown you 27 times already today! Mmmm Hmmm. Look Mommy! Bubbles and Buttercup saved Mario from the evil Baby Bowser! Mmmm Hmmmm. Look Mommy! I just created an artistic masterpiece I'm going to submit to the Louvre! Mmmm Hmmmm.
So John took Jeff and Paula around town on Friday while I was stuck at work. Then they picked up the kids early from day care and took them to the Strong Museum. II met them there for the last bit. I was planning on cooking out Friday night, but the kids vetoed me in favor of our traditional Friday night pizza and a movie....
Saturday we sweat our pants off at Niagara Falls, but it was beautiful, as always. And the kids enjoyed it, as always. And yes, Jeff and Paula got to witness first-hand the trials and tribulations of trying to get three kids into the car, out of the car, and to go to the bathroom AT THE SAME CONVENIENT TIME. And maybe even to go when they FIRST need to and not when they've held it so freakin' long they're in pain. Then Izzy fell on the sidewalk while we were watching the not-quite-so-whirly whirlpool. She's STILL telling us about falling and hurting her knees on the sidewalk!
I love how Izzy spent the weekend complimenting Jeff and Paula (I like your eyes! I like your hair!)--but I was also amused that Izzy apparently couldn't quite pick up their names. If we said, "Go see Jeff. Go see Paula" she knew what we meant, but anytime she talked about them she would say "HER" and "HIM."
The kids were bummed when Jeff and Paula left Sunday morning. All that attention taken away from them! Being left with boring Mommy and Daddy! Gasp!
Most enjoyable visit. Too bad we didn't have time (and I couldn't take time off work) to do more. We must do this more often!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Oh! My aching back!
I've warned my co-workers--I'm going to be a whiny-butt today. Because on our national holiday, John and I worked ALL DAY.
Yesterday morning he went to work for a few hours while I did a few things around the house. Not a lot, mind you (so I guess it's really unfair me to to say *I* worked "all day", but watching the kids counts, alright?), but I did get some of the menial housework done. Around lunch time I kicked it in full gear. When the younger two went down for their nap I faced the ultimate challenge: that @#$% blue paint. Yes, I did yet another coat of paint on the walls in Keith's room.
After John came home, brandishing the desperately-needed new mop head, I finished mopping all the floors and getting more of the menial housework done. John started mulching. Yeah--we've got an enormous pile of mulch blocking one side of our garage right now. It was raining on and off all day, but John still got some of it done.
John also decided to put the spare bed in the spare--previously "toy"--room. Now all the toys are in the middle of the den, but at least Jeff and Paula have a decent bed on which to sleep when they come into town. The theory is that when we finish Keith's room and disperse the kids accordingly, the kids will have room in their own bedrooms for a good chuck of the toys. So more pressure to finish that room by 6:00 TONIGHT before Jeff and Paula's arrival.
So last night after the kids went to bed, I faced the blue room again--and put another coat of blue on the ceiling. Let me just say that I'm too freakin' short--even with the long handle on the paint roller--to reach the ceiling properly. I've got spaghetti arms with absolutely NO upper body strength. As a result, this morning, I was greeted with a back, upper arm, and neck ache. Ugh.
BUT I checked the room this morning, and despite a few wobbly streaks here and there on the ceiling, I think the room looks MUCH BETTER. It appears 6 (or was that 7?) is the magic number when dealing with coats of super-dark, outer-space blue paint.
John has today off. Will he be able to get all the mulch distributed to our million flower beds (why did we buy a house with so much freakin' landscaping?) AND Keith's room cleaned out and mopped, and the kids' beds and toys distributed properly by the time Jeff and Paula pull up? High odds on this one, folks!
Yesterday morning he went to work for a few hours while I did a few things around the house. Not a lot, mind you (so I guess it's really unfair me to to say *I* worked "all day", but watching the kids counts, alright?), but I did get some of the menial housework done. Around lunch time I kicked it in full gear. When the younger two went down for their nap I faced the ultimate challenge: that @#$% blue paint. Yes, I did yet another coat of paint on the walls in Keith's room.
After John came home, brandishing the desperately-needed new mop head, I finished mopping all the floors and getting more of the menial housework done. John started mulching. Yeah--we've got an enormous pile of mulch blocking one side of our garage right now. It was raining on and off all day, but John still got some of it done.
John also decided to put the spare bed in the spare--previously "toy"--room. Now all the toys are in the middle of the den, but at least Jeff and Paula have a decent bed on which to sleep when they come into town. The theory is that when we finish Keith's room and disperse the kids accordingly, the kids will have room in their own bedrooms for a good chuck of the toys. So more pressure to finish that room by 6:00 TONIGHT before Jeff and Paula's arrival.
So last night after the kids went to bed, I faced the blue room again--and put another coat of blue on the ceiling. Let me just say that I'm too freakin' short--even with the long handle on the paint roller--to reach the ceiling properly. I've got spaghetti arms with absolutely NO upper body strength. As a result, this morning, I was greeted with a back, upper arm, and neck ache. Ugh.
BUT I checked the room this morning, and despite a few wobbly streaks here and there on the ceiling, I think the room looks MUCH BETTER. It appears 6 (or was that 7?) is the magic number when dealing with coats of super-dark, outer-space blue paint.
John has today off. Will he be able to get all the mulch distributed to our million flower beds (why did we buy a house with so much freakin' landscaping?) AND Keith's room cleaned out and mopped, and the kids' beds and toys distributed properly by the time Jeff and Paula pull up? High odds on this one, folks!
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies--the long version
I'm a little late for the chocolate chip cookie challenge posted by others, but I still wanted to get this recipe out there because it's just so darn good. I guess when my mother initially moved to Indiana, she went to a party where someone brought these. They were so good, she begged for the recipe. And now that's the only recipe we use (er, so I thought).
Here are the steps I took to make these....
1. Call and wake mother up at 8:30 on a Sunday because can't find that blasted recipe. Talk to step-father for 45 minutes about miscellaneous while she tries to wake up. Finally get Mom--and get cut off. After 15 minutes, call her home line instead of cell phone. Sure enough, her phone lost it's charge. Ask for cookie recipe. Mom says, "just use the one on the back of the bag." Um--NO. YOUR recipe is the best, darn it, and is the only one I'll use. She finally agrees to email it. NO! I want to start it now! She begrudgingly reads it to me over the phone.
2. Get kids in kitchen to "help" make the cookies. Pull out huge mixer.
3. Start to cream the 1 cup of shortening (I always use butter-flavored). Hmmm....shortening is sticking to beater and not acting right. Add sugars and mix some more. Realize using wrong attachment on ultra-mega mixer. Reach for the other attachment and try again.
4. Add eggs and vanilla. About to start mixer--realize grabbed OTHER wrong attachment. Grab right one this time, and batter is now starting to go smoothly.
5. Kids have already lost interest and are running amok in house in chaos. What was the point of all the cleaning I did yesterday? Add soda mixture. Then flour.
6. Mom suggested add more chocolate chips to recipe (already changed in recipe below). She always uses one bag of chips for the half recipe. But I bought a mega-bag. Guess I'll add half of it. Hmmm...still doesn't seem enough. Add another quarter of the bag. Perfect!
(Take a few minutes to put Izzy on the potty and then run yet ANOTHER load of laundry. When go back upstairs, realize Izzy had grabbed glasses and contorted them into a shape not "quite" right for my face. *sigh*)
7. Re-write recipe more neatly. Realize as writing, forgot to add the salt! Throw it in and mix real quick--wow, that mega-huge mixer is GREAT for that!
8. Clean up kitchen, put dough in fridge, take shower, go to work 1/2 hour late to enter @#$% early payroll due to @#$% holiday (remind self that it IS double-time.)
9. Come home three hours later, clean more of the house due to impending visit, start charcoal AND oven at same time.
10. Proceed to bake cookies at the same time as cooking hamburgers and corn-on-the-cob on the grill.
11. Remember why although I LOVE to bake I hardly ever do it--and can only manage HALF a cookie recipe. Too many kids running around, too much housework to do, and I am the WORST multitasker ever (well, while cooking, anyway).
Gotta give myself SOME credit. The cookies AND the hamburgers turned out GREAT.
I'm already late posting this, so no pics. I have to go and paint yet ANOTHER coat of paint in that eternally blue-paint-sucking room of Keith's.
Here are the steps I took to make these....
1. Call and wake mother up at 8:30 on a Sunday because can't find that blasted recipe. Talk to step-father for 45 minutes about miscellaneous while she tries to wake up. Finally get Mom--and get cut off. After 15 minutes, call her home line instead of cell phone. Sure enough, her phone lost it's charge. Ask for cookie recipe. Mom says, "just use the one on the back of the bag." Um--NO. YOUR recipe is the best, darn it, and is the only one I'll use. She finally agrees to email it. NO! I want to start it now! She begrudgingly reads it to me over the phone.
2. Get kids in kitchen to "help" make the cookies. Pull out huge mixer.
3. Start to cream the 1 cup of shortening (I always use butter-flavored). Hmmm....shortening is sticking to beater and not acting right. Add sugars and mix some more. Realize using wrong attachment on ultra-mega mixer. Reach for the other attachment and try again.
4. Add eggs and vanilla. About to start mixer--realize grabbed OTHER wrong attachment. Grab right one this time, and batter is now starting to go smoothly.
5. Kids have already lost interest and are running amok in house in chaos. What was the point of all the cleaning I did yesterday? Add soda mixture. Then flour.
6. Mom suggested add more chocolate chips to recipe (already changed in recipe below). She always uses one bag of chips for the half recipe. But I bought a mega-bag. Guess I'll add half of it. Hmmm...still doesn't seem enough. Add another quarter of the bag. Perfect!
(Take a few minutes to put Izzy on the potty and then run yet ANOTHER load of laundry. When go back upstairs, realize Izzy had grabbed glasses and contorted them into a shape not "quite" right for my face. *sigh*)
7. Re-write recipe more neatly. Realize as writing, forgot to add the salt! Throw it in and mix real quick--wow, that mega-huge mixer is GREAT for that!
8. Clean up kitchen, put dough in fridge, take shower, go to work 1/2 hour late to enter @#$% early payroll due to @#$% holiday (remind self that it IS double-time.)
9. Come home three hours later, clean more of the house due to impending visit, start charcoal AND oven at same time.
10. Proceed to bake cookies at the same time as cooking hamburgers and corn-on-the-cob on the grill.
11. Remember why although I LOVE to bake I hardly ever do it--and can only manage HALF a cookie recipe. Too many kids running around, too much housework to do, and I am the WORST multitasker ever (well, while cooking, anyway).
Gotta give myself SOME credit. The cookies AND the hamburgers turned out GREAT.
I'm already late posting this, so no pics. I have to go and paint yet ANOTHER coat of paint in that eternally blue-paint-sucking room of Keith's.
Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies--the short version
Chocolate Chip Cookies (1/2 recipe)
1 Cup shortening (I use butter-flavored)
1 Cup sugar
1/2 Cup brown sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 Tablespoons warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 Cups flour
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
Cream shortening, add sugars. Stir in beaten eggs and vanilla. Add soda to water; add to first mixture. Add flour, salt, chips.
Bake in 350* oven for 10-12 minutes.
1 Cup shortening (I use butter-flavored)
1 Cup sugar
1/2 Cup brown sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 Tablespoons warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 Cups flour
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
Cream shortening, add sugars. Stir in beaten eggs and vanilla. Add soda to water; add to first mixture. Add flour, salt, chips.
Bake in 350* oven for 10-12 minutes.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Catsup
Yes, I'm back. I've been "demoted" back to my "real" job again. Bleh.
I just wanted to update you all on the goings-on of the Q Collective for the last month.
Um...let's see. The Isabelle Experiment. After about a week of it, both Leona and I gave up and put the kid back in pull-ups. She was actually doing OK, but it was just getting tiring cleaning up when she WASN'T doing OK. After about another week, you could actually *see* the thought processes CLICK--and she was going potty on her own. She's back in underwear! Izzy has had two or three accidents in the last couple of weeks, but I am confident enough in her progress to say, "YAY! SHE'S POTTY TRAINED!" I might even get brave enough to stop putting her in pull-ups at night--as she's been pretty consistent staying dry through the night, too. YAY!
Keith's room: still not done. I got two more coats of paint done (we're up to either 5 or 6 now--I've kinda lost count)--and it's still not quite right. We pulled up the tape and everything getting ready to clean up the room, but when the sun hits the room (as it does for a good chunk of the day) you can still see paint strokes and primer. John's even thinking of giving the ceiling another coat. We were hoping to have this room done and Keith moved in by this weekend, but it just didn't happen. Maybe we'll put in a few late nights of painting in the next few days. One thing we can say for sure: we will NEVER paint with such a dark color EVER again. This room should have been done ages and ages ago!
I've been getting lots of compliments on my new do--but in all actuality I don't really like it. Too much maintenance (yes--shorter hair is NOT always easier when there is more STYING you have to do), and I'm not 100% happy with the style of it being shorter in the back and longer in the front. But I'm not really complaining (THAT much) because I know that I'm just going to grow it out again the way I like it!
Saturday while Mary, Izzy and I were in the grocery store "I've been waiting for a girl like you" came on. I stopped Mary and said, "Hear this song? That's N--'s dad singing that song! See, I told you he was famous!" She thought that was pretty cool.
The last two weeks we've been trying to get the house ready for the impending arrival of Jeff and Paula. I keep wondering if I would be more helpful out back weeding with John as all the cleaning I do on the inside gets completely demolished 5 minutes after I let the kids in. It's exhausting. So, I put up my broom and mop last night. No more major cleaning until Wednesday night. Maybe I'll try to put in a few coats of paint in Keith's room instead....
I just wanted to update you all on the goings-on of the Q Collective for the last month.
Um...let's see. The Isabelle Experiment. After about a week of it, both Leona and I gave up and put the kid back in pull-ups. She was actually doing OK, but it was just getting tiring cleaning up when she WASN'T doing OK. After about another week, you could actually *see* the thought processes CLICK--and she was going potty on her own. She's back in underwear! Izzy has had two or three accidents in the last couple of weeks, but I am confident enough in her progress to say, "YAY! SHE'S POTTY TRAINED!" I might even get brave enough to stop putting her in pull-ups at night--as she's been pretty consistent staying dry through the night, too. YAY!
Keith's room: still not done. I got two more coats of paint done (we're up to either 5 or 6 now--I've kinda lost count)--and it's still not quite right. We pulled up the tape and everything getting ready to clean up the room, but when the sun hits the room (as it does for a good chunk of the day) you can still see paint strokes and primer. John's even thinking of giving the ceiling another coat. We were hoping to have this room done and Keith moved in by this weekend, but it just didn't happen. Maybe we'll put in a few late nights of painting in the next few days. One thing we can say for sure: we will NEVER paint with such a dark color EVER again. This room should have been done ages and ages ago!
I've been getting lots of compliments on my new do--but in all actuality I don't really like it. Too much maintenance (yes--shorter hair is NOT always easier when there is more STYING you have to do), and I'm not 100% happy with the style of it being shorter in the back and longer in the front. But I'm not really complaining (THAT much) because I know that I'm just going to grow it out again the way I like it!
Saturday while Mary, Izzy and I were in the grocery store "I've been waiting for a girl like you" came on. I stopped Mary and said, "Hear this song? That's N--'s dad singing that song! See, I told you he was famous!" She thought that was pretty cool.
The last two weeks we've been trying to get the house ready for the impending arrival of Jeff and Paula. I keep wondering if I would be more helpful out back weeding with John as all the cleaning I do on the inside gets completely demolished 5 minutes after I let the kids in. It's exhausting. So, I put up my broom and mop last night. No more major cleaning until Wednesday night. Maybe I'll try to put in a few coats of paint in Keith's room instead....
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Lou...and a new do!
Pic of me and Lou Gramm. And with TWELVE INCHES LESS of hair. Locks of Love is going to make some kid really, really happy. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be in mourning for the next three years until I grow it back!
OH--and here's John with Lou, too!
OH--and here's John with Lou, too!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
How cool is THAT?
So last week I'm the lucky one who had to take Mary to her t-ball game (with Izzy in tow). Now, there's this older guy who's there for every game--but John and I could never figure out if he was a grandparent, parent, uncle, or what to the boy and girl he watches there..?? He's overweight with shoulder-length, curly, grey hair. So, my question was answered that night as the girl runs up to him and says, "Daddy!" OK--parent, an OLDER parent.
Well, later on, I see two 10-12 year old boys run up to this guy and ask him for an autograph. HUH? I'm trying to listen in, without being obvious, but the only thing I hear is "it's for my dad," and I thought I heard "music." Hmmm.... Who IS this guy? So at home that night, I ask John (who's been helping coach from time to time) if he knows who this guy is. Some local musician of some sort???? John looks at the team roster, gets the kids' last name (Grammatico), then googles it.
"HOLY SHIT!" he exclaims, "THAT'S LOU GRAM!" Um, who? "The lead-freakin' singer of FOREIGNER, that's who!!!!" No, shit!
Now, John had always known that Lou Gramm was from Rochester--being the geeky kind of guy who researches that kind of trivia after moving somewhere (Fort Wayne--Shelly Long! Oxford--some old baseball player I can't place right now!) Well, I never knew. But....
HOW FREAKIN' COOL IS THAT?? THE LEAD FREAKIN' SINGER FROM FOREIGNER'S KIDS ARE ON THE SAME FREAKIN' T-BALL TEAM AS MY OWN KID????!!!!
John doesn't even care much for Foreinger but decides that he's just got to get a picture (partly to PROVE the phenomenon to his doubting internet friends). What a freakin' jinx. We've had two t-ball games since our discovery, and the dude hasn't been there! Been to every freakin' t-ball game the whole freakin' season, and he doesn't show now??? How uncool is that?
Oh, I guess he's on tour....
http://www.lougramm.com/
Oh well, I can say I was hob-nobbing with a REAL rockstar for a bit there. (And that picture on his website so does NOT look like the guy always sitting next to me at the ball park.) And I can say that he seems like a really, really nice guy. AND he even asked me to watch his stuff while he went to the bathroom! AND he did the same for me when I had to run Izzy down there. Wow! HOW FREAKIN' COOL IS THAT?!
(By the way, his kids are really well-behaved and not bad t-ball players, either!)
Well, later on, I see two 10-12 year old boys run up to this guy and ask him for an autograph. HUH? I'm trying to listen in, without being obvious, but the only thing I hear is "it's for my dad," and I thought I heard "music." Hmmm.... Who IS this guy? So at home that night, I ask John (who's been helping coach from time to time) if he knows who this guy is. Some local musician of some sort???? John looks at the team roster, gets the kids' last name (Grammatico), then googles it.
"HOLY SHIT!" he exclaims, "THAT'S LOU GRAM!" Um, who? "The lead-freakin' singer of FOREIGNER, that's who!!!!" No, shit!
Now, John had always known that Lou Gramm was from Rochester--being the geeky kind of guy who researches that kind of trivia after moving somewhere (Fort Wayne--Shelly Long! Oxford--some old baseball player I can't place right now!) Well, I never knew. But....
HOW FREAKIN' COOL IS THAT?? THE LEAD FREAKIN' SINGER FROM FOREIGNER'S KIDS ARE ON THE SAME FREAKIN' T-BALL TEAM AS MY OWN KID????!!!!
John doesn't even care much for Foreinger but decides that he's just got to get a picture (partly to PROVE the phenomenon to his doubting internet friends). What a freakin' jinx. We've had two t-ball games since our discovery, and the dude hasn't been there! Been to every freakin' t-ball game the whole freakin' season, and he doesn't show now??? How uncool is that?
Oh, I guess he's on tour....
http://www.lougramm.com/
Oh well, I can say I was hob-nobbing with a REAL rockstar for a bit there. (And that picture on his website so does NOT look like the guy always sitting next to me at the ball park.) And I can say that he seems like a really, really nice guy. AND he even asked me to watch his stuff while he went to the bathroom! AND he did the same for me when I had to run Izzy down there. Wow! HOW FREAKIN' COOL IS THAT?!
(By the way, his kids are really well-behaved and not bad t-ball players, either!)
Out for training
No new blog entries for a while. Anyone notice? Anyone care? Wait--don't answer that!
In case anyone DOES care; I've been away from my desk at work--getting training for a temporary position. I won't even try to explain all the hows and whys of this opportunity. Basically, I've been qualified for a promotion for the last EIGHT years, and I'm getting the chance to do it--but only for a few weeks/months. The good part: it's a significant raise for the short time I'm doing it. The bad part: since the company just announced even more downsizing, the chances of it ever becoming permanent are slim to none. That's OK, I'll take the training (training is ALWAYS good) and the extra pay (even BETTER) for however long I'll get it.
So, since I'm in a different building and being trained with someone else on THEIR pc, I don't have access to my own computer and not even to my own files. And I'm just usually too tired at night to do any blogging (working on little sleep/nil brain function as it is right now. oh well). Hence, no blogging.
Just in case ya missed me....that's the scoop.
In case anyone DOES care; I've been away from my desk at work--getting training for a temporary position. I won't even try to explain all the hows and whys of this opportunity. Basically, I've been qualified for a promotion for the last EIGHT years, and I'm getting the chance to do it--but only for a few weeks/months. The good part: it's a significant raise for the short time I'm doing it. The bad part: since the company just announced even more downsizing, the chances of it ever becoming permanent are slim to none. That's OK, I'll take the training (training is ALWAYS good) and the extra pay (even BETTER) for however long I'll get it.
So, since I'm in a different building and being trained with someone else on THEIR pc, I don't have access to my own computer and not even to my own files. And I'm just usually too tired at night to do any blogging (working on little sleep/nil brain function as it is right now. oh well). Hence, no blogging.
Just in case ya missed me....that's the scoop.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Pics
Here are two pictures of my Girl Scout troop: one of us marching in the Memorial Day parade, another of us at our Bridging ceremony last night.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Great Weekend
Friday my mother and her husband got in, and they admired the grandkids, and we all munched on pizza and watched a movie. Mary and Keith got to pick the movie--Mom and Barry got subjected to the super-silliness of the Spongebob Movie.
(HAVE to include the background story of the silly Spongebob Movie. We took Mary and Keith to see it opening night: November 19, 2004. That day was my last full day of work before my maternity leave for Izzy [then known as the Isabelle or Ian "mystery bump" in my belly]. I didn't want to go [so, SO tired] but John talked me into it--we knew it would probably be the last movie I'd get to see in a while. Exactly ONE HOUR after we walked out of the theatre, I went into labor. So instead of getting the "few days to rest" before baby "I" came, I got NONE. So even though the movie isn't nearly as funny and even more silly than a typical Spongebob cartoon, I still had to buy it just for posterity's sake.)
Saturday Mary had a t-ball game. And except for the slight temper tantrum at the bottom of the sixth where she suddenly decided that she "didn't feel like batting," she played very well. Later we took the whole gang to the High Falls district and checked out the waterfalls and all the old buildings/mills here in downtown Rochester. And we ate barbecue.
Sunday I had to come in to work a few hours (@#$% holidays). After that we were originally planning on going to Niagara Falls, but we opted out as it was supposed to thunderstorm all day. Instead, we took the crew to the Corning Museum of Glass. It's a very nice museum and I could get lost in it all day (and did--stay tuned...), but it's not the most exciting place to take three young kids. Mary especially was pretty vocal about being bored. So John would keep wandering with the kids while my mother and I peeked at exhibits, and then my step-father was tagging way behind--reading every freaking place card in the museum. After a bit, I look up and say, "Hey, where are my husband and kids?" No one knew. I started running around in all the nooks and crannies trying to catch up with them. It took me twenty minutes to find them. When we finally joined the main hallway--where I'd just left my mother and her husband--THEY were now gone. John and I started going through the rest of the museum looking for them--while quickly glancing at exhibits on the way. We didn't see them ANYWHERE. Finally, the kids were getting hungry, so John took them down to the cafeteria. While they were there, I kept on my search for the illusive parents. I went all the way through the museum and still didn't find them. I finally gave up, ran back down to the cafeteria, bolted down a bowl of potato soup (pretty good soup, too), and then we all started the search again. After a while, we finally caught up with them--in the part of the museum where I'd lost them in the first place. I must have kept just missing them as they'd already been through the whole museum--and even in to the glass-making show. I swear--you can't take them anywhere! We headed outside, caught another glass-making show (the only thing I think the kids can say they legitimately enjoyed), stopped at the coffee bar so that the "old folks" could get a drink and snack (as they'd missed lunch!), and then headed out. We wanted to stop at Letchworth State Park on the way home, but we were just too, too tired.
Monday the folks headed home (although they had to make a quick detour back after 20 minutes into their trip as John had left our garage door opener in their car), and the rest of us headed downtown again. Mary and I got to march in the Memorial Day parade with the Girl Scouts. It was a beautiful, sunny, breezy day and just perfect for a parade. It was fun, and I'm glad we got to go.
I spent the rest of the day Monday PAINTING KEITH'S ROOM. That's right. I brushed the dust off the old rollers, cleaned up the cobwebs off his walls, and settled in to do 2 more coats of dark blue paint. Three of the four walls STILL need one more coat of paint. Sheesh! (My father keeps teasing me how we're just making this tiny bedroom smaller and smaller as we add more and more coats of paint on it.) I'm confident that one more coat oughtta do it--but then we'll still have to paint the closet--and THEN we have to clean up the mess--and THEN we've got to put some furniture in there--and THEN the room will be done. It's taken 10 1/2 months to get this far. I wonder how much longer until the poor boy finally has a place of his own????
Monday night I started up the charcoal in the ol' grill and made corn on the cob and sirloin steak. The steak was absolutely perfect (I humbly think even MR would approve).
(HAVE to include the background story of the silly Spongebob Movie. We took Mary and Keith to see it opening night: November 19, 2004. That day was my last full day of work before my maternity leave for Izzy [then known as the Isabelle or Ian "mystery bump" in my belly]. I didn't want to go [so, SO tired] but John talked me into it--we knew it would probably be the last movie I'd get to see in a while. Exactly ONE HOUR after we walked out of the theatre, I went into labor. So instead of getting the "few days to rest" before baby "I" came, I got NONE. So even though the movie isn't nearly as funny and even more silly than a typical Spongebob cartoon, I still had to buy it just for posterity's sake.)
Saturday Mary had a t-ball game. And except for the slight temper tantrum at the bottom of the sixth where she suddenly decided that she "didn't feel like batting," she played very well. Later we took the whole gang to the High Falls district and checked out the waterfalls and all the old buildings/mills here in downtown Rochester. And we ate barbecue.
Sunday I had to come in to work a few hours (@#$% holidays). After that we were originally planning on going to Niagara Falls, but we opted out as it was supposed to thunderstorm all day. Instead, we took the crew to the Corning Museum of Glass. It's a very nice museum and I could get lost in it all day (and did--stay tuned...), but it's not the most exciting place to take three young kids. Mary especially was pretty vocal about being bored. So John would keep wandering with the kids while my mother and I peeked at exhibits, and then my step-father was tagging way behind--reading every freaking place card in the museum. After a bit, I look up and say, "Hey, where are my husband and kids?" No one knew. I started running around in all the nooks and crannies trying to catch up with them. It took me twenty minutes to find them. When we finally joined the main hallway--where I'd just left my mother and her husband--THEY were now gone. John and I started going through the rest of the museum looking for them--while quickly glancing at exhibits on the way. We didn't see them ANYWHERE. Finally, the kids were getting hungry, so John took them down to the cafeteria. While they were there, I kept on my search for the illusive parents. I went all the way through the museum and still didn't find them. I finally gave up, ran back down to the cafeteria, bolted down a bowl of potato soup (pretty good soup, too), and then we all started the search again. After a while, we finally caught up with them--in the part of the museum where I'd lost them in the first place. I must have kept just missing them as they'd already been through the whole museum--and even in to the glass-making show. I swear--you can't take them anywhere! We headed outside, caught another glass-making show (the only thing I think the kids can say they legitimately enjoyed), stopped at the coffee bar so that the "old folks" could get a drink and snack (as they'd missed lunch!), and then headed out. We wanted to stop at Letchworth State Park on the way home, but we were just too, too tired.
Monday the folks headed home (although they had to make a quick detour back after 20 minutes into their trip as John had left our garage door opener in their car), and the rest of us headed downtown again. Mary and I got to march in the Memorial Day parade with the Girl Scouts. It was a beautiful, sunny, breezy day and just perfect for a parade. It was fun, and I'm glad we got to go.
I spent the rest of the day Monday PAINTING KEITH'S ROOM. That's right. I brushed the dust off the old rollers, cleaned up the cobwebs off his walls, and settled in to do 2 more coats of dark blue paint. Three of the four walls STILL need one more coat of paint. Sheesh! (My father keeps teasing me how we're just making this tiny bedroom smaller and smaller as we add more and more coats of paint on it.) I'm confident that one more coat oughtta do it--but then we'll still have to paint the closet--and THEN we have to clean up the mess--and THEN we've got to put some furniture in there--and THEN the room will be done. It's taken 10 1/2 months to get this far. I wonder how much longer until the poor boy finally has a place of his own????
Monday night I started up the charcoal in the ol' grill and made corn on the cob and sirloin steak. The steak was absolutely perfect (I humbly think even MR would approve).
Friday, May 25, 2007
Experimental Failure?
Izzy has gotten exponentially worse each day after her successful Tuesday. One accident on Wednesday; two on Thursday. I'm trying to figure out how to redefine the parameters to help tweak a success here. Make her sit on the potty every half hour? Buy those rubber pants to help make the clean up easier? Instead of re-reading my Harry Potters and just let her toddle aimlessly around the house where she's getting into Mary's markers and marking all over her legs and feet and then pooping in her undies, actually PAYING ATTENTION to my kid? You know--stuff like that.
Actually, one or two accidents a day isn't really that bad--all things considered. She's still been staying dry during naps and even sometimes through the night. I just need to let it happen as it happens--she's obviously right on the brink of a break-through here.
This morning's car ride in was interesting. We're 10 minutes from our destination, and she starts bellowing from behind me, "Mommy! I gotta go potty!" Great. There are no public restrooms to be found in the last 10 minutes of the car ride to Leona's. So I'm begging her to try to hold it. And she's crying, "I gotta go poopy!" We got to Leona's and raced in as fast as we could--but she just didn't make it (usually when she says she's gotta go, it's right that second and there's no "holding" allotment time left). So I was late for work since I had to clean up my stinky, poopy kid. And it was slimey green, too. Lovely.
In the spirit of non-human-bodily-functions news: my mother and her husband are coming for a visit this weekend. The kids are so excited that they didn't even complain much when we had to go through the "Oh crap! We're having company and have to scourgify the house!" routine. And even though their cleaning of the play room wasn't up to company-coming-over scratch, I still think I'm going to give them a bonus on their allowance just for their eagerness and non-whinyness.
Shocker that my step-father is able to travel since just a few weeks ago he was still "LOST" and shot by that madman Ben and even though he was still alive this week, he was definitely weak due to the loss of blood. (See photo).
Actually, one or two accidents a day isn't really that bad--all things considered. She's still been staying dry during naps and even sometimes through the night. I just need to let it happen as it happens--she's obviously right on the brink of a break-through here.
This morning's car ride in was interesting. We're 10 minutes from our destination, and she starts bellowing from behind me, "Mommy! I gotta go potty!" Great. There are no public restrooms to be found in the last 10 minutes of the car ride to Leona's. So I'm begging her to try to hold it. And she's crying, "I gotta go poopy!" We got to Leona's and raced in as fast as we could--but she just didn't make it (usually when she says she's gotta go, it's right that second and there's no "holding" allotment time left). So I was late for work since I had to clean up my stinky, poopy kid. And it was slimey green, too. Lovely.
In the spirit of non-human-bodily-functions news: my mother and her husband are coming for a visit this weekend. The kids are so excited that they didn't even complain much when we had to go through the "Oh crap! We're having company and have to scourgify the house!" routine. And even though their cleaning of the play room wasn't up to company-coming-over scratch, I still think I'm going to give them a bonus on their allowance just for their eagerness and non-whinyness.
Shocker that my step-father is able to travel since just a few weeks ago he was still "LOST" and shot by that madman Ben and even though he was still alive this week, he was definitely weak due to the loss of blood. (See photo).
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Sidenote:
I STILL haven't gotten my Mother's Day gift from my husband. It still hasn't got here. OK, buddy, are you just pulling my leg?? Did you order it midnight Saturday night in the hopes it would get to me by Mother's Day morning?? HMPH!
The Great Experiment
I got brave this weekend. Since it's been pretty nice for so many days, I decided to take Izzy to the next phase of potty training: real underwear.
It's a bold decision since she still doesn't tell me every time she needs to go. Usually I have to remind her. But with nice weather comes fewer (and thinner) layers of clothing--which makes accident clean-up a little quicker and easier. And then the theory is that she won't like the wet feeling when she does have an accident and will go pee-pee in the potty like she's supposed to. This didn't seem to work with my other two--but let's give it another go, eh?
I can't really give a good percentage of the effectiveness because for half of both Saturday and Sunday we were out of the house (or it was nap time), so I lost my boldness and put her back in a pull-up. But for the short times she was actually in the undies, she didn't have one accident.
Monday: She got to wear underwear to day care. This is a big deal as 1) someone else will be doing the clean-up--and has to be WILLING to partake of this great experiment--besides me and 2) Izzy had to take a 25 minute car trip strapped down in her car seat IN HER UNDERWEAR. Anyone who's had to clean car seats will understand my boldness in deciding to do this.
She did great. In fact, the only accident she had all day was after we'd been home around an hour. She came running to me telling me she had to go potty with a funny little hunchbacked walk--while pulling on her jeans. Oh yeah, she'd already done it. (But how funny that after I cleaned her up, she insisted on sitting on the potty again--and actually went again.)
Tuesday: It's no holds barred now. Underwear all day. Leona even forgot to change her into a pull up for naptime, and the kid stayed dry. ALL DAY. Even after John had to take her to Mary's t-ball game. She stayed dry.
Woah. I wonder if this is really working?
It's a bold decision since she still doesn't tell me every time she needs to go. Usually I have to remind her. But with nice weather comes fewer (and thinner) layers of clothing--which makes accident clean-up a little quicker and easier. And then the theory is that she won't like the wet feeling when she does have an accident and will go pee-pee in the potty like she's supposed to. This didn't seem to work with my other two--but let's give it another go, eh?
I can't really give a good percentage of the effectiveness because for half of both Saturday and Sunday we were out of the house (or it was nap time), so I lost my boldness and put her back in a pull-up. But for the short times she was actually in the undies, she didn't have one accident.
Monday: She got to wear underwear to day care. This is a big deal as 1) someone else will be doing the clean-up--and has to be WILLING to partake of this great experiment--besides me and 2) Izzy had to take a 25 minute car trip strapped down in her car seat IN HER UNDERWEAR. Anyone who's had to clean car seats will understand my boldness in deciding to do this.
She did great. In fact, the only accident she had all day was after we'd been home around an hour. She came running to me telling me she had to go potty with a funny little hunchbacked walk--while pulling on her jeans. Oh yeah, she'd already done it. (But how funny that after I cleaned her up, she insisted on sitting on the potty again--and actually went again.)
Tuesday: It's no holds barred now. Underwear all day. Leona even forgot to change her into a pull up for naptime, and the kid stayed dry. ALL DAY. Even after John had to take her to Mary's t-ball game. She stayed dry.
Woah. I wonder if this is really working?
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