We've been enjoying a long weekend with my parents. We carved pumpkins yesterday - Gabriella did one completely by herself (she even carved it on her own) and it turned out very cute. (I will post pictures later.) Today we will be trick-or-treating, but as I'm sure you know kids can't have enough candy.
Last Halloween I posted a link to 20 questions, which is a fun way to waste some time. If you haven't seen this before give it a try, and see if you can stump it!
Have a safe, happy Halloween!
*It's been a while since I did one of these. You can see the previous ones here and here.
You would not believe the number of calls I get every day that are not intended for me. I get more "wrong number" calls than I get "right number" calls!
Apparently our number use to belong to a local computer company. Bubblehead says we should open a computer store because we already have the client base! But I also get calls for the gas company, the hardware store, Nick, Andrea, Bill, Jim Bob.... it's insane!
I guess having our number set up as 555-1234 was a mistake?
(completely out of the blue and unprevoked by me) Labels: quips
"You're cute Ma Ma"
despite how this post may make me sound. But I had to share.
Please keep in mind during this story that at no time was my daughter badly hurt, and that I care for her more than anything on Earth.
I was sitting at the kitchen table today coloring and cutting out a "folder game" for Gabriella"s preschool teacher. Gabriella and Little Man had been sitting at their little table near me coloring, but had since ran off to play. All of a sudden Gabriella was at my side, stammering to tell me something.
She was upset, and wasn't getting her words out well, so it took me a minute to realize that she was hurt. She was putting on such a brave face, but as her words finally came out so did the tears.
"Alex sharpened my finger!"
author's note: I'm not buying for a second that her little brother forced her finger into the pencil sharpener. She's in this phase (that lasts what... 16 more years?) where she blames everything that might come with a punishment or negative reaction on her brother. Also, for any of you who are concerned about such a thing, this was a child's manual pencil sharpener, and not a big fancy electric one – thank goodness!)
I pulled her up into my lap and wiped away the crocodile tears running down her cheeks. I checked the finger (no more blood than a paper cut would cause) and then pressed her little head against me. As she sobbed and I comforted her, I looked down at my precious girl, checked to be sure she wasn’t looking at me and then let out a big, although silent laugh!!
I'm sorry. I do care very much about her. I feel terrible that she was hurt, and am thankful that it wasn't badly, and all is well now, but there was something about her statement that was so funny!! She tried to sharpen her finger!!!
So now I can add that to my list of failures as a mother: I neglected to teach my children NOT to sharpen their fingers to points with a pencil sharpener.
The first time I posted about Adagio Tea, I did so to receive a free sample. (And they came through with flying colors!) I have since become a repeat customer, and this time I'm posting just because I am so impressed with them.
First of all, there are many fine tea companies out there (and I order from several of them), but Adagio is the only one I've come across that actually sends out all their tea packaged properly in a tin. And secondly, my experience with their customer service has been outstanding. Because I believe customer service is an all but extinct business practice, I thought I'd post about them again, as a sort of "thank you."
If you are interested in giving them a try, enter your email in the box below to receive a $5 gift certificate to get you started. And if you need some recommendations, let me know. ;)
Many people have said that they really enjoy the "quip du jours", which is funny because I never thought anyone would enjoy them but me, and I started doing them mainly because I wanted to write them down so I would never forget some of the funny things she says. Labels: quips
For those of you who do enjoy them (myself included) here are some of my favorites:
"That's dizzy, Daddy!......Do it again!"
Gabriella - "Daddy, sorry I sauced you!"
"He can't come in here! I'm busy, and he can't take my busies away!"
"This is Alex. When he's being naughty, Mommy calls him No Sir!"
Grandma: "Ella, look at all those tulips! Aren't they pretty?"
Gabriella: "I have "twolips"! They are red, and they are on my face!"
Me: "Really."
Gabriella: "And Alex is acting like Wysteria!"
Me: "I see. And what about me?"
Gabriella: "You're acting like a crazy lady!"
Carmi asked me how my blog has changed my life. (And by the way if you don't know Carmi, do yourself a favor and pay him a visit!) I'm sure anyone who doesn't blog wouldn't understand such a question, but as we bloggers know, it actually can change your life. (You know, I always hated the essay questions - I never could get the first paragraph to come out the way I wanted!)
First of all, I had forgotten that I enjoy writing. (Plus now, I'm not given assignments and sent down to some public hearing for two days to report on some BORING meeting - even though that article got me into Quill and Scroll. ;) Now I get to write about me - my life, vent my frustrations and share my joys. You can't beat that "writing assignment"!
Secondly, I've been able to touch a few other moms out there with PPD. If I've made one other mother with depression feel more "normal", or helped her to decide to find some help, then that makes all my time at this keyboard worth it! I have some wonderful friends who helped me through this (and continue to), so I would love to think I have paid that forward.
The biggest impact my blog has had though, is the people I've met. Take Carmi for instance: here is this wonderful journalist and father in Canada who more than once has put into words feelings and ideas that I couldn't have. What other way could I have met him? He is just one example of scores of you out there from all over the world that I have come to know because one day in October I decided to start a blog. I even met one of my best friends right here! What an opportunity!
Perhaps most important, though, is the impact this blog could possibly have on my children. You see, quite of bit of what I write here is my way of presevering my thoughts and feelings for them. Back when Ella was a baby I bought these two beautiful blank journals, and decided I would write in them for my children - letters for them to read when they grow up. I wrote a few, and struggled with a few more, and gave up. (It's difficult to write a letter to a 9 month old, you know?) But now look at what I have to write in those journals! Priceless memories and funny moments - the good and the bad. Not contrived, forced letters but real life.
And that's how I spent my summer vacation. (I always hated ending those essay questions, too. ;)
J&J's Mom was kind enough to "nominate" one of my posts to repost in honor of my blogoversary. This post is entitled "Splash", and never actually appeared here on Mommy Matters. I wrote it as a guest post for Trucker Bob. (Stop by his new site and say hello - tell him I sent you!)
I was tagged by Sarah with this one. I've got nothing else to say, so here it goes:
7 things I plan to do before I die:
7 Things I can do:
7 things I can not do:
7 things that attract me to the opposite sex:
7 things I say most often:
7 people I want to pass this to:
Oh I won't do that to you, but if you do decide to do it, let me know so I can stop by to compare notes.
If this had been an actual blog post, it would have been followed by actual content. (I am testing out Blogger for Word.) This is only a test.
"Alex was grossing up the floor!!" Labels: quips
I don't even want to know what that means!
One year ago today I sat in my basement and started this little blog. I honestly didn't think it would hold my attention for very long. I didn't think I'd still be doing this a year later.
And now today I have to tell you that it has been theraputic. Writting, yes, but even more so all the wonderful people I've met here. I would like to thank a few people who have helped make this little site a place I love to be. Mia from Ciao! My Bella! did my original design (which I have brought back for the occasion!). Amy redid my layout for me, and did a beautiful job - thank you both! Also thank you to Buffi - you know why.
I wanted to do something really fun and special to celebrate my blogoversary, but couldn't come up with anything. So instead of something fun and interesting, I'm going to open the floor up to you. If you happen to have a favorite post (by me, that is :) let me know, and I'll repost it. If you have any questions just burning within you that you've been dying to ask me, now is your chance.
Oh, and by the way, I do accept gifts for such a special occasion! *wink, wink*
(When you get done here, stop by and visit a friend of mine - it's her blogoversary, too!)
What a morning to lose the ice scraper!
I just thought you all should know that as I sit at my kitchen table drinking my tea and looking out onto the Wind River Mountains (barely visable right now), it is snowing - hard.
It was 80 degress this past weekend.
(While driving in the car) Labels: quips
Gabriella: "Mommy, you didn't stop!"
Me: "Sweetie, Mommy knows how to drive - I'm doing just fine."
Gabriella: "You know how to drive?"
Me: "Yes."
Gabriella: "Except Daddy a little bit?"
