Mommy Matters

Alexander's quip du jour

2011-05-19T10:49:00.001-06:00

(Speaking about his baby sister)

"She hasn't been cleaned in weeks and she still smells good!"

Perfect!

2011-05-13T10:37:00.000-06:00

They say there is no perfect time to have a baby. That if you wait for the perfect time, you'll wait forever. I always said I wanted three children, but after Alex was born, life was complicated and the time was just never right. And as time went on, and Ella and Alex got older, it seemed like the time to add a third child to our family had slipped past. Here they are older, and in school, and we are far enough removed from diapers and strollers and sleepless nights. Being busy running kids to ballet and swim lessons and Tae Kwon Do, I thought less and less about lullabies and layettes. The drama of elementary school out-shadowed the peacefulness of the nursery.

It was November 30th - a Monday. We found out that this new little person was going to join our family. It took some time for me to wrap my head around it. The thought of being a family of five was just... weird! Five of us?! I had done this all before, and I knew we would love this child just as much as we love Gabriella and Alexander, and yet it was hard for me to imagine at that moment.

My third pregnancy was my toughest. I was nauseous nearly constantly, and well into the second trimester. I was working full time, so when I got home I had just enough energy to lay down on the couch and fall asleep.

I worried about the age difference there was going to be between my kids. Ella would be nine years old when this baby is born. Alex would be seven. Could our new addition ever have a close relationship with them? Certainly not the same sort of relationship they have with each other.

Our baby was born, and it was only at that moment that we learned it was a little girl who would round out our perfect family. We named her Annika Cosima. Annika, a beautiful name that means gracious, and sweet faced. Cosima is after her great great grandmother. A little girl! Perfect!

Annika changed all of our lives, of course. I quit my job to go back to being a stay at home mom. My "older kids" as they are now called, had to adapt to sharing me with another child, and one that demands quite a lot of attention at that. We had to go back to diapers and strollers and sleepless nights.

Annika is now nine months old. She is dealing with her first cold, and learning to stand on her own. She babbles and waves, and lights up at the sight of her big sister and big brother. We love her just as much as Ella and Alex, as I knew we would. She was absolutely meant to be here. She will do important things, and make the world a better place. We were always meant to be a family of five (which still sounds a little weird to me).

So as it turns out, that was the perfect time to have a baby. We didn't know it, but we didn't need to. Sometimes fate takes over. And thank goodness for that! Because it is easy to get all wrapped up in those ballet recitals.

Our new addition!!

2010-10-21T14:01:00.002-06:00

Announcing the birth of our daughter. Annika was born on August 1st.

Gabriella's Quip Du Jour

2010-10-20T10:13:00.001-06:00

Handing baby Annika back to her daddy - "Here's your broken baby back!"

Great giveaway over at Dealusional!

2010-03-08T17:59:00.003-07:00

I used to be quite the blog reader. (And blog writer, for that matter!) I have fallen away from reading blogs these past years as my kids have gotten older and our lives have become much busier. But my friend Amy runs a blog that I never miss! She posts the greatest deals from all over the internet, including freebies! I just love to check her site every day and see what sort of find she has for me!

Today she has a fabulous giveaway going! Head over to Dealusional and enter to win a Yoplait Light Outsmarting Temptations Gift Pack! And tell her Mommy Matters sent you!!

Cha-Cha-Cha Changes

2009-10-20T01:34:00.000-06:00

Seeing as I haven't written anything worth anything on my blog in quite some time, I thought I would post an update. My husband's business venture is surviving, if not thriving, which is good. I'm still waiting for the day he comes home and says we're millionaires and I can start traveling the world. (Any day now I'm sure.) My little Pixie-Chick is now eight years old, and can be a walking talking attitude at times. Good thing she's so cute. Little Man is six, and is currently sharing with anyone who will listen that he's getting his six year molars. (Apparently very newsworthy in his eyes.) I am no longer a stay-at-home-mom, as I am now working full time. With kids. Blessed or cursed - depends on the day. :) The kids aren't spouting worthy quips so much any more. I guess as they get older the things they say aren't quite as cute as they use to be. I am no longer taking meds for depression, as I have found exercise has somewhat of the same affect. I still have a bad day now and then. (Today was one of those days. Which is probably why I find myself here.)

A MEME - just because

2009-10-18T01:32:00.000-06:00

You’re feeling: blocked
To your left: a lamp
On your mind: nothing - and everything
Last meal included: green beans and carrots
You sometimes find it hard to: write
The weather: weird!
Something you have a collections of: books
A smell that cheers you up: mowed grass
A smell that can ruin your mood: poop
How long since you last shaved: 3 days
The current state of your hair: in transition
The largest item on your desk right now (besides computer): desk? What desk?
Your skill with chopsticks: so-so
Which section you head to first in the bookstore: staff recomendations
And after that?: new fiction
Something you are craving: food
How many times have you been hospitalized this year: zero (knock on wood)
A favorite place to go for quiet time: right here
You’ve always secretly thought you’d be a good: musician
Something that freaks you out a little: bugs
Something you’ve eaten too much of lately: fried foods
You have never: smoked
You never want to: be without my family

Gabriella's quip du jour

2008-12-04T21:49:00.002-07:00

Upon noticing that the Christmas parade had more than one Santa in it:

"There are two Santas in this parade! One on them is fake!"

Just in time to make Thanksgiving less stressful!

2008-11-20T21:18:00.002-07:00

Turkey was surveyed to be the #1 disaster of most Thanksgiving meals; more than five in ten (21%) chose turkey as their biggest cooking fiasco of Thanksgiving.
Almost a quarter (23%) percent of Americans have flat-out refused to host Thanksgiving dinner to avoid making the turkey.

Jennie-O has just taken Thanksgiving from trauma to triumph with their Oven-Ready turkey. This is pure genius! A turkey you don't have to thaw! No more planning days in advance to thaw your turkey (and finding room for it in your already-crammed-for-the-holiday refrigerator!) so that you can figure out how long to cook it. No more dry, tasteless meat!

The Oven-Ready turkey comes right out of your freezer and straight into the oven, perfectly seasoned. Or if you are a slow cooker user like I am, it can go right into your slow cooker. It comes packaged in an oven bag, so whether you put it in the over or the slow cooker, the mess is minimal!! (And you won't have to handle any raw meat in the process!)

I had the chance to try one of these turkeys recently, and I can tell you that it is just as delicious as it is easy. It was perfectly moist, and seasoned just right! Not only are they perfect for making Thanksgiving successful and unstressful, but they are perfect for anytime! Keep one in the freezer and you have your answer to "What's for dinner tonight?", because you won't have to plan ahead to thaw it out.

Look for Jennie-O Oven-Ready turkey are your local market, or visit jennieo.com where you can order directly from Jennie-O!

Gabriella's quip du jour

2008-11-13T23:58:00.002-07:00

Ella: "Is Grandma and Grandpa here? I thought I heard their voices!"

Me: "Nope, sorry Sweetie. They aren't here."

Ella: "Oh... maybe it was God."

Me: "Oh yea? Was God talking to you?"

Ella: "Yes... but he sounds a lot like Grandma and Grandpa."

Contest: KN Karen Neuburger Pink Ribbon Collection

2008-10-18T00:01:00.003-06:00

Contest is now closed. The winner is Deborah R! Congratulations, and thank you to everyone who entered!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Realizing that battling breast cancer is a year-long fight, Karen Neuburger has created the Karen Neuburger Pink Ribbon Collection, and will donate a minimum of $75,000 in 2008 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation from the sales of their pink ribbon products.

You can shop for the cause all year round at www.karenneuburger.com, or you can find their collection at Macy's North, Dillards, or Bon-Ton stores. They have a huge selection of comfy pajamas and sportswear, as well as intimates, socks and slippers. They also have products for your home, stationary items, and craft kits. (A quilting kit or a tote bag kit would make an awesome Christmas gift!!)

I have one pair of Karen Neuburger Think Pink Chenille Lounge Socks to give away to a lucky Mommy Matters reader!! I have a pair of my own, and I'm telling you they are like heaven!! They even have a little bit of grip on the bottom, so you don't slip and fall! (Important product feature if you are like me!) To enter to win, just go visit Karen Neubuger, and come back and comment on what your favorite product is!! That's it!

The details:

You do not have to be a blogger to enter!
Contest open to US addresses only, please.
You can earn one extra entry for blogging about this contest. Please leave a separate comment linking to your post.
Contest will be closed at 11:59 pm on Friday, October 24th.
One comment from all qualifying comments will be chosen at random to win.
Please be sure to provide an email address so I can contact you if you win.
Winner will have 3 days to reply.
Winner will be announced on my blog on October 25th.

Changes....

2008-10-13T22:58:00.003-06:00

Did I mention that my hubby has been working with some friends to start their own business?

Oh, that's right. I didn't. It was a secret. Very hush hush. You see, we live in a small town, and we didn't want the word getting out before we were ready. We didn't want his employer to be able to use it as a reason to let him go before we were ready, as they are "downsizing" more and more as the weeks go by.

Well, a mistake was made, and they found out, and they did indeed use it against him. They let him go without any kind of severance package. We knew that it was coming eventually (hence the starting-their-own-business), but we weren't prepared for this.

We love the little town we live in. We want our kids to grow up here. We are tired of moving every 2 or 3 years. We are going to make a go of it and try our hardest to stay here in this house that we love. Hopefully his new venture will take off out of the gate! But the next few months (at least) are going to be really tough around here. I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared. Any advice or positive thoughts you could send this way are very welcome. I'll keep you updated...

Suzi Homemaker

2008-10-07T17:01:00.003-06:00

I recently placed an order at Suzi Homemaker, and because of my belief that good customer service is a lost art, I want to share her site with you. She carries a wide array of personalized items for babies and children (and some fun stuff for moms, too!). She offers lots of super cute bags and lunch totes, as well as useful household items. But even more than the products she sells, I was impressed with her service! She was friendly and helpful, my items shipped quickly, and she went above and beyond to make my order special. I highly recommend her products and services!

Gabriella's quip du jour

2008-10-05T23:45:00.001-06:00

(Speaking of her dance recital)

"This is going to be the most exciting night of my young life!"

Shut your mouth, Hollywood

2008-09-11T11:42:00.002-06:00

I just read a quote from actor Matt Damon, in which he is talking about Sarah Palin as a possible president.

"It's like a really bad Disney movie, "The Hockey Mom.' Oh, I'm just a hockey mom from Alaska, and she's president," said Damon."

All political opinions aside. Just look at what he said. I certainly hope his wife and mother of his two children slapped him - hard - for that one.

"Just a mom", is it Matt?

I'm not going to waste my time right now ranting about this. I am on my way out the door to volunteer at my children's school, because, you know... I'm just a mom. I certainly wouldn't be qualified to do anything of any importance.

I will refer you to this post. Take out Tom Cruise, add Matt Damon. Take out PPD and add in motherhood.

I will say that I think Matt Damon needs to shut his mouth.

After all, he's just an actor.

Gabriella's quip du jour

2008-09-03T15:55:00.001-06:00

(While sampling the new batch of hot chocolate mix I made up.)

"This is a delightful taste sensation!"

The first day of school!

2008-08-27T21:29:00.001-06:00

The first day of school!
Originally uploaded by kabiel

I have to admit to mixed feelings this morning as I took BOTH my little ones to our local neighborhood elementary school. Half of me is internally jumping for joy at the extra time I'm going to have to myself; the peace and quiet! The other half of me feels I have closed a chapter of my life - a chapter I *loved*, and am not sure I'm ready to close yet.

My feelings aside, the kids were excited, especially Ella, who couldn't sleep last night as if she were anxiously awaiting a visit from Santa Claus himself. (Despite the way she looks in the picture.) They both had a good first day, and are looking forward to their second day, so I claim that a success.

A memory?

2008-08-24T00:22:00.001-06:00

I have a memory*.

I'm walking on a beach, barefoot, in the dark. I'm holding hands with my sweetheart. Walking and talking. Mostly just walking.

The cold water laps at our feet. The sand wriggles out from under me each time the water retreats. My feet feel gritty. There is a warm breeze gently blowing my hair in my face, so that I'm forever brushing it back, trying to tuck it behind my ears.

His hand is gentle, and strong. His voice is comforting. I can't remember the words.

He turns and holds me in his arms, and I feel safe - more safe than I ever have. And home. I feel home.

(*Oh. Funny thing. This never happened. It just hit me, came rushing at me from nowhere. But I really don't think it ever happened. Maybe someday...)

Guardian Angels?

2008-08-23T11:23:00.001-06:00

We recently got back in touch with some dear friends of ours, and in doing so I got to see this picture of my daughter, taken at their son's birthday party several years ago. (I believe Ella is 2 here.) Look at how little she is! And those curls! But my favorite part of this picture is what our good friend said about it when he showed it to me.

"Christine...after we took these set of pics from Bastian's birthday...we saw those stars floating around Gabriella's head... She is protected by angels!!!"

Thank you Alejandro! I love the picture!

Carmi's Thematic Photographic - #12

2008-08-21T00:44:00.002-06:00

Colorful?
Originally uploaded by kabiel

So *all summer* I've been meaning to participate in Carmi's thematic photo of the week over at Written Inc. (Okay, so I've been a little busy.)

This week's theme is "colorful". I'm venturing off the path of obvious here with this one. (Plus I really don't think I'm showing a balanced "picture" of my kids here at Mommy Matters without posting one of these - they do this sort of thing all too often.)

Gabriella's quip du jour

2008-08-19T00:42:00.002-06:00

(While stopped behind a big truck while traveling through some road construction)

"What smells like big buiness?!"

Gabriella's quip du jour

2008-08-16T10:24:00.000-06:00

"Look what we made! It's the star strangled banner!"

Alexander's quip du jour

2008-08-05T09:53:00.002-06:00

(This sounds scripted - right out of a corny TV show. But we really did have this conversation.)

Alex: "Why are you already married?"

Me: "Because I fell in love with Daddy and so we got married."

Alex: "But I wanted to marry you!"

Me: "Awww, that is the sweetest thing I've ever heard! But when you grow up you'll change your mind."

Alex: "I don't ever want to get married, so I can live here with you forever!"

Sleeping Mommy got me

2008-07-27T01:06:00.000-06:00

Here’s the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
6. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

I watched The Da Vinci Code last night. I liked the book better. (I usually do.) And speaking of books, Angels and Demons was a much better book.
I *so* want to grow herbs. I try every year and have never had success. I have some in a pot that I planted a couple weeks ago, and so far (knock on wood), except for the little critter that got to them one night and dug up my parsley, they are doing okay.
I get blisters on my hands every time I mow the lawn. I guess my delicate hands weren't made for manual labor.
And speaking of mowing, my 7 year old still calls it a mow lawner, rather than a lawn mower. I think that's cute, so I don't correct her. I can just hear her all grown up asking her husband to go "mow lawner" the grass.
I've played the piano since I was five. That's probably on my blog somewhere, but it sure seems random enough.
I'm tired of painting. I've painted Alex's room (two coats primer, two coats top coat), Ella's room (two coats), my room (two coats primer, two coats top coat), and the living room (two coats.) I still have the kitchen and dining room to go, plus I'm painting stripes on one wall of Alex's room, and his toy box to match. Then I need to do the half bath. And that's just the more immediate plans. (Thanks do go out to Mom and Dad, Bubblehead, and Suzanne for all their help, and to Suzanne and Juli for watching the kids now and then!) I really need to not move again for a really long time, because I just can't take any more painting!

I won't tag anyone. No, that's not true. I will tag one person - my niece. Anyone else who would like to pipe in, let me know so I can stop by!

Alexander's quip du jour

2008-07-25T10:39:00.001-06:00

"Mommy, I will always be your baby in your heart."

We did it!!

2008-07-19T22:30:00.002-06:00

We did it!!
Originally uploaded by kabiel

I'm so very slow in getting this up, although in my defence we did just move into a new house, and have been doing masive amounts of painting and unpacking. This was taken just after we finished the half marathon on July 4th, with a walking time of 2:54:14!

And now the real training begins. Disney here we come!

Gabriella's quip du jour

2008-06-24T21:05:00.002-06:00

quick set up. We are currently in the process of buying a house, and we took the kids over there this evening to see it for the first time.

Ella: "Look at this room, Daddy!"

Bubblehead: "Yes, this will be mine and Mommy's room."

Ella: "How do you know? Did Mommy tell you?"

15 years

2008-06-19T23:27:00.002-06:00

Fifteen years ago I was married.

"But certainly you aren't old enough to be married 15 years!" you say. Thank you! (just barely, but yes.)

I'd love to tell you that we celebrated with a romantic dinner, or a weekend getaway for two, or something along those lines.

Instead I celebrated by taking the kids to swimming lessons, cleaning out the minivan, taking the kids to a movie, and refereeing exactly 57 arguments. (Only one of which, was really justified.)

He celebrated by rushing to get to the Hong Kong airport on time for his 15(ish) hour flight.

Sadly, many of our anniversaries are celebrated along these lines. (apart, that is.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Happy anniversary Baby! I love you 8!!

Alexander's quip du jour

2008-06-12T19:37:00.001-06:00

"Mommy, your dad accidently made me eat this candy."

They come in threes, yes?

2008-06-10T22:05:00.002-06:00

He's been gone two days.

Yesterday, my hard drive decided it's 2 months of life was long enough, and quit working.

Today, my lawn mower followed right along. (At least I was able to finish the front yard.)

Tomorrow, I think the kids and I will walk to the swimming pool rather than drive, just to be on the safe side.

Alexander's quip du jour

2008-06-08T22:52:00.001-06:00

"I'm pretending I'm a toilet!"

Parenting experts out there - should I be worried?

Okay, when does school start again?

2008-06-06T18:29:00.004-06:00

We're on our second day of summer vacation today, and second day of rainy, windy weather. I literally could not hear myself think today for all of the

"Hey Mama!"

"Come watch me, Mama!"

"Guess what, Mama!"

"Mama?!"

"Can I have..."

"Can we..."

I love them dearly, but come on kids, let Mama think!

And then it went downhill.

"NO ALEX!"

"STOP IT ALEX!"

"GIVE THAT TO ME, ALEX!"

(Ella is the screamer in this house.)

I really do like having them around. Honestly I do. But they are around *all* of the time now, aren't they! Every moment.

And they don't want me to forget it!

We're back!

2008-06-02T11:38:00.002-06:00

So much to do. So much to blog about. Not enough time.

For now I'll just give you a peek at my kiddos. This was taken on our trip, while visiting Poulsbo. Small changes here and there, but it looks pretty much like it did when we lived there. We showed the kids where we used to live, which they didn't care about. We took them to Sluys' for giant donuts, which they loved.

Time to move the laundry, and mow the grass.

Leaving on a jet plane

2008-05-25T22:35:00.002-06:00

We are hopping a plane ~~very~~ ridiculously early in the morning to Seattle. We are starting our summer a bit early and taking the kids to the big city, to do all the things they can't do here in Wyoming. We'll go to the zoo, the aquarium, the Space Needle, Pike's Market, and of course the big highlights - Ella wants to go see the hospital where she was born, and the house we lived in there. We'll take them on the ferry, and we'll spoil them a little. But of all of that, I think they are most excited to fly in a plane! (This will be his first time, and the first for her that she will remember.)

So I'll be out of the office for a little while. Please leave me a message and I'll get back to you at my next earliest convenience. If you have a chance, stop by and visit my SIL, who is new to the blogosphere. Be sure to tell her I sent you!

Seven year old logic

2008-05-19T20:38:00.002-06:00

A conversation over breakfast the other day

me: "Have some applesauce, Ella."

Ella: "I don't like applesauce. I do like Apple Jacks!"

me: "How do you know you like Apple Jacks? I don't buy them for you."

Ella: "Because of the commercial."

Bubblehead: "If you saw a commercial for applesauce that said it was really yummy, then would you eat it?"

Ella: "No."

Bubblehead: "Why?"

Ella: "Because, you can't believe everything you see on TV!"

Deep breaths, happy thoughts...

2008-05-12T16:26:00.004-06:00

(SIGH)

It's snowing.

Again.

I've had it. It is mid-spring!!! I am so sick and tired of getting a few days of sunny days and temperatures in the 60s to 70s, only to have it plummet back into the 30s and 40s, interspersed with rain and snow. I have a brand new pair of sandals that I've been able to wear exactly once. Ella said on the way to school last week "It looks like Christmas Eve!" - and it did.

Oh, and while I'm complaining about the weather I might as well mention the wind. Now I know I live in Wyoming, so wind comes with the territory. (see this post - very typical here.) But it really is getting ridiculous. My kids had dirt in the corners of their eyes yesterday because of all the dust blowing around. (I don't know how they can stand to be outside in that wind!) I'm really surprised they have any hair left.

Oh, and guess where we're going on vacation in a few weeks....

Seattle

The weather may not be any better there, but at least it will be predictable!

Marathon training

2008-05-08T09:27:00.000-06:00

I have posted a couple of times just in passing that I'm working toward the Disney World Half Marathon in January. You have to understand what a feat this really is. You see, at my core I'm ...... well, lazy. If I could sit all day at my computer or reading a book without my house turning into the proverbial pig sty, I would do it. My intentions are great, but my motivation is very low.

But thanks to a very good friend of mine, somehow I am now not only exercising, but learning to enjoy it. I am trimming down, and feeling great. So we are going to Disney World in January and doing the half marathon together. (To be followed by a week in the Magic Kingdom - nice reward for all the hard work!)

We've been walking since September. (I say we. What I mean is me. She is in great shape, works out every day, has a personal trainer. Thank goodness she has that motivation that I lack!) We walk "the loop", which is ABOUT 3.5 miles. Just recently we've started walking it twice, with a little running mixed in. I'm now starting to feel like I will actually be able to do this!

I don't really have a point here, except that I am just so proud of myself. This is the first goal I've had for myself since I can't remember when. Something that is just about me, and not about being a good mother or wife or keeping a good home.

Now my next challenge is to find the time to keep my training going over the summer. (Now I exercise while the kids are in school. That will be going away for a few months. And I will be on my own for the month of June, since my friend is jetting off to Europe.)

There is a local half marathon on July 4th, which we will be walking, with no expectations but to finish it. Imagine - me, excited about exercising!

(Thank you, Suzanne!!)

More updates on this to come...

Mediocrity reins supreme

2008-05-06T09:00:00.003-06:00

My son's preschool is closing. It really is a nice school. It is the only truly academic preschool in our community. Yes there is a handful of other preschools in the area, and many do include some learning, but this is the only one that was completely preschool in nature. It's true - it doesn't work for everyone. His teacher really wanted it to be a school and not a daycare, so her schedule was less flexible, and she only kept the kids for 3 hours a day. I understand that for working parents it just doesn't work.

What really floors me about it is some of the comments she has received over the years. She has had parents (educated, well-traveled parents) pull their kids out of her school because she was teaching them, rather than just letting them play. "Why can't you just watch them?" they would ask her. (I can tell you that those kids got plenty of free time, they played outside every day. Oh, and here is a big shocker for you - even when they were learning, they were having fun!) "I would rather my child be at the bottom of their class than the top." Ummm, hello?

As parents, we are the first teachers in our children's lives. We teach them to eat, and walk, and talk. We (hopefully) teach them respect, and how to dress themselves, and good hygiene. We teach them these things not just because they need to know them. We teach them these things in preparation for a whole lifetime of learning. From the day they are born we are setting them down the path to one day be self-sufficient.

So what are we teaching them by keeping our expectations low? What message are we sending when we don't encourage them to TRY to get along with others. What are we REALLY saying to them when we SAY we want the very best education for them, but aren't willing to lend our own time to make it happen?

Our children will learn more from our actions than from our words.

That's all I'm going to say.

I am very lucky that I got both my kids through this preschool before it closed. As many of you know, and many more will learn, the education system in our country is far from perfect. It addresses the needs of only some students. You will spend every year watching what your child is learning in school, and talking to their teachers about how their needs are being met, and what they can do to better educate them, and what you can do for them at home. You will search out books at the library that will challenge their reading level while still keeping them engaged., You'll do flash cards, and find ways to expand their homework to make the abstract lessons hit home in a real world setting. (I hope you will do these things.) Maybe you will even explore alternative ways to give your child the best education you can. Your children are bound to struggle with something at some point down this road. The very best base you can give them is to love learning. If children could just have the mindset that learning is fun, and an adventure, rather than a chore. It changes their outlook on school for their whole lives.

I was raised to value education. It was always just a given that I would go to college. I understood the value of education, even just for education's sake. College was the most fun I had in all my years of school, and it wasn't because I was involved in activities and going to parties and making lots of friends. (Because I wasn't.) And if I can give my kids one thing it would be this - learning is fun, and it is something that never stops. You will learn every day of your life. Learning doesn't start in school, and it doesn't stop there either. Learn everything you can.

As I am planning our summer activities and scheduling swim lessons and vacations, and wondering how on earth I'm going to get some quality me time when I will have the kids home every single day (yikes!), I'm also thinking about where I can take them, and what can I do with them to keep their little minds wondering, and keep the gears turning. What can I do to make them that much better off when they go back to school and have to share their educator with 15 or 20 other kids? And I'm thinking how lucky I was to have had a preschool available to them when they needed it with a teacher that shared my view on education, and how thankful I am that I'm not one of the parents that are now wondering what they are going to do next fall for preschool.

I am not, nor have I ever proclaimed myself the perfect parent. I am quite flawed, and I'm sure I've screwed my kids up slightly more than the next person. I am not being "high and mighty" with this post. I'm just saying...

Alexander's quip du jour

2008-04-22T11:52:00.000-06:00

Running into the house while playing outside...

"I'm happy!!!"

He then ran right back out to play.

This is actually an old quip. He was about 3 when he said this.

I'm really trying

2008-04-09T21:37:00.006-06:00

Part of the reason I'm back and blogging regularly is because Bubblehead and I had both spent some time reading through my archives recently. Hindsight being what it is, I see now what a treasure I have put together. Certainly not valuable to anyone else, but for me, this blog contains some of my most cherished memories. It captures small pieces of my children as they grow up. It explores my thoughts and feelings on being a parent. So why stop building something that is obviously so precious!

Bubblehead paid me a huge compliment, telling me what a great writer I am. (I will humbly admit I do have a post or two within the archives that I'm quite proud of.) I would love to do more of that - more writing that I am proud of. I sit here tonight with a blank screen, and sadly my mind is just as blank.

I don't know where the proper inspiration comes from, but it certainly doesn't come from where I'm at now. I wanted to write something that could move you to tears, or have you inadvertantly squirting your drink out your nose. I'm afraid the best I can do right now is write something that could possibly be used as a sleep aid.

I'll try again tomorrow.

Sweet dreams!

My inbox is lonely

2008-04-06T23:07:00.000-06:00

Bubblehead and I talk to each other a lot. (I know what you're going to say Baby, and that isn't true. You talk, too.) We Skype while he's a work. We email while he's traveling. So even when he isn't here with me, I can usually start up a conversation with him most any time I think of something to say.

But at this moment, he is on an international flight. I have sent an email out to him, but I won't hear from him for quite a while. I know this, and yet I keep checking my email. (sigh)

I just hate it when he's in the air. Especially these 15 hour flights. I hate when he is so far away. I'm not sure China is the greatest place to be right now.

I know he'll be fine. Tomorrow I'll wake up to a reply to my email - or at least a quick "I'm here, talk to you soon."

In the mean time, would anyone like to keep my inbox company?

Gabriella needs...

2008-04-05T22:25:00.000-06:00

attention.
a bike.
30 minutes to go 5 miles.
some toys.
youth, sunshine, and laughter.
to find a way to get over it.
to know about the rest of her family.
this milk.
to stop.
a new bucket hat.
cookies.
to know when we want to meet at this year's conference.
some fall clothes.
to keep dancing!

Posting this to go along with this post.

I had my break-down...

2008-04-03T09:48:00.000-06:00

over my baby going to kindergarten next year. We have him all signed up, and he went in for his "kindergarten screening" earlier this week. The woman who "screened" him (one of the kindergarten teachers at his future school) said he did great, and he's ready, so there you have it.

Alex is a June baby, and we could have waited another year to send him. There were a lot of reasons, really, why we should have waited another year to send him. There were a few, stronger reasons that ultimately helped us make the decision. And I'm still not 100% convinced we have made the right one. He's a smart kid. He certainly knows everything he needs to know going into kindergarten (and then some). He could be slightly more mature, but then he's a boy. (I know adult men who might not be mature enough to go to kindergarten.) He's a good boy - he'll do fine.

So after all that the only thing left to do was to have a breakdown over it, and I'm happy to report I've checked that off my to-do list. I'm not sure I'm ready for my baby boy to go to school all day next year. (Kindergarten here is all day - you don't get a choice.) But I will try to focus on the positives. I will have more time for myself, which I've needed since the day he came into this world. I will have more opportunity to focus on my new project. I'll have time to sit in tears and ponder where the last five years went.

I won't do that.

Well, maybe just a little.

Thank goodness I blog!

2008-04-01T10:45:00.000-06:00

I haven't been good at keeping up with my blog. It has been put *way* on the back burner of my life, instead of the priority it use to be to me. I had forgotten why I started blogging in the first place. I got caught up in the commenting and socializing of it and got burned out.

Tonight I was sitting here perusing my old posts and came across this one. I had forgotten not only this particular instance, but also just in general how he use to say "just because" in that way, and how he used to say "I sassing" like that. It wasn't even that long ago, and if I hadn't written it down, it would have been lost forever.

So beyond all the friends I've made here in the blogosphere, and beyond my fallen standing in the TTLB Ecosystem*, I have that. I have all my children's "quip du jours" that I had forgotten. Thank goodness I blogged them!

Time to get back on this horse. It turns out it isn't just a silly pastime.

*I am still listed on Blogrolling's Top 500 list. They must really be in need of an updating!

She's seven now

2008-03-30T21:00:00.003-06:00

My baby girl turned seven today. This year's birthday was marked with a very understated slumber party with a couple friends. We got her an American Girl Doll (Felicity) - just want she wanted. She choose Subway for dinner. Very laid-back. Relatively quiet.

Seven just seems so old! I could pretend that six was still *sort of* still a baby - just out of kindergarten. Really she had just finished preschool. But seven! Seven is a big kid. She's nearly done with first grade now.

Seriously, my mind is a little blown over this one. Just yesterday I was sitting on the floor of her bedroom and we lived in Washington. I can feel the carpet on my knees and see the closet door (it needed to be painted). We were getting ready for a bath, and I undressed her. She was quite the crawler and took off toward the bathroom, little bare bottom wiggling back and forth. I'll tell you, you've never seen anything cuter than a tiny little naked bum crawling around. Right about then she stopped for a moment and peed on the carpet before the giggling and crawling continued. And to be honest, I'm pretty sure we even thought that was cute, although you know how your memory can be. (Do you think her prom date will like this story as much as I do?)

That was yesterday, as I remember it. Today she is reading at a 4th grade level, setting the table at dinnertime, and her favorite show is SpongeBob. (I really fought that one for a long time!) What the hell happened? I glanced away for a second! Just shut my eyes for a moment (I was just so tired!) and the little naked tushy was replaced by pierced ears!

So needless to say this day has been bittersweet for me. As I tucked her in bed tonight I noticed *slight* glimpses of my tiny girl. That smile and the sparkles in her eyes, and the way she grabbed at my arms to keep me from leaving. And I let her pull me back (more than once) so I could steal another hug, and another kiss - so I could tell her happy birthday one more time, and how lucky I am to have her for my daughter.

And now I'm sitting here baffled at what just happened - at what took place between yesterday and today. We've moved three times, had another baby (who will be five in two months, but let's not go there yet, shall we?), and my baby girl is now a big kid.

I'm going to go make myself another cup of tea, and while I wait for the water to boil, I'm going to go check on my kids - just to be sure they aren't taller than me yet. And then I'm going to prop my eyelids open with toothpicks, because I'm afraid that if I fall asleep tonight I will wake up to boy trouble and training bras. And to honest, I'm not even ready for the pierced ears yet.

Long time no see

2008-03-08T22:26:00.003-07:00

Yes, yes - I know I haven't been around. My poor little blog here is badly neglected. (There is quite an echo in here as well. Ahh well - I write for me anyway, right?)

So what have I been doing while I haven't been writing? Mostly positive things I'm glad to report. I've been spending more time exercising. A good friend somehow has gotten me up off my couch and out into the sunshine. (That is so say, while the sun was shining. The snow has chased us to the gym.) My activity is sporadic, due to a multitude of colds and various illnesses that had taken up residence in my home, and for a while there I felt like at least one of us was sick for three months straight. Ella was getting a fever literally every other week. Hopefully we're done with that now.

Just to prove my insanity, this friend and I are going to do the half marathon at Disney World in January. I figure it is great motivation to keep me going, and after all my hard work I'll get a vacation to the happiest place on earth, and right in the middle of blizzard season here in Wyoming.

My poor hubby has been doing a lot of business travel in the past year. He spends more time in Asia now than I'm sure he cares to think about, so if there is such a thing as a full time parent becoming an even more full time parent, I'm it. My poor children are sick of me, and while I love them very much, I'm looking for a way I might be able to get a business trip to Asia next. The bonus is Alex can now count to ten in Chinese, a parlor trick Bubblehead and I are all to eager to show off to anyone who will listen.

Phew! All this writing! I don't want to strain myself or anything, so I'll close for now. Now that I seem to have remembered my way back, maybe I'll be around a bit more often.

I don't have any words

2007-08-15T11:41:00.001-06:00

I was out of town when I found out that a friend of ours - the father of one of Gabriella's best friends - died this weekend due to a horrible accident. You can read the initial story here.

This didn't have to happen. Pete was climbing, and a hiker from above decided to throw a rock without looking to see who might be below. Pete was doing everything right. He was an experienced climber, and very well loved in our community.

I burst into tears when I heard the news, at the thought of his lovely wife and beautiful daughter, and all his friends and family who will have to deal with this. I wish I could be there right now for them, but I know they are surrounded by family and friends. I hope they know that as time goes on, we will be there for them in any way we can be a help or support.

In situations like this you wish there were something you could do, or say - SOMETHING. The sad fact is there isn't anything. There is no going back - changing the past. So the only thing I can think of to do from my little corner of the web is this:

PLEASE THINK! I can understand the want to toss a rock and listen to it fall. But to throw a 15-20 pound rock over the edge of a cliff without looking - without thinking there could be someone else around is just stupid. Don't ever throw anything - of any size - if you can't see where it will land and who might be in the way. This hiker will have to live with this the rest of his life. It certainly isn't worth it.

Please keep Pete's wife and 6 year old daughter in your thoughts and prayers.

Bones That Float, part 2

2007-07-07T22:56:00.000-06:00

Sitting on the shore of Fiddler's Lake in the sweltering heat with the blue dragon flies flitting about seemed like an appropriate place to read Kari's book. As my family fished on the opposite side, I sat reading about the forests of Cambodia, a world away from my little reality. I could almost imagine myself sitting in those forests, instead of these, while I read about one mother's journey to find another, and her life changing experiences. I read about the life of a Cambodian man, Sovann, who literally struggled for everything that he had, dreaming of his chance at the American dream. Sovann is still dreaming, hoping that one day he will get the opportunity to come to the US and start a new life. And I read about a little girl who lived an unthinkable childhood, and finally got her chance.

Little Maly lived a reality that as a middle class American I can't even begin to comprehend. She lived through what can only be compared to the holocaust, and somehow made it out to prosper in Wyoming of all places. Maly has bones that float. Just as little Grady Grossman does. Born in Cambodia, his birth mother was forced to give him up because she could not feed him. He overcame the odds and now thrives, with loving parents, and a little sister. He dreams of being an astronaut, or an engineer, and who at 7 years old now thinks about nuclear power, and what to do with nuclear waste.

His parents love him so much that they set out to find out all they could about his birth mother. Knowing that one day he may want to know where he came from, and also knowing that in Cambodia records of this type just don't exist, Kari decided she had to find out what she could, for by the time Grady is old enough to wonder, there would be no hope of finding the answers.

Her journey changed her life, and has made Cambodia a part of her, and not just because that is where her son was born. She and her husband George founded the Grady Grossman School, to help Cambodian girls have hope of more in life than child prostitution. Perhaps boys attending their school will be able to dream of one day working out that nuclear waste problem, just as Grady does.

Along the way she had to find peace in finding her ultimate happiness in another mother's sorrow. As she weaves her story with Maly's and Sovann's, she lets us into the heart of an adoptive parent, and gives us a peek into the lives of the Cambodian people.

Bubblehead and the kids came back from their fishing expedition, and made a big pot of chicken, potatoes and onions over the campfire, along with cold drinks and (of course!) roasted marshmallows. As I watched Bubblehead stir the pot of food, which I knew was more than our little family would eat, I couldn't help but think of Maly and her family, who for so many years subsisted on water with a little rice cooked into it, or whatever bugs they could catch. As an American it is so easy to take for granted what I have. I was lucky enough to be born where I was, when I was. So many people around the world live such a different life. As my kids complain about having to pick up all their books before bed, there are almost 500 Cambodian students at the Grady Grossman School who know no better thrill than to be able to sit with a book - who handle each book as if it were a treasure. It certainly puts my worries and "struggles" in perspective.

Bones That Float is a must read for any adoptive parent, and for any parent for that matter. Click on the link to buy your autographed copy. Your purchase will help the Grady Grossman School give hope to the children of Cambodia through education.

June 19, 1993

2007-06-19T09:34:00.000-06:00

Today is my anniversary. Bubblehead and I have been married 14 years today. I remember the day I met him. I was at (high) school, walking down the hall with my best friend, and we walked past him and he said hi to her. They had algebra together, and I teased her about him. She grinned, denying all my accusations profusely, and we giggled and forgot all about it. (We were 16 - that's what 16 year old girls do, you know.)

And here we are. We've come a lot of miles together. We've done everything together, because let's face it - we grew up together for all intents and purposes. He's my very best friend - even if he drives me crazy, and that sense of humor that I loved him for then now gets on my nerves more times than not. He is... well, he's my whole world.

So if you'll humor me for a moment, I'd like to direct my humble little blog toward just one person now. A, Happy Anniversary. We've had so much fun, and I can't wait to see what comes next. (Just please don't let it be another move!) Who knew it would last this long? We did - that's who. Thank you for always playing my games, and killing spiders, and putting me before yourself. I don't deserve you. I love you EIGHT!!

So I hear you all wondering... how did we celebrate our 14th anniversary? Bubblehead is wrapping up a 3 week business trip to Asia, and I am going in for my yearly pap test! (Was that TMI? Well, you shouldn't have asked.) Yes, we like to do these occasions up big here. Besides, you don't really think I'd tell you all the details, do you?

Alexander needs...

2007-06-16T23:34:00.000-06:00

... 2 more weeks.
... history lessons.
... to learn tactical abilities.
... a good audience.
... a ticket back to the US.
... your help.
... no introduction.
... a lot of extra attention.
... one more touchdown.
... to break out.
... loose clothes that are easy to clean.
... to learn to sleep by himself.
... a new spiffy something or other.
... to pick up the pace on his retirement savings.

This meme brought to you by my complete lack of energy and inspiration, and Google. Surprisingly many of these are fairly accurate!

Eeewwww!!

2007-06-13T17:50:00.000-06:00

The men in my family are coffee aficionados. (Coffee snobs, we call them.) They go beyond searching out the best gourmet coffee - oh no. These guys have coffee roasters. They buy green beans, and carefully roast the beans to get the perfect cup of coffee. They have about every coffee maker known to man, from your basic drip pots, french presses, vacuum pots, Turkish pots, etc. They know their coffee.

So for my dad's birthday my brother got him some very rare, very expensive "kopi luwak" coffee. Do you know about this stuff? Basically it is made from coffee beans that have been eaten and passed through the digestive tract of the luwak, or Asian Palm Civet. Apparently while being "passed through", many of the proteins that make coffee bitter are pulled out. "Luwak Coffee is indisputably the world's rarest and most exclusive coffee." Ummm, okay.

Even though they like to roast their coffee beans themselves, my brother got my dad pre-roasted beans, because if you buy the luwak beans green, you have to, er... clean them first. Nice.

I'm not a coffee lover anyway, so I can't imagine trying this. My parents, brother, and SIL (who is squeamish) tried it. They said it was good. "It didn't taste at all poopish!"

I just find it so funny. Who first thought of trying coffee that first went through an animal's digestive system? Was there a coffee shortage? And would you get the same effect if you fed the coffee cherries to say your dog or cat? Or perhaps coffee cherries are tasty, and would make a nice snack for yourself - like the day before you wanted to brew up some "homemade" gourmet coffee! Talk about recycling!!

Brave enough to give it a try? You can find it here.

Why is that?

2007-06-12T12:10:00.000-06:00

When I started my blog it was just for me - I told no one about it. Slowly but surely I've been outed. Bubblehead of course knows about it, as does my family. Not too long ago my IRL (in real life) friends have learned about it, and I'm not quiet sure how that happened. I guess I'm just used to talking about it now and it came up. I think the only people in my life who don't know about it are my in-laws, and lets face it - it's just a matter of time.

But none of my IRL friends ever make a comment here. My family doesn't stop by with birthday wishes - no "Hello, I'm here" from anyone at all. I think MAYBE once my brother left me a cryptic comment on a post that probably pertained to him, but that's it.

So my first question is if your IRL friends and family know about your blog do they read and comment there? And if not, why is that? Is there a perception that you have to be a blogger to comment on a blog? Even Bubblehead, who was a blogger, doesn't comment here. (Although I'm not sure he reads MM anymore - busy backpacking, or planning a trip, or dreaming of a trip, or talking about a trip.)

So fess up - you know about my blog. If you're lurking here, say hello! (It would make me smile, and isn't that a nice thing to do for a friend/sister/daughter/niece/wife/granddaughter/aunt?)

**updated to note that no sooner had I written this post, and saved it to publish later on, did Bubblehead stop by and leave me a comment. Thanks, Baby!

Gabriella's quip du jour

2007-06-09T23:53:00.000-06:00

Ella: "Daddy's a silly head!"

Me: "Is that where you get your silliness from?"

Ella: "Yes!:

Me: "What do you get from me?"

Ella: "Love...... and meaness."

Bones that Float

2007-06-07T00:00:00.000-06:00

I receive about a book a week from writers and publishers wanting me to review their work. (It's difficult to keep up - don't these people know that I'm lucky to read 3 or 4 books a year!)

One chilly morning after dropping my daughter off at school and watching her wander into her kindergarten class, I was loitering outside with a few of the other moms, desperate for a little adult conversation, when I learned that a friend of mine had a book coming out.

Kari Grady Grossman is the mother of one of Gabriella's classmates. She has written Bones That Float about her journey to adopt her son, and how it has changed her life. She turned down a major publisher and chose to start a publishing company called Wild Heaven Press, so that the proceeds can go to the school that she and her husband started in Chrauk Tiek, Cambodia.

Needless to say that Kari's book (which I purchased myself) is at the top of my pile now, and I can't wait to read it. (I have to finish this Harry Potter book I started you know. If I don't read it I can't see the movie this summer! :) From everything I've heard it is an enthralling, haunting story of love and family, and the history and future of Cambodia.

I am so very happy to be able to help her out in this small way, by putting her story out there for you, and introducing her to all my wonderful readers and friends. She and I sat down over coffee and pastries so I could ask her some questions about her book. (Okay, that's not entirely true. We are both busy moms. We sat down over the glow of our computers between play dates and bedtime stories and had a just-as-lovely conversation. The coffee and pastries were made up.)

*****

[Christine] I know you cover this in your book, but tell me a little bit about the title.

[Kari Grady Grossman] Bones That Float is the English interpretation of a scared Cambodian phrase “chung un diet” which literally translates to bones that float. It means to have good karma, that your body has the good fortune to float away from all the suffering. My son’s birthmother wrote us a letter describing him as having bones that float.

[Christine] US adoptions to Cambodia were closed shortly after you adopted Grady? Why is that?

[Kari Grady Grossman] I wrote Bones That Float, to put this situation in its full historical and cross-cultural context. The media loves to sensationalize stories of international adoption into some economically driven baby-buying racket. It’s much harder to look at the truth of the matter.

Cambodia is the first and only country where the US has refused orphans visas for the purpose of adoption. This happened shortly after 9/11. It is due to accusations of corruption. Interestingly, the accused have already been tried and finished their jail sentence and the adoption process remains closed. Literally thousands of children are held hostage in a political stalemate between our two governments. The US government wants the Cambodian government to create an adoption process that is less corruptible to a US standard. There has been a draft resolution on the desks of the Cambodian government for two years. Unfortunately, the Cambodians have other things to worry about such as grinding poverty, landmines, Aides, human trafficking, deforestation, government corruption, and building roads, an education system, and medical infrastructure. Orphans are low priority.

[Christine] What can be done to reverse this?

[Kari Grady Grossman] Well, there has been a lot of energy put into this in the Cambodia adoption community. Continuing to draw attention to it is all we can do at this point. Write your congress reps and senators, of course. Personally, I’d like to get on the Oprah Winfrey Show with my book and bring the plight of Cambodia’s orphans to the masses!!

[Christine] At what point did you decide to become so involved in Cambodia?

[Kari Grady Grossman] Right after we came home with Grady. We had spent 5 weeks there during his adoption, and returning to Wyoming it felt like we had just been to Pluto. It really bothered me that no one around me seemed to know anything about Cambodia, about the genocide of the Khmer Rouge, or about how the US bombing of Cambodia in the early 1970’s created the situation. In fact, hardly anyone seemed to even know that the US had bombed Cambodia, much less how this led to my son becoming an orphan 30 years later. We wanted to give back and at the time, rural Cambodia had no schools. We decided to affect real change, so less children ended up in orphanages, education was the answer. So we raised $15,000, donated it to American Assistance for Cambodia, and has a school built in our son’s honor.

[Christine] I know you travel back to Cambodia about once a year. What kinds of things are you involved in while you're there?

[Kari Grady Grossman] We sponsor the ongoing education process at our school. Over the 7 years we’ve been doing this, the community of Charuk Tiek has become like family. We have built trust with the teachers and community leaders. We donate school supplies, support the teachers and add to the infrastructure, a library, a teacher’s residence, a computer and English class. With this book, we are launching a big campaign to raise $50,000 with a program to make the school self-sustaining. This will involve life skills and entreprenurial training, music, art and communication. We are starting to see that this relationship is very empowering. On my last trip, I helped the community begin a letter writing campaign to bring attention to their natural resource conflict issues, and we’ve had stunning success with both media coverage and law enforcement. Seven years ago no one could read and write, now they are affecting change in their own community. We want to build on this momentum by bringing in trainings in alternative, sustainable means of income, so more kids can stay in school. Right now there is a 50% drop out rate starting in 3rd grade because of the need to work. Each year we make a little progress toward turning that around.

*****

Thank you Kari, for visiting Mommy Matters. There is so much more I'd love to chat with her about, but I'll have to save that for the next play date. Before I close I'd like to point you all to a couple of short videos Kari has put together. The first is a little background, and how the Grady Grossman School came to be. The second is about the school and how it has grown. (You can even catch a quick video of her son Grady performing for you there!)

I encourage you all to purchase Kari's book, and read it. You can buy it through Amazon if you prefer, but if you buy it through her website, more money from the sale will go to the Grady Grossman School in Cambodia. Thanks for sticking with me on this post, and please leave a comment here for Kari, so that she knows her message is getting out there. (And what a great friend I am. ;)

Alexander's quip du jour

2007-06-04T20:32:00.000-06:00

(while opening his birthday presents)

Alex: AWESOME!!!

Me: What did you get?

Alex: I don't know!

Comments

2007-05-23T13:23:00.000-06:00

I'm thinking of leaving haloscan and going back to blogger. I started with haloscan when the blogger comments were so horrible, but they seem to have improved them quite a bit. Any comments or opinions are appreciated.

The post in which she rambles about her sidebar

2007-05-22T16:06:00.000-06:00

Oh my pretty blog is so neglected! Those books listed in my sidebar - do you know how long ago I was actually reading them?! (And sadly, I didn't finish either one.) There is so much junk over there that doesn't need to be there. Do you seriously need to know my mood every day? (Because who are we kidding - I update that thing twice a year.) And we won't even touch on that blogroll - I know there are at least a few links there that no longer exist!

So I will be revamping my sidebar a little. I hope to unclutter it a bit, and I have some important links I'd like to add there. I'm sure no one pays attention, but if you're so inclined, keep an eye on it in the next week or so while I change things up a little. I just might hide a little surprise in there.

Alexander's quip du jour

2007-05-17T21:38:00.000-06:00

(right after using the potty)

"I made a nine!!"

And yes, he did indeed.

Happy Mother's Day!

2007-05-13T11:03:00.000-06:00

To all the mother's out there, I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!!!

False Advertising

2007-05-10T10:40:00.000-06:00

You know, I've been thinking about this parenting gig that I've gotten myself into, and while you know how much I love my children, and I wouldn't choose anything else to do with my life, I feel a little ripped off. If any of you have the number for the complaint department would you send it to me please, because I'm wondering if I call perhaps I can get some sort of partial refund, or maybe a coupon or something.

Here's my problem. I have this very idealistic view of what kind of mother I want to be. It's a very Martha Stewart vision, where I have infinite patience and creativity. I linger casually in the kitchen baking healthy goodies for my family, and of course some to share with the rest of the neighborhood as well. My kids sit at the kitchen table having an unbelievable amount of fun doing educational workbook pages, or very neatly painting masterpieces, with no fears of messy clothes or furniture or walls. My daughter would come to me with an excellent question such as "Mommy, what are loons?", and we would spend the next hour (because I wasn't busy doing 10 other things) searching the internet learning all related facts, or perhaps an impromptu trip to the library, or what the heck - the nearest wildlife refuge housing loons for some hands-on learning. I would do involved art projects with them with no disagreements or mishaps. I'd spend hours in the sandbox with them building sand castles, and loving it. I would enjoy every moment of being a parent.

In reality, I don't enjoy it most of the time. Oh I enjoy the bigger picture of being a mother, but the day-to-day dinners and baths and making forts out of my furniture - I cringe really at the thought of it all. I live most of the time for bedtime, when I can smile sweetly at their peaceful faces and let the rest of the day melt into the back of my memory, and I can reflect on how amazing and wonderful they are.

In reality my day is spent trying to avoid fights, and messes, and anything that is going to take more time from my already pathetically busy schedule. (I say pathetically busy because for a person who has no job other than keeping up with a 6 year old and a 3 year old, who the hell knew it would take some much time and planning!) I'm tired all of the time. Seriously. I have no energy for playing a board game with them or taking them out for a bike ride and actually enjoying it! In reality I sat down last night after a very stressful day to work on a puzzle with Gabriella, and after a few minutes of being reprimanded for "doing it wrong" and hearing a lot of "No don't do that Mommy" and "No I want to do that Mommy!" I gave up, because it was too much work to have fun.

Maybe it's just me and my uptightness? I'd like to turn in my referee hat, and my maid hat, and wear something a bit more pretty and fashionable.

They do make a pretty, fashionable parenting hat, correct? Can I get one at Amazon - does anyone know?

Alexander's quip du jour

2007-05-01T22:41:00.000-06:00

"Mommy, you smell perfect!"

Almost a first grader

2007-04-27T23:18:00.000-06:00

Gabriella, I blinked my eyes and you went from this little toddler with ringlet curls to a big girl who knows about recycling and woodwind instruments! I missed it. I was so busy making breakfasts and reading stories and breaking up fights. You went from three to six overnight for me.

Here you are almost a kindergarten graduate, and you make your Daddy and me proud every single day! You are reading at almost a 2nd grade level. Everyone at school praises your art abilities, and you love to do math. You are just amazing! But I want to let you in on a little secret: while we are so very proud of your accomplishments, this isn't the reason we are so proud of you.

What makes us proud beyond measure is your hard work. I am so proud of you every time you stretch out a word and figure it out on your own, and every time you work out that addition problem, even if you have to use all your toes to do it. You are such a smart girl, but it is what you do with it that counts. You don't always get the word right, or the math problem, but when you work really hard to do it on your own - that is something to be proud of!

Right now I am stressing over which first grade class you will be in next fall. I'm worried you'll get the wrong teacher, and not have the structure you need to keep you focused. I'm worried about you getting hurt by the little clicks that are already beginning to form. (OMG! Can you believe that?! I dread your high school days!!)

You, on the other hand, are living your life with your usual pixie chick flair. You are swinging in the sunshine, singing songs at the top of your voice. You are playing very important games at recess - something involving wood chips and a hole in the ground - and excitedly telling us about making earth buddies in school. I envy your care-free kinder lifestyle.

So what I want to tell you is this: I know that I am blowing the whole first grade crisis out of proportion, and it will all work out and everything will be good, but this is my job. I have to worry - it's just my nature. But for you, my darling bright-eyed girl - the only job you have is to work hard and do your best, to continue singing Alex songs at the top of your voice, and keep tossing wood chips into that hole. Cherish your kinder-days, (and may they last long beyond kindergarten), and never ever lose you pixie-chickness. Because even if your reading level drops to the very bottom of your class, if you can do these things you have every reason to be proud.

I take back what I said before

2007-04-25T11:23:00.000-06:00

It is now not easier to win on Winzy when logged out. I'm having much better luck when I'm logged in. Is it just me, or are those point wins getting fewer and farther between?

Gabriella's quip du jour

2007-04-09T11:04:00.000-06:00

"Grandpa's causing me a lot of trouble!"

A good resource for parents

2007-04-01T22:44:00.000-06:00

I thought I'd pass along this to you all - The Boys and Girls Club of America, along with Coca-Cola and Kraft have teamed with Triple Play - a wellness programed aimed at encouraging healthy eating habits, physical activity, and strengthening character with positive social interaction. You can get more information here, and click here to download the Triple Play Parent Game Plan.

The Dove Skin Vitalizer

2007-03-27T10:22:00.000-06:00

I was asked to try out the Dove Skin Vitalizer, and let you know what I think. Basically it is a small handheld devise that holds a disposable "pillow" that gently cleans your skin. The device itself vibrates slightly to help exfoliate your face. The pillows are double sided - one side exfoliates and the other side is softer and more gentle.

My personal opinion is fairly positive. It's a nice device, and is completely waterproof, so you can use it in the shower. The cleanser is nice, smells good, and leaves my face feeling clean and fresh. The only thing I have to say that isn't totally positive is that in all honesty I don't feel like you actually need a vibrating tool to clean your face - my hands work just as well, don't take batteries, and didn't cost me any money.

They are running a nice sweepstakes, which you can enter for free here. The prize is a lovely trip for two to a premier spa in California. Definitely go have a look, and enter. (If you win, you'll take me with you, right?!)

I love that...

2007-03-22T13:39:00.000-06:00

...Little Man covers his eyes as he walks through the room if he doesn't want to be seen.

(He also covers his eyes when he eats something hot. How cute is he?!)

Gabriella's quip du jour

2007-03-18T00:08:00.000-06:00

"Hey Mommy! Guess how many pairs of underwear I'm wearing!"

For the record, the answer was three.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2007-03-17T12:12:00.000-06:00

Winzy is giving away 4 green ipod nanos today! Good luck!

The amazing neverending cold

2007-03-13T21:26:00.000-06:00

I mentioned a while back that we were all sick. We've been on the mend for weeks it seems, and just when we think we're healthy, we're knocked down. Out of the blue the other night Little Man had a fever, and then just as fast it was gone again. I now have a lovely hacking cough and a raspy voice. I'm so tired of being almost well.

These germs going around must the ornery strain, because the kids can't seem to be in the same room together without fighting. What happened to the sweet children who would play together so sweetly for 4 minutes before yelling at each other?! They are even picking fights with me! I got a box of Fiber One Oats and Chocolate bars for myself, and I only got one of them! The kids LOVED them, which is good, but also bad because SO DID I! I will be buying more!

On the upside, the weather here has been beautiful the last few days. It's so nice to open the windows and let the fresh air in. It sure is going to suck when it snows again, because it will snow again.

A tip....

2007-03-02T14:14:00.000-07:00

I've discovered it's much easier to win if you are logged out. Good luck! ;)

Random bits of heaven

2007-03-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

I'll get you started:

the tiny fist of a sleeping baby grasping your finger
your first car
the face of a toddler petting a cat
a rain storm on a sunny day
a really great haircut
a perfect cup of tea
the smile of a child knowing what pride feels like

Your turn...

Gabriella's quip du jour

2007-02-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

"Mommy, when I grow up will you please save your clothes so I can wear them?"

Not much of a blogger these days... UPDATED*

2007-02-24T21:30:00.000-07:00

I know, I'm not around much. As you all know, life gets busy. This week I've spent most of my time either taking care of sick kids and/or being sick myself. Not completely well yet, but doing better. I'm very sad to report that I've passed on my "I'm sick and I'm whiny" gene to my daughter.

So not only am I not much of a blogger these days, but this post doesn't show much hope for a change, at least not today. I was asked a couple of questions about Winzy in my last post, so I will answer those and call it a night. As far as spam goes, I haven't noticed an increase of spam due to signing up, although when I sign up for things like this I use a separate email address, so that any potential spam doesn't go to my "main" account. As far as wins, I signed up only a few weeks ago, and while I haven't won anything tangible, I have won Winzy points 55 times, and won through friends 22 times. The points go into a drawing at the end of the month for more prizes. I'll let you know if anything pans out.

*UPDATE: I just thought I'd update to say that I just won an ipod on Winzy! (I opted for an Amazon gift certificate instead) How awesome is that?!

Because you have to search anyway....

2007-02-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

Why not search with the chance of winning! Just like Blingo, Winzy randomly awards points and prizes every day when you search. The points are used to enter their monthly drawings for cool things like ipods and cash! You can also play fun games to win more points! Why not try it out - and let me know if you win something!

Super Bowl Party?

2007-01-26T21:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've been to a few, mostly going for the food and the socializing, but I've never thrown a Super Bowl party. I love the thought of entertaining, but in actuality, organizing a menu stresses me out. Cooking for my family is one thing, but cooking for others....

Anyway, if any of you out there would love to throw a Super Bowl party but feel like you need a little help pulling it off, go check out askablueshirt.com on January 29th from 2-3pm (eastern). Best Buy is teaming up with Sara Moulton, and will be having a live chat to help you with throwing a Super Bowl party that will have your guests screaming "touchdown"!

And then please, send me an invite!

Gabriella's quip du jour

2007-01-01T21:48:00.000-07:00

"I think Daddy's a little better than you."

Quip du jour double feature

2006-11-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

Gabriella
"'Eight' sure is a funky word!"

Alexander
Alex, while holding one of his many, many... many trains: "I want this train!"

me: "Uh, you have it"

Alex: "Oh yeah!"

Karma is a bitch

2006-11-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

I'm being punished for all the horribleness I ever showed my parents growing up. Someone should really have talked to me about this back when I was throwing my own fits. (Not that it would have meant anything to me at the time, I suppose.) All I can say is that I hope I get some time between doses, because this is bitter medicine.

Things that have come out of my daughter's mouth today:

"Nobody loves me!"
"You go to your room!"
"You're not my Daddy anymore!"
"You hate me!"

Calgon, take me away!

Gabriella's quip du jour

2006-11-12T21:39:00.000-07:00

Telling me about the rock she found in the backyard

"This is the family diamond crystal! It belongs to the whole family, but I mostly keep it, because I know how to respect it."

Lazy Sunday

2006-11-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

Here I am at quarter to 11:00, sitting in my favorite chair, making the rounds in the blogosphere (something I haven't done in months!). Cozy socks on my feet, my flannel pajamas, and glasses, and a cup of tea that needs to be warmed up.

I'm watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, only because my fidget midgets are here with me. Ella is curled up in her Daddy's chair, wearing only her underwear, because she just finished a 30 minute session of dress-up. Little Man is wearing a lovely blue Cinderella dress, layed out on the floor, glued to the TV. Bubblehead is snoring on the couch.

The leaves need to be raked. I need to make out my menu for the next two weeks. I have at least four projects (that I can think of) that I should be working on. But I think perhaps instead we'll spend our day just like this - because we can.

Happy weekend everyone!

Alexander's quip du jour

2006-11-04T22:58:00.000-07:00

(After crawling up in my lap and wrapping his little arms around my neck)

"Mommy, can we pweese be fwiends todedder?*"

Awwwwwwwww!

*For those of you who may need a toddler translation, that was "Can we please be friends together."

Thinking ahead

2006-11-01T21:43:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year. Something about the crisp leaves blowing through the yard and the lovely crystal-like patterns of frost on my windshield in the morning sets my little heart all a-flutter. I love to bake this time of year, putting yummy goodies away in the freezer for the cold winter nights when the kids are in bed and Bubblehead and I can settle down with a hot cup of tea. Plus having the oven on keeps me warm while standing on my cold tile floor. (Check out this site for some really cute baking ideas!)

As soon as Autumn hits I start thinking about Christmas. I love Christmas, because of all the family, and fun, and traditions. And yes, the presents are fun, too. The one problem I've always faced is that even though I starting thinking about Christmas early, I never seem to get things done early. (If I were smart I would be finishing up my shopping right now, but truth be told, I haven't gotten beyond the idea stage yet. At least I'm ahead from last year!)

This year one of the things we are getting for the kids are personalized books - go check them out. It's a unique gift, and is just another way to encourage reading.

And with Christmas coming up I have to share one more great find with you. There is a new service out there offered by Gaga's. They rent out special occasion wear for kids. I think this is a awesome idea for holidays, weddings, etc. Think of the money you can spend on a gorgeous little outfit for your child only to have them wear it once. At Gaga's, you can choose the perfect little outfit, and they rent it to you for 3 weeks, with free shipping both way - you don't even have to launder it! Very cool! I'm thinking about renting little formal outfits for my two just to have their Christmas pictures taken.

And lastly, because it's on my mind, I want to send my heart-felt sympathies to the family and friends of Todd Skinner. No child should have to lose their Daddy. I'm just so sorry....

I'm so proud

2006-10-26T10:00:00.000-06:00

I'm eighth on this search.

I'm two years old....

2006-10-22T11:04:00.000-06:00

or my blog is. Actually I missed it - it was on the 8th. In honor of such a momentous occasion (she says with a grin), I have decided to post the links to some of my favorite posts - the writing I am most proud of. (It has been so long since I had the time or inspiration to write anything that I'm really proud of - maybe rereading some of these will inspire me...)

Anyway, without further ado, and in no particular order

Slow Down, origanally posted January 16, 2005

Where I'm from, orginally posted July 29, 2005

Silent Lucidity, origanally posted January 31, 2005

My Little Pixie Chick, origanally posted January 4, 2005

Where Have You Been, Young Man!!, orignally posted December 12, 2004

The Mean, Ugly Mommy-beast vs. the Drama Queen, origanally posted November 19, 2004

Yes, she's still depressed, origanally posted January 12, 2006

Gabriella's quip du jour

2006-10-19T09:13:00.000-06:00

"All the people who are having fun are you, and Alex, and Grandma and Grandpa, and all the people who are not having fun are back here and it's ME!"

Adventures in parenthood (for lack of a better title)

2006-10-15T19:30:00.000-06:00

I'm a pretty uptight parent. Perhaps not on the outside, but on the inside I'm tied in little knots a lot of the time. I blame it on the PPD, but just to be fair, I've been anal retentive since birth. I have to mentally prepare myself for anything that will make a mess. I feel like I need to plan ahead for things like painting or tea parties. If I'm having a bad day, I put them off.

When we lived in Denver I was a member of a mom's group, and we had weekly playdates with the kids. I was shocked and amazed when our hostess very casually got a huge tub full of playdoh out for the kids (two year olds then) before rejoining the adults in the other room. You're just going to let them do playdoh - just like that?!? I thought to myself. And they are MIXING the colors!!!

On the outside, I try to be more relaxed, even if I have to fake it. Ahhh, you want to paint, huh. Ummmm.... okay.... that's a great idea. Let's paint... that sounds like fun!" In faking it, I'm learning that it really isn't that big a deal. (I also have to give credit to FlyLady, who has taught me that life really can be simpler and less stressful.)

Today after hosting a playdate for Ella, I put Little Man down for a nap, and Ella and I sat down and did a little craft activity (that included glue, I will add), and THEN we baked cookies together. I let her do just about everything, including cracking the eggs. And I never once felt uptight about it. She helped me clean up, and then she took over the kitchen table with markers and stickers and paper galore. I felt so proud of myself for being so relaxed and, well... unlike me. :)

I rewarded myself with a cookie.

Because a good one is so hard to find....

2006-10-12T15:38:00.000-06:00

I have to share with you a new find of mine - the new baby monitor from Philips. "But Christine," you say. "What do you need with a baby monitor?" Well you see, Ella's room is a ways away from the rest of us, and me being the pessimistic, slightly paranoid person that I am, like to have that little extra connection to her room at night. It's handy for bad dreams, and waking up sick, and if someone ever tried to get into her bedroom whilst we were sleeping, I'd like to think the monitor would give me a heads-up. (And like I told Bubblehead, it could come in very handy when they are teenagers as well!).

I've used a couple of different monitors since they were babies, with varying degrees of success, but I've always gotten a bit of static or white noise. When we lived in Denver I could even "enjoy" my neighbor's phone calls.

The DECT monitor is just awesome! First of all, it is digital and wireless, and guarantees no interference at all. It used 60 channels and automatically switches whenever it detects something else using a particular channel. It of course lets me hear into Ella's room, with no background noise at all - I don't even know it's on until I hear her make a sound. But its wonderment does not stop there! It allows me to talk back to her, by pushing a button - nice when she just needs a little reassurance to go back to sleep.

But wait - there's more! It monitors the temperature in her room, and will alert me if it gets below or above a set temperature. It has a built in night light (very subtle), and will play one or all of 5 different lullabies. I can turn the lights and lullabies on either with the main unit in her room, or with the receiver unit in my room. I haven't found it yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if it has a secret setting for mowing the grass and putting away the laundry!

So just in case you are in the market for a baby monitor for your new baby (or your new teenager...), this is honestly the best monitor I've ever used. Very cool!

Gabriella's quip du jour

2006-10-03T17:23:00.000-06:00

Ella: "Is he (Daddy) a nice guy?"

me: "Well, what do you think?"

Ella: "Pretty much."

I found a way to fool my sweet tooth!

2006-09-29T13:54:00.000-06:00

I have such a sweet tooth, that actually there are probably several of them in there. I crave something sweet literally after every meal. (Think I'm kidding? I finished my breakfast off this morning with a gingerbread cookie.)

I'm not one to worry too much about calories or fat intake, although goodness knows I could stand to lose a few (or 20) pounds. So I decided I should probably try to keep the desserts down to one a day. This is difficult, so I've been trying to find little ways to "fool" that sweet tooth of mine. I'll snack on Life cereal, which I have to say is tasty. After lunch, instead of breaking out the ice cream, I found these new yogurts from Yoplait. With flavors like dulce de leche, latte, and key lime pie, I may just be able to drop a pound or two before the holidays come round. (Note to self: write to Yoplait about a pumpkin pie flavored yogurt.)

Now I just need to work on a way to exercise without actually exercising, and I'll be set!

Things that bug me

2006-09-22T10:23:00.000-06:00

People who try to get me to buy or endorse their product or service by saying things like "I'm a longtime fan of your website", or "I'm an avid Mommy Matters reader". Bullsh*t! Watch out - I'm going to start quizzing you!
Listen closely now: Liking, and even loving Disney characters, movies, or anything Disney - cool. Plastering every square inch of the exterior of your car or house with Disney characters - NOT cool!
Speeders. Come on people, where is it you are in such a hurry to get to, anyway?! I'll admit I use to be one of you, but then I came to my senses! I don't need the steep fines, not to mention the potential damage to my vehicle and unending medical bills. Seriously, if you live in Wyoming I know you've seen the antelope and deer grazing near the road. Have you thought about the damage one of those animals can do to your front end? And you don't really want the fact that you killed some poor little fawn's momma on your conscience for the rest of your life, do you? You go ahead and endanger your life, but don't do it around me and my children! I just hope you can afford the speeding ticket, and believe me, I will giggle and point at you when I pass you pulled over by the highway patrol.
Parents who just can't be bothered to pick their 5 year old up at school on time. You're lucky there are concerned, caring parents around who are willing to stay with your child (who they don't even know) and wait with him so that he isn't all alone outside the school for over a half hour. Pull your head out of your you-know-what and be a parent!
People who can't find anything nice to say, and do nothing but complain. Oops! Uhhh.... you have a beautiful smile, and I *love* those shoes! Have a great day!

I should have something better than this to talk about...

2006-09-21T12:45:00.000-06:00

but really I'm just so excited about the Grey's Anatomy premier tonight. Between Survivor and Grey's Anatomy I've got my Thursday nights filled for a while.

We are nicely entrenched in our daily routines now. Gabriella gave up soccer for ballet, which is a much better fit for her. She looks so sweet twirling around in her little leotard and tights.

We are enjoying autumn weather here, although we are often threatened by snow. I do like the snow, but fall is my favorite season, and I just hate it when it gets pushed aside by winter.

That's all for my update. Please resume your day now.

Alexander's quip du jour

2006-09-13T11:43:00.000-06:00

"Go away, Mommy! I trying to pick mine nose!"

My September 11, 2001

2006-09-11T09:20:00.000-06:00

I lived near Seattle Washington at the time, and had a new baby girl. Gabriella was five months old, and Bubblehead worked for an airline catering company, so he was near SeaTac, and often made trips to the terminal and the planes.

I woke up that morning to the phone ringing, somewhere in the neighborhood of 7:00 am. (Remember we were 3 hours behind the East Coast). It was Bubblehead. He said something to the effect that both towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon had been hit by planes. I believe my first reaction was "this is big". He was on his way into work, and would talk to me later. I hung up the phone and went out to the family room to turn on the TV. I didn't watch long before the North Tower fell.

I cried. I worried a little bit about Bubblehead, but I knew all the flights had been grounded, and there would be no catering of planes that day. Still there was plenty of work for him to do - he would be gone all day.

I spent the entire day in front of the TV. I don't remember now if I got myself showered and dressed. I was so thankful that Ella was only a baby, so that I could watch the coverage uncensored, and so that I wouldn't have to explain to her what had happened.

I watched with tears in my eyes as person after person showed their homemade fliers, all searching for someone they loved - someone most likely they would never see again. I remember thinking to myself that the very least I could do for them was to watch, and listen to their pleas, even though I could do nothing more.

The following Saturday Seattle had a huge makeshift memorial set up at Seattle Center, and Bubblehead and I took our baby daughter downtown and rode the monorail over to pay our condolences, and mourn with the rest of the country. I sat with Ella in the stroller and watched hundreds of people lay their flowers near Friendship Fountain, normally a large empty area where kids run around on hot days to cool off. Now the cement could hardly be seen for all the flowers. Bubblehead took pictures with the fountain centered, Ella and I (our backs turned to the camera) in the foreground, and the Space Needle watching high overhead. I wish I could share that picture with you here, but my scanner isn't working.

Over the last year or so the subject of 9/11 has come up between Ella and I when she caught me watching a documentary on it. She asked about it, and I told her simply that there were these two huge buildings in New York, and that one day they fell, and many, many people died and were hurt. She didn't have many questions, and pretty much left it at that. I figured I'd let her have more time before she learns how and why it all happened. On September 11th, 2001 my world changed. I know now that I'm not necessarily safe here in the US like I always felt before. I never felt "not safe" before that day. And even though I don't live my life in fear, it's always there in the background. It always will be. For my children, they still live their lives feeling safe - that Mommy and Daddy can protect them for absolutely everything. Once that feeling is gone, you can't get it back. I don't intend to take them from them - not right now.

To all those who lost their lives that day, and to all those who lost someone that day; to all those fighting overseas today because of what happened that day - I will never forget.

File this under "Things That Will Never Happen"

2006-09-07T22:15:00.000-06:00

I dropped both my kids off at their respective schools this morning, and as I walked away from the last building and down the driveway to my car, my hot Irish Breakfast tea in my favorite travel mug, breathing in the crisp morning air, finally alone for the first time in a week, a sudden wave of peace came over me. Ahhhhhh.... And I got to thinking on my short drive home about all the things I'd like to fit into my daily routine.
____________________
I'd love to be able to get up at 6:00 ready to start my day, the rest of my family still slumbering quietly. I'd like to get up and do about an hour of yoga to get me going, followed by a hot shower before I would awake my sleeping babies. They of course would rouse with smiling faces and sparkling eyes, and do all of their morning chores without word one from me, while I made us all a nice hot breakfast.

I'd then take them off to school, where I'd get hugs and kisses and watch them skip merrily along. I'd go home and take the dog for a lovely morning walk, because I do love that cool crispness of the morning air. (He of course would never pull on his leash, or whine at the cats). Then I'd go back home for another cuppa and sit at my laptop to complete my list of "must-stops" on the information super highway. I'd tiddy the kitchen, get a few chores out of the way, and would always have time to put in that long overdue phone call to a friend.

I'd pick up Little Man and we'd go straight to the park, where he would happily play on one section of the playground, so I could sit on a bench and watch him, rather than following him around from one corner of the earth to another every two and a half minutes. Then we'd go home and I'd make us lunch, which of course he would love and eat every bit of. Then we'd cuddle up to read several stories, and he'd never interrupt, listening to every word and waiting until the appropriate times to comment nicely on the illustrations. I'd lay him in bed with a hug and a kiss, and he'd drift off quietly for a good 2 hour nap. This would give me time to watch my brain-cell destroying show (but in this version let's say it's stimulating and enlightening, shall we?), and still have time to reply to emails, and work on some writing.

He'd wake up just in time to go get Ella from school. She would prance out happy to see me, and not at all tired or cranky. Perhaps we'd go get ice cream, or run a quick errand. We'd get home and the kids would play nicely together, taking turns on the computer, or playing outside. Then we'd do some sort of activity together in which no messes were made and no tears were shed, and no yelling was done on anyone's part.

They'd clean up their toys, never trying to argue their way out of it, because they know how easy and fast it really is, and then maybe watch an educational program on TV while I made a gourmet dinner from scratch. When Bubblehead walked in the door we'd all sit down to dinner, and have a lovely conversation, getting all the details of the kids' day at school, no Veggie Tales vignettes played out with the green beans, and nobody would have any complaints about the meal. Bubblehead would bathe the kids while I quickly cleaned up from dinner and set out our clothes for the next day. We'd all play a game together, which would not drag on and on for what seems like hours. I'd read to Ella from Little House on the Prairie, and she would hang on my every word, genuinely interested in just how Pa got that door hung without the use of hinges or nails, and she would never interrupt me mid-sentence to comment on random things we talked about three days ago.

I'd kiss and hug both of them, and they'd fall off to sleep, and I would enjoy a relaxing evening with Bubblehead, consisting of a highly sweet, non-fattening dessert and still more tea, and a good movie, with no programming containing more than just one or two "f&%@ this" or "f&*# that". My home clean and tiddy, I'd go to bed at a reasonable hour and have time enough to do a little reading before drifting off, knowing that I would get uninterrupted sleep until morning.
____________________
You know, it is truly amazing how similar this is to my typical day, and yet how very far off it is at the same time. Time to go though - I have to scramble to get the kitchen clean, go to bed where I will lay awake staring at the TV for at least an hour, and then finally fall asleep, knowing that both the kids will be trying to squeeze into our very small bed around midnight. That's okay - at least I don't have to get up at 6:00 to do yoga! :)

My Personal Assistant (digital, that is)

2006-09-04T09:17:00.000-06:00

I have techno-joy. I think I may have mentioned it before. Not that I'm a technical know-it-all, but I really love computers, and I'm not at all afraid of them, like some people can be. I have confidence in myself that if the problem isn't hardware, I can usually figure it out. (Hardware, I don't go there.)

Back when we lived in Seattle and the Palm Pilot was fairly new to the market, Bubblehead's employer purchased one for him, and I sat on the couch one night playing with it - marveling at it's then high-tech two-toned screen, with the three or four games it had built in. How amazing is this?! And you can keep your appointments and contacts in it! I was in love.

A year or so later, they upgraded his Palm, and I was allowed his hand-me-down, and I was in heaven! Look at my little computer - I can carry it with me everywhere I go! I can play Freecell while I wait at the doctor's office! I'll never have to memorize my brother's phone number again! My life is so much easier because of this beautiful pocket-sized doo-hicky!

You can imagine my envy when Bubblehead came home with a Palm that boasted a COLOR SCREEN! Isn't technology amazing! Every time he upgraded, I got his cast-offs. And with each one I had a little bit more memory to fill, usually with games I rarely played, but felt so satisfied that they were there just incase I got tired of playing Freecell.

Eventually I learned to utilize these mini-computers for more than just card games. I now own my second very own, brand-new-to-me Pocket PC. (Palm was cast aside a while back.) Color screen, two memory card slots, built-in wireless. I can surf the information super highway from the toilet if I so desire. I keep a multitude of lists on it (and anyone who knows me knows I love to makes lists), I keep my ever-growing schedule of appointments on it, complete with little icons and color-coded catagories. It's the only place I have a complete list of addresses and phone numbers. I get my weather forecasts uploaded daily. I have a small library on one memory card, pictures of my family, an audio book, and a program that tracks all my books. (My titanic collection has gotten big enough I now have to consult my handheld on whether or not I own a particular book.) I can convert and watch movies and TV shows on my little friend, read entire novels and how-to books, I have a dictionary and three foreign language to English dictionaries, which I use (or have used) while reading certain books. I can listen to music - I can even blog right from the palm of my hand.

And while I've moved on from Freecell, I have a really nice collection of games, which I can play while listening to an audio book or watching TV, or while waiting in the doctor's office. Because some things will never change.

No, for the last time, I don't take credit cards!

2006-08-30T08:47:00.000-06:00

I've posted about this problem before, and it is still a problem! I am so sick and tired of getting calls for Blankety-Blank Computers (my number is still listed on the internet as theirs - I wish *I* knew how to reach them so I could go down there and smack them!), and for the Blank Connection! Please people, use a recent phone book, and don't just assume you know the prefix when you obviously do NOT know the prefix.

Four times yesterday in a span of 8 minutes I got calls for the damn computer store! And who the hell is Bobby Johnson?!? Bob, if you're giving out my number as yours I'm going to hunt you down and beat you about the head and neck with my ringing telephone.

I realize that it is not the fault of the people who are calling me, but I swear I'm going to start messing with them - I might as well get a little humor out of them interupting me 74 times a day.

Week in review

2006-08-27T10:58:00.000-06:00

We've had a busy week here at the Mommy Matters household. Gabriella completed her first week of kindergarten, although just barely. Friday was a tough day for her - apparently she took a tumble on the playground during first recess and never quite recovered, and even took a 30 minute nap during rest time. She ended up with a bit of a fever that evening, but made a quick recovery in time for a friend's birthday party the next day, at which she got to fullfill a lifelong wish. She doesn't like soccer, but we've convinced her to keep trying, and it helps that her very best friend Jake is on her team.

Alex completed his first week of preschool (only two days, but still an accomplishment for a 3 year old I'd say). No accidents, he made playdough, and it looks like he will be featured in our local newspaper in an article about his school. They picked the right boy for the job!

I promised Ella a "lazy day" today, and she is loving that concept. She had her "lazy breakfast" (hard boiled eggs, toast with jam, and cheese), she watched some "lazy TV", and is now enjoying a "lazy morning" outside with her ~~cohort~~ brother.

I really didn't know that having my kids away from me would require so much work and running around on my part. I'm exhausted, and am enjoying a "lazy day" of my own, sitting here finishing up an excellent cup of tea bonding with my laptop. I've got the backdoor open so I can watch the kids, and the air has a definate autumn quality about it. The crisp clear late morning with the clouds floating high over the grey-blue mountains has my mind racing with thoughts of colored leaves, and homemade pumpkin bread, and early morning frosts. Ahhhh - the best time of the year.

Gabriella's quip du jour

2006-08-26T19:21:00.000-06:00

Ella: "I'm a lot like you, Mommy"

Me: "Yea? How's that?"

Ella: "Because I'm grumpy!"

Izzy's over done it

2006-08-23T11:59:00.000-06:00

Leave it to Izzy to go a little crazy. She heard that both the kids were in school and thought that meant we could jet-set across the Atlantic for a little fun in Paris. Little did she know. Truth is I don't remember a time I was busier. Already I've had a "mom's day out", which was very nice, a "date" at the ice cream shop after school to spoil the kids after their first day, I've got a playdate for this afternoon that I have to cancel because it overlaps Ella's first soccer practice (yes, I'm officially a soccer mom now - good thing I drive a mini van). I'm toting my kids all over this small town, and some other people's kids as well. So Izzy threw a little fit and went off anyway. I hope she has enough fun for both of us, and doesn't do anything too crazy.