This is my 300th post on my blog. But rather than list 300 things about myself I'm going to list 30 random thoughts because I am sure that neither you, nor I, have the attention span to read or write 300 things.
1. This morning I told Savannah she couldn't make a fort if she cried every time something fell. She said, "Then can we make castles." Clearly the crying can't stop.
2. This morning Abbie told me that she drew all the planets, even Plutus. For some reason I couldn't stop laughing.
3. Have you noticed that I trying to make sure that I put a thought about each child when I blog about my kids?
4. It is a second child OCD about fairness thing.
5. I haven't posted much about recipes lately but this really is the best frosting I've ever had. And there is no powdered sugar. And you use flour. I bet you are intrigued.
6. I am doing our family triathlon next Saturday, May 7th. I'm actually a little excited for it. Except the running part.
7. I am reading Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. It is a standard Dan Brown, but no Di Vinci Code.
8. I am really tired of the weather lately. Give me spring! Give me 70s! Give me sun! Yes, I can be quite demanding.
9. I am supposed to be preparing my Sunday School lesson right now. As you can see, I am not.
10. I am never going to make it to 30.
11. Russ just got a new job. We have loved his current job and it has been an extremely difficult decision to make this change but we are excited about this new step in his career. And the health insurance! But really, you don't want to get me started.
12. I could blab about the pain of self-pay health insurance for way more than thirty bullet points but you would probably much rather have a root canal then hear the tales of woe.
13. We have finally added a new series that my girls listen to instead of Magic Treehouse. It is Geronimo Stilton. Not amazing, but I was really getting sick of Jack and Annie.
14. Back to books I'm reading, I just finished A Lesson in Secrets the most recent Maisie Dobbs books.
15. The Maisie Dobbs series and the Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie series have become my most recent recommendations to readers.
16. Not that I considered myself some super informed reader. It is just what I love.
17. I have red ink on my elbow.
18. And I just realized that it got on my jeans. I don't know how either happened.
19. I cleaned all my toilets today. This is the only place I can really congratulate myself on a feat like that. Because other than myself no one seems to notice, and really it is toilets people.
20. Okay, ten more I can do it.
21. Maybe...
22. Have I told you that the best snack in the world is peanut butter on graham cracker, sprinkle with chocolate chips, cover with 2nd graham, and microwave for 30 seconds. Heaven!
21. We saw The King's Speech last week. I am still thinking about it. Loved it!!!
22. I am actually more interested in Will and Kate's wedding than I am willing to admit even to myself. And now I just admitted it to you.
23. I just want to see her dress.
24. And I am an Anglophile.
25. And I want to visit London again.
26. Did I mention that both of the series I recommended take place in England? No, well, you can see I am an Anglophile.
27. Almost there.....
28. I think I should have stuck with much fewer thoughts.
29. I clearly don't have much!
30. Thanks for reading, this post, this blog, and my life. I am surprised at how much I have enjoyed writing this blog, and even more reading back over old posts. And the comments, they validate me. Thanks!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Lifesavers
Today we met some friends in from out of town at the park and then McDonald for kid bonding. At this particular McDonald's playland there were two very tall towers that are very easy for a two-year-old almost three-year-old to climb up, but each landing was separated just enough to make her nervous as she turned around to go down. She crossed the bridge back and forth trying both towers but the extra half-inch she needed to reach her foot was just too much for her.
Enter big sister.
Abbie helped Savannah reach but unfortunately didn't inspire enough confidence to accomplish the deed.
Enter mom. I squeezed myself into two foot high ceilings, touch who knows what in the play area, floor after floor to help Savannah get down and eat some very unhealthy food. As we descended together she turned to me.
"Mom, you saved my life."
(Sadly her gratitude did not prevent her from climbing up after lunch and causing the entire scenario to be repeated 20 minutes later.)
Enter big sister.
Abbie helped Savannah reach but unfortunately didn't inspire enough confidence to accomplish the deed.
Enter mom. I squeezed myself into two foot high ceilings, touch who knows what in the play area, floor after floor to help Savannah get down and eat some very unhealthy food. As we descended together she turned to me.
"Mom, you saved my life."
(Sadly her gratitude did not prevent her from climbing up after lunch and causing the entire scenario to be repeated 20 minutes later.)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Fashion and Prayers
About six months ago I was cleaning the bathrooms and some cleaner got on my shirt and bleached a spot and ruined it. From that time on whenever I clean the bathrooms I change in to grubby clothes. That was the case this morning.
As I was talking to Abbie about her day we started talking about preschool. This is the week they are celebrating her birthday, because her birthday is in the summer after school is over. We were talking about the special presentation, complete with poster, that would be the highlight for today. I started to tell her that I would get to stay at school for the presentation. She looked at what I was wearing and said,
"Mom, you can't wear that shirt to school!"
********
Savannah said the prayer this morning in a higher than normal voice. It was a good octave above her high little voice normally is. At the end of her breathy Amen, Russ and I both looked at each other.
"That is how princesses pray." she said.
As I was talking to Abbie about her day we started talking about preschool. This is the week they are celebrating her birthday, because her birthday is in the summer after school is over. We were talking about the special presentation, complete with poster, that would be the highlight for today. I started to tell her that I would get to stay at school for the presentation. She looked at what I was wearing and said,
"Mom, you can't wear that shirt to school!"
********
Savannah said the prayer this morning in a higher than normal voice. It was a good octave above her high little voice normally is. At the end of her breathy Amen, Russ and I both looked at each other.
"That is how princesses pray." she said.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
5K
It did not start off well.
I woke up at 4:00 a.m. and could not get back to sleep. For those of you who know me you know this isn't unusual. Sadly, it followed a standard thought process.
"Oh, I'm awake. I better hurry and fall back asleep because I have to run this morning....Still awake..I really, really need to sleep I don't want to be exhausted for the race...AAaaaggghhh I'm still awake! What will I do there is no way I can do this." Stressing about being awake has never proved an effective method to falling asleep. But, well, at least I'm consistent.
After a hearty oatmeal breakfast I was off with my friend. We thought the race started at 7:30 so were a little surprised when we arrived at 7:10 to see people running. It turns out that the 5K actually started at 7:10. So we crossed the starting line three minutes late, but thanks to running chips our personal time didn't start until we crossed the starting line.
As far as the actual race goes there isn't much to tell. I employed an interval strategy, run for three minutes and walk for one. (Adjust as needed) For me and my love of breathing and hatred of running it was perfect. I finished in 36:24, which I know for anyone but me would be an embarrassment. But I am proud, because I did it, and actually started running again when my watch told me to, rather than just ignoring it and continuing to walk which is what I wanted to do.
I still hate running, but I do enjoy people watching and with over 1,500 participants it was fun to see so many people! There were many pure walkers, many in the walk/run set, and just a few people booking it. (I'm sure there were more than I saw but obviously we were not very close to each other.) My favorite was a girl in a black and white striped hat that couldn't have been more than six years old who ran the whole thing with her dad! It was adorable! Not that I have a desire to be like her (that whole hatred of running thing and all) but that kid was tough.
The best part was it didn't take me an hour afterward to feel better! I'm sure the Paradise Bakery cookies helped with that.
In the afternoon I went on a leisurely 13 mile bike ride with a friend. At the time I had hoped to push it but the trail was crowded with runners so it was impossible. (That and we were chatting it up!) This turned out to be a blessing because after the ride I noticed that I was unable to, well, to move much. I could barely walk up the stairs. Thankfully, I was able to nap and relax for the rest of the day. (Thank heavens for family movie night!)
I woke up at 4:00 a.m. and could not get back to sleep. For those of you who know me you know this isn't unusual. Sadly, it followed a standard thought process.
"Oh, I'm awake. I better hurry and fall back asleep because I have to run this morning....Still awake..I really, really need to sleep I don't want to be exhausted for the race...AAaaaggghhh I'm still awake! What will I do there is no way I can do this." Stressing about being awake has never proved an effective method to falling asleep. But, well, at least I'm consistent.
After a hearty oatmeal breakfast I was off with my friend. We thought the race started at 7:30 so were a little surprised when we arrived at 7:10 to see people running. It turns out that the 5K actually started at 7:10. So we crossed the starting line three minutes late, but thanks to running chips our personal time didn't start until we crossed the starting line.
As far as the actual race goes there isn't much to tell. I employed an interval strategy, run for three minutes and walk for one. (Adjust as needed) For me and my love of breathing and hatred of running it was perfect. I finished in 36:24, which I know for anyone but me would be an embarrassment. But I am proud, because I did it, and actually started running again when my watch told me to, rather than just ignoring it and continuing to walk which is what I wanted to do.
I still hate running, but I do enjoy people watching and with over 1,500 participants it was fun to see so many people! There were many pure walkers, many in the walk/run set, and just a few people booking it. (I'm sure there were more than I saw but obviously we were not very close to each other.) My favorite was a girl in a black and white striped hat that couldn't have been more than six years old who ran the whole thing with her dad! It was adorable! Not that I have a desire to be like her (that whole hatred of running thing and all) but that kid was tough.
The best part was it didn't take me an hour afterward to feel better! I'm sure the Paradise Bakery cookies helped with that.
In the afternoon I went on a leisurely 13 mile bike ride with a friend. At the time I had hoped to push it but the trail was crowded with runners so it was impossible. (That and we were chatting it up!) This turned out to be a blessing because after the ride I noticed that I was unable to, well, to move much. I could barely walk up the stairs. Thankfully, I was able to nap and relax for the rest of the day. (Thank heavens for family movie night!)
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Running
My family is doing a family triathlon for my dad's 60th birthday. (His idea, not ours. Not ours at all.) In order to support my father through his mid-life crisis we have been training in biking, swimming, and running.
Now let me be clear. I hate running. A lot. I talk to people who say that they used to hate running, but once they force themselves to do it they learn to love it.
I don't believe them. They may have thought they hated to run but they don't know what true hatred is.
The more I run, the more I hate to run. Yes, once a run is finished and my breathing has returned and I've rested for about an hour I can say, "Yeah, my body feels good." Until that point I am miserably trying to breathe while my legs feel like rubber and I can't figure out why in the world I am doing what I am doing. (Please feel free to insert the colorful language that is passing through my mind. I say passing through my mind because, unlike some people who have an amazing ability to carry on in depth conversations about politics, life, and love, I am unable to get a single word out of my mouth because the air from my lungs exhaling takes priority. This might be a good thing considering, as I mentioned, the words that are pounding through my brain with every step.)
But I digress.
So in trying to show my father the respect that he deserves and celebrate his birthday, I am running. The biking is a piece of cake. The swimming, while not a piece of cake, does not make me want to keel over and die after three minutes. It is the running that will kill me.
In order to prepare I am running in a 5K this Saturday with a friend. It is the only time in recent memory that I am wishing for Monday.
Now let me be clear. I hate running. A lot. I talk to people who say that they used to hate running, but once they force themselves to do it they learn to love it.
I don't believe them. They may have thought they hated to run but they don't know what true hatred is.
The more I run, the more I hate to run. Yes, once a run is finished and my breathing has returned and I've rested for about an hour I can say, "Yeah, my body feels good." Until that point I am miserably trying to breathe while my legs feel like rubber and I can't figure out why in the world I am doing what I am doing. (Please feel free to insert the colorful language that is passing through my mind. I say passing through my mind because, unlike some people who have an amazing ability to carry on in depth conversations about politics, life, and love, I am unable to get a single word out of my mouth because the air from my lungs exhaling takes priority. This might be a good thing considering, as I mentioned, the words that are pounding through my brain with every step.)
But I digress.
So in trying to show my father the respect that he deserves and celebrate his birthday, I am running. The biking is a piece of cake. The swimming, while not a piece of cake, does not make me want to keel over and die after three minutes. It is the running that will kill me.
In order to prepare I am running in a 5K this Saturday with a friend. It is the only time in recent memory that I am wishing for Monday.
Monday, April 11, 2011
A Story by Abbie and Savannah
(This story was dictated by Abbie and Savannah tag teaming to their father. There were a few prompted questions such as, "And what happened next?" and only a word or two added. It feels to me a little like a Salvidor Dali painting with princesses.)
Once upon a time there was a Sleeping Beauty and Tiana. They loved each other so much. Their favorite was riding the pony to the castle. The castle was sparkly and pretty. And before they got there, they jumped over a stream. One day, while they were in the woods, they found that they were on the wrong street! Tiana said, "I think we went the wrong path!" Sleeping Beauty, who had been sleeping, she said, "I'm tired. How will we ever go to the castle, I'm sleepy Yawn!"
"I think we weren't even looking at the signs." said Tiana.
Then they suddenly saw some people that were from the castle, appeared, and they looked at them carefully, and they looked like they were their friends. They said, "Stay on the trail." And then they said, "Don't go on the bridge cuz it's about to break."
So Tiana said, "Where is the bridge>"
Prince said, "Broke!"
"Okay, " Said Sleeping Beauty.
"I think we should not....which way is really the bridge?"
"Okay well.. right."
"Okay said Sleeping Beauty, we'll not go right."
And then the way fell off.
"Oh no!" said Tiana and Sleeping Beauty, at the same time.
"We fell off into the river!" And the leaves fell off into the deepness.
"Oh, I think we have a plan. I think we should use a "latter". I can build one out of the branches and leaves," said Tiana, "Because some of it fell into the river, because of the big splash."
"The green tree, is fell over on the couch!" said Cinderella.
"On hey, Cinderella is here!" said Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.
"Oh I also forgot Belle is right behind us, " says Tiana.
"Oh, let's go meet them. I'm excited," says Tiana.
"But what about getting out?" said someone
"Oh I know how, we'll give you a rope!" Said Belle, kindly.
"The leaves fell off the trees, not fell off in the couch."
Suddenly, when Belle got the rope, Cinderella fell in with a big splash. The the three of them were in the water. "Okay, don't go all just go one at a time, then I'll pull you up. If I pulled three up at a time, I would have to pull very hard, then you would slip and dive back into the water. We wouldn't want that to happen no we really don't want that to happen. Really, no."
Then Belle rescued them all up one at a time and they all went to the bath hotel. "We're going to go into a bath thing." said Belle. "Well do we just take a bath?" asked Tiana.
"Well, not really, we um, we don't really swim there," said Belle and Cinderella at the same time. "Why do you just swim there?" asked Sleeping Beauty.
"Um if you want to go in a shower, you can just go into a different room. Also, um you can sometimes swim and play with your friends."
"Something, um the grasses fell off by the grass and the monster by the grass! And the monster just came home by the ghost and by the monster!"
"Scary," said everybody together listening to the words.
"Why is there monsters right here?" asked somebody they didn't know very well.
"Nobody's been one for a very long time."
"Yeah, like for forty years,"said someone raising their hand.
"Yeah," said Sleeping Beauty, trying to sleep.
Before we end the story, we're going to add one more title: "This is a story before the book ends, I have to say something: they got stuck in the water, I'm going to do something you need to listen very carefully: - THE END.
Once upon a time there was a Sleeping Beauty and Tiana. They loved each other so much. Their favorite was riding the pony to the castle. The castle was sparkly and pretty. And before they got there, they jumped over a stream. One day, while they were in the woods, they found that they were on the wrong street! Tiana said, "I think we went the wrong path!" Sleeping Beauty, who had been sleeping, she said, "I'm tired. How will we ever go to the castle, I'm sleepy Yawn!"
"I think we weren't even looking at the signs." said Tiana.
Then they suddenly saw some people that were from the castle, appeared, and they looked at them carefully, and they looked like they were their friends. They said, "Stay on the trail." And then they said, "Don't go on the bridge cuz it's about to break."
So Tiana said, "Where is the bridge>"
Prince said, "Broke!"
"Okay, " Said Sleeping Beauty.
"I think we should not....which way is really the bridge?"
"Okay well.. right."
"Okay said Sleeping Beauty, we'll not go right."
And then the way fell off.
"Oh no!" said Tiana and Sleeping Beauty, at the same time.
"We fell off into the river!" And the leaves fell off into the deepness.
"Oh, I think we have a plan. I think we should use a "latter". I can build one out of the branches and leaves," said Tiana, "Because some of it fell into the river, because of the big splash."
"The green tree, is fell over on the couch!" said Cinderella.
"On hey, Cinderella is here!" said Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.
"Oh I also forgot Belle is right behind us, " says Tiana.
"Oh, let's go meet them. I'm excited," says Tiana.
"But what about getting out?" said someone
"Oh I know how, we'll give you a rope!" Said Belle, kindly.
"The leaves fell off the trees, not fell off in the couch."
Suddenly, when Belle got the rope, Cinderella fell in with a big splash. The the three of them were in the water. "Okay, don't go all just go one at a time, then I'll pull you up. If I pulled three up at a time, I would have to pull very hard, then you would slip and dive back into the water. We wouldn't want that to happen no we really don't want that to happen. Really, no."
Then Belle rescued them all up one at a time and they all went to the bath hotel. "We're going to go into a bath thing." said Belle. "Well do we just take a bath?" asked Tiana.
"Well, not really, we um, we don't really swim there," said Belle and Cinderella at the same time. "Why do you just swim there?" asked Sleeping Beauty.
"Um if you want to go in a shower, you can just go into a different room. Also, um you can sometimes swim and play with your friends."
"Something, um the grasses fell off by the grass and the monster by the grass! And the monster just came home by the ghost and by the monster!"
"Scary," said everybody together listening to the words.
"Why is there monsters right here?" asked somebody they didn't know very well.
"Nobody's been one for a very long time."
"Yeah, like for forty years,"said someone raising their hand.
"Yeah," said Sleeping Beauty, trying to sleep.
Before we end the story, we're going to add one more title: "This is a story before the book ends, I have to say something: they got stuck in the water, I'm going to do something you need to listen very carefully: - THE END.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Random Thoughts Thursday
Today I took my girls with me to the Social Security office. I was amazed at both the time I spent waiting for them to call my number, (30+ minutes) and the exactness of the timing that Savannah used to tell me she had to go to the bathroom (they called my number while we were in the restroom). Thankfully a nice security guard had told them we were in the restroom so rather than starting the process over I just had to wait for one slot.
Lately, on occasion, Savannah has transitioned from being Cinderella in a blue tulle skirt to being Tiana in a purple tulle skirt. I find this so funny because as far as I can remember Tiana never wears purple in the Princess and the Frog.
Yesterday, Abbie told Grandma that the people who would not get into Noah's ark shrunk. Grandma questioned Abbie about this and Abbie, I'm sure somewhat exasperated at having to explain such things to her grandma said, "They shrunk, it is another word for drowned." I don't know where she gets it.
I decided that I am going to start eating healthier. Monday I bought out the produce section at the grocery store so I could have salad for lunches. So far it has been going really well, although I am starting to really embrace the idea that if I eat healthy foods for meals my snacks don't necessarily have to be. The appearance of Girl Scout Cookies (and their rapid disappearance) might have something to do with my reasoning.
I just finished the final book in in the Alan Bradly series that begins with The Sweetness in the Bottom of the Pie. The books are fantastic and a riot to read for anyone with siblings who has ever been 11 and felt misunderstood. Now I need something else...suggestions?
Lately, on occasion, Savannah has transitioned from being Cinderella in a blue tulle skirt to being Tiana in a purple tulle skirt. I find this so funny because as far as I can remember Tiana never wears purple in the Princess and the Frog.
Yesterday, Abbie told Grandma that the people who would not get into Noah's ark shrunk. Grandma questioned Abbie about this and Abbie, I'm sure somewhat exasperated at having to explain such things to her grandma said, "They shrunk, it is another word for drowned." I don't know where she gets it.
I decided that I am going to start eating healthier. Monday I bought out the produce section at the grocery store so I could have salad for lunches. So far it has been going really well, although I am starting to really embrace the idea that if I eat healthy foods for meals my snacks don't necessarily have to be. The appearance of Girl Scout Cookies (and their rapid disappearance) might have something to do with my reasoning.
I just finished the final book in in the Alan Bradly series that begins with The Sweetness in the Bottom of the Pie. The books are fantastic and a riot to read for anyone with siblings who has ever been 11 and felt misunderstood. Now I need something else...suggestions?
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