Been a busy couple of weeks. My mom’s birthday was the 21st – Happy (belated) Birthday Mom! Jim and I went to celebrate her birthday and have some family time. We did a bit of target practice while we were there. Dueling trees are a blast.
The kids and I went down again this past weekend to spend the night. We stopped and wished a Happy Birthday to my BFF Pam’s dad. They had a surprise party for him at a park and so I had to make sure to stop by and give him a hug. I hadn’t seen her parents in ages, so it was fun. We did some letterboxing when we got home, then spent the evening just hanging out with my parents. We did a high speed corn maze on Sunday (because it was warm and there were LOTS of mosquitoes) and then had some ice cream from Zesto before hitting the road to come home.
Lots of miles racked up over the past ten days, and more to come. We are driving back for a homecoming parade on Thursday. My sister’s daughter is on Homecoming Court and Jim and I managed to secure a ‘classy’ ride for her to have for the Homecoming parade. I can’t wait to see her face when she sees the car we are bringing for her! We wanted to do a totally hot sports car – but apparently there are some ‘rules’ about having their legs right behind the seats and unfortunately – you just can’t do that in a Ferrari. So we got a Bentley instead. SWEET!
I’ll post pictures after the parade on Thursday. Jim will be driving and my dad is riding with him. It’s my dad’s 50th class reunion – and I think he will have more fun in the car than I would. Hard to believe – my dad’s 50th reunion, my sister’s 25th and my 20th – all in the same year. The kids and I will have fun watching the parade and yelling when they drive by and taking LOTS of pictures. Happy Homecoming! Go Jays!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
interesting morning
I’m sitting here this morning, watching the middle school kids wait outside for the bus. There is a group of four of them (five when Alicia is here) that get on at our stop. Apparently it isn’t ok to speak to each other in the morning, even though they all know each other. They also must stand approximately ten paces apart. I never knew four kids could take up so much room. And Caleb cracks me up – the door to the bus opens on our side of the street, but he crosses to wait with the other kids (not speaking to anyone) and then has to cross back over when the bus gets here. Every time he does it – I have this mental image of lemmings jumping off a cliff.
Conner’s window screamed for help this morning. She woke up early and was entertaining the cat by letting him look out the window. The cat was frustrated because the window was closed and he really wanted to sit on the ledge. It was also a little warm in her room, so I was trying to open the window. She has a folding butterfly chair that sits in way, so I was reaching over the chair and trying to tug up on the window at the same time. It took a few tugs, but I finally got the window open enough for the cat. While I was tugging it open, the window made some squeaking noises. To Conner’s ears – it wasn’t squeaking, it was screaming for help. I guess it didn’t want to be opened.
All in all, it’s been an interesting morning. The insane cat has had his fill of looking out the window, now he is searching for a cold spot to lie down. Did I mention that my cat doesn’t like soft, warm, cozy places? He would rather stretch out on top of the air conditioning vent, or the marble in front of the fireplace. I’m telling you – there is just something WRONG with him. I think it has something to do with the fact that he has to live with me, and we all know that I’m just a little twisted. Maybe it rubbed off on him.
Conner’s window screamed for help this morning. She woke up early and was entertaining the cat by letting him look out the window. The cat was frustrated because the window was closed and he really wanted to sit on the ledge. It was also a little warm in her room, so I was trying to open the window. She has a folding butterfly chair that sits in way, so I was reaching over the chair and trying to tug up on the window at the same time. It took a few tugs, but I finally got the window open enough for the cat. While I was tugging it open, the window made some squeaking noises. To Conner’s ears – it wasn’t squeaking, it was screaming for help. I guess it didn’t want to be opened.
All in all, it’s been an interesting morning. The insane cat has had his fill of looking out the window, now he is searching for a cold spot to lie down. Did I mention that my cat doesn’t like soft, warm, cozy places? He would rather stretch out on top of the air conditioning vent, or the marble in front of the fireplace. I’m telling you – there is just something WRONG with him. I think it has something to do with the fact that he has to live with me, and we all know that I’m just a little twisted. Maybe it rubbed off on him.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Animal weirdness and kid funnies
My cat is insane. Or stupid. Or maybe both. This morning I was hanging out with Caleb on the couch, trying to wake up. We have a couch with built in recliners (and it’s amazingly, incredibly comfortable) and I put the foot thingy up so we could stretch out. Of course, the moment the foot thingy went up, the cat darted over and had to investigate. He crawled under the couch and I didn’t think too much about it.
Caleb got up to brush his teeth and I grabbed a blanket to cover up my feet. I could feel these thumps and thuds under the couch. I thought the cat had found a toy and was playing with it. Caleb came back and looked under the couch – and realized the cat was stuck.
Seriously.
I guess the foot thingy had un-reclined just enough to trap him on one side. I laughed, then I let him out. He wasn’t very happy about being stuck, but as soon as he was out – he tried to crawl back in! Like I said – insane, stupid, or maybe both.
On a completely different topic – Conner had a bubble bath tonight. I surprised her and lit candles around the bath tub just for fun. After we got her hair washed, she put on an ‘imitation’ show for me. I left the bathroom and when I came back – she spun around in the tub, had bubbles around her mouth and chin, and said “I’m Santa!” and she burst into song.
But wait! There’s more! For her second ‘imitation’ – she removed the beard and put bubbles on the tip of her nose. Can you guess who she was? Her song gave it away – Rudolph the ‘white’ nosed reindeer. Her last ‘imitation’ was the best – she splashed everything off and became CONNER! I can’t wait for her next ‘imitation show.’ Who knows what she will come up with next!
And to wrap it up – Caleb wanted me to let everyone know that on September 11 – he made his babysitter call my office so he could talk to me. He was really upset and crying because he thought I was working in one of the buildings that got hit by an airplane. Geography wasn’t important to a five year old – he just thought his mom might be hurt. Awwwwwww. He’s always been thoughtful that way, but he was laughing right along with me this morning when the cat got stuck.
Now I have to go watch this bizarre show on Animal Planet. I didn’t catch the name but it has people on it who are using surgery, tattoos, and costumes to transform themselves into ‘animals.’ And I thought I had issues – those people make me look normal!
Caleb got up to brush his teeth and I grabbed a blanket to cover up my feet. I could feel these thumps and thuds under the couch. I thought the cat had found a toy and was playing with it. Caleb came back and looked under the couch – and realized the cat was stuck.
Seriously.
I guess the foot thingy had un-reclined just enough to trap him on one side. I laughed, then I let him out. He wasn’t very happy about being stuck, but as soon as he was out – he tried to crawl back in! Like I said – insane, stupid, or maybe both.
On a completely different topic – Conner had a bubble bath tonight. I surprised her and lit candles around the bath tub just for fun. After we got her hair washed, she put on an ‘imitation’ show for me. I left the bathroom and when I came back – she spun around in the tub, had bubbles around her mouth and chin, and said “I’m Santa!” and she burst into song.
But wait! There’s more! For her second ‘imitation’ – she removed the beard and put bubbles on the tip of her nose. Can you guess who she was? Her song gave it away – Rudolph the ‘white’ nosed reindeer. Her last ‘imitation’ was the best – she splashed everything off and became CONNER! I can’t wait for her next ‘imitation show.’ Who knows what she will come up with next!
And to wrap it up – Caleb wanted me to let everyone know that on September 11 – he made his babysitter call my office so he could talk to me. He was really upset and crying because he thought I was working in one of the buildings that got hit by an airplane. Geography wasn’t important to a five year old – he just thought his mom might be hurt. Awwwwwww. He’s always been thoughtful that way, but he was laughing right along with me this morning when the cat got stuck.
Now I have to go watch this bizarre show on Animal Planet. I didn’t catch the name but it has people on it who are using surgery, tattoos, and costumes to transform themselves into ‘animals.’ And I thought I had issues – those people make me look normal!
Monday, September 15, 2008
OFF switch for my brain
Listen. Listen very carefully. Do you hear that? It’s the sound of silence. Blessed silence. The kids are tucked into bed. Jim is out playing softball, hopefully winning AND avoiding mud at the same time. It’s ten o’clock and my house is comfortably quiet. I can actually hear the refrigerator humming if I listen carefully.
I love it when it’s quiet. I don’t even mind going on road trips by myself – because then I don’t have to listen to the radio, or engage in conversation – I can let my mind be quiet and simply appreciate the scenery as it flashes by. The moments when my brain slows down are few and far between, so I’ve learned to really stop and appreciate the times when it takes a break.
Ever have one of those nights where your brain just won’t turn off? When you have lyrics from a song stuck in your head, or your mind is busily making lists of the things you need to do, or you can’t even count to 25 because you get distracted with another thought? Does your brain ever feel like that squirrel on the “Over the Hedge” movie – the squirrel named Hammy? Remember when he ingests some caffeine and starts talking and going bezerk? Yeah – that is my brain on a regular basis. I can be completely exhausted, physically and mentally wiped out – and my brain is still plugged in, zooming along, and not stopping for anything.
I’m just glad that my sister shares the problem with me. I don’t know how many times I’ve gotten on the computer in the middle of the night because I thought of something and she immediately responds to my email. Then we have to start laughing (via email) and it goes downhill into goofiness from there. Sisters are the best.
Laugh of the day – the look on Jim’s face when he saw the floor in my office. I was cleaning out old papers and organizing files, but it looked like complete chaos and there was no place for him to step through. But hey – I knew what everything was and had a plan! The floor is clean now, files are organized and things are *mostly* put away.
Actually – the mess of stuff on the floor reminded me of my BFF Pam. Her room was always a disaster zone when we were growing up. I loved it. Now I’ve got two kids at opposite extremes – Caleb likes things neat and Conner likes things messy. And me – I just want my brain to shut-up so I can go to bed.
I love it when it’s quiet. I don’t even mind going on road trips by myself – because then I don’t have to listen to the radio, or engage in conversation – I can let my mind be quiet and simply appreciate the scenery as it flashes by. The moments when my brain slows down are few and far between, so I’ve learned to really stop and appreciate the times when it takes a break.
Ever have one of those nights where your brain just won’t turn off? When you have lyrics from a song stuck in your head, or your mind is busily making lists of the things you need to do, or you can’t even count to 25 because you get distracted with another thought? Does your brain ever feel like that squirrel on the “Over the Hedge” movie – the squirrel named Hammy? Remember when he ingests some caffeine and starts talking and going bezerk? Yeah – that is my brain on a regular basis. I can be completely exhausted, physically and mentally wiped out – and my brain is still plugged in, zooming along, and not stopping for anything.
I’m just glad that my sister shares the problem with me. I don’t know how many times I’ve gotten on the computer in the middle of the night because I thought of something and she immediately responds to my email. Then we have to start laughing (via email) and it goes downhill into goofiness from there. Sisters are the best.
Laugh of the day – the look on Jim’s face when he saw the floor in my office. I was cleaning out old papers and organizing files, but it looked like complete chaos and there was no place for him to step through. But hey – I knew what everything was and had a plan! The floor is clean now, files are organized and things are *mostly* put away.
Actually – the mess of stuff on the floor reminded me of my BFF Pam. Her room was always a disaster zone when we were growing up. I loved it. Now I’ve got two kids at opposite extremes – Caleb likes things neat and Conner likes things messy. And me – I just want my brain to shut-up so I can go to bed.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Where were you?
‘An airplane just flew into the World Trade Center – a BIG airplane.’
I was working in the office and my cell phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID and saw the babysitter’s number. My immediate response was ‘Great – one of the kids must be sick.’ I answered the phone and heard her asking in a strained voice if I was watching TV or listening to the news.
I thought she was over-reacting. Surely it couldn’t be anything too serious. I got on the internet and pulled up Foxnews.com and saw a Breaking News headline – but no details. Like so many others, my initials thoughts were ‘What a tragedy. Wonder how that could happen.’
I talked to some co-workers, who were also blissfully unaware, and we rolled the tv from the conference room into the office area and turned on the news.
Just in time to see the second Tower get hit.
My phone rang again. The babysitter asked if I was watching now. I mumbled some sort of answer and stayed on the phone – shocked into silence – but needing some type of connection to another soul.
From so many miles away, we stood as mute witnesses to the devastation and destruction of the collapsing towers. We watched the coverage of the attack on the Pentagon. We heard of the flight that crashed and of the passengers’ refusal to passively watch their nation under attack.
We worried.
We prayed.
We cried.
I left work early that day. I picked up my kids and felt like never letting them go again.
Today, they went to school in red, white, and blue. We won’t forget.
In the days following September 11, 2001, we reached out across the nation and grieved for the loss of so many lives. We also grieved as we lost our naïve sense of safety and realized that terrorists could and would strike us at home. We put aside our differences for a short while and let the entire world know that we were Americans. Skin color, religious preference, political views, sexual orientation, social status – all the things that divide our country – became immaterial as we helped each other cope with loss and trauma.
All the issues that divide our country are now back on the table, with venom and discord as side dishes. This nation is a melting pot with opinions of every creed and color. Yet let it be known that even as we argue amongst ourselves – we will stand together when attacked. We can pick on each other, but woe to the outsider who threatens us. We are still Americans, and as such, we are ALL family.
Seven years ago today – where were you?
I was working in the office and my cell phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID and saw the babysitter’s number. My immediate response was ‘Great – one of the kids must be sick.’ I answered the phone and heard her asking in a strained voice if I was watching TV or listening to the news.
I thought she was over-reacting. Surely it couldn’t be anything too serious. I got on the internet and pulled up Foxnews.com and saw a Breaking News headline – but no details. Like so many others, my initials thoughts were ‘What a tragedy. Wonder how that could happen.’
I talked to some co-workers, who were also blissfully unaware, and we rolled the tv from the conference room into the office area and turned on the news.
Just in time to see the second Tower get hit.
My phone rang again. The babysitter asked if I was watching now. I mumbled some sort of answer and stayed on the phone – shocked into silence – but needing some type of connection to another soul.
From so many miles away, we stood as mute witnesses to the devastation and destruction of the collapsing towers. We watched the coverage of the attack on the Pentagon. We heard of the flight that crashed and of the passengers’ refusal to passively watch their nation under attack.
We worried.
We prayed.
We cried.
I left work early that day. I picked up my kids and felt like never letting them go again.
Today, they went to school in red, white, and blue. We won’t forget.
In the days following September 11, 2001, we reached out across the nation and grieved for the loss of so many lives. We also grieved as we lost our naïve sense of safety and realized that terrorists could and would strike us at home. We put aside our differences for a short while and let the entire world know that we were Americans. Skin color, religious preference, political views, sexual orientation, social status – all the things that divide our country – became immaterial as we helped each other cope with loss and trauma.
All the issues that divide our country are now back on the table, with venom and discord as side dishes. This nation is a melting pot with opinions of every creed and color. Yet let it be known that even as we argue amongst ourselves – we will stand together when attacked. We can pick on each other, but woe to the outsider who threatens us. We are still Americans, and as such, we are ALL family.
Seven years ago today – where were you?
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Party lines, cell phones and pirates
Does anyone (besides me) remember party-line telephones? When you shared telephone service with several of your neighbors so you had to take turns using the phone? When I was growing up we had a party line phone that included my grandma (she lived next door) and a few other neighbors. We knew when grandma got on the phone that it was going to be tied up for awhile. It wasn’t that she was overly talkative, but she had friends that were.
One of our party line neighbors had a bad habit of leaving the phone off the hook. I guess they didn’t want to be bothered with calls. But that meant no one else on the system could make or receive calls either. In some ways, a party line system was a hassle because you had to wait your turn to use the phone. If you interrupted someone else’s call, you risked the wrath of your neighbors. It also meant that everyone knew your business because they could eavesdrop on your calls and you wouldn’t know. Unless they were heavy breathers or something.
Sometimes I think we’ve almost resorted back to party line systems. I can’t count the number of times that I have been in a public restroom (Target, Wal-mart, McDonalds, etc.) and someone is carrying on a conversation on their cell phone in the next stall over. I’ve gotten to listen in on everything from who’s doing who to where the party is to what lie will I tell the parents this weekend.
It really amazes me that people will talk on a cell phone while in a restroom. One of these days I am going to just say “Hey – why don’t you put that on speaker because I know your friend really wants to listen to me PEE!”
It’s like the old party line system – except now it’s not just your neighbors who know your business. Milly and Silly and their three girlfriends who were shopping at the mall and were all on their phones in the restroom are sharing their business with you, while you pee – whether you like it or not.
Geez people – if you are in a public restroom – hang up the dang phone. Some things just don’t need to be shared.
On a totally different subject – I heard about a Pirate festival that will be happening in Wentzville over the next three weekends. It’s sorta tied in with the whole Renaissance Festival concept, except focused on pirates instead of the Middle Ages. Sounds like fun and I think the kids will get a kick out of it. Here’s a link if you are interested - Pirate Festival.
One of our party line neighbors had a bad habit of leaving the phone off the hook. I guess they didn’t want to be bothered with calls. But that meant no one else on the system could make or receive calls either. In some ways, a party line system was a hassle because you had to wait your turn to use the phone. If you interrupted someone else’s call, you risked the wrath of your neighbors. It also meant that everyone knew your business because they could eavesdrop on your calls and you wouldn’t know. Unless they were heavy breathers or something.
Sometimes I think we’ve almost resorted back to party line systems. I can’t count the number of times that I have been in a public restroom (Target, Wal-mart, McDonalds, etc.) and someone is carrying on a conversation on their cell phone in the next stall over. I’ve gotten to listen in on everything from who’s doing who to where the party is to what lie will I tell the parents this weekend.
It really amazes me that people will talk on a cell phone while in a restroom. One of these days I am going to just say “Hey – why don’t you put that on speaker because I know your friend really wants to listen to me PEE!”
It’s like the old party line system – except now it’s not just your neighbors who know your business. Milly and Silly and their three girlfriends who were shopping at the mall and were all on their phones in the restroom are sharing their business with you, while you pee – whether you like it or not.
Geez people – if you are in a public restroom – hang up the dang phone. Some things just don’t need to be shared.
On a totally different subject – I heard about a Pirate festival that will be happening in Wentzville over the next three weekends. It’s sorta tied in with the whole Renaissance Festival concept, except focused on pirates instead of the Middle Ages. Sounds like fun and I think the kids will get a kick out of it. Here’s a link if you are interested - Pirate Festival.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Cookies and BFFs
Conner came home last week and was bursting with the news that she got elected to be one of her class's student council representatives. She was excited, thrilled, and bouncing off the walls. Then she calmed down enough to tell me that there were only two kids (including herself) that wanted to do it, so she was going to get 'elected' no matter what. I had to laugh. We celebrated by making home-made cookies. Seriously. I didn't cheat and do the break-apart-and-bake kind. I dug out the recipes and we made sugar cookies.
I think everyone has favorites memories of making cookies - whether it be with parents, grandparents, other family, or friends. I still grin when I remember all the times my BFF Pam and I made cookies at midnight at her house. We would make the cookie dough, eat part of it, bake part of it - then leave the whole mess in the kitchen because we fell asleep on the couch. I'm still surprised her mom didn't kill us.
I had lunch with another BFF (Sandi) from school and we spent some time catching up. (Her mom always made chocolate gravy for breakfast when I spent the night.) Sandi has had four kids and looks amazing! Her youngest is just under a year old and I got to hold her! At least until she realized that I wasn't mom and then she was done with me. I'm not having any more babies myself - but I'll take every opportunity to hold one.
I'm trying to track down another BFF - Laura - because I heard some news about her son and want to give her a hug.
Conner came home with one other bit of 'news' last week. She found out a boy 'likes' her and she 'likes' him too. She wanted to call him, but we talked her out of it. I got all old-fashioned and insisted that he should call her first. (yeah, I know that was lame, but it was all I could come up with at the time.) I'm sooooo not ready for this. Ummm - someone just get me some Prozac now ok?
I think everyone has favorites memories of making cookies - whether it be with parents, grandparents, other family, or friends. I still grin when I remember all the times my BFF Pam and I made cookies at midnight at her house. We would make the cookie dough, eat part of it, bake part of it - then leave the whole mess in the kitchen because we fell asleep on the couch. I'm still surprised her mom didn't kill us.
I had lunch with another BFF (Sandi) from school and we spent some time catching up. (Her mom always made chocolate gravy for breakfast when I spent the night.) Sandi has had four kids and looks amazing! Her youngest is just under a year old and I got to hold her! At least until she realized that I wasn't mom and then she was done with me. I'm not having any more babies myself - but I'll take every opportunity to hold one.
I'm trying to track down another BFF - Laura - because I heard some news about her son and want to give her a hug.
Conner came home with one other bit of 'news' last week. She found out a boy 'likes' her and she 'likes' him too. She wanted to call him, but we talked her out of it. I got all old-fashioned and insisted that he should call her first. (yeah, I know that was lame, but it was all I could come up with at the time.) I'm sooooo not ready for this. Ummm - someone just get me some Prozac now ok?
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Go Away Gustav
It's raining, it's pouring...
Gustav has made landfall and migrated to Missouri. It's dreary and rainy and I want to go back to bed. My allergies decided to have a party last night and kicked it off with a fit of sneezing at about 1 a.m. I went to toss and turn on the couch so I wouldn't keep Jim awake with my sneezing and sniffling. I finally made it back to bed (mostly sniffle free) at 5:50 this morning. My alarm went off at 6:30. I REALLY want to go back to bed.
Say a quick prayer for my neice this morning. She's having hip surgery. Hope all goes well and she will be ready for track season by spring.
Conner wants to run for student council for her third grade class. I'm surprised and impressed. I helped write a mini-speech for her last night and she gets to read it today. She is still struggling with homework, but the extra time I'm spending with her seems to be making a difference so we'll keep it up.
And yeah - more time on homework equals less time for me to write. NOW you know why I've been so bad about updates! Between all the roadtrips and homework - it's been busy.
Gustav has made landfall and migrated to Missouri. It's dreary and rainy and I want to go back to bed. My allergies decided to have a party last night and kicked it off with a fit of sneezing at about 1 a.m. I went to toss and turn on the couch so I wouldn't keep Jim awake with my sneezing and sniffling. I finally made it back to bed (mostly sniffle free) at 5:50 this morning. My alarm went off at 6:30. I REALLY want to go back to bed.
Say a quick prayer for my neice this morning. She's having hip surgery. Hope all goes well and she will be ready for track season by spring.
Conner wants to run for student council for her third grade class. I'm surprised and impressed. I helped write a mini-speech for her last night and she gets to read it today. She is still struggling with homework, but the extra time I'm spending with her seems to be making a difference so we'll keep it up.
And yeah - more time on homework equals less time for me to write. NOW you know why I've been so bad about updates! Between all the roadtrips and homework - it's been busy.
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