Holy cow, was it really Tuesday when I blogged last? Sheesh.
Things have been craaa-zy.
Thursday we went out to Mom's for a get-together with Dad's side of the family. My Aunt Kathy and Aunt Barb were out here from Iowa and NY, respectively. It was really good to see them... they are lots of fun! Grandma Betty was there (looking chipper) and Aunt Wendy and her great kids as well. Also in attendance was my cousin Charlie and his lovely girlfriend (she had wondrous red hair. I've always wanted red hair). We had good food and good times. We were there from about 2 - 8. The kids were just dead when we got home. We had to pour them into their bath and they slept like rocks.
Before we had gone to my Mom's, we stopped at the library to drop off/pick up books. I had Gwen in the stroller and Ethan tagging along. We were at the hold shelf looking for my book and I turned for 2 seconds to grab the book. When I turned back, Ethan was gone! I assumed he'd gone to the kid area, but no, he wasn't there. I started panicking slightly, then I heard this "Mama Mama Mama!" cry. I followed it to the door, where I saw he'd gone all the way out into the foyer and was turning around and around calling me. Poor guy :(
After that, I felt he deserved some play time, so we hung out in the kids section and played with toys and a cute little boy named Allen (9 months). Allen was exactly Gwens size. That girl is just an elf compared to most children. Gwen was fascinated by his bald head and kept putting her hands on it and giggling. The little boy was very good natured and laughed along with it. Its funny what you notice... Allen was wearing cloth diapers and therefore that made me more likely to believe that the Mom was breastfeeding and then I started wondering, "Hmmm, I wonder if I know this lady from the breastfeeding boards", but then I had to go before I could really talk to her as Ethan started throwing a fit.
Friday Mom came over, delivered some Costco items to me and babysat while I did some grocery shopping. I had to pick up some migraine meds (Maxalt) and was surprised that a 30 tablet supply cost $75! Yipes. However, these are only taken when I have a bad migraine, so hopefully they'll last me a year or more.
Today, well today, has been the busiest by far.
It started quite awfully by waking up and finding that Toby had diarrhea all over our floor and rug. So at 6am, I was cleaning up poop and using my carpet cleaner. After the kids went down for nap, J and I did some work on the yard... filling in holes, trying to make the gate area escape-proof, etc. While we were doing this, the dogs had to be inside and Toby had another occurrence. Ugh. This time there was lots on the carpet. So, I spent another hour cleaning the floors and carpet cleaning. The smell was dreadful.
Aaron came at 11 and mowed, weedwhacked, scooped and helped Jason fix the dog kennel. It started raining while they were working on the kennel and the guys (and Ethan who was helping) got soaked! They also tracked in lot o' mud.
While they were doing that, I was watching the kids and packing up items. I packed 10 boxes of toys, books, dvds, video game stuff and other assorted from the first room. My goal is to do 5-10 boxes a day until we're at a bare minimum for what we need.
Jason took Aaron home and I put the kids to nap and then swept, mopped and did a load of dishes. At least the house is fairly clean.
We've called Becki's friend to set a time for him to come out and do the trim on the floors, and we'll be getting a quote for someone to fix the bathroom floor. We have other various tasks that need to be done before we go on the market, but for me, I will feel a lot better when most the extra stuff is packed up and we're ready to move. It feels like its happening so fast, but J and I tend to put things off and we decided that it just needed to be done. And before it got hot out.
Anyway, no more typing for me. I want to go enjoy the couple hours of freedom and relaxation I have.
Au revoir mes amis!
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Today, wee Gwennie-pooh is 1! Wow.
A look back...
I've uploaded some new video. Check it out by clicking on the link to the right.
Well, I worked my tooshie off today getting the house cleaned and the agent had to reschedule till tomorrow. Oh well, at least it will mean less work tomorrow.
Something gave me a dreadful headache. It was like a drill boring into my left temple. I could have just cried and cried from the agony. Luckily, I was able to fall asleep while the kids took their second nap and when I woke up, blessedly, it was gone.
A look back...
I've uploaded some new video. Check it out by clicking on the link to the right.
Well, I worked my tooshie off today getting the house cleaned and the agent had to reschedule till tomorrow. Oh well, at least it will mean less work tomorrow.
Something gave me a dreadful headache. It was like a drill boring into my left temple. I could have just cried and cried from the agony. Luckily, I was able to fall asleep while the kids took their second nap and when I woke up, blessedly, it was gone.
Monday, April 24, 2006
It has begun.
Summer is on its way, and we are filled with dread and loathing.
Today it was warm, but because our house holds heat in a way that is nearly unearthly, it was broiling. I refused to bring out my fans in April because surely nature is not such a cruel mistress that she would curse us with high temps for more than an occasional day this early in the year.
We must, we must be out of this house this year, preferably before summer, or I will go crazy!
Anyway, we didn't do much today. Everyone is feeling much improved, but still finishing up on the colds. After nap, we walked the 1-mile route around the neighborhood. It was nice to be exercising again.
Tomorrow a real estate agent is coming to meet with us to talk various things. This means that I must get the house, or at least the main viewable areas, clean. Not looking forward to it, but it must be done and the best way to motivate me is the horror that someone other than my closest family members (i.e. Mom or siblings) will see how messy I let things get and think badly of me. I inherited this "clean for guests" gene from my Mother. Despite how us kids hated it when Mom would go into one of her flurries before guests arrived, and no matter how we swore we'd never be that way... well, we ARE that way. At least Becki and I are and its just a matter of time before the others fall to it as well :)
Tomorrow is also, *sniff* Gwennies first birthday. J and I were thinking back... I can remember exactly what I was doing the day before she was born, what I was wearing, what I was thinking. It doesn't seem like that long ago, and yet it feels like a lifetime ago.
Her birthday will also be a big personal milestone for me... it will mean that I'm officially an "extended nurser", meaning I'm nursing a child older than 1 year. I have no plans of stopping breastfeeding and if all goes well, Gwen will self-wean at whatever time she is physically and emotionally ready. I'm proud to have made it this far, and wish I could have done the same with Ethan.
Summer is on its way, and we are filled with dread and loathing.
Today it was warm, but because our house holds heat in a way that is nearly unearthly, it was broiling. I refused to bring out my fans in April because surely nature is not such a cruel mistress that she would curse us with high temps for more than an occasional day this early in the year.
We must, we must be out of this house this year, preferably before summer, or I will go crazy!
Anyway, we didn't do much today. Everyone is feeling much improved, but still finishing up on the colds. After nap, we walked the 1-mile route around the neighborhood. It was nice to be exercising again.
Tomorrow a real estate agent is coming to meet with us to talk various things. This means that I must get the house, or at least the main viewable areas, clean. Not looking forward to it, but it must be done and the best way to motivate me is the horror that someone other than my closest family members (i.e. Mom or siblings) will see how messy I let things get and think badly of me. I inherited this "clean for guests" gene from my Mother. Despite how us kids hated it when Mom would go into one of her flurries before guests arrived, and no matter how we swore we'd never be that way... well, we ARE that way. At least Becki and I are and its just a matter of time before the others fall to it as well :)
Tomorrow is also, *sniff* Gwennies first birthday. J and I were thinking back... I can remember exactly what I was doing the day before she was born, what I was wearing, what I was thinking. It doesn't seem like that long ago, and yet it feels like a lifetime ago.
Her birthday will also be a big personal milestone for me... it will mean that I'm officially an "extended nurser", meaning I'm nursing a child older than 1 year. I have no plans of stopping breastfeeding and if all goes well, Gwen will self-wean at whatever time she is physically and emotionally ready. I'm proud to have made it this far, and wish I could have done the same with Ethan.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
I took some very cute pictures of Gwen today...
(blowing a kiss)
Today the kids and I are feeling a bit better. Still sickly, but on the mend. Jason seems to be fighting the cold fairly well. He has some symptoms, but isn't suffering as badly as we did.
The day was sunny and warmish. I wish our summers could be like this. 67, cool breeze. Poifect.
The kids and J played outside while I cleaned out my car and vacuumed it. Looks SO much better.
I haven't mentioned it before, but Gwen can say all sorts of words. Remote, Tilli, bottle, dog, and many others. Ethans vocabulary too, has been exploding. Just tonight we were watching The Simpsons and during the opening credits Ethan said, "Doh" right when Homer does. Jason and I couldn't believe it! Jason is not so thrilled with another thing Ethan has picked up. I call Jason "J" quite often. Well, Ethan has started to call him "J" as well, especially when he wants to get attention. It makes me giggle, but Jason hates it :)
(blowing a kiss)
Today the kids and I are feeling a bit better. Still sickly, but on the mend. Jason seems to be fighting the cold fairly well. He has some symptoms, but isn't suffering as badly as we did.
The day was sunny and warmish. I wish our summers could be like this. 67, cool breeze. Poifect.
The kids and J played outside while I cleaned out my car and vacuumed it. Looks SO much better.
I haven't mentioned it before, but Gwen can say all sorts of words. Remote, Tilli, bottle, dog, and many others. Ethans vocabulary too, has been exploding. Just tonight we were watching The Simpsons and during the opening credits Ethan said, "Doh" right when Homer does. Jason and I couldn't believe it! Jason is not so thrilled with another thing Ethan has picked up. I call Jason "J" quite often. Well, Ethan has started to call him "J" as well, especially when he wants to get attention. It makes me giggle, but Jason hates it :)
Saturday, April 22, 2006
I've just heard about a woman who was told to leave a Fred Meyer in Oregon because 3 people found her breastfeeding her infant "indecent".
You can read the whole story here, on her blog, Reluctant Lactivist.
You can also see what the mother is asking Fred Meyer to do and how to contact them here.
I sent them a nice letter since I shop there a ton and have also breastfed in their stores. Maybe we'll have to do a nurse-in, hmm?
We went to a park today and the kids had a great time. Besides that, we didn't do much. We're all still fighting with the colds, but I think the kids and I are starting to come out of it just a bit.
You can read the whole story here, on her blog, Reluctant Lactivist.
You can also see what the mother is asking Fred Meyer to do and how to contact them here.
I sent them a nice letter since I shop there a ton and have also breastfed in their stores. Maybe we'll have to do a nurse-in, hmm?
We went to a park today and the kids had a great time. Besides that, we didn't do much. We're all still fighting with the colds, but I think the kids and I are starting to come out of it just a bit.
Well, we are all sick now, minus Jason who so far has been able to avoid it. He's getting the sniffles though, so it may not be long for him. The kids are miserable, and therefore we are miserable. Fun!
We don't have much planned this weekend. In fact, we have nothing planned which is rather nice. The last two weekends have been very busy and we just need some down time.
Already this morning I have cleaned up the house, swept, mopped and done some dishes. I'm going to start my dinner too (Beef braised in Barolo) so that I don't have to worry about it later in the day when everyone feels worse and tired. That work just about took everything out of me. This cold is settled in the chest, so its hard to breathe and I'm coughing a lot. Urg. The only two things I have left to accomplish this weekend is laundry wrangling and cleaning out my car, which, as was so nicely pointed out by my Mother and Uncle Shawn, smells like rotten food and dog. So yeah, its time to clean it out :D
Speaking of my Uncle Shawn, we saw him on Thursday. He was down here to pick up a puppy, then will be driving back up to Alaska. Good to seem him, as always. I missed Jenny though! His pup is an adorable little Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Shadow. Oh, she was the cutest thing EVER. I have puppy envy of the worst kind. Cannot wait until my parents get a new puppy so that I may have my puppy fix with none of the puppy troubles. Jason has forbidden me to even think about another dog and he's completely correct. But ooooooohhh, they are so indescribably adorable.
Watched two movies... Fun with Dick and Jane (with Jim Carey, twas funny) and Children of Heaven (an Iranian film, cute as well).
I'm becoming rather addicted to Netflix. We are finishing up on our second week of membership and I've seen something like 5 or 6 movies. Doesn't hurt that there is generally a one day turnaround, so there is always something in mail.
The weather looks nice today, so perhaps we'll go to the park, even with sick kidlets.
We don't have much planned this weekend. In fact, we have nothing planned which is rather nice. The last two weekends have been very busy and we just need some down time.
Already this morning I have cleaned up the house, swept, mopped and done some dishes. I'm going to start my dinner too (Beef braised in Barolo) so that I don't have to worry about it later in the day when everyone feels worse and tired. That work just about took everything out of me. This cold is settled in the chest, so its hard to breathe and I'm coughing a lot. Urg. The only two things I have left to accomplish this weekend is laundry wrangling and cleaning out my car, which, as was so nicely pointed out by my Mother and Uncle Shawn, smells like rotten food and dog. So yeah, its time to clean it out :D
Speaking of my Uncle Shawn, we saw him on Thursday. He was down here to pick up a puppy, then will be driving back up to Alaska. Good to seem him, as always. I missed Jenny though! His pup is an adorable little Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Shadow. Oh, she was the cutest thing EVER. I have puppy envy of the worst kind. Cannot wait until my parents get a new puppy so that I may have my puppy fix with none of the puppy troubles. Jason has forbidden me to even think about another dog and he's completely correct. But ooooooohhh, they are so indescribably adorable.
Watched two movies... Fun with Dick and Jane (with Jim Carey, twas funny) and Children of Heaven (an Iranian film, cute as well).
I'm becoming rather addicted to Netflix. We are finishing up on our second week of membership and I've seen something like 5 or 6 movies. Doesn't hurt that there is generally a one day turnaround, so there is always something in mail.
The weather looks nice today, so perhaps we'll go to the park, even with sick kidlets.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
I'm sick. Ick. Very sore throat, watery eyes, runny nose, cough, congested head. Oh WHEN will Jason and I get out of this physical ailment funk?
I remembered last night that there were some things I wanted to blog about. Excuse the randomness of the following items, but I have to get it out there before I forget again.
For my female readers, I would like to recommend two items (men, you may not want to click on the first link. Its for "girl" stuff:
I love this thing and its a real money saver.
As many of you know, I'm cursed with very white skin (though not as white as my sister Michelle, who practically glows in the dark). I've always hated wearing shorts or skirts because I'm SO white. I heard about this stuff and its awesome. Yes, its basically makeup for your legs, but it makes them look so good.
Another recommendation, this time for a movie. Chocolat. Its really good and I'm so glad I saw it.
Ethan's cutest word right now is "sure". He says it to almost any question you ask him. He says it like, "shoo". Oh, you just have to hear him. Adorable.
Also, Grandpa (otherwise known as Poppa). Ethan is still enchanted with that drawing you made on his arm at Easter. Every time he looks at it, he says, "Poppa! Silly!". I even caught him saying it on video. I'll upload that in the next day or so.
So I had yet another knitting disaster. This toddler poncho will be the death of me. I was using a pattern I got from a friend and it was coming together perfectly. Except when it came time to make the neck opening something didn't go right. The opening was all on one side instead of in the middle and my needles got all strangely tangled. I appealed for help and found out that the pattern was incorrectly copied to me. All that work and I had to start over. Will I ever complete this darn thing? Heavens.
I remembered last night that there were some things I wanted to blog about. Excuse the randomness of the following items, but I have to get it out there before I forget again.
For my female readers, I would like to recommend two items (men, you may not want to click on the first link. Its for "girl" stuff:
I love this thing and its a real money saver.
As many of you know, I'm cursed with very white skin (though not as white as my sister Michelle, who practically glows in the dark). I've always hated wearing shorts or skirts because I'm SO white. I heard about this stuff and its awesome. Yes, its basically makeup for your legs, but it makes them look so good.
Another recommendation, this time for a movie. Chocolat. Its really good and I'm so glad I saw it.
Ethan's cutest word right now is "sure". He says it to almost any question you ask him. He says it like, "shoo". Oh, you just have to hear him. Adorable.
Also, Grandpa (otherwise known as Poppa). Ethan is still enchanted with that drawing you made on his arm at Easter. Every time he looks at it, he says, "Poppa! Silly!". I even caught him saying it on video. I'll upload that in the next day or so.
So I had yet another knitting disaster. This toddler poncho will be the death of me. I was using a pattern I got from a friend and it was coming together perfectly. Except when it came time to make the neck opening something didn't go right. The opening was all on one side instead of in the middle and my needles got all strangely tangled. I appealed for help and found out that the pattern was incorrectly copied to me. All that work and I had to start over. Will I ever complete this darn thing? Heavens.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
So much to write about, so little energy to share it.
Easter was fun... The kids had a blast finding eggs and socializing with family. We attended church in the morning, then came home (to find that Tilli had opened up all our plastic eggs and eaten their contents, including some confetti things), jetted off to the store to refill the eggs then over to my Moms. Loooong day.
Monday we met with Kate (a former co-worker of mine) at Alderwood for coffee, then headed over to this play area. It was really cool... there were things to climb on and slide down and crawl through and everything was health related, as it is sponsored by UW Health. What really cracks me up is that Ethan and Gwen were hugely attracted to one playset in particular... the fruits and veggie one! There was a celery slide, a pile of grapes, peas and mushrooms to climb up and other fruits and veg to crawl over and through. So very cute. I have lots of pictures. I'll put them up tomorrow.
Today I tried (with mostly futility) to clean up a bit. It was sunny, so the kids and I went outside and sat in the grass. That was nice.
My throat is sore and I think I'm coming down with something. I'm sleeping like crap. Dead tired when I go to bed, waking at night and can't go back to sleep, then dead tired in the mornings. Ugh. Oh well, this too shall pass.
Easter was fun... The kids had a blast finding eggs and socializing with family. We attended church in the morning, then came home (to find that Tilli had opened up all our plastic eggs and eaten their contents, including some confetti things), jetted off to the store to refill the eggs then over to my Moms. Loooong day.
Monday we met with Kate (a former co-worker of mine) at Alderwood for coffee, then headed over to this play area. It was really cool... there were things to climb on and slide down and crawl through and everything was health related, as it is sponsored by UW Health. What really cracks me up is that Ethan and Gwen were hugely attracted to one playset in particular... the fruits and veggie one! There was a celery slide, a pile of grapes, peas and mushrooms to climb up and other fruits and veg to crawl over and through. So very cute. I have lots of pictures. I'll put them up tomorrow.
Today I tried (with mostly futility) to clean up a bit. It was sunny, so the kids and I went outside and sat in the grass. That was nice.
My throat is sore and I think I'm coming down with something. I'm sleeping like crap. Dead tired when I go to bed, waking at night and can't go back to sleep, then dead tired in the mornings. Ugh. Oh well, this too shall pass.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Feeling a bit better today. Jason and I cleaned the house, which really helped both our moods.
Had another bad headache which required Vicodin. Even that didn't kill it, but it made it manageable.
Tomorrow is Easter and we have a VERY busy day planned. Church, then quickly home, then directly to Mom's so I can slice my ham, then Easter festivities. The current schedule does not allow for any naps for the kids. This could be bad :) Oh well, it happens.
I'm excited about the kids getting all dressed up again. Just wish the weather was better.
I finished up two ponchos (matching ones for two sisters) but somehow made the toddler poncho's neck opening far too small. In fact, the infant one had a bigger opening. I do not know how this happened. I tried to put it on Ethan and it just wouldn't fit over the head. Sigh. So, I'm off to redo the toddler one and hopefully get these shipped out. These ponchos have really been tough for me this time around!
Had another bad headache which required Vicodin. Even that didn't kill it, but it made it manageable.
Tomorrow is Easter and we have a VERY busy day planned. Church, then quickly home, then directly to Mom's so I can slice my ham, then Easter festivities. The current schedule does not allow for any naps for the kids. This could be bad :) Oh well, it happens.
I'm excited about the kids getting all dressed up again. Just wish the weather was better.
I finished up two ponchos (matching ones for two sisters) but somehow made the toddler poncho's neck opening far too small. In fact, the infant one had a bigger opening. I do not know how this happened. I tried to put it on Ethan and it just wouldn't fit over the head. Sigh. So, I'm off to redo the toddler one and hopefully get these shipped out. These ponchos have really been tough for me this time around!
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