Did you know you can get a chemical burn from Mr. Clean Magic Erasers?
Please read this scary story from a fellow blogger
Thursday, November 02, 2006
While taking our daily constitutional, I was hit by a strong memory.
We were at the tennis court, which is backed by a heavily wooded area. Ethan was examining these woods and venturing in and out when he would find a trail. Seeing his jeans wet almost to the knee, smelling that specific scent of damp, half rotten leaves and the sound of raindrops hitting my jacket hood instantly brought me back to 20 years ago.
My Aunt Daralyn's house on Lost Lake in Monroe. All of us kids playing in her woods, building forts, catching frogs and getting completely and entirely wet and dirty. I recall that I loved her house and these times of play with my cousins. We'd come in from outside, exhausted. Say hi to our Mom and Aunts (usually with some complaint about a sibling or cousin for good measure), perhaps beg a cup of hot chocolate or cider and plop down in front of the fire or TV. If we still had energy left, we might go upstairs and play dress-up with Aunt Daralyn's well stocked chest of dress-up clothes.
Isn't it interesting how such simple stimulation of senses bring back complete and vivid memories? A single sensations alone might not have made me think of those play days long ago, but the combination was something special. I wonder what will trigger fond memories for my kids.
Anyway, when we got back I was freezing (why did I wear flip flops?) and although the kids had dry and toasty feet, their little hands and noses were red. So I heated them up some hot chocolate, put it in a sippy and you can bet those cups were emptied in no time :)
We were at the tennis court, which is backed by a heavily wooded area. Ethan was examining these woods and venturing in and out when he would find a trail. Seeing his jeans wet almost to the knee, smelling that specific scent of damp, half rotten leaves and the sound of raindrops hitting my jacket hood instantly brought me back to 20 years ago.
My Aunt Daralyn's house on Lost Lake in Monroe. All of us kids playing in her woods, building forts, catching frogs and getting completely and entirely wet and dirty. I recall that I loved her house and these times of play with my cousins. We'd come in from outside, exhausted. Say hi to our Mom and Aunts (usually with some complaint about a sibling or cousin for good measure), perhaps beg a cup of hot chocolate or cider and plop down in front of the fire or TV. If we still had energy left, we might go upstairs and play dress-up with Aunt Daralyn's well stocked chest of dress-up clothes.
Isn't it interesting how such simple stimulation of senses bring back complete and vivid memories? A single sensations alone might not have made me think of those play days long ago, but the combination was something special. I wonder what will trigger fond memories for my kids.
Anyway, when we got back I was freezing (why did I wear flip flops?) and although the kids had dry and toasty feet, their little hands and noses were red. So I heated them up some hot chocolate, put it in a sippy and you can bet those cups were emptied in no time :)
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Halloween was fun this year. Both the kids seemed to get the idea and were very excited. Ethan, bless his heart, kept saying, "I happy" and "this is a happy day". He's never said that before, but he was really feeling it last night. Gwen carried her little basket around and after seeing someone dressed as Sylvester the cat, she wouldn't stop meowing. So cute!
We're glad that he enjoyed himself because he started off super crabby. He had us worried for about an hour.
Earlier in the day we took Gwen to her 18 month checkup. She passed 20lbs! Her weight is 20.5 lbs. She's also 32 1/2 inches long. Again, 10% in weight, but 75% in height. The appointment went really well and despite her getting 4 shots, she was a trooper.
Here are the pics from last night. I'm sorry we did not get a picture of Ben! He was wearing the cutest outfit. It was really hard to get pics of the kids as it was, and we never did get a full shot of Ethan.
Aunt Becki (in her offical, homemade Jedi costume), Aunt Jenni dressed as Boba Fett and little Princess Leia
Aunt Beck, Jedi. Little Gwennie, Princess Leia (with a sucker)
Mommy with her two Star Wars babies (Ethan was Annakin Skywalker)
Aunt Becki teaching Ethan how to use a lightsaber (p.s. it actually works and I accidently broke the on/off switch while we were ToT'ing)
I LOVE this picture. Ethan is out of control with the lightsaber, Aunt Becki is trying to avert disaster and Gwen is just running for her life.
We're glad that he enjoyed himself because he started off super crabby. He had us worried for about an hour.
Earlier in the day we took Gwen to her 18 month checkup. She passed 20lbs! Her weight is 20.5 lbs. She's also 32 1/2 inches long. Again, 10% in weight, but 75% in height. The appointment went really well and despite her getting 4 shots, she was a trooper.
Here are the pics from last night. I'm sorry we did not get a picture of Ben! He was wearing the cutest outfit. It was really hard to get pics of the kids as it was, and we never did get a full shot of Ethan.
Aunt Becki (in her offical, homemade Jedi costume), Aunt Jenni dressed as Boba Fett and little Princess Leia
Aunt Beck, Jedi. Little Gwennie, Princess Leia (with a sucker)
Mommy with her two Star Wars babies (Ethan was Annakin Skywalker)
Aunt Becki teaching Ethan how to use a lightsaber (p.s. it actually works and I accidently broke the on/off switch while we were ToT'ing)
I LOVE this picture. Ethan is out of control with the lightsaber, Aunt Becki is trying to avert disaster and Gwen is just running for her life.
Monday, October 30, 2006
So much went on this week.
We came home on Thursday to give my Mom a breather before the busy weekend. This meant that I spent a night alone in the house with the kids. It would have been fine except that on the way from my Mom's to home, the nightlight bulb broke. Well, I thought I had more but I didn't and after rifiling through the garage while the kids were screaming upstairs, I decided to just leave the door open for light. Yeah, that didn't go over well. 2 hours later, the kids finally fall asleep, then Tilli noses her way in and wakes them up. Then back to sleep they go, but waking through the night because its too dark. Fun times.
Saturday we went over early to my Mom's to visit with everyone, then came back home to put the kids down for nap. We were chilling downstairs when we heard this very loud THUD and then Gwen crying. The little monkey had crawled out of her crib and fell out. Then Jason and I started freaking out because we are not ready for her to be in a bed! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Time was pressed since I was attending Shelly's play that night, so we decided to put her in the Pack 'n Play which has higher sides. It worked. And yesterday we put her in Ethans crib, then turned it around so that the higher back side is in front. This worked. She can't climb out now. Thank goodness. We are not ready to deal with the move to a bed yet.
Sunday we carved a pumpkin (didn't turn out as good as I would have hoped) and I made seeds in a totally different way than I usually do. I used this recipe from Martha Stewart: Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Seeds
Here's the full recipe.
I doubled the recipe since we had a big pumpkin. Oh, and I left out the cumin because cumin reminds me of a smelly, sweaty man. Sorry, it just does.
These are really good... sweet like candy, but with a warmth and spice behind it. Yumness.
Heree are some pics from the last few days.
My cousin (err, technically second cousin I think?) Cedric. At 3 months, this little guy is almost Gwen's weight!
The kids, especially Ethan, doted on him.
And this right before we headed out to Ben's 5th birthday party. Doesn't she look so cute in her sweater dress?
We came home on Thursday to give my Mom a breather before the busy weekend. This meant that I spent a night alone in the house with the kids. It would have been fine except that on the way from my Mom's to home, the nightlight bulb broke. Well, I thought I had more but I didn't and after rifiling through the garage while the kids were screaming upstairs, I decided to just leave the door open for light. Yeah, that didn't go over well. 2 hours later, the kids finally fall asleep, then Tilli noses her way in and wakes them up. Then back to sleep they go, but waking through the night because its too dark. Fun times.
Saturday we went over early to my Mom's to visit with everyone, then came back home to put the kids down for nap. We were chilling downstairs when we heard this very loud THUD and then Gwen crying. The little monkey had crawled out of her crib and fell out. Then Jason and I started freaking out because we are not ready for her to be in a bed! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Time was pressed since I was attending Shelly's play that night, so we decided to put her in the Pack 'n Play which has higher sides. It worked. And yesterday we put her in Ethans crib, then turned it around so that the higher back side is in front. This worked. She can't climb out now. Thank goodness. We are not ready to deal with the move to a bed yet.
Sunday we carved a pumpkin (didn't turn out as good as I would have hoped) and I made seeds in a totally different way than I usually do. I used this recipe from Martha Stewart: Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Seeds
Here's the full recipe.
| Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Seeds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Makes 1 cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pumpkin seeds must be completely dried out in the oven before combining with spices. Whether for cooking or carving, choose an unblemished pumpkin that feels heavy for its size; it will store well, uncarved, at room temperature, for up to a month. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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These are really good... sweet like candy, but with a warmth and spice behind it. Yumness.
Heree are some pics from the last few days.
My cousin (err, technically second cousin I think?) Cedric. At 3 months, this little guy is almost Gwen's weight!
The kids, especially Ethan, doted on him.
And this right before we headed out to Ben's 5th birthday party. Doesn't she look so cute in her sweater dress?
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Grandpa had results from his in depth scan yesterday and they are not good. Not good would be an understatement. They are terrible and horrible and awful. I'm in shock right now and don't really feel anything but disbelief that this is happening to my Grandpa.
Yesterday when I was putting Ethan down for nap, he was using the toilet and saw a potpourri container that looks like a lattice top pie. He got all excited about it and said, "pie! pie!". He was heartbroken when he discovered it was not real.
Thus inspired, I decided to make a pie while he was sleeping. Jenni recommended using the berries in the freezer that had been picked right off their own bushes in the summer. We used a mix of blackberry, blueberry and just a few raspberries to give us enough. It was delish. Like maybe the best pie I've ever made. The top was sugary and crispy, the filling was a perfect mix of sweet and tart. Total yum. I could have eaten the whole thing myself!
Ok, all for now. Just wanted to brag about my pie.
Yesterday when I was putting Ethan down for nap, he was using the toilet and saw a potpourri container that looks like a lattice top pie. He got all excited about it and said, "pie! pie!". He was heartbroken when he discovered it was not real.
Thus inspired, I decided to make a pie while he was sleeping. Jenni recommended using the berries in the freezer that had been picked right off their own bushes in the summer. We used a mix of blackberry, blueberry and just a few raspberries to give us enough. It was delish. Like maybe the best pie I've ever made. The top was sugary and crispy, the filling was a perfect mix of sweet and tart. Total yum. I could have eaten the whole thing myself!
Ok, all for now. Just wanted to brag about my pie.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Jason left very early this morning for Cincinnati. He'll be gone through Friday. His schedule is packed solid with meetings and tours of various facilities over there. He's not looking forward to it.
We are heading to my Mom's this afternoon to stay through Friday. I realized this morning that I'm not afraid to be by myself here anymore, but rather I'm afraid to deal with the kids all by myself!
If anyone needs to get ahold of me, email is good, or ring me at my Mom's.
Off to do laundry and start packing.
We are heading to my Mom's this afternoon to stay through Friday. I realized this morning that I'm not afraid to be by myself here anymore, but rather I'm afraid to deal with the kids all by myself!
If anyone needs to get ahold of me, email is good, or ring me at my Mom's.
Off to do laundry and start packing.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Mom and Jenni just came by and got the kids... They are meeting Aunt Deanne, Ben, Aaron and Caitlin at Stockers to get pumpkins, then across HWY 9 to the corn maze. I was so not feeling like going, even though it would have been a great photo op.
Our family get-together went well... we're going to have another next weekend when Tim & Hollly fly back to GA. Lately, family gatherings have left me feeling sad and in a funk. This is highly unusual. Most of the time its the opposite! I think much of it has to do with my Grandpa and his struggles right now. Its hard to see him in this position.
Off to shower and run to the post office to mail Peter his cookies :)
Our family get-together went well... we're going to have another next weekend when Tim & Hollly fly back to GA. Lately, family gatherings have left me feeling sad and in a funk. This is highly unusual. Most of the time its the opposite! I think much of it has to do with my Grandpa and his struggles right now. Its hard to see him in this position.
Off to shower and run to the post office to mail Peter his cookies :)
Saturday, October 21, 2006
I made a nummy dinner...
Varkenhaas (Pork tenderloin with mustard sauce)
Braised Fennel
Baked yams
Very delish.
Today we went to Haggen and got some pumpkins and gourds. I got a white pumpkin this year and I feel that I need to do an extra special design on it. We got a really big one for the kids... I'm thinking we're going to do Blue from Blue's Clues. I got some blue christmas lights to put in the pumpkin to make him really blue. Ethan should love it.
We are still searching for a car. Its hard to know how much to spend and what to get. Such a blessing that my parents lent us Dad's commuter car.
Tomorrow we are heading to my Mom's for lunch and a visit with Uncle Shawn and Aunt Jenni, who are stopping here on their way from Alaska, headed to Europe. So jealous of their world travels! Aunt Daralyn also came in from E. WA to see Grandpa and so she will be there as well.
Varkenhaas (Pork tenderloin with mustard sauce)
Braised Fennel
Baked yams
Very delish.
Today we went to Haggen and got some pumpkins and gourds. I got a white pumpkin this year and I feel that I need to do an extra special design on it. We got a really big one for the kids... I'm thinking we're going to do Blue from Blue's Clues. I got some blue christmas lights to put in the pumpkin to make him really blue. Ethan should love it.
We are still searching for a car. Its hard to know how much to spend and what to get. Such a blessing that my parents lent us Dad's commuter car.
Tomorrow we are heading to my Mom's for lunch and a visit with Uncle Shawn and Aunt Jenni, who are stopping here on their way from Alaska, headed to Europe. So jealous of their world travels! Aunt Daralyn also came in from E. WA to see Grandpa and so she will be there as well.
When I was at Target the other day, I picked up Ethan's first lesson book... Its called Let's Sticker & Paste and is put out by the same people who do the Kumon tutoring centers. I wasn't sure how it would go because Ethan has a hard time staying focused on these types of projects... like the one I tried earlier this week involving leaves, glue and cardboard. It left me traumatized.
Anyway, he really likes them. So far its been just putting stickers on paper, but as the book progresses the exercises get more complicated. He loves sitting down to do his 5 minute "lessons" every day and proudly hangs them on the fridge. After he completes this book, I'm going to pick up the others in the series.
Anyway, he really likes them. So far its been just putting stickers on paper, but as the book progresses the exercises get more complicated. He loves sitting down to do his 5 minute "lessons" every day and proudly hangs them on the fridge. After he completes this book, I'm going to pick up the others in the series.
Friday, October 20, 2006
I'm a big fan of the Dove commercials and marketing campaigns. A while back, I posted about how they had an ad with a co-sleeping and nursing mother, which totally impressed me.
You should watch the ad at this link, put out by the Dove Self Esteem Fund. I love the concept and think its important, especially for teen girls, to realize how manipulated most advertising is.
http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.ca/bblank.asp?id=6895
You should watch the ad at this link, put out by the Dove Self Esteem Fund. I love the concept and think its important, especially for teen girls, to realize how manipulated most advertising is.
http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.ca/bblank.asp?id=6895
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