1. Where are you from? Have you lived there your whole life?
Well you see when a man and a woman love each other they get these feelings...
No? Well I'm from the Inland Northwest basically and yes I've lived here or south for my whole life.
2. How would you classify your clothing style?
Whatever is clean. Or mommy casual.
3. What kind of car do you drive?
The kind the bank owns. It's a Ford and I hope to own it someday.
4. What would your dream home look like if you could have it (or already do!)?
A log cabin type of rancher with a big wrap around porch, lots of tree's, a half circular driveway and backed up to a mountain. Inside would be hardwoods, granite, stone fireplace, high ceilings, lots of ceiling fans.
5. Do you have kids, and if so, how many and how old were you when you had them?
I do have a kid. I had him at 30. I have stepchildren too, I got them at the ripe old age of 25.
6. What is your favorite hobby?
Is sleeping a hobby?
Fine, reading or photography.
7. Are you going to have any New Year’s resolutions for 2011?
Probably not.
8. What is something, if anything, that you’d want to change about yourself?
There is LOTS (and I mean lots) of room for improvement. I wish I had more patience.
9. What is something that you love about yourself?
That I've done the best with what God has given to me.
10. Pick one of the following: Someone to cook for you, someone to do your laundry, or someone to do your dishes.
Well, sometimes Ed cooks for me and he does the dishes pretty often. Laundry doesn't bother me. I guess cook for me.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Sometimes just a thank you goes a long way!
Thanks Much Sky Thank You 5x7 folded card
Unique party invitations and announcements by Shutterfly.
View the entire collection of cards.
Ten for Tuesday (yeah, I'm late again)...
1. What are your plans for the holidays? Do you travel at Thanksgiving? If you celebrate Christmas, do you travel then, too?
Last year we travelled for Christmas so I kind of wanted to stay home this year but at the same time who knows how many more Christmases we're going to get with Granny B so I hate to miss out. That's the reasoning I used last year but this year I don't expect she'll be home from her last surgery yet so that's my reasoning for staying home. We spent Thanksgiving at home because, really, I didn't want to go anywhere.
2. How do you make the plans for the holiday? If you have a significant other, how do you decide which family to visit?
We don't see much of E's family, unfortunately, at any time of the year really. For me the holidays are all about family, though, so we see my family as much as I can talk E into it. He's so much like my Grandpa B. and he'd just rather stay home.
3. Do you have your Thanksgiving meal at lunch or later in the day?
We have ours after lunch time but before dinnertime, and then snack like crazy the rest of the day/evening.
4. Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving tradition?
Uh, does eating count because that's my favorite thing about T-Day.
5. After a big meal do you lounge around or get up and take a walk?
We might get up and take a walk but it was only like 3 degrees and we have 2+ feet of snow.
6. Do you shop on “Black Friday” or do you avoid it?
If I have $$ I like to shop it but there was no way I was going to do it this year considering the time difference between here and town would make me leaving home at about 0200. AND I wasn't about to take G out on Black Friday. He's bad enough to shop with the other 364 days of the year.
7. When do you usually finish your Christmas shopping?
I like to get stuff done early since December is a big birthday month, but that's just not happening this year. I will be done by Christmas Eve though, I always am.
8. Do you and your significant other exchange gifts? Is there a budget?
Usually we spoil each other rotten but we're hoping to stick to a "no gifts" or very low budget exchange this year. He says he agrees to it but he never really follows the rules.
9. When do you decorate for the holidays?
When I feel like getting around to it. I didn't do anything year before last because G was only six months old so I figured he wouldn't notice anyway. Then last year we did some decorating but we didn't spend Christmas at home anyway, so I didn't go all out. This year I'll probably just do it when I find the time in between projects and work.
10. Do you go “all out” with the decor or do you keep it simple?
I like to keep it pretty simple. Since there really is no one to "enjoy" our decorating outside we'll skip that. I'm going to kind of follow G's lead on the inside though. I do know that I'm trying to do a lot of homemade decorations. I have to wait for Ed to go cut down a tree for us!
Last year we travelled for Christmas so I kind of wanted to stay home this year but at the same time who knows how many more Christmases we're going to get with Granny B so I hate to miss out. That's the reasoning I used last year but this year I don't expect she'll be home from her last surgery yet so that's my reasoning for staying home. We spent Thanksgiving at home because, really, I didn't want to go anywhere.
2. How do you make the plans for the holiday? If you have a significant other, how do you decide which family to visit?
We don't see much of E's family, unfortunately, at any time of the year really. For me the holidays are all about family, though, so we see my family as much as I can talk E into it. He's so much like my Grandpa B. and he'd just rather stay home.
3. Do you have your Thanksgiving meal at lunch or later in the day?
We have ours after lunch time but before dinnertime, and then snack like crazy the rest of the day/evening.
4. Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving tradition?
Uh, does eating count because that's my favorite thing about T-Day.
5. After a big meal do you lounge around or get up and take a walk?
We might get up and take a walk but it was only like 3 degrees and we have 2+ feet of snow.
6. Do you shop on “Black Friday” or do you avoid it?
If I have $$ I like to shop it but there was no way I was going to do it this year considering the time difference between here and town would make me leaving home at about 0200. AND I wasn't about to take G out on Black Friday. He's bad enough to shop with the other 364 days of the year.
7. When do you usually finish your Christmas shopping?
I like to get stuff done early since December is a big birthday month, but that's just not happening this year. I will be done by Christmas Eve though, I always am.
8. Do you and your significant other exchange gifts? Is there a budget?
Usually we spoil each other rotten but we're hoping to stick to a "no gifts" or very low budget exchange this year. He says he agrees to it but he never really follows the rules.
9. When do you decorate for the holidays?
When I feel like getting around to it. I didn't do anything year before last because G was only six months old so I figured he wouldn't notice anyway. Then last year we did some decorating but we didn't spend Christmas at home anyway, so I didn't go all out. This year I'll probably just do it when I find the time in between projects and work.
10. Do you go “all out” with the decor or do you keep it simple?
I like to keep it pretty simple. Since there really is no one to "enjoy" our decorating outside we'll skip that. I'm going to kind of follow G's lead on the inside though. I do know that I'm trying to do a lot of homemade decorations. I have to wait for Ed to go cut down a tree for us!
Giveaways and contests for black friday!
I suck pretty bad at winning stuff but I figure that can't continue all my life, right? Part of one of the giveaways that I've spent part of my morning entering requires that I add this banner to my blog, so that's what I'm doing!
Prop Insanity:
There are two other huge giveaways that I'm entering myself in as well because I'd love to win even one of the prizes much less all of them. I love how all of these self-employed people and work from home momma's is donating their wares to these giveaways because if I had any talent in any realm I'd do that for the advertising as well!
The Maternal Lens http://www.thematernallens.blogspot.com/
Is another one. More than anything I am just enjoying the exposure to these different photographers and products/props. I don't have a lot of exposure out here where I am but I'm also not going to be living here forever (darnit). It's something I enjoy learning about (photography) and I wish I'd had more time to do it before G was born so I could have taken A LOT more pics of him when he was an itty bitty. :)
Prop Insanity:
There are two other huge giveaways that I'm entering myself in as well because I'd love to win even one of the prizes much less all of them. I love how all of these self-employed people and work from home momma's is donating their wares to these giveaways because if I had any talent in any realm I'd do that for the advertising as well!
The Maternal Lens http://www.thematernallens.blogspot.com/
Is another one. More than anything I am just enjoying the exposure to these different photographers and products/props. I don't have a lot of exposure out here where I am but I'm also not going to be living here forever (darnit). It's something I enjoy learning about (photography) and I wish I'd had more time to do it before G was born so I could have taken A LOT more pics of him when he was an itty bitty. :)
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Yeah, thanks.
But, I sure do have a lot to be thankful for! I'm thankful for:
* Humira & methotrexate as taking them made it easier (albeit not easy) to get out of bed this morning.
* A husband who knows how much I value sleep and let's me sleep in when he's home in the mornings.
* The means to buy the things we need.
* Febreze .
* Dogs that seem to believe that the sun shines out my ass.
* Flushing toilets (because non-flushing toilets would be a bad, bad thing).
* Green bean casserole (yum, yum, yum, yum).
* A washing machine so I don't have to smell pee all the time.
* Warm showers, especially ones where G is sitting contentedly in his high chair eating breakfast and E and I can shower together to conserve water (yeah, that's what we're doing in there, shuddup, you).
* E's job which allows us to live in an amazing place.
* Not just a roof over our heads but a NICE roof over our heads - heck, it's actually even two roofs if you count the snow roof.
* toilet paper (that's self explanatory).
* ear plugs (what allowed me to sleep in this morning).
* Toy Story 3 which is currently playing and keeping G from driving us crazy.
* chocolate.
* snow clothes when it gets cold outside (like right now).
* Pepsi (my other true love).
* Big business (i.e. Conoco, Exxon) willing to squash the little people in order to get what they want and send their shipments down the highway so E can make a buttload of overtime.
* Glitter - because that stuff's just a lot of fun.
* Sweatpants/pj pants.
* Baileys with Caramel to go in my hot cocoa.
* My Kindle who needs my company today.
* My job even if I don't like it very much.
* Boobs (they get me what I want and they're fun to look at).
* Gas-X always at the ready.
* Eyebrow wax and the people who know how to use it without causing me extreme pain.
* Triple Paste butt cream - it's not just for the kidlet anymore.
* A friendly pharmacist who not only swears like a sailor even though he's got to be 120 years old, but he also mails me my prescriptions so I don't have to come into town for them.
* My Mom because I can call her for anything.
* My sis, even if she has a condition that sounds perverted (basilar invagination - c'mon it's got the word vag in it)!
* My E, because he loves me, especially when I put out.
* My G, because he thinks I'm awesome even though some day he'll figure out I'm not.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
The beginning of the dough ornaments!
4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1.5 cups warm water
bake at 100 degrees for 2-3 hours
That's all it takes. I added some pumpking spice, ground ginger and cinammon hoping that I could give them a long lasting scent. The internet recipe calls for 1.5 cups of water but I ended up using about twice that to get the right dough consistency. I wonder if my addition of the spices had anything to do with that? Regardless, I ended up baking them at 170 degrees (the lowest the oven would go) for probably around 5 to 6 hours. G kept trying to eat the dough and he'd spit it out in disgust, which was funny stuff. He LOVED spreading flour out all over the kitchen table so we could roll out the dough. His favorite part, by far though, was using the cookie cutters to cut the shapes. I let him just use the cookie cutters like crazy and then I'd ball it all up and roll it out again and go to town with the cutters again. :) I used a straw to put even holes in them before we put them in the oven G thought the dough spitballs I shot at him after poking the hole in an ornament were hilarious.
One of these days soon G and I will break out the glitter, glue, paint, etc. and get started on them! I took about half of the ornaments and packaged them up with some craft supplies to send to Stacy and her kids so they could have some fun too. I'm hoping maybe one or two of them come back to us decorated! :)
1 cup salt
1.5 cups warm water
bake at 100 degrees for 2-3 hours
That's all it takes. I added some pumpking spice, ground ginger and cinammon hoping that I could give them a long lasting scent. The internet recipe calls for 1.5 cups of water but I ended up using about twice that to get the right dough consistency. I wonder if my addition of the spices had anything to do with that? Regardless, I ended up baking them at 170 degrees (the lowest the oven would go) for probably around 5 to 6 hours. G kept trying to eat the dough and he'd spit it out in disgust, which was funny stuff. He LOVED spreading flour out all over the kitchen table so we could roll out the dough. His favorite part, by far though, was using the cookie cutters to cut the shapes. I let him just use the cookie cutters like crazy and then I'd ball it all up and roll it out again and go to town with the cutters again. :) I used a straw to put even holes in them before we put them in the oven G thought the dough spitballs I shot at him after poking the hole in an ornament were hilarious.
One of these days soon G and I will break out the glitter, glue, paint, etc. and get started on them! I took about half of the ornaments and packaged them up with some craft supplies to send to Stacy and her kids so they could have some fun too. I'm hoping maybe one or two of them come back to us decorated! :)
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Bring it on, Jack Frost!
We've had snow for a little while now but the rest of the Inland Northwest got hit with it yesterday. I think that the main reason why doesn't bother me anymore is because I don't have to get up an hour earlier to brush off my car and leave myself extra time to get to work. Although tromping out to brush off the satellite (TV and internet) isn't my idea of a good time. It was lovely to just sit inside and watch the giant flakes falling delicately from the sky and watching the panic on the news!
I had let the dogs out for a potty break and had my camera with me so I took a few pics of some icicles hanging off the eaves!
G was watching Daddy leave since he'd gotten called out for a semi spun out on the pass. Daddy had built him all up about going out to play in the snow :(
That was all the snow we got and while it's plenty I was surprised that it wasn't more. If I don't feel worse I think it's time to bundle up Dr. Destructo and get some cold, fresh air in our lungs!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Antiques!???!
I was poking around at http://www.amazon.com/ after G and I saw a commercial for the game Hungry Hungry Hippos because he got all excited about it. In addition to that one, I started looking for the games that I can remember playing as a kid and then I realized something. I wish my parents had kept all those games because holy crap they're expensive now!
Mousetrap - $19.99 was a favorite for the cousin's at Grandma's house. I know the adults hated it because we made a lot of noise but moreso because there were a lot of little pieces. I remember sitting at the top of the stairs playing that game.
Hungry Hungry Hippos - $22.99 I don't remember where I played this one but I thought it was pretty awesome when I did play it. We never had it though.
Connect 4 - $19.99 Who doesn't love Connect 4? It was a lot more fun if you could play it with someone younger than you because it made you feel superiorly smarter!
Sorry - $22.99 Oh, my dear sister Sarah used to love to play this game but she HATED to lose. I don't think that there was a game that pissed me off more than this one though, I hated getting knocked back to start.
Guess Who - $21.95 I rocked this game. Mostly because I figured out how to knock out large groups of "people" quickly. God help whoever got that one dude with a mustache...
Some of them aren't quite that much, but still a lot more than I expected!
Candyland - $10.99
Memory - $11.08
Chutes & Ladders - $12.99
Now when the heck did I get to the age where the games that I played as a kid are now considered retro? I'm hoping that soon G might be interested in Memory or Old Maid or Go Fish or something like that. Any game I play with him right now (such as that stupid Candy Land Castle game) just ends up with pieces going everywhere and me declaring, "That's it! I'm putting it away," and G throwing a screaming fit.
In a few more years Aunty Wheels will have a board game buddy (G) though, since she loves to play board games and has many, many, many of them!
Mousetrap - $19.99 was a favorite for the cousin's at Grandma's house. I know the adults hated it because we made a lot of noise but moreso because there were a lot of little pieces. I remember sitting at the top of the stairs playing that game.
Hungry Hungry Hippos - $22.99 I don't remember where I played this one but I thought it was pretty awesome when I did play it. We never had it though.
Connect 4 - $19.99 Who doesn't love Connect 4? It was a lot more fun if you could play it with someone younger than you because it made you feel superiorly smarter!
Sorry - $22.99 Oh, my dear sister Sarah used to love to play this game but she HATED to lose. I don't think that there was a game that pissed me off more than this one though, I hated getting knocked back to start.
Guess Who - $21.95 I rocked this game. Mostly because I figured out how to knock out large groups of "people" quickly. God help whoever got that one dude with a mustache...
Some of them aren't quite that much, but still a lot more than I expected!
Candyland - $10.99
Memory - $11.08
Chutes & Ladders - $12.99
Now when the heck did I get to the age where the games that I played as a kid are now considered retro? I'm hoping that soon G might be interested in Memory or Old Maid or Go Fish or something like that. Any game I play with him right now (such as that stupid Candy Land Castle game) just ends up with pieces going everywhere and me declaring, "That's it! I'm putting it away," and G throwing a screaming fit.
In a few more years Aunty Wheels will have a board game buddy (G) though, since she loves to play board games and has many, many, many of them!
Sway
I've had people laugh at me and point out that when I'm standing in one place I sway. I know that started when I was big and pregnant because I couldn't stand still without changing the weight from one hip to the other. I remember resting my hands on my belly, rubbing it and swaying, then when G came along anytime I'd hold him and I'd be standing (like getting him out of his crib at 1 am to calm him back to sleep) I was swaying. G woke up about an hour ago and I rushed into his room because he was crying for me (such a heartbreakingly beautiful and pitiful cry of "Momma hewp!") and I scooped him up and he held fast to me. I found myself cradling him in my arms and swaying and it felt so nice.
I remember when he was about six months old I was trying to get him back to sleep and I was thinking, "He's so big already, man he's heavy!" Little did I know that two years later I'd get to still have my heart cradled in my arms even though he's more than half my size already. I love how he feels so heavy and solid in my arms, with his head on my shoulder and his heart beating against my chest. It doesn't matter that I'm so tired I'm ready to drop, somehow I rally. Just like I did when he'd wake up every hour to nurse as a newborn and every few hours for the next year and a half or so. It's amazing how motherhood has changed my internal "clock" and somehow given me the strength to keep going!
I remember when he was about six months old I was trying to get him back to sleep and I was thinking, "He's so big already, man he's heavy!" Little did I know that two years later I'd get to still have my heart cradled in my arms even though he's more than half my size already. I love how he feels so heavy and solid in my arms, with his head on my shoulder and his heart beating against my chest. It doesn't matter that I'm so tired I'm ready to drop, somehow I rally. Just like I did when he'd wake up every hour to nurse as a newborn and every few hours for the next year and a half or so. It's amazing how motherhood has changed my internal "clock" and somehow given me the strength to keep going!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Homesick
I heard this on Sirius the other day when I drove into town by myself and it was like a warm blanket wrapping around my heart. Sometimes I swear my Dad sends me messages just when I need to hear them, and this is just another example of that. It reminded me so much of my Mom though that I had to call her and tell her to listen to it. She misses my Dad so much and tells me that she just wishes she could be wherever he is right now.
I guess a person isn't homesick for a place but for a person or a feeling they had with that person? I know in the song the "home" is Heaven and of course that makes sense but the song can really be applied to wherever one needs that comfort. It makes sense to me because Dad was like home - he was the strong (structure) that we all revolved around. We could come and go and he was always there. Maybe that's what makes his death that much harder, I still feel like the ground isn't solid anymore and that's unnerving.
Regardless, I could sit and listen to this song day after day.
I miss my Dad.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
All by myself...I got to be all by myself...
I had a Rheumy appointment yesterday and Ed suggested that I go alone. Um, okay! It's a new Rheumy in Missoula because I've decided I'd rather have one closer than Cd'A. I feel kind of bad because the Rheumy in Cd'A saw my dad for 15+ years and he really, really liked Dad. I don't dislike the guy, I just don't "click" with him mostly.
Anyway, I went to town, alone...on a Friday afternoon. After the Rheumy I hit Michaels for some craft supplies as G and I are going to make some Christmas ornaments. What a treat it was to wander the aisles not having to put things back on shelves and taking my time. I went to Old Navy and actually went into the fitting room to try on pants instead of just grabbing some and leaving before the Dr. got really wound up. I went to Jo-Ann's for a few other things that I can't talk about on here because they're going to be a special Christmas surprise and I was stuck in line for at least ten minutes and thinking, I"m not having to entertain a single soul just to keep them from throwing a fit.
Then I went to Wal-Mart. Wow, what a difference there is without a 2 year old in the cart. I wasn't having to say, "Stop that," or, "Don't touch that," or "Get your mouth off of that," or "Would you please stop throwing that out of the cart," or, "Are you asking for a beating?" or, "Why are you pinching me?" I put items in the cart and I didn't have to rearrange them once so that someone could change him mind and decide he had to ride in the main basket instead of the seat, only to change his mind ten minutes later and want back in the seat. Shopping was fairly quick and super easy. I smirked when I'd hear a kid screaming and think to myself, "For once, that's not my kid!"
And then I realized something. As short as 3.5 years ago I'd be shopping at the Wal-Mart and I'd look longingly at the women wrestling their children in the carts. I'd think to myself, "If only I had a baby I'd pour all of my heart and soul and every ounce of my energy into that child and I'd take him or her with me everywhere." And that's when it hit me that what was my greatest dream is now my reality. Maybe next time we're out in public I won't cringe in embarassment when G screams like I'm pulling out his toenails and instead hear it as music.
Being a momma is everything I'd dreamed of and so very, very much more. I was able to pour my heart, soul and energy into this child but I am also able to still be me. I have a confidence in myself that I never had before and I think that's because what grounds me, my purpose in life, is waiting for me at home. As much as I enjoyed my alone just C time, it felt good to pull into the driveway, walk into the house and have E & G greet me with, "It's Mommy!"
Let's take a step back in time...
Anyway, I went to town, alone...on a Friday afternoon. After the Rheumy I hit Michaels for some craft supplies as G and I are going to make some Christmas ornaments. What a treat it was to wander the aisles not having to put things back on shelves and taking my time. I went to Old Navy and actually went into the fitting room to try on pants instead of just grabbing some and leaving before the Dr. got really wound up. I went to Jo-Ann's for a few other things that I can't talk about on here because they're going to be a special Christmas surprise and I was stuck in line for at least ten minutes and thinking, I"m not having to entertain a single soul just to keep them from throwing a fit.
Then I went to Wal-Mart. Wow, what a difference there is without a 2 year old in the cart. I wasn't having to say, "Stop that," or, "Don't touch that," or "Get your mouth off of that," or "Would you please stop throwing that out of the cart," or, "Are you asking for a beating?" or, "Why are you pinching me?" I put items in the cart and I didn't have to rearrange them once so that someone could change him mind and decide he had to ride in the main basket instead of the seat, only to change his mind ten minutes later and want back in the seat. Shopping was fairly quick and super easy. I smirked when I'd hear a kid screaming and think to myself, "For once, that's not my kid!"
And then I realized something. As short as 3.5 years ago I'd be shopping at the Wal-Mart and I'd look longingly at the women wrestling their children in the carts. I'd think to myself, "If only I had a baby I'd pour all of my heart and soul and every ounce of my energy into that child and I'd take him or her with me everywhere." And that's when it hit me that what was my greatest dream is now my reality. Maybe next time we're out in public I won't cringe in embarassment when G screams like I'm pulling out his toenails and instead hear it as music.
Being a momma is everything I'd dreamed of and so very, very much more. I was able to pour my heart, soul and energy into this child but I am also able to still be me. I have a confidence in myself that I never had before and I think that's because what grounds me, my purpose in life, is waiting for me at home. As much as I enjoyed my alone just C time, it felt good to pull into the driveway, walk into the house and have E & G greet me with, "It's Mommy!"
Let's take a step back in time...
Evermore
The forests of April awaken from sleep,
and flowers unfold through the snow,
and the wind rushes high,
and the river runs deep,
and it sings what you already know.
You already know -
Evermore I will love you,
evermore I will stay
ever right here to hold you.
Never so far away
And though I know sometimes you go
to find your way alone,
evermore I will love you.
You're ever my own.
Ever my own. Ever my own.
Forever and evermore.
From the book Dog Train by Sandra Boynton
and flowers unfold through the snow,
and the wind rushes high,
and the river runs deep,
and it sings what you already know.
You already know -
Evermore I will love you,
evermore I will stay
ever right here to hold you.
Never so far away
And though I know sometimes you go
to find your way alone,
evermore I will love you.
You're ever my own.
Ever my own. Ever my own.
Forever and evermore.
From the book Dog Train by Sandra Boynton
Friday, November 19, 2010
I'm a child of the 80's, I'm not afraid to admit it.
Go ahead and make fun of me but here are some others I might have chosen...
Jem & The Holograms
Fraggle Rock
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Duck Tales
Care Bears
Strawberry Shortcake
My Little Pony
She-Ra: Princess of Power
Beverly Hills Teens
Go Bots
Thundercats, Dungeons and Dragons, Transformers, etc.
What a strange trip down memory lane. There's some fun links on YouTube (like this one) from people who have way too much time on their hands. Well, I guess I really shouldn't say that since I'm the one who is searching for this stuff as well.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
It's white...it's fluffy...it's SNOW!!!
We played with the sled and he even went sledding down the little hill by the shed a few times. We had to call it an evening when he kept repeatedly taking off into the woods without us and running away from us (well, running as fast as he could considering he was bundled up like Ralphie's little brother) and then throwing a fit when we'd drag him back into the yard.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Bummer.
I'm was planning on taking G into town to our first CDC play group. I think he'd love it, I'm more worried about me. I have a hard time watching him be ignored by other children or pushed around by them, etc. And I won't know anyone there but G is a social butterfly so he'll just mesh right in I hope.
Turns out we didn't go.
First off when I was trying to load the car and get G ready I fielded a phone call from the morons at the county that we live in.
Here's the conversation, it's about a VIN (vehicle identification number) inspection on the new truck and transferring the plates from the old truck.
Her: Is Ed H** the same as Corporal E. H** of the State Police?
Me: Uh, yeah (knowing from caller id who it was).Her: Well I need him to bring his truck down here for a VIN inspection because he can't do his own VIN inspection, it's not allowed.
Me: Really? Because when you guys called me two weeks ago and said we needed the VIN inspection and I asked if he could do a VIN inspection on his own vehicle the woman who called me said he could. I asked her if it was a conflict of interest and she said it wasn't. Her: Well, she was wrong. I just talked to her and she said she didn't know why he did his own.
Me: Well, I'm not driving down there for a VIN inspection, that will cost me $100 in gas easily. I specifically asked her if it was a conflict of interest for him to do his own and she said, "Oh no, that's fine." Her: Well, just go to your local police department and they'll do it.
Me: Do you know where we live? Ed IS the local police department and the last one on Highway 12 for over 100 miles.Her: Just have him call one of the other ISP guys and have him come up and do it for you.
Me: Uh, no way is ISP going to come all the way up here for a VIN inspection. I can guarantee that. Her: Well, then you have to come down here.
Me: No, I'm going to figure something else out.
Her: Okay, good. Now, that that's taken care of the dealership only sent us $***.** dollars for the sales tax and the tax is actually $6 more than that and then if you're planning on transferring plates from the old vehicle to the new one there's a $5 charge for that so you need to send $11 with the VIN inspection.
Me: Right, that's what you guys told me when you called me in the same phone call discussing the VIN inspection, and that's why I enclosed a $11 check with the now useless VIN inspection.Her: There was no check.
Me: Yes, there was.Her: No, there wasn't.
Me: I know for a fact that I put that check in there because I had to make my husband go out to the truck and do the VIN inspection so that I could put it in the envelope with the check and put it in the mail.Her: Well, I don't have the check.
Me: Well, who does?Her: You didn't send a check.
Me: Are you kidding me? Are you for real? I just told you that I know for a fact I did.Her: Well, it's only $11 so just send another check and I'll make sure it all gets taken care of.
Me: Hmm, no. You find the check I already sent you because I'm not going to spend $25 to do a stop payment on an $11 check. I'm not sending you another check, you need to find the check I already sent.Her: Well, just check to see if it's cleared your bank.
Me: I'm on my way out the door right now and you need to look for my check. Call me when you've found it and in the meantime I will figure out a way to get another VIN inspection done.Then she went on and on about how some other department had helped them last week at end of month and some mistakes, and something about taking some stuff to the post office without postage and without even being in envelopes, etc. THEN she reminds me that I need to send another check with the VIN inspection and that I need to write the plate to be transferred in the memo section. NO, FIND MY DAMN CHECK!
Anyway, that had me leaving the house a little on the late side and forgetting a change of clothes for G just in case (since he was wearing underwear), the receipt for a lamp I need to return and my cell phone. It had started to snow. I'm not afraid of a little snow so that's no big deal. EXCEPT that ITD (transportation dept snowplow guys) hadn't plowed and the road was a mess. I went 30 mph the whole way up the pass...adding another 15 minutes to the 15 minute drive up there. Ugh. I knew by that time that I was going to be late and I HATE walking into somewhere late, much less somewhere that we're new. I tell myself to put aside my hang up of being late and still go. Yeah, I get to the top of the pass and who is at the top? The Montana transportation dept snowplow. So now I'm behind a snowplow (hey, at least he was out there doing his job) going 20 mph down the pass and there's no chance of passing him for at least 10 miles. Then of course I hear the lovely crack of a rock (he was dropping sand of course) hitting my windshield.
I said, "Okay, okay, I get it. I'll go home!" I HATE walking into somewhere late much less somewhere filled with people I don't know. But I thought I'd put aside my own hang-up and take him because I know how much he'd love to play with other kids. I thought the universe was sending me a message and I turned around about a mile into MT.
So we came home and G cried for a minute. I don't think he understood what was going on but he was upset that he wasn't in the car going somewhere. We played with Play-Doh and watched a movie and played trucks and trains, etc. and he seemed to forget all about it.
I'm bummed though, I was really looking forward to trying to make some friends but moreso looking forward to watching G interact with other children. I really need to find some momma friends in Zoo-Town.
**Update 11/17/10**
Guess what showed up in today's mail? My missing check. It has a note with it explaining that it was found "loose" in the USPS mail (i.e. not in any envelope). I think I'll hold onto it for a few days before calling to let the pinhead know that she can stop looking for it, as if she's actually looking for it.
Ten on Tuesday
1. What is your favorite breakfast pastry?
My Granny's cinnamon rolls, hands down. Or a croissant or a turnover or just a really yum chocolate donut.
2. Were you ever in a Thanksgiving or Christmas play?
Yes, church plays a time or two. I remember being a red fox for some play in elementary school but I can't remember what it was - it had something to do with a nursery rhyme like a fox and something a fox chases or eats or something?
3. What is your favorite clothing accessory?
Accessory? Do socks count? Or I guess since I've become a slob it'd be a bandana (do-rag for you dorks out there) so that I don't have to actually "do" my hairs.
4. What is your favorite item of clothing?
Mmm, I loves me a fun hoody and a pair of jeans that fit.
5. What is your favorite color and why?
I lurve the color purple but I also love the color brown. I guess purple is more my favorite color. Why? Heck if I know - because it's what I like!
6. What is your favorite type of Christmas cookie?
My Granny's applesauce cookies are the best.
7. What is your favorite scent (food, perfume/lotion):
Lavender, clean scents, G's head when he was a babe.
8. What is your favorite household cleaner?
BLEACH! Haha - just kidding. I grew up using Comet for everything but I can't say that's my favorite. Right now it's that Nature's Miracle crap that kills urine and poop smells/existence. That stuff is miraculous.
9. When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up? And what did you actually grow up to be?
I wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer or a teacher. I grew up to work in law enforcement and be a mom. So I think I did fulfill the doctor, lawyer and teacher thing by being a mom!
10. What is the last song or album you bought?
I got a free Veggie Tales Christmas album off of Amazon.
My Granny's cinnamon rolls, hands down. Or a croissant or a turnover or just a really yum chocolate donut.
2. Were you ever in a Thanksgiving or Christmas play?
Yes, church plays a time or two. I remember being a red fox for some play in elementary school but I can't remember what it was - it had something to do with a nursery rhyme like a fox and something a fox chases or eats or something?
3. What is your favorite clothing accessory?
Accessory? Do socks count? Or I guess since I've become a slob it'd be a bandana (do-rag for you dorks out there) so that I don't have to actually "do" my hairs.
4. What is your favorite item of clothing?
Mmm, I loves me a fun hoody and a pair of jeans that fit.
5. What is your favorite color and why?
I lurve the color purple but I also love the color brown. I guess purple is more my favorite color. Why? Heck if I know - because it's what I like!
6. What is your favorite type of Christmas cookie?
My Granny's applesauce cookies are the best.
7. What is your favorite scent (food, perfume/lotion):
Lavender, clean scents, G's head when he was a babe.
8. What is your favorite household cleaner?
BLEACH! Haha - just kidding. I grew up using Comet for everything but I can't say that's my favorite. Right now it's that Nature's Miracle crap that kills urine and poop smells/existence. That stuff is miraculous.
9. When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up? And what did you actually grow up to be?
I wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer or a teacher. I grew up to work in law enforcement and be a mom. So I think I did fulfill the doctor, lawyer and teacher thing by being a mom!
10. What is the last song or album you bought?
I got a free Veggie Tales Christmas album off of Amazon.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
It won't be like this for long, RIGHT???
Oh, dear, dear son of mine.
For some reason I cannot do or say anything right with G lately. If he tells me he wants to color and I get out the crayons he throws a fit because he wants markers. If I get out his dinosaur coloring book he wants the Thomas one. If I pull up the blue chair to our craft table he wants the yellow one. If I let him choose and he tells me, "dat one" and I hand him, "dat one," then he screams and throws it at me and stomps off to his room. He is getting ticked off by anything and nothing at all. I was in the office earlier today, working and he wanted to color. I gave him some crayons and he wouldn't sit at his table and tried to tear the curtain down. As if the curtain is offensive or something? I mean he seriously threw a fit that the curtain was touching his table. And when I started to color in his book with him, to encourage him to color he kept driving his train right where I was coloring and screaming at me. But when I'd stop coloring he'd get mad and scream and when I went to put them away he'd beg me not to.
I don't know what he wants and he doesn't know how to tell me what's wrong. How do I fix that other than what I'm already doing with him? Is this just a stage like when he was 4 months old and would cry, cry, cry for no apparent reason and then we'd find out that he was getting to rolling over, getting some teeth in, etc.? Is there some big developmental milestone that G's about to hit and that's why he's turned into such a demon? I don't want to get mad with him but I'm finding myself walking away from and ignoring him because I'm getting as frustrated as he obviously is.
I want my sweet baby boy back now, please.
For some reason I cannot do or say anything right with G lately. If he tells me he wants to color and I get out the crayons he throws a fit because he wants markers. If I get out his dinosaur coloring book he wants the Thomas one. If I pull up the blue chair to our craft table he wants the yellow one. If I let him choose and he tells me, "dat one" and I hand him, "dat one," then he screams and throws it at me and stomps off to his room. He is getting ticked off by anything and nothing at all. I was in the office earlier today, working and he wanted to color. I gave him some crayons and he wouldn't sit at his table and tried to tear the curtain down. As if the curtain is offensive or something? I mean he seriously threw a fit that the curtain was touching his table. And when I started to color in his book with him, to encourage him to color he kept driving his train right where I was coloring and screaming at me. But when I'd stop coloring he'd get mad and scream and when I went to put them away he'd beg me not to.
I don't know what he wants and he doesn't know how to tell me what's wrong. How do I fix that other than what I'm already doing with him? Is this just a stage like when he was 4 months old and would cry, cry, cry for no apparent reason and then we'd find out that he was getting to rolling over, getting some teeth in, etc.? Is there some big developmental milestone that G's about to hit and that's why he's turned into such a demon? I don't want to get mad with him but I'm finding myself walking away from and ignoring him because I'm getting as frustrated as he obviously is.
I want my sweet baby boy back now, please.
Blood bath...
Ed woke me up telling me that he had to go to work because there was a possible crime scene at the hot springs. Lovely. Turned out that most likely a drunk idiot smacked his face on a rock getting out of the pools (hot springs pools) and got a bloody nose and said person decided to spray his blood all over the place.
My first thought was not a crime scene but a scene of the food chain. If the bears are hibernating already then it could have been a wolf, but they're kind of afraid of humans so that's not likely. Maybe a cat of some kind? That's possible. Regardless, no body, just blood all over the place (water + blood = the appearance of a lot of blood) and blood towels. I do think Ed was more relieved than disappointed.
While he was gone the neighbor's dogs would not shut up so I went over there to see what their problem was. I didn't "see" a problem but I figured out what was making them go crazy. I could hear something "screaming" up behind the compound. It sounded like maybe an elk or moose was being attacked by wolves. I've heard that "scream" before up here but it's usually much later at night, not at 1:00 in the afternoon. Then I heard two distinct screams.
Sometimes I don't "appreciate" the whole survival of the fittest/food chain thing because I'd sure like to get rid of some of these destructive beasts that the federal governments feels the need to protect. When are we going to stop letting people 1,000's of miles away make decisions about what's best for us without our input or say in it?
My first thought was not a crime scene but a scene of the food chain. If the bears are hibernating already then it could have been a wolf, but they're kind of afraid of humans so that's not likely. Maybe a cat of some kind? That's possible. Regardless, no body, just blood all over the place (water + blood = the appearance of a lot of blood) and blood towels. I do think Ed was more relieved than disappointed.
While he was gone the neighbor's dogs would not shut up so I went over there to see what their problem was. I didn't "see" a problem but I figured out what was making them go crazy. I could hear something "screaming" up behind the compound. It sounded like maybe an elk or moose was being attacked by wolves. I've heard that "scream" before up here but it's usually much later at night, not at 1:00 in the afternoon. Then I heard two distinct screams.
Sometimes I don't "appreciate" the whole survival of the fittest/food chain thing because I'd sure like to get rid of some of these destructive beasts that the federal governments feels the need to protect. When are we going to stop letting people 1,000's of miles away make decisions about what's best for us without our input or say in it?
Friday, November 12, 2010
Suckers!
Yes, I'm using the plural because Ed didn't say no and he wasn't any help either. We were at Lowe's and there was a Mickey and Friends themed Christmas decoration that plays music. G fell in love. It made it's way into our cart and even though we tried to get the cashier to understand that it was a "pretend to ring it up and put it in a bag but don't really give us the bag" kind of deal, somehow it still made that magical beep and landed in a bag in the cart.
Dumbass cashier.
Dumbass momma.
Dumbass $24.99 Christmas decoration.
Dumbass cashier.
Dumbass momma.
Dumbass $24.99 Christmas decoration.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
P.M.S. = pissy manchild (or mini-man if you prefer) syndrome
Some people call it The Terrible Two's but I've figured it out and diagnosed G with: PMS (pissy manchild syndrome).
It's not just a once a month occurrence and it doesn't seem to be tied to any particular phase of the moon. There is no pill for it (trust me, I checked) though you can swim with it and exercise might help ease the cramping.
Side effects: Irritable mother, exhausted father, tormented pooches, weeping, screaming, throwing oneself down on the floor to kick and holler and violent mood swings. Caffeine should be avoided but chocolate can be used to treat the horror.
It's not just a once a month occurrence and it doesn't seem to be tied to any particular phase of the moon. There is no pill for it (trust me, I checked) though you can swim with it and exercise might help ease the cramping.
Side effects: Irritable mother, exhausted father, tormented pooches, weeping, screaming, throwing oneself down on the floor to kick and holler and violent mood swings. Caffeine should be avoided but chocolate can be used to treat the horror.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Ten on Tuesday
1. Who makes your Thanksgiving dinner?
It's a group effort. And by group I mean me and Ed. He likes the things he likes to eat that I don't know how to or care to eat, and I make everything else. I don't know how many, many times I've made a full-on turkey dinner but I still call my mom every year and ask for her help. This year it'll probably be me. I wonder if I can get G in on some of it though? Mm-hm, I'm looking forward to some T-Day dinner...turkey, stuffing (my personal fav), turkey gravy (that's Ed's job), green bean casserole (I'll bet G will eat it), etc. Great, now my mouth is watering.
2. What is your favorite recipe the includes pumpkin? (bonus points for including the recipe)
Hot damn my favorite thing that includes pumpkin is the pumpkin pie milkshakes from Topper Too or Paul Bunyan as the young'un's know it. I did see a recipe in an email the other day and something tells me that I need to try it out:
After trying a pumpkin pie milkshake while on O's field trip, I knew we'd have to try to make them at home! They are easy and delicious to make. You need canned pumpkin, vanilla ice cream, pumpkin pie spice, heavy cream, and milk. We used my mom's bullet blender to make the milkshakes. I put in about 3 or 4 scoops of ice cream, 1/4 cup of milk, 1/4 tsp of pumpkin pie spice, and 2 heaping tablespoons of canned pumpkin and blended it until it was smooth. We topped the milkshakes with fresh whipped cream (we briefly blended heavy cream in the blender).
3. What are 5 things you want for Christmas?
1. fresh snowfall
2. an ornament just for me from Ed and G or Ed or Ed helping G.
3. a set of metal measuring cups or the Pyrex measuring cup glass thingy.
4. a 300 (or larger) lens and a speedlight (unrealistic but hey, it's my list).
5. to hear G sing (or try to sing) a Christmas carol.
4. Does your family draw names or do you buy for everyone?
When I was younger my Dad's side of the family drew names. I absolutely LOVED finding out who I had to shop for that year. I remember plenty of stupidly hurt feelings and favorites playing but what I remember most is the gifts I got from cousins, like the homemade pound puppy that Carli gave me one year or the giant panties and itchy nightgown that Katie Jo gave me one year. I absolutely loved getting to shop for my cousins too and my Mom was so good about letting me help her pick out everyone's gifts. My Dad had 9 siblings and their spouses so they drew between all of them, then the next generation (that I'm in) we drew amongst all of us. But it's died out and I can't even tell you when it was done last.
5. How do you feel about motorcycles?
Organ donor's have to come from somewhere.
I don't mind them but I sure wish people had to take an I.Q. test to be able to drive them. Ed spent the majority of his time this summer scraping stupid motorcyclists off the highway and something tells me it'll be like that next summer too.
6. What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday?
The same thing I'd do on any other rainy day - hang out with G watching one of his favorite movies, coloring, painting, playing trucks and cars on the floor. When he takes a nap I love taking one with him or even better, curling up on the couch with my lover (i.e Kindle) and reading for however long G sleeps! Oh, but then there's the dressing up in our rain coats and boots and going to tromp around in the rain. You can't beat the smell of rain in the woods!!!
7. What is the coolest thing to do in your city?
Uh, what's a city? No, really we're not even incorporated! I guess what's cool depends on who you ask. One neighbor likes to trap animals and sell the pelts, one neighbor likes to sit and watch his satellite TV and play with G (lots), Ed likes the hunting, the fishing, the hiking, etc. Everyone "likes" the Lodge since it's the only "place" we have here but no one likes to spend the ridiculous amount of $$ they charge to eat there. G likes to just "be" anywhere here. I like to just "be" G's momma and Ed's wife anywhere here. Oh, but I do also love sitting out by the campfire in our side yard with my laptop and wireless internet. Not too many people can do that!
8. Do you paint your fingernails?
Not typically and not now especially since I'm officially missing a thumbnail. I do love to have my toenails painted though, there's something about it that makes me feel feminine! They're orange right now in honor of the fall season.
9. Who is your favorite actor over the age of 50?
Sean Connery, grr baby! On TV it's Mark Harmon (you know, Leroy Jethro Gibbs). I would hop in the sack with either of them (don't worry, Ed, I'd still come home to you!)
10. Do you have a high school letter jacket?
I have 3 letters but I never bothered to get the jacket. I just didn't care enough to do it. I wasn't a "jock" like the other girls that wore letterman jackets and I wasn't a brain like the dorks who wore letterman jackets for lettering academically. I got my first letter in music and my feeling was, "WTF? A person can letter in music?" Like I wanted to advertise that I was a band geek, sheesh. Besides, my parents didn't have money for frivilous crap like that and I certainly wasn't about to spend my hard earned money on something like that - I needed it for gas and other crap.
It's a group effort. And by group I mean me and Ed. He likes the things he likes to eat that I don't know how to or care to eat, and I make everything else. I don't know how many, many times I've made a full-on turkey dinner but I still call my mom every year and ask for her help. This year it'll probably be me. I wonder if I can get G in on some of it though? Mm-hm, I'm looking forward to some T-Day dinner...turkey, stuffing (my personal fav), turkey gravy (that's Ed's job), green bean casserole (I'll bet G will eat it), etc. Great, now my mouth is watering.
2. What is your favorite recipe the includes pumpkin? (bonus points for including the recipe)
Hot damn my favorite thing that includes pumpkin is the pumpkin pie milkshakes from Topper Too or Paul Bunyan as the young'un's know it. I did see a recipe in an email the other day and something tells me that I need to try it out:
After trying a pumpkin pie milkshake while on O's field trip, I knew we'd have to try to make them at home! They are easy and delicious to make. You need canned pumpkin, vanilla ice cream, pumpkin pie spice, heavy cream, and milk. We used my mom's bullet blender to make the milkshakes. I put in about 3 or 4 scoops of ice cream, 1/4 cup of milk, 1/4 tsp of pumpkin pie spice, and 2 heaping tablespoons of canned pumpkin and blended it until it was smooth. We topped the milkshakes with fresh whipped cream (we briefly blended heavy cream in the blender).
3. What are 5 things you want for Christmas?
1. fresh snowfall
2. an ornament just for me from Ed and G or Ed or Ed helping G.
3. a set of metal measuring cups or the Pyrex measuring cup glass thingy.
4. a 300 (or larger) lens and a speedlight (unrealistic but hey, it's my list).
5. to hear G sing (or try to sing) a Christmas carol.
4. Does your family draw names or do you buy for everyone?
When I was younger my Dad's side of the family drew names. I absolutely LOVED finding out who I had to shop for that year. I remember plenty of stupidly hurt feelings and favorites playing but what I remember most is the gifts I got from cousins, like the homemade pound puppy that Carli gave me one year or the giant panties and itchy nightgown that Katie Jo gave me one year. I absolutely loved getting to shop for my cousins too and my Mom was so good about letting me help her pick out everyone's gifts. My Dad had 9 siblings and their spouses so they drew between all of them, then the next generation (that I'm in) we drew amongst all of us. But it's died out and I can't even tell you when it was done last.
5. How do you feel about motorcycles?
Organ donor's have to come from somewhere.
I don't mind them but I sure wish people had to take an I.Q. test to be able to drive them. Ed spent the majority of his time this summer scraping stupid motorcyclists off the highway and something tells me it'll be like that next summer too.
6. What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday?
The same thing I'd do on any other rainy day - hang out with G watching one of his favorite movies, coloring, painting, playing trucks and cars on the floor. When he takes a nap I love taking one with him or even better, curling up on the couch with my lover (i.e Kindle) and reading for however long G sleeps! Oh, but then there's the dressing up in our rain coats and boots and going to tromp around in the rain. You can't beat the smell of rain in the woods!!!
7. What is the coolest thing to do in your city?
Uh, what's a city? No, really we're not even incorporated! I guess what's cool depends on who you ask. One neighbor likes to trap animals and sell the pelts, one neighbor likes to sit and watch his satellite TV and play with G (lots), Ed likes the hunting, the fishing, the hiking, etc. Everyone "likes" the Lodge since it's the only "place" we have here but no one likes to spend the ridiculous amount of $$ they charge to eat there. G likes to just "be" anywhere here. I like to just "be" G's momma and Ed's wife anywhere here. Oh, but I do also love sitting out by the campfire in our side yard with my laptop and wireless internet. Not too many people can do that!
8. Do you paint your fingernails?
Not typically and not now especially since I'm officially missing a thumbnail. I do love to have my toenails painted though, there's something about it that makes me feel feminine! They're orange right now in honor of the fall season.
9. Who is your favorite actor over the age of 50?
Sean Connery, grr baby! On TV it's Mark Harmon (you know, Leroy Jethro Gibbs). I would hop in the sack with either of them (don't worry, Ed, I'd still come home to you!)
10. Do you have a high school letter jacket?
I have 3 letters but I never bothered to get the jacket. I just didn't care enough to do it. I wasn't a "jock" like the other girls that wore letterman jackets and I wasn't a brain like the dorks who wore letterman jackets for lettering academically. I got my first letter in music and my feeling was, "WTF? A person can letter in music?" Like I wanted to advertise that I was a band geek, sheesh. Besides, my parents didn't have money for frivilous crap like that and I certainly wasn't about to spend my hard earned money on something like that - I needed it for gas and other crap.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
alphabet school :)
G has this toy that I picked up a long time ago from either TJ Maxx or Ross. It's a metal tin with a handle in the shape of a house and it contains big, hardbacked cards with a letter inset in it and a picture of whatever word is on the card (i.e A for ant) and letter magnets. I haven't let G play with it much before because he prefers to just open it up and throw all the pieces around. And being the anal retentive person that I am, I have to make sure every card and every letter (and the numbers 0-9) make it back in the box so the set is complete. Stop laughing, this is a big deal to me and I've learned to relax quite a bit but not quite this much.
Anyway, he brought me the case (after pulling so hard on the entertainment center doors where I keep some toys that he broke the child lock off) while I was working and said, "Weeze momma?" Oh gee, force me/twist my arm to stop doing this stupid and redundant paying work and get on my belly on the floor to play with you. We dumped out all the cards and magnets and I thought I'd try something different. He's getting so good with his letters and struggling a little with his colors (that'd be regression if you've been paying attention) so I was hoping that since the letter magnets are different colors I could focus on not necessarily the letter but the color of the letter. I turned the cards face side down and let him pick one card at a time. Then we'd look through all the letters for, "The blue X." Whichever letter he'd choose I'd let him try and put it in the recessed space on the card. Most of the time I didn't even have to say no, he'd say, "Not dat one," or just, "No!" There were some letters that he had a little trouble with but then I'd jump in and point to a letter and say, "Is this the blue X?" If it wasn't he'd say, "Noooooo not dat one." Sometimes he'd get it wrong and I'd correct him again but he did fantastic. And almost every time when I'd say, "Which letter do we have now?" And, "Okay, let's find that letter," he'd say, "Okay, momma, go!" Or "Okay, yeah, dat one."
When he started to get bored (before we had done all the letters) I said, "Should we get Thomas (the train) to help?" Well heck, if it's Thomas then it's cool in G's eyes. So I would take Thomas and drive him by the remaining letters and every.time since G was watching where Thomas was going, he'd see the letter he was after. Only one time did I have to take Thomas and use him to push the letter that we were looking for towards G. G would say, "Da choo-choo do it."
Letters, you say, big deal! Well it is to me. He wasn't just identifying them by sight, he was saying the letter name as well. The colors, that didn't happen, but he did use what I told him, "The Y is yellow, baby, not blue" to find what he was looking for. And having his concentration while going through all the letters of the alphabet? Awesomeness! Knowing so many letters of the alphabet at his age is being ahead of the game and according to our CDC worker by age 3 a child should know 3-5 of his/her colors consistently. So, do I keep working on the letters or should I start "pushing" learning on the colors and numbers? The only number he identifies is 2 by the way.
At bedtime I was trying to calm and quiet him down and I said, "Will you sing ABC with me?" He always answers no but tonight he said, "Yeah, go!" So I started and said, "A, B, C" and he interjected, "D!" I was taken aback, shocked even. He then did the I, O,P, W, Y in the correct order of the song. Some of the letters he'd repeat after I said them but not many. It was awesome. I can never get him to sing but he's always liked it when we sing to him. So, a little leap in the "he never parrots us" department. Sometimes I'm not sure that this whole not parroting thing isn't so bad since he hasn't laid out the f-bomb in front of anyone yet. Goodness knows we say enough of that kind of stuff that he'd have repeated it by now.
Anyway, he brought me the case (after pulling so hard on the entertainment center doors where I keep some toys that he broke the child lock off) while I was working and said, "Weeze momma?" Oh gee, force me/twist my arm to stop doing this stupid and redundant paying work and get on my belly on the floor to play with you. We dumped out all the cards and magnets and I thought I'd try something different. He's getting so good with his letters and struggling a little with his colors (that'd be regression if you've been paying attention) so I was hoping that since the letter magnets are different colors I could focus on not necessarily the letter but the color of the letter. I turned the cards face side down and let him pick one card at a time. Then we'd look through all the letters for, "The blue X." Whichever letter he'd choose I'd let him try and put it in the recessed space on the card. Most of the time I didn't even have to say no, he'd say, "Not dat one," or just, "No!" There were some letters that he had a little trouble with but then I'd jump in and point to a letter and say, "Is this the blue X?" If it wasn't he'd say, "Noooooo not dat one." Sometimes he'd get it wrong and I'd correct him again but he did fantastic. And almost every time when I'd say, "Which letter do we have now?" And, "Okay, let's find that letter," he'd say, "Okay, momma, go!" Or "Okay, yeah, dat one."
When he started to get bored (before we had done all the letters) I said, "Should we get Thomas (the train) to help?" Well heck, if it's Thomas then it's cool in G's eyes. So I would take Thomas and drive him by the remaining letters and every.time since G was watching where Thomas was going, he'd see the letter he was after. Only one time did I have to take Thomas and use him to push the letter that we were looking for towards G. G would say, "Da choo-choo do it."
Letters, you say, big deal! Well it is to me. He wasn't just identifying them by sight, he was saying the letter name as well. The colors, that didn't happen, but he did use what I told him, "The Y is yellow, baby, not blue" to find what he was looking for. And having his concentration while going through all the letters of the alphabet? Awesomeness! Knowing so many letters of the alphabet at his age is being ahead of the game and according to our CDC worker by age 3 a child should know 3-5 of his/her colors consistently. So, do I keep working on the letters or should I start "pushing" learning on the colors and numbers? The only number he identifies is 2 by the way.
At bedtime I was trying to calm and quiet him down and I said, "Will you sing ABC with me?" He always answers no but tonight he said, "Yeah, go!" So I started and said, "A, B, C" and he interjected, "D!" I was taken aback, shocked even. He then did the I, O,P, W, Y in the correct order of the song. Some of the letters he'd repeat after I said them but not many. It was awesome. I can never get him to sing but he's always liked it when we sing to him. So, a little leap in the "he never parrots us" department. Sometimes I'm not sure that this whole not parroting thing isn't so bad since he hasn't laid out the f-bomb in front of anyone yet. Goodness knows we say enough of that kind of stuff that he'd have repeated it by now.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Best day!
On Saturday morning G and I packed up to head home. G had a rough night because he fell off the bed and hit his head on the desk by the bed. He SCREAMED for 20 minutes and he did not want to be comforted at all. At one point he was sobbing, "Nana, Nana!" So sad! Anyway, I had decided that we were going to take the LOOOOOOOOONG way home and G and I headed south on 95 to Moscow where we found Aunty Sarah at her dorm! She didn't know we were coming and I found her building on my own. She was just getting back from grocery shopping with her home health aide and so we just followed behind them and when they started into the building she saw my reflection in the door! :) I think we surprised her!
It was a GORGEOUS day in Moscow and so we spent most of our time outside. Sarah took us to the Campus bookstore so we could check that out, and she showed us where she gets her mail, the cafeteria, etc. I really liked seeing how she lives - to me it looks like she's thriving really. So the best did come out of a crappy situation (i.e. her "friend" dumping her less than a week before school started). Her dorm room is nice but warm! She has this wonderful wall of windows but no a/c so the sun streams in them and it gets warm! We played some air hockey and foosball in the commons area and then we motored on down to an Italian restaurant for an early dinner so G and I could get back on the road home at a decent time.
G loved riding in Sarah's motorized wheelchair. I was kind of jealous - I wanted to ride too! She kept making me have to jog to keep up with them though - she's kind of a speed racer like that. G fell asleep at the Italian restaurant, which was so cute! We seatbelted him onto Sarah's lap and I drove the wheelchair with my left hand since she used her good arm to hold him on the chair. He snuggled right into her and slept the whole walk back.
I put him in his carseat and Sarah went back up to her room and we got on the road home. G slept all the way to Lewiston and woke up when I stopped to gas up. Then I turned up the music loud and we headed up highway 12. I hadn't driven eastbound on hwy 12 from Lewiston by myself before. It got dark pretty quick and it was an interesting drive for sure! It was foggy for the majority of the drive but thankfully we didn't see much at all for wildlife. I was flagged down by a car a few miles up the road from the house and ended up giving 3 people a ride up to the Lodge so they could call for help.
I think Ed was happy to have us home (we got home around 8:00 pm) since he unloaded my whole car in a hurry! I missed my house but it sure was an awesome (albeit short) road trip. Getting to hang out with my Mom is one of my favorite things to do but G was a great little boy the whole time too. Then getting to see Sarah makes me excited for when I can go back and see her by myself later this winter!
I think Ed was happy to have us home (we got home around 8:00 pm) since he unloaded my whole car in a hurry! I missed my house but it sure was an awesome (albeit short) road trip. Getting to hang out with my Mom is one of my favorite things to do but G was a great little boy the whole time too. Then getting to see Sarah makes me excited for when I can go back and see her by myself later this winter!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Road trippin!
Mom and I went to Trader Tots where I found out that I'd already made $29.50 in consignments. Yay! I spent it all on some boots for G, a pair of funny pj's, a flannel shirt and a pair of drawstring pants. We stopped at Borders so I could look for my Lightroom 3 books and hopefully decide which one to get. Too bad they only had 1 of the 2 so I couldn't compare. I found another book that made me start to cry titled "On The Night You Were Born." Lovely! We also spotted the Elf on the Shelf and I'll be picking that up for G on a later payday. It's such a cute idea!
I had dropped G off with my old friend Jamie (old as in we've been friends for a long time, not old as in wrinkles and gray hairs) in the morning and mom and I went and got massages. They weren't "bad" but neither of us was particularly impressed with them. It was still a nice treat. We went to Las Chavelas for lunch because my momma knows what I likes - even if I wasn't supposed to eat chips because of the gaping hole in my mouth. She rented G some Thomas DVD's from her store and we spent the evening at home!
Oh - and we had gone to Michaels and gotten some yarn because she likes my brown crocheted hat so much she figured out how to make one. So she made that in one sitting for me first and she'd better be working on the off-white one for herself now! :) She is going to look SO cute!!!
She cut G's hair (he did great - it wasn't the usual melt down wrestling match) and then pulled my hair through a cap and gave me blond highlights. I dyed her gray roots for her too! :)
I had dropped G off with my old friend Jamie (old as in we've been friends for a long time, not old as in wrinkles and gray hairs) in the morning and mom and I went and got massages. They weren't "bad" but neither of us was particularly impressed with them. It was still a nice treat. We went to Las Chavelas for lunch because my momma knows what I likes - even if I wasn't supposed to eat chips because of the gaping hole in my mouth. She rented G some Thomas DVD's from her store and we spent the evening at home!
Oh - and we had gone to Michaels and gotten some yarn because she likes my brown crocheted hat so much she figured out how to make one. So she made that in one sitting for me first and she'd better be working on the off-white one for herself now! :) She is going to look SO cute!!!
She cut G's hair (he did great - it wasn't the usual melt down wrestling match) and then pulled my hair through a cap and gave me blond highlights. I dyed her gray roots for her too! :)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Ouch in my mouth, ouch in my pocketbook
I came up to my Mom's because of that ouchy tooth that ended up being a crown that came completely off, posts and all. The tooth has now been surgically extracted (i.e. cut into gum and pull out what was left which was basically just the root system) and that was no fun even though I did say yes to that damn laughing gas. It reminded me of my c-section, the numbness coupled with lots of pressure and pulling. And it made me remember the old days when my Dad would just take us down to his workshop and pull out our loose teeth with a set of pliers. I'm a dork and that made me miss my Dad.
Anyway, surgical extraction and then once the socket heals (a few months0 I get to come back for another bridge. That will make bridge #3 in my mouth. I'm so tired of my crappy teeth. Oh - and two of my fillings fell out so they'll have to be redone as well.
I came home from picking up my antibiotic (the roots have an infection) and pain pills plus something soft to eat. I found that Nana and G were already taking a nap so I got the rest of my IA audio done since it's due tomorrow morning. I probably should have napped but oh well.
Anyway, surgical extraction and then once the socket heals (a few months0 I get to come back for another bridge. That will make bridge #3 in my mouth. I'm so tired of my crappy teeth. Oh - and two of my fillings fell out so they'll have to be redone as well.
I came home from picking up my antibiotic (the roots have an infection) and pain pills plus something soft to eat. I found that Nana and G were already taking a nap so I got the rest of my IA audio done since it's due tomorrow morning. I probably should have napped but oh well.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Nana House!!!
G loves him some Nana house!
After a quick drive from home to "Nana house!" we arrived just before she got home from work. We stayed at the house for a little while but then G, Nana, Aunty Crazy and I went down to Fort Sherman and let G run around like a crazy man. We also took him down to the beach there by the park. Mom & Aunty Crazy got some good pictures of my handsome little boy! We tried to keep him out of the water but for a split second someone's eyes weren't on him and he walked right into it. That pretty much put an end to the park/beach. While it was a GORGEOUS and warm fall day, it wasn't warm enough for soaked pant legs and waterlogged Chucks.
The four of us went to dinner at Chinese Gardens because it's nostalgic for me (used to have lunch there with my dad all the time) and because chinese just sounded good. They did not disappoint! We came back to Nana House and relaxed until it was time for bed! When G finally gave up he fell hard asleep! I stayed up for a little while and hung up with Nana and did some typing work.
After a quick drive from home to "Nana house!" we arrived just before she got home from work. We stayed at the house for a little while but then G, Nana, Aunty Crazy and I went down to Fort Sherman and let G run around like a crazy man. We also took him down to the beach there by the park. Mom & Aunty Crazy got some good pictures of my handsome little boy! We tried to keep him out of the water but for a split second someone's eyes weren't on him and he walked right into it. That pretty much put an end to the park/beach. While it was a GORGEOUS and warm fall day, it wasn't warm enough for soaked pant legs and waterlogged Chucks.
The four of us went to dinner at Chinese Gardens because it's nostalgic for me (used to have lunch there with my dad all the time) and because chinese just sounded good. They did not disappoint! We came back to Nana House and relaxed until it was time for bed! When G finally gave up he fell hard asleep! I stayed up for a little while and hung up with Nana and did some typing work.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Obsessive much?
Ed saw this Thomas train set at Walmart and decided that G had to have it. G had spotted it out of the corner of his eye as we went right by the toy aisle and I thought he was going to give himself whiplash trying to keep an eye on that train. He batted his eyelashes and Ed and Ed, being the pushover he is - fell hook, line and sinker. So the Thomas & Friends: Zip, Zoom and Logging Adventure (http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Friends-Zoom-Logging-Adventure/dp/B00388C6L2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1288755449&sr=8-1) came home with us. G would not let it out of his sight and had to be touching it somehow the whole way home. When the sun went down and there wasn't enough light in the car to see G had a cow because he HAD to be seeing Thomas.
I put it away when we got home because he was being a terror with the thought that since Ed got it for him it'd have to wait for Ed. Ed worked yesterday so G had to wait until Ed got home from work. He had been a sweet boy all day, seemingly forgetting all about the choo-choo. Ed got it out and G danced around SO excited about his new choo-choo track. I heard him chanting, "My turn Dada, my turn" and "Yay choo-choo, go choo-choo!" Once it was put together they played with that thing all the way 'til bedtime.
G and I did have a battle of wills when it came time to eat dinner because once again G didn't want to have to stop what he was doing (playing) to eat. It was even pizza, which he loves. I don't know how he thinks he's going to win a stubborness battle. I am the champion, I am where he gets the stubborness from originally. Someday he might be able to match my skill but he doesn't have the chops quite yet!
Ten on Tuesday
1. Do you color? If you do, is it with markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.?
G and I love to color. He prefers markers and I prefer crayons. We have colored pencils but, meh, they just don't do it for us quite yet. We love to paint but with the more real pants and not those cheesy (and greasy) fingerpaints that Crayola makes. Oh - and chalk - chalk is always fun!!!
2. What’s the most organized part (or system) in your house?
The diapers. I have a wicker basket that fits on the bottom shelf of the coffee table and I keep the diapers, wipes, butt creams, etc. in there. Otherwise it'd be the craft cabinet part of the entertainment center.
3. What’s the most unorganized part (or system) in your house?
I really need to organize my kitchen better since I got those new shelves that I should be using as a pantry. But I just can't bring myself to start that big of a project. It's gonna suck, fo real.
4. If you had unlimited amounts of time and money, what museum would you want to see and why?
I've been to the Smithsonian but it was for only a few hours one day. I didn't get to see even 1/100th of what it has to offer. I've been to the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum too (as a kid) and I thought it was pretty awesome!!!
5. What is your favorite part of the fall season?
Just one part? I love the harvest moon. Fall is my favorite season!
6. Did you dress up for Halloween?
Not unless you consider my "Sleep deprived, fat assed, missing clumps of hair because of potty training, still carrying around 15 pounds of baby weight mom" a costume. G dressed up like a monkey, though.
7. Have you started Christmas shopping?
Yes! It won't be much this year but we'll still have a Christmas! No one is getting coal (or poop) in their stocking this year but no one is getting a trip to Shanghai either. So deal with it.
8. Do you crack your knuckles?
I crack EVERYTHING that I can crack! It helps to relieve the pressure in my joints so don't tell me not to do it or I'll punch you in the head. I wish my momma lived closer because she's the only person who has ever been able to pop my back correctly.
9. If you had to live in another city for a year (all expenses paid), which city would you choose?
NYC baby! But I'd need my SIL tour guide probably. And I'd want to be on Cash Cab. Not to win the money, just to look like a moron on television. I'd go shopping at the coolest stores and see some plays/musicals and eat really good food.
10. Do you have any reoccurring dreams?
I have been having dreams about my dad lately, but otherwise it's the same old being chased, being shot at, etc. dreams.
G and I love to color. He prefers markers and I prefer crayons. We have colored pencils but, meh, they just don't do it for us quite yet. We love to paint but with the more real pants and not those cheesy (and greasy) fingerpaints that Crayola makes. Oh - and chalk - chalk is always fun!!!
2. What’s the most organized part (or system) in your house?
The diapers. I have a wicker basket that fits on the bottom shelf of the coffee table and I keep the diapers, wipes, butt creams, etc. in there. Otherwise it'd be the craft cabinet part of the entertainment center.
3. What’s the most unorganized part (or system) in your house?
I really need to organize my kitchen better since I got those new shelves that I should be using as a pantry. But I just can't bring myself to start that big of a project. It's gonna suck, fo real.
4. If you had unlimited amounts of time and money, what museum would you want to see and why?
I've been to the Smithsonian but it was for only a few hours one day. I didn't get to see even 1/100th of what it has to offer. I've been to the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum too (as a kid) and I thought it was pretty awesome!!!
5. What is your favorite part of the fall season?
Just one part? I love the harvest moon. Fall is my favorite season!
6. Did you dress up for Halloween?
Not unless you consider my "Sleep deprived, fat assed, missing clumps of hair because of potty training, still carrying around 15 pounds of baby weight mom" a costume. G dressed up like a monkey, though.
7. Have you started Christmas shopping?
Yes! It won't be much this year but we'll still have a Christmas! No one is getting coal (or poop) in their stocking this year but no one is getting a trip to Shanghai either. So deal with it.
8. Do you crack your knuckles?
I crack EVERYTHING that I can crack! It helps to relieve the pressure in my joints so don't tell me not to do it or I'll punch you in the head. I wish my momma lived closer because she's the only person who has ever been able to pop my back correctly.
9. If you had to live in another city for a year (all expenses paid), which city would you choose?
NYC baby! But I'd need my SIL tour guide probably. And I'd want to be on Cash Cab. Not to win the money, just to look like a moron on television. I'd go shopping at the coolest stores and see some plays/musicals and eat really good food.
10. Do you have any reoccurring dreams?
I have been having dreams about my dad lately, but otherwise it's the same old being chased, being shot at, etc. dreams.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Halloween TOTing 2010
Note to self: When taking G TOTing (trick or treating) at the mall, enter on the JC Penney side and not the Dillards side because that's where the play area and train are and it will result in G throwing a screaming huge hissy fit for 20 minutes because he wants to play, not collect candy.
The first "stop" on the mall TOTing tour was a pediatric dentist office and they were handing out toothbrushes. I thought that was hilarious irony right there! I'm going to have to remember that place when I get brave enough to take G in for his first dentist appointment. I'm all about a doctor/dentist with a sense of humor. We were all a little disappointed in the selection of candy, though I know beggars shouldn't be choosers. Most of the candy is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO not 2 year old friendly. Lots of hard candy and gum. Like I'm about to let him have gum. But probably 50% of his candy from the mall was lollipops (i.e. dumdums and blow pops) so I'll let him have the dumdums and regular lollipops but the Blow Pops? I think not. When we made the entire loop around the mall (it was a big, snaking line of people and kids) we went to the dang play area and G had a GREAT time. We only had to take him out of another kids candy bucket twice!
When we went grocery shopping Ed HAD to buy G a super cool Thomas track set. I had to adjust our grocery budget to accomodate it. G never took his eyes off the thing, having to touch the box even when he was eating his dinner. He threw an absolute fit when the sun went down and he couldn't "see" it so when we got home I put it away and he can have it another day because I'm not about to reward bad behavior.
So, his first actual trick or treating experience wasn't great, but he is a 2 year old after all!
The first "stop" on the mall TOTing tour was a pediatric dentist office and they were handing out toothbrushes. I thought that was hilarious irony right there! I'm going to have to remember that place when I get brave enough to take G in for his first dentist appointment. I'm all about a doctor/dentist with a sense of humor. We were all a little disappointed in the selection of candy, though I know beggars shouldn't be choosers. Most of the candy is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO not 2 year old friendly. Lots of hard candy and gum. Like I'm about to let him have gum. But probably 50% of his candy from the mall was lollipops (i.e. dumdums and blow pops) so I'll let him have the dumdums and regular lollipops but the Blow Pops? I think not. When we made the entire loop around the mall (it was a big, snaking line of people and kids) we went to the dang play area and G had a GREAT time. We only had to take him out of another kids candy bucket twice!
When we went grocery shopping Ed HAD to buy G a super cool Thomas track set. I had to adjust our grocery budget to accomodate it. G never took his eyes off the thing, having to touch the box even when he was eating his dinner. He threw an absolute fit when the sun went down and he couldn't "see" it so when we got home I put it away and he can have it another day because I'm not about to reward bad behavior.
So, his first actual trick or treating experience wasn't great, but he is a 2 year old after all!
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