This was the question I asked Andy when he told me he had a biography book report assigned last Tuesday.
He told me, "My friend got Helen Keller and I got Todd Cooke."
I'm thinking...OK...I consider myself educated in many areas. This should include all of the "popular" biographies assigned to 2nd graders (George Washington, Helen Keller, Pocahontas and other various and sundry educators, inventors, business men and women), but Todd Cooke. Todd COOKE? Athlete? Politician? WHO?!?!?
So I ask. I'm only human right? "Who is Todd Cooke?"
Andy says, "Hmm. I'm not sure. Let me double check the book I got from my teacher. (looks in his backpack). Oh, I mean Henry Ford!" TODD COOKE? How did he come up with THAT? OK, whew. Henry Ford I know! I HAVEN'T been under a rock.
My friend says that Henry Ford (aka Todd Cooke) is perfect for Andersen. He loved to take watches apart and tinker with combustion engines. This is right up Andy's alley. This is the child that took my vacuum cleaner apart at age 2. He was 2, not my vacuum cleaner. Of course, I couldn't put it back together so I got out of vacuuming that day.
This same child also used to peel and break every single crayon to see what was inside. You got it. The whole box. After all, maybe green has a different middle than brown that may be different from red, etc. Every toy car he owned (or still owns) have the rubber tire parts removed and are driving around on their rims. So, OK onto Henry Ford.
With Andy, I have to reel him in. My daughter has trouble getting started and planning a big project. Andy, on the other hand, wants to start the project at the end (skip the research, skip the roughdrafts). So, he's already printing out pictures of Henry and asking where the gluestick is. Of course, I let my kids do as much on their own as possible, but I have to make sure Andy at least follows the directions and does this in steps.
The mystery has been solved though. Todd Cooke is a REAL PERSON! I almost woke up the entire house with my outburst of laughter the other night. I was the only one still awake and I was watching TV. I'm a night owl and particularly relish the time after everyone's gone to sleep. This often comes at the expense of my alertness the next day, but I've been setting limits on myself better.
What comes on but a commercial for Todd Cooke, a local business man with a website and an 800 number. My son obviously saw this ad too (albeit earlier in the day) and got his wires crossed with the American founder of the Ford Motor Company.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Calm Before the Spring
"Play Ball!"
This is usually the signal to start a baseball game, right? Well, in our case, we have baseball games, soccer games ("Gooooooaaal!" no, they don't really do that at my kids' games) and karate equipment ("Hi-YA!" They DO do that.)! Harry and Malcolm are 5 and hence, are starting T-ball this spring! Oh, and they're doing soccer...oh, and Andy's also playing baseball. Karate? That's not going anywhere...no, Lilly still hasn't tested for her black belt so she hasn't quit yet. All four are still chopping, punching and kicking up a storm.
Yes, this is a totally crazy schedule. Yes, we may have to reduce it, but we'll take it one step at a time. This is how our weeks will look this spring: 2-4 baseball games during the week (that's if my twins end up on the same team) and, assuming the same team thing, 2 on Saturdays.
My twins are still young enough that they only play soccer once a week. It's from 8am-9am on Saturdays, so there shouldn't be any conflict with anyone's baseball games.
Karate is still twice a week. We can choose any two days M-F. The blessing here is that Lilly and Andy are in the same class now as are Harry and Malcolm. The two classes are back-to-back and life is GOOD in the karate chaffeur department.
OK, I know you're asking "WHY is she DOING this?!" Well, one reason, the most obvious one, is my kids (especially my boys) I think are the most active beings on the PLANET! Their energy is unprecedented. For example, my son, Andy, will shovel my entire driveway (which is not short)clear of wet, heavy snow and then come in and ask when we can go to the big hill in town and sled for the remainder of the afternoon (or right through dinner and into the evening if I didn't set limits!). Come summer, this shoveling and sledding will be replaced with endless amounts of swimming. These are just some manifestations of their boundless energy.
The only thing I can do with them is get them to exercise. My daughter, being 10, has found pleasure in doing more calm activities lately, but is still very active. My children do sleep well and can wind down, do homework, read/look at books, play with Legos and do puzzles. However, this is MUCH harder to accomplish without at least one hour of running, jumping, climbing, etc. As you can imagine, rainy days are VERY difficult. That doesn't mean that the boys don't go out though. Thank goodness they enjoy getting wet!
Ironically, all of these activities actually help me too. Our family, especially me, does not do well without structure. Even when the weather's nice, when we don't have any plans, my boys find ways to get into fights outside (not just the verbal kind either). I also get much more done around the house if I can plan tasks around things. My husband is a huge help too. He will shuttle around the sport participants and I will stay home with whoever is not participating or vice versa. This way, everyone gets to split up nicely. We do "schedule" downtime as I know the family needs that too, but there just can't be too much of it!
Can it be hectic? Absolutely! The spring is usually the most busy time for us. Since we live in a cold climate, spring is the only time to play town baseball. Andy loves all sports so he does this one in the spring. My twins really enjoy doing soccer and want to stick with it. Since they're only 5 and they haven't tried baseball yet (well, T-ball at their level), we kind of have to bite the bullet and double up this spring. This way, they can each see what they like better and go down to only one next spring.
For now, I am savoring the warmer days and the slow pace of the kids coming home from school and going out to play. Soon, we'll be "going out" to "play"!
This is usually the signal to start a baseball game, right? Well, in our case, we have baseball games, soccer games ("Gooooooaaal!" no, they don't really do that at my kids' games) and karate equipment ("Hi-YA!" They DO do that.)! Harry and Malcolm are 5 and hence, are starting T-ball this spring! Oh, and they're doing soccer...oh, and Andy's also playing baseball. Karate? That's not going anywhere...no, Lilly still hasn't tested for her black belt so she hasn't quit yet. All four are still chopping, punching and kicking up a storm.
Yes, this is a totally crazy schedule. Yes, we may have to reduce it, but we'll take it one step at a time. This is how our weeks will look this spring: 2-4 baseball games during the week (that's if my twins end up on the same team) and, assuming the same team thing, 2 on Saturdays.
My twins are still young enough that they only play soccer once a week. It's from 8am-9am on Saturdays, so there shouldn't be any conflict with anyone's baseball games.
Karate is still twice a week. We can choose any two days M-F. The blessing here is that Lilly and Andy are in the same class now as are Harry and Malcolm. The two classes are back-to-back and life is GOOD in the karate chaffeur department.
OK, I know you're asking "WHY is she DOING this?!" Well, one reason, the most obvious one, is my kids (especially my boys) I think are the most active beings on the PLANET! Their energy is unprecedented. For example, my son, Andy, will shovel my entire driveway (which is not short)clear of wet, heavy snow and then come in and ask when we can go to the big hill in town and sled for the remainder of the afternoon (or right through dinner and into the evening if I didn't set limits!). Come summer, this shoveling and sledding will be replaced with endless amounts of swimming. These are just some manifestations of their boundless energy.
The only thing I can do with them is get them to exercise. My daughter, being 10, has found pleasure in doing more calm activities lately, but is still very active. My children do sleep well and can wind down, do homework, read/look at books, play with Legos and do puzzles. However, this is MUCH harder to accomplish without at least one hour of running, jumping, climbing, etc. As you can imagine, rainy days are VERY difficult. That doesn't mean that the boys don't go out though. Thank goodness they enjoy getting wet!
Ironically, all of these activities actually help me too. Our family, especially me, does not do well without structure. Even when the weather's nice, when we don't have any plans, my boys find ways to get into fights outside (not just the verbal kind either). I also get much more done around the house if I can plan tasks around things. My husband is a huge help too. He will shuttle around the sport participants and I will stay home with whoever is not participating or vice versa. This way, everyone gets to split up nicely. We do "schedule" downtime as I know the family needs that too, but there just can't be too much of it!
Can it be hectic? Absolutely! The spring is usually the most busy time for us. Since we live in a cold climate, spring is the only time to play town baseball. Andy loves all sports so he does this one in the spring. My twins really enjoy doing soccer and want to stick with it. Since they're only 5 and they haven't tried baseball yet (well, T-ball at their level), we kind of have to bite the bullet and double up this spring. This way, they can each see what they like better and go down to only one next spring.
For now, I am savoring the warmer days and the slow pace of the kids coming home from school and going out to play. Soon, we'll be "going out" to "play"!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
"At the Car Wash..."
"...whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Workin' at the car wash, girl. Come on ya'll and sing it for me. Car wash..." ---Rose Royce, MCA Records, 1976
OK, so I'm dating myself here. By the way, hi everyone. I'm back to stay and write often and a LOT! Watch out!
Some days since I last wrote have just been too jam-packed to take in/take jaw off the floor, digest, critique, put a humorous and positive spin on it and then share with you. I have decided, however, just to write some of it even if I can't write ALL of it. So, here goes..."reset button"...onto the "car wash incident".
We've had a messy winter in the northeast. Not nearly enough snow as I would have liked while other parts of the country got way MORE than they would have liked. However, it seemed like I had to wash my car at least once a week! This is a often for me.
My minivan is a dark maroon, so it really shows the dirt. We knew this going into it when we bought it, so I'm not complaining, just amazed at how much faster it got dirtier this winter than last!
I would wait until a snowstorm was over and all the slushy, salty, sandy, gross mess was dried up on the roads. I also knew it was time when I would open the rear hatch and there would be so much crust covering the paint that telltale fingerprints (telling the tale that SOMEONE'S BEEN IN THE TRUNK...check it out next time you're stopped at a red light behind a dirty car) wouldn't even SHOW. Bad. Yes.
Boom! Then it would snow again...just enough to make a MESS and not enough to enjoy (sledding, snow days, snowmen, and for Andy, shoveling as he lives for it). Back window? Do I HAVE one? I can't see through it. Telltale prints? Nope. Back to the ol' car wash.
Last Friday was no exception, well, "except" for the fact that it was supposed to be like spring this weekend...no messy roads in the forecast! Malcolm is no longer afraid of the loud brushes and the jets of water spraying directly at his little face looking out the window. So, I don't have to wait until he is not with me to do the soapy, watery, frequent task.
OK, I pull up and put my $10 bill in, 'cause it says they accept cash $1's, $5's and $10's as well as codes that you get when you fill up at the attached gas station. (Oh, sorry, this is an automatic one...no humans except the simulated robot voices that sound like them.) Not this $10 (my only cash on me), not this time. It kept going in and coming back out. Oh, that's because there's nowhere to receive change for my $6 cheapo wash. Only people who pay for the $10 wash get to use $10 bills...there was NO signage to this effect...just figured that out on my own!
OK, I'll find my debit card...darnit...oh, look! A line is forming behind me. Doh! I hit the steering wheel with my elbow as I was putting my card away. Is that going to be OK? I think so...uh oh...
I hit start, take my foot off the brake, put the car in neutral...sit and wait...track starts moving...clang, CLUNK!! My car is being pushed up on the left side by the little wheels on the track and slamming down again...this is not good. Some comments from the patient but concerned Peanut Gallery in the back start..."Mom, what did you DO?!?!" "I'm scared..." Reassuring comments TO the Peanut Gallery, "Oh, Mom just knocked the car out of the track. I'll back up and try again."
Back up, try again. Fully-automated plastic curtains close on the car wash as the machine thinks my car is all done and waits for the next person's money. (Hope they don't try a $10 bill for the cheap wash). I hit the "HELP" button and ask for a code from the human inside the gas station whose voice is real. They graciously give me one. I enter it. Redo. Let's roll. Look! The curtains are opening. Yay!!! Wait a minute...
Clang, CLUNK!! Not AGAIN! By now, poor Andy is crying. I don't blame him! It was quite a jolt! I reassured him again, but he just wanted to leave. Well, Mom can't get out of line because there are now...1, 2, 3...uh, 6 cars waiting behind us. Rose Royce was right that "...those cars never seem to stop comin'".
Thankfully, I could back up enough to once again attempt to put my (explicative) tires in the (explicative) track. WHY is this the first time this has EVER happened to me when I've done this 100 times?!?! There go those (explicative) curtains again...like they're MOCKING me! Speaking of mocking, some guy (employee? random guy trying to torture me?) walks out from the front of the gas station (he's NOT in the ever-growing line...just walked up to me...). Why did he care? I dunno, maybe he's a friend of the curtains because he says, "You have to pay again. You missed your wash." (Ya think?). I said, "I already paid and I'm not going to pay again." Off he goes...good riddance, man-on-foot.
Third time is usually the charm, right? Let's hope so. At least Andy has stopped crying now. Drive up, hit the HELP button again to talk to the human. I must say, no one was honking at me, which I appreciated. I assumed because they just wanted to see how this nightmare would END and didn't want to disturb the show!
While waiting for the human to talk to me over the loud speaker, a man yelled out the window from the car behind me, "Take your foot off the brake!" "Well, dude, I would, but see, I'm waiting for the human to give me the code!" I didn't really say that. I figured, I can't say anything to make myself look less blond or less "clueless mom in a minivan". It was NOT the brake, it was my dang elbow that caused the whole problem, at least the first time.
Hark! Here comes the human that matches the voice! A different "human-on-foot", a female this time, not in a kind mood though. She said that I MUST line up my tires on the track and next time, open my door to SEE if they're lined up...(I DID!...it was my elbow first, then I don't KNOW WHAT the second time and...oh, NEVERMIND...there's just NOTHING I can say right now...). She typed in another code with her eyebrows furrowed.
Behind her was a youngish man who had emerged from one of the cars in the queue, dressed as if he was clearly coming home from work (...on a Friday...sorry, guy). He stood there and said, "You know you have to put your car in neutral, right?" I felt like he was really trying to help, although he was kind of smirking which made it unclear what he was doing...other than trying to move me the heck THROUGH. I tried to explain to him, since I thought maybe he'd understand about the elbowing and the second time fluke...
He commented that I still had my foot on the brake, as he could see my brake lights (smirk again...grrrrr to myself...). I explained that the human just left and I didn't want to roll over her toes since she was already in a bad mood, I hadn't started my wash yet and gee, I was talking to HIM now!!
He did end up walking me through though as I could barely think anymore..."put the car in neutral and THEN hit the start button..." I was moving!!! NO CLUNKING!! Cheering from the Peanut Gallery! Triumphant "YYESSS!!" from me....final smirk from the dude in the business casual clothes with magnetic ID badge around his neck...and this time, a comment to boot...oh lucky me. "Next time put your car in neutral!"
So, we made it through. I'm not sure if anyone in that line bailed with their car still dirty. I was NOT going to look BACK!!! Even though my break-away mirrors were pushed in from the car wash and I couldn't see the reflection in them, I peeled out of there FAST! I thought maybe someone might be waiting for me who may do something worse than smirk. Not really, but I got out of there...my face was almost as red as my maroon car! I pulled over in the next parking lot, fixed the mirrors and went home to Facebook about it.
"Let me tell you it's always cool..." Sorry, Rose Royce, not ALWAYS...
OK, so I'm dating myself here. By the way, hi everyone. I'm back to stay and write often and a LOT! Watch out!
Some days since I last wrote have just been too jam-packed to take in/take jaw off the floor, digest, critique, put a humorous and positive spin on it and then share with you. I have decided, however, just to write some of it even if I can't write ALL of it. So, here goes..."reset button"...onto the "car wash incident".
We've had a messy winter in the northeast. Not nearly enough snow as I would have liked while other parts of the country got way MORE than they would have liked. However, it seemed like I had to wash my car at least once a week! This is a often for me.
My minivan is a dark maroon, so it really shows the dirt. We knew this going into it when we bought it, so I'm not complaining, just amazed at how much faster it got dirtier this winter than last!
I would wait until a snowstorm was over and all the slushy, salty, sandy, gross mess was dried up on the roads. I also knew it was time when I would open the rear hatch and there would be so much crust covering the paint that telltale fingerprints (telling the tale that SOMEONE'S BEEN IN THE TRUNK...check it out next time you're stopped at a red light behind a dirty car) wouldn't even SHOW. Bad. Yes.
Boom! Then it would snow again...just enough to make a MESS and not enough to enjoy (sledding, snow days, snowmen, and for Andy, shoveling as he lives for it). Back window? Do I HAVE one? I can't see through it. Telltale prints? Nope. Back to the ol' car wash.
Last Friday was no exception, well, "except" for the fact that it was supposed to be like spring this weekend...no messy roads in the forecast! Malcolm is no longer afraid of the loud brushes and the jets of water spraying directly at his little face looking out the window. So, I don't have to wait until he is not with me to do the soapy, watery, frequent task.
OK, I pull up and put my $10 bill in, 'cause it says they accept cash $1's, $5's and $10's as well as codes that you get when you fill up at the attached gas station. (Oh, sorry, this is an automatic one...no humans except the simulated robot voices that sound like them.) Not this $10 (my only cash on me), not this time. It kept going in and coming back out. Oh, that's because there's nowhere to receive change for my $6 cheapo wash. Only people who pay for the $10 wash get to use $10 bills...there was NO signage to this effect...just figured that out on my own!
OK, I'll find my debit card...darnit...oh, look! A line is forming behind me. Doh! I hit the steering wheel with my elbow as I was putting my card away. Is that going to be OK? I think so...uh oh...
I hit start, take my foot off the brake, put the car in neutral...sit and wait...track starts moving...clang, CLUNK!! My car is being pushed up on the left side by the little wheels on the track and slamming down again...this is not good. Some comments from the patient but concerned Peanut Gallery in the back start..."Mom, what did you DO?!?!" "I'm scared..." Reassuring comments TO the Peanut Gallery, "Oh, Mom just knocked the car out of the track. I'll back up and try again."
Back up, try again. Fully-automated plastic curtains close on the car wash as the machine thinks my car is all done and waits for the next person's money. (Hope they don't try a $10 bill for the cheap wash). I hit the "HELP" button and ask for a code from the human inside the gas station whose voice is real. They graciously give me one. I enter it. Redo. Let's roll. Look! The curtains are opening. Yay!!! Wait a minute...
Clang, CLUNK!! Not AGAIN! By now, poor Andy is crying. I don't blame him! It was quite a jolt! I reassured him again, but he just wanted to leave. Well, Mom can't get out of line because there are now...1, 2, 3...uh, 6 cars waiting behind us. Rose Royce was right that "...those cars never seem to stop comin'".
Thankfully, I could back up enough to once again attempt to put my (explicative) tires in the (explicative) track. WHY is this the first time this has EVER happened to me when I've done this 100 times?!?! There go those (explicative) curtains again...like they're MOCKING me! Speaking of mocking, some guy (employee? random guy trying to torture me?) walks out from the front of the gas station (he's NOT in the ever-growing line...just walked up to me...). Why did he care? I dunno, maybe he's a friend of the curtains because he says, "You have to pay again. You missed your wash." (Ya think?). I said, "I already paid and I'm not going to pay again." Off he goes...good riddance, man-on-foot.
Third time is usually the charm, right? Let's hope so. At least Andy has stopped crying now. Drive up, hit the HELP button again to talk to the human. I must say, no one was honking at me, which I appreciated. I assumed because they just wanted to see how this nightmare would END and didn't want to disturb the show!
While waiting for the human to talk to me over the loud speaker, a man yelled out the window from the car behind me, "Take your foot off the brake!" "Well, dude, I would, but see, I'm waiting for the human to give me the code!" I didn't really say that. I figured, I can't say anything to make myself look less blond or less "clueless mom in a minivan". It was NOT the brake, it was my dang elbow that caused the whole problem, at least the first time.
Hark! Here comes the human that matches the voice! A different "human-on-foot", a female this time, not in a kind mood though. She said that I MUST line up my tires on the track and next time, open my door to SEE if they're lined up...(I DID!...it was my elbow first, then I don't KNOW WHAT the second time and...oh, NEVERMIND...there's just NOTHING I can say right now...). She typed in another code with her eyebrows furrowed.
Behind her was a youngish man who had emerged from one of the cars in the queue, dressed as if he was clearly coming home from work (...on a Friday...sorry, guy). He stood there and said, "You know you have to put your car in neutral, right?" I felt like he was really trying to help, although he was kind of smirking which made it unclear what he was doing...other than trying to move me the heck THROUGH. I tried to explain to him, since I thought maybe he'd understand about the elbowing and the second time fluke...
He commented that I still had my foot on the brake, as he could see my brake lights (smirk again...grrrrr to myself...). I explained that the human just left and I didn't want to roll over her toes since she was already in a bad mood, I hadn't started my wash yet and gee, I was talking to HIM now!!
He did end up walking me through though as I could barely think anymore..."put the car in neutral and THEN hit the start button..." I was moving!!! NO CLUNKING!! Cheering from the Peanut Gallery! Triumphant "YYESSS!!" from me....final smirk from the dude in the business casual clothes with magnetic ID badge around his neck...and this time, a comment to boot...oh lucky me. "Next time put your car in neutral!"
So, we made it through. I'm not sure if anyone in that line bailed with their car still dirty. I was NOT going to look BACK!!! Even though my break-away mirrors were pushed in from the car wash and I couldn't see the reflection in them, I peeled out of there FAST! I thought maybe someone might be waiting for me who may do something worse than smirk. Not really, but I got out of there...my face was almost as red as my maroon car! I pulled over in the next parking lot, fixed the mirrors and went home to Facebook about it.
"Let me tell you it's always cool..." Sorry, Rose Royce, not ALWAYS...
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Marine Life Encounters and Other Moments
*WARNING: Some images and descriptions may be disturbing for some readers. Please hone your skimming and program exiting skills accordingly. Also, reading this post and eating is not recommended.*
Whew! Where have the past two weeks gone? Let's see, it's all coming back to me now. Other than the usual grind of everyday life during the week (Dave to work, kids to school, homework, dinner, activities, chores, repeat), we've had some pretty amazing happenings in our family!
I accompanied Lilly and her Girl Scout troop on an overnight at the local aquarium. It's an indoor campout essentially. We packed sleeping bags and pillows and slept near the jellyfish tanks. Jellyfish are absolutely beautiful to watch. They leave the light on all night since some of the jellyfish species require light to function. It's like watching a giant lava lamp. The concrete floor left quite a bit to be desired, but I think I was one of the few adults that actually got a few hours of sleep! Some of the girls from the older Scout troop that was there were "pulling an all-nighter"...and they're not even in college yet!
When we arrived and got settled early in the evening, the girls had a presentation on tide pools. They were also allowed to explore them with their hands should they wish to. A staff member also described different environments that marine life can live in.
horseshoe crab
Next, we moved onto dissections of squids. I thought we'd just be watching (from afar) an expert doing this on a giant squid. Well, no. We broke the girls up into groups of three and each group had their own specimen! There was a member of the staff who was "conducting" the dissection. By the way, the squids had died naturally at the end of their life cycle. They were going to be fed to the seals at the aquarium and were not killed for the purpose of grossing out the Girl Scouts and their chaperones. Lilly makes a cut!
I am not a squeamish person by any means, but when the first task was to locate the eye of the squid, squeeze it and pop out the lens, I thought I was going to die. However, chin up, Ms. Role Model. Don't show weakness! Not one of the three girls in Lilly's group would touch the squid, nevermind perform the eye-popping procedure.
I am proud of myself though. I stepped up to the plate. I was also encouraged by the promise of the staff member that she had a secret of descenting our hands of "squid" after the fact. Well, all right then. Let's have at it.
One girl was beginning to turn green so I didn't push her. Lilly was on the fence, but the third girl was slowly approaching the creature with her index finger!! Encouragement, cheering (and some praying on my part that I wouldn't have to touch it) went out to this brave girl. She did great, but I had to touch it anyway. I'll spare you the rest of the gory instructions of the dissection, but suffice it to say, I thought the eye thing was the worst. Oh and the secret? Rub your hands on an orange peel to remove the chumlike odor on your hands. I would say it was about 70% effective. That was good enough for me under the circumstances.
The next morning, we had a delicious continental breakfast at what was pretty much the crack of dawn. One of the best parts of the whole trip was being able to explore the aquarium prior to its opening to the public for the day, especially on the bitterly cold Saturday that it was. It would have been packed in no time! The staff concluded with a discussion and Q&A on the animals in the giant saltwater tank. A lot of people then left for home, but Lilly, another Scout and myself stuck around to watch an IMAX movie with our free passes for attending. As soon as it was over, I couldn't wait to go again!
So, yes. That was one of the highlights of the last two weeks. I also chaperoned another one of Lilly's field trips three days later at a local natural history museum. After that, I was burned out of the job for awhile. Lilly also had her first concert with her school's orchestra. It was a tough night. Weeknight events always are. All of the kids were tired, hungry, fidgety and arguing. We got through it though.
Lilly plays the violin. Her school is very large. They also have a band and a chorus. I was very impressed with how well the kids did after starting to learn their instruments only four months earlier! I am a former music major too so I know how hard that is to accomplish. The music program is clearly as excellent as everyone says it is.
Last weekend was Andy's 8th birthday. He had chosen a massive Lego Star Wars building set in lieu of a big party. I made two cakes (Andy wanted chocolate and Lilly can't eat chocolate so I also made a vanilla confetti cake as well) and we celebrated his birthday on Friday, even though his actual birthday was Saturday. My sister, my mom and myself drove two hours to attend our cousin's 90th birthday party on Saturday. I was so glad that I got to go and celebrate with her. She is someone I have always admired a great deal for her strength and how active she is at her age! We had a wonderful dinner and the absolute BEST cake. It was an Italian rum cake with chocolate and vanilla custard. I certainly got my cake on last weekend!
Last but not least, Dave left for Russia yesterday. He will be back in several days so it's relatively short considering how far away he went! He had one mishap after another getting out (paperwork issues for his required entry visa, travel delays, lost luggage, you name it).
So, it's been two weeks but a full two weeks as you can see. More to come very soon (before another two weeks goes by!).
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Flu, Steroids and the Lottery
I've never been a morning person. So, when I woke up on Friday morning, I was seriously considering negotiating with my alarm clock to somehow roll back another hour so I could get more sleep. Of course, it would also need to have the power to stop time for the whole city. Not the whole world, just the city. After all, my commitments were only on a local level, namely getting 3 out of 4 kids out the door to school. Malcolm is in afternoon kindergarten.
Dave had been away all week. It was a particularly easy week kid-wise. They had Monday and Tuesday off so a lot of the homework that the teachers normally assign for the whole week was not assigned. Nevertheless, I chalked up the exhaustion to the week of being solo.
Later that day, I started feeling really awful though. I had chills and aches, but no fever. I slogged through the busy afternoon shuttling kids back-and-forth to karate and Girl Scouts. Then got home and my husband returned from his trip after dinner, but still early enough that the kids could visit with him. He had been in a different time zone so he was pretty jetlagged.
The kids were pretty tired too...and relatively quiet (which is very, VERY rare). So, I buried my shivering self under blankets and we all watched some iCarly as a family. I think I helped put the kids to bed, but I can't remember. I kept shivering and aching until I fell asleep. Still no fever! There's no medicine you can take for shivers! I suppose I could have asked Dave to make me some hot tea because I was too cold to get up and do it myself, but I felt bad for him because he was so tired.
The next morning I wake up and I'm at 101.2! I pop an Advil and stay under the blanket pile. Finally, I stop shivering and the aches subside. Now, I'm hungry and I need my coffee! I must be feeling better. Dave had two kids out at Andy's Cub Scout event and his basketball game. I hung out with Harry and Lilly and then drove her to a birthday party. Ah, two kids are so much more palatable when you're sick than four.
As the Advil wore off, I spiked a fever again, only I was trying to take a nap so I didn't bother with any more medicine. THEN, when I finally woke up, I had hit 103.2! Yikes! Again, more Advil, fever down and (almost) feeling normal.
Such is how things have been going for the last 24 hours. 101.2 this AM, time for more Advil, but this time my peak flow was also down. A peak flow is a device that is used by asthmatics to see if the illness is acting up. Anyone with asthma knows that you have a normal peak flow when you're healthy and if it goes down, this is a bad sign. Since 2006 when I was diagnosed with severe asthma, I have been working with a pulmonologist. After much trial, error, pneumonia and ER visits, we have come up with a plan that every time my peak flow dips below 300, I MUST take prednisone, which is a steroid.
One of the most painful trials and errors was when I used too much prednisone as a treatment plan per my doctor. This ended up shutting down my adrenal system and it took two years for it to come back up to normal. So, it's a fine line between an asthma attack and taking too much prednisone. I think we finally have a handle on it. Asthma is SO different for everyone individually I have learned.
Anyway, I did have to go to a GP doctor today because the nurse was concerned about me. My lungs were clear so I have no pneumonia and weirdly enough, my fever did not come back this time! This morning's Advil has since totally worn off. The doctor was puzzled. He said it's probably a virus and to watch the fever for a couple more days.
He also mentioned that prednisone could also be holding the fever back. What it does is basically comes between your illness and your immune system fighting said illness, which is pretty scary when you think about it. In other words, you're still sick, but you can't feel it. I'm one of the lucky people that don't have too many nasty side effects from this "wonder drug". For me, I get a huge burst of energy, but I can't turn it off at night when I want to go to sleep. Then I end up getting only a few hours' sleep but feel fine the next day and not sleep deprived. Weird! I should only be on it for a few days so I will recover from at least that symptom quickly.
There is some more good news other than my fever not coming back. When I parked my car in the almost empty doctor's lot, I noticed a pile of junk that looked like it fell out of someone else's car. I know if it happened to me, I'd want someone to turn it in. However, there was no one at the front desk on a Sunday.
There was clearly a lot of trash (including an empty box of cigarettes), but there were also CD cases, which turned out to be empty and a slew of lottery tickets. This person was not only a smoker, but somewhat of a gambler! Since I had found a dollar bill in a parking lot on my birthday last week, I thought, "I'm on a roll. If this turns out to be a huge sum of money, I will do the right thing....but what is the right thing?" There was NO ONE around. If someone had been parked there, I definitely would have asked them about it. I am probably the most honest person you'll ever meet.
All of the scratch tickets were duds...except one...only $2, but a winner nonetheless. Now, what the heck do I do? If I turn in all of this stuff, it's mostly trash and the winning ticket will probably get thrown away with it. Plus, when there was no one at the front desk and several different doctor's practices, to which office would I bring it?
I don't know if this was the right thing, but I left the pile there in case someone came back for it, but claimed the ticket for myself. I figured no one would come back for it and it would just get thrown away anyway....right? I have no idea if I was right.
BUT...I turned it in at the grocery store. Dave had gotten most of the groceries this AM for us since I was "under the weather", but I had a new found energy (drug-induced) so I ran in to pick up the things I forgot to put on the list for him.
I am kind of embarrassed to cash in scratch tickets. I feel like maybe someone will judge me as someone who is hoping to get to Easy Street, the easy way. I NEVER take the easy way out. Anyway, I got over it and cashed them in. I asked the guy for two more dollar tickets. Ta-dah! One ticket yielded $2 and the other $1!! I'm up technically $5 since I didn't pay for the ticket in the first place!
OK, so it's not the thousands or even hundreds I would have liked. I can't really expect to win the lottery when I don't 100% believe in it OR when I cash in a ticket found based on someone else's bad luck.
Dave had been away all week. It was a particularly easy week kid-wise. They had Monday and Tuesday off so a lot of the homework that the teachers normally assign for the whole week was not assigned. Nevertheless, I chalked up the exhaustion to the week of being solo.
Later that day, I started feeling really awful though. I had chills and aches, but no fever. I slogged through the busy afternoon shuttling kids back-and-forth to karate and Girl Scouts. Then got home and my husband returned from his trip after dinner, but still early enough that the kids could visit with him. He had been in a different time zone so he was pretty jetlagged.
The kids were pretty tired too...and relatively quiet (which is very, VERY rare). So, I buried my shivering self under blankets and we all watched some iCarly as a family. I think I helped put the kids to bed, but I can't remember. I kept shivering and aching until I fell asleep. Still no fever! There's no medicine you can take for shivers! I suppose I could have asked Dave to make me some hot tea because I was too cold to get up and do it myself, but I felt bad for him because he was so tired.
The next morning I wake up and I'm at 101.2! I pop an Advil and stay under the blanket pile. Finally, I stop shivering and the aches subside. Now, I'm hungry and I need my coffee! I must be feeling better. Dave had two kids out at Andy's Cub Scout event and his basketball game. I hung out with Harry and Lilly and then drove her to a birthday party. Ah, two kids are so much more palatable when you're sick than four.
As the Advil wore off, I spiked a fever again, only I was trying to take a nap so I didn't bother with any more medicine. THEN, when I finally woke up, I had hit 103.2! Yikes! Again, more Advil, fever down and (almost) feeling normal.
Such is how things have been going for the last 24 hours. 101.2 this AM, time for more Advil, but this time my peak flow was also down. A peak flow is a device that is used by asthmatics to see if the illness is acting up. Anyone with asthma knows that you have a normal peak flow when you're healthy and if it goes down, this is a bad sign. Since 2006 when I was diagnosed with severe asthma, I have been working with a pulmonologist. After much trial, error, pneumonia and ER visits, we have come up with a plan that every time my peak flow dips below 300, I MUST take prednisone, which is a steroid.
One of the most painful trials and errors was when I used too much prednisone as a treatment plan per my doctor. This ended up shutting down my adrenal system and it took two years for it to come back up to normal. So, it's a fine line between an asthma attack and taking too much prednisone. I think we finally have a handle on it. Asthma is SO different for everyone individually I have learned.
Anyway, I did have to go to a GP doctor today because the nurse was concerned about me. My lungs were clear so I have no pneumonia and weirdly enough, my fever did not come back this time! This morning's Advil has since totally worn off. The doctor was puzzled. He said it's probably a virus and to watch the fever for a couple more days.
He also mentioned that prednisone could also be holding the fever back. What it does is basically comes between your illness and your immune system fighting said illness, which is pretty scary when you think about it. In other words, you're still sick, but you can't feel it. I'm one of the lucky people that don't have too many nasty side effects from this "wonder drug". For me, I get a huge burst of energy, but I can't turn it off at night when I want to go to sleep. Then I end up getting only a few hours' sleep but feel fine the next day and not sleep deprived. Weird! I should only be on it for a few days so I will recover from at least that symptom quickly.
There is some more good news other than my fever not coming back. When I parked my car in the almost empty doctor's lot, I noticed a pile of junk that looked like it fell out of someone else's car. I know if it happened to me, I'd want someone to turn it in. However, there was no one at the front desk on a Sunday.
There was clearly a lot of trash (including an empty box of cigarettes), but there were also CD cases, which turned out to be empty and a slew of lottery tickets. This person was not only a smoker, but somewhat of a gambler! Since I had found a dollar bill in a parking lot on my birthday last week, I thought, "I'm on a roll. If this turns out to be a huge sum of money, I will do the right thing....but what is the right thing?" There was NO ONE around. If someone had been parked there, I definitely would have asked them about it. I am probably the most honest person you'll ever meet.
All of the scratch tickets were duds...except one...only $2, but a winner nonetheless. Now, what the heck do I do? If I turn in all of this stuff, it's mostly trash and the winning ticket will probably get thrown away with it. Plus, when there was no one at the front desk and several different doctor's practices, to which office would I bring it?
I don't know if this was the right thing, but I left the pile there in case someone came back for it, but claimed the ticket for myself. I figured no one would come back for it and it would just get thrown away anyway....right? I have no idea if I was right.
BUT...I turned it in at the grocery store. Dave had gotten most of the groceries this AM for us since I was "under the weather", but I had a new found energy (drug-induced) so I ran in to pick up the things I forgot to put on the list for him.
I am kind of embarrassed to cash in scratch tickets. I feel like maybe someone will judge me as someone who is hoping to get to Easy Street, the easy way. I NEVER take the easy way out. Anyway, I got over it and cashed them in. I asked the guy for two more dollar tickets. Ta-dah! One ticket yielded $2 and the other $1!! I'm up technically $5 since I didn't pay for the ticket in the first place!
OK, so it's not the thousands or even hundreds I would have liked. I can't really expect to win the lottery when I don't 100% believe in it OR when I cash in a ticket found based on someone else's bad luck.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
My birthday and beyond...
David and I enjoying my birthday dinner!
This Friday was different though. It was my birthday. Although I would have been content with yet another Zombie Night, another couple who are dear friends of ours had invited us out to dinner. So, one of our awesome teenage sitters was scheduled and off we went. Sometimes going out involves prying myself off of the couch, but always being truly happy that I did. I had had such a great day though, no prying was necessary and I still was truly happy I went!
I kind of had the day off since our sitter extraordinaire, (this one's a grown-up), Valerie, was here all day. Friday is her day to work. I treated myself to lunch and went shopping! I bought a new, hip (I think) and not expensive outfit. The temperature was about 41 degrees too. If you're not from the Northeast, you may think this is freezing. However, we have had a very cold winter so far. This was a welcome change! I drove around with my moonroof open jumping around to a song on the radio from one of the few alternative bands that I like. Oh! Did I mention I found a dollar in the parking lot on the way back from my mini-shopping spree? It just seemed to fit into the great day I was having.
Dinner was wonderful (both the food and the company). As usually happens when we have a date, my husband and I continue our upbeat mood through the weekend as if we're still on the date. Even though my husband is on a business trip this week and we were all dreading him leaving this past Monday, we didn't let it put a black cloud on our weekend. Dave and Andy perfected the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby car for this Saturday, Lilly went to a 24-hour sleepover and Sunday we all went to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel" which was a lot of fun.
All of the kids had both Monday and Tuesday off. Monday was MLK Day and today was a Teacher Development Day. I was a little worried about this because I really fall apart without structure. The good news is, on Monday, all of us went on a roadtrip to have a playdate with some friends who had moved about 45 minutes away. This was scheduled for most of the day yesterday, but what about today? Well, it ended up snowing again. It wasn't supposed to!
I am a true snow lover...the more the better....but today I didn't want it. I had to take Malcolm to the doctor (with his 3 siblings tagging along). Andy LOVES to shovel our driveway, which is long and sloped, but I was still worried about getting out and how the roads would be. I wished I didn't have to brave them. I would have preferred to schedule a cookie-baking session or playing in the snow AT HOME.
However, I just HAD to take him today. He had been coughing for 2 weeks with an on and off low-grade fever. Since said 3 siblings have been taking turns with pneumonia since about November, I figured his number was up.
Well, what a relief to realize that even though the snow was raging, it was above freezing so it was not accumulating. Driving was no problem AND BONUS there was no pneumonia. Let's keep our fingers crossed that whatever it is goes away on its own.
Meanwhile, upward and outward toward the remaining 3-day school week. Back to the grind. No more days in PJs.
Ahhh, what a terrific birthday I had on Friday. First of all, I am honored to be born on the same day as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This year was the perfect amount of celebrating. Now that we're in our early 40's (gasp!) Friday night is Zombie Night for my husband and me. I'm not talking about some interesting theme at a local night club. I mean vegging out, letting our kids eat pizza in front of a movie or TV, not do ANYONE'S homework, put everyone to bed on time and quickly try to squeeze in some time together catching up on the week before one of us falls asleep while the other is talking.
This Friday was different though. It was my birthday. Although I would have been content with yet another Zombie Night, another couple who are dear friends of ours had invited us out to dinner. So, one of our awesome teenage sitters was scheduled and off we went. Sometimes going out involves prying myself off of the couch, but always being truly happy that I did. I had had such a great day though, no prying was necessary and I still was truly happy I went!
I kind of had the day off since our sitter extraordinaire, (this one's a grown-up), Valerie, was here all day. Friday is her day to work. I treated myself to lunch and went shopping! I bought a new, hip (I think) and not expensive outfit. The temperature was about 41 degrees too. If you're not from the Northeast, you may think this is freezing. However, we have had a very cold winter so far. This was a welcome change! I drove around with my moonroof open jumping around to a song on the radio from one of the few alternative bands that I like. Oh! Did I mention I found a dollar in the parking lot on the way back from my mini-shopping spree? It just seemed to fit into the great day I was having.
Dinner was wonderful (both the food and the company). As usually happens when we have a date, my husband and I continue our upbeat mood through the weekend as if we're still on the date. Even though my husband is on a business trip this week and we were all dreading him leaving this past Monday, we didn't let it put a black cloud on our weekend. Dave and Andy perfected the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby car for this Saturday, Lilly went to a 24-hour sleepover and Sunday we all went to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel" which was a lot of fun.
All of the kids had both Monday and Tuesday off. Monday was MLK Day and today was a Teacher Development Day. I was a little worried about this because I really fall apart without structure. The good news is, on Monday, all of us went on a roadtrip to have a playdate with some friends who had moved about 45 minutes away. This was scheduled for most of the day yesterday, but what about today? Well, it ended up snowing again. It wasn't supposed to!
I am a true snow lover...the more the better....but today I didn't want it. I had to take Malcolm to the doctor (with his 3 siblings tagging along). Andy LOVES to shovel our driveway, which is long and sloped, but I was still worried about getting out and how the roads would be. I wished I didn't have to brave them. I would have preferred to schedule a cookie-baking session or playing in the snow AT HOME.
However, I just HAD to take him today. He had been coughing for 2 weeks with an on and off low-grade fever. Since said 3 siblings have been taking turns with pneumonia since about November, I figured his number was up.
Well, what a relief to realize that even though the snow was raging, it was above freezing so it was not accumulating. Driving was no problem AND BONUS there was no pneumonia. Let's keep our fingers crossed that whatever it is goes away on its own.
Meanwhile, upward and outward toward the remaining 3-day school week. Back to the grind. No more days in PJs.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Moving into 2010
Breaking news! I've started exercising regularly again! I joined a local gym that was having a special just after New Year's. This was not just a mundane resolution, it was more that the timing of my desire just happened to be this time of year.
As I have posted about before, I have been struggling with an energy crisis since the fall of 2007. I had adrenal insufficiency caused by medicine I was taking to manage my asthma back then. As of August 2009, I got the green light in terms of my adrenaline being all back to normal levels, but I was still struggling with low energy. This, however, was nothing like it had been before.
Since my doctors could no longer find anything medically wrong, I resolved to really get myself on a regular sleep schedule and try to take more regular time alone. The sleeping is still in need of repair, but has gotten a lot less erratic. Since I always have at least one child at home with me, I was staying up way too late to take advantage of the quiet in the house. I would then get up with the kids on school mornings and be totally exhausted on the weekends.
Also because I always have one of my sweeties at home with me, I must go to the gym when my dear husband can keep an eye out for the kids. Weeknights are very difficult, but I think I can do Friday, Saturday and Sunday no problem. I also have some workout videos and a home stairmaster that I can partake of while my kid(s) are home.
Well, Saturday I didn't plan my very first visit to the gym very well. They closed at 6pm and I wasn't free until 5:30p. I am not going to beat myself up about it though. This is all new to me, right? I didn't let the gym be a confine to exercise though. I was determined!
I laced up my shoes, grabbed gloves and a hat (I think it was 20 degrees out if not colder) and set off on a walk/jog around my neighborhood. We live in such a great development. The streets are wide and I think I only saw 4 cars the whole 45 minutes I was out!
Besides the wonderful burst of energy I felt for the rest of the evening, I thoroughly enjoyed being outside. I didn't feel the cold because I was bundled up and moving. I also felt kind of anonymous since it was dark out. My neighbors were all snug in their homes. It was just me, the clear, starry night and the sound of my footsteps. It was incredibly uplifting...and oh, so quiet....!
I don't think I've felt the "addiction" of regular exercise since before we had children! I used to workout for two hours three times a week religiously. If I skipped a day, I felt like a bloated slug. I did that wonderful outing on Saturday and 40 minutes on the treadmill at the gym yesterday. My body is now wondering when and what I'm going to do today. It's very motivating. So is my empty stairmaster. I'd better go!
As I have posted about before, I have been struggling with an energy crisis since the fall of 2007. I had adrenal insufficiency caused by medicine I was taking to manage my asthma back then. As of August 2009, I got the green light in terms of my adrenaline being all back to normal levels, but I was still struggling with low energy. This, however, was nothing like it had been before.
Since my doctors could no longer find anything medically wrong, I resolved to really get myself on a regular sleep schedule and try to take more regular time alone. The sleeping is still in need of repair, but has gotten a lot less erratic. Since I always have at least one child at home with me, I was staying up way too late to take advantage of the quiet in the house. I would then get up with the kids on school mornings and be totally exhausted on the weekends.
Also because I always have one of my sweeties at home with me, I must go to the gym when my dear husband can keep an eye out for the kids. Weeknights are very difficult, but I think I can do Friday, Saturday and Sunday no problem. I also have some workout videos and a home stairmaster that I can partake of while my kid(s) are home.
Well, Saturday I didn't plan my very first visit to the gym very well. They closed at 6pm and I wasn't free until 5:30p. I am not going to beat myself up about it though. This is all new to me, right? I didn't let the gym be a confine to exercise though. I was determined!
I laced up my shoes, grabbed gloves and a hat (I think it was 20 degrees out if not colder) and set off on a walk/jog around my neighborhood. We live in such a great development. The streets are wide and I think I only saw 4 cars the whole 45 minutes I was out!
Besides the wonderful burst of energy I felt for the rest of the evening, I thoroughly enjoyed being outside. I didn't feel the cold because I was bundled up and moving. I also felt kind of anonymous since it was dark out. My neighbors were all snug in their homes. It was just me, the clear, starry night and the sound of my footsteps. It was incredibly uplifting...and oh, so quiet....!
I don't think I've felt the "addiction" of regular exercise since before we had children! I used to workout for two hours three times a week religiously. If I skipped a day, I felt like a bloated slug. I did that wonderful outing on Saturday and 40 minutes on the treadmill at the gym yesterday. My body is now wondering when and what I'm going to do today. It's very motivating. So is my empty stairmaster. I'd better go!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
"A Perfect Ending to a (near) Perfect (Week)"
OK, I'm still (almost) quoting a Christmas song post-New Year's Day ("Sleigh Ride" to be exact). I find it hard to let go of all of the festivities! We haven't undecorated yet. We don't usually do it until the 10th or so of January, but we were even later this year in putting them up. So, I'll keep you posted on our progress and when we draw the line between festive and freaky and take them down!
We went sledding again yesterday at the same giant hill you see in the picture at the top of the page. It had been an active ski hill for 57 years, but has been closed since 1996. "The hill" is now our local, sledding favorite and back in the day, was considered a ski slope for beginners.
Tell that to Lilly's almost-10-year-old friend who joined us and became airborne (!!) on her new tube sled! Her first run down, the first time she's been to "the hill", she decided to ride down from the "tippy-top" as the kids call it. She did end up grazing the fence at the bottom as her path gradually beared right for her remaining ride after "the jump". This is kind of a ledge about a third of the way down "the hill". Dave and I watched her from the bottom as the rest of our crew was deciding how high up to venture. We weren't sure it was going to end well. "Not on MY watch!" I said.
She was OK though and her reply was, "That was AWESOME!" Kudos to another strong and adventurous woman-to-be! She did complete the rest of her stint at "the hill" with the entire bottom of her tube on the ground at all times, though. She later admitted that she did not like the face-to-fence meeting after all.
The approach to "the hill" is a little ominous. There is a large trash can FILLED with neon-colored remnants of once-loved sleds that did not survive. However, so far, I have never seen an ambulance called to "the hill" to rescue the riders of said sleds.
Except for one minor collision and a resulting snowy, stinging faceplant last winter by my "youngest" (Malcolm, who is 10 minutes younger than Harrison), the crowd has a mutual respect for each other. The sledders try to steer out of the way of stationary people (like parents watching their kids whiz by) or other children and participatory parents making their way back up for another adventure. If they can't steer, you just have to sidestep FAST when someone desperately yells, "Watch OOOOOOUUUUUUUUUT!!!!!" as the whoosh gets louder and louder, closer and closer.
We had the best storm this weekend! It lasted from early Saturday morning and it was still flurrying last night! Disappointingly though, there were "only" several inches of accumulation. This was not enough to cancel school today. My kids and I were looking forward to another day of fun in the snow with pajamas on under our snow gear! The snow did make our sledding outing so much more fun though...pretty darn near perfect.
Alas, all good things must come to an end. I've been told that if they didn't, even terrific winter breaks like the one that just ended would become old hat. I'll tell you, this morning was a rude, cold, post-holiday, I can't BELIEVE I have to get up THIS early kind of Monday. No wonder the day has a bad reputation. Hey, it's a dirty job, but some day has to do it.
We went sledding again yesterday at the same giant hill you see in the picture at the top of the page. It had been an active ski hill for 57 years, but has been closed since 1996. "The hill" is now our local, sledding favorite and back in the day, was considered a ski slope for beginners.
Tell that to Lilly's almost-10-year-old friend who joined us and became airborne (!!) on her new tube sled! Her first run down, the first time she's been to "the hill", she decided to ride down from the "tippy-top" as the kids call it. She did end up grazing the fence at the bottom as her path gradually beared right for her remaining ride after "the jump". This is kind of a ledge about a third of the way down "the hill". Dave and I watched her from the bottom as the rest of our crew was deciding how high up to venture. We weren't sure it was going to end well. "Not on MY watch!" I said.
She was OK though and her reply was, "That was AWESOME!" Kudos to another strong and adventurous woman-to-be! She did complete the rest of her stint at "the hill" with the entire bottom of her tube on the ground at all times, though. She later admitted that she did not like the face-to-fence meeting after all.
The approach to "the hill" is a little ominous. There is a large trash can FILLED with neon-colored remnants of once-loved sleds that did not survive. However, so far, I have never seen an ambulance called to "the hill" to rescue the riders of said sleds.
Except for one minor collision and a resulting snowy, stinging faceplant last winter by my "youngest" (Malcolm, who is 10 minutes younger than Harrison), the crowd has a mutual respect for each other. The sledders try to steer out of the way of stationary people (like parents watching their kids whiz by) or other children and participatory parents making their way back up for another adventure. If they can't steer, you just have to sidestep FAST when someone desperately yells, "Watch OOOOOOUUUUUUUUUT!!!!!" as the whoosh gets louder and louder, closer and closer.
We had the best storm this weekend! It lasted from early Saturday morning and it was still flurrying last night! Disappointingly though, there were "only" several inches of accumulation. This was not enough to cancel school today. My kids and I were looking forward to another day of fun in the snow with pajamas on under our snow gear! The snow did make our sledding outing so much more fun though...pretty darn near perfect.
Alas, all good things must come to an end. I've been told that if they didn't, even terrific winter breaks like the one that just ended would become old hat. I'll tell you, this morning was a rude, cold, post-holiday, I can't BELIEVE I have to get up THIS early kind of Monday. No wonder the day has a bad reputation. Hey, it's a dirty job, but some day has to do it.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Another Year Over...
Happy New Year 2010!
Well, we made it through another Christmas season. As it happens all too often, Dave and I leave all of our wrapping until the last minute. So, we were up until 4am Christmas morning disguising surprises. I also baked 3 pies. We sat on the couch downstairs for only a few minutes when Malcolm and Andy decided it was time to open up their gifts. If we had been to bed we might have let them go after their presents, but we hadn't so they didn't.
Dave brought them upstairs until 7am. I fell asleep on the couch downstairs, but apparently Dave didn't get much sleep because Malcolm was crying in diappointment. I so appreciated that he sacrificed for me while I was catching ZZZ's. I did feel guilty but then I decided that guilt was not a good Christmas emotion.
We had a very cozy day, just the 6 of us. Then, we drove 1 1/2 hours to see my mom, my sister, my brother-in-law and my nephew. We had a nice dinner of ham and scalloped potatoes, kind of a family tradition. One of my pies was supposed to be a vanilla-chocolate marble pudding pie, but it flopped. I think I added the layer of vanilla pudding before the chocolate pudding was cool enough. So, we called it "mud pie" because it was more like soup in a crust and went with it. I was the only one who dared to try it, but my other 2 pies were a hit! We exchanged gifts and headed home. It was a tough holiday without Dad, but we were thinking of him as if he was still with us.
So, OK, onto the next part of our adventure. My in-laws live in Canada and it's about a 7-hour drive to get to see them. We always go a day or two after Christmas. Our original goal was to spend 12/26 at home packing and then leave for Canada the next morning.
Well, every time we try to do this, my body fails. I just need a full day to recover from the sleep-deprivation, rushing, crazy kids and of course, the great deal of family fun of Christmas before I take on the laundry, gift assembly, passport location and car cleanout that is required for our annual trip.
Dave worked so hard to try to get us to go on the 27th, but I just couldn't muster any energy. So, we left on the 28th. My mother-in-law cooks a GIGANTIC extended family dinner every year. God bless her (and my father-in-law who is just as hands-on as my dear husband). This year there were 25 of us!
We don't like driving up the same day as the dinner is scheduled (like it was this year on the 28th), but we made it up there in time even though we hit weather and delays as feared. I got to meet my 2 nephews that were born in 2009 who are 10 months and 8 weeks. I fell in love instantly! Of course, I love seeing how big my other nieces and nephews have grown in a year. I also cherish the time we spend with my wonderful and multitude of brothers and sisters-in-law and other family and friends.
Dinner was delicious as always. We all crashed hard and late that night and enjoyed a relaxing couple of days with my in-laws and other family that was in town before we headed back on the 30th.
New Year's Eve involved all of us being couch potatoes as we usually are. Sometimes, we get together with friends, but it's always low-key. This year, we were just us watching movies, eating Chinese food and staying up until midnight. Dave took a nap, the twins fell fast asleep around 10pm and I barely made it, but 4 out of 6 of us enjoyed sparkling juice and then went to bed.
New Year's Day was much of the same relaxing and then today has been a cleanup day. The kids and Dave return to school and work respectively on Monday the 4th. So far, I like 2010 and I'm loving the snowstorm that is lasting all weekend here in New England!
From our family to yours, Happy New Year and have a safe and joyous 2010!
Well, we made it through another Christmas season. As it happens all too often, Dave and I leave all of our wrapping until the last minute. So, we were up until 4am Christmas morning disguising surprises. I also baked 3 pies. We sat on the couch downstairs for only a few minutes when Malcolm and Andy decided it was time to open up their gifts. If we had been to bed we might have let them go after their presents, but we hadn't so they didn't.
Dave brought them upstairs until 7am. I fell asleep on the couch downstairs, but apparently Dave didn't get much sleep because Malcolm was crying in diappointment. I so appreciated that he sacrificed for me while I was catching ZZZ's. I did feel guilty but then I decided that guilt was not a good Christmas emotion.
We had a very cozy day, just the 6 of us. Then, we drove 1 1/2 hours to see my mom, my sister, my brother-in-law and my nephew. We had a nice dinner of ham and scalloped potatoes, kind of a family tradition. One of my pies was supposed to be a vanilla-chocolate marble pudding pie, but it flopped. I think I added the layer of vanilla pudding before the chocolate pudding was cool enough. So, we called it "mud pie" because it was more like soup in a crust and went with it. I was the only one who dared to try it, but my other 2 pies were a hit! We exchanged gifts and headed home. It was a tough holiday without Dad, but we were thinking of him as if he was still with us.
So, OK, onto the next part of our adventure. My in-laws live in Canada and it's about a 7-hour drive to get to see them. We always go a day or two after Christmas. Our original goal was to spend 12/26 at home packing and then leave for Canada the next morning.
Well, every time we try to do this, my body fails. I just need a full day to recover from the sleep-deprivation, rushing, crazy kids and of course, the great deal of family fun of Christmas before I take on the laundry, gift assembly, passport location and car cleanout that is required for our annual trip.
Dave worked so hard to try to get us to go on the 27th, but I just couldn't muster any energy. So, we left on the 28th. My mother-in-law cooks a GIGANTIC extended family dinner every year. God bless her (and my father-in-law who is just as hands-on as my dear husband). This year there were 25 of us!
We don't like driving up the same day as the dinner is scheduled (like it was this year on the 28th), but we made it up there in time even though we hit weather and delays as feared. I got to meet my 2 nephews that were born in 2009 who are 10 months and 8 weeks. I fell in love instantly! Of course, I love seeing how big my other nieces and nephews have grown in a year. I also cherish the time we spend with my wonderful and multitude of brothers and sisters-in-law and other family and friends.
Dinner was delicious as always. We all crashed hard and late that night and enjoyed a relaxing couple of days with my in-laws and other family that was in town before we headed back on the 30th.
New Year's Eve involved all of us being couch potatoes as we usually are. Sometimes, we get together with friends, but it's always low-key. This year, we were just us watching movies, eating Chinese food and staying up until midnight. Dave took a nap, the twins fell fast asleep around 10pm and I barely made it, but 4 out of 6 of us enjoyed sparkling juice and then went to bed.
New Year's Day was much of the same relaxing and then today has been a cleanup day. The kids and Dave return to school and work respectively on Monday the 4th. So far, I like 2010 and I'm loving the snowstorm that is lasting all weekend here in New England!
From our family to yours, Happy New Year and have a safe and joyous 2010!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
So behind, but OK with it!
Every year, I resolve to wrap my Christmas presents early. Every year, my husband and I are up until the wee hours doing it. My two older ones no longer believe in Santa Claus, so we don't fret as much about a child sneaking down into the basement office where we're working. Now, it's only a 50% chance that someone who catches us will be a believer. The sleep deprivation is worth the look on their faces Christmas morning. After all, there were no gifts under the tree when they turned into bed!
I dread that part since I can't stay up that late anymore without significant pain, but I've been so calm about Christmas this year! I shopped online early enough that I didn't have to worry about paying through the nose for expedited shipping. I also did a little at a time and stayed focused at the stores. I think I even stayed within my budget for a change!
So, I must go clear off the table for tonight's family dinner. We have adopted a tradition from my husband's family. We give each other ornaments and giftwrap them on Christmas eve. During dinner, we each open our packages and hang them on the tree. We always eat dinner in the dining room too. Right now, said table is full of greeting cards from our friends (that I mostly sorted and displayed!), school papers, bills, Star Wars Legos and the cordless phone amongst other things.
However, tonight there will be candles, scented pinecones, sparkling grape juice (only two of us are old enough to drink wine) and spaghetti. A simple, yet wonderful dinner that makes memories for us every year. Hopefully, I will put up our Nativity Set that belongs on the table next to it. Since I cheated and bought store-bought cookie dough, I might have a shot at putting it up before dinner!
I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. Keep Christ in Christmas. For those who celebrate other holidays, I hope you had a beautiful Hannakuh and I would love to hear what other traditions people have for Christmas or other holidays!
God Bless.
I dread that part since I can't stay up that late anymore without significant pain, but I've been so calm about Christmas this year! I shopped online early enough that I didn't have to worry about paying through the nose for expedited shipping. I also did a little at a time and stayed focused at the stores. I think I even stayed within my budget for a change!
So, I must go clear off the table for tonight's family dinner. We have adopted a tradition from my husband's family. We give each other ornaments and giftwrap them on Christmas eve. During dinner, we each open our packages and hang them on the tree. We always eat dinner in the dining room too. Right now, said table is full of greeting cards from our friends (that I mostly sorted and displayed!), school papers, bills, Star Wars Legos and the cordless phone amongst other things.
However, tonight there will be candles, scented pinecones, sparkling grape juice (only two of us are old enough to drink wine) and spaghetti. A simple, yet wonderful dinner that makes memories for us every year. Hopefully, I will put up our Nativity Set that belongs on the table next to it. Since I cheated and bought store-bought cookie dough, I might have a shot at putting it up before dinner!
I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. Keep Christ in Christmas. For those who celebrate other holidays, I hope you had a beautiful Hannakuh and I would love to hear what other traditions people have for Christmas or other holidays!
God Bless.
Merry Christmas!
Please accept my sincerest holiday wishes! Whatever you celebrate, may you enjoy quality time with your family and friends.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
My Favorite Saturday
I think that there is truly something spiritual about a gray day, but especially a Saturday. If there is rain (even just a drizzle) or snow, that's even better. I believe it is something that started in my childhood. The coziness of being hunkered down on a gloomy Saturday with my whole family around just stuck with me all of these years.
I love sunshine as much as the next person but there's just something about it. As a mom, I seem to have added a nesting element to it. My reflections are not as deep right now though as it's noisy around here with the joyful and not so joyful sounds of my children! Curling up with a book is also out of the question.
However, I light scented candles, put on classical music (or Christmas music if it's the season) and peek out the window a lot. I find inspiration this way. These are also the days that I do most of my baking with my kids or crafts with them adding to the whimsy.
Today was one of these wonderful days. There was a light rain falling that is now changing to snow. There are so many Christmas lights and decorations up around town that is making it so much more magical too. The only way it could be more perfect is if my own family had our tree up or a fire going in our fireplace. We always wait until my daughter's birthday is over to do our heavy-duty decorating, but we're behind this year. Our family is also in the process of purging toys to bless others (and make room for Santa's goodies!). So, our fireplace is not accessible right now.
I am looking forward to more of these days this season and beyond. One of the candles I have burning right now is Balsam Fir so I can pretend it's a Christmas tree.
My kids do have a lot of energy and need a ton of exercise, however. They've been known to play outside in the rain, but not when it's this cold. So, after a day or two, it's time for me to say, "Rain, rain go away." Today, though, I had my Saturday.
I love sunshine as much as the next person but there's just something about it. As a mom, I seem to have added a nesting element to it. My reflections are not as deep right now though as it's noisy around here with the joyful and not so joyful sounds of my children! Curling up with a book is also out of the question.
However, I light scented candles, put on classical music (or Christmas music if it's the season) and peek out the window a lot. I find inspiration this way. These are also the days that I do most of my baking with my kids or crafts with them adding to the whimsy.
Today was one of these wonderful days. There was a light rain falling that is now changing to snow. There are so many Christmas lights and decorations up around town that is making it so much more magical too. The only way it could be more perfect is if my own family had our tree up or a fire going in our fireplace. We always wait until my daughter's birthday is over to do our heavy-duty decorating, but we're behind this year. Our family is also in the process of purging toys to bless others (and make room for Santa's goodies!). So, our fireplace is not accessible right now.
I am looking forward to more of these days this season and beyond. One of the candles I have burning right now is Balsam Fir so I can pretend it's a Christmas tree.
My kids do have a lot of energy and need a ton of exercise, however. They've been known to play outside in the rain, but not when it's this cold. So, after a day or two, it's time for me to say, "Rain, rain go away." Today, though, I had my Saturday.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
We Oughta Be in Pictures!
Hello friends,
As soon as I find the thing-a-ma-doody (I coined the term. In this case, I am referring to a cable.) that connects my camera to my computer, I will post some recent pictures.
As soon as I find the thing-a-ma-doody (I coined the term. In this case, I am referring to a cable.) that connects my camera to my computer, I will post some recent pictures.
In the Christmas Spirit!
I have never paid attention to how many shopping days are left until Christmas (well, maybe when they get into the single digits!). It's 67 degrees where I live (Northeast US). Apparently, the record high for today was 65 degrees set back in the the 1930's! Time for a new statistic!
In spite of the weather, the fact that my son wore only a T-shirt to school this AM (oh, and pants too) and that I'm airing out the house by opening our porch door, I am totally in the Christmas spirit!
I've started my shopping (before the aforementioned last days of the countdown!), decorated a little and there's a local radio station that plays Christmas songs 24/7 that I have on whenever possible. Yup, it's on right now! This is significant because anyone who knows me knows that I work well under pressure (aka I need a deadline coming up fast to accomplish most things). I think I've just burnt myself out with all of the last minute stuff after all of these years I've been on earth. I've just been planning ahead better. Having 4 kids in 4 years has also taught me that waiting until the last minute can be hazardous to our health. No joke! Serious stress!
I feel a void because I did not properly record the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting that was on TV last night. We got fiberoptic TV recently and apparently I'm still on the learning curve of using the equipment. I have succesfully recorded other shows we like so I know I can do it. I'll get over it, even though I have a passionate admiration for New York City and an attachment to Rockefeller Center. I ice skated there with my dad when I was a kid.
OK, I'm mushy. I like (some) cheesy Christmas TV specials and songs. I figure I must not be the only one or they wouldn't be on! My all-time favorite Christmas songs are the ones with Christ in them. "Do you Hear What I Hear", "O Holy Night" and "The Little Drummer Boy" top my list. Here is a list of my other fun favorites with my favorite singers of said songs:
"Sleigh Ride" (Leonard Bernstein and the Boston Pops), "Happy Holidays" (Andy Williams), "Feliz Navidad" (Jose Feliciano), "Baby it's Cold Outside" (Dean Martin and Martina McBride) and "J-I-N-G-L-E Bells" (Frank Sinatra) to name a few.
Also, because they remind me of my three boys: "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)"
And of course, from the awseome 80's: "Last Christmas" (Wham!) and "Wonderful Christmastime" (Sir Paul McCartney).
This one has GOT to go though (all versions, sorry Jackson 5, love you guys, but you should have done another song!): "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus".
Chime in! (pun intended) Which ones do you love and which ones make you wanna lose your lunch?
Merry Christmas! Happy Hannakah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy New Year!
In spite of the weather, the fact that my son wore only a T-shirt to school this AM (oh, and pants too) and that I'm airing out the house by opening our porch door, I am totally in the Christmas spirit!
I've started my shopping (before the aforementioned last days of the countdown!), decorated a little and there's a local radio station that plays Christmas songs 24/7 that I have on whenever possible. Yup, it's on right now! This is significant because anyone who knows me knows that I work well under pressure (aka I need a deadline coming up fast to accomplish most things). I think I've just burnt myself out with all of the last minute stuff after all of these years I've been on earth. I've just been planning ahead better. Having 4 kids in 4 years has also taught me that waiting until the last minute can be hazardous to our health. No joke! Serious stress!
I feel a void because I did not properly record the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting that was on TV last night. We got fiberoptic TV recently and apparently I'm still on the learning curve of using the equipment. I have succesfully recorded other shows we like so I know I can do it. I'll get over it, even though I have a passionate admiration for New York City and an attachment to Rockefeller Center. I ice skated there with my dad when I was a kid.
OK, I'm mushy. I like (some) cheesy Christmas TV specials and songs. I figure I must not be the only one or they wouldn't be on! My all-time favorite Christmas songs are the ones with Christ in them. "Do you Hear What I Hear", "O Holy Night" and "The Little Drummer Boy" top my list. Here is a list of my other fun favorites with my favorite singers of said songs:
"Sleigh Ride" (Leonard Bernstein and the Boston Pops), "Happy Holidays" (Andy Williams), "Feliz Navidad" (Jose Feliciano), "Baby it's Cold Outside" (Dean Martin and Martina McBride) and "J-I-N-G-L-E Bells" (Frank Sinatra) to name a few.
Also, because they remind me of my three boys: "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)"
And of course, from the awseome 80's: "Last Christmas" (Wham!) and "Wonderful Christmastime" (Sir Paul McCartney).
This one has GOT to go though (all versions, sorry Jackson 5, love you guys, but you should have done another song!): "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus".
Chime in! (pun intended) Which ones do you love and which ones make you wanna lose your lunch?
Merry Christmas! Happy Hannakah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy New Year!
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