For a Fairy Party for Claire's birthday. Just realized she is having one of those the day before yesterday. I have all these ideas in my head, so I hope I have time to get them actually made! Does anybody know where I can find some little plastic fairy figurines? You know...like little Army men?
I've gotten some wooden dowels with stars on the end, some spray paints and all different kinds of ribbons to make wands with. There will only be a few...ok, 6, girls here, and I'm planning on making them very simple white cotton gowns with a fairy or two embroidered on the front (and I'm wondering if I should have some ribbons draping down the back) and hopefully Party City will have some rhinestone crowns, because Target sure doesn't! I still can't believe that. But, I did find some very cute little diaries in the dollar section at Target last night, and those will go in their goodie bags.
She really wants a sleepover, but, I also know that kids that age rarely make it through the night at someone else's house, so, rather than making a bunch of phone calls at 2:00 in the morning, we are just having the party until 10:00 at night, then they can all go home then. Allison and one of her friends will be doing the girls' make-up and nails, and I need to figure out some kind of movie for them. I was thinking Tinkerbell, but, then I remembered it isn't "Tinkerbell", it's "Peter Pan"! lol! But, maybe I can find something that is fairy related. AND, since I already have GOBS of beads and all of that stuff, we are also going to make bracelets. I just want to see if I can find a little fairy charm.
I think fairies need cupcakes, but Claire really thinks she needs just one big cake, lol! So, we found one of those, and I'll have to make some pink punch or lemonade or something...preferably with bubbles.
And moving on...I was a bad mommy the other day. Now I'm a bad daughter. My mom's birthday was yesterday, and I forgot to call! But I think I would have remembered if I could have stayed awake past quarter to five! Happy Belated Birthday, Mom! I have your present, and I'm trying to make the kids finish the one they started for Dad...then I can pack them up and mail them together. Maybe even by Columbus Day!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Conversations with Claire
With bonus: "Bad, bad, Mommy!"
It only took 2 days this year to get a call from the school. But it was because of me. I had fallen asleep on the couch after lunch...and about 20 minutes after I was supposed to pick Ethan and Claire up, the school called-of course they wanted me to come get them. lol!
Anyway, I get there and Mr. O had been talking with the kids, and Claire noticed he had this empty iced tea jug thing on his desk and was asking him about it. He told them he had (drunk? drank? dranken? drank up the whole thing? INSERT PROPER WORD/S HERE) the whole thing today.
Claire: That's an awful lot of tea! It's gonna make you have to go to the potty, so don't hold it too long or you'll get a bladder infection!
He was laughing so hard when he told me this...wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall in the Principal's office???
It only took 2 days this year to get a call from the school. But it was because of me. I had fallen asleep on the couch after lunch...and about 20 minutes after I was supposed to pick Ethan and Claire up, the school called-of course they wanted me to come get them. lol!
Anyway, I get there and Mr. O had been talking with the kids, and Claire noticed he had this empty iced tea jug thing on his desk and was asking him about it. He told them he had (drunk? drank? dranken? drank up the whole thing? INSERT PROPER WORD/S HERE) the whole thing today.
Claire: That's an awful lot of tea! It's gonna make you have to go to the potty, so don't hold it too long or you'll get a bladder infection!
He was laughing so hard when he told me this...wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall in the Principal's office???
Thursday, August 23, 2007
I'm too old for kids!
Well, sadly, since Dean didn't come anywhere near Houston, Dave decided he wanted his kids back, since he finished everything up in Chicago early. So the boys left today. I am wiped out, and my back hurts and the Aleve isn't doing anything to help it! lol! Now, if I can just make it through the weekend, school starts on Monday and I can be home all alone for the first time in over 13 years and enjoy the peace and quiet! : )
Guess what we are doing tonight? We are going to meet Claire's Kindergarten teacher! I don't think there ever was a kid more excited about starting school. This is her teacher's first year teaching...good thing she has Claire to break her in right! lol!
Tomorrow evening we get to meet Ethan's teacher. Found out she just completed her Master's in Education. Good thing too, because she's gonna need it!
As for Allison, her biggest problem right now is finding a cool tote bag. Apparently it's not cool if your mom makes it for you. But it is cool to go to Old Navy and get one just like everyone else's. She is the 'Anti-Me'. lol!
Guess what we are doing tonight? We are going to meet Claire's Kindergarten teacher! I don't think there ever was a kid more excited about starting school. This is her teacher's first year teaching...good thing she has Claire to break her in right! lol!
Tomorrow evening we get to meet Ethan's teacher. Found out she just completed her Master's in Education. Good thing too, because she's gonna need it!
As for Allison, her biggest problem right now is finding a cool tote bag. Apparently it's not cool if your mom makes it for you. But it is cool to go to Old Navy and get one just like everyone else's. She is the 'Anti-Me'. lol!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Really cool!
First of all, thanks for the birthday wishes! It was very nice...definitely much better than I had thought it was going to be.
And now, Gayla's sons and a nephew are here with us! Gayla's husband is in Chicago on business and wanted to get the kids out of Houston because of Dean...just in case. His nephew, Mike, has been staying with them since Gayla died to be there during the day and while Dave was gone. So, now they are all up in SA with us, and we've been making plans for the week...it's working out great for us because I don't think Dean's coming to Texas at all and we will have great weather. So, see yall soon!
And now, Gayla's sons and a nephew are here with us! Gayla's husband is in Chicago on business and wanted to get the kids out of Houston because of Dean...just in case. His nephew, Mike, has been staying with them since Gayla died to be there during the day and while Dave was gone. So, now they are all up in SA with us, and we've been making plans for the week...it's working out great for us because I don't think Dean's coming to Texas at all and we will have great weather. So, see yall soon!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Only 5, 4, 3, 2...
ONE more shopping day, everyone! While you are out running errands today, don't forget..."Tomorrow is Lauri's birthday!" LOL!
Oh, but Julie Panova, honey, mommie-in-law dearest: I got your little momento in the mail yesterday, and you have really outdone yourself, you c#nt!
To everyone else...please, please, PLEASE pardon my french! I have never said that word in my life, but it just so fits here.
Oh, but Julie Panova, honey, mommie-in-law dearest: I got your little momento in the mail yesterday, and you have really outdone yourself, you c#nt!
To everyone else...please, please, PLEASE pardon my french! I have never said that word in my life, but it just so fits here.
Monday, August 13, 2007
He is soooooooooo lucky!
Last night I thought it would be a good idea to drink a glass of wine with my egg salad sandwich. I don't normally drink wine with egg salad, or even with dinner...I only drink it rarely, and usually that's because I'm at my mom's house and they are having a glass because she made spaghetti for dinner.
I only ended up having 1/2 a glass.
But I'm such a freakin' lightweight that 1/2 a glass was enough to do me in!
Apparently I passed out on my chase somewhere around 3-4pm...right after my sandwich and wine...and didn't wake up until 9:45! Yikes. By then, the kids were in bed and I could hear Steven downstairs putting dishes in the dishwasher. I needed a snack so I tried calling him, because I had been in the same position for those 6-7 hours and could not move at all. I remember calling to him, but he couldn't hear me, and I didn't want to yell too loudly and wake up the little angels. So I thought if I yelled out something funny, that THAT would get his attention...
ME: "Help! I'm your baby mama!"
*That is when I realized I was drunk.
**No response from Steven.**
ME: "HELP! I'm your THREE TIME baby mama!"
He finally came upstairs and (later said) he found me lying there with my arm up in the air like I was waiting for the teacher or someone to call on me. We then decided I needed the Baskin Robbins Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream that was in the freezer.
Right choice? You decide.
The next thing I remember is that I was in my bed, no longer on my chaise lounge, and I was in the early stages of vomiting. Like, it had made it to my mouth. I immediately sat up trying to stop it, and noticed that if I did end up barfing, it would be all over Steven's neck and face. Somehow or other, I was actually able to choke it back down and it stopped. Then I sat up for the rest of the night.
And THAT, my friends, is how much I love my husband!
I only ended up having 1/2 a glass.
But I'm such a freakin' lightweight that 1/2 a glass was enough to do me in!
Apparently I passed out on my chase somewhere around 3-4pm...right after my sandwich and wine...and didn't wake up until 9:45! Yikes. By then, the kids were in bed and I could hear Steven downstairs putting dishes in the dishwasher. I needed a snack so I tried calling him, because I had been in the same position for those 6-7 hours and could not move at all. I remember calling to him, but he couldn't hear me, and I didn't want to yell too loudly and wake up the little angels. So I thought if I yelled out something funny, that THAT would get his attention...
ME: "Help! I'm your baby mama!"
*That is when I realized I was drunk.
**No response from Steven.**
ME: "HELP! I'm your THREE TIME baby mama!"
He finally came upstairs and (later said) he found me lying there with my arm up in the air like I was waiting for the teacher or someone to call on me. We then decided I needed the Baskin Robbins Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream that was in the freezer.
Right choice? You decide.
The next thing I remember is that I was in my bed, no longer on my chaise lounge, and I was in the early stages of vomiting. Like, it had made it to my mouth. I immediately sat up trying to stop it, and noticed that if I did end up barfing, it would be all over Steven's neck and face. Somehow or other, I was actually able to choke it back down and it stopped. Then I sat up for the rest of the night.
And THAT, my friends, is how much I love my husband!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
My New Philosophy on Life
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming: "Woo Hoo, what a ride!"
A good one, no?
Onto other things:
1) It quit raining and damn it got hot!
2) My children are THE MOST expensive children ever made! And I'm not talking about things like having to have "The" designer clothes, or "Those" shoes. Y'all know me; I don't go for that. I'm talking about just basic living and keeping them alive and healthy expenses. That must have come from Steven's side of the family, because I didn't have these problems.
3) If Claire asks me one more time, "How many days until school starts?", I'm going to scream.
4) Oh, who am I kidding...I'm gonna scream anyway. I am one slammed door away from the psycho ward!
5) Tonight we get to meet McGruff the Crime Dog, and all the kids are gonna be finger printed. Like we'd have to worry. A kidnapper would have them for all of 45 minutes, be driven out of his mind and have his wallet emptied because
something would happen, and drop them off right at our doorstop ASAP! lol!
6) Really, they are not that bad. And one at a time, they are my dream child and I'm living my dream life. But, having all 3 at home and together all the time? Not so much.
7) Oh! Steven has an ulcerated uvula. Does that top a sinus infection?
8) OK-seriously-it's not that bad. And I'm laughing as I type this, so I hope you take it in the way it was intended!
9) Time for me to take a shower. I don't want to smell worse than McGruff the Crime Dog!
A good one, no?
Onto other things:
1) It quit raining and damn it got hot!
2) My children are THE MOST expensive children ever made! And I'm not talking about things like having to have "The" designer clothes, or "Those" shoes. Y'all know me; I don't go for that. I'm talking about just basic living and keeping them alive and healthy expenses. That must have come from Steven's side of the family, because I didn't have these problems.
3) If Claire asks me one more time, "How many days until school starts?", I'm going to scream.
4) Oh, who am I kidding...I'm gonna scream anyway. I am one slammed door away from the psycho ward!
5) Tonight we get to meet McGruff the Crime Dog, and all the kids are gonna be finger printed. Like we'd have to worry. A kidnapper would have them for all of 45 minutes, be driven out of his mind and have his wallet emptied because
something would happen, and drop them off right at our doorstop ASAP! lol!
6) Really, they are not that bad. And one at a time, they are my dream child and I'm living my dream life. But, having all 3 at home and together all the time? Not so much.
7) Oh! Steven has an ulcerated uvula. Does that top a sinus infection?
8) OK-seriously-it's not that bad. And I'm laughing as I type this, so I hope you take it in the way it was intended!
9) Time for me to take a shower. I don't want to smell worse than McGruff the Crime Dog!
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Ummm...HELLO?!? People who work at TNT!
The people who watch TNT during the day are probably people like me: Moms who are home with or without their kids, love 'Law & Order', and absolutely, positively cannot stand Soap Operas! So WHY ON EARTH are you suddenly programming freaking GOLF TOURNAMENTS during our Prime Time hours???
We can't stand Golf Tournaments, either! Besides, there is the Golf Channel just for that specific reason! To show golf. All the time. Twenty-four seven. All golf, all the time. Not to mention ESPN and ESPN 2. Plus Channel 26 (on my TV) that, I have no idea what it is, but it always has sports on. Mostly basketball, but, seeing as how the San Antonio Spurs have just recently reclaimed their title of World Champions of Basketball and are entitled to a little time off, probably wouldn't mind sitting down and watching a golf tournament themselves. So use Channel 26 even! Use all 4, PLUS interrupt the SOAP OPERAS for Christsakes! They provide nothing valuable to the community at all. At least we can learn some scientific stuff with 'Law & Order'.
Or...at the very least...couldn't you please, PLEASE wait until 'Charmed' is scheduled? Then interrupt all you want, by all means!
Please, please TNT...I beg of you down on my knees...bring back my 'Law & Order'. Otherwise I'm just forced into doing things like laundry and cleaning bathrooms and mopping the kitchen...and I've really had enough of that.
We can't stand Golf Tournaments, either! Besides, there is the Golf Channel just for that specific reason! To show golf. All the time. Twenty-four seven. All golf, all the time. Not to mention ESPN and ESPN 2. Plus Channel 26 (on my TV) that, I have no idea what it is, but it always has sports on. Mostly basketball, but, seeing as how the San Antonio Spurs have just recently reclaimed their title of World Champions of Basketball and are entitled to a little time off, probably wouldn't mind sitting down and watching a golf tournament themselves. So use Channel 26 even! Use all 4, PLUS interrupt the SOAP OPERAS for Christsakes! They provide nothing valuable to the community at all. At least we can learn some scientific stuff with 'Law & Order'.
Or...at the very least...couldn't you please, PLEASE wait until 'Charmed' is scheduled? Then interrupt all you want, by all means!
Please, please TNT...I beg of you down on my knees...bring back my 'Law & Order'. Otherwise I'm just forced into doing things like laundry and cleaning bathrooms and mopping the kitchen...and I've really had enough of that.
Monday, July 23, 2007
It's quiet again!
Aaaaaahhh! The girls are having their turn with Nana and Pop, so it's just me and Ethan here during the day. Life is so quiet with less than 3 children!
I'm going to spend this time trying to catch up on all the little projects I have going...a purse for a swap, curtains and things for my new studio, some little embroidery things for the laundry room.
Yes, I am going to decorate the laundry room! That poor room always gets neglected so I'm going to spruce it up a bit to be like the rest of the house. Steven painted it my yellow color (Sherwin-Wiliams Buttery) and added a big, tall cabinet. And, just because we don't have enough other things we need to spend money on, the old washer and dryer were dying a slow, painful death; so we put them out of their misery and got new ones. So now I'm doing a series of little vintagey looking embroidery patterns...the ones with little kitties, ducks and even elephants doing chores, specifically laundry. I also need to make curtains for the laundry room. I have the fabric-a laundry related pattern-but that's gonna take some thought...meaning math...with all the measurements and a thing to put the rod through and all that. So of course, I've been procrastinating. However I didn't waste any time in taking down the old curtains and using them in a crazy quilting project! lol! They were just the PERFECT colors!
Speaking of crazy quilting...it's something I've been wanting to really learn how...
*BREAKING NEWS***THIS JUST IN*
A few minutes ago I sent Steven an email about what I wanted for my birthday. It is something I found that is in the 'calamitykim' shop at Etsy. I think he found it, because I just got the little thing that pops up to let you know you have a new email, and it's to Steven's account and it's titled "Receipt for your payment for item # blahblahblahlongstringofnumbers". hee-hee!
*Back to our regularly scheduled programming...
Speaking of crazy quilting...it's something I've been wanting to really learn how to do for a long time, and I took a class on Saturday about it, with the GREATEST SEWING TEACHER EVER! I've taken lots of quilting and sewing classes so I know. This woman was great! Her name is Bobbie, and I took the class at Quilter's Point. The class was full of a great group of women, which is normal, but usually the teacher has no sense of humor what-so-ever. But Bobbie is a HOOT! A few of the ladies were super funny...LEAH..."hold me closer Tony Danza"...and I was cracking up all day long-which is something I really needed! I'm still laughing right now. And Bobbie was wonderful, and patient and kind! By the end of the class everyone was at a different stage, and she didn't even care. She just went around the room checking on everyone individually and helping with whatever they needed at the time. It was just great all the way around.
When the class was over I went out to sign up for another class she is doing, but she said she didn't want me to "waste my money on that class and not get anything out of it" because she said I already knew everything. She has another one though, in a couple of weeks that I asked about, and she said that one would be good for me because I would learn some new things. So, I'm going to take that one.
So this should have you all up to date with what's going on around here. Ethan and I are just gonna chill out this week, and he is going to let me work on things, right??? Maybe I can bribe him with the 'Harry Potter' movie....
I'm going to spend this time trying to catch up on all the little projects I have going...a purse for a swap, curtains and things for my new studio, some little embroidery things for the laundry room.
Yes, I am going to decorate the laundry room! That poor room always gets neglected so I'm going to spruce it up a bit to be like the rest of the house. Steven painted it my yellow color (Sherwin-Wiliams Buttery) and added a big, tall cabinet. And, just because we don't have enough other things we need to spend money on, the old washer and dryer were dying a slow, painful death; so we put them out of their misery and got new ones. So now I'm doing a series of little vintagey looking embroidery patterns...the ones with little kitties, ducks and even elephants doing chores, specifically laundry. I also need to make curtains for the laundry room. I have the fabric-a laundry related pattern-but that's gonna take some thought...meaning math...with all the measurements and a thing to put the rod through and all that. So of course, I've been procrastinating. However I didn't waste any time in taking down the old curtains and using them in a crazy quilting project! lol! They were just the PERFECT colors!
Speaking of crazy quilting...it's something I've been wanting to really learn how...
*BREAKING NEWS***THIS JUST IN*
A few minutes ago I sent Steven an email about what I wanted for my birthday. It is something I found that is in the 'calamitykim' shop at Etsy. I think he found it, because I just got the little thing that pops up to let you know you have a new email, and it's to Steven's account and it's titled "Receipt for your payment for item # blahblahblahlongstringofnumbers". hee-hee!
*Back to our regularly scheduled programming...
Speaking of crazy quilting...it's something I've been wanting to really learn how to do for a long time, and I took a class on Saturday about it, with the GREATEST SEWING TEACHER EVER! I've taken lots of quilting and sewing classes so I know. This woman was great! Her name is Bobbie, and I took the class at Quilter's Point. The class was full of a great group of women, which is normal, but usually the teacher has no sense of humor what-so-ever. But Bobbie is a HOOT! A few of the ladies were super funny...LEAH..."hold me closer Tony Danza"...and I was cracking up all day long-which is something I really needed! I'm still laughing right now. And Bobbie was wonderful, and patient and kind! By the end of the class everyone was at a different stage, and she didn't even care. She just went around the room checking on everyone individually and helping with whatever they needed at the time. It was just great all the way around.
When the class was over I went out to sign up for another class she is doing, but she said she didn't want me to "waste my money on that class and not get anything out of it" because she said I already knew everything. She has another one though, in a couple of weeks that I asked about, and she said that one would be good for me because I would learn some new things. So, I'm going to take that one.
So this should have you all up to date with what's going on around here. Ethan and I are just gonna chill out this week, and he is going to let me work on things, right??? Maybe I can bribe him with the 'Harry Potter' movie....
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Conversations with Claire
*I'm in the kitchen emptying the dishwasher and Claire is in there talking to me, doing the 'potty dance'.
Me: Claire, do you need to go to the bathroom?
Claire: No, I just have a gas bubble, and I'm trying to pop it.
Me: Claire, do you need to go to the bathroom?
Claire: No, I just have a gas bubble, and I'm trying to pop it.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Getting through...
...but it's hard without Gayla. Gayla would call me at least once a day, sometimes more. And now, every time my phone rings something happens in my brain that makes me think she's "come back", and I get all excited thinking it's her, "Finally!", then realize it isn't....
Today I was in my favorite art store, Stamp Antonio...carrying my purse and so many other things someone finally just felt sorry for me and brought me a carrying basket so that was completely overflowing. Then I hear my phone ringing/singing, "We represent the Lollypop Guild, the Lollypop Guild, the Lollypop Guild...", instinctively thinking it's Gayla and thinking, "It's about time!", dropped everything on the floor because I was so excited, and it was Allison. Not that I don't want to hear from Allison or anything...but, it hit me really hard today. Steven, Ethan and Claire were next door to where I was waiting for a pizza and when I got over there Steven asked if I had heard from Allison, who went to see the new Harry Potter movie with a friend. I told him yes, but I thought it was Gayla, then start crying....
Of course, I've thought about changing my ring tone, but: 1) That was the ringtone she knew, and she won't know the new one; and 2) 'The Lollypop Guild' is just too perfect for us! lol! If you ever wonder what Ethan looks like, he's the red-headed boy who isn't too keen on singing "We represent the Lollypop Guild..." with the other boys. Even the attitude!
I do ok most of the time, but anytime my cell phone rings the tears start to flow. She even changed her cell phone service from Sprint to Verizon, for ME! Her whole family-mom, sisters, everybody-had Sprint. When we moved to San Antonio, she changed to Verizon so we could talk as much as we wanted. Friends like that don't come around very often.
Anyway...not much else going on. We did get a new washer and dryer, though. So I guess things can get pretty exciting around here every once in a while. OH! And my 'new' office is just about done. Walls are painted, shelves are done...I just need to get everything organized and put away. Mom recovered the seat of my chair and I need to finish painting it. (It's primer gray right now. Just gotta spray paint it white.) I also need to spray paint a little bar stool thing white, and I'm making a padded cushion for that. I'm also working on a curtain to cover up the very bottom shelf of the bookshelf that houses one of only two electrical outlets in here, so it'a a jumble of a mess and needs to be covered up.
Oh, how could I forget about this? Talk about some excitement...this is a picture of one of our neighbors having their hot tub/jacuzzi installed. By crane. Over their house. I hope you can make it out-I was taking pictures out of my bedroom window on a very gray, drizzly day.
Today I was in my favorite art store, Stamp Antonio...carrying my purse and so many other things someone finally just felt sorry for me and brought me a carrying basket so that was completely overflowing. Then I hear my phone ringing/singing, "We represent the Lollypop Guild, the Lollypop Guild, the Lollypop Guild...", instinctively thinking it's Gayla and thinking, "It's about time!", dropped everything on the floor because I was so excited, and it was Allison. Not that I don't want to hear from Allison or anything...but, it hit me really hard today. Steven, Ethan and Claire were next door to where I was waiting for a pizza and when I got over there Steven asked if I had heard from Allison, who went to see the new Harry Potter movie with a friend. I told him yes, but I thought it was Gayla, then start crying....
Of course, I've thought about changing my ring tone, but: 1) That was the ringtone she knew, and she won't know the new one; and 2) 'The Lollypop Guild' is just too perfect for us! lol! If you ever wonder what Ethan looks like, he's the red-headed boy who isn't too keen on singing "We represent the Lollypop Guild..." with the other boys. Even the attitude!
I do ok most of the time, but anytime my cell phone rings the tears start to flow. She even changed her cell phone service from Sprint to Verizon, for ME! Her whole family-mom, sisters, everybody-had Sprint. When we moved to San Antonio, she changed to Verizon so we could talk as much as we wanted. Friends like that don't come around very often.
Anyway...not much else going on. We did get a new washer and dryer, though. So I guess things can get pretty exciting around here every once in a while. OH! And my 'new' office is just about done. Walls are painted, shelves are done...I just need to get everything organized and put away. Mom recovered the seat of my chair and I need to finish painting it. (It's primer gray right now. Just gotta spray paint it white.) I also need to spray paint a little bar stool thing white, and I'm making a padded cushion for that. I'm also working on a curtain to cover up the very bottom shelf of the bookshelf that houses one of only two electrical outlets in here, so it'a a jumble of a mess and needs to be covered up.
Oh, how could I forget about this? Talk about some excitement...this is a picture of one of our neighbors having their hot tub/jacuzzi installed. By crane. Over their house. I hope you can make it out-I was taking pictures out of my bedroom window on a very gray, drizzly day.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
My best friend in the world just died.
Very suddenly and unexpectedly. And calling her just a "best friend" doesn't seem right...she was more than that. It's not fair that we weren't sisters. Because if you say something about your "sister", people get it. (Plus, most sisters probably don't love and care about each other as we do.) If it's just your "friend", it's not that big of a deal. But she was a big deal. And I don't know what I'm going to do without her for the rest of my life. We figured we'd be old and senile, sharing a room in the nursing home and beating each other with our canes! And if we weren't senile and still remembered we were friends, we'd just hit the other old people with our canes! lol!
She didn't just leave me...she also left a husband and two sons. One starting high school next year, and one in middle school. I really don't know how they are going to do without her!
My eyes hurt so much I don't think I can make any more tears. I miss you Gayla, and I'm not accepting this and I want you back.
She didn't just leave me...she also left a husband and two sons. One starting high school next year, and one in middle school. I really don't know how they are going to do without her!
My eyes hurt so much I don't think I can make any more tears. I miss you Gayla, and I'm not accepting this and I want you back.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Vacation?
Steven took off Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week, to stay home and take care of some things around the house that have been needing to be taken care of. Including, but certainly not limited to: 1)Finish painting the cabinets and shelves in my studio; 2)Painting the laundry room and; 3)Painting the stairway and the rest of the upstairs, minus the kids' rooms. That means he has 5 days to do these few things...FIVE days...FIVE whole days! I was going to be able to finish up a couple of purses that I owe people; work on the Doll Quilt for the swap; and work on things in general that need to be done, like PUTTING ALL OF MY FABRIC AWAY IN MY STUDIO AND GET IT OUT OF THE HALLWAY, along with the sewing machine, soldering iron (!yea! So I can actually use it without worrying about burning the house down!)-basically, getting all of my stuff organized, plus working on some other little artsy/crafty things.
Today is Saturday. Day FOUR. Ninety-six point seven percent of our time has been spent dealing with the kids who are fighting over things like who gets to vacuum what, who gets to wipe the baseboards along the stairway to remove all the dust so the tape will stick for when we paint, and who gets to sweep under the kitchen table. Of course there are other things we have to do with them, like, keep them from killing each other. Sometimes I'd like to just say, "Have at it! Survival of the fittest!" But, I think CPS and the police would become involved. But I know you are reading this thinking, "Her kids are fighting over who gets to sweep and wipe the baseboards and she's complaining???" My kids will fight over ANYTHING. Particularly anything that involves taking something away from the other.
Claire absolutely loves to clean things with wipes...anything, anytime, if she can just use a wipe. She must get high off the smell or something. Wipes clean up baseboard dust really well, so, when I said, "Hey Claire! Go get a wipe and wipe the baseboards up the stairway for me.", that pretty much ensured a fight between Claire and Ethan, because he only wants to take things away from his sisters. If I had said, "Hey Ethan! Go get a wipe....", it would have been a whole different scene. The crying, the whining, the falling down because his legs just cannot hold him up one second longer, the "you make me do eeevvvvvvvvvvvverythiiiiiiiiiiinnng!"...in short...The Death Scene. But, by my asking Claire to do it first, there is fight that results in needing 2 adults, 1 psychiatric professional, usually some kind of First Aid-maybe even stitches, and lots and lots of meds to resolve. So, there goes 96.7% of our time.
We do need to eat occasionally, so there goes another percent. I've only had one shower in the last 4 days, so I'm not using up a lot of time on that. But, Steven and I do have to clean up after ourselves, and what we can't get the children to do...I'd say, what, 2%? Sounds good. And saving the best for last...sleeping! What's left, about 1.3%? Yep, that sounds about right.
So, how much has actually been accomplished these last 4 days? Well, the laundry room got painted. And Steven is painting the shelves in my studio as I type. I have yet to complete a project. A small portion of the baseboards got dusted and taped off...a very small portion. Not a drop of paint has hit those walls yet, though.
Silly me! And I thought Steven and I would be able to actually sit down at night and watch a few of 'The Soprano's' DVDs that I got him for Father's Day!
Today is Saturday. Day FOUR. Ninety-six point seven percent of our time has been spent dealing with the kids who are fighting over things like who gets to vacuum what, who gets to wipe the baseboards along the stairway to remove all the dust so the tape will stick for when we paint, and who gets to sweep under the kitchen table. Of course there are other things we have to do with them, like, keep them from killing each other. Sometimes I'd like to just say, "Have at it! Survival of the fittest!" But, I think CPS and the police would become involved. But I know you are reading this thinking, "Her kids are fighting over who gets to sweep and wipe the baseboards and she's complaining???" My kids will fight over ANYTHING. Particularly anything that involves taking something away from the other.
Claire absolutely loves to clean things with wipes...anything, anytime, if she can just use a wipe. She must get high off the smell or something. Wipes clean up baseboard dust really well, so, when I said, "Hey Claire! Go get a wipe and wipe the baseboards up the stairway for me.", that pretty much ensured a fight between Claire and Ethan, because he only wants to take things away from his sisters. If I had said, "Hey Ethan! Go get a wipe....", it would have been a whole different scene. The crying, the whining, the falling down because his legs just cannot hold him up one second longer, the "you make me do eeevvvvvvvvvvvverythiiiiiiiiiiinnng!"...in short...The Death Scene. But, by my asking Claire to do it first, there is fight that results in needing 2 adults, 1 psychiatric professional, usually some kind of First Aid-maybe even stitches, and lots and lots of meds to resolve. So, there goes 96.7% of our time.
We do need to eat occasionally, so there goes another percent. I've only had one shower in the last 4 days, so I'm not using up a lot of time on that. But, Steven and I do have to clean up after ourselves, and what we can't get the children to do...I'd say, what, 2%? Sounds good. And saving the best for last...sleeping! What's left, about 1.3%? Yep, that sounds about right.
So, how much has actually been accomplished these last 4 days? Well, the laundry room got painted. And Steven is painting the shelves in my studio as I type. I have yet to complete a project. A small portion of the baseboards got dusted and taped off...a very small portion. Not a drop of paint has hit those walls yet, though.
Silly me! And I thought Steven and I would be able to actually sit down at night and watch a few of 'The Soprano's' DVDs that I got him for Father's Day!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Thinking about things...
I've been sewing a lot over the last few days...that kind of mindless, straight line sewing that gets you to thinking about things. Lots of deep life questioning things. Things like: why am I am who I am; how did I get to be this way; why do I have certain children; what do I want to do from here on out and be known for when I'm 55 years old-because I am 40 and REALLY close to 41...which really translates into "What do I want to do with my life?". And then of course, the truly thought provoking question...why am I not a 'Commercial Lady' like I wanted to be when I was a kid?
And that may sound like a really funny question, and taken at face value it is. So I've been thinking about what being a 'commercial lady' really meant to me. I've decided that what being a Commercial Lady really meant to me was that I would get to stand or sit there and talk...a lot...about anything. What I liked, what I didn't like, or whatever someone else needed me to talk about, but couldn't bring themselves to do it. Of course, I would have been more of a 'Solo Infomercial Lady'. So obviously the perfect job for me!!! I never did believe that test I took in high school that said I should be a Mechanic! (An if you're wondering yes, that is absolutely true and yes, I can hear you laughing all the way over here!) But, I think I finally got to the root of that this week...sometimes it takes a 40 year old woman to get into a 6 year old's head.
When I was old enough to realize that "Commercial Lady" wasn't something you went to college and got a degree in, I moved on to becoming a teacher. Which, if you think about it, has a lot of the same things going for it that Commercial Lady does...you get to stand up in front of a classroom spouting views and ideas and theories and opinions. However, I realized within the first semester or two of college that my type of teaching wasn't going to work in Public Schools, and it was quite possible that Security Guards would be throwing me off school property within hours of the first day for many violations!
1) I have never had a problem giving my opinion. Never. Not in any situation, public or private. I respect the opinions of others (as long as they have actually gone through a reasonable thought process and some research to get there). Their opinion does not have to be my opinion...different opinions are what makes the world go round. (I absolutely must say here, though, that some opinions are just downright stupid and ignorant!) Anyway-back to the point of me giving my opinions...if I was a teacher and a student asked me what I thought about something, I would tell them what I thought and believed. And most likely, that is not what the Public School System is going to want me to do.
2) I don't know why I said, "it was quite possible that Security Guards would be throwing me off school property within hours of the first day for many violations!"
Because the one above is really the only one I can think of. Let's just say I am more suited to teaching at the University level, and since I had better, more fun things to do than sitting around studying for a PhD, that is out of the question.
I have spent a lot of time acting on behalf of abused women and children and trying to educate the public about domestic violence. Even made it on the news in Houston for spouting through a microphone in front of City Hall. But I am wanting to do more. I want to help educate the world about things like Bipolar Disorder especially in children; what REAL ADHD is; Depression-that sometimes you just can't pull yourself up by the bootstraps, buck up and get happy; Schizophrenia-which is not Multiple Personalities!; Learning Disorders like Dyslexia and/or the fact that not all children progress and learn to read at the same exact time at the exact time the teacher tells them too! BRAINS ARE DIFFERENT! And that doesn't mean "wrong" or "bad". My two oldest children had difficulty learning to read...Allison didn't really learn to read until 3rd grade but, when it did click, she took off! Ethan is still struggling very hard and just may be Dyslexic. And Claire-who will be entering Kindergarten in two months-still shows no signs of wanting to learn her ABCs. If you ask her how to spell her name, she can tell you and she can write it out, but, if you ask her to write a 'C', she doesn't know how. If you hold up any other letter in the alphabet and ask her what it is, she has no clue. And just exactly like the other two, the harder you push to try and sneak in some learning, the more they turn off and the faster they walk away. But you know what...Ethan is a Straight A student. Allison would be if she weren't quite so social, if you know what I mean. lol! She has been before, and will be again, but, sometimes she just socializes a lot instead of doing homework. "Normal" kids develop at different rates, and it's all good as long as they are steadily developing on their scale.
Autism-that's another one that hits close to home, and people really need to learn more about that! You can check this link to the National Autism Association, also. You might wanna check out Pete, who has A Perfectly Cromulent Blog. I use him. You know...to keep up with House Bills and all that. The whole Government, making laws and stuff, adding important issues, such as Health Insurance and Early Intervention for Austim onto other bills that have nothing to do with that...this one may be tacked on to something about how to dispose of grass clippings for all I know...ANYWAY, it's all very confusing, but, I can just go to Pete and find out what's going on with what I'm interested in. Thanks, Pete!
Health Insurance-Especially for Kids! What the fuck is wrong with our Country? A Country who will let a family lose everything they have, even their HOME, even the WHEELCHAIR that their daughter desperately needs (Yep! Someone actually walked into their door and made them GIVE BACK their little girl's wheelchair!), because the medical bills have gotten so high that they cannot afford to pay the leftover 20% of the bill that their insurance didn't cover! Try wrapping your brain around that one! What if this was your child? Would that have happened if that was the daughter of the wheelchair company's owner?
Have you ever really looked around and realized how our world treats women and children? I know we live in a male dominated, Patriarchial Society and all, and sometimes I think we, in the US, have things bad and not fair. Then I start looking around and the women in the Middle East and the baby girls in China. And then I cry. A baby girl will get me every time!
I've tried to make a change...in my Social Work/Life Before Kids, and I've even worked a little on Ted Poe's campaign for Representative of the area I lived in. He's a great man...check him out. Because of my son's Special Needs, I have fought long and hard, AND WON, to get him what he needs at school...IEPs, ARDs, Wright's Law, a great resource for Special Education Law & Advocacym etc...a lot of research, learning and commitment. And I'm willing to (and have) help anyone else get what their child needs also. Right now I'm making a bunch of little security blanket type things for some of the orphans in China. Cindy at Skip to my Lou posted about her neice, who is working with a group called Hope's Heart . They are going to China soon to volunteer and bring over some things for the babies. I know that this is a very teeny, tiny contribution but, I'm hoping it will help a few children have something to hold that is their's and belongs only to them. I've also donated many other things I have made to several other charities to be auctioned off to help raise a little drop in the bucket. OH! And PFLAG...something else I've always wanted to do something for but don't know where to start-other than to stand up on roof or walk around downtown with a bullhorn shouting, "What difference does it make who you love?" I have marched in a Gay Right's Parade, though.
But where do I start? What problem to I fight to solve? Do I do a little bit for everything, or put all my eggs in one basket? All I know is, I need to get back to doing something. I know I don't get a whole lot of traffic here, but, if any of you have a link to a group you want to help with or a cause to fight for, let me know and I'll add it into this post. And even if you don't have a group or cause you want to help with, I hope I've made you think a little. I'm not even trying to actually sway or change opinions here, but if I did make you think, you made my day!
Of course, I can't let this blog publish until I say a little something about OUR SPURS! We said, "GO!" and you "WENT!" and I am very proud to have such a wonderful, polite, well-mannered group of people represent our city! To all the Mom's who raised their boys to be these men, to all of their teachers in school along the way, to all of the Spurs Administration, to Pop...thank you all for raising and helping and teaching and coaching them all to be who they are today. A team I am proud of and a team who emulate the the social graces I want my children to learn. I couldn't be happier! Congratulations on #4!
And that may sound like a really funny question, and taken at face value it is. So I've been thinking about what being a 'commercial lady' really meant to me. I've decided that what being a Commercial Lady really meant to me was that I would get to stand or sit there and talk...a lot...about anything. What I liked, what I didn't like, or whatever someone else needed me to talk about, but couldn't bring themselves to do it. Of course, I would have been more of a 'Solo Infomercial Lady'. So obviously the perfect job for me!!! I never did believe that test I took in high school that said I should be a Mechanic! (An if you're wondering yes, that is absolutely true and yes, I can hear you laughing all the way over here!) But, I think I finally got to the root of that this week...sometimes it takes a 40 year old woman to get into a 6 year old's head.
When I was old enough to realize that "Commercial Lady" wasn't something you went to college and got a degree in, I moved on to becoming a teacher. Which, if you think about it, has a lot of the same things going for it that Commercial Lady does...you get to stand up in front of a classroom spouting views and ideas and theories and opinions. However, I realized within the first semester or two of college that my type of teaching wasn't going to work in Public Schools, and it was quite possible that Security Guards would be throwing me off school property within hours of the first day for many violations!
1) I have never had a problem giving my opinion. Never. Not in any situation, public or private. I respect the opinions of others (as long as they have actually gone through a reasonable thought process and some research to get there). Their opinion does not have to be my opinion...different opinions are what makes the world go round. (I absolutely must say here, though, that some opinions are just downright stupid and ignorant!) Anyway-back to the point of me giving my opinions...if I was a teacher and a student asked me what I thought about something, I would tell them what I thought and believed. And most likely, that is not what the Public School System is going to want me to do.
2) I don't know why I said, "it was quite possible that Security Guards would be throwing me off school property within hours of the first day for many violations!"
Because the one above is really the only one I can think of. Let's just say I am more suited to teaching at the University level, and since I had better, more fun things to do than sitting around studying for a PhD, that is out of the question.
I have spent a lot of time acting on behalf of abused women and children and trying to educate the public about domestic violence. Even made it on the news in Houston for spouting through a microphone in front of City Hall. But I am wanting to do more. I want to help educate the world about things like Bipolar Disorder especially in children; what REAL ADHD is; Depression-that sometimes you just can't pull yourself up by the bootstraps, buck up and get happy; Schizophrenia-which is not Multiple Personalities!; Learning Disorders like Dyslexia and/or the fact that not all children progress and learn to read at the same exact time at the exact time the teacher tells them too! BRAINS ARE DIFFERENT! And that doesn't mean "wrong" or "bad". My two oldest children had difficulty learning to read...Allison didn't really learn to read until 3rd grade but, when it did click, she took off! Ethan is still struggling very hard and just may be Dyslexic. And Claire-who will be entering Kindergarten in two months-still shows no signs of wanting to learn her ABCs. If you ask her how to spell her name, she can tell you and she can write it out, but, if you ask her to write a 'C', she doesn't know how. If you hold up any other letter in the alphabet and ask her what it is, she has no clue. And just exactly like the other two, the harder you push to try and sneak in some learning, the more they turn off and the faster they walk away. But you know what...Ethan is a Straight A student. Allison would be if she weren't quite so social, if you know what I mean. lol! She has been before, and will be again, but, sometimes she just socializes a lot instead of doing homework. "Normal" kids develop at different rates, and it's all good as long as they are steadily developing on their scale.
Autism-that's another one that hits close to home, and people really need to learn more about that! You can check this link to the National Autism Association, also. You might wanna check out Pete, who has A Perfectly Cromulent Blog. I use him. You know...to keep up with House Bills and all that. The whole Government, making laws and stuff, adding important issues, such as Health Insurance and Early Intervention for Austim onto other bills that have nothing to do with that...this one may be tacked on to something about how to dispose of grass clippings for all I know...ANYWAY, it's all very confusing, but, I can just go to Pete and find out what's going on with what I'm interested in. Thanks, Pete!
Health Insurance-Especially for Kids! What the fuck is wrong with our Country? A Country who will let a family lose everything they have, even their HOME, even the WHEELCHAIR that their daughter desperately needs (Yep! Someone actually walked into their door and made them GIVE BACK their little girl's wheelchair!), because the medical bills have gotten so high that they cannot afford to pay the leftover 20% of the bill that their insurance didn't cover! Try wrapping your brain around that one! What if this was your child? Would that have happened if that was the daughter of the wheelchair company's owner?
Have you ever really looked around and realized how our world treats women and children? I know we live in a male dominated, Patriarchial Society and all, and sometimes I think we, in the US, have things bad and not fair. Then I start looking around and the women in the Middle East and the baby girls in China. And then I cry. A baby girl will get me every time!
I've tried to make a change...in my Social Work/Life Before Kids, and I've even worked a little on Ted Poe's campaign for Representative of the area I lived in. He's a great man...check him out. Because of my son's Special Needs, I have fought long and hard, AND WON, to get him what he needs at school...IEPs, ARDs, Wright's Law, a great resource for Special Education Law & Advocacym etc...a lot of research, learning and commitment. And I'm willing to (and have) help anyone else get what their child needs also. Right now I'm making a bunch of little security blanket type things for some of the orphans in China. Cindy at Skip to my Lou posted about her neice, who is working with a group called Hope's Heart . They are going to China soon to volunteer and bring over some things for the babies. I know that this is a very teeny, tiny contribution but, I'm hoping it will help a few children have something to hold that is their's and belongs only to them. I've also donated many other things I have made to several other charities to be auctioned off to help raise a little drop in the bucket. OH! And PFLAG...something else I've always wanted to do something for but don't know where to start-other than to stand up on roof or walk around downtown with a bullhorn shouting, "What difference does it make who you love?" I have marched in a Gay Right's Parade, though.
But where do I start? What problem to I fight to solve? Do I do a little bit for everything, or put all my eggs in one basket? All I know is, I need to get back to doing something. I know I don't get a whole lot of traffic here, but, if any of you have a link to a group you want to help with or a cause to fight for, let me know and I'll add it into this post. And even if you don't have a group or cause you want to help with, I hope I've made you think a little. I'm not even trying to actually sway or change opinions here, but if I did make you think, you made my day!
Of course, I can't let this blog publish until I say a little something about OUR SPURS! We said, "GO!" and you "WENT!" and I am very proud to have such a wonderful, polite, well-mannered group of people represent our city! To all the Mom's who raised their boys to be these men, to all of their teachers in school along the way, to all of the Spurs Administration, to Pop...thank you all for raising and helping and teaching and coaching them all to be who they are today. A team I am proud of and a team who emulate the the social graces I want my children to learn. I couldn't be happier! Congratulations on #4!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Why am I so naive year after year after year...
Not even year after year...also holiday after holiday, event after event, day after day...I always think "THIS TIME it's gonna be better!"
I have a plan for the summer for the kids this year-basically homeschool, but fun. With LOTS of arts and crafts! For example, this week was 'Fish Week'. We learn some cool things about fish, and make a lot of things with fish on them. I found tons of fish and ocean related foam thingys at Michael's, so we were going to make "aquariums", those foam can holders/koozies covered with fish; I got some solid color beach towels that we are going to applique with fish, clam shells, dolphins, seaweed, mermaids, etc..., and also got some of those bucket hats to decorate as well-either appliqued or embroidered or both. OH! I also got flip-flops that the kids decorated, and they came out so cute! And yes, you know I got those for me, too! lol!
Sounds fun, no?
But of course, there was an incident. Tuesday morning Ethan "hi-yahed!" a perfect front kick squarely into Claire's chest. She seemed perfectly fine-breathing great, no hurt ribs or anything like that, but, all I could think of was "What if?" "What if he had broken a rib and it had puntured her heart or lung?" "What if the pressure of the kick had ruptured her aorta, like what happened to Princess Diana, and she bled to death?" (Or, maybe, just a tiny little vein???)
OK-so maybe I was a little dramatic that day.
But, I'm not a mom who takes her kid into the doctor for every little thing. I take them for their well-check visits every year, and other than that, they have to pretty much be running a fever of 105 for 24 hours OR they need stitches. The Pediatrician pretty much knows that, if I'M calling, it's probably warranted.
So I called. I don't even know the number for the pediatrician. I had to call Steven to get it. Chalk another one up for Mom of the Year.
They put me straight through to the nurse, who asked me a bunch of questions then said they wouldn't be able to work Claire in until 4:30 and she didn't want me to wait that long so, emergency room it was.
Of course Claire is fine, and apparently it's gonna take a lot more than a 126 lb. brother perfectly planting a kick in her chest to bring her down, but, it really did scare me! I know the difference between real remorse and fake remorse, and Ethan really and truly is the most sensitive, sympathetic and empathetic person I have ever known, BUT...does he have NO FRONT TEMPORAL LOBE AT ALL??? Short of shooting him with a dart that could take down an elephant, what is it going to take to get him to control his impulses? And this kind of super, really serious stuff only happens with Claire.
We did get an emergency appointment with my Favorite Psychologist Ever yesterday, and, he is going to start seeing Ethan and Claire together; which I think is a GREAT idea!
So...homeschool fun with arts and crafts mixed with Psychotherapy for the summer! Who could choose Disneyland over that?
And we are a little behind on the fish stuff, but, the flip-flops did turn out great, so I'll definitely take a picture of those! I think the towels will be cute, too. I was also making quite a bit of progress on a special "fish" game that is a surprise for the kids, but it has stalled. I think I can pick up on it this evening maybe. But, I'm telling you it's gonna be so freakin' cute, you will have to come back for pictures!
I have a plan for the summer for the kids this year-basically homeschool, but fun. With LOTS of arts and crafts! For example, this week was 'Fish Week'. We learn some cool things about fish, and make a lot of things with fish on them. I found tons of fish and ocean related foam thingys at Michael's, so we were going to make "aquariums", those foam can holders/koozies covered with fish; I got some solid color beach towels that we are going to applique with fish, clam shells, dolphins, seaweed, mermaids, etc..., and also got some of those bucket hats to decorate as well-either appliqued or embroidered or both. OH! I also got flip-flops that the kids decorated, and they came out so cute! And yes, you know I got those for me, too! lol!
Sounds fun, no?
But of course, there was an incident. Tuesday morning Ethan "hi-yahed!" a perfect front kick squarely into Claire's chest. She seemed perfectly fine-breathing great, no hurt ribs or anything like that, but, all I could think of was "What if?" "What if he had broken a rib and it had puntured her heart or lung?" "What if the pressure of the kick had ruptured her aorta, like what happened to Princess Diana, and she bled to death?" (Or, maybe, just a tiny little vein???)
OK-so maybe I was a little dramatic that day.
But, I'm not a mom who takes her kid into the doctor for every little thing. I take them for their well-check visits every year, and other than that, they have to pretty much be running a fever of 105 for 24 hours OR they need stitches. The Pediatrician pretty much knows that, if I'M calling, it's probably warranted.
So I called. I don't even know the number for the pediatrician. I had to call Steven to get it. Chalk another one up for Mom of the Year.
They put me straight through to the nurse, who asked me a bunch of questions then said they wouldn't be able to work Claire in until 4:30 and she didn't want me to wait that long so, emergency room it was.
Of course Claire is fine, and apparently it's gonna take a lot more than a 126 lb. brother perfectly planting a kick in her chest to bring her down, but, it really did scare me! I know the difference between real remorse and fake remorse, and Ethan really and truly is the most sensitive, sympathetic and empathetic person I have ever known, BUT...does he have NO FRONT TEMPORAL LOBE AT ALL??? Short of shooting him with a dart that could take down an elephant, what is it going to take to get him to control his impulses? And this kind of super, really serious stuff only happens with Claire.
We did get an emergency appointment with my Favorite Psychologist Ever yesterday, and, he is going to start seeing Ethan and Claire together; which I think is a GREAT idea!
So...homeschool fun with arts and crafts mixed with Psychotherapy for the summer! Who could choose Disneyland over that?
And we are a little behind on the fish stuff, but, the flip-flops did turn out great, so I'll definitely take a picture of those! I think the towels will be cute, too. I was also making quite a bit of progress on a special "fish" game that is a surprise for the kids, but it has stalled. I think I can pick up on it this evening maybe. But, I'm telling you it's gonna be so freakin' cute, you will have to come back for pictures!
Friday, May 25, 2007
Sheesh! I never have time to blog anymore...
But, today is the last day of school. So things should slow down now, right??? lol! I'll be back!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Yeah, I know...it's been a while...
It's May. I hate May. Well, not really but, it is THE busiest month ever. Even worse than December. OK, well, maybe they are equal. From Cinco de Mayo all the way to the last day of school it doesn't stop with the school events. Then weird things keep happening on top of that...like yesterday. The gas that heats the water in the water heater decided to turn off. Why? No one knows. We had gas to the fireplace and to the heater-like we really need to use those in TX in May, but just not the water heater. Makes for a very cold shower. Called the gas company and the guy was here within, NO LIE, 30 minutes! San Antonio is the best city ever! In Houston, that would have taken 3 days.
So, he came out and checked everything and it was all good; he got the pilot light back on. He has no idea what made it go out though. I swear to you I'm haunted. Not in a bad way, but spirits follow me. This stuff just doesn't happen to other people. It's always something.
Anyway...back to May and all it's busy-ness. Before next Friday I have to make cupcakes for Ethan's class party, make a baby quilt for his teacher who is having a baby this summer, finish a bracelet I started for her, and maybe throw in a few other things for the baby. Oh, and I'm going to do the cupcakes with her face on them like I did the ones for Cinco de Mayo-I REALLY should have taken a picture of those! They were so cute! AND-finish up some belated Mother's Day things for my mom that we have been working on so we can bring them to her next weekend. Plus send out 2...wait, I think it might be 3...swap things-one has to go out tomorrow so I'd better get to painting. AND, Gayla has requested another baby blanket for her neice, Milo, (lol!) and I found the cutest material and it's going to be adorable, but, I gotta make it first.
And I'm determined to finally meet up with my friend, Deb the Debutant! Click on her link over on the right sidebar and check out her blog. She has to be the strongest woman I know. While you're at it, check out her and her daughter Zoe's fund raising efforts for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society-TEAM ZOE! Zoe, who is in First Grade, is so organized, she has even appointed her best friend as Vice-President of Make-Up! roflmao! Priorities! You gotta look good when you are fundraising! Allison, Ethan and Claire have decided they are going to donate $1.00 a week from their allowances until they each raise $10.00. Claire has a special 'Fundraising Bag' she is keeping her money in, and has combed the whole house and gathered up all the loose change she can find and already has $2.47! And sure, I'd love to kick in some cash, but, I'm trying to figure out a way to make and sell something that would *hopefully* make more money than I could ordinarily give. I was practicing last night with some red jewelry. Bracelets would be easy. Earrings, too. I did make a pendant with a couple of small silver beads and one bigger red one in the middle, but, I need some bigger red beads I think. If I ever do actually wear a necklace, it's always something small, but lots of people like really big pendants, so I think I'll look around for something a little bigger. If Steven can finish up my office so I can actually use it for it's intended purpose, I could make some really cool soldered necklaces/pendants/charms, and I would really like to do that because I could personalize it with some kind of Team Zoe theme or a Deb theme, since we are actually raising the money for her. Feel free to kick in ideas if y'all have any!
Hmmm...anything else??? Nah, I think just school stuff, and obviously I'll HAVE TO go shopping for bigger red beads! lol! Oh, and I think Claire and I had a little virus or something going on last week that we probably picked up off a shopping cart somewhere along the way, but, it's all good now. Except that since I hadn't eaten anything except a few crackers-not even a whole roll-since last Thursday, I started actually starving to death yesterday...I think I'll have to go get a big hamburger and onion rings at Bigz today. *wink, wink* And as I type, Claire is swarming around me like a vulture wanting doughnuts from Krispy Kreme. She's feeling better, also!
The Spurs are still going strong! GO SPURS GO!
So, he came out and checked everything and it was all good; he got the pilot light back on. He has no idea what made it go out though. I swear to you I'm haunted. Not in a bad way, but spirits follow me. This stuff just doesn't happen to other people. It's always something.
Anyway...back to May and all it's busy-ness. Before next Friday I have to make cupcakes for Ethan's class party, make a baby quilt for his teacher who is having a baby this summer, finish a bracelet I started for her, and maybe throw in a few other things for the baby. Oh, and I'm going to do the cupcakes with her face on them like I did the ones for Cinco de Mayo-I REALLY should have taken a picture of those! They were so cute! AND-finish up some belated Mother's Day things for my mom that we have been working on so we can bring them to her next weekend. Plus send out 2...wait, I think it might be 3...swap things-one has to go out tomorrow so I'd better get to painting. AND, Gayla has requested another baby blanket for her neice, Milo, (lol!) and I found the cutest material and it's going to be adorable, but, I gotta make it first.
And I'm determined to finally meet up with my friend, Deb the Debutant! Click on her link over on the right sidebar and check out her blog. She has to be the strongest woman I know. While you're at it, check out her and her daughter Zoe's fund raising efforts for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society-TEAM ZOE! Zoe, who is in First Grade, is so organized, she has even appointed her best friend as Vice-President of Make-Up! roflmao! Priorities! You gotta look good when you are fundraising! Allison, Ethan and Claire have decided they are going to donate $1.00 a week from their allowances until they each raise $10.00. Claire has a special 'Fundraising Bag' she is keeping her money in, and has combed the whole house and gathered up all the loose change she can find and already has $2.47! And sure, I'd love to kick in some cash, but, I'm trying to figure out a way to make and sell something that would *hopefully* make more money than I could ordinarily give. I was practicing last night with some red jewelry. Bracelets would be easy. Earrings, too. I did make a pendant with a couple of small silver beads and one bigger red one in the middle, but, I need some bigger red beads I think. If I ever do actually wear a necklace, it's always something small, but lots of people like really big pendants, so I think I'll look around for something a little bigger. If Steven can finish up my office so I can actually use it for it's intended purpose, I could make some really cool soldered necklaces/pendants/charms, and I would really like to do that because I could personalize it with some kind of Team Zoe theme or a Deb theme, since we are actually raising the money for her. Feel free to kick in ideas if y'all have any!
Hmmm...anything else??? Nah, I think just school stuff, and obviously I'll HAVE TO go shopping for bigger red beads! lol! Oh, and I think Claire and I had a little virus or something going on last week that we probably picked up off a shopping cart somewhere along the way, but, it's all good now. Except that since I hadn't eaten anything except a few crackers-not even a whole roll-since last Thursday, I started actually starving to death yesterday...I think I'll have to go get a big hamburger and onion rings at Bigz today. *wink, wink* And as I type, Claire is swarming around me like a vulture wanting doughnuts from Krispy Kreme. She's feeling better, also!
The Spurs are still going strong! GO SPURS GO!
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Why don't they ever sign me up for napkins or paper plates?
Cinco de Mayo is coming up, so Allison's Spanish Class is having a party. Well, not just her Spanish Class, but ALL 6 Spanish Classes. The teacher's have gotten smart, and decided to bribe the students with the deal of replacing their lowest quiz grade with a 100 if they bring something for the party. Allison signs me right up...for cupcakes. She wanted to sign me up for cookies, but, that was already taken, so 3,074 cupcakes it is! *So I exaggerate a little.*
"But what about the napkins, paper plates, cups...why don't you ever sign me up for that really easy stuff?", I ask her.
"Oh, I don't know. I didn't think about that."
Tonight's Agenda: 3,074 Cinco de Mayo themed cupcakes!
"But what about the napkins, paper plates, cups...why don't you ever sign me up for that really easy stuff?", I ask her.
"Oh, I don't know. I didn't think about that."
Tonight's Agenda: 3,074 Cinco de Mayo themed cupcakes!
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