You may not recognize my kitchen. My counters sparkle more than they have in months. I did a deep grout cleaning. Now it all looks white instead outlined tiles. I do HATE white tile counter tops. Fads come and go, but I'm always going to choose something flat.
What inspired this cleaning frenzy (aside from the fact that it was much needed)? My good friend Hyla is coming for a visit from North Carolina. She appreciates a clean house, so I did my best to serve up the sparkle. Fresh sheets, polished shower, vacuum lines, & soft clean towels are all on the menu. She will have to deal with my starving baby, sweaty children, and mediocre cooking. But we are looking forward to a fabulous time. She is hoping to visit all her friends and family. So this weekend will be like a whirlwind. Can hardly wait!!!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Tale of Two Brothers
Last year James presented me with a permission slip like this one from school. 
He had a pen in hand and he pointed to the 2nd line and told me to put an "X" there and sign. He was not at all interested in participating in the frog dissection. Surely his mind was full of goo and guts with blood on the side. James isn't exactly ready to go pre-med. I can't even discuss with him how the heart pumps blood around the body. He is TOO grossed out.
I convinced James that it might be an interesting experience and perhaps he should give it a try. I told him that he could observe and that nobody would make him touch are see anything against his will. It took a lot of courage for him to be there. He tolerated it, but it wasn't a highlight of his education.
Today Jacob brought me this permission slip. You can see which line he marked. Perhaps his mind was full of goo and guts and blood on the side too. But Jacob is FASCINATED by how things work. I then recognized the date and realized that he would not be at school that day. I broke the news gently. I could see that I had let the wind out of his sails. I think he even fought back a little tear.
So interesting how two brothers can be so different.
He had a pen in hand and he pointed to the 2nd line and told me to put an "X" there and sign. He was not at all interested in participating in the frog dissection. Surely his mind was full of goo and guts with blood on the side. James isn't exactly ready to go pre-med. I can't even discuss with him how the heart pumps blood around the body. He is TOO grossed out.
I convinced James that it might be an interesting experience and perhaps he should give it a try. I told him that he could observe and that nobody would make him touch are see anything against his will. It took a lot of courage for him to be there. He tolerated it, but it wasn't a highlight of his education.
Today Jacob brought me this permission slip. You can see which line he marked. Perhaps his mind was full of goo and guts and blood on the side too. But Jacob is FASCINATED by how things work. I then recognized the date and realized that he would not be at school that day. I broke the news gently. I could see that I had let the wind out of his sails. I think he even fought back a little tear.
So interesting how two brothers can be so different.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Why I Am NOT Going to be Hired at a Grocery Store Anytime Soon
I know we've all worked some non-glam jobs before. My personal favorite was collecting trash at Union Square in the heat of the summer - so smelly. Or changing the marquee sign standing on a little ledge or the top of a ladder (I'm afraid of heights). But mostly I pressed, measured, and put hems in draperies at our family business. I was never employed at a grocery store - never faced isles, never rung people up, or never bagged groceries.
It seems simple enough. I've bought enough groceries to know that some baggers smash my food and others seem to have a system. But there are a few grocery stores where us lay-baggers can give it a try. I usually stay away from Food 4 Less for this very reason. When I first visited a local grocer (WinCo) with the baby in the carrier, I was kind of wishing I could cuss while I was bagging my many groceries with my back aching. But I kind of like the deals at this store, so I recently return kid-free.
Having no baby meant hefting the 25 lb. bag of sugar was a doable task. Anyway, I group my boxed items together. All the stuff that goes in the fridge I bag together. The freezer stuff goes together. All the canned goods that need to go to my pantry get looted together. Chicken goes separate and strawberries go on top. Seems like a reasonable way to pack the groceries.
On the way out of the store, my bag of chicken flopped out and I ran it over with my cart. Tread marks on the chicken breast - oops! Later I ripped the bag with cans in it so I had refried beans, corn, & kidney beans rolling in separate directions around the parking lot. On the drive home, an eager stop sent the bags of brown sugar toppling over.
Next time I go to a full service grocery store, I need to take better notes.
It seems simple enough. I've bought enough groceries to know that some baggers smash my food and others seem to have a system. But there are a few grocery stores where us lay-baggers can give it a try. I usually stay away from Food 4 Less for this very reason. When I first visited a local grocer (WinCo) with the baby in the carrier, I was kind of wishing I could cuss while I was bagging my many groceries with my back aching. But I kind of like the deals at this store, so I recently return kid-free.
Having no baby meant hefting the 25 lb. bag of sugar was a doable task. Anyway, I group my boxed items together. All the stuff that goes in the fridge I bag together. The freezer stuff goes together. All the canned goods that need to go to my pantry get looted together. Chicken goes separate and strawberries go on top. Seems like a reasonable way to pack the groceries.
On the way out of the store, my bag of chicken flopped out and I ran it over with my cart. Tread marks on the chicken breast - oops! Later I ripped the bag with cans in it so I had refried beans, corn, & kidney beans rolling in separate directions around the parking lot. On the drive home, an eager stop sent the bags of brown sugar toppling over.
Next time I go to a full service grocery store, I need to take better notes.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Too much to do, not enough hands to do it.
Jayson is a cat napper. There really aren't solid periods of time for me to get things done. He has a short attention span playing on his own- typical for a 4 month old. He'd prefer to spend his day on my hip or eating. And I did forget to pay the credit card bill - TWICE since he's been born. Just finished adding up the finance charges. It's expensive taking care of a baby.
Fathers & Sons
Every year I turn the boys loose to brave the elements with their Dad. It's hard to imagine a whole weekend without video games and Pokemon reruns. (Although we didn't have to imagine too hard since the boys are grounded from video games currently). But boys will be boys. They found sticks to be guns and played war with their friends. They were filthy, stinky, and happy when they got home. James was a bit disgruntled about his bike accident - we haven't heard the end of that yet since his hand hasn't scabbed over and his thigh is still "hurting so bad."
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Mommy & Me Time
While the boys were away, Jessica & I were able to spend some special time together. We went to the mall & ordered ice cream cones from Ben & Jerry's. I got to eat mine & 1/2 of Jessica's melted one. Yeah for the extra calories. Jessica was too excited to play in the fountain along with the other dozen kids.
Later that night we read bedtime stories and I tucked her into bed in her purple butterfly tent that Daddy had set up in her room. She played with her flashlight before falling off to sleep. Around 3 a.m. I checked on her and she had rolled the tent over and collapsed it. Different kind of bedroll. I pulled her out of the wreckage and put her in her toddler bed.
The next morning we ate frozen french toast and stayed in our pajamas past noon when the boys returned.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Why I Cleaned out the Freezer Today
It certainly WASN'T on my To Do list today to clean out the freezer. But after mopping up water spills twice in front of the fridge, I realized that the water was dripping from the freezer. Jessica must have turned it off last night. It's actually a scary experience when you get to the back of the ice box. I found baggies of things I couldn't identify (hate it when I forget to label and date). All the popsicles had to go and the smoothie mixes. Actually DO have almonds and macademia nuts, just couldn't see them. Out went the pesto paste, the 1/4 cup of frozen corn, the previously melted then freezer burnt chocolate chips (what was I thinking?). So come to my house and open my freezer. It's the most clean & organized place in my entire house. Wish I could climb in there for a little less chaos and quiet.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Not Quite 4 Months
Nice hair baby. I actually just wanted to test this spot for morning light. Jayson sits quite well when propped. His cheeks hang right when he is sitting up instead of lying down. No smiles and no attention span. He was convinced that sitting in a basket was NOT as good as getting a good breakfast.
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