Cute baby toy of the day
Jay and I were window-shopping today and we happened to walk down the baby aisle. I looked at all the adorable things my children have long-since outgrown with a heavy sigh. But I did see something really adorable that I had to write about … the Fisher Price Deluxe Galloping Fun Jumperoo. It whinnies, among other things. Too cute. What will they think of next? Read the rest of this entry »
How’s that again?
We have (okay, well, mostly Jay has) been talking with Gabriel about how boys grow up into men, a prospect that Gabriel is currently fascinated with. He is trying very hard to show us that he’s strong, tough, brave and competent and associates all these things with growing up and becoming a man. For example, he’ll move something heavy and they say, “I got muscles. I gonna be a man!”
Recently he was getting into the car and I tried to help him buckle his car seat (in the interest of speeding things along; he knows how). He pushed my hand away and said, “I do it buckle my car seat. I gonna be a man!”
Love me a good yard sale
I rolled out of bed this morning at 6:30 and got on the road for one of my favorite hobbies: going to garage sales. Yesterday, I already had all the sales I wanted to visit singled out. I took all the addresses and made myself a route map on mapquest (I love their multiple-stop directions option).
So anyway, I got up and headed out for 8 sales that sounded pretty good. Several were a complete bummer, but a couple were really good. I wound up with a DVD player (ours just broke), Trivial Pursuit DVD Pop Culture, UpWords, a Step 2 ladybug sandbox with cover, a bunch of toys and dress-up shoes for Mikaela, and a Woody (Toy Story) figure for Gabriel. Oh, and a sexy lime-green pair of sequined flip-flops for me! They were new with the tags on. I spent less than $20, so I felt like I came out pretty well.
I don’t know what I love more … finding a great bargain or the thrill of the hunt!
New page … or at least, new paragraph
Sometimes you want something and pray for something so long, it’s almost anti-climactic when you get it. I’m not trying to sound ungrateful; I’m just a little numb. Let me back up.
Jay and I have been living hand to mouth for … uh, years. Pretty much ever since the kids came along (not that I in any way regret having them). I have tried all kinds of different job situations myself, from full-time work to working a different shift from Jay to freelancing … none of which have been a good solution. So, Jay has found a second job. Thankfully, he’s going to be doing something he’s very good at and passionate about – teaching. He’s going to be tutoring for Sylvan Learning Center in the afternoons after his primary job.
And I am going to work on being a better mom and a better wife – in addition to stepping up my involvement with the church and in my kids’ education.
It’s funny – almost every person I tell about my work-at-home (freelance) job tells me they are jealous. It definitely has its perks. But as the kids have gotten older, somehow my time commitment to them has grown rather than shrunk (I always thought it was the other way around). What that has meant in my life is that I just can’t do all I need to in a day when I’m working more than a couple of hours. I just got finished with an extremely time-consuming project and I feel so horribly guilty because I haven’t been the mom that I’ve needed and wanted to be. I’ve been leaving the TV on WAY too much, not had the time to teach them like I’ve planned to, and worst of all – not had the time to spend quality time with them. (Do you have ANY IDEA how much it stinks to tell your three-year-old you can’t when she asks “mama, will you peese weed to me?”) I’ve been here in body but not in spirit and mind. I could get REALLY depressed really quickly thinking about all the wasted time I can’t regain with them … but all I can do now is move forward.
Wow, that was pretty heavy stuff. I like to keep this blog on the lighter side, but sometimes it’s nice to share with other moms potentially looking into working at home what it really looks like. I know everyone’s situation is different, though.
Anyway, thank God for blessing us with Jay’s job and thanks to my wonderful husband for being such a hard worker, and for sacrificing for our family. I’ll have you dinner ready and your pants pressed. 
Exchange
My dad told me a story about something that happened to him this morning and I’m still laughing. He is a regular at a certain gas station along his courier route, and usually makes conversation with the woman inside. This morning, he walked in to that same gas station and the woman was there, along with another man, behind the counter:
Woman behind counter (speaking to my dad): what’s the matter? You look upset today.
Dad: No, I’m not wearing my glasses, and I’m just an ugly old man.
Man behind counter: You don’t look that old.
Wal-mart
Good old Wal-mart. As much as I grumble about hating it, I wind up finding myself there more often than I want. Mostly because I tend to do my shopping after the kids are in bed, and that usually means Target is closed. And let’s face it, Wal-mart is usually cheaper, anyway. Too bad they’re so un-hip. If you could give me Target’s products at Wal-mart’s prices … then I could just go ahead and die happy.
But I digress from my original intent: Wal-mart’s toy selection. Have you perused the toy aisles at Wal-mart recently? I literally can’t find anything that fits the criteria of 1)worthy of spending my money on and 2) my kids don’t already have it or something similar, especially when it comes to girls’ toys.
Let’s see … you’ve got your Barbie aisle – which I’m going to try to avoid for as long as I can. Body image issues, anyone?
Then you’ve got your dolls, which Mikaela already has too many of. Then comes the “little” toys – Littlest Pet Shop, Polly Pocket, Ponyville, et al. Those are just one more tiny piece of detritus for me to cut my foot on walking through their room at night.
Then you’ve got your Bratz aisle – and if I need to explain to you why I don’t want my 3-year-old playing with these, you need to go take a parenting class.
Nearby is the dress-up/makeup sets. Dress up, I don’t have a problem with. I’m not ready for makeup, the reason mostly being Mikaela loves to make messes and I don’t want to find the dog with lip gloss smeared all over her.
Lastly are the “homemaker” play sets. You know, the ironing board and iron, the broom and vacuum, etc. Seriously? I HATE doing these things, and I’m not sure why my daughter would think they’re fun.
Seriously, though … Wal-mart’s toy selection makes me sad. Everything is so uninspired and just doesn’t scream “I’ll spark your child’s creativity and imagination!”
Maybe I’ll just give her a cardboard box.
Still alive
I’m still here, even though I may not feel like it. I’ve finished my current work project, but instead of jumping for joy, I’m reaching for the kleenex … I’ve got some kind of bronchitis-y, head cold-y thing going on. Fun stuff. I will resume writing regularly soon!
Macaroni Salad
My sister gave me this yummy macaroni salad recipe and I thought I’d share:
1 lb. elbow macaroni
2-3 stalks celery
1 small onion
1 medium-sized green bell pepper
sweet pickle relish
4-5 eggs
mayonnaise
sugarCook macaroni according to package directions. Rinse and drain; add mayo until macaroni isn’t sticking together. Boil eggs, chop them and add them in. Chop onion, bell pepper and celery and add them in. Add 1/4 to 1/3 cup sweet pickle relish. Add more mayo to taste. Add 1 Tbsp. sugar. Stir well and chill overnight.
2 Years
As of today, this blog is two years old. I’m waiting for it to throw a tantrum, start randomly screaming “NO!” or stuff raisins in its ears. I’ll keep you posted.
Family funnies
We’re always laughing at the things the kids are saying these days (or shaking our heads at the things we are having to say to the kids). A recent sampler:
Jay to Mikaela: Please stop feeding the dog apple slices.
Gabriel to Jay: I got scooby-doo in my hair! (he meant ‘dippity do’)
Mikaela to Gabriel: stop licking my leg!
Mikaela to Jay: Papa, you smell like stink. Take a bath.
Jay: what do I smell like?
Mikaela: spaghetti.
Mikaela to Jay: I had a bad dream!
Jay: What did you dream about?
Mikaela: my hair dryer was walking!
On being a man
Gabriel mentioned something about leg hair and shaving this morning when we were on the way to church. I said, “no, Gabriel, women shave their legs but men NEVER do. Men have hair on their legs but women don’t.”
(aside: I was hoping he didn’t remember that I got lazy and didn’t shave my legs for a few days last week. I finally broke down and shaved when I realized the droplets of water from the shower were playing plinko between my leg hairs.)
So this afternoon, Jay and Gabriel went to our neighbors’ house and the older man who lives there answered the door. Gabriel looked at him and said, “you got hair on your legs! You a man like Papa too!”
BBQ at my place!
So, I’m a sucker for a good bargain. And I’ve recently been somewhat obsessed with craigslist’s “free” area, because you’d be surprised at the quality of stuff you can find there! I mean, some stuff is truly junk, but some is not.
So, today I got on there and someone had offered up a free grill. I was thinking small generic charcoal grill, which would have been great. Hey, give me a break … we’re poor.
But then I get to the guy’s place and it’s a five-burner Charbroil-brand gas (propane) grill. He got a new one for father’s day, so he was just giving this one away. And it was in pretty great shape for free – needs a good cleaning, the electric igniter needs to be replaced ($18 or get a match), and a couple of the diffusers (the guy said they run $6 apiece) need to be replaced. But it was a FREE. GAS. GRILL.
I thanked the nice family profusely, loaded it up in the van (it barely fit, even with the back seat removed) and drove home.
Needless to say, Jay was thrilled. What a huge blessing, and what a great father’s day gift for BOTH of us!
The Kids
I took some video of the kids today … short, sweet and silly. Read the rest of this entry »
Cutting corners
With high gas prices driving up the cost of nearly everything else, the media has been talking about Americans feeling the pinch and the ways they’re cutting back to save money.
And we feel the pinch, believe me. We live a long way from where Jay works, so we spend a LOT on gas each month. But we have found something to help: Angel Food Ministries.
It’s not a handout … you pay $30 and you get a box full of food. It’s like a bulk discount because they are buying a lot of these foods and distributing them to people. In addition to the $30 box of food, you can also buy “meat” boxes, with various cuts of meat for a good deal. Here’s their June menu and extras you can add, just so you can see an example:
June Menu
1.5 lb. Rib Eye Steaks (4 x 6 oz)
1.5 lb. Hamburger Patties (4 x 6 oz)
2 lb. Pork Riblets
4 lb. Individually Quick Frozen Chicken Leg Quarters
2 lb. Breaded Chicken Tenders
20 oz. Supreme Pizza
1 lb. Mild Italian Sausage
2 lb. French Fries
16 oz. Sliced Carrots
16 oz. Mixed Vegetables
32 oz. Borden 2% Reduced Fat Shelf Stable Milk
6 oz. Pancake Mix
15 oz. Pork and Beans
14 oz. Ketchup
7.5 oz. Macaroni & Cheese
Dozen Eggs
Dessert Item
ALL THIS FOR THE LOW COST OF JUST $30** One or more specials available only with the purchase of a regular unit. **
JUNE SPECIAL #1
6.5 lb. Family Grill Box – $20.00
(24 oz. T-Bone Steaks (2 x 12 oz.)
2 lb. Meaty Baby Back Ribs
2 lb. Thick Cut Pork Chops (4 x 8oz.)
1 lb. Bratwurst Sausage)JUNE SPECIAL #2
5 lb. Steak and Meat Combo Box – $20.00
(2 lb. N.Y. Strips (4 x 8 oz.)
2 lb. Sirloin Strips (4 x 8 oz.)
1 lb. Hamburger Beef Steaks (2 x 8 oz.))JUNE SPECIAL #3
10 lb. Breaded Chicken Breast Strip Box – $16.00
(10lbs of Breaded Chicken Breast Strips)
Anyway, there are distribution sites all over the country, if you’re interested in giving them a try. You have to order and pay ahead of time, FYI.
Okay, I lied.
More baby birds. This time, I got video of mom feeding her babies.
Read the rest of this entry »
Identity crisis
We recently bought a Wahl do-it-yourself hair clippers/hair cutting set. Yesterday we gave Gabriel a haircut. Let’s just say I’m going to tip my hairstylist more from now on. Cutting hair is hard!
So after cutting his hair pretty short, we spiked it up and let him look at it in the mirror. I mentioned that he looked like Josh (my nephew). Gabriel got a terrified look on his face and said, “I don’t WANT to be Josh! I want to be Gabriel!”
We slicked his hair back down, and he looked in the mirror and said, “oh, I Gabriel again.”
Thanks a lot
Overheard:
Gabriel: I want to be a man like papa.
Mikaela: I want to be a man like mama!
Soapbox of the day
CNN reports of a hit-and-run case in Hartford where the pedestrian who was hit – an older man – was left in the street for dead. Gawkers walked nearby, but no one offered any help. It was all captured on surveillance tape and now people are fretting over losing our “moral compass.”
Excuse me? OK, let me make sure I have this all straight: atheists believe that there is no God, so they are virtually their own gods. No one to answer to. And they believe that the world is ruled by chance, and that we descended from apes. So, in other words, we’re animals. Maybe technologically advanced animals, but animals with no one to “answer to” nonetheless. And there are more people ‘leaving the reservation’ so to speak from organized religion every day – this nation is quickly becoming “post-Christian.”
So I say we’re in for more of the same. If you have no one to answer to and we’re animals anyway, who the hell cares if you leave an old man to die in the street? Survival of the fittest, right?
I’m sure there’s some “nice” atheists out there, but by their own beliefs, they really don’t have to be.
Must-Read Article
A recent article outlines what plastics are safe for use in the kitchen and which ones potentially leech cancer-causing toxins.
Growing up!
I know y’all are getting bored with my bird photos, but our baby birdies that live right outside our door are growing like weeds! But cute weeds. 
A song or three
Now if I could just get them in the same key … Read the rest of this entry »
Out of the mouths of … my kids
Me: We’re going to church
Gabriel: Yay, chuwch! I so excited!
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Mikaela: (Holding up flat, rectangular piece of plastic): I got a debit card!
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Gabriel: (About the picture he was drawing): It gonna be gweat!
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Me: Mikeala, it’s time for a bath
Mikaela: But, Mama, I don’t NEED soap!!!
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Me: Be quiet!
Gabriel: Wait! I gotta laugh fiwst (first)! Hehehe! (Face changes to serious) Okay, I all done.
Specious link
What is it with these cute-animal-picture sites (Cute Overload, I Can Has Cheeseburger, I Has a Hotdog) using incorrect English? I guess they’re supposed to be baby-talking, brains made mush by the sheer cuteness of it all. I like looking at these sites, but that one little thing drives me nuts.
It’s Pat! Preschool edition
My kids like to watch a show on Nickelodeon’s “Noggin” Preschool channel called “Wow Wow Wubbzy.” It’s an animated show about three friends. Harmless enough.
But recently, my kids had a disagreement about whether Wubbzy was a girl or a boy. I looked and I couldn’t tell, either. No big deal.
But then I watched an episode with the kids, and I listened to the intro song, which referred to Wubbzy as a “he.” But the scene during the show’s intro song shows Wubbzy in bed under a mobile of pink butterflies, in a very girly room (see video at end). Read the rest of this entry »
Mikaela flying
Mikaela put on her fairy wings and kept hopping up and down, trying to fly (of course, to no avail) – so Jay decided to give her a lift. Read the rest of this entry »
Gas prices over the last 6 years
June 2, 2008 at 5:50 pm (social commentary) (gas price comparison, gas price trend, Texas gas prices, U.S. Gas price)
I found this neat gas price chart online … you can customize it by date and area.
It’s sobering (and somewhat sickening) to see those numbers! So … if this 6-year trend continues, by 2014 we should be paying $10.43 a gallon. OR, if the 1-year trend holds true, gas will be $15.02 in 2014. (Thanks, Jay, for doing my math for me!) Third world nation, anyone?
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