Daybook, April 5, 2009

Noah, proud Value Center employee in his new work duds
Some people eat a meal with coffee and a newspaper, George and Jackson, Calvin and Hobbes. ( Although Jackson was actually reading a pirate book this morning)
Manny with his favorite book "The Story About Ping"
Jackson was not too happy about me taking his picture.
A fuzzy view of my newly organized crafty stuff. Gotta love those cheap IKEA bins. ;)
George puts the dishes away for us. No small job. Why are all my pictures blurry???????????

Outside my window: bright and sunny now, but I see Spring has ignored my pleas for mercy. They are predicting 6-10 inches of snow for tomorrow.

I am thinking..........I'm way too grumpy today.

I am thankful for. . ..my new shop vac.

From the schoolroom. . ....organized school stuff on Saturday. That always makes for a smoother school week ( I hope :) We are going to make these: Popsicle Stick Easter Cross Craft,http://www.earlychildhoodfun.com/bible-craft-for-easter/ and I even got up early today and sewed the purple swags.

From the kitchen . ...the last of the frozen turkeys from sales at Thanksgiving. I'm trying "flautas" tomorrow.

I am wearing . . burgundy sweater and black knit pants. Silver hoops.

I am creating . . finished a curtain for my sewing room and have plans to work on a cover for a torn down blanket later.

I am reading and watching . . , Marie Therese, Bombay Anna

I watched:

Wuthering Heights.

Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. I like Mr. Fiennes as Heathcliff ( although the hair was disturbing at times). Miss Binoche as Kathy, I'm not so sure. She is lovely and charming, but doesn't quite strike me as *Kathy*. Overall pretty good.

Somehow the hair reminded me of the 90's and suprise! That's when it was made. :) I guess they missed the memo that authentic is better.....I think filmmakers are doing better at that currently.

Naomi and I tried to watch a newer BBC/Masterpiece Theatre rendition of "Great Expectations", but our small window of opportunity for concentration in peace and quiet was abruptly cut short because of Lego Battles.

Saw the last part of this. I think it is a very good version, although Estella, as played by Justine Waddell ( who was adorable in "Wives and Daughters") doesn't work so well. She is just too sweet. ( I really should have been a casting director for all my complaints.....LOL!)

I am hearing . . .the basketball hitting the pavement out in the backyard. Dishes being rattled in the kitchen. Red Wing game on tv.

Around the house. . .more spring cleaning. I was inspired by my new power tool. Although after barreling through the whole first floor with it, a couple hours later I walked down to see that *someone* had found a snack size bag of popcorn and somehow got it EVERYWHERE. Living room, dining room, up the stairs. How? Did they dance around, whirling the bag with them? Dump it on the floor and blow a fan at it?

What's the use, I ask? ;)

Thankfully, I had a full crew Saturday morning, so there was lots of help. Maybe we'll have a clean house for Easter.

One of my favorite things. ... the smell and colors of hyacinths.

What will we do this week. . .Naomi was supposed to have a game tomorrow, but I have a sneaky feeling it will be canceled. Holy Thursday mass. Good Friday....and then the big day! Easter.

Here’s a picture I am sharing. .a morning photo essay. Since George and Jackson get so little press here, I thought I would try to follow them about their day. I only got morning. We'll keep trying.
And yes, I know I should not give up my day job to become a photographer. ;)

Love is........

a husband who buys you a 14 gallon Shop Vac.
If we burn this one out in a couple months there really is NO hope. ;)

Quick Takes Friday

1. Under the *what I am thankful for* file:

Tim got the tires rotated on the van this week. I was driving Naomi to soccer practice yesterday and a gentleman drove up next to me with his window down and motioned for me to roll mine down. I thought he was going to ask for directions, as that seems to happen to me a lot. :) But instead he told me my right front tire was "pretty low". I smiled and thanked him, but I have to admit, I had the thought running through my head " Hmmpf--men- they're always so anal about things like that." The van seemed to be rolling along just fine (although I am notoriously green about how cars should run:). I called Tim and he said to pull over at a gas station and check it out.
Ack! The tire was nearly flat!
How very kind of that dear man. :) I had to drive a pretty good distance and of course, Naomi would have had a heart attack if she was late to her beloved practice because we had to pull over and change a *totally* flat or damaged tire.
Tim's theory is that he has often gotten a flat tire after getting the tires rotated but he is not sure why. :)

2. Under the "what on earth was I thinking file?"

Yesterday I went up and got some Easter stuff down from the attic. I was a little puzzled because one of the boxes had ample evidence of mice infestation. It surprised me because I have never had that happen when getting anything out of the attic. (the garage, yes!). Upon further investigation, I found that there was a bag of jelly beans, and a bag of malted milk chocolate eggs in it.
Well. I am trying very hard to figure out what my thought process was last Easter. Did I REALLY intend to save those for the kid's easter baskets this year? I'll be the first to admit I come up with some wacky ideas , but that one really left me scratching my head. I can only hope that because I found some other, non food-type things in there that I had bought at after Easter sales that this was just an oversight. ie: I had left them in the bags with the other non perishables I had bought by accident.
I'm hoping.

3. Under the "It pays to be aware of what date it is" file

Yesterday I got a call from my beloved Joe College. Not to chit chat, or catch up, but so he could play a "April's Fool" joke on me and he really had me going for about 10 minutes. In fact, HE had to tell me "April Fool's!" ( I never figured it out).
I guess he knows that I rarely pay attention to what the date is. I remember even saying to Noah and Naomi earlier in the day that in the morning I thought it was Thursday and in the afternoon, I thought it was Tuesday ( so much so that I made a special trip to Mc Donald's to get Jed a *Tuesday special* Happy Meal for lunch while we were out and about! :) It was Wednesday. April 1st.

4. Under the "I wonder" file.

I would like to do an experiment where you clear out your schedule for a day ( or maybe a week) and take some kids to the park and see how long THEY would like to stay before THEY want to go home. :) It never seems like we are there for long enough, no matter how long we stay ( admittedly it's probably never been more than a couple hours :) and there are ALWAYS complaints.
It would be interesting. For sure.


5. Under the "what inspired me this week" file:

"Broken by Parenting" by the ever wise and witty Barbara Curtis.
She is mostly talking about courtship and dating in this article, but her phrase "broken by parenting" resounded with me. You have a lot of big ideas ( and for the record, I think there are definitely some non-negotiables in parenting) when you start out. Often they seem to work just fine until your kids get old enough to start thinking for themselves.
Then you find your best laid plans don't always mesh with their free will. LOL!
I don't think that the teen years are horrible. I don't shirk from them. Overall, it has been a joy to see the kids reach that age and start to form their own thoughts on things. I enjoy their company and think they are great people to know, but it does require a certain departure from *holding onto to your ideas of what is best for them with the tenacity of a bulldog" if you want to remain sane.

http://mommylife.net/archives/2009/03/teen_dating_cou.html


6. Under the "I can't help myself from complaining about the weather" file:

Spring, we must have a chat. I woke up on Monday morning to a windshield covered with a thick layer of ice and a dusting of snow on the ground. Now, I know it is foolish to think that once *Spring* shows up on the calendar we aren't going to have anymore cold or snowy weather here in Michigan, but come on! We had a long, hard winter, couldn't we get at least a little bit of a break from you? ;)

7. Under the "Way to go, Dyl" file:

He made the ALL STAR team for his basketball league.
Woot!

Good Morning

Hot Chocolate has been our morning drink of choice this winter. It's cheap, it's hot, it's fairly easy to keep large quanitites of around ( juice gets guzzled indiscriminately by the folks residing here). What will we come up with for a summer breakfast beverage?
s
aAnd Manny's endearing statement of the morning:

I put Jax and George's old desk in their room and asked Man "What do you think of your new desk?"

"Sure" he said "I like it"
"I have a new room because of you, mom. I love you. I love you, mom!"
At least someone appreciates my constant room re-arrangements ;) even if he is only 4.

Mastermind

Jed found this little kit at the thrift store. I didn't have high hopes for it, although I do like to encourage his love for builing things ( conversely, Manny loves to take apart things :)
We were all amazed he put it together all by himself, without any instructions ( there were none).
He's pretty proud of himself. ;)

Brotherly Love

Daybook March 30, 2009

Outside my window: drippy

I am thinking..........about Holy Week and Easter. Here already.

I am thankful for. . ..well, I am thankful for Carl remembering our family with left-over bagels from his work establishment. :) Usually *thoughtful* and *teenage boy* don't often go together, and Carl has his own little quirks, but I am very touched he thinks of us. Anyone who gives us free bagels gets high marks in my book. ;)

ZDV is a comin' home May 7th! Hip hip hooray!

From the schoolroom. . ..cleaned it, and that is exciting news for sure.

From the kitchen . ...I was hoping for grilled chicken tonight, but looks like the rain may stand in the way. There is always tomorrow. ;)

I am wearing . . my pajama pants, blue t shirt and brown sweater. darling! ;) What I put on: orange and white hoodie ( what else?) khaki pants and my adored trellos.

I am creating . . I've got some ideas, anyway, if not the time or inclination to carry them out.

I am reading and watching . . .The Sea Shall Embrace Them, Marie Therese

I'm not always sure it is a good thing that I go to the library without my littles. I find TOO many books to read, bring home a stack and then get discouraged. :)

I watched:

Encounters at the End of the Earth

I can't remember if this won the Oscar for best documentary or was just nominated. Wait, I think it didn't win.
I've always been fascinated with people who go to frozen wastelands ( like Antarctica). The Shackleton story, for instance, has always amazed me. This was definitely interesting. I sniffed a *global warming* agenda, but at least he ( Werner Herzog) wasn't too overt about it. There is nothing better than hearing him speak English with his German accent.
A favorite quote from the film:

"The National Science Foundation invited me to Antarctica even though I left no doubt that I would not come up with another film about penguins" LOL!

Naomi and I tried to watch a newer BBC/Masterpiece Theatre rendition of "Great Expectations", but our small window of opportunity for concentration in peace and quiet was abruptly cut short because of Lego Battles.

I am hearing . . .Jed just tried to sneak in a "Sponge Bob Movie" dvd. Zap!

Around the house. . .Tried to do some spring cleaning over the weekend. Saturday I helped G/J clean up their room in anticipation for a furniture move :) Jax and I carried up a computer desk and hutch from the basement, and I am pleased to say I didn't wake up the next morning with my back thrown out. ;) I should have left it to one of my beefy males, but the older ones weren't available and dad had a migraine and I wasn't in the mood to wait. I then descended into the basement, which I have been trying to avoid for weeks, now. I'm glad I got to it. It's warm enough now that we can do school down there, which will help contain that mess, and the kids always love a newly organized space, even if they don't keep it that way for long. ;)Add a little floor mopping and ironing and I was overall pleased with our accomplishments for the day.

One of my favorite things. .and afternoon at the library.

What did we do this week. . .a lot of cleaning and organizing, a lot of soccer, a couple library trips, a lot of driving to and fro, art class,

Here’s a picture I am sharing. .can I have a post without pictures of Gabriella? ;)