BlogHer Ad Network
More from BlogHer
Advertise here
BlogHer Privacy Policy
Partner since
June 2006
« May 2004 | Main | July 2004 »
My boys like to raid the mail for toy catalogs. They look at every page and circle what they want. Then the campaign begins and they beg, whine, plead, demand, cry and yell for what they want. I hate this. So, I was joyous last night to see them go through a craft book with the same energy, marking all the things they want to make. Wish I'd thought of that sooner. We'll be making that milk jug garage and toilet paper roll castle soon.
My mom emailed me this link, which takes awhile to load, really long if you are dial up like me, but it's very purty if you are into faerie tale art.
Today I was driving home from the video store and Trader Joe's, basking in my aloneness by listening to the newest Jolie Holland cd and actually getting to hear (!) the songs, when I noticed the vanity plate on the luxury car ahead of me. It read "X U R S I Z E." I don't know the guy's intent there, but in my mind it was clear that THIS was the spammer who keeps sending me email about enlarging my peni$ to please my woman! I read it as "check your size," or "enlarge your $ize," but you know that grey lump you saw in the street near the curb was my brain, so hmmm. What do you think it means?
This is John's last night at his night job. I'm doing a happy dance. It feels like we're finally about to really start living together after years of having opposite schedules. Yay!!
Heh. Sophie is asleep in the next room and she's laughing. She said, "TinTin!! We hafta find OJoe!!!" which leads me to belive that she's having a TinTin/Bear in the Big Blue House dream. Sounds fun. Last night I had yet another dream that was set in a movie theatre (like the fourth one in as many days) and ended with a giant wave coming and washing away me and my friend Jane as we walked outside at a carnival. Maybe I should focus on kids' shows while I drift off.
I was really really numbingly depressed for a few days (totally hormonal) but now I am MANICALLY happy. I am full of ideas and positive thoughts and even talked the boys into starting crafts this weekend for christmas gifts. That's sort of sick, I think. I am seeking an even keel. Wish me luck.
*****added after rereading this in the preview mode*****
I get it now. Exercise. Heh heh. I had to see it written like that to get it. My original reading was much funnier.
I am always trying to think of some sort of work-from-home kind of occupation so that I can make the big bucks without putting the kids in daycare. Nothing so far has even come close to working out, and I refuse to do any of the pyramid kind of things. So, an idea I have had for a pretty long while is that I might be happy working as an esthetician. That's someone who does facials and waxing, aromatherapy and skin care type stuff. I like the idea of wearing a lab coat, and it would force me to take better care of my skin and get my hair cut more than every two years. I'd have to keep my hands looking nice, too. These are important career choices, no? Sorry, I'm punchy tired. Anyhow, it's something I think I could do well, and probably part time and I think I would mostly like it. There is a local community college that offers classes, and I think I could (if John is willing to be on his own with the kids on Saturdays from 9 till 2ish) take classes starting this September. I'm not sure, but it looks to be a one year program. So, by the time Nate started first grade, actually the summer before, I could be a working mom again. Hmmm. Maybe I'd even learn how to put on makeup decently and conquer those dark circles under my eyes. (Side note, I'm sure you mean well, people, but I for one do not like it when I am told that I look tired. You say, "OH, you look so tired!" and I think, well, "bite me you creep." So, find something nice to say or just skip that part of the conversation. I know that I have dark circles under my eyes. They are always there. It's partly from allergies, partly from having thin veiny skin, and partly from an inability to permanently give up dairy. Oh yeah, and partly from never getting any sleep.)
I am wearing my wedding band on a chain around my neck. I got a blister on the inside of my finger and it won't heal. There's shiny wrinkly red tight skin there now, and I am putting neosporin on it.
If you like Jolie Holland (Veggie Mama, this means you!), you ought to check out the new (and old, too) Jesse Sykes.
John is home and it's his turn to blog.
I ordered the second dress from the top for Sophie. I really wanted the top one, too, but we aren't shopping these days and only purchases under ten bucks make me feel like I'm sticking to the plan. Too bad they didn't have Willow's size. They're closing.
Go look at it. It's an anarchy dress. Funny and horrifyingly accurate.
It was the fuel pump. That little piece of crap has kept my family from the beach for over a year. It was sly, and worked for the mechanics every time we had it looked at. But Al was patient. Al kept going on longer and longer test drives until it stalled on him, too. Al took his time and didn't settle for telling us that nothing was wrong with the van. Thanks to Al, very soon the van that I plan to thoroughly clean this weekend (could too happen!) will be dirty with sand and bits of seashells and seaweed that will slip from the pockets of the boys and probably the mouths of the girls. I am happier about this than is reasonable. But, having a car that stalls randomly, usually on the freeway, for thirteen months is nerve-wracking. (Of course, at this point my internal dialouge is chastising the complainer in me by pointing out how lucky we are to have the van and how lots of people who need one don't have one and so forth. At some point I just have to say that, you know, things are all relative and my problem is my problem even if somebody else's problems are greater. For instance, my brother's girlfriend today said she was tired, and then said that compared to me she had nothing to complain about. But I disagree. I told her that tired is tired. Her tired is just as tired as my tired. And there! I just sidetracked myself into a what was I talking about there corner!)
Today I was in the front yard saying bye to the kids who were going to their dad's for a dinner visit. My neighbor pulled into the drive. The neighbor who is a) really really pretty, b) tall and thin, and, c) about ten years younger than me. She had lots of groceries, so Willow and I grabbed some and helped her inside. Their yard is SO nice. She spends lots of time on it. And their house is totally clean and the carpet is new and not so covered in stains that she has to put down a quilt and still be embarassed about the ick factor. Ahem. Her baby is a little older than Willow, and super sweet and cute. We visited for a few minutes before I took Willow on a walk (down the sidewalk to the grocery store truck loading area. So. Facinating.), and the whole time I felt like, well, a slug. A big slimey slobby useless slug. So, when I read this, I felt, if not better, at least less lonely.
Before I gripe about how tired I am, here are some pictures from Sophie's birthday. I made the cake, which is supposed to be topped with a crown. Observe the much better looking cupcakes to the left. The teeny photos are her on her real birthdate, with the strawberry bread I baked for her.
So. I have LOTS to tell about our trip. John's version will be more coherent, so read his, too.
but incredibly jet lagged. I hope John is having an easier time at work keeping his eyes open than I am here at home. I can hardly do it, but I'm too thirsty to go to bed. Had a great time in Toronto, and will update later on after I have slept and my lost bag has been delivered.
I'm cleaning. Tomorrow I will pack. A sippy cup lid fell off the top rack of the dishwasher and stuck to the heating element. Our house is fragrant with the aroma of melted plastic, so I opened the windows to let in the hot air from outdoors and I needed to take a break.
Last time I was on line I spent 45 minutes deleting old email to get my available space in better shape to be used for new messages. I think I got it down to 62% and I was so proud. Today I see that they have expanded the service for free and after all that time spent, I am now using 4% of my available space. So, email me! jenijen_s (at) yahoo (dot) com.
I bought some paper towels on sale the other day, trying to be frugal and what not. They have inspirational sayings on them. The current roll says, "I cannot change which direction the wind blows, but I can adjust my sail to get where I want to go." Another says, "With every rising of the sun, think of your life as just begun." So, as I wipe up puke or food that was chewed and spit out, pizza sauce, watermelon juice, pee or curdled milk off the floor, I take a moment to reflect on the position of my own sails and I ponder WHY THE FUCK MY KIDS SPILL EVERYTHING THEY TOUCH. Kinda brings a tear to the eye.
Often, like now, when I have a lot to do, my brain gets all buzzy with stuff I need to do and remember to do later. For instance, I need to remember to pack the ball with all the holes in it for Willow to play with on the airplane, but first I need to tie a shoe lace to it so I won't have to say to my fellow airline passengers, "Please excuse me while I bend over and grab this ball out from under your feet, again, really, I will try harder not to let her throw it there again. I'm so so sorry, I know you're trying to sleep. Really, I'm sorry, here, have my wallet for your trouble." When my brain gets all buzzy I get sort of claustrophobic and so I try to find other ways to engage my mind and keep myself sane. Usually, I do the six degrees of seperation thing. You know the game. Like this: my dad's old girlfriend worked with Bill Clinton back in the late seventies. By extention, I am connected to Clinton and all the people he knows. Or, I know the songwriter (not the singer) for $mashmouth. By extention, I know all sorts of rock stars. I even know one of the more well-known people from $urvivor, (he shares a name with my oldest child), so I totally am only one person away from whoever was on that show with him. I never watched it myself. Anyway, I am stumped by one part of this game. Do you have to know the people in real life, or does on line count? For example, I correspond with Elayne occasionally, and while I've never met her, I read about her life nearly everyday and she is my friend. Does that mean we count as links for each other? If we do, then would I count say, Mimi Smartypants, whose diary I also read and with whom I've also exchanged email (but only two or three times) even though I doubt she knows who I am? I need some clear cut rules. Oh, my old friend Gordon is an actor and did a scene with Robert DiNero. I am so in with the hollywood crowd. And Kevin Bacon?? I think I have him in only two moves. A doctor I worked for awhile back has an apartment in San Francisco where the movie 9 Months was filmed. He and his wife met Tom Arnold at their house once and don't you just imagine that Tom Arnold and Kevin Bacon know each other? Maybe not like, but at least know.
I should scrape plastic off the inside of the diswasher.
The text is hard to read, so I'll transcribe and translate:
"Lexy
Cows prvid milk for ase
If you milk a cow the roing way It wil cic you rele hord!"
Cows provide milk for us. If you milk a cow the wrong way it will kick you really hard!
That was one of the best things Lex brought home on the last day of school.
I've been doing laundry and working on Sophie's quilt. I planted another lavender plant and it has survived for three or so days so far. I have two left of the original six that were gifted to me by D. One is still in the pot, but blooming, and the other is languishing in the mud we call soil around here. I can't mix dirt into the mud or do anything useful in the yard until these children are a little more self-sufficient.
Willow learned to say "mummmmmmmmm" for both food and food that tastes good. All during dinner tonight she sat in her highchair, stuffing her face and chanting "muuummmmm." Her new mantra.
She is a walker, and, yay! a shoe lover these days. I tried on a pair of little mary janes to see if they still fit. She looked at me, picked up the yellow sandals my mom got her (they are so cute I get butterflies looking at them) and pawed at the mary janes while miming to put on the sandals. I asked her if she wanted to wear the sandals and she said Yeah! so I put them on her. She smiled and walked away. So between her and Sophie, I need to get one of those back of the door shoe holders. Soon.
I'm going to put myself to bed now. Busy couple of days ahead and then we are off to Toronto. Know anyone who is willing to come feed the rat and the iguana and make sure the snakes and water monitor and spiders and millipede and scorpions and cockroaches have water?
Saw this link on Aussie Lass and had to post it for my mom and youngest sister.
I'm in a weird mood. I keep looking at Willow and lamenting that I'll forget so much of what I love about her right now. Will I remember how she hops forward on both knees (*so* funny!) and makes a silly noise? When I look at photos of Sophie from last year, or especially of the boys from when they were babies, I marvel at the differences and have trouble recalling them as their littler selves. It's already hard to remember the four-pound Willow, though I'll never forget my emotions from that time.
Tomorrow is the last day of school and I'm in an email debate with the principal over removing a suspension from Lexy's record. Quite ready to be finished!
Next week we are going to Canada. I've never boarded a plane to take a trip that wasn't to see family. Maybe I should check if John or I have any distant relatives there. I think it will be good for me to go, once I'm gone.
Today while driving home from getting groceries I told Nate that I wanted to take a nap. He said,
Good, then you'll have extra energy. Adults can have extra energy and not be hyper like kids.
Me: True. Some adults are hyper, though.
Nate: Well, yeah, if they drink wine and get all hypercrazy!
Sophie's party was fun. I baked a blue cake with pink buttercream frosting and lots of cupcakes. She opened presents for a long time and came home with lots of pretty clothes, books, pink sandals (3 pair!), a princess apron and crown cookie cutter, a playmobile grocery counter, some care bears and lots of other treasures.
Of course, she is demanding that we do it again. Today!
School will be over this week, and *YAY* for that. I haven't been online in ages, so I'm going to go catch up a bit. Next week we're going to Canada for a couple of days. I may be scarce for a bit, but eventually I'll have something more interesting to say and some new photos, eh. Anyone want to have lunch in Toronto?
to Sophie. She's three now, but according to her she is "two-a-haff!!" We are having a party this weekend, so tonight it was just mac and cheese and broccoli for dinner (chili for Papa) and fresh strawberry bread with three candles for dessert. Sophie had John relight the candles and we sang to her about twenty five times. I kept the little candle stubs; they're about a third of an inch long. How many dads do you know who would sit and relight birthday candles over and over and over? It was really sweet. She opened a couple of presents before dinner. After dinner she and I went out on to the porch to paint her nails. She was wearing a diaper and an apron and had filthy feet from playing outside. She painted her own nails. I watched her and remembered what I said to her when she was born; hello little Sophie, wanna paint your toenails?
(Remember, I had two boys before her.)
I'm way late putting the kids to bed, so off I go.
is having a sale. Check it out. (The day I can afford art, she'll be hearing from me!)
I'm making a tiny doll's quilt and quilted pillow for Soph for her birthday. The pillow is finished, and I've got part of the work on the quilt finished. I'm slow at it (first timer) and suddenly understanding those huge price tags on handmade bed sized quilts. Before I fall asleep, here's a few things I've been itching to share:
* I called directory service to ask for the phone number of The Wooden Horse. The guy mumbled something about 'trojan horse' and I said, 'uh, it's Wooden horse,' (very very politely, though) and he said, sounding so exasperated, 'you don't know what I mean!!!' Then he switched me over to the recording of the number. I briefly considered calling back till I got him and telling him that I know trojan horse and if he wants to make jokes he should NOT MUMBLE. But, sadly, I have no time for that sort of thing.
* The chocolate chip mini waffles they sell at Whole Foods are not so cute anymore when one breaks off from the herd mid-toast and gets wedged in the bottom of the toaster. My kids saw me stick the following things into the (unplugged) toaster to try and retrieve the waffle: knife, fork, spatula, fingers. I had to chop it into bits and shake it out.
I'm trying to migrate from the family-minus-Papa bed in the boys' room to the girls' bed in the girls' room. But, the boys get scared, so tonight saw us all five trying to go to sleep in the boys' room. I'd wager that the root beer the kids drank at their dad's house tonight was caffinated. I felt like I was laying on the deck of a fishing boat amid the struggling writhing flopping catch of the day. After I decided I could not clench my teeth any tighter without throwing my back out, I turned on a Lord of the Rings cassette tape for the boys and took the girls to their room, where Sophie tossed and turned because she was very plainly NOT tired (I ignored the obvious and tried to get her to sleep anyway), and Willow squirmed because I didn't dope her up enough to stop the awful sensation of three molars floating, iceburgish, in her tender gums.
The outcome was Lexy asleep after 10, after lots of bitching from his mother to 'be quiet and still!!' Willow and Sophie asleep around 10:30, and Nathan asleep at 12:15, after a stint on the couch watching Bear in the Big Blue House while I sewed and told him to 'pretend you're sleeping so you can trick your body into growing and resting and healing the cut on your head. But make sure you close your eyes and be still and breathe evenly, or your body will know you're lying.'
Tomorrow is birthday party for Nate's buddy, bank, pay bills, get groceries, visit Target, finish quilt top, do the dishes (IT IS OUT OF HAND IN THERE), and make some doctors appts. Do I have any volunteers willing to be bumped to another day? I'll get you a swank hotel room for the night!
