My submission for Works for me Wednesdays! Okay, I'm admitting first off that this does NOT work exactly as I had hoped. It does HELP though.
I bought some of the containers that are clear with lids. I bought pretty fabric open boxes. I bought shelving stuff for the closet. I got the kids organized (and no they can't seem to keep it exactly as we started).
We then, as a family, sat down and listed the 20 toys they would keep. 20 is MORE than enough for 2 boys. In our definition of a toy, Legos were 1 toy (no matter that there were thousands of the little blocks). Star Wars toys are another toy. Puzzles are a toy. Boardgames are a toy. Playdoh is a toy. All books are one toy.
Then, after they had selected their "toys" we organized them and gave every toy a spot. This means that now when I tell them to clean their room they *should* know where everything goes. More likely though, I will go into the room point to a toy and ask, "Where does this go? Does it have a home? Is it one of the 20 toys?" If they answer it is NOT one of the 20 toys they can choose to either KEEP it and get rid of another toy or throw it away. :)
One rule is that books and board games are NOT allowed to be selected for throwing away. :)
Here's some of our list:
1. Books
2. Board games
3. Puzzles
4. Playdoh
5. Legos
6. Playmobil
7. Cars (you know, matchbox and hot wheels...and they MUST fit in the ONE box)
8. Star Wars
9. Pirates
10. RC items like Robo Pet and RoboSapien
11. Computer games
12. Playstation and Ninentendo DS games
13. Shake and Go Speedway
14. Stuffed animals (other than the "lovies" they sleep with)
15. Balls to play with (that didn't make it to outside toys)
16. Leap Frog Math desk (I tossed Leapster in with this one)
17. Markers and crayons, and other art supplies
18. Mr. Potato Head (we have lots of Disney pieces to go with him)
19. Take apart cars (hard to describe)
20. K'nex
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
why is it everything conspires against you sleeping past 6 am?
Okay, normally, I do get to sleep later than normal people. This morning, however, was NOT the case.
I had a nightmare last night (and at the moment I can NOT remember what it was). OH YEAH, I dreamed that I was in a family where I was the "robot maid" and had to get away. Only, I was actually the human in the family along with the two GIRLS. The "Mom" and "Dad" were the actual robots. I was put before groups of robots to prove that I was being a good robot. It was just a little weird. I remember waking up thinking, what the heck? Am I robot now? LOL It was roughly 6 am.
So, laying there trying to decide if I am a robot or not, I heard "ding" and chuckle. There's that ghost again! I know it's Dh's cell phone again as I had plugged and charged my own a couple of days ago.
I start to drift off to sleep and the litter maid litter box starts up. It finishes, and I start to drift off again. The PHONE rings! ARGH.
Okay, background on the phone. Our number is one number off from a retail store that is popular with people who get up VERY VERY VERY early. We typically get at least one early phone call a week. I'm always surprised by how nice I am to them.
Me: "Sir, you've dialed the wrong number."
Sir: "Well what number did I dial?"
Me: "I don't give that information out. Just trust me, this is not XXXXX store you were trying to reach."
Sir: "Okay, sorry to disturb you."
I put the phone down next to me. Close my eyes and wait. Wait for it to ring again. If it does, then they have the old ad for the store that had a mistake. What mistake? They printed OUR phone number! If they just mis-dialed (easy easy to do), then typically they do not call back.
sure enough...ring!
Me: "Hello?"
Sir: "oh...umm...sorry."
Me: "You need to dial XXX not YYY"
Sir: "okay."
that solved it. Phew. Start to drift off to sleep and...
DH's ALARM goes off! He hits the snooze button. He, of course, goes back to sleep. Me? I'm debating if I should just get up or not.
Needless to say, I'm TIRED today.
I had a nightmare last night (and at the moment I can NOT remember what it was). OH YEAH, I dreamed that I was in a family where I was the "robot maid" and had to get away. Only, I was actually the human in the family along with the two GIRLS. The "Mom" and "Dad" were the actual robots. I was put before groups of robots to prove that I was being a good robot. It was just a little weird. I remember waking up thinking, what the heck? Am I robot now? LOL It was roughly 6 am.
So, laying there trying to decide if I am a robot or not, I heard "ding" and chuckle. There's that ghost again! I know it's Dh's cell phone again as I had plugged and charged my own a couple of days ago.
I start to drift off to sleep and the litter maid litter box starts up. It finishes, and I start to drift off again. The PHONE rings! ARGH.
Okay, background on the phone. Our number is one number off from a retail store that is popular with people who get up VERY VERY VERY early. We typically get at least one early phone call a week. I'm always surprised by how nice I am to them.
Me: "Sir, you've dialed the wrong number."
Sir: "Well what number did I dial?"
Me: "I don't give that information out. Just trust me, this is not XXXXX store you were trying to reach."
Sir: "Okay, sorry to disturb you."
I put the phone down next to me. Close my eyes and wait. Wait for it to ring again. If it does, then they have the old ad for the store that had a mistake. What mistake? They printed OUR phone number! If they just mis-dialed (easy easy to do), then typically they do not call back.
sure enough...ring!
Me: "Hello?"
Sir: "oh...umm...sorry."
Me: "You need to dial XXX not YYY"
Sir: "okay."
that solved it. Phew. Start to drift off to sleep and...
DH's ALARM goes off! He hits the snooze button. He, of course, goes back to sleep. Me? I'm debating if I should just get up or not.
Needless to say, I'm TIRED today.
Things that go ding in the night!
I posted this to my "friends only" Mommy blog on July 15, 2006.
Okay, I have an overactive imagination. I do not handle "spooky stories" well, nor can I watch scary movies. The movie, The Shining just about did me in in broad daylight. Had to sleep with the lights ON. I was in college at the time as well.
So, yesterday, I notice a thread on a forum "Wanna see a Ghost?!" I had ignored it for days, but this time I notice it has over 5 pages worth of posts. Okay, I'm curious. I open and read. They have a photo straight out of a disposable camera with a supposed ghost on it. Weird. But I can dismiss that. You...PHOTOSHOP. LOL Stupid me continues to read. The rest of the thread is full of stories of personal accounts of things that are "hanging around people." One lady had her husband pass away when she was 9 months pg with their daughter (3-4 years ago). She has LOADS of stories of "odd" things that she claims is her Dh hanging around helping her raise their daughter, and hanging around letting her know he's there. Lots of little spooky stories. I read in the afternoon. I thought for sure it would be okay. In fact, I was not scared at the time. Just interested, and disbelieving. I do believe in angels, but ghosts? not really. Which led me today to thinking exactly how contradictory that sounds.
So, late last night, I was reading a book. Luckily, even though it was set in historical Scottland and London, there were no "spooks" in this book. ;) I heard a "noise" that sounded like a piano key being pressed. Just once. Weird...but faint. I thought "must be a toy." I heard it over and over every once in a while for the next 2 hours (by this point it was 2:30 AM). Bad me for reading so late. I go to bed, lay down and I hear the noise. I truly thought "that sounds like a piano key, somewhere around an octave higher than middle C being pressed." WEEEIRD.
I try to "calm" myself and NOT think about all those ghost stories I had read that day.
I hear bumps and strange noises, not piano related. Normally I can dismiss them as Einstein (as having the cat DOES help since he makes most of the noises). A little bit later...that PIANO key was pressed again. My heart starts beating a little faster. My mind starts racing a little more. A loud crashing type noise...surely that's not Einstein! I start trying to remember if I left any doors unlocked. I'm trying to distract my mind from ghosts. I remember that the piano key lid has not been opened for at least 4 months. I mean...I clearly remember having BOOKS laying on the piano key lid. ACK!!!! My heart starts beating even faster, my mind is racing, I'm wanting to cower under the covers but I'm getting sweaty and HOT...I scoot over closer to Dh. I look at the clock, it's 2:55 AM now. More noises...another piano noise. I'm starting to see SHAPES and PEOPLE SHAPES. I basically am laying on top of Dh now (or trying to get under him). I'm shaking. I'm absolutely freaked out and terrified.
I hear MORE noises. I give up. I shake Dh. I poke Dh. I shake him some more. STILL SNORING. Finally I prod and shake and poke enough and hard enough and get him awake. I whisper, "I'm hearing noises. Like piano keys...be quiet and you'll hear it too."
Okay, I have to admit here, I've done this many times before. Dh is a great guy, he thinks I'm crazy but he investigates all my noises.
I continued on, "I know there's a logical explanation, but I'm freaked out and it's 3AM" We lay there for a few minutes, I'm shaking and he's trying NOT to fall back asleep. "DING" ah...vindication...see I'm NOT hearing things. Dh gets up. He's awake now. He turns on all the lights and goes to the piano. He says, "I think a string is breaking." We clear it off, and open it up. I don't want to reach in there...who knows what I'll feel. He runs his hands over all the strings and applies pressure. They seem fine. I notice a sticker - Tuned 1989. OMG...it's been THAT long?! Found a nail. pull it out. close the piano back. I go to the bathroom, Dh sits on the couch (fighting sleep, but curious since he DID hear it). "DING"
Dh says, "it's not the piano." I heard it in the bathroom, but faint...so between our bathroom and the great room. What could it be? Lights are on. Doors are all locked BTW. Einstein is in full form and wide awake. Dh checks the fire alarm. It's wired into the electrical system, but the test button didn't fire. Hmmm...perhaps that's it. He gets it to beep, but thinks even though the LOUD beep isn't our "ding" that the echo might have been it. I'm not so convinced. My mind is still on those ghost stories and I'm wondering if it is time to head to a hotel. ;)
He sits in the hallway. I sit on the bed. "DING"
Not the firealarm, it's in our room. Okay...what could it be? It's got a slight electronic sound...so...we invetigate the electronic stuff. Our obvious choices - littermaid box or the weather alarm (shorting out or acting up).
"DING" Nope...not either of those. It's not from MY side of the room, or from the alarm clocks. NOTHING is left. I'm no longer thinking ghosts...Dh has that calming influence. I'm relaxing...lights are on, but I dare not fall asleep after waking Dh up. We find 2 remaining objects...the light/fan switch (it's a remote switch in the wall) or Dh's cell phone. Cell phone looks normal though. We've had problems with the lightswitch before (though it never made sounds). Remember at this point it is roughly 3:40AM. Dh has one ear next to the wall switch, and one ear with the cell phone on it.
"DING"
Cell phone it is. Battery is basically dead and it was alerting us that it was almost dead and needed recharging.
WHO decided to make it a "B" above middle C on a piano last tuned in 1989 sound? I dunno. But I learned my lesson...NO MORE GHOST STORIES!
Okay, I have an overactive imagination. I do not handle "spooky stories" well, nor can I watch scary movies. The movie, The Shining just about did me in in broad daylight. Had to sleep with the lights ON. I was in college at the time as well.
So, yesterday, I notice a thread on a forum "Wanna see a Ghost?!" I had ignored it for days, but this time I notice it has over 5 pages worth of posts. Okay, I'm curious. I open and read. They have a photo straight out of a disposable camera with a supposed ghost on it. Weird. But I can dismiss that. You...PHOTOSHOP. LOL Stupid me continues to read. The rest of the thread is full of stories of personal accounts of things that are "hanging around people." One lady had her husband pass away when she was 9 months pg with their daughter (3-4 years ago). She has LOADS of stories of "odd" things that she claims is her Dh hanging around helping her raise their daughter, and hanging around letting her know he's there. Lots of little spooky stories. I read in the afternoon. I thought for sure it would be okay. In fact, I was not scared at the time. Just interested, and disbelieving. I do believe in angels, but ghosts? not really. Which led me today to thinking exactly how contradictory that sounds.
So, late last night, I was reading a book. Luckily, even though it was set in historical Scottland and London, there were no "spooks" in this book. ;) I heard a "noise" that sounded like a piano key being pressed. Just once. Weird...but faint. I thought "must be a toy." I heard it over and over every once in a while for the next 2 hours (by this point it was 2:30 AM). Bad me for reading so late. I go to bed, lay down and I hear the noise. I truly thought "that sounds like a piano key, somewhere around an octave higher than middle C being pressed." WEEEIRD.
I try to "calm" myself and NOT think about all those ghost stories I had read that day.
I hear bumps and strange noises, not piano related. Normally I can dismiss them as Einstein (as having the cat DOES help since he makes most of the noises). A little bit later...that PIANO key was pressed again. My heart starts beating a little faster. My mind starts racing a little more. A loud crashing type noise...surely that's not Einstein! I start trying to remember if I left any doors unlocked. I'm trying to distract my mind from ghosts. I remember that the piano key lid has not been opened for at least 4 months. I mean...I clearly remember having BOOKS laying on the piano key lid. ACK!!!! My heart starts beating even faster, my mind is racing, I'm wanting to cower under the covers but I'm getting sweaty and HOT...I scoot over closer to Dh. I look at the clock, it's 2:55 AM now. More noises...another piano noise. I'm starting to see SHAPES and PEOPLE SHAPES. I basically am laying on top of Dh now (or trying to get under him). I'm shaking. I'm absolutely freaked out and terrified.
I hear MORE noises. I give up. I shake Dh. I poke Dh. I shake him some more. STILL SNORING. Finally I prod and shake and poke enough and hard enough and get him awake. I whisper, "I'm hearing noises. Like piano keys...be quiet and you'll hear it too."
Okay, I have to admit here, I've done this many times before. Dh is a great guy, he thinks I'm crazy but he investigates all my noises.
I continued on, "I know there's a logical explanation, but I'm freaked out and it's 3AM" We lay there for a few minutes, I'm shaking and he's trying NOT to fall back asleep. "DING" ah...vindication...see I'm NOT hearing things. Dh gets up. He's awake now. He turns on all the lights and goes to the piano. He says, "I think a string is breaking." We clear it off, and open it up. I don't want to reach in there...who knows what I'll feel. He runs his hands over all the strings and applies pressure. They seem fine. I notice a sticker - Tuned 1989. OMG...it's been THAT long?! Found a nail. pull it out. close the piano back. I go to the bathroom, Dh sits on the couch (fighting sleep, but curious since he DID hear it). "DING"
Dh says, "it's not the piano." I heard it in the bathroom, but faint...so between our bathroom and the great room. What could it be? Lights are on. Doors are all locked BTW. Einstein is in full form and wide awake. Dh checks the fire alarm. It's wired into the electrical system, but the test button didn't fire. Hmmm...perhaps that's it. He gets it to beep, but thinks even though the LOUD beep isn't our "ding" that the echo might have been it. I'm not so convinced. My mind is still on those ghost stories and I'm wondering if it is time to head to a hotel. ;)
He sits in the hallway. I sit on the bed. "DING"
Not the firealarm, it's in our room. Okay...what could it be? It's got a slight electronic sound...so...we invetigate the electronic stuff. Our obvious choices - littermaid box or the weather alarm (shorting out or acting up).
"DING" Nope...not either of those. It's not from MY side of the room, or from the alarm clocks. NOTHING is left. I'm no longer thinking ghosts...Dh has that calming influence. I'm relaxing...lights are on, but I dare not fall asleep after waking Dh up. We find 2 remaining objects...the light/fan switch (it's a remote switch in the wall) or Dh's cell phone. Cell phone looks normal though. We've had problems with the lightswitch before (though it never made sounds). Remember at this point it is roughly 3:40AM. Dh has one ear next to the wall switch, and one ear with the cell phone on it.
"DING"
Cell phone it is. Battery is basically dead and it was alerting us that it was almost dead and needed recharging.
WHO decided to make it a "B" above middle C on a piano last tuned in 1989 sound? I dunno. But I learned my lesson...NO MORE GHOST STORIES!
Ladybug sighting today!
It's actually NICE outside, so I took the boys outside to play in the sunshine and get some energy out. It was wonderful to sit in the sun, with the warmth on my face, and just relax. Samuel and JM were swinging, and Samuel comes to get a drink from his Caprisun. I notice there is a red dot on the back of his neck at the shirt. I lean forward and it's a LADYBUG!
I started liking ladybugs years ago, before I knew of their connection to Chinese adoption. So, when I researched China adoption I found the reference and boy was I surprised. It really further cemeted the thoughts I had had that we were supposed to do this.
Anyway, I carefully pulled it off of Samuel to show him. It flew to Samuel's arm, Samuel freaked out a tiny little bit...and away it flew. :) I am not sure if I believe there are any connections with ladybugs and our daughter, but I thought I would note when I saw them. :) Who knows?! Right?
I started liking ladybugs years ago, before I knew of their connection to Chinese adoption. So, when I researched China adoption I found the reference and boy was I surprised. It really further cemeted the thoughts I had had that we were supposed to do this.
Anyway, I carefully pulled it off of Samuel to show him. It flew to Samuel's arm, Samuel freaked out a tiny little bit...and away it flew. :) I am not sure if I believe there are any connections with ladybugs and our daughter, but I thought I would note when I saw them. :) Who knows?! Right?
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
ABC's
Samuel has learned his ABC's. It's very cute when he sings them. It's even cute when he starts writing them out. I, however, had forgotten how proud 4 year olds are of their accomplishments. He can not stop at singing them one time. No, he must sing them at least 5 times in a row. He must sing them while riding in the van. He must sing them during church. He must sing them while picking up his room. Incessantly until you want to scream.
But it really is CUTE.
Sunday, during church, I heard him saying/singing "A.B.C.D.E...E!!" Then "A.B.C.D.E.F...F!!!" I looked over and he was writing the ABCs down. Yes, he'd sing until he came to the next letter. Then he'd start all over again to get to the next letter.
In other school related news, JM wrote a haiku poem. He also scored a 99% on a language arts unit test!! He's progressing right along, and doing much better with writing and spelling.
Here's his poem:
Dark rain drops splashing
Gary sky leaking umbrella winter clouds downpour
Soggy dark boots small umbrella
the instructions had a list of words about winter and rain.
But it really is CUTE.
Sunday, during church, I heard him saying/singing "A.B.C.D.E...E!!" Then "A.B.C.D.E.F...F!!!" I looked over and he was writing the ABCs down. Yes, he'd sing until he came to the next letter. Then he'd start all over again to get to the next letter.
In other school related news, JM wrote a haiku poem. He also scored a 99% on a language arts unit test!! He's progressing right along, and doing much better with writing and spelling.
Here's his poem:
Dark rain drops splashing
Gary sky leaking umbrella winter clouds downpour
Soggy dark boots small umbrella
the instructions had a list of words about winter and rain.
Monday, February 19, 2007
always a day late for everything!
Happy Year of the Pig!!!!
I hope that all of you reading my blog who are waiting on a referral get one this year (yeah that means a HUUUUGE speed up). ;)
Life has been busy switching computers and adjusting to Vista. We've only "lost" a few programs due to incompatibility, so not as bad as I thought. The tablet though works!!! It does one thing funky, so I must keep a regular mouse plugged in (those security questions the pen does not work for). Now to get to work on calibrating the monitor and such.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Oh my how embarrassing!
My younger brother changed his cell phone number and he gave to me from memory. I programmed it into my cell phone so I could call him if I needed to. (that's the background)
Today, in the mail, came the sw*msu*t issue (you know from that magazine). Knowing that Dh doesn't really care for it, and knowing my little brother would probably like it (he's in college). I called him from my cell phone.
R: Hello?
Me: Hey, I've got something here you might like.
R: What is it?
Me: The sw*msu*t thing (except I said the name and such)
R: What makes you think I want that?
Me: Because you are ** (age that he is in college...)
R: I think you have the wrong phone number.
Me: Is this R?
R: Nope.
Me: Oh my word, I'm so embarrassed. Sorry about that.
R (chuckling): Don't be, you made me smile.
Me: I guess there is that. So sorry about that.
I quickly hung up, then called my sis to get R's REAL phone number. Called R, and of course he was interested. Came right over to get it (he's living with 2 of his college buddies).
Of course he came over all stuffed up, sneezing, and hacking. Geeze THANKS lil' Bro!
So, did you do anything embarrassing today?
Today, in the mail, came the sw*msu*t issue (you know from that magazine). Knowing that Dh doesn't really care for it, and knowing my little brother would probably like it (he's in college). I called him from my cell phone.
R: Hello?
Me: Hey, I've got something here you might like.
R: What is it?
Me: The sw*msu*t thing (except I said the name and such)
R: What makes you think I want that?
Me: Because you are ** (age that he is in college...)
R: I think you have the wrong phone number.
Me: Is this R?
R: Nope.
Me: Oh my word, I'm so embarrassed. Sorry about that.
R (chuckling): Don't be, you made me smile.
Me: I guess there is that. So sorry about that.
I quickly hung up, then called my sis to get R's REAL phone number. Called R, and of course he was interested. Came right over to get it (he's living with 2 of his college buddies).
Of course he came over all stuffed up, sneezing, and hacking. Geeze THANKS lil' Bro!
So, did you do anything embarrassing today?
yagoon time!
Works for me Wednesdays.
As a homeschooling mom who also owns her own business, I find myself juggling things (all of the time). A busy schedule, grading that needs to be done, business things that need to be taken care of, etc.
We found an electronic calendar (and I keep multiple paper calendars as well). The calendar is called Yagoon Time and is free (can upgrade to professional version). We have been fine with the free version so far.
It allows you to have multiple colors for different things. Like my business appointments are in purple, JM's sports practices and games are in dark green, his homeschool activities are light green. Dh's activities are red. One great feature is that if you have multiple computers in your home, and have them networked together then you can update over the network!
Keeping it up to date and accurate, well, for me it's tough to do! LOL
As a homeschooling mom who also owns her own business, I find myself juggling things (all of the time). A busy schedule, grading that needs to be done, business things that need to be taken care of, etc.
We found an electronic calendar (and I keep multiple paper calendars as well). The calendar is called Yagoon Time and is free (can upgrade to professional version). We have been fine with the free version so far.
It allows you to have multiple colors for different things. Like my business appointments are in purple, JM's sports practices and games are in dark green, his homeschool activities are light green. Dh's activities are red. One great feature is that if you have multiple computers in your home, and have them networked together then you can update over the network!
Keeping it up to date and accurate, well, for me it's tough to do! LOL
Mr. Kitty and Mr. Bear
I'm attempting a 365 photo challenge. I will not bore you all here with the photos, but a few I will share. :)
BTW, February 14, 2007 marks our 5th month of being Logged In. 5 down, many more to go!
BTW, February 14, 2007 marks our 5th month of being Logged In. 5 down, many more to go!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Change in my blog
not that I shared a ton of images of my kids, but Shannon brought up a good point that made me think. I do still want to share images of my kids here, but I need to protect them as well.
I think what I am going to do is watermark images, size them small for the web, and then only leave them up for a limited time. That way you get to see them, I get to share them, but I limit the risk.
I do reserve the right to change my mind and not show them again. :) But since my family reads this blog as well, and I am terrible about sharing images with them, I will continue to post some here.
As always I will continue toobsess monitor my stats for this blog.
I think what I am going to do is watermark images, size them small for the web, and then only leave them up for a limited time. That way you get to see them, I get to share them, but I limit the risk.
I do reserve the right to change my mind and not show them again. :) But since my family reads this blog as well, and I am terrible about sharing images with them, I will continue to post some here.
As always I will continue to
Friday, February 09, 2007
Book-a-holic I am
I am borrowing this from Susie, who shares my love of reading. Feel free to play along on your own blog!
Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback?
Paperbacks, mainly ones I've traded as I go through them waaaaaaaay too fast.
Amazon or brick and mortar?
Mainly my little local used book store. I think I might keep them in business by myself.
Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Barnes and Noble! I'm even getting my kids hooked on it too. Of course JM's last purchase was the DK World War 2 book (you know the kids encyclopedia kind)
Bookmark or dogear?
I always use a bookmark. Or at least some piece of paper I find laying around (like a business card, receipt, kids artwork...)
Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?
Neither. Books rarely make it to the bookshelf, those few I keep are put up randomly.
Keep, throw away, or sell?
Rarely keep any, trade/sell the rest. I have to feed my habit somehow, buying new would bankrupt us! Throwing a book away is NOT an option. I donate the rest whenever possible.
Keep dustjacket or toss it?
Keep it.
Read with dustjacket or remove it?
It typically becomes a bookmark.
Short story or novel?
Novels unless it's a collection of Christmas romance stories.
Collection (short stories by same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)?
Neither really, unless it's Christmas love stories. LOL
Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
I've read all of the Harry Potter books, and loved them. Have not read Lemony Snicket. Can't wait to share the Potter books with my kids.
Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
Typically stop reading when the book is done. If I am just too tired, then it will be a chapter.
"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"?
"Once upon a time" most definitely!
Buy or Borrow?
Both. But mostly used books. Every once in a while I'll purchase one. Sometimes I'll borrow one from family if I've not read it (typically they borrow from me).
New or used?
Used. I do like new ones sometimes, but not always.
Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse?
Mostly browse.
Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Tidy happy ending!
Morning reading, afternoon reading or nighttime reading?
Mostly late at night, after the kids are in bed.
Standalone or series?
Both.
Favorite series?
Harry Potter, but I've not read Chronicles of Narnia so I reserve the right to change my mind.
Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Don't think I've got one. LOL Mostly read nice fluffy romance novels.
Favorite books read last year?
Can't remember. I'm really enjoying The Starbucks Experience (but it's the ONLY non-fiction I've read). Loved all the fluffy romance novels I've read in the past year. LOL
Favorite books of all time?
Harry Potter - all 6 of them, can't wait for July!!!
Gone with the Wind
Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Wuthering Heights, Little Women (and the rest of those by Ms. Alcott).
Wrinkle in Time (and the rest of that series) by Ms. L'Engle (another I can't wait for my kids to read).
The Xanth series (by Piers Anthony), made it book gazillion and stopped reading them
then there are the Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux, and....LOL I can go on and on.
Oooh, and Bridge to Terabithia was a favorite...and....
Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback?
Paperbacks, mainly ones I've traded as I go through them waaaaaaaay too fast.
Amazon or brick and mortar?
Mainly my little local used book store. I think I might keep them in business by myself.
Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Barnes and Noble! I'm even getting my kids hooked on it too. Of course JM's last purchase was the DK World War 2 book (you know the kids encyclopedia kind)
Bookmark or dogear?
I always use a bookmark. Or at least some piece of paper I find laying around (like a business card, receipt, kids artwork...)
Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?
Neither. Books rarely make it to the bookshelf, those few I keep are put up randomly.
Keep, throw away, or sell?
Rarely keep any, trade/sell the rest. I have to feed my habit somehow, buying new would bankrupt us! Throwing a book away is NOT an option. I donate the rest whenever possible.
Keep dustjacket or toss it?
Keep it.
Read with dustjacket or remove it?
It typically becomes a bookmark.
Short story or novel?
Novels unless it's a collection of Christmas romance stories.
Collection (short stories by same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)?
Neither really, unless it's Christmas love stories. LOL
Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
I've read all of the Harry Potter books, and loved them. Have not read Lemony Snicket. Can't wait to share the Potter books with my kids.
Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
Typically stop reading when the book is done. If I am just too tired, then it will be a chapter.
"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"?
"Once upon a time" most definitely!
Buy or Borrow?
Both. But mostly used books. Every once in a while I'll purchase one. Sometimes I'll borrow one from family if I've not read it (typically they borrow from me).
New or used?
Used. I do like new ones sometimes, but not always.
Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse?
Mostly browse.
Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Tidy happy ending!
Morning reading, afternoon reading or nighttime reading?
Mostly late at night, after the kids are in bed.
Standalone or series?
Both.
Favorite series?
Harry Potter, but I've not read Chronicles of Narnia so I reserve the right to change my mind.
Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Don't think I've got one. LOL Mostly read nice fluffy romance novels.
Favorite books read last year?
Can't remember. I'm really enjoying The Starbucks Experience (but it's the ONLY non-fiction I've read). Loved all the fluffy romance novels I've read in the past year. LOL
Favorite books of all time?
Harry Potter - all 6 of them, can't wait for July!!!
Gone with the Wind
Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Wuthering Heights, Little Women (and the rest of those by Ms. Alcott).
Wrinkle in Time (and the rest of that series) by Ms. L'Engle (another I can't wait for my kids to read).
The Xanth series (by Piers Anthony), made it book gazillion and stopped reading them
then there are the Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux, and....LOL I can go on and on.
Oooh, and Bridge to Terabithia was a favorite...and....
Need some help
Does anyone happen to know how much a child's orthodonic retainer costs? You know, the one that goes in the top of the mouth up next to the palate? It's removeable (hence the begging for help). JM seems to have lost his. I knew he would, I mean, he's a kid...this little thing comes out to eat. We eat out...he fold it in a napkin, it's out of sight. Yeah, recipe for "lost" if ever I've heard of one. So, today, he lost it. Ortho is closed of course on Friday. I know he can make it until Monday, but honestly, I want to KNOW about how much we're going to have to pay to replace. Mainly, because I think JM needs to help us replace it with his money...the one he has been saving for weeks to pay for a new computer game.
argh. I try to remind him, but I honestly thought he did not have it at all this morning (rush morning going out to go ice skating).
argh. I try to remind him, but I honestly thought he did not have it at all this morning (rush morning going out to go ice skating).
Snow Days!!!
Wild card for Family Foto Friday
A Snow day in the past few weeks, the boys enjoyed having snowball fights.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Sometimes things happen that make you stop.
I had news this week of someone I don't know personally. I know her through an online community only. Where she lives is not important, what is important is being aware of what happened to her family this week.
She lives next to her family, and her kids often go between the two homes playing during the day. One day this week the Mom realized she did not have her little shadow with her. She called the other house, they had not seen her 3 year old (almost 4) who had been playing her her older siblings. Mom had been busy with the baby and cleaning house. They live in the country, this is normal for the little girl to play with the siblings (especially since they typically just run to their family's house nextdoor). Well, they found the little girl (she was still alive) but was in the family car. The car was unlocked, but the back doors had kid locks on. The driver's door is heavy and the little girl probably could not open it. It was quite warm outside, and the paramedics think she was in the car less than 10 minutes. The car was black and in the sun. After hanging on to life for a few days in the hospital, the little girl passed away.
Please, teach your children that if they are in a car that they can not get out of to honk the horn (make sure it works without the car running before telling them this). Please, keep your car doors locked when no one is in the vehicle. Lastly, because I've heard of this happening often where a parent forgets their baby is in the car for some reason, please ALWAYS check to make sure a little person is not in the car with you. I lived in Arizona for a time, and even when I knew I did not have my children with me I still checked because I wanted the habit be for me to check.
I find this one story particularly hard because the little girl was not a helpless baby strapped into a car seat. But I imagine how frightened she was at not being able to get out...how scared when it started getting very hot in the car, and I think of how sad this mother is now.
Off to give my kids extra hugs now (and like the boys they are, I will be shrugged off...but perhaps Samuel will "wiggle me" some first).
She lives next to her family, and her kids often go between the two homes playing during the day. One day this week the Mom realized she did not have her little shadow with her. She called the other house, they had not seen her 3 year old (almost 4) who had been playing her her older siblings. Mom had been busy with the baby and cleaning house. They live in the country, this is normal for the little girl to play with the siblings (especially since they typically just run to their family's house nextdoor). Well, they found the little girl (she was still alive) but was in the family car. The car was unlocked, but the back doors had kid locks on. The driver's door is heavy and the little girl probably could not open it. It was quite warm outside, and the paramedics think she was in the car less than 10 minutes. The car was black and in the sun. After hanging on to life for a few days in the hospital, the little girl passed away.
Please, teach your children that if they are in a car that they can not get out of to honk the horn (make sure it works without the car running before telling them this). Please, keep your car doors locked when no one is in the vehicle. Lastly, because I've heard of this happening often where a parent forgets their baby is in the car for some reason, please ALWAYS check to make sure a little person is not in the car with you. I lived in Arizona for a time, and even when I knew I did not have my children with me I still checked because I wanted the habit be for me to check.
I find this one story particularly hard because the little girl was not a helpless baby strapped into a car seat. But I imagine how frightened she was at not being able to get out...how scared when it started getting very hot in the car, and I think of how sad this mother is now.
Off to give my kids extra hugs now (and like the boys they are, I will be shrugged off...but perhaps Samuel will "wiggle me" some first).
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Works for Me - Valentine's edition
I'm trying to join in on the fun with the Works for Me Wednesdays.
Hmmm, we don't have a Valentine tradition (need to start one), so I'm going to share something I've done in the past 10 years with Dh. I like taking really hot showers, which have the effect of steaming up the bathroom. When I get out of the shower I will draw a heart on the mirror. Or write "I love you." Or "I
Sometimes though, I get a message back.
OH, another "lovey kind of thing" is that being married to an extremely analytical kind of guy, I don't get flowers often. He just doesn't think of them (and typically we're too broke to buy them). I noticed one day, in Target of course, that there are $5 small bouquets. Not of roses, but purpled dyed daisies and other fun flower things. I bought one for myself, got in the van and told Dh "Look what you bought me!" I leaned over and gave him a kiss. He smiled, and to this day when I buy that bouquet it's from him. ;)
One of the best Valentine's Day gifts was when Dh bought me a rose bush. I loved it! Too bad my brown thumb killed it within a year.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
and then you wiggle dem.
Samuel and I were having a discussion after Karate class today. It was about what to do when someone was crying. See, during his Karate class 2 of the little kids cried. He stared at both of them (with this look on his face that said to me "what in the world are they crying about this is fun?"). So, Samuel and I were talking, okay I was telling him that he should not look at kids crying in his Karate class because ignoring them would help them to stop.
Which led us to when it IS appropriate to help someone who is crying. I told him outside of Karate it is okay to comfort someone who is crying, like Mommy, or Daddy, or JM. He said, "Or one of my friends?" Yes, or one of your friends.
I then asked him what can you do to comfort them?
S (very excited): I give them a HUG...
Me (yes I interrupted him because I thought he was done): Yes, you give them a hug.
S: then I wiggle dem!
Me: Huh?
S: I wiggle dem.
Me: Can you show me?
S: Yeah, but you are too big.
So, I got down on his level, he put his arms around me, squeezed for a hug...then "wiggled me" back and forth!
Which led us to when it IS appropriate to help someone who is crying. I told him outside of Karate it is okay to comfort someone who is crying, like Mommy, or Daddy, or JM. He said, "Or one of my friends?" Yes, or one of your friends.
I then asked him what can you do to comfort them?
S (very excited): I give them a HUG...
Me (yes I interrupted him because I thought he was done): Yes, you give them a hug.
S: then I wiggle dem!
Me: Huh?
S: I wiggle dem.
Me: Can you show me?
S: Yeah, but you are too big.
So, I got down on his level, he put his arms around me, squeezed for a hug...then "wiggled me" back and forth!
Monday, February 05, 2007
I think I know what is so frustrating in this whole process.
The lack of control. I can only sit and wait, either on our government to process a form or on China to process the referrals. I must have patience. I must continue to live our lives day by day. I have no control. I am not good at waiting patiently. I like to be in control.
We've heard from our agency that they have a list of special needs children that just came in, and even knowing that we could hear something in the next couple of weeks is hard. Why? Because I want to know details. I want to know the likelyhood of us hearing from our agency with a referral. I remember how excited I was in December, and had almost convinced myself that we would have a referral. This time, I'm hopeful, but expecting not to get a referral. Why? There are 80-100 families on the interested families list. It's HUGE. There are 20 kids, 12 of them are girls. The possibility for us to get a call is slim. Very slim. I'm trying to tell myself that we will not have a match at this time, that it will be at least the next group or the one after that one. I try to tell myself that waiting for the non-special needs referral is okay too. I can make it.
I am so not good at waiting. I know I can do it though, I can distract myself with the myriad details of my life. I know I alone do not have to have the ability to wait and the patience required, but I know that G*d will help me with that. But giving control over to G*d is hard as well. I like to be in control. I thought I had learned all of these things when we struggled with infertility, but I guess I was wrong and need more practice at this. ;)
So, I am going to try very hard NOT to watch the group for our agency's special needs list. I'm going to try very hard NOT to jump on the phone to see if it is the agency calling. I'm going to try and focus on our house, getting it clean and organized. I'm going to focus on our family and our upcoming vacation. Perhaps that will give me a few more months to count down in this long wait.
We've heard from our agency that they have a list of special needs children that just came in, and even knowing that we could hear something in the next couple of weeks is hard. Why? Because I want to know details. I want to know the likelyhood of us hearing from our agency with a referral. I remember how excited I was in December, and had almost convinced myself that we would have a referral. This time, I'm hopeful, but expecting not to get a referral. Why? There are 80-100 families on the interested families list. It's HUGE. There are 20 kids, 12 of them are girls. The possibility for us to get a call is slim. Very slim. I'm trying to tell myself that we will not have a match at this time, that it will be at least the next group or the one after that one. I try to tell myself that waiting for the non-special needs referral is okay too. I can make it.
I am so not good at waiting. I know I can do it though, I can distract myself with the myriad details of my life. I know I alone do not have to have the ability to wait and the patience required, but I know that G*d will help me with that. But giving control over to G*d is hard as well. I like to be in control. I thought I had learned all of these things when we struggled with infertility, but I guess I was wrong and need more practice at this. ;)
So, I am going to try very hard NOT to watch the group for our agency's special needs list. I'm going to try very hard NOT to jump on the phone to see if it is the agency calling. I'm going to try and focus on our house, getting it clean and organized. I'm going to focus on our family and our upcoming vacation. Perhaps that will give me a few more months to count down in this long wait.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Cheap Dates!!
When I was browsing the blogs I read, I came across a post about someone doing a "50 Cheap Dates" thingy. She was asking for a cheap date idea (please no Barnes and Noble dates). I thought to myself, you know Dh and I have had some great CHEAP dates! LOL Or we've heard some wonderful cheap dates from friends that we've filed away for future use. :)
1. Valentine's Day 2000 - new house, saving for me to be a SAHM, completely BROKE. I fixed his favorite dinner, pulled out our wedding china, set the table with our fancy tablecloth and fancy cloth napkins. Planned the full dinner to be timed when JM was put to bed (he was a young thing then). We turned out the lights, lit the candle, turned the music on low and ate our dinner by candlelight.
2. Some friends of ours celebrated their anniversary by putting on formal clothes, putting their daughter to bed, and doing the dinner and dancing thing in their dining and living rooms. All was well until their little girl woke and wanted to dance with Daddy. ;)
3. Dh and I have checked out a book on constellations. Late at night we've turned on the baby monitor, take a blanket outside (yes this is a SUMMER activity), and sit outside and gaze at the stars finding constellations. We talked. We found the space station. We shared our dreams.
4. Another cheap date, but this one requires babysitter (which sort of negates the cheap aspect), is to go hiking at the state park nearby. We hold hands, look at the flora and fauna. We reconnect. It's great for a family date as well (provided the kids are big enough to walk by themselves).
5. If we want to do the movie thing, we contact some good friends and watch their children one weekend. They watch ours the next. This helps keep our costs lower. :)
6. Another option for the Movie thing, is we rent a movie (or buy it). We wait until the kids are in bed. We spread out a blanket on the floor and pop in our movie late at night and snuggle.
7. We've also turned on a CD put on some formals and danced (those college ballroom dancing classes were good for something!). This is especially fun in conjunction with a candlelit dinner at home as well.
8. Family Date - We take the kids to the park and go bike riding together. I pack a picnic of favorite treats and after we finish riding bicycles we have a picnic. The kids love to look at shapes in the clouds. Sometimes, if we feel adventurous, we'll take a frisbee or some other sporting equipment.
9. Another fun family date, or couple date, is to purchase an annual pass to the local zoo. We take a picnic and then stroll around looking at the animals. The kids are occupied and happy, Dh and I have time to hold hands and talk. The cost of the pass is not cheap, but since this means we can go to the zoo monthly it provides us with lots of entertainment options.
10. During the summer some friends of ours go to the concerts in the park put on by local groups. Sometimes it's the youth orchestra. Sometimes it's the senior citizens choir from a local church. It's free to attend, you take blankets and lawn chairs and just listen.
hmmm...most of these are "warm weather" dates. I need ideas for cold weather dates!!!
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Referral Math!
Everybody ready?
Looks like referrals went through 10/13.
10/13/2005 to 9/14/2006 is about 336 days.
We have 334 days of referral LID to get through before our LID.
How long until OUR referral? That's a good question! No one really knows. It could be that CCAA will speed up, or they could slow down, or they could continue at the same pace.
If they continue at the same pace of roughly 2.3 months to get through each 30 days of LID. So, we'd have a referral in 334/30*2.3 or roughly 25.76 MORE months to go. So, at the exact same pace of 2.3 months to get through each LID month we're looking at April 2009 for our referral.
BUT (there's always a but), it's entirely possible that it will speed up (or slow down).
If they managed to do and even 2 months for every 1 month of LID we'd be looking at 22.4 months (or January 2009). If they managed to go 1.5 months for every 1 month of LID, we're looking at 16.8 months, or July 2008 (right in time for Olympics). Of course we're hoping for an awesome couple of "double months" that would have us getting a referral in September 2007! LOL That does belong in the "in your DREAMS" category.
Someone asked how I was handling this wait as compared to how I did not handle the wait on the 171h form...this is much easier. I get to cross numbers off and see "progress" being made. I have something concrete to watch (even if it moves at a snails pace sometimes, my LID gets closer and closer). While waiting on the 171h, I watched the line for China adoption ahead of me keep growing and growing. I watched the months where they only did 5 days of LID for a month of referrals. Those times were horrid to watch knowing my wait was being slowed down drastically by that.
Looks like referrals went through 10/13.
10/13/2005 to 9/14/2006 is about 336 days.
We have 334 days of referral LID to get through before our LID.
How long until OUR referral? That's a good question! No one really knows. It could be that CCAA will speed up, or they could slow down, or they could continue at the same pace.
If they continue at the same pace of roughly 2.3 months to get through each 30 days of LID. So, we'd have a referral in 334/30*2.3 or roughly 25.76 MORE months to go. So, at the exact same pace of 2.3 months to get through each LID month we're looking at April 2009 for our referral.
BUT (there's always a but), it's entirely possible that it will speed up (or slow down).
If they managed to do and even 2 months for every 1 month of LID we'd be looking at 22.4 months (or January 2009). If they managed to go 1.5 months for every 1 month of LID, we're looking at 16.8 months, or July 2008 (right in time for Olympics). Of course we're hoping for an awesome couple of "double months" that would have us getting a referral in September 2007! LOL That does belong in the "in your DREAMS" category.
Someone asked how I was handling this wait as compared to how I did not handle the wait on the 171h form...this is much easier. I get to cross numbers off and see "progress" being made. I have something concrete to watch (even if it moves at a snails pace sometimes, my LID gets closer and closer). While waiting on the 171h, I watched the line for China adoption ahead of me keep growing and growing. I watched the months where they only did 5 days of LID for a month of referrals. Those times were horrid to watch knowing my wait was being slowed down drastically by that.
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