We have a TON of ripe tomatoes! We'll be canning them this weekend. I'm hoping to have pics up early next week for all of you who commented on our organic tomatoes! We're thinking about just stewing these and not actually making sauce so we can use them in more things throughout the winter. I can't wait!
I've been making GREAT progress on my House Cup work! I've got 5 of 6 classes done. I've completed a pair of mittens for Charlie, Sheldon, a Crochet Counting Fish toy (both also for Charlie), a filet crochet bookmark for me (my first filet crochet!), and a teeny tiny golden snitch pendant to make a necklace for Ari for Yule! Just dyeing more yarn with walnuts and working up my Charlie's hat for his Halloween costume.
The kids are having a blast at school! Melodie seems to have really grown up the last few weeks. We're having a much easier time. Ari will be starting tutoring in the next week or so, so hopefully her spelling and sounds will get better. Her teacher said she'll be contacting speech, also, and voicing my concerns....again. Hopefully this time it will help, because the teacher agrees with me that she's having a hard time with spelling and phonetics because of the way she says things. Atley is just having the time of his life. He plays and is doing SO good! His art work has gotten better. His handwriting is better than Ari's (at least the letters that he does know and can write.) Charlie is still sad and lonely. :0( He's mommy's buddy. (yes Michelle Duggar, I'm quoting you!)
Oh, and I almost forgot....we've had our first tardy! It was really not due to not getting ready on time. I hurt my back yesterday morning. See, it was legitimate! Apparently, my back does not like to do laundry any more than the rest of me. I was lifting laundry out of the dryer, and oh the pain! It wasn't even like it was a heavy load of jeans or towels or a full laundry basket. It was just laundry, and the girls' tank tops and sundresses at that. It weighed all of 2 pounds.
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Friday, September 18, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Atley's First Day of School
I know, I'm a horrible mom. Mere hours after the girls bust open their shiny new pencils, I've blogged about their first day of school. My Atley, has yet to have his first day of school blog post. :0( So, without further ado.....Atley's First Day of School!!
He was SO excited to go to school!! Of course with our later start time this year (not one tardy yet, knock on wood!), we have plenty of time to get ready, and he had to wait awhile to leave, which he was very anxious about. He barely said goodbye when he jumped out of the car and ran to the school. 
He has been very happy to go everyday now. He's doing pretty good, I think. He even did a good job on his first swimming lesson! (He was not the child who kicked and screamed and ran from the pool!! yay!!!) Luckily, he and Ari seem to have the same swim day, however hers seems to be after lunch, so I don't usually catch hers. :0(
In crafty news, the fall term of the House Cup is well underway! We're about halfway done with the first month. So far, I've completed a Sheldon for DADA, a lace bookmark for Transfiguration (which I still need to block so I can turn in), a pair of mittens for Charlie for Potions, and I'm over halfway done with a counting fish toy for Charlie for Charms. That will leave dyeing some more yarn with walnuts for Herbology, and I think I'm doing a snitch for CoMC. Plus, I've still got to submit for my OWL approval. (I will be doing Muggle Studies to get the toaster badge.) I'm going to knit Ari a Gryffindor House Sweater and Melodie a Fresh Picked Cardigan.
I've also started to fill my Etsy shop!! Yay!!
Oh, and of course we can't forget everyone's favorite recurring theme....Injury Of The Day!!!! Today's Injury of the Day goes to.....Arianna! (I know, a rarity!) Yesterday, we went to the fair. We were sitting on some nice, shady benches eating our yummy fair-food lunch, and Ari decided it was a good idea to stand between them and swing. She took a flying leap.........and cracked her jaw on one! We've got a nice bruise from that one. I swear, my kids. *sigh*
He was SO excited to go to school!! Of course with our later start time this year (not one tardy yet, knock on wood!), we have plenty of time to get ready, and he had to wait awhile to leave, which he was very anxious about. He barely said goodbye when he jumped out of the car and ran to the school. 
He has been very happy to go everyday now. He's doing pretty good, I think. He even did a good job on his first swimming lesson! (He was not the child who kicked and screamed and ran from the pool!! yay!!!) Luckily, he and Ari seem to have the same swim day, however hers seems to be after lunch, so I don't usually catch hers. :0(
In crafty news, the fall term of the House Cup is well underway! We're about halfway done with the first month. So far, I've completed a Sheldon for DADA, a lace bookmark for Transfiguration (which I still need to block so I can turn in), a pair of mittens for Charlie for Potions, and I'm over halfway done with a counting fish toy for Charlie for Charms. That will leave dyeing some more yarn with walnuts for Herbology, and I think I'm doing a snitch for CoMC. Plus, I've still got to submit for my OWL approval. (I will be doing Muggle Studies to get the toaster badge.) I'm going to knit Ari a Gryffindor House Sweater and Melodie a Fresh Picked Cardigan.
I've also started to fill my Etsy shop!! Yay!!
Oh, and of course we can't forget everyone's favorite recurring theme....Injury Of The Day!!!! Today's Injury of the Day goes to.....Arianna! (I know, a rarity!) Yesterday, we went to the fair. We were sitting on some nice, shady benches eating our yummy fair-food lunch, and Ari decided it was a good idea to stand between them and swing. She took a flying leap.........and cracked her jaw on one! We've got a nice bruise from that one. I swear, my kids. *sigh*
Monday, August 24, 2009
First Day of School Pt. 1
Well, it's official. Summer vacation is finally over. The girls went back to school today!!
They were SO excited. Melodie is in 4th grade this year, and it's her last year in grade school. She'll be a middle-schooler next fall! Ari is in 1st grade and very excited to see her friends again.
Lucky for us, all of the elementary schools are starting at 9:25 this year, so here's hoping no more tardies!! lol
This morning went very smoothly. It was a little surprising how smoothly it went, actually.
Atley goes for his KRA-L assessment test tomorrow. Then, his first day of school will be Thursday. I admit it, I'll probably cry when my sweet little baby boy goes to school. He is completely my little momma's boy, my little poppet, and I'll miss him horribly. Charlie and I are going to have fun together, though!
Yesterday, we canned for the first time! Dan had made some pasta sauce, so we decided to give it a try before our tomato crop comes in and we're swimming in tomatoes without a clue on how to can! It was a success, and we're very proud of ourselves! lol We got a half dozen pints. I think I'm going to need to get some more jars, though. We have ALOT of tomatoes that will be done. This batch was just from cans of tomatoes from the store. Our tomatoes are homegrown organic....I can't wait!
And, I finally finished Ari's snitch socks...better late than never! (ok, actually I finished them a few days ago, but here is the pic.)
I also finally fixed the neck band on Charlie's Imagine Peace Vest last night. I'm hoping to get some pics of him in it with my snowball bush this week.
They were SO excited. Melodie is in 4th grade this year, and it's her last year in grade school. She'll be a middle-schooler next fall! Ari is in 1st grade and very excited to see her friends again.
Lucky for us, all of the elementary schools are starting at 9:25 this year, so here's hoping no more tardies!! lol
This morning went very smoothly. It was a little surprising how smoothly it went, actually.
Atley goes for his KRA-L assessment test tomorrow. Then, his first day of school will be Thursday. I admit it, I'll probably cry when my sweet little baby boy goes to school. He is completely my little momma's boy, my little poppet, and I'll miss him horribly. Charlie and I are going to have fun together, though!
Yesterday, we canned for the first time! Dan had made some pasta sauce, so we decided to give it a try before our tomato crop comes in and we're swimming in tomatoes without a clue on how to can! It was a success, and we're very proud of ourselves! lol We got a half dozen pints. I think I'm going to need to get some more jars, though. We have ALOT of tomatoes that will be done. This batch was just from cans of tomatoes from the store. Our tomatoes are homegrown organic....I can't wait!
And, I finally finished Ari's snitch socks...better late than never! (ok, actually I finished them a few days ago, but here is the pic.)
I also finally fixed the neck band on Charlie's Imagine Peace Vest last night. I'm hoping to get some pics of him in it with my snowball bush this week.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
I'm still here!
I know, I've been quiet...okay, silent. I'm still here! Things have just been crazy hectic around here. (I know, what's new?)
Charlie is growing like a weed! He is cruising all over the place now, and he can even crawl right (though he still prefers to drag his leg under him.) He went down the baby slide for the first time yesterday, and he loved it! He also got to ride in the Gravedigger for the first time on Saturday. Atley has been waiting for this day since before Charlie was born. He always said if he had a brother, he would drive him around in the Gravedigger. (I must say, Atley is a very good driver! He could wheel that thing around like it was second nature. Ari...well, thank god she's got 10 years before she can get her license! lol)
Tonight is Ari's kindergarten family night. They are doing a little program. She is one of the little kittens that has lost its mittens. Oh, she also lost her first tooth! (the first one that was supposed to come out, at least. (She lost one before, courtesy of Atley's hard head.) Melodie is doing good in math! She's working on some of the 4th graders work now. Atley, well, my sweet Atley is just as sweet as ever. Right now, he's chanting "don't give up" because he's trying to build a super high tower out of blocks, and it keeps falling down. Dan also let him screw in some wood screws with the drill all by himself last night to finish up my raised bed!
Speaking of, I have a raised garden!! Yay!! I'm so excited. I'm going to get the dirt in it this afternoon. I have to bake cookies for Ari's thing tonight, too. I don't know how much I'll get done! We have to be at school by 6:15.
I haven't gotten much done in the way of the yarnin' either. I did finally start my House Cup homework!! For Ancient Runes, I'm finally making my Wizard of Oz finger puppets! I've almost got Dorothy done. Just the tin man, scarecrow, lion, and witch to go!
Charlie is growing like a weed! He is cruising all over the place now, and he can even crawl right (though he still prefers to drag his leg under him.) He went down the baby slide for the first time yesterday, and he loved it! He also got to ride in the Gravedigger for the first time on Saturday. Atley has been waiting for this day since before Charlie was born. He always said if he had a brother, he would drive him around in the Gravedigger. (I must say, Atley is a very good driver! He could wheel that thing around like it was second nature. Ari...well, thank god she's got 10 years before she can get her license! lol)
Tonight is Ari's kindergarten family night. They are doing a little program. She is one of the little kittens that has lost its mittens. Oh, she also lost her first tooth! (the first one that was supposed to come out, at least. (She lost one before, courtesy of Atley's hard head.) Melodie is doing good in math! She's working on some of the 4th graders work now. Atley, well, my sweet Atley is just as sweet as ever. Right now, he's chanting "don't give up" because he's trying to build a super high tower out of blocks, and it keeps falling down. Dan also let him screw in some wood screws with the drill all by himself last night to finish up my raised bed!
Speaking of, I have a raised garden!! Yay!! I'm so excited. I'm going to get the dirt in it this afternoon. I have to bake cookies for Ari's thing tonight, too. I don't know how much I'll get done! We have to be at school by 6:15.
I haven't gotten much done in the way of the yarnin' either. I did finally start my House Cup homework!! For Ancient Runes, I'm finally making my Wizard of Oz finger puppets! I've almost got Dorothy done. Just the tin man, scarecrow, lion, and witch to go!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Picture Day
Again....yes, again. I swear, they have WAY too many picture days at school! Don't get me wrong, I love pictures of my kids, but school pictures are always crap. Plus $40 x 2 kids is really expensive! I don't know what I'll do next year. Of course, I don't have to buy them, but then the kids are so disappointed. I'm not getting the whole package though. I'll just probably get a sheet of each. I am very happy to say that Melodie washed her hair....with shampoo....this morning!
Well, we're back to being sick again! Atley had a very slight fever last night and is coughing again. Poor little Charlie has the runniest nose and also had a fever again yesterday. I'm watching ears VERY carefully.
Here is the link for the clothespin bag I was talking about! I haven't gotten mine done yet. It probably won't be until after Charlie's b-day. I am going to get to hang out some more laundry today though! I'm so excited. It's supposed to be almost 60 and sunny today. Of course, it's supposed to drop 10 degrees and rain tomorrow. Oh well, I'll take what I can get!
I started on Charlie's vest for his birthday last night! So far, so good. I'm lovin' the yarn I picked. It's Knit Picks Comfy worsted. It is VERY soft. I was a little worried because of the stiffness of other WW cottons I've used. This just feels so good in my hands. I think the colors go together pretty good, too. I'm hoping to have the back done tonight!
Well, we're back to being sick again! Atley had a very slight fever last night and is coughing again. Poor little Charlie has the runniest nose and also had a fever again yesterday. I'm watching ears VERY carefully.
Here is the link for the clothespin bag I was talking about! I haven't gotten mine done yet. It probably won't be until after Charlie's b-day. I am going to get to hang out some more laundry today though! I'm so excited. It's supposed to be almost 60 and sunny today. Of course, it's supposed to drop 10 degrees and rain tomorrow. Oh well, I'll take what I can get!
I started on Charlie's vest for his birthday last night! So far, so good. I'm lovin' the yarn I picked. It's Knit Picks Comfy worsted. It is VERY soft. I was a little worried because of the stiffness of other WW cottons I've used. This just feels so good in my hands. I think the colors go together pretty good, too. I'm hoping to have the back done tonight!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
It's Official.....
I am a mommy to 3 school kids. I just got home from signing Atley up for kindergarten! My baby. My sweet, sweet Atley will be leaving me in the fall. He says he doesn't want to go (much to my happiness...he loves his momma) BUT he seemed to have fun with the other kids there. Poor little Charlie is still snuffly. At least his fever seems to finally have broken!
I started my Petunia Dursley Eyelet socks for the March SKA. I'm about halfway done with the ribbing on the first sock! I finished one of Charlie's socks last night. It fits pretty good! I used the Moda Dea Sassy Stripes I used on Ari's socks, and I found out when I looked at my stash page, it's marked as a DK weight...no wonder it's been a pain on size 1 bamboo needles! I'm going to rough through the second one, then I'm going to try another pair with actual fingering yarn.
I started my Petunia Dursley Eyelet socks for the March SKA. I'm about halfway done with the ribbing on the first sock! I finished one of Charlie's socks last night. It fits pretty good! I used the Moda Dea Sassy Stripes I used on Ari's socks, and I found out when I looked at my stash page, it's marked as a DK weight...no wonder it's been a pain on size 1 bamboo needles! I'm going to rough through the second one, then I'm going to try another pair with actual fingering yarn.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
We Got 'Em!!!
My mom won! She won the tickets for the polar express! I am SO excited. I had a REALLY crappy morning this morning (let's just say Melodie wouldn't get ready again, and her hair was still damp and when I brushed it at school, it made snowflakes!), and she called and gave me the news. I am on cloud 9 now. I want to tell Atley SO bad. I hope I can hold out until Friday!! We go at 7:30 Friday night. My mom gave me the tickets tonight at Ari's Christmas program. (She did so good. She was so cute in her little green dress. I'd post a pic, but we were so far away from the stage, she was just a speck.) I can't wait!! Melodie was so bummed because Ari brought home a letter that said Friday will be Polar Express Day in kindergarten, and to wear their pajamas because they'll be going on the Polar Express. (which I know they're not physically going anywhere because we didn't get a permission slip) But poor Melodie is convinced Ari's taking a trip to the North Pole from school on Friday.
Tomorrow, Melodie has her Thomas Edison Day invention showing. We'll be going to school to see all of the kids inventions.
I finished 2 more projects. I did the Ghost Finger Puppet:
I also finished Charlie's Baby Triceratops. I think he turned out really cute! Here he is:
I also got started on Atley's Batman Wristies. (He asked for a pair of fingerless gloves since he saw me making pair upon pair.)
Tomorrow, Melodie has her Thomas Edison Day invention showing. We'll be going to school to see all of the kids inventions.
I finished 2 more projects. I did the Ghost Finger Puppet:
I also finished Charlie's Baby Triceratops. I think he turned out really cute! Here he is:
I also got started on Atley's Batman Wristies. (He asked for a pair of fingerless gloves since he saw me making pair upon pair.)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Brownie Cookies Recipe
Yesterday was really fun. The girls had a blast. Charlie munched some pancakes. One of the head mothers of the PTA group gave Atley a big plate of sausage links to bring home. He was so excited! The girls were excited to take in the pilgrim hat cookies we made Monday night to share with their classes.
Today, we're going to Mcdonald's with my grandparents. Thank goodness work is slow holiday weeks. (Even though it sucks because this work week will be on my last check we get before Christmas because my checks are held.) :0(
Here is the recipe for the Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies I made the other night: (even one of the little boys in Melodie's class asked for the recipe!)
Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies
Ingredients:
• 1 (19.5 oz.) package Pillsbury® Classic Traditional Fudge Brownie
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/2 can Pillsbury® Chocolate Fudge Frosting
Directions:
1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Beat brownie mix, melted butter, cream cheese and egg in medium bowl 50 strokes with spoon until well blended (dough will be sticky).
2. DROP dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets to make 24 cookies; smooth edge of each to form round cookie.
3. MIX powdered sugar and peanut butter in small bowl with spoon until mixture forms a ball. With hands, roll rounded teaspoonfuls peanut butter mixture into 24 balls. Lightly press 1 ball into center of each ball of dough.
4. BAKE 10 to 14 minutes or until edges are set. Cool on cookie sheets at least 30 minutes.
5. SPREAD thin layer of frosting over peanut butter portion of each cooled cookie.
High Altitude (above 3500 ft.):
1. FLATTEN cookies slightly before baking. Bake at 350° F for 11 to 15 minutes.
Yield: 24 cookies
Today, we're going to Mcdonald's with my grandparents. Thank goodness work is slow holiday weeks. (Even though it sucks because this work week will be on my last check we get before Christmas because my checks are held.) :0(
Here is the recipe for the Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies I made the other night: (even one of the little boys in Melodie's class asked for the recipe!)
Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies
Ingredients:
• 1 (19.5 oz.) package Pillsbury® Classic Traditional Fudge Brownie
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/2 can Pillsbury® Chocolate Fudge Frosting
Directions:
1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Beat brownie mix, melted butter, cream cheese and egg in medium bowl 50 strokes with spoon until well blended (dough will be sticky).
2. DROP dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets to make 24 cookies; smooth edge of each to form round cookie.
3. MIX powdered sugar and peanut butter in small bowl with spoon until mixture forms a ball. With hands, roll rounded teaspoonfuls peanut butter mixture into 24 balls. Lightly press 1 ball into center of each ball of dough.
4. BAKE 10 to 14 minutes or until edges are set. Cool on cookie sheets at least 30 minutes.
5. SPREAD thin layer of frosting over peanut butter portion of each cooled cookie.
High Altitude (above 3500 ft.):
1. FLATTEN cookies slightly before baking. Bake at 350° F for 11 to 15 minutes.
Yield: 24 cookies
Friday, November 21, 2008
One more day down....
And only one more to go to my Girl's Night Out! Yay!
Conferences went good yesterday. Melodie got bright, shining reviews. She's reading Emily Dickinson with 2 other little girls, and they're exploring imagery and will be starting on rhyme and rhythm after break! Her teacher also asked me last night if it was okay to start her on some pre-algebra stuff. Two of the 4th grade boys are doing it, and she thought Melodie may enjoy it, too.
Ari is doing good. Her teacher said she's really opened up, which we were worried about. She said her speech is doing better, and she can understand her all the time. She's behaving well in class. (She only got her first yellow the other day. She went outside with no coat on! Her teacher's aide told her twice to get her coat before she went out...so she got her gloves and went without the coat. To her defense, she is always hot and has always hated coats.) She needs to work on her handwriting. And, we need to work on memorizing our address and phone number. I've tried and tried, but she always tells me she knows it, and she doesn't have to say it. Gotta love my stubborn, independent little girl!
We actually got an inch or 2 of snow last night. Apparently, the city Dan works in is supposed to get up to a foot today. (It's about half an hour away.) It's supposed to snow some tomorrow, too. Must dress warm for parade!
My grandparents stopped by yesterday. My grandpa said the word "eat" when asking if we were still able to go out to eat for lunch next Wednesday when the girls are off school, and Charlie freaked out. He started squirming and turning around to look at me! That boy loves his food! When they left, my grandpa waved "bye-bye" at him, and he waved back! That was his first wave!
I didn't get anymore done on my vest yesterday. I was beat after conferences and the ensuing crying when Ari didn't get 15 pens at $3 a pop.
Conferences went good yesterday. Melodie got bright, shining reviews. She's reading Emily Dickinson with 2 other little girls, and they're exploring imagery and will be starting on rhyme and rhythm after break! Her teacher also asked me last night if it was okay to start her on some pre-algebra stuff. Two of the 4th grade boys are doing it, and she thought Melodie may enjoy it, too.
Ari is doing good. Her teacher said she's really opened up, which we were worried about. She said her speech is doing better, and she can understand her all the time. She's behaving well in class. (She only got her first yellow the other day. She went outside with no coat on! Her teacher's aide told her twice to get her coat before she went out...so she got her gloves and went without the coat. To her defense, she is always hot and has always hated coats.) She needs to work on her handwriting. And, we need to work on memorizing our address and phone number. I've tried and tried, but she always tells me she knows it, and she doesn't have to say it. Gotta love my stubborn, independent little girl!
We actually got an inch or 2 of snow last night. Apparently, the city Dan works in is supposed to get up to a foot today. (It's about half an hour away.) It's supposed to snow some tomorrow, too. Must dress warm for parade!
My grandparents stopped by yesterday. My grandpa said the word "eat" when asking if we were still able to go out to eat for lunch next Wednesday when the girls are off school, and Charlie freaked out. He started squirming and turning around to look at me! That boy loves his food! When they left, my grandpa waved "bye-bye" at him, and he waved back! That was his first wave!
I didn't get anymore done on my vest yesterday. I was beat after conferences and the ensuing crying when Ari didn't get 15 pens at $3 a pop.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
It's still snowing
It's coming down again. We really haven't gotten more than a dusting here. It keeps falling and melting. Just about an hour north of us, they've got a foot in some places. Gotta love Ohio! We always say, if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes, it'll change.
Today is wear a shirt with words to read on it. (They're doing special days for book fair week.) Ari is wearing her Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix shirt! For any of you who don't know, Ari is a HUGE HP fan. She prefers to be called Hermione. Since she was about 3 1/2, she has been all about Harry. We are very sad we don't get to go to a movie opening night at midnight tonight! (Yes, I was going to take her and keep her out of school the next day. I know, I'm a bad mom.) Alas, we have to wait until July. :0( At least we get to go for our birthdays again. (For the OOTP, Dan and I shipped the other kids off to my mom's and took Ari out for a nice dinner and to see OOTP with just us. Her birthday is about a week and a half after mine, so we went as a combined treat for the 2 of us.) Plus, I've been trying to read her the books to get her caught up on everything, and to prepare her for sad things that happen at the end of #6. (I almost wrote the spoiler, but then it dawned on me that some people, if it's really possible, might not have read HP and the HBP. Oh, the blasphemy!)
I got a little more done on the vest last night. Small steps. I'm hoping to have it done by Tuesday so I can at least take Charlie for first Christmas pictures.
Today is also conference day at school. Of course, I wrote down the times of the conferences on my calendar....but not whose teacher was at what time! Ah well, you live, you learn. So, it looks like I have to call the secretary today. This is my first year for having to go to 2 conferences. Next year, I'll know better for 3!!
Today is wear a shirt with words to read on it. (They're doing special days for book fair week.) Ari is wearing her Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix shirt! For any of you who don't know, Ari is a HUGE HP fan. She prefers to be called Hermione. Since she was about 3 1/2, she has been all about Harry. We are very sad we don't get to go to a movie opening night at midnight tonight! (Yes, I was going to take her and keep her out of school the next day. I know, I'm a bad mom.) Alas, we have to wait until July. :0( At least we get to go for our birthdays again. (For the OOTP, Dan and I shipped the other kids off to my mom's and took Ari out for a nice dinner and to see OOTP with just us. Her birthday is about a week and a half after mine, so we went as a combined treat for the 2 of us.) Plus, I've been trying to read her the books to get her caught up on everything, and to prepare her for sad things that happen at the end of #6. (I almost wrote the spoiler, but then it dawned on me that some people, if it's really possible, might not have read HP and the HBP. Oh, the blasphemy!)
I got a little more done on the vest last night. Small steps. I'm hoping to have it done by Tuesday so I can at least take Charlie for first Christmas pictures.
Today is also conference day at school. Of course, I wrote down the times of the conferences on my calendar....but not whose teacher was at what time! Ah well, you live, you learn. So, it looks like I have to call the secretary today. This is my first year for having to go to 2 conferences. Next year, I'll know better for 3!!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Picture Day
Yup, it's picture day, again. Today is holiday picture day. The girls dutifully donned their Christmas sweaters. Of course, the great big huge bright blue basket of hair implements is gone, so no one got any bows. Don't ask me where the basket went! We also had a slightly easier time of getting ready this morning. Everyone's hair was washed....with actual shampoo....this time! Melodie was still not happy, though. Apparently, she had no hot water, and was very unhappy. We got to school right on time, though!
Last time I had been outside, Dan hadn't put the seats back up in the Blazer after he got the mattress. I went outside this morning, cranky, because I just knew I had to put everything back....and to my surprise, not only were the seats up, but this time all the seat belts were properly through, and he even put the baby seat back in! Isn't it funny, how after kids, the dumbest things make your husband seem like the sexiest man alive? To me, that was more romantic than just about anything else. (The single, long stem red rose and half pound of my favorite chocolates he picked up 2 Fridays ago and surprised me with also melted my heart. I asked him why, and he said because I deserved it, and he felt bad because we didn't do anything for Sweetest Day!)
I actually, finally, am almost done with the sweater sleeve! I've got 1/2 an inch to do in st st, then I'll start the raglan shaping, then I can attach it, and I'll be done! Hopefully, tonight. I think I'm going to crochet the boys' vests. It will go so much quicker, and I found a cute sweater pattern in an old pamphlet I dug out, so I think I'm going to make that without the sleeves, and call it a day.
Here is a picture of our snow today. It's not much, but it's our first sticking snow of the year!
Last time I had been outside, Dan hadn't put the seats back up in the Blazer after he got the mattress. I went outside this morning, cranky, because I just knew I had to put everything back....and to my surprise, not only were the seats up, but this time all the seat belts were properly through, and he even put the baby seat back in! Isn't it funny, how after kids, the dumbest things make your husband seem like the sexiest man alive? To me, that was more romantic than just about anything else. (The single, long stem red rose and half pound of my favorite chocolates he picked up 2 Fridays ago and surprised me with also melted my heart. I asked him why, and he said because I deserved it, and he felt bad because we didn't do anything for Sweetest Day!)
I actually, finally, am almost done with the sweater sleeve! I've got 1/2 an inch to do in st st, then I'll start the raglan shaping, then I can attach it, and I'll be done! Hopefully, tonight. I think I'm going to crochet the boys' vests. It will go so much quicker, and I found a cute sweater pattern in an old pamphlet I dug out, so I think I'm going to make that without the sleeves, and call it a day.
Here is a picture of our snow today. It's not much, but it's our first sticking snow of the year!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Girls Night Out
One week until the Girls Night Out! I can't wait!! I'm not even going to be completely child free. Charlie will be joining us girls, because where "the girls" go, Charlie has to be. (He doesn't do overly well on bottles, and my mom is a bit reluctant to do all 4 for any length of time, let alone he can't stay overnight.) Hopefully my friend that just had the baby will still be able to make it, and she'll bring him, so Charlie will have a friend.
Melodie had a rough day at school the other day. She got in the car and burst into tears. Apparently, her little boyfriend yelled across the class during a lull in the noise while they were packing up to head home, "I'm glad I broke up with you Melodie, because a hottie moved in across the street!" She said she was so embarrassed and sad and angry. Poor thing. I told her boys can be stinky like that. I joked with Dan after she was in bed...she did get custody of the Bakugan and a few Pokemon cards from the settlement, though. ;0) Ah, the trials and tribulations of young love. But, what 3rd grader refers to a girl as a "hottie?" Am I just that much of a fuddy duddy that I think that's way out of line?
Melodie had a rough day at school the other day. She got in the car and burst into tears. Apparently, her little boyfriend yelled across the class during a lull in the noise while they were packing up to head home, "I'm glad I broke up with you Melodie, because a hottie moved in across the street!" She said she was so embarrassed and sad and angry. Poor thing. I told her boys can be stinky like that. I joked with Dan after she was in bed...she did get custody of the Bakugan and a few Pokemon cards from the settlement, though. ;0) Ah, the trials and tribulations of young love. But, what 3rd grader refers to a girl as a "hottie?" Am I just that much of a fuddy duddy that I think that's way out of line?
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Full Moon
Well, I just saw on the calendar that tonight is a full moon. I wonder if that's why Melodie has been in prime form again lately? Ari said she got a tardy slip yesterday. I don't know whether to believe her or not. She did walk all the way to the back door, but her class had gotten inside before she got there, and the door was locked, so she had to go all the way back to the front. I saw her when I was walking Melodie across. Melodie said she didn't get one, and I don't see how Ari could have and Melodie not. I'm going to talk to the teacher about it at conferences next week, because poor little Ari was definitely on time. She came home with a hole in her tights. This is the second pair this week!
Well, I am NEVER going to get my sweater or vests done, and I'm at a loss of what to do. I fell asleep on the couch AGAIN last night! This time, I didn't even get Atley in bed first. He fell asleep on my legs. So, another night of no progress on anything yarn related!
Charlie LOVED the squash baby food. I didn't get the peas done last night. He gobbled up the squash, though! I was so proud of myself. I always wanted to make the other kids' baby food, but never did it.
Last night my grandma called me in the evening. My heart dropped because of the tone of her voice and the fact she was calling after 6. (After 4 is considered late to my grandparents. Calls after 5 are never for good reasons.) I was afraid she was calling to tell me something happened to my grandpa. He's got heart problems and last year he was diagnosed with skin cancer, but overall considering his age (he turned 80 this year), he's doing pretty good, but he's still no Jack Lalanne. Anyway, apparently his sister passed away yesterday. It was very unexpected. She is his younger sister. Also, she was in very good health. Her husband hasn't been doing well. He was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, but she was going strong. They think it was a brain aneurysm. I knew her very well because she lived right up the street from my grandparents growing up, but I wouldn't say we were close. We shared many differences of opinion, even as a small child. (She insulted my mom a few times to her face about being a working mother.) But, I'm still sad to hear of her passing. I guess my dad's cousin is just taking it horribly. Not only did his mother unexpectedly die, but he had to put his dad in a nursing home because he and his wife still work and can't take care of him, and he can't take care of himself. So, it looks like I'm going to have to try to get the boys to a funeral tomorrow, which I'm a little nervous about because Atley is funny about stuff like that. I mean, he is 4 after all, but you never know how certain things will affect him.
Well, I am NEVER going to get my sweater or vests done, and I'm at a loss of what to do. I fell asleep on the couch AGAIN last night! This time, I didn't even get Atley in bed first. He fell asleep on my legs. So, another night of no progress on anything yarn related!
Charlie LOVED the squash baby food. I didn't get the peas done last night. He gobbled up the squash, though! I was so proud of myself. I always wanted to make the other kids' baby food, but never did it.
Last night my grandma called me in the evening. My heart dropped because of the tone of her voice and the fact she was calling after 6. (After 4 is considered late to my grandparents. Calls after 5 are never for good reasons.) I was afraid she was calling to tell me something happened to my grandpa. He's got heart problems and last year he was diagnosed with skin cancer, but overall considering his age (he turned 80 this year), he's doing pretty good, but he's still no Jack Lalanne. Anyway, apparently his sister passed away yesterday. It was very unexpected. She is his younger sister. Also, she was in very good health. Her husband hasn't been doing well. He was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, but she was going strong. They think it was a brain aneurysm. I knew her very well because she lived right up the street from my grandparents growing up, but I wouldn't say we were close. We shared many differences of opinion, even as a small child. (She insulted my mom a few times to her face about being a working mother.) But, I'm still sad to hear of her passing. I guess my dad's cousin is just taking it horribly. Not only did his mother unexpectedly die, but he had to put his dad in a nursing home because he and his wife still work and can't take care of him, and he can't take care of himself. So, it looks like I'm going to have to try to get the boys to a funeral tomorrow, which I'm a little nervous about because Atley is funny about stuff like that. I mean, he is 4 after all, but you never know how certain things will affect him.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wednesday
I couldn't think of a title for today....just random stringing together of thoughts, I guess. Yesterday was an eventful day. We dropped the girls off at school, then went right to the store for groceries. Ari's teacher sent a note home Monday night they were low on snack, and I wasn't about to go to the store down the street and pay 3 times what I would at the store the next day. Then, we rushed home (I was running late because I was looking for birthday presents for Melodie. Did you know Walmart does not sell diaries with locks? Heads up, just in case you were in the market.) I hurried up and frosted the cupcakes I made to take in to Melodie's class for her birthday. We did it yesterday since their class Halloween party is Friday, and the teacher wanted her to get a special day, and not just stuck in with the party. How more thoughtful can you get? Atley helped put sprinkles on them. Then, we ran to school, dropped off the snack with Ari's class, and ran down to Melodie's class. Well, I had only been in her new classroom for this year once, and apparently I didn't remember which one it was, because we walked into the wrong classroom (after knocking...but they had paper covering the window so we couldn't see in) and Atley yelled peek-a-boo! Oops! I apologized, but the teacher still seemed really ticked. Geez, I said I was sorry. Anyway, so we found the right classroom and shared in the cupcakes and singing with 21 very hyper 3rd and 4th graders! I have NEVER seen them THIS hyper. Wow. Friday, I think I'll take my chances with the kindergarteners! (I'm a room mom in both girls' classes.)
I finished up a cell phone pouch for my Harry Potter House Cup Transfiguration class. I crocheted it up from the wool yarn I dyed for Herbology with the black walnuts, then I felted it. I think I might give the felting another go. It's not quite as fitted as I wanted it to be. I'm torn though, because there's enough room to slip my license and debit card or a couple dollars in it if I don't want to take a purse somewhere. Hmmmm...decisions, decisions. I also started a pair of mittens for Charlie yesterday. I don't like my decrease and am going to give it another go. Plus, Dan said that my idea of V on one and W on the other is stupid, and if you don't but the VW on each one, it won't make sense. So, I'm going to try to work out a teeny weeny VW symbol. (Dan is a HUGE VW bug fan. I used to be, until I got Dan. Now, I hate those tiny little cars.) Anyway, my first intarsia work was a VW hat for Dan and one for Atley. Charlie needs a winter hat, so I did start on that after the mitten failure yesterday because it's a quick knit. I'm going to add ear flaps and ties to his, though. I got the yarn for the girls', too, but I'm going to do those for Yule.
I finished up a cell phone pouch for my Harry Potter House Cup Transfiguration class. I crocheted it up from the wool yarn I dyed for Herbology with the black walnuts, then I felted it. I think I might give the felting another go. It's not quite as fitted as I wanted it to be. I'm torn though, because there's enough room to slip my license and debit card or a couple dollars in it if I don't want to take a purse somewhere. Hmmmm...decisions, decisions. I also started a pair of mittens for Charlie yesterday. I don't like my decrease and am going to give it another go. Plus, Dan said that my idea of V on one and W on the other is stupid, and if you don't but the VW on each one, it won't make sense. So, I'm going to try to work out a teeny weeny VW symbol. (Dan is a HUGE VW bug fan. I used to be, until I got Dan. Now, I hate those tiny little cars.) Anyway, my first intarsia work was a VW hat for Dan and one for Atley. Charlie needs a winter hat, so I did start on that after the mitten failure yesterday because it's a quick knit. I'm going to add ear flaps and ties to his, though. I got the yarn for the girls', too, but I'm going to do those for Yule.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Wacky Wednesday
Poor Ari, my little antisocial, ever angry, nonconformist bean. Love that child to death. She is very angry that today is Wacky Wednesday. She didn't want to not match! Of course, Dan said last night to give her a pack of M&M's for not conforming because she also didn't want to enter the poster contest, which of course Melodie was up at 6 AM working on to finish this morning. Melodie, of course, is so worried that she might not win first place (I couldn't bear to break it to her that she most likely won't.) Let's just say, she is definitely more on the avant garde, modern, inventive end of the art spectrum, and I doubt a big purple poster with BM on it will win top spot in a boy's locker room! (That BM is for Beat McKinley.) She also took careful planning in her wardrobe and hairstyle.
It's also fundraiser time. They are selling insanely overpriced crap. Some of the food stuff, it's $11 for basically a pack of sugar, cinnamon, oatmeal and a few tablespoons of flour. You still have to provide your own apples and pie crust! $11 for a strudel topping!?! You surely can make that for 75 cents from your own pantry. And of course, both of them have to sell. I suppose I could combine them and make them split the prizes, but that never works. Plus, the classes are competing against each other for a pizza party. To win anything worth anything, you have to sell 25 items, and that's for a soccer ball...times 2! I'm sorry, but I'll just buy the soccer ball, thanks. It's cheaper! Actually, the top selling prize is pretty nice, but you have to sell 90 things to get it. You can choose between a portable DVD player and an overnight stay at a local indoor water park for 4. They say not to go door to door, but who can sell that much? I have a HUGE family, and we will be nowhere close. We won't even be close to getting them both a soccer ball.
Well, last night I almost got Charlie's baby donkey-dragon done for his costume! I've got 3 legs and the wings to do, then the assembly. I need to get started on my transfiguration homework for the House Cup, too. I'm making a felted DPN holder...my first felted project! Well, hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go. (If not, I'll never get done today, and I have to finish at least one costume tonight, or I'll never get them all done in time!)
It's also fundraiser time. They are selling insanely overpriced crap. Some of the food stuff, it's $11 for basically a pack of sugar, cinnamon, oatmeal and a few tablespoons of flour. You still have to provide your own apples and pie crust! $11 for a strudel topping!?! You surely can make that for 75 cents from your own pantry. And of course, both of them have to sell. I suppose I could combine them and make them split the prizes, but that never works. Plus, the classes are competing against each other for a pizza party. To win anything worth anything, you have to sell 25 items, and that's for a soccer ball...times 2! I'm sorry, but I'll just buy the soccer ball, thanks. It's cheaper! Actually, the top selling prize is pretty nice, but you have to sell 90 things to get it. You can choose between a portable DVD player and an overnight stay at a local indoor water park for 4. They say not to go door to door, but who can sell that much? I have a HUGE family, and we will be nowhere close. We won't even be close to getting them both a soccer ball.
Well, last night I almost got Charlie's baby donkey-dragon done for his costume! I've got 3 legs and the wings to do, then the assembly. I need to get started on my transfiguration homework for the House Cup, too. I'm making a felted DPN holder...my first felted project! Well, hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go. (If not, I'll never get done today, and I have to finish at least one costume tonight, or I'll never get them all done in time!)
Monday, October 20, 2008
Broke the Winning Streak
Well, we did so good for so long, but alas, another tardy! And we were like, 10 minutes late today. Of course, it was because of Melodie. She was "mesmetized" by the running bathwater. My poor little Luna. I kept on her, but she just wouldn't get ready, so she wasn't allowed to wear her hat to school today. Ari couldn't find the hat I bought in France that I let her wear to kindergarten hat day (when they learned about Mr. H...how many kids from the 80's remember the letter people???), so she wore her Amish hat. This is spirit week. Every day at school, the kids have different things. Tomorrow is pajama day, Wednesday is "wacky clothes" (why is wearing clothes inside out fun?), Thursday is orange and black day, and Friday is Football friday...football uniforms, cheerleading uniforms, or tiger emblazoned clothes. There will also be the Beat McKinley parade Friday night, followed by the Beat McKinley bonfire and city pep rally. I HATE spirit week. Mainly, because I hate the stupid school district. Let's put it this way, the high school football stadium has an Astroturf field, and there is a psychology text book with an example of fan psychosis about the crazy fans of this team. Yes, high school football. I'm all about supporting your team, but they take it to an extreme, so much to the fact that before the city hospital closed their OB ward about 5 years ago, every baby boy born in the city was given their very own little baby sized football. The girls? Nada. They got into trouble a few years ago for scouting for new players and buying them off to come play. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL!?!?! This is not the NFL people. Anyway, so, today was hat day. And, our mascot, the one and only Obie the tiger, will be visiting school today. Is this a high school student in a costume you ask? No, of course not, it's a REAL baby tiger. As a patter of fact, he's probably there as I type. According to our spirit week schedule, he should have arrived at school 10 minutes ago. They walk him, on a leash, in a gym full of elementary students. But this is okay, because it's for the team.
Anyway, enough of my hate of the school district. Last night, I picked up my Aunt Chris's Afghan again. I am bound and determined to finally get that thing done for my SIL this year so I never have to see it again! This will be the third try at a Christmas gift, though she's still hasn't moved out yet, so I don't feel quite so bad. But geez, I just want it done! I've majorly cut back my handmade Christmas/Yule list. I'm probably going to save most of the afghans (except this one) for next year. I'm halfway done, and I'm using a K hook, so hopefully I can do it. Plus, it is nice for when the kids are up and I can't work on their stuff. At least I can still be productive. If I get it done in time, no WHEN I get it done in time, I'm going to hopefully get moving on Dan's blanket that I started last year. It's HUGE, but so is he, and that's why it is. He constantly complains about the size of our blankets because my family is all small, and they make small blankets. Hey, we're covered...sorry he's a giant! lol Anyway, he whines all the time about his feet being cold and wanting a bigger blanket, so I am making one. I'm using up all that Red Heart in my stash! I will also be using that on a bunch of Pokemon stuff I'm making for Melodie for Christmas. She dearly loves Pokemon, and Rav has a bunch of patterns for Pokemon critters.
Anyway, enough of my hate of the school district. Last night, I picked up my Aunt Chris's Afghan again. I am bound and determined to finally get that thing done for my SIL this year so I never have to see it again! This will be the third try at a Christmas gift, though she's still hasn't moved out yet, so I don't feel quite so bad. But geez, I just want it done! I've majorly cut back my handmade Christmas/Yule list. I'm probably going to save most of the afghans (except this one) for next year. I'm halfway done, and I'm using a K hook, so hopefully I can do it. Plus, it is nice for when the kids are up and I can't work on their stuff. At least I can still be productive. If I get it done in time, no WHEN I get it done in time, I'm going to hopefully get moving on Dan's blanket that I started last year. It's HUGE, but so is he, and that's why it is. He constantly complains about the size of our blankets because my family is all small, and they make small blankets. Hey, we're covered...sorry he's a giant! lol Anyway, he whines all the time about his feet being cold and wanting a bigger blanket, so I am making one. I'm using up all that Red Heart in my stash! I will also be using that on a bunch of Pokemon stuff I'm making for Melodie for Christmas. She dearly loves Pokemon, and Rav has a bunch of patterns for Pokemon critters.
Friday, October 10, 2008
New pets!
Well, we've acquired 2 new pets this past week. We got a woolybear caterpillar that we're going to try to over-winter and watch turn into a Tiger moth in the spring. (Directions on how to do so can be found here:Capture a Bear for the Winter.) We've only had it since Saturday. It was fine this morning. This afternoon, it's on the bottom of its jar. I hope it's doing it's "sleeping-on-the-bottom-after-being-tired-of-perching-on-the-twig" thing and not it's "dead" thing! I think we'll keep our eye out for some more, just in case!
Today, Dan was up at a friend's shop doing some work to some of the Herbie pieces. When he was leaving, he found a baby snapping turtle in the parking lot! He didn't know it was a snapping turtle. He came home and shoved a Taco Bell cup in my face and said look what I caught you! I looked and said "a snapping turtle!?!?" He said, no it's not. I found it on Google images. I was right....na na na na na. It's really cute, though. He's only about as big as a silver dollar. He's in our old hermit crab cage. When he gets too big for his cage, we'll see about setting him free at the Wilderness Center or taking him to the Sanders Center. We've named him Woodstock. That way, he can be Charlie's and we don't have to get Charlie a goldfish right now, since he's the only kid without a goldfish. I'll try to get some pictures later. I took some with my new camera, but I think it's too fancy for my poor picture taking skills, and I couldn't get it to focus right. I'll try again later when I don't have 3 kids bouncing off me asking if they can just touch the turtle one time.
My yarn is looking good. It's still drying. I got about half of it untangled. It's looking alot more brown now. I've got it hanging above my dryer to hopefully help it dry a little faster. I'm antsy to get knitting with it!
Oh, and for our grand finale......no tardies! In fact, the girls were even ready early for school this morning. Dan took them for me, and he brought me home a maple cream stick! (There is an AWESOME bakery right by the girls' school.) Yay! It's been a good day. Now, I just have to clean tonight and FINALLY get out my Samhain decorations for our "reunion" tomorrow!
Today, Dan was up at a friend's shop doing some work to some of the Herbie pieces. When he was leaving, he found a baby snapping turtle in the parking lot! He didn't know it was a snapping turtle. He came home and shoved a Taco Bell cup in my face and said look what I caught you! I looked and said "a snapping turtle!?!?" He said, no it's not. I found it on Google images. I was right....na na na na na. It's really cute, though. He's only about as big as a silver dollar. He's in our old hermit crab cage. When he gets too big for his cage, we'll see about setting him free at the Wilderness Center or taking him to the Sanders Center. We've named him Woodstock. That way, he can be Charlie's and we don't have to get Charlie a goldfish right now, since he's the only kid without a goldfish. I'll try to get some pictures later. I took some with my new camera, but I think it's too fancy for my poor picture taking skills, and I couldn't get it to focus right. I'll try again later when I don't have 3 kids bouncing off me asking if they can just touch the turtle one time.
My yarn is looking good. It's still drying. I got about half of it untangled. It's looking alot more brown now. I've got it hanging above my dryer to hopefully help it dry a little faster. I'm antsy to get knitting with it!
Oh, and for our grand finale......no tardies! In fact, the girls were even ready early for school this morning. Dan took them for me, and he brought me home a maple cream stick! (There is an AWESOME bakery right by the girls' school.) Yay! It's been a good day. Now, I just have to clean tonight and FINALLY get out my Samhain decorations for our "reunion" tomorrow!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Four down, one to go!
Well, we made it just on time again today...one more day...Friday, our tardy nemesis. It is pajama day for kindergarten tomorrow. (They just learned about Mr. P., you know.) I should just give Ari a bath tonight and let her just wear the pajamas she's going to wear to school to bed...is that weird?
My 10 year class reunion is Saturday, but I'm not going. I had planned on it, but it is at a really crappy little place, and they want $50 a couple, and I'm sorry....the only people I want to see that are actually going to go, I still talk to! Why do I want to pay $50 to go eat at a crappy place and see people that hated me? So, I'm having my friends over because they think it's ridiculous too, and we're going to "reunite" at our place. Dan's going to make bourbon brats for the guys and lemon pepper chicken for the girls. I also double booked that day and have a Tastefully Simple party to go to at my cousin's. Who can miss a chance to get Tastefully Simple food, though!?! I've been waiting for someone to have one of those parties for like 3 years since my neighbor's sister had one. Hers was on my anniversary. Tastefully Simple parties just always have to fall on days I have other stuff going on.
So, when I talked to my mom this morning, she asks me if I want to hear the bad news. Apparently, last night one of my uncles (my mom is one of 12 kids....only 3 uncles though) was up on his roof (we're not sure why...he just built the house himself and finished it like a year ago, so it shouldn't need a new roof) and he fell off. His wife called from the ER last night and it got passed through the phone list. We haven't heard anything yet, but as of last night he had at least broken his leg again (he had to have a rod placed in it about 8 years ago because he was trying to do tricks on my cousin's bike when they were up visiting and fell and broke it then), plus his hand, something about maybe his pelvis. He was also in a really, really bad car accident about 20 years ago, and I can't remember what all injuries he had from that. I remember his ex-wife had a head injury and my other uncle broke his neck, so I don't know if he had any old injuries from that that might have been exacerbated by the fall. We'll probably hear more later today. I'm usually last on "the list" if I get called at all, so he'll probably be out of the hospital before I hear. I'll have to call my cousin who's having the Tastefully Simple party later. She's usually second to last, so we try to call each other when we hear stuff since no one else does.
Charlie has enough hair to have hat hair! I was so excited. I kept putting his pumpkin hat on and taking it off just to see his hat hair. I finally had one baby with hair when they were born, and it all fell out. He's growing it back now, though! Yay! He is sitting in his little walker next to me, just squealing away. (And before people think I'm a bad mom....yes, it's a regular walker. No, we don't have any stairs, not even a basement, so he can't fall!)
I didn't get much knitting done last night. The new season of South Park started last night! Yay! They played the World of Warcraft one right before the debut, too. Good stuff. I did get the cuff and 2 rows of knitting done on my slipper socks, though. Well, 1 slipper sock. I'm hoping to get alot done tonight since it's worsted weight. I'm hoping it will knit up pretty quickly.
My 10 year class reunion is Saturday, but I'm not going. I had planned on it, but it is at a really crappy little place, and they want $50 a couple, and I'm sorry....the only people I want to see that are actually going to go, I still talk to! Why do I want to pay $50 to go eat at a crappy place and see people that hated me? So, I'm having my friends over because they think it's ridiculous too, and we're going to "reunite" at our place. Dan's going to make bourbon brats for the guys and lemon pepper chicken for the girls. I also double booked that day and have a Tastefully Simple party to go to at my cousin's. Who can miss a chance to get Tastefully Simple food, though!?! I've been waiting for someone to have one of those parties for like 3 years since my neighbor's sister had one. Hers was on my anniversary. Tastefully Simple parties just always have to fall on days I have other stuff going on.
So, when I talked to my mom this morning, she asks me if I want to hear the bad news. Apparently, last night one of my uncles (my mom is one of 12 kids....only 3 uncles though) was up on his roof (we're not sure why...he just built the house himself and finished it like a year ago, so it shouldn't need a new roof) and he fell off. His wife called from the ER last night and it got passed through the phone list. We haven't heard anything yet, but as of last night he had at least broken his leg again (he had to have a rod placed in it about 8 years ago because he was trying to do tricks on my cousin's bike when they were up visiting and fell and broke it then), plus his hand, something about maybe his pelvis. He was also in a really, really bad car accident about 20 years ago, and I can't remember what all injuries he had from that. I remember his ex-wife had a head injury and my other uncle broke his neck, so I don't know if he had any old injuries from that that might have been exacerbated by the fall. We'll probably hear more later today. I'm usually last on "the list" if I get called at all, so he'll probably be out of the hospital before I hear. I'll have to call my cousin who's having the Tastefully Simple party later. She's usually second to last, so we try to call each other when we hear stuff since no one else does.
Charlie has enough hair to have hat hair! I was so excited. I kept putting his pumpkin hat on and taking it off just to see his hat hair. I finally had one baby with hair when they were born, and it all fell out. He's growing it back now, though! Yay! He is sitting in his little walker next to me, just squealing away. (And before people think I'm a bad mom....yes, it's a regular walker. No, we don't have any stairs, not even a basement, so he can't fall!)
I didn't get much knitting done last night. The new season of South Park started last night! Yay! They played the World of Warcraft one right before the debut, too. Good stuff. I did get the cuff and 2 rows of knitting done on my slipper socks, though. Well, 1 slipper sock. I'm hoping to get alot done tonight since it's worsted weight. I'm hoping it will knit up pretty quickly.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
It's raining, it's pouring......
The old Wednesday is boring.........
I just don't like Wednesday's. It takes me so long to get into the swing of things on Wednesday's. And, it's raining. I hate rain in the morning. Rain in the morning means I have wet, whiny children to deal with, and still try to get to school on time (which we've done every day so far this week *knock on wood* so take that state BOE!) Now, we'll probably be really tardy the rest of the week. That's my luck.
I whipped up a little hat for Charlie last night! It's so cute. It's a pumpkin hat pattern from Rav (and Lion Brand or Bernat, I think), and I put it in my projects as "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Cash!" I've been dying to say that, but my MIL made a rude comment about Atley looking like Charlie Brown when he was a baby (which he completely doesn't, and pissed me off) and I hate mentioning Charlie Brown in reference to the boys...but I just couldn't resist!
Speaking of the in-law's....we're going there for their city's trick-or-treat night...which means I have to get costumes made a week early! Good Grief! (In the words of our fair leader, good ole' Chuck.) Four kids, 4 costumes, 2 weeks....can it be done? Charlie is getting a little green beanie with ogre ears, a white turtleneck, gray or brown pants, brown booties with fur, and a little felt vest. I'm also going to crochet him a little donkey to hold. I just decided that last night. No even better, I'll crochet him a baby donkey dragon to hold! He's going to be a Shrek baby from Shrek the 3rd, which we have decided he looks like in all his fatness, shown here in new pumpkin hat:
Ari is going to be Princess Fiona. I've had (most of) the fabric since last Halloween for her dress. She wanted to be Fiona last Halloween, but the mean old ladies that cut fabric at JoAnn's prevented her from being Fiona last year by pissing off the stressed out pregnant lady when she went to try to get just 1 more yard of green satin because the original old lady significantly underestimated the amount of said fabric that would be needed to make said Fiona dress! So, Ari was Hermione last year, because she had Hermione clothes. I did get the rest of the fabric a few months later, and other than that, I have not bought fabric from there until yesterday, when I got this year's batch.
Melodie is going to be an Indian girl. Thank god! She wanted to be a Pokemon, then she wanted to be the Whomping Willow. Tan felt, feathers, and ribbons are ready!
Atley had his mind set to be a blue T-Rex (because you know how prevalent blue T-Rex's are, and they're quite different from the perfectly usable green T-Rex costume I made him last year that still fits, but I digress...) until he saw the Batman mask. He is now going to be Batman. Mask bought, black felt ready for wings, yellow for the bat oval, and we're debating what version of Batman we want to do. I was thinking of Dark Knight and was going to purchase black pants and long sleeved T-shirt. Dan was thinking trad Batman, with gray fixin's. Atley wants a blue Batman. We'll have that figured out by next Tuesday when I go to the store.
Chunky Monkey is just being very stubborn. I started to work on him for a little while after I finished the hat last night......and he broke my G hook! I even bought him real safety eyes yesterday, and he still had to act up on me again. I've got aluminum hooks in F, H, I, and every other size, but not G. So, I'm stuck, and I went to Joann's and Walmart yesterday before said hook broke, so I'm torn. Do I frog (it's only been about 6 rows) and start over with a different sized hook? Do I wait until next week and pick up a new (aluminum) G hook? Do I concede to Chunky Monkey and let him win this war I've decided to declare on the primate that refuses to be? Decisions, decisions.
I just don't like Wednesday's. It takes me so long to get into the swing of things on Wednesday's. And, it's raining. I hate rain in the morning. Rain in the morning means I have wet, whiny children to deal with, and still try to get to school on time (which we've done every day so far this week *knock on wood* so take that state BOE!) Now, we'll probably be really tardy the rest of the week. That's my luck.
I whipped up a little hat for Charlie last night! It's so cute. It's a pumpkin hat pattern from Rav (and Lion Brand or Bernat, I think), and I put it in my projects as "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Cash!" I've been dying to say that, but my MIL made a rude comment about Atley looking like Charlie Brown when he was a baby (which he completely doesn't, and pissed me off) and I hate mentioning Charlie Brown in reference to the boys...but I just couldn't resist!
Speaking of the in-law's....we're going there for their city's trick-or-treat night...which means I have to get costumes made a week early! Good Grief! (In the words of our fair leader, good ole' Chuck.) Four kids, 4 costumes, 2 weeks....can it be done? Charlie is getting a little green beanie with ogre ears, a white turtleneck, gray or brown pants, brown booties with fur, and a little felt vest. I'm also going to crochet him a little donkey to hold. I just decided that last night. No even better, I'll crochet him a baby donkey dragon to hold! He's going to be a Shrek baby from Shrek the 3rd, which we have decided he looks like in all his fatness, shown here in new pumpkin hat:
Ari is going to be Princess Fiona. I've had (most of) the fabric since last Halloween for her dress. She wanted to be Fiona last Halloween, but the mean old ladies that cut fabric at JoAnn's prevented her from being Fiona last year by pissing off the stressed out pregnant lady when she went to try to get just 1 more yard of green satin because the original old lady significantly underestimated the amount of said fabric that would be needed to make said Fiona dress! So, Ari was Hermione last year, because she had Hermione clothes. I did get the rest of the fabric a few months later, and other than that, I have not bought fabric from there until yesterday, when I got this year's batch.
Melodie is going to be an Indian girl. Thank god! She wanted to be a Pokemon, then she wanted to be the Whomping Willow. Tan felt, feathers, and ribbons are ready!
Atley had his mind set to be a blue T-Rex (because you know how prevalent blue T-Rex's are, and they're quite different from the perfectly usable green T-Rex costume I made him last year that still fits, but I digress...) until he saw the Batman mask. He is now going to be Batman. Mask bought, black felt ready for wings, yellow for the bat oval, and we're debating what version of Batman we want to do. I was thinking of Dark Knight and was going to purchase black pants and long sleeved T-shirt. Dan was thinking trad Batman, with gray fixin's. Atley wants a blue Batman. We'll have that figured out by next Tuesday when I go to the store.
Chunky Monkey is just being very stubborn. I started to work on him for a little while after I finished the hat last night......and he broke my G hook! I even bought him real safety eyes yesterday, and he still had to act up on me again. I've got aluminum hooks in F, H, I, and every other size, but not G. So, I'm stuck, and I went to Joann's and Walmart yesterday before said hook broke, so I'm torn. Do I frog (it's only been about 6 rows) and start over with a different sized hook? Do I wait until next week and pick up a new (aluminum) G hook? Do I concede to Chunky Monkey and let him win this war I've decided to declare on the primate that refuses to be? Decisions, decisions.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
And just when you think you have them figured out...
They switch it up on you! This morning, Melodie got ready first! I still had to yell at her 15 times to get out of the bathroom, but once she did she actually got ready for once! Of course, Ari must have missed the stress, so she threw a tantrum because she had to wear pants. It's 40 degrees out this morning and all of her leggings are in the wash, so she couldn't wear a skirt. Heaven forbid I don't want them to be cold!
Oh, and then she screamed for 15 minutes because I told them I was going to try to get them on the bus. They are supposed to go to local school G. They go to local school B through intradistrict open enrollment because way back before Melodie started kindergarten, I called to find out the cut off date. Her birthday was 1 month past it. This was when she was just about to turn 4. She knew all of her letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and was working on reading. They said if she could read by the spring, they'd test her for early enrollment, but no one did it and it was horrible and they didn't recommend it and no they didn't want to meet her unless she could read, blah, blah blah. So, even though she was reading by then, we decided if they were that against it, we wouldn't test her. We did decide to send her to the smaller, more "country" school of which they can't ride the bus since we're supposed to go to the other school. I talked to a higher-up last year, who said they should be able to ride, since buses do go right past our house.
Well, I got the same rude lady I did 3 years ago when I called this morning, because before we weren't sure if we wanted them to ride the bus anyway. Well, gas prices being what they are, even 8 miles a day adds up, and since we're paying taxes anyway, we might as well use the amenities, right? WRONG! Even though one bus goes right past our house, they can't ride it! Apparently, it is just for handicapped kids. I said that's fine, I don't mind if my kids ride a bus with handicapped kids, my kids don't care about stuff like that. They said only special needs kids can ride the bus. I say, technically my daughter is special needs, because she is gifted, and gifted kids get special needs privileges, too, just of a different kind. She basically said nice try. I say, but the lady at the bakery's granddaughter lives on the other side of town, and she's in my daughter's class...how come she gets to ride a bus? Rude lady: Because, that school isn't doing well and the No Child Left Behind act says kids can go to a better school in the same district. Me: But, my daughter's needs weren't going to be met at the school she was at, and I didn't want her to "be left behind" so that's why we're going to a different school. (The gifted coordinator even chewed the principal at that school out because of how we were handled. Thanks, W., for another fuck up the ass....the economy, gas prices, wars, and screwing smart kids out of a decent education! Way to go!) Again, just because crappy principal school has a gifted class, we get screwed again. Me: I went to T (different local school district) for high school, and open enrollment kids were taken all the way out there on an open enrollment bus, why do they get to ride the bus and they're not even in the district, and my kids can't even though I pay for it? Rude lady: You can talk to a supervisor.
Well, at least the supervisor tried to work with me. We figured out a way to get them on in the mornings, but I'd have to walk them up the block, and there is no way for them to come home. I'd rather take the baby out in the snow in a truck than walking a block in subzero temps, so we're still screwed. I still might try to re-contact said higher up who said he should be able to get my kids on a bus. I don't know if it's worth any more wasted breath, though. The supervisor said my only other option was if they were assigned to a bus.
Anyway, last night, Ari had an actual homework paper.....and she hates it! The crying ensued then, too. She started saying how horrible she is at kindergarten, and she doesn't know anything, and it's too hard. So, I'm off to email the teacher when I'm done blogging (priorities, you know ;0) to see if there is anything extra we can work on, and if she's doing okay, and how they think her speech is going. (Maybe if I can get Melodie on an IEP for gifted and Ari is finally identified with speech problems, then they can ride the god damn bus!?!?!) And no, of course blogging is not a priority over my kids. It just jogged my memory that I meant to email this morning and of course forgot. (I forget things on my grocery list, if I even remember the list at all.)
As for my knitting.....well, that's taken a giant dump, too. Chunky Monkey is not what I envisioned. He looks like Eric Cartman with a pumpkin head. Back to the drawing board on that one!
Oh, and then she screamed for 15 minutes because I told them I was going to try to get them on the bus. They are supposed to go to local school G. They go to local school B through intradistrict open enrollment because way back before Melodie started kindergarten, I called to find out the cut off date. Her birthday was 1 month past it. This was when she was just about to turn 4. She knew all of her letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and was working on reading. They said if she could read by the spring, they'd test her for early enrollment, but no one did it and it was horrible and they didn't recommend it and no they didn't want to meet her unless she could read, blah, blah blah. So, even though she was reading by then, we decided if they were that against it, we wouldn't test her. We did decide to send her to the smaller, more "country" school of which they can't ride the bus since we're supposed to go to the other school. I talked to a higher-up last year, who said they should be able to ride, since buses do go right past our house.
Well, I got the same rude lady I did 3 years ago when I called this morning, because before we weren't sure if we wanted them to ride the bus anyway. Well, gas prices being what they are, even 8 miles a day adds up, and since we're paying taxes anyway, we might as well use the amenities, right? WRONG! Even though one bus goes right past our house, they can't ride it! Apparently, it is just for handicapped kids. I said that's fine, I don't mind if my kids ride a bus with handicapped kids, my kids don't care about stuff like that. They said only special needs kids can ride the bus. I say, technically my daughter is special needs, because she is gifted, and gifted kids get special needs privileges, too, just of a different kind. She basically said nice try. I say, but the lady at the bakery's granddaughter lives on the other side of town, and she's in my daughter's class...how come she gets to ride a bus? Rude lady: Because, that school isn't doing well and the No Child Left Behind act says kids can go to a better school in the same district. Me: But, my daughter's needs weren't going to be met at the school she was at, and I didn't want her to "be left behind" so that's why we're going to a different school. (The gifted coordinator even chewed the principal at that school out because of how we were handled. Thanks, W., for another fuck up the ass....the economy, gas prices, wars, and screwing smart kids out of a decent education! Way to go!) Again, just because crappy principal school has a gifted class, we get screwed again. Me: I went to T (different local school district) for high school, and open enrollment kids were taken all the way out there on an open enrollment bus, why do they get to ride the bus and they're not even in the district, and my kids can't even though I pay for it? Rude lady: You can talk to a supervisor.
Well, at least the supervisor tried to work with me. We figured out a way to get them on in the mornings, but I'd have to walk them up the block, and there is no way for them to come home. I'd rather take the baby out in the snow in a truck than walking a block in subzero temps, so we're still screwed. I still might try to re-contact said higher up who said he should be able to get my kids on a bus. I don't know if it's worth any more wasted breath, though. The supervisor said my only other option was if they were assigned to a bus.
Anyway, last night, Ari had an actual homework paper.....and she hates it! The crying ensued then, too. She started saying how horrible she is at kindergarten, and she doesn't know anything, and it's too hard. So, I'm off to email the teacher when I'm done blogging (priorities, you know ;0) to see if there is anything extra we can work on, and if she's doing okay, and how they think her speech is going. (Maybe if I can get Melodie on an IEP for gifted and Ari is finally identified with speech problems, then they can ride the god damn bus!?!?!) And no, of course blogging is not a priority over my kids. It just jogged my memory that I meant to email this morning and of course forgot. (I forget things on my grocery list, if I even remember the list at all.)
As for my knitting.....well, that's taken a giant dump, too. Chunky Monkey is not what I envisioned. He looks like Eric Cartman with a pumpkin head. Back to the drawing board on that one!
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