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Monday, December 13, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Dear Blog,
As we get closer and closer to Christmas more decorations go up, Wesley gets more and more excited and I try to find more ways for our family to make fun holiday memories together. My husband had very different Christmases (at least how he remembers it) from how I did. It is sometimes a battle to kick to Grinch out of him but in the end he usually enjoys the efforts I make and the torture I put him through to make our holidays merry.
I just finished writing out the Christmas cards (going in the mail today!) and I have almost all the gifts for the family and am going to ship those off too. It will be a huge relief to get those sent off. This week we did a couple projects for the holidays.
First, we made Whoopie Pies. For those who don't know, a whoopie pie is two chocolate cakes with a marshmallow cream filling. These can vary but the kind we make are chocolate with marshmallow fluff/icing filling. They are super good and go really fast around here (especially when you are sharing them with friends). It took me quite a while to get the recipe from my mother in law, in fact it took 4 years of marriage and a deployment to get them but it was worth it. My husband says they are better than his mom's when I make them but I think that is only because I double the icing recipe so there is LOTS of fluffy filling. Anyway, here it is for anyone who wants to make a super special treat this holiday season. Williams-Sonoma is selling them on their website-12 for $50. This recipe makes about 16 and will cost you only a fraction of that!
Whoopie Pies:
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla (use a good vanilla like Burbon vanilla, not an extract or imitation vanilla!)
Beat until mixed.
Then add:
2 cups of flour
1.5 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp of cocoa
1 cup of whole milk (I have used 2% and it has turned out fine)
Mix all ingredients together and drop by measured tbsp onto parchment lined cookie sheet.
*I like to use my Pampered Chef large scoop, it's perfect!*
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 8-9 minutes.
While baking make the filling:
1.5 cups of shortening
12 tablespoons of Marshmallow Fluff
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
1.5 cups of confectionary sugar
When cakes are cool slather on the filling and make into little sandwiches. Enjoy!
Other holiday projects for us have been making paper chains to decorate the windows. It is fun and colorful and a great way to spend some family time together. Just cut up construction paper into strips that are 1 inch by 8 inches (you can make them bigger or smaller, but I like that size and it's easy based on the size of the construction paper- 12 x 8). Then make them into a circle and tape or glue or staple them together. Link as you go!
As we get closer and closer to Christmas more decorations go up, Wesley gets more and more excited and I try to find more ways for our family to make fun holiday memories together. My husband had very different Christmases (at least how he remembers it) from how I did. It is sometimes a battle to kick to Grinch out of him but in the end he usually enjoys the efforts I make and the torture I put him through to make our holidays merry.
I just finished writing out the Christmas cards (going in the mail today!) and I have almost all the gifts for the family and am going to ship those off too. It will be a huge relief to get those sent off. This week we did a couple projects for the holidays.
First, we made Whoopie Pies. For those who don't know, a whoopie pie is two chocolate cakes with a marshmallow cream filling. These can vary but the kind we make are chocolate with marshmallow fluff/icing filling. They are super good and go really fast around here (especially when you are sharing them with friends). It took me quite a while to get the recipe from my mother in law, in fact it took 4 years of marriage and a deployment to get them but it was worth it. My husband says they are better than his mom's when I make them but I think that is only because I double the icing recipe so there is LOTS of fluffy filling. Anyway, here it is for anyone who wants to make a super special treat this holiday season. Williams-Sonoma is selling them on their website-12 for $50. This recipe makes about 16 and will cost you only a fraction of that!
Whoopie Pies:
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla (use a good vanilla like Burbon vanilla, not an extract or imitation vanilla!)
Beat until mixed.
Then add:
2 cups of flour
1.5 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp of cocoa
1 cup of whole milk (I have used 2% and it has turned out fine)
Mix all ingredients together and drop by measured tbsp onto parchment lined cookie sheet.
*I like to use my Pampered Chef large scoop, it's perfect!*
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 8-9 minutes.
While baking make the filling:
1.5 cups of shortening
12 tablespoons of Marshmallow Fluff
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
1.5 cups of confectionary sugar
When cakes are cool slather on the filling and make into little sandwiches. Enjoy!
Other holiday projects for us have been making paper chains to decorate the windows. It is fun and colorful and a great way to spend some family time together. Just cut up construction paper into strips that are 1 inch by 8 inches (you can make them bigger or smaller, but I like that size and it's easy based on the size of the construction paper- 12 x 8). Then make them into a circle and tape or glue or staple them together. Link as you go!
 |
| Window treatments, paper chains. |
 |
| Our "winter" wreath, hanging inside on the back door. |
 |
| Henry, Santa's little helper, spreading the Christmas cheer! |
 |
| My "Pottery Barn" table decorations. Love it! |
 |
| Our Christmas tree. A little eclectic, a lot of fun! |
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Christmas, Christmas time again....
Dear Blog,
My husband is annoying me asking if I am writing on my blog again so here I am. I was watching the Harry Potter marathon but then the Ravens game (Go Raisins!) came on so no more Harry Potter for me. So sad. So, here I am (after googling about Baltimore City-"The City that reads!" and Edgar Allan Poe - flashbacks from 7th grade English class).
I was reading on another blog (or somewhere) that a good idea for some topics this month is stuff that we do for Christmas. We have lots of Christmas traditions and I know we will come up with more now that we have two little boys running round. I can't wait for Christmas this year, it will be so much for us with the two boys. We already have our tree and have it decorated. Our tree is eclectic and crazy looking and there is a lot of ornaments in one spot because Wesley keeps bunching them all together and Henry and the cats have totally messed up the red beads but I love it. It is not a Martha Stewart Christmas tree but it is ours and is perfect in its own way. I love how all our ornaments are different and each one holds a lot of memories for us. We have plans to make paper chains, drive around looking at Christmas lights while sipping hot chocolate, and leaving our outdoor Christmas lights in the trees until next year so the renter's won't have to do it. Keep posted for lots of fun holiday up dates! One thing Wesley and I did was put together a photo shoot of his Star Wars Legos (specifically Clone Troopers) have a Christmas extravaganza. Extra points to me for being creative and having fun doing something Wesley and I love.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
The Post Office
Today my husband asked me if I had a blog. I told him, yes, actually I do but I never post on there anymore because I never have time with two kids and all the craziness that goes on in my life. Then I said "I shoudl blog more because I have a lot to say!" to which he replied" "Yeah. Yeah you do." So, here I am. My goal will be to blog a little something everyday. We will see how it goes. Anyway, here is today's blog.
Oh, and he suggested that I start it "Dear Blog" so that is what I will be doing from now on. Cheers.
Dear Blog,
Today I had to go to the post office. Back in September I had bought Wesley a Lego Advent calendar at the Lego store. In November my mother in law decided to buy the SAME EXACT ONE for the boys for Christmas (which is really just Wesley since Henry is only 5 months old and could care less about a Lego advent calender). Sure, it might have been a coincidence if I HAD NOT SHOWN HER THE ONE I BOUGHT WHEN I WAS UP THERE IN SEPTEMBER. But I digress, that is another post in and of itself. So, I had to mail back the one I bought to my mom who kindly took it back to the Lego store and returned it and bought Wesley Plo Koon's Starfighter set and a magnet set of mini figures and then mailed them back to me. Great. Everything is working out well. She goes to mail it to us and she gets the one evil lady who is always in a bad mood even when it's not the holiday season and everyone and their uncle is mailing gifts and cards and gosh only knows what else through the mail. My mom asks for delivery confirmation and the postal worker puts it certified which not only costs over double what it cost me to mail up to her but I have to sign for it. Well, I don't mind waiting for a package that I know is coming if I have to sign for it but my mother neglected to tell me that I would need to be there to sign for the package. So, we come home from a day of running errands and I see a note on the front door that my mailman tried to deliver the package but couldn't because we were not there to sign for it and I would be able to pick up the package after 9 AM on the next day. Ok fine.
So, today I pick up Wesley from school, bribe him to come with him instead of staying after to play with his friends and hightail it to the post office to make it there before they close so we can get the package. On the way there Wesley informs me that he has to pee. Fantastic. I can't remember if there is a bathroom at the post office or not so I ask him if he can hold it until we get there. He says yes. We get to the post office, go in and look around and there is no bathroom. But the line is short so I ask if he can hold it a bit longer, all we have to do is get the package then I will get him to the bathroom (bad mom, I know!). He says yes. Well. I don't know if you have ever had to wait in line at the post office with a 4 year old who needs to pee but it goes something like this:
(W): Mommy. What are those packages for? Are we mailing anything to Grandma? Do we need to get those boxes? What is that guy doing? Is there I potty I have to pee! Who is that guy talking to? Why is he saying that? When is it our turn? Can go past that door? Why not? Why is it locked? What are we doing? We are getting a package from Grandm? Does it have Legos in it? I want Grandma to send me some Legos. What is this for? It is for a pen? Can I use the pen? Why can't I write on the table? I want to write on the table! Can you get me some paper to write on? I have to pee, can I pee now? What are we doing here? Grandma sent us a package?What did she send us? Did she send me Legos? Mommy. Mommy. mommy. Mommy.
All while dancing around touching everything in reach.
We finally make it to the dest and I hand over the package pick up slip and the lady goes back to look for it (now I am holding Wesley as he asks the same 10 questions over and over again). She comes back and tells me she can't find the package that someone else is looking for it and could I please move over a bit (to an unused desk) and wait. Sure. Fine. FIFTEEN minutes later (and a large fraction of my patience gone) the lady from the back comes out and says she can't find the package. Then she asks "Do you know what the package looks like?" Now, seriously, what a dumb question. Most people don't know what the package looks like that is getting send to them. I *think* that my mom sent it in the same package I sent to her so I describe that box to her ("about this size, has colorings and stickers all over it...") . She looks like she might know where is it, goes back to look for it but comes out empty handed. She tells me to write down my name and phone number and she will call me if they find it. Then she says my mailman might still have it and might be trying to deliver it to me again which is crap and not true because my mailman would have put that he was redelivering the package to me, not for me to pick it up from the post office if that was the case, plus he had already delivered the mail that day and had not dropped off any packages. Lame. So now I am waiting for a package that they may or may not have lost and I will probably have to go through the harassment of the post office once again. Too bad I can't send my husband.
Moral of the story: NEVER SEND ME ANYTHING CERTIFIED MAIL. I will never, ever be there to pick it up. Trust me. This is the third time it has happened.
I forgot the best part of the story! So, remember how Wesley had to pee? Well, I bribed him to be good by promising he could pee outside when we got done. So when we left I took him over to the woods (he was so excited), found him a place where he could go with some privacy, stood behind him and told him to go for it. So, he pulls out his parts, and let's go. Man, did that boy have to pee! He proceeded to "water" all the plants in the area then tried to see how far he could make his pee go. Ugh, boys. Then after he was done he points to the bushes in front of the post office and says "Mommy, next time I am going to pee there!" Oy. I hope it is not a federal offense to pee on the property of the post office. Because if so, I am in serious trouble. Or at least Wesley is.
Oh, and they finally found the package. Then I had to find a way to get rid of Wesley while I opened it so he wouldn't see the Legos "Santa" is bringing him for Christmas. This Christmas Santa conspiracy stuff is exhausting!
Until tommorrow,
Sundee
Oh, and he suggested that I start it "Dear Blog" so that is what I will be doing from now on. Cheers.
Dear Blog,
Today I had to go to the post office. Back in September I had bought Wesley a Lego Advent calendar at the Lego store. In November my mother in law decided to buy the SAME EXACT ONE for the boys for Christmas (which is really just Wesley since Henry is only 5 months old and could care less about a Lego advent calender). Sure, it might have been a coincidence if I HAD NOT SHOWN HER THE ONE I BOUGHT WHEN I WAS UP THERE IN SEPTEMBER. But I digress, that is another post in and of itself. So, I had to mail back the one I bought to my mom who kindly took it back to the Lego store and returned it and bought Wesley Plo Koon's Starfighter set and a magnet set of mini figures and then mailed them back to me. Great. Everything is working out well. She goes to mail it to us and she gets the one evil lady who is always in a bad mood even when it's not the holiday season and everyone and their uncle is mailing gifts and cards and gosh only knows what else through the mail. My mom asks for delivery confirmation and the postal worker puts it certified which not only costs over double what it cost me to mail up to her but I have to sign for it. Well, I don't mind waiting for a package that I know is coming if I have to sign for it but my mother neglected to tell me that I would need to be there to sign for the package. So, we come home from a day of running errands and I see a note on the front door that my mailman tried to deliver the package but couldn't because we were not there to sign for it and I would be able to pick up the package after 9 AM on the next day. Ok fine.
So, today I pick up Wesley from school, bribe him to come with him instead of staying after to play with his friends and hightail it to the post office to make it there before they close so we can get the package. On the way there Wesley informs me that he has to pee. Fantastic. I can't remember if there is a bathroom at the post office or not so I ask him if he can hold it until we get there. He says yes. We get to the post office, go in and look around and there is no bathroom. But the line is short so I ask if he can hold it a bit longer, all we have to do is get the package then I will get him to the bathroom (bad mom, I know!). He says yes. Well. I don't know if you have ever had to wait in line at the post office with a 4 year old who needs to pee but it goes something like this:
(W): Mommy. What are those packages for? Are we mailing anything to Grandma? Do we need to get those boxes? What is that guy doing? Is there I potty I have to pee! Who is that guy talking to? Why is he saying that? When is it our turn? Can go past that door? Why not? Why is it locked? What are we doing? We are getting a package from Grandm? Does it have Legos in it? I want Grandma to send me some Legos. What is this for? It is for a pen? Can I use the pen? Why can't I write on the table? I want to write on the table! Can you get me some paper to write on? I have to pee, can I pee now? What are we doing here? Grandma sent us a package?What did she send us? Did she send me Legos? Mommy. Mommy. mommy. Mommy.
All while dancing around touching everything in reach.
We finally make it to the dest and I hand over the package pick up slip and the lady goes back to look for it (now I am holding Wesley as he asks the same 10 questions over and over again). She comes back and tells me she can't find the package that someone else is looking for it and could I please move over a bit (to an unused desk) and wait. Sure. Fine. FIFTEEN minutes later (and a large fraction of my patience gone) the lady from the back comes out and says she can't find the package. Then she asks "Do you know what the package looks like?" Now, seriously, what a dumb question. Most people don't know what the package looks like that is getting send to them. I *think* that my mom sent it in the same package I sent to her so I describe that box to her ("about this size, has colorings and stickers all over it...") . She looks like she might know where is it, goes back to look for it but comes out empty handed. She tells me to write down my name and phone number and she will call me if they find it. Then she says my mailman might still have it and might be trying to deliver it to me again which is crap and not true because my mailman would have put that he was redelivering the package to me, not for me to pick it up from the post office if that was the case, plus he had already delivered the mail that day and had not dropped off any packages. Lame. So now I am waiting for a package that they may or may not have lost and I will probably have to go through the harassment of the post office once again. Too bad I can't send my husband.
Moral of the story: NEVER SEND ME ANYTHING CERTIFIED MAIL. I will never, ever be there to pick it up. Trust me. This is the third time it has happened.
I forgot the best part of the story! So, remember how Wesley had to pee? Well, I bribed him to be good by promising he could pee outside when we got done. So when we left I took him over to the woods (he was so excited), found him a place where he could go with some privacy, stood behind him and told him to go for it. So, he pulls out his parts, and let's go. Man, did that boy have to pee! He proceeded to "water" all the plants in the area then tried to see how far he could make his pee go. Ugh, boys. Then after he was done he points to the bushes in front of the post office and says "Mommy, next time I am going to pee there!" Oy. I hope it is not a federal offense to pee on the property of the post office. Because if so, I am in serious trouble. Or at least Wesley is.
Oh, and they finally found the package. Then I had to find a way to get rid of Wesley while I opened it so he wouldn't see the Legos "Santa" is bringing him for Christmas. This Christmas Santa conspiracy stuff is exhausting!
Until tommorrow,
Sundee
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Breast feeding 101
I nursed Wesley and I plan on nursing Henry too when he arrives. I had been waiting to have this conversation with Wesley, we had already discussed how the baby grows in mommy's belly, umbilical cords and how the baby can pee in there (hilarious evidently). WE have talked about how mommy will go to the hospital to have the baby and how a doctor will help mommy get the baby out. Wesley has informed me I need to "push like I am pooping" when the time comes. So, as you can see I am fairly open with information when he asks questions but I am not about to start discussing all the dirty details unless he cares enough to ask. I knew it was only a matter of time before how the baby was fed came up.
At first, I just told him that Mommy would make special milk for the baby to drink the first few months until he was able to eat baby food and solids. He was fine with this up until last Friday when we had lunch out with some friends. My friend has a daughter who is on formula and Wesley watched as she mixed up a bottle for her. A few days later on Sunday the topic of feeding Henry came up and Wesley asked if I was going to pour in the powder into the bottle of water and shake it up. Now was the moment I had been waiting for, rehearsing what I was going to say in my head.
It went something like this:
Me: "Well, Mommy is going to feed our baby a little differently than that. Remember how we talked about how God made girls and boy different so that girls can carry a baby in their belly while boys don't? (nods from Wesley) god also made mommies so that they could make food for their babies to eat, we make a special milk for the baby to drink. The milk comes after the baby is born and Mommy will use her breasts-uh boobies-to feed the baby. so when Baby Henry is hungry, Mommy will take him and feed him. Sometimes I will put the milk in a bottle and you can feed him. I can show you some pictures of Mommy feeding you this way if you want."
At this point, Wesley is very quiet so I glance back to see if he is just processing all this or what. I look back (we were in the car) and see him with a HUGE grin on his face.
I ask tentatively "Wesley? Do you understand?"
He replies: "Mommy....you said 'boobies'!" And then processes to crack up for the next 5 minutes.
So, out of that whole conversation all he got was....."boobies". Sigh. Boys. They really never change or grow up when it comes to the boob.
At first, I just told him that Mommy would make special milk for the baby to drink the first few months until he was able to eat baby food and solids. He was fine with this up until last Friday when we had lunch out with some friends. My friend has a daughter who is on formula and Wesley watched as she mixed up a bottle for her. A few days later on Sunday the topic of feeding Henry came up and Wesley asked if I was going to pour in the powder into the bottle of water and shake it up. Now was the moment I had been waiting for, rehearsing what I was going to say in my head.
It went something like this:
Me: "Well, Mommy is going to feed our baby a little differently than that. Remember how we talked about how God made girls and boy different so that girls can carry a baby in their belly while boys don't? (nods from Wesley) god also made mommies so that they could make food for their babies to eat, we make a special milk for the baby to drink. The milk comes after the baby is born and Mommy will use her breasts-uh boobies-to feed the baby. so when Baby Henry is hungry, Mommy will take him and feed him. Sometimes I will put the milk in a bottle and you can feed him. I can show you some pictures of Mommy feeding you this way if you want."
At this point, Wesley is very quiet so I glance back to see if he is just processing all this or what. I look back (we were in the car) and see him with a HUGE grin on his face.
I ask tentatively "Wesley? Do you understand?"
He replies: "Mommy....you said 'boobies'!" And then processes to crack up for the next 5 minutes.
So, out of that whole conversation all he got was....."boobies". Sigh. Boys. They really never change or grow up when it comes to the boob.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Cat and Dog Diary
Because everyone needs a laugh and because you know this is true....
DOG DIARY
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with my people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
CAT DIARY
Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.
In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Idiots!
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormenters by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously an idiot.
The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe.
For now...
DOG DIARY
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with my people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
CAT DIARY
Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.
In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Idiots!
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormenters by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously an idiot.
The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe.
For now...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
We are 5 days into Easter vacation and only making each other slightly crazy. We have been pretty busy. Saturday we did stuff around the house. Sunday was church, which we woke up way too late for the 9 am service so we ended up going to the 11 am service. The only problem with that is that by the time we got home (after stopping at Kroger for some groceries) I was starving and grumpy! Not a good combo. It was rainy all Sunday afternoon so we didn't do anything too exciting.
Monday came and we were going a bit stir crazy so we ran out to Home Depot to get some flowers and tomato plants. We are going to freshen up the yard so it looks good when it goes on the market in a couple weeks. Yup, we are officially starting the whole selling and moving process. It will probably be another year before we head up to Ft. Lee, but we want to give our house time to sell and (hopefully) get a good price for it. It will be sad to let it go but it's time to move on. We had a company FRG meeting at Cici's Pizza. Bad turn out but a good time talking to those who did come. Only another 2 months and I am DONE with being an FRG leader. Which will be nice so that I can concentrate on being a Mommy to a newborn and a 4 year old! After dinner we walked over to Bed Bath and Beyond, got some more coffee and got back massages in the tester chairs. Then we walked over to Toys R Us and walked around a bit, got a cute outfit for Henry, some socks and Wesley got a Zhu Zhu pet. It's a hampster that rolls around and make noise. They are evidently all the rage. I just though it was better than a ready one since it doesn't need it's cage cleaned out and you can turn it off! Wesley loves it, the cats are still leery but I am waiting for them to try to attack/catch it.
Tuesday we went to Target and did some shopping. There was a big sale on baby clothes so we got some cute outfits for Henry and a couple things for Wesley. We also picked up "Uno Moo" because it was on sale. Wesley is still learning the rules and cheats horribly but we have had fun playing. He will get it eventually.
We got the phone call on Tuesday that our pottery was ready so we drove over to Midnight Star Pottery and picked it up. I forgot to take a picture of Wesley's dolphin, I will have to add that later but here is the rest:
Today we went to-wait for it-Panera! No surprise there! :) Great lunch then we got a dozen bagels with cream cheese for breakfast tomorrow. Then we went to Kroger to get some last minute food items, flowers and gas in our car so we are ready when Mom, Matt, Brad and Lauren arrive. It should be a fun weekend, we have lots of great stuff planned. We came home and did some cleaning and baking. We have home made BBQ sauce ready for the pork BBQ in the crock pot tomorrow, pasta salad, Chex Mix and Basil Lime shortbread cookies. Because these are so awesome (and will be fantastic with some iced tea out on our deck tomorrow afternoon) here is the recipe, you have got to try them!
Basil Lime Shortbread:
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
2 tbsp fresh lime zest
1. In a medium bowl and using an electric mixer at medium speed cream the butter and confectioners' sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract and salt.
2. In a small bowl toss together the flour, basil, and lime zest. With the mixer at low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until the dough just comes together and forms a ball. Remove the dough from the bowl, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. LIne 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
4. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thickness, and using a 2 inch round fluted cutter cut cookies (ok, you can use any 2 inch shaped cutter you want). Place on prepared baking sheet, and bake for 8-10 minutes (I actually find I have to leave them in there for almost 15 minutes) or until edges begin to brown. Cool on wire racks before serving.
Enjoy!
Now the Fam is on their way down and Wesley is making me absolutely crazy asking we when they are going to get here. I can't wait for him to go to bed! It's almost worse than "Are we there yet?" in the car.
To leave you with a smile: Smokey in a bag. Stupid cat did this to himself.
Monday came and we were going a bit stir crazy so we ran out to Home Depot to get some flowers and tomato plants. We are going to freshen up the yard so it looks good when it goes on the market in a couple weeks. Yup, we are officially starting the whole selling and moving process. It will probably be another year before we head up to Ft. Lee, but we want to give our house time to sell and (hopefully) get a good price for it. It will be sad to let it go but it's time to move on. We had a company FRG meeting at Cici's Pizza. Bad turn out but a good time talking to those who did come. Only another 2 months and I am DONE with being an FRG leader. Which will be nice so that I can concentrate on being a Mommy to a newborn and a 4 year old! After dinner we walked over to Bed Bath and Beyond, got some more coffee and got back massages in the tester chairs. Then we walked over to Toys R Us and walked around a bit, got a cute outfit for Henry, some socks and Wesley got a Zhu Zhu pet. It's a hampster that rolls around and make noise. They are evidently all the rage. I just though it was better than a ready one since it doesn't need it's cage cleaned out and you can turn it off! Wesley loves it, the cats are still leery but I am waiting for them to try to attack/catch it.
Tuesday we went to Target and did some shopping. There was a big sale on baby clothes so we got some cute outfits for Henry and a couple things for Wesley. We also picked up "Uno Moo" because it was on sale. Wesley is still learning the rules and cheats horribly but we have had fun playing. He will get it eventually.
We got the phone call on Tuesday that our pottery was ready so we drove over to Midnight Star Pottery and picked it up. I forgot to take a picture of Wesley's dolphin, I will have to add that later but here is the rest:
Today we went to-wait for it-Panera! No surprise there! :) Great lunch then we got a dozen bagels with cream cheese for breakfast tomorrow. Then we went to Kroger to get some last minute food items, flowers and gas in our car so we are ready when Mom, Matt, Brad and Lauren arrive. It should be a fun weekend, we have lots of great stuff planned. We came home and did some cleaning and baking. We have home made BBQ sauce ready for the pork BBQ in the crock pot tomorrow, pasta salad, Chex Mix and Basil Lime shortbread cookies. Because these are so awesome (and will be fantastic with some iced tea out on our deck tomorrow afternoon) here is the recipe, you have got to try them!
Basil Lime Shortbread:
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
2 tbsp fresh lime zest
1. In a medium bowl and using an electric mixer at medium speed cream the butter and confectioners' sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract and salt.
2. In a small bowl toss together the flour, basil, and lime zest. With the mixer at low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until the dough just comes together and forms a ball. Remove the dough from the bowl, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. LIne 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
4. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thickness, and using a 2 inch round fluted cutter cut cookies (ok, you can use any 2 inch shaped cutter you want). Place on prepared baking sheet, and bake for 8-10 minutes (I actually find I have to leave them in there for almost 15 minutes) or until edges begin to brown. Cool on wire racks before serving.
Enjoy!
Now the Fam is on their way down and Wesley is making me absolutely crazy asking we when they are going to get here. I can't wait for him to go to bed! It's almost worse than "Are we there yet?" in the car.
To leave you with a smile: Smokey in a bag. Stupid cat did this to himself.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Good Mothering vs Bad Mothering
These are not my words. Someone sent this to me a couple years ago when Wesley was small. I agree with all of it. I know i have posted about being worried about being able to take care of two little boys. It's a scary thought, but this puts it into perspective. I know my boys will be fed, clothed, washed, and most importantly loved. Even if I don't get it all "right" I know I will be doing a good job because it's the best I can do. I might not be able to buy them everything under the sun, but I am able to give them lots of hugs and kisses and (home made!) cookies (and sometimes store bought ones), and all my love. I can give them the confidence they need to become good loving men one day. And that is something that can be done whether they are breast fed or cloth diapered or bottle fed or if I don't buy "Your Baby Can Read" and do what "they" say I should do.
These are not my words but I totally agree with this!
Good Vs. Bad Mothering
I have been thinking a lot lately about this whole mothering thing. This somehow sacred ideal that there is a perfect way to mother, and that women who deviate from this method are somehow inferior.
No matter what your taste, you can read a study or a book by a self-proclaimed expert who will back you up. Want to Attachment Parent? Read this book! Want to CIO? Read this book! Want to use cloth diapers? Read this study! Want to use a bottle? Here's what this doctor says!
The Latest Studies show. Talk about a phrase that should be removed from all languages. 30 years ago The Latest Studies showed that bottle-feeding and starting solids at 3 weeks and using disposable diapers was the best way to raise your child. Today, The Latest Studies show that breastfeeding and starting solids after 9 months and using cloth diapers are the best way to raise your child. The Latest Studies don't ever agree with each other, because if they did, there would be no more money given out to actually do studies, and there would be no money made in writing books.
Most of us survive childhood intact. Sure, we b@#ch. Sure we trot out our parents' mistakes and brandish them with a vengeance as proof of our suffering. Sure we rant and rave, promising ourselves and anyone else that listens that we will be different, that we will never be the same kind of mother as our own second-rate one.
And yes, there is such a thing as bad mothering.
But.
Bad mothering is not using disposable diapers. Bad mothering is not using bottles and formula. Bad mothering is not putting a baby into a crib and letting the baby cry until she learns to sleep on her own. Bad mothering is not giving the baby a cookie to just shut up her whining, already.
Nor is bad mothering using cloth diapers. Or breastfeeding until the baby is 4. Or letting the baby sleep in bed with her parents, even while they make love. Or feeding the baby a vegetarian diet.
There are women out there who are bad mothers. There are mothers shooting up while their children die of starvation and neglect in the next room. There are mothers out there who stuff a pillow over their heads so they don't have to listen to the whimpers from their 8 year olds while their fathers sodomize them. There are mothers out there who abandon their children on the street because they no longer wish to care for them. There are women who slowly twist their children's limbs until they snap while their children cry and beg, promising to be good.
Bad mothers.
Yes.
But most of us are not.
At some point along the line, women in the Western world stopped trusting their instincts. We began to listen to doctors. We eagerly read studies and books that would confirm to us that yes, we were good mothers!
And worse, we began to betray each other. We began to gather in camps, and we set up rules for what constituted good mothering. And any mother who strayed outside those rules was a bad mother. We'd sit together over tea and discuss in outraged tones the ignorant woman down the street who bottle-fed her child from birth, smugly asserting our superiority in breastfeeding our own children for years. We'd converse over a power lunch about the poor deluded woman who quit her high-profile job so she could stay home and finger-paint, rolling our eyes and congratulating ourselves on our excellent luck in nannies. We'd snipe over email and on message boards, on blogs and over the phone.
Look at me! I am a better mother! And I can prove it to you by surrounding myself with other mothers who think just like me! I can prove it by shoving these books in your face! I can prove it by demeaning other mothers who have made different choices than mine!
Why are we doing this?
Why can't we feel confident in our own mothering choices? Why do we feel such a need to prove ourselves through book after book and scorn directed towards other mothers?
Ask yourself, and be honest. When was the last time you criticized another mother in your mind? Was it today? Was it yesterday?
The next time you hear yourself making a nasty comment about another mother…stop. Just stop. And ask yourself – is she really a bad mother? Does she abuse her child? Does she neglect her child? Co-sleeping is not abuse. Bottle-feeding is not neglect. Think about what is coming out of your mouth.
Do not diminish the pain of a child who sleeps chained in a closet, ribs cracked from her latest beating by equating her to a child who has learned to sleep by crying it out for a few nights in her crib. Do not diminish the pain of a child who has been sexually abused by equating her to a child that sleeps peacefully between her loving parents. Do not diminish the pain of a child who has not eaten for days by equating her to a child who is not fed meat or who drinks formula.
We are the none of us perfect. None of us are. And we will all make mistakes. We will learn, we will revise our thinking; we will throw up our hands and let go of a long cherished ideal because we have just got to do it or collapse.
So how about instead of attacking other mothers, we start feeling confident about ourselves? How about we look to our own children instead of spending time self-righteously judging everyone else's? Throw away your parenting books. Think about what your doctor tells you and evaluate what it means. When other mothers criticize you, shake it off and ignore the temptation to turn around and attack back.
Let's try supporting each other for a change. I think it would make all of us better mothers to do so.
These are not my words but I totally agree with this!
Good Vs. Bad Mothering
I have been thinking a lot lately about this whole mothering thing. This somehow sacred ideal that there is a perfect way to mother, and that women who deviate from this method are somehow inferior.
No matter what your taste, you can read a study or a book by a self-proclaimed expert who will back you up. Want to Attachment Parent? Read this book! Want to CIO? Read this book! Want to use cloth diapers? Read this study! Want to use a bottle? Here's what this doctor says!
The Latest Studies show. Talk about a phrase that should be removed from all languages. 30 years ago The Latest Studies showed that bottle-feeding and starting solids at 3 weeks and using disposable diapers was the best way to raise your child. Today, The Latest Studies show that breastfeeding and starting solids after 9 months and using cloth diapers are the best way to raise your child. The Latest Studies don't ever agree with each other, because if they did, there would be no more money given out to actually do studies, and there would be no money made in writing books.
Most of us survive childhood intact. Sure, we b@#ch. Sure we trot out our parents' mistakes and brandish them with a vengeance as proof of our suffering. Sure we rant and rave, promising ourselves and anyone else that listens that we will be different, that we will never be the same kind of mother as our own second-rate one.
And yes, there is such a thing as bad mothering.
But.
Bad mothering is not using disposable diapers. Bad mothering is not using bottles and formula. Bad mothering is not putting a baby into a crib and letting the baby cry until she learns to sleep on her own. Bad mothering is not giving the baby a cookie to just shut up her whining, already.
Nor is bad mothering using cloth diapers. Or breastfeeding until the baby is 4. Or letting the baby sleep in bed with her parents, even while they make love. Or feeding the baby a vegetarian diet.
There are women out there who are bad mothers. There are mothers shooting up while their children die of starvation and neglect in the next room. There are mothers out there who stuff a pillow over their heads so they don't have to listen to the whimpers from their 8 year olds while their fathers sodomize them. There are mothers out there who abandon their children on the street because they no longer wish to care for them. There are women who slowly twist their children's limbs until they snap while their children cry and beg, promising to be good.
Bad mothers.
Yes.
But most of us are not.
At some point along the line, women in the Western world stopped trusting their instincts. We began to listen to doctors. We eagerly read studies and books that would confirm to us that yes, we were good mothers!
And worse, we began to betray each other. We began to gather in camps, and we set up rules for what constituted good mothering. And any mother who strayed outside those rules was a bad mother. We'd sit together over tea and discuss in outraged tones the ignorant woman down the street who bottle-fed her child from birth, smugly asserting our superiority in breastfeeding our own children for years. We'd converse over a power lunch about the poor deluded woman who quit her high-profile job so she could stay home and finger-paint, rolling our eyes and congratulating ourselves on our excellent luck in nannies. We'd snipe over email and on message boards, on blogs and over the phone.
Look at me! I am a better mother! And I can prove it to you by surrounding myself with other mothers who think just like me! I can prove it by shoving these books in your face! I can prove it by demeaning other mothers who have made different choices than mine!
Why are we doing this?
Why can't we feel confident in our own mothering choices? Why do we feel such a need to prove ourselves through book after book and scorn directed towards other mothers?
Ask yourself, and be honest. When was the last time you criticized another mother in your mind? Was it today? Was it yesterday?
The next time you hear yourself making a nasty comment about another mother…stop. Just stop. And ask yourself – is she really a bad mother? Does she abuse her child? Does she neglect her child? Co-sleeping is not abuse. Bottle-feeding is not neglect. Think about what is coming out of your mouth.
Do not diminish the pain of a child who sleeps chained in a closet, ribs cracked from her latest beating by equating her to a child who has learned to sleep by crying it out for a few nights in her crib. Do not diminish the pain of a child who has been sexually abused by equating her to a child that sleeps peacefully between her loving parents. Do not diminish the pain of a child who has not eaten for days by equating her to a child who is not fed meat or who drinks formula.
We are the none of us perfect. None of us are. And we will all make mistakes. We will learn, we will revise our thinking; we will throw up our hands and let go of a long cherished ideal because we have just got to do it or collapse.
So how about instead of attacking other mothers, we start feeling confident about ourselves? How about we look to our own children instead of spending time self-righteously judging everyone else's? Throw away your parenting books. Think about what your doctor tells you and evaluate what it means. When other mothers criticize you, shake it off and ignore the temptation to turn around and attack back.
Let's try supporting each other for a change. I think it would make all of us better mothers to do so.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Monday, Monday...
We needed to get out of the house today but the weather was overcast and chilly so we went to Midnight Star Pottery to get creative. It is such a great place to go for a morning or afternoon of fun. And as long as your child doesn't break the pottery they have sitting around, they are more than happy to welcome your kids in there. :) They even have a little play area with toys so the kids can go play while Mom finishes up her pottery pieces. We made two Easter Eggs (which will be interesting since Wesley picked out "outer space"- black/yellow paint combo to paint them. He also painted a dolphin (purple and green) and I painted a tray for eggs to go in (very excited, I can use it for Easter and for deviled eggs later on). Oh and Wesley did a shamrock also. We plan on going back next month with some friends. I want to do letters for Henry's room and have Wesley do plant pots for his teachers at school for their end of the year gifts. Hopefully we will get some friends to join us next time. I will post more photos of the finished products (after they have been fired in the kiln) when we bring them home.
After we finished we went to Panera for lunch. We are starting to recognized there. When we went up the counter to order the girl there said "Wow! You guys are in here later than usual!" No sure if it's a good thing or not. Anyway, it was a great lunch and I got a super goofy pic of Wesley.
Kid cracks me up. I was trying to get him to smile or say cheese and he says "Just take the picture." So like his father.
After we finished we went to Panera for lunch. We are starting to recognized there. When we went up the counter to order the girl there said "Wow! You guys are in here later than usual!" No sure if it's a good thing or not. Anyway, it was a great lunch and I got a super goofy pic of Wesley.
Kid cracks me up. I was trying to get him to smile or say cheese and he says "Just take the picture." So like his father.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Spring Festival!
Today Wesley and I went to the Spring Festival at the Bamboo Gardens. The weather was gorgeous, it was a great day for the festival. It was just too bad the strawberries were not ready yet ( because of the cold winter) but we still had a great time (and will just have to go at a later date to pick strawberries!). We met up with some friends, Sabrina, Sydney and Sofia and Wesley and Sydney had a great time running back between the bounce house and the fish pond.
Eventually we wandered back through the tables and I I found the cutest AIO diaper with little monkeys on it. I can't wait to put it on Henry when he arrives. Maybe this will even the our "coming home" diaper.
It was a great day, but one of those when we miss Christopher the most. When we got home Wesley even said Mommy I wish Daddy was here with us." I told him me too. Four years ago Christopher and I took Wesley to the Spring Festival for the first time. He was about 2 months old and we carried him in the Snugglie while we picked strawberries that we later turned into all kinds of good treats.
I hate it when it is a great day and we do something fun and he is not there. I can't wait until he his home again and we get to do all the fun stuff together. With our two boys. :)
Eventually we wandered back through the tables and I I found the cutest AIO diaper with little monkeys on it. I can't wait to put it on Henry when he arrives. Maybe this will even the our "coming home" diaper.
It was a great day, but one of those when we miss Christopher the most. When we got home Wesley even said Mommy I wish Daddy was here with us." I told him me too. Four years ago Christopher and I took Wesley to the Spring Festival for the first time. He was about 2 months old and we carried him in the Snugglie while we picked strawberries that we later turned into all kinds of good treats.
I hate it when it is a great day and we do something fun and he is not there. I can't wait until he his home again and we get to do all the fun stuff together. With our two boys. :)
Friday, March 19, 2010
TGIF! 3/19/2010
It's another beautiful day here in Savannah! I love this weather, I wish it would stay like this! I hope it is this nice for Easter weekend so we can enjoy one last holiday on our deck. I am really looking forward to being able to sit outside with the fam and have fun in two weeks.
I spent the morning at the library returning and getting more to read. Then I picked up Wesley from school, and we wen to Panera for lunch (grilled cheese and a yogurt for him, garden salad and tomato soup for me) and we picked up some bagels on our way out for breakfast in the morning! Yummy. Then we walked down the shopping center stopping at Homegoods (they had outdoor cushions I liked but I couldn't remember what colors were in my umbrella or what size I needed so I will have to go back), Ulta (great deals on their line of make up-and I need it since I don't have that pregnancy glow going on) and then to Michael's for some Easter crafty stuff (Grandma is in for a surprise) yarn (going to attempt to knit a baby hat for Henry to wear at the hospital) and some really cute baskets for Henry's room (white wicker with white liners with blue and brown polka dots). Oh, and about 5 million little fuzzy Easter chicks. I believe they will be joining Wesley's legions of army guys and Storm Troopers.
The one down side of the day was Wesley having an accident on our way back to the car. I had no wipes or change of clothes with me as we have not had an accident in well, forever. So now I think I am going to make a little case (like my diapers and wipes case) for my emergency toddler clothes kit for the car. Something that can fit in the glove compartment or in the little mesh pocket behind the passenger seat. Pictures to follow. Especially of Wesley's dinosaur art project he has going on!
I spent the morning at the library returning and getting more to read. Then I picked up Wesley from school, and we wen to Panera for lunch (grilled cheese and a yogurt for him, garden salad and tomato soup for me) and we picked up some bagels on our way out for breakfast in the morning! Yummy. Then we walked down the shopping center stopping at Homegoods (they had outdoor cushions I liked but I couldn't remember what colors were in my umbrella or what size I needed so I will have to go back), Ulta (great deals on their line of make up-and I need it since I don't have that pregnancy glow going on) and then to Michael's for some Easter crafty stuff (Grandma is in for a surprise) yarn (going to attempt to knit a baby hat for Henry to wear at the hospital) and some really cute baskets for Henry's room (white wicker with white liners with blue and brown polka dots). Oh, and about 5 million little fuzzy Easter chicks. I believe they will be joining Wesley's legions of army guys and Storm Troopers.
The one down side of the day was Wesley having an accident on our way back to the car. I had no wipes or change of clothes with me as we have not had an accident in well, forever. So now I think I am going to make a little case (like my diapers and wipes case) for my emergency toddler clothes kit for the car. Something that can fit in the glove compartment or in the little mesh pocket behind the passenger seat. Pictures to follow. Especially of Wesley's dinosaur art project he has going on!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Luck of the Irish!
Today is St. Patrick's Day, which, if you live in Savannah, you know is a big deal. Huge parade, over a million people downtown (literally) weeklong festivities. We went our first year here and while we had a good time, I really have had no desire to go back and brave the crowds (and drunk college guys). I realized that this is probably going to be last year we are here to celebrate downtown. Of course we might come back to visit one day, but it is sad to think that we will be slowly saying good bye to all the special parts of Savannah that we love. We still have yet to go on a carriage ride or ghost tour downtown, eat at Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House (or the Pink House for that matter-but we have eaten at Paula Deen's restaurant). At the same time it is nice to look ahead to new adventures we will have in a new town.
Anyway, we (Wesley and I) had a great day, we went to the commissary to go grocery shopping, then I made Shepheard's Pie for dinner (not with lamb, but oh well) with Chocolate Mousse Pie for dessert. Yummy. Now if I can just get my hands on some Chicken Cashel Blue with garlic cream sauce....mmmmmm.
Oh, and since this day is celebrated by a lot of green...why not go a little green today and do something good for the environment? Even if it's just recycling your beer bottles? I ordered some more cloth diapers for Baby Henry. Every little bit helps. :)
Anyway, we (Wesley and I) had a great day, we went to the commissary to go grocery shopping, then I made Shepheard's Pie for dinner (not with lamb, but oh well) with Chocolate Mousse Pie for dessert. Yummy. Now if I can just get my hands on some Chicken Cashel Blue with garlic cream sauce....mmmmmm.
Oh, and since this day is celebrated by a lot of green...why not go a little green today and do something good for the environment? Even if it's just recycling your beer bottles? I ordered some more cloth diapers for Baby Henry. Every little bit helps. :)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Don't use that kind of language around me!
If one more person tells me I need to "Take it easy" I think I am going to slap them. Seriously. I would LOVE to take it easy right now. There is nothing I would like better than to be sitting around not cleaning, not cooking, not running after Wesley, not picking up Legos (again), not worrying about the bills, not trying to get the house ready to put on the market to sell, not trying to sell Christopher's car (any takers? 2008 Astra-it's all yours), not doing laundry, not doing FRG stuff, not paying the bills, not running the household by myself. It would be great if someone wanted to send me and Wesley (or maybe just me) on a vacation, take care of everything for me and just let me sit on the beach drinking non-alcoholic frozen beverages and grow Baby Henry. Please! I am ready and can be packed in about 10 minutes!
Back to reality. No one is going to do that for me. While I have fantastic friends down here, they are all busy being mom's and spouses of deployed soldiers too. They are also packing to move or getting their houses ready to sell or just living their busy lives. The fact of the matter is, there is no one besides me to get this all done. I am not really sure what everyone expects me to do. I HAVE to do it all by myself. That is part of being the wife of a deployed soldier. If my husband was here he would be helping me and happy to do it, but he's not.
What I need is for people to STOP telling me to relax and give me practical solutions (or just sit and listen to me complain for a while). I am not going to relax, I don't have that option. Also, telling me "If you think it's hard now, what are you going to do when you have two?" or "I don't know what you are going to do when you have two little ones running around" is not helpful, it's more stuff I don't need to hear right now. Some words of encouragement would be great. Maybe telling me it will be ok, once I get settled into a routine it will be fine. Or that if I get the house sold then it's one less thing I will have to worry about-that would be fantastic to hear! Maybe if we gave second time mom's more positive encouragement instead of eluding to the fact they have failed before they have even begun, they would not feel like failures. Like they shouldn't have even considered having a second baby because there is no way they can hack it. Come on people!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Star Wars
So, because my son is so in love with Star Wars I get to watch it all the time (well all the time I will let him! ). I don't mind too much, I mean, there are six of them to choose from, plus all the Clone Wars cartoons. I am getting a pretty good variety. We were watching the end of The Phantom Menace last night and then of course, Attack of the Clones came on so I told Wesley we would watch it today.
So here I am watching it. It would be MUCH more enjoyable if Hayden Christensen was not such a bad actor. I cringe the whole time watching him. I mean, it's just not believeable. This would be one of my favorites from the series if it wasn't for him. At least Ewan McGregor makes it worth my time because he is an excellent actor.
Oh, and a side note: I asked my husband not long ago if there Storm Troopers and Snowtrooper and Sandtroopers were there beach troopers? He thought I was was just being sarcastic but low and behold: There are Beach Troopers, they wear helmets and speedos. lol So again, I am right. ;) http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:Just_wrong.jpg Although I am amazed at the people who debate over whether they should be called "Beach Troopers" or "Bath Troopers". Seriously, you have too much time on your hands.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
First post of 2010!
So, here we are in the New Year. So far, it's been crazy. We packed up everything and drove back to Savannah from Maryland and I guess we brought the cold weather with us! It's been so cold here. BRRR! They were actually calling for snow this weekend. Talk about giving the phrase "when Hell freezes over" a whole new meaning! Guess it's a good thing we packed Wesley's snow boots!
We are both still getting over being sick but doing better. It doesn't help we have been non-stop since we got back. Wesley in school and me going to the doctor's (baby is doing great! 15 weeks along and a heart rate of 145!) and taking the car to get the oil changed, PWOC today and a Tomboy Tool Party tomorrow afternoon. I guess I will get the house cleaned sometime this weekend. We finally took the Christmas tree and most of the decorations down, I will finish packing everything up then haul everything out the to garage.
I am also working on getting the house all cleaned out and de-cluttered and ready to sell, we are looking to put it on the market in about 3 months. Not sure how I will do all this alone and pregnant but I guess God will provide a way (and help!) when I need it. I am actually looking forward to using this opportunity to get rid of stuff that we are not using and get organized. It will make moving so much easier when the time comes!
We miss Christopher dearly right now, but the upside to this year:he will be coming home! Not sure when yet, but it will be this year! :)
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