weekend fun
Finished! William's blanket that is. I finished it last night while we watched Friends. Now to figure out my next project. prolly fiddle around with that later today. Here he was this morning, all happy that it was finished. I plan to write up the pattern and post a link for that in the next day or so.
I have been krunking on the web design, I just finished Bottombumpers last week, she is running a deal of free shipping until midnight Friday, CST. And she has great deals if you buy a 6 pack of diapers. I absolutely love her diapers. **hearts**
We had a great holiday weekend! I love when that happens! :) Sunday we had Erika's grad party, there were TONS of teenagers! Just groups of them, everywhere. Jeremy had to work, so Darci was my date for the afternoon, and we ended up staying 2 1/2 hours past the party, just chillin out on the deck. I went back home to get Jeremy and we all met back out for the fire that night, which made me realize that small town life is not all its cracked up to be. It was like Los Angeles & Pulp Fiction cramped into a town of 2200.
The only picture I got from the entire day. Oops.
Then Monday we went out to Carm's for great time! We brought our big water slide and the kids went round and round on this baby for hours! Click images to enlarge.
Carm and MIL got a little overheated by the end of the afternoon and went down the slide themselves.
Yesterday we had showers off/on and got the garden planted, finally! One small snapshot of it.
Our garden has: strawberries, green & red peppers, broccoli, cantaloupe, watermelon, pumpkins, basil, oregano, green onions, carrots, 3 varieties of tomatoes. I *think* that is all. We made the garden bigger this year since last year went so well. Apparently I only have a black thumb on indoor plants. ;) Jeremy and Arianna helped me plant the garden, and I couldn't of been happier. I might be corny, but I love doing "house" stuff with Jeremy. We've been cleaning out the house and dropping tons off at Goodwill, we may be moving in the near future and its even more motivation to get this crap out of here!
I'm finally picking paint chips for my main floor, with the possibility of moving I should probably pick something neutral, but at the same time I really want to do what I want to do... I can't decide if I should be sensible (then we end up living here for a few more years LOL), or if I should do what I want, and hope for the best.
Friday, May 25, 2007
"Say you're sorry"
No doubt you've heard this in your life, or even sternly demanded it of your own child, or possibly your spouse. I love when things challenge me to reconsider how I've always thought. I am sure as you've heard/said the above, you have likewise received an insincere apology. With communication being the problem in most relationships, I really want to make sure to raise my kids to be excellent communicators, and apology is a pretty big one to master.
Many of us were raised with being forced to say we were sorry, while the intention was good, it didn't help us sincerely apologize. Maybe its hit or miss, but having received lots of less then stellar apologies, I know how crummy it can be. I realized that I had also said the same thing to my kids - tell them you're sorry -
One day, when I heard Aislyn growl at her brother, "It was an accident!" when it clearly was not, that not only did they not understand the difference between 'accident' and 'purpose', they were giving apologies without thought, they were just words.
Problem was, I was raised with forced apology, and it took me until I was an adult and thousands of "I'm sorry but it was really your fault" apologies given to me, to realize that I needed to change. Not only do I not have to accept an apology, I also do not have to give one. Sorry is such an overused word, young girls just sprout it out for absolutely no reason, which drives many guys crazy. People try and guilt you into an apology, and over silly things like casseroles. I don't want this to become my children, so I had to rethink how I went about this.
Living by example, that is what Christ did, and it's how I strive to live. When I do something that I feel bad for, I apologize, even to my kids; I make mistakes too. And I leave out the but, it has no place in an apology. I give them affection, and show that I'm sincere. When my kids apologize to me, I let them know that I forgive them. I have seen my kids mirror this on their own. All the time? Heck no, but they are when it's sincere.
But what about the other times? When they aren't sorry, but they did wrong? Those times I try and find some empathy, I try to help them relate to the person that was wronged. "Do you like it when someone steals your favorite toy from you? How does that make you feel?" Relate is the key word here, I do not try and guilt them.
Ais has been having a hard time getting along with the other kids lately, when things don't go her way. So while I live by example, I wanted to see if there was more I could do, to help Ais not feel so frustrated. I found this article on Morals & Manners at Dr. Sears' website. And in her case I also needed to find the root of the problem, she needs more emotional words in her vocabulary, besides just being mad, maybe upset, hurt, and frustrated, etc. And I went back to Dr Sears to see what he had to say about finding the root of the problem. Understanding Troublesome Behavior. I'll let you know how everything goes with helping Aislyn find new outlets for expressing her emotions.
A few other sites I found: how to give a good apology & The Power of Apology
Thursday, May 24, 2007
made me giggle
Arianna has been typing her phone number into a pretend cell phone all day. She finally mastered it, and couldn't wait to show me. She types it in, correctly, 123#4567 (of course thats not really our number). Yes the #, I asked her why, she said "Because there isn't a little line."
Mothering has a poll going on with the Chinese Gender Predictor, if it was correct for your children or not. Chinese Gender Predictor Poll. It was wrong on each of my kids, so I guess in that aspect it was consistently right, if that twisted logic makes sense. Was it right for you?
Good morning Commercialism!
What'd you have for breakfast this morning? We had Raisin Bran Crunch. Seen that commercial with men camping and eating this? Well me and my husband did the other day and he said something along the lines of - Good cereal - while I said, Ive never tried. As a kid I loved picking ALL the raisins
out of the cereal, and then claiming innocence when my parents poured a bowl of flakes. What an injustice to not allow my kids to be sneaky and experience Raisin Bran. So when we got groceries the other day, I purchased that and allowed my kids to pick their cereal like usual.
Little did I know yesterday that pouring them their bowl, that there would be tears over mine! Seriously. Was it the love of raisins? Or that big happy sunshine? Did they see the commercial and think - good cereal-? Of course not.
Thank you Jack, after two days my box of cereal is gone. Now I know why
my s.dad always hid his Golden Grahams, which me and my sisters always found and ate.
On the note of Jack Sparrow, we are off to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean tonight. I am thinking from all this rain we are getting now that the kids' game will be postponed, which means we could of gone to the 8:00 showing. If only we knew weather ahead of time before purchasing tickets. It should be a good time, this and the new Harry Potter are the two movies I've been looking forward to this summer.
We took the kids to see Shrek on Monday, and they had a blast with it. Arianna is so much fun, she laughs and laughs, just a total sense of humor. Jeremy and I weren't as impressed, we agreed that the second one was better, and were a bit disappointed, we need more Puss in Boots. But we
did laugh and have fun, just not as good as we hoped. :)
As for LOST's finale -> Boo! Charlie died, 'nuff said. :(
Monday, May 21, 2007
picture happy
My sister had her graduation yesterday, the kids were so antsy, church then graduation, poor rascals. They crashed though at 6:30 on our way home,
put them straight to bed, except Arianna who I colored with for a little bit. I am guessing it was running around with the horses and Grandpa, he put them to work feeding and watering them.
Here are a few pictures from the day!
Ah isn't she pure sunshine! That's one of my sisters.
hehe getting her diploma? Actually it was a reminder to pay for her govt. book on a yellow post it, lol.
proud parents, gosh do I love them.
Me and my "baby" sis
My nephew, growing like crazy! Good thing for the low rise craze, this girl still wears pre-pregnancy clothes!
Here is William's blanket, still in progress, I got 1 1/2 skeins left then it's finished. I snapped this for Katie, I'm going to post my "pattern" when I finish this, its pretty easy peasy, but oh so cute, imo at least. :)
The kids' softball pictures, I hate the quality of the scan, but you get the idea.
Pass the bean dip please. Just looked that article up for Michelle, thought I'd share it here too, no it has nothing to do with bean dip, its about nosey people who try and tell you what to do with your life... puh-lease I know you have them in your life too! And a simple way to move right along. :)
Friday, May 18, 2007
makes me happy
I love bright, colorful, whimsy toys. Made out of cloth, wood, or fiber, definitely not plastic, they just look so cheerful and wholesome, makes me happy. I have bought books on knitted toys, and started a monkey, that two years later is still in the bottom of my knitting bag, lol. I did finish Bubby, I think he took like 2 hours or so total, and was adorable. I started to make my own giraffe pattern, but didn't get far ether, I don't know what happened to the yarn involved for that. hmm....
But I'm persistent, I will knit some toys, and finish them. Because there is not much better in this world for simple pleasures, then a gorgeous hand knit toy.
Here are a few cuties that caught my eye recently.
You can find this pattern and some more adorable ones at Mochimochi Shop. Hes too cute, imo. Arianna's favorite animal was the hippo until she was 4 years old, now its horses. But a happy hippo always reminds me of toddling Arianna.
This is also from Mochimochi but its free. I think its so funny. See her site to see a picture of it in the grass, cracks me up. She also has a Free Heart Knit Pattern here. And be sure to check out her Flickr Album for even more cuties that don't have patterns posted yet.
I'm considering the purchase of this little guy:
Found here at Curly Purly, she has a really cute kimono knit pattern too.
I really want an owl pattern, and have been mulling the idea of making my own pattern. I love the felt owl that Holly McCaig made, pictured below.
And another little gem site, Cute Overload, there are quite a few pup pictures, so if you don't like dogs *cough*darci*cough* then maybe you just aren't compatible with the cute overload. :P Though I don't how anyone could resist this one, ROFL.
Seriously, this post is all about simple pleasures. :) I found a new to me knitting magazine, I was considering Interweave Knits, but just haven't been so impressed with their style, and mine. But this one, is perfect! Vogue Knitting or Knit.1. May is their "Green Issue" and looks great!
Ah Jeremy is home, so I am finished. :) I have more news, but will share that probably this weekend, he works the ENTIRE thing. Ho-hum.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
What are you doing?
It's graduation time, my sister is graduating and it's crazy to think! I remember when she was born, and this baby with hair on the sides/back and bald on top... that lasted for the first 2 years of her life. I remember her biting me like crazy at the local state park, on this picnic that a tick got on me (first time I ever saw one) & my brand new kite got stuck in a tree, lol. She was always such a little butt, thankfully we are really close now, and I'm glad to have such a great little sister. I spent my entire early childhood praying for a sister, and other goofy prayers along those lines, like my mom to adopt from another country, for a twin sister, and an older brother. While I didn't quite get any of those, LOL, I did get 5 sisters after all was said and done.
My sister has been talking about graduation parties, and goodness does that bring back memories. Doesn't seem like it's been as long as it has, but other times it seems worlds ago! So much has changed, in this world, in me, in my life, and yet so much is the same. Crazy how time seems to go by. I haven't been back in the school since that December? I had graduated early, I had that plotted out since the 8th grade when I got my requirements for high school... theres the planner in me. The good thing about planning is that if you make some goals and how you are going to reach them, it's actually a lot more possible to reach the goal! It's also a lot easier to be happy in your life and where you are if you are actually positive! You know that old saying it takes more effort to frown then smile? Well its true, and it really does make the day better if you smile and laugh. Be a little goofy!
In the movie A Walk to Remember, Mandy Moore's character has a list of things she would like to experience/accomplish in her lifetime, some are small and others have a lot more weight to them. I wouldn't suggest anyone ever make a list to follow rigorously, then you would miss out on so many of the spontaneous beauties of every day life, but those things that you really want to do, why not write them down, and see how you can actually achieve it. Couldn't hurt anyway, could it?
I'm always working on something, whether it be a way to become a better person, a new craft, a fear to overcome, I like to have these mini goals. I like that I can knit now, that I can do web design, I like that most of what I can do was self taught with trial and error. Instead of saying, someday I'd like to learn to knit... I can say, I CAN. Some things I'm not the best at, or don't actually enjoy like I thought I might, and that's great! Because now I know! It's one of the reasons I want to move, Ive always wanted to since I was a little girl, and saw with my Dad that there was so much world out there to experience and enjoy. I realize that I may do it, and miss this little town like crazy, but if I never try then I will never know. Of course I have a husband and many of my life goals have to pass through him, as it's his life now too.
Some of the best experiences in my life were 100% unexpected, always leave room for spontaneity.
Here are a few sites I found on lifetime goals, there is lots out there.
My 50
Personal Goals
Lucky duck's list
Maybe when I start a list, Ill share some of it here. We'll see. ;)
Monday, May 14, 2007
Mother's Day 07
Everyone have a good mother's day? It seems to be mixed reviews from friends on their Mother's Day, I tried to make the best of the day. In general it's a less then stellar "holiday" in this household, but I would prefer to project a positive light on any given day and enjoy it for at least what it is. I'm a mom, three happy, healthy kids, and a beautiful day. Not much you can complain about past that. I got very sweet cards from the kids that were of course adorable.
My inlaws and sil(their daughter) was over for dinner, we grilled out and just had a relaxing day. Jeremy bought a bounce house on clearance for $35 normally $300, so we blew that up for the kids. That thing is SOOO easy to set up and tear down, seriously, we are talking minutes. Which is good since we have our 'hood kids that like to play around in the yard, and I'd rather it not get popped.
Here is Arianna and Elizabeth jumping around in it yesterday. Yah, when you are 6 you have a very funny sense of fashion, which I just love.
I'm excited for all the fun summer events coming up, and am looking into more things to get the kids involved in for this summer. Their first softball game is tomorrow, I thought it was last Thursday, I was wrong that was their last practice. Arianna is nervous about it, while I am very excited to see the little munchkins run around, and am curious if Dylan will run the correct direction around the bases.
Not much else to say, after the kids are in bed we have been playing on the xbox, and recently beat the lego star wars and really quickly beat the Gears of War game, which I like, similar to Halo but cooler. ;) Aside from that, we have been working our way through the Friends episodes again, just finished Season 3. I love that show.
Want an eye opener on the amount of waste we go through in the US? Check this out, it's just wow, seriously. Includes photos with the stats, thanks to Sara for sharing this link.
Well the kids are really whiny, Dylan is up in his bed whining again... he doesn't want to go to bed though its a half hour past the time. Jeremy closes tonight, so it's solo mommy to wrestle them down and get them to sleep. None of them have had a good day, whiny and clumsy, never a good combo.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
The Dirty Dozen
Gosh things have been getting better around my home, can you tell? I actually have things to share here. Before I forget, my SIL just found out that she is having a boy! So come fall I will have TWO nephews! Arianna is devastated, I didn't share the news with her until our ride home from softball because I knew she would be. She really wanted a girl cousin, and I admit that it would of been nice to have one girl and one boy. But this will be interesting to see MIL treats her second grandson, and bil/sil are very thrilled.
My favorite blog to read is by Sara she used to live in Des Moines, lives frugally, rents, has great taste, and is just an inspiration, check her out. I've seen a few readers from here over there in her comments, very cool!
Her latest post was on different types of homes, oh my gosh, things I never even seen, thought, or heard of! Of her list, I think the Cob house is just fantastic, I want one!!! The Yurt is amazing too, and the tumbleweed, check the link for those, wow... some are only 100 sq feet! Most aren't made for families especially with 3 kids, but very amazing. I found some great houses through the links that were eco-friendly, none in Iowa ofcourse. Most were in TX (ick), Colorado (cool), Utah (cool), and Washington (very cool). Who knows what we will do, I'm really not too worried about it at the moment.
Me and the kids made some granola this afternoon, here is the recipe we tried, it's still cooling off, so I don't know if it's any good. I didn't follow it exactly, I never do, but it smells great. I cut back on the oil, added sunflowers, almonds, and cranberries instead of raisins. Not as much sugar ether, I didn't have much left.
Sara posted here about local vs organic. Definitely an interesting read. Since we moved back to our hometown, me and Jeremy go to the farmer's market weekly to biweekly, depending on the season. I love buying locally, our local grocery store sells IA produce on occasion, they were great about this in Ames, just have to check the labels. I never considered the amount of gasoline that is required to get a product from the field to my kitchen table though, that was really interesting.
When thinking of buying organic, you would want to start with the Dirty Dozen, they are the most contaminated foods.
Peaches
Apples
Sweet bell peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Imported grapes
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes
You can read more about their score, for instance Peaches scored a 100 (can't get worse then that) for pesticide load. Read more here scroll down to read how these scored, and see what else ranks the lowest along with onions.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Gosh its gorgeous!
The kids had their last softball practice last night, first game tomorrow, eek! I hope they do great! William is our dirtboy, he just likes to squat down with his glove (like they teach to catch a grounder), and he just plays in the dirt, too cute. Dylan always runs the wrong direction on the bases, lol. Arianna did fantastic last night! Jeremy's mowing now and once he finishes by the swing set we are heading out, and then we will practice batting and catching. Camera's still out in the garage or I'd upload some snapshots from last week, forgot it in the car last night.
Kind of funny to run into people I went to high school with, some were from jr. high days. Crazy. I got my order from Reusable Bags, woo. I got a Klean Kanteen for me and Jeremy, so great fresh water and no more product deterioration, and then I got some produce bags and a market bag. They will be awesome for the Farmer's Market. I'm thinking maybe we should move to the next town over and live near the little organic health food store down there, I love that downtown area, so pretty, cute shops, nice little yarn shop too.
I've been bitten by the knitting-planner bug. I think I'm going to make this sweater for me, in a different color then shown though since I have like 3 sweaters/shirts in that exact color.
On Deck Pullover knit on circularsWOO!
I'm trying to decide between these two colors for myself, hmm.... the color I have in my head that would look great... well they don't make it.
Tv Talk - I'm bummed Gilmore Girls is on their last season, I'm not watching this one until it comes on DVD, just sad there wont be anymore. Me and Arianna just started watching Season 1 yesterday, she likes the show, the little cutie. For American Idol, I hope LaKisha goes home. I like Blake, though he wasn't impressive last night, he has done great in the past. I think Jordin will win it all, and I just don't care much for her, not my style. eh.
Things have been crazy rough around here, and this song came in my mind a few weeks ago, I realize its supposed to be a romantic song but it makes me think of my babies. They are just such a great blessing, and were so perfect while I was sick, I can't even express how perfect they were, with helping and not fighting or getting into mischief. I love my babies, that aren't so little anymore.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
oh my!
I don't recall ever being so sick in my entire life. I woke up last Tuesday with a bit of a stuffy nose, and thought, maybe allergies. By the time the kids softball was halfway through that night, I was feverish, chilled, and nearly passing out. It was all I could do to wait for their practice to finish, and drive them home. Which I did, then I crashed on the sofa with them watching a show until Jeremy got home at 9:30, so about an hour. I didn't come up for air from that sofa much until Saturday and even still Ive been throwing up at least once a day and feeling nauseous almost every second. I have just never been this sick in my life, it was like the flu mixed with strep throat. Absolutely miserable.
Jeremy's wigging out thinking he has it now. Poor guy. Before this unexpected week sofa vacation, I had tons of stuff to do, and now I still do. But eh, I'll get to what I can. ;) Its beautiful out, I'm hoping to be well enough now next week to plant my garden, since I wont be up to it tomorrow, and thats Jeremy's last day off this week.
We have our vacation planned out for Tennessee... I cant believe we are actually going! And the coast is in the books for everyone, something I thought only we would do, and others wouldn't have interest, now they do. It's exciting! So I'm saving for that. We'd like to get a second vehicle. Originally when we were ttc, we needed a bigger vehicle that holds more then 5, but now that we aren't, we are just going to get one that fits us. :) It will be so nice to have a second vehicle again, let me tell you! Not going crazy or anything, with the buying, just want something we can pay off quickly, and will work.
Now I'm off, sitting here is still too much for me.
