Monday, April 28, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Life
I called my sister in law this morning as a bribe for Casey. He loves to talk on the phone and he loves to talk to Aunt A. We needed to get going out the door to the doctor's office for his 2 year check up and so I told him if he hurried and came with Mom we could call Aunt A and he could talk in the car. He talks, translate to listens, with an occasional uh-huh thrown in there for a little while, then yells, Mommy talk! and hands the phone to me.
We were talking about how I had finally gotten around to making Casey's 2 year check up, 2 months later. My sister in law has 3 children also, so she can totally relate. We started talking about laundry, dishes, life, etc. and she says,
Sometimes, life just overwhelms me!
Can any of you relate?? Boy howdy I can! Emily's birthday is in less than a week...Do you think I have anything planned, bought or ready? Nooo! I have piles of laundry all over my floor, clean and dirty, dishes in the sink, in the dishwasher, on the counter; I have piled stuff that needs to go upstairs to the kids' rooms at the bottom of the stairs because I am too lazy to take it up and put it away and so are they! Al even mentioned that I should work a little extra and have someone come and help me that's how bad it is!
Carter has 2 days off of school for kindergarten round up. We'll have to pick up a little, because we have to to survive. But I know we will play instead of clean, because the mess will always be there, long after they are gone.
Besides, which would you rather do....
Laundry and dishes
or
Play trains with two adorable little boys that still think you hung the moon?
CHOO-CHOO!
We were talking about how I had finally gotten around to making Casey's 2 year check up, 2 months later. My sister in law has 3 children also, so she can totally relate. We started talking about laundry, dishes, life, etc. and she says,
Sometimes, life just overwhelms me!
Can any of you relate?? Boy howdy I can! Emily's birthday is in less than a week...Do you think I have anything planned, bought or ready? Nooo! I have piles of laundry all over my floor, clean and dirty, dishes in the sink, in the dishwasher, on the counter; I have piled stuff that needs to go upstairs to the kids' rooms at the bottom of the stairs because I am too lazy to take it up and put it away and so are they! Al even mentioned that I should work a little extra and have someone come and help me that's how bad it is!
Carter has 2 days off of school for kindergarten round up. We'll have to pick up a little, because we have to to survive. But I know we will play instead of clean, because the mess will always be there, long after they are gone.
Besides, which would you rather do....
Laundry and dishes
or
Play trains with two adorable little boys that still think you hung the moon?
CHOO-CHOO!
Out of the Mouths of Babes
So, this morning, I stepped out of the shower to my 6 year old sitting on the toilet because he was afraid to be in the other room all by himself and he says to me,
"Mommy, you're getting fatter. I think you are going to have another baby!!!"
.....................................
Then, as we are getting ready to actually go out the door to school, I am helping Carter with his shoe and Emily is all ready to go, Casey comes running up. I take one whiff and say,
"Wow, somebody pooped!"
And Casey raises his hand.
"Casey hooped."
.....................................
Then, as we are getting ready to actually go out the door to school, I am helping Carter with his shoe and Emily is all ready to go, Casey comes running up. I take one whiff and say,
"Wow, somebody pooped!"
And Casey raises his hand.
"Casey hooped."
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
I bet you can't do this!
So Sunday evening, the kids and I went out to the farm to clean up our old camper and get it ready to hopefully (cross your fingers) sell. I took my camera along because I wanted to practice taking a particular kid of a shot. Anyway, as Casey and I were walking out to where the camper was set up (the old cattle lot), we stopped to watch Al aka Daddy back this wagon full of beans into the shed to keep it out of the weather. Now if there is one thing my husband is good at, it is backing machinery into tight spots. I know this. I've watched him in awe for going on 12 years now. I am still amazed to this day how he can back something as big as a tractor up to the wagon or whatever he wants to hook up to, the first try! And he gets within inches of the spot he is aiming for!
Now, me on the other hand, I can't even really parallel park, let along back up to something I want to hook on to or into a tight fitting parking spot....You get the picture.
That said, Al walked up to me after parking this wagon and said,
(This top picture is Al backing the wagon into the shed. It's a little bright because I was trying a new setting out on my camera and obviously it wasn't working right, but I managed to get this picture anyway. I didn't have time to edit it, but thought any blog readers could enjoy it anyway.)
Now, me on the other hand, I can't even really parallel park, let along back up to something I want to hook on to or into a tight fitting parking spot....You get the picture.
That said, Al walked up to me after parking this wagon and said,
"Bet you can't do that!"
(This top picture is Al backing the wagon into the shed. It's a little bright because I was trying a new setting out on my camera and obviously it wasn't working right, but I managed to get this picture anyway. I didn't have time to edit it, but thought any blog readers could enjoy it anyway.)
Friday, April 18, 2008
Something Funny Happened the Other Day
I haven't posted in a while...
I haven't felt very inspired...
But, since my husband, of all people, commented to me that he had been visiting my blog and hadn't seen anything new, I thought I'd better figure something out!!!
So, here's kind of a funny story... (I actually wrote this up for a newspaper article that we submit for the library, so some of you may see this again...)
Al and I took the kids grocery shopping in Charles City last Sunday after church. As some of you already know, grocery shopping with all 3 kids is an experience in and of itself. When we got there, I picked the cart with a truck underneath of it for Casey to ride in. Emily and Carter took turns riding with him even though they were too big for it. They would sit sideways, letting their feet hang out of the door. Amusing picture, I know, but the cart moves much faster when two of the three children are riding as opposed to only one. Emily and Carter chose to ride thusly because first of all, they would get tired. You know how tiring it is walking around a big grocery store, especially for an 8 and 6 six year old. Second of all, they were making Casey happy so that he would stop yelling, “Sissy! Dardar! (Carter!) Get in! Sissy! Dardar!”
We were talking amongst ourselves a lot, not too loudly though, I don’t think. I would ask Emily and Carter to grab things from our list that we needed to help speed up our shopping and also to give them something to do. Besides, they think it is really cool when they get to make a decision and pick something out. I didn’t think that we were being particularly disruptive.
As we shopped, sometimes one or two of us would head off in another direction to pick something up and then meet back up at the cart which I was pushing most of the time. Toward the back of the store, near the dairy aisle, my husband Al and Emily veered off for a few minutes to get drinkable yogurts, Casey’s absolute favorite thing! When they returned to the cart, Al told me that there were people telling him which aisle we had turned down so that he could find us. Then a little later, I realized that we had forgotten chicken nuggets, a staple in our household. Not wanting to turn that big truck/cart around, I opted to run over to the frozen foods aisle by myself and grab the needed item. I passed a lady and her husband on my way and she pointed out to me that I had “lost” my cart. This gave me pause. I wondered if we were really “bothering” all of these people in Hy-Vee or if, as I’ve so often been told from people before, were they enjoying watching us? You know how when you are the parent it always seems as if your children are being really too loud and noisy and people everywhere must be thinking, “Why don’t they just leave those kids at home?” You worry and worry until you are yelling at your children to be quiet and at this point you just want to go home.
In conversation with some older people from our church, I have been told before not to worry. Our children are not bothering them. They enjoy watching them and love to reminisce about their own child rearing days remembering how they thought their children were being troublesome to other people and remembering how hard it was to have children and teach them when to be quiet, sit still, etc. Also, since their children are all grown up, these people from my church, just enjoy seeing children and how full of life they are. Hopefully, this was what was going on in Hy-Vee on Sunday. So, I’m telling myself today to relax just a little and enjoy the life that my children bring to me because someday soon they will be all grown up and dealing with their own life struggles. And, if my family really was bothersome grocery shopping on Sunday, I hope you all can laugh about it today and that everyone out there with children can relate. I know you can…
I haven't felt very inspired...
But, since my husband, of all people, commented to me that he had been visiting my blog and hadn't seen anything new, I thought I'd better figure something out!!!
So, here's kind of a funny story... (I actually wrote this up for a newspaper article that we submit for the library, so some of you may see this again...)
Al and I took the kids grocery shopping in Charles City last Sunday after church. As some of you already know, grocery shopping with all 3 kids is an experience in and of itself. When we got there, I picked the cart with a truck underneath of it for Casey to ride in. Emily and Carter took turns riding with him even though they were too big for it. They would sit sideways, letting their feet hang out of the door. Amusing picture, I know, but the cart moves much faster when two of the three children are riding as opposed to only one. Emily and Carter chose to ride thusly because first of all, they would get tired. You know how tiring it is walking around a big grocery store, especially for an 8 and 6 six year old. Second of all, they were making Casey happy so that he would stop yelling, “Sissy! Dardar! (Carter!) Get in! Sissy! Dardar!”
We were talking amongst ourselves a lot, not too loudly though, I don’t think. I would ask Emily and Carter to grab things from our list that we needed to help speed up our shopping and also to give them something to do. Besides, they think it is really cool when they get to make a decision and pick something out. I didn’t think that we were being particularly disruptive.
As we shopped, sometimes one or two of us would head off in another direction to pick something up and then meet back up at the cart which I was pushing most of the time. Toward the back of the store, near the dairy aisle, my husband Al and Emily veered off for a few minutes to get drinkable yogurts, Casey’s absolute favorite thing! When they returned to the cart, Al told me that there were people telling him which aisle we had turned down so that he could find us. Then a little later, I realized that we had forgotten chicken nuggets, a staple in our household. Not wanting to turn that big truck/cart around, I opted to run over to the frozen foods aisle by myself and grab the needed item. I passed a lady and her husband on my way and she pointed out to me that I had “lost” my cart. This gave me pause. I wondered if we were really “bothering” all of these people in Hy-Vee or if, as I’ve so often been told from people before, were they enjoying watching us? You know how when you are the parent it always seems as if your children are being really too loud and noisy and people everywhere must be thinking, “Why don’t they just leave those kids at home?” You worry and worry until you are yelling at your children to be quiet and at this point you just want to go home.
In conversation with some older people from our church, I have been told before not to worry. Our children are not bothering them. They enjoy watching them and love to reminisce about their own child rearing days remembering how they thought their children were being troublesome to other people and remembering how hard it was to have children and teach them when to be quiet, sit still, etc. Also, since their children are all grown up, these people from my church, just enjoy seeing children and how full of life they are. Hopefully, this was what was going on in Hy-Vee on Sunday. So, I’m telling myself today to relax just a little and enjoy the life that my children bring to me because someday soon they will be all grown up and dealing with their own life struggles. And, if my family really was bothersome grocery shopping on Sunday, I hope you all can laugh about it today and that everyone out there with children can relate. I know you can…
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Two More Things
It is nice to be missed.
Anyway, Emily woke up that morning and asked Grandma,
"How many hours until I go to bed? I want to be sure and be all packed up in time."
On Friday, I went back into work some and dropped Casey off at the babysitter's house. She told me this story.
"Wednesday, when Casey was here, about every five minutes he said...
La-la (this is Linda)
Yes Casey.
My Mommy loves me.
Why yes Casey, she loves you very much.
My Daddy loves me too.
Anyway, Emily woke up that morning and asked Grandma,
"How many hours until I go to bed? I want to be sure and be all packed up in time."
On Friday, I went back into work some and dropped Casey off at the babysitter's house. She told me this story.
"Wednesday, when Casey was here, about every five minutes he said...
La-la (this is Linda)
Yes Casey.
My Mommy loves me.
Why yes Casey, she loves you very much.
My Daddy loves me too.
Other Random Thoughts about my trip and a few pictures
The top one is a nice picture that Al took on Tuesday from Arlington Cemetery while I was at the conference. The bottom is a window of the creation at the National Cathedral.
Here Al and I are in a garden at the National Cathedral...
Here I am at the Lincoln Memorial. It's a lot bigger than I imagined! I made sure to visit this one memorial because it was the only thing that Carter thought we should see!
Funny Things I noticed or thought about while on my Washington D.C. trip...
1) On our flight from Chicago to Washington D.C. we waited in line next to a lady flying from Oklahoma out to somewhere farther than our D.C. stop with her 3 month old boy. Needless to say he was tired of flying and she was a little frazzled. A nice man who ended up a row behind her, took her baby and put him to sleep, holding him much of the flight. You could tell he enjoyed cuddling with the baby, but what an act of kindness!
2)I thought escalators were for a bonus ride. I must be from Iowa. They are really just for getting you up faster!
3)People are always moving, going somewhere in Washinton D.C. You go from an airplane to a taxi/car, to a shuttle, to the subway, to a metro bus, back to a taxi and then another shuttle and again the subway and a shuttle and back on a plane....Don't forget running up escalators and on moving walkways to get where you are going even faster!!
4)People from the Midwest really are the friendliest anywhere. I tried to visit with different people at the conference and a few times I felt like they were being polite answering my questions, but a look of relief seemed to pass over their faces when I stopped talking to them.
5)Social networking in any and all forms is where it's at.
6)I may not have been sleeping in the fancy hotel, but I got big waffles for my complimentary breakfast! It's the little things in life.
7)Chicago O'Hare airport is huge! United's terminal is very, very long, especially when your gates get changed and you don't find out until the last minute! That's why they have those moving floors, like escalators only you don't go up just forward! Not for the ride, you silly Iowa girl!
8)Motion is not my friend!
9) Lastly, even if I feel like I didn't see everything that I wanted to I still enjoyed time away with my husband.
Trip to D.C.
April is National Poetry month, you know. I had decided that I would try and write one this month because writing is something I love and I don't seem to make enough time for it. I remember writing poems when I was younger, so I thought being National Poetry month and all I would try to spark that creativity again.
Anyway, I flew to Washington D.C. last Sunday through late, late Wednesday night for the Computers in Libraries 2008 conference. One of the people announcing the presenters had written to them for a short bio in Haiku form. Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that basically has 3 lines consisting of 5 syllables, 7 syllables, then 5 more syllables. It was such a neat idea! Made the session and presenter interesting in a whole different way.
Got me to thinking that I could try to write a Haiku. I've been thinking about writing a poem for at least a month now with my goal in mind and have been coming up blank. I find it difficult to force creative juices, but also feel like "creative" times don't often present themselves in my current spot in life and I miss it.
So, with that in mind. Here are a couple of Haiku I tried about my trip.
Washington D.C.
People moving everywhere.
Planes, cabs, subway trains.
Conference quick trip.
Social networking is key.
Washington D.C.
Making connections.
Planes, family, lessons learned.
Nation's capitol.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Peach Fuzz
I love it when my boys get their hair cut. It's such a fun feeling to rub the back of their heads: Peach Fuzz.
Rocky Road Pizza
I went to the 4-H soup supper last week and tasted this bar! Yummy, yum, yum! Did I say that it was yummy? Anyway, when I asked who had brought it, why was I not surprised that it had come from my baby sitter?? She is an awesome cook and baker. I am forever asking for her recipes to try. It is a reputation that proceeds her here in town. S,o I thought I'd share her recipe here today, so if you get a wild hair, you could try it too! Yummy, yum, yum!
Rocky Road Pizza
1 tube Pillsbury sugar cookie dough
1 bag mini marshmallows
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
salted peanuts
1 container caramel ice cream topping
Spread sugar cookie dough on a pizza pan and bake for 12 minutes at 350. Take out of oven and sprinkle generously with chocolate chips, marshmallows, and salted peanuts. Next, drizzle with caramel ice cream topping. Put back in oven for about 10 more minutes, until marshmallows are toasty!
Enjoy!
Rocky Road Pizza
1 tube Pillsbury sugar cookie dough
1 bag mini marshmallows
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
salted peanuts
1 container caramel ice cream topping
Spread sugar cookie dough on a pizza pan and bake for 12 minutes at 350. Take out of oven and sprinkle generously with chocolate chips, marshmallows, and salted peanuts. Next, drizzle with caramel ice cream topping. Put back in oven for about 10 more minutes, until marshmallows are toasty!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
MEME
I was wondering if I would get around to a post today....guess Sarah
has just decided it for me...
I'VE BEEN TAGGED!!
Here are the rules of the game...
1) link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog
2) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird
3) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by linking their names as well as links to their blog
4) let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Facts about me...
1)I am an only child (I'm sure that explains everything)
2)I have a minor in French and hope to visit France someday. (Al says he will take me)
3)I graduated in a class of 320 and didn't know the person I was sitting next to at graduation. (really small town life has been an adjustment for me)
4)I have attended school in Idaho.
5)I am going to Washington D.C. in a few days for the first time ever!
6)I once played "Last one to the door is a rotten egg" and since I was last tried to hold the door shut so I wouldn't lose and promptly stuck my arm through a glass door cutting my artery!!!
7)One of my favorite memories from vacationing is swimming in an ice cold mountain lake in the Big Horn Mountains! (Twice!)
So there are a few things you may or may not know about me! I don't visit a ton of blogs, but here are two friends that I don't think have done this before.
Janette
Jenny
has just decided it for me...
I'VE BEEN TAGGED!!
Here are the rules of the game...
1) link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog
2) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird
3) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by linking their names as well as links to their blog
4) let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Facts about me...
1)I am an only child (I'm sure that explains everything)
2)I have a minor in French and hope to visit France someday. (Al says he will take me)
3)I graduated in a class of 320 and didn't know the person I was sitting next to at graduation. (really small town life has been an adjustment for me)
4)I have attended school in Idaho.
5)I am going to Washington D.C. in a few days for the first time ever!
6)I once played "Last one to the door is a rotten egg" and since I was last tried to hold the door shut so I wouldn't lose and promptly stuck my arm through a glass door cutting my artery!!!
7)One of my favorite memories from vacationing is swimming in an ice cold mountain lake in the Big Horn Mountains! (Twice!)
So there are a few things you may or may not know about me! I don't visit a ton of blogs, but here are two friends that I don't think have done this before.
Janette
Jenny
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About Me
- Stacey
- I'm a 30 something mother of 3 beautiful children, wife to a hard working farmer who is also my best friend, part-time librarian,constant reader, dreamer, writer,amateur photographer, and friend. I'm growing and changing and becoming more me everyday.