[This is my second attempt to post as I lost the majority due to a malfunction beyond my control which may make you feel sorry for me after reading]
We have a new camera. (And the crowd goes wild.)
FINALLY! I can take pictures of my children before they have children. The past two Sundays I coerced the kids into a photo session which lasted all of five minutes with the boys. I was ecstatic that I will actually be able to provide documentation of their pre-K years even if they are goofing around and the shot contains backs of heads, blurry hands and the like. Caroline is slightly more cooperative if working on a full stomach.
That's the good news. The sad news is that you can't see them. My PC and Blogger informed me that the files were too big when I tried to upload/download/all-around-load. This is the part where I feel really old and out of it. My cellular unit doesn't even have vibrate if that tells you anything. Ten years ago I was a pro because I efficiently navigated email from my plugged in computer. That apparently is so yesterday. Now I couldn't tell you the difference between a Blackberry, iPod (a member of the pea pod family?), Wii, iPhone or Atari. Wait, I do know about Atari. I used to play Pong in junior high and my eye-hand coordination was unsurpassed. That's why I can change a diaper on a moving target.
My sincere apologies to those I scoffed at who couldn't compose an email or find their C drive. I'm now riding that clueless wave myself.
Corbin has informed me that I can reduce photo size in PhotoShop. That would be if I knew how to work PhotoShop or better yet how to find the program on the PC to see if I could even learn to use it. He said that he will put me in his remedial help class if we ever get two seconds. He's always been the computer guru so I've learned to lean on him but alas I feel I must become more technologically self sufficient, I fear.
So stayed tuned because in the coming days you may see proof that my children exist. I can't guarantee the quality of the photos or whether I'll be able to PhotoShop the blurry hands and nose picking but you have my word that I'll do my best. Maybe I'll even be able to make those fancy shmancy photo collages that some of you post. That's so impressive.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Family Night
This morning it was cold and windy and rainy and I thought it was a perfect day to stay in my pajamas all day and watch movies--but I didn't . . . We need a big snow storm to shut things down.
Last night we had Family Home Evening in which we try to spend time together every Monday night. It's usually an adventure and some weeks are easier than others to enjoy but we're making progress. I see advantages of family togetherness on most of the nights although at times it's still a struggle to get the simultaneous attention of everyone but that's the phase we're in.
We usually have a little lesson about Jesus or some other practical application--like the night we spent with Matthew teaching him stranger danger and other useful safety tips. That reminds me that we need to work on his address and phone number so I'll add it to my "to do" list. Some nights we make cookies which always seems to be a hit.
Last night Matthew wanted to give a lesson so we obliged. He did a GREAT job. He has natural speaking abilities and showmanship (emphasis on showmanship) and understands what he learns at church.
He wanted to give his "presentation" from his plastic desk so Corbin carried it downstairs for him to the living room where he proudly sat. We sang "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" while Spencer gleefully leaped into the air each time we sang "beam." It's fun to watch him develop and see what he's learning in nursery. Then we did a rousing rendition of "Once There Was a Snowman".
To top it all off, we had brownies and ice cream and it was a near perfect night.
I bribed Matthew with a Happy Meal if he stayed in his own bed all night last night. It worked. So it looks like I'll be scouting out which McD has Alvin (of Alvin and and Chipmunks fame) in the meal. That kid will do almost anything for a plastic toy. Interesting how he usually doesn't notice the disappearance of the toy months after it was his very most favorite toy ever in the whole wide gigantic enoromous world. I know all this yet am still a sucker like every other parent in America.
Last night we had Family Home Evening in which we try to spend time together every Monday night. It's usually an adventure and some weeks are easier than others to enjoy but we're making progress. I see advantages of family togetherness on most of the nights although at times it's still a struggle to get the simultaneous attention of everyone but that's the phase we're in.
We usually have a little lesson about Jesus or some other practical application--like the night we spent with Matthew teaching him stranger danger and other useful safety tips. That reminds me that we need to work on his address and phone number so I'll add it to my "to do" list. Some nights we make cookies which always seems to be a hit.
Last night Matthew wanted to give a lesson so we obliged. He did a GREAT job. He has natural speaking abilities and showmanship (emphasis on showmanship) and understands what he learns at church.
He wanted to give his "presentation" from his plastic desk so Corbin carried it downstairs for him to the living room where he proudly sat. We sang "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" while Spencer gleefully leaped into the air each time we sang "beam." It's fun to watch him develop and see what he's learning in nursery. Then we did a rousing rendition of "Once There Was a Snowman".
To top it all off, we had brownies and ice cream and it was a near perfect night.
I bribed Matthew with a Happy Meal if he stayed in his own bed all night last night. It worked. So it looks like I'll be scouting out which McD has Alvin (of Alvin and and Chipmunks fame) in the meal. That kid will do almost anything for a plastic toy. Interesting how he usually doesn't notice the disappearance of the toy months after it was his very most favorite toy ever in the whole wide gigantic enoromous world. I know all this yet am still a sucker like every other parent in America.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Does Hair Really Have to be so Hard?
One of my special gifts is not good hair. The mop I call hair has been a struggle my entire life and the situation doesn't seem to be resolving any time soon. As a child, my mom would ponytail and barrett it after having to yank through it with a brush to get any sort of civilized presentation. I was the proud owner of multiple darling matching barrett sets which are still around somewhere in my stash of childhood treasures. The barretts helped on the attractiveness front. When my dad trimmed my bangs the night before school photos that did not help on the attractiveness front, just to clarify. No More Tangles was a staple and had I known I should have stockpiled it back then. Do they still make it?
As a child, my heart's desire almost as much as owning a hippy hop--which never happened but that's another story--was to have a cute hairstyle like the popular girls. One that I could actually park into place myself as opposed to having the stylist work it and after a wash vanish from the planet forever. It never really happened as evidenced by the documentation of my journey through elementary school and middle school.
Oh middle school--don't even get me started there. That was back when my hair really should have been washed every day but I wasn't that advanced in my grooming habits to recognize such a fact and my already difficult hair looked even more fabulous after sleeping on it and trying to save face with a curling iron. For cuts, I skipped on over to Linda Musser's Salon on Fourth Street and entered hoping against hope that I would somehow emerge with hair like Dorothy Hamil. It was a dream ripped from me every time I forked over the $6 cash my mom sent along.
So in the single days it was a little better. Because let's face it, what do singles have if not time? I thought I was really "busy" but I was clueless as we generally seem to recognize as we move from phase to phase. I'm quite sure I am still clueless on a number of levels to be revealed in another 10 years. So in the single days I had time to primp and try to get the frizz ball under control. Most days it shaped up nicely after 45 minutes. But golly, who has that kind of time now?
My whole aim of the day is just to provide clean underwear. My family should consider themselves forever blessed if they don't have to recycle and wear it inside out. I feel like a rockstar when I'm in and out of the shower before signs of life emerge. I do the quick blow dry usually while herding folks away from bathroom water sources and climbing gear while someone is strapped to my leg or demanding that I "look". The hair is "done" but that doesn't equate to "looks good" on most given days. Successfully straightening and defrizzing to appear well groomed are a whole other luxury reserved for a special time yet to be determined in my future.
Given my endless styling woes, I'm intrigued by a little hair device called an Instyler my friend discussed on her blog. Could there really be hope that the Instyler could save my life? I just wonder how it would do for frizzy hair formerly known as curly. (My grandmother used to tell me that I was related to Shirley Temple--which is true--but what she didn't mentioned was that Shirley had a whole styling team before she boarded the Good Ship Lollipop.)
I am really tempted to try the Instyler but my one hesitation is if the Instyler takes me a half an hour to accomplish then I'm really not ahead because I am all about speed these days. I know this may come as a surprise to some and I still amaze myself. Can you believe that I also get to work prior to 8:00? I am a star. That's something that never happened when I was single because remember I was busy and had to sleep.
So if the Instyler can produce naturally gorgeous smooth hair in five minutes who wouldn't want it? Maybe Instyler can help me in ways Linda Musser's Salon never could. I'll have to stew on this.
*Photo stolen without permission from April Cobb's blog.
As a child, my heart's desire almost as much as owning a hippy hop--which never happened but that's another story--was to have a cute hairstyle like the popular girls. One that I could actually park into place myself as opposed to having the stylist work it and after a wash vanish from the planet forever. It never really happened as evidenced by the documentation of my journey through elementary school and middle school.
Oh middle school--don't even get me started there. That was back when my hair really should have been washed every day but I wasn't that advanced in my grooming habits to recognize such a fact and my already difficult hair looked even more fabulous after sleeping on it and trying to save face with a curling iron. For cuts, I skipped on over to Linda Musser's Salon on Fourth Street and entered hoping against hope that I would somehow emerge with hair like Dorothy Hamil. It was a dream ripped from me every time I forked over the $6 cash my mom sent along.
So in the single days it was a little better. Because let's face it, what do singles have if not time? I thought I was really "busy" but I was clueless as we generally seem to recognize as we move from phase to phase. I'm quite sure I am still clueless on a number of levels to be revealed in another 10 years. So in the single days I had time to primp and try to get the frizz ball under control. Most days it shaped up nicely after 45 minutes. But golly, who has that kind of time now?
My whole aim of the day is just to provide clean underwear. My family should consider themselves forever blessed if they don't have to recycle and wear it inside out. I feel like a rockstar when I'm in and out of the shower before signs of life emerge. I do the quick blow dry usually while herding folks away from bathroom water sources and climbing gear while someone is strapped to my leg or demanding that I "look". The hair is "done" but that doesn't equate to "looks good" on most given days. Successfully straightening and defrizzing to appear well groomed are a whole other luxury reserved for a special time yet to be determined in my future.
Given my endless styling woes, I'm intrigued by a little hair device called an Instyler my friend discussed on her blog. Could there really be hope that the Instyler could save my life? I just wonder how it would do for frizzy hair formerly known as curly. (My grandmother used to tell me that I was related to Shirley Temple--which is true--but what she didn't mentioned was that Shirley had a whole styling team before she boarded the Good Ship Lollipop.)
I am really tempted to try the Instyler but my one hesitation is if the Instyler takes me a half an hour to accomplish then I'm really not ahead because I am all about speed these days. I know this may come as a surprise to some and I still amaze myself. Can you believe that I also get to work prior to 8:00? I am a star. That's something that never happened when I was single because remember I was busy and had to sleep.
So if the Instyler can produce naturally gorgeous smooth hair in five minutes who wouldn't want it? Maybe Instyler can help me in ways Linda Musser's Salon never could. I'll have to stew on this.
*Photo stolen without permission from April Cobb's blog.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Perhaps the New Year Isn't Going Quite as Smoothly as I Thought
I will admit that one of my new goals was to reduce the amount of times I raise my voice around the house (aka yell at the kids). My fondest dream is to get a response minus the use of a bull horn and neon sign but I'm probably asking alot especially from the one who is part ape. I need to go back and review the materials from my Love and Logic class because in the heat of the moment all reason and learning escape me when faced with a clean up on aisle three for the eighteenth time in a half hour.
When I mentioned this lofty ambition to Matthew a few days ago he responded in a mocking tone with some humorous comments about how I should proceed with business as usual. It made Corbin and I laugh because his five year old insight caught us off guard but that happens frequently.
So off I went on my new venture. On the way home from Chuck-O-Rama tonight, which is another adventure in and of itself, I asked him how I was doing on my voice and volume levels. Much to my dismay he noted not a difference. I thought I was doing remarkably better but that's the ugly reality of having a child who speaks the truth.
What amazes me is how loving these little people are right after I have an emotional malfunction, as I like to call it. They still want snuggled, they still want my attention although Daddy is right handy and available, and they still show unconditional love.
I'm going to forge onward in my quest because I still have 11 months and 3 weeks to get Matthew to change his answer and I'm not the kind to give up after a week (unless it involves a treadmill and less cookies).
When I mentioned this lofty ambition to Matthew a few days ago he responded in a mocking tone with some humorous comments about how I should proceed with business as usual. It made Corbin and I laugh because his five year old insight caught us off guard but that happens frequently.
So off I went on my new venture. On the way home from Chuck-O-Rama tonight, which is another adventure in and of itself, I asked him how I was doing on my voice and volume levels. Much to my dismay he noted not a difference. I thought I was doing remarkably better but that's the ugly reality of having a child who speaks the truth.
What amazes me is how loving these little people are right after I have an emotional malfunction, as I like to call it. They still want snuggled, they still want my attention although Daddy is right handy and available, and they still show unconditional love.
I'm going to forge onward in my quest because I still have 11 months and 3 weeks to get Matthew to change his answer and I'm not the kind to give up after a week (unless it involves a treadmill and less cookies).
Monday, January 4, 2010
Toilet Incident--Take 32
How can you not love that face to the left? It's sparkly and curious and belongs to a natural comedian who will turn three in August 2010--although it feels like he was just born last week. Maybe three will show less action--maybe? I don't want to rush three because that will subtract from Caroline's infancy but when three does come maybe it will arrive with marked maturity. We can only hope.
I' ve been too cheap to buy toilet locks. There are a variety to choose from and I just haven't devoted time and resources to toilet locks like I should. It comes back to bite me often. In exchange we keep the bathroom doors locked the majority of the time. It's a bit of a hassle because we have to keep a pointy nail or a spoon in close proximity. Sometimes the lock down produces near accidents for others in the house who shall rename nameless for privacy reasons but completed their potty training certification in the last few years.
Last night however, Spencer found an unlocked master bathroom door and went to work while the rest of us dined on a new recipe of chicken and broccoli stroganoff. (It was ok in case you are wondering how it turned out.) Upon noting Spencer's absence, it was my turn to track him down which meant I had to spearhead the front line of clean up for whatever lie ahead (and with Spence something is always lying ahead). He's heard to find in stealth mode.
I located him hiding out in the bathroom with a plastic waffle ice cream cone bailing toilet water onto the floor and into the sinks as fast as humanly possible. I think he generally knows he has to work fast before he is busted. Upon arrival, the floor was saturated and toilet water dripped from walls and fixtures. Spence was using the cone to stir toilet paper in the bowl rejoicing in it's disinigration and had wads of it stuck to his shirt. Gross in a word. Thirty nine hundred Clorox wipes and a shower later it was all fixed. He's exhausting every minute of every day but his eyes are so shiny and full of life. They tell me I'll look back on all of this with fondness.
The End of the Holiday Hoopla
2010 is here. I read 2010 is trickier to make into New Year's eyeglasses but crafty manufacturers were doing it anyway. Maybe the 1 was over your eye--I'm not sure because I didn't buy any. I'm just lucky to have my real glasses in tact and I usually can't see out of them anyway so I might as well be looking at a 1.
Where did the last decade go? It seems like just last year we were wondering if our computers would blow up in a Y2K disaster or date roll to 1800 and my friends from DC were actually working for governmental agencies designed to divert such a catastrophe. Well somehow we all lived through that and alot more. But seriously, where has the time gone other than a marriage, three houses, three companies, and three kids? The last decade has been one of action which in retrospect has seemed to advance the time.
I'm looking forward to 2010. I don't have any grand plans but I'm holding out hope for a good year four days into it. I have a few personal goals which I won't share because that makes me liable if I fail to perform. If I actually follow through I'll share the joy.
I'm kind of happy to revert back to normal life now that the holidays are over. I do love the change of pace and enthusiasm but it's hard on the kids sleeping schedules and it gets their little minds all reved up. We took down the decorations and the house looks naked inside and out. That part is sad. Even sadder is how I need to clean now that it's down. And in defense of Corbin, let me insert here that I had an emotional malfunction involving some under the breath words and yanking of light balls when I took down the exterior lights on Saturday. I kind of see where he's coming from when the eyes roll at the suggestion of exterior illumination. It does look so pretty though so we keep doing it.
We look forward to a time to renew, rejuvinate and relax in 2010.
Where did the last decade go? It seems like just last year we were wondering if our computers would blow up in a Y2K disaster or date roll to 1800 and my friends from DC were actually working for governmental agencies designed to divert such a catastrophe. Well somehow we all lived through that and alot more. But seriously, where has the time gone other than a marriage, three houses, three companies, and three kids? The last decade has been one of action which in retrospect has seemed to advance the time.
I'm looking forward to 2010. I don't have any grand plans but I'm holding out hope for a good year four days into it. I have a few personal goals which I won't share because that makes me liable if I fail to perform. If I actually follow through I'll share the joy.
I'm kind of happy to revert back to normal life now that the holidays are over. I do love the change of pace and enthusiasm but it's hard on the kids sleeping schedules and it gets their little minds all reved up. We took down the decorations and the house looks naked inside and out. That part is sad. Even sadder is how I need to clean now that it's down. And in defense of Corbin, let me insert here that I had an emotional malfunction involving some under the breath words and yanking of light balls when I took down the exterior lights on Saturday. I kind of see where he's coming from when the eyes roll at the suggestion of exterior illumination. It does look so pretty though so we keep doing it.
We look forward to a time to renew, rejuvinate and relax in 2010.
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