Gentle Reader, today is day 4 (or 3, if you ask Super J who is probably more correct in his calculations than my pregnant brain wants to give him credit for) of being "laid up and on crutches." I can officially say, I Ams Hating It. I am way too busy, have way too much stuff to do and WAY too fat and pregnant for me to be in this hot mess. ARGH!
There. That being said...
Things that I have appreciated about it:
1. My friends and loving thoughts sent along the way and childcare options and help options and visitations. Thank you, one and all. You are incredible. Though I am still feeling foolish and goofish and all that goes along with this, you have made me feel loved despite/in spite of myself. Thank you.
2. I actually am caught up on my book club books. When you can do practically nothing but sit "in your cell" (as Super J likes to call my love seat/prop your leg up area) or lie in bed, it's amazing how entertaining good books can be.
3. Going to the bathroom by myself. Shades of horrified future, on Friday when I could not put any weight on my foot, it was quite the experience to be accompanied to the toilet and I must admit to being terrified that it might have to continue for longer than it did. Ugh. I have never been so grateful to get crutches for this reason. And I never want to get old...just sayin'.
4. Which brings us to "Crutches". Even without a fracture (I'll have to call later this afternoon to find out one way or another, but I totally still think it's a sprain), I am supposed to use my crutches until I can manage walking on my own...which I told Super J was today. Hmmmmmm...maybe not (remember: I AM the queen of unrealistic expectations). It has made negotiating things (ie: the bathroom trips) sooooo much better and getting up and down the stairs. Yay.
5. The amazing thing called the human body and it's ability to heal, especially through the power of prayer and priesthood blessings. I am 100% sure that I am this far along because of it.
6. That I have not gone into labor! HALLELUJAH! I was telling Super J just last night how crazy it was that all my pregnancy aches and pains, while I'm still aware of them, have been lowered on the pain threshold level because of all these new and impressive boo-boos. And, let me just mention how wonderful it is to feel that baby moving in there, turning about and just reminding me that she's quite okay after all this drama.
7. Last, but not least: My family. Super J has been above and beyond Super. He took all three girls to a Primary activity and then the mall on Saturday and then to a baseball game (our nephews) and out and about and brought home GREEK FOOD for dinner. Yum. Heck! *I* haven't even taken all of them to the mall by myself. Yesterday, he took them all to church and worked with them and made dinner...I could go on. And you should see the girls thriving under his care. If I thought they LURVED him before, now I really know. Miss A and E have been sooooo sweet (though all three tend to be a wee bit oblivous when it comes to bumping into the foot when it's propped up...oh well) AND!!!! Miss O has been AWESOME going to bed and nap time for him. Yay! And I just found out that my mom might be able to come up later in the week, which will be great whether I'm in a cast, go into labor, or none of the above.
I know there are so many more things that I'm grateful for (spell-check being one of them! ha! Sorry if you got this before I ran the spell check..."throught"? What is that???). But for now, I'm grateful for the opportunity to go change a diaper...I think. lolol.
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Monday, July 28, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The best-laid plans...
So. Tonight, Gentle Reader, I was going to make a fabulous cake in order to welcome Super J home. Much like the game of telephone, I almost love how I got the recipe as much as how great it sounds.
Here's the recipe, swiped from Cryptic Jennifer's friend Chloe's blog (who made it into cupcakes and took the recipe from one of her friends, Mel, from whence I copied and pasted word for Mel's word, but she took it from Food Network, though she added tweaks of her own. Soooooo...it's blatant copying and pasting at its finest):
"Here's the recipe, taken from the Food Network website, and altered with a few of the suggestions taken from the recipe reviews.
Put the Lime in the Coconut Cake:
Cake: (don't you dare use a coconut flavored box mix. The cake is A-MAZING and not too time consuming to make from scratch.)
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon coconut extract
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup coconut milk
Lime Glaze
1 cup sour cream or yogurt
1 cup sugar
2 limes, zested and juiced
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 cup shredded coconut
Icing: (if you're making an actual layer cake, you may need all of the icing this recipe calls for. If you're just going to frost the top of the cake, 1/2 or even 1/4 of this amount will be enough.)
1 cup butter
4 ounces cream cheese
1 pound box plus 1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups shredded coconut
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease and flour 2 (9-inch) cake pans.
In an electric mixer or using a hand beater, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add coconut extract and eggs 1 at a time. In a mixing bowl or on a sheet of parchment paper, combine flour, salt, baking soda and powder. To mixer add coconut milk and flour to creamed mixture alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 25 to 28 minutes. Allow to cool 10 minutes then unmold onto rack(s) over a sheet pan and allow to cool completely.
For Glaze: In a medium bowl combine sour cream or yogurt, sugar, lime zest and juice, coconut milk, shredded coconut. With a bamboo skewer, poke holes in cake and spread glaze on both sides of both cakes. Cover with plastic wrap, chill until ready to frost cake.
For Icing: In an electric mixer or using a hand mixer beat together the butter and cream cheese until well blended and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar gradually at low speed. Beat in coconut milk and vanilla. Frost cake. Coat top and sides with shredded coconut.
Invite friends over to eat this cake with you, because if you don't, you may just end up eating the whole thing by yourself."
Here's my take on it so far:
The people at my local Price Chopper have no clue where coconut milk is kept. I was pointed in the direction for the baked goods, where they have condensed milk, dry milk, evaporated milk, goat milk and soy milk, but no coconut milk. Then, after asking in customer service land, they pointed me to (ready?) the MIXED DRINK aisle. And maybe the Organic foods section. Okay. Mixed Drink aisle had some concoction of "Coconut Creme". Hmmmmm. Nothing in Organics. *I* finally found it near the Asian Food area...two different brands of "coconut milk." Crazy.
Still, I love to try a new recipe, so once I get my kitchen cleaned and put away all my other groceries and the pizza that I got from Costco for dinner tonight, then we should be good to go. But first I need to get the girls their showers and then get them to bed (do you see where this is going?).
So, maybe if I have energy, tomorrow after Swim Lessons, I'll start making Super J's welcome home cake.
Here's the recipe, swiped from Cryptic Jennifer's friend Chloe's blog (who made it into cupcakes and took the recipe from one of her friends, Mel, from whence I copied and pasted word for Mel's word, but she took it from Food Network, though she added tweaks of her own. Soooooo...it's blatant copying and pasting at its finest):
"Here's the recipe, taken from the Food Network website, and altered with a few of the suggestions taken from the recipe reviews.
Put the Lime in the Coconut Cake:
Cake: (don't you dare use a coconut flavored box mix. The cake is A-MAZING and not too time consuming to make from scratch.)
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon coconut extract
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup coconut milk
Lime Glaze
1 cup sour cream or yogurt
1 cup sugar
2 limes, zested and juiced
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 cup shredded coconut
Icing: (if you're making an actual layer cake, you may need all of the icing this recipe calls for. If you're just going to frost the top of the cake, 1/2 or even 1/4 of this amount will be enough.)
1 cup butter
4 ounces cream cheese
1 pound box plus 1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups shredded coconut
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease and flour 2 (9-inch) cake pans.
In an electric mixer or using a hand beater, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add coconut extract and eggs 1 at a time. In a mixing bowl or on a sheet of parchment paper, combine flour, salt, baking soda and powder. To mixer add coconut milk and flour to creamed mixture alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 25 to 28 minutes. Allow to cool 10 minutes then unmold onto rack(s) over a sheet pan and allow to cool completely.
For Glaze: In a medium bowl combine sour cream or yogurt, sugar, lime zest and juice, coconut milk, shredded coconut. With a bamboo skewer, poke holes in cake and spread glaze on both sides of both cakes. Cover with plastic wrap, chill until ready to frost cake.
For Icing: In an electric mixer or using a hand mixer beat together the butter and cream cheese until well blended and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar gradually at low speed. Beat in coconut milk and vanilla. Frost cake. Coat top and sides with shredded coconut.
Invite friends over to eat this cake with you, because if you don't, you may just end up eating the whole thing by yourself."
Here's my take on it so far:
The people at my local Price Chopper have no clue where coconut milk is kept. I was pointed in the direction for the baked goods, where they have condensed milk, dry milk, evaporated milk, goat milk and soy milk, but no coconut milk. Then, after asking in customer service land, they pointed me to (ready?) the MIXED DRINK aisle. And maybe the Organic foods section. Okay. Mixed Drink aisle had some concoction of "Coconut Creme". Hmmmmm. Nothing in Organics. *I* finally found it near the Asian Food area...two different brands of "coconut milk." Crazy.
Still, I love to try a new recipe, so once I get my kitchen cleaned and put away all my other groceries and the pizza that I got from Costco for dinner tonight, then we should be good to go. But first I need to get the girls their showers and then get them to bed (do you see where this is going?).
So, maybe if I have energy, tomorrow after Swim Lessons, I'll start making Super J's welcome home cake.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Panera Bread...literally.
So, my friend Katie recently revealed that she has a thing for Panera Bread's yummy food. If I'd only known this when she was visiting, for I, too, adore it. Also, it's so hard to find a place where they have Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi, which I prefer to C.F.D.Coke, so it makes it EXTRA special to go and enjoy a little something from Panera. For example, my current favorite meal is their lovely LOVELY tomato, basil, mozzarella salad with a balsamic vinaigrette...ohhhhhhhhhh, delish!
Ahem.
So, just last weekend we enjoyed an Italian meal with some friends. I love to go to friends' houses to eat because, can I just say (once again), that when you don't have to make a meal, it ALWAYS ALWAYS seems to taste better than anything you could have created at home? Do you know what I mean? The baked mostacolli was soooo good! And Cryptic Jennifer brought over this...man, dare I call it succulent?...garlic bread. And where did she get the bread???? Panera. However I did not know this at the time. It was just this wonderful dense bread with crunchy (but not kill the inside of your mouth crunchy) crusty bread.
HOLY COW it was fabulous. In fact, later that evening, whilst others were munching on M&M's and other chocolaty/candy edibles, I myself went back for another lovely piece of crusty french bread, broiled to perfection with buttered garlic Parmesan toppings toasted to a golden brown. So good. Literally a little slice of heaven.
Why bring this up? Not to taunt you, Gentle Reader. I promise. PROMISE! But I bring this up to tell you of my craving for this bread, that I've had for days. And it really is a craving, because as of late I have had Heartburn from the HOT PLACE. OHhhhhhhhhhhh, the heartburn! I swear, New Baby is going to come out with a head full of hair or else I don't know what is going to happen! NEVER before have I had this heartburn. Oh merrrrrcy me.
But this afternoon, the craving overrode the potential Hotplace Heartburn and I called up Jennifer and asked where (oh where!) did she get her bread. Imagine my joy to discover: Panera! Imagine my sadness to find they were OUT of French Bread when I went to go get some. Argh.
Did that stop me from actually purchasing bread? Heck no. While in Panera Bread, bread must be bought...especially when they have Ciabatta, Sourdough and Asiago Cheese bread. And those, Gentle Reader, I have found, also make LOVELY garlic bread.
So, until I am able to procure some of that amazing French Bread (and one day, trust me, I shall), I have some other great tasting dense bread. Now if only I had thought to get me one of those TBMw/bv salads...with a new roll of tums. :)
Ahem.
So, just last weekend we enjoyed an Italian meal with some friends. I love to go to friends' houses to eat because, can I just say (once again), that when you don't have to make a meal, it ALWAYS ALWAYS seems to taste better than anything you could have created at home? Do you know what I mean? The baked mostacolli was soooo good! And Cryptic Jennifer brought over this...man, dare I call it succulent?...garlic bread. And where did she get the bread???? Panera. However I did not know this at the time. It was just this wonderful dense bread with crunchy (but not kill the inside of your mouth crunchy) crusty bread.
HOLY COW it was fabulous. In fact, later that evening, whilst others were munching on M&M's and other chocolaty/candy edibles, I myself went back for another lovely piece of crusty french bread, broiled to perfection with buttered garlic Parmesan toppings toasted to a golden brown. So good. Literally a little slice of heaven.
Why bring this up? Not to taunt you, Gentle Reader. I promise. PROMISE! But I bring this up to tell you of my craving for this bread, that I've had for days. And it really is a craving, because as of late I have had Heartburn from the HOT PLACE. OHhhhhhhhhhhh, the heartburn! I swear, New Baby is going to come out with a head full of hair or else I don't know what is going to happen! NEVER before have I had this heartburn. Oh merrrrrcy me.
But this afternoon, the craving overrode the potential Hotplace Heartburn and I called up Jennifer and asked where (oh where!) did she get her bread. Imagine my joy to discover: Panera! Imagine my sadness to find they were OUT of French Bread when I went to go get some. Argh.
Did that stop me from actually purchasing bread? Heck no. While in Panera Bread, bread must be bought...especially when they have Ciabatta, Sourdough and Asiago Cheese bread. And those, Gentle Reader, I have found, also make LOVELY garlic bread.
So, until I am able to procure some of that amazing French Bread (and one day, trust me, I shall), I have some other great tasting dense bread. Now if only I had thought to get me one of those TBMw/bv salads...with a new roll of tums. :)
Thursday, June 12, 2008
A happy truth
Now that I got my sad truths out there, I started reading some of my favorite blogs, and my friend Katie has this story posted on her blog (which is also too cute for words). I think after these last few weeks, I needed to read it, so I hope if you have a minute, you'll read it, too. And have some tissues handy (and I hope you don't mind me linking to it, Katie!).
"This is an inspiring story."
"This is an inspiring story."
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Oh my gosh, I *AM* one of those mothers
Have you ever watched a movie where the little rich kid (boy or girl, who often is the snot of the movie) is finally allowed, through the grace of whatever main character they are following, to play with some toy or get dirty or whatever? Meanwhile, in the background, their parents in their most hoity-toity voices are like, "No, Muffy! We shan't get our dress all dirty!!! Come here this instant!!!" But it's too late: "Muffy" is getting to enjoy this new freedom and will forever be changed into a normal human being????
Well...true confessions (Oh the shame, the shame!!!!). I realized: That's me. Not Muffy, but Muffy's PARENT!
Miss A had a friend over yesterday afternoon and they spent hours playing under the deck in the backyard, in the dirt remnants from Super J's tree planting extravaganza. I thought...ugh. But I knew that we can wash hands and legs (and clothes...how did they get that dirt on their backs?? Will Miss A's friend's mom EVER let her come back???? Yegads!). I felt a certain amount of personal growth that I was like, whatever. It's just dirt.
Until I was getting Miss O up from her nap and looked out the window. What a spectacle!!! Miss A and friend had turned the hose on and they were DRENCHING each other!!!
(can you hear it??? "Muffy! Get out of that water!!! MUUUUUUFFFFFFFYYYYYYYYY!!!")
I rapped on the window and I'm not sure when I moved so fast to get downstairs. I had them turn the hose off and come upstairs because (OF COURSE!!!!) our sweet little friend's mom was due ANY SECOND! Oh dear heavens above! And I needed to find some clothes for this little petite flower! Maybe something of Miss E's??? As they are coming upstairs, what does Miss A tell me in passing?
"But we were having fun."
Long story short: Amanda arrives to pick up her daughter and is completely...I don't know if fine is the word, but she definitely not flinching and is, in fact, quite lovely about the whole thing. She may even let her petite flower come back! I tell ya, Amanda's attitude definitely helped Miss A avoid a fierce scolding (she wasn't supposed to turn on the water...this was a directive given before they went outside, so I guess I don't feel quite so hideous upon that reflection, but still! "MUFFY! No, NO!").
But it was later when I was telling Super J about the whole situation that I had that "Oh my heavens" moment of realization. I'm not sure how one learns which battles are truly necessary to wage in order to win the engagement of parenting. Obedience to NOT turning on the hose OR allowing some leeway during summer time? I dunno. I'm still trying to figure it out. But I *do* know, Amanda's attitude is the one I want when I grow up. It's just water and dirt, but may actually turn out to be the fabulous experience that truly adds to their humanity.
Or mine.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Some of the blessings of life
Gentle Reader, I am blessed with amazing friends, and you are included. As I was typing this entry, I kept thinking to myself, I have amazing FRIENDS! If I know you and hang with you and have eaten with you, cooked for you, watched your children, or shopped with you, you are my friend and I count you amongst my blessings! I like spending time with you. And I'm so grateful to know you! I hope YOU know that! I hope YOU know that I am a better person because you are in my life! I appreciate everything you do and have done and will do with and for me, and for the opportunities I am given to do the same for you. Thank you! Besides my relationship with the Lord, my husband and my family, you keep me grounded and sane and add joy and happiness to my life, and I don't know that I can express adequately how grateful I am because of that.
I wanted you to know that because I'm about to launch into a bit about this weekend, while focusing on just one of my wonderful friends. And when I was re-reading this, I thought, Geez, it sounds like I got a girl crush on Miss K. And maybe I do, because I certainly adore her. She is so great that Superman J even said that if I didn't exist, Miss K might be in my place because she has all the qualities he was looking for in a wife (when he was looking). She's a good egg, that's for sure!
You know one of the best things about hanging out with a friend you've had for years? It reminds you of how you were and some of your favorite things you used to do "back in the day." I met Miss K when I was single and in graduate school, getting my MLS. She was in town visiting her sister, who is also a friend of mine, who asked if I'd show Miss K around one evening, and a great friendship was born.
I'm three months older than Miss K and I am continually amazed at how similar we think--she really gets me and she understands all those 80's moments (because she also graduated the same year) and she quotes movies that are contemporary with us (which I love), and we can pretty much talk about anything. But even if we don't always agree on stuff, she is an amazing listener and conversationalist. I kid you not, she can put anyone at ease and carry on a conversation with people who normally would never talk to anyone. She's just that kind of person. Delightful. It's one of the reasons she's so good at her job: she's a Communicator.
And, of course, she could have cared less about my crazy clean house...she was here to see me and the little family. Oh! What that does for the ego. Have you ever had a friend fly out Just To See You? Amazing. She was such a good sport with the girls (who, I firmly believe, came to think she came to see THEM!) and we went on quite an adventure getting some shopping done for Miss E's "Astronaut Party" (definitely a post for another time...), especially when we had to go to a store on the other side of town. True confessions? I really don't know my way around the "city" part of our city. Oh well. We made it!
Hanging with Miss K, though, totally reminded me of things that I did when I was single: I took care of myself. You hear it all the time, that in order for you to fill others' proverbial bucket, you must find ways to fill your own. Sometimes I think that's total crap (excuse the french), but other times I want to kick myself for not fully embracing it, because it's pretty true. So for me, it almost felt like a selfish weekend because I spent money and did things that I don't normally do all the time...just for me and on me or on stuff that *I* wanted to do.
Miss K and I went to lunch and dinner together a couple of times, we talked of her travels (which she does a lot for work) and relationships. Actually, we just talked and talked...even with the girls dancing and singing around our house (I told her at one point, that our home was filled with the sound of music pretty much all the time, and I did not lie about that! Ha!). We even got PEDICURES--and not just ANY pedicure. No, we got the deluxe spa treatment...which we thought was a good $25.00 less than we actually paid for (gulp!). But now we have a great story to tell, besides pretty toes, and some really cheap foam flip flops (which the girls love) and a tiny bottle of water that fits wonderfully in my purse (which the girls also loved yesterday after church when they were "thirsty.") More importantly we had 2 hours together to read tarty magazines and chat while someone else "worked" on us. As they say on that credit card commercial: priceless. It was a fast visit, but I felt I was a better wife and mother after she left...because I felt better. Does that make sense?
You know, thinking about it, it was a wonderful prep for Superman J and my getaway that is rapidly approaching. I'm so fretting about leaving my kids (for the first time since before we had kids!!! Yeeps!) that I was losing sight of the fact that I get to spend some quality time with my true Companion, and that it's okay to focus on just "us" for a few days, especially with New Baby's arrival just a few short months away. It's going to be just fine and it's all going to work out, and I totally trust Aunt D and Uncle J who are watching my kiddos, and my children are going to have a great time over there.
And when I get back, I'll be a better mother and a better wife, because that's what blessings and filling up of buckets do for you. You should definitely try it, maybe even today. :)
I wanted you to know that because I'm about to launch into a bit about this weekend, while focusing on just one of my wonderful friends. And when I was re-reading this, I thought, Geez, it sounds like I got a girl crush on Miss K. And maybe I do, because I certainly adore her. She is so great that Superman J even said that if I didn't exist, Miss K might be in my place because she has all the qualities he was looking for in a wife (when he was looking). She's a good egg, that's for sure!
You know one of the best things about hanging out with a friend you've had for years? It reminds you of how you were and some of your favorite things you used to do "back in the day." I met Miss K when I was single and in graduate school, getting my MLS. She was in town visiting her sister, who is also a friend of mine, who asked if I'd show Miss K around one evening, and a great friendship was born.
I'm three months older than Miss K and I am continually amazed at how similar we think--she really gets me and she understands all those 80's moments (because she also graduated the same year) and she quotes movies that are contemporary with us (which I love), and we can pretty much talk about anything. But even if we don't always agree on stuff, she is an amazing listener and conversationalist. I kid you not, she can put anyone at ease and carry on a conversation with people who normally would never talk to anyone. She's just that kind of person. Delightful. It's one of the reasons she's so good at her job: she's a Communicator.
And, of course, she could have cared less about my crazy clean house...she was here to see me and the little family. Oh! What that does for the ego. Have you ever had a friend fly out Just To See You? Amazing. She was such a good sport with the girls (who, I firmly believe, came to think she came to see THEM!) and we went on quite an adventure getting some shopping done for Miss E's "Astronaut Party" (definitely a post for another time...), especially when we had to go to a store on the other side of town. True confessions? I really don't know my way around the "city" part of our city. Oh well. We made it!
Hanging with Miss K, though, totally reminded me of things that I did when I was single: I took care of myself. You hear it all the time, that in order for you to fill others' proverbial bucket, you must find ways to fill your own. Sometimes I think that's total crap (excuse the french), but other times I want to kick myself for not fully embracing it, because it's pretty true. So for me, it almost felt like a selfish weekend because I spent money and did things that I don't normally do all the time...just for me and on me or on stuff that *I* wanted to do.
Miss K and I went to lunch and dinner together a couple of times, we talked of her travels (which she does a lot for work) and relationships. Actually, we just talked and talked...even with the girls dancing and singing around our house (I told her at one point, that our home was filled with the sound of music pretty much all the time, and I did not lie about that! Ha!). We even got PEDICURES--and not just ANY pedicure. No, we got the deluxe spa treatment...which we thought was a good $25.00 less than we actually paid for (gulp!). But now we have a great story to tell, besides pretty toes, and some really cheap foam flip flops (which the girls love) and a tiny bottle of water that fits wonderfully in my purse (which the girls also loved yesterday after church when they were "thirsty.") More importantly we had 2 hours together to read tarty magazines and chat while someone else "worked" on us. As they say on that credit card commercial: priceless. It was a fast visit, but I felt I was a better wife and mother after she left...because I felt better. Does that make sense?
You know, thinking about it, it was a wonderful prep for Superman J and my getaway that is rapidly approaching. I'm so fretting about leaving my kids (for the first time since before we had kids!!! Yeeps!) that I was losing sight of the fact that I get to spend some quality time with my true Companion, and that it's okay to focus on just "us" for a few days, especially with New Baby's arrival just a few short months away. It's going to be just fine and it's all going to work out, and I totally trust Aunt D and Uncle J who are watching my kiddos, and my children are going to have a great time over there.
And when I get back, I'll be a better mother and a better wife, because that's what blessings and filling up of buckets do for you. You should definitely try it, maybe even today. :)
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Company is coming, so you know what that means...
The month of May is here. Welcome to you, May.
This is a strange and bewildering time for me and my family, and here is why. I have different sets of company coming for visits on multiple weekends during this particular month AND I'm going out of town for my getaway with Superman J (who said I could just call him Super J on the blog because then I don't have to type as much...feel the love.) AND it's Miss E's birthday, which means we finally get to have the "astronaut" party she's been telling EVERYONE she's going to have for the last year or so. I'm already tired! I'm not 100% sure why everyone seems to have picked May for the time to visit the Zoo Peters' Casa, though I do know *I'm* not supposed to travel after July, but still.
What this means, Gentle Reader, is that I'm very excited to see my many friends; yet it also means that my O.C.D. (not to be confused with C.O.D. which I just typed) is going to require me that I keep my house spotless prior to each guests arrival. Either that, or I will finally learn that all important life lesson that it's okay to have an almost tidy house when company comes...but I am pretty sure it'll be the first.
For me, I have an unspoken (till now) inner mantra that says, "The first time someone comes into my home, they should be greeted with it clean and spotless, a wonder to behold, so that they know that I am capable of cleaning even in the midst of all my little children and other daily things of life." After that, tidied up will do for any other visits (because they will already know I can clean the dickens out of my house!). As Super J has pointed out to me on several occasions, this is not realistic (to say the least!), and as my pregnancy moves on, it's really just a great way to get tired by 12:39 in the afternoon. Let's check the time: 2:15 by my computers clock. I am very tired. BUT!!!! My upstairs looks great and I just need to fold some laundry and I'm almost ready for company.
I say almost because my friend is going to be delayed by a few hours and will be arriving later. I am both bummed and glad about it...bummed because I won't have as much time to visit with her, and glad because I still have the downstairs to polish up, so I actually have been able to slow down my frantic cleaning (hence, why my rear is planted in front of the computer) and I'm even thinking of a nap very shortly. Wahoo.
This still does not fix the "issue" of cleaning with the zeal of a fleet of Merry Maids. I'm not sure what will. Actually that is a lie...because any time I get a weird jab of pain, I sit my keister down. But still. That doesn't fix the inner need to impress people who I know already love me and could care less what my house looks like.
OOOOOHHHHHHHHMYHOLYCOW. ARGH!
***NEWS BULLETIN***Here is a huge subject change and you are here to witness it fresh and raw, Gentle Reader: Miss E stayed home from school (dratted fever) and has fallen asleep on the couch. It is 2:26. Things could be worse than having a kinda sick kid fall asleep in the afternoon when they usually don't nap. Miss A has finished playing a game and went over to pester her. I told her to get away from her and let her sleep. Did she? No. I tell her again. Does she? No. AGAIN, I tell her to leave her alone and let her sleep. Nope. Now my keister has left the computer chair and I have now sent Miss A to her room....ohhhhhhhhhhh I am MAD.
HELLO! I am SPEAKING to you, Eldest Daughter (actually, I'm not speaking to her now...I'm just typing what I was thinking). How can my children...my own fruit of my womb, ignore me like that, until I get my Devil Mom voice going. Then we all feel terrible. ARGH. I try to remember what it must have been like as a child, to have a mom who told you what to do oh-so-very often, but in the golden glow of personal memory, I was never a pesky child (except for rare occasions).
Alrighty. Thank you for letting me get that out. Good to vent that before going in and visiting with said Eldest Daughter madder than a fury. Breathing in...breathing out. In with the calm, nurturing Mother air...out with the crazed She-Devil who wants to spank. In with the calm, out with the crazed. In...Out. In. Out.
Okay, I'm better. Whoooooooo-ew.
It's during moments like these when I am sooooo ready for my little getaway. But first, gotta deal with Miss A and then get back to folding. I still have company coming.
Have a good first day of May, Gentle Reader!
This is a strange and bewildering time for me and my family, and here is why. I have different sets of company coming for visits on multiple weekends during this particular month AND I'm going out of town for my getaway with Superman J (who said I could just call him Super J on the blog because then I don't have to type as much...feel the love.) AND it's Miss E's birthday, which means we finally get to have the "astronaut" party she's been telling EVERYONE she's going to have for the last year or so. I'm already tired! I'm not 100% sure why everyone seems to have picked May for the time to visit the Zoo Peters' Casa, though I do know *I'm* not supposed to travel after July, but still.
What this means, Gentle Reader, is that I'm very excited to see my many friends; yet it also means that my O.C.D. (not to be confused with C.O.D. which I just typed) is going to require me that I keep my house spotless prior to each guests arrival. Either that, or I will finally learn that all important life lesson that it's okay to have an almost tidy house when company comes...but I am pretty sure it'll be the first.
For me, I have an unspoken (till now) inner mantra that says, "The first time someone comes into my home, they should be greeted with it clean and spotless, a wonder to behold, so that they know that I am capable of cleaning even in the midst of all my little children and other daily things of life." After that, tidied up will do for any other visits (because they will already know I can clean the dickens out of my house!). As Super J has pointed out to me on several occasions, this is not realistic (to say the least!), and as my pregnancy moves on, it's really just a great way to get tired by 12:39 in the afternoon. Let's check the time: 2:15 by my computers clock. I am very tired. BUT!!!! My upstairs looks great and I just need to fold some laundry and I'm almost ready for company.
I say almost because my friend is going to be delayed by a few hours and will be arriving later. I am both bummed and glad about it...bummed because I won't have as much time to visit with her, and glad because I still have the downstairs to polish up, so I actually have been able to slow down my frantic cleaning (hence, why my rear is planted in front of the computer) and I'm even thinking of a nap very shortly. Wahoo.
This still does not fix the "issue" of cleaning with the zeal of a fleet of Merry Maids. I'm not sure what will. Actually that is a lie...because any time I get a weird jab of pain, I sit my keister down. But still. That doesn't fix the inner need to impress people who I know already love me and could care less what my house looks like.
OOOOOHHHHHHHHMYHOLYCOW. ARGH!
***NEWS BULLETIN***Here is a huge subject change and you are here to witness it fresh and raw, Gentle Reader: Miss E stayed home from school (dratted fever) and has fallen asleep on the couch. It is 2:26. Things could be worse than having a kinda sick kid fall asleep in the afternoon when they usually don't nap. Miss A has finished playing a game and went over to pester her. I told her to get away from her and let her sleep. Did she? No. I tell her again. Does she? No. AGAIN, I tell her to leave her alone and let her sleep. Nope. Now my keister has left the computer chair and I have now sent Miss A to her room....ohhhhhhhhhhh I am MAD.
HELLO! I am SPEAKING to you, Eldest Daughter (actually, I'm not speaking to her now...I'm just typing what I was thinking). How can my children...my own fruit of my womb, ignore me like that, until I get my Devil Mom voice going. Then we all feel terrible. ARGH. I try to remember what it must have been like as a child, to have a mom who told you what to do oh-so-very often, but in the golden glow of personal memory, I was never a pesky child (except for rare occasions).
Alrighty. Thank you for letting me get that out. Good to vent that before going in and visiting with said Eldest Daughter madder than a fury. Breathing in...breathing out. In with the calm, nurturing Mother air...out with the crazed She-Devil who wants to spank. In with the calm, out with the crazed. In...Out. In. Out.
Okay, I'm better. Whoooooooo-ew.
It's during moments like these when I am sooooo ready for my little getaway. But first, gotta deal with Miss A and then get back to folding. I still have company coming.
Have a good first day of May, Gentle Reader!
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Weekend and Mystery Solved!
What a weekend. In the best sense, of course.
Friday began it all with a fabulous shin dig at our place (if I do say so myself). I love having friends over who have already seen my house at its most pristine, who have already seen my hair in it's most beatific coif, and who when arrive for said event don't care what it or I look like. These are those types of friends who are, simply put, the best of company and conversationalists.
So, we had this pasta buffet (which, while making you use all four burners to get all the pasta done at approximately the same time, is actually quite easy to put together) and while I was trying to avoid preparing enough to feed an army, we so still have leftovers. Oh well. There are worse things. :)
On the other hand, throughout the evening and cooking, whenever we'd open the door, J and I were plagued by this incredibly onion smell from our fridge. As this meant a thorough inspection of the vegetable rotter...er...the vegetable crisper bin, I figured I'd handle it on Saturday.
Saturday came and went! I got to go to my book club, which was great fun being around oodles and oodles of empathetic estrogen, more great conversationalists, and a killer brunch prepared by this month's hostess. Holy cow, it was yummmmmy (and talk about setting a high standard). Truly, I felt like a renewed woman when I dashed off to get home to put Miss O down for a nap whilst J took the older girls to a birthday party, empowered by consensus and knowledge that I was not alone in the world (and we actually discussed the book for about 10 minutes).
I was later joined by more good company and then later that afternoon...shock of shock...went and talked to several of our neighbors.
Anyone who knows me, especially in my current condition, knows that I am a HERMIT whilst carrying a bambino. Seriously. I need and love my existing circle of friends (see above comments about book club!), but have NO desire to enlarge it. So, poor J, who became our little neighborhood's H.O.A. President for the simple reason that he wanted to get to know these people is, alas, burdened right now with someone who...well...doesn't.
But, Miss A is all about riding her bike and Miss E enjoys trolling about on the tricycle and Miss O...for crying out loud, likes to take to the side walk at a streaking run before biffing it (inevitably) because her tiny legs get going so fast. It was such a nice day, we had neighbors out to meet and greet, and let's not forget the other little 5 year olds girls who were also outside. Suffice to say, Miss A was in HOG heaven. We eventually had two other neighborhood little friends over and Miss A promptly took them up to her bathroom and gave them a make-up make-over. And...well...
Yegads.
I hope their parents will still allow me to be part of the carpool this fall. The rouge was sooooo thick and applied in such a square-like unblended fashion, it really was a sight to behold. They were so proud of themselves, too! It reminded me of my first time using a curling iron, which I used backwards and ended up with an unnatural strange crimp in my hair. But I didn't care. I looked H.O.T. Oh uh-huh. Anyway, I was able to gently put a kabosh on dressing up in all of A's Sunday dresses so they could be princesses, because seriously, I'd have had to wash all of them because of the imprints from their newly adorned faces. Ohhhhh, to be five. Sigh. Oh well.
Meanwhile, after all those festivities, I decided to examine the fride. The onion smell became even more intense, so I went through the Rot...er...Crisper and found some green onions that didn't look terrible but must have been giving off the offensive odor (right???) and chucked them. I also put in a new box of baking soda. Quite the Domestic Queen, eh?
Sunday brought about it's own little bit of craziness as we attended the first hour of our church services (it was Ward Conference and, of course, went over by AT LEAST 15 minutes. It was also a surprise to attend our ward because I thought we weren't but J was like, sure, we should go. Oh. Okay.), and then dashed off to the First Baptist Church where the girls attend preschool because they were singing at this service. Miss Rene, the girl's preschool director, told me that Pastor Dewayne starts PROMPTLY at 10:45 every Sunday, and she wasn't kidding. When I got there, luckily friends had saved us a seat (albeit the in the second row, which turned out to be great because of the view of the kiddos), and I was still standing, trying to skooch the girls over when this booming voice began to welcome us. STARTLING!
The girls sang their songs within the first 10 minutes and they were sooooo cute! I love watching little people sing. They sang this song called, "Oh What a Miracle Am I," and "Zaccheaus" (from Luke 19), and each of these songs had a bit of groove to them and you should have seen these 3-5 yr olds shaking and shimmying. SOOOOOOO FUNNY! In fact, Miss E called me on it and said she saw me laughing. I told her I wasn't laughing AT them, but my heart was so full of joy I couldn't contain it. And that was true. I also had tears coming out of my eyes, I was trying so hard NOT to laugh, but I was sooooo proud of them for being up there, singing and moving their little bodies as best they could. I had several good congregates tell me that my girls did a great job and had good rhythm.
We had a lovely lunch with some other preschool parents who go to church with Abigail and school with her, too, (well, they don't but their children do) and I got to have a fun visiting teaching visit (As a note: I'm so sorry Madelyn! I'm the worst V.T. companion right now!!!! Again and again, I'm so sorry!!!!!!), and then we took the kids down to J's sister's house to get Miss O acclimated for when J and I have our Great Adventure (a post for another time). It was a busy day.
But that's not all! After grabbing a quick nap on Sunday, when I emerged, Superman J asked me to smell the fridge. It smelled about 1000% better! He'd found a smallish bag of what had been cut onions. The culprits of the stinky stench, apprehended at last!! Now, our kitchen just stunk. So I put it the mess into another Ziploc bag and chucked it into the garbage. Alas, by this morning, though, I had to escort the whole thing OUT SIDE to the official garbage, it had gotten so strong. Whooowee! There is nothing like overwhelming onion to put you off of that particular food item for a while.
So you see, Gentle Reader. It was a happy weekend, overall. Hope yours was just a great. :)
Friday began it all with a fabulous shin dig at our place (if I do say so myself). I love having friends over who have already seen my house at its most pristine, who have already seen my hair in it's most beatific coif, and who when arrive for said event don't care what it or I look like. These are those types of friends who are, simply put, the best of company and conversationalists.
So, we had this pasta buffet (which, while making you use all four burners to get all the pasta done at approximately the same time, is actually quite easy to put together) and while I was trying to avoid preparing enough to feed an army, we so still have leftovers. Oh well. There are worse things. :)
On the other hand, throughout the evening and cooking, whenever we'd open the door, J and I were plagued by this incredibly onion smell from our fridge. As this meant a thorough inspection of the vegetable rotter...er...the vegetable crisper bin, I figured I'd handle it on Saturday.
Saturday came and went! I got to go to my book club, which was great fun being around oodles and oodles of empathetic estrogen, more great conversationalists, and a killer brunch prepared by this month's hostess. Holy cow, it was yummmmmy (and talk about setting a high standard). Truly, I felt like a renewed woman when I dashed off to get home to put Miss O down for a nap whilst J took the older girls to a birthday party, empowered by consensus and knowledge that I was not alone in the world (and we actually discussed the book for about 10 minutes).
I was later joined by more good company and then later that afternoon...shock of shock...went and talked to several of our neighbors.
Anyone who knows me, especially in my current condition, knows that I am a HERMIT whilst carrying a bambino. Seriously. I need and love my existing circle of friends (see above comments about book club!), but have NO desire to enlarge it. So, poor J, who became our little neighborhood's H.O.A. President for the simple reason that he wanted to get to know these people is, alas, burdened right now with someone who...well...doesn't.
But, Miss A is all about riding her bike and Miss E enjoys trolling about on the tricycle and Miss O...for crying out loud, likes to take to the side walk at a streaking run before biffing it (inevitably) because her tiny legs get going so fast. It was such a nice day, we had neighbors out to meet and greet, and let's not forget the other little 5 year olds girls who were also outside. Suffice to say, Miss A was in HOG heaven. We eventually had two other neighborhood little friends over and Miss A promptly took them up to her bathroom and gave them a make-up make-over. And...well...
Yegads.
I hope their parents will still allow me to be part of the carpool this fall. The rouge was sooooo thick and applied in such a square-like unblended fashion, it really was a sight to behold. They were so proud of themselves, too! It reminded me of my first time using a curling iron, which I used backwards and ended up with an unnatural strange crimp in my hair. But I didn't care. I looked H.O.T. Oh uh-huh. Anyway, I was able to gently put a kabosh on dressing up in all of A's Sunday dresses so they could be princesses, because seriously, I'd have had to wash all of them because of the imprints from their newly adorned faces. Ohhhhh, to be five. Sigh. Oh well.
Meanwhile, after all those festivities, I decided to examine the fride. The onion smell became even more intense, so I went through the Rot...er...Crisper and found some green onions that didn't look terrible but must have been giving off the offensive odor (right???) and chucked them. I also put in a new box of baking soda. Quite the Domestic Queen, eh?
Sunday brought about it's own little bit of craziness as we attended the first hour of our church services (it was Ward Conference and, of course, went over by AT LEAST 15 minutes. It was also a surprise to attend our ward because I thought we weren't but J was like, sure, we should go. Oh. Okay.), and then dashed off to the First Baptist Church where the girls attend preschool because they were singing at this service. Miss Rene, the girl's preschool director, told me that Pastor Dewayne starts PROMPTLY at 10:45 every Sunday, and she wasn't kidding. When I got there, luckily friends had saved us a seat (albeit the in the second row, which turned out to be great because of the view of the kiddos), and I was still standing, trying to skooch the girls over when this booming voice began to welcome us. STARTLING!
The girls sang their songs within the first 10 minutes and they were sooooo cute! I love watching little people sing. They sang this song called, "Oh What a Miracle Am I," and "Zaccheaus" (from Luke 19), and each of these songs had a bit of groove to them and you should have seen these 3-5 yr olds shaking and shimmying. SOOOOOOO FUNNY! In fact, Miss E called me on it and said she saw me laughing. I told her I wasn't laughing AT them, but my heart was so full of joy I couldn't contain it. And that was true. I also had tears coming out of my eyes, I was trying so hard NOT to laugh, but I was sooooo proud of them for being up there, singing and moving their little bodies as best they could. I had several good congregates tell me that my girls did a great job and had good rhythm.
We had a lovely lunch with some other preschool parents who go to church with Abigail and school with her, too, (well, they don't but their children do) and I got to have a fun visiting teaching visit (As a note: I'm so sorry Madelyn! I'm the worst V.T. companion right now!!!! Again and again, I'm so sorry!!!!!!), and then we took the kids down to J's sister's house to get Miss O acclimated for when J and I have our Great Adventure (a post for another time). It was a busy day.
But that's not all! After grabbing a quick nap on Sunday, when I emerged, Superman J asked me to smell the fridge. It smelled about 1000% better! He'd found a smallish bag of what had been cut onions. The culprits of the stinky stench, apprehended at last!! Now, our kitchen just stunk. So I put it the mess into another Ziploc bag and chucked it into the garbage. Alas, by this morning, though, I had to escort the whole thing OUT SIDE to the official garbage, it had gotten so strong. Whooowee! There is nothing like overwhelming onion to put you off of that particular food item for a while.
So you see, Gentle Reader. It was a happy weekend, overall. Hope yours was just a great. :)
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Sad Report: The camera is having issues
Our camera is officially on the fritz. Sometimes it seems to want to work and then...pssssbts. It shuts itself off. This does not bode well for "capturing the moments" on a whim, as I've discovered today.
We have our friends JK and his little sister B over today, and when J came home, he asked them if they would be willing to go out and pick all the "yellow flowers" that have inundated our backyard. They were THRILLED with this idea...based on their reaction, I've really got to work on my delivery of how I ask kids to do chores, I tell you.
Anyway, they are out there and E has decided to wear this sunhat that, luckily, has a strap on it. I say luckily because we are having GUSTS of wind that can knock any one of these little kids on their bottoms without a moment's notice. It is soooooo funny watching them scurry, trying to get these flowers picked while the wind is making this awfully difficult! I wanted to get a picture and also take a shot of the bird's nest. Alas! The camera is, as my children say, "Not being my friend!" and I just had to share this news and knew that you could appreciate it, Gentle Reader.
We have our friends JK and his little sister B over today, and when J came home, he asked them if they would be willing to go out and pick all the "yellow flowers" that have inundated our backyard. They were THRILLED with this idea...based on their reaction, I've really got to work on my delivery of how I ask kids to do chores, I tell you.
Anyway, they are out there and E has decided to wear this sunhat that, luckily, has a strap on it. I say luckily because we are having GUSTS of wind that can knock any one of these little kids on their bottoms without a moment's notice. It is soooooo funny watching them scurry, trying to get these flowers picked while the wind is making this awfully difficult! I wanted to get a picture and also take a shot of the bird's nest. Alas! The camera is, as my children say, "Not being my friend!" and I just had to share this news and knew that you could appreciate it, Gentle Reader.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Jokes Heard from the Backseat...
Picking up E from preschool, we have our friend JK with us. E, JK and A are in the backseat telling knock knock jokes that I'm trying to steer away from the riotous punchlines of things like "poopy diapers" and "toilets." A tells JK the following:
"Knock Knock"
"Who's there?" he asks.
"Cow."
"Cow who?"
"Cows don't say who, they say 'mooooooooooooooo'."
For some reason, even though it's admittedly cringe worthy, I thought it was pretty funny for a 5 year old to come up with.
"Knock Knock"
"Who's there?" he asks.
"Cow."
"Cow who?"
"Cows don't say who, they say 'mooooooooooooooo'."
For some reason, even though it's admittedly cringe worthy, I thought it was pretty funny for a 5 year old to come up with.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
I've got you now my Pretties!
At long last, a picture of my beauties (and as an added bonus, a visiting friend!).
From Left to Right:
(the friend), A, E and O,
From Left to Right:
(the friend), A, E and O, each showing off a new Barbie that some friends donated when they outgrew them.
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