"I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I'm not happy. I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel. " ~ Charlie Brown
"Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Maybe Lucy's right. Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest." ~ Linus Van Pelt
"And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid ... And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord." "And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men." "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." - Linus Van Pelt
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Emma is sooo damn cute
I don't know what it is about Emma. She really is turning into a giant sweetie. She is still the ferocious, independent, tempermental little chick that we have come to know and love, but she is charming. Ohhhh so charming.
Her new favorite person in the world is my dad. Just about everynight she'll bring me the phone and say, "call poppa now" and then she calls him, tells him the same things, laughs at his "what time is it" joke (It's howdy doody time)... tells him, "I've got my eye on you"... and then sings him Twinkle twinkle and Merrily Merrily Bop bop... usually finishes with a version of the ABC song. It's pretty darn cute.
She has also started a couple of other cute sayings, like after she has a couple of gulps (she's a gulper) of water, she'll exclaim, "I had three scoops of water!"
She is often seen climbing up on laps to give kisses and hugs.
Last night after we tucked Julia and Anna in we were walking out of their room and Emma calls back to them, "goodnight girls!" :)
Now she is insanely excited about Thanksgiving because there will be turkey. I'm about 90% sure she thinks we're getting a real turkey - not that the thing in our fridge defrosting is the turkey.
She's pretty darn cute...
Her new favorite person in the world is my dad. Just about everynight she'll bring me the phone and say, "call poppa now" and then she calls him, tells him the same things, laughs at his "what time is it" joke (It's howdy doody time)... tells him, "I've got my eye on you"... and then sings him Twinkle twinkle and Merrily Merrily Bop bop... usually finishes with a version of the ABC song. It's pretty darn cute.
She has also started a couple of other cute sayings, like after she has a couple of gulps (she's a gulper) of water, she'll exclaim, "I had three scoops of water!"
She is often seen climbing up on laps to give kisses and hugs.
Last night after we tucked Julia and Anna in we were walking out of their room and Emma calls back to them, "goodnight girls!" :)
Now she is insanely excited about Thanksgiving because there will be turkey. I'm about 90% sure she thinks we're getting a real turkey - not that the thing in our fridge defrosting is the turkey.
She's pretty darn cute...
Bah Humbug
Oh - wait, is this not the holiday for that?
I don't want to be Debbie Downer - but really! I am just so frustrated. Since August at least, Dan and I have been in a pattern of he works/I watch the kids, I work/he watches the kids, and then we both work. We have had very little time as a family where the 5 of us are together without one of us working. We are OK with this because we're trying to work ourselves out of a deep hole (that apparently has quicksand in the bottom..). It does get old, and it's becoming more and more evident that it's taking it's toll on the kids, which was never our intention.
Don't get me wrong - I know kids are resiliant and they will be fine - and we are trying to spend more quality time together as a family.
The other side of this gripe is that on one hand I firmly feel the hand on my shoulder, that comforting hand, the hand that makes sure no matter how tight it gets, how bare the cupboards get, that things get taken care of to keep us out of real trouble. I also feel that weight on my chest though.. the weight that constantly keeps a tally of bills due and due dates on my mind at all times. The weight that never lets me forget that we're one mis-step away from that trouble. I'm trying to relax, and let some of that stress go. Knowing that we are doing our best right now, and that we will not settle for this, that we will do what it takes to rise above this, that it can't always be like this.
I know this. I really do. It doesn't mean I can't hate the rest of it.
I don't want to be Debbie Downer - but really! I am just so frustrated. Since August at least, Dan and I have been in a pattern of he works/I watch the kids, I work/he watches the kids, and then we both work. We have had very little time as a family where the 5 of us are together without one of us working. We are OK with this because we're trying to work ourselves out of a deep hole (that apparently has quicksand in the bottom..). It does get old, and it's becoming more and more evident that it's taking it's toll on the kids, which was never our intention.
Don't get me wrong - I know kids are resiliant and they will be fine - and we are trying to spend more quality time together as a family.
The other side of this gripe is that on one hand I firmly feel the hand on my shoulder, that comforting hand, the hand that makes sure no matter how tight it gets, how bare the cupboards get, that things get taken care of to keep us out of real trouble. I also feel that weight on my chest though.. the weight that constantly keeps a tally of bills due and due dates on my mind at all times. The weight that never lets me forget that we're one mis-step away from that trouble. I'm trying to relax, and let some of that stress go. Knowing that we are doing our best right now, and that we will not settle for this, that we will do what it takes to rise above this, that it can't always be like this.
I know this. I really do. It doesn't mean I can't hate the rest of it.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The hair...
Well - we had it measured and it's long enough! YEAHHHHHH!
Unfortunately there was an hour wait and I had to work, so we'll go back on Locks of Love day and get it cut then. Anna is so excited it's long enough. She wanted to look at the pictures of what her hair might look like again. She did have us take a picture of her today so that she can "member her long hair". I told her with as fast as her hair grows it won't be too long until it's back to that length. Her reply was "I could just keep growing hair!"
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Locks of Love
We're hoping this weekend will be the big weekend. Over a year ago we took Anna to get her hair cut (she wanted it short like mine) and she saw a wall of photos of kids holding their hair. She asked me what it was for and I explained that those kids were donating their hair so that they can make wigs and/or raise money for people with cancer. I reminded her when her Grandma had cancer that she had a wig to wear.
When she sat in the chair she told the lady she was going to donate her hair. The stylist told her that her hair wasn't quite long enough. So Anna decided (at 3 years old) to forego the short do and grow her hair so it was long enough to donate.
We think it has finally made it to the 10" that it needs to be to donate. We are taking her in on Saturday to have them measure it and cut it if it's long enough. She is so excited.
I hope it's long enough because she has started chewing on her hair - and if it isn't cut soon it won't be there to cut!
We'll update you - of course with pictures - after her appointment!
When she sat in the chair she told the lady she was going to donate her hair. The stylist told her that her hair wasn't quite long enough. So Anna decided (at 3 years old) to forego the short do and grow her hair so it was long enough to donate.
We think it has finally made it to the 10" that it needs to be to donate. We are taking her in on Saturday to have them measure it and cut it if it's long enough. She is so excited.
I hope it's long enough because she has started chewing on her hair - and if it isn't cut soon it won't be there to cut!
We'll update you - of course with pictures - after her appointment!
Friday, November 14, 2008
It's coming....
We received Julia's school picture from yesterday and let me just say - WOW. I loved last years picture - but this year blows it away. I can't wait to share...
In my e-mail
This is an email I received today - apparently from myself in the past to the me in the future - which is the present. Get it? good.
"Greetings from your past. In the fall of 2005, you agreed to receive this
Today as I read this e-mail I had to remember what was going on in my life at this time in 2005. I had just recently found out I was pregnant with Emma, and obviously had just found out to expect another girl. My parents had just arrived back to Arizona after their accident and things were really rough.
I love how optimistic this was.
So to my past self: I do have the three most beautiful girls on Earth, thanks for the reminder and I do love you/me.
I love how optimistic this was.
So to my past self: I do have the three most beautiful girls on Earth, thanks for the reminder and I do love you/me.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Overheard in the Dough house...
Anna: "No, you only eat your own boogers. I'll stick to just eating my own, OK?"
Friday, November 07, 2008
Lap of luxury...
So - I'm kind of craving sushi. We aren't exactly on a sushi budget right now so we decided to have rice balls (Onigiri) for dinner. We just happen to have a lot of the components already (toasted sesame seeds, pickled ginger, rice vinegar, soy sauce and wasabi) so it was going to be relatively inexpensive. Rice (we use regular white rice and "sushify" it by making it a little gummy and adding the vinegar and sugar mixture- it works out just fine and it's $1.20 for a big bag of rice vs. $5.79 for a small bag of sushi that is a pain to make but yummy), cucumber, avocado and some form of a fish/meat. That's it.
I like to leave my raw fish handling to the professionals and for my at home sushi/onigiri making I only use cooked seafood and stay away from the sashimi.
Some things I have learned. Wet hands are a must for handling sushi rice. It doesn't stick nearly as much and other than getting pruny hands - it's great. Instead of hand "ball ing", I put a square of plastic wrap into the bottom of a small bowl (very small - like golf ball size) and then pack some rice into the bowl. Using my fingers (or a spoon if your not into touching your rice) I then sort of pack it down and make a little bowl. Tonight we had lobster - because that's how we roll here in the 207 (Ok - it's $3.49/lb right now and we only needed one chick for this).
So in that little pocket goes a little lobster, some diced cucumber and avocado, making sure not to overfill and to leave a little rice on the sides. Then another little handful of rice goes over the top and gets packed down. Pull up the sides of the plastic wrap and twist it like you would a bread bag to put the little metal tie on (remember those?) you can then pull the ball out of hte bowl and keep twisting the plastic until the ball compresses. I also pack the rice a little more by hand take out of the plastic- then roll in some toasted sesame seeds. Dan makes a little soy dip with the ginger and wasabi. The plastic wrap eliminates most of the mess.
My kids go nutso for these. They also like sashimi (the raw fish variety) though so they are a bit freaky. Oh... and they eat frozen broccoli - like - on purpose!
You can fill the rice balls with whatever you'd like or have on hand. It does take some time to roll them. If the kids are a little older they can make their own and it's fun. We sometimes wrap them in Nori - but it's more expensive and a bit of a pain.
I like to leave my raw fish handling to the professionals and for my at home sushi/onigiri making I only use cooked seafood and stay away from the sashimi.
Oh by the way ... remember what happened the last time I made sushi? Knife stuck in the bone of my thumb bringing back any memories? Thankfully this adventure with sharp knives (thanks Kam) and avocado did not produce any blood. So that's a good night for me!
Some things I have learned. Wet hands are a must for handling sushi rice. It doesn't stick nearly as much and other than getting pruny hands - it's great. Instead of hand "ball ing", I put a square of plastic wrap into the bottom of a small bowl (very small - like golf ball size) and then pack some rice into the bowl. Using my fingers (or a spoon if your not into touching your rice) I then sort of pack it down and make a little bowl. Tonight we had lobster - because that's how we roll here in the 207 (Ok - it's $3.49/lb right now and we only needed one chick for this).
So in that little pocket goes a little lobster, some diced cucumber and avocado, making sure not to overfill and to leave a little rice on the sides. Then another little handful of rice goes over the top and gets packed down. Pull up the sides of the plastic wrap and twist it like you would a bread bag to put the little metal tie on (remember those?) you can then pull the ball out of hte bowl and keep twisting the plastic until the ball compresses. I also pack the rice a little more by hand take out of the plastic- then roll in some toasted sesame seeds. Dan makes a little soy dip with the ginger and wasabi. The plastic wrap eliminates most of the mess.
My kids go nutso for these. They also like sashimi (the raw fish variety) though so they are a bit freaky. Oh... and they eat frozen broccoli - like - on purpose!
You can fill the rice balls with whatever you'd like or have on hand. It does take some time to roll them. If the kids are a little older they can make their own and it's fun. We sometimes wrap them in Nori - but it's more expensive and a bit of a pain.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
I went to bed tonight secure in the fact that when I woke up, no matter which candidate was chosen to be our new President that we would be in good hands.
I've heard such heated debates, I've heard people say hateful things (about both candidates) and quite frankly I am glad this part is over.
We had two amazing men run to lead our country. One amazing man has won. I am proud that he will be my President.
I do have hope we can all move forward...
I've heard such heated debates, I've heard people say hateful things (about both candidates) and quite frankly I am glad this part is over.
We had two amazing men run to lead our country. One amazing man has won. I am proud that he will be my President.
I do have hope we can all move forward...
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Here they are!
Here are the kidlets out getting their trick or treating on...
This is the dude that watched over the bowl of candy we left out front while I joined the ToT tour of our street.
Part of our Halloween display
This is our Halloween decor.... it included Halloween music (think generic Monster Mash, Purple People Eater, Thriller, etc... ) and a fog machine. This picture doesn't do it justice looks like Christmas on crack... in the dark with the fog... it's really kind of cool looking.
Our little witch (notice - no Elmo, Abby cadabby or Zoe Monster???)
Our Sleeping Beauty. She wouldn't hold still for a picture, but her hair was really sleeping beauty-esque. She started out with a giant round bang and the big pretty curls... considering I don't have any hair spray - I was surprised it lasted as long as it did.
This is the kid I was most proud of. She was super helpful getting everyone ready - but really, in the end she chose to be BUNNICULA! From the James Howe series. The majority of her friends were dressing up as HSM characters, Hannah Montana or the like - but she chose to go her own way. She was so proud of her costume - including the WHITE CARROT her Dad bought her...
This is the dude that watched over the bowl of candy we left out front while I joined the ToT tour of our street.
Part of our Halloween display
This is our Halloween decor.... it included Halloween music (think generic Monster Mash, Purple People Eater, Thriller, etc... ) and a fog machine. This picture doesn't do it justice looks like Christmas on crack... in the dark with the fog... it's really kind of cool looking.
Our little witch (notice - no Elmo, Abby cadabby or Zoe Monster???)
Our Sleeping Beauty. She wouldn't hold still for a picture, but her hair was really sleeping beauty-esque. She started out with a giant round bang and the big pretty curls... considering I don't have any hair spray - I was surprised it lasted as long as it did.
This is the kid I was most proud of. She was super helpful getting everyone ready - but really, in the end she chose to be BUNNICULA! From the James Howe series. The majority of her friends were dressing up as HSM characters, Hannah Montana or the like - but she chose to go her own way. She was so proud of her costume - including the WHITE CARROT her Dad bought her...
Saturday, November 01, 2008
on the phone...
Back in September I needed to have some dependable income coming in so I contracted with a company to do customer service from home. I thought it would be tolerable at best but I have been pleasantly surprised.
It pays as well or better than they indicated during the hiring process, and although there are many little technical issues and some kinks to be worked out - it's a pretty well run business.
I have never liked "punching a clock" and still don't enjoy having obligations (yes, I'm one of THOSE people) but I essentially tell them the hours I would be willing to work and they schedule me according to those times.
The biggest surprise for me is that I love it. Some moments are stressful as any customer service job is - but for the most part, it's FUN. I know FUN seems a bit of an exaggeration but really it is. I spend 50-60% of my shifts shopping with people - on clothes and other high end items I couldn't dream of affording (trust me, this gig and my other clients don't pay me nearly enough to jump on a $1700 pair of shoes - or a $5600 purse!). It's like window shopping except you are shopping for other people AND getting paid for it.
Anyway... that's one of my "hats" I'm wearing right now. I had a couple emails asking what my four jobs I'm working are from my mom's comment. Everything I do is under my business so technically it's one job... but it's quite a variety of work. I spend about 15-25 hours a week doing this CS contract, I am still doing ChaCha (which is starting to bring in some $$ too), I'm helping my client the insurance agent build her business by following her warm/hot leads, I am subcontracting for my mentor, and I have my own clients (and a new one this week!! YEA).
Here's the scoop.
Dan has finally taken the leap and jumped into the finance industry (what a time right?). He was a finance major (and marketing) back in the day at the University, but went with marketing to shave a year off his schooling. When he was getting his MBA he did a lot of coursework in finance and kind of fell back in love with it.
When a bunch of things were going down with his job earlier this year and he knew he was going to be looking again, he contacted a friend of ours who is a financial advisor. Our friend gave him some advice and helped him with the process, and so he has spent the last 3 months studying to be a financial advisor. He passed his Series 7, Series 66 and now the Health Insurance (there was a glitch with getting scheduled for the life portion of the exam). He was offered a branch here in our town and Dan is thrilled at this opportunity. During the business building stage though - it's 60-80 hour work weeks and a little more than minimum wage during this training stage.
I had a lot of questions about these two topics so I thought I'd share with all of you. Things are really ok, just stressful and a little worrisome at times - but we know there are better days ahead.
It pays as well or better than they indicated during the hiring process, and although there are many little technical issues and some kinks to be worked out - it's a pretty well run business.
I have never liked "punching a clock" and still don't enjoy having obligations (yes, I'm one of THOSE people) but I essentially tell them the hours I would be willing to work and they schedule me according to those times.
The biggest surprise for me is that I love it. Some moments are stressful as any customer service job is - but for the most part, it's FUN. I know FUN seems a bit of an exaggeration but really it is. I spend 50-60% of my shifts shopping with people - on clothes and other high end items I couldn't dream of affording (trust me, this gig and my other clients don't pay me nearly enough to jump on a $1700 pair of shoes - or a $5600 purse!). It's like window shopping except you are shopping for other people AND getting paid for it.
Anyway... that's one of my "hats" I'm wearing right now. I had a couple emails asking what my four jobs I'm working are from my mom's comment. Everything I do is under my business so technically it's one job... but it's quite a variety of work. I spend about 15-25 hours a week doing this CS contract, I am still doing ChaCha (which is starting to bring in some $$ too), I'm helping my client the insurance agent build her business by following her warm/hot leads, I am subcontracting for my mentor, and I have my own clients (and a new one this week!! YEA).
Here's the scoop.
Dan has finally taken the leap and jumped into the finance industry (what a time right?). He was a finance major (and marketing) back in the day at the University, but went with marketing to shave a year off his schooling. When he was getting his MBA he did a lot of coursework in finance and kind of fell back in love with it.
When a bunch of things were going down with his job earlier this year and he knew he was going to be looking again, he contacted a friend of ours who is a financial advisor. Our friend gave him some advice and helped him with the process, and so he has spent the last 3 months studying to be a financial advisor. He passed his Series 7, Series 66 and now the Health Insurance (there was a glitch with getting scheduled for the life portion of the exam). He was offered a branch here in our town and Dan is thrilled at this opportunity. During the business building stage though - it's 60-80 hour work weeks and a little more than minimum wage during this training stage.
I had a lot of questions about these two topics so I thought I'd share with all of you. Things are really ok, just stressful and a little worrisome at times - but we know there are better days ahead.
Did I mention..
that my parents might be coming for Christmas!! Well, they might be coming NEAR Christmas.... which is almost as much fun!
Dan and I were thinking of keeping it a secret from the girls... how long do you think that will last?
Dan and I were thinking of keeping it a secret from the girls... how long do you think that will last?
Another post all about Emma...
Emma has been blaming everything on my mom. Since my mom was here, Emma uses my mom as her excuse for everything.
Get's in trouble climbing on the table, "meemaw said I could"
She wants candy and we say no, "but meemaw said"
She has to come inside to eat dinner, "but meemaw said I didn't haf to!"
She will occasionally blame me, Dan or her sisters but Meemaw bears the brunt of most of her blame.
Get's in trouble climbing on the table, "meemaw said I could"
She wants candy and we say no, "but meemaw said"
She has to come inside to eat dinner, "but meemaw said I didn't haf to!"
She will occasionally blame me, Dan or her sisters but Meemaw bears the brunt of most of her blame.
Emma
Today was a big day for Emma. Let's just say it's like she's graduating to big girl status.
Oh ... and she is sooo my little clone. Today while we were putting away our Halloween decorations and putting them in the attic, she kept saying "mwah ha ha ha" in her evil little kid giggle. I so love it.
Oh ... and she is sooo my little clone. Today while we were putting away our Halloween decorations and putting them in the attic, she kept saying "mwah ha ha ha" in her evil little kid giggle. I so love it.
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