...and I missed it. :( I was in Stake Choir practice (we only get two, this week and next, then we're having a combined Stake Conference with the neighboring Glendale Stake, and President Packer will be there again-- that makes 3 SCs in a row for us with him there. We will have three members of the 70 as well, including one of the presidency. Speculation is rife as to what is going on, we have come up with about 5 or 6 theories ourselves, but will have to wait and see.) Anyway, I was so sad to hear I missed it! Later she almost did it again, at my mom's (we went for my birthday dinner with her) but she kind of squatted after two, then got up and did it again. Also, she will apparently only walk to Jeff or to chase cats, not to me. Very sad.
Hopefully she will start doing it more soon and I will get to see her really walk, and walk to me.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Busy Saturday
I was dragged out of bed-- and then off the couch-- by my loving husband this morning to get dressed and go teach my class. I got there, got set up-- and then taught the three of eight that showed up. (We had fun, though; today we read a book called Big and Little and then we painted BIG pictures of BIG things on extra-large newsprint sheets taped to the walls, then drew SMALL pictures of SMALL things on small pieces of newsprint with crayons. Then since everyone was finished with those really early we got out the play dough.) One of my students obviously didn't feel well; I took him down to his mom. I also got to talk with a hyper but very talented student's mom while we cleaned up in the bathroom. She seemed really grateful for what I had to say, which made me feel good. I finished cleaning up, then headed down. Jeff and the girls had just got there because Emma had not wanted to get dressed, so they did not get to play at the park, we just went home. Then we had lunch, while Bridget, who had already eaten, went down for a nap.
I also ended up taking a nap, and then Jeff got me up again in time to get dressed up. We all piled in the car and went to Sears to get portraits done, family, the girls individually, and the girls together. When we got there we got the girls dressed while they played and watched Pinocchio. I was a little stressed but the woman who did the pictures is very good with kids (last time we had a guy who is not so good with kids, mine at least, and she came in at the end and got the best ones; this time we had her from the start.) The girls cooperated for the most part, especially Emma, and with only a few setbacks we were done. Emma and I wandered a bit and I was tempted by the 1/2 off fancy dresses and adorable play clothes which my girls don't need at all but which are SO CUTE, but resisted the temptation. (Jeff was proud of me.) Then we selected the ones to get (we had a coupon for a great deal; portrait sheets after the first 6 were only $2.99, and we got a Smile Saver Club membership for $4.99 instead of $19.99, which is great because next time we go in the sitting will be free, and then we got our choice of a free 10x13 wall print or a $4.99 featured special, one of three things which are usually $24.99 (we chose the special and got a collage one of the girls to go on the living room wall or maybe in their bedroom or the hall, we haven't decided.) (Pictures will be forthcoming in a few days.)
THEN we headed straight to my dad's house. He made dinner for my birthday (which is Monday); spaghetti with meat sauce, broccoli, strawberries, apriums, and garlic cheese toast. For dessert we had rhubarb pie (my favorite; I had requested it instead of cake) and ice cream. (Yes, we put candles in the pie and everyone sang.) Then, since they never did see my girls around their birthdays, we all three opened presents. Bridget got a lift-the-flap book and a stuffed monkey, Emma got a toy lion and four books, I got a Land's End tunic top and a swimsuit (this bottom and this top, in periwinkle; we have a tradition that every year for my birthday I pick out a few things from the Land's End catalog and my dad gives them to me, which suits me very well, no pun intended), and we got a kind of combined family gift of a giant beach towel and also three sets of matching silk pajamas, one for each of us, which my dad picked up in Chinatown on his most recent trip to San Fransisco, in sizes that should fit along about the fall or early winter. I tried on the swimsuit right away and I love it! I haven't had a new one in quite a while and my size has changed so it is much appreciated.
Then we came home, and I went online to type this, and now, very full and very tired, I am going to take a shower and go lay down, I think.
I also ended up taking a nap, and then Jeff got me up again in time to get dressed up. We all piled in the car and went to Sears to get portraits done, family, the girls individually, and the girls together. When we got there we got the girls dressed while they played and watched Pinocchio. I was a little stressed but the woman who did the pictures is very good with kids (last time we had a guy who is not so good with kids, mine at least, and she came in at the end and got the best ones; this time we had her from the start.) The girls cooperated for the most part, especially Emma, and with only a few setbacks we were done. Emma and I wandered a bit and I was tempted by the 1/2 off fancy dresses and adorable play clothes which my girls don't need at all but which are SO CUTE, but resisted the temptation. (Jeff was proud of me.) Then we selected the ones to get (we had a coupon for a great deal; portrait sheets after the first 6 were only $2.99, and we got a Smile Saver Club membership for $4.99 instead of $19.99, which is great because next time we go in the sitting will be free, and then we got our choice of a free 10x13 wall print or a $4.99 featured special, one of three things which are usually $24.99 (we chose the special and got a collage one of the girls to go on the living room wall or maybe in their bedroom or the hall, we haven't decided.) (Pictures will be forthcoming in a few days.)
THEN we headed straight to my dad's house. He made dinner for my birthday (which is Monday); spaghetti with meat sauce, broccoli, strawberries, apriums, and garlic cheese toast. For dessert we had rhubarb pie (my favorite; I had requested it instead of cake) and ice cream. (Yes, we put candles in the pie and everyone sang.) Then, since they never did see my girls around their birthdays, we all three opened presents. Bridget got a lift-the-flap book and a stuffed monkey, Emma got a toy lion and four books, I got a Land's End tunic top and a swimsuit (this bottom and this top, in periwinkle; we have a tradition that every year for my birthday I pick out a few things from the Land's End catalog and my dad gives them to me, which suits me very well, no pun intended), and we got a kind of combined family gift of a giant beach towel and also three sets of matching silk pajamas, one for each of us, which my dad picked up in Chinatown on his most recent trip to San Fransisco, in sizes that should fit along about the fall or early winter. I tried on the swimsuit right away and I love it! I haven't had a new one in quite a while and my size has changed so it is much appreciated.
Then we came home, and I went online to type this, and now, very full and very tired, I am going to take a shower and go lay down, I think.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Some good news today
Ready for it?
It's really good.
Really, really good.
Ready to get excited?
Are you sure?
Okay, then... *drumroll*
Jeff accepted a job today! It's a good one, doing what he really wants to do (taxes, blech, but he loves 'em), and they're paying his previous salary, and after a 90 day probation period he gets 11 paid days off, and they pay benefits up to $300/mo., and this is the best part: they will pay for him to get his EA license, including any necessary preparation materials or classes and the fees for the test itself, and then as soon as he gets it, they will give him a $10,000/yr. raise and every other Friday off (not including tax season, of course.) And that is the STARTING salary for EAs, he can then expect additional raises as he stays there and such. It's the field he wants to go in to, they're starting him at a good salary (one we can live off!) with good benefits, it's close to home, they won't expect him to work Sundays, even during tax season... The only down side is that doing taxes, he will be gone a lot during tax season, but to make up for that we'll have more of his time the rest of the year and, you know, I could take some of that extra money and go on vacation or something so I don't go crazy. :D
We are very excited. Yay!!!
It's really good.
Really, really good.
Ready to get excited?
Are you sure?
Okay, then... *drumroll*
Jeff accepted a job today! It's a good one, doing what he really wants to do (taxes, blech, but he loves 'em), and they're paying his previous salary, and after a 90 day probation period he gets 11 paid days off, and they pay benefits up to $300/mo., and this is the best part: they will pay for him to get his EA license, including any necessary preparation materials or classes and the fees for the test itself, and then as soon as he gets it, they will give him a $10,000/yr. raise and every other Friday off (not including tax season, of course.) And that is the STARTING salary for EAs, he can then expect additional raises as he stays there and such. It's the field he wants to go in to, they're starting him at a good salary (one we can live off!) with good benefits, it's close to home, they won't expect him to work Sundays, even during tax season... The only down side is that doing taxes, he will be gone a lot during tax season, but to make up for that we'll have more of his time the rest of the year and, you know, I could take some of that extra money and go on vacation or something so I don't go crazy. :D
We are very excited. Yay!!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
This Post Brought to You by The Number Six
Emma drew a recognizable numeral six (6) today. Importantly, she then told us that it was the number six. (Meaning, she purposefully made it and/or drew a scribble which she decided to turn into a number partway through or afterwards recognized as a "6". In any case, it's an important milestone.) The only characters she has drawn recognizably before are a capital "M" and a 0/o, and I think those were more by chance than by design.
I am no good with our scanner or I'd post it here. (Maybe KPC will do it later and if so I will update this post.)
I am no good with our scanner or I'd post it here. (Maybe KPC will do it later and if so I will update this post.)
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Griffith Park is burning.
I didn't know this until I turned to NBC for SVU; they ran coverage in between instead of commercials tonight. Dante's View is gone. (That's a beautiful garden overlooking the city, that you could walk up to and check out the flowers in the daytime or the city lights at night.) They had to evac the zoo, the historic carousel, the Gene Autry museum, and Travel Town (although they are now safe.) (They didn't have to remove the animals at the zoo, just had all the people leave; they had a plan in place to evac the animals if necessary but the fire was turned and they didn't have to.) The fire has come dangerously close to the Observatory (although at this time it has been turned away from that area), the Greek Theater, and houses in the area (mandatory evacuation; Marshall High School, where one of my friends teaches, is being used as an emergency shelter.) As one commentator said, only about 300 acres have been affected, which isn't really that much in a wildfire, but the problem with this one is that Griffith Park is right smack in the middle of an urban area, bordered by Glendale on one side and Los Feliz on the other. For those not familiar with L.A., imagine New York's Central Park burning and that might give you an idea. For those who don't know Glendale, I'll explain that it's near Pasadena and that my parents, siblings, and I were all born there. Bridget's birth certificate says Glendale on it because the hospital she was born in is in the part of Montrose that is technically part of Glendale instead of part of unincorporated L.A. County. Although we were not technically part of the city-- most of La Crescenta, the community I grew up in, is unincorporated county land-- we were part of the Glendale Unified School District. Growing up we were 15 minutes from Griffith Park; now we're about 20-25.
Jeff heard about this before I did but didn't mention it to me, not knowing what it would mean to me. You see, I, and I think many others, think of Griffith Park as the heart of L.A. (not geographically, but rather spiritually or, well, you know what I mean.) It has many of the historical spots, cultural centers, and childhood favorite places in the city. When I suddenly saw pictures of flames in Griffith Park, I was overwhelmed. I was stricken. I cried and I prayed. Others, apparently, are having the same reaction. The water-dumping helicopters are still out flying; they were told to land for the night if they wanted to but to a person the pilots and crews said they would stay and fight the fire, now with only infrared to help them navigate and despite communications being sub-par because the power is out and so they're running on field generators for the radios and other comm equipment. (My prayers are with those pilots as well as the firefighters on the ground and the people whose homes have been evacuated.)
So now that I've vented a bit, I will turn to happier memories of Griffith Park, since I have a feeling that it will do more good, for me and for everyone else, to have some positive energy going than negative thoughts and worries all the time, when I can't really do much about it.
Growing up, Griffith Park was like a fantasy land or a theme park to me. We used to go on hikes there; we went to the zoo, of course, and the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage. That's a great museum, with art exhibits (NA art, western vistas, period pieces, all kinds of things), historical clothing and household objects, a collection of authentic western sheriff badges from the 1800s, exhibits on westerns in tv and movies and their influence on pop culture (including a saddle you can sit on and put yourself in a western!), the Howdy Doody bedroom that my mom wanted when she was a little girl and never got (long story), all kinds of things. We all loved it so much, including my mom, that we had a membership growing up. Travel Town was a favorite when we were young enough to be bored by the Autry but enthralled by trains; they had a train you could ride around, real old train cars you could climb around in, all kinds of things. My aunt used to take my brother and me, or me and my second cousins once removed when they were in town (girls, twins a year older than me; one is my aunt's goddaughter) to ride on the carousel, ride the ponies, run around the picnic area. My class took field trips to the Observatory. The Greek Theater is an outdoor auditorium that hosts all kinds of great events; we took field trips to see shows there, and that's where I fulfilled my almost lifelong (since I was 5) dream of seeing a live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion when I was 19 (my dad got tickets for a birthday present for me.) At Christmas time the DWP puts on a light display in Griffith Park; we used to drive out every year and look at them. It's just a wonderful place, with lots of landmarks, an oasis in the busy city and a great place for people of all ages, and families especially.
So if you have an extra prayer, please say one for the people fighting the fire, the people who live nearby, and that the winds will continue to calm, that the weather will cool, perhaps some rain will come, the fire will die down, and the park will be spared further destruction. Thank you.
Jeff heard about this before I did but didn't mention it to me, not knowing what it would mean to me. You see, I, and I think many others, think of Griffith Park as the heart of L.A. (not geographically, but rather spiritually or, well, you know what I mean.) It has many of the historical spots, cultural centers, and childhood favorite places in the city. When I suddenly saw pictures of flames in Griffith Park, I was overwhelmed. I was stricken. I cried and I prayed. Others, apparently, are having the same reaction. The water-dumping helicopters are still out flying; they were told to land for the night if they wanted to but to a person the pilots and crews said they would stay and fight the fire, now with only infrared to help them navigate and despite communications being sub-par because the power is out and so they're running on field generators for the radios and other comm equipment. (My prayers are with those pilots as well as the firefighters on the ground and the people whose homes have been evacuated.)
So now that I've vented a bit, I will turn to happier memories of Griffith Park, since I have a feeling that it will do more good, for me and for everyone else, to have some positive energy going than negative thoughts and worries all the time, when I can't really do much about it.
Growing up, Griffith Park was like a fantasy land or a theme park to me. We used to go on hikes there; we went to the zoo, of course, and the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage. That's a great museum, with art exhibits (NA art, western vistas, period pieces, all kinds of things), historical clothing and household objects, a collection of authentic western sheriff badges from the 1800s, exhibits on westerns in tv and movies and their influence on pop culture (including a saddle you can sit on and put yourself in a western!), the Howdy Doody bedroom that my mom wanted when she was a little girl and never got (long story), all kinds of things. We all loved it so much, including my mom, that we had a membership growing up. Travel Town was a favorite when we were young enough to be bored by the Autry but enthralled by trains; they had a train you could ride around, real old train cars you could climb around in, all kinds of things. My aunt used to take my brother and me, or me and my second cousins once removed when they were in town (girls, twins a year older than me; one is my aunt's goddaughter) to ride on the carousel, ride the ponies, run around the picnic area. My class took field trips to the Observatory. The Greek Theater is an outdoor auditorium that hosts all kinds of great events; we took field trips to see shows there, and that's where I fulfilled my almost lifelong (since I was 5) dream of seeing a live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion when I was 19 (my dad got tickets for a birthday present for me.) At Christmas time the DWP puts on a light display in Griffith Park; we used to drive out every year and look at them. It's just a wonderful place, with lots of landmarks, an oasis in the busy city and a great place for people of all ages, and families especially.
So if you have an extra prayer, please say one for the people fighting the fire, the people who live nearby, and that the winds will continue to calm, that the weather will cool, perhaps some rain will come, the fire will die down, and the park will be spared further destruction. Thank you.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Nauvoo Get-Together
We held it at our place. It was awesome. (Nauvoo.com is a website with an online forum community I am active on.) Only 3 people (besides us) were able to make it, but we had a good time anyway. I cooked Lebanese (shish kafta, tabbouleh, hummus, pita, and minted cucumber salad-- I forgot about the rice until the last minute and we decided to skip it, and I never did remember the dried apricots and the giant fava beans in tomato sauce I had intended for appetizers until everyone was gone), and did an apple "pie" (it's more like a cobbler, really, but that's what it's called) in the crockpot. (I had it all ready ahead of time, so I was able to relax most of the day despite our refrigerator going out in the morning. After calling a bunch of places we found a place that sent a guy who fixed it on the spot, and it's now working-- it was the freezer motor.) Jan picked up ice cream (Haagen-Daas-- mmmm) and Hans and Roz brought sodas and juice and cherry-topped cheesecake. We all just sat around and talked and ate and watched Emma devour half the hummus and Bridget eat about 1/4 lb. of kafta (who knew? She likes kafta, A LOT.) Emma did get overwhelmed after a while and, being a cranky three-year-old, said, "I don't want all these peoples in my house!" But (after a reminder that that was not polite) we sent her to watch Robin Hood and she took her bowl of hummus with her and by the time she came out she was much happier. So a good time had by all and lots of food devoured (and some left over for us!)
Monday, April 30, 2007
Here's to Emma, Helper of the Day...
(That's a song my brother's kindergarten class used to sing, and it's become part of our family's customary repertoire.)
We've been working hard now that Emma's 3 to have FHE EVERY week, especially since Jeff is out of work and we have a little more time together. Today Emma gave her first lesson. (She volunteered.) She came up with the topic herself. "We think about Jesus in Sacrament Meeting." After our opening prayer and calendar time, we talked about how we need to behave in Sacrament Meeting and why, that we think about Jesus when we take the bread and water, that we don't have toys or food in Sacrament Meeting because it's a special time, and that Jesus loves us and we like to listen to the talks and learn about Jesus and Heavenly Father. She led the discussion. It was totally awesome. Then we sang some hymns, and had a closing prayer and ice cream. I am amazed at how that little child can process adult concepts and at her pure love and solid testimony. She's a great kiddo, and we're very proud of her and love her very much.
We've been working hard now that Emma's 3 to have FHE EVERY week, especially since Jeff is out of work and we have a little more time together. Today Emma gave her first lesson. (She volunteered.) She came up with the topic herself. "We think about Jesus in Sacrament Meeting." After our opening prayer and calendar time, we talked about how we need to behave in Sacrament Meeting and why, that we think about Jesus when we take the bread and water, that we don't have toys or food in Sacrament Meeting because it's a special time, and that Jesus loves us and we like to listen to the talks and learn about Jesus and Heavenly Father. She led the discussion. It was totally awesome. Then we sang some hymns, and had a closing prayer and ice cream. I am amazed at how that little child can process adult concepts and at her pure love and solid testimony. She's a great kiddo, and we're very proud of her and love her very much.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Birthday party
We had it at Dunsmore park. Emma loved it. Bridget seemed to enjoy it pretty well, too. Besides my family (my mom, Grandma Katie, Aunt Linda, my sister Megan) and us, Max and Wendy, our upstairs neighbors, came. (Emma loves them, especially Max, and Max loves Emma and especially Bridget.)
We ate sandwiches (I made 4 kinds on 2 big loaves of french bread, cut in half), fresh fruit (Ems hogged most of it), lemonade, water, and cupcakes (broken oven, so we had to buy a cake.)
It was sweltering hot but other than that great. Emma made us all wear butterfly party hats. Emma and Max played on the equipment and then came in the shade and did play clay for a while when it got too hot. (Max made Ems a bracelet which she tried very hard to wear, it was so sweet.) Max also showed us his new skateboarding skills (he's taking a class at Sunland Park.) Bridey showed off her table-dancing (and standing) skills. Max hugged Bridget and Bridget tried to eat his nose and pull his hair (which he was not fond of.)
After the cake (and cleaning up from the cake!) they opened presents. They got some really cute clothes and some toys they will love. (3 kinds of blocks/building sets, a wagon, and assorted other toys and books, including a really annoying one from my mom which mercifully has an "off" switch!)
Then after we all went home and the girls had 1.5 hour naps (and I got a half hour), we headed over to the Stake Center for a Korean culture night put on by the (20 member!) Korean branch, which was awesome, delicious, spiritual, and touching, all in one fun bundle. :)
We ate sandwiches (I made 4 kinds on 2 big loaves of french bread, cut in half), fresh fruit (Ems hogged most of it), lemonade, water, and cupcakes (broken oven, so we had to buy a cake.)
It was sweltering hot but other than that great. Emma made us all wear butterfly party hats. Emma and Max played on the equipment and then came in the shade and did play clay for a while when it got too hot. (Max made Ems a bracelet which she tried very hard to wear, it was so sweet.) Max also showed us his new skateboarding skills (he's taking a class at Sunland Park.) Bridey showed off her table-dancing (and standing) skills. Max hugged Bridget and Bridget tried to eat his nose and pull his hair (which he was not fond of.)
After the cake (and cleaning up from the cake!) they opened presents. They got some really cute clothes and some toys they will love. (3 kinds of blocks/building sets, a wagon, and assorted other toys and books, including a really annoying one from my mom which mercifully has an "off" switch!)
Then after we all went home and the girls had 1.5 hour naps (and I got a half hour), we headed over to the Stake Center for a Korean culture night put on by the (20 member!) Korean branch, which was awesome, delicious, spiritual, and touching, all in one fun bundle. :)
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
More excitement than we actually wanted
We had a grease fire in the oven. (No one hurt, no damage, I put it out and I have a slight cough but am otherwise okay, smoke has cleared nicely.)
Our landlord is not responding to the call that he needs to fix our oven. Of course.
I'm very glad we practiced and all knew exactly what to do. Emma even knew how to "get low and go"-- thank goodness for Elmo reinforcing our home fire and emergency drills!
Our landlord is not responding to the call that he needs to fix our oven. Of course.
I'm very glad we practiced and all knew exactly what to do. Emma even knew how to "get low and go"-- thank goodness for Elmo reinforcing our home fire and emergency drills!
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Bridget is 1 today.
She ate almost a whole turkey burger, with cheese and bun, for dinner tonight. Not to mention the cookies and apple juice. We were astonished. She sure does love her food!
Here are some pics of opening presents (from Grandma in Texas; she sent them a while back and we've been keeping them for today.)
It also has a snack bowl, which the bar on Bridey's seat did not have. We have been thinking of ordering the part from Graco, but this works for now. Bridget likes the snack bowl, too!
Here are some pics of opening presents (from Grandma in Texas; she sent them a while back and we've been keeping them for today.)
She also got a toy bar for her stroller, which Emma actually picked out.
My aunt had given us some "scrip" to K-B Toys, and Emma used most of it to pick a present for Bridey. (It was, actually, a very astute choice. She looked at everything in the store-- it took an hour!-- and told me, "Bridget will like this." I asked if she knew what it was and she said, looking at the pictures on the box, "Toys on the stroller!" So I guess she knew. The reason the choice was so astute was that Bridey has been getting restless in the stroller lately and, for lack of anything else to do, leaning forward and pulling Emma's hair. )
Bridget likes it.
It also has a snack bowl, which the bar on Bridey's seat did not have. We have been thinking of ordering the part from Graco, but this works for now. Bridget likes the snack bowl, too!
First Day of Class
This morning was my first day of class at McGroarty (the preschool art class I'm teaching, remember?) I had a blast. The kids and parents seemed to like it, too. We had circle time with a story, some discussion, and talking about and looking at pictures, then we did paper plate self-portraits, they painted pictures of their families (our subject for the week was "portraits-- pictures of people") and then anyone who was done with painting played with play dough for a bit before cleaning up. I think next week we will do animals.
I like the format I finally settled on, which is circle time with a story, some discussion about our subject or "theme" for the week, and then two or three short projects centering on the theme, using several different media, with play dough or another free activity at the end if kids finish early.
All the kids are great, although a few are a bit shy, that's fine. 6 of my 8 students showed up this week and I also let an older sister participate; all but one of the moms stayed. Actually, the one mom who left had the brightest, best-behaved kid. Turns out he's 3 of 4. He was so well-behaved that I jokingly asked his mom, "Does he go to preschool, or do you just enforce good listening at home?" She was pleased that he did so well and I honestly was too; he even went to the toilet and washed his hands all by himself! I wish MY three-year-old would do that!
I like the format I finally settled on, which is circle time with a story, some discussion about our subject or "theme" for the week, and then two or three short projects centering on the theme, using several different media, with play dough or another free activity at the end if kids finish early.
All the kids are great, although a few are a bit shy, that's fine. 6 of my 8 students showed up this week and I also let an older sister participate; all but one of the moms stayed. Actually, the one mom who left had the brightest, best-behaved kid. Turns out he's 3 of 4. He was so well-behaved that I jokingly asked his mom, "Does he go to preschool, or do you just enforce good listening at home?" She was pleased that he did so well and I honestly was too; he even went to the toilet and washed his hands all by himself! I wish MY three-year-old would do that!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Chopsticks
We went to Chinatown today on the train from Pasadena while Jeff helped my Aunt Marilyn out with some things.
We went shopping and found some "koala cookies" (they were out of Hello Panda), and some shoes for my sister (she had admired Emma and Bridget's shoes at Easter and said she wished she had some like that, and when Emma saw the bigger ones she said, "Those are like Bridget Emma's shoes! Aunt Megan would like that!" So we bought some for Aunt Megan-- who liked them very much when we gave them to her tonight.)
After a while I realized that none of us had really eaten much, and I was starting to get really hungry and thirsty. We stopped in at what is probably my favorite (and the cleanest-- they always have an "A" health inspection rating in an area where most restaurants get "B"s on a regular basis) Vietnamese noodle shop in Chinatown, Pho 97.
Emma has been using chopsticks on her own for quite a while now-- about a year, I think, maybe a little more-- and she's getting much better at it.
We got a big bowl of noodles, well-done beef, and broth, with yummy things on the side to mix in (a huge bowl for $5!), and I got a soda, too. Emma shared with me, and Bridget got jealous, despite having some baby food. So she got some beef, too. She liked it.
Then Emma fed Bridget a few noodles and some more beef.
And to end the day, before we got back on the train, I let Emma play on the kiddie ride-ons (she doesn't like them to be on, just to climb on them when they're off.)
My aunt got us sandwiches, which is what we had for dinner. All in all, a fun day-- and I only spent about $28, including train fare and a shopping trip. I love Chinatown. :D
We went shopping and found some "koala cookies" (they were out of Hello Panda), and some shoes for my sister (she had admired Emma and Bridget's shoes at Easter and said she wished she had some like that, and when Emma saw the bigger ones she said, "Those are like Bridget Emma's shoes! Aunt Megan would like that!" So we bought some for Aunt Megan-- who liked them very much when we gave them to her tonight.)
After a while I realized that none of us had really eaten much, and I was starting to get really hungry and thirsty. We stopped in at what is probably my favorite (and the cleanest-- they always have an "A" health inspection rating in an area where most restaurants get "B"s on a regular basis) Vietnamese noodle shop in Chinatown, Pho 97.
Emma has been using chopsticks on her own for quite a while now-- about a year, I think, maybe a little more-- and she's getting much better at it.
We got a big bowl of noodles, well-done beef, and broth, with yummy things on the side to mix in (a huge bowl for $5!), and I got a soda, too. Emma shared with me, and Bridget got jealous, despite having some baby food. So she got some beef, too. She liked it.
Then Emma fed Bridget a few noodles and some more beef.
And of course, then Bridget wanted to try them. She had fun holding them and looking at them and tapping them, even if she can't do anything else with them yet.
And to end the day, before we got back on the train, I let Emma play on the kiddie ride-ons (she doesn't like them to be on, just to climb on them when they're off.)
My aunt got us sandwiches, which is what we had for dinner. All in all, a fun day-- and I only spent about $28, including train fare and a shopping trip. I love Chinatown. :D
Sunday, April 15, 2007
I signed up for this meme over at Guess What the Kids Did a little while back. Here's how it works:
The Rules: Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me.” I respond by asking you five questions (left in my comments) so I can get to know you better. If I already know you well, expect the questions may be somewhat personal! You can update your journal/blog/whatever with the answers to the questions (please don't leave your answers in my comments unless you don't have a blog). You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Here are mine:
1) What has been your best ebay transaction--most fun find or greatest profit--however you define 'best.'
Hmmm. Well, I like all of the things I buy and get excited about them, but none of them are really SPECTACULAR finds. So I'm going to choose this pattern. Now, it's not the highest I ever sold an item for, although it was an excellent profit margin, but it was one of the most exciting sales I did because of these factors:
a) Okay, the profit margin. Consider that I got the pattern for $0.25, and listed it starting at $0.99, so if it had gone for that, I would have covered my loss and made about $0.16 profit. Consider also that the envelope was not in perfect shape (although I did personally inspect the pattern and was able to assure buyers that all pieces were intact.) But honestly I expected it to go for around $5 or so.
b) It was a lot of fun to watch that price go up and up and up, most of it happened in the last few minutes so as I was checking in on it it kept going up and up, and then I went to do something I came back and it had ended at $16.50!
c) I know the buyer was just thrilled to find it (based on the feedback she left.) It makes me really happy to make people happy with the things that I find and they buy, that way everyone is happy; I make some money and they get something they really enjoy!
2) What would you do (or do more often) if you had daily access to a car?
Well, I really don't like to drive, especially in L.A. traffic, so we'd still probably stay home a lot. But I would honestly love to be able to schedule doctors' appointments for days when my mom can't take us if I want to, and I'd like to go to the zoo once in a while, and we'd probably go to Descanso more often, and we'd go to Chinatown a lot (I still wouldn't drive and try to park downtown, but we'd go park at the Pasadena train station and take the commuter train there, and/or to Olvera Street, which is a few blocks from Chinatown and right across the street from Union Station.) And we'd be at IKEA and Target (not necessarily buying, just looking) a lot. Also, just being able to do errands once in a while would be nice.
3) If you could hire one of the following, would you pick: Driver, Maid, Chef, or Stylist?
Well, I wouldn't care for a chef or stylist. I like to cook enough that it's not worth paying someone to do it, and *ahem* I'm not into hair or makeup (yes, okay, I'm a slob and I don't care. But it makes my life a lot easier.) Maid or driver is a hard one, but I can live with what's in walking distance a lot easier than I can live with the messes Emma is constantly making and we never seem able to keep up with (the child is a demolition MACHINE; I swear she can undo three hours' work in thirty seconds flat), so I'm gonna choose maid.
4) If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Green. Just 'cause that's what I always answer to these questions, and it's my favorite, and it seems to describe me; not a hot color, but not too far into the cool spectrum; just kinda mellow. Also I TRY to be very environmentally and socially conscious, so that's what I'd be. Green.
5) What's in your CD player/playlist right now?
Gosh, a whole heck of a mixed up list! We've got some Kate Rusby, some Kate Wolf, some Vocal Point (an a cappella group from BYU), some classic country (think Hank Williams), some assorted pop miscellania from our childhoods ("Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper; "All That She Wants" by Ace of Base), a little Beatles, some funky stuff (TMBG, Cake), a little Iris DeMent, and a few selections from Handel's Messiah as performed by the London Philharmonic.
I've mentioned my taste in music falls under "eclectic", right?
So those are my answers. If you'd like to participate, just leave a comment saying "Interview Me!"
Let me know if you want to play!
The Rules: Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me.” I respond by asking you five questions (left in my comments) so I can get to know you better. If I already know you well, expect the questions may be somewhat personal! You can update your journal/blog/whatever with the answers to the questions (please don't leave your answers in my comments unless you don't have a blog). You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Here are mine:
1) What has been your best ebay transaction--most fun find or greatest profit--however you define 'best.'
Hmmm. Well, I like all of the things I buy and get excited about them, but none of them are really SPECTACULAR finds. So I'm going to choose this pattern. Now, it's not the highest I ever sold an item for, although it was an excellent profit margin, but it was one of the most exciting sales I did because of these factors:
a) Okay, the profit margin. Consider that I got the pattern for $0.25, and listed it starting at $0.99, so if it had gone for that, I would have covered my loss and made about $0.16 profit. Consider also that the envelope was not in perfect shape (although I did personally inspect the pattern and was able to assure buyers that all pieces were intact.) But honestly I expected it to go for around $5 or so.
b) It was a lot of fun to watch that price go up and up and up, most of it happened in the last few minutes so as I was checking in on it it kept going up and up, and then I went to do something I came back and it had ended at $16.50!
c) I know the buyer was just thrilled to find it (based on the feedback she left.) It makes me really happy to make people happy with the things that I find and they buy, that way everyone is happy; I make some money and they get something they really enjoy!
2) What would you do (or do more often) if you had daily access to a car?
Well, I really don't like to drive, especially in L.A. traffic, so we'd still probably stay home a lot. But I would honestly love to be able to schedule doctors' appointments for days when my mom can't take us if I want to, and I'd like to go to the zoo once in a while, and we'd probably go to Descanso more often, and we'd go to Chinatown a lot (I still wouldn't drive and try to park downtown, but we'd go park at the Pasadena train station and take the commuter train there, and/or to Olvera Street, which is a few blocks from Chinatown and right across the street from Union Station.) And we'd be at IKEA and Target (not necessarily buying, just looking) a lot. Also, just being able to do errands once in a while would be nice.
3) If you could hire one of the following, would you pick: Driver, Maid, Chef, or Stylist?
Well, I wouldn't care for a chef or stylist. I like to cook enough that it's not worth paying someone to do it, and *ahem* I'm not into hair or makeup (yes, okay, I'm a slob and I don't care. But it makes my life a lot easier.) Maid or driver is a hard one, but I can live with what's in walking distance a lot easier than I can live with the messes Emma is constantly making and we never seem able to keep up with (the child is a demolition MACHINE; I swear she can undo three hours' work in thirty seconds flat), so I'm gonna choose maid.
4) If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Green. Just 'cause that's what I always answer to these questions, and it's my favorite, and it seems to describe me; not a hot color, but not too far into the cool spectrum; just kinda mellow. Also I TRY to be very environmentally and socially conscious, so that's what I'd be. Green.
5) What's in your CD player/playlist right now?
Gosh, a whole heck of a mixed up list! We've got some Kate Rusby, some Kate Wolf, some Vocal Point (an a cappella group from BYU), some classic country (think Hank Williams), some assorted pop miscellania from our childhoods ("Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper; "All That She Wants" by Ace of Base), a little Beatles, some funky stuff (TMBG, Cake), a little Iris DeMent, and a few selections from Handel's Messiah as performed by the London Philharmonic.
I've mentioned my taste in music falls under "eclectic", right?
So those are my answers. If you'd like to participate, just leave a comment saying "Interview Me!"
Let me know if you want to play!
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Frazzled and Kind of Down and Stuff
It's one of those times when I feel like so much is going on that I'm just overwhelmed-- even though not that much really gets done. Sunday, of course, was Easter; the day before we went to my aunt's for an egg hunt, and on Easter proper we went to my mom's and did another (indoor-- it was raining Sunday) egg hunt and dinner (just us, my mom, my sister Megan, and my Grandma Katie.)
Thursday I taught my crockpot cooking class for Enrichment, one of three (the other two were housecleaning tips and gardening), and it was a lot of fun. Everyone loved it, I felt kind of silly telling women older than me how to cook and especially mentioning the information I did about eating balanced meals and observing proper food safety protocols, but I felt the need to and at least one person, a visitor no less, thanked me for it. So I guess it wasn't so silly. And I did like the eating part afterwards (we sampled all kinds of crockpot dishes. I made three. Everyone LOVED them.)
I guess I'm kind of stressed out right now. Between Jeff not working (he's looking for something part time and of course promoting the new business, but we have no clients yet despite assiduous fliering and networking and an awesome domain name for the website; there's a job fair Tuesday and AccounTemps, an accounting temp firm, will be there, so he'll be heading to that) and my stuff going on (I have bad cramping this week and my bleeding, which just finally stopped, has now started again, AND a cold, AND I was getting started on a UTI; I just started cranberry extract for that) I am just physically and emotionally drained. And frustrated. And Ems is not helping-- I think she is picking up on the household stress and it's contributing to her rambunctious, clingy, contrary behavior. And let's not even talk about potty training. Jeff losing his job means we can't afford preschool right now; we're still getting the registration process started (she needs a physical anyway and we have to have her doc fill out some forms) and hoping that it's going to work out that she can go (we had settled on 2 days a week and my aunt and dad were each going to pay a third each month, but right now we can't scrape the $80/mo. together for it.) Bryan and Amy are having a lot of trouble (she ran a fever after the c-section, and James ended up back in the hospital with blood in his stool; after a lot of tests they thought it might be something Amy was eating, like he has Celiac disease or something, and they put her on an elimination diet), but they aren't really telling anyone so we hear about it, with very frustrated overtones, from Jeff's sister Heather, who feels left out because she kind of hears about it more by accident than by inclusion. We feel REALLY left out because if it weren't for her we wouldn't hear about it at all. (What, just because we moved away because that's what we had to do, we don't belong in the family any more?) And then I get all judgmental because I hear this stuff and think "gee, they really need to learn to accept help", not thinking that, well, having a baby is a hard adjustment and we all do it differently and I know Amy has had some of the same problems with our mother-in-law that I have and maybe that's the root of it. *sigh* I really need to stop judging so quickly. I do think they could at least let us know to pray for them, though, but then I have to smack myself because there I go judging again.
I wish I could take a break and just get away for a day, but my mom is insanely busy and a little depressed herself right now-- her boss, who is also one of her best friends, and another of her best friends both have breast cancer. That means, on top of the emotional load, she's shouldering a ton of work that shouldn't be hers right now, even going in Saturdays. And it's tax season so my aunt isn't able to help watch even one of the girls. And, well, I am hesitant to leave the girls with my dad and Sheri until they're older, because my dad can't even remember what they can or can't eat, and their house is the most un-childproof one I've ever been in, and Sheri, for all she loves babies, feels helpless around them, I think. Plus my dad can't understand a word Emma says. It doesn't make me confident leaving the girls with them, even if they WEREN'T busy all the time. So there go our babysitters... Maybe my sister would take them... But even so, Bridey is going through a clingy, separation anxiety phase. *bangs head on wall*
Anyway, I feel frazzled and a little down, and I think everyone in our house does now. I am excited about all the eBaying I get to do lately, though, it's always fun to watch my stuff sell. Kind of thrilling, an adrenaline rush, you know? I have all our neighbor's dresses and stuff up this week and I'm hoping that they'll sell well, for her sake and mine, 'cause I get half the profit... Sadly, anything I make goes into the household account right now (well, what doesn't go back into my eBay business in the form of inventory or shipping supplies) instead of being my "mad money" like it usually is. But that's kind of nice, at least I feel like I'm contributing something. But I still miss my "mad money." All luxuries are now no-nos, except a little treat for Emma now and again when she's been helpful and we have recycling money (my mom and aunt save cans and bottles for us.) My trip to see one of my bestest friends ever, who lives in OK, this summer, is on rocky ground; there's no way if Jeff doesn't get a job in the next month or so I'm going to be able to make it, and I was really, really looking forward to it. *cries*
Well, what are you going to do? That's life. There are good times and rough times, and sometimes you've gotta have the rough. I just hope things cycle up again really soon.
Thursday I taught my crockpot cooking class for Enrichment, one of three (the other two were housecleaning tips and gardening), and it was a lot of fun. Everyone loved it, I felt kind of silly telling women older than me how to cook and especially mentioning the information I did about eating balanced meals and observing proper food safety protocols, but I felt the need to and at least one person, a visitor no less, thanked me for it. So I guess it wasn't so silly. And I did like the eating part afterwards (we sampled all kinds of crockpot dishes. I made three. Everyone LOVED them.)
I guess I'm kind of stressed out right now. Between Jeff not working (he's looking for something part time and of course promoting the new business, but we have no clients yet despite assiduous fliering and networking and an awesome domain name for the website; there's a job fair Tuesday and AccounTemps, an accounting temp firm, will be there, so he'll be heading to that) and my stuff going on (I have bad cramping this week and my bleeding, which just finally stopped, has now started again, AND a cold, AND I was getting started on a UTI; I just started cranberry extract for that) I am just physically and emotionally drained. And frustrated. And Ems is not helping-- I think she is picking up on the household stress and it's contributing to her rambunctious, clingy, contrary behavior. And let's not even talk about potty training. Jeff losing his job means we can't afford preschool right now; we're still getting the registration process started (she needs a physical anyway and we have to have her doc fill out some forms) and hoping that it's going to work out that she can go (we had settled on 2 days a week and my aunt and dad were each going to pay a third each month, but right now we can't scrape the $80/mo. together for it.) Bryan and Amy are having a lot of trouble (she ran a fever after the c-section, and James ended up back in the hospital with blood in his stool; after a lot of tests they thought it might be something Amy was eating, like he has Celiac disease or something, and they put her on an elimination diet), but they aren't really telling anyone so we hear about it, with very frustrated overtones, from Jeff's sister Heather, who feels left out because she kind of hears about it more by accident than by inclusion. We feel REALLY left out because if it weren't for her we wouldn't hear about it at all. (What, just because we moved away because that's what we had to do, we don't belong in the family any more?) And then I get all judgmental because I hear this stuff and think "gee, they really need to learn to accept help", not thinking that, well, having a baby is a hard adjustment and we all do it differently and I know Amy has had some of the same problems with our mother-in-law that I have and maybe that's the root of it. *sigh* I really need to stop judging so quickly. I do think they could at least let us know to pray for them, though, but then I have to smack myself because there I go judging again.
I wish I could take a break and just get away for a day, but my mom is insanely busy and a little depressed herself right now-- her boss, who is also one of her best friends, and another of her best friends both have breast cancer. That means, on top of the emotional load, she's shouldering a ton of work that shouldn't be hers right now, even going in Saturdays. And it's tax season so my aunt isn't able to help watch even one of the girls. And, well, I am hesitant to leave the girls with my dad and Sheri until they're older, because my dad can't even remember what they can or can't eat, and their house is the most un-childproof one I've ever been in, and Sheri, for all she loves babies, feels helpless around them, I think. Plus my dad can't understand a word Emma says. It doesn't make me confident leaving the girls with them, even if they WEREN'T busy all the time. So there go our babysitters... Maybe my sister would take them... But even so, Bridey is going through a clingy, separation anxiety phase. *bangs head on wall*
Anyway, I feel frazzled and a little down, and I think everyone in our house does now. I am excited about all the eBaying I get to do lately, though, it's always fun to watch my stuff sell. Kind of thrilling, an adrenaline rush, you know? I have all our neighbor's dresses and stuff up this week and I'm hoping that they'll sell well, for her sake and mine, 'cause I get half the profit... Sadly, anything I make goes into the household account right now (well, what doesn't go back into my eBay business in the form of inventory or shipping supplies) instead of being my "mad money" like it usually is. But that's kind of nice, at least I feel like I'm contributing something. But I still miss my "mad money." All luxuries are now no-nos, except a little treat for Emma now and again when she's been helpful and we have recycling money (my mom and aunt save cans and bottles for us.) My trip to see one of my bestest friends ever, who lives in OK, this summer, is on rocky ground; there's no way if Jeff doesn't get a job in the next month or so I'm going to be able to make it, and I was really, really looking forward to it. *cries*
Well, what are you going to do? That's life. There are good times and rough times, and sometimes you've gotta have the rough. I just hope things cycle up again really soon.
Friday, April 06, 2007
New Nephew
Baby James Nunn Hamilton was born at Dallas Presbyetrian Hospital (the same place Emma was born) to Bryan and Amy, my brother- and sister-in-law, at 4:42, via emergency c-section, after about a day and a half of labor. He weighed 9 lbs., 3 oz. and was 20 inches long.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
For Guinevere
...as well as anyone else who wants them, here are the recipes I will be using in my Enrichment class next week.
I'm not on the computer as much as I had been right now and we're kind of busy because KPC lost his job again. This time we have decided to just pick up odd jobs how and as we can and start a home-based business (more on that forthcoming soon.) So when I'm on the computer it's mostly eBay related, because that makes at least a little money. If you know anyone who is planning a wedding please keep an eye on my forthcoming auctions; I will have my Temple-ready wedding dress up soon (been meaning to get rid of that for a while) and I am selling my upstairs neighbor's non-Temple-appropriate, $3,000 new dress for her (as well as a whole bunch of her bridesmaid dresses, since it's prom season and they're nice I think they'll sell, and a flower girl dress, and some various wedding accessories), and may be selling my sister's dress for her soon, too. If you have a daughter going to prom any time soon I will also have a modest formal that is perfect for a prom dress up soon, and I'll have other stuff... I've been finding great stuff at SunThrift lately, but it does mean a lot of work in listing them all on eBay. Between that, and Jeff working on his part-time job hunt and us both working on the website for the business, helping my aunt when we can (she's swamped with tax clients right now), and Emma's birthday on Thursday (I still haven't even started planning her party), and Jeff needing to do schoolwork (luckily this week is his week off), and Easter next week, I just haven't had as much time or energy for blogging or reading everyone else's blogs. *sigh* I am psyched about Jeff being in firmer control of his own employment soon. It is a loooong story what happened at his work but suffice it to say that it wasn't really anything he did... *growl* Stupid people bother me.
I'm not on the computer as much as I had been right now and we're kind of busy because KPC lost his job again. This time we have decided to just pick up odd jobs how and as we can and start a home-based business (more on that forthcoming soon.) So when I'm on the computer it's mostly eBay related, because that makes at least a little money. If you know anyone who is planning a wedding please keep an eye on my forthcoming auctions; I will have my Temple-ready wedding dress up soon (been meaning to get rid of that for a while) and I am selling my upstairs neighbor's non-Temple-appropriate, $3,000 new dress for her (as well as a whole bunch of her bridesmaid dresses, since it's prom season and they're nice I think they'll sell, and a flower girl dress, and some various wedding accessories), and may be selling my sister's dress for her soon, too. If you have a daughter going to prom any time soon I will also have a modest formal that is perfect for a prom dress up soon, and I'll have other stuff... I've been finding great stuff at SunThrift lately, but it does mean a lot of work in listing them all on eBay. Between that, and Jeff working on his part-time job hunt and us both working on the website for the business, helping my aunt when we can (she's swamped with tax clients right now), and Emma's birthday on Thursday (I still haven't even started planning her party), and Jeff needing to do schoolwork (luckily this week is his week off), and Easter next week, I just haven't had as much time or energy for blogging or reading everyone else's blogs. *sigh* I am psyched about Jeff being in firmer control of his own employment soon. It is a loooong story what happened at his work but suffice it to say that it wasn't really anything he did... *growl* Stupid people bother me.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
The "Busy Season"
It seems like this time of year everything picks up in our lives. Last Saturday we went to Chuck E. Cheese (Emma had fun, Bridey tolerated it), went to church, I volunteered to teach a crock pot cooking class at Enrichment April 12 (they had the class scheduled but no teacher), today I went shopping for baby shower gifts and stuff-- the shower is IN BETWEEN CONFERENCE SESSIONS on Saturday. Sheesh. (Yes, it's a ward baby shower.) So after Conference weekend this weekend we will have another busy week including Emma turning 3, then on Saturday a combined birthday party/Easter egg hunt, then Sunday is Easter (dinner at my mom's), then sometime the next weekend or the one after or something we need to have another party, for Emma and Bridget, then it will be Bridget's actual birthday, in the middle of all this my class at McGroarty will start, it just seems like we don't stop in this family until at least June. (I just listed the April events, May and June are all pretty full every weekend already, too.)
I am excited about all of it, of course. (The art class will be really great. L.A. area parents of children ages 3 to 5, you are invited to join us; registration begins this Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm, and after that you may register in the office or call from 10 am to 3 pm Tues., Wed., and Thur. Class runs Saturdays from 11 am to noon, eight weeks starting April 21. For more information and contact number see the website; there are a lot of other great classes, too! I know at least half of the teachers and they are great people.) I have to drop by McGroarty tomorrow with Sheri and find out where everything is and familiarize myself with everything. And birthdays are always fun. I need to start planning that party... I think Emma wants an Ernie and Bert theme this year. But it can get a little overwhelming sometimes with stuff going on EVERY weekend! I'm glad Jeff gets home early so we can get stuff done during the week as well.
I am excited about all of it, of course. (The art class will be really great. L.A. area parents of children ages 3 to 5, you are invited to join us; registration begins this Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm, and after that you may register in the office or call from 10 am to 3 pm Tues., Wed., and Thur. Class runs Saturdays from 11 am to noon, eight weeks starting April 21. For more information and contact number see the website; there are a lot of other great classes, too! I know at least half of the teachers and they are great people.) I have to drop by McGroarty tomorrow with Sheri and find out where everything is and familiarize myself with everything. And birthdays are always fun. I need to start planning that party... I think Emma wants an Ernie and Bert theme this year. But it can get a little overwhelming sometimes with stuff going on EVERY weekend! I'm glad Jeff gets home early so we can get stuff done during the week as well.
Friday, March 23, 2007
What's Been Going On
This is just a general update post, I guess. The last few days eBay has been treating me well; I may have to take a few months off this summer to make sure my profits don't get to a level that's reportable on our income tax! So we've been busily e-mailing, packaging and shipping (Emma loves to help; she drops the wrapped clothing into the envelopes for me, and then helps me seal them. When we get to the Post Office, I use the Automated Post Office machine and she puts the "stickers" on and drops them in the bin and closes it. She has a blast.) I am almost cleaned out of inventory, I need to make another trip to SunThrift this Saturday (their half off day.)
We have a new little vacuum; it's a Eureka Cordless Quick-Up. They're $24 at Target right now and my aunt had me get one for her brother-in-law's birthday, but it's not until July, so I hinted that I would like one for my birthday, and they called me back in after discussing it to give it to me early. I'm loving it. We have a great vacuum and will still use it for that twice-monthly or so deep-cleaning, but for quick clean-ups, this one is more than adequate. It's light enough I can use it without hurting my back; if Emma didn't hate vacuum noise so much, she could even use it! Speaking of noise, it's much quieter than the big vacuum, and I hate vacuum noise too, so that is a big plus. I can pick up crushed Cheerio messes with it without a big hassle, and it even has a part that detaches to make a little hand-vac for cleaning the couch and such! Very cool.
We went today and did a preschool interview for Emma. I have been feeling more and more strongly that while I intend to home-school Emma when she gets to kindergarten, for the next year at least she needs more peer interaction than she is getting. Socially she is on track and intellectually she is very advanced, but she still has a few language difficulties that I think more time away from home would be a benefit for, and potty training has become a big resistance issue. I think she would benefit greatly by being around other kids who are using the potty and also by being "potty taught" a bit by an adult who is NOT Mommy or Abba, with whom she already has all kinds of other issues. She will be three in a few weeks and she is firmly resistant to using the potty at this point, just because it has become such a control thing between her and us. A week ago, about a month after I had started praying about how to get her more peer interaction, we noticed a new sign for a home-based Montessori preschool on the corner. We interviewed today and we are going to do it! The lady whose new business it is has been teaching in Montessori schools for 16 years. She had about 30 pages of references, just completed her Montessori certification (after two years of work on it), and has been inspected by the Department of Health and licensed by the state. She is really nice, Emma loved it there, the fees are reasonable (cheaper than anything I've had quoted to me), and my aunt has said she will pay half, and that she will speak to my dad because he will probably be willing to chip in some too. Emma will be going two days a week, and the best part is that we can take her for as many or as few hours as we wish; because it is literally a one-minute walk from our apartment, I will be able to take her and pick her up whenever I want or she needs it. We are all really excited. Besides the potty-training and language advantages, Emma is showing a lot of pre-reading readiness (she spends some quality time on Starfall, that's where she has learned most of it), and we think that in a Montessori environment (perfect for her learning style and Sensory Processing Disorder!) we think she will probably be reading within a year (although of course we aren't going to push it.) The schedule is very thorough, with a lot of structure but allowing for plenty of unstructured play, and I think that will be good for her, too. I think this is going to be a huge blessing in our lives, and if the monthly fee is split three ways, I think I can just about pay for our portion with my monthly eBay profits, it's that reasonable! And I just know that Ems will have a blast, there was so much fun stuff to do, they have music and Spanish (both of which she adores) every day, and she even has a swing set and slide!
We are trying to clean up the living room and keep it clean. Emma is helping because she wants to go to Chuck E. Cheese (insidious viral marketing! They sponsor Sesame Street), and we told her that if she helps clean up and keep it clean, we will take her on Saturday. (We don't really mind much. Jeff likes pizza and I like skeeball... And we have coupons.)
I have started on chasteberry extract (Vitex) to hopefully regulate my cycle, which has been wonky ever since that miscarriage. It seems to be having an effect already, we will see what it does long-term.
So that's pretty much our week so far. Hope you are all having as much good news in your life as we are having in ours!
We have a new little vacuum; it's a Eureka Cordless Quick-Up. They're $24 at Target right now and my aunt had me get one for her brother-in-law's birthday, but it's not until July, so I hinted that I would like one for my birthday, and they called me back in after discussing it to give it to me early. I'm loving it. We have a great vacuum and will still use it for that twice-monthly or so deep-cleaning, but for quick clean-ups, this one is more than adequate. It's light enough I can use it without hurting my back; if Emma didn't hate vacuum noise so much, she could even use it! Speaking of noise, it's much quieter than the big vacuum, and I hate vacuum noise too, so that is a big plus. I can pick up crushed Cheerio messes with it without a big hassle, and it even has a part that detaches to make a little hand-vac for cleaning the couch and such! Very cool.
We went today and did a preschool interview for Emma. I have been feeling more and more strongly that while I intend to home-school Emma when she gets to kindergarten, for the next year at least she needs more peer interaction than she is getting. Socially she is on track and intellectually she is very advanced, but she still has a few language difficulties that I think more time away from home would be a benefit for, and potty training has become a big resistance issue. I think she would benefit greatly by being around other kids who are using the potty and also by being "potty taught" a bit by an adult who is NOT Mommy or Abba, with whom she already has all kinds of other issues. She will be three in a few weeks and she is firmly resistant to using the potty at this point, just because it has become such a control thing between her and us. A week ago, about a month after I had started praying about how to get her more peer interaction, we noticed a new sign for a home-based Montessori preschool on the corner. We interviewed today and we are going to do it! The lady whose new business it is has been teaching in Montessori schools for 16 years. She had about 30 pages of references, just completed her Montessori certification (after two years of work on it), and has been inspected by the Department of Health and licensed by the state. She is really nice, Emma loved it there, the fees are reasonable (cheaper than anything I've had quoted to me), and my aunt has said she will pay half, and that she will speak to my dad because he will probably be willing to chip in some too. Emma will be going two days a week, and the best part is that we can take her for as many or as few hours as we wish; because it is literally a one-minute walk from our apartment, I will be able to take her and pick her up whenever I want or she needs it. We are all really excited. Besides the potty-training and language advantages, Emma is showing a lot of pre-reading readiness (she spends some quality time on Starfall, that's where she has learned most of it), and we think that in a Montessori environment (perfect for her learning style and Sensory Processing Disorder!) we think she will probably be reading within a year (although of course we aren't going to push it.) The schedule is very thorough, with a lot of structure but allowing for plenty of unstructured play, and I think that will be good for her, too. I think this is going to be a huge blessing in our lives, and if the monthly fee is split three ways, I think I can just about pay for our portion with my monthly eBay profits, it's that reasonable! And I just know that Ems will have a blast, there was so much fun stuff to do, they have music and Spanish (both of which she adores) every day, and she even has a swing set and slide!
We are trying to clean up the living room and keep it clean. Emma is helping because she wants to go to Chuck E. Cheese (insidious viral marketing! They sponsor Sesame Street), and we told her that if she helps clean up and keep it clean, we will take her on Saturday. (We don't really mind much. Jeff likes pizza and I like skeeball... And we have coupons.)
I have started on chasteberry extract (Vitex) to hopefully regulate my cycle, which has been wonky ever since that miscarriage. It seems to be having an effect already, we will see what it does long-term.
So that's pretty much our week so far. Hope you are all having as much good news in your life as we are having in ours!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
SingShot-- make a fool of yourself from the privacy of your own home!
So a friend on Hatrack got me started on SingShot, a free online karaoke site, and my new mic came in the mail (as I discovered that the old one had been chewed through by a cat, had to get a new one), so I have been going all night (since I haven't been sleeping anyway.) Most of what I'm doing is pretty awful but hey, it's karaoke, so I'm not gonna let that stop me from sharing it with the world! Check out stuff I've done on my profile page, and register yourself and join in if you like! If you do, let me know (either in comments here or through the SingShot feedback feature-- add me to your favorites or comment on a song I did and tell me who you are.) I'd love to hear all YOUR musical foolishness!
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