Oh my goodness! This is the second year I've gone shopping on Black Friday with my SIL Nikki. I go to her house the night before so we can plan our attack. This year, the ads sucked but we had an absolute blast. I haven't laughed that much or that hard in a long time!
The shopping wasn't too bad - like Nikki says, it's more for the "experience" (hmmm, I'm still not convinced on that part of it). I picked up a couple of things and managed to get a Christmas dress (which is absolutely gorgeous, by the way) for Josie.
The funniest experience of the shopping was Nikki trying to back into a parking spot at Target at 5:40 in the morning! I lost count on the number of attempts but it had to be somewhere around 10 tries before we were "just right" - - the people in the vehicle next to us were funny to watch - the lady was sitting in the passenger seat and she had a look of shock the whole time (we didn't even get close enough to really scare her - haha). Narrowly missed hitting the railing of the cart thingy but hey - it's still FUNNY STUFF! Of course, Nik might want to strangle me after she reads this! Love ya, Nik!
The other day at school they started their Sexual Abuse prevention program. The kids learned the proper terms of body parts and about good touches and bad touches. I was talking with Jos about it after school and asked her if she could remember the names of the body parts. If ever I needed some serious will power, it was for this conversation (you'll see why in a minute). She rattled off names for two parts and then was stuck. She I said, "Did one of the parts start with a v?" She says to me, "Oh yeah, that's it!" (here's my pause for dramatic effect..............................................................................................................................................................) Girls have venuses and boys have peanuts!" For me, there wasn't enuogh will power in the world to not laugh at that so I quickly excused myself from the table and went into the laundry room to burst out laughing. Of course she could hear me and asked why I was laughing and I told her no reason.
I think I laughed for about twenty minutes - complete with tears running down my face and everything! Bless her heart - at least I know she was listening and has some of the right sounds involved.
The Christmas tree is up and lights are on but the little miss has to get her room cleaned up before we put ornaments on. She's been working since a little after noon and you'd think she has been in there ten minutes. She's finally realized I'm serious though - she's kicking it in road gear to get it done before daddy gets home from working on his truck :)
Later!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Random thoughts today
It's a yucky day outside today - cold, rainy, windy. The leaves are pretty much gone from the trees at our house - the transition of leaves happens so quickly. We have two trees that I just love this time of year. They are along the highway and when they turn color, they become a very vibrant orange/pink. Sounds like a weird combination but they're awesome! Josie and I haven't had a chance yet to rake some up and jump in them - - hopefully on Saturday we'll be able to do that.
I have parent/teacher conference in a couple of weeks - I'm curious to hear the report from the teacher. Josie comes home each day with a report about how one kid hit another kid or how one kid threw something at someone else - but amazingly enough, she always follows up with "but mom, it wasn't me I promise." I just have to laugh - time will tell and truth be told, I will not be surprised to learn that she is involved in some (if not all) of these happenings :)
I had lunch with my sister-in-law on Monday. We've gotten to know each other a lot better in the last couple of years and I'm very thankful for that. She's a great person and would do anything for anyone simply because she knows it's the right thing to do.
Yesterday I had lunch with a friend of mine from Times Citizen newspaper (where I used to work). She still works there and hates every minute of it. I was only there about 6 months and the place was nuts - very poor management. It was all about who could kiss butt the best and who was willing to do the most for the boss with little or no recognition. A lot of office politics and sadly, it sounds like it's only getting worse instead of better. I never have understood the point of "politics" like that - no one ever got any real work done because everyone was running all over the building tattling on each other. I dealt with that enough through junior high and high school - why do it now too??
Today Josie has early out and as soon as she gets off the bus, we're heading to a dentist appointment. Poor kid has bad teeth like me - she had a bad cavity a couple weeks ago that the dentist took care of (her first experience with novicane - spelling?). Anyway, getting another one taken care of today and then she has dance. Tonight I think we're going to go to the high school volleyball game - our neighbor's (also our best friends) daughter plays and it's the first round of tournaments so Josie and I will be cheering them on.
The rest of the week should be pretty quiet. Saturday is Angel Food day so I'll be up bright and early at 4am (it's going to be COLD) and head to the pick up site in Cedar Falls with five other people. It's actually a pretty fun day - I really look forward to it each month.
Well I suppose that's enough random rambling for now. I should get a couple loads of laundry folded and put away before the bus gets into town. :)
I have parent/teacher conference in a couple of weeks - I'm curious to hear the report from the teacher. Josie comes home each day with a report about how one kid hit another kid or how one kid threw something at someone else - but amazingly enough, she always follows up with "but mom, it wasn't me I promise." I just have to laugh - time will tell and truth be told, I will not be surprised to learn that she is involved in some (if not all) of these happenings :)
I had lunch with my sister-in-law on Monday. We've gotten to know each other a lot better in the last couple of years and I'm very thankful for that. She's a great person and would do anything for anyone simply because she knows it's the right thing to do.
Yesterday I had lunch with a friend of mine from Times Citizen newspaper (where I used to work). She still works there and hates every minute of it. I was only there about 6 months and the place was nuts - very poor management. It was all about who could kiss butt the best and who was willing to do the most for the boss with little or no recognition. A lot of office politics and sadly, it sounds like it's only getting worse instead of better. I never have understood the point of "politics" like that - no one ever got any real work done because everyone was running all over the building tattling on each other. I dealt with that enough through junior high and high school - why do it now too??
Today Josie has early out and as soon as she gets off the bus, we're heading to a dentist appointment. Poor kid has bad teeth like me - she had a bad cavity a couple weeks ago that the dentist took care of (her first experience with novicane - spelling?). Anyway, getting another one taken care of today and then she has dance. Tonight I think we're going to go to the high school volleyball game - our neighbor's (also our best friends) daughter plays and it's the first round of tournaments so Josie and I will be cheering them on.
The rest of the week should be pretty quiet. Saturday is Angel Food day so I'll be up bright and early at 4am (it's going to be COLD) and head to the pick up site in Cedar Falls with five other people. It's actually a pretty fun day - I really look forward to it each month.
Well I suppose that's enough random rambling for now. I should get a couple loads of laundry folded and put away before the bus gets into town. :)
Monday, October 13, 2008
Good day even though it rained
Josie didn't have school today and we spent a great day together. She seems to have really grown in the last couple weeks again. Just had to buy her a couple new pairs of jeans - - - AGAIN!
This afternoon we had hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, listened to Christmas music (her idea - she likes to listen to the 12 Days of Christmas....and yes, I've been singing it in my head for the last three hours now). Then we sat down at the table and made pumpkins out of construction paper and then made bats, cut them out and attached a string. The pumpkins are now in our front window and the bats are taped to the living room ceiling fan.
The funniest part of today - - she said to me, "Mom, it's really not fun here during the day." I asked her if she thought I was out and about all day doing fun stuff and she said yes! The stinker - I told her not to worry that I was at home most of the time folding the bazillionth load of laundry, loading the dishwasher for the gazillionth time and sweeping the floor forty-six times in an hour. (I swear I have gremlins living in my house that terrorize it all day long)
Now she's snuggled in bed sound asleep ready for school tomorrow. Thursday is her first "official" kindergarten field trip. She can hardly wait for Thursday - she already has the countdown. I'm sure I'll hear some awesome stories Thursday when she gets off the bus!
This afternoon we had hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, listened to Christmas music (her idea - she likes to listen to the 12 Days of Christmas....and yes, I've been singing it in my head for the last three hours now). Then we sat down at the table and made pumpkins out of construction paper and then made bats, cut them out and attached a string. The pumpkins are now in our front window and the bats are taped to the living room ceiling fan.
The funniest part of today - - she said to me, "Mom, it's really not fun here during the day." I asked her if she thought I was out and about all day doing fun stuff and she said yes! The stinker - I told her not to worry that I was at home most of the time folding the bazillionth load of laundry, loading the dishwasher for the gazillionth time and sweeping the floor forty-six times in an hour. (I swear I have gremlins living in my house that terrorize it all day long)
Now she's snuggled in bed sound asleep ready for school tomorrow. Thursday is her first "official" kindergarten field trip. She can hardly wait for Thursday - she already has the countdown. I'm sure I'll hear some awesome stories Thursday when she gets off the bus!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Oh brothers...
Today is one of those days when I should have just smashed the alarm clock with a hammer, pulled the covers up over my head and stay in my nice warm, snuggly bed. Thankfully nothing major happened throughout the day but all the little things that didn't go right have me really wanting to head down to the Frozen Gator right now (new Sports Bar in Steamboat Rock - whoooohoooo - we're moving up in the world!)
After Josie left for school, I headed down to City Hall to start running copies of the monthly newsletter. Well apparently my brain was still in bed because I ran 250 copies of the front side of page one and neglected to put page two in the machine to run it front-back. Taking another 30 minutes of time, I got that straightened out. Then I fired up the older copy machine thinking I would be really smart and get twice as much done in half the time - yeah, right!
The old copier jammed like fifty times in the first 10 copies that it made. Things then smoothed out a bit and I was plugging away making copies and putting stamps on another mailing. Well, then the new copy machine decided to have an attitude - long story short, all the copies still aren't made, the old copy machine is apparently hooked up to the light switch in a different part of City Hall because if the office light isn't on, the copier won't work (if you shut the light off, like I did - the copier goes off and wipes out the number of copies that are left to be made thus forcing me to have to count a stack of 217 pages).
After running home, I checked the bank balance and low and behold, it's only Wednesday and there's like $8 in the account ---- what a happy day! I was supposed to go have lunch with my father-in-law today at the nursing home (it's his birthday today) but I was in such a crappy mood that I bailed out on that (very selfish, I know). I then went back to City Hall to continue making copies and then neither copier would do what I wanted it to do - one kept jamming and one kept shutting off.
Josie gets out early on Wednesday's so I had to hustle up there and pick her and a friend up - I thought Josie asked a lot of questions - this little boy had about three hundred questions in the two blocks from the school to his house. He's a cutie though - wouldn't have it any other way and it makes me feel better knowing Josie isn't the only one that asks a question, takes a breath and then asks another one (completely unrelated to the first) without waiting for your first answer.
When I get home, there's a funny "hot" smell in the house - ok, the washer smells like something has melted in it. I had Mitch's work clothes in there on the heavy duty stain cycle. Apparently my washer doesn't like that cycle because I thought the thing was going to burst into flames.
The lady bugs have decided to make it known that they have every intention of invading my home. The dog was on the deck catching and eating bees and then whining and yelping when they would sting him (stupid dog has been doing that all freakin' summer - you'd think he would learn; besides, who's ever heard of a bee-killing dog??)
My house is in utter chaos - I told Josie we're having a gargantuanly gigantic garage sale soon and she actually agreed that she has way too much stuff (I should have made her sign something so when the time comes, she doesn't go into meltdown mode).
Oh yes, when I went to the school tonight to pick Josie up from dance, I slammed my knee into the edge of the door and now it's all swollen and it hurts to have my pant leg rub against it.
I think that's about it for today - like I said, nothing major but good grief, all those little things add up in a big hurry and turns out to make a really bad day. Reminds me of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!
Hopefully my day has brought laugther to yours - it probably will for me in a couple days :)
After Josie left for school, I headed down to City Hall to start running copies of the monthly newsletter. Well apparently my brain was still in bed because I ran 250 copies of the front side of page one and neglected to put page two in the machine to run it front-back. Taking another 30 minutes of time, I got that straightened out. Then I fired up the older copy machine thinking I would be really smart and get twice as much done in half the time - yeah, right!
The old copier jammed like fifty times in the first 10 copies that it made. Things then smoothed out a bit and I was plugging away making copies and putting stamps on another mailing. Well, then the new copy machine decided to have an attitude - long story short, all the copies still aren't made, the old copy machine is apparently hooked up to the light switch in a different part of City Hall because if the office light isn't on, the copier won't work (if you shut the light off, like I did - the copier goes off and wipes out the number of copies that are left to be made thus forcing me to have to count a stack of 217 pages).
After running home, I checked the bank balance and low and behold, it's only Wednesday and there's like $8 in the account ---- what a happy day! I was supposed to go have lunch with my father-in-law today at the nursing home (it's his birthday today) but I was in such a crappy mood that I bailed out on that (very selfish, I know). I then went back to City Hall to continue making copies and then neither copier would do what I wanted it to do - one kept jamming and one kept shutting off.
Josie gets out early on Wednesday's so I had to hustle up there and pick her and a friend up - I thought Josie asked a lot of questions - this little boy had about three hundred questions in the two blocks from the school to his house. He's a cutie though - wouldn't have it any other way and it makes me feel better knowing Josie isn't the only one that asks a question, takes a breath and then asks another one (completely unrelated to the first) without waiting for your first answer.
When I get home, there's a funny "hot" smell in the house - ok, the washer smells like something has melted in it. I had Mitch's work clothes in there on the heavy duty stain cycle. Apparently my washer doesn't like that cycle because I thought the thing was going to burst into flames.
The lady bugs have decided to make it known that they have every intention of invading my home. The dog was on the deck catching and eating bees and then whining and yelping when they would sting him (stupid dog has been doing that all freakin' summer - you'd think he would learn; besides, who's ever heard of a bee-killing dog??)
My house is in utter chaos - I told Josie we're having a gargantuanly gigantic garage sale soon and she actually agreed that she has way too much stuff (I should have made her sign something so when the time comes, she doesn't go into meltdown mode).
Oh yes, when I went to the school tonight to pick Josie up from dance, I slammed my knee into the edge of the door and now it's all swollen and it hurts to have my pant leg rub against it.
I think that's about it for today - like I said, nothing major but good grief, all those little things add up in a big hurry and turns out to make a really bad day. Reminds me of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!
Hopefully my day has brought laugther to yours - it probably will for me in a couple days :)
Monday, September 29, 2008
Grace
We started a new adult Sunday school class yesterday based on Philip Yancey's book "What's So Amazing About Grace?". I've been looking forward to this class starting because I think I can get a lot out of it. I never was much good at class discussion though - - before I start talking about something, I like to be able to think about it and form my thoughts.
An interesting question: "What does the word grace mean?" How would you put into words a meaning of grace? As was pointed out yesterday, we use "grace" or a form of it frequently in our conversations. We say "grace" before we eat. Some companies offer a grace period before the amount is due.
How would you define the word grace?
An interesting question: "What does the word grace mean?" How would you put into words a meaning of grace? As was pointed out yesterday, we use "grace" or a form of it frequently in our conversations. We say "grace" before we eat. Some companies offer a grace period before the amount is due.
How would you define the word grace?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sometimes small towns aren't that great.
Most of the time living in a small town is comforting. Knowing you can stop by anyone's house without calling ahead of time is nice. Knowing you can call a neighbor for help even if it's 10 at night and they'll come no matter what is comforting.
The down side of a small town - EVERYONE knows your every move. Somehow these people know what time of day I take a shower and what time of day I eat lunch and when I'm out running errands - I wouldn't be surprised if some of them knew what color underwear I'm wearing today.
The worst part of a small town?? The ridiculous need to sit at the gas station every morning and religiously gossip, bad-mouth, back-stab others in the community. Most days it doesn't bother me because I live far enough away that I can pretty much stay in my own "world" and not be bothered.
Nothing in particular has sparked this little entry but for whatever reason, it's weighing on my mind today.
I really do like my small town (most of the time) but there's a piece of me that wonders how life would be different if I was somewhere else....like Montana or Connecticut (not random states, I really would like to visit these places)......
The down side of a small town - EVERYONE knows your every move. Somehow these people know what time of day I take a shower and what time of day I eat lunch and when I'm out running errands - I wouldn't be surprised if some of them knew what color underwear I'm wearing today.
The worst part of a small town?? The ridiculous need to sit at the gas station every morning and religiously gossip, bad-mouth, back-stab others in the community. Most days it doesn't bother me because I live far enough away that I can pretty much stay in my own "world" and not be bothered.
Nothing in particular has sparked this little entry but for whatever reason, it's weighing on my mind today.
I really do like my small town (most of the time) but there's a piece of me that wonders how life would be different if I was somewhere else....like Montana or Connecticut (not random states, I really would like to visit these places)......
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Lipstick Jungle
Season premiere tonight - this is the one show that I've been waiting for the premiere! Yahoo (takes so little to amuse me anymore!)!!!!!!!!!! Can't write any more now - the commericals done.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Class of 2021
Our local newspaper had a special section this week showing the classes of 2021. Each kindergartener was interviewed and the interview and photo was put in the paper. Josie's is hilarious:
You lost some teeth. "On the bottom. They're coming in really, really fast!" Do you live in Steamboat Rock? Nod. Did you watch the parade last weekend? "I got lo-o-o-ts of candy! You know what? The horsers were at the end of the parade adn they went potty on the road!" Did someone come around and clean it up? "NO." So, the celebration was fun? Were there lots of things to do and to eat? "Not real food...just candy, and suckers and Tootsie Rolls and stuff."
The funniest thing for me is that I can hear her little voice and can imagine her facial expressions as she was talking about the horses! I love it!
You lost some teeth. "On the bottom. They're coming in really, really fast!" Do you live in Steamboat Rock? Nod. Did you watch the parade last weekend? "I got lo-o-o-ts of candy! You know what? The horsers were at the end of the parade adn they went potty on the road!" Did someone come around and clean it up? "NO." So, the celebration was fun? Were there lots of things to do and to eat? "Not real food...just candy, and suckers and Tootsie Rolls and stuff."
The funniest thing for me is that I can hear her little voice and can imagine her facial expressions as she was talking about the horses! I love it!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Walmart
I find myself having the same conversation with Jos every time we walk in the doors of Walmart: Please don't hide in the racks of clothes (the little stinker is good at finding the rack with the most clothes); If you're going to push the cart, you have to watch where you are going and not worry about who is watching you; Check the stall to make sure there is toilet paper before you lock me out (because heaven forbid, I go into the stall with her - even if she's in the stall that is large enough to comfortably fit a family of 5!).......
There's something about the Walmart store that makes her go bonkers - like she's never been taught a manner in her life. Oh well - it does make me feel better when I happen to cross paths with another parent - it seems that most of them have stolen a page right out of my "Walmart rules" book. The part that makes me feel better is realizing that their kid(s) becomes a monster too.
I love my Walmart monster and even though she pushes all my buttons (and manages to find a new button to push each trip), I wouldn't have it any other way :)
G'nite!!
There's something about the Walmart store that makes her go bonkers - like she's never been taught a manner in her life. Oh well - it does make me feel better when I happen to cross paths with another parent - it seems that most of them have stolen a page right out of my "Walmart rules" book. The part that makes me feel better is realizing that their kid(s) becomes a monster too.
I love my Walmart monster and even though she pushes all my buttons (and manages to find a new button to push each trip), I wouldn't have it any other way :)
G'nite!!
Could it be?
School lunches might actually be good! Who knew? I think yesterday was the first day she's eaten the entire meal at school. I think she's finally getting tired of being hungry half way through the afternoon that she's decided the food is actually pretty good.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Fall
I'm looking forward to fall weather. Anyone who really knows me knows that I would much rather be cold than hot - just ask my neighbor. She brings slippers along when they come over in the winter and usually comes bearing sweatshirt and maybe an extra jacket in the summer :)
There isn't just one thing I love about fall - I love the cool, crisp air (hello, open windows!); raking a pile of leaves to jump in with Josie is always a good time. This year, I'm hoping to head to the same pumpkin patch we went to last year with Nikki and Madi in Evansdale. They give hay rack rides, have inflatable jumping things and lots of painted photo boards for some great photo opportunities. I also like hot spiced (or spiked - depending on the day) cider.
The one drawback to fall, that I can think of right now anyway - LADYBUGS (or whatever you call them). Every year my house is plastered with them and every year, I end up having a gazillion inside (perhaps from my husband and daughter and their inability to shut the door!!). I wouldn't mind them so much if they didn't stink. Josie had a run in with a lady bug when she was 2. Sitting on the living room floor, she managed to get one in her hand and yep - like most kids do, she put it in her mouth. Didn't take long for that sucker to come flying out of there.
I'm hoping we'll get to take a drive or two through the timber this fall and check out all the leaves. Mitch always talks about doing it and that he remembers taking drives with his grandparents and he'd like to start doing that with Josie. I think she's old enough now to really enjoy it and maybe take some pictures, etc.
Well, that's my random thought for now - I'm off to throw a load of laundry in the washer and then settle in with a cup of Raspberry Tea in my awesome Halloween mug I got in the mail from my friend :)
There isn't just one thing I love about fall - I love the cool, crisp air (hello, open windows!); raking a pile of leaves to jump in with Josie is always a good time. This year, I'm hoping to head to the same pumpkin patch we went to last year with Nikki and Madi in Evansdale. They give hay rack rides, have inflatable jumping things and lots of painted photo boards for some great photo opportunities. I also like hot spiced (or spiked - depending on the day) cider.
The one drawback to fall, that I can think of right now anyway - LADYBUGS (or whatever you call them). Every year my house is plastered with them and every year, I end up having a gazillion inside (perhaps from my husband and daughter and their inability to shut the door!!). I wouldn't mind them so much if they didn't stink. Josie had a run in with a lady bug when she was 2. Sitting on the living room floor, she managed to get one in her hand and yep - like most kids do, she put it in her mouth. Didn't take long for that sucker to come flying out of there.
I'm hoping we'll get to take a drive or two through the timber this fall and check out all the leaves. Mitch always talks about doing it and that he remembers taking drives with his grandparents and he'd like to start doing that with Josie. I think she's old enough now to really enjoy it and maybe take some pictures, etc.
Well, that's my random thought for now - I'm off to throw a load of laundry in the washer and then settle in with a cup of Raspberry Tea in my awesome Halloween mug I got in the mail from my friend :)
On my headstone...
Ok, this might be a little morbid but I've decided what I want to have engraved on my headstone when I die. I'd like to think that when I'm gone people will remember me for being a good mom, wife and friend so of course I'd like something along the lines of: "Loving wife, mother, daughter, etc."
Here's the kicker though - in big letters along the bottom (or maybe the top, I haven't decided yet) it's going to read:
"SHUT THE DOOR!!!"
Long story short, I've come to this conclusion - even when my daughter is grown up, I will still be yelling this phrase on a regular basis. If it's not my daughter leaving the door wide open, it's my husband. Apparently they have this strong sense of knowing just how much it really does annoy me when they do it. My husband will leave the basement door open while he is tinkering with a project - he says he goes in and out so much, he just leaves it open. My daughter will leave the basement door open when she runs into the house to go to the bathroom (and when she's done in the bathroom, she needs a snack, and then she needs a drink and then she gets sidetracked to something else which means the door has been left open for twenty minutes now).
The best part is neither one of them can figure out why we have so many flies, moths, etc. in the house at any given moment. Hello?!?! Someday I'm going to figure out a way to get them to remember to shut the stupid door. But then again, if I did that, I'd have to come up with a new phrase to put on my headstone!
Have a great day!!
Here's the kicker though - in big letters along the bottom (or maybe the top, I haven't decided yet) it's going to read:
"SHUT THE DOOR!!!"
Long story short, I've come to this conclusion - even when my daughter is grown up, I will still be yelling this phrase on a regular basis. If it's not my daughter leaving the door wide open, it's my husband. Apparently they have this strong sense of knowing just how much it really does annoy me when they do it. My husband will leave the basement door open while he is tinkering with a project - he says he goes in and out so much, he just leaves it open. My daughter will leave the basement door open when she runs into the house to go to the bathroom (and when she's done in the bathroom, she needs a snack, and then she needs a drink and then she gets sidetracked to something else which means the door has been left open for twenty minutes now).
The best part is neither one of them can figure out why we have so many flies, moths, etc. in the house at any given moment. Hello?!?! Someday I'm going to figure out a way to get them to remember to shut the stupid door. But then again, if I did that, I'd have to come up with a new phrase to put on my headstone!
Have a great day!!
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