Little House on the Quarry

Merry Christmas to all...

2011-12-24T01:17:00.000-06:00

And to all a good night!

Lemon bars are cut. Creme brulees are just out of the oven. Lemon poppy seed muffins are just about done for breakfast, and I am about ready for a great weekend with my gang.

Michael's folks will be over tomorrow, and my mom and a sibling or two will be over in the afternoon, and then we're hanging at home for Christmas day.

So much food. So much tasty goodness. The whole day has been a day to, as Eleanor would say "Smell the smell of goodness" between cooking and cleaning and cinnamon ornament hanging.

Enjoy your families, count your blessings, and have a great Christmas weekend, everyone!!

GD Dog. GD Cat.

2011-12-21T01:07:00.002-06:00

So the animals sleep in our bed. They glue themselves to me throughout the night and I end up sleeping with my leg in a triangle #4/sailboat formation. My hips hurt in the morning, I don't sleep well, that damn 60 pound dog just sticks herself at my legs and won't budge.

In the meantime, the cat, who is not a graceful agile creature, chirps before he jumps up on the bed. Then sits on my hip, kneading at my belly before chrrrping and hopping over to settle on Michael's chest, waiting to suck his breath from his face.

So we decided last week ENOUGH IS ENOUGH and booted the animals from our room. They hover outside our bedroom door, freaking out and making unhappy settling in for the night sounds. And then they come in at like 2am since our door doesn't latch all the way.

Sigh.

Anyway, Michael boots Millie off the bed at about 5am today. She grumbles and struts out of the bedroom. We get up and get the girls up, and at about 7am I go in the girls' room to grab clothes for El and the dog PEED ON THEIR CARPET. Clearly spite pee from being booted from the bed. WTF dog?

Tonight, Michael thought he saw a small movement from the kitchen, on the floor. Shit, could it be that we have a mouse in the house*? The cat won't leave his roost under the Christmas tree, lounging on a bunched up area of the tree skirt. I grab him and bring him in the kitchen where he looks at me irritatingly, chrrrrps, and jumps onto the sofa to escape me.

They just aren't earning their keep!!!

*I have always maintained that a couple little field mice coming in from the cold in the winter doesn't bother me that much, as long as they aren't in the pantry and they never have been. I don't know if that is a response to the years of disgusting rats around here, am I desensitized? I dunno. Maybe. Likely.

Christmastime is heeere....

2011-12-04T23:27:00.001-06:00

Y'know, sing it like the Charlie Brown kids.

You gotta! Because our tree is about the most Charlie Brown tree of all time.

The weather has been fairly mild 'round these parts, so this past weekend we trundled off in the truckster to pick out a tree and create magical holiday memories... at Menards.

3 minutes later, we get home. (Shop local?)

Now, we picked a skinnier tree - we always do. We have less than 900 square feet in this house, and having a big beautiful tree sprawling about is just not feasible. Plus, we can make it look like there's a crapload of presents under the tree with just 10 packages when it is real skinny. Score!

We get it in the house, in the stand (oh, the trunk is a bit bendy, that's ok, adds character) and wait for the boughs to fall. And wait. Y'know, for the boughs to fall. BOUGHS! DAMNIT! FALL ALREADY.

Crap. Maybe this is it. Sigh. One strand of lights (the others were burned out, and sadly, one strand covered the tree) and all of our non-glass ornaments (we don't trust the cat) and we were done.

Of all of our trees in our 8 Christmases together, this is by far the spottiest, skinniest, most Charlie-Browniest tree yet.

I love it.

Would you believe...?

2011-10-24T22:54:00.000-05:00

Would you believe...
- That I am such a massive slacker about blogging?
- That I continue to blame Facebook for that?
- That my Kelly had her beautiful baby girl, Emma Hope, 10 days ago and I have only seen her once, at the hospital? I need to get over there...
- That she is the cutest little creature and I want to eat her face? And that I use that phrase too much, considering Ellie saw her pictures and said "OHMYGOD I WANT TO EAT HER FOR DINNER!"
- That my girlfriend Staci had her little guy Dominic the morning after Kelly had Emma? We've known Stac since high school (Kel and I started hanging in grammar school). 20 years in! BABIES! EVERYWHERE
- That I can't have 2 friends having babies at the same time? Amy + many babies in nearby hospitals = weepy n creepy.
- That I went to breakfast on Sunday with some of my old work chums and it really, really, really made me miss working at Aon. Not the work, but for sure the people.
- That I am watching Watch What Happens Live from RHONJ 2nd reunion show, and I love Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. Mix them up with Andy Cohen and you have the happiest Amy ever. Literally LOL.
- That Papa John's comes up on my Facebook page as "People you may know"?
- That not only do I have random clothing from high school readily available, but that I have a cute little college friend who will take it off my hands?
- That we are going to take a little family road trip soon, and it is the FIRST TIME our little family of 4 will be taking a trip.vacation together? (not counting trips to my in-laws, 2 hours away)
- That the Tibbs Family Fun Time Band is in the works? Michael bought me a mandolin for our anniversary, and I'm fumbling through "The Cat Came Back" on it - I learned it on the prim and once we have the washboard and jug for the girls, we'll be READY!
- That I love Walking Dead? Like a lot? The books and the show. I actually called in to The Walking Dead 'Cast and used the completely obnoxious "Who you? RICK GRIMES!" line that Darryl uses in S1E2. But then I didn't leave my name. So my fame and fortune is still just a pipe dream.
- That I think you should all be listening to podcasts? I am so all over them, and realize I'm late to the party, but they really make the workday fly by when I can listen to them. Or yardwork, or cleaning, or whatever. Here's some of my current faves: Nerdist with Chris Hardwick, Freakonomics, WNYC Radiolab, any of the How Stuff Works (Well, really Stuff You Should Know, Stuff Mom Never Told You, and Stuff You Missed in History Class). Get on it, folks!

Well, delightful catching up (ish). I would promise that I'll be more diligent on posting, but let's face it, that would be a worthless empty promise, wouldn't it now?

Four months - Sorry!

2011-10-10T10:42:00.000-05:00

I have no idea if I haven't had much to say... or there's been nothing going on... or I'm just lazy.
Probably just lazy.

Anyway, all is well over here. Let me share with you how fricking hilarious my kids are, and the fact that I am basically George Bluth, creating a video empire of my kids fighting, a la his "Brother Fights" videos of Gob, Michael, and Buster fighting.

Ellie is brutal. Char usually rolls with it (which, frankly, she should, as she often instigates the kid). Sadly, this is a pretty typical outing for us.

So that's been going on. And we just had our 7th wedding anniversary yesterday! Which is pretty great, y'know?

Anyway, hoping to be more diligent about posting. I continue to blame Facebook for my lack of blogging. It's true, right? Right???

Heartache... OR I enjoy being a cliche

2011-07-15T14:23:00.000-05:00

Y'know, with Char, the first time she tried something for herself was the last time she ever asked for our help on it. Even if it means stumbling along on her own, stubbornly claiming "I've got it! Leave me be!" Her independence has always just been such a huge part of who she is.

So now, seeing Ellie, my little one, who is about to turn 4 and seems so old to me now, seeing her become more independent, doing more for herself, is just breaking me down in the most random ways.

Case in point that prompted this... We just went to the park with 2/3 of the triplets from next door, and hung out for an hour and a half or so there, playing in the sand, having fun. Headed back and Char went ahead with the other kids and went into their grandparents' house next door.

El and I meandered home on our own time, and I told her to come inside to get washed up and change clothes. Normally, she doesn't put up a stink about heading over to hang with the big kids. She's happy to make a meal with me, or watch non-Wizards of Waverly Place programs on tv, or play dolls with me. But today she asked to head over there. And stuck on it, not whining, just that she'd like to head over.

So off she went. Remembering to close the door at the top of our back steps because the air is on. Remembering to admonish Millie for trying to go outside.

I watched out the kitchen window as she crossed the driveway, opened their gate, and slipped into their yard, remembering to latch the gate shut behind her, and then cross the patio to their back door.

When did she get old enough to do all that? What switch flipped to make her remember to shut the doors, close the gate, not let Millie out?

I feel like I've missed something, but like everything with your children, things just happen. There's never a definitive moment for any of their changes. It really just happens.

I just thought Ellie would stay a little littler a little longer.

Upon realizing what a crappy young adult I was...

2011-06-23T22:17:00.000-05:00

I often reflect now upon how completely grateful I am for the relationship that my mother and I have developed over the past 10 years or so. More to the point, since I became a mother and started to get an inkling of insight to what being a mom is all about, how it takes over every piece of you and changes you so irrevocably, some clue as to all she did for us and how much she loves us.

Which prompted me to realize what a complete dick I was growing up. Not the usual dickishness of my early teens where I would miss curfew (mind you, while dorkily rollerblading with Allison and Kelly around town, not drinking or hanging out with boys) or mid-teens where I'd get busted making out with boyfriends or at a party with booze, but my late teens and early twenties, when it wasn't just "being a kid" but crossed a line into being an irresponsible, disrespectful young adult. AKA the person I hope my daughters never become.

Not that I had a curfew, but living at my mom's and just not coming home all night? Taking her car to go out, or, worse, to drive to visit Kelly at school without telling her? On weeknights? Oh my Lord, if there is any justice in the world, my kids are going to put me through my paces. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. I think I would have beaten 19-22 year old me senseless, or have me arrested, or something, I don't know what, but SOMETHING SERIOUS.

I so love and appreciate that my mother doesn't bring any of this up at this point in my life. What would be the point? I suppose that's a valid question, but to just let it be water under the bridge is pretty incredible. (Though she did mention recently that upon renewing her auto insurance policy, she JUST lifted the restriction prohibiting me, specifically, from driving her car.)

Anyway, it comes to mind tonight as I see that Muriel's Wedding is on Netflix streaming. I LOVE this movie. Correction. I LOVED this movie. A chubby girl coming into her own after some missteps, all to the tune of ABBA songs? Psht, what's not to love?! Until I got a little older, gained a little perspective and appreciation for my mom, and realized how much my heart breaks for Muriel's mom whose kids just stomp on her and treat her like absolute shit. Now. My mom is a lot stronger and a hell more of a fighter than the mom in the movie in every single way, but Muriel's horrendous behavior has rendered me so guilt-ridden that every time I try to watch it, I just can't. Like just seeing it on the list on Netflix makes me sad for how rotten I was to her for so many years. It's not that she's like Muriel's mom, but that I was so completely Muriel and her siblings. Horrible and wretched.

It's funny - I wonder when you get to that point in motherhood, when you are able to not hold a grudge (possibly my absolute worst character flaw) and just excise these little portions of life, behavior, etc. out of the family history and move along. Because there are days when Charlotte sasses me that I want to bring something up from months and months ago (I resist...I don't argue with my 7 year old like I would with another adult. Usually.) to knock down her argument. I feel like there's a certain grace that you gain at some point in motherhood. I see glimpses of it here and there, but have decided it is definitely a work in progress.

I just hope the kids don't Muriel me before I achieve it.

Summer fun

2011-06-03T09:02:00.000-05:00

between high gas prices and cruddy cars, my goal is to drive as little as possible this summer. So I'm looking for ideas that are right off the BNSF Metra line - we can ride our bikes to the train station and get downtown, or the Children's Museum in Naperville. Where else, though?

Sticking around here, there's a few things going on in Countryside, LaGrange, Brookfield that we'll be glad to visit again.

Countryside is doing their Concerts in the Park series again, Thursday evenings at 7pm starting June 16th.

Brookfield is doing their Concerts in the Park, Friday evenings at Kiwanis Park at 7pm, kicking off with the Dooley Brothers on June 17th. There's a great play park adjacent to the concert area.

Brookfield will also host Movie Nights on June 24th (How to Train Your Dragon) and July 22nd (Matilda), at dusk.

LaGrange will show Despicable Me at Waiola Park on June 24th at 8:30pm.

The LaGrange Public Library always has a ton of events going on, as does the Brookfield Library and LaGrange Park Library.

And then, there's always Farmers Markets - check out this list "Illinois Farmers Market Directory" to find one near you. Everyone's fave is always the Oak Park market, held Saturdays from 7am - 1pm. There's always a lot going on there, and OHMYGOSH you have to get the tasty, hot, sweet donuts made as only good church people (Pilgrim Church) can make them. Worth the wait in line, and get at least 2 more than you think you'll need. Seriously, they won't go to waste.

Please send any BNSF train line suggestions my way!

Have a fun, safe summer!!

Y-Me - Mickey's Chickies

2011-04-10T19:34:00.001-05:00

This year, my family and I are going to walk at the Y-Me Race at Your Pace event in Chicago.

My aunt was diagnosed with HER2 breast cancer last February. Just 15-30% of those diagnosed with breast cancer test positive for HER2. HER2 cancer contains a protein that causes the cancer cells to grow more quickly than other cancer cells/tumors. It's also hard to get rid of - high chance for recurrence. Throughout all of her treatments, she didn't skip a beat and is still the strong tough chick we all know.

As she's the one that takes care of everyone - EVERYONE - it hasn't been easy to show her how much we support her and how proud we are that's she's come through the past year with flying colors. This small step (get it? Huh? Step... It's a walk...Get it?) is an act of appreciation for who she is and all she does.

Please consider contributing to my team - Mickey's Chickies - if you are able, or if you are in the Chicago area and have always thought about walking for Y-Me, please join our team and kick off Mother's Day with a great event!!

Thanks!

Remember when you were like 11?

2011-03-31T22:28:00.000-05:00

Remember when you were like 11 years old and you really ROCKED, like ROCKED! at Mario games on your NES? And you kind of thought that since you can beat the whole game in one sitting and not miss any coins on any level and you can get the million free lives when you have that one koopa shell bouncing back and forth off the steps and not even use the warp pipes to get to Bowser? Yeah, and you thought since you rocked so hard that you would somehow have some kind of professional future playing Mario games?

All you gotta do, my friends, to make that dream a reality, is have a couple kids. And then download some old skool Nintendo games on the Wii (or break out your old NES/SuperNintendo/N64) and show your kids how awesome you are. It all comes back really quickly. I could not believe how many secret spaces I remembered - where to get the free lives, warp whistles, techniques for getting extra guys at the end of the level. It's like I was transported to Allison's basement. To my sister Jill's house in Elmhurst. To all of my favorite games.

The children are in awe of me. IN AWE OF ME because I am so awesome.

Ellie is totally Mario 64 obsessed. That's my girl - it is the best video game of all time. Ever. She is disturbingly obsessed, and her demands for stories about Mario and Koopa the Quick and Bowser have led to an incredibly elaborate backstory about all the Mario characters. My fave? Our consistent storyline that Mario and Luigi found Bowser as a young turtle while walking in the woods and took him home and hid him from their mom and when she found him she made them take him back to the woods, and Bowser always felt so rejected and unhappy and sad that that is why he vowed his revenge on the two brothers.

This story is especially awesome because we were discussing it in the bathroom stall at the hockey game and when we came out two girls were washing their hands and told me it was an awesome story and I'm the coolest mom ever.

I knew, as a kid, that someday all my mad Mario skills would pay off. I just never knew how they would pay off.

THIS is my life.

Having a zitty day...

2011-03-31T22:17:00.000-05:00

More like a zitty decade.

I have had some acne issues on and off as an adult. NOT SO MUCH as a teen, or a pre-pube. But as an adult, awesome breakouts every couple years.

Before I had Char, I had been on a topical gel - Differin - and it was pretty effective, cleared up what was going on at the time. Then I went off, prego you know, and after she was born things were okay and then at some point I went on Clindamycin which is another topical gel, this time an antibiotic. Somewhat less effective, but my skin wasn't so bad.

So fast forward to now. A couple weeks before my 35th birthday I go to the doctor and ask him for something for my pimply pizza face. He gives me the scrip for the Clindamycin, which I get filled and then realize I really wanted to try the Differin again, so I call my doc and he calls in the scrip. I get to Target to pick it up and it was declined by my insurance company due to... Ready?...PATIENT AGE. Say whaaa?

Yeah. I was younger when I was on it before. Differin is apparently used for things other than acne when you get to be a woman "of a certain age" so I had to have my doctor call and let them know that I look like a swamp beast and do, in fact, need the scrip. Awesome, right?

Anyway, I got it, and after the initial breakout phase of almost a month, it looks like my skin is finally clearing up. It's an ugly process. I'm glad there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

Bookmark kinda post...

2011-03-23T16:23:00.000-05:00

Things I want to blog about, but haven't been focused enough to do so...

1) Tiny Wings
2) Retro Nintendo games and why having kids rocks
3) Mario stories at a hockey game
4) Dude, I have a 7 year old. What. The. What.
5) A-hole animals
6) Acne ageism
7) Laundry update
8) Books

Wow. I don't have a single thing of substance to share with y'all. But it isn't as though that's going to stop me from posting anyway, suckers.

F to the Y to the I

2011-03-08T12:50:00.002-06:00

We found Mario's cap. NO THANKS TO YOU (exception: Amy C from high school).

In Snowman's Land all along, methinks. I was looking at the stupid snowman to the right of where Mario starts, but it was the snowman closer to the mountain that had the hat.

The sense of relief and joy was absurd for an adult woman in 2011.

Sunday readings

2011-03-06T17:40:00.000-06:00

Really, universe? No one cares or wants to help me find Mario's hat? No one has info or ideas on other worlds/courses it could be in? Screw you guys. Thanks for nothing.

Also, I looove my husband for getting me the next 3 books in the Walking Dead series (11-13). AND for finally explaining to me how this works. Apparently each month there's a new comic that comes out. I don't know much about the world of comics except what I see on Big Bang Theory. So he has been getting me the "Trade Paperbacks" which are nifty little books that I assumed were the monthly comics that come out.

And I cruise through them like they are candy - fast, awesome reads. I have heard that there are like 75 issues so I'm thinking "Sweet, I'll get through all the current books while waiting for season 2 to start in the fall!" but guess what? These books? They aren't an issue. The books are 6 issues compiled together. I am a fool. I would never have read them so quickly if I had known that there weren't 60 more of them! Because I seriously read all three books today. In one sitting. OHMYGOSH I love it.

I guess now we start getting the actual comics every month, which is going to kill me. Like seriously, I have no patience or sense of delayed gratification on things like this. Agony. Pure agony.

AND I just finished reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks on my Kindle. I was turned onto the story of Henrietta Lacks and her HeLa cells after hearing her family's story on a RadioLab podcast (Sidenote: Are you all listening to RadioLab? Because you should be listening to it. Just saying is all. Get on it. Subscribe to it. Listen to it while you do dishes, or laundry, or whatever. I know I'm late to the podcast game, but I obviously want everyone to get in on it.). Cells taken from her cancerous tumor were the first to thrive in a laboratory setting, and reproduced so prolifically that they became the standard cell for testing, shared with labs all over the world, and used in developing so many vaccines, medicines, and treatments. In the meantime her family had no idea her cells were used, and didn't fully comprehend what it meant that her cells were everywhere, doing these amazing things in the world of science/medicine, and no one ever sat them down and explained it to them, quelled their fears and anxieties. I already know that I'll likely be googling around to learn more about this.

Parenting 101

2011-03-05T09:19:00.000-06:00

So Char's handwriting is horrible. Like...legible if we sit and really, really, REALLY concentrate and work on it. And we didn't think it was so bad until we saw some of her classmate's writing, and realized "holy crud, it's bad."

One night, while helping her with her homework, Michael and I had an epiphany...Maybe she isn't really left handed at all! Maybe THAT'S why the writing is so bad! A ha!

So we switched hands and tried it out, Michael trying to say "Yeah, some people are ambidextrous, you might be! How cool! Let's try writing with your right hand!"

Nope. She's a lefty. It's bad with either hand.

We just can't wait 'til she is 15 and remembers this and remarks to her friends what dicks her parents are.

Ponderings

2011-03-04T21:27:00.000-06:00

- Sometimes the cat's bored meows sound a lot like Eleanor whining about her DS from bed, after lights out. Which means the past 3 times I yelled "Ellie! In bed!" it wasn't even her, it was the cat, racing up and down the stairs, then meowing. Oops.

- Made homemade, from scratch pizza tonight - oh my gosh, this simple recipe from allrecipes.com was amazing- made 2 mini pizzas for the girls to do themselves, and then one big one in our cast iron skillet for Michael and myself. I just couldn't stop. SO delish.

- We are kid free tomorrow. I feel like the hubs has some plans up his sleeve as my b-day is next week (mid-mid-30s, folks) and every time I suggest something he vaguely kinda sorta shoots it down or gives me a "maybe. I dunno." Or he plans to ditch me as he is sick of hanging out with me. Eh. Either way, Kid Free!

- I feel like we've been on the go more than usual lately, and like I've been checked out on current events the past couple weeks. And thus, instead of doing research and catching up from regular news sources, I just watch a week of Daily Show and get incensed all at once. Do people seriously sleep at night after stating in interviews that teachers make TOO much money, have benefits that are TOO generous, that they "only work 9 months a year, have summers off" and "don't work a full day"? Really? It is actually making me so sad and feel really bleak about people being able to make these blanket, ignorant statements with a straight face. Unbelievable.

- I realize daily that my mother should receive some sort of award for putting up with me as a kid. Not even me and my siblings - that is a whole other ball of wax. But me. Alone. My slobbish ways - eating in every room and leaving glasses and bowls and plates hidden from view. Leaving dirty laundry all over the place. Wet towels on the floor. School uniform crumpled under the dresser amid the animal fur. Talking NON STOP. About nothing of interest to anyone but perhaps another 7 year old. Refusing to do the edges of a jigsaw puzzle first. Calling out from bed, endlessly, every third night. THAT SAID...If I was as snuggly, funny, witty, into playing Mario 64 with my mom as my kids are? It'd be its own reward. Kinda.

- SPEAKING of Mario 64...So we downloaded Mario 64 on Wii and have been obsessed. We beat it with 70 stars, and are working to the 120 to get Yoshi off the roof of the castle. So here's my appeal: Mario lost his hat (effing Mario). No one is fessing up to being the one that lost it. It's been at least a week. No one knows what level/course it was lost in. We've gone through all the courses in Shifting Sand Land to see if that bastard Klepto-Condor has it. Nope. Hung out in all the courses of Snowman's Land to see if the snowman would be wearing it, if it were in the igloo. Nope. Even checked out Tall Tall Mountain to see if stupid Akiki the Monkey was holding out on me. Nope. Is there a glitch that totally erased my hat? Mario's getting hit by enemies and losing so much more energy. So anyone. ANYONE who has any advice, please let me know. (Sad, right?)

-

I am not a hippie. I am not a 1930s housewife. But maybe I COULD have been...

2011-02-27T17:44:00.000-06:00

So I decided to make laundry detergent.

In part because I get caught up in these DIY, throwback, self sufficiency trends that are going around, in part because I have been bored and curious as to how it would turn out, in part because I DO actually want to try to curb the many processed, chemical laden things that come into our house (she said as she shoved Heath bars into her mouth and wears her jeans from Target that smell vaguely of formaldehyde from packaging while Tyson chicken nuggets cook in the oven for her kids...). AND because I found an ancient bar of Fels Naptha laundry soap on the basement window sill that was my gram's from Lord knows when, and I was thinking "What can I do with it?" - Thanks Gram, for your random inspiration to do things that make life more ~~difficult~~ INTERESTING.

ANYWAY... Kept finding liquid recipes that all seem like the end result is GLOP - slimy gooey liquid laundry soap, and I thought that sounded repulsive, especially when combined with the idea of stirring it up and ladling it into the washing machine. Plus I figured that CAN'T be great for the machine, right?

So then I kept looking around, and I came across this super simple recipe for laundry soap powder and thought I'd give it a whirl (Thanks, Matt Jabs!).

Here's the scoop:

1 c Borax (purchased at Target or really, anywhere)

1 c Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (purchased at Ace Hardware, also at Jewel (Albertson's grocery chain))

1 bar Fels Naptha laundry soap (purchased at Ace Hardware)

I have to say, the Fels Naptha has a really pleasant clean smell in bar form, so I was excited to not lose that "clean laundry" scent in this experiment.

So I grated the bar of Fels Naptha with the finest grater I had, and since the bar was fresh (not dried out) I popped it in the oven on a cookie sheet for a few minutes at a low setting to dry it out a little bit to avoid clumps or goop. The bar yielded about 2 cups of shavings.

The whole time I was grating it I just kept thinking of tasty Parmesan cheese

Mixed it in with the Borax and Washing Soda and stirred it up, popped a lid on the container and shook it up some more.

Borax, Washing Soda, and grated Fels Naptha

So it doesn't look like it makes a lot of detergent/soap, BUT you only use 1-2 tablespoons of it per load, so it will go a long way. AND I have a ton of Borax and Washing Soda left, enough to do a couple more batches down the line, at least.

And the results?

The first load I did was a load of towels, because they get funky after sitting in the laundry basket between wash days, and frankly if this concoction ended up horrible, I have no problem with stains, marks, or anything else happening to our towels. And they came out clean! It is hard to get your head around not having the perfumed "fresh scent" telling you that something is clean, so I found myself snuffling along the length of the towels, trying to get a whiff of funk, but no funk. Spots were out. They were clean. I was pleasantly surprised.

The fresh scent of the Fels Naptha did not come through as a "scent" in the end result, but that's okay. Many have recommended adding a few drops of an essential oil to the mix for a scent if you want to have one, and maybe I'll do that down the line. But it was a "fresh" scent - like by virtue of being an absence of chemical fragrances, if that makes sense? Kinda like when you hang dry your clothes on a sunny day. Nothing beats that fresh smell and feel, though it doesn't really "smell" like anything. Y'know?

As always, even though there's a significant savings (I think the breakdown is about $0.05/load versus $0.20-0.25/load with Tide or other commercial products), 15-20 cents isn't enough to necessarily justify doing this all the time, even though that could easily add up to $100+/year if you are doing about 10 loads of laundry/week. But when combined with the idea of knowing what's going into your detergent and being make-believe-self-sufficient, it becomes something I think I am game for trying to keep up with.

This doesn't even count the 2-3 loads upstairs that need to be washed. There may be some savings to be had...

Check out the link above and read through the comments - lots of suggestions for things to add (scent, Oxi-Clean, stain pretreatment, etc.) and give it a whirl!

Blushies

2011-02-17T21:24:00.000-06:00

Michael is out for beers with a friend tonight, and they went to a bar Michael and I frequent but don't share with many people. In fact, Russ may be the first friend we've brought there.

Anyway, love that the owner asked Michael "Where's your chick?" and when told I was at home, he said something along the lines of "Aww, I love her! She's the best, tell her I say hey!" which I love.

next on my list...

2011-02-17T10:23:00.000-06:00

Oh my gosh, this looks like an interesting place to hit for a meal or two...

Mind Your Own Business in Brookfield opened up in January and, best I can tell, looks like 3 people who are committed to great food, using local growers, and keeping their customers on their toes (and coming back to see what they're cooking up!).

Check out their blog, or their Yelp entry - Mind Your Own Business - to see what they are all about.

I cannot wait to wander in and check it out. As you know, we love small local restaurants and businesses, and this one seems right up our alley.

Will keep you posted once we go - YUM!

Random Musings...

2011-02-16T21:55:00.001-06:00

- I am not calling my kid a liar, but after having a fever and coming home from school Tuesday, having the fever break and her being very high spirited Wednesday morning, didn't expect to get a call from the school that she is sick again, can we come get her. So here's the rub: Not calling her a faker, but when I arrived and she was pissed I was there and greeted me with a "What? What are you doing here? Where's Gramma? Aren't I going to Gramma's?!?" I grew a bit suspicious. Vague stomach pain my ass. Back to school with ya tomorrow, kid! Here's a couple Pepto-Bismol tablets!

- We have been vacuum-less for a long time. With no carpets, I figured we can just sweep and swiffer and life will be good. Except our animals are disgusting shedding beasts. So I picked up a Dirt Devil cheapy vacuum at Target today and after a quick run through our <900 square foot house, the chamber is half full with animal hair, dust, and God knows what else, I hope barbie shoes and Monster High doll limbs that fell off 3 days after purchase. I immediately felt less scummy. A little less scummy.

- Busted - we blew off Valentine's Day festivities because Char had guitar lessons, I had a board meeting, everyone was blah, etc. and then yesterday, Char busted me so I had to come up with a fake plan of action. Why's my 6 year old calling me out? So looks like if this weather keeps up, we'll try horseback riding Saturday morning then heading to a cool art exhibit at Elmhurst College.

- Love when Modern Family speaks to me - like when Claire tells Luke he needs to take a shower, his hair smells like cheese. Just today I told Char all about the "sleepy guy" smell in her hair from her super thick hair smelling like a pillow, a scuzzy pillow.

- Evite, long my fave way to invite people to our festivities, failed me. Massively. We're doing a 3 kid birthday party for Char's birthday with a couple girls from school. I sent out the Evite to the 20+ parents. No one responds in 20 hours. No one has even viewed it. Am I suddenly stupid? Apparently? So I throw together a pdf invite and send it out by email to all the parents, 30 hours after sending out the original Evite, and suddenly, BOOM, email from Evite thanking me for sending out my Evites. Mother Effer. Nuts to you, Evite. I feel stupid.

So I like Stephen King and all, but...

2011-02-03T01:00:00.000-06:00

I don't need to live in Storm of the Century.

Which is, in fact, apparently what we had this week in the Chicago area. So no big snows for the next 88 years, Mother Nature.

Motorists stranded on a closed down Lake Shore Drive as winds whip through at 70 mph. City buses spinning out on the roads. Cars losing control and getting bogged down in the forest preserve on my way to get Charlotte from school Tuesday. Semi-trucks stuck in front of our house. YIKES people, YIKES.

Anyway, everyone's heard all about it. Let's just leave it at I am super excited that Char's school, the college I work at, AND Michael's company all closed for the day today (Wednesday). And as an added bonus, Char, El, and I have all had classes cancelled Thursday so we're going to have another fun snow day. Though it will be like 3 degrees out with brutal wind chills so...more like trapped inside with two kids who are no longer enamored with the toys they played with today. Yikes.

AND, I would like to once again express my appreciation for ComEd for their great work with our power outage. Last week, as you know, we had a partial outage and they resolved it lickety split. We made it through Tuesday night (though I stayed up all night to keep vigil because I thought for sure the strong gales of wind would knock down the low hanging power lines in my backyard, leading to our immediate demise), but today when Michael and Char were off sledding, El and I were faced with the terror of NO ELECTRICITY. No Wii. No TV. No DS chargers. No Angry Birds (gotta save my phone charge!). Reading? Coloring? Playing a game? What the what?????

Anyway, ComEd had us (the whole town from the sound of it) up and running within 2 hours, and our temperature in the house didn't drop too low. My mother's house went out on Tuesday night, and it was a few hours, a little chilly, but they're ok.

So on to the gratuitous Snow Day photo montage, much like everyone else in the area. Yep. I'm annoying.

Enjoy!

TUESDAY:

Those horizontal lines? Those are the low hanging power lines in the backyard.

Or they are cable wires.

Either way, I don't like it and it kept me up all night fretting they'd snap and

either the house would catch fire or our power would be out and we'd all die, by freezing, in our sleep.

I was SO glad when Michael got home...I had been trying to keep up with the shoveling, but I'd get to the end of the driveway, and the porch would be covered by the time I walked back. ARGH.

This is weird. This is Michael's "new" Jeep that our fab mechanic next door is finishing up for him.

I saw this SANDWICH IN A BAGGIE on the tire the other day, and asked him if he forgot his lunch.

He knew exactly what I was getting at, and said nope, it's just a random sandwich. It's been there for a week. EW.

Early on in the snow. Thankfully Mother Nature created a walkway for

Millie to the backyard, since I wasn't shoveling all that.

WEDNESDAY:

Yeah, we got some snow. Remember all that Michael shoveled up there?

Yep. All for naught.

Mini-van was buried in drifts.

But Millie was happy!

See, her walkway was still there after the BLIZZARD THAT ATE CHICAGO!

We had enough to create our own mini-sled hill.

Somewhere under there is the bowl I set out to collect snow to make snow ice cream.

We'll find it in the spring thaw.

Backyard shot. The wires were still there, up in the air. Thank you, Lord!

Ellie complained about the snow in her eyes. Michael was quick to the rescue with goggles.

SNOW!

Char was proclaiming herself king of every snow bank/drift/mountain.

Millie was even happier once we started hanging outside and she could bound about for half the day with us.

While Michael shoveled and the kids ran around, this is what I worked on. By myself. Is that wrong?

I went in at one point and came back out to half of it destroyed.

Michael claimed structural integrity issues, but c'mon, I'm a handywoman wiz! I blame Millie. Or Michael.

I am hoping to keep going on it if it isn't frigid on Friday.

After ignoring the kids outside, I decided I'd be a nice mom and make some cookies for a perfect snack.

(Aon people - please note that my beloved, hard-to-find yellow KitchenAid Mixer holds a prominent display area in my tiny kitchen. I still love it, and think of my Aon gang every time I use it. Or walk past it.)

Dorothy, if she went to Catholic School

2011-01-28T16:04:00.000-06:00

Char is bouncing around the house, singing "We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful wizard of God."

Whassup, social anxiety?

2011-01-28T16:03:00.000-06:00

***I love that I drafted this post, didn't publish it, and later that night my fave local blog friend emailed me to see if I wanted to grab a bite to eat or a drink next week. She's either a witchy psychic, or is looking in my windows at night while I draft blog posts. I am okay with it either way, and am so excited to do lunch with her next week.***

So I discovered that in addition to having near-paralyzing social anxiety in some situations with old friends (i.e. "I haven't seen them in a while, I am so remiss on returning calls/emails, I can't possibly face them now and hang out, and I miss them terribly but feel like a total jackass trying to call and explain why I go MIA for weeks (months...years...)") I also freak out at making new friends.

I blame it on the fact that I have my 3 best friends. What more does a girl need? I have friends I used to work with who I was very close to at a time, and miss very much, but haven't seen in awhile (see issue outlined above). I have our family friends (I have no excuse for not seeing them more often - kids are about the same age, why are we not just hanging out with them for lazy pizza nights?). Friends down the block - literally a BLOCK AWAY! - who I haven't hung out with in months.

It isn't as though my calendar is terribly busy. At all busy. I am in sweatpants by 7pm almost every night, and call it a day when the kids are in bed. What the hell?

I am now pretending that moving into a new house will be a fresh start (ummm....we haven't even really gotten into the home search process yet...at the very beginning) and I can then rectify this awful behavior. But heaven forbid I make it better before then. That's crazy talk, duh.

My other peeve is that I have NO idea how to make new friends. Like freak out, panic attack, when it is time to meet new people. Example: One of my favorite bloggers in the whole universe - who is hilarious, makes great creative stuff, is kind and open, and lives about 4 minutes from me. Do you think I take the step and say "Hey! Let's get a beer! Coffee! Let's ignore our kids at the park!" No. No I don't. I just stalk her blog and marvel at the random cross-connections between us, and leave it at that and still think of her as a friend, which is okay when it is a blogger who lives in like Timbuktu. But 4 minutes away? I am ridiculous. And there are actually 3 blogs I follow whose authors live in the same area. So there's like a little enclave of folks writing about stuff I like, living where I live, and what the hell is wrong with me that I am not making it a point to meet up with them??

Maybe it is because I have always been fringe - Kel and I have always laughed about the fact that we were always at the right places, but always on the fringe, never in the thick of things. And I guess I'm kind of still the same way now, and that I subscribe to the "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" theory on friends, but really, now, I find that I am being absurd.

So that's all it takes

2011-01-28T15:58:00.001-06:00

Ellie: Mom? Can Char and I sleep on the floor tonight, in our room?

Char: Yeah! Can we?

Me: Sure.

Ellie: Thanks mom (hug). I want to keep you. Because you are a nice mommy.

And sometimes that is all I need to make it a good day.

And it's time for me to fly....

2011-01-23T16:20:00.000-06:00

Well, for us to fly, I suppose. And, let's face it, I wanted to put some REO Speedwagon in your heads, a little ear worm for you. SUCKERS.

We're looking to move. It's overdue, and a good decision, but a bit scary and sad at the same time.

In addition to leaving the house where we started our family, our life together, it is also my grandparents' house, where my grandfather and grandmother built their family, where my mother and aunt were raised, where I have so many fond childhood memories, so much history wrapped up in each little corner of this place.

But, realistically speaking, we've outgrown it. We probably outgrew it when Char started walking. Then you add another kid, a dog and a cat and it got crowded. Yet i kept thinking "We can make this work. My grandparents did it, we can do it! We don't need much!" and we don't. Really, we don't. We don't want a huge house. We don't want a McMansion (blech). We just want some elbow room. A bit more space. We're at under 900 square feet here. Two little bedrooms. We have a queen size bed and have barely enough space to walk between the bed and wall on any side. Unfinished basement. Insufficient space for a full size sofa in the tv room. Inadequate space to properly set up our Kinect for group play! Living like savages here...

And so we're doing it. And it'll be nice to move to a neighborhood with more kids running around. And off a busy road. And not next door to a diner where inebriated folks hang out smoking and wandering into the gangway between our house and the diner. And where perhaps we don't get a quarter inch of dirty black dust on everything in the house every day in the summer when the windows are open. And where I can have a little chicken coop out back and collect eggs every day. There are so many things I'll miss about living here, and living in this tiny town is such a great schtick, such a unique little thing that has a certain cache, for sure something I will miss.

I think part of my motivation for posting it is that it makes it "official" and real, like when I post that I am going to paint the wood paneling or clean the pantry, and then I HAVE to, because I told you all that I am going to do it.

We're just starting this process, and are so excited and anxious, and can't wait to see where we'll land. It will be bittersweet, and I need to just remember that a house is just a building, and that our family history and memories are not confined to this space, this location. That we carry them with us wherever we go. But I'm the same girl whose mom still lives in the house I came home to when I was born, and man do I love that. I do realize that I have lived less than 4 of my 35 years in a "new" place - like an apartment or dorm - and that that is a little bit sad. And I realize that change is a good, healthy, natural thing. So we're jumping in with both feet, and getting ready to pack it in here and move along...

100 Day project...So we like beer, is that so wrong?

2011-01-23T15:29:00.000-06:00

We decided that we were pretty grateful to belong to a parish that has a lot of drinking type events because after counting out the bottle caps and realizing there are only about 10 that are not from Miller Lite bottles (and of those 10, only about 3 were from soda rather than cider), we felt bad like we can't send our first grader to school with a project made out of beer bottle caps! But then we looked around and were trying to be creative, but...Fruit Loops? eh. Skittles? We'd never count out 100 without eating most of them. Corn kernels? Lame-o.

But what to do with these caps? What kind of project? Well, a bit of brainstorming and Michael headed out to the garage for some wire and wire cutters, I started pounding holes in the bottle caps with a nail, and Char started stringing the caps onto the wire to make a snake - every 10 caps we put a small piece of cork (like from a wine bottle. Like we are total lushes.) to show that we worked on counting by 10s, and voila, we had a snake.

Char drew a tree with some vines on a piece of paper attached to cardboard, and a charming picture of an entirely green Charlotte ("Look! I look like a leprechaun!") screaming "AAAAA" under the tree. Then we attached the snake to the cardboard with some more wire. And after a quick Google/YouTube search on how to make an 3D/Origami snake head, I whipped one up and attached it to the front of it with some fangs and a tongue courtesy of Char.

Overall, I have to say I'm pretty impressed! And as long as we don't get a note about having 100 Miller Lite bottle caps on hand, I'm pretty sure it'll go over well. Though perhaps we should have rinsed the caps off...

Oh, and if you feel like making an awesome snake head like that, here's the video tutorial...

100 Day project

2011-01-22T09:54:00.000-06:00

So Char's school does a big 100 day project for the 100th day of school each year. For first grade, they are to make something out of 100 items, in 10 groups of 10.

Suggestions were legos, toothpicks, buttons, things you have around the house.

Char wants to do bottle caps. She's thinking of the ones from the tasty Jarritos soda she loves. However, the bulk of our bottle caps are Miller Lite, Leinenkugel Summer Shandy (yeah, we don't clear out the bottle cap bin under the bottle opener that often), Bud Light...

I guess maybe we will be spray painting them before we commence the project.

As much as I complain in the summer

2011-01-21T11:47:00.000-06:00

As much as I complain in the summer about my electric bill, if it means that when my power is partially out and the heat isn't working at 11pm on the night that the "Siberian Express" deep freeze is rolling into Chicagoland, that someone from ComEd will be here within 20 minutes of us reporting the issue and the heat kicking back on in just about an hour or so? I guess I won't complain next summer about the sickening high electric bills*.

9:00pm: ac power dropped from laptop. I assumed the cat unplugged it and ignored it.
11:30pm: I went to bed and tried to plug in my phone to charge. No charge. No lamps. No lights. Checked girls' room. Ditto. Checked front room. Ditto ditto. Tv room, bathroom light fixtures (not outlets), and kitchen were okay.
11:31pm: Heat - not so much okay. Fuuuck.
11:50pm: It isn't our electrical...call ComEd. They'll send a crew out by 2:30am. Space heater to the girls' room.
11:54am: Call from ComEd, they have a truck on the way.
12:15pm: ComEd arrives, guy goes to work on the pole outside.
12:17am: ComEd guy is swearing up a storm out there.
12:34am: We're back up and running 100%, and the temp only dropped to 54 degrees, which is still about 4 degrees warmer than Kelly's house.

So I have a total new appreciation for ComEd crews. My brother has worked there for ages, and sometimes don't think about what goes on there, but am pretty pleased with how last night worked out.

*Or I'll forget all about this by then and will resume birching** about it by July.

**Birching is how the cool kids say "bitching" like complaining. Thanks, autocorrect, for inspiring me to develop new terminology.

Hiiii Guuuuyyyyssss

2011-01-10T09:41:00.000-06:00

So El had a faux-American Girl doll and its arm popped off.

Did we get rid of the doll? No. For I am a douchebag that tried to use it as a teaching point for my kids that all people are different and it is okay to have a missing arm, you know, I don't want them to stare at amputees if we're out and about. Also I didn't feel like going out to get a new doll at that point, and we couldn't glue it back on.

But the baby arm turns up every once in awhile, and then for a week or two straight we'll gag around with it. At Hallowe'en time, it was to caress the jawline of an unsuspecting sucker while they watch tv, murmuring "I'm only helping!" like the creepy costumed lady in the Hallowe'en Snickers commercials. Or we make noises like that creepy Big Baby in Toy Story 3 and chuck it at each other. What do you guys do with your kids? This is totally normal.

This time around, it was placed in a bag of popcorn Char brought home from the Wolves game Saturday night. Then in the candy bucket in the pantry. Last night I put it in Char's Take-Home folder from school in the hopes she or her teacher would appreciate the hilarity today. Well, she spotted it when she went to put her lunchbag in her backpack and freaked (awesome!) and took it out (LAME!).

Michael just sent me this picture, so I think he has brought the creepy limb to work with him, but I am not really sure where that is in his office? Look how creepy, just reaching out like that...

*a la the governor from Walking Dead books, but that is another post altogether, are you guys reading those? am I way behind on things? Loved the show, started the books, and need to have every volume with me so I can just zoom through them! Wow.

All grown up, or the big differences betwixt my gals...

2011-01-08T10:45:00.000-06:00

January 20th, my nephew John's birthday, is the date that Ellie will be the exact age char was when Ellie was born- 3 years, 5 months, and 4 days.

She still seems like my total baby, and although I know not to compare them, as a social experiment, I can't help but marvel at the many ways they ate SO different. And the pleasant surprising ways they are alike.

Is it normal...

2010-12-27T00:46:00.000-06:00

To wish your 6 year old was a bit older so you could stay up late together and watch movies and tv shows together instead of sitting up by yourself watching Freaks and Geeks and drinking soda because you're on winter break?

Because I do.

Fast forward to 11:30pm

2010-12-23T23:29:00.000-06:00

-clean the house-scrub the bathroom-play with the kids-shop for groceries-be home for fedex/ups deliveries-get gifts for two more people-make dips-make cookies-yell at dog-stop by to visit some out of towners-get booze-clean kitchen-wrap non santa gifts-laundry-laundry-laundry-clear area by basement stove so we can use it-chase cat off table-get big table from garage-get chairs from basement-iron tablecloth-clean wine glasses-hug kids-shower???-clean girls' room-de-ice driveway-brush teeth?????-bathe kids-line up platters for tomorrow...

It's okay. The house is clean enough. The kids are clean enough-ish. Dips can be made anytime as can cookies.

Merry Christmas to all! May your weekend be filled with love and family and friends and kindness.

Fast foward 3.5 hours...

2010-12-23T14:55:00.000-06:00

-clean the house-scrub the bathroom-play with the kids-shop for groceries-be home for fedex/ups deliveries-get gifts for two more people-make dips-make cookies-yell at dog-stop by to visit some out of towners-get booze-clean kitchen-wrap non santa gifts-laundry-laundry-laundry-clear area by basement stove so we can use it-chase cat off table-get big table from garage-get chairs from basement-iron tablecloth-clean wine glasses-hug kids-shower???-clean girls' room-de-ice driveway-brush teeth?????-bathe kids-line up platters for tomorrow...

Colorful items are ones that have been done. Um...none of the productive ones, but time was killed in efforts to shop for groceries and gifts, lines were long. And I get a freebie on the fedex/ups stuff since they just left the stuff on the porch for us.

Forgot to add "Feed kids" which is just as well, since I have only fed Ellie m&ms since we left at 11:30.

AND...for a better Jack to Jack comparison...

Maybe I am nuts...

Oh my god. Why won't I just put away groceries and clean the damn house?!!?!?

Aarrgh

2010-12-23T11:27:00.000-06:00

-clean the house-scrub the bathroom-play with the kids-shop for groceries-be home for fedex/ups deliveries-get gifts for two more people-make dips-make cookies-yell at dog-stop by to visit some out of towners-get booze-clean kitchen-wrap non santa gifts-laundry-laundry-laundry-clear area by basement stove so we can use it-chase cat off table-get big table from garage-get chairs from basement-iron tablecloth-clean wine glasses-hug kids-shower???-clean girls' room-de-ice driveway-brush teeth?????-bathe kids-line up platters for tomorrow...

OR just make a list and post it and feel like it is a productive thing to do at ELEVEN AM!!! YIKES!

Need to get to work....

THOUGH, our neighbor-cousin brought over some proofs from their 1969 wedding, and this one with my mom, dad, and sister makes me realize why I like Alec Baldwin so much...I may be projecting, but 1969 Jack O'Connor reminds me of 2010 Jack Donaghy.

Things that are amusing me today...

2010-12-20T10:19:00.002-06:00

1) Char is "dressed up" in jeans and a cute polka dotted shirt (not sweats and a big tshirt) because a friend is coming over in a bit.

2) The girls both revealed to me how cool it is that Ke$ha sings aboout us in TikTok..."Gonna get a little bit Tibbs-eeee" Love it.

Input, Output, Upside Down put

2010-12-18T09:18:00.000-06:00

Michael finished breakfast.

Dog got to the plate and scarfed down anything still on there.

Kitten rushed up to get anything that fell from dog's mouth.

Fast forward .8 seconds...

Dog hurls up the breakfast scraps she stole.

Kitten rushed up to start EATING THE HURL.

Thankfully, Michael was quick to rush up with a paper towel to clean up, because I was doubled over on the sofa laughing in disgust.

Fancy fancy disgusting pantsy

2010-12-16T21:17:00.000-06:00

So...if you have a kitten?

And you run out of cat food?

And the only place you can run to in bad weather, late at night, is Walgreens?

And the only thing they have is cans of Fancy Feast?

RESIST THE URGE to bring it home with you.

Michael picked some up the other day.

Gil has been enjoying it.

Until tonight, when he went into the bathroom as we were all playing Just Dance and heard what Michael later called "sounds of day-after-festing."

Huge, gassy, disgusting, wet fart noises coming from the bathroom. Where Gil was exploding in the tub (for the record, he's stopped his bathtub defecation habit from a month ago) with angry angry diarrhea.

After all these years of telling the kids that animals can't toot like people because they don't have butt cheeks, we were proven really really wrong tonight.

Poor Gil. He isn't feeling so fancy now...

Brr...

2010-12-12T21:47:00.000-06:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas over here, with some sweet ass snowfall and tree needles all over the house, courtesy of Gilbert's affection for the tree. Also thanks to Gilweed, our tree has about a 1 foot wide by 2 feet long space that has any ornaments on it, near the top. And even with that precaution taken, I saw one of my special ornaments - from my mom and dad's tree when they first got married - on the floor across the room. By the grace of God, unbroken. Whew!

So I have to say I'm pretty grateful for my mountain man husband because I am a total dick when it comes to winter outdoor activities. I'll do ice skating, but I don't like sledding. I'm a wuss in the cold for playing and building forts. Small snowmen - ok by me, but I mean small, leprechaunish proportioned snowmen. Like the kind that we can crank out in under half an hour. Michael? He is out there, rolling around doing snow angels, helping Ellie whip snowballs at the window where I gaze out lovingly with my cup of cocoa and a blanket.

Today he took the girls sledding near a friend's house, and the girls were ecstatic. I blame my non-sledding ways on the fact that:
a) at girl scout camp I hit a tree coming down the sled hill once. I am not a "brush yourself off and get back on the horse" kinda gal, even though I make my children be that kinda gal.

b) When I was even younger, I'd tag along with the big kids (siblings and cousins) to the retention pond to sled. It was steep. And I never really believed that it was all the way frozen at the bottom. Probably because they would weave me tales of how it wasn't frozen one time and a kid fell in and it froze around him and he was DEAD and they couldn't get him out until SPRING THAW! thus leading me to try to dig my fingers into the snow as I went down the hill, terrified to lose control and go too fast.

And, for good measure, c) on the one ski trip I went on with our parish Teen Club, I bit it coming down the hill. Like a bunny hill. And bit it like lost skis, ass over teakettle tumbling down into the orange construction fence that I am POSITIVE was all that kept me from certain death in an unfrozen pond (see fact b).

So I'm an indoor girl. I LOVE the snow and the cold. In theory. And like I say - we'l go ice skating, that is totally up my alley. But for the rest of the fun? VERY grateful to have my hubs around.

So is this kid...

Forthcoming post: Review of Renegade Craft Fair

2010-12-06T10:00:00.000-06:00

So Kelly and I hit the Renegade Craft Fair yesterday and THANK GOD I didn't bring anything but $30 and a pocket that perfectly fits business cards. Because I would have come home broke. As a joke. Broke as a joke, folks.

I had dreams of posting last night, all the shops and vendors I LOVED, but Comcast had some major internet issues and I was unable to get online to do so, so watch for it this week.

For the record, I was a total creeper, oohing and ahhing, and then promptly grabbing business cards and scrawling what I loved on the back, then tucking them into a secret pocket on my coat.

Some faves off the top of my head: Burp cloths for babies that have "Barf" and "Hurl" stitched on them. I also thought it would be quite funny for any 20-something who occasionally over-indulges on the booze. (PS Totally forgot to remind you about those before we left, Kel...) Quilted-button designed ceramics. The Chicago soap guy, who also had black-and-tan soap. The Underwear of the Month Club - you wish I was kidding. The Good Dream/Bad Dream pillowcases (they glow in the dark!). The fun mounted stuffed animal heads - someone please have a kid soon so we can put them in the nursery! Poster of a twist on the now-overused "Keep Calm and Carry On" that said "Keep Calm and Call Your Mom" that I think would be cute for just about anyone. A t-shirt with a quirky "Hang in there, baby" kitten on it. A shirt with kittens on a grill.

Oh, I'm giddy just thinking about it.

Also, super pleased because going to something like this makes me want to pick up my crochet hooks and get started on some new stuff, AND it has me and Kel thinking a pottery class should be in our near future...

Giving thanks...

2010-11-24T18:15:00.000-06:00

For Charlotte, who made me a mom.
For Ellie, who makes me laugh daily.
For Michael, for putting up with my "quirks."
For Kelly, Rach, and Shan - Every year I appreciate these friends more and more and realize I am truly blessed to have them in my life. True proof of quality over quantity - I can't imagine ever needing more than these 3 ladies as my friends.
For my mom, and how much I appreciate our relationship since I have had kids. I started admitting that she knows everything in my early 20s, but never dreamed we'd be where we are now. But I love it.
For my sisters, because they are incredible in their own ways and there really is something special about falling into sync with them when we get together.
For Joey O, for being Joey O, duh. I can't imagine anyone having a better big brother. I love the way he just fits right into our family unit, and how his absence on a Sunday evening for Walking Dead just seems wrong.
For Michael's folks, for being as open and kind as they are, and for loving on us the way they do.
For the many others who love us, love our children, and help make our world a little brighter.

There's so many little things that I complain about every day - screeching kids, tiny house, rotten animals with poo obsessions. But at the end of the day, I look at it all and couldn't imagine things any other way. Robust kids, roof over our heads, animals to snuggle with...

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

(Perhaps I wouldn't object to Millie leaving the cat's litterbox alone...)

One year later...

2010-11-10T09:37:00.000-06:00

I've had a lot tougher time the past month or so, missing my gram, than I thought I would.

I don't know how we could have been more prepared for her departure, but I guess it just proves the point that no matter how long you are waiting for it, praying for it so they'll be comfortable, you are never really ready for the finality, the actuality of it.

I know my sisters and everyone else has been feeling it, too. Just takes us by surprise every once in awhile - a random memory, something that reminds us of her, something we think she'd laugh about...

Here's my fave:

A month or so ago, I randomly started getting a whiff of onions every time I went into the basement to do laundry. Totally weird. Not unpleasant, but definitely weird. Thought it would just pass - it's an old house, I'm not a neat freak, we get wafts of smells every now and then. But it kept up! I finally said something to my mom, and she said she isn't surprised, as at the bottom of the steps is where Gram used to keep her onions and potatoes.

OBVIOUSLY I took this to mean that Gram is visiting from beyond, and I could only be grateful that she was just onioning us and not ripping down painted walls or window treatments. I realized how much I had been missing her, and how blue I had been about it.

Sweet, right?

Until I clean the area by the back door and take some reusable grocery bags off a coat hook and realize one is filled with onions I pulled from the garden and never used, so they were just sitting there, stinking up the joint, for a month and a half (at least).

So she's not visiting me. That's okay. We all had a laugh about it together, and I think she would have, too.

We miss you, Gram!

Christmas gifts piling up

2010-11-09T18:57:00.001-06:00

After volunteering tonight to set up the book fair at Char's school, I had a chance to peruse some of the books that were out there. I always like giving books as gifts, and receiving books (um, or gift cards to bookstores, or at the very least, suggestions for books I may like) for birthdays and Christmas, so I had that in mind as I walked around.

First thing I saw was totally, 100% Arlene (my mom): Dick and Jane and Vampires.

My mom is a big fan of the Dick and Jane books, and has purchased a couple for the girls. There's not a lot of action. It totally covers only the very most basic of basic reading skills, but there is something so appealing and nostalgic about the illustrations (nostalgia is interesting, as I never read Dick and Jane books growing up because I am not 70 years old).

So I see this book and almost swoon at the perfectness... Totally going to be under the tree for Arlene! Way more exciting than the standard D&J, this incorporates vampires in the stories. Sometimes the vamp is just lurking behind Sally, or hiding in the umbrella but flies away in bat form when Sally opens it. Perhaps posing as a local friendly neighborhood butcher? Yes indeed!

When I got there, there was a man autographing books. I know it is somewhat lame, but it is kind of cool to have an autograph from an author. Intrigued, I checked out the book and saw it was The Order of the Odd-Fish by James Kennedy.

Looks rather like Lemony Snicket-meets-Harry Potter-meets-Roald Dahl-meets-some fun dark humor. SOLD! I can't wait to check it out at the library myself. The author has a pretty entertaining blog post about wresting the Newbery Award from Neil Gaiman. As a big fan of The Graveyard Book by Gaiman (and then realizing belatedly that he coauthored Good Omens, one of my fave books of all time), I have to say anyone keeping any sort of company with Neil Gaiman gets an immediate thumbs up from me.

So this will likely go to my bookworm niece, Abby, and I hope she hasn't read it yet. Seems right up her alley. I love that she is way into darker books, the Lemony Snickets, the Harry Potters, etc. Having never been a fan of chick-lit style books even as a kid (I loathed the Sweet Valley High and Babysitters Club series, and instead holed up with Stephen King and books about Salem Witch Trials) I so appreciate her taste in literature and her passion for reading.

Panic setting in

2010-11-08T15:45:00.000-06:00

So they broke ground this morning on the library addition. Yes, on November 8th. In the midwest. And yes, the original break-ground date was mid-July. Then mid-August. Or November, y'know, when else would you start construction?

Anyway, even though I am on the board that has taken action to expand the library for our tiny town, even though I have been aware of the space issues and how close it would be to our garage/driveway, I am thisclose to having a full on panic attack now that they started digging and put up the construction fence.

Deep breath. Deep breath.

Now, once it is done, it will be about 6 feet or so from our garage, which sits right on the property line. So the fence/dig area is closer to us than the actual building will be. But still...

Deep breath. Deep breath.

I don't know if I somehow thought it just wasn't going to happen...if we'd be able to forever keep that empty lot as our fake backyard...I dunno.

I know when it is all said and done it is going to be fine. There are only a couple houses on our block, and the library has always been an outstanding neighbor. I know what the end result will look like and I know it is going to look good, not be an eyesore, be pleasant to look at every day.

Or, who knows, maybe it is the catalyst for us to finally move?

Time will tell...

One year, one day

2010-11-04T13:34:00.000-05:00

One year and one day since Jonathan passed away, and it still hurts a lot.

Spent the whole summer half expecting him to be out in the backyard, hanging out, playing with Ellie and Char and the triplets, and then being crushed when I realized that'll never happen again.

Spent the spring licking our wounds and telling ourselves it'll get easier with time, that he's not suffering, that he went out how he'd want to have gone out, jamming to music.

Spent the winter last year feeling horrible because it was like I'd actually forget he's gone, I'd stop by and really be this close || to asking "where's Jon?" before I caught myself and remembered.

A year later and we still miss you, still miss fighting with you over what music is on in the backyard, going out on Wednesdays, long chats about cooking, history, everything!

Dumpster Diving for Fun and Profit...

2010-11-03T15:58:00.000-05:00

Maybe not profit.

Anyway, I have been scouring Craigslist for about a year. Maybe 9 months...on a mission for shutters for our back windows. I only need half shutters, for a little privacy. I like the light coming in, but feel exposed, especially with construction to (maybe) start soon on the addition next door. Yep, in November. Whatevs.

ANYWAY, I'd find some on CL but they'd still be pricey, or only be about 3 shutters, and I needed more than that. Enter dumpster diving. Well, curb diving anyway.

On my way to work, already running late, and see a whole heaping pile of shutters along the curb. I debated, then whipped around in a driveway and pulled up along the curb. With the garbage truck bearing down on me, I scooped all the shutters up and into the minivan, then drove the last block to my parking lot, hoping no one witnessed it.

There's WAY more than enough for the back windows. And I brought one panel in to see how big they are - they are tall enough to go top to bottom along the whole window. I will need to cut them in half. And it just occurred to me what a pain in the ass it will be to strip and repaint them. Awwww hell.

Anyway, I got me some new shutters, and I couldn't be more pleased to see what happens. I'll keep you posted.

Whoa

2010-10-29T14:21:00.000-05:00

Being lunch mom for first grade is WAAAAY different than kindergarten.

Kindergarten: Kids stay in their seats, we get them a napkin/paper towel if they need it, milks, new straw, etc.
1st Grade: Like herding cats, getting up to get their milk, straws, napkins, whatever

Kindergarten: Lots of helping with opening packaging, some chit chat
1st Grade: "I don't want to eat this. I don't like that. These strawberries taste funny." Don't tell me kid, tell your mom when you get home. Criminy. I don't care that you just ate your Doritos and not your sandwich. I'm trying to get that kid to not leave the classroom.

Kindergarten: Walking around from table to table for 30 minutes, then hightailing out of there feeling warm and fuzzy...
1st Grade: Mrs Tibbs! Can you read us a book? Yes while we eat! That's what the lunch moms do! Yeah, we're allowed to go to the bathroom on our own! My milk isn't here, I need to go to the office to get one. YES we're allowed to just wander the halls and go to the office for one. Of course!

When the teacher came back, I told her God bless you, because I don't know how she handles it. I realize I am notorious for not liking kids, but this may have clinched it...I think they were all trying to pull one over on me, one kid was inexplicably upset and crying about his costume, another kid kept his mask on and seemingly thought that I would not realize who he was when he threw his empty milk carton and straw on the ground. I mostly loved the look of shock on his face when I called him out on it and told him to pick it up. Kids sitting with their legs over the back of their chairs (our high school religion teacher would have flipped his lid and had a breakdown over that). And Char? That kid? I am 99% sure she would be the one most likely to pull one over on me. I kept asking 2 of the other kids that were in her kindergarten class "Do you really get to do that?" about everything that came up...I knew they'd be honest and helpful.

That said, I'm about ready for a nap, but no such luck. Off to pick Hermione - er, Char - up from school and then on to a Hallowe'en party at the park district where I expect to see 75% of these same kids from today.

Just Dance 2

2010-10-23T10:56:00.000-05:00

OK. So I ordered the Jillian Michaels 30 day whatever dvd so I could start working out. But I haven't done it yet. I really had good intentions, but...well, you know.

INSTEAD we got Just Dance 2 and have been doing full versions of the songs and I, personally, feel that it is just as much a workout as Jillian Michaels could provide. I, personally, have not worked out for real in years. YEARS.

Anyway, there's some 70s disco song, "Rasputin" on there. And I love it. And Michael and I do it often, with no kids around. Because they get in the way of our Russian kicks and such.

So I looked to YouTube for video of someone doing it, and stumbled on this:

Go to about 2:30 for the festivities to get underway. The French (or French Canadians? I dunno) do NOT screw around if you lose a poker game.

2010-09-22T15:33:00.000-05:00

Me, to Ellie: Hey kiddo, want to go see Despicable Me after we get Char from school?

Ellie: Naah.

Me: Uhhh...ok, um, do you want to go to the park?

Ellie: Naaaah.

Me: Zoo?

Ellie: Uh...are there purple tigers?

Me: No...well, maybe, maybe we can find some!

Ellie:...Naah.

______________________________________________________________

Pick Char up from school...

Me to Char: Hey, want to catch a movie this afternoon, get Icees and popcorn?

Char: Naah...How about we get 3 of my friends and we build a fort in the backyard and, and and and ...

Me: Um. Zoo?

Char: Nah. How about we go home and play Webkinz?

Me: Nope. Park?

Char: MOOM! Gah! No!

______________________________________________________________

Why are these kids so apathetic?!

Then, Char busts out in the car with "So mom, y'know that some kids at my school are not even from America?! They are from other countries."

Me: That is awesome! Who? From where? How exciting to have friends from other countries!

Char: Like Ana! She's from Mexico.

Me: Oh yeah! Cool!

Char: Man. I gotta ask her how they get that red soda of theirs to be so so tasty. You just can't get soda that good around here.

(Apparently she does not realize that Michael and I are not taking road trips to Mexico for Jarritos.)

____________________________________________________________

Apparently we are all agreed that we will take Millie for a walk and run around with her in the field for a bit, drop her off and go to the park, and then while El takes a bath Char can play Webkinz. And while Char takes a shower, El wants to play Club Penguin. Feels like this is all wrong, somehow. But I'm awfully sleepy so...it all works out.

Can kittens get butt transplants?

2010-09-21T21:28:00.000-05:00

Do you guys have cats? Or a kitten? Or a tiger?

Do all of them have a disturbing butt smell? Is it just Gilbert?

He's all adorable, and kitten-y, crawling on your lap and demanding to be pet (petted?) and starts purring. Awww. He loves me best!

Then he climbs up to your humongous boob-shelf and perches on there, laying down and purring, snuggle in, little whiskers tickling your nose. Awww!!!

Then he starts his move, his slow, calculated, spiteful move to the shoulder. To perch like some deranged pirate sidekick. And you're okay with it, and then, then, then THERE IT IS! Sniff sniff sniff Can that be from him?

HE SMELLS LIKE BUTT! And HE IS ON ME!! SMELLING LIKE BUTT! RUBBING BUTT SMELL ON ME! BURN THE SHIRT! AAAARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!

And I think the worst part is that it isn't necessarily cat-butt that he smells like (not that I know what that scent would be. Despite a fondness for the skunk scratch-n-sniff stickers when I was a kid, I don't remember a cat butt version) but that he smells like human butt. Like little kid butt, when they are potty training and maybe not wiping awesomely, and maybe they have a lazy mom who isn't super diligent about regular baths during the summertime and maybe they are girls and there are perhaps extra crevices, etc. that add to the funk.

Why does Gilbert smell like that? I am unsure if he is a weird cat with an unusual funk? Or if Ellie is rubbing filthy undies on him.

You decide.

Instead of cleaning the house...

2010-09-19T12:42:00.001-05:00

You know how sometimes things are in flux at home? Like you're in the middle of a project and hit a stumbling block so things are kind of in limbo for awhile until you get everything in order? That's us right now... Floors are done (though the kitchen floor needs some touching up courtesy of my half assed coating method), but no threshold between kitchen and TV room and still a floorhole. Sigh. Need to run for more baseboard/toe kick to finish the TV room, and then touch up the paint. But can't touch up til that is in place so...eh.

Now, in the meantime, I've been cleaning the girls' room, the minivan, our room, and have TONS of random laundry that was hiding all over the house and vehicles. That plus 3 straight days hanging at a festival has led to TONS of laundry to be put away. But who wants to put away laundry? Not me. And I can't really put it away until I go through the closets and organize a little first, so....let's live out of baskets for a week. Or two.

And instead of cleaning the new floors? Well, why don't I start a whole new random project? Namely stripping, painting, and antiquing some kitchen chairs that have been in the basement for the past 8 years, that I think I swiped from my aunt when she was going to toss them.

TOTALLY makes sense.

Above: This is the "before" chair. Please note the cluttered, tragically messy basement. Another project I SHOULD be doing...

Middle: Sanded down the whole thing, then painted with a random creamy white/yellow I had lying around.

After: Used a glaze/paint/stain combo - brush on, wipe/rub off with a rag. Gets a wash of color over the BRIGHT paint, and fills in the crevices...Needs some touch up here and there. Also, new seat covers, with clearance fabric from JoAnn's ($3/yard), easily stapled on.

Color difference between painted and antiqued.

Seat cushion

Leg detail

Anyway, I have a couple spots that I need to thin out some of the stain/glaze because I was heavy handed and didn't get to wipe/rub it properly. I have to say, so far I'm pleased with the result! Definitely think it will go with the "rustic" kind of look we are shooting for in the kitchen.

What have YOU been up to?

September 11, 2001

2010-09-11T11:41:00.000-05:00

Every year I see the footage over again. You'd think we'd be numb after watching it on every station for days on end 9 years ago, but it breaks me every time.

And I wonder if I'll ever stop tearing up when I see the planes hitting the towers. The dusty, surreal exodus of people from NYC. Images of the rubble. Of firefighters searching for survivors, for their brothers, for anything.

And I hope I never stop being affected by it.

Never forget those that lost their lives that day, and those who have lost their lives fighting for our nation over the past 9 years.

Whatta guy!

2010-08-26T21:54:00.000-05:00

The continuing transformation of our wee little house into more livable, likable space:

(once again, camera on my phone is not known for quality images)

Now the only days Michael has had off in the past year have been to attend funerals. You think I'm kidding? I am not. So I felt a LITTLE bad that he was going to take 3 days off this week and spend them installing hardwood floor in our TV/Living Room.

But he did. And even when the chips were down, like, say, when he and Tim calculated that the flooring Mike's folks gave us that we were SO SURE would cover the whole room, well, when they realized it will cover about a third of the room? Well, it's a bummer, but we'll persevere. And when he made trips to Home Depot, Menards, Lowes and Lumber Liquidators to find a match to what we had and no one had it? He moved along. Found a random place on the northside (A&B Flooring - Michael was pleased with their service and efficiency, and loved that they said "You a contractor? You buy $10,000 in flooring and we give you discount, and special gifts." (Mind you, he is pretty sure they are vampires from Transylvania and finished that offer with a "blah")) and moved along home with the wood.

And now they are almost done...

And I will finally be able to easily do all the paint touch ups on the paneling and door frames that I've been putting off for 2 months.

He's off tomorrow, too, and we're hoping to get the kitchen floor sanded, both floors stained and polyurethaned this weekend. Now. If you can see the furniture configuration in the kitchen (You can tell the kitchen by the Dominos Pizza box), we have chairs stacked up and the sofa in there. So...a little low on space in there so we may need to be a little creative with staggering the timing for sanding/staining/coating.

But at the end of it, we'll have fabulous new floors.

Ahhhhh.....

I'm gonna assume y'all've seen this already...

2010-08-25T21:01:00.000-05:00

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

Looks like it was a video of the day on Vimeo, but I saw it through stalking one of my cute-little-college-kid's Facebook pages.

Irresistible. The girls and I must've watched it 8 times. In a row. And I was okay with it.

Watch Marcel. The shell. With shoes on. (shoes on Marcel, you can be barefoot if you want)

Just the pics, ma'am, just the pics

2010-08-23T21:59:00.000-05:00

Random pictures from the last days of summertime...

El and Char in Springfield after our Tibbs family weekend

Char and El playing in the jump-o-lene Aunt Dianne got for El's birthday. We love it!

Of course, we brought Gilbert home, not just the jump-o-lene...

And a WonderPets schoolhouse play set. Char, El, and Kali loved playing with it at Dianne's

(Thanks, Gramma and Grampa!)

Then the kids were going wild doing cartwheels outside. I have to find footage of Logan doing them.

The kid is like a rubberband-man, just flies into ridiculously great cartwheels!

Never a good sign when these two are hanging out by the cooler. NEVER.

Ellie's WonderPets birthday cake, decorated by Lindsay!

The long awaited triumphant return of THE SMOKER!!!

Joey O spent a ton of blood, sweat, and tears this summer learning how to weld and modifying the smoker.

It is like a whole new machine. Way to go, Joey O!!!!

Family trip to the remodeled Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center. They did an incredible job there!

Mom and her girls in a rare photo together.

Dad and El (We have a nearly identical picture of Char on his shoulders when she was little).

Dad and his girls at the Little Red Schoolhouse.

From early summer, but very foretelling...this is a collection of Eleanor's shoes on the backyard fence. The kid is just always barefoot. We're hillbillies, what more can I say?

Summertime. Is. Dead.

2010-08-23T16:46:00.001-05:00

Ahh, what a nice day today! Not too hot (i.e. not 94 degrees). face

I went back to work, and tonight we have back-to-school mass and teacher meet-n-greet at Char's school. Char's back to school tomorrow morning. Yikes! First grade? Wow. Ellie starts preschool after Labor Day.

Took the girls to the doctor today for their annual check ups, where Char proclaimed to like vegetables "Umm.notsomuch, y'know?" to the doctor and Ellie, when requested to draw a circle, drew a smiley face with one eye and told the doctor it was Muno. Thankfully our pediatrician has little ones and got the reference to Yo Gabba Gabba.

Char, my eternally average growth kid, remains as such...well, a little drop into the 45th percentile range at 45 pounds, 45 3/4 inches tall. I thought for sure Ellie would be on the higher level as she seems really tall to me, but she's at 32 pounds, 38 inches, which puts her at just about 50th percentile, too. Ordinary growth for my extraordinary girls.

Anyway, they are still romping around, torturing that poor kitten, unable to resist touching, holding, harassing him. Poor Gilbert is going to kill us all in our sleep, I suspect, and I will not at all blame him.

(Update: Char is holding the kitten. Ellie is screaming to me "Charlotte is holding him! Mommy! Char is holding him! Stop her!" and reaches for him. Char exclaims "Ellie! be gentle with him, he's a creature of God!" as Ellie is screaming "GIMME HIM!" then Ellie busts out "I AM NOT GOD! WE ARE NOT AT CHURCH! CHAAARRRRLLLOOOOTTTEEEE!!!!! STOP IT!")

New addition

2010-08-20T09:58:00.000-05:00

No no no, goofballs. We are DONE with kids.

We got a kitten, story to follow...what made me laugh this morning is me emailing Michael to tell him Ellie is manhandling the kitten and this is his response:

"Yes I noticed that yesterday she will pick him up and put him in inappropriate places, I.e. garbage can, boxes, tubes, pockets, buckets, and the back of the dog."

hahahahahahaha Poor kitten little.

At least I did something with my day... Kinda...

2010-08-13T16:40:00.000-05:00

Finally painted the bathroom door and doorframe while the kids are gone.

And then put up some corkboard strips that I picked up at OfficeMax ($13/each...seemed high, but I wanted to get it done today, so...went with it, no price comparisons).

Plan to hang the girls' artwork, etc. from there. I need to get one more, I think. I put up a couple of pieces from their room, but always end up packing away their art because of lack of display space. Putting the family gallery in the front room freed up this space, and I think that their work is a lot more fun.

I also think I am going to put a desk in that corner for Char for Webkinzing and Club Penguining and watching YouTube clips about the Jonas Brothers and such, so it's like a kid corner.

(again, sorry for the shoddy pictures, phone again)

I also finished up some of the trim going into the kitchen. Not the baseboard/toe kick, but the rest of the trim that abuts the tv room.

And now we're off to Springfield in a few hours! I picked up a couple Charlaine Harris books at the library (from the Harper Connelly series - they didn't have the first couple Sookie Stackhouse books so I am going to give these a shot and see how I like her style), have an UsWeekly, a Harpers, and about a bajillion podcasts so I think I am ready for a road trip. And jerky. Duh.

have a great weekend, folks!

Kid Free!! Date night...

2010-08-12T18:54:00.001-05:00

I love my girls, but I also love...

...being able to shop without the kids. Toys R Us for Ellie's birthday stuff (new knock-off American Girl to join the family (NOT REPLACE the one with the missing arm) without kids demanding toys.

...finally going into boutiques in LaGrange that I have been dying to check out (FYI Vintage Charm, Hammer Boutique, and Y&Z Kids, all at about Brainard and Hillgrove are all pretty great...) without having to hiss "Don't touch that! Put it down, I swear to...! Ellie! Don't put gum on that $200 tote bag!!!"

...having the tv on whatever I want to watch while I get ready for date night (opting for mediocre stuff on the DVR as I am only half paying attention).

...putting on "good" lotion (aka yummy smelling body butter) in the living room with no prying little fingers trying to dig into it and take it by the gob-ful.

...painting my toenails with no one demanding that I paint theirs when mine are wet and then get smudged up.

...going to see a fun movie with Michael (The Other Guys because I don't think my brain can focus for Inception and I don't think he's game for Kids are All Right) and then a couple drinks and a bite to eat.

...knowing that my little ones are having a blast with Mike's folks and sister in Springfield, getting ready to go to the STATE FAIR! tomorrow. Char's somewhat lackluster response to going there did a total 180 when she learned that there is a Webkinz Road Tour, with a van, a real life Wheel of WOW!, and prizes (I hate myself for hoping that she wins the CD with the Webkinz of the Month songs). We told Gramma and Grampa about the van, and I think they are going to be hard pressed to avoid visiting the van. Bwa ha ha.

All in all, a good evening, just waiting for my "date" to get off work and get ready to go to the show!

Have a fun weekend, all!!

Dang it, Apartment Therapy!

2010-08-10T22:19:00.000-05:00

Sucking me in with all these amazing projects and ideas and other wonderful things for me to gaze upon longingly, wishing I had some more talent, time, patience, creativity...

So you know how I've been complaining about my narrow closets? Project #1 on my insane, ever growing list?

Check out this awesome use of a long closet. It was on my blog reader, from Apartment Therapy and OHMYGOSH I think this would be so ridiculously neat.

One of my primary concerns in tiny house is that my girls share a small bedroom and do not have any space of their own they can retreat to when they need to relax, vent, decompress, whatever. And I would love to give each of them one of the long, narrow closets for their own space, but have been unable to figure out a way to add a reading nook, toy storage, etc. in there. Until I saw this.

I am hoping that if I credit them and link to them, that it is okay to swipe one of their pictures? Go check it out.

Wouldn't that just be amazing? I would happily find other places to store the toys/playsets/craft stuff/etc. if it meant they could each have a cozy getaway...

Project #8, Picture wall in front room

2010-08-10T18:22:00.000-05:00

I originally wanted to do this little picture gallery wall in the tv room, where we spend the most time, but it didn't seem to really work in here, and I think the less on the new, light, bright walls the better. So I decided to assemble my little photo wall in the front room, aka Michael's lair, aka the XBox room. We just don't hang in there all that much.

So here's the before:

Then I took regular chalk (recurring theme?) and drew approximately straight lines across. Approximately because I didn't use a level, and the walls are a bit sketchy as far as "straight" goes as they are old plaster and straight lines are tough to come by... Just wanted a frame of reference for placement.

Yeah, pretty approximate. Have I mentioned my poor spatial sense?

Then I started adding the pictures. Some are oldies of my grandparents (they had the house built when they got married in the 1930s) and some are of our family unit. I wanted to leave space to add more as time goes on.

I used those 3M "Command" picture hanging dealybobs. Like velcro on sticky tape things? People seem to swear by them, so I gave them a whirl to a) avoid holes in the wall and b) sometimes these old walls are tricky to get nails/screws into. There are definitely sweet spots that work well, and then terrible spots where I swear it is some kind of rock from hell behind the paint.

I found this sweet sign at TJMaxx/Homegoods for about $10 a few months ago, and have been debating where to put it. Love it.

And here's the final view from the front door...

The wood carving on the trunk is two old men drinking wine on a barrel. My aunt and uncle got it for my grandfather when they visited "the old country" (Croatia) many moons ago. And my fave picture of the bunch is the top right corner - my grandfather and great uncle with a "Vote for Roosevelt" sign with a jug of homemade wine.

It's these little things, the family history, that make living in this house, with all its flaws, so much fun for me. You can place the exact spot outside on the driveway where they took that picture. That's pretty great, to me.

Project #2, Chalkboard Calendar in the Pantry

2010-08-09T18:45:00.002-05:00

Well, last night my lack of spatial sense bit me in the butt again (as usual) as I went to draw the calendar grid on my blackboard paint and then noticed how completely uneven the spaces ended up being. Oops. Threw on another coat of the blackboard paint and went back at it today.

Got the lines on with a Sharpie paint pen. I traced out the grid with regular sidewalk chalk first, remeasured each space for evenness, and then went over the chalk lines with the Sharpie paint pen. Done and done.

(Sorry for the shoddy pictures, used my phone)

Add caption

Then I used chalk markers to fill in the dates and month and events on the calendar.

So the whole process was:

1) Clean the pantry door

2) Grab some chalkboard paint (I got a small pot of it at JoAnn Fabrics for about $6 or $7).

3) Grab a small paint roller (I used one I had at home)

4) Paint a coat. Wait a couple hours.

5) Paint another coat. Wait a full day or so.

6) I read somewhere to rub chalk over it, I think like seasoning a cast iron pan or a wok. So I did it.

7) Grab a yardstick and mark out the grid, then draw it in (I used a Sharpie paint marker I picked up at JoAnn's for a couple bucks)

8) Fill in the grid with chalk or chalk markers (I picked up a 4 pack at JoAnn Fabrics)

9) Think of all the other things you could have done on the project...

I think the only tough part is going to be not having the next month readily available like you do with a paper calendar. If I had a full size pantry door, I think I would consider putting two months on there. We're covered on this one for Char's start of the school year at the end of this month, but stuff for El's first days in September, I'll have to just make a note. I left some space on the door so I can just scribble in upcoming events, I suppose.

Overall, pretty pleased. We are in and out of that pantry every day, so no way to overlook it, so hopefully it'll keep us on track!!

Now I suppose I should organize the pantry of doom...In fairness, it always looks like that after a party - extra chips and buns and platters and bowls and so on all over the place in there.

Update on floors...

2010-08-06T11:51:00.003-05:00

So I have all the linoleum off the kitchen floor. Sadly, a couple of inches of removal into the tv room revealed it is NOT hardwood in there. Sigh. Oh well, we have wood in the garage from Michael's folks that is slotted to go into the tv room, so we're in good shape.

Anyway, the ketchup packets were so wee-tiny, that it is really enough to stain a color swatch, not the best for the actual floor test. Which is okay. I've been perusing the web and I think we want to go a bit darker on the floor and then we'll tackle the cabinets next month. Definitely looking into an antiqued/distressed/rustic finish on the cabinets, which will be pretty forgiving on the floor's imperfections.

Without further adieu:

The floor is a bit scratched up, and in some places the adhesive really stuck to the wood. However...

After splashing a little warm sudsy water on it for a few minutes...

soften, soften, soften

It all pretty much disintegrated and wiped right off (with a bit of help from my scraper)

In the end, won't be too tough to get the bulk of the floor cleaned up nicely...

See?

But there are some ugly spots I need to tackle... Bwa ha ha!

OH! Did I show you my cute $20 off Craigslist cabinet I picked up a month or so ago?

My love for Craigslist is unhealthy, for sure. My love for this cabinet is totally natural.

Also, can you believe that this is my entire kitchen? WOWAZER!

Umm...Err...Project #7

2010-08-05T13:29:00.000-05:00

Why not? I have only had all summer to do stuff, and go back to work in a week or so (I think! No one has told me when to come back, so I think I'll just show up next week), why not add on another project or two?

Looking at the floor pictures below, realized that I have other kitchen chairs that are hiding in the basement, that I have been putting off bringing upstairs because I want to get new fabric to cover the cushions (Project #7) before I bring them up.

And, speaking of falling short on project completions...Went to Menards to get a small paint roller for the blackboard calendar project, and look at stains for the kitchen floor. Came home with these little tiny wood stain trial size packets (seriously, about the size of a ketchup packet from McDonald's) from Varathane (a RustOleum brand) that will likely cover 1 inch of one plank of wood BUT maybe can give me some ideas for what direction we want to go with the floor. Also grabbed a new gas connector for the stove, since we will have to move it to get the rest of the flooring off and it really needs to be replaced as I would guess it is the one that was put in when they got the stove, and let's just say that the stove is the same one from pictures from the 1960s, so...yeah. Needs replacing.

Anyway. Exciting stuff all around. ish.

Project #5, Project #6...

2010-08-04T23:42:00.000-05:00

Funny how once you start listing your projects, the other unfinished projects rear their ugly (well, not completely ugly, halfway to beautiful but missing finishing touches) heads and demand attention.

Funny how I discovered a random new project this morning at my house. (Instead of cleaning the basement, painting the chalkboard calendar, or touching up paint on the wood paneling I painted a month or two ago...That's project #5.)

Sitting on the phone with my sister, I started picking at a little piece of ancient linoleum floor in the kitchen which had peeled up. And it looked like hardwood underneath, same as the adjoining front room floor. What the what?

So I had a screwdriver nearby (tool, not the drink) and picked a little away. Looks like hardwood, not plywood subfloor.

But then we had to leave. The girls and I headed to my sissy's for her birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY JILLY!) and hung out. I told both my mom and aunt that there was hardwood under the kitchen floor. They were surprised, as they had only ever had linoleum in this kitchen their whole lives. So I've deduced that back in the day, they just didn't use plywood for subfloor. All floors were automatically plank/hardwood floors and then most people covered them up, as was the style, with carpet, or super-attractive (but impossible to keep looking clean after 75 years) Armstrong linoleum.

Anyway. Got home, and continued picking.

Yep. Still hardwood planks. Hmm. Pick pick pick...Oh my gosh. I think it IS hardwood throughout the kitchen floor!!!

At this point it is like 10:00pm and the girls are still up. I am like a feverish madwoman with my SCREWDRIVER (WHO HAS TIME FOR PROPER TOOLS?! Not me! I'm on a roll!) and I say "You can have one more WonderPets....I just want to pick at a little more...a little more...a little more!!!" and there may or may not have been a maniacal laugh there somewhere.

Around 10:15 or so, Michael came in and helped me throw hunks into a contractor bag, and brought in his own screwdriver.

Thankfully, most of it came off rather easily in HUGE pieces.

Some of it was a little tougher, and there was some glue that we couldn't get off with our gentle screwdriver-as-crowbar prying method.

We worked 'til about 11:00 and decided the kids need to go to bed, so we worked our way to the edge of one of the linoleum seams and called it a night.

Tomorrow I will tackle some more when the kids are at the park district.

I have no idea where this project will lead. I hate to cover it with tile. I like the idea of old farmhouse-y wood floors in the kitchen, maybe doing a distressed kind of stain or paint/glaze for distressed finish? No idea. Right now I am just SO excited to have the linoleum up and have wood underneath. Kind of debating tempting fate and seeing if the floor under the linoleum (same pattern) in the TV room would be hardwood (doubtful as it was a 3 season porch when the house was built, but who knows???).

Wish me luck! I welcome any suggestions or ideas!!

Duh

2010-08-03T14:56:00.000-05:00

Obviously my VERY. FINALISTIC. POST. a month or so ago has gone to the wayside.

Needed some introspection, some time to reevaluate what's going on in life, and so on and so forth. Like every blogger does every year or so. It happens. I'm back. No one is really surprised, are they?

Anyway, working on a couple projects at home, and am going to need some help and ideas.

Project #1: Narrow, deep closets that I want to use for toys and, if possible, getaway zones for the kids since they have to share a bedroom and we are in small quarters here. They both (especially Char, age 6) need their own little space.
The closets are about 42" wide, and about 75" deep. I cleared one out and painted the walls and put in an IKEA Billy bookcase with art/craft supplies, but quickly ran out of room. I plan to tackle the other closet on the other side of the room in the next week or so. Here's a couple pics of the one I painted and filled up - quickly.

Arts/crafts on bookcase, movies on shelves next to it. Legos and playmobil on the random shelf, board games on shelf to the right (up high). Random bags and play food, etc. on wall hooks. Big bins with Dora & Diego playsets and Littlest Pet Shop/My Little Pony stuff.

The other closet is about the same. It MAY be a bit longer, as nothing in this house is symmetrical (it is like living in Tim Burton's vision of the Winchester mansion...on a much much smaller scale)

Project #2: I think I am going to paint the inside of our hop-in pantry door with blackboard paint and then use ribbon to make a calendar grid, then just use chalk marker to do our monthly calendar. I will post pictures of this one as we go.

Project #3: Would you believe that I begged for a sewing machine for Christmas, got one, and have used it about 3 times, to make practice seams? In January?

Project #4: Get the basement in order - oh my gosh what a train wreck. I will have to make progress before I can even post pictures up there. Also, if anyone has any recommendations for a Perma-Seal-type place, please let me know...I think we're going to have to bite the bullet.

I got no teeth!

2010-07-28T11:33:00.000-05:00

One big one growing in (lost that guy in July), and I kept getting so skeeved by that second loose guy, ready to drop out any minute!

(September 2009)

Last year's school picture, from the fall, after that second one came tumbling out.

(Fall 2009)

Then May comes around, and the one next to it decided to jump ship.

(May 2, 2010)

WHAT?? I'm not ready for top teeth to be coming out!!!

(May 27, 2010)

Look how fresh that toothless space is. YOWZER!

(June 7, 2010)

My little Duncan Keith...I guess corn on the cob is off the menu for now.

(July 28, 2010)

Char: Don't I look like a vampire? I mean, not with sharp fangs, but MAN! They look like fangs! I have FANGS!!!

Fin

2010-06-21T15:44:00.000-05:00

Blog's over.

Pretty much been slacking on it for long enough.

I guess I don't have much left to say and

don't really feel like sharing whatever is left to say.

Tibbs Out.

Things that are making me smile today

2010-06-21T00:32:00.000-05:00

My girls laughing in the house together.

Hanging outside by the fire pit with Michael, chatting for hours like when we were first dating. Fabulous.

Spending Father's Day with Michael's folks. I am always amazed at how much more I appreciate them every time I see them.

The smell of freshly clipped basil and thai basil in mini-vases in the bathroom.

Season three marathon of The Hills. This also brings me a tremendous amount of shame. But I'm ok with it, for the most part.

Getting the garden in great order in time for Fourth of July festivities (the only reason the garden is weeded, trimmed, in order).

Moss. I am having a colossal crush on moss and would love to have a moss covered path somewhere. Talked about it today and think that perhaps flagstone paths through the garden with creeping thyme may be a good option for the garden. But I will find a space for moss.

The random mourning doves who are incubating their egg(s) on our big bird feeder in the yard, not going anywhere, tending to their babies-to-be.

Millie, curled up by my feet, resting her chin on my toes.

Garden stuff...

2010-06-10T12:36:00.000-05:00

Oh yeah, so sausage toe and crazy kids have been keeping me busy, also eradicating poor decor from the 1960s, but even MORESO has been the garden...

Click on the link to my other blog, the one about gardening. Which is just pictures right now, from March to mid-May, of the garden progress.

And now I'm off to pick up my new tv stand for a steal from Craigslist for my new and hopefully-soon-to-be-improved-completely tv room.

SUMMER!

2010-06-10T01:18:00.000-05:00

Work in progress- there's so much more to add...

Westchester Fest! July 9-11!

Brookfield Summer Concert in the Park Fridays starting this Friday, June 11 with the Dooley Bros - Kiwanis Park (There are a couple Fridays that are Movies in the Park nights, too!

Countryside Summer Concerts in the Park (Page 5) Thursdays starting June 17 with The Eddie Butts Band - Countryside Park under the gazebo.

LaGrange Park Music Under the Stars Wednesdays starting June 16 with J.P. and the Cat - Memorial Park Ampitheater

Brookfield Outdoor Movie Nights

Farmers Markets!
Countryside - Mondays - 8a-2p, William Tell parking lot on Joliet
Brookfield - Saturdays - Village Hall Parking Lot
Hinsdale - Mondays - Burlington Park
LaGrange - Thursdays - Behind Village Hall
LaGrange Park - Tuesdays - 8a-2p, Memorial Park
North Riverside - Saturdays - 8a-12p, Police Dept.
Oak Park - Saturdays - OH MY! Have you had the donuts??? Drooool...
Riverside - Wednesdays - 1 block east of train station
Western Springs - Thursdays - 2p-7p, Hillgrove between Lawn & Grand

Sasij toe and other delights...

2010-06-10T00:31:00.000-05:00

Busted my toe at a memorial day bbq. Dubbing it my "Sausage Toe" has led to Eleanor asking, incessantly about the "sausage toe" and how it is doing, if it hurts, if she can get a sausage toe, etc. Hilarious.

Been working on some summer projects around the house since I'm on summer break. So you know we live in my gram's old house, where my mom and aunt were raised. Which I love (i am such a broken record) but that leads to some issues because things that would have been updated immediately if we were in another house have slid onto the back burner. The way back burner. Not even on the stovetop, Because I'm used to them, because, you know, it's my gram's house

So like...Wood paneling. From 1960 or so. Yeah.

(Please disregard the squallor in the pictures.Yikes!)

Now. Had we moved into a house somewhere, this would have been taken down or painted over immediately. However, I've been living here for almost 8 years, and, you know, I just got used to it and blind to the ick-factor of it, and you know I'm pretty lazy.

But not while on summer break! I accomplish things!

You know, painting paneling is kind of intimidating. People say "DON'T DO IT!" and "PAINT WON'T ADHERE!" and "WOOD IS GOOD!" (Mind you, this isn't real wood, so...not so good.) And it seems like a daunting task to have to degloss/sand/rough up the paneling so it will accept paint. And have I mentioned I'm pretty kinda lazy?

Well. Zinsser claimed that their primer would cover paneling. I bought deglosser, too, just in case, but the Zinsser worked! Let it dry, did a scratch test to see if it really stuck, and it did! Phase one: Complete.

Mind you, from the moment I put the first brush of paint on the wall, I heard my grandmother rolling in the ground. She already did not love when we changed things in her house, and this is a kind of major one - no going back to the 60s paneling after this. Hopefully, she will really enjoy the end result?

I am about 85% complete at this point. Need to complete the trim and do a little touch up, and then get the room in order (downsizing some of the furniture, rearranging some stuff), but overall, I am already super pleased with the results on the wall - what a difference!

(Oh my gosh...Every picture is squallor-ish. I'm going to claim that it is solely because I'm in the process of doing projects, but...um...Yeah. That's totally why)

Anyway. Do I leave those doors (Mind you, in this wee tiny space, we have five - FIVE!!! - doors. Door from back door/basement stairs. 2 doors to long, narrow, hall-like closets. Door to linen closet. Door to bathroom. Good grief!) the uggo wood color? Do I paint them? Plan to leave them for right now to think about it, and I think the door to the basement/back stairs will be chalkboard painted for sure, but...thoughts?

I am clueless about house stuff. I have minimal sense or intuition on style/decorating, and often need guidance. Ergo my thousands of unread, guilt-inducing blog posts to go through on my reader feed. Wish I had a fairy godmother who would come and just take care of it. Or at least just tell me what I need to do to make our 100% living space more appealing to the eye. We live in each of our 5 little rooms every single day. Not a ton of space, need function over form, but...would really like some more form.

And so we continue!

Sunday funday

2010-05-23T12:43:00.000-05:00

1) it is like 90 degrees out. Hot enough to justify being lazy in the sun, and just sweat out everything in your body. Love it.

2) Love it a little less since we have a sewage pipe issue and we're waiting for our plumber to stop by and HOPEFULLY tell us it is just backed up and needs to be rodded (spelling?) out and hosed down. HOWEVER, on a 90 degree day, wafts of poo is less than pleasant on the nose

3) I am hanging clothes to dry on a clothes line in the garden. I need to get a longer piece of clothesline so I can do it across the yard, as once the tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. start really climbing, it won't be okay to hang clothes there. Super excited to do this all summer.

4) My new vintage superawesome fridge isn't freezing like it should...we think maybe it needs freon? But we're having a tough time finding specifics on it online. Anyone really great at repairing/recharging 1948 GE refrigerators? The fridge part is staying cool though, freezer area is just not frozen.

5) Mike and El went out to breakfast this morning. I was slightly hungover and was hoping to get rid of both kids, but Char hung back so we went for a bike ride to get a newspaper (Sunday ads are like crack to me. I don't know why). We ended up biking to get coffee and a bagel and donut, and then rode to the river to have our little breakfast. Went for a walk along the river and decided, together that THIS is where we'll be spending our whole summer. We've been into birds lately, and I told Char we will bring her camera and a guidebook and take pictures of what birds we see and identify them, and keep a log throughout the summer.

6) Also, along the DesPlaines, in Riverside, is Sunday like "Dog Park Day"?? There were dogs everywhere and it was a lot of fun. One little guy tried hopping on the bench with us and swiping my bagel. He looked like Walter the Farting Dog. Love him.

7) Riverside Art Fair is this weekend, and we saw an AWESOME smoker - this guy had what looked like a miniature train engine...but you get up close and it is a smoker! LOVE IT! And the guy was sweet as pie. He's from Soul Amici, which upon looking it up is a coffee shop/restaurant in the Riverside Metra Station that we will have to go to soon.

All in all, a pretty awesome Sunday so far. Now if only our plumber could get here and eradicate the stink...

Funny stuff my kids do...

2010-05-21T22:19:00.000-05:00

1) Lately they have been hunkering down in one of the bunks and watching movies on their Game Boy/DS. Love it. Char is finally coming around to hanging with El - El is old enough to really play now and be fun. Don't get me wrong, every 20 minutes one of them hits the other or boots the other one out of the room or whatever. But those 20 minute intervals are great.

2) Have I already told you about Ellie's love for Toad from Mario Bros? She loves Toad. She said "That's kinda weird, Toad" when I told her I love her in "Toad voice" - love that kid

3) Both girls, but especially Ellie, are now doing that "Meeehhh" sound that Snoopy from Peanuts makes when something doesn't go his way. Usually when something doesn't go their way. Hilarious.

4) Ellie is way into fake burping. But the best part is that she'll do one of these: "Mommy? Mom? Momma? Mommy?" Yes Ellie? "BUUURP" and then laughs hysterically. I'll say I'm not answering if she is going to fake burp again. And then about 3 minutes later she calls out to me and I totally answer, unsuspecting, and she gets me again. Well played, 2 year old. Well played.

5) Char is still exclaiming "O.M.G." when she freaks out about something - usually about seeing kids and grownups from her school at non-school settings...for instance at an estate school, seeing a 4th grader AND another kindergartener? OMG. Finding out our friend Jaime cuts one of the teachers' hair? OMG!

6) Ellie laughs like Nelson Muntz. Not quite as mean-spirited, but definitely the Haw Haw. For the record, she's never seen the show.

7) Both girls come trundling out of bed tonight at 10pm. Both of them. Co conspiring. "Mom? Can I have a cup of water?" "Me too, mama!" OK. "Can I have ice in my cup???" "Me too, mama!" Sure. Then go to bed, I don't want to see you guys until morning, got it?? And then they stood, quietly sipping their icy water standing next to each other in the kitchen and then off to bed.

8) I was lunch mom last Friday. So 24 kindergarteners. I don't like kids, in general. But most of the kids in Char's class are hilarious and fun and I can get on board with hanging with them for half an hour or so a couple times a month. So one of the kids asks me, "Is the devil real? Like...is he a real guy? Like...where's the devil? Is he real? Is he?!?!" My mature response was "Ummmm.....so what are your summer plans?"

9) Ellie is a big fan of saying "What the what?" during WTF moments. Totally appropriate timing. Totally funny. Totally love her.

Are you frigging kidding me?

2010-05-21T21:37:00.001-05:00

Why are there SIXTY Hannah Montana episodes on my DVR?!

I hate my life.

Summertime summertime sum-sum-summertime

2010-05-21T21:35:00.000-05:00

Know what's really fun? Like REALLY fun?

Being 34 and getting a summer break. Not like when I stayed home with the girls for a couple years and Char got out for summer and I had both my girls with me. Not like when I worked full time and it just got nice out and we could eat lunch outside at work downtown. Summer Break.

Since I went back to work part-time in August at the-perfect-mom-going-back-to-work-job as a department secretary at a college, I've been fascinated by the differences between working here and working at Aon. The pace, the pressure, the hours...Just huge differences. And while Winter Break and Spring Break were fun, they got NOTHING on summer break.

Remember when you are a kid, not a high school kid and you have to work more hours at the mall in the summer. Not a tiny kid who will just miss your friends all summer. But when summer break just meant FUN and NO SCHOOLWORK for a couple months?

Can you imagine feeling like that when you're an adult? I can. I do. Just a few brief days and I will be out for the summer. It really kicks ass.

(Mind you, this is my 20 hour a week, wear jeans and talk to college kids and artsy-type people all day job...)

Charlotte is Peter Hatcher

2010-05-18T18:21:00.003-05:00

Remember reading Judy Blume's Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and SuperFudge?

Remember when the kid won't eat and the dad says "Eat it or wear it!" and then takes the kid to the shower and dumps cereal all over Fudge's head?

Welcome to my world, though I didn't put the spaghetti on Ellie's head. She handled that herself.

Though I do recall one time when Char was younger and freaking out and wouldn't calm down and I put her in the shower, crying and screaming, and turned the water on her, and I thought of the Fudge reference then, too.

UPDATE about an hour later...

Now she has a popcorn bowl on her head. Because that's what you do.

PS I really need a camera. Or a phone with a better camera on it.

creeeaaakkkkk

2010-04-30T17:06:00.000-05:00

That is the sound of me prying the door open on this blog. A month without posting? Yikes.

I continue to blame Facebook. And I continue to apologize to those who are friends with me on FB and forced to see the 8,000,000 updates on their newsfeed each day. Who am I kidding? You love it. Stop fake complaining. And stop bringing up things posted on Facebook in real life. It makes me uncomfortable, and I don't comprehend a happy medium, so if I get skeeved enough, I will seriously just go off the grid in response.

Plus unseasonably warm weather in March that led to hanging out in the real world and blowing off my blog world.

I think I've posted a little on my gardening blog. The fake-summer had me so anxious to plant away, but Chicago area weather being what it is, I have impatiently sat on my seeds and seedlings and am not planting most of them because I know better than to plant it before the ground is warm enough.

What has been going on? What hasn't been going on?

Char is already mourning the loss of her "8th grade partner" who has been showing her around at school since day 1 of kindergarten. She hates that her school doesn't have a high school attached so they can still hang out.

I am actually excited that I am going to have a summer break from work. I should've been working at a college my whole adult life. Another few weeks and I think I'm pretty much done unless I get some calls for float pool work to fill in over summer.

Ellie has suddenly become hilarious. She really just came into her own and has blossomed into a funny little kid who gives random "I love yous" and who Charlotte - Lord knows I'm jinxing it - likes to play with sometimes. WOWZER.

Anyway, there should be some stormy weather this weekend, so I will try to get on here and meaningfully update with some posts. Because I know you are all dyyyying for the details of my super exciting, super suburban mom life (Obviously sarcastic, except for my sister Jill, who really does want me to post!)

Later skaters!

Time warp

2010-03-25T23:29:00.000-05:00

I have recently had occasion to send a friend a handwritten note, through the USPS, for the first time in a looong time.

Back in the day, I really enjoyed purchasing stationery - nothing flashy, but nice stationery with matching envelopes - to send letters to friends away at college or the military, grandmothers I didn't see that often, pen pals...

Now I'm lucky if I can find a piece of paper with no scribbles/doodles on it, or Dora or Spongebob stickers stuck to it. And stamps? Um...I buy a book and then kind of lose track of it because it is so seldom that I mail anything.

So what is mind-blowing to me right now, which is making me wistful for the days of letter-writing, is that I wrote an actual letter to a friend. Put it in an envelope. Dropped it in the mail. And now have ants in the pants because it will take DAYS to get to them. And then they'll get it, maybe will read it right away, maybe not. Maybe will feel like responding, maybe not. Maybe will feel like writing a letter that day. Maybe not. And if they do? It'll be another 3-4 days before I receive that response. So even if they open it the moment it arrives and pen a reply immediately, we're looking at a full week for a response to get to me.

I, my friends, am the girl who refreshes my Yahoo! inbox every 19 seconds to see if anyone has replied to whatever asinine email/joke/quote from a tv show I sent out. If someone doesn't respond in a day? When they do respond, I have NO idea what the original email was about.

I have been thinking I need to unplug a bit (ironic, I know, as I sit here blogging with my blog reader on another tab and facebook on another and my email on another and craigslist on another) and slow down and enjoy things a little more...maybe this is the launch point for it.

Time will tell...

School's Out For Summer!!! School's Out For-Ever!

2010-03-25T22:52:00.000-05:00

Not really, but I am on spring break until the day after Easter. Unfortunately, that is when Charlotte's spring break commences. Sigh.

BUT...having a full week for me and El to bum around together is getting my wheels turning on things I can get done around here. I think we are due for some pleasant weather next week, which will lend itself BEAUTIFULLY for catching up on garden-stuff (on which I am woefully behind), so what to do with the yucky weather days?

I have been saying for some time that I want to rearrange the tv room. I am going to go ahead and assume that Michael isn't religiously checking my blog, so I'll let you in on a little secret...I think I may go for it this week*. We've had flooring for the room for a LONG time, it is hanging out in the garage awaiting some weekend when Joey O and Michael have NOTHING going on and for some reason feel bad for me or like they owe me something. Before we do that, though, I want to do the furniture flip flop and paint over the wood paneling, something that I've been nervous about doing for a LONG time, which has led to me putting it off and putting it off and living in a world of 1973 style wood paneling. Funny how if you don't do something about it in the first 8 years you live somewhere, you just tend to get used to it and not even notice that you live on the set of Freaks & Geeks**.

One of the main goals of cleaning and rearranging this little room is that we have these pesky long and narrow closets that flank either side of the room. Because we have the sofa on the same wall as the closet doors, it is difficult to get in the closets and they become horrible black holes where toys, games, wrapping paper, clothes, gifts-for-future-use, and lord knows what else goes to die. Or disappear. Hell, I may even have another kid in there somewhere. Even though I can't make the closets any larger, my idea is to clear one out and make it into a rec room for Char. Again, totally narrow like a little hallway, but she really needs her own space. With her and El sharing their wee tiny bedroom, it is rough for a 6 year old to not have any place to put "her" stuff, do "her" thing, get away from us for awhile...

Other stuff to do...Go downtown with Ellie for lunch and maybe Navy Pier, take naps, clean out closets, take naps, read some books...

OR, more likely, Ellie and I will just bum around, waste a day or two by my mom's or aunt's house, hit the zoo, hang with my nephews who are also on spring break and finally meet Tally-the-pup...you know, really I can't lose either way.

* Or I could clean the basement. Or clean out some closets. Or paint the front room (ooh, that MAY be something I actually do). Or break out my favorite Christmas gift (sewing machine) and finally start to utilize it.
** Sara - do you and Dan watch Freaks & Geeks? If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it and think you should get it...

Face Devil!

2010-03-08T23:57:00.000-06:00

Every time I think "Oh, I should blog about this" I realize that I've posted updates about the topic on Facebook about 1,000 times throughout the day, and is there anything else left to say? Will anyone care?

So I blame Facebook, CERTAINLY not my laziness, for the lack of posts lately.

Anyway, here's what's been shaking:

* Char is about to turn 6. On Friday. WHO LET ME HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD?? Things have been challenging with her lately - winter doldrums and cabin fever combined with her testing the boundaries and vying with Ellie for attention have led to a lot of arguments, harsh words, and time outs for her AND me. The topics have been insanely trite - her love of sweatpants and claims that ALL other pants hurt her, agonizing pain! "They are horrible! Mom! Why do you only buy pants that I hate? Why do you do that to me!?!?" (Um, because clearly I LOVE this discussion every morning, honey. That's why! I sew pins and mosquitoes in all the pants I put in your closet, of course!) This particular feud led to her sweatpant collection being confiscated for a week. Then she got them back with the rule that she can wear sweats 3 days a week to school, but the other 2 days she needs to wear regular pants. All was well, until day 4 and then OH MY GOSH THE PANTS! THE AGONY! THE PANTS! OH WHAT A WORLD WHAT A WORLD as she melts into a denim puddle on the floor. Apparently, however, Disney princess costumes no longer burn her flesh, so we have that going for us...

* In honor of her 6th b-day, we had a "Friends Party" (No, not aniston/cox themed) at the Athletic/Expo Center in town. They have 3 inflatables (jump house, obstacle course, slide) and the kids can jump for an hour, then half hour for cake in a party room. She didn't want just girls, and since the party max was 25 and she has about 23 in class (plus 2 friends outside of her class), we went for the whole class. What the what? 23 kids sitting at little round tables eating lunch when I'm there for lunch patrol seems totally manageable! You gently remind them to "turn and tuck!" when they are twisting around in their seats and goofing off, and oh, how wonderful they all are. Until you set them loose on a half court. Good Grief! Anarchy! Injury! A loose tooth you are just praying won't fall out and get lost in the fray because you can't send a kid home with no tooth in her mouth or her pocket! We had about 20 show up, and with my general disdain toward children, I'm impressed I made it the hour and a half. Thank god my sister was there to help. And the kids were fine, really good, played well, no one left out, but OH MY GOSH that is a lot of kids.

Have you seen a cuter Valentine? Ever? In the history of time?

* I continue to love Lent for totally non-religious reasons... Yes yes, preparing for Easter is delightful, but even more delightful? The Filet-o-Fish fish singing! I guess they are selling the mounted fish at a couple stores, and with my birthday around the corner, I am hoping one ends up in my hands. MOM! ARE YOU READING THIS? ARLENE!! HELLO!!?? "Give me that filet-o-fish, gimme that fish! What if it were you turning 34 in two days? If it were you turning 34 you'd be singing anyways!" Anyway, mom, get me the fish. xoxo

* The girls are starting to play together a lot more. Obviously El is a little older, a little more fun for Char to interact with her, but it is very hot or cold. I would be super happy with lukewarm, you know? But occasionally we have moments like this:

(Yes, that's Char in a princess dress, El in a tiger costume, having tea)

And this:

* Spring is coming. We cleaned up the backyard, I cleared out the garden (totally left everything up all winter like a total hillbilly. I'm ok with that.). It's been in the 40s for a couple days, I've been pretending it is like 70 out - windows open, hanging out outside, Michael on the smoker making ribs...I am, as always, so excited for this weather to break wide open and get warmer and things turn green and we play outside and...ahhhh. Can't wait! But tonight, the fog is out. Super thick. Like Stephen King novel thick. And the dog was prancing to go outside, and I took her out, and she didn't "do" anything out there, but kept darting and dashing around the yard and driveway, suddenly stopping to sniff and look at Lord knows what and thus freaking me the hell out!

* Ellie likes hockey. You know how you typecast your kids, and if the first one is into something, it's her thing, and it is weird at first if the second kid likes it? No? Just me? Hmm...Anyway, she's all over it. In fact, it has been her primary motivation for potty training, and just about EVERY time she goes on her potty, she stands up with a triumphant "I go to hockey game?!" And yes, yes she does go to hockey games! Awhooo!

* Borderline obsessed, still, with Criminal Minds. Some episodes really get to me and freak me out, like the one with the kid abducted when the mom lets go of her hand for 3 seconds at a fair. And there goes my favorite summertime activity - Festing. (fEsting...head out of the gutter, piggies)

* I've been falling apart lately. First, my ankle twisted in a funny way and started giving me issues. Then, after contorting to reach behind the copy machine at work, my knee twisted in a funny way and now it is my trick knee. If only I had some glamourous high school sports injury to blame it on. Alas, I am just old and heavy weighted. BOO!

* So you know how we got Michael a banjo for Christmas? He's been doing lessons once a week, and it is starting to really come together. So excited for him. And the girls love it, too!

* Do you play "Spot the Difference" on Facebook? You should. It's basically photo hunt from the bar, but in your pjs on the sofa.

Spot the difference: Is this Charlotte or Harold, Char's alter-ego in my aunt's old glasses?

* So, our Jewel (grocery store) has those gumball/candy machines at the front of the store. And if the girls are really really good, they get a quarter and can go to the machines and pick something. Apparently, our Jewel sells mustaches from the machines. Ladies and gentlemen: Luigi and Mario!

* Peek-a-boo! C'mon! Look at this kid!

* When did Ellie get so big? And come on carrying a purse!? Wearing jeans? Oh my god I love her more and more every single day!

In Elvis shades, courtesy of Arlene:

* In sadder news, thanks to the Microsoft bastards and their damn automatic updates, our laptop crashed and burned. It is saying we need to put in our Windows installation disc to try to repair it, but, alas, we don't have one. SO...here we are. Thank God Michael bought me that netbook for Christmas - I loved it before, but I would honestly feel like I had an amputated limb without it.

* The above sad news means that I haven't been able to scan in some more pictures and hilarity from Char's school journals for your viewing pleasure. Hopefully soon, my friends, hopefully soon...

2010-03-08T23:05:00.000-06:00

My wish for my daughters: That they never have trembling, panic inducing anxiety when they want to speak their mind in a group that they know will not agree with them.

I've always been a bit of a wuss, and generally go with the flow. It is not terribly often that I am enraged by something or feel strongly enough about something that I feel a need to take a stand.

So when I do, even when it is over the most minimal piddly thing, I get really worked up, really nervous, and usually totally wuss out.

But every once in awhile, I do take a stand, and even though it is largely ineffective and doesn't change the world (a big part of the reason I stopped trying to make a difference, I suppose), I end up with a clear conscience, glad to have spoken my mind, cleared things off my chest, and be able to rest my head knowing I followed my heart.

At least, I can rest my head once I stop trembling and my heart rate slows down.

Anyway. Point is, I don't want my kids to have the racing heart, the indecision, the anxiety that no one will agree with them when they speak up and will they feel stupid? Will people think they are irrational? I want them to NOT CARE about that, and to get things out in the open, and not have totally triumphant conversations/arguments in the mirror at home and stay meek and go-with-the-flow everywhere else.

Them ribs, them ribs, them...tasty ribs! CONTEST!

2010-03-04T19:26:00.000-06:00

A message from my husband, Michael:

Hey ladies and germs as mentioned in episode 12 of our EJAM podcast we have our first ever contest complete with prizes! As you may or may not know Mike is involved in a competitive BBQ team. We were formerly known as the Ribture, unfortunately BBQ, rednecks, and religion seem to go along like fist pumps and the Jersey shore. Needless to say our play on words team name was met with a less than warm reception. Which brings me to our contest…you the listener can enter as many team name suggestions as you would like. Should your team name be used you will receive a T-Shirt with our fancy logo artfully illustrated, and a bottle of our soon to be award winning BBQ Rub.

Please keep it relatively clean and leave religion out of it…their choice not mine. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

FYI, the podcast is Michael and two of his cohorts chatting about geek and geek related fun- movies, video games, other podcasts, Michael's bbq endeavors, and so on and so forth...Give it a listen some time (Michael's portion involves him creepily sitting at a table in our garage with headphones on, skyping with his chums with the lone lightbulb in there casting eerie creepy shadows, like some conspiracy theorist pirate radio nut...).

Give a listen here!

Say a prayer...

2010-02-27T22:37:00.000-06:00

This is the blog of Layla Grace's family.

Layla Grace is a beautiful 2 year old girl who is battling stage 4 neuroblastoma. A perfectly healthy kid, diagnosed a year ago with the disease after going to the doctor for what her folks thought was constipation.

I just read her family's blog tonight after a friend from high school asked for prayers for Layla Grace and her family. It is breaking my heart that any parent, any family, has to watch their little one suffer.It breaks my heart that a little girl has to endure such pain. It just boggles my mind.And it terrifies me - she's just a few months younger than El.

Anyway, just hoping you can offer some prayers and good thoughts for Layla and her family and friends. I cannot imagine what they are going through.

Follow up about the art exhibit...

2010-02-20T21:22:00.000-06:00

So I took the girls to the Visual Voices art exhibit at Elmhurst College on Tuesday for the opening.

I think that one of the very best things about having kids is being able to see things through their eyes, gain a different insight to the world, experience the world through them.

We got there and I introduced them to some of my work folks and some of the students who were there, and then we started take it all in.

Ellie, being Ellie, promptly turned off the lights within 20 seconds of me putting her down, and then was pretty excited to see a platter of fruit to munch on.

Char, being Char, amazed me in so many ways. There were quotes from some of the artists (again, kids between 8 and 18 from India) and I read them to her, and she took it all in, wanted to know what I think they meant, why they wanted to share their world with us, details about how long they got to use the cameras, etc. And going through the exhibit and taking a look at the pictures, the questions FLOODED over me - why isn't she wearing shoes? Why are the roads dirt? Why is he doing homework by candlelight? Does that gramma live with them? Do they have tvs? They have CHICKENS!?!?!?! Their dogs are pretty skinny, why? Look at their bed. Is that where they go to school? What's on her hands? Why is she wearing so much jewelry? What do they eat? What kind of food is on that cart?

And once we hit the altar, where the curators had assembled a variety of images/statues of Hindu gods? FORGET IT! Why is that one part monkey? Why so many arms? AN ELEPHANT MAN!?!?! Did she really get to ride a lion? Why are there so many gods? (I compared them to our saints - especially patron saints) Do they like our God? Where's Jesus? (Catholic schooling at its finest!) Look at the flowers! Did the kids make this music, too? Can we get a book about these guys???

I had bribed the girls for good behavior, and had anticipated begrudging participation from them, but something really sparked with Charlotte. I don't know if it is because she knew the artists were kids, not much older than herself, or if it was just her first real exposure to an art exhibit (FAIL on my part for not exposing her before this or more frequently), or what it was, but even now, 5 days later, she will come up with questions and you know it's been on her mind.

The intention of this project was to tell the viewer about their lives, about their world, about themselves through the images. The door that it opened for Char - for me! - to talk about the world outside of our little life and family, has just been amazing. To see her mind open up and eager to learn is just awesome. Not awesome like "Totally tubular awesome, dude!" but awesome as in "I'm in awe of watching my girl develop into this amazing, beautiful, thoughtful person." THAT, not the hokey pokey, is what it's all about, folks.

What you should be doing on a Tuesday night...(or at least at some point before March 18)

2010-02-16T11:24:00.000-06:00

For those of you in the Chicago area who have an opportunity to find yourself in the Elmhurst area in the next month or so, make an effort to stop by the Accelerator ArtSpace at Elmhurst College for a great art exhibit curated by one of my favorite people here and her daughter.

You can read more about it here: Chicago Tribune Local Edition.

I've seen some of the pieces for this exhibit, and they are amazing. All of the pieces came from kids from age 8-18 who participated in a digital photography class in Bhopal, India in July 2009. The children are all second-generation victims of the 1984 Union carbide gas disaster, and they were basically given a camera and asked to tell their story, tell us about their lives, through pictures. And they did.

You all know I am not an artsy person...and, in fact, I don't think I even appreciate art as much as I should and as much as I would like my daughters to appreciate it. However, seeing these images as they filtered through our office, I was really struck by so many of them, and thinking about these kids - kids! - capturing the beauty of their day-to-day lives, their siblings, friends, neighbors, the slum backdrop, the jewel tone colors bursting everywhere, even to my eye, it is amazing.

Plus Lynn Hill, the professor who is curating the exhibit with her daughter Rebecca, is pretty amazing. She's so passionate about her work in India, and she is one of those really fantastic people who infects you with her passion. I swear I think every student that comes here should have her for at least one course, because even in an old cynic like myself, she stirs up feelings that make you want to make a change, make a difference, learn more about these people's lives.

Soo..like I say, if you're in the area, come check it out. The ArtSpace is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.

Happy Presidents Day!

2010-02-15T08:49:00.000-06:00

Ahh, the last day of Charlotte's FIVE DAY weekend. Why the face does she have a 5 day weekend?

Here's stuff on my mind today:

1) What am I going to do with the kids? Debated one of those paint-a-pot places...still a possibility. Char wants to see Tooth Fairy (Gag) but I know El won't sit through it, so she and I will likely go next weekend when El is in Michigan with Michael. Hate bundling up so much to run from building to building at the zoo. We were at the mall yesterday. Shedd is free today, but...all kids are off, and I hate crowds, especially crowds of children. Waah.

2) One of the decorating blogs I get on my reader had a cute idea for fake crown molding - a thin strip a few inches down from the ceiling and then just painting over the wall in the same color you paint the strip of molding. I am thinking about painting the front room a different, brighter/lighter color, and have been debating if I'd want to paint the wood trim. BUT it is the original wood trim from the 1930s, and is in good shape, and quite nice, and every apartment I've lived in had painted over trim/baseboards and it pissed me off every time. But a bright light room? With white trim? Is that something I'd regret? Once again, paralyzed with indecision.

3) The dog's spring shedding has started (perhaps more reliable forecaster of spring than the groundhog?) and thus has commenced my annual "I hate Millie" campaign. However, I have been brushing her and am disgustingly saved the hair (a Target bag full, so far). Not sure if Kelly will get a card with it pasted on there in a landscape, or if I will make pillows with the kids in another month or two. We've been discussing it for at least a year.

4) Ellie's been wearing braids in her hair, and though I didn't think it was possible, she's even cuter.

5) Char lost her DS charger cord, and it is killing me because it is totally dead and I really do like playing Mario 64 on her DS. I've instead been playing Mario Advance (aka Super Mario Bros. 2) on Ellie's GBA. Sad.

6) Can you believe Southwest booted Kevin Smith? The one airline I've had no beef with and have always praised? Daaaang.

7) I hate the WonderPets. I am trying to move Ellie into more Backyardigans, less WonderPets. Both have been digging Frances lately, which is like a wildlife Caillou with her entitled whining sometimes, but I take absurd pleasure in Ellie singing the theme song with the following lyrics (learned from Charlotte, and they occasionally vary) "I am Frances. I am whiney." and then something about wearing a diaper, not being able to hula hoop, not able to count to100 or count by 2s (at least that turtle kid can count to two and tie his shoes, as they remind us EVERY episode. Franklin! that's his name).

Have a happy Monday, gang! I have some funny Char stuff I'll be posting this week, but haven't had the time/energy to scan in the pics Char drew so...yeah.

Oh and 8) Char turns 6 in less than a month! I can't have a 6 year old! That's messed up!

Snot Knots

2010-02-03T23:38:00.000-06:00

My kids both have decent heads of hair...with that comes the peril of knots and snarls EVERY MORNING which is a total battle to get them out (or to get Char to get hers out) when we're getting ready.

Once in a blue moon, one or the other will allow a ponytail or pigtails in her hair for bedtime and will keep it in for the night. But not usually.

And after battling a couple of plain ol' detanglers with little success, I went out tonight and picked up a new leave-in conditioner, a new detangler, and, something I've been meaning to do for a while*: Satin pillowcases.

They are totally obnoxious - leopard print for Char, zebra print (like Kelly's Snuggie) for Ellie. I'm hoping this will entice them to sleep on them. I'll let you know if it works.

*I have no idea where I read this suggestion. I may have made it up one day. Maybe I'm an unwitting genius.

blaaaaahhhhh

2010-02-03T22:36:00.000-06:00

I've been at a loss lately for things to post, and like everyone else on my Google Reader, just burned out with the blogging thing.

So...I'm taking a hiatus of sorts. Still will be posting pictures of the kids and so on, but I think I started to cross some lines and cover topics that aren't appropriate for this forum. So...off I go.

Maybe another blog will pop up someday with amusing tales, high school diaries to rival Becky's, and information on how long I am going to let my toenails grow.

But for now I'm scaling it back to family-type updates and things of the like.

Catch you on the flip side!

Because I've been remiss...

2010-01-29T16:52:00.000-06:00

I have totally not been great about posting pics of the girls here. So here goes:

When the hell did Ellie get so big? So old?

Girls sleeping over at Gramma and Grampa's

El peeking out from the monkey tent in the tv room. LOVE HER. She knows she is hilarious.

El-vis sleeping in the car.

Char wide awake and demanding equal camera time as Ellie. She actually smiled!

El-vis with the white coat - she needs a jumpsuit.

She doesn't always sleep so well, but here is evidence that sometimes she sure does.

Char at Christmas kindergarten mass.

The night she let El sleep in her bed so she could "watch me play DS" because who DOESN'T want to watch that?

El could care less about the DS. Snuggling with sissy is a huge honor for her.

one more

2010-01-22T18:17:00.000-06:00

You know what I really dislike about facebook?
the fact that you are basically "in touch" with more people from your past than you could ever have imagined being in contact with in your 30s - from high school, grammar school, college, old jobs, etc.

That is great.

However.

The fact that people that I normally would really MISS. Miss seeing, miss having a beer with, miss going to lunch with...Miss to the point that I'd call and say "It's been too long! Let's go out this weekend and catch up!" I don't do as often as I should, because I still know, thanks to Facebook and Twitter, what they're up to, if they're preggers, if they painted their kitchen, if their kids are eating solid foods, etc.

Now, I fully realize this is more of a personal character flaw, and my own "thing" but I'm just saying...Does it happen this way for you, too?

Friday summary

2010-01-22T18:14:00.000-06:00

1) Lunch mom at Char's school - always pretty fun, the kids are great, not demanding, good times.

2) Ellie has rocked the potty the past two days. Go El!

Then things went downhill.

3) Went to check out a library addition in Oak Park that was done by the architectural firm we interviewed last night. Get there, and they are closed on Fridays. Ellie is crabby and needs to pee. Suck.

4) Get home, grab something from the basement (a trunk) and pinch/pull/do something to my lower back. I don't have back issues. Is there some reason to be developing one in my 30s? Is it just all the excess weight I'm carrying? NO idea. But it sucks and I can't bend at all and if I turn certain ways I see stars. Yikes.

5) Feed the girls dinner - El wants Cheerios. Char wants noodles. El brings her bowl to the sink, SPILLS all the milk from the bowl down the front of the cabinet all over the kitchen floor.

6) The girls go to feed the dog and Char overfills the water bowl by about 1000, flooding that section of the kitchen.

I just want to go to bed. It's 6:15. Oh, but I can't as the bedding is all in the wash (and our 1 year old washing machine has not been draining after the spin cycle sometimes. WTH?).

On the uptick, we are now settling in with G-Force and some popcorn, Ellie is completely positive that Char's class guinea pig, Snoopy, is featured in the film. Char will give her that MAYBE one of his cousins is in it, but he is certainly NOT.

Happy weekend to all!

Growing up

2010-01-19T18:15:00.000-06:00

Our living room/tv room is about 10 feet long, and not terribly wide. There is a door at one end to the back stairs, and a door on the other end to the bathroom.

The girls are positioning themselves, one at each door, and Ellie is chanting "On your mark get set go" and they run across the room, passing each other in the middle. Wow. I could not love them more right now. Love these rare sweet moments when they really love each other and like each other and have a blast together.

Really? November wasn't enough?

2010-01-15T02:19:00.002-06:00

Dear 2010,

I know we've only known each other a few weeks, but if your intentions are to kick my ass like the last 2 months or so of 2009, please consider yourself warned that you are ON THIN ICE.
Mike's grampa, Jonathan, my gram - all 2009. All things i've reconciled.

But one of our peers, our friends? The guy that happily transported me to the late night bar when my friends were DONE for the night? How could this happen? You are so young, so funny, so lively, so lovely...

I realized tonight that you know, you know, the people that will weep when you die. The folks whose day-to-day life feels the effect of your whims, your losses, your gains. That's obvious.

But, folks, think about the UNusual Suspects. Those folks who you may not even realize you've affected. Whose life may have barely intersected with yours but maybe it was just the right day, the right time, Hell, the right phase of the moon.

Because when I realized that JJ was gone....That he wouldn't be at the station anymore...that he wouldn't be the guy at my house if there were a fire...I broke.

I had but one night, hanging out with him at the bar with our other bar friends. Way later than I should've been out. Having a ton of fun. Laughing. Chatting. Enjoying the camaraderie of the group. And then...we went home. And had a great moment where our lives intersected, a funny story...A story which, from my angle, would contain the phrase, "You know JJ? The firefighter? You know him..." And from his angle may be "You know Amy? With the orange Schwinn Cruiser? Two little girls...? You know her..." And that's it. That's my whole deal. My whole association.

It feels so improper to feel so wrecked by his death. So unacceptable as I didn't have a role in his day-to-day activities, yet I cannot stop feeling the pain of his life.

JJ, you are incredible. You fought where others have given up. You inspired where others would say "eh." You are amazing. And you will be missed.

Google Voice

2010-01-12T19:51:00.001-06:00

So, I like Google Voice...in theory anyway. I hate checking voicemail, and never do, and the idea of just being able to read a transcript of the voicemails appeals to me immensely.

I've had it for a couple of days, and I think my outgoing message says something to the effect of "Eh, text me or email me, I don't check voicemails that often" so it isn't like most people leave me messages anyway.

However, I am pretty sure that something got lost in the translation on this message from Kelly, which is in response to me calling to bitch about my Sworn Enemy earlier today:

"You've got a new voicemail from ***-***-****. Preview: Hey, How are you gonna listen to this voicemail. Probably not. At Your. Silinas. Anyway, sounds like a big India and I think you should be doing some strange things to kind of a Sicily get back at her. I don't know what the strings and yet but I'll figure it out. Also, thought I'd tell you, I just left spin class, where, and that's all the old songs we use to do. Drinking and see you like rocks a. I'd."

Either Kelly is on something, or there is something to be said for actually listening to voicemails...

**UPDATE**

The actual message:
"I don't know, are you going to listen to this voicemail? Probably not. Um, your sworn enemy sounds like a big idiot and I think you should be doing some strange things to secretly get back at her. I don't know what the strange things are yet, but I'll figure it out. Also, I thought I'd tell you, I just left spin class, wherein all the old songs we used to do drinking games to, like Roxanne, apparently the adult version for spin class is everytime you hear "Roxanne" you have to turn up the resistance on the bike. The instructor was pretty amused at herself for coming up with that one. These are the things that amuse me in my life."

Hmm.

Can't Hardly Wait

2010-01-08T15:41:00.000-06:00

I realize I've been posting pictures of this all fall/winter long, but every time I grab some of the onions from our garden that we dry stored in the garage, I really appreciate that we tend a garden every year. And I'd really like to toss into the ring as another potential goal for the year (another one that repeats annually) making sure we can/preserve/freeze/dry/save more of our harvest this year.

I still have about 5 jars of tomato sauce, 2 huge bags of frozen broccoli, 1.5 bags of frozen beans, about 5 ziploc sandwich bags of shredded zucchini for zucchini bread/muffins, and onions, glorious onions. Not to mention the various dried stuff we have around, too.

To still be eating the food we grew over the summer in January is really incredible, and drives home the whole point, the whole principle, of having a garden in the first place.

Ellie. Hilarious

2010-01-07T16:17:00.001-06:00

Ellie just tiptoed up to me, whispering "may i see poo? Let me see my poo! Pleeeease?"

I looked at her and said "NO! Poo in the potty and you can see your poo!"

Ellie, little smile on her face "please...mama? Poo? Poo?" with a giggle and little tickle fingers going like she's poised for attack.

Char, in the meantime, is leaning up against the tv stand, chin on hand, watching High School Musical.

Ellie is still chanting it, and now, I think based on my instructions playing Wii earlier, she is chanting "just press A! We can see my poo!"

Char is now giggling at Ellie's fecalphelia. Oh good grief.

For Rachel...

2010-01-06T21:20:00.003-06:00

Oh yeah, those kids?

2010-01-05T00:36:00.002-06:00

I realize I've been bleak and all emo and creepy and stuff lately, and random and stream-of-conscious and just dumping out random thoughts here...

I've been having issues with pictures lately (ahem. i took NO pictures during the holidays. Yikes!), but have taken a few (low quality, with my cell phone) so without further adieu, here's some recent(ish) stuff...

Char: Mom, ellie wants to watch me play DS, can she sleep in my bed?

Me: Ummm...you know she kicks and moves around, right?

Char: That's okay!

Me: If you're cool with it, that's fine, but I don't know that that IS actually exciting for her, so...she may bug you...

Char: That's okay!

Me: Um, okay, go for it, she has to sleep against the wall.

Char and El: THANKS MOMMY! YAY!!!

(Five minutes later)

Char: MOOOOMMMM, she won't leave me be!

Me: Too bad, you made your choice, go to sleep!

(half hour later)

Ellie, running into the living room, totally frantic: MOM! ITSBROKENITSBROKENITSBROKENITSBROKEN I BROKE IT!!! (clutching Char's DS)

Me: (SHIT)

In fact, it had just gone on power save, so definitely not broken, but what befuddled me is that Ellie got the DS from Char's sleeping hands, managed to crawl over Char, get to the slide of the bed (lofted bed), maneuver around the pillow I put at the top of the slide to keep her from coming out of the bed, and get the bedroom door open, ALL without waking Char. She's like a ninja.

So, last week, my sister and I took the kids to the zoo and in The Swamp, Ellie looks in this snake habitat and says "ooh, mousie sleeping! shh" and my stomach sinks because I know what that means (dinner) and don't want to see it, and debated, briefly, telling the other kids about it because EWWW I'm skeeved out right now thinking about it.

I ended up calling the kids over and we all stared in awe as the snake took down the poor little mousie. And I think that takes care of my nature for the year.

And then there's Mil. Even though she is a pain in the ass most of the time, come on, she curls up like a little donut! This is how she lays (lies?) (no, lays..right?) This is her position when she does the Three Stooges "woop woop woop" noise in her sleep. Love this dog.

So at least now I can admit it...

2010-01-02T13:17:00.000-06:00

Billboard announced that NSync's 2000 album "No Strings Attached" was the album of the decade.

I am now comfortable admitting that I think this was a great call. Because even if you are a cynic, even if you hate everything that boy bands represent, even if you would rather gouge your eyes out than have someone know you like it, I defy you to try to not at the very least toe tap (but more likely fully jam out) to "Bye Bye Bye" and "It's Gonna Be Me" at least in private.

I think my only justification for even being at all involved with any boy band songs is that Bethany listened, and forced me to listen to them, and even got me to purchase some NOW! That's What I Call Music CDs that are like gateway drugs into liking the most popular "hip" or "young" music (Kidz Bop for grown ups). Bethany also got me and Kelly to go see a Soul Decision show because that damn song "Faded" was so stinking catchy.

Happy Twenty Ten indeed!

Kids are gross...wait, so are some adults I know

2009-12-29T09:44:00.002-06:00

(Gross pics at end of post...You were warned)
OK, so after the sticker poo incident, Becky over at Steam Me Up, Kid was kind enough to modify the sticker poop pictures into beautiful works of art.

Beautiful works of art that my disgusting little 2 year old wants to look at ALL THE TIME.

She's doing great-ish on the potty training, but will occasionally spiral into a madwoman's gibberish, demanding a diaper right after she pees on the potty - DIAPER! NEED A DIAPER!!!! NOOOOOWWWWW! - because sometimes I guess it is just more comfortable to sit in your own poop than to just get it out without it touching your whole bottom region. I guess different strokes for different folks?

Anyway, today, as usual, she is demanding to see the artsy pictures of her poo - "Poo? My poo, mama? See my poo? Poo pictures!!!" - and I told her "You know, you can look at your poo EVERY TIME if you go in the potty!" and have now started not letting her see it if it is in the diaper.

And then I realize how frigging disgusting it is that this is my potty training method - withholding poo voyeurism unless it is in the potty. F my life.

Without further adieu, here are the pictures Becky did. I wanted to figure out how to make it so you can't see it unless you roll your cursor over them, for, you know, modesty's sake, but I am pretty lazy and chasing a kid for poo all day wears me out. So here you go!

» Click to show pictures - click again to hide... «