And thus ends my experimental August Blog-a-Day. I don't think I'll be writing something every day in the future. Some days there just isn't anything worth writing about.
This week is a busy week, as we have piano lessons starting up. The time of the year when we have soccer overlapping with piano is always a busy, busy time. This week, after school we have Tues: scouts for Sam, soccer practice for Ruby, Wed: piano for me, piano for Sam, soccer practice for Sam, young women's for Squig, Thur: piano for Squig, tutoring for me (actually, by me, I'm doing the tutoring), soccer game for Ruby, soccer game for Sam, parent's club for me (which I have to miss due to the soccer games) and on top of it, I have to try to get food into the kids in a timely manner, and get them all washed and in bed at a reasonable hour.
It's only Monday and I'm already behind!
Maybe I'll write if I have a chance to breathe. We shall see, we shall see.
And now I need to go and unpack and put away all the groceries I bought today, but to do that I need to clean out the fridge and re-arrange the shelves in the pantry. It was stock-up day and I have a lot of stuff to find a home for. I think I need to build some shelves in the pantry, but I might just head down to Lowe's and see what they have for shelf expanders. The shelves in there now are too tall, and I can't stack stuff that high and still get to it easily. If I had shelves about half as high, that would be just right for arranging cans so you can see what you have, and be able to get things out easily. There's a lot of wasted space in there.
Thank you very much for joining me on my Blog-a-Day journey.
Good-night.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Food Storage Muffins
So, this afternoon I decided to make some muffins to go with dinner. Don't ask what else was for dinner, today's a throw-something-together-when-you-forgot-to-go-shopping type of Sunday.
I started to assemble my ingredients, and discovered that I had about a half cup of flour. Not sure how that happened, since I try to keep bags of the stuff around. Anyway, not enough flour. So I went out to the garage for a can of the old standby: food storage flour.
Now, this food storage flour is of unknown age. A lady in our ward lived down the street when we moved in here and she moved out soon after we moved in (we didn't chase her out, we promise) and she gave us all her food storage. In my mind it was about five years old when we got it, but I can't remember if she told me that or if I made it up. Hard to say.
I opened the can and checked the flour and it smelled very metallic. Very Metallic. I couldn't tell over the metallic smell whether or not the flour was still good. It looked fine, nice and floury and I tasted a bit, and it didn't really taste at all (which is how white flour is anyway). So I called up the ward food storage specialist and asked her about it. She looked up flour in her stuff and said it's good for 10 years. Well, I've had it for three and a half years and if she had it for the five in my head, it's about 8 1/2 years old. Should be fine, I guess. I decided to go ahead and use it.
I made the muffins and changed them to spice muffins to try to hide any taste with the spices. They just came out of the oven, and I'm going to go taste one. Please hold on.
-------------------------------------
I'm back.
Well, they taste funny. Not rotten funny, just sort of blah funny. They have sort of a weird taste in them that seems like it's hiding the spices. The kids, however, like them. I should confess here, that I've never made this muffin recipe before, so it could be that I made them wrong, or that I wouldn't like them even if I made them right. I'll have to buy some flour tomorrow and make them again and see how they come out.
As far as the rest of the flour goes, I'm inclined to toss it along with the other two cans I have in the garage and get new cans. I suspect the hot garage (they're in a cabinet, but it's warm in there, too, but not hot) is not the best place for canned flour. I expect that things like beans and rice would fare better because they don't take up tastes and smells like something powdery like flour would.
I should probably open up a can of each of the things from this lady and test them all. Back when we were first married, we used cannery flour, rice and sugar all the time and never had this kind of a problem. I need to find a cooler place for our food storage stuff. Maybe the back of a high up cabinet or something.
Oh well.
I figured out how to insert a poll on the page. I posted a poll about the flour.
I started to assemble my ingredients, and discovered that I had about a half cup of flour. Not sure how that happened, since I try to keep bags of the stuff around. Anyway, not enough flour. So I went out to the garage for a can of the old standby: food storage flour.
Now, this food storage flour is of unknown age. A lady in our ward lived down the street when we moved in here and she moved out soon after we moved in (we didn't chase her out, we promise) and she gave us all her food storage. In my mind it was about five years old when we got it, but I can't remember if she told me that or if I made it up. Hard to say.
I opened the can and checked the flour and it smelled very metallic. Very Metallic. I couldn't tell over the metallic smell whether or not the flour was still good. It looked fine, nice and floury and I tasted a bit, and it didn't really taste at all (which is how white flour is anyway). So I called up the ward food storage specialist and asked her about it. She looked up flour in her stuff and said it's good for 10 years. Well, I've had it for three and a half years and if she had it for the five in my head, it's about 8 1/2 years old. Should be fine, I guess. I decided to go ahead and use it.
I made the muffins and changed them to spice muffins to try to hide any taste with the spices. They just came out of the oven, and I'm going to go taste one. Please hold on.
-------------------------------------
I'm back.
Well, they taste funny. Not rotten funny, just sort of blah funny. They have sort of a weird taste in them that seems like it's hiding the spices. The kids, however, like them. I should confess here, that I've never made this muffin recipe before, so it could be that I made them wrong, or that I wouldn't like them even if I made them right. I'll have to buy some flour tomorrow and make them again and see how they come out.
As far as the rest of the flour goes, I'm inclined to toss it along with the other two cans I have in the garage and get new cans. I suspect the hot garage (they're in a cabinet, but it's warm in there, too, but not hot) is not the best place for canned flour. I expect that things like beans and rice would fare better because they don't take up tastes and smells like something powdery like flour would.
I should probably open up a can of each of the things from this lady and test them all. Back when we were first married, we used cannery flour, rice and sugar all the time and never had this kind of a problem. I need to find a cooler place for our food storage stuff. Maybe the back of a high up cabinet or something.
Oh well.
I figured out how to insert a poll on the page. I posted a poll about the flour.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Saturday Morning on the Football Pitch
As today is Saturday, we spent the morning at soccer. Ruby had pictures at 9:00, and we got out of the house late and got there just as the team was lining up to go in for their picture. I scribbled an order form together and am pretty sure it was matched up with the correct kid. We'll see whose picture I get back in a few weeks.
Her game started right after pictures, so we all headed over to her field and set up our chairs. Ruby played well, but she gets worn out, and I'm thinking she needs to run around more. Build up her stamina. She's doing better at getting right in the thick of things and fighting for the ball. She was really cute in her little pigtails.
Sam's game started while Ruby's was still going on and I walked him halfway and went back to Ruby's game. After it ended, we went to watch Sam's game. Sam was playing defense when we got there, which was just after halftime, and apparently we missed him playing goalie in the first half. Just before the end of the game, he got hit in the face with the ball, and since he was wearing sunglasses, it was doubly painful. He sat out the last minute of the game. It hit him just on the side of the sunglasses where they hit his eyebrow. Ow. He cried.
The kids had fun, but it was a hot and sweaty morning. It was 80 in the shade when we left the house at 8:45 a.m. I remembered sunscreen, and no one seems to have gotten any sunburns. Soccer's funny. When it starts, it's boiling hot and everyone's dying, but by the end of the season you might find yourself playing in the cold and rain, which is an adventure all its own.
Squig went up to the lake with her young women's group today. I think I'll take the other two to the movies, since they don't get to go to the lake. And then we'll go swimming, because it's already over 90 degrees and it's just barely 1:00 p.m.
Her game started right after pictures, so we all headed over to her field and set up our chairs. Ruby played well, but she gets worn out, and I'm thinking she needs to run around more. Build up her stamina. She's doing better at getting right in the thick of things and fighting for the ball. She was really cute in her little pigtails.
Sam's game started while Ruby's was still going on and I walked him halfway and went back to Ruby's game. After it ended, we went to watch Sam's game. Sam was playing defense when we got there, which was just after halftime, and apparently we missed him playing goalie in the first half. Just before the end of the game, he got hit in the face with the ball, and since he was wearing sunglasses, it was doubly painful. He sat out the last minute of the game. It hit him just on the side of the sunglasses where they hit his eyebrow. Ow. He cried.
The kids had fun, but it was a hot and sweaty morning. It was 80 in the shade when we left the house at 8:45 a.m. I remembered sunscreen, and no one seems to have gotten any sunburns. Soccer's funny. When it starts, it's boiling hot and everyone's dying, but by the end of the season you might find yourself playing in the cold and rain, which is an adventure all its own.
Squig went up to the lake with her young women's group today. I think I'll take the other two to the movies, since they don't get to go to the lake. And then we'll go swimming, because it's already over 90 degrees and it's just barely 1:00 p.m.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Surprise!
Well, Sam brought home a violin today. I guess he got one of the school ones. He doesn't know how to play it, as they seem to have just handed them out today. I can figure out how to tune it, but I have no clue about where you put your fingers.
Oh well, this is a new thing for all of us. I really don't like the feeling of having no clue how to work something. I might have to get on the internet and learn how to play the violin myself!
And there you go.
Oh well, this is a new thing for all of us. I really don't like the feeling of having no clue how to work something. I might have to get on the internet and learn how to play the violin myself!
And there you go.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Soon-to-be-Squeaky Sam
I asked about having Sam go in the 5th grade band next year and was turned down. Either he has to do strings in 4th grade, or wait until 5th grade for band. I've decided that if we can get a free violin from the school, he can do strings in 4th, but if we have to rent one, he'll have to wait until 5th, when he can play an instrument that he might stick with. They have a limited number of school violins and it's first come, first served. We got the forms yesterday and I took one in first thing this morning and they already had a pile of them. So, it depends on how many are for the violins and how many are for the band kids. We'll see.
The band teacher said that if he put Sam in the 5th grade band in 4th, what would he teach him in 5th? I'm thinking, just keep teaching him new music, but it doesn't work that way apparently. Too much trouble for the teacher. I'm really appreciating our private piano lessons--the kids can go as fast or as slow as they need to, and don't have to wait for an entire class to catch up. But, I suppose that's the price you pay for free lessons at school. And I really shouldn't complain, at least we have music in school at all.
I suppose it won't kill him to learn the violin for one school year and then switch to trumpet or whatever in 5th grade. I'm just not looking forward to having a novice violinist practicing in the house. Ugh. Better start researching noise-blocking headphones!
The band teacher said that if he put Sam in the 5th grade band in 4th, what would he teach him in 5th? I'm thinking, just keep teaching him new music, but it doesn't work that way apparently. Too much trouble for the teacher. I'm really appreciating our private piano lessons--the kids can go as fast or as slow as they need to, and don't have to wait for an entire class to catch up. But, I suppose that's the price you pay for free lessons at school. And I really shouldn't complain, at least we have music in school at all.
I suppose it won't kill him to learn the violin for one school year and then switch to trumpet or whatever in 5th grade. I'm just not looking forward to having a novice violinist practicing in the house. Ugh. Better start researching noise-blocking headphones!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sax & Violins
Squig came home from school today and announced that she joined the jazz band at school. They meet during lunch three days a week. So, now she goes to the before school 6th grade band class to help out, she has a band class during school, she'll be joining the drumline after school in November and now she's doing jazz band during lunch. It includes a "front of the line" lunch pass, good for the whole year. A most coveted item at the middle school. She might be more excited about that than anything else.
100% Pure Band Geek. Gotta love her.
Sam brought home papers to sign up for 4th grade orchestra, which is just violins. In 5th grade they can do more instruments. I'm going to see if he can get in on the 5th grade band since he has an extensive music background (you know, extensive for an 8-year-old kid). He said he'd like to play the trumpet. We actually have a trumpet, but it's old and I'm not even sure if it's any good. Anyway, it can't hurt to ask!
(Five points to whoever can tell me who sang the song referenced in the title to this post, without googling it)
100% Pure Band Geek. Gotta love her.
Sam brought home papers to sign up for 4th grade orchestra, which is just violins. In 5th grade they can do more instruments. I'm going to see if he can get in on the 5th grade band since he has an extensive music background (you know, extensive for an 8-year-old kid). He said he'd like to play the trumpet. We actually have a trumpet, but it's old and I'm not even sure if it's any good. Anyway, it can't hurt to ask!
(Five points to whoever can tell me who sang the song referenced in the title to this post, without googling it)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
A Busy, Busy, Bizzy Day
Oops, almost forgot to post today. It's been one super-dee-duper busy day.
I started off getting everyone up and dressed while also getting my self up and dressed becuase it was my day for helping out at the school, which is always an adventure. Fortunately, today was free breakfast at the schools, so I took the kids in early so they could eat there. One less thing for me to deal with.
In kindergarten, I had the Color-Cut-Paste table. My table took a long time, so long in fact, that I only got through three groups before recess, when they usually get through four. When one of the girls had to go to the bathroom, I took her down there, and waited outside the bathroom, but she wanted me to come into the stall with her and help her and she cried when I told her I couldn't do that, but that I would wait outside the stall for her. She decided that she didn't want to go to the bathroom if I wouldn't help her. When I took her back to class and reported back to the teacher, she told her the same thing--she had to go by herself. I think that along with immunizations, they should also require that your kid know how to go to the bathroom alone before they can start school. I mean, really.
Anyway, after I got four groups through Coloring-Cutting-Pasting, I took off for the 4th/5th grade, where I corrected reading worksheets. Seriously people, if the word list is written on the paper, you should not misspell any of the words. And by 5th grade you should have that figured out. I also corrected, I don't know what they call them, but it has a paragraph with grammar, spelling and capitalization errors and the kids have to find all the errors. The teacher tells them how many there are, and they have to figure them all out. I think it's a good exercise, but they're really hard to correct and take forever. Not only do I have to make sure they got all the corrections, I have to correct any extra corrections they make. By the time I finished that, I had just enough time to calculate percentages and alphabetize some math and reading homework and then I got out the door in time to get home before Ruby's bus got home. Even thought it would be easier for me to just get her at the school, she's still getting into the school routine and I think she just needs to keep taking the bus.
I pulled in the garage about 10 minutes before I had to leave to get her, and as I was sitting the car listening to the end of a thing on the radio, two big dogs came sniffing into my garage! Well, I'm not fond of big dogs, and wasn't sure how to get them out so I could get out, so I pushed the garage door control, and it was so noisy, it made them both jump and take off. I went in the house and watched them sniff at all the doors as they ambled down the street. I was a little concerned because I didn't want them around when I walked to the bus stop. Did I mention that I don't like big dogs? I took a big stick with me, which I left at the bus stop. I didn't notice until we were part of the way home. Fortunately, the dogs seem to have gone the other way.
After we got home, Ruby finished her lunch (she's still learning to eat fast and not chit-chat at school--an important skill to learn) and we went grocery shopping, and we were still putting groceries away when Sam got home. I got him going on some dishwasher unloading, then Squig got home and I got her going on homework, then I took Ruby over to her friend's house, then I sat down to rest for a minute.
But only for a minute, because Sam had to get to his cub scout pack meeting, which was a swimming activity. We left on time, but because of the stupid construction traffic, we were 10 minutes late. I'll be so glad when they get this new road finished, because it's driving me nuts! I do need to take a minute here and be grateful for the right turn lane which helps us get to school on time now. And the left turn signal which will help us get to piano lessons on time when they start.
While we were stuck in non-moving traffic, bumper-to-bumper, Sam noted that he forgot his towel. And because the kid is skin and bones, I couldn't just let him get hypothermia because he's easily distracted. The poor kid shivers when he's wet and it's 100 degrees out. So, after I dropped him off, I had to battle traffic to get back home and get his towel, stopping to help Squig with a math problem, and ran back to the scout activity. That took 45 minutes round trip. I'm not kidding. It should be about a 10 minute drive, one way. If you hit all the red lights. Can be done in about 5-6 minutes if you hit all green.
Got back from delivering the towel, and had about a half hour to make dinner for Squig and myself while Ruby soaked in the tub (Ruby had dinner with her friends, thus saving me a lot of stress--thank you neighbor B.H.!) I threw some fried rice together and Squig and I had a nice time eating and chatting together. She actually did most of the chatting and I stuffed my face as fast as I could. Then I pulled Ruby out of the tub, threw a towel around her, offered a reward to the girls if they got their night time routines done before I got back and ran off to pick up Sam, and when I arrived, they weren't done with the meeting, so I had to wait for them to finish.
Then back to the house, to help the girls finish their routines (need a bigger reward next time), get Sam showered and toss everyone in bed. I put my jammies on and read a couple of articles from the BYU alumni magazine (excellent article on the personal and societal economic benefits of charitable giving) before tackling the kitchen.
And then I realized that I had forgotten to take out the garbage with tomorrow being garbage day. So, I got on the computer instead of dealing with that.
Now, I must go and take out the garbage in my jammies so we'll have room for next week's junk. And then I'll try to tackle the kitchen, which is still not done.
Sigh.
I started off getting everyone up and dressed while also getting my self up and dressed becuase it was my day for helping out at the school, which is always an adventure. Fortunately, today was free breakfast at the schools, so I took the kids in early so they could eat there. One less thing for me to deal with.
In kindergarten, I had the Color-Cut-Paste table. My table took a long time, so long in fact, that I only got through three groups before recess, when they usually get through four. When one of the girls had to go to the bathroom, I took her down there, and waited outside the bathroom, but she wanted me to come into the stall with her and help her and she cried when I told her I couldn't do that, but that I would wait outside the stall for her. She decided that she didn't want to go to the bathroom if I wouldn't help her. When I took her back to class and reported back to the teacher, she told her the same thing--she had to go by herself. I think that along with immunizations, they should also require that your kid know how to go to the bathroom alone before they can start school. I mean, really.
Anyway, after I got four groups through Coloring-Cutting-Pasting, I took off for the 4th/5th grade, where I corrected reading worksheets. Seriously people, if the word list is written on the paper, you should not misspell any of the words. And by 5th grade you should have that figured out. I also corrected, I don't know what they call them, but it has a paragraph with grammar, spelling and capitalization errors and the kids have to find all the errors. The teacher tells them how many there are, and they have to figure them all out. I think it's a good exercise, but they're really hard to correct and take forever. Not only do I have to make sure they got all the corrections, I have to correct any extra corrections they make. By the time I finished that, I had just enough time to calculate percentages and alphabetize some math and reading homework and then I got out the door in time to get home before Ruby's bus got home. Even thought it would be easier for me to just get her at the school, she's still getting into the school routine and I think she just needs to keep taking the bus.
I pulled in the garage about 10 minutes before I had to leave to get her, and as I was sitting the car listening to the end of a thing on the radio, two big dogs came sniffing into my garage! Well, I'm not fond of big dogs, and wasn't sure how to get them out so I could get out, so I pushed the garage door control, and it was so noisy, it made them both jump and take off. I went in the house and watched them sniff at all the doors as they ambled down the street. I was a little concerned because I didn't want them around when I walked to the bus stop. Did I mention that I don't like big dogs? I took a big stick with me, which I left at the bus stop. I didn't notice until we were part of the way home. Fortunately, the dogs seem to have gone the other way.
After we got home, Ruby finished her lunch (she's still learning to eat fast and not chit-chat at school--an important skill to learn) and we went grocery shopping, and we were still putting groceries away when Sam got home. I got him going on some dishwasher unloading, then Squig got home and I got her going on homework, then I took Ruby over to her friend's house, then I sat down to rest for a minute.
But only for a minute, because Sam had to get to his cub scout pack meeting, which was a swimming activity. We left on time, but because of the stupid construction traffic, we were 10 minutes late. I'll be so glad when they get this new road finished, because it's driving me nuts! I do need to take a minute here and be grateful for the right turn lane which helps us get to school on time now. And the left turn signal which will help us get to piano lessons on time when they start.
While we were stuck in non-moving traffic, bumper-to-bumper, Sam noted that he forgot his towel. And because the kid is skin and bones, I couldn't just let him get hypothermia because he's easily distracted. The poor kid shivers when he's wet and it's 100 degrees out. So, after I dropped him off, I had to battle traffic to get back home and get his towel, stopping to help Squig with a math problem, and ran back to the scout activity. That took 45 minutes round trip. I'm not kidding. It should be about a 10 minute drive, one way. If you hit all the red lights. Can be done in about 5-6 minutes if you hit all green.
Got back from delivering the towel, and had about a half hour to make dinner for Squig and myself while Ruby soaked in the tub (Ruby had dinner with her friends, thus saving me a lot of stress--thank you neighbor B.H.!) I threw some fried rice together and Squig and I had a nice time eating and chatting together. She actually did most of the chatting and I stuffed my face as fast as I could. Then I pulled Ruby out of the tub, threw a towel around her, offered a reward to the girls if they got their night time routines done before I got back and ran off to pick up Sam, and when I arrived, they weren't done with the meeting, so I had to wait for them to finish.
Then back to the house, to help the girls finish their routines (need a bigger reward next time), get Sam showered and toss everyone in bed. I put my jammies on and read a couple of articles from the BYU alumni magazine (excellent article on the personal and societal economic benefits of charitable giving) before tackling the kitchen.
And then I realized that I had forgotten to take out the garbage with tomorrow being garbage day. So, I got on the computer instead of dealing with that.
Now, I must go and take out the garbage in my jammies so we'll have room for next week's junk. And then I'll try to tackle the kitchen, which is still not done.
Sigh.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Not The Happiest Blog Post
So, Sam has a new friend in his class. He's new to our school due to the newly opened GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) class in our school this year. He lives pretty close to us, which is nice because there aren't many kids in our neighborhood. Their class is a 4/5 split class, and they're not in the same grade, but they walk part of the way home from the bus together.
Anyway, today Sam told me his friend's last name, and I immediately recognized it as the same last name as a lady I know of who has a very aggressive form of breast cancer, which was in remission and has returned. Friends of hers have held fundraisers for her treatment and for special vacations for their family, which includes three young sons. And as Sam told me about his friend today he mentioned that his friend told him that his mom has cancer, so I knew it was the same family.
I'm sad about this. I don't actually know this lady, but we have a few friends in common and I know of her cancer struggle. I know that it's serious and that she's not expected to have too much time left.
It makes me sad when young mothers get cancer. She's probably close to my own age and her kids are close to the same age as my kids. It hits too close to home. Literally--they just live around the corner. I don't like having to think about my own mortality. It just bothers me. It's probably because I can't deal with the thought of my kids going on without me. It bothers me enough that I don't even feel like talking about it anymore, though I do have more thoughts on the subject.
Anyway, that's my downer of a post today.
Anyway, today Sam told me his friend's last name, and I immediately recognized it as the same last name as a lady I know of who has a very aggressive form of breast cancer, which was in remission and has returned. Friends of hers have held fundraisers for her treatment and for special vacations for their family, which includes three young sons. And as Sam told me about his friend today he mentioned that his friend told him that his mom has cancer, so I knew it was the same family.
I'm sad about this. I don't actually know this lady, but we have a few friends in common and I know of her cancer struggle. I know that it's serious and that she's not expected to have too much time left.
It makes me sad when young mothers get cancer. She's probably close to my own age and her kids are close to the same age as my kids. It hits too close to home. Literally--they just live around the corner. I don't like having to think about my own mortality. It just bothers me. It's probably because I can't deal with the thought of my kids going on without me. It bothers me enough that I don't even feel like talking about it anymore, though I do have more thoughts on the subject.
Anyway, that's my downer of a post today.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
So, I'm getting things together to get the 30-Day Emergency Teaching Credential so I can sign up as a substitute teacher in our school district. I finally got a list cobbled together about what I need to do and in what order. It would be nice if there was a list somewhere that said what you need and where to go to get it, but I had to ask two people and check a bunch of websites.
This is what I have figured out I need to do:
First off, I have to take the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), and when they say Basic, they mean BA-SIC. I took the sample tests, and got 92% on the reading (I missed a couple because I read too much into the passage) and 100% on the math. I didn't even bother with the writing. I read over the samples and I think I can pull off something acceptable when the time comes. The next test is in early October (they have computer-based testing more often, but they're all over an hour away, and if I wait a few weeks, I can take the paper one just 15 minutes away). After that, I can apply to the state for the credential, for which I need the CBEST scores and my college transcripts proving that I have a bachelor's degree. And then I can apply to the county to be put into the sub registry, if they open up applications (I'm counting on them opening up on Sept. 1, but we'll see). If my application is accepted, I go in for an orientation and then they'll put me in the registry. At first, I'm going to limit it to our elementary school, but after Ruby goes full-day, I might open up to the other elementary schools in the district, and maybe even be brave and do the middle school, too. I probably won't go out of our district. I also need to get fingerprinted and entered into some fingerprint database.
And then I need to get someone to pick me out of a selection of fully-credentialed, recently pink-slipped teachers. Hey, it could happen! Subbing will allow me to be off when my kids are off and give me the flexibility to say 'no' when I need to.
We'll see how things go.
This is what I have figured out I need to do:
First off, I have to take the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), and when they say Basic, they mean BA-SIC. I took the sample tests, and got 92% on the reading (I missed a couple because I read too much into the passage) and 100% on the math. I didn't even bother with the writing. I read over the samples and I think I can pull off something acceptable when the time comes. The next test is in early October (they have computer-based testing more often, but they're all over an hour away, and if I wait a few weeks, I can take the paper one just 15 minutes away). After that, I can apply to the state for the credential, for which I need the CBEST scores and my college transcripts proving that I have a bachelor's degree. And then I can apply to the county to be put into the sub registry, if they open up applications (I'm counting on them opening up on Sept. 1, but we'll see). If my application is accepted, I go in for an orientation and then they'll put me in the registry. At first, I'm going to limit it to our elementary school, but after Ruby goes full-day, I might open up to the other elementary schools in the district, and maybe even be brave and do the middle school, too. I probably won't go out of our district. I also need to get fingerprinted and entered into some fingerprint database.
And then I need to get someone to pick me out of a selection of fully-credentialed, recently pink-slipped teachers. Hey, it could happen! Subbing will allow me to be off when my kids are off and give me the flexibility to say 'no' when I need to.
We'll see how things go.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Band Mom
Today I took on official duties as a band mom. Squig was marching in the parade that runs through our little downtown. It's a typical small-town parade made up of mostly firetrucks, tractors, scouts, little league and the middle school band. And there's a street fair.
I walked with the band, squirting water in the kids' mouths if they needed it. It was pretty hot and the sun was out full-force. I put sunscreen on my arms and the back of my neck, but forgot to do the front and the bottom of my neck/top of my chest is sunburnt. Ow. And my nose got it, even though I was wearing a hat. I walked with the drummers to help out if any of them got too tired to carry the drums. They're pretty heavy. I ended up carrying one of the snare drums for a while.
The kids were all very nice and it was fun to hang around and listen to them chat and interact. Kids that age can be really funny to listen to. After the parade, the kids went back to the band truck for water and popsicles, then Squig and I walked the fair and I bought her a cupcake from a lady whose kids have been in school with my kids from the very beginning. She's started a cake business. Squig got a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter frosting, which, if you know her, is just the perfect combination.
And then we went home. Where it was air conditioned and we just sat around waiting for John and the other two to get home from soccer. They should coordinate things like that better, I think. They shouldn't have opening day for soccer (and pictures, too!) the same day as the street fair in the town next door. Especially when a good number of kids from the fair town play soccer over there. Two of the kids on Sam's team missed pictures because their dad was in charge of a booth at the fair for his scout troop. Ah well. What can you do.
At least John wasn't traveling and we were able to split up. That helped a lot.
In all, a good day, and we got a lot of yard work done after everyone got home. I pruned my rose bush with its preliminary fall pruning. It might bloom again, so I don't want to cut it all the way down just yet. It was just getting out of control. I did some heavy duty pruning on the avocado tree which is trying its darndest to die. It's basically a stick right now. I trimmed off all the dead (as in broke off, because it was sooo dead) wood and found just one half-alive branch left. I don't know what's going on with this tree, except that we moved it. They're very tempermental, avocados are. Every time we move it (it's in a half whisky barrel, so it moves fairly easily, and we move it every winter to a protected spot and then move it back in the spring) it promptly drops off all the leaves and tries to die. This time it may have succeeded. All the leaves dried up and fell off, and most of the wood died. And if you go online to try to see what the problem is, you get overwhelmed with all the possible problems with avocados. They're just cranky. So, we'll see if I can save it. I pruned it, propped it up, fertilized it and watered it a little. The soil was already damp, and the don't like soggy roots, so I only gave it enough to soak in the fertilizer. I'll give it six months and then I'll have to get a new one and start over. I think it will do better if I get one and keep it in one place. It's only given me two avocados in, what 4, 5 years? Grrr. Not much return for the amount of work I put into this thing.
Anyway, we did some work, cleaned up and jumped in the pool to cool off. Just threw the kids in bed, and will head off to sleep myself very soon. Sunburns make me tired for some reason. Even little ones.
I walked with the band, squirting water in the kids' mouths if they needed it. It was pretty hot and the sun was out full-force. I put sunscreen on my arms and the back of my neck, but forgot to do the front and the bottom of my neck/top of my chest is sunburnt. Ow. And my nose got it, even though I was wearing a hat. I walked with the drummers to help out if any of them got too tired to carry the drums. They're pretty heavy. I ended up carrying one of the snare drums for a while.
The kids were all very nice and it was fun to hang around and listen to them chat and interact. Kids that age can be really funny to listen to. After the parade, the kids went back to the band truck for water and popsicles, then Squig and I walked the fair and I bought her a cupcake from a lady whose kids have been in school with my kids from the very beginning. She's started a cake business. Squig got a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter frosting, which, if you know her, is just the perfect combination.
And then we went home. Where it was air conditioned and we just sat around waiting for John and the other two to get home from soccer. They should coordinate things like that better, I think. They shouldn't have opening day for soccer (and pictures, too!) the same day as the street fair in the town next door. Especially when a good number of kids from the fair town play soccer over there. Two of the kids on Sam's team missed pictures because their dad was in charge of a booth at the fair for his scout troop. Ah well. What can you do.
At least John wasn't traveling and we were able to split up. That helped a lot.
In all, a good day, and we got a lot of yard work done after everyone got home. I pruned my rose bush with its preliminary fall pruning. It might bloom again, so I don't want to cut it all the way down just yet. It was just getting out of control. I did some heavy duty pruning on the avocado tree which is trying its darndest to die. It's basically a stick right now. I trimmed off all the dead (as in broke off, because it was sooo dead) wood and found just one half-alive branch left. I don't know what's going on with this tree, except that we moved it. They're very tempermental, avocados are. Every time we move it (it's in a half whisky barrel, so it moves fairly easily, and we move it every winter to a protected spot and then move it back in the spring) it promptly drops off all the leaves and tries to die. This time it may have succeeded. All the leaves dried up and fell off, and most of the wood died. And if you go online to try to see what the problem is, you get overwhelmed with all the possible problems with avocados. They're just cranky. So, we'll see if I can save it. I pruned it, propped it up, fertilized it and watered it a little. The soil was already damp, and the don't like soggy roots, so I only gave it enough to soak in the fertilizer. I'll give it six months and then I'll have to get a new one and start over. I think it will do better if I get one and keep it in one place. It's only given me two avocados in, what 4, 5 years? Grrr. Not much return for the amount of work I put into this thing.
Anyway, we did some work, cleaned up and jumped in the pool to cool off. Just threw the kids in bed, and will head off to sleep myself very soon. Sunburns make me tired for some reason. Even little ones.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Ruby's Future Pet
Today Ruby told me that when she gets a pet she's going to get a seal. I asked her where she would put it, she looked around, walked over to my desk, pointed to an area and said, "We can just move some of this stuff over and keep it right here."
After I pointed out to her that seals are bigger than I am, she said we could keep it on the floor of the living room. Then I explained that they need to live in water, and she thought we could keep it in the hot tub so it wouldn't get in the way when we use the pool.
I think we'll just not get a pet, then we don't have to worry about it.
After I pointed out to her that seals are bigger than I am, she said we could keep it on the floor of the living room. Then I explained that they need to live in water, and she thought we could keep it in the hot tub so it wouldn't get in the way when we use the pool.
I think we'll just not get a pet, then we don't have to worry about it.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Super Helper Bizzy
Today I started helping out at the school. I helped at one of the learning centers in Ruby's class (the shape of the week is the circle, and we made caterpillars out of circles and I had to help them put them in rainbow order) and helped Sam's teacher grade and sort math tests.
I wish there was something more exciting than that to tell about, but really, there isn't. I'm hoping that the county will start taking applications for substitute teachers again in September. The employment website says that applications are closed right now, but to check back Sept. 1st. Working for the school is a good idea because the schedule correlates with my kids' schedule (can't sub if the kids aren't there!!!) and I could limit it while Ruby is in kindergarten and still be on the rolls when she goes full-day next year in first grade. Plus, there's the flexibility of being able to say no if I need to.
I just need them to open up applications again so I can get in. Then I can deal with the issue of whether or not any of the teachers would call on me! I'm hoping that all my many years of service to the school and in their classes would help me be a desirable candidate even though I don't have a teaching credential (or experience, but I'm the sub, not the lesson-planner!)
I guess we just wait and see what happens in September!
I wish there was something more exciting than that to tell about, but really, there isn't. I'm hoping that the county will start taking applications for substitute teachers again in September. The employment website says that applications are closed right now, but to check back Sept. 1st. Working for the school is a good idea because the schedule correlates with my kids' schedule (can't sub if the kids aren't there!!!) and I could limit it while Ruby is in kindergarten and still be on the rolls when she goes full-day next year in first grade. Plus, there's the flexibility of being able to say no if I need to.
I just need them to open up applications again so I can get in. Then I can deal with the issue of whether or not any of the teachers would call on me! I'm hoping that all my many years of service to the school and in their classes would help me be a desirable candidate even though I don't have a teaching credential (or experience, but I'm the sub, not the lesson-planner!)
I guess we just wait and see what happens in September!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Moooooaaaaannnnnn!!!
I woke up with a really bad back ache this morning. I don't know if I slept funny, or what, but the big muscle on the right side of my lower back hurts so bad I can't sit at the desk. I'm using the old laptop as I sit on the couch with an ice pack and lots of pillows supporting me. It was pretty bad walking over to pick up Ruby at the bus stop, which is just around the corner and down the block. That muscle gets a lot of use when you walk.
Anyway, the laptop is getting hot and it's a hot day, so I'll keep this short. I'm hurting and the ibuprofen isn't working like I need it to.
Anyway, the laptop is getting hot and it's a hot day, so I'll keep this short. I'm hurting and the ibuprofen isn't working like I need it to.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Clothing choices
As part of their night time routines, my kids are supposed to lay out their clothes for school the next day. Ruby has been doing a really good job at getting this done.
Today when I went to check on her clothes, I found that she had put out for socks: one red soccer sock and one purple soccer sock, both of which are longer than her legs. I asked her why she had the soccer socks and she said she was out of socks. Fortunately for her, we have some clothes that were just washed and hadn't been folded yet and were able to find some white short socks.
Phew!
Today when I went to check on her clothes, I found that she had put out for socks: one red soccer sock and one purple soccer sock, both of which are longer than her legs. I asked her why she had the soccer socks and she said she was out of socks. Fortunately for her, we have some clothes that were just washed and hadn't been folded yet and were able to find some white short socks.
Phew!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Just me, myself and I
Today I ran errands all by myself. It was kind of weird. On one hand, it went much faster, on the other hand, I didn't have anyone to talk to. I guess I'm used to going out and about with Ruby, and we chat about stuff. We'd go to Costco and meander around and find all the samples and check out all the new stuff and just chat and look at things. Today I went to Costco, went straight to what I went for, picked it up, skipped past the samples (they all get stuck in my braces anyway) and only bought three things all together.
Two things for the kids' lunches for school and one bag of M&M's for the kindergarten. They use them to help the kids learn to count. They get one for each number they can count. So, if they count to 100, they get 100. Ruby thinks she can get a thousand. I told her that they probably stop her at 100.
That's pretty good for me and Costco.
I went to the library by myself, grabbed my stuff from the holds shelf and got in line. The librarian asked if I had tried the new self check-out, which I hadn't even known was there! They just put it in last week, and we didn't go last week because the kids were in school on our summer library day. She took me over, showed it to me and I was in and out of there in 15 minutes. Usually the library is a good hour-long adventure with me running from one section of the library to the other keeping track of everyone. Which is why I order my books ahead of time so I can just grab them off the holds shelf when the kids are done and while they're waiting in line.
So, errands: much faster when it's just me, but more lonely. Sigh.
Two things for the kids' lunches for school and one bag of M&M's for the kindergarten. They use them to help the kids learn to count. They get one for each number they can count. So, if they count to 100, they get 100. Ruby thinks she can get a thousand. I told her that they probably stop her at 100.
That's pretty good for me and Costco.
I went to the library by myself, grabbed my stuff from the holds shelf and got in line. The librarian asked if I had tried the new self check-out, which I hadn't even known was there! They just put it in last week, and we didn't go last week because the kids were in school on our summer library day. She took me over, showed it to me and I was in and out of there in 15 minutes. Usually the library is a good hour-long adventure with me running from one section of the library to the other keeping track of everyone. Which is why I order my books ahead of time so I can just grab them off the holds shelf when the kids are done and while they're waiting in line.
So, errands: much faster when it's just me, but more lonely. Sigh.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Out visiting
We had a fun afternoon today. After stake conference (which is over by the time we regularly start church) we went to visit some friends for a cookout and fun afternoon visiting. There isn't a lot to tell about, since most of it was talking and eating, but we had a most lovely time.
And I was very inspired at how they used every inch of their tiny little yard to plant things. Strawberries along the narrow border next to the sidewalk around the side of the house, fruit trees espaliered across the back fence, tomatoes against the house. Even the dirt around the posts holding up the porch roof had herbs planted in it. I feel like I need to do a better job at using the space in my yard. We're not using it anywhere near as well as we could. In fact, in a lot of places, we're not using it at all. And we need to get the watering lines down. Time to get on the ball.
And I was very inspired at how they used every inch of their tiny little yard to plant things. Strawberries along the narrow border next to the sidewalk around the side of the house, fruit trees espaliered across the back fence, tomatoes against the house. Even the dirt around the posts holding up the porch roof had herbs planted in it. I feel like I need to do a better job at using the space in my yard. We're not using it anywhere near as well as we could. In fact, in a lot of places, we're not using it at all. And we need to get the watering lines down. Time to get on the ball.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Yard work.
Another busy Saturday. We dug up all the plants in the front planting bed except for the agapanthus, which will be divided and re-planted. We still have to finish getting all the big river rocks out of there. They're really hard to move, because they're too big to get with a rake or shovel, so they have to be picked up one or two at a time and put in a bucket, then taken over to the big rock pile that is growing on the driveway. We're not sure if we're going to put them back in the front, or use them in the planting beds around the pool. Or sell them. Who knows.
The kids' rooms are so sunny and bright now that all the big bushes have been removed from the front of the house. The house looks more open from the street, too. On the downside, the kids' rooms get more sun and aren't as shaded as before, and we'll have to put something on the windows to keep the curtains from rotting away from the sunlight (when we first moved in, we had a red bedsheet in Sam's window for a curtain and when we took it down, the side facing out was pink.)
I just can't wait to get this bed cleared out and get something pretty planted in there. I'm leaning toward an edible garden. We planted a maple tree in the middle of our little pie-shaped front yard, but it will be years before it's big enough to cast shade on the planting bed, so we'll maybe plant some small fruit trees, some small berry bushes and maybe some bigger herbs (like rosemary). Plus some room for pretty flowers and the agapanthus, which I just love.
The kids' rooms are so sunny and bright now that all the big bushes have been removed from the front of the house. The house looks more open from the street, too. On the downside, the kids' rooms get more sun and aren't as shaded as before, and we'll have to put something on the windows to keep the curtains from rotting away from the sunlight (when we first moved in, we had a red bedsheet in Sam's window for a curtain and when we took it down, the side facing out was pink.)
I just can't wait to get this bed cleared out and get something pretty planted in there. I'm leaning toward an edible garden. We planted a maple tree in the middle of our little pie-shaped front yard, but it will be years before it's big enough to cast shade on the planting bed, so we'll maybe plant some small fruit trees, some small berry bushes and maybe some bigger herbs (like rosemary). Plus some room for pretty flowers and the agapanthus, which I just love.
Friday, August 14, 2009
A Giant Blue Honey Pot
A most uneventful day. I ordered a new conter-top composter, because I broke the last one when I dropped the lid on the pot and the whole thing shattered. It was most useful and we've really missed it. So I got a new one. Mine looks like a giant honey pot. It's blue, just like in the picture. It looks cute on the counter. It's from Plow & Hearth.
It's a lot easier to use the composter than to have a bowl of peels and stuff. With the pot, it has air holes and a filter in the lid, so the peelings don't smell (even when it's full it doesn't smell much with the lid open anyway), and you only have to empty it into the big composter outside once every day or two instead of every time you peel or chop something. When we empty it, we rinse it out with the hose and because it's dishwasher safe, we put it in to wash now and then when stuff starts sticking to the sides and won't rinse off. Can't wait for it to get here!
It's a lot easier to use the composter than to have a bowl of peels and stuff. With the pot, it has air holes and a filter in the lid, so the peelings don't smell (even when it's full it doesn't smell much with the lid open anyway), and you only have to empty it into the big composter outside once every day or two instead of every time you peel or chop something. When we empty it, we rinse it out with the hose and because it's dishwasher safe, we put it in to wash now and then when stuff starts sticking to the sides and won't rinse off. Can't wait for it to get here!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
No Kids At Home: Day 1
Well, today was my first day sans kids. I took Ruby to class, watched her line up and go into class. And that was it. I didn't cry, didn't feel sad, just kind of lonely. Dropped some forms off at the office, took Squig to the middle school and headed home.
When I came home, I did some cleaning and some puttering around. Nothing big. Watched a little Food Network and Home & Garden TV. Made myself a nice big breakfast. Listened to NPR. I decided that for the rest of this week I'm just going to take it easy and then next week I'll get a schedule together and get things done. For now I'm just going to help out at the school and sign up to help out at the town library.
We have a lot of yard projects we want to get done, so I'll probably get going on those. I also need to get my summer garden cleaned up. If I don't have watermelons by now, I'm not going to get any. I think the cucumbers have given up also. It was kind of a bummer for summer veggies. A lot of things just didn't take this year. Looking forward to the cooler weather for some serious root and leaf veggie action. Spinach, beets, lettuces, carrots, potatoes, etc. I'm going to clear out some space and get serious this year. I have lots of room for these things and I'm going to make it count.
Anyway, that's the plan. Let's see if I'll stick to it.
When I came home, I did some cleaning and some puttering around. Nothing big. Watched a little Food Network and Home & Garden TV. Made myself a nice big breakfast. Listened to NPR. I decided that for the rest of this week I'm just going to take it easy and then next week I'll get a schedule together and get things done. For now I'm just going to help out at the school and sign up to help out at the town library.
We have a lot of yard projects we want to get done, so I'll probably get going on those. I also need to get my summer garden cleaned up. If I don't have watermelons by now, I'm not going to get any. I think the cucumbers have given up also. It was kind of a bummer for summer veggies. A lot of things just didn't take this year. Looking forward to the cooler weather for some serious root and leaf veggie action. Spinach, beets, lettuces, carrots, potatoes, etc. I'm going to clear out some space and get serious this year. I have lots of room for these things and I'm going to make it count.
Anyway, that's the plan. Let's see if I'll stick to it.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The End of an Era
Today my time as a full-time mom at home with my kids ends. Tomorrow, my youngest, little Ruby starts kindergarten. Today was kindergarten orientation, where they do a 2-hour version of the school day with the parents there to give the kids a taste of what school will be like for them. Tomorrow, we drop them off and leave.
And I will go home to an empty and quiet house and try to figure out what to do with the rest of my life.
Or, I might stay and help out at the school. Why not? It's not like I have anywhere else I have to be, and kindergarten classes always need help.
She had a great time, though, and was excited to be there and to meet her teacher and to see the classroom and to meet some of the kids (about half of her class was there for our session, and the other half went later in the day). Her teacher told them, "I'm very excited for this school year and I hope you are too." And Ruby said, "I'm SO excited!" And she sure meant it!
She got to play on the playground, which she loved (they have a huge, huge sandbox under a big leafy tree, it's round and goes all the way around the tree) and she was happy. We made sure to take off her shoes carefully and dump them outside so we wouldn't get sand in the carpet. Even though she said, "I don't mind sand in my carpet."
So that's what happened today. I'm not sure how I'll be tomorrow. She's so happy and excited to be in school, it's hard to be sad about it when she's around. But, I suppose I'll have a good cry when I get home.
Here she is looking all cute with her backpack.
And here she is in class making her little apple with her name on it.
I didn't get any pictures of Sam on the first day, because as soon as we got to the school, he jumped out of the car and said, "See ya!" and took off. Ah well.
And I will go home to an empty and quiet house and try to figure out what to do with the rest of my life.
Or, I might stay and help out at the school. Why not? It's not like I have anywhere else I have to be, and kindergarten classes always need help.
She had a great time, though, and was excited to be there and to meet her teacher and to see the classroom and to meet some of the kids (about half of her class was there for our session, and the other half went later in the day). Her teacher told them, "I'm very excited for this school year and I hope you are too." And Ruby said, "I'm SO excited!" And she sure meant it!
She got to play on the playground, which she loved (they have a huge, huge sandbox under a big leafy tree, it's round and goes all the way around the tree) and she was happy. We made sure to take off her shoes carefully and dump them outside so we wouldn't get sand in the carpet. Even though she said, "I don't mind sand in my carpet."
So that's what happened today. I'm not sure how I'll be tomorrow. She's so happy and excited to be in school, it's hard to be sad about it when she's around. But, I suppose I'll have a good cry when I get home.
Here she is looking all cute with her backpack.
And here she is in class making her little apple with her name on it.
I didn't get any pictures of Sam on the first day, because as soon as we got to the school, he jumped out of the car and said, "See ya!" and took off. Ah well.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Photo Catch-up
A few pictures from this summer.
Ruby lost her first tooth and this picture turned out to be the best one. It's actually fabulous.
The kids spent a great deal of time in the pool this summer, which is as it should be. Kids should spend as much time as possible as wet as possible during the summer.
Squig would love another five weeks of this:
Those orange goggles.
Bathing beauty.
We went to the all-you-can-eat-ice-cream day at the Sacramento Zoo. We also had hot dogs. I liked this picture of Squig. She didn't want me to take her picture, so I had to catch her off guard.
A face covered in ice cream. When your kids tell you they can't eat any more ice cream, it's time to go home.
This is Kevin. You may have seen him in the movie Up. This is the bird they modeled Kevin after. This bird's name is not actually Kevin. The docent told us that the animators came to the Sac. Zoo and drew this bird for the movie.
This is the sign for him, so you can see what he is.
Ruby lost her first tooth and this picture turned out to be the best one. It's actually fabulous.
The kids spent a great deal of time in the pool this summer, which is as it should be. Kids should spend as much time as possible as wet as possible during the summer.
Squig would love another five weeks of this:
Those orange goggles.
Bathing beauty.
We went to the all-you-can-eat-ice-cream day at the Sacramento Zoo. We also had hot dogs. I liked this picture of Squig. She didn't want me to take her picture, so I had to catch her off guard.
A face covered in ice cream. When your kids tell you they can't eat any more ice cream, it's time to go home.
This is Kevin. You may have seen him in the movie Up. This is the bird they modeled Kevin after. This bird's name is not actually Kevin. The docent told us that the animators came to the Sac. Zoo and drew this bird for the movie.
This is the sign for him, so you can see what he is.
Old Hat, New Hat, Gray Hat, Blue Hat
So, I finally got a new Red Sox hat. I was hoping someone would give me one. Particularly someone who was complaining about the state of my old hat. Anyway, you can really see how old, worn out, stained and faded the old one is. I think the old one was a little faded to begin with, as is the new one. It's now my work hat, and the new one is my wear in public hat. The California sun is really tough on color dyes.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Monday, Monday, ahh, ahh, ahhh-ah-ahhhh
Today we all slept in late. It was supposed to be 7:00 a.m. wake-up day in the "getting back to school wake-up time" plan. We woke up after 8:30 a.m. I was surprised to find John still in bed. He said he wasn't feeling well and would rest until he could get up and work from home. Which he did.
Ruby woke up first, and was so good. She got a book and sat quietly in the living room waiting for Becah and Tini to wake up. Instead of peeling back Becah's eyelids to see if she was awake--as she used to do.
We spent the morning in the kitchen, baking cookies for a care package for Steffy and prepping for a fresh peach pie made from really fresh peaches. After lunch we spent a couple of hours in the pool with the kids. It felt really good. It was so hot today. 101 at least.
While we were out at the pool, we decided to cut the pie and John joined us for a quick break and we ate around the pool. That pie was something else. So, so good. Tini makes good crust and Gwum has a fantastic pie recipe!
After swimming we came in and played Rockband. So much fun! I took a couple of pictures and some video, but someone might kill me if I post them. We were able to draw John out and he joined in on a couple of songs. Good times, good times.
And that was Monday. Becah and Tini left to go back to the bay area and we're going to throw some trout on the grill in a minute here for a quick light dinner. Mmmmmmmm.
Ruby woke up first, and was so good. She got a book and sat quietly in the living room waiting for Becah and Tini to wake up. Instead of peeling back Becah's eyelids to see if she was awake--as she used to do.
We spent the morning in the kitchen, baking cookies for a care package for Steffy and prepping for a fresh peach pie made from really fresh peaches. After lunch we spent a couple of hours in the pool with the kids. It felt really good. It was so hot today. 101 at least.
While we were out at the pool, we decided to cut the pie and John joined us for a quick break and we ate around the pool. That pie was something else. So, so good. Tini makes good crust and Gwum has a fantastic pie recipe!
After swimming we came in and played Rockband. So much fun! I took a couple of pictures and some video, but someone might kill me if I post them. We were able to draw John out and he joined in on a couple of songs. Good times, good times.
And that was Monday. Becah and Tini left to go back to the bay area and we're going to throw some trout on the grill in a minute here for a quick light dinner. Mmmmmmmm.
Awwww, Crap.
Missed a day. Sunday was a very busy day.
After church Tini and Becah came to visit and we were very busy doing stuff with them. We had a fun dinner with steak, roasted red potatoes and a green bean and tomato salad (beans from the farmer's market and tomatoes from the garden). There was a rocking game of Pictionary involved and later, after the kids were in bed, an even more rocking round of The Farming Game. I came in last. It was John, Tini, Becah and me. And Tini was playing half asleep.
So, this is my Sunday post. I'll do better in the future. My life is not usually this exciting.
After church Tini and Becah came to visit and we were very busy doing stuff with them. We had a fun dinner with steak, roasted red potatoes and a green bean and tomato salad (beans from the farmer's market and tomatoes from the garden). There was a rocking game of Pictionary involved and later, after the kids were in bed, an even more rocking round of The Farming Game. I came in last. It was John, Tini, Becah and me. And Tini was playing half asleep.
So, this is my Sunday post. I'll do better in the future. My life is not usually this exciting.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Some days, I just hate being the mom.
Today we had a good sized box that found itself empty. Ruby saw this box and asked very nicely if she could have it to make it her special boat. I told her she could, but she had to still help out and do the stuff she needed to do. She agreed and spent some time making the box into a hideout (I guess she changed from the boat idea.)
Later, much later, I asked her to start folding her clothes. I asked her to start by folding 10 things and then let me know and I'd give her another number. This is how we usually do it, then she doesn't feel intimidated by a big old pile of clothes. Well, today she folded one thing then started whining. First she was tired, then she was hungry, then her legs were tired, then her legs were floppy. All her regular excuses to not do anything. I told her she could have a nap when she was done, have a snack when she was done and she could sit down to fold the clothes (this was just after lunch and she doesn't even take naps anymore).
And then she decided to just stop. And whine. So I sent her to time out. And she decided to get into a battle of wills about going to time out. Which then turned into a full-out screaming tantrum. And if there is one thing I cannot stand, it's a tantrum. Tantrums always lead to extra-long time outs. She had to burn herself out screaming in time out, then she had to have a time out for screaming at me. Extra Long. Anyway, at some point in the battle of wills, she got her box taken away. I took it and put it in the recycling, which is in the garage.
Later, when she was calmed down and back to folding clothes (she also lost the folding game and now just had to fold them all on her own) she made a comment about the box being in the car. I mentioned that it wasn't in the car, that it was in the recycling.
She looked down at the floor, then looked up at me with teary eyes and a trembling chin and with her hands on her hips she said, "Well, that is just a big waste of a box!"
I mean really, how am I supposed to respond to that?
Later, much later, I asked her to start folding her clothes. I asked her to start by folding 10 things and then let me know and I'd give her another number. This is how we usually do it, then she doesn't feel intimidated by a big old pile of clothes. Well, today she folded one thing then started whining. First she was tired, then she was hungry, then her legs were tired, then her legs were floppy. All her regular excuses to not do anything. I told her she could have a nap when she was done, have a snack when she was done and she could sit down to fold the clothes (this was just after lunch and she doesn't even take naps anymore).
And then she decided to just stop. And whine. So I sent her to time out. And she decided to get into a battle of wills about going to time out. Which then turned into a full-out screaming tantrum. And if there is one thing I cannot stand, it's a tantrum. Tantrums always lead to extra-long time outs. She had to burn herself out screaming in time out, then she had to have a time out for screaming at me. Extra Long. Anyway, at some point in the battle of wills, she got her box taken away. I took it and put it in the recycling, which is in the garage.
Later, when she was calmed down and back to folding clothes (she also lost the folding game and now just had to fold them all on her own) she made a comment about the box being in the car. I mentioned that it wasn't in the car, that it was in the recycling.
She looked down at the floor, then looked up at me with teary eyes and a trembling chin and with her hands on her hips she said, "Well, that is just a big waste of a box!"
I mean really, how am I supposed to respond to that?
Friday, August 7, 2009
Goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo, how 'bout you, you, you. . .
Today the kids and I drove out to Oakland to meet up at the zoo with Tini and Becah. We had a loverly time.
Becah wins the MacGuyver Award for cutting up a pantiliner to cushion Ruby's shoe straps when they started rubbing on her foot the wrong way. They stayed put after the band-aids we got from a day camp group wore off, and she was fine for the rest of the day. Next time, everyone wears sneakers with socks.
Tini wins the Poor Spatial Judgement Award for thinking that Becah, Squig and I could all fit comfortably in the sky tram seat. We didn't. We're hippy. Looking at them sitting comfortably behind us, the seat with Tini, Sam and Ruby had enough room for another Ruby. Poo. If only we'd stayed with Becah's suggestion that the tram seat with two adults would also have the smallest kid. . .
We did manage to pop ourselves out in barely enough time to not get run over by the seat as it went by. But just barely, the attendant warned us to move faster or we'd get hit.
We'll have to go back sometime so the kids can just run around and climb on things, since that seems to be what they really, really wanted to do. At one point, one of the kids even said they'd rather play on the fun stuff instead of looking at the "boring" animals. What??? They have African elephants! Three of them! That's the best thing at a zoo. Sheesh.
Anyway, we went to the zoo and had a nice day. We took a couple of pictures, but I'm not entirely sure where my camera is right now. Maybe I'll save that for tomorrow's post.
Becah wins the MacGuyver Award for cutting up a pantiliner to cushion Ruby's shoe straps when they started rubbing on her foot the wrong way. They stayed put after the band-aids we got from a day camp group wore off, and she was fine for the rest of the day. Next time, everyone wears sneakers with socks.
Tini wins the Poor Spatial Judgement Award for thinking that Becah, Squig and I could all fit comfortably in the sky tram seat. We didn't. We're hippy. Looking at them sitting comfortably behind us, the seat with Tini, Sam and Ruby had enough room for another Ruby. Poo. If only we'd stayed with Becah's suggestion that the tram seat with two adults would also have the smallest kid. . .
We did manage to pop ourselves out in barely enough time to not get run over by the seat as it went by. But just barely, the attendant warned us to move faster or we'd get hit.
We'll have to go back sometime so the kids can just run around and climb on things, since that seems to be what they really, really wanted to do. At one point, one of the kids even said they'd rather play on the fun stuff instead of looking at the "boring" animals. What??? They have African elephants! Three of them! That's the best thing at a zoo. Sheesh.
Anyway, we went to the zoo and had a nice day. We took a couple of pictures, but I'm not entirely sure where my camera is right now. Maybe I'll save that for tomorrow's post.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Personal Chefs
As a mother, I believe one of my primary responsibilities is to prepare my children to function independently in the real world. And one of the most important skills they need for that, is to be able to plan and prepare decent meals.
And so, the past couple of weeks, I've assigned each kid one dinner meal that they have to plan and prepare. I gave them a little sheet I made up that lists what they should consider for a balanced meal: a main dish (which often includes meat, but doesn't have to), a side dish (potatoes, rice, something like that), a vegetable dish and if they want (du-uh) a dessert. I had them plan out their meals and then I looked over them and helped them adjust where needed.
This week, Squigs made a tuna pasta salad using tomatoes from our garden with deviled eggs and sliced cucumbers. Sam made spaghetti with homemade parmesan breadsticks (he had planned to also have sliced cukes, but we ran out and I forgot to buy enough), and tonight Ruby made hot dogs with tater tots and sliced cucumbers. My kids really like cucumbers.
Squig did her meal all on her own with me hanging around to offer advice when needed. Sam needed more hands-on because we were dealing with a big huge pot of boiling water, but he did the breadsticks by himself after I showed him what to do and he kept an eye on them and he stirred the spaghetti (I drained it, no time for water burns) and cooked the sauce. I helped him melt the butter to brush on the top of the breadsticks and helped him get the parmesan into the grater, but he put them together. We used Trader Joe's pizza dough--quick, easy and painless. Ruby peeled and sliced the cucumbers herself, put the tater tots on the pan, put the hot dogs in a pot and filled it with water. I did all the hot stuff. She was so proud of herself.
They each had to set the table and had to help serve and everyone helped clean up.
I think it worked well, and I might have them do it now and then during school. Maybe they can rotate once a week so they only have to do it once every three weeks. It's so hard just to get dinner on time once school starts, with all the crazy schedules everyone has. I encouraged them to start with simple meals that didn't take a lot of fancy skills, but teach important things about boiling and simmering, baking, mixing, etc. Eventually we'll move on to baking (actually, Squig could handle that with no problem, she can already bake out of a mix--in fact, she had a friend over this afternoon and they made brownies.) Last week Sam made hot dogs, but he grilled his. Ruby is too short to be messing with the grill, so she boiled hers.
Anyway, we'll definitely be doing this next summer, with each of them doing one meal each week, and we'll do more with them helping to shop, too. I only wish I had thought of this earlier in the summer!
And so, the past couple of weeks, I've assigned each kid one dinner meal that they have to plan and prepare. I gave them a little sheet I made up that lists what they should consider for a balanced meal: a main dish (which often includes meat, but doesn't have to), a side dish (potatoes, rice, something like that), a vegetable dish and if they want (du-uh) a dessert. I had them plan out their meals and then I looked over them and helped them adjust where needed.
This week, Squigs made a tuna pasta salad using tomatoes from our garden with deviled eggs and sliced cucumbers. Sam made spaghetti with homemade parmesan breadsticks (he had planned to also have sliced cukes, but we ran out and I forgot to buy enough), and tonight Ruby made hot dogs with tater tots and sliced cucumbers. My kids really like cucumbers.
Squig did her meal all on her own with me hanging around to offer advice when needed. Sam needed more hands-on because we were dealing with a big huge pot of boiling water, but he did the breadsticks by himself after I showed him what to do and he kept an eye on them and he stirred the spaghetti (I drained it, no time for water burns) and cooked the sauce. I helped him melt the butter to brush on the top of the breadsticks and helped him get the parmesan into the grater, but he put them together. We used Trader Joe's pizza dough--quick, easy and painless. Ruby peeled and sliced the cucumbers herself, put the tater tots on the pan, put the hot dogs in a pot and filled it with water. I did all the hot stuff. She was so proud of herself.
They each had to set the table and had to help serve and everyone helped clean up.
I think it worked well, and I might have them do it now and then during school. Maybe they can rotate once a week so they only have to do it once every three weeks. It's so hard just to get dinner on time once school starts, with all the crazy schedules everyone has. I encouraged them to start with simple meals that didn't take a lot of fancy skills, but teach important things about boiling and simmering, baking, mixing, etc. Eventually we'll move on to baking (actually, Squig could handle that with no problem, she can already bake out of a mix--in fact, she had a friend over this afternoon and they made brownies.) Last week Sam made hot dogs, but he grilled his. Ruby is too short to be messing with the grill, so she boiled hers.
Anyway, we'll definitely be doing this next summer, with each of them doing one meal each week, and we'll do more with them helping to shop, too. I only wish I had thought of this earlier in the summer!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
At the middle school they have a day about a week before school for the kids to come and get their schedules and their books and they can buy gym clothes and sign up for various things. They call it L.E.A.P. which stands for something, but I can't remember what.
Anyway, today was L.E.A.P., so the Squig and I went down to the school to get her all set up. It's always fun to go places with her, just the two of us, and joke around while waiting (and waiting, and waiting) in line. We had a nice time. Her two best friends were there, as were various other friends. She seems to have a good schedule for next year and she's getting to be a little excited about getting back to school, even though she'd much rather sit around on her bed reading books for another five months.
This evening, for her church young women's activity, they're going to a Habitat for Humanity site to do some clean up. Kids under 14 are not allowed to be on a site where construction is still going on, so they can pretty much just do clean up at that age.
And after filling out her permission slip to go, it got me thinking that volunteering for Habitat might be a fun thing to do this next school year. They have lots of opportunities, from construction work (fun!) to office work (eh) to working in the Re-Store, which is their re-sale shop (hmmmm). I think it might be fun to work in the re-sale shop, and a good way to keep an eye on new stuff coming in!
We're planning on going down there to check it out and see what kinds of things they might have that we can use for a much-needed bathroom remodel. It's one of those, well, we have to replace the toilet, so we might as well redo the floor while the toilet's out, and if we're going to redo the floor, we should paint the cabinets while the floor's up, and if we're going to paint the cabinets, we should replace the counter so they look nice together, and if we replace the counter, we have to replace the sinks and faucets and before you know it, you have a bathroom remodel. I'd really like to replace the tub too, but the tub alone costs half what the rest of the bathroom would cost to re-do.
Anyway, that's one more idea for things for me to do this next school year.
Anyway, today was L.E.A.P., so the Squig and I went down to the school to get her all set up. It's always fun to go places with her, just the two of us, and joke around while waiting (and waiting, and waiting) in line. We had a nice time. Her two best friends were there, as were various other friends. She seems to have a good schedule for next year and she's getting to be a little excited about getting back to school, even though she'd much rather sit around on her bed reading books for another five months.
This evening, for her church young women's activity, they're going to a Habitat for Humanity site to do some clean up. Kids under 14 are not allowed to be on a site where construction is still going on, so they can pretty much just do clean up at that age.
And after filling out her permission slip to go, it got me thinking that volunteering for Habitat might be a fun thing to do this next school year. They have lots of opportunities, from construction work (fun!) to office work (eh) to working in the Re-Store, which is their re-sale shop (hmmmm). I think it might be fun to work in the re-sale shop, and a good way to keep an eye on new stuff coming in!
We're planning on going down there to check it out and see what kinds of things they might have that we can use for a much-needed bathroom remodel. It's one of those, well, we have to replace the toilet, so we might as well redo the floor while the toilet's out, and if we're going to redo the floor, we should paint the cabinets while the floor's up, and if we're going to paint the cabinets, we should replace the counter so they look nice together, and if we replace the counter, we have to replace the sinks and faucets and before you know it, you have a bathroom remodel. I'd really like to replace the tub too, but the tub alone costs half what the rest of the bathroom would cost to re-do.
Anyway, that's one more idea for things for me to do this next school year.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Bookworms
Well, we went to the library today. It's not our normal library day, but I had a book on hold that was expiring today, so we went.
It was pretty uneventful, except that with the amount we paid in overdue fines, they should name a wing of the library after us. Sam forgot his reading log for the summer reading program and tried to sweet-talk the librarian into letting him pick a prize anyway. It didn't work. Hopefully he finds it soon, because the last day to pick up prizes is the 15th.
Ruby also started soccer practice today.
This blog-a-day is going to kill me if my life doesn't get more exciting. I'm thinking of re-arranging all the furniture in the living room and kitchen and re-purposing some areas. That might be exciting. It would work better if we had new floors in the living room and kitchen. Some day, some day. I really hate these tile floors. I liked them when we looked at the house, but they're hard to clean and they're hard on your feet. I have to wear shoes around all the time or I get back aches and my heels hurt. It's that orangey mexican tile. It's going to be a bear to rip out. But it will be worth it.
It was pretty uneventful, except that with the amount we paid in overdue fines, they should name a wing of the library after us. Sam forgot his reading log for the summer reading program and tried to sweet-talk the librarian into letting him pick a prize anyway. It didn't work. Hopefully he finds it soon, because the last day to pick up prizes is the 15th.
Ruby also started soccer practice today.
This blog-a-day is going to kill me if my life doesn't get more exciting. I'm thinking of re-arranging all the furniture in the living room and kitchen and re-purposing some areas. That might be exciting. It would work better if we had new floors in the living room and kitchen. Some day, some day. I really hate these tile floors. I liked them when we looked at the house, but they're hard to clean and they're hard on your feet. I have to wear shoes around all the time or I get back aches and my heels hurt. It's that orangey mexican tile. It's going to be a bear to rip out. But it will be worth it.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Kisses?
On the way home from the dentist today with Squig and Sam, Sammy Hagar's song "There's Only One Way to Rock" came on the radio and I said, "Five Points if you can tell me who sings this".
Sam said, "Uh, Kisses?"
I'm thinking, Whaaaaat???
After a minute I figured it out, "Do you mean KISS? There's a band called KISS."
He said, "Oh. I thought they were called Kisses."
I just had to laugh.
Sam said, "Uh, Kisses?"
I'm thinking, Whaaaaat???
After a minute I figured it out, "Do you mean KISS? There's a band called KISS."
He said, "Oh. I thought they were called Kisses."
I just had to laugh.
Not Sure This Counts
Technically, it's August 3rd, because it's past midnight, but since I haven't been to bed yet, it's still Sunday to me. So, I'm counting this as the official Day 2 entry of the August Blog-a-day.
There is just a whole lotta nothin' to write about today. We went to church, we came home, couple of naps, dinner, and then bed.
Oh, John did make a nice dinner for us.
And I've been working on cleaning all the junk off of John's old laptop so I can use it. He doesn't even know what a lot of these programs are for. So, why are they on the computer? The world will never know.
I sure wish my life was just a little more interesting. Lots going on this week, so that should help.
There is just a whole lotta nothin' to write about today. We went to church, we came home, couple of naps, dinner, and then bed.
Oh, John did make a nice dinner for us.
And I've been working on cleaning all the junk off of John's old laptop so I can use it. He doesn't even know what a lot of these programs are for. So, why are they on the computer? The world will never know.
I sure wish my life was just a little more interesting. Lots going on this week, so that should help.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
The Official Premier of the August Blog-A-Day
And here we go!
Today we picked a ton of tomatoes. We got one big huge "Speckled Roma", three of some sort that I don't remember planting, but they look like a kind of black tomato, possibly a Krim, and a basket of cherry tomatoes of various sizes and colors. I ate one of the black tomatoes for lunch. Leftover chicken and a tomato. Tasty.
This evening I took the girls to see G-Force, the guinea pig movie. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and had a very streamlined plot. It was basically Mission Impossible: For Kids. But the girls loved it. The guys went to a Giants game in San Francisco tonight, so I thought we'd do something fun.
And we're off to a good start for the August Blog-A-Day. Now if I can just remember to write every day, we'll be in good shape!
Today we picked a ton of tomatoes. We got one big huge "Speckled Roma", three of some sort that I don't remember planting, but they look like a kind of black tomato, possibly a Krim, and a basket of cherry tomatoes of various sizes and colors. I ate one of the black tomatoes for lunch. Leftover chicken and a tomato. Tasty.
This evening I took the girls to see G-Force, the guinea pig movie. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and had a very streamlined plot. It was basically Mission Impossible: For Kids. But the girls loved it. The guys went to a Giants game in San Francisco tonight, so I thought we'd do something fun.
And we're off to a good start for the August Blog-A-Day. Now if I can just remember to write every day, we'll be in good shape!
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