What on *earth* has my son been eating the past few days? Ewwwwwwww.
So our fish are doing great. So are the frogs, Junior and Steve. Violet also finally named the guppy. Zack. Of course the Neons are Silly, Pilly, Willy, and Killy. Where on earth does she come up with these names??
I've been working a scrapping convention here in town called Memory Trends. It's one of the largest trade shows in the industry, and there were many many big named people there and I made loads of connections. I worked for a booth called Michael Miller Memories. They have treated fabrics that act just like paper (can be trimmed, die cut, run through the printer, etc), but give your pages the look and feel of fabric. SUCH cool stuff! I had a ball playing around and experimenting with their stuff. They liked me, too... and asked if I would be willing to teach at consumer conventions such as CKU or Camp Memory Makers. This might be a very cool career opportunity for me! I am pretty jazzed.
So I am trying to settle back into the routine of being Mom again. It's been tough working the past three days... I don't envy those moms that do it on a regular basis. I missed those kiddos (although it was nice not to have to change diapers or clean up after their messes for awhile! LOL!)
More later... after I take a little nap... :)
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Friday, September 24, 2004
It was only a matter of time...
Riley learned something new today!
I should preface it with the "something new" he learned last weekend. How to open the fridge. So I should have known it was only a matter of time before he mastered his latest trick, although Violet never did such things. What is up with that? Why are boys and girls so very different? Why do I have to worry every single second when I can't hear my son that he's on top of a counter or a cabinet or a sink or a fridge? He's been caught "helping" plunge the toilet, getting himself "drinks" out of the toilet, "helping" put the entire tube of toothpaste on his toothbrush and the counter and the floor and his clothes, "helping" feed the fish, "helping" mix dog food with dog water, eating said dog food/dog water, "helping" get drinks from our water dispenser in the garage and subsequently nearly flooding it with five gallons of warm and cool running water, "helping" pick the unripe veggies from the garden, "helping" change his own poopie diapers (yes, that one was a *real* treat), and oh, so many more fun things.
Where was I?
Oh, right. The new trick.
He knows how to crack eggs.
On the kitchen floor.
He practiced with a dozen this morning. Eight at one time, and four more a little later.
Have I mentioned that egg white is verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry slippery? Well, it is.
I think he will be a chef someday.
I should preface it with the "something new" he learned last weekend. How to open the fridge. So I should have known it was only a matter of time before he mastered his latest trick, although Violet never did such things. What is up with that? Why are boys and girls so very different? Why do I have to worry every single second when I can't hear my son that he's on top of a counter or a cabinet or a sink or a fridge? He's been caught "helping" plunge the toilet, getting himself "drinks" out of the toilet, "helping" put the entire tube of toothpaste on his toothbrush and the counter and the floor and his clothes, "helping" feed the fish, "helping" mix dog food with dog water, eating said dog food/dog water, "helping" get drinks from our water dispenser in the garage and subsequently nearly flooding it with five gallons of warm and cool running water, "helping" pick the unripe veggies from the garden, "helping" change his own poopie diapers (yes, that one was a *real* treat), and oh, so many more fun things.
Where was I?
Oh, right. The new trick.
He knows how to crack eggs.
On the kitchen floor.
He practiced with a dozen this morning. Eight at one time, and four more a little later.
Have I mentioned that egg white is verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry slippery? Well, it is.
I think he will be a chef someday.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Again with the fish.
So while I was gone in Arizona the fish tank took a turn for the worse. The water started turning green and cloudy, and fish were dying. Rick, being the brilliant fishkeeper he is, bought more fish, which, of course, also died.
All that was left in the tank when I returned were the polka dotted platy (named "Silly Pilly") and the new frog Rick had just bought (named "Junior," again). We took a water sample to Petco and learned that the ammonia levels in the water were near dangerous (likely caused by Violet's overzealous feeding habits and the subsequent fish deaths). We were told to drain the tank, 1/4 tank at a time, while vacuuming the gravel to remove the food particles and fecal residue (mmmm feces). We also added a little cup with sea salt in there that would help reduce the ammonia levels and soften the water, since Vegas water is so hard.
It took two full days, but the tank was once again clean and the fish and frog were happy. I was set to go out and get a couple more fish for Violet soon. Then last night as Rick and I enjoyed a quiet evening while the children were playing upstairs, his Spidey sense started tingling. "The kids are too quiet. I'll go check on them."
Upon arriving upstairs in Violet's room, he found Riley standing atop her dresser with an empty can of fish food, which had dumped all over the dresser and floor and in the tank. What we think happened was that he got up there and found the can, unscrewing the lid, which caused the food to go everywhere. In an effort to clean up, he was scooping it back up in the jar and pouring it into the tank.
Yep, that same tank I just had to clean due to the whole "overfeeding" thing.
This time, however, the tank was full of not just flakes but LOTS of crushed powdery food, which reeeeeeeallly clouded it up. We vacuumed the gravel about six times and were pretty confident we got it all, but as the evening wore on the tank got cloudier and cloudier. By morning, Silly Pilly was gone. Junior was still enjoying the tank, though. Strange little froggy.
I went back to the fish store. The ammonia levels were now officially "off the charts." The manager recommended a full tank cleaning. I scooped Junior out (took a few tries - that little bugger can really jump!), and put him in a bucket. I emptied the tank, cleaned out the filter completely (there was some naaaaaaaaasty film in there), cleaned the rocks, and set everything back up.
In the living room, on the niche shelf.
FARRRRRRRR away from Riley's grasp.
Junior seems to be enjoying his new environment.
We got a few more fish, including another froggy friend for Junior.
The tank is clean and clear.
For now.
All that was left in the tank when I returned were the polka dotted platy (named "Silly Pilly") and the new frog Rick had just bought (named "Junior," again). We took a water sample to Petco and learned that the ammonia levels in the water were near dangerous (likely caused by Violet's overzealous feeding habits and the subsequent fish deaths). We were told to drain the tank, 1/4 tank at a time, while vacuuming the gravel to remove the food particles and fecal residue (mmmm feces). We also added a little cup with sea salt in there that would help reduce the ammonia levels and soften the water, since Vegas water is so hard.
It took two full days, but the tank was once again clean and the fish and frog were happy. I was set to go out and get a couple more fish for Violet soon. Then last night as Rick and I enjoyed a quiet evening while the children were playing upstairs, his Spidey sense started tingling. "The kids are too quiet. I'll go check on them."
Upon arriving upstairs in Violet's room, he found Riley standing atop her dresser with an empty can of fish food, which had dumped all over the dresser and floor and in the tank. What we think happened was that he got up there and found the can, unscrewing the lid, which caused the food to go everywhere. In an effort to clean up, he was scooping it back up in the jar and pouring it into the tank.
Yep, that same tank I just had to clean due to the whole "overfeeding" thing.
This time, however, the tank was full of not just flakes but LOTS of crushed powdery food, which reeeeeeeallly clouded it up. We vacuumed the gravel about six times and were pretty confident we got it all, but as the evening wore on the tank got cloudier and cloudier. By morning, Silly Pilly was gone. Junior was still enjoying the tank, though. Strange little froggy.
I went back to the fish store. The ammonia levels were now officially "off the charts." The manager recommended a full tank cleaning. I scooped Junior out (took a few tries - that little bugger can really jump!), and put him in a bucket. I emptied the tank, cleaned out the filter completely (there was some naaaaaaaaasty film in there), cleaned the rocks, and set everything back up.
In the living room, on the niche shelf.
FARRRRRRRR away from Riley's grasp.
Junior seems to be enjoying his new environment.
We got a few more fish, including another froggy friend for Junior.
The tank is clean and clear.
For now.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Refreshed... renewed...
It's amazing how just a weekend away can change your perspective. I am more patient, less frustrated at the things that a mere week ago were driving me up the wall. I appreciate the creativity of my children and the hard work of my husband. I especially appreciate the comfiness of my own bed! :)
The trip was a lot of fun... especially when I became, for a couple days anyway, a part of a very exciting artists' community. Talking to these artists and feeding off their energy and creativity was soooo great. I was inspired many times over and came back with a renewed sense of why I scrapbook... I do it for the love of the ART. New friendships were forged adn older ones were strengthened. All in all, it was a fantastic experience!
The trip was a lot of fun... especially when I became, for a couple days anyway, a part of a very exciting artists' community. Talking to these artists and feeding off their energy and creativity was soooo great. I was inspired many times over and came back with a renewed sense of why I scrapbook... I do it for the love of the ART. New friendships were forged adn older ones were strengthened. All in all, it was a fantastic experience!
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
I cannot *WAIT* for the weekend.
So my son was in the dog's food and water dishes again today. With a cup. Mixing food and water. Everywhere. Rick made him get a towel and clean it up and it was cute, so I got out the camera. Of course as soon as Riley saw the camera he was done cleaning.
"Chee, mama! Chee, mama!"
At least I have him trained well.
So I set the camera on the counter out of his reach so taht I could take a couple more photos later after he got back into cleaning. I go into the other room for a couple of seconds. In this time he has found some BUCKET somewhere, plopped it upside down next to the counter, stood on it and GOT MY CAMERA.
And
he
DROPPED
it.
On the tile.
It landed on the top where the hot shoe for the external flash is located and bent in one of the brackets. I kinda pried it back out, but I won't know if my efforts were worth it until I try to actually attach an external flash. Since I don't have one, well, I'll just have to make do with the flash that's on the camera right now, thanks.
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE, I ask?!!
Maybe this is God's way of telling me not to be so focused on material things.
If so, that's REALLY LAME WAY OF DOING IT!!
:p
"Chee, mama! Chee, mama!"
At least I have him trained well.
So I set the camera on the counter out of his reach so taht I could take a couple more photos later after he got back into cleaning. I go into the other room for a couple of seconds. In this time he has found some BUCKET somewhere, plopped it upside down next to the counter, stood on it and GOT MY CAMERA.
And
he
DROPPED
it.
On the tile.
It landed on the top where the hot shoe for the external flash is located and bent in one of the brackets. I kinda pried it back out, but I won't know if my efforts were worth it until I try to actually attach an external flash. Since I don't have one, well, I'll just have to make do with the flash that's on the camera right now, thanks.
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE, I ask?!!
Maybe this is God's way of telling me not to be so focused on material things.
If so, that's REALLY LAME WAY OF DOING IT!!
:p
Saturday, September 11, 2004
I'm getting old.
Ta-da! Here is me!
My headshot for the Memory Makers Masters article:
Rick took the photo (yay Rick!). Does it look too "Mom-Jeans?" I don't want to look like an old lady. I want to be cute. But when I look at this photo all I see is my wrinkles around my eyes (when did *THOSE* appear??), the flyaway hair, that mole next to my nose I want to have removed, and the fact that I could stand to lose about 20 pounds. Why can't I be cute and young like Liane? ::sigh::
My headshot for the Memory Makers Masters article:
Rick took the photo (yay Rick!). Does it look too "Mom-Jeans?" I don't want to look like an old lady. I want to be cute. But when I look at this photo all I see is my wrinkles around my eyes (when did *THOSE* appear??), the flyaway hair, that mole next to my nose I want to have removed, and the fact that I could stand to lose about 20 pounds. Why can't I be cute and young like Liane? ::sigh::
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Stairs and Boo-boos
So Violet discovered that if she gets in her sleeping bag and slides down the stairs it's REALLY FUN and REALLY FAST. Riley stood at the top of the stairs and belly-laughed as Violet slid down in her little vinyl cocoon, climbed back up, and did it again. Over and over. Then one time Riley climbed in with her. The sliding... the laughing... over and over and over and over. At least 20 times. They are asleep now... hopefully for the entire night.
In just over a week I will be going to Arizona for a long weekend with some friends. Sans kids. Riley will be sans boo-boos for three nights. We've been slowly weaning, but Riley still hasn't fully given up on the deal. Naptime and bedtime I usually give in. It's so much easier than a crying baby. Of course he seems to do fine as long as the boo-boos aren't in the house. So hopefully Rick will be alright dealing with a not-quite-ready-to-be-done-nursing baby.
I'm a little melancholy about the whole thing. I love nursing my son but it's becoming a burden for me. I want it to end on a good note - I don't want it to be a bitter battle. I want my nursing memories to all be happy ones. But I also don't want to end it before he's ready. I really think he's ready, though. He's really just doing it cause my boo-boos are THERE, not cause he needs them. Of course, if I come back after the weekend and he asks for them, I probably will oblige. After all, he's my last baby and once I am done nursing him, I am done. Forever.
In just over a week I will be going to Arizona for a long weekend with some friends. Sans kids. Riley will be sans boo-boos for three nights. We've been slowly weaning, but Riley still hasn't fully given up on the deal. Naptime and bedtime I usually give in. It's so much easier than a crying baby. Of course he seems to do fine as long as the boo-boos aren't in the house. So hopefully Rick will be alright dealing with a not-quite-ready-to-be-done-nursing baby.
I'm a little melancholy about the whole thing. I love nursing my son but it's becoming a burden for me. I want it to end on a good note - I don't want it to be a bitter battle. I want my nursing memories to all be happy ones. But I also don't want to end it before he's ready. I really think he's ready, though. He's really just doing it cause my boo-boos are THERE, not cause he needs them. Of course, if I come back after the weekend and he asks for them, I probably will oblige. After all, he's my last baby and once I am done nursing him, I am done. Forever.
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
my kids
cause they are cute :)
Actually I need to do a headshot for this Memory Makers thing, and I am seeing if I can do a simple garage photo shoot. The way you do it is by opening the garage and letting the natural light be your lightsource. Mine was coming in from their left. I draped white fabric for the background and used another white sheet on their right as a reflector (probably didn't even need it). I did a few shots of the kids to see how it would work out. The entire shoot lasted about 3 minutes before Riley was thoroughly bored and began tearing down the backdrop. Here are some decent photos from the shoot though...
Riley and Violet goofing around
Violet, age 4
Riley, 19 months old
Not half bad for my first try! And this was still with the point and shoot. I have a couple rolls in with the SLR that are being developed right now. If those are halfway decent, then I'll really be thrilled!! Of course there's the whole problem of needing to lose about 25 pounds before I need to get these headshots done... LOL..
Actually I need to do a headshot for this Memory Makers thing, and I am seeing if I can do a simple garage photo shoot. The way you do it is by opening the garage and letting the natural light be your lightsource. Mine was coming in from their left. I draped white fabric for the background and used another white sheet on their right as a reflector (probably didn't even need it). I did a few shots of the kids to see how it would work out. The entire shoot lasted about 3 minutes before Riley was thoroughly bored and began tearing down the backdrop. Here are some decent photos from the shoot though...
Riley and Violet goofing around
Violet, age 4
Riley, 19 months old
Not half bad for my first try! And this was still with the point and shoot. I have a couple rolls in with the SLR that are being developed right now. If those are halfway decent, then I'll really be thrilled!! Of course there's the whole problem of needing to lose about 25 pounds before I need to get these headshots done... LOL..
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Point and Shoot No More
So yesterday morning Riley broke my camera. Who the &*%#)$# knows how... but it wouldn't open and kept shorting out (@@ LOVELY). I went to Wolf camera to see if it would be a simple repair, and they said standard repair on that type of camera would be 4-6 weeks and cost $129. (this camera was $150 NEW!!!) I told them I would decide what to do later. I grumbled out the door and into the car, thinking, we can't afford the digital camera I want right now... but I really don't want to spend the money to get a crappy digital, but I do eventually want to GO digital... but I just bought 18 rolls of 35mm film last week... and this was *SO* not in my plan!! ARRRGHHH.
Then I had to head to Sam's to drop off the film that was retrieved from the broken camera and pick up some prints I did the day before. When I walked in, Verna, one of the clerks was at the front of the photo lab at this tabletop display with various cameras. She asked how I was doing (did I mention that the entire staff at Sam's 1 hour photo knows me & my family on a first name basis? I am in there *quite* regularly). I told her about Riley and the camera incident and she said, "Have I got the solution for YOU!" She pulled a camera out from behind the table - a Canon Rebel TI. NOT digital, mind you, but a very good little SLR camera. It was originally $260 or something and was the last one and had been MARKED DOWN TO $110!! It was a much nicer camera and CHEAPER than if I had REPAIRED the Minolta! I decided to go ahead and get it (after all, I saved $20 on the deal, right?? LOL).
When I got home, I went into the computer room where Rick was and said, "So, I did something kinda dumb..."
To which he replied, irritated, "Show me the camera you bought."
"It's on the kitchen counter..."
Rick turned around incredulously, "I WAS JOKING!!!"
But once he saw it he agreed it's a mighty cool little unit. I think I will really enjoy it!
Then I had to head to Sam's to drop off the film that was retrieved from the broken camera and pick up some prints I did the day before. When I walked in, Verna, one of the clerks was at the front of the photo lab at this tabletop display with various cameras. She asked how I was doing (did I mention that the entire staff at Sam's 1 hour photo knows me & my family on a first name basis? I am in there *quite* regularly). I told her about Riley and the camera incident and she said, "Have I got the solution for YOU!" She pulled a camera out from behind the table - a Canon Rebel TI. NOT digital, mind you, but a very good little SLR camera. It was originally $260 or something and was the last one and had been MARKED DOWN TO $110!! It was a much nicer camera and CHEAPER than if I had REPAIRED the Minolta! I decided to go ahead and get it (after all, I saved $20 on the deal, right?? LOL).
When I got home, I went into the computer room where Rick was and said, "So, I did something kinda dumb..."
To which he replied, irritated, "Show me the camera you bought."
"It's on the kitchen counter..."
Rick turned around incredulously, "I WAS JOKING!!!"
But once he saw it he agreed it's a mighty cool little unit. I think I will really enjoy it!
Thursday, September 02, 2004
And the winners are...
So I guess I didn't have to worry after all...
And here's my "call story" LOL
So I heard the calls would go out around 9 a.m. Denver time (8 a.m.my time), so at about 7:30 I was obsessively stalking every messageboard I could think of, hitting refresh over & over & over & over... then at about 8:07 a.m. the first post showed up on 2Ps!! It was soooooo exciting and at that very moment my adrenaline went through the ROOF!!!! Last year they had called the winners alphabetically, so I was thinking if I *was* going to be called, it would be early. My kids asked if they could eat their breakfast outside on the playground in the backyard, and I was like, uh, sure... whatever!! LOL
I had just given them their cereal bowls when the phone rang.
My heart stopped.
Ring again.
I looked at the caller ID."Out of Area."
"Ohhhhhh Lord," I said out loud, "BREATHE."
I picked up the phone.
"Hello?"a voice that sounded as if it were on speakerphone said, "Is this Jessie?"
"YES, THIS IS JESSIE!"
"Jessie, this is Michelle Gerbrandt!"
"OHHHHHMYGOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! REALLY??!?!"
"Yes Jessie, and we just wanted to tell you..."
"OH MY GOSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
(laughter from many people on the other end...)
"We wanted to congratulate you on being selected as one of our 2005 Memory Makers Masters!"
"THAT is AWESOME!!!!! HAHA!!! I am SO EXCITED RIGHT NOW!!!!"
(more laughter, and cheers)
"Jessie, your entry was wonderful and inspiring and thoughtful, and we really loved it!"
"Thank you so much, OH MY GOSH DID YOU REALLY JUST CALL ME??!"
"Yes, congratulations again!"
There was more talking and other things such as someone would be contacting me and someone else will be emailing me and something about not posting online and something else and by this point my brain had completely stopped working and I was in a hazy fog of giddiness, pacing from living room to outside to kitchen to outside to living room again... and I hung up the phone and cheered a "WOOHOOOOOO!" once more.
Violet looked at me like I was insane and said, "what the heck just happened, Mommy?" LOL
I couldn't stop smiling all morning... then of course I got online and posted anonymously and realized seconds after I posted that I wasn't supposed to be posting at all (even anon) and I feared for the rest of the day that they would somehow figure it out and strip me of my title since I couldn't even follow the first freaking instruction they gave me.... so I really didn't breathe easily until I saw my name posted on the MM website!!! LOL!!!
And here's my "call story" LOL
So I heard the calls would go out around 9 a.m. Denver time (8 a.m.my time), so at about 7:30 I was obsessively stalking every messageboard I could think of, hitting refresh over & over & over & over... then at about 8:07 a.m. the first post showed up on 2Ps!! It was soooooo exciting and at that very moment my adrenaline went through the ROOF!!!! Last year they had called the winners alphabetically, so I was thinking if I *was* going to be called, it would be early. My kids asked if they could eat their breakfast outside on the playground in the backyard, and I was like, uh, sure... whatever!! LOL
I had just given them their cereal bowls when the phone rang.
My heart stopped.
Ring again.
I looked at the caller ID."Out of Area."
"Ohhhhhh Lord," I said out loud, "BREATHE."
I picked up the phone.
"Hello?"a voice that sounded as if it were on speakerphone said, "Is this Jessie?"
"YES, THIS IS JESSIE!"
"Jessie, this is Michelle Gerbrandt!"
"OHHHHHMYGOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! REALLY??!?!"
"Yes Jessie, and we just wanted to tell you..."
"OH MY GOSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
(laughter from many people on the other end...)
"We wanted to congratulate you on being selected as one of our 2005 Memory Makers Masters!"
"THAT is AWESOME!!!!! HAHA!!! I am SO EXCITED RIGHT NOW!!!!"
(more laughter, and cheers)
"Jessie, your entry was wonderful and inspiring and thoughtful, and we really loved it!"
"Thank you so much, OH MY GOSH DID YOU REALLY JUST CALL ME??!"
"Yes, congratulations again!"
There was more talking and other things such as someone would be contacting me and someone else will be emailing me and something about not posting online and something else and by this point my brain had completely stopped working and I was in a hazy fog of giddiness, pacing from living room to outside to kitchen to outside to living room again... and I hung up the phone and cheered a "WOOHOOOOOO!" once more.
Violet looked at me like I was insane and said, "what the heck just happened, Mommy?" LOL
I couldn't stop smiling all morning... then of course I got online and posted anonymously and realized seconds after I posted that I wasn't supposed to be posting at all (even anon) and I feared for the rest of the day that they would somehow figure it out and strip me of my title since I couldn't even follow the first freaking instruction they gave me.... so I really didn't breathe easily until I saw my name posted on the MM website!!! LOL!!!
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Heart palpitations.
So really I thought I was a pretty level-headed person.
But I am not.
I entered this contest called the Memory Makers Masters, which chooses 10 scrapbookers to work for the magazine as Masters for the year. Very prestigious honor. I entered the contest last month and I really think I have a pretty good chance at winning (although, really, I never win anything so I should really just stop the wishful thinking!). The winners are supposed to be called between the 31st of August and the 3rd of September. So chances are, the calls could be made today!! I have been avoiding doing anything of worth around the house, letting my children run amok, while I troll different Scrapbooking Websites to see if anyone has posted anonymously that the calls have begun. REALLY!!! I need to chill out. But my F5 key is nearly worn out from all the refreshing I have been doing.
I am thinking the calls will go out tomorrow. I've already eaten an entire Toblerone bar in anticipation. I am hoping to make it through the day without stopping at Dairy Queen for a brownie batter blizzard....mmmmmmmmm........
Must....stop....thinking.....about.....contest........... :p
But I am not.
I entered this contest called the Memory Makers Masters, which chooses 10 scrapbookers to work for the magazine as Masters for the year. Very prestigious honor. I entered the contest last month and I really think I have a pretty good chance at winning (although, really, I never win anything so I should really just stop the wishful thinking!). The winners are supposed to be called between the 31st of August and the 3rd of September. So chances are, the calls could be made today!! I have been avoiding doing anything of worth around the house, letting my children run amok, while I troll different Scrapbooking Websites to see if anyone has posted anonymously that the calls have begun. REALLY!!! I need to chill out. But my F5 key is nearly worn out from all the refreshing I have been doing.
I am thinking the calls will go out tomorrow. I've already eaten an entire Toblerone bar in anticipation. I am hoping to make it through the day without stopping at Dairy Queen for a brownie batter blizzard....mmmmmmmmm........
Must....stop....thinking.....about.....contest........... :p
Monday, August 30, 2004
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep
Our smoke detector downstairs is malfunctioning. I just replaced the battery last weekend, so I know it's not that. But something made it go off this afternoon while we all were in the living room watching TV. And no, it wasn't smoke. It beeped for about 10 seconds, then stopped. Then about 15 minutes later had one short beep. It's quiet now... but what the heck? I'll make Rick climb up the ladder and look at it later.
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Our First Casualty.
One of our guppies got a little too close to the filter intake and was trapped. I just noticed it tonight as I was feeding the fish.
I removed the guppy for a proper burial and prepared myself for the inevitable life-and-death discussion I would have with Violet.
While checking out her fish she asked, "Hey! Where's the one with the spotted tail?" and I told her what happened. Her eyes widened as I explained how the fish got caught and he couldn't get out, so I had to flush him. "I know, Mommy..." Violet said as she put her arm on my shoulder. "Let's go to Wal-Mart and get another one!!"
Kids. So easy to please. :)
I removed the guppy for a proper burial and prepared myself for the inevitable life-and-death discussion I would have with Violet.
While checking out her fish she asked, "Hey! Where's the one with the spotted tail?" and I told her what happened. Her eyes widened as I explained how the fish got caught and he couldn't get out, so I had to flush him. "I know, Mommy..." Violet said as she put her arm on my shoulder. "Let's go to Wal-Mart and get another one!!"
Kids. So easy to please. :)
Friday, August 27, 2004
I can have a do-over, right?
So yesterday was one of those days.
A day that, were I to describe it to you, would not be believable. Nor would you believe that it all took place within a single three hour span of time.
But it did.
After having a good night's sleep though, I *can* look back upon it and actually smile. Though it's one of those smiles that you see on the face of a mental health patient after they receive their meds. Which, by the way, I think I will need.
Here are the things that happened:
Violet decided she wanted her "teeth to grow" so she locked herself into the bathroom and applied Baby Orajel all over her mouth.
After explaining to Violet that this was NOT good, we called "the doctor" (Miss Valerie) to tell her how it is very dangerous to use medicine and she could have DIED.
While that phone call was taking place, Riley was at the fish tank, placing all Violet's ceramic tea set pieces into the water. Apparently the fish wanted tea.
I brought the kids downstairs, and noticed the living room floor hadn't been swept, so I went to work doing that. Violet and Riley went to the computer room to play Nick Jr.com, which is something they have done plenty of times before.
Violet came running out of the computer room: "Riley's playing with the SEEEEE-DEEEEEEs!!"
Sure enough, he had gotten into our computer CD collection and was trying to put ALL THE CDs into the computer at once and trying to force the door shut. NICE.
I shooed them out of the computer room and put away the CDs.
When I came out of the computer room, I find Riley, pen in hand, his legs covered in pen marks.
Which means pen marks are somewhere else.
So I find them - all over the wedding photos that Lisa and Mark sent us. Pretty little circles on each person's face.
He's so creative.
On a side note, I fould out that baby wipes do a great job cleaning pen ink off glossy photos.
Oh and yes. Riley pooped.
FOUR TIMES.
While I was throwing away one of the four diapers, Riley decided to help with the dishes.
He emptied all the silverware into the trash.
All of it.
Such a helper.
Violet, meanwhile, decided to build a fairy fort in the living room. So down from her bedroom came every blanket and pillow possible.
While I was making lunch, Riley found one of my teaching tools - a plastic tube with teeny tiny styrofoam balls inside that demonstrates static electricity - and opened it up. Little teeny tiny static balls were EVERYWHERE in the living room that had JUST been swept clean.
I sat the kids down to eat and gave them each a juice box. I needed to take a potty break.
I came out of the bathroom to see Riley in the middle of the living room, waving and shaking around the now empty juice box, whose contents are covering the living room floor, rug, couch, and little itty bitty styrofoam balls.
Violet decided to be a helper and get some toilet paper from the bathroom to clean up the mess.
That got boring, so she instead started to tear the toilet paper into shreds and toss it in the air: "like confetti, Mom!!"
It was at that moment, as the toilet-paper-confetti rained down upon me, that I lost control. I yelled. I screamed. I cried. I spanked. And I put both kids to bed in their rooms and threatened them with their lives if they came out.
And, within a minute, both children were asleep.
The house was peaceful, once again.
I did my best to clean up the mess. But I was emotionally exhausted too. I stretched out on the couch and took a nap. It lasted 30 minutes, and then Riley woke up.
And the cycle continued. Pens. Paper. Toys. Poop. Riley scooping large cupfuls of water out of the toilet and pouring them onto the bedroom floor.
I got a call from a magazine asking for me to do a layout on a very short deadline - something that was a *total* piece of cake! All I needed to do was scan and print a photo using the photo restoration button on the scanner. No problem, except I noticed my color ink cartridge was out of yellows. I replaced it with a new one and printed the photo. It came out Magenta. No other colors were printing. I cleaned the heads, primed the printer, and reset the drivers.
Nothing worked. I thought it might be a bad cartridge, so I opened another one. This one the printer won't even accept.
My totally easy job was no longer easy. I had to call them back and let them know I could not fulfill my duities. They were very understanding.
I, on the other hand, think I want a do-over on yesterday. :p
A day that, were I to describe it to you, would not be believable. Nor would you believe that it all took place within a single three hour span of time.
But it did.
After having a good night's sleep though, I *can* look back upon it and actually smile. Though it's one of those smiles that you see on the face of a mental health patient after they receive their meds. Which, by the way, I think I will need.
Here are the things that happened:
Violet decided she wanted her "teeth to grow" so she locked herself into the bathroom and applied Baby Orajel all over her mouth.
After explaining to Violet that this was NOT good, we called "the doctor" (Miss Valerie) to tell her how it is very dangerous to use medicine and she could have DIED.
While that phone call was taking place, Riley was at the fish tank, placing all Violet's ceramic tea set pieces into the water. Apparently the fish wanted tea.
I brought the kids downstairs, and noticed the living room floor hadn't been swept, so I went to work doing that. Violet and Riley went to the computer room to play Nick Jr.com, which is something they have done plenty of times before.
Violet came running out of the computer room: "Riley's playing with the SEEEEE-DEEEEEEs!!"
Sure enough, he had gotten into our computer CD collection and was trying to put ALL THE CDs into the computer at once and trying to force the door shut. NICE.
I shooed them out of the computer room and put away the CDs.
When I came out of the computer room, I find Riley, pen in hand, his legs covered in pen marks.
Which means pen marks are somewhere else.
So I find them - all over the wedding photos that Lisa and Mark sent us. Pretty little circles on each person's face.
He's so creative.
On a side note, I fould out that baby wipes do a great job cleaning pen ink off glossy photos.
Oh and yes. Riley pooped.
FOUR TIMES.
While I was throwing away one of the four diapers, Riley decided to help with the dishes.
He emptied all the silverware into the trash.
All of it.
Such a helper.
Violet, meanwhile, decided to build a fairy fort in the living room. So down from her bedroom came every blanket and pillow possible.
While I was making lunch, Riley found one of my teaching tools - a plastic tube with teeny tiny styrofoam balls inside that demonstrates static electricity - and opened it up. Little teeny tiny static balls were EVERYWHERE in the living room that had JUST been swept clean.
I sat the kids down to eat and gave them each a juice box. I needed to take a potty break.
I came out of the bathroom to see Riley in the middle of the living room, waving and shaking around the now empty juice box, whose contents are covering the living room floor, rug, couch, and little itty bitty styrofoam balls.
Violet decided to be a helper and get some toilet paper from the bathroom to clean up the mess.
That got boring, so she instead started to tear the toilet paper into shreds and toss it in the air: "like confetti, Mom!!"
It was at that moment, as the toilet-paper-confetti rained down upon me, that I lost control. I yelled. I screamed. I cried. I spanked. And I put both kids to bed in their rooms and threatened them with their lives if they came out.
And, within a minute, both children were asleep.
The house was peaceful, once again.
I did my best to clean up the mess. But I was emotionally exhausted too. I stretched out on the couch and took a nap. It lasted 30 minutes, and then Riley woke up.
And the cycle continued. Pens. Paper. Toys. Poop. Riley scooping large cupfuls of water out of the toilet and pouring them onto the bedroom floor.
I got a call from a magazine asking for me to do a layout on a very short deadline - something that was a *total* piece of cake! All I needed to do was scan and print a photo using the photo restoration button on the scanner. No problem, except I noticed my color ink cartridge was out of yellows. I replaced it with a new one and printed the photo. It came out Magenta. No other colors were printing. I cleaned the heads, primed the printer, and reset the drivers.
Nothing worked. I thought it might be a bad cartridge, so I opened another one. This one the printer won't even accept.
My totally easy job was no longer easy. I had to call them back and let them know I could not fulfill my duities. They were very understanding.
I, on the other hand, think I want a do-over on yesterday. :p
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Gentle Reminders for those of Potty Training Age.
Oh and I came across this little ditty and I thought I'd share.
Potty Training Tips
Let's hope it never gets to THAT in my house.
Potty Training Tips
Let's hope it never gets to THAT in my house.
Neeeeeeeeeeeemo!
Last weekend we had a garage sale to get rid of some of our excess stuff. During the sale, Violet had a lemonade stand and declared that with her earnings she would buy a FISH TANK because she always wanted fish.
So with her $3.25 she made selling lemonade, we went down to the fish store to look at tanks and such. Of course she wanted the pretty Nemo fish. The salesman explained why that would not be possible in the little 5 gallon acrylic tank we were looking at. Instead we browsed the freshwater fish and she found several that she liked, including Neon Tetras, Platys, and even these cute little frogs.
We started pricing the tanks and equipment and at the pet store it would have been $80 for a five-gallon setup. (and Violet thought she could get a fish for $3.25!!) While we were writing all the info down, a couple of young boys (who says they are all hoodlums?) suggested we check out the tank sets at Wal-Mart across the street. We headed over there and LO & BEHOLD the exact same setup we saw at the first store was there for $50. And there was a sale on a 10 gallon tank set - all we had to buy in addition was the rocks - and THAT was $45! We decided that the 10 gallon tank would be the best bet, so on Monday we got the tank. Violet could not understand why she couldn't get the fish too, but I explained to her we had to wait 24 hours for the tank to properly filter.
Have I mentioned that the *entire* time we were in any fish section at the store, Riley simply said OVER AND OVER, "Mama! Memo! Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemo! Mama!! MEMO MEMO MEMO MEMO MEMO MEMO MEMO!!!" as he pointed and jumped up and down and ran around the fish tanks. The whole way home, he kept telling Violet, "Vay-lah!! MEEEEMO! MEMO MEMO! Meeeeeeeeemo! Vay-lah! MEEEEEEMO!"
The tank was set up in Violet's room, and after a lengthy discussion with her regarding how the filters work and when to feed the fish, she was prepared to wait until the next day to get them.
Tuesday morning, 6 a.m. Violet runs up to the side of my bed and shakes me violently. "MOM! MOM! MOM!! We can get our FISH today! Let's GO!" I opened my eyes to find her fully dressed, including an attempt at hairstyle. It was precious! I groggily told her we would have to wait till after lunch to get the fish, since we set up the tank Monday afternoon. Violet declared that she would make me a surprise breakfast for being such a good mommy. It took a few minutes for *that* to register in my sleepy brain, but once it did, I was AWAKE. She called me downstairs to the table, where she presented to me a bowl of dry Frosted Flakes topped with banana pieces (broken apart by hand since she's not allowed to use a knife) and several spoonfuls of vanilla yogurt. It was..... so sweet of her. And actually, not half bad.
From about 10 a.m. on, every 5 minutes I was asked, "Is it lunchtime yet, Mommy? Can we have lunch now, Mommy?" until noon when I fed the kids. Then it was into the car to get the fishies. Violet acted like SUCH a big girl. She chose two neon tetras dubbed Silly and Pilly, another, larger white Tetra she named Cinderella, and two orange platys she called Nemo and Riley.
The excitement was building - we had to acclimate the fish to the tank temperature, which took 15 minutes, and then Nemo, Riley, Silly, Pilly, and Cinderella were introduced to their new home. They seemed to like it... and Violet was transfixed. She sat in front of the tank for at least an hour. Poor Riles fell asleep in the car and missed the excitement for the time being.
Later that afternoon I checked on the tank. The fish were swimming around happily. In front of the tank were several pieces of scrap paper with various letters written in 4 year old hand, a photo of our family, and a mirror. I asked Violet what all that was for. The letters were the fishies' names so they wouldn't forget. The mirror was so they could look at themselves and see how pretty they were, and the photo was so the fishies would recognize us when we looked into the tank. Gotta love the mind of a 4 year old!
When Riley woke up from his nap, Violet introduced him to the new fish. He was in LOVE and stayed in front of the tank, calling "MEEEEEMO" for a whole ten minutes!! This new little adventure into tankhood should be fun.
Wa-hoo-wa-heee-ho-ho-ho-ho
Wa-hoo-wa-heee-ho-ho-ho-ho
So with her $3.25 she made selling lemonade, we went down to the fish store to look at tanks and such. Of course she wanted the pretty Nemo fish. The salesman explained why that would not be possible in the little 5 gallon acrylic tank we were looking at. Instead we browsed the freshwater fish and she found several that she liked, including Neon Tetras, Platys, and even these cute little frogs.
We started pricing the tanks and equipment and at the pet store it would have been $80 for a five-gallon setup. (and Violet thought she could get a fish for $3.25!!) While we were writing all the info down, a couple of young boys (who says they are all hoodlums?) suggested we check out the tank sets at Wal-Mart across the street. We headed over there and LO & BEHOLD the exact same setup we saw at the first store was there for $50. And there was a sale on a 10 gallon tank set - all we had to buy in addition was the rocks - and THAT was $45! We decided that the 10 gallon tank would be the best bet, so on Monday we got the tank. Violet could not understand why she couldn't get the fish too, but I explained to her we had to wait 24 hours for the tank to properly filter.
Have I mentioned that the *entire* time we were in any fish section at the store, Riley simply said OVER AND OVER, "Mama! Memo! Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemo! Mama!! MEMO MEMO MEMO MEMO MEMO MEMO MEMO!!!" as he pointed and jumped up and down and ran around the fish tanks. The whole way home, he kept telling Violet, "Vay-lah!! MEEEEMO! MEMO MEMO! Meeeeeeeeemo! Vay-lah! MEEEEEEMO!"
The tank was set up in Violet's room, and after a lengthy discussion with her regarding how the filters work and when to feed the fish, she was prepared to wait until the next day to get them.
Tuesday morning, 6 a.m. Violet runs up to the side of my bed and shakes me violently. "MOM! MOM! MOM!! We can get our FISH today! Let's GO!" I opened my eyes to find her fully dressed, including an attempt at hairstyle. It was precious! I groggily told her we would have to wait till after lunch to get the fish, since we set up the tank Monday afternoon. Violet declared that she would make me a surprise breakfast for being such a good mommy. It took a few minutes for *that* to register in my sleepy brain, but once it did, I was AWAKE. She called me downstairs to the table, where she presented to me a bowl of dry Frosted Flakes topped with banana pieces (broken apart by hand since she's not allowed to use a knife) and several spoonfuls of vanilla yogurt. It was..... so sweet of her. And actually, not half bad.
From about 10 a.m. on, every 5 minutes I was asked, "Is it lunchtime yet, Mommy? Can we have lunch now, Mommy?" until noon when I fed the kids. Then it was into the car to get the fishies. Violet acted like SUCH a big girl. She chose two neon tetras dubbed Silly and Pilly, another, larger white Tetra she named Cinderella, and two orange platys she called Nemo and Riley.
The excitement was building - we had to acclimate the fish to the tank temperature, which took 15 minutes, and then Nemo, Riley, Silly, Pilly, and Cinderella were introduced to their new home. They seemed to like it... and Violet was transfixed. She sat in front of the tank for at least an hour. Poor Riles fell asleep in the car and missed the excitement for the time being.
Later that afternoon I checked on the tank. The fish were swimming around happily. In front of the tank were several pieces of scrap paper with various letters written in 4 year old hand, a photo of our family, and a mirror. I asked Violet what all that was for. The letters were the fishies' names so they wouldn't forget. The mirror was so they could look at themselves and see how pretty they were, and the photo was so the fishies would recognize us when we looked into the tank. Gotta love the mind of a 4 year old!
When Riley woke up from his nap, Violet introduced him to the new fish. He was in LOVE and stayed in front of the tank, calling "MEEEEEMO" for a whole ten minutes!! This new little adventure into tankhood should be fun.
Wa-hoo-wa-heee-ho-ho-ho-ho
Wa-hoo-wa-heee-ho-ho-ho-ho
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
My First Post
Well, here it is. I have officially started a blog, because my sister Melinda and her new hubby have gone and moved to Korea so that Melinda could be a teacher with the Department of Defense, and we decided this would be the best way for them to be in touch with the daily ramblings of my life. Still trying to figure out all the settings and such, so give me a bit before I get the hang of everything.
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