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Is It Bad? Part Four

July 3, 2009 by

It’s time for another installment of Is It Bad? The series where I attempt to make myself feel better for the fallicies in my parenting and my life.  It doesn’t really work, but it does make me laugh at myself and laughter keeps the world goin’ ’round, right?  Or is it love? 

Whatever it is – I hope you enjoy.

-Is it bad that I enjoyed every single moment of my trip alone last week?  I mean, I missed my kids, but I reeeaaally enjoyed waking up on my own, going to the bathroom alone and eating sitting down for seven whole days.  Is that bad?

-Is it bad that I was over the news about Michael Jackson’s death about ten minutes after I heard it?  Is it bad that I have no interest in watching one more documentary about his life?  In my opinion, Michael Jackson died a long time ago.  All that’s been left for many years was the broken shell of a hurting man.  But Michael Jackson the brilliant performer?  He died sometime in the early ’90’s.

-Is it bad that yesterday, when I took a Core strengthening class at the gym, I contemplated all the ways that I could bring harm to the instructor who I’m sure was trying to kill us all?  Is it bad that this morning, when I tried to sit up and realized that my abdomen has gone on strike in protest to the bajillion and one crunches I did yesterday, I revisited those hateful thoughts?  I’ve since repented so that makes it better, right?

-Is it bad that by 9:00 am on Wednesday morning, I was already frustrated with my children besides that fact that I came home full of ambition to be more patient with them?

-Is it bad that I always splash a tiny bit of apple juice into Landon’s sippy cup because he refuses to drink water?  Is it bad that when I’m out of apple juice, I put a little water into the apple juice container and attempt to trick him into thinking there’s juice in his cup so he’ll drink water?  It worked for awhile, but I think he’s on to me.

-Is it bad that I posted a status update on Facebook yesterday that was grammatically incorrect? (I misused the comma, and, you know, I likes me some commas.  Yikes, that last sentence was gramatically incorrent – slang, cliche – oh the horror!  And now this paranthetical pause is getting way too long, a personal pet peeve (ooh, I do love alliteration though).  Someone stop me!)  Is it bad that the knowledge of my comma misuse bothered me so much that I actually laid awake in bed last night thinking about it?  Say it with me – obsessive.

-Is it bad that my house is in a sad state (we could be pushing health hazard) but instead of cleaning it I’m thinking of taking the kids to the pool today and then taking a nap?

-Is it bad that I refuse to walk out my back door right now because there is a spider hanging in the air about two feet from the door and I don’t want it to swing over and attack me while I attempt to leave?  Is it bad that I sent the dog out first in the hopes that she will eat the spider for me?  Is it bad that I’m such a pansy?

-Speaking of the dog, is it bad that we are seriously considering getting rid of her?  She’s such a good dog and it really does break my heart to think about giving her away, but we travel so much and are so busy that I feel like we don’t give her the love she needs.  Is it that so bad?

-Is it bad that I stuck my kids in front of the TV where I can almost see there brains turning to mush and the eyes turning into liquid pools just so I could sit down at the computer and write this post?  Is it bad that I used the television as my babysitter?  Is it?

-Is it bad that I want to tear down our swingset because my daughter scares the ever lovin’ bejeebus out of me on it.  She’s a crazy little monkey and I fear that she will lead me to an early grave as she dangles precariously from the moneky bars.  Is it bad that I would rather just remove the death contraption than to teach her safety?

Okay, now it’s your turn.  Write your own Is It Bad? post and leave me a comment with the link – or just post your own Is It Bad? statements in the comments.

So is it bad that I just shamelessly begged you all to leave me a comment?

Filed Under: funny stuff that happens, Is IT Bad?, Kids, Landon, Motherhood, Random, shameless self-promotion

Island Gallery

July 1, 2009 by

Our plane, which was scheduled to depart from Miami and 8:15 and land in St. Louis at 9:55 last night, did not leave until 11:40 and land until 1:15 am.  So I am tired today.  Really, really tired.  I can barely form a coherent thought, so I leave you with a few photos.  My pictures did not turn out quite like I hoped.  I am a little disppointed at how fuzzy many of them turned out.  I really need to take a photography course…

Here are a few of the images I managed to capture. I took about 150 pictures with my camera and equal that or more with my mom’s, so limiting this gallery to less than 25 shots was tough!  Click on the picture to see the enlarged image.

Filed Under: Heritage, Life, Random Tagged With: , ,

Looking Cool in A Minivan

June 8, 2009 by

Follow these very simple tips and you too can rock the minivan!

http://theguysmanual.msn.com/?Category=catID3&Id=v3&source=msneditorial&gt1=25050

Filed Under: Minivans, Random Tagged With:

Getaway in the hopes of some relief

May 28, 2009 by

We’re packing up to head to Nashville for the weekend where we will spend time with dear friends.  I’m hoping to be refreshed during this time away.

It’s been a hard couple of days for me and my family.  I won’t go into details here.  All I can say is that I am desperately grateful, in times like these, that I have the knowledge and peace of God’s grace and mercy in my life.  Knowing that He is ultimately in full control gives me some emotional relief. 

Physically, however, I’m struggling.  I feel like someone has jabbed me repeatedly with a toothpick from the base of my skull down the back of my legs.  Even a half hour in the hot tub followed by the steam room yesterday did not ease the knots that have settled down the back half of my body.  Perhaps a weekend away will help ease the stress – or maybe it won’t.  I don’t know, but I do hope.

The kids are excited to play with their friends and Lee is excited to play in not one but two rounds of golf.  And I am just excited for a change of scenery. 

So I’m off.  I have about 50 minutes before Lee comes home and I need to squeeze two hours worth of chores into that time frame.  I’ll be back Monday…

Filed Under: Family, Life, Random

Tuesday’s Talking Pictures

May 26, 2009 by

“They” say that a picture is worth a thousand words. So I figure a video clip must be worth around 10,000 words. I give you two clips today. The first is a video they shot and showed at our church this past week – and it’s hilarious.

They brought in several children and set them at a table in a room with a secret camera. Joe gave the kids a cookie and told them it was their’s to eat, but if they waited and didn’t eat it, when he came back he would give them two cookies. I’ll say it again: Hilarious.

If you’ll notice, my kid did not even hesitate – he did not think about it or wait, or even seem to care…he simply ate his one cookie, then wiped all the crumbs off the table (which he then licked off his hand) and sat back content.  He told me later he didn’t want two cookies.  Mm-hmm. 

The best, however, is Andrew, the little Chinese boy who finally succumbed to temptation.  Classic.  Enjoy the clip.


 

This second video is nothing special – just a bunch of wet-haired, jammie-bottomed kiddos singing karaoke.  That was a bizarre sentence…

After watching that is it any wonder that our kids are always sick? Geesh.

Filed Under: Kids, Life, Random

The Art of Taking Tea

May 18, 2009 by

Tea parties are a lost art.  There is something so beautiful and relaxing about sitting at a beautifully decorated table and just taking your time.  It is nearly as peaceful as a calm day at the beach – I said nearly…

The tea party yesterday afternoon was perfect.  It was a beautiful day, the food was spectacular, the tea’s were amazing and the company was special.  Instead of lasting 2 hours, it lasted 3 and it was just delightfully laid back and blissful.

Here was the final menu:

Watermelon Feta Salad

Caramelized Pear, Bleu Cheese and Walnut Quiche

Cinnamon Raison Bread with Carrot and Cream Cheese Filling

Spinach Tartletts with Cream Cheese Crust (aka-a mouth full of awesome!)

Choco-Chewy Scotch Bars

Orange Cream Scones w/ Strawberry and Lemon Curd

Lemon Cake

Fruit Salad w/ Spiced Syrup

The Tea’s:

Almond Biscotti

Pina Coloda Ginger Coconut (mm-hmm you heard me right…)

Tarragon Orange Apple Pomegranate Iced Tea

Seriously, the food was to die for.  I hope my mansion in heaven is filled with three-tiered plates of those delights, ’cause I’m going to have my eternal body and I’m hoping I can eat to my heart’s content without a single repercussion – and no, I’m pretty sure that last sentence is not theologically correct. 

Here is a picture of the set table – unfortunately, we forgot to take pictures of the dessert because we were too busy eating them, but it was equally as beautiful when displayed:

Don't you just want to say, "Aaaaahhhh..."

Don't you just want to say, "Aaaaahhhh..."

 

The hostesses - Lauren and Kelli the Amazon woman - seriously, I look like I'm towering over her. It was the heels.

The hostesses - Lauren and Kelli the Amazon woman - seriously, I look like I'm towering over her. It was the heels.

I have amazing recipes for all of these delights and what I think I’ll do is put up a new page in the sidebar with some of my favorites.  Most of them were really easy to make.

I seriously want to run a tea business when I grow up.  I’m thinking when the kids are a little older, I just may get one started.  In the meantime, if any of you ever want to throw one and need help or ideas, let me know.

Okay – I’m off…

Filed Under: Life, Random, tea parties

Moving Forward

May 14, 2009 by

Well, Tia’s hair still looks awful this morning.  You were all so kind in your comments about her “fixed” hair, and I appreciate your sweetness, but it really does not look good.  In a couple of months, when the right side has grown out a little, I think it will be a little cuter. 

I have attempted little-bitty ponytails today, which require massive amounts of hairspray and barretts to hold back the super short hair on the right side of her head.  I keep telling her she looks beautiful and she really is a doll, but that hair – oh my…

A friend and I are throwing a Mother’s Day (a week late) tea party on Sunday so I’m ramping up for a few days of baking.  Orange Cream Scones, fresh Strawberry and Lemon Curd, Fruit Salad with Spiced Syrup, Watermelon-Feta Salad, Spinach Tartlets with Cream Cheese Crust…who’s hungry?  And those are just the things I’m making – you should see my friend’s half of the menu. 

I love tea parties.  I love the food and the leisure, the tea’s and the accessories.  I’m going today to pick out the tea’s and get the final ingredients.  I’ll post some pictures when it’s all said and done…I know you can’t wait.

Today is Sloan’s last day of preschool.  That’s very strange.  He will never be a preschooler again.  It feels right, of course.  He’s so big and so mature that I’ve sometimes questioned our decision to hold him back this year.  I know in the long run we’ll be glad, but for now he seems way too advanced for where he is.  I hope we can keep him challenged next year in kindegarten.  We’ll see.

And finally, can I just say that I love my husband?  He’s a good guy.  But I will tell you that the other night, when we were flipping the channels and we landed on Grease 2 and he started singing along to the songs – I was a little baffled.  After nearly 9 years, I’m still learning new things about him.  Grease 2?  Interesting…

Filed Under: Kids, Life, Random, Tia Tagged With: ,

So Much, So Little

May 8, 2009 by

Short bits of information I know you’re all dying to know…

My internet at home has been down for a couple of days now, so I feel like I am slowly suffocating from lack of computer love.  There is a very distinct possibility that I am an addict.

The kids had their russian concert last night.  Pictures and perhaps video to come (aren’t you excited?).  They did amazing.  Tia stood up and said her russian poem right into the microphone!  My Tia (or Katyoosha as they call her at school – I love russian names)!  I was shocked and proud.  It still baffles me how well they both do is those classes given that they get so little practice at home.  Kids are amazing little beings.

I have so much I want to say, but most of it would be boring so I’ll keep it to myself.  I will leave you with a few snippets from the last couple of days:

-When I had my hair colored the other day, the hairstylist found a grey hair.  I made her pull it, then told her to never tell me again if she saw any, but to discreetly pull them while combing my hair.  She laughed, but I’m pretty sure she thought I was nuts.

-Speaking of hair, she gave me a $15 gift certificate that I can give to a friend.  I am going to give it to one of my local commentors.  Just leave me a comment and let me know if you’re interested.  Her name is Olga and she’s great.  She works at The Face and the Body spa and salon in Chesterfield and she only charges $31 for a haircut, so this certificate gives a 50% discount.  It’s a good deal.

-I talked to the bug people yesterday about our mouse situation.  They said that the mice are likely nesting and the only thing that will stop them is if we find where they’re coming in and close it up.  Riiiight.  Our house is 45 years old.  They could be coming in anywhere.  I may have to just construct mouse hotels in the basement.

-My brother recently started his own blog.  Go over and give him some love.  His first story is from back in his Navy days – he’s got some good stories to tell and his blog should be a fun read.  Brett’s a great writer (much better than me, but don’t tell him I  told you that) so I’m excited to start reading his stuff.

Okay, that’s all for now.  I have to go.  It’s thundering and I’ve left my kids in the child care at the gym.  But Sloan is so terrified of thunder that I fear he may be clawing the poor workers to death in there.  I better go rescue him.

Happy Mother’s Day to all my mommy friends and, of course to my own mother and mother-in-law.  I love you guys!

Filed Under: Blogging, Kids, Random, things I don't need to hear

Harry Potter

May 6, 2009 by

I’m not going to talk about American Idol today because I didn’t like the show last night at all.  I didn’t think anyone sounded very good and I was nearly blinded several times by Paula’s plunging neckline, which left me feeling uncomfortable and nervous for her.  The only thing I liked was Allison’s hair.  It was rockin’…

I will tell you, however, that I finally finished the Harry Potter series.  I know I’m a couple years late on this, but I have to say that those books were brilliant.  Brilliant as in that may be the best series of our generation.  I am actually a little sad today that it’s over.  I miss Harry, Ron and Hermione.  The story was written so well that I actually felt I was a part of that world when I read the books and when I closed book 7 last night, I felt a pang of regret that it was over.

I must admit that I was one of those people who did not read the books because of the witchcraft aspect of the storyline.  I bought the whole idea of them being evil hook, line and sinker.  But, I was wrong.

Yes, the books center on young witches and wizards in training and I don’t diminish the fact that we have to be careful how closely we tread to such practices, but the storyline of Harry Potter is complete fantasy.  It’s the folklore surrounding witchcraft that makes up the story, but the theme is good verses evil and the power of love to conquer evil.  In fact, after awhile, the magical part of the books became just a back story.  I was more enraptured with the characters – with Harry’s reconciliation with the death of his parents; with Ron and Hermione’s obvious attraction; with Dumbledore’s wisdom on life, love and peace; with Fred and George’s ability to find the humor in any situation, no matter how bleak.  Those were the things that stood out to me.  The magic just faded into the background.

In fact, book 7 is ripe with Christian imagery and from the research that I’ve done on J.K. Rowling, that was intentional.  I was pleasantly surprised by this fact. 

Rowling does not practice witchcraft, as was widely circulated among Christian circles.  She simply had a story to tell.  And, we must remember that Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia also involved witches, wizards and magic as a means to tell a story.  Gandolf was a good wizard, much along the lines of a Dumbledore.  The White Witch in Chronicles was evil, much along the lines of Voldemort or Bellatrix Lestrange.

I do not think that the Potter series is as rich in imagery as Lord of the Rings or Chronicles, but in ranking those three series, I would place Rowling’s books third on the list.  It’s that good.

I don’t think that I would read these books to my kids, however, for several reasons.  First, there are over 4,000 pages to read and my kids can hardly sit still for a short picture book.  Second, there are themes within those books that I think are far too mature for young children.  I won’t even show them the movies for that reason alone.  The story is fantastic, but it is dark and I just don’t think my kids are ready to process the messages and images presented at such a young age.  I also won’t allow them see Lord of the Rings for the very same reason.  It’s too dark and too scary.

When they get older, I will be happy to let them begin reading these stories and possibly see the movies if they’re even interested by then.  But before then, in my opinion, these books are a little too much.

It is my hope that my children will one day have an appreciation for good literature and good story telling.  I hope they will consume books and fall in love with the characters.  Harry Potter is an easy character to fall in love with and at the end, his story is redemptive. 

Now I am going to take a break and catch up on sleep because I am just exhausted.

Filed Under: books, Random Tagged With: , ,

Swine Flu? I’m not worried…Should I be?

April 30, 2009 by

I normally do not turn the TV on during the day.  I can’t stand the constant noise and so, typically, the TV doesn’t come on until late afternoon when I finally allow the kids to watch cartoons for a little while. 

But I’ve felt a little out of touch with the world lately, so the last two mornings I’ve turned on the news while I make breakfast, only to turn it back off within 10 minutes because AAAHHH the constant sound makes me insane!

I was a little humored this morning to hear the talk about swine flu.  I, of course, do not take the fact that something like this could potentially become pandemic lightly, but I had to laugh at the journalists insistence that we all be terrifed.  It’s like the newscasters feed off the fear they create in their viewers and this morning they seemed hungry.

More than 160,000 kids are out of school today due to school closings in infected areas.  Diane Sawyer’s question to a CDC rep. went something like this:

“If it seems imminent that a pandemic is coming, why not take the ultimate precautionary measure and close down all school?”

Uuuhhhh…first of all, is it imminent?  And second, because the nation can’t shut down in a time like this and what on earth will working parents do with thier kids?

Really, sometimes these things get taken a step too far.  If any shut down needs to occur, it’s the closing of the borders.  Do that before closing the schools.  But this constant yammering and fear-mongering is just slightly over the top. (Slightly as in ridiculously ludicris)

I’m the type of girl who wants the news how it is.  Give it to me straight.  Don’t specuulate on what you think will happen.  Tell me what’s happening right now and let me draw my own conclusion.  This is, of course, why I rarely watch the news.

Again, I know this flu thing is real and I’m certainly not planning any trips to Mexico in the near future, and of course if my son’s school reported a case of this flu strain then I would be more inclined to take this a little more seriously.  But putting us in a state of constant fear that we’re all going to the pigs is just plain silly.

It’s silly I tell ya!

And that’s all I have to say about that.

Filed Under: Blogging, politics, Random Tagged With: , ,
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