We were very lazy this weekend, after we returned from our Christmas travels to our snug home. It snowed. We watched out the window and didn't go anywhere. It snowed some more. We watched out the window and didn't even go out to the mailbox to get the morning newspaper. So there was snow on the sidewalk and in the driveway, maybe 3 inches.
I must explain, in our city, and most cities in Wisconsin, there are ordinances regarding snow removal on sidewalks. In most cases, it has to be cleared within 24 hours of when the snow stops or you can be fined. And we get a LOT of dog walkers on our sidewalk, so I could just see some Scrooge reporting us if we didn't take care of things.
Yesterday evening, Greg decided it was finally time to tackle the snow removal. He suited up--jeans, sweatshirt, snow boots, heavy coat, radio ear muffs so he doesn't lose his hearing to the snowblower, heavy gloves. He went out the door into the garage. He opened the garage door. He stood puzzled, looking at the cleared driveway and cleared front walk.
He turned around when he heard me laughing at him. At 9:00 yesterday morning, when Greg was in the basement with the girls, I got out of bed, went outside, started the snowblower, cleared the driveway, cleared the sidewalk, and got my newspaper. He had no idea.
I got a kiss when he came in.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Completely addicted
I don't usually tell stories about my husband because it gets me in trouble, but I'm risking it this time.
Last night, getting kind of late, girls sleeping upstairs, me reading in an easy chair, Greg stretched out on the couch watching TV Food Network.
Greg falls asleep holding the Tivo remote, and IN HIS SLEEP, starts rewinding the program he's not watching.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, he's so used to manipulating that remote control that he does it in his sleep.
I woke him up laughing.
Last night, getting kind of late, girls sleeping upstairs, me reading in an easy chair, Greg stretched out on the couch watching TV Food Network.
Greg falls asleep holding the Tivo remote, and IN HIS SLEEP, starts rewinding the program he's not watching.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, he's so used to manipulating that remote control that he does it in his sleep.
I woke him up laughing.
Friday, December 18, 2009
New adventures
Well, here we go.
I just sent off the application materials to go back to school, starting in January. Twenty-two years have passed since I graduated and now I'm starting again, to pursue my master's degree in business administration.
I'm a little nervous.
I just sent off the application materials to go back to school, starting in January. Twenty-two years have passed since I graduated and now I'm starting again, to pursue my master's degree in business administration.
I'm a little nervous.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thumps and bumps
The girls are in school and Greg is back at work yesterday, after an enormous snowstorm dropped 18 INCHES of snow on us Wednesday. The house is quiet.
Then I hear a noise.
Thud, scrape, scrape, scrape.
Thud, scrape, scrape, scrape.
You know when you know you should go check out a noise but you don't really want to?
Thud, scrape, scrape, scrape.
Wait a minute--I know that sound.
I head upstairs to the linen closet and open the door. Sure enough, blinking up at me in the morning light is Simon the Cat, who obviously slipped into the linen closet when the girls got washcloths before they left for school.
He was in there for an hour and a half, at least. Stupid cat.
Then I hear a noise.
Thud, scrape, scrape, scrape.
Thud, scrape, scrape, scrape.
You know when you know you should go check out a noise but you don't really want to?
Thud, scrape, scrape, scrape.
Wait a minute--I know that sound.
I head upstairs to the linen closet and open the door. Sure enough, blinking up at me in the morning light is Simon the Cat, who obviously slipped into the linen closet when the girls got washcloths before they left for school.
He was in there for an hour and a half, at least. Stupid cat.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Delays in bedtime
Last night, Greg was at badminton when it was time for the girls to go to bed. Julia was tired, so I closed her door and she settled right down. Allie gets to read a book until 8:30, so I kissed her goodnight and went downstairs to fold laundry.
When I finished the laundry, I carried the basket to the foot of the stairs and placed it there, ready to go up. Then I sat down in the living room.
At 8:45, Allie came downstairs. "Mom, I have a loose string on my sleeve that I need to cut."
I rolled my eyes at her, thinking that was one of the lamest excuses she's ever come up with for coming downstairs to see what we're doing after her bedtime.
"And I thought I heard a burglar. There was a weird thump or something."
OK, lamest excuse bar that one.
When I finished the laundry, I carried the basket to the foot of the stairs and placed it there, ready to go up. Then I sat down in the living room.
At 8:45, Allie came downstairs. "Mom, I have a loose string on my sleeve that I need to cut."
I rolled my eyes at her, thinking that was one of the lamest excuses she's ever come up with for coming downstairs to see what we're doing after her bedtime.
"And I thought I heard a burglar. There was a weird thump or something."
OK, lamest excuse bar that one.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
I mowed yesterday
Yes, on December 1st, I mowed the grass. Greg decided the lawn needed one more trim before we consigned the lawn to the snow fairies until April, so I cut the grass. We have already had snow by the way--about 1/2 inch that only stuck around a few hours. There's a storm on the way though----
Who am I kidding. In winter in Wisconsin, there's always a snowstorm on the way.
Who am I kidding. In winter in Wisconsin, there's always a snowstorm on the way.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Not dead
Just been feeling that way lately. All four of us have been sick, in repeated waves. Fevers abound. Stomach issues reoccur. Coughing is rampant. Misery too.
I hope you had a good Thanksgiving yesterday. We spent the day alone so we didn't infect anyone else. I made a pumpkin pie and I can't even taste it.
I hope you had a good Thanksgiving yesterday. We spent the day alone so we didn't infect anyone else. I made a pumpkin pie and I can't even taste it.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
What was that?
Our cable went out the other day and the repairman didn't come until late the next day (quite the trauma in our household, I'm ashamed to say). As he moved around the TV, fixing things, the girls talked his ear off. He was very patient.
Repair guy to Julia: And how old are you?
Julia: I'm six and a penny!
Us: You're what?
Julia, thinking hard: I'm six and a quarter!
Repair guy to Julia: And how old are you?
Julia: I'm six and a penny!
Us: You're what?
Julia, thinking hard: I'm six and a quarter!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Lucky 13
Happy 13th anniversary, Gregory! I love you and I'm glad we're getting a date night out, even though we still have no idea where we're going.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
No--not autumn!
OK, I know it's autumn by the calendar but I am just not ready. Especially since we've had a cold snap lately and I had to break down and turn on the furnace. It wasn't too bad for the first 24 hours--the furnace just ran first thing in the morning. However, now it's running in the evening too. And it's been rainy, which I hate.
All the leaves are falling off the trees and everything is starting to die. I hate autumn. Give me spring any day.
All the leaves are falling off the trees and everything is starting to die. I hate autumn. Give me spring any day.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
What are you gonna buy me, Dad?
My parents enjoy traveling to nearby and not-so-nearby casinos and trying their luck. This week, my dad got bigtime lucky. I believe the total (from three different days) was over $2500.
Can you make a career out of playing slot machines?
Can you make a career out of playing slot machines?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Oh Julia, Julia
I got a call yesterday from Julia's teacher. She got in major trouble at school. Apparently, when a first grader needs to go to the bathroom (which is down the hall a little way), they grab a bathroom pass and head off. They do their business and then they come back and rejoin their classmates. This is quite different from last year because the kindergarten classrooms all have attached bathrooms.
Well, it appears that little Julia was taking advantage of the additional freedom of being a first grader to wander the halls instead of heading straight to the bathroom and back. It appears, more than once did she do her wandering. And yesterday, when she went hall-wandering, she took another little girl with her and they ended up at the exit to the school, between the double doors to the outside. They were probably just watching the rain, but if they'd gone out the second door, they would have been locked out of school. This is not cool.
So Julia got busted and started crying. After her teacher set up new rules for Julia's bathroom visits, she let Julia call me. She was crying so hard I couldn't really tell what was wrong, other than she'd been bad and it involved a hallway she shouldn't have been in. I got her calmed down and told her we'd talk when she got home. Then her teacher called a little later and explained.
Julia was punished last night. We need to think of something else though, because she didn't seem to mind No TV all that much.
Well, it appears that little Julia was taking advantage of the additional freedom of being a first grader to wander the halls instead of heading straight to the bathroom and back. It appears, more than once did she do her wandering. And yesterday, when she went hall-wandering, she took another little girl with her and they ended up at the exit to the school, between the double doors to the outside. They were probably just watching the rain, but if they'd gone out the second door, they would have been locked out of school. This is not cool.
So Julia got busted and started crying. After her teacher set up new rules for Julia's bathroom visits, she let Julia call me. She was crying so hard I couldn't really tell what was wrong, other than she'd been bad and it involved a hallway she shouldn't have been in. I got her calmed down and told her we'd talk when she got home. Then her teacher called a little later and explained.
Julia was punished last night. We need to think of something else though, because she didn't seem to mind No TV all that much.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Yoga
Julia has been doing yoga in her first grade classroom. This isn't part of gym class, just something her teacher enjoys having the kids do, and she likes it too. She says she knows three poses, Downward Dog, Tree Pose, and Snake Pose. She demonstrated Downward Dog for me and Allie the other day. She started by lying flat on the floor.
Julia: And then you have to exhale and out-hale. Exhale and out-hale. To relax, you know.
Julia: And then you have to exhale and out-hale. Exhale and out-hale. To relax, you know.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Ewww!
I was going to walk with the girls to the bus stop, and since the bus always arrives much earlier than scheduled, we needed to get going. I opened the front door and a big black spider fell onto the floor at my feet. I stomped on him, twice, and all that was left was a black spot. I ushered the girls out the door, thinking I would grab a tissue and clean up the spider spot when I came back in.
Four or five minutes later, I opened the door and the spider spot was gone. But Rabies the cat was still nosing around, licking his whiskers!
Four or five minutes later, I opened the door and the spider spot was gone. But Rabies the cat was still nosing around, licking his whiskers!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Summer's almost over
The girls start school in two days and where has the time gone. I just flicked through the pictures on Greg's website from this summer and we've had a lot of fun, but it all went very quickly.
From Allie and Greg running Race for the Cure, to Allie breaking her leg three days later, to the last week of school and Allie's field trip in a wheelchair, to the first month of summer (which was mostly spent at home due to Allie's limitations), to Independence Day, multiple trips to see family, boat rides, swimming, visitors to our house, State Fair, Eugster's Farm Market and Petting Zoo, birthday celebrations and kite flying (but no annual water fight again)--it's almost over now for another year.
The girls are very excited about school. Due to redistricting, the bus routes have changed and this year the bus stop is right in front of our house (yay!). Last week, we got Allie her viola for fourth grade strings class and now she's freaking out about taking her instrument case on the bus. Allie tried piano lessons for about four months back when she was five or so, so we'll see how this goes--if she likes it and if she's willing to put in the practice time.
Julia is just excited about being a first grader and that her new teacher likes butterflies (just like her, she says), which we know from checking out the teacher's school website. Later today, I want to organize all of their school supplies and get things labeled. Then we need to figure out what they're going to wear their first day. We're in the midst of a pretty significant cold snap, so that's probably going to be jeans instead of the shorts or skirt that the girls would prefer. And so another school year begins.
From Allie and Greg running Race for the Cure, to Allie breaking her leg three days later, to the last week of school and Allie's field trip in a wheelchair, to the first month of summer (which was mostly spent at home due to Allie's limitations), to Independence Day, multiple trips to see family, boat rides, swimming, visitors to our house, State Fair, Eugster's Farm Market and Petting Zoo, birthday celebrations and kite flying (but no annual water fight again)--it's almost over now for another year.
The girls are very excited about school. Due to redistricting, the bus routes have changed and this year the bus stop is right in front of our house (yay!). Last week, we got Allie her viola for fourth grade strings class and now she's freaking out about taking her instrument case on the bus. Allie tried piano lessons for about four months back when she was five or so, so we'll see how this goes--if she likes it and if she's willing to put in the practice time.
Julia is just excited about being a first grader and that her new teacher likes butterflies (just like her, she says), which we know from checking out the teacher's school website. Later today, I want to organize all of their school supplies and get things labeled. Then we need to figure out what they're going to wear their first day. We're in the midst of a pretty significant cold snap, so that's probably going to be jeans instead of the shorts or skirt that the girls would prefer. And so another school year begins.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Sunday night
We're home again, after having been away for four days to Illinois. We visited my in-laws and Greg came with us this time. He was hoping to be able to spend an extended period of time floating on a lounger in their lovely in-ground pool, but alas, the weather did not cooperate. It rained several times and it was pretty darn cool temperature-wise, at least for August.
Still, a lovely time was had by all, and it was nice to make it back home and find that the cats were still alive (despite probably tipping over all of their regular and extra water dishes within the first hour after we left the driveway) and that they hadn't dug up ALL of my plants.
We spent time this trip with some lovely people (you know who you are) and very much enjoyed the hospitality of our hosts, who spoil us always. And now, back to the real world.
Still, a lovely time was had by all, and it was nice to make it back home and find that the cats were still alive (despite probably tipping over all of their regular and extra water dishes within the first hour after we left the driveway) and that they hadn't dug up ALL of my plants.
We spent time this trip with some lovely people (you know who you are) and very much enjoyed the hospitality of our hosts, who spoil us always. And now, back to the real world.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Naughty, naughty
So I'm reading on the couch last night and the air conditioning starts lowering the temperature in the house so that it's more comfortable for us to sleep upstairs. I feel the cool air on the back of my neck and I decide to take out the green scrunchie holding my hair in a ponytail.
I want to make sure this scrunchie (my emergency purse scrunchie--it's a girl thing) gets back in my purse, so I balance the scrunchie on my knee until I finish the chapter, when I'll get up and put it away. I finish the chapter and my scrunchie is gone. I look around under my knee, under my butt, in the cracks between the couch cushions--no scrunchie. That's weird. I guess it'll turn up.
This morning, I get out of bed and on the floor between the bed and the door is my green scrunchie. Well, if the cats had to steal it to play with, at least they returned it dry!
I want to make sure this scrunchie (my emergency purse scrunchie--it's a girl thing) gets back in my purse, so I balance the scrunchie on my knee until I finish the chapter, when I'll get up and put it away. I finish the chapter and my scrunchie is gone. I look around under my knee, under my butt, in the cracks between the couch cushions--no scrunchie. That's weird. I guess it'll turn up.
This morning, I get out of bed and on the floor between the bed and the door is my green scrunchie. Well, if the cats had to steal it to play with, at least they returned it dry!
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Adventures in mini-golf (or field hockey, or whatever)
On Friday, Greg came home from work early and we decided to all go to see a movie. The second-run theater in Madison was still playing "Night at the Museum 2," so for $10, all four of us were in. Then we spent $11.50 on the biggest popcorn bucket I've ever seen and a matching soda. As Greg said, "I like a soda you can land a jet ski in."
So off we went to the movie, which was fine, except that Julia drank too much lemonade and she absolutely had to go to the bathroom during the climatic fight scene with the bad guy. Greg took her; thank you, honey! The movie itself was fine, but I liked the first one better (no surprise, there).
Afterward, we got some burgers at Burger King and then headed off to play mini-golf. It was a weird weather evening--it rained for a good part of the day but it had stopped by this time. Instead it was very, very humid, cool, and felt like it was misting, even though it wasn't actually doing anything rain-wise. As a result, we were the only family on our golf course.
The first hole required you to putt your golf ball into a tube, which took your ball down a steep hill and then hopefully near the hole and not into the water feature. Oops, so much for that hope. It became clear very quickly that it didn't make sense for us to keep score. Both the girls decided that it was easier to guide their golf balls to the hole with their clubs than to actually hit the ball. And none of us could seem to avoid the water features. And a couple of our balls didn't float, so we all ended up sticking our hands into ponds of dubious origin (we kept telling ourselves it was just rainwater).
On the third hole, Julia had to go the bathroom again, and then she had to go again on the fourteenth. When we tried to make her wait, that didn't work out. All in all, it was a funny, aggravating, frustrating, and hilarious family evening. Until we got home, bathed Julia, got the kids to bed, and Allie proceeded to throw up twice.
Just another fun night in the Lee household!
So off we went to the movie, which was fine, except that Julia drank too much lemonade and she absolutely had to go to the bathroom during the climatic fight scene with the bad guy. Greg took her; thank you, honey! The movie itself was fine, but I liked the first one better (no surprise, there).
Afterward, we got some burgers at Burger King and then headed off to play mini-golf. It was a weird weather evening--it rained for a good part of the day but it had stopped by this time. Instead it was very, very humid, cool, and felt like it was misting, even though it wasn't actually doing anything rain-wise. As a result, we were the only family on our golf course.
The first hole required you to putt your golf ball into a tube, which took your ball down a steep hill and then hopefully near the hole and not into the water feature. Oops, so much for that hope. It became clear very quickly that it didn't make sense for us to keep score. Both the girls decided that it was easier to guide their golf balls to the hole with their clubs than to actually hit the ball. And none of us could seem to avoid the water features. And a couple of our balls didn't float, so we all ended up sticking our hands into ponds of dubious origin (we kept telling ourselves it was just rainwater).
On the third hole, Julia had to go the bathroom again, and then she had to go again on the fourteenth. When we tried to make her wait, that didn't work out. All in all, it was a funny, aggravating, frustrating, and hilarious family evening. Until we got home, bathed Julia, got the kids to bed, and Allie proceeded to throw up twice.
Just another fun night in the Lee household!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Stormy weather
We had storms on Friday night, but nothing too dramatic. The worst of the weather traveled south of us. Since I've seen two tornadoes in my lifetime already, that was quite OK with me. The weird part is that hours after the storms passed, our power went out. As near as I can figure (since the backup battery is worn out in my bedside clock), the power went out around 2 or 3 a.m. and it came back on about 6 a.m.
No problem, right? If the power is going to go out, at least it's not during the evening, when you might be forced to think of something to do besides watch TV, or during the daytime, when you might be tempted to repeatedly open your refrigerator, even though you know that that means your food will start going bad that much faster. Or during the morning, when you can't help wondering how long the outage will last and what effect this will have on your plans for the day.
The problem however was Allie. Specifically, the fact that long ago, Allie's daddy trained her that in order to sleep, she needs to have white noise. He's bought her two different sound machines, though she usually uses a fan instead. Well, the fan quit. And Allie woke up. And Allie couldn't get back to sleep. Period.
That should be the end of that story, right? Allie couldn't sleep, but hey, she's 9 years old. She should be able to lie awake in bed until she drops off again, right? Oh, no. She called for me and asked for some kind of night light. In the dark, I fumbled for one of Greg's lanterns that has a night light function and a flashlight function. And I stumbled back to bed and fell asleep.
Then she called for me and said she couldn't sleep without white noise and I had to do something. I told her I wasn't working for the local utility this week and that she just needed to deal with it. Then I stumbled back to bed and fell asleep.
Then she called for me and said she just couldn't sleep. She asked if I would help her get batteries for her latest sound machine. Where was Greg during this drama, you may ask? He was downstairs, either sitting outside on the porch or napping on the couch. So I told her to go downstairs and ask him to help her. She had a flashlight, after all. I told her not to call me again.
Believe it or not, I had actually fallen asleep again when she called me again. Of course, idiot that I am, I was out of bed and stumbling down the hall before I really was awake. This time, she was holding her garbage can and saying that she thought she needed to throw up. I got her up and into the bathroom and nothing happened. Eventually, I told her that I didn't think she had a stomach bug, just that she was full of nerves from not sleeping. I made her get back into bed, gave her the warning-of-death, and went back to bed.
And that was the last time she called for me, though the power outage lasted another couple of hours. And now I'll refrain from telling you the story of how she's afraid now to ride her bike because she doesn't want to fall off and break another bone. It's hell raising an emotional child.
No problem, right? If the power is going to go out, at least it's not during the evening, when you might be forced to think of something to do besides watch TV, or during the daytime, when you might be tempted to repeatedly open your refrigerator, even though you know that that means your food will start going bad that much faster. Or during the morning, when you can't help wondering how long the outage will last and what effect this will have on your plans for the day.
The problem however was Allie. Specifically, the fact that long ago, Allie's daddy trained her that in order to sleep, she needs to have white noise. He's bought her two different sound machines, though she usually uses a fan instead. Well, the fan quit. And Allie woke up. And Allie couldn't get back to sleep. Period.
That should be the end of that story, right? Allie couldn't sleep, but hey, she's 9 years old. She should be able to lie awake in bed until she drops off again, right? Oh, no. She called for me and asked for some kind of night light. In the dark, I fumbled for one of Greg's lanterns that has a night light function and a flashlight function. And I stumbled back to bed and fell asleep.
Then she called for me and said she couldn't sleep without white noise and I had to do something. I told her I wasn't working for the local utility this week and that she just needed to deal with it. Then I stumbled back to bed and fell asleep.
Then she called for me and said she just couldn't sleep. She asked if I would help her get batteries for her latest sound machine. Where was Greg during this drama, you may ask? He was downstairs, either sitting outside on the porch or napping on the couch. So I told her to go downstairs and ask him to help her. She had a flashlight, after all. I told her not to call me again.
Believe it or not, I had actually fallen asleep again when she called me again. Of course, idiot that I am, I was out of bed and stumbling down the hall before I really was awake. This time, she was holding her garbage can and saying that she thought she needed to throw up. I got her up and into the bathroom and nothing happened. Eventually, I told her that I didn't think she had a stomach bug, just that she was full of nerves from not sleeping. I made her get back into bed, gave her the warning-of-death, and went back to bed.
And that was the last time she called for me, though the power outage lasted another couple of hours. And now I'll refrain from telling you the story of how she's afraid now to ride her bike because she doesn't want to fall off and break another bone. It's hell raising an emotional child.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
What's up
My daughter Allie has been away from home for almost two weeks now. Summer camp, of a sort, at Nanny and Papa's house. Shortly after Allie got her cast off, Julia, Allie and I went off to Illinois for what was expected to be six days--so the girls could enjoy my in-law's company and their in-ground pool. Trips to the zoo, children's museum, and shopping were also promised.
It turned out to be a delightful vacation, especially for Greg, who got to pretend he was back to being a bachelor. At the end of the six days, Allie asked if she could stay another four days or so. She wanted more time to work with her cousin Emily at learning to swim and she wanted exclusive time with her grandparents. So Julia and I came home and Allie stayed.
Then Allie asked if she could stay a little longer, and we agreed. So now it's been almost two weeks and we're not sure when she's coming home. It's supposed to be tomorrow, but that predicated on my father-in-law coming to Wisconsin to trout fish. Which he may not do if the weather predication stands as it is right now. I'd be willing to drive down to pick up Allie anytime. But does she want to come home? My mother-in-law said last night that she wants to adopt Allie. Allie's daddy said, "Hell, no."
In other news, Julia is eagerly looking forward to her 6th birthday next week. The two of us went shopping for birthday supplies and decorations the other day and she picked everything pink. That's better than a Barbie theme or something, I suppose, but my goodness. She's such a girl!
It turned out to be a delightful vacation, especially for Greg, who got to pretend he was back to being a bachelor. At the end of the six days, Allie asked if she could stay another four days or so. She wanted more time to work with her cousin Emily at learning to swim and she wanted exclusive time with her grandparents. So Julia and I came home and Allie stayed.
Then Allie asked if she could stay a little longer, and we agreed. So now it's been almost two weeks and we're not sure when she's coming home. It's supposed to be tomorrow, but that predicated on my father-in-law coming to Wisconsin to trout fish. Which he may not do if the weather predication stands as it is right now. I'd be willing to drive down to pick up Allie anytime. But does she want to come home? My mother-in-law said last night that she wants to adopt Allie. Allie's daddy said, "Hell, no."
In other news, Julia is eagerly looking forward to her 6th birthday next week. The two of us went shopping for birthday supplies and decorations the other day and she picked everything pink. That's better than a Barbie theme or something, I suppose, but my goodness. She's such a girl!
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
She's free
Allie got her cast off today, almost five weeks to the day after she fell off her scooter in the road in front of our neighbor's house and broke her leg. She pretty much had a cow while the physician's assistant did the cutting of the cast. She was almost hyperventilating.
Then she had to walk down the hall a bit to get an x-ray and at first, she wouldn't put any real weight on her left leg. It took some persuasion and some literal hand holding. Even tonight, when we went out to celebrate her freedom, she walks quite slowly and stiffly. I have high hopes for improvement over the next few days.
She doesn't have to go back to see the doctor again, unless things aren't looking up by four weeks from now. Hopefully, this little adventure is now past us.
We had cake tonight too to celebrate--the inscription says, "YAY, Allie!"
Then she had to walk down the hall a bit to get an x-ray and at first, she wouldn't put any real weight on her left leg. It took some persuasion and some literal hand holding. Even tonight, when we went out to celebrate her freedom, she walks quite slowly and stiffly. I have high hopes for improvement over the next few days.
She doesn't have to go back to see the doctor again, unless things aren't looking up by four weeks from now. Hopefully, this little adventure is now past us.
We had cake tonight too to celebrate--the inscription says, "YAY, Allie!"
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Allie's leg
The girls and I went to see Allie's orthopedist on Tuesday for a check on how her broken tibia is healing. Everything is coming along very well, except that she needs to be putting weight on her leg already and she basically won't, unless we firmly tell her to do so. By next Tuesday, we're supposed to take her crutches away. And on July 7th, they're cutting her cast off.
The entire visit last week for Allie's casting and this visit (combined) took approximately 30 minutes. And the bill came for her visit last week and it's $1400. That total doesn't include anything that happened in the emergency room of course, and I'm not sure that it includes the visit this week or the cutting off of her cast. Even if it was inclusive, that's a hell of a lot of money. After all, Allie's c-section birth 9 years ago ONLY cost $18,000.
I'm thinking Allie can start paying us back from her lemonade stand earnings next week. After all, how heartless would you have to be to pass by a kid selling lemonade who has a bright pink cast.
The entire visit last week for Allie's casting and this visit (combined) took approximately 30 minutes. And the bill came for her visit last week and it's $1400. That total doesn't include anything that happened in the emergency room of course, and I'm not sure that it includes the visit this week or the cutting off of her cast. Even if it was inclusive, that's a hell of a lot of money. After all, Allie's c-section birth 9 years ago ONLY cost $18,000.
I'm thinking Allie can start paying us back from her lemonade stand earnings next week. After all, how heartless would you have to be to pass by a kid selling lemonade who has a bright pink cast.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Julia's talking again
Last night, the ice cream truck went through our neighborhood. The girls were already in their pajamas, but Julia went out looking for the truck anyway, at least to the porch. Then Greg decided he was having an ice cream craving, so he ran to the store and bought some Push-Ups. Grape, orange, and raspberry sherbet in a tube, if you don't recall Push-Ups from childhood. Actually, they only used to have orange, but I guess some improvements in the last 30 years are likely.
The girls LOVED the Push-Ups. LOVED them, LOVED them, LOVED them. Today, I let them have Push-Ups after lunch and they asked for Push-Ups again after dinner. I won't let them eat them in the living room, so Julia put the chairs from our kitchenette right where the living room begins and the girls ate Push-Ups with relish.
Now it's a little after 8 p.m. and Julia came upstairs to ask me if she and Allie could have Push-Ups again. I asked her why she didn't ask her daddy (who is in the living room) and she said she did and he said no. I told her that was it then. She asked if she could have a Push-Up tomorrow and I said, maybe, if you eat a good lunch.
She said, Can I have one at breakfast time? I started laughing and asked if she was really wanting to have a Push-Up for breakfast. She smiled not so innocently and said, First cereal, then a Push-Up!
The girls LOVED the Push-Ups. LOVED them, LOVED them, LOVED them. Today, I let them have Push-Ups after lunch and they asked for Push-Ups again after dinner. I won't let them eat them in the living room, so Julia put the chairs from our kitchenette right where the living room begins and the girls ate Push-Ups with relish.
Now it's a little after 8 p.m. and Julia came upstairs to ask me if she and Allie could have Push-Ups again. I asked her why she didn't ask her daddy (who is in the living room) and she said she did and he said no. I told her that was it then. She asked if she could have a Push-Up tomorrow and I said, maybe, if you eat a good lunch.
She said, Can I have one at breakfast time? I started laughing and asked if she was really wanting to have a Push-Up for breakfast. She smiled not so innocently and said, First cereal, then a Push-Up!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
He's in trouble for this one
I'm watching a movie this afternoon with the girls. A nice, sanitized movie--rated G--about the Depression. Sanctioned by the people from American Girl.
Then the girl heroine, who is 10, confronts the bad guys in a physical situation. And my sweet, innocent 5-year-old yells at the TV, "Kick him in the ass!"
I'm going to kill my husband.
Then the girl heroine, who is 10, confronts the bad guys in a physical situation. And my sweet, innocent 5-year-old yells at the TV, "Kick him in the ass!"
I'm going to kill my husband.
Friday, June 12, 2009
School's out for summer
Today was the last day of kindergarten and 3rd grade, respectively, for Julia and Allie. They both made it through the school year successfully, so we'll have new grades to deal with next year. Thankfully, despite our school district reorganization, both girls will stay in the same elementary school next year, with most of the same staff. That's a good thing.
Allie spent her time this week at school in a wheelchair for ease of movement. She still had her splint on until late on Tuesday and she was very leery about bumping it, as well as pretty unsteady on her crutches. On Wednesday, the two of us went on her field trip to Little Norway. I pushed her around very rough and steep paths, but she got to see almost everything her classmates did. And because I drove her there and back, she didn't have to try to get on and off the school bus. I also brought her into school and picked her up from school every day this week (plus Julia and Jaden, the son of a friend). So I spent a lot of time on her and school this week, and now it's all over. School ended at 11:20 and now it's on to party time.
As soon as Allie heals up, that is.
She's fallen twice while on her crutches (without being hurt) and she cried last night when she started to tip over and she put more weight on her broken leg than she should have. We've been trying to encourage her to at least rest her foot on the ground, but she's pretty resistant. At her next doctor's appointment, on Tuesday, she'll have more x-rays and we'll be able to see what's up. The latest projection is that she'll have her cast for four weeks from last Tuesday and that no physical therapy or followup will be necessary.
Now she just needs to heal up so we can get on with our summer. Either that, or get a lot more comfortable on her crutches.
Allie spent her time this week at school in a wheelchair for ease of movement. She still had her splint on until late on Tuesday and she was very leery about bumping it, as well as pretty unsteady on her crutches. On Wednesday, the two of us went on her field trip to Little Norway. I pushed her around very rough and steep paths, but she got to see almost everything her classmates did. And because I drove her there and back, she didn't have to try to get on and off the school bus. I also brought her into school and picked her up from school every day this week (plus Julia and Jaden, the son of a friend). So I spent a lot of time on her and school this week, and now it's all over. School ended at 11:20 and now it's on to party time.
As soon as Allie heals up, that is.
She's fallen twice while on her crutches (without being hurt) and she cried last night when she started to tip over and she put more weight on her broken leg than she should have. We've been trying to encourage her to at least rest her foot on the ground, but she's pretty resistant. At her next doctor's appointment, on Tuesday, she'll have more x-rays and we'll be able to see what's up. The latest projection is that she'll have her cast for four weeks from last Tuesday and that no physical therapy or followup will be necessary.
Now she just needs to heal up so we can get on with our summer. Either that, or get a lot more comfortable on her crutches.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Allie update
Allie and all of us thank all of you who have made kind wishes for us in the last few days. Thank you sincerely! If you didn't already know, Allie broke her leg on Wednesday night.
Allie is doing well now. That first night was really rough. She couldn't sleep well to begin with because she usually sleeps on her side and the only way she was at all comfortable was on her back. She called me in every hour but one during the night, sometimes more than once per hour, mostly to adjust her leg but also for bathroom trips and more medicine. Sometimes she cried when I went to her. Then at 5 a.m., she wanted to get up for the day.
I settled her downstairs with everything she would need and tried to go back to sleep for one last half hour, and then Allie screamed for me from downstairs as she threw up what little breakfast she'd eaten. Her strong pain medication was upsetting her stomach. Yesterday was a long, painful day and all she kept down was a few crackers.
Today went better. She ate some melon and crackers in the morning, then was able to take her pain medicine more easily. That meant she felt better and so she ate a little more food. Eventually, I went outside to mow the grass and she sat on the porch and enjoyed the beautiful day. She could shift position a little more easily and she's starting to get the hang of her crutches, though her underarms and hands are now sore.
I spoke to her teacher yesterday and she's trying to work something out for Allie's field trip next week. We also have an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday morning, so hopefully that will be when she gets a hard cast. She wants pink, so I told her if all they have is white, we'll color it pink with highlighters before we let people write on it.
Tonight, I helped her take a shower and that made her feel more human. She only woke up twice last night, so maybe we'll get lucky again tonight. We're all tired. As Allie said, just three days ago, her life was flowing along and she had no idea what was just around the corner as far as pain.
Isn't that always the way it is.
Allie is doing well now. That first night was really rough. She couldn't sleep well to begin with because she usually sleeps on her side and the only way she was at all comfortable was on her back. She called me in every hour but one during the night, sometimes more than once per hour, mostly to adjust her leg but also for bathroom trips and more medicine. Sometimes she cried when I went to her. Then at 5 a.m., she wanted to get up for the day.
I settled her downstairs with everything she would need and tried to go back to sleep for one last half hour, and then Allie screamed for me from downstairs as she threw up what little breakfast she'd eaten. Her strong pain medication was upsetting her stomach. Yesterday was a long, painful day and all she kept down was a few crackers.
Today went better. She ate some melon and crackers in the morning, then was able to take her pain medicine more easily. That meant she felt better and so she ate a little more food. Eventually, I went outside to mow the grass and she sat on the porch and enjoyed the beautiful day. She could shift position a little more easily and she's starting to get the hang of her crutches, though her underarms and hands are now sore.
I spoke to her teacher yesterday and she's trying to work something out for Allie's field trip next week. We also have an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday morning, so hopefully that will be when she gets a hard cast. She wants pink, so I told her if all they have is white, we'll color it pink with highlighters before we let people write on it.
Tonight, I helped her take a shower and that made her feel more human. She only woke up twice last night, so maybe we'll get lucky again tonight. We're all tired. As Allie said, just three days ago, her life was flowing along and she had no idea what was just around the corner as far as pain.
Isn't that always the way it is.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Allie broke her leg tonight
Oh my god, do I wish I were kidding.
It started out like a pretty good evening. Greg is in Chicago on business until tomorrow evening, so the girls and I are on our own. We went to an informational meeting about Allie possibly playing a string instrument next school year (she's interested in the viola). Then we came home and I rushed Julia into the bathtub. Allie asked if she could play on her scooter outside for just a little while longer.
Her scooter is one of the old-fashioned kind, with a plate for the foot and a handle that you steer with. Completely manual. When Julia was out of the tub, I went outside to tell Allie it was time to come in. She was in the street (we live on a dead end, so that's OK), riding past our neighbor's house. She started back toward our driveway and I turned my back and went into the garage.
Then I heard her start screaming. She was crumpled in the street and she was just screaming about how much her leg hurt. I walked over, not sure how much she might be exaggerating (though really exaggeration like that would be more Julia's speed). I probed a little bit and she said it wasn't her foot or ankle, that the worst part was above the ankle. I tried to get her to stand with my support and that was a complete no go.
Our neighbor across the street saw us and asked it he could help. Between the two of us, we got her into the house, to the mudroom. He said if he and his wife could be of any help, like if I wanted to leave Julia with them while I took Allie in, they would be happy to watch her. I tried talking to Allie more and realized that we were definitely going to the hospital. I tried to call a friend to watch Julia and they weren't home, so I had to take our neighbors up on their very kind offer. Fortunately, they have girls too who occasionally play with our two and the wife is a teacher at Allie's school.
I'll spare you the rest of our ordeal, except that it involved X-rays that clearly show a spiral fracture of Allie's left tibia (that's the big bone in the lower leg) and a two-hour emergency room visit. I went over and got Julia from the neighbor's at 10:15 (BLESS THEM!) and she started crying because Allie and me were sweating and Allie was crying as she tried to use the bathroom and get into bed.
Did I mention we have a two-story house and our couch isn't really suitable to put Allie on? Unfortunately true. So now, an hour later, Julia is sleeping, finally, after crying for 10 or so minutes. Allie is sleeping, doped up on Tylenol with codeine and with her leg in a splint, propped up on pillows.
And I have a splitting headache and I know it's going to be a long night. And Greg is feeling guilty because he's not here. Boy, it will be nice to have him home to carry Allie. She weighs over 60 lbs. now, so I can steady her on her crutches but I can't lift her completely for long at all. She scooted up the steps on her butt, which was an endless excursion.
Tomorrow, we have to call Allie's pediatrician and the orthopedic surgeon. Allie said she's hoping for a pink cast that all of her friends can sign before school ends. She has 7 school days left, but she's going to miss at least the rest of this week. Next week is when all the fun field trips are scheduled, so those are probably off the table too. Sigh.
That poor girl! We all have such an ordeal ahead.
It started out like a pretty good evening. Greg is in Chicago on business until tomorrow evening, so the girls and I are on our own. We went to an informational meeting about Allie possibly playing a string instrument next school year (she's interested in the viola). Then we came home and I rushed Julia into the bathtub. Allie asked if she could play on her scooter outside for just a little while longer.
Her scooter is one of the old-fashioned kind, with a plate for the foot and a handle that you steer with. Completely manual. When Julia was out of the tub, I went outside to tell Allie it was time to come in. She was in the street (we live on a dead end, so that's OK), riding past our neighbor's house. She started back toward our driveway and I turned my back and went into the garage.
Then I heard her start screaming. She was crumpled in the street and she was just screaming about how much her leg hurt. I walked over, not sure how much she might be exaggerating (though really exaggeration like that would be more Julia's speed). I probed a little bit and she said it wasn't her foot or ankle, that the worst part was above the ankle. I tried to get her to stand with my support and that was a complete no go.
Our neighbor across the street saw us and asked it he could help. Between the two of us, we got her into the house, to the mudroom. He said if he and his wife could be of any help, like if I wanted to leave Julia with them while I took Allie in, they would be happy to watch her. I tried talking to Allie more and realized that we were definitely going to the hospital. I tried to call a friend to watch Julia and they weren't home, so I had to take our neighbors up on their very kind offer. Fortunately, they have girls too who occasionally play with our two and the wife is a teacher at Allie's school.
I'll spare you the rest of our ordeal, except that it involved X-rays that clearly show a spiral fracture of Allie's left tibia (that's the big bone in the lower leg) and a two-hour emergency room visit. I went over and got Julia from the neighbor's at 10:15 (BLESS THEM!) and she started crying because Allie and me were sweating and Allie was crying as she tried to use the bathroom and get into bed.
Did I mention we have a two-story house and our couch isn't really suitable to put Allie on? Unfortunately true. So now, an hour later, Julia is sleeping, finally, after crying for 10 or so minutes. Allie is sleeping, doped up on Tylenol with codeine and with her leg in a splint, propped up on pillows.
And I have a splitting headache and I know it's going to be a long night. And Greg is feeling guilty because he's not here. Boy, it will be nice to have him home to carry Allie. She weighs over 60 lbs. now, so I can steady her on her crutches but I can't lift her completely for long at all. She scooted up the steps on her butt, which was an endless excursion.
Tomorrow, we have to call Allie's pediatrician and the orthopedic surgeon. Allie said she's hoping for a pink cast that all of her friends can sign before school ends. She has 7 school days left, but she's going to miss at least the rest of this week. Next week is when all the fun field trips are scheduled, so those are probably off the table too. Sigh.
That poor girl! We all have such an ordeal ahead.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Sunday night
My family gets a breather now on massive amounts of outside activities, at least until next week.
Last week, Allie's Norwegian show went well, but she'll probably never think of it that way. Allie was one of four bellringers who performed the Westminster chimes at the start and middle of a Norwegian song about clocks. Each time the foursome rang the bells, they did the series of tones twice. The fourth time they did the tones, Allie, who had the task of ringing the first bell, didn't. It was just a momentary pause, rather sweet really, but she said it was humiliating. It'll probably end up being one of those things that still make her face flush in 30 years (witness me still remembering the time in first grade when I went to the board and worked a problem even though Mrs. Shallue hadn't called on me after all). And that's too bad.
Allie's 5k run was postponed until tomorrow because of thunderstorms. She's very worried about it. Today, she said that she wished she could painlessly break a bone so she didn't have to try to do it. And that's too bad and sad. She's putting too much pressure on herself.
Meanwhile, Julia is going for her master's degree in screeching at the top of her lungs when Allie does something she doesn't like or takes something from her. Of course, my response is always to yell at them both. There's gotta be a better way.
This afternoon, the three of us did have some fun. We went to the second of the weekend's two parades through downtown and very much enjoyed it. The parade lasted 1 1/2 hours and had (we counted) 16 live bands. That's a lot of music. There were also horses galore and no Shriners (that was my favorite part, no Shriners). Beautiful weather, if a little cool.
I didn't get any corn-on-the-cob this weekend, but I did donate blood on Friday. So that's 64 donations given over the last 25 years. A slow pace of donations, but hey--at this rate, I'll have given 16 gallons by the time I'm too old to donate anymore. That's a lot of blood if you picture it lined up in milk jugs. OK, scratch that thought--that's just gross.
Last week, Allie's Norwegian show went well, but she'll probably never think of it that way. Allie was one of four bellringers who performed the Westminster chimes at the start and middle of a Norwegian song about clocks. Each time the foursome rang the bells, they did the series of tones twice. The fourth time they did the tones, Allie, who had the task of ringing the first bell, didn't. It was just a momentary pause, rather sweet really, but she said it was humiliating. It'll probably end up being one of those things that still make her face flush in 30 years (witness me still remembering the time in first grade when I went to the board and worked a problem even though Mrs. Shallue hadn't called on me after all). And that's too bad.
Allie's 5k run was postponed until tomorrow because of thunderstorms. She's very worried about it. Today, she said that she wished she could painlessly break a bone so she didn't have to try to do it. And that's too bad and sad. She's putting too much pressure on herself.
Meanwhile, Julia is going for her master's degree in screeching at the top of her lungs when Allie does something she doesn't like or takes something from her. Of course, my response is always to yell at them both. There's gotta be a better way.
This afternoon, the three of us did have some fun. We went to the second of the weekend's two parades through downtown and very much enjoyed it. The parade lasted 1 1/2 hours and had (we counted) 16 live bands. That's a lot of music. There were also horses galore and no Shriners (that was my favorite part, no Shriners). Beautiful weather, if a little cool.
I didn't get any corn-on-the-cob this weekend, but I did donate blood on Friday. So that's 64 donations given over the last 25 years. A slow pace of donations, but hey--at this rate, I'll have given 16 gallons by the time I'm too old to donate anymore. That's a lot of blood if you picture it lined up in milk jugs. OK, scratch that thought--that's just gross.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Update
We have officially entered THE BUSY TIME as far as the kids are concerned. I think school's administrators, teachers, and parents group have all noticed that there is "only" a month left of school and so they're madly scheduling things every five minutes. Actually, every two days, but still. Add in a few birthday parties and it's quite the challenge.
This past weekend, Julia got to attend her first friend birthday party, which was held at the local bowling alley. She thought it was the awesomeist. These brave people invited her entire class of about 18 kids and there were 16 that made it. Julia's goal was to beat the bowling score of the birthday boy, and for the sake of it being his day, I'm pleased to report that he got an 80 and Julia got a 79.
Allie has been attending a course called "Girls on the Run" for the last eight weeks. It's a girls empowerment course coupled with running exercise, with the goal of completing a 5K race after 10 weeks. In her case, that race will be the Susan Komen Race for the Cure. This Wednesday, she's running a practice 5K on a neighborhood trail. You go, girl!
That same day is Julia's birthday. Not actually. Just at school. Her teacher sent home a note saying that she picks a date for kids whose real birthday is in the summer and that's the day that the class celebrates Julia. Oh, and if you want to, send cupcakes.
This Thursday, Allie is involved in a special program at the local senior center, celebrating Norwegian culture through song and dance. This town is overflowing with Norwegian descendants of the people who settled the place 100 years ago or so, so she's learning to be a Norwegian (even though she's half German and half Irish/English). Allie is a bell ringer and she's excited.
Friday, there's a local blood drive that I'll be sure to make it to. This donation will top off my 8th gallon of blood, which is 64 pints and 64 donations.
Also Friday, I have to bake a pie. This weekend is our community's biggest festival, Syttende Mai (Seventeen May - or the closest weekend to May 17th, which commemorates the day that Norway earned it's independence from Sweden way back when). What does that have to do with pie? Our local library holds a pie sale as a fundraiser and since I spend a lot of time using library services, I figure I can bake a pie.
And these are just this week's events for our family. What's on your schedule for the week?
This past weekend, Julia got to attend her first friend birthday party, which was held at the local bowling alley. She thought it was the awesomeist. These brave people invited her entire class of about 18 kids and there were 16 that made it. Julia's goal was to beat the bowling score of the birthday boy, and for the sake of it being his day, I'm pleased to report that he got an 80 and Julia got a 79.
Allie has been attending a course called "Girls on the Run" for the last eight weeks. It's a girls empowerment course coupled with running exercise, with the goal of completing a 5K race after 10 weeks. In her case, that race will be the Susan Komen Race for the Cure. This Wednesday, she's running a practice 5K on a neighborhood trail. You go, girl!
That same day is Julia's birthday. Not actually. Just at school. Her teacher sent home a note saying that she picks a date for kids whose real birthday is in the summer and that's the day that the class celebrates Julia. Oh, and if you want to, send cupcakes.
This Thursday, Allie is involved in a special program at the local senior center, celebrating Norwegian culture through song and dance. This town is overflowing with Norwegian descendants of the people who settled the place 100 years ago or so, so she's learning to be a Norwegian (even though she's half German and half Irish/English). Allie is a bell ringer and she's excited.
Friday, there's a local blood drive that I'll be sure to make it to. This donation will top off my 8th gallon of blood, which is 64 pints and 64 donations.
Also Friday, I have to bake a pie. This weekend is our community's biggest festival, Syttende Mai (Seventeen May - or the closest weekend to May 17th, which commemorates the day that Norway earned it's independence from Sweden way back when). What does that have to do with pie? Our local library holds a pie sale as a fundraiser and since I spend a lot of time using library services, I figure I can bake a pie.
And these are just this week's events for our family. What's on your schedule for the week?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Toy story
I debated about whether to write this post, but decided that what I'm going to talk about is going to be emblazoned on my memory anyway, so I might as well write about it.
Last Saturday, Allie had a birthday party that started at 2:00 p.m. with a trip to Build-A-Bear, then included pizza and a sleepover. Sleepover being a relative term, since she said other girls woke her at 1:00 a.m., so they all ate ice cream. And when Allie got to sleep about 3:00 a.m., someone went around and woke everyone again. Anyway, this story is what happened with me and Julia while Allie was gone.
Late in the afternoon, Julia and I headed up to Madison to do a little shopping, maybe to visit the pet store, and to have dinner together, just the two of us. Greg was hibernating at home, enjoying not have any females around.
The first stop we made was Target. I needed to get some larger spring nightwear for Allie (a fact that was pointed out as we packed for her overnight) and a few other things. One of those things was toilet paper, which I found in a 20-pack and loaded into the cart. After picking up our other items, we headed for the toy section at Julia's urgings. She was riding in the basket of the cart and I indulged her as we traveled up and down nearly every aisle, looking at toys. We talked about things she liked as possibilities for her birthday list, her birthday being only about 3 months away now.
After literally almost 1/2 hour of looking at toys, I told Julia we needed to move on and check out, so we could get some dinner. Julia said no. She said she wanted me to buy her a princess set of some kind. I reminded her that I never said we were going to buy her any toys and reminded her that she had gotten a small toy just the day before, when we bought the gift Allie needed for her birthday party. She refused to leave the aisle, even when I walked away. I walked back and told her we were not going to buy any toys today and that it was time to leave. She wrapped her arms around the princess set and refused to leave the aisle. I walked away again, then told her that if she didn't come with me, our dinner plans were in serious jeopardy. She said no again.
I told Julia again that we were leaving and that now we weren't going out to eat. She whined about her princess set. I said we were now leaving the store and that if she didn't come with me, she was going to be going straight home and straight to bed. She still refused to come with me. I took her by the arm and pulled her over to the cart and she started saying (loudly, needless to say) that I was hurting her. I told her she WAS going to come with me and that I wouldn't hold her if she moved with me. She refused and walked back to the toy aisle.
I walked after her again and pulled her by the arm with me down the center aisle. I tried to pick her up and put her back in the cart and she kicked me. When I had to put her down (she weighs over 40 lbs. now), she ran away from me back toward the toy aisle. She walked back through a good chunk of the store as I abandoned our cart and followed her, threatening most of the way. I picked her up again and held her legs as I carried her back through the store. This is when I started regretting that I really wanted to purchase Allie's nightwear, since I was reluctant to just walk out of the store. In retrospect, I should have just left and gone back alone on Sunday.
Regardless, I eventually had to put her down and I kept hold of either her arm or her shirt as I pulled her through the store to the checkout. She was screaming all the way. Okay, maybe not screaming, but definitely a raised voice, saying I was hurting her and that she wanted to go back to the toy aisle because she didn't remember everything we had picked out. I got in her face and told her I was very disappointed in how she was behaving and that we were definitely leaving and that she was going home and to bed.
We got to the checkout and I heard someone behind me say, "This is why we're not having kids." I paid for our purchases and Julia trailed behind me, way behind me, as I took the cart back. I grabbed our one bag and the damned toilet paper pack and told her to get her coat on (it was maybe 50 degrees out and raining a little). She said no. I had to chase her to grab her arm and I told her fine, then she was going outside without her coat. I pulled her outside and when she screamed for her coat, I let go and tried to get her to put it on. She was still crying about not leaving yet, so I pulled her to the car, which thankfully was not too far away and made her get in. She started kicking and flailing at me as I tried to buckle her seatbelt and she knocked my glasses right off my face.
I had been angry before, needless to say, but that was it. I started crying and I told her that I couldn't believe how she was acting. She didn't say anything, but she stopped hitting me and I buckled her in. I got in the car and almost hit another car backing out because I was still crying. We started the 25-minute car ride home and I told her that I didn't want to talk to her at all because she had been so naughty. She started talking to herself, saying that she was a bad girl and had done really horrible things. I finally told her she wasn't a bad girl, but that she had done some very naughty things. She asked what was going to happen, if we were going to eat, and I told her we were going home.
When we got home, Greg took over, putting her in her room and telling her she wasn't getting any dinner. It was about 6:00 p.m. I didn't feel like talking to her at all or even looking at her. After about an hour, Greg let her out to eat just a peanut butter sandwich, then she went back in her room and eventually to bed. The next day, she didn't get to watch any TV or play with any of her neighborhood friends.
She says she's learned her lesson. I told her I don't think I'm ever going to take her into a toy store or toy section again. Greg and I talked about whether I should have spanked her, something I've never done, but I don't think it would have helped. She was wild. She wasn't listening to anything I said at all.
I've never had such a miserable episode with either of my kids before. And I hope to never again. Just thinking about it again makes me teary since I was so disappointed in how she acted. Julia is 5, almost 6, and she acted like she was 2. I'm just praying this isn't a new trend in our lives with her.
Last Saturday, Allie had a birthday party that started at 2:00 p.m. with a trip to Build-A-Bear, then included pizza and a sleepover. Sleepover being a relative term, since she said other girls woke her at 1:00 a.m., so they all ate ice cream. And when Allie got to sleep about 3:00 a.m., someone went around and woke everyone again. Anyway, this story is what happened with me and Julia while Allie was gone.
Late in the afternoon, Julia and I headed up to Madison to do a little shopping, maybe to visit the pet store, and to have dinner together, just the two of us. Greg was hibernating at home, enjoying not have any females around.
The first stop we made was Target. I needed to get some larger spring nightwear for Allie (a fact that was pointed out as we packed for her overnight) and a few other things. One of those things was toilet paper, which I found in a 20-pack and loaded into the cart. After picking up our other items, we headed for the toy section at Julia's urgings. She was riding in the basket of the cart and I indulged her as we traveled up and down nearly every aisle, looking at toys. We talked about things she liked as possibilities for her birthday list, her birthday being only about 3 months away now.
After literally almost 1/2 hour of looking at toys, I told Julia we needed to move on and check out, so we could get some dinner. Julia said no. She said she wanted me to buy her a princess set of some kind. I reminded her that I never said we were going to buy her any toys and reminded her that she had gotten a small toy just the day before, when we bought the gift Allie needed for her birthday party. She refused to leave the aisle, even when I walked away. I walked back and told her we were not going to buy any toys today and that it was time to leave. She wrapped her arms around the princess set and refused to leave the aisle. I walked away again, then told her that if she didn't come with me, our dinner plans were in serious jeopardy. She said no again.
I told Julia again that we were leaving and that now we weren't going out to eat. She whined about her princess set. I said we were now leaving the store and that if she didn't come with me, she was going to be going straight home and straight to bed. She still refused to come with me. I took her by the arm and pulled her over to the cart and she started saying (loudly, needless to say) that I was hurting her. I told her she WAS going to come with me and that I wouldn't hold her if she moved with me. She refused and walked back to the toy aisle.
I walked after her again and pulled her by the arm with me down the center aisle. I tried to pick her up and put her back in the cart and she kicked me. When I had to put her down (she weighs over 40 lbs. now), she ran away from me back toward the toy aisle. She walked back through a good chunk of the store as I abandoned our cart and followed her, threatening most of the way. I picked her up again and held her legs as I carried her back through the store. This is when I started regretting that I really wanted to purchase Allie's nightwear, since I was reluctant to just walk out of the store. In retrospect, I should have just left and gone back alone on Sunday.
Regardless, I eventually had to put her down and I kept hold of either her arm or her shirt as I pulled her through the store to the checkout. She was screaming all the way. Okay, maybe not screaming, but definitely a raised voice, saying I was hurting her and that she wanted to go back to the toy aisle because she didn't remember everything we had picked out. I got in her face and told her I was very disappointed in how she was behaving and that we were definitely leaving and that she was going home and to bed.
We got to the checkout and I heard someone behind me say, "This is why we're not having kids." I paid for our purchases and Julia trailed behind me, way behind me, as I took the cart back. I grabbed our one bag and the damned toilet paper pack and told her to get her coat on (it was maybe 50 degrees out and raining a little). She said no. I had to chase her to grab her arm and I told her fine, then she was going outside without her coat. I pulled her outside and when she screamed for her coat, I let go and tried to get her to put it on. She was still crying about not leaving yet, so I pulled her to the car, which thankfully was not too far away and made her get in. She started kicking and flailing at me as I tried to buckle her seatbelt and she knocked my glasses right off my face.
I had been angry before, needless to say, but that was it. I started crying and I told her that I couldn't believe how she was acting. She didn't say anything, but she stopped hitting me and I buckled her in. I got in the car and almost hit another car backing out because I was still crying. We started the 25-minute car ride home and I told her that I didn't want to talk to her at all because she had been so naughty. She started talking to herself, saying that she was a bad girl and had done really horrible things. I finally told her she wasn't a bad girl, but that she had done some very naughty things. She asked what was going to happen, if we were going to eat, and I told her we were going home.
When we got home, Greg took over, putting her in her room and telling her she wasn't getting any dinner. It was about 6:00 p.m. I didn't feel like talking to her at all or even looking at her. After about an hour, Greg let her out to eat just a peanut butter sandwich, then she went back in her room and eventually to bed. The next day, she didn't get to watch any TV or play with any of her neighborhood friends.
She says she's learned her lesson. I told her I don't think I'm ever going to take her into a toy store or toy section again. Greg and I talked about whether I should have spanked her, something I've never done, but I don't think it would have helped. She was wild. She wasn't listening to anything I said at all.
I've never had such a miserable episode with either of my kids before. And I hope to never again. Just thinking about it again makes me teary since I was so disappointed in how she acted. Julia is 5, almost 6, and she acted like she was 2. I'm just praying this isn't a new trend in our lives with her.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Summer in spring
The girls have been off school an awful lot lately. They had their week of spring break, then another day off for Easter, then Julia was off two days because of next year's kindergarteners, then they were off this Thursday afternoon and Friday for some dumb reason. And we compounded the situation by taking them out of school to take them to the Kalahari indoor water park. All in all, it's amazing that they're learning anything at all lately.
And they are learning. Allie is tackling some cool stuff in math--geometry, division, multiplication, even some basic algebra (though they don't call it that). She's also doing some bizarre and complicated words in spelling, including "miscellaneous," "accommodate," and "quadriceps." How many adults know how to spell miscellaneous? We all know we just abbreviate it. Meanwhile, Julia is plowing ahead with her sight reading words and she now likes to sit next to me while I read something and tell me the words she knows on the page.
And wonder of wonders. Last night, Julia found the book she checked out last October from the school library that had immediately gone missing into the miasma that is our household. We started getting late notices in November and the school hasn't allowed her to check out any additional books because they didn't get "Angelina in the Wings" back. I was seriously going to just pay the school for the book so she could have full library privileges again.
Yesterday, the girls played outside for a good chunk of the day and the temperature was over 80 degrees. Julia wanted to get out the swimming pool. I successfully restrained her. It is still just April, after all.
And they are learning. Allie is tackling some cool stuff in math--geometry, division, multiplication, even some basic algebra (though they don't call it that). She's also doing some bizarre and complicated words in spelling, including "miscellaneous," "accommodate," and "quadriceps." How many adults know how to spell miscellaneous? We all know we just abbreviate it. Meanwhile, Julia is plowing ahead with her sight reading words and she now likes to sit next to me while I read something and tell me the words she knows on the page.
And wonder of wonders. Last night, Julia found the book she checked out last October from the school library that had immediately gone missing into the miasma that is our household. We started getting late notices in November and the school hasn't allowed her to check out any additional books because they didn't get "Angelina in the Wings" back. I was seriously going to just pay the school for the book so she could have full library privileges again.
Yesterday, the girls played outside for a good chunk of the day and the temperature was over 80 degrees. Julia wanted to get out the swimming pool. I successfully restrained her. It is still just April, after all.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Spring
We were away for the weekend, celebrating a late Easter with my family. My sister Pam hosted the annual Easter Egg Hunt, which needless to say my girls love more than any Easter Egg Hunt ever devised because they only compete against each other. This year, Allie found 44 eggs full of candy and coins and Julia found 46.
The hunt took place after Pam's kitchen just about exploded from the pressure of all of the food that she and Jeff (and my parents too) prepared. I won't list it all; suffice it to say that the menu for the noon meal alone ran to about 20 items. I think she's trying to kill us all. Not that she was standing there with a firearm forcing us to eat to excess but hey, somehow we all did anyway.
Even the weather cooperated. The lakeshore of Wisconsin can be a chilly place at any time of the year but somehow the weather stayed warm enough that the girls just ran around in spring coats to find their eggs. We have photos of numerous years of egg hunts when they wore winter coats and boots because of all the snow in Pam's yard.
Ah, spring.
The hunt took place after Pam's kitchen just about exploded from the pressure of all of the food that she and Jeff (and my parents too) prepared. I won't list it all; suffice it to say that the menu for the noon meal alone ran to about 20 items. I think she's trying to kill us all. Not that she was standing there with a firearm forcing us to eat to excess but hey, somehow we all did anyway.
Even the weather cooperated. The lakeshore of Wisconsin can be a chilly place at any time of the year but somehow the weather stayed warm enough that the girls just ran around in spring coats to find their eggs. We have photos of numerous years of egg hunts when they wore winter coats and boots because of all the snow in Pam's yard.
Ah, spring.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Julia's day
This morning, Julia and me took Allie to school and Julia didn't say nyah-nyah about having a day off with her mom.
We went to the library in late morning and Julia played for half an hour on a library computer--various educational games including one where she manipulated a skeleton and its body organs. Then we went to McDonald's and because the weather was so beautiful, she got to play in the outside playland for almost an hour.
Afterwards, we went to the other side of town and walked the Yahara River Trail for about an hour. There were only people around right at the beginning of the trail, but we saw plenty of birds further in, including a very wary goose. There were a large number of tadpoles in the creek, fish in several places, a snake (which Julia was not interested in sticking around to watch further), and a whole bunch of turtles. Seriously, a really large number of turtles, sunning themselves on every log on the other side of the river tributary.
I probably wouldn't have even noticed them but for the fact that a whole mess of them plopped into the water at the same time. It happened in waves, just like turtle synchronized swimming. Bizarre and interesting.
Then we stopped off at a friend's house and Julia played with the kids there for about 1/2 hour. She was whipped by the time we got home; just in time for her sister to walk in from school. Poor Allie--tomorrow she's going to miss baking!
We went to the library in late morning and Julia played for half an hour on a library computer--various educational games including one where she manipulated a skeleton and its body organs. Then we went to McDonald's and because the weather was so beautiful, she got to play in the outside playland for almost an hour.
Afterwards, we went to the other side of town and walked the Yahara River Trail for about an hour. There were only people around right at the beginning of the trail, but we saw plenty of birds further in, including a very wary goose. There were a large number of tadpoles in the creek, fish in several places, a snake (which Julia was not interested in sticking around to watch further), and a whole bunch of turtles. Seriously, a really large number of turtles, sunning themselves on every log on the other side of the river tributary.
I probably wouldn't have even noticed them but for the fact that a whole mess of them plopped into the water at the same time. It happened in waves, just like turtle synchronized swimming. Bizarre and interesting.
Then we stopped off at a friend's house and Julia played with the kids there for about 1/2 hour. She was whipped by the time we got home; just in time for her sister to walk in from school. Poor Allie--tomorrow she's going to miss baking!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Back to normal
Or as normal as it gets around here . . .
On Monday, after a successful visit to Allie's classroom, me and the Hughes family spent a few minutes chatting with Julia's teacher while Amy and Evan explored Julia's classroom (unfortunately, she had had to go off to gym class). A short while later, we headed off to Chicago and the whole lot of Hugheses headed back to merry old England.
The trip to and from the airport went very smoothly for me despite persistent rain and I understand from Dan that their kids were pretty darn good on the long trip home. The family seems to have all recovered nicely from the brutal west-to-east time change since, per Dan's blog.
And so our family has returned to its normal routines. It's odd, we seem to have so much room in our refrigerator now, and not just because we're not cooling down numerous 2-liter bottles of Diet Coke. Allie and Julia talk about missing their short-term live-in playmates, but I think they'd secretly admit that they're OK with not having to share their toys with anyone other than each other again. Though they definitely miss the iPhones and their games.
Tomorrow and Friday, Julia is off of school because next year's kindergarteners are visiting her classroom. Allie still has to go though. I'll have to counsel Julia not to yell nyah-nyah out the window as we drop her sister off.
On Monday, after a successful visit to Allie's classroom, me and the Hughes family spent a few minutes chatting with Julia's teacher while Amy and Evan explored Julia's classroom (unfortunately, she had had to go off to gym class). A short while later, we headed off to Chicago and the whole lot of Hugheses headed back to merry old England.
The trip to and from the airport went very smoothly for me despite persistent rain and I understand from Dan that their kids were pretty darn good on the long trip home. The family seems to have all recovered nicely from the brutal west-to-east time change since, per Dan's blog.
And so our family has returned to its normal routines. It's odd, we seem to have so much room in our refrigerator now, and not just because we're not cooling down numerous 2-liter bottles of Diet Coke. Allie and Julia talk about missing their short-term live-in playmates, but I think they'd secretly admit that they're OK with not having to share their toys with anyone other than each other again. Though they definitely miss the iPhones and their games.
Tomorrow and Friday, Julia is off of school because next year's kindergarteners are visiting her classroom. Allie still has to go though. I'll have to counsel Julia not to yell nyah-nyah out the window as we drop her sister off.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Day 11 of 12
Well, the Hughes family is almost done with us. Tomorrow afternoon, I take the lot of them back to O'Hare and they fly back to England, probably never to darken our door again. Actually, that part is true; when next we meet their family, I'm thinking it'll be at a vacation destination (like Orlando) or we'll be headed to their part of the world again.
On Friday, our families did a nature walk and the kids got in some additional playground time. There was also a lake, into which both Hughes children managed to dip their shoes. Actually, Amy fell in when she lost her balance on the rock she was standing on. She wasn't hurt and she only got wet up to just above her ankles, but I figure the water temperature of Lake Kegonsa at this time of year is probably about 45 degrees. She didn't even complain--tough kid.
Yesterday, we went shopping again and had lunch at what we thought was a curiously empty Applebees, until we got our food and experienced lackadasial service, which made us understand why it was curiously empty. Then we checked out the zoo and straggled home, tired after another busy afternoon.
This afternoon, the Hughes are off having Easter dinner with some other web friends, so our house is strangely quiet. The Easter Bunny visited this morning and brought new toys and only a little chocolate (compliments of Dan and Kerry), so our kids aren't too hopped up on sugar.
Yet to come is a visit by the Hughes to Allie's classroom. I hope they don't feel too much on display as they answer goodness-only-knows what questions from a group of 9-year-olds. I wish them luck!
On Friday, our families did a nature walk and the kids got in some additional playground time. There was also a lake, into which both Hughes children managed to dip their shoes. Actually, Amy fell in when she lost her balance on the rock she was standing on. She wasn't hurt and she only got wet up to just above her ankles, but I figure the water temperature of Lake Kegonsa at this time of year is probably about 45 degrees. She didn't even complain--tough kid.
Yesterday, we went shopping again and had lunch at what we thought was a curiously empty Applebees, until we got our food and experienced lackadasial service, which made us understand why it was curiously empty. Then we checked out the zoo and straggled home, tired after another busy afternoon.
This afternoon, the Hughes are off having Easter dinner with some other web friends, so our house is strangely quiet. The Easter Bunny visited this morning and brought new toys and only a little chocolate (compliments of Dan and Kerry), so our kids aren't too hopped up on sugar.
Yet to come is a visit by the Hughes to Allie's classroom. I hope they don't feel too much on display as they answer goodness-only-knows what questions from a group of 9-year-olds. I wish them luck!
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Day 8 of 12
We've been doing our level best to wear out the Hughes family in the last few days. Our task has been made easier by the fact that Amy and Evan have been having some trouble sleeping, which unfortunately means that Dan and Kerry have been having trouble sleeping.
From the perspective of our having 9 and 5 year old children who are sleeping in their own beds and who therefore seldom wake us up at night anymore, we have sincere sympathy for the Hughes family.
Tuesday, we took our girls out of school for the day and the group of us headed off to the world's largest indoor water park, Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Needless to say, we were all exhausted after spending (count 'em) 7 1/2 hours enjoying their attractions.
Yesterday, the Hughes and I went to a nearby McDonald's indoor play land in the morning (Such excitement, huh? Well, their kids liked it!). After they made me a wonderful lunch at home, Greg took them off to an area dairy farm that offers tours. I'll let Dan or Greg tell you about that trip, or you can see the pictures when they are posted.
Then last night a friend of ours who has a business renting jumpies (or bouncy houses, as I have learned they're called in the U.K.) asked us all to come over and try out their brand new acquisitions. Which, needless to say, Kerry, Evan, Amy, Allie, Julia and I were happy to do. And yes, Kerry and I did get inside and jump around. It was a lot of fun.
Today, our girls went to school and the rest of us went off to Milwaukee, to the Milwaukee Public Museum and then to Cheesecake Factory for lunch. On the way back, Kerry and I did some quick shopping at the Johnson Creek Outlet Mall, and yes, Jeanette, Kerry found your Crocs.
We have more activities planned tomorrow. Our time together is going very quickly now, but we're having a really good time. At least my family is. And I think the Hughes family is. Hughes family, you are, aren't you?
From the perspective of our having 9 and 5 year old children who are sleeping in their own beds and who therefore seldom wake us up at night anymore, we have sincere sympathy for the Hughes family.
Tuesday, we took our girls out of school for the day and the group of us headed off to the world's largest indoor water park, Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Needless to say, we were all exhausted after spending (count 'em) 7 1/2 hours enjoying their attractions.
Yesterday, the Hughes and I went to a nearby McDonald's indoor play land in the morning (Such excitement, huh? Well, their kids liked it!). After they made me a wonderful lunch at home, Greg took them off to an area dairy farm that offers tours. I'll let Dan or Greg tell you about that trip, or you can see the pictures when they are posted.
Then last night a friend of ours who has a business renting jumpies (or bouncy houses, as I have learned they're called in the U.K.) asked us all to come over and try out their brand new acquisitions. Which, needless to say, Kerry, Evan, Amy, Allie, Julia and I were happy to do. And yes, Kerry and I did get inside and jump around. It was a lot of fun.
Today, our girls went to school and the rest of us went off to Milwaukee, to the Milwaukee Public Museum and then to Cheesecake Factory for lunch. On the way back, Kerry and I did some quick shopping at the Johnson Creek Outlet Mall, and yes, Jeanette, Kerry found your Crocs.
We have more activities planned tomorrow. Our time together is going very quickly now, but we're having a really good time. At least my family is. And I think the Hughes family is. Hughes family, you are, aren't you?
Monday, April 06, 2009
Day 5 of 12
Well, we've made it through Day number 5 of the Englishpeople's visit. Or should that be something like Britishers? Or U.K.ites?
Our kids went back to school today and the Hughes and I hung around the house this morning before going on an outing this afternoon. Actually, that's not at all true. Kerry, Amy, Evan and I hung around the house and Dan went wandering through our town for over two hours. Our city's population is about 12,500, so I think by now Dan has probably met everyone.
At lunchtime, we scooped up my husband and drove to Madison, where Dan and Greg each sweated buckets after they tried the hottest of hot wings at Quaker Steak and Lube. Men.
Then we did a little shopping before heading home. Amy and Evan got some time in at the park across the street from our house with their daddy, then they ran wild at an indoor playground at the mall. It was only in the high 30s for most of the day, which means what in Celsius--maybe 2 or something? It was also windy, so it felt really cold.
Tomorrow it's supposed to warm up slightly, then Wednesday and Thursday are supposed to be better, about 12 Celsius or about 50 degrees. Still not too warm, but at least the kids may be able to go about without mittens.
In other news, both sets of children are quickly picking up words and intonations from each other. That's a benefit of cross-cultural visits, new language for the rest of their lifetimes. Of course, it's English and English, but still.
Our kids went back to school today and the Hughes and I hung around the house this morning before going on an outing this afternoon. Actually, that's not at all true. Kerry, Amy, Evan and I hung around the house and Dan went wandering through our town for over two hours. Our city's population is about 12,500, so I think by now Dan has probably met everyone.
At lunchtime, we scooped up my husband and drove to Madison, where Dan and Greg each sweated buckets after they tried the hottest of hot wings at Quaker Steak and Lube. Men.
Then we did a little shopping before heading home. Amy and Evan got some time in at the park across the street from our house with their daddy, then they ran wild at an indoor playground at the mall. It was only in the high 30s for most of the day, which means what in Celsius--maybe 2 or something? It was also windy, so it felt really cold.
Tomorrow it's supposed to warm up slightly, then Wednesday and Thursday are supposed to be better, about 12 Celsius or about 50 degrees. Still not too warm, but at least the kids may be able to go about without mittens.
In other news, both sets of children are quickly picking up words and intonations from each other. That's a benefit of cross-cultural visits, new language for the rest of their lifetimes. Of course, it's English and English, but still.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
It's a blog war!
I know that I can't be as amusing as Dan in writing about our weekend activities, so I'll just wimp out and link to him instead.
And if Dan thought yesterday's activities were exciting, wait until we get to later today! The snow seems to be holding off so far (though the weather gurus are still projecting up to 5 inches), so our tentative plans for today include bowling.
How much more Wisconsin can you get than that. After all, until very recently we had the some kind of Bowling Hall of Fame in our glorious state. The news article I vaguely remember said they were moving because Wisconsin didn't offer enough tax breaks. So I guess my tax dollars aren't supporting bowling. How un-Wisconsinlike.
And if Dan thought yesterday's activities were exciting, wait until we get to later today! The snow seems to be holding off so far (though the weather gurus are still projecting up to 5 inches), so our tentative plans for today include bowling.
How much more Wisconsin can you get than that. After all, until very recently we had the some kind of Bowling Hall of Fame in our glorious state. The news article I vaguely remember said they were moving because Wisconsin didn't offer enough tax breaks. So I guess my tax dollars aren't supporting bowling. How un-Wisconsinlike.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Day 3 of 12
The Hughes have arrived, en masse, and are currently occupying our finished basement. I don't think Amy had even seen as many pink toys as we own, outside of a toy store, so she was quite dazzled. Evan is young enough that he doesn't mind that most of our toys are pink, so he seems to be having fun too.
The kids are getting along quite well and Greg and I haven't found Dan or Kerry to be irritating yet. Of course, it's only the beginning of day 3. Stay tuned.
In actuality, the visit of our English friends is going quite smoothly so far and we've very pleased that they're here. Particularly since there's a winter storm coming later today and we could get as much as 7 inches of snow. Dan says he has never run a snowblower.
Oh, boy! He's very likely going to get the chance this weekend. The wonders of Wisconsin weather in the spring.
The kids are getting along quite well and Greg and I haven't found Dan or Kerry to be irritating yet. Of course, it's only the beginning of day 3. Stay tuned.
In actuality, the visit of our English friends is going quite smoothly so far and we've very pleased that they're here. Particularly since there's a winter storm coming later today and we could get as much as 7 inches of snow. Dan says he has never run a snowblower.
Oh, boy! He's very likely going to get the chance this weekend. The wonders of Wisconsin weather in the spring.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Brownies
That's what we ended up baking yesterday, after I did some cleaning. Today, I just need to finish the three bathrooms and yell at the girls until the living room is picked up and I think we're pretty much ready for the visit of the Hughes family tomorrow.
I hope they appreciate the new paint. Dang project took me almost four days and it was all for their benefit. Just theirs. Sheesh.
Other projects on the list for today--visits to the bank, post office, St. Vincent de Paul, library, laundromat (to wash some big comforters), grocery store and gas station. Goodness, I'd better get moving!
I hope they appreciate the new paint. Dang project took me almost four days and it was all for their benefit. Just theirs. Sheesh.
Other projects on the list for today--visits to the bank, post office, St. Vincent de Paul, library, laundromat (to wash some big comforters), grocery store and gas station. Goodness, I'd better get moving!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
See what you've been missing?
It is raining today and the girls and I are bored. We should bake something. That's what I normally do when I'm home and it's raining.
But alas. Our house is a messy disaster area (except for the basement, which Greg did his best to turn into a bed-and-breakfast by expending significant effort this past Sunday). So I must clean.
After all, we're excited that the British invasion is coming on Thursday for 12 days. And though we may be able to get away with a cursory cleaning for our normal house guests (who usually only stay 2-3 days and about whom I theorize therefore could not possibly have time to notice how dusty the tops of all of my picture frames are), these people will be sticking around long enough to notice all of our dust.
So I'd best stop procrastinating and get to the cleaning. Right after I surf the web for an hour or so.
But alas. Our house is a messy disaster area (except for the basement, which Greg did his best to turn into a bed-and-breakfast by expending significant effort this past Sunday). So I must clean.
After all, we're excited that the British invasion is coming on Thursday for 12 days. And though we may be able to get away with a cursory cleaning for our normal house guests (who usually only stay 2-3 days and about whom I theorize therefore could not possibly have time to notice how dusty the tops of all of my picture frames are), these people will be sticking around long enough to notice all of our dust.
So I'd best stop procrastinating and get to the cleaning. Right after I surf the web for an hour or so.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
I don't know
I don't know why I stopped blogging. Boredom with my life, I suppose. Winter depression, seasonal affective disorder, something. The fact is that I had not much going on in my life for the last few months, so what would I write. I'm not really depressed, I guess. I'm just not having all that much fun lately. Though there have been moments.
Regardless, I'm going to try some blogging again.
So I spent most of last week painting. We've been in our house for 10 years now. It was new when we moved in, all white walls of course. And after ten years, some areas weren't looking too good. I think the first room we ever painted was when we were expecting Allie. Then we did a bathroom, then Julia's room, then the dining room, then another bathroom. A few months ago, I painted the master bathroom and now last week, I painted our living room/kitchen/dinette, which is all one big space.
It was probably the least satisfying room we've painted because I went with off-white. In all of the other rooms, we've added some color. After literally almost four solid days of work, all I ended up with is walls that look like they did 10 years ago. But they do look good.
Unfortunately, the rooms we have left that have never been painted are our bedroom (which could use it but really isn't any kind of priority), the mudroom (which could use it but gets so beat up through use that it probably wouldn't look like we'd done anything about 10 minutes after the paint dried) and our foyer. And the foyer needs to be painted pretty badly. But. It's two stories high, with clerestory windows that I think we've cleaned twice in 10 years. And light fixtures that were probably pretty cheap 10 years ago and that I now dislike immensely. So I'm thinking if we ever get around to painting this area, it'll require scaffold rental and a head for heights. And money for new light fixtures.
In other words, it won't be happening soon. Which is just as well since I'm kind of painted-out at the moment.
Regardless, I'm going to try some blogging again.
So I spent most of last week painting. We've been in our house for 10 years now. It was new when we moved in, all white walls of course. And after ten years, some areas weren't looking too good. I think the first room we ever painted was when we were expecting Allie. Then we did a bathroom, then Julia's room, then the dining room, then another bathroom. A few months ago, I painted the master bathroom and now last week, I painted our living room/kitchen/dinette, which is all one big space.
It was probably the least satisfying room we've painted because I went with off-white. In all of the other rooms, we've added some color. After literally almost four solid days of work, all I ended up with is walls that look like they did 10 years ago. But they do look good.
Unfortunately, the rooms we have left that have never been painted are our bedroom (which could use it but really isn't any kind of priority), the mudroom (which could use it but gets so beat up through use that it probably wouldn't look like we'd done anything about 10 minutes after the paint dried) and our foyer. And the foyer needs to be painted pretty badly. But. It's two stories high, with clerestory windows that I think we've cleaned twice in 10 years. And light fixtures that were probably pretty cheap 10 years ago and that I now dislike immensely. So I'm thinking if we ever get around to painting this area, it'll require scaffold rental and a head for heights. And money for new light fixtures.
In other words, it won't be happening soon. Which is just as well since I'm kind of painted-out at the moment.
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