most beautiful title ever.
I have like nothing to talk about, but I thought it had been awhile since I posted so here I am. *long awkward silence* hem.
I suppose some photos might be good. I bought new rechargeable batteries, my other ones never worked right, stupid Duracell, I'm back to my happy Energizer.
credits: Robin Carlton & Lauren Grier - Crazy Lil Thing at Sweet Shoppe Designs, click here for more credits.
Even my cat enjoys a nice warm knit. This is from Old Navy, I couldn't buy yarn for the price I paid. I absolutely love this cat, I can't tell ya enough.
When I was growing up my mom listened to - Traci Chapman, Carli Simon, and a few others. These two instantly make me think of my mom, good times and bad times of childhood. My Dad listened to things like The Talking Heads, Petty, and other classic 80's rock. I listen to these with my kids, and tell them stories of my childhood. I think we found a cd that will be apart of my kids' "childhood". I bought this with my Christmas money this past year, and it's still a very big favorite with me and the kids. It's the soundtrack for Curious George, who'da thought!
Here's a few of my favorites from the cd:
I really like the lyrics, they make me ponder on things I've never really thought on before. I like that. ;) Arianna makes toast some mornings, and instantly she turns this cd on in her Strawberry Shortcake CD Player that sits on our counter. We bake, and it goes on, I wash dishes and I put it on at times. It's nice.
I love fall, and we are enjoying it! Yesterday we watched Winnie the Pooh: Heffalump Halloween (great movie), and today we are finally making our Apple Crisp, I had to get some brown sugar. I wish that our leaves would fall off the trees early, we never get to enjoy them because they tend to stay up until end of November (not kidding). I must have the -long, lasting, never wanting to fall leaves- tree. Also makes raking no fun, because its soo cold and yucky/rainy by the time they do fall, who wants to go out there and rake? Not I.
Overnights start Sunday, I decided I'm going to Tivo an unnatural amount of TV so that I don't start going to bed too early. So on top of the shows I enjoy already - House, How I met your mother, Heroes, Lost (but thats a late season start), I'm going to start watching a few new ones. I have the Caveman one set up, Samantha Who (with Christina Applegate), I'm happy October Road will return but not until late season ether. Any other great new or old shows out there to watch? Or movies even, I'm open to suggestions, just something to keep me entertained to watch after the kids are in bed, and I have knitting to accomplish.
so yep, that was fun, have to make a date to do it again. ;)
Monday, September 24, 2007
a few life guarantees
- if you are in a hurry, traffic will be horrible, and it will take forever to arrive.
- as soon as you catch up with dishes or laundry, there is always more, unless you live off of plastic and are in a nudist colony.
- chaos comes at you in groups, three seems to be a good average number.
- my own kids are just the most cutest, sweetest kids in the whole world, rofl.
We had a really great weekend, we went to Nathan's surprise party. He is home for at least a few days, he's hoping to get extended for 10 days instead of the 3 alloted to him. Then he's off for his last training before being deployed, we won't see him again until he's finished in Iraq. Arianna was asking about why he has to go, and if her own Daddy would. She felt sad for Nathan's kids, as do I. I don't know how his wife manages so well, their kids are 4, 2, and 3 months old. No pictures yet, when I get some from Jenni I'll share them here if I remember. ;)
Sunday I went to my folks to celebrate my moms birthday, her gift was me trying to fix her computer. Didn't get far since she didn't have the recovery cd, but I did help her clean the thing out, came home and made homemade chicken noodle soup for Jeremy who has a sore throat. I think it's stress at work, and each week his shift changes from 5am-3pm, or 1pm-10pm. Messes up his sleep schedule but third starts this upcoming week. Eek.
Lookie what I finished! I'm so proud of me! I've never finished a sweater before, it was very simple too, which means I plan to make some more!
pattern: School Spirit Sweater by Wendy Bernard at The Garter Belt. yarn: Plymouth Galway
I began, frogged, and began again Broadripple socks for my SITM partner! I hope she loves them!
pattern: Broadripple at the Knitty yarn: Memories from Knit Picks
I have realized that knitting while watching anything suspenseful means frogging my work. We'll see how long I remember that for. This time I was watching the finale of Heroes and thus messed up and had my repeat off by one, very tacky. Continuing the show, I try ripping out just to the issue, but then loose a few stitches, and decide that it's just time to start anew.
Enough of that, I'm out. :)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
one of those days...
ever have one? Where you feel like a good primitive scream in a pillow might make your day better? (I've never screamed in a pillow before.) Nah, it hasn't been that awful of a day. Arianna's lessons went perfectly, we had fun playing, and then watched an episode of Gilmore which is always fun. The frustrating has been getting these boogers to pick up their messes before leaving for Awanas. They keep sneaking off, like with bananas to go upstairs.. ummm hellooo we don't eat upstairs, ever. I don't know why they thought I wouldnt notice them disappear or hear their thump, thump up the stairs. But it has been a day of this, and fighting, amongst the younger kids and who I babysit.
I can't believe my baby is going off tonight. I considered signing on as a teacher in her/Willis' class, but am still undecided. Jeremy is supposed to go to third shift in a week and a half, by the beginning of October it's mandatory. I have no idea how that will effect our lives, I know it will effect our late nights that we have. We were up until 2 last night, watching Heroes. When the switch happens he will be leaving around 9:30pm to go to to work. :( Stinks. It is temporary though, until christmas is over, and it should mean weekends off, which is great for the holiday season. Plus theirs a pay increase for that shift... so there are positives.
Ah what will I do at night?!? Oh how to sleep in a big scary house without a protector! Those are the down sides to this, and then keeping kids quiet while he sleeps in the morning.
Not much else to say really. Got my invite to ravelry, that was cool. I just signed up today. my profile here. Haven't really done anything except add a profile and Willis' Ravenclaw sweater, which is nearly done.
ho hum... I think I'm going to go, drop these kids off. I have no idea what to do with this hour of time with no kids, no husband. Everyone assures me I will find something to fill my time, they just don't realize how important those boogers are to me. I'm not one who ever wanted to send my kids away, and I'm sad to not have that hour of special time alone with Aislyn. We used to shop, and meet up with my sisters, and go visit Jeremy at work. Now it's me solo... I'm sure Ill find something to do, groceries would be a good one, just don't need to this week, got that done yesterday...
maybe ill get my camera batteries charged and then won't spend this time rambling about nearly nothing. lol.
Monday, September 17, 2007
we're back!
We had a great time! We did over 500 miles on the car this weekend, over 400 some going back and forth, and then the kids out at the farm. Lots of driving. Jeremy can read in the car, so he did that a bit. I'm a little jealous since I am the only one who can really navigate, and if I read in the car I get sick.
So the renaissance faire was really neat, I've never been to the one in MN, so it was new for both of us. My mom and s.dad go semi-regularly and were saying we should get there early or the parking is horrendous, we ended up getting in around 10:30 (what was I thinking, that I could get out of bed by 5:30 AM!) We didn't have to park far at all, and actually jested, what was mom talking about... well when we left we saw. There were people parked all the out off the highway, and in different fields, yikes.
How about some photos of the day?
gotta love the tomato throwing, this guy was hilarious. insulting those in the crowd and those that threw and missed tomatoes. My favorite was when a little girl, maybe 7 started yelling at him, and calling him a 'poopy popsicle' lol. gotta love little kids and their insults, almost always center around potty talk.
watched some fencing, this was pretty neat. we planned to go back later but didn't make it that way around.
ick, a turkey leg. neither of us had ever tried them, so jeremy got one for us to try. i think i can go the rest of my life without ever eating one or smelling one again.
after lunch we went to the washing well wenches show, this was our favorite show. hilarious!
a random fairy playing music on the ground, i thought the kids might enjoy her.
the mud show, we caught this one too. and we realized that the faire is great for adults, but aren't sure how great it would be for the kids. A lot of swearing, and tall folk jokes.
the most expensive daisy i've ever received. but of course i love it. :)
a happy tortoise looking for some tips.
Jousting, horrible shots, my camera died.
oh almost forgot the great photo of us together, pfft. we were waiting for the washing well show to start.
We normally go to MN a time or two a year, we haven't been up there much with Jeremy's new position, not much for vacation nor free time at all. But I have decided fully, that the metro area is like a big Waverly... the roads make no sense. The person who decided to name roads must of been drinking a bit too much, because there is not much rhyme or reason to some of them. Like HWY 13... how can it a North/South road when it's going EAST... lol. I ended up finally buying a map of the metro area, and went down to Savage to cross to 42, then 35. I hate the whole 35W thing too... but seeing a map I can kinda see why they would have that, but I just think if a roads going to suddenly turn into a East/West road, that they should just give it a new name.
And to explain Waverly, almost all the roads are numbers, N/S, and E/W roads are all numbers, there are two first streets, one is a street, one is an avenue... It's something like North/South roads are Avenues, and East/West are streets... the only place Ive ever been that you need to know if it was Street or Avenue.
We had never been to Savage before, it was one of the place mentioned if we relocated, didn't have a clue where it was. I'm sort of a nerd in that I don't want my address (cause I mail stuff to myself soo often) to be lame... I just don't know about writing Savage, MN... lol. Not worried as we aren't thinking of relocating now as it is. Growing up my aunt lived near Faribault, they moved south a few years back, haven't seen her since I got married. When I was a kid we saw her nearly every other weekend. Her husband was in the military so he was hardly around, then they got divorced, so she was around even more.
Minnesota ain't so bad though, gets cold too fast, nice nature stuff though. It's no Chicago, but what is. ;) Below the metro area though the radio stations aren't good, we found one good station that was chronically on commercial.
I did find that just like in Iowa, people slow to a crawl when a cop is around. This is my favorite! People in Chicago do not do this, I really only thought it might be an Iowa thing, but Minnesota folks did it too..... driving down the interstate, oy vey! there is a cop! Must.not.drive.speed.limit. Why must we go from 70 mph, to what? I do not know. I passed a whole row of traffic going the exact speed limit, because a cop was in the area, people who moments before were not having any difficulties driving above and beyond the 70mph. I just don't get it. Its not like you are going to get a ticket for driving the limit. I always wonder if it makes the cops chuckle to themselves. In Chicago, people speed very much above the limit, the interstates are around 55, people going over 70, and if there is a cop they just keep on going, usually following the cops lead, who tends to go that fast too.
Ok I think that's all!
Friday, September 14, 2007
the eve before
my 6 year anniversary. We've been together since 1999, married in 01... a very large portion of my life has been with this man, hard to think of my life without him in it, horrible to really do so to be honest. This year has given me wisdom, both into God's will in my life, as the same to human nature, and the full power of love, and the decision to love.
I posted wedding photos last year, they haven't changed since yanno there was only one wedding. but i figure i could post one, since it's readily available, and in the spirit.
My BIL's wife gave birth the other day, so we went down to see the little guy yesterday morning. Here is the kids' cousin, Drew.
We went from not being aunts/uncles, and the kids having no cousins; to have two boy cousins born within days of each other. Landon is on Jeremy's birthday, and Drew is on Jeremy's best friend, Justin's birthday. They grew up together, born the same year, but different grades. I went to high school with Justin (and when i went off to college lived with jeremy and justin), he graduated two years ahead of me. MIL held Jeremy back to start kindergarten, so while older than Justin, he graduated later.
I got Kim's fru-fru tank finished, it is in brown and a soft pink.
This one below cracks me up! This is the first sweater I will finish, and without sleeves he looks like a member of Robin Hood's Merry Men.
"Oh Merry Men!"
And with a sleeve, it is the Ravenclaw sweater he desired. Knit out of Plymouth Galway, using up some of this stash here. Happy that though I didn't have the yardage I will be able to complete this.
That's all for photos, haven't taken too many. We watched Narnia yesterday, and had Papa Murphys, haven't had that in a while. Just had a rather relaxing day together, Jeremy has been working a lot, and so it was nice to just hang out.
Going to finish Ari's lessons, and then clean the house, pack their bags, cause the kids are going to Grandmas! And the adults are going to Shakopee... did I spell that right? We are waking up early Saturday morning, and coming back Saturday night, happy to have my Starbucks coupon (buy 1 get 1 free). And very excited to head north, and have a nice "day" away. I love driving and car trips, so I'm all stoked. Here's hoping for safe travels, and safe kids!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
hogwart swap Q & A
What type of pet do you choose as your companion at Hogwarts?
My cat Strider, he's my favorite.
While shopping in Hogsmeade you stop by Honeydukes for some sweets. What treats do you purchase for yourself?
coffee flavored chocolates, chocolate covered pretzels, always wanted to try those everything flavored beans.
A potion you are preparing needs an ingredient available only at muggle shops. You don't want to stand out in your wizards robes, so you resort to traditional muggle clothing. Describe your outfit in detail.
jeans, sandals, toe ring, tee shirt, and a brown knit sweater
What is your favorite subject to study at Hogwarts and why?
potions or dark arts
Likewise, what subject is your least favorite and why?
runes for sure
Back to the potion you were shopping for ingredients for, what type of potion are you making, what color is it, what are the ingredients, and precisely what does the potion do?
potion for scones, biscotti and coffee to appear without effort or need of ingredients. colors would be brown, and orange.
Monday, September 10, 2007
look at my cutie!
Gosh I love this little girl! She did fantastic today with her lessons, the year is really going well. I'm pretty psyched.. yah this is week two i know, but hey give me my small bit of happiness. ;)
She is my girl. It's amazing with kids, seeing them grow into their own person, have their own interests, personality, and history. And yet! Be so much like you or their parents, or aunts or uncles... it's neat to see the ties.
This little one has an appetite for 80's music, lol. For history, we learned the basics of what history/archeology mean, and this week are working on her & family history. She had to pick family members to interview, today she did me. I have thousands of fond childhood memories, but one is the Talking Heads. Dad got me the record, I'd wear my legwarmers (don't laugh you probably wore something geeky then too!) and bounce around my room singing to them... fun memories.
So we got my favorite songs as a kid and listened to those this morning, see below if interested.
this was my favorite *hearts* Darci thinks its terrible, ROFL. terrible sound quality though thats for sure.
shared this one last year sometime, arianna still loves this song. I think I'll get the cd of their greatest hits someday... add that to my long list of crap id like but don't need.
Arianna's other favorite song.
I like this song but it always makes me sad, so I don't listen to it very often. Just happened to show up in my Cyndi Lauper search.
And we talked about my elementary days... i used to walk/ride my bike to school, we were like .2 a way from being ONE mile from school, which would of qualified me for a school bus. When I went to Logan for one year I rode a city bus, lol, because again we weren't the 3 miles away, nearly but not quite. Thank goodness I only had to walk a few times. She was really interested in all of it, and it was kind of neat to share that piece of my life with her.
Well I need to shower and do some dishes, and all that good stuff.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
it seems to be fall, high 60's, overcast and chilly. it's the perfect day for a stew with biscuits, and the coffee by my side sure is a nice comfort. i have two sheets of pumpkin bars cooking, one for jeremy's work (all employee meeting), and then for my moms. i'm supposed to be heading out there soonish.
i've started a few different posts but haven't finished them. it's hard to write because so much is going on in my life, that i don't want to share. so what does that leave me? frivolity? emptiness? seemingly so. when you take out your spirit in a writing, you are left with a shell.
so while i dont want to discuss the trials in my life, i will share something that has been good.
i've found that:
i'm not alone, even when i dont feel another person has ever been in *my* shoes, someone has experienced something similar, and can relate. it's not misery loves company, it's to not feeling alone; it's feeling understood when you don't understand yourself.
i've found that even in my twenties, that i just don't belong anywhere. i don't have a "clique" i fit in. i have my few best friends and that is the end of my list. it's always been. i'm not *enough* - fill in the blank- i don't fit into a mold, and sometimes sitting in a church full of people, i feel like i don't belong. not being raised a christian, i feel lacking.
i'm a mom, but i'm still me. i love music, and cranking the radio, and driving with the windows down, and singing, and being wild, and laughing at stupid movies, and talking about trivial, crazy things. i don't drive a van, or wear cardigans, or fit into that 'mom' crowd. i dont let my babies cry themselves to sleep, i don't bottle feed them, i answer their cries as an infant and now as children, i comfort them when i can, i show them in the only way i know how.. that i love them, and am there for them whenever they need me.
taking myself out of my own head, i've never been comfortable around these people, i just dont feel like i fit in. so here i am, comfortable in myself, but not belonging. and i decided that im tired of that, these people will just have to deal. ;) we left a church that i loved, with people i cared for, and was accepted by. with moms who were like me, to go back to a church we left a few years back. there is nothing overly wrong with this church, just different.
i've been throwing myself into the bible, and God's word, and wonder where i've been this year, why i haven't been doing this as fully as i should have been... even in knowing im not perfect, that i need Him, i didn't fully put myself into his mercy, or pray for his full will on my life.
probably sounds like rambling, and probably insignificant for those that aren't of His flock. but i'm feeling peace, and trying to not let myself feel discouraged. as i said friday this has been a hard week. i love that we attended church again today, it lifts my spirits, and one of the songs we sang is one that i adore. they play it on the christian station from time to time.
and for some smiles, aislyn all dressed up to marry her "prince", and then a silly one, she insisted i wear it for a picture. all my kids love having their pictures taken and then seeing them on the computer.
there's the timer...
Friday, September 07, 2007
friday, thank goodness!
So glad that Friday is finally here, it's inevitable, after so many days, Friday will creep back upon us. I'm just glad that today is that day. ;) School has been going really good, have to get in the swing of things but for the first week I'd say it was a great way to kick off! Jeremy's been working a ton, it's that time of year. Doesn't help not seeing him for more than an hour in an entire day. Part of the reason this week has been such a hard one.
I was talking to my s.dad the other night, when we get on the phone we talk for hours, same with my bio dad. I hardly talk on the phone to my mom, seems like that is backwards. I digress, my s.dad was saying how when you are our age (me and Jeremy) you are ambitious, and think of what you haven't yet done, but hoped you would. Where as I can relate to that...
He continued and said that for him on the other hand, he's at the age that he's just glad to get out of bed in the morning. ;)
I thought it was enlightening and sort of humorous. I'm gathering courage to go in a new direction with my "career" in parenthesis, because above all I'm a mom, who stays at home. I do the web design/graphics on the side. I've decided to up myself again, get up to date with the times. Working on getting the Flash program and Dreamweaver. I actually don't like dreamweaver, I do everything by hand, but companies want that Adobe in there, so I'm going to. I'm thinking I'll get more experience, update my education, and try some freelancing, maybe someday do a contract. If I just add those two to my repertoire I can apply for gigs that pay much, much more than we make at the moment.
My dad asked me in the past why I didn't do those things, simply I'm not a money hungry girl. I'm pretty simple in these effects, if the kids are fed, bills paid, and there is money to do some vacations, and get starbucks... I'm pretty happy. But I figure at this moment in my life, it wouldn't hurt to educate myself further, and if I can find the time, then why not.
I worked on some graphic logos and some ready made items, I'm stocking them over at hyenacart, they will be stocked Saturday. my hc store. I think they all turned out pretty fantastic, so check them out if you want to see some of my creations.
I need to get up and clean the house, we have a sitter coming tomorrow night, and the house needs a vacuum and mop. it's just been a long, hard week. here's hoping next week is better, much better.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
a week in a minute
on a time crunch so here it is, in no particular order:
1. erika gave birth on monday
2. he is absolutely adorable, perfect, and too cute
3. wow is birth amazing, miraculous and terrifying all in one.
4. yes i saw the birth
5. my head hurts tonight
6. we went to the john deere picnic
7. it was fun, hot, and hot.
8. we started school today
9. it went great
10. im tired of having allergies
11. pumpkin spice latte mmmm
12. jeremy is sending a resume in for a new position, prayers really appreciated.
13. i love fall, but am sad to take the pool down in a few days
14. i hope we go to the renaissance faire in minnesota
15. its a consideration for our anniversary... 6 years, seems too short of a time for all the crap that's happened, and too much of a time to think of my life any different.
16. i for the life of me can't remember anything else that has happened, we've been so busy, but in a good way.
17. we had a date on saturday night, went to cup of joes, that was really nice. i love a good conversation over coffee, chilled back on a sofa, legs curled underneath. i like to read a good book that way too.
18. i'm going to go and uh find something else to do, computer screen hurts my eyes.
of course i couldn't leave without a picture, i mean i posted how many belly photos, i imagine i ought to post an adorable, perfectly adorable baby picture.
ah and a few stats too, why not!
6lbs. 13oz & 20 1/4 inches
