Rock n Roll

I asked Ms. R to brush her hair after she'd got out of the bath this evening ... when I walked into the living room, this is what I found. Ms. R using the brush and comb as mic's and rocking out to some song on Disney channel. Man, she makes me laugh.

2nd Edge

Tell about some of the most notable people in your hometown. The only people that anyone made a fuss over in Coaldale were the hockey players. Not unduly so, I guess. Kyle McLaren went onto play in the NHL, still does actually. So did Stacy Roest for a while (he now plays in Sweden... I think). The town was only about 2500 people when I lived there, so it wasn't likely that anything really exciting was going to happen.

What do you think about movies? What is your favorite movie and why?
I think movies, generally, are a nice "escape" from reality. I don't like thinking too deeply about any of the movies I watch because generally, I'm not going to get any REAL answers to any of the questions that might pop up. I like movies you can go watch, enjoy, walk out of with a pleasant feeling and never have to be bothered by it again. Garden State is my favorite movie. In direct violation to all my movie going attitudes, this one made me think, cry, wonder. I think Zach Braff is a genius.

What was the first piece of furniture that you bought?
I believe that would be ... the stereo set I bought with my babysitting/news paper delivery money when I was 14. It was the same cost as a Scooter, which I had also been considering buying. However, when I weighed out the pros and cons ... the stereo which I could use year round and not just two months a year, won.

What was your favorite place to go with your family when you were young?

There were two places. My first love was grandma and grandpa Bowlby's (adopted family) ranch. Their house, for the longest time had the stacked together log cabin appearance. Something about coming up over the hill and catching my first glimpse of the house always flooded me with warm welcoming love. Like I knew when I was there, I was loved. The few times I have made it back there in the last 10 years I still get that sensation. There was always a bowl of ice cream - a heaping bowl of ice cream to be had there. Grandpa never skimped on his scoops. At family functions there was always cousins crammed into every room, crawling out of every nook and cranny. You want privacy? Ha! Not likely. We'd take the cushions off the downstairs couch and go whipping down the carpeted stairs, usually ending up with more bumps and bruises because of how many of us there was bustling up and down. The pool table was a source of bruised fingers (who knew those long sticks were to hit the balls with?), laughing matches and fierce competitions. Grandma had a closet full of toys that I have yet to find anywhere else, probably because all the toys were so old. The other favorite place was Fairmont Hot Springs, BC where my parents had a timeshare. There was so much to do there! Swimming, beach volleyball, basketball, walleyball, squash, golf, hiking, air hockey, pool, board games, biking, horseback riding, a beach, the Recreation Center ... You were never bored! It's probably the biggest reason I am gunning for us to own something like that of our own. I'd like my kids to have memories like that when they grow up.

Honey Fart

Even as I write the title, I can't stop giggling when I think of the episode as it plays through my head. I thought it'd be one of those moments that I keep to myself because it's rather inappropriate. But I just can't. It's too funny.
Yesterday as I was making the kids their lunches of PB and honey sandwiches and pears (not altogether ... the pears were on the side) I was having to shake the last bit of honey out of the bear. As it came slithering out the spout the last little bit stuck and I squeezed a bit harder. It came out ... accompanied by the sound air makes as is squeaks out a tight spot. Ms. R and B-Man looked up and exclaimed, "Excuse you mom!" A little disgruntled I responded, "That was the honey bottle guys, not me". Ms. R looked at me rather skeptically then started to laugh and giggled out, "Honey Farts!" To which B-Man of course responded and they started dancing around singing, "The honey farts ... the honey farts" I really should have stopped the silliness, but it just made me laugh out loud.

House Memo

When you walk in your front door, which room do you enter? The entry way which is attached to the Front Room. I think that other people would call it a toy room or living room ... take your pick

Do you have a dishwasher? Who, in this day and age doesn't? Who ever they are ... gluttons for punishment!

Is your living room carpeted or does it have hardwood floors? For now, carpet. Yuck. But Cherry Wood floors are in the works.

Do you keep your kitchen knives on the counter or in a drawer? I keep them in a variety of places. Drawers and pantry. It turns out I need more kitchen space.

House, apartment, duplex or trailer? House

How many bedrooms is it? 3 bedroom, fourth was turned into an office

Gas stove or electric? Electric. When a new one is bought, it will be gas.

Do you have a yard? Yes, a HUGE yard. We live on almost an acre. In a city.

What size TV is in the living room? We have two tv's side by side. Driving me INSANE! Don't ask. 58" and 38".

Are your plates in the same cupboard as your cups? Yeah, till I renovate.

Is there a coffee maker sitting on your kitchen counter? Nope. One in the cupboard for when Rod comes though.

What color is your home painted?? Interior? Exterior? Which room? Outside is all brick. Indoors ... Variety.

What room is your computer in? Right now I am sitting at the dining room table while B-Man and Ms. R do puzzles.

Are there pictures hanging in your living room?? Only in a couple rooms. I am punishing myself for not finishing painting the WHOLE house. Hoping not letting myself decorate till that job is done will be a big enough push. Hasn't been thus far.

Are there any themes found in your home?? Chaos? Ha, ha. Kidding. I guess in the kitchen and kids bath it's Americana (thanks Heather!) but it will change sometime. When there is money to invest in such things.

What kind of laundry detergent do you use?? Tide with Febreze. I love the way it smells.

Do you use dryer sheets?? I do. I have to. If I didn't have to ... I wouldn't.

Do you have any curtains in your home?? No, though I love the idea of them.

What color is your fridge?? White for now. Eventually, that touchable stainless steel.

Is your house clean?? At this very moment? No.

What room is the most neglected?? The room I put off cleaning the longest is the master bath.

Are the dishes in your sink/dishwasher clean or dirty?? Dirty. Why would they be in the sink/dishwasher if they were clean?

How long have you lived in your home? 6 years, 4 months, 25 days.

Where did you live before?? L. Don Dodson in Bedford, TX

Do you have one of those fluffy toilet lid covers on your toilet?? LOL ... yes. At least in my bathroom. I like how quiet it makes the shutting of the lid. I'm such a granny ... I know!

Do you have a scale anywhere in your home?? Yeah, out in the garage. It weighs the grout ... don't ask.

How many mirrors are in your house?? 3 in use.

Look up. What do you see? The dining room light fixture that needs to be replaced.

Do you have a garage?? Yes. Not that I can PARK in it.

Are you planning on moving anytime soon?? Not likely. Maybe in the next three years. We'll see.

Egg Whites

For lunch today I decided to try out this "egg white" idea. You know, separating the yolk and white and using ONLY the whites. I HEAR it's the healthier way to go. Though it seems a shame to waste the yolks ... for the greater good of my health, I figure I'd try it out. With only 17 calories per large egg white it seemed like an okay way to go.
So I sliced up part of a green pepper, onion and some left over smoked ham (if there had been mushroom on hand, I'd have thrown that in too). Tossed that in a pan, grilled it till it was tender then added the egg whites. On another pan I warmed up a tortilla with a bit of mild salsa dabbed down the middle. When it was all ready I wrapped it together and had a DELICIOUS wrap. Yummy! You may want to try it out.

27%

When this number comes up, unless you're considering such things as the chance you'll get cancer or something, is not a good number. It is a number that causes concern, consideration, worry, anxiety. True to form, when I got Ms. R's third 6 week report card back this week I became very worried. This is her sight reading test score. Of 16 children in her class she is in the bottom 3% for reading score. 70% of the kids in her class are already taking home "Zip Books" to read. She is not one of them.
You would possibly think I am just a slacker mom, relying on the teacher to do the work of teaching her what she needs to know for grade one. Not so, as I am afraid if she doesn't know her sight words by the end of the year she will be forced to redo the year. It wouldn't KILL her, but I know it would bruise her little heart. So I have been following through on suggested ways to help her learn her words: Hopscotch with words instead of #'s, Magnet letters to make up the words, Flash cards (ones she know on left, the ones we're still working with on the right), Concentration using sight words instead of pictures, I read at least 20 minutes to her every day letting her say the words that are on the list ... It's like she has no interest in words and when I press her into giving me the time to learn them she usually ends up in tears, frustrated because McKenna, Stephen, Tai, Peyton, blah blah blah can read and SHE can't. I gently point out to her that she has to keep on trying to learn these words before she can read. That just makes her angry, like all of it should just COME to her. Like osmosis. Maybe I'll put a book under her head as she sleeps tonight and see if it works.
Jerry and I have been contemplating using bribery for this one too. He promised her a television when she knew her alphabet (which she now displays proudly to one and all in her room). Maybe bribery would help her overcome her lack of ambition towards learning words. You know I'm desperate when I'm considering bribery.

Kaput

I haven't been doing much, had a lot happen, or had much to report lately. I feel writing here is kind of pointless when you're just babbling on. But then, I really enjoy reading other peoples blogs. Even if the author isn't saying much. So I'll join in and write about not much.
Have you ever had the feeling, something deep in your being seems to be whispering to you ... that a change is coming. That something really good is just around the corner if you just wait a little while longer you'll get your just rewards. I've been had that niggling feeling for the last couple weeks. I have yet to see that premonition come to fruition, but that doesn't mean it's not coming. Patience. Must use patience. I am REALLY crumby at patience.
My mom sent me a Nu Wave Oven for Christmas ... or maybe it wasn't so much for Christmas as just with my Christmas presents; as she'd used it a few times previously and didn't really love it. When I'd mentioned to her on the phone this product I'd seen on TV but wasn't sure I felt comfortable buying it without seeing it in action she immediately said she had one she'd love to give me. I have seriously used it EVERY day since I got home from Florida. Everything is thrown in the Nu Wave, pork chops, roasts, potatoes, pizza, egg rolls, egg muffin sandwiches... I LOVE IT! The only thing I have used our oven for since receiving it is cupcakes and cookies. There are so many benefits! The money you save on energy, the healthier way you're cooking, being able to toss in FROZEN meats and have them come out 20 minutes later tender and juicy as fresh meat, how light and fresh all your foods taste... I could go on and on. I won't though, don't want mom to regret the choice she made in sending it to me ;) I guess it helps that because of B-Mans diets all we really eat are fruits, vegetables and meats. I'm not sure how casseroles, pastas, ect would cook in there, as I haven't tried it out.
Yesterday I also had the opportunity to once again appreciate how good my kids are. All three of us were sitting together, all snuggled up with a blanket, watching some sort of show and I fell asleep. Two and a half hours later, I wake up. Yeah, really. Two and a half hours. Do I wake up to food strewn everywhere? A mess of toys? Kids colored all over? Walls climbed on? No. Ms. R is sitting at the table singing one of her silly songs she loves to make up and as she does some sort of craft. B-Man is in the front room playing with his train set, also singing. I'm sure this isn't what they did the whole time I was sleeping. But as I walked around the house to evaluate the damage ... there was none. Sure, toys in the bedrooms, a movie on in Ms. R's room, crackers sitting on the table, paper clippings all around the table ... but overall, no damage.

Bee Movie

This afternoon I took the kids to the dollar theater again. Figured it went over so well the first time, I could indulge us in another $1 show. The preview for "Bee Movie" had all looked so good that I decided to go with this one. Mostly it was as it promised: a light funny time with good animation and interesting storyline. However, somewhere along the line it became very touching. The underling message really hit home to me. One small thing can change SO much. The smallest thing can set off a chain of events that without foresight and indepth thinking can devastate many. I was really impressed. The kids were really good through out the movie so when it was over and Ms. R asked to watch another ... I broke all the rules and slipped into "The Game Plan" which just started. B-Man got a little antsy near the end, till they started showing clips of them playing football ... but once again, overall a great audience. Ms. R started tearing up (alright, so did I) when they little girl was telling her dad she didn't want to stay with him. She is she a soft hearted little girl! I often wonder where she sprung from ...

Magic Kingdom - Day 3

Tired. Must sleep. Write more another day...

Magic Kingdom - Day 2

It turns out even "The Happiest Place on Earth" is fairly miserable when you're cold. We covered a bit more of the Magic Kingdom today ... but not enough to not have to go back tomorrow!

Magic Kingdom - Day 1

Braving the FRICKIN' freezing weather today (no kidding, it was actually FREEZING, not just for people who live in Texas) we headed over to the Magic Kingdom today around 1pm. We were only able to handle the cold (the wind was blowing, it was bone chilling!) for 6 hours before we called it a day. To be completely clear - Ms. R called it a day. After we'd watched "Mickey's PhilharMagic", we walked back outside and were blasted with the cold and wind again she looked at me really pathetically and asked, "Can we please go home mom?" It has to be really cold and miserable for a kid to ask to leave Disney World.

Animal Kingdom

It was a GREAT day to visit the Animal Kingdom! We went early enough to be able to avoid all those who participated in the New Years activities and were sleeping in - therefore we were able to get in a great deal of the park before it seemed even a little bit crowded. This park seems to be the least traveled, understandable considering you have to walk A LOT in order to see anything. With only 2 somewhat substantial rides available, you really have to like animals to want to take part of this park - fortunately our kids both love animals so we were able to hang out at a great park with minimal hassle today.