Oh, poor neglected blog. You are so at the bottom of my priority list right now. Or, at least if there was a list, you’d be at the bottom. Right now I’m just flapping around rushing frantically from one desperately neglected item to the next. Ahead of you has been: 2 huge school functions, a 3 yr old birthday party, house guests, cleaning, grocery shopping, school, doctor appointments, swimming lessons… yada-yada-yada. You get the idea.
However, that’s not to say that some great and weird things haven’t been happening and if I could blog via telepathy, they’d ALLLLL be documented. But they’re not. And because I’m seriously lacking in the sleep department, my memory is the size of a dried up pea.
So, Baboo turned 3 recently and she shares her birthday with my best friend’s (Becprints) daughter H. I know, what are the chances of that? I said it outloud when I was pregnant with Baboo as in “Hey, wouldn’t it be funny if this baby was born on H’s birthday “ And it happened. True story. Anyway, we had a rockin’ kitty cat bash this year as it was the “year of the cat” at our house. The kids came, devoured cat shaped sandwiches and jell-o jigglers, cat cupcakes, ran around with cat masks on meowing, smashed “cat chow” (rainbow Cheerios) into the carpet and had an awesome time. Hubster’s parents and his cousin (who I secretly refer to as the sister I ALWAYS wanted) drove down to share the weekend with us and we all enjoyed the company and extra help.
And all that said, I can’t believe my “baby” is 3 and proudly telling me “Mama! You don’t need to come into the baf-woom wif me because I’m FWEE and ALL GROWED UP now!”. Ok, then.
In other awesome news, after much angst and nashing of teeth, Mouse was invited to attend an awesome elementary school in our district. I’m BEYOND excited about it. We got the letter on Saturday – after I gave up hope of it coming, and I literally was dancing around the kitchen. Mouse looked at me with some kind of shocked horror because this really wasn’t what she pictured for grade 1.
And then it hit me that she’ll be going into grade 1. In a few months. Good grief. But at least she’ll be at an awesome school and Baboo is automatically grandfathered in and so I don’t have to freak out about the next level until Mouse reaches grade 5.
In my last post I posted about the washer and it’s possible imminent death. So far it’s still running and we’ll continue to just let it do it’s thing for as long as we can keep it going. It really seems to be ok now, but we’ll assume that that may not last. Sears Cares apparently has sent me an email to try to “increase my satisfaction with their service” but I’m in the process of checking to see if it’s a scam or not.
And despite things being increasingly hectic, (what happened to a slow January/February? Seriously? It’s been CRAZY around here lately) spring break is around the corner and we have NO plans other than sitting around in our pajamas and doing basically nothing. Ok, that’s not really true. We have a few small appointments and we’ll squeeze in some fun but we will not be running around at breakneck speed until we all want to just hurt someone. At least I hope not.
Showing posts with label lame-ity lame. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lame-ity lame. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Friday, November 20, 2009
Craft Crazy
I don’t know what’s worse, that Mouse is crazy about crafts or that crafts make me crazy. Together, we are not such a great combination.
Lately, I’ve felt like a craft cruise director, needing to provide all manner of crafting supplies in copious quantities at any given time. Usually, she requests this at my LEAST patient time of the day.
Now, when we’re talking about “crafts” I use the term very loosely. I wouldn’t have a problem if even SOMETIMES she’d be open to a suggestion to a useful craft, (like ornaments etc) especially one that I can, ahem, move on from my house. But crafts at this house involve piling mountains of popsicle sticks, buckets of glue, covering it all in embroidery floss, shiny rocks and sparkles and googly eyes and standing back to admire the creation.
And of course with every addition, I must “ooooo and ahhhh” and personally inspect.
We’ve had 2 playdates that have had to involve ‘crafts’ this week. We’ve gone through a whole set of Christmas foamies with popsicle sticks and google eyes, 9 skeins of embroidery floss, almost 1 bottle of white glue, and an entire large bottle of sparkle glue. All globbed on flimsy construction paper.
I try to be supportive of the creative process and most of the time, I’m ok with it. I get that she needs to create. But I have to say that after a while of just watching this stuff go into the garbage, because a) where do you store this stuff and b) what can you DO with it c) how do you deal with 25 of them, a month, it's hard not to go a little crazy at the wastefulness of this excessive 'crafting'.
And all crafts must BE for someone. She can’t just make them to make them. At some point she will say “Mommy, I’m making this for….”. And most of the time, it’s me. I should be grateful, and generally I am, but today, after helping 14 kindergarteners for the last 2 days with school crafts and cooking projects, is one of those days where I just can’t watch. I will turn my back, plug my ears and pretend I do not see the "crazy crafting" happening behind me. Sigh.
Lately, I’ve felt like a craft cruise director, needing to provide all manner of crafting supplies in copious quantities at any given time. Usually, she requests this at my LEAST patient time of the day.
Now, when we’re talking about “crafts” I use the term very loosely. I wouldn’t have a problem if even SOMETIMES she’d be open to a suggestion to a useful craft, (like ornaments etc) especially one that I can, ahem, move on from my house. But crafts at this house involve piling mountains of popsicle sticks, buckets of glue, covering it all in embroidery floss, shiny rocks and sparkles and googly eyes and standing back to admire the creation.
And of course with every addition, I must “ooooo and ahhhh” and personally inspect.
We’ve had 2 playdates that have had to involve ‘crafts’ this week. We’ve gone through a whole set of Christmas foamies with popsicle sticks and google eyes, 9 skeins of embroidery floss, almost 1 bottle of white glue, and an entire large bottle of sparkle glue. All globbed on flimsy construction paper.
I try to be supportive of the creative process and most of the time, I’m ok with it. I get that she needs to create. But I have to say that after a while of just watching this stuff go into the garbage, because a) where do you store this stuff and b) what can you DO with it c) how do you deal with 25 of them, a month, it's hard not to go a little crazy at the wastefulness of this excessive 'crafting'.
And all crafts must BE for someone. She can’t just make them to make them. At some point she will say “Mommy, I’m making this for….”. And most of the time, it’s me. I should be grateful, and generally I am, but today, after helping 14 kindergarteners for the last 2 days with school crafts and cooking projects, is one of those days where I just can’t watch. I will turn my back, plug my ears and pretend I do not see the "crazy crafting" happening behind me. Sigh.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Ice Puppies
I PROMISE that my very delayed Halloween recap is coming. Soon.
However, let me regale you with a “frosty” tale. Behold, the wonder that is our ICE MAKER.
We have owned our fridge, a very nice, stainless steel, French door fridge WITH an ice maker (oooo, ahhhh) for 5 years. When we first bought it, we did not have the appropriate plumbing at our old house to set up the ice making capabilities, so it never was connected.
When we moved into our new house, a YEAR ago, the plumbing and tubing were available and waiting for us, but because I a) find that ice maker ice cubes get funny tasting after a while and b) wanted every inch of freezer space for FOOD not FROZEN WATER, we did not connect the already available hose to the back of the fridge.
We do have old fashioned ice trays and occasionally we used them. I tried to remember to fill them for gatherings, but I often forgot. There’s something that makes you feel like an inadequate hostess when you don’t have ICE. Someone would ask expectantly, “Oh, do you have any ice?” and I’d sadly have to shake my head with an embarrassed look on my face and say “Oh, I’m SOOO sorry. I DON’T.”Oh the shame.
The other problem we had with the trays is that despite carefully wedging them into the freezer between the peas and the chicken, balanced precariously on top of the pizza and peaches, they’d often tip over and spill before they were solid, turning everything under them into a chunk of ice. Or, though the cubes themselves wouldn’t come out of the tray no matter how hard you twisted, but 5 would just slide right out inside the freezer when you weren't looking and slip of the basket and onto the floor to melt into a puddle every time I opened the freezer drawer.
Or someone (*ahem*) would use the last cube of ice and forget to refill it and then one of the kids would get a bump that I wanted to put ice on, and GAH… no ice.
Ice, who knew it could be such a pain in the ass?
So, all in all, 9 times out of 10, you wouldn’t get ice at our house.
However, now that we have our new FREEZER (whoo!) I decided while moving some items from the fridge freezer to the upright in the garage, that we certainly could justify the space for ice. Everything was RIGHT there and we figured it wouldn’t be a big deal to hook up.
So, yesterday, we dug out and dusted off the fridge installation instructions, then tried to remember where we put the bin to hold the ice cubes (I had it in the pantry holding snacks. Hey, I use what I have), then , Hubster dragged the fridge out and wedged himself in behind to fumble around in the dimly lit area with old kinked, copper tubing and a stripped hex connector (don’t I sound FANCY knowing all these technical fridge-y terms??). Well, our “everything is there, so just connect it and have ICE” plan didn’t work so well. Not surprisingly, it leaked. And hissed angrily.
The short version is that several curses and 2 trips to the hardware store later, we’re patched up and connected with water flowing freely into our fancy-smancy ice maker.
Last night, Hubster and I waited expectantly, checking the installation instructions numerous times to see WHEN we could expect the first pieces of ice to be delivered. We kept walking by the fridge, shining the flashlight behind it to make sure it wasn’t leaking and listening with an ever-cocked ear for the clattering rumble of ice dropping into the plastic bin.
It was like waiting for a baby to be born. Or, maybe because we expected so many; endless frozen babies; puppies. Ice puppies.
A few hours later, we heard the first rattle and clunk. Across the room we smiled at each other triumphantly and then ran to the freezer, pulled open the drawer and admired our first 3 ice cubes proudly. I think I might have wiped a tear, saying “Look, Honey. Ice. WE have ICE”. Hubster smiled knowingly at me and nodded.
Though we had to throw the first batch of ice magic out, all day, the ice maker has been slaving away, popping out ice. This afternoon, Hubster and I enjoyed a COLD class of pop WITH ice. It was a warm day and it was very satisfying. Then, Baboo’s soup was too hot at lunch, but it was nothing a piece of ICE couldn’t remedy. Oh, yes, ice. We’ve got it.
So, if you come to our house now, you will be offered ICE. Maybe even for your coffee, but rest assured, there will be ice.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, the ice maker as just dropped my next ice installment, a new ice puppy has been delivered and so I think I will go and get a nice cold, ICY glass of water.
However, let me regale you with a “frosty” tale. Behold, the wonder that is our ICE MAKER.
We have owned our fridge, a very nice, stainless steel, French door fridge WITH an ice maker (oooo, ahhhh) for 5 years. When we first bought it, we did not have the appropriate plumbing at our old house to set up the ice making capabilities, so it never was connected.
When we moved into our new house, a YEAR ago, the plumbing and tubing were available and waiting for us, but because I a) find that ice maker ice cubes get funny tasting after a while and b) wanted every inch of freezer space for FOOD not FROZEN WATER, we did not connect the already available hose to the back of the fridge.
We do have old fashioned ice trays and occasionally we used them. I tried to remember to fill them for gatherings, but I often forgot. There’s something that makes you feel like an inadequate hostess when you don’t have ICE. Someone would ask expectantly, “Oh, do you have any ice?” and I’d sadly have to shake my head with an embarrassed look on my face and say “Oh, I’m SOOO sorry. I DON’T.”Oh the shame.
The other problem we had with the trays is that despite carefully wedging them into the freezer between the peas and the chicken, balanced precariously on top of the pizza and peaches, they’d often tip over and spill before they were solid, turning everything under them into a chunk of ice. Or, though the cubes themselves wouldn’t come out of the tray no matter how hard you twisted, but 5 would just slide right out inside the freezer when you weren't looking and slip of the basket and onto the floor to melt into a puddle every time I opened the freezer drawer.
Or someone (*ahem*) would use the last cube of ice and forget to refill it and then one of the kids would get a bump that I wanted to put ice on, and GAH… no ice.
Ice, who knew it could be such a pain in the ass?
So, all in all, 9 times out of 10, you wouldn’t get ice at our house.
However, now that we have our new FREEZER (whoo!) I decided while moving some items from the fridge freezer to the upright in the garage, that we certainly could justify the space for ice. Everything was RIGHT there and we figured it wouldn’t be a big deal to hook up.
So, yesterday, we dug out and dusted off the fridge installation instructions, then tried to remember where we put the bin to hold the ice cubes (I had it in the pantry holding snacks. Hey, I use what I have), then , Hubster dragged the fridge out and wedged himself in behind to fumble around in the dimly lit area with old kinked, copper tubing and a stripped hex connector (don’t I sound FANCY knowing all these technical fridge-y terms??). Well, our “everything is there, so just connect it and have ICE” plan didn’t work so well. Not surprisingly, it leaked. And hissed angrily.
The short version is that several curses and 2 trips to the hardware store later, we’re patched up and connected with water flowing freely into our fancy-smancy ice maker.
Last night, Hubster and I waited expectantly, checking the installation instructions numerous times to see WHEN we could expect the first pieces of ice to be delivered. We kept walking by the fridge, shining the flashlight behind it to make sure it wasn’t leaking and listening with an ever-cocked ear for the clattering rumble of ice dropping into the plastic bin.
It was like waiting for a baby to be born. Or, maybe because we expected so many; endless frozen babies; puppies. Ice puppies.
A few hours later, we heard the first rattle and clunk. Across the room we smiled at each other triumphantly and then ran to the freezer, pulled open the drawer and admired our first 3 ice cubes proudly. I think I might have wiped a tear, saying “Look, Honey. Ice. WE have ICE”. Hubster smiled knowingly at me and nodded.
Though we had to throw the first batch of ice magic out, all day, the ice maker has been slaving away, popping out ice. This afternoon, Hubster and I enjoyed a COLD class of pop WITH ice. It was a warm day and it was very satisfying. Then, Baboo’s soup was too hot at lunch, but it was nothing a piece of ICE couldn’t remedy. Oh, yes, ice. We’ve got it.
So, if you come to our house now, you will be offered ICE. Maybe even for your coffee, but rest assured, there will be ice.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, the ice maker as just dropped my next ice installment, a new ice puppy has been delivered and so I think I will go and get a nice cold, ICY glass of water.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Lists: The Good, The Bad, The Lost, The Found
I’m a list maker by nature. I ALWAYS have a list going, if not 2 or 4 or 10. Grocery lists, To Do lists, General Shopping lists, Menu lists, Christmas lists, Ideas lists. I’ve got ‘em. I love lists and love making them. The problem is, I’m not the most organized person, DESPITE all the lists and I suck at keeping track of the lists. I’m often losing lists or burying them on my desk, which despite my best efforts, I’m unable to keep tidy for more than a few days at a time.
It’s maddening to KNOW there’s another list around with something I IKNOW I’m forgetting and not being able to find it. It truly makes me crazy and I know I’ve got no one to blame except myself.
And sometimes, I do something stupid, like put a to-do list on the side of a grocery list and then throw the grocery list out when I’m done shopping BEFORE I’ve finished the To-Do list.
I have tried using One Note, a program available in Windows to keep track of things, and it worked pretty well for a few things. I was able to plan a couple of trips that way and 2 birthday parties, but for the everyday stuff, I found that I was still writing things on paper and then entering them in the computer, which kind of defeated the purpose of using the program.
Side Thought: I just had a thought to have one paper notebook dedicated to lists and only lists. Hmm, maybe that would work? I’ll put it on the list to think about. (hahaha)
The thing that kills me is grocery lists. I ALWAYS have a grocery list going, even 5 minutes after I get back from the store. I do have a small white board by my desk to write down the things that come up that I don’t want to forget. However, after a while, it gets too big and I have to write it down on paper.
I found a grocery shopping template for my word processor that I quite like. I’ve used it a few times, and I like that it’s categorized, but… again, I end up jotting things down on note paper and then transferring it to the template and then printing the template out before I shop.
Another Side Thought: I should just print the template out and keep it in the pantry or something (duh, lightbulb moment!) and fill it in there. Hmmm… I just might do that.
So, the other day, I dropped Mouse off for a playdate with some friends and Baboo and I went out to do a mega grocery shop. I planned to hit Aldi for the basics and then finish up at Walmart. I did not have my pretty template list, I had a scrawled handwritten list, with a to-do list and I also had my master, and ONLY, Christmas list in case I had time to browse.
Half way through Aldi, Baboo had to potty, so we shoved some people out of the way in the checkout aisle to get to the bathroom. I decided to go too, and then we went out to finish shopping. I wasn’t really following my list because, I knew the store so well and the items I needed there. I bought a ton of stuff and it took me a while to get it all bagged. I admit to bribing Baboo with Peanut M&Ms to keep her in one place.
Finally, we were finished. After I buckled Baboo into her seat, I reached for my lists to review what I need to get at Walmart. Hmm, not in my jacket pockets. Or my jeans. Or my purse. I looked over Baboo’s head into the trunk at the pile of bags with a kind of horror and thought “Oh good grief! How will I find it in THERE?” But I KNEW I didn’t put it in any of the bags. It must have fallen out of my purse or pocket.
I tried to remember what was on the list and immediately drew a blank. I considered just moving on and winging it, but then I remembered the Christmas list, which had some great ideas on it that I really didn’t want to forget, and decided we had to go back into the store. I gave a few more M&Ms to Baboo before going to hunt for the list (This isn’t the first time I’ve done this. Ask Hubster, I made him crazy this summer with looking for lost lists). We walked up and down the aisles to no avail, but just as we got to the check out, the only way to get out of the store, I remembered the bathroom. As a last effort, we checked it out. It’s wasn’t by the sink. Or on the floor by the toilet. Sigh. I turned around to open the door to leave and just happened to glance down at the garbage can with the lid propped open. Hey there it was - sitting right on top! I looked around the single stall bathroom, knowing that we were the only ones in there, but feeling a bit creeped out and guilty. I reasoned to myself that it WAS sitting on paper towels not on a pile of rotting garbage, RIGHT at the top and it had only been about 20 minutes since we were in there last before reaching in and grabbing it.
Baboo and I left the store, and headed down the road to finish up our shopping. I didn’t forget anything, and no, I didn’t buy one Christmas thing. If you ask me where that list is right this second, I honestly have to say, I don’t know…. for SURE. I’m guessing it’s buried on my desk under cameras, tissue boxes, coupons, more lists, calendars, chargers, receipts, art work, magazines, cds, photos, flyers and returns. But it’s around. Somewhere. Or maybe it’s still in my purse. Or my jacket pocket.
But hey! At least I can get to the white board and that’s a good thing, because despite doing groceries 2 days ago, I noticed this morning that I need more of my bedtime tea. So I guess I’d better start a new list…
It’s maddening to KNOW there’s another list around with something I IKNOW I’m forgetting and not being able to find it. It truly makes me crazy and I know I’ve got no one to blame except myself.
And sometimes, I do something stupid, like put a to-do list on the side of a grocery list and then throw the grocery list out when I’m done shopping BEFORE I’ve finished the To-Do list.
I have tried using One Note, a program available in Windows to keep track of things, and it worked pretty well for a few things. I was able to plan a couple of trips that way and 2 birthday parties, but for the everyday stuff, I found that I was still writing things on paper and then entering them in the computer, which kind of defeated the purpose of using the program.
Side Thought: I just had a thought to have one paper notebook dedicated to lists and only lists. Hmm, maybe that would work? I’ll put it on the list to think about. (hahaha)
The thing that kills me is grocery lists. I ALWAYS have a grocery list going, even 5 minutes after I get back from the store. I do have a small white board by my desk to write down the things that come up that I don’t want to forget. However, after a while, it gets too big and I have to write it down on paper.
I found a grocery shopping template for my word processor that I quite like. I’ve used it a few times, and I like that it’s categorized, but… again, I end up jotting things down on note paper and then transferring it to the template and then printing the template out before I shop.
Another Side Thought: I should just print the template out and keep it in the pantry or something (duh, lightbulb moment!) and fill it in there. Hmmm… I just might do that.
So, the other day, I dropped Mouse off for a playdate with some friends and Baboo and I went out to do a mega grocery shop. I planned to hit Aldi for the basics and then finish up at Walmart. I did not have my pretty template list, I had a scrawled handwritten list, with a to-do list and I also had my master, and ONLY, Christmas list in case I had time to browse.
Half way through Aldi, Baboo had to potty, so we shoved some people out of the way in the checkout aisle to get to the bathroom. I decided to go too, and then we went out to finish shopping. I wasn’t really following my list because, I knew the store so well and the items I needed there. I bought a ton of stuff and it took me a while to get it all bagged. I admit to bribing Baboo with Peanut M&Ms to keep her in one place.
Finally, we were finished. After I buckled Baboo into her seat, I reached for my lists to review what I need to get at Walmart. Hmm, not in my jacket pockets. Or my jeans. Or my purse. I looked over Baboo’s head into the trunk at the pile of bags with a kind of horror and thought “Oh good grief! How will I find it in THERE?” But I KNEW I didn’t put it in any of the bags. It must have fallen out of my purse or pocket.
I tried to remember what was on the list and immediately drew a blank. I considered just moving on and winging it, but then I remembered the Christmas list, which had some great ideas on it that I really didn’t want to forget, and decided we had to go back into the store. I gave a few more M&Ms to Baboo before going to hunt for the list (This isn’t the first time I’ve done this. Ask Hubster, I made him crazy this summer with looking for lost lists). We walked up and down the aisles to no avail, but just as we got to the check out, the only way to get out of the store, I remembered the bathroom. As a last effort, we checked it out. It’s wasn’t by the sink. Or on the floor by the toilet. Sigh. I turned around to open the door to leave and just happened to glance down at the garbage can with the lid propped open. Hey there it was - sitting right on top! I looked around the single stall bathroom, knowing that we were the only ones in there, but feeling a bit creeped out and guilty. I reasoned to myself that it WAS sitting on paper towels not on a pile of rotting garbage, RIGHT at the top and it had only been about 20 minutes since we were in there last before reaching in and grabbing it.
Baboo and I left the store, and headed down the road to finish up our shopping. I didn’t forget anything, and no, I didn’t buy one Christmas thing. If you ask me where that list is right this second, I honestly have to say, I don’t know…. for SURE. I’m guessing it’s buried on my desk under cameras, tissue boxes, coupons, more lists, calendars, chargers, receipts, art work, magazines, cds, photos, flyers and returns. But it’s around. Somewhere. Or maybe it’s still in my purse. Or my jacket pocket.
But hey! At least I can get to the white board and that’s a good thing, because despite doing groceries 2 days ago, I noticed this morning that I need more of my bedtime tea. So I guess I’d better start a new list…
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Highs and Lows
It’s been an interesting week of highs and lows. Nothing too extreme, but it’s all I’ve got to post right now.
High:
I’m feeling almost 100%. Zicam (and its’ Target brand knock off) kicked butt with my cold last week and I only felt truly miserable for 2 days.
Low:
Despite my best cleaning efforts, my Mum went home sick (but again, Zicam kicked some butt) and my Dad ended up getting sick shortly after arriving home.
Semi-Low:
I went to get my hair cut at a new salon last week. The girl did a good job, but it wasn’t quite what I wanted.
Super High:
I went back over the weekend and she corrected it for me. Then straightened it. And I LOVED my hair. LOVED IT. It was *wow* kind of hair. It really was. Is. I looked like a different person, actually so different that Baboo cried and said she didn’t like it. And, when I asked about the flat iron she uses, she told me it was a $15 one from Walmart. Guess what I bought? HA! No kidding.
High:
We had a great visit with my Mum, Dad and Bro. I’m so glad they came. The kids did very well and we all had fun together and doing separate things. We celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving and an early birthday for my Mum with a turkey that turned out BEAUTIFULLY and a pumpkin cake that was delicious (and even better the next day, guys, seriously).
Low:The recycling truck decided to drive by at 6:50 yesterday morning instead of the usual 10 am, and now I have an enormous mountain of recycling in my garage for another 2 weeks until the next pickup.
Low:
Baboo ended up with fevers and a cold (not strep or flu, thankfully) and has kept me up for the last 3 nights.
High:
PBS and Nick Jr saved my hide yesterday when I had both kids home and everyone was exhausted and crabby.
High:
Baboo seems to be doing much better today.
Low:
Today I have a mountain of laundry, mostly 5 bed changes from Baboo’s bed after 2 nights of throwing up.
High:
I’m feeling almost 100%. Zicam (and its’ Target brand knock off) kicked butt with my cold last week and I only felt truly miserable for 2 days.
Low:
Despite my best cleaning efforts, my Mum went home sick (but again, Zicam kicked some butt) and my Dad ended up getting sick shortly after arriving home.
Semi-Low:
I went to get my hair cut at a new salon last week. The girl did a good job, but it wasn’t quite what I wanted.
Super High:
I went back over the weekend and she corrected it for me. Then straightened it. And I LOVED my hair. LOVED IT. It was *wow* kind of hair. It really was. Is. I looked like a different person, actually so different that Baboo cried and said she didn’t like it. And, when I asked about the flat iron she uses, she told me it was a $15 one from Walmart. Guess what I bought? HA! No kidding.
High:
We had a great visit with my Mum, Dad and Bro. I’m so glad they came. The kids did very well and we all had fun together and doing separate things. We celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving and an early birthday for my Mum with a turkey that turned out BEAUTIFULLY and a pumpkin cake that was delicious (and even better the next day, guys, seriously).
Low:The recycling truck decided to drive by at 6:50 yesterday morning instead of the usual 10 am, and now I have an enormous mountain of recycling in my garage for another 2 weeks until the next pickup.
Low:
Baboo ended up with fevers and a cold (not strep or flu, thankfully) and has kept me up for the last 3 nights.
High:
PBS and Nick Jr saved my hide yesterday when I had both kids home and everyone was exhausted and crabby.
High:
Baboo seems to be doing much better today.
Low:
Today I have a mountain of laundry, mostly 5 bed changes from Baboo’s bed after 2 nights of throwing up.
Monday, August 17, 2009
A Post of Randomness, Rather Like My Random Life
So, despite my efforts, however random or meager, I’m still drowning in piles of crap all over the house. I feel like I’ve been TRYING to get it freaking together already for weeks and am failing miserably. I think I need to ship the kids out of the house to actually MAKE any real progress, but since that’s not an option, I continue to just dink around.
So here is a pile of random “stuff”, somewhat bullet pointed for your viewing pleasure (and in no particular order because, hey! Random!):
· I’m sitting outside even though it’s kind of hot and humid out. I’ve just spent the last 30 minutes digging up thistle weeds that slice your feet open from the “lawn” (term used loosely as it’s mostly crab-grass and clover and other miscellaneous non-grass plants). Nasty. The girls helped me “find” the weeds by screeching at the top of their lungs, “MOM! A WEED! HURRY! QUICK!”. I’m sure the neighbours thought that we were growing child-eating Venus fly traps.
· Birdseed seemed like a good idea until it attracted mice, which took the seeds directly into our garage and made a mess in there. And then we grew some corn in the grass when the birds (and children filling the birdfeeder) dropped the corn kernels from the birdseed mix.
· While nose-to-grass, I noticed that we have about 70 billion tiny little grasshoppers all over the lawn. It’s kind of creeping me out.
· In the last 5 minutes, my girls have proven that they really do have the attention span of a gnat. They started out blowing bubbles, then played “kitty” in the grass, then got out the butterfly nets, and now Mouse is pushing Baboo on the “wocket” swing. (aka Rocket Swing). And that also has only lasted 3.5 seconds as now Mouse wants me to get her started on the swing.
· As I’m sitting here on the deck, barely able to see the screen from the glare of the clouded over sun, I realize how dirty my monitor is. Nasty.
· There is a lot of work going on at my neighbours’ houses today. Someone is getting some trim replaced which reminds me that we need to figure out when/how to get ours done. Another is getting a new furnace.
· I really HATE where the clothesline (which I love) is. It needs to be moved.
· I wonder if I can find a composter and a water barrel here?
· The girls are now playing with a plastic golf ball and a badminton racket.
· I’m wearing a pedometer today, for the first time. So far, though it’s only 9:55 am, it says I have done 7019 steps. I did walk this morning, but I think that’s inaccurate.
· I’m attempting to wash my king sized comforter in my washing machine. I have no idea if it’s going to kill my washer or not.
· Mouse and Baboo are already fighting with the racket and golf ball.
· We went and got a family photo taken this weekend. Despite the fact that I think my hair looked a bit weird (which also reminds me I need to decide if I want to get it cut or not. Hmmm), I love how the photo turned out.
· We also went to our local state fair this weekend with our friends/neighbours. Despite it being 95 F and Baboo throwing up in the car on the way home, we had a really fun time. This was our first trip to any state fair. The baby pygmie goats were the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. It makes me want to have goats. And chickens. And make jam.
· My 2 little tomato plants, after giving me a delicious bounty of tomatoes, is laden with MORE tomatoes. My mouth is watering just waiting for them to ripen.
· I think I see a bit of cilantro growing from the seeds of the old cilantro that bolted already. Now I’m thinking about how good homemade salsa would taste.
· I really hope it rains today, mostly because I really don’t feel like going to the pool. I know I should be grateful to have a pool that’s a 5 minute walk away and can basically be seen from my house, and I am very grateful for that. However, we’ve been every day for the last 3 weeks. I’m kind of pooled out. The girls are not.
· Golf ball badminton is done and now the girls want to water paint and do more bubbles. It’s been 10 minutes since they started playing on their own.
· Becprints sent me this site and I have found now found my organizational mecca… www.organize-more-stress-less.com/index.html. I have high hopes for this site.
· My purple petunias in planter boxes around the deck, despite my Dad replanting them a few weeks ago are still struggling. The look awful. I think I may try to do marigolds in the boxes next year. They seemed to do well in the garden so maybe they’ll do better in the boxes than the petunias did.
· The girls are now dipping their paintbrushes in the bubbles and painting the deck and playhouse.
· I think I need more coffee.
· I’m already worrying about what to wear at my brother’s wedding NEXT AUGUST. Almost exactly a year from now. I’m trying to lose some weight, (http://www.operationmoderation.blogspot.com/) but I’m not having a lot of success right now. Not that I’m huge, but I would like to feel better about myself.
· I have nothing planned for today at all. Nothing, other than praying the girls will be entertained by making a gigantic mess in another room so I can get some cleaning done somewhere else. I hope this day doesn’t end up tanked.
· It sounds like my washer and the comforter contained within survived. This is good news.
· Walking out my backdoor and seeing this: makes me happy.
· Maybe it’s time to resurrect Trouble Spot Tuesdays.
· Now the girls are asking for lunch sized snacks and dressup play. I’m baking here in the sun and it really is time for more coffee. So I guess that’s my cue to get my butt inside and get that pantry/fridge cleaned out and whatever else I can manage to get my hands on.
So here is a pile of random “stuff”, somewhat bullet pointed for your viewing pleasure (and in no particular order because, hey! Random!):
· I’m sitting outside even though it’s kind of hot and humid out. I’ve just spent the last 30 minutes digging up thistle weeds that slice your feet open from the “lawn” (term used loosely as it’s mostly crab-grass and clover and other miscellaneous non-grass plants). Nasty. The girls helped me “find” the weeds by screeching at the top of their lungs, “MOM! A WEED! HURRY! QUICK!”. I’m sure the neighbours thought that we were growing child-eating Venus fly traps.
· Birdseed seemed like a good idea until it attracted mice, which took the seeds directly into our garage and made a mess in there. And then we grew some corn in the grass when the birds (and children filling the birdfeeder) dropped the corn kernels from the birdseed mix.
· While nose-to-grass, I noticed that we have about 70 billion tiny little grasshoppers all over the lawn. It’s kind of creeping me out.
· In the last 5 minutes, my girls have proven that they really do have the attention span of a gnat. They started out blowing bubbles, then played “kitty” in the grass, then got out the butterfly nets, and now Mouse is pushing Baboo on the “wocket” swing. (aka Rocket Swing). And that also has only lasted 3.5 seconds as now Mouse wants me to get her started on the swing.
· As I’m sitting here on the deck, barely able to see the screen from the glare of the clouded over sun, I realize how dirty my monitor is. Nasty.
· There is a lot of work going on at my neighbours’ houses today. Someone is getting some trim replaced which reminds me that we need to figure out when/how to get ours done. Another is getting a new furnace.
· I really HATE where the clothesline (which I love) is. It needs to be moved.
· I wonder if I can find a composter and a water barrel here?
· The girls are now playing with a plastic golf ball and a badminton racket.
· I’m wearing a pedometer today, for the first time. So far, though it’s only 9:55 am, it says I have done 7019 steps. I did walk this morning, but I think that’s inaccurate.
· I’m attempting to wash my king sized comforter in my washing machine. I have no idea if it’s going to kill my washer or not.
· Mouse and Baboo are already fighting with the racket and golf ball.
· We went and got a family photo taken this weekend. Despite the fact that I think my hair looked a bit weird (which also reminds me I need to decide if I want to get it cut or not. Hmmm), I love how the photo turned out.
· We also went to our local state fair this weekend with our friends/neighbours. Despite it being 95 F and Baboo throwing up in the car on the way home, we had a really fun time. This was our first trip to any state fair. The baby pygmie goats were the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. It makes me want to have goats. And chickens. And make jam.
· My 2 little tomato plants, after giving me a delicious bounty of tomatoes, is laden with MORE tomatoes. My mouth is watering just waiting for them to ripen.
· I think I see a bit of cilantro growing from the seeds of the old cilantro that bolted already. Now I’m thinking about how good homemade salsa would taste.
· I really hope it rains today, mostly because I really don’t feel like going to the pool. I know I should be grateful to have a pool that’s a 5 minute walk away and can basically be seen from my house, and I am very grateful for that. However, we’ve been every day for the last 3 weeks. I’m kind of pooled out. The girls are not.
· Golf ball badminton is done and now the girls want to water paint and do more bubbles. It’s been 10 minutes since they started playing on their own.
· Becprints sent me this site and I have found now found my organizational mecca… www.organize-more-stress-less.com/index.html. I have high hopes for this site.
· My purple petunias in planter boxes around the deck, despite my Dad replanting them a few weeks ago are still struggling. The look awful. I think I may try to do marigolds in the boxes next year. They seemed to do well in the garden so maybe they’ll do better in the boxes than the petunias did.
· The girls are now dipping their paintbrushes in the bubbles and painting the deck and playhouse.
· I think I need more coffee.
· I’m already worrying about what to wear at my brother’s wedding NEXT AUGUST. Almost exactly a year from now. I’m trying to lose some weight, (http://www.operationmoderation.blogspot.com/) but I’m not having a lot of success right now. Not that I’m huge, but I would like to feel better about myself.
· I have nothing planned for today at all. Nothing, other than praying the girls will be entertained by making a gigantic mess in another room so I can get some cleaning done somewhere else. I hope this day doesn’t end up tanked.
· It sounds like my washer and the comforter contained within survived. This is good news.
· Walking out my backdoor and seeing this: makes me happy.
· Maybe it’s time to resurrect Trouble Spot Tuesdays.
· Now the girls are asking for lunch sized snacks and dressup play. I’m baking here in the sun and it really is time for more coffee. So I guess that’s my cue to get my butt inside and get that pantry/fridge cleaned out and whatever else I can manage to get my hands on.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Stinkin' Hunks
My kids are city kids, and yes, I guess I was a city kid too, but did regularly travel to rural areas. My kids have not had much of a chance to experience “country life”.
The girls and I have moved on from the visit to “Northern Home Town” to the visit to “Rural Childhood Canadian Cottage”. There are lots of windy, dusty roads through French farm county. Today, we were driving back from town (after killer ice cream, sorry hon, they had Black Cherry and I couldn’t resist! ) and passed by a farm that smelled like skunk. Fresh skunk. Mouse yelled EWWW and plugged her nose while Baboo asked who pooped. I explained to her about skunks and said that’s what they smell like when they spray. She stared blankly at me until I likened this to the episode of Curious George where George kept scaring the skunk and getting sprayed. She nodded her head as she said “oh yeah, the black and white kitty”. Um, yeah.
Anyway, so we drive past it, but the smell lingers for quite a while as its’ wont to do, because, well, it’s a skunk. (No, we didn’t run it over). Baboo keeps talking about the skunk then says to my Dad, who is driving “HURRY POPPY! Drive faster! Here comes the smelly ‘hunks!”
So, in jest he starts to speed up and I say “WAIT! They may be smelly, but they might be HUNKS! We should slow down and check them out.” (I’m sooo funny in the tacky, trashy kind of way).
The girls and I have moved on from the visit to “Northern Home Town” to the visit to “Rural Childhood Canadian Cottage”. There are lots of windy, dusty roads through French farm county. Today, we were driving back from town (after killer ice cream, sorry hon, they had Black Cherry and I couldn’t resist! ) and passed by a farm that smelled like skunk. Fresh skunk. Mouse yelled EWWW and plugged her nose while Baboo asked who pooped. I explained to her about skunks and said that’s what they smell like when they spray. She stared blankly at me until I likened this to the episode of Curious George where George kept scaring the skunk and getting sprayed. She nodded her head as she said “oh yeah, the black and white kitty”. Um, yeah.
Anyway, so we drive past it, but the smell lingers for quite a while as its’ wont to do, because, well, it’s a skunk. (No, we didn’t run it over). Baboo keeps talking about the skunk then says to my Dad, who is driving “HURRY POPPY! Drive faster! Here comes the smelly ‘hunks!”
So, in jest he starts to speed up and I say “WAIT! They may be smelly, but they might be HUNKS! We should slow down and check them out.” (I’m sooo funny in the tacky, trashy kind of way).
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Rambling Post of Mostly Nothing-ness
Yes, I’ve been MIA again. Maybe I’ve fallen into the void where my keys are. No, I still have not found my keys. &^%@#
So what have I been doing? Well, last week was hot so we were at the pool. A lot. I think I’ve seen gills starting to grow on my kids. And webbing between their fingers and toes. My kids are the crazy, kamikaze kids you see at the pool – you know, the smallest ones jumping in the deep end with no floatation devices. Or diving to the bottom of the pool for rings/sticks. We elicit a lot of stares and amazed head shakes. They are nearly fearless (especially Baboo) but are confident, good swimmers. Mouse swam from the end of the deep end all the way to the shallow end by herself yesterday, without stopping. It was awesome and she felt like a million bucks. Even the lifeguard (we’ve been there enough that they all know us) was clapping and cheering her on.
I’ve also been in decorating mode. I found the fabric that fits my combined kitchen and family room perfectly and working with my Mum, we have devised a great plan and I’ll put her to work later this summer, painting furniture, making curtains and the like. And we’re doing it all for $500 or LESS! Hey, maybe we should make a show about that? NEVER MIND… there’s already a show with EXACTLY the same theme. HA!
I think I’ve been reluctant to really DECORATE our home. The previous owners were well liked by the neighbours and left a few things (curtains, wall shelves etc) that while they didn’t really suit us, weren’t highly offensive either. I felt bad booting their presence out of the house. But they don’t live here any more. I know. It’s stupid.
But now I feel like I can put our STAMP onto the house and make it ours. ! I’m very excited about it though. It’s going to look great and to me, it already feels more settled.
I’ve been attempting to clean up a bit. It looks like a bomb went off in just about every room. I’ve been cleaning out some books and baby stuff and have set up a few things to sell on Ebay. I sold my Hypnobabies cds/book last night in 5 minutes. Seriously. While I’m happy about that, I think my heart broke a little bit. It seems so… final. Admitting that yes, we are done. No more births. I can’t say that I got rid of ALL my birth books, I just can’t.
And my sling. I had it all ready to post and I caved. I can still use it with Baboo, though I rarely do, mostly because she’s so fiercely independent. Mouse in particular, lived in the sling until she was 3. Maybe I need to hang onto it and pass it down to her when she’s ready. I used the denim LLL carrier my Mum used on my brother for both kids when they were tiny babies. It worked great.
And I’ve learned that I can’t sell my cloth diapers on ebay. Anyone want to buy some cloth diapers and covers, in excellent shape??
It doesn’t help, that for Father’s Day I got Hubster a digital picture frame and loaded it with photos of the kids from the year dot. And then I watched them grow up in front of my eyes when I previewed the slide show. And then my heart broke into a hundred tiny little pieces. It was wonderful and bittersweet at the same time. I love who they’re becoming but at times I miss their baby-ness so much. Those days that seemed endless at the time, now seem to have passed in the blink of an eye.
The girls loved watching the photos and laughing at their funny faces or crowing “THAT’s ME when I was a BABY” when one of their photos came up.
In other news that makes me feel old, especially with my birthday right around the corner, my brother, my little brother (who is also almost 33 years old!) is getting married. Yes, married. Not for a few years, but this weekend he proposed to the young lady that he loves and he called to tell me all about it. He sounded happy and excited and I'm happy and excited for him. I wished them well and am already looking forward to meeting his fiance in a couple of weeks.
So now I’ve rambled on about mostly nothing, which is mostly how things are going for us these days. We’re rambling around at top speed, not really getting much of anything done, but mostly enjoying ourselves none-the-less.
So what have I been doing? Well, last week was hot so we were at the pool. A lot. I think I’ve seen gills starting to grow on my kids. And webbing between their fingers and toes. My kids are the crazy, kamikaze kids you see at the pool – you know, the smallest ones jumping in the deep end with no floatation devices. Or diving to the bottom of the pool for rings/sticks. We elicit a lot of stares and amazed head shakes. They are nearly fearless (especially Baboo) but are confident, good swimmers. Mouse swam from the end of the deep end all the way to the shallow end by herself yesterday, without stopping. It was awesome and she felt like a million bucks. Even the lifeguard (we’ve been there enough that they all know us) was clapping and cheering her on.
I’ve also been in decorating mode. I found the fabric that fits my combined kitchen and family room perfectly and working with my Mum, we have devised a great plan and I’ll put her to work later this summer, painting furniture, making curtains and the like. And we’re doing it all for $500 or LESS! Hey, maybe we should make a show about that? NEVER MIND… there’s already a show with EXACTLY the same theme. HA!
I think I’ve been reluctant to really DECORATE our home. The previous owners were well liked by the neighbours and left a few things (curtains, wall shelves etc) that while they didn’t really suit us, weren’t highly offensive either. I felt bad booting their presence out of the house. But they don’t live here any more. I know. It’s stupid.
But now I feel like I can put our STAMP onto the house and make it ours. ! I’m very excited about it though. It’s going to look great and to me, it already feels more settled.
I’ve been attempting to clean up a bit. It looks like a bomb went off in just about every room. I’ve been cleaning out some books and baby stuff and have set up a few things to sell on Ebay. I sold my Hypnobabies cds/book last night in 5 minutes. Seriously. While I’m happy about that, I think my heart broke a little bit. It seems so… final. Admitting that yes, we are done. No more births. I can’t say that I got rid of ALL my birth books, I just can’t.
And my sling. I had it all ready to post and I caved. I can still use it with Baboo, though I rarely do, mostly because she’s so fiercely independent. Mouse in particular, lived in the sling until she was 3. Maybe I need to hang onto it and pass it down to her when she’s ready. I used the denim LLL carrier my Mum used on my brother for both kids when they were tiny babies. It worked great.
And I’ve learned that I can’t sell my cloth diapers on ebay. Anyone want to buy some cloth diapers and covers, in excellent shape??
It doesn’t help, that for Father’s Day I got Hubster a digital picture frame and loaded it with photos of the kids from the year dot. And then I watched them grow up in front of my eyes when I previewed the slide show. And then my heart broke into a hundred tiny little pieces. It was wonderful and bittersweet at the same time. I love who they’re becoming but at times I miss their baby-ness so much. Those days that seemed endless at the time, now seem to have passed in the blink of an eye.
The girls loved watching the photos and laughing at their funny faces or crowing “THAT’s ME when I was a BABY” when one of their photos came up.
In other news that makes me feel old, especially with my birthday right around the corner, my brother, my little brother (who is also almost 33 years old!) is getting married. Yes, married. Not for a few years, but this weekend he proposed to the young lady that he loves and he called to tell me all about it. He sounded happy and excited and I'm happy and excited for him. I wished them well and am already looking forward to meeting his fiance in a couple of weeks.
So now I’ve rambled on about mostly nothing, which is mostly how things are going for us these days. We’re rambling around at top speed, not really getting much of anything done, but mostly enjoying ourselves none-the-less.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Wiped
No, I have not found my keys yet. I remain minutely hopeful that they’ll turn up, but I’m not holding my breath. I don’t want to pass out.
I’ve mentioned a little too often lately how tired I am, and not just tired. Wiped. Out.
Things have been very busy for the past few months and though I hoped this summer would give me a bit of a reprieve, it has not. In fact, things have intensified.
As of this writing, its’ 9:47 pm. I have been awake and “Mom” since 6:24 am. Baboo has not napped and yet has been out of bed 10 times in the last 1.5 hours. Though I did have adult conversation today for a few hours during a play date, it felt a bit like I was “entertaining” and so feel that I have had no time to myself. I feel like I’m going to snap if I hear those adorable little feet get out of bed one more time to go potty/yell that she’s scared/or ask for help to find “Tweet-hawt” the little stuff dog who fell off the bed for the 100th time. Yes, Hubster is helping out to get her settled, but the point is, I can still hear it. I can’t SHUT OFF.
The girls are at a very busy stage right now. They want to explore and be with their friends and be stimulated and go, go, go. I want to encourage this, to a degree. Baboo rarely naps and if she does, bedtime is screwed for hours. Though Mouse will go to bed without too many issues, she does very little by herself during the day and requires very frequent direction/redirection/interaction/reassurance.
I feel like a cruise director trying to keep the girls busy, but encouraging them to play by themselves to a degree. But it still requires me to monitor thing; after all, Baboo is only 2. And she’s still potty training so that does require a certain level of constant awareness and attention. I’m having a hard time finding any kind of rhythm that doesn’t feel frantic.
And in between this, I’m trying to squeeze in meals, a bit of cleaning/laundry – even enough just to try to keep it from taking over, errands, email when I can. Phone calls are a luxury that are often jilted, interrupted conversations that make me feel like I’m losing my mind because I can’t seem to finish a thought.
Lately, its’ 9:30 by the time everyone’s in bed and SETTLED, despite starting bedtime at 7 pm. I’m so FRIED by then. I have projects I want/need to work on and can’t find the time or energy to get them done. I often just flake in front of the tv for an hour (and even that feels too late) and stumble off to bed for too few hours of interrupted sleep. There is very little time for “ME” where I’m not left feeling guilty because something or someone is being neglected/inconvenienced. I know I can’t make everyone happy all the time, and I’m not trying to, but lately, I don’t feel like anyone’s needs are being met in even a close to satisfactory manner. I know that part of this incompetent frame of mind is because I’m just plain tired.
I stopped going to therapy because I can’t seem to get the timing right and frankly, I’m resenting the time spent there. I feel like I’d rather do something more constructive with my time. I’ve been feeling “done” with it, and maybe this is what “done” feels like.
I’m having a lot of mixed feelings: guilt, resentment, anger, sadness about not being able to fully embrace this time with my girls. This is the last summer before we’re into full time school and life will change permanently then. I’m trying to keep up with what seems like a frantic pace, trying to stayed charged and ready to go and yes, we are having fun and I am enjoying it, but god help me, I am tired.
If this is the new pace of our lives, which seems to be going just so damn fast, I need to get into the game and find a way to function more efficiently because I’m going to get dragged behind this fast running horse and it’s going to be messy.
And now, it’s late because I’ve spent way too long bitching about how tired I am (wah, wah, wah. Poor me. Snort) instead of getting my snarky, cranky, over-tired self to bed. And tomorrow is another day full of busy possibilities which I must be ready for.
I’ve mentioned a little too often lately how tired I am, and not just tired. Wiped. Out.
Things have been very busy for the past few months and though I hoped this summer would give me a bit of a reprieve, it has not. In fact, things have intensified.
As of this writing, its’ 9:47 pm. I have been awake and “Mom” since 6:24 am. Baboo has not napped and yet has been out of bed 10 times in the last 1.5 hours. Though I did have adult conversation today for a few hours during a play date, it felt a bit like I was “entertaining” and so feel that I have had no time to myself. I feel like I’m going to snap if I hear those adorable little feet get out of bed one more time to go potty/yell that she’s scared/or ask for help to find “Tweet-hawt” the little stuff dog who fell off the bed for the 100th time. Yes, Hubster is helping out to get her settled, but the point is, I can still hear it. I can’t SHUT OFF.
The girls are at a very busy stage right now. They want to explore and be with their friends and be stimulated and go, go, go. I want to encourage this, to a degree. Baboo rarely naps and if she does, bedtime is screwed for hours. Though Mouse will go to bed without too many issues, she does very little by herself during the day and requires very frequent direction/redirection/interaction/reassurance.
I feel like a cruise director trying to keep the girls busy, but encouraging them to play by themselves to a degree. But it still requires me to monitor thing; after all, Baboo is only 2. And she’s still potty training so that does require a certain level of constant awareness and attention. I’m having a hard time finding any kind of rhythm that doesn’t feel frantic.
And in between this, I’m trying to squeeze in meals, a bit of cleaning/laundry – even enough just to try to keep it from taking over, errands, email when I can. Phone calls are a luxury that are often jilted, interrupted conversations that make me feel like I’m losing my mind because I can’t seem to finish a thought.
Lately, its’ 9:30 by the time everyone’s in bed and SETTLED, despite starting bedtime at 7 pm. I’m so FRIED by then. I have projects I want/need to work on and can’t find the time or energy to get them done. I often just flake in front of the tv for an hour (and even that feels too late) and stumble off to bed for too few hours of interrupted sleep. There is very little time for “ME” where I’m not left feeling guilty because something or someone is being neglected/inconvenienced. I know I can’t make everyone happy all the time, and I’m not trying to, but lately, I don’t feel like anyone’s needs are being met in even a close to satisfactory manner. I know that part of this incompetent frame of mind is because I’m just plain tired.
I stopped going to therapy because I can’t seem to get the timing right and frankly, I’m resenting the time spent there. I feel like I’d rather do something more constructive with my time. I’ve been feeling “done” with it, and maybe this is what “done” feels like.
I’m having a lot of mixed feelings: guilt, resentment, anger, sadness about not being able to fully embrace this time with my girls. This is the last summer before we’re into full time school and life will change permanently then. I’m trying to keep up with what seems like a frantic pace, trying to stayed charged and ready to go and yes, we are having fun and I am enjoying it, but god help me, I am tired.
If this is the new pace of our lives, which seems to be going just so damn fast, I need to get into the game and find a way to function more efficiently because I’m going to get dragged behind this fast running horse and it’s going to be messy.
And now, it’s late because I’ve spent way too long bitching about how tired I am (wah, wah, wah. Poor me. Snort) instead of getting my snarky, cranky, over-tired self to bed. And tomorrow is another day full of busy possibilities which I must be ready for.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
More Lost Things...
ARGH! I'm beyond frustrated. I have not been able to find my keys since Thursday night! I know we were out most of Thursday, I unlocked the door when we came home and I KNOW I had my keys. But when I went out on Thursday evening, I couldn't find them. I've looked in the obvious places and have cleaned off my desk, searched my pockets/purses/bags etc, but they are still MIA.
I'm more than a bit pissed because I've got all my grocery store/movie/library keychain cards on there. I actually went shopping at a "real" grocery store last night (instead of just Walmart/Aldi) and ended up just getting a new saver card because I could not even remember what phone number I put down on the old card. Good grief.
And I've tried asking the kids as well. They have no idea.
This is soooo unlike me. I don't usually lose stuff like this for DAYS.
Some one please kick me in the pants and help me find my damn keys!!! I'm sure they'll turn up someplace stupid, but I just wish the stupid place would reveal itself to me SOONER. ARGH.
I'm more than a bit pissed because I've got all my grocery store/movie/library keychain cards on there. I actually went shopping at a "real" grocery store last night (instead of just Walmart/Aldi) and ended up just getting a new saver card because I could not even remember what phone number I put down on the old card. Good grief.
And I've tried asking the kids as well. They have no idea.
This is soooo unlike me. I don't usually lose stuff like this for DAYS.
Some one please kick me in the pants and help me find my damn keys!!! I'm sure they'll turn up someplace stupid, but I just wish the stupid place would reveal itself to me SOONER. ARGH.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Whine and Taxes
If you heard a popping sound yesterday, that was just my head exploding. Almost the whole day yesterday was spoken in “whine-ese” . (ahaha. Like that pun?)
It was mostly the girls; Mouse: “I wanna watch ttttttvvvvvv! MooOOOm, Baboo toke my “xyz”! I wanna hold me neeewwww pannntieeess”. Baboo just whined and cried about everything. Needless to say, Hubster and I were not really in the best of moods by lunchtime.
After lunch, Hubster retreated to his office computer and I decided to trim the girls’ hair. Mouse’s was getting really ratty at the ends and her bangs were hanging ½ way down her eyes. I will remember next time to SEPARATE them when I trim hair. Baboo kept dancing around in front of Mouse and bumping her feet, so Mouse’s trim took MUCH longer than I thought it would. It did turn out pretty even.
For Baboo, I decided to give her some bangs. We are so sick of her hair sliding out of any barrettes and elastics to hang straight down her face to her chin to get stuck to her face with food, juice, boogers. Gross. I only did a little bit of a bang, and may do more in a day or 2 when I see how it does when the rest of her hair is up, but it looks really cute. She learned from her sister though to keep saying “Done yet, Mommy? Sigh”. (Hers took all of 3.5 minutes).
No one paid me a million dollars this time.
When we were done, I put Dora on for the girls for a bit and then I figured, heck, why not start our taxes!? I know, I’m insane.
So I started the taxes. Installed the program and pulled together as much of the paperwork as I could. I learned, though, that last year was one hell of a complicated year tax-wise and so I had to make about 15 trips to the office upstairs to get more and more paper work. Hubster kept saying, playing happily at his computer, “Here again?”. By the last time, I thought, “Uh yeah, and if you ask me that one more time, I’m going to drop kick you, pal!” (He has not ever touched a tax form).
Anyway, I didn’t whine too much, but I sure wanted to. Good grief.
So after I finished as much of the Federal stuff as I could for now and cursed as I downloaded the second State forms, I decided it was time for Mouse and I to get out of the house for some retail therapy. So we headed to Kohls. Mouse needs a new winter coat next year and we figured now was a good time to look. We did find a coat and snowpants for 70% off! And boots and new hat/gloves. We got new gloves and hat for Baboo too. Guess what they wore all evening? Hat, gloves and boots. In the house. Baboo wore Mouse’s new boots – size 9. She’s a size 5. She clomped around in those things for well over an hour. What a kid. Anyway, it killed the whinies, so we were happy about that.
Then the sillies arrived in time for dinner and it was like a circus of pretend burping, giggling, exaggerated chomping and fork dropping, punctuated by Hubster and I saying “Please stop. That’s not good manners” before we instituted the “if you continue you will have to eat by yourself” rule.
Needless to say, it was early bedtime for everyone last night, including Hubster and I.
What a day.
It was mostly the girls; Mouse: “I wanna watch ttttttvvvvvv! MooOOOm, Baboo toke my “xyz”! I wanna hold me neeewwww pannntieeess”. Baboo just whined and cried about everything. Needless to say, Hubster and I were not really in the best of moods by lunchtime.
After lunch, Hubster retreated to his office computer and I decided to trim the girls’ hair. Mouse’s was getting really ratty at the ends and her bangs were hanging ½ way down her eyes. I will remember next time to SEPARATE them when I trim hair. Baboo kept dancing around in front of Mouse and bumping her feet, so Mouse’s trim took MUCH longer than I thought it would. It did turn out pretty even.
For Baboo, I decided to give her some bangs. We are so sick of her hair sliding out of any barrettes and elastics to hang straight down her face to her chin to get stuck to her face with food, juice, boogers. Gross. I only did a little bit of a bang, and may do more in a day or 2 when I see how it does when the rest of her hair is up, but it looks really cute. She learned from her sister though to keep saying “Done yet, Mommy? Sigh”. (Hers took all of 3.5 minutes).
No one paid me a million dollars this time.
When we were done, I put Dora on for the girls for a bit and then I figured, heck, why not start our taxes!? I know, I’m insane.
So I started the taxes. Installed the program and pulled together as much of the paperwork as I could. I learned, though, that last year was one hell of a complicated year tax-wise and so I had to make about 15 trips to the office upstairs to get more and more paper work. Hubster kept saying, playing happily at his computer, “Here again?”. By the last time, I thought, “Uh yeah, and if you ask me that one more time, I’m going to drop kick you, pal!” (He has not ever touched a tax form).
Anyway, I didn’t whine too much, but I sure wanted to. Good grief.
So after I finished as much of the Federal stuff as I could for now and cursed as I downloaded the second State forms, I decided it was time for Mouse and I to get out of the house for some retail therapy. So we headed to Kohls. Mouse needs a new winter coat next year and we figured now was a good time to look. We did find a coat and snowpants for 70% off! And boots and new hat/gloves. We got new gloves and hat for Baboo too. Guess what they wore all evening? Hat, gloves and boots. In the house. Baboo wore Mouse’s new boots – size 9. She’s a size 5. She clomped around in those things for well over an hour. What a kid. Anyway, it killed the whinies, so we were happy about that.
Then the sillies arrived in time for dinner and it was like a circus of pretend burping, giggling, exaggerated chomping and fork dropping, punctuated by Hubster and I saying “Please stop. That’s not good manners” before we instituted the “if you continue you will have to eat by yourself” rule.
Needless to say, it was early bedtime for everyone last night, including Hubster and I.
What a day.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Hello? Is this thing on?
Uh yeah, so it’s Friday already, huh? I’ve kind of misplaced a few days. I did have a few post ideas in my head but I really haven’t had the time to sit down and write and haven’t really formulated enough thoughts to get them down. Ah yes, kind of like writers block, if I was, you know, a writer. How about a brain fart? That sounds better. Noisy, obnoxious and not very pleasant.
So in lieu of an actual post, there is a run-down of this past week:
So what HAVE I been doing? Well, I seem to have clawed my way out of the depths of despair, thankfully, and am certainly feeling more human. I’m feeling less isolated and certainly more positive than I have been in a while.
I’ve actually taught 2, yes 2 REAL Pilates classes this week and it’s been great. My poor classes have been limping along with illness and bad weather so to have them ramping up is a great feeling. There is interest there and so far people “seem” like the classes.
Today Mouse received 2 HUGE bags of hand-me-down clothes from a friend at school so she spent a gleeful hour trying on clothes like Pretty Woman, flouncing around in all her “new” duds and preening. She was so in her element. She chose to wear a pair of pj’s out of ALL the clothes she got. Um, ok. We LOVE hand-me-downs and it’s been a great couple of weeks for them. Recently, we got 2 huge bags of clothes for Baboo , some of which fit Mouse, so we’re so super stocked with clothes right now. Oy. Maybe over-stocked. However, strangely, I have very few summer clothes for Baboo this coming summer. I’m not sure what happened to all of Mouse’s old clothes. They seem to have vanished. Weird.
We’ve been busy with school, as we always are. We have a few fundraisers going on right now and I’m working on a committee and am apparently running for board secretary for next year. It’s a good thing. We love our school.
My head is getting ready for our big trip south next week, so that’s been occupying a large portion of my brain as well. We’ve already sent down most of our clothes with my folks, but it’s all the weird little stuff that I didn’t think about that we’ll need to bring.
We’ve been invited to a birthday party next week for one of Mouse’s school friends and I’m so, so happy that I’ve stocked up on birthday cards and little gifts perfect for this kind of thing. All I have to do is head out to the garage and choose something and we’re set. We have got a HUGE bin of gift bags etc – all saved from gifts given to us, so going to this party should be pretty simple. We’re really looking forward to it and of course, Mouse LOVES a party.
We’ve visited and touched base with our 2 closest neighbours and that was definitely a good thing. I feel like we’ve all been in a cave the past 2 months with the wintery weather. And yesterday we went to see a friend’s (who moved here from Eastcoast-ville) new house. We had a wonderful day talking and catching up and watching our gaggle of girls play. Of course, we were highly impressed with the great new digs as well.
However, the highlight of my week was yesterday morning. I did NOT get up at 6 to exercise because I was lazy, (dammit) and so I was just lounging in bed while Hubster got dressed to go to work. (I know, it seems so stereo-typically house-wife-ish. Pass the bonbons!) Mouse woke up and came down the hall and crawled into bed with me. We snuggled quietly for a bit until Baboo woke up. When she wakes up, she just keeps yelling people’s names until someone comes to get her: “Mommeeee! Daddeeee! Mouse! Ewebodeee!” Hubster went to get her and she ran down the hall, clambered up on the bed, and threw herself down on the pillow, narrowly missing cracking me in the head with hers. She snuggled right in, like Mouse was on my other side, pulled the blankets right up to her chin, then grabbed my face, looked me right in the eyes and say “I wuv YOU, Mommee”, breathing her baby morning breath all over my face. And then proceeded to poke me in the eye and pinch my nose.
Ah, priceless moments. I think my heart melted a little bit. Wouldn’t trade it for a million dollars.
Over all, the week ended better than it started and I’m certainly grateful for that.
So in lieu of an actual post, there is a run-down of this past week:
So what HAVE I been doing? Well, I seem to have clawed my way out of the depths of despair, thankfully, and am certainly feeling more human. I’m feeling less isolated and certainly more positive than I have been in a while.
I’ve actually taught 2, yes 2 REAL Pilates classes this week and it’s been great. My poor classes have been limping along with illness and bad weather so to have them ramping up is a great feeling. There is interest there and so far people “seem” like the classes.
Today Mouse received 2 HUGE bags of hand-me-down clothes from a friend at school so she spent a gleeful hour trying on clothes like Pretty Woman, flouncing around in all her “new” duds and preening. She was so in her element. She chose to wear a pair of pj’s out of ALL the clothes she got. Um, ok. We LOVE hand-me-downs and it’s been a great couple of weeks for them. Recently, we got 2 huge bags of clothes for Baboo , some of which fit Mouse, so we’re so super stocked with clothes right now. Oy. Maybe over-stocked. However, strangely, I have very few summer clothes for Baboo this coming summer. I’m not sure what happened to all of Mouse’s old clothes. They seem to have vanished. Weird.
We’ve been busy with school, as we always are. We have a few fundraisers going on right now and I’m working on a committee and am apparently running for board secretary for next year. It’s a good thing. We love our school.
My head is getting ready for our big trip south next week, so that’s been occupying a large portion of my brain as well. We’ve already sent down most of our clothes with my folks, but it’s all the weird little stuff that I didn’t think about that we’ll need to bring.
We’ve been invited to a birthday party next week for one of Mouse’s school friends and I’m so, so happy that I’ve stocked up on birthday cards and little gifts perfect for this kind of thing. All I have to do is head out to the garage and choose something and we’re set. We have got a HUGE bin of gift bags etc – all saved from gifts given to us, so going to this party should be pretty simple. We’re really looking forward to it and of course, Mouse LOVES a party.
We’ve visited and touched base with our 2 closest neighbours and that was definitely a good thing. I feel like we’ve all been in a cave the past 2 months with the wintery weather. And yesterday we went to see a friend’s (who moved here from Eastcoast-ville) new house. We had a wonderful day talking and catching up and watching our gaggle of girls play. Of course, we were highly impressed with the great new digs as well.
However, the highlight of my week was yesterday morning. I did NOT get up at 6 to exercise because I was lazy, (dammit) and so I was just lounging in bed while Hubster got dressed to go to work. (I know, it seems so stereo-typically house-wife-ish. Pass the bonbons!) Mouse woke up and came down the hall and crawled into bed with me. We snuggled quietly for a bit until Baboo woke up. When she wakes up, she just keeps yelling people’s names until someone comes to get her: “Mommeeee! Daddeeee! Mouse! Ewebodeee!” Hubster went to get her and she ran down the hall, clambered up on the bed, and threw herself down on the pillow, narrowly missing cracking me in the head with hers. She snuggled right in, like Mouse was on my other side, pulled the blankets right up to her chin, then grabbed my face, looked me right in the eyes and say “I wuv YOU, Mommee”, breathing her baby morning breath all over my face. And then proceeded to poke me in the eye and pinch my nose.
Ah, priceless moments. I think my heart melted a little bit. Wouldn’t trade it for a million dollars.
Over all, the week ended better than it started and I’m certainly grateful for that.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
To Cut or Not to Cut?
In the spring of last year I cut my hair. While this may not seem like a big deal to you, it was to me. I’d had my hair short twice in my life and HATED it both times. The last time I had it cut was shortly after we were married…. 14 years ago. The time before that, I was 8. I had some issues and barely trusted anyone to trim it. My ‘hair’ was my ‘identity’ and I couldn’t deal with CHANGE… oh scary, scary change!
However, I’d finally had enough. I wasn’t happy with how it was looking, and in all honestly, while the hair itself was lovely (it was long and wavy – ½ way down my back), it was NOT particularly flattering on ME.
So after weeks of looking at pictures online and getting pep talks from numerous people (who finally told me to SHUT UP AND DO IT ALREADY) I decided to cut it. I went to a hairdresser I trusted (it only took 3 years for her to prove herself )and said “help me!”. She made some recommendations; I made her sign an affidavit in blood promising that I would look fabulous, and I went home and hyperventilated for a few days. Then, I made an appointment. The day before I got strep. But I went in anyway because I knew if I didn’t do it THEN, I would never do it. I’m responsible that way and CERTAINLY have my priorities laid out.
She cut and colored my hair. I went from hair that hung under my bra strap to between shoulder/chin. It was curly, bouncy and framed my face and was NOT gray and I LOVED it. Really loved it. It was still long enough that I could put it up if I wanted, but looked great down. I think I might have done a little dance, peed in my pants and hugged Mary a bit too hard. (Sorry). I tried not to breathe on her.
And my friends! People I saw almost daily didn’t recognize me. It was weird, but overall the new “do” was well received. I felt like new person. I felt refreshed. It was fun and I was so happy that I cut my hair.
Anyway, we moved and I panicked! Who would cut my hair!!!??? I let it go all summer. Then I got a coupon for a FREE haircut and decided to take my chances. I couldn’t beat the price and we were broker than broke at the time.
When I talked to “Pam”, I told her about where my hair had been after the first cut explained how I wanted it similar to that. She said “ok, it was a lot shorter then” which I somewhat agree to. Then told me a bit what she would do and she got started. When I could feel a BIG breeze on the back of my neck I knew it was SHORT. MUCH shorter than before. I think I stopped breathing for a minute and kept saying “ohgodohgodohgod” in my head. And not wearing my glasses only made it worse. I was a blurry shorn blob in the mirror.
She really took her time, she was used to working with curly hair, knew I wanted easy maintenance, etc. She put in some goo and dried it a bit. I put on my glasses and held my breath as I looked in the mirror.
It was MUCH shorter than it had been before, but I LOVED IT! Even more than the first cut! I felt very chic and cool with my short, curly hair. I was worried that I wouldn’t like not being able to put it up, but I really didn’t miss that.
So, it’s been a few months since that great cut. I’m *just* able to put it back in a clip, but it doesn’t stay in very well (unless I don’t wash or brush my hair. I just wake up, take the tangled mess and let the knots hold it in place… shhhhh. Don’t tell anyone!). It still slips out and kind of annoys me. But I like the way it looks in a clip, when it stays in. When it’s down, it looks ok, but the weight of my hair is pulling the curl out, so now it just looks a bit…well, messy. I’m not really thrilled with it either way right now.
So, my dilemma is that I don’t know what to do. Do I let it grow out a bit more so I can put it up, or should I go and get it cut short again? Hmm.
I know, I’m just pondering the deep, worldly questions today, aren’t I? (yeah, I’m vain).
However, I’d finally had enough. I wasn’t happy with how it was looking, and in all honestly, while the hair itself was lovely (it was long and wavy – ½ way down my back), it was NOT particularly flattering on ME.
So after weeks of looking at pictures online and getting pep talks from numerous people (who finally told me to SHUT UP AND DO IT ALREADY) I decided to cut it. I went to a hairdresser I trusted (it only took 3 years for her to prove herself )and said “help me!”. She made some recommendations; I made her sign an affidavit in blood promising that I would look fabulous, and I went home and hyperventilated for a few days. Then, I made an appointment. The day before I got strep. But I went in anyway because I knew if I didn’t do it THEN, I would never do it. I’m responsible that way and CERTAINLY have my priorities laid out.
She cut and colored my hair. I went from hair that hung under my bra strap to between shoulder/chin. It was curly, bouncy and framed my face and was NOT gray and I LOVED it. Really loved it. It was still long enough that I could put it up if I wanted, but looked great down. I think I might have done a little dance, peed in my pants and hugged Mary a bit too hard. (Sorry). I tried not to breathe on her.
And my friends! People I saw almost daily didn’t recognize me. It was weird, but overall the new “do” was well received. I felt like new person. I felt refreshed. It was fun and I was so happy that I cut my hair.
Anyway, we moved and I panicked! Who would cut my hair!!!??? I let it go all summer. Then I got a coupon for a FREE haircut and decided to take my chances. I couldn’t beat the price and we were broker than broke at the time.
When I talked to “Pam”, I told her about where my hair had been after the first cut explained how I wanted it similar to that. She said “ok, it was a lot shorter then” which I somewhat agree to. Then told me a bit what she would do and she got started. When I could feel a BIG breeze on the back of my neck I knew it was SHORT. MUCH shorter than before. I think I stopped breathing for a minute and kept saying “ohgodohgodohgod” in my head. And not wearing my glasses only made it worse. I was a blurry shorn blob in the mirror.
She really took her time, she was used to working with curly hair, knew I wanted easy maintenance, etc. She put in some goo and dried it a bit. I put on my glasses and held my breath as I looked in the mirror.
It was MUCH shorter than it had been before, but I LOVED IT! Even more than the first cut! I felt very chic and cool with my short, curly hair. I was worried that I wouldn’t like not being able to put it up, but I really didn’t miss that.
So, it’s been a few months since that great cut. I’m *just* able to put it back in a clip, but it doesn’t stay in very well (unless I don’t wash or brush my hair. I just wake up, take the tangled mess and let the knots hold it in place… shhhhh. Don’t tell anyone!). It still slips out and kind of annoys me. But I like the way it looks in a clip, when it stays in. When it’s down, it looks ok, but the weight of my hair is pulling the curl out, so now it just looks a bit…well, messy. I’m not really thrilled with it either way right now.
So, my dilemma is that I don’t know what to do. Do I let it grow out a bit more so I can put it up, or should I go and get it cut short again? Hmm.
I know, I’m just pondering the deep, worldly questions today, aren’t I? (yeah, I’m vain).
Monday, January 5, 2009
This Day Is Going to Need Significantly MORE Coffee
It’s the first day back at the grind. I was up early this morning to get started on getting back into my exercise routine. I’ve got a load of laundry in the washer already. Mouse ate enough breakfast to get a start sticker on her chart and Baboo had ½ a cup of milk.
They both spend the almost 45 minutes it took them to eat their “breakfasts” alternately barking and yelling “AHHHH” at each other. OY.
I’ve got a list to hit Target with this morning after Baboo and I drop Mouse off at school. I’ve got a bag packed with snacks because I KNOW Baboo is going to be starving and asking for “nacks” the minute we get in the car.
It’s 8:30 am and I’m already exhausted. This day is going to need SIGNIFICANTLY more coffee.
Note: I’m feeling much better. I found some quick dissolve Zicam and can definitely say these are MUCH better than the chews. They work well and don’t have that lingering mouth coating nastiness that the chews have.
They both spend the almost 45 minutes it took them to eat their “breakfasts” alternately barking and yelling “AHHHH” at each other. OY.
I’ve got a list to hit Target with this morning after Baboo and I drop Mouse off at school. I’ve got a bag packed with snacks because I KNOW Baboo is going to be starving and asking for “nacks” the minute we get in the car.
It’s 8:30 am and I’m already exhausted. This day is going to need SIGNIFICANTLY more coffee.
Note: I’m feeling much better. I found some quick dissolve Zicam and can definitely say these are MUCH better than the chews. They work well and don’t have that lingering mouth coating nastiness that the chews have.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Close Encounters of the Cookie Kind
Help! We’ve been invaded! A gazillion of these people seem to have emerged from my oven. They’re various sized, seem a little two dimensional and yet, they smell good. Really good. The big ones seem to be the leaders, and have some sort of weird “third eye” thing going on. They must be really smart. And very prolific breeders. I mean, really, look at all those KIDs! Good grief.
Like some sort of weird “Dora the Explorer” story, it seems as though they have to travel through the gingerbread forest, under a snowy, starry sky to get to their hide-out; an obnoxiously, colorful and sweet place. Doesn’t seem like it’s going to hold that kind of crowd – but hey, what do I know?
I guess if we really want to gain back our control, we just might have to take care of these invaders and really, I see only one way out of this mess.
*Crunch* *Munch* *Snarf*
WHAT?!!
Gingerbread Men Recipe (based on Joy of Cooking – this is my version with extra spice. Makes nice spicy not too sweet gingerbread invaders – uh, cookies).
Gingerbread Men Recipe (based on Joy of Cooking – this is my version with extra spice. Makes nice spicy not too sweet gingerbread invaders – uh, cookies).
Ingredients:
¼ cup butter
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup molasses
3 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp salt
¼-1/2 cup water
¼ cup butter
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup molasses
3 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp salt
¼-1/2 cup water
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F
Cream butter and sugar together until creamy. Add molasses.
Sift flour, salt, spices and baking soda together.
In 3 parts, alternately add flour mixture and water. Amount of water will depend on how dry your flour is. You want the dough to be a stiff, but moldable ball.
Preheat oven to 350 F
Cream butter and sugar together until creamy. Add molasses.
Sift flour, salt, spices and baking soda together.
In 3 parts, alternately add flour mixture and water. Amount of water will depend on how dry your flour is. You want the dough to be a stiff, but moldable ball.
You may have to knead the last addition by hand. The dough should be really stiff, not be sticky, but also not dry.
Form into a round patty, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour.
When ready to make cookies, roll dough and cut out shapes. Bake for 8-10 minutes (depending on thickness). You know they are done when you press the cookie and it springs back.
If you want to make hanging ornaments, before baking, use a straw to make a hole in the cookie.
Cool on a rack and decorate with copious amounts of icing!
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