August 03
HOT HOT HOT!!!
That's how the festival was yesterday. And I must say that I sold nothing. Nevertheless, it was fun and a good experience. Kristie (who brought along wonderful Dawn to help set up) and I had a blast. I brought a hand held fan that spritzed water and kept Grace in the shade and (naked) cool throughout the day. She was soooo good! Kristie made a few sales and that was a big bonus for her!
There is a private company here that is for rent for security called Interpol. Every time I saw them I kept thinking of "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?" and would laugh. I didn't know they were a security company until I got home and talked to Jerry and Kristie and I were all curious and wanted to ask them about Carmen San Diego...but never had the nerve. Anyway, we had a blast (Kristie had a little help from the wine...hehehehe!) And even though it was 90million degrees we had fun just talking and listening to good music.
So here are some pics of the preparations and of the day:
I'm also going to add an album with explanations.
I think over all we would totally do this again. Maybe we'll hit a few festivals this fall and a Christmas thing-y too? We'll see!
August 09
a great way to end the week!
This week has been extraordinarily hot! Heat indexes were in the 100s almost all week long. I did try to get Elijah and Grace out of the house almost everyday, but not for long. Yesterday I got a message from my friend Kristie to come over for a cook out, so instead of enjoying the very nice weather, I stayed home to clean the house and get at least some laundry done. I guess this made a difference in Elijah's life. He decided not to take a nap yesterday, but I did let him come sit with me and Grace and watch some TV and rest. I think that made a difference. I was really worried about going out with him without a nap. But he did GREAT! We got to Kristie's around 5:30 and then Katie and her family arrived shortly after. So all the kiddos played and we ate guac and chips while Dave cooked and the boys (I mean Men) hung out. Everyone had some beers (sans me...alas alack) and we had great company! I think we will try to make this at least a monthly thing. We ate a little later than normal, but it was all good. We left about 8:45 (almost an hour after Elijah's bedtime...) but Elijah was sooooo good throughout the whole evening, even when we told him it was time to go. He did really really well! Grace was a little fussy with all the excitement, but she also did well (until the ride home... then not so much...) At home Elijah feel almost immediately asleep and Grace went down okay. Jerry and I watched a little of the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, but I was beat, so I went to bed.
I have to say, though, that I did not sleep well. I kept having weird or bad dreams. Our area of NC is having a bad out break of black widows. We have them all around our house, but Kristie found some in her car and around her house and it was a major topic of discussion last night. Elijah came into my room at 3:45 last night and after I put him in bed with Jerry and resettled Grace, I could not stop thinking about those horrid creatures!!! So I was up until almost 5...sigh... oh well...
Speaking of Grace, I think she is getting ready to do something developmentally. Probably roll over. But lately she has been squirmy at night. To the point she wakes me and herself up. Then she doesn't want to nurse, she only wants to be held on my chest. Not a biggie, I can sleep like that (I have a whole set up) it's just not the coolest position. Yesterday though she almost made it all the way over. She can get over onto her side and is soooo close to rolling over. I guess I need to go on and put up the guard rail on the bed.
I have to say that I am (overall) happy with Grace's sleep habits. She will nurse to sleep, but she doesn't have to nurse to sleep. I think this will make night weaning much easier than it was with Elijah. Not that this isn't a long way done the road, but it's good to know that this challenge won't be so bad.
okay, Jerry's making breakfast I think it's almost done. There are new pics on the month 4 album!
August 13
You want some cheese with that?
First to answer questions:
I don't check my shoes before I put them on because we haven't found any spiders inside. If my shoes are left outside (to dry or whatnot) then we shake them. I don't like the idea of having black widows around the house, but we just check everything (sandbox, playhouse, slide, etc.) before playing on/in them.
We do, however leave Elijah's galoshes outside when they are wet and dirty...so after every use. So I always knock them around a bit. I was on the phone with my mom a while back and Elijah wanted to wear his galoshes into the sprinkler, so I knocked them on the ground to get any spiders out that might of crawled in...out. I was expecting something small and creepy to come out, instead out HOPPED a TOAD! It scared me (and probably burst my mom's ear drum, since I screamed!) Elijah was totally enthralled. After my heart slowed down, I couldn't stop laughing about it...
Last weekend we went to Sears to have our oil change and tires rotated. While there we went on the never ending hunt for a Wii Fit. Our last stop was back at Sears where Elijah spotted a Max and Ruby DVD from miles away. We decided that we would splurge and get this video as we were both a little tired of the Curious George DVD (he gets to pick two to watch before bed.) So Jerry took the kids to check on the car and I went to pay for the DVD. Now I have seen this woman at Sears before. She is older and a talker. (Let me just say here: I have been working out 20 minutes a day with 10 minute Solutions Dance DVD ...2 workouts a day... plus playing the Wii....SIGH) I step up to pay for the DVD and stupid woman asks, "When are you due?" WHAT??!?!?!?!??! First off, unless you KNOW someone is preggo, it is an unwritten rule that you NEVER EVER ask EVER!!! I looked at her (and in hindsight should not have been as nice) and said, "Oh, I just had a baby." (3 months ago, but thanks for making feel bad about myself JERK!) She then proceeds to talk to me and asks about the birth and all...I don't want to talk to you lady...Please shut up and finish this transaction with your head hung down in shame... sigh... stupid woman.
On Monday we needed to go grocery shopping. We found out that a food lion close to Jerry's work carries the diapers we like to use when not using cloth, so I decided to go there for a change. As we got out of the car, I saw a woman with 2 kids unloading a cart that Elijah likes to ride in. So I took my time getting the kids out of the car in case that was the only one (like the Food Lion closer by.) While I'm taking my time I'm sorta spying on this woman. First of all the woman was yelling at her kids for, what seemed to be, no apparent reason. She picked up the baby (in a carrier) and put it in the car, then let the toddler just crawl in. Then she proceeded to open door after door and stuff the (I'm not even lying here) 20 bottles of Diet Dr. Pepper into whatever nook and cranny she could find. It was seriously taking a REALLY long time. I mean there is only so long I can pretend to adjust the sling. So I start walking over to Elijah's side of the car and I hear this, "Put that cigarette down! That's Mommy's!!!!" Are you freakin' kidding me? Sigh... Not that's really bad for you, that's gross, but That's mommy's? I got Elijah out of the car and we went into the store (with Elijah whining about the car cart) where we, luckily, found another car cart. I was just floored...sigh...
The other day Elijah woke up from his nap. I had heard him moving around, but then he seemed to settle down a bit. So when he woke up I wasn't too surprised, but sometimes he'll come call in the chair with me and Grace and go back to sleep for a bit. ANYWAY, he comes out of his rooms and this is the conversation:
E: Hey buddy. Did you wake up from your nap?
e: Uh-huh. 'Ijah little wake up. 'Ijah big wake up now! PLAY now, mommy.
E: You woke up a little but now you are awake?
e: uh-huh, little wake up, PLAY now mommy!
I guess he woke up and realized it and then went back to sleep. It just tickled me....
And now for the girl child... She has, what looks like, three teeth coming in on the bottom and one coming in on the top...sigh... her eczema seems bad one day and then better the next then worse the next... Her sleeping has not been good lately. She wakes up around 1:30 will nurse and go back to sleep for 15 minutes and then wake back up. The only way I can get her to go back to sleep is to hold her while sitting straight up and patting her back. Eventually (like an hour later) I can scooch down in the bed a little and eventually (like another hour) roll her off onto her side. I guess it could be worse. I can fall back asleep in all the positions and I have the boppy under my arms to help support her and me. My problem is I have been having HORRID nightmares after waking up and then going back to sleep. To the point I have to get up and check on everyone to make sure they are alright. I am sure this is all a combination of the teeth, the eczema, and a growth spurt and it too shall pass, but I am so tired in the morning that I am sick to my stomach. Yesterday I went to the library and then we went to walk along the river to look at boats (it was such a nice day weather wise) and by the time I got home, I was so sleepy and tired that I couldn't even eat lunch. But alas alack, no nap for the mom. Grace and Elijah's naps overlap for about 15 minutes and that's it...sigh...
Today it is rainy and supposed to be all day. We aren't going anywhere and I really have no plans at all. There are a ton of things that need to be done around this house, but I'm not doing anything.
And yes I would like some cheese with my whine!!!
August 18
seriously...trampoline?
The trampoline is an Olympic sport? Seriously? WHAT?!?! Obviously my Olympic dreams are not over, I can still get there...
In all seriousness, I'm sure it is quite difficult, I just find it humorous... even more so that they have different trampolines for men and women. I just found that amusing...
On a not so amusing note... sigh... Our washing machine broke. It stopped spinning, so instead of paying someone to come out and fix it we looked up the problem on the internet...clogged drainage pipe. Everyone that commented on the problem said that it was an easy fix...stupid people...probably undercover repair people. We undid everything easy enough and cleaned up the water and cleaned out the pipes (though we found no blockage) and then went to put things back together...SIGH...not so much. I guess at least when the repair person does come they won't have to disassemble the machine. There is just this one clamp that we cannot get back on to where it should go. I hope that Jerry can get someone out here soon though. I am down to one pair of shorts (just bought a bunch of new underwear, so at least I'm good in that department) and two shirts...sigh... Also was getting ready to do a load of diapers...not so much a nice smell now in the small bathroom (especially since some toddler boy will not leave the freaking diaper pail alone!!!!!!!) sigh...
BUT...on Friday the kiddos and I met our Wednesday/Friendsday friends at this local woman's house to pick pears (don't be mad mama Jones, I'll pick some of yours when we come up I promise!) The kids had a blast. But Elijah and I got super eaten up by bugs. I put on bug spray too late. Nevertheless, the lady had toys out for the kids to play with and they had fun picking the pears as well. I found a good recipe for apple/pear butter (the freezer kind!!!) so I'll try that later today. It involves a bit more work than the other freezer things I've made, but not a ton, so we'll see.
Okay, there is an infant child wanting some milk...so I'm off...
August 21
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday...full of friends!!!
On Tuesday:
We went to a friend's house to meet with some other moms as a sorta laid back home school preschool. It was nice to get together with friends and do learning activities (this week we talked about growing things and the importance of bees.) Next week we will follow up with a field trip to the arboretum. We only meet for about 2 hours. I think it's good for Elijah to get as much socialism as possible, the learning environment is even better. We will all sorta pitch in and figure out each other's strengths so that we are all "teaching". It's also nice that the mom's stay there with the kids. Then no one is responsible for all the kids.
Also on Tuesday, we had the repair guy come look at our washer...sigh.. our motherboard is shot and has to be replaced. We can still wash clothes, there is just no final spin, so the clothes are pretty wet at the end...sigh... we contemplated buying a new washer (it's a 300 buck fix) but decided we will just pay to get this one fixed and start saving for a washer that we really really want (close to 800 bucks.) While it's annoying, I'm getting over it and moving on. I'm still hesitant to do our diapers in the washer because i really need all the detergent out of the diapers, so Jerry is going to take them during nap this weekend to the laundry mat. sigh...
On Wednesday:
Kate and her gang and my kiddos and I went to the Farmer's Market where it was kid's day!!! We went on a hay ride and walked around the farmer's market and watched the ponies (wasn't paying 5 bucks for my kiddo to freak out on the pony, but they were fun to watch.) The also had pheasants, chickens, and rabbits. Oh my! I have briefly discussed with our WD/FD friends about a preschool co-op and that's a possibility, but I don't want to commit to anything until I figure out what the heck is going on with grad school next year for both Jerry and myself. Elijah is a year older than these kids, but he gets along with them very well and I adore these moms.
On Thursday:
We went to the park, took a very brief walk and then played. I brought Dunkin Donuts (mostly because I am lazy, but also because I wanted some!) and I think they caused a little stir, but alas, alack. I love my Thursday group of friends as well. It's interesting to be a part of two groups are have many differences, but are similar in that I feel comfortable in both. Granted our Thursday group is much larger than the Wednesday one, but still...
I have a whole other blog entry in my head that I am hoping to get out soon... but sometimes that doesn't happen, so to make sure (probably) the title will be "Unapologetic"...hopefully, I find time tomorrow or maybe Saturday during nap time, to blog it. I've been thinking about it for a while and it's starting to keep me up, so I need to write it...
Okay, that's all for now.
August 25
Okay okay...unapologetic
While this is an unapologetic blog post, I'm going to start out by saying that I am sorry if I hurt your feelings, but you should get over it... I know I will.
I will not apologize for:
1) vaccinating my child.
2) being annoyed that other choose not to vaccinate their children. I am not saying those that choose, for whatever reason, to delay vaccines, I'm talking about not vaccinating at all. For many reasons it annoys me, but things like this piss me off and scare the crap out of me. My girl child doesn't get the MMR vaccine until she is a year old. Yet, it seems not to phase people that their child may expose my infant to measles. I find this selfish. I understand that some believe that there are homeopathic cures for any disease. I choose to go the way of the FDA and risk it. Seeing as my kids are allergic to many "organic" cleaners, I'm not going to risk giving them something that may be worse than the disease. I feel that if you don't want to vaccinate your kid, it's your choice, but please don't complain about getting your child into school and all the organic remedies out there. It annoys me.
3) giving my child a plastic container to drink/eat from. While I think that plastic is not the best thing in the world, right now it is the cheapest. I have a feeling that will all change as oil becomes less available, but for now, it's what I can afford. I am really tired of being made by companies to feel like I am some HORRIBLE mother for giving my child plastic. I guess I make the choice to not spend 14.95 on a sippy cup. But i feel that if the plastic was really that HORRID that these, oh-so-great-companies would make a product that was affordable for everyone not just the middle to upper class of America. Apparently we only value the fragile lives of children whose parents can afford such things. Which leads me too...
4) not constantly feeding my child only organic food. Again, I feel like there is not enough organic food in the USA to feed all it's population. It's impossible. We have to use fertilizers and insecticide in order for there to be enough food. Of course, there in lies the problem right? Over population and consumerism. We have to have food to survive. I don't really believe that all the food is as organic as one might think. you don't know what was on the soil before it was "organic" and the stuff that's dangerous, doesn't go away. Not to mention how the fields are plowed. By horses? Probably not. Probably by diesel or gas powered tillers or plows. What do these things put in the air? What do the plants intake? Or where do your "organic" bananas come from? Are they transported by clean burning trucks running off recycled oil or hydrogen or compressed air? I think that some people are more concerned about the food they eat than the air they breathe. I mean by using gas powered lawn mowers you pollute the air you and your kids breathe. But it seems to not phase people that this is the stuff that is dangerous, not the pesticides that can be washed off our fruits and veggies. It is your right to eat organic and not use plastic (though how you buy shoes is beyond me!) I wish you all the luck in the world. Please stop making me feel less superior to you.
5) not buying new clothes/toys for my kids. I buy used everything except for shoes and underwear. I see no point in buying new. I refuse to pay more than 15 dollars on a pair of shoes for my kids. I won't buy Stride Rite because I feel they are over priced and again... the whole class thing pisses me off.
6) owning a reel lawn mower and electric weedwacker and complaining about the work. Because it is harder, but I feel better about letting my kids play outside. In fact, my kids can play outside while I mow the grass and I know I'm not hurting not only their lungs, but their ears.
7) supporting all moms regardless of the following: having a natural birth, epidural, c-section, work, stay at home, cry it out, co sleep, use disposable diapers, use cloth diapers, spank, use time out, coddle, spoil, breast feed, bottle feed, formula feed... and many more.
8) for breastfeeding my child on demand.
9) sleeping with my kids.
10) not spanking my kids. While it's fine if others want to, I believe that by spanking you are instilling a certain fear in the kid. We both were spanked as kids. We turned out just fine. This is not a criticism of how we were raised, it is simply a choice we are making.
11) feeding my child fast food. He loves it. He gets it about once a week. I think that life will go on.
12) letting my two year old watch TV. He rarely, if at all watched it before he turned two and Grace will be the same way. But he gets to watch limited amounts now. I don't think that it will hurt him.
13) allowing my child to entertain himself. In fact, I encourage this. As long as he is having fun and not hurting himself or anyone else, I am content to allow my kids to play with each other and friends with limited supervision (in the house or in the back yard...not like the playground or something) and I encourage them working things out on their own.
14) being annoyed with my toddler. He does things that annoy me. I am sure that the feeling is mutual.
15) not cutting Elijah's hair. EVER! If he chooses to have his hair cut, then I will take him. Until then, nope...
16) allowing my child to eat sweets. I believe in everything in moderation. He gets sweets. He understands the words "No more, all done." He doesn't pig out on sweets since he gets them on a regular basis.
17) feeding my child foods with corn syrup in them. It's the EXACT same chemical make up as sugar. Most products that have eliminated the corn syrup have more sugar in them. See, I do read labels... I also read ALL research.
18) not buying into research provided by non-scientific companies.
19) only buying biodegradable cleaning products that have their ingredients CLEARLY printed ON THE BOTTLE.
20) being me and writing this post. If I have offended you, chances are you have offended me first, so back at ya. I did not write this to intentionally piss off people or even start a debate. I have just had this all on my chest for a while. So there.
August 28
So FREAKIN' Mad!!!!
So I have been getting calls from some 888 number and finally they left a message (because I won't answer.) It's a financial service calling about our membership to a fitness club. ummm, WHAT?????? I canceled our membership to a gym 3 years ago this October. Apparently, our contract renewed itself. We apparently are dumb and didn't see that our account was being debited until last month. so Jerry put a stop on the account. Now we get called 5757858675 million times. So today I answer. The club they are charging us for doesn't even exist any more. Had I known that before I answered the phone the poor customer service rep would have gotten even more of an ear full. So we are under review with the club...whatever. The bad thing is that we don't have our original contract or the cancellation notice, because, have I mentioned, I WAS THREE YEARS AGO??????? She couldn't even find the original name of the club (it has changed names 3 times!!!) I told the CSR that we would be discussing this issue with a lawyer. They didn't even have a even quasi- correct address. I mean the address they had was two addresses ago!
I feel if they can't find our original agreement then we are all in the same boat. Obviously, we are at fault for not realizing sooner that stuff was being drafted from our account, but who the HELL renews something like that. If they can't find our original documents then they have no leg to stand on. I'm still sooooooooo mad. I don't understand how they can charge us for a place that doesn't exist. I can't believe that didn't catch this sooner, and I can't believe that they think that I'm going to give them another penny. Sigh...
okay... that is all for now... end of rant...
