Time flies

Wow, you know.. I'm on this computer every day for one reason or several... but I can't believe it's been over a week since I've written anything that wasn't a Meme. 

So the concert weekend went well. We met up with the BFF on Thursday afternoon.  The girls spent the rest of that day at the pool.  Friday morning I fed them, then took them to the concert.  They had a great time.  I went exploring once I got rid of the girls. Found a quilt store and bought a new quilt book.  Went back to the hotel and read. Very relaxing.

We had to cut the weekend short because BFF and her mom had to catch a "hop" back to Germany. That's a space available flight in a military aircraft. Way cheaper than a regular airline, but far less dependable too. The mission and the soldiers, equipment, etc have priority and family members don't always get a seat. So.. it's important to be there for all the possible flights you can grab.

glitter-graphics.comKim started back at school on Wednesday last week.  She likes all her teachers and was really excited to see that her French teacher was back (she had a baby shortly after school ended in June).  Kendra started college today. Sweet schedule she has..goes in at 10AM and is done by 3pm. No classes on Friday.  I see most of my morning struggles being finished.

Did I mention that we are homeschooling Mac again this year? Due to several misunderstandings with the H.S. registrar, it just became easier to keep him home (since we are moving mid-year anyway).  I'm still waiting for his books to show up, so he's still sleeping in a bit in the mornings.

Yesterday, I played "meals on wheels" for our newest new mommy (our group here has several pregnant women). I tried to make it a special meal so they could celebrate the birth of their son. I made Sweet Vermouth Chicken, Maple glazed carrots, steamed brocolli, mashed potatoes, yeast rolls, brownies and we chilled a nice Auslese wine.

Today, I'm experimenting with my own family.  I'm attempting to recreate the new mini-burgers that are showing up on so many menus these days.  I got all the fixings.. I'm just gonna fancy mine up a bit with bacon and cheddar cheese.... YUM!  I'll let you know how that all turns out.  And of course a nice salad and some cheddar-bacon fries on the side.

What I do that drives my people nuts

Courtesy of Heather @ from the infirmary

 

Here's a Meme for something fun to do today... make a list of the things you do that drive other people in your life crazy.... *smile*

1. Buy fabric for quilting projects when I clearly already own enough fabric.

2. When I'm losing an argument, I start laughing and smiling which completely disarms Paul (the only one I ever lose to), so he gets flustered and then I get a second wind and end up winning by default.  He REALLY hates that. LOL

3. Leave my shoes in the living room while insisting that everyone else puts theirs in their rooms immediately (HEY! I'm the one that's going to eventually have to put it all away anyway, right?)

4. The kids really hate it when I yell. I really hate it when they ask "why are you yelling?"... I'm not sure this counts.. but it's an aggravating thing for all involved.

I had to go take a poll because I couldn't think of anything I do that annoys other people.... but... this is what the group said:

Kim "I really hate it when you leave the lids off the jam and peanut butter." ( I do do this.. but in my defense.. it's because I'm not sure that just one sandwich is going to hold me over... she just manages to get into the kitchen before I have a chance to decide and put them away on my own).

Paul "I can't put it into words, but I hate that you always think that you are right when you clearly aren't." ( for the record... I AM always right, but on the few occasions that I am not I often concede to his point.  He on the other hand, NEVER thinks he's wrong.)

Mac (with a blank stare) "WHY are you asking me THIS?"

Kendra "zzzzzz"

So, there you have it.. I'm really not that annoying LOL... Now.. I do have habits that I hate, but this assignment was for the ones that annoy others.

Tags: annoying habits, meme

The Parent Meme

I ran across these questions in a recent Family Circle.  They were answered by Michael Chiklis.. but I thought the questions were pretty good, so here are my answers.  Hope some of you will choose to play along..

I parent three children, Kendra 18, freshman in college, Kim 15, sophmore in high school, Mac 14 freshman in high school (homeschooling)

I'm a huge fan of: my kids. I marvel on a daily basis how totally fun they are as people.  And that they are so clever and witty is a big plus too.

My parenting philosophy is a mix of: treating them as though they can understand the concepts we are trying to get across to them with equal parts of "flying by the seat of my pants".  I try to be proactive, but when I have to.. I'm very reactive.

Our siliest family ritual is: making cookie turkeys at Thanksgiving. These are three dimensional turkeys, out of cookies.

I feel like Super Mom when: I see one of my kids handle a "life lesson" with grace and humor.  Knowing that they have skills that will help them when they get out into the real world helps me to believe I've done a good job.

I feel like the worst parent in the world when: I can't get past my own issues to see theirs.

I don't want my kids to be spoiled, so I make sure they: do chores around the home that help out everyone (for example.. they don't just wash their clothes.. they wash everyone's clothes), they earn extra money for the big ticket items they want.  We all work on some sort of charity projects through out the year.  Recently, it's been packages to the troops...but prior to 9/11 we helped out with food to homeless shelters and the Salvation Army Angel trees.

I want to scream when my kids: fight with each other.

My kids know not to interrupt me when I'm: driving in tense situations.  They know I hate being distracted when I have to concentrate on the traffic around me.

My whole family sings along to: Linken Park, Evanescence, Skillet, Hilary Duff, Beatles, Toby Keith to name just a few.

My Ipod is loaded with: I don't have an Ipod... but I do have an MP3 player and I have the Beatles, plus two exercise music cd's that I had to ask Paul to put on it for me. I use it for my walks outside.

My children have taught me:  just how much my parents must have loved me.  I don't think that I could love my kids so very deeply if I hadn't received such love myself.  They have also taught me not to take myself too seriously.

 

 

Wrapping up the day

I think Paul had a good time today. (if you don't count the part where he had to go to school.) 

We took him to the mexican restaurant he likes for dinner.... considering where we are (middle of nowhere).. it's not too bad.  I respected his wish to not make a big fuss there and make everyone sing Happy Birthday to him (I'm so nice)

His request for a cake this year was a batch of Oreo brownies. Kimberly baked those up this afternoon.  She's so cute... she actually managed to break the Oreos into pieces that spelled Happy Birthday across the brownies...

His big gift this year is his leather jacket with a personally designed picture painted on the back.  We're in the process of having that work done.  He'll get that back in about 6-8 weeks.

We also picked up a book he's been wanting (though it will be a few months before he has time for pleasure reading again)..1776 by David McCullough.  And finally.. for a bit of fun.. we got him a copy of the movie "Clerks". 

I'm packing for our trip tomorrow.. and by "our" .. I mean the girls and I.  We leave early to trek over to Ohio for the big concert (Projekt Revolution) on Friday.  Our hotel looks pretty awesome, has an indoor pool and all the amenities we could ask for, so I think we'll be having a rocking weekend with Kim's best friend joining us there.

I should be back on Sunday.. and in the meantime, Paul says "Thanks so much for all the well wishes."

Happy Birthday, Paul

glitter-graphics.com

 The old man is 46 years old today. :)

List making

I have arrived at a point in my life where I need to make lists.  Anything beyond three things and I won't remember them.

Last week I thought to myself "I need one of those grocery lists with a magnet to stick it on my refrigerator door, so I can annotate those items we need on the next trip to the store. "  Then I thought "I've seen those down the aisle that the brooms, mops and such are on, I'll pick one up next time I'm at the store"

On Wednesday, Kim and I went shopping.  I stood in the aisle where the brooms, mops and such are... and thought "there was something I needed on this aisle." Out loud I said to Kim.. "I need something on this aisle...can you think of anything we need from here?"

She looked around and said, "nope."  (It's a cleaning aisle, of course she's going to say 'No')   I stood there for a good 3 or 4 minutes, running every thought I've had over the last few days, trying to remember what it was I needed from that aisle.  And I just couldn't remember... so .. we finished up the last few aisles and came home.

On Thursday I remembered I needed the grocery list pad from the broom aisle. <sigh>

Anyway.. I am making a list on some note paper I found of the things I need to do tomorrow.  The one thing I can't do is go buy my grocery list pad because the commissary is closed tomorrow.  Tuesday I need to remember to look back at this entry to remind me I need the pad.

In the meantime, my list for tomorrow includes

1. Call the school "bank" to deal with Kimberly's debt from last year. I think we haven't received her new schedule BECAUSE they think we have this outstanding book fee.  We don't.

2. Call Mrs. Moore and schedule driving lessons for the girls.  With the driving classes they took at the beginning of the summer, 6 hours of driving instruction is included.  We still need to schedule those hours.

I'm limited to tasks I can take care of either by phone or around the house because we dropped off my car this evening for an oil and filter change.  The girls and I leave on Thursday for our wild weekend in Ohio (remember the concert).  Paul wanted us to be in a recently serviced car for the trip.. which is sweet, but I'm the one that has to do without for a day.  

Tags: list making

Estela Needs

This is a meme that I picked up off Joann's journal http://journals.aol.com/preciousone25/JoannsWeightLossJourney

"All about you and your needs" Google 'your name' and 'needs' and print the first ten results in your journal.

Sounded kind of fun.. and I thought with the way I spell my first name, it might be a challenge for the internet to find my needs... but.. not so much.. here are the 10 I found first.

1. Estela needs your collaboration, and she thanks you for whatever support you can offer. (I always need help, and collaboration, and I do appreciate the help.)

2. Estela needs some money to cover the expense of her new skirt for dance class. (well, I guess the secret is out, I dance.)

3. Estela needs 10 dollars for folk dancing lessons. (And now we know the kind of dancing Im doing.)

4. Estela needs residence in Guadalajara. (Apparently to get a scholarship... maybe for dance?)

5. When the clinic needed a receptionist, Estela fit their needs. (Yet another way to earn that money for my skirt and my lessons)

6. Estela desperately needs to submit the finished dresses to the manufacturer so she can get paid. (I obviously have many irons in the fire to make that money.)

7. Estela desperately needs Ana's help. (hear that, Ana?)

8. Estela needs a falda, a colorful skirt. (aha, back to the skirt thing again)

9. Estela's restaurant needs help. (many, many irons....)

10. Estela needs prayer.  (between prayer and all the money making schemes, I may get my skirt and dance lessons yet.)