Cheater Post

I am borrowing this idea from Two Adults, One Brown Baby. Too much fun!

You like it?--you leave a link to yours and I will read it. You hate it?-read mine if you wish and shuffle along.

A to Z

A. Age: 37, closer to 40 than to 30. Yikes, how did that happen?

B. Bed size: Queen. Anything bigger would not fit in our room.

C. Chore that you hate: Taking the garbage to the street and returning the cans back behind the house.

D. Dogs: Love that my kids love the neighbor's dog down the street and they get to "walk her home". They give her water, a treat, and then play games on my neighbor's iPad. Walking Muffin home seems to take a half an hour, even though she lives just four houses away. I enjoy dogs if someone else owns them.

E. Essential start to your day: Cuddling with hubby sans CPAP and snoring.

F. Favorite color: Pink, I think for me. Green in March and December. Red in December and February. Bright colors in May through September. Orange in October and November. I like colors. Not too sure about a true fave.

G. Gold or silver: Gold for wedding ring and "real" jewelry from my honey. Silver for all other accessories.

H. Height: 5'8". Although one doctor visit measured me at 5'5", from a pull down ruler from the ceiling. I asked for a re-measure, still 5'5", until a year later. This happened just a couple of years ago.

I. Instruments that you play: Piano when I was growing up, pretty sure I lost all ability. French Horn through post-college, I'd be terrified to pick one up and play again. Handbells since 1999.

J. Job title: Speech and Language Pathologist and Home Manager and Little People Referee.

K. Kids: Two, Simon 6 1/2 (first grade), Norah (3 1/2, preschool).

L. Live: the Midwest, away from all of my immediate family and near all of Eric's immediate family.

M. Mother's name: Sharon Adeline

N. Nicknames: Rebecca at work, Becky everywhere else.

O. Overnight hospital stays: 2005 when Simon was born, and 2008 when Norah was born.

P. Pet peeves: People picking noses and nails.

Q. Quote from a movie: not quite my forte

R: Right or left handed: Right

S: Siblings: I'm the middle child, between 2 sisters. There is a wine called The Middle Sister.

T. Talents: (added as there was no T), I tell my kids that my special talent is peeling tangerines or oranges in only one continuous piece. True talents are crocheting, knitting, and sewing.

U. Underwear: New within the last year, I think.

V. Vegetable(s) you hate: Peas, none will cross my lips - ever. But I will heat them up for my kids.

W. What makes you run late: Getting everything done that everyone needs for the day ahead or the outing at present.

X. X-rays you've had: Ultrasounds and dental. One head scan when migraines were constant.

Y. Yummy food that you make: bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, chocolate chip pumpkin cookies, french toast casserole, shrimp lasagna rolls, enchiladas, buttermilk pancakes, homemade pizzas

Z. Zoo animal: Puffins. A puffin is like a bird and fish in a penguin-like body. The zoo by my parents house has puffins and they are delightful.

Overheard during play

"Hi batman. Do you know who I am? I am Hello Kitty!"

Can barely believe . . .

. . . . that we are antibiotic free!!! Don't really want to jinx myself, but since our run of illness since December 23rd is approaching an end, I feel a bit happy. What will I do without remembering at the almost too late moment to give the correct dosage on the dash out the door?

Let's just pray that it worked. And that ear pain is long gone. And it won't return. While I strive to be friendly and hospitable, stay away scary green germs!

Daily but Precious

Norah: "Mommy, after we play in the snow, can we go to the beach?"

**********

Norah: "Simon, can I tell you a secret?"

Simon: "Sure, in this ear."

Norah: "Ok" (scoots closer, puts mouth near ear) "Oh, it's a secret. I can't tell you. Nevermind."

**********

Norah: "I really love you!"

**********

Norah: "Is it summer today?"

Mommy: "Nope"

Norah: Will it be summer tomorrow?"

Mommy: "Nope"

Norah: "When will it be summer?"

Mommy: "After spring."

**********

Simon: "Mommy, when it is summer, can we go to the beach/pool?"

Mommy: "Yes"

**********

At any mentioning, decorating, or seeing Valentine Day things:

Norah: "It's Valentime's today!"

**********

At any mentioning, decorating, or seeing St. Patrick's Day things:

I love how she says and knows shamrocks. And still some confusion between St. Patrick's Day and her birthday. Any mention of them being the same day, she responds with "It's my birthday today." Answered with a "no". Then questioned if it will be tomorrow. I just say it is a long ways away. For her it is.

**********

Daily, but precious and I don't want to forget.

(My home computer is so stinkin' slow. It takes forever and a day to print something for email and to open any link. Since my work laptop is new and super fast, I have been using that. I don't want to put pictures on my work computer. That means it will take forever and a day to deal with pictures. Someday, when you see one, you will know I took the time to download and upload and wait, a long time!)

Christmas, All the Months Long: January Edition

Happy January 25th!!

I am trying a new thing this year.

Every month, on the 25th (or during some free time on a day very near to the 25th), I will do something Christmas related. As I do this activity, whatever it may be, remind myself of the meaning of Christmas.

Christmas in January's activity may be:

1. Felt ball ornaments (materials on hand, intended to make last December, but can't find my instructions or remember where I saw the idea.)

2. Sew on decorative strip of fabric picture/pattern, from my apron panel, onto red towels to match my lovely apron (that Mom made for me!)

3. Make a master list of my February - November 25th days to fill.

Will you join my Christmas, All the Months Long?

Will January 25th find you in a mood that is 'Tis the Season?

White and Bright

My "outside" is white and bright and lovely.

It is not brown all around.

A new week lies ahead of me,

and here I go to make it the best it can be.

I am not alone and on my own,

For God will guide my attitude.

As I complete each day with all that I need to do.

Spending the days trying to add a splash of fun,

to make it not exactly like the one just done.

So here I go,

white and bright,

pleasant and right.

At least this is what I think,

tonight . . .

on Sunday night!

Double, with Another Round

Simon woke with persistent complaints of ear pain. His energy faded quickly during church. He wanted to go home, put on PJs, and rest in his bed. At 9:30 a.m.

So, off to Urgent Care he goes. And of course, he has double ear infections with the right ear being worse. Off, again, to the pharmacy for another round of antibiotics for him.

Poor little guy, ear pain is so not fun.

He was sick over his Christmas break. Tomorrow he has no school. I was looking forward to something fun to do. Perhaps after 2-3 doses of antibiotics, he will feel up to something fun to do on his Mommy and Norah day. I was thinking of visiting the Garfield Park Conservatory, haven't been there since the hail damage. Or out for lunch. We do have a great coupon to use!

We did sneak in sledding fun yesterday. I love that I barely have to zip coats and only tie on scarves, they can dress themselves!!!!! They can also walk up the hill by themselves, only Norah needed some assistance with carrying up the sleds. We all had a blast, and Norah loved it. She did not like wipe outs. Simon had a blast and did not stop sledding, climb hill, go back down. He went down dozens of times, and loved the wipe outs. Of course hot chocolate was enjoyed by all at home after!

Projecting Hiatus Over

I am glad to announce my project hiatus is over. I am interested and eager to begin my projecting once again. In fact, I completed fingerless mitten/dinosaur gloves for Simon. They were quick easy and he is happy. I started and completed a curly scarf for ME!! Yes, I had picked up some royal blue yarn and some fun fur yarn in silver and white. Those are my school colors. I often have parent meetings on casual wear Fridays or spirit wear days, and I don't feel professional enough in my gray t-shirt with royal blue SPARTANS written across. Now I have my accessory in school colors. I am amazed at how warm just wearing a scarf makes you feel.

I have a friend, who checked out a book from her library, so I could make a copy of this pattern, to make with green yarn that is sitting in my yarn bin. It will be a crochet garment, which I am not always incredibly fond of. I have been searching for a shrug or capelet, and this is the shape I desire.

I also just purchased size 19 knitting needles to use with my birthday yarn from Simon to make this scarf. I am in search of more cost friendly double pointed needles, cable needles, or another set of single pointed needles in size 19. I have a feeling many people will be receiving this scarf from me as a gift this year. I have a feeling it will be a one ball project. With only 12 stitches per row, my guess is it will knit up quickly. And feel scrumptious!

And then this is tempting to me, as it is knit in one piece from the top down.

Of course, I really do no need to get the tea set completed. I really have only just begun as not one piece is completely finished!

It seems this year my projects of interest are for me. And that may be the focus of this year. Taking some time and doing things for me. I'll have to think about it, plan it, actually schedule it, and follow through. I'll keep you updated.

Scratch that sick free feeling

Late last night Norah awoke crying, uncomfortable, stuffy, coughing, and with a fever. We will, after all, fill that antibiotic that awaits us at the pharmacy. Here's a conversation:

How are you?

A little bit sick.

or How are you feeling?

a little bit feeling

Does anything hurt?

Nope

Which ear hurts?

This one

sigh,

A conversation overheard in the bathroom between Eric and Simon after Simon's shower last night:

Why is your shoe on the counter?

Because it is wet.

Why is your shoe wet?

Because it fell in the toilet.

Hmmm and sigh,

At least it is the old shoe with an almost toe hole on the sole, these shoes have been delegated to outside play shoes. Until today when the snow comes (today!) and we will have to wear boots.

Kickin' it to the curb

Well, we have not had the sleepiest of nights nor the clearest of days. Norah has a cough that continues day and night. But small fries do not know how to cough the junk up and out of their system. She has not complained of pain nor has she pulled her ear in discomfort. That nasty antibiotic still sits at the pharmacy. Our opinion? Everything is draining out of that little head of hers. So she coughs and blows her nose and gets extremely tired by the end of the day. I think we are on the road to snot-free, pink-free, puke-free, fever-free, infection-free days. Because seriously, what else could creep in and take root? I say kick the icky-sickies to the curb and don't return.

I do have a plea for a hard frost to get rid of all of these germs.

On a side note, we are quite excited to receive inches of snow overnight. This would make it the first batch of white ground cover for playing, shoveling, packing, building, and possibly sledding. I secretly want it tomorrow, as tomorrow, 1/12, is my guess for the first considerable snowfall to happen in January. Yes, our family January excitement comes in guessing snowfalls and recording it on the calendar.

Mom 1/12

Norah 1/15

Dad 1/18

Simon 1/20

Let the flakes fall!