why do I always do this?
so many things have happened in the past two years. I just feel so silly that I haven't kept up on the blog. but I'm back, at least for today.
since Erica and Kale got married they had a baby. a wonderful little boy. He is all sweetness and loved by all.
but not only did they have one baby, they are expecting their second next spring.
I weave for myself now.
I have two looms and not a lot of business, but I may get there. I suppose I'd have more business if I weren't so nervous about doing custom pieces. I feel like people just won't like how I design or that I won't be able to get off the loom what they envision. I just need to find a bit more courage.
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Monday, November 9, 2015
many many feelings
Two days ago my biggest little girl got married.
Married.
Wow! Married!
I've had so many feelings about that. So many that they all mush up together. I just can't unravel them at all.
Her husband is a truly nice young man and I know that I've said and felt some things in the past that I regret having not just kept to myself until that feeling passed. :(
But we go forward and find our own reasons to love him too.
Married.
Wow! Married!
I've had so many feelings about that. So many that they all mush up together. I just can't unravel them at all.
Her husband is a truly nice young man and I know that I've said and felt some things in the past that I regret having not just kept to myself until that feeling passed. :(
But we go forward and find our own reasons to love him too.
What a whirlwind day for everyone!
and my feet still hurt from the poor choice of shoe I wore, but they were cute shoes.
She was stunning and my husband was very attractive in his new suit.
and my feet still hurt from the poor choice of shoe I wore, but they were cute shoes.
She was stunning and my husband was very attractive in his new suit.
sometime I'll get a picture or two of everyone (post photoshopping myself out of it. I ruin everything)
and there were many feelings being had by all. it has poured over us for the last few days. I've been distracted by thoughts of her marriage and all the changes in life that will come from that, not only for her but for my husband and myself, and for our children too.
So many possibilities
and there were many feelings being had by all. it has poured over us for the last few days. I've been distracted by thoughts of her marriage and all the changes in life that will come from that, not only for her but for my husband and myself, and for our children too.
So many possibilities
Sunday, August 9, 2015
proud of my Roanie
yes, he's 8 years old and many may think it's ridiculous that he is only now accomplishing this, but, well, they don't know my Ronan.
yesterday, we bought some new shoes for the boys before school starts in a few weeks. Ronan has been resistant about learning to tie his shoes. for some reason he has had it set in his mind that tying shoes is near impossible. it has been a struggle at times and we have learned to pick and choose certain battles and a fight over shoelaces just isn't worth it.
this time Tim and I made Ronan choose a pair with laces. NO velcro. he tried on shoes and a pair was chosen. he still had them on when we were ready to leave so we told him to put them back in the box so we could buy them. he sat down on the floor and started taking the shoes off and I could tell he was stressing out about the fact that they weren't velcro. I saw that he was trying so hard not to cry about it, but there were tears in his eyes. I got down next to him and reassured him that it would be okay. we'd practice as much as we needed until he got the hang of it. he was still sad and worried.
Connor had tried to help him figure out tying laces at the store and after we got home he tried to help a little more. Soon I heard Connor say to ask Mom to show how to tie the bunny ears way. I never tie shoes that way so it really doesn't make sense to me, but I can do it after a couple of tries...
I showed him how one time. he said in a surprised voice "that looks easy!"
then he tried. and he tried again. not to perfection but very well done for a new attempt.
this morning he put on his shoes and tied them. he took them off and a while later put them on again. Tim asked him if he was going outside. No, I like tying my shoes, he says. He's so danged proud of himself! I'm so happy for him. I'm proud of him.
now the world is his :)
yesterday, we bought some new shoes for the boys before school starts in a few weeks. Ronan has been resistant about learning to tie his shoes. for some reason he has had it set in his mind that tying shoes is near impossible. it has been a struggle at times and we have learned to pick and choose certain battles and a fight over shoelaces just isn't worth it.
this time Tim and I made Ronan choose a pair with laces. NO velcro. he tried on shoes and a pair was chosen. he still had them on when we were ready to leave so we told him to put them back in the box so we could buy them. he sat down on the floor and started taking the shoes off and I could tell he was stressing out about the fact that they weren't velcro. I saw that he was trying so hard not to cry about it, but there were tears in his eyes. I got down next to him and reassured him that it would be okay. we'd practice as much as we needed until he got the hang of it. he was still sad and worried.
Connor had tried to help him figure out tying laces at the store and after we got home he tried to help a little more. Soon I heard Connor say to ask Mom to show how to tie the bunny ears way. I never tie shoes that way so it really doesn't make sense to me, but I can do it after a couple of tries...
I showed him how one time. he said in a surprised voice "that looks easy!"
then he tried. and he tried again. not to perfection but very well done for a new attempt.
this morning he put on his shoes and tied them. he took them off and a while later put them on again. Tim asked him if he was going outside. No, I like tying my shoes, he says. He's so danged proud of himself! I'm so happy for him. I'm proud of him.
now the world is his :)
Friday, July 10, 2015
BIG change of plans
so, to recap -- the last post I wrote was about my plans to get not quite so ugly and unlovable.
BUT things happened and I decided to get a job instead.
it is difficult leaving my kids home. I'd much rather be there for them all the time. but we need money and we need to get on top of things if we ever hope to move into a real and sturdy house.
what have I been doing? most people I know already know. at least those that I am closest to.
I started working for a woman I know. she has a company that makes handmade baby wraps for baby wearers.
I have been learning a lot and I really enjoy it (most days when the warp is cooperative)
I weave. on a loom. yep a loom. we work on the most wonderful pieces making the most beautiful fabric.
I have taken a few pictures here and there with my phone and my ipod. they are not the best quality but that's okay.
https://www.facebook.com/fairyrivertextiles
BUT things happened and I decided to get a job instead.
it is difficult leaving my kids home. I'd much rather be there for them all the time. but we need money and we need to get on top of things if we ever hope to move into a real and sturdy house.
what have I been doing? most people I know already know. at least those that I am closest to.
I started working for a woman I know. she has a company that makes handmade baby wraps for baby wearers.
I have been learning a lot and I really enjoy it (most days when the warp is cooperative)
I weave. on a loom. yep a loom. we work on the most wonderful pieces making the most beautiful fabric.
I have taken a few pictures here and there with my phone and my ipod. they are not the best quality but that's okay.
I worked on this a couple of days ago.
there's a better picture of it below
there's a better picture of it below
these other pictures are of finished pieces (I did not photograph these but wanted to show what I've been working on)
I wove this twill. I've done this twill before (see purple to red piece above) but I made a mistake on this one - I've just found out - and I am so horribly embarrassed. not only that but I'm mad at myself. I can do better than this. I have done better than this and it's going to bother me forever.
another twill I worked on. I did better this time.
https://www.facebook.com/fairyrivertextiles
Thursday, February 19, 2015
wow! just awful
6 months since my last post
I really haven't had anything that I've wanted to talk about. lots of thing happened, but I guess I just wasn't in the mood to talk all about it. you know, everyone has an opinion and everyone thinks they are more knowledgeable about everything that happens to everyone else, I guess I didn't feel like opening that window.
last year both Tim and I were sick. by sick I mean more like his body was doing less than it should and my body was less than it should and we were both in the hospital for different things. I actually had to stay for a day and a half in July.
I mentioned Tim's stomach problems. He's better now, but it's still a mystery as to why it all happened at all.
I had kidney stones that were causing trouble. they were painful, yeah. but they were also bigger than would be able to pass on their own. so I had one removed and was scheduled to have two more removed in August but then I postponed that procedure until after we knew more about Tim's stomach. all was fine until October when I again was in the ER. so at my followup appointment 2 days later we scheduled all my pre-op tests and physical and had the other two stones removed a few weeks later.
after that another test and we are waiting on the results to see if I am going to be needing medication to keep them from forming or if I can keep them controlled by making sure I never let myself become dehydrated.
but all that going on in my life last year I didn't get anything more done about getting fit. it all became very difficult to fit that in with doctor appointments and managing family.
I'm sure you're thinking, "just take your kids with you". have you ever tried taking a walk with at least 1 - 4 kids. the level of stress you experience is far greater than any physical benefit you might get. but you don't get any physical benefits from walking with you kids (or my kids) and here's why. they stop and complain every three minutes. if they are not complaining of their legs or feet or back hurting (these are skinny kids, mind you. look through the blog there are pictures) they are "so thirsty" and constantly stopping the convoy to have a water break.
because of this utter failure to get pretty because my kids constantly hinder my weight loss goals, I will be joining my area rec center which has a gym and a walk track (also a pool that I will never be caught dead in a swim suit so I will never use it). I figure if I spend that kind of money maybe people will be able to deal with me not being around here for an hour a few nights a week. also I won't be taking any of them with me so I will be able to go at my pace instead of a snail's pace.
maybe this year I might get that habit established enough and build my stamina enough that maybe next year I just might do the Susan G. Komen 3 day walk.
I really haven't had anything that I've wanted to talk about. lots of thing happened, but I guess I just wasn't in the mood to talk all about it. you know, everyone has an opinion and everyone thinks they are more knowledgeable about everything that happens to everyone else, I guess I didn't feel like opening that window.
last year both Tim and I were sick. by sick I mean more like his body was doing less than it should and my body was less than it should and we were both in the hospital for different things. I actually had to stay for a day and a half in July.
I mentioned Tim's stomach problems. He's better now, but it's still a mystery as to why it all happened at all.
I had kidney stones that were causing trouble. they were painful, yeah. but they were also bigger than would be able to pass on their own. so I had one removed and was scheduled to have two more removed in August but then I postponed that procedure until after we knew more about Tim's stomach. all was fine until October when I again was in the ER. so at my followup appointment 2 days later we scheduled all my pre-op tests and physical and had the other two stones removed a few weeks later.
after that another test and we are waiting on the results to see if I am going to be needing medication to keep them from forming or if I can keep them controlled by making sure I never let myself become dehydrated.
but all that going on in my life last year I didn't get anything more done about getting fit. it all became very difficult to fit that in with doctor appointments and managing family.
I'm sure you're thinking, "just take your kids with you". have you ever tried taking a walk with at least 1 - 4 kids. the level of stress you experience is far greater than any physical benefit you might get. but you don't get any physical benefits from walking with you kids (or my kids) and here's why. they stop and complain every three minutes. if they are not complaining of their legs or feet or back hurting (these are skinny kids, mind you. look through the blog there are pictures) they are "so thirsty" and constantly stopping the convoy to have a water break.
because of this utter failure to get pretty because my kids constantly hinder my weight loss goals, I will be joining my area rec center which has a gym and a walk track (also a pool that I will never be caught dead in a swim suit so I will never use it). I figure if I spend that kind of money maybe people will be able to deal with me not being around here for an hour a few nights a week. also I won't be taking any of them with me so I will be able to go at my pace instead of a snail's pace.
maybe this year I might get that habit established enough and build my stamina enough that maybe next year I just might do the Susan G. Komen 3 day walk.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
and so it goes, and we go for a walk
after last month with Tim's endoscopy and that not telling us much, it's been an emotional jumble for the both of us - really ALL of us, but the kids move on with things much quicker than the grown-ups since we're the ones who have to deal with all the serious stuff. Tim's been unhappy in ways I can't totally understand but at the same time I do. He's been on a liquid diet since the middle of July. after a month and a couple more doctor appointments he's still on a specialized diet and still no answers as to what and why and when for him.
so in the mean time I'm still Ugly, and the kids are still on each other's nerves and mine, too. SO we went for a walk. this was a couple of weeks ago now - so I'm doing better about updating the blog :)
Timothy was with his friend doing other stuff and so he's not in the pictures - and Tim doesn't like to have pictures taken of him (I don't know why... at least he still looks wonderful after having 6 kids)
Kellan and Connor were busy dropping things through the decking at the nature center.
Emma was ... I'm not really sure what she was up to there.
and Kellan was busy having the time of his life: dropping things through the deck, throwing things through the railing, running down the path that lead up to the deck, he was just all over the place.
and well, this is just a pretty bug we saw on our way back to the car.
I still have to look up just what kind of beetle it is, but I love that pretty, shiny, metalic green
I still have to look up just what kind of beetle it is, but I love that pretty, shiny, metalic green
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
For the last month Tim has not felt well at all. A near week of migraine followed by three weeks of abdominal pain. We went to this doctor and that doctor so he could finally see his GI doctor with who he has a history. We've been worried that he had another ulcer. We've been really worried about that. Last week he went in for a CT scan and the nurse who called with the results said it was "essentially normal". What the heck does that mean?
This morning/afternoon he had an endoscopy done with his GI doctor. I have to say I hardly know Dr. Takis but I love that man.
We have a ways to go until he's all better but there's no ulcer, no cancer, no iminant death!
This morning/afternoon he had an endoscopy done with his GI doctor. I have to say I hardly know Dr. Takis but I love that man.
We have a ways to go until he's all better but there's no ulcer, no cancer, no iminant death!
Sunday, June 29, 2014
I'm struggling. You don't want to hear me say this so you don't have to read it. I just need to get it out. Maybe put it in terms that help me not succum to my horrible crap self, or maybe it will make things worse. All I know is that keeping in here, building in self hatred pressure and then it's seeping out just makes me the worst possible person.
More and more I just feel like I'm the most worthless being there ever was. I'm ugly, I'm stupid, I'm the last person anyone here ever listens to. I have no purpose and no value. It's hard to feel like much of a mother or a wife when I hardly feel like I'm worth being the cook or baby sitter. Most days I only feel like the cook and the babysitter (and like I said, not even good enough to be that. Certainly not the "wife" or "mother")
I've had 6 kids. It ruined me, stretched and mangled, totally and apparently irreversibly. I nursed and nursed them as long as I could, first because it was the best for them - with the exception of Kellan. I still have heartbreaking, self loathing feelings about that. Look it up.
Doctors are horrid liars! All that breastfeeding and I just got fatter and uglier.
Recently, in an attempt to improve myself I've started walking every couple of days. A mile here a mile and a half there. While I don't expect to have lost 1,000 in the last two months, I would have expected to not get fatter and uglier. Well that's what has actually happened.
I don't think I had any real vanity when I was young. In fact I never thought much of my looks. Maybe that's not 100% true. Once in high school I went shopping for a new swim suit and just for kicks I tried on a bikini. I looked really great. Now I don't even want anyone to see me with even long jeans and a parka, I'm just that embarrassing. Sure I'm putting a lot of value in being thinner and cute. Who doesn't? Hell, it's had a impressive effect in every part of my life, so yeah I put a great value on being beautiful (or ugly as this case is) So on the whole I'm not even worth a penny that's been run over by a train and then thrown down a garbage disposal.
More and more I just feel like I'm the most worthless being there ever was. I'm ugly, I'm stupid, I'm the last person anyone here ever listens to. I have no purpose and no value. It's hard to feel like much of a mother or a wife when I hardly feel like I'm worth being the cook or baby sitter. Most days I only feel like the cook and the babysitter (and like I said, not even good enough to be that. Certainly not the "wife" or "mother")
I've had 6 kids. It ruined me, stretched and mangled, totally and apparently irreversibly. I nursed and nursed them as long as I could, first because it was the best for them - with the exception of Kellan. I still have heartbreaking, self loathing feelings about that. Look it up.
Doctors are horrid liars! All that breastfeeding and I just got fatter and uglier.
Recently, in an attempt to improve myself I've started walking every couple of days. A mile here a mile and a half there. While I don't expect to have lost 1,000 in the last two months, I would have expected to not get fatter and uglier. Well that's what has actually happened.
I don't think I had any real vanity when I was young. In fact I never thought much of my looks. Maybe that's not 100% true. Once in high school I went shopping for a new swim suit and just for kicks I tried on a bikini. I looked really great. Now I don't even want anyone to see me with even long jeans and a parka, I'm just that embarrassing. Sure I'm putting a lot of value in being thinner and cute. Who doesn't? Hell, it's had a impressive effect in every part of my life, so yeah I put a great value on being beautiful (or ugly as this case is) So on the whole I'm not even worth a penny that's been run over by a train and then thrown down a garbage disposal.
Monday, June 9, 2014
birthdays
I'm far from getting caught up on all the things that have happened in our lives over the last couple of years. oh well, I'll just try to remember to add something sometimes.
just when I was feeling like I should add some to my records I had a MASSIVE computer crash. not the end of the world kind, but it was a very big inconvenience. something happened to corrupt a boot file on my computer. not only that but my motherboard could not see that I had a hard drive connected.
I spent a few hours freaking out and feeling ill. but then I reminded myself that I have all my photos saved on a separate, external drive and so I wasn't losing years of baby pictures and memories.
I can access my email on my laptop. I can connect to the internet via other means.
the biggest pain in the rear was that my outlook with all my appointments, contacts, and bill pay information is on my main computer. Also my photo editing program is used much easier on my desktop computer vs. my laptop - I didn't want to have to install my photoshop on my laptop only because of it being annoying. (main computer has a much larger monitor)
after working on the problem for a short time, Tim discovered that everything on my hard drive was intact. YAY! that helped me keep calm for the next 6 days.
Very long story short. He fixed it for me! He's so nice to me :)
next problem was this morning! I had to re-install my photo editing software anyway because of the work required to fix my boot problems.
well, it's fixed now too! so now I can show you pictures of the birthdays.
Here goes....
I massively touched up this picture because he was so danged cute, but he had a very dirty face.
Ronan running across the jungle gym bridge
Ronan had a great day! he was so excited from the moment he woke up to the moment he went to bed.
the weird thing for me is that I'm sure he's older than 7. the dates prove me wrong but I could have sworn he was older than that.
just when I was feeling like I should add some to my records I had a MASSIVE computer crash. not the end of the world kind, but it was a very big inconvenience. something happened to corrupt a boot file on my computer. not only that but my motherboard could not see that I had a hard drive connected.
I spent a few hours freaking out and feeling ill. but then I reminded myself that I have all my photos saved on a separate, external drive and so I wasn't losing years of baby pictures and memories.
I can access my email on my laptop. I can connect to the internet via other means.
the biggest pain in the rear was that my outlook with all my appointments, contacts, and bill pay information is on my main computer. Also my photo editing program is used much easier on my desktop computer vs. my laptop - I didn't want to have to install my photoshop on my laptop only because of it being annoying. (main computer has a much larger monitor)
after working on the problem for a short time, Tim discovered that everything on my hard drive was intact. YAY! that helped me keep calm for the next 6 days.
Very long story short. He fixed it for me! He's so nice to me :)
next problem was this morning! I had to re-install my photo editing software anyway because of the work required to fix my boot problems.
well, it's fixed now too! so now I can show you pictures of the birthdays.
Here goes....
Tim had one 'girlfriend'. that had better be me ;)
that's the only picture of Tim's birthday that I am going to show. he doesn't usually like for me to take his picture.
On to Ronan's birthday
that's the only picture of Tim's birthday that I am going to show. he doesn't usually like for me to take his picture.
On to Ronan's birthday
I did not get a picture of him just posing for his birthday. I've slacked on that over the last couple of years.
Ronan had been pestering me to go to the park for weeks. the previous week he let me know that he invited his friend to come for his birthday. She had her heart so set on doing something with him on his birthday that I decided that the park seemed like the best idea.
here the kids are playing with Mickey at the park.
here the kids are playing with Mickey at the park.
I massively touched up this picture because he was so danged cute, but he had a very dirty face.
Ronan running across the jungle gym bridge
Kellan wearing Ronan's birthday present from Grandma and Grandpa.
Ronan has been wearing it daily and sometimes nightly ever since.
lighting his candles
Ronan has been wearing it daily and sometimes nightly ever since.
lighting his candles
Ronan with his cake and seven candles in the shape of a 7
opening more presents
Ronan had a great day! he was so excited from the moment he woke up to the moment he went to bed.
the weird thing for me is that I'm sure he's older than 7. the dates prove me wrong but I could have sworn he was older than that.
Friday, May 9, 2014
four weeks later
I still have to work on the pictures... maybe some before and after pictures after this weekend
Erica moved.
she got her own apartment and is living the grown up life.
we moved her in four weeks ago and at first it was the easiest thing in the world. I knew we were taking her there to leave her there, but when it was time to go...
I gave her a good-bye hug and couldn't let go and I cried.
images from 19 1/2 years ago kept flooding to the front of my mind. mostly my tiny new person laying in her hospital bassinet waiting for me to give her a name, how every name I'd thought of until that moment was just wrong.
every time I tried to let go of her it became that much harder to straighten out my arms and take a step back.
I finally did. it took a while, but I did. then the rest of us got into the car.
I bawled. I made ugly contorted faces as I tried to get my self under control but I just couldn't do it. so I quit trying and let myself have a moment of streaming tears.
because it had been an emotionally long day already and with the four youngest kids at home we stopped for pizza. on the way I made some ugly gasping noises and cried a little more but tried really hard to calm down so I wouldn't have a huge, red, blotchy face at Papa Murphy's.
I'm still emotional writing about it, but at least I'm not gulping down my sobs as I type - just watery eyes.
but she's doing well. working and finishing up this semester of school and taking care of herself.
I really don't feel like I would have ever been ready for this and it's only the beginning. in only a few years we'll be doing this all over again with Timothy and then a few years after that... then a few years after that... then a few years after that... then a few years after that
Erica moved.
she got her own apartment and is living the grown up life.
we moved her in four weeks ago and at first it was the easiest thing in the world. I knew we were taking her there to leave her there, but when it was time to go...
I gave her a good-bye hug and couldn't let go and I cried.
images from 19 1/2 years ago kept flooding to the front of my mind. mostly my tiny new person laying in her hospital bassinet waiting for me to give her a name, how every name I'd thought of until that moment was just wrong.
every time I tried to let go of her it became that much harder to straighten out my arms and take a step back.
I finally did. it took a while, but I did. then the rest of us got into the car.
I bawled. I made ugly contorted faces as I tried to get my self under control but I just couldn't do it. so I quit trying and let myself have a moment of streaming tears.
because it had been an emotionally long day already and with the four youngest kids at home we stopped for pizza. on the way I made some ugly gasping noises and cried a little more but tried really hard to calm down so I wouldn't have a huge, red, blotchy face at Papa Murphy's.
I'm still emotional writing about it, but at least I'm not gulping down my sobs as I type - just watery eyes.
but she's doing well. working and finishing up this semester of school and taking care of herself.
I really don't feel like I would have ever been ready for this and it's only the beginning. in only a few years we'll be doing this all over again with Timothy and then a few years after that... then a few years after that... then a few years after that... then a few years after that
Friday, March 28, 2014
my dancing baby
when we got home last night we found that they were listening to Erica's ipod through the AppleTV and Kellan just can't help himself
AWESOME
Ronan's Spring Concert
but I recorded all the songs that Ronan did and hopefully blogger can handle it.
Friday, January 24, 2014
terminology!!!
earlier today the kids were listening to music and dancing in the living room
Gungam Style came on and Connor says to me
"sometime his Korea speak sounds like naughty words"
Korea speak!!!
yeah, sorry, I can't stop laughing
"sometime his Korea speak sounds like naughty words"
Korea speak!!!
yeah, sorry, I can't stop laughing
Sunday, January 19, 2014
playing in the tub
I missed the first couple of minutes when he just couldn't stop laughing
Kellan loves the water almost as much as Ronan.
maybe he'll be a diver like his grandpa
but I still haven't let him try putting his face in the water. not until he's old enough to hold his breath. he'll figure it out soon enough
but I still haven't let him try putting his face in the water. not until he's old enough to hold his breath. he'll figure it out soon enough
Sunday, January 12, 2014
it was a birthday!
Connor turned 9!
can you believe it?! I hardly can.
some days he looks so big, other days he still looks like he should be 3 years old. the time is just flying by
can you believe it?! I hardly can.
some days he looks so big, other days he still looks like he should be 3 years old. the time is just flying by
I had tried to get a picture of Connor for his birthday picture, but Kellan wanted to get in on it.
Kellan loves to steal the show.
but it's okay. everyone loves him so much that they don't mind when he does.
but it's okay. everyone loves him so much that they don't mind when he does.
I'm sure that it won't last much longer, though.
Connor was just beside himself waiting for people to hurry up so we could have cake.
while we were in the living room talking, he was in the kitchen putting the candles on the cake (in the shape of a 9)
Connor was just beside himself waiting for people to hurry up so we could have cake.
while we were in the living room talking, he was in the kitchen putting the candles on the cake (in the shape of a 9)
yep... that is the same frosting. I didn't get pictures up last year of his birthday, but he did have the same frosting.
I think that makes at least 7 birthday cakes in a row now. Maybe more, I'm not completely sure.
Grandma and grandpa brought him a remote controlled 4 wheeler. and there is Kellan back to stealing the show.
he chased that thing back and forth across the floor and did eventually catch it.
but he was so sad the whole time. he just doesn't understand yet that not everything is his.
Ronan was the one buzzing with excitement over giving Connor his present from mom and dad.
I almost didn't get a picture of him getting it open.
don't trust the picture of Connor here... he really was very happy and excited to get a DS game.
I think that makes at least 7 birthday cakes in a row now. Maybe more, I'm not completely sure.
Grandma and grandpa brought him a remote controlled 4 wheeler. and there is Kellan back to stealing the show.
he chased that thing back and forth across the floor and did eventually catch it.
but he was so sad the whole time. he just doesn't understand yet that not everything is his.
Ronan was the one buzzing with excitement over giving Connor his present from mom and dad.
I almost didn't get a picture of him getting it open.
don't trust the picture of Connor here... he really was very happy and excited to get a DS game.
it was nice of Connor to let Ronan climb over his shoulder to watch him play.
Ronan is practically sitting in his lap!
Ronan is practically sitting in his lap!
it was a pretty fun birthday and they went to sleep playing the game late into the night. I think I probably fell asleep before these two.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
a new year. time to be resolute!
I have been thinking of some personal plans for myself for this new year. plans that I want to continue throughout the rest of my life (may it be really really long)
in 2012 I was pregnant with Kellan. also diagnosed with gestational diabetes - though after carefully monitoring my blood sugars for 5 months there is some serious debate as to whether I was diabetic at all! I kind of feel like that was just a ploy by the clinic to make more money off of me....
anyway, what does this have to do with my 2014 resolutions? well you see, I lost a lot of weight while pregnant with him. I felt great about that alone... after he was born and my weight had a few weeks to level off, I had lost 60 pounds.
I was determined to have as healthy of a pregnancy as I could and so we went for walks down to the bridge at least 3 times a week. not long walks but they were more than I had been doing.
I ate healthier foods when I could stomach any.
I cut pop out of my life - only with the occasional pop when we were grocery shopping and I didn't want to buy a drink of water. and by occasional I mean really rare.
after my diabetes tests I limited my carbohydrates but it was more like portion control instead of cutting anything else out of my diet. I was just more aware of how much I was eating or how much I was allowed to eat. and most of the time I didn't even eat my full day's allowed carbs and I wasn't starving by a long shot. I actually was full most of the time.
after Kellan was born, I had a lot of emotional crap going on because of my completely useless breasts that wouldn't just do what they were supposed to and make food for my baby. I do admit that after 4 months of that struggle I threw caution to the wind and just pigged out on any and every comfort food I could get my piggy hands on. I gained all those esteem boosting 60 pounds back. no more esteem boost.
it also didn't help that nature was against me. we had the coldest and longest spring we have ever ever had. snow in May for crying out loud! drissle-y cold rain on a daily basis well into June. then we had monster hatchings of mosquitoes after that and there was no way I was going to take my baby out in that plague of insects for a walk to the bridge. we did go for a few walks down there, but it wasn't anything like 3 a week... it was more like 3 a month.
I don't have a baby growing in me to help speed along metabolism, but everything else is sound.
more exercise, healthier eating, no pop. I'm never going to be a bombshell like I was when I was in my 20s, but I'm not going to look like this evil gingerbread dwelling hag anymore.
in 2012 I was pregnant with Kellan. also diagnosed with gestational diabetes - though after carefully monitoring my blood sugars for 5 months there is some serious debate as to whether I was diabetic at all! I kind of feel like that was just a ploy by the clinic to make more money off of me....
anyway, what does this have to do with my 2014 resolutions? well you see, I lost a lot of weight while pregnant with him. I felt great about that alone... after he was born and my weight had a few weeks to level off, I had lost 60 pounds.
I was determined to have as healthy of a pregnancy as I could and so we went for walks down to the bridge at least 3 times a week. not long walks but they were more than I had been doing.
I ate healthier foods when I could stomach any.
I cut pop out of my life - only with the occasional pop when we were grocery shopping and I didn't want to buy a drink of water. and by occasional I mean really rare.
after my diabetes tests I limited my carbohydrates but it was more like portion control instead of cutting anything else out of my diet. I was just more aware of how much I was eating or how much I was allowed to eat. and most of the time I didn't even eat my full day's allowed carbs and I wasn't starving by a long shot. I actually was full most of the time.
after Kellan was born, I had a lot of emotional crap going on because of my completely useless breasts that wouldn't just do what they were supposed to and make food for my baby. I do admit that after 4 months of that struggle I threw caution to the wind and just pigged out on any and every comfort food I could get my piggy hands on. I gained all those esteem boosting 60 pounds back. no more esteem boost.
it also didn't help that nature was against me. we had the coldest and longest spring we have ever ever had. snow in May for crying out loud! drissle-y cold rain on a daily basis well into June. then we had monster hatchings of mosquitoes after that and there was no way I was going to take my baby out in that plague of insects for a walk to the bridge. we did go for a few walks down there, but it wasn't anything like 3 a week... it was more like 3 a month.
I don't have a baby growing in me to help speed along metabolism, but everything else is sound.
more exercise, healthier eating, no pop. I'm never going to be a bombshell like I was when I was in my 20s, but I'm not going to look like this evil gingerbread dwelling hag anymore.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Christmas prep is almost done
so far this month we've had two birthdays. Erica, then the next day Timothy.
I keep forgetting that Timothy is 16! the other day I was thinking about it and was just floored when I realized he is not 14 anymore. I think it's harder for me to remember his age because he has been so very tall for so very long. it's almost like he's frozen in the age he was when I noticed that he was much taller than me - not that achieving that height is difficult...
Erica is 19. that's not hard for me to remember. it's a constant reminder of my old age :)
next year she will be half my age and therefore I will be twice her age. Ugh.
perhaps I shouldn't think of it like that but I just can't seem to help it.
so then Amy had her Gingerbread party. yep, she made houses for the 19 year old 'kids'. she didn't make one for the 6 month old so in total she made and assembled, for the kids' decoration pleasure, 17 gingerbread houses.
oh my!
I think next year those (then) 20 year old kids should help her bake and put them together instead of getting their own. that still leaves 15 houses for her (them) to make.
but the biggest deal (apart from the birthdays and Christmas it's self) for me is that today I wrapped the last of the presents and I packed - in ziplocks - all the Christmas Stocking candy for each of the kids.
that way when Santa comes he won't have to stay awake until 2am sorting through the candy for 6 kids
I had this epiphany last year when I had a 6 week old baby and I was a bit sleep deprived and wanted to spend as much night actually sleeping, et voila! wonderful inspiration.
why oh why did it take me 18 years of motherhood to figure out that gem!
now I only need to pick up a few perishable items that I don't want to have for a week... I'll get some vegetables for a tray and some clementines that we all love and I need to get a pomegranate, mostly for Timothy, and a couple of other items and we're all set! YAY
I keep forgetting that Timothy is 16! the other day I was thinking about it and was just floored when I realized he is not 14 anymore. I think it's harder for me to remember his age because he has been so very tall for so very long. it's almost like he's frozen in the age he was when I noticed that he was much taller than me - not that achieving that height is difficult...
Erica is 19. that's not hard for me to remember. it's a constant reminder of my old age :)
next year she will be half my age and therefore I will be twice her age. Ugh.
perhaps I shouldn't think of it like that but I just can't seem to help it.
so then Amy had her Gingerbread party. yep, she made houses for the 19 year old 'kids'. she didn't make one for the 6 month old so in total she made and assembled, for the kids' decoration pleasure, 17 gingerbread houses.
oh my!
I think next year those (then) 20 year old kids should help her bake and put them together instead of getting their own. that still leaves 15 houses for her (them) to make.
but the biggest deal (apart from the birthdays and Christmas it's self) for me is that today I wrapped the last of the presents and I packed - in ziplocks - all the Christmas Stocking candy for each of the kids.
that way when Santa comes he won't have to stay awake until 2am sorting through the candy for 6 kids
I had this epiphany last year when I had a 6 week old baby and I was a bit sleep deprived and wanted to spend as much night actually sleeping, et voila! wonderful inspiration.
why oh why did it take me 18 years of motherhood to figure out that gem!
now I only need to pick up a few perishable items that I don't want to have for a week... I'll get some vegetables for a tray and some clementines that we all love and I need to get a pomegranate, mostly for Timothy, and a couple of other items and we're all set! YAY
Friday, November 29, 2013
yeah, I realize it's been a month
but really it's been more like a year. I've missed a lot of things since Erica's graduation and that's really not a great way to keep records of one's life.
I'll try to sit down and recall some of the year at a later date. but in the mean time I have many things that are keeping me busy and kids monopolizing the computer
several months back Emma's friend came for a visit and it was a wonderful time for Emma and all the younger kids were all a buzz about having her over. but then it was time to say good bye and we didn't think we would get to see her any time soon.
well, today she is going to be up again for a short visit. again the kids are in an emotional tizzy with anticipation of seeing young miss Bailey.
it will be fun to see her, she is a delightful young lady.
recently it was her birthday and Emma wanted to make something for her. So she painted a picture for her friend. Emma was going to mail it to her, but then we got an email asking about stopping by for a tiny bit today and so Emma was very happy to be able to give her present to her directly.
I'll try to sit down and recall some of the year at a later date. but in the mean time I have many things that are keeping me busy and kids monopolizing the computer
several months back Emma's friend came for a visit and it was a wonderful time for Emma and all the younger kids were all a buzz about having her over. but then it was time to say good bye and we didn't think we would get to see her any time soon.
well, today she is going to be up again for a short visit. again the kids are in an emotional tizzy with anticipation of seeing young miss Bailey.
it will be fun to see her, she is a delightful young lady.
recently it was her birthday and Emma wanted to make something for her. So she painted a picture for her friend. Emma was going to mail it to her, but then we got an email asking about stopping by for a tiny bit today and so Emma was very happy to be able to give her present to her directly.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013
is it a good thing or a bad thing?
her first taste of lobster didn't exactly live up to her expectations.
on one hand I feel bad for her that it wasn't wonderful and the ultimate of pure bliss.
on one hand I feel bad for her that it wasn't wonderful and the ultimate of pure bliss.
but on the other hand, what a relief that she isn't going to be begging me to make it at home (at great cost because, DANG! that stuff is expensive)
although I like lobster I have to say it isn't my favorite either. I like shrimp more, but even more than that, I LOVE crab. but that's just about as expensive as lobster.
on the whole I think she was happier with the shrimp and the mashed potatoes.
but it was the experience that mattered and even though it wasn't what she had hoped for it was still a good experience
on the whole I think she was happier with the shrimp and the mashed potatoes.
but it was the experience that mattered and even though it wasn't what she had hoped for it was still a good experience
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)