Yet another pic of Lake Michigan. These surfers were out on a day when it did not get over 48 degrees Fahrenheit. The city I live in is known to be one of the best for fresh water surfing in the world. I told you, I'm obsessed with Lake Michigan.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Wordless Wednesday
Yet another pic of Lake Michigan. These surfers were out on a day when it did not get over 48 degrees Fahrenheit. The city I live in is known to be one of the best for fresh water surfing in the world. I told you, I'm obsessed with Lake Michigan.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Saved By the Mum
The Flying Mum has tagged me for the 4 Things meme, and it couldn't have come at a better time. I was having a difficult time deciding what to post today and I had it narrowed down between the strange orange color of Benny's poo, or how I looked like a slobbering Saint Bernard with snot flying out of my nose during my run today. So, my dear readers (all 5 of you), I would run on over (ok, click on over) to The Flying Mum right now and give her your thanks.
4 Jobs I've Had
1- I was a Utility Clerk (fancy name for a bagger of groceries and a straightener of shelves) at a grocery store.
2- I was a Cashier at a large Midwest chain hardware store.
3- I was the lead female role in a very small independent movie when I was in my mid-twenties. It was hardly seen by anyone, but I did get paid for it, so I am counting it as a real job as it makes me seem cooler than I actually am. And all you dirties out there, it wasn't THAT kind of movie! Paris Hilton I am not.
4- I was in the banking industry for about 8 years. I started out as a Customer Service Rep. (teller), and made my way to the loan department where I became a loan processor, loan officer, and underwriter. After that I was the manager and supervisor of my branch. This was a very strange job for me because A) I hate math and numbers, B) banking does not interest me in the least, and C) I have Dyslexia, and no one ever knew it. Suckers!
4 Movies I Would Watch Over and Over
This is difficult for me to say because I am a BIG fan of movies. Big fan!
1- Love Actually. Soooo good. I have to watch it at least 3 or 4 times every Christmas season.
2- Swingers. The fact that they made that movie on what most movies productions spend on food service makes it even better.
3- Splendor in the Grass. Such an awesome classic that not many people have seen. Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty (I believe it was his first movie). Hello???
4- Lord of the Rings- any of them. I know, I am such a weird girl sometimes. Nerdy, might be the right word.
4 TV Shows I Like
1- The Office. This is the ONE show that I CAN NOT miss each week. Me loves it. The writers are amazing, the characters are hilarious, and the acting is fab. Me likey long time.
2- Grey's Anatomy. Used to not like it because the first show I saw was really sleazy. However, I am a sucker for medical shows and gave it another shot. It is entertaining, and I get my medical fix, so for now I give it a thumbs up.
I'm going back in time for the next two.
3- Friends is the ultimate show. I grew up with those Friends. When the last show aired I bawled like a baby. Worse actually.
4- ER. Ohhhh. Best medical show ever. I really miss the days with Dr. Greene and Dr. Carter. I still watch the show faithfully, but it is starting to loose its luster. Hopefully they will make another comeback. I mean, the show has been on the air for a million years, you're bound to have some dud seasons.
4 Places I've Gone on Vacation
1- London
2- Paris
3- Cancun, Mexico
4- Wales
Loved 'em all!
4 Foods I Love
Man, where do I begin?
1- Steak and Shrimp Fajitas. Mmmmm.
2- Salmon Steak with Soy Glaze at my favorite local restaurant. Yum in my tum!
3- White Chocolate Chip and Macadamia Nut Cookies. My own personal recipe, thank you.
4- Broasted Chicken. I don't know what it is about me and broasted chicken lately, but I think about it all the time. Very strange.
4 Web Sites I Visit Daily
Honestly, I don't go to too many websites on a daily basis. I guess I'll just do the 4 websites that I go to more than others. ??
1- Weather.com
2-People.com
3- Babycenter.com Actually, I don't even go there anymore since they changed it all around. Made me mad. I can't find anything anymore. Grrr.
4- Um. Um. I honestly can't think of any more. My blog, I guess?
4 Places I'd Rather Be
1- On a warm, sunny, tropical beach somewhere. It doesn't really matter where, I'm not picky.
2- A tiny little bistro in Paris.
3- Watching a fabulous production at the Barbican Theatre in London.
4- Asleep in my bed.
4 Bloggers I'm Tagging
Ok, I know just about everyone has done this, so once again, I am taking the easy way out. The first 4 people to comment can consider themselves tagged. Don't let that keep you from commenting, you don't HAVE to do it if ya don't want to. :)
4 Jobs I've Had
1- I was a Utility Clerk (fancy name for a bagger of groceries and a straightener of shelves) at a grocery store.
2- I was a Cashier at a large Midwest chain hardware store.
3- I was the lead female role in a very small independent movie when I was in my mid-twenties. It was hardly seen by anyone, but I did get paid for it, so I am counting it as a real job as it makes me seem cooler than I actually am. And all you dirties out there, it wasn't THAT kind of movie! Paris Hilton I am not.
4- I was in the banking industry for about 8 years. I started out as a Customer Service Rep. (teller), and made my way to the loan department where I became a loan processor, loan officer, and underwriter. After that I was the manager and supervisor of my branch. This was a very strange job for me because A) I hate math and numbers, B) banking does not interest me in the least, and C) I have Dyslexia, and no one ever knew it. Suckers!
4 Movies I Would Watch Over and Over
This is difficult for me to say because I am a BIG fan of movies. Big fan!
1- Love Actually. Soooo good. I have to watch it at least 3 or 4 times every Christmas season.
2- Swingers. The fact that they made that movie on what most movies productions spend on food service makes it even better.
3- Splendor in the Grass. Such an awesome classic that not many people have seen. Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty (I believe it was his first movie). Hello???
4- Lord of the Rings- any of them. I know, I am such a weird girl sometimes. Nerdy, might be the right word.
4 TV Shows I Like
1- The Office. This is the ONE show that I CAN NOT miss each week. Me loves it. The writers are amazing, the characters are hilarious, and the acting is fab. Me likey long time.
2- Grey's Anatomy. Used to not like it because the first show I saw was really sleazy. However, I am a sucker for medical shows and gave it another shot. It is entertaining, and I get my medical fix, so for now I give it a thumbs up.
I'm going back in time for the next two.
3- Friends is the ultimate show. I grew up with those Friends. When the last show aired I bawled like a baby. Worse actually.
4- ER. Ohhhh. Best medical show ever. I really miss the days with Dr. Greene and Dr. Carter. I still watch the show faithfully, but it is starting to loose its luster. Hopefully they will make another comeback. I mean, the show has been on the air for a million years, you're bound to have some dud seasons.
4 Places I've Gone on Vacation
1- London
2- Paris
3- Cancun, Mexico
4- Wales
Loved 'em all!
4 Foods I Love
Man, where do I begin?
1- Steak and Shrimp Fajitas. Mmmmm.
2- Salmon Steak with Soy Glaze at my favorite local restaurant. Yum in my tum!
3- White Chocolate Chip and Macadamia Nut Cookies. My own personal recipe, thank you.
4- Broasted Chicken. I don't know what it is about me and broasted chicken lately, but I think about it all the time. Very strange.
4 Web Sites I Visit Daily
Honestly, I don't go to too many websites on a daily basis. I guess I'll just do the 4 websites that I go to more than others. ??
1- Weather.com
2-People.com
3- Babycenter.com Actually, I don't even go there anymore since they changed it all around. Made me mad. I can't find anything anymore. Grrr.
4- Um. Um. I honestly can't think of any more. My blog, I guess?
4 Places I'd Rather Be
1- On a warm, sunny, tropical beach somewhere. It doesn't really matter where, I'm not picky.
2- A tiny little bistro in Paris.
3- Watching a fabulous production at the Barbican Theatre in London.
4- Asleep in my bed.
4 Bloggers I'm Tagging
Ok, I know just about everyone has done this, so once again, I am taking the easy way out. The first 4 people to comment can consider themselves tagged. Don't let that keep you from commenting, you don't HAVE to do it if ya don't want to. :)
Monday, November 5, 2007
Monday Mission
Painted Maypole has taken over the hosting role of Monday Missions and today's challenge is to post in the form of a news article.
Future of Daylight Savings Time Unclear
Local and national government offices have been flooded with thousands of emails, phone calls, and letters from angry parents fed up with Daylight Savings Time. Parents want to see an end to the time change and site over-tired, cranky, crabby, unmanageable children as the reason. Officials are asking why the parents don't just put the children to bed a bit later so that they get up later and are not so cranky. One parent said in response, "Yeah, I've tried that. I'm not an idiot. I put my kids to bed a half an hour later than normal, and that same night one got up to go pee-pee, one decided to start up his night-time feedings again, and the third woke up because of the other two. Plus, they all still got up at the same time and were even more tired than usual because of the postponed bedtime." Another parent added, "It is intolerable cruelty to enforce Daylight Savings Time on a Sunday when parents have to take whining, exhausted children to church and sit through an hour of public meltdowns after waking up at 4:30 A.M.." I think one parent summed it up best when he said, "Daylight Savings Time is a smoldering pile of crap."
Officials will meet early next week to discuss Daylight Savings Time and attempt to reach a decision on if it is a benefit to anyone anymore. Clearly, the fate of Daylight Savings Time is up in the air.
Future of Daylight Savings Time Unclear
Local and national government offices have been flooded with thousands of emails, phone calls, and letters from angry parents fed up with Daylight Savings Time. Parents want to see an end to the time change and site over-tired, cranky, crabby, unmanageable children as the reason. Officials are asking why the parents don't just put the children to bed a bit later so that they get up later and are not so cranky. One parent said in response, "Yeah, I've tried that. I'm not an idiot. I put my kids to bed a half an hour later than normal, and that same night one got up to go pee-pee, one decided to start up his night-time feedings again, and the third woke up because of the other two. Plus, they all still got up at the same time and were even more tired than usual because of the postponed bedtime." Another parent added, "It is intolerable cruelty to enforce Daylight Savings Time on a Sunday when parents have to take whining, exhausted children to church and sit through an hour of public meltdowns after waking up at 4:30 A.M.." I think one parent summed it up best when he said, "Daylight Savings Time is a smoldering pile of crap."
Officials will meet early next week to discuss Daylight Savings Time and attempt to reach a decision on if it is a benefit to anyone anymore. Clearly, the fate of Daylight Savings Time is up in the air.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Mysterious Vomit
Last night Tommy and Joey were being way too rowdy right before dinner so I separated them. Tommy was to sit on the big, cushy chair and Joey was to sit on the big, cushy couch and no one was to bother mummy for at least 2 minutes so that I could feed Ben, finish dinner, and start the third load of laundry.
All of a sudden I heard crying and Joey was saying, "What's wrong Tommy? Are you just so sick? Did you throw up? Is that so gross?" HUH?? I ran into the living room and sure enough, there was vomit all over Tommy and all over the chair. "I bomit mumma!" Tommy told me. "I see that. Are you okay?" I asked him. "Uh-huh."
Great. Here comes the flu. Now Joe will be puking, and then Ben will be puking. It will be a virtual puke fest.
I cleaned up the mess, changed Tommy, finished feeding Ben, gave the boys their dinner, and changed Ben's diaper, all the while waiting for the next vomit episode. I wasn't even sure if I should give Tommy any dinner so soon after "the bomit", but he insisted he was hungry. The boys ate their dinner, and nothing. The boys played together, and nothing. I followed Tommy around with a puke bucket despite his insisting on being better. Every time he paused or became still for a moment, I lunged with the bucket. Still nothing.
Now it is the next day and I am still waiting, afraid to even think it was a fluke. Like maybe the minute I admit it was a fluke all the boys will start puking at once. "Ha HA! We fooled you! We really ARE sick!"
For now, I guess I'll just keep hoping it was some rare kind of spontaneous vomit.
And yes, I did just write a whole post about vomit. And, you're welcome.
All of a sudden I heard crying and Joey was saying, "What's wrong Tommy? Are you just so sick? Did you throw up? Is that so gross?" HUH?? I ran into the living room and sure enough, there was vomit all over Tommy and all over the chair. "I bomit mumma!" Tommy told me. "I see that. Are you okay?" I asked him. "Uh-huh."
Great. Here comes the flu. Now Joe will be puking, and then Ben will be puking. It will be a virtual puke fest.
I cleaned up the mess, changed Tommy, finished feeding Ben, gave the boys their dinner, and changed Ben's diaper, all the while waiting for the next vomit episode. I wasn't even sure if I should give Tommy any dinner so soon after "the bomit", but he insisted he was hungry. The boys ate their dinner, and nothing. The boys played together, and nothing. I followed Tommy around with a puke bucket despite his insisting on being better. Every time he paused or became still for a moment, I lunged with the bucket. Still nothing.
Now it is the next day and I am still waiting, afraid to even think it was a fluke. Like maybe the minute I admit it was a fluke all the boys will start puking at once. "Ha HA! We fooled you! We really ARE sick!"
For now, I guess I'll just keep hoping it was some rare kind of spontaneous vomit.
And yes, I did just write a whole post about vomit. And, you're welcome.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
The Sun Shines
Today is a gorgeous fall day. The air is fresh and cool and the sun filters through the trees in long golden ribbons. With every gust of wind, red, brown, orange, and yellow leaves rain down from the trees in luminous sheets of vibrant colors, and make the day all the more magical. My sun room looks too comfy to ignore and as I wait for my next load of laundry to dry and my boys to wake from their naps, I set out a huge cushy blanket on the floor and curl up in the warm pools of light. I think I must have been a cat in a former life as this spot fits me perfectly. I can almost feel myself purr.
Just as I am about to drift into a soft, amber sleep I hear little feet and whispers at the top of the stairs. For a moment they stop, confused. I am spotted. I can tell by their hesitation that they are not sure whether to disturb the sleeping cat, so I open my arms as an invitation to share my sunny spot.
The footsteps quicken and all at once, I go from being a cat warm in her sunny spot, to a mumma cat with her kittens, warmed in her heart.
Just as I am about to drift into a soft, amber sleep I hear little feet and whispers at the top of the stairs. For a moment they stop, confused. I am spotted. I can tell by their hesitation that they are not sure whether to disturb the sleeping cat, so I open my arms as an invitation to share my sunny spot.
The footsteps quicken and all at once, I go from being a cat warm in her sunny spot, to a mumma cat with her kittens, warmed in her heart.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Quality Time
With Joey in preschool three times a week and Ben still taking morning naps I finally have the privilege of spending some real quality time with Tommy. I have always felt a bit of guilt over the fact that each child I have after Joe will never really know the one on one time that he was able to enjoy. With Tommy being the middle child I feel he probably gets the least amount of time with me. Joey had me all to himself for two years. Ben gets a ton of "me time" simply for the fact that Joey and Tommy play together so nicely much of the time. But Tommy? He seems to have missed out.
I suppose every parent who has more than one child struggles with this. The delicate balancing act of making sure each child knows that they are loved and cherished. I have always put an awful amount of pressure on myself to make everything "equal" with our boys. I know in reality I can't possibly make sure that fairness and equality will always prevail in our house. But I can try.
I love you, my precious little golden bear.
The past couple of weeks have been great for us. Joey goes to school and when we get back home I put Ben down for his nap. Tommy waits patiently in his room, looking at books, while I rock Ben to sleep. Can you believe it? A two year old who waits quietly in his room for mommy to put baby to sleep? Sheesh. Trust me, I know how lucky I am.
After about 5-10 minutes Ben is asleep and it is all about Tommy. We make cookies together. We read books. Whatever Tommy wants to do, we'll do. Today we did something really special. We raked leaves together. Tommy loves to be outside, and he loves to help, so the combination of being outside with mumma helping rake leaves was so exciting. 
I suppose every parent who has more than one child struggles with this. The delicate balancing act of making sure each child knows that they are loved and cherished. I have always put an awful amount of pressure on myself to make everything "equal" with our boys. I know in reality I can't possibly make sure that fairness and equality will always prevail in our house. But I can try. I love you, my precious little golden bear.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Halloween Fun
These are the last Halloween photos I will post this year. I promise. Here we are about to set out on our trick-or-treating adventure. With the boys and me are two of my nieces who made the night even more fun. We walked for over 2 hours and no one complained (except for the hubby) at all. Even my 2 year old little Tommy kept up the whole time and didn't need to be carried. Needless to say, Halloween was a huge hit at our house. The weather was perfect, we couldn't have asked for a more perfect night.
So, what is my costume you ask? Well, I'm "lady with purple hair and boa" of course. You never heard of her? Hmmm. Well, I didn't feel like being hoochie Little Bo-peep, a slutty nurse, or a boob-a-licious french maid (I do enough cleaning already) so I settled for "lady with purple hair and boa". So creative, I know.
I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the boys went to bed really easily. I listened to them on the baby monitor whispering about their candy and all the Halloween decorations. It was precious. This morning everyone woke up late which was fine by me. Now I am just waiting for the day-after-Halloween crash. The, "I'm so tired from being up past my bedtime, and my legs hurt, and I want to eat all of my candy now, and I want to go trick-or-treating again tomorrow" crash. So far, they are doing fab. The great "Halloween candy trade-off" is going on right now, and they are both being very civil about it.
What is up with me and all the """? Stop it already. I guess I didn't get enough sleep. What else is new, right?
Well, I'd better get back to the monkeys. Hope everyone had a great Halloween. Good luck to all on NaBloPoMo. I know I'll need it. :)
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