House of Estrogen

Simple Woman's Daybook, Halloween, 2011

For Today...

Outside my window... it is cold, rainy, and dark.

  I am thinking... that people are just plain ol' rude and selfish... or perhaps self-centered is the better word. I took my parents out for coffee this morning to a pretty big coffee shop near their house. We walked in,  and EVERY four-top table was taken by at most two people. Most were taken by one person with a laptop. There were two person tables available and a few cushy single chairs, but absolutely no place for three people to sit together. My dad scooted along slowly with his walker while my mom and I scoped out the place trying to figure out where we could sit. Did anyone offer to move from their big four-top table that they were using for one person? No. We put my dad in one of the arm chairs and ordered our coffee. I walked over to a man sitting alone at a four-top, explained to him that I had come with both my parents and asked if he would possibly mind moving to a two person table or one of the free chairs, so that the three of us could sit together for a few minutes to have coffee. He looked around at the available seats and told me no. Nice. Really?  What is coming to this world? You can't sit at a two-top table BY YOURSELF for 15 minutes to let a family sit together? I just don't understand how people can be so self-centered. Some days I simply don't like people.

 I am thankful for... the Girl Scout outdoor training facilitators who were nice enough to let us go home at midnight since the temperatures were supposed to drop below freezing this past weekend. I am now officially trained as outdoor-certified for Girl Scout camping trips, but I got to sleep in my warm bed instead of freezing my buns off in a platform tent Saturday night.

From the kitchen... sausage mummies, carrot monster fingers, and apple monster mouths... a little Halloween themed dinner tonight.

I am creating... a Halloween picture post.

I am going... to take Addie to Yo Gabba Gabba Live tomorrow - can't wait!

I am reading... some book by David Baldacci. I don't remember the name. It is whatever J.C. finished reading recently.

I am hoping... to write Elise's ten-year letter this week, now that she has been ten for over a month. :)

I am hearing... a quiet house. The Halloween/sugar high finally wore off, and everyone is asleep.

Around the house... Halloween candy!

One of my favorite things... Addie's Halloween costume this year. She was the perfect Foofa.

A few plans for the rest of the week.... Yo Gabba Gabba Live and a Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party for Addie and just the usual jump rope, skating, and scouts for everyone else.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... Addie the daredevil. She careens down our driveway full speed starting from the top. It is a little scary to watch!

 

To read more Daybook posts or learn how to participate, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Haunted Train

Spooky fun!

Simple Woman's Daybook, October 24, 2011

For Today...

Outside my window... some pretty mums I bought today. They make the house look more festive for fall.

I am thinking... about Christmas lists. I've usually done some shopping by now.

I am thankful for... our health. A good friend was diagnosed with an aneurysm this week... scary stuff. Thinking about you, T!

From the kitchen... cavatini, salad, rolls.

I am creating... not much.

I am going... to take the girls shoe shopping this afternoon after school. Elise has a field trip tomorrow to the symphony, and she doesn't have anything at all that would qualify as a dressy shoe.

I am reading... I finished Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs and really enjoyed it! Book club meets this week to discuss it, and I think it should be a fun discussion. I wonder if he will be writing a sequel. I haven't started anything new yet. Any suggestions?

I am hoping... for nice weather this weekend since I'll be sleeping in a tent.

I am hearing... the carpet cleaner truck next door.

Around the house... a box of junk packed up to go to Goodwill.

One of my favorite things... the way Addie says after ("affer") and remember ("bemember").

A few plans for the rest of the week.... fall is such a busy time! This week we have fall festivals at both the preschool and elementary school, a parent-teacher conference, a birthday party, and a Halloween ice show. I have book club and a camp-out as a part of Girl Scout outdoor training.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... the mushroom we found growing out of the grout in our SHOWER!!! What the heck? It is seriously time for a bathroom reno.

Fun Theory

A little Friday fun to put a smile on your face...

Pokins!

With the exception of Elise's unfortunate encounter with some fire ants, we all had fun at the "pokin patch" (as Addie would say) this weekend.

Simple Woman's Daybook, October 17, 2011

For Today...

Outside my window... is a beautiful fall day. My mom and I went for a walk this morning.

       I am thinking... that I really loved the new Footloose movie. If you are 40-ish, and the original Footloose was part of your middle school or high school experience, the new movie is a must see!

    I am thankful for... Addie responding quickly to the antibiotics for her ear infection this weekend.

 From the kitchen... chicken pot pie and a veggie.

 I am creating... some blog posts today, I hope.

I am going... to volunteer in Nina's classroom today.

I am reading... Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I haven't had a lot of reading time this week, but so far, I am really enjoying this book.

I am hoping... nothing is seriously wrong with my cousin. She has some sort of brain tumor or cyst. It is still being investigated and diagnosed.

I am hearing... just the computer humming along.

Around the house... so much to pick up. I wish I was a more naturally tidy person.

One of my favorite things... pumpkin flavored everything this time of year.

A few plans for the rest of the week.... the usual running around to after school activities. Next weekend, Elise has a Girl Scout camporee, so she will be gone all weekend. Nina also has a half-day Girl Scout event, so we'll have a relatively quiet weekend.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... Addison has been in heaven ever since Elise lent her a nightgown and matching doll gown. This morning, she hopped up on the couch and said, "Mommy, take my picture!"

 
 

To read more Daybook posts or learn how to participate, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Nice Mom? Or Just a Total Pushover?

On second thought... don't answer that.

Last night, I was in the middle of making dinner. Pork chops were on the grill. Macaroni was boiling on the stove, salad was made, and biscuits were going in the oven. Nina called from a friend's house and said, "Hi Mom! Mrs. D said it was OK if E comes over to our house for dinner tonight. Is that OK with you?" (Gotta love how she invited the friend before even checking with me. We're working on that.) "Um, yeah, sure. We have enough food." I threw another pork chop on the grill. A few minutes later, Elise walked in with two friends. I said, "Elise, it is almost dinner time, will you start setting the table?" She looked at me sheepishly and said, "Umm, Mom, can M and B stay for dinner if it is OK with their mom?" (Etiquette faux pas number two... asking me in front of the friends. We're working on that one too). "Uh, OK. That's fine." I threw two more chops on the grill, some baked beans on the stove, some crescent rolls in the oven, and sliced up some apples.

I'm nothing if not flexible and accomodating, but I'm thinking I'm a bit of a sucker as well.

Sassy!

Simple Woman's Daybook, October 10, 2011

For Today...

Outside my window... Halloween decorations need to be put out.

      I am thinking... that I'm weary.

    I am thankful for... J.C. returning safely (and a day early!) from his latest biking adventure.

From the kitchen... baked ziti, salad, and garlic bread.

I am creating... nothing. Photoshop is all mucked up right now, so that is limiting my ability to create blog posts and photobooks.

I am going... to Elise's classroom today to lead them in decorating their class scarecrow for the school fall festival scarecrow contest. I have a feeling it will be complete chaos.

I am reading... Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

I am hoping... we are done with lice. I'm a complete pessimist at this point though. Those buggers are tough. I live in fear of finding one on somebody's head.

I am hearing... Yo Gabba Gabba's Halloween show. Every time Foofa comes on the screen, Addie yells out, "There's Foofa! I'm going to be Foofa for Halloween!"

Around the house... every room needs a good purge.

One of my favorite things... crunchy peanut butter. Why do all my children prefer creamy?

A few plans for the rest of the week.... jump rope (Elise), skating (Nina), soccer (Addie), parent-teacher conference (Elise), neighborhood movie night, Girl Scout outdoor training (me), Girl Scouts (Nina), dinner with friends, and possibly a trip to a pumpkin patch. Fall is such a busy time!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... Elise, 10 years ago this week.

 

To read more Daybook posts or learn how to participate, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

And Then the Fourth Child's Head Spun Around (alternate title: Why We Stopped at Three)

What a night.... First, I tried to put my dearest third child to bed. She screamed at me at the top of her lungs and threw a book at me. Nice. I love this age. Then, J.C. poured Listerine all over my head to treat the lice that I contracted from loving second child.  In all the online instructions about using Listerine to kill lice, they neglect to mention that it not only kills the lice, but it also kills every nerve ending on your entire head. I thought my scalp was going to burst into flame. Then J.C. wrapped my head in saran wrap. Yes, I looked as ridiculous as you are imagining. While I sat watching TV with Listerine running into my eyes, burning away my flesh, and dribbling down my ears, I heard my darling first child vomiting. Sweet. The night gets even better. Not a drop of vomit hit the easily washable bed linens or trashcan. No, she managed to spew all over the wall, the carpet, a jewelry box, photographs, a deck of cards, a ball of yarn, and electrical cords.  So, wearing my saran wrap do-rag, with Listerine searing through my brain, I cleaned up gallons of vomit. 

If it wasn't my life, it might be comical. There is nothing comical though about hair soaked in Listerine with a saran wrap turban and puke on carpet. Nothing at all.

Children... they are such blessings.

Really.

Most of the time.

Not tonight, but other nights.

Usually.

At least when they aren't vomiting and don't have lice.