Pages

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Monday, January 28, 2008

The first night

Eamon and Aine have a new bedroom set. They are the proud owners of bunk beds. The bottom is a full-sized bed which works well for bedtime reading. Eamon has commandeered the top bunk and will often sleep there for naps. With the addition of a new sound spa and new IKEA lamps, there room is a sleep haven.

Juicing


A neighbor offered his tangerines free for picking. The kids and I headed out one day with friends to pick a few. We ended up with three large canvas bags. Aine really enjoyed juicing the tangerines. Both of them liked drinking the juice.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Baby on the Brain

I have been busy with some sewing and knitting. I made a few baby bibs from Bend the Rules Sewing. These are a SUPER, EASY project. We even sent a few to cousin William.
I also knitted two pairs of baby socks from a skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Watercolor. The pattern is super easy and is available for free at Interweave Knits.

Ruffle Rib
Braided Cable

Day Trippin' with Daddy

Dave, Eamon and Aine have been taking short day trips to explore the surrounding areas. This weekend they saw Rossevelt Dam up close. They had wanted to visit a ghost town, but the one in Goldfield was too busy. On the way home, they stopped for dinner. A crazy thing happened when they went to the bathroom; they came back to an empty table. Their food had been cleared although they had just received it and had not paid the bill yet. Luckily the restaurant made them new food.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Playing in the Park

We spent today at Playtopia in Tumbleweed Park with friends. They had a great time running around the various park areas. Here they are riding on the motorcycle and sidecar.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Frequently Overheard

A: "me da big, huge, sister"

Eamon & Aine love playing house. Eamon is usually the parent, and Aine is the "big, huge sister." They play with their dolls and enjoy "acting" out the part of the baby.

One more

I thought this one was interesting. My friend Michelle did it first. It’s originally from What Privileges Do You Have?, based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright.

Very interesting food for thought… those that apply to me are bolded, my comments italicized.

1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor Three uncles are attorneys, one uncle is a surgeon. Grandfather is a PhD. Great Grandfather was a veterinarian
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
9. Were read children's books by a parent.
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively.
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18.
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs. I was a Regents Scholar, so all of undergrad was paid by the Arizona State Board of Regents. It was a scholarship awarded to the top 5% of graduating seniors.
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels If we didn't visit family, which is what the majority of vacations entailed.
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them.
(Can't seem to unbold. They did not buy me a car. I had the two-tone Ford Fairmont to drive in high school. I bought my first car in college by myself.)

22. There was original art in your house when you were a child.
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
25. You had your own room as a child

26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18.
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course.
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school.
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college.
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
31. Went on a cruise with your family.
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family.
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up.
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family. I had a general idea of all bills in high school when my dad was laid off.

I'm not tagging anyone, but if you decide to do this meme, please let me know!

Seven Random Things...

I have been tagged not once but twice for this. Don't worry, I won't tag anyone else. I can barely answer myself and I don't need any enemies

1. D & I were setup by mutual friends. We have never looked back. Our friends on the other hand divorced after a year of marriage.

2. I shave my legs almost every day - from ankle to upper thigh. It is just habit. It takes me no time in the shower.

3. I enjoy baking, cooking, sewing, reading, knitting, embroidery and most other domestic endeavors (except cleaning). In college I took an interest inventory in an attempt to find my way from an "Undecided" major. The only clear winner on the list was "homemaker." At the time, I was less than impressed with the results.

4. I have a B.S. in Political Science and an M.B.A. I am currently paid for using neither. Both degrees were paid for by someone else (Regents scholar for undergrad and employer paid for grad school).

5. I like Braunschweiger. Yeah, I know it's gross.

6. I don't have any rudimentary nipples, but I know someone who does. I do have nasty bunions that I hope to have corrected with surgery when I am done gestating and lactating.

7. Per my husband: my body temperature is purely subjective and often related to economics. I want no heat used in the winter and am often hot in our 68 degree home. In the summer time, I get cold below 70 degrees.

That's is about it for me. If you do decide to play along, here are the rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 random and or weird things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Dancing King

A glimpse into today:

(you may have to tip your head)

Monday, January 14, 2008

Hiking

In search of a cache, we went hiking in the San Tan Regional Park. Here is Eamon's take on the excursion.
(observing scat - mostly horse)
(the treasure)

Sunday, January 13, 2008

29 Weeks 3 Days

Something to remember

IF I HAD MY CHILD TO RAISE ALL OVER AGAIN

If I had my child to raise all over again,

I’d finger-paint more and point the finger less.

I’d do less correcting and more connecting.

I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more.

I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.

I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I’d run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I’d do more hugging and less tugging.

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I’d teach less about the love of power,

And more about the power of love.


By Diane Loomans, from the book, Full Esteem Ahead, 100 Ways to Build Self Esteem in Children & Adults.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Life is a Highway

Dave took Eamon & Aine to the World of Wheels car show today. The main draw was Lightening McQueen from the movie Cars. They had a great time looking at all the cars and motorcycles.

When they all arrived home, we decided to watch the movie together to round out the day.

What to Do on a Day off....

D took the kiddos to the World of Wheels today. I had almost the whole day to myself. "What did I do?" you ask. Well...
  • Picked up our veggies at 7:30 and headed to the grocery store
  • Shopped for our weekly groceries
  • Sorted kid's clothes, baby diapers, and baby carriers assessing what we need versus have and organized it all in the kiddos' closet
  • Cleaned and organized the linen closet (purged old light bulbs, sheets and crib linens)
  • Cleaned and organized my closet (all maternity clothes actually hung up; running and workout clothes sorted/folded; sweaters/sweatshirts no longer look like they will fall at any minute)

  • Washed all laundry including bed linens
  • Made the beds
  • Folded and PUT AWAY all laundry
  • Sorted craft supplies and stowed them in their new home on the buffet
  • Sorted cookbooks which had been on buffet - purging those never used and stowing them in their new home on the bottom shelf of said buffet
  • Cleaned out, rearranged and updated the pantry
  • Cleaned master and hallway bathrooms
I think that is it. No crafting of any sort was accomplished. The floors still need to be swept/mopped and the place vacuumed. I would love to have another day to spend in the den/sewing room, however I am so glad to have accomplished what I did. My house used to be cleaner and more organized. Now time is better spent doing other things. As my grandmother told my mom, "Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow, for babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs; dust go to sleep, I'm rocking my babies and baies don't keep."

I almost forgot. I also watched disc 6 from 24: Season 6. Something has to get you through all that work.