The trick-or-treaters, my three middle children.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Wait! I did forget one exciting thing! (Exciting if you are a middle-aged housewife such as myself anyway.) I got a new vacuum!
Lillian is just constantly putting things in her mouth, and as much as I love our big, old, expensive Rainbow, it is just too much of a hassle to set it up and lug it around mulitple times a day. Sooo, I went to the store and got one of those "cheapie" Sharks. It is the bagless, can go on carpet and the wood floors both, kind of thing, very light weight and I love it! The only thing I don't like is the cord is pretty short, (I want to say it was 20'?) but then again, it isn't really meant for big jobs.
Lillian is just constantly putting things in her mouth, and as much as I love our big, old, expensive Rainbow, it is just too much of a hassle to set it up and lug it around mulitple times a day. Sooo, I went to the store and got one of those "cheapie" Sharks. It is the bagless, can go on carpet and the wood floors both, kind of thing, very light weight and I love it! The only thing I don't like is the cord is pretty short, (I want to say it was 20'?) but then again, it isn't really meant for big jobs.
So, let's see what's new...
Had a great time at youth group last night, as always. Target had their $1 stuff 1/2 off so I got Arnel a fake knife-through-the-head for .50 which was a big hit with the teens and pre-teens. I think I mentioned already that I am going to be leading one of the girls small groups (probabaly jr. hi girls.) The coordinator asked me to come a little early to the next Tues. night meeting as they are going to start picking their curriculum...so it is exciting that it is getting close! ~An aside...the youth group meets twice a week. Sunday evenings is designed as an easy outreach night...there is a rowdy game time with loud music, a short message and then dinner. Very informal. Tuesday night is for kids who are already Christians to grow in their walk with the Lord...more of a traditional small group thing. These first few weeks of school they've been meeting altogether but in the next couple weeks will start dividing up jr. and sr. hi, and girls and boys, for certain activities.~
Today we went and had Lillian's 9-month pictures taken. It went okay. She didn't love it but we managed to get a few good ones. I have to say there is not much cuter than little chubby baby legs in lacy socks and shiny black shoes. We were able to pick up Laura's pictures at the same time...turned out wonderful! Daddy's comment: My girls are growing up too fast...all of them!
Took Julia to the orthodontist to replace a broken elastic, (no school today due to one of the teacher's training days...probably a wise choice to schedule it today,) dropped of library books and picked up some more, picked up the dog from the groomer (complete with an orange and black bow with spiders on it--I think the poor thing comes home humiliated every time with the silly bows they put on him. He is not a "bowy" kind of dog.) By that time it was time to start dinner (hamburger soup, salad and french bread) so the kids could have something nutritious to eat before pigging out on candy...my tummy is getting sick just thinking about it! (Okay, maybe it has something to do with the two candies I just ate.)
I'm sorry, could I have more boring stuff to write about?! I'll try to do something exciting soon, or at least think of an exciting story.
Had a great time at youth group last night, as always. Target had their $1 stuff 1/2 off so I got Arnel a fake knife-through-the-head for .50 which was a big hit with the teens and pre-teens. I think I mentioned already that I am going to be leading one of the girls small groups (probabaly jr. hi girls.) The coordinator asked me to come a little early to the next Tues. night meeting as they are going to start picking their curriculum...so it is exciting that it is getting close! ~An aside...the youth group meets twice a week. Sunday evenings is designed as an easy outreach night...there is a rowdy game time with loud music, a short message and then dinner. Very informal. Tuesday night is for kids who are already Christians to grow in their walk with the Lord...more of a traditional small group thing. These first few weeks of school they've been meeting altogether but in the next couple weeks will start dividing up jr. and sr. hi, and girls and boys, for certain activities.~
Today we went and had Lillian's 9-month pictures taken. It went okay. She didn't love it but we managed to get a few good ones. I have to say there is not much cuter than little chubby baby legs in lacy socks and shiny black shoes. We were able to pick up Laura's pictures at the same time...turned out wonderful! Daddy's comment: My girls are growing up too fast...all of them!
Took Julia to the orthodontist to replace a broken elastic, (no school today due to one of the teacher's training days...probably a wise choice to schedule it today,) dropped of library books and picked up some more, picked up the dog from the groomer (complete with an orange and black bow with spiders on it--I think the poor thing comes home humiliated every time with the silly bows they put on him. He is not a "bowy" kind of dog.) By that time it was time to start dinner (hamburger soup, salad and french bread) so the kids could have something nutritious to eat before pigging out on candy...my tummy is getting sick just thinking about it! (Okay, maybe it has something to do with the two candies I just ate.)
I'm sorry, could I have more boring stuff to write about?! I'll try to do something exciting soon, or at least think of an exciting story.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
As so often happens, when there is stuff to write, there is no time to write it!
Actually, nothing major to report. Got our family portrait for the year taken on Friday. Lillian was so not in the mood and apparently Isaac has entered the wrinkle-your-lips-up-on-the-corners-and-that-is-how-you-smile-for-pictures stage. But, eventually, we got a couple we could live with. In all the drama, though, we forgot to take one of just Arnel and I, which is the other thing we usually do when we get our family portrait done. Oh, well, we look about the same as we did last year this time except I'm not pregnant anymore.
As you may remember, Lillian is at the phase of spying any tiny thing from a mile away and racing over to it and getting it in her mouth in lightening speed. She recently learned why this may not always be a good idea. I do not know exactly what it was or where it came from, but a couple days ago she was on the rug under the dining room table and I saw her stick her hands to her mouth. I went over but couldn't immediately locate anything, as she has learned that she must fight with all her might to keep the big people around her from stealing any of her hard-earned treasures by clamping her mouth shut, turning her head and batting our hands away with her own. A couple seconds later I saw her gag (which she does at the drop of a hat.) When I tried again to see what she might have I right away could smell it on her breath and her hands...mint. Let's just say it is not an experience she cares to repeat any time soon. Though she is very fond of O's.
Actually, nothing major to report. Got our family portrait for the year taken on Friday. Lillian was so not in the mood and apparently Isaac has entered the wrinkle-your-lips-up-on-the-corners-and-that-is-how-you-smile-for-pictures stage. But, eventually, we got a couple we could live with. In all the drama, though, we forgot to take one of just Arnel and I, which is the other thing we usually do when we get our family portrait done. Oh, well, we look about the same as we did last year this time except I'm not pregnant anymore.
As you may remember, Lillian is at the phase of spying any tiny thing from a mile away and racing over to it and getting it in her mouth in lightening speed. She recently learned why this may not always be a good idea. I do not know exactly what it was or where it came from, but a couple days ago she was on the rug under the dining room table and I saw her stick her hands to her mouth. I went over but couldn't immediately locate anything, as she has learned that she must fight with all her might to keep the big people around her from stealing any of her hard-earned treasures by clamping her mouth shut, turning her head and batting our hands away with her own. A couple seconds later I saw her gag (which she does at the drop of a hat.) When I tried again to see what she might have I right away could smell it on her breath and her hands...mint. Let's just say it is not an experience she cares to repeat any time soon. Though she is very fond of O's.
Monday, October 24, 2005
I have not been getting much updating done lately to computer woes in our household. We managed to kill two monitors in as many days. Hoping a surge protector may prevent the same premature death of the new one we ordered (Arnel found a good deal on a beaut, a 17" flat panel!) I am fortunate to have computer and internet access still due to my brother's old laptop...thanks, Zak!
Anyway, Julia is done with cross-country and as much as she complained she wants to do it again next year. Her time went from the 34 minute range to the 27 minute range for 5K. Her first marking period for class is over, too...algebra was the weak link, as expected, though it was still in the average range ~wink~. Aside from that she got 3 As, an A- and a B+, for an overall GPA of 3.45. She thinks that most of her algebra grade came from early in the year before she got the hang of the system so hopefully that one will be up before long as well. It was very interesting since we had never been involved in the school system before and had no real idea what kind of work and grades to expect. Overall, she says, she is surprised how easy the work has been compared to what she expected. I've been surprised at some of the assignments and expectations myself! Anyhow, we are of course very proud of her, but would have been no matter what her grades had been.
Laura had a wonderful, long, exhausting birthday weekend. Her actual birthday was Thursday and I think she liked her celebration...her chosen dinner of shrimp ramen and shrimp cocktail, and gifts centering around Bratz dolls, clothes and things for her room. Friday night she had 4 friends sleep over and got more goodies and had more fun and not enough sleep! That evening we invited the family of one of the girls over and we ate and played games.
Yesterday we declared Game Day at our house...a new tradition of ours. Every so often after church we invite people over (pretty much an open house, we just kind of spread the word around,) for snacks, playing games and just hanging out. This time we had three families plus a couple of spare kids whose families couldn't join us...two of Laura's friends who'd been at her party. We do this until it is time to leave for youth group. It is great fun.
Julia and I found time to sneak out to the mall for awhile this weekend to get our hircuts. Nothing major but no disasters, always a good thing with a haircut! Got to get our boys (including Dad!) done tonight if possible.
Anyway, Julia is done with cross-country and as much as she complained she wants to do it again next year. Her time went from the 34 minute range to the 27 minute range for 5K. Her first marking period for class is over, too...algebra was the weak link, as expected, though it was still in the average range ~wink~. Aside from that she got 3 As, an A- and a B+, for an overall GPA of 3.45. She thinks that most of her algebra grade came from early in the year before she got the hang of the system so hopefully that one will be up before long as well. It was very interesting since we had never been involved in the school system before and had no real idea what kind of work and grades to expect. Overall, she says, she is surprised how easy the work has been compared to what she expected. I've been surprised at some of the assignments and expectations myself! Anyhow, we are of course very proud of her, but would have been no matter what her grades had been.
Laura had a wonderful, long, exhausting birthday weekend. Her actual birthday was Thursday and I think she liked her celebration...her chosen dinner of shrimp ramen and shrimp cocktail, and gifts centering around Bratz dolls, clothes and things for her room. Friday night she had 4 friends sleep over and got more goodies and had more fun and not enough sleep! That evening we invited the family of one of the girls over and we ate and played games.
Yesterday we declared Game Day at our house...a new tradition of ours. Every so often after church we invite people over (pretty much an open house, we just kind of spread the word around,) for snacks, playing games and just hanging out. This time we had three families plus a couple of spare kids whose families couldn't join us...two of Laura's friends who'd been at her party. We do this until it is time to leave for youth group. It is great fun.
Julia and I found time to sneak out to the mall for awhile this weekend to get our hircuts. Nothing major but no disasters, always a good thing with a haircut! Got to get our boys (including Dad!) done tonight if possible.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Okay, I have been informed that I need to add some pictures to my blog. Here is one of me the day I learned that I can use my webcam to take pictures. Nice one, Marce! What? Not what you had in mind?
Okay, then how about this one? This is my boys just being boys. (Okay, okay, this is my boys just being weird.)
Monday, October 17, 2005
Friday, October 14, 2005
Football, fall and ladybugs
So, I get my pretty new blog all set up and then don't post anything substantial to it for days...how do you like that? Ha! So, here is what is going on...
We went to the high school football game tonight, first one since I was in high school, I believe, which makes it, oh, about 23 years or so. Odd thing was that our daughter who goes to the high school wasn't there but the rest of the family was! She is out of town overnight for a cross-country meet, but we have friends with two sons who play on the opposing team that we haven't seen for quite awhile so we went and sat on the visitor's side. I really wasn't sure who I was rooting for until Western (that's us,) scored and I realized how excited I got. Western wound up winning. One game left in the regular season, against our cross-town rivals. We may attend that one, too, also knowing quite a few kids who go there.
Well, what I really want to talk about is that it is fall. Yea for fall, my favorite season. I'm not sure why...maybe because it is my birthday time of year? Start of school? I just know I have always loved fall. The weather seems just right for me...not too hot, not too cold, but without those crazy winds of spring time. And here in Michigan where there are just so many trees, it is really just beautiful...all the colors! I really need to get out and take some pictures this year. I take tons of pictures of my children but I think I would like to become a better photographer, rather than just a "picture-taker."
The one drawback to fall...the ladybugs have arrived. If you don't live around here you are probably wondering what kind of a scrooge complains about ladybugs. Hey, I like ladybugs as much as the next person...in moderation. (I have a memory from childhood...don't know how accurate the details are as these things get mixed in our brains with legend as time goes on, but the way I remember it the fence separating our backyard from our neighbors at my childhood home was only about waist high. I don't know if it was ours our theirs but somewhere along that fence line there was a plant of some kind...maybe a rose bush?...that ladybugs just loved. It was so covered with ladybugs that I actually thought it was a ladybug bush. And that was a good thing...so see, I love ladybugs!)
But there is nothing moderate about the ladybug situation around here. Rumor is that it is an agricultural experiment gone sadly awry, that they were purposely brought in once upon a time to eat whatever kind of pest it is they eat...and then they took over. You are likely to find a stray ladybug (or possibly Japanese Beetle, they look nearly identical and I've never gotten a straight answer as to which they actuallly are, but it doesn't really matter,) here and there year-round, but it seem that sometime in October is when they really make their presence known. At times I can look at any window of my house and count probably ten or more on the screen. Do you realize how many this means there are flying around? It stops being cute when you are having to swat them away from your dinner plate, let me tell you.
Oh, the paint has been purchased and today Laura packed up her room...there should be some "Pretty as a Princess" pink and some "Sonic Green" going on tomorrow!
We went to the high school football game tonight, first one since I was in high school, I believe, which makes it, oh, about 23 years or so. Odd thing was that our daughter who goes to the high school wasn't there but the rest of the family was! She is out of town overnight for a cross-country meet, but we have friends with two sons who play on the opposing team that we haven't seen for quite awhile so we went and sat on the visitor's side. I really wasn't sure who I was rooting for until Western (that's us,) scored and I realized how excited I got. Western wound up winning. One game left in the regular season, against our cross-town rivals. We may attend that one, too, also knowing quite a few kids who go there.
Well, what I really want to talk about is that it is fall. Yea for fall, my favorite season. I'm not sure why...maybe because it is my birthday time of year? Start of school? I just know I have always loved fall. The weather seems just right for me...not too hot, not too cold, but without those crazy winds of spring time. And here in Michigan where there are just so many trees, it is really just beautiful...all the colors! I really need to get out and take some pictures this year. I take tons of pictures of my children but I think I would like to become a better photographer, rather than just a "picture-taker."
The one drawback to fall...the ladybugs have arrived. If you don't live around here you are probably wondering what kind of a scrooge complains about ladybugs. Hey, I like ladybugs as much as the next person...in moderation. (I have a memory from childhood...don't know how accurate the details are as these things get mixed in our brains with legend as time goes on, but the way I remember it the fence separating our backyard from our neighbors at my childhood home was only about waist high. I don't know if it was ours our theirs but somewhere along that fence line there was a plant of some kind...maybe a rose bush?...that ladybugs just loved. It was so covered with ladybugs that I actually thought it was a ladybug bush. And that was a good thing...so see, I love ladybugs!)
But there is nothing moderate about the ladybug situation around here. Rumor is that it is an agricultural experiment gone sadly awry, that they were purposely brought in once upon a time to eat whatever kind of pest it is they eat...and then they took over. You are likely to find a stray ladybug (or possibly Japanese Beetle, they look nearly identical and I've never gotten a straight answer as to which they actuallly are, but it doesn't really matter,) here and there year-round, but it seem that sometime in October is when they really make their presence known. At times I can look at any window of my house and count probably ten or more on the screen. Do you realize how many this means there are flying around? It stops being cute when you are having to swat them away from your dinner plate, let me tell you.
Oh, the paint has been purchased and today Laura packed up her room...there should be some "Pretty as a Princess" pink and some "Sonic Green" going on tomorrow!
Monday, October 10, 2005
I am going to be leading a girl's youth (not sure yet if I will work with the junior high or senior high) small group beginning in a few weeks. I have found, as my own children have gotten older, that I actually really enjoy teens and I am honored that I will be working with them in this way. I'd appreciate any prayers that I will be an effective tool for God and a worthy role model for these young ladies.
~sigh~ If only the following were true...
HEALTH QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION
Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
---------------------------------
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies.. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
---------------------------------
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
---------------------------------
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.
---------------------------------
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise
program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!
---------------------------------
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?
---------------------------------
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
---------------------------------
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO ...... Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!
---------------------------------
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
---------------------------------
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!
---------------------------------
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
HEALTH QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION
Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
---------------------------------
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies.. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
---------------------------------
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
---------------------------------
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.
---------------------------------
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise
program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!
---------------------------------
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?
---------------------------------
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
---------------------------------
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO ...... Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!
---------------------------------
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
---------------------------------
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!
---------------------------------
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Quick update before I go upstairs for a shower and the umpteenth attempt to watch "Constantine."
Saturday was an odd day because half the family was gone. Julia had a cross-country meet in Portage...don't know exactly where that is, but it is far enough that they have a different area code, so we elected not to go. She did well again, by the way...she is down to 28 minutes something for her 5K.
Having decided not to go to Portage, Arnel and Gabe accepted an invitation from our neighbors to attend a Michigan game with them. It was really the first live football game for either of them outside of Arnel and I having attended a few games of our Division III college. (Excluding high school games of course.) This was practically a dream come true for Gabe who has recently decided that he likes football even better than Star Wars. Unfortunately, Michigan lost to the Gophers or something like that from Minnesota. (Really? Gophers was the best they could come up with?) But I think we have our allegiance chosen for the family now...for those not from Michigan, you may not know, but the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry is something along the lines of Giants-Dodgers. But I think an experience like this can have a lifelong impact on a young boy, so we will from now on be with the Michigan camp. Go Wolverines! (Hah! Now there is a fierce animal!)
Today we were gone pretty much all day. Laura and Gabe are in rehearsal for the Christmas pagaent, and Julia has a Sunday school class, all at 9:00. This ends at 10-ish and then we just hang out and wait until church begins at 11:00. We socialize for a bit after church (I think we call it "fellowship" when it happens at church ~grin~) and then, since I wanted to do a couple things in the next town, we decided to visit one of our favorite Chinese food restaurants there, too. We invited some friend to go with us. And our boys ate squid that still looked like squid, much to the dismay of all the girls in the group. (Though I have nothing against calamari itself, I passed on the whole squid. As I told them at the time, I wouldn't eat beef, either, if you served it to me in that close to it's original state.) Let's see...we changed plans and split up the families so that most of us gals went shopping and the guys went back to our friend's house to watch football. (One too many girls to fit in the van so one unlucky lady had to go with them.) My errands included going to Joanne's and Michael's to spend the weekly coupons, which I did. My friend had to take her daughter shopping for a dress for homecoming and while there I was able to find a top for myself, plus a top and skirt for Laura for her birthday picture, all on clearance plus an additional 25% off! Woo hoo!
Speaking of Laura's birthday, it is right around the corner. Her and Arnel should be painting her room in the next week or two. I've already ordered her new bedding.
Next weekend Julia has another cross-country meet that is pretty far away, and is early enough in the morning that the team is going to leave on Friday and spend the night. Again, we are not going. But her high school's football game that night is against a team where we are friends with a couple boys on the team, so we may go and sit with their parents (also our friends,) and root for the "bad guys" since Julia won't be there. The bad part is that both teams have only one loss this season so it really is a big game! But, at this point, I'm more interested in seeing actual people I know do well than a team do well just because my daughter goes there. I guess we haven't quite developed the team loyalty yet.
Okay, not a short update after all, I guess. What did you really expect from me?
Saturday was an odd day because half the family was gone. Julia had a cross-country meet in Portage...don't know exactly where that is, but it is far enough that they have a different area code, so we elected not to go. She did well again, by the way...she is down to 28 minutes something for her 5K.
Having decided not to go to Portage, Arnel and Gabe accepted an invitation from our neighbors to attend a Michigan game with them. It was really the first live football game for either of them outside of Arnel and I having attended a few games of our Division III college. (Excluding high school games of course.) This was practically a dream come true for Gabe who has recently decided that he likes football even better than Star Wars. Unfortunately, Michigan lost to the Gophers or something like that from Minnesota. (Really? Gophers was the best they could come up with?) But I think we have our allegiance chosen for the family now...for those not from Michigan, you may not know, but the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry is something along the lines of Giants-Dodgers. But I think an experience like this can have a lifelong impact on a young boy, so we will from now on be with the Michigan camp. Go Wolverines! (Hah! Now there is a fierce animal!)
Today we were gone pretty much all day. Laura and Gabe are in rehearsal for the Christmas pagaent, and Julia has a Sunday school class, all at 9:00. This ends at 10-ish and then we just hang out and wait until church begins at 11:00. We socialize for a bit after church (I think we call it "fellowship" when it happens at church ~grin~) and then, since I wanted to do a couple things in the next town, we decided to visit one of our favorite Chinese food restaurants there, too. We invited some friend to go with us. And our boys ate squid that still looked like squid, much to the dismay of all the girls in the group. (Though I have nothing against calamari itself, I passed on the whole squid. As I told them at the time, I wouldn't eat beef, either, if you served it to me in that close to it's original state.) Let's see...we changed plans and split up the families so that most of us gals went shopping and the guys went back to our friend's house to watch football. (One too many girls to fit in the van so one unlucky lady had to go with them.) My errands included going to Joanne's and Michael's to spend the weekly coupons, which I did. My friend had to take her daughter shopping for a dress for homecoming and while there I was able to find a top for myself, plus a top and skirt for Laura for her birthday picture, all on clearance plus an additional 25% off! Woo hoo!
Speaking of Laura's birthday, it is right around the corner. Her and Arnel should be painting her room in the next week or two. I've already ordered her new bedding.
Next weekend Julia has another cross-country meet that is pretty far away, and is early enough in the morning that the team is going to leave on Friday and spend the night. Again, we are not going. But her high school's football game that night is against a team where we are friends with a couple boys on the team, so we may go and sit with their parents (also our friends,) and root for the "bad guys" since Julia won't be there. The bad part is that both teams have only one loss this season so it really is a big game! But, at this point, I'm more interested in seeing actual people I know do well than a team do well just because my daughter goes there. I guess we haven't quite developed the team loyalty yet.
Okay, not a short update after all, I guess. What did you really expect from me?
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Okay, I didn't realize what I'd be getting into when I decided I wanted to change my blogger template again. Had one version but there were a couple things I didn't like about it...changed it to another one but there were some weird things showing up and I don't have enough html knowledge to figure out how to get rid of them (I have just enough html knowledge to be dangerous, as they say!) So I got another one in place that worked but just wasn't "me." Finally, I have one in place that I like...so if you don't like it...I don't want to hear about it! ~grin~
Friday, October 07, 2005
The Ones that Care
Rumor has it this philosophy came from Charles Schultz, the creator of "Peanuts." I don't know if that part is true, but I thought this was worth sharing on its own merits. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read straight through and you'll get the point.
Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
Name the last five winners of the Miss America.
Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.
Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
Name the last five winners of the Miss America.
Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.
What do you think?
So, the new layout is very different...please let me know what you think. I don't know if people are going to like having to scroll down so much.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
What Is Your Funky Inner Hair Color?
Your Hair Should Be Orange |
 Expressive, deep, and one of a kind. You pull off "weird" well - hardly anyone notices. |
My daughter...
My daughter has decided she's a monkey. Yup, we've bred another climber. Wish me luck.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
I love when they do this...
My kids are doing a little science experiment with growing different kinds of mold under different conditions. Gabe just brought me the piece of bread they've had under the sink sealed in a plastic bag with a wet cotton ball for about a week. You can imagine how it looks about now. I told him to take it away before I threw up. Well, apparently Isaac has been learning some new slang and asked me if I was going to "throw the chunks." I did some quick deductive reasoning and said 'Yes, I might blow chunks.' He is pleased with his new vocabulary and I can hear him following Gabe around the other room...'She's going to blow the chunks? Gabe, do you want Mom to blow the chunks? " Sooooo funny!
God's Diet Plan
God's Diet Plan
And God populated the earth with broccoli and cauliflower and spinach and green and yellow vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.
And Satan created hamburger restaurants. And hamburger restaurants brought forth the 99-cent double-cheeseburger. And Satan said to Man, "You want fries with that?" And Man said, "Super size them." And Man gained pounds.
And God created the healthful yogurt, that woman might keep her figure that man found so fair.
And Satan froze the yogurt, and he brought forth chocolate, nuts and brightly colored sprinkle candy to put on the yogurt. And woman gained pounds.
And God said, "Try my cris! py fresh salad."
And Satan brought forth creamy dressings, bacon bits, and shredded cheese. And there was ice cream for dessert. And woman gained pounds.
And God said, "I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil with which to cook them."
And Satan brought forth chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter, and Man gained pounds, and his bad cholesterol went through the roof.
And God brought forth running shoes, and Man resolved to lose those extra pounds.
And Satan brought forth cable TV with remote control so Man would not have to toil to change channels between ESPN and ESPN2. And Man gained pounds.
And God said, "You're running up the score, Devil." And God brought forth the potato, a vegetable naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition.
And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fat fried them. And he created sour cream dip also. And Man clutched his remote control and ate the potato chips swaddled in cholesterol. And Satan saw and said, "It is good ." And Man went into cardiac arrest.
And God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.
And Satan created HMOs....
Monday, October 03, 2005
Weight update
In case anyone was paying attention and wondering where the weight loss updates went, I'm not trying to hide anything, just changed my weigh-in date to coincide with a weight loss challenge I'm participating in with some women from my Memory Works group. Last Monday, on our official start date, I was at 154. Today is 153. Not great. But something.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Lillian has made it her mission in life to keep me from scrapbooking. Hey, I guess everybody has to have a job.
Last night Arnel and I were both really tired but decided to go ahead and go to the coffee house and I'm glad we did. It is such a fun atmosphere out there. We couldn't stay too late because, well, we were tired ~grin~ but also because Arnel had to go in to work early this morning to try to be done before Julia had to be at her meet in the next town at 9:00. We were only a little late. She did really well today, cutting an amazing two-and-a-half minutes off of her time.
One of the best things about cross-country as a sport is where it takes place. The team has to stay until everyone races...varsity boys, varsity girls, JV boys, JV girls...so we get to spend a few hours every meet-day out enjoying the beautiful scenery. The picture above is where she ran today.
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