If you didn't hear, my first attempt at making Sugar Cookies from scratch this Christmas season did NOT go well. I used the recipe from Better Homes and Garden cookbook. I'd never tried that recipe before and I should've known I'd have problems right from the start. It called for equal parts shortening and butter. We had two (opened) cans of Crisco -- both of which were disgusting and apparently "expired" about 3 years ago. I don't think I'll ever forget the sight/smell. Ewwww. I thought I would double the recipe and apparently when you double it, there isn't enough sugar... because they honestly tasted like (what I imagine) baked play-doh would be like. Ick.
So I turned to my most reliable source for anything related to baking: My friend Beth. She is amazingly talented so I knew she's have a great recipe for me. She uses a Betty Crocker recipe. As it turns out (from talking to my mom today) this is also the one that my mom used while we were growing, with a few modifications. Learning from past mistakes, I decided that if I wanted more than one batch of dough, I would make one batch right after the first one instead of trying to double the recipe.
Here is the original recipe, as passed along from Beth (this is what I used):
Cream Together: 1 & 1/2 c. powdered sugar and 1 c. butter
Stir in 1 egg, 1/2 t. vanilla extract and 1/2 t. almond extract
In a separate bowl, blend 2 & 1/2 c. flour, 1 t. baking soda and 1 t. cream of tartar (OR, if you don't have the cream of tartar, use 2 t. baking powder instead of the soda/tartar combination).
Stir flour mixture into the sugar mixture.
Chill 2-3 hours or overnight. (I kept mine in the fridge for about 2-3 days because I got busy and didn't have to roll/bake them right away.)
Roll out to 3/16 inch thick. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake in 375F oven for 7-8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
For my mom's variation, she uses 1/2 c. butter and 1/2 c. cream cheese. She uses 1 t. vanilla and no almond extract.
OK, no one wants to eat cut out sugar cookies plain, right?
I didn't want to make a powdered sugar icing because, well, that's not what I grew up with for sugar cut out cookies. I talked to my mom and she said she used buttercream frosting. Could this recipe be any easier? Honestly, why would I ever buy a can of frosting again??
16 oz. Powdered Sugar
1 stick of Butter
3 T. milk (add one at a time as it's mixing so the consistency is right)
2 t. vanilla
This makes about 2 & 1/2 cups of frosting. Wow, it was good. I couldn't find where I'd put the food coloring, so I saved some white frosting and I mixed some green colored decorated sugar into the rest of the frosting. I made cut out of bells and trees so the bells are white and the trees are "snowy" white/green. :)
These recipes were delicious, simple and well, obviously, fool-proof since I made them with great success. I gave K a bite of a cookie when they cooled and within 10 seconds, she came running into the kitchen saying, "I need nother cookie, mama!" Excellent.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmases Past
I was just thinking about Christmases past...
1976 I remember getting an engraved angel necklace charm from my maternal grandparents. It's the only thing I clearly remember my grandma Elsie giving me. (She died in 1979).
1980 I remember getting a Barbie who was a ballerina -- she had a beautiful tutu and built in crown. I was thrilled.
1983 Cabbage Patch Kids came out and even though I was in 4th grade, my mom's coworker had connections to get a doll. It was a Christmas surprise because my parents didn't remember where they hid it and I didn't get to open it until we'd be done opening gifts for a while.
1988 I went ice skating with my brother and my cousin Sylvia at Running Park while my mom was working at Fairview Southdale. I slipped getting on to the ice and broke my wrist. As soon as mom got home, she had to turn around and wait 4 more hours in the ER with me. They called in my brother's bone doctor (from when he broke his leg) -- he was at Mass and had to leave. I felt so bad about that.
1996 I was living in Guatemala and we (the single female teachers) were invited over to a school family's house for supper at midnight. No lie. Midnight. It was SOOOO fun. I got to sit next to grandma. All she could say in English was, "I was born in Chicago." At dinner they served Mogen David (dessert) wine and grandma kept telling me, "Es muy sauve..." Ha ha ha... don't have to tell ME twice to drink that wine.
1998 I was living in St. Louis and didn't drive home to MN because I had to sing in the church choir on Christmas Day. One of my seminary professors asked what I was doing for Christmas and when I told him that I would be staying on campus (I lived in a small guest housing room at that point), he immediately invited me over to his home and said his wife would be thrilled to have another person at Christmas dinner. True to his word, they were both very gracious hosts and there were other Seminarians at their house as well. After a wonderful meal and wine, his wife played Christmas hymns on the piano and we all sang along.
2003 I had just started dating Todd. He was in NY visiting his parents (his grandma and aunt were there too). Heidi & I went to Cross View to deep clean the high chairs in the infant room and all the toddler room chairs that were caked on with old jello and all kinds of crud. It was just a nice, relaxing time.
2005 Todd & I were newlyweds. We had purchased a pre-lit artificial tree the day after Christmas the year before so it was very fun to decorate our home.
2007 Kathleen's first Christmas. She was 9 months old. She received a lot of books and accidentally slammed her thumb in a book. She cried a lot but was fine. :)
Wow, so many blessings throughout the years.
1976 I remember getting an engraved angel necklace charm from my maternal grandparents. It's the only thing I clearly remember my grandma Elsie giving me. (She died in 1979).
1980 I remember getting a Barbie who was a ballerina -- she had a beautiful tutu and built in crown. I was thrilled.
1983 Cabbage Patch Kids came out and even though I was in 4th grade, my mom's coworker had connections to get a doll. It was a Christmas surprise because my parents didn't remember where they hid it and I didn't get to open it until we'd be done opening gifts for a while.
1988 I went ice skating with my brother and my cousin Sylvia at Running Park while my mom was working at Fairview Southdale. I slipped getting on to the ice and broke my wrist. As soon as mom got home, she had to turn around and wait 4 more hours in the ER with me. They called in my brother's bone doctor (from when he broke his leg) -- he was at Mass and had to leave. I felt so bad about that.
1996 I was living in Guatemala and we (the single female teachers) were invited over to a school family's house for supper at midnight. No lie. Midnight. It was SOOOO fun. I got to sit next to grandma. All she could say in English was, "I was born in Chicago." At dinner they served Mogen David (dessert) wine and grandma kept telling me, "Es muy sauve..." Ha ha ha... don't have to tell ME twice to drink that wine.
1998 I was living in St. Louis and didn't drive home to MN because I had to sing in the church choir on Christmas Day. One of my seminary professors asked what I was doing for Christmas and when I told him that I would be staying on campus (I lived in a small guest housing room at that point), he immediately invited me over to his home and said his wife would be thrilled to have another person at Christmas dinner. True to his word, they were both very gracious hosts and there were other Seminarians at their house as well. After a wonderful meal and wine, his wife played Christmas hymns on the piano and we all sang along.
2003 I had just started dating Todd. He was in NY visiting his parents (his grandma and aunt were there too). Heidi & I went to Cross View to deep clean the high chairs in the infant room and all the toddler room chairs that were caked on with old jello and all kinds of crud. It was just a nice, relaxing time.
2005 Todd & I were newlyweds. We had purchased a pre-lit artificial tree the day after Christmas the year before so it was very fun to decorate our home.
2007 Kathleen's first Christmas. She was 9 months old. She received a lot of books and accidentally slammed her thumb in a book. She cried a lot but was fine. :)
Wow, so many blessings throughout the years.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
What's Cookin'? Christmas 2009
As you may know, my husband loves to cook. Loves it. He honestly missed his calling -- he could've, should've -- been a chef. Since weather is so unpredictable in December, it's understandable that people don't typically make the trip from the Twin Cities out to Appleton for Christmas here. We (Ok, *I*) decided that it would be nice to make a big Christmas meal at home. We invited some friends from our church to join us for Christmas Eve eve dinner (ie December 23) but it didn't work with their schedules. So at the last minute (like, yesterday) Todd suggested that we email our friends Jim & Monica to see if they were free. Jim is Todd's former roommate, he was in our wedding and we've been to their house just about every summer for a cookout. It was long overdue for us to have them over at our house.
In case you're stuck for ideas on something to new or different to cook, here is what we were cookin' up for Christmas meal this year...
1 Turkey breast (just under 8 lbs) -- 325F for 3 hours. 2 cans of Chicken Broth used to baste. It was covered with aluminum foil. The most MOIST Turkey I've ever had.
Refrigerated Mashed Potatoes - 5 lbs of red potatoes, peeled all of them except for about 4. Slice to 1/2 inch pieces. Boil in salted water until tender. Drain water. Add enough milk to mash. Place in greased baking dish. Cut 3 oz of Cream Cheese into 1/2 - 1 inch pieces. Mix into warm mashed potatoes. Add 1/2 cup of Sour Cream and mix through. Cut 2 T. of butter/marg into 4 pieces and place on top of potatoes. Sprinkle top with Paprika. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour if not longer (up to overnight). Bake for 30-40 minutes at 350F.
Sweet Potato casserole - 4 or 5 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/2 inch slices. Place in greased 8 x 8 casserole pan. (I microwave them with some water for about 10 minutes). Add about 1-2 T. of Orange Juice concentrate. Sprinkle with 1-2 tsp Brown Sugar. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Remove and mashed as much as possible. Cover with mini marshmallows and allow time for them to melt on top (can place in warm oven for a while to help them melt if needed).
Stuffing - we used Sage stuffing from Stove Top. I didn't eat any of it but Jim and Monica loved it.
Orange-Cranberry Relish. This is so easy and one of my favorites. 1 orange (cut into 8 sections, keep the peel on). 1 bag of fresh cranberries. 3/4 cup of white sugar. Mini marshmallows. Using a meat grinder (I have the attachment for a Kitchen Aid mixer), place the orange sections through the grinder, followed by the cranberries. Mix in the sugar. Refrigerate and top with marshmallows just before serving.
Croissants - Pillsbury Croissants from a can. Easy but good treat.
Cran-Apple Pie Tart - Peel, core and slice 4-6 Granny Smith Apples. Place in bowl and add 1/2 c sugar, 1 & 1/2 T. flour, 1/2 t cinnamon, 3T lemon juice and orange zest for 1/2 a large orange (or 1 whole small orange -- I used the zest from part of the orange that I put in the orange-cranberry relish). 1/4 - 1/3 cup of cranberries (more or less, to your preference). 1 t vanilla extract. (I used 1/2 t. of vanilla extract and 1/2 t. of almond extract just because I had them both). Mix everything in a bowl. Heat 4 T (1/2 stick) of butter or margarine in a pan over medium heat. Place the apple mixture into the pan and cook over medium for about 10 minutes. On a jellyroll pan, place the pie crust. Spread the apple mixture on the crust, to about 2 inches of the edge. Fold the edges up and around the mixture (there will be about 3-5 inch circle in the middle). Bake in 350F for 30-40 minutes. So easy, so yummy!
In case you're stuck for ideas on something to new or different to cook, here is what we were cookin' up for Christmas meal this year...
1 Turkey breast (just under 8 lbs) -- 325F for 3 hours. 2 cans of Chicken Broth used to baste. It was covered with aluminum foil. The most MOIST Turkey I've ever had.
Refrigerated Mashed Potatoes - 5 lbs of red potatoes, peeled all of them except for about 4. Slice to 1/2 inch pieces. Boil in salted water until tender. Drain water. Add enough milk to mash. Place in greased baking dish. Cut 3 oz of Cream Cheese into 1/2 - 1 inch pieces. Mix into warm mashed potatoes. Add 1/2 cup of Sour Cream and mix through. Cut 2 T. of butter/marg into 4 pieces and place on top of potatoes. Sprinkle top with Paprika. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour if not longer (up to overnight). Bake for 30-40 minutes at 350F.
Sweet Potato casserole - 4 or 5 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/2 inch slices. Place in greased 8 x 8 casserole pan. (I microwave them with some water for about 10 minutes). Add about 1-2 T. of Orange Juice concentrate. Sprinkle with 1-2 tsp Brown Sugar. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Remove and mashed as much as possible. Cover with mini marshmallows and allow time for them to melt on top (can place in warm oven for a while to help them melt if needed).
Stuffing - we used Sage stuffing from Stove Top. I didn't eat any of it but Jim and Monica loved it.
Orange-Cranberry Relish. This is so easy and one of my favorites. 1 orange (cut into 8 sections, keep the peel on). 1 bag of fresh cranberries. 3/4 cup of white sugar. Mini marshmallows. Using a meat grinder (I have the attachment for a Kitchen Aid mixer), place the orange sections through the grinder, followed by the cranberries. Mix in the sugar. Refrigerate and top with marshmallows just before serving.
Croissants - Pillsbury Croissants from a can. Easy but good treat.
Cran-Apple Pie Tart - Peel, core and slice 4-6 Granny Smith Apples. Place in bowl and add 1/2 c sugar, 1 & 1/2 T. flour, 1/2 t cinnamon, 3T lemon juice and orange zest for 1/2 a large orange (or 1 whole small orange -- I used the zest from part of the orange that I put in the orange-cranberry relish). 1/4 - 1/3 cup of cranberries (more or less, to your preference). 1 t vanilla extract. (I used 1/2 t. of vanilla extract and 1/2 t. of almond extract just because I had them both). Mix everything in a bowl. Heat 4 T (1/2 stick) of butter or margarine in a pan over medium heat. Place the apple mixture into the pan and cook over medium for about 10 minutes. On a jellyroll pan, place the pie crust. Spread the apple mixture on the crust, to about 2 inches of the edge. Fold the edges up and around the mixture (there will be about 3-5 inch circle in the middle). Bake in 350F for 30-40 minutes. So easy, so yummy!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Procedures, Procedures, Procedures
OK, I may be slow... but I think I've finally gotten down the key to making things run smoothly (eventually) in my multi-grade classroom.
The key, as Harry K. Wong, would remind us all: procedures.
I spent an entire first week of school practicing procedures with my students. Who sharpens the pencils, who straightens the books, how we line up, how & when we pack up at the end of the day, how we are quiet when others are talking, etc. Over and over and over. To this day (week 8), some kids STILL sit down as soon as we say the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag, even though we have said the pledge to the cross and the student bill of rights for our classroom EVERY.SINGLE.DAY of school right after the Pledge to the American flag. Is it really that hard to remember? Seriously?
So now that I've been reading (and finally watch the rest of the Harry Wong videos about Effective Teachers), I decided to put it into action. The premise is that every day all of us follow procedures -- how/when to answer a phone, how to go through security at the airport, how to wait in line at the grocery store, etc. Classrooms are no different. I loved Dr. Wong's comment that you can start the year with 5 rules and end up with 100s of rules by the end of the year because rules are tedious and must be enforced -- who has time to police students all day? Procedures are the WAY we do things. No right or wrong, no discipline just simply the WAY we do things.
When I'm interrupted for the 2nd time by students having their own conversation, I look at them and say, "I'm sorry but the procedure is for ONE person to talk at a time. I am talking now. Follow the procedure and stop talking." Likewise, even though our student bill of rights states that they each have a right to hear and be heard, they talk non-stop while others are talking. When I remind them of the classroom rights, they ignore it. When I tell them about the procedure, they pay attention. It's a slow process but other teachers are noticing a subtle change in my group.
I admit that it's more annoying when I must do the same thing with middle schoolers... but I do it. It gets results. This will probably end up at home with my toddler as well. I may not say "procedure" but I will say "We do not do this... we do it this way..." We'll see. :)
The key, as Harry K. Wong, would remind us all: procedures.
I spent an entire first week of school practicing procedures with my students. Who sharpens the pencils, who straightens the books, how we line up, how & when we pack up at the end of the day, how we are quiet when others are talking, etc. Over and over and over. To this day (week 8), some kids STILL sit down as soon as we say the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag, even though we have said the pledge to the cross and the student bill of rights for our classroom EVERY.SINGLE.DAY of school right after the Pledge to the American flag. Is it really that hard to remember? Seriously?
So now that I've been reading (and finally watch the rest of the Harry Wong videos about Effective Teachers), I decided to put it into action. The premise is that every day all of us follow procedures -- how/when to answer a phone, how to go through security at the airport, how to wait in line at the grocery store, etc. Classrooms are no different. I loved Dr. Wong's comment that you can start the year with 5 rules and end up with 100s of rules by the end of the year because rules are tedious and must be enforced -- who has time to police students all day? Procedures are the WAY we do things. No right or wrong, no discipline just simply the WAY we do things.
When I'm interrupted for the 2nd time by students having their own conversation, I look at them and say, "I'm sorry but the procedure is for ONE person to talk at a time. I am talking now. Follow the procedure and stop talking." Likewise, even though our student bill of rights states that they each have a right to hear and be heard, they talk non-stop while others are talking. When I remind them of the classroom rights, they ignore it. When I tell them about the procedure, they pay attention. It's a slow process but other teachers are noticing a subtle change in my group.
I admit that it's more annoying when I must do the same thing with middle schoolers... but I do it. It gets results. This will probably end up at home with my toddler as well. I may not say "procedure" but I will say "We do not do this... we do it this way..." We'll see. :)
Thursday, September 10, 2009
This is why I LOVE teaching...
So, I teach 4th-5th graders in the mornings from 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. and then again from 2 -3:15 p.m. This afternoon we were playing a spelling review game (Last Man Standing -- they spell 4 -6 words at a time, then they all stand up. I spell the word & they sit down if/when they get a word wrong...)
Anyway, one 4th grade boy said to me, "Could you be more pacific next time?" I decided to joke with him and say, "Yes! And then I'll be Atlantic!... and then I'll eat pasketti for supper!..."
He rolled his eyes and said, (dead serious tone), "You know, you're a real piece of work..." Hilarious. Sometimes I forget how much I love teaching. They days they litearally make me LOL.
I feel very blessed because the 6th-8th graders (especially the 7th-8th graders) are usually pretty laid back and willing to work without complaining. So I enough teaching them from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. each day.
Anyway, one 4th grade boy said to me, "Could you be more pacific next time?" I decided to joke with him and say, "Yes! And then I'll be Atlantic!... and then I'll eat pasketti for supper!..."
He rolled his eyes and said, (dead serious tone), "You know, you're a real piece of work..." Hilarious. Sometimes I forget how much I love teaching. They days they litearally make me LOL.
I feel very blessed because the 6th-8th graders (especially the 7th-8th graders) are usually pretty laid back and willing to work without complaining. So I enough teaching them from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. each day.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
I have to recommend...
I have to recommend...
... iTunes Radio. Go to www.itunes.com. Install. Launch. Go to "radio" on the left hand dashboard. Go to "religious". Go to either Air-1 Radio or K-LOVE. Excellent music choices.
...www.pray-as-you-go.org. (You can also find this as a Podcast if you have iTunes). Short, 10 minute devotions from the Jesuit monks in Great Britain. Short amount of time but Very deep devotions. Love it.
...Channel 1107 on Time Warner Cable (if you have a cable box). On demand Exercise tv channel. Sadly, they no longer have Tai-Chi (which I used to love when we first got cable here) but I'm trying out Jillian Michaels' 30 day Shred1. Yeah, it's not even funny how out of shape I am but it's a good variety and it's only 20 minutes. I can push myself for 20 minutes at a time.
...a bike ride. I did not grow up as an athlete in any way, shape or form but my whole family rode bikes regularly. I have not stopped loving to ride my bike. Even if it's just a short ride around the block a few times with my daughter. For those of you with kids, this is the bike seat we have on my bike for Kate to ride in. www.weeride.com, then click on "Kangaroo Carrier". I LOVE this bike seat. I used a trailer when I was a nanny and I hated how there was always a 'drag' feeling to it. I was nervous about having her mounted behind me in a seat because it changes the center of gravity on the bike. I was nervous about having her sitting in front of me -- would I be able to see over her? What happens if I were to flip the bike? The truth is, she sits low enough that it's not a problem to see over her, she's wearing a helmet to protect her (and her feet are protected in the 'cup' things) and I love to be able to wrap my arms around her and talk to her while biking. Tonight she kept saying, "Sunshine, go night-night now. Moon, wake up! I go sleep and listen to Jesus (music)..." So great. :)
... Scentsy wickless candles. More about this later. I believe that Tina & I are going to sell this together because 1) the products are great (they had one going every day at Kathleen's old daycare in Idaho), 2) the idea of a light-bulb powered 'candle' around a toddler seems like better than having a candle(s) around the house, 3) they have plug-in (smaller) wall units, 4) I have yet to see ANYONE in Wisconsin with a Scentsy Logo on their vehicle -- so maybe we can be among the first people to sell/promote it here. (Unlike in Idaho Falls where I think 1 out of 3 cars had a Scentsy logo on it!)
... using Cash Only to pay for the majority of your everyday purchases. www.DaveRamsey.com. His books and CDs are on sale. Check them out, you'll never regret it.
... doing all my lesson plans on a Sunday night. Hopefully, less stressful throughout the week. :)
... iTunes Radio. Go to www.itunes.com. Install. Launch. Go to "radio" on the left hand dashboard. Go to "religious". Go to either Air-1 Radio or K-LOVE. Excellent music choices.
...www.pray-as-you-go.org. (You can also find this as a Podcast if you have iTunes). Short, 10 minute devotions from the Jesuit monks in Great Britain. Short amount of time but Very deep devotions. Love it.
...Channel 1107 on Time Warner Cable (if you have a cable box). On demand Exercise tv channel. Sadly, they no longer have Tai-Chi (which I used to love when we first got cable here) but I'm trying out Jillian Michaels' 30 day Shred1. Yeah, it's not even funny how out of shape I am but it's a good variety and it's only 20 minutes. I can push myself for 20 minutes at a time.
...a bike ride. I did not grow up as an athlete in any way, shape or form but my whole family rode bikes regularly. I have not stopped loving to ride my bike. Even if it's just a short ride around the block a few times with my daughter. For those of you with kids, this is the bike seat we have on my bike for Kate to ride in. www.weeride.com, then click on "Kangaroo Carrier". I LOVE this bike seat. I used a trailer when I was a nanny and I hated how there was always a 'drag' feeling to it. I was nervous about having her mounted behind me in a seat because it changes the center of gravity on the bike. I was nervous about having her sitting in front of me -- would I be able to see over her? What happens if I were to flip the bike? The truth is, she sits low enough that it's not a problem to see over her, she's wearing a helmet to protect her (and her feet are protected in the 'cup' things) and I love to be able to wrap my arms around her and talk to her while biking. Tonight she kept saying, "Sunshine, go night-night now. Moon, wake up! I go sleep and listen to Jesus (music)..." So great. :)
... Scentsy wickless candles. More about this later. I believe that Tina & I are going to sell this together because 1) the products are great (they had one going every day at Kathleen's old daycare in Idaho), 2) the idea of a light-bulb powered 'candle' around a toddler seems like better than having a candle(s) around the house, 3) they have plug-in (smaller) wall units, 4) I have yet to see ANYONE in Wisconsin with a Scentsy Logo on their vehicle -- so maybe we can be among the first people to sell/promote it here. (Unlike in Idaho Falls where I think 1 out of 3 cars had a Scentsy logo on it!)
... using Cash Only to pay for the majority of your everyday purchases. www.DaveRamsey.com. His books and CDs are on sale. Check them out, you'll never regret it.
... doing all my lesson plans on a Sunday night. Hopefully, less stressful throughout the week. :)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
I'm too old for this
OK, I realize that most of my friends reading this are not my age (35) but please bare with me.
I've always been the type of person who would rearrange the furniture in the room or move heavy items by myself without a second thought. No problems. Few aches and/or pains, if any.
I know that as I turned 30, the aches and pains were starting to catch up with me but lately it has been ridiculous. I wonder WHAT is wrong with me. I feel like every little thing that I do, I feel it and it doesn't feel good! Even a short bike ride -- I'm feeling it.
So, of course, I don't have the common sense to NOT push myself. I moved in everything (except the couch, washer and dryer) to my apt by myself a year ago. I moved everything (except the above items) out of my apt by myself at the end of July. I moved things into Tina's duplex and then lifted all kinds of things to help load the moving truck. I have been carrying and moving around all kinds of things at school. It's like I barely have a chance to rest and then I do more and more and more.
I haven't been to the chiropractor like I should. I was going once/month and that helped. I like my chiro here but she's always in demand and seems like she can't be inconvenienced to see me on a regular basis (actual quote, "Well, just make an appointment whenever you feel that you need to; I don't think I need to see you on a regular basis."). Yeah. My chiro in Idaho was great and he booked me every month to make sure that I didn't go too long and just 'live with' tension in my neck/shoulders.
I have not been sleeping well -- but what else is new. I have utterly forgotten how EXHAUSTING it is to teach a multi-grade classroom. SNAP! Teaching full time is hard enough. Having time to prepare all summer long is hard enough. But to do it with barely a week in town to prepare -- I'm worn out and feel like I'm running to stand still.
K is still doing great at daycare. She never cried when daddy dropped her off. She gets a little pouty with me but is getting better about going into the room without any drama. She didn't want to leave today (they were playing outside). Good sign.
Todd is still insanely busy at work. Or just insane. It's good to keep him busy or he will drive me CRAZY because he's bored and doesn't know what to do at work all day. No problems like that lately -- I'm so thankful for that.
I'm thankful for the 4th-8th graders at Celebration. They are a SUPER group of kids and seem to get my quirky sense of humor and enjoy being in my class. It's exhausting but I know it's worth it, too.
Night all!
I've always been the type of person who would rearrange the furniture in the room or move heavy items by myself without a second thought. No problems. Few aches and/or pains, if any.
I know that as I turned 30, the aches and pains were starting to catch up with me but lately it has been ridiculous. I wonder WHAT is wrong with me. I feel like every little thing that I do, I feel it and it doesn't feel good! Even a short bike ride -- I'm feeling it.
So, of course, I don't have the common sense to NOT push myself. I moved in everything (except the couch, washer and dryer) to my apt by myself a year ago. I moved everything (except the above items) out of my apt by myself at the end of July. I moved things into Tina's duplex and then lifted all kinds of things to help load the moving truck. I have been carrying and moving around all kinds of things at school. It's like I barely have a chance to rest and then I do more and more and more.
I haven't been to the chiropractor like I should. I was going once/month and that helped. I like my chiro here but she's always in demand and seems like she can't be inconvenienced to see me on a regular basis (actual quote, "Well, just make an appointment whenever you feel that you need to; I don't think I need to see you on a regular basis."). Yeah. My chiro in Idaho was great and he booked me every month to make sure that I didn't go too long and just 'live with' tension in my neck/shoulders.
I have not been sleeping well -- but what else is new. I have utterly forgotten how EXHAUSTING it is to teach a multi-grade classroom. SNAP! Teaching full time is hard enough. Having time to prepare all summer long is hard enough. But to do it with barely a week in town to prepare -- I'm worn out and feel like I'm running to stand still.
K is still doing great at daycare. She never cried when daddy dropped her off. She gets a little pouty with me but is getting better about going into the room without any drama. She didn't want to leave today (they were playing outside). Good sign.
Todd is still insanely busy at work. Or just insane. It's good to keep him busy or he will drive me CRAZY because he's bored and doesn't know what to do at work all day. No problems like that lately -- I'm so thankful for that.
I'm thankful for the 4th-8th graders at Celebration. They are a SUPER group of kids and seem to get my quirky sense of humor and enjoy being in my class. It's exhausting but I know it's worth it, too.
Night all!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
"It's not enough to say"
This is from a post that my friend, Audrey Duensing-Werner (a DCE in Kansas that I worked with at Cross View in MN) posted on Facebook:
"It is not enough for us to say: "I love God," but I also have to love my neighbor. St. John says that you are a liar if you say you love God and you don't love your neighbor. How can you love God whom you do not see, if you do not love your neighbor whom you see, whom you touch, with whom you live? And so it is very important for us to realize that love, to be true, has to hurt. I must be willing to give whatever it takes not to harm other people and, in fact, to do good to them. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts. Otherwise, there is not true love in me and I bring injustice, not peace, to those around me." Mother Theresa
Here is my reply and honest insight. I think this was a very timely post by Audrey as I struggle to love those around me who seem to serve, at this time anyway, to be nothing but a 'speedbump' on the road to change here.
"It's easy to "love your neighbor" -- at least the ones that you like and see eye-to-eye with; the true challenge is to work on loving the ones that you don't like, that are rude or disrespectful or disagreeable...(Did I just sum up jr and sr high youth group??)
Somehow if we assume that they are not a Christian then it gives a "good reason" to them for being that way -- they don't "know" better... but the biggest challenge is to love the neighbor that you know confesses to be a Christian and yet is so difficult to LIKE.
And when we fail, as we always do, we rest is grace alone. And we pray for another chance tomorrow to try and be Christ-like in our love for that person."
"It is not enough for us to say: "I love God," but I also have to love my neighbor. St. John says that you are a liar if you say you love God and you don't love your neighbor. How can you love God whom you do not see, if you do not love your neighbor whom you see, whom you touch, with whom you live? And so it is very important for us to realize that love, to be true, has to hurt. I must be willing to give whatever it takes not to harm other people and, in fact, to do good to them. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts. Otherwise, there is not true love in me and I bring injustice, not peace, to those around me." Mother Theresa
Here is my reply and honest insight. I think this was a very timely post by Audrey as I struggle to love those around me who seem to serve, at this time anyway, to be nothing but a 'speedbump' on the road to change here.
"It's easy to "love your neighbor" -- at least the ones that you like and see eye-to-eye with; the true challenge is to work on loving the ones that you don't like, that are rude or disrespectful or disagreeable...(Did I just sum up jr and sr high youth group??)
Somehow if we assume that they are not a Christian then it gives a "good reason" to them for being that way -- they don't "know" better... but the biggest challenge is to love the neighbor that you know confesses to be a Christian and yet is so difficult to LIKE.
And when we fail, as we always do, we rest is grace alone. And we pray for another chance tomorrow to try and be Christ-like in our love for that person."
Saturday, May 9, 2009
The truth hurts
One of the hardest parts of my job is doing evaluations. Not that I can't find the good (and the bad) in each staff person at my school. They just have rarely had evaluations done in the past. The former principal was there for a year or more before doing evaluations. At that point, they were done every 3 or 4 years, I think and so the staff isn't used to being critiqued and told what they're doing well and what they need to change.
I always hated being evaluated, I'll admit it. Many times my evaluations were fine but sometimes they were so nit-picky that I thought, "Am I doing ANYTHING right?" I didn't want to just tell the staff that everything is sunshine-and-roses but I didn't want to nit-pick every single thing, either.
I tried to find a good balance of things that they're doing well and also some of the things that they need to change. I always think it's best to set some goals of new things that you want to do next year and things that you'd like to change. The problem is, the truth hurts. Sometimes people are so used to making their own decisions and doing their own thing that when we tell them they need to make changes, they get angry and resentful. I already was on the receiving end of that earlier this week. It hurt my feelings to have someone lash out at me for being (brutally) honest and doing my job. In the end, that person will not be returning so none of the suggestions and changes for next year mean anything at this point.
At what point do you decide to stop being honest, especially if it's brutal, to just crush someone's ego a little less?
I feel like I had to compromise my professional ethics in some way to give a rosier-than-realistic picture so that they can leave on happy terms.
I know that ministry is not like life in the 'real world' of business management. Even so, it doesn't make it any easier when someone who should be a brother or sister in Christ acts decidedly un-Christlike.
I am hoping and praying that our enrollment numbers are enough for me to come back to work here next year. We need the chance to chart a new course, with a smaller staff, and really repair years of decline and neglect (in terms of administrative duties) at the school. I know that God can and DOES do amazing miracles every.single.day so I keep that in my heart.
I was in a mild panic to think that our numbers for re-enrollment were so much below last year's enrollment numbers... but then I received a comparison and we're only about 7 students short at this point. It seems like a lot now but it gives me renewed hope that we can get to that level and, I pray, about 10 more so that there is no question that we can afford to open the doors to the school next year.
I invite anyone who is reading this to pray for Hope Lutheran school. We need a miracle and I know only one place to get it -- from God above!
I always hated being evaluated, I'll admit it. Many times my evaluations were fine but sometimes they were so nit-picky that I thought, "Am I doing ANYTHING right?" I didn't want to just tell the staff that everything is sunshine-and-roses but I didn't want to nit-pick every single thing, either.
I tried to find a good balance of things that they're doing well and also some of the things that they need to change. I always think it's best to set some goals of new things that you want to do next year and things that you'd like to change. The problem is, the truth hurts. Sometimes people are so used to making their own decisions and doing their own thing that when we tell them they need to make changes, they get angry and resentful. I already was on the receiving end of that earlier this week. It hurt my feelings to have someone lash out at me for being (brutally) honest and doing my job. In the end, that person will not be returning so none of the suggestions and changes for next year mean anything at this point.
At what point do you decide to stop being honest, especially if it's brutal, to just crush someone's ego a little less?
I feel like I had to compromise my professional ethics in some way to give a rosier-than-realistic picture so that they can leave on happy terms.
I know that ministry is not like life in the 'real world' of business management. Even so, it doesn't make it any easier when someone who should be a brother or sister in Christ acts decidedly un-Christlike.
I am hoping and praying that our enrollment numbers are enough for me to come back to work here next year. We need the chance to chart a new course, with a smaller staff, and really repair years of decline and neglect (in terms of administrative duties) at the school. I know that God can and DOES do amazing miracles every.single.day so I keep that in my heart.
I was in a mild panic to think that our numbers for re-enrollment were so much below last year's enrollment numbers... but then I received a comparison and we're only about 7 students short at this point. It seems like a lot now but it gives me renewed hope that we can get to that level and, I pray, about 10 more so that there is no question that we can afford to open the doors to the school next year.
I invite anyone who is reading this to pray for Hope Lutheran school. We need a miracle and I know only one place to get it -- from God above!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Some answers...
I went to my doctor on Wednesday because on Good Friday I had done an "insulin resistance test" (similar to what most pregnant women have to do to make sure you don't have gestational diabetes). My results came back normal for fasting, 30 mins, 60 mins and 90 mins. Then my insulin really spiked at 120 mins. So what does that mean? I'm not diabetic and not even 'pre-diabetic'. I'm considered insulin resistant, stage 1, so if nothing changed in the next 3-5 years, I could become diabetic. Fortunately, there is medication that I can start and this is considered 'reversible'. My dr believes that I'm genetically predisposed to this (my dad is diabetic) and that I have something called Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome X (high blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin resistance) of which all of it is reversible with medication, exercise (which I'd started doing more of) and adding more protein to my diet. He also suggested anti-anxiety medication because I've been so busy with school/work and taking care of my daughter by myself while we still wait for our house in WI to sell so Todd can join us out here. My mind has been going non-stop and it's been difficult for me to sleep at night. Little sleep + busy toddler + stressful job = lots of anxiety and little energy. So far the medication has helped me fall asleep faster and sleep better. Not a sleeping pill, just something that relaxes me and helps me feel more calm. Excellent! I haven't started the medication for insulin resistance yet but I have started more protein to my diet and it really seems to be helping. :)
I just want to encourage everyone who has questions or concerns about their energy levels, sleeping, eating to see their dr. Talk to him/her about it regularly. I tried to tell my dr in Wisconsin that I was exhausted, that I didn't sleep well, etc. He knew I had problems with my blood pressure and cholesterol, knew I had a high stress job and a child but never suggested the insulin test or put me on medication for anxiety. So after a year or so of really feeling like something was wrong and needing some options (I did a plan to change my diet and increase my energy and ability to workout in October but with mixed results). So I'm hoping that I can make some life-long changes one step at a time and these will have lasting results. I'm very encouraged with having some answers and some options with medication to help with the changes.
I just want to encourage everyone who has questions or concerns about their energy levels, sleeping, eating to see their dr. Talk to him/her about it regularly. I tried to tell my dr in Wisconsin that I was exhausted, that I didn't sleep well, etc. He knew I had problems with my blood pressure and cholesterol, knew I had a high stress job and a child but never suggested the insulin test or put me on medication for anxiety. So after a year or so of really feeling like something was wrong and needing some options (I did a plan to change my diet and increase my energy and ability to workout in October but with mixed results). So I'm hoping that I can make some life-long changes one step at a time and these will have lasting results. I'm very encouraged with having some answers and some options with medication to help with the changes.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Pray-As-You-Go
At our Administrators' Conference in Portland OR last week, Dick Weniger used mp3 devotions from www.pray-as-you-go.org for our morning devotions. Awesome. Very powerful stuff. They open with bells ringing, then some type of music (chanting, singing, African music -- you just never know), then a Bible verse/story, then a meditation, then quiet time for reflection, then a re-reading of the verses, then more quiet time and then a Gloria Patri. I can't wait to use this with my own staff. It's more moving than just about any other devotion that I've used in recent memory. Hope others will check it out. You can download it to your iPod or other mp3 player, or just to your computer. It's from a Jesuit group in England (so there are the great accents and everything) and I truly look forward to listening to them every morning. :)
The blog/FB connection
So, apparently on my settings, whatever I type in my blog will appear as a 'note' on Facebook. Too cool. Or I could just post on Facebook because I'm way better at doing that than remembering to update my blog. Oh well.
"I burp"
Oh, yes... today's highlight... I picked K up from daycare at 4:30 p.m. We went to the park across from daycare to play (we've never been at that one before). I taught her how to climb up the ladder arch thing (with my help) and she loved it. I had fun swinging and she was howling with laughter watching me swing next to her. We stayed for 30 mins and went home.
I put her in his highchair booster seat and she said, "'scuse me. I burp".
BWA ha ha ha ha.... I knew she started saying, "bless you!" after SHE sneezes (which is hilarious) but this is too much. I'm sure Todd would be mortified but it is really funny. At least she knows when/why to say "excuse me". :) YEA!
I put her in his highchair booster seat and she said, "'scuse me. I burp".
BWA ha ha ha ha.... I knew she started saying, "bless you!" after SHE sneezes (which is hilarious) but this is too much. I'm sure Todd would be mortified but it is really funny. At least she knows when/why to say "excuse me". :) YEA!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Twitter on, you twit... ?
OK, do you Twitter?
I don't know why I signed up but it seemed new and cool but not TOO popular... Now, of course, it's being advertized EVERYWHERE for EVERYTHING lately...and, well, I don't really get it. People have entire conversations on twitter. I'm not sure how, really. I've aimed comments at a few people (mostly people Todd knows) but I wouldn't say I engage in actual conversations. So, what's the appeal? What am I missing? I must admit that I just find it to be a random update-stream of consciousness-Facebook status type thingy. When I'm really feeling random or really, really, really need to vent (but I can't on FB because it's about someone who may or may not see my vent on there) then I turn to Twitter. But I feel like a 'twit', really, because I feel like all these people are using Twitter for something more interesting and engaging than I'm using it for. What gives?
So -- fill me in on what I'm missing out on. Until then, I'll continue to randomly vent on and on... ;)
I don't know why I signed up but it seemed new and cool but not TOO popular... Now, of course, it's being advertized EVERYWHERE for EVERYTHING lately...and, well, I don't really get it. People have entire conversations on twitter. I'm not sure how, really. I've aimed comments at a few people (mostly people Todd knows) but I wouldn't say I engage in actual conversations. So, what's the appeal? What am I missing? I must admit that I just find it to be a random update-stream of consciousness-Facebook status type thingy. When I'm really feeling random or really, really, really need to vent (but I can't on FB because it's about someone who may or may not see my vent on there) then I turn to Twitter. But I feel like a 'twit', really, because I feel like all these people are using Twitter for something more interesting and engaging than I'm using it for. What gives?
So -- fill me in on what I'm missing out on. Until then, I'll continue to randomly vent on and on... ;)
Technology Quiz -- How well can you score?
At our recent Administrator's conference in Portland, OR we were told that many of the things we assume are "technology" in the classroom, really aren't. If you can find a non-tech way to do something, it is not really 'technology' in 2009. So, here is the quiz I will be giving to my staff to see if they really know what is technology (which, incidentally, our 'technology' teacher doesn't actually teach 'technology' under these new standards.... interesting...) So, how well could YOU do on this quiz?
1. What is TokBox?
2. What is Skype?
3. What is a Wiki?
4. What is a blog?
5. What is a netbook? What does it feature? How much does it cost?
6. What is a podcast?
7. What is U-Stream?
8. What is YouTube?
9. What is School Town?
10. What is a GoogleDoc?
11. What is SketchUp?
12. How do you log in to an interactive calendar? Which websites offer them (name at least 2)?
13. How is typing different from handwriting and how is it similar?
14. How is powerpoint another form of making a presentation? Can the information on a powerpoint be done with magazines, poster board, etc?
15. How is internet research similar to research in a book and/or encyclopedia? How is it different?
16. Is a Smartboard any different that using a whiteboard?
17. Which class is the easiest to integrate technology into? Which class is the most difficult?
Every Scar Tells a Story
Today I did the children's message at my church. I decided to do something a little different for me. I had the kids sit on the steps and I stood with my back to the congregation. I think I was less nervous, or less distracted, that way and it went well.
My message was based on the Gospel lesson. Jesus visited the disciples in order to prove that he was raised from the dead and that he was truly alive and not some 'spirit' or 'ghost'. I took Kathleen's little pink glasses and put them on (which was comical since I have such a fat head) and asked, "Even if I wear these, can you still tell it's me?" (Obviously, they could). Then I put them on Kathleen and said, "If she wears these, can you still tell it's her?" (Same response). I told that Jesus appeared to his disciples to show that even if his appearance changes, he still is Jesus.
Then I showed them various scars on my arm. "This one is from when my cat scratched me in 10th grade...this one is from when I accidentally set a hot pan on my arm while a cook at camp... this one is from when I had chickenpox..." I pointed out about 6 or 7 total little scars from over the years. I asked if they had any scars. They all nodded and I said, "I bet you could tell me a story of how you got each scar too. Jesus had scars too. " Then I asked where his scars were and how he got them. I said, "Jesus was just like us, human. His disciples couldn't believe what they were seeing. They wondered if he was a ghost or spirit." Then I asked what he did to prove he wasn't one and they remembered that he ate a piece of fish (the Gospel lesson had just been read ). I said, "Would you believe that I brought each of you a piece of fish to eat too?!" Of course, all the adults giggled at this thought. Then I said, "No, just kidding. I did bring you something to eat but it's not fish." Then I handed out dum-dum lollipops and led a prayer.
I'd love to hear the stories that your scars tell -- and invite you to think of Jesus every time you tell someone about your own scar.
My message was based on the Gospel lesson. Jesus visited the disciples in order to prove that he was raised from the dead and that he was truly alive and not some 'spirit' or 'ghost'. I took Kathleen's little pink glasses and put them on (which was comical since I have such a fat head) and asked, "Even if I wear these, can you still tell it's me?" (Obviously, they could). Then I put them on Kathleen and said, "If she wears these, can you still tell it's her?" (Same response). I told that Jesus appeared to his disciples to show that even if his appearance changes, he still is Jesus.
Then I showed them various scars on my arm. "This one is from when my cat scratched me in 10th grade...this one is from when I accidentally set a hot pan on my arm while a cook at camp... this one is from when I had chickenpox..." I pointed out about 6 or 7 total little scars from over the years. I asked if they had any scars. They all nodded and I said, "I bet you could tell me a story of how you got each scar too. Jesus had scars too. " Then I asked where his scars were and how he got them. I said, "Jesus was just like us, human. His disciples couldn't believe what they were seeing. They wondered if he was a ghost or spirit." Then I asked what he did to prove he wasn't one and they remembered that he ate a piece of fish (the Gospel lesson had just been read ). I said, "Would you believe that I brought each of you a piece of fish to eat too?!" Of course, all the adults giggled at this thought. Then I said, "No, just kidding. I did bring you something to eat but it's not fish." Then I handed out dum-dum lollipops and led a prayer.
I'd love to hear the stories that your scars tell -- and invite you to think of Jesus every time you tell someone about your own scar.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Random Thoughts about the world around us
Rather than daily musings about my own life, my husband's life or our daughter's life, I wanted to make some comments and - perhaps - insights about the world around us.
*I know the economic 'downturn' is hard for almost everyone. But could prices really continue on the way they had been going without something like this eventually happening?
*It really irritates me that some of the people in 'foreclosure' were those who KNEW they couldn't afford the homes they bought. Meanwhile, we lived in and made improvements to our sweet little 1300 sq. ft. Cape Cod style 1920s home. Where is our huge home? Our entertainment system? Our Wii? Our stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and island? Our quiet home on a cul-de-sac? Oh, right. We couldn't afford it so we didn't try. We stayed in the home we could afford at the time.
*On a tangent, it also irks me when family on 'scholarship' have the money for cable tv and video game systems and bowling league and vacations but can't pay their tuition bills. Or help their children with homework.
*I think it's ridiculous to think of our 1300 sq. ft. home ever being worth $200,000. But if it were in S. Mpls or Edina, MN it's very possible it could be worth that much. Location, location, location.
*It's so frustrating that prices shot up so quickly this past spring and summer in the wake of high fuel prices...and yet now that fuel prices are 40-50% less than they were, the prices of groceries, clothing and other household items still remains higher. I understand there is a 'gap' between when fuel prices rose and when they could pass that cost on to the consumer, but this is unacceptable now.
Now on to the world...
*Rev. Dr. Harry Wendt of Crossways International (Bloomington, MN), an Australian Lutheran minister and teacher, has remarked over and over again that the only way there will be true, lasting peace in the Middle East (which, for all of you who are/were challenged in social studies, is technically 'southwest' Asia) is through Jesus Christ.
*He's not being some 'Bible banger'. When two groups are fighting, they often need a mediator to step in and work with them.
* Jesus offers forgiveness and peace. Both sides need to forgive each other. Both sides need peace. Instead of making their own interests the top priority, they could see the other side's needs and place them above their own. It requires a selflessness that our sinful nature makes it impossible to achieve on our own. Yet the Holy Spirit can work faith in the lives of both sides to make it happen.
*Don't 'pray for peace' in a generic sense. Pray for hearts to turn to Jesus and for His love and forgiveness to work in lives all around the world.
Next item: Fuel and the "green" movement
*Why is everyone acting like the 'green' movement is a brand new thing? Because now we're supposed to put our money where our mouths were, say, 30 years ago? I remember being in Girls Scouts, circa mid-1980s, and having it drilled into us that running water while brushing your teeth was bad for the planet.
*School House Rocks from the 1970s and early 1980s had a segment about the taking care of the earth. Of course, back then the earth was shivering because it was getting COLDER.
*When I was in the 5th grade (1984-85) we had to design and build an "earth friendly" home which included 1) a home built mostly underground, 2) solar panels, 3) greenhouse, 4) trees placed according to which direction/what function they were needed (ie evergreens to the north to block the wind, etc). As a FIFTH grader I did that. 20+ years ago.
*Note to self, it's not "global warming" per se. It's global Climate change. Just you watch -- that will be the new 'buzz phrase'. Remember you heard it here first.
*As a very wise scientist from my church/school has said, "If you study rocks, you will see cycles of cooling periods for thousands of years and that wasn't caused by 'man-made' activities. The earth does what it does with or without our help." She's awesome.
*The next 10-20 years, if the Lord grants it to our world, could be disasterous for places like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. As technologies change, I believe we'll get to the point where we no longer depend on fossil fuels. At all. Solar and geothermal power, along with some wind and possibly hydrogen/water (although it's always 'dicey' to depend on water because you never know the quality, condition or amount of it that you can depend on) will fuel our world in the next 15-20 years.
*What, then, does Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have to offer the world? Or Venezuela? Anywhere that is thriving because of fossil fuels needs to think about the impact of the 'green' movement. I am not saying that it will break many hearts, perhaps, when their 'cash cows' dry up or aren't in demand (as the current slow down in fuel consumption is a preview) but it makes me wonder how the lack of money pouring into those countries will destabilize them (potentially). Not that we should feel responsible for that or obligated to get involved when it does.
*There comes a point where we need to mind our own business. Unfortunately, fanatical people rob us of ignorant, isolationist peace. We find it heartbreaking and unacceptable when Americans are killed for someone else's 'cause' but we can't remain ignorant or isolationist and pretend that people aren't out to hurt us.
*Again, if the world has Jesus as their mediator...and were actually able to put another's needs above their own, we could mind our own business and not wonder or worry about what is going on in another part of the world.
*But we're sinful so even if we had Jesus as a mediator, someone would screw it up eventually because unless you work on love, forgiveness and selflessness every.single.day it just doesn't happen on its own. The sinful, natural self and the Holy Spirit-infused self wrestle night and day. As St. Paul wrote, (my own paraphrase, of course) "The good I want to do, I don't. The evil I don't want to do, I keep on doing." Wrestle, wrestle.
Moving on...
*When I feel like life is crazy, disorganized and chaotic you can see it two places - my vehicle and my home. My vehicle will have papers and all kinds of other stuff everywhere. Of course, all it takes to 'fix' that is to put a small laundry basket in the vehicle & put all that stuff into the basket before getting out of the vehicle each day.
*Naturally, though, that stuff ends up in my home. Right now I have the bare minimum of furniture because we're in limbo -- the house in WI hasn't sold so most of our 'stuff' is in storage there. They say if you have your stuff in storage and can live without it, you don't really need it. Well, I NEED that stuff! Most of it, anyway. So I have a folding table and chairs for us to sit at. A hand-me-down (basement) couch that some wonderful friends lent us. A rocker/ottoman that someone else lent us. Second or third hand dishes from my mom. A new bookcase that serves as a tv stand. You know, though, it's OK. It makes it harder to 'organize' things because it really doesn't FEEL like there's a place for everything...but it works for now. I also have a toddler who lives to 'un-do' all the things I've done, like folded laundry and books on the shelf. That's life.
Enough randomness for now. We'll wait and see how much was insight and how much was rambling.
*I know the economic 'downturn' is hard for almost everyone. But could prices really continue on the way they had been going without something like this eventually happening?
*It really irritates me that some of the people in 'foreclosure' were those who KNEW they couldn't afford the homes they bought. Meanwhile, we lived in and made improvements to our sweet little 1300 sq. ft. Cape Cod style 1920s home. Where is our huge home? Our entertainment system? Our Wii? Our stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and island? Our quiet home on a cul-de-sac? Oh, right. We couldn't afford it so we didn't try. We stayed in the home we could afford at the time.
*On a tangent, it also irks me when family on 'scholarship' have the money for cable tv and video game systems and bowling league and vacations but can't pay their tuition bills. Or help their children with homework.
*I think it's ridiculous to think of our 1300 sq. ft. home ever being worth $200,000. But if it were in S. Mpls or Edina, MN it's very possible it could be worth that much. Location, location, location.
*It's so frustrating that prices shot up so quickly this past spring and summer in the wake of high fuel prices...and yet now that fuel prices are 40-50% less than they were, the prices of groceries, clothing and other household items still remains higher. I understand there is a 'gap' between when fuel prices rose and when they could pass that cost on to the consumer, but this is unacceptable now.
Now on to the world...
*Rev. Dr. Harry Wendt of Crossways International (Bloomington, MN), an Australian Lutheran minister and teacher, has remarked over and over again that the only way there will be true, lasting peace in the Middle East (which, for all of you who are/were challenged in social studies, is technically 'southwest' Asia) is through Jesus Christ.
*He's not being some 'Bible banger'. When two groups are fighting, they often need a mediator to step in and work with them.
* Jesus offers forgiveness and peace. Both sides need to forgive each other. Both sides need peace. Instead of making their own interests the top priority, they could see the other side's needs and place them above their own. It requires a selflessness that our sinful nature makes it impossible to achieve on our own. Yet the Holy Spirit can work faith in the lives of both sides to make it happen.
*Don't 'pray for peace' in a generic sense. Pray for hearts to turn to Jesus and for His love and forgiveness to work in lives all around the world.
Next item: Fuel and the "green" movement
*Why is everyone acting like the 'green' movement is a brand new thing? Because now we're supposed to put our money where our mouths were, say, 30 years ago? I remember being in Girls Scouts, circa mid-1980s, and having it drilled into us that running water while brushing your teeth was bad for the planet.
*School House Rocks from the 1970s and early 1980s had a segment about the taking care of the earth. Of course, back then the earth was shivering because it was getting COLDER.
*When I was in the 5th grade (1984-85) we had to design and build an "earth friendly" home which included 1) a home built mostly underground, 2) solar panels, 3) greenhouse, 4) trees placed according to which direction/what function they were needed (ie evergreens to the north to block the wind, etc). As a FIFTH grader I did that. 20+ years ago.
*Note to self, it's not "global warming" per se. It's global Climate change. Just you watch -- that will be the new 'buzz phrase'. Remember you heard it here first.
*As a very wise scientist from my church/school has said, "If you study rocks, you will see cycles of cooling periods for thousands of years and that wasn't caused by 'man-made' activities. The earth does what it does with or without our help." She's awesome.
*The next 10-20 years, if the Lord grants it to our world, could be disasterous for places like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. As technologies change, I believe we'll get to the point where we no longer depend on fossil fuels. At all. Solar and geothermal power, along with some wind and possibly hydrogen/water (although it's always 'dicey' to depend on water because you never know the quality, condition or amount of it that you can depend on) will fuel our world in the next 15-20 years.
*What, then, does Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have to offer the world? Or Venezuela? Anywhere that is thriving because of fossil fuels needs to think about the impact of the 'green' movement. I am not saying that it will break many hearts, perhaps, when their 'cash cows' dry up or aren't in demand (as the current slow down in fuel consumption is a preview) but it makes me wonder how the lack of money pouring into those countries will destabilize them (potentially). Not that we should feel responsible for that or obligated to get involved when it does.
*There comes a point where we need to mind our own business. Unfortunately, fanatical people rob us of ignorant, isolationist peace. We find it heartbreaking and unacceptable when Americans are killed for someone else's 'cause' but we can't remain ignorant or isolationist and pretend that people aren't out to hurt us.
*Again, if the world has Jesus as their mediator...and were actually able to put another's needs above their own, we could mind our own business and not wonder or worry about what is going on in another part of the world.
*But we're sinful so even if we had Jesus as a mediator, someone would screw it up eventually because unless you work on love, forgiveness and selflessness every.single.day it just doesn't happen on its own. The sinful, natural self and the Holy Spirit-infused self wrestle night and day. As St. Paul wrote, (my own paraphrase, of course) "The good I want to do, I don't. The evil I don't want to do, I keep on doing." Wrestle, wrestle.
Moving on...
*When I feel like life is crazy, disorganized and chaotic you can see it two places - my vehicle and my home. My vehicle will have papers and all kinds of other stuff everywhere. Of course, all it takes to 'fix' that is to put a small laundry basket in the vehicle & put all that stuff into the basket before getting out of the vehicle each day.
*Naturally, though, that stuff ends up in my home. Right now I have the bare minimum of furniture because we're in limbo -- the house in WI hasn't sold so most of our 'stuff' is in storage there. They say if you have your stuff in storage and can live without it, you don't really need it. Well, I NEED that stuff! Most of it, anyway. So I have a folding table and chairs for us to sit at. A hand-me-down (basement) couch that some wonderful friends lent us. A rocker/ottoman that someone else lent us. Second or third hand dishes from my mom. A new bookcase that serves as a tv stand. You know, though, it's OK. It makes it harder to 'organize' things because it really doesn't FEEL like there's a place for everything...but it works for now. I also have a toddler who lives to 'un-do' all the things I've done, like folded laundry and books on the shelf. That's life.
Enough randomness for now. We'll wait and see how much was insight and how much was rambling.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Evil Elmo and more blessings...
This is the true story of why I had an interesting day today...I had an interesting day because of my daughter and because of my school.
Being a single parent here, I've had to make some tough decisions about my schedule and my daughter's schedule. It never fails that if we're up and ready to go early (ie before 7:30 a.m.) & I can drop K off at daycare before 7:30, then I have meetings or something else going on until 5 or 5:30 p.m. I hate leaving her at daycare for longer than 8.5 or 9 hours per day. I know from personal experience at Cross View that those infants/toddlers who were left for more than 9 hours at a time just didn't seem to have the same quality time with their parents as the ones who were there for less than 10 hours. It's a tough balance here. I have decided that she will probably do better if I give her a bath, feed her some breakfast (oatmeal or yogurt, etc) and just take her to MY school each morning with me for devotions at 7:45 a.m. This week I have "door duty" and welcome the kids as they enter (and then stand outside and dismiss them when they're picked up at the end of the day). It's not as convenient to have her at school when I have door duty but the school kids seemed to love seeing her. I take her to daycare around 8:30 a.m. This gave me the chance to workout after school and still be able to pick her up before 5:30 p.m. (and beat the "9 hour" limit I've imposed on myself...)
After dropping her off at 8:30 a.m., I headed directly for the post office. Remember the Bible verse from Malachi -- pour out so much blessing there won't be room for it all? I saw that for real this past week. I asked the school kids to bring in beef jerky, peanuts/cashews, hard candy, gum and lotion/chapstick for my college friend Martha's younger brother in Afghanistan. They had one week to bring items in to school. We had 18 flat-rate boxes FULL of goods for the troops! Even the lady at the post office was surprised! I had to fill out 18 customs forms -- so I was at the post office for over an hour. But it was worth it. It was about $200 to mail everything, but again, God provides. We had extra money in our "Scrip" account and we'll be using that to pay the postage. God is good -- all the time!!
So, that wraps up the "more blessings" part... on to "Evil Elmo"...
K doesn't really watch tv. I bought her a Sesame Street DVD, thinking it would keep her busy while I make supper but she couldn't care less about it. They must have/do a lot with Elmo at daycare because she definitely recognizes 'him'. As a baby shower gift 2 years ago, a family gave us these little plastic bowls/lids with Sesame Street characters on them. It is on the TOP SHELF of my one kitchen cabinet. I swear she has hawk-like eye sight because she can ALWAYS spy it! And then she yells "Elmo! Elmo!" I showed her that there is only Tang-drinkmix powder in there. Of course, being a toddler, she dipped her finger in there a week or so ago. Ha ha -- don't do that again! So tonight she screamed for Elmo AND for the powder (ick!). I showed her that it hadn't changed. I had the lid off and it was on the counter -- I then turned to put laundry in the washer (which is in our pantry room, right next to the kitchen). Next thing I know, she had pulled the container OFF the shelf (?!!!?) and was 'eating' the powder! Her hands and face were covered in it! ACK!!! Not like it's poisonous but still -- it was EVERYWHERE. Oh that Evil Elmo! Tempting her to be naughty! So Elmo is 'hiding' on the very back of the shelf!
K has been struggling to sleep well the past few nights. I have tried everything -- Tylenol, Motrin and even some Benadryl. She has a green runny nose so I thought the Benadryl would help the most. Not really. I can't tell if it's just a cold, or if she's teething again, or if she's growing (which I'm guessing, since she's eating anything I offer her), or if she's having night terrors. It's so hard to know what to do for her. I finally realized that I should do what worked a few weeks ago -- I put her in her highchair/booster seat thing and tilt it back so she's sleeping at a 45 degree angle. I think that's helping her breathe and she's finally getting some rest.
Which is what I plan to (try to) do right now too! Night!
-Tanya
Being a single parent here, I've had to make some tough decisions about my schedule and my daughter's schedule. It never fails that if we're up and ready to go early (ie before 7:30 a.m.) & I can drop K off at daycare before 7:30, then I have meetings or something else going on until 5 or 5:30 p.m. I hate leaving her at daycare for longer than 8.5 or 9 hours per day. I know from personal experience at Cross View that those infants/toddlers who were left for more than 9 hours at a time just didn't seem to have the same quality time with their parents as the ones who were there for less than 10 hours. It's a tough balance here. I have decided that she will probably do better if I give her a bath, feed her some breakfast (oatmeal or yogurt, etc) and just take her to MY school each morning with me for devotions at 7:45 a.m. This week I have "door duty" and welcome the kids as they enter (and then stand outside and dismiss them when they're picked up at the end of the day). It's not as convenient to have her at school when I have door duty but the school kids seemed to love seeing her. I take her to daycare around 8:30 a.m. This gave me the chance to workout after school and still be able to pick her up before 5:30 p.m. (and beat the "9 hour" limit I've imposed on myself...)
After dropping her off at 8:30 a.m., I headed directly for the post office. Remember the Bible verse from Malachi -- pour out so much blessing there won't be room for it all? I saw that for real this past week. I asked the school kids to bring in beef jerky, peanuts/cashews, hard candy, gum and lotion/chapstick for my college friend Martha's younger brother in Afghanistan. They had one week to bring items in to school. We had 18 flat-rate boxes FULL of goods for the troops! Even the lady at the post office was surprised! I had to fill out 18 customs forms -- so I was at the post office for over an hour. But it was worth it. It was about $200 to mail everything, but again, God provides. We had extra money in our "Scrip" account and we'll be using that to pay the postage. God is good -- all the time!!
So, that wraps up the "more blessings" part... on to "Evil Elmo"...
K doesn't really watch tv. I bought her a Sesame Street DVD, thinking it would keep her busy while I make supper but she couldn't care less about it. They must have/do a lot with Elmo at daycare because she definitely recognizes 'him'. As a baby shower gift 2 years ago, a family gave us these little plastic bowls/lids with Sesame Street characters on them. It is on the TOP SHELF of my one kitchen cabinet. I swear she has hawk-like eye sight because she can ALWAYS spy it! And then she yells "Elmo! Elmo!" I showed her that there is only Tang-drinkmix powder in there. Of course, being a toddler, she dipped her finger in there a week or so ago. Ha ha -- don't do that again! So tonight she screamed for Elmo AND for the powder (ick!). I showed her that it hadn't changed. I had the lid off and it was on the counter -- I then turned to put laundry in the washer (which is in our pantry room, right next to the kitchen). Next thing I know, she had pulled the container OFF the shelf (?!!!?) and was 'eating' the powder! Her hands and face were covered in it! ACK!!! Not like it's poisonous but still -- it was EVERYWHERE. Oh that Evil Elmo! Tempting her to be naughty! So Elmo is 'hiding' on the very back of the shelf!
K has been struggling to sleep well the past few nights. I have tried everything -- Tylenol, Motrin and even some Benadryl. She has a green runny nose so I thought the Benadryl would help the most. Not really. I can't tell if it's just a cold, or if she's teething again, or if she's growing (which I'm guessing, since she's eating anything I offer her), or if she's having night terrors. It's so hard to know what to do for her. I finally realized that I should do what worked a few weeks ago -- I put her in her highchair/booster seat thing and tilt it back so she's sleeping at a 45 degree angle. I think that's helping her breathe and she's finally getting some rest.
Which is what I plan to (try to) do right now too! Night!
-Tanya
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Inspiring
"Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room for it." - Malachi 3:10
I noticed this Bible verse on the Christmas letter from Lutheran Island Camp (Henning, MN. www.islandcamp.org) and it totally touched my heart. They have recently done major renovations and have plans for new buildings and programs. This is the same camp that seemed like it was nearly close to shutting down and now it is thriving and growing. Awesome! The same is true about Concordia - St. Paul (my alma mater). They were in the midst of building new things on campus when I transfered there in 1994 but it has just florished ever since then. I am simply amazed.
I am a bit selfish, I suppose. I hope and pray that God will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out blessings like that upon Hope Lutheran school. (www.hopelutheranschool.org) I will feel extremely blessed if our house sells. I will feel extremely blessed if Todd has a job waiting for him here when it does sell. This Bible verse is so inspiring. Now it is my turn to put faith and trust in God and see how all His blessings are revealed.
- Tanya
I noticed this Bible verse on the Christmas letter from Lutheran Island Camp (Henning, MN. www.islandcamp.org) and it totally touched my heart. They have recently done major renovations and have plans for new buildings and programs. This is the same camp that seemed like it was nearly close to shutting down and now it is thriving and growing. Awesome! The same is true about Concordia - St. Paul (my alma mater). They were in the midst of building new things on campus when I transfered there in 1994 but it has just florished ever since then. I am simply amazed.
I am a bit selfish, I suppose. I hope and pray that God will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out blessings like that upon Hope Lutheran school. (www.hopelutheranschool.org) I will feel extremely blessed if our house sells. I will feel extremely blessed if Todd has a job waiting for him here when it does sell. This Bible verse is so inspiring. Now it is my turn to put faith and trust in God and see how all His blessings are revealed.
- Tanya
Cold Remedy
I don't know if you've heard about this recipe...and I don't remember where I first heard about it... but at some point in the past I'd tried it and it's not bad. I don't know that I could use it instead of cold meds but it is soothing and seems to help...
In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of Coca Cola (don't use Pepsi or generic) to a gentle boil. Add fresh cut ginger or powdered ginger to taste (I used about 1-2 tsp of powder). Let boil gently on med-high heat for 5 mins or so. Let cool slightly.
In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of Coca Cola (don't use Pepsi or generic) to a gentle boil. Add fresh cut ginger or powdered ginger to taste (I used about 1-2 tsp of powder). Let boil gently on med-high heat for 5 mins or so. Let cool slightly.
Sounds like fun
My mom bought Kathleen a CD for Christmas, "Sounds like Fun". It is from Discovery Toys and has lots of educational songs. It is really good to listen to but, as with most children's CDs, it is so repetitive that it is nearly like water torture to me now! I go around humming the phonics ABC song and the 12 months of the year song... argh...
What is NOT fun -- my cold. It started as a sore throat. Then it was a full-fledged chest cold yesterday afternoon. A cocktail of expectorant cough syrup, Mucinex, coca-cola with ginger (more on that later) and, finally, Nyquil helped me get some rest and helped to break of some of the congestion. Still not fun though.
K has been having some cold/cough issues too. She doesn't want to sleep in her own bed. I can't figure out why. She's also been finding her Tylenol bottle and bringing it to me more often (obviously I don't give it to her EVERY time she brings it over!)... It does help me to know that she is hurting (sore throat?) so it's good she can communicate that. She's been sleeping in bed with me but she tosses/turns/thrashes around so many that it's not very restful for me. I am letting her nap and/or fall asleep in her highchair/booster seat because it reclines and she seems to fall asleep easier in there.
What is also NOT fun -- starting potty training. My mom said that I wasn't trained until after I was 2 years old; of course my little brother was born when I was nearly 2, so I'm sure that didn't help my situation! It took my brother even longer. Mom said that she & my aunt Norma had gone to pick up my grandma from the hospital, so they left my brother at my aunt Jan's house. SHE had him potty trained in one day there! Mom isn't sure if it was because he was around our older cousin Gregg or what. She was flabbergasted! I am taking Heidi's advice since she's been through potty training more times than anyone I know because she worked with toddlers and 3s for 10 years. I'm trying to get K to be aware when she goes wee-wee or 'icky'. I bought some training pants to use on the weekends at home. I had to go back and find the ones with the plastic outer shell so it won't leak all over. She definitely DOESN'T like it when she's wet. The next step will be to get her to associate going with sitting on the potty. We're not there yet. My plan it to let her wear the training pants and training/plastic pants to bed at night so she knows what it feels like to be wet. Then she can wear diapers at daycare. They DO have a little bathroom/toilet in the toddler room, so when she's ready they'll be ready to help her.
On to other things...
My apartment is a disaster. I confess it. I used to have plenty of hangers and now it seems like I don't have ANY. I am tired of my clothes being piled up everywhere so I bought some more hangers. We literally have 100 hangers at our house in Appleton but I figured that Todd wouldn't be willing to mail them to me so I just bought some more. Hopefully that will help get things put back and more organized.
I LOVE my Roomba iRobot vacuum cleaner. I absolutely love it. I cleaned up everything off the bedroom floors and let it loose. I don't know why, but as soon as I set it loose, I get more motivated to clean up the rest of the house. :) Yea! I did a couple of loads of laundry so I hope to get everything put away and then it will be time for bed. Ah!
What I could really use is rest. A good, dependable babysitter on the weekends to give me a chance to clean up around here or take a nap. Or, ideally, for our house to sell & have Todd out here to spend some daddy-daughter time with K on the weekends.
- Tanya
What is NOT fun -- my cold. It started as a sore throat. Then it was a full-fledged chest cold yesterday afternoon. A cocktail of expectorant cough syrup, Mucinex, coca-cola with ginger (more on that later) and, finally, Nyquil helped me get some rest and helped to break of some of the congestion. Still not fun though.
K has been having some cold/cough issues too. She doesn't want to sleep in her own bed. I can't figure out why. She's also been finding her Tylenol bottle and bringing it to me more often (obviously I don't give it to her EVERY time she brings it over!)... It does help me to know that she is hurting (sore throat?) so it's good she can communicate that. She's been sleeping in bed with me but she tosses/turns/thrashes around so many that it's not very restful for me. I am letting her nap and/or fall asleep in her highchair/booster seat because it reclines and she seems to fall asleep easier in there.
What is also NOT fun -- starting potty training. My mom said that I wasn't trained until after I was 2 years old; of course my little brother was born when I was nearly 2, so I'm sure that didn't help my situation! It took my brother even longer. Mom said that she & my aunt Norma had gone to pick up my grandma from the hospital, so they left my brother at my aunt Jan's house. SHE had him potty trained in one day there! Mom isn't sure if it was because he was around our older cousin Gregg or what. She was flabbergasted! I am taking Heidi's advice since she's been through potty training more times than anyone I know because she worked with toddlers and 3s for 10 years. I'm trying to get K to be aware when she goes wee-wee or 'icky'. I bought some training pants to use on the weekends at home. I had to go back and find the ones with the plastic outer shell so it won't leak all over. She definitely DOESN'T like it when she's wet. The next step will be to get her to associate going with sitting on the potty. We're not there yet. My plan it to let her wear the training pants and training/plastic pants to bed at night so she knows what it feels like to be wet. Then she can wear diapers at daycare. They DO have a little bathroom/toilet in the toddler room, so when she's ready they'll be ready to help her.
On to other things...
My apartment is a disaster. I confess it. I used to have plenty of hangers and now it seems like I don't have ANY. I am tired of my clothes being piled up everywhere so I bought some more hangers. We literally have 100 hangers at our house in Appleton but I figured that Todd wouldn't be willing to mail them to me so I just bought some more. Hopefully that will help get things put back and more organized.
I LOVE my Roomba iRobot vacuum cleaner. I absolutely love it. I cleaned up everything off the bedroom floors and let it loose. I don't know why, but as soon as I set it loose, I get more motivated to clean up the rest of the house. :) Yea! I did a couple of loads of laundry so I hope to get everything put away and then it will be time for bed. Ah!
What I could really use is rest. A good, dependable babysitter on the weekends to give me a chance to clean up around here or take a nap. Or, ideally, for our house to sell & have Todd out here to spend some daddy-daughter time with K on the weekends.
- Tanya
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The secret to skating...
Yesterday all of the K-6 kids from school went ice skating. I haven't been ice skating for a couple of years. I even bought (cheap) figure skates a few years ago but they just were never that comfy. My brother has suggested over and over again that I try hockey skates. So I decided to give it a try since I needed to rent skates anyway. :) Guess what! They aren't THAT comfy (either) but they ARE like rollerblades and I did manage to skate for 2 hours on them. I made a HUGE mistake -- should've worn long socks but didn't -- so I have some nice blisters, especially on my calves where the 'boot' of the skates rubbed. OH well. It was a GREAT time. :)
Some highlights...
(Helping a 1st grader...)
(Almost being knocked over by another 1st grader...)
Some highlights...
(Helping a 1st grader...)
(Almost being knocked over by another 1st grader...)
Daddy, Boppa, Grandpa Kathy
Hmmm, Kathleen is quite the character. I know, what a shock. When I came back to ID after Christmas/New Year's vacation, I brought back some of our wedding photos. They are on the window sill in the bedroom. Whenever she wakes up in the morning, she wanders into my bedroom as I'm getting ready. Then she looks at the photos and says, "Daddy! Dada! Daddy!" Every once in a while I'll get a "mama!" but mostly it's all about Daddy...
She did talk on the phone tonight with grandma Kathy. Or, "Grandpa" as she calls all the grandmas. I said, "Oh, is that grandpa Kathy?" and she kept saying "yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" Soooo funny. She did manage to call my stepfather 'Boppa' (his nickname that his grandkids gave him) so that was fun for him to hear her saying "happy birthday Boppa".
I'm always shocked what she notices. She'll just burst into "Dada! Mama!" and I know she's noticed one of our wedding pictures. If she says, "Bucky!" she's probably seen a dog or photo of a puppy. She's so funny...
What wasn't so funny was tonight. I was trying to rock her so she'd finally go to sleep. She stoof up on my lap and let go of my hands. Then she'd point at me and say "1...2...no! Monkeys!" She is obsessed with "No more monkeys jumping on the bed" so I know she was trying to do this on my lap. Of course at one ponit she slipped and hit my face/nose with her head. She wasn't fazed but it honestly makes me wonder if I broke my nose! I'm going to my dr tomorrow to check on my blood pressure anyway, so I'll have him check it out while I'm there...
Life is dangerous with a Toddler, I'm telling ya...
She did talk on the phone tonight with grandma Kathy. Or, "Grandpa" as she calls all the grandmas. I said, "Oh, is that grandpa Kathy?" and she kept saying "yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" Soooo funny. She did manage to call my stepfather 'Boppa' (his nickname that his grandkids gave him) so that was fun for him to hear her saying "happy birthday Boppa".
I'm always shocked what she notices. She'll just burst into "Dada! Mama!" and I know she's noticed one of our wedding pictures. If she says, "Bucky!" she's probably seen a dog or photo of a puppy. She's so funny...
What wasn't so funny was tonight. I was trying to rock her so she'd finally go to sleep. She stoof up on my lap and let go of my hands. Then she'd point at me and say "1...2...no! Monkeys!" She is obsessed with "No more monkeys jumping on the bed" so I know she was trying to do this on my lap. Of course at one ponit she slipped and hit my face/nose with her head. She wasn't fazed but it honestly makes me wonder if I broke my nose! I'm going to my dr tomorrow to check on my blood pressure anyway, so I'll have him check it out while I'm there...
Life is dangerous with a Toddler, I'm telling ya...
Friday, January 16, 2009
Grown up names are for grown ups, right?
Over the past three years or so, I've been going to a chiropractor on and off again about every 3-6 months. My chiro in WI is swamped with patients and never has a follow up appt scheduled with me. It's just 'whenever' I feel like I need to come in. She doesn't push any supplements or try to find my "energy spots" or anything else goofy like that. The routine was always the same. She has a rolling-pin-type thing that she rolls up and down my spine a few times. Then she'd crack my back. Then I'd roll over and she'd crack my neck on both side. Done. In and out in 15 minutes or less. $25 co-pay. Done. I knew it was time to go back in whenever my neck would get stiff and I couldn't turn it all the way to the left, or when I would turn my head and it would crack, or when I would get tension headaches. It's probably been close to a year since I went to Dr. Laura because I just haven't felt a big need for it (or I was in denial and just never went in). It's finally to the point where I'm experiencing all those things -- neck stiffness, cracking, headaches. I found a chiro here who has early morning appts so I can drop off K and go to an appt and still make it to school on time. They had to do X-rays on Wed for my first appt. He pointed out the same thing Dr. Laura pointed out in Dec 2005 when she took X-Rays -- one of the discs in my neck is compressed (I had a car accident in 2000 and one in 2004) and if not treated, it could lead to arthitis in my neck someday. Doesn't THAT sound fun...
My new chiro here did an adjustment and I felt SO much better right away. Unlike Dr. Laura, he scheduled a follow-up for today. Twice in one week? The only other time I saw a chiro that often was the other chiros filling in for her last year while she was on maternity leave -- when I fell down a couple of steps in our house and twisted my back before landing on my hip. (So graceful, I know!) Anyhow, the chiro here also recommended a therapeutic massage this morning before the adjustment because it helps with the adjustment.
I've had a massage before -- ONCE before, that's it. It was nice and relaxing. This one was like being put through a grinder. "Gentle" and "soothing" were not at all how I would define it! Yikes! It hurt. That's the point, I suppose. To work out all the knots and tension. Ouch!
When I was done, the chiro started my adjustment. No rolling-pin thing. Just cracks my neck and then has me sit on the floor and lean back over his arm/hand to crack my back that way (well, whatever, it works I guess)...
TODAY he says, "So, how old is your daughter and what's her name?" I said, "She's almost 2 and her name is Kathleen." He said, "Wow. That's a grown up name. You don't hear that often." Ummmm.... seriously? She will be a grown up someday! (God willing!) I said, "Well, that's my mom's name too but my mom goes by Kathy so my daughter goes by Kathleen or Kate or Katie." Did he think her name was going to be "Bunny"?? I admit, there are some names that I can't imagine on small children. But still... Goofy comment. In any case, I feel a little better today. I am going back next Friday for another massage/adjustment combo. It may not feel great but at least it's a little more proactive than just saying, "See you again whenever..."
- Tanya
My new chiro here did an adjustment and I felt SO much better right away. Unlike Dr. Laura, he scheduled a follow-up for today. Twice in one week? The only other time I saw a chiro that often was the other chiros filling in for her last year while she was on maternity leave -- when I fell down a couple of steps in our house and twisted my back before landing on my hip. (So graceful, I know!) Anyhow, the chiro here also recommended a therapeutic massage this morning before the adjustment because it helps with the adjustment.
I've had a massage before -- ONCE before, that's it. It was nice and relaxing. This one was like being put through a grinder. "Gentle" and "soothing" were not at all how I would define it! Yikes! It hurt. That's the point, I suppose. To work out all the knots and tension. Ouch!
When I was done, the chiro started my adjustment. No rolling-pin thing. Just cracks my neck and then has me sit on the floor and lean back over his arm/hand to crack my back that way (well, whatever, it works I guess)...
TODAY he says, "So, how old is your daughter and what's her name?" I said, "She's almost 2 and her name is Kathleen." He said, "Wow. That's a grown up name. You don't hear that often." Ummmm.... seriously? She will be a grown up someday! (God willing!) I said, "Well, that's my mom's name too but my mom goes by Kathy so my daughter goes by Kathleen or Kate or Katie." Did he think her name was going to be "Bunny"?? I admit, there are some names that I can't imagine on small children. But still... Goofy comment. In any case, I feel a little better today. I am going back next Friday for another massage/adjustment combo. It may not feel great but at least it's a little more proactive than just saying, "See you again whenever..."
- Tanya
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Potty Princess
A few weeks before Christmas, I changed K's diaper and then decided she might as well just take a bath (it was the weekend). I was chuckling that she was standing there completely naked and even said, "Hey! You're naked in the living room! Don't go wee-wee on the carpet!" Sure enough... she went wee-wee on the carpet AND on me (which made me yelp out of sheer shock!)... So I called Todd & we decided that maybe she was ready for a potty chair. I gave her tiny pieces of candy cane to encourage her to sit on the potty, just to get used to it.
Then we went home for Christmas break. Now that we're back, I went to the library and got a "potty" dvd for her. She was fascinated! Now she's not really ready to START using it, but she is signaling to me when she's gone in her diaper and she likes to go to or point to the potty, so she's starting to make the connection. Of course, the dvd shows how you can train newborns to "go wee-wee" on command (uhhh, really?! Why?!) & into a toilet (if you hold them, naturally)...or on the ground (double ugh...)...or into a bowl, etc. Yeah. That was a bit much for me.
So, she's a potty princess right now. Not the Queen of the potty chair yet, but we're working on it.
Oh, and by the way, I got a cute note from a second grader yesterday that said "Your the best princebull ever, Mrs. Jonson." I LOVE IT!!! :)
- Tanya, your favorite "princebull"... ;)
Then we went home for Christmas break. Now that we're back, I went to the library and got a "potty" dvd for her. She was fascinated! Now she's not really ready to START using it, but she is signaling to me when she's gone in her diaper and she likes to go to or point to the potty, so she's starting to make the connection. Of course, the dvd shows how you can train newborns to "go wee-wee" on command (uhhh, really?! Why?!) & into a toilet (if you hold them, naturally)...or on the ground (double ugh...)...or into a bowl, etc. Yeah. That was a bit much for me.
So, she's a potty princess right now. Not the Queen of the potty chair yet, but we're working on it.
Oh, and by the way, I got a cute note from a second grader yesterday that said "Your the best princebull ever, Mrs. Jonson." I LOVE IT!!! :)
- Tanya, your favorite "princebull"... ;)
Bob the Bunny
A couple of days ago, K kept bringing me her stuffed bunny and saying, "Bob....bob... bob..." I think she was trying to say "Hop" or maybe even "bop" but I thought it was so cute, I have now named her bunny "Bob the bunny" (nevermind the pink bow)...
Here is Bob:
Bob lives in K's bedroom. Since before she was born, actually, he has lived in a four pocket wall-hanging thing. In her bedroom in Wisconsin, it was hanging on the wall. In her bedroom here, it is tied to the end of her toddler bed. Bob lives with his best friends (all of whom are nameless but we're taking suggestions)... Teddy bear (again, dressed in pink, but I may call him "Freddy Teddy"), a "duckie" (we may name him/her "Kiel" after our buddies Jim & Monica, who gave duckie to K), and a "baby". These are all too cute because they have little 'slippers' on their feet! I tried to call the "baby" either "Sophie" or "Ari" after our newest little cousins but K gave me a look of slight disgust that her baby would be named after those newcomers. We're working on that... :)
Here is Bob's home.
Here is Bob & his pals being carried around by K:
Here is Bob being snatched out of his home (poor Bob, never a moment's peace):
We hope that someday you'll all come and visit Bob (and the rest of us too) here! It's never a dull moment! :)
Here is Bob:
Bob lives in K's bedroom. Since before she was born, actually, he has lived in a four pocket wall-hanging thing. In her bedroom in Wisconsin, it was hanging on the wall. In her bedroom here, it is tied to the end of her toddler bed. Bob lives with his best friends (all of whom are nameless but we're taking suggestions)... Teddy bear (again, dressed in pink, but I may call him "Freddy Teddy"), a "duckie" (we may name him/her "Kiel" after our buddies Jim & Monica, who gave duckie to K), and a "baby". These are all too cute because they have little 'slippers' on their feet! I tried to call the "baby" either "Sophie" or "Ari" after our newest little cousins but K gave me a look of slight disgust that her baby would be named after those newcomers. We're working on that... :)
Here is Bob's home.
Here is Bob & his pals being carried around by K:
Here is Bob being snatched out of his home (poor Bob, never a moment's peace):
We hope that someday you'll all come and visit Bob (and the rest of us too) here! It's never a dull moment! :)
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