Dear Em,
I subscribed you to our blog so you get an email when there's a new post. I'm assuming you have not already done this, or surely you would respond to my posts the minute they go live. Because we all know that a working mother of three pursuing a Master's degree spends most of her time painting her toenails and waiting for emails to arrive.
Love,
Al
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Apple Pie
Dear Em,
The kids and Grandma and I picked apples at New Hope yesterday, and now we have about a million pounds of apples to do something with. I think we're going to can apple pie filling: http://www.pickyourown.org/applepiefilling.htm. I think we're also going to do this instead of school today. Surely it will involve some math and reading and teamwork, right? And history, since it harkens back to a time before refrigerators and freezers and ziploc bags? I am calling it our "hands-on" apples unit study. It will involve a trip to the store, which is good because I'm out of dish soap and makeup (the latter was all destroyed yesterday during a five-minute phone call with your husband about HR Connection. I came into the bathroom to find everything covered in lipstick, including Grace). And, of course, we must visit the New Hope store in search of an apple peeler.
If it turns out okay, I will give you at least one jar. If it turns out kind of okay, I will still give you a jar. If it is an absolute mess, I will send you amusing photos.
Love,
Al
The kids and Grandma and I picked apples at New Hope yesterday, and now we have about a million pounds of apples to do something with. I think we're going to can apple pie filling: http://www.pickyourown.org/applepiefilling.htm. I think we're also going to do this instead of school today. Surely it will involve some math and reading and teamwork, right? And history, since it harkens back to a time before refrigerators and freezers and ziploc bags? I am calling it our "hands-on" apples unit study. It will involve a trip to the store, which is good because I'm out of dish soap and makeup (the latter was all destroyed yesterday during a five-minute phone call with your husband about HR Connection. I came into the bathroom to find everything covered in lipstick, including Grace). And, of course, we must visit the New Hope store in search of an apple peeler.
If it turns out okay, I will give you at least one jar. If it turns out kind of okay, I will still give you a jar. If it is an absolute mess, I will send you amusing photos.
Love,
Al
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Crucifix Project
Dear Em,
The kids and I made these today. The boys added lots and lots of blood, but I think I'm going to hang them in their rooms anyway. I think your girls would have fun with it...
http://www.catholicinspired.com/2011/04/good-friday-craft-clothes-pin-crucifix.html
Love,
Al
The kids and I made these today. The boys added lots and lots of blood, but I think I'm going to hang them in their rooms anyway. I think your girls would have fun with it...
http://www.catholicinspired.com/2011/04/good-friday-craft-clothes-pin-crucifix.html
Love,
Al
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Story Writing and Time in Allison's Brain
Dear Em,
This is the book written by the blogger at Red Bird Crafts. I bet you already looked at it, but just in case, here it is (go look at it!):
http://www.amazon.com/Show-Story-Activities-Childrens-Storytelling/dp/1603429883/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1337263460&sr=8-3
This is what I want to do!!! I want to be this woman! I want to have a "home" studio and write award-winning books in it and charge people $800 a day to learn how to use painted rocks to inspire their children. The only thing that annoyed me was that she kept referring to her "award-winning" book. Enough already.
I had a very deep but unrelated thought this week and just have to share. I have been so tired lately of thinking about food and my weight and whether I need to exercise and whether I should be fatter or thinner or exactly the same size, and whether these pants feel tighter than last time I wore them. I feel, at times, that food and whether or not I should eat it totally consumes my thoughts. Which is SO stupid. I mentally tally up calories and feel guilty - do you do this? - and then eat more snacks anyway. And then vow to do "better" and fail. And have "fat" feeling days and "thin" feeling days, and of course, the "fat" feeling days are miserable. And I'm not fat! It makes me feel like a crazy, self-obsessed, bad person. So, I had this revelation about my body that I have seriously never had before: my body is a gift from God, and my focus needs to be on treating my body like a gift, rather than something to hate or struggle with or obsess over. And when I remember that, all of the obsessing (shouldn't that have four S's?) seems silly. Like a weight (ha ha) lifted off my shoulders. Or my butt (double ha ha). I am going to do the best I can to pamper my body with good food and exercise and TLC and not worry about fitting into my size 2 pants. Who wears size 2 pants, anyway? Crazy, self-obsessed people. Or maybe people with diseases. I can use that extra mental time to pray or solve crimes or invent new vegan recipes or dream up ways to inspire children to want to write.
This is the book written by the blogger at Red Bird Crafts. I bet you already looked at it, but just in case, here it is (go look at it!):
http://www.amazon.com/Show-Story-Activities-Childrens-Storytelling/dp/1603429883/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1337263460&sr=8-3
This is what I want to do!!! I want to be this woman! I want to have a "home" studio and write award-winning books in it and charge people $800 a day to learn how to use painted rocks to inspire their children. The only thing that annoyed me was that she kept referring to her "award-winning" book. Enough already.
I had a very deep but unrelated thought this week and just have to share. I have been so tired lately of thinking about food and my weight and whether I need to exercise and whether I should be fatter or thinner or exactly the same size, and whether these pants feel tighter than last time I wore them. I feel, at times, that food and whether or not I should eat it totally consumes my thoughts. Which is SO stupid. I mentally tally up calories and feel guilty - do you do this? - and then eat more snacks anyway. And then vow to do "better" and fail. And have "fat" feeling days and "thin" feeling days, and of course, the "fat" feeling days are miserable. And I'm not fat! It makes me feel like a crazy, self-obsessed, bad person. So, I had this revelation about my body that I have seriously never had before: my body is a gift from God, and my focus needs to be on treating my body like a gift, rather than something to hate or struggle with or obsess over. And when I remember that, all of the obsessing (shouldn't that have four S's?) seems silly. Like a weight (ha ha) lifted off my shoulders. Or my butt (double ha ha). I am going to do the best I can to pamper my body with good food and exercise and TLC and not worry about fitting into my size 2 pants. Who wears size 2 pants, anyway? Crazy, self-obsessed people. Or maybe people with diseases. I can use that extra mental time to pray or solve crimes or invent new vegan recipes or dream up ways to inspire children to want to write.
Inspired by Al
Dear Al,
I went to the state fair and avoided the butter cow. I didn't want to see the "blood" and be reminded that it may be wrong and sort of disgusting to eat a cow. I think most of us have looked the other way when it comes to meat production in order to be able to eat. And most of us don't have the discipline or desire to be vegan, or can't convince those around us of the merits of an all organic diet.
For some reason this week, everything I have read has been inspiring me to tell you about it. I am going to share it all with you here, rather than call you 18 times:) Because probably you are feeding a baby or refereeing a fight or trying to get someone to finish an assignment.
#1 cool thing: Miniature library. This man inspired this movement of little free libraries where you make a little house looking box and fill it with books and put it in your front yard. You leave it unlocked and put a sign on it somewhere that explains that if you take a book you replace it with another book. The website sells kits and has lots of cool ideas and you can join the "club". How cool is that? www.littlefreelibrary.org
#2: This article I found on Tumblr about the author Elmore Leonard who recently died. He has written 10 rules for writing fiction, which I agree with as a reader of fiction and I think you would appreciate as well. http://thepierglass.tumblr.com/post/58804351611/politicsprose-elmore-leonards-ten-rules-for
#3: This woman who wrote this book called "Show me a Story" which helps kids use art and objects to inspire storytelling. She has a blog and teaches writing classes. You want to teach writing classes. I thought you might want to check it out. www.redbirdcrafts.com
#4: Challenge based learning. I have heard of this, but found this website (also on Tumblr, which turns out not to be a total waste of time). The website explains it as using technology and hands on activities to solve problems instead of traditional teaching methods. Example: The challenge is to improve recycling in your community. https://challengebasedlearning.org/pages/welcome
At this point in my writing, you texted me to see what I was doing. ESP?
I am waiting for my classes to open up so I can see how bad this semester is going to be. I am taking Applied Statistics (gag) and am frightened. I downloaded the software and I don't understand any of it. I am also taking an education class- which means lots of paper writing and threaded discussions (double gag).
It's kind of lonely here with no kids. And also kind of quiet and wonderful. Oh, and the kids are taking the bus home this year, saving me like a whole hour! I am adding their first day of school pictures for the non-Facebook crowd.
Love, Em
I went to the state fair and avoided the butter cow. I didn't want to see the "blood" and be reminded that it may be wrong and sort of disgusting to eat a cow. I think most of us have looked the other way when it comes to meat production in order to be able to eat. And most of us don't have the discipline or desire to be vegan, or can't convince those around us of the merits of an all organic diet.
For some reason this week, everything I have read has been inspiring me to tell you about it. I am going to share it all with you here, rather than call you 18 times:) Because probably you are feeding a baby or refereeing a fight or trying to get someone to finish an assignment.
#1 cool thing: Miniature library. This man inspired this movement of little free libraries where you make a little house looking box and fill it with books and put it in your front yard. You leave it unlocked and put a sign on it somewhere that explains that if you take a book you replace it with another book. The website sells kits and has lots of cool ideas and you can join the "club". How cool is that? www.littlefreelibrary.org
#2: This article I found on Tumblr about the author Elmore Leonard who recently died. He has written 10 rules for writing fiction, which I agree with as a reader of fiction and I think you would appreciate as well. http://thepierglass.tumblr.com/post/58804351611/politicsprose-elmore-leonards-ten-rules-for
#3: This woman who wrote this book called "Show me a Story" which helps kids use art and objects to inspire storytelling. She has a blog and teaches writing classes. You want to teach writing classes. I thought you might want to check it out. www.redbirdcrafts.com
#4: Challenge based learning. I have heard of this, but found this website (also on Tumblr, which turns out not to be a total waste of time). The website explains it as using technology and hands on activities to solve problems instead of traditional teaching methods. Example: The challenge is to improve recycling in your community. https://challengebasedlearning.org/pages/welcome
At this point in my writing, you texted me to see what I was doing. ESP?
I am waiting for my classes to open up so I can see how bad this semester is going to be. I am taking Applied Statistics (gag) and am frightened. I downloaded the software and I don't understand any of it. I am also taking an education class- which means lots of paper writing and threaded discussions (double gag).
It's kind of lonely here with no kids. And also kind of quiet and wonderful. Oh, and the kids are taking the bus home this year, saving me like a whole hour! I am adding their first day of school pictures for the non-Facebook crowd.
Love, Em
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| Haley- 7th grade |
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| Alyssa- 4th, Sarah- 3rd |
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Meat
Dear Em,
Some over-zealous vegans poured red paint all over the butter cow at the state fair this week. Did you hear about this? I think that what they did was wrong, and silly, and counterproductive to whatever they thought they were going to accomplish, but it made me wonder: is eating meat (and dairy) wrong? We've stopped eating meat mainly because of health concerns, but there is a part of me that's started to wonder exactly what God meant when he told us to have dominion over the animals and subdue the earth. God ordered animal sacrifices. He had rules about clean and unclean animals. I'm pretty sure He's okay with eating meat in general terms. But is he okay with hog confinements? With genetically altering animals so they taste better? With cutting off those poor chickens' feet and beaks? With artificially inseminating cows and making them half calves one after the other for years in a row? Am I being weird?
Love,
Al
Some over-zealous vegans poured red paint all over the butter cow at the state fair this week. Did you hear about this? I think that what they did was wrong, and silly, and counterproductive to whatever they thought they were going to accomplish, but it made me wonder: is eating meat (and dairy) wrong? We've stopped eating meat mainly because of health concerns, but there is a part of me that's started to wonder exactly what God meant when he told us to have dominion over the animals and subdue the earth. God ordered animal sacrifices. He had rules about clean and unclean animals. I'm pretty sure He's okay with eating meat in general terms. But is he okay with hog confinements? With genetically altering animals so they taste better? With cutting off those poor chickens' feet and beaks? With artificially inseminating cows and making them half calves one after the other for years in a row? Am I being weird?
Love,
Al
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Fuzzbutt the ferret?
Dear Al,
I think you should name the ferret either Fuzzbutt or Bacon. Did you know that a group of ferrets is called a 'business'? Weird.
I have some sore legs today. Here is some advice: before you run a 5k, you should probably train for it. I'm just saying maybe run a few times first. More than once anyway.
I am going to try to catch up on house work today. I have to pick up Haley- who is having a great time, by the way- sometime this afternoon. It's an exciting life.
Here is a cool website I found this morning: frugalfun4boys.com. I was looking at this cool chain reaction with popsicle sticks. Check it out!
Love, Em
I think you should name the ferret either Fuzzbutt or Bacon. Did you know that a group of ferrets is called a 'business'? Weird.
I have some sore legs today. Here is some advice: before you run a 5k, you should probably train for it. I'm just saying maybe run a few times first. More than once anyway.
I am going to try to catch up on house work today. I have to pick up Haley- who is having a great time, by the way- sometime this afternoon. It's an exciting life.
Here is a cool website I found this morning: frugalfun4boys.com. I was looking at this cool chain reaction with popsicle sticks. Check it out!
Love, Em
Obsessions
Dear Em,
I want to create a tumblr account, but I don't know if my brain can handle another internet obsession. What about Facebook? Pinterest? All of the homeschool websites and blogs I follow? Someone needs to figure out a substitute for sleeping.
We had so much fun with you and the girls yesterday. Grace especially. She cannot get enough of her cousins. Cousins, swimming suits, earrings, baby dolls, and biting/licking people are her current obsessions. We're trying to plan a pool party for our homeschool group on Aug. 14 - is that the day you go back to school? If not, maybe you guys can come over.
I have to go and get ready for church, but first, a glimpse into what the Schoonover family has been looking at online. These are the tabs that are open in my web browser:
Good Ferret Names: http://www.ferret-world.com/goodferretnames.html
JM Cremps Boys Adventure Store: https://www.jmcremps.com/
Angelicum Academy Great Books Program: http://angelicum.net/great-books-program/great-books-college-credits/
Love,
Al
I want to create a tumblr account, but I don't know if my brain can handle another internet obsession. What about Facebook? Pinterest? All of the homeschool websites and blogs I follow? Someone needs to figure out a substitute for sleeping.
We had so much fun with you and the girls yesterday. Grace especially. She cannot get enough of her cousins. Cousins, swimming suits, earrings, baby dolls, and biting/licking people are her current obsessions. We're trying to plan a pool party for our homeschool group on Aug. 14 - is that the day you go back to school? If not, maybe you guys can come over.
I have to go and get ready for church, but first, a glimpse into what the Schoonover family has been looking at online. These are the tabs that are open in my web browser:
Good Ferret Names: http://www.ferret-world.com/goodferretnames.html
JM Cremps Boys Adventure Store: https://www.jmcremps.com/
Angelicum Academy Great Books Program: http://angelicum.net/great-books-program/great-books-college-credits/
Love,
Al
Friday, August 9, 2013
You called me while I was writing this!
Dear Al,
I am holding myself to this one minute thing because that's really all I have today. We are going to take Haley to visit her friend Denisse in like half an hour and I have to start dinner before that. But I wanted to tell you about my new obsession. You are probably going to be unimpressed, but I can't stop myself. Tumblr. It's like a blog finding website that gathers all of the blogs you could ever possibly imagine and puts them in one spot and then you can follow whatever you want and it's like a news feed. Obsessed! The girls and I are the most impressed by blogs of cute animals or videos of funny stuff. There is literally a blog on every subject in the whole entire universe. I found one about miniature things. And one called "I love charts"- about charts. It will suck you in. Be prepared to go in and not come back out for several days. I recommend "well that's adorable" and "tastefully offensive" (do you put quotes around blog titles?).
Must go! Love you!
Em
I am holding myself to this one minute thing because that's really all I have today. We are going to take Haley to visit her friend Denisse in like half an hour and I have to start dinner before that. But I wanted to tell you about my new obsession. You are probably going to be unimpressed, but I can't stop myself. Tumblr. It's like a blog finding website that gathers all of the blogs you could ever possibly imagine and puts them in one spot and then you can follow whatever you want and it's like a news feed. Obsessed! The girls and I are the most impressed by blogs of cute animals or videos of funny stuff. There is literally a blog on every subject in the whole entire universe. I found one about miniature things. And one called "I love charts"- about charts. It will suck you in. Be prepared to go in and not come back out for several days. I recommend "well that's adorable" and "tastefully offensive" (do you put quotes around blog titles?).
Must go! Love you!
Em
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Did you eat the scary yogurt?
Dear Al,
You are making me look bad, again. Starting businesses, blogging every day, homeschooling, making yogurt in disgusting new ways... I am doing exactly none of that. I am not even sure what I am doing but it sure is taking a lot of time and effort. I will resolve to blog with you everyday for a minute or two. It will be good for our brains I think. And by the way, are you conducting a writing workshop or are you a student? I can't tell because both could be possible. And I must be totally out of the loop because I know nothing of this or your potential business venture or most of the details of your annulment. Maybe you should focus your energy on hanging out with me so I know what is going on. We could pretend it's a sporting event and charge admission to people who want to come watch. Money maker. Like a tennis match for people who like things even more boring than tennis.
Haley gets braces tomorrow. I am prepared for lots of complaining. She thinks it will be cool. I think she will change her mind...
Love,
Em
P.S. I would like you to fill me in on some of the details here- not the yogurt- but the major life changing events. Call me when you aren't teaching :)
You are making me look bad, again. Starting businesses, blogging every day, homeschooling, making yogurt in disgusting new ways... I am doing exactly none of that. I am not even sure what I am doing but it sure is taking a lot of time and effort. I will resolve to blog with you everyday for a minute or two. It will be good for our brains I think. And by the way, are you conducting a writing workshop or are you a student? I can't tell because both could be possible. And I must be totally out of the loop because I know nothing of this or your potential business venture or most of the details of your annulment. Maybe you should focus your energy on hanging out with me so I know what is going on. We could pretend it's a sporting event and charge admission to people who want to come watch. Money maker. Like a tennis match for people who like things even more boring than tennis.
Haley gets braces tomorrow. I am prepared for lots of complaining. She thinks it will be cool. I think she will change her mind...
Love,
Em
P.S. I would like you to fill me in on some of the details here- not the yogurt- but the major life changing events. Call me when you aren't teaching :)
Making Yogurt
Dear Em,
Today, I'm making almond milk yogurt in the crockpot. (You had better not be making gagging noises...this could be good!) What if it tastes as good as Noosa? If it does, I will sell it to you for $4 per container. I have some homemade rhubarb sauce that I'm going to serve with it, if it actually turns into something. I guess even if it ends up being warm almond milk, it'll still be edible.
I started a website for my new "business" yesterday! It still looks kind of pathetic, so I'm not going to give you the link yet. I also survived my meeting with Father Schott, and my annulment papers are just about ready. There's some information I have to get from Mike, so I have to actually talk to him and tell him that I'm applying for an annulment. I think, when this is all done with, I'm going to start lobbying my congressmen to raise the age of consent for marriage to 30.
Love,
Al
Today, I'm making almond milk yogurt in the crockpot. (You had better not be making gagging noises...this could be good!) What if it tastes as good as Noosa? If it does, I will sell it to you for $4 per container. I have some homemade rhubarb sauce that I'm going to serve with it, if it actually turns into something. I guess even if it ends up being warm almond milk, it'll still be edible.
I started a website for my new "business" yesterday! It still looks kind of pathetic, so I'm not going to give you the link yet. I also survived my meeting with Father Schott, and my annulment papers are just about ready. There's some information I have to get from Mike, so I have to actually talk to him and tell him that I'm applying for an annulment. I think, when this is all done with, I'm going to start lobbying my congressmen to raise the age of consent for marriage to 30.
Love,
Al
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
So then the priest said...
Dear Em,
One of my writing books has told me that if I want to write every day, I need to lower my standards for quality. As you can tell, I have taken that advice. You should try it. It's very freeing.
I have a meeting with Father Schott (the pastor of St. Lawrence) tomorrow to discuss my "marriage narrative", a.k.a. the story of how Mike and I screwed up our marriage, scarred our children, and became adulterers by remarrying; and move to the next step in the annulment process. Will you go for me? I'll do anything. Dust your miniblinds, pick up dog poo in the yard, organize your underwear drawer, clip your children's toenails...
I talked to Ashley Larsen (Sheryl Larsen's daughter) this weekend and she said she had a whole conversation with you during which she thought you were me. Maybe Fr. Schott wouldn't notice that I was really you?
I'm leaving my laundry on the line overnight in order to coax the rain to come. Let's hope it works.
Love,
Al
One of my writing books has told me that if I want to write every day, I need to lower my standards for quality. As you can tell, I have taken that advice. You should try it. It's very freeing.
I have a meeting with Father Schott (the pastor of St. Lawrence) tomorrow to discuss my "marriage narrative", a.k.a. the story of how Mike and I screwed up our marriage, scarred our children, and became adulterers by remarrying; and move to the next step in the annulment process. Will you go for me? I'll do anything. Dust your miniblinds, pick up dog poo in the yard, organize your underwear drawer, clip your children's toenails...
I talked to Ashley Larsen (Sheryl Larsen's daughter) this weekend and she said she had a whole conversation with you during which she thought you were me. Maybe Fr. Schott wouldn't notice that I was really you?
I'm leaving my laundry on the line overnight in order to coax the rain to come. Let's hope it works.
Love,
Al
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Mama Needs a Job
Dear Em,
I have decided that all expenses at the Schoon house have been cut to a bare minimum. Now, I need to bring in some money, but I can't decide what to do. Tell me what you think:
1. Virtual Assistance - like what I do for Todd and what I did before Esme was born. This would be the easiest to start, I think.
2. Get CNA and do in-home care. I have decided that half the jobs in the paper are for CNA's, so becoming one would be helpful. I could work on my own or for one of a dozen places looking for them. Evenings only.
3. Tutoring. Not sure if anyone wants or needs this, but I would love to be an English/Language Arts tutor.
4. Creative writing classes for kids. Would do this maybe in conjunction with tutoring services. I have to prepare, though, so I wouldn't be able to do these until January or so.
5. Baking. NOT cakes. Cinnamon rolls? Homemade pasta? Would have to get our kitchen inspected/certified.
Whoa. Major poop from Phil. Gotta go. Love you.
Al
I have decided that all expenses at the Schoon house have been cut to a bare minimum. Now, I need to bring in some money, but I can't decide what to do. Tell me what you think:
1. Virtual Assistance - like what I do for Todd and what I did before Esme was born. This would be the easiest to start, I think.
2. Get CNA and do in-home care. I have decided that half the jobs in the paper are for CNA's, so becoming one would be helpful. I could work on my own or for one of a dozen places looking for them. Evenings only.
3. Tutoring. Not sure if anyone wants or needs this, but I would love to be an English/Language Arts tutor.
4. Creative writing classes for kids. Would do this maybe in conjunction with tutoring services. I have to prepare, though, so I wouldn't be able to do these until January or so.
5. Baking. NOT cakes. Cinnamon rolls? Homemade pasta? Would have to get our kitchen inspected/certified.
Whoa. Major poop from Phil. Gotta go. Love you.
Al
Friday, August 2, 2013
Emily...Where are You?
Dear Em,
We are neglecting our blog. I'm scouring the library and the internet for creative writing resources so I can plan for my writer's workshop, and it has made me realize how very little I actually write. We need to make a commitment. One minute per day? Can we do it? Phil just started crying, and he's laying on my bed, so he might fall off if I don't rescue him (and he already has a big bump on his head from yesterday's tumble out of the wagon).
I think I wrote for a minute just now. Your turn.
Love,
Al
We are neglecting our blog. I'm scouring the library and the internet for creative writing resources so I can plan for my writer's workshop, and it has made me realize how very little I actually write. We need to make a commitment. One minute per day? Can we do it? Phil just started crying, and he's laying on my bed, so he might fall off if I don't rescue him (and he already has a big bump on his head from yesterday's tumble out of the wagon).
I think I wrote for a minute just now. Your turn.
Love,
Al
Monday, July 15, 2013
The boat!
Dear Al,
I have not abandoned you on this blog. :)
I think the only thing that sucks about going back to normal food for the kids is that you might have to be making multiple meals/sides for each meal to get everyone enough food. But I think that it would be extremely difficult to get your pizza loving older children to become vegan. Grace on the other hand would probably be ok with just about anything. Even bugs. It must be a matter of training.
I have pinned a couple of things from this lady- Budget Savvy Diva. She has recipes, kids stuff, coupons, budgeting tips, etc. My favorites were restaurant fake-out recipes like the southwest eggrolls from Chili's. Yum. My new favorite pinterest board is called 4H ideas. I am obsessed with finding projects for Haley and Alyssa to do this year. I found this cool desk organizer made out of cereal boxes and fabric. It would be a perfect use for the remains of your cereal addiction.
So, I am super impressed with not only our children's behavior on the boat on Friday, but also that no one fell off the boat or drown. I know that you don't worry about stuff like that, but I had visions of Phil crawling off the edge or Grace jumping from the side sans life jacket. I am not a Bible quoter- mainly because it doesn't feel natural to me, but I do read it and recite this one to myself because I am a worrier- Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34. I also like the one from Matthew; Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest... For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. I try to remember that I can't worry my way out of anything.
I did have lots of fun and so did the kids. Here is some proof:
Today we are going to the dentist to have Haley get the initial stuff done for her to get braces...Ugh. I am going to try to finish my class and then RAGBRAI!! I am not in good enough shape I am afraid. I didn't even want to go for a ride with Todd yesterday. It was hot. :/
See you soon sissy!
Love, Em
Do
not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- See more at: http://www.womensbiblecafe.com/2012/02/50-scripture-verses-on-worrying/#sthash.uw3NXax4.dpuf
Do
not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- See more at: http://www.womensbiblecafe.com/2012/02/50-scripture-verses-on-worrying/#sthash.uw3NXax4.dpuf
I have not abandoned you on this blog. :)
I think the only thing that sucks about going back to normal food for the kids is that you might have to be making multiple meals/sides for each meal to get everyone enough food. But I think that it would be extremely difficult to get your pizza loving older children to become vegan. Grace on the other hand would probably be ok with just about anything. Even bugs. It must be a matter of training.
I have pinned a couple of things from this lady- Budget Savvy Diva. She has recipes, kids stuff, coupons, budgeting tips, etc. My favorites were restaurant fake-out recipes like the southwest eggrolls from Chili's. Yum. My new favorite pinterest board is called 4H ideas. I am obsessed with finding projects for Haley and Alyssa to do this year. I found this cool desk organizer made out of cereal boxes and fabric. It would be a perfect use for the remains of your cereal addiction.
So, I am super impressed with not only our children's behavior on the boat on Friday, but also that no one fell off the boat or drown. I know that you don't worry about stuff like that, but I had visions of Phil crawling off the edge or Grace jumping from the side sans life jacket. I am not a Bible quoter- mainly because it doesn't feel natural to me, but I do read it and recite this one to myself because I am a worrier- Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34. I also like the one from Matthew; Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest... For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. I try to remember that I can't worry my way out of anything.
I did have lots of fun and so did the kids. Here is some proof:
See you soon sissy!
Love, Em
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Cheap Food and Non-Vegan Children
Dear Em,
I think I'm giving up on getting my kids to eat a vegan "whole foods" diet. It's been 5 months, and they still hate everything, complain all the time, and refuse to care about the treatment of the animals they so desperately want to eat. And, frankly, it's been expensive to buy all organic, all vegan food, and I'm cracking down on our budget again. So, my new goal is to feed them as cheaply and healthfully as I can (don't ask me which is more important; I'm honestly not sure at this point). I found a fabulous website called $5 Dinners: http://www.5dollardinners.com/frugal-food-for-large-families/ and it is my new favorite blog. Aside from this one. I'm choosing not to think about the beef we gave away earlier this year (it went to good homes) or the $5 salsa I was addicted to (I found $1 Fareway salsa in a can which is kind of scary but still tasty).
I don't think I can do the meat thing, and John still wants to lose weight, so we are going to become cheap vegans (I think that means beans, rice, and grass clippings). I did have a Noosa the other day and it was like heaven...dairy may make a comeback at some point. I experimented with drinking yesterday's coffee warmed up in the microwave this morning, and it's pretty good. Then I had a bowl of cereal with 1/2 almond milk, 1/2 water and it was better than you would think. We're switching to oatmeal soon, so I'm eating cereal like crazy until it's gone (I might be the only person on earth with a cereal addiction). We're going back off pop again too...we've had a month or so of drinking it again, and I think we had our last can yesterday. Sniff.
If you have any ideas for cheap eating, let me know. I'm willing to try anything except Ramen noodles and bugs.
Love,
Al
I think I'm giving up on getting my kids to eat a vegan "whole foods" diet. It's been 5 months, and they still hate everything, complain all the time, and refuse to care about the treatment of the animals they so desperately want to eat. And, frankly, it's been expensive to buy all organic, all vegan food, and I'm cracking down on our budget again. So, my new goal is to feed them as cheaply and healthfully as I can (don't ask me which is more important; I'm honestly not sure at this point). I found a fabulous website called $5 Dinners: http://www.5dollardinners.com/frugal-food-for-large-families/ and it is my new favorite blog. Aside from this one. I'm choosing not to think about the beef we gave away earlier this year (it went to good homes) or the $5 salsa I was addicted to (I found $1 Fareway salsa in a can which is kind of scary but still tasty).
I don't think I can do the meat thing, and John still wants to lose weight, so we are going to become cheap vegans (I think that means beans, rice, and grass clippings). I did have a Noosa the other day and it was like heaven...dairy may make a comeback at some point. I experimented with drinking yesterday's coffee warmed up in the microwave this morning, and it's pretty good. Then I had a bowl of cereal with 1/2 almond milk, 1/2 water and it was better than you would think. We're switching to oatmeal soon, so I'm eating cereal like crazy until it's gone (I might be the only person on earth with a cereal addiction). We're going back off pop again too...we've had a month or so of drinking it again, and I think we had our last can yesterday. Sniff.
If you have any ideas for cheap eating, let me know. I'm willing to try anything except Ramen noodles and bugs.
Love,
Al
Friday, June 21, 2013
The Jesus Prayer
Dear Em,
I just read this book called Flunking Sainthood by Jana Riess (http://blog.beliefnet.com/flunkingsainthood/). I had my suspicions that the author is Mormon, and now that I've been to her blog I see that she is Mormon, but I still think it's relevant to those of us who are Lutheran, Catholic, Evangelical...whatever. Maybe even agnostic or Hindu or just interested in discovering God or attaining a higher level of enlightenment. She tries a new spiritual practice every month for a year (generosity, prayer, observing the Sabbath) and basically describes how she fails to varying degrees at each one. She has a very funny, relatable (word?) style of writing, and the only Mormon belief that bothered me as I was reading was that she tends to discuss Jesus and God as separate beings (which, in the Mormon tradition, they are). But even that wasn't pronounced enough to make me definitely sure she was Mormon, so I think any Christian could read this book and enjoy and learn from it. In the end, she decides that even through failing at each of these spiritual goals, she's deepened her faith and her relationship with God. That her failure served as a reminder that we are all failures without God, so maybe failing - as humbling and human as it is - was even better for her than succeeding would have been. My favorite thing that she tried was to say the "Jesus Prayer." Have you heard of the Jesus Prayer? I like it because it's short and pretty much says it all: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. (http://catholicism.about.com/od/prayers/qt/Jesus_Prayer.htm). That's it. I like to say it in my head whenever I have a sinful thought or do something that I shouldn't. So, I could really be saying it 3 million times a day, but I guess it's been more like five or ten. At my church, there is a lot of disdain for "rote" prayers because they aren't spontaneous or creative and therefore they must just be "vain repetition" (that's a quote from the Bible somewhere, isn't it? I think Jesus said it...or maybe St. Paul). But for me, it's intimidating to always have to make up my prayers from scratch, so then I avoid praying. I like this prayer because it's short and meaningful and when I say it, I do feel like it's helping me refocus on God and stop being an idiot.
P.S. My eyes drove me nuts at the swim meet last night! By the time we left my eye makeup was all over my face because I couldn't stop rubbing them. And my throat itched. We left as soon as Simon was done and I felt so much better inside in the A/C. I feel terrible that you have to endure this every year. I am such a wimp.
Happy Friday!
Love,
Al
I just read this book called Flunking Sainthood by Jana Riess (http://blog.beliefnet.com/flunkingsainthood/). I had my suspicions that the author is Mormon, and now that I've been to her blog I see that she is Mormon, but I still think it's relevant to those of us who are Lutheran, Catholic, Evangelical...whatever. Maybe even agnostic or Hindu or just interested in discovering God or attaining a higher level of enlightenment. She tries a new spiritual practice every month for a year (generosity, prayer, observing the Sabbath) and basically describes how she fails to varying degrees at each one. She has a very funny, relatable (word?) style of writing, and the only Mormon belief that bothered me as I was reading was that she tends to discuss Jesus and God as separate beings (which, in the Mormon tradition, they are). But even that wasn't pronounced enough to make me definitely sure she was Mormon, so I think any Christian could read this book and enjoy and learn from it. In the end, she decides that even through failing at each of these spiritual goals, she's deepened her faith and her relationship with God. That her failure served as a reminder that we are all failures without God, so maybe failing - as humbling and human as it is - was even better for her than succeeding would have been. My favorite thing that she tried was to say the "Jesus Prayer." Have you heard of the Jesus Prayer? I like it because it's short and pretty much says it all: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. (http://catholicism.about.com/od/prayers/qt/Jesus_Prayer.htm). That's it. I like to say it in my head whenever I have a sinful thought or do something that I shouldn't. So, I could really be saying it 3 million times a day, but I guess it's been more like five or ten. At my church, there is a lot of disdain for "rote" prayers because they aren't spontaneous or creative and therefore they must just be "vain repetition" (that's a quote from the Bible somewhere, isn't it? I think Jesus said it...or maybe St. Paul). But for me, it's intimidating to always have to make up my prayers from scratch, so then I avoid praying. I like this prayer because it's short and meaningful and when I say it, I do feel like it's helping me refocus on God and stop being an idiot.
P.S. My eyes drove me nuts at the swim meet last night! By the time we left my eye makeup was all over my face because I couldn't stop rubbing them. And my throat itched. We left as soon as Simon was done and I felt so much better inside in the A/C. I feel terrible that you have to endure this every year. I am such a wimp.
Happy Friday!
Love,
Al
Friday, June 14, 2013
Happy Flag Day!
You are so much better than I am. I don't mean that I don't like myself or anything- because I think I'm ok too, but you are obsessed with things like listening to Catholic radio and your new homeschool curriculum. I'm obsessed with the new episodes of Arrested Development on Netflix and finding time to ride my bike.
I know which kid you are talking about at the pool. Alyssa was harassed by him when they were practicing for regionals. She is a girl, so she cried to a coach - his mom- and he stopped. I'm with you; let him handle it. But I am glad he likes swim team and surprised that you do too. I sort of hate it right now, but it's because of all of the whining and also because I have to deal with the parents who don't show up to do their jobs. Grr.
I looked at the Visiting Angels website. It is interesting that it's not nursing care or any level of nursing care. I wonder how expensive it is for the clients? If it is cheaper than medical in home care, I think it's a great idea.
I am writing a paper. AGAIN. I hate this class. It's about nursing theories. Yes, there are multiple theories of nursing. I have to compare/contrast two theorists. Yawn. And then for my discussion this week I have to answer this question (among others): How many ways of knowing have you experienced in becoming a nurse? Ways of knowing? This is a real thing. And I have to write about it:\
We will see you tomorrow! I can't wait to show you all the awesome loot I got from the garage sale!
Oh, and Happy Flag Day!
I know which kid you are talking about at the pool. Alyssa was harassed by him when they were practicing for regionals. She is a girl, so she cried to a coach - his mom- and he stopped. I'm with you; let him handle it. But I am glad he likes swim team and surprised that you do too. I sort of hate it right now, but it's because of all of the whining and also because I have to deal with the parents who don't show up to do their jobs. Grr.
I looked at the Visiting Angels website. It is interesting that it's not nursing care or any level of nursing care. I wonder how expensive it is for the clients? If it is cheaper than medical in home care, I think it's a great idea.
I am writing a paper. AGAIN. I hate this class. It's about nursing theories. Yes, there are multiple theories of nursing. I have to compare/contrast two theorists. Yawn. And then for my discussion this week I have to answer this question (among others): How many ways of knowing have you experienced in becoming a nurse? Ways of knowing? This is a real thing. And I have to write about it:\
We will see you tomorrow! I can't wait to show you all the awesome loot I got from the garage sale!
Oh, and Happy Flag Day!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Random Thoughts on a Wednesday Morning
Dear Em,
For weeks now, I keep opening up this page and getting interrupted, but I'm determined to write you something today, even if it's only this one sentence. It has been a strange week over here. Weird things are going on with David, we have had a bazillion activities to go to (in my mind, anyhow), John is bummed about a new performance ranking system at work, and I am semi-obsessed with researching Catholicism (as the rest of the family watches in mild horror). We had a swim meet last night in Coon Rapids, and I'm so amazed that I didn't hate being there. It was fun. It was even fun with Mike and Stacey. I like them as long as we don't talk about anything meaningful. Mike was really upset about this boy who has been teasing Simon, and he wouldn't let it go...the boy's mom is that blonde, curly-haired lady who is always at the Rec and I think is in charge of something there. Is her name Cindy? She's really muscular and kind of scares me. I was annoyed; I'm more of the he-needs-to-deal-with-it-himself school of thought. Abby and Esme and Grace had a blast, Simon was in his element, screwing around with the other kids his age and doing his sincere but hilarious version of the freestyle stroke. Phil is officially scooting now, and he likes to get up on his hands and tippy-toes and just look around. He likes looking at my face and then trying to yank off any of the parts he can get a hold of. Our new washing machine is coming today, and I marvel once again at how blessed we are. I look around my house and family and wonder what my life would be like if I only had what I deserved...it would not be anything like this. I am half-seriously investigating a "Visiting Angels" franchise...they advertise on Catholic radio all the time (part of my recent obsession is obsessively listening to Catholic radio) and they provide non-medical home care to the elderly, like cleaning and bathing and running errands and stuff. Doesn't that sound cool?
I found a blog by this woman who's really active on the Robinson Curriculum Facebook page - the curriculum we're starting next "fall" (a.k.a. end of July): http://travelingthenarrowroad.wordpress.com/. I like her.
I think I've figured out a menu for Saturday: burgers (real meat for some, vegan for others), no-meat calico beans, vegan potato salad, hearts of palm salad, vegan strawberry shortcake. I'm excited to make the shortcake, because the recipe includes vegan biscuits and I LOVE a good biscuit.
We can't wait to see you guys this weekend...right now, I'm thinking you don't need to bring any food or anything over. You bought the gift; I will buy the meal and some beverages. Tell me what kind of beer to get. Have I told you that I've been drinking pop? A Diet Coke or a this Zevia stuff every other day or so. I can't help but think that a glass of wine is probably better for you.
Anyway, Phil is whining at me and I'd better get going. Have a great week!
Love,
Al
For weeks now, I keep opening up this page and getting interrupted, but I'm determined to write you something today, even if it's only this one sentence. It has been a strange week over here. Weird things are going on with David, we have had a bazillion activities to go to (in my mind, anyhow), John is bummed about a new performance ranking system at work, and I am semi-obsessed with researching Catholicism (as the rest of the family watches in mild horror). We had a swim meet last night in Coon Rapids, and I'm so amazed that I didn't hate being there. It was fun. It was even fun with Mike and Stacey. I like them as long as we don't talk about anything meaningful. Mike was really upset about this boy who has been teasing Simon, and he wouldn't let it go...the boy's mom is that blonde, curly-haired lady who is always at the Rec and I think is in charge of something there. Is her name Cindy? She's really muscular and kind of scares me. I was annoyed; I'm more of the he-needs-to-deal-with-it-himself school of thought. Abby and Esme and Grace had a blast, Simon was in his element, screwing around with the other kids his age and doing his sincere but hilarious version of the freestyle stroke. Phil is officially scooting now, and he likes to get up on his hands and tippy-toes and just look around. He likes looking at my face and then trying to yank off any of the parts he can get a hold of. Our new washing machine is coming today, and I marvel once again at how blessed we are. I look around my house and family and wonder what my life would be like if I only had what I deserved...it would not be anything like this. I am half-seriously investigating a "Visiting Angels" franchise...they advertise on Catholic radio all the time (part of my recent obsession is obsessively listening to Catholic radio) and they provide non-medical home care to the elderly, like cleaning and bathing and running errands and stuff. Doesn't that sound cool?
I found a blog by this woman who's really active on the Robinson Curriculum Facebook page - the curriculum we're starting next "fall" (a.k.a. end of July): http://travelingthenarrowroad.wordpress.com/. I like her.
I think I've figured out a menu for Saturday: burgers (real meat for some, vegan for others), no-meat calico beans, vegan potato salad, hearts of palm salad, vegan strawberry shortcake. I'm excited to make the shortcake, because the recipe includes vegan biscuits and I LOVE a good biscuit.
We can't wait to see you guys this weekend...right now, I'm thinking you don't need to bring any food or anything over. You bought the gift; I will buy the meal and some beverages. Tell me what kind of beer to get. Have I told you that I've been drinking pop? A Diet Coke or a this Zevia stuff every other day or so. I can't help but think that a glass of wine is probably better for you.
Anyway, Phil is whining at me and I'd better get going. Have a great week!
Love,
Al
Monday, May 27, 2013
Good and Angry
Dear Em,
Here is a link to my new favorite parenting book: http://www.effectiveparenting.org/goodnangry.shtm.
It addresses all of the problems we struggle with at my house: anger, bad attitudes, being annoying, and lying. The emphasis is on changing the child's heart, not just the behaviors, and it gives some helpful ideas for dealing with parental anger too.
My other new find is this website:http://www.advanced-writing-resources.com. You can buy a 21 day audio course and workbook to teach your kids the "secrets" of good writing. So far, I am impressed. It isn't anything earth-shattering, but it's good advice made understandable for kids.
Love,
Al
Here is a link to my new favorite parenting book: http://www.effectiveparenting.org/goodnangry.shtm.
It addresses all of the problems we struggle with at my house: anger, bad attitudes, being annoying, and lying. The emphasis is on changing the child's heart, not just the behaviors, and it gives some helpful ideas for dealing with parental anger too.
My other new find is this website:http://www.advanced-writing-resources.com. You can buy a 21 day audio course and workbook to teach your kids the "secrets" of good writing. So far, I am impressed. It isn't anything earth-shattering, but it's good advice made understandable for kids.
Love,
Al
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Pet lizard?
Dear Al,
I am glad that the piano didn't kill you. I was worried about the whole move and wish I could have been there to help you (although I know you probably wouldn't have let me anyway). Your work is done, let me move it the rest of the way.
I am not at all surprised that John knew the Leutjes either. He knows everyone! He's like Michele in that way. And he has a story about everyone too. Maybe that happens when you turn 50. HA! I totally remember Rebecca now that you say that. I remember her being at our house when we had a hamster. I think you wouldn't let me hang out with you. Meany.
I'm not that awesome Al. I'm like you, which is the only reason I am cool in any way. You are always doing 85 things that I wish I had thought of (homeschooling, knitting, cooking, gardening, etc), while I'm like watching Bravo and surfing the internet all day. I am bragging about you all the time. Sometimes I think people think I am lying because they don't believe you could possibly do everything that you do.
So we are on vacation. Todd is deep sea fishing and Alyssa and I are watching cartoons while the other two are asleep. We have been mainly swimming and eating. I have had some strange encounters with Dominicans. I was getting a massage and the woman fell asleep on me. I am not kidding. I have been hit on almost constantly, whistled at (all by the staff!), and called "skim milk", which Todd thinks is hilarious and is telling everyone to call me. The girls did this thing called Zorbing, which is like being in a big hamster ball on the water, and there was a guy videoing it who was trying to get me to buy the video and then tried to get me to bring him beer. A man in the gift shop tried to kiss me- in front of the kids!!!! And he worked there!! I don't know what is going on. Dominican men must be into white moms.
No hermit crabs. There are really cute lizards here though! If I find out how to ship you one, Esme is getting one for her birthday...
Love, Em
I am glad that the piano didn't kill you. I was worried about the whole move and wish I could have been there to help you (although I know you probably wouldn't have let me anyway). Your work is done, let me move it the rest of the way.
I am not at all surprised that John knew the Leutjes either. He knows everyone! He's like Michele in that way. And he has a story about everyone too. Maybe that happens when you turn 50. HA! I totally remember Rebecca now that you say that. I remember her being at our house when we had a hamster. I think you wouldn't let me hang out with you. Meany.
I'm not that awesome Al. I'm like you, which is the only reason I am cool in any way. You are always doing 85 things that I wish I had thought of (homeschooling, knitting, cooking, gardening, etc), while I'm like watching Bravo and surfing the internet all day. I am bragging about you all the time. Sometimes I think people think I am lying because they don't believe you could possibly do everything that you do.
So we are on vacation. Todd is deep sea fishing and Alyssa and I are watching cartoons while the other two are asleep. We have been mainly swimming and eating. I have had some strange encounters with Dominicans. I was getting a massage and the woman fell asleep on me. I am not kidding. I have been hit on almost constantly, whistled at (all by the staff!), and called "skim milk", which Todd thinks is hilarious and is telling everyone to call me. The girls did this thing called Zorbing, which is like being in a big hamster ball on the water, and there was a guy videoing it who was trying to get me to buy the video and then tried to get me to bring him beer. A man in the gift shop tried to kiss me- in front of the kids!!!! And he worked there!! I don't know what is going on. Dominican men must be into white moms.
| Girls racing- Zorbing. |
No hermit crabs. There are really cute lizards here though! If I find out how to ship you one, Esme is getting one for her birthday...
Love, Em
You're on Vacation
Dear Em,
I know you're gone, but I had to tell you this somehow before I forgot about it. We dropped the piano off in Westside yesterday (a task that was very hard and very nearly fatal - to us and to the piano), and we actually knew the couple who is (are?) fixing it. This happens to John all the time, because he knows and remembers everyone, but it never happens to me. I think it's because I'm too self-centered and tend to ignore other people; John (because he's my husband and wants me to feel good) says it's because I don't get wrapped up in gossip/talking about/prying into other people's lives. They went to our church very briefly about 6 years ago, and their stepdaughter is Rebecca Luetje, who was one of my best friends in first or second grade. Somehow, I think she's "their" stepdaughter, like maybe it's his stepdaughter from a previous marriage? Anyway, Cat was telling me all about how she knew you, and how wonderful you are, and how she wants to take you on a mission trip, and how much we look alike and "seem to have the same personality." Then she said that she never would have recognized me from when she went to Grace (our church), because my whole "countenance" was different. I think in a good way (Mike and I were getting divorced at the time; I'm assuming that I looked and acted like a complete mess). Anyway, I always feel like it's a huge compliment when people say I remind them of you. It made me feel proud of you and proud to be your sister. Thanks for being so lovable; it helps those of us who are close to you to get to know and like each other even though we may not be all that likable ourselves.
P.S. If you bring me any hermit crabs from the Dominican Republic, I'm going to call the customs authorities and report you, then flush them down the toilet.
Love,
Al
I know you're gone, but I had to tell you this somehow before I forgot about it. We dropped the piano off in Westside yesterday (a task that was very hard and very nearly fatal - to us and to the piano), and we actually knew the couple who is (are?) fixing it. This happens to John all the time, because he knows and remembers everyone, but it never happens to me. I think it's because I'm too self-centered and tend to ignore other people; John (because he's my husband and wants me to feel good) says it's because I don't get wrapped up in gossip/talking about/prying into other people's lives. They went to our church very briefly about 6 years ago, and their stepdaughter is Rebecca Luetje, who was one of my best friends in first or second grade. Somehow, I think she's "their" stepdaughter, like maybe it's his stepdaughter from a previous marriage? Anyway, Cat was telling me all about how she knew you, and how wonderful you are, and how she wants to take you on a mission trip, and how much we look alike and "seem to have the same personality." Then she said that she never would have recognized me from when she went to Grace (our church), because my whole "countenance" was different. I think in a good way (Mike and I were getting divorced at the time; I'm assuming that I looked and acted like a complete mess). Anyway, I always feel like it's a huge compliment when people say I remind them of you. It made me feel proud of you and proud to be your sister. Thanks for being so lovable; it helps those of us who are close to you to get to know and like each other even though we may not be all that likable ourselves.
P.S. If you bring me any hermit crabs from the Dominican Republic, I'm going to call the customs authorities and report you, then flush them down the toilet.
Love,
Al
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Sunday!
Dear Em,
I'm so excited to have you guys over on Sunday! My kids are going crazy trying to be patient and wait for Sunday to come; Grace asks me, daily, with a very serious look in her eyes, if "we go see my cousins today." It would be helpful if any of them had any sense of time (I'm always being asked if today is Wednesday, or Friday, or whether this is lunch or dinner, or when we go to our dad's next...they are clueless). You're such good hosts over there in Denison that I'm feeling a little pressured to make things perfect...plus I owe you and everyone else who's coming like 10 meals each because we never reciprocate dinner invitations. My excuse is that I have 5 kids (a handy excuse in many situations, I must say), but really it isn't a good excuse at all, because I always cook for 7 people and 5 of them don't eat anything, so I should be having dinner parties every night. I had to read that a few times and count the kids in my head to make sure those numbers were right. Do I really have 5 kids? Hopefully, there will be six of them on Sunday. I'm not giving birth; Brittany is invited too and said she wanted to come (can you believe it?)!
Here's our menu - this is my project for today:
Fruit salad (honeydew, strawberries, pineapple)
Homemade maple syrup bread
Arugula & fennel salad with sweet & spicy dressing
Texas caviar & chips (no oil; baked & organic chips)
African yam stew with whole grain rice
Chocolate blueberry cake with banana ice cream (no eggs, no oil, no milk, all delicious)
Drinks - thinking about making Bloody Marys and/or Mimosas
I have vacuumed and dusted and scrubbed the bathroom too. I did this in the blinding light of the midday sun reflecting off the snow and it was horrifying. Soap scum and dust are apparently not as visible in normal lighting. Perfect hostessing is my goal, but if everyone has fun & the kids are relatively calm and polite (mine - I never worry about yours), I'll be happy.
P.S. You are a very, very good mom. And sister. And friend. The best I know of, really. I just thought I should make that clear.
Love,
Al
I'm so excited to have you guys over on Sunday! My kids are going crazy trying to be patient and wait for Sunday to come; Grace asks me, daily, with a very serious look in her eyes, if "we go see my cousins today." It would be helpful if any of them had any sense of time (I'm always being asked if today is Wednesday, or Friday, or whether this is lunch or dinner, or when we go to our dad's next...they are clueless). You're such good hosts over there in Denison that I'm feeling a little pressured to make things perfect...plus I owe you and everyone else who's coming like 10 meals each because we never reciprocate dinner invitations. My excuse is that I have 5 kids (a handy excuse in many situations, I must say), but really it isn't a good excuse at all, because I always cook for 7 people and 5 of them don't eat anything, so I should be having dinner parties every night. I had to read that a few times and count the kids in my head to make sure those numbers were right. Do I really have 5 kids? Hopefully, there will be six of them on Sunday. I'm not giving birth; Brittany is invited too and said she wanted to come (can you believe it?)!
Here's our menu - this is my project for today:
Fruit salad (honeydew, strawberries, pineapple)
Homemade maple syrup bread
Arugula & fennel salad with sweet & spicy dressing
Texas caviar & chips (no oil; baked & organic chips)
African yam stew with whole grain rice
Chocolate blueberry cake with banana ice cream (no eggs, no oil, no milk, all delicious)
Drinks - thinking about making Bloody Marys and/or Mimosas
I have vacuumed and dusted and scrubbed the bathroom too. I did this in the blinding light of the midday sun reflecting off the snow and it was horrifying. Soap scum and dust are apparently not as visible in normal lighting. Perfect hostessing is my goal, but if everyone has fun & the kids are relatively calm and polite (mine - I never worry about yours), I'll be happy.
P.S. You are a very, very good mom. And sister. And friend. The best I know of, really. I just thought I should make that clear.
Love,
Al
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The Black Thumb
Dear Em,
I am a non-plant person. A non-plant person who is planting several gardens this year and has very low expectations for the harvest (although I REALLY want to learn to can stuff, so there'd better be at least 3 or 4 tomatoes; you and I can split a jar of homemade salsa). If all goes well, there will be tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, sweet and hot peppers, butternut squash, onions, broccoli, strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, and herbs. And wildflowers. If not, I will try again next year. I think I'm already failing at composting, because so far, mine just looks like rotting garbage mixed with dead leaves.
I tried to get a picture of the rhubarb to send to Michele, because it actually survived and is growing stems and leaves, which I was absolutely positive was not going to happen. Must be the rotting garbage "compost" I threw onto it. :-)
I keep trying to think of something interesting to tell you and getting distracted because we have playmates coming over at 8:30 and I have GOT to shower. I've been wearing the pants you gave me and I love them, and I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have all of those shirts for John. You have quadrupled his wardrobe, and the shirts are all so nice, and it's good for him to see that he can wear XL now instead of XXL. We need to do something nice for Todd to thank him. Maybe I'll give him our jar of salsa.
We want to come tomorrow night! I have Bible study but don't really have to go, and Isaac has karate but maybe somehow we can skip it or something.
Love,
Al
I am a non-plant person. A non-plant person who is planting several gardens this year and has very low expectations for the harvest (although I REALLY want to learn to can stuff, so there'd better be at least 3 or 4 tomatoes; you and I can split a jar of homemade salsa). If all goes well, there will be tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, sweet and hot peppers, butternut squash, onions, broccoli, strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, and herbs. And wildflowers. If not, I will try again next year. I think I'm already failing at composting, because so far, mine just looks like rotting garbage mixed with dead leaves.
I tried to get a picture of the rhubarb to send to Michele, because it actually survived and is growing stems and leaves, which I was absolutely positive was not going to happen. Must be the rotting garbage "compost" I threw onto it. :-)
I keep trying to think of something interesting to tell you and getting distracted because we have playmates coming over at 8:30 and I have GOT to shower. I've been wearing the pants you gave me and I love them, and I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have all of those shirts for John. You have quadrupled his wardrobe, and the shirts are all so nice, and it's good for him to see that he can wear XL now instead of XXL. We need to do something nice for Todd to thank him. Maybe I'll give him our jar of salsa.
We want to come tomorrow night! I have Bible study but don't really have to go, and Isaac has karate but maybe somehow we can skip it or something.
Love,
Al
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Plant people vs. non plant people
Sorry, I haven't blogged you back for awhile. I have no excuse. None. Laziness? Avoidance of my computer? Blogger's block?
I had fun at your house on Thursday. I am super impressed at your ability to not turn on the tv to entertain your kids for awhile, because they just want to do stuff all the time and that would be an easy way out. They are busy children. I know when my kids start to talk so much that I literally can't hear any more, I just have them go watch tv. Sure, I could engage them in some sort of artsy crafty activity, but usually I just want the noise to go away for awhile. This is terrible to admit. Please don't call child protective services.
Todd and I talked about having a garden this year. And then Alyssa and Sarah brought some cabbage plants home from school. And they watered them and put them in the sun. And they talked to them and loved them. And now they are dead. And I am feeling very discouraged by this and the fact that I have killed yet another house plant this year. We are not plant people. We are 'go to the farmer's market' people. We are 'admire other people's garden veggies' people. Maybe my big sister will give us a tomato or two?
I must tell you about our newest knitting obsession. Finger knitting. Why are we obsessed, you ask? Because you can have yourself a scarf made in minutes! And it's easy enough that even Sarah wants to do it! I'm sure you know what it is, but for anyone who doesn't, here is a wonderful art teacher's blog with demonstration videos. Look under "wearable art". http://mrscart.weebly.com/blog.html .
Alyssa got so excited, she made a scarf for every girl in her class and her teacher.
Zion has a program on Thursday night at 6:30 if you aren't busy (but I know you are). Alyssa's class is doing the Alleluia chorus with signs and Sarah's class is doing mixed up nursery rhymes. I think Haley has a chorus concert at the same time?!? Argh.
Have a great week sissy!
Love, Em
I had fun at your house on Thursday. I am super impressed at your ability to not turn on the tv to entertain your kids for awhile, because they just want to do stuff all the time and that would be an easy way out. They are busy children. I know when my kids start to talk so much that I literally can't hear any more, I just have them go watch tv. Sure, I could engage them in some sort of artsy crafty activity, but usually I just want the noise to go away for awhile. This is terrible to admit. Please don't call child protective services.
 |
| This blog needed a picture. Me & my nieces, Esme & Grace. |
I must tell you about our newest knitting obsession. Finger knitting. Why are we obsessed, you ask? Because you can have yourself a scarf made in minutes! And it's easy enough that even Sarah wants to do it! I'm sure you know what it is, but for anyone who doesn't, here is a wonderful art teacher's blog with demonstration videos. Look under "wearable art". http://mrscart.weebly.com/blog.html .
Alyssa got so excited, she made a scarf for every girl in her class and her teacher.
Zion has a program on Thursday night at 6:30 if you aren't busy (but I know you are). Alyssa's class is doing the Alleluia chorus with signs and Sarah's class is doing mixed up nursery rhymes. I think Haley has a chorus concert at the same time?!? Argh.
Have a great week sissy!
Love, Em
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Blah
Dear Em,
I am crabby. I'm so glad you're coming over on Thursday (bet you are too, now that you have this to look forward to).
Love,
Al
I am crabby. I'm so glad you're coming over on Thursday (bet you are too, now that you have this to look forward to).
Love,
Al
Friday, April 19, 2013
Neat Stuff You Should Look At
First, let me tell you that we are not watching TV, playing video games, or playing on the computer (work and research on the computer are still allowed...I guess this blog is temporarily in the "work" category) until June 1. Some things the kids have done instead that are absolutely shocking to me:
Okay, now for the links to neat stuff you should look at:
Robinson Curriculum (what I ordered for next year - worked for the genius children of two scientists...let's see if it works for children on, let's just say, more of the other end of the spectrum): http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/
Mother Earth News Vegetable Garden Planner (plan your garden online! print it! show it off to your sister, who may or may not care!): http://gardenplanner.motherearthnews.com/
Knitting Daily (online knitting community for nerdy old ladies like us): http://www.knittingdaily.com/
Baldwin Online Children's Literature Project (tons of free children's literature to read online or print): http://www.mainlesson.com/main/displayarticle.php?article=mission
Love,
Al
- Played with their toys together
- Played actual board games together (mostly without screaming)
- Gotten a head start on their schoolwork without being asked
- Read books without whining
- Not asked to watch TV - not even once, that I can remember
Okay, now for the links to neat stuff you should look at:
Robinson Curriculum (what I ordered for next year - worked for the genius children of two scientists...let's see if it works for children on, let's just say, more of the other end of the spectrum): http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/
Mother Earth News Vegetable Garden Planner (plan your garden online! print it! show it off to your sister, who may or may not care!): http://gardenplanner.motherearthnews.com/
Knitting Daily (online knitting community for nerdy old ladies like us): http://www.knittingdaily.com/
Baldwin Online Children's Literature Project (tons of free children's literature to read online or print): http://www.mainlesson.com/main/displayarticle.php?article=mission
Love,
Al
Thursday, April 18, 2013
11 AM
ALLISON,
IT IS 4 AM! What are you doing awake if your baby is sleeping? GO TO SLEEP! I understand worrying about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but for goodness sake, check to make sure he is breathing and go back to bed! Here is what I do at 0400: look at clock, wonder why I have awakened at such a horrendously early hour, close eyes, continue sleeping for 2-3 hours.
Honestly, I cannot do much of anything before 7 am. I know this is pathetic. I am not working right now, so I have no reason to get up any earlier than this, so I just get up at like 6:45 and wake the kids up and drink coffee while they get ready for school. I should be more productive than this. I am just not. What is wrong with me? Why didn't I get those genes? Todd found one of those e-cards that says something like, "I'm not really a morning person and I'm not really a night person, but I can rock 11:00 am like it's nobody's business!" He thinks that totally applies to me. He's right.
I am finally knitting the scarf from the yarn Dad & Michele brought me from Italy. In a perfect world, in our old age (like late 50's, early 60's- no offense to anyone in this age range, I don't think you are old), we are going to knit together on a regular basis- like in a knitting circle. Todd heard me saying this and asked if we could really get any more boring than we already are. That if we are already wanting to knit together now and have family tea parties (like we have decided to do after someone brilliantly brought it up at the homeschooling expo), how much worse will it be in 20 years? Like soon we are going to be those ladies in weird clothes and plastic hats carrying our yarn all over town and knitting at inappropriate times and making our kids and grandkids wear things that they will be embarrassed by. I am going to show him. I am resolving to only ever knit cool things and show him that knitting and tea parties are for cool people who are interesting and young. You must join this movement.
I am glad that Phil is still alive. I saw Grandpa Phil today, and you will be glad to know that he is still alive as well, although I didn't have to listen for him to cry as an indication. He stopped here while on official business and helped with Sarah's math homework.
Love, Em
P.S. I love the new look of the blog. And the picture where you are trying to choke me to death. Just kidding, I know you didn't mean it. :)
IT IS 4 AM! What are you doing awake if your baby is sleeping? GO TO SLEEP! I understand worrying about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but for goodness sake, check to make sure he is breathing and go back to bed! Here is what I do at 0400: look at clock, wonder why I have awakened at such a horrendously early hour, close eyes, continue sleeping for 2-3 hours.
Honestly, I cannot do much of anything before 7 am. I know this is pathetic. I am not working right now, so I have no reason to get up any earlier than this, so I just get up at like 6:45 and wake the kids up and drink coffee while they get ready for school. I should be more productive than this. I am just not. What is wrong with me? Why didn't I get those genes? Todd found one of those e-cards that says something like, "I'm not really a morning person and I'm not really a night person, but I can rock 11:00 am like it's nobody's business!" He thinks that totally applies to me. He's right.
I am finally knitting the scarf from the yarn Dad & Michele brought me from Italy. In a perfect world, in our old age (like late 50's, early 60's- no offense to anyone in this age range, I don't think you are old), we are going to knit together on a regular basis- like in a knitting circle. Todd heard me saying this and asked if we could really get any more boring than we already are. That if we are already wanting to knit together now and have family tea parties (like we have decided to do after someone brilliantly brought it up at the homeschooling expo), how much worse will it be in 20 years? Like soon we are going to be those ladies in weird clothes and plastic hats carrying our yarn all over town and knitting at inappropriate times and making our kids and grandkids wear things that they will be embarrassed by. I am going to show him. I am resolving to only ever knit cool things and show him that knitting and tea parties are for cool people who are interesting and young. You must join this movement.
I am glad that Phil is still alive. I saw Grandpa Phil today, and you will be glad to know that he is still alive as well, although I didn't have to listen for him to cry as an indication. He stopped here while on official business and helped with Sarah's math homework.
Love, Em
P.S. I love the new look of the blog. And the picture where you are trying to choke me to death. Just kidding, I know you didn't mean it. :)
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Is He Dead?
Dear Em,
Phil is still sleeping. As in, he has not woken up since we put him to bed last night. I keep thinking, "Maybe he's not okay...I should go check on him. He might be dead!" But I know that if he is okay, this will wake him up. And if he's not okay, I'll at least have one good hour before I discover it and have to start freaking out. What you wrote about the homeschool Expo is interesting; surprising, even. I haven't had time to really think about it, but it is true that once you put yourself in charge of "school," you get to (or have to) figure out how to make it work for you and your family. We all share ideas with each other (some, like me, are always asking for them and others seem to be always giving them), but in the end, you have to rely on your own brain and skill level and interests to get the message across to the kids. You're all you've got, and homeschooling is challenging enough without trying to do something that no one wants to do. And since there is no readily available standard - or even peer - against which to compare or measure them, it is a LOT easier to be okay with who and what and where they are in school. I know I obsess over pretty much every detail of school, including whether or not the kids seem to be on track with where they'd be in the public school, but I don't feel anywhere near the pressure to keep up or compete with other families like I did when they went to school. It's the same with television, believe it or not. We don't watch a whole lot of TV, and now I've banned it completely until June 1, and we never see commercials, because all we have is Netflix. Not having commercials has been SO good for me and the kids as far as curbing the desire for more stuff. I can tell, after watching "real" TV with real commercials that I feel a little bit less satisfied with what we have. I start wanting things that I didn't even realize existed. The couch looks a little dirtier. My wardrobe seems a little less cool. Cooking without that awesome $200 casserole dish on HGTV seems a little more mundane. It's a lot easier to be happy when you're oblivious to how you compare to other people. Anyway, I love that you came and enjoyed the displays, and the kids loved seeing you and the girls. That sounded bad - of course, I loved seeing you guys too! All afternoon, they were asking if I thought you were still in town and why didn't we get to go play with you and when were we going to see you again.
And now, you'll be relieved to know that Phil is crying and must therefore still be alive.
Love,
Al
Phil is still sleeping. As in, he has not woken up since we put him to bed last night. I keep thinking, "Maybe he's not okay...I should go check on him. He might be dead!" But I know that if he is okay, this will wake him up. And if he's not okay, I'll at least have one good hour before I discover it and have to start freaking out. What you wrote about the homeschool Expo is interesting; surprising, even. I haven't had time to really think about it, but it is true that once you put yourself in charge of "school," you get to (or have to) figure out how to make it work for you and your family. We all share ideas with each other (some, like me, are always asking for them and others seem to be always giving them), but in the end, you have to rely on your own brain and skill level and interests to get the message across to the kids. You're all you've got, and homeschooling is challenging enough without trying to do something that no one wants to do. And since there is no readily available standard - or even peer - against which to compare or measure them, it is a LOT easier to be okay with who and what and where they are in school. I know I obsess over pretty much every detail of school, including whether or not the kids seem to be on track with where they'd be in the public school, but I don't feel anywhere near the pressure to keep up or compete with other families like I did when they went to school. It's the same with television, believe it or not. We don't watch a whole lot of TV, and now I've banned it completely until June 1, and we never see commercials, because all we have is Netflix. Not having commercials has been SO good for me and the kids as far as curbing the desire for more stuff. I can tell, after watching "real" TV with real commercials that I feel a little bit less satisfied with what we have. I start wanting things that I didn't even realize existed. The couch looks a little dirtier. My wardrobe seems a little less cool. Cooking without that awesome $200 casserole dish on HGTV seems a little more mundane. It's a lot easier to be happy when you're oblivious to how you compare to other people. Anyway, I love that you came and enjoyed the displays, and the kids loved seeing you and the girls. That sounded bad - of course, I loved seeing you guys too! All afternoon, they were asking if I thought you were still in town and why didn't we get to go play with you and when were we going to see you again.
And now, you'll be relieved to know that Phil is crying and must therefore still be alive.
Love,
Al
Monday, April 15, 2013
Teacher of the Year
Dear Al,
Someday Isaac will realize that you were a cool, brave, smart, and awesome mother. He will be 35, but he will realize it! I think we spend our adult lives making up for being such idiotic adolescents and teenagers. He will figure it out someday.
Are you surviving over there? Is Phil letting you get anything done? I could spend all of this time avoiding school at your house just as easily as at my house you know.
I have 2 observations about homeschooling that I made from coming to the expo on Saturday.
1. Everyone is always kind of doing their own thing. Which is cool, because that is the whole point of homeschooling. Moms are nursing babies, kids are dressed as characters or not, they are doing presentations or not, they have created something to share or not, dad's are helping or not. This is very different from (especially) public and private school where everyone is doing exactly the same thing. And if you aren't, you are not cool. There is one way to do something and in one order.
2. Everyone is willing to share. They are sharing ideas, books, food, etc. From the outside, it seems like a very friendly group of people who isn't competing about how great their kids are at school, but like they are willing to share things that work for them. Also very different from public school. Kids and parents are competing about everything it seems.
If there was a PTA for homeschooling, you would be the president. Or if it was a real school, you could be the superintendent or principal or teacher of the year. I don't know how you get everything done. I secretly hope and imagine that you have one really messy, disgusting, horrid closet or something where you are hiding everything you can't clean or do. There's like a dead animal and a months worth of laundry in there. But I have never seen it. I have lots of really messy closets and I don't do nearly as much as you do.
Anyway, you are cool, despite Isaac's best efforts to convince you otherwise. And I can't change this blog layout because I'm not the administrator I think. We continue to be lame.
Love, Em
Someday Isaac will realize that you were a cool, brave, smart, and awesome mother. He will be 35, but he will realize it! I think we spend our adult lives making up for being such idiotic adolescents and teenagers. He will figure it out someday.
Are you surviving over there? Is Phil letting you get anything done? I could spend all of this time avoiding school at your house just as easily as at my house you know.
I have 2 observations about homeschooling that I made from coming to the expo on Saturday.
1. Everyone is always kind of doing their own thing. Which is cool, because that is the whole point of homeschooling. Moms are nursing babies, kids are dressed as characters or not, they are doing presentations or not, they have created something to share or not, dad's are helping or not. This is very different from (especially) public and private school where everyone is doing exactly the same thing. And if you aren't, you are not cool. There is one way to do something and in one order.
2. Everyone is willing to share. They are sharing ideas, books, food, etc. From the outside, it seems like a very friendly group of people who isn't competing about how great their kids are at school, but like they are willing to share things that work for them. Also very different from public school. Kids and parents are competing about everything it seems.
If there was a PTA for homeschooling, you would be the president. Or if it was a real school, you could be the superintendent or principal or teacher of the year. I don't know how you get everything done. I secretly hope and imagine that you have one really messy, disgusting, horrid closet or something where you are hiding everything you can't clean or do. There's like a dead animal and a months worth of laundry in there. But I have never seen it. I have lots of really messy closets and I don't do nearly as much as you do.
Anyway, you are cool, despite Isaac's best efforts to convince you otherwise. And I can't change this blog layout because I'm not the administrator I think. We continue to be lame.
Love, Em
Thursday, April 11, 2013
More Lame than Embarrassing
Dear Em,
I've been thinking about your letter (I'm calling them letters, not posts) and about being an embarrassing mom, and it makes me sad. For one thing, I wish I had been the kind of kid who was NOT embarrassed of her parents, but I remember being mortified to be with them in public in middle and high school. There is a certain story about the National Honor Society blood drive that still makes me cringe (bring it up sometime when I'm not there if you don't remember this one). I wish I had been less concerned about what my friends (really, the popular kids who were not my friends and wouldn't have been my friends even if Madonna and Michael Jordan were my parents) thought and more concerned with my relationship with our parents. I would have spared myself, and the world at large, from some truly embarrassing and regrettable behavior on my part. For another, I get the feeling from Isaac not that he thinks I'm embarrassing, but that I'm just boring and lame. I'm constantly losing out to Mike and his household in terms of coolness. They have better food, better TV, better entertainment, better pets, a better house, a better neighborhood, cooler friends (remember Keith?), and on and on and on. And I resent it. And I created the whole situation, and so I feel guilty for feeling angry with Mike and irritated with Isaac.
Anyway, in the end, we need to be proud of our lame, embarrassing selves. It's a sign that we're doing our jobs as parents. Secretly, Haley likes it that you stick up for her and protect her and cheer for her, regardless of how silly you look.
P.S. Please make this page look better. I chose the boringest layout there was (gah! see, I am boring and lame!)
Love,
Al
I've been thinking about your letter (I'm calling them letters, not posts) and about being an embarrassing mom, and it makes me sad. For one thing, I wish I had been the kind of kid who was NOT embarrassed of her parents, but I remember being mortified to be with them in public in middle and high school. There is a certain story about the National Honor Society blood drive that still makes me cringe (bring it up sometime when I'm not there if you don't remember this one). I wish I had been less concerned about what my friends (really, the popular kids who were not my friends and wouldn't have been my friends even if Madonna and Michael Jordan were my parents) thought and more concerned with my relationship with our parents. I would have spared myself, and the world at large, from some truly embarrassing and regrettable behavior on my part. For another, I get the feeling from Isaac not that he thinks I'm embarrassing, but that I'm just boring and lame. I'm constantly losing out to Mike and his household in terms of coolness. They have better food, better TV, better entertainment, better pets, a better house, a better neighborhood, cooler friends (remember Keith?), and on and on and on. And I resent it. And I created the whole situation, and so I feel guilty for feeling angry with Mike and irritated with Isaac.
Anyway, in the end, we need to be proud of our lame, embarrassing selves. It's a sign that we're doing our jobs as parents. Secretly, Haley likes it that you stick up for her and protect her and cheer for her, regardless of how silly you look.
P.S. Please make this page look better. I chose the boringest layout there was (gah! see, I am boring and lame!)
Love,
Al
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Moms are Embarrassing
Dear Al,
I think your neck looks at least 28, maybe 26 with good lighting. Like near darkness. Just kidding.
I spent several hours today writing about very specific nurse educator related nonsense that seems totally unimportant now that I think about it. I wish I had a baby to distract me from such tedious work. It is so boring here by myself all day. Sometimes I realize that I have told the dog what I'm doing like I really expect him to understand. Then I think, he's a dog you idiot! Oliver just licks his lips and goes back to sleep.
So, Haley and I went for a bike ride the other day and we stopped at a park for a little while. There were these middle school aged kids there who were really obnoxious. I mean really obnoxious. One kid kept saying a phrase (not clean enough to mention to our large audience of adults and children alike), and I was just going to go yell at him when Haley begged me to not to, because it would embarrass her. The annoying boy saw that I was going to come over and yell, and he left- saving her from said embarrassment. The next day, she wanted to ride her shiny new, awesome bike over to her friend's house and I insisted that she wear a helmet. This is an incredibly embarrassing skull saving thing to do if you are in middle school. Then yesterday we had the talent show for Zion and she was picked to play a game. In the middle of the game, I yelled "faster Haley!!" and the crowd laughed. I am now the most embarrassing mother on earth. She may never be seen in public with me again. Can you relate to this?
Our next project is to make this blog look not quite so lame. It needs a theme. Like baby animals or fire and ice. Wait, I know- the theme is- are you ready?---letters. Clever huh? I will work on that.
Love, Em
I think your neck looks at least 28, maybe 26 with good lighting. Like near darkness. Just kidding.
I spent several hours today writing about very specific nurse educator related nonsense that seems totally unimportant now that I think about it. I wish I had a baby to distract me from such tedious work. It is so boring here by myself all day. Sometimes I realize that I have told the dog what I'm doing like I really expect him to understand. Then I think, he's a dog you idiot! Oliver just licks his lips and goes back to sleep.
So, Haley and I went for a bike ride the other day and we stopped at a park for a little while. There were these middle school aged kids there who were really obnoxious. I mean really obnoxious. One kid kept saying a phrase (not clean enough to mention to our large audience of adults and children alike), and I was just going to go yell at him when Haley begged me to not to, because it would embarrass her. The annoying boy saw that I was going to come over and yell, and he left- saving her from said embarrassment. The next day, she wanted to ride her shiny new, awesome bike over to her friend's house and I insisted that she wear a helmet. This is an incredibly embarrassing skull saving thing to do if you are in middle school. Then yesterday we had the talent show for Zion and she was picked to play a game. In the middle of the game, I yelled "faster Haley!!" and the crowd laughed. I am now the most embarrassing mother on earth. She may never be seen in public with me again. Can you relate to this?
Our next project is to make this blog look not quite so lame. It needs a theme. Like baby animals or fire and ice. Wait, I know- the theme is- are you ready?---letters. Clever huh? I will work on that.
Love, Em
First Post!
Dear Em,
I wrote a long (some might say eloquent) post yesterday and didn't get to actually post it because I got distracted by what has GOT to be a baby on the brink of a major breakthrough (teeth? sleeping through the night? crawling? revealing his genius through baby sign language?). It was all about what I was going to do yesterday, and looking at it now makes me laugh. In a sad, silent way. So I've decided to be a lot less ambitious with the length of my posts and the length of my to-do lists and focus on stuff that is either interesting, funny, or extremely important. Nothing of that sort is coming to mind, so I'm just going to tell you this: I started this blog so we can stay connected and amuse our parents. Your job is to write back to me and be clever and make me look clever. If you can do that, our next project is to make me look younger. I've got a flap of wrinkly neck skin that I'd like us to focus on. Soon.
Love,
Al
I wrote a long (some might say eloquent) post yesterday and didn't get to actually post it because I got distracted by what has GOT to be a baby on the brink of a major breakthrough (teeth? sleeping through the night? crawling? revealing his genius through baby sign language?). It was all about what I was going to do yesterday, and looking at it now makes me laugh. In a sad, silent way. So I've decided to be a lot less ambitious with the length of my posts and the length of my to-do lists and focus on stuff that is either interesting, funny, or extremely important. Nothing of that sort is coming to mind, so I'm just going to tell you this: I started this blog so we can stay connected and amuse our parents. Your job is to write back to me and be clever and make me look clever. If you can do that, our next project is to make me look younger. I've got a flap of wrinkly neck skin that I'd like us to focus on. Soon.
Love,
Al
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