Case Lot

Why is it that a person can stock up at the grocery store when the case lot sale is going on and come home with nothing to eat?

Warehouse sale

I can't help it -- I love this sale. I went to the warehouse sale on Tuesday. I have lots of scrapbook stuff, so I told myself I would really not buy anything unless it was A) something I was low on, or B) a really great deal. I got some really cool stuff that I can't wait to use and stocked up on some cardstock. Yeah, I spent more than I planned on spending. The best part? It wasn't crowded! I had no wait in line and I found prime parking! This is still one of those sales that you have to grab the things you want and move on, because if you hesitate, it'll be gone (you can sort it out at the register)-- it's a weakness, I love these kinds of places/sales!!

William Tell Overture for Moms

OK, I can't figure out how Eric does the You-Tube posts -- do you have to have an account for that too?? Anyway, this is a very funny little diddy for Moms and everyone who has grown up with a Mom. Here's the web address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_oc1j5NakY

kids do the darn-dest things

On Saturday, I assigned Jared to pull out the flowers in the front flower bed and the kidney. I told him to pull the petunias and the marigolds. Then I specifically pointed to one of the perennials in the kidney and told him not to pull it and the other big perennials. So -- what did he do? He pulled EVERYTHING, including all the perennials, EXCEPT for the one little measly perennial I had pointed to!! Arghh! At that point, I sent him back to finish the job and pull the one little measly perennial he had left. I guess we'll start from scratch next spring!



Ryan brought home a note from school on Monday from the teacher, saying that he had not completed any work that day! Of course the note was stapled to all the work that he had to finish. One of the assignments was to simply finish coloring in a map of Europe -- this would seriously take him all of 3 minutes to finish. So he got out his box of 64 crayons -- the state crayons (every color is named after a state) He spent about 15 minutes going through the box and reading the names on the crayons before he happened upon the Puerto Rico one and said, "Hey -- what's Puerto Rico doing in here? It's not a state!" The kid is so NOT dumb -- but it sure takes forever to get homework done!



Jacob was getting ready for school yesterday and I told him to get his socks and shoes on. He obediently put his socks on and put on one sandal and one sneaker, then declared -- "I'm ready to go, Mom!" I guess I need to be a little more specific next time.



Matthew is almost crawling -- good grief! He's up on his knees and his arms are straight and he pushes forward. Fortunately, he's not coordinated enough yet to really take off. He's growing up so fast!

immigrant doll project

Jared had a project at school in which he had to learn about an ancestor that came to America, then make a presentation to his class and dress a paper doll like that ancestor might have dressed. He chose my grandfather, Frederick Peter Hansen, who came from Denmark. We have very little information about his life in Denmark, but we learned a few interesting facts and even listened to an old tape recording of him speaking. When he was a little boy he used to go to the docks and pick up coal that fell from the wagons. His family was poor and he had 11 brothers and sisters-- about 4 of them passed away as small children. He and a friend came to America when he was 17 years old. His passage cost $55. His uncle, who already lived here in America, sent him the money. Once here in America, he sent money home each month to his parents in Denmark -- they never came to America. He lived lots of places in the states, including Iowa, Montana, Idaho, Utah, and California. He spent many years working as a longshoreman in Los Angeles and then retired to St. George.

I think Jared enjoyed the project, but like most of these assignments, it really ends up being an assignment for the parents! However, I can say that this was a good one for us too.

The second trip

The second trip to Walmart (in the same day) caused a "mother moment" -- of the good kind. After school Jared & Ryan wanted to explore the new store and get a chance to use their ice breaker coupons and buy junk food, so I took them with the understanding that they would have to wait while I did the fabric shopping and it would be boring. They figured they could handle the fabric/boring shopping since there would be candy and a look at the toy aisle. Off we went! After the toys, candy, & fabric, I stopped to look at women's clothing for a minute on the way to the checkout. I pulled a jacket off the rack and tried it on. Here's the conversation that followed:
Boys: Try the purple one on, Mom.
Me: That's the color I want!
Boys: (When I had it on) That looks really good on you, Mom!
Boys: You should buy it.
Me: Well, if you think I look nice in it, maybe I'll get it.
Boys: You always look nice, Mom -- well, except for maybe when you get out of bed in the morning!
Me: Nobody looks good when they wake up in the morning!
Yeah, I bought it -- when boys tell you that you look nice, buy it!

if you build it, they will come

Today is the opening day of the new Walmart (or Walm-a-part) as I so lovingly refer to it. I was very much against Walmart building here, but alas, the deed has been done. And so, yes, I went...and shopped...and felt guilty that I was there instead of at Target. It was opening day after all wasn't it? Anyway, I have never seen so many senior citizens in one place at one time (with the exception of the senior center) in my life! They must have come from miles around to explore the new store! The only other customers there were moms with kids in tow like myself. The parking lot was chaos, as if the Christmas season were here -- oh wait, that's always how Walmart is! And the burning question is -- did I actually buy something there? Of course. And I'll probably go back -- maybe before the end of the day actually, since I found some really cute ant (aunt) flannel for $2 a yard and realized I probably should have bought the whole bolt!

Soccer mom

Life with boys includes soccer. Today it is practice for both Jared & Ryan at exactly the same time, but at two different parks. I'm feeling lucky though because both parks are in our city for a change. It has taken several weeks to finally get Ryan's practice moved back into Centerville. Ryan can walk or ride his bike to practice and then I can drive Jared to his practice. We'll do the games later in the week.
I have just been thinking lately how much I love having Jacob & Matthew at home during the day while the big kids are at school. Jacob, of course, has preschool 3 times a week, but these two are just so good-natured that it is just pleasant to be with them. I'm glad I have the opportunity to be home. Home is peaceful and organized till 3:30, then pandemonium breaks out with homework, snacks, friends, fits, teasing, and extracurricular activities jammed together. Gotta love it! Thank goodness the reading and piano practice get taken care of before school!

me, a blogger?

I've finally succumbed to starting a blog. I swore I'd never do it, but yes, I've given in -- mostly because I just wanted to see if I could do it, you know, a challenge. Since I'm not very tech savvy, we'll see what this new adventure brings. Today, I'm just proud of myself for getting this far without technical support. Photos, and other fun stuff will be new adventures to come.