When Josh and I were looking for houses, we found several affordable older houses in need of a little work. When we would see these houses we knew immediately these were not the houses for us. Josh is not a handy sort.
Nearly every one of our family photos hung in our house are hiding a 2 inch by 2 inch spot on the wall riddled with misplaced nail holes. Josh operates under the "measure once, reposition a nail 4 or 5 times" method.
A couple weeks ago the dual florescent light tubs in our walk-in closet burned out. If the lights were switched on and left alone, eventually they would buzz and flicker enough so you could see your clothes. It was like getting dressing on Space Mountain.
I had it Friday morning and put "replace closet lights" on the Saturday to do list. Josh successfully removed the burned bulb and we trundled our bundle to Wal-Mart.
We actually purchased the correct bulb. I was impressed already.
I had a good feeling about this project of changing a light bulb. We made a great team. Here we go.
As Josh gathered the step stool (or as we refer to it, the ladder) a screw driver (for the surrounding mental bracket) and the new bulbs, the kids and I watched in awe.
Josh entered the closet with the kids and I on standby in our room, just in case, because surely he can do this by himself.
Then a stream of cleverly camouflaged expletives flew out of the closet. There was a distinct sizzle noise, followed by a spark. Then an electrical burning smell wafted into the room.
I ushered the kids downstairs to let, "Daddy handle this by himself."
Once downstairs I heard a pop, another sizzle and a very high pitched yelp. Cautiously I yelled up to Josh, "You okay?" I was answered with a defeated moan.
He came downstairs and said it wasn't fixed. It wouldn't be fixed that night. And he was going to pick up Chinese take out for dinner.
Before I went to bed I checked on the light. The mental bracket was hanging from the ceiling, only one screw on the right side held in the entire mechanism in place. I told Josh it could not stay like that through the night. We rigged it so it was at least secure and went to bed.
The next day, with the switch off this time, we donned the kids headlamps- thanks Dad- and fixed the light to the best of our minimal ability. Josh completely fried the one side of the light so instead of a double florecent light, we now have a single, but it's plenty bright enough.
So the answer to the title is apparently; 2 Phillips' 2 headlamps and 2 days.
Later that afternoon we were all on the deck watching our neighbors build a zipline for his children in the woods behind our house. Josh said, "Would you let our kids go on a zipline I built?"
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
A Christmas Story
Just before the Christmas holiday, I took the P's to see Santa. I took them on a Monday afternoon to a mall about 3 hours from my house (on the way home from visiting my parents).
I had a feeling seeing Santa could go very south very quick and I didn't want to run the risk of seeing anyone I knew or being shunned from the local mall for life.
On the way to the mall, CBL fell asleep in the car. I took the opportunity to "coach" Pman on what to say. I did not want him getting up there and asking for something I knew was not going to be delivered.
I suggested new train tracks. He bought into the idea, which was great because I knew they had already been purchased. Now, I just had to focus on keeping CBL in check during the visit.
As we parked the car she started waking up, but was still pretty sleepy as I strapped her in the stroller. We rolled through the department store toward the mall and Pman started getting cold feet.
Huh, I did not see that coming.
There were two small families ahead of us, so we circled around Santa, and his spot, a bit to check it out. We walked down to the fountain and talked about Santa. Several times he said he did not want any presents anymore.
I had just about given up, but then I saw those horrible quarter rides. You know the ones, for 25 cents your kid can sit in a "racecar" as it rocks back and forth in a jerky motion. I promised he could ride the car if he would sit on Santa's lap.
He finally agreed to sit on Santa's lap as long as I was close by. CBL was still in some kind of stupefied slumber state, which is so unlike her. I whisked her out of the stroller onto the old man's lap, propped Pman on the other knee.
Pman asked for train tracks.
CBL sat there.
Click, picture taken, $22 dollars paid. No tears shed. In lieu of the standard candy cane, this Santa was giving out mini versions of Highlights Magazines.
Later we met up with my mom and sister for lunch. My mom asked Pman how the Santa visit went. He replied, "Ok. I asked him for train tracks and he gave me a magazine."
Here is the picture:
By lunch time CBL was awake enough to lob edamame beans and mostly chewed french fries across the restaurant at unsuspecting diners. Ahhh, that's the CBL I know and love.
I had a feeling seeing Santa could go very south very quick and I didn't want to run the risk of seeing anyone I knew or being shunned from the local mall for life.
On the way to the mall, CBL fell asleep in the car. I took the opportunity to "coach" Pman on what to say. I did not want him getting up there and asking for something I knew was not going to be delivered.
I suggested new train tracks. He bought into the idea, which was great because I knew they had already been purchased. Now, I just had to focus on keeping CBL in check during the visit.
As we parked the car she started waking up, but was still pretty sleepy as I strapped her in the stroller. We rolled through the department store toward the mall and Pman started getting cold feet.
Huh, I did not see that coming.
There were two small families ahead of us, so we circled around Santa, and his spot, a bit to check it out. We walked down to the fountain and talked about Santa. Several times he said he did not want any presents anymore.
I had just about given up, but then I saw those horrible quarter rides. You know the ones, for 25 cents your kid can sit in a "racecar" as it rocks back and forth in a jerky motion. I promised he could ride the car if he would sit on Santa's lap.
He finally agreed to sit on Santa's lap as long as I was close by. CBL was still in some kind of stupefied slumber state, which is so unlike her. I whisked her out of the stroller onto the old man's lap, propped Pman on the other knee.
Pman asked for train tracks.
CBL sat there.
Click, picture taken, $22 dollars paid. No tears shed. In lieu of the standard candy cane, this Santa was giving out mini versions of Highlights Magazines.
Later we met up with my mom and sister for lunch. My mom asked Pman how the Santa visit went. He replied, "Ok. I asked him for train tracks and he gave me a magazine."
Here is the picture:
By lunch time CBL was awake enough to lob edamame beans and mostly chewed french fries across the restaurant at unsuspecting diners. Ahhh, that's the CBL I know and love.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Resolve to Evolve.
Well, hello there 2013! Welcome, I hope you are an enjoyable one.
This time of year, the first few days of January, people like to set the stage for bad old habits to die and new, productive ones to emerge.
One year, when we were younger, my older sister was in the mall around NYE time. A local news crew was also at the mall asking people to state their resolutions on camera. My sister was so excited to be on television she said, "My new years revolution is..." Who knows what else she said. I certainly don't remember and I'm pretty sure she does not either.
We did have a chuckle at the slip, but really some resolutions are a certain type of revolution. Anyone who has vowed to quit smoking, run their first official race- how ever long, have a baby, can attest to the fact that those life changing moments are in fact a revolution of sorts.
In light of all this, I asked my family what their resolutions were for 2013. Here are their answers:
I hope you all have a lovely 2013 and continue to enjoy the blog, despite the spotty regularity with which I post.
This time of year, the first few days of January, people like to set the stage for bad old habits to die and new, productive ones to emerge.
One year, when we were younger, my older sister was in the mall around NYE time. A local news crew was also at the mall asking people to state their resolutions on camera. My sister was so excited to be on television she said, "My new years revolution is..." Who knows what else she said. I certainly don't remember and I'm pretty sure she does not either.
We did have a chuckle at the slip, but really some resolutions are a certain type of revolution. Anyone who has vowed to quit smoking, run their first official race- how ever long, have a baby, can attest to the fact that those life changing moments are in fact a revolution of sorts.
In light of all this, I asked my family what their resolutions were for 2013. Here are their answers:
 | |
| CBL: Make a bigger mess and apparently cook more... |
 | ||||||||
| Pman: Play more golf. |
 | |
| Josh: It's a bunch of malarkey |
 | ||
| Me: Enjoy the race. (literally and symbolically) |
I hope you all have a lovely 2013 and continue to enjoy the blog, despite the spotty regularity with which I post.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Angel
Fact: The name (or a derivative of) Angel has been in my family for 5 generations. CBL is the 5th one to be exact.
Fact: Once, when I was in my early 20's I went to a psychic. Throughout the reading, she said some eerily accurate things. As soon as I sat down, before I even said my name she said, "I see a child around you. The child is always with you. Always."
We attempted to troubleshoot a bit, but came up empty. She said the meaning would uncover itself in the reading.
I had a little brother who was born very sick and way too early, when I was about 12. He spent a few days in the NICU. We lost him within days of his birth.
Apparently the child the psychic saw was my brother. She told me that he is always with me and he will come back as one of my own children.
Very eerie, especially if you know P-man's birthing story.
About this time last year Pman asked me about Angels. Honestly, I do not really remember the conversation. I think we got on the topic because of the song "Halo" by Beyonce. I told Pman what Angels were and that was that.
This past Sunday Pman and I were coming home from grocery store. Out of left field he says, "Angles are here to protect us. They love us and want to keep us safe. They are all around."
With a very large lump in my throat I asked, "That's right. Can we see Angels?"
He said, "Some times, but not always. The boys wear ties and the girls wear bows. They want us to be safe because they love us."
I asked, "Do we know the Angels?"
He said, "Some times."
When I asked him where he heard all this he said, "From you, Mommy."
When he is a teenager and I feel like he doesn't listen to or care about anything I say, I will try hard to remember this moment.
This conversation with my 4 year old on the way home from an exhausting trip to the grocery store, swept every bit of air out of my lungs. Not only did he remember what I said, he had clearly reflected on that conversation and expanded his understanding. I know this because I surely never told him boy angles wear ties.
Fact: Once, when I was in my early 20's I went to a psychic. Throughout the reading, she said some eerily accurate things. As soon as I sat down, before I even said my name she said, "I see a child around you. The child is always with you. Always."
We attempted to troubleshoot a bit, but came up empty. She said the meaning would uncover itself in the reading.
I had a little brother who was born very sick and way too early, when I was about 12. He spent a few days in the NICU. We lost him within days of his birth.
Apparently the child the psychic saw was my brother. She told me that he is always with me and he will come back as one of my own children.
Very eerie, especially if you know P-man's birthing story.
About this time last year Pman asked me about Angels. Honestly, I do not really remember the conversation. I think we got on the topic because of the song "Halo" by Beyonce. I told Pman what Angels were and that was that.
This past Sunday Pman and I were coming home from grocery store. Out of left field he says, "Angles are here to protect us. They love us and want to keep us safe. They are all around."
With a very large lump in my throat I asked, "That's right. Can we see Angels?"
He said, "Some times, but not always. The boys wear ties and the girls wear bows. They want us to be safe because they love us."
I asked, "Do we know the Angels?"
He said, "Some times."
When I asked him where he heard all this he said, "From you, Mommy."
When he is a teenager and I feel like he doesn't listen to or care about anything I say, I will try hard to remember this moment.
This conversation with my 4 year old on the way home from an exhausting trip to the grocery store, swept every bit of air out of my lungs. Not only did he remember what I said, he had clearly reflected on that conversation and expanded his understanding. I know this because I surely never told him boy angles wear ties.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Random Act of Kindness
Yesterday I went to the grocery store with CBL, as we often do on Tuesdays. While we waited to check out the lady in front of us had a something I can only describe as a "severe coupon issue" which made the whole getting home process take way too long.
The lady behind us, who came up after the Coupon Coup of 2012 was resolved, saw CBL and commented, "Oh you are a pretty little girl, what is that you are eating?"
"Fruit Loops." I replied.
In our house they are a snack, not a breakfast food. More specifically they are generally a grocery store snack and it takes my kids about a month to get through a box.
The lady replied to me via CBL, "OOO I guess you have a nice mommy. I didn't let my girls have those."
As I paid and walked away I heard her tell the check-out guy she had 4 things of soda under her cart. Well lady, I NEVER let my kiddos have soda- so there.
No matter, I had a happy little lady in my cart and we were nearly done with our daunting chore.
On the drive home I reflected back on my most recent grocery store check-out experience. I thought of nearly 1,000 things I wanted to say to the Fruit Loop Nazi (FLN). I wish I had my wits about me, because when I do- watch out.
But I had just ran 6 miles on the treadmill and had only eating 1 apple and a mini Hershey's bar, so my wits were set to low.
When we were about half way home traffic on both sides of the street stopped completely. No light. No school bus. Just stopped.
I peered around and saw a medium sized black short haired dog traversing the street. Cars were piling up. No one honked. No one yelled.
Finally a girl in the led car on the other side of the road opened her door. The dog came over and tried to climb on her lap. She reached back and opened her driver's side back door and let the dog in the back of her small gray car.
I watched her as she drove away throwing up her hands with a "now what" smile on her face. Something about her gestures told me this was not her dog, but she saw something needed to be done and she generously took care of it.
There was a message in that random act of extreme kindness that resonates with me. She saw that help was needed and she trusted the situation enough to do the right thing.
At the end of the day, the random act of kindness from the sweet dog girl stuck with me more than the Fruit Loop Nazi- and for that I am Thankful.
The lady behind us, who came up after the Coupon Coup of 2012 was resolved, saw CBL and commented, "Oh you are a pretty little girl, what is that you are eating?"
"Fruit Loops." I replied.
In our house they are a snack, not a breakfast food. More specifically they are generally a grocery store snack and it takes my kids about a month to get through a box.
The lady replied to me via CBL, "OOO I guess you have a nice mommy. I didn't let my girls have those."
As I paid and walked away I heard her tell the check-out guy she had 4 things of soda under her cart. Well lady, I NEVER let my kiddos have soda- so there.
No matter, I had a happy little lady in my cart and we were nearly done with our daunting chore.
On the drive home I reflected back on my most recent grocery store check-out experience. I thought of nearly 1,000 things I wanted to say to the Fruit Loop Nazi (FLN). I wish I had my wits about me, because when I do- watch out.
But I had just ran 6 miles on the treadmill and had only eating 1 apple and a mini Hershey's bar, so my wits were set to low.
When we were about half way home traffic on both sides of the street stopped completely. No light. No school bus. Just stopped.
I peered around and saw a medium sized black short haired dog traversing the street. Cars were piling up. No one honked. No one yelled.
Finally a girl in the led car on the other side of the road opened her door. The dog came over and tried to climb on her lap. She reached back and opened her driver's side back door and let the dog in the back of her small gray car.
I watched her as she drove away throwing up her hands with a "now what" smile on her face. Something about her gestures told me this was not her dog, but she saw something needed to be done and she generously took care of it.
There was a message in that random act of extreme kindness that resonates with me. She saw that help was needed and she trusted the situation enough to do the right thing.
At the end of the day, the random act of kindness from the sweet dog girl stuck with me more than the Fruit Loop Nazi- and for that I am Thankful.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Full Plate
When I was younger I hated eating dinner. Frankly eating at all sort of got in the way of all my chattering. If my mom would have let me main line chicken nuggets I probably would have taken that option, just to keep my mouth empty.
Growing up this discouraged and confused my older sister (I will call her Sweddy) to no end. She and our older brother would snarf down their dinner while I regaled the family with tales from my day or random thoughts in my head. Then I would be there with a full plate of (cold) dinner. Nary a bite taken.
Table empty. Plate full. No fun.
After finishing her own dinner, Sweddy would ask my mom, "Can Nikki play?" The reply was always, "She can play after she eats dinner."
My sister would heave a heavy sigh, grab a fork and eat my dinner.
This was nightly.
As we grew up I began to eat my own dinner. Eventually my parents had another daughter 6 years after me. (My kids call her Aunt ZZ, so I will call her ZZ here)
ZZ and Sweddy are eaters. ZZ still even calls me to fill me in on the amazing amount of food she consumes before lunch on some days. She works with our dad and once she ate her own lunch, her afternoon snack and our dad's lunch all before noon.
A few weekend's ago Sweddy got married to her college sweetheart. ZZ and I gave a little speech at the rehearsal dinner. We were first up and provided comic relief to the others in attendance while they ate, obviously, this is my wheelhouse.
Then ZZ and I got some dinner and watched the other speakers. The way we were sitting I was in front of ZZ with my back to my plate.
ZZ ate my dinner. The only thing she didn't eat was my sausage- four 3 inch cubes.
I also missed out on key lime pie because I was too busy entertaining the masses that I failed to even realize there was dessert at the rehearsal.
The next day at the (gorgeous- straight out of a magazine) wedding dinner, my food was again snatched away after I had only taken a bite or two. I believe there was a salad of some kind and possible a shrimp. I have no clue.
The waiter basically ran past the table with a plate of food and if you were quick enough with your fork, well then lucky you.
Of course, later the photographer caught me sneaking a cookie (re: shoveling many stale cookies in my mouth) off the tray in the long ago departed pre-ceremony "staging area". Leaving the photographic impression that I am the fatty fatty two by four of the sisterly bunch.
I do feel the need to note that both of these sisters are tall and thin and seemingly in great physical condition. The amount of food they eat when they are together is astounding.
Growing up this discouraged and confused my older sister (I will call her Sweddy) to no end. She and our older brother would snarf down their dinner while I regaled the family with tales from my day or random thoughts in my head. Then I would be there with a full plate of (cold) dinner. Nary a bite taken.
Table empty. Plate full. No fun.
After finishing her own dinner, Sweddy would ask my mom, "Can Nikki play?" The reply was always, "She can play after she eats dinner."
My sister would heave a heavy sigh, grab a fork and eat my dinner.
This was nightly.
As we grew up I began to eat my own dinner. Eventually my parents had another daughter 6 years after me. (My kids call her Aunt ZZ, so I will call her ZZ here)
ZZ and Sweddy are eaters. ZZ still even calls me to fill me in on the amazing amount of food she consumes before lunch on some days. She works with our dad and once she ate her own lunch, her afternoon snack and our dad's lunch all before noon.
A few weekend's ago Sweddy got married to her college sweetheart. ZZ and I gave a little speech at the rehearsal dinner. We were first up and provided comic relief to the others in attendance while they ate, obviously, this is my wheelhouse.
Then ZZ and I got some dinner and watched the other speakers. The way we were sitting I was in front of ZZ with my back to my plate.
ZZ ate my dinner. The only thing she didn't eat was my sausage- four 3 inch cubes.
I also missed out on key lime pie because I was too busy entertaining the masses that I failed to even realize there was dessert at the rehearsal.
The next day at the (gorgeous- straight out of a magazine) wedding dinner, my food was again snatched away after I had only taken a bite or two. I believe there was a salad of some kind and possible a shrimp. I have no clue.
The waiter basically ran past the table with a plate of food and if you were quick enough with your fork, well then lucky you.
Of course, later the photographer caught me sneaking a cookie (re: shoveling many stale cookies in my mouth) off the tray in the long ago departed pre-ceremony "staging area". Leaving the photographic impression that I am the fatty fatty two by four of the sisterly bunch.
I do feel the need to note that both of these sisters are tall and thin and seemingly in great physical condition. The amount of food they eat when they are together is astounding.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Hidden Treasure
I love to cook. Baking is okay, but for me cooking let's me be a lot more creative and that is what I love.
Recently I have been on a sort of Cooking Odyssey. I like to make yummy recipes as healthy as possible without sacrificing any of the oogy gooey-ness of the best dishes around. Not the most novel of ideas, but I'm trying to broaden my scope a bit.
Let me be clear, I'm not a vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, free-range, lentils only kind of girl.
We all know applesauce can be used in place of oil, but did you know you can also use ripe bananas or canned pumpkin. I will say though I think the pumpkin does tend to make things taste a little...harvesty. Great for fall, but a little off for Memorial Day brownies.
Recently I have come across the pureed veggie movement and I am in love! I have hidden brussel sprouts in lasagna, carrots in taco meat and butternut squash in mac and cheese. I can even make a cake with 2 cups of pureed chick peas (recipe for the cake can be found at http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/).
Jerry Seinfield's wife published a cookbook based on this cooking method. I'll save you the time and $15, its basically about steaming (or boiling) any fruit or veggie and then pureeing it until it's creamy. Then add the puree to virtually any dish in 1/2 cup to 1 cup portions.
Be smart about the combinations though. Obviously, pureed strawberries won't work in taco meat, but carrots did and I'm beating parsnips would work too!
I do think it is important for kids to eat veggies and know that they are eating veggies. These hidden treasure are not the only veg on their plates. I always have broccoli, spinach, green beans or the like on the plate. In fact, the only thing they have to eat all of is the actual veggie, the rest is negotiable.
And we do negotiate.
I just want to make sure they are getting the most amount of veggies possible. I am hoping their palates will develop a taste for some of these foods.
For example, I made Pumpkin Stew last week with chunks of butternut squash in it, along with other veggies, all visible, not pureed. Pman took a bite of the squash and said, "Ick!" spit it out and ate around the rest of the chunks. Tonight, I pureed the squash and hid it in the mac and cheese. Maybe by this time next year, we won't eat around the squash chunks in the stew.
Next week I am going to puree cauliflower and sneak it into chicken and cheese quesadillas.
Recently I have been on a sort of Cooking Odyssey. I like to make yummy recipes as healthy as possible without sacrificing any of the oogy gooey-ness of the best dishes around. Not the most novel of ideas, but I'm trying to broaden my scope a bit.
Let me be clear, I'm not a vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, free-range, lentils only kind of girl.
We all know applesauce can be used in place of oil, but did you know you can also use ripe bananas or canned pumpkin. I will say though I think the pumpkin does tend to make things taste a little...harvesty. Great for fall, but a little off for Memorial Day brownies.
Recently I have come across the pureed veggie movement and I am in love! I have hidden brussel sprouts in lasagna, carrots in taco meat and butternut squash in mac and cheese. I can even make a cake with 2 cups of pureed chick peas (recipe for the cake can be found at http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/).
Jerry Seinfield's wife published a cookbook based on this cooking method. I'll save you the time and $15, its basically about steaming (or boiling) any fruit or veggie and then pureeing it until it's creamy. Then add the puree to virtually any dish in 1/2 cup to 1 cup portions.
Be smart about the combinations though. Obviously, pureed strawberries won't work in taco meat, but carrots did and I'm beating parsnips would work too!
I do think it is important for kids to eat veggies and know that they are eating veggies. These hidden treasure are not the only veg on their plates. I always have broccoli, spinach, green beans or the like on the plate. In fact, the only thing they have to eat all of is the actual veggie, the rest is negotiable.
And we do negotiate.
I just want to make sure they are getting the most amount of veggies possible. I am hoping their palates will develop a taste for some of these foods.
For example, I made Pumpkin Stew last week with chunks of butternut squash in it, along with other veggies, all visible, not pureed. Pman took a bite of the squash and said, "Ick!" spit it out and ate around the rest of the chunks. Tonight, I pureed the squash and hid it in the mac and cheese. Maybe by this time next year, we won't eat around the squash chunks in the stew.
Next week I am going to puree cauliflower and sneak it into chicken and cheese quesadillas.
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