I took the kids to town this morning - we went to the library first and then to Sam's Club to start the grocery shopping. We had a great time at the library and everyone found books they were excited about. Scooter, especially, as she'd been looking for a particular book for a very long time and she finally found it this morning.
Then we went to Sam's and that's where it all started to go downhill...
First I crunched my thumb in the door of the van; don't ask me how, just know that I'm seriously klutzy and manage to injure myself in small ways on a pretty regular basis. So while it wasn't a major injury, it set the tone for our entire Sam's experience today.
The kids were getting a little out of hand, so I put Pookie in the seat of the cart and told Midge that he needed to have one hand on the cart at all times. Pibb had a little more attitude than I generally like in a shopping partner, but was mostly well behaved. Scooter was enthusiastic and eagerly ran back to grab the million and one things I needed from aisles we'd already been through. The Boy wandered off almost immediately to look at books and video games, so he was no help at all.
It was pretty early in the day so most of the "snack stands" weren't up and running yet. The kids love to shop at Sam's because there are almost always samples to be had. Today there were only a couple and none of them was stellar. Even our local bakery only had one kind (compared to the usual 6-8) of bread to sample - spinach feta. I loved it, most of the kids were ambivalent, except Scooter, who hated it. They were disappointed that they didn't get very many snacks and within minutes a chorus of, "Mom, I'm hungry!" could be heard throughout the store.
After what seemed like hours (but in truth was only about 50 minutes), we finally finished shopping and I steered our dangerously overloaded cart to the registers, being very careful not to knock loaves of bread or boxes of granola bars off the stack and onto the floor. The registers were surprising busy considering the very few cars in the parking lot. We waited in line for several minutes before a cashier opened another register and motioned us over.
Now, with so many of us and so many groceries, I've developed a system for getting things onto the belt and back into the cart without smashing the bread or eggs and while keeping all the items that will go into the coolers together. I like my system. It works for me. The cashier opted not to listen to me and when I told her that I preferred to do it my way, her response was a snappish, "Just give me the bread. I won't squish it!" She wasn't specifically rude to me during the rest of my transaction, but it was clear she was unhappy.
As we walked away I was thinking about how rude she was and how much it bothered me. On the way home I snapped at Mr. Wonderful (over the phone) about how much of a jerk she'd been and how upset I was about it. Later, I thought more about it and realized that yeah, she'd been a jerk, but I hadn't been much better. I didn't smile at her after she ticked me off, I didn't wish her a better afternoon or give her so much as a "have a nice day."
I feel bad about it. Because whether it's a long term illness of a loved one or just a lousy "I smashed my thumb in my car door" kind of day, everyone is struggling with something, everyone has stress and crap and personal issues to deal with. And everyone could use a random smile and kind sentiment.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Overheard
Scooter: "Yeah, but it's not like you're that good at it..."
The Boy: "Watch it, Halfling!"
The Boy: "Watch it, Halfling!"
Monday, July 26, 2010
One down, one hundred to go...
101 in 1001 - #4
Complete a woodworking project with Mr. Wonderful. DONE!
When the bear destroyed my old feeder we decided to build a new one and we took the opportunity to "fix" the things we didn't like about the other feeder. This one was designed by Mr. Wonderful (using my suggestions) and built by us over the last several weekends.
The wood is various types, including plywood and pine. The bars on the sides are actually plant hangers and I love them! We looked at some fancier ones with lots of scrolls and vines and such, but they were all shorter and I didn't want to crowd the feeders together.
Overall I am very pleased with this project. It was relatively easy, quick and very satisfying (although Mr. Wonderful is likely to be annoyed forever by the rooflines).
The birds started using the feeder almost immediately after we stepped away from it!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Guest Blogger
I was sitting here talking to Mr. Wonderful about what to blog today when Pookie chimed in.
"I know!" he said, very enthusiastically. "I love you, Grandma!"
So there you have it, folks. Swiss Army Wife and family sends love to our Moms and Grandmas!
"I know!" he said, very enthusiastically. "I love you, Grandma!"
So there you have it, folks. Swiss Army Wife and family sends love to our Moms and Grandmas!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Updates
The Project: Nearing completion and starting to feel a little more real. Sometimes when I choose to do a large project or make a big commitment, it feels a little surreal. This project has felt that way until recently. I've often thought of it as a "someday" thing - like someday I'll finish it, someday I'll actually have to call it done, someday people will see it and judge my talent by it. However, as it seems like it'll be done in about a week or so, someday is coming up pretty stinkin' quick! And that makes me nervous. As long as it isn't done I can still change it. I can still tweak it and try to fix the things I perceive as mistakes. But the moment I say I'm finished, there's no going back - that's it.
On the upside, I'm very much looking forward to reading again. I haven't read for pleasure in months. I've read for school and I've read things like recipes and tutorials, but I've not just sat and read a book since March.
Buntings: The male is sitting on the bird feeder right now, but the female hasn't been seen in over a week. I suspect she's gone and I blame the cat (who also obliterated an entire family of squirrels from my front yard).
101 Project: I've been working on a few of these, but just haven't gotten around to posting about them. Look for a 101 post next week, if you're interested.
Health: I've lost 2 lbs this week - the healthy way. We've deviated from the SBD a couple times, but for the most part we've stuck with it pretty well. Mr. Wonderful is really sick of salads, so I've been looking for other lunch ideas for him (he's kinda picky, so it's tough) and that seems to be helping.
The Boy: He's doing very well with school, although I'm struggling a little with the school itself. We originally enrolled him for three years, 10-12. However, because we're homeschoolers he would have to take a test to opt out of the 9th grade classes. No problem, except that those tests are expensive and if he should happen to fail one, he'd still have to pay to take the class. It actually cost less for us to enroll him for the full four years than for him to be enrolled three years and take the required tests. He's okay with it, though, and says he's looking forward to getting more subjects.
Scooter: As always, she's either got her nose in a book (usually a field guide of some kind) or she's exploring outside. She's really into rocks right now and has been obsessively collecting interesting or fossilized rocks. She's doing well with her schoolwork, too, and recently had a "light bulb moment" about multiple-digit multiplication. It's so much easier now because she finally gets it. This is something we've struggled with for years and the last week or so has been much, much more pleasant when it comes to math time.
Pibb: He's been very interested in WWII lately, so we've spent a fair amount of time talking about different planes, tanks and other military weapons and strategies. He's been responsible for the breakfast and lunch dishes for a while now and he's getting better about making sure they're actually clean instead of just dunking them in the water and calling it good. Last week he asked if I'd teach him how to do the laundry, too. Of course I said yes - I love it when they like to do chores.
Midge: Midge is our little artist. He loves to color and draw. Mr. Wonderful's mom bought each of the kids a Moleskine notebook and Midge has filled his with drawings of everything from ninjas and zombies to trees and flowers, as well as self-portraits. He's struggling with reading, but is getting more confident. For whatever reason, he's convinced himself that he can't do it and that has slowed us down quite a bit. I'm certain that he can read, he just needs a little more time to be sure of it himself.
Pookie: My little Lovey... he's very affectionate and sweet, although he's got a little temper when he wants to. He's been spending a lot of time with Legos lately and has come up with some pretty amazing creations. He has a hard time getting the tiny ones apart, though and often asks Scooter for help. He's been learning his letters and is getting quite good at recognizing his name (his real name and his nickname), as well as some of the rest of our names. He loves to sort things by color (or other means) and will often sort bags of candy or beans. It's hilarious to watch because he gets really serious and won't let anyone help him or eat any until he's done.
So that's a brief overview of what's going on in my life right now. If there's anything you're curious about or want more information on, feel free to leave a note in the comments and I'll see what I can do.
On the upside, I'm very much looking forward to reading again. I haven't read for pleasure in months. I've read for school and I've read things like recipes and tutorials, but I've not just sat and read a book since March.
Buntings: The male is sitting on the bird feeder right now, but the female hasn't been seen in over a week. I suspect she's gone and I blame the cat (who also obliterated an entire family of squirrels from my front yard).
101 Project: I've been working on a few of these, but just haven't gotten around to posting about them. Look for a 101 post next week, if you're interested.
Health: I've lost 2 lbs this week - the healthy way. We've deviated from the SBD a couple times, but for the most part we've stuck with it pretty well. Mr. Wonderful is really sick of salads, so I've been looking for other lunch ideas for him (he's kinda picky, so it's tough) and that seems to be helping.
The Boy: He's doing very well with school, although I'm struggling a little with the school itself. We originally enrolled him for three years, 10-12. However, because we're homeschoolers he would have to take a test to opt out of the 9th grade classes. No problem, except that those tests are expensive and if he should happen to fail one, he'd still have to pay to take the class. It actually cost less for us to enroll him for the full four years than for him to be enrolled three years and take the required tests. He's okay with it, though, and says he's looking forward to getting more subjects.
Scooter: As always, she's either got her nose in a book (usually a field guide of some kind) or she's exploring outside. She's really into rocks right now and has been obsessively collecting interesting or fossilized rocks. She's doing well with her schoolwork, too, and recently had a "light bulb moment" about multiple-digit multiplication. It's so much easier now because she finally gets it. This is something we've struggled with for years and the last week or so has been much, much more pleasant when it comes to math time.
Pibb: He's been very interested in WWII lately, so we've spent a fair amount of time talking about different planes, tanks and other military weapons and strategies. He's been responsible for the breakfast and lunch dishes for a while now and he's getting better about making sure they're actually clean instead of just dunking them in the water and calling it good. Last week he asked if I'd teach him how to do the laundry, too. Of course I said yes - I love it when they like to do chores.
Midge: Midge is our little artist. He loves to color and draw. Mr. Wonderful's mom bought each of the kids a Moleskine notebook and Midge has filled his with drawings of everything from ninjas and zombies to trees and flowers, as well as self-portraits. He's struggling with reading, but is getting more confident. For whatever reason, he's convinced himself that he can't do it and that has slowed us down quite a bit. I'm certain that he can read, he just needs a little more time to be sure of it himself.
Pookie: My little Lovey... he's very affectionate and sweet, although he's got a little temper when he wants to. He's been spending a lot of time with Legos lately and has come up with some pretty amazing creations. He has a hard time getting the tiny ones apart, though and often asks Scooter for help. He's been learning his letters and is getting quite good at recognizing his name (his real name and his nickname), as well as some of the rest of our names. He loves to sort things by color (or other means) and will often sort bags of candy or beans. It's hilarious to watch because he gets really serious and won't let anyone help him or eat any until he's done.
So that's a brief overview of what's going on in my life right now. If there's anything you're curious about or want more information on, feel free to leave a note in the comments and I'll see what I can do.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
I'm a traditional gal...sorta
My family is built on traditions. From Grandma Rolls to outdoor Easter egg hunts, we've got a tradition for nearly everything - and that's how I like it.
Every summer my Mom takes a week or two off work and drives up to spend some time with her parents, her siblings (and their children) and my family. And every summer a large group of them go tubing on a local river. This is the one tradition I've studiously avoided being a part of.
I don't like being submerged in water and I don't like not being in control - the two main components of tubing. When you go tubing, the river takes over - it tells you where to go and it decides just how fast you're going there. It pushes you into the trees along the banks and it catches you in little whirlpools.
Mr. Wonderful loves tubing. The Boy, Scooter and Pibb love tubing. I've always stayed home, partly because I didn't really want to go and partly because Midge and Pookie were just too small to spend an afternoon on the river. A few years ago Mr. Wonderful convinced me to try it - just the two of us.
My sister was visiting and she agreed to watch the kids for the afternoon. I bought a bathing suit (my first in over a decade) and we went. Mr. Wonderful knew I was nervous, so he tied our tubes together so I wouldn't be swept away by the current (a fear of mine). It was cold and scary and even seeing a Green Heron wasn't enough to make me truly enjoy it. But it wasn't as bad as I'd expected and I agreed to try again the following year.
The next year it was a little easier and I didn't panic nearly as much. I began to relax and spend more time noticing the beauty of the river and less time worrying about it. I saw cedar waxwings and gold finches, a few minnows, ducks and turtles and I laughed when Mr. Wonderful made jokes. I still wasn't completely comfortable, but I began to see the fun that could be had.
This year when Mr. Wonderful asked me to go, I immediately agreed. I'm still nervous, but each time I go it gets easier and more fun. Then he suggested that we should buy a small inflatable boat and take everyone - he and the bigger kids could tube and I could stay in the boat with Pookie and Midge (the ones small enough to fall through the hole in the middle of the tube). After some debate and research we decided to go for it.
It was even more nerve-wracking to have all the kids there (I'm a Nervous Nelly), but the bigger kids have gone more times than I have, so they're old pros. It was a perfect day, not too hot, just a little breezy and the water was just the right temperature!
The little boat came with two small paddles and let me tell you, they made a world of difference. I felt much more empowered, like I had some small measure of control over where we went. Mr. Wonderful praised my ability to steer the boat, especially since I'd never done it before.
All in all, it was a great family experience and I think I may actually start participating in the tubing tradition.
Every summer my Mom takes a week or two off work and drives up to spend some time with her parents, her siblings (and their children) and my family. And every summer a large group of them go tubing on a local river. This is the one tradition I've studiously avoided being a part of.
I don't like being submerged in water and I don't like not being in control - the two main components of tubing. When you go tubing, the river takes over - it tells you where to go and it decides just how fast you're going there. It pushes you into the trees along the banks and it catches you in little whirlpools.
Mr. Wonderful loves tubing. The Boy, Scooter and Pibb love tubing. I've always stayed home, partly because I didn't really want to go and partly because Midge and Pookie were just too small to spend an afternoon on the river. A few years ago Mr. Wonderful convinced me to try it - just the two of us.
My sister was visiting and she agreed to watch the kids for the afternoon. I bought a bathing suit (my first in over a decade) and we went. Mr. Wonderful knew I was nervous, so he tied our tubes together so I wouldn't be swept away by the current (a fear of mine). It was cold and scary and even seeing a Green Heron wasn't enough to make me truly enjoy it. But it wasn't as bad as I'd expected and I agreed to try again the following year.
The next year it was a little easier and I didn't panic nearly as much. I began to relax and spend more time noticing the beauty of the river and less time worrying about it. I saw cedar waxwings and gold finches, a few minnows, ducks and turtles and I laughed when Mr. Wonderful made jokes. I still wasn't completely comfortable, but I began to see the fun that could be had.
This year when Mr. Wonderful asked me to go, I immediately agreed. I'm still nervous, but each time I go it gets easier and more fun. Then he suggested that we should buy a small inflatable boat and take everyone - he and the bigger kids could tube and I could stay in the boat with Pookie and Midge (the ones small enough to fall through the hole in the middle of the tube). After some debate and research we decided to go for it.
It was even more nerve-wracking to have all the kids there (I'm a Nervous Nelly), but the bigger kids have gone more times than I have, so they're old pros. It was a perfect day, not too hot, just a little breezy and the water was just the right temperature!
The little boat came with two small paddles and let me tell you, they made a world of difference. I felt much more empowered, like I had some small measure of control over where we went. Mr. Wonderful praised my ability to steer the boat, especially since I'd never done it before.
All in all, it was a great family experience and I think I may actually start participating in the tubing tradition.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Goodbye Baby Buntings
Sadly, the baby buntings have died. They suffered no trauma, as far as I can tell. Mama Bunting has been notably absent the past couple of days, so I wonder if the local stray cat (or some other predator) got her. It would explain the babies inability to survive the colder temperatures the last few nights.
Daddy Bunting is still here, so I have hope that perhaps Mama Bunting is alive and well, taking care of a new nest somewhere nearby.
Daddy Bunting is still here, so I have hope that perhaps Mama Bunting is alive and well, taking care of a new nest somewhere nearby.
Friday, July 16, 2010
They're getting bigger!
The baby buntings are much more active today. When we got to the nest two of them were jumping around and making the cutest little squeaking noise! The one in the top photo was gnawing on a blade of grass that was hanging into the nest. The Mama was on the Northern Catalpa tree about 10 feet from the nest, but she didn't seem bothered by our presence or agitated in any way. I think she likes us.
According to the research Scooter and I did, they'll only stay in the nest 12-15 days after they hatch. That means we've got approximately a week before they're ready to move on to their adult lives.
It seems far too soon and reminds me that my own fledglings aren't that far from moving on, either.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The big reveal...
For anyone who didn't read the comments, here are the names of 15 of my favorite movies. I'll probably do this again because, honestly, there are WAY more movies I love and I enjoy getting comments.
1. Mulan
2. Dodgeball
3. Noises Off!
4. Wallace and Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
5. Bedazzled
6. Spaceballs
7. Serenity
8. They Live!
9. National Lampoon's Vacation
10. American Wedding
11. Dogma
12. Nightmare Before Christmas
13. Back to the Future
14. Lake Placid
15. Shawn of the Dead
1. Mulan
2. Dodgeball
3. Noises Off!
4. Wallace and Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
5. Bedazzled
6. Spaceballs
7. Serenity
8. They Live!
9. National Lampoon's Vacation
10. American Wedding
11. Dogma
12. Nightmare Before Christmas
13. Back to the Future
14. Lake Placid
15. Shawn of the Dead
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)