We found out this week that our home loan was approved. Interestingly enough, I didn't jump for joy or throw a parade when I got the news. They could have told me that it was partly cloudy outside and I would have had the same reaction. Ho-hum. There really isn't much to do to mark the occasion, anyway; there's still a couple of weeks until we close.
One thing we DID do was go to a large home improvement store that shall remain unnamed (but they assured me that I could do it, and they could help...by trying to sell me a $1600 range). While we didn't buy any appliances, we did need new doorknobs and deadbolts and new toilet seats. Trust me, all of these things needed replacement. And even if we didn't need a new toilet seat for the hall bathroom, what mother of a potty-learning toddler DOESN'T want a toilet seat with a hidden built-in toddler seat? GENIUS. Husband looked at me after I insisted on this special accessory with a look of, "You can't be flippin' serious, it's twenty-five dollars more than a standard toilet seat." And I told him that I would sell my feminine services for the difference if I had to, but we were getting that seat!
We also attempted to pick out shower heads while there, but it seems we have a harder time choosing and agreeing on shower heads than we do buying a house. So we decided to try again later.
And, just in time for the big moving extravaganza, I've contracted The Funk, a curious condition wherein I sit on my butt and look at everything and say, "No freakin' way am I going to deal with that now. Try again later." Rinse and repeat. It's weird, like my brain is a computer and my 'motivation' program keeps crashing. I NEED AN I.T. SPECIALIST, STAT.
Munchkin has no idea what's going to happen. I kind of feel bad for her, even though she is such a resilient kid, because there won't be a "normal" for several months, probably. She's just started consistently sleeping through the night, and I hope that the move doesn't make her start waking again. Not that it's a big deal to get up once or twice, but I like the uninterrupted sleep.
We went to a playdate at our friend Nicole's house. There were a lot of people there, and it was a lot of fun. Munchkin loves playing with other kids so much. I'm starting to worry that she's going to be an extroverted person. Not that extroverts are bad or anything, but I just don't know if I'm going to be able to satisfy her social needs without neglecting my own introverted social needs (or anti-needs, whatever). If we end up homeschooling, this could be one of our biggest problems. (Lemme clarify: While I could live in a cabin in the woods a hundred miles from the nearest person and be perfectly happy, that doesn't mean I dislike other people or dislike hanging out with other people. I just need my alone time. I'm not anti-social or anything.) :)
Here's something funny: Munchkin got into some dog poop at the playdate and while I was washing her hands I was all like, "Please don't touch dog poop." And now she can't stop talking about "doggie poop". I got weird looks in the store today because of her wild and random proclamations of "DOGGIE POOP!" She also took a scoop out of one of the bulk bins and put it in her mouth. Tracking down an employee and 'fessing up was a bit embarrassing. Parenting is such a humbling job.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Warm Fuzzies Tuesday: My Awesome Neighbors
Ever since we moved into our condo way back in July of 2006, we've had these awesome neighbors that live across our sidewalk and upstairs. They are a family of five: what I presume to be a mom, dad and three kids (teenage son, younger teenage daughter, and elementary-school-aged daughter). They work in the athletic industry; perhaps they own a gym? I'm not sure, but I know the mom is a personal trainer.
We've never formally introduced ourselves, so while I think they know our names because we've mentioned them, I only know about half of their names. Isn't that sad? But now I'd feel like an idiot asking them what their names are.
Like I said, we've never had any kind of "formal" introduction, nor have we ever gotten together to hang out. But they always say "Hi" when they see us, and we like to chat when we see each other. The mom is especially personable. The kids never seem to argue or fight with each other. As it turns out, they homeschool, which makes the peace more understandable.
I've hired the teenage son on several occasions to pet-sit for us while we were out of state. He's always really serious and professional about it, and I don't know what I would have done without his help. The mom always goes ga-ga over Munchkin--after all, she's seen Munchkin grow up (albeit from an observer's perspective). When we had a big snow last winter, she lent us one of her sleds so we could go sledding. That family is always happy to help out.
Which is why, upon learning that my car battery was dead this morning, I went to them. Because while I HATE asking for help because I feel like I'm such an inconvenience and bother, I knew I needed it (the van is in the shop, so I couldn't use it to jump the battery, plus I have errands to run today), and I knew that they wouldn't turn me away.
I rang their bell and was horrified to learn that they just woke up (not horrified that they aren't morning people, but horrified that I possibly woke them from their slumber). But after learning my request, they happily obliged by getting dressed and coming down to help. It turns out that their vehicle wasn't working either, but they had a car battery charger to lend me. They even plugged it in to their own electrical outlet because the cord wouldn't reach my condo (my car is parked right in front of their porch).
Neighbors as friendly and helpful as these are more valuable than anything one could ever buy.
Now my car is working again and I'm wracking my brain to figure out how to show them my appreciation. Not just for this latest round of kindness, but for nearly three years of it. How do I give these warm fuzzies back? My first inclination is to bake something yummy. Home-baked goods are warm, tasty, full of love, useful, and not gaudy. But I'm scared that one of them has some kind of allergy and won't be able to eat (or worse, share a room with) something I make. How can I nonchalantly ask them about any potential food allergies without sounding suspicious? Heh, I don't think it's possible. I suppose I can just take a chance and gift them some banana bread.
They still don't know we are moving soon (a combo of it not coming up in conversation and me not wanting to jinx it). I kind of feel bad, too, because it's always a little upsetting for a community to go through change, and while I'm sure we weren't "model" neighbors, we weren't bad ones either, and I hope, for their sake, nobody crazy moves into our old place. But there's nothing we can do to affect that. I just hope they are blessed with happiness, because they've given out a lot of it themselves.
We've never formally introduced ourselves, so while I think they know our names because we've mentioned them, I only know about half of their names. Isn't that sad? But now I'd feel like an idiot asking them what their names are.
Like I said, we've never had any kind of "formal" introduction, nor have we ever gotten together to hang out. But they always say "Hi" when they see us, and we like to chat when we see each other. The mom is especially personable. The kids never seem to argue or fight with each other. As it turns out, they homeschool, which makes the peace more understandable.
I've hired the teenage son on several occasions to pet-sit for us while we were out of state. He's always really serious and professional about it, and I don't know what I would have done without his help. The mom always goes ga-ga over Munchkin--after all, she's seen Munchkin grow up (albeit from an observer's perspective). When we had a big snow last winter, she lent us one of her sleds so we could go sledding. That family is always happy to help out.
Which is why, upon learning that my car battery was dead this morning, I went to them. Because while I HATE asking for help because I feel like I'm such an inconvenience and bother, I knew I needed it (the van is in the shop, so I couldn't use it to jump the battery, plus I have errands to run today), and I knew that they wouldn't turn me away.
I rang their bell and was horrified to learn that they just woke up (not horrified that they aren't morning people, but horrified that I possibly woke them from their slumber). But after learning my request, they happily obliged by getting dressed and coming down to help. It turns out that their vehicle wasn't working either, but they had a car battery charger to lend me. They even plugged it in to their own electrical outlet because the cord wouldn't reach my condo (my car is parked right in front of their porch).
Neighbors as friendly and helpful as these are more valuable than anything one could ever buy.
Now my car is working again and I'm wracking my brain to figure out how to show them my appreciation. Not just for this latest round of kindness, but for nearly three years of it. How do I give these warm fuzzies back? My first inclination is to bake something yummy. Home-baked goods are warm, tasty, full of love, useful, and not gaudy. But I'm scared that one of them has some kind of allergy and won't be able to eat (or worse, share a room with) something I make. How can I nonchalantly ask them about any potential food allergies without sounding suspicious? Heh, I don't think it's possible. I suppose I can just take a chance and gift them some banana bread.
They still don't know we are moving soon (a combo of it not coming up in conversation and me not wanting to jinx it). I kind of feel bad, too, because it's always a little upsetting for a community to go through change, and while I'm sure we weren't "model" neighbors, we weren't bad ones either, and I hope, for their sake, nobody crazy moves into our old place. But there's nothing we can do to affect that. I just hope they are blessed with happiness, because they've given out a lot of it themselves.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Weekly Menu and a First for Munchkin
This Week's Menu:
Monday: Leftover Spicy Chicken Soup
Tuesday: Calzones (Betty Crocker Cookbook recipe) and Salad (that TL and Randy brought over last Saturday...there's a lot left!)
Wednesday: Braised Herb Chicken Thighs with Potatoes
Thursday: Husband's Burritos (which are more like enchiladas but I'm not gonna argue)
Friday: Tortellini with marinara sauce and Salad
Saturday: Chicken Soup (made from the stock I made last week) and Salad (if it's still good)
Sunday: leftovers
Extras: Lemon Curd (organic lemons are on sale!) and Banana Bread
We had a great visit with Grandma (a.k.a. my Mother-in-Law). More later. For now, a happy first from Munchkin: SHE PEED IN THE POTTY! Yipee! She was so very happy that she finally got to use some toilet paper. It was more than enough of a reward for her efforts. Hopefully this will lead to big girl underwear, but I'm not holding my breath!
Monday: Leftover Spicy Chicken Soup
Tuesday: Calzones (Betty Crocker Cookbook recipe) and Salad (that TL and Randy brought over last Saturday...there's a lot left!)
Wednesday: Braised Herb Chicken Thighs with Potatoes
Thursday: Husband's Burritos (which are more like enchiladas but I'm not gonna argue)
Friday: Tortellini with marinara sauce and Salad
Saturday: Chicken Soup (made from the stock I made last week) and Salad (if it's still good)
Sunday: leftovers
Extras: Lemon Curd (organic lemons are on sale!) and Banana Bread
We had a great visit with Grandma (a.k.a. my Mother-in-Law). More later. For now, a happy first from Munchkin: SHE PEED IN THE POTTY! Yipee! She was so very happy that she finally got to use some toilet paper. It was more than enough of a reward for her efforts. Hopefully this will lead to big girl underwear, but I'm not holding my breath!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Scullery Maid
Well, I finally found my motivation and cleaned the daylights out of our home. Not that I'm aiming to knock my MIL's socks off, so to speak, with my awesomely sparkly home (okay, maybe a little), but it needed the cleaning anyway in preparation of us moving out next month. Just a little less to scrub, know what I mean? I gave it my all, and now I'm pooped.
Now, after a long, hard day's work, it is late, and I'm going to bed. In the morning I'm getting up, showering (with Munchkin, as always, because although my bathroom is sparkly, I still don't want her playing in the toilet), baking banana bread (for the ambiance, right?) and heading over to the airport to pick her up. Don't know if I'll be able to update much while she's here. But if I'm not back by Tuesday, send a search party, okay?
Now, after a long, hard day's work, it is late, and I'm going to bed. In the morning I'm getting up, showering (with Munchkin, as always, because although my bathroom is sparkly, I still don't want her playing in the toilet), baking banana bread (for the ambiance, right?) and heading over to the airport to pick her up. Don't know if I'll be able to update much while she's here. But if I'm not back by Tuesday, send a search party, okay?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Eight-Legged Monster of Terror
I've been cleaning. Or, should I say, meaning to clean. Haha.
I was just minding my own business when the biggest house spider I've ever seen practically galloped across my living room floor. I grabbed my ever-ready Dyson and sucked it up. (I was holding the hose with my hand and that sucker was so big it STUNG my hand as it hit the hose where I was holding it!) Now, I'd like to believe it's dead, but I've sucked up ants before and found them later making themselves at home in the dust inside the canister. :S I can't find its carcass. And I'm not opening that thing up without backup. So...do you think it lived and it's going to come crawling out of my vacuum cleaner to get revenge? Maybe I should put my Dyson outside and hope that it doesn't get stolen.
Now I'm eyeing my vacuum with suspicion. I...don't...trust...you...
Why do arthropods make us act so bizarrely?
I was just minding my own business when the biggest house spider I've ever seen practically galloped across my living room floor. I grabbed my ever-ready Dyson and sucked it up. (I was holding the hose with my hand and that sucker was so big it STUNG my hand as it hit the hose where I was holding it!) Now, I'd like to believe it's dead, but I've sucked up ants before and found them later making themselves at home in the dust inside the canister. :S I can't find its carcass. And I'm not opening that thing up without backup. So...do you think it lived and it's going to come crawling out of my vacuum cleaner to get revenge? Maybe I should put my Dyson outside and hope that it doesn't get stolen.
Now I'm eyeing my vacuum with suspicion. I...don't...trust...you...
Why do arthropods make us act so bizarrely?
Monday, April 20, 2009
Weekly Menu and a Panic Attack
This Week's Menu:
Monday: Scallops Mascarpone
Tuesday: Southwest Chicken and Mexican Rice (since we didn't get to it last week)
Wednesday: Roast Chicken with mashed potatoes, canned corn, and (commercially-prepared, prepackaged but oh-so-yummy) stuffing
Thursday: Meatball Sandwiches, plus Chicken Stock from yesterday's chicken carcass
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: One of these days we'll have Spicy Chicken Soup (made with the fresh stock) with homemade bread (perhaps a 6 Braid Challah Loaf? CAN I GET A (C)HOLLA?) and we'll more than likely eat out on the other two days.
Why would we eat out TWO DAYS in a row? Well, I'll have you know that my Mother-in-Law is coming to town on Friday. I love her, I really do, but I can't keep my wits about myself around her. If I try to accomplish too much in the kitchen, I just may very well burn the whole building down. To further complicate matters, it is MY task to pick her up from the airport, and drop her off there on Monday. To get to the proper destination at the airport, I have to follow the signs from the highway. And I'm always missing the signs or misinterpreting the signs or overthinking the signs (What does short-term parking even mean? Two days, or two hours? I don't know if that's...oh, I missed the turn anyway). And while I'm all discombobulated, I have to wield a minivan and not kill anyone with it. Did I mention I'm 4'11" (well, almost, if I wear shoes) and checking my blind spot is darn near impossible without standing up? My point is, driving in busy traffic to places I don't frequent is one of my most dreaded and stressful tasks. Another reason I shouldn't have to worry about cooking for my MIL.
Oh, now I'm all bothered. Let me show some pictures of a walk Munchkin and I went on this weekend. I'll feel better.
Monday: Scallops Mascarpone
Tuesday: Southwest Chicken and Mexican Rice (since we didn't get to it last week)
Wednesday: Roast Chicken with mashed potatoes, canned corn, and (commercially-prepared, prepackaged but oh-so-yummy) stuffing
Thursday: Meatball Sandwiches, plus Chicken Stock from yesterday's chicken carcass
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: One of these days we'll have Spicy Chicken Soup (made with the fresh stock) with homemade bread (perhaps a 6 Braid Challah Loaf? CAN I GET A (C)HOLLA?) and we'll more than likely eat out on the other two days.
Why would we eat out TWO DAYS in a row? Well, I'll have you know that my Mother-in-Law is coming to town on Friday. I love her, I really do, but I can't keep my wits about myself around her. If I try to accomplish too much in the kitchen, I just may very well burn the whole building down. To further complicate matters, it is MY task to pick her up from the airport, and drop her off there on Monday. To get to the proper destination at the airport, I have to follow the signs from the highway. And I'm always missing the signs or misinterpreting the signs or overthinking the signs (What does short-term parking even mean? Two days, or two hours? I don't know if that's...oh, I missed the turn anyway). And while I'm all discombobulated, I have to wield a minivan and not kill anyone with it. Did I mention I'm 4'11" (well, almost, if I wear shoes) and checking my blind spot is darn near impossible without standing up? My point is, driving in busy traffic to places I don't frequent is one of my most dreaded and stressful tasks. Another reason I shouldn't have to worry about cooking for my MIL.
Oh, now I'm all bothered. Let me show some pictures of a walk Munchkin and I went on this weekend. I'll feel better.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Action-Packed Friday!
Munchkin and I had an action-packed day. I haven't had a day so busy in...*checking my calendar*...well, I can't even think of a day that's been so busy with just the two of us. I'm so tired I could fall asleep right now, and it's only 9:35.
This morning we headed off to Newberg for a playdate with Nicole and her kids, Ciara and Oliver (who is Munchkin's age) at the playground. It was nice and empty, so no kids trampling over the little ones. Here's a few pics of the excitement:
It had been raining, so the slides were all WATER slides. Luckily Nicole brought some towels. (And yes, I was having fun with the "Saturation" levels on iPhoto.)
What a happy kid!
Munchkin looking at Nicole's sweet-ass camera. She snapped a crap-ton of pictures of Munchkin because she seemed to like the shutter noise (Munchkin, that is, not Nicole) and when she stopped, Munchkin deadpanned, "Cheese."
Ciara and Oliver sure were being cutie-pies, but Munchkin had this look on her face all day:
"Stop looking at me."
After we came home and ate lunch, my friend Erin called to chat. I LOVE talking to Erin. We always talk about the weirdest things.
After THAT, I found out that OH NO, the Pass-It-On Sale is going on THIS WEEKEND! (I thought it was next weekend!) The first day was already half over! In a frantic dash Ithrew gently placed Munchkin in the van and we drove clear across town in rush-hour traffic so I could procure some summer clothes for her. I must have got at least ten outfits (mostly dresses), three pairs of shoes, three books and a jacket for under sixty dollars. Score!
Tomorrow's outlook is so blah: I've got loads of cleaning to do (I've been neglectful) and Husband's going golfing, then going in to work. But it's going to be nice out, so hopefully I will get us out of the house and into the bright sunshine. Hurray, spring!
This morning we headed off to Newberg for a playdate with Nicole and her kids, Ciara and Oliver (who is Munchkin's age) at the playground. It was nice and empty, so no kids trampling over the little ones. Here's a few pics of the excitement:
It had been raining, so the slides were all WATER slides. Luckily Nicole brought some towels. (And yes, I was having fun with the "Saturation" levels on iPhoto.)
What a happy kid!
Munchkin looking at Nicole's sweet-ass camera. She snapped a crap-ton of pictures of Munchkin because she seemed to like the shutter noise (Munchkin, that is, not Nicole) and when she stopped, Munchkin deadpanned, "Cheese."
Ciara and Oliver sure were being cutie-pies, but Munchkin had this look on her face all day:
"Stop looking at me."
After we came home and ate lunch, my friend Erin called to chat. I LOVE talking to Erin. We always talk about the weirdest things.
After THAT, I found out that OH NO, the Pass-It-On Sale is going on THIS WEEKEND! (I thought it was next weekend!) The first day was already half over! In a frantic dash I
Tomorrow's outlook is so blah: I've got loads of cleaning to do (I've been neglectful) and Husband's going golfing, then going in to work. But it's going to be nice out, so hopefully I will get us out of the house and into the bright sunshine. Hurray, spring!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Letter to our Upstairs Neighbor
Hello, Neighbor.
I just thought I'd write you a letter telling you we will be moving in a month. You see, we are buying our very own house. It's a cute little house with a big backyard with a fence and a gate so your dog can't come over and poop in it. Which is great, because now I won't have to endure "Abby, go potty! Abby, go potty!" over and over, right outside my living room window.
It's been a fun time being your downstairs neighbors. My favorite memories involved your young teenage daughter having school off, and you being at work. She really knows how to party, it seems, because I could hear every single lyric pumping out of that stereo! If she has a hearing problem, though, I am sorry to bring it up. I should be more understanding. Although, that wouldn't explain the running, or traditional clog dancing, or whatever her and her little girlfriends were doing up there. Kids and their energy, huh?
And how could I forget the time right after you moved in, when I had a small baby, when you hired some dudes to come install a hardwood floor for you! And they pitched their little tent, which held the power saw to cut the planks, immediately outside our door! They had to do that because when they were cutting the wood inside, it kept setting off the fire alarms. That was three days of pure fun for both me and Infant Munchkin. I'm glad you didn't let me know ahead of time, because I quite enjoyed sitting at home, listening to the "REEEEEEE!" of the power saw and the "BAM! BAM! BAM!" of the hammers and the "EEEEP! EEEEP! EEEEP!" of the fire alarms. But it didn't stop after the installation, because (joy!) you have the habit of walking around with your heels on.
I wanted to thank you for being more considerate than the couple that lived in your place before you bought it. They would get up at 6:30 every morning and drag their dining room chairs all over the dining room floor. It's not really so horrible, per say, to use one's furniture for its intended manner, but the fact is that our bedroom is immediately below said dining room, and when they dragged (drug?) their chairs around, it was not only super loud, but it made something in our ceiling fan resonate, which doubled the noise. I wouldn't be surprised it it was twice as loud in our bedroom as it was in their dining room! But as it stands, you leave at 9:30 and I don't even think you eat breakfast. So kudos to you!
All-in-all, you've been a great upstairs neighbor. We've had our differences and our issues, but we live in high-density residential housing, so those things happen. I'm just glad you don't throw raves in your living room or feel the need to exercise by running up and down your staircase or have a small child up there chasing your dog and cat around. THAT could get annoying. (Hey, don't get me wrong, I love kids and all, but I'm just grateful that none live above me.)
So, next month, I'll move out, and you won't have to listen to me singing "Shake Your Sillies Out" or "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes" eight or twelve times a day. We'll call it a win-win.
Love,
HausFrau
I just thought I'd write you a letter telling you we will be moving in a month. You see, we are buying our very own house. It's a cute little house with a big backyard with a fence and a gate so your dog can't come over and poop in it. Which is great, because now I won't have to endure "Abby, go potty! Abby, go potty!" over and over, right outside my living room window.
It's been a fun time being your downstairs neighbors. My favorite memories involved your young teenage daughter having school off, and you being at work. She really knows how to party, it seems, because I could hear every single lyric pumping out of that stereo! If she has a hearing problem, though, I am sorry to bring it up. I should be more understanding. Although, that wouldn't explain the running, or traditional clog dancing, or whatever her and her little girlfriends were doing up there. Kids and their energy, huh?
And how could I forget the time right after you moved in, when I had a small baby, when you hired some dudes to come install a hardwood floor for you! And they pitched their little tent, which held the power saw to cut the planks, immediately outside our door! They had to do that because when they were cutting the wood inside, it kept setting off the fire alarms. That was three days of pure fun for both me and Infant Munchkin. I'm glad you didn't let me know ahead of time, because I quite enjoyed sitting at home, listening to the "REEEEEEE!" of the power saw and the "BAM! BAM! BAM!" of the hammers and the "EEEEP! EEEEP! EEEEP!" of the fire alarms. But it didn't stop after the installation, because (joy!) you have the habit of walking around with your heels on.
I wanted to thank you for being more considerate than the couple that lived in your place before you bought it. They would get up at 6:30 every morning and drag their dining room chairs all over the dining room floor. It's not really so horrible, per say, to use one's furniture for its intended manner, but the fact is that our bedroom is immediately below said dining room, and when they dragged (drug?) their chairs around, it was not only super loud, but it made something in our ceiling fan resonate, which doubled the noise. I wouldn't be surprised it it was twice as loud in our bedroom as it was in their dining room! But as it stands, you leave at 9:30 and I don't even think you eat breakfast. So kudos to you!
All-in-all, you've been a great upstairs neighbor. We've had our differences and our issues, but we live in high-density residential housing, so those things happen. I'm just glad you don't throw raves in your living room or feel the need to exercise by running up and down your staircase or have a small child up there chasing your dog and cat around. THAT could get annoying. (Hey, don't get me wrong, I love kids and all, but I'm just grateful that none live above me.)
So, next month, I'll move out, and you won't have to listen to me singing "Shake Your Sillies Out" or "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes" eight or twelve times a day. We'll call it a win-win.
Love,
HausFrau
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
She grows a little more every day
Wouldn't you know it, only a few days after I wrote about how Munchkin doesn't seem to understand how to work the Tupperware Shape-O toy, she figured it out! She brought it to me while I was busy, so I just dumped out all the shapes and left her alone. She brought it back later with all but two pieces inside, and proceeded to demonstrate how she did it with the remaining pieces. My eyes threatened to pop right out of my head. I thought it would be another six months before she started figuring that out.
While we were at the library yesterday I decided to treat us to donut holes at the attached donut shop. I purchased a dozen and a half-pint of milk, and I got us settled to have our snack at a table in the corner, with napkins as "plates". "Mommy, napkin yap! Napkin yap!" she kept repeating over and over while pointing to her crotch. I couldn't figure out what she meant at first, then I realized that she wanted a napkin to put in her lap. (Duh. Sometimes I'm a little slow on the uptake.) If I remember correctly, the last time we ate out at a fancy enough restaurant to teach her this was back in January on our cruise. What a memory (and knack for proper etiquette)!
After the library we headed to the post office to pick up a package, which turned out to be for her. It was a cute little hand-knit scarf from her auntie TL. She thought it was pretty neat, although I'm not sure she knew what it was, exactly. But what do I know; if she remembers something from January, maybe she remembers our sub-zero trip to North Dakota last December. At any rate, it is pink and soft, a killer combo for a two-year-old girl.
While we were at the library yesterday I decided to treat us to donut holes at the attached donut shop. I purchased a dozen and a half-pint of milk, and I got us settled to have our snack at a table in the corner, with napkins as "plates". "Mommy, napkin yap! Napkin yap!" she kept repeating over and over while pointing to her crotch. I couldn't figure out what she meant at first, then I realized that she wanted a napkin to put in her lap. (Duh. Sometimes I'm a little slow on the uptake.) If I remember correctly, the last time we ate out at a fancy enough restaurant to teach her this was back in January on our cruise. What a memory (and knack for proper etiquette)!
After the library we headed to the post office to pick up a package, which turned out to be for her. It was a cute little hand-knit scarf from her auntie TL. She thought it was pretty neat, although I'm not sure she knew what it was, exactly. But what do I know; if she remembers something from January, maybe she remembers our sub-zero trip to North Dakota last December. At any rate, it is pink and soft, a killer combo for a two-year-old girl.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Learning Moment
Don't chop up jalepeños and then pick your nose.
Don't ask me how I know this.
That is all.
Don't ask me how I know this.
That is all.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Food for thought
I'm not a perfect person. Nobody is. We all have our habits and hangups.
Sure, I'd like to think everything is okay. Peachy keen. Hunky-dory.
But then, I have days like this.
It seems like a good idea at the time...
...but then the regret and remorse (not to mention the sugar headache) kick in.
Tomorrow is a new day.
Sure, I'd like to think everything is okay. Peachy keen. Hunky-dory.
But then, I have days like this.
It seems like a good idea at the time...
...but then the regret and remorse (not to mention the sugar headache) kick in.
Tomorrow is a new day.
Weekly Menu, now with Bonus Photo!
This Week's Menu:
Monday: Baked Teriyaki Chicken with Rice and Broccoli
Tuesday: Chili and Cornbread
Wednesday: Homemade Pizza
Thursday: Greek Pasta with Tomatoes and White Beans
Friday: Southwest Chicken and Mexican Rice
Saturday: Lemon Ginger Shrimp with Grilled Veggies
Sunday: leftovers or something quick to whip up
"Life into Death"
Monday: Baked Teriyaki Chicken with Rice and Broccoli
Tuesday: Chili and Cornbread
Wednesday: Homemade Pizza
Thursday: Greek Pasta with Tomatoes and White Beans
Friday: Southwest Chicken and Mexican Rice
Saturday: Lemon Ginger Shrimp with Grilled Veggies
Sunday: leftovers or something quick to whip up
"Life into Death"
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter SHEEP! and Rainbow Barf
Happy Easter!
When Munchkin woke up this morning and had her fill of breastmilk (a toddler's version of a steaming cup of joe), I reminded her that the Easter Bunny was supposed to come last night. "PRESENTS?!" was her reply. She ran out to the living room and discovered a small basket of goodies, eyes wide with awe. Her loot included sidewalk chalk, colored pencils, hair clips, and a little stuffed lamb.
"SHEEP! SHEEP! SHEEEEEEEP!"
Yeah, okay. It's a sheep.
"SHEEEEEEP!"
Sigh.
After church, we set her to work with her colored pencils, which she seems to like better than crayons. At any rate, it stopped her maniacal proclamations of SHEEP!
I wonder what it's supposed to be? Rainbow barf?
When Munchkin woke up this morning and had her fill of breastmilk (a toddler's version of a steaming cup of joe), I reminded her that the Easter Bunny was supposed to come last night. "PRESENTS?!" was her reply. She ran out to the living room and discovered a small basket of goodies, eyes wide with awe. Her loot included sidewalk chalk, colored pencils, hair clips, and a little stuffed lamb.
"SHEEP! SHEEP! SHEEEEEEEP!"
Yeah, okay. It's a sheep.
"SHEEEEEEP!"
Sigh.
After church, we set her to work with her colored pencils, which she seems to like better than crayons. At any rate, it stopped her maniacal proclamations of SHEEP!
I wonder what it's supposed to be? Rainbow barf?
Saturday, April 11, 2009
What's old is new again
I’d like to share the toys that Munchkin loves to love, because I enjoy seeing the toys behind the kids. Here’s an installment of playthings from my own childhood that are now part of hers.
I’m not sure what these are called. I remember that my grandparents had them at their house. They were fun to make different play-things with. They can really be anything that’s rope-shaped, like snakes or, well, ropes. (Although, I wouldn't actually use it as a rope because I would be sorely disappointed.)
Who can forget the ubiquitous Tupperware Shape-O toy? Everyone I knew had one of these. Munchkin is too young to figure out how the get the shapes in, but she’ll get there. I remember being frustrated with it when I was little, but now I can do it! Aren't you proud?
These don’t need any caption. If you’ve never seen one of these, you must have grown up on another planet.
This book is very special to me. My Grandmother used to read us this book when we spent the night at her house, and through her Japanese accent should would give each character it’s own voice. I saw this at Powell’s Books in downtown Portland, and snatched it up like a hawk. Munchkin seems to like it as much as we did.
My good friend Becky bought this for Munchkin’s first birthday. This is the modern-day Glo-worm, evolved from the long, lumpy original. This one plays lullabies, too.
When I saw this particular one at Target, I gasped in shock. My grandparents also had one of these for us grandkids, and originally it was my mom’s and aunts’ and uncle’s. Though, this is a cheap, plastic, China-made version of the one we grew up with. But it’s a small compromise.
Although I didn't photograph them, we also have LEGO toys and Play-Doh. But who doesn't?
I’m not sure what these are called. I remember that my grandparents had them at their house. They were fun to make different play-things with. They can really be anything that’s rope-shaped, like snakes or, well, ropes. (Although, I wouldn't actually use it as a rope because I would be sorely disappointed.)
Who can forget the ubiquitous Tupperware Shape-O toy? Everyone I knew had one of these. Munchkin is too young to figure out how the get the shapes in, but she’ll get there. I remember being frustrated with it when I was little, but now I can do it! Aren't you proud?
These don’t need any caption. If you’ve never seen one of these, you must have grown up on another planet.
This book is very special to me. My Grandmother used to read us this book when we spent the night at her house, and through her Japanese accent should would give each character it’s own voice. I saw this at Powell’s Books in downtown Portland, and snatched it up like a hawk. Munchkin seems to like it as much as we did.
My good friend Becky bought this for Munchkin’s first birthday. This is the modern-day Glo-worm, evolved from the long, lumpy original. This one plays lullabies, too.
When I saw this particular one at Target, I gasped in shock. My grandparents also had one of these for us grandkids, and originally it was my mom’s and aunts’ and uncle’s. Though, this is a cheap, plastic, China-made version of the one we grew up with. But it’s a small compromise.
Although I didn't photograph them, we also have LEGO toys and Play-Doh. But who doesn't?
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Ambivalent Nature of Springtime in Oregon
Someone please inform the weatherman that it is now spring in Oregon and all the clouds and rain should go away now. We had such a beautiful weekend last week, and now this cloudy, mopey mess is just driving me crazy and giving me spring fever. I'm tired of wearing sweaters and putting on jackets, tired of constantly monitoring the in-wall space heaters for blankets or bookbags or Munchkins in the way, tired of being closed up in my stagnant, dark, damp cave.
It's a tease, really. Dangling something just out of reach. Something we want so badly.
But, maybe...maybe...maybe we can just close our eyes and pretend it's sunny. Think of things that make us happy.
After my post yesterday extolling the virtues of frugality, I went crazy in the fabric store for the sole purpose of finding fabrics that I *might* make into clothes for Munchkin, should I find the time. I actually put quite a bit back on the shelves before leaving, which is good because I felt a little dizzy after I was told the total at the check-out. Ah, we all have our vices, I suppose.
Here is a set of earth tones. I love it, but I hope it's not too dark and heavy for summertime clothes.
Here's the girly set. You can't really go wrong with pink (at least I hope!).
Of course, drowning our sorrows in the fabric store doesn't erase life's difficulties. Husband had a demoralizing day at work today. One of his fellow engineers has been let go, five days before his wife is due to have their first child. (Actually, the only other office person to be let go in the last few years was also let go right around the birth of his child. How lame.) This particular person hasn't had the easiest time, it seems, adjusting to his line of work. I don't know if it's because he wasn't cut out for it, or if it was because he just didn't care to put the effort in. At any rate, he did a poor job and was let go. Husband is simultaneously relieved for his job and broken-hearted for his family. Unless he can get a job soon, his recently-purchased house may go into foreclosure. What an awful situation!
I don't want to end with such a dreadful tone, so here's a gratuitous picture of Munchkin. Sorry about the poor lighting (and subsequent blurriness). I live in a cave, remember?
It's a tease, really. Dangling something just out of reach. Something we want so badly.
But, maybe...maybe...maybe we can just close our eyes and pretend it's sunny. Think of things that make us happy.
After my post yesterday extolling the virtues of frugality, I went crazy in the fabric store for the sole purpose of finding fabrics that I *might* make into clothes for Munchkin, should I find the time. I actually put quite a bit back on the shelves before leaving, which is good because I felt a little dizzy after I was told the total at the check-out. Ah, we all have our vices, I suppose.
Here is a set of earth tones. I love it, but I hope it's not too dark and heavy for summertime clothes.
Here's the girly set. You can't really go wrong with pink (at least I hope!).
Of course, drowning our sorrows in the fabric store doesn't erase life's difficulties. Husband had a demoralizing day at work today. One of his fellow engineers has been let go, five days before his wife is due to have their first child. (Actually, the only other office person to be let go in the last few years was also let go right around the birth of his child. How lame.) This particular person hasn't had the easiest time, it seems, adjusting to his line of work. I don't know if it's because he wasn't cut out for it, or if it was because he just didn't care to put the effort in. At any rate, he did a poor job and was let go. Husband is simultaneously relieved for his job and broken-hearted for his family. Unless he can get a job soon, his recently-purchased house may go into foreclosure. What an awful situation!
I don't want to end with such a dreadful tone, so here's a gratuitous picture of Munchkin. Sorry about the poor lighting (and subsequent blurriness). I live in a cave, remember?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Library
You know, there are good handful of reasons why the relationship between Husband and me should be strained. A least according to things like "studies" and "research" and strange door-to-door pastors.
I've read countless times (and it is repeated countless times by conservative groups) that living together before marriage increases the likelihood of divorce. Husband and I lived together for a year before we were married, and if I could go back and change anything, I would've just eloped right then and there. (Weddings are a b*+ch!) But although it's something I'm not a supporter of, morally, it hasn't harmed our relationship. We're lucky, I guess. There is also an article that says 90 percent of couples experienced a reduction in marital satisfaction after their first child is born. Wow, that's a lot! Also, when we first moved to Oregon, a couple of pastors from the local Baptist church came to our door to invite us to attend. That's not unusual, but what WAS unusual was that when I mentioned that I was newly pregnant, the pastor went off on a tangent on how he and his wife were at each other's throats after the baby was born! Yikes! We've been through other trying times as well, like moving across the country and now buying our first home together. And yet, we rarely have arguments, and we comment to each other all the time on how satisfied and happy we are, in pretty much every aspect of our lives together.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not telling you this because I think we're hot stuff or anything. The whole point of this post is about frugality. (Betcha didn't see that coming.) Husband and I are both on the same level when it comes to the biggest hot-button issue of marriage: money. We're frugal and we're unapologetic. The outward flow of money is a stressful thing for us, and although it's obviously unavoidable, we take pleasure in making sure it's controlled, well thought-out, and of high value. In doing so, we don't have to raise our eyebrows at each other regarding superfluous and undiscussed purchases, because it happens rarely enough that it's respected. We aren't tripping over things we "just had to have" last month, things that aren't working for us anymore and have little value to us. We don't have to sit down and have a long, hard talk every month about the state of our bank account, because we live within our means. I hope to help others get on the frugality bandwagon, in the hope that it saves them money, and in doing so, their most important relationships.
There's a ton of things I could talk about with regards to how frugality affects our lives, but the one I'm going to talk about today is one of my favorites. The Library!
When we were in college in North Dakota, there was nothing to do but study, drink, play video games, eat at Perkin's or shop at Wal-Mart or Barnes & Noble (pretty much the only things open later in the evening). I didn't prefer the first one, or the second one for that matter, and video games make my eyes hurt after awhile, so it was a lot of the last three. I've spent a LOT of time at B&N, browsing books, reading books, and sometimes buying books. Lots and lots of books. Who's interested in underwater basket weaving? Me! Me! I am! Let's go buy a book about it at B&N! And we can buy a drink at the Starbucks while we're there! You can see where this is going.
When we moved to Oregon, I got a library card for our local library. Well, that's not quite accurate. I spent two months laying around feeling sicker than a dog, then a few more months doing who knows what, and THEN I got a library card. And good gravy, how awesome it is! Every week I go there at least once. Sometimes it's for Munchkin's "Toddler Time" activity, where a teacher, Miss Theresa, sings songs, dances, and reads stories with the little kids. Then we go and pick out three or four books for the week from the children's section. It's great because I never feel like I'm reading the same books to her over and over and over. Munchkin has developed a love for books; she spends as much time paging through books as she does playing with her toys!
I also love to check books out for myself. Our library is part of our county's library system, so I basically have full privileges at ten or so other libraries close by. I can also easily search and request books from any of those other libraries, and the book gets shipped to my local library for me to pick up. The library gives me a call to tell me my book is in. I can't say how many books I've requested so far, it feels like a hundred! I can even get obscure ones that I was surprised they even carried.
I rarely buy a book for myself anymore unless I've first checked it out from the library and decided that it's important for me to have on hand. I get to scour all the recipes in cookbooks this way, browse through knitting and sewing patterns this way, and just be my curious self with literature that you just can't find on the internet. If I was into fiction (which I'm really not at this point in time) I would have a comprehensive literary smorgasbord at my beck and call. I can browse through nearly a hundred different magazines without paying for a subscription. I can check out a hundred books at once. I can get DVD's and music CD's. I can even get a "cultural pass" that gets us into different destinations around the city, like the Children's Museum and the Japanese Gardens. And the best part is, it's all FREE: the best price there is. There's even a knitter's group that meets every week, should I feel like socializing. (AND, there is a coffee/donut shop attached to our library, which has very reasonable prices, unlike other similar establishments which shall remain unnamed...oh wait, I think I've already named them in this post! Whoops!) And, more appropriately for a stay-at-home mom like me, it's a neutral, comfortable, quiet, free place where I can go and relax from the stress of home (hey, just because Husband and I don't fight doesn't mean I don't want to pull my hair out sometimes! Raising a toddler is full dose of insanity!).
One thing that the library gives me that other exercises in frugality lack is freedom. I'm free to be greedy (for lack of a better term) and take whichever book, DVD, CD, or magazine that I want. Oh, I want this! It looks good! So take it! Oh, here's another one that also looks good! Which one should I get? Take them both! There's no harm! Take that third one while you're at it! There's no guilt! I can be as choosy or as un-choosy as I want, and there's no harm either way. If only the donut shop were as nice, huh?
If you don't already have a library card and you're finding that B&N (or other bookstore) is one of your top boredom destinations, please at least check your local library out. What have you got to lose? (Hint: NOTHING.)
I've read countless times (and it is repeated countless times by conservative groups) that living together before marriage increases the likelihood of divorce. Husband and I lived together for a year before we were married, and if I could go back and change anything, I would've just eloped right then and there. (Weddings are a b*+ch!) But although it's something I'm not a supporter of, morally, it hasn't harmed our relationship. We're lucky, I guess. There is also an article that says 90 percent of couples experienced a reduction in marital satisfaction after their first child is born. Wow, that's a lot! Also, when we first moved to Oregon, a couple of pastors from the local Baptist church came to our door to invite us to attend. That's not unusual, but what WAS unusual was that when I mentioned that I was newly pregnant, the pastor went off on a tangent on how he and his wife were at each other's throats after the baby was born! Yikes! We've been through other trying times as well, like moving across the country and now buying our first home together. And yet, we rarely have arguments, and we comment to each other all the time on how satisfied and happy we are, in pretty much every aspect of our lives together.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not telling you this because I think we're hot stuff or anything. The whole point of this post is about frugality. (Betcha didn't see that coming.) Husband and I are both on the same level when it comes to the biggest hot-button issue of marriage: money. We're frugal and we're unapologetic. The outward flow of money is a stressful thing for us, and although it's obviously unavoidable, we take pleasure in making sure it's controlled, well thought-out, and of high value. In doing so, we don't have to raise our eyebrows at each other regarding superfluous and undiscussed purchases, because it happens rarely enough that it's respected. We aren't tripping over things we "just had to have" last month, things that aren't working for us anymore and have little value to us. We don't have to sit down and have a long, hard talk every month about the state of our bank account, because we live within our means. I hope to help others get on the frugality bandwagon, in the hope that it saves them money, and in doing so, their most important relationships.
There's a ton of things I could talk about with regards to how frugality affects our lives, but the one I'm going to talk about today is one of my favorites. The Library!
When we were in college in North Dakota, there was nothing to do but study, drink, play video games, eat at Perkin's or shop at Wal-Mart or Barnes & Noble (pretty much the only things open later in the evening). I didn't prefer the first one, or the second one for that matter, and video games make my eyes hurt after awhile, so it was a lot of the last three. I've spent a LOT of time at B&N, browsing books, reading books, and sometimes buying books. Lots and lots of books. Who's interested in underwater basket weaving? Me! Me! I am! Let's go buy a book about it at B&N! And we can buy a drink at the Starbucks while we're there! You can see where this is going.
When we moved to Oregon, I got a library card for our local library. Well, that's not quite accurate. I spent two months laying around feeling sicker than a dog, then a few more months doing who knows what, and THEN I got a library card. And good gravy, how awesome it is! Every week I go there at least once. Sometimes it's for Munchkin's "Toddler Time" activity, where a teacher, Miss Theresa, sings songs, dances, and reads stories with the little kids. Then we go and pick out three or four books for the week from the children's section. It's great because I never feel like I'm reading the same books to her over and over and over. Munchkin has developed a love for books; she spends as much time paging through books as she does playing with her toys!
I also love to check books out for myself. Our library is part of our county's library system, so I basically have full privileges at ten or so other libraries close by. I can also easily search and request books from any of those other libraries, and the book gets shipped to my local library for me to pick up. The library gives me a call to tell me my book is in. I can't say how many books I've requested so far, it feels like a hundred! I can even get obscure ones that I was surprised they even carried.
I rarely buy a book for myself anymore unless I've first checked it out from the library and decided that it's important for me to have on hand. I get to scour all the recipes in cookbooks this way, browse through knitting and sewing patterns this way, and just be my curious self with literature that you just can't find on the internet. If I was into fiction (which I'm really not at this point in time) I would have a comprehensive literary smorgasbord at my beck and call. I can browse through nearly a hundred different magazines without paying for a subscription. I can check out a hundred books at once. I can get DVD's and music CD's. I can even get a "cultural pass" that gets us into different destinations around the city, like the Children's Museum and the Japanese Gardens. And the best part is, it's all FREE: the best price there is. There's even a knitter's group that meets every week, should I feel like socializing. (AND, there is a coffee/donut shop attached to our library, which has very reasonable prices, unlike other similar establishments which shall remain unnamed...oh wait, I think I've already named them in this post! Whoops!) And, more appropriately for a stay-at-home mom like me, it's a neutral, comfortable, quiet, free place where I can go and relax from the stress of home (hey, just because Husband and I don't fight doesn't mean I don't want to pull my hair out sometimes! Raising a toddler is full dose of insanity!).
One thing that the library gives me that other exercises in frugality lack is freedom. I'm free to be greedy (for lack of a better term) and take whichever book, DVD, CD, or magazine that I want. Oh, I want this! It looks good! So take it! Oh, here's another one that also looks good! Which one should I get? Take them both! There's no harm! Take that third one while you're at it! There's no guilt! I can be as choosy or as un-choosy as I want, and there's no harm either way. If only the donut shop were as nice, huh?
If you don't already have a library card and you're finding that B&N (or other bookstore) is one of your top boredom destinations, please at least check your local library out. What have you got to lose? (Hint: NOTHING.)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Terrible Twos
This week's menu:
Monday: BBQ Chicken, mashed potatoes, corn
Tuesday: Baked Salmon, brown rice, steamed asparagus
Wednesday: Japanese Chicken Wings, Baked Potato Skins
Thursday: King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Friday: Italian Sausage Soup with Tortellini
Saturday: (leftover day)
Easter Sunday: Ham (that Husband got at Christmas from his work), Twice-Baked Potatoes, Corn, homemade rolls
Things have been going well in our Haushalt. Husband has been working more this week, going in at six every morning. Which mean he's more grumpy, yes, but also that he has work to do, an important distinction in this economy. He's mostly working on quotes, but some of those quotes are bound to turn into actual jobs, right? Let's hope so.
Munchkin has been doing that toddler thing where her legs stop working if I try to get her to follow me when we're out in public. You know, when you try to reason, beg, threaten, bribe and beg some more for your kid to do something, and they're JUST NOT DOING IT, so you do the only thing left, and put all of whatever you are carrying (jackets, bags, books, etc.) into one arm and use the other to try to corral them toward your desired exit point, except they don't budge, so you grab their hand and try to pull them and they practically fall over, so you LIFT them with your one hand, trying not to drop everything else, and their legs give out and you're kinda sorta dragging them, and then you think, "THIS IS INSANE!" so you lower your hands and let go and they flop on the floor and proceed to throw a tantrum. And this is where I am so very grateful that my daughter is under 25 pounds (easy). I just use one arm to kind just pick her up, football style, and rush to the exit. And hope that nobody saw that.
We were at the library today, and there was a baby there, maybe eight months old, who was a scooter. She could scoot everywhere really quickly, all on her butt. It was so funny. Munchkin loved her. "BABY! BABY! HI BABY!" *waves* "HI BABY! HUG!" *hugs baby, while I stand beside her, hoping she doesn't crush the baby* "KISS BABY!" And then I step in, saying something to the effect that we don't want to give baby our germs. I kinda felt bad saying "no" to her about showing affection to someone, but I also would feel weirded out of some strange toddler started planting kisses all over my baby.
She's also been doing this verrrrry interesting thing lately of requesting (demanding, really) dresses every morning when I'm putting clothes on her. Luckily, we have a fair amount of dresses for her to wear (I love dresses!). But I wonder where this is coming from. Is it some practicality thing, where she likes the freedom of movement in dresses? Does she like being girly? Or is she just exercising her newfound decision-making skills? Who knows.
Monday: BBQ Chicken, mashed potatoes, corn
Tuesday: Baked Salmon, brown rice, steamed asparagus
Wednesday: Japanese Chicken Wings, Baked Potato Skins
Thursday: King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Friday: Italian Sausage Soup with Tortellini
Saturday: (leftover day)
Easter Sunday: Ham (that Husband got at Christmas from his work), Twice-Baked Potatoes, Corn, homemade rolls
Things have been going well in our Haushalt. Husband has been working more this week, going in at six every morning. Which mean he's more grumpy, yes, but also that he has work to do, an important distinction in this economy. He's mostly working on quotes, but some of those quotes are bound to turn into actual jobs, right? Let's hope so.
Munchkin has been doing that toddler thing where her legs stop working if I try to get her to follow me when we're out in public. You know, when you try to reason, beg, threaten, bribe and beg some more for your kid to do something, and they're JUST NOT DOING IT, so you do the only thing left, and put all of whatever you are carrying (jackets, bags, books, etc.) into one arm and use the other to try to corral them toward your desired exit point, except they don't budge, so you grab their hand and try to pull them and they practically fall over, so you LIFT them with your one hand, trying not to drop everything else, and their legs give out and you're kinda sorta dragging them, and then you think, "THIS IS INSANE!" so you lower your hands and let go and they flop on the floor and proceed to throw a tantrum. And this is where I am so very grateful that my daughter is under 25 pounds (easy). I just use one arm to kind just pick her up, football style, and rush to the exit. And hope that nobody saw that.
We were at the library today, and there was a baby there, maybe eight months old, who was a scooter. She could scoot everywhere really quickly, all on her butt. It was so funny. Munchkin loved her. "BABY! BABY! HI BABY!" *waves* "HI BABY! HUG!" *hugs baby, while I stand beside her, hoping she doesn't crush the baby* "KISS BABY!" And then I step in, saying something to the effect that we don't want to give baby our germs. I kinda felt bad saying "no" to her about showing affection to someone, but I also would feel weirded out of some strange toddler started planting kisses all over my baby.
She's also been doing this verrrrry interesting thing lately of requesting (demanding, really) dresses every morning when I'm putting clothes on her. Luckily, we have a fair amount of dresses for her to wear (I love dresses!). But I wonder where this is coming from. Is it some practicality thing, where she likes the freedom of movement in dresses? Does she like being girly? Or is she just exercising her newfound decision-making skills? Who knows.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Home
Home. Where is home? I've always liked the cliché "Home is where the heart is," because it describes what home feels like well enough for me.
I never had to question where this place called 'home' was until I went to college. Of course, during my freshman year, 'home' was still my parents' house. However happy I was to move out of it, it was still 'home' to me. Then, after my summer job on campus wasn't going so well, I decided to move back home. That's when I realized that the home that I once had didn't exist and would never exist again. It's not that it was all that different than it had been scarcely a year earlier, but everybody got a year older, everybody had learned to live with one less person in the cramped, (officially) two-bedroom house, and I was an independent adult with a year of freedom under my belt, living in a walled-off portion of the living room with a sheet for a door.
I was miserable.
It was then that I realized that since I couldn't have 'home' at my parents' house, I would have to make it for myself. I moved in and out of six different dorm rooms during my first three years in college. "This is my home for this school year," I would think, or "This is my home for the summer." Soon I became accustomed to moving my home from one building to another in one day at the beginning and end of the summers, taking down 'home' in one room and setting up 'home' in the next. Although I felt like a nomad, my concept of 'home' travelled with me.
After my junior year of college, Husband and I got an apartment of our own. "This is our home until we both graduate," I thought. It was truly awesome to me. It had a full kitchen and our very own bathroom, nothing we had to share with a myriad of other people. It also boasted (haha) two entire bedrooms. We had a whole extra room with which we could do whatever we wanted! (It turned into a computer room/study.) It took awhile to actually get it to feel like home, though, because for the first six months Husband was living and working in an internship two hundred miles away. I was alone, and again, miserable. The apartment felt deathly empty without him. After he fully moved in, though, it was home sweet, beautiful home.
When Husband graduated, I lobbied him to apply for jobs here in Oregon, and he landed one. We had to pack up and move out of our apartment, which was our home for two years, and into a smaller rented condo. "This is our home until we buy a house," I thought. I didn't know at the time how long that would be. My dreamy-eyed self thought it would be no longer than 12 to 18 months before we would be getting a house of our own. After all, Husband had several friends who had bought houses. Why couldn't we? So I was conservative when I was hanging things on walls, because I didn't want to have to patch holes for things that wouldn't even be on the walls that long. I was holding 'home' in my heart instead of letting it take over our humble adobe.
Well, it didn't take us too long to realize that, HOLY COW, houses in the Portland Metro area cost way more money than houses in North Dakota. We were naïve. It also didn't take us long to figure out that I was pregnant and we were going to have to cram a baby in with us. Actually, the baby was easy to cram in; it was her things that took up so much room. And as she grows, so do her things. While we originally didn't think (or at least hope) we'd be in this condo very long, we have been here for two years and nine months. And while I would have done something crazy to be able to buy a house years ago, in light of the current housing and economic situation I am so glad we waited until now. At any rate, it was probably about the time Munchkin was born that I was finally letting our place feel like home. I feel an attachment here--after all, this is where we started our family. This condo, however imperfect, has been my daughter's first home.
And, banker willing, if we are truly able to buy this house and we actually close on it, it will be the first time in eight years when I can say, "This is our home...for as long as we wish to stay. Maybe forever." How awesome that will be! To be able to throw down roots, to not have to be thinking of our departure when making my 'home', to not have to wonder how long it will be before we will need to move. I feel so grateful, so blessed that I will have a place to call, once and for all, HOME.
I never had to question where this place called 'home' was until I went to college. Of course, during my freshman year, 'home' was still my parents' house. However happy I was to move out of it, it was still 'home' to me. Then, after my summer job on campus wasn't going so well, I decided to move back home. That's when I realized that the home that I once had didn't exist and would never exist again. It's not that it was all that different than it had been scarcely a year earlier, but everybody got a year older, everybody had learned to live with one less person in the cramped, (officially) two-bedroom house, and I was an independent adult with a year of freedom under my belt, living in a walled-off portion of the living room with a sheet for a door.
I was miserable.
It was then that I realized that since I couldn't have 'home' at my parents' house, I would have to make it for myself. I moved in and out of six different dorm rooms during my first three years in college. "This is my home for this school year," I would think, or "This is my home for the summer." Soon I became accustomed to moving my home from one building to another in one day at the beginning and end of the summers, taking down 'home' in one room and setting up 'home' in the next. Although I felt like a nomad, my concept of 'home' travelled with me.
After my junior year of college, Husband and I got an apartment of our own. "This is our home until we both graduate," I thought. It was truly awesome to me. It had a full kitchen and our very own bathroom, nothing we had to share with a myriad of other people. It also boasted (haha) two entire bedrooms. We had a whole extra room with which we could do whatever we wanted! (It turned into a computer room/study.) It took awhile to actually get it to feel like home, though, because for the first six months Husband was living and working in an internship two hundred miles away. I was alone, and again, miserable. The apartment felt deathly empty without him. After he fully moved in, though, it was home sweet, beautiful home.
When Husband graduated, I lobbied him to apply for jobs here in Oregon, and he landed one. We had to pack up and move out of our apartment, which was our home for two years, and into a smaller rented condo. "This is our home until we buy a house," I thought. I didn't know at the time how long that would be. My dreamy-eyed self thought it would be no longer than 12 to 18 months before we would be getting a house of our own. After all, Husband had several friends who had bought houses. Why couldn't we? So I was conservative when I was hanging things on walls, because I didn't want to have to patch holes for things that wouldn't even be on the walls that long. I was holding 'home' in my heart instead of letting it take over our humble adobe.
Well, it didn't take us too long to realize that, HOLY COW, houses in the Portland Metro area cost way more money than houses in North Dakota. We were naïve. It also didn't take us long to figure out that I was pregnant and we were going to have to cram a baby in with us. Actually, the baby was easy to cram in; it was her things that took up so much room. And as she grows, so do her things. While we originally didn't think (or at least hope) we'd be in this condo very long, we have been here for two years and nine months. And while I would have done something crazy to be able to buy a house years ago, in light of the current housing and economic situation I am so glad we waited until now. At any rate, it was probably about the time Munchkin was born that I was finally letting our place feel like home. I feel an attachment here--after all, this is where we started our family. This condo, however imperfect, has been my daughter's first home.
And, banker willing, if we are truly able to buy this house and we actually close on it, it will be the first time in eight years when I can say, "This is our home...for as long as we wish to stay. Maybe forever." How awesome that will be! To be able to throw down roots, to not have to be thinking of our departure when making my 'home', to not have to wonder how long it will be before we will need to move. I feel so grateful, so blessed that I will have a place to call, once and for all, HOME.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
What we have here is a failure to communicate
Right now Munchkin is trying her darndest to tell me something. It involves cheese, the front door, an owl, the guinea pigs, and the phrase "Oh, no!" I haven't the slightest idea what she's trying to communicate, but she seems pretty upset about whatever it is. I wish I had an English <-> Toddler Dictionary.
Spring Cleaning
This week's menu:
Monday: California Rolls and Spicy Orange Shrimp (from PioneerWoman.com, but her site is down right now so I can't Linky)
Tuesday: Chicken Salad Sandwiches (using leftovers from last week's roast chicken) and Sweet Potato Fries
Wednesday: Roast Beef with Vegetables
Thursday: Beef Curry with Vegetables and Rice
Friday: Linguine with Chicken Thighs and garlic bread (also from PW)
Saturday: Fried Rice
Baking: Banana Bread and possibly Apple Crisp
I am so ready for spring to be here! The daffodils and cherry blossoms have been around for a while, but it is still chilly and rainy. That makes me seem like a serial complainer, because hey, it's OREGON. Chilly and Rainy from October to April! But I grow weary.
The home sale is going better than I expected. Certainly better than buying a used car, no joke! Maybe I should hire an agent the next time I need to buy a vehicle. But I digress...
Right now we have finished every inspection, appraisal, negotiation, and addendum that needs to be done, and we are just waiting three to four weeks for manual underwriting. We locked in our interest rate during the record lows earlier this week, and I feel like we've made off like bandits on that one. Hurray! Now I'm focused on getting the apartment ready for insta-packing. I'm not actually packing anything up right now--I feel that would be bad ju-ju. I don't want to have half of our stuff packed up and sitting around in boxes when I get the word that the loan fell through. How miserable it would be to unpack it all! Talk about adding insult to injury! So instead right now I am deep cleaning and organizing every nook and cranny. Or at least I aspire to. ;) That way we can just box it all up as-is and not have to worry about sorting through it all. I think that was the worst part when we moved in 2006.
*FLASHBACK!* Doodle-oo-do! Doodle-oo-do! *wiggles fingers up and down like wavy lines* (What show was that from? Anyone remember?)
After Husband graduated from college in 2006, I informed him that I'd like to live in Oregon. So he started to apply to engineering jobs here. Since he was late getting into the game (most of his other friends already had jobs lined up) and I heard that the job market out here wasn't as plentiful, I was fully expecting waiting six months before he found paydirt. Imagine my surprise when he called be after his first job interview in Newberg and told me to put in my two-week notice! At first I was overjoyed, because I didn't think it would actually happen (notice a pattern?) but then I realized we had three weeks to pack everything we owned and truck it across half the country and into an apartment to live here in a state I'd never been to. Panic! I went through EVERYTHING we had acquired since starting college and before. If I remember correctly, we gave away over ten good-sized boxes of usable but unwanted stuff to Goodwill. I don't want to have to worry about that during a move again!
*Returning to present!*
So anyway, that's the current project. If that wasn't enough, I've been reading the book Solviva by Anna Edey this week and I just want to start planting things! I want to design a garden! I WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE! And also, I've just got a whole pile of clothes that I've been putting off mending, including a rain jacket for Munchkin that she's probably outgrown and has never even worn. *snort* What a procrastinator I am! But I will be too busy moving in and doing home improvement projects when we actually move to get to it, so I need to do all my mending now. I hope that I have enough motivation for it all!
Monday: California Rolls and Spicy Orange Shrimp (from PioneerWoman.com, but her site is down right now so I can't Linky)
Tuesday: Chicken Salad Sandwiches (using leftovers from last week's roast chicken) and Sweet Potato Fries
Wednesday: Roast Beef with Vegetables
Thursday: Beef Curry with Vegetables and Rice
Friday: Linguine with Chicken Thighs and garlic bread (also from PW)
Saturday: Fried Rice
Baking: Banana Bread and possibly Apple Crisp
I am so ready for spring to be here! The daffodils and cherry blossoms have been around for a while, but it is still chilly and rainy. That makes me seem like a serial complainer, because hey, it's OREGON. Chilly and Rainy from October to April! But I grow weary.
The home sale is going better than I expected. Certainly better than buying a used car, no joke! Maybe I should hire an agent the next time I need to buy a vehicle. But I digress...
Right now we have finished every inspection, appraisal, negotiation, and addendum that needs to be done, and we are just waiting three to four weeks for manual underwriting. We locked in our interest rate during the record lows earlier this week, and I feel like we've made off like bandits on that one. Hurray! Now I'm focused on getting the apartment ready for insta-packing. I'm not actually packing anything up right now--I feel that would be bad ju-ju. I don't want to have half of our stuff packed up and sitting around in boxes when I get the word that the loan fell through. How miserable it would be to unpack it all! Talk about adding insult to injury! So instead right now I am deep cleaning and organizing every nook and cranny. Or at least I aspire to. ;) That way we can just box it all up as-is and not have to worry about sorting through it all. I think that was the worst part when we moved in 2006.
*FLASHBACK!* Doodle-oo-do! Doodle-oo-do! *wiggles fingers up and down like wavy lines* (What show was that from? Anyone remember?)
After Husband graduated from college in 2006, I informed him that I'd like to live in Oregon. So he started to apply to engineering jobs here. Since he was late getting into the game (most of his other friends already had jobs lined up) and I heard that the job market out here wasn't as plentiful, I was fully expecting waiting six months before he found paydirt. Imagine my surprise when he called be after his first job interview in Newberg and told me to put in my two-week notice! At first I was overjoyed, because I didn't think it would actually happen (notice a pattern?) but then I realized we had three weeks to pack everything we owned and truck it across half the country and into an apartment to live here in a state I'd never been to. Panic! I went through EVERYTHING we had acquired since starting college and before. If I remember correctly, we gave away over ten good-sized boxes of usable but unwanted stuff to Goodwill. I don't want to have to worry about that during a move again!
*Returning to present!*
So anyway, that's the current project. If that wasn't enough, I've been reading the book Solviva by Anna Edey this week and I just want to start planting things! I want to design a garden! I WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE! And also, I've just got a whole pile of clothes that I've been putting off mending, including a rain jacket for Munchkin that she's probably outgrown and has never even worn. *snort* What a procrastinator I am! But I will be too busy moving in and doing home improvement projects when we actually move to get to it, so I need to do all my mending now. I hope that I have enough motivation for it all!
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