Play Kitchen

Lala is really into pretend play these days. I want to encourage this, as it gives me some free time to pee solo while the TV isn’t on, so I’ve been perusing play kitchens online. She plays with one at church and seems quite happy with it.

Have you priced play kitchens lately? Almost all start over one hundred dollars! That’s without utensils. Now, I love Lala… but $100 for a first holiday present? I thought she’d be at least nine before this happened. Heck, she hasn’t even discovered American Girl yet.

There is one that is quite reasonable in price, but apparently the reason for the low price is that you have to finish the manufacturing process. Not just assembly, but also cutting the pieces out of the plastic. According the hundreds of reviews online, it takes at least four hours to assemble, a wire cutter, razor knife and several different sandpaper grits. I’d like to think that I’m handy… but four hours of assembly on Christmas Eve? My plans were more like cookies, hot cocoa and a movie that included my Christmas wish… a really hot guy.

I’m thinking that I might go to Home Depot and purchase a short cabinet upon which I’ll paint kitchen like things. You know, burners and a fake window. Does that sound cheap?

What Time Do I Put The Turkey In?

For some reason, I’m really excited about cooking Thanksgiving dinner. All the work and planning, and I can’t wait. I’m guessing it’s because I get to chose what to make… you know, the great stuffing debate and all that. My stepmother loves to cook – and don’t get me wrong, she is a great cook – but holidays are not times for experimentation. I’m a traditionalist. To me, holidays are about connecting to your family and your history.

That means we have oyster stuffing, sit on the ‘davenport’ and talk or play games. We don’t watch TV because it’s rude (although given that it’s just us, we may watch the parade). There will be a jell-o salad. If we were at ‘ol homestead, we’d probably be sledding at some point and hoping that there is “store-bought” milk somewhere. And darn it, I think it’s important for kids to have that consistency, so my kids are eating the same Thanksgiving dinner I ate, that my mother ate, my grandmother ate and my great grandmother ate.

I think the other reason I’m so excited is just because I didn’t make it this far with Lala last year. It was the beginning of a very sad and disappointed time. I was planning on going to the Black Friday sales, but ended up buying toys for Lala that are still sitting in the closet – and the thought that they will be given this year is thrilling. Not only those presents, but stockings and cookies… oh yeah. I’m a little excited.

Quick Update

• Lala’s dog bite is healing. Explained the situation to her CW and so far, the dog is not going to be in “doggie jail”. I already have a “safety plan” in place, but it’s not one that the dog loves, so I am looking for a new home for her. Had lots of conversations with people about it and if a better home can be found, it would probably be the best. Or, it may be a really long winter.
• Most of my holiday shopping is done. Unfortunately, the cuddler seems to have gotten the raw end of the deal… his poor little stocking is nearly empty. However, I’m not going to buy anything more until the gifts from the state arrive as I have no idea what will show up. Also have no idea when anything will show up.
• I decided to return one of Lala’s gifts I ordered. First, it’s on sale somewhere else for about half the price and second, I’m not so sure I want it any more. I’m wondering if I should create a pretend kitchen with a wooden crate and shelving. That way, it could be recycled into something useful and it supposed to ‘pretend’. How realistic does ‘pretend’ need to be?
• Cards were ordered and are on their way here. Hopefully, they will arrive by Thanksgiving so that I can get them done on Friday and sent out.
• Turkey is currently thawing in fridge in preparation for Thanksgiving. If you’re wondering about the process, it’s here.
• The cuddler will be here over the holidays. No reunification plan has been set.

How to End a Really Sucky Day?

After all my angst about who would actually show up for conferences, I only made it to one session before I collapsed into a fever crazed sick person. There was supposed to be a sign up sheet to leave phone numbers, but either few could be bothered or, as one parent claimed, the paper was hidden somewhere that only special parents could find. I do have about 15 to call next week.

In the meantime, I’m still trying to recover from said illness. And get caught up on grading. Usually, I get tons done during conferences since I’m forced to sit in the cafeteria for hours with little entertainment. I had it planned… and, it didn’t work out. Instead, it was a marathon session today.

So what made the day suck? It should have been great. Only one class, tons of time to get stuff done, get qualified for my energy rebate without having to take time off, maybe even grocery shop… well, I did get one class all caught up with grading and will be getting my rebate check.

But! am apparently broke, discovered that out of 45 students, only 15 did the project assignment that was due today… and only two were from the class I actually saw, forcing me to give the annual “if you sit around watching life go by, all your going to get is a view of other people getting a life” speech. (as a side note, I think it’s getting better… there were no rolling eyes this year. Then again, this isn’t a class with much of a backbone).

After school, I was really too wiped out (speechifying is tiring!) to shop, so I didn’t get that done. Or pay the garbage bill or deposit a check, hence the bounced check fee… and the dog bit the two year old. So, I’ll spending the weekend finding her a new home (the dog, not the two year old)… which sucks, but I’ve tried everything and the dog is just not accepting them and yet, freaks if not with me.

I should have bought some calgon.

Wet

After three very wet storms, I’m really wishing I had bought a mini-van this summer. It’s only November, so I’m guessing this winter is going to be very, very wet.

We may have start wearing floaties to bed.

Photo Done

The holiday photos were taken today… I’m really hoping that one turned out good. I was sent the one that “looks the best” and half of my face is squished into the cuddler. Lala is actually looking at the camera, though. I’m looking forward to seeing the other photos… maybe another one came out.

Thirty years from now, my children will ask why there are so few photos of them as young children and I will have to explain that they refused to sit or stand still for any photo to turn out attractive.

Relaxing Weekend Upcoming

Photos

As the holidays get closer, I’m thinking more and more about the holiday photo card. Yes, I’m one those people… and not only do I send out photos of myself, kids and dog, but I also send them out Thanksgiving weekend. Cheesy and early. Actually, it’s really the only time I have to write out the cards, address them and get stamps to mail them out. Waiting until December means they probably won’t be sent out.

To accomplish this Thanksgiving weekend task, however, means that the photos have to taken, proofed and sent out the the printer soon. At this juncture in time, I have no idea what is going on with the cuddler’s case. Really, I haven’t a clue. I won’t know until late next week, maybe. I can’t wait that long to hold off to have the photos taken.

So the question becomes, do I include the cuddler on the hopes that he will be here for the holidays? Not include him, because he might be gone by then and if he does become a keeper, he won’t know that he was left out for at least another ten years.

I’ve really tried to philosophical and ‘understanding’ about the lack of information regarding his case, but he’s on his 4th CW in 9 months. I live in a poor rural area. It’s not like there is a lot of people moving in and out… even with this economy. Exactly where are these former CW going? And who is replacing them? Or if no one is being replaced… well, I guess that would explain the total lack of information.

Another Meeting

I finally received a letter informing of an upcoming meeting for the cuddler. Hopefully I’ll get more information on his future – I think these past few months of no information has really set me up for an emotional fall. My mind has been moving into “permanent” mode, even though nothing I’ve ever seen or heard has pointed to that direction. The meeting is next week.

In the meantime, it’s been very busy around here. This week is a huge fundraising event (actually 10 days of events!) at work. It’s for a good cause and raises much needed funds… but it’s a lot of work. Last night was a “talent” show in which I performed twice. Sadly, no one recorded it on camera. I had a lot of people tell me that my rendition of Red-Hooded Sweatshirt was quite funny. Tomorrow night is the dessert auction. That’s the event I’m in charge of and I think that I might actually be experienced enough not to freak out this year. At least I haven’t freaked out yet. Tomorrow night I will probably be sweating it out waiting for the donations to show up.

I tried to help out in the dessert donation part by making cookies tonight. I should have known… I cannot make no bake cookies. The whole cooking the sugar for just the right amount of time does not work for me. Even when I have directions, it doesn’t work. I’d post a photo of them, but it’s just too embarrassing. I’ll have to hit the grocery store tomorrow before the auction. Sad.

Long Weekend

It was a busy weekend, as usual… but this coming week will be even busier. Two of our local high schools have a major fundraising competition for the area food banks. It’s a huge deal. Mind blowingly huge. The kind of huge that really should be on the Oprah show. In honor of this fundraiser, I’ll be singing tomorrow night not once, but twice. For the record, I can’t sing. I do, however, love to sing and signing in front of an audience where people will applaud no matter how bad – oh yeah, nothing better.

I’ll be part of team singing Mahnahnahnah and doing red hooded sweatshirt solo.
I am really excited about it. Really. If only I wasn’t so tired… and had so much still on my to do list. Plus, this Wednesday I’m the advisor for another event and even though Wednesday is officially a holiday… I’ll be at work bright eye’d and bushy-tailed at 8 am. Maybe I’m just to tired from today.

Current To-Do List

• Find someone to remove moss from roof
  
• pay bills
  
• figure out if this is water bill month or garbage bill month and pay
  
• pick up mail from post office
  
• weigh in for biggest looser at work; try not to cry
  
• finish cleaning the living room
  
• vacuum
  
• sweep
  
• train the dog not to growl at the kids or stay in another room without going crazy
  
• clean kitchen
  
• finish the laundry, wash new clothes
  
• sleep
  
• hang shelves
  
• make cookies for Wed. benefit
  
• find pink hair spray
  
• wash red hooded sweatshirt?
  
• get milk

maybe I need to prioritize a bit, but still it’s all gotta get done.

11 Days

Is it just me, or do things just seem to going by faster and faster? And I'm getting more and more tired... I think it has to do with the lack of sunlight. We're leaving at dark-thirty every morning and I only see the sun through my classroom windows. Of course, it doesn't help living the rainiest region in the US. I have to say that I am still disgruntled about the moving back of daylight savings time switch over to November. Seriously, only rich Texans with more golf clubs that brain cells needed more "daylight savings".

Halloween happened. I wish I could say that it was the stuff Disney channel movies are made of, but this is real life. Lala wore her costume for approximately five minutes. Once she saw the Cuddler's cheetah outfit, she immediately wanted to be a monkey with a tail. Sadly, we did not have any monkey costumes lying about. The princess dress was doomed from then on. The Cuddler's costume did not make it through daycare. It came home ripped, without a working zipper and covered in chocolate. To be honest, he's grown a bit in the last month and is now fully into 18 month clothes. Anyways, costumes were not really happening. Add that to Lala's incredible shyness with strangers... and Halloween does not translate into one of the top holidays. They did enjoy getting pumpkins, playing in the hay at the pumpkin patch and patiently watched while I carved the pumpkins. Lighting up the pumpkins was pretty cool too! And we all enjoyed the "cookie walk" at the Trunk or Treat at church. Plus they had thousands of Halloween stickers and crayons to make your own treat bags - an activity that Lala happily worked on for nearly 20 minutes, while I chased the cuddler all over the gym. - and the fishing booth resulted in the attainment of two (not one, but two!) bead necklaces.

Ok, on a scale of one to ten - ten being "meanest mom ever!", how bad is it that I gave all the candy the kids got from trick-or-treating the CW's office to the trick-or-treaters who came to our door? They each got a couple of pieces, but they forgot all about the candy by the time we got home (no eating in the car)... so I just never reminded them. 3? 6? 10?

It's On Again!

Tonight, Lala sat on the potty without a diaper on.... and pee'd!!!! I was so shocked!

Since the last attempt, there has been barely any potty sitting and none without diaper on. And while it makes for good lunch time conversation (hey, I work with a bunch of moms...), I really haven't even thought about it. Lala has enough going on to really be worrying about using the potty.

Her court case has been pushed back to Thanksgiving and lots of upheaval has been going on. Much clingyness has ensued and I am praying for all of this end soon.

The cuddler, not to be outdone, also sat on the potty. He thinks it's quite fun and I have high hopes that one day, I too, may brag at the lunch table that potty training was "soooo easy!" In the meantime, he is charming the pants off of everyone and getting cuter by the minute. He gets away with too much by turning on that thousand watt smile.

The Re-Open Window

Maggie is back! Well, for one post anyways... if you haven't visited The Open Window
to read about her journey in adoption, then you need to, especially if you are in the
midst of a long wait. It is inspiring, touching and funny.

In the meantime, please vote for her in the Good Mood Gig contest to get a job!
In this economy any job is worth it - and honestly it's a good way to find a good
blogger with a following. She got into the contest a little late, so she needs to
catch up! Please go vote and urge all your friend too!




Good Mood Gig from SAM-e

Feed the Dog

After telling Lala that she could not feed the dog french fries, she got down
from the bench, picked up the dog bowl and said "doggie hungry!" So cute!

Celebrating Everyday Life is having a giveaway! Check out the super cute
dress that is in the offing! If I only had time to sew... or money to purchase.
Too cute!

Upcoming...

Yesterday I had to attend a class to my teaching credential current.
It's the culimination of a class I took in 2006-2007. Everyone was supposed
to bring a photo that showed the changes in their life since we had last met...
my original photo was a copy of a christmas card I had made of me and my
dog wrapped up in Christmas lights and me with a wine glass in hand.
Contrast that to the one I'll sending out this year and it's quite a change in three years.

Have you noticed the recent backlash against holiday cards? I can't b
elieve the number of people who've told me that they really hate
them... how do you hate a holiday card? I realize that the annual
holiday letter was never a big favorite, but I liked them. Nowadays,
you can simply upload a photo to some site, choose a frame and order
away. They'll even send them out for you if you just upload your address
book. And yet, people seem to think they are this huge bothersome
task that no one appreciates, so why do it all?

Maybe it's just the people I know... Are you planning on sending out holiday
cards? Has the number of cards you received gone down over the years? Is
it just me?

**just wanted to add that this morning we had to stop at WalMart to pick up
mittens before heading out to the pumpkin patch. It was that cold this morning!
Winter is on it's way.

Cuteness Galore

The camera is charged up! We're headed out

to the pumpkin patch tomorrow morning.

I'm obviously more excited than the kids...

Lala doesn't remember going last year (although

she's seen the movies) and the cuddler has never

been. There will be hayrides and pumpkins. Maybe

even spicy cake donuts.

There's been a couple of developments in Lala's court case - not necessarily

positive ones. She'll start visits with BM next week... and I have no idea as to

how they will go over, but I'm worried for her. She's just starting to settle in and

all this chaos returns for her. It also meant that her court date was rescheduled

much later. In the meantime, nothing is going on with the cuddler's case. I

haven't heard from his cw since early in September. So, I guess no news is

good news for now.

Date Night

I left the kids tonight and headed out on a blind date. It lasted an hour.
I looked at my watch three times... yah, that great.

Actually, it wasn't horrible. Just no connection and slightly awkward.
At least I can say I did something without kids this weekend.

Pumpkin patch on Sunday!!!

No Joy in Potty Town

Apparently, last night's potty experience was a little more freaky than I thought. Today, Lala did not want to sit on the potty sans clothing. If there was in peeing while sitting on the potty, it went into the diaper. Also, we had yet another "accident".

This is not going to be easy. Actually, I'm pretty ready to pack it in on the whole thing. I wasn't exactly thrilled about starting now - she just seemed to be wanting to do it. Asking to sit on the toilet, etc. I guess, she just never figured on pee actually coming out. Oh well... maybe next month.

We did it!

Today I had my first mammogram. I had prepared myself for a long waiting room wait, as is usual in this town... but I was out of there in there in 30 minutes. So now that's done and I've hit another mark of the aged... later in the afternoon I got a new haircut that apparently makes me look ten years younger.

We also had another first tonight. Lala went peepee in the potty!!! She was a little freaked out about it to be honest. Is she ready? I think I've given up on finding a definitive sign. Suffice to say that she really likes sitting on the potty, wiping and flushing the toilet, so what the heck. If she doesn't really want to do it, she won't. Tonight she sat on the new pink potty for nearly an hour. Apparently, it's very comfortable, especially with mommy sitting next to you reading story after story. Anyways, I was about to give up - actually, I did give up because it was bed time - and was in the bathroom starting the good night routine when Lala suddenly stood up and say "ahhhh!" while peeing. She is still shocked by the construct of peeing. I sat her back down, trying to keep her calm and not get upset by the pool of pee surrounding her. She was really thirsty today and had several cups of water and milk, so when I say pool, I mean pool.

After we got everything cleaned up, I grabbed the camera. I wish I could post the photo of her proud "big girl" smile. Hopefully, tomorrow it will be just as cool to peepee in the potty.

We're into it, I guess...

Tonight I ordered a potty, a doll that wets and pull-ups. If anything, I'm hoping that Lala gets the connection between drinking and peeing or decides that pull-ups are cool, because diapers are NOT.

Yeah, I had to order them from Amazon because I don't actually have time to go to the store. How crazy does your life have to be when you can't find time to go to WalMart?