The Best Part of Today Was...

Tyler singing Barney the Dinosaur's i love you song about 20 times. Incredibly cute...wish I had a camcorder. : )

October 25 Revisited

One of Lucille's comments sent me back in my blog to reread what I'd posted on October 25:
Multiple Choice
Over the next few months, I hope to become:
1) a pack rat
2) a rat fink
3) a gym rat
4) a muskrat
5) a chef like Ratatouille
The answer was/is:
3) a gym rat
I rejoined a gym at that time but haven't been very faithful about working out. I did manage to get there both yesterday and today...hey, maybe I'm on a roll!

Not Just at Convenience Stores

I stopped at Subway tonight to get a sub for dinner. The workers asked me if I'd seen a young couple walking down the street (I hadn't). Evidently, this couple walked into Subway, took some soda without paying, and then threatened to kill one of the employees. I thought that things like that happened only at convenience stores. I guess not.

Treasures in Tow

What a group I have. As a group, here's what they had in their hands when they walked into my house this morning...a monkey, a plastic banana, a dog, a Mr. Potato Head ear, and a Mr. Potato Head mouth.

Routines

Personally, I don't usually follow a set routine; I try to just go with the flow whenever and wherever. However, I am very routine oriented when it comes to the kids; we have the same basic schedule every day, and the kids, as young as they are, anticipate what comes next in our day. I've been really spoiled with our afternoon nap time...I'm usually able to get everyone (except the baby) to sleep at about the same time and most of the kids sleep 2-3 hours. Now, however, it seems that one of my twos is giving up nap time. I don't know who's having a harder time with this...her or me! : (

A Shred of Change

Last Sunday, I purchased 30 Day Shred, a work-out video. I've been working through it every night since then...pushing myself a little more each night. According to an online dictionary I consulted, the word shred means a small amount, a particle. So, I'm wondering if I can expect a small amount of change or maybe just a particle. I guess I'm going to find out.

Happy Birthday, Wade!

Boxed In

New Year's Resolutions...I've never been very good with them. I'm a "Make 'Em and Break 'Em" kind of person. Yesterday, I thought of one that I'm going to try to keep. I have a million (slight exaggeration) boxes of stuff sitting around my house...in my basement, in my garage, etc. Since I'm considering a move next year, this seems like the time to start doing something with those boxes of stuff. So...I'm going to commit to deciding what to do with all that stuff...one box at a a time...one week at a time. Since we're already four weeks into 2011, I've got some catching up to do. Think I can do it? I hope so!
PS...I plan to start this project next weekend. Will keep u posted.

There's a First Time for Everything

There's a first time for everything. I've had my Durango for 13 years...there's never been a pile of snow that it couldn't plow through. Until tonight. On my way to return a table that we had borrowed for Tyler's birthday party, I realized that I'd driven right by the house. Looking for a place to turn around, I spotted a snow-covered school driveway that, based on the number of visible tire tracks, had obviously been driven on many times. So I turned into the drive and immediately sunk up to my fenders in snow. There was no way that my D or I were going anywhere! I called my motor club; thirty-five minutes later a tow truck arrived. Unbelievable...it was the same tow truck company that was sent to my rescue the other two times this month that I've needed help. But, I digress. Afterward, I said to the guy who so effortlessly pulled me out, "Look at all those tracks. Why is it that everyone else could drive through here and I got stuck?" His response..."Those are snowmobile tracks". True story. : )

The Ox Yoke Inn

The Ox Yoke Inn is my favorite Amana restaurant. Like many of the other restaurants there, food can be served "Family Style". It always takes me back to those Sunday dinners we had on the farm. L, B, D, and D, did you get your Iowa 2011 Travel Guide in the mail? If you turn to pages 103-104, you'll find info. about the Amana Colonies. Lucille and Bev...I finally responded to your January 17 comments. I know that I have yet to write about a group of comments written a long time ago. Someday, I plan to do so...it's my goal to respond to all comments! Have a great week everyone!

Check this out:
www.oxyokeinn.com

The Amanas

Back to next summer...I'd like to suggest a day trip to the Amana Colonies. The Amanas, approximately 1 1/2 hours from Waterloo, have something for everyone. When A, J, and D were little, we made a day trip to the Amanas at least twice a year and always had a good time. There, in addition to many other things, you can find GREAT food and shopping.In tomorrow's post, I'll talk about my favorite restaurant. If you want more info about the Amana Colonies you can visit their website:
amanacolonies.com

Happy Birthday, Lane!!!

Laundry Basket

And the answer is:
6) None of the above. My new washer arrived yesterday morning...yea!!! I am definitely not going to miss going to the laundromat...I'd gone almost every night for about 6 weeks. One night at "The L", while doing her laundry, a lady was singing "We Are The World"...loudly...over and over. I didn't get the impression that she was eccentric...she just seemed joyful. Oh, to be so uninhibited!!
PS...Eddie sometimes sleeps in my laundry basket; he's gonna be a happy cat now because he can have his basket back! : )

Happy Birthday, Amy!!

Airing My Dirty Laundry

A new multiple choice quiz:

Today I...
1) Spent twenty minutes digging through my couch cushions looking for quarters.
2) Was treated to a rousing rendition of "We Are The World".
3) Jumped up and down in my laundry basket, trying to get five loads of laundry to fit into it (hey...what can I say...I'm lazy!).
4) Threw up three times and went out to do laundry anyway.
5) All of the above.
6) None of the above.

Answer will be posted tomorrow!

Expect the Unexpected

Today we had a visit from Erin, one of the Food Program consultants. Erin arrived just in time to observe our morning snack routine. I went around the table asking each child if he/she wanted yogurt.
The replies were as follows:
D...Yes, please.
K...Yes, please.
E...Yes, please.
Ty...Of course.
I don't know who laughed harder...Erin or me!

You Know It's Cold...

when you have to leave the water running in the bathroom so the pipes don't freeze. (Guess who had to do this?!)

Happy Birthday, Adam!

Horse Sense

Derek "City Boy" Weller has never been very comfortable around horses. In fact, last summer, when Adam and I went on a trail ride at Fort Bragg, he wouldn't go with us. Now, however, he has a girlfriend who has a horse boarded in the stables at F.B. He has been practicing his horse skills by helping her with Billy's feeding, grooming, and exercising. He told me that he even took a horseback riding lesson this weekend. What happened to the good old days when a person just jumped on a horse and took off?!? I guess I probably need to take a lesson or two the next time I'm in NC...there are probably a few things I need to learn/relearn! : )

Turning Five

Another birthday party...C turned 5 today. It's hard to believe how fast time flies; C was just a few months older than Ty is when I started working with him. C, his sister K (who was 6 months old at the time), and their mom and dad had just moved back to Iowa from Texas and were temporarily living with Grandma and Grandpa (friends of mine). I'd just decided to quit teaching to stay home with Ty and called my friend Kaye to see if her daughter-in-law, Tami, was interested in applying for the K position I'd left. (Tami had been a K teacher in Texas). Tami had been considering staying home with the kids but, when I agreed to care for them , she decided to teach. My house was in the process of a remodel, so I spent the first 2 1/2 months of childcare at Nick and Kaye's house with C and K. Seems like a lifetime ago (another life really). Fast forward to today...the little boy who was sleeping in a crib and shrieked whenever his baby sister got too close to his things, is now 5 and will start K in August. Makes me realize how quickly the time will go until Ty turns 5!
Note to Lucille and Bev...I finally responded to your Thursday comments...didn't want you to miss it!

"The Party"...At Last

Tyler's birthday party took place this afternoon...finally! It had been rescheduled twice...first because he was sick and then because Aaron had a work conflict. It turned out to be a nice day (if you can call a winter day in Iowa "nice"), and no one in the group was *sick. Ty soaked up all the attention that his twenty-six guests had to offer and, despite being in the throes of "The Terrible Twos", he was a happy camper all afternoon. We have LOTS of cupcakes, ice cream, and Chex Mix left over if anyone wants to stop in tomorrow.
*Note: If the kids and I stay healthy until Monday, it'll be the first week of no illness in our group since Thanksgiving! Yea!!

To Clean or Not To Clean

Cleaning is a daily ritual here. There are those things that are a "have to", things that are a "need to", and the "if I have time to". With little kids here every day, I'm a little obsessive about it. Some of it is done while the kids are asleep in the afternoon (an hour if I'm really lucky); however, the majority of my cleaning is done at night. The crazy thing is that, even after spending time cleaning and picking up every day, I still have piles of things that never get touched. Don't know where I inherited that habit...was mom a piler? I don't remember.

Two Hippos and a Goat

D wouldn't take her nap today until we'd located two plastic hippos that she'd played with this morning. And even though he already had eleven items in his bed (including a plastic plate), Ty insisted that I find "the goat" (also plastic) so he could sleep with it. Kids think of the craziest things...

Tea Parties

Tea parties are an everyday occurrence at my house. The girls, K, D, and E, bring out our toy teapot, cups, saucers, cakes, and cookies and "sip tea". Tyler is never included in these parties; in fact, he doesn't even notice. Or so I thought. Today, after everyone else had left for the day, Tyler "invited" me to a tea party. We had milk and mustard...very tasty!

Last Comic Sitting

This afternoon, I walked into the computer room to get a diaper for B. Awake from her nap, K was sitting on her bed, talking to herself. When I asked her if I could turn the light on she said, "No, not yet. I'm telling jokes." I grabbed the diaper and left the room. As I walked down the hall, I could still hear her "telling jokes".

Weather Report

It seems that North Dakota has so much snow that it's starting to spill over into Iowa.

33.3

Hello! I can't believe that the end of the weekend is already here. At least we've not had the nasty weather that a lot of you have been getting. Last night, after dinner, Adam, Jaime, Tyler and I stopped at Cup of Joe (a coffee shop) in Cedar Falls, to check out the 33.3 Art Show. Thirty-three local and national artists and designers (and a four-year-old...hence the .3) took on the task of reinterpreting and reimagining album covers. Our personal favorite piece is Life, Love And Leaving, a painting done by local artist, Adam Weller. If you want to see a glimpse of his work (as well as the others), you can do so by googling 33.3 Art Show. Adam's album cover features the group Detroit Cobras. USA Today even reported on this show...big stuff for CF/Wloo!

Travel Iowa

Hi everyone! Looks like I'm back to my weekend posts about next summer. If you're searching for more info about Iowa and what to do while you're here, check out the following website:
www.traveliowa.com
I visited this website today and requested that info be sent to Lucille, Bev, Diane, and Dave. If you find anything interesting in the literature that is sent to you, please share with your families. Hope you're all having great weekends...ciao!

Things That Go Bump in the Night

I have a monitor that I use when Tyler is asleep in his crib in my room. That way, when the door is closed, I can hear him when I'm the kitchen or in the basement. After he leaves for the day, I usually remember to turn off the one in my bedroom (but sometimes forget the ones in the kitchen and basement). Often, when that happens, I suddenly hear voices...often lots of voices...usually sounding agitated...coming from the monitors that I forgot to turn off. I've tried to listen, but it sounds like they're speaking a different language. I'm not at all afraid to be here alone (well, not alone I guess, I do have Ed), but when that thing blasts in the middle of the night, it startles me...every time! Luckily, it just happened and it's not the middle of the night!

Read Any Good Books Lately?

I have been sick off and on for the past two months (seems like years) and, believe me, watching TV has gotten really old. I am now more aware of how often shows are rerun, how many times the same stories are told over and over again, and how much time is consumed by commercials. Today, sick again, I realized that I'm sick of TV watching, too. So...I picked up a book. Thanks to Diane, who is very generous about sharing her books, I had several options and decided to read one by Nicholas Sparks. The problem is...I can't put it down. (That always happens when I start reading.) If I don't get anything accomplished tonight, it's Diane's fault...JK.

Want Ad

Wanted: A job that doesn't involve sick children. : (

Two Cute, Too

Some of the things that my "twos" say just crack me up. Tyler hasn't wasted any time in his new "twoness" to be entertaining. While on vacation, he kept us laughing the whole time...he even amused several strangers. This afternoon, I was standing at the bathroom sink washing my hands, when he appeared at the door. He must have been looking for me, because he said, "Hi, My My! There you are. How are you?"

I Need a Hug

Today was our first day back together after a much needed 2 1/2 week break. The kids were excited to see each other. In fact, as soon as D saw K, she approached her with her arms spread wide open. Just as D was about to give K a big bear hug, K said, "No, thank you." D backed up, looked a little stunned, but asked, "Yes, please?". K reconsidered, and they hugged. Too cute!

Lists

I'm a "list" person. I really don't function very well without a list (ie. shopping list, grocery list, what to do today list, what not to do today list). I've been known to make lists listing the lists that I have...did you follow that? Those lists sometimes usually drive me crazy. Not because I make them but because I'm lucky to get 1/10th of the things accomplished on my daily lists. So then, I have to make a new list (a cleaned-up version) of the things that I need to carryover to the next day. I wonder if I have OCPD???!!!

Happy New Year!

We are back...the trip was fun, but we all came home a little sleep deprived. I have one more day to catch up on that (and everything else) before the kids are all back. Any New Year's resolutions out there? It seems that every year I make them and then break them. My Durango wouldn't start last night; thank goodness for motor clubs. I'm going outside right now to see if it'll start so I can run a few errands. Keep your fingers crossed! More tomorrow...