Dad's gone to a reunion in Buckley for a couple of days, so I grabbed the kids and headed off to Playground of Dreams to meet a few other homeschoolers. They had a great time playing in the water area, and lounging together with the moms on blankets in the shade. For me it was great to do something with and for the kids, and to have a bit of mental space.
Having visitors makes me feel mentally crowded, even when they are not the kind of visitor who actively gets in your space. So it was nice to unwind and visit with my friends.
Then I took the girls to see Harry Potter. It was very fun, just a little bit scary in a thrilling kind of way. We missed the show we had intended to see, and so spent a couple of hours doing little things in town...Shelby bought Pokemon cards at Toys R Us, I bought Rhiannon some shorts and Tamzin and Gillian summer sandals at Value Village, had a hot dog and frozen yogurt for dinner at Costco...and then we'd killed enough time and headed to our movie!
Today I'm going to take the girls to the Renaissance Faire, because they REALLY want to go. It will cost as much as the movies to get into, but once inside, we don't spend any money, except maybe on a bite to eat. They love the performers. They like to dress up, too.
I won't get the office work or backsplash grout done while my Dad's gone. That's what I'd intended. But hanging out with my kids is more fun anyway.
Saturday, June 26, 2004
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Dad's in Town
I do have a good excuse for not blogging lately. My dad is here visiting. He arrived last Friday, and will be staying until next Monday. He comes for a visit once or twice a year. He lost his wife, my stepmom, last year to cancer, and he's been lost and lonely ever since.
My dad is a really simple kind of guy. He doesn't have any hobbies, doesn't want to try new things, doesn't have a big social life, doesn't watch TV, doesn't read. His relationship with his wife was perfect because she was a big talker, so he could just sit and listen. When they used to visit together, Wanda and I would visit, and Dad would listen. He used to do minor household repairs for me when he would come to visit, and keep busy that way, but now his back hurts, so he doesn't.
So when Dad visits, mostly he just sits there. I've learned to just go about my daily stuff, but it's hard, because not much of what I do every day involves sitting, and he won't follow me around to keep me company, and it's pretty frustrating to make time to sit there with him and do nothing. I do find little projects to work on while I am sitting with him, but still, I can only sit there so long!
Plus, having a visitor means having to cook nice meals, instead of the thrown together quickies that are so common around here. We even had a little tiff about it. After three nights of big meals, I served a leftover buffet. We had SO MUCH FOOD! The kids like it because they get to eat their choice, and it keeps the fridge from exploding. But Dad wouldn't eat. He thinks he can get away with not eating because the food isn't set out formally on the table. Dad is a big beer drinker, and doesn't eat much. He probably only eats dinner with us most nights out of politeness.
Dad is not a big talker. In fact, he won't say anthing at all unless someone else says something to draw hims out. Normally I bend over backwards finding lots of little things to talk about. He will jump in and comment if I can find something to say of interest to him. Sometimes he'll even tell a story or two of his own. He's not comepletely unwilling to talk, just not interested in initiating conversation. In a strange twist of fate, I developed laryngitis Friday right before he arrived, so it's been a struggle to say anything at all!
The thing is, I love my Dad, and I'm glad he visits. I just wish it could be easier.
My dad is a really simple kind of guy. He doesn't have any hobbies, doesn't want to try new things, doesn't have a big social life, doesn't watch TV, doesn't read. His relationship with his wife was perfect because she was a big talker, so he could just sit and listen. When they used to visit together, Wanda and I would visit, and Dad would listen. He used to do minor household repairs for me when he would come to visit, and keep busy that way, but now his back hurts, so he doesn't.
So when Dad visits, mostly he just sits there. I've learned to just go about my daily stuff, but it's hard, because not much of what I do every day involves sitting, and he won't follow me around to keep me company, and it's pretty frustrating to make time to sit there with him and do nothing. I do find little projects to work on while I am sitting with him, but still, I can only sit there so long!
Plus, having a visitor means having to cook nice meals, instead of the thrown together quickies that are so common around here. We even had a little tiff about it. After three nights of big meals, I served a leftover buffet. We had SO MUCH FOOD! The kids like it because they get to eat their choice, and it keeps the fridge from exploding. But Dad wouldn't eat. He thinks he can get away with not eating because the food isn't set out formally on the table. Dad is a big beer drinker, and doesn't eat much. He probably only eats dinner with us most nights out of politeness.
Dad is not a big talker. In fact, he won't say anthing at all unless someone else says something to draw hims out. Normally I bend over backwards finding lots of little things to talk about. He will jump in and comment if I can find something to say of interest to him. Sometimes he'll even tell a story or two of his own. He's not comepletely unwilling to talk, just not interested in initiating conversation. In a strange twist of fate, I developed laryngitis Friday right before he arrived, so it's been a struggle to say anything at all!
The thing is, I love my Dad, and I'm glad he visits. I just wish it could be easier.
Poor Puppy
Poor Munchkin was spayed yesterday. I feel so guilty! She looks like she's been through hell, obviously feels rotten, and it's all my fault. When we first got her we had contemplated letting her have a few litters. I was seeing dollar signs, I admit it. $400 per puppy would be pretty cool. But, I'm not willing to go through all the work to get to that point, and I hated dealing with her first "heat". Yuch.
We've had a number of pets before this, and always had them spayed, and I never felt as concerned and guilty as I do this time. I don't remember them having any difficulty recovering. Maybe that was before I'd been through having a child go through a surgery ad difficult recovery period.
I think Munchkin's mad at me. She knows I'm responsible for how rotten she feels.
She won't drink any water at all. The vet said to allow water avery few hours as long as she can keep it down, but should I force her to drink if she refuses?
We've had a number of pets before this, and always had them spayed, and I never felt as concerned and guilty as I do this time. I don't remember them having any difficulty recovering. Maybe that was before I'd been through having a child go through a surgery ad difficult recovery period.
I think Munchkin's mad at me. She knows I'm responsible for how rotten she feels.
She won't drink any water at all. The vet said to allow water avery few hours as long as she can keep it down, but should I force her to drink if she refuses?
Friday, June 11, 2004
Summer Barbeque
The Girl Scout Cookout was so much fun, I think I should have a Summer Barbeque. I've been wanting to have a party and clebrate my new home addition for ages. I'm thinking the July 4th weekend, but maybe people are out of town for the holiday?
We can drink wine and play music and eat yummy snacks, and have a whole separate room set up for the kids so they can have a party, too! It would be really cool to have a theme. Me and the girls thought of doing a Midsummer Night's Eve Party, and had all kinds of great ideas, but I don't think I can pull something together that fast.
The kids love throwing themed parties. I think it's because they like to decorate. And do crafts. And make deserts. I wouldn't let them do birthday parties this year because they wore me out on themed parties last year. But to my suprise, the alternatives to a party ended up being no easier than giving a party would have been. So now they're really eager to plan something. Maybe I should let THEM pick a theme, and just let them run with it and see where we end up!
We can drink wine and play music and eat yummy snacks, and have a whole separate room set up for the kids so they can have a party, too! It would be really cool to have a theme. Me and the girls thought of doing a Midsummer Night's Eve Party, and had all kinds of great ideas, but I don't think I can pull something together that fast.
The kids love throwing themed parties. I think it's because they like to decorate. And do crafts. And make deserts. I wouldn't let them do birthday parties this year because they wore me out on themed parties last year. But to my suprise, the alternatives to a party ended up being no easier than giving a party would have been. So now they're really eager to plan something. Maybe I should let THEM pick a theme, and just let them run with it and see where we end up!
Books and More Books
I finished reading Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons for my book group yesterday. It was pretty good. What a relief to have a light read after Uncle Tom's Cabin and Cry the Beloved Country. Those were both great reads, but far more time consuming and thought provoking. I really loved Uncle Tom's Cabin.
One of my lifetime goals is to read as many classics as I can. I like the way they make me think about things. But it's also nice to take a break now and then too, and just read something entertaining. This morning I started reading Speak, a teen novel about a girl who is ostracized during her freshman year of high school for calling the cops on a summer party. It was so compelling I couldn't put it down. I finished it in one sitting. I'm thinking kids books might be an even better way to have a light read than trashy romantic novels. You can read one in a day, but they have real substance. I would call Speak a teen classic. Definitely worth reading.
The girls and I just finished reading The Moorchild, about a changeling trying to fit into village life. A good fantasy story with a relevant point about the perils of being different. We all liked it. One day I read aloud for over two hours because we were all so eager to find out what was going to happen.
Now we've started Great Expectations. The first few chapters have us laughing hilariously. Dickens is a master of caricature. His character are so exaggerated and bizarre, and funny! I hope the rest of the book will keep them this engaged.
I'm not sure what to pick up now...
One of my lifetime goals is to read as many classics as I can. I like the way they make me think about things. But it's also nice to take a break now and then too, and just read something entertaining. This morning I started reading Speak, a teen novel about a girl who is ostracized during her freshman year of high school for calling the cops on a summer party. It was so compelling I couldn't put it down. I finished it in one sitting. I'm thinking kids books might be an even better way to have a light read than trashy romantic novels. You can read one in a day, but they have real substance. I would call Speak a teen classic. Definitely worth reading.
The girls and I just finished reading The Moorchild, about a changeling trying to fit into village life. A good fantasy story with a relevant point about the perils of being different. We all liked it. One day I read aloud for over two hours because we were all so eager to find out what was going to happen.
Now we've started Great Expectations. The first few chapters have us laughing hilariously. Dickens is a master of caricature. His character are so exaggerated and bizarre, and funny! I hope the rest of the book will keep them this engaged.
I'm not sure what to pick up now...
Yardwork
There's nothing like having company over to get me to work on a project.
Our yard has been a weed infested, thigh high jungle all spring. With the Girl Scout Cookout looming on Sunday, I got my butt out in the yard and spend three days weed whacking. I ordered the new gas tank Clint needed to the lawn mower, and it got here in only three days, so he was able to mow the open areas. The yard is still substandard. Lots of bare dirt covered with holes, large stretches of weeds, no real landscaping of any kind. But it doesn't look too bad when it's all trimmed to a nice, traversable level.
So I'm happy.
Our yard has been a weed infested, thigh high jungle all spring. With the Girl Scout Cookout looming on Sunday, I got my butt out in the yard and spend three days weed whacking. I ordered the new gas tank Clint needed to the lawn mower, and it got here in only three days, so he was able to mow the open areas. The yard is still substandard. Lots of bare dirt covered with holes, large stretches of weeds, no real landscaping of any kind. But it doesn't look too bad when it's all trimmed to a nice, traversable level.
So I'm happy.
Thursday, June 03, 2004
The Big Fish
Here's Clint after Day Two of the tournament with his big fish of the day. (To win, you have to have the largest total weight of all fish caught over the three day tournament, with a limit of 5 fish per day). Clint weighed over 50 pounds for the three days.
Notice I've finally added photos to my blog!
And the Winner is...
The big news is Clint WON the tournament!!! Wooohooo! Uh-huh, do a happy dance!!!
Obviously I've become too jaded, because when he called the night before the final tournament day to tell me he was in first place, I couldn't let myself get excited about it. It's too easy to drop from first place to tenth place. But, no, my awesome studly husband brought in the biggest bag of fish two days in a row, and won the whole enchilada! He's a happy guy right about now. He's won his share of tournaments, but never one with a prize of this size. The prize? A bass boat, valued at $35000, and a check for $11,100. Hooray! I can pay all my overdue bills! He says he's going to sell the boat since we need the money (bless his practical little heart). Of course, we'll be lucky to get $25000 for it. But who's complaining. I might even be able to pay off a couple of credit cards.
Obviously I've become too jaded, because when he called the night before the final tournament day to tell me he was in first place, I couldn't let myself get excited about it. It's too easy to drop from first place to tenth place. But, no, my awesome studly husband brought in the biggest bag of fish two days in a row, and won the whole enchilada! He's a happy guy right about now. He's won his share of tournaments, but never one with a prize of this size. The prize? A bass boat, valued at $35000, and a check for $11,100. Hooray! I can pay all my overdue bills! He says he's going to sell the boat since we need the money (bless his practical little heart). Of course, we'll be lucky to get $25000 for it. But who's complaining. I might even be able to pay off a couple of credit cards.
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