Part 3

Observations of a 3 and 5-year-old

A few nights ago, while talking about our day, Chad informed us that one of the kindergartners got laid off. Let this be a lesson to you kindies, if you slack off, you might find yourself out of work. And let this be a lesson to myself, Chad is always listening.

On a crisp afternoon, out for a walk, I found myself explaining what happens to leaves in the fall. Aubrey asks, "Does it hurt?" Hmm, if leaves had sensory properties, it probably would.

While unloading the kiddies in a parking lot, a Harley Davidson rider pulled up next to us. Chad watched for a moment, then exclaimed "Look Mom, a real pirate!" It was said loud enough for our friendly rider to turn around. I pretended not to hear (really, how could I not have heard?), and found with great relief that he did not come back to strike up a conversation. But now that I think about it, safely in my own home, there were a lot of similarities: the boots, head wrapped in a bandana, black clothing, facial hair. I'm always intrigued to hear the observations of my children, but perhaps while in public, we can work on making them a little quieter.

Family Photos

Who knew it could be so hard to get five people smiling and looking in the same direction? I'm pretty sure I'm the only one that had fun. Just a bit camera crazed now that I have this fun little Nikon that actually clicks when you take a picture - love it. We only had a few with the entire family that turned out. My favorite one was near the end when we were all a bit tired, but the background was perfect, and almost all of us were looking at the camera. Good enough.

What to wear?

I could smell it today. It ain't fall until it smells like it - and it does. I love this time of year! This week we put up Halloween decorations. Every year I have a hard time deciding on crafty or scary decor, a dilemma I have yet to resolve. So we just put up lame dollar store decorations. Chad was so disappointed. We have friends that have a floating head (that talks when you speak into the microphone) and a fog machine. How can you compete with that? I must be stunting my child's creativity. Every year, Chad dreams up what he wants his costume to be and then leaves the details up to me.

It all began at the age of two, when his only wish was to be a vacuum (he actually requested this). Surprisingly, they don't make vacuum costumes. I had to make do with lots of felt and a hot glue gun. I'm so glad he didn't seem to notice people laughing wherever he went.

The next year, an airplane (he was mistaken for a whale a few times). Another crowd pleaser, it had lights and sounds.

When the fourth Halloween came around, he wanted to be an engineer (not Like James - Chad doesn't think James is a real engineer because he doesn't wear a hat). This costume is not exactly what he had in mind. He pictured himself driving a train from house to house. But this is what he got.

This year, the request has been made for an astronaut. Not the orange flight suit, but the actual moon suit - with helmet, boots, gloves, jet pack. Stores do make this costume, but it's $100, I will never pay that much for a costume. So now it's up to me to make it. Just me, the sewing machine, and lots of mormon swear words. Aubrey, by the way, has requested a care bear costume, and Sam will be a dragon (all made by myself). I don't know how this can end well, lots of candy will help.

The Strange & Unusual

Thanks Elizabeth and Sarah, for tagging me on 7 weird/interesting facts on myself. Although you may regret asking, because I consider myself far more weird than interesting.

1. I sleep talk and sleep walk, usually in search of my babies.

2. I value the appearance of a clean house, more than an actual clean house (my closets are evidence of this).

3. Everyone has a bit of obsessive compulsive disorder, my OCD involves a locked house. I check and recheck the locks at night (except when James does it, I trust him). Sometimes I forget if I shut the garage door, so I drive down and then back up the street to make sure. Apparently I'm not so OC when it comes to checking if I have my keys. I have locked myself out twice this year.

4. I'm not typically a spa/salon person. Never had a manicure or pedicure (except those done by myself), and I've had highlights done once. Just too much maintenance (note: when I asked Chad what was weird about me, he said my hair - maybe there's a connection). I feel the same way about accessorizing. I'm hoping Aubrey will help me out with this someday.

5. I'm not really all that put together (see #3). I tend to lose and leave things. Once I left my purse at a restaurant in Castle Rock, WA (purse=accessory=too much work). That was a fun drive back. It's a good thing I have a patient husband.

6. I'm a certified scuba diver. Although, if you really want to scare the dickens out of me, put me 20 feet under the surface without a natural source of oxygen. If I want to see fish under water again, I'll watch the Discovery channel, thanks.

7. I wanted to go to medical school, up until one collegiate day when I went to a seminar on the life of an intern. I changed my mind - psychology suits me a little better. Less hours, less education, and it's useful on a daily basis. What would I do with all that money, anyway?

That's it, or at least that's my top seven.

So now I tag Jen, Amanda, Jessica, Julie, Nicole, and Kari .

Food Storage Aversion - Cured

About this time of year I start to feel really guilty about food storage (or lack of). But every time I hear 500 pounds of wheat, my eyes gloss over and everything gets a bit hazy. Here in lies the problem: I don't know how to grind wheat, I don't know how to cook with wheat, I don't like to eat wheat, and I know I will not want to eat wheat in a disastrous situation. I'm thinking 500 pounds of brownie mix might be more useful. But I know I lack wisdom in this area. That's why I set out looking for help and found this: http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/

This website has lists, spreadsheets, video tutorials - love it. They even use terms like baby steps. I can do baby steps. I just did my 72 hour kit last night and I think my kids would eat most of it, if forced to. And I will just switch the food out every 6 months. This weekend I'm going to attempt a meal with my old 72 hour kit. Now what goes with ramen noodles and beef jerky?

"It's not a cold, it's man flu"

It's that time of year when illnesses are passed around and I thought some of you could use some info on the dreadful man flu. I found this article to be very informative: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2007/11/10/hmanflu110.xml

For those of you that deny the existence of this illness, this article is also very informative:
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2077385.html

Thankfully, James has never caught the man flu. If anyone tends to exaggerate their condition, that would be me. My brother-in-law, Kris, would be the first to tell you of an incident involving me, a bike, & an injury. After assessing my situation, I was sure I had a compound fracture. But upon further examination, it was determined that I had just lost a layer of epidermis (otherwise known as a skinned knee). So perhaps, if this example relates at all, women may not be immune to the man flu.