A little worried? And other random pictures that I like.

Mostly I'm just so pleased that I've finally succeeded in posting pictures here. I've never been able to do this before. Moddy and Maudie Jane have totally inspired me. Now I just need to take some more recent photos. (The ones below are all within the last 12 months, as iphoto tells me) however, none within the last four. Therefore, not recent.)

And now I give you THE WORRIED FACE...


I have no idea what happened before or after this photo but I love it. Is it wrong that I'm taking some delight in the expression on Grace's face? Mostly because I'm pretty sure I said "make a face" and then snapped the picture. Or at least, that's the story I'm going with.









Okay, yeah, so I have the Holmes Sleepy Eyes(HSE), but still... Cute picture, right guys? Guys? Anywho, I like this one of Grace and I now you all get to see it. Yay for you.

And what is it with the HSE? We all get it. Think every Christmas morning photo we've ever taken. I'm just saying...











Also love this photo of J with Grace. So cute on Christmas morning. And also a good example of someone who does not have HSE.

Anyway, the other point of this picture is to tell a story. Easter Sunday, as we walked into the back of the chapel and sat down we heard a little voice saying, "Mom, LOOK, it's Jesus!" Much pointing and jumping up and down ensued. "Mom, look, look! Jesus is here. It's Jesus!" You may have guessed, based on this picture alone, that the little girl was pointing at my Sweetie. Is it wrong that we got a really good (albeit quiet - chapel, remember?) laugh at that. The mom was so embarrassed.

That's all for now.

Making Peace With Lunchables

I totally get that lunchables are the devil. They are pre-packaged boxes of sugar, sodium, fat and lots of calories. However, we're still friends. We have an understanding. I occasionally buy the small ones (sans drink) with meat, crackers and cheese. Paired with a vegetable, fruit and water, they're not so evil. Or that's what I tell myself. So back off. The convenience is lovely.

I like convenient, easy to do/use things. I'm all about the pre-chopped vegetables for party trays; just add _____ mixes for cakes, muffins, brownies, whatever; and frozen desserts are terribly useful to keep on hand for those last minute get-togethers. Ready-to-cook and other prepared food-stuffs are so nice to have around the house.

I'm not ashamed to admit it either (not really, anyway). They're helpful. What so wrong with 'helpful'? (no, don't really answer that - I could list a lot of reasons.) Time-savers are so important to today's housekeepers*. Mainly because today's housekeepers are also parents, job-holders, church-goers, hobbiests and, thing-doers. People have more things to do than just cook (not always more important -just more). Why should quality* suffer just because there's a lack of time?

What time savers to you use?



*Yes, there are a lot of foods that are WAY better when made from scratch and are well worth the time. Let us not argue about that.*

**I'm sure yesterday's housekeepers had "things" do or would have like to have other things to be busy with. Let us be clear; I'm not slamming yesterday's housekeepers.**

The Things We Give Our Children

Grace arrived with many wonderful qualities. She is very generous in nature, giving of herself and her possessions. She is sensitive to the feelings of those around her. She wants to be helpful and involved. Grace loves family relationships. She wants to love each family member she meets and know them and be known by them. And sing a song about it. In the car or the shower. Really.

But the things I want to instill in her are also many. I feel a lot of stress and pressure to provide Grace with confidence and self-assurance. I want her to be ambitious and also a team player. I want her to be a hard worker and not mind doing what needs to be done. (But lets be honest, I don't always want to do what needs to be done, so really, it's a tall order.) Is it so wrong for me to want her to be better than me? She's already going to be taller.

I want her to understand who God is (to the extent that anyone can) and know that she is known to him. I want her to talk to God and ask him questions. I want her to understand. And so many more things.

Some things I have not had to "give" Grace. She has picked them up on her own. From me. You know those moments when you think, "Yep, payback. I so earned this at the age of 11 when...". The stubbornness - and with it the passive aggressive "I'll do it and pretend I didn't know better". The need to argue or present the other side to everything. On a nicer note, Grace also inherited my tendency to laugh hysterically at anything remotely funny that happens after 9pm at night. I like to think I've helped to influence her sense of style. She calls it the "fashion girl" look. I call it fabulous.

Of course, there is also the things I want to give Grace: every good book I can find, tell her every great story out there, super comfortable shoes aplenty, fun hair stuff, fabulous clothes, educational and exciting family vacations, siblings to grow old with, a college fund, tons of good music, piano lessons, or guitar -I'm not picky, anything else I can think of. Oh, and I also want her to not be spoiled. That's not too much, right? Right??

What things do you feel compelled to give to your child(ren)? What things do you specifically want them to have and experience?

Strange Mood

Hello ladies, thanks for the invite. It has been a strange few months as we have no idea what direction we will be going. Job hunts are mind numbing as we try to project ourselves into each position and then when that job doesn't happen we either mourn the loss of something we never had or sigh with relief that we don't have to live somewhere undesirable. We know that something, the right something will open up, but knowing that the old job ends at the end of April, it is hard not to FREAK OUT!!!! Limbo is not a pleasant state of being. My handsome man has a second interview here in lovely Tucson on Thursday, which would allow us to stay put and we are both ready after 6 months of looking to have one surety in our life.

The other strangeness in my life happened when I got this rush of nostalgia and need to reconnect with all my college freshmen friends. The first search I did, I fond out that one of my good guy friends had passed away in his sleep in 2001. WHOA. It is so strange to mourn someone who died 7 years ago. I started a blog about him so that myself and other college friends would have a forum to post stories & memories.
http://jongemmilltribute.blogspot.com
After finding out that I had this overwhelming urge to reconnect with everyone that I cared about, almost in fear that I may have lost my chance as with Jon. Freshman year was such a formative time in my life. It is so strange that so many people that I felt so close to that I completely lost track of them. I guess values shift and the things that brought you together, i.e. the dorm, are no longer present. I have been able to reconnect with about 4 or so friends and it is wonderful to see their spouses and children. I wonder, is there enough of a bond to get back together again for a reunion or would it just feel forced since our common bonds are now gone.

Tell Your Friends

Moddy gave me the heads up that there are people out there wanting to hop on the groovy train (or just this blog, but whatever). I've sent out an invite to Tracy. Please let me know if there is anyone else in the family who wants to post or be a part of this. My intent isn't to be exclusive. Brothers are even welcome!

That's all for now. Sorry, no dirt.

Penny Pinched?

I bought Grace a white t-shirt and sweater, on sale, at Macy's (the clothing store -not the grocery store) on Monday. I left them in a bag, along with several other items, in Grace's room. With the instructions: do not take anything out of the bag until I "okay" it. Yes? Okay, Mom. On Tuesday, I found similar items at Walmart for $8 less. My intent was to return the Macy's stuff and keep the Walmart stuff. Great. Fine.

However, Tuesday, whilst I was off bargain-hunting, Grace pulled out the white t-shirt and sweater and wore them. All. Day. I was so annoyed. No returns to Macy's. I did return stuff to Walmart - no need for both sets. I'm making her pay me back a few dollars for not obeying a direct order. And for thwarting my great bargain-hunting prowess. Right?? Right??

What I'm wondering is, have I gone to far? I was telling a friend at work and she made the comment that it's funny I got so mad when the day before I was so happy to have found a good deal. True. Now I'm feeling guilty for making Grace pay me back for the money I didn't save. It's not like she asked for the clothes to begin with or that she ever pays for her own clothes.

However, I feel like now that I've talked to her about it I can't go back and change my mind ("sorry, Grace, I'm a stingy bast***. You don't owe me money anymore") Also, she doesn't have any money so I've very kindly allowed her to do extra work around the house (ie. clean the bathroom and help with laundry) instead. Stuff that she was going to have to help with anyway, now, however, I have a ready reason for *why* she has to help**.

**Yes- I realize that all children should be helping around the house without being paid. Her regular duties include emptying the dishwasher and taking our the trash and recycling. I reserve cleaning the bathroom as a way for her to "earn" money when there's something she HAS to have but I'm not willing to buy outright for her (ie, the candy at blockbust -no way am I spending good money on crappy candy at a store where only MOVIES should reside -it's all old candy anyway)

Basically, I'm feeling like a jerk. So come on everyone, tell me I'm not. Or take Grace's side. Whatever.

My Daughter is FIERCE

Yep. That's right. She told me so. I asked how things went on the day her teacher talked to The Touchy Boy(TTB). He still did it again, so clearly, this is still a problem. I'll go in this time and talk with the teacher to make a new plan.

I asked Grace why she thought TTB did this and if she was the only one. She thought she was the only one and that it's because she stands up to him when he's being mean. She said, "Mom, I tell him to be nice. I talk Fierce." I'm so proud. My daughter is fierce. What more could a mother ask for?!

More later on how The Talk goes.

No Touching

So in passing yesterday, Grace says, "Bryce is the class bully. He says means things to my friends sometimes. And, I don't like it when he pats my bottom."

Yeah. Pats. Her. Bottom. Oh my gosh! Hello? This is so much a problem. He can't do that. I explained to Grace, again, about boundaries and telling people (even her friends) "no". I also sent an email to her teacher. The other time this was a problem, her teacher was right on it.

I'm not thinking it's anything sexual but it is totally inappropriate. He has a sister and probably he's just messing around, but still. Kids at school are not family members, this needs to be understood. I mean, as kids we would fight, but I don't remember that ever translating to the classroom.

I don't think I even heard the word "boundaries" in terms of personal space (didn't hear that word either) until college. But now that I'm familiar with it -it's very important. "Boundaries" are also easier for me to explain to Grace. She gets that there are lines (real or imagined) that shouldn't be crossed. Or at least, that's what I tell myself.

Anywho, that's what's happening in my world right now.

TA DA: I Give you the Spring Collection

I finally did it. So it's not as perfect as Maudie Jane's. But I'm really proud of my first attempt. There are 3 pockets inside, one for my cell phone and 2 pens, one for my keys and lipstick, and one for my sunglasses. I'm so excited my other one was starting to show some wear. And now I have a new "spring" purse. YEAH!!!