Long night with Mary Claire. She was high, so high. We had cake at Gigi's last night, and I am definitely not a pro at figuring desserts. She was over 400 for a while, then when I checked her at 3:20am, she was still 355. I gave her another big bolus, and she was 193 at 6:30am. Ah, rough night. I think I've got a cold now after lowering my immune system! After two nights of not sleeping so well (or being able to breathe), I don't feel so great. I'll have to try to get a nap today while Ethan is sleeping.
We were supposed to have someone fixing the roof hole ("stick"), "first thing in the morning". Well, where I come from (humble here), that means early. It's 12:12pm, and no sign of a worker. Tut, Tut, It looks like rain (on Friday). I hope my hole is closed off by then.
I had a guy (Caldwell Tree Service out of Atlanta) come to give us an estimate for removing tree limbs/branches, cleaning up, and trimming the massive hanging branches and broken ones. Long story short (rare with me), it was $800 for removal of trees from house, deck, and fence (insurance portion), and $2000 for my portion (trimming trees, removing hanging branches, clean up). Well, that's not something you plan on. I'll be interested to see what the insurance allotted for the tree mess.
The kids had class pictures today, and I forgot. I mean they looked cute enough (not over the top, but average cute), but I forgot to send the money in the little envelope so they could buy a class picture too. Ches didn't want me to run up to the school, and said they'd have everyone's pictures in the yearbook. There's just something about a class picture full of cute kids that you will remember when you are older. I just love looking at my preschool and kindergarten class pictures. I even went to high school with lots of those kids! : ) I guess we won't have one from this year. I feel bad, but not too bad.
I just can't do it all. I was focused this morning on just being very calm with the kids. I think Clay is acting up maybe because I can be loud and hyper and busy, and it's rubbing off on him! So I really focused on starting his day well. We'll see how he did. He had a rough day yesterday: no one wanted to play with him for indoor recess. Well, he was looking for someone to play tic-tac-toe with, and they were all playing games and blocks. Then he asked some kids if he could play blocks with them, and they said no. He was sad. I talked with him about it. I think the kids thought he might yell, be generally loud, and knock over their buildings (as he normally is). So we talked about how you act, and that you have to take responsibility for your behavior all the time, not just at recess. He's going to work on it today.
I've always been happy that he was so confident and happy, and he'd never be picked on, but now I can see it backfired, and maybe he's too confident (bossy?) and now he's odd man out. God does tell us to be like little children (faithful), but I think it applies in other ways too. If none of the kids want to play with you, maybe you're not being nice (or you are too loud!). He has to learn to play well with others.
Ok, load of laundry number 8 is almost complete. Did I say I missed it? Ok, I'll do it with a smile (and chocolate in my mouth). I vacuumed again, cleaned my bedroom (dusted!), and mopped. I had to do some by hand in the kitchen where the leak had run around the grout line. Yuck. I use my handy-dandy Clorox Ready mop-thing, but it doesn't get the cracks so well. I don't mind buying the absorbent pads since it's cheaper than paying someone else to mop my floor, and I don't really mind doing it (and I like my cleaning better than anyone else's). I got all the mirrors cleaned, and bathrooms aren't quite done. Dusting around all the stair rails/banister are next on the list.
Oh, and all the big ceilings are going to be repainted due to the stains. What color should I paint them? It seems like an opportunity to be creative, and maybe change it up a little. I could never paint those ceilings myself, and I've been wanting to paint my kitchen! Hmmm..I'll check out my Sherwin Williams paint fan...
I've Learned:
If you display toys inside glass cabinets, they become More Cool.
What Ethan's Learned:
If you are very careful, you can fit your Fruit Loops onto your pretzel sticks, and have tiny skewers or flat lollipops. It works best when all food items are spread out on the couch, so you can see the fruit loop hole sizes better (not all Fruit Loops have the same size hole!). If you pull off the fruit loop with your teeth, you can re-use the pretzel!
Funny: Made me Laugh!
Ethan was having some blueberries for lunch and saw me putting Splenda in my tea. He asked for some, and I put a tiny bit my his blueberries thinking he'd dip them. He was bending over and basically eating like a dog. When he exhaled, the fluffy (baking) Splenda went up in a puff on his face and settled back on the plate. So he did it again and again, clenching his eyes shut each time (having learned why), and every time he'd laugh out loud. He kept blowing out his nose on it making it fly up. Then he kept asking for more! (The part that made me laugh.)
And then, he dumped his plate. On the floor I'd just mopped. Now one spot is Extra Clean. (Not so much laughing now.) Nap time!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Maxing Out my Picture Allowance
This is just my new favorite pasttime. It's so much easier than scrapbooking, and you feel like you've journaled. The only thing is, once I take down the pictures, they are gone. : ( I'm adding pictures from our trip to the bottom. I'm only adding a few, but there are so many! Of course. I tried to pick some of the best ones of the kids-a few from each place.
I made it to the 9am CPA appointment. Minus a few important things, but made it. I'll gather them and return them soon. Then at 10:30am, we had our 2 and a half hour session with our insurance adjuster, Paula. She was really very nice. She has three kids and lives in Shreveport, Louisiana. There was just so much for her to document, and she had to measure all the rooms that'll have to be repainted. There were water stains on lots of ceilings, the stick, branches on fence, guttering, broken swing, and now my ice isn't coming out of the refrigerator. The button pushes, but nothing happens. It's so much better this morning. It was just so overwhelming last night. I spent 9 hours cleaning up the floors, refrigerators, etc. I'm getting closer. I did wash Ethan's Kiki (blanket) this morning with my sheets (which I've yet to put back on my bed..). His blanket was taking on a life (smell) of it's own! It's been everywhere with us, and I didn't have time to wash it before he went to bed on Saturday night at the hotel.
Life is getting back to normal, and it feels great. It's been a crazy morning, but I'm So THankFul to be home! It's great to have food, a warm bed (that's mine, all mine, and no strangers have slept in it!), and room to play for the kids, popsicles and videos (Ethan this am), and toys to clean up, clothes to put away (and places to put them). I'm just thankful is all I can say. Our damage could've been so much worse; we could've been here in the storm, cold and miserable.
I'm posting pictutes, but it may take a while...I'm maxing out my flickr account as I write. They just have the best hosting, with good slideshows, and they take up less space down below!
How have you fared in the recent weather? Leave me a comment!
(Choose Comment, then choose Name/URL, and write a name (maybe your own?), then leave me a note.)
I made it to the 9am CPA appointment. Minus a few important things, but made it. I'll gather them and return them soon. Then at 10:30am, we had our 2 and a half hour session with our insurance adjuster, Paula. She was really very nice. She has three kids and lives in Shreveport, Louisiana. There was just so much for her to document, and she had to measure all the rooms that'll have to be repainted. There were water stains on lots of ceilings, the stick, branches on fence, guttering, broken swing, and now my ice isn't coming out of the refrigerator. The button pushes, but nothing happens. It's so much better this morning. It was just so overwhelming last night. I spent 9 hours cleaning up the floors, refrigerators, etc. I'm getting closer. I did wash Ethan's Kiki (blanket) this morning with my sheets (which I've yet to put back on my bed..). His blanket was taking on a life (smell) of it's own! It's been everywhere with us, and I didn't have time to wash it before he went to bed on Saturday night at the hotel.
Life is getting back to normal, and it feels great. It's been a crazy morning, but I'm So THankFul to be home! It's great to have food, a warm bed (that's mine, all mine, and no strangers have slept in it!), and room to play for the kids, popsicles and videos (Ethan this am), and toys to clean up, clothes to put away (and places to put them). I'm just thankful is all I can say. Our damage could've been so much worse; we could've been here in the storm, cold and miserable.
I'm posting pictutes, but it may take a while...I'm maxing out my flickr account as I write. They just have the best hosting, with good slideshows, and they take up less space down below!
How have you fared in the recent weather? Leave me a comment!
(Choose Comment, then choose Name/URL, and write a name (maybe your own?), then leave me a note.)
Home Again
I'm just speechless. The outside is horrific, and the inside has water stains on the ceilings, a stick through the ceiling, water stuff leaked out the fridge, I had to catalog everything I threw away, clean out the fridge(s)/freezers, clean the hearth room of sheetrock and insulation. Bought new groceries at WM, stocked them, tallied up amount of groceries ($741-no exaggeration). I'm tired, it's now 1:42am, and I'm supposed to have a CPA appt. at 9am-yeah, right. I have the insurance adjuster at 10:30am, which is more important right now.
Did I mention I missed my hair appt. last Tuesday? I have icky roots. Also, very important right now. Must get sleep for more chaos in morning. Have to clean floors! ONly got vacuuming done. Oh, and laundry. Sleep well, electricity-bearers. : )
Did I mention I missed my hair appt. last Tuesday? I have icky roots. Also, very important right now. Must get sleep for more chaos in morning. Have to clean floors! ONly got vacuuming done. Oh, and laundry. Sleep well, electricity-bearers. : )
Power to the People!
I was so tired last night I never posted. We had a good evening. The kids loved the Hotel for Dogs movie! When they got back, Ethan was StiLL sleeping! I took the kids to Target to get the boys swimsuits (I got Mary Claire one earlier in the week because it was so darn cute!), some more Kleenex for the car (I got pink!), gum for Ches, laundry detergent and fabrics softener for future evening activities, and more peanut butter crackers (oh, and 3 AdoRaBLe pairs of shoes for Moi-they had new summer shoes!! I got turquoise moccasin flats with a ribbon bow, patent orange thong/flip-flops, and navy/white/green sandals to go with all the new navy clothes I got!).
Then we met up with Ches and Ethan went to the mall (one of thousands in Dallas!), then to IKEA to eat dinner and shop. Boy, they have it figured out! They have a great little eating area for the kids at circle tables (very social)in front of a tv (Nick was on), and the parents sit at the bar tables behind them so they can see and monitor them. It was awesome! I’d eat there once a week if we lived near one! And the food was good-we got pasta.
Then we headed back to the hotel. When we called our house (for the 798th time!), and my voice answered! We had electricity!!! We were sooo excited! We called the insurance adjuster who is going to meet us there when we get home, and told her! We also called Mom-we just had to celebrate by notifying people! So, now we can head home for sure. It’s quite a relief to know there’s an end in sight. Not that it’s not fun, but in the back of our minds all the time is worry about how our house is doing (besides it missing us of course). We also are mentally preparing to see the devastation that is Northwest Arkansas (and our yard, so-we’ve-heard).
The kids quickly changed into their new swimsuits as is always fun. We didn’t have a swimmy diaper for Ethan (do you see where this is going?), so we just put on the suit, thinking he’s partially trained, nothing will happen. Well, he starts saying, “Pee, pee!” “Pee, pee!” so I told him to go peepee in the toilet, but it appeared he’d already relieved himself. On the carpet. In our hotel. And he starts screaming since he’s a clean freak like me and his pants are wet, and it’s getting colder. Of course, I ran to get a towel to clean it up, and he’s just yelling. It was quite a scene. The kids are laughing since they think this is sooo hilarious! They don’t remember being his age. They too peed on the floors.
I spent the better part of the evening doing laundry since I was shopped out, and we were just going home. : ) I got my handy-dandy black Wal-Mart bags out of the van, sorted some laundry (just a light- and a dark load), and went up to the laundry room. Well, you had to PaY for the washers and dryers (like we’d overuse them for fun if they were free!), so I had to lug my five bags (4-laundry, 1-wallet, jugs of cleaners, key card, etc.) back down to the front desk for $8 in quarters! Back up to the laundry, loaded the clothes, then read the “lid” of the washer. You are supposed to add the detergent first! I shoveled all the clothes to one side, and poured some in, then redistributed the clothes, and tried again. Get this. It says to add the fabric softener when the Rinse light comes on. Like I have nothing to do but wait for the light! It estimated the wash time was 25 minutes, so I ran down thinking I could come back in 15 minutes to catch the Rinse light. Hmph. Yeah, well, when I came back, it was spinning, so I waited. Then it stopped. Done.
Like really done washing. No rinse, or I’d missed it. Ugh. Rough clothes are not okay. I’d read in this magazine about how to use fabric softener in the dryer, so I figured that was God giving me the heads-up the week before. He was Preparing Me. (Yes, I think He does!) So, I followed the article’s directions, and my clothes were soft and smelled delicious! (I happen to LoVE clean clothes smell!! And my fave Yankee Candle scent is Clean Cotton!) Here’s all you do: Get a washcloth (not one you use all the time-I used the hotels-handy!- and get it wet. Squeeze it out, add half a capful (it only said a tablespoon (but again, I love it) of fabric softener sprinkling it all around the washcloth. Then, throw it into the dryer with the clean clothes, and it acts as your dryer sheet!
Ok, I must admit-when I was getting around this morning, I looked in the zipper-y top of my large suitcase, and guess what I saw? Yep, individually packaged dryer sheets. Huh. It’s been a while since I put those in there! I am also making a mental note what else should be in your suitcase ready to go: detergent (measured), dryer sheets (check!), meter supplies for Mary Claire, tissues, phone charger, straws (as drinking from the glass stains your teeth), lots of baby wipes, extra spoons, quarters, trash bags, bottles of water, extra crayons/markers/play-doh/stickers for those crazy long roads, fingernail polish, band-aids, Tylenol/Tums/Benadryl, and M&M’s for when you NEED it!
I keep my cosmetics bag ready to go: shampoo, conditioner, facial soap, razor, body wash, tweezers (hairs can grow in at any time!), q-tips, lotion, toothbrush (although I prefer my favorite one), deodorant, and hair spray (although I only use it sometimes on Clay’s hair). That way, I can zip out in no time (you never really know when you’ll be gone for a week!). Ahh, but I was running low on everything. Today when I took my shower I felt like I could overwash my hair, and be really extravagant! I could use that stuff all up! Since I would have my regulars at home by tonight! I had been using as little as possible just-in-case. When I get home, I’ll have to fill them all back up. But oh, the last day…you get to use all the product you want! Woo-hoo for little luxuries! : )
This morning, we got around quickly, knowing the drive was ahead of us and excitedly since we are going HoMe! We are currently on the road north. We stopped for a break about 10:30 at Booger King (solely based on the indoor play area-we are So Judgmental!). The kids instinctively requested Happy Meals (which booger king doesn’t have) even though it was only 10:30! They are Pavlov’s dogs: they salivate upon seeing pictures of food and a playplace (which Booger King doesn’t call it). Anyway, they had cool toys: a Cabbage Patch doll with stickers, and cars for the boys (the top flies springs off when it hits a bump or bumps into something). We are almost halfway, so only a little over three hours more. We’ve now seen Over the Hedge, Elmo in Grouchland, Tom and Jerry, and Incredibles. Even the new movies are getting old…
I’ve been reading my latest Better Homes and Gardens (finished) and Traditional Home (halfway done!), and typing. I’m sure I’ll take a nap as Oklahoma’s roads are not so entertaining: lots of brownish grass, some trees, and distant houses. If not for the abundant police cars, colorful semis (and the TieDieTravel bus) it’d be Downright Blah. Peace to ya!
Then we met up with Ches and Ethan went to the mall (one of thousands in Dallas!), then to IKEA to eat dinner and shop. Boy, they have it figured out! They have a great little eating area for the kids at circle tables (very social)in front of a tv (Nick was on), and the parents sit at the bar tables behind them so they can see and monitor them. It was awesome! I’d eat there once a week if we lived near one! And the food was good-we got pasta.
Then we headed back to the hotel. When we called our house (for the 798th time!), and my voice answered! We had electricity!!! We were sooo excited! We called the insurance adjuster who is going to meet us there when we get home, and told her! We also called Mom-we just had to celebrate by notifying people! So, now we can head home for sure. It’s quite a relief to know there’s an end in sight. Not that it’s not fun, but in the back of our minds all the time is worry about how our house is doing (besides it missing us of course). We also are mentally preparing to see the devastation that is Northwest Arkansas (and our yard, so-we’ve-heard).
The kids quickly changed into their new swimsuits as is always fun. We didn’t have a swimmy diaper for Ethan (do you see where this is going?), so we just put on the suit, thinking he’s partially trained, nothing will happen. Well, he starts saying, “Pee, pee!” “Pee, pee!” so I told him to go peepee in the toilet, but it appeared he’d already relieved himself. On the carpet. In our hotel. And he starts screaming since he’s a clean freak like me and his pants are wet, and it’s getting colder. Of course, I ran to get a towel to clean it up, and he’s just yelling. It was quite a scene. The kids are laughing since they think this is sooo hilarious! They don’t remember being his age. They too peed on the floors.
I spent the better part of the evening doing laundry since I was shopped out, and we were just going home. : ) I got my handy-dandy black Wal-Mart bags out of the van, sorted some laundry (just a light- and a dark load), and went up to the laundry room. Well, you had to PaY for the washers and dryers (like we’d overuse them for fun if they were free!), so I had to lug my five bags (4-laundry, 1-wallet, jugs of cleaners, key card, etc.) back down to the front desk for $8 in quarters! Back up to the laundry, loaded the clothes, then read the “lid” of the washer. You are supposed to add the detergent first! I shoveled all the clothes to one side, and poured some in, then redistributed the clothes, and tried again. Get this. It says to add the fabric softener when the Rinse light comes on. Like I have nothing to do but wait for the light! It estimated the wash time was 25 minutes, so I ran down thinking I could come back in 15 minutes to catch the Rinse light. Hmph. Yeah, well, when I came back, it was spinning, so I waited. Then it stopped. Done.
Like really done washing. No rinse, or I’d missed it. Ugh. Rough clothes are not okay. I’d read in this magazine about how to use fabric softener in the dryer, so I figured that was God giving me the heads-up the week before. He was Preparing Me. (Yes, I think He does!) So, I followed the article’s directions, and my clothes were soft and smelled delicious! (I happen to LoVE clean clothes smell!! And my fave Yankee Candle scent is Clean Cotton!) Here’s all you do: Get a washcloth (not one you use all the time-I used the hotels-handy!- and get it wet. Squeeze it out, add half a capful (it only said a tablespoon (but again, I love it) of fabric softener sprinkling it all around the washcloth. Then, throw it into the dryer with the clean clothes, and it acts as your dryer sheet!
Ok, I must admit-when I was getting around this morning, I looked in the zipper-y top of my large suitcase, and guess what I saw? Yep, individually packaged dryer sheets. Huh. It’s been a while since I put those in there! I am also making a mental note what else should be in your suitcase ready to go: detergent (measured), dryer sheets (check!), meter supplies for Mary Claire, tissues, phone charger, straws (as drinking from the glass stains your teeth), lots of baby wipes, extra spoons, quarters, trash bags, bottles of water, extra crayons/markers/play-doh/stickers for those crazy long roads, fingernail polish, band-aids, Tylenol/Tums/Benadryl, and M&M’s for when you NEED it!
I keep my cosmetics bag ready to go: shampoo, conditioner, facial soap, razor, body wash, tweezers (hairs can grow in at any time!), q-tips, lotion, toothbrush (although I prefer my favorite one), deodorant, and hair spray (although I only use it sometimes on Clay’s hair). That way, I can zip out in no time (you never really know when you’ll be gone for a week!). Ahh, but I was running low on everything. Today when I took my shower I felt like I could overwash my hair, and be really extravagant! I could use that stuff all up! Since I would have my regulars at home by tonight! I had been using as little as possible just-in-case. When I get home, I’ll have to fill them all back up. But oh, the last day…you get to use all the product you want! Woo-hoo for little luxuries! : )
This morning, we got around quickly, knowing the drive was ahead of us and excitedly since we are going HoMe! We are currently on the road north. We stopped for a break about 10:30 at Booger King (solely based on the indoor play area-we are So Judgmental!). The kids instinctively requested Happy Meals (which booger king doesn’t have) even though it was only 10:30! They are Pavlov’s dogs: they salivate upon seeing pictures of food and a playplace (which Booger King doesn’t call it). Anyway, they had cool toys: a Cabbage Patch doll with stickers, and cars for the boys (the top flies springs off when it hits a bump or bumps into something). We are almost halfway, so only a little over three hours more. We’ve now seen Over the Hedge, Elmo in Grouchland, Tom and Jerry, and Incredibles. Even the new movies are getting old…
I’ve been reading my latest Better Homes and Gardens (finished) and Traditional Home (halfway done!), and typing. I’m sure I’ll take a nap as Oklahoma’s roads are not so entertaining: lots of brownish grass, some trees, and distant houses. If not for the abundant police cars, colorful semis (and the TieDieTravel bus) it’d be Downright Blah. Peace to ya!
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