Windows Live Writer

 

 

I’ve been that I need to check out Windows Live Writer because the format and editing tools are great for using with blogger.  This is my first attempt.  We’ll see.  Let me try and upload a picture:

Okay, that was pretty easy, and much faster than with blogger. 

 

 

 

 

 

I can even make this nifty table
	Not sure when I’d need one.  But nice to know it’s there.

 

 

Mmm, now let’s check out the ease of posting……..

Minimum Monday

So I maybe pushed the limits of 'Minimum Monday'
by using more than one word.

To write so little is just too hard. 

 

Brothers

I'm reading James Dobsons' 'The Strong-Willed Child'.  Now if you haven't spent enough time with my children you may wonder which one is given the title of 'strong-willed.'  It's my little Geedge.  You ask Gavin for a kiss and it's a firm no, you tell him it's time to go and he runs to the furthest point in the house, you tell him to stop jumping with a box of raisins in his hand and he'll shake the box harder.  In contrast, when Gavin tells me no to kisses, Harrison is quick to volunteer one.  Harrison apologizes when he spills a drink and runs to clean it up.  Harrison will help make dinner, do the laundry, and pick up toys. Dr. Dobson says most of the time with siblings one of them will be strong-willed and the other will be a pleaser.  

I know some of this is the age difference, but a lot of it, I think, is the boys' personalities growing and developing off of one another. One personality isn't better, they both bring unique dynamics to our special family.   Here's a perfect example:


Last week at the grocery store, starting in aisle two, Gavin threw a huge fit because I wouldn't open the box of cereal we put in the cart.  This fit escalated as the shopping continued and grew into an uncontrollable meltdown as we reached the car.  Okay, minivan, for whoever is getting technical.  No matter how much I 'supernannied' Gavin he remained out of control.  When we got home I was dealing with Gavin so intensely it wasn't until Harrison had finished that I realized he unloaded all the groceries from the minivan and put them away!  I did find cheese in the pantry and spaghetti sauce in the fridge, but for a four-year-old, not too shabby. Harrison thrives on pleasing others.   As the meltdown was coming to a close, our contractor, Jimmy, came through the back door and asked what was going on.  Harrison, in his most grown-up voice said, "Gavin didn't make good choices at the grocery store so he had to go to time-out."  

Throw a third child in the mix and things will really get interesting.  I remember as a teenager hearing the priest at church talk about all the things you have control over in your life.  He said the one thing you have no control over is the family you are born into.  Your family is special, planned by God, so you should look at your siblings, mother and father, and try to be a blessing and encouragement to them.  

I'm excited to see how my boys grow and change--where their personalities will take them and how their friendship will grow. 

Mrs. Referee

Being a referee is the job I least enjoy about motherhood.  Having to decide 'who fouled who', the appropriate penalty, and when they just need to get kicked out of the game. It's a nonstop job with my boys. 

 Harrison came to me complaining that Gavin wasn't sharing his ice cream with him.  I was confused, asking, "What ice cream?  I didn't give Gavin any ice cream."  Harrison responds in a super-whiny voice, "Ugh, Mom, it's pretend ice cream and he's not sharing!"  Patience having waved bye-bye, and not being able to pretend I'm someplace far, far away, I respond in a less-than-mother-of-the-year tone, "just pretend you've got your own stinkin' ice cream.  Tell 'em yours has sprinkles and syrup, too."

I have a hard enough time dealing with the real fights, toy-stealing, pushes, and punches.  When we start talking fantasy, I'm done.  Can't go there.

You Are What You See

I was given so much grief for buying this for Harrison for his birthday.

 

So, I was surprised when his Uncle Russell bought this Easy Bake oven for him. Even more surprised when Harrison and Steve made a special trip to the store to buy the lightbulb it requires. And shocked when they together made a chocolate cake with icing.

But, you know, kids learn from the examples set for them. The men in our family like to cook, so why should Harrison be any different? Look at Harrison watching every move his Uncle Justin makes. I wonder if Harrison even likes Justin's mapron (get it, a man in an apron??)

Don't these homemade pretzels look amazing? I promise, they tasted every bit as good as they look.

 

Harrrison may not be a pro pretzel maker yet, but break-apart cookies-- he's got that task down! Move over, Emeril, there's a new chef in town.

A Love Affair With Blankies

They go by lots of names: snuggie, blankie, lovey, or willy, as mine is called.  Whatever their name, they all have one thing in common--they bring immense comfort to their owner.  My brother, Justin, saw my blanket this weekend and through his bellowing laughter he said, "oh, you gotta blog about this thing!" Willy (because he's weally, weally woveable, of course) isn't the one from my childhood.  That blanket was stolen by my parents in an attempt to stop my thumb-sucking habit.  Willy came into my life my Freshman year in high school.  Willy is atrociously tattered and torn,  every time I wash it I say a little prayer that it'll come out of the dryer alive.  Willy is a D.N.R. (do not resuscitate) as there aren't even enough pieces to sew together. 

↑ This is my childhood blanket. A little tattered, but with a little love

can probably be restored for my next baby.

↓This is Willy.  Not sure how many years he has left,

but I will enjoy the time was have together. 

Harrison and Gavin have their own blankies lovingly made by my friend and coworker, Diane.  Harrison threads his chubby fingers through the crochet holes and sucks his thumb while Gavin rolls the blanket between his fingers.  Their blankies almost instantly stop tears when they're hurt and sleep will not be found without their blankies by their side.  Some people (my dad) would call this an absurd dependency that needs to be stopped, hence the story stated above about my childhood blanket.  I disagree!  I love seeing my boys snuggle with what I know brings them such comfort.  A comfort I know all too well.

**As I am writing this post Gavin crawled into my lap with his blanket in-tow for some one-on-one snuggling**

Boy Comedy

Harrison came over to me tonight and leaned on me, thinking he was trying to hug me I put my arm around him. He waited a couple seconds, and then farted! He ran away laughing, "Mommy, I just farted on you!" I was duped by my four year-old. Where do these boys get this stuff from? I mean, this isn't taught; this is inborn testosterone-driven humor. Humor I don't get. I would be humiliated if I farted on someone. To imagine trying to do it intentionally is beyond my girliness ability.

I sooo need a girl to balance my household.

What A Difference A Day Makes

Yesterday I spent the day cleaning toilets, mopping the floors, and doing laundry. Today I spent the day with my best pal, Nancy, at the spa. We don't get to go nearly as often as we would like. Our lunch wasn't long enough to work through the logistics of how we could incorporate a spa day into our monthly budget.  Although, I must admit, it is a little awkward eating lunch and walking around in just a bathrobe.  But, with determination and dedication, I think I could work through any uneasiness and make this a weekly occurrence.  When I figure out how I'm going to make this happen I'll be sure to share with everyone so you can do the same.

Remember These...........

Ohmygosh, I loved these candy necklaces as a kid. My ridiculous love affair with candy is what has landed me in my dentists office one too many times.  I could do an entire post on the gummiest, sour-est, best tasting candy.  We put these in Harrison's birthday gift bags. Gavin found the leftovers and came running to me candy in-tow, growling kindly asking for me to open the bag. 

To Be Zen In 2010

I am one of those who takes resolutions seriously.  I seriously think about what I want to resolve and I am seriously disappointed if I don't make good on my resolutions by years end.

At twenty-one I read 'Smart Couples Finish Rich' by David Bach.  I certainly wasn't a couple to anyone then, but I knew one day I wanted to be and, of course, I wanted to finish rich. Although much of the information has left me, the most important piece I have kept was the chapter about your daily life matching your values.  David Bach feels midlife crisis' come about from years spent trying to accumulate things instead of living life for what is truly important to you.

"You should select your top five values based more on what your gut tells you than what you think ‘looks’ good to others. Don’t confuse goals for values. Wanting to be rich is a goal but wanting security would be the value."

So, at twenty-one, I made a list of my five top values.  Each year I try and make a resolution based on each one of those values. My values may seem fairly vanilla, but if I successfully achieve a goal from each one of these every year I'm a happy girl.  To all my fellow nurses: my goals are straight from those long care plans, they must be measurable "as evidenced by", timed, and obtainable.

Values and Goals

1. Spirituality- Attend church twice monthly. This is a hard one considering I work every weekend.
2. Family- Take one family vacation and one weekend getaway with Steve.
   
3. Health- Improve the health of my teeth (that means no cavities left unfilled) and get regular cleanings.
   
4. Stability-Establish a savings/college fund for my boys and have six months of expenses in savings.
   
5. Happiness- Go on two dates with Steve and have two family outings monthly. 

Sound easy enough, right?  Last year I added two more goals to these five and was successful with three out of seven.  That's only a 43%, otherwise called a big, fat F. I mean, what was I thinking that I could clean out every closet in my house and clean my car once a month??  Hopefully I can fare better this coming year.  How zen will I be in 2010?