Wow! I just noticed that my last post was Wednesday of last week. Funny, it doesn't seem like it has been that long. Guess I didn't have much to say. :)
I hope everyone had a nice weekend. We did, but it was busy. Saturday we did chores and ran errands. I started my cooking marathon, which continued to Sunday. I made chili, beef stroganoff, spaghetti sauce (used also for lasagna) and beef stew (Jess-I totally thought of you the entire time I was making the stew! I still remember you making that for us when Syd was born. It makes me miss you that much more!). Our freezers are packed! I knew I'd probably better stock up for those cold evenings coming up. It is so much easier to have stuff made for weeknights. Obviously, this will give us a few weeknights free a week for a bit.
We put up our Christmas tree late last week. Sydney had a great time decorating it and doesn't understand that we are finished. :) She has asked for additional ornaments every day. :) Marc will be working a lot next month and we decided that we should just put it up and enjoy it since we will be home this year. I hate to admit it, because Christmas is probably my least favorite holiday, but I have really enjoyed looking at it. I think Sydney's excitement over it could be the big factor. Perhaps she and Nathan can change my attitude about Christmas.
Well, I hope everyone has a great day! Looks like it might be a busy day at work today despite the government holiday. I'm happy to be busy!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Hugs Banned In Illinois Schools?
I just got back from a yummy lunch at Fudd's with my sweetheart. When I returned, I was shocked to find this story on the MSN homepage.
Evidently, an Illinois school has a no PDA policy. As a result, a 13-year-old girl was given two days detention for hugging her two friends goodbye. According to MSN, the school's policy states: “Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved.” How far does it go?
I certainly can understand that administrators do not want hormonal teenagers making out in the hall. That used to happen in my school and it was disgusting. I understand that, but a hug goodbye? What's next? I just posted the other day that I used to be a very huggy person. I remember being very excited to see my friends after an extended break. I would hug them. I remember hugging some of my teachers in celebration and, occasionally, sadness. Are we really helping students or hurting them? I fear the latter.
I agree that boundaries need to be set for sloppy and disgusting displays of public affection, but I think this IL school has gone too far. I wonder if there are policies like this here in VA and if so, how are they enforced? Maybe some of my teacher friends can chime in. Maybe there is another side to the story I just don't see.
So, in protest, (((HUGS))) to all of you! :) Actually, I'd probably do it anyway! :)
Evidently, an Illinois school has a no PDA policy. As a result, a 13-year-old girl was given two days detention for hugging her two friends goodbye. According to MSN, the school's policy states: “Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved.” How far does it go?
I certainly can understand that administrators do not want hormonal teenagers making out in the hall. That used to happen in my school and it was disgusting. I understand that, but a hug goodbye? What's next? I just posted the other day that I used to be a very huggy person. I remember being very excited to see my friends after an extended break. I would hug them. I remember hugging some of my teachers in celebration and, occasionally, sadness. Are we really helping students or hurting them? I fear the latter.
I agree that boundaries need to be set for sloppy and disgusting displays of public affection, but I think this IL school has gone too far. I wonder if there are policies like this here in VA and if so, how are they enforced? Maybe some of my teacher friends can chime in. Maybe there is another side to the story I just don't see.
So, in protest, (((HUGS))) to all of you! :) Actually, I'd probably do it anyway! :)
Halloween Photos!
Here are the photos from Halloween 2007 (Syd's first "trick or treat")!
Stunning doctor costume, eh? Yep, I made it! Go Jess! Go Jess! :)
Dr. Sydney is on the floor!
Hmmm..where should we go now?
Stunning doctor costume, eh? Yep, I made it! Go Jess! Go Jess! :) 
Here's Syd giving her dad a shot in the butt with her fake syringe! Ha ha ha!
Dr. Sydney is on the floor!
First house! Hope they don't mind that we are stopping for a photo!
Hmmm..where should we go now?
(Uncle Wes at the top and Daddy at the bottom).
Now, it is time to go home and check the loot! :)
I posted a few fall and belly photos below also! :)
Happy Wednesday!
Pumpkin Patch and Belly! :)
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Clogged Sink and Chicken "Bobs"
Last night was quite a festivity! :) We had to have a plumber visit because our kitchen sink was clogged. Marc tried to blame me, but as it turns out, I wasn't the primary issue! The plumber was at our house for almost two hours last night shoving 100 ft of coiled wire in and out of the pipes. FINALLY! The wire emerged with a rubber band and two giant hairballs (one brown and one blond). We have no idea! I don't use this area to wash hair. There was also a little rice and broccoli. That is what we thought originally caused the problem. Did you know that you cannot use your garbage disposal for food grinding!?
I'm serious! I've had a garbage disposal nearly all my life and I know about the std coffee grinds, grease, etc., but they are even more picky now. After having the conversation with the plumber last night, I'm convinced the disposal is just for the bits of food that come off your dishes when you wash them. OK? Isn't that annoying. I don't know about you, but I HATE putting food in the garbage. Mainly, it smells and has the potential to attract unwanted bugs and pests. I thought it was better to run it down the disposal. It cuts down on landfill waste right? Yes, but did you know that can be very hard on water treatment plants. In fact, running the disposal actually requires increased use in electricity and extra water. Not really something I thought about. I've done some reading this week. Can you tell?
So, $310 later, I've learned my lesson. While the major problem wasn't me, I wasn't helping. Additionally, my belief that I was being more "green" was inaccurate. I'm thinking I might have to look into a counter compost holder, but I'm hesitant. After all, smells KILL me. Who wants their kitchen to smell of rotting food? I also don't have a serious garden so, what am I supposed to do with compost. So far, it appears to be an expensive and time consuming process. Hmm.
After our plumbing fiasco last night, I decided that we should pick up dinner. So, I picked up chicken and lamb kabobs from Sorrento's. It was sooooooo wonderful. Sydney talked about eating her chicken "bobs" all the way to Sorrento's and back. I'm so glad she liked them as much as I did! :)
Have a great clog-free day!
I'm serious! I've had a garbage disposal nearly all my life and I know about the std coffee grinds, grease, etc., but they are even more picky now. After having the conversation with the plumber last night, I'm convinced the disposal is just for the bits of food that come off your dishes when you wash them. OK? Isn't that annoying. I don't know about you, but I HATE putting food in the garbage. Mainly, it smells and has the potential to attract unwanted bugs and pests. I thought it was better to run it down the disposal. It cuts down on landfill waste right? Yes, but did you know that can be very hard on water treatment plants. In fact, running the disposal actually requires increased use in electricity and extra water. Not really something I thought about. I've done some reading this week. Can you tell?
So, $310 later, I've learned my lesson. While the major problem wasn't me, I wasn't helping. Additionally, my belief that I was being more "green" was inaccurate. I'm thinking I might have to look into a counter compost holder, but I'm hesitant. After all, smells KILL me. Who wants their kitchen to smell of rotting food? I also don't have a serious garden so, what am I supposed to do with compost. So far, it appears to be an expensive and time consuming process. Hmm.
After our plumbing fiasco last night, I decided that we should pick up dinner. So, I picked up chicken and lamb kabobs from Sorrento's. It was sooooooo wonderful. Sydney talked about eating her chicken "bobs" all the way to Sorrento's and back. I'm so glad she liked them as much as I did! :)
Have a great clog-free day!
Monday, November 5, 2007
How Do You Explain It?
How do you explain to a two-year-old that Mommy is crying because she is HAPPY, not sad?
I'm a very emotional person on a normal day. I've always been this way and I just cannot help it. I have, over time, managed to tone it down so that people, aside from family, don't think I'm a nut. :) Before that, I would have no problem hugging and loving on my friends. It wouldn't have been unusual for me to have met you once or twice and give you a hug the next time I saw you. I realized that some people are understandably uncomfortable with that and so, I, for the most part, stopped doing it. In fact, I think I've gone almost to the opposite extreme. Take my friend, Jess, as an example.
I started going to Jess for haircuts about four years ago. Now, I'm lost without her since she's in Kansas, but I further digress. It was always such a joy to get my haircut, but I think I was just more excited to see Jess. After a few visits, we realized that we lived right down the street from each other and got together maybe once or twice before we got pregnant. I think that was when we started talking more...commiserating. After the girls were born, we got together a bit more. Despite having known Jess for such a span of time, I still held back. I guess I fear that I might scare someone away. :) Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about SWF here or anything. Many people are just not "over-the-top" with their feelings as I can be. Perhaps they hide it like me. :)
Anyway, talk about going around the bush and through the woods, I cannot hold it in at home. I am one emotionally-charged chick, good or bad. This has, of course, been exacerbated by pregnancy hormones. Sunday afternoon, we were about to leave the house when I came down the stairs and found Sydney on Marc's lap in our office listening to music. Marc was singing to her. They saw me watching them and gave me big smiles. I was so overwhelmed with emotion I started to cry. Love is such a powerful, powerful feeling. So there I am crying, hugging the two of them and thanking whatever great being that brought these two wonderful people into my life. I know I don't deserve them or the other precious life in my belly. Sydney was instantly concerned and kept asking me what was wrong. I had to attempt to explain that sometimes we cry when we are happy. She looked at me like I had a unicorn horn, gave me a hug and said, "It's okay, Mommy. It's okay." Poor girl. :) What else could I say?
I hope you all had a great weekend! I have more to tell you, but I'll have to return later.
I'm a very emotional person on a normal day. I've always been this way and I just cannot help it. I have, over time, managed to tone it down so that people, aside from family, don't think I'm a nut. :) Before that, I would have no problem hugging and loving on my friends. It wouldn't have been unusual for me to have met you once or twice and give you a hug the next time I saw you. I realized that some people are understandably uncomfortable with that and so, I, for the most part, stopped doing it. In fact, I think I've gone almost to the opposite extreme. Take my friend, Jess, as an example.
I started going to Jess for haircuts about four years ago. Now, I'm lost without her since she's in Kansas, but I further digress. It was always such a joy to get my haircut, but I think I was just more excited to see Jess. After a few visits, we realized that we lived right down the street from each other and got together maybe once or twice before we got pregnant. I think that was when we started talking more...commiserating. After the girls were born, we got together a bit more. Despite having known Jess for such a span of time, I still held back. I guess I fear that I might scare someone away. :) Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about SWF here or anything. Many people are just not "over-the-top" with their feelings as I can be. Perhaps they hide it like me. :)
Anyway, talk about going around the bush and through the woods, I cannot hold it in at home. I am one emotionally-charged chick, good or bad. This has, of course, been exacerbated by pregnancy hormones. Sunday afternoon, we were about to leave the house when I came down the stairs and found Sydney on Marc's lap in our office listening to music. Marc was singing to her. They saw me watching them and gave me big smiles. I was so overwhelmed with emotion I started to cry. Love is such a powerful, powerful feeling. So there I am crying, hugging the two of them and thanking whatever great being that brought these two wonderful people into my life. I know I don't deserve them or the other precious life in my belly. Sydney was instantly concerned and kept asking me what was wrong. I had to attempt to explain that sometimes we cry when we are happy. She looked at me like I had a unicorn horn, gave me a hug and said, "It's okay, Mommy. It's okay." Poor girl. :) What else could I say?
I hope you all had a great weekend! I have more to tell you, but I'll have to return later.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Friday! Friday!
In some ways it seems like this week just would not end and in other ways, it just slipped by me. Either way, I am happy that Friday is here and that the weekend is right around the corner.
Halloween went very very well. Sydney had a ball. She was truly cracking up all the neighbors by offering them shots for Halloween with her plastic syringe. So silly. She loved her doctor costume and had to sleep in it that night. :) She gave me the biggest and longest UNPROMPTED hug for making her costume. She was soooo sweet, "Thank you for making my costume, Mommy. Thank you for the chocolate." This week was Syd's first exposure to candy.
I am happy to report that the first two days in underpants at school have gone very very well. Accident free! :) I know it is inevitable, but she is just so proud of herself. My sister, Ashley, is coming over tomorrow and Sydney is very excited to show her underwear to her aunt. I'm sure Ashley will be thrilled. :) Ha ha!
My sister and I are going to spend the evening together tomorrow. It is our first "sisters night" in about...hmmm...a really really long time. We are stopping by a Southern Living party first and then we are off to see SAW IV. I literally cannot remember the last movie I saw in the theatre. I know the earliest it could be was January. I'm very excited!
I hope you guys have a great weekend!
Halloween went very very well. Sydney had a ball. She was truly cracking up all the neighbors by offering them shots for Halloween with her plastic syringe. So silly. She loved her doctor costume and had to sleep in it that night. :) She gave me the biggest and longest UNPROMPTED hug for making her costume. She was soooo sweet, "Thank you for making my costume, Mommy. Thank you for the chocolate." This week was Syd's first exposure to candy.
I am happy to report that the first two days in underpants at school have gone very very well. Accident free! :) I know it is inevitable, but she is just so proud of herself. My sister, Ashley, is coming over tomorrow and Sydney is very excited to show her underwear to her aunt. I'm sure Ashley will be thrilled. :) Ha ha!
My sister and I are going to spend the evening together tomorrow. It is our first "sisters night" in about...hmmm...a really really long time. We are stopping by a Southern Living party first and then we are off to see SAW IV. I literally cannot remember the last movie I saw in the theatre. I know the earliest it could be was January. I'm very excited!
I hope you guys have a great weekend!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)