The girls got a lot of Christmas money during the holidays, and since they had quite a lot to open on Christmas Day, I waited until January to do Christmas shopping with them. I write that I waited, but in reality, I was putting in 12 hour shifts at work almost every day of the week, and I just didn't have the time or the energy to take them shopping. This gave me plenty of time to think of where to take them for their Christmas Shopping Extravaganza. My first impulse was Taret or Walmart, but then as the Christmas Season faded, I realized that maybe Toys-r-Us just might be the best place for them to go.
Off we toddled to the toy store. I directed the girls to look at the sale bins to see if they could find a couple of toys for the price of one. Kate and Reagan did a wonderful job and found several dolls and accessories to get. Georgie...not so good. She walked toward the only not-on-sale shelf, found one of those plush puppy dogs made by FAO Schwartz and said, "fuff!" I tried to introduce her to glitz, glimmer, glam and gloss. She looked but kept a tight hold of "fuff!" The light up piano, the laughing baby, the Little-People Plane, the princess doll, the Baby's First Computer...nothing would loosen her hold on "fuff". I groaned and wondered how much it would cost. Probably not more than $20, right? Let's just say that Kate got 3 toys, Reagan found 4 and Georgie's 1 "fuff" cost more than all those put together. It was so tempting to make her put it back, but she nuzzled her nose against his furry back and closed her eyes at just the right time...we bought "fuff".
That was over 2 months ago. "Fuff" goes with her everywhere. She grabs him before we take her out of her crib. She puts him on the table when she sits to eat. She throws him onto the couch before she clambers up to sit with him. She sleeps with him. She cries her owies to him. She holds him while we buckle her into her carseat. I guess I can't say that about all the toys Kate and Reagan found.
I guess FAO Schwartz knows what they are doing...making toys that kids LOVE...not toys that kids play with.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tis Snow
Well, they've been saying it was going to snow, but every storm so far has hit Dallas or Northern Texas, but this time around they were forecasting an inch of snow in Houston. They had me worried. That is...until I woke up this morning. Yes, there were clouds, but it wasn't cold. I mean, a light jacket was in order, but that was about it. I decided to get my grocery shopping done before I had to work. 
Reagan loves grocery shopping. She loves shopping. If you ask her, "do you want to go to Target?" She says, "yes." The mall? Yes. Walmart? Yes. Krogers? Um...won't they eat us, Mommy? Not Cougars, Reagan, Krrrrrogers. Oh, okay,yes.
So, I took Reagan shopping with me. It started to lightly drizzle (that is a Portland euphemism, by the way, no one understands what drizzle means down here) as we hurried into the store. I figured it wouldn't get much worse. There was no wind, and usually a storm is always preceded by a great deal of wind. An hour later, as I wheeled the grocery cart to the car, I realized that the temperature had dropped about 20 degrees. It suddenly felt cold enough to snow. I hurried Reagan into her car seat. Threw the groceries sans the eggs into the back of the van and drove home. Tanner was waiting for us at home. The minute I pulled up, he was outside, hurrying to haul the groceries into the house before the storm hit. We pulled the last of the groceries out of the van and into the house as the first huge flakes began to fall.
We were so excited by our snowfall that Tanner went to pick Kate up from school early. Not that we were afraid of driving in the snow, but because we were afraid of Texans driving in the snow. Once Tanner got back, we couldn't resist going out and snapping some pictures of our town covered in a light blanket of snow. So, of course the first shot is of Texas A&M. And, no, we didn't take the kids with us.
The second shot is of our river walk and the only picture of me during this day's cold festivities.
And then we have the family picture, sans Mommy. Which always seems to happen on snow days. I think it's a family tradition.
And here is Tanner finding out that Scuba Class was canceled.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The First Sunday of Lent
Moses and Aaron went to the king of Egypt and told him, "The LORD God says, 'Let my people go into the desert, so they can honor me with a celebration there.'"
"Who is this LORD and why should I obey him?" the king replied. "I refuse to let you and your people go!"
They answered, "The LORD God of the Hebrews, has appeared to us. Please let us walk three days into the desert where we can offer sacrifices to him. If you don't, he may strike us down with terrible troubles or with war."
The king said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you keeping these people from working? Look how many you are keeping from doing their work. Now everyone get back to work!" That same day the king gave orders to his slave bosses and to the men directly in charge of the Israelite slaves. He told them: Don't give the slaves any more straw to put in their bricks. Force them to find their own straw wherever they can, but they must make the same number of bricks as before. They are lazy, or else they would not beg me to let them go and sacrifice to their God. Make them work so hard that they won't have time to listen to these lies.
The slave bosses and the men in charge of the slaves went out and told them, "The king says he will not give you any more straw. Go and find your own straw wherever you can, but you must still make as many bricks as before."
The slaves went all over Egypt, looking for straw. But the slave bosses were hard on them and kept saying, "Each day you have to make as many bricks as you did when you were given straw." The bosses beat the men in charge of the slaves and said, "Why didn't you force the slaves to make as many bricks yesterday and today as they did before?" Finally, the men in charge of the slaves went to the king and said, "Why are you treating us like this? No one brings us any straw, but we are still ordered to make the same number of bricks. We are beaten with whips, and your own people are to blame."
The king replied, "You are lazy--nothing but lazy! That's why you keep asking me to let you go and sacrifice to your LORD. Get back to work! You won't be given straw, but you must still make the same number of bricks."
The men knew they were in deep trouble when they were ordered to make the same number of bricks each day. After they left the king, they went to see Moses and Aaron, who had been waiting for them.
Then the men said, "We hope the LORD will punish both of you for making the king and his officials hate us. Now they even have an excuse to kill us."
Moses left them and prayed, "Our LORD, why have you brought so much trouble on your people? Is that why you sent me here? Ever since you told me to speak to the king, he has caused nothing but trouble for these people. And you haven't done a thing to help."
"Who is this LORD and why should I obey him?" the king replied. "I refuse to let you and your people go!"
They answered, "The LORD God of the Hebrews, has appeared to us. Please let us walk three days into the desert where we can offer sacrifices to him. If you don't, he may strike us down with terrible troubles or with war."
The king said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you keeping these people from working? Look how many you are keeping from doing their work. Now everyone get back to work!" That same day the king gave orders to his slave bosses and to the men directly in charge of the Israelite slaves. He told them: Don't give the slaves any more straw to put in their bricks. Force them to find their own straw wherever they can, but they must make the same number of bricks as before. They are lazy, or else they would not beg me to let them go and sacrifice to their God. Make them work so hard that they won't have time to listen to these lies.
The slave bosses and the men in charge of the slaves went out and told them, "The king says he will not give you any more straw. Go and find your own straw wherever you can, but you must still make as many bricks as before."
The slaves went all over Egypt, looking for straw. But the slave bosses were hard on them and kept saying, "Each day you have to make as many bricks as you did when you were given straw." The bosses beat the men in charge of the slaves and said, "Why didn't you force the slaves to make as many bricks yesterday and today as they did before?" Finally, the men in charge of the slaves went to the king and said, "Why are you treating us like this? No one brings us any straw, but we are still ordered to make the same number of bricks. We are beaten with whips, and your own people are to blame."
The king replied, "You are lazy--nothing but lazy! That's why you keep asking me to let you go and sacrifice to your LORD. Get back to work! You won't be given straw, but you must still make the same number of bricks."
The men knew they were in deep trouble when they were ordered to make the same number of bricks each day. After they left the king, they went to see Moses and Aaron, who had been waiting for them.
Then the men said, "We hope the LORD will punish both of you for making the king and his officials hate us. Now they even have an excuse to kill us."
Moses left them and prayed, "Our LORD, why have you brought so much trouble on your people? Is that why you sent me here? Ever since you told me to speak to the king, he has caused nothing but trouble for these people. And you haven't done a thing to help."
Monday, February 8, 2010
Coffee...
Last night, I dreamt of coffee. Not just any ordinary coffee, but that rich, silky smell that you remember wafting through your bedroom door on a school morning when you were a kid. That was the signal that Mom was up, and in just a few minutes, if you didn't get moving, she'd yell from the kitchen, "Kids! Get up! We've gotta get going." That's when you'd heave a sigh, slowly peel back the comforter, stretch your toes and crinkle your eyes. If you were lucky, Joanelle would still be half asleep, so the light wouldn't get flipped on. If you were unlucky...well, Emily knows the rest of that story.
Anyway, that's the kind of dream I had. It was so amazingly real, I woke up, half expecting my cold to be complete gone, and Tanner to be hovering near the bed with a cup of coffee for me. He does that type of thing, you know. Imagine my disappointment when I opened my eyes, took a breath through my mouth since my nose isn't working, squinted into the darkness and realized that it was 3:00am. The only good thing about last night was that I was able to roll over and fall back asleep without too much of a problem.
Anyway, that's the kind of dream I had. It was so amazingly real, I woke up, half expecting my cold to be complete gone, and Tanner to be hovering near the bed with a cup of coffee for me. He does that type of thing, you know. Imagine my disappointment when I opened my eyes, took a breath through my mouth since my nose isn't working, squinted into the darkness and realized that it was 3:00am. The only good thing about last night was that I was able to roll over and fall back asleep without too much of a problem.
Friday, February 5, 2010
It's Friday!
Today is a squishy morning. Stepping outside and walking to the mailbox, the stepping stones make a sqooshy, squishy, squelchy sound. There are big puddles of water dotting our yard though we don't have Lake Howell out in the back anymore. Reagan wants to go mud puddle hopping, but I can't let her because of her cold.
Yesterday, Jonathan heroically put Tyvek over some of the exposed parts of the house. There is still quite a bit more to do, but at least part of it is done. I didn't ask him how fun it was to tromp around in ankle deep mud, armed with a stapler, scissors and a roll of white, clingy plastic stuff. I suppose for a boy it must have been great fun. I know of several little boys that would have been thrilled to be doing that.
Today, I slept through the alarm clock. I slept through Kate getting ready for school. I slept through Tanner leaving and coming back. I woke up when I started to cough and choke because I was sleeping on my back. I woke up confused and ready to start running around throwing things together because we had to get Kate to school. Tanner started to laugh. Through my choking gasps, I glared at him after he explained that Kate was already at school. I must have been tired. I'm not coughing now and my head actually feels cleared up and less foggy. I'm just hoping that this is really the end to this cold.
Cloudy days are kind of unusual in Texas. If you were sitting inside you would think that it was going to snow. Once you step outside, you'd change your mind because the wind would hit you with a blast of heated air, and your skin would uncrinkle and relax as it absorbed the soft, damp humidity of 72 degree bayou air. I realize it's not bayou, but it almost is. I'm sure some staunch Louisiannaian is going to say that I'm way off my mark, and this weather is much more mild and more enjoyable, etc..., but I'm an Oregonian, and any type of humidity is just really WAY over the top.
On a political note, after the State of the Union speech, the secessionist movement got a huge boost here in Texas. Of course, Tanner had to quip, "don't seceed, just kick the other 49 out!"
Yesterday, Jonathan heroically put Tyvek over some of the exposed parts of the house. There is still quite a bit more to do, but at least part of it is done. I didn't ask him how fun it was to tromp around in ankle deep mud, armed with a stapler, scissors and a roll of white, clingy plastic stuff. I suppose for a boy it must have been great fun. I know of several little boys that would have been thrilled to be doing that.
Today, I slept through the alarm clock. I slept through Kate getting ready for school. I slept through Tanner leaving and coming back. I woke up when I started to cough and choke because I was sleeping on my back. I woke up confused and ready to start running around throwing things together because we had to get Kate to school. Tanner started to laugh. Through my choking gasps, I glared at him after he explained that Kate was already at school. I must have been tired. I'm not coughing now and my head actually feels cleared up and less foggy. I'm just hoping that this is really the end to this cold.
Cloudy days are kind of unusual in Texas. If you were sitting inside you would think that it was going to snow. Once you step outside, you'd change your mind because the wind would hit you with a blast of heated air, and your skin would uncrinkle and relax as it absorbed the soft, damp humidity of 72 degree bayou air. I realize it's not bayou, but it almost is. I'm sure some staunch Louisiannaian is going to say that I'm way off my mark, and this weather is much more mild and more enjoyable, etc..., but I'm an Oregonian, and any type of humidity is just really WAY over the top.
On a political note, after the State of the Union speech, the secessionist movement got a huge boost here in Texas. Of course, Tanner had to quip, "don't seceed, just kick the other 49 out!"
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
I dragged my body out of bed today. This cold is really getting to me. I feel like my brain is working at it's normal rate, but every other part of me is going around in half time. Now, the phrase cold can refer to two different things, the virus or the weather, and I'm not sure which one I'm referring to. I know that I've got a virus. My head is foggy, my eyes are watering, my nose is stuffy, my body is achy. On the other hand, when I dashed to the van this morning, I realized my head was tilted downward in order to avoid the wind and the rain.
I was sitting in my car, heater running full blast when I realized that I hadn't brought along a cup of coffee. I guess I don't normally take coffee with me anymore. I've gotten out of practice because who needs coffee when it's 82 outside? The last few weeks have seen that kind of weather, and then this weird cold front swept through the southern part of the United States, and now I'm wishing I had my ski jacket and cup of coffee to warm my hands on while I'm driving.
So maybe it's that kind of cold. But then I reread the last paragraph, and I'm not sure. I don't think my verbs are agreeing or maybe their not parallel, but my head just doesn't want to function and sort the whole thing out.
Back to the main point. I got into the car or van or whatever. First, I made sure that Kate got into the vehicle. Then I got into the vehicle. Turned it on. Busted a U-ey (that's Texan for took a u-turn), and headed for school. I'm driving along. Stopping at the required stop lights. Making mindless notes about the different things I'm seeing when I realized I'd passed into Portland mode.
Definition: Portland Mode is the act of mindlessly traveling from one point to the other without absorbing the fact that it is cold, wet, gray and depressingly icky outside -- often accompanied by listening to talk radio because there is nothing else to do while making the congested, horn-honking commute to work or school.
So, I jerked myself back into Aggie mode and brightly asked Kate how she was doing. Fine, was the answer. I tried again with something like, what are you going to do in school today. She mumbled, Spelling Test. That sort of ended the conversation there. I was sorely tempted to flip on the radio. I stared at the road and realized it wasn't raining anymore but my wipers were still on. The water being kicked up was splattering the windshield. Depressingly Oregonianesque, I thought. Then I tried to think of the date, and realized that it must be about 2 months before Christmas. I mean, this kind of weather is suppose to happen in October which would meant that I hadn't gotten past Halloween, yet, and I'd better get planning for Thanksgiving. So soon? When would I ever get a break. Then my mind focused again, and I shook the virus thingy that's attached to the inner part of my nose and managed a few minutes of clear thinking. Ah, that's right it's February. Time to start planning swimming lessons, pool parties and barbecues.
I guess I'll just hang in there. Maybe go to some place colder, like the ice rink. That always makes me feel better.
I was sitting in my car, heater running full blast when I realized that I hadn't brought along a cup of coffee. I guess I don't normally take coffee with me anymore. I've gotten out of practice because who needs coffee when it's 82 outside? The last few weeks have seen that kind of weather, and then this weird cold front swept through the southern part of the United States, and now I'm wishing I had my ski jacket and cup of coffee to warm my hands on while I'm driving.
So maybe it's that kind of cold. But then I reread the last paragraph, and I'm not sure. I don't think my verbs are agreeing or maybe their not parallel, but my head just doesn't want to function and sort the whole thing out.
Back to the main point. I got into the car or van or whatever. First, I made sure that Kate got into the vehicle. Then I got into the vehicle. Turned it on. Busted a U-ey (that's Texan for took a u-turn), and headed for school. I'm driving along. Stopping at the required stop lights. Making mindless notes about the different things I'm seeing when I realized I'd passed into Portland mode.
Definition: Portland Mode is the act of mindlessly traveling from one point to the other without absorbing the fact that it is cold, wet, gray and depressingly icky outside -- often accompanied by listening to talk radio because there is nothing else to do while making the congested, horn-honking commute to work or school.
So, I jerked myself back into Aggie mode and brightly asked Kate how she was doing. Fine, was the answer. I tried again with something like, what are you going to do in school today. She mumbled, Spelling Test. That sort of ended the conversation there. I was sorely tempted to flip on the radio. I stared at the road and realized it wasn't raining anymore but my wipers were still on. The water being kicked up was splattering the windshield. Depressingly Oregonianesque, I thought. Then I tried to think of the date, and realized that it must be about 2 months before Christmas. I mean, this kind of weather is suppose to happen in October which would meant that I hadn't gotten past Halloween, yet, and I'd better get planning for Thanksgiving. So soon? When would I ever get a break. Then my mind focused again, and I shook the virus thingy that's attached to the inner part of my nose and managed a few minutes of clear thinking. Ah, that's right it's February. Time to start planning swimming lessons, pool parties and barbecues.
I guess I'll just hang in there. Maybe go to some place colder, like the ice rink. That always makes me feel better.
Monday, February 1, 2010
The month of January flew by or maybe I should say, I flew by. Seems like our family has been traveling on one of those high speed commuter trains with barely any time to catch our breath which has made me so thankful that we took the entire month of December to relax and just be a family.
We've dealt with bronchitis, pink-eye and three serious colds. We've got Tanner registered for classes at A&M and Blinn. We've been carting Kate to school, balancing our work-to-school schedule, building bookshelves, teaching, cleaning, skating, fixing leaks and all the other things that go along with home ownership.
I have to admit that it is a challenge to balance the kids, go to work and get Tanner to school. We've had to sit down a couple of times just to make sure the kids are actually getting the attention that they deserve and need. It's hard for me to accept that Tanner has a different parenting style from me. I tend to do projects with the girls, teach them how to fold laundry, put toys away and things like that. Tanner tends to play games with them, send them outside to play and teach them to color. As a result, the house isn't as clean as I keep it. Yes, Mom, shudder, it's actually possible for the house to be messier. Dinner usually isn't made or it consists of something odd like iceberg lettuce with pepperoni, and the laundry piles up until my only day off, Monday, so I spend the entire day doing load after load after load.
They try. They really do, as long as I remind them before I leave for work, or if I make a list of chores. For that, I am thankful. I just have to remind myself that they're not use to just knowing what needs to happen in the house because usually the stuff is already done. On the plus side, when Tanner cleans the house it is the most beautiful house ever. I just don't get how he does it. Everything looks so much neater and tidier when he cleans. So, I have extra appreciation for him on Sundays and Tuesdays since those are the days that he makes a concentrated effort to keep the living room clean because I teach on those days.
Tanner is really excited about attending A&M. He went to a career fair this last week and talked with a lot of engineering companies. Most of them were looking for interns, and they typically only want kids that are in their Junior year, but several of them, when they heard that Tanner had run his own business, asked him to submit an application in September. There are a couple of programs in Corpus Christi that would give him great work experience. It would mean moving there for a summer, but we think it might be worth the effort since it will teach him what to expect in a particular field of interest. Plus, it would be right next to the beach... The really neat thing is that he could take a different internship every summer, and that way he could figure out if there is a particular company or type of engineering that he really likes. There are so many types of chemical engineering: petroleum, pharmaceuticals, bio-medical, industrial, computer, ecological, and then there are the research fields like nano-technology.
So, lots of excitement and adventure seem to be hovering on our horizon.
About kids...well, what can I say? Georgie is a momma's girl. She is currently grabbing onto my shirt sleeve, trying to climb onto my lap while bawling, all because...I'm not holding her. No other reason. Before you think I'm cruel, I've been holding her for the last hour and a half and now she is beside herself with angst. I think her love language might be touch, what do you think? Reagan told me the other the day that the happiest day of her life was her birthday. Kate thinks she is a real ballerina because she has an Angelina Ballerina outfit.
If this blog seems a little disjointed I think it is because I am drinking coffee. Yes, coffee, not espresso. I just can't seem to find a Starbucks that will consistently grind the beans correctly and the last batch of beans was way too coarse for an espresso grind, so I got my coffee maker out and have been brewing coffee for the last week. I know, I should go to Starbucks and return the beans, but it just seems like way too much work right now. Plus, I know if I go, I'll end up with a cappuccino...so they win in the end anyway, right? So, I'm suffering and drinking cafe au lait until I run out of grounds.
We've dealt with bronchitis, pink-eye and three serious colds. We've got Tanner registered for classes at A&M and Blinn. We've been carting Kate to school, balancing our work-to-school schedule, building bookshelves, teaching, cleaning, skating, fixing leaks and all the other things that go along with home ownership.
I have to admit that it is a challenge to balance the kids, go to work and get Tanner to school. We've had to sit down a couple of times just to make sure the kids are actually getting the attention that they deserve and need. It's hard for me to accept that Tanner has a different parenting style from me. I tend to do projects with the girls, teach them how to fold laundry, put toys away and things like that. Tanner tends to play games with them, send them outside to play and teach them to color. As a result, the house isn't as clean as I keep it. Yes, Mom, shudder, it's actually possible for the house to be messier. Dinner usually isn't made or it consists of something odd like iceberg lettuce with pepperoni, and the laundry piles up until my only day off, Monday, so I spend the entire day doing load after load after load.
They try. They really do, as long as I remind them before I leave for work, or if I make a list of chores. For that, I am thankful. I just have to remind myself that they're not use to just knowing what needs to happen in the house because usually the stuff is already done. On the plus side, when Tanner cleans the house it is the most beautiful house ever. I just don't get how he does it. Everything looks so much neater and tidier when he cleans. So, I have extra appreciation for him on Sundays and Tuesdays since those are the days that he makes a concentrated effort to keep the living room clean because I teach on those days.
Tanner is really excited about attending A&M. He went to a career fair this last week and talked with a lot of engineering companies. Most of them were looking for interns, and they typically only want kids that are in their Junior year, but several of them, when they heard that Tanner had run his own business, asked him to submit an application in September. There are a couple of programs in Corpus Christi that would give him great work experience. It would mean moving there for a summer, but we think it might be worth the effort since it will teach him what to expect in a particular field of interest. Plus, it would be right next to the beach... The really neat thing is that he could take a different internship every summer, and that way he could figure out if there is a particular company or type of engineering that he really likes. There are so many types of chemical engineering: petroleum, pharmaceuticals, bio-medical, industrial, computer, ecological, and then there are the research fields like nano-technology.
So, lots of excitement and adventure seem to be hovering on our horizon.
About kids...well, what can I say? Georgie is a momma's girl. She is currently grabbing onto my shirt sleeve, trying to climb onto my lap while bawling, all because...I'm not holding her. No other reason. Before you think I'm cruel, I've been holding her for the last hour and a half and now she is beside herself with angst. I think her love language might be touch, what do you think? Reagan told me the other the day that the happiest day of her life was her birthday. Kate thinks she is a real ballerina because she has an Angelina Ballerina outfit.
If this blog seems a little disjointed I think it is because I am drinking coffee. Yes, coffee, not espresso. I just can't seem to find a Starbucks that will consistently grind the beans correctly and the last batch of beans was way too coarse for an espresso grind, so I got my coffee maker out and have been brewing coffee for the last week. I know, I should go to Starbucks and return the beans, but it just seems like way too much work right now. Plus, I know if I go, I'll end up with a cappuccino...so they win in the end anyway, right? So, I'm suffering and drinking cafe au lait until I run out of grounds.
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