tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690316344966059332012-01-27T15:58:19.875-05:00The Laughs and Screams of a Stay At Home MomMy Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.comBlogger5031100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-47814809031231665332012-01-23T12:59:00.001-05:002012-01-23T16:03:44.573-05:00

I have achieved it! I win! I win! What do I win? A chance to keep digging in the dirt? Oh. Ok. When I moved from the Midwest to the South, I was fascinated by winter pansies. I lived in apartments for many years as I finished up school and started teaching in Atlanta. But I filled pots with flowers and placed them on all the steps on the way up to my home. Then I got a yard. And I thought

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-7117773672949715492012-01-19T08:21:00.000-05:002012-01-19T08:21:00.216-05:00

What can you make with a shoe box, pipe cleaners, string, scotch tape, and scissors? Almost anything, you answer? Ok, what if I say there is also a singleton winter glove, a broken Lego watch, a broken flash drive, a broken bike odometer, a key to some house we no longer own, a shower head, a wine cork, and a globe with a screen which shares information about the countries on it? Well, if

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-68394082906092459292012-01-16T19:03:00.000-05:002012-01-16T19:30:20.801-05:00

"When we win the lottery we'll dig a basement." This has been something I've said for years. We love our house, really we do. But it would be so nice to just have that little bit more space, that it-can-get-messy space, that "sure we can get a foos ball table" space, that guest bedroom space, that workshop space. Our house is on a hill and I think we could have had a basement pretty easily. 

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-72410963406737903672012-01-12T13:00:00.001-05:002012-01-12T13:00:04.076-05:00

I've been too occupied with mice and critters-who-cannot-be-named to talk about The Paid Job here. I have a boy!  (He will hereafter be referred to as The Pope.) The Pope started in a two day preschool class this fall. And lasted two days.  He was referred to our program and it was suggested that his parents take him to a developmental pediatrician. His parents were given the diagnosis PDD (

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-43038086112376086102012-01-11T14:34:00.000-05:002012-01-11T14:34:38.646-05:00

Yes, you read that correctly. Mickey/Mrs. Frisby was falsely accused. We put out about ten mouse traps, of the sticky variety. We found the shredded evidence upstairs and down, but no mice. We added a few snap traps and some really huge sticky mat traps, baited it all with chocolate and walnuts (we keep a peanut butter free house) but still no Mickey/Mrs. Frisby.  I think CD is a bit relieved

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-69319723869249942492011-12-30T13:45:00.000-05:002011-12-30T13:45:11.554-05:00

Our Christmases were all they should be. Kids and toys and food and family. Pook gave me a big bag of Lindt dark chocolate and raspberry truffles and Bug gave me a pair of earrings and a drawing. He gave CD and me, jointly, a clay bunny he'd made in art at school.  Because I know they used their own money, I'm doubly impressed with their choices.  (Not that I didn't like getting my own bubble

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-92050335117739189892011-12-25T21:04:00.001-05:002011-12-25T22:04:34.198-05:00

Last night when the stockings were hung (and filled) by the chimney with care, and the boys were nestled with sugarplums dancing in their little sweaty heads, I settled down for my long (not really) winter's nap. And yet, all was not right. A creature was stirring. This morning we naively brushed crumbs off our big dining room table, added a couple place mats and served a Christmas breakfast

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-41446900469587026412011-12-24T12:18:00.000-05:002011-12-24T12:18:05.011-05:00

Merry Christmas from the home of Pook and Bug!

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-27133355342684721852011-12-20T20:42:00.001-05:002011-12-21T09:16:13.972-05:00

Maybe we've always known this but never really put it into words.  But Bug has had some optional basketball practices these last few days and they've been so, so, so helpful. And not just because it separates him from his brother and temporarily stops the squabbling which has been going on since school got out Friday. The exercise calms Bug down. We've occasionally sent him outside to jump rope

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-44962956685573993402011-12-18T15:06:00.000-05:002011-12-18T15:06:17.198-05:00

I agreed to do what? Our devious music director came to me and asked if the boys wanted to be shepherds in the Christmas pageant again this year. Is Bug too young to be a narrator? Yes, maybe in a year or so. Then sure, they'll be happy to be shepherds. And would I be willing to be Mary to CD's Joseph? (CD agreed to be in the pageant? Really?) Sure, I guess. Apparently he had already asked

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-85749512522201596362011-12-16T13:14:00.000-05:002011-12-16T13:14:18.888-05:00

I worked both Monday and Tuesday this week, swapping out so I was home on Thursday. Liking it. Even making progress on a long to do list. Not that I was "home" much on any of these days. Yesterday the school had holiday parties and I was, of course, helping to organize one of them. I came home and by 4pm I realized I felt ready to crash in bed for the night. Not just tired, but actually sleepy.

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-83860430161737646162011-12-15T14:32:00.001-05:002011-12-15T14:40:41.445-05:00

Where has December gone? Half through!  I think between the job and, of course, the holidays, I've been busy!  I have had time for these however: Prepare your materials: mini pretzels, Hershey's kisses of all variety, M$M's Peel/husk/disrobe the Hershey's kisses. Next time get the kids to help. Pop a kiss on each pretzel, bake 3-4 min at 200', then place an M$M on each My family

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-17591371038887464842011-12-05T10:13:00.000-05:002011-12-05T10:13:11.959-05:00

'Tis the time of year that proclaims that winter is about to begin. I know it must be December because my neighbor's cherry tree is blooming.  Right on schedule every year. And yet, while I usually feel badly that the tree is going to freeze and waste its blooms, maybe I should look at it more optimistically. Yes, we're going to have winter, but heck, this is Georgia. It will not be long and it

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-78157177923880962012011-11-16T20:19:00.000-05:002011-11-16T20:19:02.425-05:00

If you have a memory as bad as mine, you never remember lyrics anyway.  It is much easier to make them up.  Most of the kids' bedtime songs have made-up lyrics.  I remember them so much easier. In the car tonight the boys started picking on each other and Pook told Bug, "You'd better be good."  I added "because Santa Claus is coming to town."  Pook then began to sing the song, but he'd started

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-42841085239546218262011-11-10T08:10:00.003-05:002011-11-10T08:10:00.546-05:00

I suppose it has happened slowly, in the boiling a frog sort of way.  Nevertheless, the arguments around here are too many and too frequent.  "But..."  "Do I have to?"  "He did it."  "Why do I always have to...?" First I started responding to Bug's frequent "But..." sentences with the declaration that I did not want to discuss his bum/bottom/tushie.  He'd giggle and I could avoid having to

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-40083168700184751732011-11-04T07:03:00.000-04:002011-11-04T07:03:00.330-04:00

"Can I tell you about my book?"      "I"ve read it.  It was good." "Ok, but can I tell you about it?" "Do you know how to draw a shark/robot/vampire...?"      "How's this?" "Well, I'll show you how." "Want me to tell you about how we played freeze tag at PE today?"      "Was it regular freeze tag?" "Yeah, but let me tell you how we did it." Such is a conversation with Bug.  Think he has a

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-69021670523088487942011-11-01T13:46:00.000-04:002011-11-01T13:46:29.242-04:00

Here are the boys, Halloween 2011: Bug chose to dress as a slice of Swiss cheese. Pook dressed as his favorite thing- a Lego minifig They'd chosen their costumes in plenty of time. My parents helped put them together with a good bit of cardboard this year. The yellow "cheese" is a thrift shop drapery.  The Lego head is made from a bucket, covered with paper and painted. We had just the

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-3489682065242012532011-10-28T10:01:00.002-04:002011-10-28T10:01:00.540-04:00

I bring it upon myself, I know I do.  In fact, in 2008 when Pook asked to be "just a bat, not a vampire or Count Dracula or anything" I think I was a bit disappointed. But!  I made him great bat wings and he looked the part and was pleased. This year is no exception.  We have, coming to a neighborhood near us, a Lego minifig and a slice of swiss cheese.  Yes, we do.  And they will look fabulous!

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-91000478585318530342011-10-21T09:13:00.001-04:002011-10-21T09:24:00.718-04:00

Time for the post-renovation, After photos! The boys chose the turquoise, and now that it's up I like it a lot.  I wasn't sure.  Right now I have some very cool temperature daylight bulbs in the fixture and they give the space a very cool light.  I think I'll replace them with something warmer since the paint color reflects on the white tile already.  Snoopy was the other choice they made.  I

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-53457166885760366512011-10-20T12:48:00.004-04:002011-10-20T12:48:00.694-04:00

I heard the phrase:  "This Holiday Season."  Later, my mother in law called. She'd seen a toy in a catalog and wanted to know if I thought it was appropriate for the boys.  My first instinct was to say "for what?" but then I caught up with her and realized that she had Christmas shopping on her brain. Up until then I was comfortable in autumn.  Really, summer lasts so long that we've only just

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-243407788165722802011-10-18T15:21:00.000-04:002011-10-18T15:21:35.158-04:00

I spoke of my Paid Job last night in the context that it feels good to get back into my field.  CD noted that really, it isn't just my professional field, it is ingrained in my DNA.  He's probably right. In 8th grade I had a weekly Social Studies assignment (given by a teacher who had a face like a shrunken apple and was reported to smell like bourbon - had I known what bourbon smelled like I

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-16103617756049392542011-10-16T13:24:00.000-04:002011-10-16T13:24:47.300-04:00

I'm having a cow.  (Sometime in 7th grade this became the phrase to say.  "Don't have a cow." --or don't get upset.  Why did we say it? I don't know.  It was 7th grade.)  But, I am going to have a cow.  On Wednesday Mr. Farmer will be delivering a full cow to my house.    Our congregation was challenged to make a "Happiness Pledge" last year.  This was to be something that would simultaneously

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-10326800625085342552011-10-13T18:48:00.001-04:002011-10-14T13:44:02.957-04:00

"I'm a big boy; I went to Big Boy School!"  He says this, laughing, while standing naked in the tub, refusing to get out until "the tornado" is finished.  (His cast is still on, therefore he's limited to the tub, not shower.) I've bought him his own facial soap and a deodorant stick of his own.  He cannot wait to use them.  I was waiting until their bathroom was finished before I gave him more

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-80096349414740734932011-10-11T15:56:00.001-04:002011-10-11T16:55:04.429-04:00

It seems to be October. Very October even.  Where has the time gone? The temperature has improved.  No heat on yet; windows open sometimes but sometimes too chilly at night.  We've even had a few drops of rain.  Not much, but enough to provide me with bad hair and the plants with a little relief.  I put in pansies and filled in gaps with some mums just before the rain Monday.  I also bought a

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-25352588389651738742011-09-26T07:14:00.000-04:002011-09-26T08:34:37.868-04:00

This is what happens when you let seven and ten year olds go to the paint department alone to pick a paint color for their new bathroom: The 13" tile for the floor is on the bottom (on top of a distracting random throw rug). The (broken piece of) white 6" tile will be on the walls with the patterned piece along the room at about four feet.  The granite is for the vanity top. I don't have a

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-39964659476834888742011-09-23T14:28:00.003-04:002011-09-24T16:40:33.126-04:00

The cast is blue this time too. There is a "closed fracture of the supracondylar humerus." In English, this means that he broke his left arm in the top bone somewhere right at the elbow. He was simply running around on the church playground and fell. They didn't offer a water safe cast, so we've got to struggle through showers again. He hates all the attention but I think he's most upset

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-23181443903052943602011-09-20T09:20:00.001-04:002011-10-20T14:53:00.027-04:00

There are sledgehammers upstairs in the bathroom.  This is a good thing! Our upstairs guest/kids bathroom has never been renovated.  The Harvest Gold sink and tile chosen in 1970 are still there.  The ugliness of it didn't escape me, but it was functional, if tiny..  We tried our best to ignore it.  We bathed babies in the tub.  We put up a 12x12 mirrored tile so they could see their little

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-70462802462209212432011-09-19T09:20:00.000-04:002011-09-19T09:20:13.368-04:00

We've all been taught that plants need soil, water and sun to grow.  In my yard, I have little of any of those and yet, there are plants growing and even blooming this time of year. I have primarily shade. The tree-cutting has brought a bit more sun to my front yard, encouraging the beauty berry bushes I moved, as well as the daisies, which have flourished this year. I have primarily clay. 

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-68283355967730986012011-09-13T20:09:00.000-04:002011-09-13T20:09:00.565-04:00

You never know what will come from a family dinner time conversation.  That's one of the reasons I enjoy them so much.  Last night Bug shared his favorite words with us, then made a list of the favorite words for each of us. Bug's list: mystery pathetic enthusiastic gorgonzola My favorites: papillion (French for butterfly) Guatemala CD's faves polysyllabic strengths humuhumunukunukuapuaa (

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-26969597768017594182011-09-06T13:55:00.000-04:002011-09-06T13:55:05.201-04:00

Day One of kiddies in the school.  I'm still a "floater" which meant that after helping with carpool I was asked to check with two particular classrooms to see if they needed help.  On my way to one of them I was snagged by a teacher of "barely 3's."    "Could I help settle this one down?"  Sure.  I made my way to Dominic, a silently sobbing boy sitting by but ignoring a table of puzzles.  Half

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-13196034228990677502011-08-23T13:53:00.001-04:002011-08-23T19:13:14.870-04:00

This first invention of mine is one I thought of years ago.  And I'm not even a shower singer. The shower Karaoke machine:  Adjust the non-fogging screen to accommodate your lack of glasses and enjoy the acoustics of your shower while you sing along to your high school favorites. These next two are feasible. My friend vb and I have discussed some of the "inventions" for which technology exists

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-48856713125402234382011-08-19T10:30:00.002-04:002011-08-19T10:30:01.568-04:00

Pook is home sick.  He woke us to tell us of a sore throat, and despite a clear strep test, he's now feverish and miserable.  I blame the Tooth Fairy. Yes, the Tooth Fairy still visits our house. As far as I can tell, we've missed the way out and will be keeping the Tooth Fairy on the payroll forever-- as well as her buddies Santa and the Easter Bunny. While I'm pretty sure that Pook, and maybe

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-75398858616974535562011-08-18T07:35:00.000-04:002011-08-18T07:35:19.447-04:00

They've lost my boy.  The paid-job school called and said that the little boy who I was going to teach has dropped out of the program.  The mom has been worried about sending her baby to school for the first time, so they didn't seem too surprised that she'd changed her mind.  No "cute as a button" for me any more. But, they still want me.  I'm going to "float," help out and substitute until

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-58427670757153762692011-08-16T12:28:00.000-04:002011-08-16T12:28:15.727-04:00

"Where did we get you?!" is a common, exasperated question we pose to the boys here.  At some point we provided the answers:  Pook is from the Funny Farm and Bug is from the Looney Bin.  Really, it explains so much! I can't remember how it came up, but at some point on our vacation, Bug decided to tell us about his memories images of the Looney Big.  "It's like a gigantic tea cup with a fence

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-58585375943709046162011-08-11T09:28:00.003-04:002011-08-11T16:39:13.958-04:00

I spent my first day of work learning the philosophy of the school.  It was like going to your first SCUBA class, swim suit on, and learning that SCUBA stands for "Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus" but not learning how to put on the gear or to go underwater. The school uses a "Reggio Emilia inspired." philosophy.  I'm sort of familiar with the idea.  Instead of being a teacher-led

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-78356177881542848942011-08-09T10:39:00.000-04:002011-08-09T10:39:32.605-04:00

On the Great National Vacation... 5,280 miles driven 18 states visited 1,141 photos taken on 3 cameras 48 license plates seen from the United States. (We never saw one from Deleware or Rhode Island, but Hawaii was represented.) 7 license plates from Canada best road names: Buttermilk Road, in Alabama, and Rattlesnake Gulch in CO worst road names: O 1/2 and B 3/10 and others of that ilk

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-92102078925831862772011-08-07T20:20:00.001-04:002011-08-12T14:36:50.126-04:00

It is hot as hell here in Atlanta, although as they say, "It's not the heat; it's the humidity."  And to be sure, we had hotter weather in South Dakota (104°) and in Texas (Dallas, 108°) on our trip. Here we feel as if we are swimming through the air.  Thunderstorms now and then but it seems as if the rain barely falls before it is evaporated back into the air. The boys start school in the

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-38843283337877542322011-07-29T22:28:00.000-04:002011-07-29T22:28:32.155-04:00

We're in the home stretch.  Home looms ahead. We LOVED Mesa Verde.  I am so glad I pushed to go there on our way back.  We spent one long afternoon at the top of the mesa and squeezed in two Ranger-led tours before staying in their lodge.  Incredible.  I think the boys were just as impressed.  There are over 600 homes built into the cliff-sides by "pre-Puebloian peoples."  (Apparently "

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-65559256039994749702011-07-26T09:42:00.002-04:002011-08-12T14:34:19.587-04:00

I think I shall have my first ever Pook and Bug contest!  See below for details. The boys are a bit disappointed that we haven't seen more wildlife than we have.  I think I promised them moose, which has not happened, even in the Tetons.  We have seen: elk, which are all over like pigeons around Mammoth Lodge, and scattered here and there everywhere else in the park bison, which I am

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-21526708110768268422011-07-24T23:36:00.000-04:002011-07-24T23:36:56.494-04:00

When Pook was a baby we made up songs for him all the time. I made them up because I hadn't been a mom very long and didn't remember the words to kid songs I'd once known. (I never remember lyrics.) CD made them up because, well, because he liked to make them up. Sometimes, as Pook got older, he made them up on request. Among the repertoire were the Diaper Song, the Crawling Song, the Swimming

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-6318934727320733902011-07-23T19:51:00.008-04:002011-07-23T19:51:00.450-04:00

Yellowstone was right around the corner.  But, we didn't drive a straight line. As CD and I are prone to do, we decided to take the scenic route.  The Beartooth Highway was significantly longer, but it called to us.  And it was worthwhile.  Those choices always are. Snow.  Yes, after 104°temperatures the morning before, and cold, windy rain the night before, now we encountered snow.  At the

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-88089057957664875352011-07-22T22:01:00.001-04:002011-07-22T22:06:36.885-04:00

I'm a bit lost in my days of the week, but I think this is the order of events: We left Nebraska Monday morning and hit the open road.  Seriously open.  I'm not sure if this photo out the front windshield is from Nebraska or Kansas.  I do see some bug smears however and Kansas had some huge suicide-seeking bugs.  The landscape was beautiful and we took lots of photos out windows, for better or

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-40697140137223363872011-07-18T08:21:00.004-04:002011-07-22T23:46:57.841-04:00

We're finally on our way to Yellowstone!   The long-anticipated great American road trip of the summer.  In fact, I am sitting in the quiet dining room at my cousin Les' home in Lincoln, Nebraska.  I'm never up this early, but I wanted to see her and her husband before they left for work today- a Monday in the Real World. We began with a Friday evening trip up to my in-laws.  CD's sister's

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-27389280015199159812011-07-03T20:29:00.000-04:002011-07-03T20:29:12.470-04:00

Pook and Bug both have lovely blue eyes.  Pook's are a light blue with a darker ring around the iris.  Bug's eyes are bolder and he also got dark lashes, dark brows and hair that I thought might stay blond but didn't. Especially when still a blond toddler he got comments everywhere we went. He started giving his own answer to the question "Where did you get those blue eyes?" by answering "I put

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-57736263211128229282011-06-27T08:29:00.001-04:002011-06-27T08:29:00.129-04:00

In addition to the sunflowers gracing my gardens this summer, and despite the drought Atlanta is experiencing (really, you should watch the radar as the huge storm clouds dissipate when they reach the city) there is much in bloom around here.

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-91483377363711921282011-06-24T12:28:00.001-04:002011-06-24T13:26:35.750-04:00

In the spring, under our bird feeder, I encountered this: This is a clump of chives, with oregano showing a bit on the left lower corner and grass and weeds outside the black border on the right.  The leaves around the chives are the ones I noticed. The mulch here is almost entirely sunflower seed hulls. I pulled out most of the sprouts, but unlike most years, I decided to leave a couple to see

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-88527641970206951062011-06-16T20:02:00.000-04:002011-06-16T20:02:23.650-04:00

I suppose I should stop doing "nothing" and catch up here! Kids:  Both boys are on the swim team.  They swim two mornings and two evenings a week, but it hardly cuts into our day at all. We spend a few hours at the pool most afternoons regardless.  Saturday is the first swim meet of the season, and far across town first thing in the morning.  Hopefully it will go swimmingly! I have pulled back

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-8389794514298955392011-05-18T13:26:00.000-04:002011-05-18T13:26:00.161-04:00

I have promised my children "Nothing."  School ends Friday.  Just two more mornings to wake up early.  Extra early as we have had a practicing Safety Patrol in the family who has needed to be at school twenty minutes early.  (We're supposed to be honored, but actually we're tired.)  Just two more days of "Hurry up." Two more days of "We don't have time for bedtime stories." Of checking the

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-86876914059765959242011-05-17T15:36:00.002-04:002011-05-17T15:36:00.700-04:00

Pook's turn. The fourth grade has been writing a lot of poetry recently. Crimson is exciting. Crimson is lava. Crimson is strong. Crimson smells like peppermint. Crimson tastes like pie. Crimson sounds like bird calls. Crimson looks like fire. Crimson feels like heat. Crimson makes me want to run. Crimson is powerful. Spring Spring is green. It tastes like ice cream. It sounds like birds

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-10785696463180188112011-05-16T15:54:00.001-04:002011-05-16T16:36:17.565-04:00

This is a story that just came home from the (getting emptier) desk of Bug as he finishes up first grade.  (unedited) Once there was a wolf named george.  He lived with his mom in a little cottage. And yesterday his mom asked him to go out and play. So he did. and he was never aspost (yes, he pronounces it this way) to go Past the five oak trees. But he did and he found a Dragon.  Now this

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-8694769977680329432011-05-10T07:00:00.003-04:002011-05-10T07:00:11.876-04:00

My baby is a decade old.  He is very excited to turn ten on May 10, "but really Mama, why couldn't you have had me a year earlier so I could have been ten on the tenth in 2010?" Every week during my pregnancy with you I checked the photos in the book I had to see what this creature- already called "Pookie" -looked like.  "A grain of rice!"  "The size of a strawberry!"  "He should have all his

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-74591361719886416242011-05-08T09:40:00.001-04:002011-05-09T08:13:41.637-04:00

I love physical therapists.  I really do.  I've been to doctors who want to stick a needle in you or prescribe a bottle of pills to deal with pain.  I've been to chiropractors who want to have you return every week forever after.  I went to an acupuncturist once who left a needle in my leg which I found later at home.  I've certainly seen a lot of practitioners who didn't know what was wrong, so

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-71260995162617804082011-05-04T08:07:00.003-04:002011-05-04T08:07:00.629-04:00

We've made it.  We've made it through "You have to practice for fifteen minutes" and "Your teacher made this rule, not me, so don't be angry at me" and "Let's pretend that (the small bust of) Beethoven is racing across the piano and every time you play a line he runs five more notes!" and we are now at "Listen to THIS!" I'd been told that it took a year.  Bug started piano young; he was

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-12053697685257132952011-05-03T12:34:00.005-04:002011-05-03T12:34:00.425-04:00

The year end treadmill: 20 days of school in May 1 piano recital for two kids 6 1/2 baseball games, plus (can we just lose now?) playoffs for both boys 5 end of year/season parties 6 extra boys for a slumber party here, in a tent 1 carnival day at the ballpark 6 piano lessons 2 awards days 2 field days (helping at both) 3 days of family visiting 1 night at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with no

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-21987228879474765802011-05-02T07:34:00.001-04:002011-05-02T07:34:00.242-04:00

My firstborn thinks he's about to turn ten.  Ten!  Cripes, how did that happen? We have told Pook that there is a Ten Test which he must pass in order to pass this birthday milestone.  He is still struggling with the first item, and is reminded daily that this test is upcoming.  He denies that there is such a thing, so to prove to him that there is a Ten Test, I have reprinted it below. Ten

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-57686517793927940902011-04-28T13:53:00.002-04:002011-04-28T13:53:00.159-04:00

Lady Diana became a princess when I was old enough to know better.  Still, I liked the idea that I could one day grow up to be a princess myself.  I got my never-a-morning-person self out of bed at some insane hour, missed the actual wedding but saw her in her glass coach.  And saw so many replays of the wedding that I remember wishing I'd just stayed in bed.   While never having become a

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-10118398888134788372011-04-25T14:21:00.000-04:002011-04-25T14:21:52.622-04:00

There is a lot of sugar around here.  And (almost) all of it is calling my name. Loudly.  (I seem to be resistant to marshmallow peeps.  Or else they're peeping quietly.) I discovered a few weeks ago that the hand-dipped chocolates given by CD to me for my birthday in January were still hiding behind the always present Dove Promises in my secret stash kitchen cabinet.  I must have overdone it on

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-9250876942431568702011-04-17T12:55:00.000-04:002011-04-17T12:55:00.479-04:00

I didn't include a photo of the good parts of my garden.  The parts that actually show and matter.  Here is the front, Spring Garden.  The thick layer of mulch left from the tree cutting prevented many plants from finding sunlight. I removed at least four inches from parts of the area and some plants are coming through, even though they are past bloom.  (One bit of phlox made it out to bloom, the

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-61313423479257116672011-04-15T09:58:00.000-04:002011-04-15T09:58:12.691-04:00

I'm all about the garden right now.  My kids are back at school after a relaxing and relatively uneventful spring break.  I'm less stressed out and trying to prepare for the treadmill which will run me into summer.  Seems like it all moves quickly this time of year. But my garden!  Is blooming! And the weeds!  Are taking over! pine seedlings It is true that if left untouched, Georgia would

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-4281874951780218412011-04-14T08:38:00.001-04:002011-04-14T15:07:26.694-04:00

CD and I spent dinner last night teaching our children swear words.  They know nothing!  (Or they were really good fakes.) I started it by saying, as I scratched a bug bite, that some booger had bitten me (in April--I had a right to be angry!)  They boys both fell apart in squeals of laughter. "What did you call the bug?!" "I called it a booger.  A booger bug!" We all enjoyed laughing, then I

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-58324464376294383642011-04-12T15:57:00.000-04:002011-04-12T15:57:00.356-04:00

three wheelbarrows of wet leaf mulch removed four wheelbarrows of damp red clay dug out 15 feet of landscape fabric placed down 500 lbs of pebbles spread around nine old stepping stones and pieces of stones placed just so one back aching tired

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-91096315857140256952011-04-03T13:47:00.000-04:002011-04-04T13:47:20.322-04:00

The garden is ready to burst open.  The bulbs are about finished, but the next phase is ready to go. Dogwood buds with redbud trees in background. Oddly, I have tons of redbud in the neighborhood but none in my yard. I think it would look great in our ivy-cleared backyard. Flowering kale, purchased for winter color, not dinner. Next year I might plan for both. The transplanted Beautyberry

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-79215998819421448722011-03-30T13:41:00.000-04:002011-03-30T13:41:21.784-04:00

I have closed my email browser window.  I am not home.  I am not going to help you figure out why the photographer at school has your child's class picture filed under the wrong teacher name.  I am not going to answer your email because if you could be patient it will all be worked out I mumbled something non-committal to the school gym teacher when she stopped me, midway through getting 700

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-73347898729327505732011-03-23T13:45:00.000-04:002011-03-23T13:45:27.316-04:00

Just before opening up the spray on the giant bottle of Round Up, I discovered that there was trillium everywhere I looked.  The leaves blended so well into the ivy that the more I found... the more I found.  Often right at my toes. We filled every pot and clementine crate we could locate with trillium transplants.  They were rhizomes, so even though the tender stem snapped on some, I'm

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-76897688013631832742011-03-19T10:37:00.000-04:002011-03-19T10:37:19.277-04:00

I have a System.  I have boxes labeled "Pook - Winter,"  "Pook - Summer," "Bug - Winter," and "Bug - Summer."  Clothes that are too big for the kids, hand-me-downs from their cousin, are tossed in the box.  For Pook, there are sizes up to 16 in there.  Sometimes for Bug I take clothes directly from his brother's closet and put them in his, no intermediate box needed.  When we need the new

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-801908947478727682011-03-16T13:13:00.003-04:002011-03-16T13:39:27.632-04:00

The Great Ivy Removal Project has begun.  (I prefer the word "eradication" but the acronym wasn't as good.  Still, it implies something more permanent to me.)  But, regardless, we are starting to remove ivy from the top of our great hill.  I'm unable to estimate the amount of English Ivy growing out there; our yard is large.  I cleared about a sixth of just the slope last year when I build the

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-87284676866209662832011-03-11T10:37:00.002-05:002011-03-11T10:37:00.303-05:00

Google calendar must have known me well when they invented their product.  I can't live without it anymore. But our family calendar looks like a rainbow this month. red=me purple=CD dark blue=baseball blue=school stuff yellow=birthdays orange=U.S. holidays green=garden reminders plus the phases of the moon! Yes, I could turn off the phases of the moon, but really sometimes I think I need to

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-50841182698180024142011-03-10T10:56:00.000-05:002011-03-10T10:56:54.641-05:00

I'm messing around with Blogger to try to find a template that allows me more photo space.  If you have any problems loading or seeing my photos (or have any comments about the looks of this place in general) please let me know. Of course this means I need to take more photos.

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-25408040307867487152011-03-09T16:56:00.002-05:002011-08-18T12:10:13.193-04:00

I was just asked by Bug "What is a sacred fingo?"   Uh.  A what?  I have no idea.   "Can you Google it for me?"    And, because I am That Kind of a Mom, I did.  "Oooh, that's the one!"  I clicked on it.  And I read aloud: How do you find the sacred fingo from the Kaya Forests in Nabooti island? You will need to dig up the rare artifact, an Ebony Elephant. In order to dig it up, you will need to

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-14929838552624891562011-02-28T13:56:00.001-05:002011-02-28T13:56:00.129-05:00

"When the dog bites..."  Actually, no.  Just whenever.  These are some of my favorite things.  In no particular order: * Sitting at my backyard patio table eating frozen Girl Scout cookies. * Sitting at my backyard patio table reading a magazine or book. * Sitting at my backyard patio table with the warm sun on my back. * Sitting at my backyard patio table knowing that no one can see me

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-70984978436374314512011-02-23T14:03:00.000-05:002011-02-23T14:03:42.596-05:00

Harold, in Harold and the Purple Crayon "made a very small forest, with just one tree in it."  We have eight in our front yard and are having three cut down.  Will I still be able to call the area my woodlands garden? Both Pook and Bug have requested that I play photojournalist, taking photos of the tree cutters at work. Trees in Georgia are tall.  Pine trees here are amazingly tall before they

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-28171992681674497332011-02-22T14:08:00.000-05:002011-02-22T14:08:17.362-05:00

I have nothing better to do with my time than wait on other people it seems. The guy coming to cut a few of our trees will come last Monday.  No, that'll have to be last Wednesday.  When phoned Wednesday he thought Friday would work well, but when I called Friday he decided Monday was best. At 9am Monday I tried again.  He was "just on his way" and arrived three and a half hours later.  An

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-53169596134778540192011-02-20T19:21:00.000-05:002011-02-20T19:21:00.779-05:00

CD called me a quiche masochist.  I was thinking that I'm more of a quiche manipulator.  I always love the quiches that other people make, but mine are a bit... inconsistent.  I'm just not much of a recipe follower.  I like the idea on a recipe, but I don't have or I don't like or I don't want to use all the ingredients.  No problem!  Make it up!  Change it!  Substitute!  Well, I've mentioned

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-35701466828117822972011-02-19T19:21:00.000-05:002011-02-19T19:21:10.123-05:00

I have to confess:  I sat in Urgent Care this morning thinking of a blog title for today--  "no, I wouldn't have believed it either,"  "by a pinkie finger,"  "football is banned."  But, too bad for the really parallel post, but thank goodness for Bug... his finger is not broken.  Now the suspense is over and if you don't want the full story you can stop reading if you want. The wonderful weather

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-47713435111042458542011-02-17T08:56:00.001-05:002011-02-17T08:56:54.276-05:00

Guess who caught the virus next? While I didn't get it as badly, yesterday afternoon found me wrapped in every blanket I could find and curled up on the sofa, trying to not think about planning dinner.  I had put a package of Happy Cow in a bowl of water to thaw and pulled out some tomato soup* for a simple dinner, but couldn't get myself up to make it.  (*This is the only meal I have in the

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-57578998729361558652011-02-15T08:23:00.000-05:002011-02-15T08:23:59.300-05:00

I woke up this morning very confused. "Woke" might not be the right word there. I heard the heat kick on and spent a while trying to decide if it was a weekend or weekday.  I chose weekday but couldn't remember which one.  A glance at the clock produced a series of digits, I believe I saw five or six, which I knew needed to be added together before I could learn the time (or maybe there was

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-75256763769483915562011-02-13T17:50:00.001-05:002011-02-13T17:53:19.346-05:00

I'm afraid that if I post this I will jeopardize this opportunity.  I was born on a Friday the Thirteenth and really am not superstitious, (though I wouldn't walk under a ladder anyway), but I am worried about jinxing myself.  Logical, no, but that doesn't stop me often. I have been asked for a second interview for a job I think I'd really like.  It seems like a perfect fit and I think they

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-72523399112039225502011-02-11T22:50:00.002-05:002011-02-12T08:31:13.880-05:00

Slumber Party, take two: 5:00 pm Four boys arrive. Lego is played. 6:00 pm Pizza is served. Older brother vomits. Older brother is quarantined. Parents are phoned. Cake is served. Gifts are opened. 7:00 pm Parents keep plans as they were. Toys are played with. 8:00 pm More Lego is played. Two boys head home. Two boys stay. Looney Tunes commence. Pajamas are donned. Teeth are

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-62476845671622764782011-02-09T13:32:00.000-05:002011-02-09T13:32:29.907-05:00

What'd'ya think of him?!  He was a Christmas gift.  Referred to as a Budda Frog, I think I have to correct this to acknowledge that is isn't just a frog.  This is definitely Kermie.  The muppet, Jim Henson's alter ego, and my hero, Kermit the Frog.  But no longer green -- he is gold.  Gold!  The boys think he's valuable because he's gold and heavy.  If they hock him I'll be mad. I am hoping that

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-27315077302295358082011-02-03T08:20:00.001-05:002011-02-03T08:20:00.382-05:00

Bug turns seven today.  He was born on 02-03-04 (pretty cool, huh?) And I was just imagining our home without him....  It would be quiet.  Maybe even too quiet.  We're so used to always, always hearing him. Bug was at a friend's home one afternoon when someone asked me where Pook was.  I wasn't sure.  Four feet from me, around the corner, reading?  Upstairs playing lego?  Never sure without

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-44214668574013731952011-02-01T11:01:00.000-05:002011-02-01T11:01:00.784-05:00

I am planning a sleepover.  Here.  For Bug's seventh birthday.  Four friends. One of them is excited to spend the night but he's never done it before.   One has spent the night at someone's home before but is "going through some fear issues" right now.   One thinks he wants to stay but his mother is less certain.   One looked me in the eye last week and said "no way" was he spending the night.

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-40288943763887650752011-01-31T16:58:00.000-05:002011-01-31T16:58:39.880-05:00

Pook decided that he wanted to get a Webkinz for Bug's upcoming birthday.  The ones he has are expiring.  (insert grumbles here)  We've intended to get out to go shopping alone, but it just hasn't happened and we're running out of time. Having not gotten it done this weekend (yard work Saturday, trip to the zoo Sunday, both in spring-like weather) there was no easy opportunity left.  We could

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-63793314924925590962011-01-26T11:05:00.000-05:002011-01-26T12:06:50.523-05:00

I owned a stack of books when Pook was born; I had been a preschool teacher.  But instead of putting all the books out on his bookshelves at once, I introduced a new book about once a week.  He'd get a new book and we'd read it to death for a week.  He knew it inside and out and loved each book separately.  He knew which books had been given to him as gifts and he (and I) had memories of the

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-26957565299739893342011-01-25T11:03:00.008-05:002011-01-25T11:57:42.233-05:00

I'm in a cleaning mode still.  A New Year's purging of Stuff mode. I dug all sorts of random things out of the playroom closet one day and threw it all in the garage trash can while the kids were out.  I repeated the effort with the "invention table".  I discretely purged some scrappy Christmas decorations.  They didn't notice any of it. Then I asked the kids to help me sort through some toys

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-36599574434310707072011-01-20T08:30:00.001-05:002011-01-20T08:34:46.431-05:00

We've had our Happy Cow in the freezer for two months now, but haven't used much of it besides the ground beef.  Now I have some Happy Pig in there too, and Happy Farmer has asked for some feedback on the quality of the Happy Meat. I have a long list of recipes I make, and most of them use chicken pieces, pork chops or ground beef.  We toss a steak on the grill in the summer sometimes and I put

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-69048882268588022112011-01-17T10:18:00.000-05:002011-01-17T10:18:51.231-05:00

I had my just-a-bit-late birthday with CD and the kids.  We ate homemade caramels that they all think were a birthday gift from my parents but really I've been nibbling on since before Christmas.  (I didn't exactly plan to keep them a secret, but dang they're good.)  Among other lovely gifts was a gift from Bug, who was grinning ear to ear with excitement.  It was a sheet of My Very Own Bubble

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-84387376776519710892011-01-15T10:52:00.000-05:002011-01-15T10:52:00.309-05:00

It was time to choose a new desktop for the computer monitor.  For the past few months I've had a picture I took last February: Instead, I found a picture to give me something to dream about.  Again, from my own files, I've put this up: I will have my hands in the dirt.  I will uncover new sprouts from under piles of leaf mulch.  I will notice a tender bud on the Lenten Roses.  I will

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-14478103622048735982011-01-14T15:02:00.001-05:002011-01-14T15:03:26.737-05:00

Atlanta is a mess.  I can now say that with certainty. You see, yesterday was my birthday.   (Thank you.)  Having been cooped up in our house all week, I assumed we were postponing my celebration for better weather.  The kids and CD had not "finished with" my present/s-- I knew that since Bug isn't the best yet at keeping secrets (although I don't know what the gift/s is/are which is really the

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-16275410392952626662011-01-12T20:00:00.000-05:002011-01-12T20:00:25.721-05:00

Schools were just canceled for Thursday.  That means that since the holidays we've had four days in session and four days called off.  If they don't go in on Friday this will roll into the MLK holiday.  I am greatly concerned for the sanity of all the parents education of the children in this city. So, you ask, why does Atlanta shut down when it gets a few inches of snow?  Well, the answer is

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-25216111202818586082011-01-10T13:57:00.001-05:002011-01-10T14:02:02.714-05:00

The fourth grade holiday party in December served hot cocoa and sent some home as a favor.  The kids were asked to choose from one of two bags- one marked Naughty and one marked Nice.  Interesting to see who decided to see what was in the Naughty bag.  In the end they got both.  In the Nice bag were packs of cocoa mix with the accompanying poem: Snowman Soup I'm told you've been quite good this

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-44329628066223593012011-01-05T12:09:00.000-05:002011-01-05T12:09:50.204-05:00

Bug was chosen for (his turn to be) the star student of the week.  He wrote on and colored a large poster all about himself, which due to the holidays, never got posted outside his classroom door as expected.  Instead I am posting it to the world.  Here, world.  Here is Bug: Fascinating facts about me: I am 6 years old My birthday is Febuary 3rd I live in Georgia. I am in the 1st grade. I

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-58076461299467223882010-12-31T14:10:00.003-05:002010-12-31T14:10:00.717-05:00

I just got off the phone with a friend, having asked her "What time do you want midnight to be?"  It isn't a question one asks often, but under the circumstances it was highly appropriate.  See, at the House of Pook and Bug we do New Year's Eve differently.  Meaning, it doesn't happen at midnight.  Or rather, midnight doesn't happen at 12:00am.  We decided on 7pm. We're having four families

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-41941163565275441532010-12-22T14:31:00.001-05:002010-12-22T14:37:30.204-05:00

Now that is a heaping pile stack* of Christmas cookies and candies!  (And a bottle of wine sneaking into the picture, which I must say, goes well with chocolate.)  I did not bake all of these myself by the way.  My mom now lives in town! from top to bottom: pretzel wreaths Swedish cookies shortbread spicy pecans (recipe here) sour cream and nutmeg sugar cutout cookies mixture from a cookie

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-7779004814678719362010-12-17T15:52:00.000-05:002010-12-17T15:52:38.572-05:00

Just a follow up on my kitchen table.  If I thought it was a mess before, that was nothing compared to the results after two boys cut out numerous paper snowflakes.  The scraps on the floor and table look more like snow than the pieces taped to the window.   Red, blue, purple, black and green snow.  (FYI: Don't eat green snow.) I consented to keeping the bean plants which have sprouted in their

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-11854921273764865602010-12-13T08:31:00.001-05:002010-12-13T08:31:00.476-05:00

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? My mom, SIL and Sister MD have sewn gift bags for years with holiday remnant fabrics they find after Christmas. We have bags now that can hold earrings or huge Lego sets and we simply fold them up and each take a few home for the next year. They're wonderfully colorful and festive and so easy to use, plus of course "green". 2. Real tree or Artificial? Real, and

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-77264405792748361292010-12-07T08:46:00.000-05:002010-12-07T08:46:32.706-05:00

I've had a post describing the contents of my kitchen floor before, but today I'm going to share the contents of our kitchen table.  Frequently the floor contains the same ingredients  (after it gets brushed off the tabletop and onto the floor I guess). Our table is:  a breakfast table, a mail depository, a temporary filing cabinet, a homework station, an art station, a

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-65008005188895224222010-12-03T13:19:00.000-05:002010-12-03T13:19:51.107-05:00

As a family of Unitarian Universalists, we try to explain how all the world's religions have something to offer.  And to not confuse the kids.  Especially at Christmas. Do they get mixed up?  Maybe. Last year I asked for a menorah for Christmas.  I made (awesome) latkes, but thoughtlessly served them with pork chops.  And had Santa Claus placemats that night. Every year we play dreidel games

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-26301289006922898332010-12-01T20:03:00.001-05:002010-12-02T08:36:11.672-05:00

Dear all of you who are on my Christmas card list, but whom I may or may not ever send a Christmas card this year, and to all of you who are not on my card list because I don't personally know you, even if I do appreciate that you're here reading: It has been a busy fall here in the household of Pook and Bug.  The children have been active as they worked to use up our medical deductible.  The

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-26384112456836914282010-11-22T08:21:00.002-05:002010-11-22T08:39:15.056-05:00

I finally got some pictures together for the 2010 Fall Color Project hosted by Dave at The Home Garden. Fall has been slow to come to Atlanta. I've waited for the peak of color in my yard and I may have missed it. This is what I do have: Let's start by looking upward.  The golden leaves of the driveway Japanese maple sparkle with the sun behind them.  Some green Southern Magnolia leaves show to

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269031634496605933.post-19887895019477774432010-11-19T14:09:00.005-05:002010-11-19T14:09:00.776-05:00

I think I should post recipes here more often.  I cook every night with fresh healthy ingredients, and I seldom spend more than thirty minutes cooking.  I picked up eighty pounds of grass fed beef yesterday and kept about thirty of that.  I couldn't wait to have some and this recipe was perfect. Tonight we're having Italian Beef, which is simmering in the crock pot as I write.  The recipe is

My Kids' Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568872428132909098noreply@blogger.com1