My Favs

I drank grape kool aid today.  I forgot how much I love grape kool-ade.  Then I remembered I love grape Popsicles too.  Which led to this list of my favorite things:

Hot Tamales, strawberries, green corn tamales, Good N Plenty’s, sugar snap peas, salmon… only if it’s juicy, chicken pasta salad at Gooseberries, lemon berry slush, Lizard Lava,

shrimp puffs, Ling Ling pot stickers, diet Pepsi, PF Chang lettuce wraps… also found at PeiWei, single scoop of pistachio almond on a sugar cone, peas and carrots straight out of the garden, Shelly’s chicken tortilla soup,

avocados, Connie’s Texas caviar, Barbie’s chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, white chocolate almond bark, Suzi’s salsa, Mom’s Russian Kubliakah loaf, smokehouse almonds, Julie’s sweet potatoes, Brian’s version of Martha Stewart’s pancakes, Jennie’s lentil soup, dried apricots, Keeve’s berry smoothies and Jill’s little bacon cream puff things that she doesn’t make very often.

There you have it.  Back to the fridge for more grape kool-ade.

Word Problems

Math word problems can be complicated enough without throwing the homeschool curve on a fourth grader.  Keeve was sitting in the kitchen doing his math today… estimating and measuring lengths in inches, feet and yards.  He seemed to be staring out the back door quite often… sometimes this means he’s thinking.  Sometimes it means he’s mentally checked-out.  I asked if he understood what he was doing and if he needed help.  After blowing out a long exasperated breath he said, “Is the kitchen table my desk?”  “Yes, son, today it’s your desk.”  Some guessing transpired along with some measuring.  Then he retrieved the measuring tape from the pantry and was moving it around and around on the kitchen floor and into the family room and hall.  I asked if he needed help again.  He replied, “Where does my classroom start and stop?  Is the family room my classroom too?”  Oh, the struggles of homeschooling.  Nothing cut and dry here on the home front.

This morning I caught my eldest son counting aloud days on the calendar.  Just when he was nearing the end of the teens I announced loudly, “Nineteen!”  He was a bit surprised that I knew EXACTLY how many more days of school we have.  Well, duh.  It’s my summer holiday too.  :o)

Thankfully I found a DVD on Galileo for this afternoon.  Whew.  Remember how much YOU loved movie day at school!?!

Saturday Scrapbook Jam

Yes, I had fun.  Got that outta the way.  I attended a scrapbooking day from 9:00 am to midnight on Saturday… and I lived to tell the story.  One of the albums I worked on was the one we are supposed to send to Zaza when we accept her referral.  It is to be an introduction of our family and home for her to familiarize herself with before we travel down to South America.  So I’ve taken pictures of the house, the dog, Walmart, the kitchen table, our relatives that live here in Phx., the van, the boys playing hockey, Grandma and Grandpa’s house, the church, the bathroom, Taco Bell, …. all the regulars in our life.  We hope to get this album back when we bring Zaza home so she will have a memory of the first time she saw all of us and our lives, but we don’t know if we will get it back. 

Needless to say, I did not throw my creative scrapbooking soul into this project.  There are no ribbons, no eyelets, no buttons, no inked edges, no tearing, no staples, no silk flowers, etc. etc.  It’s a back-to-the-basics album:  paper, photos and journaling.  I went through my paper stash and pulled out all the pastels that I hardly ever use.  It is an 8×10 album and I covered each page first with pinks, yellows, pale blues and lavenders.  It’s pretty.  (sort of.)  I tried to organize the photos so there was a sense of flow: us, house, yard, pets, relatives, other.  (Yes, pets came before G&G and Aunts and Uncles.)  I didn’t even back any of the photos.  Yes, this was hard for me.  The instructions were to leave room for someone to write the Spanish translation of my journaling, so I didn’t write much.  I haven’t made an album this plain and simple for 12 years.

Several ladies present were new acquaintances for me… and I to them.  Lovely ladies and new friends.  As usual I talked my way through the album and they were all fully aware of what I was working on.  They asked to see it when I was done… yes, I finished the whole thing in about 3 hours… 30 pages.  A new record.  They were so gracious and told me how nice it was and that they liked the paper I chose.

Then I moved onto REAL scrapbooking.  Out came my stash of do-dads, inks, rub-ons, sand paper, ribbons, metal dealies and tools to make your eyes cross.  I was in my glory.  For the remainder of the 11 hours (we took an hour lunch break) I completed 5 pages.  But they are really nice…. lots of layers and colors and texture and pizazz.  One of the ladies came over to see what I was doing and practically yelled, “OH MY GOSH!”  when she saw my creations.  Yes, I told them Zaza’s adoption journal was simple, but they did not realize just how much I restrained myself from breaking into the real Linda, Scrapbooking Queen.  It was so funny.  They all came and looked at my pages.  I thanked all of them for saying such cordial words of praise for my simple album…. and we all laughed whole heartily.  8^D

I know I won’t be in any frame of mind to do Zaza’s scrapbook, no matter how simple, once we get the referral call, so this was good.  Real good.

What’s UP?

In case you’re worried about me not having a thing to do now that my book is written and hockey is over…. I’m here to give you a mere glimpse into my current daily activities.  You’re welcome.  We are still schooling for 20 more days, but who’s counting? 

I am also diligently working on Coupon $en$e to keep our grocery bill (for 5 people, 1 dog and 8 fish) under $250 a month.  So far, so good.  Today I saved 67%!

I’m also already planning next year school topics for Larisa and the boys.  Just last night I was in Barnes & Noble examining Roman and Medieval Times literature.  Sadly I have not read ANY of the books on the list for History of the World 2.  What kind of edumacated person am I??? THAT is why I homeschool….. I’m learning all the things I missed the first time around…. which is sadly quite a bit.  (Don’t feel bad, Mom.  I LOVED high school and made lifelong friends that kept me out of trouble.)

Bags for Zaza is also keeping me busy in front of the sewing machine.  We are back in action making homemade purses to bring Zaza home.

AND today I’m scrapbooking for FIFTEEN hours straight!  Whooo HOooo.  I can’t believe I get to escape all day.  Don’t feel bad for me about the long hours.  I’ll make it and report back on my scrapping progress. 

Make it a great weekend!

The Permit

Well, it’s taken me two days to recover from the mere experience, but our eldest daughter got her driver’s permit on Wednesday.  It was, of course, the FIRST day she was eligible to take the written test.  Why wait around?  In AZ they have to have the permit for six months before they can take the driving test… so six months to the day … it went down.

Larisa read the driver’s manual aloud…. all the way to Anaheim a few weeks back.  It was like a little refresher course for her father and I.  We had many a discussion about laws, signs, rules, etc.  She decided to take the online practice test to see how she would do.  Well, she passed with flying colors…. 90% and announced that she was indeed ready to hit the MVD.  I wisely suggested that she take it again… at only $1 a pop, I considered it a wise use of funds. Well, seems the second test was a little more tricky than the first and she did not pass with flying colors.  So $1 test number three was purchased and taken.  Again, a pass.  OK, I was convinced.

Off to the MVD we drove with the boys in tow, just to keep me on my motherly toes with child raising and discipline in public areas.  Good grief.  Well, it seems that you have to have your social security number to get a driver’s permit these days.  They have also renamed them a tax identification number, probably because there won’t be security for Larisa’s social group after they pay all their taxes. Anyway, we didn’t have the number with us so I called my sister-in-law, Julie, who lives across the street from us and asked her to go and have a looksie at our house for the tax identification card with the solid gold number on it.

That all sounded easy and nice, but not only do we not have a normal filing system but our phones are acting up.  So I explain to Julie that the card could be in three files: Linda’s Important Papers, or Rick’s Important Papers, or An Aviator’s Important Papers (that one was created because Rick wanted to have the first file in the cabinet so he wouldn’t have to strain and look all the way back through the alphabetical files to R) While I’m talking the phone is cutting in and out and she can only hear me if she is downstairs.  The file cabinet is upstairs.  After four of five calls, runs up and down the stairs, and files, the card is not there.  So I send her to file place #2.. the adoption file box.  I suggest the files: Important Papers and also Passports.  Obviously we don’t want to make it easy for an identity thief by labeling the file Social Security Cards.  Duh. 

Julie did find both boy’s cards, but not Larisa’s.  Meanwhile, Larisa and I are sitting at the desk of the most patient Harley Davidson-loving woman on earth…. while my cell phone keeps ringing and I keep giving more instructions.  She actually took a ten minute break while all this nonsense was transpiring.  God bless her biker soul.

Finally, I suggest that Julie look for tax files.  These are not in a filing cabinet.  That would be too obvious a location for tax FILES.  They are in sealed lumpy manila envelopes in Rick’s dresser.  Yes, his clothes dresser…. I’ll refrain from commenting on this situation.  Anyway, Julie did locate a past year and found the right paper, and that’s when we discovered the number name discrepancy.  After confirmation from the Harley lover, we did indeed get Larisa’s number and she was off to take the test.  She passed!  Whooooo HOooooo!

Note the lady using her hands and yelling at me:

Are you wondering about my boys’ behavior?  Momentarily it was deplorable and I separated them by 15 feet and made them sit by unkept tattooed strangers.  I did not care about stranger danger at that point.  I thought a few dangerous moments might prove beneficial for my boys.

We also found out, the hard way, that you are not permitted to take flash photography at the MVD.  Oh well.

So here is my advice to you and your 15.5 year old: 

1.  Bring your SS#/Tax Identification Number with you

2.  Leave siblings at home

3.  Don’t take flash photography, it’s embarrassing when the lady yells at you, “You better not be putting that on youtube!”  :o)

Jennie is Back….

After a long week in bed, my sister-in-law Jennie is back in the land of the living!  Hooray!  There are three bags posted on www.BagsForZaza.blogspot.com for your bidding pleasure.  All proceeds go toward the adoption of our little Zaza from Colombia.

And another sneak peak…..

Thanks for your support!

Summer Camp

I found out last night that there had been some slight adjustments to the church camp schedules.  Kid’s Camp  (for our two boys) and Youth Camp  (for our daughter) are the same week at the same place.  I was going to go with my boys as a counselor (for the girls… relax).  I have gone for the past 7 years and I love it!  No cooking, no cleaning. Fun all day long… and night long sometimes too.  BUT!  A week at home without any kids has NEVER happened for me.  EVER!  They did all go to kid’s camp one year, but it was only 4 days and the first and last days don’t count.  The two days in the middle were spent wandering around blistering black paved car lots in Phoenix in JULY while searching for a new van.  I think I lost five pounds in those two days from dehydration.  Anyway, it’s not a happy memory for me.

Last night I was telling Rick the glorious news while Keeve happened to be in the room.  Keeve laughed at me and said, “YOU would have to do ALL the chores!”  Thinking that I couldn’t handle it…… what do they think I’ve been doing for 22 years????  I replied that there would be no messes with all the kids gone.  He countered valiantly, “Dad and you would still use dishes!”  I boldly kept right with him, “Yes, two bowls and two plates every single day!”  I refrained from adding Not sixteen cups in one day that are left all over the house and outside half full.  He just saw it as more work for me being left home alone.  What a thoughtful child.

I originally said I would go to kid’s camp this year.  Sorry, Denise.  I’m not now.  Priorities.  Christy can you come visit June 14-20???

100

 

Yes, April 21st, 2009… it hit 100 degrees today.   {{{sigh}}}  No more buying Skinny Cow mint ice cream sandwiches in the middle of the day without a cooler of ice in the back of the van.  No more barefoot runs across the street to my brother’s house.  No more lobelia.  No more jeans, unless of course we’re going to a hockey game, but that won’t happen because the Coyotes didn’t make the playoffs.  No more comfortable car to get into.  No more windows open at night.  Bye bye long sleeves and closed toed shoes. 

Bring on the sunscreen and the water bottles.  I just washed all the beach towels, so we’re READY should a water opportunity present itself.  I bet the Popsicle man is happy.

Larisa asked me today why we live in Phoenix.  I wonder that myself every SPRING when the thermometer hits 100 before Mother’s day.  I dream of someday living in a cooler place where plants actually grow in the summer.  Where the a/c doesn’t run 24/7 for six months of the year.  And where there are four seasons instead of just two:  nice or HOT.

I need to go find my fake tanning lotion.  It’s time.

My Friend-Imposed Turtle Collection

A long time ago in a neighborhood far far away, my friend Jill was having a birthday.  So I called all of our friends and organized a surprise party for her on a Monday morning at 7:30 am at HER house.  It was the perfect set up.  I also told all the ladies to bring something for Jill’s dragonfly collection.  She didn’t have a dragonfly collection until that fateful birthday party. Sooooooo, after that, Jill decided to start my turtle collection for me.  Do I like turtles?  Not particularly.  Do I have a collection?  Yes, thanks SOLELY to Jill.  Every time she leaves her home for more than 24 hours, she brings home a turtle for me.  So thoughtful.  Here are just a few of the beautiful, nerdy and bling bling turtles that she has given me:

THE WIND CHIME TURTLE

THE RUSTY DUSTY IRON TURTLE

THE KITCHEN SINK COLLECTION

TODAY’S NEW ADDITION…… THAT ONLY LASTED ABOUT 10 MINUTES, THE SAN FRANSISCO SOUR DOUGH BREAD TURTLE

Not pictured: the fabric covered turtle photo box, the sea turtles climbing out of the ocean socks, the sterling silver turtle necklace with interchangeable authentic stones, etc. etc.

So there you have it….. a fun, annoying hobby: collecting items for a friend that your friend doesn’t really like.  It’s really quite entertaining searching through Chevrons across the nation for these little gems.  But it’s the thought that counts.  We have since started our other friends on their collections:  owls, ladybugs, flamingos and bumble bees.  My sister has a wide mouth frog collection…. that one’s a little harder to find, but when I do, boy howdy, it’s a fer-sher sale.

Thanks, Jill!

Why does this happen to ME?

I’ve been bugged before about always knowing someone no matter where we are.  It happened again today, but it wasn’t true!  I was helping at a car wash for my daughter’s Marine Biology trip in June.  It was supposed to start at 8 am but a guy pulled up at 7:45 and asked if his car could be washed NOW.  Sure.  So the wash crew attacked the car and the man came to talk to me, the donation bucket lady.  He was an Indian man, dressed like a cowboy, on his way to watch his son ride bulls in the high school rodeo.  He was hilarious.  He kept putting his arm around me and he couldn’t believe I knew the little Northern Arizona town where he lived. (Rick flies in there.)  I asked him why Indians always dress like cowboys.  He explained that there are Indian cowboys and white cowboys.  OH, that’s how it works!  Anyway, we were jolly friends by the time his car was shiny and dry.  He gave me a $20 donation, a hug and a kiss before he left.  The other mothers asked who the man was…. like I knew him.  “I don’t know!”  I said.  They didn’t believe me.  Whatever.  At least I was doing good taking collections for the Biology trip.

The next guy that pulled up came and was chatting with me about homeschoolers and biology and why our car wash was free.  (The kids got sponsors per car.)  He was wearing a Firefighter Training Academy t-shirt, so I asked if he was in training.  Nope, he’s a trainer.  I mentioned that I know a family from Washington state who have a son in training in AZ, but in a different town, Buckeye.  He told me that he teaches in Buckeye and asks the guys name.  I could only remember their last name, but he was indeed one of his students and he knew him.  Again, the mothers asked who he was…. like I know all the people who have dirty cars!?

I felt like singing “It’s a small world after all…. it’s a small world after all… it’s a small, small world.”

It was a successful wash…. $483!  Rock on!