Texting

My cell phone plan allows only 200 texts (I don't have a fancy phone).  I text, but I don't come close to that number.

This month is a little different.  I have reached 150 texts (and still have about a week left on this month's plan).   RT was texting me from Vegas.  RT's mom was sending me some updates on Nick in Florida (and about Nick and his Grandfather's drive back up here).  My neighbor was texting me (quite a bit) about her house (it sold), house hunting, the new neighbors (that I met briefly) and a package that she was supposed to receive by FedEx. 

I was receiving a text or two an hour on Wednesday.  I felt popular.  After awhile it was annoying.  It is difficult to work (be on the phone with a customer) and have your cell phone beep from a text (or two) that you received.  And we all know that Wednesday was quite the interesting day.

I try to cut down on texts by not responding if I don't have to.  That did not go well because I had some people texting me again to make sure that I go the first text, which led to me texting them that yes, I did get their text.  I would call that an unnecessary text.   I think next time I will call the person back and tell them that I got their text.

So, I guess if you need me, you can just text me.  My cell phone (usually) isn't that far from me.  

Can you please pass the soap?

Thought I would take a picture of the soap dish in the kids bathroom.

Lots of showers have been taken in here.  I'm wondering what they are using to clean themselves.  Well, then again, maybe I don't want to know?

I am making Oatmeal Pumpkin Soap.  This is a melt and pour soap.

Our supplies:
glass bowl
plastic wrap
oatmeal soap
oatmeal
perfect pumpkin fragrance oil
soap molds
wire whisk
scale

We have made soap before here.  So, I won't bore you with a step by step process, instead giving you the highlights. 

I weighed my soap

and melted in the microwave (30 second intervals).  Once there are no clumps,

I added in the perfect pumpkin fragrance oil and the oatmeal (I put mine in the food processor for a few pulses).  The oatmeal will make a great exfoliator.  Mix and pour into the molds. 

I also made a batch of olive oil with black amber musk fragrance oil.  I'm thinking the black amber musk should have been in the oatmeal soap. 

Let set. Take out and wrap in plastic wrap. 

Oh, and don't forget to put one in the shower!

Fun Scrapbooks

Our Daisy troop is making individual scrapbooks.  Little memory keepsakes of our year in Daisys.

Bella had so much fun scrap booking that she wanted us to do one together.  I found a real easy scrapbook idea here and thought we would give it a try.

What you need:
children's board book - good size to put pictures inside- find at dollar store or resale shops
pretty scrapbook papers
acid free glue
ribbons, stickers
ruler
pencil
scissors
your imagination

Bella just dove right into this project.  No fear.  Picked out her papers (I had to measure and cut) and glued them in.  She was done gluing and I had just started cutting paper for my book!

As you can see, we didn't match the pages.  We wanted fun.  Bella is putting pictures of her vacations in her book.  She had RT print a few pictures for her and she started gluing them in her book.

I am not sure what I want in my book.  I finally decided on the cover (that took awhile).  I have a feeling that we will be making another one before spring break is over.

I started the flower shaped book, here are the papers we picked out.

 Very easy to put together and so much fun!

Dinner for three, please

After a long, hard day of working at home, it's nice to call your brother to come over and make dinner for you.  (and have your mom bring watermelon for dessert)

Thanks for dinner Steve and Mom!

By the way, what are you bringing tomorrow night for dinner?

Flood Warning

So, having the leak fixed by RT's uncle.  Thanks, Uncle Bud!  Had to leave the faucets on in the upstairs bathroom (kid's bathroom).  The faucets on the sink that doesn't drain.  I'm sure you know where this is leading.  Once the water was turned on, I walked upstairs to check on that bathroom and was surprised to see a nice waterfall in my bathroom.

I didn't have time to run and get my camera, so this waterfall picture will have to do for the moment.  Had to grab some towels and turn the faucet off.  Alex and Bella helped with more towels and we were able to save the bathroom.  Bud unclogged both sinks (Thank you, Bud!)  so now they drain. 

The leak is fixed and so are the clogging sinks.

Where is my drink?  I ordered it hours ago!

Sprung a leak

I'm just hanging out on a lounge chair here on my own little island.  Taking a sip of my margarita.  Ahhh!  Peace and quiet.  The sun is shining, the birds are chirping.  The waves are crashing.  Wait.  That's not the waves, that's one of the pipes leaking!  Over my new water heater, too! 

What's going on, you ask?  I'm just enjoying spring break over here.  See all of the fun that RT is missing?

Oh, waiter, when you're done fixing that leak, I'll take another margarita.  One with a fancy umbrella, please.

 

Grape-nuts

Oh, Grape-nuts, Grape-nuts!  How I worship thee!

I love Grape-nuts and was very excited to find them at the store in a SUPER SIZE package!  There was a nice display for them.  I would have taken a picture but, I did not have my camera!

I had to share my excitement, tho.  I am such a  HUGE fan of Grape-nuts (or "rocks" as my brother, Steve calls them).  This is the first time I have seen them in such a large box.  Very exciting!

View one of their commercials here.  This is probably why I tune everyone out at breakfast time.  Ahh, peace and quiet and my grape-nuts.

Go ahead, eat it!

It's not THAT old.  Try it and see if it tastes good.

Sometimes you forget how long the leftovers have been in the refrigerator.  I use RT as my food tester.  "That looks good."  "We haven't had it that long."

RT's favorite line that I use, I hold up a container and say, "We have to get rid of this."  He says I know how to make anything sound appetizing.  (It's a gift I have)

We have some kalamata olives that my mom gave me.  She said that my dad was the only one who ate them.  She gave them to me in February (my dad passed away last April). 

 I was making a salad for RT and suggested he put some kalamata olives on his salad (because we have to get rid of them).  The olives are in a salty, briny liquid that, I believe, preserves them.  RT asked if they were good and I said, "of course."  I said to try one, and he then said I should try it first (he knows me all too wel).   I said,  "Well, maybe they're too old and we should throw them out."  RT loves when I sway back and forth on food expirations.  It gives him such confidence in the food that he is going to eat.

We both tried an olive.  (RT went first, of course)

 So far, we're both feeling ok.  Good thing.  There are a few more containers in the refrigerator that I RT need to test.

Serenity Now

Madness later......

We haven't even hit the 24 hour mark on spring break and I'm already calling for SERENITY NOW! 

Alex had a sleep over last night.  I figure since we aren't going anywhere, I will let him have fun here.  I have been "reminding" Alex to clean up after himself when eating in the basement.  Wait, I said that in the beginning, I have been saying not to eat in the basement because he leaves a mess (crumbs, wrappers, glasses, bowls, etc.) (the etc. is what's driving me crazy!)  While his friend was here, Bella pointed out an ant crawling across the floor.  I said, that's why we clean up after ourselves and we don't leave messes.  I told Alex to clean up his stuff before it gets bad.  Nick chimes in that the ants are going to come in anyway, so what's the point?  I said, well, let's not send out invitations to them by leaving food on the floor. 

I check in a little later.  The friend had FINALLY left.  I think it was almost a 24 hour sleep over.  If you don't move too fast on these sleepovers, the kid might just move in with you.  And, you don't realize it until it's too late! 

Back to the basement, Alex left a food bowl on the floor and it had ants in it.  He said, how did that happen?  I said you put out the invitation, they are just RSVP'ing.   He cleaned up, and vacuumed (after many reminders).  I moved the couch and found more (the couch he hangs out on and eats).  Vacuumed  once again, and had him vacuum under the couch cushions (why give them more opportunities). 

Tonight he is sleeping over at a friend's house.  Probably a good thing for both of us. 

Me?  I'm relaxing by making oatmeal raisin cookies.

By the way, nothing like a man working the vacuum cleaner.  RT was vacuuming for me tonight.  Phew! (fanning myself)  HOT!  That's all I can say.

Mind Readers, Tarot Cards and the Like

One of my random thoughts post:

So, there I am placing an order with a customer (I sell Security Cameras, remember?  Come check us out here!) and she starts telling me that she does Tarot card readings.  She is placing an order with me and giving me all of her information.  It comes down to the credit card number and I'm thinking, she has this mind reading stuff, what if she starts rattling off my credit card?  Maybe someone is walking by and she can read their mind and give me their number instead?  And, what if she can read my mind as I'm placing this order with her over the phone?  (she placed the order anyway)

I better get back to work.  The mind reader customer might call and tell my boss I'm slacking off.      

Spring Break

Spring Break has officially begun.  Everyone is so excited!  We have so many things planned!  So much to see!  So much to do!  So much irritating and torturing to do!

You're jealous, I know. 

We really don't have anything planned.  We are hanging out at home for Spring Break.  I think we are going to try to throw a few fun things in the week to keep it interesting.  (Staring at the walls for 10 days might not go over well with the kids)  Hopefully the weather cooperates and stays nice this week so we can hang outside.  Nick is leaving for Florida Sunday and RT leaves for Vegas on Tuesday (that's when the fun will really begin!  Just kidding, honey!)

I'll keep you posted on the festivities.  It might be difficult when RT is gone, because there is SO MUCH planned!  (kidding!)

Politics

No, I'm not here to sway your vote.  I'm not going to tell you who to vote for (or not to vote for) in the election.  I am going to complain comment on a few things.

Do we REALLY need all these signs all over the place?  A sign here, a sign over there.  If one person has a sign on their lawn, does the neighbor have to have the same sign?  Can't we just read the one sign and move on?

If this is in a neighborhood where the candidate lives, why does EVERYONE need to have his/her sign in their yard?  Shouldn't the person save their signs for neighborhoods that don't know him/her?

 
And, when placing the sign, say on a corner, why are there 10 signs for the same person all in a row?  If I can read the first sign, I don't need to see 9 more of that same sign!

And, how about removing the signs when the election is over?

My Arboretum Pictures

I dedicated a post to RT's pictures, why not show off the pictures I took on our little hike.

I should give a little background so you can feel and experience the vibe of our hike.  Of course, I didn't record the screams and the crabbings (mostly from one child), so, you won't get the full effect.  There was one child, who had a sleepover birthday party the night before that is quite tired.  I'm sure you will be able to pick that one out after looking at the pictures.  Then, there was Nick, who insisted on finding a stick to poke Bella with while we were walking.  With every poke there was a scream.  Mr. Artsy Photographer was oblivious to all of these goings on.  When the smaller stick did not work, he found a bigger stick.

I'm always the last one on the hike and I like taking pictures like this of the family in front of me.  (Bella was walking next to me) 

RT was trying to photograph a log for hours a few minutes, I snapped two photos and here they are

I think they look pretty good

Not sure which park bench picture is the best

I'm leaning towards the first one because "someone" is REALLY crabby in the picture and refuses to look at the camera...hmmmm...I wonder who?

although, looking down is pretty good, too

they're so close, aren't they?

ok, remember I mentioned the stick? 

This is the smaller stick 

And this is the larger stick

(anything to irritate your sister)

yes, they posed for these pictures

In reality, Bella was screaming when Nick touched her with the stick

He may be small (?) but he carries a big stick

I got a little smile in this one 

a little controlled burning

thought this was a cool pic

and that's all, folks!

See you later!

Mr. Artsy Photographer

Lately, RT has been disappearing for various lengths of time.  He will tell me that he is going to the UPS store to pick up packages (or check the UPS box) and he will be gone for hours.  The UPS store is located in our town.  Probably takes 5 minutes to get there, and there isn't a real long wait.  He then returns home like nothing happened.

His "UPS trips" are a combination trip to the UPS store and a trip to the arboretum.   At the arboretum, he drives around, sometimes stopping to take pictures.  On one visit, he jumped out of his car to get a shot and left his car in the middle of the road.  Some people were walking by, and stopped, watching him take his pictures, trying to be real quiet.  In the meantime, another car pulled up behind him.  RT was going to move his car, but, the guy said to go ahead and take his pictures.  The other driver then proceeds to look at the spot where RT was photographing.   (he was taking a picture of a stick)

We went as a family to the arboretum the other day, and he started chatting with the lady at the entrance.  I thought, great, they all know my crazy husband who drives around taking pictures of blades of grass in the breeze.  They probably have little signs out, "watch out for"  with a picture of RT.  He might even be their mascot.

So, I had to get some pictures of him on location.  I thought I would try and capture the moments on film to preserve forever, and, of course, for a good laugh.  Who knows, the arboretum might need extra pictures of their mascot.

At first I think he was taking a picture of the sign

photographing some moss

Probably pointing to the stick that he was photographing

I thought I would post a couple of his pictures, so you can see his work.  These are from this trip. 

The stick.  Cool picture.

And, the moss picture

not bad, huh?

RT was in his own little world, enjoying nature up close and personal. 

*My next post will be what was REALLY going on while we were taking our hike.

I Can't Cry Anymore

No one prepared me for all of the crying that I would experience with kids.  I don't mean me crying, I mean the child(ren) crying.  Alex was a HUGE cryer.  He didn't stop crying until he was 2.  Nick wasn't much of a cryer.  Wait, there was that stint of crying he did around 2 weeks old where he would cry from 7pm until 9pm.  That didn't last too long.    And now, it's Bella who cries.  And Cries.  And cries.  I didn't know a child could cry that much.  If you ask her why she's crying she will say that she "doesn't know why" and then continue to cry more.  That's when you know that she's tired.

Today was a REALLY BAD cry day.   The day that you just don't say anything because you know it will set the crying off.  Of course, this is something that you don't figure out until late afternoon, when she has been crying the majority of the day.  I do try to console her, I hug her and try to figure out why she is crying.  I love her to pieces!  This is just about the times where nothing I say or do will make her stop crying.  No amount of hugs or words of love will make it go away.  And, like I said, it's probably because she is tired.  A good night sleep and she is all happy again.  And, so am I.

No School

Apparently the school district feels the need to give the kids the day off.  This week they had two days off (Thursday and Friday).   This month they go to school 13 days.  That's ALOT of time off!

RT and I work out of the house.  When the phone rings, we need quiet.  Today all three were in the kitchen making a good amount of noise.  They have mastered how to annoy each other.  I quietly say to them, from the bottom of the stairs, "If you're going to irritate each other, please do it quietly!"  (That goes along with one of my other lines, "If you're going to kill each other please do it quietly.")

I went upstairs a few minutes later and realize that, even thought they were arguing/irritating, Nick was making lunch for all of them.  A happy moment for me.  They can fight, argue and irritate, but, they will still care for each other.   I have to enjoy those moments when I can, they don't come about too often.

Yes, it's only day two of a four day weekend.  We'll see how I am doing on Sunday.

Ambulance

Everytime I see a firetruck and ambulance on our block, I get a little scared.  We are surrounded by older people.  Yes, I know that I am old, but, I mean OLDER than me (yes, there are people out there who are older than I am).  As neighbors, we gather outside to see what's going on.  Talking about how we just saw them the other day, they looked fine.

Today I was standing at the bus stop with Bella and noticed the firetruck by a house (about 4 houses down).  I don't usually see these people outside at all.  I don't think they EVER leave their house.  As I was waiting with Bella for the bus (that never came, by the way) I saw my neighbor stroll down there and talk to the firemen.  He then walked over to say "hi."  I asked if everything there was ok, he replied, "They smelled something funny so they called the fire department to check it out."  The firemen couldn't figure out the odor (they did various tests) so, they left.  All that worrying for an odor problem.

Makes you wonder what the weird smell is and why is it in their house?  Then again, maybe I don't want to know the answer.    

Firefly, Firefly

Alex has been taking piano lessons.  He has been practicing and practicing.  Of course, it is the same song over and over again.  (guess what song we all have going through our heads!?)   Yes, the song has words.

He is very proud to play this song for you.
*  Please note:  he is in his pajamas

Incase you want to sing along:

Firefly, Firefly
Lighting up the evening sky,
As you fly your tiny light
will shine through the night.

Firefly, Firefly,
you make lightning in the sky.
First you're here, then you're there,
twinkling everywhere.

*have any of these songs stuck in your head?  If not, I'm working on it.  I know one of these days one of the songs I refer to will get you to sing along!

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Isn't he the cutest?

He still lets me sing Happy Birthday to him first thing in the morning!  I have a couple of pictures, but, I don't think you want to see those.

He wanted red velvet cupcakes (yum!).  Good thing I had some icing leftover from the other day!  I made the cupcakes and decided to take a walk with Bella and Newton (it was beautiful yesterday!).  So, I left a little note to answer any questions while I was gone.

That's to the question, "Can I have one?"  Yes, I know exactly what question will be asked.  Alex said that he thought it was funny.

Here's the updated version of the original picture.

Unfortunately, Alex is in this stage of keeping his eyes closed when taking a picture

I took several and he intentionally closed his eyes, so, I picked one

Happy Birthday, Alex!