Thank you notes

I just came across a post from a person telling everyone that its okay not to send thank you notes for gifts that are given to you. She went on to say that the person would understand that you are too busy to send them a thank you.

Obviously this person never met my mother. 

I have written about Thank You notes in the past. I have also written about my mom and her (strong) belief in the importance of a proper Thank You note. 

If someone took the time out of their life to get you a gift (or went out of their way to do something for you) the least you can do is take three minutes out of your "busy" life and write them a little note thanking them for their kindness and thoughtfulness.  

Yea. Three minutes.

It doesn't have to be an essay.

It doesn't have to be perfect.

Just a simple thank you will do (well, you might want to mention what you are thankful for, too).  

You don't have a card? Fold a piece of paper in half. Too much work for you?  Then just write your note on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope. 

For this card I used a punch on a paint swatch, cut it out and glued it onto a card.  Simple and oh, so easy.

 

 

Yes. I stand behind sending "Thank You" notes as a way to let the person know that you are grateful for them taking the time to think of you.  Your note will let the giver know that you appreciated their thoughtfulness and their gift is happily received.

 

So, don't be lazy.  Take a few minutes and write that thank you note.  You will be glad you did it.  

Homemade Bubbles

I found this recipe for bubbles years ago in the newspaper. I always wanted to try it out and see if it works.  We're always looking for fun things to do outside.  These bubbles are easy to make (and your child can help you make them!).

What you need:

4 cups water

1 cup dish soap (I used Palmolive)

1/4 cup corn syrup

Plastic jug to hold bubble solution

Mix all ingredients in the jug and let it settle (it will be quite bubbly from the mixing)

*I just happened to have an empty bubble container to store the bubbles.  At least I won't have to use my fancy post-it note system on an empty milk container. :)

Corn syrup can be purchased in the baking aisle.

These bubbles were easy to make and, most importantly, they work!   

Bella and I had fun outside using the bubbles.  If you need fun bubble makers check out the dollar store. 

 

if you look closely, there's a bubble stuck in her hair by her ear

we have quite a few interesting bubble wands

 Even Pippen got in on the fun and started jumping and trying to eat the bubbles.  He probably would have licked the bubble wands clean if I let him (he's a little crazy).

Let me know how the bubbles turn out for you.

The "Mom, I'm bored" List

It's summer.  School is out. Nice weather (finally).  Lots of free time.

Time for swimming, hanging out with friends, go to the zoo, ride your bike, hula hoop, play hopscotch, play baseball (football, tennis, basketball, Frisbee), go for a hike, well, you get the picture. 

Once all of those activities have been done (once, maybe twice) then it starts.

"Mom, I'm bored!"

"There's nothing to do!"

Of course, any activity that you suggest to your child immediately gets shot down as not fun or "boring."

I decided to make a list of activities that Bella can choose from on her own.  I thought about putting them in a jar, but, figured, if she can read them off a list, she can decide which one she wants to do at that moment.

Here's my list:

1.    Draw a picture

2.    Have a picnic

3.    Make cookies

4.    Play with chalk

5.    Eat a vegetable

6.    Interview a family member

7.    Play hopscotch 

8.    Hula hoop

9.    Read for ten minutes

10.  Write a letter

11.  Take a nap or rest

12.  Pick up ________ outside (trash, pine cones, weeds etc.)

13.  Organize your toys 

14.  Dance

15.  Color in a coloring book 

16.  Play with bubbles

17.  Clean your room

18.  Vacuum the ________ room

19.  Ride your bike

20.  Write in your journal

21.  Play a board game

22.  Do an art project

23.  Make an obstacle course

24.  Build a fort

25.  Play dress up

26.  Do a puzzle

27.  Make a craft

28.  Do a service for someone

After I wrote these out (yes, they are listed on a piece if notebook paper that is pinned to the cork board in my kitchen) Bella said that she was bored. I told her to look at the "I'm bored" list. She was so excited about the list that she did four or five of the suggestions!  

So far, this has helped me out. If you have any ideas to add to the list I would love to hear them!

Garbage Truck Pause

I think the garbage truck ran out of gas across the street from our house.  The poor driver waited for another truck to bring him to a gas station.  I felt bad because it was close to 5:00pm and he probably just wanted to finish up and go home for the day. 

If you look closely you will notice there is no one in the truck.  Another truck came and picked the guy up (probably to drive him to the gas station?)  An abandoned garbage truck.

Bella and I thought it was an odd thing to see (a garbage truck at a standstill so close to our house) so we did what any normal person would do...We took pictures.  That's normal, right? 

Help came

 

and our truck was once again on its way.

Things you never thought you would say

I thought it was time to add to this post. 

My last post was "Things you never thought you would say until you became a parent."

I have a new post, because apparently there are "Things that I never thought I would say until I became a dog owner."  I don't recall saying these things when Newton was a puppy.  These sayings just came about recently and were pointed out by my loving family.  They use some of these sayings too, thanks to Pippen.

*Don't smell my butt
*Get your nose out of my butt
*Get your nose out of my water
*Don't lick that!
*Stop sniffing me
*Don't lick my arm pit!
    and, the less formal, "Don't lick my pit!"

and, this one was just pointed out to me:

*get out of my butt
   (funny in lots of ways, I know)

Homemade Side Walk Paint

I found this online and had to try it out. I'm always looking for fun things to do with Bella outside.

I found the recipe for this at Ashley's Homemade Adventures.  She has the how to on her blog post.  She also has some cool things on her blog. Check it out. 

Back to the side walk paint. 

What you need:

Corn starch

Cold water

Non-toxic washable paint

Equal parts corn starch and cold water. I used 1/4 cup each. I then added about 1 tablespoon of washable paint. Mix it.  Then Paint.
 

I put these in small plastic containers with lids so we could reuse them. I decided on plastic since they will be used on the path and might get dropped.  (most likely by me)

Here is a sample of what it looks like on the driveway.

 

I think it turned out pretty good, what do you think?

Summer Sizzler

Bella got to play in her Summer Sizzler for Softball.

The Summer Sizzler is the ultimate game played at the "Big Field."  That is where you have an announcer who introduces each player, they play the National Anthem, Photos on the ball field (parent papparazzi) and little tidbits of information about each player.

 

The tidbits are important things like, what's your favorite food (movie, subject in school), who are your parents and siblings, what do you like to do for fun, and one thing that everyone should know about you.  Music is played when the teams are changing from batting to field.  Once in their positions on the field, the girls start dancing until the game resumes.

The Diamonds played their best and Bella is already asking when they can do it all again.  :)

4H Summer Camp - Details from the teen

What really went down at 4H Summer Camp.

This isn't a wild and crazy post.  This is just the details of fun that was had by Alex at 4H camp last week.

I don't worry too much about Alex being awkward in any type of social situation because he has my Dad's personality (he can talk to and friend everyone he comes in contact with).  This camp experience was a new thing for him.  He did go with a couple of friends, but, as I learned, he didn't hang out with them the entire time.  He ventured off either by himself or with some new friends he made at camp.

This camp had quite a few activities to choose from each day (hiking, kayaking, shooting (yea, I  know), rock climbing, zip lining and arts and crafts).  They were able to do three activities a day (and they can do the same ones if they want).

Alex said he really enjoyed kayaking and did that most of the week.  Then, he surprised me and said that he did Arts and Crafts one time.  I had joked with him before he went that he would do that (arts and crafts) the entire trip.  Boys and arts and crafts?  Well, if there's all those other fun things going on, I just don't see it (arts and crafts) as one of the options that would get picked by Alex.  He doesn't mind doing crafty things, but with those other options hanging out there, those would get picked first. 

He mentioned that he made bouncy balls (those plastic bouncing balls you get in a gum ball machine).  He also said that he had a fun time and that he and his two friends were the only three boys in the class.  I think they liked that last part.  :) 

He mentioned the food (it was just okay), he mentioned his bathroom habits (I'm not going into that one, let's just say it's a 13 year old boy telling me...I don't think I need to say anymore), his counselors and how they (Alex and his cabin roomies) got into a little trouble from what one of the counselors told them, the night time cabin scene (two boys (brothers) would fight for awhile, all of them would make fart sounds), and how they had to sing to get into the dining hall (Alex wouldn't sing and the counselors would stand on either side of him singing loudly in his ear.  He said towards the end of the week he was singing).

One of the moms volunteered to pick the boys up from camp and drive them home.  Five boys who have been at camp for a week.  Five smelly boys who probably haven't showered all week.  Yea, that's why I didn't volunteer.

Alex said to me, "Mom, you're not going to believe this but I showered EVERY DAY and one day I showered TWICE!"   I almost fell over hearing that because it takes A LOT of begging and pleading with him to take a shower when he is here at home.

Alex had such a great time, made lots of friends that he is looking forward to going to the camp again next year.

A Mini Tie Notebook for Dad

This gift might take you a little longer than the last gift.  I found this craft on Dollar Store Crafts and thought it would be a cute gift for RT.  I really just wanted to try making it and see if it really is that easy to make.

This is a little notebook that is covered with a man's tie.  The notebook can be placed in his shirt pocket or can be put in his briefcase (or sit on his desk).

What do you need?
Old tie
small blank notebook
saw
binder clips
scissors
hot glue gun
patience

The Dollar Store Crafts link has the directions to make the tie.  I will add that I found an old tie at a thrift store (it was hard picking one that you knew you were going to cut) for $1.00.  I hand washed the tie (because I'm weird like that and because I wasn't sure where the tie had been).  The notebook was from the dollar store.  And I wrote that you need patience because it really isn't that easy to saw through a notebook.  It's not difficult, but, it takes a little time.

Make sure that you get the dust out from the notebooks before continuing your project

 

I didn't have a shirt pocket to put it inside, so, it's laying on the floor

All ready to go!

 

What are you planning for Father's Day?

Are you making any gifts this year?

Easy Dad's Day Gift - Kisses Jar

Father's Day is fast approaching.  Did you buy Dad something yet?   It's not too late for your child to make a gift for him.

I sure hope RT doesn't look at this post before Father's Day. I probably don't have to worry about that...I don't think he views my blog at all. Good thing! That gives me more to talk about. :)

My side kick Bella and I decided we wanted to craft something for RT for the big day on Sunday. We started early on this project, not wanting to try something at the last minute and have it fail. Although, that would make an interesting post.

I saw many of these glass jars with Hershey Kisses in them with downloadable printables.  I think they look great, but, if they are from your child, why not have them decorate the jars themselves?  Anyone can use a computer to make the gift "perfect."  I think they will look "perfect" with your child's artistic touch.  This is a gift that a child any age can make for their Dad (or Grandpa). 

What you need:
Clean, empty glass jar (we used a pickle jar)
Hershey Kisses
Pretty paper, white paper
scissors
glue
imagination

First things, first.  I painted the lid for our jar (white).  I didn't think RT wanted an advertisement for pickles on his gift.  If you don't have time to do this, use your pretty paper and glue on the top of the jar lid.  You can also add ribbon around the lid to hide any words on the side.

I helped Bella a little with the paper.  I measured how much paper was needed, drew the lines and let her cut them out.  She glued the pretty paper to the side of the jar.  She made an oval from a piece of white paper (I had something she could trace to cut out) and she decorated it with "Dad" (notice the black tie on it?)

Dad

She decided she wanted to write something on the lid

Using white paper, she traced the lid and wrote,

"Here are some of my kisses"

she also wrote "love" on the side  :)

glued it to the top of the lid (outside of the lid)

Fill your jar with kisses (and lots and lots of l-o-v-e)

and, there you have it,

a Father's Day gift made with L-O-V-E!

Teenager and Texting

Month three.

I wasn't going to post anymore about Alex and his texting.  He's at camp and can't tell me not to blog about it.  When he returns, it will be too late. 

So, Alex, in his first month of having his phone had 4,987 texts.  Yea.  That's a lot of texting in a month.  His second month numbers went down a little. 

As I said, I thought this whole texting novelty would wear off and his numbers would eventually go down.  I have noticed that since he has been out of school his texting has increased.  I think the summer numbers are going to be high since he can text all day.

Well, I got the bill and am SUPER GRATEFUL that we have an unlimited texting plan.  Are you ready for the numbers?  You might want to sit down for this one.  It's pretty frightening.  I'm wondering if I could get a time table when all of these texts were done.  Okay, I've wasted enough time.  The number of texts for month three for Alex is....10,074.  That's about 335 texts a day for a month.  Broken down to about 21 texts an hour (assuming he is sleeping 8 hours).

I'm wondering who is making out on this whole texting plan?  I'm also hoping we don't get kicked out of our plan because of too many texts.  I do have a feeling the next bill will be higher because of summer break.  He does not have his phone at camp, but, I'm sure it will be buzzing non-stop once he returns.

Happy Birthday, Newton!

Newton is eleven today!

I remember when he was a little puppy. So cute!  He is truly the best dog ever.  (Pippen has A LOT to learn from him)

Here are some of Newton's baby pictures.

He's so little!

All snuggled up with the shoes

Newton with Nick and Alex

(look how little they all are!)

 

 

Today we celebrate Newton

Happy Birthday, Newton!

Blood Blister

Apparently, Blogger is having problems updating posts.  I just made an update to this post that was written about a month ago.  Usually, the post just updates the information leaving the post on the day that it was written/posted.  This time, Blogger decided to publish this today.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  :)

When I hear those words it makes me want to throw up.

Yesterday, when I was out running my million hundred errands (am I the only one that feels like I have all of these errands to do?) I had to put something in the back seat.  I used the sliding door (on the ghetto van).  Yes, the door that doesn't always work.  Got in the car and drove away. About thirty seconds into my drive the bell starts ringing to signal that the door is open. I get to the traffic light (it's red), put the can in park, hop out and open and close the back sliding door. Convenient because its on the drivers side. Unfortunately, when I did this, the car handle pinched the skin on my pinkie (ouch!).  I get in the car and am in a little pain. I Look and blood is pooling under my skin. I didn't think anything of it (well, it really, really hurt, so I guess I did think about the pain and how the van isn't cool when it hurts me) until I asked RT about it. At this point I thought I was going to die. RT said that it was a blood blister (ugh. Skin crawling, feeling nauseous) and I would live.

I did a little research on blood blisters to find out if I should do anything (like, just cut off my finger because it hurts so bad) and everything tells you to ice and elevate it right away. That would have been helpful had I known this when it happened.  This (blood blister care) is something that should be taught at an early age. 

 I didn't ice or elevate my hand and it is still throbbing.  I did a little more online research (I think the online search is not a good thing. You end up feeling worse than you are after reading all the symptoms of what you "might" have.). Of course this research led me to think that my blood blister (ick!) might be infected (double ick!) 

I'm hoping I am wrong and it just goes away.   If not, my posts might take a little longer to type with only four fingers on one hand.

UPDATE:  My blood blister has disappeared (YAY!).  It hurt for a little, then just looked bad for awhile, then the skin started to slowly heal and the blood blister started going away (falling off).  The last of it is off and my pinky looks great!

Summer Camp

This is a first for me. Sending a child to summer camp. Well, I have sent my kids to camps during the summer, but never to a camp where they slept.

I'm a little nervous about the whole thing.  I did not go to an away camp. In fact, I don't even recall going to a camp at all. A deprived childhood, I know. So, this is a first for me. 

I do know that it's going to be really quiet this week. No bickering, talking back or fighting (with siblings). 

I do know that as much as I will enjoy the quiet around here, I'm really going to miss him. 

Have you sent your kids to (away) camp?  How did you survive?  Have you been to camp?  How was your experience?

Questions that need answers

Why is it every time I go to the bathroom someone is trying to find me?

This goes along with, why does everyone want to talk to me when I'm on the phone?

I can be hanging out in the house (or outside) and no one needs me, wants to talk or ask me questions.  The minute I step into the bathroom, someone has to ask me a very important question (and tries to through the door).  Or, they want to have a heart to heart conversation.  Maybe they want to ask me where something is (because I am mom, I know where everything is, including where they last put something) or if a friend could come over.  The best is when they answer the door and then tell me someone is waiting for me at the door.  (I'm afraid to ask if they told them that I'm in the bathroom)  Pippen has caught onto this and he tries to open the door while I'm in the bathroom (he can open doors).  So, if it isn't the kids, it's the dog.

The same goes for the phone.  (with the kids, not the dogs)  I don't talk on the phone that much, but, the few times that I do, that is when everyone thinks it's a great time to talk to me.  They see me holding the phone to my ear and it's my invitation to talk.  "Hey!  I'm holding the phone to my ear, that means I'm ready to listen to you!"

 

Flop house

I'm beginning to think our house is the summer flop house. There is always someone sleeping over. Several children to feed in the morning.   Sometimes I don't even know who or how many are over. 

I think kids wander around at night and just need a place to sleep and they come to our house and sleep in our basement. 

Working Out

So, do people who work out (jog, etc) buy all new workout clothes before they start their exercise program?  Are they trying to impress onlookers?

Do you buy new workout clothes to exercise in?  Do you feel it motivates you to wear the latest style and look trendy?

I must be old school.  I wear old t-shirts and shorts (sweat pants and sweatshirts when it's cold outside).  In fact, the other day I was sporting the Arlington Racecourse t-shirt when RT was on their basketball league.  The number on it is 10.  That's why I took it from him (I don't think he knows I have it, so don't tell him).  It's not my favorite number, but, I like to think of myself as a 10.  (me and Bo Derek)

What do you wear when you work out?

Spam Readers on Blogger

I did a little research on spam on a blog. 

When I go to my Stats to see who is visiting my blog, I keep getting  people from (don't click on the links): 

topblogstories.com
vampirestat
flf-course
filmhill
kmzackblogger.blogspot

I did a little research to find that these are spam links.  These spammers have nothing better to do than to bother us little people and our blogs while trying to drive traffic to their own site or blog.  If they do appear under your stats, do not click on them.  It's spam.  I'm not sure what they can do to your computer (IE cookies, etc).  There is more information on that, just do a search.

I do appreciate them (spammers) joining me and looking at my blog.  I do want to thank them for giving me a post for today and building me up in the ranks by getting me to blog about them. Now if they could give me some blog love with my ad links.

There is a lot of information out there about spammers.  Just remember when you go to look at your stats to see who is visiting your blog, not to click on those links.

I have updated this post HERE with some more spam links.  Check them out.  Maybe they are appearing in your blog dashboard, too.