Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Shopping for books
Each town’s library has a volunteer group called “Friends of the Library” who go around town and accept donations of books from the residents and then either once or twice a year have a big book sale where all the proceeds go to the library for new acquisitions. The first day of the sale is always Friday (they charge 5-10 bucks to get in and hard cover books are 3-5 bucks and paper backs are 1-3 bucks). On Saturday, there is no charge to get in and on Sunday the books are half price. But the day I go is on Monday. On Monday, the books are $3-5 a bag. It is so much fun to get books for this price. Today I went to the sale in Norwalk. It was $3 a bag. I got 3 bags full -- or 138 books (which is roughly 7 cents a book). Some of them I keep- some I use for gifts (because a lot of the books are in brand new condition) and some of the books even I don't want, but with my kids there helping me, we always come how with a few stragglers. Here is what I got today. 
These are the 3 Adam chose.
Here are most of the ones Madelyn chose (yes, she went with me -- she was coughing all night and so I kept her home from school -- has she coughed at all today? nope. . . but better safe than sorry)
You should see if your libraries have these friends of the library sales and see what you can get for $9 bucks!
Friday, October 16, 2009
The costumes currently
I convinced Catherine to be an angel (and then bought the costume at Target). Yeah!!!! I have not done the hem or the tulle trim on the devil costume yet . . . and I may not ever . . . and then Madelyn -- well today she found the tinkerbell dress that my friend brought to the costume exchange I had and now she wants to be that . . . but what will she want to be tomorrow????
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Dear Future Jamie,
Dear Future Jamie,
I am writing myself this letter as a reminder of some information I may need at some future date. It may be random and have no overall cohesive thought, but there are just so many things rattling around in my head that I want to remember in the future that I figured I should just write them all down as quickly as possible.
First, please remember that when searching for costumes for your children for Halloween you should only allow them to suggest things that you already know where to buy. For example, if Julianne ever suggests she wants to be a "red devil" and you know full well that all the costumes available to purchase look skanky you should just flat out say no! Remember the important part is to "SAY NO". Under no circumstances should you suggest that maybe we could look for a pattern and I will sew one for you. Because if you do, you just might find one Simplicity 2861 and then beofre you know it, you have spent 60 bucks on fabric and notions not to mention the 2 full days of cutting, sewing, making darts without a dart marker, remembering how to do zippers, cursing overlaid sleeves, hating gold trim, and abhorring tulle -- especially tulle that must be cut into strips, gathered, and made into a trim for a slit or made into a collar that your daughter then despises and states that it itches -- (well duh, it is tulle!). Remember the 3 trips to Walmart (and not the close Walmart as the close walmart does not have a fabric section) and remember that for whatever reason you live in a place that chooses not to have any normal fabric stores whatsoever -- no Joann's, no Hancocks, no nothing -- yes there are a few upscale designer upholstery fabric stores but i am pretty certain that gold tulle, red glitter knit fabric, and red metallic netting are not found there. Also, Jamie, remember this-- that if you make your daughter the darling little headband with the devil horns that is really quite cute and was the easiest part of the whole dang thing -- that there is a chance she just might start to behave like a devil (or maybe her behavior last night was just the result of pre-pubescent pre-teen angst -- the jury is still out).
Second, under no circumstance should you take all your children to look at patterns for the first child's red devil costume. Because as they peruse all the costume choices they may find one they like more than the costume they had already selected. This results in agreeing to sew one more costume for Catherine (a wizard cape) and having 2 other screaming children who no longer want to be Belle or the Lion. I am sure I will write myself another letter about Catherine's costume but I have not started it yet which bring me to the 3rd thing.
Remember that time passes -- no matter what. Today is Oct. 15th. Which means that no matter what -- I have only 15 days to muster the energy to start Catherine's costume. And if i don't Halloween will come and go -------------------
Aaahhhhh! I just remembered . . . Halloween is on a Saturday so the costume parade at school will be on Friday so I take that back -- I have only 14 days to not only muster the energy to start her costume -- but also to finish it.
Well, future Jamie -- I have so much more to share -- but I have to go start sewing!
Love,
past Jamie
I am writing myself this letter as a reminder of some information I may need at some future date. It may be random and have no overall cohesive thought, but there are just so many things rattling around in my head that I want to remember in the future that I figured I should just write them all down as quickly as possible.
First, please remember that when searching for costumes for your children for Halloween you should only allow them to suggest things that you already know where to buy. For example, if Julianne ever suggests she wants to be a "red devil" and you know full well that all the costumes available to purchase look skanky you should just flat out say no! Remember the important part is to "SAY NO". Under no circumstances should you suggest that maybe we could look for a pattern and I will sew one for you. Because if you do, you just might find one Simplicity 2861 and then beofre you know it, you have spent 60 bucks on fabric and notions not to mention the 2 full days of cutting, sewing, making darts without a dart marker, remembering how to do zippers, cursing overlaid sleeves, hating gold trim, and abhorring tulle -- especially tulle that must be cut into strips, gathered, and made into a trim for a slit or made into a collar that your daughter then despises and states that it itches -- (well duh, it is tulle!). Remember the 3 trips to Walmart (and not the close Walmart as the close walmart does not have a fabric section) and remember that for whatever reason you live in a place that chooses not to have any normal fabric stores whatsoever -- no Joann's, no Hancocks, no nothing -- yes there are a few upscale designer upholstery fabric stores but i am pretty certain that gold tulle, red glitter knit fabric, and red metallic netting are not found there. Also, Jamie, remember this-- that if you make your daughter the darling little headband with the devil horns that is really quite cute and was the easiest part of the whole dang thing -- that there is a chance she just might start to behave like a devil (or maybe her behavior last night was just the result of pre-pubescent pre-teen angst -- the jury is still out).
Second, under no circumstance should you take all your children to look at patterns for the first child's red devil costume. Because as they peruse all the costume choices they may find one they like more than the costume they had already selected. This results in agreeing to sew one more costume for Catherine (a wizard cape) and having 2 other screaming children who no longer want to be Belle or the Lion. I am sure I will write myself another letter about Catherine's costume but I have not started it yet which bring me to the 3rd thing.
Remember that time passes -- no matter what. Today is Oct. 15th. Which means that no matter what -- I have only 15 days to muster the energy to start Catherine's costume. And if i don't Halloween will come and go -------------------
Aaahhhhh! I just remembered . . . Halloween is on a Saturday so the costume parade at school will be on Friday so I take that back -- I have only 14 days to not only muster the energy to start her costume -- but also to finish it.
Well, future Jamie -- I have so much more to share -- but I have to go start sewing!
Love,
past Jamie
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
My three year old boy!
There are just not enough words to tell how sweet Adam is. He is just such a happy, fun, nice boy. He loves being a boy. He loves balls, cars, trains, dirt, airplanes, motorcycles, boats, and mud. He loves being with his sisters, and he loves teasing them relentlessly.
That it is even possible that he is already 3 years old is unbelievable to me. Enjoy these photos of his big day!
That it is even possible that he is already 3 years old is unbelievable to me. Enjoy these photos of his big day!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
My Poetry
Just know
it's killing me sitting here at home
for so long
thinking you might be talking to someone
or not
b/c someone might have called
or stopped you in the hall
and by then the person was gone
you may be discussing our future right now
or a client called back for further advice
their toxic assets are killing them
update -- trent just called -- he was stuck in a meeting and our future will have to wait until tomorrow!
it's killing me sitting here at home
for so long
thinking you might be talking to someone
or not
b/c someone might have called
or stopped you in the hall
and by then the person was gone
you may be discussing our future right now
or a client called back for further advice
their toxic assets are killing them
update -- trent just called -- he was stuck in a meeting and our future will have to wait until tomorrow!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Good Ole' Regular Life
Nothing near as exciting as running to Boston has happened in the last week. I must say that the race really did wipe me out. The week before with all the getting ready and the week after trying to recover from not sleeping and just getting back to the routine of life seemed to take it out of me.
Not to mention the school library volunteer trainings, class coffees, open houses, enrichment, soccer practices, activity days, soccer games, homework, and a major decision about Trent's job looming over me.
And on top of that the kids still expect 3 meals a day and clean clothes plus lots of story time and laying with them at night.
And of course the occasional tantrum by the pre-pubescent teenage wannabe.
I was tired. I even for the first time in my whole life hired a housekeeper.
I liked it. Probably a little too much.
There were some funny moments. Like this one.
Adam was watching me get ready to go somewhere and I had just finished "beautifying" myself. I quickly picked him up to race down the stairs and he put both hands on the sides of my cheeks and looked at me and said, "Mom, you have dirt on your eyes."
Wow, if that doesn't make me feel good about the make-up I am wearing I don't know what will.
Then later that day at dinner. I had made cilantro chicken pot stickers from Trader Joe's and an asian noodle side dish (which was very yummy too, I might add). I was encouraging all the kids to try the wontons and Catherine after eating one said, "Mom-- you can have all the rest of my tampons -- I just don't like them that much."
Let's just say they didn't seem so appetizing after her mis-labeling. I politely corrected her trying not to laugh since she doesn't even know what a tampon is, but she proceeded to use the wrong word about 3 more times during dinner. Thank goodness we did not have any company.
Another great moment happened with Madelyn today. Today was the first day that Kindergartners could by lunch. I told her this morning that I would be packing bagels with cream cheese, fruit roll ups, a drink, chips, and apples or she could buy chicken fingers, salad, and fruit from school. She opted for the chicken fingers. I figured it would be good to buy on the first day when they were sure to have lots of helpers to help the kids figure it out. We don't buy lunch at school too often as it is kind of pricey ($3.50 a day). But since I don't ever send chicken fingers in their lunch boxes I figured it would be fun for her.
As soon as she got off the bus she said the best part of her day was buying her lunch. I asked her how the chicken was and she replied, "Oh, when I got up there I saw that if you don't like what they are having that day you can just get a bagel with cream cheese and since I love bagels i just got one of those instead!"
I started cracking up. She chose to pay $3.50 for something she could have had in her lunch for maybe $0.25. I let her know that in the future we would not be over paying for bagels. If she wanted a bagel she could take one from home.
For all the good laughs, there have been a few not so great moments too. Like Julianne chipping a tooth, the nurse calling with Catherine sick at school, 6 days of a healthy Catherine followed by her throwing up today all morning, Adam spilling lots of water (not that that is so terrible but today he spilled 4 large glasses of water in under 2 hours), and (as always) Trent's long hours in the city.
But we are surviving. Sometimes I'm not sure which is more exhausting -- regular life or running through the night with 11 other girls to boston. Sometimes it's a virtual tie.
Not to mention the school library volunteer trainings, class coffees, open houses, enrichment, soccer practices, activity days, soccer games, homework, and a major decision about Trent's job looming over me.
And on top of that the kids still expect 3 meals a day and clean clothes plus lots of story time and laying with them at night.
And of course the occasional tantrum by the pre-pubescent teenage wannabe.
I was tired. I even for the first time in my whole life hired a housekeeper.
I liked it. Probably a little too much.
There were some funny moments. Like this one.
Adam was watching me get ready to go somewhere and I had just finished "beautifying" myself. I quickly picked him up to race down the stairs and he put both hands on the sides of my cheeks and looked at me and said, "Mom, you have dirt on your eyes."
Wow, if that doesn't make me feel good about the make-up I am wearing I don't know what will.
Then later that day at dinner. I had made cilantro chicken pot stickers from Trader Joe's and an asian noodle side dish (which was very yummy too, I might add). I was encouraging all the kids to try the wontons and Catherine after eating one said, "Mom-- you can have all the rest of my tampons -- I just don't like them that much."
Let's just say they didn't seem so appetizing after her mis-labeling. I politely corrected her trying not to laugh since she doesn't even know what a tampon is, but she proceeded to use the wrong word about 3 more times during dinner. Thank goodness we did not have any company.
Another great moment happened with Madelyn today. Today was the first day that Kindergartners could by lunch. I told her this morning that I would be packing bagels with cream cheese, fruit roll ups, a drink, chips, and apples or she could buy chicken fingers, salad, and fruit from school. She opted for the chicken fingers. I figured it would be good to buy on the first day when they were sure to have lots of helpers to help the kids figure it out. We don't buy lunch at school too often as it is kind of pricey ($3.50 a day). But since I don't ever send chicken fingers in their lunch boxes I figured it would be fun for her.
As soon as she got off the bus she said the best part of her day was buying her lunch. I asked her how the chicken was and she replied, "Oh, when I got up there I saw that if you don't like what they are having that day you can just get a bagel with cream cheese and since I love bagels i just got one of those instead!"
I started cracking up. She chose to pay $3.50 for something she could have had in her lunch for maybe $0.25. I let her know that in the future we would not be over paying for bagels. If she wanted a bagel she could take one from home.
For all the good laughs, there have been a few not so great moments too. Like Julianne chipping a tooth, the nurse calling with Catherine sick at school, 6 days of a healthy Catherine followed by her throwing up today all morning, Adam spilling lots of water (not that that is so terrible but today he spilled 4 large glasses of water in under 2 hours), and (as always) Trent's long hours in the city.
But we are surviving. Sometimes I'm not sure which is more exhausting -- regular life or running through the night with 11 other girls to boston. Sometimes it's a virtual tie.
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