job

so i need a job that i can do from home whenever i have spare time that is not stressful and that pays tons of money. anybody have any suggestions?

tuesday night out

tonight was my night out (i get to go out every tuesday - completely alone now that isaiah is putting himself to bed, and dave gets to go out on thursdays. i highly recommend this to any parent of young children. it'd be even better to go out together, but we don't know anyone that will babysit for free, so this is awesome for now) as i was driving around our little town i realized that i really like it here. a lot. we have been thinking about moving into the city to be closer to church and actually be able to participate. but in the last couple days i've realized that i'm actually quite attached to this little place and i would really really miss it if we moved. one thing i like about it is that i feel safe. i can drive around late at night, alone, or walk around the university in the dark and not get freaked out like i used to at cal state lb. and there really isn't crazy crime here. except bicycle theft and drug use. which are big deals, but you don't hear about violent, lock your doors at night, scared to be alone with the kids kinda stuff here. which might actually be why people live in the suburbs. a new revelation for me. i went to a local coffee shop that is the total hang out for the students (who have flooded our town with young kid vibes in the last couple days. i feel so old when college kids seem young.) this particular coffee shop was packed with them. i went thinking i'd get a head start on reading one of my text books, but i couldn't concentrate with all of the interesting conversations to eavesdrop on. i kept laughing at one particular group and apparently i need to be more discreet in my eavesdropping, cause they invited me to join them. so i did. and i thoroughly enjoyed talking with a group of people around a table in a restaurant late at night. although my definition of late night has changed - it used to be 1 or 2 am, now it's a lot closer to 9:30. i am getting so old.

random things

i took ellen to the library this afternoon to get out of the house and do something fun. and apparently she'd been feeling pent up because she went crazy running all over the place. and unfortunately she was being very disobedient and just acting like she a little tazmanian devil or something. anyway, she got into 'big trouble' and we had to leave after all of about 5 minutes. she didn't seem to care at all either. so frustrating when they don't care about your punishment. anyway, i finally communicated to her that i was not at all happy and she was not making good choices. i asked her why she was acting like that and she said "what happened mamma? what happened to ellen?" (like why did i do that?) tonight at dinner isaiah was going a bit nuts and i must have looked frustrated cause dave asked ellen, "if you were isaiah's mom what would you do, ellen?" she said "work" here's a kinda funky thing - yesterday at the same time of day and for the same reasons (without talking to each other, while dave was at work and i was at home) dave and i both decided we'd probably better homeschool our kids. kinda weird huh?

even more playdoh animals

dave is the master at making playdoh animals. and ellen loves it. he's been getting this book out and making animals from the pictures. so last time i played playdoh with ellen she grabbed the book and said "make animals mama" (she does this funny accent with the last word of whatever she's saying which is usually mama or daddy...but it sounds like mom-muh emphasizing the last syllable) anyway i am not at all the sculptor that dave is, so i tried to make something she could recognize and she very graciously identified the correct animal before she squished it.

special treat!!!

ellen and i painted our nails today. she was very excited and kept saying it was a special treat! special treat! (she really likes special treats like gum or ice cream or even frozen vegetables.)

painting

yesterday while the kiddos were napping i decided to do a bit of painting. now keep in mind i'm not all artistic like some of you...i just really like making butterflies for some reason:

more gymboree pictures

ellen's beloved teacher laurie. the kids were walking up this and jumping off into inner tubes...ellen actually did this the first week, but didn't want to this day for some reason...so she helped teacher laurie be a "lifeguard". we make a big parachute tent and sit there and sing songs for a bit (not all the 'teachers' do this - just super cool teacher laurie) that lady in the white there is my friend, but i don't know her name. her daughter in the blue is Dima and only speaks arabic so ellen and she don't do a lot of chatting. more looking at each other and 'discussing' who is going to talk to isaiah. serious horse rocking

little things ellen and isaiah are doing these days

ellen's developed new fun sayings lately. some of her favorites... c'mon peoples! go for it mama! (or baby or daddy or whoever) look!!! human kids!!!!! carry my legs, mama. and she wants to sing ring around the rosie about twenty times a day - and she actually knows all the words and sings along - all except the ashes part. but she refuses to fall down. and isaiah has started messing with me, too. yesterday i was changing his diaper and he kept rolling over. i'd say hey you come back here and he'd just laugh and laugh and do it again. he probably did it 10 times.

friends at the park

something new i learned today: meeting friends at the park is actually quite fun when your little girl actually plays with the friend! we've met these friends before various places but ellen has always held back and just watched. today she went nuts and did everything trey did. they even went off and played a little basketball by themselves for a couple minutes. that's my friend erin and her new baby, genevieve. and then we all came back to our house for grilled cheese and some good fun coloring.

isaiah and ellen both love swinging...

yesterday's art project

we made some butterflies... ellen has now made friends with the glue stick and likes to just sorta draw with the glue and not necessarily glue anything down. and she really really likes to use the stamps (kinda hidden under her hand there, but that's what she's doing). and since you seem to think i don't put enough isaiah pictures up - this is him while ellen crafted.

playdoh creations

more of dave and ellen's playdoh animals...

lena

this morning lena and her kids, david (2) and elizabeth (6 mos), came over to hang out and get a feel for how things will go when she starts watching ellen and isaiah while i'm in school. i must say it went quite well - ellen actually played with david and shared all of her toys - even her armchair! - with him. and lena is awesome. so i'm feeling pretty good about this whole deal. still a bit nervous and sad to leave my babies for an entire morning twice a week, but much better than before so that's good. (i know fieldhouses you're laughing at me and saying get over it but they're my little babies!)

traveling mercies by anne lamott

just finished this book this morning while i was waiting for isaiah to go back to sleep. (i was talking to ellen this morning about how well isaiah was sleeping and saying that the only problem was that he was waking up at 6am. dave jumped in saying, no the only problem is he cries when he's going back to sleep.) anyway, i read this book because after reading "blue like jazz" many people told me this writer was similar but better. so i thought i better check it out. i liked this book, it was interesting and kept me coming back. however (and maybe this is because i read blue like jazz first) i didn't like it better. it didn't inspire me to live differently like b.l.j. did. and it didn't feel like it was speaking to me. this might be because my place in life is so much more similar to don miller's than anne lammott's. and it felt a bit more disjointed than blue like jazz. when i first started blj i had a hard time getting past that - it was almost like stream of consciousness or the guy's journal or something. but over time i started to like it and actually value that part of the book. somehow, it all came together and the chapters started feeling like parts of a whole instead of individual vignettes. didn't happen for me with traveling mercies. but it's still good, and still helps me think and so it's definitely on my "this was a good book" list.

i asked ellen how she was doing tonight and she said "sick" (the normal response is good). "really? where do you feel sick? "here." (pointing no where) "what do you feel like? do you feel like throwing up?" "like poop."

ellen's a genius

it's true. i colored in a map of the u.s. to add to her magnet collection 'cause we've been talking about where everyone lives. when we started she knew some basics, like she lives in oregon (and she'd point to it) grandpa paul lives in california (point to it)bopp lives in georgia etc. (she knows just about everybody - so if i didn't put your name here don't feel left out. i just didn't want to type it all) anyway on this map, i colored all the states different colors and she got interested in what all the names of the states were - so she pointed to each one and asked it's name. she really likes the sound of massachusetts and says that over and over (i'm an idiot and told her that's where anne lives until dave remebered the correct answer is maryland). anyway she really likes it and named on of her magnet dogs massachusetts. another one's name is maine. and the butterfly's name is texas. but the genius part...she remembers where these states are!!! she knows mass. very well, texas, maine, oregon, washington, georgia, maryland (ok), mississippi (she likes how that sounds too) and california. and she'll be happy to tell you that daddy-o was born in texas and mama was born in california. and isaiah was born in oregon. she's a bit confused on the ellen was born in california but lives in oregon bit. genius.

isaiah

isaiah's got another new tooth coming in - this one's up top (i guess that is the normal progression.) he's a happy happy boy lately he's also been waking up really really early (like 6:30 or 7:00) and he's been working on his "b" sound...bbbbahh, bbbbuhhh, bbbbb over and over again

The Toddler's Busy Book by Trish Kuffner

I got this book recently - actually ellen got it for her birthday from dad...i figured she'd reap the benefits so really it was a present for her. (i also got her a book for her to read and a magazine subscription and a zoe's dance moves movie, dad) anyway, as you can see i'm excited to start trying some of the ideas. we got a bit crafty today. no making fun of my animal shapes. believe it or not ellen does not like to be dirty, so she didn't want to use the glue stick herself, or touch anything that had glue on it. but she directed me where to put everything. i also kinda adapted an idea in the book to cut out the people in pictures, cover them in contact paper (so they're kinda laminated) and put magnets on the back so ellen can have "magnet dolls"...kinda like paper dolls. i'm not finished getting everyone cut out (obviously) but i also don't have pictures of everyone i'm willing to cut up. so i need you all to email me some picture of yourself so you can join the club.

the poop monster has struck again. in record time, too. i went in to look at her and not more than one minute later when dave and i went back in there, she had it all over her legs trying to clean it up. dave gave her a shower and a 'serious spanking'. who knew the shower would be as much of a punishment as the spanking. *sigh* so we'll see if that worked. i don't know what else to do with her - after a while she just doesn't seem to care about whatever punishment i can cook up. yesterday i spanked her hand for some infraction and she screamed and cried and i felt really mean and hurtful. and then in mid-scream she stopped, offered her other hand and said "now this one mama." she's faking her crying! agggghhhh! she's being really funny lately, too. we were at the park and she was making her growling noise at some little girl who was trying to talk to her (if she's not in a friendly mood, she sorta growl/screams at people). anyway, i was trying to get her to stop and talk to this girl, telling her that wasn't a good way to talk, she should say hello whatever. anyway, she kept doing it - rrrraaaa! rrraaaa! and so i took her away to regroup and get a hold of herself. she kept doing it rrraa! (real gutteral)and rrraaa! until finally it became rrrraaacoon! rrraacoon! she had this 'i'm quite thrilled with my little joke' smile on her face.

ellen's new bed

some neighbors moved out yesterday and gave us some of the furniture they didn't want to take. this included a new twin size bed for ellen and a crib with a side that actually slides up and down(!!) for isaiah. so now we just need a new mattress, sheet set and pillow for ellen. free stuff can be kind of expensive. but it's a really nice bed and i do love free. gymboree seems to be paying off as ellen is now an avid climber. luckily we noticed and were able to spot her before she fell off or knocked the bed over. dave enjoyed a morning off and played play-doh with ellen. actually he played and she watched.

organizational envy

i have organizational envy of jill. now i want to read getting things done and get all kinds of cool stuff to organize myself. i saw a label maker at costco and wanted it like i've never wanted a label maker before. :) i think i just want it to be christmas. cause there's lots of things that i'm seeing lately that i just want. like a jacket from ll bean. or some new addidas shoes i saw at fred meyer. or a double stroller. or those new butterfinger crisp bars (those are gooood). maybe it was sparked by all the cool new stuff we got at the apple store. once i start buying i just want to keep going i guess.

a couple days ago things got a bit crazy with both kids crying and freaking out at the same time and i got to that point where you just can't really take it anymore. so i put isaiah in his crib and let him cry for a few minutes while i dealt with ellen. and he started going to sleep! i decided he was putting himself to sleep to matter what. and it didn't take more than 15 minutes or so. and he was out! wowza! i feel like i'm gaining control of my life again...like isaiah's not completely in control of every aspect when he can put himself to sleep. anyway, the last couple of days we've been working on it and he's getting pretty good. today i nursed him down and after a bit he rolled over out of his blanket which usually wakes him right up. but today he just put himself back to sleep. ahh! this is the life. :)

*sigh*

the day after ellen's 'incident', i finally got "bob" (the lamb/pillow thing ellen sleeps on) washed and dried i gave him back to ellen and put her to bed. about a half hour later i heard her talking and decided to check in and make sure she was behaving and staying in bed and all that good stuff. well, she was still in bed. she'd taken her diaper off and everything including bob was wet. *sigh* this afternoon when dave came home for lunch he went in to get her up from her nap. i just have to say that this girly of mine is definetely smart and resourceful and all that. she'd found a way to play with poop without getting that disgusting side effect of getting dirty with it. she used her sock...and 'painted' one of her favorite pages of one of her favorite books. *sigh* so she's been warned that the next diaper incident will result in a serious spanking. what else do you do? dave informed me today that he's officially done with the junior high poop is cool phase. he's now officially on the poop is straight sick team. (i'm sorry chris to further discourage you from children, and i'm sorry joanne that your grandchildren will be even further off after the telling of these delightful stories)

dave and ellen picked blackberries for dessert tonight

today at lunch we named kitty and snowman. the naming process involves me suggesting as many names as i can think of until one strikes ellen's fancy and she says yeah!jabberwocky! or whatever it was she liked.here's kitty, who's now going by susan geting some good carrots and here's snowman, aka peter and here's our latest family portrait...unfortunately dave's a bit cut off, but we're in focus and smiling

ummmm...how gross is too gross?

in the middle of ellen's "nap" she started hollering like she does when she sees a bug or got some mess all over her and is suddenly grossed out. isaiah was almost asleep so i waited a minute, but when he didn't go right out, i left him in his crib and went to tell ellen to go back to sleep - it was way to early to get up. when i opened the door i couldn't findher in her bed right away - probably because she was standing in the middle of her room holding her hands out like they were disgusting...with poop everywhere. and here's the worst part - it was dry. i think that means it had been there for a while. straight sick. it took me a while to get her cleaned up and then give her a bath and then scrub her again and then scrub myself a couple times and wash EVERYTHING in her room. now i'm wondering if she's going to get sick or some disease or something.

isaiah's carrots and ellen's favorites

we've entered a new realm as far as isaiah is concerned. the boy doesn't want to nurse. he wants carrots. and more and more carrots. he's already had three jars today and it's only 1 o'clock. i added some cereal to the last jar to try to make it more filling. this is sorta amazing because up until this point in his life he's been pretty happy as long as i stay close enough to nurse him at a moments notice. like every hour or so. and now i've been replaced by carrots. this could be good. a lot messier though. it's also a bit rough because the easiest way to get him to sleep is to nurse him down. and now he's not so interested. but i had to quit doing that anyway because school is starting at the end of the month and i need to make sure he can get to sleep without me. ellen and i were talking over lunch this was the conversation: me:what's your favorite song? ellen: julia! me: how does that go? ellen: choo choo me: that is a good song. what's your favorite color? ellen: blue me: what's your favorite word? ellen: telly!

gymboree

we made it to gymboree this morning (last week we slept through it...not as hard as you might imagine even though it starts at 10:05. if the kiddos are sleeping, i'm sleeping.) ellen just loves loves loves going to gymboree - especially when her favorite teacher in the world, teacher laurie, is there. that lady can get ellen to do stuff that neither dave nor i can. climbing up and jumping off crazy things that she would run from otherwise. teachers can make all the difference somehow. anyway, i'm really thrilled with this whole gymboree experience - it's like pre-preschool. she learns public speaking, taking turns, all kinds of coordination and just tons of great stuff.

tagged

Tagged I've been tagged by jill for my very first meme game. It's called "The Cook Next Door". 1) What is your first memory of baking/cooking on your own? Ummm…probably making cookies of some sort – but those are rather generic memories. The first real solid memory is cooking enchiladas every week on my night to cook. 2) Who had the most influence on your cooking?I’d have to say mom. I haven’t really found a great cookbook yet. 3) Do you have an old photo as "evidence" of an early exposure to the culinary world, and would you like to share it? nope 4) Mageiricophobia - do you suffer from any cooking phobia, a dish that makes your palms sweat?No – although I cannot for the life of me get fried chicken to come out right. 5) What would be your most valued or used kitchen gadgets and/or what was the biggest letdown?I really love my pans, I really like my rice cooker. I can’t think of any let downs, but that’s probably because I haven’t used them in so long that they’re just gone out of my mind. 6) Name some funny or weird food combinations/dishes you really like - and probably no one else!Peanut butter and cheese sandwich. Yes, mine is a peanut butter one too. 7) What are the three eatables or dishes you simply don't want to live without?I really like most anything with sugar, granola and grilled cheese sandwiches. And rootbeer 8) Your favorite ice cream...mint chip or strawberry. Although chocolate is creeping up there. 9) You will probably never eat... I like the brains answer – anything anyone could consider gross – I don’t have a strong adventurous stomach at all. 10) Your own signature dish... hmmm….maybe grilled cheese 11) You were tagged by... jill 12) Three people you'd like to pass this meme on to...dad, dave and chris

happy anniversary to us!

toady is our 6 year anniversary! woo hoo! ellen helped us celebrate by throwing up all of her lunch onthe way home from church.

paul and mel

paul and mel came to visit us this weekend and helped with our yardwork and they also helped with some shopping... we've been computer shopping for a long time and decided to go with a mac. we need a laptop for school and there were some sweet deals - we got a printer for virtually free and an ipod for virtually free. and we had a sweet tax return and it all just came together. so yay! we're now mac and pc users.