- Be sure to shovel the sidewalk the very first day that it snows. It just isn't worth it the whole next week...or two...
- The old trick about pouring water over a frosted windshield to quickly melt the ice doesn't work when its 24 degrees outside.
- If you decide to make candy trains be sure to buy 4 peppermint "wheels" per train instead of just one.
- When ordering from e-bay be sure to check the location of the item BEFORE you buy it. If you accidentally buy something from Hong Kong it may not arrive in time for Christmas.
- If you're ordering from amazon.com (or any other on-line store for that matter) it isn't enough to simply place the items you want to order in your shopping cart. You have to actually check out and pay before they will send them to you.
- On a more serious note, I learned that as long as we do the Christmas tree and the Mickey Mouse toy chest that plays Christmas carols, my kids don't really care what else I set up for Christmas decorations. They didn't even notice that I didn't set up either Christmas village or my nearly 100 piece snowman collection.
- It is really cute to hear a two year old sing Happy Birthday dear Jesus all month long.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Things I've Learned this December
Craig's Kona Trip Diary (August 15-21)
Wednesday - fly to San Francisco, met Leo and Grace at the Gate for Kona - had a snack at the terminal food court - fly to Kona (watched Fracture with ANTHONY HOPKINS - SAT NEXT TO OVERLY TALKATIVE TEENAGER (but nice kid) named Jake - bought an overpriced snack box for $5 - Landed in Kona Int'l Airport - deplaned to an outside stairway - met up with Velma and Cassie (Vickie got lei'd) - met up with Teresa.
got our bags and got into Dad's car - off to Wal-Mart for a few groceries and shoes for Vickie (and some sunscreen)
drove to our condo right on the strip - said goodnight to dad and Velma
went to Hooters for dinner and a beer (fish and chips and a cob salad)
Back to our room to sleep - early day tomorrow - 12 hour bus tour of the whole island
Thursday - set alarm for 5:15 to call kids before they went to school...up around 6 AM - life cereal and cinnamon raison bagels, coffee and milk
Bus driver picks us up at Bubba Gumps at 7:30am - we get to sit in the front! Our bus driver's name is Greg Benson from Oahu - really knowledgeable and a nice guy. our first stop is the Kona coffee plantation gift store for coffee samples and macadamia-rum cake (and to shop) - we take too long going potty and are the last ones on the bus
off to a bakery about 30 minutes away - roads are lined with avacado and mango trees - Kona coffee plants everywhere - driver shows us that a coffee bean is actaully the seed inside a fruit - and that 1 in 100 beans isa single, not a pair, and that is considered better coffee - a peaberry - got to try some - no big deal... it's good, but i like sumatra better - the bakery has INSANE dougnuts - we bought two - a guava and a passionfruit-iced one - HOLY COW - best doughtnut ever-around the bakery we see samples of Hawaiian crops - pineapple plants with pineapples on them, sugar cane plants, avacados, mangos.
next stop black sand beach - really cool - and look, there's a giant sea turtle on the lava near the edge of the beach - a little treacherous getting close to him, but we manage to snap a few – there’s a bigger one further down the beach on the sand... he's asleep - our driver warned us to stay at least 10 feet away from the turtles, so we take a few photos at a safe distance.
time to go to the volcano house atop kiluwea - a 35 minute drive - it's exactly noon when we arrive. Along the way Greg is pointing to plants and fruit trees lining the road... we have 45 minutes to grab a quick sandwich in the cafeteria and explore... enough time to see the visitors building and buy a few gifts.
off the caldera on top of the volcano itself, Smells of sulfur and steam fishers are all around, We stop and have around 20 minutes to hike down to the lookout point and snap a few more photos, Smells toxic.
Next stop is a lava tunnel created by quick moving lava during an eruption long ago... its raining, and smells like fresh mountain air - bright flowers and foliage lines the crooked path to the tunnel... gobs of water drop from the ceiling as we make our way through the dark cavern... the sides of the tunnel have square light installed about every 25 yards to help see the otherwise pitch darkness. We dodge cold deep puddles on the muddy path below,.
Back at the bus Greg tells us we have 20 minutes to the next stop and he plays us some Hawaiian music while we take a short snooze. next stop is the orchid farm
Anyone want to buy a $10,000 orchid - on sale for $8000? Big bright orchids everywhere - many with the sweet fragrance you’d expect..some with unexpected smells - chocolate, peach, vanilla – very, very cool... we buy some more gifts.
Next we have a long haul to Hilo - long drive, more Hawaiian music, more history - we get to see the stone Kamehameha lifted and turned over as a test of his virility.
We stop at a gushing waterfall called rainbow falls.,,, monkey pod tress are also everywhere. Vickie has to pee so bad she ignores Greg's advice and uses to public restroom...we eat some crackers at a local craft store and board the bus for parker ranch.
We see a fire along the way burning on the hill... we learn a Hawaiian cowboy is a paniolo ,,, and beef is called a pi pi ,, so what do you call a pi pi on a hill ? Lean beef,,, Greg's bad joke,,, pi pis laying down are ground beef....(groan) - Vickie and I share a chicken plate lunch and sit with cousin Greg talking about home and kids and life.
Back on the bus... time to head back and drop everyone off at their resorts - it's no secret most everyone on our bus is staying at very expensive golf clubs and resorts... nice folks, but rich,
we are the last ones off the bus and Cousin Greg recommends a few spots along the strip,... we tip him and thank him for a great tour... highly recommended.
After a quick shower at the condo, we meet up with Dad and Velma, Pat and Jen and cousin bob at LuLu's for dinner... bob ends up footing the bill and we have a great time visiting. Afterwards we head back to our condo and crash... long day...
Friday - Breakfast in our room...over to lava java for internet access and a spinach wrap. We shop a little along the strip... We head over to the farmer's market and buy more gifts and some papayas and a white pineapple.,,,, BEST PINEAPPLE EVER - had some fruit for lunch, then went swimming in out complex's pool... very nice. - went to the reunion party and ate, drank, visited with everyone... Cousin bob played ukulele while Princee Ann and SUZANNE DID THE HULA - as did Brawney and the other birthday folks... sang happy birthday to Tommy, Tony, Patrick and Rick... ate cake... visited more. Got a ride home in Pat's red convertible mustang. Very cool.
Saturday - Breakfast in our room... dad and pat pick me up and we're off to Waikola for some golf... dad gets the local rate and pat and I only have to pay for club rental... nice!
decent course...nothing fantastic...I play a lousy first 9 holes... dad and pat do much better... I play the front nine much better (after surrendering my fairway woods) nice set of Nike clubs though) - after golf we meet up with the girls at the king shops and have a snack (I ate a fish burrito - some snack) dad had a dipped ice cream and pat a hot dog. The girls shared but had nothing of their own
Dad and Velma take off together while Vickie and I pile into pat and Jen's convertible mustang for the 40 minute trip back to Kona. Vickie and I decide to rent a car for Sunday since we are going to visit Pam and Don's Friend's church in Kona. Pat and Jen drop us at the budget rent a car and we get a sapphire blue Pontiac that is fairly new and drives well. Nice to have a car for a while. Back to the Kona Islander Inn for a shower and rest. pat and Jen pick us up later for dinner at Teresa, Randy and Jeanette's. Although dinner is supposed to start at 7, we don’t get there until 9. Patrick brings roast port loin while randy and Teresa prepped BBQ'd steak and shrimp...there's also steamed broccoli, rice of course, and mushrooms. Later i prep a fruit salad of papaya we brought from farmer's market, and a white pineapple that everyone loves…along with some watermelon. Not much in the way of drinks. Jeanette ekes out a few screwdrivers with what's left of her vodka and then it's diet cokes and water. We visit while a game of spinners materializes at the dinner table... Randy seems to be doing much better and might even move to Reno...that would be a very interesting situation and further confirmation of our staying Reno right now. We leave Teresa’s around 11... another great day and a solid sleep.
Sunday we're up as usual around 8am and have some of the banana - peanut butter bread Vickie bought for me while she was out shopping the previous day. it's okay... but c'mon for $3 it ought to be a little bigger. After I finish my coffee we're off to church... the road is very steep and winding with many churches past along the way, At the top of the hill sits the church where Gary is associate pastor. Nice guy with a friendly face and constant smile. The sanctuary is wall-less with a large rear-projected screen in front for worship lyrics. Although I don't recognize all the songs, the style and feel of the church is very familiar and we are at home. The worship pastor is a thin dark haired island-looking guy with a pleasant moustache smile and baritone voice. After announcements the head teaching pastor calls the kids up to the front for a short kids' lesson on fear and trust... he uses a toy helicopter and a white plastic castle-looking prop and tells us it's a volcano (use your imagination) - He tells us of how he preformed a wedding with four of these helicopters circling the active volcano, and how the one he was on even tipped face first into the bubbling, lava filled caldron to give everyone on board a better view. The kids are dismissed to Sunday School and the pastor continues with his lesson - the sermon is on Fear and he used the story of the disciples being afraid in the boat while Jesus sleeps... he shows us slides of his recent (2004) trip to the holy lands and their boat ride on the actual sea of Galilee. During the sermon he shows a not-so-short movie clip from Joe Versus the Volcano relating his experience of moving to Kona and planting a church to Joe's experience jumping into the Volcano... it worked okay... clip was too long though =) --- next he asked people to share their experience of trusting God in their lives via open mic... a few people shared similar stories of how God had heard their prayers and answered them. Vickie and I both considered sharing, but were content with hearing the locals talk of their experiences. Church ends with a familiar song that i can't remember right now since I'm on a plane a few days later and I'm heading back to SF. Vickie was upset about the seating arrangement (we're not next to each other, but I'm in front of her - But I'll get to that in a little while... back to Sunday.... the head pastor - I wish this guy in front of me would sit still... his seat is all the way back and the laptop is poking my stomach…anyways the head pastor whose name escapes me... Vickie will probably fill this in later - announces it's pastor Gary's birthday (you remember Pam and Don's friend?) he gets up in front of everyone and we sing happy birthday... oh, his wife is really nice too... can't remember her name either. Anyways we get a short tour of the facility... I guess the building we had service in is not the final sanctuary, but the events center... they plan to build another building within 5 years that will be the real sanctuary... can't imagine a better place for church than this building... all you see to the left is coastline and ocean... all you see to the right is tropical plants and flowers.... and there's a pleasant breeze wafting through during the whole service... really nice... anyways Gary shows us the youth area which is a loft above the sanctuary... it has the obligatory foosball (same table as Rod and Ginny's) and air hockey... plus shuffle board to the right... obviously donated, and a TV and video game console... not sure which one-they blow fans on the futons constantly because they have trouble with mold due to moisture. the fans seem to help. The nursery is awesome with hand painted murals of animals and sky and clouds... very nice. We take a photo with Gary and his wife...wait I'll ask Vickie what her name is...Carla is her name... I knew she'd remember - Anyways we drive off looking for someplace to have lunch... we decide to go to a pink building around the corner from our hotel. It's a candy factory and ice cream shop, locally owned by some folks from San Jose... they have been running it for around 15 years... I have the Korean short ribs with rice (duh) and a side salad (the salad actually came first, but I don’t want to erase what I've written) with a papaya, poppy seed dressing that is really good... after dropping a gob of dressing on my shorts, I actually get to enjoy my salad... the place is nice, and it's air conditioned... big plus…although my ribs are a little fatty, they are very tasty and Vickie's mahi mahi fish and ships are pretty good too, We buy some salt water taffy for rod and have just enough room for ice cream.. Vickie has the pineapple sorbet and I have the Ohana nut crunch (kinda like heath bar crunch with macadamia nuts).
The bathrooms are way too hot inside so I pass on going there and we take a few snapshots outside - I was a little bitter that the gal serving the ice cream charged me full price when I really had a half portion, but whatever... Next we head back to our room at the KII to change into our suits - we're off to Hapuna beach... the big "white sand beach" on Kona... it's a good 30 minute drive there, and we're only able to stay about an hour and a half because our car is due back... the place is packed, but we find a parking spot near the back of the lot and hike the short distance to the beach... it's a pretty warm day with full sunshine. Once we claim a spot it's off to the water and crashing waves... the3 surf is a lot rougher than I expected, but Vickie is having a great time. That's a relief. I thought for sure I would be swimming alone. The water is cool and refreshing and very clear… although the distinct salt water on your lips keeps you spitting. There are lots of boogie boarders and body surfers. After about 20 minutes we end up on our towels in the sand, both reading our books…Vickie's reading some book on deliberate parenting and I'm reading a book I bought for Scott years ago called shadow divers. After some time we decide we better head back to Kona to return the car. My dad told me to call him when we get to the rental place so he can come get us... once we return the car and wait a short while, dad and Velma show up. We head back to the KII and shower/change and go out to dinner with Dad and Velma... we go to an L&L by the hotel, but decide it looks too small, so we drive about 15minutes to the one by dad and Velma... when we get there we see the whole Fernandez clan... Tommy, Bob, Princee Ann, Suzanne, everyone...they invite us back to Princee Ann and Scott's place for a visit... we decide to eat at L&L - Dad and I had the garlic ahi, and Vickie got the teriyaki - chicken... I think Velma go the Katsu... I like the meal much more than Vickie but she's a good sport about it. We head over to Princee Ann's and Scott's place and visit for about an hour and a half... after a couple of beers it's time to go... as we're saying our goodbyes, a loud voice boomks across the apartment "GET OUT" - we look to see an irate guy in a baby-blue sleeveless tee shirt hollering for us to leave "I"VE HAD TWO COMPLAINTS ALREADY!!!! THIS IS MY PROPERTY!!! EVERYONE OUT NOW!!! A shame we all left on that note... Rik's wife was calmly explaining to this jerk that it was a family get together and not a drunken frat party, but by then we were already getting into our cars. felt bad for them... the guy could have been more adult about it but chose to be a hump. We say our goodbyes to Dad and Velma... they're off the Oahu the next day for another week of golf and visiting with friends... some of the Fernandez family will be there too. wish we could go =( Vickie and I watch a little food network at the condo before bed... I'm always amazed at how many geckos are scurrying up and down ouir building... they're really cool.
Monday ... our last full day - Vickie was a little disappointed about how the evening turned out... I think she wanted to spend it just us seeing a movie or something... but without a car your kinda stuck... she's okay...just a little bummed... we decide to walk the opposite direction on the strip than we had been (away from ABC and LUL LUs) and towards Kamehameha hotel... lots of little shops and lots of gifts to buy... I found a silver thumb ring and she found a toe ring she always wanted... she almost bought a pants/shirt combo but it didn't quite fit the way she anted...so no sale. I call Patrick to see if they are back from Hilo yet...turned out they didn't spend the night there after all.. so we decided to meet after lunch at our hotel and ride out to captain cooks monument where we will kayak out to the monument (a two mile row) and do some snorkeling. I honestly don't think Vickie will do it... Vickie and I first eat the Big Island Grill (BIG) ... I have a HUGE bowl of saimin which comes with tempura shrimp... it's awesome... Vickie has a papaya stuffed with chicken salad and a bowl of soup...l flourless chocolate cake to go... We drop our cake off at the hotel, change into out suits, and meet Pat and Jen in the lobby for the ride out to the kayak launch site about 30 minutes away... Vickie knows the name of the beach so I'll let her fill that in. After a dizzying windy drive through misty rain forest we arrive at the launch site where we need to rent two kayaks,,, a toothless 30ish woman tells us it's $40 per kayak - a bit spendy but what can you do? You’re there already... anyways Vickie and I life jacket up and literally jump into the boat (it's the only way to get in) and we row out towards the monument two miles away... the ocean is really choppy and it seems like it will take forever... my left thumb is getting sore and i know I'll have a blister, but we sally forth... before long we get to the monument... a weathered make-shift lava-rock docking point with a chained off white monument that looks deceptively similar to the Washington monument. It stands about ten feet tall and is surrounded by corral reef teeming with brightly colored fish... Jen and patrick arrive about 10 minutes later and Jen looks a little green... before long her stomach settles and they gear up to go snorkeling. There are little black crabs scurrying all over the island... kinda freaky and cool at the same time... we snap some photos for a Russian family and they take a few of Vickie and me in front of the monument. You can see tons of life under the water even without a snorkel... but I wanted to see more... soon pat and Jen pass us their gear and to my surprise Vickie accepts it and is off exploring... it's like swimming with all the fish from finding Nemo... tangs, needlefish, anemones all over schools and schools of them... the time is way too short. We have to start heading back because we bought tickets to a luau... we paddle back to the launch point... getting back is much quicker and easier, although Pat and Jen thought we were really moving fast. We made such good time that Vickie and I had a chance to shower off before we had to get back on the car. The toothless girl invited us back to a local luau, but we couldn't go since we were leaving the next day. The ride back was fun as wind whipped through my fuzzy head.... we told Jen and Pat we'd walk over to the royal Kona Inn and meet them after we had cleaned up... After we shower we head over... lots of people in line as the smell of smoked meat and sweet cake fills the air. Pat and Jen arrive before long and we all get really good seats near the stage. Mai Tais are all you can drink... although they are pretty weak. There's a couple at our table from Maryland who are on their second honeymoon in a year (Stan and Natalie) and another couple on their first Vickie seems to hit it off with. We get called to the buffet line as the second table. There's salads, poi, coconut jello, smoked pork, marinated steak, two kinds of chicken, ono fish filets, raw sashimi, rice, bread and coconut or pineapple upside down cake... the food is very good…if you hurry you can get seconds, but we're too preoccupied with the sunset and they consolidate the buffet into one line, then nothing... the shows about to start...we take some last minute sunset photos and watch the show begin... lots of folklore and dance, fire knife dancing, the obligatory hula (Didn't know men hula too) and of course the "let's embarrass the audience" hula with "volunteers" It was a great show. Pat and Jen walk back with us to our condo... but first we stop at the ABC for a ukulele for the kids (special phoned in request)
got our bags and got into Dad's car - off to Wal-Mart for a few groceries and shoes for Vickie (and some sunscreen)
drove to our condo right on the strip - said goodnight to dad and Velma
went to Hooters for dinner and a beer (fish and chips and a cob salad)
Back to our room to sleep - early day tomorrow - 12 hour bus tour of the whole island
Thursday - set alarm for 5:15 to call kids before they went to school...up around 6 AM - life cereal and cinnamon raison bagels, coffee and milk
Bus driver picks us up at Bubba Gumps at 7:30am - we get to sit in the front! Our bus driver's name is Greg Benson from Oahu - really knowledgeable and a nice guy. our first stop is the Kona coffee plantation gift store for coffee samples and macadamia-rum cake (and to shop) - we take too long going potty and are the last ones on the bus
off to a bakery about 30 minutes away - roads are lined with avacado and mango trees - Kona coffee plants everywhere - driver shows us that a coffee bean is actaully the seed inside a fruit - and that 1 in 100 beans isa single, not a pair, and that is considered better coffee - a peaberry - got to try some - no big deal... it's good, but i like sumatra better - the bakery has INSANE dougnuts - we bought two - a guava and a passionfruit-iced one - HOLY COW - best doughtnut ever-around the bakery we see samples of Hawaiian crops - pineapple plants with pineapples on them, sugar cane plants, avacados, mangos.
next stop black sand beach - really cool - and look, there's a giant sea turtle on the lava near the edge of the beach - a little treacherous getting close to him, but we manage to snap a few – there’s a bigger one further down the beach on the sand... he's asleep - our driver warned us to stay at least 10 feet away from the turtles, so we take a few photos at a safe distance.
time to go to the volcano house atop kiluwea - a 35 minute drive - it's exactly noon when we arrive. Along the way Greg is pointing to plants and fruit trees lining the road... we have 45 minutes to grab a quick sandwich in the cafeteria and explore... enough time to see the visitors building and buy a few gifts.
off the caldera on top of the volcano itself, Smells of sulfur and steam fishers are all around, We stop and have around 20 minutes to hike down to the lookout point and snap a few more photos, Smells toxic.
Next stop is a lava tunnel created by quick moving lava during an eruption long ago... its raining, and smells like fresh mountain air - bright flowers and foliage lines the crooked path to the tunnel... gobs of water drop from the ceiling as we make our way through the dark cavern... the sides of the tunnel have square light installed about every 25 yards to help see the otherwise pitch darkness. We dodge cold deep puddles on the muddy path below,.
Back at the bus Greg tells us we have 20 minutes to the next stop and he plays us some Hawaiian music while we take a short snooze. next stop is the orchid farm
Anyone want to buy a $10,000 orchid - on sale for $8000? Big bright orchids everywhere - many with the sweet fragrance you’d expect..some with unexpected smells - chocolate, peach, vanilla – very, very cool... we buy some more gifts.
Next we have a long haul to Hilo - long drive, more Hawaiian music, more history - we get to see the stone Kamehameha lifted and turned over as a test of his virility.
We stop at a gushing waterfall called rainbow falls.,,, monkey pod tress are also everywhere. Vickie has to pee so bad she ignores Greg's advice and uses to public restroom...we eat some crackers at a local craft store and board the bus for parker ranch.
We see a fire along the way burning on the hill... we learn a Hawaiian cowboy is a paniolo ,,, and beef is called a pi pi ,, so what do you call a pi pi on a hill ? Lean beef,,, Greg's bad joke,,, pi pis laying down are ground beef....(groan) - Vickie and I share a chicken plate lunch and sit with cousin Greg talking about home and kids and life.
Back on the bus... time to head back and drop everyone off at their resorts - it's no secret most everyone on our bus is staying at very expensive golf clubs and resorts... nice folks, but rich,
we are the last ones off the bus and Cousin Greg recommends a few spots along the strip,... we tip him and thank him for a great tour... highly recommended.
After a quick shower at the condo, we meet up with Dad and Velma, Pat and Jen and cousin bob at LuLu's for dinner... bob ends up footing the bill and we have a great time visiting. Afterwards we head back to our condo and crash... long day...
Friday - Breakfast in our room...over to lava java for internet access and a spinach wrap. We shop a little along the strip... We head over to the farmer's market and buy more gifts and some papayas and a white pineapple.,,,, BEST PINEAPPLE EVER - had some fruit for lunch, then went swimming in out complex's pool... very nice. - went to the reunion party and ate, drank, visited with everyone... Cousin bob played ukulele while Princee Ann and SUZANNE DID THE HULA - as did Brawney and the other birthday folks... sang happy birthday to Tommy, Tony, Patrick and Rick... ate cake... visited more. Got a ride home in Pat's red convertible mustang. Very cool.
Saturday - Breakfast in our room... dad and pat pick me up and we're off to Waikola for some golf... dad gets the local rate and pat and I only have to pay for club rental... nice!
decent course...nothing fantastic...I play a lousy first 9 holes... dad and pat do much better... I play the front nine much better (after surrendering my fairway woods) nice set of Nike clubs though) - after golf we meet up with the girls at the king shops and have a snack (I ate a fish burrito - some snack) dad had a dipped ice cream and pat a hot dog. The girls shared but had nothing of their own
Dad and Velma take off together while Vickie and I pile into pat and Jen's convertible mustang for the 40 minute trip back to Kona. Vickie and I decide to rent a car for Sunday since we are going to visit Pam and Don's Friend's church in Kona. Pat and Jen drop us at the budget rent a car and we get a sapphire blue Pontiac that is fairly new and drives well. Nice to have a car for a while. Back to the Kona Islander Inn for a shower and rest. pat and Jen pick us up later for dinner at Teresa, Randy and Jeanette's. Although dinner is supposed to start at 7, we don’t get there until 9. Patrick brings roast port loin while randy and Teresa prepped BBQ'd steak and shrimp...there's also steamed broccoli, rice of course, and mushrooms. Later i prep a fruit salad of papaya we brought from farmer's market, and a white pineapple that everyone loves…along with some watermelon. Not much in the way of drinks. Jeanette ekes out a few screwdrivers with what's left of her vodka and then it's diet cokes and water. We visit while a game of spinners materializes at the dinner table... Randy seems to be doing much better and might even move to Reno...that would be a very interesting situation and further confirmation of our staying Reno right now. We leave Teresa’s around 11... another great day and a solid sleep.
Sunday we're up as usual around 8am and have some of the banana - peanut butter bread Vickie bought for me while she was out shopping the previous day. it's okay... but c'mon for $3 it ought to be a little bigger. After I finish my coffee we're off to church... the road is very steep and winding with many churches past along the way, At the top of the hill sits the church where Gary is associate pastor. Nice guy with a friendly face and constant smile. The sanctuary is wall-less with a large rear-projected screen in front for worship lyrics. Although I don't recognize all the songs, the style and feel of the church is very familiar and we are at home. The worship pastor is a thin dark haired island-looking guy with a pleasant moustache smile and baritone voice. After announcements the head teaching pastor calls the kids up to the front for a short kids' lesson on fear and trust... he uses a toy helicopter and a white plastic castle-looking prop and tells us it's a volcano (use your imagination) - He tells us of how he preformed a wedding with four of these helicopters circling the active volcano, and how the one he was on even tipped face first into the bubbling, lava filled caldron to give everyone on board a better view. The kids are dismissed to Sunday School and the pastor continues with his lesson - the sermon is on Fear and he used the story of the disciples being afraid in the boat while Jesus sleeps... he shows us slides of his recent (2004) trip to the holy lands and their boat ride on the actual sea of Galilee. During the sermon he shows a not-so-short movie clip from Joe Versus the Volcano relating his experience of moving to Kona and planting a church to Joe's experience jumping into the Volcano... it worked okay... clip was too long though =) --- next he asked people to share their experience of trusting God in their lives via open mic... a few people shared similar stories of how God had heard their prayers and answered them. Vickie and I both considered sharing, but were content with hearing the locals talk of their experiences. Church ends with a familiar song that i can't remember right now since I'm on a plane a few days later and I'm heading back to SF. Vickie was upset about the seating arrangement (we're not next to each other, but I'm in front of her - But I'll get to that in a little while... back to Sunday.... the head pastor - I wish this guy in front of me would sit still... his seat is all the way back and the laptop is poking my stomach…anyways the head pastor whose name escapes me... Vickie will probably fill this in later - announces it's pastor Gary's birthday (you remember Pam and Don's friend?) he gets up in front of everyone and we sing happy birthday... oh, his wife is really nice too... can't remember her name either. Anyways we get a short tour of the facility... I guess the building we had service in is not the final sanctuary, but the events center... they plan to build another building within 5 years that will be the real sanctuary... can't imagine a better place for church than this building... all you see to the left is coastline and ocean... all you see to the right is tropical plants and flowers.... and there's a pleasant breeze wafting through during the whole service... really nice... anyways Gary shows us the youth area which is a loft above the sanctuary... it has the obligatory foosball (same table as Rod and Ginny's) and air hockey... plus shuffle board to the right... obviously donated, and a TV and video game console... not sure which one-they blow fans on the futons constantly because they have trouble with mold due to moisture. the fans seem to help. The nursery is awesome with hand painted murals of animals and sky and clouds... very nice. We take a photo with Gary and his wife...wait I'll ask Vickie what her name is...Carla is her name... I knew she'd remember - Anyways we drive off looking for someplace to have lunch... we decide to go to a pink building around the corner from our hotel. It's a candy factory and ice cream shop, locally owned by some folks from San Jose... they have been running it for around 15 years... I have the Korean short ribs with rice (duh) and a side salad (the salad actually came first, but I don’t want to erase what I've written) with a papaya, poppy seed dressing that is really good... after dropping a gob of dressing on my shorts, I actually get to enjoy my salad... the place is nice, and it's air conditioned... big plus…although my ribs are a little fatty, they are very tasty and Vickie's mahi mahi fish and ships are pretty good too, We buy some salt water taffy for rod and have just enough room for ice cream.. Vickie has the pineapple sorbet and I have the Ohana nut crunch (kinda like heath bar crunch with macadamia nuts).
The bathrooms are way too hot inside so I pass on going there and we take a few snapshots outside - I was a little bitter that the gal serving the ice cream charged me full price when I really had a half portion, but whatever... Next we head back to our room at the KII to change into our suits - we're off to Hapuna beach... the big "white sand beach" on Kona... it's a good 30 minute drive there, and we're only able to stay about an hour and a half because our car is due back... the place is packed, but we find a parking spot near the back of the lot and hike the short distance to the beach... it's a pretty warm day with full sunshine. Once we claim a spot it's off to the water and crashing waves... the3 surf is a lot rougher than I expected, but Vickie is having a great time. That's a relief. I thought for sure I would be swimming alone. The water is cool and refreshing and very clear… although the distinct salt water on your lips keeps you spitting. There are lots of boogie boarders and body surfers. After about 20 minutes we end up on our towels in the sand, both reading our books…Vickie's reading some book on deliberate parenting and I'm reading a book I bought for Scott years ago called shadow divers. After some time we decide we better head back to Kona to return the car. My dad told me to call him when we get to the rental place so he can come get us... once we return the car and wait a short while, dad and Velma show up. We head back to the KII and shower/change and go out to dinner with Dad and Velma... we go to an L&L by the hotel, but decide it looks too small, so we drive about 15minutes to the one by dad and Velma... when we get there we see the whole Fernandez clan... Tommy, Bob, Princee Ann, Suzanne, everyone...they invite us back to Princee Ann and Scott's place for a visit... we decide to eat at L&L - Dad and I had the garlic ahi, and Vickie got the teriyaki - chicken... I think Velma go the Katsu... I like the meal much more than Vickie but she's a good sport about it. We head over to Princee Ann's and Scott's place and visit for about an hour and a half... after a couple of beers it's time to go... as we're saying our goodbyes, a loud voice boomks across the apartment "GET OUT" - we look to see an irate guy in a baby-blue sleeveless tee shirt hollering for us to leave "I"VE HAD TWO COMPLAINTS ALREADY!!!! THIS IS MY PROPERTY!!! EVERYONE OUT NOW!!! A shame we all left on that note... Rik's wife was calmly explaining to this jerk that it was a family get together and not a drunken frat party, but by then we were already getting into our cars. felt bad for them... the guy could have been more adult about it but chose to be a hump. We say our goodbyes to Dad and Velma... they're off the Oahu the next day for another week of golf and visiting with friends... some of the Fernandez family will be there too. wish we could go =( Vickie and I watch a little food network at the condo before bed... I'm always amazed at how many geckos are scurrying up and down ouir building... they're really cool.
Monday ... our last full day - Vickie was a little disappointed about how the evening turned out... I think she wanted to spend it just us seeing a movie or something... but without a car your kinda stuck... she's okay...just a little bummed... we decide to walk the opposite direction on the strip than we had been (away from ABC and LUL LUs) and towards Kamehameha hotel... lots of little shops and lots of gifts to buy... I found a silver thumb ring and she found a toe ring she always wanted... she almost bought a pants/shirt combo but it didn't quite fit the way she anted...so no sale. I call Patrick to see if they are back from Hilo yet...turned out they didn't spend the night there after all.. so we decided to meet after lunch at our hotel and ride out to captain cooks monument where we will kayak out to the monument (a two mile row) and do some snorkeling. I honestly don't think Vickie will do it... Vickie and I first eat the Big Island Grill (BIG) ... I have a HUGE bowl of saimin which comes with tempura shrimp... it's awesome... Vickie has a papaya stuffed with chicken salad and a bowl of soup...l flourless chocolate cake to go... We drop our cake off at the hotel, change into out suits, and meet Pat and Jen in the lobby for the ride out to the kayak launch site about 30 minutes away... Vickie knows the name of the beach so I'll let her fill that in. After a dizzying windy drive through misty rain forest we arrive at the launch site where we need to rent two kayaks,,, a toothless 30ish woman tells us it's $40 per kayak - a bit spendy but what can you do? You’re there already... anyways Vickie and I life jacket up and literally jump into the boat (it's the only way to get in) and we row out towards the monument two miles away... the ocean is really choppy and it seems like it will take forever... my left thumb is getting sore and i know I'll have a blister, but we sally forth... before long we get to the monument... a weathered make-shift lava-rock docking point with a chained off white monument that looks deceptively similar to the Washington monument. It stands about ten feet tall and is surrounded by corral reef teeming with brightly colored fish... Jen and patrick arrive about 10 minutes later and Jen looks a little green... before long her stomach settles and they gear up to go snorkeling. There are little black crabs scurrying all over the island... kinda freaky and cool at the same time... we snap some photos for a Russian family and they take a few of Vickie and me in front of the monument. You can see tons of life under the water even without a snorkel... but I wanted to see more... soon pat and Jen pass us their gear and to my surprise Vickie accepts it and is off exploring... it's like swimming with all the fish from finding Nemo... tangs, needlefish, anemones all over schools and schools of them... the time is way too short. We have to start heading back because we bought tickets to a luau... we paddle back to the launch point... getting back is much quicker and easier, although Pat and Jen thought we were really moving fast. We made such good time that Vickie and I had a chance to shower off before we had to get back on the car. The toothless girl invited us back to a local luau, but we couldn't go since we were leaving the next day. The ride back was fun as wind whipped through my fuzzy head.... we told Jen and Pat we'd walk over to the royal Kona Inn and meet them after we had cleaned up... After we shower we head over... lots of people in line as the smell of smoked meat and sweet cake fills the air. Pat and Jen arrive before long and we all get really good seats near the stage. Mai Tais are all you can drink... although they are pretty weak. There's a couple at our table from Maryland who are on their second honeymoon in a year (Stan and Natalie) and another couple on their first Vickie seems to hit it off with. We get called to the buffet line as the second table. There's salads, poi, coconut jello, smoked pork, marinated steak, two kinds of chicken, ono fish filets, raw sashimi, rice, bread and coconut or pineapple upside down cake... the food is very good…if you hurry you can get seconds, but we're too preoccupied with the sunset and they consolidate the buffet into one line, then nothing... the shows about to start...we take some last minute sunset photos and watch the show begin... lots of folklore and dance, fire knife dancing, the obligatory hula (Didn't know men hula too) and of course the "let's embarrass the audience" hula with "volunteers" It was a great show. Pat and Jen walk back with us to our condo... but first we stop at the ABC for a ukulele for the kids (special phoned in request)
Ketchup...to "catch you up" on the last few months
Well, so much for my goal of blogging twice a week! Since I haven't done a single entry since I started my new job August 1st I decided I better do a Ketchup Post. Here are the key events:
- In July Craig and I both started interviewing for new jobs. I found a job posting on the marketing page of the Reno craigslist that described him perfectly. After a 3 year stint of commuting to Carson for work we were both really ready to be living and working in the same city. And after 16 moths of having the house on the market we were started to think that God had other plans for us right now that didn't include moving to Boise. I also decided to apply for a newly vacant position at our church leading the children's ministry.
- On July 31st I got a phone call from the church telling me that they would like me to start work the next morning.
- About a week later Craig got the official offer from CLP (a skilled trade service provider with their headquarters in South Reno) that they would like him to start the end of August. This meant that for the first time in his adult life he would have 2 1/2 consecutive weeks off work!
- The timing couldn't have been better because Craig and I went to Kona for a week during that time for a vacation/family reunion. It was our first "real" vacation since our honeymoon and we had a wonderful time. My parents came up and stayed with the kids while we were gone making sure that Noah & Max were well-entertained and Josh & Annie got to dentist appointments and school. For a complete account from the Kona trip look for Craig's Trip Diary in a separate post.
- The weekend before going to Kona we held a dedication service for Max and Noah. The service was performed by family friend Reverend Steve Wren and was held in our backyard. Joining us from Boise were very dear friends whom we asked to be godparents for our children - Debbie & Larry Kreidler and Matt & Johanna Dempster.
- September brought our last big gigs for the business this season - an out of town wedding and a huge fundraiser for a local foundation. My work was also in full-swing with the start of the new Sunday School year and the after school Kids Club I lead each Wednesday.
- If you've known me for any length of time, you know how we love to celebrate Halloween with a family theme that is usually being planned over the course of the whole previous year. (Yes, the kids are already busy planning for Halloween 2008!) This year we had decided to go as a Full House, Kings over Queens with Noah as the Joker. Craig did a beautiful job with the costumes. The only difficulty was that they weren't very comfortable. And when we planned them months before we had no way of knowing that I would be in charge of our church's first Fall Family Festival! It worked out fine with the costumes, and thanks to an incredible committee of volunteers, the Festival was wonderful!
- In November Josh and Annie spent a week with my parents while they were off-track from school. While they were gone I tried to find time to work on my Kona album (which I did finish the first week of December!) My parents brought them all the way home to Reno (often we meet them in Sacramento) and stayed for a few days. During that time my dad painted a wall in Josh & Noah's room and we all attended a big (HUGE) Thanksgiving dinner at church that weekend. We are so thankful for our church and our many friends who make up our church family.
- Thanksgiving Day we got up early, loaded the car, and started on our way to Boise. Our target arrival time was 3pm for dinner at 5pm with the Kreidlers. Unfortunately, I managed to veer off the road, over-correct, spin us completely around, and take out a reflector post on our way into a ditch full of sage brush. We met a very nice tow-truck driver and a wonderful mechanic who opened his shop up just for us. We also met a not-so-nice police officer and I got my very first ticket...After a 5 hour delay in and around Winnemucca, NV we were back on the road - in our own van - with Craig driving.
- The rest of our weekend in Boise was WONDERFUL. It still amazes me how at home we feel in a city where we haven't lived (yet). We stayed with Debbie and Larry's family, spent all day Friday with the Dempsters and all visited with dear friends the Herberts, "Grandma Judie," my former youth leader Becky Lee, a former co-worker & friend of Craig's, and our pastor and friend, Mark Coffin. Much to be thankful for that weekend, but mostly thankful for an uneventful drive home.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Favorite Quotes from "You're Late Again, Lord!"
As I referenced in an earlier posting, I have been reading a great little book by Karon Phillips Goodman called "You're Late Again, Lord!" I wanted to share with you some favorite quotes since I don't think I could express these ideas any better. Enjoy, be inspired, and buy the book!
- So, when your life is at a standstill over what you can't control, and when you're waiting on answers that never seem to come, God says to use that time to work where you are. God says to learn the art of waiting purposefully. Maybe that's what God had in mind all along. Maybe that's why we wait. (p. 11)
- He doesn't say wait and hope and sit quietly. He says to mount up, to run, and to walk--these are words that indicate anything but inaction. These words require work. These words come with a purpose. You can fulfill the Lord's purpose for you while you wait and hope. Waht a plan. I told you He was smart. (p. 17)
- The time I spent waiting didn’t have to be endless and useless—it could be productive and dynamic. Living according to my Lord’s timetable included my work, too. I could be both prayerful and purposeful. I could “pray without ceasing” while I worked. I could listen and learn. God had prepared for my impatience. He had provided a place for me to grow. He was going to be there while we waited, to help me find what I had lost, and He and I both knew that was a long list. (pp. 28-29)
- Even if you think you already know, you will be amazed at what God has to show you. It’s the difference betweeen holding a glass of water and standing in the ocean. (p. 97)
- I can’t tell you what plans the Lord has for you, or that you will always understand them immediately, but I can tell you that you can know what to do each day—this day’s work. That’s enough. That’s all you need. (p. 124)
- God has promised to help us, not just on Sundays or when we’re ill or when we have life-altering decisions to make, but forever. “Lo, I am with you always,” Jesus said (Matthew 28:20 NKJV). I don’t read any qualifying remarks there, do you? My Bible says “always” and there is no double meaning or outdated definition for that word. (p. 126)
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Vickie’s Top 10 Tips for Plane Trips with Children
10. Bring the Pack’n’Play. I am so glad I decided to bring ours. I love it, and my kids are used to it. It was so easy to just check it through with the baggage.
9. Buy the ice cream in the airport. This is especially important if you have a longer layover. It is worth $2.50 a scoop (I bought everyone a “tiny” instead of a “small”) to reward good behavior for the first leg of the trip and encourage more smiles for the rest of the way.
8. Don’t make your “home base” in the airport while you wait for your next flight at the bottom of the stairs that lead to the Admirals Club. Enough said.
7. Keep baby wipes handy. Even if you’ve only been a parent for 2 days you probably know this one. However, baby wipes have so many other incredible uses like wiping spit-up off your clothes, washing sticky fingers and faces after eating an over-priced airport, but on this trip I learned yet another use for them. You can actually use a baby wipe to erase a work of art off the window shade on a plane.
6. Avoid American Airlines if possible. This is the least kid-friendly airline I’ve ever encountered. Even with 2 babies, 2 car seats and 2 children, they refused to let us pre-board. We were in Group 5 or 6 every time. I was still installing car seats and getting kids situated as they were telling us to prepare for take off. And unless you want to pay $3 for a cookie bring plenty of snacks for the kids. Not even peanuts on this airline. (Oh, and the headphones are $5 each if you don’t bring your own…)
5. Bring a stroller. It is so easy to gate check an umbrella stroller – it is so worth it. In our case I just brought one stroller and the boys took turns. Some airports will also let you go through the handicap security line if you have a stroller. Even if you factor in the extra time it takes to remove the child and collapse the stroller for the x-ray machine chances are it may save you more time by not waiting in line.
4. Be persistent about trying to get your car seat on board. Sometimes it isn’t always financially practical to buy a ticket for a baby since it isn’t required. But let’s face it, most “lap children” are done with your lap before the plane has reached its cruising altitude. If the plane isn’t full try to bring your car seat on board. It will save your back and possibly your sanity. Southwest is great about this. I learned this time however, that it can be more difficult on other airlines (like American)
3. Give older kids a special job. Assign an older child to push the stroller, carry a tote bag or entertain a younger one. It gives them something productive to do and the special responsibility will encourage them to be on their best behavior.
2. Plan ahead & buy large ziplock bags. I filled one for each child with special things to do on the plane. I included things like a card game, a new art notebook & crayons, a favorite paperback book, a skein of yarn for the older kids. Max’s had some Elmo crackers too.
1. Bring Grandma & Grandpa. I couldn’t have survived that many plane rides without them!
9. Buy the ice cream in the airport. This is especially important if you have a longer layover. It is worth $2.50 a scoop (I bought everyone a “tiny” instead of a “small”) to reward good behavior for the first leg of the trip and encourage more smiles for the rest of the way.
8. Don’t make your “home base” in the airport while you wait for your next flight at the bottom of the stairs that lead to the Admirals Club. Enough said.
7. Keep baby wipes handy. Even if you’ve only been a parent for 2 days you probably know this one. However, baby wipes have so many other incredible uses like wiping spit-up off your clothes, washing sticky fingers and faces after eating an over-priced airport, but on this trip I learned yet another use for them. You can actually use a baby wipe to erase a work of art off the window shade on a plane.
6. Avoid American Airlines if possible. This is the least kid-friendly airline I’ve ever encountered. Even with 2 babies, 2 car seats and 2 children, they refused to let us pre-board. We were in Group 5 or 6 every time. I was still installing car seats and getting kids situated as they were telling us to prepare for take off. And unless you want to pay $3 for a cookie bring plenty of snacks for the kids. Not even peanuts on this airline. (Oh, and the headphones are $5 each if you don’t bring your own…)
5. Bring a stroller. It is so easy to gate check an umbrella stroller – it is so worth it. In our case I just brought one stroller and the boys took turns. Some airports will also let you go through the handicap security line if you have a stroller. Even if you factor in the extra time it takes to remove the child and collapse the stroller for the x-ray machine chances are it may save you more time by not waiting in line.
4. Be persistent about trying to get your car seat on board. Sometimes it isn’t always financially practical to buy a ticket for a baby since it isn’t required. But let’s face it, most “lap children” are done with your lap before the plane has reached its cruising altitude. If the plane isn’t full try to bring your car seat on board. It will save your back and possibly your sanity. Southwest is great about this. I learned this time however, that it can be more difficult on other airlines (like American)
3. Give older kids a special job. Assign an older child to push the stroller, carry a tote bag or entertain a younger one. It gives them something productive to do and the special responsibility will encourage them to be on their best behavior.
2. Plan ahead & buy large ziplock bags. I filled one for each child with special things to do on the plane. I included things like a card game, a new art notebook & crayons, a favorite paperback book, a skein of yarn for the older kids. Max’s had some Elmo crackers too.
1. Bring Grandma & Grandpa. I couldn’t have survived that many plane rides without them!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Amazing...
I just returned home from visiting relatives (my mom's side) in St. Louis and thought I'd share my reflections on some of the amazing people in our lives.
1. My Grandparents - My gradma was born in 1915 and my grandpa in 1916. They married in 1941 and they still live in the home they bought when my mom was a baby. Amazing. While we were there my grandma made Josh 3 pair of shorts from some pants that were too long, fixed the straps on two of Annie's sundresses, hemmed a pair of jeans for me and altered a dress for me. Amazing. The morning we were leaving Max snuck outside. My grandpa was the only one who noticed. I wonder how long it would have been until we realized that he wasn't playing with "someone else" in the other room.
2. My Family - I enjoyed visiting with all of the relatives but was amazed by how many aunts and cousins went out of their way to make things easy for us when we arrived. They worked together to get my grandparents' house ready for a week long visit of little people. There were car seats, high chairs (2 plus a booster!), cribs, an air mattress, toys, games, art supplies and more waiting for us. It was amazing how easy it was for 7 people to just "show up" and share 2 bedrooms!
3. My Parents - I could not have gone on this trip without my parents. Literally - the airlines wouldn't let me bring 2 lap children. But seriously, they help me so much I can't even tell you how amazing they are. They even cut their trip short because I couldn't stay any longer. They wanted to stay for 2 weeks but 8 days was really all we could do...My dad even offered to drive us home to Reno the next day and then fly back to San Jose so I wouldn't have to make the trip alone. But he didn't have to - see #4.
4. My Kids - The kids did awesome on the trip. Josh and Annie helped with the boys. Everyone slept where they were told, ate what was served, remembered their manners, cleaned up toys so my grandparents wouldn't fall over anything. They were amazing. And my proudest Mommy Moment - as we were leaving the security check point in the St. Louis airport (Can you imagine what it takes to get through security with 2 kids, 2 babies, 2 car seats, a stroller & 5 carry-on bags?) and a pregnant lady came up and said, "Your kids are so well behaved you give me hope!" Boy, did she make my day. (And boy, was I glad she wasn't on our flight from Austin to San Jose later that day!) And the drive home to Reno the next day was amazing. Not one kid cried, whined or complained the whole way home - not even a baby! We didn't even stop for lunch until Truckee!!!
5. My Parents' Neighbors - My parents' next door neighbors took us to the airport and picked us when we got back. It took both of them to do it because we wouldn't all fit in one vehicle! While we were gone she took my van and had it washed and vacuumed - what an amazing surprise! And later I solved another mystery - the family next door to them noticed a scratch on my bumper when my van was parked in my parents' driveway. Their son came over and buffed it out for me - thanks Jake!
6. My Husband - We missed him so much while we were gone. I'm sorry he couldn't come with us this time but I am so grateful that he understands how important it is to me that our kids know my grandparents and make memories at their house. He went to visit them without me once before and went water skiing with my uncle and cousins. I suspect he'll be the next one from our family to make a trip out there. He's simply amazing.
1. My Grandparents - My gradma was born in 1915 and my grandpa in 1916. They married in 1941 and they still live in the home they bought when my mom was a baby. Amazing. While we were there my grandma made Josh 3 pair of shorts from some pants that were too long, fixed the straps on two of Annie's sundresses, hemmed a pair of jeans for me and altered a dress for me. Amazing. The morning we were leaving Max snuck outside. My grandpa was the only one who noticed. I wonder how long it would have been until we realized that he wasn't playing with "someone else" in the other room.
2. My Family - I enjoyed visiting with all of the relatives but was amazed by how many aunts and cousins went out of their way to make things easy for us when we arrived. They worked together to get my grandparents' house ready for a week long visit of little people. There were car seats, high chairs (2 plus a booster!), cribs, an air mattress, toys, games, art supplies and more waiting for us. It was amazing how easy it was for 7 people to just "show up" and share 2 bedrooms!
3. My Parents - I could not have gone on this trip without my parents. Literally - the airlines wouldn't let me bring 2 lap children. But seriously, they help me so much I can't even tell you how amazing they are. They even cut their trip short because I couldn't stay any longer. They wanted to stay for 2 weeks but 8 days was really all we could do...My dad even offered to drive us home to Reno the next day and then fly back to San Jose so I wouldn't have to make the trip alone. But he didn't have to - see #4.
4. My Kids - The kids did awesome on the trip. Josh and Annie helped with the boys. Everyone slept where they were told, ate what was served, remembered their manners, cleaned up toys so my grandparents wouldn't fall over anything. They were amazing. And my proudest Mommy Moment - as we were leaving the security check point in the St. Louis airport (Can you imagine what it takes to get through security with 2 kids, 2 babies, 2 car seats, a stroller & 5 carry-on bags?) and a pregnant lady came up and said, "Your kids are so well behaved you give me hope!" Boy, did she make my day. (And boy, was I glad she wasn't on our flight from Austin to San Jose later that day!) And the drive home to Reno the next day was amazing. Not one kid cried, whined or complained the whole way home - not even a baby! We didn't even stop for lunch until Truckee!!!
5. My Parents' Neighbors - My parents' next door neighbors took us to the airport and picked us when we got back. It took both of them to do it because we wouldn't all fit in one vehicle! While we were gone she took my van and had it washed and vacuumed - what an amazing surprise! And later I solved another mystery - the family next door to them noticed a scratch on my bumper when my van was parked in my parents' driveway. Their son came over and buffed it out for me - thanks Jake!
6. My Husband - We missed him so much while we were gone. I'm sorry he couldn't come with us this time but I am so grateful that he understands how important it is to me that our kids know my grandparents and make memories at their house. He went to visit them without me once before and went water skiing with my uncle and cousins. I suspect he'll be the next one from our family to make a trip out there. He's simply amazing.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Noah's Ark
Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark
ONE: Don't miss the boat.
TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat!
THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the
FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
SIX: Build your future on high ground.
SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile.
TEN: Remember, the
ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a
rainbow waiting.
(In case you were wondering, NO, I didn't write this. Just one of those e-mails that I really enjoyed. Thanks, Michelle.)
rainbow waiting.
(In case you were wondering, NO, I didn't write this. Just one of those e-mails that I really enjoyed. Thanks, Michelle.)
Saturday, June 30, 2007
High/Low
Several years Craig and I rented a movie that was pretty bad - so bad I don't remember much about it, including the name. All I remember is this otherwise totally dysfunctional family played a game that caught my attention. They called it "High/Low". It just consisted of everyone in the family sharing their high point and low point of the day. Even though we don't yet play this regularly as a family, it is something I have always remembered. This past week while I was at my parents' house I watched a Bill Hybels DVD where he shared about a group of people who played this and how it changed their friendships and their lives as they learned to share more deeply. (I don't think this game was started by the bad movie I mentioned first - that was simply the first time I had heard of it.) Anyhow, I thought that since this is the last day of June I would share some of our highs and lows of various this month.
End of School:
highs -
The First Grade Musical Sarah Winnemucca (our kids elementary school) has the most wonderful music teacher (besides Mrs. Earle, of course). I have been so impressed by her since the first time I sat in on one of Annie's music class, but this musical was quite an accomplishment. Over 100 students were in the musical and each child had a solo, a speaking part or played a musical instrument for one of the songs. Amazing.
Kindergarten Graduation It doesn't get much cuter than Kindergarteners singing songs. The only thing cuter was when they called each child by name and shared how they completed the sentence "When I grow up I want to be..." Annie said she wanted to be an artist. But I think my favorite answer was the kid who said she wants to be a teenager.
low-
Poor Annie. She had a wonderful teacher for Kindergarten and on the way home from school on the last day was sharing her feelings with my friend who was driving carpool that day. I wasn't there, but this is how the conversations was conveyed to me: So, Annie, how was school on your last day? Annie: The last day...a new grade, a new classroom, new friends, a new teacher. This is the worst day of my life. I think she is excited about first grade, but it is nice to know how much she enjoyed Kindergarten.
Father's Day Weekend:
highs-
Craig's friend let us use his family's cabin near Lake Tahoe for the weekend. (Thank you, Scott!) Our highs inlcuded pancakes & baon for breakfast, taking the kids to the beach, finding a great, cheap burger joint, shopping at a craft fair, an awesome BBQ and a fun time just being together at the cabin. The kids were overheard saying things like, This is so AWESOME! (Josh) and When can we live in a cabin like this? (Annie) and Can we come every time no one in Scott's family signs up to use this cabin? (Josh) E-mail me if you want the link to the pictures.
low-
I think it would be for Craig - we were up on the beach hanging out with Max and Noah, teaching Max how to dig in the sand, when Annie came running up and said, "The inner tube is floating away - will you go reach it?" If it had been our inner tube it would probably still be in the lake but since we borrowed it from the cabin Daddy saved the day and dove in and swam after it. Lake Tahoe is pretty chilly in June...
Trip to San Jose:
highs-
Mike Kenny's wedding in Hollister It was a beautiful wedding and we especially enjoyed hanging out with college friend Kristen who had flown up from San Diego
Day Camp Josh and Annie had a blast at camp each day. Their fieldtrips included the redwoods, the children's historical museum & park, Monterrey Bay Aquarium, gymnastics and swimming. While they were at Camp I spent my time catching up with friends I hadn't seen in a while (Rebecca & Kristi) and watching some great DVD studies that my parents have - Bill Hybel's, Just Walk Across the Room and John Ortberg's If You Want to Walk on Water You Have to Get Out of the Boat. Great stuff.
lows-
Our travel times were less than perfect due to events in Reno both Saturdays. An interesting tidbit - we crossed the state line right around 11:30pm BOTH ways. Yep, we left Reno late Saturday night after Craig got back from working a wedding and arrived at my parents' house at 4:00am. Then Friday after Day Camp we left at 5:00. It took us 90 minutes to go the first 30 miles. That only included one short "detour" when I pulled over to change Max after he got carsick. Such a fun trip. Did I mention that Craig flew back Monday morning in time to go to work? Thankfully, Kevin and a friend of his (whose mom I happen to know - crazy...) met us for "dinner" at McDonald's in West Sac lasat night about 8:45. It was nice to have a few extra hands for our stop.
End of School:
highs -
The First Grade Musical Sarah Winnemucca (our kids elementary school) has the most wonderful music teacher (besides Mrs. Earle, of course). I have been so impressed by her since the first time I sat in on one of Annie's music class, but this musical was quite an accomplishment. Over 100 students were in the musical and each child had a solo, a speaking part or played a musical instrument for one of the songs. Amazing.
Kindergarten Graduation It doesn't get much cuter than Kindergarteners singing songs. The only thing cuter was when they called each child by name and shared how they completed the sentence "When I grow up I want to be..." Annie said she wanted to be an artist. But I think my favorite answer was the kid who said she wants to be a teenager.
low-
Poor Annie. She had a wonderful teacher for Kindergarten and on the way home from school on the last day was sharing her feelings with my friend who was driving carpool that day. I wasn't there, but this is how the conversations was conveyed to me: So, Annie, how was school on your last day? Annie: The last day...a new grade, a new classroom, new friends, a new teacher. This is the worst day of my life. I think she is excited about first grade, but it is nice to know how much she enjoyed Kindergarten.
Father's Day Weekend:
highs-
Craig's friend let us use his family's cabin near Lake Tahoe for the weekend. (Thank you, Scott!) Our highs inlcuded pancakes & baon for breakfast, taking the kids to the beach, finding a great, cheap burger joint, shopping at a craft fair, an awesome BBQ and a fun time just being together at the cabin. The kids were overheard saying things like, This is so AWESOME! (Josh) and When can we live in a cabin like this? (Annie) and Can we come every time no one in Scott's family signs up to use this cabin? (Josh) E-mail me if you want the link to the pictures.
low-
I think it would be for Craig - we were up on the beach hanging out with Max and Noah, teaching Max how to dig in the sand, when Annie came running up and said, "The inner tube is floating away - will you go reach it?" If it had been our inner tube it would probably still be in the lake but since we borrowed it from the cabin Daddy saved the day and dove in and swam after it. Lake Tahoe is pretty chilly in June...
Trip to San Jose:
highs-
Mike Kenny's wedding in Hollister It was a beautiful wedding and we especially enjoyed hanging out with college friend Kristen who had flown up from San Diego
Day Camp Josh and Annie had a blast at camp each day. Their fieldtrips included the redwoods, the children's historical museum & park, Monterrey Bay Aquarium, gymnastics and swimming. While they were at Camp I spent my time catching up with friends I hadn't seen in a while (Rebecca & Kristi) and watching some great DVD studies that my parents have - Bill Hybel's, Just Walk Across the Room and John Ortberg's If You Want to Walk on Water You Have to Get Out of the Boat. Great stuff.
lows-
Our travel times were less than perfect due to events in Reno both Saturdays. An interesting tidbit - we crossed the state line right around 11:30pm BOTH ways. Yep, we left Reno late Saturday night after Craig got back from working a wedding and arrived at my parents' house at 4:00am. Then Friday after Day Camp we left at 5:00. It took us 90 minutes to go the first 30 miles. That only included one short "detour" when I pulled over to change Max after he got carsick. Such a fun trip. Did I mention that Craig flew back Monday morning in time to go to work? Thankfully, Kevin and a friend of his (whose mom I happen to know - crazy...) met us for "dinner" at McDonald's in West Sac lasat night about 8:45. It was nice to have a few extra hands for our stop.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Like a Mommy Bird...
I often have people say things to me like, "I just don't know how you do it with four kids," or "I could never manage with a big family like you do." I don't really know how to reply to comments like that. I'm not Supermom. I just do what I need to do because I am the mom of these kids. Sure, it's hard, but sometimes you just "do" because that is what you were made to do.
This spring we had a bird's nest in our front yard inhabited by a mommy bird. She sat so faithfully on those eggs. I was sure the noise of the kids playing right next to her tree would scare her away. But she just stayed there. No matter how close they went to the tree to look at her she just stayed there. When I saw Craig getting ready to mow the lawn I was sure that would scare her away. I mean, really, wouldn't she just give up and fly away with the noise of that lawn mower right beneath her? Nope. She just stayed there on her eggs because that was what she was made to do.
God has a plan for each of us. Thankfully his plan for me is different than his plan for you. (You're probably thinking the same thing, aren't you?) But I belive he has put somehting special inside each of us mommies - the ability to just "do" what we need to do because we are the mom. Just like the mommy bird had the ability to do her job - sit on those eggs - no matter what distractions or scary noises came along, God will enable us to do our jobs as moms - no matter what distractions or scary cirumstances come our way.
This spring we had a bird's nest in our front yard inhabited by a mommy bird. She sat so faithfully on those eggs. I was sure the noise of the kids playing right next to her tree would scare her away. But she just stayed there. No matter how close they went to the tree to look at her she just stayed there. When I saw Craig getting ready to mow the lawn I was sure that would scare her away. I mean, really, wouldn't she just give up and fly away with the noise of that lawn mower right beneath her? Nope. She just stayed there on her eggs because that was what she was made to do.
God has a plan for each of us. Thankfully his plan for me is different than his plan for you. (You're probably thinking the same thing, aren't you?) But I belive he has put somehting special inside each of us mommies - the ability to just "do" what we need to do because we are the mom. Just like the mommy bird had the ability to do her job - sit on those eggs - no matter what distractions or scary noises came along, God will enable us to do our jobs as moms - no matter what distractions or scary cirumstances come our way.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Moving forward on my stationary bike
Over the years I've heard lots of comparisons drawn between life and treadmills. I don't want to be just moving for the sake of moving and not really going anywhere. I figured this illustration would hold true with stationary exercises bikes as well. And then I got one.
A few months ago I won a free membership to a small ladies gym. But a month after I started working out there it closed up. I thought about joining another gym but our family has what I call "extreme childcare issues" and it just didn't seem practical right now. So I bought a bike. I ride for a half hour or so in the afternoon while my babies are napping. My bike sits on my back deck and I really enjoy the fresh air and the peacefulness of my quiet backyard. But best of all, I can read. No one bothers me when I'm on my bike (at least in theory). I just sit there and pedal - and read. It is my quiet time to read and think. I just finished reading Generation NeXt Parenting by Tricia Goyer, thanks to my time on my bike. (If you were born in the 60's or 70's - Generation X - I highly recommend this book. So great to have someone OF our generation write a book specifically FOR our generation. More than just a parenting book...)
This weekend I started reading You're Late Again, Lord:The Impatient Woman's Guide to God's Timing by Karon Phillips Goodman. (Those of you who know me well are already laughing, aren't you?) The beginning talks about the difference between waiting patiently and waiting purposefully. Waiting on God doesn't mean just sitting still and waiting for him to move. It means to wait with purpose. While I wait I need to do what he wants me to be doing. Leaning on him, growing in him, moving closer to him. Serving him. Using my gifts. He didn't make me to sit still! Duh!!! I can put my hope in the Lord and wait on him. Then I will be able to renew my strength and soar on wings like eagles. I can run and not grow weary and walk and not be faint. I can ride my stationary bike in my backyard and keep moving forward!
A few months ago I won a free membership to a small ladies gym. But a month after I started working out there it closed up. I thought about joining another gym but our family has what I call "extreme childcare issues" and it just didn't seem practical right now. So I bought a bike. I ride for a half hour or so in the afternoon while my babies are napping. My bike sits on my back deck and I really enjoy the fresh air and the peacefulness of my quiet backyard. But best of all, I can read. No one bothers me when I'm on my bike (at least in theory). I just sit there and pedal - and read. It is my quiet time to read and think. I just finished reading Generation NeXt Parenting by Tricia Goyer, thanks to my time on my bike. (If you were born in the 60's or 70's - Generation X - I highly recommend this book. So great to have someone OF our generation write a book specifically FOR our generation. More than just a parenting book...)
This weekend I started reading You're Late Again, Lord:The Impatient Woman's Guide to God's Timing by Karon Phillips Goodman. (Those of you who know me well are already laughing, aren't you?) The beginning talks about the difference between waiting patiently and waiting purposefully. Waiting on God doesn't mean just sitting still and waiting for him to move. It means to wait with purpose. While I wait I need to do what he wants me to be doing. Leaning on him, growing in him, moving closer to him. Serving him. Using my gifts. He didn't make me to sit still! Duh!!! I can put my hope in the Lord and wait on him. Then I will be able to renew my strength and soar on wings like eagles. I can run and not grow weary and walk and not be faint. I can ride my stationary bike in my backyard and keep moving forward!
Friday, June 8, 2007
My kids say the darndest things!
Some of these are from a while back but I thought they were worth posting...
Jan. 06 We were sitting at dinner tonight and out of the blue she says, totally seriously, "When can we play Pass the Max? We'll just pass him around the circle and whoever is holding him when he spits up wins!"
2-6-06 I decided to buy Annie a new dress for her birthday. Monday night I took her to the store with me and on the way I told her that I was going to show her her birthday present when we got there. She loved the dress I had picked out! (I'd had my eye on it for weeks...) She wanted to hold the bag in the car and was talking about how she wanted to try it on when she got home to surprise Daddy and Josh. At one point I said, boy, you sure seem excited. Her reply - I'm so excited it's like we're getting pizza for dinner and the whole world was made out of chocolate!
2-13-06 Annie wouldn't get up and went back in there and said, "Are you a sleepy-head today?" She replied, "No, I'm a frozen-head!"
August
I was toasting frozen waffles for breakfast this morning. But, there was some debris in the bottom of the toaster oven and one of the waffles caught on fire. Next thing I knew Josh was out of seat on the floor saying, "Annie - quick! Get low!" To which Annie responded, "Yeah! And don't forget to stop, drop & roll!"
Sept.
My kids came home from church tonight with an especially neat craft. I asked her their teacher was and my daughter replied, "Miss Piggy." I laughed thinking about how they had watched The Great Muppet Caper this afternoon, but I wondered what she meant. After a minute I asked, "Could it have been Miss Peggy?" "Oh, yeah, that's what I meant."
A recent funny conversation:
(walking down the hallway in opposite directions)
Me: I love you.
Josh: I love you.
Me: Really? You do?
Josh: Yep, I do.
Me: Hey, that gives me an idea. Maybe since we love each other you could be my kid and I could be your mom.
Josh: That sounds good.
Me: Okay, but what do moms do?
Josh: Well, they get pregnant, have babies and make rules!
Oct.
10-5 My daughter announced at dinner last night that she is the "Craft Queen" and her brother is the "Snack King."
10-8 The other night we ordered Chinese food for dinner and in the middle of the meal Josh (6) said, "It's a good thing I wasn't born in China." Knowing how much he loved Chinese food, I asked him to explain why he thought that. "I don't know any Chinese," came the reply. "Not a single word!"
10-16 Our family is dressing as Wizard of Oz characters for Halloween this year and my 5 year old daughter is going to be Dorothy. When they scheduled my c-section for the week before Halloween Annie asked if the new baby could be Toto. Well, yesterday
I picked up a basket at Wal-Mart for her to carry. I figured she could use it to put her candy and prizes in and it would go nicely with her costume. She was /so excited /when she saw it because she thought she was going to get to carry the baby around in the basket. After all, she is Dorothy and the baby is going to be Toto. I think she was okay with the candy/prize idea once she got over the initial disappointment...
Nov.
Some recent conversations with Josh, age 6:
Josh: Mom, how many hours are in a day?
Me: Twenty-four.
Josh: How many hours are in a night?
How do you answer that?
Me: Kids, go get your shoes on. We need to go to the grocery store.
Josh: You know, Mom, if we get a cow we'd never need to go buy milk.
Me: Nice idea, Josh. Just go get your shoes on please.
We decided to try rearranging the kids' bedrooms and were moving Josh (6) in with Max (15 months). As I was tucking him in, Josh said, "Mom, what happens if I'm so asleep that I don't hear Max if he cries?" I told him not to worry because I always hear him. Then he said, "Oh yeah, moms are always awake. I just stand by you and your eyes open right up. But dads have to be patted and stuff for a while before they wake up."
12-1
Annie was making her peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch and she was describing each step out loud as she did it. When she noticed I was watching her she looked up at me and said, "I'm just being Rachel Ray!"
I was on the couch feeding the baby and was starting to doze off a little. Annie was next to me so she leaned over and gently stroked my arm and started to sing in her sweetest voice, "Rock a bye grown-up..." I laughed so hard I almost dropped the baby!
I decided to introduce the Advent wreath to my kids this year in hopes of creating a new family tradition. The first Sunday I set the table in the dining room for a special dinner and put the wreath in the middle of the table. After dinner, I started to explain to the kids that each candle represents something different and we'll talk about a different part of the Christmas story each Sunday as we light that candle. Right as I'm talking about what a fun way this will be to help us count down the weeks until Jesus' birthday, Josh interrupts with, "Is this a menorah?" Gotta love public school...
January 2007
Annie: I need some more tennis shoes, Mom.
Me: What happened to your other ones?
Annie: They shrunk!
(Me: Yeah, so did my jeans...)
I took Josh and Annie to get their hair cut over the weekend. While we waiting our turn another family walked in with a little blond girl about Annie's age. Annie turned to me and said, "Can I have my hair golden like hers?" I answered, "No, honey, God picked the color of your hair and we need to keep it that way." Her answer - "But you color your hair, Mommy!" Busted again.
Annie: Can I have a snack, Mom? I'm Spanished!
Me: I think you mean famished, Annie.
Annie: Oh, yeah, famished. What does famished mean?
Josh: Do you want me to eat some of those tater tots right now to make sure they aren't poisoned?
Craig: Please stop - that is so irritating.
Annie: What's irritating mean?
Josh: It's when one ear is frustrated with the other.
March 20, 2007
Max doesn't have a very big vocabulary yet but one of his "words" is "quack quack". He always says it when he sees a duck, but he thinks other animals make that sound too. This morning he was looking at the fish and frogs in our tank and started to say "quack quack." Josh came over and corrected him - "No, Max. That's not a quack quack. That's a glub glub."
Jan. 06 We were sitting at dinner tonight and out of the blue she says, totally seriously, "When can we play Pass the Max? We'll just pass him around the circle and whoever is holding him when he spits up wins!"
2-6-06 I decided to buy Annie a new dress for her birthday. Monday night I took her to the store with me and on the way I told her that I was going to show her her birthday present when we got there. She loved the dress I had picked out! (I'd had my eye on it for weeks...) She wanted to hold the bag in the car and was talking about how she wanted to try it on when she got home to surprise Daddy and Josh. At one point I said, boy, you sure seem excited. Her reply - I'm so excited it's like we're getting pizza for dinner and the whole world was made out of chocolate!
2-13-06 Annie wouldn't get up and went back in there and said, "Are you a sleepy-head today?" She replied, "No, I'm a frozen-head!"
August
I was toasting frozen waffles for breakfast this morning. But, there was some debris in the bottom of the toaster oven and one of the waffles caught on fire. Next thing I knew Josh was out of seat on the floor saying, "Annie - quick! Get low!" To which Annie responded, "Yeah! And don't forget to stop, drop & roll!"
Sept.
My kids came home from church tonight with an especially neat craft. I asked her their teacher was and my daughter replied, "Miss Piggy." I laughed thinking about how they had watched The Great Muppet Caper this afternoon, but I wondered what she meant. After a minute I asked, "Could it have been Miss Peggy?" "Oh, yeah, that's what I meant."
A recent funny conversation:
(walking down the hallway in opposite directions)
Me: I love you.
Josh: I love you.
Me: Really? You do?
Josh: Yep, I do.
Me: Hey, that gives me an idea. Maybe since we love each other you could be my kid and I could be your mom.
Josh: That sounds good.
Me: Okay, but what do moms do?
Josh: Well, they get pregnant, have babies and make rules!
Oct.
10-5 My daughter announced at dinner last night that she is the "Craft Queen" and her brother is the "Snack King."
10-8 The other night we ordered Chinese food for dinner and in the middle of the meal Josh (6) said, "It's a good thing I wasn't born in China." Knowing how much he loved Chinese food, I asked him to explain why he thought that. "I don't know any Chinese," came the reply. "Not a single word!"
10-16 Our family is dressing as Wizard of Oz characters for Halloween this year and my 5 year old daughter is going to be Dorothy. When they scheduled my c-section for the week before Halloween Annie asked if the new baby could be Toto. Well, yesterday
I picked up a basket at Wal-Mart for her to carry. I figured she could use it to put her candy and prizes in and it would go nicely with her costume. She was /so excited /when she saw it because she thought she was going to get to carry the baby around in the basket. After all, she is Dorothy and the baby is going to be Toto. I think she was okay with the candy/prize idea once she got over the initial disappointment...
Nov.
Some recent conversations with Josh, age 6:
Josh: Mom, how many hours are in a day?
Me: Twenty-four.
Josh: How many hours are in a night?
How do you answer that?
Me: Kids, go get your shoes on. We need to go to the grocery store.
Josh: You know, Mom, if we get a cow we'd never need to go buy milk.
Me: Nice idea, Josh. Just go get your shoes on please.
We decided to try rearranging the kids' bedrooms and were moving Josh (6) in with Max (15 months). As I was tucking him in, Josh said, "Mom, what happens if I'm so asleep that I don't hear Max if he cries?" I told him not to worry because I always hear him. Then he said, "Oh yeah, moms are always awake. I just stand by you and your eyes open right up. But dads have to be patted and stuff for a while before they wake up."
12-1
Annie was making her peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch and she was describing each step out loud as she did it. When she noticed I was watching her she looked up at me and said, "I'm just being Rachel Ray!"
I was on the couch feeding the baby and was starting to doze off a little. Annie was next to me so she leaned over and gently stroked my arm and started to sing in her sweetest voice, "Rock a bye grown-up..." I laughed so hard I almost dropped the baby!
I decided to introduce the Advent wreath to my kids this year in hopes of creating a new family tradition. The first Sunday I set the table in the dining room for a special dinner and put the wreath in the middle of the table. After dinner, I started to explain to the kids that each candle represents something different and we'll talk about a different part of the Christmas story each Sunday as we light that candle. Right as I'm talking about what a fun way this will be to help us count down the weeks until Jesus' birthday, Josh interrupts with, "Is this a menorah?" Gotta love public school...
January 2007
Annie: I need some more tennis shoes, Mom.
Me: What happened to your other ones?
Annie: They shrunk!
(Me: Yeah, so did my jeans...)
I took Josh and Annie to get their hair cut over the weekend. While we waiting our turn another family walked in with a little blond girl about Annie's age. Annie turned to me and said, "Can I have my hair golden like hers?" I answered, "No, honey, God picked the color of your hair and we need to keep it that way." Her answer - "But you color your hair, Mommy!" Busted again.
Annie: Can I have a snack, Mom? I'm Spanished!
Me: I think you mean famished, Annie.
Annie: Oh, yeah, famished. What does famished mean?
Josh: Do you want me to eat some of those tater tots right now to make sure they aren't poisoned?
Craig: Please stop - that is so irritating.
Annie: What's irritating mean?
Josh: It's when one ear is frustrated with the other.
March 20, 2007
Max doesn't have a very big vocabulary yet but one of his "words" is "quack quack". He always says it when he sees a duck, but he thinks other animals make that sound too. This morning he was looking at the fish and frogs in our tank and started to say "quack quack." Josh came over and corrected him - "No, Max. That's not a quack quack. That's a glub glub."
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Some things I've learned lately...
Learning the hard way…
When teaching a one year old how to crawl down the stairs be sure that you are behind him.
If you are going to lock your keys in the car, try to do it before you put the baby in the backseat.
Too much of a good thing is possible...especially when you're talking about yogurt and a one year old's tummy.
Letting a Kindergartener push the grocery cart is probably not a good idea...especially if you are near a very large display of Cheez-Whiz.
It is so much easier to pay for a cart full of groceries if you actually bring your purse with you to the store.
Today's Lesson: If you have a few inches of snow on your front windshield and you think it looks light and fluffy enough that you get the bright idea to just turn on the wipers and swish it, be sure to pull both legs into the vehicle and close the door completely before turning the wipers on.
Review of Yesterday's Lesson (lesson revised): Even if you think you are just going to take the kids to school and come straight back take your purse with you. You might get the bright idea to go to the bank which you never went to yesterday because you didn't have your purse then either.
Lesson continued for day 3: Having your purse with you isn't enough if your wallet isn't actually inside.
Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Putting a chopped up onion on a plate inside your car will not actually remove the smell of vomit. It will just change the smell to seem like the child who got sick had just eaten an onion prior to throwing up.
The "fix it and forget" method for cooking dinner works much better if you remember to actually plug in the crock pot.
When teaching a one year old how to crawl down the stairs be sure that you are behind him.
If you are going to lock your keys in the car, try to do it before you put the baby in the backseat.
Too much of a good thing is possible...especially when you're talking about yogurt and a one year old's tummy.
Letting a Kindergartener push the grocery cart is probably not a good idea...especially if you are near a very large display of Cheez-Whiz.
It is so much easier to pay for a cart full of groceries if you actually bring your purse with you to the store.
Today's Lesson: If you have a few inches of snow on your front windshield and you think it looks light and fluffy enough that you get the bright idea to just turn on the wipers and swish it, be sure to pull both legs into the vehicle and close the door completely before turning the wipers on.
Review of Yesterday's Lesson (lesson revised): Even if you think you are just going to take the kids to school and come straight back take your purse with you. You might get the bright idea to go to the bank which you never went to yesterday because you didn't have your purse then either.
Lesson continued for day 3: Having your purse with you isn't enough if your wallet isn't actually inside.
Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Putting a chopped up onion on a plate inside your car will not actually remove the smell of vomit. It will just change the smell to seem like the child who got sick had just eaten an onion prior to throwing up.
The "fix it and forget" method for cooking dinner works much better if you remember to actually plug in the crock pot.
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