How time flies

A year and a half. That's how long it's been since I last posted anything. Wow.

It's not you, it's me...

I've had this rolling around in my head for the last several weeks, ok... months. 

Perhaps I'm just too busy living my life to worry about writing about it.  Looking at my feed reader now over 1,000 posts that I haven't read, I'm just not that into it.  It's not that I don't care, it's just I'm having a hard time making time.  And me?  Truth be told, what I have to say isn't really that interesting.

Busy, yes.  But interesting?  Not for many, and those of you that know me on facebook and get the info anyway.

So I guess this is good bye.  At least for now.

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All I want for Christmas...

Maybe it's just me...  I don't have good luck with can openers.  In the last 14 years, I've had nearly a dozen of them - every size and shape - and I can't find one I like or that works for more than six months.

The other day, I was driven to desperate measures:

I went old school on the can of beans.  All I wanted to make was a pot of chili for the crockpot.

Any suggestions?

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Thursday...

Why is it you can never find the right box when you need it?

This went in the mail earlier this week:

A childhood friend and his wife lost their baby at 27 weeks.  This is the second son they've named and buried.  Seeing a picture of an 18" casket about did me in.  Another friend lost her 20 year old son to suicide a few months back.  As a parent it is hard not to internalize 'what it if were me'.  

Both are too far to deliver a meal or a shoulder to cry on.  It is hard to know what to do when tragedy strikes.  Hard to know what to say.  But still wanting to do something,  I sent a care package of something I hope will bring some small measure of comfort.

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On the upside - things have been a bit busy around here.  I never thought I'd be one of those moms - running three directions at the same time, but here I am.  Tonight we have:

3:45 - 4:30 - Oldest has Math Club at school

4 - 5 Youngest has dance

6 - 7 Oldest had dance

6 - 7 Youngest has Soccer (just a few more weeks!)

6:20 - 7:20 - The Boy has hockey.

Thursday has therefore been dubbed "Crock Pot Night".  While the kids were eating breakfast, I was busy browning meat for chili.  Meat, seasoning, tomatoes both as sauce and diced, and a couple cans of beans - though by no means gourmet, it is something hot and ready from 5 - 8. 

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Finally - after six long years of being home, I am now employed as a substitute teacher!  Whoot!

The one where they take our parenting license away

This summer, we took our kids on vacation. From the left, chairs three and four:
Something to note, my six year old is 52" tall. There was only one ride she couldn't go on. I bet she's the required 54" by next summer.

Until then, the memories of the Giant Barn Swing will have to sustain.

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I never understood as a kid how my mom could sit on the sidelines and watch us. Really, I mean, there's fun to be had! How can you sit? Why don't you want to go?!?

Now I get it. I am good for 4 or 5 coasters, then I'm fine to watch.

There's something to be said for being able to send your kids on a ride and just watch. Don't worry, Mom, we watched very carefully.

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Pink and Brown Butterflies

One of the hockey moms is expecting #3. After two boys, she is having a girl. I asked her what the plan was for her nursery and she replied "pink and brown with butterflies." I dug through my stash and came up with this:

She loved it!

I love it when a plan comes together. I know the back isn't quite centered, but it's done.

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Lovely

When my oldest was in second grade, my mother donated her hair to Locks of Love. So inspired, my seven year old daughter decided to do the same.

Three years later, she finally had enough to donate.




Who is this grown up girl of mine?!?


Though not totally unplanned, one day she looked at me and said, "If I cut the ten inches off, what will be left?" I got a ruler out and showed her. Thirty minutes later we were getting it cut. They did a fantastic job and ended up taking off nearly 12 inches.

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For what it's worth, she now has the bracing off her teeth from the trampoline incident. She was a champ while they were grinding it off. The dentist said he wishes all his patients were so... patient. The oral surgeon gives her a 50% chance of keeping the tooth for the long haul. The bills are still coming in, though.

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