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 December:
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December 29, 2007, 12:00 pm HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREA!!
December 27, 2007, 6:17 pm "'Up is down'? Well, that's just maddeningly unhelpful." I'm home alone. I think this is the first time I've been completely alone in our house since long before Jacob was born. It's eerily quiet. Even with my music playing (a variety of country music and classic rock - I hardly listen to country anymore for some reason, so I thought I'd play some today). Andrew has taken all five kids (plus our neighbor) to the mall. He's brave. He's very, very brave. He wanted me to have some time to myself during his leave, so I have today and tomorrow to do whatever the heck I want - and don't have to clean anything or take care of anyone. I got a late start today since I decided to get up and do a little cleaning before Andy was up - then I had to do some paper/computer work. But then he closed me in my cave (my office/scrap area - in our bedroom) while he and the kids cleaned the house, and now he has them out shoe shopping - a chore I did NOT want to do. By the way, why is it that all the kids need shoes at the same time? Anyway. I did a painting this afternoon, and I'm really happy with it. I'll take a photo of it later. And I did a scrapbook page. How was everyone's Christmas? Ours was wonderful! Jacob is at THE cutest age for Christmas. He was hilarious. And he had NO idea that Thomas the Train could come in toy form. And he is delighted to no end to be able to have Thomas here in person. He talks to Thomas as though he is alive. All the kids were thrilled with their gifts. Photos to come - I didn't take a ton, as I was just busy enjoying the day and didn't mess with my camera much, but there are a few to share. :) December 24, 2007, 1:05 pm Merry Christmas Eve! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday. :)
December 21, 2007, 5:33 pm Many hands make light work... Last week, we had Justice and Brittany complete a project together - learning to work as a team, working on getting along better, etc., etc. - the lessons were endless. So, their instructions (a simple project to start with) were basically to plan a meal and fix it for dinner - getting their grocery list to me at a certain time in between. Nothing too crazy. They did an AWESOME job - they went through the recipes and ended up making pizza roll for the main entree, we had shrimp cocktail for an appetizer, and ice-cream sandwich cookies for dessert. (Obviously they were tempting Dad's taste buds with their choices! lol) I got a couple of photos; not sure why I didn't take photos of the other food...
And, I realized that I left a couple of cards off my list, so I whipped up about 5 more. Here are two of them:
December 21, 1007, 1:43 pm Where is my mind? Have you seen it??? I just realized that I totally blanked about Justice's basketball practice last night. I forgot last week too! So he has only been to 1 out of 3 practices so far. This is so not like me. And it was written on my calendar!! Wow. Do I get the mom of the year award or what?!?! I mean, it's not the end of the world - games don't start until the end of January, but I just want to know where the heck my MIND is??? I guess it's hiding with Darby's library book. December 21, 2007, 12:03 pm Ho, ho, ho... I can't believe Christmas is in 4 days!!! I'm pretty sure we're going to have to buy that library book b/c it's gone. We've looked everywhere (except the place where it IS - obviously). My friend Ali sent me a box chock full of scrapbooking supplies (and a really cute throw pillow)! She is THE sweetest! Totally made my week!! Today is Andy's last day of this school. Yay. I'm so glad he decided to take leave - it'll be nice having him around for two weeks! We got some boxes of presents from Andy's family, and the kids were putting them under the tree. Jacob, along with Jarvis and Darby, was waiting in line to get presents from the box and he was jumping up and down chanting "presents! presents! presents!" Then, when he would put the present under the tree, he'd go "Here you go, Tree!" It was adorable! I LOVE this age. He is completely enamored with ALL things Christmas. I have been working on the recipe books and should have them all sent out by the end of February/beginning of March. If you want any recipes included and/or you haven't let me know that you want one of the books, just email me (petracarden@yahoo.com). If you have no idea what I'm talking about and want to know, again - just email me... or leave a comment on here. :) December 20, 2007, 10:35 am Anyone? Anyone? Has anyone seen Dreams to Grow On? It's a book that Darby checked out of the library a few weeks back and it was due 5 days ago. And we have renewed it all we can renew it. So if anyone knows where it is, can you please let me know so I can take it back and pay the fees? Thanks. December 19, 2007, 3:43 pm No witty title... Real Simple's Quote of the Day today: When the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, it may be that they take better care of it there. -Cecil Selig I managed to make it through the post office today, and I even got a nice postal worker. Yay. Although for some reason the same box cost 30 cents MORE today than it did yesterday. It was a different scale?! I don't know. lol Anyway, when I was putting stamps on cards, I remember two people that I left off my list (how rude of me!) so I will make two more cards today and get them out by tomorrow. Plus, I had three cards that wouldn't seal properly so I had to bring those home so I can tape them. They were in a different type of envelope than the rest. I had Justice and Jarvis with me and they refused to lick envelopes ("eww. It's yucky!") I told them to stop whining like little girls, but that didn't work. They didn't care what names I threw at them, they did NOT want to lick envelopes. So we left the post office parking lot and I had a mouth full of envelope glue as the sole participant in the licking. The boys were more than happy to adhere stamps and return address labels (sure, they take the FUN part!) Oh, and the post office, both today and yesterday tried to get me to send the box priority mail for like 15 bucks more. I tried telling them that it wasn't even a Christmas box (hello - it was addressed to a repair company!) and it didn't matter how long it took - 7 days was just fine! But they still tried to offer the faster shipping again. Wow. I may go Matt's route and just buy my stamps at the grocery store and use UPS for boxes. Our p.o. does have a do-it-yourself kiosk that I love, but the box I had to send was too big for the kiosk, and I wanted Christmas stamps not the generic ones. December 19, 2007, 10:44 am Going postal... I did not have fun at the post office yesterday. I stood in the long line (ugh!), finally made it to the incompetent postal worker, who put the postage on the box I was sending, got the last of the cute Christmas stamps out to sell to me, put some postage on an overseas card, and I gave him my bank card. "Card declined," he said. December 18, 2007, 3:59 pm 7 days til Christmas! Yeah, I am just now heading to the p.o. to mail cards. at 4 pm on the 18th. So hopefully you all get your cards before Christmas. Life just got in the way, you know? Well, at least I am sending them - I didn't even get that far last year. :) Today was the kids' last day of school before Christmas break. Yay. We don't have to get up early for two weeks!!! Not that Jacob will let me sleep in too much later, but a little bit. And once in a while, one of the kids just get Jacob up and feed him breakfast and I never even wake up - those days are nice! :) Justice started basketball practice last night. His games start in January. The gym at the kids' school is so small, like there is barely any space around the court and there are just a few carpeted steps for sitting on... yeah, next time I'll just wait in the car with a book!! ha! I have nothing else exciting to say and I really need to go to the post office. I hate the lines this time of year, but I suppose I'll make it through. :) December 17, 2007, 1:43 pm "I'm in a store... and I'm singing... I'm in a store AND I'M SINGING... {or: my second post in 1/2 an hour...}
December 17, 2007, 1:22 pm "You can't go... until I say you can go!" I meant to post this morning, but I ended up with a bit o' energy, so I mopped the kitchen and dining room instead (it really needed it... 7 people in the house = floors that constantly need cleaning). And I did laundry and straightening. All before having to leave the house at 10 to take Brittany to an orthodontist appointment. She got another band across the top to close up a gap and she also got the rubber bands that go between the top and bottom teeth (I think I need a photo to describe this - I'm sure she'll cooperate - ha!). Anyway, the rubber bands between the top and bottom teeth remind me of Keanu Reeves in the Matrix when Mr. Smith makes him not have a mouth and the skin is stretching?! So gross. I'm sure I'll get past it. :) I wrote this last night: December 16, 2007, 11:23 pm I borrowed two workout DVDs from the library this week. I tried out the Pilates one this morning. It had a thin woman and a VERY fat woman on the jacket, so I figured - "Okay, this is for ANYone... good place to start!" I only lasted about 6 or 7 minutes though. In the time it took the thin, British woman with the giant eyes to show the fat woman with too much makeup on for a workout how to do three crunches (they had a different, more sophisticated word for it, but yeah - they were basic crunches), I had done about 30 or so crunches at my own pace (which really isn't all that fast). That's when I said "screw this!" and turned it off to play with Jacob, who was climbing all over me making it difficult to work out anyway. I'm going to try "Beginning Yoga" tomorrow. But afer today's DVD, I'm starting to think I'm not as "beginner" or "out of shape" as I had originally thought! [disclaimer: I used to do aerobics a lot, and I used to jog/run, but since I had Jacob I injure myself every time I start up with a cardio workout (back/hip/leg damage from the way I carried him), so I'm trying some different things out so I can work my way back up to a rigid cardio workout. In case you wondered.] December 15, 2007, 10:38 am Detailed photojournalism: We put our Christmas tree up on December 1st this year. I let the kids take over my camera. There were 216 photos (including about 40 of the angel tree topper), and I narrowed the kids' amazing photojournalism down to about 59 photos to share in an album with you. Click the photo below to view the kodakgallery album of our tree going up (complete with comments on each and every photo):
December 13, 2007, 10:08 am There were hoofprints on her forehead! Jacob's favorite saying of the moment is "All Aboard!", which he got from Polar Express. There is construction at a different angle from my house than there has been previously. Off and on all day yesterday I thought people were knocking on my door. It was just hammering though. December 11, 2007, 3:56 pm I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes... I finished my Christmas cards today! Now I just need to address the envelopes and stamp them. I plan on sending them by the end of the week. Yay.
December 11, 2007, 11:16 am New Kids on the Block had a bunch of hits, Chinese food makes me sick... *today's title is song lyrics... thought I'd clue you in since probably only three of you that are reading will get that* So I went to the mall the other day. I don't think I've been to the mall (other than going to the movie theater or Target, which is attached to the mall) in a year. Okay, that's a lie - I went a couple of times over the summer with Brittany and her friends but I was just following them around going to places like Claire's and Gamestop, so that totally does not count. Anyway, so I had to go to Target for diapers - Friday afternoon - and I decided to wander around the mall for a little while since I was alone (the best way to shop). I went into what used to be my favorite clothing stores and checked out the clearance racks, browsed through some shoe stores, etc. I came to a few conclusions as I wandered:
December 9, 2007, 1:51 pm Sarcasm and Crying... Did you ever stop to think about how you act around certain people? How you have to really watch what you say around the overly-sensitive so they don't burst into tears and think you hate them, or how you have to just be serious around the boring people because they stare blankly at you if you try to be funny? Upon two minutes of deep thought (yeah, I spent a LOT of time preparing for this topic), I realized that I could probably count on one hand the amount of people that I can totally relax around and just be myself. I know there are some of you (*cough* *cough* Matt) who just don't give a rip what anyone thinks and say what's on their mind no matter what, and there are some who are fake all the time and probably don't even know who you are yourself, let alone know how to act like yourself around others. While I try not to ever be 'fake' (I don't care for the whole I-have-to-put-on-an-act-for-everyone-or-they'll-hate-me mentality), I do try to be mindful of who I am around others and make them comfortable. For instance, if they don't like sarcasm and take offense to it, I try to tone it down. For those who know me best (and those few who get to see me be totally myself), they know that sarcasm is my middle name and blunt was close behind in the choice for a middle name. I have to be careful not to just say what I'm thinking 90% of the time. I can't say that I've succeeded in not offending people, but I really do try to keep it to a minimum. I can't control others' overly sensitive egos so there are, of course, those that will be offended by everyone all the time no matter what we do to try to be nice to them. Anyway, for those very, very few who get to see the true, uncensored me, congratulations. I must really like you to feel I can be both blunt with how I feel about you and also be open with my emotions around you. Now that I really think about it... maybe my husband is the only one who gets to see that deep into the true Petra (even though I have to keep my sarcasm to a minimum with him as well... or our marriage probably wouldn't be a very happy one). I think about those who are soooo open with everyone with their thoughts and emotions and I just don't think I could ever be that way (I don't think I'd want to, honestly - just doesn't fit my personality), but hooray for them. I think the older I get, the more open I am, but I still feel pretty closed off a lot of the time (and no, it doesn't bother me). I'm sure some of you think I'm *too* open on this blog, but trust me - there's plenty more that you don't see (and I'm actually more open in my writing than I am in real life). In thinking even more about this, I think there are some that I'm open to in different ways. There are some that I can be blunt and sarcastic with and not worry that I'm going to hurt their feelings (I just sent an email to my father-in-law and that's what got me to thinking about this - I can just talk to him and not have to worry that he'll burst into tears because I was sarcastic with him. I don't think he's ever told me that I hurt his feelings.) There are even less people that I feel I can be open with regarding my feelings and emotions (and now that I think about that - none of them are related to me, which is kind of sad when you really think about it). And the two aren't usually in the same group. And on this same note - I HATE crying in front of people. To the point where I usually won't... so there have been those who thought I was totally cold because I didn't get all hysterical over something sad (what they didn't know is that I broke down in private later, or with my husband, but I didn't feel close enough to them to let them see me in that state of vulnerability). Actually, I get mad if I cry in front of someone and they try to hug me or offer me comfort. I'm just like "leave me alone!" Which probably seems really rude to them. But really just shows that I apparently have intimacy issues. (lol) And I'm not really sure how to respond if someone cries in front of me (excluding my husband and children). Well, I can comfort a child, even one not my own, if they are upset and cry, but an adult? I just don't know what to do because of myself not wanting the comfort... so I sit there (as they sob uncontrollably) and I think "okay, do I hug them? Do I say 'it'll be okay'? Do I just sit here in silence? Crap, they are going to think I'm mean if I don't do SOMETHING. But what??? Do they want me to just leave them alone? Are they hoping for an embrace of some sort??? Okay, I'll give a half hug and see how it goes from there. Or not. Do I tell them it's all their fault? I DON'T KNOW HOW TO REACT TO THIS!" So if you've ever cried in front of me and I reacted inappropriately to how you prefer people to react to your crying, I'm sorry. I just didn't know what to do. That doesn't mean that I am averse to people coming to me and opening up to me... it's all good and I am happy to offer whatever help that I can (truly!)... I just might not know what to say or do if you cry. If you didn't see the post of Jacob in the snow from a couple hours ago, scroll down. He was so cute not being able to move in his bundles and kept trying to pick up snow but ended up just patting it because the big mittens don't allow much dexterity. lol December 9, 2007, 11:12 am Today is Jacob's favorite day EVER...
December 6, 2007, 3:02 pm I will write a book today! I will write a book today! So I was reading the aforementioned (two posts ago) book - the one that I said might not make the cut, and I became inspired. Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal is split up into sections. One of the sections is an alphabetical list of random things and her thoughts about them. An excerpt: Dishwasher - It is very difficult to try to load someone else's dishwasher; everyone has their own method. Glasses stacked in this row, bowls this way, silverware facing up, down - it's a highly personal thing. The few times someone outside the family has loaded ours, I open it up and am disoriented, dismayed even, to find plates in the wrong slots, bowls on the top (the top?!), and even a skillet crammed in there. It's just too counterproductive and unsettling, even though it is nice of them to try to help. I love lists and I especially love alphabetization. And this part of the book is right up my alley (the previous section, where I was when I posted about the book before, was NOT right up my alley - I actually skipped the last few pages of it which is very out of character for me... even when reading magazines I have to start at the first page, reading every page thoroughly before moving on to the next - instead of just flipping to the articles I am interested in). So... I am going to write my own version of this idea. I have actually started already in an Excel spreadsheet with tabs for each letter of the alphabet (well, I only have 'A' and 'R' so far because my first two entries started with those letters). I swear Excel was made just for me! :) I am also going to carry this idea over to a second book, where I list everyone I know and write something about them. For example: Jarvis, my son - Jarvis is really smart and cute and blah, blah, blah. Only it won't say 'blah, blah, blah', there will be actual facts and things I know about that person instead. I was thinking of doing this 'people I know' book in scrapbook/art journal form. Every left-hand page will be a photo of the person, their name and how I know them. Every right-hand page will be my description of them. And I will include exactly how I feel about each person, so obviously no one outside my immediate family (i.e. husband and children) will be able to read it until I'm dead. Then anyone can publish it at will since I won't be around for people to get mad at for telling the truth about them. :) December 5, 2007, 12:42 pm Today... I just sent out the kodakgallery album. Let me know if you did not get it and would like to. And I love it when people comment on the photos they like or think are weird - just fyi. :) Andy is off early today and is on his way home with rented movies. Fun! :) December 4, 2007, 7:13 pm Photos and More... So I decided to just not even crop, resize, or boost any colors in my Seattle photos. It's just too much time and I don't have it... so I'm going to load them all into an ofoto album - AS IS (*gasp*) - and send them out to all those in my address book on ofoto. If you have never received an ofoto album from me before, then you aren't in that address book - so let me know if you want to be added. Oh, and when I say 'ofoto', I mean 'kodakgallery' (it used to be ofoto). Those emails should go out tonight or tomorrow (depends on how long it takes to load 150 photos - and I haven't started yet). :) I finally got my blog updated for December. And this time I handmade the banner. Go me. :) It seems like I had other things to say, but whatever they were - they elude me now. Oh... I've been reading lots of books and have seen a few movies. It's probably time for a review. Books: Movies and TV: Fred Clause - Wow. It could have been funny. And I guess it had a few funny parts. Vince Vaughn was funny, as usual. But the movie pretty much sucked. I don't think I could sit through it a second time. Pretty disappointing. The Cosby Show, season 1 - I got this from the library, wondering if this sitcom, unlike so many others, had stood the test of time. It did! It was actually funny from the first episode. And wholesome! My kids loved it too, even though it was from the 80s. I can't wait until the library gets the next seasons (I don't know if the other seasons are on DVD yet or not). Arrested Development, season 1 - Andy and I watched this (borrowed from Andrea), and yeah - totally hilarious! We are in line to get season 2 from the library. There were many moments we had to pause because we were laughing so hard. I kind of wonder if the writers know some of the members of my own family?!?! Hairspray - I borrowed this from my 11 year old neighbor. The previews made it look funny, and while it did have some funny parts, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I never saw the original play or movie, so I didn't really know what it was about. For instance, I didn't know they randomly broke into song every so often. I mean, I knew there was singing? But I thought it was just on the TV show the kids were trying to get onto. I didn't know their conversations turned into song every few minutes. That being said, it was entertaining and I laughed. But I wouldn't watch it over and over. The best line in the movie is actually during one of the aforementioned songs, sung by the cute, bouncy, blonde girl whose name isn't coming into my head at the moment: "Once you taste chocolate, you never want to go back" or something along that line. Made me laugh. I can't think of anything else I've seen or read recently, so that's all the reviews for today. Look for the photos in your email (probably tomorrow at this point since it's almost 8 and I haven't started uploading?!). For now, I'll add just a few Seattle photos to hold you over (since I'm feeling crazy and don't mind resizing a *few*). :)
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website created by petra carden 2005/2006/2007