Sleep-Blogging

I took Spanish Classes throughout High School and then again during my years at the Y...  The language is in my blood (1/4 Spanish)  but finding it on my tongue... that was a bit harder!

I knew I had made a major language breakthrough when... (drum roll please) ...I started dreaming in Spanish.  I did - my dream self was conversing easily in her non-native tongue and chatting animatedly with all sorts of other people in said tongue.  It really didn't matter that some of the dream-people I spoke with weren't Spanish speakers.  Pshaw, why let reality ruin a nice dream?

The thing is... what does it mean when I start dreaming about blogging?  Last night my dream self typed up a killer post and it was so darn witty I kept thinking "I should write this down"...

I didn't, and now I'm upset over the lost post potential - just trust my sleep memory, you would have been rolling in the aisles (RITA... now THERE's an acronym that's not likely to  catch on...)

 Who knows, next time I might wander down here to the computer whilst I sleep and actually type it up... and then we'll move from "stream of consciousness" blogging to "unconscious blathering"

an unpopular opinion...

I know, I know... I should be sad that my kids are going back to school tomorrow.  Really, part of me is reeling and wishing we could have another few weeks of summer fun - but the fact is that "Summer Fun" stopped being fun when it became "Summer of Kids arguing and Mom acting as Referee"  So that other part of me is humming "it's the most wonderful time of the year..." and making plans for tomorrow!  

At 7:20 W has to leave for Intermediate School - with binder, violin and gym clothes in hand - at 8:00 T has to get out the door and off to Middle School with his backpack and gym bag - then at 8:40 I will be driving P and H to elementary...  after the first day I will be walking them to school to save a little gas and to give myself a little exercise, but on the first day - I just don't have that kind of patience.  M (being just 4) will be the only one home this year and it has been so long since I tried to entertain just one child that I don't know what to do!  For the first day at least we have a full day of going out for a treat, playing a game together, reading books, popping popcorn, watching a movie, and going to the library scheduled...  that is, if she hasn't added to the list by the time we wake up!

I am looking forward to: being able to make a doctor's appointment for myself without trying to figure out who will be baby-sitting - running to the store without wondering where the groceries will fit around the children - and most importantly...  cleaning the kitchen table off and having it stay clear for more than 10 minutes!

Kudos and double admiration to those of you who can do all of these things while your children are home...  now you know why home schooling is not my cup of tea... if I drank tea that is.

So - I'm open to any suggestions (reminders) on how to entertain just one child... right now I have a feeling we're going to become a "foster family" for the neighbor girl just so M can play with somebody whose' idea of playing barbies doesn't end at sorting them into their proper boxes and making sure they are all clothed!!  

more fun online

www.maylin.net/Fireworks.html & www.maylin.net/Fireworks2.html

both a lot of fun, though the kids seemed a little upset when I suggested we enjoy them this evening from the comfort of our air-conditioned house and skip the festivities...  hey, if the city chooses to host a country music competition in conjunction with their fireworks, they can count on me opting out!

Another way to entertain the kids...

I think sometimes we've used up all the good ideas I can come up with - and then out of the blue I run across something new (and cheap).  I was beside myself Monday night because the kids were bored and just wanted something a little more interesting to do than read and play board games during the hottest part of the day.  Luckily I ran across some fun things online... the first at paperboxworld.com... I think

All it takes is a pair of scissors and some glue, and M had her very own kitty which entertained her for hours - and which doesn't shed, leave unwelcome surprises, or make me sneeze... and which can be replaced quickly if someone accidentally runs over it with a car!

The older kids needed more challenge - so we ended up at another site (cubeecraft.com?) where we found printables for Indiana Jones and other exciting figures...  

So now our entertainment center is crawling with Indy, the Marshmallow Man, Kirby, a lizard and a cat...  and the floor is littered with little scraps of paper (okay, they've actually been vacuumed by now).

So now it's sharing time - has anyone found anything recently that is good healthy indoor fun for children?  We're getting a little tired of baking day and game day (and I really need M to not become attached to a computer screen!)

But Mom... what can I Doooooooo?

Okay, so my kids keep asking what they can do (since video games are restricted to certain hours)... so I posted this list:

Copy page 513 of the Dictionary (or something else) in your very best handwriting * Write a poem about boredom, or about anything else that strikes you * Have a tea party with the girls * Milk the goat (if you can find one) * Alphabetize your bookshelf (by author) * Find a new recipe you want Mom to try out * Research new books coming out that you might want to read * Find 5 things to give to D.I. * Read * Work on an Art Project * Find the Remote Control!!! * Polish the Silverware * Practice your hula hoop skills * Board Games (if you want Mom to play, pick Boggle... or even Scrabble) * Write a Song * Origami * Sharpen all the Pencils in the house * Play word games with M * Clip your nails * Clean out the Junk Drawer in the kitchen * Memorize an Article of Faith * Plan a crazy family vacation (destinations don’t necessarily have to exist) * Mix up a batch of Jell-O to go with dinner * Write the great next American Novel - find your main characters name in the phone book * Wash your sheets (you know they need it) * Organize the games * Read a book to M * Pick a Scouting Goal to Work on... and work on it * Yoga * Puzzles *

Any additions?

Personally, I'm just hoping that page 513 of the dictionary doesn't have any inappropriate words on it!

May Day

When I was young my mother would get us to make paper baskets and we would fill them with flowers and leave them at neighbors' houses (probably not every year, but at least a few times growing up)  This was probably a terribly archaic tradition even then (I'm not THAT old, despite what some may think).  

The thing is, it was fun, and a nice pick me up...  so here...

Happy May Day!

Archaic or not, sometimes we just have to celebrate the little things in life... sorry, you'll have to tie your own ribbon around the May Pole and dance!

I didn't make this up

I can't believe some of the stuff on ebay sometimes...  for instance, today someone is selling this brand new safety pin...

I'm sure it's quite appealing to many of you - but hold the phone - there's a current bid of 24.50 on the item...  I suspect there is something odd going on, but I don't want to know... so far there are no bids on an unused popsicle stick which I suspect is from the same seller.  A roasted peanut carved into the shape of a mallard duck?  They've got it, and now that you know it exists how will your home be complete without such a thing.

You'd be wise though to pass up the three previous items and save your pennies for Paris Hilton's napkin, which she apparently used in Prague and then wadded up in an extremely Hilton-esque way, which should bring some serious bucks... no bids thus far though.

My sister and I like to send each other e-bay "it's the thought that counts gifts" meaning that we never actually buy them for each other...  I gave her a small town in Montana one year. what's the funniest thing you've ever found there?