Rice Krispies and a little canned frosting! Easier than carving a pumpkin. :)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Two Cool Inventions
This summer I made a couple of discoveries that made me happy. The first one was the marshallow square designed for microwaved s'mores. I have used the microwave method for a long time and it works, but the puffy marshmallow falls over a lot when it gets hot, so when I saw the squares in the store this summer, it made me wonder why they hadn't thought of this earlier. Yes, I realize the round ones are still probably preferable on a stick around a campfire, but are any of you surprised that I don't get around a campfire much? (Mostly because it's winter here a lot. That's why I don't get around a campfire much.)
The other exciting discovery was made recently at the Perham Dairy Queen drive-thru. The ketchup packet was finally in the right kind of container! For a long time I have said, mostly to Troy, that ketchup packets should be in the same kind of containers as nugget sauces are, the little squares with the pull-off top, which are much easier for traveling. Well, lo and behold, guess what was in with my french fries this past weekend? I was so excited! Luckily I had my camera along and captured the moment. Is it not one of the cutest ketchup packets you've seen? I'm hoping to see more of these in the future.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
On the Subject of School and Heaven
School starts tomorrow, and Mateo will be in kindergarten! As we were preparing for Mateo's first day this evening, I gave him a hug and told him I was sad that he was growing up and old enough for school. He looked at me with kind eyes and said, "Well, when I go to college, I will come home and visit...But you'll be old." Then he added, "Last night I told Dad that he would be happy when he gets to heaven because he can just relax. You'll like heaven, too, Mom...But you'll probably miss 'The Bachelor Pad'."
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Boys will be Boys
So, my last post was a little snapshot of a sweet moment from Mateo. And yesterday he was also very sweet when he picked out a ring for me at Payless for "being the best mom ever". This was after he got to pick out the Cars tennis shoes that light up when you walk. (The Cars shoes were not my first, second, or third choice for him, but he insisted they were the only ones that didn't feel too tight...) When we got home, he continued to be extra attentive and thoughtful. I guess a size 12 1/2 Cars shoe goes a long way. (sorry, bad joke) This morning, I wanted to let him know I appreciated his good behavior. I hugged him and thanked him for being thoughtful and kind the day before. Without skipping a beat, he responded, "Yeah, like when I burped in your face on purpose."
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Sweets for the Sweet
This evening before bed Mateo decided to make some hot chocolate...
Mateo: Mom, do you want some hot chocolate?
Me: No thanks. Thanks for asking.
(pause)
Mateo (loudly as though making an announcement): Anyone who wants hot chocolate gets marshmallows and a kiss.
Me: Okay, I'll have some hot chocolate.
Mateo: Mom, do you want some hot chocolate?
Me: No thanks. Thanks for asking.
(pause)
Mateo (loudly as though making an announcement): Anyone who wants hot chocolate gets marshmallows and a kiss.
Me: Okay, I'll have some hot chocolate.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
I Want to Remember This One
Yesterday Mateo got the last set of his immunizations. He got one shot in his right leg and two shots in his left leg. Before bed I gave him some liquid Tylenol because he said his left leg was a sore. This morning I checked in with him about his legs. He told me, "Mom, that medicine didn't work. My leg still hurts. And I even took my medicine like this (shows me how he sipped the medicine only on the left side of his mouth) so it would go in my left leg."
Feeling Sad
I was going to blog about feeling sad but didn't really have the heart to do it. I'm not sad for myself but sad for several friends (all random and apart from one another) who are going through very difficult, personal struggles and heartbreak. I sat here at home this evening thinking of them and praying for them and going to the bathroom every so often to blow my nose after crying. So instead of writing, I did some reading. I read a couple of other blogs that are much more entertaining than mine and was glad I did so. They lifted my spirits and made me smile. So, for those of you who are much more faithful at blogging than I, I say thank you. You brightened my day, er, make that night.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Things I Have and Haven't Done This Summer
I have played a lot of Plants vs. Zombies. Yes, the word "addicted" has been used.
I haven't exercised anywhere near what I told myself I would.
I have stayed up very late most nights.
I have slept in a lot.
I haven't used my alarm clock more than once.
I have worn a winter jacket.
I have felt stifling hot.
I have enjoyed a few outings with friends.
I have wondered where the summer is going so quickly.
I haven't been surprised by that.
I haven't missed going to work.
I haven't fixed my hair too often.
I have worn a lot of ponytails.
I have gotten some of my big "to-do" items crossed off my list.
I have enjoyed coffee in the morning on the deck twice so far.
I haven't been a very good cook considering that I have extra time to make meals.
I have microwaved quite a few corn dogs.
I have learned how to grill a pretty good steak (but you have to buy the expensive ones).
I have tuned into The Bachelorette.
I haven't read too many books.
I have felt relaxed.
I haven't blogged very much.
I haven't exercised anywhere near what I told myself I would.
I have stayed up very late most nights.
I have slept in a lot.
I haven't used my alarm clock more than once.
I have worn a winter jacket.
I have felt stifling hot.
I have enjoyed a few outings with friends.
I have wondered where the summer is going so quickly.
I haven't been surprised by that.
I haven't missed going to work.
I haven't fixed my hair too often.
I have worn a lot of ponytails.
I have gotten some of my big "to-do" items crossed off my list.
I have enjoyed coffee in the morning on the deck twice so far.
I haven't been a very good cook considering that I have extra time to make meals.
I have microwaved quite a few corn dogs.
I have learned how to grill a pretty good steak (but you have to buy the expensive ones).
I have tuned into The Bachelorette.
I haven't read too many books.
I have felt relaxed.
I haven't blogged very much.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
A Look Behind-the-Scenes of Painting
This is the extra on the DVD, if you will. All the scoop that will be an entertaining back-story to the Smilebox you can view about the week we redid Mateo's bedroom! Maybe I will even add an interview with Mateo. Just kidding!
By the way, just an aside, but I was excited to see that I could post my Smilebox slideshows to my blog. Now maybe you will see some more pictures posted. It is pretty slick. Sorry about the ads.
The story begins last Friday when I made a short little list of things I want to get done this summer. On the list were three things: organize/clean garage, clean laundry room so we can fit a small deep-freeze in there, and paint Mateo's room. So guess what we did over the weekend? Saturday we cleaned the garage and also went to Bemidji to pick out paint. Yes, I know you are thinking that I have all summer, and so was I. But once something gets put on the list...I like to cross it off.
Mateo wanted to start painting right away when we got home, but it was getting late, so we said we would paint the next day. The next day happened to be Sunday and Father's Day on top of that. Yes, I know what you are thinking, and yes, I did feel guilty on both counts. Though apparently, not guilty enough. After church, we got ready to paint. The fact that Troy didn't put up any fuss at all tells you that he really is my dream man. In my defense, I had asked him several times (before I knew we were going to redo the room)if there was anything he wanted to do for Father's Day. Had he known he was going to end up painting, he might have come up with something! And no, I would not ever consider working on Mother's Day!
Happy Father's Day -- let the painting begin! The plan was to paint two walls light gray and two walls red. The reason I wanted to do this and not paint two-tone like before was so I could avoid the work of putting up a new border. We started with the red. Since we chose paint that had primer in it, we didn't cover the walls with anything, and when we painted over the green and then yellow, the walls became two shades of red. We realized quickly that we would have to go with a two-tone look. So much for avoiding a border.
After that, the painting went fairly smoothly, and Mateo was in his glory! He really had fun helping and was in a great mood. It turned out to be a very nice day together working. And really, isn't that what Father's Day is all about? Spending quality time with your family. ;)
That evening I went online and did some searching for a wallpaper border that I had not expected to buy. I didn't know what I would be able to find that Mateo would like and that would match the colors. After looking around, I realized that the Toy Story border was really my only option. I bought it hesitantly because I wasn't sure if it would really match and because it cost over $50! It seems like border shouldn't be that expensive!
I was anxious for the border to arrive, and by Thursday it was in my mailbox! Mateo loved it because of all the characters, and I loved it because it looked like it was going to pull the room together surprisingly well. I decided to put it up right away but had never done it before. (My mother-in-law put the nursery border up when I was on bedrest.) The rolls of border did not come with directions, so I did a little Internet research before getting started. After applying border to one wall, I realized I needed some different supplies. This would require a trip to Target, and while I was there, I could also pick up some curtains. Well, my long story is getting quite long, so long-story-trying-to-be-shorter, I came home from Target with curtains I was excited to find and the correct supplies to finish putting up the border.
The next morning (today/Friday), I put up the curtains. I debated with Troy about whether or not to use the sheetrock screws. He said I should; I decided I didn't need to. I haven't had any trouble with any of the other curtain rods I've put up over the years. It is now Saturday night of the same day, and the curtain rod and curtains are laying on the bed downstairs after being pulled out of the wall. Yes! You read that right. Tonight while getting ready for bed, my niece Brooke who is spending the night, was in the bedroom with Mateo. All of a sudden I hear Mateo yelling, "Danger, danger!" They had been trying to pull the curtains shut and somehow the bracket was pulled out of the wall. Of course it was! Needless to say, tomorrow Troy is putting the brackets up and this time, they will have sheetrock screws. Live and learn.
Well, thanks for taking the time to read ALL of my very important behind-the-scenes information. I'm happy the room is completed and even happier that amidst the hodge podge of it all, it somehow ended up looking okay in the end. Until next time! If you're lucky I might just do a slideshow on the new deepfreeze installation. Just kidding!
By the way, just an aside, but I was excited to see that I could post my Smilebox slideshows to my blog. Now maybe you will see some more pictures posted. It is pretty slick. Sorry about the ads.
The story begins last Friday when I made a short little list of things I want to get done this summer. On the list were three things: organize/clean garage, clean laundry room so we can fit a small deep-freeze in there, and paint Mateo's room. So guess what we did over the weekend? Saturday we cleaned the garage and also went to Bemidji to pick out paint. Yes, I know you are thinking that I have all summer, and so was I. But once something gets put on the list...I like to cross it off.
Mateo wanted to start painting right away when we got home, but it was getting late, so we said we would paint the next day. The next day happened to be Sunday and Father's Day on top of that. Yes, I know what you are thinking, and yes, I did feel guilty on both counts. Though apparently, not guilty enough. After church, we got ready to paint. The fact that Troy didn't put up any fuss at all tells you that he really is my dream man. In my defense, I had asked him several times (before I knew we were going to redo the room)if there was anything he wanted to do for Father's Day. Had he known he was going to end up painting, he might have come up with something! And no, I would not ever consider working on Mother's Day!
Happy Father's Day -- let the painting begin! The plan was to paint two walls light gray and two walls red. The reason I wanted to do this and not paint two-tone like before was so I could avoid the work of putting up a new border. We started with the red. Since we chose paint that had primer in it, we didn't cover the walls with anything, and when we painted over the green and then yellow, the walls became two shades of red. We realized quickly that we would have to go with a two-tone look. So much for avoiding a border.
After that, the painting went fairly smoothly, and Mateo was in his glory! He really had fun helping and was in a great mood. It turned out to be a very nice day together working. And really, isn't that what Father's Day is all about? Spending quality time with your family. ;)
That evening I went online and did some searching for a wallpaper border that I had not expected to buy. I didn't know what I would be able to find that Mateo would like and that would match the colors. After looking around, I realized that the Toy Story border was really my only option. I bought it hesitantly because I wasn't sure if it would really match and because it cost over $50! It seems like border shouldn't be that expensive!
I was anxious for the border to arrive, and by Thursday it was in my mailbox! Mateo loved it because of all the characters, and I loved it because it looked like it was going to pull the room together surprisingly well. I decided to put it up right away but had never done it before. (My mother-in-law put the nursery border up when I was on bedrest.) The rolls of border did not come with directions, so I did a little Internet research before getting started. After applying border to one wall, I realized I needed some different supplies. This would require a trip to Target, and while I was there, I could also pick up some curtains. Well, my long story is getting quite long, so long-story-trying-to-be-shorter, I came home from Target with curtains I was excited to find and the correct supplies to finish putting up the border.
The next morning (today/Friday), I put up the curtains. I debated with Troy about whether or not to use the sheetrock screws. He said I should; I decided I didn't need to. I haven't had any trouble with any of the other curtain rods I've put up over the years. It is now Saturday night of the same day, and the curtain rod and curtains are laying on the bed downstairs after being pulled out of the wall. Yes! You read that right. Tonight while getting ready for bed, my niece Brooke who is spending the night, was in the bedroom with Mateo. All of a sudden I hear Mateo yelling, "Danger, danger!" They had been trying to pull the curtains shut and somehow the bracket was pulled out of the wall. Of course it was! Needless to say, tomorrow Troy is putting the brackets up and this time, they will have sheetrock screws. Live and learn.
Well, thanks for taking the time to read ALL of my very important behind-the-scenes information. I'm happy the room is completed and even happier that amidst the hodge podge of it all, it somehow ended up looking okay in the end. Until next time! If you're lucky I might just do a slideshow on the new deepfreeze installation. Just kidding!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
I'm Still Here!
I'm baaaack! I'm pretty sure that anyone who used to follow my sporadic updates has long since stopped checking. Throughout the school year, I would think to myself "I should post something on the blog." Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Partly because I was fairly busy and partly because my computer time is used checking things out on Facebook. So here I am posting my first blog since September. I decided that even if noone else reads this, it is entertaining for me to go back and read about some of the things that were going on once upon a time in my life. And luckily, I was able to remember my username and password to actually post something!
So after many months of absence, I'm trying to decide what I should include in this blog. Maybe I will summarize a bit of what this year was like. I think what I will remember most about this past year is that I felt tired a lot! I think I am starting to feel my age a lot more than I used to! This year definitely had its ups and downs. We switched Mateo to a new daycare in the fall which did not go well. He cried often and didn't want to be dropped off. Things got better after a while, but he always missed his other daycare lady. After half the year, due to a couple of circumstances, I switched him back to his old daycare. This year Mateo went to preschool. He really enjoyed his class and loved going. Troy started his second year in Waubun and also continued drivers' training in Bagley. Mateo got used to asking, "Is Daddy working twice today?" Scheduling and finding time for this extra-curricular has gotten a wee bit tedious, and we are relieved that he will be done with this at the end of the summer, hopefully. This was my thirteenth year teaching, and I had a pretty good year in that respect. I had a really great group of seventh graders who made me think that if all my students were this fun to teach I could actually see myself doing this for many more years.
This summer we are excited about our west coast tour taking place in July. Mateo doesn't know this yet, but we are planning to go to Disneyland! Our trip will start in California and then continue to Oregon and Washington. I'm hoping our five-year-old can handle all the traveling, etc. I should comfort myself to think that my parents took four kids ranging in ages 12-4 to Finland for two months one summer. I should be able to handle one kid for eleven days!
So after many months of absence, I'm trying to decide what I should include in this blog. Maybe I will summarize a bit of what this year was like. I think what I will remember most about this past year is that I felt tired a lot! I think I am starting to feel my age a lot more than I used to! This year definitely had its ups and downs. We switched Mateo to a new daycare in the fall which did not go well. He cried often and didn't want to be dropped off. Things got better after a while, but he always missed his other daycare lady. After half the year, due to a couple of circumstances, I switched him back to his old daycare. This year Mateo went to preschool. He really enjoyed his class and loved going. Troy started his second year in Waubun and also continued drivers' training in Bagley. Mateo got used to asking, "Is Daddy working twice today?" Scheduling and finding time for this extra-curricular has gotten a wee bit tedious, and we are relieved that he will be done with this at the end of the summer, hopefully. This was my thirteenth year teaching, and I had a pretty good year in that respect. I had a really great group of seventh graders who made me think that if all my students were this fun to teach I could actually see myself doing this for many more years.
This summer we are excited about our west coast tour taking place in July. Mateo doesn't know this yet, but we are planning to go to Disneyland! Our trip will start in California and then continue to Oregon and Washington. I'm hoping our five-year-old can handle all the traveling, etc. I should comfort myself to think that my parents took four kids ranging in ages 12-4 to Finland for two months one summer. I should be able to handle one kid for eleven days!
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