Toys parents dread.

A list of another ten toys that parents dread is on The List Universe.
It reminds me of a certain rainy afternoon when I, in a moment of weakness, bought a brand-new box of Play-doh for the kids.
They immediately combined all the beautiful bright colors into one huge ball of poo colored brown.
I launched into a lecture on why we should try to keep the brand-new Play-doh in their separate colors for at least a little while.
The kids gave me the 'what-ever you say, crazy lady' look...it's the same look the neighbor girl gives me when I try to explain to her why she can't take her stuffed animals in the hot tub.
I sounded just like my mother.
Sigh....."Just don't get it on the carpet."
I like Lego's though.

Tagged!

It's my first time.
I love people....I don't really like to talk to them or have to deal with them in any way but I do like to look at pictures, watch them, read about them and know what they are thinking. I enjoy reading these list and this is the first time I have been tagged to do one....I hope I don't blow it.

I was tagged by Tonya who I swear has had her eyes replaced with camera lenses and her hands with knitting needles.


Here's the rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Write 7 random things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post.
4. Pass on the tag.


1. I have a hard time talking about myself unless it is in storytime format.
2. I enjoy sports more than I would like to admit and I am sometimes amazed at all the useless sports knowledge that I possess. I wish I had someone to watch with....my husband and kids are total WOW/Spore/CS geeks.....sigh.
3. Lately I'm watching a lot of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, my favorite episode The monkey's Paw was on today and Night Gallery.......oooo pooky.
4. I would like to have a plus-size dressform just so I can make myself a big poofy princess dress that fits me perfectly.
5. I'm 2 stamps away from getting a free travel cup from Dutch Bros. They sent me this awesome coffee card....a weeks worth of any drink any size for a $1 and when I fill it up a free cup...sweet.
6. I know that I'm to old to be saying 'sweet' and 'awesome' as often as I do but I don't care. At least I've stopped saying 'right on' so much.
7. I really need a haircut.

Well there it is.

The Acrobat.

My girl Gigi has always been a danger baby, always wants to go higher in the swing, faster in the wagon and would have loved Splash mountain if we hadn't gotten totally douched on the first drop. So far (fingers crossed, knock on wood and all that) she has had only a couple of bumps and bruises, maybe a minor road rash. The girl is tough as nails, nails I say.
Last Friday night she tested that toughness with a couple of backward somersaults down the stairs....at 3 in the morning...in the dark. She said that she had a bad dream and was going to crawl in bed with us when it sounds like she got a bit mixed up and instead of turning right into our room she turned left toward the stairs realized at the last second where she was, tried to correct, over-corrected and fell back in what I'm sure was a magnificent backwards swan, she said she was falling 'forever' before she hit the stairs....all of them and the wall at the bottom. It took us about 1/4 of a second to leap from our bed to the bottom of the stairs see if she was still in one piece. She was.....big knot on her leg, a bump on her noggin and both elbows slightly rug-burned. There were a few tears after the initial 'ow' but she's okay. I was thinking it probably scared the bah-jeezus out of her for sure.
My father-in-law was spending the night and of course bolted from his room to see what was going on. It probably wasn't G going down that woke him but her parents freaking out about it. She was found to be okey-dokey and he said that that was the most exciting thing that has happened to him in months....Grandpa doesn't get out much. We brought her to bed with us so we could keep an eye on her and after a little while she said in a quiet voice "Grandpa was in his underwear." Yes, yes he was. So we had quite the early morning underwear party..........ahh gotta love that family bonding.
She doesn't seem to be traumatized.
She said it felt like she was flying.
I think we're going to need a bigger first-aid kit.

What's in mom's pockets?

This is all part of a little game I like to play at the end of the day called..."What's in mom's pockets?"
C'mon who doesn't have a rubber zombie with his arms chewed off in their pocket?

May the 5th

Improvised margarita shaker and glass.
We love tequila!

2-fer’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day!

We have four cats....not on purpose, I really don't like cats very much. The reason we have four cats is a boring story and doesn't matter a whole lot. What does matter is that one of them is abnormally large, black, poofy and named 2-fer. He's a baby kitty (if baby kitty means a 6 mo. old mammoth sack of cat fat) and yesterday I gave him a good washin'....not on purpose.
This is my story and I'm sticking to it.
We have a stackable washer and dryer system, front loading washer w/dryer on top, it's cool I love it. So yesterday I was washing a blanket and a small bathroom rug no big deal usual domestic goddess stuff. The wash was done so I took the blanket out and put it in the dryer without turning the dryer on, I was thinking I would put it back in the washer for another spin to try and get a little more water out of it after I hung the rug to dry. So that's what I did. I hung up the rug and put the blanket back in the washer, set it for the 15 minute spin/drain cycle and then went back to planning my dream vaca......I mean cleaning the toilet. 15 minutes later the washer buzzer goes off, I open the door, reach in to grab the blanket and 2-fer's soppy little head pokes out from the folds.
I was HORRIFIED (I stood there, feet glued to the floor with my hands over my gaping mouth) as I watched this poor little kitty practically ooze out of the washing machine and on to the floor, expecting at any moment to see some sort of terrible injury or for him to just be dead. Instead I floated above myself, mouth still agape as he staggered like a sailor on shore leave through the kitchen and into the living room where he plopped himself down on the floor in the sun and started to try to clean himself.
Then I took a couple of pictures....and maybe a short video. He was pitiful looking and the pictures just don't capture how miserable he was.
So here it is.....I am absolutely fucking amazed that that cat survived 15 minutes wrapped in a soggy blanket spinning at about 1300rpms and is for the most part completely unharmed. I was worried that maybe he had some kind of unseen injury and he was going to die during the night but he didn't. He's fine, he plays, he eats, he craps...totally fine. He even still likes me....yeah, like I was real worried about that. Anyway...so I almost killed the cat in a really awful and nightmarish way yesterday.
But I didn't.
He's super-fluffy and smells real good now....'mountain fresh'.
zanna

New Door Friday!

Our house was built in 1926 and this is the original door. You can tell that it really is a beautiful door but 80 years have taken it's toll and it's fragile and drafty so we need a new one.
It's been kind of a long ordeal but it's finally here and being installed right this very minute.


I can't wait to get my hands on the old one, I plan on cleaning it up and replacing the glass with a beveled edge mirror. I also have pretty glass door knob to replace the dented up brass one. Then I'll hang it over couch. I love to recycle the stuff from our house......the giant stack of windows in the basement that I've been turning into message boards is a testament to that. Just might be finding my calling with this recycle, reuse and renew thing.....very satisfying not to have to buy new materials. I am such a cheapskate. Living on an extreme budget to get out of credit card debt a couple of years ago and trying to keep a zero balance has done it to me. That and having to go through another persons years and years of craft stash and throwing away most of it due to age/rot has kept me from buying more crap that I intend on using 'someday'.
It's amazing how resourceful a person can be to keep the jingle in their pockets.

Home!

This beauty lives at the Georgia Aquarium.
We're back from Atlanta, yays. A great time was had by all but now it's time to get back to work.
I really needed that time away from chores and 'the remodel' and the school and my role as Chief of Household Operations, it helped me get my priorities in order and make some decisions on the upcoming holiday/auction season. I have put a lot of projects on the back burner for a while now and I think I am about ready to get to it.
I am sometimes jealous of the folks I know that can be creative and spend most of their time working on projects and things they WANT to do as opposed to the things they HAVE to do. Like the dishes, heh.
I made a promise to myself a little while ago that my family would not suffer while I am all off being creative all by myself. Now I'm not saying that I always keep to that promise but I am getting better at managing my time and somewhat pleased with myself when I have a couple of hours in the evening to work on something ....you know after the kids are clean, PJed and safely tucked in their beds, the dishes are done and the laundry is at least folded. Who am I kidding, I mostly just want to pour myself a glass of wine and fall asleep on the couch.
Being away from home for a week has made me see that I've been slacking a bit lately and like I said it's time to get back to work.
suzanne

I've got mail!

Yes, I am a geek......why do you ask?

Cake!

Cupcake cake is still cake.
It's been a while since I made anything sweet.
J-Boy's birthday is a great reason. He likes German Chocolate so me and my 'Crazy Aunt Betty' whipped up this gooey delight. Devils food cake made it extra chocolaty. This is 29 cupcakes, I just couldn't fit that last one on there.
Next I'm going to make a cupcake cake using mini-cupcakes. So cute.

New Kitchen

Like I've said before......demolition is my favorite part!
Finally making big time progress on my new kitchen. We are major weekend warriors when it comes to working around the house and waiting for custom stuff doesn't help. But we are getting closer to a completed, sparkley clean and new kitchen.
yay

Farmer Gigi

The garden has totally gone to seed but she doesn't care.
"See mom...... there is still lots of good stuff."

reboot

I have logged on a dozen or so times to post and can't get past Stephanie's face. I forget what I am going to say and I change my mind about posting anything at all. I have even thought about deleting the post or the whole blog altogether but there is too much good stuff on here and that just doesn't seem right.
This is my good news blog and there is good news to be told.
Therefore I am declaring this an official 'reboot'.
Reboot my head and reboot this blog.
I'll post something a little later today, I have lots of remodel pics.
Now I have to go do my chores. Fun.

Steph

Stephanie Kaye Wilhelmi
One year ago today heaven welcomed it's most beautiful angel.
She seemed to know that her 17 years was a lifetime and she lived it to the fullest.
Oh Steph.....we miss you so much.
Peace and love babygirl.....peace and love.
Suzanne, Ben, Jacob and GiGi

Sheetrock...rocks!

I love this stuff. Just look at the lovely new walls. I can (finally) almost imagine what it's going to look like when we are done. The sanding is hard and dusty work, my allergy pills are working overtime but it is soo worth it. I'm building muscles too.... so it ain't all bad. There is also this little voice way back in a corner of my mind that whispers oh so quietly 'hard work is good for the soul'. I like that voice, it's the same one that tells me to eat cake. I should listen to it more often. I can't wait to move on to the next room.
I thought having all my craft/art supplies packed away would be kind of stressful but I have so much going on that it has been kind of a nice break not to have a project to finish and with the mindless mudding and sanding I am stashing away in my irontrap of a memory(ahahahaha....ha) lots of ideas for when we are done.
This real life stuff is majorly cutting into my way more exciting online life as well.
Oh and then there is the mealmaking, housecleaning and care of the children......sigh.
I'm going to need another cup of coffee.

Remodel

Remodel is another word for pick your house up, give it a couple of good shakes, hit yourself in the genitals with a rubber mallet and then write a huge check for the privilege.
We cashed out a bit of equity to do a quick update of our kitchen, yay. Of course this is us and our house we're talkin' about. We never do things the quick and easy way......we never get the chance. The joy of owning a cool old house is always balanced by 80 years of (sometimes) surprising quick and easy fixes that were deployed before us. Things like extension cords hardwired into outlets and cheap garden hose for internal water lines. And so our kitchen remodel begins ....in the laundry room...no wait....the spare room closet.
Soon to be part of the laundry room....(destruction is my favorite part)
wow.... look at all that room!

Laundry room/craft room.....yeah baby!
Lots to do.
I can't wait to start on the kitchen.

Ridge to River 2007

'Sister's Superstars' made their first appearance at the Jr Ridge to River last Saturday.
They overcame spinouts in the kayaking, loose training wheels in the biking and the 'slide of doom'...I mean 'rockslide'.Part climbing wall part FTL Drive this scream machine was hardly even given a second thought as the Superstars crossed the finish line in 25th place overall but 1st in guts and spirit.
Nobody got hurt. Nobody cried. Everybody had fun and they all got ice cream at the end.
We can't wait for next year.

Empty Bowls

Spent the weekend glazing about 120 ceramic bowls for my kids' school Empty Bowls Soup Project. Every year all the kids (Pre-5th, about 150) work on this project starting in the fall with making soup kits to sell. The money from the soup kits goes to buying unglazed ceramic bowls and supplies. The kids then paint the bowls and sell them at our annual Empty Bowls Soup Supper in April with all those proceeds going to our churches food bank.
With just a 'little bit' of grown-up help they decorate, serve and clean up on the night of the supper. It's really cool to see the kids work so hard on this project.
The soup is donated by local restaurants and is delicious. There is usually a wide variety and you can eat as much as you want! I love soup, in the winter I make it a couple times a week. The rolls they serve are pretty yummy too.
Glazing the bowls took a lot of time and a lot of counter space but it was worth it. I can't wait to see them after they are fired. I have a kiln in the basement that needs to be put together and it's a good thing I can't do anything with it right now or I'd be firing these bowls myself along with some of the vintage greenware (naked lady ashtrays, tiki masks etc..) that I've been hording, the last thing I need is to start another project right now so I'm glad the weather is getting nicer so I can distract myself with some yard work or something.
Yay Spring!

Gigi pictures

Gigi likes to take pictures......lots of pictures. Pictures of the dog.
Pictures of her friend.
Pictures of her brother.......lots of pictures of her brother.
She's pretty good too.
Better than her mom.

Here birdy birdy birdy..........

During her visit over Christmas break my mom kept her hands busy making popcorn garland for me. I had heard from a few people that it was kind of a pain in the butt but we wanted to try it so a couple of months before I had begun saving all the leftover popcorn in a big paper bag, it got really stale. We're talking chewing gum popcorn stale. Well the staleness made it so easy to string! We tied small pretzels on the ends for anchors. They looked so cute on the Christmas tree, very homey and traditional.
When I took the tree down the day after Christmas....what too soon?!?.... my feeling is Christmas is over, get on with the new year already...anyway, when I took it down we strung the garland on a tree in our backyard. The winter birds loved it.
I have a big metal tray that fits perfect in the top branches, I usually load it up with stale bread in the spring and summer but in the winter it gets full of snow so I usually don't bother with it. This was a fun way to give the birdies a little treat. Recycle, reuse, renew.
It's torture for the dog, because it's cold and she's such a baby she doesn't want to go outside to chase them, she might get a chill.
I love how the popcorn looks with the birdhouse in this picture.
Looking out today at the rain and all the yards that are muddy and brown.........I miss the snow.