rehabilitated_feminist's Xanga

Bye, bye Xanga

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:58:17 GMT

So this is so long, adios, arrivederci, au revoir, auf wiedersehen to Xanga. I have a new blog -- it's pretty simple in its layout and look but I hope to have a bit more info on it in a bit after SoccerLowen helps me out. You'll find it at http://mylifewithmykids.wordpress.com/ . I went with wordpress because it's supposed to be much more elegant in its use of html -- like that really means anything to me. But I've had enough with Xanga and their ads, especially when they are really offensive. So I went premium for a month ($4), ordered an archive, downloaded it today and now am announcing I'm leaving. Yes, I'm paranoid and that's why I waited. The $4 was worth my time to not clip and paste every post and comment. Now I have them all. I won't be uploading them to my wordpress blog -- that's more than I could ask of SoccerLowen but at least I have them since they serve as a bit of a diary of our lives.

A Battery Allowance

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:11:45 GMT

It's two days after Christmas and already some items are no longer functional because their batteries have been used up. So, my Beloved and I are thinking of a battery allowance. My question to you, my readers, is what is reasonable? Now understand that the kids got lots of non-electronic toys such as legos and snap circuits and Sweet Streets (thank you Hinterlands and Lil Bit) and some got more electronic items than others. I also realize that once we are back on our regular schedule of school and activities, there will be less usage but I'm wondering what is a good start. The two oldest boys each got a remote control car and a digital camera (none of this is from us, btw). These items together require 6 AA batteries. They are all expended. The DP got a digital camera (again, not from us, just a very generous relative). Her doll that she got instead of a remote control car requires no batteries. But the camera batteries are used up.

Oh, and we just took all the cameras out of their packaging after lunch yesterday. There was a lot of picture taking going on over here. And a lot of deleting because they don't have expanded memory cards, yet. Oh, and some video. Did I mention that their cameras are nicer than ours? Maybe one of them should have the privilege of using our "grown-up" digital camera while we suffer with using theirs. But, I digress.

FM#3 got no camera but a Spiderman costume which requires no batteries but if it did, he could recharge it with his energy alone. He did get a remote control car (4 AA batteries required) and its batteries are used up but mainly because someone else's batteries were used up, so that person thought using FM#3's car was a good idea. A bit unfair but to be honest, I know FM#3 had been using the other car a bit. I just didn't time it all to see if the time was equivalent. How does one keep it all fair? Oh, that's right, life isn't fair. My brother told me that my entire life growing up. I just didn't pay attention.

FM#3 also got a remote control bulldozer which is still functional. The annoying part about that is that the controller also plays music. It's not really music I would choose to play because it is LOUD and there is no volume control. I so wish it's batteries were used up. Sadly, I picked this item out at a toy store for a relative to give to him. I have nobody to blame for my misery but myself which is just so . . . unfair.

So what is a fair monthly allotment of batteries (please, forget for a moment that life isn't fair)?

The Gift of No Gifts

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:15:01 GMT

Before I get to the main post, another quote from FM#2. We had come home Christmas Eve from church services and were busy trying to get baths and such for the kids, after opening presents from Grandmommy -- brand new matching pajamas for Christmas morning. I came out of the bathroom and the lights were dimmed throughout the house and the Christmas tree blazed in all its glory. FM#2 owned up to turning off/dimming the house lights. A little bit later as I was supervising FM#2's bath, he said, "Mommy, don't you think the Christmas tree looks more delightful when the rest of the lights are off?" Yes, I do.

Now to the story of no gifts. Finally, some saneness has raised it's head among my siblings. It has finally been decided that we will not exchange gifts among the siblings. So I didn't have to search and search for something unusual but within my budget for 6 adults who have tons of money and buy themselves whatever they want. I'm not saying they do nothing but shop and acquire but if they want it, they have the means to get it. And not think twice about it. This also means that my Beloved and I did not receive gifts and bring home all sorts of stuff, that while fun, we don't really need. Although, I do enjoy those UGG boots on really cold days. And, we did get a few gifts. Some had already been purchased before this voice of reason raised it's head. I got a cookbook from the Houston Humane Society. Food and animals -- couldn't be better. One sister also gave me a shirt she had already bought and it may become my favorite -- fun design and soft. One brother-in-law had also already bought a copy of one book for every adult male in the family and the sister that is his wife decided I needed a gift -- she wrapped up some paperback novels she had already read. She usually just hands them to me in a sack. I thought it was the funniest thing she's ever done!

And then the sister who gave me the shirt had some things in her car that they were getting rid of that she gave to us. A digital camera for one. Yes, they've upgraded and were just going to give it away. So while we have one digital camera that we love, we now also have a throw down one. It may go with us to rocket launches since a cell phone was almost lost at the last one. This sister also gave us a massaging chair cushion they were getting rid of because they've bought a massage chair. If it works well, I may never get out of seat.

But all in all, we came home with way less stuff than we normally do. It was such a relief. And one niece even asked for no presents, just donations to benefit children or animals. We gave a donation to a local shelter for children in crisis. What a joy to do something like this for a teenager who already has everything.

It was a much nicer Christmas than I was expecting with 3 children and a husband having colds. Dinner was late but the natives were patient with me and what there was of it was scrumptious -- turkey (cooked and sliced on Saturday and then stored in its juice), ham, sweet potatoes, salad, and cheesy, garlic pull apart bread with pecan pie for dessert. It was just our family with my in-laws and my parents. I actually pulled out the crystal and the silver for the adults and it was quite lovely. I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and may Grace and Peace reign in your house in the coming New Year. This is my prayer for my house and for you also.

Another quote, again

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:33:44 GMT

Nothing much has been happening because I'm not taking the kids to the store anymore. It's so much more peaceful. Who knew?

So, anyway, FM#2, always angling for a treat, asked to go to Chick-Fil-A tonight. Then he forgot he asked and asked to change into his pajamas. I think the child is going to have to get a job where he works at home because he just about lives in his pajamas. Otoh, he wants to be President of the United States ever since he saw the HGTV White House Christmas show. But I guess, if you are leader of the free world, you can go to work in your pajamas if you wish. But, I digress. I told him he couldn't get into his pajamas yet. He responded, "Oh, right, we're going to Chick-Fil-A." I told him I hadn't said that. He took that to be a no and walked off into the breakfast room where his siblings were coloring and announced, "I have some grave news . . ." I wouldn't necessarily call that grave news but then I'm not a 7 year old boy.

The Nothing Post

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:47:37 GMT

This is just to inform you that there will be no shopping horror stories this week because I went grocery shopping without the kids last night. One had the possibility of a tummy bug and so I went childless. It was sort of pleasant. Who knew? So I may take this up as a regular habit.

I'm so sad for all of you who enjoy my travails at the grocery store to bring a little laughter into your own lives. NOT. But you know who you are.

Happy Birthday FM#2

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:05:37 GMT

Today is the big day. He is 7. He's been counting down for weeks now. I hope it lives up to his expectations.

Seven years ago today, someone at work became very agitated with me. That is a nice way of saying he yelled at me and I became a bit fearful of continuing to work around him, so I quit. Effective immediately. We had no idea that exactly one week later we would be parents. But God knew and he was watching over me. He cleared my plate in a miraculous way.

I've been warning the parents of girls about FM#2

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:11:20 GMT

and apparently, it's been with good reason. FM#2 is a charmer. It comes naturally to him. What makes it so dangerous it that it is heartfelt. They are not empty words that come flowing out of his mouth.

Since he was about 2 1/2, FM#2 has been betrothed to a little girl we will call, for the purposes of this story, Katie. It all started one day when Katie was telling her mom all about all the boys she was going to marry. "First, I'm going to marry Tom and then Dick and then Harry (not their real names, obviously) and then I'm going to marry FM#2." Her mother quickly explained that you only get one marriage. Katie quickly chose. "Okay, then I'll marry FM#2." "Well, you might need to check with him first," her mother responded. The next time we saw them, she ran up to FM#2 and said "FM#2, I want to marry you. Is that okay?" He quickly said yes. Gotta love those direct women which I know nothing about, of course. So since then, they've been sort of betrothed.

Except that in the last year and a half or so, Katie wants nothing to do with boys. Katie is also a few months older than FM#2 and in 2nd grade, so she's not around FM#2 that much at church, which is where we became such good friends with her parents, so she is not constantly subjected to his charms. FM#2 is not easily dissuaded. He sends her his art and notes and remains determined to marry her. I explain that he doesn't really need to worry about who he is going to marry right now. That he has many years to decide. I tell him that she's not really interested. He tells me he can't help it. "She has my heart, mom." I try to protect that heart. I tell her mother that he is determined. She tells me that her daughter is really, really not interested. I warn her and her husband that they need to watch out for when he is around her more. I know, that if he wants, he will be able to woo her back.

Then yesterday, we went to lunch together. I told FM#2 that Katie might want to just sit next to the DP. Katie's mother asked her to at least talk to him and not just give him the cold shoulder. We step into the restaurant and FM#2 asks Katie "May I help you with your coat?" She assented and then decided to wait until we got to the table to take it off. When we were seated, she took off her coat and FM#2 said, "That's a beautiful dress you have on."

Her parents realized that, when the time comes, she doesn't stand a chance.

Very mysterious

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 12:09:23 GMT

We were all sitting at the dinner table and I don't remember what we were discussing but my Beloved said that he liked something and then qualified it with "But I may be strange."

FM#2: "I don't think you're strange. I think you're very mysterious but I don't think you're strange."

My Beloved: "You think I'm mysterious?"

FM#2: "Yes, you're the most mysterious dad I know."

All the relatives were entertained over that quote when we shared it yesterday at the Thanksgiving get together. They asked what he meant by that. We still don't know.

He's Bad Guy Part II

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:17:59 GMT

Yes, we were at the grocery store again on Tuesday, so yes, there's another story. We don't do Santa in our house. He's not completely banned but it's made clear that he's just a fun story so the kids don't obsess over him that much. Plus we haven't pulled out any Christmas videos yet. Okay, we may have watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer a couple of months ago but we're not going full speed yet. So FM#3 hasn't seen that much of Santa recently or even in his whole lifetime.

As we walked into the grocery store, one worker held up the latest Bruce Willis DVD release and put it right in our faces -- "Live Free or Die Hard". I said, "Yeah, right. Look at the ages of my children. Do you really think that's the type of movie I'm interested in for them? Would you please put it away?" I really did say all that. What was surprising to me is that it was an older gentleman. I would think he would think a bit more. Apparently not. But, I digress.

The second person to greet us was Santa. FM#3 started shaking and shouting "He's Bad Guy! He's Bad Guy!" I just had to laugh.

The neatest thing since sliced bread

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:40:32 GMT

Who has a digital camera? How many pictures have you taken? How often do you look at them? Me? I'm always planning to do something with them. In my spare time. The thing is that our kids love looking at the pictures and remembering the fun events. FM#3 in a couple of years is going to realize that we had a lot of fun while he was in the stroller or napping. I don't think he's going to like the realization.

My husband's company turned 100 the year. They took everybody to a ball game this summer. And last week, they gave everyone in the company the neatest thing since sliced bread. A picture frame. A picture frame for digital pictures. You plug it into an electrical outlet and plug a memory stick loaded w/ pictures into its side and then it scrolls continuously through the pictures. We have over 1200 that it's going through now. A few were in folders with fun things and don't really need to be there. Like the ones of our play system that we took so we could put it back together when we moved. But the kids are having endless amounts of glee staring at looking at it. They've actually decided that's what they are going to do in their free time tomorrow. Just stand there and gaze at themselves. Not that they are narcissistic or anything.

And don't ask me what it's called. I didn't put it together and never saw the packaging. But I have requested my Beloved get the information. In my dreams, I am giving them to every member of my family. Okay, everyone but my parents who reprogram the cable box daily much to the consternation of every other member of my family. But, I digress. So in my dreams, I am giving out as many as I can. However, I have this sneaky suspicion that they are out of my budget.