After my last entry, "Unknown" asked in a comment what I have been doing with all my extra time now that I am rarely online anymore. Good question!
Sadly, it took a long time for me to remember just what I have been doing. Am I getting old? Nah.
So, what have I been doing? There was the big Christmas get together at our place. After that I spent the winter either being sick or taking care of two sick kids. I managed to lose seven more pounds.
I started reading books again. Some good, like the Count of Monte Cristo. Some not so much. We have been reading the Harry Potter series together. My oldest and I are also making our way slowly through Robinson Crusoe.
I have been getting rid of things. Books I read years ago but hung onto for some odd reason or another. Books I've just finished. Baby clothes. Some of them anyway. I still can't bring myself to part with the littlest of them yet.
I've tried some fantastic new recipes, but not nearly enough. I"m afraid we have eaten out more than usual lately. Maybe I should use some of this time to get better at planning ahead.
We visited Sun Valley for the first time. Drove and walked around Craters of the Moon National Monument. I've also spent a lot of time dreaming about more sister trips with Snodgrass.
I caught up on shows that were recorded over a year ago. I also got strangely addicted to tower defense games on the tablet.
I quit teaching my oldest and decided he would go to school. Husband saved the day, though, and took over. I kept teaching him history, sort of. Okay, I've procrastinated teaching history, now we are rushing to get caught up.
I started learning Spanish with my son. I've also decided to take a college class sometime soon. A language of some sort. I've narrowed it down to seven.
I planned to take our youngest to story times at the library, and do more fun outings with both boys. I became a homebody instead.
There has been some house hunting. Card games and board games. My 40th birthday. A surgery and recovery. A whole bunch of thinking. Now with warmer weather, more playing outside, walks and talking with neighbors we've missed over the winter.
Even though that looks like a lot, most of my time is spent just hanging out with my boys at home, doing whatever, usually in our pajamas. Numerous times we have built a "wagon" in the family room.
My oldest makes a lunch and packs it in the picnic basket. We take
turns driving and sleeping. I've never figured out where we are going.
Somewhere out West, I guess.
Lately baseball practice, baseball games, drum lessons, and band practice for my son's first gig have taken up every evening.
I think that's about it, except the insomnia. With that, I shall go to bed and not sleep.
01 May 2014
22 April 2014
Technology
I'm starting to feel like a backward, out-of-touch weirdo.
A few months ago I gave up Facebook, a habit that took far more than I realized at the time. Without the need to check my news feed at least once a day, I find I hardly have need to be on my computer anymore. I check my e-mail maybe twice a week now.
E-mail and this blog were going to be the means for me to keep in touch without Facebook. Oops! So much for the blog
It seems that most people use Facebook and text as their primary means of communication. I've been surprised lately by how much news I've missed, simply because I am no longer on Facebook. Pregnancies, births, significant relationship changes. Did I cease to exist because I deactivated my account?
I remember not so long ago when people reminisced about the good old days when we actually wrote letters and made a point to see each other in person. That new e-mail thing was so impersonal. Now I would be happy for those days of e-mail and an occasional phone call.
Speaking of phone calls, my son's baseball coaches don't call us with information, they e-mail. Because of that he has missed three practices, and found out about his first game a few hours before it was supposed to start. I finally asked if they would call or at least text so we don't miss such important information.
See, not only am I not on FB, I also don't have a smart phone. My"dumb" little phone spends most of it's time on a shelf in the hall. I check it once a day, more if I actually hear it's little jingle. It rarely ever leaves the house with me.
It's strange being so disconnected, but not bad. I have a lot more time to engage with my family and live life, real life, now.
Maybe one day I'll reactivate that "social" account again. For now, I'll try to navigate my way the "old"-fashioned way. It can't hurt.
A few months ago I gave up Facebook, a habit that took far more than I realized at the time. Without the need to check my news feed at least once a day, I find I hardly have need to be on my computer anymore. I check my e-mail maybe twice a week now.
E-mail and this blog were going to be the means for me to keep in touch without Facebook. Oops! So much for the blog
It seems that most people use Facebook and text as their primary means of communication. I've been surprised lately by how much news I've missed, simply because I am no longer on Facebook. Pregnancies, births, significant relationship changes. Did I cease to exist because I deactivated my account?
I remember not so long ago when people reminisced about the good old days when we actually wrote letters and made a point to see each other in person. That new e-mail thing was so impersonal. Now I would be happy for those days of e-mail and an occasional phone call.
Speaking of phone calls, my son's baseball coaches don't call us with information, they e-mail. Because of that he has missed three practices, and found out about his first game a few hours before it was supposed to start. I finally asked if they would call or at least text so we don't miss such important information.
See, not only am I not on FB, I also don't have a smart phone. My"dumb" little phone spends most of it's time on a shelf in the hall. I check it once a day, more if I actually hear it's little jingle. It rarely ever leaves the house with me.
It's strange being so disconnected, but not bad. I have a lot more time to engage with my family and live life, real life, now.
Maybe one day I'll reactivate that "social" account again. For now, I'll try to navigate my way the "old"-fashioned way. It can't hurt.
06 January 2014
Full House
The holidays. Every year we alternate what holiday we spend with which family. This year, Christmas was with my family and we hosted.
Fourteen people (only two in diapers), four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Seven kids, ages 2 to 10. Quarters were close and the volume level exceedingly high at times. It was the first time in years that so much of the family was together. Only my brother-in-law and youngest sister were unable to attend.
What a fantastic Christmas! Talking, game playing, eating, laughing. I have the best family. I really do. And, for the record, they are also some of the best cooks. I have the waist-line to prove it.
Most people thought we were crazy to do it. I think we would have been crazy not to. Life is too short and family too important to pass up such a great opportunity.
The only thing better than a holiday with everybody at my house is a holiday with everybody at another family member's house. Thanksgiving next year. Who's going to volunteer?
On a completely unrelated note, last week I played Risk, as I always do, once every 7 to 10 years. Normally that wouldn't be newsworthy except for the fact that I won! For the first time ever, I WON a game of Risk, and won it handily, too. I'm a loser no more.
Fourteen people (only two in diapers), four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Seven kids, ages 2 to 10. Quarters were close and the volume level exceedingly high at times. It was the first time in years that so much of the family was together. Only my brother-in-law and youngest sister were unable to attend.
What a fantastic Christmas! Talking, game playing, eating, laughing. I have the best family. I really do. And, for the record, they are also some of the best cooks. I have the waist-line to prove it.
Most people thought we were crazy to do it. I think we would have been crazy not to. Life is too short and family too important to pass up such a great opportunity.
The only thing better than a holiday with everybody at my house is a holiday with everybody at another family member's house. Thanksgiving next year. Who's going to volunteer?
On a completely unrelated note, last week I played Risk, as I always do, once every 7 to 10 years. Normally that wouldn't be newsworthy except for the fact that I won! For the first time ever, I WON a game of Risk, and won it handily, too. I'm a loser no more.
02 January 2014
New Year
Ah, 2014, you couldn't get here fast enough, you wonderful new year, you!
It seems as if we always ring in the new year with somebody getting sick. Last year my oldest got a stomach bug shortly after midnight. This year I was out of commission with a terrible cold.
Even with the terrible start to this year, it is already 10 times better than last. I for one have never looked forward to putting a year behind me more than I have 2013.
I usually think New Year's resolutions are silly. They're just a thing to do then forget about before the month is up. This year, however, I am making one and I WILL be sticking to it.
Cheers to a fantastic new year. May yours be even better than the last.
It seems as if we always ring in the new year with somebody getting sick. Last year my oldest got a stomach bug shortly after midnight. This year I was out of commission with a terrible cold.
Even with the terrible start to this year, it is already 10 times better than last. I for one have never looked forward to putting a year behind me more than I have 2013.
I usually think New Year's resolutions are silly. They're just a thing to do then forget about before the month is up. This year, however, I am making one and I WILL be sticking to it.
Cheers to a fantastic new year. May yours be even better than the last.
17 December 2013
The Other Side
The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. Sometimes you get over there and realize it's not even grass at all. Instead it's a noxious, green cloud rising from a rotten, foul-smelling, slimy pile of crap.
13 December 2013
My Big Return
Since I will no longer be on Facebook, I am going to get back into the habit of updating my blog. What better way to start than this?
Thank you to my sister for sending this with me. The Voice and funny sounds, two of my favorite things. You know me so well, Snodgrass.
09 August 2013
Once Every Couple Years Update.
I have a blog! I guess I've been busy enough the last couple years that I forgot. Now that I've remembered, and actually found it again, maybe I'll update it more often, like once a year, or perhaps twice. Gasp!
Here is the short version of what has been going on the last 19 months:
Life, growing kids, laughter.
That's it in a nutshell.
Until next year then.
Here is the short version of what has been going on the last 19 months:
Life, growing kids, laughter.
That's it in a nutshell.
Until next year then.
28 November 2011
Roll on
Baby Boy added more miles to his total this week. We have only 3710 to go to make 12k by 12 months. I lose a little more sanity with each passing mile.
04 October 2011
Long Trip Blues
This was not a good day. By now, both boys were sick, and we could tell we were getting it, too. Still, the hubby and I managed to be up plenty early, and made ourselves busy with the packing, as we were headed to Yosemite. The boys, surprisingly, slept in.
We checked out and were on our way. This was the part of the trip I had most looked forward to, but now, all I wanted was a plane ticket home.
The traffic was terrible, almost a standstill in places. Unlike the quirky, Southern California surfer vibe of Long Beach, the drive north through the L.A. area was gross. Abandoned and rundown buildings, graffiti, and garbage. Everywhere, garbage. Does anybody there care that nobody seems to care?
None of us were looking forward to more hours in the van. Our oldest was bored and sad that all his friends were already almost an hour further down the road. It was insanely hot outside. And still, the road stretched on.
The road narrowed and was one curve followed by another. I'm sure it was pretty, but I couldn't tell. I had to focus directly ahead of us. Motion sickness, again.
Finally Yosemite and the giant sequoias. I had so been looking forward to some sequoias. Even they didn't help. We took some pictures to enjoy later and moved on. It was time to end the day relaxing at a beautiful, historic inn.
That didn't turn out as planned either, but that's a story for another post.
We checked out and were on our way. This was the part of the trip I had most looked forward to, but now, all I wanted was a plane ticket home.
The traffic was terrible, almost a standstill in places. Unlike the quirky, Southern California surfer vibe of Long Beach, the drive north through the L.A. area was gross. Abandoned and rundown buildings, graffiti, and garbage. Everywhere, garbage. Does anybody there care that nobody seems to care?
None of us were looking forward to more hours in the van. Our oldest was bored and sad that all his friends were already almost an hour further down the road. It was insanely hot outside. And still, the road stretched on.
The road narrowed and was one curve followed by another. I'm sure it was pretty, but I couldn't tell. I had to focus directly ahead of us. Motion sickness, again.
Finally Yosemite and the giant sequoias. I had so been looking forward to some sequoias. Even they didn't help. We took some pictures to enjoy later and moved on. It was time to end the day relaxing at a beautiful, historic inn.
That didn't turn out as planned either, but that's a story for another post.
03 October 2011
Fish, Fish and More Fish
I cannot believe that we have been back from our trip for a week now. I stopped writing about it because I was getting a cold by this time and was pretty worn out. That, and the hotel's internet was down.
We met up with my brother, his wife, and their two adorable kids at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. It was a really neat place. Our son especially enjoyed all the little touch pools they have throughout. Anenomes, rays, jellyfish, he "petted" them all, over and over again. I could hardly bear to watch, let alone touch one myself! The boy soaked it all in. He wants to be a scuba diver, so it really was a great place to take him. I just wish we hadn't gone on homeschool day.
After we left, we drove down the road a piece until we found a beach. It was easy enough to find one, but we got separated from my brother's family on the way. Busy street, no brother, and my phone was in the back of the van, ringing. Oops!
The beach was WAY cool! Californians sure know how to do beaches. Shells were found, sand was dug, pictures taken and feet waded out into the Pacific. My boy has now been to both oceans. Unfortunately, we had very little time at the beach, as we promised the kiddo he could swim at the pool. Next trip, we are spending more time, hours, at the beach.
Off to the hotel during rush hour. What do we do? Miss our exit! Did I mention rush hour? Craziness! The husband is good, though, and got us back where we needed to be.
Ended with some Bubba Gump's to go. It was yummy. I just wish we could have had the extra time with my brother's family.
From the Anaheim portion of the trip, we learned that we needed more time there. We were definitely rushed the whole stay. Even our visit with my brother was rushed. As much as we all enjoyed the aquarium, our time may have been better spent relaxing at the beach.
We met up with my brother, his wife, and their two adorable kids at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. It was a really neat place. Our son especially enjoyed all the little touch pools they have throughout. Anenomes, rays, jellyfish, he "petted" them all, over and over again. I could hardly bear to watch, let alone touch one myself! The boy soaked it all in. He wants to be a scuba diver, so it really was a great place to take him. I just wish we hadn't gone on homeschool day.
After we left, we drove down the road a piece until we found a beach. It was easy enough to find one, but we got separated from my brother's family on the way. Busy street, no brother, and my phone was in the back of the van, ringing. Oops!
The beach was WAY cool! Californians sure know how to do beaches. Shells were found, sand was dug, pictures taken and feet waded out into the Pacific. My boy has now been to both oceans. Unfortunately, we had very little time at the beach, as we promised the kiddo he could swim at the pool. Next trip, we are spending more time, hours, at the beach.
Off to the hotel during rush hour. What do we do? Miss our exit! Did I mention rush hour? Craziness! The husband is good, though, and got us back where we needed to be.
Ended with some Bubba Gump's to go. It was yummy. I just wish we could have had the extra time with my brother's family.
From the Anaheim portion of the trip, we learned that we needed more time there. We were definitely rushed the whole stay. Even our visit with my brother was rushed. As much as we all enjoyed the aquarium, our time may have been better spent relaxing at the beach.
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