Thought I'd better get a little bit of blogging in before Ceana wakes up...Liam and I have been getting up at 6:30 this week so that we can get in the swing of things for school next week. He does fairly well at getting up - helped along by the fact that he has to hurry and get up if he wants to be able to say goodbye to daddy.
Roxie was sick again this weekend. I'm thinking that she may have picked up a bug from her bout with the compost and then re-infected herself. I completely forgot to treat that backyard poop spots...total idiot-type move there. Liam woke me up on Sunday that her cage had poop in it. We spent a joyous Sunday cleaning up cages, cleaning the carpet on areas that it had leaked, getting lime for the back yard...Bah. I'm planning on getting a stool sample today to take into the vet and see what they can tell me. She's been back on the chicken and rice diet and is doing very well now, so hopefully we can make sure this is under control this time.
Ceana is killing me. We are now needing to invest in a regular bed for the little twit. She figured out how to climb out of her crib yesterday. She didn't realize I was watching her and she got one leg up and over and began to pull herself over the side - that's about the time I put the kibosh on it. Monkey. There is NOTHING that girl won't get into or on top of! Phil found that out last week - I was running errands and he was watching the kids, when Ceana climbed either onto the table or the desk and picked up...wait for it...a SHARPIE. Yes, those most permanent of permanent markers. Thankfully it was yellow...but she still has leftover marks. The day before that, she picked up a brown (washable! God bless Crayola) marker that Liam had left laying around and colored her arms and her face. The girl looked like a tiger. I forgot to get pictures, I was laughing so hard...Next time (and I'm SURE there will be one...).
Liam is getting excited about school - but he's pretty nervous too. Phil and I will both be dropping him off that morning (next Wednesday) - I may have said this before, but I'll be the only 2nd grade kindergarten mom! It's going to be a big thing for all of us. But, knowing him, he'll come home the first day talking about how cool his teacher is (I'm very glad he has a male, outdoorsy-type teacher this year) and how many "friends" he has made!
Phil is planning on putting his retirement letter in within the next month. Hold on to your seats - this could be a bumpy ride. I'll keep you all updated on that as it moves forward (or not).
So, there you have it. A quick update on our goings-on. I am typing this, literally, with one ear turned towards the stairs so I can hear when Ceana wakes up and get upstairs RIGHT AWAY before she has time to explore the possibilities of the information she figured out yesterday. Oh...speak of the little devil...I'm off and running!
Cutest Blog on the block
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
PS.
I kept forgetting to post, but - I GOT MY KINDLE!! I am so stoked - the thing absolutely rocks. I used all my birthday money and my birthday gift certificates and we only paid $16 + $3.99 for overnight shipping. I'm reading more than I have in a long time. I primarily use it for books that I know I want to read, but I'm not sure I will like them enough to buy the copy and/or keep. A bonus is that you can download the first couple of chapters from any book (that you can buy for kindle) for free - great for not buying mistakes!!
One book I have read on the kindle that I highly recommend is "The Art of Racing in the Rain". Amazing book. Wonderful story, told by the dog - but not in a mushy, obnoxious kind of way.
Anyway - there you go. That's the height of excitement in the part of my life that doesn't revolve around kids and/or family. In other words, not much.
One book I have read on the kindle that I highly recommend is "The Art of Racing in the Rain". Amazing book. Wonderful story, told by the dog - but not in a mushy, obnoxious kind of way.
Anyway - there you go. That's the height of excitement in the part of my life that doesn't revolve around kids and/or family. In other words, not much.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Grab a cuppa!
This might be a longer-length post...so much has been going on, and I don't want to create a bazillion posts...hopefully, between the pictures and the post, we'll only have 2 to deal with!
Liam has finished up his lacrosse for the year. Now the organization will spend fall getting ready for the spring sessions. He had a great time, and he really likes the fact that daddy is his coach (assistant to the big boss). It's nice for them to have a father/son thing to do, though every so often us girls get invited as well. There are a few pictures from one of those rare invitations in the slideshow. As you can see, Ceana had a great time as well. You can barely see Liam (I forgot my long lens and it was the last practice of the season), but if you look closely - he's the blue dot;)
Related to Liam's lacrosse - we *finally* found a babysitter! One of the high-school girls who was helping with Liam's team (and is dating the head coach's son) was playing with Ceana for a little while. I jokingly asked Phil if he thought she would babysit - Liam (aka. Mr. Mouth) was listening and ran over to ask. We got her information, but a friend of hers was available for the time we needed and came with the necessary certifications (first aid/cpr). So, Miss Erin is our new go-to gal! She was great with Ceana...we figured that having someone here would help Ceana feel better about the situation.
So, our big gift to Liam for his birthday was a pair of VIP tickets to Portland's first MLL game...which also happened to be a playoff game between the New Jersey Pride and the Philadelphia Barrage. Included in the tickets was a pre-game clinic give by some players from both teams, special seating and a post-game autograph session. So, Miss Erin came and spent almost 6 1/2 hours with the young miss for her FIRST time so that it could be a special day with just us and Liam.
We got there and wandered around to all the booths for a while, bought a t-shirt for Liam's autographs, and just hung out. Then it was time for the clinic - we went down to the field, and 4 of the players talked (a lot) about how the kids could improve their lacrosse. Many of the kids were high school age, but there were a few Liam's age there. It was, basically, a lot of walking back and forth from one end of the field to the other. However, as we were walking from the NJ side, one of the players (#34) was stretching. As we walked by, he totally startled Liam by talking to him and sticking his hand out for a high-five. Really nice guy - spent a couple of minutes chatting before heading to the other end of the field (again). So, remember that number.
After the clinic, Phil took Liam up to get something to eat (a VERY expensive hot dog and soda) before the game started while I saved our seats and watched the teams warm up. The player from NJ was so nice that, since we didn't have a team to root for, I decided to root for NJ. Liam decided he was with me, and after some consideration - Phil joined in.
And what a game it was! This was not just Liam's first "real" lacrosse game, but mine as well - I am a convert. I am simply in awe over those players. I challenge anyone in football, basketball or baseball to try and play an entire game. They simply could not do it. Soccer players would probably be ok, but the rest? No way.
Anyway, it was a VERY close game. Made even more interesting by the fact that the last time these two teams met, it Philly won by a 4-point margin. I had a really hard time keeping track of the ball - it just moved so quickly. Philly would get ahead, then Jersey would catch up to within 1 point. Then it would happen again. And again. Until finally, at the very end of the 4th quarter, Jersey tied Philly. So, after a 3-minute break, the players were at it again - the clock was set for 10 minutes and it was a sudden-death match at that point. Jersey got the ball first, tried to score and missed. Then again. And then, what we assumed was the death knell for Jersey, Philly got the ball. They had been so quick to score and had been ahead the whole game - we figured it was a done deal. But Jersey had other plans - their goalie(?) stopped the ball, they ran it down the field at incredible speed, and lobbed it in. The crowd went crazy! A truly amazing game.
After it was over, we headed down to the field for the meet-and-greet with the players. We had a t-shirt we bought there for the players to sign. The first player we went to was - you guessed it - #34. Liam walked up, the player looked at him, and he said, "Hey I know you! What's up, buddy?". I was floored. Here's this player who spoke to Liam for all of 10-15 seconds, went out and played this amazingly long and crazy game, and he remembered. He signed the t-shirt, talked to Liam a bit, and then we got a picture. All the Jersey players were terrific. They have some new fans for life! The Philly players were mostly cool too. So, there's the story of the game.
Let's see...what's next? We've been doing school shopping for Liam. Can you say "expensive"? And I'm not even talking about clothes. I'm talking about all the supplies he's supposed to have for school! Painting canvases, paints, pencils, backpack, water bottle, markers, crayons, glue, kleenex...the list goes on. It's certainly a sign of how little money our schools (and our teachers) get. But, I won't get on that soapbox...Anyway, we've warned Liam that this weekend, he has to go through his clothes with us. Which means trying them ALL on. Which he hates. But, I need to see what fits and what doesn't, what's not ripped or stained - all that fun stuff. He's already dreading it...though I'm pretty sure he's also hoping I'll completely forget.
Roxie was sick for a while...Ceana and I got up last Saturday morning and headed downstairs. I thought I smelled something...funky...but didn't see anything. Walked into the living room, happened to glance at Roxie, and the poor thing is covered in her own poop. I woke up Phil so he could help me get the dog and the kennel out with a minimum of mess, while still keeping Ceana IN. I kept saying how I couldn't figure out what she could have eaten...nothing in the house, nothing in the yard...hosed off the kennel in the back yard and was heading back into the house when, on a whim, I went over to the compost barrel. Yep. Liam had chosen to dump the compost behind the bin instead of inside the bin. Roxie had been gorging herself on that. Boy, I marched my butt upstairs, woke Liam up and told him to get dressed. That he had work to do. Marched him outside and told him that because he had *chosen* to not do his chore correctly, that his dog was now sick. I told him that before he got breakfast, he had to wash his dog and pick up the compost. Every. single. piece. I was livid. He got it done (though the idea of using his hands to clean the poop off the dog, particularly down by her tail, was not a pleasing one for him), and then we sat him down and explained how sometimes, when we make bad choices, it's not just us that those choices will have an effect on. Anyway, we thought that by the end of the day Roxie was better...but Monday morning, it was the same story. Phil hosed out her kennel as best he could, but I ended up having to put her back in it because Liam had a dentist appointment. I felt terrible. We got home, and we washed the dog and her kennel once again. Liam was furious. Wanted to know why he had to do it again (though I helped this time). Good lesson in how bad choices can come back and haunt you later!! So, I didn't let her eat for 24 hours, then had her on a white rice/chicken/plain yogurt diet for 3 days, and she's back on her dog food and back to her normal self.
See. Told you it was going to be long.
The weather here has been horrible. It's either 100+ degrees, or it's hot and muggy, or it's...get this...cold and raining! Are you kidding me?!? We had no spring, summer has been hotter than usual, and now we're getting November weather in August?!? Bah. I'm not kidding - last week, it was 100+ for several days, then within a 24-hour period, it dropped 12 degrees. Then, another day later, it had dropped another 12 degrees! Anyway - while it was so miserably hot here, I set up an oasis on our back porch. We got a cabana with netting, and a blow-up pool. Set up the cabana, and tied a sheet to the end furthest from the house (anyone who has been here knows that the back of our house gets the full brunt of afternoon sun) so that the pool was in complete shade. The kids had a blast - though I had to get in with Ceana before she decided that it really was fun...Even Phil popped in a couple of times!
So, there you have it. Our crazy life. I am putting in a slideshow of photos that relate to this post right above, so enjoy!
Liam has finished up his lacrosse for the year. Now the organization will spend fall getting ready for the spring sessions. He had a great time, and he really likes the fact that daddy is his coach (assistant to the big boss). It's nice for them to have a father/son thing to do, though every so often us girls get invited as well. There are a few pictures from one of those rare invitations in the slideshow. As you can see, Ceana had a great time as well. You can barely see Liam (I forgot my long lens and it was the last practice of the season), but if you look closely - he's the blue dot;)
Related to Liam's lacrosse - we *finally* found a babysitter! One of the high-school girls who was helping with Liam's team (and is dating the head coach's son) was playing with Ceana for a little while. I jokingly asked Phil if he thought she would babysit - Liam (aka. Mr. Mouth) was listening and ran over to ask. We got her information, but a friend of hers was available for the time we needed and came with the necessary certifications (first aid/cpr). So, Miss Erin is our new go-to gal! She was great with Ceana...we figured that having someone here would help Ceana feel better about the situation.
So, our big gift to Liam for his birthday was a pair of VIP tickets to Portland's first MLL game...which also happened to be a playoff game between the New Jersey Pride and the Philadelphia Barrage. Included in the tickets was a pre-game clinic give by some players from both teams, special seating and a post-game autograph session. So, Miss Erin came and spent almost 6 1/2 hours with the young miss for her FIRST time so that it could be a special day with just us and Liam.
We got there and wandered around to all the booths for a while, bought a t-shirt for Liam's autographs, and just hung out. Then it was time for the clinic - we went down to the field, and 4 of the players talked (a lot) about how the kids could improve their lacrosse. Many of the kids were high school age, but there were a few Liam's age there. It was, basically, a lot of walking back and forth from one end of the field to the other. However, as we were walking from the NJ side, one of the players (#34) was stretching. As we walked by, he totally startled Liam by talking to him and sticking his hand out for a high-five. Really nice guy - spent a couple of minutes chatting before heading to the other end of the field (again). So, remember that number.
After the clinic, Phil took Liam up to get something to eat (a VERY expensive hot dog and soda) before the game started while I saved our seats and watched the teams warm up. The player from NJ was so nice that, since we didn't have a team to root for, I decided to root for NJ. Liam decided he was with me, and after some consideration - Phil joined in.
And what a game it was! This was not just Liam's first "real" lacrosse game, but mine as well - I am a convert. I am simply in awe over those players. I challenge anyone in football, basketball or baseball to try and play an entire game. They simply could not do it. Soccer players would probably be ok, but the rest? No way.
Anyway, it was a VERY close game. Made even more interesting by the fact that the last time these two teams met, it Philly won by a 4-point margin. I had a really hard time keeping track of the ball - it just moved so quickly. Philly would get ahead, then Jersey would catch up to within 1 point. Then it would happen again. And again. Until finally, at the very end of the 4th quarter, Jersey tied Philly. So, after a 3-minute break, the players were at it again - the clock was set for 10 minutes and it was a sudden-death match at that point. Jersey got the ball first, tried to score and missed. Then again. And then, what we assumed was the death knell for Jersey, Philly got the ball. They had been so quick to score and had been ahead the whole game - we figured it was a done deal. But Jersey had other plans - their goalie(?) stopped the ball, they ran it down the field at incredible speed, and lobbed it in. The crowd went crazy! A truly amazing game.
After it was over, we headed down to the field for the meet-and-greet with the players. We had a t-shirt we bought there for the players to sign. The first player we went to was - you guessed it - #34. Liam walked up, the player looked at him, and he said, "Hey I know you! What's up, buddy?". I was floored. Here's this player who spoke to Liam for all of 10-15 seconds, went out and played this amazingly long and crazy game, and he remembered. He signed the t-shirt, talked to Liam a bit, and then we got a picture. All the Jersey players were terrific. They have some new fans for life! The Philly players were mostly cool too. So, there's the story of the game.
Let's see...what's next? We've been doing school shopping for Liam. Can you say "expensive"? And I'm not even talking about clothes. I'm talking about all the supplies he's supposed to have for school! Painting canvases, paints, pencils, backpack, water bottle, markers, crayons, glue, kleenex...the list goes on. It's certainly a sign of how little money our schools (and our teachers) get. But, I won't get on that soapbox...Anyway, we've warned Liam that this weekend, he has to go through his clothes with us. Which means trying them ALL on. Which he hates. But, I need to see what fits and what doesn't, what's not ripped or stained - all that fun stuff. He's already dreading it...though I'm pretty sure he's also hoping I'll completely forget.
Roxie was sick for a while...Ceana and I got up last Saturday morning and headed downstairs. I thought I smelled something...funky...but didn't see anything. Walked into the living room, happened to glance at Roxie, and the poor thing is covered in her own poop. I woke up Phil so he could help me get the dog and the kennel out with a minimum of mess, while still keeping Ceana IN. I kept saying how I couldn't figure out what she could have eaten...nothing in the house, nothing in the yard...hosed off the kennel in the back yard and was heading back into the house when, on a whim, I went over to the compost barrel. Yep. Liam had chosen to dump the compost behind the bin instead of inside the bin. Roxie had been gorging herself on that. Boy, I marched my butt upstairs, woke Liam up and told him to get dressed. That he had work to do. Marched him outside and told him that because he had *chosen* to not do his chore correctly, that his dog was now sick. I told him that before he got breakfast, he had to wash his dog and pick up the compost. Every. single. piece. I was livid. He got it done (though the idea of using his hands to clean the poop off the dog, particularly down by her tail, was not a pleasing one for him), and then we sat him down and explained how sometimes, when we make bad choices, it's not just us that those choices will have an effect on. Anyway, we thought that by the end of the day Roxie was better...but Monday morning, it was the same story. Phil hosed out her kennel as best he could, but I ended up having to put her back in it because Liam had a dentist appointment. I felt terrible. We got home, and we washed the dog and her kennel once again. Liam was furious. Wanted to know why he had to do it again (though I helped this time). Good lesson in how bad choices can come back and haunt you later!! So, I didn't let her eat for 24 hours, then had her on a white rice/chicken/plain yogurt diet for 3 days, and she's back on her dog food and back to her normal self.
See. Told you it was going to be long.
The weather here has been horrible. It's either 100+ degrees, or it's hot and muggy, or it's...get this...cold and raining! Are you kidding me?!? We had no spring, summer has been hotter than usual, and now we're getting November weather in August?!? Bah. I'm not kidding - last week, it was 100+ for several days, then within a 24-hour period, it dropped 12 degrees. Then, another day later, it had dropped another 12 degrees! Anyway - while it was so miserably hot here, I set up an oasis on our back porch. We got a cabana with netting, and a blow-up pool. Set up the cabana, and tied a sheet to the end furthest from the house (anyone who has been here knows that the back of our house gets the full brunt of afternoon sun) so that the pool was in complete shade. The kids had a blast - though I had to get in with Ceana before she decided that it really was fun...Even Phil popped in a couple of times!
So, there you have it. Our crazy life. I am putting in a slideshow of photos that relate to this post right above, so enjoy!
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