The Buttons

The buttons will be my demise. I can feel it. I can sense it.

It's been two days since I gave Trent the project of organizing the buttons. I thought it would be a fantastic little chore for him to do. I asked him to organize them by color and I gave him some plastic containers to put them in.

Baby Kat thought she was to grab buttons by the handfull and throw them.

I gave Baby Kat a couple of plastic bowls to help organize, too, all while smiling to myself.

My vision was that they would each play "Buttons" happily together.

This wasn't even close.

The bowls were filled and the buttons were thrown, bowl and all.

Trent and I got on our hands and knees and picked up the buttons. While we were picking these up one by one, Baby Kat took the containers that Trent had nearly full and dumped those upside down all over the floor. On the tile floor they scattered everywhere. They slid under the bench, they slid under the bookcase and some jumped into the carpet.

1 step forward, 3 steps back.

We put Baby Kat "away" and picked them up again.

This morning, they seemed to be everywhere again.

I asked Trent if he would keep picking up the buttons. He did without an argument. He obviously had more in store for me.

"What's this one?" he asked me a few minutes later. A button was pinched between his thumb and finger.

"It's a button?" I answered.

"It IS?"

A couple minutes later...

"What's this one?"

"It's another button, just a fancy one."

"Why?"

What kind of question is that? Why? Why what? Why is it fancy? Why is it a button?

A couple minutes later...

"Wow, Mommy! Look at this! It's an umbrella button!"

"Wow, Trent! That's really cool. Please put it in the jar."

A couple minutes later...this time I'm on the toilet.

"MOM! What's this?"

"It's a string of buttons."

"Can you take it apart for me?"

"No. Just put it in the jar."

"Why?"

I literally try to wipe the exasperation away from my face with my hand.

"Please go put it in the jar Trent."

He walks away looking at it in his hand.

I hear, "WOOOOSH". The sound of buttons hitting the tile floor again.

Then I hear, "BABY KAT!!!! NO!!!!"

I can't believe it. I pick up Baby Kat and put her in her crib. I'm sure I'll regret using her crib as "time out", but for now, we have a Button Emergency. I can feel the anxiety creeping up. These buttons MUST be picked up.

As Katrina screams in the background, Trent and I pick up the buttons again. Most of them are picked up so I go to retrieve Katrina from her crib.

You think she would have learned that now is the time to help pick up the buttons. I show her (again) how it's done. You pick up the button, you put it in the box. She surprises me and wipes her hand through the nice pile of buttons Trent has set up and ready to be boxed.

Buttons everywhere again. I was standing RIGHT THERE when it happened. I was right there.

It's been two days. I am a grown woman who has lost control of her button box.

The buttons are still there. I don't know how much longer they will be there for. I can see that someone is going to have to hold Ms. Poop while two others pick up those damned buttons.

So, if you were wondering what plans I had for the weekend....

Upload Day!

Today is upload day for Peek. Jenny put together a great kit for this time's Same Product Different Scrappers assignment.

Here are the links to my two new layouts: Growing Up &
Zoe

Check out all the other ones, too: Same Products, Different Scrappers

All about nothing

Our Anniversary dinner was great. We went to Wildflower Grill and ate on the patio. I love that place. We've been going there ever since we first met.

Today in the mail I received my first check ever for publication. I have a LO in Women's Day that I think will be out in October sometime. Look for it!! The LO is called "5 Favorites".

As far as publications, I seem to be in a dry spell. I've been submitting and submitting but no luck. :(

Baby Kat and I cleaned out the Tupperware cabinet today. It's something I've been meaning to do for the last two years or so.

Wow, isn't this exciting? Aren't you glad you took the time to read about my Tupperware adventure? I feel bad for all the people typing in TUPPERWARE right now in a search engine somewhere and are finding my blog. Sorry.

5th Wedding Anniversary

Today is our 5th wedding anniversary.

We're going out to dinner, maybe a little wine, then cake for dessert.

Each year we always get a mini cake from the bakery that made our wedding cake. We usually get the small topper size, but we decided this year that since there is only a few dollars difference between that and a 1/4 sheet, we would just get the 1/4 sheet. heeheehee...hope my mom and grandmother aren't reading this. I'm going to get in big trouble. I'm supposed to be on a low fat diet due to my absolutely obnoxious cholesterol level. Oh, we'll freeze most of that cake. Yup, that's what we're gonna do.

Oh, and let me say that my cake HAS to have buttercream frosting. If there is that whipped cream crap on my cake, I won't eat it. Why bother? That was one of my biggest worries while planning my wedding. I was terrified that the bakery would use whipped cream instead of buttercream. My wedding would have been ruined if they used that whipped cream crap. I think I called the bakery weekly to make sure they had the order correct.

Anyway, my husband totally surprised me with this year's gift. He bought me a remote for my camera! I was shocked. It wasn't lacy underwear, or a thong that I would have to return the next day, or even hardware from Ace. It was something I could actually use that I wouldn't have gone out to buy myself.

Yeah, I complain about him way too much at times. He is a pretty decent guy.

Our Fodders

The Lord's Prayer, Trenton's version:

Our Fodders
ott in heaven
be thy name
kingom come
be well done
on earf and heaven
get us this day
our dayee bread
get our treptreps
we treptrep
not evil
not temptation
kingom
power
goree
ever and ever

A mint

Sneaking Tookies

The kids and I made oatmeal raisin cookies this afternoon. Although I let them split one after they cooled, I told them they couldn't have anymore until after dinner. All I've heard since then is "Cookies, tookies, cookies, tookies".

Trent can say "Cookie" but Katrina calls them "tookies".

Trent is an extremely picky eater. His diet consists mostly of quesadillas (with "orange cheese not white")Cheerios and pb&j. When he discovered we were having chicken for dinner, he nearly cried. He knew he wasn't going to get a cookie unless he ate dinner.

As soon as Erik came home, both kids raced to show them the "tookies/cookies". They were still cooling on the counter.

We sat at the table and ate our chicken pasta meal. Trent whined and fussed and said that his decaf tea was his dinner and then he would have a cookie. He didn't like it when we said "No. Try your chicken. You always like your chicken after you try it. You don't get a cookie until after you at least try your chicken."

Trent had a plan.

He got up from the table and said, "I'll be back. Don't follow me."

"No. Come back to the table."

He sighed. He knew that wasn't going to work.

That didn't stop him though. He had another plan. Plan B:

He got up again. "Ok", he said, "I'm going to check on the cookies. I'm gonna take a while."

At this statement, Erik and I tried not to giggle. Trent disappeared around the corner and I got up to watch him. He was shoving a bite of cookie in his mouth. Stinker.

Let's see, other things Trent said today:

He leaned over to me and said, "Mommy, you stink. You need to take a shower." Now that I think about it, I think this was after I made cookies. It was probably an early plan to sneak a bite or two.

At play group today, the director asked, "Who is 4 in here?" Everyone that was 4 raised their hands except forTrent.

I said, "Trent, you're 4. Raise your hand."

"No Mommy. I'm 4 YEARS."

Yes, I guess he was right.

Right now!

• It's 8:29 am
• Trent is upstairs changing his clothes. He's still wearing the same socks as yesterday. When he asked me to help him put on his Converse high tops (cute shoes, pain in the butt to put on)I noticed his dirty socks.
• I already have Katrina dressed, although I'm not quite sure where she is right at this second. Hopefully, she's not in the shower pumping conditioner on herself (her favorite thing).
• The cat is on the counter cleaning her butt. **sigh**
• Gigi is behind me on the floor, waiting to be petted.
• Oh, and there is Zoe, standing at the door, wanting to be let out. I know as soon as I let her out, she'll want right back in. If she can't grab my attention, she wacks her head or tail on the metal vertical blinds. It makes an awful noise.
• The dishwasher is running, but my counter doesn't look any cleaner.
• I'm making a grocery shopping list and menu planner for the next week.
• I just noticed we're out of toilet paper!
• My shirt is dirty, even though I've only worn it for about an hour.
• I have yet to put my shoes on.
• In 30 minutes, we're leaving to pleasurable at the Community Center. I better go change my shirt and stop goofing around.

Thinking of You

Who am I thinking of, hmmmmm??????

Paper, wire & ribbon flowers.

Because I said so

I am sad to report that I have resorted to using this line already this morning. It's only 10:30 in the morning and I've already run dry of patience.

This type of answer doesn't usually come out of my mouth until around 3:30-4:00 on somedays.

Today I guess is different.

Before 7:30 even came about, he was crying because he wanted "Heart Cheerios". He can have regular Cheerios. "Heart Cheerios" are reserved for mom and dad. Sometimes a little is sprinkled on top of the kid's Cheerios, but today there wasn't enough.

He didn't want to put his shoes on. "WHY?"

He didn't want to go for a bike ride. "WHY?"

He didn't want that cup. "WHY?"

He doesn't want to eat around the brown spot on the banana. "WHY?"

He doesn't want to share toys with his sister. "WHY?"

He wants to use the other Swiffer, the one BK is using. "WHY?"

He doesn't want to help put away the puzzle that is all over the floor. "WHY?"

He doesn't understand why he doesn't get anything to eat because he wouldn't eat either his Cheerios or his banana. "WHY?"

He hasn't stopped whining all morning. "WHY?"

"Can I bow out cano?"

"What?"

"Cano?"

"Volcano?" He was just playing with the volcano.

"NO!!" When he whines it's even harder to understand him.

"CANO! CANO!"

"Oh, the candle. You want to blow out the candle. No. You may not blow out the candle."

"WHY?"

"Because it smells pretty and we're smelling it now."

"WHY?"

"Because it smells like cloves."

"I wanna bow the cano."

"I just told you NO."

"WHY?"

"Because.I.said.so."

At least it seems to work. It's such a lame answer but it always works.

Upload Day

I love upload days!

Here are parts of two of my favorite layouts, one from A Peek Into Yesterday, one from Down Memory Lane

Check out the rest of the gallery, too! I'm so lucky to work with such talented people.


















and here are my links:


Pin up Girl

Not Big enough

Everybody Wants to be a Kat

Have crayons will color

Up for air

Golf

My Angels

Read to me


Wow, this way it makes it so easy for the Grandma's to find them.

A new song

Katrina wrote me a new song with dance today. As you sing it, you march around and around in a circle. It goes:

Mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee **sigh** Mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee mahmee **sigh**

Meemee

"Meemee" is Katrina's word for nursing.

It's not pronounced quick and short like "me me", the "e's" are long "meeeemeeee".

Trent is not good at pronouncing his "n"'s, so anything that starts with an "n" sounds like an "m". "Mursing" is what Trent calls it. Katrina turned "mursing" into "meemee".

At 22 months, Katrina is still quite heavy into "meemee".

Over the weekend, Katrina found the drawer of cds open. I over hear her repeating, "meemee". Soon, I hear a little louder, "MA! Meemee". I look up and she's walking towards me with this cd in her hand, tapping at the cover, "Meemee, Mommy." Once I acknowledged the "meemee", it was Daddy's turn. "DA!", she turns around to go to another room of the house, "Meemee! DA!"

As I type this, she is on my lap pointing at the screen, "Meemee meemee meemee!"

Even Gigi has "meemee".

We've been told that Gigi has had at least two litters before she came to us. In February, when she was found on the side of the road, she had a litter of puppies with her. Gigi still has nursing nipples and should she lie down on her side, exposing her belly, Katrina is right there. She pokes and pinches at each of Gigi's nipples and says very seriously, "Meemee", while looking at me. I think at this point, Gigi is used to this behavior as she just deeply sighs when Katrina starts to point out her "meemee".

Some of Katrina's dolls and stuffed animals are "meemee'd". Sometimes she lifts her shirt to "meemee", sometimes Gigi "meemees" (while looking totally humiliated) and sometimes I have to "meemee". Why last night, both Gigi and I had to "meemee" a baby giraffe.

Nursing has become so much a part of our family, that even Trent has picked up on this in his own little way. Just about every picture he ever draws has "obows" (nipples).

I have to admit I had a little panic attack yesterday when I realized that Trent may be at school drawing pictures of naked people.

Yeah, I do a LOT of nursing...I mean "meemee".

Trent's First Day

Trent was so excited for school this morning. He couldn't even eat. He had his backpack on, his folded blanket under his arm and he was at the front door an hour before we had to leave.

I told him he could bring a small toy with him if he wanted if it made him more comfortable while away from home. He picked out five.

a little red party bear, a Kid's Meal toy from McDonalds,
the lid to his toy sugar/creamer set,
a plastic toy screw,
a Fisher Price Little People,
and a red heart that fits in a shape sorter toy we got rid of months ago.

I told him he could only bring one and we chose the red party bear. I wrote his name on the tag, and he turned around so I could put it in the pocket of the backpack he was wearing.

He also got Baby Kat a blanket and her kitty purse. Both kids, ready (on their own), at the front door before I was even dressed. This never happens.

When we finally did go, he let me take his picture. He wanted to pose with his arm extended like he was in some comic book action mode. There should have been a little bubble over his head that read "POW!!" or "BAM!!".

Inside the school, I signed him in and off we headed, down the hall to his class. When we arrived, the teacher said, "Hi Trent!" This time, instead of dropping to his knees, he said, "HI!!" back and walked towards her and the other kids.

Whew! A small sense of relief for me.

We found his cubby, hung up his backpack and his teacher showed us where his cot was and where he could put his blanket.

Trent was introduced to another kid named "Andrew" and they soon became buddies. Andrew took Trent to the sink and pointed out all the controls, soap and paper towel dispenser. After each of them washing their hands, they sat to eat breakfast together. I guess Trent had decided he was hungry after all.

It seemed at this point I was no longer needed. He was perfectly fine sitting there with Andrew eating his breakfast. I said, "Well, I'm going to go now." Nothing. I repeated it. He gave me a quick glance and turned back around to continue eating with Andrew.

No tears.
No "MOMMY!"
No "I don't want to stay!"

None of that. For years I have worried about what his first day of school would be like. I can see now that I was just wasting my time by worrying.

I spent the morning at my mother's. I wasn't ready to come home to an "empty" house. Of course, I know I have Katrina, but my Little Man is gone...at school...growing up.

I'm home now and Katrina is sleeping. The house is so quiet. I almost don't know what to do with myself. I guess I'll go empty the dishwasher. Then I'll pick up Trent.

New Announcement

Jill at Down Memory Lane Co. is now donating 100% of the proceeds from the sales of the Katrina Relief kits and grab bags to the American Red Cross. You can go right here: http://www.downmemorylaneco.com/shop.aspx?CatID=444 and spend spend spend and you'll know it's going to a great cause.

Beautiful morning & School for Trent

It was so nice yesterday morning. I took the kids for a bike ride. We have been missing our walks over the last couple days, due to various reasons, and I really needed to get moving again. I didn't feel like a boring walk again and when Katrina pointed to the bikes, I said "Why Not?" It took me 20 minutes to pump up the tires, but soon after that we were on our way. I brought my camera with me just in case. We rode up the street to the horse boarding place, but no horses were out.

I think the ride may have been a little too long for the kids and I had to threaten Trent a couple of times, "Do you wanna walk?". LOL. After that, I would hear some whining from Katrina and then Trent saying, "wanna walk?"


After I downloaded these pictures, I realized I hardly had any without Trent's finger near his nose. **sigh**

One of these days, I'll figure out how to add pictures and have the text wrap so nicely around them.


Little Dude Starts School

My little man is going to start pre-school on Monday. He's going twice a week for 4-6 hours. He missed kindergarten this year by just a couple of months. I know he is ready for school. He's so bored that he's been getting in so much "trouble" lately. It seems like he's always in time-out for aggravating his sister to the point of tears.

His little mind needs to be filled with information that I can't seem to provide him. He's not interested in tracing letters with me or solving simple math equations. I also want him to learn some social skills. This need was proved to me yesterday during his introduction to the class:

When we took a tour of his classroom, all the kids were sitting at the table waiting for lunch. Trent, Kat and I just kind of walked around, looking at the various toys and "stuff". When we stopped for a moment, the assistant teacher introduced Trent to the class.

"Class", she said, "This is Trent. He will be starting with us next week".

As the kids turned and said, "Hi Trent!", Trent dropped to the floor on all fours and scurried past me to hide underneath a table.

I couldn't believe it. I didn't realize he was so shy.

He must of realized that what he did was pretty goofy, because he immediately popped up, turned to the kids at the table, raised his hand in a wave and said, "Hi".

Of course, while this is happening, Baby Kat is saying, "hiiiiiiii" over and over and waving.

My poor little man. I felt so bad for him.

As we were leaving the center, he said that he didn't like that place and didn't want to go back.

We talked about it later and he said that he was still feeling embarrassed by his actions. I told him that no one would remember what happened and he's going to have so much fun and make so many new friends.

I think he feels a little better now.

Another picture...

Actually, just testing my "Hello" program. That's all. Another bubble suit pic.

Thanks for looking. :D

Two Important Announcements!

Let's please not forget our animal friends that are suffering due to hurricane Katrina:

http://www.hsus.org/

Also, http://www.downmemorylaneco.com is having a fun sale benefitting Katrina victims. Jill has put together grab bags of scrappy supplies ranging from $5.00 and up. She has also put together packages of scrappy supplies by color. 60% of all sales will go to help the victims. Please go check it out. It's in the shopping section.

Vintage

In that bag of clothes my neighbor gave me to go through was this adorable vintage yellow bubble suit.

I put it on Katrina today and discovered it was almost too small. She probably won't get to wear it for too long.

Here's a picture of her. I caught her mid-word saying "dog".

I had the kids up on the window seat taking pictures when Katrina accidentally knocked over one of my glass vases. I picked it up and decided while I was throwing it away in the garage, I'd take some pics out there.

I set Baby Kat down and started snapping away, but she wouldn't look at me. She kept saying, "bebe" over and over and pointing towards the back of the garage. I looked in the direction she was pointing and noticed my very old Chatty Cathy doll. I had found the doll at a yard sale when I was about 12-13. Even then, she was "old" and "collectible". I was collecting dolls at the time. I knew she wasn't worth much because she is "mute" and her condition wasn't that great. I can remember how excited I was when I found her. I had always felt I needed this doll to complete my collection.

Years later, I got rid of most of my dolls, but I could never part with the Chatty Cathy.

We brought her in, cleaned her off and the kids have dressed her. Now there is a skirmish every so often over who gets to hold her. Trent likes to put a tiara on her and Katrina likes to push her down the toybox/slide.

I feel kinda nice that Chatty Cathy is getting some new appreciation. You know you always secretly wonder if the toys talk, move and have feelings when you're not around. Admit it.

I can feel Cathy smiling inside her mute, plastic, little body.

Off Ground

I'm feeling a little lost today.

Out of routine.

Unmotivated.

I think I remember feeling this way during 9-11. Maybe it's just a feeling of total helplessness. Can you believe 9-11 was FOUR years ago?

I've had laundry sitting in the dryer for two days.

I don't care.

and I'm so tired of the heat. I'm always sweating.

and the toys. There are toys everywhere. I trip over them.

and I'm tired of nursing. Katrina is 22 months old and when she wants to nurse she just comes over and lifts my shirt. Most days, I don't even bother to wear a bra. This way I don't have to stop what I'm doing to help her. Too much info? Sorry. Not what you were expecting in a blog? Sorry.

and whining. I'm tired of hearing everyone whine. Too many whiners in the world.

heehee...that was supposed to be funny. Get it? ...all my whining and then I say I don't like whiners...nevermind. If I have to explain, it's not funny.


In other news...

Trent made beer today. He mixed his decaf iced tea with water, stirred it with a spoon and claimed it was beer. We're not big drinkers here, so I'm not exactly sure where he came up with that one. "Mmmmm, this is good beer!" he says.

I'm making another loaf of homemade bread.

I'm going through this 70's Rock phase. I had an itch to listen to some old Queen and Pink Floyd today. Not sure why. I pulled out some Pink Floyd I didn't even know we owned. They were mixed up in the cd drawer with Pet Shop Boys, Project Pitchfork and Portishead. To my surprise, we actually have three PF cd's: Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall.

And, I got a package of stuff together for Jlyne and her family.

I don't like starting sentences with "and". Isn't that bad grammar? I did that a lot in this entry.

and I'm done for today. I promise I won't come back until I'm either in a bra or a better mood.