Busy, busy, busy bees

Okay, so we're not bees, we're "A"'s ...teeheehee

But we have been busy. I almost don't know where to begin...

How about the suprise visit my sister managed to pull off? Yes, friends, I was completely clueless that she was coming, with her husband and cute daughter. My own darling husband managed to concoct a story about a fourth year student coming to interview. There were many holes in his story, and he evaded direct answers when I questioned him. And I was slightly grumpy and complained to my mom (and it got back to him). But, my house was spotless and I even put the good sheets on the guest bed (not the pink or floral ones) and the fluffy towels out (ones we did not get as wedding gifts) and kicked my kids out of their bedroom (we only have two here) and was prepared to be charming when our guest(s) arrived. I was definitely shocked when my sister came through the door with a huge grin on her face. It was so fun to see her! My (wiser than he realizes) husband kept out of the way to see if I was going to hurt or hug him. Needless to say, we laughed and played and visited and had a good weekend. My camera was dying out, so I have to beg some pics from my sis to show you how it was. Good fun. (I did learn alot from this experience of being suprised...)

Then, the week my sis left, I had to re-clean and pack up for spring break- which we started early. And Sweet A got sick (which turned into an ear infection on vacation). We went to Sunny San Diego for 10 days (taking into account the two days of driving on each end!) Let me just say, my friends, that after traveling 2000 miles I would fly and rent a car (to fit five?!?), the price be hanged! We spent two days at Sea World and the San Diego Zoo, a morning in the urgent care and ER, an afternoon at the beach, two dips in the pool, a night at the grocery store and doing laundry, and sleepover at each end of the trip with dear friends from Kentucky and Albuquerque. Mostly it seemed like a normal week, except we saw daddy every day, all day, there was no school and no nap times. The kids were troopers, and only complained the last three days or so. They were super happy to be home and sleep in their own beds. Once again, I learned alot. Like a backpack is great at Sea World, a stroller is better for the zoo, kids have to be 42 inches to ride anything fun (note taken for future Disneyland trip=All persons must be at least 42 inches tall), an infant is hard to take to the beach, and little kids with no body fat don't do well getting wet and then wind blown (makes it hard to keep warm), sunsets over the ocean are beautiful! Grandma and Grandpa got to spend three days with us and it was fun to see them. Having more adult hands made keeping track of the kids much easier. I have to finish unpacking and laundry and re-adjusting to normal life now. (no flip-flops or shorts) I'll get some pictures up once I locate the camera. We really had a lot of fun and this was our first family vacation where we didn't go to visit family. It was good. We might even do this again...after we recover from this trip!! =)

sore throat remedy

so. I hate being sick. I have no time for it...really, who does?

Last week I was fighting off a nasty cold, and when the sore throat followed the sinus pressure, I took drastic measures.

Salt and vinegar potato chips.

Yes, friends. I think they are just about the most disgusting snack food around (mostly because I'm psychologically hypersensitive to vinegar). But, their disgustingness also seems to repel sore throats. No bacteria/virus wants to hang out in a throat that has been smothered with salt and vinegar.

So, here's how you knock those germs away. (you might want to do this alone, so as not to disgust anyone else.)

Get a ginormous soup bowl full of chips.

Breath through your mouth so the vinegar doesn't make you pass out.

Crunch up the chips and make a paste with them in your mouth

Use your tongue to mash the past to the top of your throat and then swallow it down. This ensures maximum coverage to kill germs.

As soon as the chips start to taste good (you don't notice the flavor because your taste buds are fried) you can stop eating.

If your throat still feels nasty, repeat this process again in a few hours.

I know it sounds crazy. But I only had a sore throat for one day. So, next time you're at the grocery store, grab a bag of those nasty chips to keep on hand for a sore throat emergency. You won't be sorry.

Seriously, what do you have to lose? Just a sore throat!!

Tag-it Forward

I'm usually such a wimp about this kind of stuff. I figure what I have to offer isn't always that super. But with a year time committment, I just might be able to swing this. And I couldn't resist the friend it came from. =)

So, here's how it works: the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year a handmade gift from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! The catch is that you must participate as well. Before you leave your comment, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going (or copy and paste like I did). Then come back, let me know you're going to play and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift! Just the thought of receiving something in the mail that isn't a bill is delightful! Come and play!!

Now, remember "ya get what ya get and ya don't throw a fit". (I am also pledging to use something I already have on hand, so this could be quite the suprise...teeheehee)

Come and play with me!!

Create

I couldn't pass up this message. I hope it inspires you today!

Solids

It's nearly that time. I am, personally, in denial about it. I don't want to believe that my darling new baby is ready to begin the culinary adventure of "Life Beyond Milk". But, ready or not, it's fast approaching. Which means I'd better get ready. And I don't have a high chair. I know, it sounds silly, since we've got two kids already and must have used something for them to eat from. We did, but for our last cross-country move we weren't using our highchair and my sister needed it more, so it found a good home--along with the crib. (I didn't even get to bring the fridge, and I would have gotten more use out of it than the crib and highchair...) ANyway. I always liked the look of the eddie bauer wooden high chairs, and figured I get one of those should I need one again.

My other sis has one, and likes it, but doesn't love it. I don't love the large plastic highchairs that never have a good place to be when not in use. My brother loves the space saver high chair they have, which sits on a dining room chair. I don't have any spare chairs (in fact, one is in the garage for repairs--a 1.5 year trip so far.)

So, I came up with a brilliant solution. I ordered new dining room chairs.... ...I say chairs because they have to come in pairs... (aren't they lovely? they are on the tall side and so nice with our "pub height" table--get your own at JCPenny!) and then I ordered a space-saver high chair. My brilliant plan lets me have the wooden coordinating look I want, with the convenience of functional high chair and then booster. I have a regular dining chair when it's all over and a smaller high chair to store/give away. (And did I mention that the price of a chair and the booster is still less than eddie's seat?)

Fabulous, right?

Stimulating Conversations

on the topic of rootbeer...

A: It's beer, made from roots. You can eat roots if you peel off the skin. Roots are the bottoms of trees.


discussing the spider in the jar...

C: How come spiders die in water?

Me: It's not water, it's alcohol.

C: Oh, it's ear alcohol. Qtips have germs on them, and they've been in the alcohol, so the spider dies from the germs.

Hmm, not exactly, but be sure to wash your hands just in case!


A: Scorpions aren't spiders, they don't have eight legs. They have stingers.

C: Oh, they're like bumblebees. And mosquitos.

A: Mosquitos don't sting, they poke.

C (knowingly): They're like half scorpion, half bumblebee.

New Digs

Hello! Exciting news out west...

We bought a house!!

We had to be out of this "rental" by September, so we were planning on getting into something more permanent this spring. Things just moved ahead of what our intended schedule was. (So much of my life is like that...things happen before I'm quite ready...) ANyway.

It's not glamorous or ginormous. It's a sturdy little house built at the end of the 70s. Translation: nothing "cute" or "charming" here, friends, just lots of wood paneling, dark wood (or plastic?) trim, dark cabinets, rectangular layout. Nice nearly corner lot, overgrown yard. Did I mention a cute little grandma lived there with three dogs? Yeah.

So, we decided that we have a little bit of work to do here before we move in, sometime this summer. All new flooring (tile, laminate, carpet), new appliances (I hope!!) and new paint are musts. Then there's that entryway wall we can't decide about, and all the countertops need to be replaced, and the trim, and doors, and fixtures, and cabinets, and windows... it's hard not to get carried away once we get going. This house is definetly a work in progress!! But it will be super cute when it gets finished. Assuming I have enough moolah to fund all my ideas. And the manpower....

So, that's what I'm going to be up to for the next six months. Refinishing a house, a family vacation, a wedding (my bro!), a triathlon (not me, S!!), moving...

I suppose my crafty projects will have to wait... except for the six baby blankets by July....