Superstar

 

Sweetness

 While Eric definitely has his two-year-old moments, he more than makes up for them with his charm and personality.

Emerging Personalities

 It really is fun to watch your children develop, grow and their innate personalities emerge. Jack and Eric are similar in many ways but there definitely are differences between them. Some not so significant, (cantelope vs. grapefruit) and others more so, (music talent vs. tool talent). Hmmm, I wonder who Jack gets his tool talent from???

Mom Advice

  I am going to do a series of these Mom Advice layouts for my kids. I like the idea of giving them things I want them to learn/know in a tangible way. Sort of like if I die they will have a written record of the things I want them to know to help them be happy in life. (That's a little morbid isn't it, although I think such a mom thing to do!)

Groovin' to Kenny Rogers

It may be in bad taste to revel in your own jokes but since this is really my journal I have to record this for the future. Whenever I need a laugh I can reread this and have a good chuckle. You need to be somewhat familiar with Kenny Rogers' songs and lyrics to get this but that's your job.

I have a hidden little fondness for Kenny Rogers, particularly the Best Of album that came out in the 1980s. It was one of the few tapes my Dad had in his truck and it got played a lot. Also I remember spending many Saturday mornings completing my hour of ironing duty to the tunes of Kenny. It's not like I have the songs on my iPod, but every once in a while they do get stuck in my head. So Friday night, "Lucille" was running through my head. You also have to understand that Darrel abhors Kenny Rogers. Actually abhors may not be a strong enough word. So of course to tease him I start singing a line of the song out loud, "You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille". With a grimace Darrel tells me, "Stop, that's not even funny. That's grounds for a divorce."

To which I straight faced replied, "Do you mean you're going to "Take your love to town"?' :) Seriously, I just about peed my pants I was laughing so hard. I even got a smile out of Darrel with that one. ;)

New Year's in Calgary

 

Everyday Gratitude

 

A New Leaf

I find housework to be a chore (hahaha). Seriously though, I find I try to cram it all in during a day or two a week and it leaves me exhausted, frustrated and depressed. I never seem to get to some of the smaller but necessary tasks like washing my kitchen cupboard doors, I'm too busy dealing with the big dirt. But not anymore, here's my new attack plan (as lifted from Today's Parent Magazine.) I doubt that some of the work scheduled for each day can truly be accomplished in a half hour as they claim, maybe after several weeks of more intensive cleaning...we shall see.

The 30 Minute Cleaning Guide

Monday -Tidy Up
-Go from room to room, returning items to their rightful place.
-Straighten books and magazines; recylce or deal with newspapers, mail and other papers
-Wipe doorknobs and other well used surfaces
-Empty garbage pails
-Change linens

Tuesday -Dust

Dust these in order, room by room
-Ceiling fans and light fixtures
-blinds and window coverings
-door and picture frames and windowsills
-furniture
-air vents and baseboards

Wednesday -Floors
-Vacuum floors and staircases
-Mop uncarpeted floors
-Vacuum under cushions on upholstered furniture
-Run the hose attachment underneath sofas, beds and other furniture

Thursdays -Bathrooms
-Remove items from countertops and wash; wipe down each item as it's returned to the counter
-Scrub and disinfect sink, tub shower and toilet
-Remove mould or mildew in tub and shower area
-Clean mirror
-Wash floor

Friday -kitchen
-Wipe cupboard doors and knobs
-Clean microwave and countertop appliances
-Wipe down and disinfect countertops
-Clean stovetop
-Clear the fridge of unused leftovers
-Wipe front of fridge and freezer, dishwasher and oven
-Wipe kitchen table and chairs
-Scrub kitchen sink
-Mop floor

Misheard Lyrics

We've all experienced that embarrassing moment when you realize that you have misheard the lyrics to a song and have been singing it incorrectly for years. I'll never forgot being outed by a primary teacher (by name, to the entire ward in a sacrament meeting talk), for mis-singing the lyrics to Jesus Once Was a Little Child. Apparently my little six year self thought the line, "He was poor and meek and mild" actually was, "He was poor and weak and wild". I tell you I was crushed. I'm surprised I ever sung in primary again.

Thus, I'm only mentioning this here on my blog where my readers can chuckle in the privacy of their own homes and not in real time/world where Jack can hear laughter.

This week he was singing at the top of his lungs:

Ring around the rosie
Cock a doodie pony
Husha Husha
We all fall down.

Heard Around Our Home

Jack came running into our room last week with Eric trailing. They were picking up crumpled plastic bags, throwing them and yelling, "Cabbage!" Which is a little bizarre on a few levels. Darrel asked Jack if he knew what a cabbage was (I've only ever bought the pre-shredded bags of cabbage, and even then I wouldn't say it's a regular in our diet.)

"A cabbage is a ball that makes you stink."

Okay then.