More countertop pictures!

Welcome New Countertops!

So we are one step closer to being done with the kitchen counter top debacle. Yesterday I received a call from the countertop guy who said they were in and could install Tuesday or Thursday, or after that into next week. So I said "GO! Now!". And Pijay yet again cautiously disassembled beneath the sink, and we removed as much from the kitchen as possible. (To be fair I did not empty all the lower cabinets which will make more work for me in the long run, but truly I could not do it). The guys came at 9 this morning and we hustled up and finished breakfast and went upstairs. In a couple of hours we miraculously had a new countertop and sink! The installer said that he was surprised at the state of the Richlite, that it looked as bad as it did. I told him I felt awful about the whole thing, and that I really was pretty careful with it yet it looked like it was in a warzone. The new sink will take some getting use to, but in a good way- it's a single bowl instead of 2. It looks good, just different. The color is lighter which I think ends up making the kitchen look a little bit bigger, and there is some texture to them so that will help offset any wear. They are really pretty. I still feel bad about what happened, but only for us and the counter guy. I think Richlite was in the wrong for sure. And I think I am not the only one who feels that way. But we are moving forward now, with our new pretty countertops. Next stop: tile backsplash!!!

Homemade Pizza (After)

MMMmmmmmm yum.

Homemade Pizza (Before)

We decided to forgo the usual Friday night Marcos, as it has come to our attention how much this affects our budget. So Saturday I pulled out the trusty Americas Test Kitchen cookbook and lo and behold there was a recipe for pizza dough, and we had all the ingredients. We also had cheese in the freezer and pizza sauce in the pantry, and tomatoes from the csa which required use sooner than later, and lastly a green pepper from our garden. I started the dough right after the kids napped (super short nap, uuuuugggghhh) and we let it rise. Why I did not use the bread machine I don't know (won't make that mistake again!) and while I was trying to knead it, PJ took pity on me and took over. Ava was at the ready, waiting to get her hands gooey with the dough, and was very impatient wanting to get in on the action. She and Dad kneaded beautifully and made a great dough. Dad finished it off, and soon enough we had 2 pizzas in the oven: one cheese and one tomato and green pepper. Holy Mother of Mozzarella they were good! I was glad we made 2 because there was leftover cold pizza for lunch the next day which was just as tasty!

Bon Voyage Betsey Part Deux !

Du, I forgot that I had some pics on the camera from Betsey's going away shindig, so here they are. Our dear friend is in Alaska as we speak and braving the cold (55 degrees!!) and bear attacks (well maybe not attacks, but apparently there are bears o'plenty there!). She has listened to my pleas to live vicariously through her, I mean start a blog, and she has already posted a picture that I am sure is paradise. We miss you already!!!

Bon Voyage Betsey!

Our favorite college student takes off today for the great white north- Juneau, Alaska! Best wishes to you friend and we'll be in touch!!

Again with the old

Scene: The Dinner Table. I am playing with the stethoscope and trying to find my heartbeat.
Ava: " Did you find your heartbeat?"
Me: "No, I think I might be dead."
Ava: "Well, you are old."

Chewbacca

James has been chewing on whatever he can get his hands on lately, his hand if nothing else is readily available. After lunch today I jammed my fingers into his mouth and found 2 molars coming in! One on each side. Hopefully they will be the catalyst for more so our sweet boy will be more sweet than not once again.

Adult Onset Nocturnal Asthma

This is what the Dr. thinks PJ has. At least that's what she is treating him for. Maybe not so much the nocturnal, but he has a new fancy inhaler. (I found out on WebMD that there is such a thing as the nocturnal version, but it sounds like the adult onset version occurs mostly at night anyway.) YIKES! I only hope this helps his wheezing fits because they are super duper scary.

Elevator

Apparently, the boy does not like the elevator. We went to the library to pick up a book on Rain Gardens, (Dave is clearing out the back where the IVY originates, or at least some of it :-( , and we are going to naturally help the drainage along) and as I had him strapped into the umbrella stroller I was not going to hoist him up the 2 flights of stairs. So Ava helpfully pushed all necessary buttons, and up we went. When we were almost there, he had a very sad look on his face and was totally crying. I wasn't sure if it was because he didn't want to be in the stroller, but found out on the way back down it was definitely the elevator. Which was really too bad, because after the library we went to Bed Bath and Beyond to find a toaster oven, and while there we found Dad's fave. Red VINES!!! So we stopped at his office to drop them off. He was not there so we left them with a note from his secret admirers, and hopped back into the box for the ride down 8 floors. He was scared, I think, which is very strange, as he has never behaved like this before. We tried to make it a fun game, and distract him, but ultimately failed. He was quite upset. But recovered pretty quickly for which I am thankful.
In other news, due to a slight mold issue on the shower curtain, we have with heavy hearts doled out money for a vinyl liner. Not so green, I know, but it's mold, y'all! So yesterday I was in the shower, and it is soooo sad, I am a true child of the seventies. The smell of the liner takes me back to 1975, and Barbie's special pool set that I had at the lake. Seriously. Barbie is one spoiled B*&#C to have a pool set when there is a LAKE in her front yard! But I digress. In 1975, that pool set was like my glue. I loved the smell and could not get enough. (Before you say, "Eww, what a wierdo", please know it gets weirder with smells. Like rubber stamps that smell like Band Aids, rubbing alcohol, and the tiger balm I could not stop sticking my nose in when preggers with the munki). So I reminisced in the shower yesterday thinking of Babs and her lovely pool, while the shower curtain liner quietly offgassed.
In breaking news, currently there is a wild animal in my daughters room. Baby Hop is MIA and there will be no napping without her. Lord help me I got very little sleep last night (poor PJ got much less) and I want a nap. Oh well. I am going to go try to find that blasted rabbit and not get cranky(ier) with Aves. Be well!

Props

Props to Designs by Izzy for the new look. Makes me reminiscent of the tractor at Kathy's farm!

Anger/Angel

How does a precious little one with the sweetest little voice so quickly become a total she-devil? From cuddles on the couch to stern admonishments (to me!) that she will NOT get dressed, and she will NOT make her bed. Then of course, she does get dressed, and she does make her bed, but not before a lot of gnashing of teeth, foot stomping, and a little time out to think about how we handle our anger and how we talk to Mommy. It is another rainy day, so please wish us luck as we are stuck inside. We are fixin' to go downstairs and play Ava's favorite, Bob Evans, and as the toaster oven bought the farm last night we will have pancakes.
Dick will be here in the midwest on Thursday, and will be here in the Fort at the beginning of next week. He declined to stay with us, and with 2 kids under the age of 5 I could not insist. The week after that the Bohrs will arrive. Then we will have the minivan conundrum. More on that later...
I have to go and take some orders. I just hope the kids tip well.

Rainy Day

We are experiencing some heavy rain and flooding here in the Fort- although I was downstairs just a bit ago and discovered a very dry basement (thank you Interior Channel!) We drove Dad to work this morning- this is the rule when there is lightning and thunder- and I was very glad we did because it was super wet and visibility was about negative six. If I couldn't see out there was no way people were going to see him on the bike. We are leaving now to go fetch him. So rainy that it was all I could do not to climb into the guest bed and sleep for a while like yesterday.
PJ made some kickin' salsa. Will make more when the folks come. This was the practice batch!

Texas Ranger

The boy is officially a Walker. Still drops to tear down the hallway if need be, but I think his preferred method of transportation is becoming his own 2 feet. He has pretty good balance, and is having a blast!

We Have Out

James is signing his version of out. Or rather, his new version, which is more like the one we were trying to get him to do and not his preferred version, which is grabbing the front of his booster seat try and shaking vigorously.
Also got him to do "more" the other morning. Will keep up for sure, as I think communications with him will improve everyones mood. Although I really do think we do a pretty good job of figuring out what he wants, it will be something that can improve our quality of life.

She can tell that I am old

Walking down the street today we passed a parked car with graduation tassels hooked onto the rearview mirror.
Me: " I graduated high school almost 20 years ago! Boy Ava, your mom is getting old."
Ava: "I know Mom. I can tell by the lines on your eyes."

Comments

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I'm Free

My dirty little secret known only to a couple of people who dared to phone between the hours of 2p.m. and 3 p.m. (recently switched to 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.) is that I watch the O.C. Actually, as of today, I watchED the O.C. Soapnet reran the series from start to finish, and while I watched a couple of episodes when it was on primetime I never got into it. I watched the first couple on Soapnet on a lark, and got myself hooked. Even when I got over it a little after Mischa Barton got herself killed off, I hung on, knowing it would all be over soon. And it was today. So now I am free if you want to call me between 1 and 2 p.m. I should be free. FREE!!!

Birdie Thuringer

Over the weekend, PJ looked at me on twice and asked when he could golf. Like he was waiting for me to say, "Go NOW! Play 36!!". But he asked at 4:30 and 5 p.m. respectively, and instead I said "What about dinner? And baths!". He wanted to take Ava to play 9 holes, which I was all about, but the timing was all wrong. So I suggested that they go Monday. I would have dinner ready as close to 5:30 as I could, and they could eat quick and go. I made Chicken Kiev (I happened upon the recipe and happened to have plain yogurt AND fresh chives already- crazy!) and made the beans we got in the csa bag. Then they were off. Ava is still a little young to go as the people golfing behind PJ had to tell him not to swing a couple of times as she wanted to be close to him and doesn't truly understand about the club colliding with her head. But all in all they had a great time. She was practicing in the yard earlier in the day while I was weeding and was excited to show Dad her new skillz. We'll see if she shows continued interest in this. Then Birdie would be a totally appropriate nickname!

On a Rainy Morning

On a rainy morning the kids and I like to start our day slowly, in our pj's till 10 ish, lazy breakfast, imaginary play (Ava's new thing is playing Bob Evans- I am always Sheila the Server, and she orders for herself and her brother- every. meal!). And Fred, in that spirit, likes to curl up with the Little Man on the beanbag and start the day slowly as well.

Big Fat Childrens Clothing Sale

So there's a phenomenon I am sure is not just around these parts, but is new to me, and that is the Big Church Sale. I attended one of these Big Church Sales yesterday with the intent of procuring some gently used clothes for the kids. And boy what an experience! A friend called and asked if I wanted to go- she said she was pretty motivated to find some clothes for her little one as he is growing like a weed. I was also interested and quite motivated as James is rapidly outgrowing a lot of his things too. I found out from another friend where the church was and searched it out on Google, and found the info on one of the local news channels web sites. It started at 8 a.m. and L and I decided we had better get there right at the start. We got there about quarter to, and we were not anywhere near the first ones. The parking lot was filling up FAST. We went in the door, and at first stop a lady gave you a number and a map (!!!). Then we went into the gymnasium to wait. The announcer said that first they would let in the first 150 people, then wait about 10 minutes and let in the next 50, and so on. So that happened, and a short while later we, as numbers 254 and 255, got lined up to go in. Now we were prepared as we had a map, and it was byobag (which we did although I saw lots of folks without altogether or with laundry baskets or hampers it was that crazy!). L and I were kind of competing for clothes as she was looking for the same size for her son as I was for James. It did not turn to fisticuffs thankfully. We perused a really big table for the boys, and I went and checked a rack for coats / snowsuits for both James and Ava. Then over to the girls area for Ava, then back for James, then back again for Ava. PJ had gotten me $60 in cash the night before, so I had to stay within that perameter. I stuffed 2 bags full then sat down in a quiet area to go thru, add the totals, and weed out things I wasn't sure about. I calculated about $52 or $53, rounding up, and decided to be done. But then was thinking that the kids don't have jackets for fall at all so I went back. Found James one, and then while waiting for L went thru the boys table again and found a pair of sleepers. I knew I HAD to stop or I would be toast, so I left the general area, and when she was ready we went to check out. All in all, I got for James: 2 pair khaki pants, 2 jeans, 2 overalls, 4 longsleeved shirts, 2 one piece outfits, 2 footed pyjamas, and a jacket. For Ava, there were 2 pairs of pants/leggings, 2 nicer dresses (one Talbots!), 2 more casual dresses for school, and 2 turtlenecks. And, get ready for this, my grand total for ALL THIS LOOT was $59.75 !!!!! Talk about WHEW! It was an awesome experience. There were a lot of people volunteering the sale, so when people would go thru their stuff to weed out, there were plenty of baskets laying around to put what you didn't want into and those ladies emptied the baskets and had that merch back on the tables lickety split. It was a very smoothly run operation, and L and I both got a lot of nice clothes for great prices. This particular church runs a spring sale as well, and I think this particular church sale is well known for doing just kids clothes. Apparently the sellers keep 90% of the profits, the church keeps 10% and whatever it doesn't use to advertise or pay for it's costs for the sale it uses for it's community outreach work. L heard that there's a waiting list for sellers, as well as volunteers (they get to go thru everything before the sale for first dibs!). Also, she heard someone say the first people got there at 2:30 a.m. !!!!!!!!! Now THAT is motivation. After the sale we went out and had a great breakfast at a local place she read about in the paper, and when she dropped me at home her husband and son were here visiting with PJ and the kids. So we hung out for a few and broke the party up to have lunch. It was a very successful morning for sure.
Tomorrow we are going out for shoes I think, so wish us luck!

No signs

We sat in our booster seat this morning despondent and thrashing about while I pleaded with him to show me either "out" or "please" or "Mommy". Nothing doing. We learned a new word, Ava and I, and decided that we would keep practicing, and hopefully he would pick it up eventually. Daddy is helping the church with a Habitat house today, with a game of golf later (where he will use his new 3 iron hybrid). It's just sad that it's 93 degrees today with about 150,968% humidity. Hopefully they will survive.
Nothing else new here. We are VERY angry (when I say we I mean Ava causing me to become). I am trying to figure out what the heck to do about it. She is sharing very well lately, and getting rewarded for it which is a bright spot for us.
We have new cucumbers ready to come out of the garden, and tomatoes galore that are almost ready. We got some corn in the csa bag, and I am trying to decide if I am going to make the corn salad or have PJ grill it in the husk. With him being gone tonight I think I may just go for the salad if I have the ingredients. Too bad there are not any little tomatoes ready to come off and go into the salad! If we get that dogwood tree transplanted we can expand the garden and plant some green onions and watermelon next year.
I have to figure out (this week I think) about when we are going to the farm, and Dick will be coming around the 25th or so (so I will be freaking out trying to get the house ready) and in less than a month Didi and Papa will be here. We are looking for some fun things to do, day trips to show them the area. There is a nature preserve here in town that has a good accessible trail we can take the stroller on so we will do that one morning, and maybe do a picnic lunch after, and I think we want to go to Amishville (aka Shipshewanna) and do some exploring. Also heard the new Elkhart farmers market is amazing, so that might occur too. And PJ instructed me to allow for him and Tom to golf like 6 or 7 times. So we will be pretty busy around here for the next while.
The new countertops should be in in the next 2-3 weeks, and I found a tile outlet store but they were closed when I went Saturday (!!!), so will have no choice but to take the Darling Angels and pray that they remain calm and still and quiet while I try to decide on a backsplash. Yikes.
Now I am just rambling and must go feed my children. Take care!