Do you think they'll notice?

One thing about scrapbooking the lives of a family with just boys is that there are very few occasions where I get to use pink in my layouts. Pastels in general just don't see much action now that they are beyond the baby years. But every so often I try to sneakin color combos that are indeed a bit more feminine. I'm wondering if they'll even notice on this one? I hope not since I really like it.

It shows what a big kid I am when I get around amusement parks. I mean come on, do you really think the boys are the ones begging to go to these places? Of course it is Mom plotting when we can work in another amusement park adventure on our various trips. Which reminds me, I should start plotting, er planning our trip to FL in January (hmmm..is it time to see Mickey again or maybe try the see what's new at Universal Studios?).

Either/Or

I've caught Thing Two's cold. Either he's a lot tougher and stronger than his old momma or I'm just a big old baby...but all I want to do is fix me a cup of tea and curl up on the couch and watch TV.

Right now, I'm wishing I had saved just a couple of those Entourage season 2 episodes so that I wouldn't be so miserable while waiting for the sniffles to pass. Knowing my luck, season 3 will arrive and I'll be all better and filled with guilt for having done very little these past couple days.

Oh well...at least I have one saved/unwatched episode of Design Star.

While it has a good beat..

You can't scrapbook to it. I scurried around yesterday, cranking out a lot of my chores in hopes of spending time today in my craft room. I thought I'd try something new: multi tasking. While scrapbooking, I'd pop in the DVD for Season 2 of Entourage. Normally, I just have music on or the background noise of cable TV.

The verdict? Not so good, at least from the crafty side of things. For some bizarre reason, I find this show highly addicting and distracting. So while I made a huge dent in my backlogged DVDs from Blockbuster, I made next to no progress in the scrapbooking department. This photo represents the entire amount of layouts completed during what was to have been my own private scrap-a-thon.

Instead, I had a marathon session of Vince, and his entourage.

I'd still call it a good day indeed....

Truth or Dare

Even as a kid, I stunk at this game. But, since Dodi asked so nicely and well...I'm sort of afraid of her, I will obey.

List 8 things about yourself, but make one of them untrue.

1. I've never read Little House on the Prairie 2. I've gone Hot-potting in Yellowstone 3. I've never been on a gondola ride in Venice 4. I've eaten jellyfish 5. I've never been skydiving 6. I've waited on celebrities 7. I've never been to the prom 8. I've many sister wives

We've opened THAT door

Oh no. What have I done? Will I end up regretting this decision? Will it go right up there with letting them watch The Simpsons for the first time, or bringing a game system into the house?

Yep, this morning I"m thinking...what have I done. (and by now, you too are saying, cough it up Chicky, tell us what mommy faux pas you committed)...

I let the boys have a friend spend the night! Yes, really...me Ms. "I'm not ready for sleepovers".

The verdict? Well, so far, it seems to be a normal Saturday morning here in the House of Chang. Except instead of 2 things sitting around in their boxers/briefs, I've got a 3rd one (with blond hair and freckles mind you). Everyone got at least 9 hours of sleep and nobody woke up during the night begging to go home.

I think for now, it is a thumbs up experience (but this doesn't mean I'm ready to let them sleep over...that is a whole different set of mommy anxieties that I'm not ready to tackle).

But then again...I wasn't too worried that first time we let Bart, Lisa and Maggie join our cozy family...

Predictions

Lois (aka Dodi) offered up this challenge in her blog.

• My friend sent me an email that we were supposed to fill in with our answer and then pass it on. Well, most of my friends (all what? 4 friends that I have?) usually hate to get these kinds of emails - and I do too. So, I thought I'd blog it. If you want to also blog it - the more the merrier.What is it that you predict?

Thanks Dodi, sounds like fun. I predict

1. If rain is forecasted, it will start right as the school bell rings.
2. If we've had great weather the week before Halloween, we'll have bitter cold and snow when trick or treating night finally arrives
3. Before the school year ends, I"ll have found something that has me all in an uproar with the Things education. I'm just so convinced that this peaceful state we are in just won't last.
4. Low rise jeans will make a comeback right as my boys start to notice the opposite sex.
5. The Things will start to drop F-bombs and I"ll have no one to blame except myself.
6. I will not be pleased with who wins Design Star this year. My boy, Sparkle Josh, was eliminated so who cares beyond that.
7. Politicians will continue to sling mud at each other throughout the next year and a half and yet, nothing will change much even after leadership changes.
8. The antics of Brittaney, Paris and LiLo will continue to be the first run stories even thought we are all finished hearing about their lives spinning out of control.
9. Disco will remain dead
10. I will totally miss seeing my Big Love sister wives every other week. Can we please all get addicted to another night time soap opera so that we can continue to get together on a regular basis?

Let's hope it is great...

I remember one time when Thing One was eight and I found myself mumbling "Eight, it really isn't so great". I can't remember what he was doing at the time that had me in heavy sigh mode. But, as today marks the day that Thing Two marches into the eight year, I'm hoping it was just a bad mommy moment and that we aren't about to hit a rough patch. Because quite honestly, I'm so totally loving this stage we're in now.

Thing Two enjoyed his special day. He pretty much knew what his present was going to be and yet I was totally impressed with how patient he has been in terms of waiting for the day to finally arrive. I tried to tease him just a bit by wrapping the box with the DS out of it (it was charging up) and toyed with the idea of telling him that "oh no, they sold me an empty box?" But, Hubby wisely pointed out I'd be pushing my luck on his cooperation if I did that. Instead, we had him do a quick treasure hunt to find out where the thingie was charging up.

All in all, a good day. Yet even with the easier approach to celebrating (meeting friends at the pool, enjoying cake and conversation), I'm tired out. Granted, not as worn out as if we'd had the gathering here at the house or had the sun shone all afternoon. But, tired just the same.
And with that...I'll sign off, go find myself something cold to drink and celebrate that we have made it to the end of the Season of Birthdays (at least until October when Hubby has his turn).

Rainbow's End

Here's where mine ends. How about yours?

Predictions and promises

As I predicted, I finished A Thousand Splendid Suns (Khaled Hosseini) this past week. And, as promised, I'll share my thoughts about the book.

I read this author's first work, Kite Runner a few years ago and was so fascinated by the story he told. It was like no other book I have read. Set in a part of the country that I admit to knowing little about, I was swept away by the story he told and the cultural elements he wove into his story. I anxiously waited for him to write a second novel.

And luckily, his second story did not disappoint. This story focuses more on the women of Afghanistan and the hardships two courageous women endured over the course of some 30 plus years. With this second story, I was a little less swept away because of my familiarity with the first story. I knew and anticipated horrible things to happen to these two primary characters. And thus I was a little less shocked as the story unfolded. This sort of saddens me. Why was I more upset and haunted to learn about the abuse endured by the boys in Kite Runner than the females in this book? Do we hear more about the abuse of women that we become numb to the idea of it?

But at the same time, I found elements of the story intriguing. I appreciated how as a male author, he was still very talented at writing from the female perspective. He took time to explore the feelings of the characters: what does it feel like to be wearing a burqa, what happens when you bring in another wife into a marriage. Is it accepted and welcome (as I am lead to believe when I watch a show such as Big Love)? Or, are there other emotions that the first wife feels? He explored the feelings of these women while keeping them realistic. He made them courageous and yet also believable. I wish I were more familiar with some of the regional differences of the people of Afghanistan. I suspect it would have helped me understand some of the various characters involved in this story.

I think I'll always prefer Kite Runner but for a second work, he did a very good job of showing his readers that he wasn't just a one shot literary wonder. He has a real talent for telling a story. And, this book makes me want to go back and re-read Kite Runner (which is a compliment all in and of itself since I hate repeats/re-runs).

But first...I think I'm needing some chic lit before I return to the emotional setting of the Middle East.

Making the connection

For years, Thing One has struggled with that "making a connection" part of reading. You know, how does the book relate to his own situation. For the longest time, he'd just look at you with the blank stare as if he were saying "and this is important, why?".

Last night, I had a glimmer of hope that he was starting to get it when he blurted out that one of the characters in his book was "just like you Mom".

Only to be suddenly jolted back to reality when he continued with "well, except she has brown hair and you don't. And her eyes are brown and yours aren't"

Oh well...at least he's trying.

Hubby and I sent the boys to bed early last night and we settled in to watch Wild Hogs (pass the bad parent award my way: it wasn't even 7pm when we called it a night for them!). I found myself making connections to Hubby and some of the elements of the movie. (For those not familiar with the premise of the movie, 4 middle aged guys hit the road on their motorcycles)

The only problem is Hubby doesn't drive a hog, doesn't toss his gadgets to the wind and just seek the calm of the open road, and well...last time I checked he wasn't married to a swim suit model.

OK, so maybe this connection struggle is genetic?

Somebody

Finally, it seems like somebody has been doing something worth blogging about. While not the most exciting of updates, here's the weekend recap

• Friday night, after the horrific hail passed through, the weather cooled off and we enjoyed a lovely evening with friends and neighbors. The highlight for the Things was when Mr. Mike (next door neighbor) pulled out his projector and hooked up Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for a night time showing on the back of his house. It was like a drive in, only no driving required. And us grownups could drink without having to worry about driving. Thanks Mr. Mike (not that he reads the blog, but still, it was very neighborly thing to include our boys in his family's Friday fun).



• Saturday morning, Hubby discovered that maybe our thumbs aren't brown after all. Our grape vines have grapes. Lots and lots of grapes. Not very tasty but it was still exciting to watch Thing Two go out and harvest those very sour grapes.



• Saturday evening, I was reminded yet again what late bloomers my sister and I really are. I got an email from my aunt telling us that a new baby had been born. As the youngest of the Granum grandchildren, well, I was surprised I hadn't heard that any of us were expecting, much less to now find out the baby had been born? That's pretty big news, don't you think? Um, back up, it wasn't one of my cousins having a baby. Nope, it was my cousin Steve's son (Laura, do you know which one?)who promoted his dad to Grandpa and raised my aunt's total to 4 great grandchildren. Meanwhile, my poor dad just lingers at 3 grandchildren, and luckily is no where close to receiving the official title of Great attached to his name. (although we all think he is a pretty great grandpa without an official title)


• Sunday: Hubby and I went on a date. We saw the latest of the Bourne movies. It was an OK movie. I think I preferred the earlier Bourne movies just for the depth of the story. This one seemed a bit predictable and the heavy action scenes got old after awhile. But all in all, it was a good time spent away from the Things

And here we are, back to Monday. Chores to do. Bills to pay. Errands to run. I should quit blogging and get to those. Oh but wait, I've got a book I'd rather read: A Thousand Splendid Suns. Stay tuned for a review later in the week...at the rate I'm reading it, I'll be finished in no time.

An update: while finishing up this entry, and as I was heading out the door to work this afternoon, the phone rings and it is the school. Thing One is feeling poorly. Within minutes of tossing him in bed, he was sound asleep. I'm thinking I'd better go hang up the quarantine sign! I hear bad bugs are floating around out there!

Nobody...

around here seems to be doing anything blog-worthy.
myself included...

Tune in next week to see if there is anything to note beside these truths:
I'm tired of the heat (old news),
I'm not ready for the boys to be back at school (they on the other hand have adjusted marvelously to the return of routine and structure),
and I'm being a total slacker in all things domestic.

Yep, this has indeed been a quiet week for us. What can I say? obviously nothing...

Stormy Morning

Late yesterday, the thunderstorms rolled in and for a change, lingered. During the night, the thunder and lightening just wouldn't end. I was surprised that no scared little things came running to our room seeking comfort from the storm. I wondered how they were able to sleep through all that noise but grateful that they weren't crowding us in our bed.

This morning, they both woke up really grumpy. And the brotherly squabbles started with the very first words they uttered:
Thing One: "I had to sleep with the Thunder on my side of the bed last night".
Thing Two: "No, you didn't, it was louder on my side". *no, they don't share a bed, don't even share a room most nights.

Back and forth they bickered...there went that wishful thinking that they had slept through the storm. Nope, instead they were laying awake trying to one up each other on who had it worse when it came to experiencing the storm.

ah, I can tell it is going to be a rough start to day...

Party in the Park 2007!

My first day...

While they started back at school on Tuesday, I had a busy agenda that kept me out of the house the past two days. So today is my first day of being home alone for a few hours. Oh, the silence is ever so sweet and I'm finding myself very motivated to tend to the tasks of the day. So far I've
*De-cluttered the Things' rooms.
*hauled 3 laundry baskets full of toys back downstairs. Somehow all these items had drifted upstairs over the course of their track off/summer break.
*started the 3rd load of laundry and run the dishwasher for the second time (I forgot to run it yesterday so things piled up).
*cleaned out the fridge of stuff that really needed to be tossed awhile back.
*picked up the basement (and if you had seen it, you'd realize what a chore that was all by itself). Had I not tended to this disaster zone, I suspect Hubby was about to call the health department on me.

And now I"m treating myself to a blog break...

The start of school has been rather uneventful. And after so many years of eventful, I welcome the smooth transition into new grades with new classmates and new teachers.

I truly savored the words of Thing One when he said "Mom, I'm in fourth grade now, I think I can find my class by myself. I'll meet you here at the van after school, OK?" (yep, he even had that pre-teen 'tude going). He is growing up, becoming independent and that makes me just so very proud...for him and for all of us that have helped him get to this point.

Over the years, I have struggled to imagine him as a grown up, living on his own, being his own person. It just wasn't something I could do given his assortment of quirks. Now? I can easily imagine him all grown up and think this is all happening too fast. Trying to savor his school boy ways for I really fear he'll be all grown up before I know it.
See, I keep telling you there is no making me happy....(not really, I'm pretty darn happy these days)