Live from Tormville!

He's hasn't grasped...

the concept of the spoon yet.  ah well....we had to try. ;)  It's yogurt.  And it was straight to the tub, clothes and all, after that attempt.

It's a busy weekend again in Tormville.  On the agenda are shopping, visiting, church, out to eat, visiting, deadlines......

it's all fun.  ALSO...my hubby has promised to make me a tall table just for scrap stuff to tide me over for awhile.  Brian's been giving me a run for my money lately and my output has been extremely low.  I'm hoping to better take advantage of the small chunks of time here and there if I have everything out and ready to use when he's preoccupied.  My mantra this past few weeks has been, "they grow quick"   He's sassy.  That's all there is to it.  Loveable. But sassy.

Other news:  I daresay that spring might actually for real be here.  It's 67 right now.  Yesterday...incredible.  I hung 4 full loads of clothes on the line.  Brian had his first real dose of playing in the backyard, and the big kids came in and out and in and out and in and out and in and out...all day long.

Yep...spring is here.  Enjoy!!! 

Jealousy

I've slept on this topic for two nights now.  Jealousy.

As I've rocked my baby to sleep I've quietly searched my brain trying to remember the last time that I felt jealous, and I come up blank.  I don't remember my last jealous moment.  And it would boggle my mind to have anyone say that they are jealous of anything pertaining to me.  I'm just a simple gal living a simple life in my own quiet little way. 

You see, I firmly believe that I am where I'm at today because of choices I/we have made or, more to the point, because this is where God intends me to be.   How can I fault that?  Would I love a bigger house?  Oh yes.  More scrap supplies?  Bring them on (just get me the bigger house first) money?  who wouldn't.  And on and on.  But I'm content, and I'm working in my own little way at making things better.

Am I jealous of those that have more?  No.  And if they've earned their spot with hard work, drive and good intent - I applaud them and respect them.  They've earned it.  But I'm not jealous.

If they've earned their place by ways that are less then honorable - then it's sorry for them I feel, because they'll never know and appreciate the rewards of earning something thru their own hard work and merits. But I'm still not jealous. 

So, it really struck me hard this week when one of my favorite scrapbooking magazines came out with a contest and the tag line is, "The Perfect Thing to Make Your Scrapbooking Friends Jealous".  This makes me sick to my stomach sad.  Literally.  I keep trying to move past it, to chalk it up to poor wording/planning.  But I can't.  I can't move past it until I get it out.

This is not what scrapbooking is about. 

I think this sets everything up for negative connotations. I really do.  To me, it tells everyone who doesn't win that we should be jealous of this person who wins.  I feel sorry for her already!  To have thousands of woman resent you?  This is a goal?  I'm not interested. What type of enviroment does this create?   I'm not entering based on a few things, but this is definitely one of them.  Jealousy.  Poor tagline.  And that scrapbooking would succumb to this, makes me incredibly sad.

Scrapbooking to me is about friendships, family, sharing and telling stories.   Jealousy should have no place in that.  Everyone has their own stories, their own goals, their own style - it can all be done together without bringing jealousy into it.  I've enjoyed meeting so many people in this hobby - all on their own path, all driven in separate ways, all achieving different statuses and goals based on drive/interest and talent, but for the most part...all supportive and encouraging to one another.

So, no...I won't be jealous, it's not in me.  But I am disappointed.

Today - it's 2 years

I married a younger man.  Did you know that?  Truth.  There are advantages to marrying a younger man.  Men tend not to live as long as women statistically...so this ups our chances of having more years together.   I also earned the right to tell him to run upstairs and tuck whatever kid in because he has younger legs than I do.

I earned this right.

Because, from December 11 (my birthday) to March 28th (his) he finds great pleasure in announcing often that I am three years older than him.  Today tho...it's back to two.  Finally.  I look forward to his birthday more than he does. 

It's more even now than it was when we were younger.  Our mothers were/are friends.  His older sister Sherry is just 2 days older than me, and we got together for the first time when we were just a couple weeks old.  So, I hung out with his family for over 2 years before he did.  hehe. funny, hey? 

We started dating when I was working full-time and he was still in highschool. It gives me a chuckle to think about it now.   As it was...he had to drive by my house to get to school.  I'd be on my way out the door to work and he'd be driving by so as not to be tardy for first hour.  He'd honk. I'd wave.   Remind me of this if Wendy dates a younger lad, okay? 

So, anyway...it's more evened out now as much as he'd like to make note of the differences. 

We're also of a age now that we don't get too hyped up on parties.  I made his cake yesterday...we ate 1/2 of it yesterday.  We have runnings every night this week...so no party.  I did make the kids sing last night, but no candles.  no pictures.  Just togetherness, fun, laughs....and a few final jokes about the 3 year age difference before today.

Happy Monday!!

I love Mondays!! 

I'm sitting here totally anticipating the day. I don't have anything fabulous planned, I don't have any expectations.  But I'm itching to dig in to a fresh week and see what I can accomplish.  Laundry, supper in the crockpot, bake a cake....it's all more exciting when it's on a Monday.  I can't quite explain it.  Something to do with a fresh beginning.  I love fresh beginnings. 

I'm excited about the day.  And I'll scrap.  I've completed one page in five weeks.  This week...I have hopes of completely at least 5 pages. Can I do it?  I dunno. It would help, probably, if my reaching 1 year old were a foot shorter..but I'll try.  It's my goal for the week.

We had a full weekend.  The boys worked at the recycling center on Saturday, and the littles and I ran errands.  We did some shopping, did some picking up and dropping off of stuff, we dug a few more boxes out of our storage unit.  It was like Christmas. I was kicking myself for not having thought to save the boxes and wrap them up they were that excited about toys they have not seen in a year.  And me, in my purging state was thinking, 'egad' I should have just thrown it all out.  But, heh, there is more in the dumpster on the curb than they even know.  This mom is a sneaky tosser.

Sunday brought Sunday school, church and visiting.  Sundays are most often full days, but relaxing.  The day is over before we know it.

Other stuff

It's the trains.  We live a block from the train tracks (the right side) and we figured out Friday night that it's the trains that are waking Brian up.  There is a lot of train traffic between 1-3.  His crib is hugging 2 outside walls in the corner as it is, and the trains do make it shake.  I don't know why he's not used to it, so now that we know what the problem is....we're working on it.  We comfort him thru the train and get him back to sleep....and repeat when the next one comes thru.  Here's hoping it doesn't take long, for it will be just a month or two and the windows will be open...and then he'll really hear those trains!

His double ear infection is on the mend.  He's much more self content again.  Today will be the true test...to see if he lets me get some work done. 

Debt-proof living.  I mentioned the book a few months ago...and I just wanted to update that we're excited about it and we're living towards the goal.   It all makes sense to us.  We have tracked every single penny we spent in the last 2 months and our findings were, educational.  We're excited to be working towards a good end.  Here's to staying on track.

Minnesota.  I still don't know what I'm doing.  Greg is going to see today about getting a long weekend, but even that sounds exhausting for such a long drive.  I'm watching for sales on tickets.

Pictures.  I ordered a bunch more pictures online this weekend.  They should come soon.  I print a lot at home, but every once in awhile I enjoy sending a bulk out to catch me up.  It'll be a fun mail week.

Ebay  For real.  I ordered some boxes from usps.  I have 2 piles of stuff on my desk to list.  I'm for real gonna try it.  I've been saying this for years!!!!!!!!  I've got issues.  lol  My goal is small right now.  Based on my findings in our debt-proof living goal, I'm starting small.  I thought it would be fun to see if I can ebay enough to contribute $20-50 a month to the family budget.  My goal.  Soon. I'll start.  Really.  I think my hangup comes in worrying about having to spend even more time on the computer when I'm working on cutting back.  Always working on cutting back.

Message boards  Back to working on cutting back.  In the past month there are 2 more message boards that I feel I should visit for various reasons.  And then it makes me feel spread thin again.  There is only so much to read, only so much to contribute, and all the boards are essentially the same so it becomes tedious and I find myself turning them all off.  For awhile.  But if you're looking for me...I'm right here.  My email is always on.  While I can turn the boards off at times...I've found that it's hard for me to turn my email off.  I gave up on that, I don't fight it anymore.  The boards are a battle onto themselves.

Weaning  speaking of weaning.  Brian is almost done.  One more week.  For real this time.  (I can hear my mom chuckling as I type.  FOR REAL THIS TIME!!!)  really.   He's down to once before bed.  So close to done. 

really.

ENJOY YOUR MONDAY!!!!!

and be good.  High fives if you actually read the whole post...I didn't realize how rambly I was this morning.  Felt good to purge all that.  ;)

He's so proud

His drawing made the school reading shirt this year

The theme was birds - and each grade voted for their favorite drawing from their grade - so Allan earned the 5th grade spot.  He snuck home with his free shirt, ran up and changed, and came down grinning ear to ear curious if I would notice.  Made me wish I'd ordered one for myself!

Stupid Thyroid

I love my husband.  I really do.  Never in a million years could I have found a better man for me.  I could probably do one of those little scrappity book things listing the ways....but we died in the wool Finns aren't like that, so I won't. 

But I do.  I love him.  And I'm so *Finn* that it makes me a bit queasy that I just confessed that on my blog...but I need it for this story...I can't just trust the fact that you'll assume it because we're married and all.  Never assume.  I do love him.

But I hate his thryroid.  There. I said it.  Now...in the scheme of things, I shouldn't vent.  He could have it a heck of a lot worse.  On a scale of burdens to carry...this is minimal. But that doesn't mean it's not a pain at times.

For instance.  Wait....let me backpedal to some history.  You see....Greg up and decided one day about 6/7 years ago to go to the doctors to get a check-up.  He wasn't feeling quite right, his hands were yellow, he couldn't quite cut the corner in the hallway...but would bump into them instead.  I didn't pick up on these things..to me, they were just a part of who he was.  He didn't have a lot of energy. And so on....so he went in.

The doctor told him he was a walking billboard for hypothryoid.  The second worse case he had ever seen in his career.  Incidentally....Greg's sister is the worst.   So, Greg, with a diagnosis in hand...began treating it.  The changes were phenomonal.  Oh...and I should also mention that the doctor said if he hadn't come in, he would have been dead in less than 5 years.  He wouldn't be with us now.  So, I guess I feel a bit badly getting mad at a problem that had we not known about he wouldn't be here, but well...I'm human.  I'm still mad at it.

Back to the story.  The changes were very quick to notice.  Rather than coming home and sitting in the lazyboy after work, he'd now come home..eat..and ask Allan if he wanted to go to the playground.  This was truly mind boggling!  He lost 25 lbs in 8 weeks.  Within 2 months of him being on medicine we got pregnant for Wendy.  Infertility...another symptom of thryoid.  So many changes for the better.

But we still have little symptoms that prevail.  Regular eating is one.  If the man doesn't eat in x amount of time he's downright unreasonable. The kids and I throw food at him from afar and wait for him to get back to normal.  My hubby is normally a pretty fun-going easy to be with fellow, so the change is pretty noticable. 

But the one that really gets my goat from time to time is memory.  It's horrid.  When his family calls they know to straight up ask the guy if he's writing the message down.  The worst one was when he forgot to tell me his brother was engaged.  Short engagement...and I found out 2 weeks later.  I think I saw red that time.  It threw me into a tailspin because we had to travel for it, do so much for it, and it was a short engagement anyway, and I lost out on 2 weeks.  It was horrid.  It was made worse by the fact that I can't justify getting mad at him. Sometimes ya kinda just need someone to get mad at.  But memory is a symptom.  And it stinks. 

But it's hard to know if some is just not paying attention or an excuse.  I prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt, and lately I have to just roll with it.  Just this week for instance we've had 2 incidents.  The funnier one was Tuesday evening.  I had been on the phone with his sister and we planned to have them for dinner Wednesday evening.  I got off the phone and told Greg that his people were coming for dinner at 6:00. 

NOT 10 minutes later he got a phone call from someone needing help with an electrical problem.  I rolled my eyes and chuckled as I heard him say, "sure, how about tomorrow at 6:00" 

heh.

and so it goes.  The one that really has me fit to be tied this week is the fact that he forgot to put in for vacation at work for the week after Easter.  He, in fact, just a few days ago mentioned that we'll have to go to Minnesota the week before Easter rathe than after because he couldn't get after off. I reminded him that the reason we're going after is because that's when Brita's wedding is...it will do us no good to go before..we'd still have to go after.  And now he can't go.  We've been planning this since November.  It's his hometown and we've not been in 4 years. 

So, this week I'm wrapping my head around the fact that I'll have to go by myself or by myself with 3 kids.  And I have to figure out how, and where to stay and all that jazz.  And it's a 14 hour drive, and and and and and

stupid thyroid.

ETA:  You know, in rereading this is just now it dawned on me that all 3 cases I mentioned have to do somehow with his family.  I'm going to have to ponder what that really means......

Overprotective?

You think?

yeah...so I am.  But look at the little cranky thing...he's so tiny up there!!!

aaaah.
To his credit...he's not fallen once.  He'll fall as soon as I move the landing pad...I'm sure of it.  That's my BABY!!!! 

My baby has a raging double ear infection.  So...I apologized to him this morning for having called him a cranky thing all week.  Truth is...he was/is.  I thought it was his teeth.  *sigh*  Kids need manuals or red flashing lights or SOMETHING!!! 

So...he missed his second party.  On the way out the door and realized he had a fever.  That was Monday night.  Everyone partied without me and the birthday boy...we fell asleep on the couch at 8:00.  Started him on drugs yesterday...hoping that he'll by up to laying down in his crib again tonight. 

This evening...I'm having Greg's people over for dinner.  We have no food, Brian has no patience, and my house is a mess.  Wish me luck!! 

be good!

One

party plans
Originally...the party was going to be at our house.  A little of my people...a little of hubby's people.
And then more of hubby's people came to town...and the party quickly outgrew our cramped quarters.

We switched gears, replanned...and set it up for Greg's folks place.
And they got the flu.  All of them..company and all.  All week.  So we woke up today to suddenly no party.

So I called my brother who was playing single parent to 3 while his wife was away for the weekend.  The speed in which he arrived was nothing short of miraculous considering the fact that my brother normally moves at a relaxed pace.  (it's pick on my siblings week on my blog)

Also...a red letter day in our Al's life...I let him bike to the store 4 blocks away to get ice cream.  For those that know me and how much I hover my kids...this is HUGE.  I attached a walkie talkie to his neck.  He beeped me from the store.  "MOM-CAN I BUY POPSICLES TOO?"

no

Anyway...so we had a small party and little cranky tempermental one year old Brian didn't know the difference anyway.

For the record....I stink at cake decorating.  100%.   I failed home ec.  Not really...but then again, she never had us frost cakes in there. Tastes darn good tho!

Clear up his nose and everything.  He can't figure out what he did to deserve such a treat, but boy..he's lovin' it while it lasts!

He also can't figure out how he suddenly became the center of the big kids attention...but he enjoyed it once he got over the shock.  lol   He's opening a little musical telephone.  I've got to try to capture how much he loves that thing.  He's into music and he's into phones.  It's the perfect combination. He opens and shuts that thing constantly and bounces on his butt to the beat and grinning ear to ear.

It's all good.

And if Greg's people are all healthy by tomorrow, we'll party again before they all head back home to Minnesota. 

be good!

ah well....

I was using my sister as an excuse.  I mean...she really hasn't commented or emailed in quite some time..that was the truth, but I used her for a scapegoat cuz the truth is that I've been feeling lazy lately.  I mean, really...what are sisters for, right?  heh!

Okay. I finally got Brian to sleep.  He's 1 now, you know.  And he's entered this little tempermental stage.  Cute?  not really.  He's also not weaning very well.  I think I'm going to have to resort to stroller riding him to sleep for the next week to get him used to not falling asleep with me.  He needs to be done.  Today I let him holler for quite some time, then went to get him and rocked him to sleep. He's been sleeping for over 2 hours.  This new system may work pretty well.

The thing with kids sleep patterns is that they don't last.  It dawned on my yesterday.  Allan was fairly easy to switch over from nursing to just going to sleep on his own, and he's still a good sleeper.  The kid would fall asleep EVERYWHERE when he was little. On his haunches, standing up, in his dinner, on the front porch.  truly..everywhere.  I have multiple pictures of him sleeping.  He's still a good sleeper. 

Wendy - she only wanted her bed.  She wasn't a snuggler, didn't want to be rocked or nursed.  That girl wanted her bed.  Now...5 years later, it's a rare night that find her in her bed.  She's wicked hard to get to sleep.  She's afraid of her room at night, and ends up on the couch or our floor.  But she started out so good.

Brian..wants his mom.  So...this too shall pass, they grow up quick.  I'll rock him to sleep, but I will wean him.  I will!

Other news. 

I woke up this morning at 7:30 and it was 21 degrees out.  And I thought of my husband and my son who are tent camping this weekend a few miles down the road.  heh.  Better them than me, I say.  Today is beautiful sunny, but it's only 34.  They'll be out there tonight also.  Me...I'll enjoy my bed.

Tomorrow we'll have birthday cake for Brian.  Two of Greg's siblings are in town with families so we'll have a big ol' bash at the folks after church.  The boys will be home from camping by then.  Wendy and I made a cake this afternoon.

Other news

Creating Keepsakes Hall of Fame.  This is an annual contest in which this magazine chooses the top 25 scrapbookers based on their entries.  25 Hall of Famers, 50 Honorable Mentions.  I earned HM status last year...and this year. They received 960 entries...so this is quite an honor. And it's all fun.  I feel thankful to get even that seeing as how I put the entry together in January when Brian wasn't sleeping, when Greg was out of town, when I was working on CHA, and when I landed a surprise cover assignment.  It was truly a struggle to get that entry out the door...but I'm glad I did.  I thoroughly enjoyed this past year as a HM, and I'm looking forward to this one as well.

It'll take me quite some time to share my entry...I like to keep them under wraps until the magazine decides if they can use them or not.  It's not required...but that's me.  It normally takes me almost 11 months to post my entry. 

But here's one for now.  One of the assignments was photography and to use a candid photo rather than posed.  I love these pictures.

I don't have a 12 x 12 scanner, so most of my layouts when scanned are missing just a portion of one edge.  In this case...there is a tad more green on the bottom.

And thanks for all the comments on my new picture. I had that done right after my new do last week..cuz the truth is, my hair will never look like that again. lol  I'm actually anxious for my hairdresser to get back from Florida because this gal cut it too long, she didn't believe me when I told her how fast it grows. It's driving me nuts already. 

Anyway...the picture was done by my sil Julie, and my teeth were whitened by photoshop and digi-scrapper icon E-Scrapper.  Thanks guys!

be good!

My sister

My sister used to read my blog.
My sister used to email me wondering where I was when I hadn't posted in a 24 hour span.
I haven't heard from my sister in quite some time...it's been a good month since she's left a comment.

I'm wondering if she doesn't visit my blog anymore?

So....I'm holding my blog hostage until I find out.......