Name::Abq MomFrom::Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Budding Musician
So you know how I said I was afraid "W" would grow up to hate music? Yesterday I was in an Indigo Girls mood as I was driving to the grocery store. I grabbed my cd case only to discover the only one I had in there right now was a "Pickin' on the Indigo Girls: A Bluegrass Tribute". Its great for those moments where you want Indigo Girls but you're not in the mood to turn it up superloud and sing at the top of your lungs. Its very subtle and mellow and soothing. Just out of habit I turned to look back at "W" to make sure he was doing okay. He was sitting there bopping his head around to the music. Loving it.
About a minute later, while he was bopping around in his seat he said "Mommy, thats a violin, like what daddy plays!" He then was able to pick out the guitar, and piano with a little prodding. I was so excited that he was actually able to hear the different parts and recognize the instruments!If you want to listen to a sample of what we were listening to click on the link below.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/25/2006 03:56:00 PM :: 8 Comments: 
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Its Snowing!
Its Snowing! For the second time this winter season! Big Flakes, but its not collecting yet. The ground might be too warm. I opened the windows so "W" could see. He got very concerned that the snow was falling on his tricycles, and the cars outside, and "OH NO, the birds mommy, its snowing on the birds"!
I called my husband at work to tell him it was snowing. He turned to his office mate and said "my wife says its snowing right now..." The guy said "I don't believe its snowing till there's an inch on the ground."
Even as I wrote this the snowflakes have turned from big puffy ones to tiny ones. Maybe they'll get big again.(This is a picture of "W" when he was just a year old during his very first snowfall)
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/25/2006 11:25:00 AM :: 12 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Quote from an old friend
I recently got back in contact with an old friend from High School. He sent me this quote because he said it always reminded him of me, when were in touch and even during the 7 years or so we weren't in touch. I really like this quote, and even though this is the first time I've ever heard it, its something that I've always tried to live by.
"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/24/2006 01:01:00 PM :: 3 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Bathroom Remodel begins
Today we officially began our bathroom remodel. No demolition yet, but we started purchasing. We went to Lowes today. And to mark the occasion I started a bathroom remodel blog. www.snedbathremodel.blogspot.com. Have fun with us.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/21/2006 04:39:00 PM :: 1 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Friday, January 20, 2006
Taco Bell, Taco Smell
Its been said, that when you live in a state like New Mexico and you have access to some of the best mexican food ever why would you ever bother stepping foot in a Taco Bell. Its almost considered a sacraledge to dare commit such a sin. But you know sometimes, you just want some quick, cheap, regular old tacos. And a lot of them. I must admit this sin was committed today.
My favorite part of Taco Bell isn't the food. Its the salsa packets. Fairly recently they've added little phrases to the front of the packet, just to keep you entertained while you are pouring that little bit of stuff onto your taco. Maybe I can be entertained fairly easily but these things crack me up. I'm going to give you a few examples of some I've seen, and then I want to know what things you would write to have published on a Taco Bell Salsa Packet.
"Does a Grilled Stuft Burrito qualify you for the carpool lane?"
"Hello."
"My best friends hang out on the menu board."
"Not to be used as a flotation device."
"Mi Salsa es tu Salsa."
"I M A HOT T R U 2?"
"you had me at taco."
"Mmmmmmmmmm.... Sauce."
"I want to be a waterbed when I grow up."
Okay, what can you come up with. The key is to remember to give the sauce packets personality. Let what is being said sound and feel like the packet is saying it.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/20/2006 11:50:00 PM :: 4 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Like any other day
So every friday, I go to the church to play volleyball with other women from church. Its a lot of fun, not very serious, but we enjoy each others company, and the feeling of competition that comes.
Every friday I go, and like every friday its a battle to get "W" to leave, he has too much fun playing in the nursery, etc. Today was no different. I walked into the nursery to get him, he starts to walk out with me, but then "Sy" walks in, I get "Sy", and "W" takes off down the hallway. Everyone else has already left the building, so I figure, I'll put "Sy" out in her car seat, have my friend who was loading up her daughter just stay in the parking lot while I went back in to get "W". I get to the door and discover its locked! I can't get in the building. "W" is having a great time, thinking its totally hilarious that I can't come in to get him.
After 10 minutes of waiting for him to come back to the door, but he running away laughing every time I try to ask him to open the door, I figure, I'll just pull the truck around the edge of the building so he can't see me anymore. I knocked on the nursery window which is where I knew he was. I hide around the corner, and my friend waits for him to come back to the door. She tells him that I left, that I took "Sy" home, she directs him how to open the door and then holds him as I come around the corner. I went back in to turn off all the lights and get his coat while my friend is chasing him around the parking lot and finally wrestling him to the ground and loads him into his seat in the truck.
This is my doom. A strong-willed, could care less if I'm there, doesn't listen to a word I say little boy. I know this is my curse, this is my lot in life. I better get used to it now...
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/20/2006 11:28:00 PM :: 3 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Serious Tone
I feel like a rock is sitting on my chest. I don't understand why, theres no reason for there to be. I only feel like that if I am nervous about someone taking offense to something I said (or wrote), or if I am anticipating something big. But here I sit, with a heavy heart. You know, I also feel like this when I feel like my hands are tied.
I've been going through my blog list, a few times a day this week. Maybe its just the dreary January blues, but everyone seems to be writing in a serious voice. Also our blog visit numbers have seemed to have dwindled as well. Its bothering me I guess. I wish I could jump out of my seat, fly to everyone, give them a surprise tickle up the spine, make them laugh out loud, and be happy again and then fly on to the next person. I've read through my last couple of posts, and I feel like maybe I'm being kinda selfish. Its all about me, about my life, about the funny/happy things going on. I feel like maybe I am trespassing on the serious tone of the blog world right now. I feel like maybe I didn't get the memo? I guess to go with the trend, here is my serious post. But just so you know, as soon as I hit publish I'm back to my happy light-hearted posts, till the time comes that I feel like writing in a serious tone.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/20/2006 11:08:00 PM :: 4 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Muppets Overboard
Today I made a quick run to Walmart to pick up a few things to finish a project I'm working on. I like to wonder through the movie department every so often just for fun. I was just about to walk away when something caught my eye.
Muppets Take Manhatten!
I love Muppets movies, I always have. When this caught my eye, I had to look a little closer. What did I discover? TWO Muppets movies for a low price of $10. That was a steal! I got Muppets Take Manhatten and Muppets From Space, for $10.84. WHO HOO! WOOT! and whatever other words you want to yell out in excitement.
I grew up watching The Muppet Show, I loved it. Yes, I may have been watching repeats, but I don't care, I still loved it. Now that I have added these two DVDs to my collection I'm all excited to find other Muppet Movies. But I can't remember the titles.
I remember one where Big Bird gets kidnapped, and they all go looking for him. I remember another where Kermit starts out in a swamp singing and it ends with everyone singing "The Rainbow Connection". And I don't know if this is from one of the two movies I already mentioned, or if its from a different movie, but I remember Kermit being in a french restaurant and the chef or owner wanting Kermits "frog legs" to be on the menu. Any help that any one can offer would be greatly appreciated.
I love how in the movies, the muppets are treated like any other "human", by the other humans. It seems to be nothing out of the ordinary to see a talking frog, pig, bear, and...whatever. I love seeing the cameo appearances of big name actors as well. It always cracks me up!
So today was spent sitting at the kitchen table coloring with crayola markers for a project I'm working on, all the while watching Muppets Take Manhatten and Muppets in Space. Every so often laughing to myself, or being amused when I discover Will too found something funny. We even used the "Saying Goodbye" song from Muppets Take Manhatten at the end of our our "end of the year" slideshow my first year at Ricks. Watching that part of the movie brought back memories of working on the slideshow. I felt like a kid again, at the same time I felt like I was back at college, but again at the same time I was excited to be sharing something I like so much with my son.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/19/2006 02:35:00 PM :: 5 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Internet Virus
Its out there you know. Its not just something Proud Mum and I made up because we forget we're in different town. It really does exist.
The internet virus!!!
Keep your kids from chewing on the computer mouse. Disinfect your keyboard everyday before using it, and you too might be protected from the internet virus.
It started Thursday night. My daughter and GoofyJ both got sick. Friday it was Karen. Friday night it was my son. Then last night, it got me. The same symptoms that my kids had. I even think Fourth Fret got sick somewhere in that timeframe as well. April, FeatherSky, Proud Mum, and Sariah you're the only ones it hasn't gotten yet. (Or you just haven't mentioned it). Please take me seriously. Make sure you keep your computers clean, or you too will fall victim of the internet virus.
(P.S. my daughter is 18 months old today WHO HOO!)
(P.P.S. I attended a Symphonic Band rehearsal last night. I decided enough time had elasped without me playing, so I found a group and went. More info to come later, when I can actually see straight)
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/17/2006 12:23:00 PM :: 6 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Monday, January 16, 2006
Lake Powell
Growing up as a child, "S" had the pleasure of going to Lake Powell with his dad, uncles, great uncles and male cousins. It was a guys trip, and they had a blast. It started just going with a boat, and camping on the shore. They would water-ski and other water activities all week long.
It progressed to renting a house boat, and taking a ski-boat. Sleep on the roof of the house boat. A few years later, ( I think around the time "S"'s sisters got a littler older and could go), it was opened up to girls. His immediate family went every year, the family members that went changed.
We were married March 2000. We had used all our vacation time for the wedding and receptions and honeymoon. We only had a few days of vacation left for the year. That summer the family didn't go to Lake Powell. They wanted "S" and I to go, but we didn't have enough vacation days. Instead we took a weekend family trip to San Diego.
July 2001. My first trip to Lake Powell. "S"'s parents, brother, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandmother all went too. (extended family from Arizona). We met up with everyone at Hall's crossing (Arizona side of Lake Powell), got a house boat and spent a wonderful week on the water. "S" and I both got horrible sunburns, but it was fun. At the end of the week, we met up with my old roommate "C", who was working a summer internship at Bullfrog (Utah side of Lake Powell, directly across from Hall's crossing), and spent a night with her.
July 2002. My second trip to Lake Powell. I was pregnant with "W". We had just found out two weeks before that we were expecting a boy. I had a great time at Lake Powell, but because I was pregnant, I didn't get to do as much as I had out on the water and jet skis as I had the year before. I spent that week with my camera. I wanted to capture the entire week in pictures.
These are two of the pictures I took
July 2003. "W" was 8 months old. He was just starting to crawl before we got there, and had actually learned to full on crawl while out on the houseboat. That year it was only the immediate family, plus "S"'s sister "B.W."'s fiance'. That year I didn't get to spend much time out on the water either, but it was still a lot of fun. We were both really stressed out, constantly worrying about "W" crawling off the side of the boat, or that his crying would bother the others. We slept inside of the boat rather on top, and it was so very hot. But we still had a good time. We were living in New Mexico by then, as we were driving back home, we decided that we wouldn't be going to Lake Powell with the family for a few years. Either "S" would be allowed to go by himself (if he dared! :-P) or it wouldn't be until "W" was at least able to take a few swimming lessons.
The family has continued their yearly trek to Lake Powell, from Idaho, meeting up with family members from Arizona. The summers of 2004, and 2005, we longed to be there as well. It is one of our favorite places as a married couple, but I also know its one of "S"'s favorite places because of all of the childhood memories as well.
February of 2005 I went to a woman's house that I visit teach. The year before she had started to take classes in learning the art of pastels (chalks, but you're not allowed to call it chalk). She had really progressed a lot over the year. I had wanted to have a water color painting done of a photograph I had taken of Lake Powell to give "S" as a Christmas present. When I saw her pastel work I decided that maybe I wanted her to do it in pastels instead. The next time I visited her I took her two of my favorite shots from Lake Powell. I asked her if it would be possible to do a pastel picture of the photograph. She kept the pictures I gave her and told me she would try.
In October of 2005 I received a phone call from her one night. She said that she had taken a few more classes, and learned in those classes the technique she would need to start on my picture. I asked her to do it on the biggest sheet she could find.
Three weeks before Christmas I received another phone call from her. She was very excited to tell me that she had finished my picture, and that she wanted me to come over the next day to see it. We stopped by after church and I went inside while "S" waited in the car. He didn't know anything about the photographs I had given her or the work I had commissioned her to do. I walked into her house, and saw the art she had done it was beautiful. The picture by itself was 24 inches by 36 inches. She wanted "S" to come in and see it too. I figured, "well he's gonna know about it as soon as I try to pay to have it framed anyway, might as well have him come inside and see it." He walked in and was amazed by what he saw. The artist, had thought we were going to give this to "S"'s parents, thats why she wanted him to come in and see.
We took the picture to the framers. Still about two weeks before Christmas. We picked out the matte, and the frame. We were told it wouldn't be ready till January 3rd. We were okay with that. January 3rd came and went, without a phone call saying it was ready. January 6th "S" went to get the picture. It wasn't done yet. He raised a bit of a fuss, and because the store was running a 50% off custom framing sale, they cut the price in half! When he came home and told me I was so excited! This past saturday, January 14th, we received the phone call that it was finished and we could pick it up. "S" picked it up and brought it home.
When he walked in, I couldn't believe how big it was, but once it was hanging on the wall it looked absolutely perfect. The picture, framed and matted, measures 36 inches by 49 inches. It hangs above our bed, on our blue wall. As we were standing back admiring it, "S" turned to me and told me this would be something that we would cherish always.
Here is a picture of the picture as it is hanging on our wall. (Sorry about the reflection, its very hard to take a picture of glass).
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/16/2006 08:44:00 AM :: 4 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Sandia Mountains
This is a picture I took of the Sandia Mountains October 2005.
Sandia Mountain is a small mountain range that runs along the east side of the city. In spanish, Sandia means watermelon. Its called the Sandias (Watermelon mountain) because when the sun sets in the west it puts this fabulous light on the sheer granite face of the mountain. It causes the mountain to look purple or pink in color. Just south of the Sandia Mountains, there is another small mountain range, they're called the Manzano Mountains. In spanish, Manzano means apple.
When we first moved here, we immediately fell in love with the mountain. Driving around one day in the winter time when we first moved here, the sun started to set. We witnessed for the first time the mountain turning purple. We actually pulled over to watch the entire event, it was amazing. "S" had commented another day after that in passing how he would love to have a panoramic picture of the mountains at sunset.
One day in October of 2004 I went for a drive with my camera. I drove up onto the volcano cliffs that line the west side of town. I walked out into a field, set up my tripod and camera, and waited. I waited for the sun to start to set. When the mountain had reached the peak of color I let the camera fly. I took an entire roll of pictures, one after another to get that perfect set of panoramic shots. I really hoped it worked.
I got the film developed and was really excited with what I saw. Groups of threes and fours and fives of pictures, dividing and combining the mountain. I found the set I liked the best and got each of the four enlarged, matted and framed.
Christmas 2005, "S" opened four identically wrapped, and shaped gifts. When all four were opened and lined up he was surprised to see what it was. He hung all four lined up on the east wall of our house in the dining room. The owners of our house before we bought it had framed in a window on that wall. We were okay with that because it looked out at a cinder block wall. We hung the pictures on that wall, as to pretend that was a window looking out east towards the sandia mountains.
Here is a picture I took of the four pictures making up the Sandia Mountains. Each picture is an 8x12. The Frames are 16x20.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/16/2006 08:42:00 AM :: 4 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Simple Math
I watched as a family of four walked in. (4)Father, Mother, Older Brother, Younger Sister. (4)The father ask something of the younger sister in Spanish.The younger sister burst into giggles and ran out the door,the father following close behind. (4-2)The sister jumped into the car as if looking for something she forgot.The sister skipped back inside giggling. (2+1)The father walked in, holding the hand of his 4 yr old daughter who was sobbing silently. (3+2)Oops, miscount, a family of five...
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/14/2006 03:56:00 PM :: 7 Comments: ---------------------------------------
What kind of Art are you?
I saw this on Stephanie's Blog. I don't usually do these things, but I couldn't pass up the chance of seeing what kind of "art I am. Enjoy.
You are Photography.
You are adept at recording reality and are inclined
to see beauty on the surface of things. You
are still growing and just beginning to
discover what you're capable of. You get along
well with Painting and Film.
What form of art are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/14/2006 06:19:00 AM :: 7 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Friday, January 13, 2006
The Number Connection
Heard of the Rainbow Connection? This is the Number Connection.
While we were dating (long distance). (With us, we didn't START dating TILL he was in Arizona and I was still in Idaho. Once we were dating in person, we were actually engaged). One night while up late on the phone, "S" told me that he would often wake up at 2:22am, and think of me.
He told me of a mission companion he had, that had created a secret number connection with his girlfriend "home waiting" for him. Every time they saw the clock and the numbers were all the same, they were supposed to think of each other.
So we started the same thing. Since I was in Idaho, and he was in Arizona and we could only talk on the phone in the evenings, we committed to each other that we would think of each other when we saw "same numbers". Examples would be 1:11am, 2:22am, 3:33am, 4:44am, 5:55am, 10:10am, 11:11am, 12:12pm. (Of course, Military time opens the game up even more, 13:13, 14:14, 15:15, 16:16, 17:17, 18:18, 19:19, 20:20, 21:21, and my personal favorite 22:22)
Its a funny thing about this game, I began, always being surprised when I would look down at the clock and see 2:22pm. But after awhile I think my mind became attuned to it. I would find myself seeing those number connections much more often. Every time I would see it, it would bring a smile to my face and I would think about why I love him, or hope that he saw it at the same time I did and that he was thinking of me too.
The day before we were to fly up to Washington for our Wedding, we were driving around Phoenix. We took pictures of my odometer in my '76 Ford Pinto when it reached 99,999, and when it was 00,000 when it reset.
Even after we were married, we'd continue to play this game. While we were at work, if we saw the number connection we'd quickly email each other. Even now, as a mom, I always check the clock when the baby cries, thats probably a mom thing, have to know how long the baby slept straight, but if I see a number connection I think of him, even if he's just asleep in the other room.
The numbers connection game didn't end when we got married. In fact, it just increased in the difficulty level of the game.
Our Wedding Day and each of our children's birthdays; they all worked out with a special number connection in our minds.
Special Dates in our family are also special number connections. When we were married, "S" said it was the perfect day, there was no way we could ever forget how long we would be married.
When "W" was born, we joked to ourselves how we have this weird thing with numbers.
When "Sy" was born, "S" pointed it out to me immediately. I was drugged up, so I just rolled my eyes, and smiled.
This all came to mind yesterday as I was sitting at the computer IMing with Sariah. I looked down and saw it was 2:22pm. (Master of Mayhem was actually posted at that time as well). I immediately thought of "S", and hoped he was thinking of me too. And then I realized that I had to write about our number connection.
I know it may seem silly, but I was actually tearing up as I was writing this, "S" walked in from his quartet practice and asked who I was writing to. I made him sit down and read what I had written to this point so I could wipe away my tears. I'm a silly little girl thats still in love.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/13/2006 11:11:00 AM :: 6 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Thursday, January 12, 2006
ReCap
I submit to you for your re-reading pleasure a post I had written previously: "Partners in Crime". I suggest that if you have not read that post that you do before you continue to read this one. If you need a refresher as to what that post is about, I suggest you do that now; I'll wait...
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There now, done reading? Good.
Let this post stand as testimony to the fact that vaccuuming up corn, frozen or otherwise (except of course popcorn) is NOT a good idea. If in the future one of YOUR children spreads corn all over the house I would suggest to you that you use a shop vac, NOT a vaccuum with rotating-bristle brushhead. Remember me saying that as I was vaccuuming up the corn that it had defrosted and that the brushhead was breaking up the corn and making a bigger mess? It did more than just make THAT event take longer to clean up, it created TWO more events.
I submit to you as evidence December 30, 2005. We took down the Christmas decorations that day. We decided that was the day when we observed "W" driving a car back and forth over the branches to watch the needles fall to the floor. After everything was put away and the tree was dragged into the backyard I got out the vaccuum to start cleaning up the needles. I noticed that it wasn't sucking very well, I turned it off and flipped it over to investigate. Lo, and behold, what did I discover? The broken up corn from weeks before had created a masa paste(the soft outside part of a tamale), combined with the normal things a vaccuum sucks up to create a cement that completely coated the inside of the vaccuum. I used a screwdriver to pry out everything I could see built up around the brushhead, emptied the bag, and continued to vaccuum. It worked fine.
Friday, January 5th, 2005.
Second item of evidence. The kids were taking a nap, I felt I needed to use the free moment and quickly run a vaccuum around the dining room area, and the rest of the living area. As I neared the end, my nose distinctly picked up the smell of something burning. I then started to notice a squealing sound coming from the vaccuum, and it wasn't sucking as well (again). I turned it off and checked that the belts were all in place, I turned it back over and quickly finished the dining room, and hurried and put it away, hoping that whatever the problem was it would magically fix itself by the next time I needed to use it.
Today. January 12, 2005.
I wanted to vaccuum yesterday. It really needed it. I ran out of time in the day, so I KNEW I had to do it today.
I even told Proud Mum that I needed to vaccuum today, but that I hoped that it wouldn't blow up. I relayed to her the events of the last time it was used. She sent me this: "RIP our vacuum, you served us well and died making tamales. May you rest in New Mexican peace."
Tonight at dinner gave me ample reason to get out the vaccuum. I made the kids dinosaur chicken nuggets. I left the room for a minute ("S" was still in there). A minute later, "S" also left the room. I returned to the dining table to discover that "W" had chewed up his dinosaur chickens into tiny pieces and spit them all over "Sy" and throughout the rest of the house.
I put "W" to bed, and sent my husband on his way to his Quartet rehearsal. I then got out the vaccuum, within seconds the same problems started to happen. i.e. burning smell, squealing sound and lack of sucking. (They didn't magically go away while it was sitting in the laundry room.) This time I knew I would have to get down and dirty. I got out the screwdriver and started to take that baby apart, piece by piece. The masa paste had completely engulfed the inside of the vaccuum. It was down inside of the motor, which was the reason for the burning and squealing. When I was finished I had pulled out a good 2 cups of cement hard corn paste mixed with dirt. I put that baby back together, and it worked like a dream.
So let it be made known, that two (not so) innocent toddlers never would have thought that their one little mess would have turned into three large ordeals. So let me tell you again, it may have seemed like it was an easy shortcut to clean up the mess by using the vaccuum, but I am here today to tell you DON'T BE FOOLED! If indeed you want to save yourself some time, use the shop-vac out in the garage FIRST!
Thank you, your Honor, I rest my case.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/12/2006 07:14:00 PM :: 6 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Master of Mayhem
Yesterday I went to Target to attempt to exchange some Polo shirts I had gotten for "S" the day before for some that would fit and he would like.
While walking around "W" was grabbing things and running around the store. I finally just picked him up and put him in the cart. That didn't stop this "Master of Disaster". He would reach out from the cart, grab things off the racks and throw them on the floor, the entire time laughing.
As I was wandering around the store I saw a t-shirt that I thought perfectly described my little master of disaster. I had to buy it, and when I went to the check-out, the clerk, looked at the saying on the shirt, then at my son who had a very mischievious smile on his face. The Clerk nodded her head, and said "yep, it fits!""I'm Definitely Up To Something!"
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/12/2006 02:22:00 PM :: 5 Comments: ---------------------------------------
The Throws of Motherhood
Last night "Sy" stayed up with "S" and I while we watched LOST. She ate some popcorn with me. When LOST was over, "S" went to bed, and I went to put "Sy" to bed in her crib before I hit the sack as well.
All was calm, all was quiet. Everyone was sleeping peacefully. That is, until, I awoke at 1:15am to "Sy" crying. I laid there for a minute hoping she would find her binky and then go back to sleep. (Its never happened before, but at least I could hope). She started to get more and more upset, I got out of bed, expecting that she had lost her binky between the crib and the wall. As I walk into the bedroom I was knocked over by a horrific smell. I look at "Sy"'s crib to see that she had thrown up.
There was throw up on the sheets, on her new quilt, and on her. I had just gone through the same thing a couple of months ago, so I got down to action. "Sy" is screaming and crying hysterically, I strip off her pajamas and wipe her down with a washcloth. I noticed that the smell had come with her. I checked her diaper; yep, she was stinky there too.
So while she's still in just a diaper, and crying superloud, I started to strip down her bed. Rinse everything off before throwing it into the washing machine, and then putting new bedding in her crib.
By this point "W" had woken up and he was giving commentary from the top of his bunk-bed of his view of the situation down below. "Sy" is still crying "Bloody Murder". Now that the blankets are being washed in the washing machine, the crib has new clean bedding in it, it was time to get Sydnie all remade for bed. She is so upset she won't even walk across the room to me. I have to pick her up and walk over and lay her down on the floor for the diaper changing process.
I soon had her diaper changed, and dressed in new pajamas. I lay her down in her crib, push the PLAY button on the cd player for their nighttime music and close the door as I walk out. I walk back into my room and crash into my bed.
It's now 1:45am. I was just about to fall back into dreamland when "W" starts crying for DADDY! I know "S"'s awake because I just gave him a detailed account of everything that just happened in their bedroom, but I get up anyway. "W" lays there on the floor refusing to get up, crying for DADDY! Somehow I finally convinced him to climb back up the ladder into his bed and go to sleep. I then zombie-like walked back into my room and fall onto my pillow.
The next thing I know "S" is kissing me goodbye at 5:45am. I fall back asleep to "W" crying for Daddy at 6:05am. I go in and get him and bring him back into my bed where he falls back asleep. He had a dream that "Sy" took something away from him. He was yelling outloud in his sleep for "Sy" to give it back to him. He then settled back to sleep and slept till 7:45am. It is 10:30am, "Sy" is still sleeping. The last time she woke up to throwing up all over herself, thats all it was. She wasn't sick the next day too, I think she had just had an upset stomach. I am hoping that when she wakes up, today will be the same.
I very much don't enjoy the "throws" of motherhood.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/12/2006 10:15:00 AM :: 7 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Saturday, January 07, 2006
"Twas The Month After Christmas
'Twas The Month After Christmas
'Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The wine and the rum balls,
The bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never say,
"No thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt.
I said to myself, as I only can
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"
So--away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore,
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!
--Author Unknown
My grandma in Utah sent this to me. I loved it and just couldn't pass up the chance to share it.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/07/2006 11:19:00 PM :: 10 Comments: ---------------------------------------
100 Posts in Review
In Celebration of reaching post #100, I've decided I would give a quick review.
1. Hot Air Balloons
2. My Own Little Strip of Heaven... I mean Rexburg
3. Car Horns
4. Common Bonds
5. A Step Back
6. An Inititive of Motivation
7. Healthy Eating
8. Diapers/Baby Wipes
9. One Year Has Passed
10. Beauty of the Desert
11. Frantic Life of a Young Mom
12. 2 week hiatus
13. Dora The Explorer
14. Not a Morning Person...Friendly Stranger...Towhead
15. 20 Ways Parenthood is just like College
16. Well Checkups
17. Monsoon Season
18. A.M. Radio Talk Show Host
19. Backyard Safari
20. The First Time to BLOG
21. Music Lit
22. Writer's Block
23. A Happy Ending?
24. Music Hater?
25. Malfoy Family Member?
26. "Looking up at the Stars... Moo..."
27. Kid Fears
28. Zozobra
29. Fair Time
30. New Mexico Mom's Rage
31. Old Ladies
32. The worst cry in the world
33. In the Eye of the Beholder
34. 5am Wake Up Call
35. Family Curse
36. best of times, worst of times
37. small mom and pop vs. BIG CHAIN STORES
38. Before and After of our Yard
39. Creepy Crawlies
40. Grover's Apple Orchard Hay Ride
41. Things Kids Say
42. Vacation from the city life
43. Trapped in the Southwest
44. Do you want to go to the Zoo?
45. Sleep Who Needs it?
46. September 29th, 2005
47. Something about Chocolate
48. Balloon Fiesta
49. BYU vs. UNM
50. reward
51. Pet Peeve
52. Top 100 of 1997
53. BYU wins 27 to 24
54. Googled Images About Me
55. Balloons Done
56. My DADDY!
57. I'm Guilty of...
58. Long Live the BBB!!!
59. Visit with Papa
60. "D" Needs...
61. Week in Review
62. Red or Green?
63. Something I saw today
64. One Word
65. Talk about Coincidence!
66. Trunk or Treat
67. Introduction
68. Introduction...continued...the rest of it!
71. My Son's Birth Story - RSV
70. My Son's Birth Story - Pregnancy and Delivery
69. My Son's Birth Story - Pre-pregnancy
72. Ode to Washington
73. My Daughter's Birth Story
74. Proud as a Peacock
75. Silly Fears
76. Midnight Robbery
77. Smell of Wet Dog
78. new avenue?
79. "Waiter, water please."
80. My, How you've grown
81. Turkey, Dinosaurs, Quartets, Incredibles, Harry Potter. Oh MY!
82. Fish Bowl
83. Bathtime Serenade
84. December
85. Deck the Halls
86. Surprising? I think not
87. names
88. First Snowfall
89. Football Flair
90. IM Language
91. Partners in Crime
92. 27 years ago
93. Goodbye 2005, Hello 2006
94. "Sy"'s Christmas Gift
95. Once upon a time
96. My Music Boxes
97. Hiatus
98. Bad Mom
99. Music Downloads
100. The Good Stuff
If there is something in the list that catches your eye that you don't believe you've read before I would encourage you to click on the link and read something from my earlier writings. :-) If not, of course I would understand. (Secretly I'm hiding under my son's bunk-bed with a bag of chocolates, silently weeping.)
* Theres a link for every post, but the new template format doesn't show the links underlined.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/07/2006 11:07:00 AM :: 4 Comments: ---------------------------------------
The Good Stuff
Last week we went to the grocery store as a family. "Sy" was sitting in the cart happy as a lark, and "W" was purched up on top of daddy's shoulders. (Thats the only way he's happy, AND we have him under control!)
As we were going up and down the isles, and I was putting things into the cart "S" would keep commentary for "W". Describe the different items I was picking up, asking "W" what they are, etc. We walked into the cereal isle, I was looking for a specific brand of cereal that "S" and I like. When I found it, grabbed TWO boxes ("W" likes to ask for OUR cereal), and put it into the cart, "S" said "Oh, The GOOD Stuff!" "W" caught on to that little phrase VERY quickly.
For the rest of the shopping trip every time I picked something up and put it in the cart, he'd say "The Good Stuff!". (Now, you have to hear this little three year old say it, but imagine an 85 yr old man referring to Whiskey or something like that!) That was on Saturday, December 31st.
January 2nd, we made plans to meet with a couple at The Outback for lunch. As we were driving there, "W" kept asking for "The Good Stuff!", he wanted to drink it, and eat it, and go to the store and buy it. It was so funny to hear this phrase come out of his mouth that by the time we arrived I couldn't help but laugh outloud. HARD! We pulled up to the parking lot of The Outback, thats when we remembered, The Outback isn't open for lunch, so we went across the street to TGI Friday's instead. As we were standing there waiting to be seated "W" would point at every food item he would see and say "OH, The GOOD Stuff!" I was seriously rolling on the floor laughing. I guess thats where the ROFL would come in handy!
(P.S. This is my One Hundreth post!)
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/07/2006 09:40:00 AM :: 3 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Music Downloads
I received some money for my birthday from my parents-in-law. One of the things I wanted was to download some songs I really like. Here is the list of what I got. What do you think of my choices?Pearl Jam
-Jeramy
-Daughter
-Better Man
-Alive
Green Day
-Wake Me Up When September Ends
-Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Smashing Pumpkins
-1979
-Today
-Tonight, Tonight
Rob Thomas
-This is how the heart breaks
-Lonely No More
Third Eye Blind
-Semi-Charmed Life
-Hows it Going to Be
-Never Let you Go
Smash Mouth
-All Star
-I’m a Believer
-Walkin’ on the sun
-Why Can’t We Be Friends (clean)
Sugar Ray
-Fly
-Every Morning
-Someday
-When It’s Over
Gavin DeGraw
-Chariot
-Follow Through
-I don’t wanna be
Goo Goo Dolls
-Black Balloon
-Better Days
Candlebox
-Far Behind
Presidents of the United States of America
-Peaches
-Lump
-Dune Buggy
-Cleveland Rocks
SoundGarden
-Black Hole Sun
-Spoonman
-Fell on Black Days
Macy Gray
-I Try
Refreshments
-Banditos
-Down Together
-Mexico
-Carefree
-Mekong
-Suckerpunch
-Girly
-Interstate
Nickelback
-How You Remind Me
-Someday
Sarah McLachlan
-The Rainbow Connection (This is a remake of Kermit The Frog's Version)
-Fallen
-World on Fire
-Stupid
Cake
-Mahna Mahna (this is from a Kids Music CD, its a remake of the song that was on Seseme Street and later the Muppet Show)
Ivy
-Sing (this is a remake of the Carpenter's song, on a Kid's Music CD)
Michelle Branch
-Are You Happy Now?
-All You Wanted
-Breathe
-Everywhere
-Goodbye to You
-I’m Feeling You
-The Game of Love
Lazlo Bane
-Superman
Kelly Clarkson
-Miss Independent
-Because of You
-Since U Been Gone
-Behind These Hazel Eyes
-Breakaway
-A Moment Like This
Ryan Adams
-New York, New York
-Wonderwall
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/05/2006 02:16:00 PM :: 5 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Bad Mom
Today "W" got mad at me for something.I don't remember exactly why.In the middle of his crying, yelling and screaming he said to me: "Mommy, you go to work, Daddy stay home!"
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/05/2006 02:06:00 PM :: 3 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Hiatus
In the Xanth books by Piers Anthony, there were twins, boy and a girl, named Hiatus and Lacuna. I only learned later* after reading those books what Hiatus meant, supposedly Lacuna means the same thing, I've never seen it used anywhere else. (*I forgot to mention that I started reading this series of books between the ages of 8-10, I've read them many times, and as I got older thats when I learned what Hiatus meant)
I feel I owe explanation for MY hiatus. I would say if I went out of town that I might have an excuse. But alas, I didn't go out of town.
You've probably noticed that some weekends I write less than other weekends. The explanation for that and for my absense over the past week and half have the same reason. My husband. Yes thats right my husband. He has every other friday off.
Most companies give you like every holiday off. You know all those little holidays that always fall on mondays. Like Presidents Day, Martin Luther King Day, Vetran's Day, and a few others. The company "S" works for, doesn't give you all those holidays off. Instead; they group them all together and the entire company shuts down from Dec 25th-January 1st. This year was no exception. "S" has been home December 23rd at 2:30pm through yesterday, January 2nd.
When he's home, my days aren't like they are when its just me and the kids. We're running errands, cleaning house, playing with the kids, things that don't allow for me to have my normal amount of computer time. I'm okay with it, because even though I miss reading everyone's posts, and IMing Proud Mum during the day, I know that when I'm not on the computer I'm still happy because I know I'm spending that time with my family.
But at the same time I feel just a little guilty. Guilty I guess, because I feel like I have abandoned all my blogger friends. I may have every so often found a spare moment to write a quick post, but that wasn't a long enough moment to read my friends posts. Or if I do get a chance to read, I don't have time to comment. I know we all say that we don't write for the comments, but I'm sure everyone is just a little disappointed when they don't have comments on their posts. For that, I feel I should apologize.
Today was the first day "back to normal". Just me and the kids, and even that wasn't normal. It took a bit of adjusting to an entire day without daddy. The kids were a bit more needy and whiny today. I felt I needed to give them a bit more attention. Plus, "W" had got these cool disney learning preschool software for christmas. Today we tried them out. He seriously sat at the computer, playing these games (with me sitting next to him helping) for almost 4 hours. He LOVES them.
I feel its important to say that "W" fights us on everything. His name truly does fit his personality. He'll ask us what something is, and when we tell him what the correct name for it is he'll argue with us. He'll say "No, its _____". Same thing for letters, numbers and everything. It makes teaching him VERY hard. I'm not saying I'm going to sit back and let the computer teach my son, but MAN it sure made it easier for him to grasp what we've been trying to teach him!
I'm hoping that by the end of this week, things will start to even out enough that I can write, read AND comment on everyone's posts. I Pledge to you right now, that I will go back and read and comment on posts that were written during my absence. That I will make it up to you!
Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/03/2006 11:21:00 PM :: 6 Comments: ---------------------------------------
My Music Boxes
These are the two statuettes my grandmother gave me as a little girl.
I need to add a fishing line and hook to her pole, its always been like that and I've always meant to do it. I still have just never gotten around to it.
This is the music box my grandma gave me as a little girl.
The following four pictures are the music boxes I loved as a little girl, and that I got for Christmas this year.
I have been curious to know if there were more to this set. On the bottom all it says is Made in Taiwan. I know, just it saying that, they can't be worth much, but I don't even know how to search for where they were made, or when or where they were sold without any company name. If anyone has any suggestions as to where to look online for information on these or the statuettes that would be helpful. The little girl selling lemonade music box does have a company name on the bottom, so I might be able to find something on those.
They look to me like something that would have been made in germany or swedan, like those little hummel statues. But the sticker on the bottom is unmistakeable, Made in Taiwan.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/03/2006 11:05:00 PM :: 4 Comments: ---------------------------------------
Once upon a time...
Once there was a little girl that believed she was the favorite grandchild. For about four years that was true, that is until her aunt (her dad's sister), got pregnant, dropped out of high school, got married and had a baby girl at age 17. A few years later she had another baby girl, and a few years after that she got divorced and moved in with the little girl's grandparents.
The little girl loved to go in to her grandparents house, it was fun to be able to visit with her aunt and cousins. Her grandmother collected music boxes, this little girl loved looking at the music boxes. One year, she was given a music box and two little statuettes that has sat on her grandmothers shelf. She was so thrilled to receive these. (As an adult she thought to herself that she probably got them because the grandmother didn't want them herself anymore).
Her grandfather remembers her only as a four year old. Any time he talks to her or ABOUT her he recounts the same story of when she would ride in the welfare truck with him to outlying towns to deliver bread. She would make up songs, and then climb up into the back of the truck and throw down the loaves of bread.
The grandmother was very critical of the little girl. One time she was over at the house and she had colored a picture of a cow. She had colored the cow purple. Her grandma said to the little girl "cows are not purple, and wouldn't it be better if you colored within the lines and all in the same direction?" It crushed the girls heart, and also made her very critical of her own artwork from then on.
The little girl loved having long hair, all she ever heard was how she should cut it. How her grandma hated long hair, and that the little girl must not like it either.
As she got older she started to notice a difference in how she was treated compared to her cousins. She started to feel like the prodigal son's jealous brother. The one that did good but didn't get the party and the fatted lamb. Living there in the house with the grandparents, the cousins often got more toys and clothes bought for them then the girl and her younger brothers got. Even when the aunt got her own place, the grandparents still helped support her and the two girls.
While the little girl was getting good grades, and was very athletic and active, her grandma would tell her to watch how she ate or she would get thunder thighs, which runs in the family.
When she was in high school, she was in band, on the basketball team, had a parttime job, was very active in her church activities, and was top 10 of her class. She didn't hear anything wonderful about that, rather all the grandparents could talk about was how her cousins were rude to male authority figures. They had been taught not to have respect for male's in authority, and they were praised for talking back to a teacher, or beating up a boy, or suspecting a teacher of sexual abuse.
When the little girl was all grown up, she graduated from high school, she was the first (and only one) in the family to go to college. All she heard was how could she go to school so far away. Why was she planning on studying music, how could that support her later?
When she got married to an active return missionary, and got married in the temple, did she hear congratulations? No, she heard complaints about how they had to drive to Portland, Oregon for the wedding. She heard complaints about how she was living in Phoenix.
When Christmas time came around woman would receive christmas cards from her grandparents. In it would be a message that would say "we're sad that you couldn't be here for christmas, we would have gotten you a christmas and birthday present if you were here. When do you plan on visiting next?"
At this time, both of her female cousins were no longer active in the church and involved in drugs. The older of the two had a baby (out of wedlock), and absolutely refused to even have the father's name on the baby's birth certificate. The woman's grandparents were thrilled about this new baby, and were so proud that the cousin kept the baby and kept the father away. A year and half later, the woman had a baby boy of her own. She received a guilt trip from her grandparents that she wasn't closer to home when she had the baby so they could visit. The younger of the two cousins got married at the age of 17, just because. Shortly thereafter they moved to Ohio, a few weeks after arriving the cousin found out she was pregnant. The woman's grandparents helped pay for the aunt, cousin and her daughter to move to Ohio. The grandparents even helped support them while they were there.
When the woman's husband graduated from college and was offered an excelled job, she again received a guilt trip. Why do you have to move There? Its so far away, can't you just move here and hope to find a job?
When the younger cousin had her own baby girl, the grandmother bought her new baby furniture.
As an afterthought, when the woman was pregnant with her second baby, the grandmother offered to buy her a new crib too, (she did it for the other cousin, she better do it for her too). When she told her grandmother that she already had a crib but that she would like a dresser, the grandmother wasn't so sure about that. But in the long run decided to follow through.
Three months after her second baby was born, the woman made a trip back home. She stayed for a week and a half, and made sure to visit with her grandparents. One day when she was in at their house she was looking at the music boxes again. She told her grandmother that there was a set of four that she would like to have left to her. Her grandma said something about how she was planning on giving the music boxes out to her daughters and granddaughters. The woman was afraid that if she didn't say something then that everything would end up going to her aunt and cousins. Of everything in the house all she really wanted was those 4 music boxes, as far as everything else in the house was concerned her aunt and cousins could have it. Her grandma never said "yes, dear of course you can have those". She just said "well I plan on giving them all out to my daughters and granddaughters". The woman left the house and the conversation pretty much thinking that she wasn't going to get those music boxes.
A few months later during a conversation with her dad on the phone he told her that he had talked with her grandmother(his mom). He asked her why she said she couldn't have the music boxes, that the woman had understood it to mean she wasn't going to get them. The grandma said "of course she can have them", her dad said, "then why didn't you just say that then"! She didn't have an answer for him. She said the next time the woman was in town that she could take them with her then.
Any time her grandparents would call, she would immediately feel tense, and when she would hang up the phone her husband would always ask why she sounds mad when she talks to them. Her grandfather always asks when she plans to visit next. The last time she spoke to him, again he asked the same question; she told him she really wasn't sure. He told her to make sure she set aside enough time to visit with them this time. She always makes an effort to visit with them, but its never enough, they choose to remember that she has other friends that she wants to visit as well. So he got angry with her and told her that she shouldn't try to spread herself so thin. He forgot that she did visit with them quite often and does every time she's in town (which is really only once a year at the most).
Christmas came around, and her mom and told her that there was a wrapped gift for her from her grandmother, but not to be surprised that it was the music boxes. So even though the woman was prepared for it, nothing could have prepared her for the emotion that had swept over her when she opened the box on Christmas day. As she opened the box and unwrapped each of the four porcelain statuette music boxes from their protective paper she couldn't hold back the tears that were bursting to come forth. She was so overcome with the memory of seeing those as a little girl in her grandmothers house, and the fact that she actually had received them that she couldn't control herself. She finally regained her composure enough for her husband to take pictures of the statuettes.
A few days later when she had talked to her grandma on her birthday, she thanked her for them. She blew it off as if it was nothing, that she had gotten some new ones for christmas and needed a place to put them. It was such a special sentiment, and the woman really hopes that she will be able to look at the music boxes that she received as a young girl and as a mother of two with fondness down the road. It would be a horrible thing if such special items could hold memories that aren't that great.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/03/2006 08:13:00 PM :: 6 Comments: ---------------------------------------
"Sy"'s Christmas Gift
When my son was born I received a ton of quilts and blankets. They all have blueish tones, or were really very boyish.
When "Sy" was born, I didn't receive any quilts or blankets, let alone anything girly. I was kinda disappointed but figured I would carry on anyway. I have used the baby blankets from when "W" was born for "Sy".
The past few months "W" has started to become a blanket hog. Every time I'd lay a blanket in "Sy"'s crib, "W" would come in and say that it was his, take it out of her crib and put it on his bed. "Sy" was getting left out in the cold, literally!
So on Saturday, December 10th I decided I would make a quilt for "Sy" for Christmas. I had quilting squares set aside to be used to make a quilt for her whenever I got around to it. I went to the store to get batting, thread and material for the back, and that night I started cutting out 300 4 inch squares. The longest part of the project was arranging the pattern so no two of the same were near each other. The sewing went really quickly from there. For the tying I borrowed an 18 inch diameter quilting hoop and just did little sections at a time till it was done. I finally finished it December 23rd evening.
I am very proud of this quilt, its really the best one I've done so far. I made the size to fit a toddler bed, so its a little smaller than a twin size quilt.
Posted by ABQ Mom :: 1/03/2006 07:22:00 PM :: 3 Comments: ---------------------------------------
