Updated Costume

So I was feeling like Jared's costume was, well, pretty lame. So I decided to add a little bit to make it less lame. Enter the man dress. Okay, so it's basically a toga but when we were in the car and I was describing my idea Jackson said "oh like a kilt - you know - a man skirt." Since it wasn't just a skirt we decided it was a man dress. Of course because it is cold here he still had to wear a shirt under it but here is my little roman.



I have to let you in on this secret. Jared is 8 but he's pretty tiny. That toga was actually made from a king size pillow case. No sheet for this boy - we just use the pillow cases. And in case you are wondering - Roman's wear jeans under their man dresses.

Entering the World

Of the Working!

I got the job that I applied for last week. I go in tomorrow to fill out the hiring packet. Kind of funny because I've never had to fill out a "hiring" packet for a job that was only 12 hours a week.

Halloween

We had our Halloween party and trick or treat yesterday so I thought I would share the pictures.
This is Jackson - our skeleton

Jared was a Roman Soldier (if this doesn't look like it was thrown together at the last minute I don't know what does - even though he had decided on his costume weeks ago)

And our Little Red Ninja - I had wished for Little Red Riding Hood but the girl has a mind of her own.

Thursday Thirteen #17

#17 Thirteen Things We're Doing or Have Done This Week This week is 1/2 term so the kids are out of school all week - let's see what is keeping us busy. 1. Runescape. This doesn't keep me busy but the boys play it. 2. Eating at Burger King. Our cheap options are limited so BK it is. We finally got the Arizona Cardinals little football jersey so the boys were happy. 3. Having dinner at the bowling alley with friends. Oh yes, we eat at the bowling alley more than you could imagine. 4. Pack Meeting. I now have a Wolf and a Webelos and the little wolf was awarded his Bobcat Badge. Bad mom for not taking the camera. 5. Applying for a job. Now this isn't fun for the kids but they must accompany me in the car as I go back and forth picking up and dropping off the application. 6. Flying kites. We have 3 little parafoil kites that fold up in to their own little sacks. They are easy to keep in the car and great fun. Of course my friend thought I was being sarcastic when I said we had been out flying kites - I think my windy hair-do should have tipped her off though. 7. Bowling. What 1/2 term is complete without a game or 2 of bowling? 8. Cleaning. Yes, let's get that playroom clean. 9. Homework! Homework during 1/2 term? Yes, especially for the boy who hasn't even started his TERM project on a mountain range and the term is 1/2 over. 10. Staying up late. Not too late though - with only 1 week we can't get too much out of the routine. 11. Sleeping in. This is obvious if you're doing a bit of #10. 12. Trick or Treating!! Our Halloweeen festivities will be this Friday. 13. The Pumpkin Patch. Usually the pumpkin patch would be the START of our October fun but this year it's at the end. We're just happy to find a pumpkin patch near by.

Proving Myself

So, I applied for that job yesterday. I got the application filled out, printed out my unofficial transcripts and created a new resume. Then I get a phone call saying she has some questions about my application. First she tells me that even though I have had a job as a teacher she is unclear why my transcripts don't show that I have a degree OR enough credits to have even graduated. WHAT???? So, I look at my stuff and she is talking quarter hours, my transcripts are in semester hours so you have to multiply them by 2/3 or something like that. I call her back and explain her error. She then says that nowhere on the transcripts does it say that I was actually awarded a degree. Well, it does it just doesn't have the date. It's an unofficial transcript so who knows what tricks they play to make you pay for an official one. Fortunately I had my teaching file here with all of my information AND an official transcript. This pleased her since not only did it say that I was awarded a degree it also was in quarters because the university didn't switch to semesters until after I graduated. The crisis was averted and it actually sounds like I got the job. Good thing I didn't get snippy with her on the phone - as I was getting quite frustrated at the time.

Jordanism of the Day

"Mom why do I have socks on if we aren't going anywhere?"

I didn't know that socks were a pre-requisite for leaving the house - I just thought it was part of getting dressed in the morning - shows what I know.

Call Me

Oh wait, you can't. You can call me, you can leave a message on my voice mail but I won't ever hear it ring. I can't pick up the phone and call you back either. Nope, can't do any of those things. I know we got a phone call Saturday morning at 8:30 - it was a wrong number. After that nothing. No calls in no calls out. Sunday afternoon I went to make a call and no dial tone. NOTHING. The phone company will be here on Thursday to see what they can do about our problem. Meanwhile we're using cell phones and remotely listening to messages people leave us.

Now I'm off to apply for a job. 12-4 on Thursdays and 8-4 on Fridays working at the testing center for Central Texas College on the base here. I was hoping the job was with the University of Maryland - that way I could take a free class each term - but it isn't. I have to say creating a resume was a challenge. Ten years ago it was full of work experience. Now it is full of volunteer work and skills I think I have. I wonder if I should have put that I manage my own blog that updates people on the details of my everyday life. Do you think that would help?

I Could Fill a Blog

I bet I could fill a blog each day with the things my daughter says to me. I did a Thursday Thirteen not long ago about the things all 3 of them said but I'm quite sure that one girl alone could give me enough material to take care of every day. This weekend I got:

"You should buy that make-up mom I bet it would cover up your freckles and your redness." Oh well thanks sweetie!!

Then we were channel surfing and came upon a music video by Guns N Roses. When I told her what their names were she first asked if I went to their concert as a kid. No I did not. Then she decided that the guitarists name was Slash because he looked like a Man/Woman. Hahahaha I'm sure Slash would be pleased that a 5 year old thinks he looks like a man SLASH woman. Even more surprising I didn't know she knew how to put the word slash in context. Hahahahaaha.

Okay now off to visit my friend Cricket's blog and see if she has A - had baby Lily and B - come home from the hospital!

Thursday Thirteen #16

#15 13 Random Facts. 1. 40% of McDonald's profits come from the sales of Happy Meals. 2. In 2005, each person in the world consumed, on average, 77 beverages made by The Coca-Cola Company. (I'm sure I covered some of you if you didn't drink your designated 77) 3. White Out was invented by the mother of Mike Nesmith (Formerly of the Monkees). 4. Only humans sleep on their backs. (I've had several cats sleep on their backs so I don't know about this one!) 5. Swallowed gum is not digested by the gastrointestinal system, it usually passes through within 24 hours. (No Comment) 6. The first toilet ever seen on television was on "Leave It to Beaver." 7. Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning. (And here I've been drinking all that coke!) 8. The three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser, in that order. (This is when I realized I should have done 13 facts about Coke - maybe next time) 9. A giraffe has a 20-inch tongue. 10. "Go," is the shortest complete sentence in the English language. (What about: FINE! WHATEVER! - those are sentences right? I suppose the letter count is what's important here.) 11. A can of SPAM is opened every 4 seconds. (And how do they know this? Are people actually eating it or just opening it to look at?) 12. Every second over 7,000 Coca-Cola products are consumed. (I don't drink THAT much) 13. "Tom Sawyer" was the first novel written on a typewriter. (I am sure this would be worse then writing it by hand - I learned to type on a typewriter but haven't used one in years.)

The Naughty Step

I was reading over at Wherever Ewe Go and she had a post about her son acting out and her use of the naughty step. It got me to thinking while I responded to her and I'm wondering how much longer I've got the naughty step for. We are fans of the naughty step. Almost every home we've been in in England has stairs. My parents home in California doesn't have stairs but they do have ONE step. So, where ever we go my kids can be banished to the naughty step. I've been known to have a train of naughty children on the stairs before - at equal distances sitting quietly. I've had Jordan tell me she's tired and when I yell from the kitchen that maybe she should take a nap she's asked "does that mean I can get off the stairs?" Yes, I've forgotten about children on the naughty step......more than once. I just wonder how long this is going to last. We've got a good thing here. It's a useful tool in our house. But my kids are 5, 8 and 10. I certainly can't get away too much longer with putting a 10 year old on a naughty step can I? Do you suppose he'll get bullied at school if at 15 I tell him "when you get home it's straight to the naughty step for you!" Do you think he'll sit on the step at 15? Maybe I shouldn't doubt it - I should just take the ride for as long as it's willing to go.

Up To My Neck

In CubScout registrations. Or I would be if they would turn them IN. Whose idea was it to put mostly men in charge of these sorts of things? Men who can't respond to simple e-mails just asking for a list of the boys in their dens.

Money Tree Anyone?

I am pretty sure that the head teacher at the kid's school thinks that we all have money trees in our back gardens. We signed up Jackson for a ski trip to Switzerland. Not something we can really afford but seriously - what an opportunity so we budgeted the money. We payed the deposit and then 2 weeks ago we got a letter saying the remainder was due in 3 days. Um, we have to come up with HOW much in 3 days? That's not really allowing for our budget. Then Friday we get another letter about an outdoor education center trip in June and they would like the 350pounds for that by this coming Friday. Yep, I have an extra $700 just laying around for outdoor school. We just told the boy that he wasn't going. It's either that or we're living in a card board box when we move back to Arizona - fine in the winter time but they don't usually come with A/C for the summer.

Latest Chinese Toy Recall

If you have this latest toy you might want to think about taking it back.

Jordie Pordie

Puddin' and pie kissed the boys and made them cry. Okay, well the boys aren't CRYING but the girl is kissing. I told her she had to stop kissing the boys at school and she says "I don't anymore because now they run really fast!" Well, that's logic for ya. I suppose we're just lucky we don't live in the States where we would have the possibility of her being suspended from school or sued for some sort of sexual harrassment.

Thursday Thirteen #15

#15 13 Places that I Shop Online. Since living in England I have had to give up a lot of my favorite places to eat and shop. However, I've also done my share of online shopping. The downside is ordering things and not having them fit or look like you wanted them too. The upside is when it comes to Christmas shopping I get what I'm looking for and that's that - and if I order in good time it's all here and done early. 1. Eddie Bauer When I talk aobut things not fitting right this most often happens here though - while I have to pay shipping on returns it's still an easy process. 2. Old Navy I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of person so this works for me. And I know that their clothes fit my children so that's a bonus. 3. The Gap I'm not a regular here but they will ship to me so that's good to know. 4. The Children's Place I don't often shop here as it's hard for me to tell from their pictures if the clothing is REALLY bright or not. I'm expecting a few things for Jordan any day now though. 5. JC Penney For all of our normal housewares. Of course when I needed mini blinds for the entire house they wouldn't ship them so I got those from Domestications. 6. Walmart Don't be taken in by their lower prices - their shipping usually makes it equal or more to other sites. They are also weird about shipping some electronics. I know a girl who ordered all her Christmas gifts before Thanksgiving and nothing came until January. Luckily I've never had that issue. 7. Target Actually I've only used this for sending things to people still IN the states. Target is notorious for letting me fill up my cart and then at the end telling me they won't ship 1/2 the stuff to my APO. 8. Best Buy All those electronics Walmart won't ship? Best Buy will! 9. Toys R Us Not sure if we've shopped there since they went from Amazon to just their own shop but I never had any complaints. 10. drugstore.com Great site - keeps a list of things you frequently purchase and we got our new sonic toothbrush here MUCH cheaper than anywhere else. 11. Discovery Store They have all those techie toys my husband likes getting the kids. We once got a defective product and they shipped us a new one right away. 12. Tiger Direct For all of your computer needs. 13. Tire Rack Yes, we even buy car tires online. They come within a week - usually 2 tires taped together with a label stuck on them. I'll be glad when I can actually shop in person again. I should also clarify that we get paid in American dollars. There are plenty of places to shop on the economy but when it takes $2 to make 1pound you start realizing you're paying double for a lot of things and that's a bit rough on the pocketbook.

What to Say?

I have to be honest and say that I am not usually one to brag about my kids. I will brag about them on my blog but I'm usually not the person who goes on and on about how "bright" her children are or any of that. I am proud of my kid's accomplishments and when they do something really noteworthy I will share with friends. I am not the woman who says "oh I knew I should have discussed with the teacher how bright J is because when he isn't given enough to do he becomes disruptive and he shouldn't get in trouble for that he just needs to be redirected" I am NOT that woman. And in truth - isn't that every child? Anyway - this wasn't supposed to be about THAT woman. LOL

The other day Jordan was at a lazy, er Daisy, Scout meeting and they were all learning the girl scout promise. A few of the girls were repeating what the leader said and then Jordan picked up the paper and read it. She is 5 1/2. One of the mom's just freaked "she's reading? She can read? How long has she been able to read? Wow she can really read!" Of course my teacher mode kicked in and I gave the old "every child works at their own speed and your girls (she has twins) are doing just fine and they are at their age level." Seriously, I was almost embarrassed that Jordan can read so well - now isn't that a bad mommy thing to think?

Reading

Okay I seriously think I need to read more. That being said I am reading one book right now and I have another in the queue but still I need to read more. I am currently reading John Grisham's The Innocent Man
I picked up the book just thinking it would be an easy read - and not about football. I made that mistake with John Grisham once before - don't assume all of his books are about lawyers - they aren't. So, I flipped through it making sure it wasn't about highschool football and when satisfied I purchased it. I get home and begin reading and thinking to myself how all over the place the book is. Trying to piece together which character goes with which murder etc, etc. Then 1/2 way through the book there are pictures. How odd to have actual photographs in a book. Then the lightbulb clicks on and I flip the book over and see what I was missing. This is his first work of NON FICTION. I am enjoying it just wish I would have caught on that the reason it was written the way it was is because it is telling a true story.

My next book is by Nicholas Sparks - I'm pretty sure it's pure fiction but I better go read the back again.

Sunday Meme

I saw this on another blog - and since I'm not on my main bookmarked computer at the moment I can't remember the name of it. Nice, huh? Well, anyway here it is. (If you're wondering how I have the meme here without knowing where I got it - I had it half done and saved while my husband was napping then I relinquished the computer to him.)

What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now? We only have one bathtub and it is in the kid's bathroom so some sort of grape suave body wash.

Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? Um, no - it's October.

What would you change about your living room? It would be clean. No wait, I would HAVE a living room and a seperate family room and THEN it would be clean.

Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty? Dirty. The boy unloaded them the other day and replaced them with dirty but not enough to run a load yet.

What is in your fridge? Depends on which fridge. The small one has drinks and condiments. The large fridge has various food items - tortillas, sour cream, cheese, leftovers.

White or wheat bread? White and proud of it! I have a thing for pb&j on soft white bread.

What is on top of your refrigerator? a rubbermaind container of drugs. LOL You want advil? You want sudafed? Let me check the box.

What color or design is on your shower curtain? It's a door. We do have a shower curtain we don't use - if the kids bathroom was shower curtain capable it would be in there - white with fish on it.

How many plants are in your home? 2 - each brought home from a child from school. Both living but at times I like to take them both to the very edge of death and bring them back. Gotta do something to entertain myself.

Is your bed made right now? No - it was but the hubs took a nap and well, now it isn't.

Comet or Soft Scrub? Comet. Comet, it makes your mouth turn green, comet it tastes like listerine, comet will make you vomit so get some comet and vomit today.

Is your closet organized? I have a wardrobe with dresses and skirts and my closet has shirts and pants - mostly organized.

Can you describe your flashlight? It's a black MagLight.

Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home? A glass. And I use the same glass until the fingerprints on the outside creep me out. And we all wonder how I got strep?? I only drink water though.

Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? Nope - I do not drink iced tea.

If you have a garage, is it cluttered? The half with the car is not the half with the bikes is.

Curtains or blinds? Curtains in the living room - they are custom and came with the house. The rest have blinds.

How many pillows do you sleep with? 2. 1 Select comfort memory foam pillow and the other is a king size pillow I have had since I was 10. I used to use it as my regular pillow but it's been moved to body pillow status.

Do you sleep with any lights on at night? Nope - no lights on at all. The kids don't either.

How often do you vacuum? Not as often as I should.

Standard toothbrush or electric? Electric. We just had to order a new one because it died.

What color is your toothbrush? White - mine has a little grey ring on it and dh's ring is blue.

Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch? Not since one of the kids puked on it.

What is in your oven right now? Nothing - I wish I could say cookies - but nothing.

Is there anything under your bed? I'm sure there is. Probably that long lost sock and a few shoe boxes.

Chore you hate doing the most? Mopping the floors.

What retro items are in your home? None that I can think of. No lava lamps or bean bag chairs.

Do you have a separate room that you use as an office? Yep.

How many mirrors are in your home? 5 - 1 in each bathroom, 1 in the guest room and a full length mirror in my bedroom.

Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? Not that I know of.

What color are your walls? Most of them are yellow - they were like this when we moved in. Various shades - not all the same yellow in every room. The other rooms are white.

Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home? Nope. But with the trail of toys my kids leave on the floor a burglar would be hard pressed to make it through the house quietly.

What does your home smell like right now? Nothing.

Favorite candle scent? Vanilla, home sweet home, oh I don't know - I'm not a big candle person - that's why my house doesn't smell like anything.

What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now? Baby kosher dills. My biggest pet peeve is picking up a pickle and taking a bite only to find out it's a sweet pickle. I don't know HOW people eat those.

What color is your favorite Bible? Does the color really matter? My scriptures are black, hubs are blue, Jackson's are blue and Jared's are green. Jordan doesn't have her own set yet.

Ever been on your roof? No - I currently don't have a death wish of any kind.

Do you own a stereo? Yes.

How many TVs do you have? 2 - 1 British - in the living room for our regular viewing. 1 American TV - it's upstairs and is connected to the playstation.

How many house phones? 3. 2 cordless and then the phone in the office.

Do you have a housekeeper? I used to but she's addicted to blogging and is really slacking on her job lately.

What style do you decorate in? Whatever my mom has bought for me to hang on my walls. My kitchen is apples - I've tried and tried to get away from them but I keep coming back. It's easy and obviously I like it since I keep it going.

Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? Solids or mostly solid.

Is there a smoke detector in your home? Yes.

In case of fire, what are the items in your house which you’d grab if you only could make one quick trip? I have a rubbermaid box with all my photos and scrapbooking stuff - I don't scrapbook but I have the stuff and my pictures are all in there. I would have dh grab our passports and the harddrive because that's where the rest of the pictures are.


-I used to have 2 comments but I couldn't figure out how to delete the 3rd - some spam insane comment going on so I just deleted the whole thing and reposted.

Thursday Thirteen #14

#14 Thirteen Things My Kids Have Said This Week 1. Jordan: I don't want to have a baby. I want to have children but I don't want a baby because you have to go to the hospital to get one and I don't like the hospital. (And the truth is she doesn't even REALLY know how babies are born) 2. Jared: That's okay - you can always get a baby from Panama like Curtis. 3. Jordan: What was daddy's name when he was a little boy? Stewart is a funny name for a little boy!! (I told her Jordan was a funny name for a girl and she didn't like that so much, lol) 4. Jordan: I would make you some soup, but I'm 5 so I can't. (It's definitely the thought that counts) 5. Jordan: Do not kiss me because it would be unhealthy. 6. Jordan: Boys it is time for bed! 7. Boys: Really? Did mom say? (I was 1/2 passed out sick on the couch and she was right it WAS bedtime - they actually all 3 went upstairs and brushed their teeth and went to bed - I should be sick more often) 8. Jackson: Pinch, poke, you owe me a sloke. (This is supposed to be coke) 9. Jordan: I know what a sloke is - well it's either a piece of really velvety clothes or what you ski or snowboard down. (Hmmm it's neither silk nor a slope but good try) 10. Jared: I don't need to learn how to cook - when I grow up I'm just going to go live with Grandma and she can cook for me. (Hey, at least I won't be burdened right?) 11. Jackson: I DID have homework but I didn't bring it home. (I hear this WAYYYYYYYYY to much) 12. Jared: Let's go to burger king for lunch and then we can go buy me a toy. (Um you stay home sick from school and think you're going to get lunch and toys??) 13. Jared: I know why the number 13 is unlucky. 13 is the start of the teenage years!

Amazed

It always amazes me the things that people will say with the choice of anonymity on the internet. I was just doing a search on a young man I know who was recently killed in an automobile accident. On someone's live journal the obituary was posted. In the article it says that the 18 year old was passing a semi-truck when it lost control, clipped the truck and went off the highway rolling several times. The 18 year old was returning to BYU after a short weekend visit in Washington with his brother who is in the military and was being deployed shortly.

What I read in the comments of this livejournal was this:

Why did the parents let him go be independent at 18? At 18, you're still a baby! With not enough experience to drive and you hear about people like this. It's kind of irresponsible of the parents for letting him drive alone on a road trip like that from a state 3000 + miles away. (It's 800 miles - maybe this person needs a road map as well)
He took on too much for a teenager. I hope the parents learned a lesson about not letting their other kids drive irratically or alone.

It is painful that his own parents could do a search just as I did and would be subjected to this. Let me tell you the real story. Jaron was in fact 18. He was at BYU and found out that his parents were going to Washington to visit his brother for the short time he was there. His mother told him NOT to make the trip. He called her after well on his way and she asked if he was alone. He said no "that the Holy Ghost was with him". She was still not happy with him coming alone but since he was already coming that was that. They enjoyed a nice weekend together and on Monday morning he took his brother to the airport and began the drive back to Provo. On his cell phone an hour before the accident he told his mother he was going to drive for just a bit longer and then pull over and take a nap - he had been up late with his brother the night before. At 10am he fell asleep at the wheel. The truck driver saw his nodding head and followed the protocol that they have, slowed his vehicle as to slow other cars around him and create minimum accident. Jaron swerved in to the semi and then off of the road.

I just don't understand how people who know nothing about the details could gain satisfaction at blaming the boys parents. How quick we all can be to make judgements when we know little of the details.

This Blog

Will return back to normal after its operator is well again. I have strep. Step back, wash your hands and hopefully I'll return again soon.