9/29/2005

Joy made me do it

My friend joy always has the coolest self portraits in her blog. She talked me into doing some. So here they are. Jory'll probably think I'm weird, but that's ok.

1. My neck
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2. My neck again
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3. Feet
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9/28/2005

More kid stories, and danged bottle caps

Last night the kids were playing outside, the girls were playing a game. Peek under the car at each other and giggle. Straiten up, then peek under the car again and giggle. Too dang funny.
When they came inside, I went to wash the dirt off Louisa’s toes (too lazy to give her a bath). She then proceeds to take the wash cloth and wash her toes, my toes, Jory’s toes, and Annie’s toes. Which brings me to another game the girls played last night, Louisa chasing Annie around with a washcloth, while both kiddos giggle with glee.
What can I say, my children amuse me.
A few new words have crept into the girls vocabulary, “choo choo”, “purple bear” and “tickle”. They’re making progress in being able to communicate with the rest of us – those of us who don’t speak “twin”
I heard from the lady who runs my scrapbook store. She told me she’d ordered 100 more caps just for me to sell. Gee thanks! No pressure there! Which means that I feel the need to come up with about 4 more projects, but I’m seriously running on empty over here. Someone suggested gluing them to flip flops, (not so sure about that…) but I bet I can find some flip flops for a good price right about now! So anyone got an ideas on what the heck I can do with a bottle cap??

9/26/2005

Weekend adventures in the Peterson house

Saturday Alex and I went over to my mom’s house to play. We were supposed to be having a crafty get together, but Alex was the only one who actually created anything. He made one of his famous “scrapty” pictures for Grandpa.
I stepped on my mom’s scale while I was at her house, found out that I’d lost another 5 pounds. Normally this would be good news, but not with me. For me it means weighing less than 100 lbs, less than I weighed when I started high school. So I’ve started paying attention to the quantity of food I eat again. That’s my main problem, my children are the worst when it comes to mooching. I generally give away 2/3 of my dinner. Since I wasn’t particularly hungry when I sat down to eat, I don’t notice when I walk away after eating half a hot dog and a spoonful of mashed potatoes. But I need to. I need to make sure that I take in more than 1000 - 1500 calories in a day.
In other news… Saturday evening Jory and I took our kids to a biker club! Ha! Across the street from our house there is this club house that has always been a big mystery. There’s no sign out front saying what it is, it’s set back in the woods, and people come and go at all times of the night. Well after living here for 2+ years, the owners came over and invited us to one of their get togethers. So we took the kids over for dinner and to look at all the motorcycles (there were probably 50+ bikes when we were there). One of the head guys over there (who goes by “Chrome”) took me on a little tour, and introduced me to all the main club members (I think some of them actually live over there, but I’m not sure).Even though we stuck out like a sore thumb (we were the only ones not dressed in black leather!), we enjoyed getting to know our neighbors a little. Everyone was very friendly.

9/23/2005

Purple pancakes and crafting projects

So last night in my attempt to make a creative dinner I threw a handful of raspberries into my pancake batter before whizzing all the ingredients together. Instead of getting normal looking pancakes with a hint of berry, we ended up with PURPLE pancakes that didn’t taste anything like berries. I personally can’t stand food that isn’t the “correct” color. So I wasn’t all that thrilled with the turn out, but the kids chowed on them, so it wasn’t a total loss. So here’s my purple pancakes

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I’ve been crafting up ways to use bottle caps this week. I have a class in November for the scrapbook store called “what the heck can you make with a bottle cap”. I asked the storeowner for a challenge and she gave me bottle caps. I came up with a list a mile long of what can be done with these little puppies, now I just have to figure out how I’m going to make each one! So far I have a bottle cap garland, gift tag, travel tic-tac-toe set (a tin with the board inside and game pieces), key chain, and zipper pull… If I ever get around to scanning these puppies I’ll post them here so you can see what I’ve made. So if you have any ideas on stuff I can make with a bottle cap I’d love to hear it!!

9/22/2005

Testing… testing…

I can’t get this page to load for some reason, it’s been a few days since I”ve been able to load it. Maybe this will change it!!!
Last night the kids were playing outside, Alex found a bug. It was sorta like a beetle, anyway, he was playing with this poor bug for a good 30 min. He had this stick, and kept poking it, making it flip over on it’s back. He then proceeds to “tickle” the bug with a stick, and informs me that the reason it’s legs were wiggling is because it was giggling. Goof ball!
Also while we were playing, Louisa was climbing down the steps on our porch, tripped and hit the drive way head first. Oy the guilt. As if that weren’t bad enough, she now has a huge gash on her forehead about 1 ¼ inches in diameter. Lucky for me, her bangs do a good job of hiding it.

Other humorous notings from my life: Annie can now say “get down!” sounds like neh now! But I can tell what she’s saying by the tone of her voice. I say those words often enough that I’m not surprised she’s picked them up.
Alex has these little stuffed animals that he calls his friends. There are about 10 of them, and he is sort of obsessed with them. He’s now carrying them around in a pot with a lid. I gotta ask, are we having friends for lunch today??
Annie’s on the floor screaming because I won’t pick her up. Louisa’s in my lap, leans over, gives her sister a kiss, and a pat on the head. So sweet.

9/19/2005

looking back

Totally stole this from another blog. Feel free to steal it from mine
10 years ago:
I was 16
I couldn’t drive yet
I was on the varsity gymnastics team (there was only one, so we took great pride in calling ourselves varsity – ha!)
I had no idea where my life would go
I thought I knew everything
My life revolved around friends and socializing

5 years ago:
I was 21, but didn’t go to bars (still don’t for that matter)
A senior at Kent State, majoring in elementary ed.
Engaged to Mr. Jory Peterson, from New Mexico State
I was a camp counselor
I discovered this new thing – scrapbooking – which would eventually overtake my life
I decided I wanted to start a family after I got married (instead of waiting the standard year or two)

1 year ago:
I’d been married for 3 years and had 3 children
I was loving my life as a very busy stay at home mommy
I started teaching the kindergarten Sunday School class at church
Was disgusted by my well water
I wasn’t sleeping very well due to the fact that there were two infants and two adults in my bed at night.

Today:
I’m still loving life as a busy stay at home mommy
I am a homeschool pre-k teacher (even though pre-k isn’t mandatory in Ohio – it is in my house!)
I teach classes for my scrapbook store
I still teach the kindergarten class on Sunday mornings
I sleep much better at night since the girls are in a different room.

9/15/2005

I stepped on a slug and other stories from normal life.

Right now the girls are fighting over who gets to sit in my lap. Since they don’t really use words to communicate, the fight looks something like this: Annie is in my lap, happy as a clam, Louisa is trying to claw her way into my lap (which I’m totally ignoring by the way), screaming and crying the whole time. So since Annie is happy, I put her on the floor to pick up Louisa. So now Annie is screaming and trying to climb into my lap, while Louisa enjoys the comfort of her throne. Repeat the entire process 3 or 4 times, and you have a good idea of how I just spent the last half hour of my life. You ask why don’t I try to check my messages with both kids in my lap? You obviously have never tried to type with two wiggly toddlers in your lap. Some things are JUST NOT POSSIBLE.
So yes, I stepped on a slug. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this, but I have an irrational fear of worms. I thought I was ok with slugs, but I guess not. I was outside washing the windows last night (bare foot of course) and the little guy snuck up under my foot. Of course I had a minor panic attack, which included the standard Ick-I-stepped-on-a-slug dance.
On a completely unrelated note, Alex has this thing about eating his sisters breakfast. Every morning he asks if he can have a bite, which normally turns into several. Lately I’ve just been telling him no. It’s their breakfast, he’s already eaten, it’s not like he’s starving. He shouldn’t expect people to share their food with him. (I’m a mean mom I know). It’s not that he can’t have more food, he just can’t have their food. But yet, we have this same battle every morning!
Finally, I just have to comment. My weird son hung not one, but two frying pans on my living room wall. I have these tiny hooks to hold the curtains back, they are just an invitation to hang stuff on. It’s pretty normal to come in and find key chains or action figures suspended from these little things, but today there were my frying pans. What will he think of next…

9/13/2005

Wish me luck

Tonight I’m teaching my first class at the scrapbook store. I’m very excited! I know I have at least one participant signed up (thanks Mom!). I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow!

9/09/2005

Someday

(to be used as journaling on a future scrapbook page)

Someday I won’t have to wonder why there are crayons in my shower
Someday there will be no fingerprints on my windows
Someday I won’t have toys all over my floor to trip over
Someday I will have nice furniture
Someday I won’t wonder what that funky smell coming from Alex’s room is.
Someday my kitchen floor won’t need to be swept 3 times a day
Someday I won’t have any babies to play tickles with
Someday there will be no more diapers to change
Someday I will be able to take my kids out in public without a second adult.
Someday there will be no more bedtime stories
Someday I’ll wonder why I ever wanted my kids to leave me alone
Someday I’ll wonder why it was such a big deal when my kids made a mess

9/08/2005

A better day, and the end of an era.

So yesterday was a better day. Whew, I don’t think I could handle two crummy days in a row. I did a little scrapbooking, the girls had a good nap, and my parents took us out to dinner. Oh and my dance show was on - So you think you can dance. Love, love that show. Keep thinking I should tape it so I can watch each episode over and over – but that’s bordering on obsessed geek-dome, and we don’t need to go there… So yes, it was a good day.
In other news, the pacifiers are GONE. In the trash. I was tempted to save them, just incase, but Jory thought that was weird. They were such a big part of our lives for the last 3 years, it’s a little weird to think that they’re gone. There was a point in my life where I didn’t leave the house without at least four of them. So here’s my salute to the plugs (or “la!” as some of my children call them) I think I’m missing about a half a dozen of them. I’m sure they’ll turn up over the next few years – under beds, behind dressers, in shoes – you know…
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Ok, I hadn’t planned on talking about this, but it’s so bizarre that I can’t help mention it. Alex’s new thing: putting stuffed animals down his pants and telling the world that he has a poopy diaper. WHAT THE… He’s not even wearing diapers… weirdo.

9/07/2005

Here’s hoping for a better day today

I don’t know what the deal was yesterday, but I was ready to put my kids to bed for the night around 3:30. It seemed like I listened to nonstop whining/crying all day long. I was frustrated by the fact that my house is never “clean”. Tidy maybe, but I’m never free from dust, cobwebs, fingerprints on the windows etc. Frustrated that the rust deposits are still not gone. Frustrated, irritated, discouraged, whatever you want to call it, I was ready to retire from my career as a mother.
The good news is Jory came in from work, and took over baby duty. We got the kids to bed early and I managed to recuperate. Just in time to do it all over again today. Hoping for a better day today.

9/05/2005

Photo tour

I spent my morning reading a book about photography. Or more specifically recording life through photography. The book inspired me to take you all on a photo tour of my house. I’ve always wanted to do this, but have been frustrated because my house isn’t beautiful and inspiring. But you know what? That’s reality. I want to record life as it really is, not a stylized version.
I don’t live in a Pottery Barn add.
So here goes
Photo # one: you wanted reality right? Well here it is. Dishtowels on the microwave. Not for convenience, but to keep them away from the children - a common theme in my decorating.
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Photo 2: One of the dishtowels the kids have found. I’m sure it was used to clean up a mess, or it was someone’s hat, or was waved around like a flag. Whatever it’s use, it’s now been abandoned in favor of a more interesting toy.

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Photo 3: toys on the spice rack. Toys are everywhere around here, they don’t all belong to the children. My husband seems to think that GI Joe is a decorative item. I won’t mention that we have a collection of Star Wars figurines next to the stereo in the living room. What can I say, I’m outnumbered.

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Photo 4: The library box. Yes, it’s overflowing again this week, and half the books aren’t even in there. We are readers in our house; all 5 of us love to curl up with a book. Some weeks see 2-3 trips to the local library.

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So that’s a few glimpses into our life. There are so many more snapshots that show life as it really is around here; every day items that my life revolves around. But I’ll save those for another day.

9/02/2005

Day 3

Again, making a valiant attempt to record things in our house as they happen. Not really sure if any of this stuff is worth recording, but hey…
Yesterday I found out that the well water that we’ve been putting up with for the last 2 years was coming from a well that the board of health had not approved. What a surprise! I guess the previous homeowners didn’t fill out such and such paper work, and caused the BOH to disapprove our well. Do I dare comment? Comment on the intelligence of someone who would go through the work of putting in a well, but not make sure they had done it properly. Comment on just how unsafe it is to drink/wash (let alone give it to newborns) in water that may potentially be teaming with bacteria? Comment that I’m not really all that surprised given the quality of the water coming out of that well. So since we are abandoning it except for irrigation purposes, none of this really matters. All I have to do is sign and date a little sheet of paper and mail it back. And shake my head at the intelligence level of the previous homeowners
Last night I discovered that we have termites. Don’t know how bad they are yet, I haven’t seen any inside, but they were crawling around under the tree next to the girls window. Great. Stretching the budget a little bit tighter. At least my home isn’t underwater. – Gotta keep these things in perspective.
The girls have been so funny lately. 2 things: get the bug! Every time they see an insect they slap the table (or whatever is in front of them at the moment) gotta kill that bug! Never mind that the bug is way faster than they are. They still have to try. It’s really quite comical. The other thing is vocabulary development. Their vocabulary has just exploded the last few days. I think I noticed two new ones yesterday, cookie and something else…

9/01/2005

2 days in a row!

I can’t remember the last time I wrote in this thing two days in a row before. My friends do it all the time, but I can never think of anything to say. Not that I really have anything important to talk about today (do I ever?) but I’m at least making the effort. The effort to record the here and now, what life is like in our corner of the world right now. Some day I’ll thank myself right?
So here goes. Yesterday I was reading this book about developing a curriculum for toddlers. (my first reaction when I saw the book was “a curriculum for toddlers? Why the heck do you need a curriculum for toddlers”) but the book has actually been really helpful. So I’m going to put some of the stuff I’ve read about into practice today… If nothing else the book has helped me examine my attitude toward being a mom (aka child care provider). Some days get pretty ugly around here. Professionally speaking, my attitude is unacceptable at times. If I was a child care provider, I wouldn’t bring my kids to me to care for (did ya follow that?) So if I wouldn’t treat other peoples children the way I treat my own, what good am I?
Straitening up.
Ummmmmmm… here’s some artwork I promised. Alex with water colors

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