I just found out from one of my writing buddies that there is an awesome contest going on at Kidlit.com. The contest is one where you send only the first 500 words of your manuscript, so not a lot of pressure--yet:)
If you're interested (and if you're part of the Seven Quills or another writing group, I hope you are) check it out here:
Kidlit Contest
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
For the Grandmas
Emma loves hats. She puts on everyone's hats, but her favorites are mine and Jeremy's. I don't have pictures of her with Jeremy's, so here are a few of her wearing the hat Nathan made me for Christmas a couple years ago.
I'm not quite sure why, but she's putting ponytail holders up to her eyes. Maybe she thinks they are contacts? All my kids have a weird fascination with my contacts and pretend to put contacts in their eyes, so that is what I think she was doing here.
Pure Excitement. I love it!
Anyway, you grandmas out there are welcome to come visit anytime and see this cute chica up close. Or you could fly us out to see you!
I'm not quite sure why, but she's putting ponytail holders up to her eyes. Maybe she thinks they are contacts? All my kids have a weird fascination with my contacts and pretend to put contacts in their eyes, so that is what I think she was doing here.
Pure Excitement. I love it!
Anyway, you grandmas out there are welcome to come visit anytime and see this cute chica up close. Or you could fly us out to see you!Monday, January 25, 2010
Flowerville
Many moons ago Megan's preschool class talked about community helpers, like doctors, firemen, policemen, etc. Included in the discussion were florists and pizza delivery people. Megan went dressed to school as a doctor on the community helper dress up day, but came home really wanting to know about florists. (Sorry Jess, she didn't care about the pizza delivery person. Not a big fan of pizza. She still loves and misses you, though.)
A few weeks later we were on a walk and passed by the local flower store, Flowerville. It is about a two minute walk from our house (and that's if you're walking slow) so she sees it every day. But I figured since we were on a walk and I wasn't quite ready to go home and face the madness there, we'd stop by the flower shop and let Megan meet a real florist.
He showed us around the shop, showed the kids his favorite flower (an orchid), let the kids ask questions, and in the end, gave the kids each a carnation. I even have a post in October if you care to go back and look at those pictures. Then he invited Megan to come back and help him make a bouquet.
She has not stopped talking about that since. Every time we drive past the flower shop, so like, five times a day, she says, "Mom! When do I get to go to the flower store and make a bouquet?"
So I finally called the guy on his offer back in December, thinking it would be a fun thing for her to do for her birthday. They were too busy and said to call back after Christmas. So I did. And here she is. . . .
We put the flowers on the table for dinner, but so I can enjoy them, I mean, to keep them out of Emma's reach, the vase is now above the kitchen sink.
A few weeks later we were on a walk and passed by the local flower store, Flowerville. It is about a two minute walk from our house (and that's if you're walking slow) so she sees it every day. But I figured since we were on a walk and I wasn't quite ready to go home and face the madness there, we'd stop by the flower shop and let Megan meet a real florist.
He showed us around the shop, showed the kids his favorite flower (an orchid), let the kids ask questions, and in the end, gave the kids each a carnation. I even have a post in October if you care to go back and look at those pictures. Then he invited Megan to come back and help him make a bouquet.
She has not stopped talking about that since. Every time we drive past the flower shop, so like, five times a day, she says, "Mom! When do I get to go to the flower store and make a bouquet?"
So I finally called the guy on his offer back in December, thinking it would be a fun thing for her to do for her birthday. They were too busy and said to call back after Christmas. So I did. And here she is. . . .
We put the flowers on the table for dinner, but so I can enjoy them, I mean, to keep them out of Emma's reach, the vase is now above the kitchen sink.
And yesterday while we were at Church, one of the lillies bloomed.
Musical Mayhem
This is what we did last Sunday. I meant to post it earlier, but forgot about it until I saw the pictures on the camera when I went to write a different post. So now you get this one and will have to wait for the other.
Last Sunday I was bored because we have the 12:30 time for Church which means a lot of wasted time in the morning, tired and hungry kids at Church, and futile attempts to keep Emma awake on the drive home. I went to the bedroom with the intent of grabbing a book and saw my guitar sitting in the corner. I haven't touched it in a very long time and decided I either needed to start playing it again or sell it.
Definitely not going to sell it.
Just before bedtime we let the kids jam out to songs like Yankee Doodle and Merrily We Roll Along. And Green Day. Because those are the only songs I know how to play. Sad, I know. I took lessons for three semesters and had a private teacher one of those semesters--that's how I learned the Green Day song. Nathan learned how to play a song in his mission, One Last Kiss, which I can't stand. So to be kind, he only played a little of that one.
The kids loved it though. Not the Green Day or One Last Kiss, they loved being able to play the guitar themselves.
Last Sunday I was bored because we have the 12:30 time for Church which means a lot of wasted time in the morning, tired and hungry kids at Church, and futile attempts to keep Emma awake on the drive home. I went to the bedroom with the intent of grabbing a book and saw my guitar sitting in the corner. I haven't touched it in a very long time and decided I either needed to start playing it again or sell it.
Definitely not going to sell it.
Just before bedtime we let the kids jam out to songs like Yankee Doodle and Merrily We Roll Along. And Green Day. Because those are the only songs I know how to play. Sad, I know. I took lessons for three semesters and had a private teacher one of those semesters--that's how I learned the Green Day song. Nathan learned how to play a song in his mission, One Last Kiss, which I can't stand. So to be kind, he only played a little of that one.
The kids loved it though. Not the Green Day or One Last Kiss, they loved being able to play the guitar themselves.
Fun was had by all and I'm sure we'll do it again soon.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Hooray!
Emma pooped in the potty tonight.
Just had to share.
Yeah, she's 20 months.
Let this be the beginning of the end of diapers for Emma.
Amen.
She also sang with me as I was singing her and Jeremy's goodnight songs.
It was cute.
Then she sang to her stuffed giraffe when I put her in bed.
Oh, how I love that girl.
Just had to share.
Yeah, she's 20 months.
Let this be the beginning of the end of diapers for Emma.
Amen.
She also sang with me as I was singing her and Jeremy's goodnight songs.
It was cute.
Then she sang to her stuffed giraffe when I put her in bed.
Oh, how I love that girl.
Blogging Conference
So have you heard about the casual blogger conference? I wanna go. Really bad. It's put on by the MMB and there will be some really big blogger names there. There are three that I would really love to meet. Sue, Annie, and C Jane. All three have spots on my sidebar under blogs I read by people I don't know--yet.
Go to the link and learn about it!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Mothering Internships
I think motherhood should require an internship. For the sanity of the mother and the safety of her future children it should be a requirement before a woman becomes pregnant. And why not? The democrats are already on their way to making life how it is in Lois Lowery's The Giver, so they should be able to manage a motherhood internship soon.
There are internships for most other jobs/careers, or at least a learning period where someone takes you by the hand and shows you what your job entails. Before you teach, you student teach. Before you are left on the sales floor, you shadow someone. Before you get your own medical practice you work with other doctors, learning at their side what the daily grind will be like.
Why wasn't I offered an motherhood internship? I babysat a lot as a preteen and teenager and even did what I would almost consider being a nanny one summer since I was there from sun up past sun down and was expected to teach them Japanese (a language I don't even speak). But still, watching someone's kid for a couple hours, or watching a movie in their house while their kids sleep, or even carting their kids around for a few days a week one summer doesn't compare to actually taking care of with children 24/7 for years.
Maybe we could go with some kind of simulation, like with those video games that make you feel like you're actually in the game. We could create a simulator that makes you feel like you're so tired you could collapse, but have to make oatmeal for three kids who don't want it, get it on their school clothes, and then all over the table, chairs, and floor. Then there could be another one where you are in a relay race to get the kids to school, dance lessons, swimming lessons, and back home in time to make dinner with only two-thirds of the ingredients you need. Is it possible for the simulation to start off making you feel like you've gone through five years of sleep deprivation? I think it should. It would make the whole thing more realistic.
There are internships for most other jobs/careers, or at least a learning period where someone takes you by the hand and shows you what your job entails. Before you teach, you student teach. Before you are left on the sales floor, you shadow someone. Before you get your own medical practice you work with other doctors, learning at their side what the daily grind will be like.
Why wasn't I offered an motherhood internship? I babysat a lot as a preteen and teenager and even did what I would almost consider being a nanny one summer since I was there from sun up past sun down and was expected to teach them Japanese (a language I don't even speak). But still, watching someone's kid for a couple hours, or watching a movie in their house while their kids sleep, or even carting their kids around for a few days a week one summer doesn't compare to actually taking care of with children 24/7 for years.
Maybe we could go with some kind of simulation, like with those video games that make you feel like you're actually in the game. We could create a simulator that makes you feel like you're so tired you could collapse, but have to make oatmeal for three kids who don't want it, get it on their school clothes, and then all over the table, chairs, and floor. Then there could be another one where you are in a relay race to get the kids to school, dance lessons, swimming lessons, and back home in time to make dinner with only two-thirds of the ingredients you need. Is it possible for the simulation to start off making you feel like you've gone through five years of sleep deprivation? I think it should. It would make the whole thing more realistic.
Is it possible to simulate love?
I doubt it. Not love like this.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Book Review, Mormon Mishaps and Mischief
Mormon Mishaps and Mischief: Hilarious Stories for Saints by Nichole GilesMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was such a fun book! So many of these stories had me laughing out loud and searching the house for Nathan so I could share them with him. It's had me looking for the humor in life more often, especially at Church:)
I have to mention, in case you missed it in my blog earlier, I have a couple stories in here! It's my first time being published somewhere other than a newspaper, so that's pretty exciting for me.
I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this book. It's funny, well-done, and a really quick read. If you have stories like these, you can email them to the authors for their next book. Or you can visit their website which has all kinds of daily funnies to see.
View all my reviews >>
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Quote for a While
You probably haven't noticed, but I've got a new Quote for a While. It used to be Quote of the Week, but I couldn't remember to change it every week. Hence the, "for a while." I keep it on my sidebar. The last one was from Sense and Sensibility, Elinor talking about how quiet children are really nice in comparison to loud children--kind of.
Here is the new Quote for a While, which will stay on the sidebar until I find another one that impresses me and I think to change it.
Here is the new Quote for a While, which will stay on the sidebar until I find another one that impresses me and I think to change it.
"Society is produced by our wants,
and government is produced by our wickedness;
the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections,
the latter negatively by restraining our vices. . . .
Society in every state is a blessing,
but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil;
in its worst state an intolerable one . . ."
and government is produced by our wickedness;
the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections,
the latter negatively by restraining our vices. . . .
Society in every state is a blessing,
but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil;
in its worst state an intolerable one . . ."
Thomas Paine
Common Sense
Common Sense
Book Review, Book of a Thousand Days
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon HaleMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book. Having it broken up into days instead of chapters made it a really fast read. I couldn't put it down when I got to the middle of the book.
I love Shannon Hale's writing style here. This is the first of her books that I've read, so I don't know if she carries this style through with the rest of them. I've been wanting to read her books for a long time and just hadn't done it until Tuesday when I saw one at the library and decided to pick it up. The story is a retelling of an old Asian folk tale, so it is one that most of us here in the U.S. haven't heard before and according to her author's note in the back, she took a lot of liberty with it.
Her writing is beautiful and deliciously descriptive. The story is not one that I would recommend to small children. Even though it is a "fairy-tale" there is some violence that I couldn't imagine reading to Megan (5). Megan is pretty mature for her age and can handle some books that are maybe considered too old for her, but this one I would wait until she's at least 8 or 9. Maybe I'm too overprotective, any comments from people who have read it that would read it to their kids or let their young kids read it on their own?
View all my reviews >>
Monday, January 11, 2010
Meganisms
Megan: Mom, can we turn on the outer space heater?
Me: Turn on the what?
Megan: The outer space heater.
Me: What does the outer space heater do, Megan?
Megan: It heats up space!
Me: Turn on the what?
Megan: The outer space heater.
Me: What does the outer space heater do, Megan?
Megan: It heats up space!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Not Much
So. . . . . nothing's been going on. I don't have anything interesting to post, but felt like I needed to. Sorry.
Ok, I checked our camera just to make sure nothing has happened recently and I was right. We haven't documented anything, so I guess we've been boring lately.
All I saw that is noteworthy is a picture that Nathan must have taken of the half bath. He finished it in November, just before my parents came for Thanksgiving, but we never took a picture of it or blogged about it.
So without further ado, our only bit of interesting news.
As you can see, it is a tiny half bath, but it is 100 times better than it was. We now have a toilet that doesn't announce to the whole street that someone just used it and doesn't run constantly. We now have a sink that isn't blue and dressed in a blue skirt. We now have tile in place of nasty pee stained vinyl. And we now have lavender paint instead of this. . . . with matching curtains.
So yeah. That's about it. I guess we're boring because all we've been doing lately is reading. Nathan is caught up in the Wheel of Time series and I'm reading the complete Sherlock Holmes stories and novels. So good! Just understand that if you choose to read A Study in Scarlet, Doyle is sorry for what he wrote about the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and he knows now that what he wrote about us isn't true and he should have contacted better sources for his information and before he died he gained a great respect for the Church and its members.
Ok, I checked our camera just to make sure nothing has happened recently and I was right. We haven't documented anything, so I guess we've been boring lately.
All I saw that is noteworthy is a picture that Nathan must have taken of the half bath. He finished it in November, just before my parents came for Thanksgiving, but we never took a picture of it or blogged about it.
So without further ado, our only bit of interesting news.
As you can see, it is a tiny half bath, but it is 100 times better than it was. We now have a toilet that doesn't announce to the whole street that someone just used it and doesn't run constantly. We now have a sink that isn't blue and dressed in a blue skirt. We now have tile in place of nasty pee stained vinyl. And we now have lavender paint instead of this. . . . with matching curtains.
So yeah. That's about it. I guess we're boring because all we've been doing lately is reading. Nathan is caught up in the Wheel of Time series and I'm reading the complete Sherlock Holmes stories and novels. So good! Just understand that if you choose to read A Study in Scarlet, Doyle is sorry for what he wrote about the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and he knows now that what he wrote about us isn't true and he should have contacted better sources for his information and before he died he gained a great respect for the Church and its members.
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