Every day for the past month and a half I have been receiving an email from Paul with the subject: Christ Fulfills All … After about a week, the emails started to go into my Spam folder, but I still have to go in there and empty that folder. It’s annoying and it’s been going on for so long, that evil thoughts have started entering my mind.
(By the way, did anyone but me wonder what All Christ Fulfills. It’s kind of a fun fill in the blank game. Christ Fulfills All Buckets of Water. Christ Fulfills All Politicians Dreams. Don’t try to understand how my brain works. I gave up years ago out of frustration.)
Now back to my story.
Those that know me well can imagine the graphic nature of these thoughts, but many of my family members and a lot of my dear friends are God fearing/loving Christians and very good people. Before writing this blog entry the idea did cross my mind that one of my family members signed me up to receive these daily inspirationals with good intentions and hopes that I might see The Light. They don’t realize that’s just not going to happen -- too much pagan blood flowing through my veins perhaps (although that means it’s flowing through some of their veins as well). Then I got worried that maybe my dear, sweet husband signed me up (horror of horrors), but that thought quickly left my head. He knows it’s a lost cause (although I am a little nervous about him deciding to read my blog for the first time and this is the post he sees). Before I get to my evil thoughts, I really don’t intend to offend anyone, especially the people that love me and will be praying for my immortal soul if they are brave enough to continue reading.
Okay are you ready? Take another second for one more prayer.
Now back to Paul (and not my Uncle Paul, who I originally thought the email came from before I looked at the subject line) and the evil thoughts swirling through my head. The thoughts started out fairly mundane (well for me at least) – I wanted to email him back everyday with some satanic quote, but I would have no idea where to find those types of things. Then they progressively got worse as my annoyance level went up – I wanted to send him emails with pictures of goat sacrifices or perhaps human sacrifices – that would really freak him out (wait a second that would totally freak me out). And finally ended with some God Father like scenes of Paul waking up to animal heads in his bed and 666 scrawled in blood on his alarm clock (no I don’t know why I think 666 on an alarm clock is funny except if I saw that on mine I would think I was really late).
Of course these are just thoughts and I would never, ever act on them especially because I have no idea how to contact Paul because his return email address is hidden. Oh and he’s probably not even a real person, but some virus lurking waiting for me to click the link on Psalms 23 or whatever.
Yes, I’m aware that I’m going to Hell and you know how much I love heat.
As an aside, my friend, I’ll call him M, once told me the funniest story, which I’m going to screw up somewhat because it’s been over 10 years since I heard it and we all know how I like to ...uhm change stories unknowingly (seals on kayaks anyone?). He was tired of the bible thumpers coming to his door, so one day he had enough and the girl was telling him how Christ could save him, etc. He looked her straight in the eye and said he didn’t need Christ because he had Satan and he could call up demons to come and take her soul, so she better tell her friends to stop dropping by his place because he didn’t need saving. I think she might have cried or screamed or something and I think he felt slightly bad about it after he stopped laughing.
See I just think these horrible thoughts I don’t actually act on them, so I’m not so bad right?! What? I’m still going to Hell? Damn it!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Sacrifices aka Stupidity
(NOTE: I am not a playwrite, so have no idea if I’m using this style correctly. Don’t judge.)
Act 1:
The scene: The Hogan kitchen on family dinner Tuesday night
Players: Grandpa Hogan (aka Popi), who would do anything for his grandchildren as quickly as possible. Brianna Boyd the adorable, but demanding three year old. Me, the mom who sacrifices her own comfort without thinking to ensure safety for her daughter.
Brianna sees container of cherries sitting on the counter. She asks Popi politely for one. He immediately hands her a cherry.
Me (as I start toward Brianna): “Do those have pits in them?”
I grab it away as Popi says, “Uh, I guess so.”
Brianna (screaming): “Mine! Mine cherry!”
I’m grabbing a knife out of the drawer and a bowl out of the cabinet as I say to Brianna, “Yes, I’m just going to take the pit out of it so you don’t choke. Just a minute.”
Brianna starts crying and is literally trying to climb up my leg as I stand at the sink cutting the cherry and dripping juice the color of blood into the sink. I drop the cherry pieces into the bowl and quickly run some water on my hands and where the blood juice has dripped into the sink. I’m thinking she’s going to make a huge bloody mess when eating the cherry. I quickly hand her the bowl as her tears subside. She looks down into the bowl and sets it on the kitchen table not eating a bite. URG!
Act 2:
The scene: The Hogan living room.
Players: Grandma Hogan, the wise matriarch. Liam Boyd the adorable and sensitive five year old. Me, the idiot.
I sit on the couch watching cartoons with Liam. I rub my eyes occasionally. Then the itching becomes intense.
Liam (looking over at me): “Mommy what’s wrong with your eyes?”
Me: “They’re just a little itchy.”
But I lie. They are incredibly itchy and I can’t seem to keep myself from rubbing them. And then it hits me. . . . .
That damn cherry! I didn’t wash my hands with soap after cutting up that DAMN cherry that Brianna didn’t even eat! URGGGGGGG.
Me (calmly): “Mom do you have any Claritin?”
The thoughts are running through my head: “Benadryl will work quicker, but then I won’t be able to drive the kids home because I’ll be too sleepy. Well, I could call Greg and have him drive us all home. But then what would we do about the car situation. I could ask my parents to drive us home - one of them driving my car and the other following in one of their cars. No that’s ridiculous. I’ll just take a Claritin and hope my eyes don’t swell completely shut. It feels like my eyes are barely open now. I really should be helping mom make dinner, but damn my eyes itch. Stop rubbing the eyes. No really stop it now. It’s only going to make it worse. I can’t believe I was so stupid, I know I have to wash my hands after cutting fruit. URG, it itches so bad. Just one more rub. I really hope mom can fix this for me. Please let the 24 hour Claritin kick in quickly, if they even have any. My eyes feel freaking huge and itchy. I hate cherries!”
Mom (from the bathroom): “Here’s some Claritin.”
I go into the bathroom to retrieve the little (hopefully miracle) pill and look at my eyes. I look like a boxer that didn’t do so well in the fight. Or maybe I just look slightly Asian with slits for eyes. I decide I must take a picture and share with the world how completely stupid I am and funny looking too. If this wasn’t happening to me it would be hysterical. I take the pill.
Liam (sitting in Popi’s chair): “Mommy are you okay?”
Me (tiredly rubbing eyes): “My allergies are bothering me right now, but I took some medicine and I will be fine in a little while.”
We all sit down to eat dinner and there are no cherries in sight.
Epilogue: I get the kids home safely with barely opened eyes. Liam falls asleep on the way home. As soon as I walk in the door I tell Greg I’m taking a Benadryl and going to bed, good luck with Brianna. I give him a short version of the story as he shakes his head at me as if to say, “You know better than to forget to wash your hands you silly girl.” I wake up the next morning after going to bed at 8:30 and sleeping like a log (and having some strange dreams about being chained in a room with people I can’t see coming and going and no one is helping me get unchained, not that I really want them to though) and find that my eyes are still slightly swollen. Not prize fighter swollen, just swollen enough that every time I blink I feel like my eyes are too big for my sockets.
So remember to always, always, always use SOAP and water after handling fruit you silly girl!
Act 1:
The scene: The Hogan kitchen on family dinner Tuesday night
Players: Grandpa Hogan (aka Popi), who would do anything for his grandchildren as quickly as possible. Brianna Boyd the adorable, but demanding three year old. Me, the mom who sacrifices her own comfort without thinking to ensure safety for her daughter.
Brianna sees container of cherries sitting on the counter. She asks Popi politely for one. He immediately hands her a cherry.
Me (as I start toward Brianna): “Do those have pits in them?”
I grab it away as Popi says, “Uh, I guess so.”
Brianna (screaming): “Mine! Mine cherry!”
I’m grabbing a knife out of the drawer and a bowl out of the cabinet as I say to Brianna, “Yes, I’m just going to take the pit out of it so you don’t choke. Just a minute.”
Brianna starts crying and is literally trying to climb up my leg as I stand at the sink cutting the cherry and dripping juice the color of blood into the sink. I drop the cherry pieces into the bowl and quickly run some water on my hands and where the blood juice has dripped into the sink. I’m thinking she’s going to make a huge bloody mess when eating the cherry. I quickly hand her the bowl as her tears subside. She looks down into the bowl and sets it on the kitchen table not eating a bite. URG!
Act 2:
The scene: The Hogan living room.
Players: Grandma Hogan, the wise matriarch. Liam Boyd the adorable and sensitive five year old. Me, the idiot.
I sit on the couch watching cartoons with Liam. I rub my eyes occasionally. Then the itching becomes intense.
Liam (looking over at me): “Mommy what’s wrong with your eyes?”
Me: “They’re just a little itchy.”
But I lie. They are incredibly itchy and I can’t seem to keep myself from rubbing them. And then it hits me. . . . .
That damn cherry! I didn’t wash my hands with soap after cutting up that DAMN cherry that Brianna didn’t even eat! URGGGGGGG.
Me (calmly): “Mom do you have any Claritin?”
The thoughts are running through my head: “Benadryl will work quicker, but then I won’t be able to drive the kids home because I’ll be too sleepy. Well, I could call Greg and have him drive us all home. But then what would we do about the car situation. I could ask my parents to drive us home - one of them driving my car and the other following in one of their cars. No that’s ridiculous. I’ll just take a Claritin and hope my eyes don’t swell completely shut. It feels like my eyes are barely open now. I really should be helping mom make dinner, but damn my eyes itch. Stop rubbing the eyes. No really stop it now. It’s only going to make it worse. I can’t believe I was so stupid, I know I have to wash my hands after cutting fruit. URG, it itches so bad. Just one more rub. I really hope mom can fix this for me. Please let the 24 hour Claritin kick in quickly, if they even have any. My eyes feel freaking huge and itchy. I hate cherries!”
Mom (from the bathroom): “Here’s some Claritin.”
I go into the bathroom to retrieve the little (hopefully miracle) pill and look at my eyes. I look like a boxer that didn’t do so well in the fight. Or maybe I just look slightly Asian with slits for eyes. I decide I must take a picture and share with the world how completely stupid I am and funny looking too. If this wasn’t happening to me it would be hysterical. I take the pill.
Liam (sitting in Popi’s chair): “Mommy are you okay?”
Me (tiredly rubbing eyes): “My allergies are bothering me right now, but I took some medicine and I will be fine in a little while.”
We all sit down to eat dinner and there are no cherries in sight.
Epilogue: I get the kids home safely with barely opened eyes. Liam falls asleep on the way home. As soon as I walk in the door I tell Greg I’m taking a Benadryl and going to bed, good luck with Brianna. I give him a short version of the story as he shakes his head at me as if to say, “You know better than to forget to wash your hands you silly girl.” I wake up the next morning after going to bed at 8:30 and sleeping like a log (and having some strange dreams about being chained in a room with people I can’t see coming and going and no one is helping me get unchained, not that I really want them to though) and find that my eyes are still slightly swollen. Not prize fighter swollen, just swollen enough that every time I blink I feel like my eyes are too big for my sockets.
So remember to always, always, always use SOAP and water after handling fruit you silly girl!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Proud (and thankful) to be an American
I read on CNN.com this morning that yesterday Michael Jackson’s death crashed a bunch of web sites for a time. Evidently the world wide web was brought to it’s knees by the King of Pop. And this just didn’t happen in the U.S. of A but all over the world.
This made me ponder the human race as I sometimes do. Everyone is so curious about MJ’s death and they want to know instantly when he died, how he died. And just to be clear I’m one of those people too. Yet, how many people were as interested in the protests in Iran and the death of Neda, the icon for those protests, or the genocide in Darfur that still continues. Why are we not as hungry for information on other more “important” global stories? Is it too painful to think about? Do we just feel helpless? Is it just to taxing on our brains to understand all the political, social, and other issues? Is it too far away to worry about?
For me personally, it’s very depressing to think about Iran and Darfur. I do feel somewhat helpless. I read the stories of people being killed for protesting their government and of women being systematically raped while their children look on and it’s absolutely horrifying. I turn away from that much pain and senselessness. It makes me so thankful that I was born an American in a time when someone else had already fought for my right to vote and fought for my civil rights and all the other freedoms that I enjoy. I am so thankful that I can sit back and be lazy and take these things for granted and mostly that I can surf the net to find out useless information about celebrities in a very voyeuristic way.
This made me ponder the human race as I sometimes do. Everyone is so curious about MJ’s death and they want to know instantly when he died, how he died. And just to be clear I’m one of those people too. Yet, how many people were as interested in the protests in Iran and the death of Neda, the icon for those protests, or the genocide in Darfur that still continues. Why are we not as hungry for information on other more “important” global stories? Is it too painful to think about? Do we just feel helpless? Is it just to taxing on our brains to understand all the political, social, and other issues? Is it too far away to worry about?
For me personally, it’s very depressing to think about Iran and Darfur. I do feel somewhat helpless. I read the stories of people being killed for protesting their government and of women being systematically raped while their children look on and it’s absolutely horrifying. I turn away from that much pain and senselessness. It makes me so thankful that I was born an American in a time when someone else had already fought for my right to vote and fought for my civil rights and all the other freedoms that I enjoy. I am so thankful that I can sit back and be lazy and take these things for granted and mostly that I can surf the net to find out useless information about celebrities in a very voyeuristic way.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Brianna's Rainbow Birthday Cake
After having a stomach virus this week and being down for the count for a little over three days, we postponed Brianna's birthday party. But I started feeling much better Friday night and decided to have my parents come over and do just a family party. I had already decided to do a rainbow cake after Amanda made some rainbow cupcakes that came out looking so cute. Originally, we were going to do a princess tea party and I was going to make the cake in the shape of a teapot. That didn't happen, but you can see the progression of the cake in the pictures above (again thank Amanda for giving me the idea to take pictures through the whole process).
All the pictures will be on Snapfish soon. Brianna enjoyed licking the frosting off the spatula. She got some fun gifts. The biggest being a new outside climbing/slide thing. She also really liked the shopping cart we got her and was pushing all her other gifts around in it and making sure Liam didn't touch any of it. It was a low key birthday, but fun. When asked she'll tell you she's three now, which she wasn't doing earlier in the week when we would ask how old she was going to be. I guess even at three girls don't like to be older than they really are or tell you their age.
Now I can start thinking about our 4th of July vacation. YEAH!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Random Thoughts
Brianna had her first haircut (photos will be posted at a later date). She had been asking for a haircut for two weeks, so I finally took her. At first I was just going to get it trimmed, but then thought about how much food she gets in her hair and how it’s always falling in her face, so we decided on a bob cut with bangs. Instantly she looked two years older. Even after having two kids, I’m amazed at how fast they grow up. It’s just not right!
I got to hang out with some old friends at my best friend’s (Dr. Irene Avila) PhD graduation at ASU. We went down to Phoenix for a long weekend. It was perfect. I had so much fun. The kids were great. Greg and I were so proud of them and the whole weekend was entertaining. It was hot (over 100 every day) but wonderful. We also got to spend time with my Aunt Sue and cousin Kendra and her family. Liam and Brianna had so much fun with all the kids, their toys, and trampoline. I’m so proud of Irene. We graduated from college together back in 1995 or was it 1996, I can’t remember. Anyway, she was focused and there was nothing that was going to stop her from getting her PhD. She is truly amazing and tenacious and I feel honored to count her as a friend.
Greg’s had two business trips in the past month. So for two separate weeks, I’ve been a single parent. The first week he was gone was the worst. The kids just weren’t having a good week and I had no one to tag team with. It was exhausting. This past week (Greg flies home tonight) was so much better. I don’t know if it’s because I was relaxed from our mini-vacation in Phoenix or what, but I liked the kids much better this week and things went much more smoothly – even with Brianna having to stay home one day due to a fever (she’s fine now). Anyway, I feel bad that it takes Greg being gone for a week before I realize how much I depend on him – especially in the mornings when I’m not at my best. And props to all the single parents out there – more power to you!
This long Memorial Day weekend I plan on finishing the garage. We’ve slowly been putting all the stuff in the POD back into the new garage cabinets, but we still have half a POD to go. If I get nothing else done this weekend, I will get the POD emptied, so we don’t have to pay for another month of rental on it. Then I’ll be able to focus on having a party to show off the new, improved Boyd household.
I have so much to do besides just finishing the garage. I need to clean our house - Get our lives organized, since summer is coming and the kids will be on a new schedule – Plan Brianna’s 3rd Birthday party – Plan a BBQ/see the new improvements party – Upload photo’s from Easter to present – Figure out how to carve out time for Greg and I alone – make more time to spend with my friends – Go through all the crap in our bedroom and do some purging. Do you see the theme here – TIME MANAGEMENT. Something I’m not all that good at or I’m perfect at it. It’s really weird. I can set up a schedule and stick to it like nobody’s business for a couple of weeks and then it all goes to hell and I somehow lose the time to do anything. I’m still looking for the balance between all my competing sides (work, friends, family, husband, self). I LOVE being a team leader now, but I really hate that I had to give up my 30 hour work week.
I miss having all the time in the world to have crazy, philosophical discussions about bizarre things or important things or whatever. Just to sit around and talk to your friends about why the world is the way it is and how to make it a better place. It’s like time keeps speeding up and I can’t slow it down no matter what I try to do.
I’m having a little bit of a mid-life crisis because I’ll be turning 40 in October. 40! I feel like I’m still 28 (expect for the drinking thing). My dear friends and family keep reminding me that my 30’s were so full – I got married, bought a house, and had two children. I accomplished a whole heck of a lot in my 30s. Maybe that’s why they sped by so fast. I was so busy living my life that I didn’t stop and notice. Someone recently told me that every night before she goes to bed she writes in her journal all the things for which she is grateful. She said in the beginning it was sometimes hard to come up with something, but now she spends a lot of time writing because there is just so much to be grateful for. I think I need to start doing this. I really do have so much in my life, such a great life, and I just need to take a few minutes everyday to appreciate it more thoroughly – not just be a thought in the back of my mind. I need to be fully aware and cognizant of all the gifts I’ve been given – a patient husband, fun kids, a supportive family, good friends, etc. etc.
I got to hang out with some old friends at my best friend’s (Dr. Irene Avila) PhD graduation at ASU. We went down to Phoenix for a long weekend. It was perfect. I had so much fun. The kids were great. Greg and I were so proud of them and the whole weekend was entertaining. It was hot (over 100 every day) but wonderful. We also got to spend time with my Aunt Sue and cousin Kendra and her family. Liam and Brianna had so much fun with all the kids, their toys, and trampoline. I’m so proud of Irene. We graduated from college together back in 1995 or was it 1996, I can’t remember. Anyway, she was focused and there was nothing that was going to stop her from getting her PhD. She is truly amazing and tenacious and I feel honored to count her as a friend.
Greg’s had two business trips in the past month. So for two separate weeks, I’ve been a single parent. The first week he was gone was the worst. The kids just weren’t having a good week and I had no one to tag team with. It was exhausting. This past week (Greg flies home tonight) was so much better. I don’t know if it’s because I was relaxed from our mini-vacation in Phoenix or what, but I liked the kids much better this week and things went much more smoothly – even with Brianna having to stay home one day due to a fever (she’s fine now). Anyway, I feel bad that it takes Greg being gone for a week before I realize how much I depend on him – especially in the mornings when I’m not at my best. And props to all the single parents out there – more power to you!
This long Memorial Day weekend I plan on finishing the garage. We’ve slowly been putting all the stuff in the POD back into the new garage cabinets, but we still have half a POD to go. If I get nothing else done this weekend, I will get the POD emptied, so we don’t have to pay for another month of rental on it. Then I’ll be able to focus on having a party to show off the new, improved Boyd household.
I have so much to do besides just finishing the garage. I need to clean our house - Get our lives organized, since summer is coming and the kids will be on a new schedule – Plan Brianna’s 3rd Birthday party – Plan a BBQ/see the new improvements party – Upload photo’s from Easter to present – Figure out how to carve out time for Greg and I alone – make more time to spend with my friends – Go through all the crap in our bedroom and do some purging. Do you see the theme here – TIME MANAGEMENT. Something I’m not all that good at or I’m perfect at it. It’s really weird. I can set up a schedule and stick to it like nobody’s business for a couple of weeks and then it all goes to hell and I somehow lose the time to do anything. I’m still looking for the balance between all my competing sides (work, friends, family, husband, self). I LOVE being a team leader now, but I really hate that I had to give up my 30 hour work week.
I miss having all the time in the world to have crazy, philosophical discussions about bizarre things or important things or whatever. Just to sit around and talk to your friends about why the world is the way it is and how to make it a better place. It’s like time keeps speeding up and I can’t slow it down no matter what I try to do.
I’m having a little bit of a mid-life crisis because I’ll be turning 40 in October. 40! I feel like I’m still 28 (expect for the drinking thing). My dear friends and family keep reminding me that my 30’s were so full – I got married, bought a house, and had two children. I accomplished a whole heck of a lot in my 30s. Maybe that’s why they sped by so fast. I was so busy living my life that I didn’t stop and notice. Someone recently told me that every night before she goes to bed she writes in her journal all the things for which she is grateful. She said in the beginning it was sometimes hard to come up with something, but now she spends a lot of time writing because there is just so much to be grateful for. I think I need to start doing this. I really do have so much in my life, such a great life, and I just need to take a few minutes everyday to appreciate it more thoroughly – not just be a thought in the back of my mind. I need to be fully aware and cognizant of all the gifts I’ve been given – a patient husband, fun kids, a supportive family, good friends, etc. etc.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Easter Bunny Almost Caught!
Wow, this weekend was fun and there is so much to tell. Was it Virginia Wolf who wrote in a free association style? I can’t remember - high school English class was so long ago. Anyway, that was meant as a warning. Here we go.
After five years, Liam has become an eggcellent Easter egg decorator (yes, I’m just too punny). He’s learned how to gently place the eggs in the dye without splashing and how to wait to take them out, let them sit on a paper towel to dry a little and then place in the egg carton. Brianna on the other hand likes to see how big of a splash she can create when she drops the eggs into the dye. She also likes to crack the eggs by dropping them on the table. I wish I would have gotten pictures of her holding the egg at about eye level and then letting it go. This brought her much joy and I quickly would wipe up the spillage. We colored three dozen eggs. In the past the adults would get to help color eggs too, but this year not so much. My Dad helped Brianna and my Mom helped Liam. I did a few eggs, but I don’t think Greg got to do any. So for Liam’s last egg, we dipped it in every color which is what Greg does with at least one egg every year. Liam loved the espeariment (experiment – not a flavor of gum) and I loved that we were carrying on a family tradition that Greg started years ago before we had kids (Yes, I made everyone color eggs every Easter before we had kids. What can I say? I love egg salad sandwiches.). Oh and I got smart this year and the kids colored eggs in their undies. No stained shirts or pants to have to worry about. Brianna does have a colorful speckled chest though.
We also made cupcakes. I’m currently doing Weight Watchers at work and have been doing very well – consistently losing weight (not much, but every half pound counts). So in order to prepare for Easter and the chocolate fest that can ensue, my friend, Ashley, and I decided we’d get the kids more little toys and less chocolate. I also decided to try something different for my tradition of lemon cupcakes with green colored coconut. I came up with the idea to make lemon angel food cupcakes. I found a recipe on-line and it turns out that it’s only 2 points per cupcake (sorry for the Weight Watchers speak). They actually turned out really good, although I was the only one that ate them. I originally was going to make whipped cream to “ice” them. When I did that, you totally lost the delicate lemon flavor. So I ended up making a glaze of lemon juice and powered sugar and just drizzled a little over the top with a fork. Well, Liam is all about baking and he told me in no uncertain terms that he doesn’t like lemon cupcakes and he “needed” to make some chocolate cupcakes. So we did that and I did pretty well not eating much of the batter. I then used the whipped cream I had made to frost the chocolate cupcakes. Brianna loved this because she thinks whipped cream is ice cream. She kept asking for more ice cream. Oh and they both helped make the cupcakes. Liam put the butter in the bowl. Brianna put the water and eggs in the bowl. Liam turned on the mixer. Liam got to lick the scraper/spatula. Brianna got to lick the beater. Both had chocolate faces. Much fun.
Autumn had recently told me about the hams they have at Costco and so we bought one. Last weekend I cooked it and it was delicious. Since we still had leftovers this weekend, I decided to make scalloped potatoes for Easter Linner (you know that meal around 3pm that replaces lunch and dinner). It turned out great by the way. Autumn’s suggestions/helpful advice are always spot on. Anyway, we also made deviled eggs and egg salad. I found out that my daughter LOVES eggs. She ate her egg she got at school on Friday as soon as we got home. When she colored an egg pink on Saturday, she wouldn’t let it go until I peeled it for her and she promptly ate it. Then on Sunday she ate another egg before we had a chance to turn it into egg salad or devil it.
The plan was to hide the eggs in our backyard once my parents came over and could distract the kids. Well, I had recently gotten out of the shower when I heard the door bell ring. I quickly got dressed and entered the backyard from the sliding glass door in our bedroom. Oh and I had grabbed the eggs out of the fridge and taken them back to our room when I went back for my shower. I thought I was a genius to use this time because the kids would still think I was in the shower. Unfortunately, I don’t think Greg was in on the plan and my mom thought I would come out before hiding eggs. I’m trying to quietly and quickly hide eggs and every time I hear the kids, I try to duck back into the bedroom. In case you don’t know, we have a glass door in the family room that opens to the backyard and it just has a lace curtain over it. I guess Liam saw me at some point and started getting excited because he saw the Easter bunny. This of course caused the other adults to shepherd the kids out to the front of the house. I actually broke into a sweat and had to relax a little and brush my teeth before heading out of the bedroom to let the kids know I was ready. Later that day we all would just look at each other when Liam would start talking excitedly about how he saw the Easter Bunny and what big ears the bunny had, etc. etc. I’m a little self-conscious about my ears now, so next time you see me please don’t bring up their size and/or shape.
This year, we decided to hide the Easter baskets. Evidently this is a Boyd family tradition and the kids loved it. Have I mentioned Liam’s little British saying? He says, “Straight away” a lot. On Sunday morning Liam says as soon as he wakes up, “We need to find our baskets straight away!” It’s the cutest thing. I don’t know where he picked it up.
Brianna is such a mix of girly girl and tomboy. Sunday the weather was so nice that the kids had water play in the back yard. Brianna was hard charging and ended up falling and scraping up both of her knees - one bad enough that a regular Band-Aid wouldn’t cover it. I put a big bandage on it, which Greg promptly made fun of – something to the effect of putting a table cloth on her knee. She also was climbing all over in her dress with no fear. But in true girly fashion, she changed her clothes five times that day. Okay, I put her in two outfits – her Easter dress to look for eggs, then play clothes to play outside in. She picked out another dress, her swim suit, and later that night a different swim suit (which caused us to explain that when the sun is setting we don’t play out in the water).
We also were trying to find a good time to call Greg’s family to wish them a Happy Easter. This is always difficult. We have to take into account the time difference, but more importantly the child temperament scale. You would not believe how hard it is to get both kids awake and in a good enough mood to talk. Normally it’s one or the other and on really bad days they both go into melt down while we’re on the phone. Fortunately, we got both of them awake and they both talked on the phone for a few minutes. Unfortunately, Liam was starting to get tired which causes him to go into “crazy” conversations. He’ll tell you that you’re a food of some sort and how he’s going to eat you and then your eyeballs are fire or garbage or some other lovely thing.
This post is getting way too long and I still have to download pictures. I guess I’ll stop there then. I hope everyone had as much fun over Easter weekend as we did!
After five years, Liam has become an eggcellent Easter egg decorator (yes, I’m just too punny). He’s learned how to gently place the eggs in the dye without splashing and how to wait to take them out, let them sit on a paper towel to dry a little and then place in the egg carton. Brianna on the other hand likes to see how big of a splash she can create when she drops the eggs into the dye. She also likes to crack the eggs by dropping them on the table. I wish I would have gotten pictures of her holding the egg at about eye level and then letting it go. This brought her much joy and I quickly would wipe up the spillage. We colored three dozen eggs. In the past the adults would get to help color eggs too, but this year not so much. My Dad helped Brianna and my Mom helped Liam. I did a few eggs, but I don’t think Greg got to do any. So for Liam’s last egg, we dipped it in every color which is what Greg does with at least one egg every year. Liam loved the espeariment (experiment – not a flavor of gum) and I loved that we were carrying on a family tradition that Greg started years ago before we had kids (Yes, I made everyone color eggs every Easter before we had kids. What can I say? I love egg salad sandwiches.). Oh and I got smart this year and the kids colored eggs in their undies. No stained shirts or pants to have to worry about. Brianna does have a colorful speckled chest though.
We also made cupcakes. I’m currently doing Weight Watchers at work and have been doing very well – consistently losing weight (not much, but every half pound counts). So in order to prepare for Easter and the chocolate fest that can ensue, my friend, Ashley, and I decided we’d get the kids more little toys and less chocolate. I also decided to try something different for my tradition of lemon cupcakes with green colored coconut. I came up with the idea to make lemon angel food cupcakes. I found a recipe on-line and it turns out that it’s only 2 points per cupcake (sorry for the Weight Watchers speak). They actually turned out really good, although I was the only one that ate them. I originally was going to make whipped cream to “ice” them. When I did that, you totally lost the delicate lemon flavor. So I ended up making a glaze of lemon juice and powered sugar and just drizzled a little over the top with a fork. Well, Liam is all about baking and he told me in no uncertain terms that he doesn’t like lemon cupcakes and he “needed” to make some chocolate cupcakes. So we did that and I did pretty well not eating much of the batter. I then used the whipped cream I had made to frost the chocolate cupcakes. Brianna loved this because she thinks whipped cream is ice cream. She kept asking for more ice cream. Oh and they both helped make the cupcakes. Liam put the butter in the bowl. Brianna put the water and eggs in the bowl. Liam turned on the mixer. Liam got to lick the scraper/spatula. Brianna got to lick the beater. Both had chocolate faces. Much fun.
Autumn had recently told me about the hams they have at Costco and so we bought one. Last weekend I cooked it and it was delicious. Since we still had leftovers this weekend, I decided to make scalloped potatoes for Easter Linner (you know that meal around 3pm that replaces lunch and dinner). It turned out great by the way. Autumn’s suggestions/helpful advice are always spot on. Anyway, we also made deviled eggs and egg salad. I found out that my daughter LOVES eggs. She ate her egg she got at school on Friday as soon as we got home. When she colored an egg pink on Saturday, she wouldn’t let it go until I peeled it for her and she promptly ate it. Then on Sunday she ate another egg before we had a chance to turn it into egg salad or devil it.
The plan was to hide the eggs in our backyard once my parents came over and could distract the kids. Well, I had recently gotten out of the shower when I heard the door bell ring. I quickly got dressed and entered the backyard from the sliding glass door in our bedroom. Oh and I had grabbed the eggs out of the fridge and taken them back to our room when I went back for my shower. I thought I was a genius to use this time because the kids would still think I was in the shower. Unfortunately, I don’t think Greg was in on the plan and my mom thought I would come out before hiding eggs. I’m trying to quietly and quickly hide eggs and every time I hear the kids, I try to duck back into the bedroom. In case you don’t know, we have a glass door in the family room that opens to the backyard and it just has a lace curtain over it. I guess Liam saw me at some point and started getting excited because he saw the Easter bunny. This of course caused the other adults to shepherd the kids out to the front of the house. I actually broke into a sweat and had to relax a little and brush my teeth before heading out of the bedroom to let the kids know I was ready. Later that day we all would just look at each other when Liam would start talking excitedly about how he saw the Easter Bunny and what big ears the bunny had, etc. etc. I’m a little self-conscious about my ears now, so next time you see me please don’t bring up their size and/or shape.
This year, we decided to hide the Easter baskets. Evidently this is a Boyd family tradition and the kids loved it. Have I mentioned Liam’s little British saying? He says, “Straight away” a lot. On Sunday morning Liam says as soon as he wakes up, “We need to find our baskets straight away!” It’s the cutest thing. I don’t know where he picked it up.
Brianna is such a mix of girly girl and tomboy. Sunday the weather was so nice that the kids had water play in the back yard. Brianna was hard charging and ended up falling and scraping up both of her knees - one bad enough that a regular Band-Aid wouldn’t cover it. I put a big bandage on it, which Greg promptly made fun of – something to the effect of putting a table cloth on her knee. She also was climbing all over in her dress with no fear. But in true girly fashion, she changed her clothes five times that day. Okay, I put her in two outfits – her Easter dress to look for eggs, then play clothes to play outside in. She picked out another dress, her swim suit, and later that night a different swim suit (which caused us to explain that when the sun is setting we don’t play out in the water).
We also were trying to find a good time to call Greg’s family to wish them a Happy Easter. This is always difficult. We have to take into account the time difference, but more importantly the child temperament scale. You would not believe how hard it is to get both kids awake and in a good enough mood to talk. Normally it’s one or the other and on really bad days they both go into melt down while we’re on the phone. Fortunately, we got both of them awake and they both talked on the phone for a few minutes. Unfortunately, Liam was starting to get tired which causes him to go into “crazy” conversations. He’ll tell you that you’re a food of some sort and how he’s going to eat you and then your eyeballs are fire or garbage or some other lovely thing.
This post is getting way too long and I still have to download pictures. I guess I’ll stop there then. I hope everyone had as much fun over Easter weekend as we did!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Big Girl Brianna
Brianna seems to have turned into a big girl overnight. Her hair is long enough to put into pigtails without falling out even when dancing (see photos). It seems like yesterday I didn't think she'd ever grow hair. She also finally got over her fear of climbing out of the crib, so we had to convert it into a toddler bed. She's very proud of herself for having a big girl bed, but of course now she has mobility at night. She doesn't stray far from the bedrooms though. She does, however, like to wake us up in the middle of the night banging on our bedroom door (which is now locked at night). Sometimes she'll go into Liam's room and pull his hair or scratch him until he wakes up. She hasn't gotten the idea that you sleep for 8 hours straight without play breaks. Anyway, enjoy the photos.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)