This morning on the way to day care, I was surprised to see five deer standing on the road as we came over a hill. They saw us and ran off. I pointed them out to Claire and Natalie, and told them how unusual it was to see deer at that time of day, especially at this time of year.
Claire responded with, "yeah, usually they're stuck to Santa's sleigh."
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
My New Year's Toast
As I raised a glass of peach champagne to myself, I said to myself, "To 2011, and to myself, and thank you God for all you've given me." It's my 3rd glass of champagne, so it was said with much euphoria.
I hope everyone has a great year, and that God's blessings shine down on you all. Remember, all you have to do is ask, and it will be given to you. Probably not on your timetable, but God is the master of timing, and He'll give you what you need, at the precise time you need it.
I hope everyone has a great year, and that God's blessings shine down on you all. Remember, all you have to do is ask, and it will be given to you. Probably not on your timetable, but God is the master of timing, and He'll give you what you need, at the precise time you need it.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
2010 in Review
1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Got divorced, rented a home all on my own, put my kids in daycare.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
The only resolution that stuck in my head was to make more homemade bread, and even though I didn't start keeping that resolution until June, yes, I now make almost all of the bread we eat from scratch.
This year's resolutions are:
Exercise 3-4 times a week
Learn to knit
Take Claire and Natalie somewhere on vacation
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Claire's godmother.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My dog, Freya.
5. What countries did you visit?
I stayed in good ol' Minnesota, USA
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
More financial security, and a bigger savings account. Which really are about one and the same.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 1, when Alec asked for a separation
January 18 when he asked for a divorce
The day in April when the mediation took place, because I realized that I can think for myself and fight for what I want/need
July 5, when I started my job
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my job, definitely. Being out of the workforce for over 4 years, and having very specific job skills (transcription) made getting any job very difficult, especially in this economy.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I am not acknowledging any failures this year, as I did my best in everything that happened.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Massive heartbreak
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My nook. Hands down. It was my gift to myself after the divorce was final.
12. Where did most of your money go?
Legal fees and daycare. Also gas and food.
13. What did you get really excited about?
Getting hired at Cannon Valley, the ultra-huge, completely free dollhouse I scored for the girls' Christmas.
14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Glee Season 1 Soundtrack
15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? Infinitely happier
– thinner or fatter? Thinner, due to the stress-induced Diet Coke starvation diet that consumed my January, and surprisingly has lasted most of the year. I've put a few pounds back on, but I'm still thinner than last December.
– richer or poorer?
16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
More activities with Claire and Natalie
17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Dwelling on things I wish I'd said or done regarding my relationship with my ex-husband.
18. How did you spend Christmas?
With the whole wild rumpus at Mom & Dad's house on Christmas Eve, at Claire's first Sunday School Christmas program where she twirled around at the front while the other kids were singing "Go Tell it On the Mountain," then the girls had a visit on Saturday and Sunday.
19. What was your favorite TV program?
Glee, Grey's Anatomy, Castle, Dancing with the Stars, The Best Thing I Ever Ate.
20. What were your favorite books of the year?
The Clan of the Cave Bear, The Love Comes Softly Series, the Chet and Bernie mysteries
21. What was your favorite music from this year?
The Glee soundtrack
22. What were your favorite films of the year?
Toy Story 3 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Dinner with my family, I turned 31
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
It actually ended up being incredibly satisfying, so I can't really add anything.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
New life haircut, ended wearing plain T-shirts and started wearing nicer clothes
26. What kept you sane?
My faith, my parents, my siblings, my daughters
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
God gives you what you need, but only when you really and truly need it.
Got divorced, rented a home all on my own, put my kids in daycare.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
The only resolution that stuck in my head was to make more homemade bread, and even though I didn't start keeping that resolution until June, yes, I now make almost all of the bread we eat from scratch.
This year's resolutions are:
Exercise 3-4 times a week
Learn to knit
Take Claire and Natalie somewhere on vacation
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Claire's godmother.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My dog, Freya.
5. What countries did you visit?
I stayed in good ol' Minnesota, USA
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
More financial security, and a bigger savings account. Which really are about one and the same.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 1, when Alec asked for a separation
January 18 when he asked for a divorce
The day in April when the mediation took place, because I realized that I can think for myself and fight for what I want/need
July 5, when I started my job
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my job, definitely. Being out of the workforce for over 4 years, and having very specific job skills (transcription) made getting any job very difficult, especially in this economy.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I am not acknowledging any failures this year, as I did my best in everything that happened.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Massive heartbreak
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My nook. Hands down. It was my gift to myself after the divorce was final.
12. Where did most of your money go?
Legal fees and daycare. Also gas and food.
13. What did you get really excited about?
Getting hired at Cannon Valley, the ultra-huge, completely free dollhouse I scored for the girls' Christmas.
14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Glee Season 1 Soundtrack
15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? Infinitely happier
– thinner or fatter? Thinner, due to the stress-induced Diet Coke starvation diet that consumed my January, and surprisingly has lasted most of the year. I've put a few pounds back on, but I'm still thinner than last December.
– richer or poorer?
16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
More activities with Claire and Natalie
17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Dwelling on things I wish I'd said or done regarding my relationship with my ex-husband.
18. How did you spend Christmas?
With the whole wild rumpus at Mom & Dad's house on Christmas Eve, at Claire's first Sunday School Christmas program where she twirled around at the front while the other kids were singing "Go Tell it On the Mountain," then the girls had a visit on Saturday and Sunday.
19. What was your favorite TV program?
Glee, Grey's Anatomy, Castle, Dancing with the Stars, The Best Thing I Ever Ate.
20. What were your favorite books of the year?
The Clan of the Cave Bear, The Love Comes Softly Series, the Chet and Bernie mysteries
21. What was your favorite music from this year?
The Glee soundtrack
22. What were your favorite films of the year?
Toy Story 3 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Dinner with my family, I turned 31
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
It actually ended up being incredibly satisfying, so I can't really add anything.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
New life haircut, ended wearing plain T-shirts and started wearing nicer clothes
26. What kept you sane?
My faith, my parents, my siblings, my daughters
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
God gives you what you need, but only when you really and truly need it.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Pacifiers
Claire never took a pacifier. She was a challenge when it came to sleeping. It usually required nursing her when she was an infant.
When Natalie was born, I tried several times to get her to take a pacifier, because I hoped to get her to sleep better. It took several months, and Natalie didn't really need one until shortly before we moved in with Mom & Dad.
I didn't care. I WANTED to have to break the pacifier habit. Because, yes, Natalie was a champion sleeper once she had the pacifier.
Well, now she's 18 months old and I think that's old enough to go without it. With the advice of a couple friends, I cut the tip off one pacifier on Tuesday morning. (I kept one intact, just in case). Natalie watched me mutilate her pacifier. That evening, we sat down to read stories and rock. I handed Natalie her pacifier.
She looked at it. Oh, yeah, Mommy cut it up this morning.
She stuck it in her mouth.
It stayed there all of 0.2 microseconds.
She gave me a look of disgust and handed it back.
So we proceeded with the story reading. She fussed a bit after a few minutes, so we repeated the above procedure.
When she handed it back the second time, I tucked it completely out of sight. Then we rocked. It only took a bit longer than usual, and she didn't fuss much at all. I laid her down and she slept pretty well, except the massive tantrum she threw from 10:30-11:30 that night.
We did it again on Wednesday night, except this time I didn't offer the pacifier to her at all. She slept even better, fussing only for a couple of minutes at one point.
I haven't quite declared victory yet, but I think I'll be able to throw the pacifiers away for good by the weekend.
When Natalie was born, I tried several times to get her to take a pacifier, because I hoped to get her to sleep better. It took several months, and Natalie didn't really need one until shortly before we moved in with Mom & Dad.
I didn't care. I WANTED to have to break the pacifier habit. Because, yes, Natalie was a champion sleeper once she had the pacifier.
Well, now she's 18 months old and I think that's old enough to go without it. With the advice of a couple friends, I cut the tip off one pacifier on Tuesday morning. (I kept one intact, just in case). Natalie watched me mutilate her pacifier. That evening, we sat down to read stories and rock. I handed Natalie her pacifier.
She looked at it. Oh, yeah, Mommy cut it up this morning.
She stuck it in her mouth.
It stayed there all of 0.2 microseconds.
She gave me a look of disgust and handed it back.
So we proceeded with the story reading. She fussed a bit after a few minutes, so we repeated the above procedure.
When she handed it back the second time, I tucked it completely out of sight. Then we rocked. It only took a bit longer than usual, and she didn't fuss much at all. I laid her down and she slept pretty well, except the massive tantrum she threw from 10:30-11:30 that night.
We did it again on Wednesday night, except this time I didn't offer the pacifier to her at all. She slept even better, fussing only for a couple of minutes at one point.
I haven't quite declared victory yet, but I think I'll be able to throw the pacifiers away for good by the weekend.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Because I love my nook...
I discovered this blog with nook freebies and great deals. Clicking on the "free books" link at Barnes and Noble's website doesn't yield much, and those are mostly trashy novels. But this blog Nook deals has great stuff.
I found two free books that I found interesting right away. Not, of course, that I have any time to read them, but you never know, right?
I found two free books that I found interesting right away. Not, of course, that I have any time to read them, but you never know, right?
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