Thursday, May 28, 2009

FB App.

Dear Facebook,

I have a new idea for an application users can utilize while enjoying your wonderful product.

Let's just say a mom puts some chicken breasts in the oven, for chicken salad and goes to her Facebook page to upload photos of her little girl's preschool graduation. Let's continue that train of thought and say she forgot to start the kitchen timer. Well, if that mom is having tremendous trouble with seasonal allergies and her sense of smell is shot she will not be able to smell the chicken breasts being fully cooked and ready to take out of the oven. I propose an application in which one can time certain things whether it be their use of Facebook or let's say the amount of time one has had chicken breasts baking in the oven. Maybe a random beep of the users choosing could sound every so often and remind the user that there IS life outside of Facebook. Much like a reminder string tied around one's wrist.

Now I have no real experience with this type of forgetfulness so I'm not sure on the effectiveness of this application, it's just a thought.

Sincerely,
Someone that will not be eating chicken salad tomorrow


PS Facebook is not in blogger's spellcheck dictionary, just something else you'd like to be made aware.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Anna's Last Day of Preschool

Last Tuesday was Anna's last day of preschool. She made it. It was touch and go there for awhile. She started out very strong and after about two months the novelty wore off. What ended up happening is a very large lack of preschool enjoyment. She never wanted me to leave her at school and was never thrilled to be leaving home on preschool mornings. Drop-offs weren't fun.

Anna always enjoyed her time while at school even though she said she didn't. I frequently came to school early to observe her and make sure all was well. It was. Anna participated and interacted just fine. I believe she just wanted to let me know she was not happy with the situation and was not condoning this type of activity. Regardless, she finished her preschool year just fine. She even learned some things although, if you ask her, she did not. That's my Anna.

On her last day Mrs.K brought an ice cream maker and the class enjoyed homemade ice cream for snack. Also the Kindergarten/First Grade teacher at her school let the preschool class take a peak at her turtle. Very exciting.


Anna is the one with short blond hair wearing the light pink outfit. Can you see her smile?

This is Mrs.K, the best preschool teacher ever.

Tonight there will be a graduation ceremony for the preschool students. Anna will go to the Pre-K program through our school district next fall so she will say good-bye to a lot of her friends tonight. The school Anna was attending is a Christian school and she was one of only a few Osceola children attending that will be in the Pre-K program.

Congratulations Anna, I'm proud of you. This year wasn't easy for you but you did it. Way to go!!

Monday, May 25, 2009

Crumbs

When Isaiah was a baby we camped frequently. Matthew and I had a nice system and it all worked very smoothly. For some reason once we started AdCraft the camping trips stopped. I'm not sure why other than Matthew was very, very busy and vacations were tricky to plan.

As a result of the camping stand-still, Anna's never camped. She has never slept in our tent, until last night. We weren't really roughing it or camping for real just spending the night in the tent. No pressure, no real planning. We just grabbed some blankets and pillows and all five of us (yes, Matilda slept in the tent too) tried it out. It went very well. I think we will become a camping family again very soon. The kids had tons of fun and we all fit, rather comfortably too.

Anna was tired so she fell asleep quickly. Isaiah and I were chatting as Matthew was arranging some items. Isaiah had smuggled a bag of Pringles into the tent and asked if I wanted some chips. I looked at him very seriously and said that we can't eat in the tent. He asked why and I just said it was against the rules. Isaiah looked very concerned and asked if I was serious.

"Yep.", I said.

"You mean like, with the government? It's against the law with the government?"

I giggled and just explained how we can't really get crumbs in the tent and that it was sort of a family rule but if we're careful we'd be okay. Thankfully the government isn't regulating any eating of Pringles in tents.

Although, I do think they have a problem with the eating of S'mores in tents.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Cultural Diversity

I appreciate Dora, Diego and Kai Lan. Really, I do. I just feel my Anna may be getting confused over the different types of languages in our world and the different ways folks do certain things.

Last week Anna was getting dressed for the day and rather proudly said she knew how to put her pants on in Chinese.

(Go ahead and read that last sentence a couple times. I had to ask Anna to repeat herself a few times before I was confident I understood what she was saying.)

I said, "Really? How?"

Surprisingly, she put her pants on one leg at a time.... same as always. The twist came when, after getting her pants on, she karate chopped the box that was still in her room.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Mama Robin

We weren't the only ones moving in last week to the new place. A mama Robin was making fast work of a little home for her babies. She is living on our patio under the overhang. We can see her sitting in her nest from our living room patio door. I'd post pictures but I'd have to find the camera and charger first. Stay tuned...



Unlike the Killdeer incident of last spring I have no worries of feral cats ruining our fun and Mrs.Robin's hard work. I think she's high enough and protected well. I thought for sure that little nest was going to blow away yesterday, it did not. Oh, me of little faith.



For now, we look out the patio window and see the very exciting act of Mrs.Robin sitting as still as a statue on her little clutch. Personally, I'm more excited to see hatchlings, this part isn't all that fun. Anna, however, is excited to see the Robin so close and unmoving. Maybe she's just more patient.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Current Events, Miss Rosa Parks and Miss Betsy Ross

Matthew had many neat things in his AdCraft office. The items he wanted to keep have been brought home and we will find homes for everything at our house. Many of these items have to do with taxidermy. Some of the furry creatures are mine so it's all good.

One of the items he brought home is a very neat shadow box display. A couple years ago Matthew did a sign for MSG Trevor Lavergne. The sign was put on a hospital for injured soldiers in Tikrit. MSG Lavergne sent back a letter of thanks and some official paperwork stating the American flag he was bringing to Matthew was flown over the hospital in Iraq. I was explaining to Isaiah that the folded flag, pictures, letters and documents in the frame state that this flag was flown over the 325th Combat Support Hospital for Iraqi Freedom V.

Isaiah's eyes got really wide and he said, "You mean that's a REAL American Flag?"

I said that it was but wasn't sure why he was excited about the flag and not the location in which is was flown.

Isaiah asked again, "That's really a REAL American flag?"

"Yes, honey but, there are OTHER flags flying around the world. It's not the ONLY American flag."

Isaiah said, "Yeah but, that's a real one?"

"Yes," I said, "it's just folded up, behind the glass."

"Yeah but, it's a real one, like from Rosa Parks?"

Oh boy, we had a little discussion about Miss Parks and Miss Ross. I assured him Betsy Ross did not sew this particular flag. I'm quite certain.

If anyone knows about the "How it's Made" television show and when they may be airing an episode on how American flags are sewn I'd appreciate a head's up.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Getting Settled

Thank you for all the kind words of encouragement and prayers. We are here, we're unpacking and Matilda even started eating again. Poor puppy dog was a bit upset over her new digs.

We still have a few minor trips to make back and forth getting storage boxes over here from the old place. We mostly have some Christmas boxes, books and baby storage items we need to find a home for. Anna's room is all put together and the decorations are on her wall. Isaiah's room is about 1/2 done at the moment and our room is about 3/4 done. We like this new place and think it'll work just fine. I am so very thankful we found a place in the country and in the same district.

Things about the new place I like better than the old:
1. Laundry room as soon as you walk in. Very easy to remember to just throw in a load here and there. Surprisingly, when the laundry room is in the basement it's easier to forget about the piles. You get behind really quickly.

2. We now have a dishwasher. At the other place, although it was built in '93, we never had a dishwasher. Well, let me tell you, it sure is easy to keep the kitchen clean with a dishwasher. I recommend them.

3. We only have two TVs so at the old place we had one in our living room and one downstairs in the family room. Here, we have one in the living room and one in our room. How nice to lay down after the kiddoes are asleep and watch American Idol in bed. Also something I recommend. Very nice.

4. Master Bathrooms are a good thing. I always sort of thought them a waste of space. Not anymore. Two thumbs up on this as well.

So, all in all, we're doing okay. Getting unpacked and becoming adjusted to the new place. I'm pretty bummed about having to let go of the sheep and chickens but am thankful they are going to friends parents' home not that far away. We can visit if we need too. I am VERY thankful this new place allows dogs. We would not have made it if Matilda could not have made the move with us.

I'll keep everyone posted on our progress and once we're all settled (and I find the camera) will put up photos.

Thank you again for all the support.