Quick Kitty Update

It's been relatively quiet around here....which means very little to blog about. Sorry, readers.

A few life glimpses:

*Kitty is starting to like to toddle around holding on to my fingers. Major progress. She normally doesn't like her feet on the ground....she'd rather sit.

*Farmer combined the soybeans yesterday....Kitty and I got to go to the feedmill to bring him his supper. He was 20 minutes later than he told me he would, so there were Kitty and I, hanging out in the car at the feedmill....I had a bunch of farmers come up to the window and ask why I was just sitting in there.....It's kind of awkward explaining to a strange man that I was bringing supper for my husband....I felt like they were looking at me like a hussy who feeds men. Ok, maybe not a hussy, but I was getting some realloy strange looks.

*Farmer and I have hired a babysitter for every tuesday night for two hours so I can go upstairs to the spare room to do some grad homework and not totally freak out from stress. So, right now I'm SUPPOSED TO BE researching how everyday life changed in Europe due to the protestant reformation, but I'm totally NOT feeling it right now. Hence, the blogging and listening to Kitty watch her sesame street video with her babysitter and playing with her screaming monkey.

*THis morning was slightly funny.....I call my mom every morning on my way to work to have a chat....it's been a tradition of sorts for several years. THis morning I call at 6:45 am....no answer. Odd, especially since she didn't have to work today. I called my sister to see if she knew where Mom was, and she said that she couldn't reach her either and was kinda worried....it was a bit early for her to be missing or shopping. So, then we were both worried. I mean, who, if they don't have to be, would be out and about that early?????? We ended up calling our brother, who lives 1 mile from mom, and made him go check out the house on his way to work. We called at 7, and he wasn't even awake yet....big time lawyer can sleep in while his sisters are already slaving away by 7. Long story short: Mom was at a Chub Club meeting and thought that our minor panic was funny, especially when Brother comes storming in hoping to NOT find his mother dead in bed. There was mom, watching Good Morning America and eating a pastry (hey! she weighed in already!!!) at the kitche counter.

*ok, that's about it. nothing else interesting going on in our home. Hope your lives are more exciting!

God Bless Cough Syrup

I'm at home today from work, with a miserable chest cold. I sound like I've been smoking 2 packs of unfiltered a day for the past 20 years. I get to go the Dr. this afternoon, so I'm just waiting until Dr. utters the magic words...."here's a prescription". I'm hoping for a codiene-laced cough syrup. Is it wrong to wish for drugs?????

Kitty went to DayCare today.....Farmer came home to take her since I didn't want to get anywhere close to the other kids. She was going to stay home with me but it was too much work. so I called Farmer home and told him to take her to school. I think she'd rather be there than with me, hacking on the couch.

But that's about it. I missed the debate last night because I went to bed instead. I wish I would have watched....everyone is saying it was interesting because the guys couldn't talk as long as they could have, and something about McCain meeting another Navy guy in the audience......can anyone fill me in about what happened????

The Big Birthday

Baby A with her Mumma and Godparents (my sibs)

Baby A is officially ONE. It was a momentus day. A day full of lunch, relatives, presents, and CAKE! A did a great job as center of attention. She had a minor meltdown at the beginning, but that's because I woke her up from her nap and quickly threw her clothes on her because, of course, people were early. But after that, she was all charm and grace. Everyone said it was a really nice party, even though I served strange food (Hot ham sandwiches! Cheesy Broccoli Soup! You would have thought I'd served liver'n'onions) and didn't make the cake myself. Farmer's family makes their own cakes, either a basic sheet cake or a fancy Wilton-cake-pan shaped one. I just don't have time to do one the way I would have wanted one, so I bought the cake. I think they only do it because it's cheaper. I KNOW some of them do it for that.

But I digress.

Baby A got some nice gifts, and some that she's afraid of. Her Godfather (man in Badger jersey in pic) got her a little elmo easy chair, with a GIANT elmo face on it, which promptly freaked her out. She's also afraid of a big pink ball....I don't get that one. Big elmo eyes....yes. Freaky. But a ball??? Whatever. But her favorite gift was a stuffed kitty from Grammy. Grammy went to build a bear and made the kitty, and put in it a sound byte thingie that says "Hi Baby A! It's Grammy! How's my kitty today? I love you!" A is amazed that Grammy's voice is coming from her kitty. We call A kitty as a nickname, so now we have two kitties!!!!

Because she's ONE, the cake was the biggest hit of the party.

This is just the beginning....it got worse

We've found out that Baby A LOVES frosting. LUV's it. She couldnt' get enough. I'm sensing a girdle in her future.

Today, Farmer and I had a date for our anniversary. Our Anniversary is actually in August, but I got Farmer Packer Tickets for the big day, and today was the game. We had a good time. Good weather, good hot dogs, poor defense by the packers.....how much better can it get???

Houston, We Have Success!

So, I teach two blocks of an honors American History class. It's a prep class for AP US History. The majority of my 58 kids are extremely bright and wanting to learn, which makes it fun to teach them. However, today took the cake.

We are starting our WWI unit tomorrow, and to get them thinking war, without guns and poison gas, I found a simulation that made them become different major countries of the early 1900's.Their job was to make their country an empire, using different stats that I gave them.....and if they got big enough or powerful enough, they could declare WAR on someone else, in order to take them over. It's a long drawn out way they get power, so I'll leave my explanation of the game at that.

(however, if you are a high school history teacher, or know someone who is and want to learn more about this simulation, just contact me. Because it's awesome)

This was the first time I did this simulation, and so I was nervous. Would the kids get it? Would they play correctly, or just go to war all the time? Would they find it fun or boring???? Well, it was a smash hit. They got it so right!!!!! It even turned out just like WWI.....even, in one class, Russia pulled out of war in the middle of it, and in another class, France melted under pressure. I was so excited, tears came. the kids were proud of themselves too....they want to keep playing!!!!

Then, in my western history class, we held an election for Best Roman Emperor. A class, which is normally very minimal at doing anything or participating, did AWESOME at their election process. Only 1 kid (NavyGirl: initials D.G. You know......) didn't do his work, but everyone else did! Complete success.

It was a day that reaffirmed my faith in teaching.

In other news....Baby A is going to be transitioning this month to a bigger kid room at daycare. No more cribs! They sleep on cots! Only one nap a day! No more babyfood if she doesn't like the meal served! No highchairs....they are in little chairs with seatbelts! They get to play outside ont eh grass, not just go on walks! I know she needs to move up, but I"m so nervous....what if she doesn't adapt well??? I was asking all sorts of questions this morning to her teacher, and suddenly I started crying......I don't adjust to change well, and I can't believe my little baby kitty is turning 1 soon! Where did this year go???? Sunrise.....sunset......

The teacher was not alarmed by my tears....she said lots of 1st time moms have a hard time with transition....more trouble than their kids do.

But I'm sad....my girlie is turning from a baby to a big girl.....and I'm not ready for it.

Can you imagine how I'll do when she goes to college, or gets married??????

Baby A Eats Italian

So, Baby A turns ONE on Saturday. BIG DAY!!!!! In preparation for her being a big girl, we are transitioning her over to all big girl food. She's slightly picky, but she's starting to consider options other than cheerios.

Tonight we tried Beef Ravioli ala Chef Boyardee. I figured it was nice and soft, and kids like it, so why not? well, as you can see, she obviously loved it. There's tomato sauce all over. The scream on her face is because it was gone. She also mowed through some corn and of course, peaches. She's also drinking some whole milk with dinner, and tonight, she's getting a bottle of 1/2 formula, 1/2 milk.

I promise, I will post a prettier picture of Baby A soon, but this was just so funny that I had to share. Can you imagine what she's going to do with her own birthday cake on Saturday???? I predict frosting EVERYWHERE.

Good Monday, everyone!

I'm raising a hussy!

So, Baby A is getting to be well known at her day care. When she was an infant, everyone knew that she was a spitter. Lots of spitty all over every time she ate. Next, it became known very fast that A doesn't like green veggies. She'll blow raspberries all over you if you try to feed her them. Then, she became known as a nuk-theif. Noone's nuks were safe from Baby A's quick sticky fingers.

However, today took the cake.

I picked her up this evening and her teacher Miss D. said that Baby A was giving kisses all day long....to her friend Baby V! Now, V is a BOY. Baby A is a GIRL. What's up with this???? She's making out at school! All day I try to avoid seeing teenagers involved in PDA, and I leave the halls of highschool lovin' to hear that my precious baby is kissing boys!

But in reality, the teachers said it was quite cute. She would crawl up to V. and give him a big baby opened mouth kiss on the forehead....when the teachers would ask her what she was doing, she would give a big grin and kiss him again. Then she would crawl away and do her own thing until she felt that Baby V needed more affection.

So very cute. I wish her teachers would have caught it on camera. It would be priceless!!!

Halloween Flashback

So, a few years ago, when I was thinner, less cellulite prone, and had perkier "ladies", I went as "Hot Donna" for Halloween. "Hot Donna" is a character from Farmer's then favorite show...That 70's Show. Donna was sent to Catholic school for a year, and so she appeared in the show wearing the necessary uniform: plaid skirt, white shirt, knee socks. So, for Halloween, I went as a more "loose moraled" Donna...shorter skirt, etc. Needless to say, I was a hit with Farmer's drunken friends at our annual Drunken Halloween Garage Party. In some circles, I'm still refered to as Hot Donna, even though I'm now dimpled and saggy. :)

Fast Forward to Saturday night. After reading some fashion and gossip magazines, I learned that an in style is a longer black skirt with a white fitted blouse tucked into the skirt, high heels, and big bulky jewelry. I thought....WOW! I actually have an outfit that would be considered In! I ran with the outfit.

So, there I was, feeling confident in my outfit, and Farmer's brother comes to the dinner table and bellers out "Hey! Hot Donna came to the party!" I looked around, looking for some inappropriately dressed female, and then realized, when everyone started giggling at me, that I was Hot Donna. I felt like an idiot. I mean....cripes! my skirt fell past my knees! My "ladies" weren't hanging out! I was completely different!

NOthing like looking like you're wearing a halloween costume when trying to look in style and fancy. :)

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On a different note, Baby A will lately only now eat cheerios and peaches. At least we are getting some fruit in there. She's also starting to drink whole milk, which she seems to like. Baby A also got a big girl car seat this weekend. She's excited to soon be facing forward.

Baby A also made it thorugh a whole day at Day Care without stealing someone else's nuk. It's progress.

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Hey, GreenGirl....that chicken cordon bleu casserole turned out awesome. Farmer really liked it....would you like the recipe to see if the Gentlemen of the Estate would like to try it?

Also, NavyGirl....this would be a good one for you to make up in Whidbey when you are feedinghalf of the Pacific Fleet at your soon to be found home. It's a crockpot meal, so it's un-screwup-able. :)