Today

We had a wonderful time at the Indy Children's Museum today!
Now we need to prepare for our New Year's Open House/Party.
After a good night's sleep...ha!
Thats a joke of course.

Haiku

One hungry baby
A hungry family too.
Milk for everyone.

Christmas!

Flash is well, Hubby is sick.
Cosy baby and I are still well.

Flash has been the Hulk, various aliens, planet heroes, a pirate and a spy today.
Santa and relatives were amazingly generous.
Cosy was well-feted too ;rattles, clothes and such.
She celebrated with milk and naps...as usual

I made my famous coffee cake again...
(see last December for recipe and photos)
but I was really the only one eating it.
Flash is still on a self-imposed invalid diet and Hubby is off food.
So, Christmas dinner is postponed
(Christmas Eve was bake-at-home pizza)
Chicken nuggets and asparagus nibbles tonight.
Peppermint ice cream later.

Par for the year this year!
tomorrow Hubby has a funeral and Saturday, a wedding.
Sunday is also our 12th anniversary
We'll celebrate that...some other time I think.
but still, its there...12 years!

the sitch

1 hungry baby plus

1 four year old with fever, vomiting and generally miserable plus

1 busy pastor husband during Christmas week

equals

even less sleep than usual and

a messy messy house and

incompletion of holiday tasks

But all you can do, is all you can do, right?

And its 4 below and blustery here!

But still doing OK...we're not real grouchy, 

and the football games today seem good.

Naps are in progress for the pastor and the sickee.

Car Talk on the radio for me.

Now if only there were some chocolate in the house.

ooh.  just found brownie mix in the back of the pantry.

Advent panic Friday5

Let's make this easy, if we can: 

tell us five things you need to accomplish before Christmas Eve.

1.   Sleep

2.  Feed baby

3.  Set up the christmas tree again

...our stand broke and it keeps falling over.  

Don't worry, its not plugged in anymore.

It only needs to make it until um, Epiphany?

4.  Hang up the stockings

I can't find the hanger thingys.

5.  Figure out presents for Hubby's family (which should have been mailed already)

6.  A present for Hubby, he's impossible.

7.  Flash is now off from school until Jan 7...so keeping him from hugging the baby too tight.

oh wait...only 5?  Hmmmm.

I'm sure I missed some of the most important ones!

whew...

Sorry for the e e cummings look but
i'm typing one handed today.


we went to church today
it was the children's nativity play and we couldn't miss that
but during the second hymn our music director collapsed
EMTs were called and church resumed in the fellowship hall

our baby was Jesus in the play
and flash was a donkey/angel/shepherd/king
7 kids in the play based on Tobias
like readers theater

today is bitter cold with wintery mix
2 hour delay of school
and Hubby has a funeral and graveside
and check on the music directorat the hospital

Found: Thumb

Eye Friday5

1.What color are your beautiful eyes?
Did you inherit them from or pass them on to anyone in your family?

Blue...or occasionally steel gray according to Hubby.
My mom has similar eyes, Flash is Hazel like my Grandmother and sister.
New baby is still undecided...she is not blue though.
The Pedeatrician said that she may be "on her way to brown".

2. What color eyes would you choose if you could change them?

No I'll keep em.

3. Do you wear glasses or contacts? What kind? Like 'em or hate 'em?

Glasses. I am looking forward to a new pair though.
Had these for two years and the "arms" are all stretched out.

4. Ever had, or contemplated, laser surgery? Happy with the results?

Thought about it. I'll wait though...maybe forever.

5. Do you like to look people in the eye, or are you more eye-shy?

Look people in the eye...not shy. No one would accuse me of being shy.

Bonus question: Share a poem, song, or prayer that relates to eyes and seeing.
The only thing that comes to mind is Eye of the Tiger...from Rocky!

On our own again

parents are gone.
so we're on our own.
need to change ababy so more later.

Church Day

Tomorrow is Sunday...um you all know that.
I am not going. Home with the baby for three weeks, you know.
But when Hubby's parents were here they went with Flash and Hubby.
My folks are going to stay home with me... and the baby.
Huh.

Advent Longing Friday5

What do you long for this advent?
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
What is your prayer today?
In the vein of simplicity I ask you to list five advent longings....

1. peace for all
2. cessation of all addictions for all
3. food, clothing, shelter for all
4. happiness and success for me and mine, and you and yours too.
5. a teleporter

yes...I said a teleporter...so everyone isn't so dang far away.

Older sibling blues

I couldn't put him to bed tonight because I was feeding the baby
and he got in trouble with Dad.
When what he needed was a piece of toast and a drink of water.
Way too much energy for the house because its flippin cold and rainy and snowy so lots of stern words for him...sigh.
However,
preschool is great!
Lots of big brother presents
he likes to pet her hair and kiss her
fed her a bottle last night and has learned to play Go Fish.

Almost a week

Tomorrow morning she'll be a week old.
Did I say the name yet? Hmmm.
OK, for 3 days this space will say...nothing now sorry.
She'll need a nickname for here of course and I don't want to call her...the baby.
Something to think about.
Flash's name is so...descriptive.

My inlaws are gone and my folks are here.
They have great ambition to clean and fix things around the house.
We're working through a list and several things have been accomplished,
several have been ruled out and I'm tired.

The baby has been eating up a storm
and I am recovering from the c-section
and have flat out overdone it . as usual.
My ankles are all swollen, thats a sign right there.
So tommorrow, resting and taking care of the baby
and being off my feet even if it bores by family no end
and makes them wonder what they're doing here.

Home again home again.

We've been home almost 12 hours...
Um I should mention that its almost 3 am and we got home at 4 p.m.
So great to be home.
We tried to accomplish too much tonight, of course
and my in-laws are here and have been a fantastic help.
We got home with a newborn and a cranky hyper 4 year old.
To Thanksgiving dinner...they held it for me, isn't that nice?
But no, he can't stay in his seat...not tonight.
And since they're leaving tomorrow,
the inlaws did a little Christmas present opening with Flash.
Wow. At least they were mostly calm presents and we could read a new book before bed.

Did I mention how crazy he was this afternoon?
He'd been told he was "picking up Mommy at the hospital"
and ended up there for 5 hours too.
He'll be fine of course
but there were tears, running, yelling, a time out and some frayed grandparent moments.
But he also ate his dinner, put dishes in the sink, helped clear the table and changed himself into his own PJs.

Alright time for my medecine and bedtime.
Tomorrow is coming

Baby Arrives!!

Guest blogging by Hubby . . .

Hip2B asked that I post a quick update for everyone.

The newest addition to our family arrived this morning at 8:10am.

Mom & baby are doing great!! They both are trying to get a few naps in, but other than that they are doing wonderfully.

Flash had fun this morning showing around a picture of his new baby sister at preschool and has had fun getting to see her since she is now a real baby.

Hip2B hopes to post some on her own in the next couple of days.

Thank you for all of the prayers and thoughts, they are greatly appreciated. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Peace - Hubby

Last Minute Day

Pre-op tests
tidy and vaccuum before the inlaws arrive (optional)
Diaper pail (oops)
pack a bag for the hospital.

NAP.

Flash seems excited.
More so about being dry last night and thus earning a sticker, but still.
We drew a baby face on tomorrow's calendar square so he knows.
Today's has a plane picture because Grandma and Grandpa are coming tonight.
Thank goodness too. We have to be at the hospital at 5:30 and its a half hour away!

Gpa and Gma will help Flash in the morning
and take him to preschool for the Thanksgiving Party and play.
He'll be an Indian boy.
Then in the afternoon they can come meet the new baby.

If everything goes well.
I think it will,
but I also have seen things go not so well,
and terribly so...
I'll hedge a bit.
My perogative.

Week 38

Well, we're at the beginning of a very strange and wonderful week, we hope.
Its my last day of work tomorrow, before maternity leave.
I have 4 classes and then a meeting.
We're reading a book about Thanksgiving called One is a Feast for a Mouse
and then drawing what we'd like on our Thanksgiving plate on, what else, a paper plate!

It has occurred to me that this Thanksgiving may have just a little less football than usual (yay) and I may just get to watch the parade!
Albeit from the hospital with a freshly born baby!

I got totally off track with my snack schedule today,
due to a fantastic nap (Thanks Hubby)
so I'm staying up a little late to fit in my carbs.
This gestational diabetes thing is wierd.
But I am catching up on my blog reading if nothing else, right?

Tom and Jerry

A great Sunday morning ritual at our house seems to be Tom and Jerry.
Hubby needs to focus, we all need to get ready.
Hubby leaves for church before us...which works so much better than our old system.
But as Hubby and I get ready, and get breakfast started
Flash's laughter fills the house, because he's watching...
Tom and Jerry.

Friday5 Cooking Tools

Please answer the following kitchen-related questions:
1) Do you have a food processor? Can you recommend it? Which is to say, do you actually use it?
I have a little red chopper and I use it whenever I chop onions and peppers
and have used it to puree things like soup and apple butter.
Also to pulverize crackers to make bread crumbs.
Probably I use it once a month or so.

2) And if so, do you use the fancy things on it? (Mine came with a mini-blender (used a lot and long ago broken) and these scary disks you used to julienne things (used once).)
I purposely got an easy one without all that stuff.
I used to use my blender for a lot of the stuff I use the chopper for.
Then the blender burned out.

3) Do you use a standing mixer? Or one of the hand-held varieties?(And isn't that color delightfully retro?)
No standing mixer.
I have a white hand-held mixer that seems to do the trick.
Don't use it that often.
A couple of years ago my mother burned her's out
while making mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving.
They smoked! It was very cool to all who witnessed it.

4) How about a blender? Do you have one? Use it much?
I burned it out.
I guess my family is hard on kitchen tools.
I am asking for a new one for Christmas though.
Mostly smoothies and milkshakes.

5) Finally, what old-fashioned, non-electric kitchen tool do you enjoy using the most?
Hmmm.
I have this cool circular thing that makes sandwiches into circles.
Flash likes that. Good for pastry also.
I have a whisk I like.
And our pizza cutter gets a lot of use.

Bonus: Is there a kitchen appliance or utensil you ONLY use at Thanksgiving
or some other holiday? If so, what is it?
I have a pizzelle iron that only comes out at this time of year.
Made some a week or so ago.
and the cookie cutters of course. No, thats wrong...we use them for playdough too.

I like to cook but don't really have time or energy.
My most used appliance is my crockpot
which will be in use tomorrow for some chili!

Another Day

I only have one more day of work before this baby comes.
And I'm having a hard time doing much
and I'm emotional and tired and anxious.
So basically I'm 9 months pregnant...
And hungry
and impatient
and thinking that maybe next week is too early...
and dreading the hospital stay
and worried about Flash and rocking his fantastic world
and maternity leave
and advent
and
and
and
OK snack time and then bed.

Grumpy Pastor's wife stuff

You know just the title here might be enough.
Grump
grump
grump.
Back from "retreat"
Thinks he's going to some presbytery thing tomorrow.
Less than a week until baby.
And I have a work thing, for a change.
GRRRRRRR.

Baby showers

We were too early for a baby shower for our first.
And I had Flash too early to attend the one for him.
I was already in the hospital and he was already born!
So, Hubby went with my mom.

So today's shower was very nice,
some cute girl outfits,
some essentials and a gift card for odds and ends.
And one gorgeous hand-chrocheted blanket.
Flash had fun opening the gifts,
playing with his gifts (2 beanie babies)
and eating a cupcake that looked like a baby.

We had a really nice day today, not a lot going on, watched some football, napped.
Flashed played with his animals and made up stories about them,
we took a very chilly walk with the neighbors,
and Flash had a very entertaining shower.
He was singing and playing so loudly that we could hear him from the living room.
Very happy. I hope this new baby is as entertaining as he is.

Our big things while Hubby is gone...
we're going to go to the recycling center and crash our cans in the bins!
Possibly we'll make stuffing to have with dinner one night
since he seems preoccupied with it for Thanksgiving.
Maybe some babyroom stuff, but I'm not promising anything.

Ah a weekend!

Hubby is working on a sermon - Parable of the Talents. Ugh.
Tomorrow church, congregational meeting, baby shower and church soup and sandwich lunch.
I have already gotten the message
that I should leave when the congregational meeting happens
...but I can't go home, cuz they're throwing me a baby shower!

Its been a rough few weeks around here.
Hubby's been out most nights with meetings, hospital visits, funeral etc.
He hasn't had his day off in 3 weeks.
So he's on retreat Mon-Wed. And taking the computer I imagine.
We'll miss him, as we have been...but he needs to retreat.
Seriously.
So a few prayers for him to be able to relax, retreat and unwind wouldn't go amiss.

My test went fine. Flash was able to have some Daddy time today.
Pancakes and Star Wars feature prominently.
This afternoon he packed his backpack for an adventure in the playroom:
marshmallows, a stuffed rabbit and a whistle.
All you need really.
Perhaps we'll pack some of those things for Hubby.

Friday5

1. I feel like we're past Veteran's Day here.
The church part was last Sunday and at school we had an assembly.
It was very nice.

2. We had a death in the church family this week,
so things have been busy with arrangements.
Last night, the visitation, today the funeral, graveside service and luncheon.
Tonight, rescheduled session meeting.
I am looking forward to getting my husband back.

3. Dr's appointment went well, still on schedule for the day before Thanksgiving

4. Tomorrow, my big license test.

5. I'm thinking date night tomorrow
after the test
and the past few crazy weeks
and less than 2 weeks to being the parents of 2.
Probably the new James Bond flick.
Now to find a babysitter...

What a day

Hubby is preparing for his 10th funeral and it's our organist.
My Dad called to say that he'd been in the ICU from Friday til Yesterday...
and he didn't want to worry me.
Need to study for my big exam on Saturday at 7:30 a.m.
Baby is very busy today, making it hard to concentrate on things too.

Just another Manic Sunday

We had an OK morning at church.
At the request of Hubby and the hints of several church folk
Flash has been attending church. With me.

This is week 3.
My grumbling (and Flash's) aside it has gone...ok.
He has mostly stayed in the pew.
Here and there he's been loud, completely inattentive and distracting/
Mostly he plays with his toys and draws things, talking the whole time.

We circle things in the children's bulletin, during the announcements.
He was happy to sing God Bless America today though,
cuz he knows parts of it from school.
He left after the Passing of the Peace,
during the Bible Verse, and before the Children's sermon.
Not real quiet about it either...sigh.
But this is the way it is. I guess.

Course...soon the baby comes.

The date...

Looks like I'll have my Thanksgiving dinner in the hospital folks!
November 26th!

Luckily my in-laws are coming in the night before
so they can take Flash to his school Thanksgiving party...
and afterwards they can come to the hospital and meet the new baby.

Comic Friday5

1. What was your favorite comic strip as a child?
Probably Family Circus or Fred Bassett...I usually understood them.

2. Which comic strip today most consistently tickles your funny bone?
Theres one called Pickles which I like, Rose is Rose, and Red and Rover.
I really liked a comic called Bliss, but the fellow who drew it stopped
and started writing Red and Rover. And Calvin and Hobbes of course.

3. Which Peanuts character is closest to being you?
Ha! Pigpen! No no...um...
Not Lucy, the red-haired girls, Charlie Brown, Linus or Marcie...
I guess that makes me Peppermint Patty, without the sports proficiency.

4. Some say that comic strips have replaced philosophy as a paying job, so to speak. Does this ring true with you?
No, I don't think so. Its more like commentary or punditry. Literature, I guess.

5. What do you think the appeal is for the really long running comic strips like Blondie, Family Circus, Dennis the Menace as some examples?
They're good and accessible! Flash will laugh at them and my step-father will chuckle.
Good for everyone. I think For Better For Worse is reaching that level.

Bonus question: Which discontinued comic strip would you like to see back in print?
Bliss.

Bonus Bonus: Where do you read you comics?
I read them online, because I only take the small town paper, which has no comics.
Hubby used to take the WSJ, also no comics.
When we lived in Atlanta I'd get the paper, but not in NJ and not here.

The C-section

35 weeks and counting down..oh yes.

On Friday we will probably schedule the c-section.
Our hospital has scheduled c-sections on Mondays and Thursdays.
So I think it will be the Monday before or the Monday after Thanksgiving.
I doubt they're scheduling c-sections for Thanksgiving day.
I am hoping for the Monday before since Hubby's mom is coming for Thanksgiving.
It would be a shame if they went home on Sunday and the baby was born Monday.
But, given my track record...I think the scheduling thing is um...optimistic.

I'm really enjoying telling folks that I'm having a c-section at Home.
Our Hospital is called Home Hospital.

Pastor's wife observation

I can't believe I'm on the computer on a Saturday night!
Do you think Hubby has forgotten he's preaching tomorrow?
No, Texas vs. Texas Tech is taking his attention tonight.

Friday5

1) Your work day is done and the brain is fried, what do you do?
Drive 40 minutes eating a snack and hoping that no one will need me to do anything when I get home. Blast the radio if I can find something good on, which is very difficult out here in the boonies. Gotta get the ipod working again.

2) Your work week is done and the brain is fried (for some Friday, others Sunday afternoon), what do you do?
Ummm, ditto.

3) Like most of us, I often keep myself busy even while programs are on the tv. I stop to watch The Office and 30 Rock on Thursday nights. Do you have 'stop everything' tv programming or books or events or projects that are totally 'for you' moments?
I really like to watch House. I have this suspicion that its really a comedy, hidden in a drama.

4) When was the last time you laughed, really laughed? What was so funny?
Flash came up and squished his nose against mine about three minutes ago and yelled AAAAAHHHH in my face. We both collapsed in giggles. It was good weird fun. I have no idea what was so funny.

5) What is a fairly common item that some people are willing to go cheap on, but you are not.
Ummm, I'm a confirmed cheapskate, but I don't cut the guys hair. I buy mostly names-you've- heard-of groceries. I'm not very label concious of clothes...when I buy clothes, which isn't often. I'm kind of a fan of Lands End. Hmmm...this is tough.

Bonus: It's become trite but is also true that we often benefit the most when we give. Go ahead, toot your own horn. When was the last time you gave until it felt good?
Hmmm. Its been longer than it should have been.
Been feeling very "pinchy" this year.
I've taken a lot of things to Goodwill this year though and I do feel good about that.
Flash really enjoys putting a few coins in the freewill offering jar at the back of the sanctuary. The money is going for the Town's Christmas Basket project this time. In August and September it went for school supplies for kids who needed them. Always something local.

Nothing about nothing

Another work week is over, hooray!
Tomorrow is Halloween and it will be a bit of a challenge for the gestational diabetes,
but we'll be very busy so that will help.
Helping out at the Preschool Halloween Party,
library, nap, trick-or-treating and another Halloween Party.
It is possible that Hubby will be...pastoring...at some point tomorrow
so we'll just roll with it.
He has a session retreat on Saturday morning.
I'm making the breakfast casserole somewhere along the line.
Oh and we're in charge of Fellowship Hour on Sunday.

Getting slower and more ponderous.
May get some work done on the baby's room this weekend...might not.
OK bedtime now.
Perhaps a Friday5 tomorrow.

Tests

My teaching license is reciprocal, which means that its good for a year
...provided I take two classes and pass the Praxis and Praxis 2.
Took the classes this summer...no problem.
Procrastinated way too long on the tests though.
So, I'm taking the Praxis 1 on Monday morning...8 months pregnant.
And Praxis 2? Two weeks before I'm due.

I am worried.
I haven't had a lot of time to study, with the new job and being pregnant and everything else. Plus I constantly feel... less than smart.
I know its the absent-minded scatterbrained pregnant thing
but not the ideal circumstances for test-taking.

The due date for my license is Mid-March...so there's time if need be.
But I guess what I'm really saying is...
Prayers please?

Location Friday5

Therefore, tell us about the five favorite places you have lived in your lifetime.
What did you like?
What kind of place was it?
Anything special happen there?

I haven't lived in many places so...here goes.
1. Main Line Philadelphia, PA...
Where I grew up and went to school until college.
My family still lives there, sisters too.
Excellent education, safe neighborhoods.

2. Chapel Hill, NC
The Southern Part of Heaven...it even says so on the sign!
Where I went to college and grad school, met my husband, got married
Great school, great place.

3. Rural South GA
Ha! Got married while Hubby was finishing his first Masters in Rural South GA.
It was a good thing I'd lived in Chapel Hill all those years or I'd have been in total culture shock. Newly married, working a lot, no church, not a lot of friends from these couple of years.
But it was good for Hubby and I to be together and far from family and friends as newlyweds.

4. Hotlanta! We had two residences in Atlanta. The first apartment burned down six months after we moved there. Then we bought a cute little house not far from my library. An hour from my in-laws. Got dogs, got pregnant. Lost one child. Left there after 5 years witha 4 month old bound for seminary.

5. Seminary, NJ. Such community in Married student housing. Hadn't experienced it before and likely, will never again. A little rough with the dogs, I worked a lot, but a wonderful experience.

and NOW...
6. Rural Corn Country. 10 hours from family. A little isolated, ok maybe a lot, but going well. Great schools and community. I found a great job finally, Hubby is rural small town pastor and always busy, Flash enjoys our town, and I'm 8 months pregnant. I think this will be a place I think of fondly down the road...

Baseball

My team is in the World Series.
When I say that, I should really say that I grew up in Phillies territory during the 70s
and am also nominally and Eagles and Flyers fan.
Couldn't care less about the Sixers though, sorry.

In honor of the series...which I will watch only when Hubby has it on...
I will be reading Casey at the Bat with all 7 of my classes tomorrow.
Such is my fanaticism.
Go Phils

OK...

Apparently
the hospital where I'm planning on having this baby
will stop taking my insurance on Nov. 1.
Hmmmm.
Time to start calling around
in that crazy-pregnant-lady voice.

the flippin' friday 5

1) When was the last time you flipped a coin or even saw one flipped in person?
A football coin toss I guess. I haven't seen one in a NFL game, I never seem to see the beginnings of games... must have been a High School game. Our last home high school game is next Friday night and we'll probably lose.

2) Do you have any foreign coins in your house? If so, where are they from?
Yes! I used to collect foreign coins and had a whole box of them, mostly pocket change from anyone I knew who went anywhere. I have only been to Canada, myself. I still have a "representative sample".

3) A penny saved is a penny earned, they say. But let's get serious. Is there a special place in heaven for pennies, or do you think they'll find a special place in, well, the other place?
Um, pennies are wonderful, still coins of the realm, a distinctive color, good for game pieces, not so good for actually buying things. Also fantastic in songs and idioms...Pennies from Heaven and a penny for your thoughts.

4) How much did you get from the tooth fairy when you were a child? and if you have children of your own, do they get coins, or paper money? (I hear there may be some inflation.)
I think the tooth fairy gave half dollars at my house. The first time the tooth fairy visited me, she collected and delivered to the mailbox...I was creeped out by the idea of this creature coming into my room while I was asleep.
Flash is almost old enough for the tooth fairy, I guess. I hear the tooth fairy gives a dollar in our neighborhood.

5) Did anyone in your household collect the state quarters? And did anyone in your household manage to sustain the interest required to stick with it?
Hubby's mom drove everyone crazy with it, shopkeepers, relatives, everyone. I think she has a full set. I didn't bother...and I'm the coin collector in the family.

Mission Bookfair: Complete!

This was the school bookfair week and I was in charge.
It was a very busy, very tiring week
and I am looking forward to a restful weekend (hmmm).
But, we sold enough to be able to get a new encyclopedia!
And other books also.
But we really needed a new encyclopedia. I am so excited!

The commute

I drive 40 minutes to school.
Its about 33 miles.
One week after school started they closed my shortcut.
My 27 mile, 32 minute shortcut. And now its open again!!!!
Hooray!

Course I won't be able to use it in the deep winter,
cuz' I doubt it will be reliably plowed.
But Hooray!

Oh and Flash gave us a speech tonight about Jesus from behind a podium-like end table.
He took questions.
And he continued with a speech about Spiderman.
And then we all were required to present an item for Show-and-tell.
What is that Shakespeare quote about "all the world's a stage"?

Update

Baby is moving around quite a bit tonight. I'm feeling snacky.
My blood sugar has been high, but not crazy high.
All medical folk have been notified.
I am to watch it for the next couple of days.
Hubby and Flash have decided to enforce my evening walk.
The school Bookfair is this week and I'm just getting my feet wet,
although I feel like I'm only treading water.

Blood pressure is great. Ankles look fantastic.
Almost 32 weeks along.
Baby room has not been started, even though
...let's be realistic the baby could be here in 5 weeks.
Thats just 5 weekends, really
Wow.
In good news we seem to have a name.
and yes...its the name Flash suggested months ago.
We just started calling her that and well, it stuck.
So if she's a girl...thats her name.

Sidewalk chalk

I don't think I've mentioned the sidewalk chalk games...

Have I?

It started with obstacle coursses and has evolved into,

well, Currently our driveway (which is immense) is covered with:

Halloween drawings, mummies ghosts and pumpkins,

a small ocean with a sea turtle

an RV, a schoolbus, a road and a school with playground.

Before the last rain we had a whole Diego adventure

with jungle, beaches cliffs and animals to rescue.

And quite a few dolphins, courtesy of the 2nd grader next door.

We've gone through a lot of sidewalk chalk this year

and the neighbor across the street just brought us a new box.

Isn't that nice?

Above is a picture of Flash drawing a mummy.

Friday5- Business Trips

1. Does your job ever call for travel? Is this a joy or a burden?
Never required travel, but I used to go to the Library conference every year.
Love to go! This year its in Chicago and I hope I'll be able to go.
I'm not sure if work will pay anything towards it though.

2. How about that of your spouse or partner?
It seems like he travels a lot, but its all within the northern part of the state.
He goes overnight maybe 4 times a year. Never very long.

3. What was the best business trip you ever took?
Hmmmm. Maybe the last time ALA was in Chicago

4. ...and the worst, of course?
Nah, its all been fine.

5. What would make your next business trip perfect?
Rooming by myself (!) and meeting up with some friends for supper
somewhere interesting and nice but not pricey.
And everyone orders desser

Recipe Time and car wash

It was the perfect kind of rain tonight.
Perfect for a car wash!
Hubby was a little worried because Flash has had a sniffle and it was not quite 70 out.
BUT IT WAS FUN!

Our church PW is having a fundraiser early next month.
Its an annual event: a dinner and a bake shop.
So, I'm contributing my recipe for candy mints...
and when I say MY recipe I really mean the grandmother of a friend.

Cream Cheese Party Mints
3 oz cream cheese - soft
1/4 to 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
food coloring as desired
2.5 cups powdered sugar
Little bit of regular sugar

Beat the cream cheese add extract and coloring.
Gradually add sugar.Knead until its like pie dough.
Roll into marble sized balls.
Dip into sugar and press into mold
OR mash them with a fork like peanut butter cookies
Put on wax paper and ideally, let them stand overnight to dry.
Put in airtight containers, with wax paper in between layers
Store in the fridge, or freezer.
Makes 50 or 60 good creamy soft mints.
I could eat the whole batch, yum.

Monday

Its monday and a grumpy grouchy day.
I have many blessing,
I know that
But I'm having a grouchy day.

World Communion Sunday

Oh hooray!
What a wonderful service, even if I was wrestling Flash a bit in the back!
The six Presbyterian churches in the county joined together
at the H.S. for a wonderful joint worship service.
Joint choir met a half hour before and sang beautifully (we don't have a choir).
I'd have loved to join but my duties today were parental.
Powerpoint of the service, not our usual style but very accessible.
Fantastic hymns.
The only thing I would have changed
was having a Passing of the Peace to try to get the churches to mix a bit.

Afterwards a big potluck, or here they call it a "carry-in" lunch.
Totally blasted my food plan thingy, but I tried very hard to be good.
Why is everything at a potluck so good, and yet so carb-laden?
Must be the comfort food thing huh?
We'll see how my blood sugar is at the end of the day.

Boy I hope we do it again next year!

Update

Turns out the DSL problem was something at the "hub"
Internet has returned to the house!

So I'm pricking my finger twice a day and being better about food.
I was not being "bad" mind you
...it has to do with spreading things more evenly throughout the day.
So it would seem, that things will be back on track and its really not so bad.

Had a great morning with Flash. 8:30 soccer game...we were very late.
But he played a solid 15 minutes...and acctually paid attention some.
Then Build-It Day at Home Depot (fire engine!) and a visit from a real fire engine too.
Chick-fil-A for lunch - and a romp through the playground.
Home and nap!

But now I'm up for finger pricking. Woohoo.
Oh, Hubby had to go have the church records reviewed.
Ha ha
We win again.

Computer drought...

The DSL folks sent out a guy who determined that it was our modem.
The DSL folks sent a new modem.
THe DSL folks sent out another guy who determined that the new modem they sent was defective.
THe DSL folks are sending another one...

In the meantime,
gestational diabetes.
Appointment with the dietician on Friday.
Hopefully just a dietician, please...

And I know I'm just whining here today, after nothing all week,
so forgive me that,
but some prayers for my sister would be wonderful...
she's had several setbacks in a row
and just when things seemed to be going well.

Johhny Appleseed Friday5

1. What is your favorite apple dish? (BIG BONUS points if you share the recipe.)
PIE, applesauce warmed up with some vanilla ice cream and crumbled graham crackers and cinnamon is a dessert I have when theres no dessert in the house. Apple crisp...Apple brown betty. I love apples raw too.
2. Have you ever planted a tree? If so was there a special reason or occasion you can tell us about?
No. Folks seem to give plants at deaths and I am so against that...the person is greiving...don't give them something to take care of. I should mention that I'm awful with plants.
3. Does the idea of roaming around the countryside (preaching or otherwise) appeal to you? Why or why not?
Nope. Homebody.
4. Who is a favorite "historical legend" of yours?
Sally Ann Thunder Ann Crockett? Swamp Angel? Paul Bunyan?
5. Johnny Appleseed was said to sing to keep up his spirits as he traveled the roads of the west. Do you have a song that comes when you are trying to be cheerful, or is there something else that you often do?
I agree with that. My ipod shuffle only has songs that I really like and even then on many occaisions I skip and skip until I find something upbeat. As far as religious songs, Awesome God as done with Kirk Franklin is a current fave. Big bouncy boiseterous gospel.

In other news...I had the 3 hour sugar test today because I flunked the first one...not by much though. Also the home computer is dead and now the internet connection is acting up at home so Hubby's laptop is unhappy. I'm at the public library which closes...in a minute or two. It will be sparse for a while.

Baby planning...

Had the ultrasound and it seems like if might be a girl.
No 100% in the ultrasound game but...probably.
So now the naming begins...in earnest.

Everything is becoming a little more real.
Baby is moving, sure.
But now it has a gender and needs a name
and I'll have to get going on the room soon.

As a rule I don't do the room before week 31
and I've given away a lot of our baby things
because well, frankly I didn't think it would be needed again.
Still on the list is a new crib mattress
(Liam slept on his until last spring and its torn up!)
a diaper pail, a changing table and maybe a stroller.
We still have our umbrella one.
So I keep an eye out at garage sales.


Not rushing things.

Fall Friday5

1) A fragrance - smoke of burning leaves, pumpkin and apple.
2) A color - ORANGE
3) An item of clothing- Oh! Where is my fall-colors blanket sweater?
And can I wear it this year seeing as I am gettin large with baby?
Hmmm. Have to look around for it.
4) An activity - Oh I hate leaf raking and other fall chores,
but we've been enjoying local H.S. football and soccer.
Just got back from a game. Sadly, we lost...again.
Apple-picking is fun and I enjoy cooking them too.
5) A special day - Halloween?
Fall festivals like the one Flash and I intend to attend.
Hubby has Presbytery. Again, we win.
Also new baby's upcoming birth-day in late fall.

Update

Had guests over the weekend and am still catching up.
Very tired today.

Flash's interest changed over the weekend though.
We seem to be out of the Alien thing
and into Diego (who is a cousin of Dora the Explorer).
Much more age appropriate I think.
Diego likes to rescue animals
and wears a backpack called a Rescue Pack
which can change into different forms of transport.
As a matter of fact, Diego is spending the night with us tonight,
even though we are out of muffin mix.

Work is going well but I am impatient for Friday.
Ultrasound and sugar test.
Baby has been very active, particularly at night.
I'm thinking its a girl, although I have no reason to,
Flash thinks its a girl and has named her.
Neither Hubby nor I have an objection to his choice, which is strange.
It may actually end up being that name...if its a girl.
28 weeks and holding.

Nothin special

We had a great walk last night.
We went 4 laps, which Hubby informed me was a mile.
Flash ran his little heart out and Hubby ran with him a bit, too.
I, at 27 weeks, walked along happily.

Today I had school and Thursday is my busy day.
I read Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems aloud 8 times today.
I now have it memorized and...
miraculously, I still like it!

I made applesauce tonight
while Flash made a magic potion in a cool whip tub in the sink.
Hubby had session.
We win.

The walking regime

I've been really good about walking this pregnancy.
OK mostly good.
Flash and Hubby and I often walk to the stop sign.
Sometimes we bring the neighbors with us.
Somedays, OK most days, Flash is an alien or superhero. Or both!
We used to bring the dogs before the fence got fixed.

But for the past few weeks we've been attending High School football games on Friday nights.
That's what you do in a small town.
We always have a great time (and the church got us season tickets! really!).
After the game Flash likes to run around the track.
Usually its about 10 p.m. and he's running, running running.

So yesterday we went to the track to walk after supper.
Gorgeous weather, a fenced track all to ourselves and Flash could let loose!
Zoom!
I walked 3 laps and was DONE.
He was ready to run another few laps.
Tonight was soccer practice night so, no walk, but...
tomorrow night is Track Night and we're bringing Daddy!

I hereby resolve to ...

1. Walk more
2. Stress less, pray more
3. Read more kid's books! (Yes, its possible)
4. Keep my political views to myself
5. Feed Flash a vegetable other than cucumbers
6. Take better care of the car
7. Enjoy things more
8. Gripe less
9. Have breakfast with Flash every morning
10. Go to bed at a reasonable time...ooops.

UH.
G'nite.

Been reading ...

I've been reading a book called "stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli.
Fantastic book about a teenage girl that doesn't fit in.
She doesn't understand High School social rules and cheers for the other team,
has a pet rat, dressses as she pleases and never seems to understand the backlash against her. Its told from a point of view of a boy at school who falls in love with her
and experiences the same treatment she does.
I haven't finished it yet
but it strikes me as the sort of book a youth group could read.
Theres a second book now and I am told there are "stargirl fanclubs" around the country.

In other news, I am at 26 weeks, blood pressure normal and ankles are gorgeous!
There will be another ultrasound in a few weeks.
Flash has learned his birthday and a "scissor pledge" at school which governs the use of scissors. It includes no cutting hair!
Hubby is very very busy with some COM things
and I am treading water at work, but in a good way.
Next week I am calling Mo Willems week as I read and discuss his books
with Kindergarteners through 5th grade. Should be interesting.

a note

Dear computer,
Please get well soon.
I miss you,
hip2b
ps...the cell phone says to stay sick.

Offline...

Well, our computer is displaying the "blue screen of death"
and until its repaired (cross fingers)
or replaced (yikes)
I will be very intermittent.
I miss it already.

Lots on my mind

But, most importantly a Flash story...
He's having an imaginary friend over for a sleepover tonight.
The Imaginary friend was tucked in next to him, closer to the wall.
He asked me if I would make muffins for them to have for breakfast tomorrow morning,
since its a sleepover.
Apparently we often have muffins for breakfast after sleepovers.
I never paid attention.

Both dogs escaped today. They are recaptured.
Work is getting better and better, but payday needs to come soon.
Baby is doing well I think.
Hubby is going to get the oil changed in the car tomorrow
because we think it was last changed last summer...hmmmm.

Its my birthday!

I am 35 years old today
and looking forward to cake and a football game at the high school
...if it doesn't rain too much.
Not enough folks around for a party, sadly but I do have the day off.
So when Flash comes home from preschool
we're having lunch of PB &J, baking a cake
and heading to Home Depot to get some things to make doors for our back porch.

The dogs have been AWFUL in the house for the past few weeks,
so I'm banishing them to the porch during the day...until it gets too cold of course.

Then slushy drinks at Sonic before we come home and have a little supper
(the guys will have hot dogs at the game)
and then High School football home opener! Not glamorous, but a happy birthday nonethless!

Gettin there...

AHHHHHH.
I finally get it.
OK mostly finally get it.
Got lots done at work today.
The tech came and explained stuff to me
and it turned out that one of the things I just couldn't get to work
was a tech thing that I hadn't been allowed access too yet.
An oversight. Hooray!
Visiting another school tomorrow to learn something else. Yay!

Unfortunately Flash didn't have a good day.
I left before he woke up this morning and it threw him.
And I was trying to get him excited that he starts preschool tomorrow
...not realizing that he thought that meant another place...
Very upset. Soccer practice did not go well.
Now I think he understands
and we have agreed to wake up in the morning and have breakfast together.
He understands SO much, and I take it for granted.

And my birthday is coming up. Flash and I have decided on my cake.
I was leaning towards spice cake with cream cheese icing.
He thinks chocolate cake with whipped cream.
Maybe chocolate whipped cream.
What kind of cake do you like?

Soccer

Here's a picture of our soccer team. It was really funny.
Flash was an alien for mot of it. All imagination, no soccer focus.
Been a rough couple of days for me.
Needed the laughs.

Fall Friday5

Seems like its a bit too early for Fall, even though school has started.
Labor Day isn't here and its still hot.
Although we aren't using the air conditioning as much anymore.
Our tomatoes are mostly done too.
But the most telling transition-to-Fall thing hasn't happened yet - my birthday.
I have a summer birthday which occurs next week
and Fall cannot possibly end until after my birthday.

This "Fall" brings a new job and in November a new baby...
so it is a very transitional season this year.

My Kid in Church

Yesterday on the Revgal blog they were talking about kids and worship...this was my comment:

Boy you've hit a sore spot with me... so here goes. I have an "energetic" 4 year old who is excited to go to church, play in the nursery (service plays on the PA in there) and eat snack after. He is the only child his age. Then we have a handful of 4th graders and 2 high schoolers.

Church is, in my opinion kid-unfriendly. We only have one service and is unlikely that we will ever have two. Church folk give off the vibe of "serious grown-up stuff". Stuffy hymns, not formal at all but, traditional, traditional traditional. They keep talking about bags, have a different nursery volunteer every week and have children's church from the children's sermon till end of worship. Communion is brought to them in their classroom. My child has been included from time to time, but their 4th grade activities are not suited to him.

In November I'm having a new baby and am seriously considering staying in the nursery with the two of them! And yes...I'm the pastor's wife. SIGH.

Over last summer we attended a church in another state where I could drop him off in a class that would sing church songs and draw pictures with other kids his age while I enjoyed church with the grown-ups.

I wish we could do things that way but I fear lack of children and church support means nothing will ever change. And all those little old lady volunteers will be so excited to care for the baby and I'll get to wrestle my boy in the pews. Some Sunday. There are lots of Sundays where I'd rather go to another church...and if I was a visitor...


If you have some suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Hubby knows of the problems, but there is a lot of entrenched opposition, and I suspect, sentiment that our child should be more well-behaved.

School bells

Well it started today!
I am still climbing that learning curve and will be for a while but the kids came today and despite some glitches (mostly busing problems) everything went OK. Tomorrow I actually have students coming to my library for a lesson. No checkout, cuz I haven't figured that out yet. But a wonderful woman who knows all is supposed to come and straighten me out tomorrow. I hope so.

Then I dashed home (40 min) picked up Flash at camp, ran by Micky D's for a Happy meal on the way to soccer practice. The first soccer practice, which went quite well all things considering. He was only an alien for part of practice. Mostly the end part when the kids had devolved and the coach hadn't realized it yet. Unfortunately he seems to be a soccer player in the mode of his Uncle Alex, who was really good and played in college, but was known as an "enforcer" I think. Meaning that he'd get the ball and mow down folks in the pursuit. But it was just the first practice, and the first game on Saturday should be a hoot.

The Olympics ate my homework

Oh I love the Olympics!
The competition, the splendor,
the "human interest" stories,
I've been building up to it in our house...hoping Flash will be interested.
Last night...during the opening ceremonies
he wanted to have his own Olympics outside.

Outside.
Where there is no TV.
No drummers,
No scroll thing and dancers
or people in boxes pretending they are water droplets.
No fireworks or parades.
Luckily he wore out quickly and finally went to bed.

Hubby has been working the church booth at the town festival this week.
Small part fund-raiser, other part BEING VISIBLE.
So he's there now and its my chance to finish that paper I've been grousing about.

Its due Monday, and its written but not very good.
I should really, really redo parts of it...or add something.
Or I'll heed a revgal who says about sermons "If you've got a dog, walk it"
OK,
OK,
I'll work on it now.
But its done tonight before 10:30...dog or not.

Crazy week

New job
paper due
hubby away
Flash... being Flash
training
and...


So you think you can dance finale.
I voted for Joshua. Hope he wins!

Be prepared

Hubby is going to disaster training tomorrow for a few days.
He is quietly excited about it.
We had some serious flooding here this winter.
Our church was an emergency shelter
Hubby became the local "point person for a while and he's still ona long-term recovery team.
And now he'll have training!

I'm hoping that the training will actually prevent a disaster.
You know, that now that he has training, we'll just be unscathed.
Like washing your car will make it rain.
Isn't that strange?

Anyhow, Flash and I will be on our own for a few days.
That means fishsticks for supper.
Hubby doesn't care for them, so we always have them when he's out.
Flash'll go to "camp" and I am going to the school to get myself set-up this week.
Getting a little worried about what I'm doing, and how.
But excited too!

The call process

Had a call from a seminary friend tonight.
She's still looking for a call (more than a year), workin' retail,
having family problems, lonely and unfulfilled
and wondering what God's up to.
She's a bright woman and I have no idea why some church hasn't snapped her up.
If you have room in your prayers please include her.
I'm worried for her.

Updating

Pop died Friday. Sunday night was the wake, this morning was the funeral.
I am told it was beautiful.

I am back in our town. We drove 13 hours yesterday.
When I say we, I mean Hubby.
He said he'd drive if I read the book we've been reading, aloud.
So, I read from Reading, PA to Richmond, IN. Today I have very little voice.
Needed to be at my class at 8:45 in Biggish town an hour away
and my mind wandered and I got really lost. But I got there.
The class is OK. I can't imagine how they'll drag out this topic until Friday...but we'll see.

Flash threw a royal fit over how Hubby made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.,
just before I got home. Mommy can fix that. Nice long bath for him and some stories.

Now Hubby and I are hanging out for a while before our own bedtime.
There's lots that needs to be done...laundry and whatnot from the trip...
but its not gonna be tonight.

Good News/Bad News

The much worried-about funeral situations didn't occur.
However, my grandfather is on Hospice now and the funeral will probably be next week.
And I can't be there.
Taking a 5 day , 3 credit intensive class next week.
(Need credits for my license/job)
Luckily Pop was/is very big on work, and would have approved of me missing for work.
Weird, but true.
And I saw that side of the family at the wedding so.
Feeling guilty about it even before it happens.
And its been a strange week being with my family in PA as they go back and forth to Pop
So, Friday wedding rehearsal,
Saturday wedding
Sunday drive to Corn Country
Monday...perhaps...Pop's funeral and my class in the semi-big city.
Not really sad, just, sigh.

Wedding

If you are having a backyard Barbecue type wedding,
and inviting families and friends with children,
may I recommend...
hiring a Moonbounce for the day!

All the kids bounced, ate, bounced
and were a little worn out during the ceremony
and then bounced some more.
We think Flash bounced for about 3
this after we tried to wear him out with 2 hours at the hotel pool.

We all slept well and now we're in lovely PA

A Blog-related Friday5

1. So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog? Well it was originally a book blog (bookladykate) until lifw changed! My husband was called, and I met up with the revgals, so it needed a new name for the new life. Then it was hipastorzwife2b. This name reflected the angst about frumpiness I associated with being a pastor's wife (hence the hip and the z and the 2b) After a while it chafed a little and now I am a pastor's wife so its just Hip2b now. There's also far too much Huey Lewis and the News on my Ipod
   
2. Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog? Any stories there? Hubby was easy. I don't call him that in real life and it gets the point across. I'll ask if he'd like something else. Flash, my 4 year old son, has been a speedy little booger since he was small and now that he thinks he's a superhero...its very appropriate. New Baby will have to earn a name...currently I'm toying with Tiny. The hard thing is remembering the nicknames of peripheral characters.
   
3. What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun?I'm sure there are tons that I can't think of right now. Hubby actually reads more blogs than I do, mostly milblogs and some political ones. I read a few library and book ones and then the revgals of course.
   
4. What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals of course! Hipchickmama (who's name has changed), a friend from seminary's which is sort of a private blog, Rev Abi, Songbird and Mompriest are on my regular check list. Flash thinks the computer exists for him to play Ben10 games on. He actually asked me the other day if he could take Daddy's computer when he got married to (oh dear what did I nickname her?) Twonames and moved away, because all his Ben10 games are in it.
   
5. Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why? I don't know! I may have just read about it in School Library Journal or from a colleague and decided to try it out. Remember, originally a bookblog. It was haphazard from the start, but I've come to regard my blog as a sort of open diary of sorts.
   

Bonus question: Have you ever met any of your blogging friends? Where are some of the places you've met these fun folks? I met Kate the photographer at the seminary she and my husband attended. She's the only one...so far.

Bookblogging:
Let's face it I haven't recommended a book in a long time. So here:
Savvy
by Ingrid Law
Its a teen novel, OK preteen really, about a girl whose family all demonstrate miraculous powers that wreck havoc on their lives. Your power turns up on your 13th birthday in its wildest form and you spend several years taming it. On Mibs' 13th birthday her father is in a terrible car accident miles away and she and some others try to reach him, while her power begin to show itself. Excellent and I haven't quite finished it and I forgot to pack it! So, I'll finish it when we get back in a week or so.

Vacation all I ever wanted...

We're on our way today, after the funeral.

Hubby really needs this vacation but its looking iffy now. Last night he had a call from the son of a prominent member who will probably die this weekend. So we may go to the wedding this weekend (my cousin) and then he'll will have to fly back for the funeral and maybe join us again towards the end of the week.

I'm questioning this, but Hubby says theres only a few folks he'd come back from vacation for, and this is one of them. I think it sets a bad precedent, however noble.

Anyhow, we leave today!

Ultrasound

The ultrasound was fine.
Lovely tech who has 6 kids of her own.
Liam came with us,
because I thought he'd enjoy seeing the baby
but he was unruly and didn't really get it.
Live and Learn.

Baby looks healthy,
has all the parts that are important, for 18 weeks 6 days
(they are so technical with that...I count a new week every Sunday).
As for gender, she couldn't tell.
Baby was facing strangely
with its bottom towards my spine and legs crossed.
So, no gender yet.
I was hoping to know, I admit it. But Baby is shy.

I'm not sure if we'll know before the birth now.
If all is going well, we may not have another ultrasound.
And I really want everything to go well.
So for now...its just Baby.

On the road again...

Tomorrow morning, before dawn, I'll drive to Chicago for the day for a class.
Another credit.
But a class with a teacher I'm excited about and have seen before.
And then hustle on home. Should be a whirlwind.

Tuesday, ultrasound! maybe a run through to fountain at the park and a trip to the library.
Wednesday...pack, church luncheon and then VACATION!
sorta. Mostly visiting my family...but its away and should be fun.
Also, its my last visit before school starts and baby comes.

Camping Friday5

1. Did you go to sleep away camp, or day camp, as a child? Wish you could? Or sometimes wish you hadn't?
I did and although I have great memories of it
...it was only a week and I was terribly homesick and culture shocked.
I will however send my kids to camp...I think I'll prepare them better.

2. How about camping out? Dream vacation, nightmare, or somewhere in between?
Oh, yeah. I was a girl scout for far longer than was cool ad we went camping a lot.

3. Have you ever worked as a camp counselor,
or been to a camp for your denomination for either work or pleasure?
Nope.

4. Most dramatic memory of camp, or camping out?
My friend Barb got a really bad bug bite on her eyelid
while we were camping at Chincoteague.
Her whole eye just blew up. I remember that more vividly than the horses.
I think we were middle schoolers.
She works in outdoor education now, I wonder if she remembers.

5. What is your favorite camp song or songs?
Bonus points if you link to a recording or video.
Ah no bonus points for me.
Other girl scouting friends always used to sing this song about a lost cat
...but I never picked up the words.

On another note...
We could use some non-specific prayer, if you don't mind.
Thanks.

Thankful Thursday

Friends and Family
good weather
food, shelter, clothing
healthy growing baby-in-belly
Healthy growing boy in bathtub
Hubby
our town
our jobs
dogs...some days
pillows
chocolate chips
My sister passed her Nursing entrance test!
talking with faraway friends on the phone.
superheroes, rescue heroes, and all other heroes

Photobloggin

Groucho goes to the VBS picnic.

Too early

Here we are in week 18
and its too early for that weird pregnancy sleep problems...
and yet here I am typing at 5 am.
Its dark. Hubby is snoring, birds are just beginning to chirp.
The dogs did not bother to follow me from the bedroom.
Flash was up around maybe 2 with a nightmare, but that was ages ago.
Hopefully he'll sleep late.

Just wondering what to do with myself,
and wondering if I'll be able to go back to sleep
...or if I should just "go with it" and start the day.
and if so...what should I do?

Quiet week

Not much goin on this week for me and Flash.
Hubby is busy with some pastoral care things.
But next week we go on vacation for a week and a half.

Independence Weekend

Just exhausted after a long, long weekend.
But here's a picture of the float!
We didn't win a prize, but it was lots of fun
and we were Visible!

Friday 4th!

So lets have a bit of fun:

1. Barbeque's or picnics ( or are they essentially the same thing?)
Cookout. I imagine we'll do hot dogs, beans and salad
...if I get ambitious I'll make potato salad,
but I'm the only one who really likes it.
We're on our own for this celebration which is sad.

2. The park/ the lake/ the beach or staying at home simply being?
Home! Fireworks at the High school tonight.
Hubby had a really late meeting last night so we're laying low today.
Most of the folks we know will have family obligations today.

3. Fireworks- love 'em or hate 'em?
LOVE THEM!

4. Parades- have you ever taken part- share a memory...
LOVE THEM! and yes our church is having a float in the parade tomorrow morning!
I'll post a picture tomorrow of Sunday.

5. Time for a musical interlude- if you could sum up holidays in a piece of music what would it be?
Hmmm...
Summertime - Will Smith- a favorite summertime song for me.
Not particularly right for the 4th though.
God Bless America as sung by Kate Smith is perfect though.
I grew up a Flyers fan and they always played that version of the song at the games
...so it feels wintery to me.

Happy Independence Day. Let freedom ring!

Power

Flash woke up this morning and crept into bed with us.
He immediately started in about how he's grown last night,
and his super strength had gotten more strong too.

Occasionally I worry about his certainty about his superpowers, but I figure he's 4.
The other day he thought he had a developed a new power: the ability to control cars. Apparently he wanted a red car to park at the neighbors house and it did.
Not a power I want him to have, mind you.
Just think of how a 4 year old would use that?

Eventually he decided that maybe his power is about colors.
It was a red car after all.
I was wearing a teal colored shirt and he brightened it for me.
Thats the new power, he can make colors brighter.
So, naturally, yesterday we painted.
Well, wouldn't you?

Woohoo VBS picnic

What a church day for us!
Joint worship (three churches total),
140 people for worship (we average 70ish)
VBS kids sang and danced ( Flash halfway participated, yay!)
and a great church cookout in the parking lot
with some games for the kids, music and lunch.
Flash got a Groucho Marx disguise as his beanbag toss prize. Loves it!
Hubby's sermon was very good, all about being God's children.

All in all, fantastic!
then a nap for me
and playing with the neighbor kids after supper,
a nice walk, bath, bed for Flash and a little blogging for me.
Hope your Sunday was lovely.

Friday5: Summer Reading

This week, then, a Summer Reading Friday Five.

1) Do you think of summer as a particularly good season for reading? Why or why not?
Yes and no. How's that for a definitive answer?
I love to curl up under a blanket with a good book during the winter.
But its nice to have a relaxing book for the beach or vacation time.
I read quite a bit all year round but several of my authors tend to publish
before the summer rush. There are generally two big publishing seasons:
Spring...preparing for summer and Fall... preparing for Christmas rush.

2) Have you ever fallen asleep reading on the beach?
No. I don't really sleep on the beach.
Too much reading, collecting, swimming, castlebuilding and kid-chasing to do.
And I hate to get sand in a book.

3) Can you recall a favorite childhood book read in the summertime?
Hmmm. Well the Harry Potter books were mostly released in the summer.
Oh, my childhood? Can't remember.
I read all sorts of things as a kid and worked at the library throughout middle and high school, college, um grad school and now I'm a librarian so I guess "it took".

4) Do you have a favorite genre for light or relaxing reading?
Chicklit. No really...light romantic comedies,
perhaps with a mystery thrown in for good measure.
Also spy thrillers and some sci-fi.
I'm really picky about my sci-fi and fantasy these days.
Occasionally a biography, but not of anyone literary or political.

5) What is the next book on your reading list?
Well, I finished Stone Cold by Baldacci and Fearless Fourteen by Evanovich
and I have the Ezekiel Option out from the library.
Our whole county is reading Animal Vegetable Miracle by Kingsolver this year so I plan on that. I intend to read something by Amy Tan and a book of short stories
for the Adult Summer Reading Program at my library.
If you look back 2 posts you'll see how they do it there.

Happy Reading!
If you have a suggestion of something you think I should read,
leave a comment about it!

a VBS lesson

We are doing joint VBS with two other small churches this year
and tonight a pastor from one of the other churches taught the lesson.
The lesson was a about fear, worry and God's peace.

We have an older group (mostly 10-11) and a younger group (mostly 4-5).
When asked about their fears the older group said :
missing the bus, homework, things like that.
The little kid bunch said : Monsters.
So he had to spend some time talking about how monsters aren't real.

Book Binge

Its Summer Reading time and this week I must tell you I have over-indulged.
Sigh.
I read the new one from Janet Evanovich Fearless Fourteen in two days.
I've been listening to Stone Cold by David Baldacci on audiobook.
And The Ezekiel Option by Joel Rosenberg.
Still waiting for the Rick Riordan's new Percy Jackson and the Olympians book.
And of course lots of books with Flash.

Our library has an Adult Summer Reading Program called Summer Feast.
We are to read 6 books:
1. Appetizer: short stories
2. Soup: something multi-cultural
3. Bread: spiritual
4. Main Course: The Ezekiel Option
5. Fruit and Cheese: Personal craving...
6. Dessert: Something light, decadent or sweet!

Isn't that cool!
And...if I finish...I am invited to a 6 course dinner at the library with other readers.
I may be on my way.

VBS

Vacation Bible School is entering its second day and I love it!
Mainly because:
a. I am not in charge
b. Both Hubby and Flash are busy with it.
c. I am helping with crafts on Wed. and Thurs.
d. Flash is having a great time and comes home and falls asleep!

We are doing a County Fair type theme
which is great for this area and because our county fair is in 2 weeks.
There were about 22 kids (fantastic for our um...senior-filled church)
about half are 4-5 year olds and the other half 4th graders, with a few others.
Hooray!

Dog Oddities

Simba is 9.
Max is 7.
This is my third pregnancy.
and we've gotten to the point in the pregnancy
where I have acquired my Dog Honor Guard.

They say dogs can tell when a woman is pregnant.
Perhaps she smells differently.
At any rate, Simba especially has started to guard me a little bit more when I am in the house.
He sits by me, he is a furry bathmat for me while I take my shower
and generally is following me around even when its not time for food.
Max is also paying more attention to me.
Its just noticeable this week, and if history holds,
they'll be more and more attentive as time goes on.
My Dog Honor Guard.

Wordy Friday5

This post is loosely based on previous "wordy" Friday Fives from Reverend Mother and Songbird. Theirs were based on words from a lectionary text. Mine comes from the Lovin' Spoonful song, "Summer in the City."

Below you will find five words or phrases. Tell us the first thing you think of on reading each one. Your response might be simply another word, or it might be a sentence, a poem, a memory, a recipe, or a story. You get the idea:

1. rooftop
Santa Claus...You know Up on the ummm housetop...hmmm.

2. gritty
Tang, the beverage of astronauts and also a good dishwasher cleaner.

3. hot town (yeah, I know, it's two words)
Hotlanta! No wait Death Valley! Thats also two words.
Not my town because it hasn't been too hot and we don't exactly have nightlife here .

4. night
sleep...why am I still awake? YAWN

5. dance
the night away! Boogie-oogie-oogie til you just can't boogie no moe!
I'm a huge fan of the So You think You can Dance show.
Even Flash watches sometimes...when his mom lets him stay up late.

PNC cookout

We're having the PNC out to our place tomorrow night for a cookout!
To celebrate the completion of their mission, to thank and congratulate them.
We used to have cookouts all the time at seminary. No big deal.
I feel a little uneasy about tomorrow's because of hmmmm...
the to-do list and judgement and other mind gremlins.
Need to clean, weed, coook.
But, it will be fine in the end...
just some cold feet.

Science Camp for grown-ups

I am taking a grad school class to get some credits to complete my license.
If You have to take classes, might as well take something fun, right?
So I'm taking a science class for teachers, a the Children's Museum.
Three days
Such a great class!
How I'm going to use this stuff as a school librarian? No idea.
Although, I need to figure that out
because in order to get the two graduate credits,
I need to write up a unit plan or something about how I'll use this information. Hmmm.

Yesterday I learned about displacement and mass
and that Diet Coke in a can floats!
Regular Coke sinks.

Today we spent the day at a summer camp to learn about nature and wildlife.
And we caught things in the creek.
I brought home a crayfish (or crawfish, or crawdad, or mudbug)
Flas is calling him Silly.

Fathers Day

We had Fathers Day on Saturday because Sundays are so crazy for us.
I hadn't planned much,
Just a great card for Hubby which had a picture of Superman
and plays the Superman song.
Flash loved it and I had a hard time convincing him that he and Daddy could share it.
We let Daddy sleep in and made him some paper airplanes out of tin foil.
Flash also collected some pebbles for him, and we had oatmeal for breakfast.

The next town over had a town festival
with a 10K, a 2K funrun and a Kid's Run of about 500 meters.
Flash was so excited to run in a race,
with a number on his back and about 40 other kids.
And a ribbon when he crossed the finish line.

Then our final t-ball game of the season,
and our town had a Transportation festival.
There were new and old firetrucks, new and old schoolbuses
and some truly amazing vehicles from the Quarry.

hmmm

This is a busy week.
Visit with the former librarian tomorrow
Three day class in a city an hour away.
Need to be studying for a test that I haven't scheduled to take.
I'm very worried about the test.
Taking care of Flash, of course.
Having the PNC for a cookout on Friday
Its week 15 and I'm sure the baby is on my left side.
Oh and my site meter has passed 5000. I just noticed.
Cool.

Beachy Friday5

So in honor of summer, please share your own beachy memories, plans, and dreams with a "Beach Trip" Friday Five.

1. Ocean rocks, lake limps? Vice versa? Or "it's all beautiful in its own way"?
So long as the beach is sandy its alright by me, although I do like to be able to hear a conversation so calmer seas for me.

2. Year round beach living: Heaven...or the Other Place?
Sounds like heaven to me, but I've never tried it. I think lake-front might be more my speed though.

3. Any beach plans for this summer?
Does "Indiana Beach" count? It looks like we may get to visit my folks in Cape Cod for a few days and my Dad, overnight, on the Chesapeake (no beach, but water!)

4. Best beach memory ever?
I have so many nice beach memories. Hubby and I honeymooned at the GA coast in January, SC beach with my Dad and sister, MD beaches with Auntie Peg, Wildwood NJ with my high school Girl Scout pals, Brigantine NJ with Mom and sister and Mom's friend Elaine.
It was nice to be less than 3 hours from the beach...and many other things too, growing up near Philly.

5. Fantasy beach trip?
I have a friend whose been to the Greek Islands and says they're just magnificent. But I'd love to go back to Bald head Island NC for about three weeks...for free. With family members and friends dropping in all the time.

Bonus: Share a piece of music/poetry/film/book that expresses something about what the beach means to you.
Point Break with Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves...
No wait...
Jaws
no...
Beach Blanket Bingo.
uh huh.

Alterations

I've had this sun dress for a few years.
Its a pretty blue with blue flowers and I got it for almost nothing.
But it dips too far down in the front, if you know what I mean.
I've worn it from time to time with a tank or camisole underneath, for modesty's sake.

But it looked like the perfect thing to wear
for my cousin's wedding this July (sort of a casual garden wedding).
So I decided to see if it could be altered, just take in an inch or two in the shoulders.
So, I took it today to this place the next town over and they'll do it.
Next week.
7 dollars.

7 dollars!
I had no idea it would be so cheap or easy
and I've had the dress for maybe 5 years!
Should have done it years ago.

Just an Update

My second interview went very well...I start August 8!
Flash went to "camp" daycare today where they don't require naps.
So at naptime he slept in their play boat.
And thats where he was when I cane to get him early because of Church pictures.
Needless to say he was not charming for the pictures.
Last t-ball practice today and I forgot sunscreen.
Sigh, we'll all pay for that mistake.
Hubby has 3 night meetings this week, which is hard.
Signed Flash up for soccer in the fall! All the fun of t-ball, and less sitting time.
And the pregnancy is going well. Here we are smack in week 14!

Church Envy

Don't get me wrong, I really like our church and Lord I konw that church's aren't perfect...
But I'm having a little church envy.
We went to another church's festival in our town
and had a ball!
Christian rock band
games
moonbounce
food
all free to whoever wanted to come.
Loads of kids and families and teens.
Sigh.

We're tiny
older
OK much older
and will NEVER do anything half as cool as today's festival.
And if I was someone different
I'd go to their church.

So, how do you reconcile it?
I can't change our church and I can't go somewhere else.
Its only in last few years that I've really come to enjoy church,
and want to be a part of it
and now I'm becoming frustrated.

Thirsty...

So its been raining here almost every night for a while.
T-ball was rained out. I'm not watering my plants, for fear of drowning them.
Horrible floods in the southern part of the state...not so bad here, thank goodness.

And you know how pregnancy gives you cravings?
I am thirsty this pregnancy.
Strong preferences for milk and lemonade, also iced coffee.
Going through them at a fair clip around here.
and oranges too.
Although they are not beverages, obviously.

So my world is one of liquids this week. Strange, huh?

Friday5: Taking in the View

We need to take time out to take in the view.
It occurs to me that we need to do that more in life....

With that in mind here is the revgal Friday Five:

1. How important is the "big picture" to you, do you need a glimpse of the possibilities or are you a details person?
Details are for other people. Lets look at the BIG picture people. This is not to say that I won't do the details, ut some folks get so bogged down by details that they forget the larger purpose. Church does this a lot!

2. If the big picture is important to you how do you hold onto it in the nitty gritty details of life?

Um, don't sweat the small stuff? I try to keep the larger picture in view.

3. Name a book, poem, psalm, piece of music that transports to to another dimension
Can't think of something at the moment...

4.Thinking of physical views, is there somewhere that inspires you, somewhere that you breathe more easily?
The beach! The sound of the waves drowns out so much else and you always feel small in the face of the water and the horizon.

5. A picture opportunity... post one if you can ( or a link to one!)
Hmmmm. later, OK?

Summer meme

Mompriest has tagged me to play a meme. So, Here we go!

1.) What first tells you that Summer is here?
Heat? Crickets and frogs? I tend to run out of cocoa powder around May...
No, its probably the daylight.
We are at the western edge of the eastern time zone,
which means that we stay light really late here.
Soon it will be almost 10 when the sunsets.

2.) Name five of your favorite distinctively Summer habits or customs.
Breakout the cookouts! The sandals!

3.) What is your favorite smell of Summer?
Corn!
and sunscreen reminds me of the beach.
Flash said it a few weeks ago " I smell like Cape Cod!"

4.) What is your favorite taste of Summer?
Iced coffee, sweet enough to be melted coffee ice cream.
Corn
Tomatoes
Watermelon
Hot dogs...such a challenge now that I'm pregnant during another summer hot dog season. Pregnant women aren't supposed to eat hot dogs because of Nitrates. Sigh.

5.) Favorite Summer memory?....pick two:
Childhood trip to Tennesee with family.
Camp. I hope Flash will get to go to camp.
Oh and the Olympics!

6.) Extreme heat or extreme cold? Which would you choose and why?
Um neither. Hubby is hot natured and makes it too cold but I am not built for heat either.

7.) What books do you plan to read for the season?
My county is reading Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver this summer.
Also the new Janet Evanovitch and the new Rick Riordan "New Olympians" novel.
Otherwise I think I'll be reading to get up to date for the new job.

8.) How does the Summer affect your faith? Is it a hindrance or an ally?
Um, I don't think it has any affect really.
I love the relaxed atmosphere of summer church.
But I haven't really experienced summer church here yet.

At our church in New Jersey,
we were asked to submit our favorite hymns to be sung during the summer.
They'd try to find it and we'd sing it. Loved that.
I've tried to get Hubby to do that here, but he says this isn't the summer for it.
Too much change at once and all that...

So...If you read all this, tell me, what one hymn would you submit?
I often pick I Danced in the Morning, Earth and All Stars or I sing a Song of the Saints of God.

Decision made!

I said yes, and I told the principal I'm pregnant.
Seemed right and he was OK with it.
Said" You know, Kids are what we're all about"

This will be an interesting year, huh?
Ultimately, this is the kind of job I've been waiting for.
And its not quite full time, three full days and two half days.
And it seems like a good place to start,
small school, big school system with training opportunities.

Those drawbacks are still there...distance and a new baby.
But right now, I'm kinda excited.
Thanks for the prayers everyone!

Decision time

Here it is, the night before and I don't know what I'm going to say.
Yes or No.
Pregnant or "Mums the word"

My plan tomorrow is to visit the local principal and talk with him about my situation.
Because I've got a few issues:
1. the commute
2. the pregnancy
3. the local job.
Theres a big rumor that the elementary school librarian will retire next year.

Is it better for me, hoping to get that job, to take the "job-in-the-hand",
OR
Is it better to sub or aide or something in the local school next year
and then hopefully have the school librarian job the following year.

So conflicted. Ideally we'd be wealthy
and I'd sub a bit this year and have the baby and then worry about next year, next year.
But um, thats a dream.

Speaking of dreams...its late, time for bed.
You'll all know tomorrow!

THe job!

They offered it to me and I am taking the weekend to think about it.
If I wasn't pregnant I wouldn't give it another thought.
I'm a little worried about a new job, with a bit of a learning curve and being pregnant.
and a 40 minute commute each way.
But, its what I've been waiting for, right?
Hmmmmm

Friday5 Garage Sales

1) Are you a garage saler?
Yes, but its a spring/summer thing...not serious.
I usually have one each spring but not this year.
This year I am looking for baby stuff.

2) If so, are you an immediate buyer or a risk taker who comes back later when prices are lower?
I only buy what I'm looking for and usually pay the asking price,
unless I don't have the right change.

3) Seriously, if you're not a garage saler, you are probably not going to want to play this one.
(That wasn't really #3.)
3) This is the real #3: What's the best treasure you've found at a yard or garage sale?
A free toddler bed
that my son slept in for about a year
and currently is the sleeping space for sleepover guests and stuffed animal friends.

4)If you've done one yourself, at church or at home, was it worth the effort?
Yes. Always worthwhile to at the very least take inventory of the things you don't need
and get rid of them.
If the money is enough to take the family out for pizza afterwards...its time well spent.

5) Can you bring yourself to haggle?
Ooh, only if I don't have the right change. Otherwise, asking price.
Folks who charge weird prices shouldn't have garage sales.

BONUS: For the true aficionado: Please discuss the impact of Ebay, Craig's List, Freecycle, etc... on the church or home yard/garage sale.
I love Craigslist because its specific and convenient...for the most part.
Its better if you live in or near a city...not out here in the boonies.
Ebay is OK but I'm not really a huge fan.
Would love to get up the courage to sell some things on there myself.
A friend got a backyard play structure thing on Freecycle.
Just disassemble and move it yourself! So in general I'm in favor.

The big impact on Garage Sales hads been Antique Roadshow
and those types of shows. Now everyone charges more for their junk.
You often can do better at Church rummage sales because they are often priced by someone impartial. But all in all, I'm looking for what I'm looking for and will buy it for a reasonable price.

Latest Yard Sale Purchase: $3 fishing rod (hook, weights and the like not included).
Flash is enjoying pretending with it.

The Interview...

It went well. Very well.
Too well. Scary well.

Pros: Small school, great principal, 4 days a week,
paycheck, just looks like a good place to start.

Cons: 40 minute commute on a good day, pregnant.

When do I tell them?
I didn't say anything during the interview,
but I would feel terrible if I accepted the job and they didn't know.
It feels dishonest.
Advice please?
oh and prayers.

OOH!

Got a call for an interview! So excited!
Cross you fingers, or pray, for me around 2 on Thursday.
Its a school librarian job, about 40 minutes away and its not quite full time.
We'll see. This is the first promising job interview I've had in months.
and I'm beyond excited.

Today

Had a wonderful memorial day weekend, visiting with some friends from seminary.
What a nice nice weekend. And then today an email from another friend coming out this coming weekend! Abundance.

Also its the last week of school and strangely I had a little sub job today,
probably the last of this school year.
Flash is enjoying his last week of daycare.
Hubby is trying to do bulletins and Newsletters today.

The dogs have chased a critter into the dryer vent.
Is it cruel to turn on the dryer to chase it out again, if the dogs are penned up?
Seems like my only option. But I think I'll wait for it to find its way out.
Lots of phone calls to make today and I'm goofing off at the computer.

Friday5 on a Friday! OMG

It is a holiday weekend here in the US, so...

1. Getting ready for summer, do you use the gradual tanning moisturizers
or are you happy to show your winter skin to the world?
My winter white, with freckles, quickly changes to pink with more freckles in the sun.
I've never used a tanner, or tanning moisturizers, but I might consider it, I guess,
for a special occasion.

2.Beach, mountains or chilling by the pool, what/ where is your favorite getaway?
Beach, I think. Although I'm not opposed to any vacation that involves some water.

3.Are you a summer lover or does the long break become wearing?
I am having a long break now anyhow, and its a bit wearing.
I don't quite know what to do with myself. On the one hand I need a job, on the other hand,
I'm pregnant and its not usually an interview-winner.
Also there doesn't seem to be any childcare for babies in my town,
so even if I come up with something, I'll have to leave to have the baby
and then, who cares for it?
So it looks like subbing or some sort of part-time work will be it for this year.
I am kinda disappointed about it.
NOT the baby, I am thrilled about the baby,
I'm disappointed with my ongoing unemployment. Oh I am SO off-topic.

4.Active holidays; hiking swimming sailing, or lazy days?
Lazy days with a nice walk, or swim or something.
I need to do "something" everyday otherwise I feel like I've missed out.

5.Now to the important subject of food, if you are abroad do you try the local cuisine,
or do you prefer to play it safe?
Never been anywhere that different but, I eat seafood at the beach!
Does that count?

Bonus! We have patio furniture!
Vacation begins on the back porch as soon as the weather improves!