New Years Open House!

Its coming up...the annual open house.
Friday
1300 hours...
Why oh why do I do this?
OK...
Honestly I like to do a little entertaining.
We used to hold a weekly potluck back in NJ,
but here...the pressure is different, the judgement is different.
I'll let you know

Post christmas post

I need to stop reading some of my old friends on FB.
Cuz the jealousy is gettin me down.
We struggle, we're far from loved ones and we're following a call.
There are rewards to be sure...
But I'd sure like to be the one with hot and cold running free babysitting
while my husband and I spend the weekend away somewhere, by ourselves.

Just celebrated 13 years of marriage here
and I couldn't find a babysitter
and am still having trouble finding one for sometime this weekend...
So we went to the DQ with the kids. Fine but a little pitiful.
...the Pity Party continues

Christmas

It is 8:30 and it feels like midnight!
I am not sure that I had a great day.
or a good day...
isn't Christmas usually like that?
Lovely presents.
Too little sleep.
Happy children,
way too many presents.
Not enough napping except for the baby.
In-laws traveled and arrived and presents and dinner and...
Hmmmmm.
Maybe tomorrow will be more relaxed.
Hopefully.

Christmas Eve!

Christmas eve is strange now that we're a pastor's family.
No...thats not it...
Christmas eve is strange itself but now its more strange...
We said G'nite to Hubby at 5 and made up Spaghettios for the kids.
At home we made and arranged cookies for Santa, we sprinkled glitter for the reindeer, read Twas the Night before Christmas and I tucked them in for a "long winter's nap". Then straighten so Santa doesn't trip, welcome hubby home and then pool the presents, realize we have WAY too much for one kid and thankfully his birthday is in two months. Reorganize, renegotiate...and wrap!
Wow...
tomorrow begins early and ends late

Humbled

It seems I have to take it all back.
I mean... I take it all back.
Today we were appreciated. I was appreciated.

Church members sent a meaningful and fun gift for our family:
a membership to the zoo!
AND
We received an anonymous gift card for our family...
AND
the local women's gym is giving a free year's membership to the pastor's wives in town!
REALLY.

Christmas!

I love the 2 weeks off of a school job.
Love it.
But the pastor thing is tough.
...wish it was easier.

January is looking weird too.

Experiment day

Today I got to try that Diet Coke and Mentos experiment.
About 12 kids who were "caught being good" got to see it as a treat.
You drop mentos into a 2 liter and it erupts!
I didn't use enough mentos but it still was very cool.
Went up about 3 or 4 feet

The school is really behind these little treats for kids who've behaved and it seems to be working across the board. The gym teacher let them ride scooters for 15 minutes one afternoon, the music teacher let them play drums, the secretary is going to let them copy things on the color copier apparently next week. Little things, mostly experiences rather than a thing.

Little treats. I need to think about other things I could do when my turn comes around again!

Sunday was OK

This Sunday was a little better. Flash went with the kids to buy toys for the town Christmas Basket project. Cosy happily played kitchen in the nursery with a nice grandma. I sat in the back row...with Hubby. We had a guest preacher, doing a neutral pulpit. He was really good and it was nice to have hubby with me in the pew for a change. Its been a long while.

Hubby had things to do after church so Flash, Cosy and I went to the book store to "get presents". We ended up with the next Magic Tree house book, a Pokemon paperback and a calendar for Grammie.

Followed by pizza at home for the 4 of us. No decorating happened at all...maybe next week!

Thanksgiving

We did the marathon Thanksgiving this year.
My mom said she was getting everyone together and she almost did.
So we went.
12 hours...each way...
uphill...
OK not uphill.
And we couldn't leave until Wed at 2.
And we needed to be back for Sunday worship.
So
basically
a really long drive
with a fantastic party in the middle.

but most importantly,
Flash saw his beloved Cousin
a 6th grader
and they were attached at the hip for 2 glorious days.

Crazy Cosy

Last night Cosy
ate mascara
and dove into Flash's bath.
all in the span of 15 minutes.
She's fast and fearless these days.
She eats interesting things too, not just cosmetics...
they gave her pickle spears at church one day and she ate 3 of them.

Fantasy Football

This fall I've been participating in an online Fantasy Football league.
I did it for several reasons.
1. Maybe I'll enjoy the games more if I have someone to cheer for.
2. Seemed like inexpensive fun.
And it is...I am really enjoying it most of the time.
And I like to talk about my team, as if they are my team...
Flash and I discussed uniform colors for my team one night.
Banana yellow.
And my stepdad suggested that I should make up t-shirts and send them to my "players"
as I said...just for fun.
Anyhow, my team is going very well and it seems like we'll make the playoffs.
Silly, but fun.

Chuch Slump

I went back to church today.
In the past few months I've been home sick from church 3 times...mostly for Flash.
Its been a nice reprieve.
I am in a church slump, and I haven't even been there much.

The last few times I've been there I've been the nursery person for Cosy
because the volunteer hasn't shown up.

Hubby leaves for church earlier and we arrive just in time for worship.
It works for us in that our Church behavior isn't wasted on pre-church stuff.
So this morning I'm back
...in the Nursery.
If I'm in the nursery with Cosy, there isn't anyone to sit with Flash
and he's happier with me anyhow...until Children's church,

What is the point of getting them dressed and out of the house
if we're only gonna be in the nursery?

Today they did a nice craft in children's church, Cosy had a lovely nap in nursery and after worship we hung the greens and had a little lunch, so...OK... it was worthwhile.

But I'm tired of this church and its stick in the mud, seeker unfriendly, assimilate or go away attitude. If you make the pastor's wife feel so unwelcome...no wonder everyone wants to go to the fun church in town. I want to go there too.

Cosy walks!

Yes Ladies and gentlemen, she walks!
Last weekend she was taking the two steps from the ottoman to the coffee table.

But she's gaining confidence and toddling boldly!
Tonight while I was reading to Flash,
Hubby called out that Cosy had just emerged from the bathroom walking
and holding a bottle of squeezy soap.
She almost made it to the middle of the living room with a big proud smile.

In contrast, I heard last night that my niece, a high school sophmore, tore her ACL in a Field Hockey game. Tonight I heard that her brother, a junior, tore his ACL in a soccer game. So Cosy is walking better than both of them.

Wonderful day

Sometimes wonderful days don't start off so well.
A difference of opinion, a difference of expectations.
Everyone running at the last minute, grouch grouch.
It lasted a little too long this morning
but perhaps thats just because of how EARLY the morning starts some days.
But after a while...we went to town for errands and chatted the whole way there.
Drop some things off at Goodwill, shopped for kid clothes at the 2nd hand shop
( ute things too...my Flash will enjoy his new superhero shirts), grocery run.
Big grocery run.
Lots of groceries.
A lovely Mexican lunch at a very colorful place.
Cosy ate a LOT of refried beans... should be interesting later
and then we went to get Flash from school.
Played Outside in the crisp fall air,
indoor cookout
made cookies, read books and bed by 7:30. Woohoo!

And looking over the day...great day.
Sorry for the morning grouching...tomorrow will be better.

The flu

Flash has been sidelined by the flu...maybe even H1N1. Basically a high fever and a cough n' sniffle with very little appetite. So we've had an uneventful weekend. Actually it was Fall Break so he's been sick Thursday night through til now. Luckily we didn't have any real plans. We're riding out the 24-hour-fever-free requirements of the school now. At least I hope we are.

I always figure I'll get a lot done at home when a child is sick...but the house ends up messier and messier anyhow. I'm throwing him in the tub in a little while and maybe I can tackle a pile. These piles are amazing! I rarely file anything so it stacks up, then theres mail and Flash's school papers and Things Hubby shouldn't have brought home from church. Notice I leave myself out of this huh? Well a lot of it is mine too I guess. Then there are laundry stacks too. I am behind and I don't know when I'll catch up!

But maybe the saying "a clean desk is a sign of a misspent life" is true.

Life in the corn

He took this call 2 years ago. And on good days I'm glad.
Good things that have happened here:
Our little girl, Cosy. She's gorgeous and almost 1! Birthday on Thanksgiving.
A few friend-aquaintences, mostly because of Flash
A change of career-sorta for me from public librarian to school media specialist.
Flash, who is a big kindergartener now. And can read a few words!
our home, which is about right for us.

Hope you are well.

August

Since I last blogged we've been to PA and back to visit my folks. Saw my Dad and sister and Flash got to hang out with his favorite cousin. He cried when he said goodbye to him, saying that he'd "Miss him the most". Sobbing really. Got to meet my sister's new boyfriend and he seems nice. Showed off the baby to sister, dad, stepmom, aunt and one of Mom's best friends. A quick trip is good for some reasons, less time for my mom and hubby to get on each other's nerves. Hard to dfrive that much though! I AM NEVER doing that kind of trip again. 14 hours on Monday, 14 hours on Friday and 4 hours on Wednesday! Lots of miles and lots and lots of patience on the part of my little brood.

School starts this coming week. I, as the school Librarian, am already "in", But the kids come to my school Thursday. Flash starts Kindergarten on Wednesday. I think he's a little nervous, because he's been chewing on his shirt. Gwen starts back to daycare on Tuesday and she's changed so much this summer. I wonder if she and her babysitter will recognize each other!
Its been a strange but wonderful summer.

The clubhouse

One of the many many amazing things I was going to do this summer
was turn our unused shed into a "clubhouse".
For lots of reasons we only got around to painting it today!
We painted it white on the inside to try to brighten it up a bit...its sort of dark.
Hubby and a friend are talking about installing a window, for ventilation.
I have my hopes but I don't know if it'll happen before school begins.
So now we'll put in tables and chairs and ...
I don't know what else, that's up to Flash! I'll try to post a picture tomorrow.
For now, picture a garden shed, painted white inside,
with the doors held open by terra-cotta planters.

Home again home again

jiggity
jig
Well, I'm home from the city. With bags of book samples and posters
Back in corn country in time for a night at the county fair!
Cows, sheep, rabbits and chickens vying for prizes.
The pigs arrive tomorrow morning between 5 and 7. So I am told.
Sewing, woodworking, corn, soybeans, other veggies,
cake decorating, legos, scrapbooking, electronics.
Its 4-H heaven.

And there are concerts, moon bounces and pony rides.
Tonight Hubby's group served BBQ brisket (YUM) at their booth.
and we have leftovers...

Chicago part2

Well Hubby did bring them up and it went very very well.! Flash was very good in the Exhibit Hall. It helped that so much of it was kid focused. He may have even helped to perfect a computer program for kids. He also built a tower with some fun building toys, drew on a smartboard and received a balloon animal cat. Oh and books. They came around 11 and stayed until 2:30. I thought that maybe my momma's oy would be sad to go home and leave me at the conference, but no. He was happy to watch a DVD in the van and say See you tomorrow Mommy". I was also worried about Cosy but she was happy to see me, happy to ride in the stroller and smile at conference attendees and happy to be buckled in to go home. While we were together she was changed twice, sucked down a bottle and a half and napped. Its a big life.

Hotel next time..

Chicago

My last post was almosta month ago and I think it said something about blogging more during the summer break...oh well. Too much of my limited computer time is now wasted on Facebook I guess. Theres a difference though and that difference is anonimity...although I have 3 revgal Facebook Friends. I need to get back in though, if only for my sanity.

So what have I been doing?
Having summer vacation with Flash and Cosy. We watch cartoons and play and go to the library and have playdates. We've been to the museum, the nice park in the college town nearby ( the one with the train!) had lots of picnics,swim lessons, VBS. I've painted the front door of the house a lovely shade of blue (needs a second coat). We spent a week and a half in GA with Hubby's family at the beach. Right now I'm in Chicago at the Librarian's conference. Just soaking up some city! I've walked and walked and enjoyed the anoninmity...see there it is again. Had some really good chinese food last night. Still trying to figure out a trip to the water park and home to see my folks in PA.

My sister and Dad have still not seen Cosy and she's 7 months old. Yeah, I'd rather them come out here but thats unlikely. Very frustrating being this far away. My sister is in school and she's a single mom and a massage therapist, so she has some good excuses. My Dad has been sick this year and I don't know how bad it is but he's not interested in travelling this far. Cirrohsis. So I shall move the mountain to Mohammed...somehow.

But I didn't even bring my day planner on this trip! So I can't work on it now. Hubby says he may bring the kids up here to the city today to see me and go to the exhibits. I'm not sure its a good idea. I think it will upset the kids since I'm not coming home until Sunday and the exhibits are a work thing. Flash isn't all that well behaved. So I'm trying to convince him that, if he comes up, we should go to the park or the museum. I WILL write tonight and say how it went.

And I have to post something about this hotel...grrr.

GA here we come!

I have been working on packing all week and now its here and its not done!
We leave right after church and Hubby isworking on his sermon and NOT PACKING!
and we had a busy day after 2 weeks of busy busy for Hubby.
Two funerals,one of a beloved member/former choir director,
lots of pre-marital counseling and a sticky church thing.
Lots of meeting, nights, days off and it will be so good to get GONE!
Goals for vacation (ironic I know):
1. pedicure
2. movie night with Hubby
3. Perhaps movie with Flash...
4. beach beach pool beach
We'll be there with Hubby's family
and get to see his newly engaged brother so it should be a party!

Summertime Playlist

I've been working in the back of my mind on a summertime playlist
...here's what I'm thinking of:
Summertime by Will Smith
That Summer Song by Kid Rock that came out this year
The Kenny Chesney song that talks about Yoohoo.
(I used to love Yoohoo...haven't had one in years.)
and...oh dear... what else?
If you have an idea let me know.

The playlist that gets the most "play" around here is kid's music.
Naturally.
It has the Transformers Pokemon and Spiderman theme songs
a great little song called
"It only takes one Night to Make a balloon your friend"
by a group called Lunch Money.
Flash loves this song and sings it often.
Also the Pink Pigie Polka Pancake Picnic
Hamster Dance, Cha Cha Slide, I like to Move it Move It.
and this song called "Gotta be me" by Agent 23 Skidoo.
They do a nice song about "Luck" too.
I am really enjoying my new-to-me iPod. Can you tell?

About Flash...

I named him Flash for the blog several years ago
because of his speed and energy level
and frankly...it fits him very very well.
He loves to pretend
and has decided to be a superhero when he grows up
and he has chosen his superhero name!
And it isn't Flash...its Cheetah Man.
I'll continue to call him Flash here,
but he'd probably prefer Cheetah Man.

Coming to the end...

Tomorrow is my last day of school. Woohoo!
Ok honestly I have to go to a training on Thursday
but that's offsite so I don't think it counts.
Today I tidied the books,
moved a collection from one bank of shelves to another
and redid all the signs.
Kind of a big undertaking but nice to be able to do it in one fell swoop.

Had a nice stormy night with the kids while Hubby went to the VBS meeting.
Some coloring, reading and playing
with an intermission for fruit cocktail (a Flash favorite).

Our VBS is next week during the evenings and it will be uninspired.
I'll go and help and Flash will have fun but...
I am rebelling (with Hubby's blessing)
Flash's signed up for VBS at another church in town later in the summer!
They really "do it up" over there.
Ha!

Out of the mouths

The children participants in our children's message are usually 4th graders with my Flash (5). Last Sunday it was just Flash and another 5 yr old.
But the person doing the lesson didn't adjust...and ended up asking these two
"What does "eternal" mean?"
Flash raised his hand and said that "it means sleeping during the day and waking up at night".
Nocturnal.

The lady doing the lesson said that no, it meant living forever...and went on from there.
But I could see my son's mind click off.
He gave the right answer and she doesn't know what she's talking about
...funny to watch.

Meanwhile Cosy is not fond of applesauce. She tastes it makes a face and then opens her mouth again as if the next bite may be good. Maybe she likes the novelty...but we're giving up on applesauce for a while. Hate to watch that little face wrinkle up.

almost a month later...

When we last saw our hero...
I am hoping that the end of school will allow me to start paying more attention to the blog.
The kids are out on Wednesday and I'm in until the following Thursday. School is coming to an end here in corn country. Then begins a summer of kid chasing I guess.

My mom was here for a week ( a week in which she managed to miss BOTH church services...and hubby is miffed. She also tried to give him advice on how to attract people to the church...when she hasn't attended church for 30+ years. There's lots of tension there, not just because of church but...) She got a lot of things done around the house though. I wish I could get as much done in a week as she does. She's a great gardener too.

Reading the latest Percy Jackson novel. Cosy started eating cereal today and she liked the spoon more than the food! Flash has been very...moody. I don't know whats going on with him at all.

and I'm craving pie.

Monday monday

Very tired. the weekend was very taxing on the family. 4 congregation members have died in the past week. Funerals, visitations, and community events and meetings plus church and poor pastor-hubby's birthday. He seems to be handling it all but I am fried. Just not enough sleep and things at the house are overly messy. My garage sale is this coming weekend and I don't think I'll have any help at all. We are swapping nights all over the place this week. He's out tonight, I'm out tomorrow night, then we're splitting Wednesday. Meeting for him Thursday and on and on.

I'm also trying to figure out who will take care of Flash and Cosy on June 4. Its my last day at school and they've scheduled an all-day training so I can't bring the baby. Daycare is over on the 3rd for both kids and Hubby has COM an hour away. We don't have family anywhere nearby and we hesitate to use church members for the most part. Can you imagine having an older church member stay at your house with your kids all day?? Too intrusive. I'd worry all day, and this after I spent the prior few days cleaning the house more than I would for my own father!

Still having problems with church as you can tell, I guess. Got all emotional last night about it. I am getting ready for my biyearly "worship-somewhere-else"...if I have the nerve to do it. Or maybe I'll wimp out and enjoy worship when we go on vacation in a month and a half.

Pictures: Cosy

Oh too long!

Its been too long, I know.
My life doesn't seem conducive to blogging at the moment.

Flash has been sick and so has Cosy.
I took a sick day last week to take care of them...Hubby had a funeral that day.
Cosy has gotten better but Flash's is lingering.
Last week at the grocery store he said he was too tired to walk anymore so I put him in the grocery cart, and he curled up in the cart and fell asleep. Really. He's 5! We had to tuck the groceries around him. Sounds heartless doesn't it?
Last night he turned off his cartoon and went back to his bedroom to get into Batman PJs
2 chapters of Ramona and off to sleep.
It was only 7.
So he's on the mend I think.

So, I've been sleeping when I can
and trying very hard to keep the house habitable.

So I'm off to read a bit...the latest Artemis Fowl...and then snoozeland for me

Friday5 on a Sunday

So being in a domestic frame of mind I thought I'd ask;

1. What is the one appliance you simply couldn't be without?
Hmmm. Toaster come to mind but perhaps I'm thinking too narrowly.
Washer and Dryer oh yes.

2. What if anything would you happily give up?
Iron. I hate to iron. Is an iron an appliance?

3. What is the most strangest household appliance you own?
Pizelle maker is rather unusual but not truly odd, right?

4. What is the most luxurious household appliance you own?
Waffles are luxurious, don't you think? OK no but I have a nice waffle iron that hasn't seen any use in a long long time. My mom has one that makes Mickey Mouse shaped waffles

5. Tell us about your dream kitchen- the sky is the limit here....
Bigger, more open and ant free!

hmmmm

Fell behind on my blogging again!
Here's what on my mind...
1. Hubby and Flash are ill this weekend.
2. The lady who took care of Cosy in nursery during church didn't know to attach the diaper with the sticky tabs and repacked the dirty one into the diaper bag...hmmm.
3. Flash's school play was fantastic and we have it on tape to show the grandparents when and if they come to visit.
4. I am REALLY going to try to get home for Thanksgiving even though its a pain to travel then.
5. I think my Dad is sicker than he's letting on.
6. There are 3 big boxes of brand new children's books sitting in my office waiting for me!
7. Hair color
8. Home repair and my garage sale.
9. Cosy has discovered her toes and she likes them. I am dressing her in feetless outfits so she can play with them.
10. Something chocolate would be lovely right now.

Happy Easter!

What a fantastic day. I hope yours was too.

And the best part is that Lent is over and I have been watching Hubby doing Sudoku puzzles all afternoon. That counts as relaxation, right?!

However he neglected to take tomorrow off as I suggested.
I'm hoping he'll shirk or goof-off.
Is that weird or what?

How to not sell a jacket

I now have a spring jacket.
Yay!
It was mis-sized...I am convinced of it.
Let's pretend that the jacket is marked as a 2x.
But really its a 1x or maybe smaller.
So who will buy this jacket?
A 2x lady will try it on, feel horrible and stalk away.
A smaller lady won't look at the jacket because its marked as a 2x.
but I bought it because it fit, just about...and on clearance...for $11.

Easter Party!

The Friday5 was way too much for me. Made me glad that I didn't go to seminary!
No, really I loved seminary...I only tagged along though.

But I did go to a fantastic Preschool Easter Party today. We taste tested jelly beans and made a graph from the results. Green won...I was very surprised. I voted for red.

We did a little shopping today and got 2 dozen eggs....I really need to get busy on the Easter traditions and soon. Tomorrow is the town's egg hunt. I need to make egg casseroles for Sunday's church breakfast and hunting eggs for Flash. I'm wondering about the Easter bunny. Is he believable? And does it matter. I'm so ready to Easter to be over. No, take that back...Lent, I'm so ready for Lent to be over.

Flash is excited for the Egg Hunt. Cosy has a choice of dresses to wear, all hand-me-down. I am hoping for Some peace tomorrow morning and in the evening to get things done around here. And a nap on Sunday afternoon, if its possible.

The view from here.

OK, I was a little put out by the change of weather.
Spring and then Winter again, complete with snow.
But I was not nearly as uncomfortable as the shorn sheep I pass on my way to work!

It is a beautiful drive to work. Sun breaking over the farmland.
Muddy creeks, wooded hills.
Cows, sheep, goats and a wandering basset hound.
Big sky.
When its mostly open field and flat...you really can see for miles and see that big big sky.
In the evenings we like to look for "sky scrapes" or contrails from planes in the distance.
Its beautiful country.
It really is.

Friday5???? On Friday???

Holy week is upon us and that makes this week very busy for pastors and their families. Palm/Passion Sunday church, naturally. Then we'll be having a 6-church Easter Cantata on Sunday afternoon followed by a potluck dessert. I am singing in the choir! Hubby and the kids will be watching and listening I suppose. We have a Maundy thursday service and of course Easter is Coming. Just a busy busy week. I'm not sure that we actually slow down enough for Holy Week. It just seems like a rush to the finish...I mean Easter. Sad though, huh? I will try to put some holiness in my Holy week. And I'll start it here with the Friday 5.

1.What restores you physically? Pump up the volume and dance! Hubby fixed my Ipod and I need to just boogie down in the kitchen. i need one of those little speaker things so I can "share" the music" but thats for another time!

2. What strengthens you emotionally/ mentally? This takes more time I think. Its more deliberative. I tend to be optimistic most of the time...OK during the day. What I need is a party really. I guess I'll have to try to do something there.

3. What encourages you spiritually? I'm just not doing this at all. Used to have my bible study...I am too distracted at church. I have a few Christian Rock songs that I listen to and really "feel" and I occaisionally open my devotional. This has REALLY fallen off for me.

4. Share a favourite poem or piece of music from the coming week.
OK!
Brighter Day with Kirk Franklin. You can get it on itunes. Make sure to blast it and sing along.

5.There may be many services for you to attend/ lead over the next week, which one are you most looking forward to and why? If there aren't do you have a favourite day in Holy week if so which one is it?
Nope. I guess whatever day has the egg hunt!

Back to Work.

And it was OK.
Here's a picture of Cosy at her baptism.

Today

snow.
today.
really
Flash asked "Can it snow in spring?"
We pointed out the window and shrugged.

Cosy was especially sweet today too. Happy about everything, quiet and sweet.
She even enjoyed Choir, for a while, but she needed a change and that wasn't choir's fault!

In fantastic news my Alma mater is in the Final Four
and is playing the college I grew up near.
Like...climb the back fence and I could join the line at the dining Hall ...near.
The big game is next Friday!

anon

I am having a hard time with church, folks.
I am thankful to have somewhere I can talk, uncensored.

There's too much "inside baseball" as Hubby would term it.
Not only do I know too much, I know things won't change.

I enjoyed church for a few years there.
I go, resentfully to church these days.
And I want to go somewhere else.

Sometimes this pastor's wife gig sucks.

At the library

I'm at the library again. Flash is on another computer playing a scooby-doo game, Hubby is feeding the baby and Cosy is...um...eating. I am on the computer! Its amazing the things we use the computer for now isn't it? I had to dig out the phone book the other day!

Hubby has some hospital visits today so we're tagging along. Thank heavens for a DVD player in the van. We've picked up a scooby-doo movie to help us out today. Hospital is about 30 min. away in the big town where we do shopping. After the visits we are going bowling. I think Flash will enjoy it! Our spring break is a bit tame, but hopefully relaxing and maybe I'll get a few things done.

Things are going alright around here most days. I have threatened Hubby that I am not returning to church until he gets the guy who sings to stop telling a joke before he sings...during worship...between the scripture and the sermon...every week. Its just wrong in my opinion and I know there are others who agree with me. Its just that the guy is a passive-agressive bully. I know when Hubby tells him to stop, the next time he sings he will say "The pastor told me not to tell a joke so I guess I'll just sing". Grrr.

Its easy to make my threat by the way. First, its kind of an empty threat and Secondly, we don't have worship at our church next week anyhow. On the 5th Sundays we have joint worship with the Lutherans. They don't have a pastor at the moment, so Hubby's still on the hook for a sermon, but they'll do everything else. We also get together with them for VBS. This year its a safari theme and we'll learn the Lord's Prayer.

Well, gotta get on with the day! Looks like the natives are restless.

Saturday5: Hope!

Share with us five signs of hope that you can see today or have experienced in the past.
1. Today we took my bike to the repair shop and bought one for Hubby. Together we've lost about 40 lbs. since new baby was born, and now we'll have bikes!
2. New baby continues to grow by leaps and bounds and Flash is 3 foot 8! Most nights I get to sleep.
3. Had no voice on Monday and Tuesday and struggled with it the rest of the week. I'll go to choir practice on Sunday and probably be able to do it!
4. My NCAA bracketts are holding up OK. More games tonight!
5. Hubby will have a new work computer in about a week so I'll probably be able to blog again. It has been really hard having NO COMPUTER at all. Surprisingly so, frankly.
6. Spring break is here! Weather has been fantastic and I am on the lookout for an inexpensive spring jacket. By the time I find what I want hopefully: a. It'll be hot enough not to need one, b. I'll be skinnier and c. It'll be time to look for a fall jacket.
7. I made my plans to go to the big ALA conference in Chicago this summer and I'm brining the family! Woohoo!
8. I talked with all of my family members this week. Everyone is doing well.
9. I'll have a new computer automation system at the library when I get back, and I am confident that it will be better and make life easier.
10. I am on my blog today and at the library with only the baby...doesn't that sound hopeful, just by itself!!!

oh where oh where...

Last October or September our personal computer died.
This month Hubby's work laptop died and that pretty much toasts my computer usage.
I can use a computer at work...but not blog or facebook. Just a little covert email.
So, that's where I've been. There is no money for a new personal computer at this time and Hubby is hashing out with the church about a new laptop. With two kids and the church and the job I don't have a lot of time to use the public libraries computers like I am today. And frankly, I don't have a lot of time today.
I am resentful of all this, since these things are my recreation and my link to all things not-Indiana. Pastor's wife thing is grating right now. Very tired of our church and I know too much of the petty stuff for my own good. Would love to stay home or go somewhere else where no one knows me, but...can't.
Our local churches are having a Palm Sunday joint worship with a joint choir and I joined, but it is taking up some more of my time on the weekends and I've ended up really disliking it. I had hoped that we'd do some new music, unlike our usual traditional to the point of a boredom music but its same-old-same-old, and perhaps, some of it a bit more dirge-like. Can't bail though.
My school is throwing together a nice baby shower for another teacher who is having a baby in another month and I can't help but remember that nothing was done for me. Its just another acceptance thing.
In other news, happier news. Cosy Baby is great, growing big and happy. Sleeping like a dream most nights. Flash has broken out the sidewalk chalk again and made a new friend last week who is interested in Transformers. And Spring Break is coming soon. We aren't going anywhere really, but we'll head off to the museum to see the Lego exhibit and perhaps find time for a date night...its been ages and ages.
So, to sum up...grump grump, grump, complain and whine.

Choir

I sang in a multichurch choir today.
I haven't sung in a choir since high school.
I can hold my own though.

It was weird being described several times as The pastor's wife though...
chafing a bit a church these past few weeks.
I'd like church to be...different.
Thats another long post on another day when I have time and energy.

We had a Games Night tonight at church to raise money to send some of our kids to camp.
Spaghetti and games. It was a nice evening.

Baptism

Oops...don't have pictures of the baptism yet.
But she was baptized on Sunday and looked very nice.
Flash even said "Now she belongs to our church!"
We had a lovely brunch out afterwards
at a surprisingly nice place right here in our town!

Flash is 5

And we had a costume party!
Now that he's 5 he can chew gum.
Tomorrow he'll have his 5 year-old doctor appointment and shots.
Afterwards we're going to get a Bionicle with his Birthday money.
Woohoo!

Where does the time go???

I am having a hard time keeping up with the blog,
between work and home.
The baby is wonderful... a pretty good sleeper and just adorable.
Not yet 3 months.

Flash is turning 5 tomorrow!
He gets to chew gum starting tomorrow...house rule.
So I bought him a pack.
Sugarfree bubble gum flavor.
He's bringing ice cream sandwiches to school instead of cupcakes.
His choice.

We'll have his party on Saturday.
Invited a few kids from school and t-ball.
Its a costume party, since he's often in costume.
He'll be spiderman or a firefighter...he hasn't decided.

Grandma and Grandpa are coming for the weekend...
for Flash's birthday, and for the baby's baptism.
We're doing the baptism low key.
Hubby would like to be the Daddy, so a pastor friend of his is doing the service.
His parents and the congregation.
My folks will come for a visit in Spring...when the weather is better.
And its better that we don't have everyone descend on our little town at once.

So...birthdays baptisms and the requisite housecleaning
Oh and a sick dog.
and work of course.
Just busy and distracted.
But a good busy and a good distracted!

Where am I?

Sorry about being so erratic here. New baby makes timing and typing difficult. But things are going well here, bunch of snow days finishing up my licensing paperwork today is my goal. So i'd better get off the computer and off to the library. Diaper change first though!

Briefly

I went back to work last Tuesday and it went really well.
Hubby dropped the kids off at daycare
so all I had to do was get ready and go!
I'm nursing and formula feeding
and I'd started the schedule a week earlier,
so I am mostly comfortable and the baby is really fine.
She's is a very good baby and likes food in whatever form.

Nice to be back, everyone seemed happy to see me.
Hubby made me a little photo album to show around so I had pictures.
We had a computer software update while I was gone
so I needed to catch up and get the school rolling on it.

It was a shortened week so I didn't have to tough it out for long.
So, now we've had a weekend and tomorrow I start over again.
Except we have car trouble now and I'm going to have a strange day.
I think I'm dropping of the kids and driving to school and reversing in the afternoon.
Not sure how Hubby is working it out on his end...
but I hope he gets the car worked on.
This can't go on for too many days
Right?

Cabin Fever Friday 5

5 ways to beat cabin fever...
1. Movies, saved up DVR shows, etc.
2. cooking...get out the cookbooks!
3. baths and all that girlie grooming stuff we never have an opportunity to do.
4. tinfoil superheroes...oh yeah!
5. Start your novel
6. redecorate or rearrange the furniture
7. Get your spring garage sale organized
8. Break out the old exercise tapes/DVD and boogie
9. Order your seed catalog and start planning your garden
10. uh...use your computer!

big sigh

I go back to work in one week.

Monday

The guys went off to work and school today
and the baby and I are trying to clean up carpet stains
with my new gizmo
and take down Christmas things.
Tonight Hubby has a meeting in a nearby town,
so we're tagging along for dinner and some shopping.
Also taking a LOT of things by goodwill.
Some baby things and Maternity wear!
Hooray!

Pancakes on a banner day

The Friday Five is about pancakes and I would write more if I could but I'm in the library with a baby that may squawk at any moment. Suffice it to say that I love pancakes, use the boxed stuff, Aunt Jemima's syrup and mix usually in my big skillet on the stove. Hubby and Flash like margarine and cinnamon sugar, I like butter and syrup. My favorite breakfast places are The Red Cottage in Dennis Cape Cod MA, Breadmans in Chapel Hill NC and The Stone House in my cute little town.

But my smallish big news is Baby sleeping 11-6 and Flash being dry 2 nights in big boy unders.Could we be done with pull-ups? Stay tuned!

1 year

Tonight is the 1 year anniversary of the floods in our area.
So tonight there is a dinner and remembrance service at our church.
Hubby is doing the service.
65 survivors and volunteers are expected.

Hard to believe its been a whole year.
We'd only been here two months when it happened.
Our church was an emergency shelter for a week.
Our clothes closet was open for a month,
rather than its usual once a month.
So many things were donated and distributed.
There were work volunteers sleeping in the middle school gym this summer.
And that's just what I know about it; Hubby is on the long range recovery committee.

Everyone watches the creeks and rivers more closely this winter.
I know I do.

Sleep

Ah absence makes the heart grow fonder...
We had two bad nights in a row.
Hubby was up until 2 and then I had the rest of the night.
Grouchy snappy morning but we all pulled it together to do something for Flash.
We went to Build-It day at Home Depot
followed by lunch at a fast food place with an indoor playground.
Its a treat because the Home Depot ( and most other things) are a half hour away.
But necessary because that kid needs some exercise!
And some focus on him that is positive.
Its only January and we're beginning to feel the cabin fever a bit.

When we got home we all had naps!
Cosy Baby and I had a feeding time in between but everyone got at least an hour.
And guess what?
We all turned back into civilized people!
Really!

Tomorrow is a Church Day so we'll be up and out early tomorrow.
Hubby is preaching Epiphany...and we have a difference of opinion on how it should be discussed.
He'll probably mention how we don't know how many there were for sure...
Um...the song says three.
And I learned their names as a kid...and he doesn't agree with that either.
So, I go into church tomorrow thinking that the sermon will be...disappointing.
One of the preacher's wife pitfalls.

New Year Friday5

Five things to remember/treasure from 2008:
New Baby
New Job in a slightly different field
Flash's summer of sidewalk chalk
Taking classes at the Children's Museum
Finding some almost-friends here in our town.

Five hopeful things for 2009:
New baby's first year
Flash will start Kindergarten in the Fall
Vacation this summer, we hope.
New glasses...sometime this month
Getting my permanent teaching license.

OK these are all personal...but I am hopeful for bigger things too.