Family Archives - Page 16 of 26

Pick It Up Yourself

A year ago I babysat for a friend while her husband was in the hospital. She’d been so busy with work, three kids, and sick husband that her house needed some help. We made a game of it with the kids and had a contest to see who could pick up the most clothes and toys. The winner got to hang out with my teenagers! Of course, all the kids won because my daughters entertained while I made dinner.

My hope is that the kids continued to pick up after themselves so they wouldn’t turn into the pretentious jerk-head that Grandfille writes about on At your service, milady.

I: “There is a piece of paper that’s laid in the floor in my office for THREE WEEKS. And they will not do anything about it. I cannot believe it!”

G:(thinking) “?!?!?!??”

(saying) “Are you saying they’re not vacuuming properly?”

I: “NO! That piece of paper has been lying there in front of my desk for three weeks and they won’t touch it! I have complained about it, too. That’s completely unacceptable.”

It reminds me of a lady I used to work with who called the custodian “the maid.” Wow people… really?

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Advent Calendar

by Kathy T. Leave a Comment

I never remember the Christmas countdown calendars until several days in December have already passed. I’ve always found the very not-the-reason-for-the-season Santa Claus countdown calendars wherein children are rewarded with chocolates.

But Malia. This year she may have waited until the last minute like I do, but she didn’t shirk her Mom duties. She is a wonder woman! Her children will countdown the days of Advent in a great family-friendly way. Here are some of her fabulous activity ideas the kids will find throughout the month:

Eat dessert first (brownies with peppermint ice cream)
What’s in the cookie jar? (it won’t be cookies! it will be an, as of yet undetermined, treat)
Drive around and look at Christmas lights in our pajamas.

I want to move in with Malia.

Photo from Mad Silence.

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Stuffing Is NOT An Abomination!

by Kathy T. Leave a Comment

My friend Slartibartfast (aka Tom) takes issue with stuffing, which I happen to think is one of the BEST foods ever. He prefers dressing, where I solidly land in the “Meh” category of food,

Let me be clear: stuffing is an abomination.

It dries out the turkey, it introduces harmful bacteria, and it’s a serious misuse of breadcrumbs. And I’d really rather not stick my arm up the inner cavity of a bird any more than I have to.

Dressing, more specifically cornbread dressing, is one of the greatest foods ever created. Done right, it is moist but not soggy, flavorful but not pungent, and compliments the turkey perfectly. It’s good as a leftover, and I even like it cold, right out of the refrigerator.

Stuffing with giblets, giblet gravy, real potato mashed potatoes, drooooool.

What do you prefer? Stuffing or dressing?

Photo by Rocksee through Flickr Creative Commons.

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Oranges In Time for Thanksgiving

by Kathy T. Leave a Comment

I love ordering oranges from the high school band and was actually a bit bummed to have missed a year or two when I didn’t have any band connections. But this year, the fruit is in!

I guess if I lived in New Hampshire closer to my brother, getting navel oranges three or four times a year wouldn’t be a problem.

I had bought an extra 28 cases of fruit, and as of this writing, I have only 14 left unsold. We will take that to Sam’s Club Monday evening and try to sell the rest of it. I am quite confident that people will snap it up too, but that remains a matter of faith.

I couldn’t imagine buying extra anything for any of my kids’ fundraisers, so kudos for that brave act! I’ve got to go get on some Vitamin C now – warding off scurvy and all that…

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Two Left Feet …

by Kathy T. Leave a Comment

Once upon a lifetime ago, I sat on my parents’ front porch putting on my shoes. All the while, I bragged about how smart I was. I was in college and knew just about everything! My speech class was great fun, I was doing fab in Algebra, loved English Literature… I was on fire!

While I happily babbles about my great intellectual prowess, I just couldn’t get the shoe on. Finally I looked down and saw I was trying to connect my left shoe with my right foot. It was not my proudest moment!

This story about his beautiful disaster son shared by Jason on Occasion’s of Osborns reminded me of my past,

He just had to have the BLACK shoes. There were “COOL” as he informed me. I could care less as I would not be wearing them and barely have to look at said shoes. So on Tuesday, upon arriving at the lanes after opening up his bag and putting his ball on the rack he prepared to change form his street shoes to his bowling shoes.When what did he find in his bag but… that’s correct 2 right shoes! Only my son do I think could pull this off.

Ha. Nice!

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You Think Your Day Was Lous(e)y?

by Kathy T. Leave a Comment

Today’s Shak theme seems to be creatures. Over at Shak Yard, we talk about the dangers of brown recluse spiders moving in for the winter – and there’s a picture of a bite my friend showed me this morning. Here, we’re going to talk about other creatures that are almost taboo to talk about: LICE.

As proof that anyone can get lice, I admit that when my daughters were much younger, I found lice-a’plenty in one girl’s hair and then subsequently found them in everyone else’s in my house. I was horrified, I tell you. But we did what had to be done … shampoo and nitpicking for what felt like weeks (it was actually a couple of days thanks to my oldest daughter’s blond, thick hair). It’s the one time in my life I wished my children were boys – I would’ve just shaved their heads and been done with it.

All of these memories flash before my brain when I read Jomegat’s post about making the same discovery and the doc’s confirmation of his suspicion,

Anyhow, the doc confirmed my suspicion and called in a prescription to our pharmacy. I called Va. Since the prescription was phoned in to Concord (which is where she was), Beth and I drove in and met Va for lunch. Then I went to the drug store. They won’t have the prescription until tomorrow. “What time?” I asked. “Usually by 3:00pm.”

I so feel your pain. We need to remind our kids not to borrow combs, brushes, hats, scarves, hoodies, or anything that touchesyour hair. Ugh… my skin will be crawling all day now.

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The Tooth Fairy Cometh

by Kathy T. Leave a Comment

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentristry says you should start taking your munchkin to the dentist by the time they are ONE. I must be a terrible awful parent because I waited until my kids were four and five before they went. I’m equally guilty about not taking them for check-ups every six months … more like every other year. Please don’t call DCS on me. But for the rest of you – it’s not too late! Get your kid to the dentist!

It’s where I was this morning after losing a crown to a milk dud on Halloween. Not fun. Worse will be the bill when Mr. Dentist has to do some rebuilding.

The kind of dental news I prefer is that like Blonde Mom has. Her baby girl now wants her two front teeth for Christmas!

Ironically we’d just had portraits made at the park Sunday afternoon but the tooth literally hung in there.

I told the dogs not to bark at the tooth fairy and they happily complied as there is extra kibble in it for them if they don’t disturb her.

I think the tooth fairy is pretty awesome, though sometimes she gets super busy and doesn’t have a chance to visit until the NEXT NIGHT. Yep… don’t call DCS on me.

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Wordless Wednesday: Heather’s Kids

by Kathy T. Leave a Comment

For more fabulous pictures by Heather of her kids, go here.

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Step Up and Fight Breast Cancer

by Kathy T. Leave a Comment

This post by Pensieve absolutely takes my breath away.

Flashback to 1971, Athens, Georgia, approaching the intersection of Milledge Avenue and Baxter Drive. I don’t remember where we had been but I do know we were headed to our apartment less than a mile away. In her fourth year of battling cancer, Mama felt bad and needed to get home.

In my eight-year-old way of thinking, I wanted to do something (anything) to make her feel better.

I want to cry for her to have gone through the devastating loss of her Mom to breast cancer. I want to cheer for her sister’s survival. I blow virtual kisses to her for being a participant in the Race for the Cure. I have donated for many years to this great cause and am thinking I should one day walk the walk.

Are you doing anything to help fight breast cancer? It can be as simple as a click through at this site to help pay for mammograms. Thank you.

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These Kids Of Ours … Ay Yi Yi

by Kathy T. Leave a Comment

We are not allowed to compare our children with each other because they are individuals – each possess their own strengths and weaknesses. However, let’s CONTRAST what my two girls have done this week:

Oldest – Has an inauguration for her fellowship program at her college
Youngest – Took her to see school play and learned later that she sneaked out to just hang with her friends instead of attending play.

Oldest – I’m so proud!
Youngest – My head nearly exploded

Oldest – She’ll want money when we see her tonight
Youngest – I’m proud of her anyway, though sometimes I want to put a tracking device on her ankle!

Have a great weekend!

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