Marching Fourth! As mentioned. One of my favorite days of the year. (Imagine rousing John Philips Sousa music playing in the background.)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Happy March "Forth"!
Marching Fourth! As mentioned. One of my favorite days of the year. (Imagine rousing John Philips Sousa music playing in the background.)
Project, Done....Finally
This project has been at least 7 months in the making. I bought the sheets back in about August when Samantha (who is the most physically active sleeper I know) wore holes right through her existing sheets. So, it seemed an opportune time to finally get the girls some matching bedding. I decided to make these reversible covers for their comforters. (I'm not really sure why. I have zero sewing skills, their comforters are two different sizes, and I can barely - or not - keep up with the regular household duties around here.)After a couple of months of the sheets sitting around, I decided to try to make them in time for Christmas. I did get them all sewn together, but was much too intimidated by these:the button holes.
I had no idea how to do them and apparently neither did my Mom - my go to person for all things sewing. So they were put away. Then I decided to try for Samantha's birthday, but ran out of have time and still couldn't deal with the button holes. Finally, this past week, having been under the weather, and not wanting to deal with the regular household duties, I decided to pull out my sewing machine manual and learn how to sew button holes. It wasn't really that bad. Of course, I still had to sew on a total of 20 buttons between the 2 comforters, but it is so nice to have this done and not taking up space in the back of my brain anymore! And I have 2 happy girls, so that's a bonus.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
To Make Up For That Last Photo
Really, I am just posting these photos so I don't have to see Peter's booger face every time I sit down at my computer. Naked bum pictures are much cuter than snotty noses. (At least as long it's a baby's naked bum.)
And a photo of Jonas getting ready to do the flag ceremony for a naturalization ceremony. This would be his second. I don't think I've ever been to one, but it would be interesting to go. He gets to go on a LOT of fun field trips. (Believe me, with kids at 2 different schools, we are well aware that he goes on way more field trips than the other kids. Really - I lost track of how many he's been on this year - a while ago. Samantha's been on 2, I think.) Last week they went snowshoeing on a nature preserve to learn about tracking animals, and in a week or two he will be doing a day of space camp. There was one a little bit ago to Junior Achievement Biztown, where they had to have "real" jobs, running companies, keeping budgets, buying, spending, etc... Plus all of the usual ones to local plays and performances, the symphony, and so on. Sometimes I get a little jealous of all the stuff he gets to do. (Samantha gets really jealous.) But then, I remember the homework, and I'm OK with missing out on some of it.
And a photo of Jonas getting ready to do the flag ceremony for a naturalization ceremony. This would be his second. I don't think I've ever been to one, but it would be interesting to go. He gets to go on a LOT of fun field trips. (Believe me, with kids at 2 different schools, we are well aware that he goes on way more field trips than the other kids. Really - I lost track of how many he's been on this year - a while ago. Samantha's been on 2, I think.) Last week they went snowshoeing on a nature preserve to learn about tracking animals, and in a week or two he will be doing a day of space camp. There was one a little bit ago to Junior Achievement Biztown, where they had to have "real" jobs, running companies, keeping budgets, buying, spending, etc... Plus all of the usual ones to local plays and performances, the symphony, and so on. Sometimes I get a little jealous of all the stuff he gets to do. (Samantha gets really jealous.) But then, I remember the homework, and I'm OK with missing out on some of it.
At The End Of My Rope
This is how I'm feeling about the illness that's been invading our home for 4 straight weeks now. 
My 3 youngest have literally been coughing, sneezing and dripping for 4 straight weeks with everyone else just a week or 2 behind them. I know this is a pretty picture, but this poor kid wakes up every morning with a snot encrusted nose (and we're lucky if it's just contained to his nose.) This is after I did an initial nose wipe. At this point, every morning I just put him in the bath or shower to soften it all up, because it hurts him too much to be more aggressive.
I am so tired of all the coughing, and no one ever getting better. I decided to be like the IOC President and declare The Stringham Family Season of Sickness for 2010 closed. (cough, cough) But then I went to bed with a migraine and an earache and both Peter and Amelia's coughs sounded worse this morning so either, 1) the flame of sickness does not extinguish as quickly as an Olympic flame, or 2) I don't actually have enough authority to declare the Season of Sickness closed. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope for the first.
My 3 youngest have literally been coughing, sneezing and dripping for 4 straight weeks with everyone else just a week or 2 behind them. I know this is a pretty picture, but this poor kid wakes up every morning with a snot encrusted nose (and we're lucky if it's just contained to his nose.) This is after I did an initial nose wipe. At this point, every morning I just put him in the bath or shower to soften it all up, because it hurts him too much to be more aggressive.
I am so tired of all the coughing, and no one ever getting better. I decided to be like the IOC President and declare The Stringham Family Season of Sickness for 2010 closed. (cough, cough) But then I went to bed with a migraine and an earache and both Peter and Amelia's coughs sounded worse this morning so either, 1) the flame of sickness does not extinguish as quickly as an Olympic flame, or 2) I don't actually have enough authority to declare the Season of Sickness closed. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope for the first.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Zermatt Ice Castle
We've been trying to get to Midway to see this since December, but just could never quite fit it in. So finally, last night, we drove up. Unfortunately we, waited just a little too long, and the castle was closed because of the warm weather. All those melting icicles could do some serious damage if they fell on someone. Although we couldn't walk through the castle, it was still really cool to see.
Shawn's decided he wants to do this in our yard next year. I'm just not sure where he's going to find 18 hours a day to work on it. (I'm also not sure he really wants to pay the water bill that would be required.)
And in true Stringham fashion, we couldn't have this adventure without someone throwing a fit. This is Samantha storming off in a huff because the castle was closed. (It's just too bad we didn't get any photos of Amelia's screaming tantrum when we left Top It Frozen Yogurt without letting her get more.)
And here's Jonas wrestling her to keep her from going back to the car where he realized he had left his candy.
This is definitely on the list for next year - just a little earlier in the season..
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!
In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday, Shawn made green eggs and ham tonight. He totally gets cool Dad points for this, because I went toRelief Society and had left the kids home - unfed, and so really had nothing to do with it. After seeing the photo, I did decide that the ham looked a little unappealing, but the eggs, I could live with.
He also gets cool husband points for thinking to take a picture of it for me to blog!
He also gets cool husband points for thinking to take a picture of it for me to blog!
Monday, March 1, 2010
11 Months Old
Wow. 11 months. Time is flying by! In just one short month, my little guy will be one! With those big blue eyes and that happy smile, he is a ray of sunshine.
He has had a terrible cold for going on 4 weeks, but still remains generally happy. He still has 6 teeth, and his hair is filling in a little bit. Some days it seems really dark, and some days a little bit light.
He is definitely busy, getting into everything that he can reach. And he's moving fast. I only have to turn my back for a second and he is gone. As soon as I can't find him, I go running for the stairs first. Far too many times I have found him perched at the top of the staircase figuring out what his next move should be. Still loves banging things together to make noise, and enjoys knocking down towers that we help him build. Definitely loves to put things in and out of boxes, baskets, etc... Loves to play with his siblings. 
He has had a terrible cold for going on 4 weeks, but still remains generally happy. He still has 6 teeth, and his hair is filling in a little bit. Some days it seems really dark, and some days a little bit light.
He is definitely busy, getting into everything that he can reach. And he's moving fast. I only have to turn my back for a second and he is gone. As soon as I can't find him, I go running for the stairs first. Far too many times I have found him perched at the top of the staircase figuring out what his next move should be. Still loves banging things together to make noise, and enjoys knocking down towers that we help him build. Definitely loves to put things in and out of boxes, baskets, etc... Loves to play with his siblings. 
And always desperate to get outside anytime the door is open.
He walks along things, but isn't quite brave enough to stand on his own without holding on. As soon as he realizes he is, he drops to the floor. He is definitely aware of everything and everyone around him and understands the whole "leaving" thing, as in, when I open the front door, to go out, he will burst into tears because he doesn't want to be left behind.
Physically, he has really been growing. I think he is almost 18 pounds, which is a big jump from his 9 month weight. (Once we gave up on baby food and went to real food with my skim milk as only a supplement, he has taken off.) His little cheeks and thighs are definitely filling out.
He watches us all very intently, especially when we are talking to him. He stares right at my mouth and seems to be taking in how the whole talking thing works. So far he is just a pretty content little boy. I keep my fingers crossed that he will stay that way!
He walks along things, but isn't quite brave enough to stand on his own without holding on. As soon as he realizes he is, he drops to the floor. He is definitely aware of everything and everyone around him and understands the whole "leaving" thing, as in, when I open the front door, to go out, he will burst into tears because he doesn't want to be left behind.
Physically, he has really been growing. I think he is almost 18 pounds, which is a big jump from his 9 month weight. (Once we gave up on baby food and went to real food with my skim milk as only a supplement, he has taken off.) His little cheeks and thighs are definitely filling out.
He watches us all very intently, especially when we are talking to him. He stares right at my mouth and seems to be taking in how the whole talking thing works. So far he is just a pretty content little boy. I keep my fingers crossed that he will stay that way!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)