It seems that there are times when I cannot get enough of pinterest and then other times when I don't visit for weeks at a time. Sometimes I am just picture surfing, other times I will click a link and actually read it. This past week I opened a link titled 'How to cut your laundry time in half.' I am all about saving some time and most definitely could use anyone's ideas on how to most effectively get the clothes off the couch after they have landed all warm and nice smelling and tend to stay there enough days to get sat upon and crumpled and tossed off and back on a time or two.
Well, turns out, after reading about pre-sorting darks and lights as you wear them, as in having a light and dark basket, and then being able to dump all like clothes in the washer, being sure to pay attention to when it stops and change efficiently to the dryer and then sorting the clothes into who's is who's piles and putting their baskets in their room, having them fold and put away their own clothes and bring baskets back to the home base of the laundry room - I am already doing the least amount of work required. I have that system nailed. Thank you, not thank you. I need MORE!
I have even gone so far as to have a system of clothes. Being in a too-small apartment makes me absolutely loathe excess and I have the kids' clothes cut down to the bare minimum. Yes, they are nice clothes, but they need to be when I see them being worn once a week. I don't have a pile of clothes hidden in their dresser drawers that they only wear in emergency or when things need to be switched up because I can't stand a striped shirt. Nope. They basically have their Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday outfits. And it's not like I have titled them that way, that's just the way it goes. That they wear my more favorite outfits earlier in the week and then they get less and less favorited until a day comes that we're going grocery shopping and then I be sure to have my favorite outfit of theirs washed and ready to go out in public.
I only buy clothes on sale because I have a curse that follows me - but it tends to be the case that if I get an outfit full price it is the first outfit to get a hole or a stain. So, out of pure intent to keep their clothes looking as nice as possible, I only buy clothes on sale and for some reason or another they tend to stay nice. Sure, I've had my laundry battles, but a good bottle of spray and wash or a biz soak conquers most all. Talmage has just started eating baby food and I already know he will never know the sweetness of yams or sweet potatoes because those orange foods stain harder than I have the energy to get out. Carrots are borderline, but I can usually get them out after a second wash.
It's processes like these. Articles that promise more time and then turns out I am already doing as the article prescribes and there's nothing to win from reading. The other articles that I always scour and then end frustrated is how to cut your grocery bill in half. You know, things like only buying the basics, only buying what is on sale, only buying what is on your list, only buying store brand, blah blah blah. I have yet to read one of these articles that actually helps me because I am not already doing whatever it lists above.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Saturday, December 13, 2014
5 months with Talmage
Favorite Things: People smiling at you. You get so excited about it. You'll smile super big at someone and then turn your head down and shake it like your hungry, burrying it into whatever is nearest. It seems to me as if that is a way you have found to communicate how tickled you are that someone is paying so much attention to you. You just can't hold it all in and give them a little show.
Special Talent: Rolling over. But just one way. I always have to remember which way you roll when I put you down so that you don't end up pinned next to a wall too quickly.
Favorite Pastime: Scooting around on the floor and rolling around. It happens so slowly I can't even watch it, but you will be on one side of the room and then tucked up against the couch or the chair that gets in your way occasionally. You don't really seem too interested in scooting around for things, but prefer moving just for the moving part.
NickNames: T-Man - this one is sticking.
Sleep: Up at 7, down at 8. A couple naps thrown in and you still have a tendency to need a nap around 5 pm if we are home.
Eating: At your 4 month appointment the doctor suggested that we switch you from 8 oz to 7 oz. You cry after every feeding, wanting more, but as soon as you are burped you are just fine. I have started giving you cereal and vegetables every once in awhile and you are pro already. You love to eat and are good at keeping it in your mouth and down your throat.
Crying: When you need a diaper change. If you start to fuss a little I look at the clock and can usually predict what's going on by knowing your schedule.
Dislikes: Poopy diapers. These are a big deal around here. Considering that you don't fuss all that much and when you are poopy you let us all know in a big way.
Likes: Your sister. You two are adorable together.
My favorite part: Your chunker thighs. I love squeezing them and holding onto them when I carry your around. You are a sturdy little guy. My little rock.
Special Talent: Rolling over. But just one way. I always have to remember which way you roll when I put you down so that you don't end up pinned next to a wall too quickly.
Favorite Pastime: Scooting around on the floor and rolling around. It happens so slowly I can't even watch it, but you will be on one side of the room and then tucked up against the couch or the chair that gets in your way occasionally. You don't really seem too interested in scooting around for things, but prefer moving just for the moving part.
NickNames: T-Man - this one is sticking.
Sleep: Up at 7, down at 8. A couple naps thrown in and you still have a tendency to need a nap around 5 pm if we are home.
Eating: At your 4 month appointment the doctor suggested that we switch you from 8 oz to 7 oz. You cry after every feeding, wanting more, but as soon as you are burped you are just fine. I have started giving you cereal and vegetables every once in awhile and you are pro already. You love to eat and are good at keeping it in your mouth and down your throat.
Crying: When you need a diaper change. If you start to fuss a little I look at the clock and can usually predict what's going on by knowing your schedule.
Dislikes: Poopy diapers. These are a big deal around here. Considering that you don't fuss all that much and when you are poopy you let us all know in a big way.
Likes: Your sister. You two are adorable together.
My favorite part: Your chunker thighs. I love squeezing them and holding onto them when I carry your around. You are a sturdy little guy. My little rock.
coco night
Last night we went to coco night. I've been subbing a lot in St. Helens these past couple of weeks at the high school and have been drawn to the theatre kids. I don't know what it is in particular, but they seem the most comfortable in their own skins, the most likely to reach out and introduce themselves and the easiest to carry a conversation with. They have impressed me and I wanted to support them in some small way that indicated, "I appreciate you."
The opportunity of coco night came and I knew I would jump on that train and would need to make it a surprise date for Steve to be on board for the shindig. He's not much into the arts. Uncultured swine, I tell ya. No, just kidding. I just wanted to say it.
Basically, it's a small group of kids who do a little slam poetry, some improv, a lot of singing and a spackling of instrument playing. It ran for 2 hours and there were a couple of good one-liners that I loved and lot of bewildered laughs as in, "I don't know why I am laughing, or why this is funny, but it feels good." Shared with caught glances throughout the crowd as we turned to one another to see if others were as bewildered and enjoying it as much as we were. They were.
Tears of laughter came from my eyes when some kid with a trumpet and a few other mouth pieces started a monologue of fart noises, punctuated by comments and I laughed and laughed because where else are you going to be sitting with highschoolers enjoying some authentic fart noises that for some reason become funnier and funnier the more they are heard. Some good American culture, right there.
Steve and I came to the auditorium and began to sit in the theatre seats when we were urged to sit on the stage, which I was a little unsure of until I saw the chairs set up in a semi-circle two chairs thick and knew this was going to be a small knit of kids to show up for this. And it was. And they were all so pleasant. A little odd, but pleasant. I loved it. And I admired their bravery in performing.
We met a few kids and supported others that I already knew. Steve talked drums with a band geek and we settled in. One of the young women from church read a couple of poems she had written and her last one choked me up. She's new here and hasn't really found anyone to connect with. She's going through the motions and doing what she can, but I understand her struggle. A senior transplanted. It's hard. She nearly started crying at the end, too. So many emotions. I gave her a hug at the end but I didn't want to embarrass her too much.
The opportunity of coco night came and I knew I would jump on that train and would need to make it a surprise date for Steve to be on board for the shindig. He's not much into the arts. Uncultured swine, I tell ya. No, just kidding. I just wanted to say it.
Basically, it's a small group of kids who do a little slam poetry, some improv, a lot of singing and a spackling of instrument playing. It ran for 2 hours and there were a couple of good one-liners that I loved and lot of bewildered laughs as in, "I don't know why I am laughing, or why this is funny, but it feels good." Shared with caught glances throughout the crowd as we turned to one another to see if others were as bewildered and enjoying it as much as we were. They were.
Tears of laughter came from my eyes when some kid with a trumpet and a few other mouth pieces started a monologue of fart noises, punctuated by comments and I laughed and laughed because where else are you going to be sitting with highschoolers enjoying some authentic fart noises that for some reason become funnier and funnier the more they are heard. Some good American culture, right there.
Steve and I came to the auditorium and began to sit in the theatre seats when we were urged to sit on the stage, which I was a little unsure of until I saw the chairs set up in a semi-circle two chairs thick and knew this was going to be a small knit of kids to show up for this. And it was. And they were all so pleasant. A little odd, but pleasant. I loved it. And I admired their bravery in performing.
We met a few kids and supported others that I already knew. Steve talked drums with a band geek and we settled in. One of the young women from church read a couple of poems she had written and her last one choked me up. She's new here and hasn't really found anyone to connect with. She's going through the motions and doing what she can, but I understand her struggle. A senior transplanted. It's hard. She nearly started crying at the end, too. So many emotions. I gave her a hug at the end but I didn't want to embarrass her too much.
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