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Archive through December 10, 2008

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Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, December 04, 2008 - 12:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Sia, if its anything like the cold going around here, be prepared to see it over and over again and have it pass to everyone in the family. And the cough lasts forever. I'm just getting over the 3rd or 4th time with it. It's absolutely miserable and it seems to effect everyone differently (sis complains about her throat, while for me my sinuses hurt so bad.) While I was at the drs office yesterday with my aunt, the lady next to me told her husband she was going ot ask the dr to order a chest x-ray, that she'd had this cold and cough several weeks and it must be something else. I apologized for butting in, then told her it probably wasn't something else, we've all been sick since before Halloween! It just lingers.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Thursday, December 04, 2008 - 12:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
My DD stayed home Tuesday with that cold. She said she felt like she had snot running through her veins...LOL!

You all wear me out...you have so much energy and get so much accomplished. It is all I can do to get myself back and forth from work, put dinner on the table, help Shelby do homework and collapse in front of the television. I wish I had your motivation but lately I just don't. Of course I also wish I had somebody else to keep my house clean, but since that's not happening anytime soon....

This weekend I already have a hair appointment, Shelby's UIL competition, church, overtime work and Christmas musical at church practice...when am I ever going to get my Christmas decorations up?

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, December 04, 2008 - 2:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
What's a UIL competition?

We just found out that Darren's going out of town this weekend. Has to help his step dad with some stuff at the step dad's fathers house up in Sacramento. I think they're leaving Saturday and coming back Sunday. We had thought they were doing it later this month. So, looks like me and the kidlets will be doing some decorating, but not all of it this weekend.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Thursday, December 04, 2008 - 3:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
University Interscholastic League...Shelby is competing in Listening Skills. The contestants are read a story and they have to answer questions about the story to determine how well they listen. This is a good choice for a girl with dyslexia. She also has done storytelling (they are read a story and have to "give it back" to the judges) in the past and done well but didn't make that team this year.

They have all kinds of competitions...on the upper levels the choirs, drama departments and bands compete (not to mention it is the judicial body for our football teams in Texas), and in the elementary they do all sorts of scholastic competitions.

Shelby loves it and I love anything that keeps her engaged in school. Considering her double whammy of dyslexia and ADHD she really does very well, but it is an on-going battle.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Thursday, December 04, 2008 - 3:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Sia, just do a little here and a little there. Roxip, I totally know that feeling, there are times when nothing is done to my house until the weekend, and then I am so tired I just don't want to do anything.

I will say that I have learned that as long as my house is neat, and reasonably clean I am ok with it. So I am consciously not noticing that I need to mop the kitchen floor, just keeping it swept is working for me, LOL.

I did get everything off the island last night, figured out just becasue I had 4 snowman dish towells I didn't have to have them all out, so I hung one on the stove door and put the rest away. Cleaned up the kitchen and ran the dishwasher, got through my soap tapes (had two days) and called it a day!

Oh and I ordered my sisters gifts and turned in all my stuff for the Adopt an Angel Program(I had four kids) so I am basically done on the Christmas stuff, except for my cards. Maybe I should do that this weekend, oops, no I forgot I am getting my hair cut, LOL.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, December 04, 2008 - 3:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Oh wow that is cool Roxip! And great for her! Kota hasn't been tested yet (we're working on it) but one of her big reading "issues" is lack of comprehension. It's more when she's reading outloud or to herself than when someone else is reading to her, but I know how hard that sort of thing would be for her. I can't imagine how hard Shelby must be working. That's really great!

I'm with Dipo! With all that's going on, sometimes reasonably clean is the best I can hope for. I do have to force myself to ignore some things (lol, like needing to mop the kitchen floor) but it's ok.

Today is a great example. Only day I planned to spend time at home and clean...and I've done none of it. Went to Kota's awards ceremony, ran a couple errands, came home for a bit to write out a list. Went grocery shopping and dropped the stuff off at my aunts. Came home for lunch. Now I find myself sitting here doing nothing cuz this is the first time all week I've had to myself! They way I see it, Darren will be gone this weekend and I can clean then.

Sia
Member

03-11-2002

Friday, December 05, 2008 - 12:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sia a private message Print Post    
The kids and I baked a layer-cake!! today after school. I just intended to bake a 9 x 13 like I normally do, but when I asked my son to climb on the counter to choose a cake mix (it was too complicated for him to go find my grabbing-stick, so he chose to climb up!), I spotted my pretty cake dome all covered with dust up on the top of the cupboard, so I had him hand it down to me--just to wash it, of course--but then I got inspired to do something different. I baked one 9-inch and one 8-inch layer, frosted the bottom with white frosting, then topped the smaller layer with chocolate. Hold onto your seats, gals: I chopped up chocolate baking chunks with a sharp knife and sprinkled that all over the top. Everyone loved it as our dessert after dinner--which, admittedly, was leftovers from last night's supper. Last night I actually fixed a good meal. Tonight, eh! The dessert was special to make up for it. : )

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Friday, December 05, 2008 - 1:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Friday's Mission

Ohhh, that sounds good, Sia! Even better than the cake, getting to have fun time with the kids.

Man, I felt like such a heel tonight. I had to cancel on going to my aunts and even though she was looking forward to the company at least understood.

Darren's step dads father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and set up with hospice care a couple months ago. His step dad had asked if he'd make the trip to Sacramento with him sometimes this month to help clear out his dads house. He's left a message last night wanting to go Saturday. We found out today his father had died sometimes during the night and now Darren's step dad wants to go tomorrow. Darren had class tonight so I ended up staying home to do some laundry and pack his bag for a couple nights (think he's coming home Saturday night, but we're not sure about that.) Tomorrow I'll go help his mom do the same for her and her hubby and get instructions on caring for her dogs while they're gone.

Told my aunt me and the kids would come spend some time with her tomorrow afternoon and stay for dinner. Dakota's class is decorating trees along the blvd. in the morning and tomorrow evening there's going to be a big Christmas event. Santa, cookies, coco, crafts, shopping, carolers, and looking at the decorated trees. The kids and I, sis and bil and their girls will be walking on down to enjoy the festivities.

Saturday we'll do the cleaning around our house, plus some board games and a dvd. I also have a few Christmas crafts if we get around to it.

Skootz
Member

07-23-2003

Friday, December 05, 2008 - 6:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Skootz a private message Print Post    
wow you have all been busy.

I think I have over done it. I wanted to finish decorating and get the boxes out of the living room yesterday, so I did. I ended up having to take some pain meds after lunch and then I took some at bedtime too. Better take it easier today.

Kids are off school today so hopefully they will help out, I cannot vacuum or sweep and the floor has not been done in 3-4 days - plus the stuff that comes off of your decorations when taking them out are all over the kithen/living room

I will also have to get in to pack up, clean up mode in the office soon. We are renovating our one large room where my office is. At the moment I have a nice space area with a 4 foot wall that dh made to keep kids out when they were younger. We are going to take that out and open it up. Instead of a new desk from a store I am getting it made from the same company that I got my kitchen cupboards made from and using a counter top for the top of my desk. Will put in cupboards around as well for storage etc. and really utilize the space. I am very excited. Meeting tomorrow to figure out the design. Something to look forward to for sure.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Friday, December 05, 2008 - 8:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
I actually mopped last weekend. I have laminate floors and usually just sweep them and use that stuff that you spray and wipe to make them shine but with 3 puppies in the house (we fostered two one weekend a couple of weeks ago and we have the terrible Carmen who refuses to potty train) I decided that they needed a good pine sol treatment (plus I love to walk into a house that smells like Pine Sol). So I got the kitchen and living room mopped. This weekend I will go back and sweep and put the shine stuff on them. Then maybe I will get motivated to put up the Christmas stuff before the floor gets dirty again!

I actually cooked last night. Made Taco Soup. I will put the recipe in the cooking thread because it was easy, good and FAST!

I think actually must be my word this morning.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Friday, December 05, 2008 - 12:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Aw Skootz, I hope you're in less pain today. Also hope the kids are helpful. I really think sometimes the things that bother us are things they just don't see and when we have to tell them over and over they don't get how bad whatever it is bothers us. Your new desk sounds like it'll be great!

Roxip, I checked your recipe and it looks good! With the cold weather, I'm into crockpot mode so I'll be trying it after my next shopping trip. Sis makes a chicken tortilla soup that she says is really easy and everyone else agrees is good, but it's something I can't eat since it's got a lot of cheese in it.

Mil isn't feeling well today (think it's a lot of stress and she's been sick with the same damn cold everyones had) and step fil stayed home from work so I don't need to go out to their house today. I'm taking the opportunity to start the cleaning I had planned for tomorrow today. So far have done two loads of laundry and cleaned the living room. I'd like to finish the kitchen and bathroom and a few more loads of laundry but not sure I'll get it all done before Darren gets home and has to leave.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Friday, December 05, 2008 - 12:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Sounds like everyone is doing the best they can. Skootz, you need to slow it down a bit I think, LOL.

Well, I got the dishwasher unloaded, cleaned my earrings and went to bed early (it is stressful at work and I feel tired all the time). Woke up at 5 am so I cleaned the bathroom, LOL, took care of that issue, had some breakfast, watched TV, took a nap and then got up at 7:30 to get ready for work, LOL.

I need to make a weekend plan so I get something or other done, maybe the mopping, we shall see.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Friday, December 05, 2008 - 12:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
It truly is a good recipe. I got it from one of my BFFs who is an amazing cook (I'm definitely not) but was pleased to find it so easy. Basically its brown ground meat and open cans...LOL!

Dipo, I know how you feel. We have been tremendously busy at work lately and I'm ready for a break...which looks like it will happen around January 1. Don't these people know that I don't want to work that hard?

Oh well, I'm gonna keep my mouth shut...jobs are hard to come by these days! Besides, what else would I do after working for the same man for 25 years?

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Monday, December 08, 2008 - 2:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Monday's Mission

For those interested, I'm going to start posting the link to Fly's detailed cleaning list as well. For the kitchen, there's 12 items listed (things like cleaning out the fridge and cleaning inside/outside of the microwave.) I'm going to attempt to do one or two off the list each day. I've been letting some things slide lately and need to get out of that habit.

Fly's detailed cleaning list for zone 2

Of course, right now most of my house is a disaster zone. Darren brought home some furniture. I was expecting the couches. Wasn't expecting the bedroom (double size bed) set for Caleb. Had to box pretty much everything in his room up, move out his old furniture, and put the mattress and box spring left in the living room. We had to empty all the new furniture out of the truck and bring it in (it was raining and Darren had to get the truck back to his moms) while Caleb was boxing up stuff in his room. That took most the day. Finally got everything out of Caleb's room and into the living room, got the new furniture in his room and took back his boxes of stuff.

His old mattress and box spring we put on Kota's bunk bed. When she got that, we only bought one new mattress and his was in better shape than her old one.

I got the kitchen clean and a couple loads of laundry done, but nowhere near what I wanted to today. On the plus side, Caleb did get rid of about four boxes of stuff he didn't want anymore (granted some of it was old homework and workbooks from last year.) And he got a bigger bed which he really need. Him and Harvey were a little cramped on the twin size bed, lol.

Tomorrow I'll be out and about and then home to do some of the cleaning I didn't get done today. Tuesday I need to take my aunt in for a chest x-ray and will probably spend part of the day there cleaning. Haven't decided about the rest of the week. Darren's leaving again Wed. to go back up for his step dad's fathers funeral and finish cleaning his house out and will be gone 3 or 4 days. I'm pretty sure I'll be taking care of his moms dogs and watering plants while they are gone.

Skootz
Member

07-23-2003

Monday, December 08, 2008 - 6:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Skootz a private message Print Post    
well another weekend full of cleaning for me..well Friday night..I had it. So have the place semi clean. The younger kids have no idea what pain is and that me doing it hurts or hurts the following day. it is hard.

I have a ton of laundry now to do today, cause I was sorer yesterday and Saturday and just didn't feel like doing it.

One good thing happened this weekend. The guy who did our kitchen/living renovation was here with his wife on Saturday morning to plan out our office area. Right now, I have press board desks and ugly make shift office area. So instead of paying a good chunk of money on a new desk and storage space, we have decided to go with cabintry so I can have tons of storage and nothing can be seen. I hate open shelves i.e. books, paperwork etc., It drives me bananas. So we are taking out this 4 foot wall that we have in this large room (it separates the kid area to office area) and going from there. The first set of drawings are coming this week. Cannot wait.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Monday, December 08, 2008 - 11:51 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Aw Skootz, I wish you could just kick back and take it easy. I know it's not always possible with the kidlets though. And yay on the cabinets!!!

On the detailed cleaning list, I cleaned the microwave and the oven this morning. I'm planning on doing the fridge Wednesday since Thursday is trash day and Friday is grocery day. Also washed the few dishes and wiped down the counters. Have one load of laundry in right now and started a really big pot of beans in the crockpot for dinner.

I've got to run in a bit to take a gallon of milk to sis for my littlest niece and told her I'd come right at 11 so I could take the middle one to school (sis' car is broken down and she's been walking the girls to school.)

When I get back its cleaning the living room and more laundry. Hehe, yes, I'm going nuts cleaning today, but really I don't know what the rest of the week will be like so I need to get done what I can when I can.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Monday, December 08, 2008 - 12:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Thanks for that zone list, Wargod. I am bad have never seen it before and I have always wondered why the missions didn't have some of that stuff in them, LOL.

I too wish you could do less Skootz!

I did clean up my kitchen yesterday, and even cleaned the kitties water fountain, it has hard water build up and I can never really get it off, but at least it looks better. Plus I cleaned the floor really well where I keep their food and water, they have placemats but I wanted to give it a good scrubbing before I put down the fresh placemats.

Got my checkbook balanced, finally, I am about two weeks behind on that. Guess I will work on some of that detail list tonight.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Monday, December 08, 2008 - 12:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Heh, Dipo, I'd never seen that before either. I was poking around looking to see if she had some kind of Christmas to do/cleaning list type stuff (not that I could find) when I stumbled on that one.

Picked up the milk, dropped off my niece, now I'm going to eat lunch and then start the living room. We're planning to put the Christmas tree up tomorrow and I really want to get the walls wiped down before we do that.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, December 09, 2008 - 1:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Tuesday's Mission

I won't repost the detailed cleaning list link, maybe later in the week so we don't lose it. I think I'll aim for cleaning the canisters and knick knacks in the kitchen and maybe straightening the drawers and cabinets if I have time.

Darren's (and his mom and step dads) plans have changed. They were going to be gone from Wed-Fri, but now they're staying til Sunday. I guess they're going to try to get everything done so they don't have to make another big trip up there later this month.

I'll be taking care of their dogs and some other things. Going out tomorrow to see what my mil wants done, what meds the dogs are taking, what foods which one is eating. I'm pushing my plans to take my aunt to get her x-ray back til Wednesday instead of tomorrow so I can go out to mils. Aunt's dr's appt isn't til the 17th I think (whatever a week from Wed. is) so we have a few days more to do the x-ray.

Also planning to finish cleaning my house so we can get the tree up tomorrow night. The kidlets have a semi-easy week with homework (their vacation starts a week from Friday, none of the kids are focused, lol) and hopefully we'll be able to finish the tree before bedtime.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, December 09, 2008 - 11:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Someone slap me into work, please! I can not get moving today and I know I have a ton of stuff to do. I am thisclose to laying down for a nap! I slept like crud last night for some reason.

I need to do some housework, hop in the shower and go to the grocery store and so far I've done none of it.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Tuesday, December 09, 2008 - 2:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
LOL, SLAP! Maybe you should take a nap, Wargod, then hop in the shower.

Got through all my mail, made sure the bills were paid last night, got through my tapes and went to bed early. Had a tough day at work yesterday.

Think I will do at least 5 christmas cards tonight and then see what else I feel like, LOL.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, December 09, 2008 - 2:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
LOL thanks. Skipped the nap, took the shower and thats the extent of my accomplishments today. At least the house is fairly clean.

We'll decorate later, run out to Darren's moms and I can do the grocery store tonight (Darren needed to pick up a few things for his trip anyways.)

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, December 09, 2008 - 8:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Well I did get stuff done.

Went to mils and figured out everything I have to do over the next few days there.

We went to Walmart to pick up a few things like shampoo and sodas. Then went to get Darren dress up clothes for the funeral.

Got all the inside decs put up, including the tree. Santa's been singing all night, Dakota's just as fascinated with him now as she was a few years ago.

And got Darren all packed and ready to leave. The only things he has left is toothbrush (he'll grab it in the morning,) computer (plans to do homework on the ride up,) and his Ipod.

Which brings me to another "someone should slap me" moment, except this time it would be, someone should slap me anytime I give someone else the "what, are you stupid?" look. I was cooking dinner and walked into the laundry room to change over laundry and when I walked back into the kitchen, Darren was in moving stuff around on the counter. Asked what he was looking for and he told me he'd walked in the kitchen when he got home from work and set his Ipod on the counter. Told him I hadn't seen it and started to look.

Then I got to thinking about that. When he got home from work, he set his lunch box down on the table and told me we had just enough time to run to his moms before the kids got out of school if we left right then...he never made it past the front door. So I asked...when did you put your Ipod on the counter? If it was yesterday, I was thinking, I probably picked it up and set it on the desk since I'd done a lot of work in the kitchen.

My husband looked at me, and with all seriousness told me, "oh, it was probably a month and a half to two months ago." Couldn't help it, the look just slipped out as I asked if he was serious! Really think I'm going to leave something that doesn't belong there, like an Ipod!, sitting on the counter for a couple months???? Oy. Needless to say, we haven't found it yet. I think it's in his car shoved under one of the seats but he says no. Way more logical than sitting on my kitchen counter for two months!

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 2:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Wednesday's Mission

My evening was pretty much like my morning. I did get a couple Christmas gifts done. Made a bookmark for my mom and Dakota's bff had asked me to make her stepmom a lanyard so I did that one. Bff was cute, offered to pay for it, but I can't take money from a 10 year old. Her and Kota have been best friends since 1st grade and every Christmas break she spends a couple days with us and always tells me how she's saved her money to buy her parents gifts so I knew that was important. We bartered, lol. She helped Kota with her chores one day and I would do the lanyard.

I've been averaging one or two bookmarks a night and am almost done with all the girl/women ones. Having trouble with the boys, it's kinda hard making something pretty thats manly too, lol.

Tomorrow is going to be busy. The one plus is aunt's PT is supposed to come tomorrow (she comes whenever) so we're putting the x-ray off til Thursday. Sis' cars been broken down and it's suddenly turned cold. Told her I'd take Caleb to school then run over and pick up her oldest to take to school, supposed to be 29 degrees tomorrow morning...too cold to have the kids out for a walk.

Then have to run her out to Palmdale to order the part she needs for her car and figure since we'll be out there anyways, I'll stop at my mils to check on the dogs and grab her mail (saves me a trip later in the day.) After that, we'll go back to the house so she can get middle niece ready for school. I'll probably do some cleaning at my aunts while niece is in the shower and eating lunch before dropping her off at school.

I'll come home and do some housework before picking the kidlets up from school. Haven't figured out what to do after that though. We're having left overs for dinner and I might end up taking them out to shop for Darren's Christmas present.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 2:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Lets see, I unloaded the dishwasher, swept up the kitty litter in the bathroom, swept the patio(I didn't think the tree had anymore leaves, LOL), and unpacked my Christmas presents to me!

I got a coffee maker, one that makes coffee by the cup, some new sheets, a pair of jeans and shoes, and a new shiny stainless steel trash can!

I noticed this morning that Blackie had put some sand back down on the floor, LOL, so I guess I will be sweeping again tonight. I need to get some wrapping paper so I can wrap my sisters gifts, and darnit I forgot to do the christmas cards, so I guess I better do that tonight - at least the out of state ones!

Wargod, it got really cold here all of a sudden too, we had frost on the grass!