Pots, cups, and thrones

Zach made a reproduction Greek pottery vase today in school. I bought some self hardening "Mexican clay," a few tools, and a small glass bottle with a cork. He then covered it with clay, added Greek style handles, and tried to make it smooth. It was tough to get it smoothwithout a pottery wheel. When the pottery is dry, he'll paint black Greek style figures and/or scenes. He's also working on a play of a Greek myth--Daedulus(sp?) and Icarus.

Jessie is going to be a "Chinese Tea Cup" for her school's production of The Nutcracker on Dec. 20th. It's even going to be held at a different school, and a high school at that!

William got a haircut today, and for the first time in his life, he didn't have to sit in my lap. He didn't cry, nor did I have to wrestle with him to get him to keep his head still! It was a miracle! Usually, I've had to tip pretty nicely cuz I feel so bad for the hair cutter! I guess he decided that now that he's 3, he's going to put childish ways behind him and be a big boy. (Yeah, right!!) He did also accomplish some new goals with his potty chair this week--he learned that it is a GOOD thing to use the mini throne for an **ADDITIONAL PURPOSE**!!!! Yay!!

We actually have some sun and blue skies today, praise the Lord! On our way home from Church, we noticed an unusual train going by. It was stopping a lot of traffic, and we had to be careful not to rear end some people who practically just stopped right where they were. It was some kind of old fashioned steam engine. We caught up with it, got out, and looked at it as it went by. It whistled loudly, and we waved at the folks inside. Zach said he has heard it for 3 days. I think it said Mt. Rainier Scenic Tours on the side. Neat!!

Yesterday, I finally did something I've wanted to do for a long time--I took Jessie out for a Mommy and Me day. She had a 2.00 gift certificate for Baskin Robbins I had promised to redeem with her. So we got scoops of ice cream and then went to the dollar store where we got a few things, including cheap coloring books for her and Zoe. Then we went to the library and got some books and movies. She checked out an Apple Dumpling gang flick. Chris and I watched "The Terminal" last night. It was pretty good, mostly because of Tom Hank's character, but kind of hard to watch (if you've seen it, you know what I mean.)

Have you made a dent in your leftover turkey yet?

Alright, I want to hear how everyone is creatively using up their turkey. My mom gave me the carcass, so I'm going to make soup with it; I'll probably add rice and vegetables. Right now, I'm waiting for my lunch to cool down so I can eat it. I boiled up some water and added leftover raw veggies (baby carrots and broccoli flowerets) from Thanksgiving appetizers, then a package of Top Ramen. I threw in some diced turkey, canned mushrooms, and Yoshida's sauce(kind of a sweet, soy sauce/ teriyaki flavored number) . It looks really good.......mmm....tastes good, too!

Thankful pilgrims about to dig in 

Good day, friends! It is 11:30 on Friday. The kids have no school, so we got to sleep in and stay in our jammies! Zach and his friend have been outside in the rain, playing, and just came in again. Will is watching 101 Dalmatians and yammering constantly about the "y" he actually found this morning. That would be his pacifier. Chris had to go in to work after all--not sure it will be a whole day, though. I am doubting whether I'll make it in tonight with this cough.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day yesterday. The morning got a little tense, cuz we were scurrying around trying to get breakfasted, dressed, make a pumpkin pie and a spinach dip and get over to the fam's by 1:00. This was complicated by the fact that Will put both hands on the wood stove and burned them. His scream was heart rending and he was fussy for quite awhile. His hands aren't blistered though, and he seemed to forget them once we got to Grandma's.

Zach and Jessie enjoyed their sleepover. Zach got to get on the roof (his favorite thing in the whole world, he told Grandma) to help put up lights. He also caught a salamander and a frog! He did let them go, later. Jessie enjoyed having a sympathetic Grandma to give her extra attention and a kindly ear for all her chattering. :) Zoe enjoyed getting rid of her siblings for a little while, too. She rather gloated in it! My parents had Zach and Jessie do Thankful lists, and they are very good lists!

We actually got over there by 2:30 and nibbled on some good snacks until dinner was ready. It was a wonderful feast my mom put on, as always. The table looked lovely, and we tried to exercise restraint, but ended up very full anyway. There were delicious pies and coffee, and then we cracked open our traditional 1,000 piece Charles Wysocki pumpkin scene puzzle. And we got it all done!

William watched his new Thomas the Train DVD Kristi got him for his birthday. Chris and Zach played some lively ping pong in the garage for quite a long time. I really enjoyed being able to relax, be myself, and indulge in our strange family funniness that got us really cackling our heads off at times. We also played Trivial Pursuit, and my Mom won! The kids actually took part, and that was gratifying to watch. They had to learn how to answer fast! It was funny, because they'd come up with locally-inspired answers like "Columbia River!!!" for an answer to "What's the longest river in Europe?"

I am thankful for a God who answers prayers; a committed Christian husband; godly, praying parents; healthy, wonderful children; our cozy house; food, clothes, electricity, heat, clean hot water, working vehicles, washing machines, driers, dishwashers, coffee, and friends to keep in touch with via blogging!! :)

Hacker in the house

Zoe went to the doctor today and was told she has pneumonia. Argh! She has been acting just like Chris did when he was sick. The doc gave her an inhaler as well as antibiotics, cuz she's wheezing some. Didn't expect that! William actually came down with hives yesterday; it was really strange. They were gone this morning, and the doctor said it could be a viral thing--he's got a cough. She asked if he had eczema. I said he had when he was a baby. I really had better not get this pneumonia, but if I do, I'll probably get to the Dr. quicker than the other two cuz I'll know what I'm dealing with. She said it's not extremely contagious, but not unusual for a few people in a family to get it. Calgon, take me away (to a warm, lakeside resort).

I tried unsuccessfully for a half hour to post 3 pictures. I always have a hard time, and "Hello" isn't responding. SO IRRITATING!!!!! I was going to show you Jessie's salt dough relief map of Washington state, which is quite good, and of which she is justifiably proud. Also, I was going to show 2 pictures of William at his little family birthday party yesterday. He's turning 3 on Wednesday, and my parents came over for cake and to bring their gifts. I made a German chocolate cake from scratch, and although it was a bit crooked and the icing thinner than I would have liked, it was moist and delicious!

My mom got Will a plastic case that holds 24 cars (Hot Wheel types). HE LOVES LOVES LOVES IT, MOM!!!!! He's been playing with it nonstop!!! To him, a car is a "woe-woe." Tractors are "nay-nays." I don't know where he came up with those names.

We had Chris' mom over for dinner, since we won't be with her on Thanksgiving, but at my Mom's house--yay!! Can't wait!! The kids will have 2 1/2 days off from school next week, and my Mom even invited them over for a sleepover Wednesday night. I'll have Thursday only off, and Chris gets Thursday and Friday off.

Last night, after the 3rd dishwasher load of dishes, I was so exhausted, I felt sick. I had gotten to bed really late Friday night and then gotten up and immediately started working on cooking and cleaning for our guests. Chris and the kids all worked together as well to help, and their rooms even look great! Zach dug up the little Christmas tree and put it on his desk. He also put a string of fake candy and a string of mini lights on his bunk bed. Looks cheerful and makes a great night light! Chris particularly impressed me, cuz he did a lot of delegating and also just chipped in without being asked. Nor did he get grumpy or tense about it. Woo hoo!!! So I lay down at 8:30 p.m. in bed and didn't come to for 4 hours. Then I made the poor choice to eat a quesadilla, which sat very unfriendly-like in my belly. So by about 4:30 a.m., my stomach felt a bit better, and I was tired enough to go to sleep. I was on the couch, with William on me, not enough blankets, watching TV in the middle of the night, feeling icky. Just another day in Paradise. But I did make it to church, since I had to do Sunday School.

A few days ago, our cat, Max, brought in a mouse he was harassing. It was still alive, but I think it was quadriplegic at that point. It was bleeding on the wood floor, so I took it outside. A little while later, William, trying to be helpful, came out with a bandaid opened up, which he earnestly and tenderly wanted to apply to the "mou." :)

Last night, at work, we had our annual "turkey bowling." They set up bowling pins in the traditional format, mark off a line, and then we get to "bowl" with a turkey breast in a cloth bank bag. It's quite awkward, and your hands get kinda gross and slimy afterwards. Most of the guys did pretty well, but some of the women actually flung it up at the wall! Some of the framed pictures received a bit of turkey abuse. Later, I saw a paper sign on a framed picture in that hall that said, "Cheryl was here." :) And I think the guy with the camera near the pins must have had some close shaves. I didn't hit a single pin. Never have been much of a bowling fan, although that was my first date with Chris. :)

Well, what's new....Chris is finally mending from being really, really sick. The doctor said it was either bronchitis or pneumonia. I personally think it was pneumonia--there was blood in his horrible coughings, as well as fevers, and extreme fatigue and sleepiness. And he was that sleepy even without the expensive narcotic they gave him! They also gave him antibiotics, and he seems a lot more alive than he did even days ago, thank God. Would you believe my carnal side was really annoyed seeing him constantly on the couch for over a week coughing like a maniac? I can understand just a smidge what some 60-something women go through--RHS, or retired husband syndrome!! Ha ha!

Zach and I are studying ancient Greece now. We're done with Egypt. We also just started with Spongebob Squarepants typing CD ROM. It's fun and motivating for him. He does drills to learn the basics, but if he gets sidetracked by the games, he's still learning! :) We'll start a brand new Math-U-See tomorrow--"Focus on Division." He's learning about Greek myths and the fables of Aesop, how to draw different Greek columns, the various systems of the body, new spelling words, ancient Greek life, and writing exercises. And he's reading a juvenile book about Alexander the Great. As usual, I'm learning right along with him stuff I really never knew.

Tonight, at work, I got 3 balloons and a Milky Way candy bar and a Key pin to commemmorate my 5 years of imprisonment, I mean employment, with Key Bank. I was going to try to start being more careful and mindful of intake and output, cuz my clothes are starting to shrink thanks to Halloween candy and the near impossibility of exercise...but the milky way seems to have forced itself upon me. Just call me WONDER WILLPOWER!!! Surely, TOMORROW will be different than EVERY OTHER DAY, and I will wake up earlier, super energized, and get on the blessed treadmill.

Excuse #37

This morning, I said to Zach, "It's up time, Zach."..............Awhile later, he was still in bed. "Zach, how come you're still in bed?!" "Huh? Wha-? Oh......I was dreaming that I was duct taped to the bed and couldn't get up!" Good one, Zach.

I carved a stenciled headless horseman design into my pumpkin for work, but the judges were blind, and I didn't win even 3rd place, which I feel I should have...honestly! They seemed to favor originality and additions of STUFF and a clean pumpkin interior. So, if I could do it again, I would make the inside of my pumpkin sparkle, light the candles, and put fake blood on the outside near the head or something. Third place was this really lame pumpkin someone had freehandedly designed a key on. It wasn't even the proper key of our logo, they didn't punch out the design, and it was not even symmetrical!!! LAME!!!!!!! There weren't any cash prizes like with the costumes, though. People brought food, and we had fun, until we had to go back to work until late!

Chris took the 3 younger kids trick or treating in the rain, with his sickness, and he came back with a high fever. When I came home tonight, his shirt was soaked from feverishness. He didn't go to work today. Pray that he gets better soon and that I don't get it? I've been careful not to kiss him and to wash my hands religiously before I eat! He's been really sick for days!

Is everybody eating enough candy for an army? William has turned into a demanding candy monster--it's really annoying. Throwing it all away and showing him empty containers sounds good! But he threw his pacifier away (why, I don't know), and he hasn't had it for days! Maybe this is the true end, the true weaning! (It's about time!!!!)

It really feels like winter is upon us--tonight it was 47 degrees and rainy coming home.

headless horseman 

excited munchkins!