This weekend we are off to my in-laws house upstate. JT and I have a long weekend, so we are going for a little change of scenery along with my MIL, FIL, SIL, and BIL. It will be a really nice family weekend. The kids are really looking forward to going.
Last night I spent some time getting everything packed and organized - or I had hoped to at least. It was a little chaotic with trying to get dinner done and the kids bathed and to bed. JT fed the kids pizza while I gathered our bag and such. We ended up ordering Chinese food for us because there just wasn't time to cook. Between JT and I we managed to get most everything done.
I went home a lunch (a huge benefit of my new job - I am must closer to home) and got the laundry out, everything packed, the car loaded and the DVD player hooked up. It is just amazing how much crap we need for a 3 day trip. We even have the pack-n-play already up there and haven't packed food. I just packed the essentials and the car is still full.
I will be nice to get away though. RJ is really looking forward to being "Up the country..."
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Friday, February 15, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
The Best $4 I Have Ever Spent
I have recently ressurected my iPod (it had been sitting in the back of my closet for almost 2 years). I was inspired to do so, because I recently returned a very generous gift from my old company ($300 pen) to Neiman Marcus ["Needless Markup" as I have heard it referred to]. I bought the Bose iPod docking station from neimanmarcus.com . We also have a new computer so, being the techy that I am (haha) -- I managed to get everything working and get myself set up with iTunes. Yeah!!
The other night, JT and I added 4 songs to the iPod, including one that RJ likes. He is very much into trains and loves the song "C'mon Ride the Train" - they have been playing that and other dance songs at the daycare. Last night after LD and I returned home from her 18 month appt (for which she got very good marks from Dr. V) we popped the iPod in and all started dancing around the room. When RJ's "train" song came on, we pretended we were a train and ran around through the living room, the hallway and dining area in a circle. It was just some much fun (plus good exercise).
It is really fun to being able to dance and not really care what you look like or how good you are. Your kids don't care. All they care about is that you are having fun with them. The songs cost about $4 and it was the best $$$ I have spent.
The other night, JT and I added 4 songs to the iPod, including one that RJ likes. He is very much into trains and loves the song "C'mon Ride the Train" - they have been playing that and other dance songs at the daycare. Last night after LD and I returned home from her 18 month appt (for which she got very good marks from Dr. V) we popped the iPod in and all started dancing around the room. When RJ's "train" song came on, we pretended we were a train and ran around through the living room, the hallway and dining area in a circle. It was just some much fun (plus good exercise).
It is really fun to being able to dance and not really care what you look like or how good you are. Your kids don't care. All they care about is that you are having fun with them. The songs cost about $4 and it was the best $$$ I have spent.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
The Wooden Bowl
The following is copied from a forwarded email that my mother-in-law sent. It really makes you think...
The Wooden Bowl
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year - old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurre d, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess."We must do something about father," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There , Gran dfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. " The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.
Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happe ns, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life.."I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work a nd doing the very best you can, happiness will find you I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
The Wooden Bowl
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year - old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurre d, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess."We must do something about father," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There , Gran dfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. " The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.
Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happe ns, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life.."I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work a nd doing the very best you can, happiness will find you I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
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