weekend update

Over the weekend, J. saw “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” on TV and played the part where Willy Wonka says the best kind of prize is a surprise for me a couple of times. It was funny to see that she did the inflections and laugh just right.

I’ve not updated much lately, have I?

A couple of weeks ago, I applied for a different job within my company and got it. I started training for/doing the new job last week – and training the person who’s doing the stuff I used to do. When I got home every day last week, my brain was tired. I spent time with the kids, did the dinner thing and went to bed early. I’ve become a morning person from all this going to bed early. I think I like it. 🙂

We’ve got fun things planned for the 4th. I’m looking forward to a 3 day weekend.

The best kind of prize

Today when it was almost time for me to leave work, 12 yr daughter J. called and asked if she could cook dinner. I have several things in the freezer that she could bake in the oven for dinner, so I said yes. She said all she needed me to do was stop by the store to get garlic bread and ranch salad dressing.

So I did.

When I got home, J. met me at the door with a purple flower from one of our Rose of Sharon trees/bushes. She proudly showed me how she’d oiled our old wooden dining table & chairs (inherited from my grandparents), how she’d swept the living room and kitchen floors, set the table, had salad made and the oven ready for garlic bread to be heated.

After we had our dinner, she was still grinning from ear to ear. When I told her how nice it was to come home to a cleaned up house and a prepared dinner, she said, “The best kind of prize is a surprise! Tee hee hee! (Willy Wonka – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) . J. asked me to close my eyes after she got out dessert plates and pulled a cheesecake with cherry topping out of the fridge. She was so cute cutting and serving it. She told me it took 1 1/2 hours to make, because it had to be refrigerated for an hour.

Now 14 yr daughter, B. has just fed the dogs and is cleaning up the kitchen so I don’t have to. Isn’t that sweet?

I must have done something right along the way, no? 🙂

meme

I saw this over at Annie‘s, who saw it at Karen’s and thought I’d give it a go.

1.What is in the back of your car? Paper grocery bags (3) and one insulated bag

2.What color is your toothbrush? Green
3.Name one person who made you smile today.  Today? It’s 6:00 AM, do the dogs count? 

4.What were you doing at 8:00 AM? I’ll be at work at 8:00 AM 

5. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? Brushing my teeth
6. What is your favorite candy?  Ferrero Rocher (did I spell that right?)

7. What is the last thing your said aloud? Good morning, Dobby!
8. What is the best ice cream flavor? Chocolate with pecans
9. What is the last thing you had to drink? Water

10 What are you wearing right now? PJ’s

11. What is the last thing you ate? Pork chops, salad, corn on the cob – last night’s dinner.

12. Have you bought any new clothes this week? Yes

13. When was the last time you ran? Saturday
14. What was the last sporting event you watched? Watched part of the final game between the Lakers and the Celtics
15. Ever go camping? Yes

16. Do you have a tan? Not really

17. Do you take vitamins daily? Yes

18. Do you go to church? Yes

19. Do you like Chinese food more than pizza? Yes

20. Do you drink your soda with a straw? At home, no.  

21. Are you someone’s best friend? Yes.
22. What are you doing tomorrow? Working.

23. Where is your dad? At home, most likely sleeping. 

24. Can you say the alphabet backwards? When I’m looking at it in print, yes.
25. Do you have a maid service clean your home? My children and I clean – mainly me.

26. Do you have a favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? At home, I wear a pair of Birkenstocks that I love.

27. What color is your car? Red.
28. How do you like your popcorn? 94% FF KettleCorn

29. How did you get your worst scar? Surgery
30. Look to your left. What do you see? Dobby’s cage (he’s a cockatiel)
31. What color is your watch? Silver with a little gold.

32. What do you think of when you think of Australia? Wombats and beaches.

33. Do you use chap stick? No.  Carmex sometimes.
34. Do you have a dog? Yes, two dogs, Sophie and Smokey.

35. Last person you talked to on the phone? Chrissie.
36. Have you met anyone famous? Yes. 

37. Any plans today? Work.

38. How many states have you lived in? Seven – Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Nebraska, Illinois, California, Louisiana.
39. Do you dye your hair? No. I used to get highlights, but now am all natural.

40. Do you like cats? Yes, but I’m allergic so I cannot pet them. 

Wanna play? Tag… you’re it!

it’s been a Jonas sort of weekend

Our living room tv has played Camp Rock about eleventy million times this weekend. And the Burning Up video, by the Jonas Brothers, too.

Have you seen them yet? You may not have if you don’t have tweens/young teens living in your house.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Summer Movies and Oil

1. The other day I purchased gas for $3.96, which was less than the $4.37 my local station charges per gallon. What is the current gas price in your area for regular? I got gas last night for $3.61 a gallon.  I paid $35.00 and got almost a full tank. 

2. Will your vacation plans be altered by the price of gas? Not really, we don’t do really big vacations.  I usually don’t have much vacation time available after taking off work for sick kids during the year.  This year our big vacation is planned for the week of Fall Break.  The condo is already booked. 

3. Is there any movie this summer that you’re looking forward to seeing?  Saw it last night with the kids – Camp Rock.

4. Gas prices aside, what is your favorite vacation destination? The favorite place I’ve been is South Padre Island, the place we go most often is Branson, MO, the places I will see in the future are Europe, Australia and Hawaii.

5. Will you watch more film on DVD than in theaters this summer? DVD

6. Will you fly anywhere this summer? Not planning to fly.

7. Guess: How high will a gallon of gas peak at? Locally?  Around $4.50 to $5.00 a gallon.

8. Will gas prices effect who you vote for in this fall’s election? No.

9. How much will the price of home heating oil effect you? Not much. We use gas heat, a gas stove and a gas powered hot water tank, but I don’t think that’s the same as home heating oil, is it? 

buying favor?

Ex-husband called the house yesterday to speak with the kids. He asked 13 yr old son to hand the phone to 14 yr old daughter at the end of the first phone call and she hung up the phone without speaking to him. She’s not spoken to him much for over a year because of some things that happened last March that added to the already strained relationship that was paved with broken promises and lies. Ex called back after she hung up to tell son that he won’t be buying 14 yr old daughter anything for camp since she won’t speak to him. Nice of him to send that message from one sibling to the other, huh? He has been telling son and 12 yr old daughter that he’ll buy them extra clothes and stuff for camp this summer.

Fourteen year old daughter told me last night that she doesn’t want him to buy her anything because what she needs from a dad cannot be bought. She said she needs a dad who spends time, who is interested, who cares, someone who knows parenting is not just about buying things.

I agree with her. Parenting is about a lot more than buying things.

Europe

Mom is leaving tomorrow to spend 24 days in Europe. She will be visiting Greece, Italy, Austria and Germany.

In Greece, she will visit Athens, Santorini, and Isthmia. In Italy, Bari, Salerno, Rome, Perugia, Pescia, and Sandrigo-Vicenza. In Austria, she will see Friesach and Radstadt and the visit will end in Munchen, Germany.

I don’t know how to make those 2 little dots above the “u” in Munchen, or even what they’re called. I feel sort of bad about that.

I’m so excited that she’s able to travel like this. While I will miss her a lot, I cannot wait to hear all about her trip and look at photos and the treasures she will find after she gets home and used to Central Standard time again.

Safe travels, Mom! I love you. 🙂