Hyper-planning

Well, I think I've warped her. Not that I'm surprised by this. It was only a matter of time, right? ALL parents warp their children in one way or another.

I'm just wondering if it's fair to strangle a child over something that you probably started. :)

I'm a planner. I mean, let's face it - I have two children, I homeschool, I have a business, I have a husband that works a lot, I have a house, and I have no family close by. I have a six-week meal plan, a cleaning plan, a routine for every day of the week, I only go to the grocery once a week, and I keep a very detailed to-do list. Our daily routine is basically the same (hey - it works! Why mess with it??)

I know - it's a sickness. :) But, organization is not really a choice - I'm either organized or I drown. Sometimes I drown anyway. (And I did recently hire a cleaning company for every so often) But, that's a post for another day.

The POINT is: I've passed the hyper-plan habit down to my poor little 6 year old.

Here's some evidence:
We went yard-saling recently. I gave each child a certain amount of money, set aside the entire morning, and said we were just going to drive around and go to the sales we thought were interesting.

Punkin: "So, Mom, first we are going to go that way and then this way?"
Me: "No, we aren't going to plan it all out. We are going to be spontaneous and just decide which one to go to one at a time."

5 minutes later:
Punkin: "So, we're going to go on this street and then go look on that street."
Me: "No, we'll find one that looks interesting and then we'll decide what to do. It's an adventure!"

5 minutes later:
Punkin: "So, how do we decide when we are done?"
Me: "Are you ready to go home?"
Punkin: "NO, I still have some money left!"
Me: "Then we aren't going to worry about it. We are just going to drive around until we get tired."

You get the idea.

And the remarkably scary thing is that sometimes she is better at it than I am. Especially when figuring out how to fit it all in and still go to the pool is involved.

"Well, Mom, you could go do your work now, then fix us lunch, then we could watch TV,...... "

That's my boy

"Sister, sister - when I grow up I'm gonna be a shooter guy. And, and, and ... a monster truck guy with lots of FIRE!"

(Maybe I was better off with the race car dream? (giggle) )

Randomness

Well, I've discovered an important fact: (drum roll, please...) I don't like blogging without pictures. I guess it's the visual learner in me.

And the whole hard drive/ new computer thing is almost finished. I never realized how many different software programs, plug-ins, add-ons, freeware, etc.. I use daily! I'm thinking it might be a record... well, no - I'm sure WeaverDad has me beat on that one. Anyway, since the business comes first in this regard, my camera and scanner will just have to wait until next weekend when WeaverDad has time again to work on it!

So, in the meantime, here is a "random meme" I lifted from Musings of a Housewife's site. She chose not to answer questions 22&23 - which means I probably wouldn't have wanted to either. She has good taste you know. (wink)

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:15
2. Diamonds or pearls? I'm not really a jewelry girl.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Cars

4. What is your favorite TV show? How Things are Made (Discovery channel) In my defense, I watch very little TV.
5. What did you have for breakfast? McDonalds

6. What is your middle name? I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. (I will tell you that it's the name I go by.)
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Mexican

8. What foods do you dislike? Brussel sprouts, I'm not a big seafood fan, and I've only recently found a couple of Chinese dishes that I like.

9. What are your favorite chips? Sunchips

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Legacy by Nichole Nordemann

11. What kind of car do you drive? A red Grand Caravan. (I love it.)

12. Favorite sandwich? Peanut butter and jelly

13. What are characteristics you can't stand? Constant complaining & constant "sunny-ness" (There is probably a better word....)
14. What are your favorite clothes? Jeans and v-neck t-shirts.

15. If you could go anywhere on vacation? Anywhere peaceful - mountains or beach.

17. Where would you want to retire? I'm not sure. Gotta tell you I have very little faith that will ever actually happen, given that whole we need money to live thing. Close to my kids, I suppose.

18. Favorite time of day? The morning before everyone is up. (I've never thought about this before, and this answer surprises me - I'm am so NOT a morning person. :) )

19. Where were you born? TN

21. What is your favorite sport to watch? Volleyball

24. Coke or Pepsi? I'm sensitive to caffeine, so I don't drink either very often. And when I do, I don't care which.

25. Beavers or ducks? What? I don't understand the question.

26. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Amen to Musing Housewife: Night owl all the way. My ideal day would be noon to midnight.
27. Pedicure or manicure? Manicure

29. What did you want to be when you were little? A mom

30. What is your best childhood memory? My dad singing me to sleep.

31. Ever been to Africa? Nope.
32. Ever been toilet papering? Yes. In college. And I loved it, thank you very much.

33. Been in a car accident? Yes

34. Favorite day of the week? Sunday

35. Favorite restaurant? Hmmm.... Let's see, if I don't have to cook - they're ALL good. :) But, Outback Steakhouse, I suppose.

36. Favorite flower? I like summer wildflowers. I couldn't start to tell you any names.
37. Favorite ice-cream? Cold Stone's Sweet Cream - yum, yum, good!

38. Favorite fast food restaurant? Wendy's

39. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Zero!

40. From whom did you get your last e-mail? A college friend
41. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Eddie Bauer

44. Last person you went to dinner with? My family.

45. What are you listening to right now? Click, click, click (keyboard keys)
46. What is your favorite color? Black for clothes. Red for everything else.
47. How many tattoos do you have? none
48. How many are you sending this Email to? Infinite.
49. What time did you finish this e-mail? 9:19pm

50. Favorite magazine: How's this for crazy? I have 12 magazine subscriptions. :) My favorites are Threads and Family Fun.

Your turn! Let me know if you do it so I can come read!

I'm not bigger

The scene: WeaverDad, SnugBug and I snuggled in the bed enjoying the lazy morning.

Me: SnugBug has had one of those nights where he just wakes up bigger. Are you feeding him growing pills when I'm not looking?
WeaverDad: No, are you blinking when I'm not looking?
SnugBug (lifting up his shirt and looking at his tummy): I'M not bigger!

Top Ten

Well, I still can't download my pictures after my hard drive crash. (grrr) But, suffice it to say that most would have been boring family pictures of Grandmas and Grandpas and cousins having a grand time together.

Here is my Ten Things About Our Trip list:

1. We spent 5 days in the car (one of them for 20 hours) and 8 days visiting family.
2. We have a great family. It was fabulous to see the grandparents, siblings, aunts, etc... Cousins are wonderful people and have there is a special connection no matter how rarely you see them. And my brother has a new girlfriend that I like.
   
3. My grandma looks amazing! Thanks again to everyone who prayed or thought of her.
4. I did not wash a single dish. [Insert 2nd happy dance here.]
5. I did not cook a single meal - Ok, I did help once, but all I did was brown some ground beef. And since the above point is true, it's hardly worth mentioning. :)
6. I did not make a single bed.
7. DVD players in cars are the best invention EVER!
8. Headphones for the DVD player are the second best invention ever. It was actually possible to have a conversation with my husband!
9. It is possible to enjoy driving approximately 7 hours of the night while your family sleeps. It was wonderful, quiet, peaceful thinking time. (I'm being serious, not sarcastic.)
10. My husband was in my hometown for 4 days, and was quoted as "a visitor from Colorado" on the front page of the local paper. I'm not quite sure whether that says more about him or the local paper, but I did find it interesting.

Home Sweet Home

We are finally home after an extended trip to see family. I'll post some pics and tell you the highlights when I've recovered from driving for 14 hours straight!

I read an article today that I LOVED. It's from a mom who's son just got his drivers' license and she is talking about how she has spent years protecting him and now he is driving! Alone! In a car!

I have, well - I'll call them "car issues" although some might say that is a bit of an understatement. So even though Punkin is only 6, I'm already dreading the whole driver's license saga.

So, here is my mental goal. I've got 10 more years to get to this state of mind. :)

Sixteen years and one driver's license later, I'm finally learning to accept that fear doesn't keep a child safe, any more than faith assures immunity from harm. It's no longer my job to protect my son from the world but rather to let him know that I believe he can handle it - and that I trust him enough to let him try."

- Katrina Kenison in Family Circle