Tag: kids

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Christmas Lists and Shopping

My daughter will be home from Florida tomorrow and I’m so excited to have her back! I told her to write her Christmas “wish list” while she was on the plane. It will maybe take her mind off the flight. Her brothers who are still living at home are still indecisive about what they would like, so I have a feeling I’ll be getting them a prepaid debit card, so they can just get what they want and I don’t have to go through the hassle of shopping for them. Except the stocking stuffers, of course. That is a biggy for me and I enjoy it!

This week I’m going to shop for my sisters, brothers and my favorite aunt that always celebrates with us. I’m pretty proud of myself that I’m not waiting until the last minute to shop, as I usually do. With my daughter coming home and all the other preparations that need to be done, maybe this year I’ll be able to relax on Christmas Eve!

I’ve been told the stores of course are already really packed, and I hate fighting crowds, but this year, I have lists! Can you all tell I’m trying to be somewhat organized? We’ll see how THIS goes!!!

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Gifts and Calls for Mother’s Day

So far this morning, I have gotten at least ten phone calls from “kids” and family wishing me a Happy Mother’s Day. Even some young people who have grown up with my kids, have called! It’s awesome that they would still after all these years, consider me a sort of “extra” mom.

My sons bought me a beautiful rose bush that I fully intend on babying, since in the past, I’ve not had much luck with rose bushes. My youngest daughter called and sang me a song over the telephone that she had written just for me and this day! My oldest daughter is taking me out to lunch this coming week, and then we’re going shopping also!

I’m staying at my moms house, so the kids all are also wishing her mother’s day wishes also. This afternoon I plan on taking her shopping for some summer outfits and then we’re going out to lunch before my brother and sisters arrive at her house with gifts for her. I’m looking forward to spending time with the family and also.

To all my readers who are Mom’s, I wish you all a Happy Mother’s Day! Pamper yourself or let others pamper you. Ya’ll deserve it!

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Quality time for New Years eve and day

For the next few days, I’m going to be spending some quality time with my children until they have to go back to doing what they do, and going to where they now are living. Welcoming in the New Year is a quiet time for my family. No one wants to party unless it is at home, with just a few of their very close friends here, and usually I try to stay up until “the ball drops”, but to no avail for the most part. But I do try!  I’ll let ya’ll know about this year, in a soon to come post.

Today I’m going to try some of recipes for snacks and finger food that my friend Elaine has given me. There are some awesome ideas for goodies to be made in the crock pot, and to bake up, or mix together! We are going to have our annual two day feast of cold cuts, and other yummy foods.

I’m so fortunate to have friends who are so domestically inclined in all areas. I’m learning from them slowly but surely. I wish they, would blog more about them, so I would have a handy reference. We all however  have decided to “spice” up our blogs with some tasty concoctions in this coming new year. But for now, I’m wishing everyone a very safe and happy New Years Eve. I’ll catch you next year!!

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School day count down

Getting ready for my youngest son to go to school has been a bit bittersweet. He is my last child in school now and it seems like yesterday when all three of my kids were getting on the bus at the same time and going to school together.

We’ve brought most of his school clothes and supplies, which actually weren’t a whole lot because since he is in high school, he doesn’t want a whole bunch of new clothes. Why, I don’t know. I’m sure I’ll be buying the kind of shirts he likes when I see them in passing or if I see them online.

He did pick out some really well made and nice looking shoes online at his favorite shoe place, at a reasonable price. They should last him awhile if he doesn’t do his favorite past times, like skate boarding and BMX bike riding in them. I’ve never seen such sports that tear shoes apart like that does.

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Gathering seeds and doing household repair

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been gathering seeds from what I call, my “blown out herbs and flowers” so I can put them in packages, mark them and then plant again next year. I love having herbs, flowers and other plants that I have grown and then gathered the seeds, and planted again the next spring. Generations of plants, so to speak.

I’m also getting the house ready for the winter. There are some repairs needed to be done on the outside of the house, due to the drought and yet also the terrible storms that passed through when we did get rain.

All of these things I love to do but need help with, and I have to admit that my kids have been wonderful about helping me with the a lot of the things that need to be done. This gives me peace of mind and also knowing that I am going to be prepared (sort of) for the winter and also have the spring seeds to plant, will save money and help me to keep from a great deal of worry.

 

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Already August

I can’t believe it is August 1 already. Summer has flown by it seems. It’s still hot as blue blazes outside, and my gardens are all dead and have been since we are in the middle of a drought, but the fact that summer is nearly over just kind of amazes me in one way, and also makes me a bit sad.

My youngest son will soon be back in school…the battle of getting him up in the morning will begin. He is the roughest one to wake up and always has been.

Time for getting school clothes and supplies and also time for getting the house at least semi ready for winter. With the weather the way it has been all summer, it’s hard telling what the winter will bring.

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The gift of a spice rack

My oldest daughter called me and asked what kind of spice rack she would need for her kitchen. I sat on the other end of the phone in puzzlement. My  kids have asked me a lot of various questions in their lifetime, some of which were quite strange questions, but never about a thing like this. I think maybe she was hinting that she would like to have one.

Spice racks to me are personal. I don’t really like to cook, but cook I do, and I’m good at it. One can be good at something and still not like to do it. When it comes to my spices, I’m very picky. The order they are in, and the type of spice group they are in is important to me. That is where good spice racks come in. They are awesome for organization of spices and also save space.

I think, judging how my daughter’s kitchen is set up, that she should look into a wall spice rack. She is learning now how to use various spices, and this way they would be right within her reach, organized, and would be a nice decor touch for her kitchen. I’ll be buying my daughter’s her first spice rack. I’ve seen some nice ones that she will be sure to like.

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Weekend mini vacation

The kids and I are planning on going to Devils lake this weekend. Contrary to the name, the lake doesn’t have grass around much of the lake, and it’s probably the only lake I will actually go swimming in. I have an aversion to seaweed and mucky bottoms, so since this lake has (as far as I’ve noticed) a hard packed sandy bottom.

I think my kids are looking forward to this little mini vacation. It’s going to be nice to get away for a little while, go swimming and just kick back. Usually we rent a small speed boat or a pontoon boat for a day, to go out and meander around the lake, then visit a favorite restaurant that is on the point, which we actually have to dock up to.

So far there has been a unanimous vote that we are leaving early on Friday morning, but I’m thinking that the kids won’t be ready until early afternoon. This generally is always the case. I don’t care, I just want to park myself on the beach and enjoy my time relaxing.

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In need of a computer desk and hutch

For me to find just the right computer desk and hutch or my daughters room has taken some time since the space in her room is limited, and her need of organization is growing. She really needs a place for her computer, school papers and also her music. She has a printer that she doesn’t use at the moment because she has no place to put it. With collage starting in the fall, she’ll need a study space.

With a little bit of rearranging and clearing out some childhood items she doesn’t need in her room, I found a great Contemporary Corner Workstation with Maximum Storage that would fit perfectly and give her all kinds of storage space and room to put everything she has as far as school and general computer work.

 

I like the looks of this corner desk and so does my daughter. It’s totally functional and would be a great way to have her room more organized. It really maximizes space and doesn’t take up a whole lot of room, so it would be perfect for her. I’ve even been thinking about getting myself one. Everyone in this house could use a bit more organization, and a room saving way to hold what they need.

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Organization with enclosed cork bulletin boards

My daughter and son wanted to have a place for all their school accomplishments and had been just hanging things on thier bedroom wall, but to me it looked very cluttered and unorganized, so when I have been looking into getting them enclosed cork bulletin boards somewhat like the ones that they have in school, to keep all their medals and achievements organized.

My son didn’t mind the plain bulletin boards, but my daughter preferred something a bit more fancy. I showed her some enclosed fabric bulletin boards and she liked them a lot. They are bigger than what I had really wanted, but then after I thought about it, and looked at all of just the things they have from high school, I think that they are going to work really well for what they want to put in them.

I had at first told them that they both should just put a years worth of special awards, photos, and medals in the enclosed bulletin boards, but then it’s their room and clutter, so it will be up to them to organize the items and  put them in the way they want to. I can always give them the bulletin boards of they decide to “leave the nest” on down the line.