Giggles-n-Gulps » Randomness

Randomness 92

Tara — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:15:49 +0000

I love watching my kids play Just Dance Kids on the Wii. Their cuteness just tickles me to no end.
I know I’ve told you that before though. It just never gets old.
I watched a Christian film called The Encounter the other night. Like Fireproof, once you get past the first few minutes of a less-than-huge-Hollywood-budget and a couple of not-the-best actors (well, as if I’m a great judge), then the story is very engaging and powerful. I recommend it! It’s on instant Netflix if you subscribe to that. Hollywood has surely spoiled us!
I’ve watched it twice already. :)
Chris is going to build us a coffee table and end tables. I’m SOOOOOO excited!!!
Guess who is going to Home Depot this weekend? :)
I found these online earlier today: http://www.atouchofarkansas.com/2010/10/big-coffee-table-end-tables.html Scroll to the bottom to see the finished product. We’ll probably stain them the same color as the entertainment center that Chris and his dad built for us a few years back.
We picked up S from preschool today where she brought home a nativity scene project. I asked her, “Who’s in there, S? Who is that?” Her response: ”I don’t know. We can figure it out later.”
Also today, as we were picking up S, we were walking in and G’s friend C was walking out. They are the same age and good friends. Both boys saw each other from a distance and ran fast towards each other, banged together, and hugged and hugged and hugged and giggled and laughed and turn and spun, then FINALLY fell to the ground still laughing and wrestling a bit. Then G says to C: ”That was fun! Let’s do it again sometime!” Mindy and I nearly fell over laughing.
Then we pictured them doing that whole crazy manly chest bumping thing when they are older.

Randomness 91

Tara — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:56:11 +0000

Makeover! Ha!
It only took me over six months of non-posting and a few years of the same look. Truly….sad.
In the past seven months, G has entered 1st grade, in a sense, but is reading marvelously and flying along in math. S is almost halfway through her preschool year and having a great time.
S will turn 5 very soon.
FIVE. five. 5. 1 2 3 4 5.
Not possible.
For the post month, she has been telling everyone that her birthday is “tomorrow” or “in five days.”
Meanwhile, G is hitting up everyone he knows for “cents.” But this is how it comes out. ”Do you have any sense?” Ha! I have received many puzzled looks. Then comes the explanations of what he is really asking for and why (coins for the poor people in South Africa…long story for later).
In other news, G has lost is 4th tooth and is riding his bike without training wheels.
This means we had to buy bikes because we could no longer keep up with him on our two feet. Hello, exercise!
S is enjoying dance class and dramatic moments of her own choosing and creative fashion, often several times a day!
Here’s to not guaranteeing a daily blog post but hoping to keep friends and family updated on the kids and the hilarious thing they do. Love to all!

Randomness 90

Tara — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:01:09 +0000

Oh, the randomness of family life.
I’ve given up on regular blogging and surrendered myself to the idea of random blogging.
So there you have it. Irregular posts it will be.
As if you haven’t figured that out already. Ha!
I went to get a manicure/pedicure for the first time in a million years this past weekend with a sweet friend, Kelly.
Ok, so maybe it wasn’t a million years…but it was about 4.5 years…since S had been born.
It showed.
My first klutzy move was to dump half of my purse contents into the foot tub thingy as it was filling up.
Oh yes, I know how to make everyone around me feel coordinated and classy. It’s what I’m good at. :D
Translations of services and language barriers were left to Kelly. ”Yes, what she’s doing.” Scent? ”Yes, what she’s doing.” Deluxe? ”Uh, yea, sure, whatever she’s doing.” I am my own person that way.
Then there was the awkward moment when Kelly was gone getting her eyebrows waxed and my lady (I think) asked me if I wanted mine done. ”No, no thank you.”
Two minutes later, the lady next to her, thinking perhaps I misunderstood, asked in clearer English if I wanted my eyebrows waxed.
I was beginning to feel self-concious.
But firm in my desire that my hair dresser is best at this skill, I stated again, ”No, no thank you.” *big grin with my now big bushy eyebrows raised loud and proud*
I clearly need to get out more and do more girly things.
Kids are doing great, always keeping us on our toes.
We love G’s sensitivity and sweetness and S’s zestness for life is such a joy to behold.

For the List Lover

Tara — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:20:33 +0000

You know this is the gift for you if the thought of a specially designed notepad-per-month just makes your heart go pitter-patter. This gift did indeed make my heart go pitter-patter. My sweet friend/mentor Barb got this for me for Christmas and I have thoroughly enjoyed every first of the month because it means….I get to get out a new note pad and list-away!!

Yes, I’m a little weird like that.

I did a little google search and you can find them here.

Randomness 88

Tara — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:20:13 +0000

Well, no, I didn’t disappear again. We apparently had a cloud of viruses hovering over our house.
Flu, cold, flu, cold, bronchitis, flu, cold…
S and the nebulizer became good friends.
Maybe not so much. She really didn’t care for it.
It’s raining AGAIN. We had two days of sunshine in a row. We felt like we hit the lottery with that much sunshine.
G is doing really well in homeschool – he finished his kindergarten readers and phonics workbooks already. We are working hard in math and science now.
G and S are both in the middle of their Upwards Basketball seasons now. It’s a really great program with devotionals in the middle of each practice and game. G is so excited that he has learned how to dribble.
For S, we really focus on NOT spinning circles for all of practice nor being dramatic during the games. She is learning to dribble the ball, too.
Next up: swimming.
I have started day 1 of a couch to 5k “running” program. I say “running” because I’ll most like be alternating walking/running through the ENTIRE program due to my asthma.
I seriously thought I was going to die yesterday. But I did it.
Whew.
*insert encouragement from commenting friends and family* *BIG GRIN*

Randomness 87

Tara — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:04:51 +0000

The Hunster, the Huntley-dog, the Hunt-man, aka our Golden Retriever, has put on some weight. Time for a diet plan and more exercise plan.
The extreme Southeast unseasonal cold winter blues and resulting family hibernation has not helped matters. I suppose it’s time to get out and walk again.
He sure is fat and happy though. :D
I have the best piano students and families in the world. Have I mentioned that before? I always fall in love with all of them. So precious.
I am reading Creative Correction by Lisa Wheschel. It is a book and Bible study aimed at, well, creative and loving discipline for our families. I’m looking forward to a slew of new ideas for my highly energetic and stubborn children.
I say that most lovingly.
Supernanny’s time-out methods work beautifully, too.
I actually like watching episodes of Supernanny when I need a boost to my parenting morale. Ha! Not that I am a perfect parent by ANY means.
Then there are the days when I want to call her myself and ask, “Now what do I do with THAT? You never cover THAT on your show!”
Before you know it, they are both standing in front of you with cherubic grins on their faces, drawing hearts in the air, “cutting them out” and handing them to you. ”Here, Mommy, here’s a heart for you!”
And I melt.
What makes you melt? (Kids or not.)

Randomness 86

Tara — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 11:30:51 +0000

The flu stinks. Bronchitis stinks. Sinus infections stink.
Yes, I’m whining. Very much ready to feel better.
Ok, pity party over. On to more exciting things…
Like…the dog is sick, too.
Did you know dogs can get upper respiratory infections? Apparently so.
Even the dog has a cold. How hilarious is that?
I mean, not really. But the DOG, too? Poor Huntley. We’re all coughing and hacking, EVEN THE DOG.
I have found a new author I like: Lori Wick. I’m really enjoying her books. Great Christian fiction of a romantic nature.
Yes, I’m such a girl.
I got a new console table! I’m so excited!! It’s from Pier 1. I’ll post a picture soon.
Next up: a coffee table. I have my eye on one from an unfinished wood store.
Yes, I’ll have to finish it myself but it’s worth it when it is exactly what you want and you are the picky sort.
No, no, that wouldn’t be me at all. Ahem.
Chris is building some new shelves for me for the classroom. I love that married a handy man. The first set is almost done. Two more sets to go.
When one is an avid reader AND a homeschooler, you can never, ever have enough bookshelves. Add to that a career as a piano teacher…well, then you are destined to be surrounded by shelves of books. It’s inevitable.
Do you have lots of bookshelves? What fills them up? Books? Boardgames (Chris Katsuda!)? Or do you prefer books behind closed doors?

Happy Flu Year!

Tara — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 19:25:57 +0000

Happy Flu New Year!

Oh the fun of having the flu between Christmas and New Years. The blessed week of forgetting what day it is, spending time with family, eating lots of sweets, playing with new toys…it was not to be. Instead, I spent time choosing between Robitussin or DayQuil, three sweaters or two blankets to ward off chills, hot tea or Lipton soup, and wishing for bedtime and sweet Nyquil dreams.

My plans to keep you all updated of S and G’s Christmas fun with their cousins got short-circuited by a flu virus. Unfortunately, it was also the gift that kept on giving. It started with S in the car on the way up, to me, to sweet little D (my nephew), and on to my brother’s family and then my mom. Share and share alike, right? Isn’t that what we siblings are taught to do? *grin*

No worries, I’ll be back with pictures soon.

And did I mention we saw SNOW????

It was glorious.

Randomness 85

Tara — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:38:33 +0000

I have items in my closet that I just cannot bring myself to toss or donate.
I think I keep hoping they will come back in style.
It worked for bell-bottoms, didn’t it? :D
This weekend I held my piano studio recital at an assisted-living facility. LOVED it!
S was a social butterfly handing out Christmas cards to the residents and chatting it up with them.
We have yet to figure out where this social DNA comes from in her. Neither Chris nor I have it. She does it with ease and thrives on it, in fact.
G is like us. He was content to hang out in back and watch the festivities from afar.
It is 32 degrees this morning and has been frigid the last few mornings…unusual here. Tomorrow and Friday? Back up to 68 and 70.
My heat and a/c system just can’t handle the excitement.
S had her Christmas dance recital yesterday – a mini-recital at the end of her last December class. It was adorable. They did a tap routine to “Jingle Bell Rock” and a ballet routine to “Happy Birthday, Jesus.”
Next, they demonstrated some technique things and they girls had to correct the teacher on incorrect technique.
You guessed it. S took charge of that and told her what was what. Our little ballerina.
I’m trying to decide what holiday cookies to make with the kids. We always do decorated sugar cookies in Christmas shapes. Ever since I was a kid.
I might twitch if I didn’t do holiday sugar cookies at Christmas one year.
It wouldn’t be a pretty sight.
We also do dates (pitted) with cream cheese frosting and pecans – oh YUM. I know, those aren’t cookies but they holiday traditions around here. I know you’re making a face right now, but don’t knock it until you try it! They are wonderful!
And homemade (I stress homemade) apple cider. In a crock pot, simmering all day. Mmmmmmmm.
What holiday cookies or foods are traditions for your family? Those that you just cannot do without?

Randomness 84

Tara — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:42:57 +0000

Oh, Randomness posts, how I have missed you!
G is doing very, very well in homeschool! Mommy is loving it, too.
Even S is picking up on so much. She can write her full name now.
Speaking of S, she just had a birthday and is now FOUR. I know, FOUR.
Her birthday party was a Barbie explosion.
She loved every second of it.
She blew out her candles, opened one present from the pile, then declared, “Ok, can we have cake now?”
Ha! That’s my girl!
Yesterday, we had to have a long discussion about Christmas not being about her birthday, too.
Yes, there were tears involved. Oh, the drama.
G has a heart of gold. Such a giving spirit in that kid.
S accidentally left George, her stuffed monkey, at Grandma’s. She cried (of course), so he promptly drew her a picture of George to make her feel better.
Read any good books lately?
Favorite Scriptures? I’ve been enjoying Hebrews lately. Oh, such good stuff in there.
Speaking of birthdays, TODAY is Chris’s birthday! Yea, Chris! The awesome rescuer of damsels’ in distress (aka Daddy’s girl), and the great fixer of trucks and builder of things (G’s favorite), and incredible super-gluer-of-shattered-childhood-Christmas-ornaments (yea, that was me) – we love you!!
Ahhhh….Randomness-awesomeness is back!!