Jonah is my creative child. He has lots of ideas and completely loses it if his skills are not equal to the idea in his head. This morning he wanted me to make a paper fan for him. I told him he was old enough to make his own fan and I showed him how to do it by making one for Isaac.
With a nice piece of scratch paper, Jonah attempted to make his own fan. His first fold was disappointingly skewed to the right. He smashed it a little in the middle which caused the fold to over-correct itself to the left. The mini-meltdown that followed that one small paper fold reminded me of the tantrums Don Music used to have on 1970's episodes of Sesame Street.
It went a little something like this (substitute paper folding for lyric composition)...
Friday, September 28, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Meet Jacob
This is Jacob, Ethan's hamster. Ethan came up with the name and I'm not sure what inspired it. Jacob is nocturnal but has been pretty gracious about being woken up several times through out the day to entertain us in any number of ways. Mostly, we make him run around the house in this little ball. It's a torture I'm sure is covered somewhere in the Geneva Convention.
Here are two things I never, ever wanted to hear in my life, but that have now been uttered in my presence since getting this hamster:
#1 "Eww, the hamster just pooped on me. Eww! Now the poop fell on the floor and Isaac stepped in it."
#2 "Mom can you make a teeny hamster Halloween costume?"
And here is something I will admit, but if you breathe a word of this to anyone, I can not guarantee your personal safety: At night, before I go to bed, I sneak into Ethan's room (creepy-mom style a la "I'll Love You Forever") and check out little Jacob running away on his wheel like he's late for is own wedding. He will run and run and run, then jump off the wheel, run through the toilet paper tube, climb up on the salt lick, jump in his food dish, and head right back to the wheel and start the whole process over again. It's pretty cute, but reminds me of my day and why I'm so tired.
And finally, here is a hamster fact. According to my diligent fact-checking (verified by 2 different websites) a hamster runs around 5 miles a night on his wheel. Crazy!
Here are two things I never, ever wanted to hear in my life, but that have now been uttered in my presence since getting this hamster:
#1 "Eww, the hamster just pooped on me. Eww! Now the poop fell on the floor and Isaac stepped in it."
#2 "Mom can you make a teeny hamster Halloween costume?"
And here is something I will admit, but if you breathe a word of this to anyone, I can not guarantee your personal safety: At night, before I go to bed, I sneak into Ethan's room (creepy-mom style a la "I'll Love You Forever") and check out little Jacob running away on his wheel like he's late for is own wedding. He will run and run and run, then jump off the wheel, run through the toilet paper tube, climb up on the salt lick, jump in his food dish, and head right back to the wheel and start the whole process over again. It's pretty cute, but reminds me of my day and why I'm so tired.
And finally, here is a hamster fact. According to my diligent fact-checking (verified by 2 different websites) a hamster runs around 5 miles a night on his wheel. Crazy!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Things To Do
1. Blog about my fabulous new mattress.
2. Blog about life with a small, nocturnal rodent.
3. Welcome my newest reader (I believe that makes 6!) Molly, I'm glad you tracked me down.
Things are a little crazy right now so that is all I can say about any of those things. Just know that I haven't forgotten about my blog.
Until I get my butt in gear and post a real post, please enjoy this photo from Jonah's first soccer game. He played against our neighbor Anna's team. The teams are made up of kindergartners and first graders. Anna is in first grade. Can you guess whose team won?
2. Blog about life with a small, nocturnal rodent.
3. Welcome my newest reader (I believe that makes 6!) Molly, I'm glad you tracked me down.
Things are a little crazy right now so that is all I can say about any of those things. Just know that I haven't forgotten about my blog.
Until I get my butt in gear and post a real post, please enjoy this photo from Jonah's first soccer game. He played against our neighbor Anna's team. The teams are made up of kindergartners and first graders. Anna is in first grade. Can you guess whose team won?
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Holy Small Rodent Batman!
I don't want a pet. I don't, I don't, I don't!! I have cleaned up enough poop to last a lifetime. I have no desire to add a smelly animal to our household. No desire, I tell you!
Yet, it seems I can avoid it no longer.
Of course I can avoid it! What am I saying? I'm the Mom for crying out loud. "Because I said so" is the trump card I guard carefully and use sparingly. I don't have to have an animal in the house if I don't want one.
Unfortunately, in a moment of weakness, I told Ethan that if he did a report on hamsters and kept his room clean for 2 weeks, he could get a hamster. What in the world was I thinking? Maybe that there was no way he could possibly keep his room clean? For someone who loves basketball, he can't seem to "shoot" a single dirty sock into the laundry basket.
So, here it is, 2 weeks later. Ethan has been marginally effective keeping his room clean and I suppose I need to keep my end of this totally crappy bargain. And when I say crappy, I mean I am sick and tired of cleaning up poop!
Ethan jumped off the bus today after school and asked if we could go to the pet store to get his hamster. I told him I would take him the minute he finished his homework. I'm not going to say anything to him, but it seems like he's been distracted and isn't doing his homework at the moment.
Maybe, just maybe, I can put this hamster nightmare off for one more day.
Yet, it seems I can avoid it no longer.
Of course I can avoid it! What am I saying? I'm the Mom for crying out loud. "Because I said so" is the trump card I guard carefully and use sparingly. I don't have to have an animal in the house if I don't want one.
Unfortunately, in a moment of weakness, I told Ethan that if he did a report on hamsters and kept his room clean for 2 weeks, he could get a hamster. What in the world was I thinking? Maybe that there was no way he could possibly keep his room clean? For someone who loves basketball, he can't seem to "shoot" a single dirty sock into the laundry basket.
So, here it is, 2 weeks later. Ethan has been marginally effective keeping his room clean and I suppose I need to keep my end of this totally crappy bargain. And when I say crappy, I mean I am sick and tired of cleaning up poop!
Ethan jumped off the bus today after school and asked if we could go to the pet store to get his hamster. I told him I would take him the minute he finished his homework. I'm not going to say anything to him, but it seems like he's been distracted and isn't doing his homework at the moment.
Maybe, just maybe, I can put this hamster nightmare off for one more day.
Monday, September 17, 2007
The Most Expensive Date Ever
The Good News: Robert and I got to go on an actual date this weekend where we went out to dinner and had adult conversation (about taxes and politics of course!) and we didn’t have kids interrupting every 3.6 seconds with: Can I have a hamster? How did pioneers roast marshmallows? I have to pee! Do you want to see my bug collection? Can you wash these smashed tomatoes out of my hair?
The Bad News: The date cost us over $1,600.
Here’s how it happened:
Robert: That was a great dinner. Let’s go into this electronics store and look at electronic equipment we have no intention of buying.
Afton: No, let’s go into Macy’s and look at all the shoes and pick me out a swanky pair of boots!
Robert: How about going to look for a mattress?
Afton: OK
The Good News: In 2 to 4 hours, our new mattress will be delivered. We have 90 days to try it out and we can return it if we don’t like it.
The Bad News: They are going to haul away our old mattress, so we will have to end up buying a new mattress one way or the other. Also, if the new mattress gets any moisture on it (including sweat or condensed breath) the return policy will be void.
The Good News: Mattress World conveniently had a moisture proof mattress pad available for sale. Outrageously overpriced, (I think it was around $150!) the chances of the mattress getting wet are very, very low.
The Bad News: The mattress we bought is 3 times as heavy as a traditional spring mattress and our old bed frame will most likely not support it.
The Good News: They had a heavy duty steel bed frame for sale (how convenient!) for only $50 and can deliver it with our new mattress.
The Bottom Line: The next few nights are going to be crucial to our happiness. If we sleep well, life is good. If we don’t sleep well, and (heaven help us) we have to return this mattress, I predict weeks of misery.
The Bad News: The date cost us over $1,600.
Here’s how it happened:
Robert: That was a great dinner. Let’s go into this electronics store and look at electronic equipment we have no intention of buying.
Afton: No, let’s go into Macy’s and look at all the shoes and pick me out a swanky pair of boots!
Robert: How about going to look for a mattress?
Afton: OK
The Good News: In 2 to 4 hours, our new mattress will be delivered. We have 90 days to try it out and we can return it if we don’t like it.
The Bad News: They are going to haul away our old mattress, so we will have to end up buying a new mattress one way or the other. Also, if the new mattress gets any moisture on it (including sweat or condensed breath) the return policy will be void.
The Good News: Mattress World conveniently had a moisture proof mattress pad available for sale. Outrageously overpriced, (I think it was around $150!) the chances of the mattress getting wet are very, very low.
The Bad News: The mattress we bought is 3 times as heavy as a traditional spring mattress and our old bed frame will most likely not support it.
The Good News: They had a heavy duty steel bed frame for sale (how convenient!) for only $50 and can deliver it with our new mattress.
The Bottom Line: The next few nights are going to be crucial to our happiness. If we sleep well, life is good. If we don’t sleep well, and (heaven help us) we have to return this mattress, I predict weeks of misery.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Summer Read-Fest, Part 3
I’m posting another list of books I read over the summer. This list consists of books I really enjoyed, were thoroughly entertaining, but which didn’t make the cut into my “most loved” books of the summer for one reason or another. Mostly, it was personal taste. I’m not a professional reviewer or anything. (In case you didn’t notice.)
Rex Zero and the End of the World by Tim Wynne-Jones, Interesting, good story, well written, very Canadian with a few bomb shelters thrown in.
Leonardo’s Shadow by Christopher Grey, Great story, interesting characters, still a few things not explained.
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, Too much math, kind of formulaic, (no pun intended.)
Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick, Feel good book, great story, like a “Tuesdays with Morrie” for the YA audience…at least that is what it said on the back of the book.
One Whole and Perfect Day by Judith Clarke, Didn’t really like the 3rd person omniscient voice.
Cupid: A Tale of Love and Desire by Julius Lester, Personal voice tells the story of the myth of cupid and psyche, pretty good.
A Drowned Maiden’s Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz, Clever writing, fresh and original at times, but could see the ending coming a mile away.
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, A fun escape, a little bit of a page turner.
Rebel Angels by Libba Bray, Fab follow up to A Great and Terrible Beauty, fun twists and turns.
Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison, Fun, but not much point. Supposedly a YA version of Bridget Jones. Did appreciate the glossary of British terms: it was double cool with knobs.
The Book Theif by Markus Zusak, Lots of death, in fact, he narrates the book. Lots of Nazis too. Heavy and desperate at times with a few rays of hope, but not many.
How it Happened on Peach Hill by Marthe Jocelyn, This story is practically the same as A Drowned Maiden’s Hair with a few minor differences.
Girl, 15, Charming But Insane by Sue Limb, Way to overcome serious humiliation, not preachy, just fun.
Girl, Nearly 16, Absolute Torture by Sue Limb, Not as much humiliation in this book, but still fun and entertaining.
Girl, Going on 17, Pants on Fire by Sue Limb, Desperately and tragically funny with a sweet ending.
Breath by Donna Jo Napoli, It took me until the last two chapters to figure out this was a retelling of the Pied Piper. A little heavy, lots of death, but most of them deserved it.
Rex Zero and the End of the World by Tim Wynne-Jones, Interesting, good story, well written, very Canadian with a few bomb shelters thrown in.
Leonardo’s Shadow by Christopher Grey, Great story, interesting characters, still a few things not explained.
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, Too much math, kind of formulaic, (no pun intended.)
Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick, Feel good book, great story, like a “Tuesdays with Morrie” for the YA audience…at least that is what it said on the back of the book.
One Whole and Perfect Day by Judith Clarke, Didn’t really like the 3rd person omniscient voice.
Cupid: A Tale of Love and Desire by Julius Lester, Personal voice tells the story of the myth of cupid and psyche, pretty good.
A Drowned Maiden’s Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz, Clever writing, fresh and original at times, but could see the ending coming a mile away.
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, A fun escape, a little bit of a page turner.
Rebel Angels by Libba Bray, Fab follow up to A Great and Terrible Beauty, fun twists and turns.
Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison, Fun, but not much point. Supposedly a YA version of Bridget Jones. Did appreciate the glossary of British terms: it was double cool with knobs.
The Book Theif by Markus Zusak, Lots of death, in fact, he narrates the book. Lots of Nazis too. Heavy and desperate at times with a few rays of hope, but not many.
How it Happened on Peach Hill by Marthe Jocelyn, This story is practically the same as A Drowned Maiden’s Hair with a few minor differences.
Girl, 15, Charming But Insane by Sue Limb, Way to overcome serious humiliation, not preachy, just fun.
Girl, Nearly 16, Absolute Torture by Sue Limb, Not as much humiliation in this book, but still fun and entertaining.
Girl, Going on 17, Pants on Fire by Sue Limb, Desperately and tragically funny with a sweet ending.
Breath by Donna Jo Napoli, It took me until the last two chapters to figure out this was a retelling of the Pied Piper. A little heavy, lots of death, but most of them deserved it.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Long Cake Recipe
Key Lime Cream Cake
1 cup graham cracker crumbs (15 squares)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 TB Key lime or regular lime juice
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 tsp. grated Key lime or regular lime peel
3 eggs
Creamy Key Lime Filling (below)
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms only of 2 round pans, (8 or 9 inch), with shortening (dark or nonstick pans are not recommended). Line pans with waxed paper. Grease top of waxed paper and sides of pan; lightly flour. Mix cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter in medium blow. Spread 2/3 cup of mixture in each pan.
2. Add enough water to lime juice to measure 1 1/3 cups. Beat cake mix, softened butter, lime juice mixture, lime peel and eggs in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pans.
3. Bake 8-inch rounds 42 to 45 minutes, 9-inch rounds 36 to 46 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center, blah, blah, blah. Run sharp knife around side of pans to loosen cakes. Cool in pans 15 minutes. Remove from pans to wire rack, placing cakes crumb mixture side up and removing waxed paper from top of cakes. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
4. Place 1 layer, crumb side up, on serving plate. Spread with 1 cup Creamy Key Lime Filling to within 1/4 inch of edge. Add second layer, crumb side up; frost side and top of cake with remaining filling. Store, loosely covered in refrigerator. 12 to 16 servings.
Creaming Key Lime Filling
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp grated Key lime or regular lime peel
1/2 cup Key lime or regular lime juice
1 1/2 cups whipping (heavy) cream
Stir together milk, lime peel and lime juice in small bowl; set aside. Beat whipping cream in chilled medium bowl with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Fold milk mixture into whipped cream just until blended.
1 cup graham cracker crumbs (15 squares)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 TB Key lime or regular lime juice
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 tsp. grated Key lime or regular lime peel
3 eggs
Creamy Key Lime Filling (below)
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms only of 2 round pans, (8 or 9 inch), with shortening (dark or nonstick pans are not recommended). Line pans with waxed paper. Grease top of waxed paper and sides of pan; lightly flour. Mix cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter in medium blow. Spread 2/3 cup of mixture in each pan.
2. Add enough water to lime juice to measure 1 1/3 cups. Beat cake mix, softened butter, lime juice mixture, lime peel and eggs in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pans.
3. Bake 8-inch rounds 42 to 45 minutes, 9-inch rounds 36 to 46 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center, blah, blah, blah. Run sharp knife around side of pans to loosen cakes. Cool in pans 15 minutes. Remove from pans to wire rack, placing cakes crumb mixture side up and removing waxed paper from top of cakes. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
4. Place 1 layer, crumb side up, on serving plate. Spread with 1 cup Creamy Key Lime Filling to within 1/4 inch of edge. Add second layer, crumb side up; frost side and top of cake with remaining filling. Store, loosely covered in refrigerator. 12 to 16 servings.
Creaming Key Lime Filling
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp grated Key lime or regular lime peel
1/2 cup Key lime or regular lime juice
1 1/2 cups whipping (heavy) cream
Stir together milk, lime peel and lime juice in small bowl; set aside. Beat whipping cream in chilled medium bowl with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Fold milk mixture into whipped cream just until blended.
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