We've been working with Marsha for months now on how to say 'bath' correctly, in addition to the other 'th' words. She always says 'baff' instead, partly due to her puppy obsession I fear. She does this thing where she bounces and says 'BAFF! BAFF!' followed by an open mouth, tongue out pseudo panting thing. So yesterday she was asking to take a 'baff' and I told her if she wanted a 'BATH' that she would have to say it correctly. And she did! I almost couldn't believe my ears! I praised her heavily with hugs and kisses too, and started running the water which promptly made her clear the room.
Interesting coincidence that the car dealer, Jason and I were talking about speech patterns of little girls on Monday. He has 5 year old twins. He was demonstrating how his girls' speech therapist would stick her tongue out really far past her teeth for the proper annunciation. Marsha was watching and smiling, I guess that made an impression on her. Maybe she thought that nobody else really talked like that and Mama and Daddy were just freaks?
When Jason got back from work Marsha was still in the tub so I had him come in the bathroom and I had her demonstrate her new found skill to him. He was helping me think of other 'th' words, one of them being 'teeth' which Marsha still said as 'teef' much to our dismay. Oh well I say, she has made a step in the right direction and we are so very proud of her for that!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Yin and Yang, all in stride...
Well for as wonderful of a day that yesterday was in my book, today has been the polar opposite.
Yesterday: M + I rode the bus over to an awesome coffee shop, Perk and Play, that morning. DH called me on my cell to tell me of an appointment with a car dealer. I asked him if he could pick us up because taking the bus would take too long and we would miss the appointment. So he picked us up, and we dealt directly with the owner of the place. He hooked us up with a Credit Union who gave us a better rate than what we were getting with USAA. Spent the afternoon getting the new account set up and M + I wandered around the dealership. She and I had fun looking at all the cars. Her favorite was a red convertible. Good taste my girl has ;)
Turns out, we were able to leave the lot with our 'new' car! It is a 2005 Honda Pilot EX-L. Steel Blue. Fully loaded. About the only things this SUV doesn't have are a built in GPS and DVD player for back seat passengers. It is beautiful and it is also now my primary vehicle! DH will use the Kia to commute to work.
Today: Woke up OK. Was up for around 10 minutes when DH informed me that our Kia's battery was dead again. No Honda for me which meant no play group like I was planning on for the Marshmallow Girl. He told me that he'd use it to take care of the mandatory stuff and try to have it available for me to use for the afternoon at least. So I called our new medical clinic in effort to make appointments for M + I later that day. Turns out their systems crashed and all the record filling that DH did last week was lost.
DH comes 'home' from his morning business and we try to get the Kia's battery going with the Honda. In the process of that, we both lock our keys in the Kia. We only have the key for the Honda in our hands at the moment. My purse is locked in there with my cell phone too. So I have nothing on me basically. DH got us up to our room and we have a call in to USAA for assistance. They rock. They will try to squeeze into the Kia and get the doors open, and if the battery doesn't hold charge we are having the Kia towed to a service station. Man, I hope the Kia isn't dying on us. I really hope just getting the battery replaced will make all right with it's world again.
Well, in the time it took me to write this blog, (much longer than the time it takes to read it!) USAA Contractors (or who ever) came out and got the Kia open and running. DH will take it to a service station to be fixed up hopefully for good. Well, I know it will need more work in the long run but you get my drift?
That's all for now! Crossing my fingers the afternoon will be better than this morning...
Yesterday: M + I rode the bus over to an awesome coffee shop, Perk and Play, that morning. DH called me on my cell to tell me of an appointment with a car dealer. I asked him if he could pick us up because taking the bus would take too long and we would miss the appointment. So he picked us up, and we dealt directly with the owner of the place. He hooked us up with a Credit Union who gave us a better rate than what we were getting with USAA. Spent the afternoon getting the new account set up and M + I wandered around the dealership. She and I had fun looking at all the cars. Her favorite was a red convertible. Good taste my girl has ;)
Turns out, we were able to leave the lot with our 'new' car! It is a 2005 Honda Pilot EX-L. Steel Blue. Fully loaded. About the only things this SUV doesn't have are a built in GPS and DVD player for back seat passengers. It is beautiful and it is also now my primary vehicle! DH will use the Kia to commute to work.
Today: Woke up OK. Was up for around 10 minutes when DH informed me that our Kia's battery was dead again. No Honda for me which meant no play group like I was planning on for the Marshmallow Girl. He told me that he'd use it to take care of the mandatory stuff and try to have it available for me to use for the afternoon at least. So I called our new medical clinic in effort to make appointments for M + I later that day. Turns out their systems crashed and all the record filling that DH did last week was lost.
DH comes 'home' from his morning business and we try to get the Kia's battery going with the Honda. In the process of that, we both lock our keys in the Kia. We only have the key for the Honda in our hands at the moment. My purse is locked in there with my cell phone too. So I have nothing on me basically. DH got us up to our room and we have a call in to USAA for assistance. They rock. They will try to squeeze into the Kia and get the doors open, and if the battery doesn't hold charge we are having the Kia towed to a service station. Man, I hope the Kia isn't dying on us. I really hope just getting the battery replaced will make all right with it's world again.
Well, in the time it took me to write this blog, (much longer than the time it takes to read it!) USAA Contractors (or who ever) came out and got the Kia open and running. DH will take it to a service station to be fixed up hopefully for good. Well, I know it will need more work in the long run but you get my drift?
That's all for now! Crossing my fingers the afternoon will be better than this morning...
Friday, March 20, 2009
Finally, something blog worthy!
Moving into a house has turned out to be a longer process than I anticipated. Despite growing up with a Dad who was a Realtor and Landlord, the many things that can go wrong with a house completely passed me by! At the initial inspection it was discovered that the winterization process was done incorrectly, and the pipes were leaking all over the place! People were sent in to fix it, and they didn't do it correctly the first time but they did the second time. The major appliances in the kitchen need to be repaired or replaced. There is a washer and dryer set already in the garage, and if those don't work it's not so big of a deal because we have our own. The garage door is a total wreck. It looks like someone backed into it. The door has a large dent on the outside and completely lost the tension spring. It is being held shut by a rope tied to the banister on the three stairs leading up to the house! With all these relatively little problems popping up it's been beginning to feel like we'd be destined to live in these hotel suites forever! =p
But today my wonderful, dear husband made some well placed calls and things are about to get moving, literally!
The garage door will be finished being fixed or replaced on next Tuesday. The final inspection is due for Wednesday. After the inspector has signed off that the fix was to his liking (which he will do no later than 30 Mar), the house can close by all parties' standards.
Bottom line, the house should be ready for us to move into in a little over two weeks! Oh, I was so elated to hear the news! My girl and I were at a park with our play group when DH texted me the updates. I honestly was beaming and squealing. =)
It's late, and we're moving to a different hotel tomorrow so I should head off and get some rest.
But today my wonderful, dear husband made some well placed calls and things are about to get moving, literally!
The garage door will be finished being fixed or replaced on next Tuesday. The final inspection is due for Wednesday. After the inspector has signed off that the fix was to his liking (which he will do no later than 30 Mar), the house can close by all parties' standards.
Bottom line, the house should be ready for us to move into in a little over two weeks! Oh, I was so elated to hear the news! My girl and I were at a park with our play group when DH texted me the updates. I honestly was beaming and squealing. =)
It's late, and we're moving to a different hotel tomorrow so I should head off and get some rest.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
spirituality
Today was Ash Wednesday. A typically somber, contemplative, yet renewing, occasion for Catholics. I was reminded of it yesterday when my Hawaiian friends mentioned it on Twitter. Tonight we went to dinner at the Olive Garden. I saw some people there with ashes on their forehead, quite large actually. It occurred to me that I didn't go to Mass nor did I even make an effort to make it to a Mass either. I haven't thought about what I'm going to give up for Lent. I could go on and on about the things I'm not doing in regards to my spiritual life, and make many lame excuses and weak justifications for why I haven't been to Mass consistently in close to three months. But I'm not going to do that.
Instead I'd like to share with you what I have been doing in a positive manner. I've been talking and trying to listen (the more important part) to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit at least 10 minutes per day. I am Googling Parishes in my new home and figuring out which buses get closest. I have been thinking about how I'm going to truly GIVE to my future Parish. I'm also thinking about the recent past and want to get to the bottom of why my Heavenly relationships are so lacking in fulfillment. I know for a fact all the fault is on me, so I need to change it! Not much, but that is what has been going on.
For those of you with young children, how do you share your Spirituality with them? Do you feel they are growing in the image you aim for them to? How involved is your family in Church activities? Do you attend Bible Study groups or other Faith enriching classes for yourself? Are you part of an 'extra curricular' Church group? How much time besides usual 'scheduled' worship do you spend doing Church related activities?
I'd really enjoy feedback. It would really help me with my growth and brainstorming. I believe thinking about it will help you too! In return for your talking to me about your positive Church experiences (even if you have a completely different Religion than I hold to!) I will commit to sharing with you some of my experiences and enriching activities as well.
This wasn't exactly how I thought my first Spiritual blog would turn out, but it is what was on my heart this evening. I suppose I thought I was going to start by writing my Spiritual biography. My 'testimony' if you will. I plan to write about that in the future.
Instead I'd like to share with you what I have been doing in a positive manner. I've been talking and trying to listen (the more important part) to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit at least 10 minutes per day. I am Googling Parishes in my new home and figuring out which buses get closest. I have been thinking about how I'm going to truly GIVE to my future Parish. I'm also thinking about the recent past and want to get to the bottom of why my Heavenly relationships are so lacking in fulfillment. I know for a fact all the fault is on me, so I need to change it! Not much, but that is what has been going on.
For those of you with young children, how do you share your Spirituality with them? Do you feel they are growing in the image you aim for them to? How involved is your family in Church activities? Do you attend Bible Study groups or other Faith enriching classes for yourself? Are you part of an 'extra curricular' Church group? How much time besides usual 'scheduled' worship do you spend doing Church related activities?
I'd really enjoy feedback. It would really help me with my growth and brainstorming. I believe thinking about it will help you too! In return for your talking to me about your positive Church experiences (even if you have a completely different Religion than I hold to!) I will commit to sharing with you some of my experiences and enriching activities as well.
This wasn't exactly how I thought my first Spiritual blog would turn out, but it is what was on my heart this evening. I suppose I thought I was going to start by writing my Spiritual biography. My 'testimony' if you will. I plan to write about that in the future.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
I want to shoot something!
Not in a homicidal way, I mean with my camera! I'm hoping I can 'sneak' out of the hotel room tomorrow while kiddo is watching TV with her daddy or something. To the quick passerby there's not much to shoot around here. It's an extended stay hotel with another one across the street and three story tall business buildings on the street as well.
But there's a whole new world of foliage to do macros on, a cute little diner a few minutes walk away, and maybe I could catch one of the squirrels. All I know is that I've been feeling tortured seeing my friends uploads onto flickr and the photoblog posts of other friends. It just hit me tonight really bad that I REALLY want to go out and do some photography! Even if it's only for half an hour.
We had dinner at my Aunt's again tonight. Just us three and her. One of my cousin's Golden Retrievers was visiting, as she does often, and she was such a lady! Camille is an older dog and greying on her muzzle. It made me very pleased that she didn't jump up on us or run around lots and bark. She has some Irish Setter in her, and her fur is longer and redder than the average Golden. I'd love to have a 'photoshoot' with her some day. What a pretty dog she is!
But there's a whole new world of foliage to do macros on, a cute little diner a few minutes walk away, and maybe I could catch one of the squirrels. All I know is that I've been feeling tortured seeing my friends uploads onto flickr and the photoblog posts of other friends. It just hit me tonight really bad that I REALLY want to go out and do some photography! Even if it's only for half an hour.
We had dinner at my Aunt's again tonight. Just us three and her. One of my cousin's Golden Retrievers was visiting, as she does often, and she was such a lady! Camille is an older dog and greying on her muzzle. It made me very pleased that she didn't jump up on us or run around lots and bark. She has some Irish Setter in her, and her fur is longer and redder than the average Golden. I'd love to have a 'photoshoot' with her some day. What a pretty dog she is!
Friday, February 13, 2009
hound in the hoody
This wasn't the dog I was referring to in my previous post. I tried to get a good shot of her, but she was camera shy! This one on the other paw, was snuggled into my hoody on my chest and lap for a good hour or so!
Yep, still alive ;)
Wow, it feels like eons since my last post! I was thinking that I'd take the opportunity to blog via email or my cell phone but life has been a whirlwind of colds, family visits, and car or airplane rides. Now we are a little more settled. We've arrived in Colorado, the 'new' home is almost officially ours, and we are semi-living in an extended stay suite until escrow on the house closes and the military ships our belongings to us. Our car has not been shipped yet so we are eating the cost of a rental for the time being.
The movers came on my Birthday, 27 Jan. I was hoping that I'd be able to 'sneak' out of the hotel room for one last get together with flickr friends but by the time we were done with the movers the meet up had already started, husband had a migraine, I was pooped and we still had to forage for dinner and get the girl to bed. So, I resigned myself to checking my contacts photostreams almost obsessively to see the fun I missed out on. Seems like they've been having a good turn out which makes me very happy for them. They are a wonderful bunch of folks and I will miss them dearly!
We arrived to Southern California haggard but happy. I had been feeling a cold coming on for a while. My voice had already completely disappeared and thank heaven for the extra adults around! I was able to crash on my parents couch and cat napped for what felt like three days straight! My daughter had a blast playing with Grandma and Grandpa. One of my brothers and nieces live with them too, and my nieces room was full of exploration possibilities. I loved being able to give my furbabies snuggles before I headed to bed and even feeding them and medicating Roofus was a joy. My Dad's coffee making skills have improved a tad, and I am happy for my Mom in that regard.
After a few days at my parents place, we borrowed one of their cars and drove a little ways north to visit my in-laws. We got a hotel up there but went over to their house every day and spent most of the days with them. Their house feels like a Zoo! They have several birds and a couple dogs, plus my Mother In Law's service dog. There is almost always skrawking, chirping, trilling, or the occasional barking to be heard and spoken over while at that house. It made me grin when my daughter started to help with the quieting of the avian. We will be inheriting an Umbrella Cockatoo after things are settled at the new house. I'm hoping for one of the Chihuahuas as well.
Yes, I'd love to have my own Zoo too! Of course acquiring more 'children' would likely make me put out resumes to Vet offices and Pet Stores to fund the needs of the kids, but mothering of any sort really does bring me much joy (most of the time).
The travel experience from CA to CO sucked for me. While running to catch our flight due to an ENTIRE flight crew butting ahead of us in the security line and adding 15 minutes which we didn't have in the first place to our wait, I tripped on my coat which was draped over my arms and fell on the hard as diamonds tile floor and banged up my knee. I was carrying my girl too, in effort to speed things up. I thank God that somehow I didn't crack her skull open, she just got startled. The only food I consumed that day was two small frosted cinnamon rolls, not even my usual coffee. By the time we were descending I had a splitting headache and threw up on a plane for my first time in 31 years of air travel. Props to my husband though- My man's got mad skillz with the seat pocket bag fetching and distribution!
Later that evening we headed over to my Aunt's house for a home cooked meal with her, my cousin, and her husband. It was just what we needed. We were all pretty tired from the day of travel but the meal cooked with love did my body and soul wonders! It was pot roast, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, salad and rolls. YUMMY! They are all so excited to have us here, which is wonderful! They live about half an hour drive away from our future house which I think will be nice in so many ways.
Today we got to finally see the house in person. We totally love it! The basement is full size and we have such great plans for it! It looks like there are other Air Force families as the neighbors and the Realtor told us there were lots of kids in the area. The house is so close to being ours I can almost smell the fresh paint and Chem-Dry carpets!
Guess what we woke up to this morning?
SNOW! About one inch of it fell overnight and the high didn't get above freezing today so it's stuck around and it's looking like more's to come over the weekend. (sorry for the sideways picture) The girl had so much fun with it! We couldn't really stop to play because we had to meet with the Realtor and buy food to have at the hotel. She picked some up and got to catch snowflakes on her tongue though. She was so excited about it! I hope the enthusiasm will last, maybe I can develop her into a snow bunny and we can eventually go skiing together? My man's knees are thrashed so he wouldn't be able to join us. Boohoo.
Well, I'm all blogged out for the moment. Thanks for reading! I Hope to be writing more frequently again now.
The movers came on my Birthday, 27 Jan. I was hoping that I'd be able to 'sneak' out of the hotel room for one last get together with flickr friends but by the time we were done with the movers the meet up had already started, husband had a migraine, I was pooped and we still had to forage for dinner and get the girl to bed. So, I resigned myself to checking my contacts photostreams almost obsessively to see the fun I missed out on. Seems like they've been having a good turn out which makes me very happy for them. They are a wonderful bunch of folks and I will miss them dearly!
We arrived to Southern California haggard but happy. I had been feeling a cold coming on for a while. My voice had already completely disappeared and thank heaven for the extra adults around! I was able to crash on my parents couch and cat napped for what felt like three days straight! My daughter had a blast playing with Grandma and Grandpa. One of my brothers and nieces live with them too, and my nieces room was full of exploration possibilities. I loved being able to give my furbabies snuggles before I headed to bed and even feeding them and medicating Roofus was a joy. My Dad's coffee making skills have improved a tad, and I am happy for my Mom in that regard.
After a few days at my parents place, we borrowed one of their cars and drove a little ways north to visit my in-laws. We got a hotel up there but went over to their house every day and spent most of the days with them. Their house feels like a Zoo! They have several birds and a couple dogs, plus my Mother In Law's service dog. There is almost always skrawking, chirping, trilling, or the occasional barking to be heard and spoken over while at that house. It made me grin when my daughter started to help with the quieting of the avian. We will be inheriting an Umbrella Cockatoo after things are settled at the new house. I'm hoping for one of the Chihuahuas as well.
Yes, I'd love to have my own Zoo too! Of course acquiring more 'children' would likely make me put out resumes to Vet offices and Pet Stores to fund the needs of the kids, but mothering of any sort really does bring me much joy (most of the time).
The travel experience from CA to CO sucked for me. While running to catch our flight due to an ENTIRE flight crew butting ahead of us in the security line and adding 15 minutes which we didn't have in the first place to our wait, I tripped on my coat which was draped over my arms and fell on the hard as diamonds tile floor and banged up my knee. I was carrying my girl too, in effort to speed things up. I thank God that somehow I didn't crack her skull open, she just got startled. The only food I consumed that day was two small frosted cinnamon rolls, not even my usual coffee. By the time we were descending I had a splitting headache and threw up on a plane for my first time in 31 years of air travel. Props to my husband though- My man's got mad skillz with the seat pocket bag fetching and distribution!
Later that evening we headed over to my Aunt's house for a home cooked meal with her, my cousin, and her husband. It was just what we needed. We were all pretty tired from the day of travel but the meal cooked with love did my body and soul wonders! It was pot roast, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, salad and rolls. YUMMY! They are all so excited to have us here, which is wonderful! They live about half an hour drive away from our future house which I think will be nice in so many ways.
Today we got to finally see the house in person. We totally love it! The basement is full size and we have such great plans for it! It looks like there are other Air Force families as the neighbors and the Realtor told us there were lots of kids in the area. The house is so close to being ours I can almost smell the fresh paint and Chem-Dry carpets!
Guess what we woke up to this morning?
SNOW! About one inch of it fell overnight and the high didn't get above freezing today so it's stuck around and it's looking like more's to come over the weekend. (sorry for the sideways picture) The girl had so much fun with it! We couldn't really stop to play because we had to meet with the Realtor and buy food to have at the hotel. She picked some up and got to catch snowflakes on her tongue though. She was so excited about it! I hope the enthusiasm will last, maybe I can develop her into a snow bunny and we can eventually go skiing together? My man's knees are thrashed so he wouldn't be able to join us. Boohoo. Well, I'm all blogged out for the moment. Thanks for reading! I Hope to be writing more frequently again now.
Monday, January 26, 2009
spotty blogging
We are now deep in the throes of moving madness. I've been cleaning and organizing the past couple days and getting my laptop ready to sustain my geeky side during transition. Tonight I get to help the husband by unhooking my desktop PC and in the morning or early afternoon tomorrow the cable will be shut off! My blogging will most likely be spotty at best in the near future. I will still have my laptop and cell phone to keep in touch until we are settled at the new place and of course will be stalking the free wifi from my hotels along the way and at parents house. So I will blog when I can. That is all I can promise you.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Tired already?
Today I've been so tired, and the real work's not even begun yet. I sent the cats off to my parents this afternoon. Before that took place it was a rushed stressed morning. There was last minute kennel cleaning, buying things like collars, tags, kennel stickers + towels, and then the fun part of getting the cats to the Cargo terminal by myself. I sort of enjoyed that part though. My shoulders ache from the filled kennel lugging and from being stressed out about if they made the flight or not. Bad time management on my part set us back quite a bit. But I can't imagine if I would have been forced to transport the cats and try to wrangle the girl as well. My parents called while I was getting her to bed to let me know they were able to take temporary possession of the cats without problems. Then when I came down to my computer after she was asleep there was a full 'intel report' about their first impressions of the new old temporary abode. What a Blessing it is to have people willing to watch our first children for us for an unknown length of time every occasion we've moved!
I've been documenting our last few days here on the Island with Black and White film. I have one roll to develop from a couple days ago, plus the probably trashed roll, and another half shot roll currently properly loaded in the camera. Yes, I made certain to visually see that the film got properly latched on. B+W film isn't cheap to begin with, and the processing is harder to find than color and it really isn't wise to get so excited about shooting that the loading protocol get tossed out the window! After the current roll is shot I have a roll of 1600 ISO to shoot and then I will be switching to color, basically for ease of development since I can't do my own yet. And as much as it drives me nutty not having the instant gratification of shooting digital I'm really getting fed up with the shutter lag on my CyberShot. It is painfully obvious now that I've played around with the DSLRs and my 35mm again.
That's all for now. I really want to try to get to bed earlier tonight. Big cleaning day ahead tomorrow! Thanks for stopping by!
I've been documenting our last few days here on the Island with Black and White film. I have one roll to develop from a couple days ago, plus the probably trashed roll, and another half shot roll currently properly loaded in the camera. Yes, I made certain to visually see that the film got properly latched on. B+W film isn't cheap to begin with, and the processing is harder to find than color and it really isn't wise to get so excited about shooting that the loading protocol get tossed out the window! After the current roll is shot I have a roll of 1600 ISO to shoot and then I will be switching to color, basically for ease of development since I can't do my own yet. And as much as it drives me nutty not having the instant gratification of shooting digital I'm really getting fed up with the shutter lag on my CyberShot. It is painfully obvious now that I've played around with the DSLRs and my 35mm again.
That's all for now. I really want to try to get to bed earlier tonight. Big cleaning day ahead tomorrow! Thanks for stopping by!
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