No Dinner for Crybabies

Tonight, I calmly had HAD it with #1 son's cry baby ways. Yes, he can be a delight and smart and caring. But he is also a big wah-wah!

We were down at the neighbor's house...kids trading cards and moms chatting. We had been there for well over 30 minutes...it was 6pm...past dinner time for us...and I announced it was time to leave.

Oh, did the tears and demands and the gumbling start! And they didn't stop. This isn't new and I don't give in to him. But boy...something has to change NOW. And it was going to change tonight!

So...after listening to him cry VERY LOUDLY as we walked down the block...as we got to our yard, I turned and said, "Now you will go into your bedroom and I'll see you tomorrow. You will be missing dinner."

Oh and you can imagine the tears and mouthiness I got next. I just ignored it...made dinner. All the while, he was upstairs wailing. When dinner was ready, he calmly came down as if he was going to eat. I said
No, I'll see you tomorrow. Good night." Then the "I hate you. You hate me. You are so mean." And more tears.

At dinner, DD thought that her brother was going to starve. I informed her that neither she or her brothers had any idea was "starving" meant. That he'd be fine. That there were kids out there that are lucky to eat one meal... and that they they eat at least 3 a day!

After dinner, I went up to the doorway and told him, that I am not going to have him crying and catterwailing every day. Each time he does it, he will have no dinner. And I walked out.

I made cookies later. He came down...politely asking for cookies. I said, "No, go to bed." And he went back upstairs...without tears this time.

Admittedly, I did have a very small plate of what was left of our yummmy meal...including potatoes and gravy which he loves. I put it in the microwave just in case the hunger pains got to be too great. But luckily, he didn't ask and didn't come down and I didn't have to give in.



They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Now maybe the way to dry up a young boy's tantrums is to starve it out! (Now, I'm loggging off to tuck my sleeping boy into bed and kiss his cheek.)

Songs you can really swing to...

During the last week in September, I was sitting in my studio and stamping while listening to NPR. The radio is typically tuned into the NPR station when I stamp or cook or work on other things. There was a music review/interview for a new album being released a couple of days earlier by the Brian Setzer Orchestra. It's called "Wolfgang's Big Night Out." Basically, with the help of an old school big band composer, Mr. Setzer took some of the most well known classics, shortened them and then jived them up for a very energic set of songs that get your feet tappin' and your fingers snappin'!






According to the interview I heard on NPR, Mr. Setzer wowed his wife with his own unique rendition of a classical song. That inspired him to try to expand it to an album. Then he decided that he needed/wanted the help of one of the old school big band composers...who better than Frank Comstock! A man who wrote scores for Gilligan's Island, The Rocky and Bullwinkle Theme and other big hits in the 40s and 50s.

After a little research, he found the still living 84 year old Frank Comstock, who at first declined when asked to help write some scores for the album. But after a conversation on the phone, Mr. Comstock decided to give it a try after 20 years of not composing. Setzer sent him a classical song and five days later, Mr. Comstock sent him back a new jived up piece.

One or two songs soon added up to 7 and an album was well on it's way.



While, I have one track here on my blog, I'm sure you'd enjoy listening to others which you can find HERE! There is more in depth review that you can read and ring tones that you can download. (I should look into getting some of those for my phone!)


So, it has probably been 10 years since I've bought a cd...and I got this one. It arrived today. Just in time. Since there are 2 weeks of the year that I have to turn off the radio from NPR...the spring and fall membership drive...which starts tomorrow! Now I'll be toe tappin' and shufflin' around the house as I listen to this fun disk. Enjoy!

My Son...the SMARTEST kid in his class...

(Or at least he was the smartest kid in the class during one of today's lessons!)


Today, C*'s teacher posed the question: Which is heavier?

A pound of rocks...

Or a pound of feathers?

If you thought it was the rocks, you were to stand by the lockers. If you thought the feathers would weigh more, you were to stand by the white board. Everyone got up and went to the lockers...everyone except for DS, the smartest kid in Mrs. Haworth's 2nd grade class. He stayed seated at his desk.


He explained to the class that a pound of rocks and a pound of feathers weighed the same. His wise teacher commended him on sticking to his beliefs when the rest of the class had other ideas. And she went on and admonished him to always stay true to what he believed in. (Did I post earlier that I thought that C* had the best 2nd grade teacher as soon as I met her? She sure seems like a very well organized and caring teacher when I met her a Curriculum Night.)

Recently we have been doing a lot of the Wolf requirements for CubScouts with DS. Some of the requirements ask us to talk with C* about various subjects like: faith, responsibility, duty to God and courage. I know that my son has been wise beyond his years many times in his life. Again today in school, he stood for what he believed to be right even when the rest of the class thought that the rocks would be heavier. I hope that he continues this trend. To stay on the right course and to be couragous and firm in his desire to choose the right.

DS as a Pokemon...

Okay...I just found, on that same site as below, a quiz that determines what kind of Pokemon you would be, if you were a Pokemon. So DS#1 took the quiz and he is:




You are a Blastoise! You wash away your enemies with astounding strength. You are slow, but you make up for it with iron defense.

Me as an embellisment...

So I have been browsing blogs for the last 30 or 40 minutes and I came across one of those quizzes. What scrapbooking embellisment am I? (Yes, I do NOT scrapbook....but paper crafting is paper crafting!)

You are Fibers!

Fun and crazy at times. You are a warm fuzzy kind of person. You run around getting things done but still find time for fun! You have so many diverse interests that it is often hard to pin you down to any one thing. People love your friendly attitude and carefree ways. You often brighten other people's days. But Fibers Beware - Sometimes people don't take you seriously because of your happy-go-lucky ways. Sometimes you find yourself feeling left out from decision making that could directly affect you. Even though you like to be happy and cheerful, make sure others know that you can also be serious and in tune with reality.

Seriously ridiculous b/c I detest fibers. But...then...does that mean I detest myself? haha!

Amusing thoughts

So...just when I think none of my family members glance at this blog (expect for Mom), my BIL leaves a comment on my blog! Haha. Thanks Hank. Guess he's got a sneak peek on the Christmas gift...good thing I didn't explain the gift much more!

So...several months back, I posted a pix of my earring that I lost. Another earring story to tell. This one much happier. After a rather frustrating Sunday...I realized, while visiting my friend that I only had one earring in. This was a set of pearl earrings that my husband had given me when we first got married. You know me...I get crazy and nutsy when I lose things. But Sunday I just didn't even bother to look much at all. I checked the car while M* swept her kitchen floor. No earring...forget it the whole thing. I looked around when I got back home that evening...but I didn't do my whole "stressed and worried" thing. Early, early, early, on Monday morning, DD came into my room b/c she wanted to go online to play with the webkinz. First she went into my bathroom to use the potty...and she came out...holding...yes...you guessed it! The missing earring. It was like 6:10 AM...I don't know how her eagle eyes saw that one. She said it was hanging on my robe! Guess it had falled off when I was hanging up a towel? So now, I have to find the back of the earring. Just kidding.

Lastly (for now), a plug for a product...

I use Noxema...Have used it for my entire life. I was blessed with near flawless skin my entire life too. That is, until about 6 weeks ago. My face was just horrendous...especially around my hair line. At first I thought it would just clear up. I'm 34 and I had more zits that the previous 33 years combined! No joke. So I asked my upline and her friend for suggestions since they are very much into "natural stuff." One of the suggestions was Kirk's Castile Soap. L* caustioned me to use Olive Oil as a moisturizer. (Okay, I did that once!) It was amazing. I've used it for maybe 3 weeks now. And you can feel your face tightening up as if you had used an astringent.

Now, my face still isn't at it's near flawless state...but it is certainly a VAST improvement. So if you are facing some midlife acne break out...try:

Kirk's Castile Soap!

Birthday Bonanza!!

This year, my extended family will be receiving "Birthday in a Box" for Christmas. (Now, I know my mom reads my blog, but my siblings do not. So it's safe to post!) I won't break down all the specifics...but I did need 100 birthday cards! I made between 2-6 of each design. My good friend M* loaned me her birthday sentiment set and it was a lot of fun to use so many different stamps for this project. Now I will be endeavoring to create a pile of anniversary cards!

How easy a day can change...

It's amazing how fast your day/luck can change!

This morning, the kids were ready to go to school a bit early, so DD colored in her weather report. This week, each morning, she is responsible for presenting the dailiy weather to the class.

So we go off to the bus stop which is kitty corner across the street. It is significantly cooler today (high expected to be 74, compared to yesterday's 90+) and DD decided that she wanted a jacket. So I jogged back home, rushed to get her jacket and then to the first aid box for some bandaids. She had complained about her scraped kneed (from yesterday's gymn class). Then I rushed back out to the bus stop.

I calmly walked back in the door and set about putting the first aid box away...only to discover my DD's weather report lying next to the first aid kit. Seriously..inches away! If only I had looked and seen! So, in a mad rush, I woke up DS, hustled him into clothes, potty, he got some cereal in a gallon sized ziplock while I emailed the teacher. And we were off...

Lickity split, we were behind a bus...and yes, it WAS my kids' bus! But our school parking lot is on a lower level. So DS and I ran as fast as he could run up the hill to get to the buses! Once up there, we spied 2 of the neighborhood girls that wait at our bus stop. But no McK*...she was one of the first off the bus! We signed ourselves into the school, got our visitor's sticker...walked down the halls to her class room. We did get to see C* and walk with him (and his class)to his classroom. Peeked inside. Then 2 more classrooms away, we spied M* in the hallway. I'm not sure if someone said that I was coming. And of course, she didn't say a thing. (Unlike her big brother who was very verbal in his surprise to see us at school!) We peeked into her classroom and waved good by to C* as we passed by his classroom on our way out of the school.

Then we traveled south on Baldwin Road back home. Which is actually the way most people go to work b/c it takes you to the highway. So, it was slow go...and I was eager to make it to the gas station b/c my husband had forgotten to fill up the tank last night. Haha...

Okay, some finally, we get the the gas station, and I accidentally hit "debit" instead of "credit." So that took a bit of time.

Finally, we got back home...an hour after we left (b/c yes, we got McDonald's hashbrowns as a breakfast treat.) Whew...what a day we've had already. It's like treading water some days. (Mck's teacher did respond saying that McK had left the entire folder and was upset about it.)

But all's well that ends well! M*'s report is right on. Cloudy in the morning with a small chance of rain. We only have 3 more days of reporting before we are done!! It would have been so much eaiser, if there wasn't any clip art to color. Then we could have stamped some decorations with solid stamps!

Meanwhile, if you want to know the weather at my house, look over to the left at my weather widget!

Acetate Card

I LOVE making acetate cards ever since my mother sent one to me in the mail a while back. Love, love, love them! So when I read that today's challenge was to make one, I was super glad. Here is the card I made...with a supre great friend in mind.