Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Psychosomatic Itching

I can't stop itching!

Having chicken pox in the house reminds me of the many chicken pox stories I have heard over the years.

For instance, in college I was a nanny for a family with 4 children. One year the 5 year old came home with chicken pox on Thanksgiving weekend and proceeded to pass it down to the siblings. Of course nobody got it at the same time, one child would get it and then every 14 days another child would start popping out with pox. That sweet family literally had chicken pox in their home from Thanksgiving weekend until after Christmas. Yikes!

Then there was my friend in Texas who never got the chicken pox as a child. She was planning a wedding in her home town and didn't feel well. On the morning of her wedding she woke up and was covered in chicken pox! She spent her honeymoon on a tropical island covered in sores, feeling awful and more than a little bummed.

My oldest brother got them when he was 15 (or so) years old and it was really horrible.

My youngest brother broke his clavicle in a accident and while in a sling to reset the bone he began to start itching.

I was a more fortunate than the stories above. I had them as a little kid with only a few pox marks and, according to my mom, was not really bothered.

So as I sit here and scratch my psychosomatic itching I have to remind my self that I have been exposed more times to chicken pox than most people...So stop scratching already!

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Change of Plans

If I could give this Spring Break Holiday a new name I would call it:

"Change of Plans"

Our original plans for last weekend wasn't a mountain plan but a beach plan. Our trip was planned as a trip with friends, but our friends caught the awful bug that has been going around and so we changed plans.

Then of course when we got to the mountain we made decisions every day in which we
"Changed the plans".

When we got home from our trip our friends had there own "change of plans" so yesterday I spent the day looking up things to do in and around town, and like a fool who hasn't learned, made more plans.

I had planned to sleep in this morning but at 5:45 The Girl crawled in bed with me and said she didn't feel good. I noticed last night that she was flush in the face and thought she might look a bit feverish but I decided she was wind blown from the weekend. She awoke not feeling right but couldn't explain what was wrong. She said she was thirsty. So we got up and went downstairs in search of a glass of water. She complained that her shoulder itched "really bad".

This is when I lifted up her shirt and noticed that her back was full of chicken pox.

So...this is the plan...we are quarantined to the house for the next 7-10 days.

It probably is the best time to get chicken pox since our friends are out of town, and the zoo is two hours away, and the museum is actually pretty expensive...

I did think it was funny though this morning when I told the kids we could plan on renting movies this afternoon off of the cable provider (it's cheaper and more convenient than renting from a store) but when I went to purchase the Wallace and Gromitt rental I was told that the movie rental option was closed down for the day due to...

..."planned" maintenance.

AUUUGHHHHH!!!!

Monday, March 27, 2006

Spring Break: Part 3


Most people I know choose to spend there spring break getting away from the cold weather. Leave it to me to find cold weather on our break.

The good news is that the kids had wanted to see real snow since the first day we pulled out those warm winter sweaters and crawled into my electric heating blanket. I am glad that they got there wish...even if it wasn't in winter but on the 5th day of Spring.

We decided to brave the night on Saturday night. This decision was made because we weren't entirely ready to go home yet, but also because I was determined to use those new sleeping bags we had just purchased at Target the day before!

We did all the camping requirements. We roasted Marshmallows and had smores. We used the wonderful camping latrines, which were very clean but have niether heat nor hot water, and of course you have to go immediately when you feel your bladder getting even the tiniest bit full...there is no waiting until you are doing the pee-pee dance because it takes you 20 minutes to take all those layers and jackets off...this was worse for me becasue I was wearing ski bibs.

I also had cowboy coffee. Which wakes you up and makes you feel like climbing the highest tree and jumping from branch to branch like a flying quirrel. It was wonderful.

This entry opens with a picture from the end of our trip. We were able to stop at a spot that looks over a portion of the Smoky Mountains. The sun was starting to peak out as the clouds finally moved on. It was beautiful.

We are glad to be home and now we have 5 days ahead of us without having to pack lunch or get up early or find matching socks...

The sun is shining and I am in my warm house. Now all I have to worry about is getting to the bottom of this pile of "camping" laundry and getting on my treadmill. As if camping in a spring snow storm wasn't enough adventure for my spring break I am also running a 5k next Saturday which, for the most part, I am totally unprepared. It's not that I can't run 3.3 miles but this course is all up-hill. Which may be a problem...so now I will spend this next week training like crazy so I don't embarass (or hold back) my running partner on Saturday morning...which ironically enough, is April Fool's Day.

Spring Break: Part 2


On Friday morning we arrived at our camp site and went for our hike. WHen we got back to the site I tackled my job of setting up the tent. It was very cold and the snow was on the wet side. It wasn't sleet but it wasn't exactly totally snow yet either. It was coming down hard and everyone was getting wet and cold and it was looking a little bleak. We didn't want to abandon things but we couldn't just stand around there either. The snow started to come down hard and we realized that a fire or cooking dinner while being pelted with wet snow wasn't going to work...nor did we have a shelter to stand under to eat...so opted to leave the tent at camp for the night, find a hotel, and hope for the best the next day. It was a good call. It snowed all night leaving camp with 3 inches of beautiful white fluffy snow. Here are a few pictures of the camp when we arrived:

The Spring Break Adventure


Part 1

It's the first day of spring break for the kids and we wanted to start the break with something fun. Our first plan was to go to the beach but at the last minute we made a decision to visit the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

It took us about 4 1/2 hours to get there. I took Friday morning off at work and we headed out on Thursday night with plans to spend Thursday night in a hotel since we would be arriving around 11:00pm or so...What we hadn't planned on was that upon arrival it would be snowing.

AS a side note, we enjoy camping because it is relatively cheap entertainment that provides a breeding ground for quantity family time...And when you have "quantity" you always end the trip with abundant memories of "quality" time. It's a win-win situation...unless you weren't expecting inclement weather and you aren't exactly prepared. There is a family story my Dad tells about him and my mom. They were a young couple who decided to travel from Arizona to my mothers home town in Montana. Traveling in flip flops and tank tops in a VW beetle and they ran into a blizzard completely unprepared...well all I can say is the tradition lives on. And this "cheap" trip cost us about $300 in sleeping bags and other "keep us warm" Target expenditures in a small town in western North Carolina. The good news: You are never that far from a Target store.

When we arrived in The Great Smoky Mountain National Park it was snowing but not really sticking...Although we could see in the distance a distinct snow line where it was easily a few inches deep. Little did we know that in the course of our 48 hour stay we would be in the middle of that snow storm and that distant snow line would drop way below our little spot on the mountain!

Here are a few pictures from the first day of our adventure...

Thursday, March 23, 2006

When You Need It

You know, I spend a good portion of my week telling people to pick up there shoes and to put them where they belong ( i.e., the closet.)

Of course today when I had to kill a spider in my kitchen do you think i could find a shoe anywhere within a 20 foot radius?

Of course not.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Random Poll Participants

The following is a reply to those who commented on the Random poll for this month. I have to say...the participants took this poll very seriously and did very fine research:

Blaw: Your sacrifice of 9 WW points shows the depths of our friendship....I am honored! I am so sorry that you cannot tell the difference between colors...that is a very sad thing. As far as the spring colors, I like them because they all have a taste similar to the yellow ones...which makes me happy...that's my story and I am sticking with it! ;)

lara: You re-arrange your eggs for balance? And you think I am anal retentive? And what is your M&M order...I also eat them in order, starting with the red (if The Girl isn't around to eat them for me) to get them out of the way...Because I don't like the way they taste...in case I hadn't mentioned that.

Anonymous (aka-Mom & Dad): I could just picture you running to the Circle K! And the Mister and I laughed out loud imagining you explain the green M&M phenomenon to Dad. I appreciate your thoroughness in this "very scientific experiment" but I have to say that you may have to be withdrawn from the final tally because you are grandparents...I think becoming a grandparent makes your taste buds unable to differentiate between colors and forces your taste buds to side with the grandchildren...I will work on that Creme puff test!

Monday, March 20, 2006

Random Poll

On Saturday nights when we don't have other plans we have a family tradition of having dinner in front of a family movie and eating pizza. This is fun in many ways and one of the reasons the kids love it is that they get to have candy (we funded a great beach vacation for our pediatric dentist this year...so the kids are now on a "candy only on the weekend" plan).

This weekend we each had a handful of M&M's. I was cuddled up on the couch with The Girl and I kept giving her my red M&M's. She finally said "Mom, how come you aren't eating your reds?"

I told her that I don't like the taste of the reds but that yellow were my favorite. She laughed and said in a way that felt a little condescending "Mom, all M&M's taste the same."

I looked at The Mister and asked if he had put her up to this. We have had a debate for the last 12 years about this very subject. He is unable to differentiate between the colors of M&M's. I believe it is because he has not consumed the amount of M&M's that I have in my lifetime.

A couple years ago, he was so convinced I couldn't tell the difference we decided to hold a very "scientific" taste test where I closed my eyes and he dropped random colored M&M's in my mouth. The one that was yellow I got right...Although with the other colors I was less successful. He felt that this proved his point. I felt that I wasn't at my peak performance and in my defense, they were the peanut M&M's and I think the peanuts confused my taste buds.

So here is the random poll for the month:

Can you taste the difference in the M&M's colors? Which one is your favorite?

Saturday, March 18, 2006

A Coffee Moment...by Kellie

Last Weekend when I woke up it was beautiful outside. A fog had rolled in and it was actually warm outside...around 63 degrees. Perfect running weather. This picture was taken right before my running partner and i went running. By the time we got back the fog had mostly burned off and left a shiny glistening dew that sparkled in the sun. Great early morning coffee weather!

Then the day was perfect. The kids and I planted seeds last week and they are sprouting like crazy. So in the next few week i hope to give a glimpse of our little garden. And if things go well, those of you who live nearby will have to come over for a big salad.

Also several of you have asked how I am liking my job. And in short...I LOVE IT! I don't have much time to expound right now but things are going well and I feel thankful that the right job was given to me at just the right time...La Vida Dulce.

Friday, March 17, 2006

I'm back!


I know it has been 8 days since my last blog.

I got trapped underneath this pile of laundry and couldn't get out.

It took a couple of days for people to notice that I hadn't been around...but then they ran out of underwear. That's when they went to the laundry pile in the guest room and heard signs of life.

Actually, I let the pile grow on purpose until today. I sort of hoped that the luck of the Irish would happen and a little leprechaun would come iron, fold and put away...and maybe make dinner too...only no corn beef and hash...more like Irish Fajitas or something.

Alas, the only Lucky Charms here are in the cupboard...and even they aren't lucky cuz somebody already ate all the marshmallows...

Friday, March 10, 2006

A Poem


Kellie Bellie,
Sometimes Smellie,

How does your garden grow?
Well...
Without talent, nor a rake...
Quite frankly, I don't know!
The End.
_______________
These are Camellia flowers that are blooming in our yard! They are fantastic! I wish I could take credit for their beauty, but alas I cannot.
This time of year, when all the dead things come to life it reminds me of the Creator.
He makes amazing flowers in just the right time.
And He certainly doesn't need my help...
He takes care of things
In the garden...
In life.

"Observe how the lilies of the field grow;
they do not toil nor do they spin,
yet I say to you that not even

Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field,
which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace,
will He not much more clothe you? "
Matthew 26:8

Friday, March 03, 2006

Spring Fresh

In the last few months when I put Kona's collar on I noticed that she smelt perfumey.

I couldn't figure out what was going on...or how we lucked out getting a dog whose odor was "spring fresh."


But I figured it out recently...I was doing laundry and Kona came over and stuck her head in the Dryer...I wasn't really paying attention to her but when I turned around I saw that she had pulled the fabric softener sheet (that I had just thrown into the dryer) out and placed it on the kitchen rug. Then she used her teeth and paws to smooth it out and make it flat on the the ground. Then she proceeded to roll around on it...Making herself spring fresh! Then she tore up the sheet, again using her teeth and paws, and then left the remains all over the kitchen floor. Too bad she can't learn to pick up the scraps and place them in the garbage that sits two feet away. Of course I haven't yet figured out how to get my 2 kids trained on how to do this, so I might be pushing it with the dog.

This knowledge solves a mystery in our house. It turns out Kona has been sneaking up stairs.

When I do laundry I take the clothes fresh and warm from the dryer and then I take them upstairs to the guest bedroom where I fold them and then put them away. When I get super busy the clothes sit on the bed for a couple of days. I was trying to figure out how in the world those fabric softener sheets would manage to get downstairs and shredded on the rug. Now I know...She was sneaking upstairs (she is usually confined to the kitchen and living room) and bringing her "ode de doggie" sheets to the kitchen.


As if laundry and pet ownership weren't already a thorn in my side... the dog stealing my fabric softner might be the final straw...


I shouldn't complain...this is a great improvement from rolling in poop.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

It Starts!


The second day of March and I couldn't be happier!

Wanna know why?

Because Spring is on the way!

How do I know this? Because the Daffodils have already popped up...everything else is still sleeping but these sweet colorful blooms are a happy promise of the warm days to come!

In celebration I better go shave my legs and paint my toe nails...It's been a long winter.

Capri's! Shorts! Flips Flops! I have missed you!

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

One Year

It was one year ago today that we pulled up our Texas roots and headed east. I thought I would record this day not in my words but in the words of a song from the musical "Rent" and, more importantly from the Word of God.
To my Arizona family - I cherish you.
To my Texas Family - I miss you.
To my "new home" family - I am thankful for you.
You are each gifts in different seasons of love.
Seasons Of Love -
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Moments so dear
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure - Measure A Year?
In Daylights - In Sunsets In Midnights -
In Cups Of Coffee
In Inches - In Miles
In Laughter - In Strife
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure A Year In The Life?
How About Love?
How About Love?
How About Love?
Measure In Love
Seasons of Love.
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Journeys To Plan
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure
The Life Of A Woman Or A Man?
In Truths That She Learned
Or In Times That He Cried
In Bridges He Burned
Or The Way That She Died
It's Time Now - To Sing Out
Though The Story Never Ends
Let's Celebrate
Remember A Year In The Life Of Friends
Remember the Love
Remember the Love
Remember the Love
Measure In Love
Measure,
Measure Your Life In Love.


For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
.
Ephesians 3: 14-17


May the Lord Make your love increase and overflow!
1 Th 3:12


In Love,

Kellie