The new Facebook.
Milano cookies.
Trash romance novels.
Gardening.
Shaun the Sheep.
Phineas & Ferb
Yoga.
Running, which, sadly, I can't do as much of any more.
Sleep.
23 September 2011
21 September 2011
Starving.
I am so hungry.
Somehow, I managed to gain an insane amount of weight over the last few months. To my friends who see me all the time -- it hides on the hips/thighs, sigh.
So I've started tracking what I eat each day, trying to make better choices.
I am starving. Starving to the point that listening to my 7-year-old count down the timer on the oven is enough to drive me loopy:
". . . 3-2-1. Two more minutes!! 59-58-57 . . . One more minute!!!! 59-58-57-56 . . . . . .3-2-1!!! Waiit Zero minutes!!! 59-58-57 . . . . . .48-47-46 . . . 23-22-21 ..... 3-2-1 BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!"YAY! Food. Gotta go.
15 September 2011
Premise of Perfection
Our oldest is much older than her younger siblings. For as long as they can remember, she's been the grown-up one. The perfect one. The one who does no wrong. She's put on some pedestal by them.
Tonight, my husband told the younger two the story of Uh-You.
For those who do not recall, C1 had speech issues as a child.
(Still does. Three years of speech therapy. Sigh. Try and get her to say synonym sometime. It is hilarious, trust me.)
When she was 3, my loving spouse was trying to teach her how to say the 23rd letter of the alphabet, which she insisted was pronounced "uh-you."
Scene: Casa Matthews, 1999, West Des Moines, IA. Kitchen.
Spouse: Double.
C1: Double.
Spouse: Double.
C1: Double.
Spouse: Double.
C1: Double.
Spouse: U
C1: U
Spouse: U
C1: U
Spouse: Double-U.
C1, serious look on face, very sincerely: Uh-you.
This story cracked the younger two up.
It is funny. Truly. Even C1 sees the humor in it. But it also proved to them that at least once in their lives, C1 was fallible. She wasn't always perfect. She wasn't always the best. And for today, for C3, she needed that most of all.
02 August 2011
It is fascinating
to watch your child re-read one of your favorite books.
C1 has delved into Farhenheit 451 for pre-AP 10th grade English. She lost my copy (grrr) while on vacation at Camp Grandma -- I know it will turn up, but still -- so I bought her a copy tonight.
She's been completely sucked in by the story.
I love this because
1) This is one of my favorite books. I read it on my own in the summer between 7th and 8th grades.
2) C1 is not a reader. She is not a fan of books like this. So when I do get her to read one, I feel vindicated as a parent. She loved George Orwell's 1984. I felt a victory when she admitted she liked that book. She references Napoleon and Snowball to this day. I have an awesome kid, and because of her C2 wants to read it, but I've told him to wait a bit.
Speaking of C2, he's my reader. He is my Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter kid. We have had to hold him back on HP, because C2 has a seriously overactive imagination. He isn't capable of reading past 4. Not yet. I enjoy sleeping at night and SPOILER WARNING . . . . Cedric's dying gives me nightmares to the point that I won't watch the movie. C2 isn't there yet. He'll be up all night if we let him watch it.
C3 is a tougher nut to crack.
Of all our kids, she has taken the longest to learn how to read. She seems to want to deny her smarts, which we have tried to push against, but not to the point that she fights back.
We have, through Mrs. B, her awesome, amazing kindergarten teacher, to read the Bob books. If you have a starting reader who isn't a self-starter, these are AWESOME. She's gained confidence. As she gains confidence, I see her gaining interest in reading. I suspect we'll be trying to hold her back soon. She's not up to Harry Potter, but maybe Ramona and the Little House books.
After all, I have yet to win anyone over on those yet. :-)
I have to admit, though, it is awesome to see the books that you love gain new life through your children. It really is like the Fireman in Farenheit 451: Books live through people. You can burn the pages, but you can't contain the ideas within. Ever.
C1 has delved into Farhenheit 451 for pre-AP 10th grade English. She lost my copy (grrr) while on vacation at Camp Grandma -- I know it will turn up, but still -- so I bought her a copy tonight.
She's been completely sucked in by the story.
I love this because
1) This is one of my favorite books. I read it on my own in the summer between 7th and 8th grades.
2) C1 is not a reader. She is not a fan of books like this. So when I do get her to read one, I feel vindicated as a parent. She loved George Orwell's 1984. I felt a victory when she admitted she liked that book. She references Napoleon and Snowball to this day. I have an awesome kid, and because of her C2 wants to read it, but I've told him to wait a bit.
Speaking of C2, he's my reader. He is my Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter kid. We have had to hold him back on HP, because C2 has a seriously overactive imagination. He isn't capable of reading past 4. Not yet. I enjoy sleeping at night and SPOILER WARNING . . . . Cedric's dying gives me nightmares to the point that I won't watch the movie. C2 isn't there yet. He'll be up all night if we let him watch it.
C3 is a tougher nut to crack.
Of all our kids, she has taken the longest to learn how to read. She seems to want to deny her smarts, which we have tried to push against, but not to the point that she fights back.
We have, through Mrs. B, her awesome, amazing kindergarten teacher, to read the Bob books. If you have a starting reader who isn't a self-starter, these are AWESOME. She's gained confidence. As she gains confidence, I see her gaining interest in reading. I suspect we'll be trying to hold her back soon. She's not up to Harry Potter, but maybe Ramona and the Little House books.
After all, I have yet to win anyone over on those yet. :-)
I have to admit, though, it is awesome to see the books that you love gain new life through your children. It really is like the Fireman in Farenheit 451: Books live through people. You can burn the pages, but you can't contain the ideas within. Ever.
07 July 2011
It is so hot . . .
How hot is it?
So hot that it is like an oven when I walk to my car. South Texas has not had rain in months, and it is desert dry here.
Our trees are dying. I try to water them every other day by hand, but it isn't enough. We are on strict water restrictions, so we are limited in when we can water.
It is time for Camp Grandma again. We just chatted with the kids on Skype, and they were thrilled that it was raining outside. In St. Louis. Sigh.
I would just love for a hurricane about now.
14 June 2011
Marriage and Tori Amos
We've been married 16 years, people. 
I know. I know. I don't look old enough to have been married that long. Much less have a kid going on 15.
Note: Kid 3 in photo not the one that is almost 15.
Blame my husband. He's the one who insisted that we get married immediately after we graduated from college in 1995. I wanted to wait. I wanted to take my time planning a wedding. I wanted to live on my own for a little longer.
He won. Only argument he's ever won, if you listen to him.
The thing is, if you look at Hollywood, or television, or most pop references, you think marriage is this totally easy thing. Find soulmate. Marry soulmate. All good, forever and ever Amen.
It is so not that.
Marriage is work. I know, I know. A lot of you know this. It is a trite thing to say. But it is true.
Which brings me to Tori Amos.
We -- contrary to popular opinion -- have actually had rocky moments in the last 16 years. It has not always been easy. I can recall some ugly, ugly moments where things could have gone horribly wrong had we not worked at this whole stuck-together-for-life thing.
Tori Amos's China resonates with me. Listen to the lyrics. Married couple. Walls built up. Living their lives. No talking. No talking with listening to each other, at least.
Listening is hard.
It is also crucial sometimes to make things work. Listen to the wistfulness in this song, and you can hear how very hard it can be to break through the walls that are erected. It doesn't have to be hateful. Day-to-day life, living parallel lives and trying to work, care for the kids, deal with the house, the neighbors, the volunteer crud.
It takes a toll. You build walls without even realizing it. That doesn't even get into the misunderstandings, the differing priorities, in-laws, backgrounds, perceptions, life stuff.
I'm a reporter, but there are times when I have not been a good listener.
Tori's song reminds me of the consequences of not listening. It reminds me of the consequences of letting things build up to the point that you are strangers living in the same house.
Sixteen years. It's been worth every minute, the good, the painful, and the hilarious.
So, this.
I know. I know. I don't look old enough to have been married that long. Much less have a kid going on 15.
Note: Kid 3 in photo not the one that is almost 15.
Blame my husband. He's the one who insisted that we get married immediately after we graduated from college in 1995. I wanted to wait. I wanted to take my time planning a wedding. I wanted to live on my own for a little longer.
He won. Only argument he's ever won, if you listen to him.
The thing is, if you look at Hollywood, or television, or most pop references, you think marriage is this totally easy thing. Find soulmate. Marry soulmate. All good, forever and ever Amen.
It is so not that.
Marriage is work. I know, I know. A lot of you know this. It is a trite thing to say. But it is true.
Which brings me to Tori Amos.
We -- contrary to popular opinion -- have actually had rocky moments in the last 16 years. It has not always been easy. I can recall some ugly, ugly moments where things could have gone horribly wrong had we not worked at this whole stuck-together-for-life thing.
Tori Amos's China resonates with me. Listen to the lyrics. Married couple. Walls built up. Living their lives. No talking. No talking with listening to each other, at least.
Listening is hard.
It is also crucial sometimes to make things work. Listen to the wistfulness in this song, and you can hear how very hard it can be to break through the walls that are erected. It doesn't have to be hateful. Day-to-day life, living parallel lives and trying to work, care for the kids, deal with the house, the neighbors, the volunteer crud.
It takes a toll. You build walls without even realizing it. That doesn't even get into the misunderstandings, the differing priorities, in-laws, backgrounds, perceptions, life stuff.
I'm a reporter, but there are times when I have not been a good listener.
Tori's song reminds me of the consequences of not listening. It reminds me of the consequences of letting things build up to the point that you are strangers living in the same house.
Sixteen years. It's been worth every minute, the good, the painful, and the hilarious.
So, this.
31 May 2011
Working Mom, with just-graduated-kindergartener
And scene:
University office building. Early work morning. Mom has just taken chairs from around office and used blanket that she normally uses to fend off the a/c chill from vents above and created a "tent."
Child in tent.
Mom at computer.
Dad at office, miles away. If blocked, have father off stage, reading texts as disembodied voice.
Mom types through scene, working. Child talks from under tent. Also can pop out at will, interrupting with new drawings, requests for highlighters to use as markers, and Nintento DS assistance.
As told through texts from parent to parent. May be read aloud on stage.
DAD: Woohoo! Page views are spiking this morning. It is a
good day. It's looking really good for us meeting the monthly goal.
MOM: Yay!
Kid is camped out in a "tent" made of my chairs and a blanket I have here.
I'm plowing through email.
Groan.
DAD: Enough room to bring the actual princess tent? :-)
MOM: No.
Sent at 8:19 AM on Tuesday
MOM: First meltdown over DS. Also, no stylus. Grrr.
DAD: Oh wonderful.
MOM: Sigh.
Three and a half more hours.
DAD: I'm starting to think we should have kept that
portable DVD. This is the exact moment it would be helpful.
MOM: Yes, but, she'll manage.
Sent at 9:04 AM on Tuesday
MOM: "How much longer 'til lunch, Mom?"
Sent at 9:13 AM on Tuesday
MOM: Just sent you a link to a pool. Thoughts?
Sent at 9:19 AM on Tuesday
MOM: annnnnddddd now we are pouting because I won't go home. Sigh.
I wish I knew a college student in town willing to earn some extra cash.
Sent at 11:30 AM on Tuesday
DAD: Very sorry.
MOM: She's just being a brat, albeit a quiet brat.
Sent at 11:45 AM on Tuesday
MOM: Hear that? That's the sound of silence. It is beautiful.
Truly, it wasn't horrible. Wasn't great. Can't wait for eldest to be done with finals so she can earn her pay as a sitter.
University office building. Early work morning. Mom has just taken chairs from around office and used blanket that she normally uses to fend off the a/c chill from vents above and created a "tent."
Child in tent.
Mom at computer.
Dad at office, miles away. If blocked, have father off stage, reading texts as disembodied voice.
Mom types through scene, working. Child talks from under tent. Also can pop out at will, interrupting with new drawings, requests for highlighters to use as markers, and Nintento DS assistance.
As told through texts from parent to parent. May be read aloud on stage.
DAD: Woohoo! Page views are spiking this morning. It is a
good day. It's looking really good for us meeting the monthly goal.
MOM: Yay!
Kid is camped out in a "tent" made of my chairs and a blanket I have here.
I'm plowing through email.
Groan.
DAD: Enough room to bring the actual princess tent? :-)
MOM: No.
Sent at 8:19 AM on Tuesday
MOM: First meltdown over DS. Also, no stylus. Grrr.
DAD: Oh wonderful.
MOM: Sigh.
Three and a half more hours.
DAD: I'm starting to think we should have kept that
portable DVD. This is the exact moment it would be helpful.
MOM: Yes, but, she'll manage.
Sent at 9:04 AM on Tuesday
MOM: "How much longer 'til lunch, Mom?"
Sent at 9:13 AM on Tuesday
MOM: Just sent you a link to a pool. Thoughts?
Sent at 9:19 AM on Tuesday
MOM: annnnnddddd now we are pouting because I won't go home. Sigh.
I wish I knew a college student in town willing to earn some extra cash.
Sent at 11:30 AM on Tuesday
DAD: Very sorry.
MOM: She's just being a brat, albeit a quiet brat.
Sent at 11:45 AM on Tuesday
MOM: Hear that? That's the sound of silence. It is beautiful.
Truly, it wasn't horrible. Wasn't great. Can't wait for eldest to be done with finals so she can earn her pay as a sitter.