First Day of School

Blogging about the first day of school appears to be all the rage, so far be it from us to buck tradition.

Michael got up by himself and got dressed without any hassle. You could tell he was excited! Dad fixed breakfast (Michael has to leave earlier than Jacob, so Mom takes the Jacob shift in the morning). Jacob also was in a good mood to go to school.



Michael's all ready to go!

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Mom saying goodbye

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Giving the cat a pet before getting to the bus stop

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Here comes the bus! (the bus stop is literally 1 house away)

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Jacob's turn - he's all ready!

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We like the happy attitude

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Bye!

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We are glad we didn't have this:

Windy wind wind...

This is what happens on a terribly windy day, when you forget to put down the umbrella on the glass-topped table on the deck:


Needless to say, we were not pleased. It's a good thing the glass was tempered glass, or we would have a lot harder time (or more dangerous time) cleaning it up.


This is the second time we have had this occur to us (the last time, the umbrella itself blew a couple houses away). I think I am done with glass-topped tables. I think I can build a wooden one (gotta clear it with The Boss first!). Let's see that one shatter!!

Goodbye old friend (sniff!)

Well, it's finally time to say goodbye to an old friend (actually, a pair of them).

My Dad gave me these shoes I don't know how many years ago. They didn't fit him any more, and they were just right for me. Over the years I have broken them in such that they felt like they were a part of me.

They were simple shoes - the leather wasn't fancy and shiny; the stitching was simple and bold. But it was very convenient to just slip them on (with or without socks, and if you know me, I never wear shoes without socks). When I was feeling especially lazy, I would even wear them to work!

The soles have finally cracked through (I was wondering why my feet got wet very quickly when it rained); the sides have split out; I was on my 2^nd insole, and it was fading fast.

So I went to Wal-Mart to look for a replacement. I got a pair of canvas shoes, since I didn't find anything like my old friends. It won't be the same, but then it never is, right?

(sniff).

Being Domestic Today

I got busy inside the house on this rainy but grateful day for the rain. My garden is in. I got it done yesterday, the 8th. Now usually I would find every excuse except for doing laundry and dishes and go do something else. But today I really felt like putting on gloves (I don't like the feel of rubber gloves- I actually use medical latex-free gloves. I can deal with those) and pulled out the bleach, the spic-n-span (I guess they don't make it powder form anymore), and the windex. I lit a candle and turn on the radio. Between the hum of the dishwasher, the clothes washer, the dryer, and the radio, I got a pretty good dance workout.

I keep saying I want a bigger house, like the Tobin Farm that is for sale in Dudley. But I have problems keeping up with the one I have so I have to admit defeat and say that I have the right size house. I guess I just need to get rid of the junk. One of these day, Steven will come to find a huge haul-away dumpster in by our bulkhead door and stuff flying out of it into the dumpster. But for now I am just washing the fixtures and walls.

I have finished painting the boys' bath. I just need to do the touch-ups. I will not give myself full credit. Steven took down the light fixtures and such. Sherry Greenlees came over and balanced on the bathtub getting the upper wall and touching up where there were streaks. If it weren't for her, I would still be painting one wall per day.

So, onto cleaning the boys' bath and then mine. Then remaking the beds with fresh linens and blankets. Then, I will hit the piano/sitting/guest bedroom like a tornado and clean it up for Steven's Mom to come whenever she decides she wants to come in. At least it will be clean and I won't be frantic and having Steven and the boys laying low because I am one major stress ball. Because my mother- in-law is coming and the furniture isn't white glove clean. Actually, I don't have to worry on that but I think we women all feel that way when we have company coming. We want it to be, "perfect".

And yes, I have a piano/sitting/guest bedroom. It's really the formal livingroom. But have you ever really seen me as formal? Right now, the formal diningroom has been Steven's work room with a Burger King Star Trek display that someone gave him. No joke. The formal dining table has electric equipment that Steven has needed to work with the extra job he contracted with. He is finished with that contract and said this morning he would begin to clear it off. I think he's getting tired of standing up when he eats. And so there's the explanation-- no, we are not formal. But that's fine as it is almost summer and our deck is available for cookouts and picnics. Nothing like eating with the bees, birds, and mosquitos. But it is so fun to sit looking at the edge of the woods hearing the turkeys gobbling in the woods somewhere, watching our cat tease the dogs on their lawns that have the shock collars. O'Malley, the orange, thinks he rules the world. He will also climb up from the deck, to the grill, then from the top of the grill will take a huge leap and go sit up on the peak of the roof by the chimney and meow out of us to let us know he is well pleased with himself. Our neighbors take a double take thinking it is an owl and realize it is O'Malley.

Now back to being domestic. I need to go change shirts and get shoes on to go get the boys and eagerly await to hear their stories of their day especially at the fact it was "step-up" day for Jacob to go to his new school for 2nd and Michael to go to his new school for 5th next year. I am thrilled they only have 8 more days and don't have to go back to school until September 1st. This is going to be a great summer! Being domestic and all! Isn't motherhood/housewifing great?

No Rest for the ... Husband

When we purchased our current house, it did not have an in-built kitchen island. The floor plan doesn't allow for a traditional non-movable island, as you would have problems getting around the counters and fridge. For years Tracy has used a simple hand-made (by her dad) butcher block table, which has open sides and just a simple shelf. Meanwhile, she has been scouting for possibilities, and last week found a good deal on a movable kitchen butcher block island shown above. We ordered it on-line, and it came on Monday --- in 3 heavy boxes!

We knew it was going to be a job and a half assembling it, so we (or more like "I") put it off until the weekend. Well, here comes Saturday, and Dad, being a Dad, would like nothing more to just kick back and relax. Au contraire, mon ami! She made sure I knew where my priorities were today!

So, this early afternoon I opened up the boxes, and this is what greeted me:


and an instruction book the size of a college exam paper!

Now I am not a neophyte when it comes to assembling furniture like this - for years we would buy the cheapo bookcases and dressers - you know, the ones where the back is just wood grain colored cardboard? I was glad to see that all the wood was a very high quality - the drawer bottoms were thin finished plywood and the main pieces were solid birch. The only particle board I saw was in the sides, and it was laminated with birch veneer. For the most part they had screws holding the pieces together, but there were a few of those post and catch doohickeys (which you tighten with your screwdriver).

I'll share a Christensen secret when it comes to these types of assemblies. I've found a way to increase the life of even the cheapest Staples bookcases. The key is: glue all the joints. If it's wood-on-wood, I put down a bead of wood glue. If it's wood on laminate, I'll use some Gorilla Glue. Even the cardboard backs get a rim of glue before using the tacks to hold it down. If you use glue, the joints are more solid and the piece is more stable. I followed that philosophy here as well.

So I started assembling around 2:00PM. Here are some in-progress shots:

This is the back piece with those hold-down doohickey things. Note that I am not working in a workshop, because... I don't have one. So I use the kitchen!

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I don't have any fancy clamps to use when I am gluing the joints, so I like to grab my trusty ratcheting tie downs (that I use for my truck). The straps can be cinched down as tight as I want. Here is the base unit drying (I installed the drawer guides while it was sitting there).

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Here are the assembled drawers, minus the gliders and handles. Again, all joints are glued!

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And here is the final product!

It took me about 5 hours to complete the assembly (there's a reason I am an electrical engineer and not a woodworker!) with only a little more aches and pains than normal (sitting on the floor assembling things is not my style!) But Tracy really likes it - she already has the drawers filled.

Spring Fashion Shocker

I received a 15 % off gift card from Kohl's a couple of days ago. I have been wanting a new spring skirt. So, I thought, "Wonderful". With the deals that Kohl's gives out, I should be able to get a decent skirt within a decent price, right? Well, what a shock! I looked and looked and looked and looked. Finally, I decided to quit being a guy and, "ask for directions" to the skirts. When I was pointed in the direction and shown the skirt selections, it was a shock of your life. I didn't realize the fashion this season was to "try" and make every woman in every shape, size, form, or such into an any age cheerleader. Holy Cow!! I asked the clerk what happened to modesty this spring and she looked at me like I had lost my marbles. Yes, I did ask her that question and yes, she did look at me like I had lost it. I then went to Target in hopes. I should know better. It was even worse. And the swimsuits looked like thongs. I could have made a swimsuit cover up a skirt. But I think it would have been too noticeable. So, I thought, "maybe I missed something at Kohl's and I'm not looking in the right department". No- there wasn't anything- ZIP- Nothing! Then I took off to Sears. Well, that was a disappointment. Then I went to Macy's, Christopher & Banks (which is my favorite store- everyone knows that and they only had two to choose from - NO JOKE and they were ugly). Then others that were the tween sizes of 5, 7, and 9 , I might have been able to get my thigh into those. The deceiving part of those skirts were the labels were XL's were a size 9. I did find clothes for the boys, isn't that usually how it goes- you find stuff for everyone but you? I keep saying I need to learn how to sew, but when? And unless you hold my hand while following the directions, I would end up with a beautiful table cloth instead. So, for now girls, hold onto your modest skirts and if they are getting a little thread bare, well, I guess we can all start wearing burlap sacks. I'm sure they will be in season sometime in the future.

Yea For Snow Days

Yeh for another snow day! Lots of thoughts as to whats to do tomorrow at our house. Michael and Jacob are working on their pinewood derby projects. Steven has been working on his. Pictures will be coming soon. But just a chance to do have another day off together, working on cleaning the house, reading, Mom trying to get out of 12th place on Mario Kart Wii. It is shocking I'M allowed to drive on a real road.

I love when we are all home together. I love my days when I am alone and able to get things done, go out and run errands, or go and hang out with friends. But I love it when the boys are busy building their lego creations, getting along, and hearing their laughter at what they are doing. And then having Steven home is really fun. He may be working from home but just having him being about is shear joy and comforting.

Michael, Jacob and I were talking about giving their toys to charity the other night and Michael stated that he simply wanted to take stuff he isn't playing with and pull out things he hasn't played with. Then he named things we haven't done in a while. That is probably what we will be doing tomorrow. Digging through the pile and finding "new" toys to play. I'm a kid at heart and love to play games, do art projects, and be involved in what they are doing. Their idea of imagination is so different from what mine was and it is exciting.

So, yea for snow days!