A Story.....

To make everyone feel better about themselves (ie whatever you do as least you aren't as much of a dumbass as me).

When we moved into this house a little over 2 1/2 years ago it was right about that time that Greyson was showing interest in getting into drawers. A brand new house equals brand new cabinets that we didn't want to screw anything into and Raif didn't like the look of plastic cabinet locks on the outside of the drawers. After looking around we found these handy little magnetic locks that were glued into the inside of the drawer. To open them you put a magnet on the outside of the drawer/cabinet which released the door and voila it magically opened.

Now of course the downside to this handy invisible system is that I would occasionally (alright all the time) misplace the stupid little magnetic key. It was suppose to be put back on the fridge when not in use but when you have two screaming kids and dinner on the stove sometimes it just gets left on the counter or somewhere else.

So there I was recently making dinner and needed to get into the drawer - no key on the fridge. I looked in all the usual places I leave it - no key. I retraced my steps in the kitchen looking everywhere - no key. At this point I am in the middle of dinner and have no ability to open ANY of my cabinets - can't get out spoons or pots or pans. I try a fridge magnet but it isn't strong enough to open the drawers.

Thankfully I had been to the Parent-Teacher store earlier in the week and had happened to see this little science magnets by the checkout and thought those would be fun for the kids to do little science experiments with so I picked two up. Even more thankfully they were strong enough magnets to open the doors so I finally got drawers opened and dinner was saved.

Raif came home to me in a FOUL mood. He too looked everywhere - no key. Literally we tore this house apart but it was nowhere to be found but I had to get dinner on the table so we were going to search for it after dinner. And then I found it - attached to the baking dish that had been sitting in the oven for the last hour cooking sweet potatoes. The nice plastic grip had pretty much melted and in case you didn't know magnets lose their magnetic powers when cooked at 375 for an hour.

Now I am sure you are thinking - I am surprised that that set didn't come with a spare key. Oh but it did - that one three months ago got somehow attached to my pot when I boiled pasta and too melted away.

Only I can manage to melt 2 magnetic keys while cooking in 3 months. See don't you feel better about yourself already??

Anyone Know a Good Exterminator?

It is summertime and the bugs are everywhere - both inside and out. Both kids have been into bugs lately and so we have spent the last week or so making some at home.


As you can see we have a wide variety in all shapes and colors crawling and creeping through our house.

While I don't normally go for the mass-produced name brand art products (shocker I know) I have found that I really like Crayola's Model Magic. We did the snails in regular clay but the kids had a hard time manipulating it (especially Quinn) because it was so thick. The Model Magic is a bit softer and more pliable and easier for the little hands to use.

I do hope they lose the bug phase soon - those eyes follow me everywhere!

Rhyme Time

We have been playing a lot of word games in the car since I banned the radio awhile back. As of late we have been playing the rhyme game. The kids or I find something outside and then we try to think of a word that rhymes with it. Sometimes we rhyme real words - (Van, Fan) and sometimes they rhyme with a nonsensical word (road, boad) and sometimes.....

Me: Hey guys I see a truck. What rhymes with truck?
G: Buck
Q: Fuck, suck

Happy Anniversary!

Fifty two years ago today, in what my parents will tell you was the hottest day in Kansas' history, my parents tied the knot in a little un-airconditioned church in Cawker City, Kansas.

Fifty two years - amazing. They have been through a lot in those years including having to raise me. Today they are enjoying their anniversary on an Alaskan cruise, seeing glaciers, sea lions and killer whales. I only hope after fifty two years of being with me Raif still wants to take me on vacation!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. We love you!!

Not Quite the Louvre

There was a reason I became an accountant. There isn't a single ounce of creativity that courses through these veins. I have the hand writing of a serial killer and each time my children ask me to draw an animal they all turn out the same; like a dinosaur of sorts. Raif's family however has several accomplished artists in the family - some hanging in some pretty prestigious galleries in Europe. And while Raif isn't making a living on his drawings at least when he is done you know what it is so he has a big leg up on me.

I am ever hopeful that my children at least got some artistic ability from his side of the family and to help coax it out of them and inspire them we have a new wall in our house...


I also have a wire hanger in the playroom to display their artwork but I didn't have anything downstairs and nothing fancy like a frame to display the best work. We unveiled the frames last night to much excitement (though if I had to do it over again I might have left off the possessives because they keep asking me why I misspelled their names (sigh)). After school today we are going to draw our first pictures to go in them. Hopefully this will lead to a lot of creativity and pride in their work and I am sure soon enough they will be drawing better than their Mommy.

Quinn or the Monster???

We have this entity in the house known as the wash monster (who looks eerily like my husband). The lights in the bathroom go out and when they come on again there he is with his growly voice and bathes the children to their delight.

At dinner we sometimes talk about him and his appending arrival, tonight however the conversation took a slight turn.

Me: Hey guys, when I was making dinner tonight I heard a strange noise coming from upstairs. It was a rumbling noise....
G: Oh Mommy, that was Quinn going poop.

Definition of a Lazy Sunday....

Warm Day, cool breeze, newly installed hammock. What more could you want??