Yes!  It is true that you can kill a spider and have lots of tiny spiders come out and run all over the place.  

How do I know this, you ask?  Let’s just say, I’m glad Belle didn’t notice why I kept banging on the floor long after I’d killed that big sucker!  It still gives me the willies!!

One of the things we didn’t expect to face when we moved here, was a lack of high speed internet.  We are back to the old time days of dial-up.  If you know J, then you know this is a HUGE sacrifice for him.  Of course he can still hop online at the hospital, but he doesn’t get much dedicated reading time there.  The kids have no concept of what this means for their computer time as they were quite spoiled with our lightning fast DSL. I’m trying to remember all the silly tricks like typing everything offline then going online to send stuff.  

This week should bring a nice summer rhythm to our lives-no travel, no all night work schedule.  Just unpacking, organizing, and outdoor exploration.  

I’ll try to get some pictures of our beach trip loaded soon, but I have no idea how long it will take for them to upload.  This will surely be a test of patience for all of us!  There are so many cute tidbits I’ve wanted to share but couldn’t, and now I can’t remember any of them.  I’m going to have to start writing things down…

Just in case you’re wondering, I’m am indeed still alive.  Unfortunately, however, we do not internet access at home right now.  I’ve found a cute little store with free wifi and I’ve spent the last hour or so updating all our accounts and paying bills.  The kids are about to climb the walls, so I can’t take much more time.  

We love our new home, though I’m still unpacking boxes.  J is on nights this week which only further complicates things.  The kids are enjoying the huge deck out back and the lovely yard.  Evenings here in VA are still cool and breezy which makes the setting that much better.  We’ve had rain storms the last few evenings so the yard and trees are luscious and green.

Hopefully it won’t be too much longer until we have consistent internet service.  Until then…

Wow, May went by in a flash!  We have officially moved out of our old place.  I drove by there today to pick up the hose we left behind, and it was weird being there, but not living there.  We are living out of boxes, taking out as little as possible.  We don’t have internet access at the interim house-so I may post here and there when we make a run to a coffee shop.  Next week we’re off to the beach in FL with my parents, my siblings, and all of their kids.  Should be a great time!

Until next time, whenever that may be…

Just taking a short break from the joy of moving to share a quick funny with you.  

I was working upstairs while Little Lamb napped and Little Bear played downstairs.  He had just gotten a dumb-dumb sucker when he announced that he needed to go potty.  I heard an unusual clinking sound followed by crying.  I rushed downstairs to find his sucker down at the bottom of the bowl full of little boy pee-pee.  Ugh!  I scrubbed my hands extra hard with soap and hot water after that one.

Yes, I threw it away.  Yes, I got him a new one.

And it’s back to work for me!  I’m beginning to think we will NEVER get all this crap out of the house.

I’m going to have to take a break for a few days.  Life is going to be a jumble for the next few days and I have no idea how much computer access I will have.  I’ll be back as soon as I can.

So I’m finally getting to my last teacher gift idea.  This is an especially easy one for your last minute gift needs.  

Here’s what you need: 

1.  Some lovely flower or landscape photos taken on a digital camera

2.  A photo printer or other method for printing photos

3.  Solid color cardstock, cut to  7″ x 10″ (assuming photos are 4″ x 6″)

For the photos, I recommend using the macro function on your camera to capture blossoms up close.  It’s that setting with the picture of a flower that allows the camera to focus very closely on an object while blurring the surrounding area.  (I’m amazing you with my technical skilz, aren’t I?)  

Print your photos (or order them online or go to CVS/Walgreens/wherever) and try to print them with a white border if you are going to use colored card stock.  Otherwise just use white or black paper.  

Carefully fold your papers in half, then affix your photos to the paper.  Wrap 5 or so in a stack with appropriately sized envelopes and tie with ribbon.  

Here’s examples of some of my cards:

(Click on the photo for a larger version of the picture)

Today was Belle’s Kindergarten play, Bugz.  They did a performance for the whole school this afternoon and then for parents this evening.  They were so cute singing songs and dancing.  It was great to see them all participating so happily.  No one was too cool for it yet.  Belle said her lines perfectly and I even really heard her in the second performance.  I took lots of pictures, but I haven’t downloaded them yet.  My favorite part of the performance was at the very end, when everyone was clapping away, and Belle was so visibly happy as she bounced up and down, waved her arm, and smiled her biggest smile.  As a reward for her hard work and good attitude today, she is sleeping away in my bed right now.  I think it’s time to go join her…

It’s 10pm and I’ve accomplished very little since dinner.  Aside from bathing the kids and getting them to bed, that is.  I need to pack.  I need to bake cookies for tomorrow’s reception following the Kindergarten play.  I need to sleep.  

Instead, I have been studying flickr photos of stitchettes from Wee Wonderfuls.  I’ve got a cute little plan in mind for the kids’ bedrooms involving little flag banners and various combinations of her stitchette patterns.  Yes, I’m plotting and planning the decor of my children’s bedrooms, when I haven’t even managed to pack all the stuff in this house yet!  Ugh.

I’m headed to the kitchen to bake a quick batch of the world’s tiniest cookies.  How else am I going to get 4 dozen cookies out of one little pack of cookie mix?  I bought the mix on a super sale & coupon combo just in case I needed a quick batch of cookies.  Look’s like tonight is just that case!

My mother called early Friday morning.  I got a little worried when I heard the ring (we have the phone set to ring a different pitch when one of our parents calls) so early, esp. considering it’s an hour earlier in TX than here in VA.

It turns out she was calling to tell me the New Kids on the Block where performing on the Today Show.  She and my Dad both seemed to remember that I liked them.  I quickly corrected her, explaining that I was WAY too cool for NKOTB (because I was sooo cool back then, HA!) and scoffed anyone who showed an interest in their music, their dancing, or their looks.  Jennifer-how could their memories be that off???  Even after my Dad took us to the Depeche Mode Violator concert!  I was sooo disappointed in them!

[When I first went to the DM homepage, the banner was the cover photo from the Broken Frame album.  I've always loved that photo, but I have no idea why.]