What do you do when you have an unstable neighbor with three kids and one in particular that is very mean? I'm talking rock-throwing, fort-breaking, name-calling mean and a mom who either doesn't believe it or turns the other way. I have tried to teach Jacob to be the "bigger person" and to not learn from or copy the things that this boy does. We discuss why what this boy does is wrong and Jacob gets it. But he still wants to play with this person sometimes and today I flat out told him he couldn't anymore. I feel bad - for taking a "friend" away from Jacob (even though this kid isn't worthy of the title) and that the situation isn't likely to improve any time soon.
We also have a big problem within the walls of our own home. LUCAS CAN CLIMB OUT OF HIS CRIB!!!!! AAarrrgghghhh!!!! I was hoping to get a few more months out of him. Time to resurrect the use of the upper door chain in case his escape artist tendencies take him on a jaunt around the block. So now when he doesn't want to take a nap, he just gets out. And now, he's not wanting to go to bed at night either. Maybe we'll have to gate his doorway and lay some blankets on the floor.
Any other ideas?
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Jennifer Massey Designs
I'll be building a web site for Jennifer in the next couple weeks, but in the meantime, here's some of her most recent designs. These necklaces come in other colors too. The hot pink with black "flowerball" was especially popular at the Dallas Market.
The rhinestone ball in the center is a real eye-catcher.
This would be great for Saints fans.
The Mardi Gras necklace.
The rhinestone ball in the center is a real eye-catcher.
This would be great for Saints fans.
The Mardi Gras necklace.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Hippy Chic, part II
I had an MRI on my hip today. Luckily, I wore the "right" clothes and didn't have to change into one of those miserable gowns. I glared at the hole in the machine I was about to be slid into and laid down on the table. I thought "That doesn't look too bad. The hole is huge!" Then, the tech said he was going to raise the table up before he got me "comfortable."
So up goes the table. I get a pillow for my head. Then come the stabilizers. One under my back strapped to one on my stomach. One strap between my legs to keep my left hip in the correct position. He used a sheet to tie my feet together so my toes would point skyward instead of out to each side. Then a sheet over my whole body. Then he hands me the "panic button" and puts headphones on me to drown out some of the noise. I ask for music and he switches the headphones to some cheesy Phil Collins greatest hits station.
And the conveyor belt to hell starts moving me deeper into the hole but because the table was raised so high, instead of having two feet between my face and the top of the tube, there were two inches! No wonder people get claustrophobic!
And by the way, DON'T MOVE! Or we'll have to tack on more minutes to the end for every scan that needs to be re-done.
Once I was in there, it got noisy, warm, almost peaceful...except for needing lumbar support, it wasn't that bad. I think I fell asleep for a few minutes. And voila! Results next week.
So up goes the table. I get a pillow for my head. Then come the stabilizers. One under my back strapped to one on my stomach. One strap between my legs to keep my left hip in the correct position. He used a sheet to tie my feet together so my toes would point skyward instead of out to each side. Then a sheet over my whole body. Then he hands me the "panic button" and puts headphones on me to drown out some of the noise. I ask for music and he switches the headphones to some cheesy Phil Collins greatest hits station.
And the conveyor belt to hell starts moving me deeper into the hole but because the table was raised so high, instead of having two feet between my face and the top of the tube, there were two inches! No wonder people get claustrophobic!
And by the way, DON'T MOVE! Or we'll have to tack on more minutes to the end for every scan that needs to be re-done.
Once I was in there, it got noisy, warm, almost peaceful...except for needing lumbar support, it wasn't that bad. I think I fell asleep for a few minutes. And voila! Results next week.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Birthday Blues
Yes, I had a wonderful birthday. But the Vikings lost. They hadn't been to the Super Bowl since I was 5 and didn't care. Sigh. I feel very deflated today.
But my birthday was really fun. I was anticipating a quiet weekend at home and a crazy, spontaneous girlfriend (Charisse - as if there was any question) decided we needed to get away for a night so we packed a bag and 20 minutes later we were on the road to the Horseshoe Bay Marriott Resort in Marble Falls. Gorgeous hotel. GORGEOUS! The grounds were amazing. The Lantana burger was delicious! The hot tub burned off five layers of skin! They had grass, clay and hard court tennis courts! Breakfast in bed! I could stay forever! We didn't even go to the spa, but I'm sure that would have been fabulous too.
Came home to my wonderful husband who so generously lets me go away whenever I want and cooked dinner; a card from the kids and a moist chocolate cake with icing (that's what you need, Connie!).
Then, we sat on pins and needles until Brett threw the game away late in the fourth and I finally exhaled after hopes were dashed for good in OT.
Still, I guess I'll have to root for the Saints in the Super Bowl. Geaux NFC!
But my birthday was really fun. I was anticipating a quiet weekend at home and a crazy, spontaneous girlfriend (Charisse - as if there was any question) decided we needed to get away for a night so we packed a bag and 20 minutes later we were on the road to the Horseshoe Bay Marriott Resort in Marble Falls. Gorgeous hotel. GORGEOUS! The grounds were amazing. The Lantana burger was delicious! The hot tub burned off five layers of skin! They had grass, clay and hard court tennis courts! Breakfast in bed! I could stay forever! We didn't even go to the spa, but I'm sure that would have been fabulous too.
Came home to my wonderful husband who so generously lets me go away whenever I want and cooked dinner; a card from the kids and a moist chocolate cake with icing (that's what you need, Connie!).
Then, we sat on pins and needles until Brett threw the game away late in the fourth and I finally exhaled after hopes were dashed for good in OT.
Still, I guess I'll have to root for the Saints in the Super Bowl. Geaux NFC!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Dance Party
I love it when an impromptu visit from a friend turns into a casual dinner with her family and a rocking dance party!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Hippy Chic
I have been dealing with a sore hip for almost two years now. Hurts to lift my leg into the car, hoist it up to shave my leg, crossover step in tennis... enough things that I finally had it looked at by my GP last July. They x-rayed it and said they couldn't see anything. Gave me an anti-inflammatory medication that I took for a month but didn't do anything and now I just manage it with Aleve. The GP told me to see an orthopaedist because I might need an injection, so I did some research online and my treatment plan came to a screeching halt. Horror stories about painful injections, side effects, unskilled shot-wielders... yikes! It took me four more months just to make the appointment.
So today, I met Dr. Frank Garcia and he was great. Alleviated my fears of early onset hip replacement (you know it can be hereditary Dad?!) Got an injection in my outer hip and scheduled an MRI for next week to see if there are any other causes.
I'm hoping to have everything up and running (and by everything, I mean me) by the first week in February when my tennis coach comes back from Thailand!
So today, I met Dr. Frank Garcia and he was great. Alleviated my fears of early onset hip replacement (you know it can be hereditary Dad?!) Got an injection in my outer hip and scheduled an MRI for next week to see if there are any other causes.
I'm hoping to have everything up and running (and by everything, I mean me) by the first week in February when my tennis coach comes back from Thailand!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Dallas Market
On Thursday, Charisse and I left for Dallas to work at the Cash & Carry jewelry booth of our friend Jennifer. The first thing we did when we arrived was set up the booth. It's hard to see the detail or beauty of all the items in this shot but maybe it will give you an idea of the sheer quantity! We brought more than 1500 pieces - necklaces, bracelets, earrings - but mostly necklaces. Jennifer has a really distinctive style. Big beads, lots of bling and bright colors.
The next morning, the show began at 9 a.m. From 9 to about 1 p.m., we didn't have time to breathe! Jennifer and I worked the register and wrapped purchases nonstop. Charisse and Jen's husband, Jon, restocked jewelry. They would hang ten necklaces on a fixture and reach down for more. By they time they came back up, those ten would be gone! People waited in line for up to 25 minutes! It's a real testament to Jen's products. Everybody loved, loved, loved them! At one point, Charisse saw stars and had to go get some food for us. The day continued it's crazy pace until 6 p.m. when the show closed for the day. Jennifer did better on that first day of market than she had ever done in an entire multi-day show! It was very exciting! We grabbed dinner at the hotel and went straight to Jen's room to make more necklaces until almost midnight!
Saturday morning, Jen and I went to the show while Charisse and Jon went to the bus station to pick up some more boxes of jewelry her other two employees had made back in San Antonio the day before. We restocked the booth and settled in for another fast-paced morning. Overall, the day was much slower, but jewelry was still flying out of the booth. New necklaces we had made the night before were already sold out, so Charisse and I spent most of Saturday afternoon back at the hotel beading even more while Jen managed the booth.
Saturday night, we visited Charisse's friend Sarah in the hospital. She had just given birth to Tatum, her third daughter. So cute and tiny! Six pounds and something. My smallest was 8 lbs. 3 oz.! Anyway, we grabbed dinner after that at CPK and headed back to the hotel for ... more beading!
Sunday we slept in, actually ate a good breakfast, packed up the car and hit the market for shopping! I got a couple cute tees and some flip flops and boots and sunglasses. We drove home all afternoon and then I had to work at Bath & Body Works until almost 2 a.m.! You can bet I'll be asleep on the couch tonight by eight!
Meanwhile, Mark was home with all four kids with his bum ankle encased in a walking boot. He must not have been in too much pain because he sent this picture of Lucas Friday night from Buffalo Wild Wings!
Mark's ankle isn't broken. He got the results of the MRI Friday and they said it was a partially torn ligament. He'll have to wear the boot for a couple more weeks, but he's walking around a lot without it too.
I had lots fun and hope to be able to do more shows in the future. But it's also good to be home. And it will be even better tomorrow when the kids go back to school and I can come back home and take a nap!
The next morning, the show began at 9 a.m. From 9 to about 1 p.m., we didn't have time to breathe! Jennifer and I worked the register and wrapped purchases nonstop. Charisse and Jen's husband, Jon, restocked jewelry. They would hang ten necklaces on a fixture and reach down for more. By they time they came back up, those ten would be gone! People waited in line for up to 25 minutes! It's a real testament to Jen's products. Everybody loved, loved, loved them! At one point, Charisse saw stars and had to go get some food for us. The day continued it's crazy pace until 6 p.m. when the show closed for the day. Jennifer did better on that first day of market than she had ever done in an entire multi-day show! It was very exciting! We grabbed dinner at the hotel and went straight to Jen's room to make more necklaces until almost midnight!
Saturday morning, Jen and I went to the show while Charisse and Jon went to the bus station to pick up some more boxes of jewelry her other two employees had made back in San Antonio the day before. We restocked the booth and settled in for another fast-paced morning. Overall, the day was much slower, but jewelry was still flying out of the booth. New necklaces we had made the night before were already sold out, so Charisse and I spent most of Saturday afternoon back at the hotel beading even more while Jen managed the booth.
Saturday night, we visited Charisse's friend Sarah in the hospital. She had just given birth to Tatum, her third daughter. So cute and tiny! Six pounds and something. My smallest was 8 lbs. 3 oz.! Anyway, we grabbed dinner after that at CPK and headed back to the hotel for ... more beading!
Sunday we slept in, actually ate a good breakfast, packed up the car and hit the market for shopping! I got a couple cute tees and some flip flops and boots and sunglasses. We drove home all afternoon and then I had to work at Bath & Body Works until almost 2 a.m.! You can bet I'll be asleep on the couch tonight by eight!
Meanwhile, Mark was home with all four kids with his bum ankle encased in a walking boot. He must not have been in too much pain because he sent this picture of Lucas Friday night from Buffalo Wild Wings!
Mark's ankle isn't broken. He got the results of the MRI Friday and they said it was a partially torn ligament. He'll have to wear the boot for a couple more weeks, but he's walking around a lot without it too.
I had lots fun and hope to be able to do more shows in the future. But it's also good to be home. And it will be even better tomorrow when the kids go back to school and I can come back home and take a nap!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Happy Birthday Mom!
In honor of your birthday, here's some super-cute puppy pics. Hope you have a great day!
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