Sunday, July 19, 2009

Weekend Top Five 7/20/09

Weekend top Five participation seems to be down. I finally figured out how to get Mr. Linky going again. Please sign below if you post about your weekend.

Here's my Top Five:




5. Harry Potter
I managed to make my friend's husband angry this weekend. On purpose you may ask? Well, not ENTIRELY.

I had to go grocery shopping Friday night and I invited Deb to come with me. They were also have in $1 root beer floats at our local Culver's and they're my favorite dessert of all time. While we were eating our desserts, we remembered that we needed to take my frozen groceries home. As we were driving home, I mentioned casually, "Hey, since we're out anyway, let's go see 'Harry Potter' " We kind of laughed it off, but then while I was unloading the groceries, I mentioned it a little more seriously, and sure enough, after a unpleasant call to Deb's husband, we were headed out.

Now, I am usually in bed at the time when the movie started (10:30), but I am still glad we went. For those of you who haven't seen it yet, I wont spoil it too much. But of all six, it may go down as one of my favorites. I found myself giggling more during this one, even though it was sadder than any of the previous ones. I had re-read the book a few days earlier, and I was glad I had.

4. Cinderella-itis
Please don't read this and think of me being a COMPLETE slob. We have a pretty yucky kitchen floor that doesn't come clean, even when I mop it. In addition, there were quite a few big spots where paint had dripped last fall when I painted that I could never get to come up.

I have been feeling mighty restless about my house lately (as you can tell from all the painting I've been doing) so Saturday morning while the kids were playing I'd had enough if the floor.









I took extremes and got the Comet powder cleaner and started out cleaning each individual 3 inch square of the floor. After 90 minutes, only HALF of the floor was clean, and it made me realize just how badly it had needed it.















I managed to get rid of ALL of the green paint splotches, and even some of the floor varnish that spilled back when we first moved into the house. The worst part is how paranoid I am about dirt dropping on the floor now. I am wondering if now that I did a deep cleaning, if the regular weekly mopping will make a better difference.

Once can only hope.





3. Children's Museum
I know this is on my list a lot of weekends, but this weekend actually had a bit of a variety.

As I briefly mentioned last week, we are really struggling with Aaron's behavior. He seems to be really happy or really nasty, with no in between. The NASTY seems to be around more often than not. While we were in Wisconsin a few weeks ago, I ended up having to take him to the car while Noah and our friends spent more time at the zoo.

So this Saturday at the museum, his nastiness came around again. After several time outs, he still insisted on screaming at me, calling me nasty names, and all around horrid behavior and I had had enough. So we headed out and sat in the car for an hour and a half while Steve and Noah enjoyed the museum.

But that NOT where the story ends.

I found a parking spot right in front of the museum and my friend Deb, who was there with her kids as well, called me on the phone so we could visit while the rest of the kids were playing.

Hubby decided to entertain me while I was stuck in the car. It was a riot!! He grabbed several puppets from the farm exhibit that is there, and proceeded to perform fun little puppet shows for me through the window, while Deb and I were continuing our conversation as well.




I don't know what we are going to do about Aaron at the moment, but I think there are going to be quite a few more experiences that Aaron and I are going to miss until we get this under wraps. At least now that my hormones are finally starting to even out, I am better equipped to deal with them and I am handling the outbursts MUCH more positively than I have been for the last few weeks.



2. Saturday Night Camp Out

Hubby is an Eagle Scout and grew up camping every weekend with his family. I, on the other hand, have NEVER been camping in my life (other than music camp in cabins when I was young).
Steve has been itching to go camping since we first met fifteen years ago, and is now determined to get the kids to like it.

So he borrowed a neighbor's tent and pitched it in the backyard. The boys had more fun playing in it all day on Saturday.












Then Noah begged to sleep in it that night. Saturday was an unusually cool day for the middle of July, but I decided that if Steve was willing to sleep out there with him, it was okay. So Steve set up beds for him and Noah and then brought out a little TV to watch a movie. (Yeah, REAL camping ). I predicted that they would be inside by 11:00. By quarter after 11, I decided that they may actually make it through the night and I headed to bed.




In all actuality, they made it until around 4 AM when I heard noises. Noah went straight to his bed and bundled up since he was so cold. BUT, Steve was unable to head to bed.

Guess why?

Little Brother Aaron who was not allowed to sleep outside wanted a sleepover with Mommy. Poor Steve! There was no room left in the bed for him and he spent the remainder of the night ON THE COUCH.










1. VBS Preparation
This will be my 9th year preparing the music for our church's VBS program. (It would be my 10th, but I sat out the year that Noah was born since it was only two weeks after). Three years ago, I revamped the program and decided to make youth lead the music, with me in the back leading them. I think kids enjoy following other kids better, and it gives another level of energy to the music worship time.

For the last few years, I have "made" all of the leaders shirts, which included printing, cutting out, and ironing logos on up to 30 shirts. This year, the kids decided they wanted to tie dye instead.

So after church on Sunday, we headed outside to dye the shirts. As luck would have, it started to RAIN, increasingly intensely, as the activity went on, but the kids still had fun.They each wrapped their shirt individually in a grocery bag and I brought them home to rinse and dry Sunday night.














After taking off all of the rubber bands and throwing in them into the washer, I can see the way they turned out. I think they are going to look great. At least better than my hands do after three washings :(

I will be doing more tomorrow, and probably a few more each day with the kids who come for the first time and by Thursday they should all have them.





The Week Ahead:
VBS, VBS, VBS! Pretty much it.


9 comments:

KC said...

You were more busy then I was this weekend and that is saying something.. goodness and you have VBS this week.. next weekend top 5 will be 5 sleep, 4 sleep, 3 sleep, 2 sleep 1 sleep some more :-)
have a wonderful week of VBS... can't wait to hear all about it..

Debbie @ Three Weddings said...

I agree. I was glad they kept it light hearted as much as they could and added a lot of funny parts. They could have really gone a different route. I've already seen it twice. I may have to see it at the Imax if I get a chance!

Kila said...

5) My oldest son, 12, saw the movie and really liked it. Gave it a thumbs up. How fun that you were able to see it.

4) Congrats on the floor! The kids aren't allowed in there ever again! ;)

3) Just be very consistent, calm, and cool and detached. Easy ;)

2) We haven't tried camping in the backyard. I'm sure there would be mayhem in the middle of the night, LOL.

1) Good luck with VBS! They are blessed to have you serving.

Martin said...

Hi, nice blog and your two trainees are great. Funny pictures. I envy you. Treat them all well not only the little kids but the grown up kid too hehe. I started following your web on blogged and my other web site is under approval so you may not be able to see it right away. It is http://aboutthisboy.com
I don't know how to say how blessed you are...
Martin
martzee@martzee.com

Veronica @ Luv My Quiver Full Of Arrows said...

As usual, Kristi, I am just amazed by you! To be such a good mama and know that sometimes we have to sacrifice our fun to discipline our kids. It sucks, but you will be so glad you are being consistent with Aaron. You rock!! And reading that you know it may be awhile means you are prepared for the battles ahead and will win this war. Awesome! Every mama goes through it, BELIEVE ME! I have spent many an hour in the car myself. HA HA...not.

And you have quite a sweet hubby there. But, you already knew that. You are always posting such sweet things about him and it is VERY evident that you each share a beautiful friendship along with your marriage.

I LOVE YOUR BLOG, girl!
xoxo, Veronica in CA

Deb said...

Ron never really said a word to me about the movie, except to say that he had been 'grumpy' that night but was fine by Saturday. I think he was just giving Steve a hard time on Saturday morning.

It's fun to read our different takes on the whole puppet show at the museum and to see your photo from the 'other side'!

See you in the morning for VBS - the girls can't wait... :)

Courtney said...

Maybe it's the age? Noah seemed to give you problems at Aaron's age, right? Good luck getting it all worked out without pulling your hair out.

And, way to make your friends husband mad...lol

bethn said...

Oh, I'm so jealous. I really want to see HP, but it'll have to wait for now. I promise Aaron will come through this and life will settle down for a while. I just sat and listened to a friend with a teen boy. I'm glad to deal with little problems right now. Let me tell you Aaron's an angel by comparison.

Your floor looks great! My recomendation though is to go to Home Depot and look for an armstrong floor sealer. Remember the Menomonee Ave house and it's perpetually gray floors. anytime I managed to get them any less gray I'd put that on and it would help to keep it looking clean for a little longer. at least I thought it did. But I could have been deluding myself.

Have fun with VBS this week.

Dance Classes said...

I LOVE children's museums. Target is offering free admission to a lot of museums, typically once a month. You can check out the list at target.com/arts.