Quack.

If you are watching this season of The Amazing Race, you'll know that one of the competitors has Asperger's Syndrome, which is a form of autism. 

One of the road blocks on the first episode involved herding ducks.  I was thinking that I bet the man with Asperger's would do a great job if he is anything like my Caleb. 

A couple of the other competitors called him the duck whisperer.

Caleb sure loves the ducks and geese at Grandma and Grandpa Greer's house.  They love to follow him around and he'd just march around with them all day. 

Quack.

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/quack.html

Trust Me. This is Hall and Oates.

 

You'll just have to trust me that this is Hall & Oates.  It's been a month ago since I saw them in concert and I haven't blogged about it.  Who am I?  How did I let this go so long undocumented?

I went with Shannon, Wendy and Carl.  I was taking pictures with my new Ashton-signed camera (the signature has since faded away completely).  After I took this one, the camera asked me if someone blinked.  Hmmm.  That surprised me.  So we tried to recreate the message.

No message on this one.  But I did figure out how to do some editing directly on the camera.  Check this out.

We had a lot of time on our hands waiting for Hall & Oates to sing, "Private Eyes".  They're watching you.  *clap clap*

In fact, we're still waiting.

 

Good thing the tickets were only $12 or I'd want my money back.  How could they NOT sing that song?

Trust Me. This is Hall and Oates.

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/trust-me-this-is-hall-and-oates.html

Oh, dear Eva

Oh, dear Eva

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/oh-dear-eva.html

Kids Toys

How many toys do kids need?  In my house, I'm pretty sure it's not a lot.  They play with a few toys over and over and the rest just make a mess.  I took matters into my own hands today. 

I'm throwing away the toys.  I'm feeling pretty generous in allowing each child 10 toys.  This isn't even literally 10.  For example, Eva's dollhouse and the furniture and things that fit in it count as one.  Caleb's Scooby Doo people count as one.  They'll still have more than enough.  Maybe I'll lower the number to 5 toys each eventually. 

It feels pretty good to get rid of all that stuff.   The picture above was taken about an hour into the cleaning.  It's still crazy down there.  And you know what?  The kids are fine with it.  I'm having a harder time convincing Carl. 

Know anybody that wants some toys?

Kids Toys

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/kids-toys.html

Dear Software Developers,

I am in need.  I don't know if something like this exists.  If it does, point me to it and I will want to buy it!  If it doesn't, make it! 

Wanted: an iPhone app or Kindle feature where you can read books and then when you get in a car or want to listen to them, you can switch to the audio version in the exact spot where you are in the book.  When you're done with the audio, it will take you to that spot in the book where you finished and then you can keep reading.

 

How cool would that be?

 

You're welcome.

Christy

Dear Software Developers,

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/dear-software-developers.html

2009-2010 Book Group Selections

Last night we had out book group meeting to pick out the books for the rest of the year (Oct-Sept).

October:  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

November: Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

December: As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

January: People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

February: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

March: Life is So Good by George Dawson

April: Outliers: The Story of Success  by Malcolm Gladwell

May: Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

June/July/August:  The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown  AND The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

September: From Chunk to Hunk by Fred Anderson

Alternate list:

The Female Brain--Brizendine
Faith of our Fathers series
The Book Thief--Zusak
A Man for all seasons--Robert Bolt
A room of ones own--Virginia Woolf
The Man who ate everything--Steingarten
You've got to read this book--Canfield
The Shack--Young
Tending Roses--Wingate
One thousand white women--Fergus
Pretties, Uglies, Specials--series by Westerfield
Summer of the Gods--Larson
several classics were also mentioned--Little Women, Black Beauty, Call of the Wild, Little Princess, Jane Eyre, All Quiet on the Western Front, Of Mice and Men, A Wrinkle in Time

2009-2010 Book Group Selections

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/2009-2010-book-group-selections.html

Blogging Like It's 09-09-09

Want to see some pictures from the 09-09-09 party?  I thought you might. 

We had a minor glitch with the location.  Seems like they forgot to let us in.  A few phone calls and 45 minutes later, we got in the building.  I was surprisingly not stressed out about it.  We had fun outside, the kids ran around, and when we finally got in they gave me a refund for the rental (Carl LOVED this part). 

Matt wins the prize for most committed to the theme.  He got his hair cut into a mullet for the evening. 

Wendy held her own as well.  Here she is posing for her senior picture.

Deb broke out some pulp fiction moves.  Like my super sweet vest?

Carl did some "break dancing".

John came "tied to a modem" and Leith was just excited to run around and play! 

Lisa's always the life of the party.

The game room was a big hit.

The kids got to tumble.

We couldn't forget the Macarena!

Time to start thinking about 10-10-10!  It falls on a Sunday so we'll have to celebrate some other day again. 

photos are from me and rossn (Thanks, Ross!). 

Blogging Like It's 09-09-09

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/blogging-like-it-09-09-09.html

Modern Torture

I went to the chiropractor for the first time on Saturday.  I've been so scared of it for years.  I always thought that chiropractors get you in their office and then "fix" you so you have to keep coming back forever.  I've also been not so keen on hearing my back crack. 

My back was hurting so badly and not getting better so I sucked it up and called a chiropractor.  I got a recommendation from Kelly, called on Friday night and was in there first thing Saturday morning.  Good call. 

I went back in this morning and I'll go again on Friday.  My back felt better immediately.  I'm still a little sore and didn't like the cracking sounds, but I'm a believer. 

Modern Torture

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/modern-torture.html

Mystery Solved.

Night Rain by Jim Brickman.


Caleb playing Mystery Song.

Mystery Solved.

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/mystery-solved.html

Annie

I heard today that one of my friends from Indiana passed away.  She had been battling cancer while trying to raise a young family.  She was upbeat and cheerful. 

 

She leaves behind a loving husband and four beautiful children.

I haven't seen her since I moved but we'd stayed in contact via email and through facebook.  She loved stamping and crafting like me so we loved to share ideas with each other. 

I realize that all of these things we go through are a part of life and there is a bigger plan at play here.  This knowledge gives me comfort and hope but it doesn't quite numb the ache of knowing that those she left behind won't have the benefit of knowing her as well as they could have. 

I'll miss her. 

Annie

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/annie.html

First Day of School

Eva started her last year of preschool today.  Here she is with her favorite teacher, Ms. Karla. 

Eva's been waiting for months for school to start and she was so excited for this morning to finally be here. 

Here are some fun facts about my little Eva:

1. She's 4 1/2 years old.

2. She loves eating chips, quesadillas, and "machos" (nachos). 

3.  Her favorite show at the moment is "The Fresh Beat Band". 

4.  Dressing up is still a priority.  We choose our battles so she often looks like a bag lady interesting. 

5. She likes me to tell her the story of Princess Eva and Prince Caleb.  Princess Eva loves to dance and she helps Prince Caleb, Queen Christy and King Carl to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West to make sure that they can still dance and make music forever and ever.

6.  If I let her choose where we should go out to eat, she likes to go to the restaurant with the chicken and that means HyVee grocery store.

7. Eva has a great imagination and loves to play with her Little People.  They have been some of her favorite toys since she was little.

8.  She appreciates bathroom humor.  Anytime she can say "poo poo", she will laugh hysterically.

9.  Eva's laugh is one of a kind.  I love it.

10.  If I let Eva have a spoon and a peanut butter jar, she'd be happy for hours.

First Day of School

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/first-day-of-school.html

Party Like It's 09/09/09

I've had a year and month to plan this party for tonight.  It just wasn't going to work out to have it on 09-09-09 so we're doing the next best thing and we're going to "Party Like It's 09-09-09!". 

My house just wasn't going to cut it for this party so I rented the Calvert Rec Center.  Usually I ask people to bring a treat to share.  Instead, this year I'm asking for $1 per person (totally optional) to help offset the cost of the location.  In return, the party will be SUPER AWESOME!

The Calvert Rec Center has foosball, pool tables, a ping pong table, and a whole mirrored dance room.  DUDE, it's going to be SWEET!  Not to mention the outfits some people are going to be wearing.  And the hair?  Out of this world.  Rumor has it, one attendee Matt Mar will be sporting a mullet for the occasion.  YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT! 

ARE YOU COMING???

Party Like It's 09/09/09

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/party-like-it-090909.html

Go Texas!

Last night was sad for me.  As a die hard Sooner fan, I was sad to see Sam Bradford get hurt and our team not play to the standard we've been accustomed to these past several years.  However, I went to OU in the 90's so I'm used to heartbreak.  The good news is that this was just one game and I know we'll turn it around.

Some people seem to think that just because I'm a Mormon, I would be happy that BYU won.  Let me put something into perspective.

If BYU played Texas, I'd wear orange and cheer for the Longhorns. 

That's how much I "like" BYU. 

Go Texas!

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/go-texas.html

Laid Up.

I had another crazy day today.  Got some great done work with Deb for Toolulu.   Then I came home and had a wild afternoon with Caleb.  Once I got everyone calmed down, I was ready to get some chores done.  As I was taking a load of laundry out of the washer and putting it into the dryer, I felt something happen in my lower back.  Standing up was extremely painful.  I stopped what I was doing and went to lay down. 

Sitting doesn't bother me too much.  It is sore but doesn't really, really hurt unless I try to stand up and walk.  I'm trying to look on the bright side of the pain.  I'm hoping that by resting it tonight, I'll be better tomorrow.  In the meantime, I've got my computer, a beverage, dinner is on its way, and a book. 

Not to mention, I'm really glad this happened while Carl is home.

Laid Up.

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/laid-up.html

Diaper Free is the Choice For Me.

Did you all know that I haven't purchased a single diaper for over a month? 

I can't remember the last time one of the kids had an accident at night.

It's official.

 

NO MORE

 

DIAPERS!

Diaper Free is the Choice For Me.

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2009/09/diaper-free-is-choice-for-me.html