Friday! Seven Quickish Things.

one. My girl isn't feeling so well so we are staying home from art class today. Poor sweetheart. She is getting all of her canine teeth in right now and she has a bit of a cold. She has been waking up sad in the middle of the night which is not the norm for her, it's breaking my heart a little.

two. I went out with a friend last night and we went to Carter's because I was trying to find these pajamas:

They didn't have them so I had them shipped to the store for free. Because that spending $50 for free shipping thing is criminal. But I did get a few things for M. Including a "pun-keen" (pumpkin) shirt and it is making her day a little brighter today. Carter's is so tricky because you think you don't need anything and then you walk in. And even though 75% of the things are seriously ugly you still find at least $30 worth of stuff. I wouldn't have even gone except for those pajamas. But I really was in need of a pumpkin shirt for her and it was only $5 so...

My pumpkins in their pumpkin shirts

three. I am pretty proud of myself, I talked to one of the moms yesterday at school pickup! We don't get out of the car so it's not ideal for socializing. But there is a mom who walks to get her daughter. Well, she had on LuLaRoe leggings and I complimented them. She is a consultant! So that is kind of fun. I joined her fb group. She had an online sale last night that goes until noon, there is an Irma that I kind of like, but I am really hoping for a Carly or Nicole that I love. It's hard! I want to jump in but I also can't spend lots of money on things I won't wear! 

four. I am not sure what our plans for the weekend entail exactly but I am hoping it involves some sort of pumpkin purchasing and yard clean up! Free yard waste pick up starts next week and that makes we want to clean up all the things! Plus the kids can do the ever popular jump in the leaves thing. 

five. I am a firm believer that happiness isn't happiness without a violin playing goat. (Notting Hill.) 

The true keep it real of the reflection of the blinds in the one piece of actual art in our home. My mom got me this print and had it matted and framed. The frame is gorgeous and pulls out all the blues and purples in the print. I love Chagall. 

Well, M is a firm believer that breakfast isn't breakfast without a stuffed goat. 

Last year, C really wanted to get her a mountain goat stuffed animal for her birthday because we called her our little mountain goat. So he gave her this goat and it is her sleeping lovey. She will not go to sleep without her goat! I don't actually think it is her favorite animal ala the walrus but it's adorable how much she loves "Goat." My kids have such creative names for their favorite stuffed animals. Walrus and Goat. It makes me chuckle. 

six. I don't want to toot my own horn or anything, but I am fairly sure I just made the best peanut butter and jelly of my career. I managed to get the exact right amounts of both major ingredients and I remembered to flip the bread pieces so they would match up correctly. I am pretty sure they're going to contact me to be on The Food Network soon. I mean I even paired the sandwich with an apple, penguin crackers, string cheese and chocolate milk so...practically a culinary specialist over here.

seven. Have a wonderful weekend everyone! I hope it involves something fun and chocolate. Because a good weekend should really probably include chocolate.

Zoos and Music

Yesterday afternoon we went to the zoo. Our friend is moving to Oregon at the end of the month and we are trying to squeeze in as much fun with her while she is still here.

It was a perfect day. Sunny and almost hot in the upper 70s. But these days have been few and far between and we are going to slip into the 30s tonight and tomorrow morning when it's time to leave for school so, I embraced the experience for sure!

Our zoo is so little and really just not that great but it is a great way to spend a few hours. Plus it tires everyone out which is a win in my book. The kids had a great time and that's what really counts.

C has been singing songs all year from preschool by Greg and Steve. I am familiar with them because they used to use some of their songs in the music class when C went. (Now M goes and they still use one of them.) I was really hoping I could buy some tracks on itunes or Amazon music but leave it the world to let truly un-annoying kid music be unavailable digitally.

In his class they have done: Animal Action, Bean Bag Boogie, Going On A Bear Hunt, This is the Way We Do. From music class we know: The Freeze and Listen and Move. And because I love my kids and winter is coming (insert the meme only not really) I just bought two CDs. I honestly could not tell you the last time I bought a CD.

But they are on the way to me so that's good. And my kids will love it. The few songs we can hear on YouTube (not good quality and with talking over it or you better believe I would just video to MP3 them) we listen to repeatedly while they dance around. Plus, the songs tell you what actions to do so that's good listening ears practice. I am sure "cognitive listening skills" is how it would appear on some checklist of goals for a classroom but whatever. I am going to call it listening ears practice. 

In other music related things to talk about. C is currently on a Carmen kick. Like "Les Toreadors" from Carmen Suite 1 by Georges Bizet. It's kind of hilarious because he just walks around the house singing it and the cymbal crashes are the best! 

I wish I had more to tell you but I really don't. Hope you get to listen to some favorite music today. I am bowing to my kids and will be listening to Carmen and Greg and Steve today. But they will be so happy and that is my favorite. 

Happy Wednesday! (Which is also pajama day in our house so... a win.) 

The Microwave: A Play

Once upon a time, in a far away kingdom... nope I don't even have the patience to make this a funny or interesting story. So let me tell you some facts:

• We needed a new microwave. 
• I had something to return to Home Depot. 

After music class, M and I went over there. We made our return and all was well. Then we headed back to the microwaves. We had previously scoped out which one we wanted. (Picking microwaves is hard, so many features and ones that meet all your needs are incredibly elusive.) Wouldn't you know it, there were none on the shelf!

But there were a whole bunch of boxes WAY UP HIGH that were the right cubic inches and watts. So I waited in the spot hoping to catch someone walking by. I didn't see anyone so M and I walked around the appliance section, talking about how we needed help and making those passive aggressive "help me please" eyes. But it was to no avail.

So we waited back by the microwaves and looked for a "help" button.

Then I decided to just find someone. It went like this:

Me: "Hi, I need help getting a microwave down."
Guy: "Okay." (Does not move.)
Me: "It's way up there."
Guy: "Okay."

He follows me back to the microwaves and looks stunned that there are microwaves.

Me: "So I wanted this one, and it looks like it's out but those boxes up there are the same name."
Guy: "Okay." (He gets the giant rolley stairs. And goes up.) "This one is black."
Me: "Oh darn, I wanted white."
Guy: "This is black too. This one is stainless steel?"
Me: "Oh, well I really wanted white. Is that one white?" (Pointing to the last one up there.)
Guy: "Nope, this one is black too."
Me: "Well thanks for looking for me. Do you know when you'll be getting in any more? Or if there's any somewhere else?"
Guy: "No."
Me: "Okay, have a nice day. Thanks again."

M and I went back to the car and I went on my phone. I looked at the microwave I wanted and wouldn't you know, they had one I could order with "in store pickup."

I ordered it. From the parking lot. Then we went home, had lunch and watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. And I got the "your item is ready to pick up" email. So M and I headed back out. Brian at the customer service desk was courteous and fast. Less than 5 minutes later he loaded the microwave into my card, gave us a thank you card with Starburst and sent us on our way.

So I have a brand new microwave that has all but one of my "new microwave criteria" met. And I will probably never actually go in and shop at Home Depot again. In-Store Pickup was so easy and fast, it costs the same and I won't have to deal with people who aren't actually helpful.

All in all, I win!

In other news, our tornado Thursday night was confirmed as an EF1, which is the lowest tornado level but still there was obvious rotation based on where the storm was coming from and where our grill ended up. I am glad it was a baby tornado and I certainly hope we don't have any grown up tornados in our future.

7QT: Last night's storm.

one. Last night as Husband and I were watching Survivor, which is my current binge-watching phase, the sirens went off. We switched to TV and they were just doing the news like normal. And in the corner was a severe thunderstorm warning. So we closed some windows and went back to Survivor.

two. Then about ten minutes later, the sirens and our phones went off for a tornado warning. We live in a pretty big county so I switched over to TV and the yellow line the weather man had drawn tracking the storm went directly over our house. Like he named our street and neighborhood. So... Husband ran upstairs to get the kids  while I closed our porch up. It was already crazy windy. And we headed into the basement. We got down there and promptly lost power. Luckily we have awesome LED lanterns.

three. We didn't have internet obviously, and even the cell network wasn't working so we just hung out. The kids drank some water and played megablocks. We heard some banging. We stayed down there until about 11:30 when I had my mom check the weather for us, since in Minnesota the internet worked just fine.

four. It took us a while to get resettled. We had to put batteries in the white noise machines and luckily we had enough! The kids got a bonus story by lantern, then M went right to bed. C, was a little less excited about the situation. M doesn't like any light at all when she sleeps but C likes a nightlight. As fate would have it, my brother gave him a marquee light up C that runs on batteries. So I turned that on and moved it to his bedside table. I was so glad we had that.

five. I fell into a very disjointed sleep and kept waking up to see if school was delayed or cancelled. Just after 5:00 the power came back on and I walked around turning off lights. Then got a couple hours of not worrisome sleep.

six. The storm pushed out all our hot muggy air and brought true Fall in so that's something. We lost some smaller branches, a ton of leaves and our outside toys blew around our lawn. Also our grill somehow made it to the middle of the yard and now there is charcoal in a big pile. But small potatoes I am sure.

seven. And luckily it's Friday so that's awesome. Since we do our grocery shopping on Saturdays the food in the fridge was minimal. And freezers keep food cold enough without power for 24-48 hours so all of that is fine!

Coffee, Big Cup and Hello!

In 2005 my friend Corey sent me a text message that said "Eating at Lukes." I saved that text message for as long as I had that phone. Then I forwarded it to my next phone. Corey was very good at keeping secrets and even though I BEGGED for him to tell me what he knew he wouldn't budge. SPOILER: Luke and Lorelai did in fact get engaged. And Corey would have known because...

That is his head directly over the cash register in the scene where Kirk sells Luke the engagement ring.

I do not need to explain to you my love for Gilmore Girls. In my heart I know that I am an honest, true fan. I am pretty sure that Amy Sherman-Palladino and I would actually be best friends. She is my spirit animal.

If you do want some knowledge of my fandom, know that I have been watching the series since it was on television. I had every season on DVD as soon as they came out. The show was and is sacred to me. Some people have birth playlists; C was born to the Gilmore Girls. (M probably would have been but we hit pause and then she came so fast.)

Well today, my friends, it was finally my turn.

A slightly different experience to be sure, but a fun one just the same. I rocked my "Super Cool Party People bid you super cool adieu" shirt and it was excellent. 

The upside here is that I don't have to keep a secret because I know nothing. Except that at 2:00 AM on November 25 I will be awake and watching Gilmore Girls. And thanks to Netflix and this promotion, I was able to use the code on the cup for 3 free months of Netflix! How generous? I was just excited about the cup and sleeve! 

Two Things on Tuesday

Can I get a Hallelujah!?! C has had 22 days of school. That's it. And 22 days had made such a difference already. He is writing his name pretty well now and super quickly by his standards! He has started coloring in pictures. Don't get me wrong, he is not staying in the lines perfectly just yet, but he has finally started to understand the concept of coloring in pictures over just scribbling on top of them.

He has also finally started to create art. He did a family portrait for his "All About Me" block but he was definitely prompted. Yesterday he brought home this:

And I know it doesn't look like much to you. I get that. But I asked him what it was and he said "a rainbow and a pumpkin." Well, of course it is! Lines of different colors is totally a rainbow and the orange blob at the bottom with green coming out is a pumpkin. 

It's just the first time I've asked him what he drew and it, even a little bit, actually looked liked what he said. It's not even a major milestone in the world but it is making all the difference to me and I am so happy! It's so reassuring when noticeable progress is made. 

I would love to say that I am enlightened and educated and very much looking forward to tonight's Vice-Presidential debate but really... I am just totally bummed that This Is Us isn't going to be on. Even though I do think that Pence and Kaine are generally less repugnant than their running mate, I just don't really have the want to know what they're going to say.

I saw a meme during the presidential debate that basically said the only people who watch the debates are people who hate their lives and enjoy yelling at the TV. I think that must be true. Especially this year.

So I am going to go read my book and enjoy my Tuesday. I hope yours is wonderful and brings you some progress of your own!

Skol!

It's a Vikings Monday. Which is a real bright spot in the gray Monday we are experiencing here today. But really, I know we're only three days in but where is my crisp sunny October? I'm waiting for you!

We are all wearing our Vikings purple today. C and I are rocking our new Vikings shirts. I scored mine at Old Navy last week during the great sock hunt of 2016. It too was in the check out area. So Old Navy managed some major last minute purchases from me. I won't say impulsive since I bought socks which was the reason for the trip and the shirt I saw on the mannequin on the wall but couldn't find. Mostly they should just reorganize!

C got an identical shirt to his last seasons shirt. (Bad lighting, trust me, we are in purple. He wouldn't pose with me again.) He is apparently between sizes because his 4T is too short on him and the 5T I ordered is HUGE! 

M is supporting her Vikes with a Minnie Mouse dress and Vikings socks. Because that's how she does it. 

She has just now started to get really into baby dolls. Now she makes crying noises and says "Oh no! The baby's crying!" Then she gives them a bottle. It's very sweet. 

In school news, it was library day today and I am being beckoned to read the chosen book. So I am off. Happy Monday and Skol Vikings!