The tickle monster starts small, with a quick wiggle of her fingers behind the ear or under the shoulder. Laughter starts at their toes and crescendos from squeaks to shrieks and giggles. These are joyous, contagious laughs - the best sound on earth.
At first, the tickle monster must actually make contact. Sometimes we play guitar; they're the instrument, with their ribs the strings. Eventually it just takes one look at my wiggly fingers to get them laughing. 'Round and 'round the house they'll run, laughing and demanding more tickle monster. I sit, and wait, and flutter my fingertips as they come near.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Friday, June 8, 2007
spring cleaning
As I mentioned in my little story (here), allergies are in full bloom around here. I've been suffering, or perhaps more accurately, insufferable, for a couple weeks. I'm not a big fan of taking medication, but I admit one helps me a bit. However, it's not really a solution to the core problem (irritated sinuses & eyes, likely caused by everything in the air). Allergy drugs just mask the symptoms, even while making life a bit more tolerable.
I know the basic things that lessen allergies: lots of water, low sugar intake, low dairy, staying inside, using air purifiers, wearing a mask, yada yada yada... In spite of it all, I remain firmly attached to my box of kleenex.
So, my mom suggested cleaning. I have been cleaning! That's part of the problem! Cleaning stirs up everything so I can breath it en masse! I insisted that cleaning is not going to help. Perhaps this is true, or perhaps I don't like to clean. You decide.
Mom clarified: clean your sinuses. There's something called a Neti Pot, and it basically washes away all of the irritants to naturally alleviate allergies and sinusitis. My aunt swears by it, and it's been used around the world for a Very Long Time. Remarkably, a Neti Pot is easy enough to find: available in just about every drug store, usually at ankle level, under the various allergy drugs. :)
Basically, a Neti Pot uses saline (like our tears). With a little tilt of your head, you wash out your nose. Easy as that. Gross? Yes, definitely. I'm so glad there are not hidden cameras in my bathroom. In fact, if it weren't for this wonderful world-wide-web, you probably wouldn't know I did this.
Yet, I feel much better! I even look better. I can breathe (so convenient). I can see (how this helped my eyes is still a medical mystery for me). I can just say no to drugs again.
Now, I'm no doctor. Please don't take your medical advice from me. Talk to your doctor, or ask Oprah - she evidently did a show about Neti Pots (and where was I? eating bon bons? cleaning up poop? creating a fabulous dinner?). Check out a neti pot, and let me know how it works for you!
Yours in health,
MamaToo
I know the basic things that lessen allergies: lots of water, low sugar intake, low dairy, staying inside, using air purifiers, wearing a mask, yada yada yada... In spite of it all, I remain firmly attached to my box of kleenex.
So, my mom suggested cleaning. I have been cleaning! That's part of the problem! Cleaning stirs up everything so I can breath it en masse! I insisted that cleaning is not going to help. Perhaps this is true, or perhaps I don't like to clean. You decide.
Mom clarified: clean your sinuses. There's something called a Neti Pot, and it basically washes away all of the irritants to naturally alleviate allergies and sinusitis. My aunt swears by it, and it's been used around the world for a Very Long Time. Remarkably, a Neti Pot is easy enough to find: available in just about every drug store, usually at ankle level, under the various allergy drugs. :)
Basically, a Neti Pot uses saline (like our tears). With a little tilt of your head, you wash out your nose. Easy as that. Gross? Yes, definitely. I'm so glad there are not hidden cameras in my bathroom. In fact, if it weren't for this wonderful world-wide-web, you probably wouldn't know I did this.
Yet, I feel much better! I even look better. I can breathe (so convenient). I can see (how this helped my eyes is still a medical mystery for me). I can just say no to drugs again.
Now, I'm no doctor. Please don't take your medical advice from me. Talk to your doctor, or ask Oprah - she evidently did a show about Neti Pots (and where was I? eating bon bons? cleaning up poop? creating a fabulous dinner?). Check out a neti pot, and let me know how it works for you!
Yours in health,
MamaToo
Thursday, June 7, 2007
breaking news
The Nordstrom Half-Yearly sale has begun.
This is not breaking news for you? What's that - you don't shop at Nordstrom? You mean to say that even 33% off is still over-priced? Perhaps.
I grew up thinking that Nordstrom was the main feature of a big city. It ranked up with professional ballet and historical landmarks. We'd have lunch, and shop for shoes. They even have a piano player in the store - a career of my dreams.
Celebrate as you wish.
This is not breaking news for you? What's that - you don't shop at Nordstrom? You mean to say that even 33% off is still over-priced? Perhaps.
I grew up thinking that Nordstrom was the main feature of a big city. It ranked up with professional ballet and historical landmarks. We'd have lunch, and shop for shoes. They even have a piano player in the store - a career of my dreams.
Celebrate as you wish.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
if you give a girl some rain
If you move a sun-loving, midwestern girl to a northwest city, she'll want a yard. If she gets a yard, it will be soggy from the 300+ days of rain per year.
All of that rain will encourage mold & mildew to grow in the soil. She will call it M&M-land. Thinking of M&M's will remind her that she loves chocolate & baking. She will stay inside during the winter, making & eating cookies.
Eating cookies will make her gain weight. She will want to lose the weight. She doesn't like to exercise in the rain, so she'll look wait for sunny days.
When the sunny days start, they will dry out her yard. She will want to play outside with her boys. She will start to think she likes the northwest.
Playing outside will remind her that the yard must be mowed. She will ask Mr. Kenobi to mow her yard. He might do it. Mowing the yard will make Mr. Kenobi want to go for a walk or ride bikes. He will take his wife & children out on adventures.
All of that playing, mowing and bike riding will stir up the mold & mildew that was growing outside. It will mix with the dust that is already in the air. The girl from the sunny midwest is allergic to mold, mildew, and dust.
She will sneeze a lot and start taking Claritin. Claritin will aggravate her contacts, which she needs to wear, because her boys have broken her glasses. She cannot see without contacts or glasses. She will take out her contacts and stay at home.
Being at home will remind her that she needs to clean out the closets and vacuum under the furniture. This will not help her allergies. Her eyes will start watering and her nose will run constantly. She will buy kleenex and let her boys watch Sesame Street and Bob the Builder.
People will ask her if she's in crisis, because she'll look like she's been crying for days on end. The girl will become so frustrated by it all that she may actually start crying for days on end. She will probably make audacious statements like, "I'm allergic to this place!" and "I hate living here!" and "I want to move to Arizona!"
She will be kidding... a little. Kidding around will remind her of how much she likes playing in the yard. She will want to go outside.
And chances are, if she goes outside, it will start to rain again.
All of that rain will encourage mold & mildew to grow in the soil. She will call it M&M-land. Thinking of M&M's will remind her that she loves chocolate & baking. She will stay inside during the winter, making & eating cookies.
Eating cookies will make her gain weight. She will want to lose the weight. She doesn't like to exercise in the rain, so she'll look wait for sunny days.
When the sunny days start, they will dry out her yard. She will want to play outside with her boys. She will start to think she likes the northwest.
Playing outside will remind her that the yard must be mowed. She will ask Mr. Kenobi to mow her yard. He might do it. Mowing the yard will make Mr. Kenobi want to go for a walk or ride bikes. He will take his wife & children out on adventures.
All of that playing, mowing and bike riding will stir up the mold & mildew that was growing outside. It will mix with the dust that is already in the air. The girl from the sunny midwest is allergic to mold, mildew, and dust.
She will sneeze a lot and start taking Claritin. Claritin will aggravate her contacts, which she needs to wear, because her boys have broken her glasses. She cannot see without contacts or glasses. She will take out her contacts and stay at home.
Being at home will remind her that she needs to clean out the closets and vacuum under the furniture. This will not help her allergies. Her eyes will start watering and her nose will run constantly. She will buy kleenex and let her boys watch Sesame Street and Bob the Builder.
People will ask her if she's in crisis, because she'll look like she's been crying for days on end. The girl will become so frustrated by it all that she may actually start crying for days on end. She will probably make audacious statements like, "I'm allergic to this place!" and "I hate living here!" and "I want to move to Arizona!"
She will be kidding... a little. Kidding around will remind her of how much she likes playing in the yard. She will want to go outside.
And chances are, if she goes outside, it will start to rain again.
life group casserole
We host Life Group every Wednesday. This week was no exception, even with Mr. Kenobi out of town on business. Usually, our evening gatherings are open-topic. We weave parts of the prior Sunday's scripture & sermon into conversation, add job updates and work challenges, sprinkle in kid antics, marriage plans, home decorating, camping ideas, and toss together with whatever else is part of life. (Hmmm... that Sounds like a recipe - "Life Group Casserole," anyone?)
We pray, celebrate, cry, and laugh together...
Lately, our pastor has been teaching a sermon series on family. One of his primary points has been recognizing that diversity is part of God's design for family. We're reminded that we are the family of God, by His grace and adoption, through Christ. This is true for our local church as well as on a global scale.
So, tonight I invited all to come over early & enjoy dinner together. Spaghetti and meatballs for everyone (well, except the boys and our vegetarian friends). Cesar salad with homemade dressing, decent wine, and yummy garlic bread. Actually, I think the Obis made a meal of the garlic bread.
It was fun. It was family. It was, well... Life.
We pray, celebrate, cry, and laugh together...
Lately, our pastor has been teaching a sermon series on family. One of his primary points has been recognizing that diversity is part of God's design for family. We're reminded that we are the family of God, by His grace and adoption, through Christ. This is true for our local church as well as on a global scale.
So, tonight I invited all to come over early & enjoy dinner together. Spaghetti and meatballs for everyone (well, except the boys and our vegetarian friends). Cesar salad with homemade dressing, decent wine, and yummy garlic bread. Actually, I think the Obis made a meal of the garlic bread.
It was fun. It was family. It was, well... Life.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
sunscreen spelling bee
Summer time can be a vast, creative, outdoor play season for kids – and in my humble opinion, that’s the best way to spend these warm months. However, there are drawbacks to summer free time. First, all of that outdoor play means a lot of sun exposure and skin damage that can haunt for a lifetime. Second, the academic things that kids, parents, and teachers have worked to put in those growing brains seem to dissolve in the swimming pools and sprinklers.
Hence, my first “Works For Me” contribution is this simple activity:
1. Pick a list of letters or words (depending on their age) you’d like to teach or practice this summer. If your child is older, perhaps you can choose from the National Spelling Bee resources. With my boys (age 2 & 3), letters, names, and simple phonetic words make a good list.
2. Each time you apply sunscreen, “write” a word (or letter) using sunscreen on their arms, legs, face, and body. If you’re using lotion-style sunscreen, smear it across their skin smoothly, then spell the name before rubbing it in. If it’s spray sunscreen, try writing the word with spray!
If your kiddo is old enough to play guessing games, keep the list secret and have them guess what you’re writing. Obi-1 (3) can guess simple things, like letters or his name.
After applying sunscreen, we often have a snack inside. This gives the boys a little time to get sunscreen fully absorbed, and they can gulp down a bit more water before heading into the heat!
Something to keep brains sharp & skin protected? Works for me! Click over & say hello to Shannon and the many brilliant women who contributed tips for kids in the summer.
Hence, my first “Works For Me” contribution is this simple activity:
1. Pick a list of letters or words (depending on their age) you’d like to teach or practice this summer. If your child is older, perhaps you can choose from the National Spelling Bee resources. With my boys (age 2 & 3), letters, names, and simple phonetic words make a good list.
2. Each time you apply sunscreen, “write” a word (or letter) using sunscreen on their arms, legs, face, and body. If you’re using lotion-style sunscreen, smear it across their skin smoothly, then spell the name before rubbing it in. If it’s spray sunscreen, try writing the word with spray!
If your kiddo is old enough to play guessing games, keep the list secret and have them guess what you’re writing. Obi-1 (3) can guess simple things, like letters or his name.
After applying sunscreen, we often have a snack inside. This gives the boys a little time to get sunscreen fully absorbed, and they can gulp down a bit more water before heading into the heat!
Something to keep brains sharp & skin protected? Works for me! Click over & say hello to Shannon and the many brilliant women who contributed tips for kids in the summer.
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