I use quotation marks in my title because “normal” changes every so often.

This past week has been busy (I say that a lot, don’t I?).

Last weekend, was the beginning of “Birthday week” in our family.  My sister had a birthday on Friday (no party) and my youngest nephew (in the red shirt) had his birthday on Saturday (complete with a “Spiderman” party).   Heather spent most of the time at the party, taking her little cousins to the game room, and riding with them on the Merry-go-round.   She loves them and they think she’s their buddy, meant to keep them entertained.  She doesn’t mind.

After the party, we went straight to church, where she was scheduled to work with the 2 & 3 year olds during the service.  She slept very well that night!

Last Sunday was Mother’s day.  That day started with coffee and the newspaper

Breakfast served in bed

Gifts (this was from my husband, and my kids gave me things from Bath & Body Works, and chocolate covered Espresso beans……….and that last gift is gone……….very delicious!)

& flowers

After lunch, we went to wish Kevin’s mother a happy Mother’s Day.  Kevin’s sister lives in Texas and because she wasn’t able to fly up for a visit, she sent us a card to take to her.  Kevin’s mother has Alzheimer’s Disease and is now in a memory care facility.  For this recent visit, the caregivers dressed her up a bit and put a flower in her hair.  As soon as she saw Kevin, she was “dancing” in her wheelchair.  She doesn’t remember his name, but she knows that she knows him and she’s happy to see him.   The day was sunny and rather warm , so the caregivers put a hat on her while we were outside.

After Mother’s Day, came Election Day.  Since Kevin was running for mayor, this election had extra meaning for us.  A campaign involving many nights of campaign meetings, stuffing envelopes with letters asking for campaign contributions,  introducing ones self at neighborhood meetings and clubs, forums and debates, and in the last week or two, standing on street corners during rush-hour holding campaign signs (which meant a lot of nights of the kids not having me cook their dinner and making veggie burgers, nachos or quesadillas for dinner………..seriously, that is what they wanted to eat).    After all of that, the incumbent won.  Kevin did garnish nearly 29% of the vote, which is really good for someone running for the first time.   We had our election party at a local pizza parlour and watched the election results there.

Since the election, our evenings have been free, to relax, and start thinking of new goals to work toward.

The next event was our son’s 14th birthday.  The day started with gifts at breakfast (and breakfast consisted of donuts).  Then, since the boy had not shaved since New Year’s Eve, he wanted to be clean-shaven for his birthday.    I think that this time we sort of humored him as the peach fuzz that was shaved off on New Year’s Eve, really hadn’t grown back, at least not much.

Later in the day, we met my dad, grandma, sister and nephews for the boy’s Birthday party.  The theme was “CARS 2”.

Part of me wonders at times,  when he’s 20…..or 40, if he’ll still want PIXAR or cartoon character themed parties.

I don’t mind 🙂

Elizabeth

So, another weekend has passed rather too quickly.  Ours was filled with going door-to-door to campaign (Kevin & the boy), a wedding and church (me and the girl), and campaign “strategizing”.  The Primary is in two weeks, the ballots have been mailed out (Oregon voted for “vote-by-mail” several years ago, though I do miss going to the local school and voting in a booth).    I wouldn’t be surprised if all of the candidates go out of town for a break after the election.    Running for office leaves very little room for family time.

So, As I posted above, Monday is our “catch-up” day.  We haven’t been having school on Mondays this year as it seems that Monday is the day that we clean up and catch up after the weekend.   So we catch up on laundry, dishes, any kind of clean up of anything left out over the weekend, correspondence, blogging, etc.

I thought that I would share some of the things we’ve been doing in the past few months that I hadn’t really had the time to chat about.

These are my friends, Brenda & Carrie.  We first met in our church youth group (I actually met Carrie earlier at a church camp)  years, and years ago, and have kept connected with each other over the years.  Now that we’re all busy wives and mothers, time to get together and chat is more of an effort.  So we had lunch on a recent Saturday at an Asian restaurant with a view of the water and the ducks and other waterfowl that congregate there.   Brenda is a photographer (She’s on my list of photographers, BGE Photography), and she and I both brought our cameras along to take pictures after lunch.

Then, we went to a classic car show at the Fairgrounds.  “Mater” from “CARS” was going to be there and my son is a big fan of that movie.  There were several other “souped” up cars, trucks and motorcycles as well.  I post the picture of the Impala as that was my first car (though mine was a ’76).   A car show is also a good way to pass a rainy afternoon.

Then, Kevin had an interview regarding his run for office.  His interviewer has his own show on Youtube, so he tapes in a room that also serves as a model train room and display area.  So while the interview was being taped, I took pictures of the displays which included this colorful display of insulators .

Nearly a month ago, Kevin took part in a candidate’s forum with the incumbent and the other opponent.  This was recorded and rebroadcast on tv and radio.  He bought some dressier clothes (he had been wearing polos, shorts and a wool cap until now.  However, something a bit dressier was called for this time).

Let’s just say this.   HE TOTALLY ROCKED THE FORUM!

…….and he was on tv………….again.

As election day approaches, one needs to keep their name fresh in the mind of the public.  So, we had a banner made, and stood on walkways over busy street, highways and street corners and waved to the rush hour traffic (more folks honked than, ahem, “saluted”)

Finally, we had a fairly nice morning, so the kids and I took a walk to the park.   I brought the camera along.

The kids felt that I was slowing them down because “Mom’s taking another picture”.

But, hey, I like to take pictures

………..especially when flowers are in bloom and colorful

Never too old for the playground

~Elizabeth

This week, news was made when Hilary Rosen made a statement indicating that Ann Romney, who was a stay-at-home mom, had never worked a day in her life.  The fuss over that comment was heard all over Facebook (and other sites as well).  I imagine that there were hundreds of SAHM bloggers sitting down at their computers and typing out how much work they supposedly are not doing.

So I thought I’d join in.

The comment was made in reference to Mrs. Romney’s knowledge of the economic issues that women face.  So, I guess I’ll start there.  Well, one can argue that she lacks this knowledge due to having a larger income.  Maybe so, however, did she balance a monthly budget, pay bills, dole out allowances to her children with that paycheck?  Probably so.

What else does a stay at home mother do?

Well, I’ll just share what I do.  I plan and prepare meals (dietician/chef), do the grocery shopping (hunter/gatherer) listen to disagreements between the kids (moderator or referee), oversee their education because I homeschool (teacher), take care of and cleaning up after my family when they are sick (nurse), cleaning the house and training the kids to do the same (housekeeper that teaches home maintenance), guiding the youth of the house when they need correction (juvenile guidance counselor) and take care of discipline (some might say warden or parole officer).  I listen to their ideas, their stories, problems.   And most of all, I’m the secretary in that I keep track of schedules, and when my family needs new socks. I’m also a chauffeur, in that I drive my kids to the mall or to a homeschool co-op class or in my daughter’s case, a church event.   Throw in a political campaign, and suddenly almost every night has an event to be at, or I’m out shopping for what article of clothing might be needed for an upcoming event.

Then after all that going on in the day, we finally settle into bed, with that new magazine that came in the mail 3 days ago or that book you checked out from the library last week, and it’s 11PM, and your husband, who is ready to snooze looks over at you and asks, “You’re going to read now?”

Elizabeth

(Just for the record, my husband no longer has an issue with me having my light on to read at night.  It wasn’t always that way, but he’s fine with it now)

  Easter came quickly this year.  It arrived on the tail end of a very busy two weeks.   When one’s spouse is running for office, invitations to candidate forums, political groups, and neighborhood associations tend to increase as election day approaches.

This isn’t a political blog to be sure, but I’m just saying that I didn’t have as much time for Easter basket shopping.  I try to get my holiday shopping finished before the weekend of that holiday, when the majority are doing their Easter shopping.  I’m not a fan or crowds or chaotic shopping.

For many years, we dyed eggs with the kids on the day before Easter.  On Easter morning (or sometimes afternoon) my husband would hide those eggs in the most clever places (my daughter could always find them, however for our son, if he couldn’t see it outright, he didn’t want to hunt for it).   The kids are nearly 14 and 16 now, so this year I asked them if they still wanted to hunt eggs.   They pretty much informed us that they weren’t really interested anymore and for the past two years or so, they were hunting eggs to appease us, so they wouldn’t have to see us being sad that they’re growing up.   I think that my husband was sadder than I was, because he enjoyed finding odd, hard to find places for those eggs.

I asked the kids if the were too old for Easter baskets.  They both exclaimed “NO!”  Apparently, gifts and chocolate, one never outgrows.  So, I went out to find the container with their Easter baskets.  Unfortunately, moisture had made its way into the container, so their baskets and the Easter grass was useless.  So we figured that since we’re in a new phase with the kids and they wouldn’t be hunting eggs, I bought gift bags.  The kids still had their candy, and gifts and they were happy.

While they were enjoying their sugar high, their father and I went to see “Titanic” in 3D in the IMAX theater.

Not exactly like the Easter Sunday’s I remember from childhood, but, we are in a new phase in life, slightly changing some traditions and making new ones.

Ep.

I’m sorry that I don’t have a picture or two to accompany this post (I’m a picture gal).   I just haven’t had much time to take many (other than the ones that I took of my husband speaking to a group).

I mentioned a few months ago that my husband is running for a local political office.   When he first decided to do this, we knew that life would get busy as election day was approaching.   Now for me, someone who likes to have a plan ahead of time, and some sort of essence of a schedule (considering that I keep track of the schedules of everyone else in the house—we only have one car, so we do need some organization in that department), this has been a stretch, taking me out of my comfort zone, having to be willing to give up some evenings to join Kevin when he goes to speaking engagements or neighbourhood association meetings that he’s been invited to.   This has definitely pushed the kids and I into learning to be more flexible.

I’m also trying to maintain some sort of normalcy for the kids while the hectic schedule tries to dominate our lives.

-Normal meals (as opposed to fast food type meals .  I’m thankful for my The Pioneer Woman’s cookbook and having an extra refrigerator and freezer for make-ahead meals)

-Social gatherings like church, and product parties (about 3 weeks ago, I took Heather with me to the first Pampered Chef party that I’ve been to in about 4 years! I forgot how much fun those were………and the food is always so tasty!).

-Keeping up with regular holidays (campaigning for an office can take up a lot of time and really, the kids don’t want to hear that their mother forgot to make them Easter Baskets because she was so absorbed in the campaign meetings…………..that just wouldn’t fly at this house).

-Date nights (can’t forget those!  Even if it’s just having 30 minutes of having a cup of coffee on your front porch (though I strongly recommend a coffeehouse).

In just over a month from now, we’ll find out if his/our (because a campaign affects EVERYONE in the family) efforts paid off.

However, for today, since it is my day to have the car, I’m driving various family members to doctor’s appointments, and running a couple of errands myself, and because Spring Break is over, we’re having school as well.

This is the kind of schedule that keeps life from getting boring 🙂

Elizabeth

Its been about a month since I last posted.

I managed to download pictures from my new camera……..finally!

Spring has finally arrived, and if you’re in the Pacific Northwest, then you know that the weather has rarely been Spring-like.

Especially, on the day after the first day of Spring.  I woke up early to make the coffee and when I went downstairs, I happened to glance out of the window and that is when I noticed that the world outside was completely white.   I ran back upstairs and told Kevin “It snowed!”, to which he woke up rather quickly and looked out the window and then cheered!  If it snows enough that even the buses aren’t running, then he can stay home.   There were very few cars trying to drive down the street (and they were large trucks with 4 wheel drive).    Then, I tried to coax my kids out of bed with the news of snow.  Well, they weren’t that excited, and wanted to sleep in (That’s my gene pool kicking in there.  When I was a young adult living at home, on snow days, my mother would burst into my room and wake me up singing, “It’s snowing!!!” and open my curtains.  I was not ready to wake up at that time).  My kids used to love to go out and play in the snow.  Now, they’d rather stay indoors and be warm and dry, hoping that their mother would give them a day off of school (which I did).

So since it was an off day, I made pancakes!  The kind with chocolate chips in them!  My husband was very glad to have a snow day and stay home!

After breakfast, I figured that if my family is getting a day off, then I should be able to relax (within reason as some household chores still needed to be done).  I like to put together puzzles.   I had bought a puzzle a few weeks ago and now seemed like a good time to put it together.   Then for lunch, the  “wet-weather-cozy-food” menu called for tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches!

The snow lasted for another two days (usually it’s melted by noon, so this was rare)  and by then, the roads were clear. The puzzle is finished, and we’re waiting for the real, hopefully sunny, Spring weather to arrive.

Elizabeth

Since my last post, the following took place………

-My computer decided to not work.  So, the kids and I are now sharing a computer with my husband Kevin.  So far, we’ve all adjusted to the sharing with no major issues.  The downside is that it won’t allow me to download pictures from my new camera.  So, if I want pictures for blogging, I’ll need to find another way.

-Something that I don’t think that I’ve mentioned is that my husband is running for Mayor of our town.   So our schedule has stretched to include invitations to political groups and neighbourhood association groups.  It also opens him up for all sorts of slander from those who obviously aren’t planning to vote for him.   That last part doesn’t bother us as much because from what we’ve seen, these folks obviously don’t know him.   All I have to say is, if you aren’t voting for him, be civil and just say, “I’m not voting for him”.  There is no need to be vulgar.

-Kevin had a birthday earlier this week.  I gave him a remote-control helicopter.  Unfortunately,  the battery inside won’t recharge, so we need to take it back (something I really don’t like to do.  I’m not a “return” person).   It’s a really cool toy though!  It’ll be even better once he gets it in the air!

-Last, but not least, we had a dusting of snow.  Not enough to close most of the schools (except maybe the ones in rural areas), but we saw large flakes this morning. Many kids and adults were looking outside, hoping that the snow/rain shower would turn into a blizzard that would keep them home.  This was not that kind of snow (sorry folks!).  Very rarely do we have enough snow to keep one housebound and unable to get to work (not like the snow we had back in 1969, which had my dad practically living at his job, and my mother housebound with a new baby…….another story for another time perhaps).

It’s time for me to wake up and move on in the day, and get as much done around the house and with the kids’ schooling (and yes, sometimes we school in our pajamas…..but not all day), before heading off to the Library.

Enjoy your Leap Day!

Last weekend, the Jr. High, High School, and College groups went up to Portland for the Generation Unleashed conference at City Bible Church.  This is the second year that our daughter went.    She was very excited!  She had her bags packed at least a week in advance (Mama’s DNA at work there I think, lol).

This is also the first time, that her brother hasn’t had an issue with her leaving.  Usually, starting the week his sister is about to leave, the boy will start talking about hoping the bus isn’t working or that everyone gets sick or something really drastic, because if she goes, he’ll miss her and his secure, ordered world will be changed.    This time, he seemed to be ok with his sister leaving.  She put him in charge of taking care of her “Perry the Platypus” stuffed toy.  He took his assignment very seriously 🙂

Before this trip, we felt that it was time to get the girl some new sneakers.  She was going to a conference with 4,000 other people and we didn’t want her to lose her shoes if she was squished in the crowd.  We found these cute Converse sneakers (or “kicks” as they are now called) at Ross for a good deal, and they were in her favorite color (as can probably be guessed by the pictures in this post- she’s a fan of hot pink).

We were one of the first ones to arrive at the church to meet the bus, so she was able to choose where she wanted to sit.

After the youth pastor prayed over the group, and told the boys to sit with boys, and the girls to sit with girls, and that this was not the weekend to fall in love with someone, everyone boarded the bus, and headed up to Portland.  According to my girl, she had a great time, and is looking forward to going again next year.

While she was gone, we made sure that the boy and a good time too, and visited several thrift stores looking for “Happy Meal” toys from his favorite movies.

When she came back, she had gifts for all of us, as the group visited the mall.  She gave me a CD of the music from the conference.  Her dad was given a See’s Candy Heart, and her brother’s gift was a plush toy from the movie “Cars 2” from the Disney store.

Such a lovely  girl!

We finally caught it, my husband and I.

The bug that’s been going around.

Kevin caught it first.  He was miserable.

I made him some Cream of Wheat.

When I was growing up, my mom only made it if I was sick (I didn’t realize until much later that most people ate it for breakfast)

I bought him Ginger Ale.

We avoided kissing each other so that I wouldn’t get “the bug”.

We’ve avoided kissing the kids so that they wouldn’t catch it and my daughter could go to her youth conference, and my son wouldn’t catch “the disease”.

However, for as hard as I tried to avoid it, I caught it anyway.

Fortunately, my kids are old enough to prepare their own meals.

Fortunately, my husband has no problem baking or ordering pizza for two…….three nights in a row.

Unfortunately, if I want some Cream of Wheat, I’ll need to make it myself.