Sunday, November 23, 2008

would you like a little stream of consciousness with your pie? (updated to include even more rambling)

I tend to work in spurts.  I woke up this morning in the mood to work (in a spurt, if you will). So Asher and I spent most of the morning cleaning up the backyard (Asher singing, "TEEEEAMWORK!" intermittently - thank you Ming Ming) so that he can use it more often. A boy needs to be outside. Needs it. And this boy's little brother needs sleep just as much as he needs to play, so we are finally going to utilize our backyard.  Want to know how much it's been neglected? This morning I asked Brian, "Do we own a rake?" We've been here over a year. That's how much time we've put into the backyard. So now the yard is raked (TEAMWORK), and Asher has a stack of toys ready to be moved to the back patio.  Yay.

Have I told you that my dog got a new bed that has cedar in it and is supposed to absorb the doggy smell, but instead makes him smell like a hamster?  I swear we now have a 55 lb SHEDDING rodent in our house.  Nice.

It's always hard for me to know what to do on Sundays.  I love our church - I was saying this weekend that it has become my home church, and those of you who work in vocational ministry know that doesn't always happen.  One thing our church does (that I love) is worship together, as a family, babies and all.  I believe in the concept of worshipping as a family (nursery and children's church open when the sermon begins).  However - This is what I look like on Sunday mornings.  If we go, then Silas has missed his morning nap.  I get to church with a hungry sleepy baby, strike one.  Then Brian is on stage, leading music, and Asher doesn't understand why he can't join him.  Strike two.   Which means I'm trying to bungee Asher and feed Silas simultaneously while everyone around me is trying to, you know, participate in the service. I feel like I should be charging admission.   Factor into all of that the fact that Fridays and Saturdays are our busiest days, and usually both kids are overstimulated by Sundays anyway, and I spend more Sundays than I would like at home.  

But it's only for a season.  My kids won't need morning naps forever (hooray for that), nor will they always need to be herded.  Nor, for that matter, will they always think the absolute coolest way to spend a weekend morning is raking the leaves with their mom.  So maybe I will just enjoy the moment - naps and leaves and all - and go back to church when I can.

Happy Sunday everyone.

No wait.  One more thing.

I was at a friend's house yesterday.  She has three small children.  I asked, "Have you finished your shopping?"  She replied, "Yes.  I did it all online.  I didn't want to take out the kids."  So I thought - online!  shopping!  What a great idea - I won't have to take out MY kids EITHER.

Boo.

I hate shopping online.  An hour and a half later, I did not accomplish ONE THING.  I found what I was looking for 28 times, but they all wanted 9$ in shipping.  I've heard rumors about free shipping, but that exists on other people's computers.  Not mine.  Shopping online - waste time AND money this holiday season.  Bah humbug.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

A 55lb shedding rodent is a force to be reckoned with!!

Anonymous said...

the best part is when taylor plops down on his newly acquired bed and wafts a nice mix of cedar and funk into the air. glad he sleeps on stephanie's side of the bed now!

laurie williams said...

zappos.com has free shipping. seriously stephanie. ive worked here for like 12 years now.

Cindy said...

You may have already tried this, but if not...

Google the store name and phrases like "free shipping code" or "coupon code" or "promotional code" - about 80% of the time if I hunt through some google results like that I can find a promotional code to get free shipping and/or other discounts. Sometimes I can't, and then I just hunt for the product on another website until I find one that will either price match, offer free shipping, or some other kind of discount. I couldn't get the $3 shipping code (not free, but better than the $24.50 I was going to be charged) to work on a baking website last week, so I called them and they applied the code and credited my account. Another benefit is the lack of sales tax (if they don't have a store or shipping center in your state) - a real bonus in places like Montgomery with crazy high sales tax.

Anonymous said...

The Review Lady stole my comment. I give her three stars.

Stephanie said...

Laurie, I checked zappos last night. They don't sell cookware, unfortunately.

Lane and Cindy, thanks for the advice.

Tonya said...

I'm glad to hear other people work in spurts too! I have days when I get NOTHING done, and then I have days where I don't stop from dawn to dusk.

Oh and about onling shopping, sometimes paying the shipping is worth it not to have to get out in that mess of mean Christmas shoppers!

Kendra said...

Stephanie you always seem to be able to take such an amazing perspective on things, I appreciate it so much!! I loved the part about how they will not always need naps, and they will not always want to rake leaves with their mom...so true.