DDA Chapter 24

[Disney Yooper]

I'm heading back to Lansing today. Luckily, I'll be home Friday night and won't return to Lansing until after our Disney trip.

Before I leave today, I am going to make a double batch of creamy wild rice soup. I made some on Saturday. Katrina & I love it so I'm going to make more to freeze. It has a really great flavor though it is just basic ingredients. Chuck liked the taste but doesn't care for the wild rice. I am thinking of doing a variation of cream of mushroom next time because I think that would be fantastic too.

 

[tmfranlk]

I'm heading back to Lansing today. Luckily, I'll be home Friday night and won't return to Lansing until after our Disney trip.

Before I leave today, I am going to make a double batch of creamy wild rice soup. I made some on Saturday. Katrina & I love it so I'm going to make more to freeze. It has a really great flavor though it is just basic ingredients. Chuck liked the taste but doesn't care for the wild rice. I am thinking of doing a variation of cream of mushroom next time because I think that would be fantastic too.

Oh all this talk of yummy soups! I love soup, but don't think I've ever really made much from scratch. Bet it would be so much better that way.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Amy when is Sammy due?

 

[Pooh67_68]

My mom made chicken and turkey soup yesterday.

 

[Pooh67_68]

I made John chocolate chip cookies this morning.

 

[KMH1]

Amy when is Sammy due?

Around March 12th, but I hope to get an induction date a few days before that.

I made Kevin his favorite chocolate chunk cookies a few days before Valentine's Day. One batch gets inhaled pretty quickly around here, so I should make more since we're snowed in.

 

[lovesdumbo]

We are about 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic. When are you coming??

I thought Tammi said 25 minutes-I figured she drove faster than you. But then I looked back and she said 25 miles.

This was them all weekend.

Want 3 more? Ours are off all week. I go to work tomorrow.

We're getting our third significant snowfall in the last nine days. I was really hoping to run some errands ALONE today, since Kevin is off, but that's not going to happen. I'm also bummed that Bunco is postponed tonight. I need to try to accumulate as many "escapes" as I can before Sammy gets here!

Between a staff development day, snow days, and a 2 hour delay (1/2 day kindergarten has no school on those days), Alyssa and Matty only had one day of school, each, last week. I have a feeling they'll be home tomorrow, as well.

I've actually uploaded some recent pictures!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2053402&id=1215897844&l=e4b9c6a323

Take care, DDA! Stay warm and safe!

LOVE your photos!!! Kids are so adorable and you look awesome!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

My desktop Mac seems to have died. We lost electricity 3 times Wednesday night. It is hooked up to a UPS surge protector but maybe 3 times is too much. I wanted to try using the start up CD but there is a CD in it already that I can't get out. Someone in my office IS dept said they would take a look it-we use both Mac & PC at work. I hope they can recover my hard drive! I have all my photos backed up but I have a bunch of other stuff that isn't like my taxes.




I signed Joe & I up for a Give a Day opportunity. This is what we are doing:

About the Organization

Cradles to Crayons (C2C) collects and distributes clothes, books, baby safety equipment, school supplies, and other essential items to disadvantaged children age 0-12 throughout Massachusetts. The process begins with the collection of new and gently used children’s goods from a C2C product drive. Items collected in the community or donated by individuals are dropped off at the Giving Factory and then sorted, cleaned, inspected, and packaged by volunteers. C2C delivers these customized packages (called kidpacks) through a network of over 400 social workers, therapists and care givers.

Visit www.cradlestocrayons.org for more information.

Your Project

To help us fill the increasing requests for children’s essentials, we ask that you join together with family and friends to organize a collection drive in your community. Our most needed items are: clothing (kids' sizes 0–20 and adult sizes S, M, L), shoes/sneakers/boots (infant/child sizes 0–13 and youth/adult sizes 1–10), coats, books, new arts and crafts/school supplies, baby supplies (especially bedding), baby equipment, brand new toys (for birthday gifts), new hygiene supplies for ages 0 to 12, laundry detergent, batteries, and shoelaces.

It is up to you/your group to decide what new or gently used items you would like to collect and the location/date of the collection. You are then responsible for bringing the items to our warehouse—The Giving Factory—located at 82 Myrtle Street, Quincy during normal drop-off hours: Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 1st, 2nd, and 4th Sat. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3rd Sun. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

The date listed for this opportunity is the date by which we request you bring the collected items to our warehouse. Please contact Sarah Gould (sarah.gould@cradlestocrayons.org) to let her know when the items will be dropped off. You may also make an appointment to bring them on a date earlier than the date posted above but an appointment must be made for us to verify the completion of the service project.

In order to fulfill this volunteer opportunity and be eligible for a Day at Disney, we ask that you satisfy one of the following requirements:

**Complete 5 hours of effort coordinating the drive (includes making flyers, collecting product, sorting items, bringing items to the “Giving Factory” –our warehouse in Quincy)

AND/OR

**Collect approximately 3-55 gallon trash bags full of new and gently used children’s essentials from our most needed items.

WOW...I'm glad I signed up yesterday-the date we chose (3/13) only has 1 slot left now.

 

[my3princes]

My desktop Mac seems to have died. We lost electricity 3 times Wednesday night. It is hooked up to a UPS surge protector but maybe 3 times is too much. I wanted to try using the start up CD but there is a CD in it already that I can't get out. Someone in my office IS dept said they would take a look it-we use both Mac & PC at work. I hope they can recover my hard drive! I have all my photos backed up but I have a bunch of other stuff that isn't like my taxes.




I signed Joe & I up for a Give a Day opportunity. This is what we are doing:


WOW...I'm glad I signed up yesterday-the date we chose (3/13) only has 1 slot left now.

I hope you can retrieve your hard drive
Your project sounds interesting. I could have completely stocked you before we cleaned the basement last month


My room and bathroom is 100% done. Nick and Hunter's rooms are 100%, the laundry room is 75% and Colby's room is 60%. We might actually get our to do list done today

 

[mommykds]

Just curious..how much do you help your kids keep their rooms clean? I do not help Daniel at all & his room is spotless, neat & organized. The girls however are not as neat. I straighten Sophie's room occasionally but I try not to do that in Katies room since she is 14 & should be able to do it herself. How much is too much or not enough?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Just curious..how much do you help your kids keep their rooms clean? I do not help Daniel at all & his room is spotless, neat & organized. The girls however are not as neat. I straighten Sophie's room occasionally but I try not to do that in Katies room since she is 14 & should be able to do it herself. How much is too much or not enough?

Once in awhile I go on a rampage and go in DS's room with a trash bag. It typically takes the entire weekend to get things in order.
But really, it's his room, his space. If he wants to live in a rat hole, that's his thing.

EDIT:
He is not allowed to bring food or drinks into his room, so we are talking about dust and clutter.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I hope you can retrieve your hard drive
Your project sounds interesting. I could have completely stocked you before we cleaned the basement last month


My room and bathroom is 100% done. Nick and Hunter's rooms are 100%, the laundry room is 75% and Colby's room is 60%. We might actually get our to do list done today

Thanks for the well wishes on the hard drive. Not sure what I'll do to replace it. I know I can get a PC for a lot less but I really like iPhoto on the Mac. The kids use PC's at school and I use one a work so maybe I should just go with that.

We've done school supplies for cradles to crayons through church so we know the organization. There really wasn't much for kids at all. I figure I can get enough for at least one of us from the basement. We'll ask a few neighbors and I'm sure we'll have more than enough.

Then I need to decide which option we'll choose. I have my AP and I actually have 2 one day base adult tickets from December. I was thinking of using Joe's voucher for a ticket and upgrade for our trip. I was leaning toward the fast pass voucher for mine but the pins look cool too.

I talked to DH about going to WDW in July before my, Lizzy & Emma's AP's expire and he didn't say no. I told him I was thinking about BWI and we could do a fishing excursion there. He told me he saw someone fishing there on a fishing show and they caught a HUGE fish so he's pretty interested in that. I don't know if I'll try to find an opportunity for the 3 of them or not. I could use one of the tickets I have for Gene and thier vouchers for fast passes.

Sounds like you're making a lot of progress today. I am working on laundry but can't seem to find much other motivation.


OH...I've been meaning to ask you....how is Hunter doing with his contacts?

 

[tinker1bell]

Just curious..how much do you help your kids keep their rooms clean? I do not help Daniel at all & his room is spotless, neat & organized. The girls however are not as neat. I straighten Sophie's room occasionally but I try not to do that in Katies room since she is 14 & should be able to do it herself. How much is too much or not enough?

When my two oldest complained about how I did the laundry I said "then you can do your own and clean your own rooms" and that meant completely. All laundry, even sheets. I think they were about 14 and 11 at the time. Since Steve was only 6, I would help clean his side of the room but when he reached about 12 or 13 the same rules applied.

When they were younger, I would sometimes come in with a big trash bag and just go crazy and that helped motivate them to get in the act to help more.

 

[Tammi67]

ACK! Snow again! Luckily we are not supposed to see much in the way of accumulation. Only a dusting to an inch. I'm tired of seeing stuff fall from the sky.

Anne Marie - My kids clean their own rooms, vacuuming and dusting. They do it on the Sat. morning when they are not with their dad. Other than that, there is really no other cleaning that needs to be done in there. We are not pack rats, so there isn't much straightening up that needs to get done. Everything gets put somewhere, not just left laying (lying?) around. Plus they don't spend a lot of time in their rooms. Alyssa does moreso, so sometime I need to go behind her and tell her to hang stuff up or straighten up her closet. But I don't do it. Also, I recently go rid of my cleaning lady. She was going to be out for awhile due to surgery, so I figured that was as good a time as any to teach my kids how to clean a house. We now have a chore jar that they pick from Sat. morning as well. Things like vacuum upstairs/downstairs, swiffer, toilet, sink, tub. So they each get 3 of those things to do as well. So far it's worked out well.

 

[my3princes]

Just curious..how much do you help your kids keep their rooms clean? I do not help Daniel at all & his room is spotless, neat & organized. The girls however are not as neat. I straighten Sophie's room occasionally but I try not to do that in Katies room since she is 14 & should be able to do it herself. How much is too much or not enough?

Nick and Hunter are pretty much on their own. I usually go through each of their rooms once in the Spring and again in the Fall as I switch wardrobes around and hoe out the crap they don't use anymore. That gives them a good base to work with. They are expected to put everything away, dust and vacuum. Colby needs more help as he can't stay on task so it is a losing battle. Even if he could do it all I have to be there to redirect. He did about 60% of his room today and I finished it up. If the kids put their laundry in the hampers I will wash it and fold it. It is their responsibility to move it from the laundry room to their rooms and get it put away. If laundry doesn't make it to the hamper before I do laundry then they wash their own. That rarely happens. I am probably more anal then most as I don't like knick Knack hanging around and I want to see the tops of bureaus and the entire floor. Everything has a place or it will disappear.

Thanks for the well wishes on the hard drive. Not sure what I'll do to replace it. I know I can get a PC for a lot less but I really like iPhoto on the Mac. The kids use PC's at school and I use one a work so maybe I should just go with that.

We've done school supplies for cradles to crayons through church so we know the organization. There really wasn't much for kids at all. I figure I can get enough for at least one of us from the basement. We'll ask a few neighbors and I'm sure we'll have more than enough.

Then I need to decide which option we'll choose. I have my AP and I actually have 2 one day base adult tickets from December. I was thinking of using Joe's voucher for a ticket and upgrade for our trip. I was leaning toward the fast pass voucher for mine but the pins look cool too.

I talked to DH about going to WDW in July before my, Lizzy & Emma's AP's expire and he didn't say no. I told him I was thinking about BWI and we could do a fishing excursion there. He told me he saw someone fishing there on a fishing show and they caught a HUGE fish so he's pretty interested in that. I don't know if I'll try to find an opportunity for the 3 of them or not. I could use one of the tickets I have for Gene and thier vouchers for fast passes.

Sounds like you're making a lot of progress today. I am working on laundry but can't seem to find much other motivation.


OH...I've been meaning to ask you....how is Hunter doing with his contacts?

Good luck sorting out your trip.

Hunter is still waiting for the contacts to arrive. Of course the clinic is closed today so maybe tomorrow. It has already taken longer than I expected.

 

[mommykds]

Once in awhile I go on a rampage and go in DS's room with a trash bag. It typically takes the entire weekend to get things in order.
But really, it's his room, his space. If he wants to live in a rat hole, that's his thing.
EDIT:
He is not allowed to bring food or drinks into his room, so we are talking about dust and clutter.

Thanks Elizabeth!

I do not allow food or anything but water in their rooms as well. She just had "stuff" everywhere...There are no clear surfaces.

 

[mommykds]

When my two oldest complained about how I did the laundry I said "then you can do your own and clean your own rooms" and that meant completely. All laundry, even sheets. I think they were about 14 and 11 at the time. Since Steve was only 6, I would help clean his side of the room but when he reached about 12 or 13 the same rules applied.

When they were younger, I would sometimes come in with a big trash bag and just go crazy and that helped motivate them to get in the act to help more.

I have done the garbage bag thing but only when they are not home. They can accumulate stuff & not know they even have it. So when I see something they do not use I donate it. Rarely have they asked "hey wheres that ____" They just forget about it.

 

[mommykds]

ACK! Snow again! Luckily we are not supposed to see much in the way of accumulation. Only a dusting to an inch. I'm tired of seeing stuff fall from the sky.

Anne Marie - My kids clean their own rooms, vacuuming and dusting. They do it on the Sat. morning when they are not with their dad. Other than that, there is really no other cleaning that needs to be done in there. We are not pack rats, so there isn't much straightening up that needs to get done. Everything gets put somewhere, not just left laying (lying?) around. Plus they don't spend a lot of time in their rooms. Alyssa does moreso, so sometime I need to go behind her and tell her to hang stuff up or straighten up her closet. But I don't do it. Also, I recently go rid of my cleaning lady. She was going to be out for awhile due to surgery, so I figured that was as good a time as any to teach my kids how to clean a house. We now have a chore jar that they pick from Sat. morning as well. Things like vacuum upstairs/downstairs, swiffer, toilet, sink, tub. So they each get 3 of those things to do as well. So far it's worked out well.

Do you mean that they pick 3 things from the chore jar to do? I like that idea. My kids have set chores right now but mixing up alittle would be good too.

 

[mommykds]

Everything has a place or it will disappear.

I like that!! I am anal too & need to see the tops of dressers & all of the floor..clutter freaks me out & I cannot how she can not be bothered but such clutter. Ok off to the orthodontist!!!

 

[Tammi67]

Do you mean that they pick 3 things from the chore jar to do? I like that idea. My kids have set chores right now but mixing up alittle would be good too.

Yes, they take turns drawing papers. My room and bathroom are not on the list, so they have things in their bathroom that they have to clean, as well as the upstairs/downstairs floors. As they get older I will add dusting the rest of the house into the mix. As well as laundry. Right now I do that, and fold, but they put their own stuff away. They also have mealtime jobs as well....setting, clearing, etc. I haven't been able to let go of doing the dishes. I don't want to have plates/glasses broken, plus I want to know they are actually clean!