We finally made it home this afternoon, after experiencing major rain storms through most of MA and part of NY and crazy traffic in some places. The kids were great! We only had to stop twice, which is a record for us. Everyone is happy to be home and ready to sleep in their own beds. Currently we are waiting on Matt and Sammy to return home with pizza for supper!
On the writer's side of life: I only wrote about 2000 words this week, but I was able to outline the whole prologue. It's going well and I hope to finish the prologue by the end of this week. Then back to the main part of the story! Next week we are going to Family Camp where Answers in Genesis will be. Maybe I should warn the speaker, because I'm going to bleed his brain dry of all the facts he knows!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Vacation is ending, but the Adventure continues
Tonight is our last night at my brother's house. We had a great time visiting with them. The kids are sad to leave, but I think Levi is ready to have his quiet house back. Visited a space museum today that contained a planetarium. We got to see the night sky. The kids loved it. I'll have to dig out my star charts and take them out at night to see the constellations for real. I have no ambition pack though. At least we won't be in any hurry to leave tom.
Although we are ending our vacation, our summer adventure continue. Saturday we are having one of our trees cut down, then a tree removal party on Sunday for anyone who wants bonfire wood. Then I actually have a week to rest and recuperate before we set off on our next adventure: Family Camp. Two weeks off after that and then school starts again. Where has my summer gone?
Although we are ending our vacation, our summer adventure continue. Saturday we are having one of our trees cut down, then a tree removal party on Sunday for anyone who wants bonfire wood. Then I actually have a week to rest and recuperate before we set off on our next adventure: Family Camp. Two weeks off after that and then school starts again. Where has my summer gone?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Elizabethisms!
My children are full of amusing sayings.
We visited my brother and his family in April. When traveling out of NY we normally travel south. This trip would be my children's first time to travel East. My daughter Elizabeth was excited to travel to two new states - NH and MA. The closer we drew to MA, the more excited Elizabeth became. We had our road atlas out, I was teaching her how to read a map. Her finger slowly traced our route into MA. I saw the Welcome to MA sign ahead of us. I told Elizabeth we had passed into MA. Excitedly she looked around and then frowned, "It looks just like New York!" She could not explain what she thought MA would look like, but she was very disappointed when MA did not live up to her expectations!
My favorite Elizabethism:
I was driving home with her one beautiful summer night. She was about 21 months old and Sammy was about a month. The sky was clear and she was watching the stars. Through the window we could hear crickets singing. Elizabeth piped up from her seat "Mommy, the stars are singing!"
We visited my brother and his family in April. When traveling out of NY we normally travel south. This trip would be my children's first time to travel East. My daughter Elizabeth was excited to travel to two new states - NH and MA. The closer we drew to MA, the more excited Elizabeth became. We had our road atlas out, I was teaching her how to read a map. Her finger slowly traced our route into MA. I saw the Welcome to MA sign ahead of us. I told Elizabeth we had passed into MA. Excitedly she looked around and then frowned, "It looks just like New York!" She could not explain what she thought MA would look like, but she was very disappointed when MA did not live up to her expectations!
My favorite Elizabethism:
I was driving home with her one beautiful summer night. She was about 21 months old and Sammy was about a month. The sky was clear and she was watching the stars. Through the window we could hear crickets singing. Elizabeth piped up from her seat "Mommy, the stars are singing!"
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Weezie's Garden
We had a fun, relaxing day with my parents today. My sister, brother, and their families all decided to go into Boston. Matt and I decided it would be a bit much to take all four of our kids, so we weren't going. My Mom found this Children's garden she really wanted to check out. It looked interesting, so we headed off to do that. The kids loved it!
The ran around the gardens for a short while Elizabeth and Samuel were a little scared to climb the tower, but took it slowly and were soon going up and down with no troubles. In the center of the garden was a huge sand pit, which one of the garden volunteers placed a running hose for them to play with as well. In all we spent almost 2 hours just letting the kids play there.
Afterwards we stopped at McDonald's for lunch and playtime in the play place there. I took a nap when we arrived back at Levi's house. The kids played out in the kiddie pool.
Such a good day. Now if I can get some good writing done...
The ran around the gardens for a short while Elizabeth and Samuel were a little scared to climb the tower, but took it slowly and were soon going up and down with no troubles. In the center of the garden was a huge sand pit, which one of the garden volunteers placed a running hose for them to play with as well. In all we spent almost 2 hours just letting the kids play there.
Afterwards we stopped at McDonald's for lunch and playtime in the play place there. I took a nap when we arrived back at Levi's house. The kids played out in the kiddie pool.
Such a good day. Now if I can get some good writing done...
Horendously hideous Harry Potter
I've been waiting to see the new Harry Potter movie since the last one came out, like every other fan. I was dissapointed in November when the release date changed to the summer. I was disappointed further after view the movie last night.
My husband and I went out for the evening, leaving our kids with my parents. It's rare for us to find time to go out together, just the two of us, so we want it to be worth our while. But, it wasn't. We found the movie disjointed, full of useless information and uneccessarily dragged out scenes. It was hard to follow the main story line, even for someone who had watched the movie. Most of the story was pointless and did not furthur the plot line.
I do not want to purchase this movie when it comes out on DVD. I have no desire to watch it again. My husband will probably purchase it though, as cheap as we can get it (>$5), just so his OCD won't be bothered by an incomplete set.
JK Rowling, why did you approve this script?
My husband and I went out for the evening, leaving our kids with my parents. It's rare for us to find time to go out together, just the two of us, so we want it to be worth our while. But, it wasn't. We found the movie disjointed, full of useless information and uneccessarily dragged out scenes. It was hard to follow the main story line, even for someone who had watched the movie. Most of the story was pointless and did not furthur the plot line.
I do not want to purchase this movie when it comes out on DVD. I have no desire to watch it again. My husband will probably purchase it though, as cheap as we can get it (>$5), just so his OCD won't be bothered by an incomplete set.
JK Rowling, why did you approve this script?
Monday, July 27, 2009
Benson Vacations
Here I am on another Benson Vacation. Much has changed. We've added 2 husbands, and 1 wife, 5 granddaughters and 2 grandsons - the oldest is 5 and the youngest is 2 months. Thankfully the adults still out number the children. We each take turns making suppers and watching all the kids. One thing that has not changed is my parents ability to change the weather.
While growing up our vacations were often interrupted by inclement weather, aka major rainstorms or hurricanes. Never were we able to go on vacation without it raining at least once, if not the whole vacation. My parents have been places experiencing a months long drought. Then, while my parents are visiting, they will have record rainfall. I can recall numerous times we spent whole days at a mall or in a water logged tent waiting for the rain to end.
My husband did not believe the stories my siblings and I would tell him of the rain storms we survived on vacation with my parents. Two years ago we went on our first Benson family vacation. The summer had been beautiful that year. The week we went to Ocean City, NJ it rained 6 out of the 7 days. Matt couldn't believe it. The stories we had told him now took on new meaning.
This year, the summer in upstate NY has been the coldest on record, for the past 50 years. My family assumed that this would continue, since we were going on a Benson Vacation. Low and behold, summer has started this week. It rained once yesterday, and that's been it for the rain. We will keep a close eye on the weather, but will enjoy the sun while we have it.
Our new conclusion is that my parents have "Opposite Weather Ability." Thus they bring the opposite weather wherever they vacation.
While growing up our vacations were often interrupted by inclement weather, aka major rainstorms or hurricanes. Never were we able to go on vacation without it raining at least once, if not the whole vacation. My parents have been places experiencing a months long drought. Then, while my parents are visiting, they will have record rainfall. I can recall numerous times we spent whole days at a mall or in a water logged tent waiting for the rain to end.
My husband did not believe the stories my siblings and I would tell him of the rain storms we survived on vacation with my parents. Two years ago we went on our first Benson family vacation. The summer had been beautiful that year. The week we went to Ocean City, NJ it rained 6 out of the 7 days. Matt couldn't believe it. The stories we had told him now took on new meaning.
This year, the summer in upstate NY has been the coldest on record, for the past 50 years. My family assumed that this would continue, since we were going on a Benson Vacation. Low and behold, summer has started this week. It rained once yesterday, and that's been it for the rain. We will keep a close eye on the weather, but will enjoy the sun while we have it.
Our new conclusion is that my parents have "Opposite Weather Ability." Thus they bring the opposite weather wherever they vacation.
Quote of the Day
Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Edgar Allan Poe
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Beaver Dam and Potty Training
Our first full day at Levi and Heather's. My mother convinced us to go on a "walk" today at Beaver Dam. A race was just finishing up, so there was a lot people there. We walked through their gardens and then headed off down a trail. Very beautiful place to hike, but way too many mosquitoes! With the cooler weather we haven't been bothered by them much, so we never thought to bring repellent.
We continue to work with Hope on potty training. She did some backsliding last week at Grandma's house. We should be able to get her back on track quickly. It's been so much easier potty training her than Elizabeth. I used to read everything I could on how to potty train. It seemed to be going well, at first. Elizabeth loved to use her potty, but soon wearied of having to use it so often. It was a struggle to find incentive for her to continue. One article I read suggested letting your children run around without any pants, underwear, or diapers on. The theory was, children need to go in something, so wouldn't go if they weren't wearing anything...I tried it, for about 2 hours. Until Elizabeth came to tell me that someone had pooped on the floor. She didn't believe me when I told her it was her. She insisted it was Sammy, who was only a few months old at the time. Now I go with my own plan, which seemed to work well for Sammy and now Hope.
We continue to work with Hope on potty training. She did some backsliding last week at Grandma's house. We should be able to get her back on track quickly. It's been so much easier potty training her than Elizabeth. I used to read everything I could on how to potty train. It seemed to be going well, at first. Elizabeth loved to use her potty, but soon wearied of having to use it so often. It was a struggle to find incentive for her to continue. One article I read suggested letting your children run around without any pants, underwear, or diapers on. The theory was, children need to go in something, so wouldn't go if they weren't wearing anything...I tried it, for about 2 hours. Until Elizabeth came to tell me that someone had pooped on the floor. She didn't believe me when I told her it was her. She insisted it was Sammy, who was only a few months old at the time. Now I go with my own plan, which seemed to work well for Sammy and now Hope.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Prologues, Preludes, and Forewards
How long can a prologue be? I'm trying to answer that question as my prologue just seems to keep going and going and going! I think it's going to be done and then it surprises me. Sometimes I think my characters have a life of their own and are writing their own story.
I thought I would do some writing, or at least research, since I actually awoke earlier than my children. I was just stepping out of the bathroom when I heard the youngest two giggling in the girls' room. So much for getting much done.
Time to have breakfast, finish packing for NH, and then off to a reunion. Busy, busy busy.
I thought I would do some writing, or at least research, since I actually awoke earlier than my children. I was just stepping out of the bathroom when I heard the youngest two giggling in the girls' room. So much for getting much done.
Time to have breakfast, finish packing for NH, and then off to a reunion. Busy, busy busy.
Friday, July 24, 2009
From one adventure to the next
The writer's conference ended today at 11am. I drove my grandparents home, picked up Sammy, dropped all our luggage at home, placed the girls' seats back in the car, and headed over to my mother-in-law's to pick up Elizabeth and Hope. My mother-in-law graciously offered to keep all my kids while I went home to do laundry and repack. 'Repack?' you might ask. That's what I said. Tomorrow morning we head off with my parents and my sister's family to my brother's house in NH! We will be there for a week. Then home for a week of regrouping, and then it is off to Family Camp for a week. Another week's break and then we plan to head down to PA to visit friends and family. If you live in PA and you want us to invade for a short time, let us know!
I've found repacking fairly easy. I remove the clothes from the suitcase, wash it, and then replace it. Now to make sure we have all those little things all packed. It would not do to leave someone's bed time buddy home.
I've found repacking fairly easy. I remove the clothes from the suitcase, wash it, and then replace it. Now to make sure we have all those little things all packed. It would not do to leave someone's bed time buddy home.
A Woman of Many Hats
I just arrived home from the Montrose Christian Writer's Conference. There, they encouraged us to start a blog. Now that I am home and able to access the web, I decided I would begin my blogging journey. While I was going to create a blog strictly for my writing, I realized I wear too many hats during the day to restrict myself to blogging about just one. Each blog entry will deal with at least one of the different hats I wear, more likely several. You will find stories, opinions, beliefs, truths, mom-isms, and meanderings here often. I hope you will find these posts interesting and maybe even helpful. Join me on my blogging journey.
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