Four By 40

Helpful Hint

2009-11-11T06:48:00.001-06:00

If you have a child with a November birthday you might want to check out the Halloween costumes that are 90% off right about now. Nathan is always thrilled to see Spidey, Power Rangers, Storm Troopers and Ninja Turtles as his birthday presents. Everyday is dress up day! Paying $5 for a $50 costume that is really only worth $5 makes good fiscal sense to me.

Mixing It Up

2009-11-10T06:19:00.002-06:00

I signed up to be a Playdoh helper for Nathan's kindergarten class. That means I need to whip up a batch of the stuff and send it in sometime this month. I emailed the teacher for her recipe and she sent it along and also a short note. It said that Carter was having a great day and she thinks that he is such a great kiddo! I am so glad! I wonder how Nathan is doing?

My Feets

2009-11-09T06:00:00.003-06:00

I am going to share something about myself, although it seems I have been doing that here for around 4 years now. Here is a factoid about me. I do not like taking my shoes off when I go to your house. I just don't. I will take my shoes off but I won't like it and I won't say anything to you about not liking it either. I will take them off and shuffle in my socking feet and breathe a happy sigh when I can put my shoes back on. I have flat feet. I wear inserts, my feet get cold and I want to wear my shoes in your house. When you come to my house I will leave that up to you. Wear your shoes, don't wear your shoes. Leave them on, take them off. I care not.

Now you know.

Finger Food

2009-11-08T06:43:00.004-06:00

Sarah and I passed a restaurant yesterday. The Village Pizzeria in Dresser, WI. It is an Italian restaurant with amazing food! Sarah agreed with me.
Sarah "I ate there with Nonny once."
Mom "Was it good?"
Sarah "Yeah."
Mom "What did you have?"
Sarah "Mini corn dogs."

Cool

2009-11-07T08:03:00.003-06:00

Another of the many gifts I get from Tims.

No Beer Here

2009-11-06T11:51:00.005-06:00

Tims carried this around for a day or so. Not redeemable, son. Some restrictions apply. Like the one where neither of your parents drink.

Text Twit

2009-11-05T08:29:00.002-06:00

I am not into texting. It takes me 45 minutes to crank out the words Hi Babe to my husband. Now you will surely understand the following exchange of text.

Pat I LOVE YOU! Hope you have a good day!
Carla ty dji bouti
Pat Oh yeah...ditto...I feel the same way.
Carla Hhok ee
Pat Hubba Hubba
Carla nbd
Pat You are so beautiful.
Carla Bbqd

Oh!
A big thank you goes out to all of those that are now following me on Twitter. Once I figure out what that is it should be more fun for you.

Thoughts

2009-11-02T06:00:00.001-06:00

I have posted my thoughts about the retreat here. I am beginning to feel as though I have a split personality. One blog for the seriousness of abortion and one blog for fun. Sigh. It is what it is.

Hair Revolution

2009-11-01T13:17:00.006-06:00

I have Bumpits on the brain. I am not sure I want to purchase them yet. Not ready to commit. Not quite ready for a revolution of this magnitude, especially at this juncture in my haireer. I might just be able to use my mombrain and whip up something here at home. I don't know. A tiny bundle of sticks, a roll of quarters, a Power Ranger, an empty roll of tp might be good alternatives to the plastic doinks that sell for $9.99. A screwdriver? A rolled up newpaper? A couple of washable markers? A drumstick? I think a beauty revolution is worth this thought process.

Whaaaa?!

2009-10-31T06:54:00.005-05:00

I have a friend in Operation Outcry who is blind. She needed some forms from me, so I forwarded them to her after my husband Patrick found them for me.(I am computerally inept)I realized after the fact that some personal amorous thoughts about Patrick were forwarded as a bonus. The kicker? Her computer software will read them nice and loud for her!

Timeout

2009-10-30T11:14:00.003-05:00

Hi. This is Carla's husband. Carla asked me to log in and pass this on to you. Fourby40 will be in timeout. We have internet issues but they should be resolved in the next 5-7 days.

Thanks and can't wait to get back telling the story.

New Carpet

2009-10-29T09:01:00.002-05:00

Vague

2009-10-28T07:31:00.003-05:00

Josh "Dad, can you help me with some homework?"
Dad "Sure, Josh. What is it?"
Josh "I have to play a song on the keyboard for Music."
Dad "Ok. What song are you thinking?"
Josh "I don't know."
Dad "When do you have to play it?"
Josh "I'm not sure."
Dad "Well, is it this week?"
Josh "Yeah. This Thursday or next Friday."
Dad "What do you know for sure about this assignment?"
Josh "I have to play a song on the keyboard for Music."

Mom(in my head)"Good luck with that, son."

Ridiculous

2009-10-27T08:31:00.001-05:00

Joshua forgot to write his name on an assignment for one of his classes. The consequence for that infraction is lunch detention and writing in cursive 100 times My Name is Joshua Stream. He started about two weeks ago. As of yesterday he has written the above 46 times. Maybe the finished product will make a nice Christmas gift for the teacher.

AFV

2009-10-26T08:34:00.003-05:00

I have a best friend of 30 years. Shelly was on America's Funniest Videos last night. Her video was chosen to be on the show. She filmed her then 8 month old son Alex(He is now 15.)as he was sitting in his room. She made a raspberry sound and scared him. He toppled over. It was adorable and I even got to hear my best girl laugh and say, "I am so sorry." to her boy. The video was not chosen for the finals. Bummer. $10,000 could come in pretty handy.

Fishin It Out

2009-10-25T06:00:00.002-05:00

This is a toy. Sarah has fun with it. It's a Pet Shop thingy. I did not have fun with it when I had to retrieve it from Tim's right nostril.

Four By 40

2009-10-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

Prayer

2009-10-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

I am leaving today for a Rachel's Vineyard retreat. I will be in training to be a facilitator and will then be holding retreats in the fourby40 area. God has been leading me here for so many years and He knew I would do this in His good time. Please be in prayer for the participants in the retreat. Sharing abortion stories is not easy. Pray they surrender to the only One who heals. Thank you.

Do not fret. The usual weekend photo montage is scheduled to post without me.

Whoops

2009-10-22T08:25:00.002-05:00

Need a sure fire way to suck the fun out of an ice cream party? Put the Smucker's Chocolate Fudge flavor Magic Shell in the fridge.

What I Will Say Next Time

2009-10-21T12:40:00.001-05:00

"Is this thing on? Hello, Shopko shoppers and associates. My name is Carla. I am a mom. Right now there is something brewing in the toy section of this store. No, not a blue light special. Wrong store for that. More like a ticking time bomb. My youngest is now holding as many toys as he can. Yes. That's him. He looks like a pint-sized Santa Claus. I am watching him from afar. I have business here. I asked a sales associate to exchange a pair of shoes for me at the service desk. She'll be right back. When she is, I will be walking back to toys and telling my son NO. N-O. No toys today. It is certainly not because you haven't been retail savvy either. I love the end caps and signage. Yes, you are a diligent crew and I adore your fully stocked shelves. I will be saying no because my youngest assumes he gets a toy everytime he wanders the earth. Not today son. I am asking for your cooperation and assistance. When I say the word NO there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth and flopping on the floor like a fish coming from a 3 year old body. I will be physically lifting him off of the floor and carrying him, my purse and my shoe box out the door. You will hear us as we make our way. The screaming will be ear piercing, the struggle will become unmanageable and I will have to set my Tims down and take a breather. It will sound as if he is being tortured. I would appreciate averted eyes and pasted grins and nervous straightening. I do not need assistance. I need to leave. My goal is the exit. Call security or the police or Child Protection, if you feel you must. I am carrying his enraged little life out to our van. I will attempt to buckle him into his carseat and drive home. All in a day's work for me. Have a good day and thank you for shopping at Shopko."

Shaping Up

2009-10-20T08:49:00.003-05:00

Our church has Sunday School for children and adults. It is called Life Shaping. The Streams all go to class like the diligent students we are to soak in God's word and fellowship with others. Nathan asked Daddy on Sunday where Mommy was. He was told I was in Life Shaping. Nathan wondered aloud, "Wife Shaping? Mom is in Wife Shaping?"
I can picture it now. Some kind of Jazzercise class while holding The Good Book in my hand. Read and breathe, stretch and pray, learn while you feel the burn.

Agreed

2009-10-19T10:12:00.005-05:00

I really don't know and can't be sure at this point if Joshua and Nathan have had the swine flu. Sorry. H1N1. They have both recovered and are back to doing what they do. Timmers has been sick since last Thursday. He's got the feevah. When he is sick he wants to be held. All day. Everyday. So far this morning his temp has stayed down and I told him so. He said, "It my turn to feel better!"

BlogMomma

2009-10-18T11:45:00.002-05:00

Thank you so very much to BlogMommas for such a beautiful post about Aubrey and I. So unexpected and so touching. Love you!!

Encouragement

2009-10-18T07:01:00.001-05:00

Hold fast to your desire
for healing and peace.
It is through your desire
that you open the door to
true surrender.

By someone else who is not Carla but Carla cannot remember where she found this quote.

Oh No

2009-10-17T13:10:00.002-05:00

Sarah is entering the Just Say No To Drugs poster campaign. The winners will have their posters made into a calendar. Sarah chose a farm scene and explained to me that there was a barn and the farmer was doing beer and the pig was saying oh no. She told her Daddy that the farmer was smoking a beer. Um. Thinking we might need to explain how one consumes beer so she can just say no to drinking one someday.