Trinkets of Thought

A ‘Fortune-ate’ Experience

Maren — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:41:43 +0000

A Fortune-ate Haiku
Wheel of good Fortune,
I’m who you need on your show.
Help the Bucket List.

On Saturday, A forgotten fortune cookie was found in a cupboard of my home. “Great Fortune will come in unexpected places.” Though I’ve yet to experience (monetarily speaking) the “great fortune,” yesterday proved to be quite fortunate in other ways.

I’ve ~~followed~~ stalked the Wheelmobile for a few years in hopes of fulfilling the top item on my bucket list-’Being on a game show.’ You may have recalled this post two years ago. Michael has been gracious to let me keep trying and until yesterday, I’d never been called to the stage in the initial set of auditions/lottery drawing.

(Picture from the 2010 audition–For yesterday’s audition, I was rushed and didn’t even think about bringing my camera.)

I’ve gone to so many sessions without my name being called, I had actually gone and gotten back in line for the next session. I was shocked when Mr. Marty (the Pat Wannabe) called my name! I’d love to be confident in the spiel I gave about myself, but we’ll just have to wait and see if it was enough. And regarding solving the puzzle, I was about to state the solution on MY turn and the girl next to me squealed out the answer. Shame. Shame. Shame. So now, I’ll hope and wait, and then stalk the Wheelmobile some more, if need be. After all, how else can I cross ‘game show’ off the ole bucket list if I don’t keep trying??

And just for fun, the category was ‘Rhyme Time’ and I believe this to be how much was complete of the puzzle. I ordered a ‘D’, but didn’t have time to say the answer because RUDE LADY TO MY RIGHT did so. Shame on her. I hope she doesn’t make the show. But I’m not bitter…

Would YOU like to solve the puzzle?

Pacifiers and Hair Gel

Maren — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:34:43 +0000

On Pierson’s 3rd birthday, we had him return his pacifiers to the hospital for ‘babies who need them.’ For a long while, he has used the pacifier only for going to sleep and for many months we told him that when he turned three, he would give them away to babies who needed them. So on his birthday, we made the trek to the hospital. I’m pretty sure that letting go of those suckers was harder on the momma than on him. But, it needed to be done or else I envisioned him taking his senior pictures with the pacifier as a prop. I’ve been pleasantly surprised that though he has asked about his paci several more times, no tears were shed during the withdrawal process. Here’s a video of how it went down:

And just so Thatcher doesn’t get left out–
Are you tired of your same ole hair products? Does it hurt your pocketbook to spend $25.00 on an ounce of hair gel?
Well then…Have we got the product for you!

Homemade Hair Gel
Ingredients: Equal parts of syrup and yogurt.
Directions: Place both ingredients separately on a plate or in bowls. Rub the plate into hair. This product works instantly and is best used right before church on Sundays. Works like a charm and is cost-efficient too!

(No children were harmed in the making of this product.)

Online Gender Reveal Party

Maren — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:43:28 +0000

Gender Reveal parties are currently in vogue. The internet has EXPLODED with gender reveal parties! Whether on Pinterest, blogs I follow like this and this, or a simple google search, they are EVERYWHERE! I’ve had friends that have had them too (hi, Andrea!). While that’s fine and great and I’m secretly envious that people make the time to have such fun, here’s why a gender reveal party doesn’t work for me.

1. I am TERRIBLE planner.
2. I’m lazy.
3. I’m cheap.
4. I repeat: I’m a terrible planner.

So, welcome to the lazy mom’s ONLINE gender reveal party. Kick back, throw off your shoes, & grab a ding dong and pretend it’s colored in the middle. Stuff your face because it’s time to party!

Now, mouse over the picture then off again and enjoy our “ONLINE” Gender Reveal party! (Mom, this might not work on an iphone…not sure about that…Also, it doesn’t work in a reader, so click on over!)

WHOOHOO! Now to answer any questions. Yes, I am pregnant. Yes, the cupcake tasted fabulous. Yes, we’re excited. Yes, I’m still lazy.

Uno Dos and the Photo Invader

Maren — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:10:32 +0000

For this story to be twice as funny, you must first understand that most of my married life, I’ve endured my husband impressing people with his U-Scan Spanish abilities. By that, I mean, he learned all the Spanish he knows from the U-Scan, and he’s not afraid to use it! He’s been known to choose the Spanish option just for its educational value, but once almost paid for 22 limes instead of the 2 in his cart. At Mexican restaurants, he frequently impresses the waiters with his 100% legitimate (Michael-ized) Spanish, complete with the accent and all! (I may or may not hide under the table while he shows off his mad U-Scan skills.)……………WELL…the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…

This past weekend, my dad and mom took the boys to McDonald’s. My mom was trying to catch a picture of the action. But, it’s a hard enough feat to get both boys to even LOOK at the camera; much less get both boys to smile simultaneously. Nearby, there was a little Indian boy who was photobombing her pictures. With each attempt, he’d scoot closer to be posed with my boys in the picture. She first took this picture, still struggling to get everyone to look her way…

But it was then that my two-year-old, turned to the little Indian child and pulled one of his dad’s tricks. He looked right at the Indian boy and said, “UNO DOS”. And mom captured the reaction.

Can you tell he’s proud of his mad U-Scan Spanish skills? Like father, like son…

Hitting the ‘D’ Key: A Lesson in Disguised Obedience

Maren — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:57:11 +0000

Pierson loves to ‘type’ on the computer. I decided it would be fun to let him type and print a message to Michael. He couldn’t contain his excitement and pride as he typed the message to his daddy. One by one, I modeled which letter to press and watched impatiently as he typed the message. His little fingers pushed the keys, albeit too hard and very slow. Sometimes, multiple letters were pushed in the process, and often the right key was pushed so hard that it duplicated a single letter many times. I used the backspace more times than I could count.

A simple message of “I Love You, Daddy! Pierson” turned into a crazy patience lesson for this mother. A twenty-letter message took longer than some authors take to write a book, I’m sure.

I pointed to the correct key and instructed Pierson, “Hit the D key.”

His little hand came smacking down on the computer.

“PIERSON!” I scolded, “Do it gently; don’t type so hard!”

His reply? “Mommy, I hit it!” Pride was in his voice. It was then I realized that my instructions had been followed 100% as he’d literally carried out my instructions to hit the D key.

For me, Mothering is a daily lesson in patience and also a good reminder that sometimes obedience appears contrary.