Want What You Have

Every Age and Every Stage

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:36:00 +0000

This morning I was watching Bee as she sat in a chair, reading a library book, and it really hit me that she's growing up. She's all long legs (90th percentile for height!), and thick, wavy hair, and enormous brown eyes. With her adorable, shorter haircut, she really looks like a young lady.

But you see in my heart, she is still, and will forever be, a baby. My first baby. And while I'm so proud of the kind, compassionate, intelligent girl she is becoming, I sometimes long for the days when she pranced around the backyard in her Snow White dress all day. I recently discovered this video footage of 4-year-old Bee and my husband (and a darling little BabyCakes in her swing), and I watched it with a huge lump in my throat, and tears threatening to spill over.

I still so vividly remember the Snow White obsession, and it seems impossible to me that the little girl in that video, with the tiny little voice, is no longer here. She's been replaced by a big girl who nearly reaches my shoulders, who reads a book a day, and writes about her life in a diary (which I'm not allowed to read), and does Google research (with supervision, of course) on subjects she's interested in. Example:

Bee: "Mom, how come people don't like fruitcake?"
Me: "Well, because it's dense and heavy and too rich for most people."
Bee: "Then why did somebody invent it if nobody likes it?"
Me: "I have no idea."
Bee: "Who invented the fruitcake anyway?"
Me: "I seriously don't know, honey."

Bee goes to the computer in the kitchen, and types something. Two minutes later, she's back. "It's believed that the fruitcake was originally invented by the Romans."

You see what I mean.

Now, I've only been a mother for 8 years, and I'm certainly no parenting expert, but if I could give young mothers one piece of advice, it would be this...

Treasure every age, and every stage. They all pass by too quickly.

The Reading Road Trip, 2010

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:49:00 +0000

It's hot. And you know how I hate the heat (see I'm Melting!) I don't feel like doing anything when it's this hot...including blogging. But perhaps I'm just saying this because I spent my entire day fighting road construction in a van with three kids - two bickering because they were hot and sticky and hungry, and the third whimpering because he was hot and sticky and tired.

I chose to venture out into the heat with my children today (we've been holed up in the house for days) because I wanted to get back-to-school haircuts for the girls, and do a bit of school shopping at Younkers (I had a gift card, and they have their summer stuff clearanced at 70% off right now!) But mainly we wanted to go to The Reading Road Trip!

This is the third year we've attended this event (see The Reading Road Trip, 2008), which is sponsored by our public television station. The kids love the host, who is fun, friendly, and a very high-energy performer. Amazingly, he always seems to remember us, which is astonishing to me, given all the libraries he visits every summer. He's a great ambassador for public TV.

DJ was such a sweet boy, but he wasn't thrilled with all the noise and carrying on (the kids get pretty wound up).

I wasn't thrilled to come home to a messy house. The kitchen looks like a tornado went through, and nothing discourages me more than a messy kitchen. I'm going to spend the next half hour straightening up so I can start dinner. Tonight I'm going to do nothing except hang out with my husband, who has been so busy that I hardly get to see or talk to him anymore, and savor the coolness of my living room (as opposed to the sweltering, sweaty stinkiness of the van, where I spent far too much time today).

God bless air conditioning.

My Price Benchmarks for School Supplies

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:43:00 +0000

A reader asks,

"I know you said you buy extra school supplies when they're cheap, but how do you know when to buy? What do you think is a good price?"

To answer this question, here are my price benchmarks for bulk purchasing the most commonly needed school supplies, including the very best clearance prices I've ever seen:

-Elmer's school glue sticks, 2-ct - 25 cents
-Elmer's liquid school glue, 4-ounce bottle - 25 cents. Best clearance sale - 10 cents
-Spiral notebooks, wide ruled, 70-sheet - 15-25 cents. Best clearance sale - 5 cents
-Crayola crayons, 24-ct - 25 cents. Best clearance sale - 20 cents
-Crayola crayons, 64 ct - $1.50
-Crayola washable markers, 8-ct (we don't buy any other brand because they dry out right away) - $2.00
-Crayola markers, regular, 10-ct - $1.00
-Crayola 12-ct colored pencils - $1.00
-Yellow #2 pencils, 10 or 12 ct - 50 cents. Best clearance sale - 25 cents
-Plastic school supply boxes - 25-50 cents. (NEVER pay full price for these. Wal-Mart always stocks way too many and clearances them at 4 for $1)
-Kid scissors - 50-75 cents (I got 6 pairs for 50 cents each last year at Staples with a 2 for 1 rebate)
-2-pocket folders - 10 cents
-Expo 4-pack dry erase markers - $2.00-$2.50
-Looseleaf filler paper, 150-sheet - 50 cents

These are good sale prices in my area. Prices vary geographically, but I hope this gives you an idea of what to look for so you can stock up with confidence!

Forever Frugal

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:57:00 +0000

I was once asked, if I could choose any famous person to have lunch with, who would I choose? My answer? Amy Dacyczyn, the original frugal zealot, and author of the Tightwad Gazette.

Amy has been a heroine of mine since I first discovered the Tightwad Gazette in 1997. I was fresh out of college, and working a low-paying job as an editor at a phonebook publishing company. I dreamed of becoming a writer, but my real dream, what I most hoped for, was to have children and stay home with them.

Fast forward 13 years, and here I am, living my dream with a man who shares it, and who is sometimes even more frugal than me! God has blessed me so abundantly, and I believe that we owe our success in achieving debt freedom, in part, to Amy Dacyczyn. My copy of the Tightwad Gazette is so worn that the binding is detached, and it's still one of the most referenced books I own. I've always hoped that if I were to write a book, it would have the same charm, the same wit and humor (it would not, however, have the pen and ink illustrations, because I stink at drawing). On our 7-year journey to debt freedom, I applied countless tips and techniques learned from Amy, but more importantly, I adopted her attitude. It's not how much you make, it's how much you save, and all the little things add up to something big.

I was very excited to discover this interview with Amy, and actually see for myself her beautiful "rural, pre-1900 New England farmhouse (with attached barn)." I was also very pleased to note that Amy's philosophy hasn't changed. She truly believes in the power of frugality, and so do I. That's why I'm here every day, encouraging all of you as you discover the abundant life that comes with debt freedom.

It's the forever frugal life, and it's a good one.

The Family Table Challenge - Week 3

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:33:00 +0000

A successful week, except my husband and I did eat one supper out because my parents generously offered to watch the kids so we could have a date night - our first since our anniversary last year. 10 months ago!

Our meals last week (FM indicates a Farmer's Market purchase):

7/15
B - Cereal, toast, juice
L - Supper leftovers
S - Scrambled eggs with cheese and fresh chives (FM), pancakes with berry compote

7/16
B - Oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar, milk
L - Fish sticks, mac-n-cheese
S - Kids - chicken nuggets, fruit, cheese. Us - date night (we went out to dinner with a gift card sent to us by my wonderful friend, Jennie, at Preteens, Toddlers and Newborns, Oh My! Thanks so much Jen! You have no idea how much that meant to us.)

7/17
B - Pancakes with fruit and whipped cream, juice
L - Pigs in a blanket, sweet potato fries
S - Cold sandwiches, salad, popcorn (way, way too hot to cook anything)

7/18
B - Scrambled eggs, chocolate chip muffins
L - Sandwiches, cottage cheese, apples
S - Leftover Smorgasboard

7/19
B - Waffles, fruit, milk
L - Tuna salad, crackers, jello with fruit
S - Honey butter baked chicken, roasted veggies (FM), fresh blueberries

7/20
B - Cereal, toast, juice
L - Supper leftovers
S - Crunchy beef tacos, black bean, rice and corn salad, ice cream

7/21
B - Toaster Strudel, mandarin oranges, milk
L - Supper leftovers
S - Salmon patties, creamed peas and new potatoes (FM)

Crib Jail (UPDATED 7/22/10)

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:06:00 +0000

**PLEASE READ** On July 15th, Tots in Mind recalled their portable playard tent, because clips that attach the tent to the top of the playard can break or be removed by a child. A child can lift the tent and become entrapped at the neck between the rigid playard frame and the metal base rod of the tent, posing a strangulation hazard. The crib tent we purchased, pictured below, is not constructed in this manner, and is not included in the recall. For more information, please visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site.

Those of you who are my Facebook friends know that in the last month, we've had a rough time with DJ at night. He's become extremely active, and because of his acrobatics, we were being woken up 2 or 3 times a night because of this problem:

This situation did not make him happy (despite what his shirt says). He would shriek and scream, and we were worn out from having to get up and extricate his limbs from the crib bars in the middle of the night. One night, I actually had to use Vaseline to pry his leg loose, because it was bent and stuck through the bars at the knee, and I was afraid that I couldn't remove it without hurting him.

After I posted these pictures of DJ on Facebook, one of my friends, Joanna, suggested that I purchase a Tots In Mind Cozy Crib Tent. This product has a zippered dome over the top of the crib so that DJ can't climb out (which both of his sisters did around age 2), and a tight-fitting, inside mesh surround, to prevent him from getting his arms and legs stuck through the bars.

I jokingly refer to it as his "crib jail," or "mesh prison."

Seriously though, God Bless Joanna, and whoever invented this thing, because The Boy cannot get himself stuck anymore. He sleeps better, and so do we. This product is totally worth the $60 price tag (plus, it has very good resale value on eBay, if in good condition). I consider a happy baby (and the resulting good night's sleep) to be a bargain.

*NOTE* If you use a crib tent, be certain to follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation. The mattress must be in the lowest position for safety! There have also been reports of some children poking holes in the mesh (it seems very thick to me, so these kids must be extraordinarily strong) so be sure to examine the crib tent regularly to ensure that it's sound and intact.

Now, if only they made one of these for Cakie's bed. She's been getting up 3 or 4 times after we tuck her in because she needs things. Another drink, a kiss, her book on tape isn't loud enough, she forgot her favorite bear, etc....Her most creative excuse? I forgot to give her a vitamin.

Too Much Time

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:30:00 +0000

I have absolutely nothing on my calendar this entire week. No appointments. No kid activities. Nothing.

This kind of week is my favorite because it's so relaxed. There's no pressure to be anywhere, or to meet anyone's expectations. The only problem is that when I'm home, with the whole day stretching out ahead of me, I seem to accomplish nothing. It appears that too much time on my hands is a bad thing. It turns me into a lazy slacker.

Do you know what I mean? I have two loads of laundry to put away, and it would probably take me 5 minutes, tops. But do I get up and do it? Nooooo. Because I have all day! I can do it any time! Except I don't. When I go to bed tonight, I'll bet you 5 bucks that the laundry is still there.

I don't understand this about myself. Is it that I perform better under pressure? Is it just another form of procrastination? Or is it just laziness, pure and simple? I only know that for the last half hour, I sat in the recliner, covered up with a quilt, and watched "The Life of a Teenage Robot" with the girls. I don't give a rat's behind about this show, or even completely understand what's going on half the time, but I tell you, I will do just about anything to avoid putting that stupid laundry away. I will eye it nervously as it sits there, neatly folded in its baskets, taunting me. I will think to myself at least 50 times, "I should really get up and put that laundry away." But I will. not. do. it.

I've got a problem.

When You Make a Big Money Mistake

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:44:00 +0000

It's important to remember that money doesn't really matter....but people do.

In the last month, my children have had many activities, and I've been rushing around like a scalded flea. One morning, I was in a hurry to get Bee to her basketball camp, and I grabbed the checkbook and hastily wrote our big, quarterly health insurance premium check - $2200 - so that I could drop it in the mail before we came home. All was well until last week, when I received 2 overdraft notices in the mail. I was honestly puzzled...I thought I had plenty of money in the account, but when I checked online, I saw that in my haste, I had written the check out of the wrong account. In the meantime, 4 checks were paid for us, and we racked up $108 in fees.

I felt like such an idiot! I was so angry with myself, because it seems that stuff like this always happens when we can least afford it, and when I'm working really hard to save money. It's just so upsetting.

While I was busy kicking myself and wallowing in self flagellation, God reminded me that it's only money...and I messed up because I was busy spending time with my kids, cheering them on, supporting their interests. It was an accident, an honest mistake. It could happen to anyone.

The next day, I decided to stop beating myself up, and take some action. I e-mailed a friend at the bank and explained the situation. This very kind woman had gone out of her way to help me in the past when I was harried, distracted, and forgetful. She understands because she has children of her own, and she graciously offered to remove the overdraft fees, because she could see that we had the funds available in our other account, and I truly did make a mistake (thank you so much Jackie!)

I'm so appreciative that the bank gave me a break, and I'm reminded that when I mess up - and I do, because I'm human - it's OK to give myself a break (and probably I should look into overdraft protection).

The next time you make a mistake, I hope you'll remember this too.

How to Set Up an Effective Household Filing System

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:46:00 +0000

A reader recently requested that I explain how I set up my household file box, and which filing categories I use. A Facebook inquiry revealed that this is an area where many people struggle. I used to have a problem with this too, until I finally found a simple system that works for me.

My household filing system is a plastic, portable, hanging file box with a lid. I purchased it at Wal-Mart, but you can also find them at office supply stores, like Staples.

I use 3 different colors of hanging folders, because we used to own rental property, and are still receiving payments for a property sold on contract. We also operate a business out of our home. My files are sorted by color, and arranged alphabetically within each color.

Green-Household
Red-Rentals
Blue-Business

These are my file categories (I won't explain my rental or business categories, because these won't be of interest to most readers). I use labeled manila folders to create subcategories within each general file category.

BANK - I use a subcategory folder for each account

BILLS - Within this hanging file, I have 4 manila folders, each labeled with one week of the month - 1st-7th, 8th-14th, etc. When I receive bills, I file them according to their due date.

CHIROPRACTIC

DENTAL

DISCOVER CARD - I use a manila folder inside each credit card file, to hold receipts

HOME REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS

INSURANCE
-AUTO
-HEALTH
-HOMEOWNERS
-LIFE

KIDS (this is for bulky stuff that doesn't fit in their HMG sections)
-BEE
-CAKES
-DJ

MEDICAL
-EOBS
-PRESCRIPTION RECEIPTS
-PAID INVOICES

MEMBERSHIPS - This is for paperwork from organizations we belong to. Some examples are:
-LIBRARIES
-AAA
-CONSIGNMENT STORE ACCOUNTS

PROCEEDINGS (This is stuff I'm currently dealing with)
-ACTIVE
-RESOLVED

PUMPKIN

TAXES
-INCOME
-PROPERTY

UTILITIES
-PHONE/INTERNET
-ELECTRIC
-HEATING FUEL
-SATELLITE
-TRASH/RECYCLING

VEHICLES - I keep car maintenance and repair records here.
-VAN
-CAR

VISA CARD

(NOTE: We keep bank and investment statements in 3-ring binders, organized by month. These were provided by our financial institutions).

This basic system works well for the handling of weekly household paperwork. We keep paperwork that is seldom needed or referred to in our long-term filing cabinet in the basement. We have the following files:

INVESTMENTS (we keep the annual reports and prospectuses here)
OWNER'S MANUALS
RECEIPTS/WARRANTIES
TAX RETURNS
WILL (copy)

We keep abstracts, deeds, titles, birth/marriage certificates, paid promissory notes, savings bonds, etc. in our fireproof safe. We rarely need these documents, and we want to protect them from damage, because they're difficult and expensive to replace.

At year-end, we put all of our paperwork in a banker's box, label it, and put it in long-term storage in our back shed. We keep these boxes for seven years, which is the statute of limitations for IRS audit. After seven years, the contents get shredded and recycled.

Here are some tips for setting up an effective filing system:

1) Print the titles of your tabs and labels with large, bold letters. I like to use a labelmaker for this.

2) On subcategory file labels, indicate the hanging file titles in which they belong. Here's an example:

File title: INSURANCE

Subcategory titles:

Ins: AUTO
Ins: HEALTH
Ins: HOME
Ins: LIFE

3) When choosing file titles, use the words you most commonly associate with the documents. For example, "DEED" instead of "WARRANTY DEED." This will make it easier for you to find things.

4) If you find that your subcategory folders are making your hanging files too bulky, considering having more than one hanging file per category. For example:

UTILITIES (1 of 2)
-PHONE/INTERNET
-ELECTRIC
-HEATING FUEL

UTILITIES (2 of 2)
-SATELLITE
-TRASH/RECYCLING

5) Arrange files alphabetically

6) Clip related papers together, to keep your files neat and orderly. I prefer binder clips for this, because paper clips slip off, and catch on other papers.

7) Don't use general categories like MISCELLANEOUS or INFORMATION. All papers could potentially fit into these categories, and they'll become catch-alls for stuff you don't want to deal with. This won't help you get and stay organized.

8) If you operate a home business, consider using different colored folders for your business files. Arrange your files so that the folders of each color are together and alphabetized. We have a home business and an installment sale contract, so I use three different colors.

9) Keep it simple. If you get too detailed and make gazillions of files, your system will become tedious and complicated, and you won't enjoy using it!

Before you begin filing, I highly recommend that you read this article, "Your Important Papers: What to Keep and Where." This is a very useful reference that I keep in my HMG and refer to often.

Now gather all of your papers. Go through the entire house and find every scrap. Start at the top of the pile, and handle each paper only once. Don't set anything aside to deal with later, and use your recycling bin liberally! Remember that only 15% of filed paper is ever referred to again.

IMPORTANT! To prevent identity theft, make sure to shred any papers with personal information in a cross-cut shredder before you recycle them. This includes names, addresses, account numbers, social security numbers, and birth dates. Don't take chances--90% of identity theft is caused by consumers being careless with their own information.

Good luck! I hope this article helps you tackle that paper pile, once and for all :)

Water Boy

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:51:00 +0000

My husband and DJ have been taking parent-infant swim classes at our local pool, and DJ just loves the water! It's so cute to watch him as he tries to swim - he looks like a little frog. As you'll see in this video, he has a great time...until a train comes along. The pool is right by the railroad tracks, and trains go by at least 2 or 3 times during every lesson. It scares the poor little guy out of his wits!

What I love best about this video is how it demonstrates what an attentive and loving father my husband is. He's an equally amazing husband, and we're very lucky to have him.

The Family Table Challenge - Week Two

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:47:00 +0000

In the last week, the only meal not eaten at home was at the local pool. They had a reduced-price open swim as part of our Heritage Days summer celebration, and they offered 50-cent hot dogs, so the 4 of us ate supper for $3.

I think I've proven to myself that cooking 3 meals a day, every day, will not, in fact, kill me. I also learned that I actually enjoy cooking....it's the cleaning up that I despise. I feel that we should do as so many of you suggested, and give the person who cooks (almost always me) a break from cleaning up. I'm not sure that my family is entirely on board with this, however.

I'm especially proud of my success in the last week because we had swimming lessons for Bee in the mornings, swimming lessons for Cakes in the evenings from 5:30-6:00, and the girls' American Girl club meeting last night from 6:30-8:00. I've had to do some serious scrambling to get dinner on the table early, but I didn't cave and order takeout once. My husband also had a medical procedure and wasn't allowed to drive, so we had to go pick up our van at the hospital right at lunch time yesterday. Ordinarily, I would've given in and hit a drive thru somewhere, but instead, I packed a lunch for the girls to eat on the way.

Here are our meals for the last week. You may notice a bit of repetition because we stocked up on fresh produce, and some herbs at the Farmer's Market, and I was trying to use everything up while it was at its peak of freshness. (FM indicates Farmer's Market)

7/8
B-Pancakes, cereal, grapefruit juice
L-Supper leftovers
S-Grilled turkey hot dogs, cheesy potatoes, leftover green salad

7/9
B-Choice of cereal or oatmeal, mandarin oranges
L-Scrambled eggs with smoked sausage, toast, apples
S-Homemade pizza with tomatoes and fresh herbs (FM), mixed veggies, green salad

7/10
B-Cereal, toast, orange juice
L-Sandwiches, cottage cheese, peaches,
S-Pool party supper

7/11
B-Pancakes, fruit
L-Cheesy bread, tomato soup, jello with fruit
S-Roast chicken, sweet corn (FM), green beans (FM), biscuits

7/12
B-Oatmeal, toast, orange juice
L-Homemade meatball subs on leftover French bread, applesauce, chips
S-Chicken a la king (made with leftover roast chicken and biscuits), sweet corn (FM) roasted asparagus, ice cream cones

7/13
B-Waffles, blueberries
L-Sandwiches, 100% fruit leather, pudding (lunch on the run)
S-Spaghetti, creamy cucumber and red onion salad (FM), leftover sweet corn (FM)

7/14 (Today)
B-Cereal, applesauce, juice
L-Supper leftovers
S-Cheesy beef enchiladas (waiting to go in the oven), refried beans, mixed veggies

Cakesie's Quote of the Day

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:24:00 +0000

On Saturday, we were driving to the Farmer's Market, and the girls brought some Barbies to play with on the way. Cakes had her super-irritating Hannah Montana doll that sings when you push a button on its stomach, and after the 19th round of "Let's Get Crazaaaayyyy...." I was near crazy myself. Finally, I told Cakes that if she played that stinkin' song one more time I was going to take the doll away. All was quiet for about 5 minutes, until she (purposely or accidentally, I'm not sure) pushed the button. Again.

I held out my hand, and Cakes tearfully gave me the doll. She then proceeded to shriek and scream and cry until Bee gave her one of her non-singing Barbies to play with. Then she was happy.

A few minutes later, Cakes piped up from the back seat, "Mommy, if this doll DID sing, you would be extra annoyed!"

And see, here's the thing with Cakes...even when you're really mad at her, she will always do something totally hilarious and completely redeem herself. Also, at age three, I think it's pretty impressive that she even knows what the word "annoyed" means, and was able to use it correctly in a sentence. I'm pretty sure that if you look up "precocious" in the dictionary, you will find her picture.

Yesterday, she told my husband that our bathroom smelled like "days gone by." How can you not love that kid?

My 3-Step Process for Easier Cleaning

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:04:00 +0000

A reader recently asked me to write about how I clean. I was surprised by this question, until she said, "It probably sounds like a silly question, but I'm a newlywed, and I've never learned how to clean."

A good point. If you've never been taught how to clean, how are you supposed to know? Even if you've been cleaning your house for years, that doesn't necessarily mean that you're doing it in the most effective way. I've been cooking and cleaning house since I was 12, and I'm still learning. In fact, I had a major cleaning epiphany a few years ago, while scrubbing away at Cocoa Pebbles stuck to my kitchen counter (did you know that when these little flakes of chocolatey goodness are soaked in milk and left to dry, it takes nothing short of an act of God to remove them?) After I practically dislocated my elbow in an attempt to dislodge their grip on the counter, I remembered something that my husband always says, "Water...the universal solvent."

So, I dunked my dishcloth in the dishwater, and soaked the industrial strength cereal with hot water. Then I poured a cup of coffee and watched TV for 15 minutes. When I returned, the blasted cereal wiped right off.

Duh.

This discovery completely changed the way I clean, because it taught me that pure elbow grease does not accomplish as much as just giving the cleaning solution enough time to work. Most of us just spray the stuff on, and immediately start scrubbing away, instead of allowing the product to do its job. I've learned that if I follow these 3 basic steps, I can cut my cleaning time and effort in half:

Step 1. Eliminate the loose stuff. Sweep or wipe up crumbs, hairs, dirt, and any other loose material first. This includes clutter! One of my first steps when cleaning a heavily-used room, such as the living room, is to contain all the junk that's laying around, because it's much easier to clean when all surfaces are clear, and I can move easily throughout the room.

Step 2. Saturate the stuck-on mess. Soak greasy or dried-on mess with the gentlest cleaning solution that will work for the job (such as my homemade all-purpose cleaner, or just plain water. It often works just as well), and let it sit. Do something else, like organize cabinets or drawers, or pay some bills. You can make your waiting time very productive, or you can do NOTHING at all. Read a book, watch TV, take a break.

Step 3. Remove the now-dissolved mess. Wait 15 minutes and test it....if it's still not loose, wait some more. If you wait long enough, it will wipe right off.

I'm sure this seems obvious to some of you, but it took me 15+ years to figure it out. And that's what's so great about life....every day is a chance to learn something new, right?

This Little Boy....

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:42:00 +0000

He's my sunshine. If I loved him more, my heart would burst.

Children are a gift from God; they are His reward.
~Psalm 127:3

Almost exactly a year ago today, I wrote a post about having to pull my car over and throw up, because I was so terribly sick during my pregnancy with DJ. I remember that my friend Renee took the girls for a couple days so that I could rest. While they were gone I curled up in my bed, with the air conditioning turned as low as I could stand it, and prayed for God to help me. I told Him that I wasn't sure my body could handle the demands of pregnancy again, but He reminded me that He gave me this baby, and He would help me through it. And He did.

The truth is, I would go through it all again. And as the days fly by, the realization that I never will is starting to sink in. It makes all of DJ's milestones feel bittersweet, and tinged with melancholy. I will never have a baby again. This time in my life is coming to an end.

Now, as I see my baby Daniel growing up much too quickly, I must lean on God again for the strength to watch my children - my babies whom I carried, and nursed, and love to excess - as they grow, and change, and eventually step out into the world on their own. Without me.

As a mother, this will be my biggest challenge yet - to let them go. It makes the morning sickness seem like a piece of cake.

Friday Fun: Kid Photography

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:38:00 +0000

Recently, Bee has developed an interest in photography. Her favorite subjects are her family, and she seems to have the ability to capture interesting facial expressions. I've actually featured several of her photos in recent blog posts.

A few days ago, she caught me right after I had just rolled out of bed. She said, "Say cheese Mom!" and I stopped in mid-sentence (I was talking to my husband), smiled quickly, and went back to my chattering.

Now, if you disregard the nursing gown, complete lack of makeup, and the messy bun, you can see that this has the potential to be a very nice picture.

She also caught DJ with this hilarious, very skeptical expression:

She felt that this play dough ice cream sundae was also photo-worthy,

and she and Cakes had hours of fun setting up their American Girl dolls in elaborate scenes for "photo shoots."

(These dolls are in dire need of some conditioner. Scary).

I told Bee that maybe she should consider being a photographer, because she has a knack for it, but she still insists that when she grows up she'll be a librarian during the week, and a ballerina on the weekends.

Kids are so great.

The Family Table Challenge - Week One

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:41:00 +0000

We've completed week one of our challenge to eat every meal at home, and while we've been almost entirely successful, I must say that so far, I'm not really enjoying the challenge very much. I'm enjoying the food, but I've come to the conclusion that eating every meal at home is not exactly a hardship for anyone, except the person who does all the cooking and cleaning up. And that would be me.

Also, I think it goes without saying that cooking when it's unbearably hot and humid, and the air feels like warm bathwater = no fun.

The first week of this challenge has been especially, er...challenging, because my children have had activities in the early evenings, forcing me to scramble to get dinner on the table even earlier than usual. However, now that I've come to accept that I must cook three times a day, every day, I don't find it to be as difficult. A positive attitude goes a long way.

Here are our meals for this first week:

7/1
B - Eggs, chocolate chip muffins, orange juice
L - Sandwiches, cottage cheese, strawberries
S - Brown sugar meatloaf, au gratin potatoes, roasted asparagus, Nestle Tollhouse cookies

7/2
B - Toaster pastries, cereal, fruit
L - Sandwiches, chips, applesauce
S - Pizza margherita, green salad, chocolate brownies with vanilla frosting and strawberries

7/3
B - Cereal, toast, orange juice
L - Culver's (this was my holiday from cooking, since I had to prepare food for the July 4th barbecue :)
S - Leftover meat loaf, mac-n-cheese, fruit

7/4
B - Pancakes, fruit
L - Family barbecue
S - Barbecue leftovers

7/5
B - Toaster strudel, pancakes, bananas
L - Turkey and cheese on English muffins, cottage cheese, apples
S - Honey mustard chicken, roasted red potatoes with rosemary, candied carrots

7/6
B - Waffles, raspberries
L - Supper leftovers
S - Lentil soup with smoked sausage, biscuits

7/7
B - Peanut butter toast, bananas
L - Supper leftovers
S - One pot spaghetti, green salad

At the end of the month, I'll post our total food expenditures, and I'm thinking they will be much, much lower than last month. Now begins week two, and tonight I will prepare taco salads with (hopefully) enthusiasm. Wish me luck!

Cakes Takes the Plunge

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:34:00 +0000

I noticed last night that my follower count on this blog is now 501! I'm officially shocked. When I started this blog, I had only one reader for the first month, and about 10 for the next 6 months... and I was thrilled with that!

Reaching the 500 mark is a very big deal for someone like me, who was a sickly kid who got teased in elementary school. And while I wasn't exactly unpopular in high school, I wasn't homecoming queen either. I had a few very good friends, but I'm not sure that anyone else even knew I was there (interesting how school experiences seem to have a lifetime effect on a person's self-image).

So anyway, if you're a new reader here, please leave a comment and introduce yourself! We would all love to get to know you better :) Also, if you've left me comments this week and you don't see them published, it's not because I rejected them! Blogger's commenting system has problems. Yesterday, it was showing comment counts at 0 on posts that actually had comments, and when I clicked the link on my dashboard to read new comments, they all disappeared. Very frustrating!

The big news around here is that Cakes has been taking swimming lessons. The only problem is that she's always had separation issues. Bee was an easy, adaptable baby who was content with pretty much any caregiver, but Cakes - gregarious Cakes - could rarely be left with anyone. She wanted her mother, and no one else was acceptable. When Cakes was about DJ's age, I tried to attend a local MOPS group, but she cried inconsolably whenever I left her in the nursery, so I eventually gave up. She was two before we could leave her in the church nursery, and even then it was touch and go for the first few months. She still balks a little bit when we try to leave her in the preschool room.

The first night of swimming lessons, she marched into the locker room proudly with her group, and we watched as they trailed out onto the pool deck....minus Cakes. One of her instructors realized that she was missing, and we saw her head back to the locker room. A few minutes later, she returned with a bewildered-looking Cakes, who was obviously looking for me. We observed her class from outside the pool gate, as instructed by the teachers, and she seemed to do OK, but it was obvious that she was nervous. When we picked her up, I asked her, "Did you have fun?" and she replied, "Yeah! But I don't want to go again." I couldn't get her to tell me why, but she was insistent that she wasn't going back. That was all.

I finally convinced her to give it another try, and I promised that I would come in with her and sit nearby, but if she was distracted by my presence and didn't listen to her teachers, I would have to leave. She agreed.

She doesn't look very happy here:

But as the class went on, she began to relax:

Every now and then, she looked over to make sure I was still there, but she participated and followed directions, and seemed to have fun. This is good practice for preschool, when she'll have to be away from me two mornings each week.

I'm so proud of my big girl. She was scared, but she went back and tried her best.

Go Cakesie!

People seem to think that Cakes, who is quite rambunctious and inquisitive at home, will be a discipline problem if they take her anywhere. On the contrary, she's actually very quiet and reserved in social situations. Her Sunday school teachers say that she's obedient and cooperative, and they enjoy her very much in class, and we observed absolutely no willfullness or disobedience during her swimming lessons. Yet her grandfather, who drove a car in the July 4th parade, invited Bee to ride in the back and throw candy....but he didn't want Cakes to come along. My husband told him that if Cakes couldn't go, Bee wouldn't either, because we were just finishing up a week where Bee had both VBS and basketball camp, and Cakes had nothing. He tried to explain that Cakes would be a good girl, and sit quietly with her sister, but her Grandpa, who is rarely with her and only knows of her "reputation," wasn't convinced.

Cakes isn't a willful toddler anymore. It's true, she's always been a challenge, and she still has her share of escapades, but she's almost four. She's no longer our Babycakes. She's growing up and maturing, and most of the time she's a very good girl. I hope that people will give her a chance to prove that.

Dinosaur Love

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:16:00 +0000

After 8 years of swimming in a sea of pink and purple, surrounded by frilly dress-up clothes, Barbies with sequined halter tops and sweeping up-dos, glittery pastel ponies, and miniscule, annoying Polly Pocket shoes, my husband and I have been most eager to purchase rugged, no-nonsense, little boy-type toys. Trains. Tonka trucks. Lincoln Logs. Dinosaurs. Especially dinosaurs.

We've amassed quite a collection of dinosaurs, purchased for 50 cents or less at garage sales. I lined them all up in a posse on the top of DJ's bookshelf, and I was excited when DJ showed interest in them. But, as it turns out, he was mainly concerned with how much dinosaur he could fit into his mouth.

Then the drool started pouring out everywhere,

and before I knew it, he had shoved so much of a something-a-saurus' tail down his throat that he barfed all over himself.

So...maybe it's too early for dinosaurs. I'll just have to get my kicks from buying all the cute little dinosaur clothes instead.

Cheerless and Depressing

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:15:00 +0000

That's me today. You might want to stop right now and go read someone else's blog.

I'm so very tired. This is nothing new, really, but today I'm practically comatose. The last few nights I've gotten to bed very, very late, even for me (last night it was almost 1:00 A.M.), and then I'm usually up with DJ at least once. Lack of sleep impairs my ability to cope and see reason, and perform even the simplest of tasks. Sometimes it can be a bit embarrassing. For example, it took me about 6 tries to type the word "simplest" correctly, and my sentences often come out garbled, making me appear intoxicated (but I promise I'm not). For example, I recently told my husband, "I'm the tired I've everest been," and I told Bee to "shoot her poos on the mat." This is not at all what I meant to say. I was trying to say, "Put your shoes on the mat." Amazing how mixing up a few harmless little consonants can completely change the meaning of your sentence, and make you the butt of your children's jokes for eternity.

I found the July 4th holiday very tiring, but truthfully, I find most holidays to be exhausting, because they're never really holidays for me. I spent all of yesterday cooking and caring for children - just as I do every day. I didn't attend the parade because DJ would've been scared of the completely unnecessary horns and sirens, blared at ear-piercing decibel levels by the fire trucks (why do they do this? Why? Everyone hates it!) and he also needed a nap. I also didn't attend the fireworks because DJ was completely worn out by the end of the day, and I needed to stay home and put him to bed. So how was yesterday different from today? Not at all. I might as well have just stayed home.

To be perfectly honest, I think I'm badly in need of a break. I've completely lost interest in my usual routine, and I don't feel like reading, or writing, or doing any of the things that I usually enjoy. I just want to take a nap, and have a reprieve from my usual schedule of cook food, do laundry, wipe someone's butt. Repeat.

Do you ever feel this way? Just sick of everything?

5 Months Old

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:34:00 +0000

My very handsome boy is 5 months old today. If you disregard all the drool, it's quite obvious that he'll be a heartbreaker someday.

He's sweet and serious, and quite possibly the most good-natured baby I've ever met. If all babies were like him, I would happily have a whole bunch more (which is really saying something, because I distinctly recall that my mantra during labor with him was "I never have to do this again. I never have to do this again.")

I know you guys think he looks like me, and sometimes I agree with you, but in this picture I just see a mini version of my husband.

I can't wait to go into his room and get him every morning, because he's so cheerful and happy. He seems to smile with his whole body when he sees me (though you can't tell from these pictures. He was in a very solemn mood).

Yesterday afternoon, we were finally able to capture a "conversation" with him on video.

He's so much fun! What did we ever do without him?

I've Got Nothing...

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:31:00 +0000

interesting to write for you today. Because instead I have this:

In my defense, all of that laundry is clean and folded. It just needs to be put away/hung up. Also the vacuum is out because I did vacuum the rug at some point, (but I don't remember when exactly - it might have been last week).

Bee has basketball camp every day this week from 9:00-noon, and Vacation Bible School every night from 6:00-8:30 (last night when she got home, she wanted to read the book of Revelation. I told her to wait until this afternoon, because it's not exactly light bedtime reading for a kid).

If I'm not chauffering Bee around, nursing DJ, or desperately trying to make a dent in the laundry, I'm doing my best to entertain Cakes, who is too young for both VBS and camp, and therefore feels neglected and left out. We're also trying to eat every meal at home (3 meals a day, 7 days a week), and supper has to be on the table by 5:00 every night so my husband can get Bee to VBS on time. Last night, I was so tired that we had what I call a "leftover smorgasboard." The girls had yogurt, canned pineapple, and the last two chicken tacos from the night before. I improvised a salad for my husband and I with the last of a bag of clearance-priced iceberg lettuce, some cold, leftover frozen peas, shredded cheddar cheese, and some tuna salad leftover from lunch (it was a surprisingly good combination). We also finished up small amounts of leftover coleslaw and rice pilaf. An odd combination of foods, but we cleaned up all the leftovers in the fridge, and I didn't have to start the oven, or wash any pots and pans. Totally worth it.

Next week swimming lessons for both girls start - Bee in the morning, and Cakes in the evening. Cakes has a physical (and shots. EEK!) for preschool, and our local public television station brings their "Reading Road Trip" to our area, and we attend that event every year. The following week Bee still has swim lessons in the mornings, and my husband is doing Parent/Child swim classes with DJ in the evenings. The girls have their American Girl Club at Barnes and Noble, and I have two doctor appointments.

At the rate we're going, I don't anticipate that I'll find time for cleaning until school starts again (maybe), so I'd better make today count.

I love cleaning. It's my favorite thing to do. I love it so much (see, positive thinking)!

Hygiene, Schmygiene

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:11:00 +0000

As part of DJ's bedtime routine, I always nurse and rock him, while softly playing our Disney Lullaby CD. When it gets to "Return to Pooh Corner," I put him in his bed.

Tonight I was slowly rocking, half asleep, and DJ was beginning to doze. We were just getting to the part when Pooh gets the honey jar stuck on his nose, when suddenly we were jerked abruptly from our peaceful reverie by Cakes bellering, "MOMMY! Come and wipe my butt!"

I told her to wipe it herself because I was busy. A couple minutes later she yelled again, "EWWWW! I got poop on my finger." So I yelled, "Wash your hands!" and she hollered back, "WHY?"

I just...I don't understand. Have I taught this child nothing? Clearly I've been wasting valuable time and energy with my silly little lectures about germs and hygiene. Obviously I've forgotten that Cakes is the child who once dunked vanilla wafers in the toilet, as if it were a giant cup of coffee, and happily ate them. She is the child who scarfed down a cat-hair-covered, petrified raisin from under the couch cushions, a chunk of "mud" (or something that resembled it) unearthed from the sandbox, and a partially-used tube of Chapstick. She also found a used band-aid on the beach, and had just put it to her lips when I descended on her in shrieking hysteria and wrestled it from her hands. The child has an iron-clad immune system. She don't need no stinking soap and water!

I fear for those of us who live with her though.

2010-11 School Supply Lists

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:24:00 +0000

They're longer than ever.

This year, I must buy supplies for Cakes as well, because she starts preschool in August. Her list came in the mail last week:

1 box crayons - 24 ct
1 box washable markers - 8 ct
1 tray watercolor paints
1 folder - red
1 pack play dough - 3 or 4 ct
6 glue sticks
1 pack construction paper - any color
2 boxes Kleenex
1 roll paper towels
Backpack
1 complete set extra clothes

I'm quite certain that when I was in preschool, we were required to bring nothing but ourselves.

Bee's list is much longer:

1 box #2 pencils
1 pencil eraser (Big)
2 red pens
1 box crayons
1 box markers
3 dry erase markers
3 large glue sticks
1 pair scissors
1 pkg – 100 3x5 index cards
2 wide-ruled spiral notebooks
5 two-pocket folders
1, 1”- 3 ring binder
1 set computer headphones

Items to Share:

1 large box of Kleenex
1 container Clorox Wipes
Sealable Sandwich Size Baggies
(for those with Last Names A-L)
Sealable Gallon Size Baggies
(for those with Last Names M-Z)

I honestly don't mind buying school supplies for my children because I want them to have the tools they need to be successful in school. I also want to support their teachers, because I know that many teachers pay for classroom supplies out of their own pockets. I understand that schools are facing budget cuts, and it doesn't bother me to chip in for tissues, Clorox wipes, and other necessities for hygiene. But I noticed things like printer paper on the supply lists for the upper elementary grades, and now we have to supply computer headphones, and well....I guess I'm just wondering where it will end?

The Family Table

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:27:00 +0000

Ours has undergone a transformation this week.

DJ will be 5 months old on Thursday (how can this be? How?), and I had originally planned to wait until 6 months to start him on solids, but he seemed very interested in food. Whenever I was eating something, he watched intently, so this week I gave him a taste of rice cereal.

I know he looks somewhat baffled in this picture, but he really did like it a lot.

After Cakes outgrew it, we sold our $3 garage sale high chair (which had been used for both girls) on a garage sale (for $5!) We honestly didn't believe that we would have more children, but after the arrival of The Boy, we started shopping around for a high chair again. To be honest, I wasn't thrilled about purchasing another full-sized high chair, because our kitchen has a very small dining area, and finding room for it would be a challenge. Also, high chairs are expensive! The cheapest one at Wal-Mart is $60, and the ones we saw at garage sales were in pretty sad condition.

While I was on my high chair quest, our 50-cent, garage sale booster seat, which had also been used for both girls, developed a large crack in the seat. I tried to find a replacement at Wal-Mart, but couldn't find any booster seats at all. As always, I turned to the internet, and found a solution to both problems - the Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat. I'm quite certain that I've never loved a baby product more.

This seat is a combination booster and high chair, and it straps securely to an ordinary kitchen chair. It's adjustable, with three different height and tray settings, and it folds up and has a carrying strap so you can easily take it with you on holidays or to restaurants. It also has a snap-on feeding tray with a lid, which fits easily in the dishwasher.

When DJ no longer needs the tray, we'll just remove it and still have a booster seat for him. The best part is that it only cost $13 on Amazon, because I had a $10 gift card from my Amazon Associates referral earnings. I'm telling you, it's the best 13 bucks I ever spent. Even at the full price of $23, it's still a bargain!

Now that DJ has a permanent place at our family table, we brought up an extra chair from the basement, and one of the leaves for our antique oak dining table. This table is easily 100 years old, and though the table itself was refinished, the leaves were not, so I'll either have to find someone to refinish one, or live with it as is. I don't know...it adds character, don't you think?

Sometimes, when I see five places at the table, I still can't believe how blessed we are. God has been so good to us!

In July, we're taking a self-imposed "Family Table Challenge" - to eat every meal at home for an entire month (except for the 4th, because we have a family barbecue that day). Last month, including 2 weekend treats of ice cream, we ate in restaurants 9 times ("9 times? I don't remember him being sick 9 times." - Sorry, but when I hear "9 times," I automatically think of Ferris Bueller). We've developed a pattern of eating every meal at home during the work week, and then eating out at least once or twice on the weekends. This would be OK if the cost of restaurant meals wasn't so high! Granted, there was one occasion when we took my stepson and his wife out for breakfast, so that bill was higher than it would typically be, but even so, these 9 restaurant meals added $291.43 to our food expenditures for the month! That's an average of 32 bucks a pop! When you consider that my homemade meals typically cost $10 or less, the extravagance of restaurant meals really comes to light.

In 2009, our average monthly food expenditures, including all restaurant meals, were $526, or $121/week. According to the USDA Cost of Food at Home Chart (which presumes NO restaurant meals), the average weekly food expenditures for a family just like ours, in 2009, were as follows:

Thrifty plan (the basis for food stamp allotments) - $120.14
Low Cost plan - $156.50
Moderate plan - $192.20
Liberal plan - $235.00

(For more about this chart, see The Thrifty Food Plan).

Because I included restaurant meals when figuring our average, and we still came in right at the Thrifty plan level, I think we're doing OK, but I know we can do better.

How about you? Will you join me in taking this challenge?

Someone Get This Man a Hobby

summithousebooks@fastmail.fm (Heather) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:37:00 +0000

So, I finally bought a new pizza pan. For the last 6 years I've either used a cookie sheet, or an old pizza pan that used to belong to my husband's Grandma. It was in very bad shape, so I broke down and spent nine whole dollars on a heavy-duty, Wilton crisper pan (the kind with the holes in the bottom).

I used it last night for the first time, and it made a really good, crispy crust.

As you can see, no one in this house can agree on pizza toppings (the turkey ham/pineapple and veggie slices are mine. The olives are for my husband, and the plain pepperoni is for Cakes. The piece with no sauce is for Bee. No sauce! Weird).

Anyway, I brought the pizza pan home the evening of my late-night shopping trip, and I left it on the kitchen island. When I wandered out to the kitchen the next morning in search of coffee, I discovered this:

I asked him if he actually took a bite out of the cardboard, and get this...he cut it out with scissors, but then he chewed up the cut-out piece so it would look realistic. Uh huh.

Obviously, I'm just not giving him enough to do around here. He needs to be busier.