Ramblings of a SAHM

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

I'm feeling rather blah today. The whole destruction thing of hurricane Katrina makes me sad. (selfish thought: damnit I haven't been to New Orleans yet, don't go destroying it! 2 seconds later unselfish thought: help the people, Red Cross donations)

I'm staring at 8 half put together Egon kitchen chairs. I'm beginning to think IKEA is evil with their whole "you put it together, you save money and the environment" crap. Isn't some poor person out of job because I'm doing their labor in order to save myself $100? And yes, there's fabric on these chairs. In the kitchen. As if I hadn't bitched enough about fabric covered chairs in the kitchen. I am such an idiot somedays.

I had a dream I was marrying Brad Pitt last night. And as lovely and wonderful as it is to be married to Greg (you in the back quit laughing), it was bit of a let down to wake up at 7am and have to breakfast and dress five kids and shove three off to school. And it's so stupid that a dream leaves me in a rotten mood for half the morning but I can't help it. Katie Pitt sounds kinda goofy anyways.

If you'll indulge my whining a bit longer, my cell phone won't hold a charge, I'm freaking out about my kids playing in other kids' yards after school (I'll go into this another day, I'm just praying for rain right now), I gained two pounds on my PMS fudge diet, and Greg's computer is the only one with internet right now because the wireless router keeps screwing up the connection to my computer. I *heart* my computer more than food (well not really... okay really) because it has all my internet bookmarks and settings just the way I like them. Greg's computer, not so much. Greg wants a white cable before he'll set up the router correctly on his computer and all I have are black cables. *bangs head on Greg's computer desk that Sherry's husband and I put together from IKEA that probably lost some guy with 9 kids his job*

I think I should just go back to bed now.

Katie at 11:14 AM

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Mum's the word

$90 worth! I love fall colors and since the outside of this house needs a little love (as my sister-in-law put it), today I bought mum plants at the Home Depot. Rusty red and bright yellow ones to go in three big planters (that I also bought) along the front steps. And also some to go in the two window box type planters already on the back deck. (There are no flower beds dug here. I'm not sure if I want to go to that much effort, I might just continue container gardening.)

I wonder if this part of Maryland has a dramatic change of color in the fall. There are certainly enough trees but I fear too many of them are coniferous.

Quote of the Day: "The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

Katie at 4:17 PM

Monday, August 29, 2005

1st Day of School

No, really my contacts are acting up. Sniffling? Allergies, got to be the allergies...

Zach, Emily, and Ally (The Big 3) all made it safely onto the bus this morning after a quick pancake and sausage breakfast. I met two more of my neighbors in the process. Greg was here and he ironed their clothes beforehand (his mom would be so proud). Now the long wait until 3:22 (according to the school bus stop list posted in the paper, *shrugs*) with The Little Two, Kyle and Kelly. Who seem to care less that The Big 3 are gone and are enjoying finally having the run of the house again.

Pictures? I took them, they are just on 35mm film and the one hour place I stopped at earlier isn't doing one hour today (go figure). So I spent the last hour researching new digital cameras and camera repair options online. I may be able to get our old camera fixed (a Canon Powershot Digital Elph S330, 2 megapixels, 4 years old, lens won't open) for an estimated $75. Or I can buy one of the current models with a 2inch LCD screen, SD400 (5mp) or SD500 (7mp) for $300-$400. Or I can wait for the newest versions to come out next month with a 2.5inch LCD, the SD450 (5mp) or SD550 (7mp) for $400-$500. Decisions, decisions...

Katie at 11:32 AM

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Would you believe I'm still not done unpacking? It's mostly Greg's computer stuff and some books and decorations. So that's the plan for the weekend. Yippee...

You say school starts on Monday? *sticks fingers in ears* Lalala, I can't hear you! (i.e. I'm not "ready.")

Katie at 9:58 AM

Friday, August 26, 2005

I'm not an alcoholic, I just play one on TV...

Now then, among the many issues I have with life in Maryland (I'll get to the rest another day, this issue is going to take up enough of your time) is the way they sell alcohol. You'd think living this close to Washington DC that they'd be handing out free bottles of vodka on every corner. Or I was just extremely spoiled by Ohio's lax liquor vending laws. A few ways to buy alcohol in Ohio:

Drive-thru carryouts: In case you've never been lucky enough to see one of these genius creations, imagine a large garage with doors on both ends. You drive in one end, are surrounded by many large glass door refrigerators, someone comes to your car, takes your cold beer, liquor, wine, milk, pop, snackie stuff, etc order, brings it to you in exchange for money, and you drive out the other door. You never have to get out of your car. My friend Sherry and I use them mostly for milk and pop and the occasional snack. Not dragging all the kids out of the car because you ran out of milk at home? Priceless!
The grocery store: I didn't realize this wasn't a common place to buy alcohol. In Ohio, your neighborhood friendly Krogers often has an entire liquor store inside. And usually is open 24 hours (well not always the liquor store, but definitely the wine, beer, mixers, cheap bottom shelf alcohol part). Cold beer any freaking time of the day. Well only after 1pm on Sundays. (I'm not sure what time Sunday morning they stop selling.) It's not unusual to see half a dozen people reading the Sunday paper near the checkout with a case of beer or bottle of wine waiting for the magic 1pm buying time (and yes, I've been one of them on occasion).
The liquor store: Boring and so typical. I've honestly only set foot in a real liquor store about twice in my entire life.

Fast forward to a few Thursdays ago (specifically the one when Sherry and her boys drove out.) Her husband requested cold Corona's with lime. Not a problem I thought! I'll pick some up while grocery shopping. So I set out after bedtime (8-ish). Groceries for 16 people for the weekend (well 15, the baby is still on formula), check! Limes, check! Corona? Uh, where's the beer aisle?

A nice transplanted couple from Akron, Ohio helped me in the bread section. They don't sell alcohol in grocery stores around here, the couple said sadly. First no drive-thru carryouts and now no grocery store beer, I asked. No, they said sadly. We all mourned for a few minutes. But you can buy it all at the liquor store next door, they offered. Okay, thanks for your help, I said still shaking my head at the thought of not being able to buy beer and diapers at the same time. They call this civilization?

So around 9, I left the grocery store and headed over to the liquor store. Hmm, it looks closed. It was! At 9:07pm on a Thursday. WTF? Long story short, all the liquor stores in the area were already closed and Sherry's husband didn't get his Corona that night.

And the funny part is that we really don't drink that much. I have an alcoholic drink a few times a month (unless Greg gets on a Mudslides kick and then we go through Kahlua like water). I just like to be able to buy liquor whenever I darn well please. I mean this is America. Where I have the right to pursue happiness and all that jazz? This whole liquor store only thing is going to be a pain in the ass. Instead of tossing a bottle of Amaretto or Kahlua in with my weekly grocery shopping at 10pm on a Tuesday, I need to make a special trip during the day to a liquor store (they all just seem so seedy...). And probably with kids. Rows and rows of glass bottles and stacks of beer? I have an image of pint sized bulls in a china shop and me owing $523.89 because Kyle knocked over and broke a stack of rare imports. Reason #214 why I'm eventually moving back to Ohio...

Katie at 10:04 AM

Thursday, August 25, 2005

The new PMS remedy: homemade fudge. Just beware blisters from stirring (I have two on my pinky, boo hoo!) and then eating the whole pan yourself.

Katie at 9:30 AM

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Am I completely crazy that I really want to build one of these somewhere out in the country?

(My hormones and I aren't getting along at the moment, I'll spare you the details.)

Katie at 10:35 AM

Monday, August 22, 2005

Nothing like spending all morning entering receipts and checks from the last two months into Microsoft Money to make you want to lock up the checkbook and bury the credit cards. 90% of the receipts were for gas and McDonalds. Seriously I'm not joking, gas and McDonalds. I've already vowed not to eat McDonalds for the next 6 months (so far so good in the last 2 weeks). Every store I like is within 5-10 miles now (it used to be 15-30 miles) and the kids will be bus'ed to school so our gasoline consumption will be down too. Woohoo!

I should preface the rest of this post with if you didn't know, I'm a bit of a frugal person at heart. Since I don't "work" for money, I feel that saving the family money where I can is my contribution. So this morning I filled out half a dozen rebate forms (value $100+) and clipped coupons. I shop sales and attempt clearance racks. For some reason, I never have much luck with clearance racks. Now my mother-in-law, she finds so many gems, it's amazing (Thanks again for doing the bulk of the kids' back to school shopping!).

Anyway back to the point, I have a few decisions to make. First it looks like I'm going to have to seriously shop the ads and make stops at one or more grocery stores for my weekly shopping. The Midwest is so much cheaper in so many ways. $.50/lb for bananas and $6/lb for chicken breasts here makes me ill. (I'm used to $.29 and $2) I laughed when grapes were on sale here for $1.99, that's full price back in Ohio. So if I don't stock up on sales and shop around, our grocery bill is going to easily double. I used to be really good at keeping our bill low (a few years ago I kept 5 of us fed on $50 a week for a few months) but with Greg's pay raise last spring, I've been slacking and spending $150-$175 at one store once a week instead of $100-$125 between 2 or more stores. Ah well, it'll give me something to do while the Big 3 are in school, right?

Speaking of school, here's my other dilemma: school lunches. While the menu here is much better than our old school (I used to gripe all the time that they only served 3 main dishes: chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and pizza), it's $1.75 per kid per day. $5.25 a day and $26.25 a week for all 3. While I know I could make lunches for less (probably $20 or cheaper), is it really worth the $6.25 for the hassle? But then again $26.25 just seems like a lot to be spending for food that they might not always like or be good for them. After a lot of thought (probably more than necessary), I think I'm going to buy lunch items from the grocery store, have them help me pack their lunches (to cut down on the hassle on my end hopefully), and occasionally pay for the school lunches. Any advice from those who have been there/done that?

Katie at 2:38 PM

Sunday, August 21, 2005

My Mad Scientists

Cotton Candy Making
Port Discovery (Baltimore's Children's Museum)
August 3, 2005

Katie at 7:57 PM

Friday, August 19, 2005

I am so frustrated with the kids right now. They are complete terrors whenever I try to run errands. It's not that they are really bad in the store, it's that they whine and complain the entire time. It's fun enough shopping with the 5 of them in good moods, let alone when they are 5 grumpy kids who seem determined to give me a ice pick stabbing headache right between my eyes.

For example, today we had Em and Ally's 1st grade assessments at school and then a few quick stops (post office, CVS drugstore, mini-grocery shopping, and maybe Old Navy and a shoe store). If they behaved we'd go to McDonald's indoor playland (it's raining) and Toys R Us to spend Zach's birthday gift certificate. We didn't even make it out of the school parking lot before the kids were whining about having to run errands. The post office stop was them pouting and hanging and climbing on everything they shouldn't. Believe it or not Zach's the worst about the pouting. So then we went to CVS so I could get one hour prints and CD's made of all my 35mm film. They demanded candy and Zach whined that we hadn't gone to Toys R Us yet. This all continued as I drove to the grocery store. One ice pick stabbing headache coming up! So we didn't go to the grocery store. Or Old Navy or McDonald's or Toys R Us. We went home and had lunch meat sandwiches and pretzels.

The thing is that I can't not run errands, I have to get these things done. And I'm a big stay at home parent snob and refuse to shop on the weekends and most evenings because that's when the rest of the non-stay at home parent/retired folk shop. One of my biggest pet peeves is crowded shopping places, just ask Greg. I can't do it, I freak out and want to scream at everyone else to go the hell home so I can shop in peace. Mmm, maybe that's a thing to bring up with the therapist (which by the way I don't have a new one yet, procrastination is hitting me hard lately).

So where was I? Oh yeah, complaining about the kids complaining. (maybe they get that honestly...) Anyway nothing got done today, my pictures are still at CVS, we have no groceries, and the kids may not have new light weight jackets or shoes for school if they keep this up. I had no idea how spoiled we all became when I had the babysitter over twice a week for a few hours and I ran all my errands then (no new babysitter on the horizon yet either). The kids are out of practice, they used to be so good about dealing with my errand running. Nowadays you'd think I was taking them to the dentist to pull teeth without novocaine each time I mention "errands". 9 days until school starts... Where's the Extra Strength Tylenol?

Katie at 5:07 PM

Thursday, August 18, 2005

You know a furniture/house wares store is doing something right when the kids literally beg to go. So we're off to IKEA this afternoon. (I need to pick up the matching bookshelf for Greg's new computer desk.) The reason why the kids want to go? The IKEA Play Area. Pure genius...

Katie at 1:58 PM

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

The kids are registered for school! And the school had kits available with all the necessary supplies (maybe a bit pricey but at this point very much worth the cost). We met the principal (very nice) and one of the 1st grade teachers (again very nice). The new school is going to call our old school for all the kids' records and we have an open house next Friday (school starts the 29th). I am so thrilled with this school already, I can't wait for the new year to begin!

Next on the list: finding a new pediatrician & dentist and a visit to the DMV for my Maryland drivers license so we can get library cards here. (Don't you love my priorities? hehe)

Quote of the Day: "I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves." -Anna Quindlen

Katie at 2:37 PM

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

A few more pictures to tide you over until I actually start writing again.

Sherry's oldest wanted us to drive by Camden Yards in Baltimore (we had told the kids we were going to the ESPN Zone in the Inner Harbor) but we surprised them with tickets to Sunday's game instead. The game was fun but HOT! Greg thinks he spent $50 on water (note to self: bring water next time!). Afterwards we did go to the ESPN Zone restaurant/arcade as promised (their french fries are really good).

Yesterday we did our little Washington DC tour. Another couple of trips down there and we'll have this down pat. hehe First Greg has a secret parking place (legal!) that no one else seems to know about that puts us right in front of the White House. So we stopped there first and then drove over to the mall where I found awesome parking places that put us less than a block from the WWII Memorial (seen above). We walked down the mall to see the WWI, Korean War, Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam Wall. We also did drive-bys of the Jefferson Memorial, Capitol, and Smithsonian on our way out of town.

Today, NOTHING! We are all hanging out at the house while Greg works (poor guy...). Sherry and the boys plan to leave tonight. Tomorrow I would really like to do NOTHING again but there's this small matter of school starting in 12 days and I haven't even registered the kids let alone bought school supplies, figured our new schedule, etc. I did just receive an email about the twin's soccer open house on Saturday so I'm looking forward to that. And maybe unpacking a few more boxes... Have a lovely Tuesday!

Katie at 8:10 AM

Sunday, August 14, 2005

A 2 1/2 hour drive turned into 5 but the kids had a fabulous time once we arrived at Bethany Beach in Delaware. Em and Kelly are making funny faces but here we are:

Sherry posted a few more at her site including one of her family (aren't those the cutest 7 boys you've ever seen?). Now to bed! (yes, I'm really posting at 1 in the morning, *yawn*)

Katie at 1:21 AM

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Weee, guests! Sherry and her 8 boys (7 sons, 1 husband) are coming out to see us for the weekend! Which means cleaning and grocery shopping and alcohol! hehe I just wish my digital camera worked...

Katie at 3:23 PM

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Why am I always the one to set up our internet connection and home network? (It's working by the way since I can post this... LOL) More later, this unpacking stuff is for the birds!

Katie at 7:48 PM

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Happy Birthday to my Zachary J! Gosh, it doesn't seem like 8 years since I became a mommy.

Katie at 8:25 AM

Monday, August 08, 2005

Buh Bye Ohio!

(for real this time...)

Katie at 12:05 PM

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Fishing Trip, My Hometown Indiana

A few weekends ago (July 22nd-24th) we went camping near my parent's house. And of course it was the hottest weekend of the year. We camped, ate smores, watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (I know I'm in the minority because I liked this version better), visited a nearby cave, and fished!

Greg bought the poles and the kids practiced at the campsite (minus hooks). A lot of tangling ensued as Greg and my brother ran into town for fishing licenses and bait. I'm still not sure I'm over the idea that I had worm guts under my fingernails for an hour. Ewww... *runs off to scrub hands again*

We only put bait and hooks on Zach, Emily, and Ally's poles, Kyle and Kelly had bobbers. For several minutes it was untangling lines, rebaiting hooks, and kids complaining it was hot. Then Greg cast Zach's line into the water and...

We count that as Zach's fish. Somehow I got the lovely job of taking the fish off the hook and releasing it. Whatever. Time for more worm guts!

Then Emily out of the blue yelled, "I caught a fish!" And sure enough she had reeled one in all on her own. *cheers*

We had a bit of down time for awhile. Kelly like dipping the tip of her pole into the water and catching green algae.

Kyle didn't seem to enjoy fishing much, especially after he lost his Plankton bobber (he had a Sponge Bob fishing set).

Ally finally caught a fish as we were starting to pack up. We let Ally's fish go, dumped the remaining gut-intact worms into a shady spot, and called it a day.

But you should have seen the one that got away... *winks*

Katie at 9:16 AM

Friday, August 05, 2005

Ah, the internet world, I miss you so! I feel like I'm on a super fast moving train and only catching quick glimpses of it now and then. Next week I'll try to take a morning and read everyone's blogs, promise!

Things I need to blog about when I have time:
1. The kids' fishing trip
2. More details on the move and house
3. Our day at the Baltimore Kids Museum
4. Zach's 8th Birthday

Now I have to take all the hardware off the kitchen cabinets and paint those and then run errands (buy 3 cubic feet of mulch that I need to put out sometime this weekend, pick up dry cleaning, contacts lenses, school papers, etc). I hope I can paint at least one room before we pick Greg up at the airport tonight. It's going to be a long hard weekend, I just hope I can keep my motivation up to get through all of it.

Katie at 9:09 AM

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Maryland is nice but we're packing up to go back to Ohio.

Scared ya, didn't I? We are actually driving back to Ohio today for the weekend. I need to paint and do some yard work at the old house (we have a possible renter, keep your fingers crossed!) and help Greg load the rest of the stuff into a truck on Saturday. We're also going to celebrate Zach's 8th birthday there. And I need to get my crown (for a tooth), pick up my contact lenses, get more paperwork from the old school, and on and on. Yippee for 7 1/2 hour car rides to tie up loose ends! *sarcasm*

Best Quote of the Move: On why Emily likes the new house: "We're closer to Daddy's apartment!"

Katie at 9:07 AM

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

One word: BUSY!

The move went well, no big problems other than 1/4 of our stuff is still in Ohio. Expecting everything to fit in a 26 foot truck was wishful thinking. So Greg's flying back Friday, renting another truck, and driving it to Maryland with the rest of our stuff on Sunday.

The house, woohoo! We have so much more space, it's wonderful. I'll try to get some pictures as soon as I can either fix the digital camera or buy a new one. Yep, the digital camera won't "open" to take pictures. Viewing already taken pictures works so I downloaded all those but I can't take new pictures. I did pull out our old 35mm and take some pictures with it over the weekend so the experience wasn't all lost. It's a bit frustrating and more time consuming to use the 35mm though.

More later, everyone and everything is here safe and sound, I just have 5 million and 2 things to do.

Katie at 9:34 AM

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