This Saturday sucked... can I have a do-over?

 

 

Since Dean and Jordan were going to be away this weekend for the scout Fall Camporee, he thought it would be the perfect time to throw me to the dogs and request that I venture to the Apple Store on Saturday to get my iPad replaced.

 

(If you don't know what I am talking about, get with the program and back up a post or two.  I am not always going to reward the lazy readers with convenient links, you know... )

 

 

Perfect.  One mom.  Three little kids.  Boulder.  On a Saturday.  At a technology store.

 

 

My Saturday started at 8:02, as I bolted upright in bed thinking that we were late for karate.  We weren't.  Karate starts at 8:45.  It's a 20 minute drive.  Plenty of time!  We were 10 minutes late.  Because we had to fly out of the house in a panic, I forgot everything I needed for the day.  Extra clothes.  Breakfast.  Water.  Paperwork for the Apple Store.  Diapers.  Y'know... all the important things.

 

So Owen did his class, Rylan did her class, then we flew several blocks over to get Owen to his gymnastics class.  I had approximately 54 minutes to go back home, retrieve everything I forgot, make a promised stop at the Donut shop and get back in time to pick up Owen.  Got the stuff, forgot the water, donut shop had a long line.  We arrived in Loveland and I picked the quickest route to his gym.  I needed to merge into the right lane to make a turn, and I had a mile to do so.  There was a spot three car-lengths long between the car slightly ahead of me and the one slightly behind me.  I turned on my blinker.  No one budged.  I was within a quarter of a mile at this point so I pushed the issue and merged.  I didn't cut anybody off, or make any sudden moves, and I was even polite and gave the asshole behind me a courtesy wave.  He returned the gesture with the middle finger.

 

Y'know?  Shit like that just ruins my day.  I hate people who do that.  Especially people of the ilk that think that they retain ownership of the bufferzone of asphalt that surrounds them.  Invade their preconceived space and they get bent out of shape.  These are also the same people that fly off the handle if you refuse their out-of-date coupons or insist on getting the lunch special price at 9pm and think that every salesperson is out to swindle them.

 

Mr. Middle Finger tailed me for the next two miles.  His lovely wife tossed her hair and looked indignant.  I went five miles under the speed limit.  I was still on time to pick up Owen.

 

We left the gym and I went to the one-and-only donut shop in Loveland, the Donut Haus.  They were all out.  The entire case was empty, except for three delicious-looking apricot pinwheels that I knew my kids would not got for.  The very kind lady behind the counter said that some donuts had come out just a bit ago, and she would be happy to frost them.  I left with five cake donuts with chocolate frosting and sprinkles, and four bottles of juice.  Those were the most awesome donuts I have every had.  They were velvety soft and dense and just plain wonderful... It also helped my mood that on the way out of the parking lot, two other cars were pulling out and I had to wait for each of them in turn.  Each elderly driver left with a smile and a courtesy wave.  That's how it's done people!

 

Boulder.  I drove the back way, on the west side of Longmont, through Hygiene.  It's prettier and less traffic.  Unless you count bicyclists.  All 98 of them that I counted in a 7 mile stretch along CR75 from Hwy 66 to the Diagonal Hwy.  That's okay - I didn't mind, actually.  I thought that they would be fun to count.  I didn't think there would be THAT many.

 

The good news is is that the drive was without incident.  The bad news is is that Dean sent me into Boulder on a SATURDAY.  Not just any Saturday, but A GAME DAY Saturday for the CU Buffs.  The outdoor mall where the Apple store is located is just a few blocks north of campus.  Parking was going to be a nightmare.  Especially since I did not have a stroller in hand. 

 

I slowly cruised by the Apple store.  There were at least 100 people in there.  People who probably had appointments.  Of which I did not.  Shit.  So I lucked out on an unbelievably-close parking spot, pulled out my phone and called the store.  I told the computer clerk that I wanted an appointment.  Great.  My appointment would be in one hour, fifty minutes. 

 

So we headed off to a McDonald's.  I asked the drive-thru clerk where a nice playground/park was and she gave me directions towards a park that was just two blocks away.  We drove there and luckily there was parking.  There were already tailgaters setting up their Weber grills and taking up precious parking spaces for the playground area.  Assholes.  Next to the playground there was a fenced-in public pool and there were dogs swimming in the lap lanes.  The kids thought that was hilarious.  Our City pool does that too - they call it the Pooch Plunge and they hold it on the last weekend the pool is open for the year.

 

We set up our blanket (I set up our blanket, the kids were already playing), and I sat down to enjoy (?) my 1,025 calorie lunch.  Twenty seconds later Rylan appears and shares that she has to go to the bathroom.  A lady near us tells us that there is a port-a-potty on the far side of the park (near the pool), and she'll watch our stuff.  Nice lady.  She had kids with her too.  I like moms like that - they know what it's like...

 

We get back to the blanket, eat some more and I watch Owen climbing a rocket and Colin playing on some tube/slide thing.  Two girls come over to our blanket and checkout the Happy Meal boxes (which are advertising the characters for Hotel Transylvania) and are chatting with Rylan about the actresses that voiced different characters.  I look up to check on Owen and Colin.  Owen hasn't moved, and Colin is.... ?....?....?

 

I have never lost a kid before.  Never.  Sure, they've rounded the grocery aisle too soon, or darted into the stacks in the Library, but I have never lost a kid.  Colin was nowhere to be found.  The playground was situated next to the pool, and there was a joint parking lot in the front, bounded by a busy four-lane street.  Behind us was grassy hills and fields, and opposite of the parking lot was a tree-lined alleyway that led to another busy street.  Then the ice cream truck showed up.  Rylan was distracted by the music, and it also got Owen's attention so he climbed out of the contained-space of the rocket.  I had no choice but to send Rylan in one direction around the pool, and I would go in the other, and Owen was to STAY PUT (or so help me!).  I rounded the back side of the pool along the alley, and there were several picnickers and tailgaters.  No one had seen a 2 year old wander by.  I rounded the next side of the pool  Great!  Homeless people!  Peeing in bushes no less!  I tossed off some unpleasantries over my shoulder and rounded the front of the pool.  No Rylan. No Colin.  But look!  There is Owen, talking to the ice cream lady!  She hadn't seen Rylan.  I rounded the corner (with Owen in tow) and was back on the playground.  A guy that was sitting near us when I sounded the alarm was flagging me down from the other side of the play area and pointed toward the alleyway.  There was Rylan, a Parks employee and.. Colin!  sigh.

 

That was the longest 6, 7? minutes of my life.  Colin will be the one that will test every last nerve I have.  We finished our lunch at it was time to head back to the store for my appointment.  Owen now had a suspicious brown stain on his behind.  There was also a suspicious smell.  This is where I lost my almost-nonexistent coping skills.  I made him get in the car anyway.  Poopy pants and all.  I had an appointment, damn it - and his poopy pants problem was not going to make me late!  (This boy has been potty-trained since January, yet we have had several 'incidents' lately - all while being out and about).

 

This time I found a crappy parking spot.  Out in the far reaches of a parking lot behind the mall.  I had 9 minutes to get to my appointment.  I stripped Owen down and did the best clean-up job I could, using up most of my supply of wipes.  Luckily there was an extra pair of shorts to be had, but no underwear.  We went to the store.  I worked my way through the Apple-loving hoards and was matched up with an employee about five minutes later.  I told him what I was there for (Dean had struck a deal with a manager to get a replacement iPad WITH AppleCare+ for the $299 price tag (saving $100 and now we would have coverage if there were to be another dropping incident, of which no doubt there will be...).  He agreed and the exchange process began.  So did another suspicious smell - coming from another rear end.  This time it belonged to Colin.  And I did not bring in the diaper backpack because I know they do not offer a public bathroom in this store. 

 

So I stood apart from Colin and hoped that he wouldn't attract too much attention... and then Owen pipes up - 'I gotta go potty!'. 

 

Why?  Why me?  Why, when I am without the other parent or older child, does everything have to go wrong?  A very nice employee says that they do have a bathroom that elderly and desperate children *can* use, so I take Colin along as well so that he doesn't go missing again.  I leave Rylan with the demo-iPads.  We are ushered through a bank vault-like door and escorted to the bathroom.  We are accompanied by the employee the entire time.

 

We return to the sales floor and we wait, and we wait and we wait.  I'm not sure what the guy is doing with my old iPad - I was assuming that he was transferring data from one device to the other, since my dear husband TOLD me that is what they would do.  In the meantime, Colin is now running figure-eights around the demo tables, crawling on the floor, screeching... and stinking up a storm.  In one respect it is down-right embarrassing.  In another, you are certain that an out-of-control kid is your fastest ticket out of the there... So.  I let it continue.  Also because there is no hope of containing him anyway.

 

The sales guy comes out and shows me the new iPad and then double-checks with me that I have, in fact, backed up my iPad to the computer.  I have no idea.  I know that I, personally, have not.  I was still busy trying to configure it and get actual stuff ON IT.  So, the only other option is to try to save it 'to the cloud'.  I've never done that.  I don't even understand that.  But, hey! We have to do it because the 'exchange' has been made and the only way I can leave the store is with the new iPad, leaving the old one behind.

 

So, we go with the iCloud option.  It takes 22 minutes.  I have a stinky, obnoxious child running circles around me, and I am busy frantically snapping photos with my iPhone of my notes and sticky notes so that if I lose them, I can rewrite them.

 

Finally, after 1 hour and 2 minutes of insane noise, commotion and utter confusion, we can leave.  I didn't lose anybody, and I had a brand new iPad with a perfect screen.  We get out of the store and Owen runs in one direction, Colin runs in the other, and Rylan lags behind.  It is that way the whole way to the car.  I'm herding cats.  We are nearing a frozen yogurt place when Owen belts out that he needs to go potty again.  Several outdoor tables full of people snicker.  We go in and use the bathroom.  Colin drops his binkie on the bathroom floor multiple times, runs his hands over EVERY porcelain surface to be found and so on.  I've decided I need to pack a can of Lysol with me.

 

Because we've used their bathroom, and the kids are loudly requesting ice cream, I agree to buy ONE bowl and split it.  The store is called Spooners.  It is all self-serve.  You chose your frozen yogurt and then you have a choice of about 40 different toppings.  The toppings are in containers like they have at the grocery store - you turn the dial and stuff comes flooding out.  Owen is messing with dials over here, Colin is doing the same over there, and stuff is spilling all over the floor. 

 

 

I've lost it by that point.  I yank them away from the toppings repeatedly, plopping them down hard at our table - only to turn around and they are at it again.  I manage to get a simple bowl of frozen yogurt and M&Ms and pay - even after several customers cut in front of me.  The entire bowl is gone within three minutes - which is good.  The yogurt tasted terrible, though.  Yuck.  My mom calls.  I relate my terrible day and as I am doing so, Colin and Owen are at it again.  This time they are jumping up and down on some leather couches that are in a separate seating area.  I yank each of them off.  Hard.  Like dislocate-your-shoulder hard.  I am sure there are some disapproving stares from other customers that were snickering at the boys' antics.  I don't care.  Choke on your f'n granola, Boulderites.  I've had enough.

 

Even though it is illegal, I put my headphones in for the drive home - some soft classical music.  I cannot take Toy Story for the 127th time.  We have a nice, uneventful drive home.  I drop off our girl scout fall sales order form at the leader's house in Loveland, and I feel relief that we don't have to worry about sales anymore.  Rylan did a very good job and is pleased with meeting her goal.

 

We get home, I tell the kids that I love them dearly but I don't want to see or hear them for at least a couple hours.  I set to work setting up the iPad all over again.  The whole back-it-up-to-the-cloud thing?  Didn't work.  Evidently my husband *did* back it up to the computer, so my notes and photos were intact.  None of my apps were on the computer.  They were found under the purchased section, so I could easily do that part - but it was like starting over.  The Gardens of Time game that I have playing like a fiend for the past few weeks is completely gone.  (My husband is cheering right now, I'm sure).  To put this in perspective - all you Farmville addicts?  Imagine your entire farm being deleted.  Your neighbors, your bonuses., your levels... gone. 

 

I want my Saturday back.  I want to do it over again. 

 

I would stay home.

 

Do some laundry.... go for a walk.

 

 

I would also of had the time to actually call my dad and wish him a Happy 70th Birthday.

 

And then call my FIL and wish him a Happy Birthday as well.

 

 

 

So. It is now Sunday.  I guess I will just make the best of it.  There is a fall festival event happening at Walker Ranch today - it's been on our calendar for two months now.  It's just north of Boulder. 

 

 

 

We won't be going.

 

I'm going to wash the whites instead.

 

It's safer.

 



Weekly Wrap-up - The one that went on forever...

 

Yes... this was the week that dragged on...and on...and on...

 

Monday was the only good day of the week... work got done, nothing broke and I didn't die of a heart attack.

 

Tuesday was non-stop go and go.  Jordan had a counseling appointment in the middle of the day - due to a scheduling brainfart on my part - appointments are supposed to only be during the last week of the month if at all possible.  The good news is that this was the last appointment - we have finally graduated to an 'as-needed basis' in regards to counseling.  Yeah!  Later in the day I went to my GP and she combed through my info, ran an EKG and did a couple of chest xrays in order to figure out what is going on with my ongoing chest pains.  No nasty tumors lurking in my chest, my heart performed admirably and I'm not going to drop dead any time soon.  Unless of course you factor in stress.  So that leaves only one other test to perform - which is to hook up a portable heart monitor for a couple of weeks.  My heart racing incidents have dropped off significantly, and the chest pains have also lessened in intensity and duration.  I hate it when I don't know what is wrong.  The only thing she can attribute the discomfort to is a muscle pull deep down in the tissue.  I can't agree with that - I can't believe that a muscle pull would begin to hurt when I not engaging my muscles at the time - ie. sitting or lying down.  I am still secretly worrying that it is a lung tumor that didn't show up on the xray.  Silly... I know.  The day ended with a board meeting for our homeschool group.  A good meeting  - attended by most of the board and one other member.  I am confused.  I see all of these parents joining our group for the simple reason of looking for support and social interaction, yet hardly a one will show up at a board/support meeting or a Park Day.  We are now 165 member families strong, with several pending, and the lack of attendance just confounds me.

 

Wednesday just sucked.  We were off to a good start and then we went to Park Day.  Only one other dad was there.  Jordan brought his gigantic Lego bin and the kids played and so on.  Owen got bored and asked to play a game on my 3 week old iPad.  He sat on the blanket and played for a long, long time.  We were packing up to go, and Owen stood up, and stepped on the blanket/soft grass and onto a paved pathway, *just* as I was saying do not get up and walk with the iPad... and he dropped it.  Face down.  

 

 

This is the corner that took the brunt of the blow.  It flexed and cracked two other corners as well.  I didn't know whether to cry, scream or throw up.  (And if you are secretly happy that the iPad that I keep going on and on about was damaged - piss off).

Owen was lucky that we were in a public place, and I managed to keep my composure.  However, it did not help that the other dad that was there said in a very know-it-all-told-you-so voice "Should of had an Otterbox on it!  We have one - we put it on there immediately.  Is that the newest iPad?  Do you have Apple Care coverage?"  Uh... I don't know?  My husband bought it...

We went on with our afternoon - dance lessons and karate, and then sped down to Boulder to go to the very swanky Apple store to see what could be done.  As we drove along the diagonal highway that leads into Boulder we suddenly heard a peculiar click-click sound, and pulled off as soon as it was safe.  There was a huge bolt sticking out of one of the rear tires.  Nice.  We were close, so we drove on to the outdoor mall in the center of town where the Apple store was.  Dean changed the tire and I went into the Apple store.  Nice place.  Nice people (at first).  I felt stupid carrying in my battered and broken iPad.  And then I felt an intense amount of dislike for the fresh-faced twenty-something who exuded an extreme level of techie snootiness.  He had no sympathy.  No Apple care?  Sorry.  (And you can tell he was privately thinking "What an idiot!")  He informed me that they would be happy to trade it out for a new one.

For $299.

Shit.

There are asshats out there who would say "How can you be upset about getting a brand new iPad for only $299?"  Because I can say that we already forked over twice that only three weeks ago (!) for a brand new iPad.  And I can be pissed because I have had iPad envy for two years now, and this was the first 'toy' that was just for me.  ME.

The good news is that the cracks do not go over the screen except for one little crack in a corner.  The iPad is functioning normally, and Owen's hide is still intact.

The bad news is that we still have a nasty underlying issue in our house - destructive kids.  Owen may not of intentionally dropped it, but he did not obey the rules that I had set with use of the iPad: you don't walk around with it, you don't hold something else WHILE you are holding the iPad (Owen had a toy in his hand - which is why he bobbled it in the first place), you only use it while sitting at a table or on a couch or a bed, in a carpeted area.  He walked off of the blanket just when I reminded him not to.  We have kids that don't listen.  Kids that do not understand the inherent value of an object.  We are the toy graveyard.  Toys that come into this household are being sent to their doom.  That goes for clothing too.

**And I know that Rylan's violin teacher is reading this - and I can personally assure you that the violin you have entrusted us with is probably THE most guarded and protected item in this entire household.**

Thursday morning dawned bright and early because I had to visit Discount Tire to get the tire taken care of.  Two new tires and $227 later (at least we had coverage on the tires??) we were all set to go on a daisy field trip to Hearts and Horses - a therapeutic riding establishment that relies heavily on volunteer support. 

 

 



We had a great time.  I was preoccupied by constantly texting back and forth with my husband about the next step to take with Apple.  When we got back home later that afternoon I spent a couple of hours combing the Internet looking for solutions.  It looks like Apple dumped their "Oops!" policy of replacing a broken screen for free when the iPad 3 hit the market.  Damn.  So the next-best option was getting an Otterbox.  The cover would conceal most of the cracks, and protect it from flexing some more (which would mean even more cracks).  In the meantime, my husband will have to convince me that he can replace the screen himself.  So later that evening the kids and I went out and purchased an Otterbox case at Best Buy.  $99 bucks well spent.

Front.  The skid pads are nice.  This cover snaps on and off  (you lift at the corners) and then it becomes the resting tray.  It has a built-in stand so that you can prop up the iPad at different angles.

Back.  It has an opening for the camera lense, the all-important Apple logo and speaker.

Sitting in the tray.  My only complaint is that you have to press really hard on the 'home' button.

The other element to Thursday was receiving the sales packets for the fall Girl Scout fundraising campaign that runs through the end of September.  Nuts, candy and magazine sales are in the offering.  My family has been most generous and we have garnered quite a few sales in just two days so far.  What isn't so fun is that Jordan is in the midst of his boy scout popcorn fall sales campaign as well.  Jordan and Rylan have been going out most every afternoon this past week drumming up sales for him.  Since Jordan helped Rylan with cookies sales last year, it's her turn to assist him.  Fun times around here...

Friday was a better day - sort of felt like a day to catch up on everything that had been put-off for the week.  Schoolwork was minimal - so I don't think we are going to be taking off next week like was planned... we have too much catching up to do.

That seems like an endless mantra around here....


(And I only mentioned the word 'iPad' 13 times!!)

Twinges in the hinges...

 

 

Lots of stuff has been happening in the wellness department during the last year..

 

Some joys:

 

About a month ago I got each of the kids on their bicycle and we went for a walk.  Now this may not sound significant, but it was a HUGE deal.  First: This was the first walk in over six years where I didn't have to push a stroller.  Second: Each child now has a way to be independent - great for self-esteem and exercise.  Owen moved up to Jordan's first bicycle (with training wheels) and Colin started using Owen's first bike - a strider bike (no pedals).  We have been out virtually every day since.  Colin is now able to coast along and stop himself and Owen constantly races Rylan to be the leader.

 

This is great for me because this is the first regular exercise I have had since I did a prenatal water aerobics class when pregnant with Rylan.  It is also the first regular exercise for the dog as well.  Well, sure I could have been walking before, but I have been plagued with tremendous arch/heel pain for the past two years.  I got my first pair of orthotics last December.  It took almost three months to adjust to them, but it has made a huge difference.  I even found a solution for the summer sandal by purchasing a pair of Mephisto leather sandals for the summer.  I have worn them constantly since June, and have no heel pain to report!  But it is time to get back into my sneakers on a full-time basis.  I stay on my feet longer and move around more when I have them on - it's a psychological thing...

 

I had the 'big 6' this summer: dentist, eye exam, mammogram, pelvic exam, annual physical and skin survey.  It is great to report that all is good.  I transitioned to a different type of soft lense to lessen the effects of my astigmatism, no cavities, mammogram and pelvic results were normal, my blood panel came back normal - my cholesterol level is 99, and no suspicious spots to remove.  All good news after a couple of rough years.

 

Some concerns:

My heart.  At this time last year I started having some chest pains and a racing pulse.  During the night, when I had been lying down for several minutes - not really thinking about anything or worrying about something, the racing would begin.  It almost felt like a panic attack.  I could feel a squeezing pressure on the right side of my chest.  I didn't know what to think - was this a heart attack?  It was time for my physical anyway, so I mentioned my concerns to my doctor and she had me hooked up to an EKG.  The results were not good.  She looked at the readout, and looked at me and then back at the readout.  "Are you feeling okay?"  umm.. yeah?  "Because this readout indicates that you are having a heart attack....hmmmm"  Even though the results were bad, there were no other indicators.  Blood test results came back normal, and well... I didn't keel over and die.  So...I guess we just left it alone.  We didn't follow up and the racing and pain went away after several days.

In December and January it started up again - in a big way.  My stress level was at an all-time high, and every emotional event would trigger an attack, as well as in the middle of the night when I was at rest.  Then it went away.  And now, as of three weeks ago, it is back again - with a vengeance.  So, I am going to make an appointment with the cardiologist this week to get it checked out.  At this point, it could be the heart, or it could be a digestive/acid reflux issue.  I wouldn't say that I am overly stressed about any one particular thing, but there is, of course, always some stress.  Homeschooling, budget, household needs, parenting... nothing bad, but I do suppose it all adds up.

I hope I get some answers.  I am reluctant to do any exercise other than walking - I'm afraid that if I raise my heart rate too high that something bad will happen.  But that also means that I will continue to have to amble around with the thirty excess pounds that I have gained over the past seven years and three pregnancies.

My moral.  It's still not where it should be.  I've doubled my Zoloft dosage to 50mg, but I am not sure it's enough yet.  It's all kind of connected: the stress, the weight, the pain and discomfort and the lackluster energy.  All I want is to feel good, keep up with my kids and to live a long life.


 



Weekly wrap up: I need some self-discipline...

 

 

In regards to self-discipline: if you don't use it, you lose it. 

 

I am sadly not using it when it comes to games on my iPad (I'm sure the novelty will wear off eventually), blogs and newsfeeds, and endless email.  The iPad and computer are constant teaching companions during schooltime - it's just so hard for me to resist a peek at the other stuff too.  I need to flex my self-discipline muscle more often. 

 

I'll start with one rep and work my way up from there.

 

Okay.  Two reps.

 

Three... tops.  But then I'll need a massage afterwards.

 

 

 

We have had a fairly decent school week.  Monday morning we squeezed in some math before we met up with the Daisy scouts for our first service project of the year - pulling weeds from the sand at a local playground.  I've got to share a conversation I posted on Facebook about our math lesson that morning...

 

"In the midst of math this morning, Owen walked by Rylan and handed her one of the play phones and they proceeded to have a long, drawn-out pretend conversation. So I put my hand to my ear like a phone and "dialed" Rylan.

Me: Hello? Miss Rylan?
Rylan: (Giggle) Yes?
Me: Can you please answer problem number four?
Rylan: Um... Rylan can't come to the phone right now. Can you call back later?

(Sigh)

 

 

After a not-so-productive math lesson we headed to the park and we all worked away in the hot sun (it was nice in the shade).  It was reassuring to see all of the girls working so hard and helping each other out.  It's a great mix of girls!  It also gave the moms a chance to chat.  I miss talking shop (homeschool) - so it was a great way to pass the time.  I also have to say that I am one lucky, lucky mom.  Jordan is twelve - and he is the oldest sibling that comes along.  There is only one other older brother, but I think he is like seven.  So considering all of that - Jordan does not complain about it.  In fact, he rather likes it.  He seems to prefer playing with younger kids - and does not mind a bit if they are girls.  The games he comes up with are quite fun - usually involving a chase of some sort - and the little girls love it.  Most other twelve year-old boys would probably give their moms serious grief over having to tag along to a girl scout meeting (unless of course it was for Cadettes...)

 

We had to dash off to Rylan's violin lesson straight from the park.  During the lesson Rylan practiced several new things - touching her fingertips and clapping out a rhythm (Miss-iss-ip-pi-hot-dog) and singing an 'A' (or la).  Rylan was low on the first attempt, and on the second she hit it.  I about. fell. out. of. my. chair.  Then, after a couple of near-misses, she hit it again.  My mother and my aunt both have perfect pitch (able to produce or identify a given note without a reference pitch), and nobody yet (kids or grandkids) has it too, so far... Rylan's teacher showed us that (if your violin is in tune) if you hold your violin close to your mouth as you sing an 'A', the 'A' sting will vibrate and hum along with you - and it does!  How cool is that?!

 

On Tuesday we did school and karate and not much else worthy of note.  I kept the tv off and did minimal news checking.  The anniversary of 9/11 is not something I want to dwell on too much - and the little kids don't really need to see those horrible images.  It can wait until they are much, much older.

 

Wednesday was supposed to be a very busy day with schoolwork, piano lessons, Park Day, a potluck and evening karate and dance.  At 7 a.m. I went out to the garage to fetch something from the car and noticed that all of the interior lights were on.  Right then I should have thought about testing the battery by turning on the car, but I did not.  My mom came and went for the piano lesson and then we decided to skip Park Day.  It was cool and rainy, and plans were falling through right and left.  Afternoon nap didn't happen until 3:30 because Colin fought it every step of the way, so that meant that our plans to attend our homeschool groups annual not-back-to-school potluck was going to be a no-go - there was no way in hell I was taking a small child with only a 45 min. nap under his belt.  He is a holy terror in that state.  He finished his nap, we finished school and the kids got ready for their respective classes.  We were even going to make it on time!  Went out to start the car and nothing but clickclickclickclickclick.  Damn.  So even IF we had wanted to go to Park Day or the potluck, we wouldn't have been able to anyway.  Dean was on his way home in the vanpool, so we just waited for him to arrive home and then jump the car for us.  It was too late to leave for lessons at that point, so the day was pretty much a wash.

 

Thursday brought big disappointment for Jordan when he found out in karate that he was not going to be able to test for his belt this weekend.  He simply does not have the class time in - and through no fault of his own, either.  Visitation time with his mom plus a couple of scouts outings interfered with his ability to get enough classes in during this past 9 week cycle.  They require a minimum of 14 on-level classes, 3 review classes, and 3 sparring sessions.  Jordan got the 3 and 3, but he only had maybe 5? 6? of the on-level classes.  This makes two belt promotions in a row that he has missed.  He knows that it's just how it has to be, but he is still taking it hard.

 

Friday brought the most awesome revelation - ever!  As Jordan and I were sitting down to do his math lesson, the thought occurred to me to check to see if I could bring up his math website on the iPad.  You see - the way we 'do math' is that we sit down at the computer for his MEP lesson, and Jordan sits where he can see the computer screen - for the occasional times that I need to swivel the screen in his direction if he needs to see a graphic or something.  I print off the practice book pages for him to keep in his math notebook, but I don't print off the teacher's lessons - that would be 3-4 pages a lesson, for 175 lessons.  No way.  So I just read off the lesson and instruct as we go.  This has limited us to getting math done in the mornings only - and if something is scheduled in the morning, then math does not get accomplished at all.  The office/schoolroom is located directly underneath Colin/Rylan's room, so we can't school in there during naptime.  So portability is key.  Math was not portable.  (I really do have a lot to say about math - I need to get my curriculum posts done!).  So, long boring story short - I CAN get MEP on my iPad, so that means we can do it wherever, whenever.  And - the graphics that I need him to look at from time to time can be expanded with the zoom feature, and we can pass the iPad back and forth as we talk about them.  Case in point - Friday's lesson was about angles - in relation to clock faces, an actual orienteering compass and so forth.  We discussed fractional amounts and their related number of degrees (5 minutes on a clock is 30 degrees and so forth..) fractional compass amounts  (from N to NE is 45 degrees, NNE to ENE is 45 degrees...)  It helped that he could look at the clock and compass graphics as we talked about them.  Thank goodness he has already had orienteering with the scouts - that made it a lot easier to talk about.  We just spread out a map of Arches NP and talked about getting from point A to point B.

 

I also figured out that we can do IXL math practice on the iPad too - so that means that I can keep more kids going at one time, instead of cycling them through the one computer that we have, one at a time.  Unfortunately, the iPad does not support flash, so we can't do Reading Eggs.  They do have an app, but it is not the same thing.

 

We also used the iPad earlier in the week to discuss the sun and the movement of the planets in relation to the sun.  Solar Walk is the most awesome app I have ever seen.  It out does any 2-dimensional discussion  - the kids just can't wrap their head around what the rotations look like.  It is like having your own personal Planetarium show!

 

One more week to go and then a very much-needed break!

Simple Woman's Daybook Entry

 

 

 

Outside my window... A gorgeous sunny morning - a perfect day to get out on our bikes!

I am thinking... About a horrendous derogatory comment that was made by retiree Bobbie Lucier (wife of a veteran, from Manassas, VA) about the First Lady during a story about Mitt Romney visiting the American Legion that aired on NPR on August 30th.  I've been ruminating about it for a week, now.  Here is what this woman says:

"I just - I don't like him. Can't stand to look at him. I don't like his wife. She's far from the first lady. It's about time we get a first lady in there that acts like a first lady and looks like a first lady."
 

Reading her quote is not enough - you have to listen to the audio - you can actually hear the vitriolic contempt in her voice. 

Exhibit A                                                        Exhibit B 

Hmmmm... I wonder what the difference is????

 

 

I know - it's the pearls!!!

 

 

 

 

Shame, on you Bobbie Lucier.  Hater.

 

And shame on you, Ari Shaprio, for not throwing out a follow-up question at this blatantly racist comment - that would have been 'gotcha' awesomeness!  Oh well - at least this leaves the door open for the bloggers of the world to publicly shame her and expose her for what she is. 

 

Two things:

 

1.  I think the First Lady is one classy lady.  I love that she has chosen to promote healthy living - this nation of fatties (myself included) needs constant reminders to take better care of ourselves.  She is also one shrewd momma - I admire the high expectations she and Barack have laid out for their girls.  That much can't be said for the Bush twins...

 

2.  My grandfather, a WWII veteran, patently refused to join the American Legion after he came home from the war.  To him it was a social club full of drinkers and complainers.  He chose instead to join the Lion's Club and dedicate his time to attending to the needs of his community.  One of my fondest memories is going to the Lion's Club with my grandma for a community lunch for seniors and low-income families.  Member after member came over to greet my grandma and say kind words about my late grandpa.

 

 

I am thankful... For my dad and stepmom coming over last night and relieving me of a ton of extra garden produce.  It was beginning to get a little scary out there...  I am also thankful that my mom and dad (and extended family members) raised me to be a member of the world community - to accept one and all.

 

 

From the Learning Rooms... We had an awesome week of firsts!  A bit of a shorter week due to Labor Day, so we had to condense some things.  Jordan's science curriculum arrived last weekend, but there wasn't time for me to go through it and get stuff prepped for this week, so we will begin this coming week.  Rylan's Core Knowledge history and geography pack arrived on Wednesday, which was the last item that we were waiting for.   Next week we go whole hog!  Jordan started his new English curriculum (Shurley English) and I just love it.  Part of the work is to write journal entries, so Jordan is doing that bit at bedtime.  He came and asked me if he could write about how he doesn't like that he is going through puberty - he doesn't want his body to change.  (I tried to keep a straight face).  I said that he could write about whatever he wanted - and I wouldn't read it unless he invited me to.  This is the first time that he has ever taken up writing - willingly!

 

This past week we concentrated on math, and celebrated the fact that the kids logged a full lesson each day- plus time on IXL.  Jordan's MEP lessons are about geometry at the moment - measuring angles and such, and the Greek symbols for alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon were introduced.  This is new to me.  All he is doing is using them to name the angles, but I asked Dean when they really start to come into play and he said Trig.  Geesh.  I must really be worried about it because it came to me in a dream last night.  I dreamed that my SIL Karen was giving me a phone number - but in code, using only Greek letters.  I know that makes absolutely no sense, but in the dream I was really upset about it and pleading for her to use just plain numbers.  That would be the first time I ever dreamt about Karen - or - Greek letters.  Sorry it wasn't a happy dream!

 

Rylan moved into her next Explode the Code book (2) this week, and complained that the print size was bigger than the last book (1 1/2), and therefore that meant it was 'babyish'.  Then she fell apart because the book starts of with the blends 'cl, fl and gl' - all blends that she has already seen in All About Spelling and Reading Eggs.  All of a sudden Explode the Code was just WAY too difficult.  Even with the babyish big font.  Such big drama from such a little person...

 

Rylan had her first ballet/tap combo lesson this week, on Wednesday.  She loved it.  I took a picture with my phone, but her eyes are closed and it's dark, so I'll take a better picture this week.  She is also learning to ride her bike!  Her training wheels came off last night (per her request), and grandpa and grandma got to see the first few attempts.  She was on a grassy slope at the time.  Today we will go to the neighborhood park and try again on the bike path - with soft grass on either side.  I'll be prepared with a camera and bandaids.

 

Owen had his first gymnastics lesson yesterday and he absolutely loved it.  He needs to work on listening skills, so this will be the perfect opportunity.  Owen spent a tremendous amount of time with math and Reading Eggs this week - which is a first, because he is the one that resists sitting down and doing anything.  He is *almost* getting the hang of using the mouse.  A thought just popped into my head  - is there such a thing as a kid-friendly mouse?  One that doesn't have a right-click?  I'll have to search around...

 

Also - Rylan had her first Girl Scout meeting this week.  I didn't think we were going to go down this road, but at the last second the stars aligned, the situation felt right and we made the jump.  It took some persuading by friends, but I am happy we did it.  It feels so much different when you don't have the burden of leadership on your shoulders.  And it also feels different when you work with a very nice dynamic of moms.  All of the moms are involved, so a group effort is so much easier!  I am excited for all that is planned for this year.  And best of all - Rylan is so happy to be back with her friends.

 

 

In the kitchen... an absolutely delicious-smelling breakfast pastry called Butter Braid. My mom was cleaning out her pantry/fridge/freezer of all things gluten, so we inherited it all.  It smells awesome - what a treat for breakfast.  The sad thing is - if we really love it, it will be difficult to get a hold of some more!

I am wearing... a new LLBean denim skirt (fast becoming a favorite) and purple shirt.

 

 

I am creating... not much at the present... well, I take that back.  I have a new game on my iPad called Gardens of Time.  I'm addicted.  It's the first game that has hooked me like this...   So, I am busy creating my garden...in the oodles of extra time that I do not currently possess.

 

 

I am going...  no plans for the kids outside of school and activities for the coming week, although I am going out with my bookclub friends for some long-overdue wine, coffee and conversation.

 

 

I am wondering... hmm. I'm truly drawing a blank on this one.

 

I am reading... Same: Lev Grossman's The Magicians  It is now been overdue at the library by a week.  whoops..

In the garden... too many cucumbers!  Lots and lots of mini-pumpkins that look just beautiful.  Everything else is doing its best to wither away...

 

I am hoping... that transitions between schooltime and activities goes much smoother this week.  We're all adjusting to the new bustle n' go routine.

 

I am looking forward to... catching up with friends and a playground-cleanup service project with the scouts tomorrow.

 

I am learning... about the speed of light, neo-classical Mexican architecture, Mesopotamia and the Gardens of Babylon, and how to present a grammar jingle w/o laughing.
 

 

I am hearing... About the 5th or 6th straight episode of Sponge Bob. Time to stop ignoring the kids....

 

Around the house... A massive search for shoes is underway...
 

I am pondering... why, why, why... even though we have provided each child with their own personal shoe bin, they continue to leave them under the couch, in the bathtub (?), under the trampoline, and wedged under their car seat.

 

One of my favorite things... My new casserole dish set (birthday gift) from my brother and SIL.

 



 

 

Potluck awesomeness!

 

A few plans for the rest of the week... I feel like I've already answered this.  How about 9-10 loads of laundry, at least 6 loads of dishes, and karate belt promotions next Saturday. 

 

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

Labor Day at the local spray park

To read more entries and visit a variety of other blogs, go here...



You might be a narrow-minded racist redneck....

I present Exhibit A.

 

(which happens to be our van)

 

 

 

 

Exhibit B

 

(A bigot who resides in...oh, look!  Arizona!)

 

 

Question.

 

Which do you find more offensive?  Hmm?

 

 

Because today some beer-bellied, foul-mouthed, poor-excuse for a human being decided that MY van's bumper stickers were a tad bit offensive for his conservative tastes, and proceeded to shout out to his friend, sitting in his truck, that - and I quote - "Look what some fucking idiot pasted on their van!  Obama lovers... what a fucking joke!"

 

 

Well, the problem is, he said this as he was walking not ten feet away from my vehicle.  Which was occupied by myself and my four impressionable children at the time.  With the windows down.  Yes.  We heard every. last. word.

 

I think you would have had to use high-speed film in order to capture my exit from my vehicle.  I was on him before the chickenshit could jump in his truck, but the glee in that fat-fucker's face said it all - he knew what he said, he knew who he said it in front of, and he didn't care.  Not a whit.

 

This will be the third, maybe fourth nonprovoked run-in I've had with an asshat whose got a problem with my democratic ideals.  (But this was, by far, the most vitriolic exchange I have had the pleasure of partaking in.)  All of which were instigated by my bumper stickers.  My bumper stickers that mention a person's NAME and the YEAR of the election.  Oh, and that we like the Sooners.

 

I did not single any ethnic group out.

 

I did not insinuate anything about someone's moral character.

 

I did not make false accusations or judgements.

 

I did not use offensive language or symbols.

 

 

 

So which party has the true image problem here?  What THE HELL is wrong with these people?

 

 

 

Here is my personal wish for Mr. Arizona (proud owner of Exhibit B)

 

* you lose your job to an immigrant who is willing to do the work you think you are too good for.

* you lose your healthcare because you are so damned determined in your quest to ruin our country.

* you will have to depend on government assistance in order to get by.

* your son comes home one day and shares with you that he is, in fact, gay.

* your wife leaves you, and takes your dog with her.

 

 

Because you know what? 

 

You will always have your pick-up truck...and a narrow mind to go with it.

 

 



Field trip: Berry Patch Farms

We visited Berry Patch Farms, in Brighton, CO, on August 15th.  (So...yeah, this post is a little delayed...).  A lot was happening on the 15th - my nephew, Connor was turning sweet 16, our dog, Abby, was turning 8, and Jordan was arriving home on a flight from OKC.  There was also a preschool-aged event happening that morning at the Berry Patch Farms - a place I have wanted to visit ever since fellow homeschooling mom, Kristina, arranged a field trip there a couple of years ago.  (we didn't go - Colin was only 6 mo. old and I was not up for it).

So the scheduling stars aligned that day, and we went to the farm that morning and then hightailed it over to the airport to pick up Jordan by early afternoon.  The event ran from 9:30 - 11:30.  The website was a little lacking in it's description... it sounded more like 'a class' than an: 'arrive whenever you want to, do some stuff, and leave whenever'...  'And pay us $5 per kid that you bring.'... 'Thanks.'

So I was sweatin' buckets when I pulled in at 9:39am, thinking we were late for a class.  Parking was difficult but we managed to find a spot amongst the other 128 minivans.  I didn't think to grab a backpack for myself when we left the house because I am still in stroller-mentality - which is a method of transportation we rarely use anymore.  It sure would have been helpful that day, and I think I will have to go that route for any future events like this.  When you take into consideration the waterbottles, sunscreen, camera, phone, keys, money, snacks, blah, blah, blah... I can't really wing it anymore.  Fortunately we did have Colin's little backpack, which has morphed into the on-the-go diaperbag in recent days.  ('THE' diaperbag - the bag we have used everyday since Rylan was born six years ago, had run it's course a couple months ago.  It was also something we rarely used anymore.  I had this little backpack, and it was perfect to hold 2-3 diapers, small box of wipes, and a large baggie of kiddie first aid stuff - bandaids and antiseptic wipes, which is all we really need anymore)  So I put my phone, keys and money in there too (no pockets that day), and hoped that he didn't run off!

Sunhats and sunscreen were next, and we finally left the car around 10 am.  No kidding.  Nobody exactly felt like being compliant that morning.  It didn't help that we were parked next to a goat pen, with an extremely friendly goat to distract the kids.  We wandered into the farm area and I got my bearings.  I figured out from some other moms that were milling around that we needed to go into a big barn/produce & product farm stand to pay.  That's where I found out that there wasn't really a schedule, and that we could wander around from activity to activity.

Here were the activities:

1. Each kid received a pint-sized container to take to the berry fields to fill with strawberries.
2. A craft project.  The craft project this day was rolling a beeswax candle.
3. Watch out for the resident bad-tempered farm pig.  Don't pet him. 
4. Chase the chickens.
5. Watch a video about bees.
6. Ride on a hayride out to the fields and back.
7. Climb on a wooden tractor and let your mom take a picture of you.

And that was about it for the agenda that morning...  slim pickin's IMHO, but I guess it was perfect for the preschool set.


So, first things first - try and drag the diaperbag-backpack laden two year old away from the nasty-tempered pig. (who didn't appear to be all that mean, but the resident farmer sure hustled over when he saw this mob scene...)

I steered the kids over to some picnic tables so that we could do our 'craft'.  It took about a minute and a half to roll up a sheet of beeswax around a long piece of sting.  Thirty seconds if you are an impatient six year old.  Twenty seconds if you are four, and your name is Owen.

So with that difficult task out of the way and the finished product safely stowed in the little backpack, we were off to the berry fields.  It was very hazy that day due to some smoke from wildfires in Idaho and Wyoming.  This view is looking west, and you can't even see the mountains!  Besides berries, there were long rows of flowers and herbs to pick from as well.  (if you paid for that)

The tractor dropped us off at the field and we tried to wander away from most of the people in the hopes of finding some strawberries.  The fields were already pretty well picked over, unfortunately.

We did manage to find a few.. Owen was eager to pick, and so was Rylan.  But it was hot and the kids were a little cranky.  Especially Colin.  He was all about the tractor, and was *really* pissed off at me that we had to leave the tractor behind as we walked into the fields.  And he let everyone know it too.  To the degree in which he wandered around, carrying our one lone waterbottle, bawling his eyes out and refusing to follow us.  Nice.

See?

 

So once we had picked a very measly collection of less-than-stellar looking strawberries, I made Colin happy by snagging a ride on the next tractor ride back to the main farm.  And then we had to get off.  I was once again the meanest mom in the world...

 

 

There wasn't much to do after that because the kids were hot, tired, cranky - and now hungry, so a little educational video/talk was out of the question, so we left.  We ambled towards the airport and hit a Sonic for lunch and good-mood inducing shakes.  I needed as much leverage as I could get because I was about to not only take the kids into the airport, but get concourse passes, go through security and meet Jordan at the gate when his plane arrived.

 

We were tight on time, and the only parking available was in one of the most remote spots in the outdoor short-term parking lots.  I did use the stroller this time (it's almost always in the car, still) and loaded Owen onto it too so that we could huff it through the lots and up to check-in.  The process actually went very smoothly.  We got our passes and then went through security.  Both Rylan and Owen have done this before, but never Colin, and never as a whole group.  In the past it was mostly Dean, taking only one designated child with him as I circled the main concourse waiting for him to come back.  We got ushered through a different area so that we didn't have to do the full-body scan thing.  The TSA were very polite and patient with us, I must say.  We went down to the trains and rode all the way out to concourse C to meet Jordan - which is nice because it means the longest train ride.  The kids loved it.  We arrived at the gate just as Jordan walked off the plane, so our timing couldn't be better.  We rode the train back, picked up his suitcase and then did the long walk back to the car.  Jordan was thrilled to be back in Colorado, after the awful heat he endured in OKC.

 

We drove home, had dinner, and then made a 'birthday cake' for Abby.  We do things fancy in these parts and spare no expense - so the cake consisted of a peanut butter sandwich with 8 dog biscuits set in additional globs of peanut butter.  I'm sure we shortened her life just a little bit...

 

The Ultimate Sandbox

It's Labor Day!  I hope you don't have too much planned in the way of labor today.  In honor of today (and because I have neglected to for almost three months now), I will show you the fruits of our labor we did in days past.  Several days in fact.  Well... it took just over a year to complete.  Not because it actually took that long.  Just lots of 'thinking time' was involved.

Anyways, we built a sandbox!  We got the whole thing framed and filled with sand, but we had no idea how we wanted to finish the 'roof', so there it sat.  For a year.  We knew that shade fabric had to be involved because there is no shade to speak of in our yard, except from 2 - 8 pm on summer days, just below those aspen trees in the back corner.  Which is also where the dirt pit from hell is located.  Along with stubby aspen roots.  Not a fine place to play at all.  So the cool shade made by the aspens is absolutely worthless to us, but the dog enjoys it.  We do have two other trees in the backyard - a maple and a locust.  The maple is doing its best to die.  I think it might actually succeed this winter.  The locust is growing....slowly.... but we planted it in such a weird location that it will be years before it shades anything of consequence.  In the meantime our backyard will continue to be the most unpleasant place to be from May - September.

I dreamed up the idea of a sandbox, thinking that it would be an awesome place to park rowdy kids.  Slap some shade on it and make it big enough to fit all of them so that they would be out of my hair.

Caution!  I did not think this through.  A sandbox in the yard means lots of sand in the house.  And in the mouth...the diaper...the garden...the window well...the drain pipe...the bbq grill.

You've been warned.

We decided to locate the sandbox right in front of the kitchen bay window, so that we would have something 'nice' to look at in the wasteland that is our backyard.  We started building on April 16th...last year.  I wanted the finished size to be 8' x 8' square, so Dean cut the boards and Rylan helped me stain/seal them.

We all helped in the endeavour to remove the sod.  Which wasn't hard because you can't really call the random green patches in our yard, 'sod'.  The ground is as hard as concrete, with lots of divots and several ant hills.  Dean laid out the frame, bolted it, then cut the corner posts and we stained them as well.  If I remember right, they are five feet tall.

The next day (17th) the kids and I excavated down a few inches and carted off the dirt.  When Dean got home from work we filled in the bottom with a couple inches of rock, for drainage.  The rock came from another part of the the yard.  Then we laid down two layers of weed fabric - running in opposite directions.  We picked up the entire frame to pull the fabric all the way up from the underside.

(Colin, 14 mo.)

Look at those chubby cheeks!  I want to bite them!

The peanut gallery...

The following day Colin did this...

And I evidently did this, because that's all I have pictures of...

These were the first books that we rowed with FIAR.  We really did enjoy the process - especially creating watercolors of the Yellow Ball.  I also must have ordered sand on this day, because the next morning, (the 19th), this is what arrived in our driveway...

The 19th was actually a very sad day.  My grandma Betty passed away shortly after the sand arrived.  I remember, because I was shoveling as I was waiting for the news.  Grandma's health had deteriorated quickly in the previous days, and we knew the end was imminent.  The shoveling really, really helped me focus instead of falling to pieces with grief and frustration because I wanted to be there with her.  Grandma lived three hours away, and there just wasn't time to get there.  She was also unaware of her surroundings, by that point...and it would have been inappropriate to bring all of the kids.  But I still wanted to be there, to hold her hand as she slipped away.  Gosh I miss her...

(and this is probably why I have waffled on writing this post - I don't like to think about it)

Anyway, I shoveled, carted and dumped all of that sand in just a couple of hours.  In the following days we did some school (the middle part of the art project), enjoyed some snow, installed a new sink and celebrated Easter at home because everyone was sick.  But at least Owen got outside on Easter Sunday (the 24th) to play a little in the sandbox.

And then May and June came and went.  In July Dean worked on drainage issues in the area between the sandbox and the house - he installed a French drain to deal with soggy ground.  And the kids, of course, played in the mud.

Evidently, as you can see in the picture above, Dean completed the cross pieces to complete the upper portion of the frame.  I think he did that shortly after the funeral, but I don't remember - and I don't have any pictures of it.  But this is where we remained stuck.  We knew we wanted to top it with shade fabric.  But we were stuck on how to go about it.  There needed to be some sort of framework for the fabric to be attached to so that it wouldn't sag or rip away in the wind.  It also needed to be removable, in the winter time.  And stuck we were... for a whole year!  And there was another problem as well.  The area between the sandbox and the house used to be covered in rock.  I hated the rock and we eventually removed it - ultimately using most of it in the sandbox for drainage.  What remained was dirt.  Which would promptly turn to mud any time water was applied.

9-1-11

7-23-10

Since nobody was very fond of the clean-up process, we needed to solve this issue.

 

 

1-9-12
 

2-6-12

 

3-15-12

 

5-25-12

Aha!  Now we're getting somewhere...

 

And finally inspiration hit.  We were actually surfing the web looking at pergola ideas when a roof design popped up that Dean was pretty keen on.  So he went with it...

 

6-3-12

I poked fun at the math that was involved...

I made a plastic template for the pattern needed for the shade fabric.

 

My zucchini and pumpkins finally sprouted after four weeks in the ground...

 

6-21-12

7-8-12

And then, as soon as we got back from vacation to OKC, we finished it.  One evening I pulled out the plastic template that I had made, we laid out the shade fabric on the kitchen floor, and cut out four triangles.  I sewed along the seams, and made a seam large enough to accommodate metal conduit along each edge.  I used heavy-duty nylon thread and double-sewed everything.  The next morning we stretched the fabric out, cut the conduit to length and notched the inside of each crosspiece.  The fabric is pulled tight, and the tension between all of the sides holds it in place.  When winter arrives, all we have to do is pull the conduit down on one side to release the bar, and then all of the other sides will release and we can store it until next year! 

 

7-30-12

8-14-12

One way to ease the amount of sand coming in the house is to place a bucket of water near the door.  The kids dunk their feet in the water to rinse the sand away, and then wipe their feet off before stepping inside.

 

I have no answers to the dilemma of sand in the diaper.  You're on your own, there....   If you hear of one - let me know!