She's been asking a whole lot about death. I had mentioned to her that our old cats had died before (Tiny and Omega) when she was a baby and that set it off. I'm trying to be just matter-of-fact-in-a-nice-and-caring tone about it all to calm her a bit.
Mommy, will I die?
Yes, baby, we'll all die.
REALLY? I DON'T WANT TO DIE!
I tell her there's nothing to be afraid of with death, and that everybody dies and she says she's scared to go to Heaven! (In her mind, that's where her teachers say we go when we die, of course. Public school will be so much easier in this respect. No offense to the traditional Believers).
Anyway it seemed to be a topic of conversation for a few days and lately she's lost some interest in it at least.
She hates violent (Disney) movies (and Wizard of Oz freaks her out but she has to watch, like a train wreck). She's becoming pretty sensitive to the children's movies that kill your parents (Disney) or likewise. Oh how I miss Yo Gabba Gabba, when it was almost easier to explain what the hell that Big Red Muno was (I'll stop short of the description). She doesn't like bad guys.
She doesn't like to not be the winner, too. Maybe it's an only child thing, or maybe it's her dad's inhereted competitive nature. We just had a 5k and a children's half mile "race" this weekend and she couldn't believe she was obviously not going to finish first! It's not her first "organized kids' run" but it's the first in a long time, especially since she's become aware of "winning". I told her to look around at ALL of the kids in this race! Only ONE can finish first. If you want to finish first, you have to train and train! Practice! Or else you can be like mommy (and just pray you finish without looking like you're about to puke). I reminded her that REALLY it only matters that she crosses the finish line. In the end that's really it. You can be first if you train and that's your goal, don't get me wrong. Otherwise, what works for me is competing against myself to get better and better. Anyway, she got a metal in the end (all the kids did, where's MINE!?) and that pleased her! As for me, she waited like forever for me to finish my 5k, and ran in the last leg with me over the finish line to help "pull me in". After we crossed she said "Mommy, you didn't win first!" And I told her no way, but I finished, see?! She told Paul while waiting for me that "Mommy's slow!" but then when she saw me coming she shouted that I looked fast :)
Today when I picked her up from school she was in the best mood I've ever seen this kid in her whole life. I mean for real. I wondered just WHAT THE HELL was going on so I could get a daily repeat. I asked what she had for a snack and she said "Goldfish". Noted.
On the drive home she told me she learned about Guatamala (perfect pronounciation by the way!). The child proceeds to tell me every detail about the poor kids in Guatamala who have dirt for floors, only one shirt, no toys (their toys are just playing with bugs), no stairs in their house, and no cats. In addition, they have no bath tub and no door handles! And tiny sidewalks! Detail upon detail as if I was talking to a really big kid, and it was apparent that she learned from her (missionary trip) teacher that Guatamala was in dire straits and it had a real impact on her! Down to where she recalled every detail. WOW. FLOORED WAS I! At the end of the conversation she told me she was going to pray for Guatamala. OK.... I told her that would be a great thing to do. Then she said when she gets bigger she wanted to go there to help them and I told her that I'd go with her. WOW. Seriously. The details...I wish I recorded that conversation because that was really darned cool.
At any rate, she's getting big. And super smart. And sweet and nuts and all of it! I didn't even document that she had her first school field trip to the hospital on Oct 6, which was really cool (Paul and I both went along)! I have pictures to post but I've been crappy at keeping up because my evenings are consumed with Grocery Station stuff. And I'm also still teaching (which thank goodness has become turn-key for me).
Also, She likes Lady Gaga music.
Good night!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Woo-Hoo! Our First Order!
This weekend we finally pulled everything together and got the Grocery Station website up, running, and functional after some major glitches. I lost a few shoppers now that it's really time to ramp up, so I've been having to go through more interviews this week, which is only painful because it takes up my time I'd rather be at home! But I've picked up a handful so I think we're right at around 10 shoppers or so. I still need more, so more interviews next week for me!
But TODAY we got our first official order! We'd had customers create accounts, which is very cool, but today was the first time we actually got an order. And not from a friend, from a total stranger who says she saw the advertisement in Kroger. Her order was huge! The end results is a take-home of $30 for me, and $22 for my shopper (after a nice tip!). Not a bad deal :) I am $30 in the black now. HAHA!
It's really exciting to see other people I don't even know put their faith in us. WOW. I'm meeting my shopper tomorrow to help her out since we've never actually done this end-to-end yet! Good thing my calendar at work is pretty empty tomorrow. Here's hoping for a nice flow!
But TODAY we got our first official order! We'd had customers create accounts, which is very cool, but today was the first time we actually got an order. And not from a friend, from a total stranger who says she saw the advertisement in Kroger. Her order was huge! The end results is a take-home of $30 for me, and $22 for my shopper (after a nice tip!). Not a bad deal :) I am $30 in the black now. HAHA!
It's really exciting to see other people I don't even know put their faith in us. WOW. I'm meeting my shopper tomorrow to help her out since we've never actually done this end-to-end yet! Good thing my calendar at work is pretty empty tomorrow. Here's hoping for a nice flow!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Windy
This weekend we finally moved her out of her Britax Decathlon (with 5 point harness!) into a big girl booster seat. With that came a move from the center of the back seat to a window seat. My boss gave me the two boosters her daughter outgrew. I guess it was time to make that move in my truck but I just never processed it till now.
The results:
Windy fun and "floating arms"!
The results:
Windy fun and "floating arms"!
Friday, September 30, 2011
We have viewers!
Woo hoo! We have stats collected on the viewers to the Grocery Station website! People are looking.
Just a few kinks to work out over the weekend and get this thing functional. Fingers crossed for next week GO TIME! I want to see CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS GETTING CREATED, PEOPLE!
Just a few kinks to work out over the weekend and get this thing functional. Fingers crossed for next week GO TIME! I want to see CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS GETTING CREATED, PEOPLE!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Dance class canceled
Anna has decided she wants to go back to gymnastics rather than stick it out in dance class (no we are not doing BOTH for the sake of my own sanity. Call me selfish). That's fine because getting her into those Effing tights were my biggest life challenge of the week. Also it's fine because the shoes, leotard, and stockings I bought her for the class were still cheaper than one single gymnastics suit, which for her sake, I hope she can still fit in.
And I know she LOVES gymnastics. But I hate the fact that the Acrosports gymnastics place is a filthy disgusting sewer drain. Actually it's not really a sewer drain but it's pretty filthy all the time. Ick. Ick. Yay.
And I know she LOVES gymnastics. But I hate the fact that the Acrosports gymnastics place is a filthy disgusting sewer drain. Actually it's not really a sewer drain but it's pretty filthy all the time. Ick. Ick. Yay.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
This is mine...
I thought this would be easy. It has not. Nothing worth doing has been easy.
EAR came to visit in June and told us that her grocery store offered online ordering and then you could come to the store and just PICK UP YOUR GROCERIES.
Really? Yes. And so, we've created this.
http://www.thegrocerystation.com/
Not "we" as in me and EAR. "We" as in me, Dad, Paul, and the team of 8 people I hired as shoppers plus the guys who actually built this site. Oh, and also the Kroger General Manager who is AWESOME and excited to get this thing going with us.
I have lost sleep, exercise, time with Anna, and money, and some sanity was also lost in the process. I fortunately didn't know what I was getting into when I started this.
Also, the irony is not at all lost on me that I created this service so I could spend less time in the grocery store, yet I have spent countless hours there since July. I have put myself out there: my ideas, my time, and money. I have taken risks I don't usually take, personally and monetarily.
I honestly can't say where this is all coming from. Have you been driven to just do something? Compelled? I can't say what's up with this exactly. Something directed me to do it. And I was fortunate enough to have the advice and business guidance of my husband and my dad. Lucky me!
This is my path to paying off my student loans in two years. Incidentally, when they're paid off, I'll tell you how much I owed to begin with.
The website is not entirely functional yet. There are some tweaks we need to fix. Hopefully we can begin taking orders as early as next Monday. I have shoppers standing by. We are advertising in Kroger with banners and fliers.
It's a risk. But it's not THAT great of a risk that I can't swallow it. It's good to push myself outside of my comfort zone.
I've been busy. Very. Stinking. Busy.
Now bring on the customers. Spread the word, y'all.
EAR came to visit in June and told us that her grocery store offered online ordering and then you could come to the store and just PICK UP YOUR GROCERIES.
Really? Yes. And so, we've created this.
http://www.thegrocerystation.com/
Not "we" as in me and EAR. "We" as in me, Dad, Paul, and the team of 8 people I hired as shoppers plus the guys who actually built this site. Oh, and also the Kroger General Manager who is AWESOME and excited to get this thing going with us.
I have lost sleep, exercise, time with Anna, and money, and some sanity was also lost in the process. I fortunately didn't know what I was getting into when I started this.
Also, the irony is not at all lost on me that I created this service so I could spend less time in the grocery store, yet I have spent countless hours there since July. I have put myself out there: my ideas, my time, and money. I have taken risks I don't usually take, personally and monetarily.
I honestly can't say where this is all coming from. Have you been driven to just do something? Compelled? I can't say what's up with this exactly. Something directed me to do it. And I was fortunate enough to have the advice and business guidance of my husband and my dad. Lucky me!
This is my path to paying off my student loans in two years. Incidentally, when they're paid off, I'll tell you how much I owed to begin with.
The website is not entirely functional yet. There are some tweaks we need to fix. Hopefully we can begin taking orders as early as next Monday. I have shoppers standing by. We are advertising in Kroger with banners and fliers.
It's a risk. But it's not THAT great of a risk that I can't swallow it. It's good to push myself outside of my comfort zone.
I've been busy. Very. Stinking. Busy.
Now bring on the customers. Spread the word, y'all.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Well this is interesting fine red print
I stumbled upon this when looking for crew bios on some astronauts I'm going to have to brief in Nov. Looks like they're quietly planning to take new astronaut applications this fall:
http://astronauts.nasa.gov/
Well, how about that?
http://astronauts.nasa.gov/
Well, how about that?
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Landmark Education Forum
A coworker told me about the best Leadership courses she'd ever taken and since it worked so well for her I immediately signed myself up. Did not read the website, did not check reviews, went straight to the registration page.
I showed up to the Landmark Education Forum in Austin 2 hours late after dealing with an unexpected fever from Anna, who came with me to stay at my mom's while I attended this 3 day, 13 hrs per day, course.
I walked in and realized I was in the wrong room. But it turns out I wasn't. Here's a summary for my $495:
Day 1: I am a jerk and a liar. Also the cause of problems in life can be summed up with circles.
Day 2: I am dead inside. Resigned and cynical. No don't deny it. It's true. I should call my parents and tell them how sorry I am for being a jerk my whole life or else I will never truly have what I want in life.
Day 3: The punch line. I would tell you what this is but I'd have to charge you $495.
Oh look a break through! Perhaps I AM really cynical! Well, money well spent. :)
On top if this all, my mom and sister would totally benefit from the class. It's about perspective, people!
Now on to Denver tomorrow where I am giving 3 talks on ISS science. One will be at Colorado State University on my birthday! Paul happens to be in Denver for the same weekend and will finally get to see one of my presentations. Though Anna won't be with us, this will be a neat birthday!
36 here I come :)
I showed up to the Landmark Education Forum in Austin 2 hours late after dealing with an unexpected fever from Anna, who came with me to stay at my mom's while I attended this 3 day, 13 hrs per day, course.
I walked in and realized I was in the wrong room. But it turns out I wasn't. Here's a summary for my $495:
Day 1: I am a jerk and a liar. Also the cause of problems in life can be summed up with circles.
Day 2: I am dead inside. Resigned and cynical. No don't deny it. It's true. I should call my parents and tell them how sorry I am for being a jerk my whole life or else I will never truly have what I want in life.
Day 3: The punch line. I would tell you what this is but I'd have to charge you $495.
Oh look a break through! Perhaps I AM really cynical! Well, money well spent. :)
On top if this all, my mom and sister would totally benefit from the class. It's about perspective, people!
Now on to Denver tomorrow where I am giving 3 talks on ISS science. One will be at Colorado State University on my birthday! Paul happens to be in Denver for the same weekend and will finally get to see one of my presentations. Though Anna won't be with us, this will be a neat birthday!
36 here I come :)
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
No more Arm floaties!
I should have posted this 2 weeks ago but she then finally decided to ditch her arm floaties and is swimming in the pool like a little fish! She's been trying to sit on the bottom, playing underwater games, and going down to pick up stuff off the bottom of the pool. She's so excited and proud! It's fun to watch her every day try something new in the pool!! Woo-Hoo!
Also the cats are starting to tolerate each other. The use of the squirt bottle has gone down significantly! Blackberry is doing well.
Also the cats are starting to tolerate each other. The use of the squirt bottle has gone down significantly! Blackberry is doing well.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Status
A few quick updates.
Anna is asking about God:
-Can God see me?
-Why can't I see God?
-Why does he watch me?
-What about angels?
I'm sure these questions are a result about the God stuff they talk at her Lutheran school. I told her God is invisible. When she asked why I told her because he is energy and you can't see energy itself but you can see the result of energy. She asked when can she see God and I told her people can see God when they die. She giggled at that and seemed satisfied!
Then why is God watching me? I told her God and angels watch her to help keep her safe. She asked how do they do that and I told her that they tell her quietly when something looks not safe and they help her decide not to do things that aren't safe. I told her that's why she shouldn't be scared of monsters (her foremost fear) and also because they're just pretend anyway.
Right? Well there's obviously more to this that's best saved for later.
She asked if God likes her because she's cute! I told her God loves her because she is kind and loving and sweet. She says, "AND CUTE?!" I told her God doesn't care what she looks like. And she was bummed about that :)
These are super great questions! I love it! How powerful to know that she has a few angels/spirit guides/call-it-what-you-want helping her along in life if she learns to listen to them. Sometimes life is noisy. Wouldn't it have been great to grow up as a kid with that knowledge?
I have seen time and again and experienced time and again in my daily activities guidance and answers from something other than within. I have no doubt the great inventors and those who excel in their passion or fulfill their goals in life do so with lots of outside help in addition to their own inner drive.
What a powerful thing to know as a kid: if you have a life's goal and recognize it, the power is available from many different places for you to achieve it.
Anna is asking about God:
-Can God see me?
-Why can't I see God?
-Why does he watch me?
-What about angels?
I'm sure these questions are a result about the God stuff they talk at her Lutheran school. I told her God is invisible. When she asked why I told her because he is energy and you can't see energy itself but you can see the result of energy. She asked when can she see God and I told her people can see God when they die. She giggled at that and seemed satisfied!
Then why is God watching me? I told her God and angels watch her to help keep her safe. She asked how do they do that and I told her that they tell her quietly when something looks not safe and they help her decide not to do things that aren't safe. I told her that's why she shouldn't be scared of monsters (her foremost fear) and also because they're just pretend anyway.
Right? Well there's obviously more to this that's best saved for later.
She asked if God likes her because she's cute! I told her God loves her because she is kind and loving and sweet. She says, "AND CUTE?!" I told her God doesn't care what she looks like. And she was bummed about that :)
These are super great questions! I love it! How powerful to know that she has a few angels/spirit guides/call-it-what-you-want helping her along in life if she learns to listen to them. Sometimes life is noisy. Wouldn't it have been great to grow up as a kid with that knowledge?
I have seen time and again and experienced time and again in my daily activities guidance and answers from something other than within. I have no doubt the great inventors and those who excel in their passion or fulfill their goals in life do so with lots of outside help in addition to their own inner drive.
What a powerful thing to know as a kid: if you have a life's goal and recognize it, the power is available from many different places for you to achieve it.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Colorado 2011: Year 3
With Anna getting older there's more cool stuff she can do on our yearly Colorado trip.
Year 1 was marked by repeat Yo Gabba Gabba episodes with Jack Black and her hatred of life jackets. Oh and also there were bears.
Year 2 was marked by constant recital of her favorite nursery rhyme book and the joy of peeing on the side of the road. And also she rode her first real trail rides on a horse (double) in Colorado.
This year it was about rocks and her excitement of peeing in the little porta-John bags. Oh and also she rode her own big horse on her first one hour trail ride in the mountains with us.
Getting her to wear a helmet only worked after the wrangler braided her hair so pretty! And I also wore the helmet to set a good example. Yes there's a picture. It resides on Paul's phone.
And also rocks. Did I mention that? Rock finding, rock games, rock ID. ROCKS, PEOPLE! And Colorado is fortunately loaded with them. Pretty ones. I now know what calcite and obsidian is. And also aventurite. Look what I learned!
Tent Prep at the M Lazy C ranch
We were *those parents* when we realized Anna was wearing those obnoxious light up shoes in the dim cave tours. OK the tour group actually thought they were handy and funny (good sports) but I did pick her up and hold her during the "look how dark it is in a cave" bit they did when they turned off all lights.
Cave of the Winds. She kept looking for bears :)
Meanwhile, back at the ranch (Houston Homestead) We were getting texts from TJ and the construction guys regarding the progress of our back patio while we were gone.
Back in Colorado...
We got to ride on the Cripple Creek Rail. This was a neat little ride through old mining towns. Check out the shot of the old mines versus the new here. The new is the huge tan wall structure going across the top of the mountain. I think the old are obvious.
We topped it off with a "family float" rafting ride on the Arkansas River which was awesome but too tame for Anna who kept asking when we were going over the waterfall. Again with the helmet. Again I play along. The only adult to look ridiculous enough to wear a helmet on the family float. Anna will have to be 5 before she gets to ride a rafting trip that really DOES warrant a helmet. By the way, the helmet was actually optional on both the horse AND the raft trip by the companies. But mandatory by me.
We have some cute rafting photos but they're on a CD and I'm blogging this from my phone so there's. 75% chance I may not ever get around to posting them. Ok I will.
Anna really liked everything Native American we came across, including the music and the dancing.
On the trip home we took the route to Austin where Anna is staying with my mom and sister etc for the week. While paul and i were still there she beat the table at UNO. She has been worthy competition for Paul although she hasn't developed the cruelness factor that comes in the UNO strategy.
Since Paul and I left, The text images have been rolling in:
Complete with chips in lap. This perplexes me since out of the 32 hours on the road total to and from CO, she didn't snooze once in the car seat.
Gaudy and bedazzled. My mom bought her this and apparently 3 more in the same gaudiness range.
Accessed my mom's jewelry box:
I understand She got a pedicure today, complete with chair massage.
And her lunch was fun from the looks of this:
Note to self and others:
M Lazy C Ranch = awesome
Historic Triple B Ranch (we did a cabin) = Avoid!
Grey Wolf Ranch in Victor = nice but pricey. That's luxury.
We were going to camp in a tee pee when we got to Grey Wolf but for $100/ night and fire restrictions we were afraid we'd freeze our butts off at 10,000 ft so we rented an uber expensive cabin instead. Maybe next year we'll do tee-pee but for $100 to sleep on dirt we should at least be able to build a fire!
Well there's that. It's Tuesday now and time is flying. Well that and literally I'm on an airplane right now headed for NASA Ames. Quick trip! I'm trying to ground myself until late September. And teaching starts next Monday.
Woot!
Year 1 was marked by repeat Yo Gabba Gabba episodes with Jack Black and her hatred of life jackets. Oh and also there were bears.
Year 2 was marked by constant recital of her favorite nursery rhyme book and the joy of peeing on the side of the road. And also she rode her first real trail rides on a horse (double) in Colorado.
This year it was about rocks and her excitement of peeing in the little porta-John bags. Oh and also she rode her own big horse on her first one hour trail ride in the mountains with us.
Getting her to wear a helmet only worked after the wrangler braided her hair so pretty! And I also wore the helmet to set a good example. Yes there's a picture. It resides on Paul's phone.
And also rocks. Did I mention that? Rock finding, rock games, rock ID. ROCKS, PEOPLE! And Colorado is fortunately loaded with them. Pretty ones. I now know what calcite and obsidian is. And also aventurite. Look what I learned!
Tent Prep at the M Lazy C ranch
We were *those parents* when we realized Anna was wearing those obnoxious light up shoes in the dim cave tours. OK the tour group actually thought they were handy and funny (good sports) but I did pick her up and hold her during the "look how dark it is in a cave" bit they did when they turned off all lights.
Cave of the Winds. She kept looking for bears :)
Meanwhile, back at the ranch (Houston Homestead) We were getting texts from TJ and the construction guys regarding the progress of our back patio while we were gone.
Back in Colorado...
We got to ride on the Cripple Creek Rail. This was a neat little ride through old mining towns. Check out the shot of the old mines versus the new here. The new is the huge tan wall structure going across the top of the mountain. I think the old are obvious.
We topped it off with a "family float" rafting ride on the Arkansas River which was awesome but too tame for Anna who kept asking when we were going over the waterfall. Again with the helmet. Again I play along. The only adult to look ridiculous enough to wear a helmet on the family float. Anna will have to be 5 before she gets to ride a rafting trip that really DOES warrant a helmet. By the way, the helmet was actually optional on both the horse AND the raft trip by the companies. But mandatory by me.
We have some cute rafting photos but they're on a CD and I'm blogging this from my phone so there's. 75% chance I may not ever get around to posting them. Ok I will.
Anna really liked everything Native American we came across, including the music and the dancing.
On the trip home we took the route to Austin where Anna is staying with my mom and sister etc for the week. While paul and i were still there she beat the table at UNO. She has been worthy competition for Paul although she hasn't developed the cruelness factor that comes in the UNO strategy.
Since Paul and I left, The text images have been rolling in:
Complete with chips in lap. This perplexes me since out of the 32 hours on the road total to and from CO, she didn't snooze once in the car seat.
Gaudy and bedazzled. My mom bought her this and apparently 3 more in the same gaudiness range.
Accessed my mom's jewelry box:
I understand She got a pedicure today, complete with chair massage.
And her lunch was fun from the looks of this:
Note to self and others:
M Lazy C Ranch = awesome
Historic Triple B Ranch (we did a cabin) = Avoid!
Grey Wolf Ranch in Victor = nice but pricey. That's luxury.
We were going to camp in a tee pee when we got to Grey Wolf but for $100/ night and fire restrictions we were afraid we'd freeze our butts off at 10,000 ft so we rented an uber expensive cabin instead. Maybe next year we'll do tee-pee but for $100 to sleep on dirt we should at least be able to build a fire!
Well there's that. It's Tuesday now and time is flying. Well that and literally I'm on an airplane right now headed for NASA Ames. Quick trip! I'm trying to ground myself until late September. And teaching starts next Monday.
Woot!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
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