So because I am lazy but still want to post more than I do I decided to do Music Monday. Super original right? I also LOVE music so there is that :) My tastes are super super varied. I listen to just about all of it. Country, pop, classical, rock, and even some rap.
I stumbled upon this song and I really love it and play it over and over. My kids want to listen to Alvin & the Chipmunks but there are only so many times I can hear that before I want to throw it out the window. It almost took flight last week. So I have been declaring large portions of time these days
as "mommy music time".
I love the song because it is just upbeat and happy. I smile every time I hear it. I also love the lyrics.
Make You Smile by Catherine Papworth
We know nobody's perfect
We all gotta work at it
No one can see you, show us the real you
Oh and I just want to see you smile,
So hang with me awhile and soon you'll be laughing out loud
Stand up child because better things are coming your way
Sing it out loud no matter what they all say
Those are part of the lyrics. I like it because I am really trying to teach my kids right now some of those very things. No one is perfect and we are all trying to do better. Stand up, be yourself no matter what. I think being confident in being you is one of the key things a child needs to learn, feel and do. I am in my thirties and I still work at being comfortable in my own skins sometimes or in new situation. I struggle and I don't want them to do it so if a song can help that is fabulous.
Here are two links to the song. It is much better if you can hear it rather than just read about it but I had a hard time finding a really good link so here is two. One is a live recording.
If you have a song that you are loving right now leave the title and artist in the comments so I can check it out. Hope your week brings you lots of smiles!
So when summer rolled around I was ready to do nothing for a week or two because I was exhausted from the end of the year running. We did that well.
I then read several great blogs about summer schedules and thought it was genius... we don't do well here left to our own devices at times.
So I made a plan, at least in my head & we did not do it in June. I blame this partly on my husband's business trip (I am very good at rationalizing my lazy & poor behavior/parenting).
For July I had big plans. Well it is now the 26th and well we have not done so well this month either. The boys are playing a lot and well together more times than expected which is great. But, we have not tried a new recipe each week with them helping me cook nor done an art day each week or the other things we had planned. But I still have time people and I will make some of this stuff happen even if it kills us all :)
In other failure news here is this tidbit. Last night at about 11:30 when I was checking my email and getting ready to blog (the hubs was super excited about that by the way) I said, " I need to pick when I am doing book club ... I could do it this day before school starts but then we have only been in the new house like a week so I probably won't be ready or I could do it the week school starts but will that be okay with people?" And Bill said, "What?" So I explained it all again and he was looking at me like I was insane so I said, "What? What do you think?" He said well I would go with the second since the first one is my birthday. Then he walked/stalked away... and I was yelling, " I would have remembered soon ya know"
In my defense it was late, I was tired and had only had 2 cokes that day. In his defense he has every right to be super irritated because he always wants to go to bed early and I never do, I often forget important dates like our anniversary, his birthday and lastly I am not great at birthdays. I would be irritated too. In fact if he mistakenly was thinking of planning something on my birthday I would probably flip out...he just looked at me like I was nuts. Because I am.
So honey when/if you read this I am sorry that you are married to such a flaky night owl. Much love!
Big plans for August people ... BIG plans :)
Oh and since I am so good at making plans and sticking to them I am going to do a list of 101 things in 1001 days. I discovered the idea via Joyce who found it via her daughter Shannon. Who wants to join in and see if we can accomplish something? Or 101 things :)
I am super excited for the Olympics to start. I love watching the opening and closing ceremonies and seeing the athletes do amazing things. Wasn't it amazing what Michael Phelps did? I think we all become a bit entranced by various aspects of it. I look forward to sharing parts of it with my kids this year who are getting older and starting to be interested in sports & things besides Nick Jr. If you are new & are unfamiliar with the drill, read my answers, leave me a comment, then head over to Joyce's great blog where you can link in or find other great blogs to check out.
1. The Summer Olympics officially begin this Friday...will you be watching? If you could see just one event in person which one would you pick?
Just one huh? Well.....I think Gymnastics because I use to do gymnastics and I am fascinated by the strength they have & how they flip around. We have a friend who got tickets for synchronized swimming and is not super excited but I think that would also be pretty cool.
2. Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?
Well I am lazy so many days are lazy days...lol. But, I really only like planned lazy days and it being an actual lazy day where you get to read all day or have a movie marathon. If you can't do that and really enjoy it and unwind that I feel unproductive.
3. July 25 is 'officially' Threading the Needle day...can you sew? On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being not at all and 10 being Betsy Ross-like, how would you rate your skill with a needle and thread?
I can sew barely. I can do straight lines well :) I wish I had really stuck with sewing lessons as a child and I am working on picking it back up. I would rate my skill as a 4.
4. Threading the Needle can also mean to walk a fine line between two things or issues (think awkward social situation). When was the last time you had to 'thread the needle', figuratively speaking?
Well, the one that sticks out the most in my mind is the following tale. I was getting ready to go to a work dinner with my husband & when I was getting dressed he said, "that ribbon belt makes your dress weird" but I wore it anyway. Then after the dinner his boss, (who had been gone for a few months in his defense) said, "So when is this happening" and pointed to my stomach. I had no idea what he was talking about initially. He said, "oh come on you know these things do have a time limit" and I still was clueless. So I was looking really confused and I said, "what Sir?" and he said, "the baby". I replied, "he is three months old" In the meantime my good friend who had quickly caught on had walked away laughing hysterically while I stood there with no idea what was happening. The guy once he realized what had happened was more embarrassed then me I think and apologized and left very quickly. In the moment I was just embarrassed that I still looked so pregnant which I had not realized I guess in that dress & now it is just something to laugh about.
5. Kidney, pinto, black, or navy-your favorite bean?
Black beans.
6. Have you ever hosted a garage sale? Was it more success or bust?
Yes I have. I have had success and bust ones. I think if you can do it with another person it can be good because then you have a variety of items and help. Plus it just depends on location & weather. I think the best ones I have been to have been community sales where there are a lot of people.
7. What makes you roll your eyes?
Currently my husband who is giving me lip about finishing this at 11:30pm rather than go to bed.
8. Random Thought....
I am losing the battle of the soda war again. My husband and I were talking last night about if we just don't buy it then we don't drink it. He said he would not buy anymore and I looked at him like he was crazy I am sure. I was thinking I don't think you want me off my meds like that when we are getting ready to move. Yes I refer to soda as my meds, my kids refer to it as "mommy juice". So today of course I was out so I went and bought more and found myself thinking well when we move I will quit. Then I think well once we get all unpacked and settled I will quit and then after that I am sure I will find another excuse and another deadline. It is just so hard to stop drinking it and I don't want to be that person who gives in and just keeps doing it. Sigh. We shall see. Soda won the battle today but it will not win the war :)
So I have not been posting because I have not been inside so much as outside at places like this:
{picture not the greatest but I snapped it really quick on my phone the other night}
Because the weather is beautiful right now.
It is warm, it is sunny, it is not raining & so we have to be outside every second that we can because in a blink it will be gone. My house was even hot the other night. Hot! I could not believe it was so hot we all had a hard time going to sleep. Opening the windows, turning on the fans early in the evening to cool the house down is a new concept around here & I am loving every second of it.
So, until the weather turns I again I will be an infrequent visitor because as a wise woman I know said something like, "I will pick real life and being outside every time".
That is not an exact quote from Natalie because I could not find the post where she said that but I remember the gist of it being burned into my brain when I read it. Because she was so right and I had not been doing that. I had not been seizing those moments with my kids like I should have... but I am now.
*If I find the post I will link it here. You shoudl go check out her blog though because she is an amazing photographer and incredible person. I keep trying to lure her here to England but so far no such luck :) Natalie if you read this you need to come !!!!!!
TODAY
MOSTLY CLOUDY
HIGH67°
LOW56°
TOMORROW
CLOUDY
HIGH73°
LOW57°
FRIDAY
MOSTLY SUNNY
HIGH68°
LOW50°
See that! Amazing :) And no 67 & 68 is not hot in most places but here it is :) And it has been over 70 a few days.
1. The Summer Olympics begin next week and London is playing host. If you had the chance to go in person which (non-Olympic) London site would you most like to visit?
Well we have been to London but I would like to go back and walk around more and see many things. I would really like to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace & I would like to check out the museums.
2. What is something in your life right now that feels like an Olympic event?
Getting all three of my kids & myself ready quickly and then out the door to be on time to anything. Or I could really say getting them to do anything lately. Getting them to pick up without whining, getting them to play nicely together, I think I would also add taking care of our dog.
3. What's your favorite supper to prepare and serve when it's too hot to cook?
Cereal? Okay if you want me to actually put some effort into it I would probably make for the grownups chef salad and for the kids I would grill hot dogs, have a veggie tray & some fruit.
4. July 18th is National Get Out of the Doghouse Day...when was the last time you were 'in the doghouse'?
I am sure I have never been in the doghouse :) And if I had ever been there I would plead the 5th.
5. What television advertisement do you find particularly irritating or inappropriate? You may not answer with 'all of them'. I know some of you were thinking about it.
I find the game Doggy Doo game disgusting and I despise when the commercial comes on because my kids crack up & want to get it. It will never happen. I told them if they want to pick up dog poop we have a backyard full of it go for it. Here is a link if you are not sure what I am talking about and curious.
6. Share one piece of interesting news from the year you were born.
Apple Computers was formed that year.
7. What's the best part of your average day?
Bedtime. No in all seriousness I love after breakfast, when I get to sit and cuddle up with my boys and read. Everyone is happy in the morning generally. 4pm until dinner hour is probably my least favorite part because everyone is hungry, whiny, cranky and tired - myself included.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I have been watching Downton Abbey and I find myself wanting to scream at the tv... just marry Mathew for heavens sake! And I really want to take Mary & Edith and knock their heads together and yell, "grow up already!" Love the show. Anyone else watching it?
Now hop on over to Joyce's fab blog From This Side of the Pond to play along and/or to read other people's fun answers.
It's Okay that I don't have enough hangers to hang my kids clothes so I am going to buy more, rather than do the work of cleaning out their closets.
It's Okay that my new iPhone does not seem to have coverage at the house we are soon moving to.
It's Okay that I had to say for the 100th time, "do not hit your brother in the nuts with a light saber"
It's Okay that my children thought it was opposite day and disregarded most of my instructions this afternoon. And by most I mean all.
It's Okay that we are so unaccustomed to sun here that on Sunday when it was a mere 60 something I was actually hot at one point.
It's Okay that after like an hour of actual light on my face it was slightly sunburned & it looks like I have the complexion of a vampire.
It's Okay that when I watch Downton Abbey I just want to grab Edith & Mary's heads and crack them together and yell "grow up both of you".
It's Okay that even with all the "venting" I do I realize that my life is pretty sweet. I have an amazing husband, fabulous friends & family, gorgeous kids who love me even if they act like howler monkeys.
It's Okay that you are now leaving my blog because my rant is over :) Hop on over to
So we were out and about on a walk the other night, enjoying one of the rare breaks from the rain and my little one (or as I like to call him as of late "The Instigator") yelled out, "Mom look it is Jesus's Castle"
So I have a list and you do not want to make "the list". It is not a good thing. Previously on my list was the creator of bunk beds. Yes bunk beds are great if you don't have a lot of space but changing the sheets of the top bunk is not easy or fun & it makes me mutter swear words in Serbian which means I am really really frustrated.
Now added to the list, the person who invented Legos. I have a love/loathe relationship with Legos as I am sure most mothers do. We are happy that our kids love to play with them and the creativity they foster as they dream up countless ways to build and rebuild with them. Then there are the times that you get to clean them all up because they "forgot" or when you step on one that was missed in the middle of the night, or when you are carrying a huge laundry basket, etc. Not fun. Those things are annoying for sure but what brought about my loathing you ask?
See this empty bucket? It normally contains hundreds of Legos. The tiny ones.
Legos such as these:
Well one day while my son got sick..... in the Lego bucket. Imagine my joy that he got so worked up throwing a tantrum that he yakked into the Lego bucket & now I get to clean it.
So sadly I have experience in cleaning Legos but that is a whole other story. (Previously also they were the huge Duplo blocks which are MUCH easier to clean) so I knew what steps to take.
1) Fill tub up part way with water and soap.
2) Dump Legos In and swish around.
3) Wipe out bucket and let dry.
4) Swish Legos around again, try not puke yourself as chunks float by.
5) Lay out towels in master bedroom floor.
6) Get colander and bowl.
7) Load colander with Legos, rinse off under faucet, drain and carry colander in bowl to towels and dump Legos on towels.
8) Repeat a thousand times.
9) When all Legos have finally been removed from tub, drain and clean.
10) Place fan to blow on Legos to speed drying time.
11) Re-arrange Legos periodically to ensure complete drying.
12) When finally dry 24hrs or so later... pick all Legos back up and replace bucket.
13) While you are doing things take many calming breaths so you can still with your still upset child & other two kids who all of a sudden are quite needy and insane dog who all of a sudden is VERY interested in the bathtub.
14) Try not to curse your husband who is away on business.
15) Apply several coats of lotion to now destroyed raisin hands.
Repeat process one week later when there is another freak Lego incident. I don't want to talk about that one at all other than to say it BEST not happen again.
*If you have to clean the big Legos it is easier because you dump them into the tub with soap and water, pull the drain after they soak for a bit and then rinse them off with the shower nozzle, them transfer them to a towel, much faster and easier than the colander method needed for tiny Legos.
Well it is time for the weekly Hodge Podge brought to us by the lovely Joyce at
From This Side of the Pond. I am grateful at the material she provides week after week to get my brain going in a new direction. Hop on over to her blog & join in if you have not already done so and I hope to see you back here soon!
1. How often do you check the weather? How do you check the weather?
Well I think usually I just look out the window in the mornings & see what it looks like and go from there. Here in England though, the weather is a bit fickle so it may look sunny and by the time you get dressed, downstairs and ready to walk out the door the rain has started. You quickly learn a few things: 1) dress in layers, 2) be ready for anything & 3) if you are waiting for great weather to go do something you might never leave your house.
Having said all that, we have been having buckets of rain. (Supposedly more rain than they have had in like a 100 yrs in June - yay) So I have been checking the weather on yahoo each day to see if it says anything besides rain for days on end. The sun is currently out and the ground is dry which is amazing so I am going to run quickly through this so I can drag the kids out for a walk.
2. Since this is Volume 84 of the Wednesday Hodgepodge, and since I got married in 1984, and since I'm attending a wedding this weekend, it only seems right to post something related here.
"Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life." Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Agree or Disagree? Why?
I think I disagree. I don't think happiness is a matter of chance. I think so much of happiness comes from what you make. You can't choose what happens all the time in your life but you can choose how you respond. I try to choose to be happy no matter what & when I am living that way (which is not always easy) then I am happier, therefore everyone around me is as well.
I also don't agree with, " it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life."
I think that yes there are going to be things about the other person maybe you didn't know or things that annoy you that if you love the person enough you just deal with. But, better to know as much as you can and have important conversations about things prior to becoming super involved or married. Some things people can overcome and some things you just can't. Better to know beforehand.
3. Do you like to dance? Have you ever taken dance lessons?
I do love to dance. The boys & I put on music all the time and dance around the living room. I think I am pretty good but the reality is probably more like Elaine from Seinfield. I am sure I took some type of dance classes when I was really small but where I grew up there where not a lot of options.
4. Fresh from the oven peach pie or homemade peach ice cream. Pick one.
Peach pie. Yummo!!
5. Should people accept unfairness and learn to make the best of it?
Maybe my answer is based on the fact that my three year old is constantly whining, "that's not fair" like he knows what he is talking about when in most cases he does not.
I think people need to learn the difference maybe between unfair and unjust. Life sadly is not fair & you do have to make the best of it. Sometimes though something happens that is unjust and you do need to take a stand. One thing I notice with my boys is they think they all need the same thing. If one gets invited to a party they all want to go, if one goes with their Dad to the store & gets a treat they all want one. Well, it is okay for your brother to go to a party by himself. Sometimes you will by yourself. You chose not to go with your Dad and so maybe you can go next time and get a treat. I try to teach them you don't need all the same things & that is okay. It does not make it "unfair" just different. I also want them to learn the difference between them whining about something that seems unfair or something that truly is not fair and is possibly unjust.
6. The top five all time summer blockbuster movies (released between May and August and grossing at least 100 million dollars) are Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars (the original), Ghostbusters, and E.T. Which one's your favorite?
Ghostbusters. I think it is my sense of humor but some of the lines just crack me up. Plus I remember it the best.
7. If given the chance, would you like to visit the moon?
Not sure on that one. I would love to say that I would be super adventurous and go but I think I would sit back and wait for a few thousand people to check out first and then go :) Maybe :) Of course if my husband wanted to go he might talk me into it like he did that ridiculous ride on top of the Stratosphere in Vegas. That was a mistake I will not repeat.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Well I have started the new blog & my goal is to post 5 times a week. If you followed my other blog I hope you will hop over here & start to follow this one because Rudd Family Circus is about to go private. It will become a place where our family back home will go to look at pictures of our kids not read my crazy thoughts. I nearly went with my husband's suggestions of "Krista's Crazy Koolaide - Drink It" which I really liked but opted for Mindless Ramblings instead. I often feel like I am rambling on here but I am okay with that. If I am writing I am happy even if it makes no sense to anyone but me at times :)
So I wanted to start a new blog for several reasons:
1) for some reason my other blog is messed up & when you post no matter how you set the text it does it own thing sometimes and it really really drives me crazy
2) I wanted to keep some of our family things separate from the other fun things I participate in like Hodge Podge or It's Okay Tuesday or just my rants.... I want my other blog to be for my kids to look back on and see their story...not mine. Plus some family reads that & I imagine they are primarily interested in what we are up to travel wise and our children. Not me and my crazy :)
3) I get bored & so I thought why not start a whole other one. The two I don't blog on now are just not enough. (Read that last line with a heavy dose of sarcasm in your voice)
4) I probably have more reasons but it is currently not raining so I want to hurry and post this post and one other and then we are running outside before the rain starts again. Which it will.
Thanks for coming by & I hope that you will become a regular visitor.
