My Real Life

October 16, 2009

Under Attack

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 7:07 am
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I’m going to start this post with a disclaimer.  I write some of my blogs ahead of time, and this is one of those blogs.  Those of you who live in my area were all shocked and dismayed to find snow falling from the sky yesterday.  A good amount of snow.

Some have even asked if today’s blog will be about the snow.  To that, I say no.

I am ignoring the snow from yesterday.  I don’t believe in snow in October.  It didn’t happen, as far as I am concerned.

And so, I continue with my autumn blogging.

 

You may think that living in the suburbs allows a certain amount of safety from the dangers of the world.

You may think that fall in the suburbs is just beautiful colors and raking leaves.

And part of that is true.

Here are some pictures of our yard.  It’s still early fall and everything hasn’t really changed as much as it will in a few weeks.

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Looks peaceful.  Looks like it will be a heck of a job to rake.  However, looks relatively safe.  Yes?

NO!!!

In the fall, we are constantly under attack.  We have to run from the front door to the car.  When the kids play outside, they need to wear helmets, because you never know when the missles will be flying.

What are these missles of which I speak?

Acorns.

I swept my deck the morning I took these next two photos.  I took these photos at 1:30 pm.

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It would be one thing if the acorns were just gently falling from the trees, but I am convinced that the squirrels and chipmunks are actually sitting in the trees, taking their aim and hurling them at us. 

My van has little dents in the roof and hood from being pelted from the acorns.

Monkey Girl was actually awoken the other night by a particularly loud load of acorns being thrust out of the trees at the house.

Look at the lawn!

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I don’t actually make them wear helmets, but we’ve all been hit in the head with the acorns and let me tell you, it’s not fun.

So, sure…come and visit us in the suburbs…but be careful.

You may be taking your life into your own hands.

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October 11, 2009

Real Sticky

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 9:23 am
Tags: , , , ,

So, I think the stress of the week finally caught up with me and by Friday, I was sick, sick, sick.

However, as those of you with kids know, being sick is not an option when there are little monkeys in the house.  So, I had to figure out what to do that required minimal effort on my part, but maximum time-eating-up on the part of the activity.

My genius idea?  Making caramel apples.

I had picked up this quick and easy package at ShopRite last weekend.

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We always have apples in the house, so I pulled out the package, washed off the apples, set it all on the counter and let the kids go to work.

First they all picked their apples.  Baby Monkey immediately began to eat his apple.

“But, Baby Monkey, if you eat your apple now, you won’t be able to put caramel on it!”

“I don’t like caramel.  I like apples with no sauce.”

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Okay Bubba…whatever you say.

From there, it was easy.

The big monkeys wrapped up their apples and put in the sticks…

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…placed them on the tray…

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…baked for 5 minutes at 200 degrees and Voila!

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Icky, sticky, gooey goodness.

I had a few bites, but it was way too sweet for my tastes, and now, just thinking about it makes me a little sick.  Does that ever happen to you?  You try something when you are sick and then, psychologically, whenever you try it again, it makes you sick since you were sick the first time you tried it?  Anyone?  Yes?  No?  Really?  I’m alone in this?

Let’s just forget that last paragraph.

Anyway, the whole caramel apple thing made the kids feel crafty, so Monkey Girl pulled out her quilt and started working on it…

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…and the boys went upstairs to the craft table and started making “Get Well Mommy” cards.

And me?  Well, I got to lay down and rest.  I put up my feet, closed my eyes and let myself begin to drift away.

For a full two minutes. 

Because of course, then the boys started yelling that someone got marker on someone else and he took my paper and Monkey Girl needed help taking out a mis-stitch and I realized it was time to get dinner started and there was still laundry to be put away.

So, up I got and started working.  Because really…how can you refuse a face like this?

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September 9, 2009

Feeling Real Crafty

Fall always sparks my creativity. 

It is my favorite season and I am definitely happiest in fall. 

To me, autumn is a time of nesting and getting the home prepared for the long winter ahead.  Must be my grandmothers farmer genes running through me.

Anyway, as I was home with Baby Monkey today, while we snuggled watching the Disney Channel, I pulled out my knitting needles and started knitting Monkey Girl a scarf for Christmas.  I made one for my Mom last year and Monkey Girl was envious.  So, I found some neat rainbow yarn and decided to knit one for her this year.  However, I just never started it.  So, today, I began.

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Monkey Girl is a creative little monkey, herself.  Last year, while I was making a lap quilt for my Mother (I did a lot of homemade gifts last year), Monkey Girl created a quilt for her American Girl doll.

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I think she did a GREAT job!  I was really proud of her. 

She’s also sewn her own pincushion and a pillow for her doll to go with the quilt.  This summer she started a quilt for herself.  She hasn’t picked it up in awhile, but I guarantee that tonight when I start working on a project of my own (can’t say what…that person might read this blog) that she’ll ask to get it out and start working on it again.

Monkey girl has also made her own greeting cards from a kit she bought awhile ago.

Here are a few:

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She has long since paid herself back for the kit and still has cards to sell.  She wants to set up a card stand at the end of the driveway one of these weekends.  Fine with me.  My little entrepreneur.

So, I’ve definitely got the autumn nesting, crafty bug.  Although I miss her like crazy when she goes to bed, I can’t wait until she goes to sleep so I can keep knitting.  I don’t care if I look like a granny, sitting and knitting while I watch tv.  It’s one of life’s simple pleasures for me.

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