Wow, I’m not sure why you would have a land line anymore, there are so many options, and I had this little guy pop up today.
Google is now allowing free, yes FREE phone calls to be placed domestically via gmail talk. So if you lost your cell phone, or you want to ditch the landline, get your contacts in order in your gmail, and start calling away. Might be time to invest in a USB wireless headset so you can roam around the house while talking for free.
Anyone else seeing this update? Using it?
Hello, blue Kool-Aid tongues! Ah, good ol’ summertime. I’d bought a few packets of Kool-Aid to make scented play dough (I don’t recommend it; it’s too sticky). Chase later convinced me to make a pitcher of it for them and a friend to drink, and I gave in (you know, to be a “fun mom”). They each tried some, and when my back was turned, they attempted to pour some more into their cups.
However, as they poured it, the lid suddenly popped off of the pitcher! It spilled and splattered! Absolutely everywhere. I got them to help wipe it up a little, but basically, I found myself mopping up an entire pitcher of sugary Kool-Aid that was ALL over my kitchen. It really had splashed everywhere… aaahh! So despite the cute blue tongue photos, we’ll be taking a break from the whole Kool-Aid idea for a while!
It seems like everyone around me is really busy, zipping around everywhere! But we’re not very busy! I don’t know what I’m missing out on, but I think it’s mainly because we still just have little kids. We do lots of things, but I like the fact that practically everything we do is flexible and optional! My intention is not to brag here, just to say that we’re still in a time of life when things are slow-paced. I’m just cherishing this time when life is not too chaotic in terms of obligations, schedules, and fitting things in.
Chase is just about to start soccer (with Daddy as his team’s coach!) as well as preschool, so I know that we’ll be a little busier, but not really; life will still be relatively simple.
We generally enjoy playing outside, spending time with family and friends, making things in the kitchen, and trying new art projects.
Sometimes prequels are really cool, and sometimes really lame. Usually they try to show some back story that is either interesting or that didn’t have enough time in the original. Well you might have caught Inception this year. I watched the prequel last night. It’s called Dreamscape and it was filmed in 1984. Please check it out since the trailer wasn’t embeddable. Available on Netflix streaming.
Great news. My favorite ad is also the favorite ad of a billion other people. And that makes me part of the trend setters.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1125919467?bctid=407632373001
Check out the above video to see some impressive stats on just HOW effective this campaign, and that response campaign was. If you don’t watch it… let me sum it up for you. History book worthy amazing!
I’m on a horse.
I am very pleased right now! The weather has been in the 80s all week, which is perfect. Pace has fixed a lot of random things lately; I’m so grateful for a handy, techie husband. My house is almost totally clean, laundry is under control. Yes, that’s an accomplishment. Kids were cooperative and helpful today, lots of hugs. Both kids were asleep at 8:15pm, even though hubby wasn’t home to help get them to bed. All of these successes aren’t always the case, so I celebrate when things are so orderly around here!
Our yard is looking wonderful. Pace does a great job keeping the lawn mowed, despite his allergies. I love when he mows it diagonally; it looks professionally done! We got the 800 sq. ft. concrete patio done on the north side of our house– yet another home improvement project that sucks up the money, but will add value to the eventual resale of our house! We still have some weeds in our backyard, but I’m hoping that the Round-Up I just sprayed will help with that.
Today was a great day! I cleaned a little in the morning, then Becky and her 4 beautiful children came over to visit. She got a new “SwaggerWagon”–she’s such a hip mom. (If you don’t understand the term SwaggerWagon, please find the video on youtube and watch it.) I love when Becky and I get to talk– she’s an amazing mother to her kids, and such a fun person, too.
Later, Charlotte napped while Chase watched a movie and I took care of random things. Then we had neighbor friends over to play in the backyard for a while. Next we baked homemade chicken nuggets, then went for a walk and bought some little bracelets from our friends selling them on the side of the road. We talked for a while, because we just love the Fears– they’re very service-oriented and hard-working, yet they don’t complain about all they have to do. They’re just very enjoyable to hang out with.
It was an ordinary type of day. There were not many injuries or tears, which is always a good thing. I can see how there’s a lot of beauty and so much to be thankful for in a simple, uneventful day!
Hey, is anyone thinking of signing up to receive the Joy School lessons and materials from www.valuesparenting.com? (I highly recommend this program.)
If you are going to sign up, please mention my username when you’re filling out the form online. It is ”mcculloj”. If you do this, nothing drastic will happen, except that you will receive $5 off your order and I will receive a small commission from you signing up. Not bad, eh? Thanks!
I think I need to watch this little video every day.
Chase and his friend were talking in the back seat of the car today, and I couldn’t believe what I overheard!
Chase: “Just make sure you don’t persecute me.”
Friend:: “Huh?”
Chase: “Persecute” means you’re being bad to someone. In a movie, the man was being bad, and Jesus came to the man and said, ‘Why do you persecute me?’ And then he made the man go blind.”
Me: “Oh yeah, that was Alma the Younger. Jesus made him go blind because he was naughty.”
Chase: “Yeah, that’s who it was. Jaxon, how would you feel if Jesus came to you and said, ‘Why do you persecute me, Jaxon?’”
(silence)
Friend: “Um, we have a barbequer in our back yard.”
It was so funny! I am always glad when Chase remembers something he learned at home or at church. It makes me feel like all is not lost. We haven’t been the best at consistently reading scripture stories to our kids. We remember to do it a few times a week and we have Family Home Evening regularly, but I know that we should read scripture stories daily as a family. I know that this can improve all of our behavior and will invite the Spirit into our home.
In the Ensign magazine this month, there’s a very good talk by Elder Hales on p.30 called “Our Parental Duty to God and to the Rising Generation.” It’s a wake-up call! I like how it reminds us to take advantage of regular “teaching moments” as they arise. There’s also a helpful article on p.12 that offers ideas for “Teaching our Children from the Scriptures.” I know that these are the most important things that we can teach our children in life and that they will make a difference in our homes. Anyone have helpful hints or ideas on teaching children the gospel?
Yesterday, Chase was going outside to play with friends. As he was slamming the door, I called after him, “I love you!” He heard this and opened the door again to quickly respond, “I love you, too!” And slammed the door again. I was pleased as punch. As if that wasn’t enough, he then opened the door once more to eloquently state,
“I love you as tight as a bird can hold you.”
(Followed by another slamming of the door.) I felt honored to receive such an expression of love, even though I didn’t quite understand what it meant. But we’ve been watching BBC’s Galapagos, on which he’s seen (in Blu-Ray glory) Bald Eagles snatch up rabbits or strangle iguanas in their talons and carry them up into the sky. And those birds are really holding on tight! All I can guess is that he sensed an intensity coming from that bird’s grasp which, to him, resembled the intensity of his love for me. What a sweet, poetic boy!