New Look

I think it's time to give SwindleFun a new look.

This green is getting tired.

True Love

Zeke often comes into our room at night, crying.

It is usually related to growing pains in his arms and legs. I give him a tablet Tylenol, he climbs into our bed, and he falls asleep about 15 minutes later when the medicine kicks in.

Sometimes he is scared of strange shapes in the dark. He gets that from Jeremy, who doesn't like the dark because dark = lurking wolf waiting to eat you.


(No matter why he comes in, he is required to use the toilet before approaching my bed.)

The other night I asked him why he had come in to sleep with me.

Here is his explanation:

"Because I am the only one who loves you, Mommy."

Converted

I have always been satisfied with Shout as my primary stain remover. It works very well.

But, being fun, I like to try new things.

So I picked up some Oxyclean powder when I saw it on sale just before Thanksgiving.

I have been using it as a stain-removing soak.

Verdict: this stuff is amazing. So far, it has removed pomegranate, chocolate milk from two years ago, old grease stains, mystery stains on two of Jeremy's work shirts, ring around the collar, and blue ink from a year ago.

It did not remove axle grease from the Bobcat that someone parked in the church parking lot.

Gross

When I picked up Zeke from preschool yesterday, he asked me about my "new tire."

I told him I didn't have a new tire, but Dad did (tire puncture = new tire).

About two hours later, I looked out my kitchen window and saw what he meant.

It was one of those stomach-lurching moments.

I had lost a hubcap.

This may not seem like a big deal, but when you drive a 1998 Camry with a gash in the left passenger front panel, the least you can do is keep all four hubcaps.

Nancy Knows

Jeremy has wonderful parents. It's always fun to learn things from them.

For example, I have always thought it odd that his mom buys a gallon of distilled water to do her ironing when she comes to town.

Until I tried it on Friday night. (That's what I did for amusement while Jeremy worked late.)

Would you believe that distilled water improves the ironing experience? It does!

The steam is hotter.

The iron glides more smoothly.

There is no occasional discharge from the iron.

The starch doesn't flake.

Thanks, Nancy!

He's Ours!

Zeke turned four on Christmas Eve. We put the Happy Birthday banner on the tree.

He requested, and was granted, a chocolate candy cane cake. I had never made ganache before. It was delicious. In fact, the whole chocolate peppermint cake was delicious.

He received some very nice gifts: balloons tied to the mailbox (he loves balloons), puzzles (he loves puzzles), Legos (he loves Legos), and a Cars 2 kite (he loves Cars and kites).

But the most exciting thing about his birthday happened today, January 6, 2012.

Today we made the final payment to the hospital for the bill we received after his birth.

Santa Still Came

I fear that some have misinterpreted my Santa post.

I'm not anti-Santa.

I do not try to destroy Santa-belief.

I do, in fact, think Santa is fun.

I even have a festive Santa decoration.

I just can't actively, enthusiastically tell Victor--when asked flat out--that Santa is real.

As proof: Santa came to our house.

He wrote the boys a letter, as Santa always does when he visits a SwindleHouse.

He left the boys some magical gifts. Victor got the world's best-ever delivery truck. Zeke got airplanes and a Where's Waldo? book. That Santa is so smart.



































Santa repaired two of our Bruder trucks with some spare parts he had in his sleigh.

Even I received a surprise from Santa: a mophie case for my phone. It's a case and battery all in one. Awesome when you have to be somewhere that you make heavy use of your phone but have no way to charge your phone. Like the science center.

Thanks, Santa!

2011 Resolution Account

My goal for 2011 was to improve my posture.

I accomplished my goal.

Here are some posture-related discoveries:

1. Good posture while sitting is the most difficult for me to achieve. It's so easy to slump in a seat! But better sitting posture is also the most rewarding because it enables one to play the piano without back aches.

2. Good posture requires constant vigilance. I suppose some people are born with good posture, but for me it is totally training-based. The minute I don't think about it, I slouch. Especially in a seat.

3. Unless I pay attention to my posture-correcting measures, I tend to over-correct, which looks ridiculous. Like a pigeon.

4. Practicing good posture got much easier over time as my posture muscles got stronger.

5. Improved posture was an excellent resolution. It is easy to measure, I could do it anywhere, and it improved my daily life.