Monthly Archives: February 2015

Kathy, Project 365

Old Fashioned

2 Comments

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to take my sweetie out for a date. One nice thing about having lots of children — your wife tends to be a pretty low-maintenance date — I can take Kathy pretty much anywhere if I’m willing to talk.

I settled on the movie Old Fashioned, which opened today. It was hard to find — only a few theaters in Washington are showing it. We had to drive up to Tukwila (about 40 minutes away).


Amber and Clay from the Old Fashioned movie.

The premise of the movie is that the young man (Clay) has rejected the superficiality of the ‘dating scene’ and is seeking to adhere to some ‘old fashioned’ boundaries in the way he treats women. For example, he won’t be alone with a girl (unless she’s his wife) which makes for some awkwardness when he needs to repair Amber’s stove (he gives her a blanket and an umbrella and has her wait outside while he works on it). Of course, as the movie unfolds, we find that both Clay and Amber are reacting against some pain in their past relationships.

We were a little late leaving home, and then there was an accident on I-5, so we missed the first few minutes of the film. I think it started pretty slowly, so hopefully we didn’t miss too much. It was an odd movie — strangely paced, and a bit gloomy for a fair bit of the time. I liked it, though, and it ended pretty well — I recommend it as a good date movie (some irony, there) if only for the discussion it may spark.

My Valentine

My pretty Valentine — she’s not usually this blurry, but hey, this IS Project 365, so you have to take what I have.

Afterward, we wanted to get something to eat, so we found a Mexican restaurant in the mall not far from the movie theater. Unfortunately, the entire population of Western Washington was also there (at the restaurant, not at the movie) and so we rapidly decamped. We found a much quieter restaurant close to home and finished the evening there.

All in all, it was a lovely chance to get away together. I’m so very glad that my Valentine is still my best friend, after 22 3/4 years of marriage.

Project 365, Day 44
Tim

Share or follow
Share

Related posts:

David, Holidays, Project 365, Sarah

Nutella Valentine Mailbox

4 Comments

Each year our homeschool co-op has a fun Valentine’s Day party. The halls or sides of the gym are lined with creative Valentine Day boxes – from small paper bags covered with hearts to large Dr. Who’s Tardis. Last year we made a tall Starbucks cup out of a laundry basket with a pvc pipe wrapped in green paper as the straw.

And we won a prize, oh yeah we did.

This year we decided to make something chocolately and silly in honor Tim.

A Nutella Valentine’s Day Mailbox

We started with a tall rectangle laundry basket – it was the perfect shape. We searched and searched for brown paper. Who knew that would be the difficult aspect of this venture. We went to The Dollar Store – no brown poster board or table cloths. Next, on to Michaels – no brown poster board or table cloths. Next a trip to Target. We looked again. Nothing. Seriously? Seriously? I suggested Good Will for a brown curtain or random piece of fabric. David thought maybe Hobby Lobby. Sigh. We’d already been to Michaels. Thankfully all of these stores are close by.

Laundry baskets are versatile - useful in so many ways!

Laundry baskets are versatile – useful in so many ways!

Of course, this was AFTER a long day of school, mentor visits, Trader Joe’s shopping, science projects and cooking at a friend’s house.

We decided we’d try Hobby Lobby and, if we couldn’t find anything brown, we’d switch to silver wrapping paper and make a large diet Coke can. Sarah didn’t want us to give up, but David and I needed a Plan B. Ha.

Hobby Lobby proved to be a treasure trove of BROWN products. Who knew! First we found a package of dark brown napkins on clearance. “I think we can wrap the laundry basket in napkins if we have to,” I told the kids. At this point they were ready to agree with anything just to get started. “Mom, you do realize it’s almost time for dinner and we haven’t STARTED making this?”

What’s your point, children? Dinner can wait, we have a mailbox to make! There are prizes on the line here.

After napkins we stumbled on 12×12 pages of scrapbook paper in the PERFECT shade of brown. We gathered enough to cover the basket and matched them to the napkins (just in case). Before checking out, we wandered around the store a little longer. In the clearance section, in the back aisle we found a collection of poster size paper. What color was on the bottom of the stack?? Beautiful brown. And on sale. Hooray. Jumping up and down in the middle of Hobby Lobby is totally normal, right?

We (okay I) designed some Nutella Valentine Day cards and printed them out. Sarah organized them all and then David taped a Pixy Stix to each card.We’ll put them into the mailboxes tomorrow during the party. We didn’t have the time to make homemade Nutella brownies or cookies, or the funds to buy little Nutella single packs for all 69 families (or the 167 kids) at our homeschool co-op. Even I draw the line at some point.

Homemade Valentines are so much fun!

Homemade Valentines are so much fun!

While the boys played computer games, Sarah and I wrapped the basket in the brown poster board. Using some leftover foam board, we made a lid (cutting a hole for Valentines and treats). Sarah divided a piece of white poster board into strips, drew on lines and fashioned an edge to our lid. After taping it all on, we printed out Nutella logos and even found a place where we could request personalized Nutella labels. The kids kept exclaiming over the tape, “Mom, this tape is amazing! It works so well.” Oh dear, I guess that Dollar Store tape we used at Christmas was NOT the best. LOL.

Sarah and David's personalized Nutella labels.

Sadly we are out of real Nutella.

Finally we were all done. So festive! We were all pleased with the final product! Maybe we’ll win some sort of a prize this year. I hope the kids will share it with me. ;)

The final product!

The might be a big enough Nutella jar even for Tim!

Project 365 – Day 43
Kathy

Share or follow
Share

Related posts:

AWANA, Project 365

Weary Wednesday

2 Comments

I was sitting in a comfortable chair, just starting to consider the prospect of going to bed, when Kathy dredged-up that fateful question:

“Did you take any pictures, today?” Kathy is a lot more committed to the Project 365 thing than I am, but we’ve divided it so that I ‘own’ all odd-numbered days.

I forgot that it was my day to blog. Feeling rebellious, I tried to weasel out of my responsibility.

“I don’t think I’ll blog. I’m too tired.” I tried (and failed) to keep a whine out of my voice.

I am always tired on Wednesdays. I get up early on those days to meet with my prayer and accountability group (we assemble at 6 a.m. at a local Panera’s). After work, I hurriedly get ready for AWANA, and then I’m “on” as a Drama leader and coach for the next several hours.

By the time I get home around 8:45 pm, I’m beat.

Three of my favorite dishwashers.

Three of my favorite dishwashers.

Fortunately, the kids wash any dishes that need to be washed, although tonight it looked like David got saddled with most of the work.

One of the reasons I am especially tired after AWANA is that I try to remember the kids names and some of their birthdays. With more than 80 kids in the Sparks and T&T programs, this gets pretty challenging. Last year, I had about 40 kids in the T&T program, and by the end of the year, I had their names and birthdays pretty well down. This year, not so much.

I write the kids' names and birthdays down in this notebook, but it doesn't seem to help, much.

I write the kids’ names and birthdays down in this notebook, but it doesn’t seem to help, much.

If I can’t guess their name (or if I consistently know their name, I switch to birthdays) then I have to give them a wooden nickel, which they can redeem for a can of soda. They pretty much swarm like piranhas around me after Council Time, and greatly enjoy it when I forget their names. I keep meaning to sit down and memorize the list of kids, but some of them consistently slip through the cracks of my memory.

Project 365, Day 42
Tim

Share or follow
Share

Related posts:

Daily Life, Project 365

Sunshine Amidst the Gray Day

3 Comments

The sun was out today! It’s hard not to celebrate. Maybe shed a tear or two.

Quick break from the math test to smile for a picture.

Quick break from the math test to smile for a picture.

I always wonder if people in other states (namely those in the south and south west) mark their days in an opposite fashion to WA residents.

“I remember we had a nice cloudy morning two weeks ago.”

Is that what someone in Phoenix or Sacramento says? Even in February, one of WA’s typical months of rain and gray days? Do they look at the 10-day forecast longingly, hoping for a break in the relentless sunshine?

Of course, my kids love the rainy weather.
Sigh. Born and bred Washingtonians.

“Mom, don’t you love this foggy, gray day?” And this without any trace of sarcasm. “Maybe it will rain later,” they say to one another hopefully. What is a sun seeking mother to do? Punish them? “Go to your rooms!” That doesn’t work; they just happily snuggle under covers and read their books.

David and Marco find a cozy spot.

David and Marco find a cozy spot.

When they were little, the children all thought it was summer if the sun peaked out from the gray blanket of winter skies.

Flip flops and shorts appear.

“What are you doing?” I would ask.
“Um, hello, the sun is out.” (The DUHHH was implied)
“Yes, but it’s January and cold.”
“I don’t think so, Mom, look” (pointing helpfully out the window), “the sun is shining.”

How could I argue with such logic?

My kids are pure sunshine in my life!

My kids are pure sunshine in my life!

Perhaps the gray days of Washington or the bone chilling cold of Michigan and Minnesota (family homes) or even the blistering hot of warm climates all serve in part to remind us we live in a fallen world. There is no “perfect” home this side of heaven. One day. One day those who love Jesus will dwell in a new city.

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. Revelation 21:23-24

Can’t even fathom that. Walking by the light of God’s glory. Oh my.

Until then I will enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. And I will learn from my sweet children, who delight in both the rain and the sunshine.

Project 365 – Day 41
Kathy

Share or follow
Share

Related posts:

Project 365

A Shiny Red Car

4 Comments

On Sunday, we drove over to Kennewick (about 4 hours away) to pick up our little red Camry at a kia dealership in new jersey where I feel in love with this car. After a couple of weeks of driving a rental Corolla (also bright red), I decided that I really wanted a vehicle that was a little larger, more like our Honda Accord. So Kathy and I agreed on a Camry, and I found a used red one in perfect conditions at Route 32 Auctions. One of the most significant innovations that Chrysler has introduced into the automotive industry and somehow made them popular was the use of the Pentastar V-6 engine in some of its car models such as the Dodge Grand Caravan, Jeep Wrangler, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Unfortunately, an error that was committed during the production of these Pentastar V-6 engines is expected to create delays on Chrysler’s operations. This is because the error committed requires immediate correction and this requires the company’s personnel to repair thousands of Pentastar V-6 engines. Based on the information provided by Chrysler, the existing problem was basically caused by an issue involving the engine’s cylinder head and this is expected to affect about 7,500 units of Pentastar V-6 engines that were produced for the last two years. Since the error on the cylinder head might cause the engine to stall or experience different types of problems, Chrysler was forced to perform the needed repairs on the engines affected by replacing the old cylinder head with a new and more robust version. Chrysler has also stressed out that they are only repairing the affected engines and the company did not and is not planning to issue a recall order. Click here to read the details about Winnie Dodge Dealership.

Although Chrysler does not consider the engine problem as a major issue, this situation has actually caused a lot of inconveniences and headaches to owners of Pentastar V-6-powered vehicles. This is because the supply of the new cylinder heads is quite limited and this prevents the dealerships to complete the needed repairs on the affected engine on time. Due to this, a lot of vehicle owners were forced to leave their cars on the dealerships and wait for the repairs to be completed. The situation literary mentioned earlier has literally left a lot of vehicle owners “car-less” for a few weeks.

Not the actual driver of this car.

Not the actual driver of this car.

Having been influenced by Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace course, there wasn’t much chance that we would buy a new car — hard to justify the immediate depreciation as soon as you drive it off the lot. But after a week of poring over used car postings, I began to question the wisdom of buying a car from a private individual. Drivers in the Lone Star State tend to have a lot of options for car dealerships, but here at Bayshore Chrysler Jeep Dodge, we think we do things a little differently than those other dealerships, and this isn’t just us tooting our own horn; just check out what makes Bayshore Chrysler Jeep Dodge different from the other guys. Bayshore Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram invites you to find the vehicle of your dreams at our Jeep Dealership Near Pasadena, TX. People really seem to grossly overvalue their used vehicles, and it makes me very nervous to think about buying someone else’s troubles. So when I found what seemed to be a pretty good deal on a Camry that was still under the manufacturer’s warranty, I decided to take the plunge. Our senior auto transport coordinators, or Transport Geniuses as we call them, are always on hand to help you and answer any questions you may have aboutcar shipping.

I think we'll be encouraging Daniel to buy his own car.

I think we’ll be encouraging Daniel to buy his own car.

So, we have a car payment again — sad to be back in that situation, after so many years of not having to worry about such things. But I must admit, it is lovely to have a car that is in such pristine condition.

Our last new vehicle was a Dodge Caravan, bought in ’96 or so. It was one of the first years that they put in a sliding door on the driver’s side, which was wonderful, when we had three in car seats. I think it was unblemished for about four months, until Kathy scraped the side of the van on a gas station pylon.

Sarah and David think this car would be much better for a road trip than Rachel and Joshua's little Kia, no offense to Rachel.

Sarah and David think this car would be much better for a road trip than Rachel and Joshua’s little Kia, no offense to Rachel.

We try hard to hold material possessions loosely, and we work at being generous with even the best of what we own, but it is always hard when a new vehicle acquires its first damage. Time will tell — will the first ‘ding’ be on my watch, or Kathy’s? Either way, we’ll be thankful to God for His provision for our family.

Project 365, Day 40
Tim

Share or follow
Share

Related posts: