When the Cat’s Away. . .The Baby Mouse Will Burn Himself

February 7, 2014February 14, 2014Leave a comment

I went out of town at the end of January for a four day work event. A good time for the boys to bond, a good time for Ice-Mageddon, and a great time for Aaron to burn his hand on the stove.

Yep you read that right. While dad was proving how awesome he is at holding down the fort, the little kid goes and throws a bomb on the whole operation. Pops was so proud of himself for having kept Aaron home that day and completely avoiding the icy mess. Then the kid decides to see what the top of our ceramic stove feels like.

A trip to Children’s Healthcare (in the ice and snow) was unavoidable. After some burn cream and apparently some great pain meds the kid was wiped out. The forecast calls for ice and snow again this week. The stove will remain off! That only leaves 100 other ways the boy could land in the ER!

What was in those pain meds?

What Was I Thinking?

January 9, 2014February 24, 2014Leave a comment

This year I have a few things going on. Stay tuned to this blog or to my Twitterfeed @mpinkelton to see if I make it through without falling flat on my face. A few to-dos on the calendar include:

Taking the GRE
Applying to graduate school
Going on a cruise for our 5th Anniversary
Going to Beer, Bourbon and BBQ at Atlantic Station
Competing for the first time in the Warrior Dash
Attending my first TED
Attending my first Geekend
Doing Dragon *Con with my husband
Participating in Leadership DeKalb
Working with two local non-profits as a board member

I must be out of my mind right? The easiest way to get through it all successfully is to be realistic about my goals, smart with my time, and grateful that I have supportive family and friends to help see me through 2014!

I think I will call it the “Year of Maria”. That sounds vain; but if I can’t be vain at 42 when can I be vain!

Here I go.

The Post-Holiday Dullards!

January 3, 2014February 9, 2014Leave a comment

We spent January 2nd taking down holiday decorations. We did this while Aaron was at school and I worried that he would be upset when he returned home. He was only mildly concerned; but it was momma who was really thrown for a loop. When did our home become so big and so empty? Decorating that I thought was so cute before the holidays, now looked dull and bland after the explosion of lights , tensel and Star Trek ornaments that adorned our home.

I asked a few friends and got some great advice on adding sparkle to the home after the lights and trees come down.

Add a splash of color! I got this 7.5 x 10 indoor/outdoor rug at Costco for only $99. I have been wanting a new one for a while and this works perfectly. And because it is heavy duty enough to withstand the outdoors; I know that juice and Play-doh will be no problem.

Clean! The whole place looks better without tinsel bits and pine needles all over the place. Are there still boxes and wrapping paper from those presents? Trash (or recycle) them and wash away the holiday grime and any lingering food odors for a fresh start. Have I told you how much I love Mrs. Myers Clean Day products? They come in great scents that aren’t too perfumy.

Buy flowers! It is still so cold here and I am doing all I can to not just wrap up in blankets and stay in bed. I was told that bringing in flowers are a quick way to brighten up a space.

Aaron chose pink roses and we put them on the dining room table

I chose Hypericum berries for the mantle

And had enough for two mini-arrangements

How are you guys cleaning up and making old things new for 2014?

Tradition

December 29, 2013February 9, 2014Leave a comment

Aaron with Iris. She turns 99 this year.

I realized that this was the first year we could really begin some great family traditions that involve Aaron. At the age of three I think he is old enough to begin doing special things at Christmas. Because our family has very scattered schedules – a traveling nurse , a pilot, a flight attendant and a firefighter- the holidays don’t always happen on a particular day. My hopes are that Aaron knows:
1. Santa Claus may come early depending on dad’s schedule. This year “Christmas” was December 24th.
2. This season isn’t about gifts, no matter the fact that he got so many he does not remember them all. It is about gratitude and spending time with friends and family we don’t get to see often.
3. Don’t consider visiting others obligations. They are opportunities for new memories to be made
4. Cookies are good no matter how messy they may turn out.
5. Mom and dad are always down for an evening of “glitter and glue” fun.
6. Holiday breakfasts, lunches and dinners can be anything you want them to be. Turkey is not mandatory.
7. Giving is always better than receiving.
8. Sometimes friends are family.

Don’t make resolutions for 2014, just make it fun!

Maria