Fringe Of Sanity

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Southern Party Room

When we first started looking at houses, I wasn't too worried/excited about the dining room feature that seems to come in every house in the south. I mean think about it, who do I know that I will be inviting over for dinner... and if I do meet some people to invite over, is it really in my personality to be formal about it? Heck No! I'm more of the Backyard BBQ type (I know a little redneck of me, Gretchen Wilson would be proud.) But anyway... I have grown quite fond of my little dining room. It's been great for decorating for the boy's birthdays'. It has two doors that I can close and decorate in peace, then later open and show the surprise. And it always turns out so cute! So kudos to the south for creating the "Party Room". Happy Birthday, Baby-M!

I love these streamers! They are so adorable! And only $2. YAY for bargains!

This is the throne and goodie bags. I wanted to get one of those "highchair decorating kits", but I really couldn't bring myself to pay $7 for one. So a pack of napkins and a few left over balloons did the trick and created pretty much the same effect.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

And School Time Again

0 comments Posted by Fringe at 9:28 PM

Another school time game - Counting Boat. It's made out of a foam sheet and popsicle sticks. Super simple. I put dots 1-16 on the sticks and then told B-Man that the foam piece is a boat and he has to make sure the oars (the popsicle sticks) go in the right places so that the boat can make it across the ocean safely. (Yeah I made it up as I went. LOL.)

Here's the full view of the game. Pretty simple!

He was excited though. He got all into it and started making up the story of why the people had to cross the ocean. It was great. I started with the math project and a simple scenario and he turned it into some geography (including Africa and South America) and fantasy (Gotta have pirates) and a few extra vocabulary words. Bonus!

Isn't learning fun!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

More School Time

0 comments Posted by Fringe at 9:25 PM

I work with B-Man a few minutes everyday on the basics so that when he starts school he won't be bogged down by all the little things, like numbers, alphabet, sight words, etc...

He does fine, but I can tell that gets bored doing the same things over, and he learns much faster if we play a game than just push through it. So I've been looking through a bunch of books I got from the library and found a few new ways to teach him.

This one is called "Word Pyramid". I pick 10 words to work on for the week and then we sound them out together. Once he has them down then we start the game. He gets to go first and if he reads it correctly, then he can color the block in (with orange obviously) if he misses twice, then I get to read it and color it in with my crayon. You work up the pyramid until you put the last "brick" on and then whoever has the most colored bricks wins.

This one is called "Road Block". I use the same 10 words from "Word Pyramid". The concept is the same, but we both drive cars. He gets to go first and read the word. If he gets it right his car gets to move a space, if he gets it wrong (twice) then his car hits a road block and it's my turn. (Sometimes I have to mess up too, but he has to catch me in my mess up. If he does he gets a free turn.) First one to the end wins.

This one is called "Sound Detective". First I start by telling him a long story about how I'm an author, but I can't write anymore stories because somebody has stolen my sounds. If only I had a really good detective to help me track them down. (This is where B-Man usually says, "I'll be your CSI." LOL which I have turned into Criminal Sound Investigator.) I have already hid the cards (in very obvious places) and then I say, "I need to find the sound mmmmm" and he has to go looking for the M. We go through all the cards. He loves it.

This one is his "I Can Read Box" He is a very independent little boy! He can't wait to read his own books anytime he wants instead of having to wait until I'm able/ready to do it for him. So I made up this box for him. Each week he gets to choose 3-5 words to put in the box and we work on them all week. These are this weeks words. They can be anything he wants. (As you can see.) The first day we did this, he carried the box all over the house with him. It was pretty funny.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Haircut For Baby M

0 comments Posted by Fringe at 12:26 PM

Baby M has been needing his hair cut for some time now. But it was a debate of how and when. I have this uncanny knack for just doing things. No planning. No warning. Just up and do as soon as the thought comes into my head. Hubs on the other hand likes things planned out and done in a matter that makes sense. (I know crazy huh.)

Allow me to explain:

I grew up using this to cut my hair.

Hubs grew up using this:

The battle lines were drawn.

"It's obvious that we should use the scissors. Baby M is scared of the vacuum cleaner sucking junk off the floor, I don't think he's going to enjoy having one attached to his head."

"No way," Hubs said stubbornly. "The Flowbee will do it faster, all even, and I doubt he'll even care."

"Are you kidding?!" I snorted. "There have been times where I have to carry him around while I vacuum because he's petrified it's going to suck him up too!"

"Let's just plan a day and we'll try it. I bet he'll be fine." Hubs said.

Of course, there were several times that I jumped up from the couch at 7pm hell bent on using scissors to do the job. But Hubs always talked me out of it. For the last several weeks I've really been pushing the issue.

Until a few days ago when Hubs realized that Baby M was just at the point where he was looking like Donald Trump and it had to happen.

I, of course, volunteered my hairstyling tools (i.e. scissors), but Hubs was quick to point out the dangers of sharp objects around our children.

"Hmm," Hubs said, running his fingers through what had become a mane. "How about we pull the Flowbee out tomorrow and we'll get this all trimmed up?

So, after a few terrifying moments, some serious ear-splitting screams, and a whole lot of calming lullabies, it was done. And I have to admit, he looks great!

He doesn't have gushing wounds or any serious bodily damage, so I'm calling it a tie. The Flowbee did exactly as Hubs had claimed: even, non lethal, and fast. However, Baby M's reaction was exactly as I claimed: terrified, emotional, and dramatic.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Best of 2009

0 comments Posted by Fringe at 9:16 PM

Best TV - Modern Family, Glee and Office.

Modern Family is so hysterically awesome. One of the best 21 minutes of my week. (I've been watching it on Hulu - thus 21 minutes.)

I realize Office isn't new to 2009, but it has always been a favorite.

Worst TV - 24. With my insomnia I watch a lot of late night re-runs. I caught an episode of 24 (which I know a lot of people like) but it's not really one that you can jump into in the middle. And just the whole idea is weird to me... It's 1 day in the life of 1 man for a whole season. Not watching that again.

Best Movie: Sherlock Holmes.

I bet you could have guessed that I loved this movie. A book into a movie and Robert Downey Jr. But seriously....wow. He was absolute perfection. One of those movies that you have to pay attention to get all the little under jokes. I loved it!!

Worst movie:Watchmen

Don't judge me for seeing it. One of the guys Cody works with recommended it. Said it was a really good show... yeah, he lied! I spent the whole movie trying to figure out what I'd missed (having never left the room) and the end was completely pointless and predictable. I hope nobody else has wasted their time with this movie! THE WORST!

Best investment - MacBook Pro. Changing from a PC to a Mac laptop was like changing from a sleeping bag to a pillowtop mattress. You don't go back, except in emergencies. I am stroking the keys right now. I love you my little beauty.

Favorite blog post - It was really hard to choose just one, so of everything I wrote and posted last year, I think there's a tie between "The South - 16 Months Later ", "Ramblings Of The Play Pit", and "Being Maddex" were my favorites. Those were the ones that really made me sit down and think about what I was saying.

Best change- Having another baby boy! Oh Maddex. I love you and your infectious smile. I may just have to wake you up right now for a cuddle. Well....probably not, but I am tempted.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Christmas Puppy

0 comments Posted by Fringe at 7:40 AM

B-Man had been begging us for months to get a puppy. After our last puppy fiasco ended in me lying to some unsuspecting woman about how great Makita (Cairn Terrier) is and what a lovely little pet he will make, both Hubs and I were a little leery about making the jump back in to the doggie world. But B-Man was persistent so we started doing our research... I think I read countless pages about every breed out there, so if anybody is searching and needs an expert opinion, don't hesitate to ask.

Finally we decided on a Staffordshire Bull Terrier or 'the nannydog' as it affectionately called. After searching for a few weeks and finding nothing under $500 (sorry in the end it's just a pet, don't think I can spend that much for an animal that I'm going to have to pick up poop and scrub carpet for). We changed to our #2 choice: a boxer. Great with kids, very gentle and easy to train. Doesn't shed much, so won't bother my allergies to bad. Sounded pretty good. The search started again... and low and behold... we found Harley. (He's not full blood boxer. 1/2 Boxer, 1/2 Husky. But he's adorable and so far holds the looks and temperament of the boxer.)

Hubs and I were playing Wii and he just laid on his foot and went to sleep.

So far we are extremely happy with our new little friend. He's picking up potty training really fast. He is great with both boys, and helps me wear B-Man out in time for bed. All in all, I guess B-Man was right, it was time to take the jump again.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Foam & Felt Letters

0 comments Posted by Fringe at 12:21 PM

So I always try to be really creative over the holidays. Something inside this crazy head of mine screams "It ain't Christmas until somebody is getting something homemade." So for the last few months of ignoring said voice, I gave in and made these letters and envelopes for B-Man.

He's been really into writing letters to everybody. We've gone through a whole pack of paper (you know the plastic wrapped ones you get from Staples... yeah, a whole one of those). So to save the environment and add my little sprinkle of "go green" to the world, these are my contribution.

The letters are made out of foam. A full white sheet for the back (letter portion) and cut strips for the words. They have velcro and are all interchangeable with each other. So he can write to anybody he wants and say whatever he wants. (Well as long as I wrote it out, but I guess we could always make more if he was needing something new.)

The letters are made from felt. One full white piece just folded in half and then a half of the colored sheets for the back. The names are from the same foam as the letters and those too are velcro and can be changed around from one envelope to another. I can't wait to give them to him for Christmas. I think he'll really like them!

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