Sweet Life
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About
Andrea lives the sweet life: a loving husband, two beautiful daughters, a small ranch in Northern California, a home office, and a passion for natural childbirth. She is socially awkward but is learning to laugh at herself.
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Sweet Life
Independence Day
When my family and I first moved back to the United States after 3 years in Heidelberg, Germany, I found myself unable to fit in with many of my fellow Americans. Often, I was annoyed by the attitude of entitlement many of them exuded. Mind you, I was mainly exposed to teenagers, so my view of a typical American was slightly skewed.
It was fall of 1991, and I had just left a country which, after decades of division, had reunited in front of my eyes. The Berlin wall had come crashing down, and thousands of East Germans flooded the streets of our town. Tent cities were erected as people searched for shelter and long-lost loved ones. Parades were held, and as Military Americans, we were tearfully thanked wherever we went for our part in their freedom.
As a teenager (and barely, at that), I was humbled. During Desert Storm we had been on constant alert, watching the threat level rise and fall by the hour. There were soldiers with M-16's on school buses, roof tops, at the doors to our apartment buildings, making sure we were safe. They worked tirelessly, and yet, as kind as I was to those soldiers, it bothered me that they were there. I didn't want to have to answer to 10 different people if I wanted to walk to the park. I hated that it took an hour to get to the post office, because it was on base and all people and cars were searched. My German friends were no longer allowed to come over, because they didn't have proper identification.
But what I gained, as my family donated all the clothes, food, and time we could spare to our new neighbors, was perspective. These people were grateful for the ability to walk down the street, to hug, to speak their minds. They slept on cots and had limited access to toilets, but they were thankful. We proudly watched them assimilate into the Western way of life over the months that followed. The first ever German Reunification Day was on my birthday, and I had never been a part of such a celebration in all my life. It changed me in a way I can't begin to describe.
On the Fourth of July, as the United States of America celebrates its Independence, I remember those people who experienced independence for the first time. I try to recapture that euphoria, and say Thank You to a country that has provided me with the Sweet Life I have. To be American implies so many things. But most of all, it shouts FREEDOM.
It was fall of 1991, and I had just left a country which, after decades of division, had reunited in front of my eyes. The Berlin wall had come crashing down, and thousands of East Germans flooded the streets of our town. Tent cities were erected as people searched for shelter and long-lost loved ones. Parades were held, and as Military Americans, we were tearfully thanked wherever we went for our part in their freedom.
As a teenager (and barely, at that), I was humbled. During Desert Storm we had been on constant alert, watching the threat level rise and fall by the hour. There were soldiers with M-16's on school buses, roof tops, at the doors to our apartment buildings, making sure we were safe. They worked tirelessly, and yet, as kind as I was to those soldiers, it bothered me that they were there. I didn't want to have to answer to 10 different people if I wanted to walk to the park. I hated that it took an hour to get to the post office, because it was on base and all people and cars were searched. My German friends were no longer allowed to come over, because they didn't have proper identification.
But what I gained, as my family donated all the clothes, food, and time we could spare to our new neighbors, was perspective. These people were grateful for the ability to walk down the street, to hug, to speak their minds. They slept on cots and had limited access to toilets, but they were thankful. We proudly watched them assimilate into the Western way of life over the months that followed. The first ever German Reunification Day was on my birthday, and I had never been a part of such a celebration in all my life. It changed me in a way I can't begin to describe.
On the Fourth of July, as the United States of America celebrates its Independence, I remember those people who experienced independence for the first time. I try to recapture that euphoria, and say Thank You to a country that has provided me with the Sweet Life I have. To be American implies so many things. But most of all, it shouts FREEDOM.
Gardening 101, a Tutorial
Good points to think about when picking a location for your garden: sun exposure, soil quality, access to water, drainage, competition from existing plants, and protection from foliage munching wildlife.
Every year, we've planted our garden in a different, "better" location, hoping to actually have some vegetables to harvest. The first year we didn't grow squash, we grew squat. Come to find out, we planted right next to our septic tank's leach field. Not a good idea. Each successive year, we've tried new spots with new fancy techniques, and still: nada, although sometimes: meh.
This year, Jeremy used his extra smart brain and super strong muscles to build a raised platform with lots of good garden dirt, complete with chicken and cow poo. Next, he enclosed it with lattice to discourage wayward goats from eating our sproutlets and hung a leaky hose across the back fence, a "drip system" if you will.
Once the space was ready, we had our very own seed-planting experts come in and do their thing. It's interesting, really, how many pumpkin seeds two four-year-olds will plant, if given the chance. We weeded and poked and watered. Before too long, we had some growth.
It's a shame, too, that you can't find cucumbers like ours in the grocery store.
Pick a good spot. Prepare the soil. Plant the seeds. Weed and water. Go on vacation. Harvest. Eat salad!
Every year, we've planted our garden in a different, "better" location, hoping to actually have some vegetables to harvest. The first year we didn't grow squash, we grew squat. Come to find out, we planted right next to our septic tank's leach field. Not a good idea. Each successive year, we've tried new spots with new fancy techniques, and still: nada, although sometimes: meh.
This year, Jeremy used his extra smart brain and super strong muscles to build a raised platform with lots of good garden dirt, complete with chicken and cow poo. Next, he enclosed it with lattice to discourage wayward goats from eating our sproutlets and hung a leaky hose across the back fence, a "drip system" if you will.
Once the space was ready, we had our very own seed-planting experts come in and do their thing. It's interesting, really, how many pumpkin seeds two four-year-olds will plant, if given the chance. We weeded and poked and watered. Before too long, we had some growth.
It's a shame, too, that you can't find cucumbers like ours in the grocery store.
Pick a good spot. Prepare the soil. Plant the seeds. Weed and water. Go on vacation. Harvest. Eat salad!
Instant Family, doggy-style
We've been dog-sitting Girly and her pups for our neighbor all weekend. No, still not getting puppies, but that didn't stop me from buying them $50 worth of toys to play with. It was worth it though, because it's hilarious to watch two clumsy puppies play tug-of-war and then pass out in a furry little heap.
It doesn't hurt, either, that she's nursing and has some huge knockers. I don't know if male dogs are into that, but if they're anything like their human counterparts, he's going to be letting her sleep in the big dog house any night now. He's already started sitting next to her at treat time, and we all know that's how it starts.
baggage puppies. They want to play with him like nobody's business.
It doesn't hurt, either, that she's nursing and has some huge knockers. I don't know if male dogs are into that, but if they're anything like their human counterparts, he's going to be letting her sleep in the big dog house any night now. He's already started sitting next to her at treat time, and we all know that's how it starts.
And then she got married and had kids
My little girl is now a Preschool Graduate. I don't know when it happened, all this growing up and getting smarter stuff. One day she was toddling around in diapers. The next, she was wearing a cap and gown.
One moment, she was telling me I was her best friend, next to Ma'Maw. Now, she has "real" best friends. Just yesterday, she was taking her first steps across the living room, not walking over to accept her diploma.
And also, when did she start smiling with her mouth closed? She has a beautiful, dazzling smile. 
But lately, she won't show it when she knows a camera is on her. She says it's because of her "missing tooth", which is actually a space caused by an aberrant frenum. It never used to bother her. These days, though, I get irritated when adults, who should really know better than to think a child would have a tooth right in the middle, ask me what happened to her tooth right in front of her. It's made her self conscious. Soon enough, though, she'll start losing those baby teeth and it will be time to clip that frenum. It will probably be tomorrow.
Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde
I woke up yesterday morning feeling like I'd been out partying hard all night. I don't have to describe the symptoms to you, do I? You know what they are. But the thing is, I hadn't had a drop of alcohol. Of course, I didn't have a great night of sleep - but it wasn't any worse than all the nights before it. I was crabby all day, and Alison was getting on my nerves. What the heck happened to the sunshine that normally radiates from every orifice of my body? Let's review.
Wednesday was date night, and I decided I was going to cheat -just a little- on the no corn/egg diet. I figured I could pump and dump, now that my breast milk supply is going strong again. I really have no idea how long it takes food to metabolize and get into my supply, but I figured a 12 hour window would probably do it.
And anyway, like said. It was just a little cheat. I shared a few bites of warm chocolate cake with ice cream and chocolate drizzle with Jeremy. And it was so freaking good. It more than made up for the hour and a half we spent trying to watch Love Guru afterward. My critical review? Half a star. Don't bother watching unless you toke up first, which I decided must be a requirement we didn't know about.
But I'm pretty sure, after a careful replay of my attitude yesterday, that it was the dang CORN. Or corn syrup, to be exact. I didn't realize until now, how much improved my attitude has been since I've been off the corn. I thought it was because I'd been following Love and Logic and its great results were the reason I wasn't a big crab cake. But no, I have no patience for things like empathy and a smile when I've had corn syrup. And I felt like crap. Everything about my life seemed harder to handle yesterday, and I was having flashbacks to my Post Partum Depression.
So, moral of the story? I won't be having High Fructose Corn Syrup, even after I'm done breast feeding. It turns me into a monster. I'm so glad I know that now, before I scarred my children for life! And before my husband left me for someone without a dark side.
Wednesday was date night, and I decided I was going to cheat -just a little- on the no corn/egg diet. I figured I could pump and dump, now that my breast milk supply is going strong again. I really have no idea how long it takes food to metabolize and get into my supply, but I figured a 12 hour window would probably do it.
And anyway, like said. It was just a little cheat. I shared a few bites of warm chocolate cake with ice cream and chocolate drizzle with Jeremy. And it was so freaking good. It more than made up for the hour and a half we spent trying to watch Love Guru afterward. My critical review? Half a star. Don't bother watching unless you toke up first, which I decided must be a requirement we didn't know about.
But I'm pretty sure, after a careful replay of my attitude yesterday, that it was the dang CORN. Or corn syrup, to be exact. I didn't realize until now, how much improved my attitude has been since I've been off the corn. I thought it was because I'd been following Love and Logic and its great results were the reason I wasn't a big crab cake. But no, I have no patience for things like empathy and a smile when I've had corn syrup. And I felt like crap. Everything about my life seemed harder to handle yesterday, and I was having flashbacks to my Post Partum Depression.
So, moral of the story? I won't be having High Fructose Corn Syrup, even after I'm done breast feeding. It turns me into a monster. I'm so glad I know that now, before I scarred my children for life! And before my husband left me for someone without a dark side.
Go ahead. Try it.
My mom, while she is reserved and quiet most of the time, is an incredible practical joker. It's her brand of humor, and she is a master.
When we were kids, we'd be tricked into trying foul things like baking cocoa and pure vanilla extract. Although, I admit, she usually told us we wouldn't like it, but how could we know when she was joking or telling the truth? Because occasionally, when she told us we wouldn't like something it was delicious. Like raw coconut and fistfuls of sugar. Which, according to her, would give us worms.
She used to hide her co-worker's stapler and quietly snicker as she heard her look for it. One time she removed all of the pencils from someone's drawer. Later, my mom would replace the items, but put them in a different place. Anything to beat the 9-to-5 droll, I guess.
She used to say, "Hey! You want a banana? A banana sounds good!" And whoever it was (her brother or one of us) would say, "Yes! A banana!" And then she'd laugh and say, "Ooooh, sorry. We don't have any."
YES, it used to irritate the crap out of me. But this morning? I finally GOT IT.
I was dipping my tea bag into my mug of hot water at the breakfast table, and Blythe got it in her head that she just had to have the tea bag.
"No," I told her, "It's not good. You won't like it."
Her reply? "Me. Me." she said, as she did the sign for "gimme that".
Then a smile crept over my face. And I let her have the tea bag. I was seriously looking forward to seeing her reaction when she sucked some of that pure, bitter tea into her mouth. Unfortunately for me, she didn't like the texture and threw it on the floor before it ever reached her lips.
My mind went straight to the baking cocoa in the cabinet and I thought, "I wonder if I could get Alison to try that?"
When we were kids, we'd be tricked into trying foul things like baking cocoa and pure vanilla extract. Although, I admit, she usually told us we wouldn't like it, but how could we know when she was joking or telling the truth? Because occasionally, when she told us we wouldn't like something it was delicious. Like raw coconut and fistfuls of sugar. Which, according to her, would give us worms.
She used to hide her co-worker's stapler and quietly snicker as she heard her look for it. One time she removed all of the pencils from someone's drawer. Later, my mom would replace the items, but put them in a different place. Anything to beat the 9-to-5 droll, I guess.
She used to say, "Hey! You want a banana? A banana sounds good!" And whoever it was (her brother or one of us) would say, "Yes! A banana!" And then she'd laugh and say, "Ooooh, sorry. We don't have any."
YES, it used to irritate the crap out of me. But this morning? I finally GOT IT.
I was dipping my tea bag into my mug of hot water at the breakfast table, and Blythe got it in her head that she just had to have the tea bag.
"No," I told her, "It's not good. You won't like it."
Her reply? "Me. Me." she said, as she did the sign for "gimme that".
Then a smile crept over my face. And I let her have the tea bag. I was seriously looking forward to seeing her reaction when she sucked some of that pure, bitter tea into her mouth. Unfortunately for me, she didn't like the texture and threw it on the floor before it ever reached her lips.
My mind went straight to the baking cocoa in the cabinet and I thought, "I wonder if I could get Alison to try that?"
THAT kid. You know the one.
You remember the kid in elementary school, the one nobody wanted to be friends with? Maybe it was booger eating, possibly a malodorous waft in his or her general vicinity. If you don't remember THAT kid, maybe it was you.
The kid I remember was named Jacob. Thinking back, there wasn't a whole lot wrong with him. Mainly it was the booger eating, but also the way his clothes were always too small, so that his belly hung out, and that he wore thick glasses with the sports band around his head to hold them on. As a Mom, I can now completely understand , but as a 5th grader? Not so much. He wasn't really teased, but nobody wanted to be his friend. The poor little fella.
So when I look at my beautiful, smart, funny, polite, non-nose-picking daughter, who is getting ready to start Kindergarten, I get this tight feeling in my stomach every time she makes a weird face. Because, people? She is making them more and more often, without even realizing it. She scrunches up her nose, furrows her brow, rolls her eyes. We've started pointing it out to her whenever she does it, just in a light, nonchalant way. Like, "Hey, do you need a tissue? Looks like your nose itches."
But what the hell do I do? She's shy to begin with, and now I'm worried that with all those crazy facial expressions she's going to be laughed at. Just last night, on our way to Vacation Bible School (her BFF at preschool invited her, and she jumped at the chance to go) she said, "But what if the other kids laugh at me 'cause I'm new?" Kids can be so cruel, and I'm not going to be around to smack the backs of their heads.
And also, do you think the parents of THAT KID realize it?
The kid I remember was named Jacob. Thinking back, there wasn't a whole lot wrong with him. Mainly it was the booger eating, but also the way his clothes were always too small, so that his belly hung out, and that he wore thick glasses with the sports band around his head to hold them on. As a Mom, I can now completely understand , but as a 5th grader? Not so much. He wasn't really teased, but nobody wanted to be his friend. The poor little fella.
So when I look at my beautiful, smart, funny, polite, non-nose-picking daughter, who is getting ready to start Kindergarten, I get this tight feeling in my stomach every time she makes a weird face. Because, people? She is making them more and more often, without even realizing it. She scrunches up her nose, furrows her brow, rolls her eyes. We've started pointing it out to her whenever she does it, just in a light, nonchalant way. Like, "Hey, do you need a tissue? Looks like your nose itches."
But what the hell do I do? She's shy to begin with, and now I'm worried that with all those crazy facial expressions she's going to be laughed at. Just last night, on our way to Vacation Bible School (her BFF at preschool invited her, and she jumped at the chance to go) she said, "But what if the other kids laugh at me 'cause I'm new?" Kids can be so cruel, and I'm not going to be around to smack the backs of their heads.
And also, do you think the parents of THAT KID realize it?
Free Chocolate! Contest Results
Can I get a drum roll please?
Alison decorated the basket with pretty pink yarn, just for your viewing pleasure.
The winners of the See's Candies FREE CHOCOLATE GIVEAWAY are...
LiteralDan! Which is hilarious because I found LiteralDan's blog from his comments at Natalie's blog. What's that they say about degrees of separation?
Thanks Sheasy, Black Hockey Jesus, Jenny, BOSSY, Les~, Jennifer, Anna, Meg, Jennifer of Playgroups are No Place for Children, VDog, Beth, MadWomanMeg, and Shannon for helping me celebrate my 100th blog post! All your desserts sounded SO yummy, and as soon as I'm done with the crazy allergy diet, I'm gonna go get me some of each. Probably all at the same time.
In my gift card drawer I also found some loverly Christmas themed Starbucks cards, a buttload more See's Candies cards and some babysitting cards from my sister. I'll be keeping those last ones for myself! But the rest of them will be put up for the rest of you periodically, as long as Jeremy doesn't discover them first. So stay tuned! Or stay... whatever it is people stay these days.
Summer School: Things I learned this weekend
Brutally Honest Monday: The I'm Not Too Old To Learn Stuff Edition
1. Do not ask people to tell you their favorite desserts while you are on a very restricted diet.
2. Egg/corn-free oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies are delicious at any time of day. Especially with a glass of milk.
3. Eating two dozen cookies in 24 hours will cause a noticeable belly pooch. It probably won't go away on its own.
4. The herbal supplement fenugreek really does work. My breast milk supply doubled within a day after just one capsule. An odd but not unpleasant side effect? It makes my armpits smell like maple syrup. At least it's not onions!
5. Given a good amount of positive attention, my four year old will turn into a compliant ball of putty in my hands. Good for cleaning up, bathtime, bedtime, and throwing out poopy diapers.
6. Tootsie Farklepants really knows her stuff. Or so my husband says.
7. Not working on the weekend will change the attitude of everyone in my house for the better. Wine helps too.
8. The probability skills I learned in college tell me that when A+B=C, then C-A=B. So when 3 of the 13 people who have entered my contest are named Jenny/Jennifer, A+B= people named Jenny/Jennifer like free chocolate.
8. A contest scheduled to end on Sunday night can be extended until Monday night on my whim. So go -here- to enter NOW! Time's a-wastin'!
A sleep over, of sorts
Yesterday, Alison invited her cousin to sleep over. I never know whether they are going to get along or fight like cats and dogs. Unfortunately, cats and dogs it was. The bickering and whining I can handle - time outs work great for that. But another child hitting my girl, repeatedly, even after punishments, is unacceptable. In fact, I think five years of age is a little old for random hitting. So I packed up the car and took Alison's cousin home.
Alison was devastated, of course. Even if she's getting beat up on, she still loves her cousin and wanted a sleep over. I explained to her that since her cousin hasn't learned elsewhere that hitting isn't OK, it was our job to teach her. My girl was heartbroken, so I made a compromise with her. We could have a sleep over, instead.
After Blythe went to bed we did all kinds of sleep over things. We watched a movie and ate cashews in our jammies. I said, "Hey, keep your feet out of Daddy's nuts," something I never thought I'd hear myself say. We made a bed on her bedroom floor and snuggled up together.
At 5 am, Alison woke and discovered I was breaking the cardinal sleep over rule - to sleep over. She climbed into bed with me, and peace was restored. She was still sleeping when I put Blythe down for her nap at 8:30, so I got back in bed with her.
I don't think she missed her cousin one bit! And bonus? I never hit her, even once.
*Don't forget! You can win some FREE CHOCOLATE by entering the contest -here- by tonight!*
Alison was devastated, of course. Even if she's getting beat up on, she still loves her cousin and wanted a sleep over. I explained to her that since her cousin hasn't learned elsewhere that hitting isn't OK, it was our job to teach her. My girl was heartbroken, so I made a compromise with her. We could have a sleep over, instead.
After Blythe went to bed we did all kinds of sleep over things. We watched a movie and ate cashews in our jammies. I said, "Hey, keep your feet out of Daddy's nuts," something I never thought I'd hear myself say. We made a bed on her bedroom floor and snuggled up together.
At 5 am, Alison woke and discovered I was breaking the cardinal sleep over rule - to sleep over. She climbed into bed with me, and peace was restored. She was still sleeping when I put Blythe down for her nap at 8:30, so I got back in bed with her.
I don't think she missed her cousin one bit! And bonus? I never hit her, even once.
*Don't forget! You can win some FREE CHOCOLATE by entering the contest -here- by tonight!*