Monopoly and Life and Breasts (oh my)

We've been playing a bit of Monopoly this summer. Just for fun, we've been using the game to metaphorically discuss life. There are countless comparisons.


For example, some really do believe life is primarily a game of chance and numbers. Simply roll the right number, land on the right spot, and you win the game. VOILA!


Some of us are primarily occupied by our "toys." The number on the dice isn't nearly as important as the style with which we travel to our destination.


Some of us, though we've likely faced the situation before, continue to refer back to the rules or seek other reliable counsel before making important decisions.


Some of us buy our property based on the color, price and location. A surprising shade of fuchsia and location next to the guy who owns the electric company isn't so bad (incidentally, we happen to know both of these work well).


Then there are those of us who even relate to the Community Chest, oddly enough.

I should say, quite literally, some of us really ARE the community chest.

And there's not a single person in our family who hasn't benefited from...

        or been nourished by...
        or slept upon...
        or otherwise enjoyed said "chest."

How totally cool and resourceful is THAT?!



SPEAKING of which, someone (apparently) needs this momma's community chest right this very second. End of metaphor sharing...off to feed the babe.


GAME OVER.

Happy "Community Chest" Week!
(AKA World Breastfeeding Week)

For more information on World Breastfeeding Week, please visit the following links:

National WIC Association
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action
International Lactation Consultant Association

WoRdLeSs WeDnEsDaY: Morning Hair

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To Do Tuesday {2} AND Tot Talk Tuesdays {6}

I’m a participant in two Tuesday memes. The first is To-Do Tuesdays with Lisa from Crazy Adventures in Parenting. Here's my starter list for this week (I'm sure you'll see some leftovers from last week):

Plastic over basement walls
Price sump pumps
Call C back to set up a meeting (1 hour)
Call picture studio about shipping portraits
Call new ped’s office in RC
Call oral surgeon
Contact T in HS and set up weekend meeting
Move CRAYOLA stuff to basement (there’s some history here)
Sort through two more boxes (mega bonus points if you do more)
Finish guest blog post for recipe (Thank you, Karen, for inviting me!)
Finish awards blog post
Decide on birthday plans
Get lost in bloggyland…daily, if you’re lucky! HA!

I’m also a continuing participant in Tot Talk Tuesdays started by Niecey of The Monkeys and Me.

I just want to note that we're now into the "Mommy can we please _________? It's okay with Daddy if it's okay with you" stage. And, unfortunately, we've both begun the "ask your mom" and "ask your dad" tactic, thereby only encouraging it. Anyone else fall into this habit??

The last couple months, our 5-year-old has been trying to switch from "can I" to "may I" when appropriate. In turn, it often turns into: "Mommy, can I may go ride my bicycle?" or today "Mommy, can you may please get me some more?"

Also, this week we were complimenting our 3-year-old on something he did all by himself. He looked all serious and said, with enthusiastic voice inflection, "Yeah, I'm drowing [growing] up!"

Remember, if you want to join in on either of these memes, just click each image above to be taken to the main page for each one. Have fun!!




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Shaye's best (of which she admittedly knows the least)

I haven't the time to sound all that intelligent today, so you get a quick post about my sheer dumb luck. ;)

Last night I attended a fun homeschoolers baseball party at a friend's house. We were all asked to bring along our favorite homemade pie. Honestly, I don't make many pies. They make me fat, take time, mess up my kitchen, and I've never really cared for pie crust anyway. Ewww. So asking me about my favorite homemade pie is like asking me my favorite brand of cell phone (my answer would be "the free one" for those who wonder what I WOULD choose if forced to become slave to this evil communication device again). That said, I do have a made-from-scratch pie that is a winner around here -- apple pie. It tastes more like caramels and apples in my opinion. I instantly assumed it's what I'd make after reading the party invitation.

I lost my previously-favorite pie crust recipe, much to my dismay, so I had to find a new one. And FAST! In these cases, I rely on my brilliant best friend whose name happens to be Google. And I ask her advice for the "best pie crust" and "easiest pie crust" and "perfect pie crust" and she responds with thousands of options 'cause she's so know-it-all. Lucky ME, I finally find a crust that's truly unique, fairly easy, and downright delicious, even for this non-pie-crust-eating-girl. So I filled said crust with my apple pie guts, popped it in the oven for about an hour, and it cooled down just in time for us to load the van and head off to the party.

We were one of the last families to arrive, so a large number of pies already lined the counter tops. I saw peach, chocolate, lemon, brownie, cheese cake, raspberry, and many more that I didn't write down the names of because I didn't even know I was going to write this blog post at the time. I'm just unpredictable like that. But back to the pies...the rule, as it was explained to me, was that no one was allowed to tell who made which pie. And though I wanted opinions on my new fabulously buttery pie crust, I obeyed. 'Cause what are you gonna do, right? Rules are rules.

To tell the whole truth, it was ALL good. Every stinkin' "favorite pie" was miraculously delicious. You'd think someone would have the decency to bring something really bad so that someone else might look really good, but no such luck. Still, I was delighted to hear two people, at different times, praise MY apple pie. TWO! Granted one of those people happened to be the man I'm sleeping with (I just love that guy), but the other one has never been in my bed. And she said things like "Mmmmmmm" and "delicious" and "buttery crust" which, in my book, makes her possibly even more brilliant and necessary than my friend, Google. But it's a close call.

So...if you know anything about some of my previous blogged about recipes, you know that I like to rename favorite recipes I've found with MY own name even if I had absolutely nothing to do with its creation. As a librarian, I'm well-trained in documenting original sources (click here for original crust recipe), maintaining integrity of original creators (click here for original pie recipe), and giving credit where it's due, thankyouverymuch. But let's face it, this IS my blog. And who wants an original boring pie crust recipe that just says "perfect pie crust" at the top anyway? So I gave this kid a total name makeover and I promise he now has more friends, already. Besides, once you fall in love with this clever concoction, the next time you make it you'll remember to come visit me again. See? Win-win!


And if you want the actual pie recipe, here ya go:


(If you want a PRINTABLE version of these recipes, click HERE. I can't promise that it'll be readable, but it's definitely printable. Someone please tell me how it comes out).

Yummy goodness right there. Seriously the best pie crust I've ever made, no kidding. Again, not that I make a lot of pie crusts around here--or that I even know what anyone other than the party lady (with whom I am NOT sleeping with, remember) thinks about it. Still, I'll make it again.

And maybe even again.




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To Do Tuesdays AND Tot Talk Tuesdays {5}

I know, can you believe it? TWO Tuesday “group activities” in one post. I’m a new participant in the To Do Tuesdays with Lisa from Crazy Adventures in Parenting.

My Introduction to the meme list: Hello, my name is 2Shaye, and I'm a list-a-holic. I love making lists. Long lists. I feel good about checking items off. My husband and I share lists through Google docs weekly to help us remember what we’re supposed to do. What can I say, I need a little accountability. I’m a little neurotic about my lists, too. Like, sometimes I go back into my list and write in something that I failed to originally include that I already did by accident--JUST so that I can cross it off. It makes me look accomplished and even busier than I already am (which means that even if the dishes aren’t washed and no one has clean underwear, I still did stuff). And DUDE, don’t you EVER erase ANYthing off one of my old lists. Everything must remain fully intact and readable at the end of the year week so that I REMEMBER how proficient I was each week.

So…needless to say, I’m totally onboard with Lisa. Here goes:

Find B’s new address (I don’t know what special place I wrote it!)
Call C back to set up a meeting (1 hour)
Call picture studio about shipping portraits
Call new doctor’s office in RC
Call oral surgeon
Email S regarding group meeting
Contact T regarding conference speaking engagement
Move all “to sell and to donate” items to the garage
Move all baby clothes to backroom closet for sorting at a later date
Move CRAYOLA stuff to basement (there’s some history here)
Sort through two more boxes (mega bonus points if you do more)
Send photos to mom for history (where DID this thing come from?)
Select recipe for guest blog post (Thank you, Karen, for inviting me!)
Fill out HS curriculum paperwork (Due August 1st)
At least START on birthday plans (two late August birthdays)
Look up Farmer’s Market for produce order
Wash kids sheets (Is a month really too long to go between washings?)
Move diaper table to garage (you know you’ll never use that thing when you have a bed that works just as well)
Get lost in bloggyland…daily, if you’re lucky! HA!

I’m also a continuing participant in Tot Talk Tuesdays started by Niecey of The Monkeys and Me. As always, there were some wonderful quotes this week—things that had us laughing out loud. I’ll leave you with one for now. I’m still going through boxes of junk from our storage and I found an old camera this week (the film type). I popped some new batteries into it and handed it off to the kids to play with (w/o film). BOY did they have the FUNNEST DAY EVER flashing that thing all over the house—setting up pretty displays and getting each other to pose. It was seriously the most enjoyable “inside” day we’ve had in a while. Well, I noticed at one point that my daughter flashed quite close to me while I was turned away. So I finally looked to see what she was “shooting” and the camera was aimed right at my behind.

5-year-old explains: I’ve taken pictures of everyone’s bottoms!

Me (laughing): Um, okay.

5-year-old: Even my own.

Me: Really? How’d you do that?

5-year-old: Like this (demonstrates).

Oh man. WHEN do they grow out of the fascinated-with-bottoms phase?

Remember, if you want to join in on either of these memes, just click each image above to be taken to the main page for each one. Have fun!!



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Okay, I think I finally GET it

...at least I'm pretty sure I'm on the right track. Here's what I'm gathering from all over the blogsphere these last few weeks of investigating (especially you brilliant techy bloggers). There are all sorts of rules and netiquette expected of bloggers. I can't promise that I'll meet everyone's expectations, but the following 10 are on my list of to-TRY because they seem doable and make sense for those with a PUBLIC blog. I'll check each one off as I fully attempt it.

Survey shows that YOU appreciate it when bloggers:

Test our blog load speed (try Numion or Pingdom). If it's not fully loading in 5 seconds, trying out some speed up techniques like deleting plug-ins or gadgets (Check out Pro Blog Design for Wordpress or Mint Blogger which offers tips, as well).

Remove music gadgets from our blogs so that you don't have to hear it when you arrive (or at least make it to where visitors can turn on the music if they want to, but where it does NOT start automatically). You are usually listening to your own music and get frustrated when my music competes with yours.

Use an easy-to-read font type and size and make the post portion of our blogs with a light background and a dark-colored font (like reading a regular book--it's easiest on the eyes). Is my font dark enough??

In my post area, provide shorter paragraphs and use only left-side justified text (you hate centered text).

Unless I've had a rampant spam problem (daily), disable my comment verification requirement (those hard-to-read words that I made you type before you could submit a comment) AND stop comment moderation (where your comment won't appear right away until I have time to moderate them). Survey says you don't usually leave comments at blogs with required verification. (I've checked this one off, but posts over 10 days old will still require moderation for the time being.)

You'd like me to make sure my blogger profile is available when you click on my name in a comment. You'd like to learn a little about me or visit my blog. If you can't see my profile, you'll assume I don't want you visiting my blog or building a blogging relationship. Most of you hate it when you see this after clicking on someone's name:


Besides just making my profile available, you'd appreciate it if I showed my email address on my profile. In blogger, this is the only way that other bloggers can email me directly from my comments WITHOUT having to click on my profile, go to my blog, and hunt down my email address or comment form. Sneaky Momma has a great little tutorial on this for Blogger users.


You'd prefer that I NOT post more than once-per-day. You don't want to follow or put me in your blog reader or subscribe by email if I write too often (I get this one because I recently took someone out of my reader who posted at least 3 times every single day. I simply didn't have time to keep up.). But you don't want me to go over a month between posts either, or you'll forget who I am.

Let's see...on visiting. You want me to visit your blog daily and show genuine interest in my comment. You'd love it if I used a blog reader (Google Reader will automatically include every blog I follow, making it easier). You want me to visit my commenters' blogs, new and old, and leave a comment for them even if it's just a "hi, just visiting." If I don't regularly comment at your blog, you'll assume I'm not interested in building a blogging relationship (somewhere, my husband is laughing right now).

You really appreciate it when I respond to your comments when you leave a heartfelt response or ask a question--preferably via email if you've enabled your email options (because most people do NOT want to subscribe to a whole comment feed on the off chance that I'll respond). I'm FINALLY figuring out how much easier this is now that my comments are being sent to me via email and I can simply hit "reply."

What do you think? Too much? What would YOU eliminate? Too little? If so, what else am I missing? Comment below or email me if you have more things YOU would add to the list of "Majority Blogging Preferences." I suppose it's good to know, at least. All in all, I'm learning that the blogosphere is very much about building relationships through communication and by respecting each others' preferences. I'm processing it all and making a few changes when possible. I know I can't please everyone, but I'm up for at least trying something out, first.

How are YOU all doing on the above 10 points? Feel free to comment anonymously today to add points to bloggy preferences.




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Tot Talk Tuesdays {4}

I'm a proud participant in the weekly "Tot Talk Tuesdays" meme started by Niecey at The Monkeys and Me. To join in, just click the image above and follow the rules.

This week we nearly got side-swiped by another car (obviously not looking where they were going because there's a stop sign right by our house). I was slowly inching out of our driveway when...

Me: WHOA!

5-year-old daughter: What, Mommy?

Me: We just almost got hit.

5-year-old daughter: Why?

Me: Well, that car was driving way too fast and not watching for other people.

5-year-old daughter: Hmm, they must think they're more important than us.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And another day while I'm working around the house my son approaches me, grinning ear-to-ear.

3-year-old son: (clear as day) Mommy, you a dickhead.

Me (in shock since we DO NOT use that language): WHAT?!

5-year-old daughter: Yeah mommy, you're a brick-head.

Me: (relieved that he was just copying big sister): Oh. Ha! Ha!

Don't forget, if you want to join in Tot Talk Tuesdays, just click the button below. Let's start savoring more these adorable sayings together!!



Click here to join in




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Sunday Citar: The Little Things

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. ~Robert Brault




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A Five Day Sabbatical and Some Romantic Humor!

I normally wouldn't even mention this--not many people would notice me being gone for 5 days since I often blog sporadically. But since I've been quite active in dialoguing on YOUR blogs the last few weeks, I just wanted to pop on to say I'll be taking a 5-day blogland sabbatical for my family. Hubby is on a business trip and the kids really need my full attention this week while we battle an icky ear infection and work on a HUGE family organization project (again, more on that later). I'll be catching up with all of you hopefully in time for Sunday Citar and I eventually need to pass along several blog awards. Thank goodness for Google Reader, I won't miss a thing happening on your blogs this week!!

I'll leave you with a funny little secret. Can you see what I've hidden for hubby below? Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this silly stuff before hubby goes on a trip.



Here sits his luggage
looking all sweet
and innocent.
Don't be fooled!









Ah ha! There you
go. We have a
stow away!





And...
he may LOOK all studious with his computer bag hanging over his shoulder.






But I'll know what's REALLY on his mind when he opens this bad boy. :wink:

(You should see some of the stuff I've hidden for him in the past. Muwahahaha!)

By the way, I wanted to thank you for all of your sweet comments on Brighton's birth story after the Blog Hop post. They came through on our email account and I'll be updating the comments section once I have time to wade through each comment and add it at the very end of the story. I also know that if you're using Firefox that all four pages probably had a lot of little symbols and junk around the page that needs to be edited out. It'll get fixed one of these days. :)

Have a SUPER week everyone!

Tot Talk Tuesdays {3}

This week I'm participating in the weekly meme started by Niecey at The Monkeys and Me. To join in, just click the image above and follow the rules.

I have three to share from this week. The first one is of my 5-year-old daughter, she was blowing kisses into the air (kissing her hand and blowing them off). I looked at her and she responded with:

"Oh, I'm just blowing kisses up to God!"

My second quote is from my 3-year-old son. He's cradling a barbie doll horse tenderly in his arms and extremely upset:

"Oh no, he's deeeeead."

{dramatic sniffling and crying}

"It's all mine fot."

{more sniffling and tears}

The final quote is actually a funny conversation I overheard my 5 year old and 3 year old having this week:

5 year old: "I love God."

3 year old: "I love dod, too."

5 year old: "You know, God made everything."

3 year old: "Yeah, dod made e-bre-ting."

{loooong pause}

3 year old: "Dod made our house."

5 year old: "No, Brandon." {insert exasperated sigh} "The BUILDERS made our house!"

3 year old: "oh."

Don't forget, if you want to join in Tot Talk Tuesdays, just click the button below. Let's start savoring more these adorable sayings together!!



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MckLinky Photo Blog Hop

I really want to do better this week with the blog hop. The purpose is to get to meet other bloggers by stopping by each participating blog and leaving some "comment love" for everyone who plays along--you know, basically be a social butterfly through each blog hop. Anyone else with me? You never know, you may find a few blogs that you decide to connect with and follow for the rest of your lives. This week's theme is a favorite photo with a caption about the photo. I've posted so many "favorite" photos through the years, but today I post one that hasn't yet made it to this blog.

For those new to my blog, the entire story to this photo is long and crazy. In short, because of oppressive laws and over-medicalized hospitals, a "natural" birth of our third child required that we drive 4 hours, in labor, crossing two state lines, on icy roads, during in a snowstorm, where we could finally land at a little rent house to legally give birth out-of-hospital. It was such a victorious moment--a natural birth after TWO awful c-sections. I may look tired to the untrained eye, but I promise you--I was on top of the world.

The last straw...

I had been expecting it for a while. We were coasting on fumes for about a week--barely getting enough sleep and yet still waking around 5am. The kids were all running a low-grade fever, fussing and arguing over little things, mommy's foot still hadn't healed, and we had only a few dollars in our bank account after a crazy month of fix-its and unexpecteds. Actually, make that negative $1.43 in the bank (but who's counting, right?). I was certain one of us would blow our tops over something sooner or later.

So...I'm sitting in the dining room, sipping my hot tea and playing with the baby. Lee was in the kitchen, finishing up supper, when I heard his announcement from the kitchen (where the children were running around his feet, begging for their juice cups).

"Okay, that's the LAST straw!"

Uh oh, not the proverbial last straw, I thought. YIKES!

Carefully and quietly I tip-toed into the kitchen, hoping my entrance wouldn't upset the balance of our teetering universe. Yet I just had to see what disaster had occurred to arouse such a "last straw" announcement (and I figured I'd need to help sweep up the broken pieces of whatever had been destroyed in my absence).

Boy was I relieved to discover his words weren't some silly proverb or figure of speech. He was telling the truth...the WHOLE truth...while fixing their morning juice cups:

It really WAS the very last straw.

(...and he wasn't even trying to be funny...which made it all that much funnier, to me...the one who was now spewing hot chai tea from my nostrils)




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Honoring My Grandfather

WOW! I just received the following link of my grandfather (Fullerton) receiving an award (yesterday) for his service in WWII. What a neat way to celebrate July 4th weekend! If you remember, I posted last July 3rd about the loss of my grandmother. So today was a mixture of both sadness (remembering losing her 7 years ago) and yet happiness (celebrating my grandfather's years of service). I can't embed the video, but you can go to the link below to see the 2 minute clip (I had to refresh it twice). How totally NEATO!

http://www.kvue.com/video/index.html?nvid=377235&shu=1



By the way, last night we went out to Alliance to watch their amazing fireworks display. The kids had a blast running around with all the other kids and we enjoyed chilling out on the beautiful lawns. I'll have to post pix later this week, though, because I'm just too lazy tired to do it today (plus I have some real work to do--more on that later).




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Blog Hop!!!

Welcome to MckLinky's Weekly Blog Hop!!

This week the theme is INTRODUCE YOUR BLOG.

For those of you who are new to my blog, my name is Shaye! I am a happily married mommy with three young children ages 1, 3, and 5. As my "about me" section says, we are grateful for the liberties we have to home school, home birth, breastfeed, co-sleep, baby wear, non-circ, delay and select vaccinations, and utilize positive Biblical (NT), grace-based discipline. I teach just a few short-courses for the local college each year, read and write book reviews and blog on the side. I'm currently finishing my 2nd master's degree (edu. tech.) this fall and am looking for a limited residency PhD program to jump into in 2010. The hubby just finished his PhD in rhetoric...WHEW!

I started this blog in 2006 and have since switched to blogger. The stuff I write is mostly about my family, but I also blog about other advocacy issues that I'm passionate about (birth, education, etc.).

Thank you for visiting! Be sure to add your link below and post your Blog Hop entry TODAY!

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday {1}

This post is belated by a month. However, I have to reiterate just how proud I am of my man, Dr. Miller. My daddy shot this picture outside just after hubby's doctoral graduation ceremony. Then my friend, Niecey, played with it to give it more of a timeless look. I absolutely love this picture. Additionally, I like that you can see my youngest's chubby cheeks and full lips peeking out just below my chin (he's riding on my hip). The whole thing makes me feel all warm and gooey inside. Mmmm...


If you want to join in "Mostly Wordless Wednesday," click the button below to be taken to HQ and add your link to the list. Have a super hump day everyone!