Toy Jail - Three Strikes and Yer Outta Here!

It's hard to get children to pick up their stuff. I only have one, well two if you include Dan, and it's a constant battle. If you are anything like me, you can only clean up behind someone for so long before a breakdown complete with yelling and empty threats ensues. Thank goodness for the blog "How Does She...." .  Enter, the "toy jail".  A place where toys go when the owner refuses to pick them up.  I love the idea.  In addition to the toy jail, I will up the ante by saying, if the toy goes to jail three times, it's outta here!

Being Home for Emma

This week had brought with it a feeling of contentment that I didn't know I was missing. Getting up with Emma, making her breakfast, sitting and watching Imagination Movers. Getting teeth brushed, child dressed, lunch made, then running out to the bus stop. Having moments to myself to clean the house, do the laundry, plan for dinner, sew. Meeting Emma at the bus stop, hearing about her day, she is so excited, calling kindergarten "magical".

How is it that we have evolved into a society where parents send their children off to daycare to be raised by someone else? Someone else gets to hear about magical school days, watch them play and grow, discover and grow with them. All while parent's are at work, meeting the needs of co-workers and strangers. It's an odd paradigm. Don't you think?

Favorite Day

The first of the month is my favorite day. It doesn't matter which month, everything good always happens on the first. Like, the fact that I was born on the first of the month, or that my parent's wedding anniversary is on the first, as is mine for that matter. Or, that payday is usually on the first. Whose going to argue THAT as a good thing? I had desperately hoped that Emma would be born on the first, but she was stubborn and waited an extra 16 days. A prelude of things to come, that sassy little girl.

I am particularly fond of the first of the month lately, because a new play list goes up here. I don't know how to express how music makes me feel, all I know is that music inspires me, and Marilyn has an incredible talent for choosing the music that inspires me the most. I wonder what other wonderful suprises tomorrow will bring.

The Bookstore

This afternoon, I went to bookstore. I like to peruse the bargain aisles. I was in a crafting mood, looking in particular for crafting books. Today was not a serious literature kind of day. This is what I bought:

1. Japanese Design Journal - just a journal with a cherry blossom themed cover. I like to hand write things for Emma so that when she is older she can reflect on the person her mother was, my hopes for her, things I would like her to know and all that mushy mommy stuff. I think there is no better way to feel connected to family than to see their handwriting telling their stories. Sometimes, I copy those things here on la blog so you can see them too.

2. Crafts for Baby - a book filled with cute things to make for baby. Mostly so I can sell them.

3. Healthy Meals for Babies and Toddlers - because we are thinking about having another baby and I would like to avoid the McDonald's trap.

4. Sew Easy - The Essential Guide to Getting Started - I have been thinking about offering sewing classes to the masses. I needed a starting point for building a curriculum. Since I am not a beginning seamstress, I felt I would take for granted the essentials that come second nature to me. This book will help me focus on what a beginning class should focus on. Would you like to attend my class? I was thinking about putting it on the fantastic and versatile Internet because I'm cool like that.

I spent $26.17, not bad. So there you have it. A shameful show of books really if you run with the cerebral pack. I should have picked up that copy of "The Road to Philisophical Understanding" as well.

Obsessed with the Mormons

I think it is commonly known that I am obsessed with the Mormons. I can tell you exactly why I am obsessed with their faith, however, I can also tell you I don't believe a lick of what their gospel is based upon. I have a very hard time coming to terms with The Book of Mormon and accepting it as true. But, if I could base an entire lifestyle on the principles that are taught in that church I would do it in a heartbeat. One day, you should visit the LDS website and see the incredible community that has been built on this faith. Family, accountability, responsibility.

I struggle everyday with how I can raise Emma to have the values I see within the chruch teachings. I find myself frequenting the church website, taking their ideals and teaching resources trying to think of a way to implement them into our daily lives.

Many people have said to me that church is church and that all churches preach and teach the same. I have to disagree. The biggest difference I see is the accountability to each and every action that the Mormon's have. Making family first, responsibility to finances, health and planning, I mean honestly. They have a system that really should be a guidebook to life.

So, how do I make the doctorines a part of my life without becoming a part of the church itself? I think it's important for Emma to have a community to look to for love and support outside of her home.

What to do?

Blog Title {Here}

I find that I have a hard time naming my blogs. The title does not always fit the post and I am far removed from being witty and clever enough to come up with something witty and clever for a title. I am still locked in the throws of HTML madness, can't get the page to look the way I want. "Fiddlesticks", I say out loud. No, that's not really what I say, although, the word does start with the letter F. Not very ladylike I presume. (Note to self, must work on behaving more ladylike. Also, will try to do a better job naming blogs).

Lisa out.

All Things Aside

So, not being incredibly adept at all things HTML, I have changed my web banner. I am none too fond, but here it will stay until I can come up with something more my style. That could take weeks, perhaps months. I just can't bring myself to pay someone to do it for me, although, that seems like the most reasonable thing to do, then I could have something that says "la carter" and not "HTML challenged". Do you know how to create fashionable pretty web banners?

Today is Labor Day holiday so Emma is home with me. I haven't figured out just what we are going to do with all this time on our hands. Personally, I would like to catch up on dishes, laundry and vacuuming. I keep thinking to myself that it will only be a few years until Emma wants to go outside with her friends or roll to the mall without her mom, so all the household chores will be put on hold while we take advantage of the beautiful, almost fall weather, by taking a bike ride.

Speaking of almost fall, my most favorite of favorite seasons, I find myself saying goodbye to summer with joy and enthusiasm. It has been long, and hot, and humid. I relish the cooler evenings and crispy air. Yes, I said crispy, as opposed to crisp because fall says to me crispy, and that's just the way it is.

Have a great holiday!

Deck the Halls with Boughs of...Whatever.

It is officially 11:59 EST and I have finished my Christmas cards. Every year, I sit down with every intention of drafting beautiful cards with flourishing script, only to end up with messily scrawled cards due to time constraints. Emma, however, did sit down and sign every single card. That's an accomplishment in itself. In my head, I like to think that I am Martha Stewart or Bree from Desperate Housewives, striving for suburban perfection, only to realize that I am more like Rosanne Barr, kinda trashy and barley holding it together.

Emma got a phone call from Santa today. There is this great website where you can arrange for Santa to send a letter or call personally to give merry wishings. Technology. Go figure. Who needs a mall Santa when you can have the jolly old elf himself call and create wonderment and pants-wetting excitement for the low-low price of $14.95? Oh stop it, you know you are so going to that website next year.

Now, I am going to go iron my apron and have a hard drink.

A Trip to the Zoo

Today, we went to the zoo with Emma's friend John. They sat on the turtle together.

Emma petted the bunny rabbit and saw a zebra.

We had a good time!