La Vida Betsy

Las Posadas

2009-12-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

A really interesting video about the history of Las Posadas and Piñatas, in clear but quick Spanish. Tomorrow I'll explain in English.

O Christmas Pink

2009-12-15T06:00:00.002-06:00

And, of course, Pink.

I can't figure out how to capture the loveliness of the pink tree on film. I took these after dark, hoping to show you how it glows sweetly at night, but it looks more purple here.

I did a couple of extra things this year. I twisted white garland around the lights to cover up the green cord, and I strung another white garland through the middle of the tree. I'm really happy with how that came out. I used some pink ribbons I had, and I'm always on the lookout for new perfect pink ornaments, but I didn't find any this year.

I love my pink tree.

O Christmas Five

2009-12-14T06:00:00.001-06:00

Crafting, Goodwill, Trips, Friends, and

Family

We're happy and lucky to have some ornaments from Matthew's family. This Noel ball is one of my favorites.

My Mom gave us an ornament each year in our stockings, and wrote the date on them somewhere, so I have an ornament for every year, and her handwriting, which makes me happy.
Remember when Anna gave us all names from Pooh and we were only to refer to each other that way? We all have ornaments from that time. Here's me, Tigger, in 2007.

We also have lots of photo ornaments. Matthew in Kindergarten, Anna last year. Sometimes I think we're definitely going to need another tree. :)

O Christmas Four

2009-12-13T06:00:00.002-06:00

Crafting, Goodwill, Trips,

Friends

This Hula Santa came from friends Jon and Kerri when they were stationed in Hawaii. It's funny that a Hula Santa could make anyone feel all proud and American, but he does.

This L is from one of my very favorite students ever, who gave it to Anna when she was born. Sweet Chris. :)

Katrina has given us many of the coolest ornaments on our tree, like this drum, which I took 5 pictures of, all blurry. Also a high hat on a stand that really works! Katrina's the best. :)

This football is from a "grown up" friend for our graduation from K-State. Donna and I share a great love for KSU football. This ornament reminds me of our young marrieds small group, and what a neat time that was.

O Christmas Three

2009-12-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

Crafting, Goodwill, and

Trips!

I got this pretty one this summer at the Saturday Market in Eugene. I look at him and think about shopping with Katrina and Chelsea, and the beach, and hiking, and talking, and friends.

This little crab is from the trip we took to Baltimore when Anna was 6 months old, for the Foreign Language teachers convention. I think of the aquarium, and the Thanksgiving Parade on Anna's 6 month birthday, and Anna and Matthew exploring the town together.

I got this one on my big Southern road trip with Katrina, on a morning of trying to stay out of the sun because got such a sunburn the day before. What? Glitter sunscreen not that effective?

This one is from one of my running away trips with Anna, when we went to Dorothy's house last year. I remember parks and playing and laughing together.

Christmas ornaments are my favorite souvenirs.

O Christmas Two

2009-12-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

So yesterday was crafting. Today...

Goodwill

There are so many wonderful and strange things to be found there.

Like this guy, who makes me laugh every year. Where did he come from? When and where was he appropriate?

Or this, my very first Flamingo ornament. Now I have lots, given to me over the years, but this first flamingo, he's special. I remember finding him and thinking. A flamingo for the Christmas Tree, found at Goodwill? What could be more perfect?

I got a whole box of these Straw ornaments from Czechoslovakia, and gave most of them away, but I kept one for myself.

And this is a Hallmark Keepsake ornament that I found brand new in the box. It has the year we moved into the house and everything (see the 2004 at the bottom of the door). I think I found it two years ago. It was very exciting.

Can you guess what's next?

O Christmas Tree

2009-12-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

I have decided that the Christmas Tree embodies everything I like about life.

I begin my illustration today with: Handmade Things

Wheat ornament made by my Grandma Anna

Boot ornament made by my Grandma Madge (maybe my favorite ornament)

Stocking made by Linda

Pinecone made by Abby, age 4?

Ridiculously huge snowflake made by me, who cannot seem to crochet things that are not scaled for giants.

More tomorrow...

Internet meets real world

2009-12-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

Last Friday I had one of those days that turns out entirely different than you expect. My plan was to go right home after school and get to work. I had a much better day instead.

First I had to go to town to pick up Anna, so I got to swim. I am really loving swimming every day. It's amazing that I never thought to join the YMCA before now. I swim a mile 3 times a week, and about 1000 yards the other days. If I time it right, I get done in time to change and watch the last 30 minutes of Days of Our Lives while walking on the treadmill, and then I pick up Anna from school.

Anyhoo-back to my day. Then Linda called and told me she was reading a poem at GCCC, and that I should go and meet Shauna and her family there. What a treat! I haven't seen Shauna in years, but we're connected via this wonderful Internet.

Here's Linda's poem, a delight as always.

Like Pudding by Linda Lobmeyer

It can be an instant sensation-

like pudding, like chocolate,

which tastes best from the instant,

or it can be like butterscotch,

which is much better from

the cook-n-serve (stirred

and stirred). Smooth,

spongy on top, sweet

on the tongue. It's simple

pleasure: love like pudding.

A heart reaches

for a spoon and punches

through the skin to eat mushiness.

We eat because it feels right.

We are happier than we were

without the pudding.

Then I got to chat with all of those fun people while Anna and the girls played at McDonalds, and then, tiring of that noisy place, we all gathered for dinner at my house. The girls (who never met, but have watched each other grow up on the blogs) had a wonderful time and the rest of us had some wine and conversation. What fun!

Way better than the day I had planned.

6-Man Football

2009-12-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

Last weekend we went to Plainview TX to watch nephews Luke and Levi play in the Texas State Playoffs against Garden City, TX. It was a cold game, but fun to see. Luke plays like all of my favorite football players, with an intensity that you can feel from the stands. I'd be proud to wear number 25.

Follett didn't win, so that was Luke's last High School game. I know that feeling, of working so hard in your senior year, devoting yourself entirely to a goal, and not making it there. I know how that hurts.

We're awfully proud of you.

Gift Tags

2009-12-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

I think there are lots of neat things you could do with these.

And probably some one else more computer savvy than me would know how to put them into a PDF or something repeating so that you could just print them out and use them.

Sorry 'bout that.But aren't they pretty and oh so cute?

And now I can use them without fretting about it.

I am definitely re-using this one. I love it.

Teeny Spruce

2009-12-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

Last year we got a little teeny live Christmas Tree, and then in the Spring we planted him outside. I thought, since he's a Christmas Tree, he ought to be decorated. We used twist ties to attach everything, we'll see how long it lasts.

Christmas in Kansas

2009-12-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving 2009 (2)

2009-12-04T06:00:00.001-06:00

8th Annual Alsop Thanksgiving Connect Four Tournament

Watch this video!!! (took me 3 days to get it loaded)

And a good time was had by all.

"I gave her braids!"

2009-12-03T06:00:00.002-06:00

That girl does amazing things with tape and construction paper.

(Hopefully we'll have the rest of Thanksgiving tomorrow. I can't get my video to load!)

Thanksgiving 2009 (1)

2009-12-02T06:00:00.001-06:00

Our Thanksgiving festivities started, as usual, with the baking of many pies. Matthew's Mom told him he had to wear a mask (strep throat) but it didn't slow us down much. We tried (again) to bake 4 pies at once and failed (again) to remember how much longer that takes. So the pumpkin pies took forever (again) and the pecan pies were runny (again), but still tasty.

Susan and Abby and Poppa Ted all came out to our house on Thursday morning.

We had the 8th Annual Connect Four Tournament (more on that tomorrow) and ate lots of yummy food.

Our fireplace isn't working at the moment, so Matthew set it up as a screen for the projector. We watched The Sound of Music (Abby had never seen it!) and played Wii.

And, of course, there was some dress up, and some taking care of babies.

Jovana's Quilt

2009-12-01T06:00:00.002-06:00

Waaaay back in March when Chris helped us finish the basement, I told Shannon I'd trade her my quilting labor for his manly labor. I finally finished her project, just in time for her to give it away! Of course I forgot to take a picture of the whole thing, all done and quilted and bound.

Here is a shot of the quilt top.

And a couple of the quilting. I did this on the long arm machine at our local quilt shop. It was simple enough and pretty fun, and I'm pleased with how the quilting came out, especially because it was my first time ever.

Darlin' (Christmas is Coming)

2009-11-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

by Over the Rhine: Snow Angels

One of my favorite Christmas albums.

Elf booties

2009-11-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

For sweet baby Joela's birthday I made a pair of elf booties. I made up the pattern myself, which was pretty fun. I wanted to put jingle bells on the toes, but couldn't figure out any way to make that not a choking hazard, since she likes to put her toes in her mouth.

I don't know why I couldn't get a good picture-here they are alone

And on some sweet baby feet. They're precious.

Happy Birthday Joela!

2009-11-26T06:00:00.002-06:00

Today our sweet girl cousin has her first birthday.

We're glad you're here!

(And Happy Thanksgiving!)

Napkin Rings

2009-11-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

I wanted to make something with Anna for our Thanksgiving table (actually, I wanted to make about 5 things, but I'm trying to relax and not be so crazy), and as we were browsing around the Internet, I came across this idea for beaded napkin rings.

I knew we had some wooden beads in the basement, and some plastic lanyard cord, so we sat down and got to work.

They were pretty easy, I think it took us about an hour to make all six.

Anna's making some leaves with names on them to stick in them on the table as place cards.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Birthday House!

2009-11-24T06:00:00.004-06:00

5 years ago today we moved into our house. That was a good day. It was exciting to put things away and know that they'd stay there forever.

These pictures are from the housewarming in January. In those first two months I made lots and lots of curtains. Last week I took them down and washed them. It may have been the first time I took them down. They were very dirty. It took FOREVER to iron them all, so it may well be another 5 years before I get up the gumption to do it again.

Here's the living room now. I knew the furniture was faded and crumpled, but boy! you can really tell when you put the two together like that.

And here you can see the two little schefflera that Mom air-layered for me from Grandma Madge's plants. I knew that they grew...but I didn't remember that they started out this small.

I feel pretty good about all that we've accomplished in the first five years. We have grass (though still weedy) and a shelter belt (started) and some shade trees planted (if they survive). We've painted our bedroom, both bathrooms, Anna's room, and the hallway. We painted the mudroom and put down flooring, and we built a whole room in the basement.

In thinking about all of this (and to pass the time as I ironed and ironed those silly curtains) I started to wonder what other things I ought to be doing in the house. Before this, I only lived in apartments, and moved out in fewer than five years, so the whole thing got a good cleaning then.

What all are you supposed to do when you stay in a place forever? Any help from the grown-ups out there?

Otro comercial

2009-09-04T00:02:00.001-05:00

Found this commercial last night, it's pretty fast, but the vocabulary is very basic. The accent is not familiar, I think it might be from Argentina? Someplace further south than Mexico, anyway.

Elementary School Secrets

2009-09-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while, when I'm chatting with a fellow Mama, I'm reminded that as parents, we only have access to a few kids in any given age group, and it's hard to know what's normal. No, that's not it, there's no such thing as a normal kid. Maybe, it's hard to know what generally comes with the territory for any given age group.

One of the advantages of teaching Elementary School is that I get to see loads of kids every day, and at all different ages, and watch them grow and develop. I love that part. It's been so fun to see the kindergartners I started with, now 4th graders, through all of their growing up. I love seeing all of the kids every day. But that's not my point.

My point is that there's some stuff I know. Maybe you'd like to know it too.

1. Kids fall out of their chairs until about halfway through 2nd grade. It's not that they're being naughty, though sometimes it does happen because of wiggling. It's often inexplicable, and just as surprising to the kids as to you.

2. Those jeans with the metal snap buttons are really hard for kids to fasten. Teachers are helping with that, often through 1st grade. The first time I saw a kid fiddling with his button I couldn't figure out what was wrong for 15 minutes. I just knew he was really concerned, and it had something to do with his pants. I finally pulled him into the hall to find out what was going on. Coming from the High School, I was awfully surprised at the problem, and half scared to help him. I finally shook myself back to reason and buttoned his pants. He was awfully relieved.

3. The cool eraser IS that important. I keep waiting to find out when they're going to outgrow that, but it doesn't happen before 6th grade is over. If there's one pencil with a cool eraser, or one pencil with an American flag on it, they will fight over it. And if you give them a big pink eraser, it's not possible to avoid folding it in half until it breaks in two. I've never seen anyone resist.

4. Coloring and scribbling and tearing paper are really important things for little ones to do before they come to school. It helps to build up the muscles in their arms. Lots of our little K's get tired and sad and complain about their arms hurting.

5. They tell us everything. My favorite so far is "My Dad wants Mom to have another baby, but she says we're enough."

Know of any others?

¡Día de independencia de México!

2009-09-16T06:00:00.003-05:00

Independence Day in Mexico is September 16. People gather in the zocalo (town center) on the 15th, and at midnight the president comes out on the balcony, remembering the leaders in the fight for freedom. He gives the "grito" about 4 minutes in, it's neat, you should stick around to see it. Someday I'd love to be there.

The song you hear in the beginning and after the grito is the national anthem. When people say that the anthem for the U.S. is too bloody, I always think of the Mexican himno nacional. Way bloodier. Here it is, with lyrics, if you're interested (English translation).

¡Feliz día de independencia!

Anna's Room (with too many pictures)

2009-09-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

And it only took me three weeks longer than I anticipated! Why am I so crazy about time and projects?

Once I decided that we really needed to redo her room, I stopped being so strict about cleaning up. And we had several REALLY fun days with cousins. I sent her to take some "before pictures" Here's one:

I don't see how she could even sleep. She kept the door shut and would tell me "Mama, don't look in there!" (How did she know?)

Aunties Linda and Abby helped with the enormous task of sorting through toys and junk and deciding what to keep and what to give away. It was very very kind of them. That mess of toys is now contained to this bookcase with four boxes.

And a giant hamper of dress-up clothes in the closet. She wasn't willing to give up any dress-up, and I couldn't make her. She's rarely in her regular clothes when we're here anyway.

My parents bought this bunk bed about 15 years ago, I think. I spent lots of time looking at beds online, and looking at auctions, and looking (usually too late) at Garage Sale ads, when I finally remembered this bed sitting in storage.

I'm usually terrible about skipping steps, but this time we sanded, and then wiped it down, and then used primer, and then did lots of light coats of paint, just like they tell you to. Dad mentioned that I should be sanding lightly between coats, and so I did that too. Abby came out and helped and helped until her hands were cramped into little balls. Mine too.

I'm really happy with how it turned out. (Fingers crossed that it holds up for a while).

I covered the top bunk with a pink chenille blanket I had saved, it's so pretty up there. I made her move the giant pile of stuffed animals so I could take this lovely photo, but normally it's pretty crowded (and much more fun).

She's sleeping on the bottom bunk, under her quilt from Grammy Rita, with an afgan crocheted by Great-Grandma Anna Streit at the foot. That makes me really happy.

I think she likes it too.