it's laundry day!

I regret purchasing a white winter jacket living here. anywhere else it would probably be ok, but we're in the woods and I guess I didn't think I'd be getting so down and dirty with the kids. oh well. I have a Columbia jacket; I think technically it's a ski jacket. I do love it. keeps me toasty.

so I thought I'd try and wash it (brilliant, right?) but the tag is in 5 different languages and there are no washing instructions ... well there are instructions but they are in pictures. I guess they didn't want 5 more tags to explain it in all those languages. understandable.

pictographs, right? like the Egyptians?

anyway, I thought I'd post the pictures. I love google ... not only can you look anything and everything up, you can look it all up in pictures!

here's what I found -

I don't know much about laundry. wash whites on warm, darks on cool, spray stain remover if it has a stain ... that's about the extent of my laundry wisdom! it works, my clothes come out just fine ... of course it helps to have a neptune washer and dryer that is just AWESOME!

anyway, study the chart above to REALLY know what you're doing. happy laundry day!

welcome 2010

what a year 2009 has been. lots of change ... some good, some not so good. the past is the past, no matter what day it is. let's learn from it, and not dwell in it. that said -

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I've made some resolutions, not entirely sure it's because it's now 2010. it's just another day to me now. I don't even think I made it to midnight! the Katie 10+ years ago would be hungover today ... but we don't need to go there.

* I've posted about Avon's Breast Cancer Walk happening next summer. I'm REALLY looking forward to it. I'm also happy to have committed myself to something that will force me to work out and get in a routine. since it's still 5 months away, I'm hoping by then it will be habit.

*read more books

*be more crafty with the boys ... that's the kind of stuff they will remember forever, then pass it on to their kids.

*a big one that has been always sitting in the back of my mind, is to do all those things that are on the to-do list, but never get done.

for example -

the boys have this tractor toy with special keys to make it work and one has been missing forever. well you can only go so far if you have 3 out of the 4 keys, so I've been wanting to contact the company and try and order that 4th key. yea, not fun. you can see why that one always gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list!

I'm sure there are more things I'll think of later, you know how that goes.

what are your resolutions?????

merry chirstmas

Merry CHRISTmas!

Being a christian I've known December 25th is Jesus' birthday, but I've used this day like the rest of the world - this year included. I'm going through the motions of the day, the way our culture has created it to be. traveling to be with family, friends, eating lots of food, dressing up, buying and giving gifts ... which is all great, but if today is a birthday, shouldn't we be honoring Him? I'm going through the motions because I feel an obligation, and I don't feel like I'm honoring Jesus by doing it.

the obligation is from what I was raised in, by worldly people. and kids believe the truth to be whatever their parents do and say. after becoming an adult (whenever that was) it then becomes my fault, my ignorance, my obligation, my distraction from what Christmas is REALLY suppose to be.

a true believer doesn't just believe in Jesus. a true believer doesn't just go to church on Sundays. it's not just about reading the bible, it's about living it. and not just on Christmas, but every single day.

going through the motions of obligation is NOT living it. I don't want to pass onto my children that same obligation. Today we honor the birth of our Lord.

I'm not entirely sure what that will include (I'm thinking volunteering &/or a soup kitchen) but I just know that how we are doing it this year is not right. Give in a way you can; give with faith to people who actually need it ... like Jesus came to heal the sick, to those who needed it and were faithful for it.

Americans consume way too much as it is ... and then to throw Christmas on top of that, then it just become ridiculous! how much stuff does a person need?!

All that said, we've decided to tell Samuel that Santa is a made up story. He's definitely not traumatized, in fact, I'm not convinced he totally believes us. he says "what about all the songs mama?" I guess he'll get it next year!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

volunteer gift wrap

I recently found out that bookstores, like Borders and Barnes & Noble, take volunteers for gift wrapping during the holiday season.

They will also allow you to collect tips, but only for a non-profit organization. Perfect for me since I've registered to walk in Avon's Walk for Breast Cancer. I was there last night and only made $10, which covers my gas to get there since I'm in the sticks, but that's ok! it's fun and it gets the word out about the walk anyway.

Now this would not be for you real creative types. They gave me a folding table with paper, tape, scissors, a few bows, but that's it. it's pretty blah. you may have guessed, everyone that did get the wrapping were men. ha! typical, but hey, at least they got it done!

I called yesterday and got a couple different shifts, but only because someone cancelled. apparently they start scheduling this in July/Aug. I had no idea!

this could be good for churches, moms clubs, or schools. lots of possibilities.

just wanted to spread the word.

food donation

Land O'Lakes is donating $1 for every person who clicks on their web site.

Go to their website (listed below) and click on the top right side of the

screen where it says: “You Click, We donate. It's that easy.”

Please feel free to pass this on to all of your friends. Food shelves need our

donations more than ever this year!

http://www.landolakesinc.com