Friday, April 26, 2013
The kids Spring Concert 2013
Luke's spring concert--by the way, the teacher is wearing wig. That's not his actual hair. :-) Luke is the one in the black and gray shirt, right between the two girls.
To see the video, you have to go to the blog! http://ablogforgrand.blogspot.com/
Lucy's class--she is on the bottom row with the pink bow and pink pants. She would say (sulkily) that she was the only girl who wasn't wearing a dress. (I talked her into wearing pants.) i was only able to get half of her song because of memory space on the camera. (Anna was distracting me by climbing off and on my lap.) Sorry about the shaky camera! (The girl in the purple dress with the glasses is so distracting but in a good way! She is so entertaining to watch!)
(I will do Max's songs in a separate post! )
Monday, April 22, 2013
Bad Week
It's been a really tough week, I could use some prayers.
I haven't yet recovered from the five fays that Dennis was gone. I'm pretty sleep deprived from sick kids.
I've been so overloaded with Etsy orders and demands that I finally shut my shop down for a while. A few days after this, I had a complaint from a customer who was not happy with her order. I had forgotten to send an extra chaplet as she wanted two and on top of it, she felt that the rosary she ordered was pink when she wanted red. (It was not pink, but that's not the point.) I tried hard to communicate with her and she refused to respond to any of my emails. She only sent me one saying she would give me negative feedback if I didn't get her package to her by the 25th. So I stayed up late redoing her order and went early Saturday morning to mailed her package priority mail so she would get it on time. I even threw in an extra rosary in a different color in case she wasn't happy with the red one I sent her. She still was not responding to my emails so I just sent her both so she could pick which one she liked best.
That day, she apologized for her rude behavior. I accepted her apology and I thought it was over. The next day, I found that she left negative feedback despite her promise to wait for her order. It was Sunday. It seems she couldn't wait to tear me down.
I found this out right before I was going to go to bed. I was so mad I couldn't sleep I had to take a couple glasses of wine to get myself sleepy.. I finally fell asleep around 2 'o clock and then got woken up by Lucy who told me that she threw up on her bedroom floor and that Anna was standing in it. I was up from 4 'o clock on with Lucy as she continued to throw up throughout the morning. Have I told you that I'm already sleep deprived?
On top of this, she made up a bunch of lies and said it was such a horrible experience working with me. She said she only wanted my rosaries because they were cheap. How ironic that people have been telling me that I should raise the prices.
On top of this, she reported my shop so now I could be suspended from using Etsy. I have never felt so angry in all my life.
One thing I'm proud of. I didn't back down and I defended myself in my "case" that she brought against me. She couldn't argue with everything that I did to make things right. However, she wouldn't back down and remove the unfair feedback.
In the end, I initiated a "kiss and make up", which is a tool that etsy uses between a buyer and seller over a dispute. Basically it means that both the buyer and seller agree to remove negative feedback. I emailed her and told her I would like to move on and not argue over feedback anymore and so I gave her the positive feedback that she wanted. There are more crisises going on in the world than just negative feedback.
It wasn't easy, because she probably will not remove her unfair feedback and this will make other potential buyers wary of trusting me with their orders. Its' so weird that this woman is Catholic and yet this is how she is acting.
I know I did the right thing. All day long I kept thinking about Jesus and Mary and how they suffered from rudeness from others, and I couldn't imagine them ever retaliating. I wanted to be like them and so that's why I removed my negative feedback from her.
But now, on a different note, I just found out that our bathroom that is supposed to be just tore out is also getting a renovation as well. This means a week of hammering and banging and worse--no naps. I cannot have the kids go a week with no naps. They are tyrants when they are over-tired. So I have had my glasses of wine again because now I'm mad that I didn't understand that a renovation was being done as well, and therefore had no idea what I was agreeing to when I said yes. At this rate, I'm going to become an alcoholic.
So these past couple weeks have been so stressful. I could use some prayers.
I haven't yet recovered from the five fays that Dennis was gone. I'm pretty sleep deprived from sick kids.
I've been so overloaded with Etsy orders and demands that I finally shut my shop down for a while. A few days after this, I had a complaint from a customer who was not happy with her order. I had forgotten to send an extra chaplet as she wanted two and on top of it, she felt that the rosary she ordered was pink when she wanted red. (It was not pink, but that's not the point.) I tried hard to communicate with her and she refused to respond to any of my emails. She only sent me one saying she would give me negative feedback if I didn't get her package to her by the 25th. So I stayed up late redoing her order and went early Saturday morning to mailed her package priority mail so she would get it on time. I even threw in an extra rosary in a different color in case she wasn't happy with the red one I sent her. She still was not responding to my emails so I just sent her both so she could pick which one she liked best.
That day, she apologized for her rude behavior. I accepted her apology and I thought it was over. The next day, I found that she left negative feedback despite her promise to wait for her order. It was Sunday. It seems she couldn't wait to tear me down.
I found this out right before I was going to go to bed. I was so mad I couldn't sleep I had to take a couple glasses of wine to get myself sleepy.. I finally fell asleep around 2 'o clock and then got woken up by Lucy who told me that she threw up on her bedroom floor and that Anna was standing in it. I was up from 4 'o clock on with Lucy as she continued to throw up throughout the morning. Have I told you that I'm already sleep deprived?
On top of this, she made up a bunch of lies and said it was such a horrible experience working with me. She said she only wanted my rosaries because they were cheap. How ironic that people have been telling me that I should raise the prices.
On top of this, she reported my shop so now I could be suspended from using Etsy. I have never felt so angry in all my life.
One thing I'm proud of. I didn't back down and I defended myself in my "case" that she brought against me. She couldn't argue with everything that I did to make things right. However, she wouldn't back down and remove the unfair feedback.
In the end, I initiated a "kiss and make up", which is a tool that etsy uses between a buyer and seller over a dispute. Basically it means that both the buyer and seller agree to remove negative feedback. I emailed her and told her I would like to move on and not argue over feedback anymore and so I gave her the positive feedback that she wanted. There are more crisises going on in the world than just negative feedback.
It wasn't easy, because she probably will not remove her unfair feedback and this will make other potential buyers wary of trusting me with their orders. Its' so weird that this woman is Catholic and yet this is how she is acting.
I know I did the right thing. All day long I kept thinking about Jesus and Mary and how they suffered from rudeness from others, and I couldn't imagine them ever retaliating. I wanted to be like them and so that's why I removed my negative feedback from her.
But now, on a different note, I just found out that our bathroom that is supposed to be just tore out is also getting a renovation as well. This means a week of hammering and banging and worse--no naps. I cannot have the kids go a week with no naps. They are tyrants when they are over-tired. So I have had my glasses of wine again because now I'm mad that I didn't understand that a renovation was being done as well, and therefore had no idea what I was agreeing to when I said yes. At this rate, I'm going to become an alcoholic.
So these past couple weeks have been so stressful. I could use some prayers.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Days 3 and 4
I don't remember much of Days 3 and 4 even though they were just a few days ago. I just remember that Dennis's computer broke, Lucy and Luke got the stomach flu, and Henry had an ear infection which was the explanation why he was up so much during the night.So a lot happened during those last couple days but we got through it.
I suppose it's very wimpy of me to say that I rather not go through that again--if I had the choice. But I don't. Dennis ended up really enjoying the work conference, which ended up being a series of seminars held by different speakers and schools. I guess he found the whole thing very educational and helpful and he thinks it will benefit him in doing a better job at his work and hopefully will give him better pay in the future.
I hope so.
The next big thing to look forward to is that our Master bathroom is finally going to get finished with being torn-out. This was a project started last year or I should say, even before last year, because I was pregnant with Henry. Anyway, I'm not sure why Dennis stopped with the tear down. I think it was just too big of a job for him.
Oh wait. I do remember. He stopped when he accidentally broke the pipes in the bathroom. Yep, that was a disaster.
And so I now need to get ready the kids for school through the heavy snow(?!) I keep checking the calendar to see if it indeed really is Spring, and it says that it is. The weather outside says different, but oh well.
I'm not sure if we're going to get a Spring this year. But then again, this is Minnesota, and it's full of surprises.
So we'll see.
I suppose it's very wimpy of me to say that I rather not go through that again--if I had the choice. But I don't. Dennis ended up really enjoying the work conference, which ended up being a series of seminars held by different speakers and schools. I guess he found the whole thing very educational and helpful and he thinks it will benefit him in doing a better job at his work and hopefully will give him better pay in the future.
I hope so.
The next big thing to look forward to is that our Master bathroom is finally going to get finished with being torn-out. This was a project started last year or I should say, even before last year, because I was pregnant with Henry. Anyway, I'm not sure why Dennis stopped with the tear down. I think it was just too big of a job for him.
Oh wait. I do remember. He stopped when he accidentally broke the pipes in the bathroom. Yep, that was a disaster.
And so I now need to get ready the kids for school through the heavy snow(?!) I keep checking the calendar to see if it indeed really is Spring, and it says that it is. The weather outside says different, but oh well.
I'm not sure if we're going to get a Spring this year. But then again, this is Minnesota, and it's full of surprises.
So we'll see.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Day 2
All I've got to say is this: This better all be worth it and we better get one huge stink'n raise out of this.
The End
The End
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Day 1
All you Army wives and single mothers, how do you do it? I have great respect that you somehow can hold it together and take care of your families and still look put together. I'm not saying that there never has been a day when you haven't "lost it"; no, I'm talking about the fact that you are all still alive--that you made it.
Dennis is off on a "business trip" for 5 days--I say that in quotations because it just doesn't seem like a real business trip to me. I mean, he's a machinist. The conference is about machines. What can possibly be talked about with machines for five days? And yet, technically, that's what it is--a five day work conference in Ohio.
So that means that I am on my own for the next five days, ready to have a taste of what it's like to live the life of single motherhood! I actually was kind of excited about it and curious to see how I would handle it. After all, it's just like some saint said, that you have no idea how much you've grown until you're under the test of temptation.
I closed down my Etsy shop until Dennis gets home. I wasn't planning on doing that because business has been good and the orders keep flooding in. But as it is, I am 10 orders (each are orders with multiple rosaries so I have about 20 rosaries to make) behind and there is only one of me doing this. I decided with having little time to work on rosaries that it would be better to shut down the shop for a few days.
So far, things have been great. The kids for the most part, have been good, though of course, there's the occasional fighting. Henry was up for a short time last night but then slept through the night until 5:45 am. All in all, it hasn't been so bad.
But then Mom called.
She was supposed to come over later today so that I could take myself and the two oldest kids to Mass while she babysat the younger three. But, she has the flu.
At first, I wasn't worried. She asked me what I was going to do--how would I manage taking all five kids to Mass? (She knows how they can be.) I told I would manage it.
But then, I began to plan out my day and realize that what I needed to do would have to be done with all five kids. I have to fax some papers and it can only be done on Sunday since it's too busy during the week. I also have to go to the store to get some cereal for breakfast tomorrow. I have to get to evening Mass, and somehow I still gotta feed everyone so they won't be crabby during Mass.
Have I mentioned that there is an ice storm outside? We haven't yet ventured out yet; I have been waiting and watching for the sand truck to come by and throw out some sand and salt but I have seen absolutely no one on the roads. Not a good sign.
I'm trading in my "work time" on my rosaries for some prayer time. Under the circumstances, I would consider skipping Mass, but I keep thinking that for the Eucharist, it will be worth it for the graces.
I'm going to need them....
Day 2 tomorrow! (Maybe.)
Dennis is off on a "business trip" for 5 days--I say that in quotations because it just doesn't seem like a real business trip to me. I mean, he's a machinist. The conference is about machines. What can possibly be talked about with machines for five days? And yet, technically, that's what it is--a five day work conference in Ohio.
So that means that I am on my own for the next five days, ready to have a taste of what it's like to live the life of single motherhood! I actually was kind of excited about it and curious to see how I would handle it. After all, it's just like some saint said, that you have no idea how much you've grown until you're under the test of temptation.
I closed down my Etsy shop until Dennis gets home. I wasn't planning on doing that because business has been good and the orders keep flooding in. But as it is, I am 10 orders (each are orders with multiple rosaries so I have about 20 rosaries to make) behind and there is only one of me doing this. I decided with having little time to work on rosaries that it would be better to shut down the shop for a few days.
So far, things have been great. The kids for the most part, have been good, though of course, there's the occasional fighting. Henry was up for a short time last night but then slept through the night until 5:45 am. All in all, it hasn't been so bad.
But then Mom called.
She was supposed to come over later today so that I could take myself and the two oldest kids to Mass while she babysat the younger three. But, she has the flu.
At first, I wasn't worried. She asked me what I was going to do--how would I manage taking all five kids to Mass? (She knows how they can be.) I told I would manage it.
But then, I began to plan out my day and realize that what I needed to do would have to be done with all five kids. I have to fax some papers and it can only be done on Sunday since it's too busy during the week. I also have to go to the store to get some cereal for breakfast tomorrow. I have to get to evening Mass, and somehow I still gotta feed everyone so they won't be crabby during Mass.
Have I mentioned that there is an ice storm outside? We haven't yet ventured out yet; I have been waiting and watching for the sand truck to come by and throw out some sand and salt but I have seen absolutely no one on the roads. Not a good sign.
I'm trading in my "work time" on my rosaries for some prayer time. Under the circumstances, I would consider skipping Mass, but I keep thinking that for the Eucharist, it will be worth it for the graces.
I'm going to need them....
Day 2 tomorrow! (Maybe.)
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
Catch-up
To catch up a bit on news, Max had a birthday. He is nine years old! I don't even want to think about it.
I actually made a birthday cake this time. I decided that Max is old enough to not have theme cakes all the time and he seemed to appreciate the fact that I took the time to make him one. It turned out pretty good--if I do say so myself!
Grandma and Grandpa Arganbright also came to visit.
I have no idea what they were doing in this picture. I was not the one who took it.
After the party, Lucy reminded me that we forgot to color Easter eggs. So I took the last of the eggs, threw them in a pot, boiled them, and the kids dyed them. These are glitter eggs. Afterwards, Dennis told me that according to the directions, we couldn't eat the eggs because the dye soaks into the eggs. So basically, we threw them into the garbage. What a waste.
That was two days ago. Henry has since found a spare egg that Luke saved without our knowing, and he (Henry) smashed it into the ground. It now smells like rotten eggs in our house.
More on smells...during the party, we found out that our basement is flooding again due to the rapid thaw. We now have rotten egg smell and mold smell in our house.
We celebrated Easter the next day. I put a religious gift in each basket. Lucy got a rosary...
Max got a "Holy Heroes" CD...
and Luke got a cross necklace and Anna got a praying stuffed animal lamb. She loves it. She calls it "Ba Ba Black Sheep." It took us a while to figure out what she was saying and who she was referring to though.
Luke got a bike horn. What a mistake.
You see, Mark and Meagan? Now you don't have to get me back for giving your kids kazoos as a party favor. The Easter Bunny already got me back.
On a completely different subject, we organized a spot for all of my clay stuff. This may not look like much in this picture, but all of my clay totes and shipping supplies were taking over the house.
That means one big tote and two smaller totes jammed inside the big tote (which never fit and everything would spill out), bubble wrap, corn starch (not shown) pasta machine (for rolling out clay) and shipping envelopes. This is only half-way done--I still have a lot more to put in and more totes to buy as well as shelves. But at least this is a start--it feels so good to have a spot for my "work" without it being scattered all over the house!
I was going to try to end with a witty remark that the kids have said recently, but nothing comes to mind, so I'll tell you about my latest "oops" mistake.
It is our turn to get snacks for Anna's preschool tomorrow and so I went to the store with the kids to pick something up. I was distracted by the kids and in a hurry to end the shopping trip but the list that the preschool teacher gave me was long gone and I couldn't think of one single snack that wouldn't either cost me an arm and leg and nothing that wouldn't give the teachers a lot of trouble in preparing snacks, so I just went to the cracker aisle and grabbed the nearest thing to me.
It wasn't until later that Dennis pointed out to me that I had accidentally picked out this:
In case you can't read the small print on there--it says "Smokin' BBQ". (With flames coming out from behind the words.)
I am really, really, REALLY glad that Dennis happened to read this before me bringing to Anna's class full of 3 year olds with sensitive palates. I can only imagine what the teachers would have thought...
And that's what's in the news!
 |
| His face is showing surprise over a book that Uncle Andy bought him on sharks. |
I actually made a birthday cake this time. I decided that Max is old enough to not have theme cakes all the time and he seemed to appreciate the fact that I took the time to make him one. It turned out pretty good--if I do say so myself!
Grandma and Grandpa Arganbright also came to visit.
After the party, Lucy reminded me that we forgot to color Easter eggs. So I took the last of the eggs, threw them in a pot, boiled them, and the kids dyed them. These are glitter eggs. Afterwards, Dennis told me that according to the directions, we couldn't eat the eggs because the dye soaks into the eggs. So basically, we threw them into the garbage. What a waste.
That was two days ago. Henry has since found a spare egg that Luke saved without our knowing, and he (Henry) smashed it into the ground. It now smells like rotten eggs in our house.
More on smells...during the party, we found out that our basement is flooding again due to the rapid thaw. We now have rotten egg smell and mold smell in our house.
and Luke got a cross necklace and Anna got a praying stuffed animal lamb. She loves it. She calls it "Ba Ba Black Sheep." It took us a while to figure out what she was saying and who she was referring to though.
You see, Mark and Meagan? Now you don't have to get me back for giving your kids kazoos as a party favor. The Easter Bunny already got me back.
 |
| This is the only picture we got of Anna. She got Silly Putty. Also a big mistake. |
On a completely different subject, we organized a spot for all of my clay stuff. This may not look like much in this picture, but all of my clay totes and shipping supplies were taking over the house.
That means one big tote and two smaller totes jammed inside the big tote (which never fit and everything would spill out), bubble wrap, corn starch (not shown) pasta machine (for rolling out clay) and shipping envelopes. This is only half-way done--I still have a lot more to put in and more totes to buy as well as shelves. But at least this is a start--it feels so good to have a spot for my "work" without it being scattered all over the house!
I was going to try to end with a witty remark that the kids have said recently, but nothing comes to mind, so I'll tell you about my latest "oops" mistake.
It is our turn to get snacks for Anna's preschool tomorrow and so I went to the store with the kids to pick something up. I was distracted by the kids and in a hurry to end the shopping trip but the list that the preschool teacher gave me was long gone and I couldn't think of one single snack that wouldn't either cost me an arm and leg and nothing that wouldn't give the teachers a lot of trouble in preparing snacks, so I just went to the cracker aisle and grabbed the nearest thing to me.
It wasn't until later that Dennis pointed out to me that I had accidentally picked out this:
In case you can't read the small print on there--it says "Smokin' BBQ". (With flames coming out from behind the words.)
I am really, really, REALLY glad that Dennis happened to read this before me bringing to Anna's class full of 3 year olds with sensitive palates. I can only imagine what the teachers would have thought...
And that's what's in the news!
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