
Welcome!
Welcome to my little ol' blog. I'll be upfront about it: I don't blog very often any more. If you found your way here because you read my book "Trailer Life," have a gander! But it's easier to keep up with me on Instagram or on my Facebook page. I have this long, drawn out theory on why I'm a terrible blogger, but that is a story for another day. Enjoy the ramblings of my life from the last 8 years or so.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
It's our third anniversary!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Critters

Happy 4th Birthday Will



We love our oldest boy. He cracks me up. Example: "Hey Will, your birthday is coming up. What do you want?" Him: "An accordion. Maybe red."
Friday, August 22, 2008
Homeschooling
I have thought of a few good reasons to home-school my kids.
1- No making lunches the night before or morning of, and then repeating the process at lunch time for the rest of the crew.
2- No bus stop that is five miles (one way!) away.
3- You can be gone whenever you want to be, where ever you want to be and not worry about picking up your kid from the bus stop.
These are the good reasons I won't be home schooling my kids.
1- I'm lazy.
2- I don't have the desire.
3- I love hearing how Kacy gets to interact with others at school and her perspective on people, their choices, and their differences.
1- No making lunches the night before or morning of, and then repeating the process at lunch time for the rest of the crew.
2- No bus stop that is five miles (one way!) away.
3- You can be gone whenever you want to be, where ever you want to be and not worry about picking up your kid from the bus stop.
These are the good reasons I won't be home schooling my kids.
1- I'm lazy.
2- I don't have the desire.
3- I love hearing how Kacy gets to interact with others at school and her perspective on people, their choices, and their differences.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Just Stuff (because I'm not a clever title maker)

Some observations I've made in the three days that Kacy has been to school: I seem busier. WHY??? Will talks A LOT when she's not around. He talks really fast, which isn't always helpful in understanding him. He's been talking for about 15 months now. He's come a long way! My kids are eating me out of house and home. Kacy gets off the bus and the first thing she says is "Can I finish eating my crackers in the car?" And the boys, oh I really feel for Jocelyn and Melissa with FOUR boys. Lots of food. I wish I had a real-sized refrigerator and a kitchen to match so I could prepare proper meals. All in good time... I am in the middle of reading Breaking Dawn. I wanted to finish it before my English class starts on Monday so that I could concentrate on the (boring) readings for the class. Yipee! I have put a bit much into my life right now and am feeling a little busy. Not bad, but just one of those things where I am wondering why I am blogging instead of doing one of the other dozen or so things I OUGHT to be doing. It's all about balance, right? Fun with work. All work and no play makes Karrie one grumpy lady.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Great Expectations



I watched the other kids come in, and their parents. It was VERY interesting. I've always been a little worried about Will being a bit immature for his age, and I told Ryan that if I didn't think he was ready for Kindergarten next year, I would hold him back at home and then send him when his closer to six. However, after seeing some of Kacy's classmates, Will is going to be just fine. Great even. My favorite was a kid named Joseph. He came in, saw some baskets of toys, and went over to them and in a loud voice said "Hey! These are cool, I'm going to play with toys!" and he started banging them together. Banging them, not playing with them. Poor teacher. I have great expectations for my kids (all kids).
Friday, August 15, 2008
bits and pieces



Thursday, August 14, 2008
Lazy
I am getting lazy. Gone is July where is was so hot that all I could do was lay on the bed and read the Internet (really!) and blog about our happenings. Now it's August, Ryan is back from his little trips, and we have lots going on. I have my own sweat shop going on. In our storage shed, where there is no AC, I set up a little table with my sewing machine. I made my sister some baby shower gifts, and I'm mostly happy with how they turned out. I get a little critical of myself- always striving for perfection. I go out there in the heat of the day, and sweat and sew and I couldn't be happier. I've cut out an pinned a skirt for Kacy. She picked out the fabric, and it's a little Hannah Montana to me. She'll model later. I enjoyed sewing the gifts for my sister (can't say what in case she reads this), but I LOVE sewing clothes. I am so picky about clothes, everything I truly like costs way too much money for me, and then there is my 5 year old who has long legs. Now, I know I could go to WalMart and buy decent clothes there for a decent price. And I have nothing against WalMart- except the crowds. The style I have right now is jeans and fitted tees-not very cute. Very practical, but not fashionable. And there are times when I need to look nice. Church. Baby showers. A rare date with Ryan. I'd like to be cute, and so the sewing begins. Right now to ease myself back into things, it's easy stuff. And kid clothes.
Tonight is a meet-n-greet at the school for Kacy. (Probably one of those times to look nice, eh? Not gonna happen tonight...) There are free hot dogs. Yay! I am not looking forward to driving her to the bus stop, but I did find out I get a check every month for mileage. The bus stop is 5 miles away- one way. They just changed it this year. It used to be out this far, but because of budget cuts, they shortened the bus routes. Her school is so small, I love it that everyone will know her and watch out for her. She starts on Monday, and I have a class that starts the next Monday.
Tonight is a meet-n-greet at the school for Kacy. (Probably one of those times to look nice, eh? Not gonna happen tonight...) There are free hot dogs. Yay! I am not looking forward to driving her to the bus stop, but I did find out I get a check every month for mileage. The bus stop is 5 miles away- one way. They just changed it this year. It used to be out this far, but because of budget cuts, they shortened the bus routes. Her school is so small, I love it that everyone will know her and watch out for her. She starts on Monday, and I have a class that starts the next Monday.
Friday, August 8, 2008
08-08-08
I'm posting because of the date. It looks cool, that's all. Here is what is going on around these parts.
Ryan: Working on the house.
Me: Putting around- thinking of the sandbox and getting a sewing area ready. Watching Ryan work on the house.
Kacy: Practicing writing her first and last name on lined paper in the D'Neilian handwriting style, because that's what her school does. D'Neilian is the slanted curvy writing, as opposed to Zaner-Bloser, most commonly known as ball and stick writing. She is doing math by adding numbers together, now she does it on her paper. Ryan laughed at her technique. She puts a number in her head by touching her forehead, and then counts the rest on her fingers. I taught that to her and Will in the car (we spend a lot of time in the car...). She is also practicing her slide stops on her bike.
Will: Working on being a good worker (He has improved dramatically with his listening skills, following directions, and not complaining- sing the praises!). Working on rhyming words (he's got it, and is now fascinated) and just a funny, funny thing- you know the "name game?" It goes like this: Will, Will, bo-bill, banana -nana fo fill, me my mo mill, Will. I taught this to the kids awhile back when Kacy was learning rhyming. I've heard some funny words be done, but the best is truck. Try it (in your head...) and to hear a little kid "swear" like a sailor is funny the first time. We don't ever say anything, because then it might become a problem. We do say, "OH! Let's do _______" and try to distract them without being obvious. Will is also saving his "jeans" to wear day after day. He has a pair of Carrhart jeans with a slider instead of a snap, and he LOVES these jeans. He has other jeans, but he thinks only this pair is "jeans". I do less laundry I guess.
Ed: Potty training. He is pre-potty training, on the cusp of getting it. He is learning what being wet means, and that it isn't comfortable. He's about half telling me and making it to the bathroom, and half telling me right after it happened and there is a puddle somewhere. I tried putting a diaper on him the other day and he took it off. I don't think I want to duct tape his diapers on, so undies and lots of laundry it is. I am hoping that in another two weeks he's done. I'm being realistic. I think.
Jessie: Knows what she wants and who can give it to her. For not speaking, she makes her wants very easy to understand. I love that she is so good to just lay in her crib and fall asleep. She has a great attitude and loves to be around the family. She doesn't have a choice, I know, but it seems like she would choose it over being more solitary or quiet. She is ready for an upright bouncer/exer-saucer thing.
Ryan: Working on the house.
Me: Putting around- thinking of the sandbox and getting a sewing area ready. Watching Ryan work on the house.
Kacy: Practicing writing her first and last name on lined paper in the D'Neilian handwriting style, because that's what her school does. D'Neilian is the slanted curvy writing, as opposed to Zaner-Bloser, most commonly known as ball and stick writing. She is doing math by adding numbers together, now she does it on her paper. Ryan laughed at her technique. She puts a number in her head by touching her forehead, and then counts the rest on her fingers. I taught that to her and Will in the car (we spend a lot of time in the car...). She is also practicing her slide stops on her bike.
Will: Working on being a good worker (He has improved dramatically with his listening skills, following directions, and not complaining- sing the praises!). Working on rhyming words (he's got it, and is now fascinated) and just a funny, funny thing- you know the "name game?" It goes like this: Will, Will, bo-bill, banana -nana fo fill, me my mo mill, Will. I taught this to the kids awhile back when Kacy was learning rhyming. I've heard some funny words be done, but the best is truck. Try it (in your head...) and to hear a little kid "swear" like a sailor is funny the first time. We don't ever say anything, because then it might become a problem. We do say, "OH! Let's do _______" and try to distract them without being obvious. Will is also saving his "jeans" to wear day after day. He has a pair of Carrhart jeans with a slider instead of a snap, and he LOVES these jeans. He has other jeans, but he thinks only this pair is "jeans". I do less laundry I guess.
Ed: Potty training. He is pre-potty training, on the cusp of getting it. He is learning what being wet means, and that it isn't comfortable. He's about half telling me and making it to the bathroom, and half telling me right after it happened and there is a puddle somewhere. I tried putting a diaper on him the other day and he took it off. I don't think I want to duct tape his diapers on, so undies and lots of laundry it is. I am hoping that in another two weeks he's done. I'm being realistic. I think.
Jessie: Knows what she wants and who can give it to her. For not speaking, she makes her wants very easy to understand. I love that she is so good to just lay in her crib and fall asleep. She has a great attitude and loves to be around the family. She doesn't have a choice, I know, but it seems like she would choose it over being more solitary or quiet. She is ready for an upright bouncer/exer-saucer thing.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Stubby returned

Saturday, August 2, 2008
The Thumper Rule

Friday, August 1, 2008
Gardening Pest and Photography

On photography- I am a horrible photographer by default. Some people have a natural knack for design and composition. I do not. So instead I am going to study and read and learn and practice. Because I like a good picture. When I used to scrapbook, I would look at other people's pages and think "Wow! That is so good!" and then I realized that 90% of what I thought was "good" was because of a good picture. Not a paper or embellishment, but the actual photo. I have been experimenting with the manual mode on my "fancy" camera, and I love it! Now, if I just had a natural eye for composition... Ryan does, his dad does, cousin David does, Amy does... me? I'm a snapshot pro. But nothing great. So I am going to practice. And the reason I wrote about my tomato wormy AND photography at the same time is because I took the picture of the worm with my "fancy" camera on full manual mode. Using the light meter and aperture and shutter speed and ISO is so trippy to me, I am always surprised when something comes out. And since you can see the worm, it turned out! Now, if only my kids would hold still long enough for a picture...
These are the people in our neighborhood
The Biologist- "It's terrible that you guys disced up your property lines in the spring. There was a king bird nesting there and he lost his home. However, since you did disc, there has been a proliferation of this rare flower called the monkey flower. There is a grouping of them in this canyon over there, and now on your property. Blah, blah blah, more scientific genus and species... oh, and if you put in a fence, I highly reccomend a deer friendly one. The top strand is smooth and the bottom strand is at least 16 inches off the ground. It won't keep people out, but that's what guns are for." Me: I hate biology. I think you are weird. Stay off my property. Won't keep people out? So it wouldn't keep kids or dogs in. Guns? I'll shot someone if I have to, under extreme duress, but why even make me come to that point? Good fences make good neighbors. You weirdo. Of course said in my head, not to him. Ya hippie.
The Night Lights- "I like to keep my yard lights on at night because it bugs the neighbors." Nice! So we get to see your Christmas lights, with a star and cross included, 365 wonderful nights a year. Although, other than that, he seems to be almost normal and he just recently put up some solar lights instead of the Christmas lights.
The English people- They tried to report the "Night Lights" to the county hoping for some kind of violation so they would have to turn off the lights. They've lived out here for a long time, have English accents, and brought us a raisin bread cake one Christmas. They mostly keep to themselves and we are grateful. Probably the most normal out here. Besides the vacation homes of the wealthy who live in LA and then come up for a week or two every other year. They are my favorite.
The Lancaster part-timers- they just moved in a mobile home. They have made the biologist mad. (Up here, there is a huge amount of mobile homes from the the 1960's and 70's that are is disrepair, and just nasty. Some people take good care of them, but most up here are just falling apart.) The Biologist is all upset because their mobile home knocked down his property value by $60,000-$70,000. Whatever. They live in Lancaster/Palmdale and are slowly transitioning up here for retirement. They seem nice enough.
Then there is us. I am sure they think we are nuts. There is always a project going on outside, and I'm always yelling at the kids. ("Ed! Ed! Where are you?" "Don't go that far!" "What are you doing with that? That's dangerous!" "Get out of Dad's tools!" "Ed! Get back here!" and on and on... it would appear to an observer that yelling at my kids is my favorite hobby. It's not. It's just what you do when you have heathens that are an acre or two away.) Ryan occaisionally rides his motorcycles. They hate both, I'm sure- a really loud dirt bike, and a really loud Harley.
I met the guy who "developed" the property around here. Everyone up here thinks he's crazy. He told me my property was zoned commercial and the lot next to us is too. (The county disagrees) He told me we could put in a 7-11 if we wanted to. GREAT! My own private gas station and convenience store! Seriously, there is no one out here.
The Night Lights- "I like to keep my yard lights on at night because it bugs the neighbors." Nice! So we get to see your Christmas lights, with a star and cross included, 365 wonderful nights a year. Although, other than that, he seems to be almost normal and he just recently put up some solar lights instead of the Christmas lights.
The English people- They tried to report the "Night Lights" to the county hoping for some kind of violation so they would have to turn off the lights. They've lived out here for a long time, have English accents, and brought us a raisin bread cake one Christmas. They mostly keep to themselves and we are grateful. Probably the most normal out here. Besides the vacation homes of the wealthy who live in LA and then come up for a week or two every other year. They are my favorite.
The Lancaster part-timers- they just moved in a mobile home. They have made the biologist mad. (Up here, there is a huge amount of mobile homes from the the 1960's and 70's that are is disrepair, and just nasty. Some people take good care of them, but most up here are just falling apart.) The Biologist is all upset because their mobile home knocked down his property value by $60,000-$70,000. Whatever. They live in Lancaster/Palmdale and are slowly transitioning up here for retirement. They seem nice enough.
Then there is us. I am sure they think we are nuts. There is always a project going on outside, and I'm always yelling at the kids. ("Ed! Ed! Where are you?" "Don't go that far!" "What are you doing with that? That's dangerous!" "Get out of Dad's tools!" "Ed! Get back here!" and on and on... it would appear to an observer that yelling at my kids is my favorite hobby. It's not. It's just what you do when you have heathens that are an acre or two away.) Ryan occaisionally rides his motorcycles. They hate both, I'm sure- a really loud dirt bike, and a really loud Harley.
I met the guy who "developed" the property around here. Everyone up here thinks he's crazy. He told me my property was zoned commercial and the lot next to us is too. (The county disagrees) He told me we could put in a 7-11 if we wanted to. GREAT! My own private gas station and convenience store! Seriously, there is no one out here.
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