tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65221847285197879002024-03-12T22:24:10.063-07:00Forty Mamamostly mommy, kinda wifey, somewhat forty, a little crafty, alot of coffeeHi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-47758953067172804712012-02-11T09:07:00.000-08:002012-02-11T09:11:31.212-08:00Life Moving ForwardIt's been over six months since I've posted. I suppose in the blogosphere, fortymama is toast. But I've been feeling like picking it up again, so here I am. It's completely overwhelming to consider recounting everything since July, and that also seems really boring, but allow me one look back.
I can't move forward without a nod to my sweet, sweet Palo. My first baby. I love this Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-34536392527077784642011-07-26T23:02:00.000-07:002011-07-26T23:02:57.200-07:00Hurray, it's Summer! Or is it?Yep, just another Northwest July day.
So...what's been happening this summer? Let's take a look, shall we?
In June, I went to Alaska on a ten day sales trip. (Which, is a very long time to be away from your children!)
I visited customers....
caught up with friends....
and saw beautiful scenery: this is outside of Palmer, just off the Parks Hwy.
We enjoyed the local wildlife: this Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-41986234460776173712011-04-26T12:20:00.000-07:002011-04-26T12:22:10.549-07:00It's Spring! And it's freakin cold! Hurray...it's Spring!
But don't get too excited, it's still really cold
At least we have Easter...
dyeing eggs...
stickers on our faces...
eggs in our hands
I kind of hate all the junk that PAAS puts in their eggs now: stickers, plastic shrink wrap, glitter (which, in theory is cool, but it makes a total mess), glue. We had one brown egg left so we dunked it in Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-37250570881813267382011-01-30T16:16:00.000-08:002011-01-30T21:41:46.718-08:00Playing with Balloons
One week ago Friday, we lost our 12 year old yellow lab, Dune. I told the kids that Daddy was taking Dune to heaven. I thought that would be a simple explanation, one that my parents had told me once, but it turned out to be a bit more complicated.
"Where's heaven?""In the sky, in the clouds"
"How are they gonna get there?""Ummm... well, he won't really be up there, it's his spirit really.."
"Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-36417650552020618292011-01-05T17:38:00.000-08:002011-01-05T17:38:56.064-08:00A New DecadeJust when you're about to go crazy, they sit up and do something like this.
(Blue food coloring in the tub, not tidy bowl)
I have exactly five minutes to write this post before I absolutely, positively MUST begin dinner. Why am I even posting? I've been reading other blogs and I'm feeling inspired and guilty that I've neglected mine so much.
So far the new year has begun like the last two, with Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-25821291826262520922010-12-31T11:00:00.000-08:002010-12-31T11:00:31.282-08:00Holiday ReportI'm na hantum prince, I'm Bear!
TRANSLATION: I'm not a handsome prince, I'm Bear!
My kids are into playing pretend. Pirates, Princesses, Monstas. When you are a mother, your princess days are over. Now you are relegated to be a monster or frog, or, if you're lucky, the princess's older sister. (Just had to share this)
***
Christmas was great. There was no holiday let down that it didn't live Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-42681825698009993632010-12-13T13:25:00.000-08:002010-12-13T13:25:53.106-08:00An Authentic December
The kids had their first visit to Santa yesterday. Bear wanted nothing to do with him after thirty seconds, and Boo, having just pulled my carefully placed bow from her hair, decided she could look up from her candy cane long enough to smile.
In the past fourteen days I've shopped "Black Friday", had three days of birthday celebrations, including a party with eight-3 year olds, multiple cupcakesHi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-46429232746561874012010-11-16T21:07:00.000-08:002010-11-16T21:07:00.310-08:00At it Again...---Boo just called down from her room. (She usually has a litany of requests after I put her to bed: potty, cold feet, a blanket fix.) Now it's, "Mommy, I have a booger". I really, really, really don't want to go up there. I can't believe I just told her to "wipe it on the carpet". Hmmm, probably not the best response....I think I'm getting desperate. OK, ok, I'm going up to get her a Kleenex!-Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-313068068513831872010-11-14T20:55:00.000-08:002010-11-16T17:24:12.582-08:00BikesI love sharing these photos of the kids with their best friend, K. The kids love their bikes, we've even started riding at the local BMX track. And when I say 'we', I mean the whole family! M says, "It's surreal that I'm riding bikes with three* year olds!". It's true, they ride so fast and go down these big hills that you forget their age.(Technically, they're actually still two until early Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-91323881471741938702010-11-11T12:37:00.001-08:002010-11-11T13:11:14.495-08:00Life Busy, More LaterMy poor blog has gone by the wayside. Between houseguests, business guests and one pesky volunteer project that just won't end, life has been busy. For now, you'll just have to settle for picures.Digging a hole with Dad (I suppose that's obvious!)Ready to be a flagger!Fresh from a haircut from Big Sister, V. Think he's ready for the Disney channel?One of our granddaughters, with V's dog "Stewie"Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-2316895909013839002010-10-08T08:00:00.000-07:002010-10-10T09:45:53.232-07:00Virtual FridgeBoo is always coming home with artwork. Not that Bear doesn't paint, but every day, Boo comes home with 2 - 3 paintings she has done at her school. She seems to have an eye for composition and color. Am I a little biased? Nah. I thought I would kick off our first "Virtual Fridge" with one of her recent projects (one of my faves).Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-72540253485196349502010-10-04T21:50:00.000-07:002010-10-04T21:50:00.143-07:00Safeway...aaaargh!C'mon, I spent eight bucks. Do I really need all this paper?Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-12120538753568610412010-10-01T22:46:00.001-07:002010-10-06T20:15:24.573-07:00P's & EeewsContrary to my last post, we are enjoying a bit of Indian Summer. I'm savoring these last few sunny, long shadowed afternoons--riding bikes, climbing, swinging, peeing...yes, peeing. It happens everywhere these days. Bear just finished his first week being diaper free and he's doing great! He always tells me when he has to go: right after I strap him into his car seat, or in the shopping cart, orHi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-27500071873711896072010-09-22T12:56:00.000-07:002010-09-22T13:10:25.716-07:00A Reluctant WelcomeThe first day of Fall. We're enjoying an Indian Summer, an entire one day of it. No worries, I'm not feeling as bad as this song suggests, but I thought some of the lyrics here were fitting for an Autumn that is here too soon. (Artist: Hawksley Workman. I heard this on "The Vinyl Cafe" last weekend and was struck by his real-ness.)I'm sorry that I haven't posted much lately, I'm currently bogged Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-1568137064701655432010-09-14T22:40:00.001-07:002010-09-14T22:57:29.871-07:00WORDThis morning I received a text from a friend asking what "word" means. No, I don't mean the actual word "word". I mean the slang term "word". I told her I thought it meant..."ya, I know what you mean" a term of agreement. The truth is, I"m only guessing based on my obsessive viewing of "The Wire", where "word" and "true dat" and "mothaf***er" are mumbled every 10 seconds or so."Oh, god am I Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-58616619094071281702010-09-02T22:25:00.000-07:002010-09-14T22:40:08.223-07:00My First Best FriendThis week I received a Facebook 'friend' request from a girl who was my absolute bestest friend in grade school. Her initial message was really an inquiry....asking my maiden name, did I go to St. B's, etc... I was so excited to hear from her that I immediately responded with a lengthy, two paragraph email, giving her the highlights of my life. (As if you can do that in two paragraphs and email Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-7791221747199687552010-08-18T23:28:00.000-07:002010-08-24T15:12:52.249-07:00Moonlight Once More I didn't exactly hate this tree, but I began resenting it...a lot. It blocked the sun in the morning, in the afternoon and even the moonlight. I would spend the day at work, anxious to come home and enjoy the sun, only to wind up freezing in our backyard. (Where we live, there are only a handful of days where shade feels good.) At first, M. & I talked about limbing it up, we didn't want to Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-23673499774445616022010-08-16T21:00:00.000-07:002010-08-16T21:50:31.172-07:00Transition to Normal8:59 p.m. Six minutes since I left my kids room and Bear is still crying. Ugh. I shouldn't even be posting right now. I really need to be ordering electricity for our booth at an upcoming trade show next week. But here I am. 9:08 p.m. Went up, soothed him, but now he's at it again.We've had three weeks of houseguests, beloved houseguests, but nonetheless we're feeling the transition back to our Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-50937973468782114722010-07-28T15:07:00.000-07:002010-07-28T15:10:33.629-07:00Some Days, You Just Need a TutuHi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-33928425302385939052010-07-25T21:16:00.001-07:002010-07-25T21:27:49.943-07:00Hi!A few days ago, M & I were at the playground with the kids, when Bear walked up to a big boy of five and said his usual "Hi". Bear's not shy at all, he loves to walk up to groups of kids, no matter what age and greet them, but this boy was having none of it."DON'T say hi to me!!", he yelled in Bear's face.M & I glanced at each other but purposedly kept quiet, waiting to see what Bear would do. Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-91058619716387688862010-07-21T21:51:00.000-07:002010-07-21T22:34:06.018-07:00ChoicesHmmm, should I wash the dishes, or have a bowl of ice cream? It's not a ton of dishes, and I will do them in the morning...Down guilt, down! Ok, that's much better, now where was I? Wow, crushed Oreo's are really good on vanilla ice cream! Sorry, I'm getting distracted. I enjoyed dinner last Friday with three friends from high school, it's so nice to NOT be the oldest person at the table! We've Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-50136576657880805802010-06-28T09:18:00.000-07:002010-06-28T13:51:25.087-07:00Sucked InI purchased this book as a gift, after hearing NPR's positive review of "another vampire story", and an 800 page one to boot ($15 at Costco). I was curious and thought "I'll just read a chapter and if I like it, I'll get a copy". Five hundred pages later, that book isn't going anywhere. I'm not a total cad, I did buy another copy for my gift. I had to. I wasn't about to give a book that I've Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-9529777057667151102010-06-14T22:04:00.001-07:002010-06-14T22:27:40.553-07:00Wish Me Luck!Everytime I see my home page (my blog) I'm reminded that I need to post. And post again. And again. It's neverending, like homework. And now it's been a few weeks since my last one, so here goes...Tomorrow morning I'm going to a Design seminar in downtown Seattle. I'm looking forward to attending a professional event, but a little nervous about the morning: getting two potty training toddlers Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-58566586899649616782010-05-19T12:27:00.001-07:002010-05-19T12:38:25.344-07:00Therapy of a Great HaircutLast night as I was serving dinner, literally placing plates on the table, our yellow lab squatted & let loose (really loose I might add!) on the carpet right in front of me. I did what any busy mother would do, picked up the grossest part, laid a towel over it and ate dinner. Boo then spilled her milk, and Bear decided to dump his water (see why I waited?). M. was working late, so I was on my Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6522184728519787900.post-58079760393294274502010-05-17T14:15:00.001-07:002010-05-17T14:34:25.602-07:00Birthday WeekendSo...I had another one of those pesky birthdays this weekend, and I'm happy (well, working on it anyway) to say that I'm now 45! I don't know how it happened, but here I am. We had a wonderful family weekend, it always helps when the town has a big festival in your honor. Well, maybe it's in honor of Rhododendrons or something, but let me have my fantasy.What more could you ask for? A carnival Hi, I'm Tonya...http://www.blogger.com/profile/12291653943023758442noreply@blogger.com3