Product Testing, aka How to Remove Sharpie from Solid Surfaces

So after this morning's Artwalk, as it were, I immediately began to try to remove the marks. Being a teacher, I had learned that Nail Polish Remover works surprisingly well to get permanent marker off of plastics and lamination. I picked the most decorated piano key (not ivory, thank goodness) and tried it. It succeeded in smudging the marks well, but I was concerned that the surface of the key was affected. Then, I googled "how to remove Sharpie." Surprisingly (or maybe not so) there were quite a few suggestions on the internet.

Some suggested toothpaste or Soft Scrub. (abrasive, maybe?)
Others suggested WD 40 or a pink eraser (pencil or gum variety).

Most swore by Hand Sanitizer! (All I can figure is that its high isopropyl alcohol content, like polish remover and hairspray, has an effect.)

I had goo gone already (no help) and had some hand sanitizer (didn't wait long enough, evidently). Funny, but I didn't think to try plain shaving cream, which is a WONDERFUL carpet cleaner and is great for kids to play with and clean table tops at the same time. I'll try that if Anna ever has a relapse. ;)

Worried, I tried my last resort:
I hesitated to try because I have witnessed firsthand how it had removed flat paint from the walls of our home in Missouri with only light pressure. I was afraid it would do worse damage than the polish remover or other abrasives might have done. But, I couldn't imagine leaving all of those marks, so I pulled out the Magic Eraser, took a deep breath, and got to work.


Here is the before of the piano keys:

Here is the AFTER once I used the Magic Eraser. Seriously.

So, I ventured over to the blinds and the bookshelf and the half-moon table. Success! No scratches or compromised surfaces were observed. The only things that didn't respond absolutely well were plastics like the Lego storage. I haven't tried my trusty nail polish remover on them yet.

As you saw in the picture of her hands, the polish remover had smudged her henna Sharpie body art, but no removal was happening. Guess what erased it completely?

No, not Magic Eraser. (Ha) ;)
A baby wipe. Yessiree Bob. ONE baby wipe cleaned it all.


Crisis averted. We didn't even have to do much disciplining, as she was so visibly upset by my reaction and concern from the beginning, that it was obvious she was punishing herself. She would even go point to the spots and say "Here. I sowwy."

Sweet girl!

The McDonaldSpot Art Gallery

Milk and Cookies available during normal artwork viewing hours...

We know that Anna loves crayons and pens. She has been honing her fine motor skills lately at home and at school! She has always been hesitant about paint (mess!) and smocks (made her claustrophobic?) until recently. We were so proud to get her snowman sponge painting from Mother's Day Out recently, when she volunteered to wear a smock for the first time! Perhaps she'll love art after all!

This morning I awoke early to her calls to change her diaper, and afterward I had her play in her room while I caught a few more winks of a power nap. I woke up about 20 min later and walked into our piano/formal dining room where Caleb has been working on a science fair project with Legos.

Our artist met me at the doorway with her latest pièce de résistance. Medium? Broad tip Sharpie.

This was taken later after a cleanup attempt with fingernail polish remover.

Then I saw my camera, which had the screen colored on. Great. Fortunately it wiped right off using the hem of my t-shirt.

Then I saw this work of art.



Naturally, I had interest in her work...and perspective...so I began to seek out more by considering the whole span of the gallery (with perspective in mind, if you know what I mean). There was Caleb's science fair project:


And her mixed media musical offering....

This is just the upper range. The last 5 keys on the opposite end were quite a sight to behold, and I don't know how I didn't get a photo of them.

And the blinds...




The bookshelf was an interesting study in both horizontal plane and vertical plane art. Amazingly, no books were harmed in the production of this art.

looking down on the horizontal piece

Her best work yet... Actually, we've been working on drawing faces....
Do I smile proudly or cry?

Then there was the storage tub and Caleb's Lego storage (for his project)...

And what was probably the scariest, er, I mean most moving work of all was the one that bridged the gap from that room into the living room: the demilune table. I was certain that finding this one meant the borders of the McDonaldspot gallery had expanded...

Whew. It hadn't. This was the final piece.

Thankfully, the light colored couch, chair, and carpet were spared. So were the leather couch and the walls. Does that make her a discriminating artist?
Tune in for the next post... Now what?

Winter Break Capers, part τρία

(OK, that's supposed to be Greek for 3, according to Google Translate-- It's definitely Greek to me...)

A few more shots of the family fun...

Mandi is one of the holders (is that the right term?) for her cheer leading competition squad. We got to see a video of one of her competitions... They're good!


New Year's Eve

Trust me, there's a safe distance between Scott and the sparkler Caleb is holding.

HOWEVER, I must say that danger did strike...
The guys thought they'd buy a rolling firework novelty... a Hummer that was billed as driving and then shooting out fireworks. (That's all that the description said.)
We assumed (logically) that for it to drive, the fireworks must be pointed out the back end (propulsion) and if anything shot out, it must be like sparklers out of the headlights, right? So, they guys set it up and lit the fuse... mind you, it was facing us at a distance. Thanks, guys.

Next thing we knew, it wasn't just rolling; it was rocketing toward us with the distance closing fast and the imminent threat of fireworks (what if they were mini roman candles???). I scooped Anna up from my lap and ran to the left, and Nanny pulled Ashley (or was it Mandi? My pregnancy brain fails me) off to the right-- all of us screaming.

Scott swoops in to rescue us by charging it and kicking it over onto its side so that when the fireworks did start shooting out, we'd be safe. All this in the span of about 3.5 seconds, start to finish...


Crisis averted. Whew. Drama ended... and so did the fireworks for the night...with a bang!

Winter Break Capers, part deux

One of our favorite fun pastimes when we visit Nanny and Dandy is taking a little jaunt over to the neighborhood park. It's full of passageways, slides, swings, rock walls, and even its own "phone" system.

I tried out some different functions on my new digital camera (not a schmancy camera, nor schmancy pics) If you photography buffs out there have any suggestions or comments, I'm open to them!

Run!

Still, but only for a moment

Racing Daddy around the playground

YES! He conquered the rock wall with no help!

"C'mon Ash-ee!"

"Ready Mandi?"

Scott had no trouble fitting through the tire tunnel, but it was crazy-awkward trying to climb out. He opted to shimmy out the lower end instead.

Where are you, Daddy?

"I want come too! "
Look at both sets of those baby blues!

Look up here, Anna!

I see you Cayub!

hide and seek

the "phone system" of the playground... talk in one end, and the person across the playground at the other end can hear you clearly!

I love this picture because of the sunlight!

Winter Break Capers, part 1

Alright, I'm getting closer, but I still have a few more entries before we're caught up to the present. (Previous pregnancy/pro-life posts can be considered separate from flashbacks!)

We got to spend a great week after Christmas in North Texas with Nanny, Dandy, and the gang. Are you prepared for some pictures?

We had some quality family time. First, there was the Basketball Tourney that Uncle Drew coached. Dandy and Anna checking out the game.

Mandi, Ashley, and Nanny having fun

Shhhh! That buzzer is too loud!

Stealing a smooch from Daddy at halftime.


Aunt Debbie and Caleb at halftime... Caleb (at that point)
was completely inseparable from the DS.

Uncle Drew during watching a free-throw. He's a good coach!
I found myself missing my bball days!

Our kiddos did really well at the game! Drew's team did well, but unfortunately, a few weeks later, one of their guards got injured and had to miss the remainder of their season.

More to come...

Another reason why I'm Pro-Life...

For the non-ultrasound-aware, view the pic above with this in mind: imagine the baby lying on its back with the head on your right and feet on your left, looking up and to your left. The feet are not really visible in this shot, but the large semi-white oval at mid-left is the belly. The bright white portions of the face are (l-r) the facial bones of the jaw area, the nose, and the forehead.

We are blessed to announce (to the blogosphere, at least, since many of you already know) that God has given us an addition to our family! I am 14 weeks pregnant and am already planning ways to beat the heat of summer here as we eagerly await our end of August due date!

As early as 3 weeks after I officially found out we were expecting, our first ultrasound showed a tiny little heart beating. Many moms-to-be don't even realize they are pregnant at this point, and already the heart is pumping blood throughout the developing baby! At the time of the above ultrasound, our baby was 11 weeks old and already at least 1.5 inches from top of the head to rump, and baby's little fingers and toes were already fully formed. We actually caught BabyMac sucking on a thumb or finger.

We hope, if BabyMac isn't too modest, to find out what we're having in just a few weeks! Yippee!
I plan to add a cute ticker soon to the blog and will keep you informed as we have more info!

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**Note, my laptop has met an untimely end! Thanks to our dear (and recently married) friend, Barron, I look forward to recuperating my files from it, but I've been away for too long. I'm commandeering Scott's work laptop for now, but I plan on catching up soon! Look forward to more pics, biopics, McDonaldSpot acoustics, perhaps some aesthetics, and only a little politics soon!

Life is Precious

This week is the Sanctity of Human Life week.

I find it convenient timing, as one of the first promises our new president made prior to his inauguration was to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which would:

eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support, such as:

• Bans on Partial Birth Abortion
• Requirements that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion
• Only licensed physicians can perform abortions
• Parents must be informed and give consent to their minor daughter's abortion

FOCA would erase these laws and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.

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Watch this spot that's being aired on Black Entertainment Television:


No matter how inconvenient, every baby in the womb has value.

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Here are some really good related links. Chew on these for a while:

The case for life, around the web by Justin Taylor

Why are we striving to make abortion unthinkable? John Ensor, guest post on Challies.com

Who is Jane Roe from the Roe v. Wade case? "Roe no more" by Justin Taylor

Being Pro-life Christians under a Pro-choice President by John Piper

Number of Abortions since 1973 by Justin Taylor

Here are two reasons I'm prolife:

Parenting is never easy, but I'd never trade the joy and blessings these two have brought me!

HT: JT, DG, TC

Heard and Seen at the Holiday McDonaldspot

Jingle bells, jingle bells
.....All the way
Wuh puh pun is soo wide
Wun suh soapin say



Sing it with me now...

______________________________


After the generous gift of a DS by Aunt Licia and Uncle Travis, Caleb swiftly became acquainted with the apparatus and was amazed that his new Lego Indiana Jones game included the chance to blow out torches (literally) by blowing on the DS's microphone.

While visiting Nanny and Dandy after Christmas, Caleb became frustrated with a particular level of the game. He was trying desperately to pass it, and was playing intently after asking Daddy for help. Daddy asked him to blow on it, which didn't work, much to Caleb's chagrin and frustration. After receiving a growly answer, Daddy facetiously suggested that he head-butt the DS.

I thought the mark would stay on Caleb's forehead for a couple of days!

Merry Christmas!

Unto you is born this day, A Savior, which is Christ the Lord!

We hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year! (Not to forget Happy Hanukkah to several of my friends who also celebrate that special holiday!)

I have Christmas cards in hand that I may still send out (we've had a CRAZY two weeks), so as to prolong the holiday celebration... ;)

'Tis the Season!

I absolutely love this time of year! I can hardly wait for Thanksgiving to come (football, family, food), and I immediately want to get started on decorating for Christmas! Ok, I confess that I actually try to begin decorating prior to Thanksgiving. I had our "Mis-mas" tree up before, but for the sake of principle, I waited to decorate it until after... :) (That's Anna's name for the tree.)

I love making everything about Christmas celebrations intentional. After all, the reason for this season is the birth of Jesus. No other event has ever brought as much hope or promise into this world full of darkness and sin.

Over the past several years, I've either collected or received nativity scenes to display in our house. I now have one for each room of the house! :) Several of them are toy-type sets, so you can be sure to hear things like:

That's MY baby Jesus!

Don't throw the sheep.

Baby Jesus can't leave Caleb's room. Take him back there right now.

Don't press on the Star of Bethlehem so much.

Those peas are dressed up as sheep. (VeggieTales!) Yes, mama. They're CUUUUTE.

Why isn't baby Jesus in the manger, Mama?

That's not a king, it's Larry. (VeggieTales again)

You can't walk around the house with Baby Jesus. He'll get lost.

I like to be as biblically accurate as possible, so we put the wise men literally to the east of the manger scene! Corny, I know, but actually, they probably didn't arrive until Jesus was a toddler.

We also have a cool Advent house with 25 doors that we use to count down to Christmas day! (Thanks, Mimi!) I searched long and hard that last year we were in Missouri, and managed to find or make enough things from the Bible Story to fill all 25 spaces. Are you curious?



Here's the lineup I have from Matthew 1 and 2 and Luke 1 and 2(don't tell Caleb and spoil the surprise) ;) We read little bits of the story every couple of days...

1 Angel Gabriel
2 Mary
3 Joseph
4 wooden stool (Joseph was a carpenter) Matthew 13:55
5 Caesar's decree (I typed a random decree about a census and tax)
6 play money to symbolize a tax
7 a donkey for the trip
8 a map (made from a computer printout of their journey and crumbled to look weathered)
9 signs from "inns" saying No Room Here, etc., and I used Scott's Hebrew Bible program to "trans-literate" it into Hebrew at the bottom. (Cheesy but Cool)
10 a little wooden birdhouse made to look like a stable using a sharpie, etc.
11 a shepherd
12 a sheep the shepherd was watching
13 an angel
14 a wad of gauze (this is supposed to be swaddling clothes)
15 straw that would line a manger
16 several more angels (theoretically singing)
17 BABY JESUS! I had to be chronological, even though it would seem to work best for Christmas day.
18 A sparkly star of Bethlehem
19 a picture (from the web) of a man (read: wise man) pointing at the star
20 a camel for the wise men's long journey
21 a picture (web again) of a star over a town "Bethlehem"
22 Wise man #1 bringing Gold, which may have been symbolic of being a ruler
23 Wise man #2 bringing frankincense, the only incense permitted on the altar, representing
Jesus' priesthood.
24 Wise man #3 bringing Myrrh, which was a spice/sap used for many things, including for burial, possibly symbolic of Christ's purpose for coming - death to take the penalty for our sin
so we can be reconciled to God
25 In keeping with the other 3 gifts, this is something each of us can give Jesus: The mirror behind the door shows us ourselves!

Most of them are ornaments made for mini-trees that I found in Hobby Lobby!

So, I'm curious too! I want to know how you celebrate with your family! Do you have any special traditions? Please post a comment!

Something's missing...

Caleb's tooth has been loose for a little under a week. Last night at soccer camp, he looked at us and yelled, "My tooth!!!" I held a cute little tooth for an hour and a half so that we could get it home to have our first tooth fairy experience. Then Scott and I had to figure out what an acceptable rate for the tooth would be! (in secret, of course!)

Anna's Unabridged Dictionary

Hangaber: n. (HANG-ga-bur) A yummy bread-and-meat treat from a place like Wendy's or Whataburger.

Bumpybee: n. insect that makes honey and buzzes while flying.

Baniwa: adj. (buh-NIH-wah) Descriptive of a certain flavor of soft-serve confection that must be consumed slowly by licking, with certain protest if Mama asks to lick off the drips to avert an ice cream catastrophe. also: Vanillllllla, Maniwa, Manilla, Banilllllllla; pronounced most effectively by overemphasizing the /ell/s; Usage must be inconsistent and rotate between the versions with great excitement.

foand: n. ringing gadget that must be answered, or at least brought to the attention of the parent who is not moving fast enough to get it.

Ooo: pronoun (ooo) any person whom Anna addresses directly.

Ah maynemer moch inna hammer: rhythmic phrase; To be repeated consistently over and over. Only understandable when followed by "I'm inna Lord's ahmee...Yes sir!"
(This took me all day to figure out. I'm just glad I knew the song to begin with.)

"I ate it." : response immediately following hiding something under her shirt and exclaiming "Where is it?"