Yes, tone of voice seems to be the challenge of the week. Sometimes the way Jory talks to the girls is shocking. It’s in this “why are you bothering me” sort of tone. I get sometimes he doesn’t want to be bothered, but that’s no reason to be rude. And sometimes he gives off that tone when they are asking him the simplest of questions or requests.
Why must they be such sinners? If they weren’t this parenting thing would be so much easier for me.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Salvation Army Christmas Tree
My friend, Suzanne, once suggested when I was taking names off of a Christmas tree to buy gifts for to get kids the same age as my kids. Smart idea for a smart woman. Most years even though I did this, I would just run across the street to Kmart buy what the kids wanted, then turn them into HR, who handles this.
So for the first year, I decided I would let the kids pick out their own gifts while we were in Toys. I didn’t have the tags, but I remembered the girls wanted Dora. So after I remembered Dora is not in the doll section, but in the pre-school section, which I personally think is dumb, dumb, dumb, I picked up all the gifts in my price range. I placed them on the shelf so the girls sitting in the cart could see them. I told them to pick one, after I explained who the toy was for.
Rowan picked Dora walkie-talkies. Layla picked a Dora talking cellphone. I asked them again and again, but each time they chose the same thing. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m an adult and I understand that maybe these little girls might not get a lot of other gifts at Christmas, but I would have chosen the doll. There were various ones, big and small. I felt/feel that a doll would last longer, something these two little girls could hold on to for a while. But the girls are three and four and the Irish twins are three and four and these are the gifts they chose. So maybe girls the same age know better what kids the same age would want.
It’ll be interesting to see what Jory chooses. And what Layla chooses her second time around since I discovered her three-year-old girl doesn’t want Dora, but either Bratz or Hello Kitty. Yeah, I’m not buying Bratz for anybody. They look way too trashy for me. So Hello Kitty it is.
So for the first year, I decided I would let the kids pick out their own gifts while we were in Toys. I didn’t have the tags, but I remembered the girls wanted Dora. So after I remembered Dora is not in the doll section, but in the pre-school section, which I personally think is dumb, dumb, dumb, I picked up all the gifts in my price range. I placed them on the shelf so the girls sitting in the cart could see them. I told them to pick one, after I explained who the toy was for.
Rowan picked Dora walkie-talkies. Layla picked a Dora talking cellphone. I asked them again and again, but each time they chose the same thing. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m an adult and I understand that maybe these little girls might not get a lot of other gifts at Christmas, but I would have chosen the doll. There were various ones, big and small. I felt/feel that a doll would last longer, something these two little girls could hold on to for a while. But the girls are three and four and the Irish twins are three and four and these are the gifts they chose. So maybe girls the same age know better what kids the same age would want.
It’ll be interesting to see what Jory chooses. And what Layla chooses her second time around since I discovered her three-year-old girl doesn’t want Dora, but either Bratz or Hello Kitty. Yeah, I’m not buying Bratz for anybody. They look way too trashy for me. So Hello Kitty it is.
School in a car
You know the neat thing about homeschooling is that it can be done anywhere and any time. This week has been a little off. Not sure why, though maybe the fact that it’s freezing cold in our house has something to do with it. All week, we kept not getting stuff done and then I thought we can read in the car. I grabbed my lesson plan, The Llama with no Pajama, and our Mother Goose book. I read poetry to him at red lights. Asked him questions to make sure he was listening and explained things that was over his head. This isn’t the best way to do things, but hey it’s warm in the car, there’s a heater if we get cold. So car learning does have its selling points.
Israelite Babies
Something has got to be done about the baby’s scream. I’m going to strangle her. She goes from normal tone to screaming faster than a Ferrari can go from 0 to 60.
“Give me my toothbrush, please,” she asks in a nice tone.
The toothbrush for whatever reason isn’t given to her and the next thing you hear….
“GIVE ME MY TOOTHBRUSH!!!” she screams.
We need to work on that and taking herself out of time out.
“Give me my toothbrush, please,” she asks in a nice tone.
The toothbrush for whatever reason isn’t given to her and the next thing you hear….
“GIVE ME MY TOOTHBRUSH!!!” she screams.
We need to work on that and taking herself out of time out.
His secret plot
There are days when I think Jory’s goal in life is to drive me batty. I ran into the kitchen to do something and what do I see sitting next to the backdoor - - the trash. Which is odd because I was pretty sure he had told me that he had taken the trash out. How do you collect the trash, then leave it at the backdoor?
“Jory, come here. Really, dude? I thought you said you took the trash out.”
Blank stare. “I didn’t,” he mumbled.
“Why?”
“Because- - I don’t know,” he mumbled some more continuing with the blank stare.
“If I hadn’t come back in the kitchen would you have left the trash by the door?” So then Oma, who gets home first, could have yelled at me about the trash sitting next to the door. And really if you pick up the trash, take it to the door, is it really that hard to take it out the door, put it in the trashcan, then come back inside the house and lock the door? Ugh! It is a conspiracy to send me to the nut house.
Blank stare with fingers in his mouth.
“What should you do with the trash after you finish collecting it?”
“Take it outside to the trashcan.”
“Then let’s do that, okay? And if you can’t follow through on this job, we’ll have to give this chore to Rowan to do.”
“Noooo! I can do it. I can do it!”
“We’ll see.”
“Jory, come here. Really, dude? I thought you said you took the trash out.”
Blank stare. “I didn’t,” he mumbled.
“Why?”
“Because- - I don’t know,” he mumbled some more continuing with the blank stare.
“If I hadn’t come back in the kitchen would you have left the trash by the door?” So then Oma, who gets home first, could have yelled at me about the trash sitting next to the door. And really if you pick up the trash, take it to the door, is it really that hard to take it out the door, put it in the trashcan, then come back inside the house and lock the door? Ugh! It is a conspiracy to send me to the nut house.
Blank stare with fingers in his mouth.
“What should you do with the trash after you finish collecting it?”
“Take it outside to the trashcan.”
“Then let’s do that, okay? And if you can’t follow through on this job, we’ll have to give this chore to Rowan to do.”
“Noooo! I can do it. I can do it!”
“We’ll see.”
Rowan and her obsession
Why must Rowan put everything in her mouth or up to her mouth? Her thumb, her hair, whatever random object she finds. She saw something on a blanket and asked her Oma about it. Oma told her it was gum. Next thing you know the spot on the blanket that had gum embedded into it was up and her mouth. She’s almost five. Why are we still dealing with us? We talk about the only things that go into her mouth should be food and drinks. Gloves don’t seem to work, offering rewards or treats if she doesn’t suck doesn’t seem to work.
This oral fixation is one of my pet peeves. Solutions?
This oral fixation is one of my pet peeves. Solutions?
Driving Comments
The other night, a driver made a dumb move and I commented on how the move wasn’t safe.
“Mommy, is it a sweet little habit that he can’t kick at the baggage claim? There’s a lot of luggage with his name.”
“What, Jory?” Did I hear my son correctly?
“At the baggage claim,” he giggled.
Nope, I heard him correctly. My son was quoting Miranda Lambert. Oh, those little ears and memory.
“Mommy, is it a sweet little habit that he can’t kick at the baggage claim? There’s a lot of luggage with his name.”
“What, Jory?” Did I hear my son correctly?
“At the baggage claim,” he giggled.
Nope, I heard him correctly. My son was quoting Miranda Lambert. Oh, those little ears and memory.
Second Most Wonderful Day of the Year - Black Friday
As I was walking out the door, I realized I didn’t have my faithful, purple Outback backpack. It’s my BF staple. I grabbed it out of my car, threw my wallet in front part, and hopped into Whit’s car which was already out of the driveway and headed in the direction of Target. Yes, it was 11PM and we were giving into Target’s craziness. She wanted to go to Wal-Mart in San Gabriel, but her friend called and said it was a zoo there. Coming to my house, she saw the other Wal-Mart and like that it was crossed off our list.
We caught up as we stood in line for 45 minutes. Before we even entered the store, we saw a man pump his fist as he left the store with his 40” TV, seemingly his only reason being there. This year for the first time, we saw Zone bars and coffee cups left near the store doors. Usually Target people aren’t there that long that all that stuff is necessary. What time did those people get to Target? 8PM? That’s insane.
And can someone explain to me why every year people are dying to buy TVs? Statistically people only buy a TV every 7 – 10 years, so why are the TVs the most have item at stores every single year?!?! My mom even got caught up in the hype.
“Why do we need a new TV?”
“I was going to get the 40” for you.”
Why do I need a 40” TV? What’s wrong with the TV you bought for me like three or four years ago at the very most? The one I rarely use. Like literally it hasn’t been on for the last six months. “What were you going to do with my TV?”
“I was going to put it in Jory’s room.”
“I thought we weren’t putting a TV in Jory’s room until he was older?”
“Oh, I wasn’t going to hook anything up to it. It was just going to be in his room.”
Oh, that’s awesome. So he could look at the TV, but not use it for anything. Why do I fear that idea would only lead to trouble down the road? God knew thus my mom could not get a TV because she didn’t have a daughter dedicated enough to stand in line at 8 or 7PM on Thanksgiving night.
But I digress. As soon as our feet hit the inside of the store, Whitney and I parted ways with our carts. I noticed that Target decided to go all Toys R Us, which means all the stuff that is on sale is in the middle of the aisles. This works, except that this year, they made the electronic department a stand in line department thus making it impossible to put all the electronics out in the middle of the floor.
Where are the $20 DVD players? Oh, in the food department? That makes sense. Oh, wait no they aren’t. What, you say, they are in the electronic departments? Uh no, they aren’t. I went to the customer service desk, but when I heard the manager saying, “There’s a 196 of them. Find them.” I thought it best not to bother her, but the sales paper on the counter reminded me to get my pillow pets with a free mini-pillow pet.
But let’s ask one more sales associate about the DVD player. What you say, they’ve sold out. And not only they have sold out, you’ve taken down all signs that say DVD player and the price? Really cause I’ve been in this store since it opened and never saw them and never saw you guys sell out of anything that fast except TVs, but okay, I’ll keep it moving.
What you say? You don’t know where the pillow pets are? You have to go to the back and get me three. Should I mention they are in the sales paper? Nah, I won’t. I busied myself with other things, like turning into that mom. The girls do need some cute sheets and look these Disney princess ones are on sale for only $16 and the matching comforter is only $20. Yes, I am buying Disney princess stuff. I never thought I would be that mom. Well if the girls have that, doesn’t Jory need some fun sheets too? The Toy Story sheets are also only $16 and the matching comforter is only $20, he can get that too. Wait, if these items are on sale, why am I picking up the last ones on the shelves? I can’t even find two Rapunzel sheets, so Princess Tiana, the first American princess ( you didn’t know that did you?) sheets they get.
As I continued to wait for the pillow pets, I see a worker with a cart…Hmm, what’s on that. I decided to follow him. Yep, going to the food department were the DVD players. I guess this was the 196 items, they couldn’t find that the manager had been asking to be found. I picked up two, just in case.
Finally my pillow pets. Yikes! The dinosaur pillow pet is hideous. Jory is going to have to keep the dog one I got from JCP. Where are the free gift that comes with the pillow pets? What free gift, you ask? I showed the saleswoman the paper. Oh, take these and see if they’ll accept them. I found three 12” turtles. SCORE!
Jory’s jeans for next year, matching pjs for Christmas time, gloves, hats, the usual Black Friday gifts, then it’s off to get into line where I pass Whitney because the line is wrapped around the store. For some reason, Target has decided one line where they direct you which register to go to is a better system than their usual go to whatever line you can find.
Yeah, Target shouldn’t open at midnight. They so don’t have their act together. Tons of salespeople on the floor, but for the first time they are seemingly clueless. Can’t even find the stuff on sale? Don’t have enough of it? That’s crazy and not up to Target’s usually excellent shopping experience. Just go back to opening at 5AM, it’s the way it’s meant to be.
After two and a half hours, we finally leave Target. That’s the longest we’ve ever spent in any store and Whit and I have been doing this for what eight years or so now….So sad. Off to the Fox Hills Mall we go. What’s going on at Office Depot, why is there parking lot filled? Whit drove through. Wait, are these people parked over here for the mall? They parked across the street from the mall? Why would they do that? We found out when we got to the mall. The parking lot was jammed, we drove around for a minute to find a park. What was going on?
Oh, look the mall looks like it’s 3PM on Christmas Eve or the Saturday before Easter. It’s packed. It seems like the Fox Hills Mall had a party and a concert. They had been open since like 8 or 9PM. Half the food court was open. Why are people buying pretzels from Aunt Anne’s at 2:45AM? Didn’t they just eat like six hours ago? Are you kidding me?! We drifted through the mall, where quite a few stores were open. Really, does Kids Foot Locker need to be open at midnight? Really? Do you really need Baskin Robbins at almost 3AM?
Then our beloved JCPenney’s opened and I grabbed three snowglobes. Oh, how I love our snowglobe ritual. We parted ways once again. I headed to the jewelry department. Oh those earrings on sale are small. Wow, are they meant for adults or meant for an eight-year-old? Based on the price I would adult, based on the size I would say child. Let’s see another pair. Yeah, that’s more like it. How much more are they?!?! Let’s keep it moving.
At 5PM, Whit whined she couldn’t go on anymore. She had been up on her feet all day between cooking for her guests, hosting her non-LA people Thanksgiving, getting them to leave, washing dishes, then coming to pick me up. She has had no rest. I counter that breakfast at IHOP would rest her feet and replenish her stomach, but she wasn’t buying it. This was strange night. First of all, leaving the house on Thanksgiving Day. Leaving Target and the sun not coming up. Now us not having our traditional breakfast together. She helped me unload and took off.
I quickly went through my purchases, tried on the few pieces I had bought myself, started the return pile as is my tradition. Buy everything, return 95 - 99% of everything bought on Black Friday. I decided Vandy could come along with me. My mom had suggested taking him when I went shopping with Whit, but I figured that wasn’t for the best. Whit and I had tried that bringing a newbie with us on BF and that was disasterous. We’ve got a rhythm going. But now that it was just me, I got him out of bed and waiting for me. I loaded my car and took off. A little after 6AM, Vandy and I were inside the dead new Target. It really was a ghost town.
I found shopping with a teen was nice. What, we left something in the car? Do you know where we’re parked? Okay, then you go. And bam, they come back with the stuff. Why don’t you wait in line while I get what I need? Bam, they do and you come back and there are now only two people ahead of you. It was nice. And I was touched when he said, he wanted him and Jory to dress alike one Sunday for church. A boy after my own heart. I hope this stays and he will require the same for his own children during the most wonderful time of the year and other times.
He and I went to IHOP and then he went back to my house, while I made a final stop at Staples, where it dawned on me since we didn’t go into a Best Buy that I hadn’t bought my traditional Christmas album. I perused Staples’ supply and decided that Gloria Estefan’s Christmas album would be the best buy. By noon, I was back home and done with Black Friday shopping. It seemed weird to be home so early. Yeah, this midnight BF is for the dogs. Hopefully, next year, things will go back to normal.
Then it was time to cook the turkey, find DVDs and books to return to the library, make the dressing and the gravy. A nice brusque walk to the library only to discover they were closed. Oh well, if I returned it before they open in the morning, maybe tonight I could watch Edward Norton’s Hulk. Vandy went home before he could partake in our Thanksgiving meal. We sat down. Well the kids sat at the table, while Oma and I sat on the sofa behind them. Maybe at Christmas we’ll have our dining room table back and we can all sit at the same table. Wait, does that mean I want to try this cooking thing again? Hmm, maybe it will become like Disneyland and the zoo, something I can do once every ten years.
Jory said, he loved the turkey. I smiled. It was juicy and delicious. It might be the best thing I’ve ever cooked. Which on one hand isn’t saying much because I can’t cook, but on the other hand maybe it’s saying a lot.
I wanted to lay down, my eyes were starting to burn, but I had to bathe kids. I wanted to do some more school and I had to finish cleaning the ktichne and finding a place for all the food in the fridge. When I finally finished in the clothes I had been wearing for the last 24 hours, I laid on the bed and closed my eyes. I’m not sure if I slept for five minutes or longer, but the next thing I knew was Jory talking to me. I got up, went back into the kitchen, swept the floor, but knew I couldn’t mop it though it desperately needed it. I put my pjs on and now I was wide awake with my second wind. So 24 hours after leaving the house, Jory “slept” on my back while I watched The Incredible Hulk until the dvd started skipping and skipping. Dumb library copy.
I don’t think I need to stay up for 24 straight hours anymore. The burning in my eyes so not cool.
We caught up as we stood in line for 45 minutes. Before we even entered the store, we saw a man pump his fist as he left the store with his 40” TV, seemingly his only reason being there. This year for the first time, we saw Zone bars and coffee cups left near the store doors. Usually Target people aren’t there that long that all that stuff is necessary. What time did those people get to Target? 8PM? That’s insane.
And can someone explain to me why every year people are dying to buy TVs? Statistically people only buy a TV every 7 – 10 years, so why are the TVs the most have item at stores every single year?!?! My mom even got caught up in the hype.
“Why do we need a new TV?”
“I was going to get the 40” for you.”
Why do I need a 40” TV? What’s wrong with the TV you bought for me like three or four years ago at the very most? The one I rarely use. Like literally it hasn’t been on for the last six months. “What were you going to do with my TV?”
“I was going to put it in Jory’s room.”
“I thought we weren’t putting a TV in Jory’s room until he was older?”
“Oh, I wasn’t going to hook anything up to it. It was just going to be in his room.”
Oh, that’s awesome. So he could look at the TV, but not use it for anything. Why do I fear that idea would only lead to trouble down the road? God knew thus my mom could not get a TV because she didn’t have a daughter dedicated enough to stand in line at 8 or 7PM on Thanksgiving night.
But I digress. As soon as our feet hit the inside of the store, Whitney and I parted ways with our carts. I noticed that Target decided to go all Toys R Us, which means all the stuff that is on sale is in the middle of the aisles. This works, except that this year, they made the electronic department a stand in line department thus making it impossible to put all the electronics out in the middle of the floor.
Where are the $20 DVD players? Oh, in the food department? That makes sense. Oh, wait no they aren’t. What, you say, they are in the electronic departments? Uh no, they aren’t. I went to the customer service desk, but when I heard the manager saying, “There’s a 196 of them. Find them.” I thought it best not to bother her, but the sales paper on the counter reminded me to get my pillow pets with a free mini-pillow pet.
But let’s ask one more sales associate about the DVD player. What you say, they’ve sold out. And not only they have sold out, you’ve taken down all signs that say DVD player and the price? Really cause I’ve been in this store since it opened and never saw them and never saw you guys sell out of anything that fast except TVs, but okay, I’ll keep it moving.
What you say? You don’t know where the pillow pets are? You have to go to the back and get me three. Should I mention they are in the sales paper? Nah, I won’t. I busied myself with other things, like turning into that mom. The girls do need some cute sheets and look these Disney princess ones are on sale for only $16 and the matching comforter is only $20. Yes, I am buying Disney princess stuff. I never thought I would be that mom. Well if the girls have that, doesn’t Jory need some fun sheets too? The Toy Story sheets are also only $16 and the matching comforter is only $20, he can get that too. Wait, if these items are on sale, why am I picking up the last ones on the shelves? I can’t even find two Rapunzel sheets, so Princess Tiana, the first American princess ( you didn’t know that did you?) sheets they get.
As I continued to wait for the pillow pets, I see a worker with a cart…Hmm, what’s on that. I decided to follow him. Yep, going to the food department were the DVD players. I guess this was the 196 items, they couldn’t find that the manager had been asking to be found. I picked up two, just in case.
Finally my pillow pets. Yikes! The dinosaur pillow pet is hideous. Jory is going to have to keep the dog one I got from JCP. Where are the free gift that comes with the pillow pets? What free gift, you ask? I showed the saleswoman the paper. Oh, take these and see if they’ll accept them. I found three 12” turtles. SCORE!
Jory’s jeans for next year, matching pjs for Christmas time, gloves, hats, the usual Black Friday gifts, then it’s off to get into line where I pass Whitney because the line is wrapped around the store. For some reason, Target has decided one line where they direct you which register to go to is a better system than their usual go to whatever line you can find.
Yeah, Target shouldn’t open at midnight. They so don’t have their act together. Tons of salespeople on the floor, but for the first time they are seemingly clueless. Can’t even find the stuff on sale? Don’t have enough of it? That’s crazy and not up to Target’s usually excellent shopping experience. Just go back to opening at 5AM, it’s the way it’s meant to be.
After two and a half hours, we finally leave Target. That’s the longest we’ve ever spent in any store and Whit and I have been doing this for what eight years or so now….So sad. Off to the Fox Hills Mall we go. What’s going on at Office Depot, why is there parking lot filled? Whit drove through. Wait, are these people parked over here for the mall? They parked across the street from the mall? Why would they do that? We found out when we got to the mall. The parking lot was jammed, we drove around for a minute to find a park. What was going on?
Oh, look the mall looks like it’s 3PM on Christmas Eve or the Saturday before Easter. It’s packed. It seems like the Fox Hills Mall had a party and a concert. They had been open since like 8 or 9PM. Half the food court was open. Why are people buying pretzels from Aunt Anne’s at 2:45AM? Didn’t they just eat like six hours ago? Are you kidding me?! We drifted through the mall, where quite a few stores were open. Really, does Kids Foot Locker need to be open at midnight? Really? Do you really need Baskin Robbins at almost 3AM?
Then our beloved JCPenney’s opened and I grabbed three snowglobes. Oh, how I love our snowglobe ritual. We parted ways once again. I headed to the jewelry department. Oh those earrings on sale are small. Wow, are they meant for adults or meant for an eight-year-old? Based on the price I would adult, based on the size I would say child. Let’s see another pair. Yeah, that’s more like it. How much more are they?!?! Let’s keep it moving.
At 5PM, Whit whined she couldn’t go on anymore. She had been up on her feet all day between cooking for her guests, hosting her non-LA people Thanksgiving, getting them to leave, washing dishes, then coming to pick me up. She has had no rest. I counter that breakfast at IHOP would rest her feet and replenish her stomach, but she wasn’t buying it. This was strange night. First of all, leaving the house on Thanksgiving Day. Leaving Target and the sun not coming up. Now us not having our traditional breakfast together. She helped me unload and took off.
I quickly went through my purchases, tried on the few pieces I had bought myself, started the return pile as is my tradition. Buy everything, return 95 - 99% of everything bought on Black Friday. I decided Vandy could come along with me. My mom had suggested taking him when I went shopping with Whit, but I figured that wasn’t for the best. Whit and I had tried that bringing a newbie with us on BF and that was disasterous. We’ve got a rhythm going. But now that it was just me, I got him out of bed and waiting for me. I loaded my car and took off. A little after 6AM, Vandy and I were inside the dead new Target. It really was a ghost town.
I found shopping with a teen was nice. What, we left something in the car? Do you know where we’re parked? Okay, then you go. And bam, they come back with the stuff. Why don’t you wait in line while I get what I need? Bam, they do and you come back and there are now only two people ahead of you. It was nice. And I was touched when he said, he wanted him and Jory to dress alike one Sunday for church. A boy after my own heart. I hope this stays and he will require the same for his own children during the most wonderful time of the year and other times.
He and I went to IHOP and then he went back to my house, while I made a final stop at Staples, where it dawned on me since we didn’t go into a Best Buy that I hadn’t bought my traditional Christmas album. I perused Staples’ supply and decided that Gloria Estefan’s Christmas album would be the best buy. By noon, I was back home and done with Black Friday shopping. It seemed weird to be home so early. Yeah, this midnight BF is for the dogs. Hopefully, next year, things will go back to normal.
Then it was time to cook the turkey, find DVDs and books to return to the library, make the dressing and the gravy. A nice brusque walk to the library only to discover they were closed. Oh well, if I returned it before they open in the morning, maybe tonight I could watch Edward Norton’s Hulk. Vandy went home before he could partake in our Thanksgiving meal. We sat down. Well the kids sat at the table, while Oma and I sat on the sofa behind them. Maybe at Christmas we’ll have our dining room table back and we can all sit at the same table. Wait, does that mean I want to try this cooking thing again? Hmm, maybe it will become like Disneyland and the zoo, something I can do once every ten years.
Jory said, he loved the turkey. I smiled. It was juicy and delicious. It might be the best thing I’ve ever cooked. Which on one hand isn’t saying much because I can’t cook, but on the other hand maybe it’s saying a lot.
I wanted to lay down, my eyes were starting to burn, but I had to bathe kids. I wanted to do some more school and I had to finish cleaning the ktichne and finding a place for all the food in the fridge. When I finally finished in the clothes I had been wearing for the last 24 hours, I laid on the bed and closed my eyes. I’m not sure if I slept for five minutes or longer, but the next thing I knew was Jory talking to me. I got up, went back into the kitchen, swept the floor, but knew I couldn’t mop it though it desperately needed it. I put my pjs on and now I was wide awake with my second wind. So 24 hours after leaving the house, Jory “slept” on my back while I watched The Incredible Hulk until the dvd started skipping and skipping. Dumb library copy.
I don’t think I need to stay up for 24 straight hours anymore. The burning in my eyes so not cool.
Thanksgiving
- I was up at 4AM and felt the beans needed to cook some more, along with the mac n cheese. I finished the mac n cheese and put the green beans on low, while I went to lay back in the bed. Dinner at Aunt Linda’s wasn’t until 3PM and I still had to cook the yams, the corn bread, the rice, and the cake.
When I looked at the greens, I discovered there wasn’t enough to last us all week so I had to go in the fridge to clean and wash the ones I had left over.
Everyone once they woke wanted to help, so once the yams, and rice were on it became the help mommy hour.
The baby helped take the collard greens off of the stem and tear it into shreds then put them into the sink. After that was on, I called Rowan in, so she could help cook the corn bread. Then she stopped listening and she had to be banned from the kitchen, so the baby came back in to help with the second round of cornbread. Rowan was able to help with round three, after she apologized for her behavior, and showed she could listen. Cooking and sticking hands and fingers into the food don’t mix well.
Bath time for all as things cooked and simmered. I wondered what exactly Whitney and I were going to do for Black Friday. I gave her a call and she said, we had to do it. We had to gave to Target’s craziness and be out there at midnight. She would pick me up at 11PM.
With bathes out of the way, Jory came into the kitchen to help with the cake though really I think he just wanted to lick things once the cake was in the oven. Our favorite country station played in the background while we cooked. It was a nice morning, then we put the cakes in and I told everyone they had to be quiet. We left Oma resting on the sofa, while we went to do schoolwork. Sadly, the week of Thanksgiving Jory’s teacher didn’t give him a break. He did some math, I read while we waited for our cake to be finished. After a few returns to the oven, it was ready to cool while we went to Aunt Linda’s.
Off to Aunt Linda’s we went, gathering with the fam, saying grace in LC’s room, possibly the last Thanksgiving grace he will hear if his doctor and hospice workers are right, a good time was had by all. The baby and I walked or rather I walked and she rode her scooter to the store to buy a paper. Yes, Aunt Lavonia had a paper but I needed my own Black Friday sales paper.
We came back to Aunt Linda’s after paying $2 for a paper. $2 for a paper!?!? Are you kidding me?!?! This is why the newspaper business is going under. Really it was $2.18, but I only brought $2 to the store with me. It was nice of the clerk to let it go.
We ate and thank God my aunt didn’t ask Mort & Renee to bring the turkey again this year because they always show up two to three hours late. Renee revealed this year that they are so late because Mort spends his morning playing golf and then he’s wiped out when he comes home.
There was a new baby in the mix. Baby Sa’naii. First baby in our family with an apostrophe in her name. What exactly is the apostrophe for? Have no idea, but bygones. In years past, I would have been all over the three-month-old, but I saw my aunt with her when I went in, thought about going to get her, but got busy with other stuff. Maybe having three babies of my own killed the desire to hold every baby in the vicinity. Towards the end of the evening, I held her. And ooohhhh, she smelled like spit up, formula, baby powder, etc…. all that stuff that makes a baby smell like a baby. I bent down so the Irish twins so they could see their new little cousin. The one they pray for at night, Krystal and her husband’s baby. They really know how to narrow in on the people they want to pray for, sometimes they pray for Krystal, rarely Shaheed, her husband, but they always pray for her baby.
I almost didn’t want to give her up, but her aunt was waiting for her so I did. I know how my cousin felt, this is her first living niece, and there’s nothing quite like your first. I’m sure I monopolized all of Mijo’s time when Mona wasn’t holding him. Maybe one day in the future Jack can come home. Maybe.
My Aunt Lavonia tried to convince me to go to Toys R Us with her at 9PM. I love my aunt. She has my back, but there are somethings I can’t do. Wait in line at Toys R US, Walmart or Best Buy or enter a Kohl’s on Black Friday. Can’t do those. She seemed to be unwilling to go with me at around 11AM or so. I tried to tell her Toys would be empty then, but she felt they wouldn’t have the gift she wanted at that time.
We hung around my aunt’s after everyone left, the kids played “Mother, May I?” with Aunt Brenda and Vandy in the living room, while I slept off and on. Then around 9PM, we made our way home, past the people lined up around the block for Wal-Mart to open. I got the kids dressed for bed, set my cell phone alarm clock. It was only 9:30, I could sleep for an hour and twenty before Whit came. I would just wear the clothes I had on. I didn’t think I would be able to fall asleep, but the next thing I knew the alarm was going off and a few minutes later Whit was calling……
All in all, it was a great Thanksgiving. I have a lot to be thankful for. A great God who sent His only Son to die on the cross for my sins, then called me to be one of His. TTT. The greatest babies in the world. A great mom who is like no other human I have ever known. Awesome family and loved ones.
Hot Peppermint Tea Heather, when we were sitting in front of Fjelstad saying our food names did you think we’d be friends all these years later? I love you, sister. And I love SG. You’re an awesome mommy.
The former Royster sisters. I’m so glad Grace and Bruce brought us into each other’s lives. Who would have thought things would turn out the way they have? I love you, guys.
I am one blessed chick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLLMzr3PFgk
When I looked at the greens, I discovered there wasn’t enough to last us all week so I had to go in the fridge to clean and wash the ones I had left over.
Everyone once they woke wanted to help, so once the yams, and rice were on it became the help mommy hour.
The baby helped take the collard greens off of the stem and tear it into shreds then put them into the sink. After that was on, I called Rowan in, so she could help cook the corn bread. Then she stopped listening and she had to be banned from the kitchen, so the baby came back in to help with the second round of cornbread. Rowan was able to help with round three, after she apologized for her behavior, and showed she could listen. Cooking and sticking hands and fingers into the food don’t mix well.
Bath time for all as things cooked and simmered. I wondered what exactly Whitney and I were going to do for Black Friday. I gave her a call and she said, we had to do it. We had to gave to Target’s craziness and be out there at midnight. She would pick me up at 11PM.
With bathes out of the way, Jory came into the kitchen to help with the cake though really I think he just wanted to lick things once the cake was in the oven. Our favorite country station played in the background while we cooked. It was a nice morning, then we put the cakes in and I told everyone they had to be quiet. We left Oma resting on the sofa, while we went to do schoolwork. Sadly, the week of Thanksgiving Jory’s teacher didn’t give him a break. He did some math, I read while we waited for our cake to be finished. After a few returns to the oven, it was ready to cool while we went to Aunt Linda’s.
Off to Aunt Linda’s we went, gathering with the fam, saying grace in LC’s room, possibly the last Thanksgiving grace he will hear if his doctor and hospice workers are right, a good time was had by all. The baby and I walked or rather I walked and she rode her scooter to the store to buy a paper. Yes, Aunt Lavonia had a paper but I needed my own Black Friday sales paper.
We came back to Aunt Linda’s after paying $2 for a paper. $2 for a paper!?!? Are you kidding me?!?! This is why the newspaper business is going under. Really it was $2.18, but I only brought $2 to the store with me. It was nice of the clerk to let it go.
We ate and thank God my aunt didn’t ask Mort & Renee to bring the turkey again this year because they always show up two to three hours late. Renee revealed this year that they are so late because Mort spends his morning playing golf and then he’s wiped out when he comes home.
There was a new baby in the mix. Baby Sa’naii. First baby in our family with an apostrophe in her name. What exactly is the apostrophe for? Have no idea, but bygones. In years past, I would have been all over the three-month-old, but I saw my aunt with her when I went in, thought about going to get her, but got busy with other stuff. Maybe having three babies of my own killed the desire to hold every baby in the vicinity. Towards the end of the evening, I held her. And ooohhhh, she smelled like spit up, formula, baby powder, etc…. all that stuff that makes a baby smell like a baby. I bent down so the Irish twins so they could see their new little cousin. The one they pray for at night, Krystal and her husband’s baby. They really know how to narrow in on the people they want to pray for, sometimes they pray for Krystal, rarely Shaheed, her husband, but they always pray for her baby.
I almost didn’t want to give her up, but her aunt was waiting for her so I did. I know how my cousin felt, this is her first living niece, and there’s nothing quite like your first. I’m sure I monopolized all of Mijo’s time when Mona wasn’t holding him. Maybe one day in the future Jack can come home. Maybe.
My Aunt Lavonia tried to convince me to go to Toys R Us with her at 9PM. I love my aunt. She has my back, but there are somethings I can’t do. Wait in line at Toys R US, Walmart or Best Buy or enter a Kohl’s on Black Friday. Can’t do those. She seemed to be unwilling to go with me at around 11AM or so. I tried to tell her Toys would be empty then, but she felt they wouldn’t have the gift she wanted at that time.
We hung around my aunt’s after everyone left, the kids played “Mother, May I?” with Aunt Brenda and Vandy in the living room, while I slept off and on. Then around 9PM, we made our way home, past the people lined up around the block for Wal-Mart to open. I got the kids dressed for bed, set my cell phone alarm clock. It was only 9:30, I could sleep for an hour and twenty before Whit came. I would just wear the clothes I had on. I didn’t think I would be able to fall asleep, but the next thing I knew the alarm was going off and a few minutes later Whit was calling……
All in all, it was a great Thanksgiving. I have a lot to be thankful for. A great God who sent His only Son to die on the cross for my sins, then called me to be one of His. TTT. The greatest babies in the world. A great mom who is like no other human I have ever known. Awesome family and loved ones.
Hot Peppermint Tea Heather, when we were sitting in front of Fjelstad saying our food names did you think we’d be friends all these years later? I love you, sister. And I love SG. You’re an awesome mommy.
The former Royster sisters. I’m so glad Grace and Bruce brought us into each other’s lives. Who would have thought things would turn out the way they have? I love you, guys.
I am one blessed chick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLLMzr3PFgk
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thanksgiving Eve
Since I was getting off at 3PM and I had promised to bring Jory to my job, I brought him with. He’s getting so old, after trying to eat all of my work oatmeal, he did his work and watched Nickelodeon. People didn’t even know he was here. My baby is maturing.
Then we get a great email that says we’re getting off at 1PM. SCORE!!! I was going to start cooking some of my Paula Deen dishes tonight, this would give us a great head start without the girls around. We could stop at Pic N’ Save and pick up some puzzles and other assorted goods we needed.
Everything was on course, until my computer shut down and lost an hour worth of work. I could have cried. Then my computer had to be swapped out, back to redoing the work. Suffice to say 1PM came and went, but by 2:30PM we were finally out the door. Shout out to Marcus for doing some last minute babysitting while I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off.
We stopped and picked up some milk, then we stopped and picked up the puzzle and things, then we went home. Then I remembered we needed to go to the library, so off we went for an afternoon walk. While I searched for books for him to read, another young boy showed Jory how to play a game on the computer. I love kids helping out other kids.
We walked home in the dark, talking and walking, walking and talking. I’m just madly in love with him. When we got home, Oma and the girls were home, then it was time to start cooking.
Green beans, mac n cheese, collard greens, I figured I could make those three things easily. Then I started tinkering with them, don’t know if that’s good or bad. I always forget to taste the food to see if it needs more seasoning or something. A co-worker suggested grinding the turkey, so I did and I was a little frightened when the turkey still felt frozen, but I prayed for the best and threw it in the fridge.
The kids were happily occupied and part one of cooking Thanksgiving dinner was in full swing.
Then we get a great email that says we’re getting off at 1PM. SCORE!!! I was going to start cooking some of my Paula Deen dishes tonight, this would give us a great head start without the girls around. We could stop at Pic N’ Save and pick up some puzzles and other assorted goods we needed.
Everything was on course, until my computer shut down and lost an hour worth of work. I could have cried. Then my computer had to be swapped out, back to redoing the work. Suffice to say 1PM came and went, but by 2:30PM we were finally out the door. Shout out to Marcus for doing some last minute babysitting while I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off.
We stopped and picked up some milk, then we stopped and picked up the puzzle and things, then we went home. Then I remembered we needed to go to the library, so off we went for an afternoon walk. While I searched for books for him to read, another young boy showed Jory how to play a game on the computer. I love kids helping out other kids.
We walked home in the dark, talking and walking, walking and talking. I’m just madly in love with him. When we got home, Oma and the girls were home, then it was time to start cooking.
Green beans, mac n cheese, collard greens, I figured I could make those three things easily. Then I started tinkering with them, don’t know if that’s good or bad. I always forget to taste the food to see if it needs more seasoning or something. A co-worker suggested grinding the turkey, so I did and I was a little frightened when the turkey still felt frozen, but I prayed for the best and threw it in the fridge.
The kids were happily occupied and part one of cooking Thanksgiving dinner was in full swing.
Busy Hands
After picking up Jory from daycare, we went and bought everything we needed for the big meal from two stores. We even got our sparkling apple cider so we can toast the New Year in. Usually this has been mostly miss because either we’re not altogether as a family or people have fallen asleep. An acquaintance says her family celebrates at 9PM with the east coast people that way she’s assured everyone is still up. I think that will be our new tradition. Then if people are up at midnight, we can have another toast and if not that’s okay.
But I digress, we get everything home and I’m unpacking the groceries when I hear.
“Oma, look we got some lotion,” Jory informed his Oma.
My ears perked up and immediately called him to me.
“Jory, what do you have?” I inquired.
He showed me the little squeezable bottle of suntan lotion. The same bottle we saw at the check out counter that he wanted to buy, but I told him we didn’t need because we already had some at home.
“Didn’t I tell you to put that back?”
His now famous blank stare was given to me.
“Did you pay for this?”
Blank stare.
I had no idea where the receipt was so either the cashier rang it up and gave it back to Jory or he just put it in his pocket instead of putting it back in the display jar like I told him to.
“Give it to me. We are going to return this to the store and you are going to apologize for taking it. And you’re also going to write sentences. Haven’t I told you that we don’t touch things in stores? We don’t touch things that don’t belong to us?”
He nodded. “I’m sorry. I won’t touch anything again.”
So he wrote, “I will not touch things,” twenty times. And the very next day with the suntan lotion in hand, we found the manager of Ralph’s. He handed her the bottle and apologized for taking it. She thanked him for returning it and told him she forgave him.
Those little hands can be very busy while you’re trying to double check your Turkey list making sure you’ve gotten everything you need.
But I digress, we get everything home and I’m unpacking the groceries when I hear.
“Oma, look we got some lotion,” Jory informed his Oma.
My ears perked up and immediately called him to me.
“Jory, what do you have?” I inquired.
He showed me the little squeezable bottle of suntan lotion. The same bottle we saw at the check out counter that he wanted to buy, but I told him we didn’t need because we already had some at home.
“Didn’t I tell you to put that back?”
His now famous blank stare was given to me.
“Did you pay for this?”
Blank stare.
I had no idea where the receipt was so either the cashier rang it up and gave it back to Jory or he just put it in his pocket instead of putting it back in the display jar like I told him to.
“Give it to me. We are going to return this to the store and you are going to apologize for taking it. And you’re also going to write sentences. Haven’t I told you that we don’t touch things in stores? We don’t touch things that don’t belong to us?”
He nodded. “I’m sorry. I won’t touch anything again.”
So he wrote, “I will not touch things,” twenty times. And the very next day with the suntan lotion in hand, we found the manager of Ralph’s. He handed her the bottle and apologized for taking it. She thanked him for returning it and told him she forgave him.
Those little hands can be very busy while you’re trying to double check your Turkey list making sure you’ve gotten everything you need.
Turkey Time is approaching....
Oma asked if I was going to cook for Thanksgiving. I gave her a strange look. Why would I cook when we were going over to my cousin’s? We’d just bring a plate back for everyone like we always do. As Turkey Day came nearer and nearer, I thought maybe I should give it a try for the kids’ sake.
I went on the web and thought I”ll do a Paula Deen Turkey Day. I googled traditional Thanksgiving meals and found recipes on her website. All Paula, all the time. We’ll see how this turns out.
I went on the web and thought I”ll do a Paula Deen Turkey Day. I googled traditional Thanksgiving meals and found recipes on her website. All Paula, all the time. We’ll see how this turns out.
Bubbles the amazing dog
Bubbles must be one amazing dog. Though we haven’t seen Bubbles in months, the kids still remember to pray for her. They’ve stopped praying for Aunt Whitney’s dog though when they see Bella again they will start again. Occasionally they remember to pray for Aunt Lala’s dad’s dog. Nope, no prayers for Aunt Lala or Aunt Lala’s dad, just for Aunt Lala’s dad’s dog.
On the upside, they have grown. They now realize that Bubbles is a female dog and the pronouns “she” and “her” should be used when talking and praying for her. Maybe they will be blessed with a Christmas visit with Bubbles this year.
On the upside, they have grown. They now realize that Bubbles is a female dog and the pronouns “she” and “her” should be used when talking and praying for her. Maybe they will be blessed with a Christmas visit with Bubbles this year.
Bekka & AJ's Wedding - Part II
We had a lovely time with the Miles family. They were so gracious. I totally was not born with the gift to be the hostess with the mostess, but Mrs. Jan definitely was. Her kids were so kind and patient with TTT. It was a lovely time. And not only was she a great hostess, she’s a cooking genius. White chilli with homemade bread. White chili so if anyone was spilled on the clothing, it wouldn’t stain horribly like red chili. This woman rocks my world!
As I was dressing the children for the wedding, I noticed something was missing. I saw Jory’s backpack, but I didn’t see his swimming backpack. The one I had spent time the night before putting all of the hair bows, comb, brush, lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shoes, socks, etc… in. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! Why don’t they want me to go to this wedding?! Bygones. It was too late to go to the store and buy some, so they’d have to wear the shoes they had on early. Yep, Jory, Rowan, and Layla were dressed to the nines in the new refinery rockin’ tennis shoes and crew socks.
Since the Miles family left first, we were on our own to get to the wedding though we were armed with very easy to follow directions. I hate driving to new places in the dark, but that was the task before us and I incorporated the children’s help. I told Jory to look for street signs and I told him the names of the street and spelled them for him. I told the girls which way I needed to turn.
“When Jory calls out the street, then you shout which way I need to turn.”
It was a family adventure getting to the wedding. We got there just in time to find seats on the far side of the church. We got settled in, waved at those we knew, and snapped a few pics before the wedding started. Everything was fine until those magic words were said, “Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom.”
Does the baby have a bladder the size of a peanut? We just used the bathroom before we left the Miles’ house. I took Rowan along sometimes the need to pee is contagious between the two of them. Jory refused to go along with us. A teen from our church kindly watched out for Jory while we made a quick dash. Thankfully Rowan didn’t have to go. Wash hands, dash out the door, and there we saw the wedding party all lined up.
Rowan was stunned by Bekka and her dress. Bekka looked stunning and her bridesmaids looked beautiful. I tried to stop Rowan from running up to Bekka, but when she heard us Bekka turned and opened her arms to the girls. So gracious, so kind, thinking of these Irish twins minutes before she took the journey that would change her life forever.
We wished her the best of luck, then took off for our seats so we could watch everyone walk down the aisle. Everyone looked lovely coming down the aisle. Rowan would have sat on the steps of the pulpit if I would have let her. She is in the throes of all things weddings, boyfriends, brides, grooms, and wedding gowns.
Pastor Earl really delivered a great sermon. The best one I have ever heard at a wedding. I loved how he included the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and Snow White into the ceremony. The description of marriage and the husband’s and wife’s parts in it was so thorough that I felt like the vows were superfluous almost. When Jorge and I get married, Earl is doing our wedding.
The kiss came and then it was off to the reception. Desserts galore, Italian soda bar. TTT were in seventh heaven. A beautiful slide show from babies to the pair meeting and falling in love. The first dance. It was all so beautiful. Rowan, the baby, and I got on the dance floor where at some point the baby decided she could no longer walk. Jory was not having any of the dance floor and disappeared into the crowd. I went to request a song and took a load off while waiting for the dj to play it. Rowan stayed on the dance floor. She stayed on the floor all night when she was getting desserts.
I thought about getting on the dance floor to catch the bouquet, but I decided against it. Really a woman with a baby in her arms shouldn’t be catching bouquets. Or maybe the woman with a baby in her arms, is exactly the one that needs to catch the bouquet. I turned back to the conversation I was having, when Jory walked up with a bracelet.
“Mommy look what I got?”
“Where did you get that?” I asked as I saw him with a bracelet. Crap, had he found this on the floor and picked it up. How were we going to find out who it belonged to?
Then another little boy came up. “Jory, the bride and groom want to take a picture with you. You’re going to be the next one to get married.”
Instead of throwing the garter belt, AJ threw a bracelet of Bekka’s and Jory caught it. And if Jory is the next person in the church to get married, we’ve got some issues. Jory went and took pictures with the happy couple, then Rowan happily did.
Jory watched the dj for a while. I stopped him from playing under the bridal party table as he and some other kids were doing. I talked with some peeps, then the baby and I chilled in a chair with me feet up when I realized the dj wasn’t going to be playing my song.
We watched people dance or rather I watched people dance and have a good time, while the tired baby slept. I would catch glimpses of Rowan because of her red coat. At some point, Jory parked himself on the stage laying down, watching people dance himself.
Then it was time to see the bride and groom on their way. I threw my heels back on and walked outside. I was offered bubbles to blow, but I figured holding the baby and keeping warm had me too busy to blow, but I would yell and shout. We did all of the above as the newlyweds got into their well decorated car and drove off. I yelled out for my two, grabbed coats, purse, and camera, and we followed the crew leaving hoping they’d lead us back to the 405 without me having to search for the directions, and they did.
It was touch and go for a while. The heater was on, then off, when I felt myself getting to comfortable. The window was up, then down. I had been since 4AM and it was now after 11PM, all I wanted to do was go home and crawl in bed, but my mom called and I had to go pick her up. I’m pretty sure when I was driving the streets of Crenshaw at midnight, my eyes did drift shut. Thank God, I felt it after a while and woke up. We picked up Oma as the rain started to fall, then we drove home, where I saw Jory’s swimming backpack on the sofa where I had left it, probably in the rush of having been locked out of the house and trying to get to work early. I undressed the kiddos, then myself and collapsed into the bed.
A day that started out very adventurous and trying and ended so beautifully with two becoming one.
As I was dressing the children for the wedding, I noticed something was missing. I saw Jory’s backpack, but I didn’t see his swimming backpack. The one I had spent time the night before putting all of the hair bows, comb, brush, lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shoes, socks, etc… in. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! Why don’t they want me to go to this wedding?! Bygones. It was too late to go to the store and buy some, so they’d have to wear the shoes they had on early. Yep, Jory, Rowan, and Layla were dressed to the nines in the new refinery rockin’ tennis shoes and crew socks.
Since the Miles family left first, we were on our own to get to the wedding though we were armed with very easy to follow directions. I hate driving to new places in the dark, but that was the task before us and I incorporated the children’s help. I told Jory to look for street signs and I told him the names of the street and spelled them for him. I told the girls which way I needed to turn.
“When Jory calls out the street, then you shout which way I need to turn.”
It was a family adventure getting to the wedding. We got there just in time to find seats on the far side of the church. We got settled in, waved at those we knew, and snapped a few pics before the wedding started. Everything was fine until those magic words were said, “Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom.”
Does the baby have a bladder the size of a peanut? We just used the bathroom before we left the Miles’ house. I took Rowan along sometimes the need to pee is contagious between the two of them. Jory refused to go along with us. A teen from our church kindly watched out for Jory while we made a quick dash. Thankfully Rowan didn’t have to go. Wash hands, dash out the door, and there we saw the wedding party all lined up.
Rowan was stunned by Bekka and her dress. Bekka looked stunning and her bridesmaids looked beautiful. I tried to stop Rowan from running up to Bekka, but when she heard us Bekka turned and opened her arms to the girls. So gracious, so kind, thinking of these Irish twins minutes before she took the journey that would change her life forever.
We wished her the best of luck, then took off for our seats so we could watch everyone walk down the aisle. Everyone looked lovely coming down the aisle. Rowan would have sat on the steps of the pulpit if I would have let her. She is in the throes of all things weddings, boyfriends, brides, grooms, and wedding gowns.
Pastor Earl really delivered a great sermon. The best one I have ever heard at a wedding. I loved how he included the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and Snow White into the ceremony. The description of marriage and the husband’s and wife’s parts in it was so thorough that I felt like the vows were superfluous almost. When Jorge and I get married, Earl is doing our wedding.
The kiss came and then it was off to the reception. Desserts galore, Italian soda bar. TTT were in seventh heaven. A beautiful slide show from babies to the pair meeting and falling in love. The first dance. It was all so beautiful. Rowan, the baby, and I got on the dance floor where at some point the baby decided she could no longer walk. Jory was not having any of the dance floor and disappeared into the crowd. I went to request a song and took a load off while waiting for the dj to play it. Rowan stayed on the dance floor. She stayed on the floor all night when she was getting desserts.
I thought about getting on the dance floor to catch the bouquet, but I decided against it. Really a woman with a baby in her arms shouldn’t be catching bouquets. Or maybe the woman with a baby in her arms, is exactly the one that needs to catch the bouquet. I turned back to the conversation I was having, when Jory walked up with a bracelet.
“Mommy look what I got?”
“Where did you get that?” I asked as I saw him with a bracelet. Crap, had he found this on the floor and picked it up. How were we going to find out who it belonged to?
Then another little boy came up. “Jory, the bride and groom want to take a picture with you. You’re going to be the next one to get married.”
Instead of throwing the garter belt, AJ threw a bracelet of Bekka’s and Jory caught it. And if Jory is the next person in the church to get married, we’ve got some issues. Jory went and took pictures with the happy couple, then Rowan happily did.
Jory watched the dj for a while. I stopped him from playing under the bridal party table as he and some other kids were doing. I talked with some peeps, then the baby and I chilled in a chair with me feet up when I realized the dj wasn’t going to be playing my song.
We watched people dance or rather I watched people dance and have a good time, while the tired baby slept. I would catch glimpses of Rowan because of her red coat. At some point, Jory parked himself on the stage laying down, watching people dance himself.
Then it was time to see the bride and groom on their way. I threw my heels back on and walked outside. I was offered bubbles to blow, but I figured holding the baby and keeping warm had me too busy to blow, but I would yell and shout. We did all of the above as the newlyweds got into their well decorated car and drove off. I yelled out for my two, grabbed coats, purse, and camera, and we followed the crew leaving hoping they’d lead us back to the 405 without me having to search for the directions, and they did.
It was touch and go for a while. The heater was on, then off, when I felt myself getting to comfortable. The window was up, then down. I had been since 4AM and it was now after 11PM, all I wanted to do was go home and crawl in bed, but my mom called and I had to go pick her up. I’m pretty sure when I was driving the streets of Crenshaw at midnight, my eyes did drift shut. Thank God, I felt it after a while and woke up. We picked up Oma as the rain started to fall, then we drove home, where I saw Jory’s swimming backpack on the sofa where I had left it, probably in the rush of having been locked out of the house and trying to get to work early. I undressed the kiddos, then myself and collapsed into the bed.
A day that started out very adventurous and trying and ended so beautifully with two becoming one.
Bekka & AJ's Wedding - Part I
I woke up at 4AM. I needed to leave work by 1PM, pick up the kids, then be on the freeway by 2:30. I knew what I had to do. I had to be to work by 8AM. I got the kids up early, got them dressed quickly. I started putting the clothes for the wedding in the car. I had gotten everything up the night before, polished the shoes. Dresses, coats, suits, my shoes, and then I noticed Jory was missing his backpack and we were behind schedule.
“Dude, where’s your backpack?” I asked.
He ran into the house to get it, while I got the girls in the car. As he came out of the house, he closed the door behind him. The door was locked. I wanted to cry. I had to fight hard not to cry. For the second time in one week, we were locked out of something. I couldn’t cry, it was an accident. It wasn’t Jory’s fault. I could see the look on his face.
“It’s okay, Jory. It was an accident,” I reassured him. I said a quick prayer. It looked like we were going to have to possible borrow Mrs. Wilson’s car to get Oma’s keys to unlock the door, then stop back by Oma’s job to drop the keys back off. I so did not have time for this today.
“Mommy, we can walk the girls to school,” Jory suggested happily.
Yes, that was exactly what we were going to have to do since my keys were in my purse on the sofa.
We took out the double stroller and the girls happily got in. Off we went with me in my flip flops. I called my job to let the editor I was going to work with, who was coming in an hour early to work with me, that I was locked out of my house. Too late, he had left his house extra early to beat the traffic. He was already at work. Crap! Another prayer, he’s got kids. He was understanding, but I felt bad. I tried calling my mom. Thank God, I told her to take her cell phone this morning. She didn’t pick up.
We arrived at the school and Mrs. Wilson looked at us and asked, “Car troubles or locked out again?”
“Locked out,” I said, as I kept trying my mother. I finally got her and I explained what happened. She said she would call to see if someone in the family could drop the keys off to me. I called around and found that all family members I could reach either couldn’t come or had already left for work. Please God, please. I have to make it to this wedding.
But while I was waiting for my mom to call me back, Jory played at his old school while Mrs. Wilson and I chatted. I found out that she missed her cruise that she was suppose to take back in August. And I also learned that if you’re leaving from a foreign country and coming into America you can’t pick up the cruise on the American side. Interesting tidbit to know.
My mom called back to say she was coming home and to not go anywhere, before I could explain that we were at the school she was gone. Crap!
“Jory, we gotta go.”
We said goodbye to the girls and Mrs. Wilson, running out the school and pushing the double stroller.
“Mommy, can I get in the stroller?” Jory asked.
I can’t push a 40 pound stroller and 40 pound Jory in it. “No, dude you can’t. But if you want you can hold on to mommy’s shirt.”
And so he did.
We ran the first six blocks then we pooped out. My mom works maybe five, ten minutes from our house. Hopefully we could meet her there.
It felt like Jory holding on to my shirt was weighing me down, but we preserved. We tried to do a sprint run, which worked for a half block, but the long walk down from our corner to our house we walked. And as we arrived at the house, there was Oma.
“I thought I told you not to go anywhere?” she asked.
“We were at the school when you called. Is the door unlocked?”
“Yes.”
“Thanks, bye.”
I quickly went in the house, got my keys out of my purse, finished moving the rest of the remaining items to the car. Jory and I got in the car and took off.
I got to work one hour and forty-five minutes after I had originally intended. I went straight to the edit bay and started working, after apologizing profusely.
We got through the shows, I did my other work, then decided to go put my dress in the shower to get the wrinkles out. I go to the bathroom only to discover the shower has one of those gimpy hand held shower heads. I hate those with a passion. And on top of that, there was no hook to hang the shower head from. I tried to rig something up, but nothing quite seemed to work, then I thought I got it. I felt the water temperature and I knew it would take twelve lifetimes for this temp to create any sort of steam to get the wrinkles out of my dress. Crap!
I decided to give it one last try, until I see the water gathering on the floor and then inadvertently wet my jeans in the process. Perfect. I turned off the water and thought the dress is just going to be wrinkled.
I went back to my office with the dress and waited to find out if I could leave at 1. Nothing. People walked by me and nothing. Please God, please. 1PM came and went. It was time to put on my big girl panties and face this situation head on.
“You’re leaving now?”
Really?!?! Are you serious!?!? “Yes, I am.” I gave a breakdown of all my work that had been accomplished and quickly ran out the door. As I got into the car, I realized my dress wasn’t hanging with the girls. Crap! It was in the office. I tried calling people in the office to bring it to me, but no luck. I whipped the car around in the parking lot, left the car running as I ran inside, grabbed the dress with no one seeing me, and hopped into the car and took off.
I arrived at Jory’s daycare only to discover, they were just starting to cook lunch. Great, now we have to stop at McD’s to get him something to tie him over until we get to the kind Miles’ family home who had offered to put us up and feed us until the 7PM wedding. Fine, let’s just keep it moving.
We drove swiftly, yet safely to the girls’ school to discover that they were napping. Yep, it was nap time. Are you serious?! I grabbed Layla sans shoes. She didn’t need them on. The sub woke Rowan, I threw their blankets and sheets over my shoulder and waited while Rowan finished putting her shoes on. The baby woke up as I buckled her into her car seat.
Finally everyone was in the car, now it was off to McD’s, gas, and then the freeway. I see the line at McD’s and know I’m going to have to park and go in. I pulled into the handicap spot right in front of it and hop out. I placed my order only to discover I had walked into the slowest moving Mc Donald’s in the free living world. Are you kidding me?!?! I just want to go to my friend’s wedding. Introduce my kids to the world of weddings. The terrific trio were wedding virgins. I got the drinks and took them to the car so at least I could feel like something was being accomplished.
After five minutes (cause what are they doing here killing the cows out back?), I made eye contact with the manager, which seemed to help but maybe not because it felt like I was in there for another five minutes. Finally our food was up and I ran out the place, hopped in the car, and took off. Thankfully the gas station cooperated with me and everything went smoothly there, except when it came to making a left hand turn out of the place. Traffic was everywhere, the clock was ticking. I was getting on this freeway as close to 2:30PM as possible, it was already past 2:30. I decided to go for it, I saw some space and weaved in and out the stopped car and made my turn out. SCORE! We made next stop the freeway.
By 2:45PM, we were on the freeway where I learned you can drive 40 mph on the 405 South. I had never driven 40 mph going to the OC before. Did I need to call the Miles family and say, we’d be super late. I called and told them we were on our way, so at least they had that heads up.
Shortly before 4PM, we made it to our destination. Praise God!
“Dude, where’s your backpack?” I asked.
He ran into the house to get it, while I got the girls in the car. As he came out of the house, he closed the door behind him. The door was locked. I wanted to cry. I had to fight hard not to cry. For the second time in one week, we were locked out of something. I couldn’t cry, it was an accident. It wasn’t Jory’s fault. I could see the look on his face.
“It’s okay, Jory. It was an accident,” I reassured him. I said a quick prayer. It looked like we were going to have to possible borrow Mrs. Wilson’s car to get Oma’s keys to unlock the door, then stop back by Oma’s job to drop the keys back off. I so did not have time for this today.
“Mommy, we can walk the girls to school,” Jory suggested happily.
Yes, that was exactly what we were going to have to do since my keys were in my purse on the sofa.
We took out the double stroller and the girls happily got in. Off we went with me in my flip flops. I called my job to let the editor I was going to work with, who was coming in an hour early to work with me, that I was locked out of my house. Too late, he had left his house extra early to beat the traffic. He was already at work. Crap! Another prayer, he’s got kids. He was understanding, but I felt bad. I tried calling my mom. Thank God, I told her to take her cell phone this morning. She didn’t pick up.
We arrived at the school and Mrs. Wilson looked at us and asked, “Car troubles or locked out again?”
“Locked out,” I said, as I kept trying my mother. I finally got her and I explained what happened. She said she would call to see if someone in the family could drop the keys off to me. I called around and found that all family members I could reach either couldn’t come or had already left for work. Please God, please. I have to make it to this wedding.
But while I was waiting for my mom to call me back, Jory played at his old school while Mrs. Wilson and I chatted. I found out that she missed her cruise that she was suppose to take back in August. And I also learned that if you’re leaving from a foreign country and coming into America you can’t pick up the cruise on the American side. Interesting tidbit to know.
My mom called back to say she was coming home and to not go anywhere, before I could explain that we were at the school she was gone. Crap!
“Jory, we gotta go.”
We said goodbye to the girls and Mrs. Wilson, running out the school and pushing the double stroller.
“Mommy, can I get in the stroller?” Jory asked.
I can’t push a 40 pound stroller and 40 pound Jory in it. “No, dude you can’t. But if you want you can hold on to mommy’s shirt.”
And so he did.
We ran the first six blocks then we pooped out. My mom works maybe five, ten minutes from our house. Hopefully we could meet her there.
It felt like Jory holding on to my shirt was weighing me down, but we preserved. We tried to do a sprint run, which worked for a half block, but the long walk down from our corner to our house we walked. And as we arrived at the house, there was Oma.
“I thought I told you not to go anywhere?” she asked.
“We were at the school when you called. Is the door unlocked?”
“Yes.”
“Thanks, bye.”
I quickly went in the house, got my keys out of my purse, finished moving the rest of the remaining items to the car. Jory and I got in the car and took off.
I got to work one hour and forty-five minutes after I had originally intended. I went straight to the edit bay and started working, after apologizing profusely.
We got through the shows, I did my other work, then decided to go put my dress in the shower to get the wrinkles out. I go to the bathroom only to discover the shower has one of those gimpy hand held shower heads. I hate those with a passion. And on top of that, there was no hook to hang the shower head from. I tried to rig something up, but nothing quite seemed to work, then I thought I got it. I felt the water temperature and I knew it would take twelve lifetimes for this temp to create any sort of steam to get the wrinkles out of my dress. Crap!
I decided to give it one last try, until I see the water gathering on the floor and then inadvertently wet my jeans in the process. Perfect. I turned off the water and thought the dress is just going to be wrinkled.
I went back to my office with the dress and waited to find out if I could leave at 1. Nothing. People walked by me and nothing. Please God, please. 1PM came and went. It was time to put on my big girl panties and face this situation head on.
“You’re leaving now?”
Really?!?! Are you serious!?!? “Yes, I am.” I gave a breakdown of all my work that had been accomplished and quickly ran out the door. As I got into the car, I realized my dress wasn’t hanging with the girls. Crap! It was in the office. I tried calling people in the office to bring it to me, but no luck. I whipped the car around in the parking lot, left the car running as I ran inside, grabbed the dress with no one seeing me, and hopped into the car and took off.
I arrived at Jory’s daycare only to discover, they were just starting to cook lunch. Great, now we have to stop at McD’s to get him something to tie him over until we get to the kind Miles’ family home who had offered to put us up and feed us until the 7PM wedding. Fine, let’s just keep it moving.
We drove swiftly, yet safely to the girls’ school to discover that they were napping. Yep, it was nap time. Are you serious?! I grabbed Layla sans shoes. She didn’t need them on. The sub woke Rowan, I threw their blankets and sheets over my shoulder and waited while Rowan finished putting her shoes on. The baby woke up as I buckled her into her car seat.
Finally everyone was in the car, now it was off to McD’s, gas, and then the freeway. I see the line at McD’s and know I’m going to have to park and go in. I pulled into the handicap spot right in front of it and hop out. I placed my order only to discover I had walked into the slowest moving Mc Donald’s in the free living world. Are you kidding me?!?! I just want to go to my friend’s wedding. Introduce my kids to the world of weddings. The terrific trio were wedding virgins. I got the drinks and took them to the car so at least I could feel like something was being accomplished.
After five minutes (cause what are they doing here killing the cows out back?), I made eye contact with the manager, which seemed to help but maybe not because it felt like I was in there for another five minutes. Finally our food was up and I ran out the place, hopped in the car, and took off. Thankfully the gas station cooperated with me and everything went smoothly there, except when it came to making a left hand turn out of the place. Traffic was everywhere, the clock was ticking. I was getting on this freeway as close to 2:30PM as possible, it was already past 2:30. I decided to go for it, I saw some space and weaved in and out the stopped car and made my turn out. SCORE! We made next stop the freeway.
By 2:45PM, we were on the freeway where I learned you can drive 40 mph on the 405 South. I had never driven 40 mph going to the OC before. Did I need to call the Miles family and say, we’d be super late. I called and told them we were on our way, so at least they had that heads up.
Shortly before 4PM, we made it to our destination. Praise God!
The day before the wedding
Everything was going swimmingly until I was told there was a chance I couldn’t leave after lunch for a friend’s wedding. I was being told by people who live and drove to the OC that if I wasn’t on the 405 by 2:30 at the latest, I would be sitting in a parking lot.
I was trying hard not to be angry. I vented to some friends. And I prayed. And I prayed. I had friends praying. This had to work out. I had a whole plan in place.
I was trying hard not to be angry. I vented to some friends. And I prayed. And I prayed. I had friends praying. This had to work out. I had a whole plan in place.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Jory's first Birthday and Christmas List
I had Jory write his birthday list and his Christmas list at daycare. This is the first year, we’ve done lists. I usually just buy what I know he will love. Of course, his lists got lost in his schoolwork piles of paper, so I had to ask him what he wanted.
“Jory, what was on your birthday and Christmas lists?” I inquired.
“I want a Space Needle, a remote control helicopter, and a remote control airplane. But if you buy me, the remote control helicopter, you don’t have to buy me the remote control airplane,” he replied.
Oh, I love this boy!!! I simply adore him!!!! He could have written anything on those lists and that’s what he wrote. And he didn’t even require me to buy both remote control toys. And who could have ever guessed that the Space Needle he saw six months earlier would make such a lasting impression on him. I was disappointed with it, but that’s a story for another blog whenever I sit down and finally write about the Alaska cruise. But obviously it made an impression on him, but what kind of Space Needle does he want exactly. Hmm…..
“Jory, what was on your birthday and Christmas lists?” I inquired.
“I want a Space Needle, a remote control helicopter, and a remote control airplane. But if you buy me, the remote control helicopter, you don’t have to buy me the remote control airplane,” he replied.
Oh, I love this boy!!! I simply adore him!!!! He could have written anything on those lists and that’s what he wrote. And he didn’t even require me to buy both remote control toys. And who could have ever guessed that the Space Needle he saw six months earlier would make such a lasting impression on him. I was disappointed with it, but that’s a story for another blog whenever I sit down and finally write about the Alaska cruise. But obviously it made an impression on him, but what kind of Space Needle does he want exactly. Hmm…..
Crazy Mornings
Late again, but my fault. When will I learn that I cannot cook in the mornings even if I start right at 7? It just doesn’t work out. Buy bygones. So we were heading out the door and I picked up the keys next to my purse, except they weren’t my keys. NOOOOO!!! I knew this wasn’t a good sign. I looked around the house for my keys, but I knew what happened. My mom picked up mine and hadn’t noticed that she had them.
Since her job likes to change phone numbers faster than Kim Kardashian changes husbands, I had no idea what her work number currently was. So I decided to try her cell phone, which of course I heard buzzing two rings into my call. No work number, no cell number, no way to reach her except to go to her job. I called my boss and explained the situation, then I went aside with the kids. I knew what we would do. Our neighbor, Mr. Howard, could give us a ride. I looked down the driveway for his car - - nothing. I went to the top of the driveway, to peer through the fence to see if he had parked in the back - - nothing. Of all the times for retired Mr. Howard not to be home, this wasn’t one of them.
“We could walk to school, Mommy,” Jory offered up as a solution.
He was right. I busted out with the double stroller. The girls happily got in it, then off we went. Mr. Howard would for sure be home by the time we walked the eleven blocks down and two blocks over to get to their girls’ school. Other than Jory racing with the stroller once, losing control of it, and it going off the curb into the street, our journey was uneventful. Longer than I thought, but still okay. We used the front door to the school which we’ve never used before.
“Car problems?” Mrs. Wilson, the girls’ teacher asked.
I nodded. I explained the situation to her.
“Do you want to borrow my car?” she offered. “You’re a good driver.”
I politely refused and Jory and I went on our way. If Mr. Howard wasn’t home I reasoned, we could catch the bus to Oma’s job and back. But then I thought, well let’s check out Mrs. Wilson’s car. Let’s see if it is automatic or a stick. It was automatic. I realized I was letting my pride get in the way, so we went in through the backdoor and told her if her offer stood still. She said, yes. She grabbed her keys, then proceeded to clean out her car. Once that was done, she handed me the key, showed me the quirks of her car, and told me to avoid potholes because one of her tires had a bubble in it.
We backed out slowly. Mrs. Wilson drives a BMW coupe. I drove slowly down the alley to the street. I prayed, please God no accidents in this car, please see us safely there and back. It was strange to be so low to the ground after my years of driving the mini-van. The things we become accustomed to without realizing it. We continued our slow drive down Crenshaw, quickly switching stations when I realized her jazz station was playing Christmas music. Last I looked I hadn’t had any turkey so no Christmas music for us.
We got to my mom’s job, parked and when I saw that no one was near the backdoor (where are these government workers I pay to employ?), I got Jory out of the car, locked it up, and we went around the front with the public. I told the security guard who I was and asked him if he could get my mom. As I suspected, she was surprised to see me and hadn’t noticed that she had the wrong set of keys. We did a quick exchange and Jory and I were on our way driving slower than my grandma, and she’s been dead over 20 years.
I thanked Mrs. Wilson, gave her her key back, grabbed the double stroller, and Jory and I headed out the door, after giving the girls more kisses and hugs and Mrs. Wilson showing off her former student to the newbies. The walk back was quicker and Jory didn’t lose control of the stroller. Or as he clarified, it’s easier for him to push without the girls in it.
We got home, broke down the stroller, put it back in the van, locked up the house, and then we were on our way. Who knew I could have taken my time when I was cooking this morning…..
Since her job likes to change phone numbers faster than Kim Kardashian changes husbands, I had no idea what her work number currently was. So I decided to try her cell phone, which of course I heard buzzing two rings into my call. No work number, no cell number, no way to reach her except to go to her job. I called my boss and explained the situation, then I went aside with the kids. I knew what we would do. Our neighbor, Mr. Howard, could give us a ride. I looked down the driveway for his car - - nothing. I went to the top of the driveway, to peer through the fence to see if he had parked in the back - - nothing. Of all the times for retired Mr. Howard not to be home, this wasn’t one of them.
“We could walk to school, Mommy,” Jory offered up as a solution.
He was right. I busted out with the double stroller. The girls happily got in it, then off we went. Mr. Howard would for sure be home by the time we walked the eleven blocks down and two blocks over to get to their girls’ school. Other than Jory racing with the stroller once, losing control of it, and it going off the curb into the street, our journey was uneventful. Longer than I thought, but still okay. We used the front door to the school which we’ve never used before.
“Car problems?” Mrs. Wilson, the girls’ teacher asked.
I nodded. I explained the situation to her.
“Do you want to borrow my car?” she offered. “You’re a good driver.”
I politely refused and Jory and I went on our way. If Mr. Howard wasn’t home I reasoned, we could catch the bus to Oma’s job and back. But then I thought, well let’s check out Mrs. Wilson’s car. Let’s see if it is automatic or a stick. It was automatic. I realized I was letting my pride get in the way, so we went in through the backdoor and told her if her offer stood still. She said, yes. She grabbed her keys, then proceeded to clean out her car. Once that was done, she handed me the key, showed me the quirks of her car, and told me to avoid potholes because one of her tires had a bubble in it.
We backed out slowly. Mrs. Wilson drives a BMW coupe. I drove slowly down the alley to the street. I prayed, please God no accidents in this car, please see us safely there and back. It was strange to be so low to the ground after my years of driving the mini-van. The things we become accustomed to without realizing it. We continued our slow drive down Crenshaw, quickly switching stations when I realized her jazz station was playing Christmas music. Last I looked I hadn’t had any turkey so no Christmas music for us.
We got to my mom’s job, parked and when I saw that no one was near the backdoor (where are these government workers I pay to employ?), I got Jory out of the car, locked it up, and we went around the front with the public. I told the security guard who I was and asked him if he could get my mom. As I suspected, she was surprised to see me and hadn’t noticed that she had the wrong set of keys. We did a quick exchange and Jory and I were on our way driving slower than my grandma, and she’s been dead over 20 years.
I thanked Mrs. Wilson, gave her her key back, grabbed the double stroller, and Jory and I headed out the door, after giving the girls more kisses and hugs and Mrs. Wilson showing off her former student to the newbies. The walk back was quicker and Jory didn’t lose control of the stroller. Or as he clarified, it’s easier for him to push without the girls in it.
We got home, broke down the stroller, put it back in the van, locked up the house, and then we were on our way. Who knew I could have taken my time when I was cooking this morning…..
Amnesia, not just a plot device on Lifetime
Every day I pick Jory up, he tells me he’s hungry and then proceeds to tell me his daycare doesn’t give him anything to eat other than a sandwich. He says that they don’t feed him breakfast though I hear them say, “Are you ready for breakfast, Jory?” when he walks into the house. I explained to him that if they didn’t feed him during the day then he wouldn’t be happy or playing when I come pick him up in the evenings. I also told him, I know how he gets when he’s hungry and it would be humanly impossible for anyone to do anything because he’d be crying, “I’m hungry.” These explanations didn’t faze him. So I decided, after a round table discussion of two, to ask him in front of his daycare worker what he ate that day.
In the doorway of the house, I asked Jory what he had for lunch. I knew he wouldn’t lie in front of one of his daycare workers.
He said, “A sandwich.”
“That’s it?” I asked.
“Yes,” he answered.
“What about the cookies?” his daycare worker questioned.
“Oh yeah, and cookies,” he added.
I was looking him in the face and there was no deception there, no teasing. It was like he really didn’t remember.
“Do you remember you had oatmeal for breakfast?” she continued.
Jory shook his head.
He had oatmeal?! He ate before he left home. “Jory, don’t you remember you had a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats at home?”
“Oh yeah,” he said.
His worker explained that she feeds or gives the kids something to drink every hour to every hour and a half, that they are on the same schedule as her bedridden aunt that she takes care of also.
I assured her, I knew they were feeding my son.
She then said with Jory standing there, that she would start reminding him what he’s eating and when he’s eating.
I nodded in agreement with this and we bid her adieu and went home with the knowledge that my son has food/meal amnesia.
In the doorway of the house, I asked Jory what he had for lunch. I knew he wouldn’t lie in front of one of his daycare workers.
He said, “A sandwich.”
“That’s it?” I asked.
“Yes,” he answered.
“What about the cookies?” his daycare worker questioned.
“Oh yeah, and cookies,” he added.
I was looking him in the face and there was no deception there, no teasing. It was like he really didn’t remember.
“Do you remember you had oatmeal for breakfast?” she continued.
Jory shook his head.
He had oatmeal?! He ate before he left home. “Jory, don’t you remember you had a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats at home?”
“Oh yeah,” he said.
His worker explained that she feeds or gives the kids something to drink every hour to every hour and a half, that they are on the same schedule as her bedridden aunt that she takes care of also.
I assured her, I knew they were feeding my son.
She then said with Jory standing there, that she would start reminding him what he’s eating and when he’s eating.
I nodded in agreement with this and we bid her adieu and went home with the knowledge that my son has food/meal amnesia.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Legacy
It was time to choose a new song for the kids to learn. I had just taught them a hymn so now it was time to teach them a current song. I went through my catalog and came up with The Rock that Doesn’t Roll. I wasn’t sure of which lyrics went to which verse, so I looked it up. I was surprised I didn’t find tons of sites with the lyrics. I typed in my words and to my surprise I discovered it was Larry Norman song. I learned about Larry years ago through the greatest group of all time, DC Talk. I had no idea that when Ed Rapinchuk taught me that song at Redeemer that it was a Larry song.
Then I thought about Larry Norman’s legacy, he died recently, and I thought this was part of his legacy. This song that he wrote about how God is always there. This is part of Larry’s legacy.
I was lost and blind 'til a friend of mine
Came and took me by the hand.
Then he led me to his kingdom
That was in another land.
Now my life is changed, it's rearranged.
When I think of my past I feel so strange.
Wowie, zowie, well he saved my soul.
He's the rock that doesn't roll.
He's the rock that doesn't roll.
He's the rock that doesn't roll.
He's good for the body and great for the soul.
He's the rock that doesn't roll.
And not only is part of Larry’s legacy, but it is part of youth pastor Ed Rapinchuk’s legacy because he taught this song to me and now I’m teaching it to my kids. This legacy is a love of Christ, a love for Christ.
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy
Thanks Larry. Thanks Ed.
Then I thought about Larry Norman’s legacy, he died recently, and I thought this was part of his legacy. This song that he wrote about how God is always there. This is part of Larry’s legacy.
I was lost and blind 'til a friend of mine
Came and took me by the hand.
Then he led me to his kingdom
That was in another land.
Now my life is changed, it's rearranged.
When I think of my past I feel so strange.
Wowie, zowie, well he saved my soul.
He's the rock that doesn't roll.
He's the rock that doesn't roll.
He's the rock that doesn't roll.
He's good for the body and great for the soul.
He's the rock that doesn't roll.
And not only is part of Larry’s legacy, but it is part of youth pastor Ed Rapinchuk’s legacy because he taught this song to me and now I’m teaching it to my kids. This legacy is a love of Christ, a love for Christ.
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy
Thanks Larry. Thanks Ed.
New phrases
We finished school and Jory was settling in for the night. As I turned to check out what was going on on the net, when I heard, “There’s nothing like home, sweet old home.”
“What?”
“There’s nothing like home, sweet old home,” he repeated.
“Where did you learn that?” I questioned my six-year-old.
He looked at me sheepishly, then repeated it again.
“Where did you hear that?” I was amazed that he knew this. Where would he have heard this?
“Nathan said it,” he finally answered.
Ah, his daycare worker’s twelve-year-old son. “Do you know what it means?”
He shook his head.
“It means there’s no place better or like being home.”
He nodded then snuggled down under his “soft” blanket.
The things that come out of your kid’s mouth when you least expect it. He’s growing up and learning new things, new phrases, new words without me. My baby is growing up.
“What?”
“There’s nothing like home, sweet old home,” he repeated.
“Where did you learn that?” I questioned my six-year-old.
He looked at me sheepishly, then repeated it again.
“Where did you hear that?” I was amazed that he knew this. Where would he have heard this?
“Nathan said it,” he finally answered.
Ah, his daycare worker’s twelve-year-old son. “Do you know what it means?”
He shook his head.
“It means there’s no place better or like being home.”
He nodded then snuggled down under his “soft” blanket.
The things that come out of your kid’s mouth when you least expect it. He’s growing up and learning new things, new phrases, new words without me. My baby is growing up.
Kissing and husbands
As I was getting the girls dressed for bed, the baby kissed me on the lips, as she always does.
“Oooh, you kissed Mommy, like you kiss your husband,” Rowan announced. She is really into this boyfriend/husband kick right now. “Jory is going to be my boyfriend,” she declared.
“Rowan, Jory can’t be your boyfriend, right? Why?” I reminded and questioned her.
“’Cause he’s my brother,” she answered.
“Right.”
“When I get married can I get married can I kiss my husband all the time?” she asked.
“Yes, you can,” I answered happily.
My Rowan loves hugs, kisses, being held. My son, who is somewhere out there, will have a wife who will love to touch him and be physically.
“Oooh, you kissed Mommy, like you kiss your husband,” Rowan announced. She is really into this boyfriend/husband kick right now. “Jory is going to be my boyfriend,” she declared.
“Rowan, Jory can’t be your boyfriend, right? Why?” I reminded and questioned her.
“’Cause he’s my brother,” she answered.
“Right.”
“When I get married can I get married can I kiss my husband all the time?” she asked.
“Yes, you can,” I answered happily.
My Rowan loves hugs, kisses, being held. My son, who is somewhere out there, will have a wife who will love to touch him and be physically.
The joy of words
You know the first time you hear, “My bagina hurts,” your heart starts racing and a million things run through your head.
“Your vagina hurts?” I asked quickly.
Then a nonsensically answer was given and after some probing I realized that the girls just like saying “bagina.”
They just like saying the word, particularly when they are in the bath.
Who knew they would like the word so much. And who knew they would be so fascinated with the word when Jory couldn’t have cared less about his penis or the word “penis.”
“Your vagina hurts?” I asked quickly.
Then a nonsensically answer was given and after some probing I realized that the girls just like saying “bagina.”
They just like saying the word, particularly when they are in the bath.
Who knew they would like the word so much. And who knew they would be so fascinated with the word when Jory couldn’t have cared less about his penis or the word “penis.”
Hair and Combing and Brushing
Why?!?! Why does this baby hate getting her hair combed and brushed? She wiggles and cries and it’s nonsense. Her hair rarely gets tangled, so what’s the big deal? I try not to comb or brush too hard. This is why her hair won’t grow. God knows we’d really be battling if her hair was any longer.
A new twist to school
We’ve had to rework school. I felt like we were rushing through things to get everything done at a decent hour. Though what is a decent hour in our house? Plus there were nights were I was so tired or it was so late that we didn’t even do devotionals. Uh, how crazy is that? One of the reasons, I was called to homeschool was so Jory could learn about Christ so why were there nights when didn’t read His Word, His praises to Him, or pray. It was crazy. I’m glad He opened my eyes to my fault.
So now we’re going to do what someone suggested many moons ago, each night we will study one subject. Sundays are math. Mondays are poetry. Tuesdays are history. Wednesdays are a bit of everything. Every day, we’ll review spelling words. Let’s see how this works. Trying to thing outside the box.
So now we’re going to do what someone suggested many moons ago, each night we will study one subject. Sundays are math. Mondays are poetry. Tuesdays are history. Wednesdays are a bit of everything. Every day, we’ll review spelling words. Let’s see how this works. Trying to thing outside the box.
My little helper!!!
Can I tell you how much I love my little helper named Rowan? Madly, deeply in love with her. Sometimes her brother and sister get lost getting sucks or looking for something, but my big girl can find it and come right back, as long as the TV isn’t on that is. She’s just awesome.
I sent her and her brother to go look for her sister’s shorts.
She runs out the room with the shorts in her hand, shorts her brother during his first solo search couldn’t find. “Mommy, I found them. Jory didn’t move things to look for them.”
I was so proud. My big girl is learning that sometimes you have to move things and look underneath things to find what you want or need.
Ah, my helper, I truly, madly, deeply love you.
I sent her and her brother to go look for her sister’s shorts.
She runs out the room with the shorts in her hand, shorts her brother during his first solo search couldn’t find. “Mommy, I found them. Jory didn’t move things to look for them.”
I was so proud. My big girl is learning that sometimes you have to move things and look underneath things to find what you want or need.
Ah, my helper, I truly, madly, deeply love you.
S O S!!!
You know what’s great is having friends that you can call or email when you are sinking. I’m pretty sure I can count on two hands the number of times I’ve been at work at 9AM since Jory started going to his school. It’s insane. So I called out to my friends and said, “SOS!!!” And they came through with great suggestions, actually very similar ones.
LaLa even reminded me why I even bought a timer in the first place. Jory was taking forever to do his schoolwork. A timer to help keep him on track. A timer to ring so he’ll know that he should be done brushing his teeth, finished dressing, done his chores.
Hopefully this will work, along with the consequences if he’s not done with his assigned task when the bell rings.
LaLa even reminded me why I even bought a timer in the first place. Jory was taking forever to do his schoolwork. A timer to help keep him on track. A timer to ring so he’ll know that he should be done brushing his teeth, finished dressing, done his chores.
Hopefully this will work, along with the consequences if he’s not done with his assigned task when the bell rings.
Not ruined
My friend Julie told me that her pastor told her, in regards to homeschooling, that God won’t allow you to mess up His child. Always that has been in the back of my mind. And as I read to Jory, worry that he isn’t reading like he’s suppose to, read history, classic books, and go over math with him, I sometimes wonder is this all sinking in….
And then there are moments when he says something and I’m like “Yes! He’s getting it!” Or when he hands me a math worksheet completely filled out correctly and I’m over the moon. Yes, I’m doing this right. God won’t let me mess up His son.
And then there are moments when he says something and I’m like “Yes! He’s getting it!” Or when he hands me a math worksheet completely filled out correctly and I’m over the moon. Yes, I’m doing this right. God won’t let me mess up His son.
A new baby!!!!
A friend and her hubby became parents of a brand new baby born through the awesomeness of adoption. For a second, it made me want another one. Made me think of Jack, but then I put those feelings away.
Welcome to the world Blake Scott! May you know, believe, and accept Christ into your life at a young age.
Welcome to the world Blake Scott! May you know, believe, and accept Christ into your life at a young age.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make His face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
and give you peace.
Where do they learn these things?
“Don’t tell me what to do, Rowan!” the baby said firmly to her older sister.
What?! Where did she learn that? And how to use it and when to say it? What in the world?
I didn’t even know what to say to her. I didn’t hear what Rowan said or did to her. So the only thing I could say was, “Baby, please talk nicely to your sister.”
“Mommy, she said the same thing to me,” Jory piped in.
Uh, okay. “Baby, talk nice to your brother. How does God want you to treat people?”
“Nice,” she answered.
“Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ And what does that mean? That you treat others as you would want others to treat you, right?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Okay, then let’s do that.”
What?! Where did she learn that? And how to use it and when to say it? What in the world?
I didn’t even know what to say to her. I didn’t hear what Rowan said or did to her. So the only thing I could say was, “Baby, please talk nicely to your sister.”
“Mommy, she said the same thing to me,” Jory piped in.
Uh, okay. “Baby, talk nice to your brother. How does God want you to treat people?”
“Nice,” she answered.
“Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ And what does that mean? That you treat others as you would want others to treat you, right?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Okay, then let’s do that.”
Singing
“Had it all” That’s what I heard Rowan sing. I instantly recognized the song. Like her mother sometimes, five years after it was hot, my four-year-old discovered Adele and her hit song, Rolling in the Deep.
Then the baby started singing it. “We could have had it all.” And now she says, “Mommy, can we listen to the song on your computer, “Had it all.”
“Yes, baby, we can listen to the song.”
I’m still not sure where they heard it enough to hear the words.
Then the baby started singing it. “We could have had it all.” And now she says, “Mommy, can we listen to the song on your computer, “Had it all.”
“Yes, baby, we can listen to the song.”
I’m still not sure where they heard it enough to hear the words.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Tears and Swimming
If tears could be collected, Layla’s tears during swimming lessons could possibly feel a kiddie pool. Cry. Cry. Cry.
She can be perfectly fine, then Mr. Will says, let’s do ???? And next thing you know, tears are just flowing. Flowing like the Nile. Thanks Rowan for teaching your sister how to bawl through swimming lessons. Though she’s not as loud as you are.
She can be perfectly fine, then Mr. Will says, let’s do ???? And next thing you know, tears are just flowing. Flowing like the Nile. Thanks Rowan for teaching your sister how to bawl through swimming lessons. Though she’s not as loud as you are.
Halloween/Harvest Day/ Posting of the 95 Theses
was a bust. Where did it all go wrong? It started when Oma couldn’t find the girls’ ballerina outfits from last Halloween. I mentioned that it might be too small, but I was poohed along. I looked in the car, Jory looked in Oma’s room, I looked in Oma’s room, Oma looked in her room. No ballerina outfits.
Then Oma was upset I hadn’t looked under the dining room table. Cause I’m suppose to know that’s where the outfits should be. Last I saw them, they were in an old jumbo diaper box along with other dress up outfits. Oma looked under the table, not there. Halloween morning, minutes before she was to leave, Oma searched boxes in her room and EUREKA! I saw them and I said, maybe they should wear the Belle and Tinkerbell outfits, but I was shot down. The girls wanted to be ballerinas.
Jory no longer wanted to be a soccer player because he his soccer ball was flat, and I would have pumped it but his Oma blew up our air thingy trying to pump a tire. Don’t ask.
So I ironed his Fireman shirt that we bought at a CBS sale and his NYFD t-shirt, that he loves. I figured that with his blue khaki pants and black shoes, he’d look like a fireman. He was all set to go.
I was cleaning up the kitchen at work when a co-worker came in, asked about the kids, which led to her asking me about my daughter’s adoption, and that was the end. Three hours later when I got home, Halloween was over. Thank God, my mom stopped at my aunt’s and she gave the girls’ candy and that Jory’s old teacher gave the girls candy for Jory.
Oma did tell me the girls couldn’t go out at school because when they changed into their outfits, Rowan’s was too little. Shocking, huh? And her little butt cheek was hanging out. I guess the girls won’t be ballerinas next year.
Then Oma was upset I hadn’t looked under the dining room table. Cause I’m suppose to know that’s where the outfits should be. Last I saw them, they were in an old jumbo diaper box along with other dress up outfits. Oma looked under the table, not there. Halloween morning, minutes before she was to leave, Oma searched boxes in her room and EUREKA! I saw them and I said, maybe they should wear the Belle and Tinkerbell outfits, but I was shot down. The girls wanted to be ballerinas.
Jory no longer wanted to be a soccer player because he his soccer ball was flat, and I would have pumped it but his Oma blew up our air thingy trying to pump a tire. Don’t ask.
So I ironed his Fireman shirt that we bought at a CBS sale and his NYFD t-shirt, that he loves. I figured that with his blue khaki pants and black shoes, he’d look like a fireman. He was all set to go.
I was cleaning up the kitchen at work when a co-worker came in, asked about the kids, which led to her asking me about my daughter’s adoption, and that was the end. Three hours later when I got home, Halloween was over. Thank God, my mom stopped at my aunt’s and she gave the girls’ candy and that Jory’s old teacher gave the girls candy for Jory.
Oma did tell me the girls couldn’t go out at school because when they changed into their outfits, Rowan’s was too little. Shocking, huh? And her little butt cheek was hanging out. I guess the girls won’t be ballerinas next year.
Hair and Shampoo
The baby’s new goal is to drive me bananas during shampooing time. She screams, kicks water, screams, endless tears. Is this Chinese water torture or is this little girl simple getting her hair washed with no more tears shampoo? The shampoo is nowhere near her eyes.
“Mommy, my eyes! My eyes!” she screams at the top of her lungs.
“Layla, your eyes are completely open. There’s nothing in your eyes.” Is she serious?! What is wrong with her? She learned this from Rowan. Bad influencing older sisters.
I have come to dread when it’s time to wash her hair.
“Mommy, my eyes! My eyes!” she screams at the top of her lungs.
“Layla, your eyes are completely open. There’s nothing in your eyes.” Is she serious?! What is wrong with her? She learned this from Rowan. Bad influencing older sisters.
I have come to dread when it’s time to wash her hair.
Pumpkin Patch with Miss Sarah
After rain and something else stopped us from going to the pumpkin patch the last few years, this year we were raring to go. I didn’t tell the kids where we were going, which Jory reprimanded me for. Danger Ranger had informed him that you should always know where you’re going. I explained they weren’t talking about parents.
The kids were very excited when I told them we were going to see Miss Sarah. Yes, we drove to the faraway land of Santa Clarita aka the other side of the universe to go to the pumpkin patch with Miss Sarah. After our last visit, I made sure to bring plenty of ones because I discovered this pumpkin patch and a lot of kid friendly places are like kiddie strip joints. You have to bring ones and fives to make it rain. I mean when one carmel apple is $3, you need to bring some serious cash.
We find a park quickly and in we went. It was hotter than a bangee. We should have worn shorts. Somewhere from the dusty parking lot to the pumpkin patch, the baby decided she couldn’t walk.
I don’t deal with heat well, but heat, being overdressed, holding a purse, and a baby.
“Mommy, there’s a baby,” she pointed out.
“Yes, there is a baby. Are you a baby?” I asked.
“No, I a big girl,” she answered.
“You know what big girls do?”
She shook her head.
“They use their two little feet and walk. Doesn’t the big girl want to walk?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because…”
And that was seemingly the end of that. Really, she just gets away with murder. We walked around, heard a band, walked through the maze and saw scarecrows designed by various schools and organizations. Some of them were weird, some were odd, none were scary. The baby refused to take a picture. She said the scarecrows scared her. Really, the scarecrow who looked like Elmo scares you?! Whatever. There was even one with two normal characters like, Elmo and Big Bird, and then next to them was Jason from Friday the Thirteenth. Super odd. I had to ask Sarah to make sure I wasn’t imagining the combo.
We went to the “farm.” They had an ostrich and a huge ostrich egg. We saw a rabbit, roosters, pigs, a calf, and some other simple animals.
“Mommy, it smells over here. Can we leave?” Jory asked.
Ah, a boy after my own heart. I love that kid.
So we wondered away from the farm and somehow ended up where the horse and donkey or mule was. And I take a seat after unsuccessfully trying to convince my kids to put their heads through so I could take pictures of them as farmers; and the next thing I know my kids are feeding the horse and donkey. Yuck! Miss Sarah was supervising, thank God for her. I couldn’t deal with that. I finally I had to pull them away from the feeding or we would have been there all day. Our first stop afterwards was to the porta-potty world where they had a sink and soap.
We bought tickets for the train ride which Jory wanted to go on more than the carriage/hay ride. Strangely enough the carriage/hay ride was more expensive. We went on the train ride and sat in our own car. We saw the mountains which in a few months would soon be covered in snow. We saw the corn maze and the whole pumpkin patch. We came back down and I finally relented and bought something for everyone to enjoy, nachos. They weren’t that big of a hit. Note to self, don’t buy nachos with cheese next time. They looked delicious, but I couldn’t have any.
Instead they munched on the fruit we had, the water, and the Chicago styled popcorn I had left over from work. We listened to the band play as Jory ventured into the haystack maze. After seeing him do it, Rowan followed him. And after a million potty breaks (is this baby’s bladder the size of a ganat?) with the baby, she decided to follow her siblings. Sarah and I took the time to chat, to enjoy the music. After a while the kids came back and Jory showed them how to jump from one bale of hay to the next. Big brothers teach the most awesomest of things.
We wandered through the fruit and vegetable stand. Jory was dying for a pumpkin so I told him he could get one with the dollar I had left over from the nachos. He perused the pumpkins in the basket and found one for seventy-five cents. Then he asked if he could carve it. Uh, yeah, dude, you can’t carve a pumpkin that small.
He wiped off his pumpkin with a wipe as soon as we got in the car. Then the girls wanted to do the same, then the arguments started on who got to hold the pumpkin. So I made the executive decision that everyone could hold it for five minutes. I learned that tip from a magazine once and usually lose interest very quickly when a time is put on it or forget. Jory didn’t forget. Granted, the baby did end up holding the pumpkin for 10 minutes because we all forgot, but he finally did remember and they had to switch. But when he held it, we all forgot for the rest of the evening.
We went back to Sarah’s house and as always she was a gracious hostess. She had dinner in the crock pots. She had toys out in the living room. She’s so awesome and loving. God’s got a good servant in her. The kids ate until their bellies were full, then she came out with two types of cookies. The kids were besides themselves. Well, it was a toss up between the various cookies and finding the miniature broom and dust pan. Each of the kids had a turn to sweep her kitchen floor.
Finally it was time to leave, she walked us out to the car and watched us load in. I always enjoy our time together. She’s so patient and kind, gently when she reprimands and distracts. Why isn’t she married already? Some guy doesn’t know what he’s missing out on.
I need to up the times we see Sarah. Because she lives on the other side of the moon, we see her once in the summer to go to the beach with us. Last year, we added seeing her once in the late winter, so she could take the kids hiking. Jory asked to go hiking last year and my first thought was let me email Miss Sarah. We see her for our traditional pumpkin patch visit. Now I think we need to make a trek to the snow and I think Sarah needs to come with us.
The kids were very excited when I told them we were going to see Miss Sarah. Yes, we drove to the faraway land of Santa Clarita aka the other side of the universe to go to the pumpkin patch with Miss Sarah. After our last visit, I made sure to bring plenty of ones because I discovered this pumpkin patch and a lot of kid friendly places are like kiddie strip joints. You have to bring ones and fives to make it rain. I mean when one carmel apple is $3, you need to bring some serious cash.
We find a park quickly and in we went. It was hotter than a bangee. We should have worn shorts. Somewhere from the dusty parking lot to the pumpkin patch, the baby decided she couldn’t walk.
I don’t deal with heat well, but heat, being overdressed, holding a purse, and a baby.
“Mommy, there’s a baby,” she pointed out.
“Yes, there is a baby. Are you a baby?” I asked.
“No, I a big girl,” she answered.
“You know what big girls do?”
She shook her head.
“They use their two little feet and walk. Doesn’t the big girl want to walk?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because…”
And that was seemingly the end of that. Really, she just gets away with murder. We walked around, heard a band, walked through the maze and saw scarecrows designed by various schools and organizations. Some of them were weird, some were odd, none were scary. The baby refused to take a picture. She said the scarecrows scared her. Really, the scarecrow who looked like Elmo scares you?! Whatever. There was even one with two normal characters like, Elmo and Big Bird, and then next to them was Jason from Friday the Thirteenth. Super odd. I had to ask Sarah to make sure I wasn’t imagining the combo.
We went to the “farm.” They had an ostrich and a huge ostrich egg. We saw a rabbit, roosters, pigs, a calf, and some other simple animals.
“Mommy, it smells over here. Can we leave?” Jory asked.
Ah, a boy after my own heart. I love that kid.
So we wondered away from the farm and somehow ended up where the horse and donkey or mule was. And I take a seat after unsuccessfully trying to convince my kids to put their heads through so I could take pictures of them as farmers; and the next thing I know my kids are feeding the horse and donkey. Yuck! Miss Sarah was supervising, thank God for her. I couldn’t deal with that. I finally I had to pull them away from the feeding or we would have been there all day. Our first stop afterwards was to the porta-potty world where they had a sink and soap.
We bought tickets for the train ride which Jory wanted to go on more than the carriage/hay ride. Strangely enough the carriage/hay ride was more expensive. We went on the train ride and sat in our own car. We saw the mountains which in a few months would soon be covered in snow. We saw the corn maze and the whole pumpkin patch. We came back down and I finally relented and bought something for everyone to enjoy, nachos. They weren’t that big of a hit. Note to self, don’t buy nachos with cheese next time. They looked delicious, but I couldn’t have any.
Instead they munched on the fruit we had, the water, and the Chicago styled popcorn I had left over from work. We listened to the band play as Jory ventured into the haystack maze. After seeing him do it, Rowan followed him. And after a million potty breaks (is this baby’s bladder the size of a ganat?) with the baby, she decided to follow her siblings. Sarah and I took the time to chat, to enjoy the music. After a while the kids came back and Jory showed them how to jump from one bale of hay to the next. Big brothers teach the most awesomest of things.
We wandered through the fruit and vegetable stand. Jory was dying for a pumpkin so I told him he could get one with the dollar I had left over from the nachos. He perused the pumpkins in the basket and found one for seventy-five cents. Then he asked if he could carve it. Uh, yeah, dude, you can’t carve a pumpkin that small.
He wiped off his pumpkin with a wipe as soon as we got in the car. Then the girls wanted to do the same, then the arguments started on who got to hold the pumpkin. So I made the executive decision that everyone could hold it for five minutes. I learned that tip from a magazine once and usually lose interest very quickly when a time is put on it or forget. Jory didn’t forget. Granted, the baby did end up holding the pumpkin for 10 minutes because we all forgot, but he finally did remember and they had to switch. But when he held it, we all forgot for the rest of the evening.
We went back to Sarah’s house and as always she was a gracious hostess. She had dinner in the crock pots. She had toys out in the living room. She’s so awesome and loving. God’s got a good servant in her. The kids ate until their bellies were full, then she came out with two types of cookies. The kids were besides themselves. Well, it was a toss up between the various cookies and finding the miniature broom and dust pan. Each of the kids had a turn to sweep her kitchen floor.
Finally it was time to leave, she walked us out to the car and watched us load in. I always enjoy our time together. She’s so patient and kind, gently when she reprimands and distracts. Why isn’t she married already? Some guy doesn’t know what he’s missing out on.
I need to up the times we see Sarah. Because she lives on the other side of the moon, we see her once in the summer to go to the beach with us. Last year, we added seeing her once in the late winter, so she could take the kids hiking. Jory asked to go hiking last year and my first thought was let me email Miss Sarah. We see her for our traditional pumpkin patch visit. Now I think we need to make a trek to the snow and I think Sarah needs to come with us.
The things you discover on Friday nights after Halloween Parties
I left work early to go to Jory’s daycare’s Halloween party. I thought we’d stay for half an hour, then jet off to AWANA. I got there and nothing was going on. There was only one other parent there, they were waiting for another parent with chicken and wings.
Jory sat on my lap and we watched Phineas and Ferb on TV. One of the workers turned on the music so the kids could start dancing in their costumes. Nada. It was a no go. The princesses were a big hit with the girls. Two of them were Ariel. One little girl was Little Red Riding Hood. I realized that I have no idea what Red wears under her hood, so until the little girl’s mother put her cape on I just thought she was a cute little girl in a long white and red dress.
Finally they decided to start the party without the other food because the mom was stuck in traffic. Time was ticking away, I hated to eat and leave, but we had to get to AWANA. Thank goodness, Jory was the second in line to get pizza. Pizza and goodies on one plate. The green Sprite threw Jory off and he wasn’t feeling it. Jory wolfed down his pizza, got another slice, and the clock was ticking away. I figured he could eat his cupcakes in the car. We said our goodbyes and took off.
We rushed home, got the girls, and raced to AWANA. For the first time, we’d be on time. We find a parking spot right in front of the girls’ Cubbies house, but I don’t see the table out. I see the parking lot is almost empty and the barriers aren’t up. Crap! Did AWANA get cancelled and no one told me?
I walked up to the Cubbies’ house when I saw the side door open. I saw one of the girls’ leaders and she told me, I was early. Cubbies starts at 7PM. Are you kidding me?!?! I thought AWANA started at 6:30 this whole time. Nice to know that I don’t have to kill myself to get there. We’ve got a little wiggle room.
Jory sat on my lap and we watched Phineas and Ferb on TV. One of the workers turned on the music so the kids could start dancing in their costumes. Nada. It was a no go. The princesses were a big hit with the girls. Two of them were Ariel. One little girl was Little Red Riding Hood. I realized that I have no idea what Red wears under her hood, so until the little girl’s mother put her cape on I just thought she was a cute little girl in a long white and red dress.
Finally they decided to start the party without the other food because the mom was stuck in traffic. Time was ticking away, I hated to eat and leave, but we had to get to AWANA. Thank goodness, Jory was the second in line to get pizza. Pizza and goodies on one plate. The green Sprite threw Jory off and he wasn’t feeling it. Jory wolfed down his pizza, got another slice, and the clock was ticking away. I figured he could eat his cupcakes in the car. We said our goodbyes and took off.
We rushed home, got the girls, and raced to AWANA. For the first time, we’d be on time. We find a parking spot right in front of the girls’ Cubbies house, but I don’t see the table out. I see the parking lot is almost empty and the barriers aren’t up. Crap! Did AWANA get cancelled and no one told me?
I walked up to the Cubbies’ house when I saw the side door open. I saw one of the girls’ leaders and she told me, I was early. Cubbies starts at 7PM. Are you kidding me?!?! I thought AWANA started at 6:30 this whole time. Nice to know that I don’t have to kill myself to get there. We’ve got a little wiggle room.
Friday, October 28, 2011
When I get bigger
“Baby, turn the light off in the bathroom,” I said, as I was gearing down to start Bible time.
“Mommy, I can’t reach it. I have to get bigger,” she replied, in her cute little voice with a wistful look on her face.
I just started laughing. My baby wistfully thinking about the day when she will be tall enough to turn off the bathroom light.
“Mommy, are you laughing at the baby?” Rowan inquired.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s funny. You’re funny. And your brother’s funny,” I answered, still laughing.
“When Rowan was three she could turn off the bathroom light,” Jory announced.
And now the reminiscing on the past begins. Of what everyone could do when they were those faraway ages of three and four. Who knew kids liked doing this?
“Mommy, I can’t reach it. I have to get bigger,” she replied, in her cute little voice with a wistful look on her face.
I just started laughing. My baby wistfully thinking about the day when she will be tall enough to turn off the bathroom light.
“Mommy, are you laughing at the baby?” Rowan inquired.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s funny. You’re funny. And your brother’s funny,” I answered, still laughing.
“When Rowan was three she could turn off the bathroom light,” Jory announced.
And now the reminiscing on the past begins. Of what everyone could do when they were those faraway ages of three and four. Who knew kids liked doing this?
My response to a how's homeschooling going question
Thanks for asking. I can't believe it's been a month already. What I'm amazed at is how much they don't know? Why aren't they born knowing how to count by 2s or knowing how to round up or down?
We're still trying to find a workable rhythm. This week, I'm going to try and swap some stuff around. Must six-year-olds be so wiggly and giggly and making weird noises when they are being taught?
My biggest challenge has been the weekends, particularly Sundays. Sunday is the night we start latest. I think trying to pack it all in: the errands, the ironing, the cooking for the week, swimming lessons, play dates; is a lot. And everything that doesn't get done on Saturday spills into Sunday, after church, which just makes Sundays insane. I even did a no church Sunday and that didn't help.
So I need to really work on the weekends. Maybe make a list on Fridays of what I want to accomplish on the weekends and if it's not on the list, it just doesn't get done.
Other than this are Sunday through Thursday schedule works well. I'm thinking outside of the school box. The world won't end if I read all the week's poems on one day to make time for math.
We were sailing through math, oh the joys of review, and then hit a brick wall at full speed. I realized we had hit new material. So we're still recovering from that. I was under the delusion that Jory was a math genius and for the rest of the year, we'd continue to watch the math DVD once on Sunday, then again on Monday, and he would just sail through it. I was sadly mistaken.
I thought we would do some reading in the car to and from daycare, but not really. The problem is two fold. On some days in our Odyssey, he will take on the persona of his former preemie baby sister, you had to practically be on top of her to hear her cry, and the same with Jory's reading. He was sitting in his sister's carseat directly behind me and I still can't hear what he's reading; which is odd because I hear him so clearly and loudly when he is scareing his sisters, declaring he's a monster, or telling them to leave his lego airplane alone. And the other problem is his Sonlight reading book is very rhymey, very, so it's hard for me to detect when he's skipping words - - Pat, the fat rat, sat on a hat on a mat - - because I'm too busy trying to hear through the rhyming to hear if the sentence makes sense.
I do recognize when we're on overload, so now art, health, and science have been regulated to the summer time. I couldn't take on any more reading or explaining time in our already busy night. Though thanks to the Godsend of education.com, I am printing out worksheets that have to do with science and art. I found one worksheet that combines language art and art. I LOVE IT! We found some great safety videos at the library that Jory and his sisters think are fun, so it's great to know he's learning something for health and he enjoys immensely.
So sadly sometimes his reading aloud is neglected some nights. I thought about having him read while I do dishes, but I use that time to have clean his room or get his stuff ready for the next day, or for bath time. I have found some books free on-line that aren't so rhymey that I will try to have him read to me in the car.
That's how we're doing,
We're still trying to find a workable rhythm. This week, I'm going to try and swap some stuff around. Must six-year-olds be so wiggly and giggly and making weird noises when they are being taught?
My biggest challenge has been the weekends, particularly Sundays. Sunday is the night we start latest. I think trying to pack it all in: the errands, the ironing, the cooking for the week, swimming lessons, play dates; is a lot. And everything that doesn't get done on Saturday spills into Sunday, after church, which just makes Sundays insane. I even did a no church Sunday and that didn't help.
So I need to really work on the weekends. Maybe make a list on Fridays of what I want to accomplish on the weekends and if it's not on the list, it just doesn't get done.
Other than this are Sunday through Thursday schedule works well. I'm thinking outside of the school box. The world won't end if I read all the week's poems on one day to make time for math.
We were sailing through math, oh the joys of review, and then hit a brick wall at full speed. I realized we had hit new material. So we're still recovering from that. I was under the delusion that Jory was a math genius and for the rest of the year, we'd continue to watch the math DVD once on Sunday, then again on Monday, and he would just sail through it. I was sadly mistaken.
I thought we would do some reading in the car to and from daycare, but not really. The problem is two fold. On some days in our Odyssey, he will take on the persona of his former preemie baby sister, you had to practically be on top of her to hear her cry, and the same with Jory's reading. He was sitting in his sister's carseat directly behind me and I still can't hear what he's reading; which is odd because I hear him so clearly and loudly when he is scareing his sisters, declaring he's a monster, or telling them to leave his lego airplane alone. And the other problem is his Sonlight reading book is very rhymey, very, so it's hard for me to detect when he's skipping words - - Pat, the fat rat, sat on a hat on a mat - - because I'm too busy trying to hear through the rhyming to hear if the sentence makes sense.
I do recognize when we're on overload, so now art, health, and science have been regulated to the summer time. I couldn't take on any more reading or explaining time in our already busy night. Though thanks to the Godsend of education.com, I am printing out worksheets that have to do with science and art. I found one worksheet that combines language art and art. I LOVE IT! We found some great safety videos at the library that Jory and his sisters think are fun, so it's great to know he's learning something for health and he enjoys immensely.
So sadly sometimes his reading aloud is neglected some nights. I thought about having him read while I do dishes, but I use that time to have clean his room or get his stuff ready for the next day, or for bath time. I have found some books free on-line that aren't so rhymey that I will try to have him read to me in the car.
That's how we're doing,
Some days…
We were on the bed getting ready for Bible time when the baby laid her head into my lap. I pulled her up further on my lap, then laid back and started tickling her. She giggled and tried to escape. Then next thing I knew, Rowan was throwing herself down next to me. For a second, I thought, I need to stop this so we can stay on schedule, but I looked at my watch and thought what would it hurt to have five minutes of tickle time. So I went for it.
Rowan was on top of me. Jory was on top of me. They were on the side of me. They’d escape move to the head of the bed to enter the fray again. Occasionally the baby would cry out, “Mommy, let me go! Mommy stop!” I’d stop for a moment, then continued on with the tickling.
Some days schedules need to be put aside and tickling need to reign for a moment.
Rowan was on top of me. Jory was on top of me. They were on the side of me. They’d escape move to the head of the bed to enter the fray again. Occasionally the baby would cry out, “Mommy, let me go! Mommy stop!” I’d stop for a moment, then continued on with the tickling.
Some days schedules need to be put aside and tickling need to reign for a moment.
One day, some day, Monday?
I called the IRS on today with my fourth H & R Block tax advisor (H & R Block is a complete nightmare, but that's another story for another day) and I was told they didn't need any other paperwork from me. There were no red flags on my returns. The return was just in a holding pattern.
He couldn't tell us what the hold up was, he said he didn't see anything in the notes. He said, he knew sometimes it took a while to get the refund. I reminded him that I sent in my tax returns in April. I left it unsaid that it was nearing the end of October. He told me that the adoption tax credit, the homeowner credit, and other like credits were considered "special projects" handled out of their Memphis office. He told me if I did receive anymore letters to send them directly to Memphis, then he gave us the 800 number for the Memphis office, which of course was closed because they're on East Coast.
He couldn't even give an ETA on when I might get my money. Seemingly he knew nothing except I didn't owe the IRS anything and that I should get my money, maybe, one day.
He couldn't tell us what the hold up was, he said he didn't see anything in the notes. He said, he knew sometimes it took a while to get the refund. I reminded him that I sent in my tax returns in April. I left it unsaid that it was nearing the end of October. He told me that the adoption tax credit, the homeowner credit, and other like credits were considered "special projects" handled out of their Memphis office. He told me if I did receive anymore letters to send them directly to Memphis, then he gave us the 800 number for the Memphis office, which of course was closed because they're on East Coast.
He couldn't even give an ETA on when I might get my money. Seemingly he knew nothing except I didn't owe the IRS anything and that I should get my money, maybe, one day.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Questions in the car
“My daddy is in heaven two times,” the baby declared in the car driving home from church in the OC.
“You mean God? Your Heavenly Father is in heaven,” I responded to her declaration. Does she mean Jesus? He came from heaven, then ascended back up into heaven, did she mean that?
“My daddy is in heaven two times,” she repeated.
“Mommy, who is the baby’s father?” Jory inquired.
“I don’t know who the baby’s birth father is,” I answered him succinctly.
“Whose tummy was the baby in?” he asked.
“Her birth mother’s.”
“What was her birth mother’s name?”
“I don’t know,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.
“What was my birth mother’s name?”
I told him his birth mother’s name.
“What was I like as a baby?”
And then I told him the story of how my five-day-old baby came home.
“You mean God? Your Heavenly Father is in heaven,” I responded to her declaration. Does she mean Jesus? He came from heaven, then ascended back up into heaven, did she mean that?
“My daddy is in heaven two times,” she repeated.
“Mommy, who is the baby’s father?” Jory inquired.
“I don’t know who the baby’s birth father is,” I answered him succinctly.
“Whose tummy was the baby in?” he asked.
“Her birth mother’s.”
“What was her birth mother’s name?”
“I don’t know,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.
“What was my birth mother’s name?”
I told him his birth mother’s name.
“What was I like as a baby?”
And then I told him the story of how my five-day-old baby came home.
Leaping
Last week, Mr. Will had the girls jump into the pool for the first time. Rowan was nervous. She moved to the very edge of the pool, squatted down, then with Mr. Will’s open arms awaiting took a leap of faith and jumped. She didn’t make it to his arms, but that was part of the lesson. Then she came up, sputtering, looking for his arms, for him. He helped out and said, “Rowan, stand up. You can stand up.”
Yep, Rowan can stand up in the shallow end of the pool. So he had her do it again. She jumped and for a second or two, she forgot she could stand up, until Mr. Will reminded her. After the third try, she was having the time of her life. She jumped, emerged from underneath the water, and stood up on her own two feet. My big girl! She liked it so much, she did it ten more times before Mr. Will cut her off the baby needed to take her turn.
Rowan reminded me of myself. Afraid to take that leap, not trusting that God is there, He’s got my back and loved me enough to create me in His Own image. So why do I doubt? Why don’t I have the courage to jump when He says jump? And when I do, when I finally do, I find out and am reminded that He was there with me the whole time, His rod and staff protecting me, and that it wasn’t scary at all and sometimes it’s actually fun.
Yep, Rowan can stand up in the shallow end of the pool. So he had her do it again. She jumped and for a second or two, she forgot she could stand up, until Mr. Will reminded her. After the third try, she was having the time of her life. She jumped, emerged from underneath the water, and stood up on her own two feet. My big girl! She liked it so much, she did it ten more times before Mr. Will cut her off the baby needed to take her turn.
Rowan reminded me of myself. Afraid to take that leap, not trusting that God is there, He’s got my back and loved me enough to create me in His Own image. So why do I doubt? Why don’t I have the courage to jump when He says jump? And when I do, when I finally do, I find out and am reminded that He was there with me the whole time, His rod and staff protecting me, and that it wasn’t scary at all and sometimes it’s actually fun.
Growing Older
“Mommy, can I have the house when I’m older?” Jory asked.
“You have to share it with your sisters,” I informed him.
“I can have Oma’s room and the girls can have their room and your room,” he continued.
Wow, he’s really making plans for the future, minus any spouses or children. Just him and his sister living together in the house they grew up in.
A few days later…
“Mommy, when I get the house- - ”
“You mean when you and your sisters get the house?”
“Yes, when me and the girls get the house. We’re going to have a dog and cats,” he announced.
“You’re each going to have a dog and cats?” I asked to clarify his statement.
“No, I’m going to have a dog and the girls will each have a cat,” he answered.
Oma better be dead with all these animals in the house. And where am I exactly in this future? Maybe George and I are off a worldwide cruise.
“You have to share it with your sisters,” I informed him.
“I can have Oma’s room and the girls can have their room and your room,” he continued.
Wow, he’s really making plans for the future, minus any spouses or children. Just him and his sister living together in the house they grew up in.
A few days later…
“Mommy, when I get the house- - ”
“You mean when you and your sisters get the house?”
“Yes, when me and the girls get the house. We’re going to have a dog and cats,” he announced.
“You’re each going to have a dog and cats?” I asked to clarify his statement.
“No, I’m going to have a dog and the girls will each have a cat,” he answered.
Oma better be dead with all these animals in the house. And where am I exactly in this future? Maybe George and I are off a worldwide cruise.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Eureka!
It hit me this morning what’s wrong. For the past few weeks, maybe even few months, I felt tired. Some days worse then others. Some days others comment on how tired I look.
I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I was going to bed at reasonable hours. I wasn’t waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning anymore. Yes, the kids are all bad sleepers, but I didn’t think that had anything to do with my tired look. And then, BAM it hit me. Because of their bad sleeping habits, they talk in their sleep.
“Get your foot off of me!” one cries out in the middle of the night.
‘I don’t want any covers!” the baby cries out.
“I’m on the edge of the bed!”
“Take your arm off of me!”
“Stop taking all the cover!”
This goes on during the night and with my eyes closed or barely open, I fix the problem. I move the kids around, I found blankets or sometimes robes to place over cold kids. And last night, I got the whisper in my ear.
“Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom.”
That was from Rowan at like 1AM. Why was she telling me this? She wasn’t at school. Part of the plot to kill me.
Then it wasn’t over once I told her to go to the bathroom, it continued when she came back to tell me her panties were wet. Really?! Really?!?!? Really little girl you want to have a conversation this time of the morning?! She tried to explain to me that she didn’t pee pee on herself. I didn’t care. I just wanted to go back to sleep.
“It’s okay, Rowan. Go back to sleep,” I assured her.
She got back in the bed and a few minutes later, I decided to cuddle with her only to discover she was wet.
“Rowan, you’re wet. Change clothes.”
I thought she did a little twinkle because she wasn’t fast enough getting her clothes down, that felt like more wetness then that. So she got out of bed, changed clothes and got back into bed. I cuddled with her again only to discover she put her underwear on wrong. But I let it go. It would be fine in the morning.
Yep, it’s my nighttime job of making sure everyone has enough blankets on them, don’t have people touching them, and having conversations at night, besides discovering people didn’t put on their pull ups, that has me looking so tired. I have to repeat what I know. This is my ministry. This is my season. It will pass all too quickly and I’ll miss it. But I would really love one full night of REM sleep because if I can hear all of that going on, I’m not sleeping that deeply.
I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I was going to bed at reasonable hours. I wasn’t waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning anymore. Yes, the kids are all bad sleepers, but I didn’t think that had anything to do with my tired look. And then, BAM it hit me. Because of their bad sleeping habits, they talk in their sleep.
“Get your foot off of me!” one cries out in the middle of the night.
‘I don’t want any covers!” the baby cries out.
“I’m on the edge of the bed!”
“Take your arm off of me!”
“Stop taking all the cover!”
This goes on during the night and with my eyes closed or barely open, I fix the problem. I move the kids around, I found blankets or sometimes robes to place over cold kids. And last night, I got the whisper in my ear.
“Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom.”
That was from Rowan at like 1AM. Why was she telling me this? She wasn’t at school. Part of the plot to kill me.
Then it wasn’t over once I told her to go to the bathroom, it continued when she came back to tell me her panties were wet. Really?! Really?!?!? Really little girl you want to have a conversation this time of the morning?! She tried to explain to me that she didn’t pee pee on herself. I didn’t care. I just wanted to go back to sleep.
“It’s okay, Rowan. Go back to sleep,” I assured her.
She got back in the bed and a few minutes later, I decided to cuddle with her only to discover she was wet.
“Rowan, you’re wet. Change clothes.”
I thought she did a little twinkle because she wasn’t fast enough getting her clothes down, that felt like more wetness then that. So she got out of bed, changed clothes and got back into bed. I cuddled with her again only to discover she put her underwear on wrong. But I let it go. It would be fine in the morning.
Yep, it’s my nighttime job of making sure everyone has enough blankets on them, don’t have people touching them, and having conversations at night, besides discovering people didn’t put on their pull ups, that has me looking so tired. I have to repeat what I know. This is my ministry. This is my season. It will pass all too quickly and I’ll miss it. But I would really love one full night of REM sleep because if I can hear all of that going on, I’m not sleeping that deeply.
Diapers
The baby can put on her own diaper. If I wasn’t already buying one set of overpriced pull ups, I would switch her to them. There’s something disturbing and wrong about that. And there’s something really wrong when she “forgets” that she knows how to go to the bathroom. Really wrong.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Eating
Heating everything at once helped make tacos go faster tonight, but still I’m not a fan. Plus Jory goes through them like crazy. My son is slowly morphing into one of those human garbage cans. When we’re at home all day, he’s constantly asking for food. I have to think: is he really hungry, does he just think he’s hungry, or is he just being greedy because he knows it’s there? The dilemma
The girls are no shortstop.
“Mommy, may I have some milk?”
“Mommy, may I have some grapes?”
“Mommy, may I have some cheerios?”
“You just ate,” I sometimes remind them.
“But I’m still hungry,” is their response. Most days I don’t buy it. You can’t eat breakfast at 8 and be starving by 10. Nope. Don’t buy it.
Next week we need an easier meal. I think I’ll go with the spaghetti we were suppose to have this week.
The girls are no shortstop.
“Mommy, may I have some milk?”
“Mommy, may I have some grapes?”
“Mommy, may I have some cheerios?”
“You just ate,” I sometimes remind them.
“But I’m still hungry,” is their response. Most days I don’t buy it. You can’t eat breakfast at 8 and be starving by 10. Nope. Don’t buy it.
Next week we need an easier meal. I think I’ll go with the spaghetti we were suppose to have this week.
Tacos will kill you...
Oma thought she lost two hundred dollars so she was no help with dinner or clean up. Note to self, NEVER make tacos for dinner during the week. It was a nightmare. I was warming the rice, the meat, making the tacos, putting the rice and pinto beans on the plate. One, two, three. Then heard Jory complaining, “Where’s the cheese?”
Jory and I had stopped at the store before coming home making us even later than usual. The kids have disagreements at the table, trying to help my mom look for her money or at least looking any place in the kitchen where I was working or kitchen, the clock was ticking away. Tick tock. Tick tock. We still had schooling to do. I had to see if he could do the rounding. We had tons of reading to do.
I quickly went and ran the bath water, so at least that was done. I thought we were making good time, until Jory wanted seconds. Really dude?! And Rowan decided she couldn’t eat her beans, but could drink the cup of oj I put on the table for her to drink after she finished her meal. Note to self, NEVER put drinks on the table before they finish eating their meals. I use to think my aunt was mean for making my cousins wait until they finished eating before she put a drink in front of her, you know what she was a genius.
I ate standing up while cleaning up. TTT took bathes one at a time, which is always a nightmare. I still had my room to clean up. I had to make room in the stuffed fridge for all the stuff my mom bought at the store. Tick tock. Tick tock.
Kitchen finished, quick bathe taken, the Irish twins were left with their Oma, who had praise God, found her money in her jeans’ pocket. And no she wasn’t wearing jeans, she took the money out of the bag and put them in her jeans laying across the chair. I’m sure she did this so she wouldn’t lose the money, but really?!?!
Jory read to me. I am beginning to hate his reader. The language is so rhymey it’s hard for me to tell when he’s making a mistake unless, I’m sitting next to him and reading along. The fat rat Pat sat on his hat on a mat. I had him repeat sentences, as I tried to clean up the mess moved from Oma’s room to my room, in her first attempt at trying to set up her room. Finally I gave up on his repeating sentences and just figured if it sounded like the phonics words we’d worked on, then SCORE!
Then math time came along with the baby, who wanted to be in the room. Really baby!?! Mommy is letting you stay up past your bedtime and letting you watch TV, but instead you want to come into the room while your brother and I are working on rounding? I tried to clear a space on the bed for her, but I can’t. I urged her to go back with Oma which brought about tears. Ugh! I don’t have time for this. I offered her the option to sit on the floor near the bed or go back with Oma and Rowan. Jory was 95% there with the rounding. I wanted to see where the 5% was off, and she wasn’t helping the situation and the clock was still ticking. While he and I were working on rounding she created her own space on the bed. That is one resourceful baby. I figured Jory had the rounding down as much as he was going to get for the night or for a while, so we moved on to history, but of course we can’t find the history book.
A manhunt begins as Rowan walks into the room. We can’t find the schedule either. I ran out to the car, grabbed it, waking Oma slightly, before heading back to the room while the Disney channel soothes her back to sleep.
History book is found, poetry book is retrieved from the floor, and all is read. Who knew Romans had their own version of running water in their homes? Or that the togas and tunics were hot to wear? Or that books written in 1948 talked about boys getting spankings for feeding cats their mothers told them to put back in the alley? And then it was 11PM and Rowan was asking to watch a movie. Little girl, stop smoking the crack. School done, kids asleep, and all I can do is collapse next to them. NEVER make tacos for dinner during the week.
Jory and I had stopped at the store before coming home making us even later than usual. The kids have disagreements at the table, trying to help my mom look for her money or at least looking any place in the kitchen where I was working or kitchen, the clock was ticking away. Tick tock. Tick tock. We still had schooling to do. I had to see if he could do the rounding. We had tons of reading to do.
I quickly went and ran the bath water, so at least that was done. I thought we were making good time, until Jory wanted seconds. Really dude?! And Rowan decided she couldn’t eat her beans, but could drink the cup of oj I put on the table for her to drink after she finished her meal. Note to self, NEVER put drinks on the table before they finish eating their meals. I use to think my aunt was mean for making my cousins wait until they finished eating before she put a drink in front of her, you know what she was a genius.
I ate standing up while cleaning up. TTT took bathes one at a time, which is always a nightmare. I still had my room to clean up. I had to make room in the stuffed fridge for all the stuff my mom bought at the store. Tick tock. Tick tock.
Kitchen finished, quick bathe taken, the Irish twins were left with their Oma, who had praise God, found her money in her jeans’ pocket. And no she wasn’t wearing jeans, she took the money out of the bag and put them in her jeans laying across the chair. I’m sure she did this so she wouldn’t lose the money, but really?!?!
Jory read to me. I am beginning to hate his reader. The language is so rhymey it’s hard for me to tell when he’s making a mistake unless, I’m sitting next to him and reading along. The fat rat Pat sat on his hat on a mat. I had him repeat sentences, as I tried to clean up the mess moved from Oma’s room to my room, in her first attempt at trying to set up her room. Finally I gave up on his repeating sentences and just figured if it sounded like the phonics words we’d worked on, then SCORE!
Then math time came along with the baby, who wanted to be in the room. Really baby!?! Mommy is letting you stay up past your bedtime and letting you watch TV, but instead you want to come into the room while your brother and I are working on rounding? I tried to clear a space on the bed for her, but I can’t. I urged her to go back with Oma which brought about tears. Ugh! I don’t have time for this. I offered her the option to sit on the floor near the bed or go back with Oma and Rowan. Jory was 95% there with the rounding. I wanted to see where the 5% was off, and she wasn’t helping the situation and the clock was still ticking. While he and I were working on rounding she created her own space on the bed. That is one resourceful baby. I figured Jory had the rounding down as much as he was going to get for the night or for a while, so we moved on to history, but of course we can’t find the history book.
A manhunt begins as Rowan walks into the room. We can’t find the schedule either. I ran out to the car, grabbed it, waking Oma slightly, before heading back to the room while the Disney channel soothes her back to sleep.
History book is found, poetry book is retrieved from the floor, and all is read. Who knew Romans had their own version of running water in their homes? Or that the togas and tunics were hot to wear? Or that books written in 1948 talked about boys getting spankings for feeding cats their mothers told them to put back in the alley? And then it was 11PM and Rowan was asking to watch a movie. Little girl, stop smoking the crack. School done, kids asleep, and all I can do is collapse next to them. NEVER make tacos for dinner during the week.
Cooking with Jory
Jory asked for tacos for dinner so while we were picking up ingredients to make spaghetti. I decided, why not. So we got the spaghetti supplies and stocked up on taco supplies.
On Sunday after he finished his chores, he washed his hands and came into the kitchen to join me. He got to do one of his favorite activities, shredding cheese. After he put away his cheese, he helped me cook my lunches for the week. He became quite the expert at weighing meat in the scale. He started honing his skills to become a professional with using the George Foreman grill. He even got his first taste and using a knife to chop things. Let me tell you, it takes forever to cut tomatoes when you’re using a butter knife. Then after his tomatoes, he moved on to his lettuce.
It was nice just the two of us, at some points the girls tried to come into the kitchen and get involved, but I shooed them out. It was Mommy and Jory time. It was nice cooking with my baby.
On Sunday after he finished his chores, he washed his hands and came into the kitchen to join me. He got to do one of his favorite activities, shredding cheese. After he put away his cheese, he helped me cook my lunches for the week. He became quite the expert at weighing meat in the scale. He started honing his skills to become a professional with using the George Foreman grill. He even got his first taste and using a knife to chop things. Let me tell you, it takes forever to cut tomatoes when you’re using a butter knife. Then after his tomatoes, he moved on to his lettuce.
It was nice just the two of us, at some points the girls tried to come into the kitchen and get involved, but I shooed them out. It was Mommy and Jory time. It was nice cooking with my baby.
Escaped Convicts
My friend once compared children at the mall to escaped convicts. I felt it was a fair comparison. But the up part for the cops is when they say, “We’re the police! Stop! Freeze!” the convicts have to do it or get some not so nice consequences.
The same can’t be said of parents and kids. Really it’s amazing that there aren’t more strangling incidents across malls and groceries stores throughout the world. The hand of God.
The same can’t be said of parents and kids. Really it’s amazing that there aren’t more strangling incidents across malls and groceries stores throughout the world. The hand of God.
Sneaky baby
The baby is so sneaky and stealth at times. She is obsessed with sneaking into Jory’s drawer and now room, to get his overnighters and pull the cushion/stuffing out of them.
She has her own diapers to do this to, but she never does. Has even skipped over her stuff to attack his? Why does she find this so much fun? I can never catch her in the act. It’s like that kid can’t be left alone for a hot second.
She has her own diapers to do this to, but she never does. Has even skipped over her stuff to attack his? Why does she find this so much fun? I can never catch her in the act. It’s like that kid can’t be left alone for a hot second.
PSAs
Jory isn’t doing a good job keeping his room clean. I go in his room and clothes are sticking out of drawers. Pajamas are on the floor instead of folded neatly on the bed or his dresser. Clothes that need to be on a hanger lay on the bed. Ugh! I want to strangle him. I don’t ask much from him. Why can’t he do the easy thing of cleaning his room?
I kept going round and round with this. How to encourage him to clean up, keep his room straighten. Then it hit me, his room looks like mine. I’m yelling at Jory to clean his room and he’s saying to me, “I learned it by watching you, Mommy! I learned it by watching you!” We are our own ’80s Say No To Drugs PSA.
He would be correct. I think he and I both need to get Operation “Hang up our clothes and put away our stuff and stop procrastinating “under way.
I kept going round and round with this. How to encourage him to clean up, keep his room straighten. Then it hit me, his room looks like mine. I’m yelling at Jory to clean his room and he’s saying to me, “I learned it by watching you, Mommy! I learned it by watching you!” We are our own ’80s Say No To Drugs PSA.
He would be correct. I think he and I both need to get Operation “Hang up our clothes and put away our stuff and stop procrastinating “under way.
Discoveries
“Mommy, the baby is only three-years-old. How is she tying her shoes?” Rowan asked/declared in amazement.
“I don’t know, but it is amazing,” I responded.
The first time I saw her tie her on shoes, I was pretty amazed. No, I was flat out amazed. Look at the things you learn at school. Youngest babies rock!
Thank you, Mrs. Wilson!
“I don’t know, but it is amazing,” I responded.
The first time I saw her tie her on shoes, I was pretty amazed. No, I was flat out amazed. Look at the things you learn at school. Youngest babies rock!
Thank you, Mrs. Wilson!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Rounding up and rounding down
Jory and I once again sat down and I was ready to go the distance. We did a few problems, I used the explanations given. I said a line that I love courtesy of Deborah, “Five or more go up to the store.” I love catchy math statements like that.
We had stopped by the library on the way home and he got his favorite Danger Ranger dvds and I told him that if he could do five rounding problems by himself, he could watch his beloved DVD.
We went over a few then I wrote down some numbers.
He said, “Mommy, you do these and I’ll do these.”
“Okay. Do you want to try them all by yourself?” I suggested tentatively expecting to get shot down.
“Yes.”
I checked my email and before I knew it he was done. Only half of the answers were right. He wasn’t rounding the right way, but praise God he was getting the right multiples of ten.
We went over why he rounded the way he did. We reviewed the number line at the bottom of the paper showing him when to round up or down.
He wanted to try it again. He only got one wrong. We talked over and then he said he was ready to try again. This time he wrote his own numbers and this time he got them all right. Praise God! Go Jory! You rock my world!
We did a few more to make sure he had it down, and all systems go. I decided we’d let it go for the night and he could watch his movie which somehow morphed into Strawberry Shortcake, because the movie wouldn’t work for the girls then I finally got it to play.
The upside to homeschooling, if Jory had been struggling like this in school then he would have had me and his teacher helping him, but his teacher would have to move on to the next lesson pushing Jory even further back, possibly even making him frustrated; but because we’re homeschooling, I had the luxury of stopping everything else and concentrating just on math at home until he got it. Eureka! He got it. And now we can move on and get back on track. I think the next lesson on double digit addition will be a breeze, he was doing that back in kindergarten.
I am one blessed chick. I’ve been given the ability to homeschool my little man and have this awesome support system of wise women who I can reach out to when I feel like I'm sinking.
We had stopped by the library on the way home and he got his favorite Danger Ranger dvds and I told him that if he could do five rounding problems by himself, he could watch his beloved DVD.
We went over a few then I wrote down some numbers.
He said, “Mommy, you do these and I’ll do these.”
“Okay. Do you want to try them all by yourself?” I suggested tentatively expecting to get shot down.
“Yes.”
I checked my email and before I knew it he was done. Only half of the answers were right. He wasn’t rounding the right way, but praise God he was getting the right multiples of ten.
We went over why he rounded the way he did. We reviewed the number line at the bottom of the paper showing him when to round up or down.
He wanted to try it again. He only got one wrong. We talked over and then he said he was ready to try again. This time he wrote his own numbers and this time he got them all right. Praise God! Go Jory! You rock my world!
We did a few more to make sure he had it down, and all systems go. I decided we’d let it go for the night and he could watch his movie which somehow morphed into Strawberry Shortcake, because the movie wouldn’t work for the girls then I finally got it to play.
The upside to homeschooling, if Jory had been struggling like this in school then he would have had me and his teacher helping him, but his teacher would have to move on to the next lesson pushing Jory even further back, possibly even making him frustrated; but because we’re homeschooling, I had the luxury of stopping everything else and concentrating just on math at home until he got it. Eureka! He got it. And now we can move on and get back on track. I think the next lesson on double digit addition will be a breeze, he was doing that back in kindergarten.
I am one blessed chick. I’ve been given the ability to homeschool my little man and have this awesome support system of wise women who I can reach out to when I feel like I'm sinking.
Speed Bump
Lesson 4 of Math-U-See was rounding and estimation. Per usual, Jory and I watched the video once, twice, and I thought life was good until…I took a closer look at his math worksheets and noticed that things were skipped and one sheet had writing on it but it wasn’t his.
I sat him down with some paper and we went off rounding up and down and we hit a brick wall. Jory wasn’t getting it. Poor baby. He was guessing which gives him a 50/50 chance of getting it right.
I took out my teacher’s manual and read. I tried to use the exact wording in the book, the little tricks they use, and nothing. I was getting frustrated. I was concerned that I wasn’t explaining it in a way that he could understand. I put aside my own thoughts cause I was thinking, this seems very easy, but I’m no longer six. I thought it was odd that lesson four was rounding. Was that what first graders were learning now-a-days?
Here was the problem while Jory could count by tens, he couldn’t say the multiples of ten that were closest to a number. So if I said, what two multiples of ten are closest to 38. He would start guessing. 40, 50, 20. But I could tell he wasn’t sure he was just throwing out answers.
His daycare worker helpful wrote out a number line from zero to nine and drew a line between 4 and 5, so he could see what number meant you should round up or round down. And sometimes this worked, he knew when to round up or down, he just had no idea what number to round up or down to.
I finally decided it was time to send out a distress signal to my nearest and dearest, before sending out a full blown SOS. I didn’t want to have this conversation anymore…
“Jory, do you understand?”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
What a great group of awesome women I have in my life. They responded back and I knew on Tuesday night, I’d take their suggestions and see if their wording could shine a light in the fog.
I sat him down with some paper and we went off rounding up and down and we hit a brick wall. Jory wasn’t getting it. Poor baby. He was guessing which gives him a 50/50 chance of getting it right.
I took out my teacher’s manual and read. I tried to use the exact wording in the book, the little tricks they use, and nothing. I was getting frustrated. I was concerned that I wasn’t explaining it in a way that he could understand. I put aside my own thoughts cause I was thinking, this seems very easy, but I’m no longer six. I thought it was odd that lesson four was rounding. Was that what first graders were learning now-a-days?
Here was the problem while Jory could count by tens, he couldn’t say the multiples of ten that were closest to a number. So if I said, what two multiples of ten are closest to 38. He would start guessing. 40, 50, 20. But I could tell he wasn’t sure he was just throwing out answers.
His daycare worker helpful wrote out a number line from zero to nine and drew a line between 4 and 5, so he could see what number meant you should round up or round down. And sometimes this worked, he knew when to round up or down, he just had no idea what number to round up or down to.
I finally decided it was time to send out a distress signal to my nearest and dearest, before sending out a full blown SOS. I didn’t want to have this conversation anymore…
“Jory, do you understand?”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
What a great group of awesome women I have in my life. They responded back and I knew on Tuesday night, I’d take their suggestions and see if their wording could shine a light in the fog.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Attention missing child!
When we are walking together, the kids have one rule they need to walk beside me aka holding on to me or walk in front of me. We stopped at the Fox Hills Mall after church and I woke everyone up. My babies are nightmares when they are forced awake. Jory was crying and saying he wanted to be carried. Stop! Stop with the crack smokin’, little boy. Stop! The baby was crying and wanted to be held and comforted. So I carried the baby with Jory plastered to my side. Praise God, Rowan was okay and happily walked alongside of me and in front of me.
The baby started getting heavy so after our return at Old Navy, I put her on my shoulders. Jory was feeling better so he was holding my hand and Rowan was in eye shot. With the baby on my shoulders, I couldn’t really turn my head around. We got on the escalator and down we went. We got off and I took two steps. Where’s Rowan? I spun around. She was no where to be found. I look up the escalator to see if she was still on it or at the top of the escalator waiting to go down. Nothing.
Jory and I quickly got back on the escalator and headed up. No Rowan. Panic wanted to ensue. Crap, she’s gone. How did this happen? How could someone grab her so quickly that she didn’t scream or yell? How did no one notice? Where could she have gone? She was there at the escalator with me. Why didn’t she get on the escalator? Where could she have gone? Maybe she went back to Old Navy. I didn’t think so, but maybe. As I walked swiftly there, I quickly imaged calling security when we got in the store. But how could she have disappeared so quickly.
I called out her name, “Rowan!” I heard something and I turned. A man approached me and I looked up to see Rowan on some woman’s hip waving to me. Are you kidding me?!
The man said, “I figured she was yours because you looked in a panic.”
“Thank you,” I said, as his wife put Rowan down and she ran towards me. “Rowan, what happened?”
“I didn’t see you get on the escalator.”
“Where are you supposed to be?”
“In front of you or beside you touching you.”
“This is why, so we don’t get separated, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Okay, Jory?”
“Okay, Mommy.”
“Mommy, you’re holding my hand too tight,” Rowan declared.
“I need to make sure you stay with me.” Really little girl keep your mouth shut right now. UGH!
Grandchildren are reward for not killing your children. Rowan better have a dozen kids.
The baby started getting heavy so after our return at Old Navy, I put her on my shoulders. Jory was feeling better so he was holding my hand and Rowan was in eye shot. With the baby on my shoulders, I couldn’t really turn my head around. We got on the escalator and down we went. We got off and I took two steps. Where’s Rowan? I spun around. She was no where to be found. I look up the escalator to see if she was still on it or at the top of the escalator waiting to go down. Nothing.
Jory and I quickly got back on the escalator and headed up. No Rowan. Panic wanted to ensue. Crap, she’s gone. How did this happen? How could someone grab her so quickly that she didn’t scream or yell? How did no one notice? Where could she have gone? She was there at the escalator with me. Why didn’t she get on the escalator? Where could she have gone? Maybe she went back to Old Navy. I didn’t think so, but maybe. As I walked swiftly there, I quickly imaged calling security when we got in the store. But how could she have disappeared so quickly.
I called out her name, “Rowan!” I heard something and I turned. A man approached me and I looked up to see Rowan on some woman’s hip waving to me. Are you kidding me?!
The man said, “I figured she was yours because you looked in a panic.”
“Thank you,” I said, as his wife put Rowan down and she ran towards me. “Rowan, what happened?”
“I didn’t see you get on the escalator.”
“Where are you supposed to be?”
“In front of you or beside you touching you.”
“This is why, so we don’t get separated, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Okay, Jory?”
“Okay, Mommy.”
“Mommy, you’re holding my hand too tight,” Rowan declared.
“I need to make sure you stay with me.” Really little girl keep your mouth shut right now. UGH!
Grandchildren are reward for not killing your children. Rowan better have a dozen kids.
We aren't the same
I’m so glad my kids aren’t me. I was preparing to go into a bridal shower while I was talking to a friend on the phone. I grabbed a book, then two. I grabbed a story I was working on. She said, you’re taking all that into a shower. I informed her, what if I’m stuck in a corner all by myself with nothing to do and no one to talk to. I need to be able to entertain myself.
Yes, I knew I was going to a shower with people I knew, but the people I knew the best were going to be super duper busy with the shower so I always take backup just in case. Grace taught me that. I think my friend thought it was odd, Grace wouldn’t have. I use to bring books to family functions just in case, particularly if Mona wasn’t home. I’m not good with chitchat when I know we have nothing in common or if I don’t know if we do. Thankfully, my kids aren’t like that.
They talk to everyone. I turn my head at a red light and they are waving to the people in the car next to us. They are saying “Hi!” to the policemen pulled alongside of us. They talk to people we see when we’re going on walks. They talk to people at the stores. I try to stop them cause I worry they are bothering people, plus I just don’t fell comfortable with them talking to everyone. But at least, I don’t have to worry about them taking a book or something to a function, they can socialize with others, strangers. I guess they’ll just have a mom who does that. Man, I miss Grace. She was my buddy who understood.
Yes, I knew I was going to a shower with people I knew, but the people I knew the best were going to be super duper busy with the shower so I always take backup just in case. Grace taught me that. I think my friend thought it was odd, Grace wouldn’t have. I use to bring books to family functions just in case, particularly if Mona wasn’t home. I’m not good with chitchat when I know we have nothing in common or if I don’t know if we do. Thankfully, my kids aren’t like that.
They talk to everyone. I turn my head at a red light and they are waving to the people in the car next to us. They are saying “Hi!” to the policemen pulled alongside of us. They talk to people we see when we’re going on walks. They talk to people at the stores. I try to stop them cause I worry they are bothering people, plus I just don’t fell comfortable with them talking to everyone. But at least, I don’t have to worry about them taking a book or something to a function, they can socialize with others, strangers. I guess they’ll just have a mom who does that. Man, I miss Grace. She was my buddy who understood.
Dear God
Dear God, could you have not made these little children knowing something other than how to eat, poop, spit up, and cry? I’m not saying that they had to be born knowing the quadratic formula, though that would have been AWESOME!, but being able to recognize the word “THE” two pages after you just read it, that would have been helpful.
Jokes?
Driving home from support group, Jory started talking so everyone could hear him.
“Why did the boy run away from the dog?” he asked.
Silence greeted him since I couldn’t think of an answer.
“Because he was scared of him,” he laughed hysterically.
Uh, that wasn’t funny. But he’s only six I thought and just learning to tell jokes so he gets a pass.
“Why did the chicken cross the road?” he continued.
Okay, there was a bazillion answers to this one, so once again I kept quiet.
“Because he wanted to cross the street,” he laughed and laughed and laughed.
Really?! Have I missed something? These jokes aren’t even close to being funny or even mildly amusing. “Jory, Mommy isn’t getting your jokes.”
He took a quick breath from all of his guts are about to bust laughing and said, “They aren’t jokes.”
“What are they?” Because you are delivering them like jokes.
“Things that happened,” he responded, then continued laughing and telling things that happened in joke style.
Things that happened?! Yes, they were, but does he not get that they shouldn’t be said like he’s setting up a joke. Nope, he doesn’t and I’m pretty sure me explaining it would do no good. So I let him continue and he was fine with the only sound of laughter coming from his own mouth.
“Why did the boy run away from the dog?” he asked.
Silence greeted him since I couldn’t think of an answer.
“Because he was scared of him,” he laughed hysterically.
Uh, that wasn’t funny. But he’s only six I thought and just learning to tell jokes so he gets a pass.
“Why did the chicken cross the road?” he continued.
Okay, there was a bazillion answers to this one, so once again I kept quiet.
“Because he wanted to cross the street,” he laughed and laughed and laughed.
Really?! Have I missed something? These jokes aren’t even close to being funny or even mildly amusing. “Jory, Mommy isn’t getting your jokes.”
He took a quick breath from all of his guts are about to bust laughing and said, “They aren’t jokes.”
“What are they?” Because you are delivering them like jokes.
“Things that happened,” he responded, then continued laughing and telling things that happened in joke style.
Things that happened?! Yes, they were, but does he not get that they shouldn’t be said like he’s setting up a joke. Nope, he doesn’t and I’m pretty sure me explaining it would do no good. So I let him continue and he was fine with the only sound of laughter coming from his own mouth.
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