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…..
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
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.
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