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.
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