Mady has started some new things the last week or two and I wanted to get them on here. She is giving kisses (I think I may have posted that already), but she is quite stingy with them. She gives them to her ballerina puppet more than to Daddy or I. Daddy gets the second most. I do the most for her and I get the fewest, but I am not bitter or anything!
Actually, I LOVE LOVE LOVE watching her give her Daddy big slobbery kisses and seeing him smile and give them back. Makes my heart melt!!
She is pulling herself up all the time. Last night she took a couple of steps, but that was the only time so far.
She is waving and saying bye bye. It is SO cute. She will be waving and then she will see her hand waving and start studying the movement. She waves both at herself and out to everyone else.
She likes to say Dada (still most frequently said word, but bye bye is a close second), bye bye and mama over and over in a growling voice with her tongue sticking out. It is quite funny.
Everything is still going into her mouth. And I mean EVERYTHING! Quite gross...especially with four boys and two dogs!
Diaper changes and getting dressed have become a challange. She rolls over as soon as you lay her down and then trys to crawl away. Needless to say, the changing table is a goner. Speaking of dressing and diapers, she is in a size 3 diaper and wearing 12 month clothes mostly....she is SO long!
We are starting a new fight. As hard as she was to get onto a bottle and formula, we are having as equally big of a fight trying to get her to use a sippy cup. She knows how and she will take a few sips here and there, but she prefers her bottle and would assume go without as to give in to the cup!
On the upside, she is on stage 3 food and will not touch stages 1 or 2. She prefers whatever we are eating. For Christmas she ate turkey, mashed potatoes (a favorite) and gravy, stuffing and watergate salad. She was SO happy and ate a lot!
She is back to not sleeping all night too. She still will cry for HOURS if we don't go in and give her a bottle. It is fine letting her "cry it out" the last couple of weeks because noone has to get up early, but when kids have school and they are having to listen to her it gets a little more rough!
It has been so much fun watching how different she is from the boys (maybe more interesting than fun :))! She has had the same attitude since she was born and the boys are not helping it! She wants what she wants when she wants it. That is not always the most feasible thing in this house!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Santa put in the boys stocking a submarine that you put baking POWDER (they tried baking soda first and it didn't work....that is why you read ALL of the instructions) in and it dives under water. They finally decided to try it out tonight. They are crazy! Make a point of looking at Bryce's face in every picture....
A Kidnapper Amongst Us
The kids got to open a present two days before Christmas. They were books that they had picked out and I had wrapped because I knew they would get antsy wanting to open something. Mady opened her newborn Cabbage Patch doll though (which she had been trying to open for a while). Andrew was obsessed with this babydoll. He kept calling it his. I remember seeing him with it and telling him to put it down.
I guess I should have specified WHERE to put it down,
I spent every day we were home, until this morning, searching for the doll. I have waited a LONG time to get to buy a Cabbage Patch! Apparently I could have gotten one for Andrew and didn't have to wait so long!
The Cabbage Patch came with a carrier and a bottle, It ALL disappeared. All that was left behind was a birth certificate. Daddy said he was going to make a death certificate for it.
After digging through the trash that had wrapping paper and boxes in it (I figured if it was in any other trash bag it was a goner either way) and searching the ENTIRE house over and over (wanting to find it BEFORE trashday), I found it this morning,
We had gone for a walk with the wagon (it has the seat backs that fold down) and the wagon had been sitting in the garage by the trash can. As I was taking trash to the road this morning, I just happened to notice something under the seat backs. I lifted it up and there was a carrier. I lifted the other back and there was a baby.
She was REALLY cold. It had gotten in the low 30s the past several nights. I did not notice before it disappeared that it had rosey cheeks and nose. Maybe it didn't until Andrew hid her outside for many nights!
I guess I should have specified WHERE to put it down,
I spent every day we were home, until this morning, searching for the doll. I have waited a LONG time to get to buy a Cabbage Patch! Apparently I could have gotten one for Andrew and didn't have to wait so long!
The Cabbage Patch came with a carrier and a bottle, It ALL disappeared. All that was left behind was a birth certificate. Daddy said he was going to make a death certificate for it.
After digging through the trash that had wrapping paper and boxes in it (I figured if it was in any other trash bag it was a goner either way) and searching the ENTIRE house over and over (wanting to find it BEFORE trashday), I found it this morning,
We had gone for a walk with the wagon (it has the seat backs that fold down) and the wagon had been sitting in the garage by the trash can. As I was taking trash to the road this morning, I just happened to notice something under the seat backs. I lifted it up and there was a carrier. I lifted the other back and there was a baby.
She was REALLY cold. It had gotten in the low 30s the past several nights. I did not notice before it disappeared that it had rosey cheeks and nose. Maybe it didn't until Andrew hid her outside for many nights!
Madeleine's First Christmas
These pictures are in front of her own, girlie, "disgustingly" pink Christmas tree!
Christmas Morning 2009
I didn't get too many pictures of Christmas morning. If you can imagine toys for five kids and the fantastic packaging the toy companies use (you know what I mean....the way they parent, uh...I mean child proof everything), we need a few more than the four hands we have to get everything opened all at once! Luckily, Santa brings all his toys already put together and doesn't even wrap them!
Here is what Santa got everyone:
Caleb got a trumpet and a mute for the trumpet
Isaac got a bike
Bryce got a bike
Andrew got a scooter and helmet
Mady got a little house thing (see pic below) and a rocking horse
The boys got two electric scooters to share
Mom (and Dad, but mostly Mom) got a mute for the trumpet! Not just any mute though. Santa brought a mute that you put in the bell of the trumpet and it plays through an amplifier and through earplugs instead of outloud, So, he can hear himself, but the rest of the house doesn't have to try to yell over it. He can also use it to record to an MP3 player.
Mady's new favorite face to make at the camera!
Here is what Santa got everyone:
Caleb got a trumpet and a mute for the trumpet
Isaac got a bike
Bryce got a bike
Andrew got a scooter and helmet
Mady got a little house thing (see pic below) and a rocking horse
The boys got two electric scooters to share
Mom (and Dad, but mostly Mom) got a mute for the trumpet! Not just any mute though. Santa brought a mute that you put in the bell of the trumpet and it plays through an amplifier and through earplugs instead of outloud, So, he can hear himself, but the rest of the house doesn't have to try to yell over it. He can also use it to record to an MP3 player.
Mady's new favorite face to make at the camera!
Christmas Craft
The kids like doing crafts, so I thought that while they were home for Christmas I would find something for them to do. While walking through the hobby store I found these little wreaths and got some decorations for the little Christmas trees. I thought these wreaths would be easier to display and store than the trees would be. They are kinda hard to see in the pictures, but here they are.
Andrew's dinosaur wreath
Isaac's Policeman wreath
Mady's candy wreath
Caleb's cowboy wreath
Bryce's Fireman wreath
Everyone working on their wreaths
Andrew's dinosaur wreath
Isaac's Policeman wreathMady's candy wreath
Caleb's cowboy wreath
Bryce's Fireman wreath
Everyone working on their wreaths
Christmas Card 2009
I did great getting cards early....and then I did HORRIBLE getting addresses to send all the cards to all of our friends. So, here is our card for this year for those that I did not get them sent to. Please don't take it personally if you did not get one!
Friday, December 25, 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
A rare full family picture (thanks Jim)! We hope everyone has a very blessed merry CHRISTmas and gets to enjoy the day with family!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Working Out
I got the Wii Fit a while back and used it for a bit, but just didn't really care for the exercises much. I would end up doing the same exercise over and over. While it kept track of your weight gain or lose, how long you are working out, what you were doing and stuff like that, I wanted a more structured way to do it. I wanted to see exactly what each exercise I was doing was accomplishing.
Enter the Wii Active. I got this and the More Wii Active exercises game last weekend. I started working out on it Monday. I am doing a 30 day challange on one game and a 6 week challange on the other. Don't ask me why I chose to do challanges on both games to start off with. After I finished the first workout on the first game I didn't feel like it was enough. Between the hour a day of doing THEIR exercises and then going hiking for about an hour in a half (carrying 17+ pound Mady in the front carrier and very up and down terrain) I am feeling it today! I am not as sore as I thought I would be, but definently feeling it!).
This one not only has better exercises, but it also shows how many calories you are burning, how long you are working out, etc. AND, the second game you are working out on a beach....which is my goal (we going to the beach in seven months), so it helps keep me focused! With doing the challanges, the exercise plan is all laid out for you. You just do what they tell you to do each day. Let me tell you....with the Fit, I never really felt like I was getting a good workout. I finish on this one with my heart racing and HOT!
I really wanted to join a gym to have others to keep me accountable for my workouts. It is easy to fall off the wagon - especially in this crazy house! I am SO tired by the time I get the kids in bed that I don't want to do anything. But, for now I am doing the workouts after their bedtime. Maybe after school starts back I will start doing it in the mornings before they get up.
Enter the Wii Active. I got this and the More Wii Active exercises game last weekend. I started working out on it Monday. I am doing a 30 day challange on one game and a 6 week challange on the other. Don't ask me why I chose to do challanges on both games to start off with. After I finished the first workout on the first game I didn't feel like it was enough. Between the hour a day of doing THEIR exercises and then going hiking for about an hour in a half (carrying 17+ pound Mady in the front carrier and very up and down terrain) I am feeling it today! I am not as sore as I thought I would be, but definently feeling it!).
This one not only has better exercises, but it also shows how many calories you are burning, how long you are working out, etc. AND, the second game you are working out on a beach....which is my goal (we going to the beach in seven months), so it helps keep me focused! With doing the challanges, the exercise plan is all laid out for you. You just do what they tell you to do each day. Let me tell you....with the Fit, I never really felt like I was getting a good workout. I finish on this one with my heart racing and HOT!
I really wanted to join a gym to have others to keep me accountable for my workouts. It is easy to fall off the wagon - especially in this crazy house! I am SO tired by the time I get the kids in bed that I don't want to do anything. But, for now I am doing the workouts after their bedtime. Maybe after school starts back I will start doing it in the mornings before they get up.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Baby Kisses
I was smooching on my little girl yesterday. I was giving her kisses all over and blowing on her neck and just loving the way she laughs when I do this. As I went in to kiss her cheek, she turned her head and gave me a open mouth, uber slobbery kiss on my mouth! She has been giving them to me with big smiles lots and lots ever since!
SOOOOO SWEET!!!
SOOOOO SWEET!!!
New Computer
We have had our computer for more than 10 years and it seems to be ending its time with us. It froze last week while Paul was using it and did not want to start back up. When it did come back up, I immediately started moving anything that was important (like all of the pictures from my children's lives) over to our My Book (which is a backup network).
We have been planning on buying a computer for a while now. We actually did a few months ago, but after we got it all setup, it was just as slow as the one we had, so we took it back. We figured we probably ought to do it at this point.
So, Sunday we went off in search of a computer that had what we were looking for. We were looking at PC's and talking to the guy at the store and ended up at the Macs. We have been leary of getting a Mac because we have so much software that is PC and we KNOW PCs pretty well.
Well, they sold us on the Mac! We really only use the desktop for multimedia stuff. Occasionally, we use it for office stuff. After an extensive talk with a knowledgeable employee about the Mac, and playing around with it (we loved the fact that the computer and monitor are all in one since our computer is in our kitchen), we decided to make the jump.
Hopefully, we will figure it out soon. It is as if we have never owned a computer before! But, everyone says it is easy. We will see!
We have been planning on buying a computer for a while now. We actually did a few months ago, but after we got it all setup, it was just as slow as the one we had, so we took it back. We figured we probably ought to do it at this point.
So, Sunday we went off in search of a computer that had what we were looking for. We were looking at PC's and talking to the guy at the store and ended up at the Macs. We have been leary of getting a Mac because we have so much software that is PC and we KNOW PCs pretty well.
Well, they sold us on the Mac! We really only use the desktop for multimedia stuff. Occasionally, we use it for office stuff. After an extensive talk with a knowledgeable employee about the Mac, and playing around with it (we loved the fact that the computer and monitor are all in one since our computer is in our kitchen), we decided to make the jump.
Hopefully, we will figure it out soon. It is as if we have never owned a computer before! But, everyone says it is easy. We will see!
This past weekend Nana and Grandpa Jim came for a visit. I got to the airport on time, which ended up being an hour early (their flight was delayed). I had Mady with me, but thought it was going to be a quick trip and did not take a bottle with me. Poor Grandpa Jim's first experience with us in Louisiana was a 20 minute trip home from the airport with a screaming baby :(
The boys were SO excited to see Nana AND Grandpa Jim, but very sad that Aunt Lindsay did not come with them. I think this is the first Christmas time in a long time (maybe ever) that they did not see her.
Saturday morning we took the kids to Toys R Us to spend the Christmas money that they gave them. We are never really sure what to expect when you give four kids a toy store of toys to choose from. Isaac is usually the hardest to get to pick something out and he had the most money because he had birthday money as well. Bryce and Andrew did not get past the front door of the store before they found what they wanted.
Andrew got an Imaginext boat. He was SO excited as soon as he saw it and I have never seen him spend so much time with one toy. Grandpa Jim sat down and played with him for quite a while and when he got up Andrew kept going to him and saying "Pajim (Pa Jim, but said really fast as one word) help me?"
Bryce got an Imaginext Pirate Ship. It does not do quite as much as the boat, but he was still very into the toy. I wish we had gotten more Imaginext toys for them. They are having so much fun with them still.
Isaac got a robotic dog, a Madagascar Wii game, 3D markers (that is birthday and Christmas). The dog is cute....but LOUD!
Caleb got a robot that takes commands. It, too, is very loud! And if it is loud over all the noise already in this house - it must be REALLY loud!
Saturday evening we cooked out. We celebrated Isaac's birthday (Nana and Grandpa Jim had an early flight Sunday) with cake and ice cream. He got a Kodak digital camera from Mom and Dad. He has enjoyed taking lots of pictures.
Mady threw up and was running a fever. Apparently, she decided it was a good weekend to get some teeth and she was grumpy off and on all weekend. :(
Then we watched the Saints lose their first game of the season (to the COWBOYS!! SAD!) :( It didn't end until after 10:30 so it was a late night!
Sunday morning when I took Nana and Grandpa Jim to the airport, Andrew went with us. Grandpa Jim sat in the back with him and he had a great time playing with him the whole way to the airport. After we dropped them off, Andrew kept asking where "Gampajim" (again very fast and as one word) was. I kept telling him that he had to go home and he says "Gampajim no want to pay wit me nomore?"
The boys really enjoyed the weekend and getting to spend time with Nana and Grandpa Jim. They love having company (probably because we don't have many people brave enough to visit this house)!!
The boys were SO excited to see Nana AND Grandpa Jim, but very sad that Aunt Lindsay did not come with them. I think this is the first Christmas time in a long time (maybe ever) that they did not see her.
Saturday morning we took the kids to Toys R Us to spend the Christmas money that they gave them. We are never really sure what to expect when you give four kids a toy store of toys to choose from. Isaac is usually the hardest to get to pick something out and he had the most money because he had birthday money as well. Bryce and Andrew did not get past the front door of the store before they found what they wanted.
Andrew got an Imaginext boat. He was SO excited as soon as he saw it and I have never seen him spend so much time with one toy. Grandpa Jim sat down and played with him for quite a while and when he got up Andrew kept going to him and saying "Pajim (Pa Jim, but said really fast as one word) help me?"
Bryce got an Imaginext Pirate Ship. It does not do quite as much as the boat, but he was still very into the toy. I wish we had gotten more Imaginext toys for them. They are having so much fun with them still.
Isaac got a robotic dog, a Madagascar Wii game, 3D markers (that is birthday and Christmas). The dog is cute....but LOUD!
Caleb got a robot that takes commands. It, too, is very loud! And if it is loud over all the noise already in this house - it must be REALLY loud!
Saturday evening we cooked out. We celebrated Isaac's birthday (Nana and Grandpa Jim had an early flight Sunday) with cake and ice cream. He got a Kodak digital camera from Mom and Dad. He has enjoyed taking lots of pictures.
Mady threw up and was running a fever. Apparently, she decided it was a good weekend to get some teeth and she was grumpy off and on all weekend. :(
Then we watched the Saints lose their first game of the season (to the COWBOYS!! SAD!) :( It didn't end until after 10:30 so it was a late night!
Sunday morning when I took Nana and Grandpa Jim to the airport, Andrew went with us. Grandpa Jim sat in the back with him and he had a great time playing with him the whole way to the airport. After we dropped them off, Andrew kept asking where "Gampajim" (again very fast and as one word) was. I kept telling him that he had to go home and he says "Gampajim no want to pay wit me nomore?"
The boys really enjoyed the weekend and getting to spend time with Nana and Grandpa Jim. They love having company (probably because we don't have many people brave enough to visit this house)!!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Andrew...2 1/2 Years Old
I got a REAL smile instead of his goofy smiles he gives when he sees the camera!
It Has Started
Over the last week Mady has started pulling herself up to a stand. When she first started attempting, we lowered her crib one notch. The last couple of days when I go in her room to get her this is what she is doing:
Doesn't she look just like her brothers (minus the pink)! This is why she always wears bows!!
Guess it is time to lower the mattress some more. :(
Doesn't she look just like her brothers (minus the pink)! This is why she always wears bows!!
Guess it is time to lower the mattress some more. :(
She is Not Into Everything.....
just the Christmas presents!
To think that I was worried about ANDREW getting into the presents!
If we put Mady on the floor to play, she immediately goes to the Christmas tree. She makes a bee-line to the exact same present every time (which is actually hers). A couple of days ago she found the seam on the present and spent quite a while with her hand in it trying to get it open. After deciding she was not going to get it that way, she started eating it.
Now, she goes straight for that present, keeps flipping it over until she gets to the seam and immediately starts eating on the paper!
Determination!
To think that I was worried about ANDREW getting into the presents!
If we put Mady on the floor to play, she immediately goes to the Christmas tree. She makes a bee-line to the exact same present every time (which is actually hers). A couple of days ago she found the seam on the present and spent quite a while with her hand in it trying to get it open. After deciding she was not going to get it that way, she started eating it.
Now, she goes straight for that present, keeps flipping it over until she gets to the seam and immediately starts eating on the paper!
Determination!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Dropped on Her Head
The boys were trying to watch a movie yesterday and Mady was crying. I was trying to take care of some stuff and could not stop to pick her up. Caleb got tired of listening to her and got her out of her playpen.
He was holding her, sitting on the couch, and watching the movie. She was still fussing, so he sat her on the couch and left to go get her some snacks. She does not sit still for anything. When we lay her down to change a diaper she immediately flips over and trys to crawl off.
How she managed to stay there, I am not sure. We discussed how he can't leave her on anything and he went back to holding her.
A few minutes later, I hear Paul yell Caleb's name and before he got the name all the way out I heard Mady screaming! I came running out of the bedroom to see what happened. Caleb was on the couch with his feet on the coffee table. He had Mady laying on his legs, but had his legs spread apart. He was watching tv, not paying attention and he dropped her. She hit her head on the coffee table and the floor.
She had some pretty good red marks on her head. Paul saw it, but not until it was happening. He was trying to get Caleb's attention (which is why I heard him calling Caleb's name), but it was too late.
She is fine. Hopefully this taught Caleb he has to pay attention, especially when he has his sister! He is not getting to hold her much right now! :)
He was holding her, sitting on the couch, and watching the movie. She was still fussing, so he sat her on the couch and left to go get her some snacks. She does not sit still for anything. When we lay her down to change a diaper she immediately flips over and trys to crawl off.
How she managed to stay there, I am not sure. We discussed how he can't leave her on anything and he went back to holding her.
A few minutes later, I hear Paul yell Caleb's name and before he got the name all the way out I heard Mady screaming! I came running out of the bedroom to see what happened. Caleb was on the couch with his feet on the coffee table. He had Mady laying on his legs, but had his legs spread apart. He was watching tv, not paying attention and he dropped her. She hit her head on the coffee table and the floor.
She had some pretty good red marks on her head. Paul saw it, but not until it was happening. He was trying to get Caleb's attention (which is why I heard him calling Caleb's name), but it was too late.
She is fine. Hopefully this taught Caleb he has to pay attention, especially when he has his sister! He is not getting to hold her much right now! :)
What's In a Name
Princess Pooter Tooter
Miss Piggy
Mady Moo
Princess
Baby Girl
Mads
Mady
Sissy
Daddy's Girl
Giggle Monster
Dimples
She is a girl of many names, and these are only a sampling. The most often used names. None of them are HER name though :(
I started calling her Princess Pooter Tooter on an exceptionally gassy day. Sadly, it stuck!
Bryce has ALWAYS called her Sissy.
Miss Piggy
Mady Moo
Princess
Baby Girl
Mads
Mady
Sissy
Daddy's Girl
Giggle Monster
Dimples
She is a girl of many names, and these are only a sampling. The most often used names. None of them are HER name though :(
I started calling her Princess Pooter Tooter on an exceptionally gassy day. Sadly, it stuck!
Bryce has ALWAYS called her Sissy.
The Best Christmas Present
Many of the best Christmas presents we (Paul and I) have received have been someone babysitting and us getting to go out.
A lady that Paul works with told him a couple of weeks ago that she was going to do something for him for Christmas. She told him she was going to come to our house and keep the kids so we could go out. All FIVE kids...her alone.
When Paul told me this, I asked him she had lost her mind! My only other explanation is that she had two boys, that are grown and moved out, and she just doesn't remember what boys are like!!
So, last night she came over. I have not been away from the kids AT ALL since before we moved to Louisiana (a year and a half ago). She got here and the kids immediately start showing her around the house. After we managed to tell her how to make formula, bedtime, and the other essentials, we snuck out. Andrew was upset because he wanted to go with us, but we managed to get out without too much of a meltdown from the kids.
After getting lost in "da hood", we finally got to where we were going for dinner. Some yummy cajun food (K, actually I had boudin balls, steak, potatoes and green beans, but Paul enjoyed some fish and shrimp)!
Then we ran to the mall to get something for the sweet woman who came and kept the kids.
We got home about 9:30 (she lives 45 minutes away and it was raining), she commented on how well mannered they were and how well they behaved. She said Caleb is definently an instigator and that they like to talk (things we knew!!), but that they were good.
When she was leaving Andrew was upset. He wanted to go with her (after getting upset because he didn't want us to leave). So, he cried for "RoRo" (her name is Rosemary) and kept saying he wanted to go home with RoRo! He even got up this morning asking where she was.
We can't thank you enough Rosemary!!
A lady that Paul works with told him a couple of weeks ago that she was going to do something for him for Christmas. She told him she was going to come to our house and keep the kids so we could go out. All FIVE kids...her alone.
When Paul told me this, I asked him she had lost her mind! My only other explanation is that she had two boys, that are grown and moved out, and she just doesn't remember what boys are like!!
So, last night she came over. I have not been away from the kids AT ALL since before we moved to Louisiana (a year and a half ago). She got here and the kids immediately start showing her around the house. After we managed to tell her how to make formula, bedtime, and the other essentials, we snuck out. Andrew was upset because he wanted to go with us, but we managed to get out without too much of a meltdown from the kids.
After getting lost in "da hood", we finally got to where we were going for dinner. Some yummy cajun food (K, actually I had boudin balls, steak, potatoes and green beans, but Paul enjoyed some fish and shrimp)!
Then we ran to the mall to get something for the sweet woman who came and kept the kids.
We got home about 9:30 (she lives 45 minutes away and it was raining), she commented on how well mannered they were and how well they behaved. She said Caleb is definently an instigator and that they like to talk (things we knew!!), but that they were good.
When she was leaving Andrew was upset. He wanted to go with her (after getting upset because he didn't want us to leave). So, he cried for "RoRo" (her name is Rosemary) and kept saying he wanted to go home with RoRo! He even got up this morning asking where she was.
We can't thank you enough Rosemary!!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Welfare
This is an excerpt from a letter that was sent home with Isaac Friday. He owes 50 cents to the cafeteria.
"The responsibility for a students meal charges lies with the paretn or the legal guardian. If payments are not made, the parent and/or student shall be referred to the office of School and Home Relations (child welfare)."
There are not enough children without homes or children that TRUELY need OUT of a bad home situation that you are going to turn in a parent and/or child that owes 50 cents to a lunch room? This is the best way you can come up with to scare parents into paying the money owed?
And, why is it we are told EVERY. YEAR. that children can not "borrow" from the cafeteria? Yet, every year they allow it? I don't get a phone call saying that my child forgot his lunch. I do not get a letter saying that my child is running out of money in his account at school. I get a letter AFTER he owes money saying that they are going to turn me in to welfare!!
WOW!! I will get RIGHT ON paying that 50 cents so that child welfare does not have to waste there time going after a mom who "lets" he child borrow 50 cents from the cafeteria and can spend there time on children whose life DEPENDS on the welfare system.
Another sign of our government hard at work!
"The responsibility for a students meal charges lies with the paretn or the legal guardian. If payments are not made, the parent and/or student shall be referred to the office of School and Home Relations (child welfare)."
There are not enough children without homes or children that TRUELY need OUT of a bad home situation that you are going to turn in a parent and/or child that owes 50 cents to a lunch room? This is the best way you can come up with to scare parents into paying the money owed?
And, why is it we are told EVERY. YEAR. that children can not "borrow" from the cafeteria? Yet, every year they allow it? I don't get a phone call saying that my child forgot his lunch. I do not get a letter saying that my child is running out of money in his account at school. I get a letter AFTER he owes money saying that they are going to turn me in to welfare!!
WOW!! I will get RIGHT ON paying that 50 cents so that child welfare does not have to waste there time going after a mom who "lets" he child borrow 50 cents from the cafeteria and can spend there time on children whose life DEPENDS on the welfare system.
Another sign of our government hard at work!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Coats
Last Thursday I bought some coats for the boys because we knew it was supposed to snow and be cold last weekend. Bryce wore his to school ONE time and left it on the playground. So, the COLD weekend and snow, he had no coat for!
He went back to school this week and I reminded him to look for his coat. He came home and said it was not in lost and found, but he saw a girl wearing it. He told his teacher who it was (he was in the same class as this girl last year), but the teacher could not understand the name he was saying. Bryce said something to the girl, but she made it clear it was her coat now.
I sent a note to the teacher with the girls name, but I did not figure we would get it back. Some may call me OCD, but the ONE time I don't get a name on the coat before it is taken to school and it gets stolen! But, instead of getting mad I decided that she must need the coat pretty bad and decided to just get another one. Yesterday when we went to see Santa I bought him a new coat. I got an $85 Nike coat for $15!
Of course, he came home with his coat yesterday. Apparently the girl put it back in Lost and Found (why she wanted a very boy coat, I don't know). I was going to take the Nike coat back, but decided since I paid about half the price for that one as I did the first one, we would keep it and he could use it for school.
His name was inside the coat in a couple of places before he even put it on this morning :)
He went back to school this week and I reminded him to look for his coat. He came home and said it was not in lost and found, but he saw a girl wearing it. He told his teacher who it was (he was in the same class as this girl last year), but the teacher could not understand the name he was saying. Bryce said something to the girl, but she made it clear it was her coat now.
I sent a note to the teacher with the girls name, but I did not figure we would get it back. Some may call me OCD, but the ONE time I don't get a name on the coat before it is taken to school and it gets stolen! But, instead of getting mad I decided that she must need the coat pretty bad and decided to just get another one. Yesterday when we went to see Santa I bought him a new coat. I got an $85 Nike coat for $15!
Of course, he came home with his coat yesterday. Apparently the girl put it back in Lost and Found (why she wanted a very boy coat, I don't know). I was going to take the Nike coat back, but decided since I paid about half the price for that one as I did the first one, we would keep it and he could use it for school.
His name was inside the coat in a couple of places before he even put it on this morning :)
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
A(nother) Visit With Santa
Andrew came in my room this morning and asked where Daddy was because he wanted to go see Santa. I don't know why he was suddenly excited to get his picture taken with Santa but I jumped on it. I asked if he would go without Daddy and then surprise him with the picture and he said yes. So, as soon as the mall opened we were there!
There were a few kids in front of us in line and a couple behind us. You have to choose what picture package you are going to get BEFORE you see the pictures. I chose ONE 5x7 (which was THIRTEEN DOLLARS!!!! for a picture printed off a regular printer) because I really did not know WHAT was going to happen when we got up with Santa. The three kids in front of us all started crying as soon as they were put on Santa's lap (these kids were all older than Andrew). I started getting nervous! I went to take off Andrew's backpack and he started crying. I quickly put it back on him and he stopped.
When it was our turn I asked if they could both sit on Santa's lap even though we only paid for the one picture. They said we could. I dressed both of them this morning to have pics, but I did not figure Mady was going to go for it. I was WRONG! Mady went to Santa with no problem and immediately started gently playing with his beard (remember it is a REAL beard). She did not stop smiling the entire time she was on his lap. Then Andrew got on his lap with her. He spent the entire time trying not to smile (but having a hard time hiding the smile).
They took three poses and one of them was really sweet. Santa was looking at Mady and Mady was looking at Santa with a HUGE smile on her face. But AJ was looking the other way and I could only choose one pose :(
After they took the pictures I took Mady and Santa asked Andrew what he wanted for Christmas. Then he asked Andrew if he was going to put out milk and cookies, so he would know if he should look for them when he was at our house. Andrew (who makes his lunch every morning when his brothers make theirs) opened his backpack and pulled out a thing of Oreos. He handed them to Santa. Santa smiled and tried to give them back. Andrew says "No, you cookies". Santa let out a loud, jolly, right-from-deep-in-the-belly, HO! HO! HO! laugh. It made Andrew jump back and then he started laughing. Santa seemed genuinely surprised by the cookies and AJ was genuinely surprised by his respone!
I am so glad this will be his first memory of Santa.
Price of an okay quality picture: $13
Price of awesome Santa memory: priceless!!!
There were a few kids in front of us in line and a couple behind us. You have to choose what picture package you are going to get BEFORE you see the pictures. I chose ONE 5x7 (which was THIRTEEN DOLLARS!!!! for a picture printed off a regular printer) because I really did not know WHAT was going to happen when we got up with Santa. The three kids in front of us all started crying as soon as they were put on Santa's lap (these kids were all older than Andrew). I started getting nervous! I went to take off Andrew's backpack and he started crying. I quickly put it back on him and he stopped.
When it was our turn I asked if they could both sit on Santa's lap even though we only paid for the one picture. They said we could. I dressed both of them this morning to have pics, but I did not figure Mady was going to go for it. I was WRONG! Mady went to Santa with no problem and immediately started gently playing with his beard (remember it is a REAL beard). She did not stop smiling the entire time she was on his lap. Then Andrew got on his lap with her. He spent the entire time trying not to smile (but having a hard time hiding the smile).
They took three poses and one of them was really sweet. Santa was looking at Mady and Mady was looking at Santa with a HUGE smile on her face. But AJ was looking the other way and I could only choose one pose :(
After they took the pictures I took Mady and Santa asked Andrew what he wanted for Christmas. Then he asked Andrew if he was going to put out milk and cookies, so he would know if he should look for them when he was at our house. Andrew (who makes his lunch every morning when his brothers make theirs) opened his backpack and pulled out a thing of Oreos. He handed them to Santa. Santa smiled and tried to give them back. Andrew says "No, you cookies". Santa let out a loud, jolly, right-from-deep-in-the-belly, HO! HO! HO! laugh. It made Andrew jump back and then he started laughing. Santa seemed genuinely surprised by the cookies and AJ was genuinely surprised by his respone!
I am so glad this will be his first memory of Santa.
Price of an okay quality picture: $13
Price of awesome Santa memory: priceless!!!
Monday, December 07, 2009
Locked Doors
Andrew is at the age where he LOVES locking doors. But, he tends to lock them and then shut them with him on the OTHER side of the lock! Luckily, the door knobs in this house are VERY easy to unlock from the outside. However, it does require taking half the doorknob off and I am pretty sure it was not meant to be done a dozen times a day everyday!
All of the bedroom and bathroom doorknobs in this house have locks. I started to go buy new doorknobs, but don't really want to replace knobs that operate perfectly. So, last night, I turned all of the kids doorknobs around. I can now lock them in their rooms!! But, I don't!
Andrew, on the other hand, DOES! He still wants to lock doors, so he locks it and then goes in his room and closes it. Then after a few minutes I hear knocking, followed by "I can't get out!"
All of the bedroom and bathroom doorknobs in this house have locks. I started to go buy new doorknobs, but don't really want to replace knobs that operate perfectly. So, last night, I turned all of the kids doorknobs around. I can now lock them in their rooms!! But, I don't!
Andrew, on the other hand, DOES! He still wants to lock doors, so he locks it and then goes in his room and closes it. Then after a few minutes I hear knocking, followed by "I can't get out!"
Andrew Meets Santa!
We were out running a few errands this morning. Andrew, Mads and me. As we walked through the mall I saw the familiar setup of the Santa portrait area. We have never done these because they have become so RIDICULOUSLY priced. It is like going and getting professional pictures made! What ever happened to a dollar for a polaroid shot? And, you can't just go sit on his lap without buying pictures! Not to mention, I don't want my kids thinking Santa is a stressed out, annoyed man who wants to do bare minimum to BE Santa!
I digress. So, we are walking and we see Santa.
Now, most of the Santa's I have seen at the mall seem like they would rather be anywhere than sitting with kids on and off their laps, crying, jumping, screaming, and everything else that scared, excited or scared and excited kids do.
This, quite possibly, could have been THE Santa Claus. He had a real, long, thick beard. His hair was white, but just unwhite enough for it to be obvious it was HIS hair, with soft curls coming out of the back of his hat. He had the rosiest of rosy cheeks. His hat sat just right on his head. His red was RED and his white was SNOW WHITE on his clothes. You could have seen your reflection in his black boots.
He had a very enthusiastic "HO! HO! HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS" as we approached him. Andrew cautiously held my hand and watched him as he rang his bells. When we got in front of him Andrew stopped. I stopped and waited to see what he was going to do. He let go of my hand and grabbed my leg, but never took his eyes of Santa or took his thumb away from his mouth (when he is nervous or scared he will hold his thumb to his lips, but not suck on it). Santa leaned down and forward a bit, but not getting too close to scare him. He whispered "Guess what?"
Andrew looks at me and says "Wha?"
Santa says "This may be a surprise to you, but you are on my good list AGAIN this year."
Andrew smiled and looked at me and eased the grip on my leg.
Santa said "Do you know what these are?" as he held up his ring with bells on it.
Andrew shook his head no.
"THESE," he said with excitement and mystery in his voice "are my magic reindeer bells. Would YOU like to see them?"
Andrew shook his head yes and Santa handed them to him. Andrew STUDIED these bells, rang them a few times and then handed them back (I was kind of worried how he would give them back because when we went to storytime, he would scream everytime it was time to give the bells back).
Santa talked to him a bit more. He told Andrew to give him five and Andrew got a big smile and slapped his hand. Then he asked Andrew if he would shake his hand, which he did.
Then, right before we were about to go so another child could have a great experience, he asked Andrew what he wanted for Christmas. Guess what he said! Yep, "I wan a pirate monkey cowboy!"
I asked Andrew if he wanted a picture with Santa. He grabbed my leg again and said no. I really wanted a picture of this Santa because he was THE perfect Santa, but I did not want to ruin this great moment for Andrew by forcing him to do it. He has not stopped talking about him though. He says if Daddy will go with us he will get a picture with Santa. Maybe Friday morning we can get one.
I digress. So, we are walking and we see Santa.
Now, most of the Santa's I have seen at the mall seem like they would rather be anywhere than sitting with kids on and off their laps, crying, jumping, screaming, and everything else that scared, excited or scared and excited kids do.
This, quite possibly, could have been THE Santa Claus. He had a real, long, thick beard. His hair was white, but just unwhite enough for it to be obvious it was HIS hair, with soft curls coming out of the back of his hat. He had the rosiest of rosy cheeks. His hat sat just right on his head. His red was RED and his white was SNOW WHITE on his clothes. You could have seen your reflection in his black boots.
He had a very enthusiastic "HO! HO! HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS" as we approached him. Andrew cautiously held my hand and watched him as he rang his bells. When we got in front of him Andrew stopped. I stopped and waited to see what he was going to do. He let go of my hand and grabbed my leg, but never took his eyes of Santa or took his thumb away from his mouth (when he is nervous or scared he will hold his thumb to his lips, but not suck on it). Santa leaned down and forward a bit, but not getting too close to scare him. He whispered "Guess what?"
Andrew looks at me and says "Wha?"
Santa says "This may be a surprise to you, but you are on my good list AGAIN this year."
Andrew smiled and looked at me and eased the grip on my leg.
Santa said "Do you know what these are?" as he held up his ring with bells on it.
Andrew shook his head no.
"THESE," he said with excitement and mystery in his voice "are my magic reindeer bells. Would YOU like to see them?"
Andrew shook his head yes and Santa handed them to him. Andrew STUDIED these bells, rang them a few times and then handed them back (I was kind of worried how he would give them back because when we went to storytime, he would scream everytime it was time to give the bells back).
Santa talked to him a bit more. He told Andrew to give him five and Andrew got a big smile and slapped his hand. Then he asked Andrew if he would shake his hand, which he did.
Then, right before we were about to go so another child could have a great experience, he asked Andrew what he wanted for Christmas. Guess what he said! Yep, "I wan a pirate monkey cowboy!"
I asked Andrew if he wanted a picture with Santa. He grabbed my leg again and said no. I really wanted a picture of this Santa because he was THE perfect Santa, but I did not want to ruin this great moment for Andrew by forcing him to do it. He has not stopped talking about him though. He says if Daddy will go with us he will get a picture with Santa. Maybe Friday morning we can get one.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Snow 2009
We made it until 6:30 this morning before being bombarded with boys dressed in coats screaming of snow. We made them wait for us to shower and get dressed. Then we had to get the little two dressed. Really, we were trying to let the rest of the neighborhood sleep a little longer before the loud, excited boys were released.
We went outside. Mady immediately got a big smile and started getting excited. I put her at the end of the driveway next to the snow. I didn't figure she would want to sit IN the snow! I got a handful of snow and she immediately grabbed some and tasted it (the first two pics). She was very happy out there looking around at all of her crazy brothers and the dogs.
Andrew was cold. He didn't much care for it. He didn't much care for it the last two years either if I remember correctly. He walked around for a few minutes and then started whining and went inside.
Bryce got mad because we would not let him play in the sandbox. That was as soon as we walked outside so I did not get ANY pictures of him. AND, the ONE weekend we are supposed to get snow - the child leaves his brand new coat at school!!
Isaac and Caleb actually went out and played. Caleb did more torturing than anything, but that is his duty, right?
This morning the sun is shining and the snow is already quickly melting. Caleb said he thought it might last until Christmas. I told him he was lucky he got ANY where we live, but that comment holds no meaning anymore! :)
I took Bryce out and got some pics of him:
We went outside. Mady immediately got a big smile and started getting excited. I put her at the end of the driveway next to the snow. I didn't figure she would want to sit IN the snow! I got a handful of snow and she immediately grabbed some and tasted it (the first two pics). She was very happy out there looking around at all of her crazy brothers and the dogs.
Andrew was cold. He didn't much care for it. He didn't much care for it the last two years either if I remember correctly. He walked around for a few minutes and then started whining and went inside.
Bryce got mad because we would not let him play in the sandbox. That was as soon as we walked outside so I did not get ANY pictures of him. AND, the ONE weekend we are supposed to get snow - the child leaves his brand new coat at school!!
Isaac and Caleb actually went out and played. Caleb did more torturing than anything, but that is his duty, right?
This morning the sun is shining and the snow is already quickly melting. Caleb said he thought it might last until Christmas. I told him he was lucky he got ANY where we live, but that comment holds no meaning anymore! :)
I took Bryce out and got some pics of him:
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