Thursday, November 10, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Candy, Church and Christmas Presents
Yesterday my "alarms" did not get up early like they normally do, so we were not up in time to go to church. Bryce and Isaac were having this conversation just now:
Bryce: "I found out what the treats were. Matthew told me."
Isaac: "What was it?"
B: "Your choice of chocolate candy."
Me: "Is that why you were so upset about missing church?"
B: "NO!" (like I was crazy even suggesting) "I wanted to hear God's word!"
I: "I wasn't upset. I didn't want to go. I wanted to go get Christmas presents!" (which was not even decided until AFTER we had missed church)
B: "Well that IS important too!!"
Bryce: "I found out what the treats were. Matthew told me."
Isaac: "What was it?"
B: "Your choice of chocolate candy."
Me: "Is that why you were so upset about missing church?"
B: "NO!" (like I was crazy even suggesting) "I wanted to hear God's word!"
I: "I wasn't upset. I didn't want to go. I wanted to go get Christmas presents!" (which was not even decided until AFTER we had missed church)
B: "Well that IS important too!!"
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Father/Daughter Love
This morning as I was putting Mady in my bed and as I was getting up I kissed her cheek and said "I love you more." She kissed me back and replied "I love Daddy more!"
Honestly, it does not bother me to hear her say that. I want her to love her Daddy "more." I want her to find a man (in a REALLY REALLY long time) that treats her the way her father treats me and her. I want her to look up to him to see what she should expect from a man and I want her to settle for nothing less.
So, I had to chuckle when I was scrolling through my face.book page I came across this article that a friend had posted a link to.
50 Rules for Dads of Daughters by Michael Mitchell
1. Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer good.
2. Always be there. Quality time doesn’t happen without quantity time. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each other’s presence. Be genuinely interested in the things that interest her. She needs her dad to be involved in her life at every stage. Don’t just sit idly by while she add years to her… add life to her years.
3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over again throughout her life. Rise to the occasion. Red cape and blue tights optional.
4. Savor every moment you have together. Today she’s crawling around the house in diapers, tomorrow you’re handing her the keys to the car, and before you know it, you’re walking her down the aisle. Some day soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bees knees anymore. Life happens pretty fast. You better cherish it while you can.
5. Pray for her. Regularly. Passionately. Continually.
6. Buy her a glove and teach her to throw a baseball. Make her proud to throw like a girl… a girl with a wicked slider.
7. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.
8. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls.
9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.
10. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.
11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”
12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about money. She will still probably suck you dry as a teenager… and on her wedding day.
13. Make pancakes in the shape of her age for breakfast on her birthday. In a pinch, donuts with pink sprinkles and a candle will suffice.
14. Buy her a pair of Chucks as soon as she starts walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man.
15. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even when she’s a baby. Don’t wait ‘til her wedding day.
16. Take her fishing. She will probably squirm more than the worm on your hook. That’s OK.
17. Learn to say no. She may pitch a fit today, but someday you’ll both be glad you stuck to your guns.
18. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.
19. Teach her to change a flat. A tire without air need not be a major panic inducing event in her life. She’ll still call you crying the first time it happens.
20. Take her camping. Immerse her in the great outdoors. Watch her eyes fill with wonder the first time she sees the beauty of wide open spaces. Leave the iPod at home.
21. Let her hold the wheel. She will always remember when daddy let her drive.
22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.
23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.
24. Knowing how to eat sunflower seeds correctly will not help her get into a good college. Teach her anyway.
25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.
26. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.
27. If there’s a splash park near your home, take her there often. She will be drawn to the water like a duck to a puddle.
28. She will eagerly await your return home from work in the evenings. Don’t be late.
29. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you get in the pool too. Don’t be intimidated if there are no other dads there. It’s their loss.
30. Never miss her birthday. In ten years she won’t remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren’t there.
31. Teach her to roller skate. Watch her confidence soar.
32. Let her roll around in the grass. It’s good for her soul. It’s not bad for yours either.
33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.
34. Somewhere between the time she turns three and her sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently.
35. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.
36. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.
37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.
38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all you’ve got.
39. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps. WARNING: She has no concept of muscle fatigue.
40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday. Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to rent one though.
41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.
42. Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.
43. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread her wings and fly some day. Enjoy her caterpillar years.
44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday. Give them to her when she goes off to college, becomes a mother herself, or when you think she needs them most.
45. Learn to trust her. Gradually give her more freedom as she gets older. She will rise to the expectations you set for her.
46. When in doubt, trust your heart. She already does.
47. When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.
49. This day is coming soon. There’s nothing you can do to be ready for it. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be.
50. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.
He has a blog with more tips at www.lifetoheryears.com. This is an awesome blog!
I love you Babe and appreciate you being such an awesome Daddy to all of our kids. But, I especially appreciate you teaching our daughter that she is beautiful and worthy of a man that can treat her with the love and respect and playfulness that you show her and I both on a daily basis.
Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express. - Joseph Addison
Honestly, it does not bother me to hear her say that. I want her to love her Daddy "more." I want her to find a man (in a REALLY REALLY long time) that treats her the way her father treats me and her. I want her to look up to him to see what she should expect from a man and I want her to settle for nothing less.
So, I had to chuckle when I was scrolling through my face.book page I came across this article that a friend had posted a link to.
50 Rules for Dads of Daughters by Michael Mitchell
1. Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer good.
2. Always be there. Quality time doesn’t happen without quantity time. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each other’s presence. Be genuinely interested in the things that interest her. She needs her dad to be involved in her life at every stage. Don’t just sit idly by while she add years to her… add life to her years.
3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over again throughout her life. Rise to the occasion. Red cape and blue tights optional.
4. Savor every moment you have together. Today she’s crawling around the house in diapers, tomorrow you’re handing her the keys to the car, and before you know it, you’re walking her down the aisle. Some day soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bees knees anymore. Life happens pretty fast. You better cherish it while you can.
5. Pray for her. Regularly. Passionately. Continually.
6. Buy her a glove and teach her to throw a baseball. Make her proud to throw like a girl… a girl with a wicked slider.
7. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.
8. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls.
9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.
10. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.
11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”
12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about money. She will still probably suck you dry as a teenager… and on her wedding day.
13. Make pancakes in the shape of her age for breakfast on her birthday. In a pinch, donuts with pink sprinkles and a candle will suffice.
14. Buy her a pair of Chucks as soon as she starts walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man.
15. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even when she’s a baby. Don’t wait ‘til her wedding day.
16. Take her fishing. She will probably squirm more than the worm on your hook. That’s OK.
17. Learn to say no. She may pitch a fit today, but someday you’ll both be glad you stuck to your guns.
18. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.
19. Teach her to change a flat. A tire without air need not be a major panic inducing event in her life. She’ll still call you crying the first time it happens.
20. Take her camping. Immerse her in the great outdoors. Watch her eyes fill with wonder the first time she sees the beauty of wide open spaces. Leave the iPod at home.
21. Let her hold the wheel. She will always remember when daddy let her drive.
22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.
23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.
24. Knowing how to eat sunflower seeds correctly will not help her get into a good college. Teach her anyway.
25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.
26. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.
27. If there’s a splash park near your home, take her there often. She will be drawn to the water like a duck to a puddle.
28. She will eagerly await your return home from work in the evenings. Don’t be late.
29. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you get in the pool too. Don’t be intimidated if there are no other dads there. It’s their loss.
30. Never miss her birthday. In ten years she won’t remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren’t there.
31. Teach her to roller skate. Watch her confidence soar.
32. Let her roll around in the grass. It’s good for her soul. It’s not bad for yours either.
33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.
34. Somewhere between the time she turns three and her sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently.
35. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.
36. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.
37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.
38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all you’ve got.
39. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps. WARNING: She has no concept of muscle fatigue.
40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday. Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to rent one though.
41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.
42. Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.
43. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread her wings and fly some day. Enjoy her caterpillar years.
44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday. Give them to her when she goes off to college, becomes a mother herself, or when you think she needs them most.
45. Learn to trust her. Gradually give her more freedom as she gets older. She will rise to the expectations you set for her.
46. When in doubt, trust your heart. She already does.
47. When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.
49. This day is coming soon. There’s nothing you can do to be ready for it. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be.
50. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.
He has a blog with more tips at www.lifetoheryears.com. This is an awesome blog!
I love you Babe and appreciate you being such an awesome Daddy to all of our kids. But, I especially appreciate you teaching our daughter that she is beautiful and worthy of a man that can treat her with the love and respect and playfulness that you show her and I both on a daily basis.
Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express. - Joseph Addison
Monday, October 17, 2011
Bike Accident
Caleb was in a bike accident Saturday (yes, again!) This time did not include any fire hydrants or foreheads!
It did, however, include a six hour trip to the emergency room!
What happened still is not completely clear. The three older kids were out riding bikes with a kid down the street. From what I have gathered, Caleb was racing the other kid (so he was going as fast as he could) and his chain broke. What we were first told was that the chain came off and IT hit him. What I was later told was that the chain popped off, the bike fell and it drug him about 10 feet. He was in shock when he came in and was barely able to talk.
He had a busted lip, two VERY skinned up knees, his left hands pointer and middle fingers had skin hanging and lots of blood and he had a hole in his arm - to where we thought we were seeing tendon, along with some minor scrapes.
it these pics are not enough, you can double click the pics and see them bigger.
It was a very busy night at the ER and while we were taken straight back we still waited a couple of hours before we even saw a nurse. Then it was a couple of more hours before we saw anyone again.
The nurse said she was also pretty sure that we were looking at his tendon on his arm. She said he would probably need stitches on his arm and at least one finger. She put a wet dressing on his arm and made him stick his two fingers in a cup of water/peroxide/betadine. He sat that way for over an hour and a half! They also did an xray of his right arm to make sure he did not break anything.
When the dr came in he said that nothing was broken. There was not enough tissue to put stitches in his arm (and we were not seeing tendon - it was the fatty layer right above the tendon). He would have to pull tissue to try and stitch and he said it would be very traumatic and painful. It will take longer to heal without the stitches, but it will heal just as well as if he had them. His fingers also did not have to be stitched. They, too, are wrapped. His right arm (the arm with the hole in it) is in a sling.
A different person came in and spent about an hour cleaning all of his wounds and wrapping/bandaging him up. His arm is in a sling and he goes to see his pediatrician on Wednesday to make sure everything is healing correctly. He can't do PE (they were starting weight lifting this week), band, swim (his final competition is Saturday). He is left handed, so he is having a hard time doing much with his fingers bandaged up. I don't want to see his writing this week!
Of course, Paul left today to go out of town for the week. I don't do blood very well, so I really was not sure if I was going to be able to dress his wounds. But, it is amazing what a Mom can overcome for their children. I had the icky shakes several times while taking care of them last night, but I got them all cared for.
this picture was taken today
It did, however, include a six hour trip to the emergency room!
What happened still is not completely clear. The three older kids were out riding bikes with a kid down the street. From what I have gathered, Caleb was racing the other kid (so he was going as fast as he could) and his chain broke. What we were first told was that the chain came off and IT hit him. What I was later told was that the chain popped off, the bike fell and it drug him about 10 feet. He was in shock when he came in and was barely able to talk.
He had a busted lip, two VERY skinned up knees, his left hands pointer and middle fingers had skin hanging and lots of blood and he had a hole in his arm - to where we thought we were seeing tendon, along with some minor scrapes.
It was a very busy night at the ER and while we were taken straight back we still waited a couple of hours before we even saw a nurse. Then it was a couple of more hours before we saw anyone again.
The nurse said she was also pretty sure that we were looking at his tendon on his arm. She said he would probably need stitches on his arm and at least one finger. She put a wet dressing on his arm and made him stick his two fingers in a cup of water/peroxide/betadine. He sat that way for over an hour and a half! They also did an xray of his right arm to make sure he did not break anything.
When the dr came in he said that nothing was broken. There was not enough tissue to put stitches in his arm (and we were not seeing tendon - it was the fatty layer right above the tendon). He would have to pull tissue to try and stitch and he said it would be very traumatic and painful. It will take longer to heal without the stitches, but it will heal just as well as if he had them. His fingers also did not have to be stitched. They, too, are wrapped. His right arm (the arm with the hole in it) is in a sling.
A different person came in and spent about an hour cleaning all of his wounds and wrapping/bandaging him up. His arm is in a sling and he goes to see his pediatrician on Wednesday to make sure everything is healing correctly. He can't do PE (they were starting weight lifting this week), band, swim (his final competition is Saturday). He is left handed, so he is having a hard time doing much with his fingers bandaged up. I don't want to see his writing this week!
Of course, Paul left today to go out of town for the week. I don't do blood very well, so I really was not sure if I was going to be able to dress his wounds. But, it is amazing what a Mom can overcome for their children. I had the icky shakes several times while taking care of them last night, but I got them all cared for.
Monday, October 10, 2011
New "Dishwasher"
I got a new dish washer last night. Here it is:
He will remain the dish washer until he no longer considers this clean:
The smirk on his face when I pulled the pot out of the cabinet and asked him about it did NOT help his case any!
He will remain the dish washer until he no longer considers this clean:
The smirk on his face when I pulled the pot out of the cabinet and asked him about it did NOT help his case any!
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Socks
I walked by these socks a couple of times yesterday, but eventually I really SAW the socks.
My first response was to see where Andrew was. I needed to make sure he did not turn invisible. Maybe he has some super power I didn't know about.
He was playing in his room. Very much visible (and audible).
HOW????
I asked Andrew how he got out of his socks with them looking like he was still in them.
"I peeled out of them!"
I have no doubt that that is EXACTLY what happened! The way he and Mads were running circles in the living room all day yesterday it seems like a very likely and acceptable explanation.
I Needed Some More Excitement in My Life?
Now I have done it!
You thought being sick with five kids was bad. I might have topped it. Now I am on crutches with five kids!
Saturday, after spending the morning running some errands, we decided to take advantage of the BEAUTIFUL weather we have been blessed with and took the kids to the park. The park we went to has some parking along a road on the top of a hill that goes down to a lake. I got out, got Mads out and we were headed around the car to the road. The ground rolled out from under me. Literally! The ground was covered in acorns, on a hill, and I rolled DOWN landing on my derriere.
The good news is, Mads is perfectly fine!
I, on the other hand, had my leg twist behind me and then had 30 pounds of "fine" land on my twisted knee! There was pain shooting from my knee to my hip. We got me up and I tried to walk off the pain, which didn't happen. So, that was the end of the celebration of the beautiful weather. It was time to go home!
I spent the rest of the day with my leg elevated and ice on it (RICE - rest, ice, compression, elevation). The pain in my hip seemed to improve, the knee not so much. We looked online and it sounds like a sprain, but of course there is the possibility of a tear. I did not go to the dr, because I did not want to pay to hear RICE. It did not swell very much and there was no visible bruising.
I have been on crutches since Paul went and found some Saturday evening. That was fine this weekend, when my wonderful husband was home to take care of the kids, care for my every need, cook, clean, shop, etc. Monday, however, reality set in. I was home alone with two preschoolers and on crutches. By Monday, I could put a little weight on my leg so I used the crutches when possible, but slowly hobbled around when not possible. When Paul came home I was sent to the couch. Same story yesterday.
Today the swelling has gone down, I can "walk", if you want to call it that, although it still hurts. I was told by a nurse if there was not improvement within the week to go to the dr. I was also told I needed to stay off of it completely. I asked if she remembered I have five kids, two of which I am with ALL. THE. TIME. and they never stop.
I have to go run a couple of errands this morning. I am going in to this chanting "I think I can, I think I can!" and hoping for a cooperative four year old and two year old.
STOP LAUGHING! It IS possible that they will cooperate - not likely, but possible :)
You thought being sick with five kids was bad. I might have topped it. Now I am on crutches with five kids!
Saturday, after spending the morning running some errands, we decided to take advantage of the BEAUTIFUL weather we have been blessed with and took the kids to the park. The park we went to has some parking along a road on the top of a hill that goes down to a lake. I got out, got Mads out and we were headed around the car to the road. The ground rolled out from under me. Literally! The ground was covered in acorns, on a hill, and I rolled DOWN landing on my derriere.
The good news is, Mads is perfectly fine!
I, on the other hand, had my leg twist behind me and then had 30 pounds of "fine" land on my twisted knee! There was pain shooting from my knee to my hip. We got me up and I tried to walk off the pain, which didn't happen. So, that was the end of the celebration of the beautiful weather. It was time to go home!
I spent the rest of the day with my leg elevated and ice on it (RICE - rest, ice, compression, elevation). The pain in my hip seemed to improve, the knee not so much. We looked online and it sounds like a sprain, but of course there is the possibility of a tear. I did not go to the dr, because I did not want to pay to hear RICE. It did not swell very much and there was no visible bruising.
I have been on crutches since Paul went and found some Saturday evening. That was fine this weekend, when my wonderful husband was home to take care of the kids, care for my every need, cook, clean, shop, etc. Monday, however, reality set in. I was home alone with two preschoolers and on crutches. By Monday, I could put a little weight on my leg so I used the crutches when possible, but slowly hobbled around when not possible. When Paul came home I was sent to the couch. Same story yesterday.
Today the swelling has gone down, I can "walk", if you want to call it that, although it still hurts. I was told by a nurse if there was not improvement within the week to go to the dr. I was also told I needed to stay off of it completely. I asked if she remembered I have five kids, two of which I am with ALL. THE. TIME. and they never stop.
I have to go run a couple of errands this morning. I am going in to this chanting "I think I can, I think I can!" and hoping for a cooperative four year old and two year old.
STOP LAUGHING! It IS possible that they will cooperate - not likely, but possible :)
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Mad's Halloween Costume
I know people think I am crazy because I have already started with Halloween costumes, but I have five kids who all need costumes and all want them made, not bought. I don't mind, but I need TIME to get them all done! So, yes we have over a month before Halloween and I am working on costumes already!
Mady was actually going to be a Candy Corn Fairy, but after I got quite a bit of the costume made, I could not find some of the materials I needed to finish it (of course, now that I am done with the Lady bug I have the supplies needed for the other costume). So, I got her talked into being a Ladybug, which is what her Daddy really wanted her to be (actually HE is the one that talked her into the Ladybug).
Here is her costume. It will be a little different when she actually has it on. She will also have antennas to wear. It was all pretty easy to make, except the wings - they were a pain in the booty!
Now, time to get busy on the next costume!
Mady was actually going to be a Candy Corn Fairy, but after I got quite a bit of the costume made, I could not find some of the materials I needed to finish it (of course, now that I am done with the Lady bug I have the supplies needed for the other costume). So, I got her talked into being a Ladybug, which is what her Daddy really wanted her to be (actually HE is the one that talked her into the Ladybug).
Here is her costume. It will be a little different when she actually has it on. She will also have antennas to wear. It was all pretty easy to make, except the wings - they were a pain in the booty!
Now, time to get busy on the next costume!
Obsessed Much?
Yesterday Mady spent most of the day "shoe shopping." Basically, she walked around the house pushing her shopping cart and taking any shoes she could get her hands on. She would fill up her shopping cart, empty and start over. This was ALL day.
Usually when we tell her it is bedtime she grabs her Gingy (Ginger is the bunny Daddy made her at Build-a-Bear for her first Valentine's Day), her bebe (her blanket) and she tells Bella (our Australian Shepard that sleeps in her room) it is bedtime. Last night, however, when I said it was bedtime, she did all of that while also trying to grab as many shoes as she could. She got mad at me when I took them and said the shoes could not sleep in her bed with her and she could shop for them some more tomorrow.
Well, her little brain worked overtime after I closed her door because this morning I found this:
To her defense, I did not tell her she could not sleep with the shoes, I told her the shoes could not sleep in her bed. Yep, she made a bed in her closet and slept there. Girl after my own heart. I heart shoes, too!
She happily got up this morning and started all over, except so far it has only been her shoes. My door is CLOSED and my shoes are all safely put away!
Usually when we tell her it is bedtime she grabs her Gingy (Ginger is the bunny Daddy made her at Build-a-Bear for her first Valentine's Day), her bebe (her blanket) and she tells Bella (our Australian Shepard that sleeps in her room) it is bedtime. Last night, however, when I said it was bedtime, she did all of that while also trying to grab as many shoes as she could. She got mad at me when I took them and said the shoes could not sleep in her bed with her and she could shop for them some more tomorrow.
Well, her little brain worked overtime after I closed her door because this morning I found this:
To her defense, I did not tell her she could not sleep with the shoes, I told her the shoes could not sleep in her bed. Yep, she made a bed in her closet and slept there. Girl after my own heart. I heart shoes, too!
She happily got up this morning and started all over, except so far it has only been her shoes. My door is CLOSED and my shoes are all safely put away!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Fancy Nancy Tea Party
The younger two kids and I have always gone to story time at the library. We LOVE our librarian, she is so sweet. When we go, each one of the kids carry their own backpack to put their books in (okay, they carry it in and Mom carries them out). Mady's backpack is a Fancy Nancy backpack. She is always checking out at least one Fancy Nancy book and she usually chooses what she wants to wear to the library (and just about anywhere we go) and for some reason she frequently picks something "fancy" to wear (like tutus).
Ms. Nancy, our librarian, picked up on all of this and decided that the library needed to have a Fancy Nancy Tea Party. Mady has been looking forward to it and was so happy when yesterday came so she could go.
She picked out her clothes, jewelry, boa, shoes, purse, bows for her hair, etc. She was DECKED OUT!
They had story time, and introduced Fancy Nancy to the kids. We got there late and were sitting in the back. While she was introducing Fancy Nancy, she was also telling parents that if they had any ideas to please share and that the reason she was doing the tea party was because Mady told her she loved Fancy Nancy. Everyone turned around to look at Mady (it was a FULL house) and she got EMBARRASSED!!
Then they played a game, listened to classical music, made tiaras and crowns, and had tea (lemonade) and cookies. Andrew had fun to, being surrounded by all of the girls (I think there were only a couple of boys and a LOT of girls).
Ms. Nancy, our librarian, picked up on all of this and decided that the library needed to have a Fancy Nancy Tea Party. Mady has been looking forward to it and was so happy when yesterday came so she could go.
She picked out her clothes, jewelry, boa, shoes, purse, bows for her hair, etc. She was DECKED OUT!
They had story time, and introduced Fancy Nancy to the kids. We got there late and were sitting in the back. While she was introducing Fancy Nancy, she was also telling parents that if they had any ideas to please share and that the reason she was doing the tea party was because Mady told her she loved Fancy Nancy. Everyone turned around to look at Mady (it was a FULL house) and she got EMBARRASSED!!
Then they played a game, listened to classical music, made tiaras and crowns, and had tea (lemonade) and cookies. Andrew had fun to, being surrounded by all of the girls (I think there were only a couple of boys and a LOT of girls).
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Parent Gone Wild
Or just plain crazy!
Yesterday morning I was having a great morning. My kids were keeping me laughing. I looked down the road at Caleb's bus stop as I was putting trash out for pickup and see Caleb doing what looked like ballet moves over someones sprinkler (that was turned on, of course), over and over. Then there was Andrew singing, which he does all the time, but we never know what to expect HIS words to be. He gets close to correct, but usually whatever he doesn't get correct is pretty hilarious. Yesterday it was "Glory Glory Hallelujah He Reigns" except he was singing Glory glory, hallelujah PEA BRAINS. When I corrected him he looks at me and says "I think I like MY words better!" and runs off singing glory to the peabrains.
I get Bryce on the bus and send Isaac to his bus stop. I noticed a little bit after I put Bryce on the bus his bus, which should have been long gone, circled back around twice. I am thinking this is odd, but what are you going to do. Then I notice it parked at the end of our road. I figure something is wrong with the bus.
I go to the kitchen sink to start breakfast dishes and look out my window to see a police car in my driveway and one in front of the house. I freeze. All kinds of things go through your head when you look out your window and there are police at your house, even when you have done nothing wrong. Or have you? Then I wonder if something happened to my husband, who is out of town. Quickly, many thoughts are swarming in my head and I am glued to the floor.
Luckily, the police talked on their radios and got back in their cars. I step outside to see what is going on. I would not typically go outside if there were police in the neighborhood, however I have one child on a bus that is acting strangely and one child standing at his bus stop. When I stepped outside there were FOUR police cars down by Isaac's bus stop. At Bryce's bus, there is a car in front of the bus and a second bus is next to it. The kids are getting off their bus and on to the other.
At this point, the police have ALL pulled up next door. There is one standing on the side walk and a friend that was driving by told him that I had a child on the bus and one at the bus stop and asked if everything was okay. He assured her it was. This Momma is not convinced, seeming as how there are four police next door, my child was taken off one bus and put on another and the bus driver is now next door talking to the police.
Come to find out, the bus driver, who picks kids up at their house (at their age, they do not have to walk to a bus stop), had missed the neighbors stop. Now, this child is not normally outside waiting when the bus gets here. We can see the entrance of the neighborhood and we can see the bus make the stop before their stop. The bus driver typically stops at their house and waits on him to come out (which he takes his time doing). Bryce got on the bus and the kid was not trying to walk down to our house to get on either.
The dad decided to put his son in the car and CHASE down the bus. When she stops he pulls up, gets out and his son gets on the bus. He goes to the drivers window and starts yelling at her that she can't keep missing the bus. She said that it was the first time she had missed their house and it was a mistake and apologized. Somehow in all of this, he started cussing her out, yelling in front of all of the kids on the bus.
The bus driver called her boss and the police. I found out what happened yesterday morning, apparently there were several witnesses, some that were not even outside, but heard the yelling at 7 in the morning and went to check it out. It happened on the next road over in our neighborhood, but Isaac heard it at his bus stop on our road, and saw him driving crazy.
The third grade point of view was almost exactly the same story I had already heard. The only difference in his version was that "17 police cars came and they pulled into the neighborhood with their sirens on, half turning one way and half turning the other way. Then they all drive fast up to the bus and slam on their brakes." Yeah, he is eight - I kinda expected a story similar to that!
He also said that when he was cussing out the bus driver he was flailing his hands around and that the kids on the bus thought he was going to pull the driver through the window. The kids were genuinely scared. Then the man stomped off to his car and followed the bus for a little bit and then drove off crazy.
He said he was a little worried to get on the bus yesterday afternoon, even though the kid does not ride the bus in the afternoon. I am SO mad that my child was put in that situation. From hearing the words he heard to seeing the man act the way he did. This mans child was on the bus when it happened. This child has to go to school with these kids. I asked Bryce if the child said anything and Bryce said "Yeah, he said he thinks his Dad has gone crazy!"
Bryce is friends with this kid. He occasionally (not very often) goes to this child's house to play. He came home yesterday saying "I think I will not being going to his house for a long time, just in case he is still mad." He also said he would stay away from the little boy. I told him that would be a pretty permanent thing, him not going to their house, but that it was okay for him to still play with the little boy at school and at our house. That little boy did not do ANYTHING wrong! Bryce is scared of this man now, in a big way!
The first thing out of Bryce's mouth when he walked in the door, though, was "Why did the police come to OUR house when we didn't do anything wrong?" I explained to him that they were just at the wrong house. He asked what they said to me and I told him they never even made it to the door. Apparently, the bus driver saw them at our house and told the police it was the wrong house and the police at the bus radioed it to the police at our house. But, the last thing Bryce saw before the craziness of switching buses and trying to get to school (which they were late for) was the police at our house and it apparently bothered him all day.
How dare a parent act like that in front of his own child, much less a bus of kids (luckily the bus was not full, I think there were about 10 kids on it). How dare a parent make my child not only nervous about getting on his school bus, but nervous because he is our neighbor?
I don't know what happened to the parent, whether he was ticketed or what, but I hope their was a consequence to his actions, other than the consequences that he imposed on the kids! I am proud of Bryce for telling me how out of line this man was, how he was talking in "improper tones" and how he was NEVER going to do anything that stupid.
Hoping today is less crazy and involves no police!
Yesterday morning I was having a great morning. My kids were keeping me laughing. I looked down the road at Caleb's bus stop as I was putting trash out for pickup and see Caleb doing what looked like ballet moves over someones sprinkler (that was turned on, of course), over and over. Then there was Andrew singing, which he does all the time, but we never know what to expect HIS words to be. He gets close to correct, but usually whatever he doesn't get correct is pretty hilarious. Yesterday it was "Glory Glory Hallelujah He Reigns" except he was singing Glory glory, hallelujah PEA BRAINS. When I corrected him he looks at me and says "I think I like MY words better!" and runs off singing glory to the peabrains.
I get Bryce on the bus and send Isaac to his bus stop. I noticed a little bit after I put Bryce on the bus his bus, which should have been long gone, circled back around twice. I am thinking this is odd, but what are you going to do. Then I notice it parked at the end of our road. I figure something is wrong with the bus.
I go to the kitchen sink to start breakfast dishes and look out my window to see a police car in my driveway and one in front of the house. I freeze. All kinds of things go through your head when you look out your window and there are police at your house, even when you have done nothing wrong. Or have you? Then I wonder if something happened to my husband, who is out of town. Quickly, many thoughts are swarming in my head and I am glued to the floor.
Luckily, the police talked on their radios and got back in their cars. I step outside to see what is going on. I would not typically go outside if there were police in the neighborhood, however I have one child on a bus that is acting strangely and one child standing at his bus stop. When I stepped outside there were FOUR police cars down by Isaac's bus stop. At Bryce's bus, there is a car in front of the bus and a second bus is next to it. The kids are getting off their bus and on to the other.
At this point, the police have ALL pulled up next door. There is one standing on the side walk and a friend that was driving by told him that I had a child on the bus and one at the bus stop and asked if everything was okay. He assured her it was. This Momma is not convinced, seeming as how there are four police next door, my child was taken off one bus and put on another and the bus driver is now next door talking to the police.
Come to find out, the bus driver, who picks kids up at their house (at their age, they do not have to walk to a bus stop), had missed the neighbors stop. Now, this child is not normally outside waiting when the bus gets here. We can see the entrance of the neighborhood and we can see the bus make the stop before their stop. The bus driver typically stops at their house and waits on him to come out (which he takes his time doing). Bryce got on the bus and the kid was not trying to walk down to our house to get on either.
The dad decided to put his son in the car and CHASE down the bus. When she stops he pulls up, gets out and his son gets on the bus. He goes to the drivers window and starts yelling at her that she can't keep missing the bus. She said that it was the first time she had missed their house and it was a mistake and apologized. Somehow in all of this, he started cussing her out, yelling in front of all of the kids on the bus.
The bus driver called her boss and the police. I found out what happened yesterday morning, apparently there were several witnesses, some that were not even outside, but heard the yelling at 7 in the morning and went to check it out. It happened on the next road over in our neighborhood, but Isaac heard it at his bus stop on our road, and saw him driving crazy.
The third grade point of view was almost exactly the same story I had already heard. The only difference in his version was that "17 police cars came and they pulled into the neighborhood with their sirens on, half turning one way and half turning the other way. Then they all drive fast up to the bus and slam on their brakes." Yeah, he is eight - I kinda expected a story similar to that!
He also said that when he was cussing out the bus driver he was flailing his hands around and that the kids on the bus thought he was going to pull the driver through the window. The kids were genuinely scared. Then the man stomped off to his car and followed the bus for a little bit and then drove off crazy.
He said he was a little worried to get on the bus yesterday afternoon, even though the kid does not ride the bus in the afternoon. I am SO mad that my child was put in that situation. From hearing the words he heard to seeing the man act the way he did. This mans child was on the bus when it happened. This child has to go to school with these kids. I asked Bryce if the child said anything and Bryce said "Yeah, he said he thinks his Dad has gone crazy!"
Bryce is friends with this kid. He occasionally (not very often) goes to this child's house to play. He came home yesterday saying "I think I will not being going to his house for a long time, just in case he is still mad." He also said he would stay away from the little boy. I told him that would be a pretty permanent thing, him not going to their house, but that it was okay for him to still play with the little boy at school and at our house. That little boy did not do ANYTHING wrong! Bryce is scared of this man now, in a big way!
The first thing out of Bryce's mouth when he walked in the door, though, was "Why did the police come to OUR house when we didn't do anything wrong?" I explained to him that they were just at the wrong house. He asked what they said to me and I told him they never even made it to the door. Apparently, the bus driver saw them at our house and told the police it was the wrong house and the police at the bus radioed it to the police at our house. But, the last thing Bryce saw before the craziness of switching buses and trying to get to school (which they were late for) was the police at our house and it apparently bothered him all day.
How dare a parent act like that in front of his own child, much less a bus of kids (luckily the bus was not full, I think there were about 10 kids on it). How dare a parent make my child not only nervous about getting on his school bus, but nervous because he is our neighbor?
I don't know what happened to the parent, whether he was ticketed or what, but I hope their was a consequence to his actions, other than the consequences that he imposed on the kids! I am proud of Bryce for telling me how out of line this man was, how he was talking in "improper tones" and how he was NEVER going to do anything that stupid.
Hoping today is less crazy and involves no police!
Friday, September 09, 2011
Smelling the Roses
The beginning of July I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. I wasn't feeling great before I went to the dr and had all the test run, but after I went I felt even worse. Over the last couple of months we have tried MANY different mixes of medicines, different doses of medicines, diet changes, etc. Seemed like nothing was working. I was (and am) on high doses of steroids, which, I think the side effects of are worse than the disease often times, but unfortunately it is not a medicine I can just stop taking. We are working on tapering me off of it VERY slowly.
On top of that, I am anemic. The last thing a mother of five kids needs is to be anemic. My energy level isn't near theirs on a good, healthy day!
The last few months have been rough here. There have been days I could not get out of bed. There are days that I made it out of bed, but only as far as the couch. My awesome husband did a great job of taking care of me.....and the kids, and the house (inside and outside), and cooking, and his job. My wonderful children made me get well cards and continuously came and checked up on me (and still frequently ask me if I am feeling okay). I am extremely blessed with the man the Lord chose for me and the children He gave to us.
At the moment, we have gotten the disease under control. But, it will always be a day by day thing. You never know when it will flare up and how bad it will be.
I say all of that to tell of a lesson this has taught me. The couple of months that I was down and out, I have felt like a failure. It is hard not to get discouraged when you feel so horrible physically and can not correct what is causing you to feel that way. Add on top of that that the kids do not all understand why I can't get out of bed or don't have the energy to go anywhere or do anything. I felt like I was neglecting the kids needs and they were not getting the attention they deserved.
When Mady sees a flower (even a weed) she runs to it and gently grabs it and smells it. She can linger at that single flower, no matter how small or insignificant it looks, for what feels to me like forever. She wants to take in every last scent she can from that single flower. And, if there are 100 flowers that look just like the first, she wants to enjoy the smell of each and every one of them.
This disease and my children are teaching me to slow down and smell the roses. I felt like I was missing out on so much with them when I was not feeling well. I did NOT like it! My kids are growing so quickly and I don't want to miss ANYTHING!
It is hard with so many people doing their own thing to remember to slow down and enjoy it. It is not something that I have not known, just something that I sometimes forget to do and need little reminders. Every time I see Mady smelling the sweet fragrance of a flower I am reminded that I need to slow down for ALL of my kids and enjoy them being kids. These moments are so limited by time. Before I know it they are going to be moving out and I don't want to have any regrets when it is too late to do something about it.
So, next time Mady runs to smell a flower, I think I will run with her and smell it with her. And while I am smelling it, I will say a little prayer of thanks for God for all the blessings in my life and remind myself to slow down and smell the roses!
On top of that, I am anemic. The last thing a mother of five kids needs is to be anemic. My energy level isn't near theirs on a good, healthy day!
The last few months have been rough here. There have been days I could not get out of bed. There are days that I made it out of bed, but only as far as the couch. My awesome husband did a great job of taking care of me.....and the kids, and the house (inside and outside), and cooking, and his job. My wonderful children made me get well cards and continuously came and checked up on me (and still frequently ask me if I am feeling okay). I am extremely blessed with the man the Lord chose for me and the children He gave to us.
At the moment, we have gotten the disease under control. But, it will always be a day by day thing. You never know when it will flare up and how bad it will be.
I say all of that to tell of a lesson this has taught me. The couple of months that I was down and out, I have felt like a failure. It is hard not to get discouraged when you feel so horrible physically and can not correct what is causing you to feel that way. Add on top of that that the kids do not all understand why I can't get out of bed or don't have the energy to go anywhere or do anything. I felt like I was neglecting the kids needs and they were not getting the attention they deserved.
When Mady sees a flower (even a weed) she runs to it and gently grabs it and smells it. She can linger at that single flower, no matter how small or insignificant it looks, for what feels to me like forever. She wants to take in every last scent she can from that single flower. And, if there are 100 flowers that look just like the first, she wants to enjoy the smell of each and every one of them.
This disease and my children are teaching me to slow down and smell the roses. I felt like I was missing out on so much with them when I was not feeling well. I did NOT like it! My kids are growing so quickly and I don't want to miss ANYTHING!
It is hard with so many people doing their own thing to remember to slow down and enjoy it. It is not something that I have not known, just something that I sometimes forget to do and need little reminders. Every time I see Mady smelling the sweet fragrance of a flower I am reminded that I need to slow down for ALL of my kids and enjoy them being kids. These moments are so limited by time. Before I know it they are going to be moving out and I don't want to have any regrets when it is too late to do something about it.
So, next time Mady runs to smell a flower, I think I will run with her and smell it with her. And while I am smelling it, I will say a little prayer of thanks for God for all the blessings in my life and remind myself to slow down and smell the roses!
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