Well, welcome Year 2006.  May this year bring more joy than anything to you and yours!

We spent a peaceful night at home.  We played Mario Party 7 with the kids.  I am really enjoying the game.  It varies itself and the board is interactive.  It's not the same thing over and over.  Of course, I have played it all of twice now, LOL.  It takes a while.  Jacob beat dh and I, then dh beat me after the kids were tucked away for the night.  The kids and I did a countdown to New Years at 9 P.M.  They enjoyed it.  Robby has already woken up once this year for a snack.  Nothing new there.  He is starting his year out right in his eyes, I am sure. 

I'm still working on writing my New Years contract.  Once I get it done, I will type it here.  I really want to be more organzied and become more healthy, so the contract will revolve around those things. 

Happy New Year to all, and to all a good night.

Just something I got in an e-mail

 I am Thankful :

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH..

FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.


FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

SEND THIS TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT I JUST DID.

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

New Year's Resolutions

Resolutions are usually lost on me.  I never stick to them.  Frankly, I think they are a waste of time.  Usually, when you get older, you are set in your ways and you aren't going to change them.  However, this year, I realize that is a pretty lousy attitude.  I would love to change some things about myself.  So...instead of resolutions, I am going to write a contract with myself.  I must adhere to the contract for the entire year.  If I don't, I am in breach of the contract.  It might work...I don't think anyone is going to bang down my door if I breach a contract that I wrote with myself for myself, though. Well....maybe one of my other personalities might object and help me stick to it.

Winding down

I hope everyone had a very, very Happy Holiday!  We are home from the In-Laws and resting and just kind of hanging around home.  Alexia has an appointment in a couple hours, but other than that, we are staying home.  It appears that a couple storms are rolling in.  Oh joy. 

The Holidays overall were fairly nice.  It still doesn't feel like Christmas time to me, which makes me sad.  The usual joy I feel has just been absent.  I miss my Mom something terrible.  My dad said something when we celebrated Christmas with him that is still haunting me.  I applaud myself for not falling apart, however.  He said "I hope you Mumma can see her Grandchildren.  That is all she ever wanted, was to be Oma."  As if this knowledge doesn't haunt me every day when I look at my children.  He had to go and remind me.  My children have this beautiful person as their Oma, and all they know of her is what she looks like (Pictures) and that she is in Heaven watching over them. 

I'm sorry...I went off on a tangent and started crying.  I guess I just figured out why Christmas really isn't Christmas for me.  It's missing Oma.  Oma had been in heaven for 8 years before her first Grandchild was born.  Nearly eight years to the day, in fact.  It was off by two days. 

On a more cheerful note, I am finally feeling better.  I wasn't 100% until Christmas Day.  Then that evening, Gampa came down with something, so I started feeling a little queezy again last night.  I'm better today again, though.  I sure hope this is over. 

Happy Holidays, all.  I'm sorry for the depressing entry, but I guess I just needed to say these things.

PS  The above picture is Robby helping me wrap presents.  Sorry it's so big, LoL.

 

Just not feeling it

I am just not feeling Christmas this year.  I was so excited at first...and now I have kind of petered out.  That virus the kids had went through the first three, and is still with Alan, and hit me upside the stomach Sunday night.  Just like that.  Wham!  This is where a hubby brag comes in though.  He took care of me, and took care of the kids.  And he doesn't feel well either.  He convinced me to go to the ER because he knew I was dehydrated.  He was right...three hours on an IV to get me feeling better.  The next day, he stayed home from work and did laundry, organized my cabinets, hung pictures and stockings, and took care of the kids for me.  What a wonderful Tigger.  We are hoping the virus clears out so we can see his Mom and the rest of the family.   And I really hope we didn't give it to any of my family on Sunday.  That would be a bad thing.  :-(  My Grandma could not take that kind of virus. 

Anywhos, Alan just called and he is bringing home movies and we are going to snuggle.  He says he is feeling better.  I am glad to hear that.  Good thoughts that Robby doesn't get it!  

I hope everyone is about ready for Christmas.  Happy Holidays.

Finding Humor

That's what I am doing as I go through my daily routines.  Otherwise, I think I would go a little nuts.  That would be a bad thing, since I am already completely nuts.  ::big grins:: 

Last night Robby actually stayed asleep.  Dh and I went to bed at 11 P.M.  Unheard of.  I, however, had a difficult time falling asleep.  Come around 1 A.M, I was just dozing off when Robby woke for a snack.  He was asleep again by 1:20, so no big deal.  I had trouble falling asleep again.  I was just dozing off when I heard it...that high pitched "something is wrong and I want my Mommy!" cry.  I made it to Aidan's room where I found him standing next to his bed in tears.  I asked him what was wrong and he pointed to his bed and said "My dinner in my bed!"  I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or hug him.  I got him all cleaned up and he repeatedly giggled and told me "That my dinner!"  It helped keep my mind off the completely gross task I was accomplishing.    I got him all snuggled back into bed and went to clean myself up and get back into bed.  I was just dozing off....when....yup...the dinner strikes again.  And again.  And again.  I just thank Robby for sleeping really well last night.  He got up for two short snacks and that was about it.  Aidan is 100% this morning.  This bug strikes hard and fast, then it is gone.  I'm waiting for Jacob and Robby to get hit with it.  I still have to chuckle, however, because Aidan came in this morning and I asked him how he was feeling.  "My dinner was in my bed!"  Yup, so you told me, sweetheart.  What a cute kid. 

Ho-ho-humbug

The Holidays are rushing forward at record speeds.  They are crunching down on me.  I don't act particularly stressed.  I don't feel particularly stressed, either.  I love shopping for gifts for my family, and I love wrapping them and arranging the stockings.  So, I'm having fun with it all, I'm just running out of time.  Don't tell my kids, but Santa is coming here on the night of the 21st.  One of his elves told me.  We are going to see Alan's family, so Santa is making an early stop.  Last year, I took all the kids out to the car to leave, and "Santa" put everything out before we left.  So when we came back...wow...Santa had come!  That would have worked great if we hadn't arrived home at 1 A.M.  So....not trying that again.  Haha.

The germs didn't miss Alexia.  Well, the Bronchitis and Strep did...but something else got her.  In six years of parenting, that was the nastiest thing I have had to clean up so far.  So, after four infants, you know it was pretty nasty, lol.  She is chipper and bright today, but still not eating.  So I kept her home today to rest.  It worked out, because Jacob had a field trip and the pickup time for him happened to be the exact same time Alexia needed to taken to school.   I would have been at the school, but I can't be in the cafeteria and outside the pre-school door at the same time, kwim? 

Tonight I need to get my Christmas cards ready to be stamped and mailed out tomorrow.  I need to clean my house.  I don't like it this way, but yet getting the gumption to do something about it just makes me yawn.  I know not sleeping at night has a lot to do with it.  Robby is back to his usual  tricks of not sleeping very well.  Ho-ho-ho and humbug...I need some zzz's.

And we sit

Robby is six months now.  He is sitting for short periods of time.  Excuse his lack of excitement.  Seems he has a case of Bronchitis and Pink Eye. 

Jacob has Bronchitis, and Aidan has Strep.  Alexia, so far, is kicking the germs away.

Hope everyone is staying warm and safe.

Mystery solved

So, I settle down to watch SuperNanny and rock Robby to sleep.  Guess what?  No SuperNanny.  "Santa Claus is coming to Town" was on.  So I snuck first into Aidan's room.  Asleep.  Then into Alexia's room.  Asleep.  Then into Jacob's room.  He was awake, so I quieted him and turned on the TV and let him watch it.  Which turns out to be mistake, because now he won't go to sleep.  Figures.  Anyway. 

I went down to bake cookies right after Robby fell asleep.  I was going through my cabinet looking for the chips and guess what literally fell onto my face?  You guessed it.  My measuring spoons.  I just don't get it.  I have been in and out of the cabinet at least 20 times because that is where the bowls and plates are.  I can't figure it out.  I guess the borrowers were done with them, so they placed them just right so that they would fall onto me when I opened the cabinet.  It looks like they even washed them....but I washed them just in case.

So anway...I managed to bake two dozen cookies so far.  Robby woke up screaming like someone was pinching him and Jacob will not stay in bed.  So the cookie baking is on pause.  I think Robby has a little gas so I will comfort him and rock him back to sleep.  Not that anyone wanted to know that.  ::grin::

Almost home free...

I'm almost there.  I made it to Seven P.M.  We watched movies, we mailed some bills.  We played very little today.  I'm kind of sad about that, but there are some days where the kids and I just need to be a little less attached at the hip.  They played with each other.  I did some housework.  I'm getting ready to do baths and story, then I am going to bake cookies.  All by myself.  SHHHH.  Tomorrow we will do a Christmas Project together.  Tonight I bake alone.

This Mommy's Good Hopes for the day

Now I wake up for the day

give me strength to laugh and play.

They whine and cry,

fight and hit,

they shout and argue,

and I know why.

My oldest thought it would be funny

 to wake the others up before it was sunny.

Five? Six? I am not sure. 

My husband was the one to

send them back to their beds.

I do know one thing,

my grumpiness is pure.

Give me strength to laugh and play.

Give me strength to get through the day.

And do not worry, I won't quit my day job to become a poet,

because I am not one and I know it.  <g>

It's still a Mystery...

I have no idea where the measuring spoons are.  My daughter says she put them in the sink.  I watched her do it.  They are nowhere to be found.  I think the Borrowers have moved back in.  The Banana bread was gobbled up before the end of the day.  I'm still baffled.

It's a Mystery

I will be the first to admit that I have been kind of stumbling through the day in a chaotic manner.  Last night I promised Jacob I would help him cut and tape the pictures from his Book CD pouches and put them with the correct CD in the new CD case he got for his birthday.  So there he was this morning, following me around with this CDs, his case, tape and scissors.  It would have been OK, but I was trying to get Alexia on the school bus, lol.  So, as soon as she was on the bus, I cut and taped.  Then I cooked breakfast, then played cards, then played Pirates.  By that time, it was lunch time, and it all just kept going from there. 

Fast forward to Jacob being at school, and Mommy, Aidan, and Alexia making banana bread while Robby slept.  We mixed it all up and had fun.  It took us an hour to mix it, lol.  "Where is the Mystery?" you might be asking.   Well, I just went to clean up after the banana bread making party, and my measuring spoons are missing.  Poof.  Just like that.  Nowhere to be found.  ::scratches head::  I wonder if I will find them in the banana bread...

Random pictues from this week

It's me

This was today.  Excuse the hair, I left my hairbrush at my Aunt's House, lol.

Happy Birthday, Jacob

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday my sweet Jacob,

Happy Birthday to you.

I cannot believe you are six years old, Jacob.  Where did the time go?  Too much of it has been spent with Mommy frustrated and lost.  Thanks for leading me when I have been blind.  Thanks for hearing for me when I have been deaf.  Thanks for feeling for me when I have felt blank.  I love you Jacob.

Love,

Mommy

A Prayer

The Best Prayer I Have Heard In A Long Time............

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic
last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is
rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend
a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man
who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student,
balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting
his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same
spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions
that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through
the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this
moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week,
this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us,
the greatest gift is love.

It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear.

Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all
humanity.

Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and
love.

If you send this to 5 people, then you have a chance to touch 5 people.
You won't get any wish for material things, however you might just find a
piece of serenity and the warmth of God's touch.

UNKNOWN

Happy Thanksgiving

I can't find my Turkey picture, so this will have to do.  I hope everyone has a happy, safe, and blessed Thanksgiving.  I'm extending my well wishes early because I don't know when I will be updating again.  I am finding myself crawling within myself.  I am going to yank myself out by the hair tomorrow because I did not play with the children as I should have today.  Tomorrow will be the 14th Anniversary of my Mother going to heaven, and I am just not dealing with it very well.   You would think that after fourteen years I would have a handle on things.  I plan on spending the Holiday close to family, thanking the stars for them every step of the way.

Time

This time thing is still yanking at my senses.  Since it was completely dark at like, what, 6 P.M.?  I got confused.  The kids were bathed and put to bed by 7 for three of them, 7:30 for the oldest.  They all went to sleep right away, so I guess they were tired.  I didn't even realize the time until I sat down and saw how early it was.  Oops!  I am sure extra sleep won't hurt them, though.  The note I got from Jacob's Teacher today was flaming bad.  Calling kids names, hitting other children, "having outburst during instruction."  Whooo-eeee.  I calmly took Video Games and Computer Games away until further notice and we had a talk about what to do if he gets frustrated at school.  Since I am not there, I don't know what is triggering all this.  I can only guess.  Frustration is my first guess.  The fact that the assistant teacher is out this week is my second guess.  She seems to be the stronger disciplinarian from what I have seen.  Time will tell.

Wacky days

Thursday:  Dh ordered Pizza for us on the way home from his school.  I did not know this.  The pizza guy comes, we pay, he leaves.  About ten minutes later, the pizza guy calls.  He's like "Yeah, uh, I just delivered Pizza to your house and I think I dropped $40 in your driveway."  Hmm, mm..ok...so I go out and look and sure enough there was $40 in the driveway bigger than anything.  I am amazed no one picked it up.  The guy came back and got his money.  He was very thankful.

Friday:  Alexia, Aidan, and I were waiting to cross a street that had a 3-way stopsign.  The lady at one of the stop signs was laying on her horn telling me to cross.  I looked in the opposite direction and saw a car coming at me 40 mph or faster and he wasn't stopping, so I didn't go.  The lady kept blaring on her horn, and when I crossed she cussed me out that I had the right-a-way and shouldn't have held her up.  This is the second time at this crosswalk that someone has said that to me.  You know what?  I don't care if I have the right of way.  If a car is coming fast and not stopping, guess what?  I'm waiting.  End of story.  I am not going to risk my children just because "I have the right of way."  Sometimes, that just doesn't mean very much to the other person.

Also on Friday:  I went to an appointment that I had specifically made sure it was either today or tomorrow so dh could be here with the kids.  I battle traffic and three traffic jams and barely made it there in time.  I told her my name and she told me "You missed your appointment, it was yesterday."  GRRR.  I was so frustrated.  Especially since when I left, the highway was sitting still again, and so was the alternate route.  All is OK, though.  I rescheduled the appointment for tomorrow and got some chocolate on the way home.  Chocolate cures all.  Well, except for being overweight...if it did cure that...I would be a skeleton.  :-)

I am finally smiling

Alan came home today.  He left day before Halloween to go to a school for work.  I didn't say anything because I didn't want to announce to unknown readers that the kids and I were alone.  It has been a long eleven days.  I can finally sleep well tonight.  I sure am out of separation practice.  It should be interesting when he goes back to sea duty, lol.

"Fall Back" gets me everytime

Am I the only one that thinks the days last forever when we "Fall back" in the fall? LOL  The kids and I have packed so much into today and I am Beat.  With the capital "B."  We have taken a walk, cleaned, played outside, jumped in leaves, played games, taken baths, etc.  And it's only three P.M.  LMBO.  I am ready for bedtime!

"Angels in the Outfield"

That is such a wonderful movie.  I have always loved that movie.  I have seen it at least twenty times since it has come out.  I am not ashamed to admit I saw it at least five times in the theater!  It was easy for me, because I worked at a theater and got to go to the movies free, lol.  My step-sisters would love to tell you a story about when they went to see it with me.  Since they can't, I'll tell you! 

We were sitting in the next to back row in the very middle of the theater.  At the end when the entire stadium stands up and starts making the "Angel Signal," I got up out of my seat and started doing it, too.  I was crying and sniffling and flapping and I didn't even care that the entire back of the theater had turned and was laughing at the crazy lady flapping in the back of the theater.   Not to mention the staff didn't let me live it down for a very long time.  Some were standing in the back waiting to clean. 

I cried my eyes out, tonight, too.  Jacob was so sweet.  "Are you crying, Mommy?"  I said "Yes, Jacob, I am."  He goes "Is it one of those Mommy Happy cries or are you sad?"  He's such a sweet boy.  He has been paying attention all these years, lol.

I will never get tierd of watching that movie.  I didn't realize that Matthew Mac...(not even gonna try to spell it!) was in the movie, though.  This must have been one of his first movies?  You know, the guy from "Wedding Planner" and a host of other things?

Hugging them in close

I sit here and listen to the news and read the news online and I think "The world has gone nuts!"  Why do I torture myself by reading and listening?  I am a worrier.  Bet you didn't know that.  Hehe.  So now in my mind, millions of sick birds are going to descend upon our nation, terrorists are lurking behind the bushes outside, and what is happening in Paris will happen here in my hometown tomorrow.   All while Global Warming keeps on heating up.  My thoughts are with the people of Paris and the people trying to contain the Bird Flu in Asia.  I just can't help but worry about what kind of world my children will be living in tomorrow, let alone 30 years from now.  ::goes to check on her children and kiss their little foreheads in their sleep::

Amateur photos

P.S.  There are no photos of me because I am always the one behind the camera.  I am pretty goofy looking, the kids are much cuter.  ;-)

I think the face says it all.  Keeping this one for the girlfriends.

A pad of post it notes, a Pencil, and a Two year old...

Yes, he was supposed to be sleeping.  I knew his light was on, but I had to take care of Robby for five minutes.  I'm glad he had the pad of post it notes, or the drawings would have been on the actual walls.  At least it was Pencil :-)  Good Night, Aidan.  Time to put the art away and go to bed.  Mommy will do more art with you tomorrow.

Farewell, my Pride

So, there I was, standing outside making sure Jacob got on the school bus safely.  I was holding Robby, and I was walking backward along our entry sidewalk to make sure Jacob didn't run out in the road.  I knew he wouldn't, but I am overprotective to a fault.  One moment I was walking along, the next I felt myself falling.  I must have done what any parent would do if they found themselves falling while holding their baby.  I turned midfall to protect Robby.  I don't remember doing it.  All I know is that my knees our scraped, the top of my foot is scraped, and my back hurts and is scraped.  I must have turned right before I landed and wrenched my back.  I'll get over that.  What hurt my pride was the school bus full of Kindergartners all laughing at me.  I laughed with them and took a bow, from my knees.  No way was I hoisting myself up in front of them!  Good thing, too.  I fell trying to get up, my knees were shaking so badly, lol.  I must have bonked the nerves.   The bus driver pulled up to ask if I was ok.  I said "Not to worry!  The bush broke my fall!"  For the most part it did; and it made a nice soft cushion for the arm that was holding Robby.

Robby is safe and sound, Mommy will heal.  My Pride has packed it's bags and taken a vacation, though.  Glad I can amuse the Kindergartner's twice this week, though.  Wouldn't want them to be bored.  ;-)

A little Robby update

Robby will be five months on the 6th of this month.  He just had his four month appointment today.  Because of circumstances, his two month appointment was late, so now all of his appointments will be a month behind due to the immunization schedule.  Oops!  Anywhos, he is 15 lbs on the nose and he is 26 and 3/4 inches long.  50% for weight and 95% for height.  Grow, baby boy, grow!  We have dabbled with Rice cereal a couple times.  He loves it, as you can see above.  I wanted to wait until 6 months or after, but he just loves to eat off of a spoon.  It started with him staring at my fork going from my plate to my mouth.  Back and fourth, back and fourth.  Then he started grabbing my fork and trying to get it to his mouth.  Now, if there is one thing I needed to get straight right away, it's this.  Mommy doesn't share her dinner.  ;-)  Just kidding.  Sort of.  So, anyway, we dabble with rice.  He eats it like a champ, now.  The picture above is a couple days ago after his first few bites.  His doctor said it was probably a good idea to not wait until six months because of family history of low iron after being exclusively breastfed.  :-\  I agree, though.  I don't want any repeats of sitting next to hospital beds because my baby can't breath.  Overall, he's a healthy little baby boy. 

Happy Halloween

It's been built up for a month now, and now it's over.  Anti-climatic at it's best.  The kids and I went to one neighbor's, but otherwise sat out front and passed out candy until we ran out.  Met some of the neighbors.  Chatted with a few of the neighbors I already knew.  Got the cold shoulder from a couple of the neighbors, lol.  Oh, well.  I wished them a Happy Halloween all the same.  I am trying not to be a bitter old lady. 

The kids were super wired all day long.  I have hidden all of the sugar.  I was going to get pictures of them dressed up tonight, but they didn't want to dress up.  They kind of threw on dress up clothes and called themselves  happy.  Figures, huh?  Oh, well.  They had fun passing out candy.  I'm beat.  I have my normal work to do.  Tomorrow will be busy, again.  Today was so busy that Jake's bus driver thought she would add to the fun.  It wasn't the normal driver.  She came from the opposite direction than normal, so I didn't see her coming.  Therefore, I was not outside.  Therefore, she just drove right on by.  Jake and I ran outside and kind of stared after the bus like sad puppies while the kids on the bus waved out the back window.  At least they have a sense of humor at such a tender age, hehe.    So I had to grab a sleeping baby and quickly transition three other children who normally require a LOT of warning before a transition.  They did remarkably well.  I was proud of them. 

Happy Halloween, and a spooky night to all.

My first Parent Teacher Conference...

was last week.  Jacob's Teacher was nervous.  I was just happy to have been able to walk the 20 minutes there and sit quietly while I waited with only Robby with me, lol.  I also had the 20 minute walk home to look forward to.  Anywhos, I sat with one butt cheek on the little kid sized chair and found out that Jacob's behavior is actually pretty good at school.  The only concern his Teacher has is his fine motor skills.  His Handwriting still needs work, but it has improved a LOT.  I already knew that, but then she showed me something from the first weeks of school and then something he had written just last week.  WOW.  Way to go, Jacob.  You still have work to do, but you are getting the hang of it.

I hefted my one butt cheek off of the chair and walked home with one giggling Robby and walked home to reward Jacob by taking all the kids trick or treating at the mall.  Fun was had by all.  Even Alan went with us, dressed up as a Pirate.

Frightfully Hilarious

So, last night dh and I were watching a movie.  I had him pause it so I could go downstairs to switch out laundry.  All of our cats followed me, so I shut the laundry room door when I went in.  I did my thing and opened the door and saw some cats right outside the door - but they were all staring behind the door.  So I looked up and saw a cat levitating at the edge of the door right about eye level.  I was a little confused, as I was lost in thought (not a very hard place for me to be,)  and I made a funny noise and jumped back a little.  That was bad enough...you know...levitating cats...but then this bald man jumps out and smiles from behind the door and I lost it.  I made even funnier noises, started crying...and yes, I peed myself.  Not sure why I am admitting this publicly.  Maybe because someone might need a good laugh.  Dh had moved so quietly I didn't even know he was there.   I thought he was still upstairs.   Dh hugged me and I was laughing and crying and was not quite sure whether to be angry or just keep laughing.  I chose laughing and crying.  With a few "Hmmph's" and hurt looks while dh kept on chuckling. 

Congratulations, Alan, you got me.  :-)

Ugh, I did it again!

Two days of Halloween frenzy and I didn't get a single picture.  Not one.  That is like three years in a row.  I am so awful at the taking pictures thing.  I just snap the pictures in my mind.  I feel like when I am trying to get the picture on camera, it's not "real," and I miss the "real" stuff.  KWIM? 

 

A Mommy's take on some products

If your baby has a diaper rash, these are my top three picks. 

a.) Boudreaux's Butt Paste

b.) Lansinoh Brand Lanolin (Yes, the nipple cream for Breastfeeding, lol)

c.)  Desitin.  NOT Desitin Creamy.  The Creamy version did nothing for my children.  Desitin used to be my number one pick, but I am pretty sure it BURNS when you put it on your baby's bottom.  You know, the kind of burn you get when you pour rubbing alcohol on a cut.  Or that Methailayde stuff.  Man..I cannot spell that word, and spell check and Websters have no clue what I am talking about.  LOL.  I am so glad that stuff isn't used widely anymore.  My mom used to keep them in her purse and crack one open everytime my brother and I got a scrape.  "It won't hurt, I'll blow on it!"  Ha!  Anyway, because I suspect Dsitin burns like that, I stopped using it.  I will use it if nothing else works, but the above listed things work wonderfully.

My other products of choice are L'oreal Kids Tangle Tamer for wet & dry hair.  It even works on my hair.  I love the kids L'oreal shampoo and conditioner in one, also.  You can take a comb right through my daugher's hair with no problems.  Johnson's and Johnson's just doesn't cut it for her.

Kid's and Pets.  Oder and stain remover.  Good stuff, but it takes A LOT of it!

Huggies Baby Wipes are good stain removers, too.  And I use these on my kids bottoms and faces? :-\  I swear by Huggies Wipes, though.  Love them.

Faded Symbolism

I have been a little sad about something lately.  I really don't talk about it to anyone, because in the end, it's a little silly.  I guess it's silly, anyway.

My Grandma lived in her house for over fiftey years.  It's always been "Grandma's House."  Family gatherings were always there.  The night my mom passed away, it just seemed natural for my dad to take my brother and I there.  When I left "home," (meaning the state),  I left from my Grandma's House.  Whenever something good, bad, difficult, exciting, happy, etc., happened, my family always went there.  We always knew when we headed out that Grandma would be there.  It was a given.

Well, the house is still there.  Grandma told my Aunt to sell it in August.  I thought it would be on the market for a while, but it sold in two weeks.  Everyone was kind of shocked, I think.  No one talked about it, though.  My family isn't like that.  If it's painful, we gather together and make jokes.  We don't talk about what is paining us.  We have known for a while that it wouldn't be "Grandma's House" forever.  I still feel kind of empty though.  Next time I go to my Aunt's and drive by the house, I know I will feel a pang knowing it isn't "Grandma's House" anymore.  A stranger lives there.  He says they used to live across the street, but no one remembers them.  My dad said he drove by there and it was "kind of weird," but that is all he would say about it.

On the subject of houses, I have always held the house that my family lived in together for seven years close to my heart.  Whenever I made it back home, I would drive by there.  My mom liked that house.  It was comfortable.  It had that cozy feel about it.  After we moved out, it had some history.  HUD took over a couple times, and I think it was even abondoned once.  Well, I just found out yesterday that a tornado ripped through that area about two years ago.  It took my old neighborhood.  Took most of the houses, including the one I used to live in.  My friend said the chimney was still standing.  She is sure that the area has probably been rebuilt by now, but it's not "my house" anymore.  I'm sure they put a bigger house there.  More modern. 

I can't help but feel a little sadness at the thought of the house where so many happy memories were created is gone.  I also think that I knew about the tornados in the back of my mind, but may have blocked it out.  Not sure why.  I feel for the families that lived there and pray that they are all safe, even two years later.

So many memories were created in those two houses.  I feel some contentment in the fact that those can't be taken from me.  Not yet, anyway.

Brief Update

Aidan seems to be doing fine.  Keeping him quiet is impossible.  This morning he woke up with a lot of bruises from his fall, but his head looks ok.  He's sleepy, but they told me to expect that.  He's sleepy and he had problems sleeping.  I woke him up a couple times to see if he was dazed and confused.  I have news for his doctor.  If you wake up a two year old at 3 A.M., he's going to be dazed and confused.  Regardless of leaps off of 8 foot walls onto concrete. 

Jacob had a solid gold week at school.   Happy faces all week.  I'm very proud of him.  Alexia is doing great.  Her speach is improving.  She has little excercises she does and they are helping tremendously.  Robby is drooling and growing.  He wears 12 months clothes because he is so long.

Alan discovered that he is not loosing his hair because of the Shampoo.  It's something else entirely.  I will respect his privacy and just say that he assures me it is not life threatening.  I feel awful for him, though, at what he has to go through.  My loving husband brought me home roses today.  So I can stop and smell the roses when I start getting stressed.  Better yet, a package from him came in the mail today.  Metal roses scented with rose oil.  So, I can stop and smell the roses whenever I want.  And they will always be red.  Have I mentioned how much I love him and that it would destroy me if anything happened to him?

 

Kittens and Hospitals

We have two new kittens.  Tiffany and Pumpkin.  Info and pics soon.

Aidan took an eight or so foot fall onto concrete.  He's a lucky little boy.  He walked away from that with a puncture wound on his head.  Scared the daylights out of Mommy, though.  We got back from the ER about an hour ago.  He thought the CAT scan "Was cool, Mommy!"  I seem to recall another little boy about this age thinking his head injury was "So cool, Mommy!"  Jacob thought getting stitches was cool when he had just turned three. 

I just have one thing to say.  When Robby is about to turn three, I'm wrapping his head in bubble wrap.

::Yaaaaawwwwn::

Ok.  Squeaky has a new game.  For two nights, he stopped with the waking every hour and he actually only woke up twice.  Then, wham.  For the past two nights, he has been getting up, and not going back down.  He will be all snoozy and warm on Mommy, but the minute I put him down, he starts squeaking.  I am so exhausted.  In fact, I woke up this morning to the children yelling "Mommy, Lexi's Bus is here, Lexi's Bus is here!"  Sure enough, Alexia's Bus was sitting out front wondering what was going on.  Poor bus driver sat there for five minutes while I tried to get dressed and down to tell her I overslept and would take Alexia in.  Alexia had gotten dressed, but she was wearing a purple skirt, a neon pink sweater, and a deep read over-sweater.  LoL.   So I needed to change her around a little bit.  I am going to try to stay awake today.  Wish me luck.  We all sat down last evening for a movie together and I put my head on dh's lap and fell fast asleep.  Squeaky was asleep on top of me.  I felt so bad.  Ok, I felt bad that I fell asleep, but felt better after the nap, lol.

Wilting Bloom

My Grandma is my light.  She has shone love on me ever since I can remember.  Even when I have made mistakes, she was right there, blooming with love for me.  She is an incredibly strong woman.  She has done so much in her life, and worked through so many challenges.  I have so much admiration for her.  I wish I could be half the person she is. 

We went to see her today.  My Aunt called early this morning saying she (My Aunt), was not  able to be at the nursing home when she went.  So she warned me that Grandma has been severly depressed lately.  So depressed, that they are considering medication for her.  My Aunt indicated that she hoped the kids', Alan's, and my's visit would cheer her.

Upon arriving, a nurse was just wheeling her down the hallway from her dinner.  Alan, the nurse and myself had to tell her we were there several times.  The nurse stopped and asked my Grandma to repeat what she had just said.  She was telling the nurse that "My Granddaughter should be here any minute to see me."  My heart about broke.  My Grandma looks nothing like the picture above.  She is a Wilting Bloom.  I always have to hide the tears in my voice when I first see her.  In this picture...she still has so much life about her.  She could move, take care of herself...she was still free.  She was still blooming and praising life's richness.  Now, she is a shell.  I hardly recognized her today.  It's like that every time we go to see her.  And there we were, standing right in front of her and talking with her, and she couldn't see or hear us.  I was ecstatic when she told me she could see Robby smiling at her.  I had placed him right up next to her face and she was playing with his foot and he gave her a huge gummy grin.  My Grandma's face lit up as if the sun had finally reached it after all these months.  It was so wonderful to see her smile again.  I haven't seen her smile in months.  Literally.

No one is surprised at Grandma's depression.  She has always done for herself up until over a year ago now.  First, she had to move in with my Aunt, and now she is basically in the nursing home until God calls her home.  This is not how she wants to live.  I will respect her and not list what she "can't do."  The list is vast...and it wears on her every single minute.  I told her the truth today when I left.  I told her, "Grandma, just know that you are thought of and loved every day.  The kids talk about you all the time, wanting to know when we will come see you again."  My Grandma cried.  I kissed her good-bye, and it was so hard to walk from the room.  I knew I had to, though.  My wonderfully, good husband was out in the van with the kids waiting on me to finish my visit. 

This picture was taken well over a year ago.  I like to remember my Grandma this way.  I know she wants us to remeber her this way, also.  A thriving bloom in the love of her family.

It's back, it's back!

Fall teased me a little, then retreated into the heat of the summer and taunted me with little drifts of scent on the wind, or by shadowing me from the sun for brief moments of time.  The heat has been winning, however.   Tonight, it's back.  I went outside to take out the trash and there is a chill in the air and a light drizzle.  Just enough to wet my excitement for Fall. 

My floors are mopped, my downstairs bathroom is "soaking," dishes are done, my counters are clean.  The last load of laundry is in the dryer.  Well, the last load until I look in the garage to see what dh piled up for me from the boxes we are still unpacking.  ;-\  I even managed to eat dinner.  It figures, though, that the moment my pork chop and my baked potato were on my plate, Squeaky woke up for a snack.  That's ok, though.  He's back to snoozy land.  I'm going to put this stuff on my carpet to see if it gets the yucky up, then I am off to bed.  It should be raining steadily tomorrow.  I am tickled pink.

I will be MIA for a bit, now.  This weekend will be very busy.  Jacob came home with a new stamp on his calendar today.  It said "You Goofed Off."  Well, hmm.  Jacob says he listened to his teacher and followed directions, but then he said he wanted to play with his friends.  So I am guessing he isn't clear on what "Goofing off" means.  I will be buckling down with him on practice sheets, making playdough, decorating for Halloween, and going to visit Grandma this weekend.  Have a great one!

A Mommy's day

It's 8:15 P.M.  I just read three stories and sang one song four times over.  I just tucked three little jammied angels into three little snug beds.  The fourth jammied angel is in my arms.  I'm hen pecking the keys, so this will be brief.  ;-)

While they all drift into the land where sugarplums dance in their heads, Mommy gears up and gathers energy after a long, tiring day.  Once the fourth is snug in his bed, Mommy must sweep, mop, pick-up, dust, do a couple cleaning projects, and prepare an art project for tomorrow.  I have known for a week that tomorrow is Alexia's teachers day to come for a home visit.  Well, after Alan made some phone calls today, I now have two separate workmen coming for two separate jobs.  All of these people are coming within that shady time frame of  "In the morning." 

It should be a fun day.  At least I get to stay home tomorrow.  I haven't even eaten dinner tonight.

A cut apart

I did it.  I took the boys for a haircut today.  This was Aidan's first "real" haircut.  The lady gave me his curls in a baggy.  They look so grown up.  I'm tearing up.  I can't say anymore about it.  If you want a comparison picture, you can see the "before" in this entry:

Some recent pictures

It's Monday again...

Started out pretty normally.  Rushing around to get Alexia on the bus.  The biggest challenge is keeping the boys in while I try to take Alexia out.  It's been more than once that my bus parade has put their stop signs out and remained stopped while I ran after kids.  Pretty normal stuff.  So I get all of that worked out and head up to shower so we could go grocery shopping with dh.  The shopping went fairly well, also.  I even brought everything home by myself and managed to get it into the house without incident. 

Once it was all inside the house is when things starting going astray.  The Electric Meter Reader guy came to the door informing me that he needed to read the meter.  So I had to go do dog duty while he walked through the dogs yard.  The poor guy almost peed himself when Sydney jumped up on her hind legs and got in front of him.  I tackled her down and the man literally ran the rest of the length of the yard, slamming the gate behind him.  I think he was still shaking.

While I was playing dog keeper, the boys had decided to go through the grocery bags and get out yogurt drinks.  We have a rule that we don't eat or drink in the living room.  This is established because my kids spill EVERYTHING.  Literally.  I went into the living room to find blue carpet.  I made Jacob clean it up, and while he was doing that, Aidan was spilling his yogurt drink.  I had confetti carpet.  Pink and blue.  Yay.  I wasn't that upset about the carpet, I was upset that they broke the rule. 

I managed to get through all that and get it cleaned up.  Alexia came home and Jacob went off to school.  We ran a quick errand, and when I got home, Aidan and Robby had just fallen asleep so I didn't want to move them.  I entertained Alexia for a little while and we talked, sang, etc.  She eventually decided she had had enough and started shrieking.  High pitched awful sounds.  The boys woke up, so I started getting the boys out and Alexia started throwing things at me for unknown reasons.  She rarely does anything like that.  I took her next intended projectile from her and that started more shrieking.  She got out of the vehicle and stood in the middle of the yard shrieking.  I am sure that sounded and looked wonderful.  I still had no clue what had pushed her buttons.  I was guessing she was tired.  Even after we got into the house, she shrieked.  Eventually she stopped, we snuggled, and she went on like nothing happened.  I guess she just had to let off some steam.  We all need to do that every now and then.

The rest of the day went ok.  I am STILL trying to get Jacob to go to sleep though.  Yo-yo, yo-yo, yo-yo.  I brought them upstairs at 7:30 to start quiet play time.  I wanted to take the trash out first, so I said "Stay in the house, I will be back in 5 seconds."  I got four steps down the walkway when Jacob and Alexia came bursting out the front door doing Indian whoops.  Both in their pajamas.  Neither of them came back to the house when I called to them.  Aidan, bless his heart, remained in the doorway going "Naughty, naughty!" to them.  ::chuckles::    Anyway, I tucked Alexia and Jacob in and sang them their songs and told them it was time to sleep.  (It was almost 8 p.m. by then, anyway).  Hopefully Jacob has finally given up and gone to sleep.  He has an extreme aversion to sleep these days.  Just like Squeaky, who was up at 1:30 A.M., 3:00 A.M., 5:30 A.M., and 6:30 A.M. to finally wake up for the day at 7:30 A.M.  Or something like that.  ::yawns::  I'm off to do the things Mommies do.

Tired

Physically, emotionally, mentally.  I am worn out.  I have to be honest here.  Three kids from the ages of five to two was a lot easier than three kids of almost six years to almost four months.  When Aidan was a baby, it was easy because Jacob was only three and Alexia was a year and a half.  Their interests weren't that far apart.   Jacob was happy to play with little people with Alexia, or giggle as Mommy knocked down block tours while she cared for the baby.  I could keep them all three happy pretty easily.  Now, their interests are so far apart, it rips me in four directions.  Jacob needs help with his school work and school projects.  He wants to play board games, card games, and other games that require more skills than Alexia and Aidan have aquired so far.  Alexia is all about Princesses and art and reading.  Aidan is a rough and tumble little boy who either wants to be outside playing in mud or be sitting on Mommy's lap.  Robby of course just wants held and talked to.  The point is, they all want and deserve 100% of my attention for half the day.  Well, four doesn't divide nicely into one half, lol.  I can give them each 100% attention for 1/4 of a day...but that isn't what they want.  And even if they did want that, that leaves nothing left for dh or myself.  I am drained of everything I have to offer anyone by 6 P.M.  Since bedimte is between 7:30 and 8, you can see the problem.  Plus, after bedtime is my me time and dh's time...but I'm empty by then.  I'm just an old, saggy, grumpy shell by the time the moon is high in the sky.  To make it more fun...I have to get up two to three times every night with Squeaky, then I have trouble getting back to sleep.  Jacob has also been having a bear of time getting to sleep each night.  Two hours of yo-yoing out of bed each night.  I'm trying my best to nix this in the bud.  I am sure lack of proper rest is in part accountable for his behavior problems at school as of late.  Four kids are a blessing in disguise...a very, very good disguise somedays.  But I know I am truely blessed.

And yet again

Mommy is gonna have to cement both feet to the floor to get through this, it seems.  Jacob came home with yet another "Yellow - (reason listed)" on his calendar.  Jacob is currently upset with me because I am refusing to put money for the Fifth Grade Candy Drive in his folder for him tomorrow.  He's also upset because he didn't get his computer time today.  One day he will love me for it, right?  This, too, shall pass. 

Wait...the teen years are coming...should I just brace myself for the ride?

Jacob update

Today was much, much better.  He did eventually tell me his version of what happened at school yesterday.  I wrote a note to his teacher asking specifics, and she readily replied.  Jacob's account matched the Teacher's (except no specific names were mentioned by the teacher of course).  I quietly sat Jacob down today and praised him for telling me the truth and explained why the inappropriate language was, well, inappropriate.  I also explained that when someone sticks their tounge out at him (or does anything else,)  that he should calmly tell them that it isn't nice, then walk away.  Jacob, of course, is all about "Well, they did it to me first!"  I am trying my best to discourage this line of thinking.  However, I don't want Jacob to be the kid that gets beat up for his lunch money every day, kwim?  Man, this parenting thing is really tough.

Hmm, Tuesday

A little better, but not that great.  Alexia got up at 5 A.M. to go potty, which would have been fine and dandy if she hadn't turned on the lights and left the door open.  Our house lit up like a Christmas Tree after that.  First Jacob, then Aidan.  I was already awake because Squeaky had just finished a snack.  So, anyway, I sent them all to lie on the beds while I dozed on and off for as long as they staid on their beds.  Then we all got up and started our day. 

Jacob came home with "Yellow - inappropriate language and he stuck his tounge out at others" on his calendar today.  He denied it, naturally.  When the children across the street wanted him to come over and play I had to tell him he couldn't.  I felt badly, because my kids rarely get to play outside of school.  I just felt that I couldn't allow him to do that when he didn't treat others very well at school today.  I also couldn't let Alexia play because I would have had to go over there with them, which meant all four kids.  So it was a cause and effect thing.  Bummer.

I hardly got anything done today.  I hope to get laundry folded while I watch the Premier of "Amazing Race."   That has to be my all time favorite show, with "Lost" close behind.  Or maybe it is tied.  :-)  Oh!  I almost forgot.  Wasn't I belly aching about society being carless about credit these days?  Well, some Yahoo has been charging stuff onto our account over the weekend.  Therefore dh has to go through all the muck to cancel and transfer all of our automatic payment stuff over to the new account. What a pain for him, but necessary. 

I'm off to make home made soft pretzels and let my mind turn to much for two hours of TV.  Oh wait, my mind is already mush.  You know how they say each time you have a baby, you lose 1/4 of your brain capacity?  I must be SOL, or should I say Out of Brain.  :-)

Monday...bah Humbug!

Whereas yesterday was wonderful, today was really stinky.  Well, not all of it.  But a large part of it.  Robby is being clingy again.  Jacob has regressed in his behavior.  Over the past two months, I was positve that I had eliminated the spells where he just screams "Stupid!" at me over and over.  Well, he did it Friday and he did it today.  I kept my cool today.  I just calmly told him to go upstairs into his room to be alone to calm down.  He kept screaming at me that he didn't have to do what I told him to, but I kept calmly replying that he needed to go calm down.  Well, he got up to his room and slammed his door.  Aye, yi, yi.  I let him stew for ten minutes or so until he calmed himself down.  I learned a long time ago that Jacob is like me.  If he is angry, you just need to back off and let him breath deep and relax for ten minutes or so.  Otherwise he will spout off at the mouth, just like Mama :-( 

Anyway, he is calm now and the three kids are playing quietly and nicely.  I think everyone is more than tired.  Early bedtime tonight.  However, Jacob has quite a bit of homework.  He apparently didn't understand what to do on his practice sheets at school today, so the teacher sent them home to be done here.  I asked him why he didn't do them, and he said he didn't know how.  I admit, it took me a minute to figure it out, too!  But anyway, he needs to do those sheets and his regular homework sheet on top of that.  With his mood and him being tired, I am dreading it.  I know it needs done.

Now I understand why Kindergarten is only half day.  These kids get overstimulated fast.  I kept thinking "How much could they really get done in three hours?"  Ha!  Jokes on me.  They cram so much into those three hours, I don't know why the kids are not spouting smoke out their ears at the end of every day.  I am sure whole days are just as busy for the higher grades.  So I guess it is a good thing that they start the Kindergartners out slowly.  Half a day is just right.  Live and learn.

Oh, one more thing before I start rounding up kids.  Wasn't I just glorifying in the rain yesterday?  I forgot what rain means.  "Puppies" digging under the gate.  @@  I spent three hours today moving puppies and mucking around in mud.  Bluck.  I wish my bathtub were in full working order.  I could really use a trip from the Calgon fairy.  Take me away, take me away!  But please, bring me back after an hour or so.  I would miss this circus I call my life ;-)

Falling for Fall

This is my absolute favorite season.  The smells, the sights, Halloween, school back in session...lol.  Seriously, though, I have always loved Fall.  There is nothing better than a slightly chilly rain with wet leaves blowing around your feet.  Or spending two hours raking up leaves, only to have children jumping in them and spreading them around.  And me jumping in myself! 

We needed milk for tomorrow morning so after the kids were all settled in bed, I headed off walking.  It was drizzling a little, but not a heavy rain.  I had no kids with me, so I kind of loped along just enjoying the smells.  A lot of people are taking advantage of the cooler weather and windows are starting to open.  The smells just wafted on the gentle wind and tickled my senses.  Gingerbread, wet grass, rain, cinnamon, the warm smell of a dryer running, roast beef, and when I was in front of my house - wet dog.  Hehe.  Our "puppy" absolutely adores lying in the rain on her back in the middle of the yard.

I really enjoyed the walk this evening.  As an added bonus, there was one Sunday Paper left and for $1.50, I was able to clip $18.00 in coupons for the next time we go shopping.  What a deal.  Not to mention, now I have newspaper to do paper mache with the kids this week.  I love doing projects with the kids in the fall.  We will make paper mache pumpkins for the windows.  I was going to see if the water balloons we have will work to make little pumpkins for a garland.  What do you think? 

I so enjoyed my walk, that I didn't even care that when I came out of the store it was raining a little harder than a gentle rain.  It had obviously downpoured while I was shopping, because when I stepped off of the curb, I stepped in an ankle deep puddle.  I was enjoying myself so much I hardly noticed, even when I kept sliding out of my shoes walking uphill or downhill. 

Today was a day to write down.  The entire family walked to the mall to spend an hour at the play area.  We all had fun, even dh, who seemed to enjoy his dish of Dippin' Dots ice cream while the kids ran wild. 

I had written an entry about yesterday, but I lost my connection right before I saved it.  Yesterday dh gave me a much needed break and Robby and I went to see "Flight Plan."  It was a decent movie, but the plot twists were kind of easy to figure out so the shock value that the writers/producers were going for was lost.  I did like the movie overall, though.  And Robby was able to get a much needed nap in. 

This week will be cool and Rainy, and I am really looking forward  to doing some baking and projects as a family.  I love Fall. 

School days

The school days are getting easier.  In the beginning, I expressed some doubts about Jacob's teacher.  However, five weeks into the school year has taught me to just be patient.  His teacher and her assistant are working very hard with all of the children and their  parents from what I can tell at home.  The weekly newsletters are thourough.  I requested extra practice sheets for writing once, and now I automatically receive a packet every time  Jacob turns the previous packet in.  He needs lots of practice in the writing department.  I have learned that Jacob LOVES numbers and really, really dislikes writing letters.  He can add any two numbers that the sum equals ten.  He can also subtract numbers from each other as high as ten.  He can count to 30, forwards and backwards.  When we label an egg carten 1-12 and put a bean equalling the amount of each cup in there, he can add each cup to each other to get the total sum.  As long as he has the beans in front of him.  12+11+10+9+8+7+6+5+4+3+2+1.  He rocks.  Ask him to write a letter, however, and he got pretty upset at first.  After three weeks of extra practice he knows that if he sits down and tries, and erases and keeps trying, that then he will get some play time all to himself.  The work is getting done faster and more completely.  His handwriting is improving day by day.  I am pleased and proud of him. 

Alexia seems to be settling in better, but I can never really tell.  She suddenly has a "new best friend in the entire world."  Her name happens to be the same exact name of Alexia's best friend from her previous school.   And the little girl wears the exact same clothes that Alexia wears every day.  Also, Alexia's Grandma sometimes goes to school to play on the computer with her.  ::frowns:: You see why I am leary of accepting this as the truth.  I try not to doubt my children, but I know Alexia's "Grandma" is not going to school to play on the computer with her.  The Grandma the kids know the best lives in Virginia, and the other two Grandma's are great-grandma's.  One just passed away, and the other one is in a nursing home unable to lift her head let alone go to school with Alexia.  I don't want to write a note to the teacher.  I don't want to questionmy daughter.  I am just playing it all by ear.  Alan and the kids and I walked to the pet store for fun this past weekend and a little boy from Alexia's class was in there.  They stood near each other for I would say ten minutes and never acknowledged that they knew each other.  His mother and I exchanged a sad smile because we both recognized each other and saw how the kids were totally oblivous of each other.  The good news is that Alexia seems to have bonded with her teacher finally.  She draws pictures every night to take to her teacher the next morning.  She no longer comes home to sing "I hate school, I hate school!"  I am also encouraged by the Speech Teacher there.  The class gets speech as a group twice a week.  On those two days, Alexia comes home and eagerly shows me the new sounds she learned that day.  She always shows me a neat little trick to get the sound out correctly.  I am very happy and impressed.  Alexia never did this at her previous school.  The previous speech teacher worked off of worksheets.  She sent the worksheets home and the only instruction was to say the sound with my child.  No tricks or tips, and Alexia never showed me any tricks.  I have no idea if the Speech Therapist was teaching easy little ways to help Alexia get the sound out or not, but I do know Alexia wasn't retaining them if she were being taught them. 

So, all in all, things are settling down.  I adore the bus drivers and they save my life every day.  It is so much easier.  I have had people in the neighborhood actually tell me they were glad to see the buses come by my house instead of me trecking down to the school four times a day, lol.  I need to work out though and get some exercise. 

A Hairy deal

Well, dh has lost his other eyebrow, but the good news is he doesn't seem to have lost any more hair on the top of his head.  Or back or sides.  :-) 

For what hair he lacks, I am shedding.  I just love this time three to four months post partum.  Ha!  My hair is coming out in clumps.  And to make it worse, I discovered my very first gray hair last night.  Erm, the first one that I will admit and acknowledge was my hair and not the dogs.  I didn't think that it would bother me, but it really did.  Or, I should say, it does bother me.  My hands are wrinkled, my face is getting wrinkled.  ::sigh::  When I was 26 I got carded for buying a lighter because I looked 13.  Now here I am, getting older with a powerful punch to the gut.

My loving husband...he made it all better.   "I'm going bald, and you are going gray.  Oh, well!"  LoL.  He did tell me I was sexy, but I know a line of of it when I hear it, hehe.  He loves me, that's all that matters.

Two, almost three, is so much fun

Note sarcasm.  Scenario:  I went to return a library book.  Aidan fell asleep on the way.  I hung out in a parking lot as long as I could with the other two that were with me still awake.  After an hour, I had to go home.   It wasn't a long enough nap.

Typical Two/Three year old scene 1:  I asked him to get out of the vehicle so we can go in.  He said "NO!"  He finally got out of his seat and said he wants help out.  So I helped him out.  He started screaming "Me do it, Me do it!" and climbed back into the vehicle.   I said "Ok, now you can do it!"  He started screaming for me to help.  Yup, I predicted that.  So I helped him out.  He wanted to walk.  I put him down.  He wanted to be picked up.  I picked him up and got him to the front door.  I put him down so I could go get Robby.  He refused to go in.  He started screaming.  He came running to me while I was getting Robby out and attached to my leg.  So I carried him on my leg, him screaming the entire way, into the house.  Once in the house, he sat screaming for about ten minutes.  I made him come to me, mean Mommy that I am.  I told him I loved him and when he calmed down, I would be in the living room for hugs and snuggles.  He did eventually come to me and that was that.

Two/three year old typical scene number 2:  "Aidan, do you want a banana while I am cooking dinner?"  Aidan screamed "NO!"  I said ok and went about my business.  Meanwhile, he started screaming that he wanted a banana.  I predicted that, too.  I gave him half a banana.  He screamed that he didn't want it.  I put it down.  He screamed that he wanted it.  I gave it to him, he threw it on the floor.  I threw it in the trash, I need to mop in a bad way.  No eating off the floor, here, lol.  He threw himself on the ground screaming about the banana.  I cooked dinner and he ate and calmed down.

Two/three year old typical scene number 3:  Quiet time starts at 7 pm.  In their rooms, allowed to play or read while I rotate baths.  Lights out at 7:30.  Can play quietly on their beds with a toy in the dark.  By eight, no toys.   It is 8:10, and Aidan keeps going into Alexia's room, or Jake's room.  Or I see a little hand waving out his door.  Absolutely refusing to sleep.  He will eventually pass out right inside his door or half on his bed and half off his bed.  He is currently doing the Tootie Top dance right outside his room.

It has been a long day.  However, it has been much better than yesterday.  All four children were able to get their "Mommy" time in, and Mommy was able to get some "Mommy time" in, also.  I know there are some people that will smile fondly, or not so fondly, in remembrance of their two/almost three year old doing these same things.  :-)

Savings Savy

We, as a family, went grocery shopping today.  I decided to try my hand at clipping coupons.  Plus, the store where we were going was running some pretty good specials.  Total savings for the day?  Almost $72.00!  We rock for a first try, huh?  There was only about $9.00 saved in coupons, but that is pretty good since I don't have them saved up yet.  To further our savings, we walked instead of drove, and I even walked the cart back.  So we saved gasoline, and got some exercise.  Just wanted to give us a "Whoo-hoo!"  Can I hear another Whoo-hoo?  :-)

Stretch Doll

You know...the one from Fantastic Four?  They have that doll of him and the commercial shows someone stretching him out in four directions (arms and legs?)  That is what I feel like.  Generally speaking, this week has been ok.  We went to a Ren Faire on Saturday and it was a good time.  Nice to get out.  I wasn't able to dress in Ren Faire gear this year so I really didn't get into it that much.  I just couldn't justify wearing an almost ankle length dress with a tight bodice.  Just picture someone trying to breastfeed with their breasts all tied up, lol.  "I'm holding them Hostage, Robby!  I'll give them up if you give me a good night's sleep, grrr."  ::best Pirate voice::   I really didn't think Robby would go for that, so I stuck with the jeans and a T-shirt thing while my husband dressed up to look like he had just dropped out of a time warp. 

Anyway, today, I don't know what it was.  I was just so frazzled.  Robby cried every single time I put him down.  It was just so frustrating.   And then Jacob was constantly standing in my space yacking a mile a minute, and Aidan was walking around whining.  Alexia is the only one that wasn't high needs today.  I felt badly, because they were all stretching me out and I couldn't give any one of them the attention they needed and deserved.  The house was yanking on me, too.  It still is.  I'm relaxing for a minute eating these yummy home made pretzel sticks that I just made.  Mmmmm.  After I gobble these up I need to go find my kitchen.  Bluck.  Not to mention make sure everyone has clean clothes and socks for tomorrow morning, and the trash needs to go out.  ::Sigh::  Hopefully I'll be a better Mommy tomorrow.  More attentive and less "This is my space and you are intruding in it" -ish.  Mommies need space, too, but somehow the kids always miss that part.  I am positive that some day I will miss them churning around my feet.  I also think that day is probably coming too fast. 

Society makes theft so easy

Has anyone else noticed this?  Besides corporations being careless with our personal information, we have other places that we go to often that plain old just don't care.  Like those "U-scan" lines.  Anyone can take anyones credit card/debit card in there and buy something.  Sure, it's only up to 12 items, but if you do that a couple times a day....several days a week...you could get a months worth of groceries, etc.  The "U-scan" lines here usually have someone at a little station at the end making sure you aren't there with a cart full, etc., but they sure aren't checking ID.  I don't think the cashiers even check the ID's or names on the cards anymore. 

Another pepper to sizzle my pot is the fact that I accidently left my keys at the checkout line this morning.  When did I realize this?  8:30 this evening when dh asked me to walk back over there to get him some Diet Coke.  Ok, why does this sizzle me since I am the one that left my keys? 

a.)  They could have scanned my card that as on my keyring to get my name and phone number and called me to say "Hey, you left your keys here!"

b.)  I went up to the guy in customer service and said "Did anyone find some keys at a checkout line earlier today?"  The guy didn't even respond, he just opened a drawer, pulled them out, handed them to me and then said "This them?"  I said "Yeah, thanks!" and walked away.  Fuming.  I had taken my ID in case, you know, they wanted to scan my card to check my identity. 

Now, I am glad I have my keys back.  Tickeled pink.  However, the lack of caring who has whose things in society these days really gets my goat.  Like the article I read in a magazine about a TWO-year-old with a lot of debt because someone stole his identity.  I can't remember the amount, but I am pretty sure the child was two.  ::goes away grumbling to self::

A time for Rest and Peace

The Lord Bless thee and keep thee. 

 Numb.VI;24 
                                                 

With a heavy heart, I tell you all that my Husband's Grammy has passed away.  The family is sad with her passing.  However, at the same time, "we are more sad than she is," as my FIL stated to Alan.  I regrettfully was not able to get to know her that well over the years.  From what Alan has told me, she led a very full, long, and happy life.  She accomplished many things that I can only dream of.  I admired her for what I knew about her life and endeavors.  Like my own Grandmother, Grammy's health has been deteriorating rapidly over the past year and a half and she was ready to let go and move on to the next adventure.  She would have been 91 in November.  Rest in peace, Grammy.

 

Ahh, Karma and I made up

Karma and I have made ammends.  Apparently.  Last weekend Karma swiped my cooking ability.  I burned or otherwise ruined everything I tried to cook.  Still edible, but not appetizing.  So this weekend, the roast chicken came out yummy, the waffles perfect, the cookies scrumptuous.  I am a cooking Godess!  Here me roar! 

::cough cough on the cooking Godess part::  Ok, so everything was pretty good, but I wouldn't ask me to hire on as a lead Chef in the whitehouse or anything.

Kid updates

Well, Jacob has had three weeks of Kindergarten now.  He seems to be doing an amazing job.  He has suddenly become this polite, well behaved, quiet little boy.  Hmmm.  Not that I am not enjoying it.  I do have to question my parenting skills when he goes away for three hours a day and his behavior/manners/skills improve times ten.  I think he just gets bored at home.  He has one of those minds that craves challenge, whereas mine craves quiet and mushiness.  :-) 

Alexia, on the other hand, has finished two weeks of school and she has become even clingier than normal, if possible.  She suddenly needs me all the time.  She sat at the table for dinner tonight and demanded that I feed her.  Hmmmm.  I am not sure what is up with that.  Even as a baby, she wouldn't let me feed her.  We started solids at eight months, and she started with Cheerios and food off of my plate, lol.  Now suddenly she is the "baby" and needs fed and carried and rocked.  Delayed reaction to Robby or reaction to school?  I guess I will never really know. 

Aidan has become rather clingy, also.  I know part of his situation is that he refuses to nap at home.  If he falls asleep somewhere (while we are out or while we are downstairs), great, but if he doesn't, no nap that day.  He fights it really hard.  It makes evenings rather difficult, but we are getting by.

Robby is the three month old rolling wonder.  Rolls everywhere.  I can't leave him anywhere and turn my back and expect him to be in the same spot when I turn back around.  Even if it is only two seconds.  He grins and giggles when he feels the urge, but basically he is a pretty serious little guy.  He recently discovered his hands and feet are his.  It brings me great joy to watch him bat at toys and try to get his feet into his mouth.  It doesn't bring me joy, though, that he has suddenly stopped sleeping through the night.  He is up every four hours or so, and he stays up for an hour.  I'm a very tired Mommy.  I am hoping it is just the three month growth spurt and it will end soon.  He eats every two hours during the day, so not a whole lot is getting done around here. 

My fifth kid lost one eyebrow and has a lot of bald patches on his head due to some Shampoo he used.  Do not use J. Crew Shampoo!  Poor dh thinks I am laughing at him, but I am not really.  I mean, the laughter does bubble up and overflow no matter how hard I try to keep it in, but I am not really laughing at him.  Kwim?  More like I am laughing for him, since he doesn't see the humor in it yet.  ::very large grin::  Seriously though, I hope, for his sake it isn't permanent.  I mean...imagine having to keep your hair buzzed with bald spots.  Tigger, I love you!  ::smiles fondly::  I really am not laughing at you. 

Thank you/AOL

Well, thanks, Kelly.  We were wasting quite the chunk of change.  I get to keep AOL at a much cheaper rate.  :-)  Thanks Becky and Tilly, also, for your support.  I'm off to finish serving dinner/laundry/clean/play/feel old.

A log of unusual sleeping positions

These are all my two year old, Aidan, in the past two months or so.

Alexia has had a hard week

The poor little girl.  Last Saturday, she was going down the hallway and ran smack dab into a doorknob.  She had a big 'ol goose-egg from that one, and still does.  So, a couple days later, she burns her arm while helping me cook dinner.  The very next day, she bit her tounge at lunch time at school.  And today...today she gets off the bus with not one, not two, but three bandaids on her knees.  She told me she fell on the playground, and the note that was sent home with her verified it.  Upon further examination of her, I discovered another goose-egg right next to her old one.  Poor little girl has had a really tough week.  Grace in action...erm...inaction.  I love her to pieces, but she spins through life head first.   As the twin goose-eggs prove.

P.S.  Kelly, I asked my dh about that $4.95 for BYOA.  He said we used to have that, but he changed our accounts because he travels and wanted dial-up.  I am not sure why he changed mine.  I generally don't check my e-mail while traveling.  So, I am in the process of trying to change it back.  If I can, I shall stay.  Thanks for the heads up!  Hey..and Tilly...I knew your name sounded familiar.  I stumbled on your journal somehow last week.  Love it! 

Some recent pictures

AOL

Well, I have been thinking and thinking and thinking about closing out my AOL account.  It has just been so much a part of my life for so long that I'm having a hard time letting go.  I have been on AOL for 8 years total, had this account for six years almost to the day.  The actual fact is, though, that we spend way too much money for me to have a blog and e-mail my family, lol.  I can e-mail from yahoo and write a journal on paper, right?  I think I will be a little sad and lost at first, but I will adjust.  On the flip side, I like AOL's interface.  I have the sites I go to regularly set up on my tool bar so I can log on and off in an instant after retrieving the information I need.  But I can do this on the internet explorer, too.  AOL is not our internet connection.  We just use it because we like it.  :-)  But now that they are going web based, the things we liked about it our dissappearing. 

Excuse me a minute while I ramble.  This entry has turned into me talking to myself and trying to list the pros and cons.  ::Grins::  The new message boards have grown on me.  It's easier to scroll down through 20 messages at a time instead of flipping through them one at a time.  Although, I don't enjoy reading message boards anymore, so what is the point of that.  Ha!  I enjoy reading other people's blogs.  But, if I really wanted to do that, I could log onto dh's account when he isn't home.  Right, Tigger?  Hehe.  It does seem a little silly to pay so much a year for a blog and for me to play some games on AOL.  Phhfft. 

Yeah, I think I have decided.  Maybe at the end of the year, after Christmas,  I will say fairwell to AOL.  Seems like a huge waste of resources when we can use the money for the kids clothes, food, etc. 

I wanted to thank you all for the kind comments.  I really enjoy them.  I will still be around for a little while, but then I think I will just have to let go.

My "not very busy week"

::cough cough::

Tuesday was non-stop with the kids.  I kept them busy all day.  Art, playing outside, going for walks, school, school work, baths, stories, bed.  Today was pretty much the same thing.  Just busy with the kids.  I did go in to the school to write up her IEP.  Her speech delays are not severe, and there is high hopes that she will be able to start Kindergarten next fall with no special services.  However, she is not adjusting to the new school at all.  I remember at her previous school she was laughing and playing with the other kids by day three.  Now, she comes home and gets off the bus and clings to me.  And cries.  And sings "I hate school, I hate school."  :-(  She told me on Tuesday that none of the other kids would play with her.  Upon talking with her teacher today, I found out that it is reversed.   Alexia won't even look at the other kids.  During free time she goes into the art area and ignores everyone else.  She will only speak when spoken to.  I am not worried yet.  The first week she was excited upon coming home, but this week has changed.  Hopefully it will change again next week.  We are giving her time to adjust.  I think it is a big change for her not being able to see her big brother during school.  She knows he doesn't even go to school until ten minutes after she gets home. 

Anywhos.  The kids are having a pretty good week.  It's like "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" here.  My three are getting along well together, playing nicely, and listening to Mommy.  Things that make you go hmmmm....but still celebrate!  Yee-ha!  ::grins::  I will enjoy this while it lasts.

Holiday is over

It sure was a good one.  Very lazy day today.  Even though the kids have had a very busy weekend, they still had a wonderful day today.  I had some trouble getting Jacob to finish the practice sheet that he was supposed to do in the classroom, but didn't finish.  Getting him to sit down to do his schoolwork is a challenge.  Any ideas on how to get a 5.5 year old to sit and do homework for fifteen minutes?  In a positive way.  I am really having to grit my teeth and keep on a happy face.  I am paranoid about accidently making homework a horrible chore for the rest of his life.  It's all in the attitude, right?  Currently, he is more interested in drawing pictures on his homework than he is about doing it.  :-\ 

Back to the grind tomorrow.  It should not be a busy week.  I have one appointment this week, and that is to create Alexia's new IEP.  I can walk to that.  Otherwise, I get to stay home all week and conserve gas and clean up and organize things a little.  I might take the kids for some walks to get out of the house a little.  It will do us all good.

What a day

Today was go, go, go.  I have to brag here.  The kids were excellent all day.  A few minor things, but overall, they did wonderful!  They had a lot of waiting in the car (traffic), etc, but yet they listened so well.  I made sure I told each one how proud of them I was before I put them to bed. 

Opa didn't make it to our house, but he did make it to Grandma's party.  He brought my youngest step-sister with him, not my step-mother.  WHEW.  It was nice to see my step-sister again.  I haven't seen her since Christmas of 2000.  Once upon a time we were pretty close.   She is eleven years younger than I am.  She was only nine when our parents were married.  It was kind of different seeing her all grown up.  I feel really old now, lol. 

Grandma was not overly pleased with it being her birthday.  She took all of our cheer like a champ though, then asked to be put to bed when she had had enough.  They discovered a little Gazebo with a nice big fenced yard to play in out behind the nuring home.  We had no clue it was there, so normally we were out front with the kids playing in traffic :-\  So today was nice, letting the kids run.  There were plenty of people there to give me a little break.  I really enjoyed it.

After Grandma's Party, we hurried back home so that we would go see Fireworks.  It was an awsome display.  The only damper on the evening was the fact that the cost of the display really could have helped a great number of the Katrina refugees.  Getting out of the area was amusing.  Took us over two hours to get home.  Overall though, the evening was a hit.  The three older kids were enraptured by the fireworks.  Robby was not impressed at all.  The roar of the crowd terrified him, and the finale had him kicking and climbing me as if to say "Let me back in, Mom, let me back in!"  I held him tight and rocked him and nursed him.  He's peacefully sleeping now, as are the others. 

There was another thing that struck me about the evening.  I remember going to downtown fireworks when I was a teenager.  While there was usually a heavy police presence to pullin rowdy drunks and direct traffic, that was really their only purpose.  Tonight, there was a large police presence, as well as the National Guard.  Not to mention the three fighter jets circling the area all evening.  They had done a Fly By (which we missed,) but then they stayed for the fireworks.  It was hard not to notice them circling the entire time.  This is obviously a very different world than when I was a child.  I am sure my parents thought the same as I was growing up and things around them changed.

Voicemail

I really should check it more often :-\  I checked it today to find out that several people had called and left messages with information that I need/would like to know.  One of them was Jacob's school bus driver the day before school started ;-\  If I had gotten that message, I wouldn't have gone through two weeks of dragging kids to and fro.  Oh well...them's the breaks!  I must apologize to her on Tuesday.  She probably stopped and honked on the first day of school and I wasn't here. 

I checked my voicemail again this evening to find out that my dad is planning on stopping here on his way up from the south in the morning.  He actually said "we," which is very disturbing to me.  That could only mean my stepmother will be with him.  That is not a very good thing.   The message said if they were running late, they would head straight up to Grandma's nursing home...which is also not a good thing.  Grandma has not seen my stepmother for at least ten or eleven years to the best of my knowledge.  That was by design, too, not accident.  Never-the-less, I am cleaning my house just in case, and preparing myself to be calm and quiet tomorrow.  The way Karma has been biting me in the butt all week, I would really prefer not to tempt her anymore.