Micah vs. Ping Pong Table!
Isn't this a pitiful looking boy? You can hardly believe how long he DIDN'T cry over this!
Saturday, February 09, 2008
You Should Have Seen the Other Guy!
Micah vs. Ping Pong Table!
Isn't this a pitiful looking boy? You can hardly believe how long he DIDN'T cry over this!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Micah
So today we had a great discussion, me and Micah, on the way to preschool.
"Mama - I hot." (It is about 40 degrees outside and the car isn't warmed up yet. I'm shivering.)
"Micah - don't you mean you are cold?"
"No mama - I hot."
"Well, mommy is cold."
"Yeah. I hot too."
Reason #879 for not trying to reason with a 2 year old! They can't tell the difference between hot and cold.
I was impressed with our little back-and-forth! Normally, I say something and he says, "No - don't want it." We are making progress...
Slowly!
"Mama - I hot." (It is about 40 degrees outside and the car isn't warmed up yet. I'm shivering.)
"Micah - don't you mean you are cold?"
"No mama - I hot."
"Well, mommy is cold."
"Yeah. I hot too."
Reason #879 for not trying to reason with a 2 year old! They can't tell the difference between hot and cold.
I was impressed with our little back-and-forth! Normally, I say something and he says, "No - don't want it." We are making progress...
Slowly!
$20
So today, I learned something new again. Go figure. I learned that you can't trust a 6 year old with $20. Last night, Katie told me that they had a book fair at school and that her class was going to get to go to it today and she wanted to buy a book. Well, you hate for your kid to be the only one without a book, so I go to the ATM. I only can get a $20 bill so Katie and I work out a deal - she gets ONE book and brings the rest of the money back to me.
Right. Who's the idiot? I showed up at school later in the day and her teacher meets me first - "Oh Katie is so sweet - you should see the book she chose for her brother!" (I am just knowing that her ONE book was not chosen for her brother.)
She sees me and comes running. "Mom - you should see all the stuff I got at the book fair and I STILL got money back." She has 2 books for herself and one for her brother.
It was sweet of her to think of her brother so it's not like I can scold her for that. And one of the books she picked is a board book so that "brother can share it". It was about Barbie the fairy, but none the less...
Anyway, I finally get around to asking for the rest of the money. Not much point in that.
I got a whopping $0.77.
Rick laughed. He said she comes by her money management skills honestly! That's the truth!
Right. Who's the idiot? I showed up at school later in the day and her teacher meets me first - "Oh Katie is so sweet - you should see the book she chose for her brother!" (I am just knowing that her ONE book was not chosen for her brother.)
She sees me and comes running. "Mom - you should see all the stuff I got at the book fair and I STILL got money back." She has 2 books for herself and one for her brother.
It was sweet of her to think of her brother so it's not like I can scold her for that. And one of the books she picked is a board book so that "brother can share it". It was about Barbie the fairy, but none the less...
Anyway, I finally get around to asking for the rest of the money. Not much point in that.
I got a whopping $0.77.
Rick laughed. He said she comes by her money management skills honestly! That's the truth!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Penguins, by Katie
We just got a new printer that has a scanner so I had to scan and post this picture that Katie drew at school. They are studying winter animals and the number 4 so this is how she chose to illustrate it! Cute cute cute! This one made it onto the fridge!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Epiphanies
It seems like every year for the past few, I have had a major epiphany about myself. Maybe it's a sign of aging (!) or perhaps I'm in a slower phase of life right now and have a little more time (while folding the endless laundry or building lego towers) to contemplate things. Whatever the reason, my first resounding thought for 2008 occurred last week.
I think one of the first times I felt one of these "themes for the year" or "major lessons" occurring was in 2005, our first full year here in SC. I can vividly recall it - it was revealed to me, by God I have decided, that my first impressions (of which I had a lot, that year) cannot be trusted and are usually wrong. I was just so amazed after we had been here several months to discover that the initial conclusions I had so quickly drawn during our visit here and during the first few months we lived here, were shattered with time, and things were not as I had assumed they would be. It wasn't that things were worse, actually they were probably better than I had thought, but largely they were just different. I remember this specifically being true with regards to relationships, both the new ones and the surviving long-distance ones. So anyway, throughout the year, that epiphany resounded within me and has become part of who I am. Maybe I am less likely to jump to quick assumptions about how things will be, or maybe I've become a bit more patient with myself and more open to see how things develop. Either way, it was good to learn that about myself.
I'll spare you such a lengthy explanation of other year's thoughts. This year, though, I am still in the exploratory phase of this new insight. I have decided that this year I will be allowing other people to tell me no! Sounds arrogant, I know! It's not really as simple as that sounds. All I can say to explain is that in the past, I have tried to be pursuasive with someone when I felt like their reasons for saying no were unfounded, like they didn't know what they were missing or how things would really be if they went along with my plan! This assumption is based on some pretty arrogant thoughts - such as, I know what is better for someone than they know themselves and that others are incapable of making a good decision, so I need to badger them into making a better one which invariably agrees with me! What has made me like this, I wonder.
Anyway, the real question is what this will look like in the "new me". One big difference I notice in mature, Godly women is that they tend to talk a lot less than me. I think that will have something to do with this new insight. I think that there is still a place for encouraging others, but I think I will have to be analyzing my motives much more closely before determining if what I am "encouraging" someone towards is at all self-motivated. I don't think I have been mean-hearted in the past with what I have tried to convince folks to do or not to do. But arrogant, perhaps, in thinking I knew better what they ought to do. It is somewhat painful to put that word on myself!
However, if the shoe fits... Transformation is a necessary part of "the walk" and it could be a lot more painful than just having to admit to something like arrogance, so at this point I will just be thankful for a gentle lesson this year and try to keep this thought at the front of my mind until it becomes part of me! May God bless you with new revelations about what he wants to transform within you in this new year!
I think one of the first times I felt one of these "themes for the year" or "major lessons" occurring was in 2005, our first full year here in SC. I can vividly recall it - it was revealed to me, by God I have decided, that my first impressions (of which I had a lot, that year) cannot be trusted and are usually wrong. I was just so amazed after we had been here several months to discover that the initial conclusions I had so quickly drawn during our visit here and during the first few months we lived here, were shattered with time, and things were not as I had assumed they would be. It wasn't that things were worse, actually they were probably better than I had thought, but largely they were just different. I remember this specifically being true with regards to relationships, both the new ones and the surviving long-distance ones. So anyway, throughout the year, that epiphany resounded within me and has become part of who I am. Maybe I am less likely to jump to quick assumptions about how things will be, or maybe I've become a bit more patient with myself and more open to see how things develop. Either way, it was good to learn that about myself.
I'll spare you such a lengthy explanation of other year's thoughts. This year, though, I am still in the exploratory phase of this new insight. I have decided that this year I will be allowing other people to tell me no! Sounds arrogant, I know! It's not really as simple as that sounds. All I can say to explain is that in the past, I have tried to be pursuasive with someone when I felt like their reasons for saying no were unfounded, like they didn't know what they were missing or how things would really be if they went along with my plan! This assumption is based on some pretty arrogant thoughts - such as, I know what is better for someone than they know themselves and that others are incapable of making a good decision, so I need to badger them into making a better one which invariably agrees with me! What has made me like this, I wonder.
Anyway, the real question is what this will look like in the "new me". One big difference I notice in mature, Godly women is that they tend to talk a lot less than me. I think that will have something to do with this new insight. I think that there is still a place for encouraging others, but I think I will have to be analyzing my motives much more closely before determining if what I am "encouraging" someone towards is at all self-motivated. I don't think I have been mean-hearted in the past with what I have tried to convince folks to do or not to do. But arrogant, perhaps, in thinking I knew better what they ought to do. It is somewhat painful to put that word on myself!
However, if the shoe fits... Transformation is a necessary part of "the walk" and it could be a lot more painful than just having to admit to something like arrogance, so at this point I will just be thankful for a gentle lesson this year and try to keep this thought at the front of my mind until it becomes part of me! May God bless you with new revelations about what he wants to transform within you in this new year!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Good Book
Okay - so I'm getting why women should have their children while they are still young! Pregnancy in my 30's is more difficult than in my 20's. But I guess a good byproduct of feeling like such a slug right now is that I've had a good excuse to read more (like I really needed that!)
I found another gem - "We Are All The Same" by Jim Wooten. It's no Saturday afternoon read - it's actually quite intense, but very moving in a way we all need to be moved. It's biographical, though retold in a great story, about an AIDS orphan in South Africa and the white woman who changed his life and those of countless others by deciding that there had to be more to her life than what she had found thus far. Unfortunately, she doesn't reach any spiritual epiphanies in this period of her life but she does reach some very God-like conclusions and develops a passion for compassion towards those on the margins of society.
Having grown up in the 80's and 90's, I heard words like 'apartheid' and names like 'Mandela' and 'Desmond Tutu', but not until this book have they all come together to make real the suffering and desperation of millions of people that were created in the image of God and that are loved by him as fully and completely as my own children are. I recommend this book for the shear reality of it - the day to day, face by face reality of life for millions in Africa.
You might need to chew on this one a bit!
I found another gem - "We Are All The Same" by Jim Wooten. It's no Saturday afternoon read - it's actually quite intense, but very moving in a way we all need to be moved. It's biographical, though retold in a great story, about an AIDS orphan in South Africa and the white woman who changed his life and those of countless others by deciding that there had to be more to her life than what she had found thus far. Unfortunately, she doesn't reach any spiritual epiphanies in this period of her life but she does reach some very God-like conclusions and develops a passion for compassion towards those on the margins of society.
Having grown up in the 80's and 90's, I heard words like 'apartheid' and names like 'Mandela' and 'Desmond Tutu', but not until this book have they all come together to make real the suffering and desperation of millions of people that were created in the image of God and that are loved by him as fully and completely as my own children are. I recommend this book for the shear reality of it - the day to day, face by face reality of life for millions in Africa.
You might need to chew on this one a bit!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
New Year, New Kiddo
So in case you haven't heard, there is yet another Castleman on the way. #3 is due in July and Katie said that the Lord spoke to her and told her that this one will be a baby sister. We'll just go with that. My only prayer (besides that it's healthy) is that it will be laid back and quiet! This house is rowdy enough, which of course begs the question, why we are doing this again. We'll let you know if we figure that out.
Anyway, I just wanted everyone to be in the loop since it seems like there is always someone that doesn't hear until late. We have known for a couple months but we wanted to wait to tell the kids until Christmas, so we've been trying to keep it on the down-low. Micah announced to everyone at church this week - "I a big brudder", which was cute.
I guess that's all for today! Happy New Year!
Anyway, I just wanted everyone to be in the loop since it seems like there is always someone that doesn't hear until late. We have known for a couple months but we wanted to wait to tell the kids until Christmas, so we've been trying to keep it on the down-low. Micah announced to everyone at church this week - "I a big brudder", which was cute.
I guess that's all for today! Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Tonight's Bedtime Conversation
K - I think I know what Santa is getting me for Christmas.
M (mom) - What's that?
K - A scooter.
M - But that's what he got you last year and I don't think he'll bring you the same thing 2 years in a row.
K - Then he might bring me a bike.
M - You got a bike for your birthday.
K - Yeah but he doesn't know that.
M - Well I think if he keeps track of who is naughty and who is nice he probably also knows who has a bike and who needs one.
K - If Micah is on that naughty list I sure won't be surprised. You know, mom, if you are on the naughty list, you get gunk and tar in your stocking.
M - Or lumps of coal?
K - Yeah. I'll check his stocking and if he gets that, I'll trade stockings with him so that he has some Christmas joy.
Sweet sister! Note that there is no concern on her part as to whether or not she is on the naughty list!
Best of luck to us all, that we all make the nice list and don't get gunk in our stockings!
M (mom) - What's that?
K - A scooter.
M - But that's what he got you last year and I don't think he'll bring you the same thing 2 years in a row.
K - Then he might bring me a bike.
M - You got a bike for your birthday.
K - Yeah but he doesn't know that.
M - Well I think if he keeps track of who is naughty and who is nice he probably also knows who has a bike and who needs one.
K - If Micah is on that naughty list I sure won't be surprised. You know, mom, if you are on the naughty list, you get gunk and tar in your stocking.
M - Or lumps of coal?
K - Yeah. I'll check his stocking and if he gets that, I'll trade stockings with him so that he has some Christmas joy.
Sweet sister! Note that there is no concern on her part as to whether or not she is on the naughty list!
Best of luck to us all, that we all make the nice list and don't get gunk in our stockings!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
12 Christmas Facts
Okay - I got tagged. So here are some Christmas facts about me...
1. I have a funky nativity scene that my friend Susan gave me about 8 years ago. It is pretty strange-looking - I don't know if I actually like it but I always put it up each year and it has become a family tradition, so I guess I like it just for that reason. It is a bit miraculous since it has actually survived this long - it's made by Mikasa and is fine china. Not a good construction for life in this house!
2. I buy Katie a nutcracker every year. When we had our first Christmas as married folks, we had nothing to decorate with. I thought it would be cool for her to have a collection to take with her when she gets a home. I try to find one that defines her for that year. This year's is a fairy, but don't tell her because she hasn't gotten it yet!
3. Rick buys me a Hallmark ornament every year but my favorite (of all 12 - he hasn't missed a year) is the first one he gave me. It has 2 squirrels roasting acorns over a flickering fire. The boy squirrel is burning his acorn because he's not paying attention to it - he's too busy mooning over the girl squirrel!
4. Last year I set up the tree in the kitchen to protect it from Micah. This year, it's back in the living room but there are only about 25 ornaments on it to save my sanity! So far, it's still standing. Knock on wood!
5. My mother in law (who is wonderful in every other way) makes a strawberry jello frozen salad-type-thing every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas that the whole family loves. I finally got the courage this year to tell her I don't like it. We had a good laugh about that. It was just too hard to keep up the act! 12 years is a long time! One great thing, though - my mother in law gave me a Christmas journal the first year we were married. It has a place for a family picture and lines to write in what we did that year, who we spent time with and what special gifts we got. I love it and have updated it every single year.
6. My mom makes some things I don't like either, but my favorite cookie that she made when I was younger and that I make now is the little oatmeal balls rolled in powdered sugar. They always taste a bit better when mom makes them, though. My favorite Christmas gift from my dad was a stuffed raccoon, named Racky, which he gave me when I was only 6 or 7 or 8. He said he picked it out and it had a place of honor in my bed for a long time. Wait, that's 2 facts. Sorry. Just had to get that one in.
7. When we were littler, my mom had a funny igloo with penguins that went with it. She always set it in the bay window at Christmas time. Unfortunately, the igloo was made of styrofoam and the penguins had sharp beaks and we pecked the igloo to death. It was too iresistable to jab those beaks into the styrofoam. I still miss that igloo.
8. We also had a great advent calendar that my bratty little brother asked for when mom and dad moved a few years ago. I started making one in about 1998 - it's not moving too quickly. When I'm at my brother's house this Christmas, I will probably steal that advent calendar if I see it out.
9. I do love my family and Rick's family. Being with all of them at the same time is fun but it gives me a stomachache most years. I think it's the rowdiness, combined with close quarters, sitting too long and too much to eat. I wouldn't trade the time but I am prepared for the cramps. Does that happen to anyone else?
10. I don't pretend that all the gifts come from Santa. Maybe I'm just selfish, but I want my kids to think Mom is cool too.
11. Rick is slowly recovering from his Grinch-er-osity. This condition resulted after working in retail jewelry for 9 consecutive Christmases. He doesn't ever Christmas shop with me but I really don't mind. I actually prefer shopping alone (or with kids if I have lots of snacks.) I think that makes me a bit of a freak!
12. I don't really care about having a white Christmas. It would be fun to see my kids play in snow but I don't care when that happens. I live in the south for a good reason and I am not envious of you snow-covered, freezing-in-your-beds, wearing-puffy-coats-just-to-check-the-mail northerners. Ya'll hear that? But merry Christmas all the same!
Fact #7 really made me laugh as I typed it out. I bet my brothers remember that igloo.
You might not have wanted to know about #9. But it's a fact!
Okay. Now I tag Brenda, Philip (since you don't have anything else to do this week!) and Heather M (not Heather Jo - like you are going to update your blog any time soon! You might have gotten this done by next Christmas!)
1. I have a funky nativity scene that my friend Susan gave me about 8 years ago. It is pretty strange-looking - I don't know if I actually like it but I always put it up each year and it has become a family tradition, so I guess I like it just for that reason. It is a bit miraculous since it has actually survived this long - it's made by Mikasa and is fine china. Not a good construction for life in this house!
2. I buy Katie a nutcracker every year. When we had our first Christmas as married folks, we had nothing to decorate with. I thought it would be cool for her to have a collection to take with her when she gets a home. I try to find one that defines her for that year. This year's is a fairy, but don't tell her because she hasn't gotten it yet!
3. Rick buys me a Hallmark ornament every year but my favorite (of all 12 - he hasn't missed a year) is the first one he gave me. It has 2 squirrels roasting acorns over a flickering fire. The boy squirrel is burning his acorn because he's not paying attention to it - he's too busy mooning over the girl squirrel!
4. Last year I set up the tree in the kitchen to protect it from Micah. This year, it's back in the living room but there are only about 25 ornaments on it to save my sanity! So far, it's still standing. Knock on wood!
5. My mother in law (who is wonderful in every other way) makes a strawberry jello frozen salad-type-thing every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas that the whole family loves. I finally got the courage this year to tell her I don't like it. We had a good laugh about that. It was just too hard to keep up the act! 12 years is a long time! One great thing, though - my mother in law gave me a Christmas journal the first year we were married. It has a place for a family picture and lines to write in what we did that year, who we spent time with and what special gifts we got. I love it and have updated it every single year.
6. My mom makes some things I don't like either, but my favorite cookie that she made when I was younger and that I make now is the little oatmeal balls rolled in powdered sugar. They always taste a bit better when mom makes them, though. My favorite Christmas gift from my dad was a stuffed raccoon, named Racky, which he gave me when I was only 6 or 7 or 8. He said he picked it out and it had a place of honor in my bed for a long time. Wait, that's 2 facts. Sorry. Just had to get that one in.
7. When we were littler, my mom had a funny igloo with penguins that went with it. She always set it in the bay window at Christmas time. Unfortunately, the igloo was made of styrofoam and the penguins had sharp beaks and we pecked the igloo to death. It was too iresistable to jab those beaks into the styrofoam. I still miss that igloo.
8. We also had a great advent calendar that my bratty little brother asked for when mom and dad moved a few years ago. I started making one in about 1998 - it's not moving too quickly. When I'm at my brother's house this Christmas, I will probably steal that advent calendar if I see it out.
9. I do love my family and Rick's family. Being with all of them at the same time is fun but it gives me a stomachache most years. I think it's the rowdiness, combined with close quarters, sitting too long and too much to eat. I wouldn't trade the time but I am prepared for the cramps. Does that happen to anyone else?
10. I don't pretend that all the gifts come from Santa. Maybe I'm just selfish, but I want my kids to think Mom is cool too.
11. Rick is slowly recovering from his Grinch-er-osity. This condition resulted after working in retail jewelry for 9 consecutive Christmases. He doesn't ever Christmas shop with me but I really don't mind. I actually prefer shopping alone (or with kids if I have lots of snacks.) I think that makes me a bit of a freak!
12. I don't really care about having a white Christmas. It would be fun to see my kids play in snow but I don't care when that happens. I live in the south for a good reason and I am not envious of you snow-covered, freezing-in-your-beds, wearing-puffy-coats-just-to-check-the-mail northerners. Ya'll hear that? But merry Christmas all the same!
Fact #7 really made me laugh as I typed it out. I bet my brothers remember that igloo.
You might not have wanted to know about #9. But it's a fact!
Okay. Now I tag Brenda, Philip (since you don't have anything else to do this week!) and Heather M (not Heather Jo - like you are going to update your blog any time soon! You might have gotten this done by next Christmas!)
Friday, December 07, 2007
Merry Christmas from Katie, Micah and their cousins...
(hint - click on the words "merry Christmas".... there you go!)
(hint - click on the words "merry Christmas".... there you go!)
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Funny Things...
Kids are a lot of work and headache (let's just be honest) but they can be so entertaining.
One of our biggest laughs of the month was yesterday - Katie watched the movie "Pocohontas", which she has seen before. I was reading a book, with my amazing ability to block out noise (Rick is so impressed by that) so I was unaware that the movie had just ended with John Smith sailing away from Pocohontas, back to England. All I knew was that Katie flew onto my lap weeping. I look at Rick for some clue and he is laughing his head off, silently, which was sweet. Turns out, she's crying for Pocohontas. Weeping, actually. And not just for a minute. This went on and on and got funnier and funnier. She has such a tender heart. Unfortunately, this doesn't always extend to REAL people, such as those which live with her!
Micah's funny new thing is to come in for a kiss but just bump into me, then back off and sadly say, "It's broken, mama!"
Let's play a little game - one popular at our house. It's called "What the heck is Micah saying?"
The sound of the word is 'keem-peter'. This one we actually know but I wonder if anyone else has a clue.
Well, that's about all I got! It's been a slow week!
One of our biggest laughs of the month was yesterday - Katie watched the movie "Pocohontas", which she has seen before. I was reading a book, with my amazing ability to block out noise (Rick is so impressed by that) so I was unaware that the movie had just ended with John Smith sailing away from Pocohontas, back to England. All I knew was that Katie flew onto my lap weeping. I look at Rick for some clue and he is laughing his head off, silently, which was sweet. Turns out, she's crying for Pocohontas. Weeping, actually. And not just for a minute. This went on and on and got funnier and funnier. She has such a tender heart. Unfortunately, this doesn't always extend to REAL people, such as those which live with her!
Micah's funny new thing is to come in for a kiss but just bump into me, then back off and sadly say, "It's broken, mama!"
Let's play a little game - one popular at our house. It's called "What the heck is Micah saying?"
The sound of the word is 'keem-peter'. This one we actually know but I wonder if anyone else has a clue.
Well, that's about all I got! It's been a slow week!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Last Night's Bedtime Conversation...
Mom: Katie - time to say your prayer.
Katie: Dear God, Thank you for this day. Please help the pilgrims get home on the Mayflower safely. Amen.... Mom, did they get home safely?
Mom: Baby, that all happened a long time ago.
Katie: Was that in 1982?
Katie: Dear God, Thank you for this day. Please help the pilgrims get home on the Mayflower safely. Amen.... Mom, did they get home safely?
Mom: Baby, that all happened a long time ago.
Katie: Was that in 1982?
Sunday, November 18, 2007
2 Thoughts...
A couple years ago, one of the middle schoolers at church asked me, "When your baby (Micah was a baby at the time) poops in his diaper and you have to change him, does it still stink to you, since he's your baby?"
Bless her heart.
Dear R.K. - Yes. It stinks. Badly. (And I hear a resounding AMEN from Rick.)
I thought about this yesterday because I was struck by something that is different in my experience with my kids than my experience with other kids. When I was teaching I developed a massive gross-out phobia with loose/losing teeth. It seriously made me nauseas to see kids wiggle and pull out their teeth.
Well, Katie lost her second tooth yesterday and it was ugly. I can't explain exactly how this happened. All I really understood from her hysterical crying was that a blanket snagged this not-very-loose tooth and when she rolled over in bed, it jerked the tooth out. It was bloody and seemed to hurt quite a bit. But I realized later that day that I hadn't been particularly grossed out. I felt bad for Katie and somewhat perplexed as to how that all happened, but not grossed out. Score one for the mom. 2 teeth down, many more to go. My favorite part of the whole tooth-losing event was listening to Katie this morning, reenact how she woke up and discovered that the tooth box was empty of the tooth and full of a dollar!
Speaking of favorite times, I think that our assembly at church yesterday was one of my all time favorites - at least in the top 10. During the singing time, Micah (who was dressed exactly like Rick in a blue dress shirt and khaki pants) led his own little worship time in the aisle beside me with a yellow crayon as his microphone. He has his little hands in the air and he was singing at the top of his lungs! It was beautiful. I think Rick had a hard time keeping everyone together because there weren't too many eyes on him - they were all watching Micah and laughing their heads off. I know that he isn't supposed to be providing the entertainment - in fact, I know he didn't even see anyone watching him because he'd have stopped if he did. He was just all into the praise music. But I just can't stifle that enthusiasm! It is so cool to see him praising God and trying to be like his dad! I can't think of a more beautiful thing that could happen in our assembly, so I let him sing on! The dancing got a little crazy, but sometimes you just can't help yourself!
Bless her heart.
Dear R.K. - Yes. It stinks. Badly. (And I hear a resounding AMEN from Rick.)
I thought about this yesterday because I was struck by something that is different in my experience with my kids than my experience with other kids. When I was teaching I developed a massive gross-out phobia with loose/losing teeth. It seriously made me nauseas to see kids wiggle and pull out their teeth.
Well, Katie lost her second tooth yesterday and it was ugly. I can't explain exactly how this happened. All I really understood from her hysterical crying was that a blanket snagged this not-very-loose tooth and when she rolled over in bed, it jerked the tooth out. It was bloody and seemed to hurt quite a bit. But I realized later that day that I hadn't been particularly grossed out. I felt bad for Katie and somewhat perplexed as to how that all happened, but not grossed out. Score one for the mom. 2 teeth down, many more to go. My favorite part of the whole tooth-losing event was listening to Katie this morning, reenact how she woke up and discovered that the tooth box was empty of the tooth and full of a dollar!
Speaking of favorite times, I think that our assembly at church yesterday was one of my all time favorites - at least in the top 10. During the singing time, Micah (who was dressed exactly like Rick in a blue dress shirt and khaki pants) led his own little worship time in the aisle beside me with a yellow crayon as his microphone. He has his little hands in the air and he was singing at the top of his lungs! It was beautiful. I think Rick had a hard time keeping everyone together because there weren't too many eyes on him - they were all watching Micah and laughing their heads off. I know that he isn't supposed to be providing the entertainment - in fact, I know he didn't even see anyone watching him because he'd have stopped if he did. He was just all into the praise music. But I just can't stifle that enthusiasm! It is so cool to see him praising God and trying to be like his dad! I can't think of a more beautiful thing that could happen in our assembly, so I let him sing on! The dancing got a little crazy, but sometimes you just can't help yourself!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Scarmbled Eggs, Chicken Nuggets and Micah's Nose
Parenting is such a learning experience. Yesterday, I learned that scrambled eggs are much the same consistency as, well, there's not a very nice way to say this...well, as snot. I know this now because Micah stuck them up his nose but fortunately, due to their unique consistency, they blew right out into a tissue! Breakfast, anyone?
They tell you during your parenting crash course that you shouldn't leave young children unattended while they are eating. I heard this. What they didn't tell you is that while a child is eating, safely secured in his highchair, you can get a surprising amount of work done. (This, along with many other things, is why I always lose my mother-of-the-year award in early January!) With Katie, this unattended eating issue only came up once, when she stuck a straight pretzel in her ear and broke it off. (Thanks to Shari and her suction machine, we were spared an ER visit.) However, with Micah this is becoming a bigger issue.
The funniest occurrence was on our mega-trip a couple months ago. We were eating Chick-fil-a in the car. As he finished his nuggets, Micah started calmly saying "Mama. Chicken. Nose." Micah says strange stuff, so I don't get too worked up. He might have thought he saw me put chicken in my nose, which I was pretty sure I hadn't. He might have been wondering if chicken's had noses. Or, it was possible that he was saying something that had nothing to do with chickens or noses. I did look in his nose and of course I couldn't see anything, so along we went.
We stayed in a hotel that night and the next morning, Rick took him down to the continental breakfast. A crowded hotel breakfast is hairy enough - add a fast and determined 2 year old and Rick's patience was put to the test. But the best part, which I laughed heartily about upon hearing it, was when Micah did a gi-normous sneeze in the middle of it all and out flew a rather large piece of chicken. We now know that Micah's nasal cavity must be quite large to have accommodated such a chunk of chicken! Honey mustard, anyone?
Ahhh... the glamorous life! And it's only getting better!
They tell you during your parenting crash course that you shouldn't leave young children unattended while they are eating. I heard this. What they didn't tell you is that while a child is eating, safely secured in his highchair, you can get a surprising amount of work done. (This, along with many other things, is why I always lose my mother-of-the-year award in early January!) With Katie, this unattended eating issue only came up once, when she stuck a straight pretzel in her ear and broke it off. (Thanks to Shari and her suction machine, we were spared an ER visit.) However, with Micah this is becoming a bigger issue.
The funniest occurrence was on our mega-trip a couple months ago. We were eating Chick-fil-a in the car. As he finished his nuggets, Micah started calmly saying "Mama. Chicken. Nose." Micah says strange stuff, so I don't get too worked up. He might have thought he saw me put chicken in my nose, which I was pretty sure I hadn't. He might have been wondering if chicken's had noses. Or, it was possible that he was saying something that had nothing to do with chickens or noses. I did look in his nose and of course I couldn't see anything, so along we went.
We stayed in a hotel that night and the next morning, Rick took him down to the continental breakfast. A crowded hotel breakfast is hairy enough - add a fast and determined 2 year old and Rick's patience was put to the test. But the best part, which I laughed heartily about upon hearing it, was when Micah did a gi-normous sneeze in the middle of it all and out flew a rather large piece of chicken. We now know that Micah's nasal cavity must be quite large to have accommodated such a chunk of chicken! Honey mustard, anyone?
Ahhh... the glamorous life! And it's only getting better!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
A Plain Old Sunday
Well, it's just another day around here. Let's see what I can tell you...
Micah started going happily into his preschool last week, for the first time. Previously, he would start, from the moment he saw me put his backpack in the car, saying "No no Miss Debbie does bubbles." (Miss Debbie is his teacher and she usually ends the day with a massive bubble-blowing event, earning her the name from Micah "Miss-Debbie-does-bubbles".) He has gone from throwing a raging fit when we leave him to now throwing a fit when we pick him up. I think that kid has a quota of fits he must throw each day because it seems pretty arbitrary when he throws them. He wants music on. He doesn't want music on. He wants certain music on. He wants it louder, softer, etc.... But fortunately for him, he's a lover and my frustration is diminished when he (frequently) showers his love on me. One of my friends said her 3 year old asked her, at a rather tense parent-child moment, "Mama, are you trying not to kill us?" I guess Micah might sense that at times, so he pours on the charm!
I am daily astounded at what Katie is learning at school. It's been mostly good stuff so far! I'm sure the bad stuff will astound me too, whenever we get around to that! The other night we were laying in her bed thinking of everything that starts with the letter "M". I said "marshmallow" and she said, "Hey mom, did you know that is a compound word?" Wow! She's in kindergarten, for Pete's sake! Anyway, I'll quit there to avoid the "look-my-kids-a-genius" obnoxiousness that irritates me with other people! I'll save the listing of her amazing accomplishments for my parents. Isn't that the great thing about grandparents? They never tire of hearing how wonderful your kid is!
Anyway, Rick is doing good too. He launched a website for his jewelry stuff - you can see it here . The business has been just enough for him and we are blessed by the chance to keep his skills up and supplement our income.
I wrapped 6 Christmas gifts last night. I was pretty proud of myself. Not that they look exceptional or anything, but that is just 6 gifts that I won't have to buy the week before Christmas! I know, it's a glamorous life. You don't have to remind me.
Well, unfortunately, that's about all I got. I'll sign off with one of my new favorite quotes...
"Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything, but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs."
PS - By the way, in the picture above, Katie is not squatting down - Micah is really that tall! Yikes!
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Tools
Here are my deep thoughts for the week!
I think that we are born with certain innate tools. I think this is different than talents or skills.
I'll use myself as an example. And Rick of course!
I was born with an internal clock (set to the right time!). Here is why I think this.
I always know what time it is, within about 15 minutes. Time never gets away from me (like some people say happens to them when they are late.) I am rarely late - usually I am annoyingly early. I can estimate how long something will take me to do and I am usually right.
I know that this is innate because Rick doesn't have it. He has learned a lot of habits from me, so he is not usually late nowadays, but it's not in his blood. He is frequently shocked at what time it is and he is bad at estimating how long something will take. We joke about it - he'll say, "It'll just take a minute." and I'll say, "Great - see you in a few hours!"
On the flip side, however, he has an innate compass. He knows where we are, which direction is out and when to turn. I can look at the sun and, since I always know what time it is, can tell where north is but that doesn't mean I can get anywhere. We live next to a huge neighborhood with winding streets. It is faster to get to the east side of town if we cut through that neighborhood. Rick has been taking that shortcut several times a week for 3 years but I still can't find my way through it. I have a hard time figuring out interstates - I-26 near my house runs north and south but is labelled east and west and I can't remember which direction I need to take to go one exit north of where I am. And the corn-field maze. Don't get me started. Talk about panic attack!
In addition to a clock, I have an internal calculator. Don't take this to mean I'm good at math. I can honestly say I am terrible at math - I don't know calculus from geometry. But I can do math in my head and usually pretty quick. This annoys people too. I think it is a challenge. But this tool goes defunct if I don't have enough sleep.
Rick has an internal tape measure. I'm at a little disadvantage here because I learned metric growing up and now I have to use the other. But I still don't think I have the measurement tool.
Rick can usually know what size blinds we need for the window we didn't measure before going to Lowe's. I would be estimating between 45 and 70 inches! He gets a little closer. I will, however, know that if it costs $29.99 and we have a 15% off coupon, we'll only pay about $158 for it (after he buys a new drill to install it) and it will take approximately 3 months to do the job (after we put it off in favor of anything else)! We are quite a team!
That's all I got!
I think that we are born with certain innate tools. I think this is different than talents or skills.
I'll use myself as an example. And Rick of course!
I was born with an internal clock (set to the right time!). Here is why I think this.
I always know what time it is, within about 15 minutes. Time never gets away from me (like some people say happens to them when they are late.) I am rarely late - usually I am annoyingly early. I can estimate how long something will take me to do and I am usually right.
I know that this is innate because Rick doesn't have it. He has learned a lot of habits from me, so he is not usually late nowadays, but it's not in his blood. He is frequently shocked at what time it is and he is bad at estimating how long something will take. We joke about it - he'll say, "It'll just take a minute." and I'll say, "Great - see you in a few hours!"
On the flip side, however, he has an innate compass. He knows where we are, which direction is out and when to turn. I can look at the sun and, since I always know what time it is, can tell where north is but that doesn't mean I can get anywhere. We live next to a huge neighborhood with winding streets. It is faster to get to the east side of town if we cut through that neighborhood. Rick has been taking that shortcut several times a week for 3 years but I still can't find my way through it. I have a hard time figuring out interstates - I-26 near my house runs north and south but is labelled east and west and I can't remember which direction I need to take to go one exit north of where I am. And the corn-field maze. Don't get me started. Talk about panic attack!
In addition to a clock, I have an internal calculator. Don't take this to mean I'm good at math. I can honestly say I am terrible at math - I don't know calculus from geometry. But I can do math in my head and usually pretty quick. This annoys people too. I think it is a challenge. But this tool goes defunct if I don't have enough sleep.
Rick has an internal tape measure. I'm at a little disadvantage here because I learned metric growing up and now I have to use the other. But I still don't think I have the measurement tool.
Rick can usually know what size blinds we need for the window we didn't measure before going to Lowe's. I would be estimating between 45 and 70 inches! He gets a little closer. I will, however, know that if it costs $29.99 and we have a 15% off coupon, we'll only pay about $158 for it (after he buys a new drill to install it) and it will take approximately 3 months to do the job (after we put it off in favor of anything else)! We are quite a team!
That's all I got!
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Halloween Scrooge
If there was a character that felt about Halloween like Scrooge felt about Christmas, that would be like me. I don't have any spiritual issues about it. I just don't like it. I am annoyed by the persistent knocking on the door, stressed by finding the cutest costume, frustrated by the deluge of sugar on my family, etc. Pretty Scroog-ish, eh? But I grudgingly went along with things again this year, although I refused to pay for costumes. Here was what we came up with - Roman citizens...
It was kinda funny because everyone called Micah "Little Ceasar" (like the pizza guy) and some of the teenagers kept saying that my kids were dressed for a frat party, not a halloween party. That made me laugh and overall, we had a good time at a Halloween party with folks from church and I only spent $6 on the costumes, so life is good!
It was kinda funny because everyone called Micah "Little Ceasar" (like the pizza guy) and some of the teenagers kept saying that my kids were dressed for a frat party, not a halloween party. That made me laugh and overall, we had a good time at a Halloween party with folks from church and I only spent $6 on the costumes, so life is good!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
7 Years of Plenty?
Totally random thought here. Has anyone noticed a larger than usual crop of acorns this year? Pulling out of the driveway each morning sounds like we are driving over bubble wrap, there are so many acorns that have accumulated overnight. What is so funny to me is the squirrels climb up to the top of our oak trees, which would be about 60 or more feet up, and shake the branches to make them fall. Have they not noticed that there are about 7,000,000 of them already on the ground? Let's work a little smarter, little squirrels. That could explain why you are not on the top of your food chain!
On a more frightening note, has anyone ever been hit with an acorn that has fallen down 60 feet? I can't do the math on that anymore, but I'd estimate the velocity of an acorn could reach a force similar to the force Micah uses tackling Katie when he wants to take her down! In either situation, it's going to hurt. We are about to start using helmets outside.
I just wonder if I should be concerned about the plethora of acorns. I may have to consult the farmer's almanac and see what that bodes for the winter. Maybe I should be squirreling something away too. Mac and cheese was on sale at Publix this week - buy one get one free. Hmmmm...
On a more frightening note, has anyone ever been hit with an acorn that has fallen down 60 feet? I can't do the math on that anymore, but I'd estimate the velocity of an acorn could reach a force similar to the force Micah uses tackling Katie when he wants to take her down! In either situation, it's going to hurt. We are about to start using helmets outside.
I just wonder if I should be concerned about the plethora of acorns. I may have to consult the farmer's almanac and see what that bodes for the winter. Maybe I should be squirreling something away too. Mac and cheese was on sale at Publix this week - buy one get one free. Hmmmm...
This truly is a glamorous life I lead.
For example, I had 2 major victories today in the domestic goddess department. First, I figured out how to get the straps off of Micah's high chair so that I could wash 2 years worth of crust out of them. You might think this is minor. If so, then you have never witnessed the magnitude of crust that can accumulate on anything a toddler routinely touches. Especially one that eats like Micah!
Secondly, I actually finished all of the laundry today. Finished. As in all washed, all dryed, all folded and all put away. Even the hang up stuff! Every article of clothing except for what we were wearing! I even washed tennis shoes and a jacket, all of the detached high chair paraphernalia and every one of the towels in this house. In fact, I didn't know we had that many towels. (Does anyone else feel like they are always scrounging for a towel in the morning? Many a day, I have settled for a damp pink one that Katie had used the night before.) Problem was, there was some serious jamming going on to get all of the towels in the cabinet. Maybe I should have left some in the dirty clothes hamper, but that would have made this only a minor laundry victory.
The trade-off for these feats of domestic splendor was in the loss of some drywall. Let me explain. Micah is a little Houdini. He has mastered almost every baby-type lock, including the door knob covers. So in order to let him out of my sight, he has to be either strapped in his high chair (via the formerly crusty straps) or thoroughly gated in. I have a tension mounted gate that stretches across the hallway to keep him out of the bedrooms and I was determined to do that today. I had to tighten the tension rods repeatedly because he kept busting through them. I finally got them so tight that I had to leave the thing up all day, leaping over it even while he was asleep, because I couldn't get it off. Rick finally managed to get it off, along with a chunk of drywall on each side of my newly painted hallway. Bummer.
BUT, refer back to my 2 major domestic victories. Don't "they" say something like 'victory demands sacrifice'?
On a totally separate note, I have to jot down a very happy mom moment for the sake of posterity. Katie has not been the most fun kid these days. She has a pretty sassy mouth on her (shocker, huh) and she is extremely moody (another big shock). But yesterday, we were at a Daisy Scout meeting at Moe's (southwest restaurant). Moe's was voted as the troop's favorite restaurant and they graciously agreed to let us come eat as much chips and queso as we could pack down them. Anyway, the TV was on and there was coverage of a fire and explosion somewhere. Katie (my TV junkie - no surprise there) spotted it and drew the attention of all the girls to the TV. Then she said, "We need to pray for the people in that fire. Everyone hold hands." She then proceeded to tell the girl next to her to offer the prayer, which she did. Incidentally, it was a rather lengthy prayer, although very sweet, and Katie couldn't make it all the way through without dipping a chip - the sneaky dipping of the chip was rather comical. But I was just so proud of her tender heart! If only all of us had such an immediate inclination to pray in the face of tragedy!
It is a glamorous life! All I am lacking is an extremely large pair of dark sunglasses and then everyone would know how glamorous it is!
For example, I had 2 major victories today in the domestic goddess department. First, I figured out how to get the straps off of Micah's high chair so that I could wash 2 years worth of crust out of them. You might think this is minor. If so, then you have never witnessed the magnitude of crust that can accumulate on anything a toddler routinely touches. Especially one that eats like Micah!
Secondly, I actually finished all of the laundry today. Finished. As in all washed, all dryed, all folded and all put away. Even the hang up stuff! Every article of clothing except for what we were wearing! I even washed tennis shoes and a jacket, all of the detached high chair paraphernalia and every one of the towels in this house. In fact, I didn't know we had that many towels. (Does anyone else feel like they are always scrounging for a towel in the morning? Many a day, I have settled for a damp pink one that Katie had used the night before.) Problem was, there was some serious jamming going on to get all of the towels in the cabinet. Maybe I should have left some in the dirty clothes hamper, but that would have made this only a minor laundry victory.
The trade-off for these feats of domestic splendor was in the loss of some drywall. Let me explain. Micah is a little Houdini. He has mastered almost every baby-type lock, including the door knob covers. So in order to let him out of my sight, he has to be either strapped in his high chair (via the formerly crusty straps) or thoroughly gated in. I have a tension mounted gate that stretches across the hallway to keep him out of the bedrooms and I was determined to do that today. I had to tighten the tension rods repeatedly because he kept busting through them. I finally got them so tight that I had to leave the thing up all day, leaping over it even while he was asleep, because I couldn't get it off. Rick finally managed to get it off, along with a chunk of drywall on each side of my newly painted hallway. Bummer.
BUT, refer back to my 2 major domestic victories. Don't "they" say something like 'victory demands sacrifice'?
On a totally separate note, I have to jot down a very happy mom moment for the sake of posterity. Katie has not been the most fun kid these days. She has a pretty sassy mouth on her (shocker, huh) and she is extremely moody (another big shock). But yesterday, we were at a Daisy Scout meeting at Moe's (southwest restaurant). Moe's was voted as the troop's favorite restaurant and they graciously agreed to let us come eat as much chips and queso as we could pack down them. Anyway, the TV was on and there was coverage of a fire and explosion somewhere. Katie (my TV junkie - no surprise there) spotted it and drew the attention of all the girls to the TV. Then she said, "We need to pray for the people in that fire. Everyone hold hands." She then proceeded to tell the girl next to her to offer the prayer, which she did. Incidentally, it was a rather lengthy prayer, although very sweet, and Katie couldn't make it all the way through without dipping a chip - the sneaky dipping of the chip was rather comical. But I was just so proud of her tender heart! If only all of us had such an immediate inclination to pray in the face of tragedy!
It is a glamorous life! All I am lacking is an extremely large pair of dark sunglasses and then everyone would know how glamorous it is!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
51 hours in the car and 2,947 miles later...
...we survived the marathon trip and have recovered nicely! We hit 15 states plus one province and lived to tell about it! We had a great visit with my mom and dad, Rick's mom and dad, all of my brothers and friends in Arkansas. Rick also had a GREAT reunion show with the Christian group he sang with for 10 years and we had a lot of fun catching up with those guys.
There is much more to tell but I'm sleepy tonight, so I'll leave you with some glimpses of our incredible journey...
Micah's first taste of hockey (outside of my parents church in Canada on a Sunday!) They don't normally play hockey at church, by the way! It only seems that way!
We actually got to wear winter clothes in Canada!
My parents are still finishing building their house. My dad and brothers let him "help"! I guess this is what "training up a child in the way he should go" means in my family!
Ahhh... cousins! This is Jolene and she is tougher than she looks, fortunately for her!
There is much more to tell but I'm sleepy tonight, so I'll leave you with some glimpses of our incredible journey...
Micah's first taste of hockey (outside of my parents church in Canada on a Sunday!) They don't normally play hockey at church, by the way! It only seems that way!
We actually got to wear winter clothes in Canada!
My parents are still finishing building their house. My dad and brothers let him "help"! I guess this is what "training up a child in the way he should go" means in my family!
Ahhh... cousins! This is Jolene and she is tougher than she looks, fortunately for her!
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