"I'm a cub scout for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I can climb trees really high, I have a lot of cool dance moves." I overheard Joel introduce himself this way when he was pretending to be a contestant on one of his invented game shows. Loved hearing not only how he views himself, but what characteristics he wants to stress and impress upon others.
A great kid, Joel always makes us smile. This past year he learned to whistle and spent days doing nothing but (to the dismay of his teachers). In order to widen his whistling repertoire Kelly taught Joel the "wheet whew" whistle and told Joel that's the sound you make when you see a cute girl. Fast forward a couple of days and Joel and I are sitting on the couch, "Wheet whew!" whistles Joel, "That's what you are Mom!"
Love that kid.
Eli started kindergarten this past fall. The peace and quiet in the house was almost disconcerting. Almost. He loves school, his teacher and all his classmates. He's upset when vacation days arrive. Would be there seven days a week if possible. (Mommy would go for that too sometimes :o) Hopefully his endearment with school will last throughout his education. We'll see. He started soccer this year and loves it too. Eli can be very sweet at times and recently told me, "Mommy I always hug you really tight cuz I love you so much!"
Cara just turned three and rocks my world. She loves to tell me what's going on in her life and I am the most captive audience ever. Her interpretations of the world around her and its workings always amuse me. She's been in ballet this year, and there is nothing more adorable than your toddler in a tutu with a pink leotard stretching over her roly-poly tum tum and round little bum bum.
Kelly and I keep on keeping on. The kids keep us on our toes while he's busy keeping a roof over our heads and I'm trying to keep a steady supply of clean underwear available to all.
Hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
But Grandpa Was
Yesterday Eli and I were looking through my wedding pictures. It was fun to show him pictures of my grandparents and other relatives and friends who attended. I got to a picture of my parents, Kelly and me and asked him who was in the picture. "Mommy, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa." My mom still had dark hair and Eli said, "When you got married Grandma wasn't old yet." Then he paused, looked at my dad and said, "But Grandpa was."
Cracked me up.
Not too long ago I was ruffling through Joel's hair and said, "Boy we need to get you a haircut!"
"Yeah," Joel responded. "I don't want to turn into Rapunzel!"
Made me laugh. His comment was probably inspired by the movie Twisted, a current movie based on the long locked lady's famous story.
He still needs that haircut.
Cracked me up.
Not too long ago I was ruffling through Joel's hair and said, "Boy we need to get you a haircut!"
"Yeah," Joel responded. "I don't want to turn into Rapunzel!"
Made me laugh. His comment was probably inspired by the movie Twisted, a current movie based on the long locked lady's famous story.
He still needs that haircut.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Hi I'm Joel
A couple of days ago I overheard Joel introducing himself on a pretend game show he had created. His intro went something like this, "Hi, I'm Joel Ethington, I'm a cub scout, I have a lot of cool dance moves and I can climb really high in trees." It's interesting to hear how he defines himself and I'm thrilled that he has such high confidence. I hope that's a characteristic that he never loses.
Cara saw me putting mascara on and said, "I wanna polish your eyelashes Mommy."
She's a character with personality plus. I can't quite figure out who she is going to be.
I'm way spoiled. Kelly took the kids grocery shopping today and hauled them all off to soccer. Then I went shopping all afternoon (the retail therapy kind) and then Kelly took all the kids to Microcenter with him when I got back. Then he had the gall to ask me to help him put them to bed. Je suis si sure!
Cara saw me putting mascara on and said, "I wanna polish your eyelashes Mommy."
She's a character with personality plus. I can't quite figure out who she is going to be.
I'm way spoiled. Kelly took the kids grocery shopping today and hauled them all off to soccer. Then I went shopping all afternoon (the retail therapy kind) and then Kelly took all the kids to Microcenter with him when I got back. Then he had the gall to ask me to help him put them to bed. Je suis si sure!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The Dau of Eli
TODAY
Eli: "Mommy what if there was a boy and he needed to go potty, and he pointed his penis straight up and the pee pee went in his mouth?" (said with manic giddiness, wonder and awe for his own supposition)
Me: "That would be disgusting."
Eli: "Yeah cuz nobody likes to drink their own pee, not even Jesus."
Yeah.
------------------------------------------------------------
Eli: "Mommy, how old is Christopher Columbus?"
Me: "He's dead, but he lived about five or six hundred years ago."
Eli: "Yeah, but how OLD is he?"
Me: "He's dead . . . yada yada yada"
Eli: "Oh, you don't have birthdays in heaven?"
Me: "No."
Eli: "Oh, oh cuz you can't eat in heaven and on your birthday you have to eat cake or cupcakes, so you can't have birthdays in heaven."
Yeah.
Eli: "Mommy what if there was a boy and he needed to go potty, and he pointed his penis straight up and the pee pee went in his mouth?" (said with manic giddiness, wonder and awe for his own supposition)
Me: "That would be disgusting."
Eli: "Yeah cuz nobody likes to drink their own pee, not even Jesus."
Yeah.
------------------------------------------------------------
Eli: "Mommy, how old is Christopher Columbus?"
Me: "He's dead, but he lived about five or six hundred years ago."
Eli: "Yeah, but how OLD is he?"
Me: "He's dead . . . yada yada yada"
Eli: "Oh, you don't have birthdays in heaven?"
Me: "No."
Eli: "Oh, oh cuz you can't eat in heaven and on your birthday you have to eat cake or cupcakes, so you can't have birthdays in heaven."
Yeah.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
I See the Connection!
Yesterday we went out to my parents' house. They had come back from Albany for the weekend to transfer some furniture here. Andrew came with them. He flew out a few weeks ago from Phoenix to look for work. He couldn't find any kind of job in Phoenix and he was willing to do about anything. I guess the recession has really hit hard there.
We hadn't seen Andrew for three years and he's never met Cara. While we were outside playing on the playset Joel looked from Andrew to me and back again and said, "Yeah I can see the connection." I love it that he was thinking about Andrew and I being siblings and looking for similarities.
Eli was very excited to go and see the pumpkin patch that he had helped Grandpa plant. My parents had already brought us several pumpkins where they had scratched our names into while they were growing. We loaded up several more and now we have our own little pumpkin patch in the front yard.
One of my goals at the beginning of the school year was to revamp our filing system. I finally did it last week. While doing so I came across all of Joel's preschool evaluations and day to day notes from his preschool teachers and the people who worked with him from Early Intervention. It made me realize that I truly have had a village helping me to raise my Joel and I felt really grateful for all of the people who have helped, and loved and cared about Joel.
It was a trip down memory lane to read about his milestones and behaviors and how far we have come. One tender memory was when he was learning sign language. He learned how to sign the word hurt and would use it appropriately when he got an "owie". He would also use it when a toy or other beloved object got taken away from him. I thought it was really sweet that he immediately applied the word to not only physical pain but also when his feelings were ingured.
Reading about Joel helped to stimulate some memories about Eli's babyhood as well. When he was about 10 months old he would sign the word milk by pumping and squeezing his little fist when he wanted to nurse. But he would also make the same sign when he just wanted loves and cuddles from Mommy. Obviously he felt such comfort and security when he was nursing that he associated with work milk with Mommy snuggles. Sweet memories . . .
We hadn't seen Andrew for three years and he's never met Cara. While we were outside playing on the playset Joel looked from Andrew to me and back again and said, "Yeah I can see the connection." I love it that he was thinking about Andrew and I being siblings and looking for similarities.
Eli was very excited to go and see the pumpkin patch that he had helped Grandpa plant. My parents had already brought us several pumpkins where they had scratched our names into while they were growing. We loaded up several more and now we have our own little pumpkin patch in the front yard.
One of my goals at the beginning of the school year was to revamp our filing system. I finally did it last week. While doing so I came across all of Joel's preschool evaluations and day to day notes from his preschool teachers and the people who worked with him from Early Intervention. It made me realize that I truly have had a village helping me to raise my Joel and I felt really grateful for all of the people who have helped, and loved and cared about Joel.
It was a trip down memory lane to read about his milestones and behaviors and how far we have come. One tender memory was when he was learning sign language. He learned how to sign the word hurt and would use it appropriately when he got an "owie". He would also use it when a toy or other beloved object got taken away from him. I thought it was really sweet that he immediately applied the word to not only physical pain but also when his feelings were ingured.
Reading about Joel helped to stimulate some memories about Eli's babyhood as well. When he was about 10 months old he would sign the word milk by pumping and squeezing his little fist when he wanted to nurse. But he would also make the same sign when he just wanted loves and cuddles from Mommy. Obviously he felt such comfort and security when he was nursing that he associated with work milk with Mommy snuggles. Sweet memories . . .
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Things the Kids Say
Joel and I were watching Project Runway and Joel was doing his usual scene by scene commentary, i.e. "I love the pink and the brown together, looks fabulous. That is so sexy." (He has no idea what he is really saying). Anyway the designers were surprised and annoyed about who was chosen winner and one of them said, "How could he win? What bleeping show is this anyway?" Joel responds, "Project Runway you idiot!" That made me laugh. He's so literal and can't imagine that one of the designers is so ignorant of the show she's starring in.
My mom was in the car with Kelly and the kids a little while back and Cara was singing. "Cara you have really good pitch for such a little girl," my mom commented. Enraged, Cara screamed back, "I NOT A LITTLE GIRL, I BIG!" Geez some people just don't know how to accept a compliment.
Cara was eating something the other day and says, "Umm, mommy this is really nummy!" Wanting to gobble on her little cheeks I responded, "You know who else is really nummy?" Before I even finished the sentence she shrieked, "NO! I not dessert!"
While driving to the playground today the kids and I noticed several American flags, one of them was at half staff. I explained to the kids that the flag was only halfway up the pole in remembrance of the innocent people who were killed on Septermber 11th (today) and Eli responds, "Oh the flag is lower because there is less people in the world now?" Uh, yeah kid, kinda.
Joel and Eli just completed their first week of school. Eli's first week of Kindergarten and things seem to be going well. I was pleased with both of their teachers and hope the year continues with that sentiment.
It's A LOT quieter at home. Eli's gone. Nuff said.
My mom was in the car with Kelly and the kids a little while back and Cara was singing. "Cara you have really good pitch for such a little girl," my mom commented. Enraged, Cara screamed back, "I NOT A LITTLE GIRL, I BIG!" Geez some people just don't know how to accept a compliment.
Cara was eating something the other day and says, "Umm, mommy this is really nummy!" Wanting to gobble on her little cheeks I responded, "You know who else is really nummy?" Before I even finished the sentence she shrieked, "NO! I not dessert!"
While driving to the playground today the kids and I noticed several American flags, one of them was at half staff. I explained to the kids that the flag was only halfway up the pole in remembrance of the innocent people who were killed on Septermber 11th (today) and Eli responds, "Oh the flag is lower because there is less people in the world now?" Uh, yeah kid, kinda.
Joel and Eli just completed their first week of school. Eli's first week of Kindergarten and things seem to be going well. I was pleased with both of their teachers and hope the year continues with that sentiment.
It's A LOT quieter at home. Eli's gone. Nuff said.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Words from Eli and my Back
Eli tonight, "Mommy I always hug you really tight cause I love you so much!"
Eli a few days ago, "Mommy, does our house have a barcode at the bottom of it?"
A few days ago I hurt my lower back. Doing what I know not. I buckled walking in the upstairs hallway. At first I thought it was just going to be a quick pain and be gone. Not so much. It's been two or three days of me sitting and lying around and my kids wathching TV 24/7. Poor Kelly, it's one of his busiest weeks of work and he's having to do everything. We've had take out pizza three times this week. The thing that's bugging me is that the house doesn't seem to look any worse than when I'm up and going. What do I do all day anyway?
Feeling kinda sad lately too. Heard somebody at play group talking about a play date they'd scheduled with another family in the ward. They both have boys that are 8 and 5, so they're getting them together. Of course my boys are those ages and we don't get invited to those things. That same mom said to me about four year ago, "Well Joel doesn't play with other kids, does he?" I don't remember how I answered, but I wanted to say, "We'll it doesn't come naturally to him, but you can still include him!" Ugh.
Eli a few days ago, "Mommy, does our house have a barcode at the bottom of it?"
A few days ago I hurt my lower back. Doing what I know not. I buckled walking in the upstairs hallway. At first I thought it was just going to be a quick pain and be gone. Not so much. It's been two or three days of me sitting and lying around and my kids wathching TV 24/7. Poor Kelly, it's one of his busiest weeks of work and he's having to do everything. We've had take out pizza three times this week. The thing that's bugging me is that the house doesn't seem to look any worse than when I'm up and going. What do I do all day anyway?
Feeling kinda sad lately too. Heard somebody at play group talking about a play date they'd scheduled with another family in the ward. They both have boys that are 8 and 5, so they're getting them together. Of course my boys are those ages and we don't get invited to those things. That same mom said to me about four year ago, "Well Joel doesn't play with other kids, does he?" I don't remember how I answered, but I wanted to say, "We'll it doesn't come naturally to him, but you can still include him!" Ugh.
Monday, August 2, 2010
I'm so Talented!
Cara turns to me tonight and says, "I'm so talented!" She definitely thinks she's the cat's choicest meow, and I love it. I think everyone needs that overdeveloped sense of ego to make up for the knocks you're gonna get from the world once school starts and forever after.
I tried to cut the boys' hair the other night which a new (whatdaya call those things that are electric and have the graduated tips you attach to achieve different hair lengths?). Anyway instead of applying my usual method I followed the instructions and really screwed up Joel's hair. I tried to clean it up with scissors and convinced myself that it looked okay. Joel looked at himself in the mirror and said, "I look goooooood!" Later I asked Kelly what he thought of Joel's haircut and he said something like, "It's interesting." I asked him if it really looked that bad. "Uh, yeah." After hearing our conversation Joel again looked at himself in the mirror and yelled, "I look like a freak!" Kelly ended up giving Joel a full buzz cut at my request.
I tried to cut the boys' hair the other night which a new (whatdaya call those things that are electric and have the graduated tips you attach to achieve different hair lengths?). Anyway instead of applying my usual method I followed the instructions and really screwed up Joel's hair. I tried to clean it up with scissors and convinced myself that it looked okay. Joel looked at himself in the mirror and said, "I look goooooood!" Later I asked Kelly what he thought of Joel's haircut and he said something like, "It's interesting." I asked him if it really looked that bad. "Uh, yeah." After hearing our conversation Joel again looked at himself in the mirror and yelled, "I look like a freak!" Kelly ended up giving Joel a full buzz cut at my request.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
You Look Pretty Too
My parents went to church with us on Father's Day so they could hear the kids sing. My mom came upstairs after she got ready and told Cara that she looked pretty in her dress. "You look pretty too Grandma," Cara told her.
Joel's at Soaring Over Seven camp again this summer. Last week was his first week and they went on field trips every day but Monday; Sports Bounce, C & O Canal ride, where Joel got to be the mule and respond to Gee and Haw commands and the like. He got a kick out of that. Also to Uplands? water park and the swimming pool. My dad went with Kelly and the kids the first day to drop Joel off. Joel saw Beth, one of his teachers from last year, and got very excited and also officially intoduced her to my dad. My dad got a kick out of that.
Joel's current favorite things to say to me are, "Would you snap out of it?" He says this when I question him about something he doesn't want to talk about. Also "Nut up!" This is his substitute for shut up. I'm going to have to put the kibosh on that one.
Joel and Kelly are currently watching America's Funniest Home Videos. Joel loves the slap-sticky stuff and goes into gales and gales of laughter. A fantastic sound!
Eli tells me yesterday, "Look Mommy there's something behind the red chair." Scared I take a look and see EEK a German cockroach whist Eli cajoles, "C'mon little guy, commere." Squash! Little guy is dead. Mommy killed him.
Vile, disgusting, abominable. There is NOTHING I hate worse than cockroaches, especially German cockroaches. One female German cockroach can have up to 40,000 babies a year. Must have come from the overloaded adjacent townhouse teeming with newbies from south of the border. The people are gone now, the roaches must be migrating to find new food sources. I will say it again, I AM SO READY TO BE OUT OF THIS TOWNHOUSE and into a detached home. I want some distance from my neighbors.
My current plan is to get this place ready throughout the year, sell next summer and move to Winchester where I can buy a nice house for what I can sell this puppy for. After August Kelly should be able to work from home 100% so we won't be chained to this area. My only concern is the school system in Winchester. Fairfax county schools are so highly rated and I feel like the special ed is above average. Don't know how spec ed will be further out. Of course we'll pray about it. I've learned the hard way to not push my own agenda too much.
Joel's at Soaring Over Seven camp again this summer. Last week was his first week and they went on field trips every day but Monday; Sports Bounce, C & O Canal ride, where Joel got to be the mule and respond to Gee and Haw commands and the like. He got a kick out of that. Also to Uplands? water park and the swimming pool. My dad went with Kelly and the kids the first day to drop Joel off. Joel saw Beth, one of his teachers from last year, and got very excited and also officially intoduced her to my dad. My dad got a kick out of that.
Joel's current favorite things to say to me are, "Would you snap out of it?" He says this when I question him about something he doesn't want to talk about. Also "Nut up!" This is his substitute for shut up. I'm going to have to put the kibosh on that one.
Joel and Kelly are currently watching America's Funniest Home Videos. Joel loves the slap-sticky stuff and goes into gales and gales of laughter. A fantastic sound!
Eli tells me yesterday, "Look Mommy there's something behind the red chair." Scared I take a look and see EEK a German cockroach whist Eli cajoles, "C'mon little guy, commere." Squash! Little guy is dead. Mommy killed him.
Vile, disgusting, abominable. There is NOTHING I hate worse than cockroaches, especially German cockroaches. One female German cockroach can have up to 40,000 babies a year. Must have come from the overloaded adjacent townhouse teeming with newbies from south of the border. The people are gone now, the roaches must be migrating to find new food sources. I will say it again, I AM SO READY TO BE OUT OF THIS TOWNHOUSE and into a detached home. I want some distance from my neighbors.
My current plan is to get this place ready throughout the year, sell next summer and move to Winchester where I can buy a nice house for what I can sell this puppy for. After August Kelly should be able to work from home 100% so we won't be chained to this area. My only concern is the school system in Winchester. Fairfax county schools are so highly rated and I feel like the special ed is above average. Don't know how spec ed will be further out. Of course we'll pray about it. I've learned the hard way to not push my own agenda too much.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Time Before the Apple
For a while now I've been thinking about how we're living in "the time before the apple." Joel has no idea that he's considered different than any other kid. I don't think he's even aware of the word autism. Eli mostly just wants to do all the things his big brother does. He doesn't realize Joel is loosely classified as someone with pervasive developmental disorder (what a horrible title and misnomer all in one).
I wonder how long this innocence will last? I wish neither Joel, Eli nor Cara ever had to hear the phrase autistic spectrum disorder. Why can't Joel just be Joel and people accept him for him without explanation. Ever since I realized Joel's brain was wired a bit differently than most I've mentally rebelled against the notion that he has to change to fit in better. Why can't he just be himself and other people just deal with it?
I know we don't live in a perfect world and there will continue to be many uphill battles for my Joel and his difficulties with social interaction, language and appropriate behavior will probably continue throughout his life.
I don't look forward to that day of self realization for Joel or Eli. It's something we all have to go through. Coming to terms with being different and our individual weaknesses and shortcomings. Still for those among us who deviation from the mean is far greater than the standard its a significantly harder row to hoe.
I wonder how long this innocence will last? I wish neither Joel, Eli nor Cara ever had to hear the phrase autistic spectrum disorder. Why can't Joel just be Joel and people accept him for him without explanation. Ever since I realized Joel's brain was wired a bit differently than most I've mentally rebelled against the notion that he has to change to fit in better. Why can't he just be himself and other people just deal with it?
I know we don't live in a perfect world and there will continue to be many uphill battles for my Joel and his difficulties with social interaction, language and appropriate behavior will probably continue throughout his life.
I don't look forward to that day of self realization for Joel or Eli. It's something we all have to go through. Coming to terms with being different and our individual weaknesses and shortcomings. Still for those among us who deviation from the mean is far greater than the standard its a significantly harder row to hoe.
Monday, May 24, 2010
I Felt Lovely
Yesterday Kelly and I took the kids to the temple to walk around the grounds. Joel spider walked up the columns in front and all the kids climbed up the grated temple front doors. Any place is a jungle gym!
After leaving our mark on the grounds we headed to the visitor's center. One of the sister missionaries turned on the sound by the Christus statue. "Jesus talking!" Cara very excitedly pointed out to the rest of us. The sister missionary asked Joel if he'd written down how he felt after he was baptized. "No," Joel said, "But as a matter of fact I felt lovely."
Is that kid the best or what?
On the way to the temple Eli asked me if I had any more babies in my tummy. He let me know that he wanted another Cara. I decided not to attempt explaining that Kelly has had a vasectomy. I feel kind of bad that we're not having another baby for Eli's sake because at his age he would really get into feeling a growing baby in mommy's expanding tummy and be very excited at the birth of a new little one. He was a little too young when I was pregnant with Cara to appreciate the whole experience.
That having been said, there are a myriad of reasons we're not having another baby with the vasectomy being the least of them.
Cara's busy right now playing with her "Blue's" i.e. two Blue figurines and one Magenta. I LOVE to watch her play.
"Going to school Blue?"
"I wanna go too."
"Let's go to dancing class!"
"I have dancing class on Friday"
All said in that two year old girl voice so full of sweetness, wonder, pink rainbows and innocence. So yummy. It's beyond adorably adorable and I appreciate it all the more because I know what it's like to have a child that was unable to pretend play. And that ability is connected to so many abilities that we need later in life.
After leaving our mark on the grounds we headed to the visitor's center. One of the sister missionaries turned on the sound by the Christus statue. "Jesus talking!" Cara very excitedly pointed out to the rest of us. The sister missionary asked Joel if he'd written down how he felt after he was baptized. "No," Joel said, "But as a matter of fact I felt lovely."
Is that kid the best or what?
On the way to the temple Eli asked me if I had any more babies in my tummy. He let me know that he wanted another Cara. I decided not to attempt explaining that Kelly has had a vasectomy. I feel kind of bad that we're not having another baby for Eli's sake because at his age he would really get into feeling a growing baby in mommy's expanding tummy and be very excited at the birth of a new little one. He was a little too young when I was pregnant with Cara to appreciate the whole experience.
That having been said, there are a myriad of reasons we're not having another baby with the vasectomy being the least of them.
Cara's busy right now playing with her "Blue's" i.e. two Blue figurines and one Magenta. I LOVE to watch her play.
"Going to school Blue?"
"I wanna go too."
"Let's go to dancing class!"
"I have dancing class on Friday"
All said in that two year old girl voice so full of sweetness, wonder, pink rainbows and innocence. So yummy. It's beyond adorably adorable and I appreciate it all the more because I know what it's like to have a child that was unable to pretend play. And that ability is connected to so many abilities that we need later in life.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
My beloved Joel
A couple of weeks ago Joel learned how to whistle. He spent the next couple of days whistling through his entire days at school, so enamored with his new skill. While grocery shopping with the kids Kelly taught Joel the "wheet-whew" whistle and told him, "That's what you do when you see a cute girl."
Fast forward to that night and Joel and I are sitting on the couch. "Wheet-whew" whistles from Joel's puckered little mouth. "That's what you are mom." I LOVE that kid.
Last Sunday the primary children sang for Mother's Day during Sacrament Meeting. After they sang "Mother Dear I Love You So" Joel, in the front row, stretches his arms out wide and announces, "That was for all you mothers out there!" He made a couple more announcements too during the presentation. Several people commented to me how cute he was. I couldn't agree more.
Fast forward to that night and Joel and I are sitting on the couch. "Wheet-whew" whistles from Joel's puckered little mouth. "That's what you are mom." I LOVE that kid.
Last Sunday the primary children sang for Mother's Day during Sacrament Meeting. After they sang "Mother Dear I Love You So" Joel, in the front row, stretches his arms out wide and announces, "That was for all you mothers out there!" He made a couple more announcements too during the presentation. Several people commented to me how cute he was. I couldn't agree more.
Monday, April 26, 2010
My Hero is . . .
Joel wrote the following at school about a month ago . . .
"My Hero is really nice. The're my parents. Not stupid at all. Not half an inch. Always help me."
Took Cara to the doctor today because she's had a high fever since the wee am hours Sunday. Poor thing has strep throat. Neither Kelly nor I have ever knowingly had strep throat. It's supposed to be super contagious. Got her some antibiotics after the doctor and she's doing a lot better tonight. Yea! It's always scary when your baby has a high fever cause you don't know when it will break or how serious the condition is that's causing it. Such a huge sigh of relief when they start to do better. She's been such a good girl about taking her medicine and complying with the doctor's/nurses requests. I'm proud of her.
Trying to decide whether or not to send Eli to kindergarten next year. The child wears me out. For that reason alone I'd like to send him. Yet he also loves structure and organized activities, I know he would enjoy it. However he would be one of the youngest if not the very youngest in the class. I don't want him to be behind socially, academically, physically. I know kids in the ward that have fall 2004 birthdays that will be entering kindergarten in September who seem leaps and bounds beyond my Eli. Of course they are almost a year older. Eli is very sensitive (to say the least) and I'm afraid it will affect him emotionally if he feels less than in any way. Of course we all have times when we feel inferior but I don't want to add insult to injury in his case.
LOVE my precious kids.
"My Hero is really nice. The're my parents. Not stupid at all. Not half an inch. Always help me."
Took Cara to the doctor today because she's had a high fever since the wee am hours Sunday. Poor thing has strep throat. Neither Kelly nor I have ever knowingly had strep throat. It's supposed to be super contagious. Got her some antibiotics after the doctor and she's doing a lot better tonight. Yea! It's always scary when your baby has a high fever cause you don't know when it will break or how serious the condition is that's causing it. Such a huge sigh of relief when they start to do better. She's been such a good girl about taking her medicine and complying with the doctor's/nurses requests. I'm proud of her.
Trying to decide whether or not to send Eli to kindergarten next year. The child wears me out. For that reason alone I'd like to send him. Yet he also loves structure and organized activities, I know he would enjoy it. However he would be one of the youngest if not the very youngest in the class. I don't want him to be behind socially, academically, physically. I know kids in the ward that have fall 2004 birthdays that will be entering kindergarten in September who seem leaps and bounds beyond my Eli. Of course they are almost a year older. Eli is very sensitive (to say the least) and I'm afraid it will affect him emotionally if he feels less than in any way. Of course we all have times when we feel inferior but I don't want to add insult to injury in his case.
LOVE my precious kids.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Kids say the Funniest Things
A couple of days ago I was in the bathroom and Cara knocks on the door and peeks her head in, "Doin' your bizness mama?"
Eli and Kelly were in Target yesterday. Eli points to a tampon box and says, "Daddy I think we need to get some of these because we're running low."
Joel has taken to "spider" climbing up the hallway walls and then walking forward in said stance. He's very proud of himself.
Beautiful spring day today. All the cherry blossoms on are block are in bloom as well as the other flowering trees around. When the wind blows the perfumed air fills your nostrils. Ummmmm!
Kelly took the afternoon off after much begging from his wife and we took the kids to Burke Lake Park. Train, carousel, et al. aren't open yet. But it was nice to be able to enjoy the beautiful afternoon together as a family. It's spring break. I was hoping Kelly could take it off this year, but he was too busy with the migration.
Trying to save money because I really want to buy a real house. Really really.
Eli and Kelly were in Target yesterday. Eli points to a tampon box and says, "Daddy I think we need to get some of these because we're running low."
Joel has taken to "spider" climbing up the hallway walls and then walking forward in said stance. He's very proud of himself.
Beautiful spring day today. All the cherry blossoms on are block are in bloom as well as the other flowering trees around. When the wind blows the perfumed air fills your nostrils. Ummmmm!
Kelly took the afternoon off after much begging from his wife and we took the kids to Burke Lake Park. Train, carousel, et al. aren't open yet. But it was nice to be able to enjoy the beautiful afternoon together as a family. It's spring break. I was hoping Kelly could take it off this year, but he was too busy with the migration.
Trying to save money because I really want to buy a real house. Really really.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Joel's Facebook Poem
Joel emailed me the following excerpt a couple of weeks ago. One of his current missions in life is to obtain my facebook password.
a poem:
it was a beautiful day for your facebook
but you did'nt learn your lesson
give me the password
i am so mad
give it to me now
love,joel
He cracks me up and I LOVE him to PIECES.
a poem:
it was a beautiful day for your facebook
but you did'nt learn your lesson
give me the password
i am so mad
give it to me now
love,joel
He cracks me up and I LOVE him to PIECES.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Eli-isms
Eli today, "Mommy sometimes you don't know the way to go. That's why Jesus gave us a Tom-Tom.
Eli yesterday, "Mommy I wanna be the Little Mermaid for Halloween, then we can have three girls and two boys in our family."
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Winter of my Discontent
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Snow. Snow. More snow. Joel and Eli only went to school Tuesday and Thursday last week. School was cancelled today (Monday), and is tomorrow and Wednesday as well. Kelly and the kids left the house today for the first time since the storm hit us. Three feet, way too much.
Unexpected breaks are hard for me. I feed off of the structure of regular days. The structure of the school rhythm is good for Joel too. He can't spend too much time in his own head obsessing about the five seasons of contestants' scores on Fetch with Ruff Ruffman -- one of his recent obsessions. I feel guilty that I can't spend a lot of one on one time with him keeping him from his all too frequent perseveration. Eli and Cara too. All my kids watch way TOO MUCH TV. And I do use it as a babysitter so I can get stuff done.
I would rather they just play with toys so they can be creative and let their brains expand and learn. But that doesn't happen nearly as often as I'd like. For Joel with his limited ability to play symbolically toys have never held much magic. Even the stuff he got for Christmas this past year, he tells me "I don't want to play with it. I just want to love it." And Eli is a difficult child to play with. He wants it his way all the time and he yells and screams a lot which is nerve racking. Of course Cara is young and two and her favorite words are "mine" and "no." So those are my justifications for keeping the TV on way too much of the time.
Some days I do concentrate a lot of my time orchestrating art/cooking/reading activities for them and then my house is a total wreck and the laundry piles up like crazy and I feel like a loser in my role as a homemaker. Of course I also feel like a failure when I spend most of my time doing housework and my kids are mostly entertained by the TV. It really is a rock and a hard place.
Guilt, guilt, guilt. The mother's constant companion.
That's why all these days out of school are so difficult for me. I lose the balance that the school schedule affords me. Kelly is always good about taking the kids off my hands for a bit, but I'm still out of whack. The snow makes it harder too because it's been impossible to get outta here.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Pinewood Derby et al
Now that Joel is the big 8 he is eligible for the cub scout program at church which includes the legendary PINEWOOD DERBY. Last Tuesday they made their cars and Friday was the derby. I tried to tell Kelly that people use all kind of trickery to make their cars as speedy as possible. I encouraged him to look on the internet for these family secrets that have been passed down from father to son since Adam used sandpaper to round the wheels of Cain and Abel's cars.
But Kelly felt that all these alterations were a bit deceptive and dishonest. He foolishly thought that Joel should do most of the work himself and that it should all be about the kids. An ostrich burying his head in the sand for sure! Doesn't he know that the Pinewood Derby is a place for the dads to prove their manhood? To see whose car is really the most powerful and explosive of all? A place where men can make up for the shortcomings they felt in childhood. If you were a wimpy kid who got beat up a lot you can reassert your missing macho by turning that humble pine rectangle into a real speeding bullet.
In the final standings Joel was ranked number 83. Out of 84. Told ya Kelly!
He did win one race, and he was so HAPPY! Jumping up and down and grinning from ear to ear. I love seeing hime like that. (Hence the reason I wanted Kelly to help him cheat:o)
They added a new twist tho since my older brother was a pinewood derby participant. The Bishop's car. Anyone who wants can race the B's car at the end, and said car is designed to go very s-l-o-w-l-y. So all the cubs can at least beat the Bish thereby leaving their ids, egos and superegos fully undisturbed and intact.
Unscarred, maybe the next generation of pinewood derby dads can actually let their kids take the lead and leave themselves at the starting line. We'll see.
But Kelly felt that all these alterations were a bit deceptive and dishonest. He foolishly thought that Joel should do most of the work himself and that it should all be about the kids. An ostrich burying his head in the sand for sure! Doesn't he know that the Pinewood Derby is a place for the dads to prove their manhood? To see whose car is really the most powerful and explosive of all? A place where men can make up for the shortcomings they felt in childhood. If you were a wimpy kid who got beat up a lot you can reassert your missing macho by turning that humble pine rectangle into a real speeding bullet.
In the final standings Joel was ranked number 83. Out of 84. Told ya Kelly!
He did win one race, and he was so HAPPY! Jumping up and down and grinning from ear to ear. I love seeing hime like that. (Hence the reason I wanted Kelly to help him cheat:o)
They added a new twist tho since my older brother was a pinewood derby participant. The Bishop's car. Anyone who wants can race the B's car at the end, and said car is designed to go very s-l-o-w-l-y. So all the cubs can at least beat the Bish thereby leaving their ids, egos and superegos fully undisturbed and intact.
Unscarred, maybe the next generation of pinewood derby dads can actually let their kids take the lead and leave themselves at the starting line. We'll see.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Of late . . .
I made a real dinner tonight. I occasionally do this because my hard working husband deserves it. The kids usually hate it. But Joel looked at the chili simmering on the stove and said, "Um, that looks scrumptious!" Apparently scrumptious was one of the signature words on Word Girl today. Love that kid.
A couple of days ago they emphasized the word "appreciate" on another kids show, and for the past few days Joel keeps telling me how much he appreciates me. Like I said, LOVE that kid.
At dinner Joel decided to throw his grapes into his chili and we made a big deal of the odd additional ingredient. He thought it was hilarious and went into full belly laugh. The best sound in the world = your child's full belly laugh. Life is perfect for a moment.
Yesterday I had to go to traffic court. I tried to pay my ticket online the day before, but they don't let you. I took Eli with me to: 1. Help Kelly out 2. Get the sympathy vote from the judge. Little did I know that one morning's litigants for traffic court in Herndon is equivalent to the number of viewers at the Macy's Thanksgiving day Parade in New York City. Eli and I were kicked out of the courtroom too due to Eli's being a little toot. I think the lobby was worse. At least in the courtroom we could have enjoyed some good people watching and maybe filled my voyeur vacuum by listening in on other people's bizness.
Anyway it was almost THREE HOURS before the judge called my name and I was probably in front of him for less than 30 seconds. He dismissed my ticket fee, but said I'll still have to pay court costs. If I ever get another ticket, I'm paying that baby real quick like. I've experienced enough traffic court for one lifetime.
On the flip side it was good to have some one on one time with Eli. I had to get creative to stop the "I wanna go home" endless whines. I told him some stories from when Mommy was a little girl and he was such a captive audience. Whenever I tell him stories about my childhood I can always be sure within the next few days to hear an earnest story about when he was a little girl. I don't think he quite has the gender identity thing down yet.
We got a new stove. Black. For the first time in my adult life of owning my own residence I have all matching, relatively new appliances. I think I am almost regular people now. (Yeah right, that will happen). We sold our old one on craig's list for $175. The new one was about $600 with tax.
And then we have the Haiti earthquake and people who never had much to begin with now have nothing. I felt kind of lame having to have my matching kitchen appliances when the world is filled with people like the Haitians who live on next to nothing. I and most people need to have a broader world view than the Jones'. To assuage my guilt I did give $25 to the Clinton Foundation for Haiti. Ain't I a freakin' saint?
A couple of days ago they emphasized the word "appreciate" on another kids show, and for the past few days Joel keeps telling me how much he appreciates me. Like I said, LOVE that kid.
At dinner Joel decided to throw his grapes into his chili and we made a big deal of the odd additional ingredient. He thought it was hilarious and went into full belly laugh. The best sound in the world = your child's full belly laugh. Life is perfect for a moment.
Yesterday I had to go to traffic court. I tried to pay my ticket online the day before, but they don't let you. I took Eli with me to: 1. Help Kelly out 2. Get the sympathy vote from the judge. Little did I know that one morning's litigants for traffic court in Herndon is equivalent to the number of viewers at the Macy's Thanksgiving day Parade in New York City. Eli and I were kicked out of the courtroom too due to Eli's being a little toot. I think the lobby was worse. At least in the courtroom we could have enjoyed some good people watching and maybe filled my voyeur vacuum by listening in on other people's bizness.
Anyway it was almost THREE HOURS before the judge called my name and I was probably in front of him for less than 30 seconds. He dismissed my ticket fee, but said I'll still have to pay court costs. If I ever get another ticket, I'm paying that baby real quick like. I've experienced enough traffic court for one lifetime.
On the flip side it was good to have some one on one time with Eli. I had to get creative to stop the "I wanna go home" endless whines. I told him some stories from when Mommy was a little girl and he was such a captive audience. Whenever I tell him stories about my childhood I can always be sure within the next few days to hear an earnest story about when he was a little girl. I don't think he quite has the gender identity thing down yet.
We got a new stove. Black. For the first time in my adult life of owning my own residence I have all matching, relatively new appliances. I think I am almost regular people now. (Yeah right, that will happen). We sold our old one on craig's list for $175. The new one was about $600 with tax.
And then we have the Haiti earthquake and people who never had much to begin with now have nothing. I felt kind of lame having to have my matching kitchen appliances when the world is filled with people like the Haitians who live on next to nothing. I and most people need to have a broader world view than the Jones'. To assuage my guilt I did give $25 to the Clinton Foundation for Haiti. Ain't I a freakin' saint?
Sunday, January 3, 2010
I Got it Dad
Kelly was with the kids in the car and they noticed someone in an adjacent car smoking. Kelly decided to use this opportunity to pontificate about the perils of tobaccy. Naturally this led him to a discussion about the demon liquor. Although I'm not sure Joel or Eli has any idea what alcohol is. Kelly then started on the drug talk, but Joel interrupted, "Dad, I got it."
I LOVE Cara's little voice. It's amazing for me to hear that baby tongue slip around not only nouns and verbs but adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, pronouns, etc. Today she told me, "Mama, I wanna play 'Time is it Mr. Wolf' and hide and seek, okay?
At church she likes to stack the hymn books so she can sit on top of them and be just as tall as anyone else. Afterall ain't nobody got nothin' on her, why would she subjugate herself to another?
I LOVE Cara's little voice. It's amazing for me to hear that baby tongue slip around not only nouns and verbs but adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, pronouns, etc. Today she told me, "Mama, I wanna play 'Time is it Mr. Wolf' and hide and seek, okay?
At church she likes to stack the hymn books so she can sit on top of them and be just as tall as anyone else. Afterall ain't nobody got nothin' on her, why would she subjugate herself to another?
Friday, January 1, 2010
Joel's 8!
Our sweet Joel is eight years old today. Putting eight candles on his cake really felt like a lot. I can't believe we've had him for eight whole years! Time flies when you're having fun.
We had his party a bit later at 7 pm so Laurie and Julie could come. He really liked all his presents, mostly games. I bought him Boggle thinking it would be perfect for him and it is. The kind they sell now has the letter cubes enclosed so you can't lose them. Good upgrade!
Eli liked playing with Joel's Connect 4 Sponge Bob Square Pants edition. Kelly got Joel a game called Forget About It (or something like that). It's similiar to Yatzhee. I enjoyed sitting (when I could) with Cara watching Joel and Kelly play one game and Julie and Eli play another. Seemed like the perfect happy family picture.
Christmas wasn't the best for me. We had a huge snow storm and school got cancelled the Monday thru Wednesday before Christmas vacation. Argh! I needed that time to finish shopping, wrap presents, clean the house . . . Didn't get done like I wanted it to. Except the present wrapping, Kelly did all that. Then Christmas eve comes and I feel like caca. Christmas morning was even worse. I couldn't even bare to be their for all the present opening -- my favorite part. I had to go to bed.
Then come Sunday Kelly got sick. So much for the fun stuff we were going to do the week between Christmas and New Year's. The kids mostly watched TV 24/7 while Kelly and I recovered. It was disappointing. Oh well, what can you do?
Despite that, the kids had a good Christmas and liked their presents. We heard a lot of "This is just what I wanted!"
We even chopped down our own Christmas tree this year -- at a Christmas tree farm of course. Kelly, Joel and Eli picked out a white pine which grow everywhere around here. Tree was great except that it has long slippery needles and when the kids tried to put the ornaments on they kept falling off which was frustrating for them. Also white pines don't have that Frasier fir Christmas tree smell. But it stayed alive since it was fresh cut.
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