It's nice to have a great husband. And by great, I mean makes me breakfast every morning great and sometimes lunch great! Most of the time this is fabulous. At times, this can be less than fabulous. He is right far too many times to be normal and rarely makes mistakes unless you count boat and dock repair incidents which I do not have the time nor the space to recount. Nevertheless, the other day he mentioned to me that I was very impatient with the kids one evening. Not just impatient. I heard very impatient. I'm 90% sure I heard very. These are not the words one wants to hear coming from her husband and father to her children. Why do his words have to weigh so much? Ugh.
Of course he was right, again, and I knew what I had to do. I had to apologize to the kids. How embarrassing. Wasn't this the very thing I had just gotten onto my middle schooler about? What kind of mother am I? Obviously a very impatient one. My moment arrived when we were all in the car on the way to school today. I told them that I was sorry for my grumpiness the other day and asked if they would forgive me. My youngest daughter said, " That's ok." and then my son said. "I forgive you. I'll always forgive you." Wow. It sounds like he expects more apologies will be coming in the future. No response came from my middle schooler. I'll cut her some slack though. She's 13. I'm not even sure she heard me as she proceeded to launch into a story about how her nose was itching during the night. No matter, I was happy to be forgiven with the added bonus that I would be forgiven again should I ever need forgiving. Not a bad drive to school if you ask me.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
10 is enough, for now anyway
Last weekend I spent the weekend with my immediate family which has grown to 10, 13 if you include pets at our lake house. For self preservation I've enlisted help with meals from our older girls so I'm not solely responsible for feeding 10 all weekend long and I have to say their meals are my favorite to eat!
With 10 people, coming to any kind of decision in regards to activities is 10 times more complicated. Going for a morning walk is my favorite activity in the whole wide world, especially with Laura and Kristen. We cover lots of ground on our walks and I'm not just talking miles. Well, this time, Kristen wanted to take her two little city dogs along which could be dicey due to the rural nature of our neighborhood, and I use that term loosely. For some reason every neighbor has not one, but at least three or four dogs that we must contend with, usually by wielding a stick and praying. Then my younger two want to join us but L had only packed his flip flops and S only her winter boots. It might be a tad early to let them do their own packing. We discussed at length which would be worse, for L to wear flip flops or his older sister's hiking boots from last year. Kristen commented that S looked like an American Eagle ad with her swim wear and furry winter boots and her usual sassiness! Once we decided on footwear for everyone we were out the door by noon for our morning walk.
Our main reason for going to the lake was to celebrate Laura and Ben's birthday and more importantly to play with Lucy. Lucy, and I realize that I'm completely biased, is not only captivating in appearance and personality, but she is the most good natured baby I have every known. She smiles easily with anyone who holds her, even when awakened from a nap! She was sleeping during cake time and Laura didn't want her to miss the party so went to wake her up. Sweet Lucy obliged and came sleepy- eyed and smiling to celebrate her mommy's birthday, shades of terms of endearment if you ask me. Another time she was left in my care to bathe while Laura and Jason went out on the boat. I laid her down in her pack and play to run the water and when I came back she had already fallen asleep on her own. I had to wake her ( poor baby gets no rest!) and she even suffered through my clumsy bath with the silly sponge I was instructed to use. I already pity her siblings who will be compared to her. Lucy has set the standard very high.
Eric and I regularly discuss selling the lake house. It is hard to find time to go, a financial drain, difficult to maintain and manage long distance, etc. yet oddly we always change our mind when we are there. It must be the extremely small kitchen where we must maneuver around each other like a game of tetras during meal time. Or perhaps it is dealing with the constant repairs and maintenance of a house that is 30 years old that we find appealing. It could also be dealing with the repairmen who over charge for marginal work done on their own time. Probably though it is that we really love spending time with each other, even the dogs. I'm going with that last reason!
With 10 people, coming to any kind of decision in regards to activities is 10 times more complicated. Going for a morning walk is my favorite activity in the whole wide world, especially with Laura and Kristen. We cover lots of ground on our walks and I'm not just talking miles. Well, this time, Kristen wanted to take her two little city dogs along which could be dicey due to the rural nature of our neighborhood, and I use that term loosely. For some reason every neighbor has not one, but at least three or four dogs that we must contend with, usually by wielding a stick and praying. Then my younger two want to join us but L had only packed his flip flops and S only her winter boots. It might be a tad early to let them do their own packing. We discussed at length which would be worse, for L to wear flip flops or his older sister's hiking boots from last year. Kristen commented that S looked like an American Eagle ad with her swim wear and furry winter boots and her usual sassiness! Once we decided on footwear for everyone we were out the door by noon for our morning walk.
Our main reason for going to the lake was to celebrate Laura and Ben's birthday and more importantly to play with Lucy. Lucy, and I realize that I'm completely biased, is not only captivating in appearance and personality, but she is the most good natured baby I have every known. She smiles easily with anyone who holds her, even when awakened from a nap! She was sleeping during cake time and Laura didn't want her to miss the party so went to wake her up. Sweet Lucy obliged and came sleepy- eyed and smiling to celebrate her mommy's birthday, shades of terms of endearment if you ask me. Another time she was left in my care to bathe while Laura and Jason went out on the boat. I laid her down in her pack and play to run the water and when I came back she had already fallen asleep on her own. I had to wake her ( poor baby gets no rest!) and she even suffered through my clumsy bath with the silly sponge I was instructed to use. I already pity her siblings who will be compared to her. Lucy has set the standard very high.
Eric and I regularly discuss selling the lake house. It is hard to find time to go, a financial drain, difficult to maintain and manage long distance, etc. yet oddly we always change our mind when we are there. It must be the extremely small kitchen where we must maneuver around each other like a game of tetras during meal time. Or perhaps it is dealing with the constant repairs and maintenance of a house that is 30 years old that we find appealing. It could also be dealing with the repairmen who over charge for marginal work done on their own time. Probably though it is that we really love spending time with each other, even the dogs. I'm going with that last reason!
Monday, October 15, 2012
To dye or not to dye
I still haven't made up my mind on whether or not I will embrace the natural graying of my hair or cover the gray. My hair is just barely starting to sprout them (Thank you Daddy!) so I have some time to try the coloring scene out. The whole scene seems like a huge time waster, not to mention money waster. I made an appointment for Saturday morning with my 9 year old son in tow to discuss my options and try something subtle. As I stepped down into the coloring section of the salon, I could tell something was different about that side of the salon. The stylist were decidedly cooler starting with my colorist Nevada who would be doing my hair. Her attire was an off the shoulder black tunic over black leggings with black tall boots. My son even told me later that he noticed most of the ladies had on boots there so it wasn't just me.
Nevada who described herself as an artist examined my hair, showed me some pictures and went off to mix color. She then introduced me to her assistant, Rain who was wearing a black lace jacket over a black tube top, a black micro mini skirt and Pretty Woman black patent tall boots. She proceeded to give me a head massage ( I'm not sure why) Does it make the color go in deeper? I'm mainly contemplating where all these hip black clothes are purchased as I have never seen them at Gap or Banana Republic. I was then asked very nicely to go sit under a rotating heat lamp which gave me an even better vantage point of the live fashion show before me. I failed to grab my readers so I could read the magazines which btw is the most annoying thing about entering the golden years. I tried to squint and read but derived no enjoyment. The timer began to go off on my heating lamp when I'm not kidding an assistant to the assistant came and told me that she would be washing my hair until Rain was available. I've decided that I need at least one assistant in my life and two would be lovely. All I know is I felt really bad for the assistant to the assistant as I'm sure she did anything and everything no one else wanted to do. I also noticed that the assistant to the assistant wore the least hip clothes, baggy black slacks, nondescript black top and probably didn't have a cool name either.
My color turned out barely noticeable which was the goal and Rain gave me a fabulous blow out. In my next life I would like to be a colorist so that I can wear hip black clothes, have a cool name and multiple assistants. Yes, that life is looking pretty good right about now.
Nevada who described herself as an artist examined my hair, showed me some pictures and went off to mix color. She then introduced me to her assistant, Rain who was wearing a black lace jacket over a black tube top, a black micro mini skirt and Pretty Woman black patent tall boots. She proceeded to give me a head massage ( I'm not sure why) Does it make the color go in deeper? I'm mainly contemplating where all these hip black clothes are purchased as I have never seen them at Gap or Banana Republic. I was then asked very nicely to go sit under a rotating heat lamp which gave me an even better vantage point of the live fashion show before me. I failed to grab my readers so I could read the magazines which btw is the most annoying thing about entering the golden years. I tried to squint and read but derived no enjoyment. The timer began to go off on my heating lamp when I'm not kidding an assistant to the assistant came and told me that she would be washing my hair until Rain was available. I've decided that I need at least one assistant in my life and two would be lovely. All I know is I felt really bad for the assistant to the assistant as I'm sure she did anything and everything no one else wanted to do. I also noticed that the assistant to the assistant wore the least hip clothes, baggy black slacks, nondescript black top and probably didn't have a cool name either.
My color turned out barely noticeable which was the goal and Rain gave me a fabulous blow out. In my next life I would like to be a colorist so that I can wear hip black clothes, have a cool name and multiple assistants. Yes, that life is looking pretty good right about now.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
No Fear
After experiencing just one year of public middle school, we made the decision to move our younger three children to a Christian school. It didn't take long to realize much has changed since our older two were in middle school and not for the better. Thankfully, we found a wonderful Christian school not too far from our house (though it was difficult giving up the bus transporting my children to and from school).
I spent the spring and summer attending Open Houses, filling out applications and purchasing school uniforms and supplies. I found the school administrator to be delightfully intimidating and wise in our interview. She had me at hello! She let me know in no uncertain terms that the transition to the school would be difficult for my children. Was I ready for private school? Maybe. While I found the lack of communication frustrating at the public school, the private school I'm finding tends to over communicate. Do I really need a play by play of every volley ball and soccer game played, both varsity and JV? I have been to exactly 3 separate open houses to meet the teachers, 3 separate parent orientation nights and next week and I'm not kidding, will be three separate teacher conferences with their teachers.
On the plus side, I have memorized 6 passages of scripture to this point and at the rate of two per week for the next 3 years, I will have memorized roughly the entire canon of scripture. This is fabulous! No need for Sudoku or Crossword Puzzles to keep this brain going.
There are also lots of rules. I love rules. I am usually the rule maker so it's nice to have someone else making the rules for a change. There are drop off and pick up rules complete with color coded number cards and a 3 lane pick up configuration, as well as uniform and homework rules. I already broke one pick up rule and got a phone call from the office.
The best thing about our move to Christian school is that my children love it! I'm not sure why since their homework load has increased three fold. Weekends aren't even off limits. The one and only reason I am going to a PTA dinner this coming week is because they are giving each child a homework pass! I am not proud. I know it is God's provision and blessing that my children love their school. God is not only welcomed, He is acknowledged and honored there.
I know it's early yet and we have many more hours of homework to log but I will not be afraid.
Week 3 Bible Verse grade 4-
Have I not commanded you, Be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9.
I spent the spring and summer attending Open Houses, filling out applications and purchasing school uniforms and supplies. I found the school administrator to be delightfully intimidating and wise in our interview. She had me at hello! She let me know in no uncertain terms that the transition to the school would be difficult for my children. Was I ready for private school? Maybe. While I found the lack of communication frustrating at the public school, the private school I'm finding tends to over communicate. Do I really need a play by play of every volley ball and soccer game played, both varsity and JV? I have been to exactly 3 separate open houses to meet the teachers, 3 separate parent orientation nights and next week and I'm not kidding, will be three separate teacher conferences with their teachers.
On the plus side, I have memorized 6 passages of scripture to this point and at the rate of two per week for the next 3 years, I will have memorized roughly the entire canon of scripture. This is fabulous! No need for Sudoku or Crossword Puzzles to keep this brain going.
There are also lots of rules. I love rules. I am usually the rule maker so it's nice to have someone else making the rules for a change. There are drop off and pick up rules complete with color coded number cards and a 3 lane pick up configuration, as well as uniform and homework rules. I already broke one pick up rule and got a phone call from the office.
The best thing about our move to Christian school is that my children love it! I'm not sure why since their homework load has increased three fold. Weekends aren't even off limits. The one and only reason I am going to a PTA dinner this coming week is because they are giving each child a homework pass! I am not proud. I know it is God's provision and blessing that my children love their school. God is not only welcomed, He is acknowledged and honored there.
I know it's early yet and we have many more hours of homework to log but I will not be afraid.
Week 3 Bible Verse grade 4-
Have I not commanded you, Be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9.
Friday, July 27, 2012
A Squirmy Fuzzy Worm
This past Monday we celebrated 5 years since we adopted our three youngest children.Somehow I almost missed our special day. Thankfully Eric brought it to my attention and suggested we do something to commemorate the day 5 years ago when our lives were changed forever. That took the form of taking the kids to Hobby Lobby and coming home with an eyeball, and brain, not real, to soak in water so they would grow, a squirmy fuzzy worm, again not real, and a kitchen chemistry set, real.
In a way, I am not surprised that I almost missed the milestone. God in his grace gave us one day at a time and next thing I knew, it had been 5 years! This weekend, while listening to my youngest read Stuart Little (not an easy book to read for an 8 yr. old in my opinion) and review addition flashcards, I had to marvel at how much she has grown, how much she has learned and how very much I love her. Becoming a family happened inexplicably really. 5 years ago, we began a journey together, every day getting to know each other, little by little trusting each other and growing to love each other. God bound our hearts together in a way that only He can do. Adoption was his idea to begin with and He adopted even more kids than we did!
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. Ephesians 1:5
I'm so glad He adopted me and I am so glad that we adopted our children. While the journey has not been easy, it is glorious. We have God himself guiding us everyday. We give glory to God alone for the past five years and for every year to come.
In a way, I am not surprised that I almost missed the milestone. God in his grace gave us one day at a time and next thing I knew, it had been 5 years! This weekend, while listening to my youngest read Stuart Little (not an easy book to read for an 8 yr. old in my opinion) and review addition flashcards, I had to marvel at how much she has grown, how much she has learned and how very much I love her. Becoming a family happened inexplicably really. 5 years ago, we began a journey together, every day getting to know each other, little by little trusting each other and growing to love each other. God bound our hearts together in a way that only He can do. Adoption was his idea to begin with and He adopted even more kids than we did!
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. Ephesians 1:5
I'm so glad He adopted me and I am so glad that we adopted our children. While the journey has not been easy, it is glorious. We have God himself guiding us everyday. We give glory to God alone for the past five years and for every year to come.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Hair today
It is not a good idea to tell your hair dresser that you are thinking of doing something new with your hair. It is true I had gotten to that near desperate time with my hair when no matter what I did, seemed to grow during the day and I would end the day looking like Chaka Khan. It takes on a life of its own after awhile. I was in a vulnerable state to say the least. She suggested shagging it (wasn't that popular in the 60's or 70's) which did not even sound good and then she showed me a picture which I did not like. Unfortunately I did not have a clear picture of what I wanted so I agreed to a longer version of the picture. Then the cutting fest began. It was like throwing red meat to a ravenous lion! She was cutting like she had never cut before! She eased me into it by not cutting that much off in the length and then proceeded to cut short layers so that I ended up looking like a teen aged boy trying to be cool. As soon as I walked in the house, the kids said, "Your hair is short!" Amazingly, my husband did not notice that there was anything different. I'm sure it's a survival technique that he discovered early on in our marriage when confronted with a disaster of this magnitude. He's also going through a crunch at work and wouldn't notice if I came into the room naked.
The only way to handle this is to act like this was my plan all along when really I'm doubling up on hair growing vitamins and waiting for it to grow. It makes no difference whether my hair is long and bushy or short and shaggy, it will take the same amount of time to deal with it. I either need to calm it down to make it look less voluminous or now fluff it up to make it look like I am a female. No matter, this is not the end of the world, right? I just need to get through work tomorrow when I will hold my shaggy head high and walk confidently in the office. Of course, there is the chance that they may not recognize me in which case they will call security and I'll get the day off!
The only way to handle this is to act like this was my plan all along when really I'm doubling up on hair growing vitamins and waiting for it to grow. It makes no difference whether my hair is long and bushy or short and shaggy, it will take the same amount of time to deal with it. I either need to calm it down to make it look less voluminous or now fluff it up to make it look like I am a female. No matter, this is not the end of the world, right? I just need to get through work tomorrow when I will hold my shaggy head high and walk confidently in the office. Of course, there is the chance that they may not recognize me in which case they will call security and I'll get the day off!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
The Lucy Show
I escorted Laura and Jason and Lucy home from the hospital two days after she was born. For someone so small, she managed to take over the entire house and the complete focus of all three of us. We found her to be distractingly cute and all we could do was gaze at her. She reminds me of Mary Poppins as she is practically perfect in every way. I can tell already that she is highly intelligent and she has almost mastered saying Gigi, just a little more practice and she'll have it.
I was along as the Love slave to do whatever Laura and Jason needed me to do. The problem was, I couldn't tear myself away from Lucy to get anything useful done. I didn't serve dinner the first night until 9:00 P.M. which was bad enough. But even more embarrassing, I forgot about the chicken and almost burned it! Clearly I would have to focus if I had any hope of proving myself worthy and being invited back.
The next day, my mission was to get Laura and Lucy safely to her first doctor's appt. Laura was suddenly aware of every bump in the road and I was implored to drive slowly so as not to disturb Lucy. Lucy had lost some weight after birth and the doctor wanted to see if she had put any of it back on. That's a switch! I hope she is enjoying this period of her life when gaining weight is a good thing. She did successfully put on 2.5 oz. so she is on her way! Her mommy impressed the pediatrician as she whipped out Lucy's feeding/diaper chart that she had been keeping since her birth. I have a feeling this is only the beginning of the documentation of Lucy.
On day four of Lucy's life I transported her and her mommy to Target to get some supplies. She didn't find Target terribly exciting but did her mommy the favor of sleeping contentedly in her stroller the entire time. She's thoughtful like that. The trip was well worth it though to find some cute bows to coordinate with her hip wardrobe. Look out Princess Kate, Lucy's in town!
Even though Lucy's arrival was one week earlier than her due date, she knew exactly what she was doing all along. She knew that her daddy needed a few days to get used to her so he could focus and study on his very important board exam on Monday. She is also very considerate and is keeping her night time feedings to a minimum and goes right back to sleep. See what I mean, practically perfect in every way.
I was along as the Love slave to do whatever Laura and Jason needed me to do. The problem was, I couldn't tear myself away from Lucy to get anything useful done. I didn't serve dinner the first night until 9:00 P.M. which was bad enough. But even more embarrassing, I forgot about the chicken and almost burned it! Clearly I would have to focus if I had any hope of proving myself worthy and being invited back.
The next day, my mission was to get Laura and Lucy safely to her first doctor's appt. Laura was suddenly aware of every bump in the road and I was implored to drive slowly so as not to disturb Lucy. Lucy had lost some weight after birth and the doctor wanted to see if she had put any of it back on. That's a switch! I hope she is enjoying this period of her life when gaining weight is a good thing. She did successfully put on 2.5 oz. so she is on her way! Her mommy impressed the pediatrician as she whipped out Lucy's feeding/diaper chart that she had been keeping since her birth. I have a feeling this is only the beginning of the documentation of Lucy.
On day four of Lucy's life I transported her and her mommy to Target to get some supplies. She didn't find Target terribly exciting but did her mommy the favor of sleeping contentedly in her stroller the entire time. She's thoughtful like that. The trip was well worth it though to find some cute bows to coordinate with her hip wardrobe. Look out Princess Kate, Lucy's in town!
Even though Lucy's arrival was one week earlier than her due date, she knew exactly what she was doing all along. She knew that her daddy needed a few days to get used to her so he could focus and study on his very important board exam on Monday. She is also very considerate and is keeping her night time feedings to a minimum and goes right back to sleep. See what I mean, practically perfect in every way.
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