Coming to a new town can be intimidating. I spent two weeks missing my friends and family from back home. Then something remarkable happened: God sent us friends.
esterday, the kids and I were outside in the front yard while Chris was mowing the yard, and a woman walked by, saw Tobias in giraffe shoes, and came across the street to comment on them. She saw we had five kids, told me that I had to meet this other woman in the neighborhood who had five kids under age 6 (incl. a set of twins), and she told me where this other lady lived. I drove down there within an hour, but she didn't answer the door, so I left a note. I came back about 3 hours later, knocked on the door, and when she answered it, I told her, "I'm Dorothy." ... And she gave me a HUG! She's so bubbly and friendly--and a BELIEVER! She and her husband attended Bible college in Alabama, and then they got married, had five kids in five years, and all of our children match up with their kids as playmates. (She has 6-yr-old twin girls, a 5-yr-old girl, a 3-yr-old boy, and a 20-mo-old boy!) They invited our whole family over for burgers that night! We stayed until ten, and it was such a pleasure to bump into a solid believing, homeschooling, "procreating" family in our neighborhood. It warmed my heart, and I can see us being fast friends.
Then, tonight, we just returned from visiting our next-door neighbor, JonAda, who has a 6-yr-old granddaughter and a 4-yr-old grandson, and a daughter who is about our age. She doesn't seem from appearances to be much like us, but she is! She knew just what we needed to know about living here, what kinds of things we should do, and we even had a good laugh about hoarding bargains. =) She likes yard sales, too, and her basement is full of furniture she no longer needs, but keeps around in case she wants to switch it out again down the road! She used to attend our church, Highland Park Baptist Church (hpbc.net), many years ago, and I think she's a good prospect for Jesus.
On another note, we're going to the library tomorrow for storytime, and my dinner-a-day cookbook has been much fun. I find that I end up making much too much food, however, and we'll have to end up having leftovers for lunch. I went to the farmer's market today, which is only open on Sundays from 11-4, and I grabbed some farm-fresh tomatoes, including some heirloom varieties. Sadly, none of the peaches left at 3 pm were ripe enough for purchase, and all the blueberries were gone. I did buy some herb plants, though, so I have to remember to plant those tomorrow.
Chris and I visited with the pastor from our church last night, and we caught his excitement about reaching our neighborhood. He mentioned that the college ministry needed workers, and Chris wants to plug in as a mentor and helper. I'm excited to be a part of groundbreaking ESL classes, and our kids will start AWANAs in the fall. The longer we're here, the more clearly I see God's hand moving us and others into this place for such a time as this, and it will be a most exciting time to be sure... rebuilding the church, rebuilding the school, reaching the neighborhood. I'm thrilled to be here, and I'm encouraged to see the Lord Jesus' love in our lives.
I'm about the business of raising godly children. So far, God has blessed us with six of them! My husband owns his own business, and I'm fortunate enough to stay at home with the kiddos. If you're looking for deep philosophy on this blog, you're out of luck. If you'd prefer random tales of childhood tomfoolery, stick around!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Feeding yourself
I bought a book at a used bookstore called Dinner-a-Day. It has recipes for every weekday of the year planned out for an entree, a side or two, and a dessert, as well as a shopping list and utensil list. Isn't that handy? I'm having fun with it, because I used to actually make a menu like that, and then make a shopping list to accompany it. This book is saving me 4 hours a week or so! The recipes are a level above my normal cooking, too, but no meal is supposed to take more than an hour to prepare. (When you factor in the "Referee" factor that all mothers endure, it does take longer--stopping every few minutes to direct the children.)
The other day, I fixed a pasta dish with rotini, scallops, corn, and sweet peppers. It was quite yummy. (The very first time I attempted using scallops, the whole house ended up smelling like lake water, and I just couldn't force my children--or myself--to eat a dish that looked like mud from the bottom of the pond. So, I've never used them again, until this book.) Anyway, while I was getting dessert ready, Chris was getting the twins to finish up their pasta by playing the airplane game. He zoomed the food into their mouths, and they finished up in no time, with gaggles of giggles.
Last night, we had leftovers--pasta again. As soon as I plopped Tobias' pasta in front of him, he picked up a rotini piece and zoomed it into his own mouth, complete with sound effects. He ate his WHOLE MEAL in airplane fashion. I nearly couldn't finish for laughing so hard.
The other day, I fixed a pasta dish with rotini, scallops, corn, and sweet peppers. It was quite yummy. (The very first time I attempted using scallops, the whole house ended up smelling like lake water, and I just couldn't force my children--or myself--to eat a dish that looked like mud from the bottom of the pond. So, I've never used them again, until this book.) Anyway, while I was getting dessert ready, Chris was getting the twins to finish up their pasta by playing the airplane game. He zoomed the food into their mouths, and they finished up in no time, with gaggles of giggles.
Last night, we had leftovers--pasta again. As soon as I plopped Tobias' pasta in front of him, he picked up a rotini piece and zoomed it into his own mouth, complete with sound effects. He ate his WHOLE MEAL in airplane fashion. I nearly couldn't finish for laughing so hard.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Little Miss Muffet, by Kora
Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a Tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey.
{So far, so good.}
Along came a spitter,
And sat down beside her,
And frightened Miss Muffet away.
{Well, I guess so!}
Sat on a Tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey.
{So far, so good.}
Along came a spitter,
And sat down beside her,
And frightened Miss Muffet away.
{Well, I guess so!}
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Packed up, Moved out, Packed in, Unpacked
Well, I see it's been far too long since I posted the goings-on in our family, but I do have quite a valid excuse. Chris graduated at the end of May, and we spent a few days in the early part of June packing a bit at a time for our upcoming move to Chattanooga, but we really increased our effort five days before our move. We packed the playroom, the bedroom, the kids' bedroom, the master bathroom, the guest bathroom, the shed, the kitchen, the laundry room, the pantry, the master closet, the guest closet, the book closet, the coat closet, (breath) and Chris' office--which occupied the back 1/3 of the 26-foot moving truck. I specify the length because we actually ended up with two trucks! (We anticipated this need, and Penske was all too happy to oblige. Unfortunately, Penske did not have the forethought to ask us to return our two trucks to the same location in Chattanooga.)
We had wonderful help moving. I was nearly tempted to feel ashamed to accept the help, as though by sending my children off I was admitting that I am an incapable mother. Then I remembered--I AM an incapable mother. Incapable, that is, of packing up 43 feet of moving trucks with five little people underfoot.
(As an aside, I told David to go outside today so he wouldn't be underfoot, and I heard him repeat to his sisters, "She said it's so she won't step on our feet.")
We sent them off to a friend's house all day Wednesday to pack. Then we sent them off to McMinnville, TN with another friend for two whole days while we unpacked. The need for the second truck threw us for a loop, because that left us with no one to drive the van and the children to McMinnville. Chris' mom and brother came to the rescue and gave up the entire day to follow us to McMinnville. They left the van there and returned in their own car. (Chris' mom is the real hero here because she spent four hours in the van alone with the twins, who, I happen to know, can be quite whiny on long road trips.)
Two full days to unpack without the children allowed us to nearly set up completely! Of course, this is dangerous, because it's difficult to go ahead and push through to the end. Case in point, after two weeks here, the pictures are still resting on the mantle, calling out hopelessly to deaf ears for help hanging up. The garden tools have found themselves fallen to the same fate--that is, boxed up, resting upon the back door.
The mosquitoes here are dreadful. I think Tyler has succumbed to chiggers. I counted 21 bites on his left leg today. That's the only way I know to tell if he gets new ones! I have flea bites halfway up my legs from our visit to Marion, thanks to Walter's cats, Sputnik and Calvin. (I'm not blaming anyone, as you can see. =) We have invested in Benedryl cream for relief. It helps the pain, but my legs still look like they belong to a little boy!
We have met two neighbors so far--one like us, one very much different than us. We're glad to be in this house because we believe God directed us here and has great plans for us this year. My children miss having friends just outside their door, but I have kept them busy with schoolwork. Kora finished her first PACE in Math today! I also set up computer games for them so I can get my chores finished in peace. (Without kids underfoot, and all.)
We LOVE all this space. I am determined to be content in all situations, but I sure am being spoiled in this house. We set up an inflatable water slide in the back yard that thrilled the kids. Tobias and Tyler never got up the nerve to try it, but we bought them a baby pool. Of course, the mosquitoes are trying to carry us off out there!
Chris has started working with Uncle Jim, as he has instructed our kids to call him. They have a meeting tomorrow to lay out a job description for Chris. They hope to have a planning meeting with other faculty about reaching our neighborhood for Christ. Our house is five blocks from the school. Chris prefers to walk to the office, because his parking lot is just as far from the office as our house! =)
I overheard some college kids on the corner on their bikes today. They were discussing the best route home. One girl suggested Hixon Pike, because it wasn't as hilly as the other route. Another girl said, "Are you crazy? Then you have that big hill going up to my house! You literally go backwards trying to pedal up that thing!" So, Chattanooga is different from Memphis. First of all, who bikes anywhere in Memphis?! Second, hills--oh, the overpass? No, you mean real hills. That's nice.
We're hoping to have a field trip every week while we're here that is something specifically Chattanooga. I'm open to suggestions, and the free-er the better. =)
I must away, for I have loads of laundry and dishes to do before bed.
Saja asked me today, "When are we going to get to preach to people in Chattanooga?!" I told her that's what Daddy was doing, but she insisted that she wants her chance, too. I hope she gets it.
We had wonderful help moving. I was nearly tempted to feel ashamed to accept the help, as though by sending my children off I was admitting that I am an incapable mother. Then I remembered--I AM an incapable mother. Incapable, that is, of packing up 43 feet of moving trucks with five little people underfoot.
(As an aside, I told David to go outside today so he wouldn't be underfoot, and I heard him repeat to his sisters, "She said it's so she won't step on our feet.")
We sent them off to a friend's house all day Wednesday to pack. Then we sent them off to McMinnville, TN with another friend for two whole days while we unpacked. The need for the second truck threw us for a loop, because that left us with no one to drive the van and the children to McMinnville. Chris' mom and brother came to the rescue and gave up the entire day to follow us to McMinnville. They left the van there and returned in their own car. (Chris' mom is the real hero here because she spent four hours in the van alone with the twins, who, I happen to know, can be quite whiny on long road trips.)
Two full days to unpack without the children allowed us to nearly set up completely! Of course, this is dangerous, because it's difficult to go ahead and push through to the end. Case in point, after two weeks here, the pictures are still resting on the mantle, calling out hopelessly to deaf ears for help hanging up. The garden tools have found themselves fallen to the same fate--that is, boxed up, resting upon the back door.
The mosquitoes here are dreadful. I think Tyler has succumbed to chiggers. I counted 21 bites on his left leg today. That's the only way I know to tell if he gets new ones! I have flea bites halfway up my legs from our visit to Marion, thanks to Walter's cats, Sputnik and Calvin. (I'm not blaming anyone, as you can see. =) We have invested in Benedryl cream for relief. It helps the pain, but my legs still look like they belong to a little boy!
We have met two neighbors so far--one like us, one very much different than us. We're glad to be in this house because we believe God directed us here and has great plans for us this year. My children miss having friends just outside their door, but I have kept them busy with schoolwork. Kora finished her first PACE in Math today! I also set up computer games for them so I can get my chores finished in peace. (Without kids underfoot, and all.)
We LOVE all this space. I am determined to be content in all situations, but I sure am being spoiled in this house. We set up an inflatable water slide in the back yard that thrilled the kids. Tobias and Tyler never got up the nerve to try it, but we bought them a baby pool. Of course, the mosquitoes are trying to carry us off out there!
Chris has started working with Uncle Jim, as he has instructed our kids to call him. They have a meeting tomorrow to lay out a job description for Chris. They hope to have a planning meeting with other faculty about reaching our neighborhood for Christ. Our house is five blocks from the school. Chris prefers to walk to the office, because his parking lot is just as far from the office as our house! =)
I overheard some college kids on the corner on their bikes today. They were discussing the best route home. One girl suggested Hixon Pike, because it wasn't as hilly as the other route. Another girl said, "Are you crazy? Then you have that big hill going up to my house! You literally go backwards trying to pedal up that thing!" So, Chattanooga is different from Memphis. First of all, who bikes anywhere in Memphis?! Second, hills--oh, the overpass? No, you mean real hills. That's nice.
We're hoping to have a field trip every week while we're here that is something specifically Chattanooga. I'm open to suggestions, and the free-er the better. =)
I must away, for I have loads of laundry and dishes to do before bed.
Saja asked me today, "When are we going to get to preach to people in Chattanooga?!" I told her that's what Daddy was doing, but she insisted that she wants her chance, too. I hope she gets it.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Sharing at the Sprinkler Park
I told the kids today we'd go to the sprinkler park in Collierville if they all took a nap. Kora didn't nap. She still came with us to the sprinkler park... and napped in the car. =) Yes, it counts.
You'll remember that the park is separated into two sections: a large area with high-powered sprinklers near the pavillions, and a smaller section for smaller children with misty sprinklers away from the pavillions. I, of course, toted Tyler and Tobias, age 18 months, toward the toddler section while Saja, Kora, and David enjoyed the freedom to play wherever they wanted. I occasionally glanced around to keep tabs on the older kids while encouraging Tyler and Tobias to enjoy the water.
Let me just pause the story for a moment to tell you this: Tyler and Tobias did NOT enjoy themselves today. After I finally got them interested in the small stream of water plopping gently out of the pipes, the sprinklers actually activated and shot the boys in their faces. I don't think they ever recovered. But they did scream a lot! Eventually, they learned to stick their feet in the sprinklers so as to avoid getting water in their faces, but they both turned their attention toward other things during the trip: dogs, coolers, fritos that had missed the trash can, and other parents.
Back to the story. While I was engaging the twins, I scanned for the other kids and didn't see them. I finally glimpsed a towelled child sitting under the pavillion, and it looked like she was eating! Yes, in fact, three towelled figures were eating and drinking at our pavillion, but I guarantee you it wasn't our food!
I admit to you this: I considered ignoring my children until they returned to the sprinklers, so as to avoid the apology that must be made. In fact, I mulled over this decision for about 5 minutes, secretly hoping they would finish eating and return to the sprinkler area while I decided what to do.
They didn't.
Surprise of all surprises, they didn't steal the food after all! A friendly Mexican family had offered to share their pizza and orange sodas (which evoked all kinds of excited, dramatic squealing) without accepting any offer of payment. They had triplet 2-year-old girls, and we spoke at length about many things we had in common. She seemed not only to tolerate my children, but to truly enjoy them. (I made my kids thank her in Spanish.)
This experience is not a rarity in my observation of the Latino culture. Hospitality and sense of community rule their values. At one point, I chased after Tobias (who was chasing after a dog), and when I returned, the man had put Tyler in his lap, and his wife was photographing the occasion. We will likely never meet again, since we're moving, but she accepted our family as her own without a second thought.
I wish I could be like her.
On another note, un abejo (a bee) apparently snuck into one of those soda cans, and he flew out when Tobias tried to drink it. Fortunately, the bee landed on Tobias' shirt, which apparently had orange soda on it as well (imagine that!). I panicked slightly (only slightly, thank you very much), the bee meandered across the shirt, and Tobias tried to pick it up between his thumb and forefinger THREE TIMES! Each time I swatted away his hand, checked my rising panic, and swatted at the bee. I ended up grabbing el abejo with a triply-folded paper towel. No stings, thank the Lord, but one very curious little boy who nearly pinched a bee.
All in all, we had a wonderful time at the sprinkler park. I hear Chattanooga has one, too.
You'll remember that the park is separated into two sections: a large area with high-powered sprinklers near the pavillions, and a smaller section for smaller children with misty sprinklers away from the pavillions. I, of course, toted Tyler and Tobias, age 18 months, toward the toddler section while Saja, Kora, and David enjoyed the freedom to play wherever they wanted. I occasionally glanced around to keep tabs on the older kids while encouraging Tyler and Tobias to enjoy the water.
Let me just pause the story for a moment to tell you this: Tyler and Tobias did NOT enjoy themselves today. After I finally got them interested in the small stream of water plopping gently out of the pipes, the sprinklers actually activated and shot the boys in their faces. I don't think they ever recovered. But they did scream a lot! Eventually, they learned to stick their feet in the sprinklers so as to avoid getting water in their faces, but they both turned their attention toward other things during the trip: dogs, coolers, fritos that had missed the trash can, and other parents.
Back to the story. While I was engaging the twins, I scanned for the other kids and didn't see them. I finally glimpsed a towelled child sitting under the pavillion, and it looked like she was eating! Yes, in fact, three towelled figures were eating and drinking at our pavillion, but I guarantee you it wasn't our food!
I admit to you this: I considered ignoring my children until they returned to the sprinklers, so as to avoid the apology that must be made. In fact, I mulled over this decision for about 5 minutes, secretly hoping they would finish eating and return to the sprinkler area while I decided what to do.
They didn't.
Surprise of all surprises, they didn't steal the food after all! A friendly Mexican family had offered to share their pizza and orange sodas (which evoked all kinds of excited, dramatic squealing) without accepting any offer of payment. They had triplet 2-year-old girls, and we spoke at length about many things we had in common. She seemed not only to tolerate my children, but to truly enjoy them. (I made my kids thank her in Spanish.)
This experience is not a rarity in my observation of the Latino culture. Hospitality and sense of community rule their values. At one point, I chased after Tobias (who was chasing after a dog), and when I returned, the man had put Tyler in his lap, and his wife was photographing the occasion. We will likely never meet again, since we're moving, but she accepted our family as her own without a second thought.
I wish I could be like her.
On another note, un abejo (a bee) apparently snuck into one of those soda cans, and he flew out when Tobias tried to drink it. Fortunately, the bee landed on Tobias' shirt, which apparently had orange soda on it as well (imagine that!). I panicked slightly (only slightly, thank you very much), the bee meandered across the shirt, and Tobias tried to pick it up between his thumb and forefinger THREE TIMES! Each time I swatted away his hand, checked my rising panic, and swatted at the bee. I ended up grabbing el abejo with a triply-folded paper towel. No stings, thank the Lord, but one very curious little boy who nearly pinched a bee.
All in all, we had a wonderful time at the sprinkler park. I hear Chattanooga has one, too.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Super-cool (but not super-smart) Mom hosts sleepover
Let me just set the stage here.
We're moving in one week.
We had a going-away party/birthday party last night. I thought we'd combine that with a sleepover with a few friends of the girls. All went well last night until one of the girls decided she wanted to go home. She wasn't upset--she just wanted to sleep in her own bed.
The kids watched movies, made tents, did each others' hair, and played with stickers. Chris and I visited our friends until about midnight. We finally sent the kids to bed at 1:00, and the last girl fell asleep by 1:30 (as did the super-cool but not super-smart mom).
Imagine my surprise at 6:30 when I heard screaming from the playroom.
I had asked the girls to shower when they woke up because they had hairspray in their hair, so I was not surprised to hear the bath running at 6:30am. I was, however, surprised at 9am when I stepped in the shower to find that the hot water did not come on.... because the 6:30 bath was STILL RUNNING. Marisa said innocently, "Well, the drain is open." No big deal!
Five kids. Five hours of sleep. LOTS of whining.
Where's my coffee???!
We're moving in one week.
We had a going-away party/birthday party last night. I thought we'd combine that with a sleepover with a few friends of the girls. All went well last night until one of the girls decided she wanted to go home. She wasn't upset--she just wanted to sleep in her own bed.
The kids watched movies, made tents, did each others' hair, and played with stickers. Chris and I visited our friends until about midnight. We finally sent the kids to bed at 1:00, and the last girl fell asleep by 1:30 (as did the super-cool but not super-smart mom).
Imagine my surprise at 6:30 when I heard screaming from the playroom.
I had asked the girls to shower when they woke up because they had hairspray in their hair, so I was not surprised to hear the bath running at 6:30am. I was, however, surprised at 9am when I stepped in the shower to find that the hot water did not come on.... because the 6:30 bath was STILL RUNNING. Marisa said innocently, "Well, the drain is open." No big deal!
Five kids. Five hours of sleep. LOTS of whining.
Where's my coffee???!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Eighteen meals at a time
I just took 6 casserole recipes from About.com, tripled them, and cooked 18 meals for the freezer.
I thought I'd share the links in case any of you care to do the same. The recipes share many ingredients, making it easier to cook, and I chose to buy frozen, chopped vegetables in many cases instead of doing it myself to save time. I had a lot of fun, and I can't wait to enjoy our meals!
Here are the links to the 6 freezer meals I made this time around. Except for the chicken rococco, it was REALLY simple. I think I'd leave off the chicken rococco for a group once-a-month-cooking adventure. I actually had to save it for another day, because it takes about 1.5 hours preparation time, plus 40 minutes baking time. And you have to beat the snot out of the chicken to flatten it (which actually was kind of therapeutic.)
Freezer Chili:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/hotsouprecipes/r/freezerchili.htm
Sicilian Dinner:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/groundbeefrecipes/r/siciliansupper.htm
Chicken, Veggies, and Parmesan Noodles
http://busycooks.about.com/od/precookedpoultryrecipes/r/vegchickencasse.htm
Chicken Potato Casserole:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/precookedpoultryrecipes/r/chickenpotcasse.htm
Chicken Rococco*:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/chickenrecipe1/r/chickenrococco.htm
Turkey Delight:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/precookedpoultryrecipes/r/wildriceturkey.htm
(This calls for 3 c. wild rice, but I substituted a wild/brown/red mixture I found at Kroger, because I wasn't sure how straight wild rice would taste... and it was less expensive.)
All in all, I probably spent 10 hours from start to clean-up (which Chris helped with!)... but that sure beats the 16 hours I spent first time I did this! The cooking part took less than 4 hours because all the recipes share so many ingredients. I think it would have taken less time if I had more stove space and bigger pots. =)
Good luck!
I thought I'd share the links in case any of you care to do the same. The recipes share many ingredients, making it easier to cook, and I chose to buy frozen, chopped vegetables in many cases instead of doing it myself to save time. I had a lot of fun, and I can't wait to enjoy our meals!
Here are the links to the 6 freezer meals I made this time around. Except for the chicken rococco, it was REALLY simple. I think I'd leave off the chicken rococco for a group once-a-month-cooking adventure. I actually had to save it for another day, because it takes about 1.5 hours preparation time, plus 40 minutes baking time. And you have to beat the snot out of the chicken to flatten it (which actually was kind of therapeutic.)
Freezer Chili:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/hotsouprecipes/r/freezerchili.htm
Sicilian Dinner:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/groundbeefrecipes/r/siciliansupper.htm
Chicken, Veggies, and Parmesan Noodles
http://busycooks.about.com/od/precookedpoultryrecipes/r/vegchickencasse.htm
Chicken Potato Casserole:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/precookedpoultryrecipes/r/chickenpotcasse.htm
Chicken Rococco*:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/chickenrecipe1/r/chickenrococco.htm
Turkey Delight:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/precookedpoultryrecipes/r/wildriceturkey.htm
(This calls for 3 c. wild rice, but I substituted a wild/brown/red mixture I found at Kroger, because I wasn't sure how straight wild rice would taste... and it was less expensive.)
All in all, I probably spent 10 hours from start to clean-up (which Chris helped with!)... but that sure beats the 16 hours I spent first time I did this! The cooking part took less than 4 hours because all the recipes share so many ingredients. I think it would have taken less time if I had more stove space and bigger pots. =)
Good luck!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Summer Break
Would you believe we're in Summer Break mode already? Chris, of course, won't graduate until May 23, but since he doesn't rely on ME to teach him, I don't really count him. We finished our 180 days of Kindergarten and K4 last week, so now, we're FREE!
And what wonderful weather in which to be free. Our days are spent outside, running, playing, biking, and picking flowers (which, by the way, are not ours.)
Saja likes to play with the older girls in the neighborhood. Yesterday, they picked a handful of azalea flowers each, and they made a bed for Pocket Pals. It was so cute that I forgot to reprimand them for picking the flowers.
Kora and David like to climb to the top of the monkey bars and hang upside down. You know, we have already been to the ER for a CT Scan when Kora broke her skull, yet somehow, I rest in God's sovereignty (and practice stress-relief breathing) when my children are suspended six feet from the ground head-down. So far, no problems.
Yesterday, David was playing outside barefoot. I let them play barefoot most of the time, because they usually take their shoes off first chance they get, and then the management throws them in the dumpster when they forget to pick them up. (It really happens.) So David, in the infinite wisdom of a 3-year-old, decided to stomp an anthill yesterday... barefoot. When I finally reached him, he was writhing on the ground, screaming, rubbing his feet on the grass. He perked up in less than a minute, though. Then, of his own accord, he went inside to get shoes. Why? you may ask. Because he wanted to stomp on the poor little ants some more. Seriously.
Well, at least he chose to wear his shoes.
Tyler and Tobias have learned that they can wander away if they're not strapped into the wagon or the stroller. They know not to go into the street, yet they test the waters every minute that we're outside. David's terrible 2's prepared me for this stage, so I'm cracking down with training right away.
Tobias loves to pick on Tyler. He grabs the back of his shirt collar and pulls. Tyler screams like a girl. Tobias roars in laughter. Yesterday, Tobias approached a slightly older boy on the playground and just hit him for no reason. Then he laughed. So... it seems like David has taught them this is how you play. I think we'll just have to seclude ourselves until we grow out of this (like, when the boys are 25?!)
We're making plans to move to Chattanooga this summer. Please pray with us that God will preserve a large house with a fenced-in backyard in a good neighborhood near Tennessee Temple University for us to reasonably rent. Chris' position is unpaid, but we have some savings to see us through the year. What an amazing lifestyle, so distant from the world, to be relatively unworried about finances.
Maybe that's why our marriage is so fun.
Finally, on a side note that has no functional bearing whatsoever, something has happened in the world of Catan. I'm the champion, and I love it. =) I think I've won 6 out of the last 8 games I've played. "So, eat that, marshmallow boy!" (Sorry, that's from Monsters, Inc., which is playing in the background, and making it very difficult for me to concentrate.)
Life is fun now. I thank God for that!
And what wonderful weather in which to be free. Our days are spent outside, running, playing, biking, and picking flowers (which, by the way, are not ours.)
Saja likes to play with the older girls in the neighborhood. Yesterday, they picked a handful of azalea flowers each, and they made a bed for Pocket Pals. It was so cute that I forgot to reprimand them for picking the flowers.
Kora and David like to climb to the top of the monkey bars and hang upside down. You know, we have already been to the ER for a CT Scan when Kora broke her skull, yet somehow, I rest in God's sovereignty (and practice stress-relief breathing) when my children are suspended six feet from the ground head-down. So far, no problems.
Yesterday, David was playing outside barefoot. I let them play barefoot most of the time, because they usually take their shoes off first chance they get, and then the management throws them in the dumpster when they forget to pick them up. (It really happens.) So David, in the infinite wisdom of a 3-year-old, decided to stomp an anthill yesterday... barefoot. When I finally reached him, he was writhing on the ground, screaming, rubbing his feet on the grass. He perked up in less than a minute, though. Then, of his own accord, he went inside to get shoes. Why? you may ask. Because he wanted to stomp on the poor little ants some more. Seriously.
Well, at least he chose to wear his shoes.
Tyler and Tobias have learned that they can wander away if they're not strapped into the wagon or the stroller. They know not to go into the street, yet they test the waters every minute that we're outside. David's terrible 2's prepared me for this stage, so I'm cracking down with training right away.
Tobias loves to pick on Tyler. He grabs the back of his shirt collar and pulls. Tyler screams like a girl. Tobias roars in laughter. Yesterday, Tobias approached a slightly older boy on the playground and just hit him for no reason. Then he laughed. So... it seems like David has taught them this is how you play. I think we'll just have to seclude ourselves until we grow out of this (like, when the boys are 25?!)
We're making plans to move to Chattanooga this summer. Please pray with us that God will preserve a large house with a fenced-in backyard in a good neighborhood near Tennessee Temple University for us to reasonably rent. Chris' position is unpaid, but we have some savings to see us through the year. What an amazing lifestyle, so distant from the world, to be relatively unworried about finances.
Maybe that's why our marriage is so fun.
Finally, on a side note that has no functional bearing whatsoever, something has happened in the world of Catan. I'm the champion, and I love it. =) I think I've won 6 out of the last 8 games I've played. "So, eat that, marshmallow boy!" (Sorry, that's from Monsters, Inc., which is playing in the background, and making it very difficult for me to concentrate.)
Life is fun now. I thank God for that!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
A crushing experience
You never know what a day may bring forth.
We took the children to McDonald's after church tonight for a special treat. Tyler needed a diaper change, so I carried him and the diaper bag and my purse to the restroom. I found two wipes in my tiny plastic wipes container, and this particular McDonald's doesn't stock paper towels. Now how will a hand-dryer help wipe Tyler's hiney? Frustrated, I cleaned him up as best as I could with only two wipes. While I washed my hands, I let him roam around the bathroom. He's been walking four or five months now, and it's a wonderful break to not have to carry him everywhere.
I decided to let him walk back to the playground.
He walked out first, and I slowly let the heavy door close behind me. I saw Tyler's hand quite close to the hinge-side of the door, so I stopped the door and leaned down to ask him to move his fingers. I noticed his finger had actually been caught already and shoved the door open to release it. He started screaming.
Blood was everywhere. Paper towels were not.
I forced his finger under a stream of water amidst his terrible howls of pain. Every time I pulled it out to look at it, the blood just ran down his hand, on my shirt, down the sink, on the countertop. I tried my best to stop the bleeding and clean the counter with toilet paper, but come on. Really??!
At some point, I noticed the wound lay across the center of his middle fingernail, but the cut extended out from the fingernail on either side a quarter of an inch. I actually thought he might be at risk for a partial amputation for a moment.
It was dreadful.
I admit, I freaked out a little. I ran out, blood running all over, yelling for Chris, who was playing with the children. (I grabbed napkins on my way in.) He calmly sat with Tyler, still screaming in pain, and asked me for some ice. When I told the McDonald's employees the situation and asked for ice, they complied politely, but offered no help. One kid did ask, "I can't figure out how that happened."
I wasn't in the mood to explain.
I thought we were headed to the minor med for at least stitches. The Fussells from church had ended up at McDonald's as well, and I think God puts us in places sometimes we feel benignly when He has specific purposes and plans in mind for us. They certainly had a purpose there tonight--offering help to us in this semi-emergent situation.
I assumed we were on our way to the hospital for a few stitches.
Chris later assessed the situation and thinks Tyler might have broken the bone. Having recently worked in the ER as a nurse, he was able to tell me what they would do in the hospital for a broken fingertip, and we replicated it at home.
I'm proud of my husband, who certainly kept his cool and took care of our poor, injured baby tonight. I'm pleased to report that Tyler is sleeping soundly, band-aid and popsickle-stick-splint in place, Tylenol taking the edge off the pain.
I'm also amused to report that Chris broke HIS fingertip playing softball in 2000. Did he go to the doctor then? Of course not.
I love to remind myself that God is in control of my life and the lives of my children. While I could spend the evening berating myself for letting my baby smash his finger in the door, I realize that God has a purpose in it. While I could worry that we should take him to a certified, bonified, medified clinic, I rest in my husband's decision and knowledge. Jesus tells us to rest in Him and be anxious for nothing, but instead, to pray. I also smile to think that God put us and the Fussells in the same place at the same time for a reason.
So pray I will, and then rest I will... because all this excitement has worn me out.
We took the children to McDonald's after church tonight for a special treat. Tyler needed a diaper change, so I carried him and the diaper bag and my purse to the restroom. I found two wipes in my tiny plastic wipes container, and this particular McDonald's doesn't stock paper towels. Now how will a hand-dryer help wipe Tyler's hiney? Frustrated, I cleaned him up as best as I could with only two wipes. While I washed my hands, I let him roam around the bathroom. He's been walking four or five months now, and it's a wonderful break to not have to carry him everywhere.
I decided to let him walk back to the playground.
He walked out first, and I slowly let the heavy door close behind me. I saw Tyler's hand quite close to the hinge-side of the door, so I stopped the door and leaned down to ask him to move his fingers. I noticed his finger had actually been caught already and shoved the door open to release it. He started screaming.
Blood was everywhere. Paper towels were not.
I forced his finger under a stream of water amidst his terrible howls of pain. Every time I pulled it out to look at it, the blood just ran down his hand, on my shirt, down the sink, on the countertop. I tried my best to stop the bleeding and clean the counter with toilet paper, but come on. Really??!
At some point, I noticed the wound lay across the center of his middle fingernail, but the cut extended out from the fingernail on either side a quarter of an inch. I actually thought he might be at risk for a partial amputation for a moment.
It was dreadful.
I admit, I freaked out a little. I ran out, blood running all over, yelling for Chris, who was playing with the children. (I grabbed napkins on my way in.) He calmly sat with Tyler, still screaming in pain, and asked me for some ice. When I told the McDonald's employees the situation and asked for ice, they complied politely, but offered no help. One kid did ask, "I can't figure out how that happened."
I wasn't in the mood to explain.
I thought we were headed to the minor med for at least stitches. The Fussells from church had ended up at McDonald's as well, and I think God puts us in places sometimes we feel benignly when He has specific purposes and plans in mind for us. They certainly had a purpose there tonight--offering help to us in this semi-emergent situation.
I assumed we were on our way to the hospital for a few stitches.
Chris later assessed the situation and thinks Tyler might have broken the bone. Having recently worked in the ER as a nurse, he was able to tell me what they would do in the hospital for a broken fingertip, and we replicated it at home.
I'm proud of my husband, who certainly kept his cool and took care of our poor, injured baby tonight. I'm pleased to report that Tyler is sleeping soundly, band-aid and popsickle-stick-splint in place, Tylenol taking the edge off the pain.
I'm also amused to report that Chris broke HIS fingertip playing softball in 2000. Did he go to the doctor then? Of course not.
I love to remind myself that God is in control of my life and the lives of my children. While I could spend the evening berating myself for letting my baby smash his finger in the door, I realize that God has a purpose in it. While I could worry that we should take him to a certified, bonified, medified clinic, I rest in my husband's decision and knowledge. Jesus tells us to rest in Him and be anxious for nothing, but instead, to pray. I also smile to think that God put us and the Fussells in the same place at the same time for a reason.
So pray I will, and then rest I will... because all this excitement has worn me out.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Focusing on Fun
I am a stellar teacher. I have a schedule, I have an agenda, and I have a whip to keep those little distracted kids in line. But you know what I forgot?
Fun.
I get so caught up in advancement, that I forget to let the family enjoy the present. God reminded me today that there is a place for rest. Just as adults can get burnout, children can, too, when we push them and push them without any respite or playtime.
Kids can learn while they're playing, too, and it's much less of a battle!
So off we go to the Children's Museum, to "play" about China.
Fun.
I get so caught up in advancement, that I forget to let the family enjoy the present. God reminded me today that there is a place for rest. Just as adults can get burnout, children can, too, when we push them and push them without any respite or playtime.
Kids can learn while they're playing, too, and it's much less of a battle!
So off we go to the Children's Museum, to "play" about China.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Turning 30
What's the one thing you want to do most on your 30th birthday?
-skydive?
-bungee jump?
-spend the day with your friends and family, playing games and laughing?
-stand in line for four hours at the Memphis DMV waiting to record your new 30-year-old self on a license that will be expiring at the stroke of midnight?
You guessed it. DMV here we come!
I only noticed that my license would expire on my birthday three days before it did. In a family of seven, three days is not enough time to carve out four hours of congruent time. Anyone living in the Memphis area knows that's how long it takes to stand in line, hand over your paperwork, snap a picture, and pay for a TN license. A city of a million has three stations in which one can do that and a thousand other DMV-related things (including apply for a permit to carry a handgun. Two people in front of me did it while I was waiting--that's how I know.)
I decided that I should drive to Oakland, 20 minutes from my home, a city of 10,000, to be served more quickly. I went to the appropriate website to gather my paperwork the night before. After only one hour with my children in the morning, I left amidst chaos and crying--broken dishes and food on the floor, dirty clothes flying through the air in an effort to land on the ceiling fan, 2-year-old David tackling 16-month-old Tyler. I knew I wouldn't see them under 5:30 pm, a rarity in my life. So I departed bittersweetly.
Thirty minutes later, the Oakland DMV, who had only 10 people waiting, said I didn't have the right paperwork. I started, "But I checked the website..." She interrupted, "The website's wrong. You have to have a certified birth certificate or a passport to prove citizenship." So back I went to the house to gather 18 pieces of paperwork. Seriously. My passport's in my maiden name, so I had to have my marriage certificate. No bills are in my name, so I had to get Chris' license and bank statements. I honestly thought about bringing the whole filing cabinet, but decided it would take too much work. I'm kind of lazy.
So, when I walked inside to retrieve the CORRECT paperwork, David was running around naked. We were trying to potty-train him, and we had experienced mild success the day before by leaving him naked. But today, as I walked in, Kora was yelling, "David pooped!" And Chris was yelling, "Did you poop in the toilet, David?" And David (bless his heart) was saying, "Um, no. I pooped behind the T.V." I think I didn't even process what was going on until I saw Chris grab a plastic grocery bag like a pet-owner might. You know what I did? I kissed Chris on his cheek, thanked him for taking care of the children, and scooted out.
My second trip to Oakland was uneventful, except that the lady actually chuckled at the amount of paperwork I pulled from my purse. It was like Mary Poppins! It just kept coming. The woman after me was also getting a first-time TN license, and she handed over three pieces of paperwork. Oh, to be her. My purse would be lighter.
The office in Oakland was quite efficient. They were like a well-oiled machine, and even with my 40-minute mixup, I still beat Chris' four-hour wait at the Memphis DMV on Summer Ave. And I like my picture. Good thing, too, since I have my license for four years. I wonder if I'll look different in four years. I still have my very first license. Boy, do I look different from age 14! But wouldn't it be funny if I didn't?
Then I slipped in a visit with a childhood friend who now lives very close to Oakland. That was refreshing.
Then I sped to Life Choices, stopping briefly to grab a cucumber-hummus pita from Chris. It was remarkably good.
I ended up with a late client and arrived home late, to my chagrin, but Chris had a wonderful chocolate-covered-strawberry-cake waiting for me. Saja had slipped off with a piece of it before he frosted it. She was upset because I laughed when Chris told me that.
So then we ate cake.
Then we ate more cake.
Oh, it was so good, can I have just one more piece??!
Kora had made a wonderful drawing for me and even signed her name! I'm so impressed.
Saja drew a picture of Cinderella for me, but forgot to add legs, so she cut out legs and glued them on. That was thoughtful.
Then we played and went to bed. It was wonderful to turn 30.
I'm glad I didn't do it with a plastic grocery bag playing the poop scavenger hunt.
-skydive?
-bungee jump?
-spend the day with your friends and family, playing games and laughing?
-stand in line for four hours at the Memphis DMV waiting to record your new 30-year-old self on a license that will be expiring at the stroke of midnight?
You guessed it. DMV here we come!
I only noticed that my license would expire on my birthday three days before it did. In a family of seven, three days is not enough time to carve out four hours of congruent time. Anyone living in the Memphis area knows that's how long it takes to stand in line, hand over your paperwork, snap a picture, and pay for a TN license. A city of a million has three stations in which one can do that and a thousand other DMV-related things (including apply for a permit to carry a handgun. Two people in front of me did it while I was waiting--that's how I know.)
I decided that I should drive to Oakland, 20 minutes from my home, a city of 10,000, to be served more quickly. I went to the appropriate website to gather my paperwork the night before. After only one hour with my children in the morning, I left amidst chaos and crying--broken dishes and food on the floor, dirty clothes flying through the air in an effort to land on the ceiling fan, 2-year-old David tackling 16-month-old Tyler. I knew I wouldn't see them under 5:30 pm, a rarity in my life. So I departed bittersweetly.
Thirty minutes later, the Oakland DMV, who had only 10 people waiting, said I didn't have the right paperwork. I started, "But I checked the website..." She interrupted, "The website's wrong. You have to have a certified birth certificate or a passport to prove citizenship." So back I went to the house to gather 18 pieces of paperwork. Seriously. My passport's in my maiden name, so I had to have my marriage certificate. No bills are in my name, so I had to get Chris' license and bank statements. I honestly thought about bringing the whole filing cabinet, but decided it would take too much work. I'm kind of lazy.
So, when I walked inside to retrieve the CORRECT paperwork, David was running around naked. We were trying to potty-train him, and we had experienced mild success the day before by leaving him naked. But today, as I walked in, Kora was yelling, "David pooped!" And Chris was yelling, "Did you poop in the toilet, David?" And David (bless his heart) was saying, "Um, no. I pooped behind the T.V." I think I didn't even process what was going on until I saw Chris grab a plastic grocery bag like a pet-owner might. You know what I did? I kissed Chris on his cheek, thanked him for taking care of the children, and scooted out.
My second trip to Oakland was uneventful, except that the lady actually chuckled at the amount of paperwork I pulled from my purse. It was like Mary Poppins! It just kept coming. The woman after me was also getting a first-time TN license, and she handed over three pieces of paperwork. Oh, to be her. My purse would be lighter.
The office in Oakland was quite efficient. They were like a well-oiled machine, and even with my 40-minute mixup, I still beat Chris' four-hour wait at the Memphis DMV on Summer Ave. And I like my picture. Good thing, too, since I have my license for four years. I wonder if I'll look different in four years. I still have my very first license. Boy, do I look different from age 14! But wouldn't it be funny if I didn't?
Then I slipped in a visit with a childhood friend who now lives very close to Oakland. That was refreshing.
Then I sped to Life Choices, stopping briefly to grab a cucumber-hummus pita from Chris. It was remarkably good.
I ended up with a late client and arrived home late, to my chagrin, but Chris had a wonderful chocolate-covered-strawberry-cake waiting for me. Saja had slipped off with a piece of it before he frosted it. She was upset because I laughed when Chris told me that.
So then we ate cake.
Then we ate more cake.
Oh, it was so good, can I have just one more piece??!
Kora had made a wonderful drawing for me and even signed her name! I'm so impressed.
Saja drew a picture of Cinderella for me, but forgot to add legs, so she cut out legs and glued them on. That was thoughtful.
Then we played and went to bed. It was wonderful to turn 30.
I'm glad I didn't do it with a plastic grocery bag playing the poop scavenger hunt.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Family planning
I recently read an article bemoaning bloggers who share too much private information, during the course of which the author actually quoted some of the private information he would rather not have known, as examples of course, but none-the-less proliferating the TMI! If you'd rather not know details about our family plans (and by that, I mean, the process of adding one or more babies to the family), then stop reading. (Side note--I just re-read this sentence after finishing this post, and it sounds much more graphic than I intended. I will not, in fact, be discussing "the process" of making babies. This post is really about adoption. =)
There, you've been warned.
Chris and I talked yesterday. We have both come to the conclusion that we are content with five children, and also content with the idea of more children. This begs the question, "What now?" People in a contented state usually don't try to change that state, so without discontent, how will we move forward?
We discussed another pregnancy. My poor body has had about all I care to take. I get so tired when I'm pregnant that I can't look after the other children the way I want to. Chris, being an employed student, really can't take up the slack at home when I'm sleeping 14 hours a day building a baby (or two.) It's only nine months, but I am NOT content with the idea of another pregnancy at this time in my life.
We discussed adoption. Everyone wants a baby to adopt, and with good reason. If you've read child-rearing books, like the one I'm currently reading, "Bringing Up Boys" by James Dobson, you'll know that the first few years of life really do allow the parents to set up a child in behavioral patterns. James Dobson suggests that a boy desperately needs his father in the picture at the early age of three, as he separates himself from his mother in his toddler years and begins to learn what it means to be a man. (I have actually seen David, 2, doing this!)
However, Chris doesn't want to place through an adoption agency to adopt a baby when we can make our own. He said if someone we know needs adoptive parents and chooses us, he'll certainly adopt. He's actually open to adopting older children sometime down the road. I'm content with that decision, too. The Bible teaches us to care for orphans and widows, and adoption is certainly one way to do that.
I told God one time last year that if He provided another vehicle for us (that has more seats), we'll take that as a sign to have more children. =) I love Gideonizing.
So far, no car.
I'm still content. Honestly. The Christian who rests in the intimacy of fellowship with God can really rest. What a wonderful Lord we have.
There, you've been warned.
Chris and I talked yesterday. We have both come to the conclusion that we are content with five children, and also content with the idea of more children. This begs the question, "What now?" People in a contented state usually don't try to change that state, so without discontent, how will we move forward?
We discussed another pregnancy. My poor body has had about all I care to take. I get so tired when I'm pregnant that I can't look after the other children the way I want to. Chris, being an employed student, really can't take up the slack at home when I'm sleeping 14 hours a day building a baby (or two.) It's only nine months, but I am NOT content with the idea of another pregnancy at this time in my life.
We discussed adoption. Everyone wants a baby to adopt, and with good reason. If you've read child-rearing books, like the one I'm currently reading, "Bringing Up Boys" by James Dobson, you'll know that the first few years of life really do allow the parents to set up a child in behavioral patterns. James Dobson suggests that a boy desperately needs his father in the picture at the early age of three, as he separates himself from his mother in his toddler years and begins to learn what it means to be a man. (I have actually seen David, 2, doing this!)
However, Chris doesn't want to place through an adoption agency to adopt a baby when we can make our own. He said if someone we know needs adoptive parents and chooses us, he'll certainly adopt. He's actually open to adopting older children sometime down the road. I'm content with that decision, too. The Bible teaches us to care for orphans and widows, and adoption is certainly one way to do that.
I told God one time last year that if He provided another vehicle for us (that has more seats), we'll take that as a sign to have more children. =) I love Gideonizing.
So far, no car.
I'm still content. Honestly. The Christian who rests in the intimacy of fellowship with God can really rest. What a wonderful Lord we have.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
A great vacation in blustering St. Louis
Do you love free stuff? I do! Free admission to the Zoo. Free admission to the Science Center. Reciprocal admission to the Magic House (with membership to the Children's Museum of Memphis). Free playplace at CooperElla Cafe (coffeeshop). We drove four hours north to St. Louis for five days of crazy fun with the kids, and most of our days were spent on free, albeit cold, activities.
The high on Thursday was 7. That's seven. I've NEVER lived a day that cold in my life. Bundling up myself is certainly a daunting task, but dressing and bundling five kids and myself before one of them starts undressing can intimidate even the most determined mother.
We went to the Zoo on Wednesday. It was 20 degrees outside. Fortunately, because Missouri is technically the "North," they built many of their exhibits indoors. We ran from building to building to see bears, penguins, giraffes, ostriches, kangaroos and baby wallabies, tiger cubs, primates (but not apes), and reptiles. The kids handled snake skins, crococidle skins and skulls, and a rattle from a rattlesnake. Tobias and Tyler even crawled up to the spider monkeys and played hand games with them through the glass.
Isn't it wonderful to hear your kids laugh?
Because we were the ONLY idiots brave enough to face the freeze, our kids had the freedom to run and scream and play without interfering with others. Chris and I relaxed and enjoyed their thrill.
We went to the Magic House on Tuesday and Friday. We still didn't explore the whole thing! My favorite room, "A little bit of magic," allowed all of our children to play without our immediate supervision. Both entrances were guarded by employees so they couldn't wander off. They played in sand, in water, on slides, on stairs, with balls and bells, with rubberband shapes, with baby toys, and with a strange PVC-and-rubber-flip-flop musical instrument.
Of course, the rest of the Magic House, designed for children of all ages, kept them entertained as well, with an entire floor dedicated to a mini-village complete with grocery store, electric company, post office, pond and river (through which you could watch your fish swim back to the pond), pizza parlor, library (with real books!), and bank (where kids can learn to write a check--what's that?!) They had Once Upon a Child, a room full of fairy tale play. Believe me, we had to drag them out of there! They had an awesome musical instrument made out of a wooden ramp, down which the kids could roll a ball. As it dropped from step to step, it hit hidden xylophones and rang out the tune of Ode to Joy. The thing spanned an entire wall!
We love the Magic House. The four-hour drive was worth it for that alone. Admission is not free, but we have a membership to the Children's Museum of Memphis, and they accepted that membership on a reciprocal basis.
The Science House has dinosaurs on exhibit this season, but we spent so much time in the construction zone (building an Arch, of all things!) and the Discovery Room (specifically for youngsters) that we didn't have time to see the Dinosaurs. Sad times. We intended to go back on Friday afternoon, but when we saw snow set in, we determined it would be best to begin our drive home. The Science Center has free admission, but the Discovery Room, IMAX, and Planetarium, of course, cost extra. They also accept the Children's Museum reciprocal membership.
I won't review the restaurants here because I don't want to bore you, but I will tell you to steer clear of ZuZu's Handmade Mexican Restaurant--canned nacho cheese dip and canned black beans only begin to describe why.
We stayed at the Cheshire Lodge on Clayton Rd. in a huge suite that fit our family perfectly. It had an English feel with ornate decorations and a 10-foot-tall grizzly bear, which held David's attention every morning during our continental breakfast. Frankly, this hotel is known to be a romantic getaway... but it was fun for our family, too.
One last thing we did--we visited an indoor water park, as it's called. The kids really enjoyed the Richmond Heights Community Center (which is a fitness facility strangely adjacent to the library), but the water was really, really cold. So cold, in fact, that the kids started to complain and shiver, so we left after an hour. This was NOT free, so I was not happy about it. But in the locker room here is where I learned from a native St. Louisian (?) that it hadn't been this cold in St. Louis for ten years.
Brrrr.
But lots of fun. I'm glad we were able to go.
The high on Thursday was 7. That's seven. I've NEVER lived a day that cold in my life. Bundling up myself is certainly a daunting task, but dressing and bundling five kids and myself before one of them starts undressing can intimidate even the most determined mother.
We went to the Zoo on Wednesday. It was 20 degrees outside. Fortunately, because Missouri is technically the "North," they built many of their exhibits indoors. We ran from building to building to see bears, penguins, giraffes, ostriches, kangaroos and baby wallabies, tiger cubs, primates (but not apes), and reptiles. The kids handled snake skins, crococidle skins and skulls, and a rattle from a rattlesnake. Tobias and Tyler even crawled up to the spider monkeys and played hand games with them through the glass.
Isn't it wonderful to hear your kids laugh?
Because we were the ONLY idiots brave enough to face the freeze, our kids had the freedom to run and scream and play without interfering with others. Chris and I relaxed and enjoyed their thrill.
We went to the Magic House on Tuesday and Friday. We still didn't explore the whole thing! My favorite room, "A little bit of magic," allowed all of our children to play without our immediate supervision. Both entrances were guarded by employees so they couldn't wander off. They played in sand, in water, on slides, on stairs, with balls and bells, with rubberband shapes, with baby toys, and with a strange PVC-and-rubber-flip-flop musical instrument.
Of course, the rest of the Magic House, designed for children of all ages, kept them entertained as well, with an entire floor dedicated to a mini-village complete with grocery store, electric company, post office, pond and river (through which you could watch your fish swim back to the pond), pizza parlor, library (with real books!), and bank (where kids can learn to write a check--what's that?!) They had Once Upon a Child, a room full of fairy tale play. Believe me, we had to drag them out of there! They had an awesome musical instrument made out of a wooden ramp, down which the kids could roll a ball. As it dropped from step to step, it hit hidden xylophones and rang out the tune of Ode to Joy. The thing spanned an entire wall!
We love the Magic House. The four-hour drive was worth it for that alone. Admission is not free, but we have a membership to the Children's Museum of Memphis, and they accepted that membership on a reciprocal basis.
The Science House has dinosaurs on exhibit this season, but we spent so much time in the construction zone (building an Arch, of all things!) and the Discovery Room (specifically for youngsters) that we didn't have time to see the Dinosaurs. Sad times. We intended to go back on Friday afternoon, but when we saw snow set in, we determined it would be best to begin our drive home. The Science Center has free admission, but the Discovery Room, IMAX, and Planetarium, of course, cost extra. They also accept the Children's Museum reciprocal membership.
I won't review the restaurants here because I don't want to bore you, but I will tell you to steer clear of ZuZu's Handmade Mexican Restaurant--canned nacho cheese dip and canned black beans only begin to describe why.
We stayed at the Cheshire Lodge on Clayton Rd. in a huge suite that fit our family perfectly. It had an English feel with ornate decorations and a 10-foot-tall grizzly bear, which held David's attention every morning during our continental breakfast. Frankly, this hotel is known to be a romantic getaway... but it was fun for our family, too.
One last thing we did--we visited an indoor water park, as it's called. The kids really enjoyed the Richmond Heights Community Center (which is a fitness facility strangely adjacent to the library), but the water was really, really cold. So cold, in fact, that the kids started to complain and shiver, so we left after an hour. This was NOT free, so I was not happy about it. But in the locker room here is where I learned from a native St. Louisian (?) that it hadn't been this cold in St. Louis for ten years.
Brrrr.
But lots of fun. I'm glad we were able to go.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Sleeping in
Would you believe that my dear, sweet husband can claim that he changed the last dirty diaper of 2008 AND the first dirty diaper of 2009? I imagine that will come up many times throughout this year. Maybe I should start keeping up with how many dirty diapers I change all together. That would make quite a math problem.
Saja has been creating word problems for quite some time now, but yesterday, Kora looked at a group of buttons on the van and piped up, "Momma, two plus two equals four!" If all my kids are this easy to teach, I will not be intimidated about homeschooling.
To homeschool or not to homeschool... I like my life now. All my kids, all the time (except for weekly babysitting--thank you, Julia and Megan!) We spend about 20 minutes per child doing a form of reading lessons and math lessons. I had a much bigger plan (see post in September), but with the holiday obligations, my educational time has diminished quite a bit. But they love to learn. It's rewarding and fulfilling to teach them. God hasn't led us one way or the other, but I like things the way they are now.
Yesterday, Tobias called me, "Mama." So sweet. Kora called me, "Doo-doo head." She didn't know it was naughty. She really thought I told her that was my name. She called a random number on my phone. Chris answered, but she thought it was "the other Chris." So I took the phone and said, "This is Dorothy!" She said, "Doo-doo head?" Chris lost it in laughter.
Late at night, I lose it in laughter so much more easily than normal. Last night, New Year's Eve, I found myself downright silly and giggly. I like to laugh. I'd rather be silly and giggly than pretentious or angry. I wish I could be a kid again so I wouldn't have to act like a grown-up.
Now I need coffee. I know I'll read this in a month and wonder what I thought I was saying. Some of our most inspirational thoughts come the moment before we drop off to sleep, not just after we've awakened!
Happy New Year!
Saja has been creating word problems for quite some time now, but yesterday, Kora looked at a group of buttons on the van and piped up, "Momma, two plus two equals four!" If all my kids are this easy to teach, I will not be intimidated about homeschooling.
To homeschool or not to homeschool... I like my life now. All my kids, all the time (except for weekly babysitting--thank you, Julia and Megan!) We spend about 20 minutes per child doing a form of reading lessons and math lessons. I had a much bigger plan (see post in September), but with the holiday obligations, my educational time has diminished quite a bit. But they love to learn. It's rewarding and fulfilling to teach them. God hasn't led us one way or the other, but I like things the way they are now.
Yesterday, Tobias called me, "Mama." So sweet. Kora called me, "Doo-doo head." She didn't know it was naughty. She really thought I told her that was my name. She called a random number on my phone. Chris answered, but she thought it was "the other Chris." So I took the phone and said, "This is Dorothy!" She said, "Doo-doo head?" Chris lost it in laughter.
Late at night, I lose it in laughter so much more easily than normal. Last night, New Year's Eve, I found myself downright silly and giggly. I like to laugh. I'd rather be silly and giggly than pretentious or angry. I wish I could be a kid again so I wouldn't have to act like a grown-up.
Now I need coffee. I know I'll read this in a month and wonder what I thought I was saying. Some of our most inspirational thoughts come the moment before we drop off to sleep, not just after we've awakened!
Happy New Year!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Kora's gift to Jesus
Saturday, we took gifts to a needy family in Frayser. There were two adults and six children in the home. Chris wanted to share the Christmas story with them, and he prepped our children in the car on the way over to not answer his questions until the family had the chance to answer.
Well, the family wasn't very vocal, and our girls jumped at every opportunity to speak. It actually worked out great, because it kept the whole situation from feeling too awkward.
Chris asked at one point, "What gift would you bring to baby Jesus?"
Silence.
Kora's hand went up.
"Um, a phone!" she exclaimed.
Oh, so we could call him?
We try to pass on sound biblical doctrine in our house, as you can tell.
Well, the family wasn't very vocal, and our girls jumped at every opportunity to speak. It actually worked out great, because it kept the whole situation from feeling too awkward.
Chris asked at one point, "What gift would you bring to baby Jesus?"
Silence.
Kora's hand went up.
"Um, a phone!" she exclaimed.
Oh, so we could call him?
We try to pass on sound biblical doctrine in our house, as you can tell.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Flat tires and all my plans
Yesterday, I had big plans.
Buy presents and groceries. Get decorations from storage. Decorate house. Get tree. Decorate tree. Decorate outside. It was a full day's worth of plans.
I managed to get all the children dressed, fed, and ready for our big day by 11 am! I buckled them all in the car. I cranked the engine and pulled away. FWAP, FWAP, FWAP, FWAP.
Great, I thought, a flat tire. So I backed into my spot again. PWAF, PWAF, PWAF, PWAF.
I went to get Chris. He graciously dropped his project and immediately changed the tire. Since the weather was nice, and we were at home, I let the kids run around the playground while I actually learned how to change the tire. There are lots of nuances in our vehicle that one can't just figure out. I guess manufacturers do that to make the writer of the owner's manual feel important.
I lay on the pavement next to Chris. He was loosening the lug nuts when I heard Saja yell, "Mom, David's playing on the playground naked!" I jumped up in a flash and whammed into the drivers' side mirror. I actually felt my neck jam. Lying on the pavement, I confirmed that by "naked" she actually meant in a diaper, and then I just whimpered for a while. It somehow makes things feel better.
Before David turned streaker, I recorded him jacking up the car with his daddy. I'll try to get it posted, because it is just too cute!
Instead of my big plans, for some reason, God wanted me to spend my day in the waiting room at Gateway Tire with four kids (at naptime). It really didn't go as badly as I expected, except for one moment when David threw a Lego block at a much older kid and nailed him in the face. The kids' mom kind of told David off. I, of course, punished him with a time-out, mostly for the mom's benefit. She yelled at him, "We don't throw things!" I thought, "The kid's two years old! He knows we throw baseballs, basketballs, tennis balls, and footballs. He knows we throw water balloons. So you can't just say, 'We don't throw things.' " But at the same time, I had just told him to stop throwing the blocks. So he spent most of the rest of our time there in time out by my side. He liked it there.
I did manage to go by Walmart for groceries and a gift card. My parents brought the decorations to me. We didn't get a tree yesterday, but when we went to Priddy Farms today, we saw they had marked all their trees down. I don't know why God changed my plans yesterday, but I'm glad He did.
I'm glad that in frustrating moments, I can relax. Remember that God orchestrates my life. There is a reason Jesus commanded that all who are weary come rest in Him. It is wonderful rest.
By the way, if we had had the flat tire the day before, it would have interrupted our 4-hour trek home from a mini-vacation. If we had had the flat tire the day after, we would have disappointed a needy family awaiting Christmas presents. Of all the days and ways to have a flat, I'll take yesterday.
I just wish David would have kept his clothes on.
Buy presents and groceries. Get decorations from storage. Decorate house. Get tree. Decorate tree. Decorate outside. It was a full day's worth of plans.
I managed to get all the children dressed, fed, and ready for our big day by 11 am! I buckled them all in the car. I cranked the engine and pulled away. FWAP, FWAP, FWAP, FWAP.
Great, I thought, a flat tire. So I backed into my spot again. PWAF, PWAF, PWAF, PWAF.
I went to get Chris. He graciously dropped his project and immediately changed the tire. Since the weather was nice, and we were at home, I let the kids run around the playground while I actually learned how to change the tire. There are lots of nuances in our vehicle that one can't just figure out. I guess manufacturers do that to make the writer of the owner's manual feel important.
I lay on the pavement next to Chris. He was loosening the lug nuts when I heard Saja yell, "Mom, David's playing on the playground naked!" I jumped up in a flash and whammed into the drivers' side mirror. I actually felt my neck jam. Lying on the pavement, I confirmed that by "naked" she actually meant in a diaper, and then I just whimpered for a while. It somehow makes things feel better.
Before David turned streaker, I recorded him jacking up the car with his daddy. I'll try to get it posted, because it is just too cute!
Instead of my big plans, for some reason, God wanted me to spend my day in the waiting room at Gateway Tire with four kids (at naptime). It really didn't go as badly as I expected, except for one moment when David threw a Lego block at a much older kid and nailed him in the face. The kids' mom kind of told David off. I, of course, punished him with a time-out, mostly for the mom's benefit. She yelled at him, "We don't throw things!" I thought, "The kid's two years old! He knows we throw baseballs, basketballs, tennis balls, and footballs. He knows we throw water balloons. So you can't just say, 'We don't throw things.' " But at the same time, I had just told him to stop throwing the blocks. So he spent most of the rest of our time there in time out by my side. He liked it there.
I did manage to go by Walmart for groceries and a gift card. My parents brought the decorations to me. We didn't get a tree yesterday, but when we went to Priddy Farms today, we saw they had marked all their trees down. I don't know why God changed my plans yesterday, but I'm glad He did.
I'm glad that in frustrating moments, I can relax. Remember that God orchestrates my life. There is a reason Jesus commanded that all who are weary come rest in Him. It is wonderful rest.
By the way, if we had had the flat tire the day before, it would have interrupted our 4-hour trek home from a mini-vacation. If we had had the flat tire the day after, we would have disappointed a needy family awaiting Christmas presents. Of all the days and ways to have a flat, I'll take yesterday.
I just wish David would have kept his clothes on.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Sharing the Gospel, by Saja
Today, we explained to our children that our neighbors, friends and cousins, the Gehmans, were moving to Pennsylvania to tell people the good news about Jesus and start a church.
Saja told us when we moved to tell people about Jesus, she wanted to do it.
Chris asked what she would say.
"I would say, 'Jesus died on the cross for our sins,'" Saja said.
I smiled the smile of a proud parent, job well done.
"And if you don't change your ways, God will kill you," she continued.
I raised my eyebrows and looked at Chris.
"And destroy your whole village," she finished.
Thank you, Jonah.
Saja told us when we moved to tell people about Jesus, she wanted to do it.
Chris asked what she would say.
"I would say, 'Jesus died on the cross for our sins,'" Saja said.
I smiled the smile of a proud parent, job well done.
"And if you don't change your ways, God will kill you," she continued.
I raised my eyebrows and looked at Chris.
"And destroy your whole village," she finished.
Thank you, Jonah.
Friday, December 12, 2008
To walk or not to walk
All of my children have been walking by age one. Kora was running by this time! But neither Tyler nor Tobias have shown any interest in walking. They are 13 months old. At their one-year check-up, the doctor asked, "When did they start walking?" Ahem... they haven't. Sad times.
Or is it?
For now, I carry them to the car. I carry them to the shopping cart. I strap them into a triple stroller. I can't lose them. What happens when they start to walk? Will it be chaos all over again?
When they were 6 months old, I spent 15 minutes everyday for one week individually teaching them what the word, "No" means by thumping their hand. Oh, it's heartbreaking all right, but effective. Both of them are fairly obedient now. I guess my next task will be to teach them the word, "Come."
I trained my golden retriever by offering doggie treats when he obeyed. You think the twins will go for doggie treats?
The whole point of this post is to announce that I've been playing a game with Tobias. I'll stand him up about four steps away from me and hold my hands out. Do you know what he does? He giggles and grins... and then falls forward (of his own accord) like a timber tree!
Moments ago, however, he got it. He took four steps before he fell down, accidentally. The time is near.
Anyone know where I can get some leashes?
Or is it?
For now, I carry them to the car. I carry them to the shopping cart. I strap them into a triple stroller. I can't lose them. What happens when they start to walk? Will it be chaos all over again?
When they were 6 months old, I spent 15 minutes everyday for one week individually teaching them what the word, "No" means by thumping their hand. Oh, it's heartbreaking all right, but effective. Both of them are fairly obedient now. I guess my next task will be to teach them the word, "Come."
I trained my golden retriever by offering doggie treats when he obeyed. You think the twins will go for doggie treats?
The whole point of this post is to announce that I've been playing a game with Tobias. I'll stand him up about four steps away from me and hold my hands out. Do you know what he does? He giggles and grins... and then falls forward (of his own accord) like a timber tree!
Moments ago, however, he got it. He took four steps before he fell down, accidentally. The time is near.
Anyone know where I can get some leashes?
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Still here... laughing
I can't believe it's been two (and a half!) months since I last posted a thing on this blog. A friend of mine recently reminded me of its existence by saying, "Given up on the blog thing already?" At least the last post gave all of you a good understanding as to why I gave up--lack of time!
Well, I like to think my kids haven't said or done anything worth posting, but the truth is, I probably have just been too tired to remember. I don't have a photographic memory. I don't have a scanner memory. I have a Photoshop memory--where you upload the pictures and kind of make what you want. I can watch movies over and over, I can read books more than once, and I can read those scrapbooks I spend half my life organizing and really enjoy them because it's like a new story every time!
Chris, on the other hand, has a great memory. When I tell a story to my friends, I tend to Photoshop. When Chris is in the room, I just let him tell it. He remembers fine details that make no difference in the outcome of the story, but it seems to be pretty important to him. He's so gracious not to correct me in the middle of the story, but his story ALWAYS sounds a little different than mine (much like the Gospels. =) We've decided that I'm a headline teller, and he's a "the-rest-of-the-story" kind of guy.
So, the one thing that made me embarrassed happened last week. Kora was having a bath. I left the room to get a towel out of the dryer (I'm such a cool mom), and when I returned, David had stripped and hopped in. I prefer for them not to bathe together, but I decided not to make a big deal about it. Within the minute, Kora pointed to David's manhood and said, "Look, Mom! David's got a belly button on his bottom!"
To his credit, David has an outie belly-button.
I snickered inwardly and calmly agreed with her. Then I whisked her out of the bath, out of the room, and closed the door behind me. I excused myself from her presence and HOWLED. A belly button. Poor David.
Well, I like to think my kids haven't said or done anything worth posting, but the truth is, I probably have just been too tired to remember. I don't have a photographic memory. I don't have a scanner memory. I have a Photoshop memory--where you upload the pictures and kind of make what you want. I can watch movies over and over, I can read books more than once, and I can read those scrapbooks I spend half my life organizing and really enjoy them because it's like a new story every time!
Chris, on the other hand, has a great memory. When I tell a story to my friends, I tend to Photoshop. When Chris is in the room, I just let him tell it. He remembers fine details that make no difference in the outcome of the story, but it seems to be pretty important to him. He's so gracious not to correct me in the middle of the story, but his story ALWAYS sounds a little different than mine (much like the Gospels. =) We've decided that I'm a headline teller, and he's a "the-rest-of-the-story" kind of guy.
So, the one thing that made me embarrassed happened last week. Kora was having a bath. I left the room to get a towel out of the dryer (I'm such a cool mom), and when I returned, David had stripped and hopped in. I prefer for them not to bathe together, but I decided not to make a big deal about it. Within the minute, Kora pointed to David's manhood and said, "Look, Mom! David's got a belly button on his bottom!"
To his credit, David has an outie belly-button.
I snickered inwardly and calmly agreed with her. Then I whisked her out of the bath, out of the room, and closed the door behind me. I excused myself from her presence and HOWLED. A belly button. Poor David.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
background
