Okay if you have never read Dr. Suess' "Go, Dog, Go!", you have no idea what the title means or even caught the try at a joke. It has been all of my kids' favorite book. Well, maybe except Joanna but only because our copy died. After countless readings, our copy was falling apart and 5 times the thickness when we first bought it. We couldn't let Joanna not be exposed to the book so found a copy at the library (really gotta buy another). I am happy to say the tradition lives on.
My children are quite the backseat drivers. Something about getting driving advice from little people who can't even reach the pedals is rather annoying. My children see no need for stopping at red lights. When I do, I am told to go. So I quote from the above mentioned book -- "Stop, Dog! Stop! The light is red now." When it turns green, the kids say, "Go, Dog, Go! The light is green now."
The is nothing about yellow lights in the book. That is okay though. Joanna knows what those mean. As I was driving the other day, the light turned yellow right before I got to the intersection. Joanna pipes up from her carseat, "That means speed up, Mom!" LOL!
So red is stop. Green means go, and yellow means go faster. She might not reach the pedals yet, but at least Joanna knows that much about driving.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The light at the end of the tunnel
just might be a train. I feel like I missed the train this week and am just barely hanging on, kind flapping back behind it like you see in cartoons.
It has just a whirlwind week. I will be grateful that we are healthy again. Wait! No, my oldest has the cold now, but she is holding up well. I just hate it when my baby or hubby are sick. Those are the worst. I don't anything done if either are. LOL!
We are in the middle of a basement remodel. Last year about this time part of our basement flooded. We had to rip up the carpet. That is when the nightmare started. It seems the carpet was glued in place BEFORE the walls were built. The walls were built on top of the carpet. So out come the walls too since we had to get the carpet out. What a fiasco!
A year later I am waiting for our new carpet to arrive and be laid. Our basement now sports two new bedrooms where we divided our huge family/game room. We still have the family room. The game tables will go in the third bedroom so those who might want to watch TV won't be bothered by the hollering of "CHEAT!" when people are playing ping pong or air hockey.
Tomorrow my hubby and I will be going out for a belated anniversary date (he had the nerve to travel on business on our anniversary) and shopping for trim for the basement. A cook-free meal for me and trip to Home Depot for him, the ideal date! Saturday will see us finishing the basement. That will be just in time for a visit from my mom and her husband.
Since there is life beyond the remodelling, not much but there is a little, we have been swamped in other areas of our life. All areas of our life except the sleep category that is. I never have an over-abundance there lately. There have been meetings both for church, work and school activities. I chaired a successful fundraiser for our school's PTO. I have been busy most nights and definitely days. Here's hoping life slows down the next week so I can at least get my footing for a more comfortable ride.
It has just a whirlwind week. I will be grateful that we are healthy again. Wait! No, my oldest has the cold now, but she is holding up well. I just hate it when my baby or hubby are sick. Those are the worst. I don't anything done if either are. LOL!
We are in the middle of a basement remodel. Last year about this time part of our basement flooded. We had to rip up the carpet. That is when the nightmare started. It seems the carpet was glued in place BEFORE the walls were built. The walls were built on top of the carpet. So out come the walls too since we had to get the carpet out. What a fiasco!
A year later I am waiting for our new carpet to arrive and be laid. Our basement now sports two new bedrooms where we divided our huge family/game room. We still have the family room. The game tables will go in the third bedroom so those who might want to watch TV won't be bothered by the hollering of "CHEAT!" when people are playing ping pong or air hockey.
Tomorrow my hubby and I will be going out for a belated anniversary date (he had the nerve to travel on business on our anniversary) and shopping for trim for the basement. A cook-free meal for me and trip to Home Depot for him, the ideal date! Saturday will see us finishing the basement. That will be just in time for a visit from my mom and her husband.
Since there is life beyond the remodelling, not much but there is a little, we have been swamped in other areas of our life. All areas of our life except the sleep category that is. I never have an over-abundance there lately. There have been meetings both for church, work and school activities. I chaired a successful fundraiser for our school's PTO. I have been busy most nights and definitely days. Here's hoping life slows down the next week so I can at least get my footing for a more comfortable ride.
Monday, March 17, 2008
14 years and counting ...
Today is my anniversary. It has been 14 years since we said "I do." Those 14 years hold a lot when I think back on them.
When we first married, hubby was an Army officer. In our first year of marriage, I would graduate from nursing school, have a baby and hubby would be gone almost half of it. He missed our first anniversary.
The second year was even rougher as I experienced a miscarriage and broke my foot all while hubby was gone playing soldier. We would close out our second year of marriage with a career change as hubby went civilian, a 1,000+ mile move from Texas to Illinois and finding out a baby was on the way.
The fourth year would involve another 1,000+ mile move. This time out to Nevada. Hubby also would begin his Masters degree. The fifth year saw another addition to our family. The sixth year hubby received his degree and yet another move (back to central Illinois).
Since being back in Illinois we have added three more kiddos, lived in two different houses and lived the life of chaos. Hubby has travelled the world with his line of employment. He has been to Indonesia, Australia, France, Belgium, China, Canada, Mexico and all over the United States. I am sure there are places I have forgotten too. One of these days I will be able to travel with him and not just send along a souvenir wish list.
In the next 14 years, I will be able to join hubby on his travels and be a grandmother. ACK! I think I will focus on the here and now and smell the roses I was given this morning.
When we first married, hubby was an Army officer. In our first year of marriage, I would graduate from nursing school, have a baby and hubby would be gone almost half of it. He missed our first anniversary.
The second year was even rougher as I experienced a miscarriage and broke my foot all while hubby was gone playing soldier. We would close out our second year of marriage with a career change as hubby went civilian, a 1,000+ mile move from Texas to Illinois and finding out a baby was on the way.
The fourth year would involve another 1,000+ mile move. This time out to Nevada. Hubby also would begin his Masters degree. The fifth year saw another addition to our family. The sixth year hubby received his degree and yet another move (back to central Illinois).
Since being back in Illinois we have added three more kiddos, lived in two different houses and lived the life of chaos. Hubby has travelled the world with his line of employment. He has been to Indonesia, Australia, France, Belgium, China, Canada, Mexico and all over the United States. I am sure there are places I have forgotten too. One of these days I will be able to travel with him and not just send along a souvenir wish list.
In the next 14 years, I will be able to join hubby on his travels and be a grandmother. ACK! I think I will focus on the here and now and smell the roses I was given this morning.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Creative Discipline
Just when I think I have this parenting thing down decently enough, I have another child that throws all my previously learned tricks out the window. You would think with seven kids that I could at least use some tricks again. I mean the personalities are bound to repeat. I have three with brown eyes so why not a few with the same personalities? I guess life just isn't meant to be fair.
I had to be creative the other night with some discipline. It seems hopper #3 likes to mean to hopper #5. Perhaps she forgot what it felt like to be bullied. It was going to take more than just remembering the Golden Rule to curb the behaivor. Then I felt down-right brilliant with the idea of the needed plan of action.
We like to stress positive. I like to tell my kids to look for the positive in others and not be so degrading. Kind of like what mother always says, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." So to deal with the verbal bullying, I told hopper #3 she had to do three nice things whether in action or words for hopper #5 each day for a week. The kicker would be having to do more if caught being a bully again.
She is up to five, but she is learning. Right after she got busted again, I heard her about to say something. She never said it and just trailed off. I wasn't in the room so enjoyed a good chuckle. Perhaps they do listen after all.
Nah ...
I had to be creative the other night with some discipline. It seems hopper #3 likes to mean to hopper #5. Perhaps she forgot what it felt like to be bullied. It was going to take more than just remembering the Golden Rule to curb the behaivor. Then I felt down-right brilliant with the idea of the needed plan of action.
We like to stress positive. I like to tell my kids to look for the positive in others and not be so degrading. Kind of like what mother always says, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." So to deal with the verbal bullying, I told hopper #3 she had to do three nice things whether in action or words for hopper #5 each day for a week. The kicker would be having to do more if caught being a bully again.
She is up to five, but she is learning. Right after she got busted again, I heard her about to say something. She never said it and just trailed off. I wasn't in the room so enjoyed a good chuckle. Perhaps they do listen after all.
Nah ...
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Sniffles to go around
and around and around and around. That can be a down side to a large family, passing around all those germs. We are blessed to be pretty healthy in our family. Illness is rare and usually occurs only once or twice a year. When it does strike, it just seems like forever until it leaves our house. It takes a while to get through everyone.
Right now Eric is sick. I hate it when my baby is sick. Poor thing can't tell me where is hurts. He just looks at me almost begging with his eyes for me to make it go away. I wish I could. He is getting better. At least he hasn't lost his appetite.
Joanna (grasshopper #6) was sick last week. She came home Wednesday and promptly went to bed. She missed school the next day and would have for the next few days if it hadn't been a four day weekend for her. She refused to eat. In 4+ days she only ate a bite of applesauce and a couple of bites of ice cream. She finally had half a dozen bites of cereal Sunday. She was able to handle fluids at least. She is so little and petite as is that we were watching her close.
She back up to speed and attitude now. I might be soon when I can catch up on sleep. I like to sleep close to my sick kids so I can hear them. It doesn't make for a restful sleep, but my mind is more restful being close.
Right now Eric is sick. I hate it when my baby is sick. Poor thing can't tell me where is hurts. He just looks at me almost begging with his eyes for me to make it go away. I wish I could. He is getting better. At least he hasn't lost his appetite.
Joanna (grasshopper #6) was sick last week. She came home Wednesday and promptly went to bed. She missed school the next day and would have for the next few days if it hadn't been a four day weekend for her. She refused to eat. In 4+ days she only ate a bite of applesauce and a couple of bites of ice cream. She finally had half a dozen bites of cereal Sunday. She was able to handle fluids at least. She is so little and petite as is that we were watching her close.
She back up to speed and attitude now. I might be soon when I can catch up on sleep. I like to sleep close to my sick kids so I can hear them. It doesn't make for a restful sleep, but my mind is more restful being close.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
My Messy House
In the mornings it is quite hectic. There are 6 children running about trying to catch the bus. There is just one rushed mother to handle it all. So this is what my house looks like after they leave for school, main floor at least. I wouldn't want to lose you in my older girls' closet due to the piles. They are higher than the piles of snow outside ... well, almost.
Since I have no airs I can admit defeat and go back to bed. After all I was up since 5 a.m. with a nighttime feeding (for the baby not me) as well. I also can clean really fast since the baby can't move from where I put him yet and the others are in school. I clean better when I am more rested anyway.
Since I live out in the country I don't have many visitors. So who do I have to impress? There might be the mailman. Actually, ours is a woman. There is the occassional UPS guy, but I haven't ordered anything lately. I think I am relatively safe for now.
There is the risk that I over-estimate my abilities and sleep too long. Can you ever do that with an infant in the house? Today I am safe at least since my hubby has a dinner meeting after work so I have a bit longer than usual to restore order ... only to repeat the process again tomorrow.
Now excuse me, I need a nap. Perhaps it is just to hide my head under the covers since I showed the world my dirty laundry. After my nap I will clean out of mortification and so there will be no proof (except the clips I posted). I do that quite often, cleaning out of mortification that someone saw my messes. Then after it is all clean again, I want to call the person and invite them back over. They probably won't though because of those dang first impressions. They might too scared not because of the messes although once is enough but I am nuts to do something like that.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Because, because, because ...
Because I birthed them ... Because I feed, clothe and clean up after them ... Because I chauffer them ... Because I pay for their braces ...
Because of this I have the right and privilege to embarrass my children. I have the right to have some good, ol' harmeless fun at their expense. The biggest reason is I had one of those weeks. I had cranky, sick kids. I had a travelling hubby. I had two snowstorms making the cabin freezer worse. The only thing I didn't have was enough sleep.
I also have a car that can swerve while hugging the road and traction control. I had rain puddles and windows that I can control and lock. I had boredom and a desire for some impish fun at the expense of my older kids.
Hubby and I had to tag team it this morning since we have a sick child. He went for the first part of church since he had obligations there. During the second portion He came home so I could go for the last portion when I had obligations. I brought the five that stayed at church home. The baby, sick child and another poor feeling child (who came back with her daddy) stayed home. Since the weather was a downright balmy 40-something, we had the windows down while I drove home after church with the kiddos.
When I turned down the first of 3 country roads to get to my house, I rolled up my window; locked the windows and rolled the two back ones down all the way. My oldest is a smart girl (and thinks like me) so she started screaming, "No, Mom! No!" I was laughing too hard. The second oldest girl (#3) is smart but didn't quite get it since was still laughing at her older sister. She was soon screaming when I hit the puddle. I got her good. Their poor little brother who was in back behind them (we have a 3 row Freestyle) just had his coat zipped up over his head. He looked like the headless horseman.
A few puddles and bullseyes later, I was really having fun. #2 was in front so he felt safe to laugh at his sisters' expense. The girls were huddle together trying to get away from each of their open windows. I was glad to be the reason to encourage such sibling bonding. Then came our driveway and the screams became louder.
There is a low portion in our driveway with TWO puddles, one for each window. I had stopped and revved the engine to cover the yells that were coming from behind me. Then I went for it. I have had more impressive splashes, but the look in my girls' eyes was worth it. It was fun even though I was promptly told on to their father. They tried to act aghast that I would do that to them, but they like my driving and were all laughing as they were describing our drive home.
They think I am fun.
Because of this I have the right and privilege to embarrass my children. I have the right to have some good, ol' harmeless fun at their expense. The biggest reason is I had one of those weeks. I had cranky, sick kids. I had a travelling hubby. I had two snowstorms making the cabin freezer worse. The only thing I didn't have was enough sleep.
I also have a car that can swerve while hugging the road and traction control. I had rain puddles and windows that I can control and lock. I had boredom and a desire for some impish fun at the expense of my older kids.
Hubby and I had to tag team it this morning since we have a sick child. He went for the first part of church since he had obligations there. During the second portion He came home so I could go for the last portion when I had obligations. I brought the five that stayed at church home. The baby, sick child and another poor feeling child (who came back with her daddy) stayed home. Since the weather was a downright balmy 40-something, we had the windows down while I drove home after church with the kiddos.
When I turned down the first of 3 country roads to get to my house, I rolled up my window; locked the windows and rolled the two back ones down all the way. My oldest is a smart girl (and thinks like me) so she started screaming, "No, Mom! No!" I was laughing too hard. The second oldest girl (#3) is smart but didn't quite get it since was still laughing at her older sister. She was soon screaming when I hit the puddle. I got her good. Their poor little brother who was in back behind them (we have a 3 row Freestyle) just had his coat zipped up over his head. He looked like the headless horseman.
A few puddles and bullseyes later, I was really having fun. #2 was in front so he felt safe to laugh at his sisters' expense. The girls were huddle together trying to get away from each of their open windows. I was glad to be the reason to encourage such sibling bonding. Then came our driveway and the screams became louder.
There is a low portion in our driveway with TWO puddles, one for each window. I had stopped and revved the engine to cover the yells that were coming from behind me. Then I went for it. I have had more impressive splashes, but the look in my girls' eyes was worth it. It was fun even though I was promptly told on to their father. They tried to act aghast that I would do that to them, but they like my driving and were all laughing as they were describing our drive home.
They think I am fun.
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