Getting Ready for School

School starts on Monday, and I think that we are ready!  The kids are bored and I'm out of ideas. C will be starting kindergarten, and he's not so sure that he'll really wants to go. G just wants to see all of her friends again.  Her good friend from Girl Scouts will be in her class, and she really wants to be able to sit next to her.

I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. I welcome getting into a  routine again. I can't wait to have a few hours every morning to think, work, plan, scheme, design, knit, drive, and whatever else I can think of doing. For the first couple of months, I will be spending some of my time with doctor's visits, and recovering from surgery. I have already started my exercise plan so I hope the peaceful mornings will make it easier. On the other hand, my baby is going to kindergarten, and it is the beginning of a new stage in my life. I really am ready for a new stage, but I'm a little scared. Will I find myself again?  Do I have what it takes?  I think the bicycle accident has wakened fears and worries about myself.  I hope the healing process also heals those fears.

Last year at this time, we moved which was followed by a season of one infection after another, and then the bicycle accident. I'm healing from the bicycle accident and in treatment for allergies which could have indirectly helped the infections. I'm really looking forward to a more peaceful year.  I hope I'm not expecting too much.

More of What is that Smell?

C has really been noticing bad smells lately. It is beginning to be a problem. I can just hear my parents snickering over this because I had similar problems when I was a kid, and I think my whole family was relieved when I grew out of it.

Recently, I bought a big package of toilet paper, and I divided among the bathrooms, and then told the kids where to put the toilet paper away. In some of our bathrooms, there is a cabinet under the sink, but in some them the cabinet is over the toilet. So I instructed them to close the lid to the toilet and stand on it so they could reach the cabinet overhead.

Well, C comes back to me and explains that he has thrown up all over the toilet seat, and gotten some on his feet. When I asked him about it, all he would say is that he smelled something really bad. I got out the disinfectant wipes (I'm so glad that those exist!) and I washed off his feet. I went into the bathroom and cleaned up the toilet. Then I raised the lid and found that someone had forgotten to flush.

C, next time could you just flush the toilet if you smell a bad smell and not vomit everywhere? I'm just asking.

School Shopping

One Saturday, my family and a friend headed for a day of food, movies and shopping. My loving husband took the kids to the park while my friend and I went shopping, and then the plan was to meet up later, I would take the kids, and my husband could go do whatever he wanted to do.

I had a great time shopping with my friend, and when we met up with my husband, my son had on a completely new outfit. He looked really cute, but I wondered where the clothes came from so here is the story that I got from my husband:

"Yeah, we went to the park near the shopping mall, and it had a river running through it. C fell into the river so I just took him over there to Gap Kids. I figured he needed some school clothes and they had what he's wearing on sale. Win-win situation."

Who knew that this is what it took for dear hubby to take the kids clothes shopping? I was so thrilled that I had one less thing to buy for the start of school, and I didn't get a single phone call interrupting my own shopping time with a screaming husband with a very wet child. At first, I was a little concerned over the money because when something like this happened before we took him to Walmart and I usually only buy such brands second-hand, but hey I decided to count my blessings. By the time, I found out about the problem, everything was already taken care of: Wonderful!

What is that smell?

Yesterday morning, I hugged my son and realized that he really needed a good scrubbing. He just reeked in a way that really active little boys can. So I told him that he was taking a quick shower before church. As I'm getting the water ready, and encouraging him to take off his clothes, he says,

Mom, can we light a candle? It really stinks in here.

C, it stinks in here because you stink. This is why you are taking a shower.

But MOM, can we light a candle? It stinks in here.

C, lighting a candle isn't going to help because you are what stinks.

MOM! Can we light a candle?

C, just get into the shower!

G's Survey about Mom

Ask your kid the questions and write them down exactly how they respond.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Be quiet. Don't ask me any questions.

2. What makes mom happy?
A hug.

3. What makes mom sad?
Not listening

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
I don't know, but you have a funny face.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
I don't know.

6. How old is your mom?
36

7. How tall is your mom?
I have no idea.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Knit

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?
Take care of C

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
A knitter

11. What is your mom really good at?
knitting

12. What is your mom not very good at?
I don't know.

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Take care of us.

14. What is your mom’s favorite food?
I have no idea.

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
When she makes things for me.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
a queen

17. What do you and your mom do together?
cuddle

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Our hair; we're beautiful.

19. How are you and your mom different?
I don't know.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Makes things for me, and is loving to me.

22. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
the beach

G seemed to really find this difficult. ah well ...

C's Survey about Mom

Ask your kid the questions and write them down exactly how they respond.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Put your shoes and socks on and your coat on.

2. What makes mom happy?
When I do stuff that she says I have to do.

3. What makes mom sad?
Doing stuff that she says I can't do.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Juggling balls

5. What was your mom like as a child?
You liked to play.

6. How old is your mom?
I don't know.

7. How tall is your mom?
Kinda big.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Play.

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?
Go somewhere.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
You'll do a show.

11. What is your mom really good at?
Playing catch.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
I don't know ... tackling

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Take care of me and G.

14. What is your mom’s favorite food?
Toast

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
When you play catch with me.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
The Loony Tunes Bird that says "I did, I did see a pooty cat."

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Make crafts & take naps.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We have bodies, hands, and faces.

19. How are you and your mom different?
You have long hair and I have short.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because you play with me.

22. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
Shopping

For those of you who know me, does this really sound like me or is C in his own world?

G's Deep Thought for the Day

Yesterday, G asked me as we were driving home after school: If God wants us to praise him, then how come he just doesn't make everyone praise him?

I just love it when my kids ask questions that show that they are really thinking. No matter how I answer her questions, I'm glad that she is trying to figure things out.

C's Statements of Fact

C makes these wonderfully, obvious simple statements of fact:

"Sometimes when it gets really cold outside, the pond freezes into ice."
"It is cold outside during winter."
"Snow melts and makes my clothes wet."

I just love it when he does it. It is like I can see the gears in his head clicking. He just declares these statements one at a time out of the blue. You can't tell when one is coming, and an awful lot of them come after a ride in the car. He has been thinking and has finally figured something out. I can't wait until he gets in school and starts taking a science class. What kind of conversations are we going to have then?

Snow, Freezing Cold & Sore Tooth

It has been a week of snow, freezing cold & a sore tooth. The kids just don't believe they have to zip up their coats or shoes or hats or gloves, and then 5 minutes later, they are freezing. Throw in a sore tooth and the week has been exhausting.

Out of the mouth of babes

I conducted a New Year's Interview of my kids, and it was fairly enlightening.

C says his favorite toy, book & animal is FROGS.
G's favorite TV show is iCarly.
Their favorite restaurant is Denny's? Who knew?

Here is where I got the idea, and I plan on saving these and comparing year to year.

In fact, I think I'm going to have them sign their names so we can compare their autographs from year to year.

Moving Anxiety

I would say that C, my 4 yo boy, has had the most difficult adjustment to moving. He has regressed in potty training and has had a handful of aggression incidences that had never happened before, but his most obvious display of anxiety has been the wrinkling of his nose and mouth. Instead of greeting new people and new places with cries or screams, he has greeted them with a kind of twisted smile and a wrinkled nose. Gradually as our life has settled into routine, I've realized that the wrinkled nose has become less frequent. Thankfully, C is adjusting and settling in.

Today, a new friend of mine mentioned the wrinkled nose, and how it had almost disappeared. Earlier in the day, I had a conversation with my SIL about how it is hard to find ourselves in our boys. Our boys are just so overtly our husbands that we can't find ourselves. Tonight in the quiet (after the kids had gone to bed) I remembered a picture of a little boy with a wrinkled nose and a soft scowl. The picture is an old black and white photo from a previous generation. That little boy grew up to be my dad. So I'm guessing C's wrinkled nose at uncomfortable situations must come from my side of the family. Maybe there's some of me in him afterall.

Not much Going On

Well, I haven't been doing much except resting on the couch. My migraines are getting less as I recover from the sinus infection. The kids seem to be adjusting well. Grace is just doing phenomenal in school. She has improved her reading so much that she has started reading cereal boxes and road signs. She asks me what every word means. Caden has joined the excitement that he wants to know how to spell everything. This basically means that I can't get any peace and quiet because the kids are both trying to ask me questions at the top of their voices while I have a headache. Can't anyone hear me saying "Please Be Quiet!"

Syrup???

Should I be nervous when C asks me how to make syrup? Going into the kitchen, I find him taking bites of apple and stuffing them into my mini food prep. He just can't understand why he can't get it turned on to make apple syrup. Thank goodness for safety features. I sure wish he'd get over his fascination with kitchen appliances.

Too Long

I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted. My days have been filled with anxiety, migraines, & disciplining Caden. My kids have been talking so much that with the headache, I just have a really difficult time focusing on anything. The anxiety is lessening, and now I'm just dealing with the Bradford pear trees blooming. I think I need more sleep. Allergies always seems to cause me to require more sleep. I have been knitting, and when I get around to it, I hope to post some pictures. Anyway, I thought I would post the following questionnaire:

You're feeling: sleepy

To your left: an end table with a lamp and a stack of books

On your mind: what should I work on next or should I just rest

Last meal included: Hot Easy Now tea, Newman's Own Flakes 'N Strawberries cereal with soy milk

You sometimes find it hard to: find the joy in motherhood (yesterday was a particularly trying day)

The weather: a warm & sunny spring day :-)

Something you have a collection of: coins

A smell that cheers you up: cinnamon or chocolate

A smell that can ruin your mood: wiping poop off my children's behind

How long since you last shaved: a couple of days

The current state of your hair: ponytail

The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): the scanner or the printer

Your skill with chopsticks: beginner

Which section you head for first in a bookstore: Crafts or Magazines

Something you're craving: chocolate

Your general thoughts on the presidential race: irritating

How many times have you been hospitalized this year: none

Favorite place to go for a quiet moment: my bedroom

You've always secretly thought you'd be a good: librarian or bookstore owner

Something that freaks you out a little: door-to-door salesmen

Something you've eaten too much of lately: ice cream

You have never: broken a bone

You never want to: get cancer

Birth Experiences

N and I were just kind of wondering aloud as we were trying to fall asleep last night. We started talking about our children and their birth experiences. I am sure this is not the most scientific and hindsight is 20/20 of course, but how does birthing effect a child's personality. G's birth was fairly dramatic and she is predisposed to dramatics. C's birth was on the quick and easier spectrum of births and emotionally he is definitely easier going. On a gross side note, there was a lot of poop involved with C's birth, and he is one of the poopiest children known to mankind. My sister, B, was made horribly angry right before birth (The doctor actually pushed her back up the birth canal in order to unwrap the cord from around her neck.). She arrived in this world black and blue (She looked she had been in bar room brawl.). She screamed for at least an hour after birth, and I remember her childhood as being full of very loud protests although she does seem to have calmed down a great deal in the last few years.

So tell me what you think? What kind of impact do you think birth experiences have on a child's personality?

The Camera

We've had camera issues since we've lived in MD. We lost one in October of 2006, and then we lost another one in October of 2007. Well we bought a camera in November, and a couple of weeks ago, I found the last camera that we lost. I found it in the middle of my summer beach clothes when I cleaned out our closet. I have no idea how it could've gotten there. The places I lose and find things since I've had kids, just amazes me.

Maybe it was sickness after all ...

G is home sick from school today. She is not running a fever, but she is so congested with a cough. She is really tired and just wants to cuddle. C is a snot monster. For the last 2 days, when I get up from sleeping, I have a little dizzy spell. I'm also dizzy when I lay down. I think I have fluid in my ears. I've been popping the vitamin C because you know how I hate antibiotics. Why is it so difficult to teach kids not to cough all over me (or anyone else for that matter.)?

Actually, I just screamed ...

... at C "Boy, get out of the kitchen or I'll hurt you!" Of course this was provoked. I swept and mopped the kitchen floor, and then half an hour later, C pulled a baggie of cinnamon sugar off the counter and sprinkled it all over the floor. I was right there watching him with mouth hanging open. I got up, figuring it was my fault for not putting the baggie away when I was finished using it, and swept the floor. While I was sweeping, C pulled a spice bottle out the pantry, which was open because I had just pulled the broom out of it, and opened the bottle and started pouring it out. That's when I grabbed the bottle and pointed to the basement stairs while screaming .... I try very hard not to scream at the kids, but I honestly think that that would have tempted the most patient souls, and God knows I am not the most patient of souls.

Just one of the lessons I've learned from G

On the train coming home from NYC, I realized how friendly I found most of the people in NY (although we didn't have to drive anywhere. Typically, I find people in Baltimore friendly until I get behind the wheel of a car. Back to the topic ...) The people were friendly because I was friendly and I talked to them like they were people. G is really the one responsible for teaching this to me. Ever since G was born, she has liked to be talked to. In fact when she was newborn, the only I could get her to stop crying was to talk to her. She is a chatterbox, and really always has been, but she really likes to be talked to and she likes explanations even if she can't always understand. It was hard for me to learn to keep up the running commentary when she was a baby. Now it is easier because she just keeps asking me questions. I think that G feels the most loved when I talk to her, share things with her and so forth. I am learning that others like to be talked to as well. Out and about in NY, N and I found many friendly people and we wouldn't have known that they were friendly if we didn't talk to them, usually we talked to them first. Of course, part of talking to people is listening to them when it is their turn to talk.

Now I just need to continue to talk to G and help her to understand that sometimes Mom needs a break from the talking and the listening.

Magic Thinking Take 2

I don't think I communicated what I intended.

G does ask questions about magic, but I am more concerned about my own desire to have things instantly. I understand that G is just imagining and experimenting. I think it is great that she uses her imagination and I think this will only help her problem solving skills in the future.

I am more concerned about the adults who seem to have Magic Thinking. Instead of using our imaginations to help fuel problem solving. We just get bogged down in the "Why isn't this happening faster?" Well, things that take work and time end up being more meaningful than things that happen instantly. Life becomes more meaningful when we are able to slow down and add purpose. Weight loss lasts longer when it slowly comes off. Handmade heirlooms take time to create. Gourmet meals are slowly simmered and they are made to be savored.

I want to teach G to think outside of the box and encourage her creativity, but I also want to teach her the value of working on a project over time. Of course, the latter lesson might just happen over time