what did you say?

The other morning I was upstairs. Greg was still asleep. When he called up to me from the bottom of the stairs I came galloping down the stairs to talk to him. I was going a little bit fast and towards the bottom I said, "Catch me!" He gave me a dumbfounded look and backed away a little. Good thing I didn't actually jump.

can't get enough of you!

This boy is such a sweet baby. We could not get enough cuddles, snuggles, kisses, sniffs, smiles, laughs, or pictures of him. The kids and I fought all weekend over who would get to hold him or feed him. It's a wonder the boy got to sleep any for as much as we wanted to do with him. He was probably all tuckered out from his weekend with us!

Carter has an easy smile, but these girls can really get him going.

Before our trip Heather asked if she was going to be able to hold Carter. I told her yes, as long as she was sitting down. She was outraged by this. She argued that she holds Gianna while standing. Well, let's see, Gianna is two and a half, tiny girl. A little different. Still, she was miffed by the whole unfairness of it all. I guess she wanted to cart him around on her hip while talking on the phone and washing bottles all morning. 

Carter was a good natured boy and tolerated being jostled about by the girls very well. I know they can't wait until he is older and able to properly play with them. 

i get to sit by the window seat

Stephanie and Heather were very excited for their plane ride. This was only their second time on a plane, but by then you're a pro, right? For their first plane ride, the trek through the security line was a fiasco. They were 6 and 4 at the time. As we were making our way through the security line, taking off our shoes, and loading the carry on items on the belt, the security lady was trying to wave me through the detector. I told her I was waiting for Greg & the girls because I had all the boarding passes. She got snippy with me and told me to go through. Fine! I did. So I was standing on the other side watching as she proceeded to ask Greg where the boarding passes were for him and the kids. Hello, stupid lady! Apparently she did not have her listening ears on. She gave him crap about not having them all the while I'm telling her that I have them. Fiasco! 

This time, I made each person carry their own boarding pass with the threat that if they lose them in the 10 feet from the conveyor belt to the other side of the detector they will have to just call a taxi and go home. I made the kids walk through the detector before me, then snatched up their boarding passes as soon as I was on the other side with them. This time, no fiasco.

As anticipated, the kids loved the flight. Nobody was scared. Although Heather squeezed my hand hard as the wheels left the earth. And so there was no fighting we worked it out ahead of time. Heather would sit by the window on the way there, Stephanie on the way back. I like it when a plan works out!

all by myself

When Greg and I went grocery shopping the weekend before I went to Arizona, I asked him if there was anything we needed to buy for him. He had previously raised concerned that I'd leave him with nothing he could easily prepare for meals. Like I'd do that! I had already stocked up on hot pockets, canned stew (ew!), soup, etc. So his answer was just Fruity Pebbles. He informed me that I needed to hide it from the kids all week because he intended to eat the whole box by himself over the weekend. Because, you see, what usually happens is he gets one bowl on the weekend and over the course of the week the kids eat the rest of the box. I left the box out on the counter for him before we left on Friday. When we came home it was nearly empty. There was enough for the kids to have one bowl each the next morning. 

mini me

Last Thursday was Take Your Child to Work Day. Since the kids cannot go to work with Greg, I'm it. Can you just see them running their little legs off to keep up with him at work? By the time they got the seat belt unbuckled he'd be running them over to get out of the truck with a package in hand. Then by the time they got out and headed to the door of the delivery he'd be zooming by them to jump back in the truck. I just don't think it'd work out so well.

Stephanie has gone to work with me on this day since she was 4. Don't tell Heather that, though or fits of jealousy will ensue. A few years ago the school district changed the rules and kids had to be 8 to accompany their school district employee parent to work. Sneaking an underage worker down the hall to be in my classroom for a little while is one thing. Boldly bringing an underage non-school kid in the front door on this day would have been quite another. So Heather did not get to go when she was four. Sorry, babe.

Stephanie said she wanted to go with me again this year. Really? I don't get it. She's at school all the time. She gets there early with me and stays late with me. If I have to go on the weekend she sometimes comes then too. I guess it was the novelty of being there with my students in the room. Although she's right next door so she sees & hears me all the time. 

She wanted to grade papers. Well, alright, my dear. Have at it. She's such a little teacher-type. I even let her use my special grading markers. Usually she gets snapped at to leave them alone. 

And before you go thinking Heather got gyped on this whole deal, I went to get her from her room for about half an hour before Miss Janice came to pick her up. She put papers in the mailboxes for me and read with one of my students.

time to check the choppers

There was a day when Heather was afraid of the doctor and the dentist. She just screamed and tried to climb me any time either of those men came near her. It was piercing and just a little embarrassing. She had to have a chest x-ray once to determine whether or not she had pneumonia because the doctor couldn't listen to her chest because she wouldn't stop hollering. She hollered through the whole x-ray too.

Then, one day, when she was maybe about two and a half, the fear was gone. Totally. Out of the blue. Now, she loves to go to the dentist. As in she gets excited when I tell her she has an appointment soon. At the visit last week she even told me that I didn't have to hold her hand this time. Oh sure, that was until she was actually in the chair and asked me to hold her hand. 

And on this dentist visit ~ no cavitites.

Stephanie, on the other hand, has never really been fearful of the doctor. He used to smile and tell me she was such a nice way to end the day (since we always had the last appointment). 

With her, there was a time when she had a fear of bearded men. It took a little sleuthing to figure it out, but it was sadly true. During her first dentist visit we were so proud of her for laying on the little chair and being still and cooperative while the assistant talked to her for a little bit. I saw the dentist before she or Greg did and my heart started beating faster. I knew the calm was over as the fully-bearded man walked in and sat in the chair next to her and started to talk to her. Sure enough the wails ensued. 

Now, I know that when someone decides to go into children's dentistry they are surely aware that most of their clientele will be in tears. Even still, no mom wants to have her child in such distress. No mom wants to stand there and smile at everyone while her child breaks sound barriers. 

The fear of facial hair only lasted a little while and she made peace with the dentist. I did notice that eventually his facial hair disappeared as well. 

These days Stephanie's visits to the dentist bring mixed feelings. While she doesn't mind the cleanings and loves to talk to the ladies, some of the appliance work is painful for her. In those painful moments I hold her hand, talk to her softly, try to help her deep breathe, and cringe all at the same time. 

This visit ~ no cavities. She escaped the dreaded impressions this time because he wants to wait until June to fit her for an occlusal guard that is the next step in the saga of her tiny mouth.

mutiny

Apparently there's about to be some sort of rebellious uprising because my lack of posts in a week (not three weeks like Danny thinks!). Now don't get your panties all bunched up, I've got plenty of stuff to say. I've just been a little bit preoccupied with:

1. packing for a trip
   
2. going on a trip
   
3. coming home just in time to go to bed for work (but wouldn't have come home sooner even if it was sensible)
   
4. working
   
5. driving to dance class
   
6. making picking up dinner
   
7. repeat

I went to the grocery store tonight for the first time in almost two weeks. But I didn't buy any food. I got stuff for paper mache tomorrow. That's right, folks. I'm going to attempt to have my class make pinatas. Yes, I know I should have started this earlier in the week. But I've been a little behind, as you are well aware. I just finished this week's lesson plans today (don't tell my boss!).  I can't wait for the weekend so I can catch up on sleep, laundry, groceries, and next week's lesson plans. Funny, Kim asked me this weekend if I can wing it in the classroom. Well, yes, I can. But everything runs so much more smoothly if I have lesson plans.

Stay tuned...there's more where this came from. 

a snuggle is good medicine

In the middle of the night on Tuesday night, Heather came to our room and woke me up. She said she had a bad dream and wanted to snuggle. Too groggy to protest, I let her in bed with us and went back to sleep.  She ended up staying there the rest of the night. I honestly didn't think much of it and even forgot about the bad dream comment. When I got up in the morning she was adamant about getting up. But it was way too early for her so Greg and I insisted she go back to sleep. She didn't want me to be out of the room and asked when I was going to be taking a shower (I was making Greg's lunch.) So, after Greg left I went back to bed with her for a little while. Yesterday she had a bad day at school and ended up coming to see me in my class for a hug just as it was time for her class to dismiss. While someone else watched my class I took her back to hers and waited for the daycare lady to pick her up. Heather wouldn't really tell me what was wrong. Something finally came out about some boys being not so nice during center time, but I was doubtful that was actually the case. She clung to me and wouldn't go with Janice for the longest time. She loves Janice. Later that evening Greg told me that he asked her about her bad dream and it was that a dog bit her butt off (kinda had to laugh here) so that was probably why she was so clingy. So, when the kids went to bed I told Stephanie to sleep with Heather. I didn't want her to be alone if she had another bad dream. I knew Stephanie's presence would comfort Heather because they are great snugglers. As far as I know, nobody woke up distressed last night. Whew!

the things I will do for you

This weekend I bought the kids some new P.E. clothes. Well, Heather doesn't have P.E. again until 1st grade, but she likes to dress for P.E. on Stephanie's P.E. days. Last night I asked Stephanie what she wanted to wear for P.E. This is merely a rhetorical question because I prefer she wear something appropriately sporty for P.E. She said she wanted to wear her new clothes. I told her they weren't washed yet. Now, this doesn't really bother me, but Greg likes to have new clothes washed first. Since Heather's eczema has been flaring up, it's probably better to wash them first. 

Stephanie smiled her most conniving convincing smile and said I could just was them before I went to bed and wake up when they were done to put them in the dryer. Let me get this straight, you want me to babysit the washer like it was an infant? You want me to fall asleep then be woken up by a buzzer telling me to get up and switch the laundry loads? You want me to have less than a full night's sleep because you are feeling fashion foward? 

Sure, baby, anything for you.

Well, truth be told, I stayed in bed when the buzzer woke me out of my near-sleep state and put them in the dryer at o'dark thirty when Greg left for work.

So today they wore new P.E. clothes.

Please, children, remember this when I ask you to clean your rooms and the playroom!

to do list

The kids and I are flying (yay!) to Arizona on Friday to visit that beautiful baby, Carter. Oh, and we'll probably talk to Brent and Kim a little bit too. It's funny how having a baby removes you from the center of attention, isn't it?

In the meantime, I've got tons to do:

1. drive the kids to dance class & read a book while I wait
   
2. do laundry ~ clean clothes to take will be nice
   
3. take the kids to their dentist appointment
   
4. finish my report cards that are due Friday
   
5. do more laundry
   
6. wash the dishes ~ Greg might like to be able to find a spoon & a bowl for his cereal or can of stew while we're gone.
   
7. pack
   
8. make a trip to Target
   
9. worry that we don't have enough choices and pack some more
   
10. do lesson plans for next week
    

What am I doing sitting here! I've got stuff to do!

pretty green lawn

I'm feeling a little bit scared of how much our next water bill will be. 

farming

Pack up the kids and the belongins', Mama. We're moving to the midwest to become corn farmers. 

Nah, just kidding.

baby shower

Yesterday, the kids and I went to Carlee's baby shower. Carlee has had a hard time of this pregnancy. There was a tear in her uterus, her cervix had to have a stitch, and she's spent the last month or so on bed rest. Needless to say, she is ready for her baby girl to come in early July. 

Carlee is truly glowing. She will probably protest, but she is all baby. You can't even tell she is pregnant if you can't see her bump. 

The kids had a great time. Of course they got the be-good-or-I'll-beat-you-later lecture before we went. Carlee's mom anticipated kids at the shower so all the kids had to look in the sand for gold coins to redeem a prize of bubbles. What a great way to occupy the kids! Stephanie and Heather particularly loved the seesaw.

i'm sorry

I'm sorry, little girl, that I let my curse gift of procrastination leak all over you! I have tried so hard to teach you how to pace yourself and not let things wait until the last minute. I've tried to encourage you to get started early and go steady.

I've tried, but somehow, I've failed.

I've told you what to do, but I've shown you the complete opposite. I know you've noticed that I will stay up half the night trying to finish a birthday present. I know you've noticed that before we have guests over there is a mad rush to finish cleaning. I know  you've noticed that we are hurried and late everywhere we go. I know you've noticed what a screaming, stressed mess I become in the heat of my demise.

In the process, procrastination got all over you. What a sticky mess! You didn't listen when I nagged encouraged you to read those Accelerated Reader books and take the tests so you could reach your trimester goal. You read, for sure, but not always as much as I would have liked. And not always with the goal in mind. Now, here you are, at the 12th hour, reading furiously and taking tests to make 100% of your goal by the time we go home. Here you are, not playing with your friends on a Friday afternoon, because you got caught in the mire of procrastination. I'm praying you will be able to claw your way out one of these days.

I'm so proud of you for making your goal ~ for being the only one in your class to make your goal. But next time, let's not wait until the last gosh darn minute! Let's get started on your next trimester goal right away!

do you

ever wish you could just undo something? Something very small, in fact.

A few weeks ago I tried to register for a coupon or free sample, can't even really remember what. I've done this before and you fill out a few surveys and you're on your way. Free sample to arrive soon. Oh my! What a treat!

Only this time I decided halfway through the 45,000th survey question that I was done. I exited out and thought nothing of it...until...my email box was overflowing with JUNK! I hadn't even finished the process, won't get the free sample. But they got my email address (I used an alternate one I have.) My email address got pimped out and I don't even get a free sample of body wash.

So I just keep deleting all emails that want me to buy their little blue pill (cuz I need it?), their vacation package, their diet plan, oh, and meet Mr. Right. Delete. Delete. Delete.