There is a new four-letter word in my vocabulary.
It is P-A-R-K.
I always have thought of motherhood and going to the park as being linked in some way.
I have tried to have a successful excursion to the park many times. Trips to the park and I can no longer coexist in the same continuum.
It is my new buzz word.
If you are wondering why I hate the park so much, it would be hard to define unless you have been to the park with my children and myself.
We drive all the way there talking about how we're gonna stay close to each other and when Momma calls you, You had better come. We all agree that this is our game plan. The moment our tiny feet hit the pavement, we switch into "Divide and Conquer" mode.
I try to scoot along behind them, er... him at breakneck speeds dragging little sister along behind me. All the while, tossing out friendly reminders of how we agreed to stay within eye shot of one another.
Within moments, I am panting and sweating and frothing, he is not only not within eye shot, he's not within earshot.
I sprint to catch up.
We leave the park.
Babies are crying.
Momma is livid.
We weep and gnash teeth all the way home.
Our conversation ends as I say, "When you go to the park you play. You go down slides, play on monkey bars, etc. If all you want to do is RUN, I'll get you a treadmill..."
He then asks, "What's a treadmill?" in a tone that suggests it must be the greatest thing on earth...
OY!
I hate the park!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
plethora of kid stories.
J. calls the end piece of a loaf of bread "the butt.'
When I try to correct him and tell him its the "heel" - he refuses to comply.
He is convinced that the end of the loaf is the "butt." We don't even say "butt, " we say Po-po, caboose, rump, touschie, etc. I guess I'll have to urge him to at least call it the 'hiney' if he won't back down on what body part its named after...
*********************************************
A. loves to have Tea Parties with her dolls, especially the tiny Disney Princesses with their changeable outfits and shoes. The problem is, their shoes are smaller than most crumbs so they all get lost... And there is no such thing as a Tea Party guest without their 'glath thliperth' (glass slippers.) We may have to improvise once all the shoes get lost, right now we are still accepting Tea Party guests with mismatched shoes.
**********************************************
The other day, J. was asking about marriage and who he will marry. I told him I didn't know who it will be but I know she's gonna be great. He asked if he could marry me. I was completely smitten. He is such a gentleman. I then explained that by the time HE was old enough to marry, he'd probably want to find someone much younger and prettier than me. He said, "Oh, like grandmommy?" Nice...
*********************************************
I have come to realize that A. is ready for junior high, she is incapable of going to the bathroom alone. Not because she can't, but because she wants company. Stinker....
*********************************************
We were at the car wash yesterday and J. started to flip out. He said, "Wait! You forgot the Montana!! The montana, mommy..." I said, " Baby, Daddy's Montero is at work with him."
He said, "NO! That thing you have to take off before you go through the car wash!!"
"OH!" I replied, "The Antenna?"
*********************************************
When I try to correct him and tell him its the "heel" - he refuses to comply.
He is convinced that the end of the loaf is the "butt." We don't even say "butt, " we say Po-po, caboose, rump, touschie, etc. I guess I'll have to urge him to at least call it the 'hiney' if he won't back down on what body part its named after...
*********************************************
A. loves to have Tea Parties with her dolls, especially the tiny Disney Princesses with their changeable outfits and shoes. The problem is, their shoes are smaller than most crumbs so they all get lost... And there is no such thing as a Tea Party guest without their 'glath thliperth' (glass slippers.) We may have to improvise once all the shoes get lost, right now we are still accepting Tea Party guests with mismatched shoes.
**********************************************
The other day, J. was asking about marriage and who he will marry. I told him I didn't know who it will be but I know she's gonna be great. He asked if he could marry me. I was completely smitten. He is such a gentleman. I then explained that by the time HE was old enough to marry, he'd probably want to find someone much younger and prettier than me. He said, "Oh, like grandmommy?" Nice...
*********************************************
I have come to realize that A. is ready for junior high, she is incapable of going to the bathroom alone. Not because she can't, but because she wants company. Stinker....
*********************************************
We were at the car wash yesterday and J. started to flip out. He said, "Wait! You forgot the Montana!! The montana, mommy..." I said, " Baby, Daddy's Montero is at work with him."
He said, "NO! That thing you have to take off before you go through the car wash!!"
"OH!" I replied, "The Antenna?"
*********************************************
Saturday, January 5, 2008
tight jeans and other uninteresting sagas
Today I broke down and bought a pair of tight jeans/capris.
I want to be able to wear them without looks of disgust from the general public by the time the weather permits capri-wearing...
(You're all wondering why I didn't have any tight jeans in my closet already...)
I do have tight jeans in my closet. They are TIGHT! I needed some that are merely tight to inspire me into what will hopefully end up getting me into the TIGHT ones I have from pre-preggers days.
Yes, it does sound odd for me to talk about pre-preggers days since my youngest is now over 3 years of age - hence the reason for the purchase.
I have been committed to the wearing of nothing but velour sweat suits for my entire 2 week Winter Break. Fabulous idea for comfort and for feeling like you've really had a vacation. Terrible idea for monitoring where you are at with regard to the rest of your closet...
When you couple velour with $50+ in Starbuck's giftcards and holiday 'splurging,' THAT creates a situation of too much room in your pants to realize what level of debauchery we're looking at...
So it's now January. My velour suits served their purpose and my hand will be coming to my mouth less and less over the next few weeks and months.
To the tune of 15-20 pounds less.
I will be wearing 'too tight' pants.
I will be eating rabbit food.
But I promise you, I will NOT be working out.
You have my word on that.
I want to be able to wear them without looks of disgust from the general public by the time the weather permits capri-wearing...
(You're all wondering why I didn't have any tight jeans in my closet already...)
I do have tight jeans in my closet. They are TIGHT! I needed some that are merely tight to inspire me into what will hopefully end up getting me into the TIGHT ones I have from pre-preggers days.
Yes, it does sound odd for me to talk about pre-preggers days since my youngest is now over 3 years of age - hence the reason for the purchase.
I have been committed to the wearing of nothing but velour sweat suits for my entire 2 week Winter Break. Fabulous idea for comfort and for feeling like you've really had a vacation. Terrible idea for monitoring where you are at with regard to the rest of your closet...
When you couple velour with $50+ in Starbuck's giftcards and holiday 'splurging,' THAT creates a situation of too much room in your pants to realize what level of debauchery we're looking at...
So it's now January. My velour suits served their purpose and my hand will be coming to my mouth less and less over the next few weeks and months.
To the tune of 15-20 pounds less.
I will be wearing 'too tight' pants.
I will be eating rabbit food.
But I promise you, I will NOT be working out.
You have my word on that.
Friday, January 4, 2008
A feast for your eyes.
- I am sure you are tired of looking at the same post over and over. Assuming that you check my blog even once a day, my resolution is what you've stared at 3 or more times... I feel for ya' - so here's a feast for your eyes!
- I took all things related to Christmas out of the house today. Kinda sad. Even the kids' reindeer handprints and wreaths. I just smiled when I thought about how different their artwork will look next year. I don't think anything can take away from their tiny handprints from the past though...
- For the past two days, I have been getting certified to screen hearing and vision on wee little tots. Yesiree, you are reading the blog of a certified hearing and vision screener. (Hmmmm.... that's funny, I thought that would make you feel like you knew a real somebody :) - That does nothing for you? really?)
- It seems like there was something else of relative importance I wanted to blog about...
- I got nothin'
- At least you have something new to look at, while scratching your head and trying to figure out exactly what you can take away from this post...
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
resolution
i'd rather not celebrate the dropping of the ball
to see it expire, draw its last breath and stall.
i'd more willingly set an attainable goal
that can be reached from most any shoal -
i'd rather resolve not to get too extreme
about the dropping of a ball, the death of a dream.
on the last day of the year that now precedes us
i'd like to celebrate a thing quite joyous
a living dream, fitting for all to desire -
to be pure as gold, when held to the fire.
i'd like for anyone who knows me at all
to be able to say that in things large or small
i held myself to a level much higher
than the previous year, while trudging through mire.
may my husband and my children say,
'she's one who lived her life each day
with a fervor for a loving God,
mindful of Him, each step she trod.'
may this life be, during introspection,
a testament and an honest reflection
of a King Whose tender love now reigns
with no portion of judgment upon the flames
of a raging desire within His chest
to be worshipped in purity and in earnest.
so as i succumb to the newness of days -
may i be ever constant in this praise
never to let myself lose the resolve
or the truth in this testimony dissolve.
may He be exalted, High above all highs
as i hold up the ball, reaching into the skies.
-a.o.
to see it expire, draw its last breath and stall.
i'd more willingly set an attainable goal
that can be reached from most any shoal -
i'd rather resolve not to get too extreme
about the dropping of a ball, the death of a dream.
on the last day of the year that now precedes us
i'd like to celebrate a thing quite joyous
a living dream, fitting for all to desire -
to be pure as gold, when held to the fire.
i'd like for anyone who knows me at all
to be able to say that in things large or small
i held myself to a level much higher
than the previous year, while trudging through mire.
may my husband and my children say,
'she's one who lived her life each day
with a fervor for a loving God,
mindful of Him, each step she trod.'
may this life be, during introspection,
a testament and an honest reflection
of a King Whose tender love now reigns
with no portion of judgment upon the flames
of a raging desire within His chest
to be worshipped in purity and in earnest.
so as i succumb to the newness of days -
may i be ever constant in this praise
never to let myself lose the resolve
or the truth in this testimony dissolve.
may He be exalted, High above all highs
as i hold up the ball, reaching into the skies.
-a.o.
"That was soooo yesterday."
Toward the end of last year it seemed like almost everybody I know was having some difficulty or another.
For some it was:
I have heard the stories of a few but I know that God has heard them all.
In times of newness, such as the New Year, it is worth saying that there is a hope that precludes any remaining despair from moments endured the previous year.
Yes, there is the resetting of the deductible that annoys, but there is something that is a more sure bet than your insurance rates rising and that truth will remain a constant in the world that will ever change.
Lamentations 3:25-26 (The Message)
"God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God."
Those first 5 words are a promise. "God proves to be good."
And those 5 words are a cornerstone that we can stand on each day of 2008.
I, for one, would prefer to cling to Him in times of hardship - but not only during those times.
I want to be diligent in my search for Him during the times when all is coming up daisies, so that when the lights go out, and all around me becomes darkened by the trial, I'll know where to find Him.
I'll reach out to Him, knowing that only moments ago we were strolling along in that field of daisies - hand in hand.
Keeping my heart closely knit with His will pervade the darkness of the trial.
In that closeness I will trust. I can rest assured knowing -
There's a light at the end of this tunnel. And though the darkness may last for longer than I would will it...
"God proves to be good."
Glory be to the One Who, at once, hung the stars and called me by name.
Praise be to Him Who knit me together and rolled out the clouds.
In a word, the galaxies, in all their vast complexity, were spoken into being.
From within the power of that same word is the strength to calm a broken spirit and to allay the most terrible fears.
In the words that bring life, I will choose to dwell.
In the palm of His mighty hand, I will choose to reside.
2008 will be a good year because...
Time and time again, God proves to be good.
For some it was:
- Sick kids or bed rest.
- Moving blues or work day blahs.
- Overworked or underpaid.
- Painful contractions or surgery complications.
- Unexpected car repairs or other unplanned expenses.
- Spiritual complacency or the like...
I have heard the stories of a few but I know that God has heard them all.
In times of newness, such as the New Year, it is worth saying that there is a hope that precludes any remaining despair from moments endured the previous year.
Yes, there is the resetting of the deductible that annoys, but there is something that is a more sure bet than your insurance rates rising and that truth will remain a constant in the world that will ever change.
Lamentations 3:25-26 (The Message)
"God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God."
Those first 5 words are a promise. "God proves to be good."
And those 5 words are a cornerstone that we can stand on each day of 2008.
I, for one, would prefer to cling to Him in times of hardship - but not only during those times.
I want to be diligent in my search for Him during the times when all is coming up daisies, so that when the lights go out, and all around me becomes darkened by the trial, I'll know where to find Him.
I'll reach out to Him, knowing that only moments ago we were strolling along in that field of daisies - hand in hand.
Keeping my heart closely knit with His will pervade the darkness of the trial.
In that closeness I will trust. I can rest assured knowing -
There's a light at the end of this tunnel. And though the darkness may last for longer than I would will it...
"God proves to be good."
Glory be to the One Who, at once, hung the stars and called me by name.
Praise be to Him Who knit me together and rolled out the clouds.
In a word, the galaxies, in all their vast complexity, were spoken into being.
From within the power of that same word is the strength to calm a broken spirit and to allay the most terrible fears.
In the words that bring life, I will choose to dwell.
In the palm of His mighty hand, I will choose to reside.
2008 will be a good year because...
Time and time again, God proves to be good.
Lamentations 3:21-33
I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed.
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember— the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:
God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left.
God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times.
When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it
full-face. The "worst" is never the worst.
Why? Because the Master won't ever walk out and fail to return.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Thought Buffet. Open all day.
Cowboys are about to play. Holla!
Shifting gears.
I miss my friends.
The ones that have moved, the ones with sick kids, the ones on bedrest, the ones I haven't seen because I haven't been to church, the ones who haven't wanted to see us because we have Bubonic Plague.
Another thought shift.
I need to see resumes.
Lots of resumes.
I am about to embark on full-time something.
My stint as a stay-at-home mom ended when my youngest was 17 months old.
My stint as a part-time stay-at-home mom looks to be ending soon.
I need to see some smooth resumes, ladies...
Any suggestions? Websites? Personal rock-star resumes?
Fruitbasket turnover.
I would like to personally apologize to e. and stickin to J. for not coming to their get-together.
I wanted to come but have been at home with sick kids for what seems like YEARS>>>>
Where is everybody?
I am beginning to think rapture thoughts...
Shifting gears.
I miss my friends.
The ones that have moved, the ones with sick kids, the ones on bedrest, the ones I haven't seen because I haven't been to church, the ones who haven't wanted to see us because we have Bubonic Plague.
Another thought shift.
I need to see resumes.
Lots of resumes.
I am about to embark on full-time something.
My stint as a stay-at-home mom ended when my youngest was 17 months old.
My stint as a part-time stay-at-home mom looks to be ending soon.
I need to see some smooth resumes, ladies...
Any suggestions? Websites? Personal rock-star resumes?
Fruitbasket turnover.
I would like to personally apologize to e. and stickin to J. for not coming to their get-together.
I wanted to come but have been at home with sick kids for what seems like YEARS>>>>
Where is everybody?
I am beginning to think rapture thoughts...
Friday, December 28, 2007
The Elusive Double Daytime Nap
Imagine that you are running your midday errands and you look back into your rear view mirror - not to 'evil eye' a tailgater, or to check for a clear lane, but to investigate what type of nonsense must be going on in the backseat of your superhot minivan - as pure silence breaks your train of thought.
It is not usually an auspicious moment when one hears the absence of noise when children are involved.
It is usually grim. Horrific even. Brace yourself for what you are about to behold... Where have their crayons gone? Who is strangling who?
It is not the chuga-lug-lug of rhythmic bickering that gets me. It's the quiet that stops me dead in my tracks.
So I half-winced as I courageously glanced through my special kiddy mirror only to behold...
Two beautiful sleeping angels?
It has never happened. Not until today.
It was befuddling, to say the least.
Never. Not ever. This storybook moment as a mother has always eluded me. Even when my babies were both babies, they never would fall asleep in the car.
Let alone relinquish their consciousness AT THE SAME TIME...
Glory Hallelujah!
It was perfection!
I drove aimlessly for almost an hour.
Poo on $2.89 a gallon!
They were both asleep, during the day, SIMULTANEOUSLY!
SOOOO worth it!attn:cg
I lost all of my bookmarks last week.
I have been looking for your blog. I can't link to it through anyone's.
Would you please email me your blog address?
Thank you!
Also, I may be forgetting someone. It seems like I haven't read other people's blogs either...
I can't find them all. There are so many. I even lost my sister's link.
Anyway, if you think there's a chance that I cannot access your blog and you have my email, please send me the link.
I have been looking for your blog. I can't link to it through anyone's.
Would you please email me your blog address?
Thank you!
Also, I may be forgetting someone. It seems like I haven't read other people's blogs either...
I can't find them all. There are so many. I even lost my sister's link.
Anyway, if you think there's a chance that I cannot access your blog and you have my email, please send me the link.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Fresh Air.
Today, just like the last three days, was spent indoors. I pulled the blinds up and peered outside - longingly.
The past few days have turned out pretty productive, despite the fact that I have had sick babies to look after.
Yesterday, I managed to steam all the carpet in my house and really deep clean the bathrooms a.k.a. slather the bathroom and myself in bleach while scrubbing till you sweat. Sounds a lot better than it really is... :) Now my house emits the all-too-familiar smell of bleach and disinfectant spray.
In the spirit of staying well, I have decided to cut out the middle man and start using Lysol instead of chewing gum. Maybe I'll become a millionaire like that teacher who invented Airborne, all because I marketed purse-size Lysol/Binaca Spray.
I am now remembering that I did leave my house for a bit yesterday. It was what it was. Grocery shopping. So if that's what leaving the house means, I'd rather stay home.
I seriously HATE grocery shopping. I bumped into another young mother with too many kids at the grocery store. She had "the look" that moms at the grocery store have. That one where every pore in her is oozing, "Let's just get through this." It is a 'whole system pep talk' we give ourselves as we trudge through the candy-laden aisles uttering a dull, monotonous, "No. Nuh-uh. Not a Chance. Nope-see-doodle. NO!"
I saw her and my heart went out to her. Our eyes connected only for moment and I shrugged while I said, "Yeah, between this and starving, I'd rather starve..."
But I wouldn't. Just the sound of that coming out of my mouth sounded so ungrateful. I had money for groceries. For the first time after Christmas since I had gotten married, I had enough money left over for food. And I resented it. It stings. What a spoiled little brat I was!
I bet the next time I go to the grocery store, I'll click my heels down every aisle.
Here's to wishful thinking!
Today, I had this notion that the kids' toys and closets needed to be organized. So I flippantly dumped out EVERY SINGLE TOY they own.
Sidenote: Had I done that before Christmas, I could have saved a lot of money.
It was flagrant. Exorbitant. Copious amounts of toys. Odd shapes. Broken pieces. Hundreds of Happy meal trinkets. (shameful, I know) Oodles of every possible toy imaginable. And to that heap, I was determined to somehow add "Christmas" and then to make sense out of it.
The reason I dumped it all out was so I would be forced to get it done. Today.
Amazing. I found myself dickering with a four year old over why we need to throw a broken Lincoln Log away.
His argument, 'What if we lost one of the (400) other pieces? We would need THAT one...'
Aren't little ones funny?
Anyway, It IS DONE!
All the toys have a home. No article of clothing in their closets is ill-fitting or too badly stained.
Each little shoe has a mate and is residing next to its partner. I just kept looking in their rooms and sighing smugly. Mission accomplished.
I forgot to mention the Amazing roast. For 20 hours the succulent beef simmered in my crock pot. I love the crock pot. Crocks rock. Any small appliance that can turn something I cook into something delectable gets "rock" status. Thank you Crock Pot! My husband's belly is happy tonight!
Also, we took the kids to Cold Stone Creamery tonight (GiftCard from teacher party) and then to the Christmas Light display downtown. We forgot that the kids hadn't gone yet this year.
They were so cute!
They Oooo-ed and Aaahhhhh-ed! They said the light tunnels reminded them of a car wash.
I don't know. Just go with it... hehehe
But we tuned into the radio station that they have with Christmas music playing.
We listened to it for a while real softly. Then J. said, "Would you turn up that Nutcracker Suite Song?"
I turned it up. And it was Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite!!!
Talk about being proud!! I just know he's a prodigy. Even when he was a baby, he could reproduce tri-tones. That's not easy ladies and gents...
Most of you quit readin this ridiculously long post 15 paragraphs ago...
I guess that's what you get when you don't blog every day, huh?
Daddy got out of the hospital today. Things are going much, much better.
Thanks for praying.
The past few days have turned out pretty productive, despite the fact that I have had sick babies to look after.
Yesterday, I managed to steam all the carpet in my house and really deep clean the bathrooms a.k.a. slather the bathroom and myself in bleach while scrubbing till you sweat. Sounds a lot better than it really is... :) Now my house emits the all-too-familiar smell of bleach and disinfectant spray.
In the spirit of staying well, I have decided to cut out the middle man and start using Lysol instead of chewing gum. Maybe I'll become a millionaire like that teacher who invented Airborne, all because I marketed purse-size Lysol/Binaca Spray.
I am now remembering that I did leave my house for a bit yesterday. It was what it was. Grocery shopping. So if that's what leaving the house means, I'd rather stay home.
I seriously HATE grocery shopping. I bumped into another young mother with too many kids at the grocery store. She had "the look" that moms at the grocery store have. That one where every pore in her is oozing, "Let's just get through this." It is a 'whole system pep talk' we give ourselves as we trudge through the candy-laden aisles uttering a dull, monotonous, "No. Nuh-uh. Not a Chance. Nope-see-doodle. NO!"
I saw her and my heart went out to her. Our eyes connected only for moment and I shrugged while I said, "Yeah, between this and starving, I'd rather starve..."
But I wouldn't. Just the sound of that coming out of my mouth sounded so ungrateful. I had money for groceries. For the first time after Christmas since I had gotten married, I had enough money left over for food. And I resented it. It stings. What a spoiled little brat I was!
I bet the next time I go to the grocery store, I'll click my heels down every aisle.
Here's to wishful thinking!
Today, I had this notion that the kids' toys and closets needed to be organized. So I flippantly dumped out EVERY SINGLE TOY they own.
Sidenote: Had I done that before Christmas, I could have saved a lot of money.
It was flagrant. Exorbitant. Copious amounts of toys. Odd shapes. Broken pieces. Hundreds of Happy meal trinkets. (shameful, I know) Oodles of every possible toy imaginable. And to that heap, I was determined to somehow add "Christmas" and then to make sense out of it.
The reason I dumped it all out was so I would be forced to get it done. Today.
Amazing. I found myself dickering with a four year old over why we need to throw a broken Lincoln Log away.
His argument, 'What if we lost one of the (400) other pieces? We would need THAT one...'
Aren't little ones funny?
Anyway, It IS DONE!
All the toys have a home. No article of clothing in their closets is ill-fitting or too badly stained.
Each little shoe has a mate and is residing next to its partner. I just kept looking in their rooms and sighing smugly. Mission accomplished.
I forgot to mention the Amazing roast. For 20 hours the succulent beef simmered in my crock pot. I love the crock pot. Crocks rock. Any small appliance that can turn something I cook into something delectable gets "rock" status. Thank you Crock Pot! My husband's belly is happy tonight!
Also, we took the kids to Cold Stone Creamery tonight (GiftCard from teacher party) and then to the Christmas Light display downtown. We forgot that the kids hadn't gone yet this year.
They were so cute!
They Oooo-ed and Aaahhhhh-ed! They said the light tunnels reminded them of a car wash.
I don't know. Just go with it... hehehe
But we tuned into the radio station that they have with Christmas music playing.
We listened to it for a while real softly. Then J. said, "Would you turn up that Nutcracker Suite Song?"
I turned it up. And it was Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite!!!
Talk about being proud!! I just know he's a prodigy. Even when he was a baby, he could reproduce tri-tones. That's not easy ladies and gents...
Most of you quit readin this ridiculously long post 15 paragraphs ago...
I guess that's what you get when you don't blog every day, huh?
Daddy got out of the hospital today. Things are going much, much better.
Thanks for praying.
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