When M told me the other day that there were only 5 days left in the school year, I corrected him and said that there were 5 months left. He didn't think I was correct, until he checked with his teacher! This morning he admitted that yes, I was correct. I said, "Yep, Mommy's a smart cookie." He exclaimed, "Smart COOKIE??!!" I was sitting with D on my lap, putting on his shoes, and P came right over and started pretending to eat me. Then he thoughtfully said, "If Mommy is a smart cookie, then D is a little popcorn!" It has brought a giggle to me many times throughout the day!
I went out to Zellers this morning with P and D, while M and L were at school. Mailed some parcels and bought some discounted (store closing) items: kitchen rags, garbage bags, greeting cards, gift wrap, and stickers (for P). We were marveling all the way home how beautiful it was outside - the sparkles in the air, the white on white landscape, the sun outlining the frost/snow on each twig on each branch on each tree. Simply gorgeous!
I am pretty sure L needs some girl friends! Yesterday she asked me to play with her, and she had her Strawberry Shortcake dolls and her Fur-Real animals out. When I said okay, I would play with her, she handed me one of the dolls and one of the animals and said, "Yours are the bad guys and mine are the good guys!'' I explained that it was okay for all the dolls to be friends. Anyway, this morning I spoke to another mom at school and arranged to have her (very quiet at school, but outgoing at home) daughter and her over for a visit. Maybe the girls will click. They live close by, so that would be awesome for L.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
pass me another sweater
Apparently this is the coldest winter in 17 years, and the winter with the most snow ever on record for our city! Knowing that little tidbit of information gives me hope that maybe next year won't be quite so long or white. Although, like today, it is so often beautiful and sunny that I rarely feel discontented.
L was back at school today, after missing yesterday due to the start of a cold, and visited with Mrs. N. When I picked her up, Mrs. Y came out and told me how proud everyone was of L, who chatted quite freely with Mrs. N and did well during the session. L's pronunciation is so retarded yet, but she is getting quite comfortable with school, the teachers, and her classmates - and is starting to shine. I am very proud of her.
M came home at lunch and was apologizing to me for misspelling one word on his test - of grade THREE words! I told him I was very proud of him, and it only matters that he tries his best. He has had perfect scores until now, and he gets so disappointed when he messes up or "fails". I told him you only fail when you give up. So, don't give up. Try and try again. So easy to tell a child, and so hard to model!
I was thrilled to have a (forced) visit with M yesterday, when she and L just showed up and walked in the door. I hate that! I like to be warned when someone is coming over. Thank goodness my kitchen was mostly clean and the living room had recently been tidied! Although, I know she doesn't much care about any of that anyway. I have seen her house, and it looks about the same as mine! That's how it is when you have kids! Anyway, they walked in, and we sat and visited for over an hour; it was so nice, I suggested we make it a weekly date. It is so hard for me to open up to new friends. If there is a "click", then it can happen quite quickly, but I am also a little gun-shy. Don't want to assume or presume too much. Anyway, it has been a year and a half, and I really like both her and S. A and I have talked about having them over for a BBQ - maybe that should wait till the snow melts a little!! Of course, P was very happy about the unplanned play date with L!
Mailed some parcels out today. Cleaned the house. That's about it. I got tickets for the family (minus D) to go to the local Firefighters Variety Magic Show in early February. That should be super fun. Not sure what A will think about the idea.
D and I have had three bad nights in a row. I fear more ear infection, but the pediatrician was not in today, so it will have to wait till Monday to be checked. A comes home tomorrow morning.
And that's Friday.
L was back at school today, after missing yesterday due to the start of a cold, and visited with Mrs. N. When I picked her up, Mrs. Y came out and told me how proud everyone was of L, who chatted quite freely with Mrs. N and did well during the session. L's pronunciation is so retarded yet, but she is getting quite comfortable with school, the teachers, and her classmates - and is starting to shine. I am very proud of her.
M came home at lunch and was apologizing to me for misspelling one word on his test - of grade THREE words! I told him I was very proud of him, and it only matters that he tries his best. He has had perfect scores until now, and he gets so disappointed when he messes up or "fails". I told him you only fail when you give up. So, don't give up. Try and try again. So easy to tell a child, and so hard to model!
I was thrilled to have a (forced) visit with M yesterday, when she and L just showed up and walked in the door. I hate that! I like to be warned when someone is coming over. Thank goodness my kitchen was mostly clean and the living room had recently been tidied! Although, I know she doesn't much care about any of that anyway. I have seen her house, and it looks about the same as mine! That's how it is when you have kids! Anyway, they walked in, and we sat and visited for over an hour; it was so nice, I suggested we make it a weekly date. It is so hard for me to open up to new friends. If there is a "click", then it can happen quite quickly, but I am also a little gun-shy. Don't want to assume or presume too much. Anyway, it has been a year and a half, and I really like both her and S. A and I have talked about having them over for a BBQ - maybe that should wait till the snow melts a little!! Of course, P was very happy about the unplanned play date with L!
Mailed some parcels out today. Cleaned the house. That's about it. I got tickets for the family (minus D) to go to the local Firefighters Variety Magic Show in early February. That should be super fun. Not sure what A will think about the idea.
D and I have had three bad nights in a row. I fear more ear infection, but the pediatrician was not in today, so it will have to wait till Monday to be checked. A comes home tomorrow morning.
And that's Friday.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
puzzle queen
Getting tired of the snow. So different from last year. We have at least twelve inches packed down in the backyard - which is not really a big deal; our yard is just twelve inches higher than at other times of the year! Today I dug out the inside of a pile of frozen snow, creating a hollow big enough for one of the boys to crawl into and snuggle in! Ha! M came home from school, said "Oh, cool!" and promptly crawled into the "igloo". P came a few minutes later, and said (whined) "That's not what I wanted; I wanted a new toy!" Weather forecast says tomorrow night will bring another 10-15cm of the white stuff, so I best keep the shovels out and ready to go!! At least I don't mind the ice picking and the shoveling. It is a way to get out in the fresh air and pound something or throw something, without actually destroying anything. Great for frustration relief!
Not that I'm frustrated. A left this morning for E again. He should be home Friday night, if he doesn't get snowed out. He still didn't get his windshield wiper fixed, so it is pretty much stupid to be driving winter time prairie in the dark and blowing snow. Well, we'll see how the roads/weather are by then.
L is definitely the puzzle queen. Her teacher was telling me that a lot of the kids in her class can't fit together even simple puzzles, showing that the kids have little or no exposure to puzzling at home. I grew up with puzzles, and we have quite a few in the house. Any that L can get her hands on are completed in record time, and she is doing some now that are beyond her age level and difficult even for P - who is also pretty good at puzzles - to do. We went to the Salvation Army this afternoon to see if they had any puzzles appropriate for her age, but they had nothing. We got instead a soccer ball, a pair of ice skates, a bunch of small toys, and a picture for L's bedroom wall. I really needed a loveseat hide-a-bed for the playroom, a leather recliner for A's office, a small drop-leaf table for wherever, and a large student's desk for M, but couldn't arrange transport, as A is out of town and Dad was heading out to do a house blessing and couldn't bring the truck down to the store. Thank goodness it didn't work out, cause my spontaneity would have definitely resulted in buyer's remorse. I don't really need any of it, but a good deal is SO hard to walk away from!!
Dropped off the pins for Sanctity of Life Sunday at the Right to Life office. Got more ribbons for the pins for our church. Took M to the bank to make a deposit. And got Quiznos for dinner, since it was that time already and I had four hungry kids in the van and nothing in the plan for dinner.
Not that I'm frustrated. A left this morning for E again. He should be home Friday night, if he doesn't get snowed out. He still didn't get his windshield wiper fixed, so it is pretty much stupid to be driving winter time prairie in the dark and blowing snow. Well, we'll see how the roads/weather are by then.
L is definitely the puzzle queen. Her teacher was telling me that a lot of the kids in her class can't fit together even simple puzzles, showing that the kids have little or no exposure to puzzling at home. I grew up with puzzles, and we have quite a few in the house. Any that L can get her hands on are completed in record time, and she is doing some now that are beyond her age level and difficult even for P - who is also pretty good at puzzles - to do. We went to the Salvation Army this afternoon to see if they had any puzzles appropriate for her age, but they had nothing. We got instead a soccer ball, a pair of ice skates, a bunch of small toys, and a picture for L's bedroom wall. I really needed a loveseat hide-a-bed for the playroom, a leather recliner for A's office, a small drop-leaf table for wherever, and a large student's desk for M, but couldn't arrange transport, as A is out of town and Dad was heading out to do a house blessing and couldn't bring the truck down to the store. Thank goodness it didn't work out, cause my spontaneity would have definitely resulted in buyer's remorse. I don't really need any of it, but a good deal is SO hard to walk away from!!
Dropped off the pins for Sanctity of Life Sunday at the Right to Life office. Got more ribbons for the pins for our church. Took M to the bank to make a deposit. And got Quiznos for dinner, since it was that time already and I had four hungry kids in the van and nothing in the plan for dinner.
Monday, January 21, 2013
monday
P said to me the other day, "Mom, if you die before me, I will pray for you." I was truly touched, since this had come right out of the blue. Then he said, "I will pray that you are having a good time in heaven, and that you have the Gospel." (!!) Not sure where his ideas come from, but they are sure cute!
The kids were sick yesterday, with a weird thing that lasted in each of them about 12 hours max and then disappeared. No vomiting, no coughing, no congestion - just sleepiness, light-headedness, loss of appetite, and headache. Anyway, M and L managed to go to school this morning, and P is definitely fine to go this afternoon. Thank God for good health, which is so easily taken for granted.
A wants to buy a lot on a lake. Not sure which lake yet. Mom and Dad want to go in half-and-half on the purchase. I am not in favor of the idea at all right now, as we don't have the money for it. But everyone is telling me to just calm down. In a few months, when A has incorporated his business and we start looking at lots, I guess there will be enough time to raise a stink.
I miss my friends. I need someone to hob-nob with on a weekly, if not daily, basis. I have been praying for God to please introduce me to some sweet, kind, Orthodox if it's not too much to ask, friend who, by the way, lives close by so it's easy to get together and hob-nob! Can't wait for M and J to come in March!! I hope little J lets me hold him!
M's Name's Day was on Saturday, and we had planned to go to Regina (him and I) for a movie after church yesterday. With the kids all sick, it didn't work, so I promised him we would go in a couple of weeks, and he and I went to the mall instead and picked him out a dollar-store gift. He very considerately bought something for P and L as well. Then we got a snack at the cafeteria and picked up a (sickeningly sweet) cake from Safeway on the way home. When we got home, he said, "Mom,
I had a good time with you." I need to schedule more one-on-one time with him. He needs it, and I need it!
P has soccer tonight. So glad he loves it.
A leaves tomorrow for a week away in E. Has to finish up a house there. Hope the roads are not too slippery for him; they have been horrible, due to the temperature fluctuating so much.
The kids were sick yesterday, with a weird thing that lasted in each of them about 12 hours max and then disappeared. No vomiting, no coughing, no congestion - just sleepiness, light-headedness, loss of appetite, and headache. Anyway, M and L managed to go to school this morning, and P is definitely fine to go this afternoon. Thank God for good health, which is so easily taken for granted.
A wants to buy a lot on a lake. Not sure which lake yet. Mom and Dad want to go in half-and-half on the purchase. I am not in favor of the idea at all right now, as we don't have the money for it. But everyone is telling me to just calm down. In a few months, when A has incorporated his business and we start looking at lots, I guess there will be enough time to raise a stink.
I miss my friends. I need someone to hob-nob with on a weekly, if not daily, basis. I have been praying for God to please introduce me to some sweet, kind, Orthodox if it's not too much to ask, friend who, by the way, lives close by so it's easy to get together and hob-nob! Can't wait for M and J to come in March!! I hope little J lets me hold him!
M's Name's Day was on Saturday, and we had planned to go to Regina (him and I) for a movie after church yesterday. With the kids all sick, it didn't work, so I promised him we would go in a couple of weeks, and he and I went to the mall instead and picked him out a dollar-store gift. He very considerately bought something for P and L as well. Then we got a snack at the cafeteria and picked up a (sickeningly sweet) cake from Safeway on the way home. When we got home, he said, "Mom,
I had a good time with you." I need to schedule more one-on-one time with him. He needs it, and I need it!
P has soccer tonight. So glad he loves it.
A leaves tomorrow for a week away in E. Has to finish up a house there. Hope the roads are not too slippery for him; they have been horrible, due to the temperature fluctuating so much.
Friday, January 4, 2013
bad dreams and good days
I had a horrible dream about M last night. So bad that I don't want to think about it, let alone write about it. Suffice it to say that when he woke up this morning, he was smothered in hugs - and the need to hold him close has been with me all day. Not sure what triggered that dream, but I have been worried about M for weeks now, and praying for him lots. I am praying for him to find a good friend who lives close by. Too much to ask? Maybe. So then I will take a good friend who doesn't live close by. (By close by, I mean within walking distance! Handy for play dates!)
So, 2013. My resolutions for this year (although laughed at and scoffed upon and deemed impossible by A) are 1. to abstain from coca cola, and to decrease the amount of sugar in my diet; 2. to cook and bake more, and thus have the family eating more healthily; 3. to spend less money on frivolous things; 4. to be kinder to my husband (!); 5. to laugh more, and loosen up a bit; 6. to spend more quality time with my kids on a daily basis. So far, so okay. I have not had coke in 4 days, and so far I'm alright. If I don't think about it, I don't want it. So as soon as the thought of it flits at me, I push it away. I'm eating a lot of chocolate though! I'll start cutting sugar soon. Yesterday, I baked cornmeal muffins and cooked a meat and vegetable soup. A's been gone this week, so it has been rather easy to be kind to him!
I laughed till I cried twice in the last four days - man, does that feel good! My resident 5-year-old clown (P) was singing at supper the other day to avoid eating his food and when I told him to shush and eat, he loudly said "one, two, three, four, everyone together now . . ." and jumped up and started singing and dancing to the Wiggles "Quack Quack Quack Quack Cocka Doodle Doo" and even though he was technically disobeying, I couldn't keep a straight face. When M saw me trying not to laugh, he jumped up from the table and joined in, and I started giggling. When D stood up in the highchair and started dancing along, the tears were just rolling down my cheeks. After finally restoring order and getting P back in his chair, he poked at his food, made a total Calvin (and Hobbs) face and said "Ewww, yuck", which while really rude and not usually allowed, made me dissolve again. The second time was last night, when my resident 5-year-old sweetheart came up and gave me a hug and told me he loves me. When I told him I love him too, he said he wants to marry me. I told him that I am already married to Daddy, and he said "But what about the frustration?" I told him that everyone gets frustrated, but I suppose that under being kind to my husband should be keeping the frustration in check a little!
M has been in soccer camp this week, and he is really getting skilled. JJ is so great. School started back yesterday, and P is already asking for play dates, which is great. Today he showed up after school with a friend, and as they tore off their coats and boots, I tried to find out what was going on. When I realized that little J's mom didn't even know he had come, I quickly bundled them up again and sent them back to school, then got ready and headed out myself after them to talk to her. J will be able to come next week sometime to play!
So, 2013. My resolutions for this year (although laughed at and scoffed upon and deemed impossible by A) are 1. to abstain from coca cola, and to decrease the amount of sugar in my diet; 2. to cook and bake more, and thus have the family eating more healthily; 3. to spend less money on frivolous things; 4. to be kinder to my husband (!); 5. to laugh more, and loosen up a bit; 6. to spend more quality time with my kids on a daily basis. So far, so okay. I have not had coke in 4 days, and so far I'm alright. If I don't think about it, I don't want it. So as soon as the thought of it flits at me, I push it away. I'm eating a lot of chocolate though! I'll start cutting sugar soon. Yesterday, I baked cornmeal muffins and cooked a meat and vegetable soup. A's been gone this week, so it has been rather easy to be kind to him!
I laughed till I cried twice in the last four days - man, does that feel good! My resident 5-year-old clown (P) was singing at supper the other day to avoid eating his food and when I told him to shush and eat, he loudly said "one, two, three, four, everyone together now . . ." and jumped up and started singing and dancing to the Wiggles "Quack Quack Quack Quack Cocka Doodle Doo" and even though he was technically disobeying, I couldn't keep a straight face. When M saw me trying not to laugh, he jumped up from the table and joined in, and I started giggling. When D stood up in the highchair and started dancing along, the tears were just rolling down my cheeks. After finally restoring order and getting P back in his chair, he poked at his food, made a total Calvin (and Hobbs) face and said "Ewww, yuck", which while really rude and not usually allowed, made me dissolve again. The second time was last night, when my resident 5-year-old sweetheart came up and gave me a hug and told me he loves me. When I told him I love him too, he said he wants to marry me. I told him that I am already married to Daddy, and he said "But what about the frustration?" I told him that everyone gets frustrated, but I suppose that under being kind to my husband should be keeping the frustration in check a little!
M has been in soccer camp this week, and he is really getting skilled. JJ is so great. School started back yesterday, and P is already asking for play dates, which is great. Today he showed up after school with a friend, and as they tore off their coats and boots, I tried to find out what was going on. When I realized that little J's mom didn't even know he had come, I quickly bundled them up again and sent them back to school, then got ready and headed out myself after them to talk to her. J will be able to come next week sometime to play!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
the need for sunglasses and a purple hat
I just love the idea of sunglasses in December! Today, again, I really needed them, as the sun was just bouncing on the bright snow! The roads are pretty good; the powder just kinda blows to the side, and it's cold enough that nothing is melting and turning to ice. I think it is about -15 degrees today, but for some reason it doesn't feel so cold - maybe cause of the sun, or maybe cause I am spending time inside! The sun streaming through the windows makes me want to take L and D out this afternoon for a sled ride. Maybe I'll do that. Mom and Dad set up their tree and got a new fireplace, and I've promised to pop over to see both. Poor Mom is in bed sick, though, so maybe today is not the best day for us to go for a visit.
I have been searching for the perfect hat. I couldn't seem to find anything that would both stay on my head covering my ears and be warm enough. I was kinda hoping to find purple, as my other accessories (scarf and mitts) are purple. Got a lovely Christmas parcel in the mail yesterday from M and lo and behold - there was the perfect, purple hat!! I couldn't believe it! She always puts so much thought and love into her gifts - I don't know if she intuited that I needed a perfect, purple hat, or if it was fluke, but I know that when you are close friends with someone, sometimes they just know what you need when you need it, without being told.
L was just starting to get comfortable with a little girl at school, and we were planning to invite her over for play-dates. She is basically L's best friend at school. Well today, this girl's dad told me that tomorrow is her last day at the school! They live in C and it is just too far to come; before, her mom was working close to the school so it worked out for her to come here, but now her mom has changed jobs. I am so disappointed for L, as this is really the only little friend she has. L doesn't even talk to her, but she is open to the idea of her, and wanted to invite her over. Yes, there are other little girls in the class, but none who is so friendly and gentle and kind as this one. I am praying that there will be another little friend for L. Someone close by, who she can play with outside of school time.
Speaking of, M needs a friend too, close by for outside of school time. His best friend at school is really not a very nice kid and quite a bad influence on M. I am hoping the holiday will give us some much-needed mom-and-me time to get him back on track.
I have been searching for the perfect hat. I couldn't seem to find anything that would both stay on my head covering my ears and be warm enough. I was kinda hoping to find purple, as my other accessories (scarf and mitts) are purple. Got a lovely Christmas parcel in the mail yesterday from M and lo and behold - there was the perfect, purple hat!! I couldn't believe it! She always puts so much thought and love into her gifts - I don't know if she intuited that I needed a perfect, purple hat, or if it was fluke, but I know that when you are close friends with someone, sometimes they just know what you need when you need it, without being told.
L was just starting to get comfortable with a little girl at school, and we were planning to invite her over for play-dates. She is basically L's best friend at school. Well today, this girl's dad told me that tomorrow is her last day at the school! They live in C and it is just too far to come; before, her mom was working close to the school so it worked out for her to come here, but now her mom has changed jobs. I am so disappointed for L, as this is really the only little friend she has. L doesn't even talk to her, but she is open to the idea of her, and wanted to invite her over. Yes, there are other little girls in the class, but none who is so friendly and gentle and kind as this one. I am praying that there will be another little friend for L. Someone close by, who she can play with outside of school time.
Speaking of, M needs a friend too, close by for outside of school time. His best friend at school is really not a very nice kid and quite a bad influence on M. I am hoping the holiday will give us some much-needed mom-and-me time to get him back on track.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
stories and such
Have a new habit. Each night, when the kids go to bed, I lie with D and tell the boys stories. (Poor L misses out, being in her own room, but she is always so tired she goes to sleep right after being tucked in.) I tell the boys stories from the Old Testament (Joshua and the walls of Jericho; Moses and the plagues; David and Goliath; Hannah and Samuel; etc, etc, etc), miracles of Jesus from the New Testament, and life stories of favorite saints. They are soaking up the stories, and I'm sorry I waited so long to start. But now, a month or so into this new routine, I am running out of remembered stories and actually having to research for something new! Oh well. I guess I learn too this way. And it is so nice to revisit some that I have forgotten. The kids are learning some basics of theology, told in story format. One of my all time favorite stories is about one of my favorite saints: St. Athanasius the Great and the First Council of Nicaea. Maybe we will do that one tonight. Which reminds me that I want to reread Father Schmemann The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy. Love that book!
The two youngest muncheroos were a real handful in Liturgy today. L was being naughty and D wanted to be held the whole time. He gets so jealous if one of the other kids is sitting with me and he pulls their hair and bites and screams! Yep. Terrible twos - here we come! We're working on it. We had his 18 month language screen the other day, and it appears that his oral communication is at the 9-12 month level, which is what I expected. He will be seeing a SLP once per month starting in January, until he gets old enough for proper week-to-week therapy. I am thinking maybe he will catch up on his own, though, before then. I am not worried about him. Just wanted the assessment in case; better to get him on the waitlist (or on the caseload) of a SLP now, than to try to get him help when he is desperate later.
Can't find the dog's ball anywhere! I bought her an inside ball a few days ago and she had it for 10 minutes in one room and it disappeared! We have looked everywhere! Maybe she took it outside and buried it. I guess I should have bought two! A says I buy two of everything. Not true, but in this case it would have been a good idea!
The two youngest muncheroos were a real handful in Liturgy today. L was being naughty and D wanted to be held the whole time. He gets so jealous if one of the other kids is sitting with me and he pulls their hair and bites and screams! Yep. Terrible twos - here we come! We're working on it. We had his 18 month language screen the other day, and it appears that his oral communication is at the 9-12 month level, which is what I expected. He will be seeing a SLP once per month starting in January, until he gets old enough for proper week-to-week therapy. I am thinking maybe he will catch up on his own, though, before then. I am not worried about him. Just wanted the assessment in case; better to get him on the waitlist (or on the caseload) of a SLP now, than to try to get him help when he is desperate later.
Can't find the dog's ball anywhere! I bought her an inside ball a few days ago and she had it for 10 minutes in one room and it disappeared! We have looked everywhere! Maybe she took it outside and buried it. I guess I should have bought two! A says I buy two of everything. Not true, but in this case it would have been a good idea!
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