warning: gritty post
I'm sure some of you noticed that I didn't go to church for the last several months. I'm sure you've wondered why. But only a handful of people actually asked me how I was doing or what I've been up to. I've been dealing with family issues from every side. My family, my extended family, James' extended family...
I'm cynical right now.
So, as immature as it may have been, I deleted a lot of people from my facebook profile. I narrowed it down to family and close friends. That means that most of the people from church are no longer "connected" to me on facebook. If I un-friended you, deal with it.
I am in more pain right now than I have been in a long time. I'm working on it. I know I will get through it. If you've been supportive of me and my family, I thank you. I truly appreciate it because I know how hard it is to keep a family together AND extend yourself to others at the same time. It's exhausting.
I don't fault anyone for not going out of their way to call or stop by. If you have, then I thank you. If you didn't, I understand that everyone has their own priorities. It's OK. But if I don't reach out right now, don't take it personally. I'm fairly private about what I'm feeling.
What I need is prayers. If you call and I don't answer, it's because I'm conserving my energy. I realize this post is heavy and possibly full of contradictions but it's hard to organize my thoughts.
I don't know what I want to come from letting all of you know a small part of what's going on, but I needed to get it out.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Bragging rights and long nights
Sassafras reads 174 words a minute. She's also in the gifted program. The kid is also in 90% for her height, which is pretty cool since I'm only 5'4".
Pickles reads 229. He's not in the gifted program because he decided he didn't like all the extra work.
Bud reads at at an end-of-second grade level. He's the baby of his first grade class with his August birthday. He finishes his work before everyone else and then causes trouble. Sound familiar, Mom?
He has also stayed on "green" for the last three weeks straight. If you have ever met the little guy, you realize that this is quite out of character for him. Also, we're bribing him.
the Hamster writes his name, but thinks his middle name is first name spelled backwards. He can sing the alphabet backwards, and this may be entirely my fault.
I'm thinking the Hamster may be ambidextrous like I am. I actually prayed to have a kid who could write with both hands or be left-handed. Frivolous, I know, but I like them to be a little different. He also has dimples, which I prayed for as well.
Sass made higher than 95% on portions of her ITBS and was invited to take the BESTS test. Anyone know anything about that? I can't decide if it's actually worth doing or not.
James started working in the clinic this school session and has completed the patient requirements while taking care of the kids each evening while I'm in class (every dang night), after his own full 30 credit hour class load for the day. Next session, he needs to see at least 25 patients. He also makes sure to bathe and feed the kids each night AND takes care of all the laundry and dishes. And he's blind. He's a pretty cool guy, if I do say so myself.
I'm nearly finished with a painting that I really like. I'm also incredibly glad that this school session is nearly over, because it is killing me slowly. Which is why I haven't blogged much. I've been working on not drowning and there hasn't been much left over for anything else. So if you're wondering why I haven't been to church functions, a meeting, called you, sent a letter, sent an email, stopped by, sent a carrier pigeon, telepathic message, or smoke signal, put my kids in sports, scouts, or music lessons, or anything else, that's why.
It's not you, it's me.
It is good to know though, that James can pick up my slack and the kids can actually thrive without me being on top of everything.
Hopefully soon, I can blog about some political things, about my amazing visit from 13 people I love dearly, as well as separate visits from James' dad and my mom (all the love!), and how I blinked and missed our Midwestern Fall. After these messages, we'll be riiiiiiiight back!
Sassafras reads 174 words a minute. She's also in the gifted program. The kid is also in 90% for her height, which is pretty cool since I'm only 5'4".
Pickles reads 229. He's not in the gifted program because he decided he didn't like all the extra work.
Bud reads at at an end-of-second grade level. He's the baby of his first grade class with his August birthday. He finishes his work before everyone else and then causes trouble. Sound familiar, Mom?
He has also stayed on "green" for the last three weeks straight. If you have ever met the little guy, you realize that this is quite out of character for him. Also, we're bribing him.
the Hamster writes his name, but thinks his middle name is first name spelled backwards. He can sing the alphabet backwards, and this may be entirely my fault.
I'm thinking the Hamster may be ambidextrous like I am. I actually prayed to have a kid who could write with both hands or be left-handed. Frivolous, I know, but I like them to be a little different. He also has dimples, which I prayed for as well.
Sass made higher than 95% on portions of her ITBS and was invited to take the BESTS test. Anyone know anything about that? I can't decide if it's actually worth doing or not.
James started working in the clinic this school session and has completed the patient requirements while taking care of the kids each evening while I'm in class (every dang night), after his own full 30 credit hour class load for the day. Next session, he needs to see at least 25 patients. He also makes sure to bathe and feed the kids each night AND takes care of all the laundry and dishes. And he's blind. He's a pretty cool guy, if I do say so myself.
I'm nearly finished with a painting that I really like. I'm also incredibly glad that this school session is nearly over, because it is killing me slowly. Which is why I haven't blogged much. I've been working on not drowning and there hasn't been much left over for anything else. So if you're wondering why I haven't been to church functions, a meeting, called you, sent a letter, sent an email, stopped by, sent a carrier pigeon, telepathic message, or smoke signal, put my kids in sports, scouts, or music lessons, or anything else, that's why.
It's not you, it's me.
It is good to know though, that James can pick up my slack and the kids can actually thrive without me being on top of everything.
Hopefully soon, I can blog about some political things, about my amazing visit from 13 people I love dearly, as well as separate visits from James' dad and my mom (all the love!), and how I blinked and missed our Midwestern Fall. After these messages, we'll be riiiiiiiight back!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
A tiny little good time*
James and I took the kids out of town for a couple days. Since buying the house and moving, as well as juggling school schedules, we haven't had time or money to do a family vacation this summer. Normally we take the kids camping for about a week, or stay in a cabin deep in the woods, but this year, we could only carve out about 48 hours. So we took them to Dubuque. Since we won't be staying in the Midwest once we're done with school (we love you Iowa, but we just can't stay), we decided when we moved here that we would try to see as much of this part of the country as we could.
So I booked a hotel with a waterpark for two nights. It had slides, a lazy river, and a water jungle gym. We only suffered 2 bumped heads and James was hot. Not hawt, just hot. The man is nuclear. He would steam up the car windows even if we were driving around Hell (which we once did, btw, although I'm pretty sure the residents there usually just call it West Virginia). So we cranked the AC to 62 and the rest of us slept under piles of blankets, pillows, and a couple of bouncy balls that snuck their way into bed after being banned. The rest of the room was pretty good. It's hard to find a hotel room that will actually sleep 6 without having to turn children 90 degrees on the bed and have them all sleep that way. This room actually had 2 doubles and a pullout couch. You know your kids don't get out much when they fight over who gets to sleep on the pullout couch. I would have taken pictures, but we haven't been able to find our cameras since we moved. There was also a balcony. It was only a balcony in name, however, because it was literally about 8 inches deep. James got out onto it and slid the glass door behind himself. He was holding his breath and sort of leaned over the railing a little. And then I locked it. He couldn't turn around to give me a dirty look, but I could see little curls of smoke starting to come out of his ears, so I unlocked it and let him back in. After that, he told everyone else they couldn't go out there. Spoilsport.
We also went to the River Museum. If you ever need to take your picture next to about 15 different statues of Mark Twain, Or, if you want to spend more time herding your children out of the gift shop and then dealing with a crying 8-year old who couldn't find ANYthing that cost $2 or less, than actually looking at exhibits, OR, if you want to explain 20 times why the touch-the-gar exhibit is closed due to resting fish issues (fishues?) to an angry 6-year old, you should totally go to the River Museum.
This is not a paid advertisement for the museum by the way.
So I think our next mini vacation will probably be a weekend camping trip. Now that the Hamster is almost fully potty-trained, I will end my ban on tent camping. Anyone who has camped with a kid in diapers will understand.
I need to go, I'm having a yard sale this weekend and I'm still pulling stuff together to sell. Anyone want to buy one ice skate? or half a puzzle? or an obnoxious neighbor?
*Sassafras used to make up words and phrases. Having a "tiny little good time" meant we were all enjoying a really great experience.
P.S. James really is hawt :) And the museum was actually pretty fun.
James and I took the kids out of town for a couple days. Since buying the house and moving, as well as juggling school schedules, we haven't had time or money to do a family vacation this summer. Normally we take the kids camping for about a week, or stay in a cabin deep in the woods, but this year, we could only carve out about 48 hours. So we took them to Dubuque. Since we won't be staying in the Midwest once we're done with school (we love you Iowa, but we just can't stay), we decided when we moved here that we would try to see as much of this part of the country as we could.
So I booked a hotel with a waterpark for two nights. It had slides, a lazy river, and a water jungle gym. We only suffered 2 bumped heads and James was hot. Not hawt, just hot. The man is nuclear. He would steam up the car windows even if we were driving around Hell (which we once did, btw, although I'm pretty sure the residents there usually just call it West Virginia). So we cranked the AC to 62 and the rest of us slept under piles of blankets, pillows, and a couple of bouncy balls that snuck their way into bed after being banned. The rest of the room was pretty good. It's hard to find a hotel room that will actually sleep 6 without having to turn children 90 degrees on the bed and have them all sleep that way. This room actually had 2 doubles and a pullout couch. You know your kids don't get out much when they fight over who gets to sleep on the pullout couch. I would have taken pictures, but we haven't been able to find our cameras since we moved. There was also a balcony. It was only a balcony in name, however, because it was literally about 8 inches deep. James got out onto it and slid the glass door behind himself. He was holding his breath and sort of leaned over the railing a little. And then I locked it. He couldn't turn around to give me a dirty look, but I could see little curls of smoke starting to come out of his ears, so I unlocked it and let him back in. After that, he told everyone else they couldn't go out there. Spoilsport.
We also went to the River Museum. If you ever need to take your picture next to about 15 different statues of Mark Twain, Or, if you want to spend more time herding your children out of the gift shop and then dealing with a crying 8-year old who couldn't find ANYthing that cost $2 or less, than actually looking at exhibits, OR, if you want to explain 20 times why the touch-the-gar exhibit is closed due to resting fish issues (fishues?) to an angry 6-year old, you should totally go to the River Museum.
This is not a paid advertisement for the museum by the way.
So I think our next mini vacation will probably be a weekend camping trip. Now that the Hamster is almost fully potty-trained, I will end my ban on tent camping. Anyone who has camped with a kid in diapers will understand.
I need to go, I'm having a yard sale this weekend and I'm still pulling stuff together to sell. Anyone want to buy one ice skate? or half a puzzle? or an obnoxious neighbor?
*Sassafras used to make up words and phrases. Having a "tiny little good time" meant we were all enjoying a really great experience.
P.S. James really is hawt :) And the museum was actually pretty fun.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
So I take the kids (almost) everywhere I go. To the grocery store, to the others' practices, to the bathroom... Anyway, I took the 2 older Things to soccer practice and luckily it's at their elem. school because then the little ones can play on the playground. And they are very happy to play after hours, because then they can do things the meanie teachers won't let them do during recess, like run UP the slide. Dirty ol' meanies. So the boys are playing and I overhear some little (approx. 6-10 yrs old) girls playing house.
Girl 1, "Well I told you about the party yesterday. I even emailed you about it!"
and a little while later,
Girl2, "You be the dad and you say I'm just going to sleep down here, but then you really just turn the music up real loud and party while everyone sleeps."
I don't know about you, but I can hear my kids whisper "shut up, butt face" at 20 yards. I know it wasn't that bad a pretend conversation, but something made me worry a little for those kids.
My little angel, the same angel who last night got one spanking for each hole he put in the wall while he was supposed to be going to sleep, was playing with a friend so new he didn't know his name yet. I overheard "if you want to be a bee, you just have to use your imagination."
I've been trying to come up with good handles for the Things, since I didn't make my blog restricted from people and my conspiracy radar goes up when I think about my kids names being online. The little one will be known as Hamster. Thing 3 will henceforth be known as Bud. Thing 2 is now dubbed Pickles. There is no significance to that nickname, it just makes me laugh. Certain words are funny to me, including corn, monkeys, cheese and pickles. Go figure. And the one who made me a mom is Sassafras. Write that down. It's very important.
Moving on...
my mom left to go back to ATL. I missed her before we dropped her off at the airport. I love that she cares so much to come visit. I love that she loves my kids as much as I do. I really believe that she does. I love that I can make her laugh. I love that she makes me laugh. I love that she will clean my kitchen without making snide comments about how messy it is. Sarcastic comments, yes, but not snide. She's snarky like that.
I will see her in Oct when I fly down to visit my grandfather. His health is declining and I hate to think it may be the last time I see him, but it truly may be. Sad, sad. What an amazing man though. WWII vet. Very successful businessman. Someone with a true photographic memory. There is no way to even sum this man up in a silly blog post, but his personality influenced mine a lot. If you love me, you'd love Granddad. So as it starts to get really cold here, I'll be an hour from Orlando, FL. Sorry for ya.
Gotta go finish beating, whoops! I mean bathing kids.
Girl 1, "Well I told you about the party yesterday. I even emailed you about it!"
and a little while later,
Girl2, "You be the dad and you say I'm just going to sleep down here, but then you really just turn the music up real loud and party while everyone sleeps."
I don't know about you, but I can hear my kids whisper "shut up, butt face" at 20 yards. I know it wasn't that bad a pretend conversation, but something made me worry a little for those kids.
My little angel, the same angel who last night got one spanking for each hole he put in the wall while he was supposed to be going to sleep, was playing with a friend so new he didn't know his name yet. I overheard "if you want to be a bee, you just have to use your imagination."
I've been trying to come up with good handles for the Things, since I didn't make my blog restricted from people and my conspiracy radar goes up when I think about my kids names being online. The little one will be known as Hamster. Thing 3 will henceforth be known as Bud. Thing 2 is now dubbed Pickles. There is no significance to that nickname, it just makes me laugh. Certain words are funny to me, including corn, monkeys, cheese and pickles. Go figure. And the one who made me a mom is Sassafras. Write that down. It's very important.
Moving on...
my mom left to go back to ATL. I missed her before we dropped her off at the airport. I love that she cares so much to come visit. I love that she loves my kids as much as I do. I really believe that she does. I love that I can make her laugh. I love that she makes me laugh. I love that she will clean my kitchen without making snide comments about how messy it is. Sarcastic comments, yes, but not snide. She's snarky like that.
I will see her in Oct when I fly down to visit my grandfather. His health is declining and I hate to think it may be the last time I see him, but it truly may be. Sad, sad. What an amazing man though. WWII vet. Very successful businessman. Someone with a true photographic memory. There is no way to even sum this man up in a silly blog post, but his personality influenced mine a lot. If you love me, you'd love Granddad. So as it starts to get really cold here, I'll be an hour from Orlando, FL. Sorry for ya.
Gotta go finish beating, whoops! I mean bathing kids.
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