Moms

FiSH in my braces!  Oh golly, I've started eating "better", but now I can see problems forecast ahead...I am really having to use that little purse toothbrush to keep my teeth clean.  Anything bread- or potato-related really gets lodged.  Then there are the cucumbers (ack-with peels!) that feel like they are going to break a wire!  I can feel the pressure.  I'm easing back into breads, but still having oatmeal for breakfast and yogurts or soup for lunch.  (and yes, I've lost 4 pounds!)  Not bad for a three weeks with braces (ya'll just wait, it'll catch up with me!)

I had a wonderful lunch today with one of my old students and her (*gasp!*) husband and son!  Am I old enough to have a second grade student married and with child??  Yes, apparently I really am.  She is beautiful-and I mean on the outside and inside.  She has a precious spirit which doesn't give up easily, and she is an awesome mom doing her very best.  I'm so proud of her!  (I have to tell you, this is why Mary Claire's middle name is Elizabeth-that girl would make you want to name your child Elizabeth too!)  I was so thankful to get to see her (and her family!), share a meal, and catch up!  Ethan was a little crazy, but it'd already been a long morning, and he'd been so good.  He was wearing thin!

Next we went by Mom's for a visit (an hour to kill-woohoo!), we played dominoes till Ethan got bored, then he played outside and visited my dad in his shop-and got to have a snack down there.  Dad has a refrigerator stocked with drinks (for his friends), and snacks to keep his blood sugar up.  The kids all love stopping in and having a "break" with Papa!  They feel so sneaky having soda (usually with sugar, but not today-but Ethan didn't know!).  It's a "secret"!

Then we came home to recharge, and after Ches got home, we all went to a matinee: Mars Needs Moms!  It was a sweet movie, and I was getting really stressed for the mom at one point!!  I thought it'd be all about moms, but it wasn't!  It was more or less about the son that hitched a ride on the spaceship back to Mars, and him rescuing his mom, who was "asleep" in a seat-belted pod-thing (totally unaware!).  It was still good--the son, Milo, met one other human who'd followed his mom there in the 1980's, was now an adult, and they became friends on the rescue mission.  It was good, and the boy really was touched and loved his mom.  Good movie.

We had dinner (late!) at Red Lobster in honor of Spring Break (that almost started today) (and a Lenten Friday!)!  By this point, Ethan was plum silly and goofy.  He was getting argumentative, he was hungry and sleepy, and almost without reason...But.  I had Play-Doh!  It always pulls him back from orbit.  He was starving (I had five coconut M&M's left that I gave him, and a piece of Extra's new mint chocolate ice cream gum-yum, by the way!), and we made orange play-doh cars and colored (I always buy about 20 packs of Crayola crayons at back-to-school time when they are 19 cents! and then dish them out s-l-o-w-l-y! I love new crayons!).  Totally did the trick!  We made it through a long dinner-from lobster dip (gag!) to salad to crab legs..Can you tell seafood is not my thing?  It's always a long Lent...

Anyway, when we got home (because I was in the mood!), we all got out our beautiful rosaries (Mary Claire's is delicate pink Swarovski crystals) (well..Ethan's is chunky wood beads!), and started a rosary (we got through the second decade).  I was super-impressed that Ethan kept his little fingers on the right beads the entire time, prayed the prayer he knew (the Our Father), and didn't fall asleep or go nuts!  The Holy Spirit was definitely with us!

I'm praying that you decided on something to give up (or something good to add?), and that you are successful, with God's help!  Only five weeks and two days...can't wait for Easter!

Jackson Pollack Crayons

I didn't find time to write yesterday, due to the ChAoS!  I had to spend over an hour cleaning out my dryer-Someone left crayons in their coat, and the melty wax COVERED all the coats and clothes in there.  They'd played outside in the very wet snow, and I'd just gotten the laundry started!  I began with the dripping coats-yes, they had a snowball fight, AND it was sleeting/snowing while they played outside!  I got them all washed, no problem, loaded them in the dryer, and set them on "Bulky Load" to run it extra long to get all the thick, fluffy coats dry so they could wear them out to dinner later.  Umm, mistake.  I'll have to show you pictures of the Jackson Pollock-style coats.  Yes, really.  Luckily the outsides of the coats are navy and brown, so only the insides (pink and yellow) are grossly covered in waxy crayon coloring.  The worst was a pair of Ethan's Gymboree orange socks that he LOVES, and they were so gross, I threw them away.  There was also a pair of wind pants that he really likes, but I'm envisioning them in the trash also...
They had a great time outside, and I made Ethan some dump-a-lings, so everyone got nice and full, and took naps.  We went out to dinner, and so many places were closed!  We found PF Chang's open, so we went there, and the kids ate really well.  Even Ethan!  I never know how it'll go.  Clay ate a ton (loved the lettuce wraps!), and Mary Claire ordered fried rice-not surprised!  We all ordered a tiny dessert, but Ethan didn't like the apple pie one he ordered, so before anyone got a chance, Clay ate it too!  Ahh, brothers.
Ok, back to me...I cleaned the dryer out with Goo Gone, then with some spray cleaner-simple clean, or something?  Anyway, then I was really worried to put in light clothes, since the dryer drum has this bluish-greenish-purplish tint to it.  As long as I kept rubbing, color kept coming off, and I've got a life!  So, I dried some blue and green towels and washcloths, and now I'm stuck.  I have a light load already washed in the washer, just Waiting.  I can't put it in yet, until the color is sufficiently off, and I can't wash more since there are wet things in the washer.  Ugh.  I'll have to move the wet (hopefully-not-smelling-yet) stuff to a basket, then run some dark stuff.  -of which I have plenty of since we cleaned rooms today, took down dirty clothes, and I haven't done laundry since Friday.  Yay, Tuesday.  I guess I'll rewash the wettish stuff.  Always fun.
On a more positive note, we are gaining a Really Clean Attic!  We've eliminated maybe half the stuff.  Half to Salvation Army (Ches' van is already full), half to give away (mostly teacher stuff), and half to still go through.  Yes, I'm aware that's three halves, but you should see how much stuff it is!  I have narrowed down girl baby clothes, baby toys, I've ditched bottles, stuffed animals, big kid toys, decorating stuff, blankets, pictures and frames, tents, etc.  Very Cleansing!  Ches even moved his desk into the bedroom today, just while I was on the phone.  I haven't cleaned/decorated/set it up yet, but we'll get there.  He's so much faster than I am, and I'm still going through tubs!
I have to say I'm excited, but nervous to see the office empty.  It means I need to work on decorating it (not hard!), just very real.  I still have the dark wood/white wood dilemma.  I want to use all of our baby furniture that we bought for this very reason, but two throws me a curve ball.  I haven't found a close match for our baby crib, and now they make them all short-without a side that drops!  And I do like some matching in a baby room.  I think I'd rather have two colors than a height that doesn't match up.  At least maybe it'll look like I chose it on purpose?

FYI-I get charged for one delivery, but have two hospital bills for the babies.  I'm all knowledgeable since I went to the doctor today.  I also learned that a multiple ultrasound (yep, that's where they make their money!) is $695!  A regular abdominal is just $270.  Ha.  Maybe I'll get to look at them twice as long?  I go next week for an ultrasound, so I hope it's a better look-with some answers!
ps-since when do you get a cotton ball with masking tape instead of a band-aid after having blood drawn?  It really hurts to pull masking tape off 12 hours later!