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The kids are in VBS this week, and they are doing so well! : ) They are divided by age, but I thought Ethan would want Clay every time he saw him, but so far, so good. When I dropped Mary Claire off yesterday, she had a boy leader, and two boys on her pew. She looked at me, and I just gave her the (it'll be ok, I promise!) look. She'd been so nervous about not knowing anyone (we didn't end up having English VBS at our church, so they are at the Catholic church in Fayetteville), and we've prayed all week! So then I prayed from the time I left her (yes, seriously!) through my first two errands. I really wanted her to have a great time with sweet kids.
And guess what? She loved it, and made a couple friends. Praise God! : ) I was so thankful. They had fun yesterday, and we learned that one friend's name is Mitchell (girl). The first day she couldn't tell me anyone's name, so I told her to get a Name! : ) So happy for the kids-Ethan had an awesome time at music, sang very loudly, and is quite the entertainer (no shock to his momma!), and Clay is growing up-he's so mature about it . : )
I'm helping with check-in today, so I'm up extra early. I'm glad to do something. I was really hoping to teach at ours, but we didn't have enough helpers to teach/run VBS. : ( Sad that we have the largest church in Arkansas, but can't muster help for a vacation bible school. Bad sign.
Mary Claire hasn't called me either day! Instead of eating the snack, she just puts it in her bag and eats it at home. I have this feeling she doesn't want to check her blood or get out her pump in front of anyone. Should I let this go? Her blood sugar has been fine, and I think she likes being "normal". I don't know how long it can go on...I guess I'll let her go as long as she can, I get it.
Bunco was here last night, and my friends are so kind. They were incredibly sweet, and loved the BBQ. heehee I also made a carrot cake recipe that I've had since 1994 I think? My friend kept asking where I got the recipe-I don't think she was content with just my other friend's name! It's just a recipe on paper, so no reference. Sometimes those are the best recipes though!
Today and tomorrow, laundry and packing! The kids can't wait to leave. Target had 8g SD cards on sale this week for $9, so I got Clay and Mary Claire each a new one to load with more music-she has two 2g full, and he has one. They love music! He is into fifties and sixties music now-Elvis, Beatles, and all my old ones on my ipod. Mary Claire is into Christian pop, Taylor Swift, and all the Kids Bop. If it entertains them on the trip, I'll do it. I also got some hangman pads, new play-doh cans, and new play-doh foil ziploc packs-sooo much easier to pack! I like to have some new stuff on hand for restaurants and hotels, just in case. : )
Oops-my first baby is up-I gotta go! : ) Hope you have a great day!
Seriously, thanks for bearing with me in my fog of run on sentences and crazyness. It didn't get any better last night. Ethan was up at 4, in my bed: suck, suck, suck, suck, suck, suck, suck on that stupid torn paci, I couldn't sleep!! I finally took him back up to his bed at 5:10 (yes, AM!), but then Ches had to go up there.. it doesn't end. And then I slept in (or slept over, what do you call it?), woke up at 7:25, and we had to hurry to get the kids to school. Funny enough, or thanks to God, they were ready to go at the same time as usual. So..why can't they get around that fast every day?
We (Ethan and I) slept for 20 minutes this afternoon, and I took him to the doctor. He did indeed have a ruptured ear drum. The doctor couldn't even see down in it, cleaned it out twice, and decided to just check the other ear since I knew one ear still had a tube. Well. The one that was not leaking had a tube, so bad news. He's back on antibiotics AgAiN, so I'm voting for more tubes a little while after this left one comes out. (So, I remember later when I look this up, it's his right ear that ruptured, and the left one has a tube. Just disregard...)
We went out and saw a movie (thinking of the name.. bear with me..) about a dad trying to save his kids-he was working with a scientist to raise money for research, and it really reminded me of our life. I like to go to movies to escape my life (you know, a two-hour vacation from my every day?), but it was so real, and I could see me in it. It was tough to watch, but good. At least it had redeeming value-Ches said it was a Made For TV movie by CBS, but they were trying to bring in some cash. I can totally see it being on TV next year. Ok, looked it up: Extraordinary Measures. : ) Google is Super Handy!
Do you have purse suggestions? Seriously? I'm looking for one a little smaller than the one I have, as it's breaking my back, and I can no longer carry a child, his blanket, AND that big suitcase around! It's SO heavy! I have a lot of coins in there (I will soon get rid of), a notebook, wallet, 2 phones (extra iPhone I tried to get service on..Not Happening. You have to have internet or no service. Can't just have phone service! Boo.), tons of paperwork (it's my mobile office, you know), all the keys and pens (I just LoVe pens! But only colored ones), a case with gums (four kinds), tic tacs, hand sanitizers (one for each family member's preference), extra underwear, just in case (for Ethan, not me, silly!), and all those other Mom things. It's just too much, and I want to start fresh. Cleaning my purse is just not enough, I've tried! I think I've had this one for a year and a half now-a personal record! I did get a new green one last spring, but I only carried it for a couple months. I love that this one holds so much, but it must weigh 6 or 7 pounds empty! Ugh. My back! (shoulder!)
Do you let your child be themselves? How do you encourage it, and not laziness? I need to work on this. I don't think Mary Claire has found her strength yet, and I want to help her. We think maybe she should take piano (she wants voice lessons, but no one will consider it until after puberty..) to learn to read music and play too, and maybe art. She is artistic, and maybe? I want her to conform, and like what I like. I think I thought she'd be like I was, but she sooo isn't. In good ways I guess too. Parenting is this fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kinda job! And it changes from day to day--what worked yesterday doesn't always work today. Mary Claire is loving me teaching her every day-I think it's the one on one attention. Our time together is usually diabetes-related, and we don't get that read aloud time at night like we used to-she's reading alone now. So, it's working for now, and she's stronger at some things than I thought she'd be, but weaker in areas I assumed were easy! But she came home today excited she made E's (for Excellent) on her addition and subtraction quizzes, so she was proud. We've been drilling those flash cards. This is not how I planned to spend an hour and a half every night, but if it's helping her learn and shine, then it's worth it. But, I still am looking for her special talent so she can shine on her own...
Sweet memories are flooding back. I have all these memories of my childhood, my family, and just being little-when all you worried about was finding your shoes, and not slamming the door on the way out (or leaving it open too long, or you hear, "Shut the door!"). I have found some cousins I haven't seen in absolute ages (amounts to about 20 years, give or take?). They were beautiful things I adored getting together with-just to play at Grandma's house. It just takes me back to visits, eating with extended family, my grandma's pork chops, her letting me make the mashed potatoes, playing out back on her stained concrete (before it was in style), spending the night in her room with the windows open listening to the train or the cicadas, sitting in her old crabapple tree out front, pretending it was a fort, or collecting a coffee can (remember those?) full of crabapples to do nothing with. Oh, happy times. Now the tree is gone, the house is sold, my grandma is in Heaven, but I have my pocket full of memories. Memories no one can take away. Things turn golden over time, don't they? I'm so glad.
There was a time when I spent the night with my grandma and I was in sixth grade. I was supposed to go to the Little Olympics the next day. My grandma drove me dutifully to the field where the games were, and I'd practiced so hard for two weeks, and (as I remember) I had the fastest time (or one of the fastest times?) of the other kids who were practicing for the obstacle course. My grandma pulled up and parked, and I couldn't get out. I don't know what happened. I don't know if I knew she was going to drive away alone (and geez, she didn't even drive across Hwy 71Business, and she was on the other side of it! and how would she get home alone?), she couldn't stay (for fear?), or if I was scared to get out and go up there alone. I don't know. All these things flashed through my head: my team not winning without me, me not finding my school/team/friends, me alone, my grandma alone, the afternoon I'd miss with her if I stayed. It was all too much. I just sat frozen in the car (back when you could sit in the front seat. And maybe not even wear a seat belt?). She just said, "Let's go home." And we did. I felt awful: for my team, for my fear, for my grandma, for how things would go in life. I just had this feeling. I had a good afternoon, and we went to the library (our usual), and she shared her love of books with me, and we probably had frozen pizza and refrigerated Reese's. Two things I don't eat now without remembering her. Anyway, I wouldn't trade the afternoon for anything now. Gold medal, or no.
So, this brings me back to my cousins. I love them, and I love that we share history. And the blood of family. It seems I have less family every year, so I cherish what I have while I have it. I hope my kids carry some history on to their kids. Don't you wonder what little things will stick in their minds?
What memories do you still carry around?
A few more of mine: Eagles blaring in the car-me in the back seat, getting Nerds at the gas station, washing dishes with an apron, fingerpainting on the sidewalk (yes, on paper), playing dolls, playing Star Wars, more music: Johnny Lee, Oliva Newton John, Princess Diana's wedding, roast beef, carrots, and potatoes, chocolate pies, old cars, no air conditioning, the Dukes of Hazzard, Love Boat and Fantasy Island, Wile E. Coyote, Fruity Pebbles, Kangaroos, lots of rainbows, purple Nikes, sleepovers, I think I could go on all night. : )
