Take me home, please.

Busy day: copying at the school, books and envelopes at church, and then errands!  I picked up a special order for Ches (shh..don’t tell him!), and ran to Wal-Mart and Target, then it was time to get the kids (it went so fast!)  I got Ethan a little early, and bless his heart, he was still asleep.  I held him on my lap, and wrapped his blankie around him.  The world just stops, and I think I could just be late for anything, it’s all worth that moment.  *Love* it!

We ran by the house to get the dog blanket Mary Claire made for the shelter (didn’t even think to get a picture!) and her Girl Scout vest.  We had a field trip to get to!

We went to south Fayetteville to the animal shelter!  I was pretty worried that I’d find a sweet animal I couldn’t live without (yes, really!  I can be so weak!).  I had already done my research, and looked up the animals that were there, but the one I kinda liked wasn’t there.  (and two others that I considered had signs on them that they were adopted!)  We had a guide who told us all about the facility, what they do, what the rooms are for, and then..we took a tour!

but first..a group picture of the girls!

Did they ever pick the right dog to bring out?  Ha! It was a precious chihuahua with long black hair!  She was full grown, and two years old-adorable!  She was named Gizmo (he really did look like a mogwai!), but since she's a girl, they renamed her Izzy.

And who did the nice lady hand the dog to?

This is Izak ("Isaac"), a real cutie.  He came in all stinky and matted, so they gave him a wonky haircut.  It'll grow back.

This is the one Clay liked: a beagle named Skipper. : )  He was so calm in his little cage.

The little girls loved the cats!

He loved the kitties, but kept tapping on the glass trying to get their attention!

They had kittens in there too.

Clay really wanted this one to come out, but there was yellow foamy stuff-I think she'd thrown up!

Here are the ones I fell in love with-they'll be 8 weeks and adoptable on Monday.

precious Labradoodles.  Smart and cute!  But they get big.

We're back up front, and they get to pet the director's puppy.

Check out the begging girl with puppy-dog eyes.

I let Clay take Skipper out to the Dog Park to play.  He ran and ran!

Skipper had finally calmed down, and they were sitting.

Clay really liked him, but I just couldn't say yes.  (Yay, me!)

She asked to open the cage to get the kitten out.

This is my last picture-I started getting them out, holding them, and trying not to get attached.

This is my last picture-I held the kitten, then the lady took us to see the teensy ones!  They will be eight weeks on Monday too.  They were adorable Siamese kittens: one was gray striped with blue-gray eyes, and the other two were white with blue eyes.  One was flame-tipped, and he was the only one still available.

By the time we got a mile down the road, I had an allergy attack: stuffy nose, swollen throat, I knew it'd been the cats.  I really was leaning toward a cat (which potty trains itself!), but not now.  Ches stopped and got me some Benadryl, and we met for dinner.  Within 30 minutes or so, I was better.  It made me sad!

Then we split up, and Mary Claire and I ran a couple errands.  We got everyone some slippers, hid them in the van, and headed home.  I could go MIA for an hour, but not much more!

So..if you need an animal, check out their website, there are lots of cute ones!  They also need volunteers to take the pets outside to play and potty.  Or you can give them fresh food and water, wash the dishes or blankets, or even groom them (she did remark that they are caregivers, not groomers, so maybe I could try..)  You could also donate food or blankets!

Use Me

Tough.  Day.
Ethan had an appointment to get an (invisible, seriously.  Only the little beeping laser device can detect it) cavity filled.  It went well until the shots/"magic balloons".  He got calmed down, they they wanted to put on the "ring" and "raincoat" to protect the other teeth, and he had the full-on meltdown/get-me-the-heck-outta-here cry!  They gave me some prescription fluoride (1.1%-5x the normal amount) toothpaste, and told me I was "good" (code: take your crying child out!).  They'll check it again at his next visit, to see if it's stronger, or if it still needs to be filled.  It just has bacteria in it. : (  He was seriously sad that he didn't get to buy a car on his way out with his points.  Ha!  He didn't earn any since he didn't get the "cavity bugs out!"!  That just made him cry louder.
So then I dealt with the crying, wailing, and knashing of teeth (literally) for the next hour and a half, as he wanted the balloons out of his mouth!  Ahh..I couldn't say much, I didn't want to ruin it for next time we have to go for a cleaning (or filling!).
At home, I gave him juice, a yogurt drink, and he kept screaming for an apple (yes, he'd bite his cheek and all!), so we agreed on macaroni & cheese.  I was in the pantry, kinda shoved in between the door and the shelves (because the laundry was packed so tightly-can't explain-at least they were clean), and I was starting to melt down after all the crying, and I began to D-I-G for macaroni!  I swear, I bought a five-pack about two weeks ago, and couldn't possible be all gone.  Well, the digging caused an earthquake, and down came a big, new bottle of low-sodium soy sauce.  All over the floor, my adorable Company C rug, my dryer, cabinets, door, clean hanging clothes, box of clothes for Salvation Army, root veggies in the pantry, etc.  Yes, all brownish liquid and busted glass.  I wanted to laugh and scream at the same time.  First I ran upstairs to get the "old" towels to sop it all up with, then I began to pray, seriously pray.  I could still hear Ethan's relentless screaming about the balloons in his mouth, the apple he wanted "Now!", and the macaroni.  I thought if I didn't have some divine intervention, it was not going to end well.
I totally forgot he had gymnastics, as I was soaking up brown stuff with my knees and avoiding glass.  I had to alternate sopping up with vacuuming the glass, but didn't want to suck up liquid into the vacuum-a very complicated job (will note on future job resumes).  I finally got it cleaned up, rewashed four loads of splashed laundry, vacuumed and mopped again, then made him some microwave macaroni (thank goodness for that instant garbage Ches buys!)  I had myself some real Coke, and some caramel pecan bread pudding for lunch-I'd really worked myself into negative calories! : )
The day went incredibly better after that (could it have gotten worse?), and I got some cups made:

They are gifts for teachers that I made for a parent at our school.  She pretty much knew what she wanted on each one, and they turned out cute! : )  I hope the teachers like them.  It's always hard to decide on fonts, colors, fabrics, what to write, etc.  I'm making lots of decisions, but they are fun!


Then dinner, dance, and a quick trip to Hobby Lobby-I always have crafty stuff spinning in my head!  I'm getting ready to make the little baggies for girl scout patches for the girls, and I'm working on a wreath for a friend, and Mary Claire wanted to look at dance ornaments (for her teachers!).  We could live there!


I watched the Barbara Walters interviews this evening, and I will remember Oprah quoting Bill Withers, "Use Me, till I'm all used up."  I already pray that God will use me, and show me who to help, but maybe I should pray more to be used.  I think that's what is happening-my family is getting use out of me. : )  I really wouldn't have it any other way.

Infertility and Immaculate Conception

Do you remember that surgery I had back in September?  Well, we paid for it, then they billed my insurance (is it coming back to you?), and then I was supposed to get a credit.  Well, I got $859 of it, and somehow over $1200 has evaporated into thin air.  They can't tell me where it went, they just say it's gone.  AND they told my insurance company I'm "infertile" which means my insurance will pay NO MORE to this doctor.  Yeah, not good.  I don't think I'll go back there.  My last visit in September was $240.  Yes, they took that out of my refund too.  Ahh.."infertility" is so much fun.

So..today was a mess.  A mess of decorating (not-so-bad), and you could say I have really under-decorated.  I have over 20 tubs, and some I just closed back up.  I am not putting up another tree, so there's all that stuff (and I have tubs of red and tubs of ivory, depending on my mood!), and then all the ornaments from Pottery Barn that I usually add on to my garland around the house/table tops/mantles, etc.  I didn't put up all those glittery-cone-trees on my dining room table (are they out of style now?), and I'm really happy with the Less.  It's kinda like Clean Christmas. : )  (and there's the knowing that there's less to clean up in January!)


Today was a Holy Day for us: the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (of Mary).  She was also conceived without sin, and that's how she had a sinless Jesus.  Anyway, we had church this morning (I took Ethan), and tonight (Ches took the older kids), so it's been busy!  I also had signed up to take dinner to the three priests, so there's the teensy bit of pressure that it'll be good, and that there will be enough! : )  If I make dinner for someone else, I always try to make our favorites, the ones that always turn out well.  Makes it less stressful, and I'm very familiar with the recipes (and ingredients at the store!).  I made them Potato Corn Chowder with chicken, bread, and some pumpkin bread pudding.  We had the same thing, and it was good : )  I remember one time I made beef stew for some old neighbors, and I didn't taste it till we sat down to dinner, and I'd forgotten to add salt and pepper-it was awful!  I called them, and they were all nicey-nice, but it was gross!  I felt so bad.  I try to taste things before they go out, but sometimes I forget! : )

(It's so funny-a few years ago my mom and I went to see Late Night Catechism at the Walton Arts Center, and the teacher/Sister called on me to answer.  She asked me who the Immaculate Conception was honoring, and I said Jesus-Wrong!  She got all "mad", and embarrassed me.  Funny fodder now, but not-so-much then.  I must have forgiven her, because Ches and I went back a couple years later with a group from church to see the second one!)


I'm so exhausted.  I'm not sure if it's just the day-to-day stuff, or the added Christmas stuff, or if I'm worn down.  I sure don't want to get sick!  I try to take at least one day a week to go to bed early or sleep in (Ha!), but sometimes the best laid plans go awry!  Ethan has to go to the dentist in the morning at 8:50, so I have to be up and around before the kids!  That'll be a miracle.  It's so easy in the beginning of the school year, or even the end when the sun gets up early, but lately, I can't get out of bed!  Is it normal?


PS-the present-shaking has begun.  I labeled the kids' gifts with letters, but they are trying to figure it out.  (they may be on to me.)  It drives me nuts.  Don't they like surprises?

Big Pink Secret

We had the best class last night at church.  It is for parents, but Ches had to take Clay to basketball practice, so I went (and they had babysitting!).  It's a book on cd by Matthew Kelly called Building Better Families.  We did the third cd last night, and we learned about asking kids better questions.
We should ask not what they want to be when they grow up, but what God is calling them to do.  Some people grow up, go to school, and do what they want, then they still aren't happy and can't figure out why.  God has a mission for each one of us, and has given us the talents and skills to accomplish that mission.  If we do what we want, and not what He wants, we are never happy.  We never get to use all of those skills we've been blessed with!
We also learned to have a vision for our family (well, we are supposed to write one..).  It includes focusing on what makes us better versions of ourselves.  If we (or the kids) want to do something (go to a party, watch tv, buy a car, etc.), we should question whether it helps us become a better version of ourselves.
The other thing we can ask is what God wants us to do (at any given time).  We will do well if we teach our kids to answer that question.  I did talk to Clay about it last night.  He was (procrastinating after we read) laying in our bed asking me about my class.  He wanted to know what we'd learned.  And I've really used it today!  When Ethan would cry today, I'd ask him to please stop crying, and use words (because I was thinking about what God would want me to do too!), and he would.  He told Clay this afternoon that he didn't love him anymore (I know!) and I asked him if God would like that.  He knew, and said he was sorry. (Yay!)  This is something I hadn't thought of before (well, hadn't thought to teach my kids), and it's so helpful.  It reminds me of the old WWJD slogan.  It was good, but then it got old, and this refreshes me.

Today was an adventure with really lows (well not horrible), and really high highs! : )  Let's start with the lows: I changed Mary Claire's site, and she had just gotten out of the bath (and didn't have her stuffed babies: Bella & Violet), and she flinched and tightened her stomach when the needle was going in.  It totally bent the needle (in an"L"!), and I couldn't get the needle out of the tubing, then when I realized how bad it was, I couldn't get it out of her!  It finally came out, and bled.  I hugged on her for a while, and Ethan went upstairs to get her babies.  Sweet brother.
My other low: getting locked out of my house.  It was 2:40, and Ethan and I went into the garage to get in the van to pick up the kids.  I got in, and couldn't find my van keys.  I had left my purse in the van while unloading stuff, so I thought I'd left them out there.  Well...Ethan had been playing with the door (lock), and had locked the door between the house and the garage!  I couldn't get in the house to get my van keys (to get the kids!), and I couldn't go in the van to get a house key from Ches or Mom!  Stressful.  I called the school and had them put the kids on the bus (thank goodness I had a phone!!), then called Ches 18 times till he finally left his meeting and called me back.  He came home, let me in, then went back to work.  I talked to Mom the whole time!  Ethan was just running around the garage "fixing" my tires and playing.  It was warm enough in there, so we really were fine.  It was just that momentary panic!
Ok, my better moments!  I've been looking for a Barbie Townhouse (Dream House-whatever it is!), the three-story fun thing with lights that work-so fun!  Anyway, we'd talked and decided to get it for her.  We like that she wants toys, and our goal is to keep her youthful for as long as possible, so why not?  The problem is, every other parent in America must be thinking the same thing!  I tried to buy one online from Toys R Us, but after my payment went through (including using a credit and a gift card!), it said my order was temporarily suspended because the House wasn't in stock! after it said there was one.  I lost my credits (still waiting to see if they'll be credited back within three days..), and the house. : (  But, I kept on.  I have called Toys R Us locally, learned their truck schedule (MWF 4am), called Walmart stores, Targets, and checked online everywhere (Mom was making lots of calls too!  She finally found one in New Jersey, but they wouldn't ship it!)!  Finally, I posted on Facebook that I was looking for one (should have been a first resort!), and a friend had seen some in Rogers!  I drove straight there (from the Fayetteville store!), called on the way asking them to look for them, as did Mom!  They told us both no, but when I got there..
I looked everywhere in the store, and when my friend said they were by automotive, I asked a nice guy at the paint counter right at the corner, and he said he'd seen them on an endcap (right by me-currently replaced with tons of batteries).  He then went to find a lady in toys, and she must have been a manager (she didn't have on a navy shirt, I know all about the hierarchy! heehee), and she said she'd look.  She checked the shelves, and I told her they are usually in lawn and garden, not in toys.  She said to wait there, and she'd be back.  She said she might know where one was. (!)  I tried to follow her, but she told me to wait Right There.  So, by golly, I did.  She came back in a few minutes with the Dream House in a cart!  I started crying ('cause that's how I roll!).  I asked if I could hug her (yes), and I did!  I was overwhelmed, and I told her how hard I had looked, and I was so thankful.  She was so sweet, and I cried all the way to the register.  When I got there, it rang up $55 less than I thought it'd be!  It was $179 everywhere else, but it was $125!  I was overwhelmed again.  Walmart.com had had it for $134 including a little car, but I thought they'd raise the price like everyone else!  Right now, on amazon.com, they are $359.95 + $21.99 shipping.  Think they are taking advantage?  (I'll certainly think twice about ordering from Amazon again, and we use them a lot!)
Anyway, I got the House home, it's huge and heavy, and I didn't once want to complain.  I'm so thankful, and my daughter will be shocked!!  She'd settled on some Strawberry Shortcake toys, and I went ahead and wrapped those too.  Now--I'm excited for Christmas!
I've wrapped maybe 9 things-and I've labeled them with A, B, and C-they are too smart, and they shake and peek.  This way, there might be a little surprise! : ) (as long as I labeled them right..)  I'm just hoping Ethan really does keep a big pink secret! ; )