Ever had one of those nights that seem to go on forever? They never seem to appear when I am sleeping really good. Apparently those nights only appear when I am disturbed or troubled by fears and worry. Last night was one of those nights. It started off nice enough but somewhere between the before sleep chatting about the day with my dear husband and actually falling asleep, the night took a turn down that long windy road of insomnia...I think I worried about EVERY possible thing that could happen to my kids. I even had myself worked up over what kind of trouble they may find themselves in COLLEGE and both are at least 8 - 9 years away from graduating high school. (I had recently watched a news interview of a parent whose kid had committed suicide over the pressures and bullying in college. The parents had no idea their child was having any problems whatsoever.) . I try not to be a big worrier, I know God has a plan and I need to rely on Him. Last night though, I could not seem to put that faith in action. To make matters worse, at around 2:00 a.m., the television in our room popped on with a lot of loud static and then went blank (it does not actually work unless the cable box is on and it was not). I think my husband thought I had imagined it but when I got up to check it, the television was actually on. Anyway, that spurred more anxiety and woke up my overactive mind even more. So, suffice it to say, I am dragging this morning.
Coffee, here I come!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Whirlwind week behind me....
I know you thought that I was going back on my promise to post regularly right? Well I wasn't. I just did not spend enough time inside my home last week to actually compose a post. Last week was one of those weeks that I do not schedule on purpose because I KNOW my limitations. On Monday, the kids had dentist appointments, I had a meeting with a friend, I had a doctor appointment and I was hosting a Mom's night out for our home school group. We left home at 10 am and I did not return until after midnight. Now the Mom's night out was not that long but I did spend 3 hours sitting in the restaurant parking lot talking to my friend and sister (in-law) about everything under the sun. It was a long day!
The next day was slightly better, we just had one event that day, it was Awanas so we got school in and then studied the kids memory verses and went to Awanas that evening. Wednesday was similar, we got school in but had to go to church for a special event that evening. Thursday and Friday were equally packed and then we went into the weekend. The weekend was non-stop running from morning to night.
Like I said, I do not schedule weeks like this often because they just wear me out AND we don't get much school done but today starts another such week. Today is our only free day. Tomorrow, I have an appointment for a CT scan (on my sinuses) and I will be volunteering at church every afternoon this week from 2-5 plus the kiddos have eye doctor appointment on Thursday. School is taking a beating this week. So, this may be my only post this week but please know that I am WISHING I were here, in my comfy recliner, composing a blog post....
The next day was slightly better, we just had one event that day, it was Awanas so we got school in and then studied the kids memory verses and went to Awanas that evening. Wednesday was similar, we got school in but had to go to church for a special event that evening. Thursday and Friday were equally packed and then we went into the weekend. The weekend was non-stop running from morning to night.
Like I said, I do not schedule weeks like this often because they just wear me out AND we don't get much school done but today starts another such week. Today is our only free day. Tomorrow, I have an appointment for a CT scan (on my sinuses) and I will be volunteering at church every afternoon this week from 2-5 plus the kiddos have eye doctor appointment on Thursday. School is taking a beating this week. So, this may be my only post this week but please know that I am WISHING I were here, in my comfy recliner, composing a blog post....
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Was it a mistake?
I shared recently that my beautiful daughter finally learned to ride her bike without training wheels on Sunday. She is thrilled. We went out last night after school and purchased her a bigger bike. She has outgrown the 18 inch bike that she had, but could not go larger because you can not put training wheels on the larger bikes. She went up to a 20 inch bike and we headed over to my SIL's house to let her and the fabulous 3 (my niece and nephews) ride together. Even my son, who is NOT a fan of the bike, was excited because he got a practically new, hand-me-down bigger bike (with reinstalled training wheels). They had a blast riding around a walking/riding path at the condos. My brother in law and husband went with them.
Well, now we are on day 3 of bike-a-palooza with my girl and the stinkin' rain had to go and clear up (DANG!). Guess who noticed that little fact? That's right, BikeGirl! So she's hitting up daddy to take her out again and he's having nothing to do with it. Next she flashes those sad little brown eyes to Suckermom (I need a t-shirt with a big S on it). I go out and dig out my old bike that hasn't seen the light of day in 9 years, get the tires pumped up and place my expanded backside on that tiny little seat. Sounds like fun right? Well, I could handle the bike seat without too much problem, but the first time I start to ride, I realize that my knee surgery 5 years ago has rendered my left knee with the inability to get the range of motion needed to repetitively pedal without extreme pain. So, not wanting to disappoint my sweet little BikeGirl, I persevere and we go for a ride. The entire trip, I am wondering, what happens when we stop and I try to get off this thing and walk again? We go around the block and over into another neighborhood and around that block. About a mile from home, I finally have to call UNCLE and tell my girl that we have to head back. My knee feels like it is swelling up like a balloon. The pain wasn't coming from the actual exertion, it was coming from the fact that I can not longer bend it past a certain point (haven't been able to since the surgery) and the pedaling motion constantly forced it to bend further than it can. We make it home and I get off the bike expecting pain but find that it really doesn't hurt anymore than normal, THANK THE LORD!
So this leads me to ask, "Was it a mistake?" Will the newness wear off soon? Will riding get easier for me if I keep trying to bend this knee? It STINKS getting old! Just sayin'.....
Well, now we are on day 3 of bike-a-palooza with my girl and the stinkin' rain had to go and clear up (DANG!). Guess who noticed that little fact? That's right, BikeGirl! So she's hitting up daddy to take her out again and he's having nothing to do with it. Next she flashes those sad little brown eyes to Suckermom (I need a t-shirt with a big S on it). I go out and dig out my old bike that hasn't seen the light of day in 9 years, get the tires pumped up and place my expanded backside on that tiny little seat. Sounds like fun right? Well, I could handle the bike seat without too much problem, but the first time I start to ride, I realize that my knee surgery 5 years ago has rendered my left knee with the inability to get the range of motion needed to repetitively pedal without extreme pain. So, not wanting to disappoint my sweet little BikeGirl, I persevere and we go for a ride. The entire trip, I am wondering, what happens when we stop and I try to get off this thing and walk again? We go around the block and over into another neighborhood and around that block. About a mile from home, I finally have to call UNCLE and tell my girl that we have to head back. My knee feels like it is swelling up like a balloon. The pain wasn't coming from the actual exertion, it was coming from the fact that I can not longer bend it past a certain point (haven't been able to since the surgery) and the pedaling motion constantly forced it to bend further than it can. We make it home and I get off the bike expecting pain but find that it really doesn't hurt anymore than normal, THANK THE LORD!
So this leads me to ask, "Was it a mistake?" Will the newness wear off soon? Will riding get easier for me if I keep trying to bend this knee? It STINKS getting old! Just sayin'.....
Monday, April 4, 2011
Typical spring day ....
Today is a typical spring day in my household. Husband and brother off to work by 7:30 and the kids and I fighting over the best time to start school for the day. I say 8 or 8:30 and they are thinking more like oh........3 or 4 ISH........Normally we compromise to 9 am. Today has been such a day. It is gorgeous outside though and my daughter has spring fever. She just learned to ride her bike without training wheels and is excited to try her out her new skills. Now, normally I would give in and we would have some outside time or go on a good field trip, but not today. We NEED to get school done. She needs to be ready for end of the year testing in a few weeks and we are not there yet.
The other typical thing about spring for me is waking up with a hoarse, sore throat and runny nose. Apparently the three different allergy medications I take on a daily basis along with one natural remedy, local pure honey, is just not enough. How is this possible?!
Apparently the other home schoolers in my family are feeling the same urge to achieve oneness with nature so we have made late day plans IF and ONLY IF the students accomplish some goals for the day. This is a great incentive for 5 kids to do what needs to be done. I am having fewer complaints that normal about the length and difficulty of school today! So, for those of you traditional school moms out there who are doing fun spring break activities with your kids, know that at least 2 moms are busy doing business as usual......
The other typical thing about spring for me is waking up with a hoarse, sore throat and runny nose. Apparently the three different allergy medications I take on a daily basis along with one natural remedy, local pure honey, is just not enough. How is this possible?!
Apparently the other home schoolers in my family are feeling the same urge to achieve oneness with nature so we have made late day plans IF and ONLY IF the students accomplish some goals for the day. This is a great incentive for 5 kids to do what needs to be done. I am having fewer complaints that normal about the length and difficulty of school today! So, for those of you traditional school moms out there who are doing fun spring break activities with your kids, know that at least 2 moms are busy doing business as usual......
Saturday, April 2, 2011
I know what you did last night.....
Yesterday was a fun filled day for the kiddos. My girl did so well on her upper GI test on Wednesday, that I promised her a reward. We went to see "HOP".....now please, if you thought it looked like a good movie from the previews, then by all means go and spend your $5-$15 per person ticket price and see it. I, by the way, NOT being made of money, spent $5.00 each for the three of us to see it. In my opinion, HOP was a FLOP.......Even my 5 year old said about halfway through it, "Momma, aren't we going to the museum after this, can't we go now?" Did I forget to mention that one of the main thrills of this being a day of fun for my kids was the fact that their cousins we coming too? I think my kids could have fun getting root canals IF their cousins are going to be there. So there were seven of us at the movie (the men were busy at work and .....shaking things up at home). So out of the seven, the only one that I know of that actually liked the movie was my girl, so I am glad she got to see it on the big screen since the day was a reward for her anyway.
Next it was off to lunch at that most wonderful of kid's joints....Icky D's. JOY! In my book, McDonalds is right down there at the bottom of the food chain (ha, ha, get it, food chain......anyway...)
right ABOVE Moe's Southwest Grill. I think I threw up in my mouth just thinking about that place!
After lunch, we rounded off the afternoon at the Living Museum. A fave for the kids and moms alike. We enjoyed exploring nature and going batty....you will have to refer to facebook to see the pic....
Now anyone who knows my kids and their cousins, knows that separation is a difficult thing.....I think surgeons that separate conjoined twins have better success rates that we do. We leave the museum with plans to get the dads and uncle and come back together again to do dinner at our house. I have decided to make lasagna for the first time in years (my husband and kids will not eat it so my brother and I just have to do without the gooey cheesy goodness). I also, being short order cook along with my other duties as wife and mother, fix my family something that they will eat.
After dinner, the lasagna and salad (that my sis in law made for me) was yummy by the way, the kids are playing like they must jam EVERY moment of fun they can into one day. The adults, minus the uncle who prefers the company of his television sports channels to that of his family, decide to play spades. This is our game of choice. We have played this game quite often over the last two years since the baby of each family has gotten old enough to not need constant supervision. Even though I love the baby years, there is something to be said for not having to carry the entire house in a diaper bag, haul strollers everywhere you go and change diapers. At almost 6, both boys are now pretty self-sufficient. Anyway, I got sidetracked again, sorry....we paired off to play Spades. We use to always play guys versus girls in the past but one of the guys thought he would do better with his "Boo" so he suggested the switch off, but last night we got to play the old way....what a special treat to have my bestest spades partner back! We kicked some major butt! It was sad really, sad, sad, sad.....My partner had one awesome hand where I went nil (I had nothing!) and one of the guys went nil too. Not only did we both get our bid, but we set BOTH of them. We went ahead 190 points and they went back 140 points......oh, it was so SWEET! My husband was trying so hard to mess me up that he messed up his own partner....SWEET!
Anyway, that was our day of fun.....Can you tell that I have almost as much fun with our family as my kids do? We laugh so hard sometimes that its like getting an ab workout. I am THANKFUL for my family. We will see them again today. Today we are putting our faith in action, walking the walk not just talking the talk. Today we are joining some of our church family at a "Block Party" in one of our local communities and passing out food, towels and socks....I don't know why our church chose to pass out bath towels and socks, it seems like a strange combination to me, but I am sure there was much thought and research put into this decision and these are items that are needed. All five kids are looking forward to helping. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' BOUT! They are excited to help someone else for a change!
Next it was off to lunch at that most wonderful of kid's joints....Icky D's. JOY! In my book, McDonalds is right down there at the bottom of the food chain (ha, ha, get it, food chain......anyway...)
right ABOVE Moe's Southwest Grill. I think I threw up in my mouth just thinking about that place!
After lunch, we rounded off the afternoon at the Living Museum. A fave for the kids and moms alike. We enjoyed exploring nature and going batty....you will have to refer to facebook to see the pic....
Now anyone who knows my kids and their cousins, knows that separation is a difficult thing.....I think surgeons that separate conjoined twins have better success rates that we do. We leave the museum with plans to get the dads and uncle and come back together again to do dinner at our house. I have decided to make lasagna for the first time in years (my husband and kids will not eat it so my brother and I just have to do without the gooey cheesy goodness). I also, being short order cook along with my other duties as wife and mother, fix my family something that they will eat.
After dinner, the lasagna and salad (that my sis in law made for me) was yummy by the way, the kids are playing like they must jam EVERY moment of fun they can into one day. The adults, minus the uncle who prefers the company of his television sports channels to that of his family, decide to play spades. This is our game of choice. We have played this game quite often over the last two years since the baby of each family has gotten old enough to not need constant supervision. Even though I love the baby years, there is something to be said for not having to carry the entire house in a diaper bag, haul strollers everywhere you go and change diapers. At almost 6, both boys are now pretty self-sufficient. Anyway, I got sidetracked again, sorry....we paired off to play Spades. We use to always play guys versus girls in the past but one of the guys thought he would do better with his "Boo" so he suggested the switch off, but last night we got to play the old way....what a special treat to have my bestest spades partner back! We kicked some major butt! It was sad really, sad, sad, sad.....My partner had one awesome hand where I went nil (I had nothing!) and one of the guys went nil too. Not only did we both get our bid, but we set BOTH of them. We went ahead 190 points and they went back 140 points......oh, it was so SWEET! My husband was trying so hard to mess me up that he messed up his own partner....SWEET!
Anyway, that was our day of fun.....Can you tell that I have almost as much fun with our family as my kids do? We laugh so hard sometimes that its like getting an ab workout. I am THANKFUL for my family. We will see them again today. Today we are putting our faith in action, walking the walk not just talking the talk. Today we are joining some of our church family at a "Block Party" in one of our local communities and passing out food, towels and socks....I don't know why our church chose to pass out bath towels and socks, it seems like a strange combination to me, but I am sure there was much thought and research put into this decision and these are items that are needed. All five kids are looking forward to helping. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' BOUT! They are excited to help someone else for a change!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Something to think about....
I just read this as a status update on my friend Juliet's facebook page. I'm not sure if this is something she read or if this is a realization that God gave her but it is so real, so profound, I just had to share it. Thank you Juliet for a true "Reality Check".....
This makes me think, would I have a roof over my head, would my husband and children still be here, would I live in a country where I am free? Would my husband and children be here?!!!! Oh my, they would not. I was so caught up in the junk that tears us away that I don't even remember giving thanks to the God that gave it all. Thank you God for my family, for my life, for a warm home and food to feed the family I love so much. Thank you God for friends who love you enough to post this as their facebook status so that I could have the eye-opening experience that this gave. Thank you for stepping all over my toes this week showing me all the blessings I have. Thank you God.
Oh, where is my HAIRBRUSH?.......
Have you heard that song? Its a classic. Circa 1997, VeggieTales, silly song classic.....Anyone?
Well, it was the first full sentence my little girl ever said all those years ago when she was just a little over a year old. We were walking through Wal-mart and she yells at the top of her lungs, "Oh where, oh where, oh wherrrrrrre, is my HAIRBRUSH!?
Anyway, I digress, this story is not about my daughter's first words but more about my hair. Has anyone out there noticed that as we get older, our hair is just not as....manageable as it was in our 20's or 30's? Well, I have definitely noticed in the last 8 months. You see, eight months ago a wonderful surgical oncologist asked a nurse or a surgical intern without a beauty school diploma to shave the right side of my head for surgery and he or she decided to not only shave the right side of my head, but to also chop a little hair outside of the surgical site. I am assuming it must have fell in the way of the clippers. I came through the surgery very well but I was JACKED up in the hair department.
Back in late December, about 3 months after my surgery, I went to the hair stylist and she tried to fix it a little. I went back last month for a trim and its getting better but there is still a three inch patch of hair that is slowly growing back and it is just as crazy as it can be. It is curly AND straight and it sticks every which way. It is a mess, but I think the Lord that it is still there and I am still here to complain. I am NOT like Larry the cucumber, I DO need a hairbrush......
Well, it was the first full sentence my little girl ever said all those years ago when she was just a little over a year old. We were walking through Wal-mart and she yells at the top of her lungs, "Oh where, oh where, oh wherrrrrrre, is my HAIRBRUSH!?
Anyway, I digress, this story is not about my daughter's first words but more about my hair. Has anyone out there noticed that as we get older, our hair is just not as....manageable as it was in our 20's or 30's? Well, I have definitely noticed in the last 8 months. You see, eight months ago a wonderful surgical oncologist asked a nurse or a surgical intern without a beauty school diploma to shave the right side of my head for surgery and he or she decided to not only shave the right side of my head, but to also chop a little hair outside of the surgical site. I am assuming it must have fell in the way of the clippers. I came through the surgery very well but I was JACKED up in the hair department.
Back in late December, about 3 months after my surgery, I went to the hair stylist and she tried to fix it a little. I went back last month for a trim and its getting better but there is still a three inch patch of hair that is slowly growing back and it is just as crazy as it can be. It is curly AND straight and it sticks every which way. It is a mess, but I think the Lord that it is still there and I am still here to complain. I am NOT like Larry the cucumber, I DO need a hairbrush......
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Reality check...
This past Sunday morning on the way to church, my kids were in the back of the van and my son says "Momma, can we go to Disney now?" and I explain that it is an expensive trip and we may try to do it this fall if we aren't in the middle of building a house. My daughter then chimes in to say, "Well Mom, you know we have to go on vacation EVERY year, so what's the big deal?"
WOW! What are we doing? You know, they are right, we normally do go somewhere each year either on a real vacation or a business trip with my husband. This is a vacation for the kids and I since we take in the sights of whatever big city it may be.
When I grew up, we were very poor and I was raised by my Grandmother, I had never left the state of Virginia my entire life except for a weekend trip to Nags Head with her cousin and his wife. I never went on any vacation as a grown single woman unless it was weekend trip with some friends. My daughter had been to Disney 5 times before the age of 6 and had been to at least 1/2 the states on the east coast AND had been on a cruise to the Bahamas. My son has traveled only slightly less than that since she has a 3 year head start on him.....That is their reality of the world.....
We have been told time and time again on the news and by different missionary Evangelists that come to our church, that even the poorest person in the US is considered wealthier than over 90% of people of the planet. I was not in the church service this past Sunday due to working in the children's dept, but my sister-in-law relayed part of Pastor Grant Ethridge's sermon as we chatted after church.
Our church is really focusing this year (every year really, but even more so this year) on reaching out to the lower income communities in our area. We are having Block Parties each weekend in different neighborhoods. They had one this past Saturday (while we were at another church event for the kids). The pastor told about this young boy that he and his wife noticed at the first Block Party. The pastor told his first name and I do not for the life of me remember it but apparently he was a young boy. Our Pastor and his wife have the sweetest, loving spirits and always reach out to people. They talked to this young boy when they noticed that he was looking at these packs of socks that our church was giving away. Pastor Grant asked if he would like a pack of socks and the boy asked if they were free. Pastor said of course, go ahead and get a pack. The young boy sat down that very moment and put on a pair of the socks and was so thrilled to have them. They later noticed the same young boy when they were passing out hotdogs and other food items. He got his hotdog and was eating it like he was starved. Not only did he eat his, but he was going around to see if anyone did not finish theirs and was finishing up whatever he found. Now if this is not enough to tug at your heart about the life that some young children in our very own country are living...The pastor and his wife left that block party and drove 7 mins. to another neighborhood for the second Block Party our church was having that day. It took them 7 mins. to drive to the next neighborhood, so I have to assume that it was at least 2-3 miles away. They said that they had been there a while and when it was time to pass out the food, they saw the same young boy walking up to the party. They went to speak to him, and asked how he got there. The young boy said that he had walked there because he was still hungry and wanted to get another hotdog....This is his reality......
My kids are not allowed to walk out of the yard without us. This child attended a Block Party alone just to get the free food, just to have a chance to have a full belly. This child acted like it was Christmas morning when he got a pack of socks. This child walked 2-3 miles alone across a part of town that my kids have never set foot in, just in the attempt to get a HOTDOG. Neither of my kids will touch a hotdog, because both say that they are NASTY. My kids throw away happy meals that are barely touched because they just asked for them to get the toy. My kids are complaining because they haven't been to Disney in two years...REALITY CHECK......
This coming weekend, our church is having another Block Party in another low income neighborhood, my family will be attending because we need it even more than the people we are trying to help. We need to see all that we have to be thankful for. We need a reality check.....
In a couple of weeks our church, on the Saturday before Easter, will be passing out boxes of food that our middle and high schoolers have packed. These boxes of food will feed a family of four for a week. If you think about it, if we ,who have plenty of food, consider this enough food for a week, those who don't, may consider this enough for for several weeks....I am determined that me and my family will be there to help pass out this food......We need a reality check.....
Do you and your family need a reality check?
WOW! What are we doing? You know, they are right, we normally do go somewhere each year either on a real vacation or a business trip with my husband. This is a vacation for the kids and I since we take in the sights of whatever big city it may be.
When I grew up, we were very poor and I was raised by my Grandmother, I had never left the state of Virginia my entire life except for a weekend trip to Nags Head with her cousin and his wife. I never went on any vacation as a grown single woman unless it was weekend trip with some friends. My daughter had been to Disney 5 times before the age of 6 and had been to at least 1/2 the states on the east coast AND had been on a cruise to the Bahamas. My son has traveled only slightly less than that since she has a 3 year head start on him.....That is their reality of the world.....
We have been told time and time again on the news and by different missionary Evangelists that come to our church, that even the poorest person in the US is considered wealthier than over 90% of people of the planet. I was not in the church service this past Sunday due to working in the children's dept, but my sister-in-law relayed part of Pastor Grant Ethridge's sermon as we chatted after church.
Our church is really focusing this year (every year really, but even more so this year) on reaching out to the lower income communities in our area. We are having Block Parties each weekend in different neighborhoods. They had one this past Saturday (while we were at another church event for the kids). The pastor told about this young boy that he and his wife noticed at the first Block Party. The pastor told his first name and I do not for the life of me remember it but apparently he was a young boy. Our Pastor and his wife have the sweetest, loving spirits and always reach out to people. They talked to this young boy when they noticed that he was looking at these packs of socks that our church was giving away. Pastor Grant asked if he would like a pack of socks and the boy asked if they were free. Pastor said of course, go ahead and get a pack. The young boy sat down that very moment and put on a pair of the socks and was so thrilled to have them. They later noticed the same young boy when they were passing out hotdogs and other food items. He got his hotdog and was eating it like he was starved. Not only did he eat his, but he was going around to see if anyone did not finish theirs and was finishing up whatever he found. Now if this is not enough to tug at your heart about the life that some young children in our very own country are living...The pastor and his wife left that block party and drove 7 mins. to another neighborhood for the second Block Party our church was having that day. It took them 7 mins. to drive to the next neighborhood, so I have to assume that it was at least 2-3 miles away. They said that they had been there a while and when it was time to pass out the food, they saw the same young boy walking up to the party. They went to speak to him, and asked how he got there. The young boy said that he had walked there because he was still hungry and wanted to get another hotdog....This is his reality......
My kids are not allowed to walk out of the yard without us. This child attended a Block Party alone just to get the free food, just to have a chance to have a full belly. This child acted like it was Christmas morning when he got a pack of socks. This child walked 2-3 miles alone across a part of town that my kids have never set foot in, just in the attempt to get a HOTDOG. Neither of my kids will touch a hotdog, because both say that they are NASTY. My kids throw away happy meals that are barely touched because they just asked for them to get the toy. My kids are complaining because they haven't been to Disney in two years...REALITY CHECK......
This coming weekend, our church is having another Block Party in another low income neighborhood, my family will be attending because we need it even more than the people we are trying to help. We need to see all that we have to be thankful for. We need a reality check.....
In a couple of weeks our church, on the Saturday before Easter, will be passing out boxes of food that our middle and high schoolers have packed. These boxes of food will feed a family of four for a week. If you think about it, if we ,who have plenty of food, consider this enough food for a week, those who don't, may consider this enough for for several weeks....I am determined that me and my family will be there to help pass out this food......We need a reality check.....
Do you and your family need a reality check?
Monday, March 28, 2011
The games we play.....
Okay, so like I said at 2:00 am this morning when I blogged for the first time in over a year, I am going to do better...well, this is me doing better...
I have a funny story to tell today that just will not possibly fit on a FB status screen, so read on, dear friends.....
OK, picture this...my 5 year old son (J) and 5 year old nephew (C) are sitting quietly on the floor playing a game. Just the two of them and this a unusual event for these two. The game is Headbands. It is a child's game (there is actually an adult edition) where you put this headband, hence the name, on your head and you draw a card from a pile without looking at it and put it on the headband so that your opponents can see it. The opponents start a timer and you have to ask as many questions to help you guess the item that is on the picture on your headband.
The boys have only ever played it before with the older siblings/cousins, an 11 year old and two 8 year olds, but this time the other three were busy doing something else. My sister in law and I are sitting on the couch talking and we start noticing the boys....J pulls out a car and says "OK, let me get this on here", while he not so subtly flips the card, looks it over, not once, but twice and C never says a word. Then C starts the timer, J says "Am I a ladder?" which of course he is....I am getting ready to bust J for cheating on his cousin and then I see C getting his card to go in his headband...C grabs his card and says "OK, let me put this hold...hold on a sec...". He, not so secretly, turns his back and studies the card, puts it in his headband and turns back for J to start timer. C immediately says "Am I a glass of milk?" (now I am going to admit to making up the actual card items because I just don't remember them all, but to give you the idea)...I nudge my sister in law and see that she has already noticed the interaction between the five year olds.
They are both obviously, blatantly cheating on each other and neither has caught on to that fact.
My sister in law and I watch this for a couple of minutes and I, being the trouble maker that I am, decided to mix it up a little. I say "J, are you cheating on C? C, J is cheating on you!"
C. gets kind of indignant, takes the card off of J's headband and says that he has to get a new card and proceeds to continue the game as usual. My sister in law and I are rolling in laughter and have included the husbands at this point and then I say "C, that was wrong of J, you wouldn't cheat on him like that would you?" and he says "No", and we all laugh harder, neither of the boys understand why all the adults are now laughing. I say again "C, you aren't cheating are you?" and he again says no. Then I say "C, what's on your headband?", he immediately answers "Am I a igloo?" which was of course, EXACTLY what was on his head.....
I just wish, I had listened to my sister in law and waited to get the video camera to see if we could have captured the moment forever on film but neither of us had one handy and it was just too much fun watching their reaction. The funny thing is, they still did not get it or completely understand what we were laughing about.
I have a funny story to tell today that just will not possibly fit on a FB status screen, so read on, dear friends.....
OK, picture this...my 5 year old son (J) and 5 year old nephew (C) are sitting quietly on the floor playing a game. Just the two of them and this a unusual event for these two. The game is Headbands. It is a child's game (there is actually an adult edition) where you put this headband, hence the name, on your head and you draw a card from a pile without looking at it and put it on the headband so that your opponents can see it. The opponents start a timer and you have to ask as many questions to help you guess the item that is on the picture on your headband.
The boys have only ever played it before with the older siblings/cousins, an 11 year old and two 8 year olds, but this time the other three were busy doing something else. My sister in law and I are sitting on the couch talking and we start noticing the boys....J pulls out a car and says "OK, let me get this on here", while he not so subtly flips the card, looks it over, not once, but twice and C never says a word. Then C starts the timer, J says "Am I a ladder?" which of course he is....I am getting ready to bust J for cheating on his cousin and then I see C getting his card to go in his headband...C grabs his card and says "OK, let me put this hold...hold on a sec...". He, not so secretly, turns his back and studies the card, puts it in his headband and turns back for J to start timer. C immediately says "Am I a glass of milk?" (now I am going to admit to making up the actual card items because I just don't remember them all, but to give you the idea)...I nudge my sister in law and see that she has already noticed the interaction between the five year olds.
They are both obviously, blatantly cheating on each other and neither has caught on to that fact.
My sister in law and I watch this for a couple of minutes and I, being the trouble maker that I am, decided to mix it up a little. I say "J, are you cheating on C? C, J is cheating on you!"
C. gets kind of indignant, takes the card off of J's headband and says that he has to get a new card and proceeds to continue the game as usual. My sister in law and I are rolling in laughter and have included the husbands at this point and then I say "C, that was wrong of J, you wouldn't cheat on him like that would you?" and he says "No", and we all laugh harder, neither of the boys understand why all the adults are now laughing. I say again "C, you aren't cheating are you?" and he again says no. Then I say "C, what's on your headband?", he immediately answers "Am I a igloo?" which was of course, EXACTLY what was on his head.....
I just wish, I had listened to my sister in law and waited to get the video camera to see if we could have captured the moment forever on film but neither of us had one handy and it was just too much fun watching their reaction. The funny thing is, they still did not get it or completely understand what we were laughing about.
Blog, what's a blog, is that something like Facebook....
Wow, has it really been over a year since I have typed a word on this blog? I am surprised Blog spot hasn't just shut me down...Well, maybe if I bookmark this page on my new laptop, I might find my way back to it once in a while, that's a thought...I'll give this some consideration.
I happened to be reading a new blog that my wonderful brother-in-law started chronicling his journey through physical adversity and God's plan for his family and thought, HEY, I have a blog and I haven't posted in a while. Little did I know, its been over a year. So, KM, you have inspired me to type, besides I may need the forum for dueling blog posts in the near future if you live up to your threats.....just saying....
Any who...so what has been going on with good old "Gottablogmom" you might be saying, if there were really any of you out there that ever read my blog to begin with.... Well, let me think....I now have a 3rd grader and a kindergartner who will soon become 4th grader and 1st grader....WOW, time flies. Within the last year I have been diagnosed and successfully treated for melanoma cancer and had my gallbladder removed, just for kicks and giggles. Both times coming through surgery with no ill effects, THANK YOU LORD! Its been an eventful 8 months in our household. My beloved baby girl (who is no longer a baby but still my baby girl) had a terrible mono-like virus that lasted over 8 weeks and that has taken up most of 2011 for us so far but again, THANK YOU LORD, she seems to be recovering. This week she is having a Upper GI with a barium swallow. I am sure...beyond sure actually...I am without a doubt CERTAIN that this will be quite the experience for us both. With her particular skill in extreme over-the-top drama and her decided distaste for being forced to consume anything against her will....we let's just say that I am not quite sure who is dreading it more, her or me.
Well, well, well....I have blogged an bit tonight....I better not overdo it or I might send my typing fingers into shock. They have been use to just typing short little status updates for the last 2 years now and a full blog post is a bit strenuous. I can only say that from here on, I will make a concerted effort to be more dedicated to by blog fan base and make at least one or two posts a week. I apologize for my social media infidelity and completely blame it Facebook for luring me away with it's instant gratification for interaction with those who bothered to read or comment on my shameless attempts at humor. If only blog readers were more vocal with their comments, maybe I would not have strayed.....
I happened to be reading a new blog that my wonderful brother-in-law started chronicling his journey through physical adversity and God's plan for his family and thought, HEY, I have a blog and I haven't posted in a while. Little did I know, its been over a year. So, KM, you have inspired me to type, besides I may need the forum for dueling blog posts in the near future if you live up to your threats.....just saying....
Any who...so what has been going on with good old "Gottablogmom" you might be saying, if there were really any of you out there that ever read my blog to begin with.... Well, let me think....I now have a 3rd grader and a kindergartner who will soon become 4th grader and 1st grader....WOW, time flies. Within the last year I have been diagnosed and successfully treated for melanoma cancer and had my gallbladder removed, just for kicks and giggles. Both times coming through surgery with no ill effects, THANK YOU LORD! Its been an eventful 8 months in our household. My beloved baby girl (who is no longer a baby but still my baby girl) had a terrible mono-like virus that lasted over 8 weeks and that has taken up most of 2011 for us so far but again, THANK YOU LORD, she seems to be recovering. This week she is having a Upper GI with a barium swallow. I am sure...beyond sure actually...I am without a doubt CERTAIN that this will be quite the experience for us both. With her particular skill in extreme over-the-top drama and her decided distaste for being forced to consume anything against her will....we let's just say that I am not quite sure who is dreading it more, her or me.
Well, well, well....I have blogged an bit tonight....I better not overdo it or I might send my typing fingers into shock. They have been use to just typing short little status updates for the last 2 years now and a full blog post is a bit strenuous. I can only say that from here on, I will make a concerted effort to be more dedicated to by blog fan base and make at least one or two posts a week. I apologize for my social media infidelity and completely blame it Facebook for luring me away with it's instant gratification for interaction with those who bothered to read or comment on my shameless attempts at humor. If only blog readers were more vocal with their comments, maybe I would not have strayed.....
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