25 February 2011

1. Saturday morning we had Tate's kid party.  After fighting  a Star Wars theme for three years (kind of makes me twitch just thinking of it) I gave in. Tate was over the moon happy about it all and I was glad I gave in.  We had his party at Brunswick Zone and played laser tag.  It was a great time...even a dad and little sister of a classmate of Tate's stayed because they thought it looked like so much fun!  I do not have one picture with every kid in it, so I'll have to include a few.  Here is my attempt at classy Star Wars for the seven year old I love so much...

Avery had the great idea of being Princess Leia for the day.  She wanted to go buy a white dress...I drew the line there, but she did look awesome anyway!

Ave took our picture for us when we got home from the party...I love Tate's toothless grin!

2, 3, 4, & 5.  Do you ever feel like you find yourself in the middle of the SNL skit REALLY!?! With Seth and Amy? This weeks happened to be one of those weeks. I mean, its nothing earth-shattering, but still.  It went something like this...

Really!?!  A sore throat just as E is getting ready to take me to Redstone for dinner on Saturday night?  I mean, I don't celebrate my birthday since Tate was born and that is FINE with me...but that's why I picked to go out the night before, so that Sunday could be completely Tate's.  But really.

Really!?!  I go to bed early, only to wake up feeling even worse the next morning? I mean, its our birthdays for heaven's sake.  Really. 

Add to that 18 inches of snow.  Come on Minnesota, really!?!  I have not complained this winter, but this is getting old.  Really, it is.  Plus, I am miserable.  I have a 102.4 fever.   I need to get to minute clinic and the near white out conditions are not appreciated. Thank God I made it in one piece and the wait was relatively short.

But my test confirms strep.  I mean, really, no wonder I feel like dog poop. 

E entertains the kids the rest of the weekend, which is much appreciated.  He even tries to do a load of laundry, only to find that our washer was not working.  Really, Whirlpool?  Its only three years old!  Not to mention we paid to have a nice one knowing with three kids it was going to need to take a lot of wear and tear.  I already haven't done laundry for a week, so E's underwear situation is looking a little bleak.  But really E.  Underwear is overrated, especially for boys. (kidding, peeps, only kidding)

Monday is Presidents Day.  E has to work for part of the day anyway.  While he's gone, I lay on the couch and my kids are playing so nicely with each other.  They are so good to me.  Beckett even comes to snuggle.  He mentions his throat hurts.  I reach over to get the thermometer from the ottoman.  100.5.  Really!?!  I can't bring this kid to the doctor right now.  I can barely move.  Tate and Aves tell Beckett that it is going to hurt when he gets his throat swabbed (they've both had it done in the last two weeks, so it is nice and fresh in their minds).  Really, you two?  FAKE IT for your brother's sake.  Tell him its like licking a lollipop.  Or that the medicine tastes awesome afterwards.  Or remind him that we're going to Disney in a month if he gets better.  Tell him we'll buy him a pony if he does a good job for goodness sake.  But telling a three year old that the doctor is going to hurt you??  Really!?!

 E comes home at noon and takes him to the doctor, who quickly confirms that he too has strep.  But he reassured E that it is much easier for a kid to recover from strep than an adult.  Really?  I hadn't noticed.  

We survived the rest of Monday.  Tuesday morning I got up early to go to school to get my sub plans together.  Even at 6:20 in the morning 169 was so backed up I couldn't even get onto the on-ramp due to weather.  Really!?!  Thank goodness I have a great teaching partner who got things together for me as I wrote my plans from home.

It is also Tuesday that begins to make me say, really E...you are not a babysitter you are a dad.  He did such a good job having fun with the kids baking a cake, playing legos, etc, that he forgot about any of our actual life that has to happen.  I can handle having to practice piano and do homework with T while I was sick on Monday night.  I can even handle spending my day sick at home cleaning up after your fun weekend.  But when I find my daughter wearing the same underwear that I put on her on Saturday morning and it is now Tuesday...really!?!  Please, moms out there, tell me you can relate.  

I called the washer repairman and he could come out still that afternoon.  OMG...really!?!  Yes!!!  I have never wanted to make out with a 40 something year old man in a uniform with his name embroidered on it so bad. My enthusiasm only lasted until the repairman got there and told me that he'd have to order a part and it was going to cost $460.  YOUHAVEGOTTOBEKIDDINGMEREALLY!?!  But its only three.  years.  old."  After a complete waste of time call to Whirlpool and a little internet research, we decided to invest in a new washer instead.

We are looking forward to a better week next week.  I hope you read this and laughed, because now that I am feeling better I surely find it all humorous. Tate did have a great birthday.

He loved his basketball from his sibs and tickets to the Children's Theatre to see Annie this spring from E and I.  He even brought his cake down the basement so I could watch him blow out candles.

Happy birthday, Tater!

18 February 2011

1. Friday when Aves woke up not feeling well my parents saved me by coming to watch the kids so I could go to work.  When I left, this was the scene...

By the time I got home it was obvious she had strep.  I am seriously sick of talking about being sick.  Spring, please!

2.  With Avery feeling a bit better from her medication E and I decided to go to Duluth on Saturday morning as planned.  It is so fun getting to talk uninterrupted...except by phone calls from Gary, of course.

After lots of laughs in the car we made it to Duluth in time to have lunch with Kara.  Then we were off to the Glensheen Mansion.  E went there with his family about 20 years ago and he's been talking about it the entire 15 years we've been together.  It has become kind of a joke amongst our families and friends.  It has been especially bad since Kara has been at UMD since we've made several trips to Duluth and never actually made it there.  Since Kip is a senior, we decided it was now or never.  I decided that even if it was terrible I could give up an hour just so I had to stop hearing about it!

Can you tell E was excited?  It actually was really interesting and Kara and I were both glad we went with him.  After a movie and some great breakfast the next morning we were on our way home again.  Quick but very fun!  The kids had fun with Grandpa and Grandma Newman as well...they got to see a movie, too, and had made us lots of Valentine cards and heart shaped brownies.

3.  Monday was of course Valentine's Day.  Our traditions for Valentine's Day are much more centered around our kids than E and I and we love it that way.  We started out with heart shaped pancakes for the kids...

Then it was off to Valentine parties at school for Tate and Avery.  I got to help in Tate's class this year...the first party I've gotten to volunteer at.  Have I mentioned how much I love working half time?  The kids were both super excited to hand out the Valentines they made.

It was watch week again at Avery's dance, so I got to see her and her friends strut their stuff.  We rounded out the day with our traditional heart shaped pizza.

Man I love my family!

4.  I know some of you will think this is morbid to think about, but remember that I am writing this to look back on myself someday, so since I thought about it so much for so long, I want to record it.  When I wrote about it on facebook people felt bad for me, which was not what I was going for, though I surely appreciate the support.

On Tuesday I was the exact same age as my mom was when Dana died.  I have known that February 15th, 2011 would be that day since the year Tate was born.  I had always seen my sister's death from my point of view, naturally, until I had my own kids.  Of course I always THOUGHT it must have been awful for my parents, but was only then that I started to UNDERSTAND how awful it must have been for them.  Dana died 5 days before my mom's 32nd birthday.  My mom and dad were so young.  It doesn't make me sad for me, but it surely breaks my heart for their 32 year old selves.  I can't imagine how hard it was to keep going for their kids, to keep their marriage together, and to make their life beautiful again.  But that is exactly what they did.  It wasn't always easy, but we always felt so loved and protected.  I love you Mom and Dad!

5.  From something so serious to a speedo.  Yep.  Here you go peeps.  I know you've been waiting for it.  E did in fact make good on his promise to do the Polar Plunge in his Speedo.  You might want sunglasses...between the white sweatshirt and the white legs you might need them!

E's exact words when he got out were "Immediate shrinkage and ice cream headache."  Ha!  Good thing he had a cheering crowd that lent a little more support than his Speedo...

E {who never really wanted to do it in the first place} enjoyed the experience and is already recruiting people for next year.  Who's in?  Speedo NOT required.  =)

11 February 2011

1.  We are trying to give the kids more chores to do on a weekly basis.  They are actually at an age where they kind of like it, so we figure we better make the most of it.  Avery is getting pretty good at making beds, which is her favorite thing to do.  Last weekend I had a basket of towels sitting out on Saturday morning.  E and Tate were at Tate's basketball practice so it was just Aves, Beckett, and I.  I told the kids that when I came back downstairs that we were going to fold the basket of towels.  When I came back downstairs, they were already half done.  I was amazed!

The fold job was not perfect, but pretty darn good if you ask me.  I love that Beckett insisted on using my guitar case as a folding table.  He said, "It just works better, Mom."

2.  Early Tuesday morning some people from the city came out with big trucks, a loader, and a bobcat to clean some of the snow out of our cul-de-sac.  The kids were interested in what they were doing.  

 

Avery all of a sudden said, "They're getting rid of the snow so it can be SUMMER!!"  Oh, how I wish that was true right now!  We are supposed to have a heat wave today of 27 degrees.  Woop woop!

3.  The kids all had dentist appointments on Tuesday morning.  Let's just say after our last round of dentist appointments I was less than excited.  We have switched the kids over to the pediatric dentist that Avery saw to get all her work done this summer...watching Max and Ruby while they got their teeth cleaned was a huge bonus!   This was Beckett's first trip to the dentist. Since Avery has had the most experience she insisted on holding his hand...so sweet!

All three kids came out with no cavities, so we are surely thankful for that.  Tate is going to be getting a lot of new teeth in the next year and they said there is NO WAY that all of his teeth can fit in his mouth when they come in.  They are setting him up with an appliance which looks sort of like a mouthguard that he must wear all night and one hour during the day.  They say it works wonders for kids who wear it religiously and could even help us avoid braces.  Cross your fingers that insurance will pay for half of it (unlikely, but possible)!

4.  Wednesday night while playing basketball, E and Brad collided while trying to steal the ball from the other team.  E took B's shoulder to his head.  He came home and seemed fine, although B said he could barely touch his shoulder.  Then on Thursday, E just didn't feel right.  He went to the doctor who suspects he has a mild concussion.  He offered to give him a CT scan, which makes me laugh...its amazing he even went to the doctor, but there's no way he'd get a CT scan unless it was super serious.  We all think from time to time that he needs his head examined, but that's a bit extreme.  =) 

5.  Thursday morning Olivia was at our house and her, Aves, and Beckett were cracking me up.  They were dancing to Kids Bop and know more of the words to popular music than I do.  When it came to Firework, Olivia said "Aves, our favorite song!"  They then proceeded to sing almost every word.  Hilarious. 

 

It is always fun to get a glimpse of what Patti sees every day when the kids are at her house.  In many ways, Garrett and Olivia are almost like siblings to my kids.  Even the kids' school teachers say that, which sometimes is good and sometimes is bad.  You know, like when Avery hauls off and hits Olivia at preschool because they have a disagreement.  Avery would NEVER hit another kid at preschool...at least I hope she wouldn't.  But when it comes to the Hayer and Newman kids, all bets are off.  They protect each other, too, and are the best of friends.  Of course today is Friday, which means for the next two days I get to listen to lots of "Are we going to Patti's today?  Can Olivia and Garrett come to OUR house?"  Kiddos...let's give them a break.  =)

4 February 2011

 1. I feel I need to give a shout out to my mom friends. This week I was very aware of how nice it is to have people who reassure you that you're normal...even amidst the occasional unavoidable chaos. Two specific moments this week:

ONE: After last week's five, I got an email from my a friend who also has three kids pretty close together in age. Her email subject was “Hurray for couch trampolines!” and basically said that I made her day by letting my kids use my couch cushions for creative play. Believe me, I know rules are different at everyone's house...but my mom let us jump on our couch cushions when we were little and we still grew up to take care of and appreciate the things we have, and I have no doubts that my kids will too.   Thanks, Tracy, you made MY day!  I needed that.

TWO:  I ran into another friend in Target around 8:00 on Tuesday night.  She casually asked what I was up to.  I told her I was searching for a great lotion for my cracked hands...which wasn't a lie...that is what I was doing at that exact moment.  But then I laughed and confessed that it had been a super long day and told her I needed a Target run so that E could put the kids to sleep.  She laughed and then said she was doing the same!  She was on her way home from work, though, so I know she was only trying to make me feel better, but I still appreciate it.  Thanks, Jodi!

So I guess what I'm sayin' is...remind another mom {or dad!} that they are in fact normal and sane, even though sometimes it doesn't feel like it!

2.  Tate has never loved writing.   This is getting better, but last week we picked up his make-up work to do when he was sick, I wasn't too happy when I saw the packet he had started at school.  The handwriting was horrible.  Now, I am not one of those people who is going to go overboard with hours and hours of work and push my kids to be the point of hating me, but I expect them to try hard and do what I know they are able to do, which I don't think he is doing right now.  I made him erase and redo the packet and talked to him about showing his teacher what he can do.  He promised on Monday that he would try.  He came home with this on Groundhog's Day and I was MUCH happier!

Now, let's not comment on the fact that he made the groundhog into a serial killer.  Let's focus on the legible handwriting.  I will never understand first grade boys thinking...especially when they have each other for encouragement at school.   Seriously.  Poor groundhog.

3.  Speaking of Groundhog Day, I know I already posted this to Facebook, but since getting this blog printed into a book is as close to a scrapbook as I'm going to get these days, its worth telling again...

When E got home on Wednesday Avery yells, "DAD!  MRS. MONSON SAID THE BEAVER DIDN'T SEE HIS SHADOW!!"

Crack.  Me.  Up.  So close, Aves, but not quite.  Don't worry Emily, we're sure you said groundhog, but it got lost in translation.  I did get a kick out of wishing everyone from that point on "Happy Beaver Day!"

4.  This brings me to another thing I've been thinking about a lot.  It is a shame that when you're kids are the funniest that they get embarrassed and get mad that you laugh.  "Stop LAUGHING at me!!" We try to no avail to assure them that we LOVE them and what they said and that's why we're laughing.   They have no idea that someday they will WISH someone thought they were that funny! 

5.  I got to spend a bunch of time this week with my friend Mel and her baby, Lincoln, on two different days!  Now that the stomach flu plague is over at my house, I am allowed in their house.  =) You may remember from a previous post when I asked you to pray for them that Linc has had a rough start to life.

He is such a beautiful baby and I was SO encouraged to see him and all the things he can do and to see him interact with his mom and dad.  He LOVES his momma's voice.  I even got to see him wear his little hand splints and do his stretching exercises.

Melanie and Derek are still updating their CaringBridge site, so you can catch his entire story there.  Their days are still filled with lots of doctor appointment and apprehension about his future.  Leave them some encouragement...they are awaiting some test results.  They are so much stronger than they realize!