Month: February 2009

This morning started off early and that isn’t even counting the 2am interruption from Ruby….”Mama, can I sleep with you?”  She tries!  I sent her to the potty and back to her bed.  My bet is that Molly tries tonight.

My head has felt like it weighs 100 pounds today.  I could feel the sick feeling coming on Saturday, but I didn’t double up on vitamins or take a nap.  Sunday was busy, as usual, so here I am on Monday feeling pretty poopy.  I prayed this morning that the Lord would help me love Molly enough today so that she wouldn’t have to whine for attention.  Well, that didn’t quite go as I had planned.  I will try again tomorrow.  

We drove out to the car place to pick up our new car mats.  Then, I picked up lunch, came home and fed the kids, then I decided to take a nap while Mack napped.  He decided to nap for a whoppin’ hour.  Lucky me.  Any other day he would have settled in for at least two hours.  I am not bitter.  I am just tired and sick……..

MOVING ON.  So I decided to cook pork chops this evening with green beans and rice.  Sounds good, huh?  Well, I am always afraid of undercooking the meat–especially pork chops.  I knew it was probably a bit dry; that thought was confirmed with Molly’s comment as she chewed and chewed and chewed, “Mama, when is this meat gonna get out of my mouth?????!!!!!!!”  The child couldn’t even swallow the meat.  She loaded up on rice instead.  I’ve never led anyone to believe I am great cook.  Tonight was just proof of that.

Dance class was also today. Ruby and Molly wore their cute back packs from Gran and PawPaw.  Ruby has started taking her bag into her class and changing her shoes all by herself.  Molly has also started doing this.  She is the only one in her class that does.  It is amazing how the second born really catches on to things so quickly.  I am proud of her for being such a big girl.  

The girls each got their recital outfit today, too.  They were so excited about trying them on at home.   I think they are both pretty cute, though I am not sure what to think about the fuzzy stuff on Ruby’s top.  

 

 

 

 

We ended the day with Josh and Molly having a debate over whether to call the way she was sitting “criss-cross applesauce” or “Indian style.”  Josh isn’t one for political-correctness.  Molly ended up saying, “It can be both.”   Very diplomatic.

Mack is intrigued with this star light that Gran and PawPaw gave the kids.  You turn it on at night in the room and stars are all over the ceiling and walls.  He asks (while pointing up at the sky), “Where staaas? (stars)”  Mack seems to have a love/hate relationship with this thing.  He wants it on, but when we leave the room, he wants it off.  It seems as long as we are there with him and talking to him with the stars, all is well.  Leave him alone with them, and he loses it.  Funny kid.  Josh heard his Elmo doll talking in the night…Mack either woke up and played with him or he just rolled on Elmo then Elmo started talking.  Either way, I am glad he has a little friend in his room with him.  I feel bad that the girls have each other, but Mack is by himself.  

Here’s to hoping Tuesday is a great day!!!!

What a fun-filled Valentine’s Weekend!  Josh’s parents were here, and we had a great time. Gran is doing great.  She looked beautiful in her wigs…she has three to choose from now!  She looks beautiful without them, too.  It is amazing.  PawPaw is very good to her and takes care of her in all sorts of ways.  She was still able to tell the kids so many stories and play so many games with them.  I don’t know how she does it.  The kids monopolize their time here.  All Mack would say is “PawPaw.”  He did start calling Gran “Sweetie,” which is my mom’s name.  Then, in the last hour of their time here he let out a “Gran.”  Exciting times.  Ruby always wants someone to play with her or watch a movie with her.  Molly wants candy/crackers/cookies AND a book or a story told to her.  They were all three (and probably Gran and PawPaw included) pooped as the day came to a close. I was pooped by 2:00. Here is what I found as I checked in on them this evening. (Wasn’t I brave to take a picture??? I am usually way too afraid of waking anyone up!  That would NOT be good.)

Molly has recently told Josh, “When I am 4 years old I will stop sucking my fingers at night.”  We’ll see….

We are blessed to have these three little people sleeping under our roof tonight.  (particularly blessed that they are sleeping considering how tired they were!!!)

Night-night.

The kids were all in the backseat today while I drove down 92.  We passed Josh and his parents….a few minutes later Ruby said, “Mama, are you speeding?”  I looked down–52 mph in a 45 mph zone.   Fighting the urge to all-out lie, I said, “Technically, yes, but we really aren’t going that fast.”  She waited a minute and then started talking about police men and wondered aloud, “Where are the police men anyway?!”  I guess she thought I might need a cop to pull me over and slow me down….in my “soooo in my thirties” station wagon….ha!

We started celebrating V-Day yesterday.  The kids and I took Josh to lunch and gave him some of his favorite gum, Turtle’s candy, and a book by G. Campbell Morgan.  We got Mack an Elmo that blows kisses and talks.  Molly and Ruby got princess shoes, a dress, some flip-flops, a book, and a Dvd and some candy.  

Gran and PawPaw came with their own set of loot for the kids.  THE cutest ballerina backpack filled with all sorts of goodies from them and GG and Papa Mac….three dvds!, dress-up stuff, chocolate candies, a wheelbarrow for Mack, a fishing pole for the tub….and more!  I am sure I am leaving something out.  Needless to say, these kids are rotten.

We, and when I say “we”, I mean “I,” had the kids make some Valentines and bake and decorate some cupcakes.  It was a lot of fun.  

Josh and I got up early and went to breakfast together.  It was nice to be together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So today I decided to put some gel in Mack’s hair and blow dry it straight up.  He didn’t really like the process, but he hung in there for the two seconds.  When he went to show Ruby and Molly, Molly said, “That’s like Uncle Jason.  His hair sticks up.”  Very cute…we’ll see what Josh thinks.  

Molly plays pbskids.org from time to time.  I cannot sit with her very long because she won’t let me touch anything or help in any way.  “No, Mama, I can do it all by myself.”  Fine.  It seems that she has been printing a lot of pages lately.  I find them and then tell  her, “Molly, you cannot push the button that prints.  It is wasting paper.  Do not click on the print button, sweetie.”  Her response is ALWAYS, “But I didn’t do it, Mama.  I didn’t.  I did not do it.”  I try to explain to her that she didn’t mean to do it and maybe didn’t know she did it, but SHE did it.  Today she brought up another paper to me.  I said, “Molly, what did I tell you about printing?”  She said, ” I didn’t do it.  I didn’t.  It was just there.”  She is hard-headed.  And she will not admit that though she didn’t mean to print, SHE DID PRINT THE SILLY PICTURE OF CURIOUS GEORGE!!!!!  OK.  That is off my chest.

Oh, the joys of having three kids that all have to sit in some sort of car seat/booster device.  What kind of car will fit them all?  We have had a Yukon or Tahoe or Suburban for the past 4 and a half years, so there was no problem fitting them all in; there was a problem in how GIGANTIC the vehicle was.  I don’t know why, but I was just over driving the Suburban.  It is so big, and I’d started having to go every Monday to clean it out—a bag of junk that the kids had drug to the car, shoes, socks, hair barrettes, etc AND a bag of trash including, but  not limited to, slushee cups, stickers from Wal-mart, Sunday School art, crackers, etc!  Molly and Ruby sat next to one another on the back row, which was neat at first, but neither of them learned how to hook their own car seat, so we were forced to climb in each time to hook them in and then un-hook them.  (We had even gotten lazy about it and just let them hook the  top part of their car seat….horrible, I know!!!)  So, I sweetly told Josh about the Volvo Cross Country again.  He has been very much against getting a station wagon.  He said they were “the ugliest cars in America.”  He couldn’t believe I wanted one of these over a mini-van.  He just didn’t see much of a difference in them.  They are both not great looking cars, in his opinion.  Every friend I have that owns a mini-van LOVES them and says they will never go back as long as they have kids to drive around.  I think that is wonderful, but I still just didn’t want one.  Lame?  Shallow?  I will own that.  

OK, so Josh drove several and had some help from Navar who knows a lot about Volvos.  Finally, we came across this one:

 

 

Oh, how I love it.  The kids all sit on the bench together.  Ruby is in a booster seat that is BUILT IN!!!  Yipeeeee.  Mack is in the middle and Molly is on the other end.  She will move to the booster seat before we know it.  I am thrilled.  Weird that this is my dream car, but like I said, I AM SO IN MY THIRTIES and have three kids.  Funny how you get excited about built in boosters and all the room in the back for groceries and a stroller.  The girls just kept asking, “Why doesn’t this car have a tv in it?”  It will be good for them.  Josh is afraid of long trips with them being so much closer to us.  They did seem a little loud back there, but we will work on using our inside voices.

Ruby feels much better today.  No fever, no nothing.  I am so glad.  We took a quick trip up to the neighborhood park this morning.  Everyone went to the bathroom before-hand, but still Ruby hollered out after being there for only about 20 minutes that she “really needs to go and can’t hold it any more!!!”  So, we made our way back to the house.  She also felt good enough to dress herself this am.  She was sad that I made her NOT wear the hand-me-down from Faith Baker…a jumpsuit that she adores.  She even wears it to sleep in.  Josh tells her she has to put on pjs when he is in charge (which is a big step for him…there’s a story here, but I will leave it alone for now).  I, on the other hand, just let her sleep in it.  I have changed which battles I am fighting.  AND she has fallen in love with the little cowgirl in Toy Story 2 and has been going around the house hollering out, “RUN LIKE THE WIND, BULLS EYE.  LADEEELAHOOOO….YEEE-HAAAWWWW!” while she throws around her princess halo thing like a lasso.  Quite humorous.   And some pictures…..

 

On our way to the park Molly wanted to take her stroller.  Well, Mack really wanted to push something, too, so I let him push the other stroller.  Josh would have a hissy over this, but again, I am choosing my battles.  There is truly nothing feminine about the boy—other than pushing this stroller.  Ha! My argument to Josh is that he pushes strollers all the time, and he is not gay.  I am going to get Mack a wheel barrow or something of the sort for his birthday next month, so that the stroller thing won’t be an issue.

And lastly, here is Ruby in “cowgirl” mode…not sure how this worn out cheer outfit and high-heels fit in, but whatever….

 

Josh and I had such a fun time at the Sunday School Class Marriage Retreat at the Brasstown Valley Resort.  It was a nice resort.  The room we had was very cute, clean and up-to-date.  We left around noon on Friday and made our way to a BBQ restaurant.  It was in the middle of nowhere.  Don’t ask me how my husband knows about every country cookin’ cafe or Meat & Three, but he does!  This place was really good.  It was awesome to eat alone.  Josh ordered BBQ and got some fries, too.  These were no ordinary fries…they were like FAIR FRIES.  Oh, yummy.  I was already starting to reach over to grab a fry when Josh said, “Let’s pray…”  He thought I was going over to hold his hand, but I was going to steal a fry.  Once I realized how wonderful they were, I got a couple more.  Josh asked, “Do you want me to order you a side of fries?”  Code for, “Keep your hands off of my fries.  I will get you your own.”  Josh has never been one for sharing food.  He just doesn’t go for that.  

I thought of Molly while we were eating because there was a stuffed Aunt Jemima standing at the door with tootsie rolls for the taking.  Molly would have instantly been best friends with little Miss Aunt Jemima.  The child loves Tootsie Rolls.  She also asks me, “What are those round tootsie rolls called that I love?”  MILK DUDS.   I haven’t taken my children to the dentist yet…I know, a great mom…but I am sure Molly will have many issues.

ANYWAY, I enjoyed the massage.  The facial is another story.  The description of the facial did mention microdermabrasion…..but, ummmm….I didn’t realize it would hurt.  It burned and tingled and just didn’t feel great and relaxing.  I could just see me walking into dinner with all of our friends with a bright red face. (though at this point many had seen me “drunk” from my massage and walking around in a robe all afternoon, so what’s the big deal about a red face?!) Thankfully, it all calmed down by the time we went to dinner AND the wrinkles on my forehead were not quite as deep as they normally are.  

The speakers did a good job.  We talked about self-care—giving yourself and your mate permission to do stuff  they like to do.  I know it is difficult for me to leave in the evenings to do something alone or with girls because I know Josh has been working all day, too, and I like when we are all together as a family.  BUT, it is important to get out of the house and laugh with friends or read a book at Starbucks or go for a walk.  Josh loves movies (me-not so much), so I want to try and encourage him to go to the movies with his brother or other friends when he sees one coming out that he likes.  

We also talked about taking care of your mate…we discussed the love languages…and we got some time to pray together.  It was a good time.  I know there are several things I want to do to try and take care of our marriage.  

I did HORRIBLE on my eating.  I ate the whole bag of Jelly Bellys that my friend Cindy left in the room for me.  Not to mention the 20 starburst I ate during the sessions….ugh…but today is a new day to a new week, and I WILL DO BETTER.  🙂

The kids had a blast with their friends at the house the whole time we were gone.  I am so glad that they enjoyed themselves.  I am also appreciative of great, godly friends you can trust…even if poison control is called…it’s all good!  (love you Mandy!)

But, in reference to the title of this entry, we are back to reality.  Sunday was a busy day, full of fellowship, an awesome Word from our Pastor, lunch with friends, a trip to look at a used car (more to come on this, I promise!), a short nap, and then back to church last night….and this morning Ruby woke up with a fever.  Poor thing.  She only takes Motrin Berry flavor medicine.  I tried to give her Tylenol, and she sipped it for about an hour…all 0.8+0.8 mL of it.  Josh came home, forgetting the medicine I asked him to pick up, so he took Molly back out with him.  She wanted to get Ruby a card to help her feel better.  She came in, took the card to Ruby and said, “Ruby, I love you and I hope you feel better.”  It was sooooo sweet.  Ruby seemed to feel better after that, before the medicine had time to kick in.  Amazing how a timely word can really help your spirits.  Ruby told me today that “Molly is my best sister.”  This was after Molly had brought her some water.  Molly has definitely been a caring little girl today.  We hope Ruby feels better tomorrow.

 

As I mentioned before, we are not royalty–just in case anyone was still unsure about that.  BUT, I decided to bring breakfast up to the girls this morning.  They both came in around 6:30am, and I let them sleep in my place while I went downstairs to enjoy some coffee and The Word in the quietness that is extremely rare around here…but OH so nice…and I am feeling quite giddy at the thought of tomorrow.  Josh and I are leaving tomorrow for 24 hours away for a Marriage Retreat with our Sunday School class.   I AM SOOOOO EXCITED!!!!  Why would I be so excited you might ask?  I can’t figure out if it because I will get alone time with Josh (I am trying to figure out how to discreetly throw his cell phone out the window–any suggestions?) or maybe it is the facial AND a swedish massage (not sure what the swedish part has to do with it, but I don’t care) or if it is the luxury of eating and only feeding myself (I hope Josh will excuse me if I try to stick some mac-n-cheese in his mouth or ask him to say “AHHHH” so that the food will get all the way in his mouth) or hanging out and actually having conversations with so many sweet friends the Lord has blessed us with….and in all this fun, I am praying the Lord will meet us where we are in our marriages and give us glimpses of where He wants us to be in them…I have been praying specifically that Josh and I will reflect Christ and the Church to our kids, to our friends and to strangers more effectively….

Gotta say a special thank you to Mary (and Ben and Katherine) and the Baker family for watching our three munchkins.  It is so easy to leave when you know such wonderful people are taking care of your kids.  Y’all are the best!!!  And just ignore the girls if they ask to eat their breakfast in bed!  Ha.