Tomorrow night is supposed to be Dianna's birthday party. She specifically requested a sleepover, so we were keeping it small. I told her she could invite only two friends. She instantly chose her best bud, Katina, and another friend. (I was surprised she chose this other friend, who's name I only sometimes hear...I thought for sure she'd be inviting Samantha or Helen)
Katina was *so* psyched to have been invited, according to her mom. I hear tell that Katina was talking a lot about this particular party.
side rant: Katina's mom was *very* prompt in rsvp'ing that Katina would definitely be at the party. The other girl's parents not so. As a matter of fact, I STILL have not heard word whether or not this other girl is to be expected. RSVP'ing is definitely a dying art, but I still get sooooo grumpy that noone does it anymore. I just think it's rude of other parents to not take a moment to say yay or nay. One would think they know just how frustrating it can be to plan a party and not know how many children to expect!
ANYWAY, Katina's mom, Jill, called last night. Katina won't be able to come afterall. The poor thing has developed a case of head lice, and though she's been treated once already, Jill thinks it's best to wait and make sure they were successful in erradicating the vermin.
Sad that Katina and Dianna will be missing this opportunity to party together, I am so appreciative of Jill's forethought and kindness. I just feel so horrible for my girl. This will be the second birthday party she's ever had that noone shows up to at all. (The first being when she turned 5 years old.)
I sent her on a mission today. She's to ask the second invitee if she will or will not be in attendance tomorrow. If the second girl is not coming, then we'll join in the fun at the drive-in movie theater where Emily will be celebrating her 21st birthday.
Hopefully we'll get to have Katina sleep over another time real soon.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Summer Vacation is nearing...
Today is Will's last day of preschool for the year. We'll be heading over to drop him off in less than 15 minutes.
The big girls will both be out of school in a matter of weeks. Because of snow days, their last day was extended to June 22nd. So they get to have their last day of school on a Monday. Lovely -- I'm *sure* they're going to be excited about getting up and getting ready one last day before starting their summer vacation.
I'm excited. I'm looking forward to spending oodles and oodles of time with the kids this summer playing in the yard/neighborhood.
The big girls will both be out of school in a matter of weeks. Because of snow days, their last day was extended to June 22nd. So they get to have their last day of school on a Monday. Lovely -- I'm *sure* they're going to be excited about getting up and getting ready one last day before starting their summer vacation.
I'm excited. I'm looking forward to spending oodles and oodles of time with the kids this summer playing in the yard/neighborhood.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Weekend Update
I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend!
Over here in our Crazy neck of the woods, we had a fabuloso weekend. Saturday started off with our town parade. Grace and Dianna both rode on the 4H float. I marched with my Brownie troop. Gordon stayed home with the Little People.
Sunday morning saw Amy coming to pick up Rachel and Samantha. Thankfully she and Sam made it home safe and sound -- it got a little hairy long about Pennsylvania. You can read it here on Amy's blog, Movin' Like a Herd of Turtles.
We headed over to Mom and Dad's early Sunday afternoon. Got there just in time to settle in before the tractor races began! Unfortunately, I forgot my camera at home. I took some pictures with my sister Rita's camera. Perhaps she'll be kind enough to share them with me once she uploads them to photobucket. ;)
The weather was perfect Sunday afternoon for the festivities in Mom and Dad's neighborhood. There were far more people than I've ever seen. Must be word gets out a little further and further each year about how fun those tractor races are!
Yesterday, the Crazy family all stayed home. Gordon and I both had a mile long list of projects to accomplish outside. Again, Mother Nature was on our side. I'm proud to say that we got about 90% of what we'd set out to do accomplished!!
Over here in our Crazy neck of the woods, we had a fabuloso weekend. Saturday started off with our town parade. Grace and Dianna both rode on the 4H float. I marched with my Brownie troop. Gordon stayed home with the Little People.
Sunday morning saw Amy coming to pick up Rachel and Samantha. Thankfully she and Sam made it home safe and sound -- it got a little hairy long about Pennsylvania. You can read it here on Amy's blog, Movin' Like a Herd of Turtles.
We headed over to Mom and Dad's early Sunday afternoon. Got there just in time to settle in before the tractor races began! Unfortunately, I forgot my camera at home. I took some pictures with my sister Rita's camera. Perhaps she'll be kind enough to share them with me once she uploads them to photobucket. ;)
The weather was perfect Sunday afternoon for the festivities in Mom and Dad's neighborhood. There were far more people than I've ever seen. Must be word gets out a little further and further each year about how fun those tractor races are!
Yesterday, the Crazy family all stayed home. Gordon and I both had a mile long list of projects to accomplish outside. Again, Mother Nature was on our side. I'm proud to say that we got about 90% of what we'd set out to do accomplished!!
Friday, May 22, 2009
A Day Late, BUT....
Happy 10 Months to Nora!!!
I keep scratching my head, wondering where all of our time is going. I swear, it was just the other day that I was sitting in Mom's dining room ignoring my labor pains.
Here we are, ten months and one day later, and I can't believe how much our Nora has grown. I think it's safe to say that she is no longer an infant. Nora has now entered the baby/toddler stage.
Though not correctly crawling, Nora has a modified scoot/crawl that means she can get anywhere she wants to be in seconds flat. Gates are firmly in place at strategic locations almost 90% of every day. (I take a couple of them down when Nora's either sitting in her highchair or napping)
Nora now knows and uses a couple of ASL signs. She is still using the sign for 'milk'. She signs 'yes'. She's beginning to learn and use the sign for 'more'.
Nora waves hello and goodbye to just about anyone who enters or leaves. She especially gets crazy in her waving and saying 'Hi There' when it's Daddy who is returning home from work!
Although she's been able to clap for some time, the kids and I have been teaching Nora to clap her hands while saying, 'YAAAAAAY' and then shake her hands in the air and say, 'Whoopeeeeeeee'. She is GREAT at the clapping and yay part, but we're still working on getting her to shake her hands and say 'whoopeeeee'. Right now, she's settling for just throwing her arms up in the air with a great big smile on her face.
I recently pulled out all of the Fisher Price Little People toys that we have from the older three. Eleanor ADORES them!! She especially loves the Little People Discovery City that Aunt Pauline had bought Grace for her first birthday. Nora has figured out how to push the button that makes the Little People sing 'We're Little People with lots of friends....'. Once they start singing, Nora delights in bopping around, dancing to the happy tune.
I keep scratching my head, wondering where all of our time is going. I swear, it was just the other day that I was sitting in Mom's dining room ignoring my labor pains.
Here we are, ten months and one day later, and I can't believe how much our Nora has grown. I think it's safe to say that she is no longer an infant. Nora has now entered the baby/toddler stage.
Though not correctly crawling, Nora has a modified scoot/crawl that means she can get anywhere she wants to be in seconds flat. Gates are firmly in place at strategic locations almost 90% of every day. (I take a couple of them down when Nora's either sitting in her highchair or napping)
Nora now knows and uses a couple of ASL signs. She is still using the sign for 'milk'. She signs 'yes'. She's beginning to learn and use the sign for 'more'.
Nora waves hello and goodbye to just about anyone who enters or leaves. She especially gets crazy in her waving and saying 'Hi There' when it's Daddy who is returning home from work!
Although she's been able to clap for some time, the kids and I have been teaching Nora to clap her hands while saying, 'YAAAAAAY' and then shake her hands in the air and say, 'Whoopeeeeeeee'. She is GREAT at the clapping and yay part, but we're still working on getting her to shake her hands and say 'whoopeeeee'. Right now, she's settling for just throwing her arms up in the air with a great big smile on her face.
I recently pulled out all of the Fisher Price Little People toys that we have from the older three. Eleanor ADORES them!! She especially loves the Little People Discovery City that Aunt Pauline had bought Grace for her first birthday. Nora has figured out how to push the button that makes the Little People sing 'We're Little People with lots of friends....'. Once they start singing, Nora delights in bopping around, dancing to the happy tune.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Happy Birthday, Sweet Dianna!!!
Dianna turns seven years old today. Can you believe it? I know....with the way she and I can butt heads sometimes, it's amazing she's made it this far. Just goes to show what a determined little girl she can be. ;)
In honor of Dianna's birthday, we'll be eating pizza for dinner tonight. Her request. Though it's not Friday night, I can grant this request -- a birthday girl should have exactly what she wants for dinner on her special day, right?
After dinner, we'll sing a hearty version of the Happy Birthday song to Dianna and will eat some yummy cupcakes. They'd best be yummy. I baked a batch of them last night for Dianna to take to her class today. There were just enough for each child to have one and five left over -- perfect for us to have tonight.
....can y'all hear my celebrating the fact that I won't have to bake a second batch of cupcakes today???
Dianna doesn't know it yet, but Gordon's going to be swinging by the store this afternoon to pick up her special gift from us. If you can keep a secret for the next 6-8 hours, I'll tell you what it is......gonna keep that secret?
We're getting Dianna a new bike for her birthday!
She should be so excited.
I say 'should be' because I'm trying to be cautiously optimistic. Last year, for Grace's birthday, we surprised her with a new bike. I was certain she'd be stoked. Her reaction was more than somewhat less than I'd expected. She recovered and decided the bike was the perfect one within an hour, but that first sixty minutes was shaky. I was a wreck, wondering how we could have gone wrong.
In honor of Dianna's birthday, we'll be eating pizza for dinner tonight. Her request. Though it's not Friday night, I can grant this request -- a birthday girl should have exactly what she wants for dinner on her special day, right?
After dinner, we'll sing a hearty version of the Happy Birthday song to Dianna and will eat some yummy cupcakes. They'd best be yummy. I baked a batch of them last night for Dianna to take to her class today. There were just enough for each child to have one and five left over -- perfect for us to have tonight.
....can y'all hear my celebrating the fact that I won't have to bake a second batch of cupcakes today???
Dianna doesn't know it yet, but Gordon's going to be swinging by the store this afternoon to pick up her special gift from us. If you can keep a secret for the next 6-8 hours, I'll tell you what it is......gonna keep that secret?
We're getting Dianna a new bike for her birthday!
She should be so excited.
I say 'should be' because I'm trying to be cautiously optimistic. Last year, for Grace's birthday, we surprised her with a new bike. I was certain she'd be stoked. Her reaction was more than somewhat less than I'd expected. She recovered and decided the bike was the perfect one within an hour, but that first sixty minutes was shaky. I was a wreck, wondering how we could have gone wrong.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
No Letterboxing pics :(
I'm sorry to say that there will be no letterboxing pics from today. I didn't forget my camera -- we did not go.
Last night I went to bed with a sore throat and a slightly enlarged tonsil. Today I woke up feeling just a little worse. No problem -- I'm a mom. I can work through anything.
Or so I thought!
After I posted my last blog entry and logged off, I announced to Gordon that I was going to go for a walk. I simply knew my symptoms would continue to get worse, but I'd hoped that I could keep them away by trudging along and pretending I felt fine.
So I walked all the way down the big hill that is the housing development built just a couple of years ago down the street from our house. And I walked all the way back. It totally kicked my butt, but I felt great!
Before I'd headed out, I'd announced to Gordon that I'd mow the lawn when I returned -- if he'd get the tractor ready. So it was ready and waiting when I returned. He's good like that.
As I mowed the front lawn, the wind picked up. (Matt Scott from WTNH's news said we'd have wind today, but he didn't say we'd have near hurricane force winds!)
I got chilly. So I zipped my fleece jacket up. I pulled my hands up in to my sleeves. But I continued to mow.
After I accomplished the front 3/4 of our front lawn, I had to make a stop. I had to pee. I needed a drink. And I simply couldn't handle freezing any more.
Gordon and I had planned on heading down to his Mom's for a little while sometime today to wish her a Happy Mother's Day too. So we did that. I froze the entire way down, even with the heat on in the car. Gordon was pretty sweaty.
I tried to stay away from my mother-in-law as much as possible. I didn't breathe on her. I never sneezed or coughed. I pretty much sat like a bump on a log, hiding under one of her afghans, on her couch.
We came home, stopping to pick up a half gallon of ice cream on the way. As soon as we got home, though, I did not partake of the ice cream. I gave Gordon a quick apologetic look and headed upstairs to jump in to my jammies and in to bed. I've been here ever since.
And Gordon's been such a peach about the whole darn thing too. Even when Nora was pretty vocal about not liking something.
Here's to better luck next time!
Last night I went to bed with a sore throat and a slightly enlarged tonsil. Today I woke up feeling just a little worse. No problem -- I'm a mom. I can work through anything.
Or so I thought!
After I posted my last blog entry and logged off, I announced to Gordon that I was going to go for a walk. I simply knew my symptoms would continue to get worse, but I'd hoped that I could keep them away by trudging along and pretending I felt fine.
So I walked all the way down the big hill that is the housing development built just a couple of years ago down the street from our house. And I walked all the way back. It totally kicked my butt, but I felt great!
Before I'd headed out, I'd announced to Gordon that I'd mow the lawn when I returned -- if he'd get the tractor ready. So it was ready and waiting when I returned. He's good like that.
As I mowed the front lawn, the wind picked up. (Matt Scott from WTNH's news said we'd have wind today, but he didn't say we'd have near hurricane force winds!)
I got chilly. So I zipped my fleece jacket up. I pulled my hands up in to my sleeves. But I continued to mow.
After I accomplished the front 3/4 of our front lawn, I had to make a stop. I had to pee. I needed a drink. And I simply couldn't handle freezing any more.
Gordon and I had planned on heading down to his Mom's for a little while sometime today to wish her a Happy Mother's Day too. So we did that. I froze the entire way down, even with the heat on in the car. Gordon was pretty sweaty.
I tried to stay away from my mother-in-law as much as possible. I didn't breathe on her. I never sneezed or coughed. I pretty much sat like a bump on a log, hiding under one of her afghans, on her couch.
We came home, stopping to pick up a half gallon of ice cream on the way. As soon as we got home, though, I did not partake of the ice cream. I gave Gordon a quick apologetic look and headed upstairs to jump in to my jammies and in to bed. I've been here ever since.
And Gordon's been such a peach about the whole darn thing too. Even when Nora was pretty vocal about not liking something.
Here's to better luck next time!
Happy Mother's Day!!
I hope that every Mother has as sweet a Mother's Day as I am having.
I am truly blessed. I have a sweet, wonderfully thoughtful, caring husband. I have four delightful children who can make me smile in an instant. The love that surrounds us is almost too good to be true.
This morning I was awakened shortly after 5am. Nora was ready to nurse. I'm sure some of you are cringing at such an early wakeup call -- especially on MY day, but I was happy. Last night was the first night that Nora has slept through in a LONG time.
What Mother would ask for anything more??
Grace and Dianna both came in my bedroom to greet me before 7am. They had both made special cards and gifts to give me today. I'll have to take pictures to show you their beautiful handiwork -- words can't describe them sufficiently.
(Will already gave me his Mother's Day gift, a potted flower, when I picked him up at preschool on Wednesday.)
Gordon brought me a sweet card when he brought up a cup of chamomile tea to me, before he headed back downstairs to start breakfast. Grace helped Gordon make homemade pancakes for breakfast, and delivered them to me on a tray. Nothing better than breakfast in bed to help one feel totally cherished! (An observation -- though they used my very own pancake recipe, I swear the pancakes Grace brought to me were the BEST I've ever eaten!)
So now it is just before 8:30am on Mother's Day morning. The kids have all dispersed throughout the house. My morning of pampering is over. My day, however, is not.
I'm looking up clues to nearby letterboxes so that we can take a hike this afternoon. I'll try not to forget my camera -- there will be photo ops from our hike for sure!
I am truly blessed. I have a sweet, wonderfully thoughtful, caring husband. I have four delightful children who can make me smile in an instant. The love that surrounds us is almost too good to be true.
This morning I was awakened shortly after 5am. Nora was ready to nurse. I'm sure some of you are cringing at such an early wakeup call -- especially on MY day, but I was happy. Last night was the first night that Nora has slept through in a LONG time.
What Mother would ask for anything more??
Grace and Dianna both came in my bedroom to greet me before 7am. They had both made special cards and gifts to give me today. I'll have to take pictures to show you their beautiful handiwork -- words can't describe them sufficiently.
(Will already gave me his Mother's Day gift, a potted flower, when I picked him up at preschool on Wednesday.)
Gordon brought me a sweet card when he brought up a cup of chamomile tea to me, before he headed back downstairs to start breakfast. Grace helped Gordon make homemade pancakes for breakfast, and delivered them to me on a tray. Nothing better than breakfast in bed to help one feel totally cherished! (An observation -- though they used my very own pancake recipe, I swear the pancakes Grace brought to me were the BEST I've ever eaten!)
So now it is just before 8:30am on Mother's Day morning. The kids have all dispersed throughout the house. My morning of pampering is over. My day, however, is not.
I'm looking up clues to nearby letterboxes so that we can take a hike this afternoon. I'll try not to forget my camera -- there will be photo ops from our hike for sure!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Sudden Loss
I got a phone call late yesterday afternoon sharing the sad news that a gal I grew up with took her life late Saturday night/early Sunday morning.
I'm in absolute shock.
Jessica was about 6 years younger than me, so she'd be about 27 years old. She left behind a 10yo son and a 3.5yo daughter. She also left behind a husband, step-children, her mother, father, step-father, two sisters, a brother, two step-brothers, and various other relatives.
I pray that Jess' family will be able to recover from this staggering, sudden loss. I pray that God is by their side in these next few weeks -- surely the hardest they'll face as they heal from the loss.
I also pray that Jess has found peace in heaven.
The world will miss you, my friend.
I'm in absolute shock.
Jessica was about 6 years younger than me, so she'd be about 27 years old. She left behind a 10yo son and a 3.5yo daughter. She also left behind a husband, step-children, her mother, father, step-father, two sisters, a brother, two step-brothers, and various other relatives.
I pray that Jess' family will be able to recover from this staggering, sudden loss. I pray that God is by their side in these next few weeks -- surely the hardest they'll face as they heal from the loss.
I also pray that Jess has found peace in heaven.
The world will miss you, my friend.
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