The Last Few Days

Friday was interesting.  It snowed overnight last week Thursday - Friday.  A 2 hour delay for the oldest two turned into a full day off for the snow.  Funny thing was the roads were totally clear by 10:30.  It warmed up and was a beautiful day with 5 inches of snow on the ground.  Gwen had woken up at 6 AM by coughing and throwing up in her bed.  I reassured myself that the vomit was cough induced.  After all, I have one with an easy gagger.  If she laughs too much, coughs too hard, cries for too long, etc. she will throw up.  Anyway, she went back to bed and I had to wake her up at 9:30.  I had to get her up because I was taking her to JC Penney to get her 2 year pictures taken.  But then she threw up in the kitchen.  I still attributed it to coughing and we got shoes on and headed out.  Then she threw up in the car in the parking lot at Penney's.  OK.  No pictures, but maybe I could run in next door at Costco and get the 5 things on my list.  No sooner had I pulled into my parking space when she really let fly.  Vomit everywhere.  Charlotte, who was sitting next to her, covered her eyes and kept saying over and over, "I'm not gonna look.  I'm not gonna look."  Now Costco was out.  Definitely couldn't blame it on coughing at this stage.  She had a stomach bug.  Back home with absolutely nothing accomplished except a 2 year old covering herself and her car seat in puke.  I just made more work for myself as the stinkin' car seat had to come out and get all taken apart and laundered.  BUT, my saving grace was that at 2:00 I was picked up by a girlfriend and whisked away to our church's women's retreat.  We even had time to stop at the outlet mall on the way down.  And can I just tell you that I bought the most awesome skillet.  I have been needing a new one and I walked into this kitchen store and there it was....a 15 inch skillet with stainless interior, copper middle and aluminum exterior.  It's made by All Clad, and it was on sale, too.  Exactly what I had been looking for.  I couldn't wait to get home today and try it out!  (and I did....sausage gravy with biscuits and eggs for dinner).  After our retail therapy we drove to a state park inn for the retreat with 250 other women.  I got home this afternoon after 48 hours away.  It was lovely.  Especially because when I got home, everyone was healthy and had made a full recovery.  I can't wait to share with you all about the lessons I learned at the retreat...but that will have to wait for another day for I am worn out and headed to bed! 

L-O-S-E-R

If any of you were thinking that you were in the running for Mom of the Year, I just wanted you to know that the award has been presented and I am the official winner.  Best you can do is 2nd place at this point!  Last night I dropped Joel (10 years old) off at basketball practice at a local elementary school at 5:20 for 5:30 practice.  Matt left to pick him at 7:00, but returned without Joel.  "Where's Joel?" I asked.

"Funny thing, " Matt replied.  "Practice didn't start until 6:45 and is over at 8:15."  So, Joel had been alone at the school - no other person in the building, no phone to call us - for an hour and a half.  ALONE.  I am sure he was freaked out.  Of course, he acted like he was fine.  But I know him and know he was terrified.  Not to mention that I hadn't fed him dinner because he would be home by 7:15.  This is the boy that gets REALLY grouchy if he isn't fed regularly.  His metabolism is super fast.

In all seriousness, as I drove away from the school after dropping him off, I thought, Isn't it interesting how much more comfortable I am dropping him off than I would have been with my 1st child?  I would always have walked Kyle into the building.   Guess I need to revert back to my old ways, huh?

Potty Training

Well, this week has been interesting!  I decided I would take some old costume jewelry I had plus a watch to the place in town that buys gold and see if I could make a little spending cash.  I had my hopes set high.  Too high.  I have sold some old gold chains and earrings that are missing the match and done pretty well.  I had heard the man mention that he also bought good costume jewelry.  So, in I marched with my treasures.  He took one look at them and said, "Do you have small children at home?"  I answered that I did.  He then said, "Take these things home and let them play with them.  They aren't worth anything."  Bummer.  All my hopes dashes.  Just like that.

Gwen has started potty training.  That's one of my least favorite parenting tasks.  I am a firm believer in the "Naked and Elbow Grease" method of potty training.  Meaning that I leave their pants off because it makes them realize that they need to do something about the stuff coming out from between their legs.  The only problem with that is when they don't make it to the potty.  Yesterday we had 1.5 pee accidents and 1 poop accident.  I have to tell you, though, that the poop thing was not entirely her fault.  Yes, it came out of her body.  But, in all fairness, she was bending over and squatting down to pick something up when all of a sudden she tooted....and out came a bit of poop, too.  I don't think she knew it was coming.  At least it was on the hard floor and not the carpet.

Since my last few posts have been about Gwen, I thought I should fill you in on the happenings of the other 5 children who occupy our home.  We don't want one to feel more important than another.

Kyle, who is in 8th grade, has been trying to decide what his feelings are about high school.  I can tell you that I don't feel old enough to have a high school student, but nonetheless, we have been weighing our options.  I think we have settled on him staying at the local public school.  He's comfortable there...and the boy thrives on comfort. 

Now, I have to brag on my eldest daughter.  Last Sunday Gretta stayed  home from church because she had been running a fever the night before.  So off we went for 2 hours leaving her at home.  When we walked in the door at 11:30, there on the neatly-set table, was brunch.  She had made the entire meal (pancakes, fruit salad and fruit smoothies) by herself and timed it out so that it would be ready when we got home. 

Joel is feeling much better since my post about the mystery illness.  He's back to himself and is completely immersed in basketball.  He dribbles in the garage when it's raining and is outside every free moment when it's not. 

Ben is also playing basketball.  He's in a league with 1st and 2nd graders and being that he is a VERY TALL and THICKLY built boy, he's much taller than the other kids he plays against.  My husband even commented that Ben could have tooted and knocked one particularly scrawny kid over.  He looks like a moose out there! 

Charlotte is becoming Gwen's little mother.  They have giggle fits (and cat fights).  She LOVES to go to school...which is only a mom's day out program one day/week for 3 hours! 

Oh, and I better give you another "Gwen-ism":  "wub ew"....especially cute when she tacks on "mommy" at the end.  "Wub ew, mommy".  I love you, too, Gwennie!

"Fulf"

"Fulf" - definition:  a two year old's way of saying, "No, thank you, Mommy.  I want to do it all by myself".  Of course it does not come out nearly so sweet.  It's more shouted than spoken and has a very defiant tone.  Two year olds are notorious for wanting to do everything by themselves, whether they actually can or not.  Like buckling her own car seat, getting herself dressed, washing her own hair, brushing her teeth, putting on her shoes, zipping up her coat....doesn't she realize that I am only trying to help??  How much easier it would be if she just let me get the coat turned the right direction, the knots out of her hair before she brushed, the shoes on the correct foot?

Funny thing:  I can just picture God saying the same thing about me.  "Doesn't she know how much easier this would be if she would just let me help her?"  But instead, I run around in my own way shouting "fulf".  God is there waiting, wanting me to turn to help and ask for help, knowing full well that I can't do this (life, mothering, etc) on my own.  You know, I am convinced that God gave me my children (and 6 of them, at that) to teach me a thing or two!

Another funny Gwen conversation:
Me: "Gwen, why did you ________________?" (fill in the blank...spit food out of your mouth, throw your plate to the ground, bite your sister)
Gwen:  "Cuzth"
Me:  "'Cause why?"
Gwen:  "Ida know"
Me:  "That's a NO, Gwen.  You know we don't _________." (again...fill in the blank)
Gwen:  "OK Mama"  (said with an adorable smile on her face)
Then repeat the conversation 5 minutes later when she does it yet again.

Sixty Second Clean Up

I read an article in a magazine over the weekend about a 60 second cleanup.  I gave it a try last night and it's fabulous!  It won't suffice if you really need to deep clean, but if you are just needing to straighten up a room, it's a fun idea.  Here's how it works:  set a timer for 60 seconds.  Gather your kids and assign tasks if needed.  On "go", everyone works as hard as they can for 60 seconds.  I was amazed.  We did the family room and then the school room last night before bed.  They think it's a game and are willing to work hard and not be distracted for that time.  Who can't commit to 60 seconds!?!  Plus, with everyone working, it really can get done!  You should try it.  I would love to make the 60 second clean up part of our evening routine - especially for our family room and school room.  The author recommended that if you have a small room, like a bath, that you want done, that you do 60 second shifts...one kid at a time with a specific job while they are in there.  Fun idea!

Casserole Recipe

Tried this one last night on request from Ben (8).  He saw the recipe on the back of the mac n cheese box and asked for it.  There is nothing healthy about this, but it was pretty tasty and one of my kids even said it was a "top 10 favorite".  The recipe is on the back of the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Deluxe box.  I doubled it for our family.  Quick and easy...maybe your kids can even make it!

1 pkg Kraft deluxe mac & cheese, original cheddar
1 cup chopped ham
1 cup frozen peas, thawed, drained
1/2 c milk
1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese

Make the mac & cheese according to directions.  Stir in ham, peas and milk.  Spoon into a baking dish (spray it first).  Top with cheese.  Bake at 400 for 15 min.

Two Mistakes

Mistake #1:  It's killing me.  I cut Gwen's hair.  She's got these beautiful golden locks with ringlet curls.  The back was getting a little long and sort of "mullet" looking.  Plus, with the length, it wasn't curling as tight.  So I thought a little trim would be good -- layer it a bit, take some of the weight off.  Not so.  Oh, I am in literal pain every time I look at her.  Very little curl....maybe it's just because it's too short.  More likely it's because I cut the baby curl out.  The front, top and sides are still curly, the back is just chopped.  Honestly, it looks rather stupid.  I just want to cry.


Mistake #2:  I invited Joel's basketball team over for an ice cream party this evening.  Plus parents and siblings.  We are at 25 people.  Now I'm regretting it.  We have a cabinet missing a door, trim around a window that needs to be replaced, a tiny, cramped kitchen (especially with 25 people in it).  Why did I do that???  But, I know that true hospitality is not waiting until your house is perfect so you can show it off.  True hospitality is inviting people into a warm home filled with love....serving from your heart, not your best china.  I have to get over my house.  It's NEVER going to look perfect.  I am NEVER going to have my entire "to do" list completed.  But, I can't let that stop me from having people into my home.  I have to get over wanting to "entertain" and start focusing on be hospitable.  So, here's to a fun night (and hoping people don't notice the missing cabinet door).