I am under a lot of pressure to provide a quality post for our readers. Spencer does such a great job of entertaining everyone. I ,however, thought you may all be a bit tired of the politics, I know I am! Since I am at home my world revolves around the kids, so my posts will be more of updates about the fam. Ben has started 3rd grade and so far (I ask that you cross your fingers now) we are having a great year! Hooray, we have a nice, positive, loving teacher!! I went to the class meeting and I am thoroughly impressed with this teacher. Ben has come home in a good mood every day. I can not even begin to express our relief. Between last year and this year it is night and day.
Matt has been waiting patiently, well not that patiently, for his turn at soccer, and then I missed the registration cutoff!! He is pretty bummed, but I try to keep telling him school starts soon and keep his mind on that. He starts next Tuesday, the 26th. I found a pre-k that I hope will be more like the one Ben attended in Missouri. He is ready to go. He keeps asking when he can go to the "big school" with Ben. He is still forever funny and says something everyday that makes me laugh!
Caitlyn, oh, Caitlyn!! That girl and I are going to push wills before she is 3! She has been balking at potty training for almost a year now. (Some of it my fault, I wasn't ready for my baby to grow up yet. I am over that, thank-you) We finally had to just put her in big girl panties and let her deal with it. She has done great! We went out all day yesterday and she did not have a single accident. The other day I was out watering the trees and she came out on the porch with just her shirt on, and nothing else. I asked her to go back in and get some pants on. I said she wasn't being modest, probably the worst thing you can say to a nudist at heart! So, she peed right there on the porch, just to show me she could! She smiled the whole time.
Spencer has started school, again. It is the beginning of the end of his Bachelors. He should be done the end of February, since he only needs to take 4-5 classes. Then the plan is to start on his Masters, that will take another 18 months. It is fine with me as long as 2 things happen #1 he is done by the time Cait starts Kindergarten. #2 it makes me more money! (haha) No seriously, we are going to need more to pay off the student loans!!
I am still in my own little home world. I am watching a baby for the school year, which is a bit of an adjustment because it has been awhile since we had any babies in the house. She is a good baby, and I am sure she is trying to adjust to us as well. I also just got called as 2nd counselor in the Primary. I have decided that I must have some sort of hidden talent with children, that or the Lord is trying to drive me straight over the edge!! I wonder what it is like not to have "Mr. Stinky Feet" constantly playing in the CD player, or cereal all over the table, chairs and floor, or to go to the bathroom all by yourself? These are some question I sometimes long to have answered. Then I realize that I have some pretty terrific kids. I am relying on a huge amount of faith the Lord has a greater picture and I am going to do my best! (I may also have to increase the chocolate in my diet!)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
H O L Y C R A P
It's outside the office here. At lunch I watched it catch and eat some bug. Holy crap, that is the biggest darned thing I have ever seen. It makes my skin crawl.
It's a Writing Spider. Easily 2 inches long and at least 4 inches diameter. Something flew into its web. I didn't even see it move, it was at the bottom of the web and instantly began to wrap it up. about 20 seconds later, it TOOK it to the center of the web effortlessly. There I watched it spill some goo on its prey and then devour it.
My skin is crawling.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The Key
At the office, we have a phantom pooper. So in all of their wisdom, the "powers that be" decided that in order to catch the fiend, we needed to lock the restroom. This was done with flamboyance and flair. The key is kept by one of our sales people and is attached to a 3 foot long chain. I made some noise about it being stupid and embarrassing to now have to ask to use the potty. Some other co-workers found it as irritating. So the first morning, I used the potty (with permission of course) and forgot to lock up. My co-worker arrives and begins to have his fun.
"You didn't lock the bathroom after you used it." He accused me with glee in his voice. You see, I had an inkling that he had something to do with this key situation because he makes the biggest deal about un-flushed toilets. Plus he spent the previous evening bragging about it. I Assume he probably had been up all night like a kid on Christmas Eve anticipating the catch of his first perp.
"Who cares?" I muttered. This really set him off, I watched as his glee turned to slight annoyance.
"What?!"
"I said, who cares. Adults asking permission to use the restroom at the office is stupid."
"Well," he huffed as his slight annoyance turned to anger "I don't think that you see the seriousness of the situation. Why do you have that attitude?" Then he said something that made me so mad. He said, "You wouldn't talk to Kevin like that." He really was equating himself with the owner of the company. I couldn't believe it.
"No. I wouldn't" I said flatly making it clear that I knew that he wasn't the boss. "See, I use the bathroom frequently and frankly I find it humiliating that I have to ask if I can potty and then carry a key on a three foot chain across the building so everyone can see that I am going to pee. I think that this is a costly solution to the problem that some workers are too lazy to flush and others of us are more concerned about pointing fingers than just hitting that little handle ourselves. Besides, unless someone is keeping a written log of who goes in and when, this doesn't work"
That was the end of the conversation.
I noticed that he stopped bragging about his key system after our conversation. A few days later, someone decided it would be funny to attach a 2 foot Styrofoam tag to the key that read "Restroom Key". I openly expressed that it was distasteful. It was removed shortly thereafter.
What is the point?
Well, I went to the potty today and the person before me didn't flush. So I asked the salesperson that "holds" the key if he knew who was in the bathroom before me. And guess what? He did not.
"You didn't lock the bathroom after you used it." He accused me with glee in his voice. You see, I had an inkling that he had something to do with this key situation because he makes the biggest deal about un-flushed toilets. Plus he spent the previous evening bragging about it. I Assume he probably had been up all night like a kid on Christmas Eve anticipating the catch of his first perp.
"Who cares?" I muttered. This really set him off, I watched as his glee turned to slight annoyance.
"What?!"
"I said, who cares. Adults asking permission to use the restroom at the office is stupid."
"Well," he huffed as his slight annoyance turned to anger "I don't think that you see the seriousness of the situation. Why do you have that attitude?" Then he said something that made me so mad. He said, "You wouldn't talk to Kevin like that." He really was equating himself with the owner of the company. I couldn't believe it.
"No. I wouldn't" I said flatly making it clear that I knew that he wasn't the boss. "See, I use the bathroom frequently and frankly I find it humiliating that I have to ask if I can potty and then carry a key on a three foot chain across the building so everyone can see that I am going to pee. I think that this is a costly solution to the problem that some workers are too lazy to flush and others of us are more concerned about pointing fingers than just hitting that little handle ourselves. Besides, unless someone is keeping a written log of who goes in and when, this doesn't work"
That was the end of the conversation.
I noticed that he stopped bragging about his key system after our conversation. A few days later, someone decided it would be funny to attach a 2 foot Styrofoam tag to the key that read "Restroom Key". I openly expressed that it was distasteful. It was removed shortly thereafter.
What is the point?
Well, I went to the potty today and the person before me didn't flush. So I asked the salesperson that "holds" the key if he knew who was in the bathroom before me. And guess what? He did not.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Third Grade, Poop, and a Villian Named Jennifer
So... Ben starts third grade today. We think he got a better teacher than last year. We hope so at least. Ben is really excited. Last night he asked for a Father's blessing. He got a really neat one. then all the other kids just had to have one. We had a good night. That is until about an hour after bed time when they were still up, running around and causing mayhem. His school had their open house yesterday in the afternoon. We didn't go as it interfered with Church. Roxann is really irritated that they do this every year. She says: "You know, for being in the middle of the Bible Belt they sure do ignore that one commandment alot." Oh well, Roxy met her this morning and she was pleased. I will meet her tomorrow morning. We are really excited for this year.
Caitlyn has decided that potty training is just not for her. We are not sure why as of yet. We have to fight her every morning to get her to wear her "big girl panties". She throws a wicked fit. Saturday, she decided that she would rather go naked than wear her undies. When we try to make her she sobs and tells us that "I don't want to be a big girl!". She's having a rough time of it. What she hates most is to poop. Caity holds it in for days at a time until she just can't hold it anymore. The aftermath usually results in Roxy bathing her while I bleach the bathroom and surrounding areas. Maybe that is why she's cranky. Yesterday in Nursery, she gave poor Kevin Bay a black eye. Sister Kailiponi (her nursery leader) refers to her as "The Bull". Apparrently she's the Tony Soprano of the nursery and rules it with an iron fist. No children have "disappeared" as of yet but we're keeping our eye on her.
Matthew has renamed all of the characters in his little world. Indiana Jones have given way to Indian Jones and General Grevious of Star Wars fame is now Jennifer Grevious. We are just amazed at how creative he is. He likes to ask really in depth questions. The other day he was looking at his hand and asked mom what was in there. She told him that it contained bone, muscle and blood. His reply was to break down the circulatory system; "So, is there blood moving through my whole body?" It is almost as interesting as his diatribe on where Jesus lives and just exactly how we are going to meet him. Or as interesting take on death. (see this post). But he's our little genius. Macabre at times, but genius.
Anyway we are all looking forward to the trip home. It can't come soon enough. Well, maybe I am excited. Roxy is getting all stressed out over the schedule. Everyone wants her here or there at this time or that. She is really bummed out over the whole thing. I have advised her to just write her own schedule and tell everyone "take it or leave it". After all, it's our vacation and it is Ben's Baptism. So there. pthhhhhhb!
Caitlyn has decided that potty training is just not for her. We are not sure why as of yet. We have to fight her every morning to get her to wear her "big girl panties". She throws a wicked fit. Saturday, she decided that she would rather go naked than wear her undies. When we try to make her she sobs and tells us that "I don't want to be a big girl!". She's having a rough time of it. What she hates most is to poop. Caity holds it in for days at a time until she just can't hold it anymore. The aftermath usually results in Roxy bathing her while I bleach the bathroom and surrounding areas. Maybe that is why she's cranky. Yesterday in Nursery, she gave poor Kevin Bay a black eye. Sister Kailiponi (her nursery leader) refers to her as "The Bull". Apparrently she's the Tony Soprano of the nursery and rules it with an iron fist. No children have "disappeared" as of yet but we're keeping our eye on her.
Matthew has renamed all of the characters in his little world. Indiana Jones have given way to Indian Jones and General Grevious of Star Wars fame is now Jennifer Grevious. We are just amazed at how creative he is. He likes to ask really in depth questions. The other day he was looking at his hand and asked mom what was in there. She told him that it contained bone, muscle and blood. His reply was to break down the circulatory system; "So, is there blood moving through my whole body?" It is almost as interesting as his diatribe on where Jesus lives and just exactly how we are going to meet him. Or as interesting take on death. (see this post). But he's our little genius. Macabre at times, but genius.
Anyway we are all looking forward to the trip home. It can't come soon enough. Well, maybe I am excited. Roxy is getting all stressed out over the schedule. Everyone wants her here or there at this time or that. She is really bummed out over the whole thing. I have advised her to just write her own schedule and tell everyone "take it or leave it". After all, it's our vacation and it is Ben's Baptism. So there. pthhhhhhb!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
ANTLERS!!!
We are (or I should say Roxann is) potty training Caitlyn. She is pretty good at it. Things will be quiet and she will suddenly look down and grab at her undies and knock her knees together with a surprised look on her face. She then runs as fast as she can, tugging at her britches, all the way to her little potty while her brothers chant, "Go, Caity, go!! Go, Caity, go!!". When she is done, Caity and Mom engage in a ritual "potty dance" and song. It's altogether disturbing to watch, but it is getting the job done. She has also been waking up dry. We are really proud of her.
The other night, the kids and I were playing one of our favorite games, King of the Bed. This game involves me lying on my back, on the bed, while the kids try to pull me off. Caitly is usually trying to "save" me from the boys as they try desperately to dislodge me from my position. They were really getting into it.
"We've got to get a running start!" Ben yelled to Matthew who at the time was pulling on my left ankle.
I didn't think anything of it, Ben usually likes to get a running start. Matthew by this time had pulled my left leg off the bed. I was holding my own with the right leg, and my arms were useless because they were holding Caitlyn, who is telling me playfully that "I'll save you, Dad!"
It is about this time that I hear Ben's battle cry from the distant hallway.
"ANTLERS!!!"
Huh? The muffled paddle of feet grew louder and louder as I heard him make his way through the hall. I paid little attention to him until at last he came into view of the doorway. I saw him. Head down, fist protruding from his quick, huddled mass like swordfish. He moved like a freight train, the rumble of his engine was his heavy, fast footsteps and his laughter. I watched in horror as his fisty lance made its way to my exposed crotch. There was nothing I could do but watch, horrified as he connected with my special parts. I moaned. Not in pain at first, but in surprised agony. Seconds later the pain rushed through my lower abdomen as I crumpled like a dying spider on the bed.
I sent him to his room.
The other night, the kids and I were playing one of our favorite games, King of the Bed. This game involves me lying on my back, on the bed, while the kids try to pull me off. Caitly is usually trying to "save" me from the boys as they try desperately to dislodge me from my position. They were really getting into it.
"We've got to get a running start!" Ben yelled to Matthew who at the time was pulling on my left ankle.
I didn't think anything of it, Ben usually likes to get a running start. Matthew by this time had pulled my left leg off the bed. I was holding my own with the right leg, and my arms were useless because they were holding Caitlyn, who is telling me playfully that "I'll save you, Dad!"
It is about this time that I hear Ben's battle cry from the distant hallway.
"ANTLERS!!!"
Huh? The muffled paddle of feet grew louder and louder as I heard him make his way through the hall. I paid little attention to him until at last he came into view of the doorway. I saw him. Head down, fist protruding from his quick, huddled mass like swordfish. He moved like a freight train, the rumble of his engine was his heavy, fast footsteps and his laughter. I watched in horror as his fisty lance made its way to my exposed crotch. There was nothing I could do but watch, horrified as he connected with my special parts. I moaned. Not in pain at first, but in surprised agony. Seconds later the pain rushed through my lower abdomen as I crumpled like a dying spider on the bed.
I sent him to his room.
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