Go Fish.

 

My boys went fishing last Friday with a friend.  They had a great time and came home with lots of stories.... Today I finally got photographic evidence....

Thankful 2011 Day 1

Elle challenged posting thankful for November.

Here's a start.  I'm thankful for this smiley face.  And his health.  And his joyful personality.  Because he is a character.  Love you buddy.

Doesn't this look like a graduation pose???

Must be Hunting Season

This is what I found in my kitchen at about 5:15 this morning.  Can you see him with all that camo?  Good thing he is wearing orange.  His dad told him they weren't leaving until 6:00.  He asked which clock they were using?  Mom's?  Or the microwave?  Because he is smart and knows mom's clock is fast.  Then he ate breakfast twice and sat in front of the clock staring at it until it was time to go.

Grade 2

In which we document the continuing saga of the ever-changing sleep arrangements in our house.

Or.... rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

Our house is small.  Not insanely live-in-a-sheepherder's-wagon small.... but Not.  Big.

Also.... not well laid out.  Old school homesteader's cabin with random parts tacked on as electricity and plumbing became available.

So there's the background.

In 2007 we split the living room and created a small bedroom downstairs in addition to the two bedrooms upstairs. 

We've gone through various configurations.

In June I moved Bugsy's crib out of our room and into the kids' room.  So Sweet was in the pirate cave, Tuff in a single bed and Bug in the crib.  CROWDED.  But it worked for a bit.

Then we decided to move Sweet downstairs.... this eliminated our "guest" bedroom/junk storage but seemed like a good idea.  He got the brass bed frame (full-sized) that was his papa's bed when he was a boy.  His clothes all fit in the dresser.  (Sidenote:  That dresser was the first piece of "real" furniture I bought.... from a consignment store.... when I moved here.  I love that dresser.  It is too big to go up our stairs or fit in our bedroom but I am resisting getting rid of it.  Silly, right?)

Most of his toys fit under the bed in flat plastic boxes. 

This room has no light fixture so we are using one of those wireless appliance remotes (purchased at Bed, Bath & Beyond with a $5 off coupon.... whoo-hoo.) 

Oh... the room also has no heat.  So that might be a problem.

So Sweet is very happy in his new room.  He can play all he wants and set up elaborate lego stuff all over the place.  His bed time is now a little later than the girls.  He loves that. 

So then I decided Bugsy was ready to get out of the crib.  We've been using it with the side rail down anyway.  So we moved the futon upstairs and bought them some cute girly bedding.

First let me say... no human over 30 should even own a futon.  Seriously.  But when faced with the costs of buying the storage-type bed I wanted.... well.... I figure we will change things up again soon anyway so why bother.  I went with the cheap option.

So much of this weekend has involved switching over the clothes and sorting things.  It is getting there but I still need to change up the wall art and add a few cute girly details.  And I need to get a few lamps for Sweet. 

And I need to stop feeling sorry for myself about my tiny ugly house and just move on with it already. 

The Bike Saga: Part 3 and the End

So off to the bike store we go.

I was ready to head for Target.  Hot had other plans.

We went to a real bike store.

We decided Sweet could pick whatever bike he wanted.  Hot's rule.

We had a great saleswoman.  Sweet picked a 7-speed mountain bike.  24"

Sweet rode around in their parking lot and got all crazy going up and down this hill into the alley.  This is the kid who put neo-to-go on a keychain on his bike when he was little so he wouldn't have to come in when he wrecked.

We went in and he carefully got out his wallet and smoothed out the ones and fives on the counter.  We had changed all the change at the bank but he paused, dug in his pocket and pulled out a nickle he found in the car on the drive over.  $155.05.  And now he owes his dad for the rest.  Yes, it was a pricey bike.  Please don't come and rob us.  He has to bring it in for a tune up in a month and it gets locked in the shop every night. 

He's riding it all over the place.  Around the house.  Down to the creek.  Figuring out the gears and hand brakes was a challenge.  So much fun.  Kinda almost makes me want to tune up Hot's old bike and go for a ride.

Bike Saga: The money issue

Sweet wanted a new bike.

He's riding a bike that makes him look like a circus sideshow.  It is small.  He is large.

Nana and Papa gave him $75 towards his goal for his birthday.

That crazy toothfairy has been coughing up $5 per tooth.  (Yes, jokes were made about knocking out a few more to pay for the bike....)

Grandpa paid him a little cash to pick up all the bailing twine in the bale lot.

Daddy paid him $20 to pick up all the sticks in the yard this spring (rip off.... it took him almost 3 days to get it all done....)

Grandma put change (quarters, not pennies) in some plastic eggs for an egg hunt.

He's been doing odd jobs for me for green money***.  Also.... I sometimes pay bribes to kids who do fantastic tricks at the swimming pool. 

***sidenote:  how to you handle the difference between paid chores and "the things we do because we are part of the family" chores? 

So he's carefully been hoarding his cash.

I love the lesson this is teaching him.... Grandpa Kenny will be so proud.  I also love that he is saving for something that is active and not passive.  Because we all know he wants a video game.

So, finally, we realize summer is almost over and we better get shopping.

I'm catching my breath.....

Do you know how expensive a good kid-bike is these days???

I mean.  A good one.

Like a GIANT.

Rookie 6/7

My big grown-up boy with his FAVORITE present.  His dad rocks.  They tested it out on Sunday.... you can see the results... poor paper gopher.

I don't want you to think we are JUST rednecks..... behold.... a game of strategy....

A Typical Morning

I'm in the kitchen.  Slugging coffee and yelling for Sweet to hussle.  We've got a tight schedule.  What is going ON in there???  I'm all for good oral hygiene but WHY is it taking so long to brush???

Rice Crispy Treats

Here's a tip.  Don't go to Costco the day before school starts.  Everybody within a 10-mile radius is in there buying peanutbutter and bread. 

I overheard a dad (with 3 or 4 kids around him) say to the mom, "Do they start school tomorrow?"

I beaned him with a box of rice crispy treats.

No.  Not really.

I did buy Sweet a box of pre-packaged rice crispy treats.  I thought it would be a delightful back-to-school treat and he's been begging for them every time we go.  Bonus... I had a coupon. 

He said, "Oh, mom, you are the best mom ever."  "Because I buy your rice crispy treats?"  "Yeah.... that and when you make fudge."

Love that boy.

Then he tried one.

Now what do I do with the remaining 53 treats?  You know "picky eater" took one bite and didn't like them.

Day 2, Grade 1

Sweet is already tired of packing a lunch.  Even a super-special pb & powdered sugar sandwich with a magic sprinkle of chocolate chips for the first day wasn't doing it for him.

"But mom, I don't like cottage cheese."

Me.  Blink.  Blink.  This is the child who can eat an entire carton in one sitting.

"But mom, remember, I'm a picky eater."

Sigh. 

August 30, 2010

Six Months

School Supplies

First Grade List



1 school box


1 box saltines


1 pointy scissors


1 paint shirt to share


2 Elmer’s glue


24 #2 pencils (sharpened)


2 containers play dough


1 big box Kleenex


2 large pink erasers


1 granola bar


10 glue sticks


1 watercolor paint set


1 box baby wipes


1 two pocket folder


1 box 8-10 ct washable markers


2 boxes crayons (24 or less)

I have most of it already.... he got to pick a folder... Batman.  I still need to get glue sticks but I'm waiting for a sale.  And I haven't gotten saltines because we will just eat them.
 
Is it wrong to re-use the water colors from last year? 
 
Play dough?  Like... play dough?  Huh.  Ok... forgot to get that.... Since I tossed all of our dough in the ongoing craft-cleanout I guess I'll have to buy some. 
 
Tuff got into the Elmer's last night.... she made gorgous glue-pictures and had a blast gluing things on cardboard.  Good thing I got a few extra bottles when it was 25 cents a bottle last week. 

Do NOT google "swollen knes and red spots on shins -children."

Do NOT google "swollen knes and red spots on shins -children."

Just don't do it.

Then go to the ER.

Let's back up a bit, shall we?

Wait... first let's fast foward.... everything is fine.

Ok... now back.

Friday afternoon Sweet Boy was complaining of sore knees and sore feet. I, of course, assumed his snow boots were small and he'd fallen on his knees while playing on the snow peak in the yard. That night I felt his arches and they were spongy and painful. I worried a little but secretly just planned to hit the big weekend clearance sale at a local sporting goods store.

Saturday he had no complaints and was his usual bouncy goofy self. I measured his foot in his boots and they fit. (Size 2 by the by.... he IS a laborador puppy.)

Sunday afternoon he started going up and down the stairs like a seal because it hurt to bend his knees. Then he wanted to put his face in his bowl to eat his dinner because it hurt to bend his elbows. By Sunday night he was piled up on the couch with icebags on his knees. It hurt to touch below his knees (And I'm wondering if a 5-year-old can get Osgood-Schlatter's??). We tested the faker-factor by poking and prodding him after he fell asleep. He winced a lot. Suddenly I realize his knees are the size of oranges and I can't see his knee caps. I worry outloud and plan to make a doc appt the next day.

Monday morning he is fine. Bouncy. But I notice a few tiny red dots on his shins. Hot drops him off at school and talks to his teacher and asks her to keep an eye on him and call if anything changes.

Monday after school he is sore so he snuggles up on the couch. When I try to get him up at 4:30 to go to Nana's he can't put on his shoes and almosts cries when he walks. But Hot and I had somewhere to be at 5:30 so he got tought and went to Nana's couch. We picked him up a little before 8 and his ankles were now huge and looking bruised in spots. We loaded him up and headed for the ER.

The ER.

There were very few people there but we still sat for over 4 hours in a little room. H0t had to carry Sweet to the bathroom and hold him because he couldn't walk or stand. The adrenaline wore off and I was tired and realizing I hadn't eaten since lunch. Sweet was a champ. He didn't cry during the IV (and watched... just like I do). He was polite and calm. The ER doc said it looked like an autoimmune disease, maybe RA, but that wasn't his specialty and we needed to talk to the pediatrician first. The pediatrician said it probably wasn't RA. Then she came back and said he tested positive for mono.

WTF?

Mono?

Who has he been kissing? And, since it is an antibody test he's had it for a week at least. I review the history of the last few weeks... the doctor visit for Bugsy, the doc visits for all of us, the sore throat.....

Turns out he probably has Henoch-Schonlein-Purpura. An autoimmune reaction to an infection. And we have to keep an eye on his kidneys.

He got admitted and got some good steroids. By then I realized Hot was not leaving his side and there was no point for Bugsy and I to stay all night so we went home and took care of the critters. Tuff stayed at Nana and Papa's and in the morning I took both girls to daycare and went back to the hospital.

By the time I got there the pediatrician had been by and said his heart murmur was much better and the swelling was going down. He could walk to the bathroom.

He was playing with a game boy.

So we read and did a bit of work on the computer. Later in the day our regular doc came by and talked with us about what was going on and said he'd rather Sweet recover at home so we got discharged.

Sweet rode out of the peds wing in a little red wagon pulled by a college football player/nursing student wearing purple scrubs.

We picked up the girls and hit McD's for a celebration. Then home for the kids to watch movies and me to veg out watching the Olympics and cleaning up the house for the delivery of the dishwasher today and nervousness about my mom's surgery today. Hot went to Parent-Teacher conferences and then went to bed about 7:30.

Sweet has a doc appt on Friday for follow up and Hot is home with him today trying to keep him simmered down and resting.

And all is well.

Sledding with Alvin, Simon & Theodore.

Sledding with Alvin, Simon & Theodore. As you can see in the last photo.... Theodore is pissed and wants to go in for hot chocolate and marshmallows....

Nothing is on sale this week either.

Nothing is on sale this week either.

Why not?

I'm not gonna lie.... I wrapped presents on Saturday. I had a netflix movie to watch. Obsessed. Hot didn't want to watch it so I was on my own. During the movie: I tidied and dusted the living room, folded tons of laundry, unpolished my toes and wrapped gifts.

Pretty impressive, no?

Then Saturday evening Hot was complaining about his Smart Wool long johns.... they are warm and wonderful but threadbare. And his Chilly Willies (Hot Chilis) are old and worn out. I whipped out a present (wrapped) and told him to open it. He did. And THAT is when I realized I got the size right but the item wrong. Who knew the Under Armour boxes had a choice of tops OR bottoms? Back to the store I will go.

I need one good solid shopping trip sans the two big children. I need to hit Base Camp and Target and Lasso the Moon without them and I could be done with their stuff. And I'm just waiting and watching for a nice sale on bandaids and whatnot to fill the stockings. Why pay full price?

I got most of the farm gifts wrapped so I'll go ahead and take them up tomorrow and get them out of my house. Mom. Dad. Sis & Hubby. Bro & Wife. Jasper. Sarge. Daisy & Olive. I need to get photos printed to finish Grandpa Kenny's present. And I need to talk to Dad about what he wants to get for Mom.

The kids and I made fudge and peanutbutter blossom cookies this weekend. The blossom cookies turned out a little odd.... I'm thinking my tiny assistants put in an extra cup of flour maybe??? And the fudge got a little over cooked so it isn't as creamy as usual but the fatty hoggers will eat it this weekend anyway... then I can throw together another batch next week for Christmas. That's all the baking I plan.... fudge. Oh and a package of sugar cookie mix so the kids can use the cookie cutters and docorate them. Maybe some caramel corn... we haven't made that in a while.

The kids and I had a slumber party on Sunday night.... Daddy went to a friend's cabin so he could hunt early on Monday. We stayed up late enough to watch Lady Gaga strut her stuff on the music awards. My kids love her. And the Black-eyed Peas.

And we played lots of cards. Sweet taught me how to play War. But are aces high or low? And how does the game END? And we played Speed. Sweet & Tuff played Uno. Tuff dances and sings (opera tenor) with every card played.

Sweet & Tuff played chess yesterday afternoon.... Tuff lost but she didn't mind... she was playing restaurant with the prisoners. That's my girl. Did I tell you the story about her wearing my silky bathrobe? It's all silky and flowered and flowy (My sis got it for me in Japan) and she is wearing it and posing and dancing around and I tell her she looks nice and she says, "Oh. I look beautiful. Just like Judge Judy." I had to wipe the tears out of my eyes.

And Sweet. Sweet was curled up with the baby sleeping. He kept trying to snuggle in and use her as a pillow. She'd grunt and start whapping him with both arms until he moved. Then they'd snooze a bit and then he'd start sneaking in and trying to use her tummy as a pillow again and she would grunt at him and the arms would start going again. I really need to clean out her clothes.... I sent her to daycare in an outfit that was more like a stuffed sausage casing. She could possibly be working on another tooth. Runny nose and drooly... no fever and not unhappy but very clingy.