Picture Update

Hmm. . . for having a camera full of pictures, I sure don't have very many to share. For my third week of vacation this summer, I went to stay with my mom & dad. It was like my own little vacation from my vacation. That's because my mom lets me sleep in when I stay at her house, and she does all the cooking, too. (Thanks Mom!)

While there, I got to meet up with my old high school friends. We haven't all been together since August 2001. Oh my, how things have changed in those 7 years. We are now all married and have kids. There are 9.5 kids among us. Wowza! That made for one crazy, fun day. I was a little busy catching up and chasing kids around to take too many pictures, but here are two from that day.

Ellie & Kamrie playing the piano. I couldn't get both girls to look at me at the same time.

7 of the 9 kids. The other 2 were too small to sit on the slide.

I made a cake one Sunday, and then foolishly left it on the kitchen table. Ellie climbed up on the table and licked off all the frosting. I think she was pretty pleased with herself.

This was one of those times where I thought to myself, "I'm such a cool mom." I have this big roll of paper. So I ripped off a big piece, had Makayla lay down and then traced her. Then she got to use chalk and crayons to color herself. She had so much fun, and I got a nice, long shower.

Sorry I don't have any more pictures than this. I guess I better whip out the camera more often to capture little bits of our life.

Little Reassurances Go A Long Way

A lot of times I question my parenting abilities. But every once in a while, I get a little reassurance to put my mind at ease.

Today my reassurance came from Makayla when she said, "I want more peas and carrots please." When I told her we were all out she said, "Well, we might go to the store and buy some more then."

I must be doing something right if my children are asking for more vegetables.

What Could Be Better Than Free Entertainment?

My kids crack me up!

When Makayla doesn't know a word for something, she tries to describe it to me. But her descriptions leave a lot to be desired. And instead of understanding what she is talking about, I usually end up covering my mouth so as not to laugh out loud. I'm not always successful.

Today's description went something like this.

Mom, I just saw this cool thing!
Where did you see it?
On my movie.
What was it?
Well, it sort of went like down and then up and down again.
I don't know what that is.
Yes you do! It goes like this. (Then charade style, she tried to act out what she saw.)
I'm sorry, baby, but I don't know what that is.
It's just gray with a little, little yellow. And it's round with a down, up, down.
(This is where I started to laugh) What's it called, Makayla?
Well, I just think it might be called. . .um. . .I don't know. Light. . . ming?
Lightning?
Yeah, that's it. That's what I saw. On my movie.
(laughing continues)
Thanks. I love you. Bye. I have to watch my movie again.
-----------------------------
Ellie's vocabulary has really exploded over the last month or so. She knows a lot of words and tries so hard to repeat any new words she hears. But the best is when she misuses a word.

The other day, I heard noises coming from the kitchen. Noises that alerted me to a crime in progress. I walked around the corner to see the girls sneaking treats. They noticed me and quickly tried to dispose of the evidence. Makayla threw hers in her mouth and Ellie hid hers behind her back. So I said, "Ellie, what do you have?" Very innocently she looked up and said, "Nowhere." At that point I just turned around and started laughing to myself.

I'm telling you--Kids are the best!

Who Knew?

I have a geeky secret to share.

I subscribe to a dictionary word of the day. Every day I look forward to learning a new word. The chances of me using these new words in my vocabulary are rare, but still, I feel smarter for having read a new word.

Once in a while, I come across a new word that just complete dumbfounds me. Like today for example: vexillology. My inner geek got all excited when I saw this word. I was thinking "Wow! This is going to be a good one."

Turns out that vexillology is the study of flags. Seriously? Are there actual people who do this?

My curiosity got the better of me, so I googled it. As it turns out, there are actual organizations dedicated to the study of flags. Don't believe me? Look here or here. Or if you want to know who the actual people are (which apparently, I did) check out Wikipedia.

Okay, I feel a little vulnerable right now for sharing this deep dark secret. Try not to make too much fun of me. How about a redeeming picture update post later today?

Little Tummy Flutters

This past week has been fun. I started feeling the baby moving around. I always forget how much I love that. It's still mostly little flutters, and I really have to be paying attention to feel it. But a few times, it's been an actual kick. Only 4 more weeks until I find out if we're having a boy or a girl.

A Reason to Celebrate

I have a closet half-full of clothes that don't fit. (Doesn't every woman?) These are clothes that I've grown out of, but I'm determined to wear again one day.

One Day--that magical place existing in the mind of every woman desperate to fit into those high school jeans. Welcome to my "one day."

A pleasant side effect of pregnancy for me is weight loss. Without even trying, the pounds just seem to melt off. I'm sure it has a lot to do with my inability to eat a normal sized meal or keep it down 100% of the time. Whatever the reason, the doctor isn't concerned. And neither am I.

Over the past 3 months, I've lost about 10 pounds. Combine that with the 15 I lost shortly before I got pregnant for a grand total of 25 pounds. Woo Hoo!

Today, out of curiosity, I decided to open that other half of my closet and try on a few things. To my utter astonishment and delight, I pulled on and zipped up a skirt that I haven't worn since before I got pregnant with Makayla. That was 5 years ago.

I was so excited and so sad at the same time. Even though I got the skirt zipped up, it was really tight around my growing baby bulge. I'd never be able to actually wear it anywhere. But there is hope!

When I put that skirt back in the closet, I put it a little closer to the "this fits me" side of the closet. Now I'm looking forward to January for 2 reasons: the arrival of this new little person and being able to wear my favorite skirt again.

Today, life is good!

Spoiled, But Not Rotten

I don't think I was spoiled growing up. I have realized as I've gotten older that certain things in my life were easier than they were for my older siblings. But I think a lot of that just comes with being the fourth out of five children.

I had chores to do. I had to help with the yard work and garden in the summer. When I was a little older, I had a curfew. I had a job all through high school so that I could participate in the activities I wanted. My parents taught me good values and how to work. And for that, I'm very grateful.

But today I realized that my mother did spoil me rotten in one thing: watermelon.

Seems a little strange, I know. Let me explain. I remember maybe 3 times in my life where my mom would cut up a watermelon in wedges and have us eat the meat off the rind, spitting the seeds out as we went. With every other watermelon that came through our door, she would seed and chunk the entire thing and put it in a bowl in the fridge to chill (if it ever lasted long enough to get into the fridge). Then all we had to do was grab a fork and spear perfectly bite-sized, seed-free pieces for our enjoyment.

I don't think it ever really occurred to me that this is a rare thing to do, especially the seeding part. In the 7 years that I've lived away from home, I've attended many picnics where watermelon is served. But to my dismay, it's always either cut into wedges or chunks with the seeds still in it. I'm sorry, but after so many years of the way my mother has cut up watermelon, I just can't eat it any other way. It sounds a little snooty and perhaps a little lazy, but I don't care. I like it the way I like it.

Here's the problem. Whenever I buy a watermelon now, I have to slice it, scrape the seeds out, and cut it into the perfect size chunks for my little munchkins to enjoy. At 4 and 1 they have come to expect it, much the way I expected it of my own mother.

And so, I'm carrying on the tradition of spoiling my children. But I'm not spoiling them rotten. They still have to pick up their toys before they can reap the benefits of all my hard work.