I have been waiting for this day, perhaps a bit too excitedly, for the last month! About the 2nd week of August my kids kinda tuckered out on summer break and when the pool closed they decided their only option for entertainment became the art of annoying one another. And, it didn't take them long to really hone in on their skills. So it wasn't really a secret that mom was ready for school to begin. I'm eager for routine bedtimes...tired, happy kids. I LOVE time with just Landri. She's either color blind or severely neglected...so, we need a little time together!
This morning started fairly early. That's one perk of the first few weeks of school: its still a novelty and they're excited to go...to wear new clothes forbidden them the last month...play sports and hang out with buddies. So, somehow we managed to have everyone, except Lu, up and showered and ready by 7:15 today. And then began the struggle to keep them contained until 8!
After pictures and morning prayer, Lu lugged her big backpak along as we walked them all to school. We managed to keep up with no one! But, I did find each of them for one quick kiss and hug. Its fun to see them in their element.
When we came home and closed the door Landri asked, "mom, Eli???" . When I told her he was going to school she said, "I cry!" She then laid on the floor and cried. That made me tear up a bit too~ she 'want HOME!' her brothers and sisters! It will be a quiet morning.
And, I'm entirely looking forward to it. My house is spotless..my cars are spotless(well, on the inside) and I have play dough and HGTV. Gonna be a good day!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Chronicling today...
This morning didn't exactly start out like any other. I woke up early and fought against myself to get back asleep. I had several promptings that I should get up. I even knew it involved Landri. But I am an idiot.
So, I finally got up about 6:45 and walked by her room, noticing she wasn't there. Hmmmm. Weird, I thought. She always gets in bed with us! So I came downstairs and noticed the door to the garage was wide open. So, I flew outside...in my skippies...yelling her name. Nothing. I booked it back in the house and upstairs to throw some clothes on and get Nate. The two of us headed in opposite directions. I screamed her name and was getting pretty frantic. By the end of the alley, her usual escape route, I was bordering hysterical. Taking a quick sec to offer a desperate prayer...I headed around the block. At this time of morning the town is perfectly quiet. And I was having no luck finding her! I headed back to the house and woke Kolbe and Kenna to help search. Grabbing the phone I jumped in Nate's car to search faster. I'm not so afraid of the people here as I am her innocence to the danger of a car...backing up, or being unseen. I can't even describe the sheer panic I was feeling.
I had dialed my mom...when the thought came to me that I should call 911. AGH! That thought immediately increased my anxiety! 911 is never good news, right? So I hung up, and dialed 911. The operator had to walk me thru my name multiple times...hearing my frantic screams that my baby was gone! After gettting my name, he asked where I was. When I told him Fairfield he asked me if my daughter had blonde hair! I thought I was going to throw up. That meant someone had called in something...like, she was probably run over or hurt...After a few 'mam, calm down' moments...he said he knew where my daughter was. He could have the deputy bring her to me. Nope! Where was she? I'll get her myself! So, he gave me the address and I headed right over. I expected to find Landri at least particially as upset as I was! She is a mama's girl...But as I came in the house I found her sitting at the kitchen table, smiling from ear to ear, just chilling with her new friend. Apparently, this woman had seen her walking down the middle of the street( 3 blocks north of our house) before 6:45 this morning and thought she must be cold in her little jammie gown....and obviously lost. So she took her in and called 911 herself. I was pretty much a wreck at this point, but at least I knew she was okay. Nate didn't. Nor did the other kids who were out looking. So we headed out in search of them. I found my sweet Kolbe standing in the middle of the street about 2 blocks from home just weeping. SUCH relief in his face when he saw her! Then I chased down Kenna on her bike. She said she had offered 'several prayers' that we'd find her safe. I had just pulled up to the house when Nate came home on his bike. Landri, still smiling, hopped into his arms. She only knew everyone was crying...and so she proceeded to lather her dad in kisses! Wowza. Not a perfect start to the day....but a perfect answer to our prayers!!!
When we got home from church, Louie was playing in the living room with Kenna and Avery while I cooked. It was a little crazy! Right after asking them to tone it down a bit, I heard a huge clank. I hurried in to see both Kenna and Avery frozen, staring toward the end table that Landri had just cleared. It had my scentsy pot on it, filled with melted candle wax. It is currently waiting for me to clean still....two hours later. My steam cleaner is on, but I'm avoiding it for now. On a high note, my main floor smells incredibly tangerine.
As I initially assessed the damage of the mess, I very impatiently kicked the girls out of the living room. I was pulling the end table out to get to the mess and Landri yelled from the landing, "hi mom!" And just like that, she dropped the toilet paper over the edge, holding on to the end! First of all, how did she even know to do that?
I am pretty sure I'm paying a small payment in reminder that just this week I was pretty overwhelmed by her cute, snuggliness and had posted something about 'loving everything about this phase and wishing to have a 2 year old forever.'
Well, I DO love her. And she should be thankful for that...or else today could be very different :)
So, I finally got up about 6:45 and walked by her room, noticing she wasn't there. Hmmmm. Weird, I thought. She always gets in bed with us! So I came downstairs and noticed the door to the garage was wide open. So, I flew outside...in my skippies...yelling her name. Nothing. I booked it back in the house and upstairs to throw some clothes on and get Nate. The two of us headed in opposite directions. I screamed her name and was getting pretty frantic. By the end of the alley, her usual escape route, I was bordering hysterical. Taking a quick sec to offer a desperate prayer...I headed around the block. At this time of morning the town is perfectly quiet. And I was having no luck finding her! I headed back to the house and woke Kolbe and Kenna to help search. Grabbing the phone I jumped in Nate's car to search faster. I'm not so afraid of the people here as I am her innocence to the danger of a car...backing up, or being unseen. I can't even describe the sheer panic I was feeling.
I had dialed my mom...when the thought came to me that I should call 911. AGH! That thought immediately increased my anxiety! 911 is never good news, right? So I hung up, and dialed 911. The operator had to walk me thru my name multiple times...hearing my frantic screams that my baby was gone! After gettting my name, he asked where I was. When I told him Fairfield he asked me if my daughter had blonde hair! I thought I was going to throw up. That meant someone had called in something...like, she was probably run over or hurt...After a few 'mam, calm down' moments...he said he knew where my daughter was. He could have the deputy bring her to me. Nope! Where was she? I'll get her myself! So, he gave me the address and I headed right over. I expected to find Landri at least particially as upset as I was! She is a mama's girl...But as I came in the house I found her sitting at the kitchen table, smiling from ear to ear, just chilling with her new friend. Apparently, this woman had seen her walking down the middle of the street( 3 blocks north of our house) before 6:45 this morning and thought she must be cold in her little jammie gown....and obviously lost. So she took her in and called 911 herself. I was pretty much a wreck at this point, but at least I knew she was okay. Nate didn't. Nor did the other kids who were out looking. So we headed out in search of them. I found my sweet Kolbe standing in the middle of the street about 2 blocks from home just weeping. SUCH relief in his face when he saw her! Then I chased down Kenna on her bike. She said she had offered 'several prayers' that we'd find her safe. I had just pulled up to the house when Nate came home on his bike. Landri, still smiling, hopped into his arms. She only knew everyone was crying...and so she proceeded to lather her dad in kisses! Wowza. Not a perfect start to the day....but a perfect answer to our prayers!!!
When we got home from church, Louie was playing in the living room with Kenna and Avery while I cooked. It was a little crazy! Right after asking them to tone it down a bit, I heard a huge clank. I hurried in to see both Kenna and Avery frozen, staring toward the end table that Landri had just cleared. It had my scentsy pot on it, filled with melted candle wax. It is currently waiting for me to clean still....two hours later. My steam cleaner is on, but I'm avoiding it for now. On a high note, my main floor smells incredibly tangerine.
As I initially assessed the damage of the mess, I very impatiently kicked the girls out of the living room. I was pulling the end table out to get to the mess and Landri yelled from the landing, "hi mom!" And just like that, she dropped the toilet paper over the edge, holding on to the end! First of all, how did she even know to do that?
I am pretty sure I'm paying a small payment in reminder that just this week I was pretty overwhelmed by her cute, snuggliness and had posted something about 'loving everything about this phase and wishing to have a 2 year old forever.'
Well, I DO love her. And she should be thankful for that...or else today could be very different :)
I am glad for many things...many things today!
I wanted to take a quick second and record a few of the highlights of my Garage Sale weekend....
1. My girlfriend Keri donated two little potty-training toilets to my garage sale. During each day this past week when I worked out there sorting things, Landri broke those two things IN. It was funny. I hate those things! I've never used one to potty train because the idea of having 'potty' just sitting around in my kitchen...or living room, pretty much sicks me out. I've always trained my kiddos on the big toilet. So Friday morning about 11 am my girlies Jen Schenk and Heather Drishinski showed up to start arranging the sale outside. It took WAY longer than I thought! And, we were shopped all day too! It was fine; who cares when it sells, just as long as it does, right? My kids were troopers. They played in the garage and backyard all day. Landri was there with us the whole time...It wasn't until about 4 o'clock, and 10 shoppers later...that one of us walked by the rows of kid stuff and noticed Lu had used the potty chair. So...there it sat! GROSS.
2. When the first toilet chair was picked up to be purchased, Lu happened to be standing close by. She tried to fight the lady for it. Nice. Realizing she may have lost that battle, Landri huffed it over to the last potty chair, dropped her britches and sat down. Staking her territory so to speak. Did I mention it was garage sale? With lots of people? My mom saw her and scooped her up, panties around her ankles and all, and carried the very unhappy pottier into the house. Gratefully, both toilets sold....empty.
3. Landri loves other people's clothes. Namely Avery's. And because Avery is the sweetest kid alive...Landri has claimed the right to demand that she strip and give her the outfit she's wearing if, when walking by, she decides that she likes what Avery's wearing. We have discussed this Avery. Yesterday after the movie we needed a few things at Target. I trotted across the parking lot with Landri...as we got to the doors, this little family walked out with a little girl slightly older than her. She happened to be wearing a cute little dress. Landri stopped dead in her tracks and said, 'Ohhhhhh. T-u-ooot dress! I want it!' I started laughing and told her, " Landri, its her dress. She's wearing it. You can't have it." 'WHAAAAAT?' she said. I thought the cute little lady following us in was going to die of laughter. Imagine. Someone told her no!!!?!!!
4. After neglecting my children badly this week, I announced yesterday that we were going to the movies! Perhaps it was really because I wanted to avoid cooking dinner. I'll never tell. Jerry had just walked in the door so he decided to tag along. My children are naughty in the car. Always. And, Jerry feels it is part of his responsibility to parent them.We headed to Taco Hell for dinner. We pulled in and Jerry announced that he'd like to say something. He turned around, and said, "okay guys, we need to behave in here. No fighting and being wild. Its important to us." Perfectly said Jer. Of course Nate and I were chuckling...and the kids were a little less impressed.
1. My girlfriend Keri donated two little potty-training toilets to my garage sale. During each day this past week when I worked out there sorting things, Landri broke those two things IN. It was funny. I hate those things! I've never used one to potty train because the idea of having 'potty' just sitting around in my kitchen...or living room, pretty much sicks me out. I've always trained my kiddos on the big toilet. So Friday morning about 11 am my girlies Jen Schenk and Heather Drishinski showed up to start arranging the sale outside. It took WAY longer than I thought! And, we were shopped all day too! It was fine; who cares when it sells, just as long as it does, right? My kids were troopers. They played in the garage and backyard all day. Landri was there with us the whole time...It wasn't until about 4 o'clock, and 10 shoppers later...that one of us walked by the rows of kid stuff and noticed Lu had used the potty chair. So...there it sat! GROSS.
2. When the first toilet chair was picked up to be purchased, Lu happened to be standing close by. She tried to fight the lady for it. Nice. Realizing she may have lost that battle, Landri huffed it over to the last potty chair, dropped her britches and sat down. Staking her territory so to speak. Did I mention it was garage sale? With lots of people? My mom saw her and scooped her up, panties around her ankles and all, and carried the very unhappy pottier into the house. Gratefully, both toilets sold....empty.
3. Landri loves other people's clothes. Namely Avery's. And because Avery is the sweetest kid alive...Landri has claimed the right to demand that she strip and give her the outfit she's wearing if, when walking by, she decides that she likes what Avery's wearing. We have discussed this Avery. Yesterday after the movie we needed a few things at Target. I trotted across the parking lot with Landri...as we got to the doors, this little family walked out with a little girl slightly older than her. She happened to be wearing a cute little dress. Landri stopped dead in her tracks and said, 'Ohhhhhh. T-u-ooot dress! I want it!' I started laughing and told her, " Landri, its her dress. She's wearing it. You can't have it." 'WHAAAAAT?' she said. I thought the cute little lady following us in was going to die of laughter. Imagine. Someone told her no!!!?!!!
4. After neglecting my children badly this week, I announced yesterday that we were going to the movies! Perhaps it was really because I wanted to avoid cooking dinner. I'll never tell. Jerry had just walked in the door so he decided to tag along. My children are naughty in the car. Always. And, Jerry feels it is part of his responsibility to parent them.We headed to Taco Hell for dinner. We pulled in and Jerry announced that he'd like to say something. He turned around, and said, "okay guys, we need to behave in here. No fighting and being wild. Its important to us." Perfectly said Jer. Of course Nate and I were chuckling...and the kids were a little less impressed.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
It don't take much....
The silliest things make me happy. I know. But, I'm a pretty easy girl to please. So, I'm almost giddy to report that operation:Christmas is well underway. Usually the big man brings 2 gifts per kiddo, and we do two. But...seriously, its usually one good gift from each...and one very inexpensive filler gift. I don't know very many people who can knock off Christmas for less than we do. And because I'm the queen of all things cheap, my kids feel like they've been spoiled rotten! So...imagine my sheer giddiness to report that Landri has TWO gifts...one cost me 25 bucks, the other will cost me about 10 in supplies to doll up...and her other presents will be small and cheap. Holla! Kenna's gonna be tough this year...not even any ideas. Kolbe has one thing on the way, which is his BIG one. But again, I scored it at HALF its going price. We plan to put all our travel expenses on our Scheels card and pay it off, so we'll use our free gift card money to buy his other main gift and smaller filler ones, plus the one thing I can think of for Kenna, for FREE! So, we're basically covered for Bo. Avery got her main big man gift ordered today, but I'm at a loss for her too. They are so hard when they get bigger! Ordered Eli's main gift today....for, watch for it...a THIRD the normal price. So. See why I feel like skipping? I might even pull off a record LOW people. (which would be good, all things considered...)
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