For the Grandmothers

Instead of reading to Drew last night, I made him read to me. This is a little excerpt. I know one thing, this was not me fresh out of Kindergarten!

One of the most precious things ever

His instructions were “don’t let the baby fall off the bed.”

(He didn’t.)

We went swimming today, and apparently it wore everyone out. The kids all changed into jammies when we got home and they all napped. I got a few projects done which I hope to share maybe tomorrow (if I get good photos).

But, while I’m at it… a little Drew update.

He tends to be our child that doesn’t (willingly) share unless it’s on his own terms. (”Here, Madeline, you can have two grapes.”) So a couple of weeks ago we met my friend Sarah at the park, and Drew took it upon himself to give her son (age 2) two of his “baby toys.”

(Never mind that what he was really saying was he was too old for those ‘baby’ trucks. Her son thought they were the best thing ever, and who was I to step in when Drew was being generous!)

Then another friend had us over to swim and let each of my kids “borrow” something when we left (two of which we still have) — well, in return, Drew wanted to lend Charlie his fire engine. Which, for him, is a big deal.

So poor Charlie (and his mama!) was loaded down with the fire engine after Sunday School. I apologized to my friend but she was a good sport. Andy even went in the downpour to fetch it from our van.

Ah, life’s little lessons…it’s better to give than to receive.

Six!

Happy birthday to my sweet, crazy boy.

Did that just happen?

Drew lost his very first tooth on Saturday night. It’s been loose for a while and when he brushed his teeth that night I noticed it was nearly out. I made sure he knew to give it to me and not to swallow it.  (Ew.)  He came bopping out of bed much later and had it in his hand.

“I pulled it out myself AND IT DIDN’T EVEN HURT!!!”

So then he put it in a baggie (quart-sized, what in the world?) and I told him to stick it under his pillow. I almost forgot to go get it but managed to fulfill my duties as tooth fairy. My dad commented on the inflation — he only got a quarter (I think I did, too) and we gave Drew a whole dollar.

(Which, of course, he’s been begging ever since to go to the store to buy another matchbox car.)

One of the funniest parts of the whole ordeal was when Madeline realized Drew got money for his tooth. “Mom? Can you help me get my teeth out?”

Yes, she did.

And I’m trying to figure out how it is that I have a child old enough to be losing teeth.

Show and Tell

I had been meaning to blog about this hilarity and then never did and had a baby and forgot. But Drew’s selection yesterday for show-n-tell immediately reminded me and now here we are.

The kindergarteners can bring a show-and-tell item to school each day. Drew’s very favorite toy in all the land is this little black matchbox-type car that happens to be a Dodge Charger*. He pretty much takes it with him wherever he goes and he sneaks it under his pillow at night. So I wasn’t surprised the first day of school when he wanted to take his black car for show-and-tell.

But then the second day of school came and he wanted to bring it again.

And the third day…

And the fourth…

I tried to explain that the kids have already seen his black car, and you’re really supposed to bring something new for show-and-tell each day. But he was having none of it; he only wanted to bring his beloved black car — day in, day out, it mattered not.

Andy and I decided that that was a battle we simply weren’t going to fight just because we felt the most important thing was for him to be in charge of his show-and-tell items and to own his choices. (Even if that means he brings the same thing every. single. day.) I wrote his teacher an email a couple of weeks ago and apologized for the ridiculousness that were some of his items and she was so sweet to write back:

“As to Show and Tell, just continue as you are doing. Let him express himself; chuckle to yourself; and deal with whatever embarrassment you may feel (this is not the worst you will face). There is a big-eyed bobble head kitty we have seen just as many times as that black car! A lot of great lessons are being taught and learned in Show and Tell that have very little to do with the actual item brought.”

Which totally eased my mind.

So then yesterday? He decided to bring this:

Yeah. An empty old-school Rubbermaid.

???

I. Have. No. Idea.

********************************

*Andy and I get all manner of kicks out of Drew’s love for the Dodge Charger. He points them out whenever he sees one on the road. Monetary value has absolutely nothing to do with it — you’d think he was talking about a Ferrari the way he carries on about anything Dodge and we joke it might as well have been a Hundai or a Ford Escort. LOL.

And something for the boy

(No. Not all I do is sew.)

(And also? I don’t know how to do anything technical or professional. I don’t use patterns. I just know how to do an elastic waistband and straight lines and hem stuff.)

I’ve been a little disappointed with the fall selection of boys’ pajamas. Drew’s way beyond the beloved toddler jammies, so I decided to at least make him some pajama pants he can wear with t-shirts.

This project takes, literally, like 30 minutes. And I just have to say, the boyish flannel selection at Hobby Lobby is a little, um, lacking.

I basically just laid another (store-bought) pair down on the fabric and cut around one of the legs (pull elastic waistband taught to get the real layout), adding in a little bit for seams.

I also left as much fabric as I could folded into the hems so I can take them out as he grows taller.

(Which will be what, next week?)

Pretend this is a fitting title

I apologize in advance for what is certain to be the most rambly post ever.

Hope everyone had a good Labor Day! Andy’s also off on Tuesdays so we could have gone somewhere fun, had we thought of it. As it was, we took my mom to the airport Sunday morning and had friends over after church Sunday evening and then Monday Andy finished the 2nd coat of paint on two sides of the house.

The last few days with my mom were spent doing those little sorts of annoying things you hate doing but love having the results. (I mean who really wants to clean out the laundry room and that dark coat closet?)

She and I also took the kids to the pool Friday, possibly for the last time this summer. The weather had cooled off just enough to knock out the humidity. And we’ve been reacquainting ourselves with the local playground. (Which I had sworn off for the summer.)

Saturday night one of my close friends’ little sister got married, and conveniently, my mom was still here to take care of my kids so I could go without an entourage. It was a lovely wedding and fun to catch up with people I haven’t seen in a while.

Yesterday that same friend called wondering if I wanted to go with her to the fall consignment sale for kids’ clothes. Why yes, yes I do!

I bought several fall things for Madeline and a navy wool church coat that is ridiculous in its old-fashioned cuteness. It even came with a muff. (Not like we need those sorts of things very often here.) I also got another Boppy pillow since I’m not entirely sure where mine is, and a couple other random baby things for cheap.

Madeline’s favorite thing was this dress (because it “goes down”), which she wore the rest of the evening:

They also had a few racks of maternity clothes and I picked up this 3/4–sleeve dark gray top for me. Well, later when Madeline was looking through all her loot, it dawned on me I couldn’t find that shirt. Looked everywhere. Called Sarah to see if maybe I had left it in her car.

No shirt.

Then we remembered my neighbor had been outside and helped me out of the car, and maybe it had gotten dropped in the switch. I went out this morning and sure enough, there was my shirt – out in the grass, wet.  (I didn’t care, I was just thankful to find it since I’d paid for it. And because it was cute, to be honest.)

Tonight Drew has his kindergarten orientation and the whole family is invited. I’m still not sure how it’s possible I even have a kindergartener.

Or (almost) four kids, for that matter.

I may have forgotten how to cook

I haven’t mentioned it but my mom has actually been here all week. The first few days she spent helping my sisters get their dorm room set up and staying at my brother/SIL’s house. She’s been staying here since Friday, and you can bet my kids are having fun.

It was a busy week! I was able to go out with some girlfriends to dinner and to see Julie & Julia. (Have you seen it? I know Meryl Streep was speaking the way Julia Child did but I have to say it drove me up the wall.) All my friends left saying it made them want to go cook. It made me want to run from the kitchen.

It could just be the pregnancy.

My mom, sisters, and I took the kids to Andy’s restaurant one night and then we also went back, sans kids, over the weekend with some friends. It turned out to be the week for eating out – we also made a stop for lunch at the tea room on Saturday and out for Chinese that same night. Andy and I even had a dinner date this week at Chili’s.

All that to say, I guess I can’t complain about having to cook this week since I’ve clearly been spoiled with all my un-cooking lately. (To top it off, my mom had made a big Sunday meal for us yesterday for my siblings and a cousin. I didn’t even heat up the rolls.)

Total change of subject… Saturday night we had to get the groceries for Sunday lunch and stopped in Walmart (I also needed more 2T girls’ underwear… can’t imagine why) and my sister and I turned around to see Drew with his hands cupped around something.

It was a handful of cigarette butts he had pilfered from the ashtray by the front door.

!!!

In all fairness, I don’t think he knows anyone who smokes and hasn’t really been exposed to the concept. I doubt he knew what they were. And I think we probably embarrassed him by our shocked cries of disgust. But still, ew. (His hands got a quick Purell bath, needless to say.)

And here he thought he had found himself a little treasure. Ha.

And so it begins

Drew started his first soccer clinics on Saturday. He loooooooved it. Andy said he was running around patting all his former preschool friends on the back and whooping it up like the Mr. Extrovert that he is.

He also said Drew did really well. Which is not surprising since he comes by it honestly — my dad played soccer for the Air Force Academy, my brother played his whole life and for Covenant, and Andy played through high school and intramurals in college.

It’s like a family requirement.

Wherein Drew is spoiled rotten

Drew had his big day-o-golfing with Daddy and Papa yesterday. Andy and Dad golfed for real while he was at VBS and then my mom and I dropped him off after a quick bite to eat. (Chick-Fil-A of course.)

They did a 3-par course, which was perfect for the little guy. I wish I had thought to drop off my camera as well.

(Because I’m sure we would have all loved to see pictures of him chasing the geese…an impulse he apparently inherited from his father.)

They stopped for chocolate shakes at Sonic on their way home, so needless to say, Drew was riding high on life yesterday. He only had a mild fit when we told him he couldn’t finish the entire thing before naptime.

(And what do you think was the very first thing out of his mouth upon waking up?)

I enjoyed a quiet afternoon here, which I needed after running around like crazy the last few days. When my sisters got home from work, my mom, Cassandra and I went over to my grandma’s house for a little impromptu tea party. Which, you know, are really the best.

Andy, Cassandra, and I took Drew and Madeline to see “Earth” last night at the $1.50 theater. We got there a little late and were forced to sit down near the front, and then as soon as we had sat down, Madeline looked up and exclaimed “TURTLE!!”

Five minutes later, “FOX!!!” And then after two beautiful scenes of flowers, “it looks like the ‘Secret Garden’!!” Our shushing her clearly wasn’t meaning much. (There were other kids there so it wasn’t a big deal.)

But then she and Drew started begging for water (what do you know, salty popcorn makes one thirsty) and we had a few up-and-downs for that. I’m just thankful the entire tub of popcorn didn’t spill or something equally as embarrassing.

On the way home Drew started asking about the rest of his shake again, and we told him it would be nice of him to share some with Madeline. She piped up with “I’m only going to eat a teeny, tiny bite because you got your special shake from McDonalds.” (Sonic.)

Drew, a touch condescendingly: “Madeline, that’s exactly right.”

And the grown-ups died laughing.

Learning patience

So this morning turned out a lot differently than I expected… I had an appointment with my midwife scheduled for 9 and took Drew along with me because I was hoping to be able to get his stitches removed at his pediatrician’s office afterwards.

When we walked in, the receptionist told me she was with a patient at the hospital and would be back around 9:30. So Drew and I left and went to the store, which worked out well anyway since we’re celebrating Madeline’s birthday tomorrow.

Got back to the office and ended up waiting well over another full hour!! But it’s one of those things where you don’t know how long you’ll end up waiting and hate to leave in case you’re going to be seen in the next five minutes.

They have toys and books in the waiting room, and I did get some good time alone with Drew. (Even though he bugged me the whole time about how he did NOT want to get his stitches out. The boy is relentless.)

My actual appointment was quick and easy and we were soon on our happy way to his. (Er, I was on my happy way, he wasn’t quite so enthusiastic.) It was close to lunch so I didn’t know if they’d be able to squeeze us in or not but they said to go ahead and come.

He panicked, and it’s no wonder with the trauma of getting the stitches in. But once she had snipped a couple of them he realized it didn’t hurt after all and he was calm for the rest of the ordeal. Plus I’d brought him a new Lightning McQueen car (he had lost his other one and has been asking for a replacement for some time now) and that successfully distracted him. Nothing a little bit of materialism can’t fix.

It’s gross. There might be some lingering gravel in there because it’s started to ooze (I know, sorry) a little. But the stitches are out and we just have to keep Neosporin on it and keep it bandaged and all that. She put him on a different antibiotic in case there IS anything in there that’s keeping it from healing clean.

All that to say, those two appointments and staying up late last night to clean wiped me out. Thankfully my older kids play well without my supervision and I was able to take a quick snooze on the sofa while Adelaide napped in her bed.

I think we’re going to stick around here and make cupcakes tonight. Because what birthday is good without cake?!

Cabin Fever

Because of Drew’s injury and stitches, he’s not supposed to take baths; the laceration can’t get wet. So that means, by extension, he can’t get too dirty. Yeah, easier said than done.

And you know what? It is nearly impossible to keep a five-year-old who is used to spending more than half his day outside content while being cooped up indoors for an entire day. At least the off-and-on rain gave me a legitimate (to him) excuse. He really could care less about getting dirty.

(You know those really careful and clean kids? I’ve yet to have one.)

So here’s how we spent the Day that Dragged Onward:

It’s hilarious to me how different they play with Play-doh. Drew uses one color and actually plays with it; Madeline smashes every color into a jumbled mess and stacks the empty cups:

And when you’re suffering from cabin fever, what better way to pass the time than to draw on your legs with markers?

They lounged and watched Signing Time in the afternoon:

And watched a movie (with popcorn!) at night:

(Rinse and repeat for today.)

Memorial Day 2009 – One for the history books

I had a mental lapse yesterday morning and agreed to go hiking with Andy and the kids.  It ended up being the hike from, well, you know where.

For one thing, everything was wet; wet leaves, wet dirt, wet rocks.  Which meant that everything was slick.  And there are parts that if you were to slip off the side of the trail, you’d fall about 40 feet.  (We made the kids hold our hands during those lengths, obviously.)  So I was a little on edge to begin with.

We all did mostly fine getting up to the falls, and when it got kind of rocky, I started carrying Adelaide.  We were at a fairly level spot of just big rocks to step on or around, when I slipped on one and fell.  Cut my elbow and scraped/bruised a patch on each leg.  (Adelaide was fine since she landed cradled in my elbow.)

After that we decided to call it a day and head back down.  The kids got distracted by another family splashing in this little water pool we passed and we had a hard time getting them to focus on being careful with their steps downward.  And our puppy was just altogether a nuisance.

Both girls cried pretty much the whole way back to the car.  Madeline wanted to ride Andy’s shoulders but her jeans were sopping and muddy and Adelaide wouldn’t let me put her down even though my arm felt like it was going to fall off.  I was also bleeding and my legs were sore – I SO just wanted to snap my fingers and be home!

We had a very low-key afternoon consisting of lunch and naps.  We put the kids down early because we needed to leave in enough time to pick up fruit and chips and get to some friends’ house for a Memorial Day cook-out with several other families (mostly from church).

(Side note: of course it would start pouring the very minute I was getting out of the van to run into the store.  Goodbye, smooth hair.)

We managed to make it through the meal and ice cream treats without incident…unless you count Adelaide covering herself head-to-toe in fudgesicle:

And then Drew came in with a scraped and bloody knee.  We cleaned it up and applied a band-aid and he ran back outside to play.

It wasn’t three minutes later one of the kids said Drew had fallen.  There was a little confusion because at first we thought they were referring to the first time.  But then one of the guys carried him in, blood streaming down his leg.  I’ll spare you the details but he basically split his knee open and Andy ended up taking him to the ER.  The girls and I stayed for a while and then got a ride home.

He said it was an entirely miserable experience.  First Andy was directed to clean the wound, (something about kids taking pain from parents better?  Don’t ask me) and then he and two nurses had to hold Drew down for the numbing Novocain shots.   The little guy got so worked up he couldn’t breathe (he sounded a little wheezy yesterday for some reason) so they also gave him two steroid shots in the rear to get the swelling in his neck down.

The doctor had a very poor bedside manner and Andy said for that reason alone he was glad I wasn’t there.  (Hmph.)  Drew got 9 stitches and almost as many stickers (which are now stuck to my living room wall).  They had given him Tylenol with Codeine for the pain and so of course Andy had to tell him to stop running in the parking lot.

And also?  The ER ain’t cheap.

So I think for today we’ll be staying inside, trying to avoid further catastrophe.

I think she has ESP

On Tuesday night (Andy’s day off), he told the kids to get a stack of books and they’d read together before bed. Madeline brought him this:

We took it as a sign and told them about THEIR new baby. You would have thought we told them Christmas was in the morning.

Drew was very helpful with name suggestions. The first was “if it’s a boy, let’s name him Andrew!”

Me: “We already have two Andrews.”

Drew: “NO! We have Andy and Drew, and then Andrew!” (That wouldn’t be confusing or anything.)

Next, he suggested ‘Baby Sebastian,’ but “NOT like Nicky’s Baby Sebastian, this would be OUR Baby Sebastian.”

And then the next morning, “How about Baby Olivia?”

Thank you sweetie, but I think we’ll come up with something a little more original than the recent baby names of all our friends.

And I definitely have to put my foot down against any suggestions of ‘Baby Max.’

In the fast lane

Drew usually provides me with a running commentary whenever we’re in the car.  Most often it’s “MOMMY, YOU’RE BEATING ALL THE CARS!!”

Ahem.

Admittedly, I tend to stick to the left lane.  (Probably because I’m perpetually late.)

(At least I come by it honestly.  Hi, Mom!)

Anyway, I’ve heard several variations of that this week because we went to the last mom’s fellowship at church on Tuesday morning and then today we met up with some friends at a park and then had lunch at her house.

I don’t know why it is that something almost always happens that keeps us from walking out the door on time.  You think I would just plan on leaving fifteen minutes early but apparently some lessons are never learned.

Which is also why I was glad Andy was home this morning to take Drew to his kindergarten assessment.  And yes, they made it on time.

He did great!  In typical Drew fashion, he managed to surprise his daddy – that kid definitely knows more than he lets on.

The End of Preschool (Or, Pass the Tissues)

Today was Drew’s last day of Pre-K. It was carnival day and it sounded like a lot of fun, including a special lunch of a corndog, ketchup and chips (yes, that is what he said), watermelon, and juice – ON A TOWEL. I’m assuming that meant a picnic.  He also came home with a rainbow painted on his face.  (No idea.)

Andy and I had gone up on Tuesday for the closing chapel, and I have photos from that burning a hole in my computer. Sorry in advance for the length I know this post is going to be. It’s a milestone, what can I say?

First the kids showcased the music and Bible verses they’ve learned this year (I think this first one might be of all the pre-K classes):

Drew’s class with their Fruits of the Spirit:

Signing a Bible verse (can you guess which one?):

In his classroom afterward, looking at the memory book his teachers put together for each of the kids.  It was such a special surprise and will save me a TON of work:

A closer look (and no, I won’t bore you with every single page):

He also had the ABC book he made; a basket with mini Fruits of the Spirit; his Bible verses all paper-clipped together and tucked into the “Bible”, his certificate, and a few other little things:

I told you I’m sad to see preschool end!

One Very Happy Little Boy

The kids haven’t had bike helmets for a while since I kept forgetting to replace the old ones that got trashed.  Finally I decided yesterday was the day and told Drew and Madeline that we’d go buy new ones when they woke up from their nap.

(Sidenote: I love having legitimate things to entice my children into being excited for naptime.)

We went to Wal-Mart and tried on all the black helmets (Drew’s color choice).  Of course the only one that fit him had no packaging or bar code.  I thought they’d do what they usually do in such cases and just pick a fair (and low!) price and call it a day.

That. Did. Not. Happen.

After the cashier had wrung up our order, another clerk finally took the helmet to go try to ascertain a price.  I knew it was pointless because I had looked myself.  I stood there for the extra 10 minutes, trying to maintain orderly children (which is hard enough for them without having to stand still and wait for something they don’t understand).

Still, no price.  Another manager came and said he needed to suspend my order and go back to the “guy that puts all the bikes together” and see if there was a book from where he could look up a price.

I said no thanks, I’m not waiting a minute longer.  Target will now get my business.  I tried not to think about how crushed Drew was and told him he could ride his new bike in our backyard and not worry about the helmet and we would get one today.  He was happy enough that I had bought him a bigger bike (it was high time).

So today while he was in school, I was able to get him a helmet at Target.  And what do you know, they are several dollars cheaper than Wal-Mart (score one for me).

Andy took him and Madeline straight to the bike path after school and they rode and rode and rode.  I took them tonight after dinner and they rode and rode and rode again.

Which means Drew’s pretty much living on Cloud 9.

Bedhead: Morning No. 1,942