It's official Caleb gave his first talk in Primary. He was very articulate, and did a great job. Rob helped him. Every time they would go through the talk together Caleb would forget something and say Doh! (very Homer Simpsony). Rob was worried he'd do that in the middle of his talk. Caleb didn't. He was very serious the entire time and I was super proud of him.
Beth had a good first week of school. Very exciting very fun. She made some new friends and did some good stuff. I'm proud of her. She'll start homework in a few weeks. yeah Homework! (not so much)
Jacob is being happy and helpful and fun. This week will be the first week of him with just me three mornings a week. I think he is going to miss Caleb very much. But we'll do play group on Mondays, and he speech on Wednesday and Fridays which should help. Plus we need some together time.
There isn't tons of news this week. We went to the temple yesterday to prepare for Caleb's talk. The kids managed to be reverent for the majority of the time. A feat that would astound many, especially our home teachers. Our kids are awful whenever they come over. I mean awful. Sigh.
Rob worked hard this week, since school's back in session. He's tired. But he didn't get cranky, so I'm proud of him. We had a nice at home date on Friday. I quite enjoyed it.
That's about it for us. Have a great week!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Back to School
Summer is over. School starts back up this week, and just in time. The kids are starting to get on each other's nerves and school will provide the perfect diversion to distract them from the fighting. The summer just slipped by and I didn't accomplish half of the things I wanted to this summer. Aw well, the kids had fun, played hard and made messes, what more could they possibly want.
Beth found out her teacher and met her. She seemed nice. Beth is going to have to make all new friends this year. Sigh. But she's really good at it, so I'm sure she'll have fun. She starts on Tuesday. Tomorrow is the last big hurrah. I've got to wear her out so that she'll go to bed early.
Caleb had a near miss yesterday. He narrowly missed a concussion, but took out a hook on the wall with back of his head. Rob thinks the hook may have already been broken. Either way I think he's lucky, but not lucky enough to avoid a tetnus shot tomorrow. I asked him to get out of the closet fifteen times yesterday because he could get hurt. He'd get out, but then sneak back in. He woke up this morning feeling great though.
Jacob is getting ready to potty train. Well actually I'm getting ready to potty train. We got some big boy underwear brand new. But summer running is over, and me changing diapers is over. Jacob can do this. I know he can. He's headed down the path to being a big, big boy. We're getting ready to wean him off of his paci as well, but that's going to prove to be difficult. Two nights we haven't been able to find a paci, and Rob's frantically gone searching for them as places are closing. Jacob cries hard enough to make himself sick. Current plan is no more day time pacis with the hope that he won't need one at bedtime. Then we can pull one out in the middle of the night so that I can sleep.
Rob's schedule at work is about to get super busy. This means he has to get to work early, which means we'll start going to bed before midnight again. Lately that just hasn't been happening. I'm excited. I'm more productive if I get more sleep, silly thing really. I ought to be able to run on just a few hours of sleep. But no, that's never been me. Not even in college. The truth is (are you ready for this it is shocking) until I started dating Rob I usually went to bed about 10:00. That was during college and everything. Well, weekends have always been a little bit different. You know it wasn't uncommon to be up until 2:00 in high school or college on a good weekend. I have lots of fun stories involving Denny's and Dee's restaurant and drunk people. They sure get honory when they're kicked out of the bars. I smiled thinking back on the grilled cheese sandwiches (I was on a kick that lasted about a year) and Wisconsin Cheese soup. Oh yum, I'd love some now. That stuff was good, especially in the middle of the night. Talking in a restaurant and feeling all bad, since I was breaking curfew.
Anyway enough about my errant youth, college I wasn't so errant, but still out late, and up late. The point is that Rob is the one to blame for my messed up sleep schedule. Truly I wasn't always a night owl (because as stated earlier weekends don't count) I was more of a morning person. It's tough to be a morning person when you are up too late. Now I've thought of a blog topic for my writing blog. But I won't post it today. I'm going to let it simmer around inside of me for a bit, so I can do the best possible poetic justice to it.
All right. Gotta go. Have a great week!
Beth found out her teacher and met her. She seemed nice. Beth is going to have to make all new friends this year. Sigh. But she's really good at it, so I'm sure she'll have fun. She starts on Tuesday. Tomorrow is the last big hurrah. I've got to wear her out so that she'll go to bed early.
Caleb had a near miss yesterday. He narrowly missed a concussion, but took out a hook on the wall with back of his head. Rob thinks the hook may have already been broken. Either way I think he's lucky, but not lucky enough to avoid a tetnus shot tomorrow. I asked him to get out of the closet fifteen times yesterday because he could get hurt. He'd get out, but then sneak back in. He woke up this morning feeling great though.
Jacob is getting ready to potty train. Well actually I'm getting ready to potty train. We got some big boy underwear brand new. But summer running is over, and me changing diapers is over. Jacob can do this. I know he can. He's headed down the path to being a big, big boy. We're getting ready to wean him off of his paci as well, but that's going to prove to be difficult. Two nights we haven't been able to find a paci, and Rob's frantically gone searching for them as places are closing. Jacob cries hard enough to make himself sick. Current plan is no more day time pacis with the hope that he won't need one at bedtime. Then we can pull one out in the middle of the night so that I can sleep.
Rob's schedule at work is about to get super busy. This means he has to get to work early, which means we'll start going to bed before midnight again. Lately that just hasn't been happening. I'm excited. I'm more productive if I get more sleep, silly thing really. I ought to be able to run on just a few hours of sleep. But no, that's never been me. Not even in college. The truth is (are you ready for this it is shocking) until I started dating Rob I usually went to bed about 10:00. That was during college and everything. Well, weekends have always been a little bit different. You know it wasn't uncommon to be up until 2:00 in high school or college on a good weekend. I have lots of fun stories involving Denny's and Dee's restaurant and drunk people. They sure get honory when they're kicked out of the bars. I smiled thinking back on the grilled cheese sandwiches (I was on a kick that lasted about a year) and Wisconsin Cheese soup. Oh yum, I'd love some now. That stuff was good, especially in the middle of the night. Talking in a restaurant and feeling all bad, since I was breaking curfew.
Anyway enough about my errant youth, college I wasn't so errant, but still out late, and up late. The point is that Rob is the one to blame for my messed up sleep schedule. Truly I wasn't always a night owl (because as stated earlier weekends don't count) I was more of a morning person. It's tough to be a morning person when you are up too late. Now I've thought of a blog topic for my writing blog. But I won't post it today. I'm going to let it simmer around inside of me for a bit, so I can do the best possible poetic justice to it.
All right. Gotta go. Have a great week!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Beach!
Rob will have to be responsible for pictures, but we just got back from a very relaxing weekend at the beach. We went down with Rob's family to North Myrtle Beach and it was so nice. I was a little concerned when the trip was planned, because I despise crowds. I hate feeling crowded and rushed and ick. But the resort we stayed at was nice, and I didn't feel crowded at all, except on the elevator. It was also super nice to be with Rob's family. His sister Karen and her family came down, as well as Chris and Gail and Eldon. Super fun!
Jacob loved the sun, and the sand. He had no fear and loved to play in the waves. Rob waded out with him, until the waves were up to Rob's chest and they had a lot of fun playing in the surf. he also loved to sit in the tide pools and just dig in the sand. And of course he loved the pool at the hotel. The entire time he just hung on to Rob. I think he loved the extra attention he was getting from his dad.
Caleb was a wild man. He wasn't so interested in the ocean, but loved to dig in the sand and the tide pools. He paddled around on a boogie board in the tide pools and made an awesome castle all by himself. When I went to get him, the tide was washing up and over the castle. It didn't phase Caleb, he kept telling me that it was okay and that we could just build it again. Which we did three times! But then I told him it was time to go up to the pool again. He stayed outside all day both days we were at the beach. At the hotel he loved the hot tub and would strike up conversations with whomever was in there with him.
Beth had a lot of fun as well. She and Chloe played together a lot. Beth went and jumped the waves. She got pretty brave a few times and would wade out until it was nearly waist deep. She also went for a walk on her own (and got in trouble for it) to collect sea shells. She was sad to go.
On the way home we visited the US North Carolina. A retired battleship from WWII. It was interesting, but not a place for little kids. So many places that the boys could fall through and crazy stairs. Plus it was crazy hot. Rob wants to go back for the ghost tour in October. That's why we went, because there was an episode on Ghosthunter that featured the boat. We don't know why there would be ghosts. Only ten people died on the ship and it was only in commission for about five years. I remember that the episode wasn't very exciting.
Rob is headed back to work tomorrow. Work will start to get busy for him again, because school is starting back up. He has some early classes this year, so he won't be able to stay up until 1:00 anymore.
We still haven't gotten Beth's school letter. She's starting to panic. I may go check the mail again, since I don't think it's come yet. Meet the Teacher is Friday, and if it comes down to it, we can just visit the office on the way to school.
As for me, I will finish up my current draft of my novel, and start submitting it to agents this week. One of my top five agents opened herself to submissions for this month. I've got to get in the window. Plus it's time. A year is long enough. I'm looking forward to a little more structure to my days. So that I can get more down.
Take care!
Jacob loved the sun, and the sand. He had no fear and loved to play in the waves. Rob waded out with him, until the waves were up to Rob's chest and they had a lot of fun playing in the surf. he also loved to sit in the tide pools and just dig in the sand. And of course he loved the pool at the hotel. The entire time he just hung on to Rob. I think he loved the extra attention he was getting from his dad.
Caleb was a wild man. He wasn't so interested in the ocean, but loved to dig in the sand and the tide pools. He paddled around on a boogie board in the tide pools and made an awesome castle all by himself. When I went to get him, the tide was washing up and over the castle. It didn't phase Caleb, he kept telling me that it was okay and that we could just build it again. Which we did three times! But then I told him it was time to go up to the pool again. He stayed outside all day both days we were at the beach. At the hotel he loved the hot tub and would strike up conversations with whomever was in there with him.
Beth had a lot of fun as well. She and Chloe played together a lot. Beth went and jumped the waves. She got pretty brave a few times and would wade out until it was nearly waist deep. She also went for a walk on her own (and got in trouble for it) to collect sea shells. She was sad to go.
On the way home we visited the US North Carolina. A retired battleship from WWII. It was interesting, but not a place for little kids. So many places that the boys could fall through and crazy stairs. Plus it was crazy hot. Rob wants to go back for the ghost tour in October. That's why we went, because there was an episode on Ghosthunter that featured the boat. We don't know why there would be ghosts. Only ten people died on the ship and it was only in commission for about five years. I remember that the episode wasn't very exciting.
Rob is headed back to work tomorrow. Work will start to get busy for him again, because school is starting back up. He has some early classes this year, so he won't be able to stay up until 1:00 anymore.
We still haven't gotten Beth's school letter. She's starting to panic. I may go check the mail again, since I don't think it's come yet. Meet the Teacher is Friday, and if it comes down to it, we can just visit the office on the way to school.
As for me, I will finish up my current draft of my novel, and start submitting it to agents this week. One of my top five agents opened herself to submissions for this month. I've got to get in the window. Plus it's time. A year is long enough. I'm looking forward to a little more structure to my days. So that I can get more down.
Take care!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Book Update
59. My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison
60. The Scribbler of Dreams
61. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan--gotta say I loved the end of this one. This was the last book in the series. It was packed full of action, battle scene after battle scene, hardly letting you come up with a breath. I liked the end. The entire end--how the fighting ended and how well the final scenes of the book went. Wow! Just Wow!
62. The Magician by Michael Scott
63. Demon's Lexicon
64. Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer. I needed this book today. It was about finding the positive, and good in the situations around you. Nice voice. I really enjoyed it.
65. Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
66. The Sorceress by Michael Scott
67. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
67. Wings by E.D. Baker
68. Dairy Queen
69. The Off Season
70. The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry (This was really, really good. It was a first novel, and there was bit more I'd like to have seen at the end, but overall a really good read.)
60. The Scribbler of Dreams
61. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan--gotta say I loved the end of this one. This was the last book in the series. It was packed full of action, battle scene after battle scene, hardly letting you come up with a breath. I liked the end. The entire end--how the fighting ended and how well the final scenes of the book went. Wow! Just Wow!
62. The Magician by Michael Scott
63. Demon's Lexicon
64. Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer. I needed this book today. It was about finding the positive, and good in the situations around you. Nice voice. I really enjoyed it.
65. Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
66. The Sorceress by Michael Scott
67. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
67. Wings by E.D. Baker
68. Dairy Queen
69. The Off Season
70. The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry (This was really, really good. It was a first novel, and there was bit more I'd like to have seen at the end, but overall a really good read.)
Sunday, August 9, 2009
HOT! Hot, hot
This week was hot. I mean hot. Kids have been going crazy, so we did a few promised park trips.
I think we went to play group and left by 11:30. That was Monday. We stayed about an hour.
Wednesday we went to a new park instead of story time. We got there about 10:15 and left by 11:00. Poor Jacob was so red, and flushed and hot. This new park is awesome. Lots of climby stuff and the kids loved it.
Thursday we went to story time. And then came home and the house turned into a huge disaster, from which it has not recovered. That is our primary goal for tomorrow.
Friday we went visiting teaching and then to the Big Slide Park. A park which I have been avoiding all summer, since there is no shade. We got there at 11:20. Sadly I knew it was a bad idea, but I had promised the kids. We left at 11:40 with absolutely no protest from the kids. It was just too hot to be out and about. Too hot!
Saturday we got up early and went to the new park, which will either be called the Climby park or the Spider Web Park. The kids wanted Rob to see it. We got there about 9:30. The kids played, we walked on a walking trail. Beth and Caleb became very afraid of two little teeny tiny weiner dogs on leashes. And then we went over to the big field where they were having the grand opening celebration for the park. Very exciting. We avoided the speeches, but got free balloon animals and the kids made visor hats that have since been demolished. After that we went and got a slush from Sonic.
That is our week. It is so hot, we don't want to do anything. Constant headache and everything. We thought our air conditioning wasn't working until we realized Beth and turned it off. It's hot with it one, but unbearable without it! We've got fans upstairs, and it is just going to get hotter this week. The humidity level will be pretty high too.
School is only two weeks away! Yikes. It makes me sad, and happy.
Have a great summer!
I think we went to play group and left by 11:30. That was Monday. We stayed about an hour.
Wednesday we went to a new park instead of story time. We got there about 10:15 and left by 11:00. Poor Jacob was so red, and flushed and hot. This new park is awesome. Lots of climby stuff and the kids loved it.
Thursday we went to story time. And then came home and the house turned into a huge disaster, from which it has not recovered. That is our primary goal for tomorrow.
Friday we went visiting teaching and then to the Big Slide Park. A park which I have been avoiding all summer, since there is no shade. We got there at 11:20. Sadly I knew it was a bad idea, but I had promised the kids. We left at 11:40 with absolutely no protest from the kids. It was just too hot to be out and about. Too hot!
Saturday we got up early and went to the new park, which will either be called the Climby park or the Spider Web Park. The kids wanted Rob to see it. We got there about 9:30. The kids played, we walked on a walking trail. Beth and Caleb became very afraid of two little teeny tiny weiner dogs on leashes. And then we went over to the big field where they were having the grand opening celebration for the park. Very exciting. We avoided the speeches, but got free balloon animals and the kids made visor hats that have since been demolished. After that we went and got a slush from Sonic.
That is our week. It is so hot, we don't want to do anything. Constant headache and everything. We thought our air conditioning wasn't working until we realized Beth and turned it off. It's hot with it one, but unbearable without it! We've got fans upstairs, and it is just going to get hotter this week. The humidity level will be pretty high too.
School is only two weeks away! Yikes. It makes me sad, and happy.
Have a great summer!
Friday, August 7, 2009
When I Was Eighteen
Quite honestly I can look back at my eighteenth year with a lot happiness. I moved out and had a lot of fun my freshman year of college. But this post isn't about me. It's about Caleb.
We were talking, and I told him that he could be an acrobat. Well he wanted to know what that was, and we hit YouTube for some videos. One of which was Urban Acrobat Guys running around jumping off of buildings, flipping and rolling. Really cool stuff. Then I was telling him not to try that stuff.
Caleb: Mom I know how to do that.
Me: Really
Caleb: Yeah when I was eighteen I knew how
Me: Caleb you weren't eighteen
Caleb: Yes I used to be, then someone turned me into a baby.
Me Thinking: Maybe there's something to the whole reincarnation theory (not Really)
So what could you do before you got turned into a baby?
We were talking, and I told him that he could be an acrobat. Well he wanted to know what that was, and we hit YouTube for some videos. One of which was Urban Acrobat Guys running around jumping off of buildings, flipping and rolling. Really cool stuff. Then I was telling him not to try that stuff.
Caleb: Mom I know how to do that.
Me: Really
Caleb: Yeah when I was eighteen I knew how
Me: Caleb you weren't eighteen
Caleb: Yes I used to be, then someone turned me into a baby.
Me Thinking: Maybe there's something to the whole reincarnation theory (not Really)
So what could you do before you got turned into a baby?
Sunday, August 2, 2009
A Week of Up and Downs
Overall it was a good week. Rob worked a lot. When I say a lot, I mean a lot. Several days he left here at seven, and didn't get home until 1:00. He's currently snoring and I hope he doesn't wake up until tomorrow morning. He's got a few more tough days ahead of him.
Beth had an okay week. She ended up sick today and stayed home from church. Well I'm the only one I went and I substituted in Beth's class. It was an interesting day. We got the back to school supplies for Beth, and she is a tiny bit nervous about heading back to school. She doesn't know where the second grade classrooms are, and it is making her nervous. I'm reassuring her with the promise of Meet the Teacher in a few weeks.
Caleb announced that he is willing to go to preschool. That he is excited to go. He got a new backpack, which may be part of it. He finished up his bronchitis medicine, and now his dark circles are back under his eyes. I think I need to put him back on whole milk. That will make him happy. No soda, just whole milk with added cream. Then his circles might just go away.
Jacob is doing great as usual. Happy little guy. Today he kept throwing things down the stairs. He hit Beth with a toy train. Rob got on him about it. And Jacob was MAD! He went and got something to throw at Daddy. (What Rob didn't realize is that Beth was egging the entire thing on, from throwing stuff down the stairs to throwing stuff at Dad--so we had a little talk.)
As for me, I'm hanging in there. We had a few power outages this week, which gave me the incentive to clean out the fridge. Nothing like a real fresh start to your refrigerator. We also watched some kiddos, baked some cookies and tried to be nice people this week. The house stayed clean more than it was dirty. And that made me happy overall.
Keep smiling!
Beth had an okay week. She ended up sick today and stayed home from church. Well I'm the only one I went and I substituted in Beth's class. It was an interesting day. We got the back to school supplies for Beth, and she is a tiny bit nervous about heading back to school. She doesn't know where the second grade classrooms are, and it is making her nervous. I'm reassuring her with the promise of Meet the Teacher in a few weeks.
Caleb announced that he is willing to go to preschool. That he is excited to go. He got a new backpack, which may be part of it. He finished up his bronchitis medicine, and now his dark circles are back under his eyes. I think I need to put him back on whole milk. That will make him happy. No soda, just whole milk with added cream. Then his circles might just go away.
Jacob is doing great as usual. Happy little guy. Today he kept throwing things down the stairs. He hit Beth with a toy train. Rob got on him about it. And Jacob was MAD! He went and got something to throw at Daddy. (What Rob didn't realize is that Beth was egging the entire thing on, from throwing stuff down the stairs to throwing stuff at Dad--so we had a little talk.)
As for me, I'm hanging in there. We had a few power outages this week, which gave me the incentive to clean out the fridge. Nothing like a real fresh start to your refrigerator. We also watched some kiddos, baked some cookies and tried to be nice people this week. The house stayed clean more than it was dirty. And that made me happy overall.
Keep smiling!