Headin' Home

Well, we are heading home for Thanksgiving. Yes, I have packed my stretchy pants. As always, we are leaving later than planned. John got off work at 7 and I had an appt for the car at 8. I wanted him to take the car so I could finish up at home... and because I knew what would happen.... and it did. I came home and found a suitcase on the sidewalk, the back of the truck wide open and my little man sleeping on the couch. Not saying I blame him, he's been up all night.... but I forsee a struggle getting him into the car. I also have 2 girls who are awake and know (at least one of them does) that its time to go to nana's. Trouble is brewin' - pray for me. =)

Roller Coaster Continues

Has anyone noticed the up and down, good and bad nature of these last posts? It seems like I've been on a roller coaster ride for the last 4 days. Oh well, I'm going to try to push through this rough patch with prayer and patience (received only from prayer) until we can get everyone straightened out.

We went to church on Sunday and Jules feel asleep on they way home, but didn't stay asleep. It kind-of screwed up our nap pattern. No one wanted to go down, but by 2:30 trouble was brewing (Jules ended up with another scratch on her face) and I just stuck both girls in bed. They slept for almost 3 hours!

They were much better after that and we ended up having a really great evening. Nat passed out her sunglasses to Jules and I and all three of us were "rockstars." We danced to Christmas songs for our audience (daddy). Next, we were on a "mission to save moose." This ended up being a "hide from daddy, try to sneak up on him, get caught because we were so clumsy and loud" game. He scared us instead. Finally, we hid from daddy under the covers of our bed and had him come find us. He jumped on us all, growling. He scared me, but apparently Nat saw him coming but gave no warning to her fellow tent-mates! The whole family spent the next half-hour under the sheet. The two girls squirmed around trying to jockey for a position closer to daddy. Jules just rolled over him like a little steam roller and then would scream at the top of her lungs about 2 inches from his face. She also enjoyed putting her feet in his face. We just laughed and laughed and laughed.

(The pics - Jules likes dad to wrap her up like a burrito. Dad makes a play-dough nose and teases the girls with it)

Clash of the Titans

That's literally and figuratively. This weekend was FULL of ups and downs. Here are the 'downs.'

I guess it started on Friday after Julsie woke up from her nap. At some point that evening I heard a loud scream and Jules came running. She had a big red mark across her cheek and one on her neck. Nat admitted to having scratched Jules on the cheek (still a scab today) because Jules "woke up Cinderella." I thanked Nat for being honest, explained why what she had done was wrong and told her she'd get a time out. During this discussion, she yelled at me! So, she upped her punishment to a T.O. and a spank. Who does she think she is?

Saturday was an interesting day too. Nat had a great time at the party and Jules and I got some errands done. You'd think it was shaping up to be a great day! Think again.

I know I had to discipline her again that afternoon, but that evening was stinky for other reasons. I missed it, but John said Nat and Jazzy collided and Nat went flying into a dining room chair - head first. (Just what that girl needs, another head injury.) Daddy was with her in seconds and I followed leisurely, not knowing what had happened. When I picked her up, there was already a big purple mark on her forehead and I literally watched it swell right before my eyes.

She was totally against us taking this picture and against us even mentioning it to pop-pop and gma and gpa O when we talked to them on the phone. We iced the poor thing with frozen broccoli and were just grateful that it hadn't split open. Poor little stinker. I felt so terrible for her.

As daddy and I attended to her, she said, "too bad we have to have a baby dog." Even tonight, when I put her to bed she said, "can you pray we take Jazzy back." Instead I prayed that Jazzy would become more gentle and better and more careful. You should have seen Nat's face when I finished. That totally wasn't what she'd wanted. I explained why I prayed the way I did, but she wasn't convinced and said, "yeah, but why can't we just take her back."

Oh NO! She's got my temper and x's ability to hold a grudge!

Life of the Party? or Party Pooper?

After the apprehension of the night before, I decided NOT to just drop Nat off at the door, but went inside. I knew the mom "gets" Nat and would be okay with that.

We got inside and all the little girls were in their bathing suits. The mom and dad were dressed in life-guard apparel with visors and goggles and the "life-guard" symbol pasted across their shirts. Before I even get my shoes off, Nat says, "mom, mom, you should see my friend's bathing suit!" Before I get Julsie's coat off, "mom, mom, you should see what's IN here!"

What was "in here" was a big (water-less) blow-up pool, beach balls, water noodles and all kinds of beach paraphernalia along with tons of little girls hopping in and out of the pool with new flip-flops and ribbons and kids getting nails painted. It was wonderful. I stayed for a while to see how Nat would do, but she barely even paid any attention to me! I did help paint some nails (not Nat's), but left soon after everyone was polished. Poor Julsie bawled to leave. She too was getting in on the fun!

When I returned to pick Nat up 1.5 hours later, she didn't even notice me when I came in (and if she did, didn't acknowledge me). I finally had to get her attention. "Mom, look at my ball! look at my bag!" "Those are so nice! You made out like a bandit! So, how'd it go? What did you do?" "We danced! We played, we played Freeze dance, we ate cupcakes and pizza!" "Pizza? and what kind of cupcakes?" "Pink! Pink sunglasses" "Pink cupcakes, of course! Oh my goodness, you love pizza and pink. Was it the best party ever?" "Yes, it was the best party."

So, she had a great time and survived her first "drop-off" party. What a big milestone =)

PS Special thanks to the party mom and dad. It was so special for the kids - a real hit

Priceless Party Prelude

Nat was invited to attend a "Beach Party Birthday Bash" on Saturday. She had been extremely excited to go ever since the birthday girl and sisters brought the super-cute invitation to our house two weeks ago. The night before was slightly different:

As I was leaving the bedroom after tucking the girls into bed, I get the usual (or so I think) stalling technique, "mom, I have to tell you something."
"Ye-es," I said, thinking, "here we go again."
"Mom, ... mom... could you call my friends at the "snow summer beach party" and... tell them, ...tell them I'll be a little ascared?"
"Are you going to be a little shy? There's nothing to be afraid of honey, but I can call them. "
"and mom,.... can you call my friends and tell them "tell Natty, "to not be ascared?" okay?"
"Yes honey, I can surely do that for you."

First Snow!

We got our first snow of the year! Nat was sooo excited. I couldn't even get her into the car that morning to go to preschool. She wanted so desperately to play in that white-stuff she's been waiting for. And she HAS been waiting for it. She watches for snow during 'the weather.' She'll say, "it's going to snow! Are we going to nana's?" We saw snow at nana's over Halloween so I guess she has now associated the two (which actually isn't too off-the-mark.)

These pics were taken after school and after her nap. I promised her that if she took her nap she could play in the snow. Julsie was still in bed so it was just the two of us. We had a lot of fun building a snow castle. It may have looked like a big pile, but let me tell you, every flake was strategically placed. Of course, she denied having cold fingers or a wet bum... until we were finished for the day.

I'm sort-of disappointed in my pics. It was so much brighter out that day and she was just so much more beautiful in real life - the pink coat and hat, the rosy cheeks.

In these last ones, she's smirking because I asked her to hold still to let me take a picture. She got that wry smile on her face and said, "I can't mom, I busy building. I have to keep working." "Well then," I said, "I had better get on the ball and get back to work!"

Now, even days later, everytime we come into the house, I look to see "where is Nat?" and there she is, stomping in the snow castle.

Post 100!

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100 POSTS!

My last post was number 100 for this blog! Stay tuned for the next 100

and thanks for reading!