Quite an eventful day! Made the new curtains for the bathroom, decorated Levi's hunting cake and got ready for his party at 4. Games and food went well, till Japheth cut his foot rather badly doing some sort of jumping off the dresser maneuver, and had to go to the ER. The spirit just wasn't as lively after he left. Poor guy ended up with 7 stitches in his foot.
On a lighter, but no less naughty note, I came out of the boys bedroom after tucking them in, to find Aila's PJ's and diaper at the top of the stairs. I went down to investigate, and Scott had re-diapered her, reporting she had gone in the bathroom, shut the door, got in the tub, and began to draw herself a bath! The problem was, she was only running hot water, and standing in, ankle deep, saying, "Hot! Hot!"
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Lunch and Dinner
It all started two days before. Levi had his heart set on having hamburgers for supper, but the meat was still frozen, so I promised we could have them for lunch the next day. He was most upset, crying and declaring he hated pot pie, which we had instead. He then proceeded to eat 3 serving of pot pie.
The following day, Levi, of his own accord, got out the burger and began shaping it into patties, stating he would make lunch. He did a great job, too, with a bit of advice, frying them up with a sprinkle of seasoning.
When supper rolled around, Scott was away, so I told Caelin to get the griddle out; we would just have grilled cheese and soup. Levi got up on the counter. "I feel like making something." he said. "Why don't you make the grilled cheese then?" Caelin asked. "No, I'm going to be a chef!" he responded. "Well, chefs can make grilled cheese." Caelin answered. Levi decided he would, claiming, "Chefs have to make everything!" He went ahead, buttering and assembling, and despite Caelin's protests that the sandwiches were burned on one side and soggy on the other, they were actually not bad at all. :-)
During this delightful meal, the boys somehow began discussing how much you could sell a moon rock for. Levi guessed a thousand dollars. Caelin, in his superior wisdom, said, "Oh no, much more!" Levi was shocked. I mentioned that you can't just get more very easily. Caelin added, "Oh I bet NASA has a cache of moon rocks." And I'm thinking, "A cache? How many 10 year-olds know how to use that word?"
To cap it off, Tirzah just told me she's in the F.P.I., which she doesn't know what that means, except that she can be naughty. ;-D
The following day, Levi, of his own accord, got out the burger and began shaping it into patties, stating he would make lunch. He did a great job, too, with a bit of advice, frying them up with a sprinkle of seasoning.
When supper rolled around, Scott was away, so I told Caelin to get the griddle out; we would just have grilled cheese and soup. Levi got up on the counter. "I feel like making something." he said. "Why don't you make the grilled cheese then?" Caelin asked. "No, I'm going to be a chef!" he responded. "Well, chefs can make grilled cheese." Caelin answered. Levi decided he would, claiming, "Chefs have to make everything!" He went ahead, buttering and assembling, and despite Caelin's protests that the sandwiches were burned on one side and soggy on the other, they were actually not bad at all. :-)
During this delightful meal, the boys somehow began discussing how much you could sell a moon rock for. Levi guessed a thousand dollars. Caelin, in his superior wisdom, said, "Oh no, much more!" Levi was shocked. I mentioned that you can't just get more very easily. Caelin added, "Oh I bet NASA has a cache of moon rocks." And I'm thinking, "A cache? How many 10 year-olds know how to use that word?"
To cap it off, Tirzah just told me she's in the F.P.I., which she doesn't know what that means, except that she can be naughty. ;-D
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Levi's notes
One day, Levi decided to put his improved writing skills to use by writing notes for all sorts of things. He came out of the schoolroom, slapped a note on the table, and continued on into the bathroom. The note read: I have to go pote.
Not twenty minutes later, he burst out of the schoolroom again, this time approaching Caelin, and slapped a good hearty crack on his behind. As Caelin jumped and howled, Levi calmly handed him a note reading: Did that hirt?
Not to be outdone, I gave him a note that read: Did you finish your math? When he realized what it said, he looked very surprised!
Not twenty minutes later, he burst out of the schoolroom again, this time approaching Caelin, and slapped a good hearty crack on his behind. As Caelin jumped and howled, Levi calmly handed him a note reading: Did that hirt?
Not to be outdone, I gave him a note that read: Did you finish your math? When he realized what it said, he looked very surprised!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Waking with Aila
From the depths of my sleep, I slowly drifted into lighter patterns. Gradually became conscious of movement beside me. A tugging, a wiggling. Then a plaintive whine, "Uh, huh." Aila has awakened and is thinking a nursey would be just the thing. I open my sticky eyes. The first shades of dawn are filtering through the curtains. The clock glows 6:30. A urgent need to go to the bathroom comes over me. "Alright." I murmur. "Just a minute. Mama will be right back." I hurry to do my business and stop at the beds of my other 3 dreaming chickadees to make sure they are tucked in, cozy and warm.
Back in our bed, Aila is fussing at my delay. I jump in quickly to the warmth of the covers. She is quieted and cuddles down expectantly. She latches on in satisfaction. The wiggling commences. Her hand pats, rubs. She tucks her feet in between my legs, a habit that at best is mildly annoying, but with a sharp toenail becomes intolerable. The toenail is quite scratchy today, like a small barb. I try to move her legs away, but she is persistent. For a moment I think how big, yet small she is. Recall that Levi and Tirzah both weaned at her age. Gradually sleep overtakes her and she settles down. I back away in one swift motion, readjusting myself and moments later am asleep again. Not deep sleep, for the small movements of a small girl dreaming beside me prevent it, but dozing, drifting, for what seems like 10? 20? 30? minutes.
The wiggling pulls me from my blissful unconscious state again. I groan inwardly. It's Saturday. Doesn't she know it's the day we are supposed to sleep in? Perhaps if I lie very still, she will go back to sleep. This actually works sometimes. But not today. Full daylight streams in the curtains. I half-open one eye. She is staring at me; reaches out and pokes my one shut eye and giggles. I push her hand away. She crawls over to my left side and I expect another request to nurse. But no, she just lies down on my arm and cuddles.
I feign sleep a while longer, but finally open both eyes. She is still staring full in my face and her face breaks out in an intense squinty grin. I chuckle. Who can be grumpy with this? So we loll around, her flopping and resting, patting and snuggling. Me soaking it up. Noticing her soft, sweet, dimpled hands caressing, then poking. Enjoying her goofy faces: smiles, squinting, squeezing, pulling her mouth out by the corners, laughing. Wishing she would always stay this way, and we could go on snuggling forever.
From the floor, the cat meows. Aila sits up quickly calling, "Kitty!" Footsteps go down the stairs, then a click, click, click, click. "Doggy!" she announces. "Is that the doggy?" I whisper. She flops down again, with a beseeching "Uh huh." The wake-up nursey. Why not? So we settle for a few more minutes, delaying the inevitable. Her dark, round eyes looking up in trust, her small white hands tapping, patting, probing, pulling. I ponder the moment, think of the day's events. Considering the fact that Aila will be 2 in just 2 months and won't wake up beside me much longer, I realize that this is a forever moment. But my memory is so poor. Like a sieve, these precious times slip through and fade into a pleasant blur. Realize that when children are small, we feel pressured for time and energy. Taking time to breathe and give thanks and enjoy them can be a discipline. But not now. This is unhurried bliss.
She takes her time, then releases and pulls back in a deliberate way. "Are you done?" I ask. She gives me another squinty-eyed grin. Goofball. She gets up, and plunges headlong over my legs, sliding down over the end of the bed into the promise of a new day.
Back in our bed, Aila is fussing at my delay. I jump in quickly to the warmth of the covers. She is quieted and cuddles down expectantly. She latches on in satisfaction. The wiggling commences. Her hand pats, rubs. She tucks her feet in between my legs, a habit that at best is mildly annoying, but with a sharp toenail becomes intolerable. The toenail is quite scratchy today, like a small barb. I try to move her legs away, but she is persistent. For a moment I think how big, yet small she is. Recall that Levi and Tirzah both weaned at her age. Gradually sleep overtakes her and she settles down. I back away in one swift motion, readjusting myself and moments later am asleep again. Not deep sleep, for the small movements of a small girl dreaming beside me prevent it, but dozing, drifting, for what seems like 10? 20? 30? minutes.
The wiggling pulls me from my blissful unconscious state again. I groan inwardly. It's Saturday. Doesn't she know it's the day we are supposed to sleep in? Perhaps if I lie very still, she will go back to sleep. This actually works sometimes. But not today. Full daylight streams in the curtains. I half-open one eye. She is staring at me; reaches out and pokes my one shut eye and giggles. I push her hand away. She crawls over to my left side and I expect another request to nurse. But no, she just lies down on my arm and cuddles.
I feign sleep a while longer, but finally open both eyes. She is still staring full in my face and her face breaks out in an intense squinty grin. I chuckle. Who can be grumpy with this? So we loll around, her flopping and resting, patting and snuggling. Me soaking it up. Noticing her soft, sweet, dimpled hands caressing, then poking. Enjoying her goofy faces: smiles, squinting, squeezing, pulling her mouth out by the corners, laughing. Wishing she would always stay this way, and we could go on snuggling forever.
From the floor, the cat meows. Aila sits up quickly calling, "Kitty!" Footsteps go down the stairs, then a click, click, click, click. "Doggy!" she announces. "Is that the doggy?" I whisper. She flops down again, with a beseeching "Uh huh." The wake-up nursey. Why not? So we settle for a few more minutes, delaying the inevitable. Her dark, round eyes looking up in trust, her small white hands tapping, patting, probing, pulling. I ponder the moment, think of the day's events. Considering the fact that Aila will be 2 in just 2 months and won't wake up beside me much longer, I realize that this is a forever moment. But my memory is so poor. Like a sieve, these precious times slip through and fade into a pleasant blur. Realize that when children are small, we feel pressured for time and energy. Taking time to breathe and give thanks and enjoy them can be a discipline. But not now. This is unhurried bliss.
She takes her time, then releases and pulls back in a deliberate way. "Are you done?" I ask. She gives me another squinty-eyed grin. Goofball. She gets up, and plunges headlong over my legs, sliding down over the end of the bed into the promise of a new day.
Friday, February 8, 2013
What's Levi thinking?
As I woke the boys this morning, I was giving Caelin an idea of what was on the agenda for the day. Levi slowly rolled over and groggily said, "I love you Mama." He paused, then continued, "What do they mean when they say, 'spit tobacco juice'?" I could only chuckle, wondering where that came from, but I did explain. :-)
While working in the kitchen this afternoon, I glanced up to see Levi in the bathroom, pants at his ankles, poking around in the toilet with the toilet brush. I quickly went and asked what he was doing. "Nothing." he replied. Hmm. I have never needed a toilet brush to do nothing. "Well, you were doing something." I insisted. He placed the brush back in its holder, looking up at me a bit ambarrassed. I look inquiringly into the pot. Nothing but a bit of T.P. There was a odor about, so I asked if he had pooped. He was rather unclear.
"Tell me what you were doing." I ordered. He reluctantly answered, "Well, I heard it hit the water, but now I can't see it." He was taken back when I burst out laughing. Another victim of ghost poopy. HAHA
Enough about Levi. Aila is a real character these days herself. She likes to go in the bathroom drawer, get a stick of deodorant, and professionally reaches down the collar of her shirt, applying it to each armpit in turn.
After Aila's bath this evening, I noticed a weird pimple on her temple. I squeezed and it popped. Poor Aila yelled, "Kitty did dat!" She apparently has been scratched enough to associate pain with the cat. Oh dear. Maybe she'll learn to let sleeping cat lie.
While working in the kitchen this afternoon, I glanced up to see Levi in the bathroom, pants at his ankles, poking around in the toilet with the toilet brush. I quickly went and asked what he was doing. "Nothing." he replied. Hmm. I have never needed a toilet brush to do nothing. "Well, you were doing something." I insisted. He placed the brush back in its holder, looking up at me a bit ambarrassed. I look inquiringly into the pot. Nothing but a bit of T.P. There was a odor about, so I asked if he had pooped. He was rather unclear.
"Tell me what you were doing." I ordered. He reluctantly answered, "Well, I heard it hit the water, but now I can't see it." He was taken back when I burst out laughing. Another victim of ghost poopy. HAHA
Enough about Levi. Aila is a real character these days herself. She likes to go in the bathroom drawer, get a stick of deodorant, and professionally reaches down the collar of her shirt, applying it to each armpit in turn.
After Aila's bath this evening, I noticed a weird pimple on her temple. I squeezed and it popped. Poor Aila yelled, "Kitty did dat!" She apparently has been scratched enough to associate pain with the cat. Oh dear. Maybe she'll learn to let sleeping cat lie.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Cold house, warm heart
When I went in to tuck the boys in, there was a bunch of clothes on the floor, so like any good mother, I launched without delay into my "what-happened-in-here" speech. I hadn't even gotten warmed up when I looked over at the boys' bed. What I saw stopped me mid-sentence. Caelin was kneeling on the floor, head bowed, hands folded on the bed, while Levi was face down on the bed. Taken back, I waited respectfully. After a minute Levi said, "I already prayed. I prayed for our family, that our house wouldn't burn down, for my friends, their moms and dads, that they won't get sick, and that's all."
In spite of the 5 below outside, my heart was warmed to the depths. "Sweetheart, I just pray God will make you into a godly man." I kissed him and went around to Caelin's side and kissed him. "I sure love to see you praying; there's nothing I love more than seeing my boys serve God." ♥
In spite of the 5 below outside, my heart was warmed to the depths. "Sweetheart, I just pray God will make you into a godly man." I kissed him and went around to Caelin's side and kissed him. "I sure love to see you praying; there's nothing I love more than seeing my boys serve God." ♥
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
A (not-so) relaxing evening
After a busy day, we came home and quickly made dinner. We all sat down and enjoyed boneless ribs, macaroni and cheese, and peas, followed by family devotions. I decided to make some cookies, while Scott was playing handyman and fixing a couple dining chairs. All seemed to be going smoothly. Tirzah helped make the cookie dough, then I washed dishes while it chilled.
At this point, Levi asked if he could do a job to earn one more sticker to fill his chart. "Yes, you can clean out the pack n play." I answered. So he begins that, dumping coats and jackets. "Done!" he announces, and adds the final sticker. Running to get the prize bag, he decides on a pack of bath fizzies. And, of course, if you have bath fizzies, you need to take a bath. "In a little while you may." I promise.
Meanwhile, the dough is ready to shape and roll in cinnamon sugar, so Tirzah and Levi decide to help me. Scott has gone upstairs to try installing a hunting game on the PC. He hollers for me, but I have my hands covered in cookie dough, so I tell him to wait. He calls, "Jacqueline, what is this new folder bar at the top of the screen?" "I don't know. It just appeared there, and I can't make it go away." I yell back. "Well, it must be a virus!" he cried. "So, what am I supposed to do about it?" I holler. Finally I get the cookies in the oven and go see what's up. Caelin is sitting beside Scott attempting to make helpful comments; Scott finally is convinced it's just an empty folder and deletes it. Whew! Crisis averted! The game, however, will not work properly on the PC, so they scrap the whole thing.
Scott declares he is going out to the workshop to do a few things. I tell Levi he may get in the tub; Caelin thinks he will go in, too. "You guys are too old to bathe together anymore." I say, much to their dissapointment. "Can we go in together if we wear our shorts?" Caelin asks. Fine. Whatever.
My mother calls to visit. Aila has taken advantage of the moment and pulled the Uno game off the hutch and strewn the cards all over the dining room floor. At this point, Tirzah declares she has to go potty. Rolling my eyes, I pull the shower curtain closed and tell her to go ahead. Of course, it's a number two, and a lengthy one. I go check the cookies, which I have been keeping up with. When I come back, Aila is soaked. "Why is Aila all wet?" I ask. "She was playing in the bath water." replied Caelin. Great. I take off her jumper and shirt then run back to get the cookies. From my kitchen, you can see straight into the bathroom, so I glance up to see Aila, tights at half mast, shoes still on, diaper removed, waddling out toward me, saying, "Potty!" Yikes!
I take her back in the bathroom; there has apparently been an epic hurricane, due to the amount of water all over the place. I throw down a towel, telling Tirzah to move it so Aila can go. I have to wipe Tirzah, the whole while hoping I don't drop my phone in the toilet, because I am still talking to Mom. As soon I put Aila on her potty seat, she gives me a look of confusion, like "What am I doing here?" Forget it, I decide, and put a fresh diaper on her.
Returning to the kitchen I attempt to roll more cookies; Tirzah and Aila are helping. Aila picks up the balls of dough and throws them onto the cookie sheet with gusto; nevermind that they din't get rolled in the sugar. I put them in the oven just as the smoke alarm goes off. I am yelling into the phone, "Hold on!" Climbing onto a chair, I press and hold the shut-off button. My ears are ringing and my mother is laughing. She is such a supportive person. "We'll talk later." she says. I roll still more cookies, removing Aila, and questioning my intelligence for making a double batch of snickerdoodles.
Scott came back in and pulls out the lap top; the hunting game should work on it, if he can only figure it out. Aila comes round the corner sans diaper again. I put it back on, again. Cookies out of the oven, again. Finally, last batch is out and am I glad.
Levi really wants to show Scott an old game on the upatairs computer, so to satisfy Levi, I go up to help him. While we wait, Tirzah is going to show me a Curious Geaorge game she can play. Sitting on my lap, she works the mouse pretty well. Scott comes up to see. Moments later, Caelin appears at the bottom of the stairs holding a diaper. "Mom, Aila took her diaper off and it has load in it." I am speechless. Luckily, Scott is equal to the occasion, going down and cleaning her up, threatening all manner of action to keep her diaper on. I decide a sleeper might be the best option, and put one on her.
It is now 9:00. Scott has the hunting game working and is working the bugs out amid unsolicitedadvice from the boys. "Let's get to bed, please!" I announce. I am rather tired out from the relaxing evening at home.
At this point, Levi asked if he could do a job to earn one more sticker to fill his chart. "Yes, you can clean out the pack n play." I answered. So he begins that, dumping coats and jackets. "Done!" he announces, and adds the final sticker. Running to get the prize bag, he decides on a pack of bath fizzies. And, of course, if you have bath fizzies, you need to take a bath. "In a little while you may." I promise.
Meanwhile, the dough is ready to shape and roll in cinnamon sugar, so Tirzah and Levi decide to help me. Scott has gone upstairs to try installing a hunting game on the PC. He hollers for me, but I have my hands covered in cookie dough, so I tell him to wait. He calls, "Jacqueline, what is this new folder bar at the top of the screen?" "I don't know. It just appeared there, and I can't make it go away." I yell back. "Well, it must be a virus!" he cried. "So, what am I supposed to do about it?" I holler. Finally I get the cookies in the oven and go see what's up. Caelin is sitting beside Scott attempting to make helpful comments; Scott finally is convinced it's just an empty folder and deletes it. Whew! Crisis averted! The game, however, will not work properly on the PC, so they scrap the whole thing.
Scott declares he is going out to the workshop to do a few things. I tell Levi he may get in the tub; Caelin thinks he will go in, too. "You guys are too old to bathe together anymore." I say, much to their dissapointment. "Can we go in together if we wear our shorts?" Caelin asks. Fine. Whatever.
My mother calls to visit. Aila has taken advantage of the moment and pulled the Uno game off the hutch and strewn the cards all over the dining room floor. At this point, Tirzah declares she has to go potty. Rolling my eyes, I pull the shower curtain closed and tell her to go ahead. Of course, it's a number two, and a lengthy one. I go check the cookies, which I have been keeping up with. When I come back, Aila is soaked. "Why is Aila all wet?" I ask. "She was playing in the bath water." replied Caelin. Great. I take off her jumper and shirt then run back to get the cookies. From my kitchen, you can see straight into the bathroom, so I glance up to see Aila, tights at half mast, shoes still on, diaper removed, waddling out toward me, saying, "Potty!" Yikes!
I take her back in the bathroom; there has apparently been an epic hurricane, due to the amount of water all over the place. I throw down a towel, telling Tirzah to move it so Aila can go. I have to wipe Tirzah, the whole while hoping I don't drop my phone in the toilet, because I am still talking to Mom. As soon I put Aila on her potty seat, she gives me a look of confusion, like "What am I doing here?" Forget it, I decide, and put a fresh diaper on her.
Returning to the kitchen I attempt to roll more cookies; Tirzah and Aila are helping. Aila picks up the balls of dough and throws them onto the cookie sheet with gusto; nevermind that they din't get rolled in the sugar. I put them in the oven just as the smoke alarm goes off. I am yelling into the phone, "Hold on!" Climbing onto a chair, I press and hold the shut-off button. My ears are ringing and my mother is laughing. She is such a supportive person. "We'll talk later." she says. I roll still more cookies, removing Aila, and questioning my intelligence for making a double batch of snickerdoodles.
Scott came back in and pulls out the lap top; the hunting game should work on it, if he can only figure it out. Aila comes round the corner sans diaper again. I put it back on, again. Cookies out of the oven, again. Finally, last batch is out and am I glad.
Levi really wants to show Scott an old game on the upatairs computer, so to satisfy Levi, I go up to help him. While we wait, Tirzah is going to show me a Curious Geaorge game she can play. Sitting on my lap, she works the mouse pretty well. Scott comes up to see. Moments later, Caelin appears at the bottom of the stairs holding a diaper. "Mom, Aila took her diaper off and it has load in it." I am speechless. Luckily, Scott is equal to the occasion, going down and cleaning her up, threatening all manner of action to keep her diaper on. I decide a sleeper might be the best option, and put one on her.
It is now 9:00. Scott has the hunting game working and is working the bugs out amid unsolicitedadvice from the boys. "Let's get to bed, please!" I announce. I am rather tired out from the relaxing evening at home.
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