Not the worst injury I've had, but the dumbest. (And I seem to have a lot of dumb ones.)
Coming down with a cold tonight. Throat has that "I'm going to be sore tomorrow" itch. Feeling a little crummy. So I accept Rachel's offer of a heated rice sock.
Lean back into the couch with the rice sock at the back of my neck. Ahhh. Shoot the stuffing out of some insects in Savage Moon. (I've realized that I've become a casual gamer. There's too many interruptions to play games that you can't pick up and drop in bite size pieces. Never thought it would happen to me...)
Twenty minutes later when I came out of my game zone, my neck hurt. Not an achy hurt but a specific, localized hurt. Rachel looked at it: I'd gotten a blister, and popped it, from too much heat while concentrating on the game.
Yes, video games really are that distracting. Good ones, at least.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The past few weeks our happy Pumpkin has been teething. He'd do pretty well during the day, but for some reason evenings and nights are especially tough, with lots of nighttime waking and crying. Ordinarily when he wakes at night he makes cooing sounds and rustles around a bit. I feed him, change him and he settles back down to sleep fairly easily. All bets are off when teething though...
Last night his second tooth poked through and he went to sleep without fuss. When I woke up it was gray outside, and I heard his muffled crying downstairs. Jonathan awoke before I did and took Isaac downstairs with him figuring that I'd already fed him all through the night.
Except I hadn't.
Isaac slept for 7 hours straight last night! I couldn't believe it. He was one very hungry baby boy! After eating he grinned, played, and cooed. He has never slept for more than 3.5 hours at a time (at most) so I was feeling very refreshed, like whole new woman in fact. Wow! I can't remember the last time I slept through the night, not since sometime in the third trimester... I've spent up to ten hours in bed and still felt exhausted in the morning, but 6 straight hours of sleep were fantastic! It's the first time in a while that I woke up feeling really rested.
Not getting my hopes up, but I wouldn't mind at all if this became a trend. :)
Last night his second tooth poked through and he went to sleep without fuss. When I woke up it was gray outside, and I heard his muffled crying downstairs. Jonathan awoke before I did and took Isaac downstairs with him figuring that I'd already fed him all through the night.
Except I hadn't.
Isaac slept for 7 hours straight last night! I couldn't believe it. He was one very hungry baby boy! After eating he grinned, played, and cooed. He has never slept for more than 3.5 hours at a time (at most) so I was feeling very refreshed, like whole new woman in fact. Wow! I can't remember the last time I slept through the night, not since sometime in the third trimester... I've spent up to ten hours in bed and still felt exhausted in the morning, but 6 straight hours of sleep were fantastic! It's the first time in a while that I woke up feeling really rested.
Not getting my hopes up, but I wouldn't mind at all if this became a trend. :)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Hygiene
Matthew is showering on his own, with mostly good results. Tonight, though, Rachel noticed residual shampoo in his hair. This was the result. I was impressed -- that took some upper-body strength!
(I was otherwise occupied -- washing poop off Melissa's fingers. She's supposed to wait for her parents to wipe the poops, but only infrequently observes that rule.)
(Rachel would like the record to show that Matthew was not naked.)
(I was otherwise occupied -- washing poop off Melissa's fingers. She's supposed to wait for her parents to wipe the poops, but only infrequently observes that rule.)
(Rachel would like the record to show that Matthew was not naked.)
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sigh...
While I bathed Isaac, Melissa was busy.
There was a big ball of hair in the toy wagon and scissors in her room. We went to the beauty parlor, but they aren't miracle workers. Considering what she had to work with, it's much better.
and the back
That's my kid, the kind of funny looking one. I know it's just hair, but I'm a little sad about it. Sigh.
There was a big ball of hair in the toy wagon and scissors in her room. We went to the beauty parlor, but they aren't miracle workers. Considering what she had to work with, it's much better.the front
and the back
That's my kid, the kind of funny looking one. I know it's just hair, but I'm a little sad about it. Sigh.
How to tell when it's no longer an employees' market
The free snack closet isn't is replenished for weeks, and then one of
these appears instead.
these appears instead.
Teething
About a week and a half ago Jonathan noticed something sharp when Isaac gnawed on his finger. Isaac's first tooth had popped up. Looking in his mouth today I can see another tooth ready to emerge anytime. This is not surprising since he is constantly chewing on things. Now you'll have to excuse me while I hunt down another teether for our son to clamp down on, he's bored of the blue one...
Whew! So glad it was a dream....
Last summer I borrowed fine violin from a dear former teacher of mine so I could play at Grandpa's funeral. Thank goodness it did not end up like my dream!
So I borrow the expensive violin and placed it up on the top self of a bookcase. Since I intend to practice in a few minutes the violin is not in its case. Matthew's coloring books are also on the top shelf and he asks if he can color. "Sure, Matthew. Just wait a minute and I'll go get them for you." Matthew decides not to wait. He pulls a chair over to the bookcase and reaches up up on his tiptoes. I come into the room just as the violin teeters on the shelf. "Wait! Don't do anything!" "Mom! I can fix it!" he says and stretches up to push the violin back on the shelf. He misses and it falls crashing to the tile floor, splintering into pieces.
Ohhhh! How could I explain this to Mr. Jasinski? He trusted me!
Glad I woke up.
So I borrow the expensive violin and placed it up on the top self of a bookcase. Since I intend to practice in a few minutes the violin is not in its case. Matthew's coloring books are also on the top shelf and he asks if he can color. "Sure, Matthew. Just wait a minute and I'll go get them for you." Matthew decides not to wait. He pulls a chair over to the bookcase and reaches up up on his tiptoes. I come into the room just as the violin teeters on the shelf. "Wait! Don't do anything!" "Mom! I can fix it!" he says and stretches up to push the violin back on the shelf. He misses and it falls crashing to the tile floor, splintering into pieces.
Ohhhh! How could I explain this to Mr. Jasinski? He trusted me!
Glad I woke up.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Room cleaning, week 3
I had Melissa pick up her clothes Wednesday night, so Friday should have been easy. But she tried to pull a fast one, throwing everything into her closet and declaring, "all done!"
Mommy wasn't fooled, and ordered a real pick up. Melissa dug in her heels, all the way until bedtime.
Saturday morning after breakfast, Matthew got to play video games since he had cleaned his room, and without drama, too. I told Melissa she was welcome to join him for some TV after she cleaned her room. "I can't do it," she tearfully declared. "I can't do it!" I was firm and there was much stomping and wailing. Then it got quiet, and 20 minutes later she came down. "I clean my room!" And she had.
Speaking of cleaning rooms, here's another take on the subject:
Monday, January 26, 2009
Parents' dilemma
It is quiet. The kids are asleep, even Isaac (in his mother's arms). Rachel and I can have a quiet conversation together, or even be quiet and hear ourselves think.
It's also 11:30.
This is when we start thinking, "I need to go to bed soon, or I'll be tired tomorrow." But also, "if I go to bed, it will seem like less time before the kids are up. So I'd rather stay up and enjoy the peace."
Eventually sanity always prevails. Eventually.
It's also 11:30.
This is when we start thinking, "I need to go to bed soon, or I'll be tired tomorrow." But also, "if I go to bed, it will seem like less time before the kids are up. So I'd rather stay up and enjoy the peace."
Eventually sanity always prevails. Eventually.
Craft time
Matthew was painting a model boat. (The boat is the blue object.)
Here he is cleaning the paint off the floor (by which I mean, smearing it around) after he tracked it there with his socks, which is why they are next to him instead of on his feet.
His shirt was already a casualty; it's behind him.
As far as I know, he did not get any paint on his pants.
Here he is cleaning the paint off the floor (by which I mean, smearing it around) after he tracked it there with his socks, which is why they are next to him instead of on his feet.
His shirt was already a casualty; it's behind him.
As far as I know, he did not get any paint on his pants.
The best day ever
Matthew was looking forward to Monday. I'll let his teacher explain:
The initial ticket was last week. Then, Matthew told us, they were going to draw all the blue ticket names from a hat "in front of the whole school!" And if your name comes out, you get a medal!
Matthew was sure his name was going to be drawn. I tried to prepare him for a let down: "all the other kids want their name to come out, too. It's all right if it's not yours." But he was sure, and I warned Rachel as I left to work, "he is going to be really pissed after school." Matthew does not take disappointment well.
Instead, he came home on cloud nine. His name really was drawn. God loves Matthew, I guess.
So, that is why he couldn't wait til Monday. It was a little surreal: normally little disappointments draw out the Grumpy Matthew inside. But today little pleasures drew out the Happy Matthew instead. He opened the lunch Rachel packed last night, and exclaimed, "Fruit salad! I love fruit salad! This is the best lunch ever!"
Matthew has been just a joy! In fact this morning he was on announcements for winning the CHAMP of the week. His picture will be posted in the front of the school hallway. He won out of all K, 1, and 2nd grade. Children receive blue tickets when they are caught showing good character. Their name is placed in a box and one name is drawn every Friday from the K, 1st, and 2nd box. He was the winner this week and since this is the first week we have started the system he is the first winner as well. He receive a metal this morning. You should be proud!You, gentle reader, have it easy: before Rachel mailed his teacher (about his report card -- she volunteered the rest), we'd slowly puzzled out much of the above from fragmented kindergartener explanations. ("I got a blue ticket!" "Why?" "They caught me doing champs!" "What's champs?" "I don't know." Later, I explain to Rachel, "they caught him doing stamps." "Not stamps!" Matthew interrupted angrily. Maybe he thought I was making a joke at his expense, but I couldn't remember. "Well, something like that. What was it?" "I don't know." In another moment of lucidity he explained that it had to do with being quiet while the teacher talks and sitting with your legs crossed. So we supposed it was something good.)
The initial ticket was last week. Then, Matthew told us, they were going to draw all the blue ticket names from a hat "in front of the whole school!" And if your name comes out, you get a medal!
Matthew was sure his name was going to be drawn. I tried to prepare him for a let down: "all the other kids want their name to come out, too. It's all right if it's not yours." But he was sure, and I warned Rachel as I left to work, "he is going to be really pissed after school." Matthew does not take disappointment well.
Instead, he came home on cloud nine. His name really was drawn. God loves Matthew, I guess.
So, that is why he couldn't wait til Monday. It was a little surreal: normally little disappointments draw out the Grumpy Matthew inside. But today little pleasures drew out the Happy Matthew instead. He opened the lunch Rachel packed last night, and exclaimed, "Fruit salad! I love fruit salad! This is the best lunch ever!"
A high standard to live up to
Rachel just got off the phone with her dad. Apparently The Savage Peanut is her Grandma's home page.
I don't think I've ever been on a home page before. Wow. That's pretty cool.
Hi, Grandma!
I don't think I've ever been on a home page before. Wow. That's pretty cool.
Hi, Grandma!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
More Melissisms
When shown by her Daddy how to play a game that was a little too tricky for her yet, "Daddy, I just a small girl."
If asked to do something she doesn't want to do we'll hear a sad voice, "Mama, I got a belly ache. I need to go to da doctor." (It doesn't work, instead if she's "sick" she can lie down for a nap.)
At an Italian restaurant: "Can I have macaroni pizza?" (meaning pepperoni)
"Daddy! Look! Mommy made pony hair!" She twirled around to show off the pony tail. She actually likes having her hair done now and insists on it every day. I kind of wish she wanted it just brushed and in ringlets, but she wants a hair-do.
They grow up so fast. Melissa announced to me that on her next birthday she'll turn 20! Whatever happened to years 4-19?
Every day we walk to Matthew's school to pick him up in the afternoons. We pass a man with his two golden retrievers on the way each day and Melissa has to pet them. They stand as tall as Melissa and are extremely kid-tolerant. She's not a bit afraid of those two big dogs. She hugs them, chatters at them as if they can understand her (who knows? perhaps they can) and giggles if they lick her cheek.
Since the job market is rather tight right now and is likely to remain tight for princess applicants for the foreseeable future, Jon and I are trying to direct Melissa's attention to more practical/productive career paths. Her dress up box is going to contain more than frilly dresses and ridiculous jewelery. I found some adorable pink scrubs (with a working stethoscope!) for Melissa to dress up as a doctor or nurse. I can't wait to give them to her on her birthday. She informed me a few days ago that she wanted to work with computers Just Like Daddy when she grows up. We'd be in favor of that. A programmer's uniform is pretty simple though, a free t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Voila!
If asked to do something she doesn't want to do we'll hear a sad voice, "Mama, I got a belly ache. I need to go to da doctor." (It doesn't work, instead if she's "sick" she can lie down for a nap.)
At an Italian restaurant: "Can I have macaroni pizza?" (meaning pepperoni)
"Daddy! Look! Mommy made pony hair!" She twirled around to show off the pony tail. She actually likes having her hair done now and insists on it every day. I kind of wish she wanted it just brushed and in ringlets, but she wants a hair-do.
They grow up so fast. Melissa announced to me that on her next birthday she'll turn 20! Whatever happened to years 4-19?
Every day we walk to Matthew's school to pick him up in the afternoons. We pass a man with his two golden retrievers on the way each day and Melissa has to pet them. They stand as tall as Melissa and are extremely kid-tolerant. She's not a bit afraid of those two big dogs. She hugs them, chatters at them as if they can understand her (who knows? perhaps they can) and giggles if they lick her cheek.
Since the job market is rather tight right now and is likely to remain tight for princess applicants for the foreseeable future, Jon and I are trying to direct Melissa's attention to more practical/productive career paths. Her dress up box is going to contain more than frilly dresses and ridiculous jewelery. I found some adorable pink scrubs (with a working stethoscope!) for Melissa to dress up as a doctor or nurse. I can't wait to give them to her on her birthday. She informed me a few days ago that she wanted to work with computers Just Like Daddy when she grows up. We'd be in favor of that. A programmer's uniform is pretty simple though, a free t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Voila!
How to drive your brother crazy
Play "Calling all Cars." Make no effort to attack other cars or catch the criminal.
Poor Matthew kept offering to show her what to do. But she was happy just driving around.
Poor Matthew kept offering to show her what to do. But she was happy just driving around.
Isaac is the necessity of invention
Isaac is old enough to grow easily bored but not yet able to crawl and entertain himself that way.
Having exhausted the baby toy isle at walmart, anything not obviously dangerous is likely to be pressed into service.
Having exhausted the baby toy isle at walmart, anything not obviously dangerous is likely to be pressed into service.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Downsides to living in San Anonio
- The churrascarias are twice the price as in Utah. Literally. (But less expensive than the one I ate at in Chicago. I was hungry, and I thought I knew the drill: who needs to see a menu?)
- Woot updates at midnight instead of at 11 PM. I am old now and almost never still awake at midnight. The really good woots are always gone by morning.
- Only McDonald's has play areas. And possibly Joe's Crab Shack but we tried that once and even seafood-loving Rachel was underwhelmed. Plus I can't help but think "I got the crabs at Joe's" when I see the sign.
- Major commuting freeway stretches with only two lanes in each direction? Seriously?
- No community orchestra (!)
- All the good Ultimate fields are in use by high school football teams
- There are no bike paths in the outer parts. Downtown, yes. Suburbia, no. (This one's for you, Dad.)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
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