Cleaning

Today is cleaning day. I acually try to clean on Tuesdays, just some weeks I really don't feel up to it yet on Tuesdays. But today I had to. Growing up my Mom cleaned on Saturdays and I hated it since I'd have to help, which wouldn't have been bad, except she rested in between jobs. Which drove me crazy and then of course it took all day to clean the house. Which totally ruined my Saturdays. Well, today I had to rest my back after cleaning the bathrooms, before I could tackle anything else, so maybe she had back problems too? I don't know, I don't remember her ever complaining about her back, I just thought she was lazy and wanted to ruin my life. I was a kid so of course I thought Saturdays was my life. It gave me something to reflect upon.

Gymnastics

Sarah started her new session this afternoon. I asked her to wear flip flops so it would be faster getting her shoes back on, after class. But I guess I need to be more specific next time, she wore mine. The were a little big since she wear a 2 or 3 and mine are a 7. She had a new intructor since she moved up a level, there were only 3 girls in her class today. I didn't care for the instuctor at all, it seemed to me the girls were doing more standing around, than anything else. I wasn't the only one who noticed. I went to the front desk and told them I was feeling crabby about what was going on out there, (if we're paying $12.50 s class, I want my money worth) the desk woman went out and talked to the instructor and it got a little better. I hope I don't have to complain for the next 5 weeks. I am glad the woman went right out to try to fix it today.

75 years ago...

75 Years ago today, my Mom was born. It seems unreal to me, and even more unreal is that she died 5 and half years ago. The kids often ask about her, even Rachel who was only 6 months old when she died. She was the youngest of 9 children and boy was she spoiled, but life was tough at times for her growing up. Right before she died she told me somethings about her childhood and early adulthood. I wished I would have written what she said down, or at least paid more attention. On her 69th birthday, she took care of Sarah (all day) and Joey (after school) for us, while Pat and I went to a church leadership conference (Rachel was with us). When it was over and we picked up the kids we treated her to dinner out for her birthday. I'm glad we did. She and I didn't always get along, but right before I got married she started seeing me as an adult and our relationship grew better. She was a great Grandmother, she didn't have a lot of money to spoil them, but the kids were never lacking in attention or love. The day before she died, she was able to see the six who live in Phoenix for the last time. She didn't want to die because she wanted to live for her kids (grandkids). May she live forever in our memories.

Shower!

I sometimes really feel challenged by checking to see what my children are up to. Like tonight. I sent the girls to take a shower 15 minutes ago, I already had gone down to check what they were up to once (they were trying to try on new dresses, I got for them). So I go back to what I was doing, only having to go check on them again. This time at least they're in the bathroom. BUT Rachel used a blue eyeliner on her face and now has whisker looking strips on her face. She best be scubbing hard in the shower. Usually they make it as far as the T.V. in my room and I lose them to it.

To Kill a Mockingbird

I've been reading this book, by Harper Lee the last few days. I finished it last night, it left me feeling so disturbed I had a hard time going to sleep last night. Even though I knew somewhere in the back of the brain how men were persecuted because of their race during the depression. It really made me think. We've come a long was in the last 80 years, but still not all men are treated fairly, just and equally today. It makes me feel sad. I don't know if I'll be able to watch the movie. I looked for it today at Blockbuster they didn't have it, the library's copy was out, I ordered it for Joey ( he read for a book report, I just read it to help explain it to him) I'll have until Monday to decide if I can watch it, maybe I'll have Pat watch it with Joey, since I read the book! I think that would be fair.

Oh, my aching back!

I messed up my back today. I have no idea what I did, but some how I must have twisted it. It's hurting a lot. I guess doing laundry and cleaning the house was not a good idea. (but I didn't even do the bathrooms). Before dinner Sarah was in trouble, and after loudly talking with her, my throat started to hurt. Now my back and throat hurts to swallow :(

The Weekend

The weekend is almost over, WAH Friday night Pat and I watched a movie together, so that was relaxing. Saturday morning I had to get up way to early for a Sat. to take Joey to his Scout training thing. Worked on laundry, while he was there, picked him up. Dropped all the kids off at home and I went to Karin's and scrapbooked for a few hours. Promised the girls I'd take them to a movie if they cleaned up their junk all over the house while I was gone. They did a pretty good job, so we went to see Nanny McNee (Joey did not want to go, so he had to make dinner). Sunday was a long day, the kids and I were at church all morning, when we got home after 1 PM, I laid down for an hour before having to make spaghetti sauce and breadsticks for a church thing. Left the house at 3:45, help serve the dinner till 5:30 when the evening service started. Pat and Joey stayed for church, since Pat had been at work all day, he missed going with the rest of us in the morning.Youth group is at the 11 O'clock service and I had to serve in the nursery for the 9 AM service. Today we got to sleep in! That was great, I got out of bed at 10. Joey wanted to see The Pink Panther movie, I wasn't sure if I wanted the girls to see it since I had heard there we 2 things questionable. So he invited his cousin Micah to go with him. The girls and I were going to see Curious George, but the theater was full so we saw Hoodwinked instead. The girls liked it, I fell asleep at the end, Rachel told me what happened, but I had it figured out all ready. After the movie I took Joey and Sarah to get their hair cut. Sarah had 3-4 inches cut off the back, she loves it, I hate it. But maybe know she'll be able to take better care of her own hair now that it's not as long. Dropped Joey and Rachel off at home and took Sarah to gymnastics, she's so excited because she gets to move up to the next level next week. I was suppose to go to a Scout parent meeting tonight, but I just didn't feel like it.

Sarah on the bus

Sarah on the bus

On the way to see Bodyology. 3rd grade field trip.

feeding the girafee

feeding the girafee

Rachel at the Wild Life Zoo.

Field trips

Yesterday was Sarah's field trip, the kids really liked the Bodyology show, I'm not sure how much they'll remember though, there was lots of info given to them. The kids were starving by the time we got back to school at 1:50. Today Rachel's class went to the zoo, it was a fun day, kinda on the cool side though! Hey, oh ya it's winter. As soon as we got off the bus at 10 AM the kids were ready to eat lunch, I made them wait an hour. Those silly kids, can you guess what there favorite animal was?............. BATS! YUCK! But they loved feeding the giraffe :) I feel dirty from walking around in all that flying around dirt, and I am soooo tired. I'm thinking I'll just take a shower and a nap as soon as Joseph and Sarah get home!

Is it going to rain or what?

It's been overcast all day, sure seems like, it should rain, will it? I guess probably not, since it hasn't rained for 3 months, why should it start today!

This and That

A few days without a keyboard is so hard. How do I know, my keyboard was so messed up the letters q,w,e,r,t,y,u would not work at all and the stuff above the number wouldn't work. On a few things I copied and pasted as best I could to get messages to people, but it took forever. UGH! Pat got us a new keyboard last night when he took Joey to scouts. Valentine's Day was fun, Rachel's class sang 2 songs and had a party. Afterwards we delivered valentines to my sisters house, to Grandma, and to Mark and Marlene's house. I had a doctor's appointment, and I wasn't sure if I could make Sarah's party so I sent her in with my old camera. She had fun taking pictures all day, and it was fun looking at them together, when she got home. We had chicken bakes and peorigies for dinner, very yummy. Pat took Joey to Scouts, I put the girls to bed then when Pat came home with Joey, we went to a movie- Annapolis. I was so tired all day today, but it was fun to go out after the kids were in bed. We had done the something Saturday night and saw Firewall. 2 movies in less than a week, a big record for us.

Long week ahead!

Should be a fun week coming up- Tomorrow I'll be at school, helping in the kindergarten classrooms (doing a Valentine's craft) Tuesday I'll be at school for the the girls' Valentine's Day parties. Wednesday I just have to take Sarah to the ortho after school. Thursday is Sarah's field trip to see Bodyoligy, and Friday, I get to go to the Wild Life zoo with Rachel's class. Then it's the weekend again, good thing it's a 3 day weekend! :) There's stuff planned then too!

Dear Rachel,

Today you are 6! It doesn't even seem possible. Seems like just yesterday we brought you home from the hospital. You were wanted for so long. I was giving up hope that we'd ever have another child. On the day we found out we were going to have a baby, we took your brother and sister to a drive-in to celebrate. I couldn't even focus on the movie, I was to excited thinking about you, and thanking God for blessing us with another child to love. When I had an ultrasound to check your development, Joey went with me (Daddy had to work) We found out you were a girl! Joey and I went to Fry's and told Daddy, we were so happy, that you were growing inside me just right. My doctors were worried about me having you (because of the bad shape my heart was in) so they wanted to plan your birth. But you couldn't wait to be born when they planned, so instead of being born on Feb. 10th, you were born on the 5th at 3:14 AM. Because of my bad heart I had some problems after you were born, but you were perfect! Joey helped the nurses give you your first bath, he thought it was his job, because he had helped the nurses give Sarah her first bath when she was born. The nurses in the nusery snuck you out of the nusery and brought you to me. I was only allowed to hold you for a little while, it was so hard to let you go. After a few days, I was getting better and I was able to have you with me for longer periods of time. I amazed all the nurses, by us leaving the hospital when you were 5 days old. The first few weeks at home, you slept beside me in a bassinet. When you were 6 weeks old you slept through the night, and we moved you into your crib. You were a good sleeper as a baby, but you hated taking a bath! It seemed like I blinked once and you were one already, and now your 6! I love you so very much!Happy Birthday my Monkey Boo and Cutie Cutie! Check out Rachel through the years on her web site, click on her photo gallery. http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/m/mettes3/

3 Cousins

Celebrated their birthdays tonight together with all the family. There were so many gifts it looked like Christmas! :) Not quite but with 3 girls quite a few gifts. I put some pictures in my pictures. Sarah's favorite gift was from Aunt Marlene and family, this hair coloring thingy, then she got makeup from Marlene's Mom, she was loving it, the glamour girl she is. I'm not sure what Rachel's favorite gift was, she seemed to like everything.

Tea Party

Rachel had a birthday "tea" this afternoon. 3 friends from school, and one neighbor girl came, and one friend from school's big sister. I served PB and J and ham sandwiches, and grapes and strawberries. The "tea" was really strawberry/kiwi soda, but the girls had a fun time pretending. Rachel decorated her cake my herself, a tea pot with 6 tea cups. I'll load some pictures to my pictures so you can see. The girls did lots of crafts that I had planned and one friend brought Rachel a finger stamper for her birthday. which was of course very messy, but fun! Tonight is a family birthday party for Rachel, Sarah, and cousin. Best get this place cleaned up a little before anyone shows up.

Crafty

Today was the first day I went in and did a craft with the kindergarten classes. It went pretty well, it was easier in Rachel's classroom, because I know the kids' names. I talked them through making a giraffe puppet. Rachel took in cupcakes for her class for her up coming birthday too. I'm thinking I need a nap now. Joseph has a counseling session this afternoon, and I need to get busy cleaning my house later too for the parties tomorrow, yep a nap now sounds good.