Oh, I love a good rainy day! I feel a little like Carrie Bradshaw right now looking out the window, sipping coffee and writing on my laptop...that's where the similarities end though. :)
Yesterday, we got back from a wonderful houseboat vacation with my parents and sister and her boyfriend on the outstanding Lake Ouachita. It was a great time. I think the only thing we regretted was that it couldn't have been longer. Oh wait, and sunscreen! I wish I had applied sunscreen a little more generously but that's it. The girls both played hard and Beatle was in the water constantly. Birdie definitely upped her game when it came to food. She's so ready to move on to cereals, juice and other baby food. It was NOT okay that we were all eating and drinking and she couldn't.
Before we left with them, we had a Watermelon Party for Beatle and her two besties. She created the idea back in April and the three of them pestered the fire out of us about having it so we had to follow through. Beatle and I got really into it and made the watermelon invitations and made gift baskets for the two other families with things that represented summer to us. BR mowed and worked to get the yard looking good and we decorated. It was pretty bomb-diggitty. The plan was for the two families to come over around 7 for watermelon (of course) and homemade ice cream and stay until dusk. Heartache of the century: one of the families didn't show and when I called, their girls were in Dallas with grandparents. But we were soooo glad for the other family or it wouldn't have been a watermelon party at all! We still had a great time and the whole day when we were getting ready for it, I told Beatle how proud I was of her to have thought this whole thing up. In gym class that morning, she was talking about how we were going to get ready for the party that day and one of the other girls in the class said something like, "Oh B, that sounds like fun. I'll see if I can come." Beatle thought real quick on her feet when she said, "Well, we've already sent out invitations but if you like cantelope, we can have a Cantelope Party someday." That cracked me up! (We didn't know then that that girl could have totally stood in for the no-shows! Too bad!) After the party, Beatle told me that I "am a magical woman". :) Makes a mom feel good for hard work. She also, the day before, told me that I "am the queen of funny".
Have I blogged about running away? I think I touched on it before but that's her main threat these days if she's upset and I'm not a magical woman anymore. BR and I both have memories of "running away" around 6 or 7 years old. The thing is, we both lived in the country and we could "run away" with our parent watching from the window. Here in town, I'm not sure what to do. Lord knows, I don't want to her to go out that door without me. That's not an option so we'll have to get creative.
Foster Update: Still going to the meetings and getting our paperwork lined up. We have a date set for our home study at the end of July. Our house will probably be open around the time school starts in August but I'm learning quickly that you never know when you're working with DHS.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
VBS=Very Busy Schedule
Sooo many funny things but so little time! VBS is wrapping up. Whew! What a week that always is for us. It's been great though. The songs are cute, as usual, and nauseatingly catchy. There's one about a "Tumblebee" according to Beatle (tumbleweed to everyone else in the world). That's song's got a little line dancing action...watch out! It feels guilty to have that much fun in a Baptist sanctuary. :) In the song, there's a part that I felt a little self-conscious doing just because it's a little over the top. I didn't say anything to anyone but I just did miniature motions. This morning, Beatle brought up that she didn't like the same part I felt silly doing and said in a shaky, goofy, falsetto voice that when she was doing it, she was thinking, "Do-ooon't look a-aaat me bo-oooys." Then she said in her regular voice, "That's pitiful, ain't it?" (I love it when little kids say ain't occasionally.)
All marriage relationships are different and, when healthy, they all serve a purpose and work for different folks. BR and I (the jury's still out on how healthy it is!) don't function very well when we don't get time to communicate. We just need that time to chat and connect. In seminary, when life was so busy and stressful we'd have our Thursday Fight (at least that's what we started calling it once we realized the trend--not seeing each other long enough to have some quality time by Thursday=fussing about stupid things that don't really matter). Well, we were squabbling in the car this week and Beatle piped up (mind you, this part ISN'T healthy) and said, "Dad, I think it's funny that you are acting like a kid but you are supposed to be a...Children's...Minister." bahaha! I didn't say a word...just a silent, oh so sweet, victory for me.
Don't worry, she got me back earlier today when I had been snippy and she said, "Mom, I want to tell you something." I had a bad feeling about this and then she started telling me that their verse was "Treat others how you would like to be treated." And she expounded on this thought. She really likes to flirt with crossing the line, doesn't she?
I can't even remember what it was about now but yesterday she said that I ruined her life and then she told me later that she was really thinking about running away but decided against it. That's a first of many empty threats to run away, I suppose.
Another first was that one of Beatle's friends called my cell phone to ask me if she could come over and swim. Beatle and I were both floored! Wow! This starts at 5???
For the first time, Beatle has been openly expressing a little resentment toward Charlotte. Beatle's been restless and discontented (and contemplating running away). I asked her what she was feeling, "Frustrated? Mad? Sad? Angry?..." She quickly announced, "Jealous." She knew exactly what her feelings were. Don't worry, I'm reading Siblings without Rivalry. They may not always be great friends (I would love that though!) but hopefully they'll learn to work through their differences and Beatle was already doting on Birdie just a half hour after she made that announcement.
Birdie is very interested in what we are all eating these days. We're trying some cereal out and will work our way toward a sippy cup and baby food in these next few weeks.
Anyways, I obviously can't remember all of the funny stuff that's happened lately. Honestly, this week's been a bit of a blur.
All marriage relationships are different and, when healthy, they all serve a purpose and work for different folks. BR and I (the jury's still out on how healthy it is!) don't function very well when we don't get time to communicate. We just need that time to chat and connect. In seminary, when life was so busy and stressful we'd have our Thursday Fight (at least that's what we started calling it once we realized the trend--not seeing each other long enough to have some quality time by Thursday=fussing about stupid things that don't really matter). Well, we were squabbling in the car this week and Beatle piped up (mind you, this part ISN'T healthy) and said, "Dad, I think it's funny that you are acting like a kid but you are supposed to be a...Children's...Minister." bahaha! I didn't say a word...just a silent, oh so sweet, victory for me.
Don't worry, she got me back earlier today when I had been snippy and she said, "Mom, I want to tell you something." I had a bad feeling about this and then she started telling me that their verse was "Treat others how you would like to be treated." And she expounded on this thought. She really likes to flirt with crossing the line, doesn't she?
I can't even remember what it was about now but yesterday she said that I ruined her life and then she told me later that she was really thinking about running away but decided against it. That's a first of many empty threats to run away, I suppose.
Another first was that one of Beatle's friends called my cell phone to ask me if she could come over and swim. Beatle and I were both floored! Wow! This starts at 5???
For the first time, Beatle has been openly expressing a little resentment toward Charlotte. Beatle's been restless and discontented (and contemplating running away). I asked her what she was feeling, "Frustrated? Mad? Sad? Angry?..." She quickly announced, "Jealous." She knew exactly what her feelings were. Don't worry, I'm reading Siblings without Rivalry. They may not always be great friends (I would love that though!) but hopefully they'll learn to work through their differences and Beatle was already doting on Birdie just a half hour after she made that announcement.
Birdie is very interested in what we are all eating these days. We're trying some cereal out and will work our way toward a sippy cup and baby food in these next few weeks.
Anyways, I obviously can't remember all of the funny stuff that's happened lately. Honestly, this week's been a bit of a blur.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Blood, Sweat and Tears (there's been a lot of that at our house this weekend)
Today has been nutso but let's start with yesterday...
We went out to Pizza Hut last night and we were fixing to leave when Beatle was scrambling to get her crocs back on (she kicks her shoes off everywhere!) She said, "Oh my gosh, I almost forgot my shoes and then I'd be homeless." bahaha! I don't even know what to say after that. :)
Then, we went for ice cream. Oh yes, it was a big night for the Roberts family! :) I gave Birdie an opportunity to taste and she was hooked on the junk instantly. She'd start whining and vocalizing when I'd take a lick and then when I'd put it in front of her, she'd start flapping her arms and kicking her legs, breathing in and out really fast. Then, after I moved it back and forth a few times between us to verify that she was most definitely after my ice cream, I'd give her another "lick" and she'd blink her eyes wildly. It was so funny. I love this chubby, wubby baby stage where they are interested in the things around them.
We drove around looking at lake houses, getting dirty looks from old men in Mercedes Benzs who knew we were just lolligaging in their neighborhoods, when Beatle was so exhausted she fell asleep in the car. (We stayed up late the night before and we're trying to cut out naps during the day because she won't get them in Kindergarten.) We got them home and in bed and started a movie. About an hour into it, Beatle gets up and is clearly sleepwalking. It was hysterical. There's just something so funny about sleeptalkers and walkers. Trying really hard to stifle our laughter, we directed her back to her bed. Then, around 7 this morning, she came charging out of her room like a rhino--stomping and snorting. Brent and I just looked at her bewildered. She finally got it out that her nose was bleeding right as we realized what was going on. And boy, was it! It took until noon for it to fully stop. She was supposed to go to a birthday party at a play place that morning but there was just no way. Of course, she was terribly disappointed and I was too. BR was outside mowing and when he came in for something, Beatle was crying because she couldn't go to the party and Birdie was crying because she wanted a bottle. I welcomed him to "the place of wailing and gnashing of teeth". haha! (Later, I showed Beatle the scene from "Strange Brew" when his nose starts bleeding in court to cheer her up. It worked. She kept saying with tissues jammed up her nose, "Beauty, eh?")
About a half hour later, BR comes running in from mowing, acting like a person with mental illness. It took us both a little while to realize that he had run over a ground hornets nest and had gotten stung 3 times. We've got a plan to get those jack...ets back. Tonight, we wage war!
We went out to Pizza Hut last night and we were fixing to leave when Beatle was scrambling to get her crocs back on (she kicks her shoes off everywhere!) She said, "Oh my gosh, I almost forgot my shoes and then I'd be homeless." bahaha! I don't even know what to say after that. :)
Then, we went for ice cream. Oh yes, it was a big night for the Roberts family! :) I gave Birdie an opportunity to taste and she was hooked on the junk instantly. She'd start whining and vocalizing when I'd take a lick and then when I'd put it in front of her, she'd start flapping her arms and kicking her legs, breathing in and out really fast. Then, after I moved it back and forth a few times between us to verify that she was most definitely after my ice cream, I'd give her another "lick" and she'd blink her eyes wildly. It was so funny. I love this chubby, wubby baby stage where they are interested in the things around them.
We drove around looking at lake houses, getting dirty looks from old men in Mercedes Benzs who knew we were just lolligaging in their neighborhoods, when Beatle was so exhausted she fell asleep in the car. (We stayed up late the night before and we're trying to cut out naps during the day because she won't get them in Kindergarten.) We got them home and in bed and started a movie. About an hour into it, Beatle gets up and is clearly sleepwalking. It was hysterical. There's just something so funny about sleeptalkers and walkers. Trying really hard to stifle our laughter, we directed her back to her bed. Then, around 7 this morning, she came charging out of her room like a rhino--stomping and snorting. Brent and I just looked at her bewildered. She finally got it out that her nose was bleeding right as we realized what was going on. And boy, was it! It took until noon for it to fully stop. She was supposed to go to a birthday party at a play place that morning but there was just no way. Of course, she was terribly disappointed and I was too. BR was outside mowing and when he came in for something, Beatle was crying because she couldn't go to the party and Birdie was crying because she wanted a bottle. I welcomed him to "the place of wailing and gnashing of teeth". haha! (Later, I showed Beatle the scene from "Strange Brew" when his nose starts bleeding in court to cheer her up. It worked. She kept saying with tissues jammed up her nose, "Beauty, eh?")
About a half hour later, BR comes running in from mowing, acting like a person with mental illness. It took us both a little while to realize that he had run over a ground hornets nest and had gotten stung 3 times. We've got a plan to get those jack...ets back. Tonight, we wage war!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Even Christians have Butts
I have wonderful memories of going to Library programs growing up and park-hopping with my mom and sister in the summers. I want to give my daughters those warm, fuzzy memories too.
Yesterday, we went to the Library Reading Program Kick-off and I regret to say that I showed my butt a little. Understand that I chose to stay at home for many reasons and one of those was to open myself up to be able to minister to my family and others more freely. That can't happen if I'm openly pissed because I've got to get back in the same line another time because of miscommunication. But, it REALLY can't happen when I'm wearing a "Romans 10:9" shirt and my daughter is following me in around in a bright yellow "Jesus Approved" shirt. I was ashamed. It wasn't like I cussed, flipped tables, drew a fist back or anything but it definitely could have been handled with more grace. After I got back in line, it didn't take me long to be convicted. I asked God for forgiveness and I apologized to Beatle and explained when I was wrong. I also realized that by the nature of my husband's job, we do events all the time and it's darn near impossible to get all of the details right especially when the event is wide open to the public. I'm such a broken person and the only light I possess is God in me. And now, I'll probably be spending my whole summer trying to redeem myself at the library! (Once we did get going though, we did the most amazing tie-dye on an shirt for Beatle and onesie for Birdie! But because we were in the sun so long, Birdie got a little sunburn. I feel bad about that.)
I've written this entry over a few hours and hope it makes sense by this point. Being a working mom is hard for sure but I have been working like a dog since I've been home! :)
Yesterday, we went to the Library Reading Program Kick-off and I regret to say that I showed my butt a little. Understand that I chose to stay at home for many reasons and one of those was to open myself up to be able to minister to my family and others more freely. That can't happen if I'm openly pissed because I've got to get back in the same line another time because of miscommunication. But, it REALLY can't happen when I'm wearing a "Romans 10:9" shirt and my daughter is following me in around in a bright yellow "Jesus Approved" shirt. I was ashamed. It wasn't like I cussed, flipped tables, drew a fist back or anything but it definitely could have been handled with more grace. After I got back in line, it didn't take me long to be convicted. I asked God for forgiveness and I apologized to Beatle and explained when I was wrong. I also realized that by the nature of my husband's job, we do events all the time and it's darn near impossible to get all of the details right especially when the event is wide open to the public. I'm such a broken person and the only light I possess is God in me. And now, I'll probably be spending my whole summer trying to redeem myself at the library! (Once we did get going though, we did the most amazing tie-dye on an shirt for Beatle and onesie for Birdie! But because we were in the sun so long, Birdie got a little sunburn. I feel bad about that.)
I've written this entry over a few hours and hope it makes sense by this point. Being a working mom is hard for sure but I have been working like a dog since I've been home! :)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Plum Mad
Last year, we found a plum tree in a commercial area by our neighborhood. We made plum jelly out of the ones we picked. The jelly tasted great but the consistency was more like a syrup so all year we've been excited to perfect our craft. We've done drive-bys to check the plum progress and they had reached perfection last weekend. We've been staying very busy in the evenings and since it's not really our property, we try to do the picking after business hours. :) Well, we couldn't wait any longer and even though Brent wasn't with us, the girls and I went a-pickin'. But, I was horrified to discover that someone else had beat us to it!!! How is this possible??? This was OUR tree! Ok, it really isn't but it felt like it was our secret plum tree. We got half as many plums as last year and I had to really stretch to make it happen. Well, we'll see how the jelly-ing goes. And next year, we're picking them all on Memorial Day weekend and beat that ruthless stranger to the plums!
It's that time of year again! Summer for some people is a relaxing time but for our family (mostly Brent!) it is a busy and all-consuming season. In his head, he has all sorts of details about camps, VBS, mission trips and upcoming fall programming rolling around. Thursday night, I asked him to get the steaks and put them on the grill for us and he opened our spice cabinet and just stood there looking intently. Ahhh, it's just one of the many tell-tale signs that summer is upon us.
Beatle and I had the most exquisite conversation about heaven yesterday; it's so nice to be able to linger lately and have heart-felt talks with her. Besides her being born, when her heart is fully ready to accept the Lord, that will be our proudest day in her little life. Can't wait!
As a type of bachelor party, BR and his close friends went fishing this weekend in OK so Beatle and I had girl's night. We picked plums (of course), swam at a friend's, came home, put Birdie down for the night, propped a tent up, made chocolate-covered strawberries (uh, yum!), and watched The Neverending Story. Afterward, we retired in my bed. It was definitely special!
It's that time of year again! Summer for some people is a relaxing time but for our family (mostly Brent!) it is a busy and all-consuming season. In his head, he has all sorts of details about camps, VBS, mission trips and upcoming fall programming rolling around. Thursday night, I asked him to get the steaks and put them on the grill for us and he opened our spice cabinet and just stood there looking intently. Ahhh, it's just one of the many tell-tale signs that summer is upon us.
Beatle and I had the most exquisite conversation about heaven yesterday; it's so nice to be able to linger lately and have heart-felt talks with her. Besides her being born, when her heart is fully ready to accept the Lord, that will be our proudest day in her little life. Can't wait!
As a type of bachelor party, BR and his close friends went fishing this weekend in OK so Beatle and I had girl's night. We picked plums (of course), swam at a friend's, came home, put Birdie down for the night, propped a tent up, made chocolate-covered strawberries (uh, yum!), and watched The Neverending Story. Afterward, we retired in my bed. It was definitely special!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Shot Shock
Staying at home the past two days has been wonderful! We've had such good times already and something interesting is happening; Beatle is being so much more affectionate to me. I never dreamed that would be a result of this change or that it would happen so quickly but it has and I'm soaking it up. She was a little thrown off when we went to church yesterday to work out and she saw the kids at the preschool playing on the playground. I don't know if she knew what to think yet.
If there has been one thing that's been exasperating, it would be that when Beatle knows we are going to do something, that's what I hear about all day. While I'm thankful for the enthusiasm, it can wear on me. I'm in the process of teaching her how to tell time. I think it could do nothing but help. (Sidenote: She was supposed to go to the Country Club and swim with some friends yesterday evening while we went to our foster meeting and we got word late in the afternoon that some little boy pooped in the pool and they shut it down for the day. Beatle collapsed into sobs, which she quickly got over, and announced that "That boy is rotten! He ruined everything!")
Tomorrow is Kindergarten Camp for Beatle. I really just think they are slapping a fancy name on a morning of screening. For a mom, it kind of feels like it's NFL draft day for my kid. I know I won't get the results until August but I can't help but think that the teachers are scoping out the kids and doing deals with each other to get the ones they want. (Amanda, am I just totally making this up or does this really happen?) Whether it's true or not, you can bet she will be dressed better than normally and her hair will be done (which only happens on the rarest of occasions). I've been trying to talk it up to her but what she doesn't know, ahem, didn't know was that after that, I have her appointment scheduled to get her "Kindergarten" shots. Both the girls are going to the doctor for shots. Yay me!
The last time she got a shot, she expressed to me that she didn't like the shock of it and wanted to be forewarned. I figured that tactic wouldn't make for a good experience either but I wanted to grant her her wish. The amount of time before the appointment, however, I wanted to be thoughtful about because I didn't want her to worry herself too much. Mainly, I just didn't want to hear about it all day for days on end.
This morning after working out, I was talking to breath-club-boy's mom (geez, I hope she never finds out about this blog! He's in just about every bloody post!) and told her, while the kids were off playing together, about my scheme--Kinder Camp in the A.M., Kinder shots in the P.M. We started talking about some other things and the kids had wandered back over when she said, "I'll be happy to watch Birdie while you take Beatle to the doctor tomorrow afternoon." And I said, "Oh, thank you but Birdie's going to get shots too." And it all came crumbling down around me. Beatle's head snapped up and she cried out, "I'm going to get shots tomorrow?!?!" The other mother's eyes were as wide as Beatle's when she mouthed, "I'm so sorry." It was fine. I was the one to give the game away. I had to deal with this. There have been tears in the last 12 hours and there will most definitely be more to come. I wasn't ready to tell her that early but she wanted to know in advance, now here's her chance to show me she's big. Also, there's a $5 bill for her too if she's brave (and I don't have to call BR to the doc's office for back-up!). What could have been a fun day tomorrow will unavoidably be clouded with dread. Bummer...
If there has been one thing that's been exasperating, it would be that when Beatle knows we are going to do something, that's what I hear about all day. While I'm thankful for the enthusiasm, it can wear on me. I'm in the process of teaching her how to tell time. I think it could do nothing but help. (Sidenote: She was supposed to go to the Country Club and swim with some friends yesterday evening while we went to our foster meeting and we got word late in the afternoon that some little boy pooped in the pool and they shut it down for the day. Beatle collapsed into sobs, which she quickly got over, and announced that "That boy is rotten! He ruined everything!")
Tomorrow is Kindergarten Camp for Beatle. I really just think they are slapping a fancy name on a morning of screening. For a mom, it kind of feels like it's NFL draft day for my kid. I know I won't get the results until August but I can't help but think that the teachers are scoping out the kids and doing deals with each other to get the ones they want. (Amanda, am I just totally making this up or does this really happen?) Whether it's true or not, you can bet she will be dressed better than normally and her hair will be done (which only happens on the rarest of occasions). I've been trying to talk it up to her but what she doesn't know, ahem, didn't know was that after that, I have her appointment scheduled to get her "Kindergarten" shots. Both the girls are going to the doctor for shots. Yay me!
The last time she got a shot, she expressed to me that she didn't like the shock of it and wanted to be forewarned. I figured that tactic wouldn't make for a good experience either but I wanted to grant her her wish. The amount of time before the appointment, however, I wanted to be thoughtful about because I didn't want her to worry herself too much. Mainly, I just didn't want to hear about it all day for days on end.
This morning after working out, I was talking to breath-club-boy's mom (geez, I hope she never finds out about this blog! He's in just about every bloody post!) and told her, while the kids were off playing together, about my scheme--Kinder Camp in the A.M., Kinder shots in the P.M. We started talking about some other things and the kids had wandered back over when she said, "I'll be happy to watch Birdie while you take Beatle to the doctor tomorrow afternoon." And I said, "Oh, thank you but Birdie's going to get shots too." And it all came crumbling down around me. Beatle's head snapped up and she cried out, "I'm going to get shots tomorrow?!?!" The other mother's eyes were as wide as Beatle's when she mouthed, "I'm so sorry." It was fine. I was the one to give the game away. I had to deal with this. There have been tears in the last 12 hours and there will most definitely be more to come. I wasn't ready to tell her that early but she wanted to know in advance, now here's her chance to show me she's big. Also, there's a $5 bill for her too if she's brave (and I don't have to call BR to the doc's office for back-up!). What could have been a fun day tomorrow will unavoidably be clouded with dread. Bummer...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
