Thursday, July 23, 2009

Smear me Mommy!

This is why my life is good. My kids are NEVER boring.

Addie showed signs of the family allergies early on. As we are getting ready to go off my incredible health insurance, we took a page from a cousin and decided to do the skin test. If we put some peanut butter on her and she broke out in a rash, she has the allergy, if not, we have grown out of it. I asked Sylvia if I could borrow some PB, and headed to our basement lair.

Addie was upset when I first smeared it on, then I smeared some on myself as a sign of solidarity. We set the timer. We cleaned it off. We rejoiced at the smooth unblemished skin where the PB had been. The mood must have been infectious. Every day, several times a day, Addie asks me to smear her with peanut butter. I am sure bystanders think they have mis-heard my two year old. Today she had her first PB and J sandwich. She loved it. So did I.

While I was home for lunch, my older daughter informed me that it was my birthday. I thought that was cute. I just got an IM from my husband letting me know there was a surprise birthday party waiting for me at home. I really hope it involves cake. Seriously, a big one.

Ella has started using age as the ultimate cop out. She will put her face under water during swim lessons when she is "all grown up." That's nice. Who will be paying for those lessons? During our weekly toe nail polishing party last Friday, we hit a road bump when it came to clipping her nails. After much debate, she declared she would be happy to clip her nails. When she is 35. Hmmm. I just got a visual.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Shine on


I finally have a new camera (thanks to generous going away gifts) that lets me capture that cheesy grin Addie likes to flash at me.


Thursday, July 16, 2009

Lame Duck


My replacement started in the office today.

This is just another milestone in a series that is inevitably marching us out of Illinois. We sold the house, we signed a lease, now I am irrevocably going to be out of this job.

The realization that this is the result of my own choices does not make this easy. I keep telling the new girl how lucky she is.

I am serving for the last time in our church on Sunday.

We are scheduling "last" dinner dates and BBQs with friends.

Everywhere I turn, I am a lame duck. And that sounds kind of sad, but it isn't really. We have known about this move for 5 months now. I spent the first 4 bitter, angry and generally moody. Now that we are almost at launch, I have finally stopped throwing pity parties for myself and started looking forward to the next step.

Elspeth likes to tell me, "we will have a lot of good adventure in Arizona Mommy." and I am beginning to think she is right.

That kid is something else.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

What are the signs?


This is Elspeth's favorite street sign. She really wants it to be my favorite sign too, but I am not ready to commit. Picking your favorite street sign is harder than you might think.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Random thoughts on a rainy day

In honor of Addie's 2nd birthday . . .


I haven't been able to post pictures lately, because I don't have any on my computer (they are on Jeremy's). My cousin snapped this shot of Addie getting her groove on at a July 4th Wedding reception. The girls danced until Ella got blisters. They thought it was the greatest party ever.

Here is a random shot from the living room in my future home into the dining room/hallway. The couch is in the dining room. The paint looks exactly like a color I would pick. I guess that is why my husband chose this place, he could see me there.

Last night I had to scrub the tub before I threw the girls in it. My girls love to help me clean and they crowded around as I went to town with the Scrubbing bubbles. Ella was in chatter mode, and it went like this:

E: Mommy, we like to clean
Me: Yes, a clean home is nice
E: Some people are good at cleaning and some people are not good at cleaning
Me: Yes, that is true
E: We are good at cleaning. (pause) But the Jacksons are better at it.

*sigh*

From the files of truth hurts. :)

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Altered Reality

If you are considering inviting a family of 4 to come live with you any time soon, you should know this: Previous to our arrival, the Jacksons only hired a plumber to do things like, put in a new bathroom.

Fast forward to 5 weeks after our arrival, while playing house yesterday. Instead of who will be the mommy or the daddy, the Jackson children were deciding who would be the plumber.

That best portion of a good man's life; His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. --William Wordsworth

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Not Enough Coffee

7:11 p.m. Arrived in MI, Mom and Dad have dinner waiting at hotel. Kids refuse to eat it. This is going to be fun

9:05 p.m. Put kids to bed, this should work, they are tired and it is about bedtime, our time.

9:30 pm. Jeremy goes into room and works his "daddy magic" kids actually go to sleep.

11:00 p.m. - We say goodnight to my parents and sneak into the room, our kids are now fast asleep.

12:00 a.m. - Jeremy and I exchange a look, we realize neither of us is going to sleep.

4:30 a.m. - Still restless, we see the turtle stars on the ceiling, a good sign that Ella is not asleep in the next bed.

5:30 a.m. - I give up and sneak into the bathroom. I plan to escape to the lobby. Ella sits up, I whisper that, if she is quiet, she can go with me. I am shocked, she IS quiet.

5:35 a.m. - the desk clerk informs me that breakfast ISN'T open yet. Seriously, it makes a big difference if I wait 20 minutes to take that stale muffin. I don't care, we didn't come out for the food. I take coffee and dare her to comment.

5:45 a.m. - Ella and I step outside the door to get some brochures to play with. We get locked out, the desk clerk gives me a look that would make a lesser woman cry when I ring the bell for re-entry.

5:50 a.m. - Elspeth spills her cup of water all over her chair, the desk clerk doesn't seem to notice, I swap out Ella's chair for an empty one by the front desk.

5:55 a.m. - Jeremy, my knight with DVD player, arrives and turns on the entertainment.

6:10 a.m. - Ella realizes there are donuts available for consumption. The sugar fest starts.

6:15 a.m. - The desk clerk notices the wet chair. I try to look innocent.

6:17 a.m. - batteries die on DVD player. Daddy turns to the Internet for additional solutions.

6:30 a.m. - We are exhausted, and Ella is bored. I'm glad the monitor works to the lobby, and am grateful that one member of our family is getting a good night's sleep.

7:00 a.m. - Jeremy and Ell head off to Wal-Mart to waste time. Jeremy doesn't have his phone, so I give him mine.

7:17 a.m. - Bored. Dana is online but inactive. I start sending her IMs to annoy her when she comes near her computer. Get Packed. Get Packed. Get Packed. I know she will be late, but I am hoping for a miracle.

7:20 a.m. - I remember that I didn't pack the flags we got for the girls and their cousins. They will be crushed. Didn't my sister say I could email a text message? I google email text message, and it seems ridiculously easy. Too easy, so I try it. "Forgot flags. Get more."

Just now - amazing husband replies "u betcha" so I know my text is successful. Thinking of crawling back into bed with Addie. This is going to be a long day.

I love vacation. Happy 4th of July.