For whatever reason Grace occasionally has meltdowns over things. She has since she was very little, like when she was about 3 she cried in the car outside her music lesson. I tried everything, being nice, being stern, sympathetic, ... you get the idea. That day I had a dentist appointment or I would never have left her (more out of love and respect for Shalece who was teaching the class then for Grace who clearly needed to stop crying) Anyway to top that story off, after I had taken her into the music studio and left her (in hopes she would settle down with just a little distraction) another woman came in and said to Shalece, "The reason she is crying so hard is because her mom was yelling at her." Well.... Shalece defended me but I felt like saying to that woman, "you didn't see the 10 minutes I spent talking nice before I resorted to yelling" but.... sorry that was a whole other story. All I am saying is meltdowns run in her veins (Pretty sure she got it from me but again... another story.)
SOOOO, the 2nd day of school the kids are all set to ride the bus home. I am at Mindy's with her sleeping baby while she is picking up her kids from school when I get the dreaded phone call
"We have Grace in the office (I can hear Grace sobbing), she didn't get on the bus, can you come get her?"
"Yes, but it will be a few minutes." (Remember I'm at Mindy's with her sleeping baby.) "Would it be possible to pull McCade off the bus too."
"jfkhsdfjklhajklfh" I can't remember what she said but suffice it to say there was some radio static and I wasn't sure if she was too late to get McCade off the bus.
MEANWHILE... Sydney (Mindy's daughter) had seen Grace crying, had informed her mom, who had called me to see if I needed Grace picked up.
GRACE didn't want to get in the car... FINALLY I talked to her sweet teacher (who I will love forever because of her TLC of Grace) and Grace got in with Mindy.
IN THE MEANTIME while they are en route from the school, I get another dreaded call from the school;
"We have McCade in the office to be picked up, you told me to pull him off the bus."
yes, but remember, you never really got back to me about if it was too late to pull him off (Only spoken in my head, of course)
"I will be right there to get him" As soon as Grace arrives I hightail it back to the school to get McCade, who is standing outside with Grace's teacher Mrs. Mark (I hug her whenever I see her now, I can't help it, I feel like we have been through some kind of war together.) McCade is crying because he WANTED to ride the bus. Oh please, will this day just end already.
Maybe homeschooling should be a more carefully considered option, disregard that I lack the patience and diligence to do it and also that I can barely add or subtract without the use of an electronic device. If we homeschooled this would NEVER have happened.
At the end of the day all I can say is that we learned some valuable lessons;
#1 Mrs. Mark is SOOOO nice.
#2 Apparently there no longer is a bus #28 like it said on the paper they sent home.
#3 Also, apparently the 2nd day of school is soon enough for them to know where they are going. (Silly me, I thought they would still be getting a little help.)
What happened was, Grace got down to the bus line, didn't see the number she was used to and went back to her classroom, where her teacher took her to the office. SO the next day I walked her from her class, to the bus line, to the bus. But still.... why does life have to be so hard? Anyone? I guess this is how we learn those life lessons.
(P.S. remind me to tell you the story about the wrong bus I got on and one of my crying episodes.)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
I miss blogging (with photos)
I have been catching up on all my real friends (i.e. people I have actually met and like) vs. my "would-be friends" (people I have never met but like anyway and I'm positive we "would be" my friends if we ever met or if they didn't live in places like Oklahoma and Provo. ) Anyway, all the checking of the other blogs and reading the comings and goings etcetera etcetera... made me wish I did have a computer that was working and that I had taken pictures...what pictures would I have taken? I'm glad you asked...
#1 We (Matt, Bella, and I) drove to Twin today to pick up cabinets and tile. I wish I had a picture of all the tile, weighing down the back of the truck, the cabinets, stacked inside each other and the back seat so full that (Christa, stop reading this) Bella had to ride in the front (no air bags don't worry). The backseat was full of tile and.... du du nana (kind of sing it in your head) a shop vac... Many of you probably own a shop vac and don't think it's a big deal. BUT it is a big deal because to own a shop vac you need.... a shop aka a garage... which we now have! YeeHaw! ( I would take a picture of the shop vac too, I named it C3po).
#2 Bella's greasy hair. She has gotten into Grace's makeup 4 or 5 times in the last 2 days, finally I threw it all away. But even though she has had 3 baths in the last 2 days, I cannot get the (obviously) oil based makeup out of her hair. Or the pink off her scalp.
#3 McCade and Grace getting off the bus together and walking home. I love those two hoodlums.
#4 Our sheet rocker; Byron. If I had a picture I wouldn't need to explain anything.
#5 My 36 weeks and 6 days pregnant self. I am praying I don't go early (that is why I feel the need to stretch it out and not just say 37 weeks, which feels so much closer to 40 weeks.) (Feel free to join me in this prayer.) But I would take a picture and post it for you all.
Since I didn't take pictures of the aforementioned things I hope you can try to picture them in your head. Love ya, miss ya. T
#1 We (Matt, Bella, and I) drove to Twin today to pick up cabinets and tile. I wish I had a picture of all the tile, weighing down the back of the truck, the cabinets, stacked inside each other and the back seat so full that (Christa, stop reading this) Bella had to ride in the front (no air bags don't worry). The backseat was full of tile and.... du du nana (kind of sing it in your head) a shop vac... Many of you probably own a shop vac and don't think it's a big deal. BUT it is a big deal because to own a shop vac you need.... a shop aka a garage... which we now have! YeeHaw! ( I would take a picture of the shop vac too, I named it C3po).
#2 Bella's greasy hair. She has gotten into Grace's makeup 4 or 5 times in the last 2 days, finally I threw it all away. But even though she has had 3 baths in the last 2 days, I cannot get the (obviously) oil based makeup out of her hair. Or the pink off her scalp.
#3 McCade and Grace getting off the bus together and walking home. I love those two hoodlums.
#4 Our sheet rocker; Byron. If I had a picture I wouldn't need to explain anything.
#5 My 36 weeks and 6 days pregnant self. I am praying I don't go early (that is why I feel the need to stretch it out and not just say 37 weeks, which feels so much closer to 40 weeks.) (Feel free to join me in this prayer.) But I would take a picture and post it for you all.
Since I didn't take pictures of the aforementioned things I hope you can try to picture them in your head. Love ya, miss ya. T
Monday, August 31, 2009
Back to School
So sorry this post won't have accompanying pictures because we still have no computer. (I am posting this at work.) Grace is in 2nd grade, McCade is in kindergarten (all day, wow.) My favorite thing leading up to school starting is all the sisterly advice Grace has been giving McCade. Last week I heard Grace telling McCade all about how the lunchroom works and where to stand for line and not to worry if he has ANY questions all he has to do is ask a teacher. But my favorite thing happened today after I picked them up (Grace went to McCade's class to get him and then they came outside.) While we were driving to McDonalds for our "debriefing" and they were telling me all about their day Grace said, "McCade I just couldn't stop thinking about you all day. I thought about you and worried how you were doing." (I'm pretty sure she worried more than I did.) Just the sweet way she said it and her expression were so ... priceless. Then she proceded to tell him that he really needed to pay attention whenever the teacher was talking. "I did." was his reply. Then she says, "No, I looked in the window one time and you were looking at your pencil and not listening to the teacher." It's true, not much gets by Grace. I really have to mind my p's and q's around her, as do the other kids. It's a good system, I like it.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Where to begin?
I don't even know where to start. Our Computer is officially dead (RIP) Sadly I haven't even missed it that much except that pictures are piling up on my camera which always makes me a little nervous. I don't even know when we will get a new one because there are so many bigger and better things to spend money on...
Bigger and better things... Since we bought our house 7 years ago we have dreamed of a garage and possible living space above it (translation: Matt dreams of a huge garage, I dream of a little more living space.) We have spent countless hours in the car discussing what we would love vs. what we can afford. (We never seemed to tire of the subject, going around and around.) WELL, this year we refinanced (rates were low, time was right) and started the process for a remodel/ addition (again, with the endless chatter; "If we replace the siding we really need to do the windows at the same time... but what about the roof, it leaked all winter and spring.... what to do? what to do?") So we met with our contractor/ friend Brian, drew up a plan and started getting numbers back in... oh my! Everything came back way higher that we could afford. Sniffle, sniffle, I thought our dreams had been dashed again. BUT WAIT... we started asking around and got some new bids.... Ahahahaha (you have to kind of sing this last part in your head to get the full affect.) Alas, we couldn't use a contractor (it was the first expense to go.) so Matt and I became co-contractors.
The first backhoe marks into the green grass were thrilling for me. (Honestly, not so much for Matt, he has been real worried if our yard would ever recover from all the lumber, tractors, digging etc.) I have never understood people who take pictures of the building every step of the way. Who wants to look at those boring pictures of holes in the ground, then concrete slabs and then a bunch of two by fours... I understand now. There have been times when I felt like this project was a boulder and I was pushing it ... straight uphill... by myself... pregnant... in flipflops. Other times I have basked in the loving support of my co-contractor. Still, so many hours of the wee morning spent worrying, second guessing decisions; if things would work out, supplies arrive, workers show up... etc. I had a dream that there were like 5 men walking around in the yard who I had never laid eyes on before, and in my head I said, "Oh no, I have no idea who they are and they've come to work on the house." It turned out they had just seen the mess and the huge dog and thought they would bring their dogs to say hi. " Weird, I know, I only tell you this story to illustrate how all consuming it has been for me. Another, really illustrating and true story: I am sitting in the kitchen with Val and Tami and I said something like, "So many people have told me that "If your marriage can survive building a house it can survive anything," but I just don't know what the big deal is, so far Matt and I have pretty much been on the same page." (I kind of shrug my shoulders like, "What's the big deal?") Then from the other room Matt pipes in, "That's because we've been on your page." Classic.
There has been some time for fun this summer; the kids have had fun collecting nails for a nickel each, they have enjoyed climbing on the pile of rocks in front of our house, and watching the cement truck pour, they loved climbing the stairs that went nowhere (it kind of stopped my heart before we yelled for them to get down.) You know, just the usual summer fun.
But seriously we had a few "summer type" fun days at Redfish with Matt's family. When they pulled up to the house before the fun began, there was a huge trench from the power pole to the new addition, it was kind of like a moat around the house, there was only a little spot to get to the house, nothing says 'Welcome" like a trench and no front porch lights. It all worked out though and the kids had a great time with their cousins.
Before all the madness and ripped up yard started we visited my mom and sisters in Billings, MT. I think it was the best drive ever, the kids did so awesome (Can you say Redbox?) Nana has a pool at her condo and there is nothing that spells fun like "pool". Matt had driven from Arizona to Idaho with our nephew the week before and then he drove to Billings. It was a lot of driving for him but it was fun to have him with us in Billings for a few day.
My cute niece, Meghan, visited from AZ so she could check out BYU-I. I got to go with her and take the tour of campus (alot has changed since Matt and I met and fell in love there.) The anat & phys classroom look the same and the lab where we use to flirt and get dark looks from the lab assistant (who clearly thought he was so mature.) was the same. I could almost see us sitting in the back of the class passing notes back and forth. Meghan and I checked out apartments and I drove her by where Matt lived when we were dating and the basement apartment we lived the first year we got married. I love that place! I wish it had been a four year school when we went there. I don't know if the trip was all that fun for Meghan but we enjoyed having her and can't wait until she is back in Idaho in January.
I am still gestating nicely, growing another little fantastic human being like the three we have. We have his name picked, some of you already know... Riggins Val Parke, if you don't like it, pretend you do. It shouldn't be hard since you are just reading this and not talking to me face to face and making comments like.."It sounds like a disease." And if you need further convincing call us and I will have McCade and/or Bella say it for you in their sweet little voices and you will be less wary if not completely convinced. I have felt really good the last few months (thank goodness) and I am loving the feeling of the baby moving and the kids laying their heads on my big belly asking if Riggins is moving and can they feel. I love being pregnant and hope I stay this way for the next 8 weeks as nature intended, I wouldn't even mind going a wee bit over since I am sure there will be lots to finish up. (so many projects, so little time.)
I know this has been a freakishly long post... but it has been a freakishly long time since I posted. Sorry about the lack of pictures but...you didn't really want to see pictures of the holes in the ground and two by fours. Did you?
Bigger and better things... Since we bought our house 7 years ago we have dreamed of a garage and possible living space above it (translation: Matt dreams of a huge garage, I dream of a little more living space.) We have spent countless hours in the car discussing what we would love vs. what we can afford. (We never seemed to tire of the subject, going around and around.) WELL, this year we refinanced (rates were low, time was right) and started the process for a remodel/ addition (again, with the endless chatter; "If we replace the siding we really need to do the windows at the same time... but what about the roof, it leaked all winter and spring.... what to do? what to do?") So we met with our contractor/ friend Brian, drew up a plan and started getting numbers back in... oh my! Everything came back way higher that we could afford. Sniffle, sniffle, I thought our dreams had been dashed again. BUT WAIT... we started asking around and got some new bids.... Ahahahaha (you have to kind of sing this last part in your head to get the full affect.) Alas, we couldn't use a contractor (it was the first expense to go.) so Matt and I became co-contractors.
The first backhoe marks into the green grass were thrilling for me. (Honestly, not so much for Matt, he has been real worried if our yard would ever recover from all the lumber, tractors, digging etc.) I have never understood people who take pictures of the building every step of the way. Who wants to look at those boring pictures of holes in the ground, then concrete slabs and then a bunch of two by fours... I understand now. There have been times when I felt like this project was a boulder and I was pushing it ... straight uphill... by myself... pregnant... in flipflops. Other times I have basked in the loving support of my co-contractor. Still, so many hours of the wee morning spent worrying, second guessing decisions; if things would work out, supplies arrive, workers show up... etc. I had a dream that there were like 5 men walking around in the yard who I had never laid eyes on before, and in my head I said, "Oh no, I have no idea who they are and they've come to work on the house." It turned out they had just seen the mess and the huge dog and thought they would bring their dogs to say hi. " Weird, I know, I only tell you this story to illustrate how all consuming it has been for me. Another, really illustrating and true story: I am sitting in the kitchen with Val and Tami and I said something like, "So many people have told me that "If your marriage can survive building a house it can survive anything," but I just don't know what the big deal is, so far Matt and I have pretty much been on the same page." (I kind of shrug my shoulders like, "What's the big deal?") Then from the other room Matt pipes in, "That's because we've been on your page." Classic.
There has been some time for fun this summer; the kids have had fun collecting nails for a nickel each, they have enjoyed climbing on the pile of rocks in front of our house, and watching the cement truck pour, they loved climbing the stairs that went nowhere (it kind of stopped my heart before we yelled for them to get down.) You know, just the usual summer fun.
But seriously we had a few "summer type" fun days at Redfish with Matt's family. When they pulled up to the house before the fun began, there was a huge trench from the power pole to the new addition, it was kind of like a moat around the house, there was only a little spot to get to the house, nothing says 'Welcome" like a trench and no front porch lights. It all worked out though and the kids had a great time with their cousins.
Before all the madness and ripped up yard started we visited my mom and sisters in Billings, MT. I think it was the best drive ever, the kids did so awesome (Can you say Redbox?) Nana has a pool at her condo and there is nothing that spells fun like "pool". Matt had driven from Arizona to Idaho with our nephew the week before and then he drove to Billings. It was a lot of driving for him but it was fun to have him with us in Billings for a few day.
My cute niece, Meghan, visited from AZ so she could check out BYU-I. I got to go with her and take the tour of campus (alot has changed since Matt and I met and fell in love there.) The anat & phys classroom look the same and the lab where we use to flirt and get dark looks from the lab assistant (who clearly thought he was so mature.) was the same. I could almost see us sitting in the back of the class passing notes back and forth. Meghan and I checked out apartments and I drove her by where Matt lived when we were dating and the basement apartment we lived the first year we got married. I love that place! I wish it had been a four year school when we went there. I don't know if the trip was all that fun for Meghan but we enjoyed having her and can't wait until she is back in Idaho in January.
I am still gestating nicely, growing another little fantastic human being like the three we have. We have his name picked, some of you already know... Riggins Val Parke, if you don't like it, pretend you do. It shouldn't be hard since you are just reading this and not talking to me face to face and making comments like.."It sounds like a disease." And if you need further convincing call us and I will have McCade and/or Bella say it for you in their sweet little voices and you will be less wary if not completely convinced. I have felt really good the last few months (thank goodness) and I am loving the feeling of the baby moving and the kids laying their heads on my big belly asking if Riggins is moving and can they feel. I love being pregnant and hope I stay this way for the next 8 weeks as nature intended, I wouldn't even mind going a wee bit over since I am sure there will be lots to finish up. (so many projects, so little time.)
I know this has been a freakishly long post... but it has been a freakishly long time since I posted. Sorry about the lack of pictures but...you didn't really want to see pictures of the holes in the ground and two by fours. Did you?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
It's been a long time
More than a month since my last post... sad. First my mom was here and I thought it might be rude to spend a bunch of time on the computer, then one of the kids tripped over the cord while it was still plugged into the computer so now the computer has no power unless I sit there and hold the cord with one hand, (I love blogging but, not that much.) So, I just wanted you to know... in case you care... I have a call into a computer repair man. Until then... Happy summer. (Kind of a joke since it has been raining for weeks, but don't even get me started on that...)
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Bella's Halloween
Bella has a navy blue velour skating outfit that she calls her "Halloween" (pronounced How-een). I don't actually know why she calls it that, she's never worn it for Halloween, maybe she is planning in advance for next year. She wears it all the time.
She loves it.
Here she is at the park...in her Hoween, I forgot to put sunscreen on her back and she got a little circular tan/burn on her upper back.
See- here we are at the store, Bella is in her Hoween, I did insist that she put on some pants..this time. Going to the store with mom is fun. She will let you eat a big sugary donut.
Same outfit, different day.
If you come to our house Bella will put her Hoween on and do a beautiful dance for you.
She loves it.
Here she is at the park...in her Hoween, I forgot to put sunscreen on her back and she got a little circular tan/burn on her upper back.
See- here we are at the store, Bella is in her Hoween, I did insist that she put on some pants..this time. Going to the store with mom is fun. She will let you eat a big sugary donut.Ok, she did have shoes on too, but they kept falling off,
really, she had shoes. I promise.
Same outfit, different day.
If you come to our house Bella will put her Hoween on and do a beautiful dance for you.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Happy Birthday Matt
Happy Birthday! Thanks for being a great husband and dad! We love you so much and appreciate all you do for us.
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