What would happen if we went on a three-week-long vacation and we only took what clothes we were wearing? And maybe threw the four baskets of clean laundry sitting on my bedroom floor in the back of the van? Do you think we would have enough to wear, or not? And, if we didn't, would I care?
I think these are all questions best left unanswered. At least by me. Today. And maybe tomorrow, too. Let's hope for better answers by Monday...
June 30, 2010
June 29, 2010
Will She Come Home, Or Won't She?
So, this week is Girls Camp. Cinderella has been looking forward to it. I hate to say it, but I think she has been looking forward to the 'being away from the family part' of it more than anything else. I would be offended, if I weren't also a bit relieved to have one of the girls out of the mix. Sometimes three girls is a crowd around here. But, we'll miss her more than she'll miss us, that's for sure.
I pretty much overdid it this past weekend with dance recital, so Cinderella took initiative and packed everything and wrote a shopping list, then begged me to call her friend to meet us at the store for "Camp Shopping". Not to be mistaken for "going to the grocery store" or "picking up some snacks" type of shopping. So we did the "Camp Shopping" and loaded her up with treats to share with the other campers. Very official like. I think she was pleased. She definitely felt prepared to go, which is great.
My one concern? (Okay, there are way more than one. My mind likes to go crazy with a myriad of possibilities in which Cinderella will come home with one less limb...but we won't dwell on my psychotic imagination problems...Where were we?...) Those darn retainers. You see, Cinderella got her braces off just last week. And she needs to wear her retainers 24 hours a day. Which is great, unless she needs to eat. And then she will take them out, and they will be wrapped in a napkin, and we will never see their $170 faces again. Unless we like digging in the garbage. Which we don't like to do. But, that's not really the point. The point is, I am not there to dig through the garbage. And I would totally do it. (Despite my psychotic brain thinking of all of the reasons that doing so could cause me death or loss of limbs...) But, I can't.
So, I've told her: "Don't come home unless you bring those stinking retainers home with you."
Perhaps I was a bit too harsh. But, this smile cost us a lot, darn it, and I don't want to pay a penny more.
I pretty much overdid it this past weekend with dance recital, so Cinderella took initiative and packed everything and wrote a shopping list, then begged me to call her friend to meet us at the store for "Camp Shopping". Not to be mistaken for "going to the grocery store" or "picking up some snacks" type of shopping. So we did the "Camp Shopping" and loaded her up with treats to share with the other campers. Very official like. I think she was pleased. She definitely felt prepared to go, which is great.
My one concern? (Okay, there are way more than one. My mind likes to go crazy with a myriad of possibilities in which Cinderella will come home with one less limb...but we won't dwell on my psychotic imagination problems...Where were we?...) Those darn retainers. You see, Cinderella got her braces off just last week. And she needs to wear her retainers 24 hours a day. Which is great, unless she needs to eat. And then she will take them out, and they will be wrapped in a napkin, and we will never see their $170 faces again. Unless we like digging in the garbage. Which we don't like to do. But, that's not really the point. The point is, I am not there to dig through the garbage. And I would totally do it. (Despite my psychotic brain thinking of all of the reasons that doing so could cause me death or loss of limbs...) But, I can't.
So, I've told her: "Don't come home unless you bring those stinking retainers home with you."
Perhaps I was a bit too harsh. But, this smile cost us a lot, darn it, and I don't want to pay a penny more.
June 28, 2010
Dance (For the Grandmas)
Last weekend, we had dance recital. It was a fabulous show; the girls did a great job. I took a poor quality video at dress rehearsal, for the grandmas, and anyone else who would like to see it. Click on the video below--Sleeping Beauty is first--Ready for a Miracle, then Snow White--Batman.
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June 23, 2010
Garage Fun
Okay, so maybe it wasn't too fun, but we are so glad it is done. It was so hot the three days we worked on the garage. The high eighties with 80% humidity, made working in our long shirts and pajama pants miserable, but it did help us keep the insulation off of our bodies. The girls were troopers, and almost made up for the lack of work I contributed, as I enjoyed the hammering from my migraine bed. (And when I say enjoyed, I mean I wanted to throw the hammers into the street by the time the days were over. But I was so glad they soldiered on without me, and documented it pretty well, don't you think?)
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June 22, 2010
Sometimes
Sometimes, when my pain is so bad that my pillow hurts my head, I imagine what it would be like to really sleep on a cloud, instead of a pillow advertised with "feels like sleeping on a cloud". Because it doesn't--it feels like a rock, sometimes.
Sometimes, when my girls are fighting, I pretend that it is 10 years from now and they are all best friends like my sisters and me, and ignore it. Because someday they will realize all of the bickering is ridiculous. Ridiculous, I say.
Sometimes, when you decide to take off all of the paneling in the garage, add insulation, re-apply paneling, paint it, and build shelves, you think you might die of heat (or that your husband will). Because sometimes you pick the most humid, rainiest days to do said activity. Can't open the sweltering garage with a hurricane outside it. Sheesh.
Sometimes, when you give your husband pajamas with a cheap no-name brand that has a big B and a big Y, he will think you did something really great, and bought him pajamas from his favorite BYU. In time, he will be a little disappointed when he puts them on and can't find the BYU logo. But you will laugh. And so will he. A lot.
Sometimes, when I can't think of anything to blog about, I write down some random thoughts and call it good. Well, not good, but done. Sometimes it works. And then I delete the (this) post in a week, sometimes.
Sometimes, when my girls are fighting, I pretend that it is 10 years from now and they are all best friends like my sisters and me, and ignore it. Because someday they will realize all of the bickering is ridiculous. Ridiculous, I say.
Sometimes, when you decide to take off all of the paneling in the garage, add insulation, re-apply paneling, paint it, and build shelves, you think you might die of heat (or that your husband will). Because sometimes you pick the most humid, rainiest days to do said activity. Can't open the sweltering garage with a hurricane outside it. Sheesh.
Sometimes, when you give your husband pajamas with a cheap no-name brand that has a big B and a big Y, he will think you did something really great, and bought him pajamas from his favorite BYU. In time, he will be a little disappointed when he puts them on and can't find the BYU logo. But you will laugh. And so will he. A lot.
Sometimes, when I can't think of anything to blog about, I write down some random thoughts and call it good. Well, not good, but done. Sometimes it works. And then I delete the (this) post in a week, sometimes.
June 17, 2010
Our Weekend
A Picture Tour of Our Weekend
(Do I have to tell you how crazy it makes me that all of these pictures have 1/10/2008 printed on them?)
Historic Lanier Mansion (Snow White was NOT excited to be going on the tour of "a junky old house"):
Trolley tour of Historic Madison:
On our trolley tour, at the pool we (and by "we" I mean King and the girls) went swimming in:
The summer tradition to captivate many a generation: firefly hunting:
Hiking:
The girls (Sleeping Beauty was "too hot to smile")
Clifty Falls:
Cinderella's hiking shoes:
June 15, 2010
Reveal
June 14, 2010
Court Jesters
The girls were playing video games with their daddy Saturday, after he had taken them swimming, hiking, out for ice cream, and shopping. It was a busy day. He played one last game, and then told them he better get to doing his church work.
Snow White said, "Can you just play one more game of tennis with me?"
"I'm sorry," he said, "I really need to get this stuff done. We've been playing all day!"
In jest, and with great amounts of drama, Snow White said, "You never do anything with us. You're a horrible father."
And Sleeping Beauty began to sing,
"And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon
Little boy blue, and the man on the moon.
'When you comin' home dad?'
'I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then.'..."
Snow White said, "Can you just play one more game of tennis with me?"
"I'm sorry," he said, "I really need to get this stuff done. We've been playing all day!"
In jest, and with great amounts of drama, Snow White said, "You never do anything with us. You're a horrible father."
And Sleeping Beauty began to sing,
"And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon
Little boy blue, and the man on the moon.
'When you comin' home dad?'
'I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then.'..."
June 12, 2010
Hair Conditioned
I now sit at an internet cafe in a tiny town where King has been at a work conference. The family joined him last night, and this morning, he took the girls swimming. An activity which, had I participated, my head may have not let me drive home. So, I retreated to this cool, air conditioned refuge, complete with hot chocolate (the air conditioning really works) and calming 80's elevator music. I trust that I am having as much fun as the swimmers, if not more.
This past week we have kept fairly busy. The girls spent time volunteering at the library and the cultural center. Activities which keep them busy and help others, so it's all good. (Except for the running them around town part--that part is exhausting, but worth it.) One day a kind friend of ours did some of the running for me and fed us lunch. And, while I'm on the subject of really good air conditioning, I should tell you about hers. It went something like this...
"It is freezing in here," said our princess friend, M.
"No it's not," said her queenly mom, "the thermostat says it is 70 degrees, that's just perfect."
"I think it's freezing," said Snow White.
"Well," I said, "I think it's nice . You probably think it's cold because we keep our thermostat much higher, because..."
Snow White interrupts, "Yeah, cause our dad has no hair, so it's hard for him to keep warm."
That girl is killing me lately.
This past week we have kept fairly busy. The girls spent time volunteering at the library and the cultural center. Activities which keep them busy and help others, so it's all good. (Except for the running them around town part--that part is exhausting, but worth it.) One day a kind friend of ours did some of the running for me and fed us lunch. And, while I'm on the subject of really good air conditioning, I should tell you about hers. It went something like this...
"It is freezing in here," said our princess friend, M.
"No it's not," said her queenly mom, "the thermostat says it is 70 degrees, that's just perfect."
"I think it's freezing," said Snow White.
"Well," I said, "I think it's nice . You probably think it's cold because we keep our thermostat much higher, because..."
Snow White interrupts, "Yeah, cause our dad has no hair, so it's hard for him to keep warm."
That girl is killing me lately.
June 9, 2010
Miracles
Yesterday, for the first time in what seems like forever, I woke up without a real headache. For a tiny second, I was excited, until I remembered getting up at 4:45 a.m. to take pain medication because I was so miserable. So, not such a miracle after all. However, it was a nice start to the day where miracles did occur.
All of the girls did ALL of their assigned chores before dinner time. And there was only one meltdown. Something about it not being fair that she had to pick something up before sweeping. Because her chore was to "sweep the dining room" not "clean the dining room." It said so, "right on the chore chart!!" She got over it. Eventually. She was only 1/2 hour late for dinner, too.
Also miraculous: it seems that volunteering at the library is actually fun. Not the session of torture I had apparently signed them up for. They sorted DVDs, sorted beads for crafts, sorted books, and learned how to sign people up for the summer reading program. Then they picked out several books to bring home and we didn't see Cinderella for hours. It was lovely.
And Snow White finally remembered to keep her "thumbs tucked" (I don't get what it means either) during her dance rehearsal. It seems that this was the greatest miracle of all, judging from her excitement. I had no idea thumbs were such a big part of ballet.
All of the girls did ALL of their assigned chores before dinner time. And there was only one meltdown. Something about it not being fair that she had to pick something up before sweeping. Because her chore was to "sweep the dining room" not "clean the dining room." It said so, "right on the chore chart!!" She got over it. Eventually. She was only 1/2 hour late for dinner, too.
Also miraculous: it seems that volunteering at the library is actually fun. Not the session of torture I had apparently signed them up for. They sorted DVDs, sorted beads for crafts, sorted books, and learned how to sign people up for the summer reading program. Then they picked out several books to bring home and we didn't see Cinderella for hours. It was lovely.
And Snow White finally remembered to keep her "thumbs tucked" (I don't get what it means either) during her dance rehearsal. It seems that this was the greatest miracle of all, judging from her excitement. I had no idea thumbs were such a big part of ballet.
June 5, 2010
First Day of Summer
"There is nothing to do."
"Tell her to stop looking at me. She's annoying me."
"But we shouldn't have to do work, it's summer break!"
"I'm totally bored; there's nothing to do around here."
"But, why do we have to clean, it's not even Saturday?!"
"What do you expect me to do all day? I've already done everything fun."
"She will not leave me alone. She's such a freak!"
"Why do the stupid TV people think we're still in school and play baby shows all day. Won't there ever be anything good on TV? This summer is gonna stink."
And one swear word I will not repeat. I love summer.
"Tell her to stop looking at me. She's annoying me."
"But we shouldn't have to do work, it's summer break!"
"I'm totally bored; there's nothing to do around here."
"But, why do we have to clean, it's not even Saturday?!"
"What do you expect me to do all day? I've already done everything fun."
"She will not leave me alone. She's such a freak!"
"Why do the stupid TV people think we're still in school and play baby shows all day. Won't there ever be anything good on TV? This summer is gonna stink."
And one swear word I will not repeat. I love summer.
June 3, 2010
Celebration Time
We had lots of reasons to celebrate yesterday. It was King's birthday. Thirty-nine. It's strange that we remember our parents being the same age we are now, but they were older. Or something.
He loves the posing for the blowing out the candle picture. And also, don't you love that cute birthday banner my friend Wendy made me for my birthday? So cute.
Earlier in the day, the twins graduated from elementary school. It's hard to believe my babies are headed to middle school. How did they grow so fast? They each spoke for a second during the program, thanking their principal, teachers, parents and staff, and I was just amazed at how grown up they are becoming.
The program was great, complete with performances on the guitar and recorder. It was a tender ceremony, as the school is closing this year. They are the "last class to graduate" and it is hard to believe. We will miss the teachers and staff. We have had nothing but good experiences with our girls at this school the past four years. The principal is wonderful; the girls adore him.
Their teacher has been fantastic. According to the girls, he is the funniest, smartest, best guy they have ever met. I don't think I'll give him that much, :) but I will agree that he is one of the best teachers I have ever met, and we are praying that he will find a job very soon! (This was his first year teaching, and because of the school closing, he doesn't get to stay.) :(
We are so proud of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, and all of their hard work through their elementary years. They are great girls and we love them so much!
(Thanks to my friend Susan for half of the pictures in this post!)
June 1, 2010
On the Verge
Yesterday, we went to a Memorial Day Picnic. I felt so lousy, I shouldn't have gone. But I am tired of just staying in bed for my life. So, instead of staying in bed where I really belonged, I went and talked to only the people that happened to sit by me. I'm sure everyone thought I was grouchy and rude, but I could not do more. I could barely do that. I left early with a friend who took me home to enjoy the comfort of my bed. That was, sadly, the best part of the day. Crawling into my comfortable, quiet bed. So, anyway, enough complaining...
When the girls got home from the picnic, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty came to lay by me and talk. Sleeping Beauty said, "Mom, was it even worth it for you to go to the Mayo Clinic? It seems like you are still the same."
Sad. "Well," I said, "it was good for me to go because I learned that it is not some infection or other disease causing the headaches. I don't need to spend energy and money visiting a lot of doctors to try to figure treatments out. And, they gave me some ideas of medicines to take that could eventually help me. It may take a while, but I could find something to help. I'm still glad I went.
"Yeah, but it really sucks that you still feel bad," said Snow White, "It just makes it seem like it was a waste."
And then we were quiet for a few seconds wherein I feel a little sorry for myself and a lot sorry for these sweet girls who have a mom who feels lousy most of the time. And I try to remind myself to not feel guilty for everything. For feeling lousy. For all the work King does. For not being the mom I wish I could be. For spending my (and my friend's) money to go to Mayo, and still feeling the same. For really, truly dreading a summer vacation because I know I won't feel good and I don't want to be a downer to all of the family and friends I never see, who aren't used to my "new" life. All real feelings, but all that I have no need to feel guilty about. It's just life, and it's not my fault. And then Snow White breaks the silence...
"Mom, you know what is really, really going to stink when I am older and I have kids?"
"Hmmm, what?" I say. And I am thinking, "She thinks I am going to be a lousy Grandma because I am going to be in bed half the time, or maybe she thinks I am so sick I am dying. That I won't be around when she has little ones. Stab me in the heart."
And she answers, "Well, by the time I have little kids, it is going to be just bad. And I will be so sad for them because they will probably never, ever be able to see a giant panda or polar bear in captivity. Like at the zoo. Because they are both on the verge of extinction. Right on the verge. It makes me feel so sad for future kids. That's not something you should have to miss seeing."
I just had to laugh. I couldn't help it. What am I so worried about myself for? I mean, these animals are on the verge of extinction. Extinction, I tell you!!!! :)
When the girls got home from the picnic, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty came to lay by me and talk. Sleeping Beauty said, "Mom, was it even worth it for you to go to the Mayo Clinic? It seems like you are still the same."
Sad. "Well," I said, "it was good for me to go because I learned that it is not some infection or other disease causing the headaches. I don't need to spend energy and money visiting a lot of doctors to try to figure treatments out. And, they gave me some ideas of medicines to take that could eventually help me. It may take a while, but I could find something to help. I'm still glad I went.
"Yeah, but it really sucks that you still feel bad," said Snow White, "It just makes it seem like it was a waste."
And then we were quiet for a few seconds wherein I feel a little sorry for myself and a lot sorry for these sweet girls who have a mom who feels lousy most of the time. And I try to remind myself to not feel guilty for everything. For feeling lousy. For all the work King does. For not being the mom I wish I could be. For spending my (and my friend's) money to go to Mayo, and still feeling the same. For really, truly dreading a summer vacation because I know I won't feel good and I don't want to be a downer to all of the family and friends I never see, who aren't used to my "new" life. All real feelings, but all that I have no need to feel guilty about. It's just life, and it's not my fault. And then Snow White breaks the silence...
"Mom, you know what is really, really going to stink when I am older and I have kids?"
"Hmmm, what?" I say. And I am thinking, "She thinks I am going to be a lousy Grandma because I am going to be in bed half the time, or maybe she thinks I am so sick I am dying. That I won't be around when she has little ones. Stab me in the heart."
And she answers, "Well, by the time I have little kids, it is going to be just bad. And I will be so sad for them because they will probably never, ever be able to see a giant panda or polar bear in captivity. Like at the zoo. Because they are both on the verge of extinction. Right on the verge. It makes me feel so sad for future kids. That's not something you should have to miss seeing."
I just had to laugh. I couldn't help it. What am I so worried about myself for? I mean, these animals are on the verge of extinction. Extinction, I tell you!!!! :)
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