Carpet cleaning
Mopping
Playing cribbage
Laughing with Penny
Out for supper
No loads of dishes
Three loads of laundry
A full night of sleep
These are things that happen when Grammy and Gramps take the three older ducks overnight. One child at home for the night.
They are coming home at 1:00 so I'd better get off the computer and back to work. We are getting tons done and looking forward to company for the week-end. Hmmm. It has been great.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Bound to happen
Gary is home this week. It has been wonderful to be together, just hanging out and doing special things together. We joined the Holland Aquatic Center and have been swimming twice already. Thanks Mom and Dad Petty (Gary's folks) for the funds to do this. We are looking forward to many more family pool sessions this winter.
One of the benefits of Gary being home is that I get to be on vacation a little bit too. I don't make all the daily decisions, make all the meals, or do all the discipline. Gary might be ready to go back to work soon though. :)
So today, we finally had happen something that I've been anticipating for a long time. My boys. My fabulous boys. My "pee standing up" boys. Over the past year, they have been getting a little bit. . . lazier about their aim in the bathroom. I'm noticing more "issues" in the bathroom and am fairly confident that Noel isn't making the mess. So today, we hear Garrison talking with Simon about how he shouldn't be doing that on the stool. Gary goes to the bathroom and finds Simon standing on the stool and lettin' er rip! Yes, my boys are finally seeing how far, how high, how fast they can go. I knew it would happen. Today was the day. Gary was firm about how gross it was, how they needed to clean it up. I'm thankful it wasn't me. Not because it was a little gross. Not because I would have had to supervise clean-up. Not because I would have had to give a talk. I'm glad I didn't handle it because I was laughing. I even had to stay away from the bathroom because I didn't want the boys to see me laughing! Gary gave me quite the perplexed look before he began to smirk as well.
My guess is this is not the first time, nor will it be the last time my boys take aim and fire. For the sake of their future wives however, I need to make sure not to smile about it.
One of the benefits of Gary being home is that I get to be on vacation a little bit too. I don't make all the daily decisions, make all the meals, or do all the discipline. Gary might be ready to go back to work soon though. :)
So today, we finally had happen something that I've been anticipating for a long time. My boys. My fabulous boys. My "pee standing up" boys. Over the past year, they have been getting a little bit. . . lazier about their aim in the bathroom. I'm noticing more "issues" in the bathroom and am fairly confident that Noel isn't making the mess. So today, we hear Garrison talking with Simon about how he shouldn't be doing that on the stool. Gary goes to the bathroom and finds Simon standing on the stool and lettin' er rip! Yes, my boys are finally seeing how far, how high, how fast they can go. I knew it would happen. Today was the day. Gary was firm about how gross it was, how they needed to clean it up. I'm thankful it wasn't me. Not because it was a little gross. Not because I would have had to supervise clean-up. Not because I would have had to give a talk. I'm glad I didn't handle it because I was laughing. I even had to stay away from the bathroom because I didn't want the boys to see me laughing! Gary gave me quite the perplexed look before he began to smirk as well.
My guess is this is not the first time, nor will it be the last time my boys take aim and fire. For the sake of their future wives however, I need to make sure not to smile about it.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Christmas
Happy Birthday Jesus!
We greeted Sunday morning with cupcakes and song. We do after all need to celebrate members of our family who have birthdays. Lovely.
Christmas Eve was our family time to enjoy each other, open gifts, have a nice dinner together and read the Christmas story. When I sit back and look at it, the day was great. I loved seeing my kids have such excitement. I loved giving gifts to them. I loved spending the day together and just being: no big agenda. I loved sitting with Gary after the kids had gone to bed and talking, laughing, and exchanging stockings with each other. Loved it. I love Christmas.
During the day, I had to catch myself at times from being disappointed--having too many expectations for the day. I wanted to pack as many traditions in--yet we don't need so many traditions. I wanted my kids to ooh and aah at every gift--um, my kids are 6, 5, 4 and 1. Ain't going to happen. I wanted my kitchen to stay clean--we ate three meals at home and even had chocolate fondue. Kitchen isn't going to stay clean. Kids aren't going to stay clean. :) Christmas morning was fun with socks (stockings) and the comment "is this all?". (Clenched teeth) Yes. . . and Jesus is here.
Jesus is indeed here and Yes, that is all. All of him. All human. All divine. All baby. A baby?!? Didn't expect that one.
We greeted Sunday morning with cupcakes and song. We do after all need to celebrate members of our family who have birthdays. Lovely.
Christmas Eve was our family time to enjoy each other, open gifts, have a nice dinner together and read the Christmas story. When I sit back and look at it, the day was great. I loved seeing my kids have such excitement. I loved giving gifts to them. I loved spending the day together and just being: no big agenda. I loved sitting with Gary after the kids had gone to bed and talking, laughing, and exchanging stockings with each other. Loved it. I love Christmas.
During the day, I had to catch myself at times from being disappointed--having too many expectations for the day. I wanted to pack as many traditions in--yet we don't need so many traditions. I wanted my kids to ooh and aah at every gift--um, my kids are 6, 5, 4 and 1. Ain't going to happen. I wanted my kitchen to stay clean--we ate three meals at home and even had chocolate fondue. Kitchen isn't going to stay clean. Kids aren't going to stay clean. :) Christmas morning was fun with socks (stockings) and the comment "is this all?". (Clenched teeth) Yes. . . and Jesus is here.
Jesus is indeed here and Yes, that is all. All of him. All human. All divine. All baby. A baby?!? Didn't expect that one.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Eyebrows
Merry Christmas to my eyebrows! I waxed them this morning and. . . ahem. . . didn't quite get things even. Oops. Generally, I come close. Most folks wouldn't notice, but this time--well--things are a bit uneven. I've been a-pluckin' away, yet this may only be making things worse. We've been talking to our kids about gifts and how they may not get everything they want or get what others got or blah blah blah. My eyebrows did not get treated fairly--one certainly got more than the other. I do think it's kinda funny for little ole cheapskate me.
Thankfully, I don't have to look at them much. Poor Gary. :)
Thankfully, I don't have to look at them much. Poor Gary. :)
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Joseph
I was asked to give a little talk to our Bible Study about Christmas. Here are the thoughts that I shared that day.
Besides Christ, one of my favorite characters in the Christmas narrative is Joseph. He often gets overlooked as there as very little mentioned about him in the story. Yes, scripture does offer us a few descriptions.
1. He was a righteous man. Of course he was. He was betrothed to Mary and she was most certainly a righteous woman--the mother of Christ had to be. If Mary's folks thought that Joseph was a worthy husband--he must have been pretty special.
2. He was going to divorce her quietly. He could have stoned her if he wanted. He could have stood in the city gates and maligned her. She obviously cheated on him and got pregnant. His named was dragged through the mud. In a day and age where the news is filled with folks divorcing each other, putting out tweets and giving interviews, Joseph takes the high road. Mary is pregnant. He'll take care of things quietly. He must have really liked her to want to protect her as well as to not take any kind of revenge on her.
3. He had a dream where an angel talked with him and he went to Mary "when he woke up". Right away! He took on these issues. He took on all the judgement and comments of the folks in Nazareth. He didn't ask God to talk to him again. He didn't say "this was just a dream so I don't have to do anything.". Boy do I like this guy. I can't say that I would have reacting like that.
4. He was willing to be an adoptive parent to the Son of God! Think about that. He was going to parent the SON OF GOD. Someone who was perfect. An imperfect parent parenting a perfect child. Yet, Joseph did it. He taught him how to do carpentry, how to behave in synagogue, how to tie his robe the right way, how to wash his feet and behind his ears, how to eat a variety of foods. . . he did it.
5. He didn't have sex with Mary until after Jesus was born. I'm amazed at Joseph's self-control. Though they were married, he wanted to make sure that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. To get married and then wait. . . what a guy!
We don't hear much more about him--they go to Egypt and return. What we do hear is amazing though. Way to go Joseph!
Besides Christ, one of my favorite characters in the Christmas narrative is Joseph. He often gets overlooked as there as very little mentioned about him in the story. Yes, scripture does offer us a few descriptions.
1. He was a righteous man. Of course he was. He was betrothed to Mary and she was most certainly a righteous woman--the mother of Christ had to be. If Mary's folks thought that Joseph was a worthy husband--he must have been pretty special.
2. He was going to divorce her quietly. He could have stoned her if he wanted. He could have stood in the city gates and maligned her. She obviously cheated on him and got pregnant. His named was dragged through the mud. In a day and age where the news is filled with folks divorcing each other, putting out tweets and giving interviews, Joseph takes the high road. Mary is pregnant. He'll take care of things quietly. He must have really liked her to want to protect her as well as to not take any kind of revenge on her.
3. He had a dream where an angel talked with him and he went to Mary "when he woke up". Right away! He took on these issues. He took on all the judgement and comments of the folks in Nazareth. He didn't ask God to talk to him again. He didn't say "this was just a dream so I don't have to do anything.". Boy do I like this guy. I can't say that I would have reacting like that.
4. He was willing to be an adoptive parent to the Son of God! Think about that. He was going to parent the SON OF GOD. Someone who was perfect. An imperfect parent parenting a perfect child. Yet, Joseph did it. He taught him how to do carpentry, how to behave in synagogue, how to tie his robe the right way, how to wash his feet and behind his ears, how to eat a variety of foods. . . he did it.
5. He didn't have sex with Mary until after Jesus was born. I'm amazed at Joseph's self-control. Though they were married, he wanted to make sure that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. To get married and then wait. . . what a guy!
We don't hear much more about him--they go to Egypt and return. What we do hear is amazing though. Way to go Joseph!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
A quick insert
Yes. . . Christmas character. . . coming. . . need more time.
Instead
Had a wonderful afternoon with Noel. We dressed up and went to see a local dance company put on a Christmas show. Great music: all Christian, all lifted high to the Lord--very cool.
Noel liked most of it, really liked the suckers I threw in my purse (so glad I did that!), sat on my lap the whole time so that she could see. I liked her there. I could whisper to her. I could hug her. I don't get a lot of time one-on-one with my girl.
Then. . . after one of the dances. . .while the lights were out. . . while they were changing dancers and music. . . while it was completely quiet in the theater. . . Noel sat up and burped. Loudly.
Lots of chuckling from the folks sitting around us. I shook my head, smiled a bit, pulled her close, and explained that burping in public isn't really acceptable. Let's try to not do that again.
Gary's response when I told him about it over dinner?
"That's my daughter."
Instead
Had a wonderful afternoon with Noel. We dressed up and went to see a local dance company put on a Christmas show. Great music: all Christian, all lifted high to the Lord--very cool.
Noel liked most of it, really liked the suckers I threw in my purse (so glad I did that!), sat on my lap the whole time so that she could see. I liked her there. I could whisper to her. I could hug her. I don't get a lot of time one-on-one with my girl.
Then. . . after one of the dances. . .while the lights were out. . . while they were changing dancers and music. . . while it was completely quiet in the theater. . . Noel sat up and burped. Loudly.
Lots of chuckling from the folks sitting around us. I shook my head, smiled a bit, pulled her close, and explained that burping in public isn't really acceptable. Let's try to not do that again.
Gary's response when I told him about it over dinner?
"That's my daughter."
Thursday, December 15, 2011
I adore him
I know I said in my last post that I would talk about my favorite Christmas character. Tomorrow. . . or whenever I get around to it. Just look forward to it o.k.? :)
Instead, I have a little story to share, one that gave me immense amusement!
Garrison has been into money lately. He traded his tooth fairy money for some basketball cards on the bus. He worked hard to get a dollar and went to the dollar store to chose something of his very own. Though he is only six, we are hoping that he'll begin to see the value of money, how saving works, how spending works etc.
So, one morning he set up a garage sale in our living room. I laughed and just enjoyed the show. I also announced that I would not be buying anything at the garage sale. 1. I didn't need anything that was available. 2. I purchased most of what he was selling anyway. 3. I thought the prices were a little high.
Garrison sells for awhile in the living room and sadly doesn't have any customers. Simon and Noel are both glad to purchase the stuff: they just don't have any cash. Ah, a problem.
I'm working in the kitchen, playing with Penny, putting her in bed, taking a shower etc. I discover later that Garrison is no longer selling in the living room, but has moved out to the road. He is going to have a garage sale: a real one. It is the middle of November and he is ready to go!
HILARIOUS!
Garrison patiently waiting for some business.
He has his stand all set up.
$2.00 for a mini-skateboard! Outrageous!
Simon joined him shortly afterwards to assist. After about 20 minutes, Garrison convinced Simon that if he stayed outside, then Simon could have all the profits. They did ask if they could go around and knock on doors to drum up some business. I said "no". Mean mom.
Sadly, no one stopped and they didn't make any money. I'm o.k. with it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)