Seeing that I have not made the time to sit down and update our blog, I have decided to write in the spirit of David Letterman and write the 10 reasons as to why I have no time anymore.
10. I am still recuperating after a thrilling vacation to Utah! After Mitch finished his school, we piled into the car- we really do pile now seeing that we fill every seat and need 4 suitcases and 5 bags of stuff- between diapers, car diversions that are individually wrapped to make the dollar store treasures even more appealing, extra changes of clothing for Cooper and Jaceroo, DVDs (again, how did our ancestors live without these?), Junie B. Jones (Book on tape that the boys adored and I did too since she is a little like Anne of Green Gables- If I am never going to get my girls, at least I have Anne and Junie B.), food, drinks, and food for lunches while vacationing because who can afford the hotel room for a week and food out while on vacation?, we filled our car. (David has some great run on sentences in his top ten so I thought I should too.). It took me two days to complete all the laundry- and then I had to do the new laundry on the third day.
9. VACATION! While on vacation, we visited with friends and family (Skinners, Jones, Cooks, Clarks, and McDonalds--we had a fabulous time with all of you!), went to the This is the Place pioneer village, the Hogle Zoo-perfect size for the Bishop family, IKEA and bought nothing but milk in the café, the Heber Creeper and rode the three hour train into Provo Canyon, the big Red Barn for ice cream, peaches, fudge, chocolate covered cinnamon bears (I got em for you, Aud), and Christmas tree ornaments, and Cove Fort. While on vacation, we did not have one temper tantrum until the very end at Cove Fort. Gager came unraveled in the middle of the tour and you could literally hear him 300 yards away. The tour guide was an angel and helped me with Cooper while I wrestled and I mean wrestled with Gager. It was one of those moments where you ask yourself, “Am I teaching him anything here, or I am embarrassing myself for absolutely no reason at all.” He pulled it together, and I think that the woman helping me did not think I was a terrible mother. I do not know why we get so embarrassed when our kids have melt down in public. I know nearly every child has had one. I never think twice about it when I see another mom struggling with an unruly child- I always think to myself that I am glad that a parent is dealing with it rather than giving in to their naughtiness. It is a face-reddening ordeal nonetheless regardless of how rational the reflection is afterwards!
8. Preschool- I not only taught preschool this last week, but I am teaching preschool this upcoming week and I had to finish getting ready for preschool since I am the one who organizes it. I love it and this time was no different. We made homemade pretzels, made mirrors so we could practice our good speech, made All About Me Books, practiced opposites with cold ice cream and hot fudge, practiced our letters in shaving cream and play dough, sang songs, played alligator and shark with bean bags and sorted items around the house. This next week we will learn about friendship! Jaceroo was wonderful- he was actually as well behaved as the other kids in the preschool. Cooper slept both mornings for the entire two and a half hours and then an additional half hour while I cleaned up. Gotta love it!
10. I am still recuperating after a thrilling vacation to Utah! After Mitch finished his school, we piled into the car- we really do pile now seeing that we fill every seat and need 4 suitcases and 5 bags of stuff- between diapers, car diversions that are individually wrapped to make the dollar store treasures even more appealing, extra changes of clothing for Cooper and Jaceroo, DVDs (again, how did our ancestors live without these?), Junie B. Jones (Book on tape that the boys adored and I did too since she is a little like Anne of Green Gables- If I am never going to get my girls, at least I have Anne and Junie B.), food, drinks, and food for lunches while vacationing because who can afford the hotel room for a week and food out while on vacation?, we filled our car. (David has some great run on sentences in his top ten so I thought I should too.). It took me two days to complete all the laundry- and then I had to do the new laundry on the third day.
9. VACATION! While on vacation, we visited with friends and family (Skinners, Jones, Cooks, Clarks, and McDonalds--we had a fabulous time with all of you!), went to the This is the Place pioneer village, the Hogle Zoo-perfect size for the Bishop family, IKEA and bought nothing but milk in the café, the Heber Creeper and rode the three hour train into Provo Canyon, the big Red Barn for ice cream, peaches, fudge, chocolate covered cinnamon bears (I got em for you, Aud), and Christmas tree ornaments, and Cove Fort. While on vacation, we did not have one temper tantrum until the very end at Cove Fort. Gager came unraveled in the middle of the tour and you could literally hear him 300 yards away. The tour guide was an angel and helped me with Cooper while I wrestled and I mean wrestled with Gager. It was one of those moments where you ask yourself, “Am I teaching him anything here, or I am embarrassing myself for absolutely no reason at all.” He pulled it together, and I think that the woman helping me did not think I was a terrible mother. I do not know why we get so embarrassed when our kids have melt down in public. I know nearly every child has had one. I never think twice about it when I see another mom struggling with an unruly child- I always think to myself that I am glad that a parent is dealing with it rather than giving in to their naughtiness. It is a face-reddening ordeal nonetheless regardless of how rational the reflection is afterwards!
8. Preschool- I not only taught preschool this last week, but I am teaching preschool this upcoming week and I had to finish getting ready for preschool since I am the one who organizes it. I love it and this time was no different. We made homemade pretzels, made mirrors so we could practice our good speech, made All About Me Books, practiced opposites with cold ice cream and hot fudge, practiced our letters in shaving cream and play dough, sang songs, played alligator and shark with bean bags and sorted items around the house. This next week we will learn about friendship! Jaceroo was wonderful- he was actually as well behaved as the other kids in the preschool. Cooper slept both mornings for the entire two and a half hours and then an additional half hour while I cleaned up. Gotta love it!
7. Kool-Aid! The day before I left for vacation, Jace dumped an entire container of Kool-Aid all over the tile floor. It took me HOURS to clean! It was a brand new container that you can buy at Sam’s. I was feeding the baby and in just about five minutes, Jace managed to get it all over the pantry shelves, all over the kitchen, playroom, and hallway, and ran into the den and got little red Kool-Aid footprints all over the edge of the carpet-Ohhhh….. was I ever overwhelmed. I did not even yell at him. I was so in shock by the mess and the red that was everywhere (How he introduced moisture into the mix, I still do not know.). For the entire rest of the day, whenever his nose would run, it ran Kool-Aid red. I scrubbed and scrubbed the floor, but I still cannot pull all the red up from the carpet. I thought that I had swept and vacuumed it up, but, oh no. As I began trying to mop it up with my Floor Mate, the red filled the discard water tank. I used three tanks to wash up the floor, and yet to this day, I am still mopping up pink. I will never buy Kool-Aid again!
6. First Grade! Aiden has begun first grade and loves it! He loves Mrs. Eeklor. My only complaint is that all the work he has brought home is way too easy. I am not sure if this is just the beginning of the year and I need to chill or if I will need to supplement all year long with more appropriate work. He is bringing home preschool work in my opinion. Gage, yes my three year old, did one of his pages of homework. I am serious. Aiden completed it in 22 seconds. I timed him.
5. Passing of a dear friend. A friend of ours lost a battle to cancer- a three year fight. The services were so nice. Her principal offered the eulogy and said such kind and endearing things. He even had some of Linda’s former students write letters to her. It ripped my heart out. I have never seen such a kinder tribute to a teacher in my life. It makes me want to sign up and give to children tomorrow. This season may come again….I need to remind myself that I can do more good within the walls of my own home right now.
4. Aiden and his 10 dollars! I gave Aiden lunch money, for he wanted to buy his own lunch soooo badly. He was so excited that he could barely sleep. He woke up and asked four times if he was going to buy his own lunch. I said, yes again and again and again. I sent him off to school with his first and last name along with his student ID number on a white card and ten dollars! When Aiden got home from school I excitedly asked him how his lunch experience went. Oh, no! Wrong question to ask. He quickly said that he was never going to get hot lunch again. He informed me that he got a white card, they took his money, they had no idea what to do with his white card with his name and number, and he did not even have time to eat all of his lunch. When I looked at his “white card,” I read that he owes $1.40 for a hot lunch that he did not even eat and he paid the five dollars to the lunch to which they gave him no receipt for. I guess tomorrow I get to drag Aiden and his four brothers into the lunch room to reclaim my five dollars and settle his account. Perhaps they need to revamp their procedures for the lunchroom to help the poor six year olds who become scarred for life after buying their first hot lunch with their very own money.
3. Gallbladder! I tried to go to the doctor and get an ultrasound to see if I have stones in my gallbladder. About every other night I am waking up with dull aches in the upper right quadrant of my abdomen. It is not a full attack—I am waiting for that. I know that dairy foods make it a little wiggy, but sometimes I can not trace a food at all- it is merely the fact that I am eating past 7:00 at night. Well I have an appointment on the 18th so I am hoping that they can figure this all out for me. A woman needs her sleep or she yells at her children a little more than usual.
2. Cooper. He is actually sleeping sometimes 8 hour stretches, and he is really good, but no mother of a new born can not describe their newborn as one of the reasons why she is tired. He adds to it, but I actually think he may be the least of the reasons as to why I am tired.
1. I have 5 kids and I take them everywhere including the library, Sam’s, the grocery store, the mountains- Mitch helped me on that day, the park, Michael’s, the Dollar store, Target, McDonald’s, Leid’s Discovery Museum, The Springs Preserve-again Mitch helped me with that one too, and the Doctor’s office. I get stares, gasps, and comments such as oh, I bet you are busy, do you sleep?, wow, I bet you have your hands full, are they all boys- oh I am sorry, oh, are they all boys, they will be easier one day, and one lady actually said on Friday to the gal she was with, “wow, why do you think she has so many children- they could not possibly be hers- no one in 2007 would actually have all those kids!” When I hear these comments, I think to myself, so they think I am deaf and dumb! I love my boys and all their craziness. I do wish I had more time for family history, scrapbooking, housework, quilting, and spending time with my mom and girlfriends, but I guess there are seasons for all things.
Mitch actually has more potential time on his hands, but he has been working extra nights lately- irony, eh? He did get an A- for his last class and he will be graduating in December- yahoo! I cannot wait to have all the boys with me as they see their Dad in his cap and gown (yes, you detect a tone of sarcasm…). I want them to see that education is important and I am willing to sit in a boring graduation for the memory, tho. I better film us in the audience too since they will not all remember it. Maybe I will go back and get another degree so I can walk once more, and they can see that in another 5 years- just kidding. That almost makes me want to gag. I will stick to the five credits every six years to keep up my license. That alone makes my stomach hurt.
Love to you all!
Kim and the other 6
This is Mitch... In reference to number 4, Kim just informed me that she went in this morning to rectify the situation. First of all, the lunch lady is not one of the brightest bulbs, so Kim pretty much found out why Friday was so chaotic for Aiden. Long story, short, she finally fixed everything. However, while she walked Aiden to class explaining that everything was now set for next time, he simply said, “Oh that’s OK, I’m never buying hot lunch again, so it really doesn’t matter.” So don’t be surprised if we write at the end of the year that we received a rebate of $8.60.
