He was just a hoot today.
We went to scheels to get Ben new shoes. Wils noticed mannequins without heads. He was very interested..............and said "But if you don't have a head, that means you're dead."
Then we went to Michaels to get some craft supplies that Ana has been asking for. Wil wanted to know where Michael was.
Later he said something silly and I called him a silly willy. He said "No, I'm not THAT kind of boy, I'm just a boy!"
And then my favorite.........he said "My skin is itchy". I told him it was dry and he needs lotion. "No" he said "I just need to scratch it."
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
one of the funnier things I've seen little boys do
I took a nap this morning after Brian got home because I worked til midnight last night and got the kids up and out this morning. When I got from my nap at about 10 30 I came out and saw Wil and Zac by the pantry door. It was locked with the chain lock way up at the top, something we do on occasion when there is something in there we don't want them getting into. They had pulled one of the tall chairs from the pub table over there and they were both standing on it (HOW did Zac get up there? Wil must have lifted him!). Brian was at the computer spaced out as usual. Wil succeeded in unchaining the door, got himself and Zac down, opened the door, and turned to Zac for a high five. Then he turned and saw me and said very matter of factly "Daddy locked us out of there, so I fixed it."
.................................................................
Here is something Ana wrote at school for an assignment:
Ariana Schurman
This is something you should know about me. My name is Ariana and I was born in 1999, I am 9 years old and I will be turning 10 on May 27 '09. I like to play with my Game Boy a lot, and my Nintendo DS. My full name is Ariana Rose Giller Schurman. I am nice, kind, and my brothers say I'm funny. I like to sing, play outside, and play my recorder. My friends are Paije Fiecke, Alexis Hofmann, and Elizabeth (Lizzy) Boisjolie, anad Stella Mueller.
This is something you should know about my family, my family involves Elijah 8, Ben 6, Wil 3, and Zac 1. Their birthdays are Elijah Feb 13, Ben Sept 24, Wil Aug 9, and Zac March 25th. I have a mom and dad, they are not divorced. The oldest brother and I were born a year and a half apart, my brother Ben likes music and to sing, like me, we are a lot alike, and we are often quiet.
These are some things I would like to do when I grow up. My goal in life is to go to the Olympics for swimming, scuba dive down to the Titanic, direct a movie, and become an artists, illustrator, and author.
.................................................................
Here is something Ana wrote at school for an assignment:
Ariana Schurman
This is something you should know about me. My name is Ariana and I was born in 1999, I am 9 years old and I will be turning 10 on May 27 '09. I like to play with my Game Boy a lot, and my Nintendo DS. My full name is Ariana Rose Giller Schurman. I am nice, kind, and my brothers say I'm funny. I like to sing, play outside, and play my recorder. My friends are Paije Fiecke, Alexis Hofmann, and Elizabeth (Lizzy) Boisjolie, anad Stella Mueller.
This is something you should know about my family, my family involves Elijah 8, Ben 6, Wil 3, and Zac 1. Their birthdays are Elijah Feb 13, Ben Sept 24, Wil Aug 9, and Zac March 25th. I have a mom and dad, they are not divorced. The oldest brother and I were born a year and a half apart, my brother Ben likes music and to sing, like me, we are a lot alike, and we are often quiet.
These are some things I would like to do when I grow up. My goal in life is to go to the Olympics for swimming, scuba dive down to the Titanic, direct a movie, and become an artists, illustrator, and author.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
a few more thoughts
dont miss the post below, im posting just a few minutes apart.
tonight at work a new patient called to me from across the room. "Hey, you!"
Yeah? I said.
"Did your curling iron go nuts this morning?"
...................................................................................
Saturday night ariana and i had to work at this cold spring chili fest doing a girl scout project thingie. We had to walk around collecting people's beer cans, and then the troop gets to keep and sell the cans for profit. I felt like a total idiot walking around 1,800 people, most of whom I know from Cold Spring and don't really like anyway because Cold Spring is snooty, picking up after them. I could just feel it..."Can you believe that's Brian's wife???"
But another girl scout mom and I decided that as tempted as we were, we really probably shouldn't carry our own beers while we did it.
Next year we are on the drinking side of that deal.
tonight at work a new patient called to me from across the room. "Hey, you!"
Yeah? I said.
"Did your curling iron go nuts this morning?"
...................................................................................
Saturday night ariana and i had to work at this cold spring chili fest doing a girl scout project thingie. We had to walk around collecting people's beer cans, and then the troop gets to keep and sell the cans for profit. I felt like a total idiot walking around 1,800 people, most of whom I know from Cold Spring and don't really like anyway because Cold Spring is snooty, picking up after them. I could just feel it..."Can you believe that's Brian's wife???"
But another girl scout mom and I decided that as tempted as we were, we really probably shouldn't carry our own beers while we did it.
Next year we are on the drinking side of that deal.
conversations with wil
Last night I took him with me to join Ariana at her annual girl scout roller skating event. He wanted to try skating, so we rented him some skates, and sure enough he skated! He did really well; definately a beginner but you know how wils is. Rocket boy. That's how he came into the world. No hesitation, just did it. Anyway, he had a slushie kind of treat to eat and then later when it was time to go he got very cranky. I told him I thought he was getting crabby from the sugar. He crossed his arms, gave me the dirtiest look he could dig up, and said "Actually, I'm crabby from YOU!"
Today he had school. It continues to go well. No hesitation. When I picked him up, I asked him what he did. We played, he said. Who did you play with, I asked. Kooper! He said. Did you play with Gavin, too? I asked. No, he said...we just LOOKED at Gavin.
Don't ask, cuz I don't know.
By the way, he pronounces Gavin as "Gabin".
.......................................................................................
Ben is working on another book, this one called "What Are You Dowing?" (sic)
So far, it goes like this:
Are you sleeping? (picture of person in bed) NO
Are you playing? (picture of person with toys) NO
Are you eating? (picture of person eating) NO
Are you carsick? (picture of stick person barfing) NO
???????????? Carsick??????????????????????????????????
He hasn't finished it so I don't know yet what exactly his character IS doing. Can't wait to find out. I'll keep you posted.
................................
Will close with a Lijah story. Today he told me "I don't hardly have any toys."
So we will put him on the Marine Corp toys for tots list next Christmas.
Today he had school. It continues to go well. No hesitation. When I picked him up, I asked him what he did. We played, he said. Who did you play with, I asked. Kooper! He said. Did you play with Gavin, too? I asked. No, he said...we just LOOKED at Gavin.
Don't ask, cuz I don't know.
By the way, he pronounces Gavin as "Gabin".
.......................................................................................
Ben is working on another book, this one called "What Are You Dowing?" (sic)
So far, it goes like this:
Are you sleeping? (picture of person in bed) NO
Are you playing? (picture of person with toys) NO
Are you eating? (picture of person eating) NO
Are you carsick? (picture of stick person barfing) NO
???????????? Carsick??????????????????????????????????
He hasn't finished it so I don't know yet what exactly his character IS doing. Can't wait to find out. I'll keep you posted.
................................
Will close with a Lijah story. Today he told me "I don't hardly have any toys."
So we will put him on the Marine Corp toys for tots list next Christmas.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Boodle's Books
Ben is into writing books like his sister. She told me last night that they are planning to team up to write books and sell them :)
He gave me two books that he wrote yesterday. They were pretty good for a 6 year old! The first one:
"Do I like to eat cheese? NO!" (page)
"Do I like to eat green beans? NO!" (page)
"Do I like to eat apples? NO!" (page)
"Do I like to eat fish? YES!" (page)
The other one was written in the voice of his current BFF, DJ. It's called "My Friend Ben"
"This is my friend Ben."
"We like to be in line together"
"We like to sit together"
"We like to eat together"
"And we will never fight!"
Ana told me that DJ wrote HIM a book and it said "This is not from DJ". Haha :)
He gave me two books that he wrote yesterday. They were pretty good for a 6 year old! The first one:
"Do I like to eat cheese? NO!" (page)
"Do I like to eat green beans? NO!" (page)
"Do I like to eat apples? NO!" (page)
"Do I like to eat fish? YES!" (page)
The other one was written in the voice of his current BFF, DJ. It's called "My Friend Ben"
"This is my friend Ben."
"We like to be in line together"
"We like to sit together"
"We like to eat together"
"And we will never fight!"
Ana told me that DJ wrote HIM a book and it said "This is not from DJ". Haha :)
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Are We Brats?
Last night Ariana was watching "Supernanny" and she came up to me and said (very earnestly) "Are we brats?"
...................................
I visited the kids at school on Wednesday afternoon. I found Ben in music class. He blushed, as always, when I walked in, but he had no idea how bad it was about to get. They were learning the waltz and his teacher made us be partners! He had the funniest smile on his face the whole time he was waltzing with his mother. He was soooooo embarrassed................but kinda liked it too :)
.....................................
We have a new thing. We are playing Uno every night. How fun! Wil is on my team and the other big kids play for themselves. We are really having a good time. The boys get so silly, in ways I haven't seen before. For example....Elijah won, and ripped his shirt off and twirled it over his head while swiveling his little butt. Ben did the same and flexed his biceps. Ana just kind of sighed and William covered his mouth with his hand and giggled. Zac was a pain in the butt--wanted to help but his shuffling and dealing leave something to be desired--or at least leave the cards bent out of shape.
.........................................
So you know we have 2 outside cats? Very pretty kitties, beautiful thick fur coats. They never come in the house and are very happy outside as they have been out since we got them. They have a nice heated house of their own in the garage. Anyway they both like to do this "come here to me" thing (that's ana's phrase...cracks me up) where they plop down and writhe on their backs so you think you are supposed to go pet them, but when you get there they run away like they can't believe you thought you could touch them. They do that whenever they see someone approach. So last week when we were getting all that snow, I drove in after a midnight shift and Jamie was in the driveway. She saw me and plopped down to do her come hither routine and then she realized she had plopped into 6 inches of snow and buried herself. The resulting seizure had her about 3 feet in the air and then out of sight so as to save face. It was hysterically funny.
Zac is working on some more molars and he is having a problem that Elijah had also at that age--his cheek is black and blue over the spot where the teeth are coming. It is so sad, poor baby. He has been really cranky. I took him and Wil to Sam's club earlier this week and Wil and I were both embarrassed by how icky he was. He was toddling around belligerently and this old guy saw him and thought he was cute, so he knelt down to Zac and said "Hey, buddy, give me five". Zac snapped his head quick to face the guy and said "NO!" very decisively. I was so embarrassed. And then the guys wife laughed and said "Well, that's good I guess....."
I have gotten into crockpot cooking lately because I figured I need to help some with food prep and that's the only way I can do it very well. The boys love meat and I just am not a meat cook, but the crockpot does a great job. So anyway, Thursday night I prepared a lovely meal to go in the crockpot the next day. I had a whole chicken laying there in the fetal position, with carrots around her, and basil and broth bathing her. This whole thing was in the fridge overnight and in the morning I took it out to put it in the cooker. I set it out and went to do something and came back and Brian was there PUTTING ALL KINDS OF CRAP ON IT. Excuse me! This is MY chicken! How rude. I made him wipe off all the stuff he put on it and told him he is never to touch my chicken. He said it needed more flavor. I asked how he knew that, given that it wasn't cooked and he certainly hadn't tasted it. He said he didn't see any flavor. ?????????? Just little green things? Those would be BASIL like the recipe calls for.
In the end, justice was mine, as he did wipe her off and replace her and leave her the hell alone like I told him. That night we enjoyed a delicious meal of very tender chicken meat. I don't think he'll ever touch a chicken of mine again.
...................................
I visited the kids at school on Wednesday afternoon. I found Ben in music class. He blushed, as always, when I walked in, but he had no idea how bad it was about to get. They were learning the waltz and his teacher made us be partners! He had the funniest smile on his face the whole time he was waltzing with his mother. He was soooooo embarrassed................but kinda liked it too :)
.....................................
We have a new thing. We are playing Uno every night. How fun! Wil is on my team and the other big kids play for themselves. We are really having a good time. The boys get so silly, in ways I haven't seen before. For example....Elijah won, and ripped his shirt off and twirled it over his head while swiveling his little butt. Ben did the same and flexed his biceps. Ana just kind of sighed and William covered his mouth with his hand and giggled. Zac was a pain in the butt--wanted to help but his shuffling and dealing leave something to be desired--or at least leave the cards bent out of shape.
.........................................
So you know we have 2 outside cats? Very pretty kitties, beautiful thick fur coats. They never come in the house and are very happy outside as they have been out since we got them. They have a nice heated house of their own in the garage. Anyway they both like to do this "come here to me" thing (that's ana's phrase...cracks me up) where they plop down and writhe on their backs so you think you are supposed to go pet them, but when you get there they run away like they can't believe you thought you could touch them. They do that whenever they see someone approach. So last week when we were getting all that snow, I drove in after a midnight shift and Jamie was in the driveway. She saw me and plopped down to do her come hither routine and then she realized she had plopped into 6 inches of snow and buried herself. The resulting seizure had her about 3 feet in the air and then out of sight so as to save face. It was hysterically funny.
Zac is working on some more molars and he is having a problem that Elijah had also at that age--his cheek is black and blue over the spot where the teeth are coming. It is so sad, poor baby. He has been really cranky. I took him and Wil to Sam's club earlier this week and Wil and I were both embarrassed by how icky he was. He was toddling around belligerently and this old guy saw him and thought he was cute, so he knelt down to Zac and said "Hey, buddy, give me five". Zac snapped his head quick to face the guy and said "NO!" very decisively. I was so embarrassed. And then the guys wife laughed and said "Well, that's good I guess....."
I have gotten into crockpot cooking lately because I figured I need to help some with food prep and that's the only way I can do it very well. The boys love meat and I just am not a meat cook, but the crockpot does a great job. So anyway, Thursday night I prepared a lovely meal to go in the crockpot the next day. I had a whole chicken laying there in the fetal position, with carrots around her, and basil and broth bathing her. This whole thing was in the fridge overnight and in the morning I took it out to put it in the cooker. I set it out and went to do something and came back and Brian was there PUTTING ALL KINDS OF CRAP ON IT. Excuse me! This is MY chicken! How rude. I made him wipe off all the stuff he put on it and told him he is never to touch my chicken. He said it needed more flavor. I asked how he knew that, given that it wasn't cooked and he certainly hadn't tasted it. He said he didn't see any flavor. ?????????? Just little green things? Those would be BASIL like the recipe calls for.
In the end, justice was mine, as he did wipe her off and replace her and leave her the hell alone like I told him. That night we enjoyed a delicious meal of very tender chicken meat. I don't think he'll ever touch a chicken of mine again.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Wils
The guy just might need his own web site.
I was off today and as usual had a great time bumming around with him. He had school, and he and I went to the bakery on the way. He noticed a rack of cakes and said "I think I need those" {Note here for BBC Carla: can you relate?}
We went downstairs to the office and he saw the wedding cakes displayed and said "I REALLY want one of those". I told him that he would have to get married to have one of those. So he said "Yeah, I want to get married." Had to ask, "Who are you going to marry?" and he responded with the eternally heartwarming "YOU!" So, I guess I am engaged.
Tonight we laid down with a book about the Titanic for bedtime reading. We will do that often, choose a book designed for much older kids, if it's full of cool pictures, and then I just sort of bring it down to a level he can understand. So I laid down with the book and said "Tonight we are going to read about the Titanic," (and was about to say "which was a big ship that sank") and he said "Hey! I heard about that on Reading Rainbow!"
As we went through the book, we saw pictures of the ship before it sank. Some of the pictures were quite striking. I commented that it was gorgeous. William said 'Gorgeous is on Wall-E". I was puzzled, and asked him to clarify, and he said "That guy said 'you're gorgeous!'"
I have confirmed with Ana that the line is indeed in the movie....hahaha :)
Let me digress for a moment to say that I told all the 3 older kids that they will remember today for the rest of their lives, and that they will remember me telling them they will remember it for the rest of their lives. Ana and I were talking and we think there will be a female president in my lifetime. God, I hope so........we are so past due. In the meantime, I am excited to see what Obama can do.
I actually felt sorry for Bush. Did you see when he and Laura flew over in the helicopter some people were going "Nah nah, hey, hey, hey GOODBYE!". Granted, it was hilarious....hahahaha! But I still feel sorry for him.
I'm off again tomorrow and as I told Wil, we will have a busy day with cooking, cleaning, and shopping. He grinned his big grin and said "I like cooking!" He sure does, and he has a knack for it.
Zac is making me laugh with his signing. He saw me approaching with his pajamas and turned his head away but stuck his hand out at me to sign "NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO". Yeah, I get the point, I get the point. But too bad for you!
I was off today and as usual had a great time bumming around with him. He had school, and he and I went to the bakery on the way. He noticed a rack of cakes and said "I think I need those" {Note here for BBC Carla: can you relate?}
We went downstairs to the office and he saw the wedding cakes displayed and said "I REALLY want one of those". I told him that he would have to get married to have one of those. So he said "Yeah, I want to get married." Had to ask, "Who are you going to marry?" and he responded with the eternally heartwarming "YOU!" So, I guess I am engaged.
Tonight we laid down with a book about the Titanic for bedtime reading. We will do that often, choose a book designed for much older kids, if it's full of cool pictures, and then I just sort of bring it down to a level he can understand. So I laid down with the book and said "Tonight we are going to read about the Titanic," (and was about to say "which was a big ship that sank") and he said "Hey! I heard about that on Reading Rainbow!"
As we went through the book, we saw pictures of the ship before it sank. Some of the pictures were quite striking. I commented that it was gorgeous. William said 'Gorgeous is on Wall-E". I was puzzled, and asked him to clarify, and he said "That guy said 'you're gorgeous!'"
I have confirmed with Ana that the line is indeed in the movie....hahaha :)
Let me digress for a moment to say that I told all the 3 older kids that they will remember today for the rest of their lives, and that they will remember me telling them they will remember it for the rest of their lives. Ana and I were talking and we think there will be a female president in my lifetime. God, I hope so........we are so past due. In the meantime, I am excited to see what Obama can do.
I actually felt sorry for Bush. Did you see when he and Laura flew over in the helicopter some people were going "Nah nah, hey, hey, hey GOODBYE!". Granted, it was hilarious....hahahaha! But I still feel sorry for him.
I'm off again tomorrow and as I told Wil, we will have a busy day with cooking, cleaning, and shopping. He grinned his big grin and said "I like cooking!" He sure does, and he has a knack for it.
Zac is making me laugh with his signing. He saw me approaching with his pajamas and turned his head away but stuck his hand out at me to sign "NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO". Yeah, I get the point, I get the point. But too bad for you!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Sorry, I'm Broke Right Now
Ariana started her girl scout cookie sales today. She hit her brothers up first and Elijah responded with "Sorry, I'm broke right now."
.......................................
We had a fun day. Brian finally got his auger fixed so he went out and drilled some holes for the boys to ice fish. They didn't catch anything (he drilled totally in the wrong spot...totally!) but they had fun and I could tell they were really proud of it. ("Mommy, can I borrow your gloves, because I went ice fishing and mine are WET")
Ariana and I had to go to St Boniface at 10 30 to put flyers on windshields for this Cold Spring community event next weekend that her girl scout troop is assisting with. We brought Zac with because the bigger boys were ice fishing. He was so funny toddling along with us in his snowsuit. He followed his SISTER much more than he followed me. She is so patient with him. "Come on now, Bubbie, you can walk!" We kept losing him between cars (it wasn't worrisome because this was in a closed parking lot and there was absolutely no activity whatsoever as St Boniface has an uptight parish and they wouldn't dream of leaving early).
I dropped Elijah off at 1:00 for a playdate with his pal Allie. He said they had a great time. He played hockey, played with her Wii (wait...say that out loud...that does not sound right), got a snowmobile ride with her Dad, and played hockey with her brother. They are a lovely family and all of my kids love Allie. When she comes to our house she is so busy going from person to person, because everyone wants a bit of her and she wants to check in with everyone. This includes me, you understand.
I'm at work and we got to do a little wrasslin' tonight. That always makes for a fun shift. Especially when I'm the med nurse and get to give the shots after the pin is made. We had a guy throwing stuff at us and we had to barricade him off from the nursing station and call the cops. The funny part....he is OLD as dirt. Very psychotic, obviously. Fortunately the ativan injection worked wonderfully and I am now watching him on a monitor as he snoozes away. Hopefully by the time it wears off the night shift will be here and they can take the next round :)
I started my BSN early this week and I think it will be quite doable. I'm impressed with the online program Presentation College has put together--it's very user friendly, well supported, and rather rigorous, which I like. This format is really ideal for me, not only because I'm not having to drive somewhere and sit in class, but because I can participate in the discussions so much more than in a live classroom. Discussions are in bulletin board format, so being a good writer and reader is what matters--NOT having to HEAR!. This program should take me 18 months from now. This semester I have 3 classes, I'll take one in the summer, 2 in the fall, and then 3 more next spring. The fall semester will be the hardest as I will have to travel for some clinical work, but for one semester that's no biggie. The spring semester there will be clinical as well, but it will more than likely be done right here in St Cloud as it is community health and they just set you up with your local public health nurse.
This week I want to finalize Elijah's birthday party plans. He turns 8 on February 13th! He has chosen a movie theater party. The new theater in Cold Spring has a really nice deal. I'm not thrilled about movie choices, but he wants to see Mall Cop and it is rated PG so I guess that should be OK.
PS Mary Gustafson...I got your email and I can't answer from clearwire because it's only on my teeny tiny phone right now, so how about you email me at tracy.schurman@va.gov so I have your address in my book here and I'll zap you back?
.......................................
We had a fun day. Brian finally got his auger fixed so he went out and drilled some holes for the boys to ice fish. They didn't catch anything (he drilled totally in the wrong spot...totally!) but they had fun and I could tell they were really proud of it. ("Mommy, can I borrow your gloves, because I went ice fishing and mine are WET")
Ariana and I had to go to St Boniface at 10 30 to put flyers on windshields for this Cold Spring community event next weekend that her girl scout troop is assisting with. We brought Zac with because the bigger boys were ice fishing. He was so funny toddling along with us in his snowsuit. He followed his SISTER much more than he followed me. She is so patient with him. "Come on now, Bubbie, you can walk!" We kept losing him between cars (it wasn't worrisome because this was in a closed parking lot and there was absolutely no activity whatsoever as St Boniface has an uptight parish and they wouldn't dream of leaving early).
I dropped Elijah off at 1:00 for a playdate with his pal Allie. He said they had a great time. He played hockey, played with her Wii (wait...say that out loud...that does not sound right), got a snowmobile ride with her Dad, and played hockey with her brother. They are a lovely family and all of my kids love Allie. When she comes to our house she is so busy going from person to person, because everyone wants a bit of her and she wants to check in with everyone. This includes me, you understand.
I'm at work and we got to do a little wrasslin' tonight. That always makes for a fun shift. Especially when I'm the med nurse and get to give the shots after the pin is made. We had a guy throwing stuff at us and we had to barricade him off from the nursing station and call the cops. The funny part....he is OLD as dirt. Very psychotic, obviously. Fortunately the ativan injection worked wonderfully and I am now watching him on a monitor as he snoozes away. Hopefully by the time it wears off the night shift will be here and they can take the next round :)
I started my BSN early this week and I think it will be quite doable. I'm impressed with the online program Presentation College has put together--it's very user friendly, well supported, and rather rigorous, which I like. This format is really ideal for me, not only because I'm not having to drive somewhere and sit in class, but because I can participate in the discussions so much more than in a live classroom. Discussions are in bulletin board format, so being a good writer and reader is what matters--NOT having to HEAR!. This program should take me 18 months from now. This semester I have 3 classes, I'll take one in the summer, 2 in the fall, and then 3 more next spring. The fall semester will be the hardest as I will have to travel for some clinical work, but for one semester that's no biggie. The spring semester there will be clinical as well, but it will more than likely be done right here in St Cloud as it is community health and they just set you up with your local public health nurse.
This week I want to finalize Elijah's birthday party plans. He turns 8 on February 13th! He has chosen a movie theater party. The new theater in Cold Spring has a really nice deal. I'm not thrilled about movie choices, but he wants to see Mall Cop and it is rated PG so I guess that should be OK.
PS Mary Gustafson...I got your email and I can't answer from clearwire because it's only on my teeny tiny phone right now, so how about you email me at tracy.schurman@va.gov so I have your address in my book here and I'll zap you back?
Saturday, January 17, 2009
a quick check in
My mind is so uncreative at this very moment that I can't even come up with a good title for this entry. How disappointing for readers who have come to expect at LEAST a good title! :)
I'm at work right now (yes, it's OK to do this---the patients are in bed and we are waiting for shift change). Earlier tonight I called home to talk to the kids. The older 3 had gone with Joanie to see James dance in his daughter's dance recital (anticipating a good giggle, which they got) and I wanted to know how it went.
So I go through the kids, oldest to youngest, minus Zac.
Ana and Elijah were breathlessly excited to tell me about a new play they are working on. Elijah wants to know if he can please have his birthday party with grandma at OUR house so they can put on a play for his guests (like he'd be caught dead doing it in front of people). They requested that I purchase T shirt decorating kits for them so their theater troupe (which oddly has the same membership as the previously mentioned SKWDC--Schurman Kids Writing and Drawing Club or something to that effect) can have matching shirts. They also need string for something or other.
Got that out of the way, and moved on to Ben.
"Hi mommy"
"HI BEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"yeah." (yes, you read that right)
"DID YOU HAVE FUN WATCHING JAMES DANCE?"
"yeah."
"DID YOU EAT SUPPER YET?' (grasping as straws---to keep the conversation going a bit)
"yeah."
"OK, Ben, let me talk to William now" (giving up)
"Mommy, when you get home, can you wake us up?"
.....................................................
Then on to the creme de le creme of conversations--Wils.
"Mommy, daddy didn't let me play at Joanie's house."
"Really? How about we talk to Joanie to arrange for you to have a turn to visit at her house."
"Yeah, mommy, BECAUSE DADDY DIDN'T LET ME PLAY AT JOANIE'S HOUSE!"
"Ana said you guys are working on a play. Are you having fun?"
"Yeah, mommy, BECAUSE DADDY DIDN'T LET ME PLAY AT JOANIE'S HOUSE!"
"Yes, that's very sad, I wish you got to play there for a bit but I suppose there just wasn't time."
"It's time to hang up now." (CLICK!)
I'm at work right now (yes, it's OK to do this---the patients are in bed and we are waiting for shift change). Earlier tonight I called home to talk to the kids. The older 3 had gone with Joanie to see James dance in his daughter's dance recital (anticipating a good giggle, which they got) and I wanted to know how it went.
So I go through the kids, oldest to youngest, minus Zac.
Ana and Elijah were breathlessly excited to tell me about a new play they are working on. Elijah wants to know if he can please have his birthday party with grandma at OUR house so they can put on a play for his guests (like he'd be caught dead doing it in front of people). They requested that I purchase T shirt decorating kits for them so their theater troupe (which oddly has the same membership as the previously mentioned SKWDC--Schurman Kids Writing and Drawing Club or something to that effect) can have matching shirts. They also need string for something or other.
Got that out of the way, and moved on to Ben.
"Hi mommy"
"HI BEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"yeah." (yes, you read that right)
"DID YOU HAVE FUN WATCHING JAMES DANCE?"
"yeah."
"DID YOU EAT SUPPER YET?' (grasping as straws---to keep the conversation going a bit)
"yeah."
"OK, Ben, let me talk to William now" (giving up)
"Mommy, when you get home, can you wake us up?"
.....................................................
Then on to the creme de le creme of conversations--Wils.
"Mommy, daddy didn't let me play at Joanie's house."
"Really? How about we talk to Joanie to arrange for you to have a turn to visit at her house."
"Yeah, mommy, BECAUSE DADDY DIDN'T LET ME PLAY AT JOANIE'S HOUSE!"
"Ana said you guys are working on a play. Are you having fun?"
"Yeah, mommy, BECAUSE DADDY DIDN'T LET ME PLAY AT JOANIE'S HOUSE!"
"Yes, that's very sad, I wish you got to play there for a bit but I suppose there just wasn't time."
"It's time to hang up now." (CLICK!)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
In Praise of Large Families
Yesterday I took the four oldest kids sliding at the big hill in Cold Spring. Ben and I had discovered it on Tuesday when his cub scout den went sliding there.
When we arrived the hill was deserted save for one little girl and her mom. The poor kid was going down, down, down, all by herself, and up, up, up, all by herself. When we got there and swarmed the hill, she just came to life. She asked me if she could play with my kids...haha. Of course she could, so she joined them up and down the hill. I stood at the top of the hill (because I was not needed, contrary to what I expected!) and chatted with the girl's mom and she told me the kid has no siblings. It was clear to see she was enthralled by such a "big" group of kids belonging to each other!
They took turns piling themselves into the sleds, pushing each other, racing each other, watching each other, etc. Yes, fighting too, but that's half the fun (I know for a fact because I used to enjoy it a lot and still do, when I have the fortune to get one my doorknob brothers to argue with me...and Elijah works great in a pinch).
I watched the poor only child and actually felt sorry for her. Her mom couldn't slide down with her, because she couldn't get back up (because she had knee surgery in August, she said...but I think it was because even a ski lift would have had trouble).
When we left, they were full of plans to come back and do more stuff.
I couldn't BELIEVE William. I thought I would have to go up and down with him, but after one trip down with me, he ditched the mother in a hurry. He can get on that sled and go forever, because he is so small and light it's like an empty sled! He turns into a little black dot on the horizon...almost disappears from sight....and then slowly the black dot gets bigger and bigger and bigger again as he clambers back up the hill. He doesn't take a break once he gets back up, either.
Ana is mastering the snow board, and Elijah is trying to. Ben sticks to the sleds, like Wil, and also like Wil he can go on forever because he is pretty light. They both AIM for the jump and try to go as fast as they can. I cannot BELIEVE these chickenshits are that brave.
I need to stop here and point something out. Zac is sitting on my lap as I type and he is biting my arms, alternating from left to right. I have no idea why.
................................................................................................
Anyway, a few tidbits from the week. First, Ana told me the other morning that William came to her bed in the middle of the night and said "Can I sleep with you, Rah? My eyes are still open."
That reminds me--big news! He went back to school this week and is doing great! It must have been a sabatical. I didn't know preschools offered that. Each day when we arrived, though, he would ask me "Why do I have to go here again?". His tone wasn't one of disagreement, just one of honest questioning as it apparently doesnt make a l0t of sense to him that people do such things. He is doing really well, though--he is playing and joining the activities. He even has a friend, Cooper. The older kids refer to him as Canine Cooper--they don't know why either, but it does have a nice alliteration.
Anyway, on Friday when I was getting him out of the car at the school, he asked that again. I told him, "Well, William, everyone goes to preschool. Ana went, Elijah went, Ben went, and even I went to preschool."
He thought for a bit and then he said"...............did Daddy take you?"
.......................................................................................
In closing, some of Ana's writings. In school they are working on alliteration, and they write what really can only be called poetry. Here's a couple.
Bonnie Bear baked a batch of bread in bed.
Ariana acknowledges apples for an activity in the afternoon.
Pearl's pearl, pipper, is putting a lot of pressure on her.
..............................................................
This one was an assignment for school and has 36 words:
Princess Pea put a pickle in a piper to give people porridge then to pussy pug petty priscilla pussy cat pinching patty pam pompom pencil penguin plow pudding polly to eat a pastry from the plumber.
When we arrived the hill was deserted save for one little girl and her mom. The poor kid was going down, down, down, all by herself, and up, up, up, all by herself. When we got there and swarmed the hill, she just came to life. She asked me if she could play with my kids...haha. Of course she could, so she joined them up and down the hill. I stood at the top of the hill (because I was not needed, contrary to what I expected!) and chatted with the girl's mom and she told me the kid has no siblings. It was clear to see she was enthralled by such a "big" group of kids belonging to each other!
They took turns piling themselves into the sleds, pushing each other, racing each other, watching each other, etc. Yes, fighting too, but that's half the fun (I know for a fact because I used to enjoy it a lot and still do, when I have the fortune to get one my doorknob brothers to argue with me...and Elijah works great in a pinch).
I watched the poor only child and actually felt sorry for her. Her mom couldn't slide down with her, because she couldn't get back up (because she had knee surgery in August, she said...but I think it was because even a ski lift would have had trouble).
When we left, they were full of plans to come back and do more stuff.
I couldn't BELIEVE William. I thought I would have to go up and down with him, but after one trip down with me, he ditched the mother in a hurry. He can get on that sled and go forever, because he is so small and light it's like an empty sled! He turns into a little black dot on the horizon...almost disappears from sight....and then slowly the black dot gets bigger and bigger and bigger again as he clambers back up the hill. He doesn't take a break once he gets back up, either.
Ana is mastering the snow board, and Elijah is trying to. Ben sticks to the sleds, like Wil, and also like Wil he can go on forever because he is pretty light. They both AIM for the jump and try to go as fast as they can. I cannot BELIEVE these chickenshits are that brave.
I need to stop here and point something out. Zac is sitting on my lap as I type and he is biting my arms, alternating from left to right. I have no idea why.
................................................................................................
Anyway, a few tidbits from the week. First, Ana told me the other morning that William came to her bed in the middle of the night and said "Can I sleep with you, Rah? My eyes are still open."
That reminds me--big news! He went back to school this week and is doing great! It must have been a sabatical. I didn't know preschools offered that. Each day when we arrived, though, he would ask me "Why do I have to go here again?". His tone wasn't one of disagreement, just one of honest questioning as it apparently doesnt make a l0t of sense to him that people do such things. He is doing really well, though--he is playing and joining the activities. He even has a friend, Cooper. The older kids refer to him as Canine Cooper--they don't know why either, but it does have a nice alliteration.
Anyway, on Friday when I was getting him out of the car at the school, he asked that again. I told him, "Well, William, everyone goes to preschool. Ana went, Elijah went, Ben went, and even I went to preschool."
He thought for a bit and then he said"...............did Daddy take you?"
.......................................................................................
In closing, some of Ana's writings. In school they are working on alliteration, and they write what really can only be called poetry. Here's a couple.
Bonnie Bear baked a batch of bread in bed.
Ariana acknowledges apples for an activity in the afternoon.
Pearl's pearl, pipper, is putting a lot of pressure on her.
..............................................................
This one was an assignment for school and has 36 words:
Princess Pea put a pickle in a piper to give people porridge then to pussy pug petty priscilla pussy cat pinching patty pam pompom pencil penguin plow pudding polly to eat a pastry from the plumber.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Nintendos and buggle gum
After much debate, I decided to give Ben a Nintendo DS for Christmas. Ana was getting one, and Elijah was getting a huge lego thing for his big present. I just couldn't come up with anything for Ben because he never ASKS for anything. I knew he would use a DS and I like the great variety of games and other applications available for it. Many of them are educational, which he and I both like. On the other hand, I wasn't sure he is old enough to be responsible for something that expensive. But, I did get him one, and he was truly delighted. As soon as he got his allowance we went to Gamestop and he bought himself a new (used game).
Unfortunately, within a week of Christmas he lost the damn thing. I'm not sure it was his fault, because we do have baby and other assorted people hereabouts whose fingers might have gone astray. We were concerned that baby put it in the garbage. I turned the house upside down looking for it--got it nice and clean in the process because you can imagine how many dust bunnies (and dog turds, OK? I"ll just say it) I found. No luck--nowhere to be found. I think me and Brian were more upset than Ben, but I was very sad FOR him too.
Well, today, I stuck my hand under this turntable thing that we used to have our TV on in our living room cabinet--lo and behold, the DS! He must have put it there to keep it safe and forgotten where he put it. From now on, we will keep it locked up and only give it to him when we are there to keep an eye on it and take it back.
Anyway, I was so excited to tell him, I went to the school on my way to work. I ran around looking for him, and by the time I found him I was probably literally out of breath. I said "Guess what I have in my pocket that will make you happy?????"
and he said...
"gum?"
Unfortunately, within a week of Christmas he lost the damn thing. I'm not sure it was his fault, because we do have baby and other assorted people hereabouts whose fingers might have gone astray. We were concerned that baby put it in the garbage. I turned the house upside down looking for it--got it nice and clean in the process because you can imagine how many dust bunnies (and dog turds, OK? I"ll just say it) I found. No luck--nowhere to be found. I think me and Brian were more upset than Ben, but I was very sad FOR him too.
Well, today, I stuck my hand under this turntable thing that we used to have our TV on in our living room cabinet--lo and behold, the DS! He must have put it there to keep it safe and forgotten where he put it. From now on, we will keep it locked up and only give it to him when we are there to keep an eye on it and take it back.
Anyway, I was so excited to tell him, I went to the school on my way to work. I ran around looking for him, and by the time I found him I was probably literally out of breath. I said "Guess what I have in my pocket that will make you happy?????"
and he said...
"gum?"
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Ana
Just thought I'd post about my big girl and what a great kid she is. She has spent her Christmas break coordinating all sorts of educational activities for her younger brothers. Each night this week when I returned home from work I was greeted by the latest book published by the SKAWC. The SKAWC, according to the boilerplates in these books, is "the Schurman Kids Art and Writing Class".
She has gotten every last guy involved. Ben has been doing long pages by himself, and she gives William assignments and he does them. For example, he drew a picture of a cat.
She is so patient and kind with her brothers, even when they are turds. She is so mature that she understands that's how little kids are sometimes.
When she's not coordinating something for them to do, she can be found quietly sitting at the table working on an art or writing project alone, or playing with her dolls or Nintendo DS. She always has lots to tell me about what she's working on and is hoping to someday publish a book, and plans on going to college to be a preschool teacher. She wants to study the Titanic, too. She's an extremely creative girl! Her writing is excellent; I do think she'll accomplish much in the years ahead.
I'm going to upload pictures of some of the things they've been doing to keep busy on Christmas break. Note the nest they made of my former Christmas tree.
I'm also going to include a picture of me and some of my gorgeous younger cousins, and my aunt Deb, and an Italian Christmas greeting (which I don't know what it means anyway but makes me look classy to have it on my blog).
PS Mary Gustafson---are you out there?
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