When Hans (brother) was little, he had this game he would play, where he would make me "mail", knock on my bedroom door, and announce "speedy dewivery!" and run away. This was his take on the mail guy on Mr. Rogers.
Well, I have been getting speedy dewiveries. Wils and Elijah have been playing post office and then Wil drives around in Zac's cozy coupe and delivers the mail from the trunk. We all get mail, with our names on it even. The way he gets around having to write our names is he gives us a piece of paper and tells us to write our name. Then he makes that paper into our mail. Then he delivers it!
On my way out to go to work yesterday he told me he needs stamps, for his post office. Oh really, I said. What kind? "With the flags on it!" I heard from a ways away--Elijah, the postmaster general, was overseeing it all.
.........................
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Strange things for mothers to do
I found the COOLEST road kill yesterday. The biggest snapping turtle I've ever seen! I"m not kidding, the head is the size of a softball. It was very, very, very dead; the guts were 100 feet down the highway. It has claws an inch long, and spikes on its' tail. The shell looks like something you'd find on a dinosaur.
So, being the unique mommy that I am, I took the kids on a bike trek to see it, and we brought a big garbage bag and shovel so we could take it home, bury it, and see if the skull will remain for us to have a souvenir. We really had to take a good look at those claws and spikes though, it was just so cool, and being that I'm 37 and have never seen one close up, much less that big, I figured it's an experience they'll remember.
Earlier this week, I caught a few snakes for Elijah, and then it got loose in the car while we were driving (long story as to why it was in the car). Elijah was screaming "it's loose! it got out!" and everyone went nuts. I found him right away under something in the cargo area.
And I DO tell the kids................"I hope you appreciate having a wierd mom, because I doubt your friend's moms are bringing home roadkill and catching snakes for them"
So, being the unique mommy that I am, I took the kids on a bike trek to see it, and we brought a big garbage bag and shovel so we could take it home, bury it, and see if the skull will remain for us to have a souvenir. We really had to take a good look at those claws and spikes though, it was just so cool, and being that I'm 37 and have never seen one close up, much less that big, I figured it's an experience they'll remember.
Earlier this week, I caught a few snakes for Elijah, and then it got loose in the car while we were driving (long story as to why it was in the car). Elijah was screaming "it's loose! it got out!" and everyone went nuts. I found him right away under something in the cargo area.
And I DO tell the kids................"I hope you appreciate having a wierd mom, because I doubt your friend's moms are bringing home roadkill and catching snakes for them"
Sunday, August 16, 2009
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Thursday, August 13, 2009
all sorts of fun and a lot of work
Finally--i finished my summer semester of school. this was a VERY difficult semester academically--i mean very challenging. but, i did it, and i think it was probably the hardest ill encounter because it was a full time courseload of one semester (usually 16 weeks) squished into 10. I got an A minus in applied drug therapy and was ecstatic--------------that class was freakin' hard! I got my first B--in research. You wouldn't believe how hard that class was. Very picky statistical stuff and a very long paper (a review of the literature) plus a long article critique. I was totally fine with a B, believe me. And then............the one I am proudest of.......the physical assessment course. It required that I videotape myself doing a complete physical assessment (using another person as a patient--in an exam room at work), much like a physical exam by a doctor, without notes. VERY complicated--not as easy as it sounds, at all. There are minute things like diaphragmatic excursion, percussion of the liver, symmetric expansion, cranial nerve testing, range of motion, and so on. There was a series of theory exams first, which i did really well on (a few 100 percents even). But the video part had me quaking in my boots, it was SO HARD and you could only miss very few points before they flunk you. So, the theory was done, the video was done, I just had to wait for her to grade it....and if I flunked the video, it didn't matter how well I did on the theory, I'd have to wait another YEAR to continue on with school (due to the order of courses and the need to retake the course).
Long story short--out of 131 points you had to get 101 or something like that, to pass; it is 77 percent. Well, she posted my grade, and it was 85. Which I thought meant 85 points, and flunk. And then she didnt post my final grade! I was sure she was trying to figure out what to do with me. Finally, after agonizing for days, I emailed her and asked if I flunked the video. Her response was...no, actually, I got an 85 percent on that, and besides that, my theory grade (percentage-wise) was the highest she has ever seen in teaching this course either in a classroom or online, and I got an A. I melted in a huge puddle of relief, let me tell you!
So, although I didnt repeat my 4.0 of last semester, I'm fine with it, and still have a 3.8 or so--which is JUST FINE WITH ME.
............................
Lij caught some bass tonight and filleted them (with my very close supervision....using "the way hans taught me, he is REALLY good at it!"). He explained as he worked, with his little brothers listening closely. "See, that's the ribs. Feel that. See? Now I'm going to cut that out". like a budding Babe Winkelman. his brothers were in awe and he was eating it up.
and then we came in and fried them up! It wasn't much meat--they weren't "keepers" so it was naughty--but was he ever proud. He put some in a bowl, added some tartar sauce, and wrote a note "Daddy.....the bass I caught today". I have a picture but haven't uploaded yet. My Canon died so now I'm stuck using the camera on my phone.
..............................................
I took Ariana to the eye doctor and I thought he was going to prescribe a dog, her vision is so bad! I couldn't BELIEVE the stuff she couldn't see! She has some new glasses that are extremely cute--will also post pictures of that. She is busy preparing for 5th grade.
..............................................
I took Ana, her friend Lexi, Elijah, Ben, and Wil to valleyfair yesterday. I finally got smart and left the babies (Brian and Zac) at home. Joanie met us down there between appointments with her mom so I wasn't alone with them that much--just at the beginning and end. We rented a cabana which was a huge lifesaver, we had a home base to leave everything. it was right next to the wave pool. we had a great time. i was very glad Lexi came with--it was much more fun for Ana. They were allowed to venture off on their own several times and each time demonstrated maturity and responsibility. They tried some pretty scary rides! The boys liked the milder ones and for the most part they all liked the same ones so it was really easy to move them around as a group.
But, aside from the fun, there was a scare. I am tentative about writing this because I suspect some people will say this is what happens when you have a big family ("too many kids"). it has nothing to do with that. Basically, we lost William! He wandered away from me at the wading pool while I was talking to Joanie across the fence. This was a fenced in area FULL of lifeguards and he had a life jacket on. He and the other two boys were standing right with me, and Joanie and the girls came up outside the fence to make some plans. When I turned back, I didn't see Wil. I looked around for quite awhile, thinking he was just in the wading pool/splash pad having fun (he does do that--he is independent). I couldn't find him anywhere. Lij and I were freaking out. i asked a lifeguard for help, but i didnt have my "ears" on (can't get them wet) and couldn't understand him; he was gesturing OUTSIDE the fenced area to a lifeguard station. i didnt want to leave the fenced area becuase I thought Wil was in there looking for me. Finally, frantically, I did; I got to the lifeguard station in a huge panic, as you can imagine. By then it had been 10 minutes. But as soon as I got there, this big tall lifeguard guy looked very reassuring. I told him I couldn't hear, and he wrote on a piece of paper "we have him. two employees are bringing him." I asked if they were sure it was him; he got back on his walkie talkie and said "he won't say his name" I asked if he was blonde; back to walkie talkie, yes blonde curls. I said to ask him if his name was Wil. "Yes, it's Will. they will be here soon" the guy wrote. Can you imagine my relief? Poor lijah was in tears, he was so worried; i had him posted in the wading pool area watching for Wil to come by. Ben was with me, i sent him back to get Elijah.
Pretty soon through the crowd comes a group of valleyfair employees. In the middle of the group was a lady holding a little boy with blonde curls--yes, it was Wil! reminiscent of little lord fauntleroy once again.
I tried to piece together what happened, and all I could get from the employees was that they had seen he had a cabana wristband on so had brought him all the way over back to the cabanas (quite some distance away) assuming he had wandered from there and someone would be looking for him there. They have an extensive system for incidents like this and all employees in the park knew there was a lost kid (apparently it happens all the time).
Today I talked to Wil about it and got the rest of the story...kind of. Patched together below...."I went to get you and I didnt see you so I went outside the fence. {keep in mind I had not moved--i was in the same area of the wading pool the entire time--he had become disoriented}. Then a mom took me and gave me to two lifeguards. and they asked if my name was william and I said yes. and then they gave me to you. and now I'm fine." (and he went back to his digging on the beach)
so that's it, in a nutshell. i wish i could thank the mom who saw that he was lost and made sure he was found.
Right now he is busy making maps for Grandma to come to the mall of america, "except, only, I don't know how to get there" he says. Hmmm....sounds like his mama............
..........................
Despite all that, we had a great time and plan to go back next year for sure. We won't invite Zac for at least 2 more years and maybe then Brian can come, we'll see if he's grown up enough yet. yes, i will bring one more adult, but before you say this happened because i had 3 boys to be responsible for, i have several things to point out. yes, i did make a mistake in not making him hold my hand while i had my eyes off him as I talked to joanie and the girls...but...today at work i told this story and another lady said she lost her kid at valleyfair 20 years ago, same scenario, and she was there with just him. plus, elijah and ben were right there by my side, they stayed very close to me all day, so that i was able to focus on keeping track of wils. elijah was a big help with that, actually....his bossiness is handy in situations like that! he kept a close eye on his little brothers and kept them in line. So, though i wish it hadnt happened, it did; the end is happy, and we all learned.
when we arrived back at the house at 10 30 (yes, they almost stayed til closing!), the funniest thing happened....it was hysterically funny...you had to be there, but.....Leo, the dog, was so happy to see us, he ran in place for a few seconds and then wiped out and fell. we laughed and laughed...and THEN he got all silly and ran around the house like a mad dog making these wierd squealing noises. i have no idea what was UP with him but it was funny.
.......................................
last but not least, a zac story, from brian. he said he was laying on his back on the floor yesterday and zac was sitting on his stomach driving a vehicle on his chest. it was really hot, so he didnt have his shirt on (usually he is meticulous about that, but they were alone). then he noticed what zac was doing...the vehicle was a miniature john deere lawn mower, and zac was cutting the "grass"...driving the rider in careful rows up and down brian's chest!
..............................................
benj is about to turn 7 and becoming more introspective and a little withdrawn. my guide to 7 year olds tells me that's normal for the age, but it's concerning because it is an exacerbation of his already quiet personality. but, he's still darling. he sat in the backseat of the denali and KNITTED all the way to valleyfair! he finished a latch hook project and is working on another, im not sure if he is still planning on making me a new carpet like he originally planned. he spent his allowance yesterday on hot tamales and a slushie thing at valleyfair so didnt have any left to get a whoopie cushion when elijah did at the souvenir shop (i was not happy but he can do what he wants with his allowance....he'll learn.) Ben was mad but got over it.
so then today, he says..."Someday, when we have a lot of money, like ALOT of money, can you buy me a whoopie cushion?"
I think I can accommodate that.
there is much more to catch up on, but that's enough for now. babe winkelman junior is still wearing his lifejacket although he is now watching tv in the viking room. now ive been summoned to go shine for night crawlers. yay.
Long story short--out of 131 points you had to get 101 or something like that, to pass; it is 77 percent. Well, she posted my grade, and it was 85. Which I thought meant 85 points, and flunk. And then she didnt post my final grade! I was sure she was trying to figure out what to do with me. Finally, after agonizing for days, I emailed her and asked if I flunked the video. Her response was...no, actually, I got an 85 percent on that, and besides that, my theory grade (percentage-wise) was the highest she has ever seen in teaching this course either in a classroom or online, and I got an A. I melted in a huge puddle of relief, let me tell you!
So, although I didnt repeat my 4.0 of last semester, I'm fine with it, and still have a 3.8 or so--which is JUST FINE WITH ME.
............................
Lij caught some bass tonight and filleted them (with my very close supervision....using "the way hans taught me, he is REALLY good at it!"). He explained as he worked, with his little brothers listening closely. "See, that's the ribs. Feel that. See? Now I'm going to cut that out". like a budding Babe Winkelman. his brothers were in awe and he was eating it up.
and then we came in and fried them up! It wasn't much meat--they weren't "keepers" so it was naughty--but was he ever proud. He put some in a bowl, added some tartar sauce, and wrote a note "Daddy.....the bass I caught today". I have a picture but haven't uploaded yet. My Canon died so now I'm stuck using the camera on my phone.
..............................................
I took Ariana to the eye doctor and I thought he was going to prescribe a dog, her vision is so bad! I couldn't BELIEVE the stuff she couldn't see! She has some new glasses that are extremely cute--will also post pictures of that. She is busy preparing for 5th grade.
..............................................
I took Ana, her friend Lexi, Elijah, Ben, and Wil to valleyfair yesterday. I finally got smart and left the babies (Brian and Zac) at home. Joanie met us down there between appointments with her mom so I wasn't alone with them that much--just at the beginning and end. We rented a cabana which was a huge lifesaver, we had a home base to leave everything. it was right next to the wave pool. we had a great time. i was very glad Lexi came with--it was much more fun for Ana. They were allowed to venture off on their own several times and each time demonstrated maturity and responsibility. They tried some pretty scary rides! The boys liked the milder ones and for the most part they all liked the same ones so it was really easy to move them around as a group.
But, aside from the fun, there was a scare. I am tentative about writing this because I suspect some people will say this is what happens when you have a big family ("too many kids"). it has nothing to do with that. Basically, we lost William! He wandered away from me at the wading pool while I was talking to Joanie across the fence. This was a fenced in area FULL of lifeguards and he had a life jacket on. He and the other two boys were standing right with me, and Joanie and the girls came up outside the fence to make some plans. When I turned back, I didn't see Wil. I looked around for quite awhile, thinking he was just in the wading pool/splash pad having fun (he does do that--he is independent). I couldn't find him anywhere. Lij and I were freaking out. i asked a lifeguard for help, but i didnt have my "ears" on (can't get them wet) and couldn't understand him; he was gesturing OUTSIDE the fenced area to a lifeguard station. i didnt want to leave the fenced area becuase I thought Wil was in there looking for me. Finally, frantically, I did; I got to the lifeguard station in a huge panic, as you can imagine. By then it had been 10 minutes. But as soon as I got there, this big tall lifeguard guy looked very reassuring. I told him I couldn't hear, and he wrote on a piece of paper "we have him. two employees are bringing him." I asked if they were sure it was him; he got back on his walkie talkie and said "he won't say his name" I asked if he was blonde; back to walkie talkie, yes blonde curls. I said to ask him if his name was Wil. "Yes, it's Will. they will be here soon" the guy wrote. Can you imagine my relief? Poor lijah was in tears, he was so worried; i had him posted in the wading pool area watching for Wil to come by. Ben was with me, i sent him back to get Elijah.
Pretty soon through the crowd comes a group of valleyfair employees. In the middle of the group was a lady holding a little boy with blonde curls--yes, it was Wil! reminiscent of little lord fauntleroy once again.
I tried to piece together what happened, and all I could get from the employees was that they had seen he had a cabana wristband on so had brought him all the way over back to the cabanas (quite some distance away) assuming he had wandered from there and someone would be looking for him there. They have an extensive system for incidents like this and all employees in the park knew there was a lost kid (apparently it happens all the time).
Today I talked to Wil about it and got the rest of the story...kind of. Patched together below...."I went to get you and I didnt see you so I went outside the fence. {keep in mind I had not moved--i was in the same area of the wading pool the entire time--he had become disoriented}. Then a mom took me and gave me to two lifeguards. and they asked if my name was william and I said yes. and then they gave me to you. and now I'm fine." (and he went back to his digging on the beach)
so that's it, in a nutshell. i wish i could thank the mom who saw that he was lost and made sure he was found.
Right now he is busy making maps for Grandma to come to the mall of america, "except, only, I don't know how to get there" he says. Hmmm....sounds like his mama............
..........................
Despite all that, we had a great time and plan to go back next year for sure. We won't invite Zac for at least 2 more years and maybe then Brian can come, we'll see if he's grown up enough yet. yes, i will bring one more adult, but before you say this happened because i had 3 boys to be responsible for, i have several things to point out. yes, i did make a mistake in not making him hold my hand while i had my eyes off him as I talked to joanie and the girls...but...today at work i told this story and another lady said she lost her kid at valleyfair 20 years ago, same scenario, and she was there with just him. plus, elijah and ben were right there by my side, they stayed very close to me all day, so that i was able to focus on keeping track of wils. elijah was a big help with that, actually....his bossiness is handy in situations like that! he kept a close eye on his little brothers and kept them in line. So, though i wish it hadnt happened, it did; the end is happy, and we all learned.
when we arrived back at the house at 10 30 (yes, they almost stayed til closing!), the funniest thing happened....it was hysterically funny...you had to be there, but.....Leo, the dog, was so happy to see us, he ran in place for a few seconds and then wiped out and fell. we laughed and laughed...and THEN he got all silly and ran around the house like a mad dog making these wierd squealing noises. i have no idea what was UP with him but it was funny.
.......................................
last but not least, a zac story, from brian. he said he was laying on his back on the floor yesterday and zac was sitting on his stomach driving a vehicle on his chest. it was really hot, so he didnt have his shirt on (usually he is meticulous about that, but they were alone). then he noticed what zac was doing...the vehicle was a miniature john deere lawn mower, and zac was cutting the "grass"...driving the rider in careful rows up and down brian's chest!
..............................................
benj is about to turn 7 and becoming more introspective and a little withdrawn. my guide to 7 year olds tells me that's normal for the age, but it's concerning because it is an exacerbation of his already quiet personality. but, he's still darling. he sat in the backseat of the denali and KNITTED all the way to valleyfair! he finished a latch hook project and is working on another, im not sure if he is still planning on making me a new carpet like he originally planned. he spent his allowance yesterday on hot tamales and a slushie thing at valleyfair so didnt have any left to get a whoopie cushion when elijah did at the souvenir shop (i was not happy but he can do what he wants with his allowance....he'll learn.) Ben was mad but got over it.
so then today, he says..."Someday, when we have a lot of money, like ALOT of money, can you buy me a whoopie cushion?"
I think I can accommodate that.
there is much more to catch up on, but that's enough for now. babe winkelman junior is still wearing his lifejacket although he is now watching tv in the viking room. now ive been summoned to go shine for night crawlers. yay.
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