4. Medical Genes Kick In. I always knew Lou had a lot of R genes. I saw them come out last night. She definitey had that decisive, calm-under-pressure thing going on.
Mr. C. had the older two at church, and our youngest two were going to stay with a neighbor while I was at writing group. Our neighbor's work had gone long and she would be a few minutes late, so we told them to put on a movie until she could get there. They are almost 11 and 7. That should be fine for 15 minutes, right? If they needed anything we have other awesome neighbors they could get help from. But what could happen in 15 minutes?
At my group I get a call.
"Mom. . . The S-Train's throwing up."
I wait for the hysteria and prepare myself to dash for the car.
It never came. "I've got him on the couch with a bowl." (and had the couch covered with a sheet and a towel under his head.)
"Why don't you get him. . . "
"I got him some sprite and he's watching a movie."
Situation under control. Anything I was going to suggest, she'd already done. She even had the whole hand washing thing wrapped up.
I felt confident enough about how she was handling things to stop at the library on my way home and pick up movies we had on hold for the S-Train so that he could have them for his sick day.
I did get another call on the way home. "He's throwing up again." She just put the used bowl in the bathroom for me and got him a new one.
I told we'd be enrolling her in nursing school when I got home.
We'll do medical school next year.
Good thing she played Clara Barton in her class play.
I brought her brownies.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Community and Personal Coping
The children in Mason's class wrapped the trees at the school with green ribbons. It was his favorite color. My kids decided to wear green today in his honor.
What do you do when children ask you questions like, "Was Mason afraid to die?"
I said, "Probably sometimes, because no one gets to come back and tell us what it's like. But this is what we do know.. . ."
And we had a great conversation about the spirit world and life after death and the things we know for sure. It reminded me of my grandmother talking about when her father died. Her mother would always say, "It's not like he's gone. It's like he just stepped into the next room."
I hope I can give my children an assurance like that. That when we die it's like we just step into the next room until we can see each other again.
At the same time, my heart is breaking for this beautiful family because the time ahead is long before that joyful reunion.
It already feels like a week since yesterday.
What do you do when children ask you questions like, "Was Mason afraid to die?"
I said, "Probably sometimes, because no one gets to come back and tell us what it's like. But this is what we do know.. . ."
And we had a great conversation about the spirit world and life after death and the things we know for sure. It reminded me of my grandmother talking about when her father died. Her mother would always say, "It's not like he's gone. It's like he just stepped into the next room."
I hope I can give my children an assurance like that. That when we die it's like we just step into the next room until we can see each other again.
At the same time, my heart is breaking for this beautiful family because the time ahead is long before that joyful reunion.
It already feels like a week since yesterday.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Life interrupted
A fourth grader at our school passed away this morning. I've written here about their family before. They have made their journey this last year one of inspiration and laughter and hope and treasuring the small sweet moments of life. They have held up with more grace and love than I can say. They are loved and supported by a great school community. I read the comments on their blog this afternoon after I found out with tears running down my face. I met people at school who couldn't talk, they had just pulled themselves together.
I find myself wishing I would just enjoy my children instead of fussing at them. Why do I find myself scolding when I don't mean to? I need to just let go of the need to whip them into responsible people a little and enjoy. (that whole tiger mother thing notwithstanding) I'm hugging them a little tighter today. I'm trying to remember to smile and laugh with them.
Mostly I'm crying inside for this sweet family.
On another note, if you read this before noon or so, say a prayer for Mr. C. He has until two to finish the fine tuning on the big document he has been working on for the past couple of years. He has been working Saturdays and 8-11 hour days for the past couple of weeks. He worked all weekend and is still up there tonight. I think he'll just catch some sleep up there. Pray it all goes well and that his memory and the computers are working at peek efficiency.
I find myself wishing I would just enjoy my children instead of fussing at them. Why do I find myself scolding when I don't mean to? I need to just let go of the need to whip them into responsible people a little and enjoy. (that whole tiger mother thing notwithstanding) I'm hugging them a little tighter today. I'm trying to remember to smile and laugh with them.
Mostly I'm crying inside for this sweet family.
On another note, if you read this before noon or so, say a prayer for Mr. C. He has until two to finish the fine tuning on the big document he has been working on for the past couple of years. He has been working Saturdays and 8-11 hour days for the past couple of weeks. He worked all weekend and is still up there tonight. I think he'll just catch some sleep up there. Pray it all goes well and that his memory and the computers are working at peek efficiency.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Road Trip - Cars Visual Effects
3. Trip pictures. We went on a quick whirlwind two day spring break trip to Nauvoo. (More on that later.) And we had SO MUCH FUN with drive by photography!. The oldest sat in the front seat and took pictures of interesting things. Here are a couple of my favorite. They didn't look like much on the back of the camera, but boy were they cool when we got home and all that yummy detail came out!
She said she had the song from Cars that plays when Lightning and Sally go for a drive playing in her head.
I guess it was inspirational.
I think the dirty windshield actually gave her some fun effects! She has a good eye, doesn't she?
I guess it was inspirational.
I think the dirty windshield actually gave her some fun effects! She has a good eye, doesn't she?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Round Two
OK, the six of you who stopped by were no help on the format question.
So - I've decided to just go for round two. The number format helps keep me going.
And who know, maybe I'll even actually finish this in a year this time.
(Laughing behind my hand.)
It's doable.
Right?
Right?
Everyone nod your head if you think I'll finish at least by a year from this coming August.
Yea. Me too.
So - even though I should have started on
1. Proceed Day. Which is March 4th.
(It's a joke. March 4th. Proceed.
OK, never mind. My word play humor gene is showing.)
I'll start today and keep going with
2. Spring Blossoms. I looked out the window and what did I see. . .
One of my children reading in our front tree.
Note the bare feet.
It was cooling down, but she was determined to hang on to that summer feeling.
The weather has been so blissful.
*sigh*
So - I've decided to just go for round two. The number format helps keep me going.
And who know, maybe I'll even actually finish this in a year this time.
(Laughing behind my hand.)
It's doable.
Right?
Right?
Everyone nod your head if you think I'll finish at least by a year from this coming August.
Yea. Me too.
So - even though I should have started on
1. Proceed Day. Which is March 4th.
(It's a joke. March 4th. Proceed.
OK, never mind. My word play humor gene is showing.)
I'll start today and keep going with
2. Spring Blossoms. I looked out the window and what did I see. . .
One of my children reading in our front tree.
Note the bare feet.
It was cooling down, but she was determined to hang on to that summer feeling.
The weather has been so blissful.
*sigh*
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Last Round Up
It's been over a month since my last post. I should be able to come up with at least 10 things for this post to finish out the 365. And Hmmmmm. What then? I'm wondering. I have no idea. This 365 was supposed to take a year. It's been a year and a half with some nice big month-long breaks in the middle. So. Should I keep up with the 365 idea? Which worked so well as a daily thing last time. . .not. Or should I just keep going and see how long the next 365 things take? Change the title to things that make me smile and use dates for numbers? Or something else all together? Let me know what you think.
356. Spring. This is not in order - but Hallelujah! A nice warm spring wind blew in this last week and blew the crocuses in the yard up out of the ground.
They have such happy little faces.
I so needed the weather this week, even if I didn't get to get out in it much. Long winters are really hard. But lately I have a sort of theory. That maybe we are like bulbs. There is energy that gets stored up and lots of growing and struggling that takes place underground, where no one sees it. It seems dark and there isn't much evidence of growth, but under there somewhere we are still alive and trying to make this whole life thing work. And then, suddenly, when you just about can't hold on any more, when you wonder if another freeze or set back might just kill you, there is a beautiful burst of growth and energy that makes it into view. And suddenly, we can see what was being worked on all that time in the subzero pit. Perhaps it's like giving emotional birth, or, obviously, like bulbs finding their way into the sun. For so long there doesn't seem to be anything there, but we keep trying, until - our eyes are opened wide in wonder- because a whole lot happens at once.
Maybe no one else has this experience. I feel it every spring. Ahhhh. Sun. Now if it would stay like this until fall. . . or next spring?
357. Sue had a birthday! We took her and a few friends to IHOP for breakfast in their pajamas. I love this picture because it shows how excited she was!
People are so nice! No less than three people offered me their 20% off your total order coupons. We made cute gift bags with our own homemade pancake mix and a few goodies to take home. 
We love pancakes.
Later on the ears got infected a bit, but you have to love neosporin! We dipped the posts in it and the ears cleared up pretty quickly. So now we are past time to be able to take out her first pair. I've been putting her off because the new skin under there looks so baby brand new and thin. I'd hate for cheap metal to send us back a step. But she has her box of homemade earrings ready to go (from a short-lived let's sell jewelery experiment a few years ago.). They are mostly too danggly. We are supposed to stick with small earrings for about the first six months so the holes don't stretch out. Which means earring shopping. And Sue can't WAIT!
359. Lou was Amelia Earhart. She was chosen to represent her school for a big assembly. And she sang in the district choir. It was 15 minutes of district-wide fame. She did a great job giving her one minute speech. She has enough charisma to light up the stage.
360. We are almost Chinese if you please. Sue and Lou got to sing at a big Chinese New Year extravaganza. Kids from our school Chinese club sang while a tape of students from our sister school in China singing played behind them. It was so sweet.
(side note- skippable - We've actually gone to this new year's celebration four or five times with our neighbor before. Each year it gets bigger. But this year I'll admit to being a bit sad that it was mc'd in English. The first year we went there was NO English. We just watched the acts, but had no idea what was being said. Last year for the first time it was announced in both languages. And this year the announcing was all English. I guess they are trying to attract a wider audience, but I kind of miss the days where we were trying to figure out what was going on. I thought it must be like a piece of home for those who only spoke Chinese. I know if I was in another country I'd love to have a celebration I could go to where I understood everything they said.)
361. Multipiano. The oldest played at a multipiano contest. Her design even won the cover of the program! I'll see if I can get a video to post here of one of her pieces. So far no luck, but I'll try again.
362. Heart day. Heart shaped pizza was our nod to heart day this year.
And Sue had a great Valentine's box! We also blatently stole from other bloggers and heart-attacked the house. Everyone wrote something they loved about each other on hearts and we covered the kitchen and part of the dining room in them. So sweeet to look up from the computer or making dinner and read why one of your kids loves you. Ahh.
363. A new table. Mr. C finished the table!!!!
364. An annual labor of love. I made German Chocolate cake for Mr. C's birthday. I used to get burned. That frosting splatters while it cooks, you know! Until one of my smart children suggested a long handle and an oven mitt. Now it's easy peasy. And the photo I took makes me smile.
365. Getting to 365!! I can't believe I made it the whole way. And here I am. Wow.
And what now? I still have more events to post. (Some of the daily fun gets lost when you wait a month to post and it all boils down to events instead of funny moments.) But what format? Thoughts?
356. Spring. This is not in order - but Hallelujah! A nice warm spring wind blew in this last week and blew the crocuses in the yard up out of the ground.
They have such happy little faces.
I so needed the weather this week, even if I didn't get to get out in it much. Long winters are really hard. But lately I have a sort of theory. That maybe we are like bulbs. There is energy that gets stored up and lots of growing and struggling that takes place underground, where no one sees it. It seems dark and there isn't much evidence of growth, but under there somewhere we are still alive and trying to make this whole life thing work. And then, suddenly, when you just about can't hold on any more, when you wonder if another freeze or set back might just kill you, there is a beautiful burst of growth and energy that makes it into view. And suddenly, we can see what was being worked on all that time in the subzero pit. Perhaps it's like giving emotional birth, or, obviously, like bulbs finding their way into the sun. For so long there doesn't seem to be anything there, but we keep trying, until - our eyes are opened wide in wonder- because a whole lot happens at once.
Maybe no one else has this experience. I feel it every spring. Ahhhh. Sun. Now if it would stay like this until fall. . . or next spring?
357. Sue had a birthday! We took her and a few friends to IHOP for breakfast in their pajamas. I love this picture because it shows how excited she was!
People are so nice! No less than three people offered me their 20% off your total order coupons. We made cute gift bags with our own homemade pancake mix and a few goodies to take home. 
We love pancakes.358. Holes in our ears. After that we kept the big day going by getting Sue's ears pierced! The oldest still hasn't decided about the whole jewelery thing. Sue wanted this done ON her birthday! A little nervous. And the lady's gun got stuck on the first ear. But we did go on to do both ears. Here we are half-way through. Earring on one, little black dot on the other.
359. Lou was Amelia Earhart. She was chosen to represent her school for a big assembly. And she sang in the district choir. It was 15 minutes of district-wide fame. She did a great job giving her one minute speech. She has enough charisma to light up the stage.
360. We are almost Chinese if you please. Sue and Lou got to sing at a big Chinese New Year extravaganza. Kids from our school Chinese club sang while a tape of students from our sister school in China singing played behind them. It was so sweet.
(side note- skippable - We've actually gone to this new year's celebration four or five times with our neighbor before. Each year it gets bigger. But this year I'll admit to being a bit sad that it was mc'd in English. The first year we went there was NO English. We just watched the acts, but had no idea what was being said. Last year for the first time it was announced in both languages. And this year the announcing was all English. I guess they are trying to attract a wider audience, but I kind of miss the days where we were trying to figure out what was going on. I thought it must be like a piece of home for those who only spoke Chinese. I know if I was in another country I'd love to have a celebration I could go to where I understood everything they said.)
361. Multipiano. The oldest played at a multipiano contest. Her design even won the cover of the program! I'll see if I can get a video to post here of one of her pieces. So far no luck, but I'll try again.
362. Heart day. Heart shaped pizza was our nod to heart day this year.
363. A new table. Mr. C finished the table!!!!
It was put on hold for a few years. But it's in the living room now. It's very beautiful. Mr. C was so proud. He finished it just in time to have a few friends over for a family home evening birthday dinner.
It's big enough that even if we don't have enough floor space, the S-Train will be able to spread out his creativity quite nicely.
364. An annual labor of love. I made German Chocolate cake for Mr. C's birthday. I used to get burned. That frosting splatters while it cooks, you know! Until one of my smart children suggested a long handle and an oven mitt. Now it's easy peasy. And the photo I took makes me smile.
And what now? I still have more events to post. (Some of the daily fun gets lost when you wait a month to post and it all boils down to events instead of funny moments.) But what format? Thoughts?
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Ode to Joy (or the fourth movement of the fifth)
355. Fun Video. A friend just sent this to me. It made me smile :) . So here it is.
And here's a link to where it was. Fun comments.
And here's a link to where it was. Fun comments.
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