Boys are Funny.

I have never owned a Creepy Crawly maker. Easy Bake Oven? Sure. I liked bugs and could catch them like crazy all day long, but I never understood the fascination with any toy that was slimy. I didn't like goop of any variety. I don't eat gummy worms, although gummy bears are completely acceptable. The thought of taking slimy goop and dripping it into molds only to have little wiggly pointless fake bugs looked, well, pointless.

Well, such things obviously are not pointless to my (three) boys. Asa and Addison got a Creepy Crawly maker for Christmas. It was a Star Wars edition and came with some Star Wars molds. The boys were excited, but honestly, not as excited as Jeff. Jeff wasn't that interested int he Star Wars molds, but got online in search of bigger, better, crazier ones. He was looking for bugs, but quickly realized there was a big wide Ebay world out there full of Creepy Crawly molds of all kinds. He started seeing molds that created pieces that you put together... and then he saw it... the mother of all mold sets... the Mini-Dragon molds. They are from 1967. At that time it was called the Creepy Crawly Thingmaker... and it was anything but safe. It was basically a hot plate with nothing between the kids and hot metal. And, those kids were better for it.

Jeff waited anxiously as his package made it across the country. It came by on Friday, but we weren't home to sign for it. Much to his dismay, I missed the Post Office on Saturday. He had to WAIT until MONDAY. Ug. He wasn't happy. But, today was the magical day! I went and picked up the unimpressive package. Asa and Addison were instructed to wait for Jeff to get home before they played with it, but we did open the package. A bunch of metal plates with silly parts.

I swear I think Jeff only left work at a decent hour because of his new toy. He and the boys sat at the table and made dragons all night. They picked the parts they wanted to use and decided on their colors. They ate dinner while they worked. I brushed their teeth and put their pajamas on while Jeff cooked the goop. I must say, when it was all over even I was impressed. There stood a funny little dragon equipt with glow in the dark eyes. The boys loved it, but I still think Jeff loved it more.

Actually, Asa and Addison went to bed two hours ago and Jeff is still up making dragons. He may be up all night, who knows. I'm counteracting this with Cyndi Lauper. Boy are funny.

White Lie = Red Bottom

Addison has developed a bad habit. The boy lies. He lies about stupid things that he wouldn't even be in trouble for. He is also very quick on his feet about it.

I think his first lies centered around video game playing. For a while, he would bawl and cry whenever he would lose. We responded each time by explaining that it was ridiculous to cry over a game and promptly turning it off. We aren't really "boys don't cry" people (at least I'm not) but Addison does seem to have a set of overactive tear ducts. When it is for ridiculous reasons, he gets removed from the situation. No Nintendo. Well, at some point he and Jeff were playing some game and Addison lost. We noticed the tears welling up in his eyes. We asked him if he was crying... "No... some water just fell in my eye." He explained. He had no idea how water fell in his eye, but it must have... because it's not like he was crying or anything. Jeff and I grinned a little grin at each other and kept playing. Perhaps if we knew it was the beginning of a series of lies we would have acted on it.

Addison has been getting in trouble for lying for weeks now. He has received a couple spankings and some serious conversations about becoming a better person, growing up to be a good man, being trustworthy, etc. Well, it must all fall on def ears. On Monday, I was upstairs and happened to notice a pair of underwear sticking out from underneath the upstairs bathroom cabinet (which is on legs). As I pulled them out, I noticed there was another pair... and another... and another. Six pair of dirty underwear shoved under the cabinet. Now, Addison has a problem with keeping in the poo until he actually reaches the toilet. I do get on to him, but he would never, say, get a spanking for it. I find it absurd but figure there may be some sort of developmental issue going on? Anyway, there were six pair of underwear shoved under there. I was not a happy camper.

I called Addison upstairs and his face dropped as he entered the bathroom. I explained to him that a) this is gross and b) this is a lie. Everytime he shoved another pair under there instead of letting me know, putting them in the dirty clothes hamper and getting a clean pair, he was lying. He got a spanking before school. I tried to make a huge point of how he can easily turn a new leaf and stop this bad habit. I thought it was a good talk... well...

Today, two days later, Addison was eating grits for breakfast before school. I asked him to try not to spill any grits on his shirt (he is a notorious sloppy eater). Well, I noticed that Addison was not in his seat and heard someone trying to lock the very high lock in the bathroom. I opened the door to find Addison on a stool. "Why are you trying to lock the door?" I asked him. He just looked at me. I asked in a different way. "Why are you on the stool?" He looked at me with a very transparent look and quickly replied, "I was trying to see if there were any ants on top of the mirror." Now, this is one of those situation where I really should have disciplined the heck out of the kid. Instead, the ant comment totally threw me off and I was just focusing on NOT laughing. I asked him once more... slowly... and he took back the totally logical ant comment and replaced it with "I was trying to clean the grits off my shirt". He knows darn well that he wouldn't be in TROUBLE for spilling the grits on his shirt. I wouldn't be happy necessarily, but he wouldn't be in TROUBLE. I mean, really? Grits on the shirt?? Again, I should have done more, considering, but I decided to explain the deeper consequences of lying... my bad.

After school today, they both got in the car. Asa said, "I'm really sorry mom, but I threw away my lunch container". I like to keep the Lunchable containers and replace the little sections with actual meat and actual cheese. I told him that was no problem at all, don't worry about it, we can get some more next time we go to the store. I thanked him for telling me. Then, I explained to them both that it would be silly for Asa to have said, "Umm... a bird came and picked up my container with its beak and flew off!" or "Logan liked my container and wore it home as a hat!" And how the lie would have gotten him in huge trouble, but the truth was perfectly fine. Sometimes the truth does get you in trouble, but lies are always worse. Always.

Tonight, Addison was watching a movie on my portable DVD player. I sat in the room for a little while as he quietly watched and listened to it on his headphones. I had been going on for a very long time. I had asked him a few times how much longer it would be and he kept telling me that it was almost over. In the silence, I heard a little click. I went over, pulled his headphones away from his ears and asked him if he was pushing Rewind. He said "No". I gave him that momma-knows-everything look and he changed his answer. "Yes". What on earth am I going to do with this kid. I had to put a very cranky Ivey to bed, so I left Jeff with the spanking duty. This child got his butt worn out. I cringed from upstairs. I hate spankings. I don't believe in never giving them, but I don't like giving them one bit and I let the boys both know that if I have to do it. I tell them "I don't like doing this at all and I really wish you wouldn't do things to make me spank you." Ug.

After all was said and done, he came upstairs to get teeth brushed, pj's on and tucked in. I decided to adopt my mother's approach to punishment and gave him an open-ended tv, video game, and Leapster restriction. (I was never grounded for "a week" or "a month" like my friends. I was always just told that I was grounded and was stuck until mom thought it should be over... which was always a very long time). I took it all away and explained to him that we would not be able to believe him for a while. He cannot be trusted and he would have to earn back that trust. I remember that really sucking... but maybe not at five years old? I know I heard that as a pre-teen or teenager and it was miserable... because my mom really meant it and had to seriously go a long time before she trusted anything that came out of my abnoxious little mouth. At five, he may not totally get it, but I'm sure he will as I express this lack of trust in the upcoming days or weeks.

Now, I'm off to put all of the remotes on top of the cabinets.

A Day With Anna

This morning, I got a call that our friends Kiersten and Jeff were having an emergency cesarean. I helped them get in touch with Ellen, who headed towards Athens to visit them at the hospital. Anna came to our house and rode with me to pick the boys up from school. Needless to say, Asa and Addison were very surprised to see her!

We spent the day playing, singing and getting dirty. Anna borrowed a play shirt and a pair of tennis shoes and the three of them played in the dirt and climbed trees. When they came in, I set up Little People plastic animals throughout their room. The three of them went on a Safari from the top bunk, hunting for the animals with Nerf dart guns. They had a blast.

After we met Ellen for dinner and said our goodbyes, we came home and got ready for bed. Asa, Addison and I straightened up Ivey's room, putting the boys' old baby toys in her basket. In the jumble of toys was a small plastic book with pictures in it. It had a rhyme on each page beginning with "God Bless..."

There was a page for Daddy, Mommy, Grandparents... and then the last page was for friends. On it was a picture of Anna, probably a year old or less.

"God Bless (followed by the picture of Anna)

A friend is someone special
who shares the things you do.
And when you need a hand to hold
a friend is there for you.

We had a great day with Anna, as we have had many great days with her in the past. I am very thankful for the friends that we all have... and thankful that I know friends like Anna will be with Asa and Addison always.

My logical Addison

The boys have spent the last few days with the grandparents. When this happens, we inevitably get phone calls describing whatever hilarity is going on over there. This time, it seems to be my Addison that is cracking them up.

1) Granddaddy as picking pecans from the cracked shells. He had the box of pecans on the counter. Asa had pulled up the stool and was standing on it to help. Addison also wanted to help out, so he squeezed himself on the stood next to Asa. Somehow, Addison's foot slipped and he fell over, with one leg right in the trashcan. After the commotion, Addison asked what Granddaddy would have done if he had actually fallen into the trashcan. "Well" Randy answered, "I guess I would have had to bundle you up with the trash and throw you out." Addison looked at him and replied, "Why don't you just lift me out? I think that would be a much better idea".

2) At Randy and Linda's house, the boys usually get a piece of Dove chocolate after dinner (lucky kids!). After dinner and their dessert they had a bath. When bath time was over, Granddaddy was rough housing with Addison on the couch, no doubt ticking the fire out of the kid. Granddaddy pretended to nibble on his toes and asked, "Do you know what's sweeter than little toes right out the bath?" The answer- "Little toes that just had Dove chocolate!"
"Well," Addison answered... "They would be even sweeter if I had another piece."
Good try, Addison.

A Wonderful Life

Christmas is behind us and boy what a Christmas it was! We went to Fayetteville and I helped Mom prepare for the big Christmas Eve-Eve party. I wanted to go down early to help her out... I'm not quite sure what I was thinking! With Ivey in tow, I was at about 20% of my usual pre-party helpfulness. But, I was able to run some errands for her, clean up a little and fix a few food items. At around 4:00 I started to panic. The house is usually a disaster area right before the party, but for some reason that fact wasn't making me feel much better with only 3 hours to go. I did what I could and headed upstairs to nurse Ivey and get a shower. Of course, in typical Mom fashion, the starts and moon aligned themselves and viola! I came down the stairs to a beautiful house full ready for guests.

The party was a blast, like always. Charlie, Kristi, Hal, Jen and we spent the night. The next morning was a bit weird because both Mom and Roland had to work! But, Chris and Leslie and the kids came and all of us siblings exchanged our gifts for the kids. We were able to have our annual Christmas Even Morning festivities, even though the people who actually live there weren't able to come. Mom and Roland saved their gifts so that they could bring them to each of our houses on Christmas Day. It wasn't the usual schedule of events, but it worked great! Flexibility is the key!

We went to Randy and Linda's house later that day and went to church. It was a great kid-friendly service (and my one and only time that I have nursed Ivey in church!). We returned to their house for dinner and presents. The boys really racked up. Legos, pinball game, army men, slot car track, model car... actually Uncle Mike (aka Cool Mo Dee) was a bit upset that he bought the kids such cool presents only for Addison to say he favorite gift was the box of army men that Grandmomma and Granddaddy got them... the same little molded plastic men that we all had.. probably the cheapest present in the bunch!

Santa brought Leapsters (huge hit for Addison), Star Wars men, Pixos for Asa, art supplies, a rock tumbler, Battleship, and a Playmat, plush seat and toys for Ivey. Dad, Hal and Jen came over early and Dad unloaded the presents on our poor living room. He went totally overboard!! Then, Mom and Roland made their stop and brought yet another car load of presents. These boys have more toys than they know what to do with! I think next year, we may set some kind of grandparent limit! Later in the day, we could not find Addison anywhere. Finally, he was spotted sitting on the floor behind the living room chair.. playing his Leapster. Either he didn't want anyone to make him stop or he thought we were all ruining his concentration.

I got some great presents, too. Really great ones. My very best one, though, was to be well. Thank God. I am healthy. This recent hospital stay and scary times gave Jeff and I both a whole new appreciation for each other, our kids, our family, our life. Merry Christmas. God is Good.

Raging Squirrells

A few weeks ago, I desperately wanted the boys to get out of the house and play. They refused. So, I gave them a job. I told them that I would give them $1 a piece for each pound of pecans they picked up. Having no idea how many pecans were out there, how many pecans were in a pound or how motivated Asa and Addison would be, I put my baby scale on the porch and let them go for it. Just as I had hoped, they spent hours out there, happily picking and playing and talking.

In a couple days, they had picked a total of 6 pounds. Wow. That came to $6 a piece. I chalked it up to affordable childcare and gave them their $6 each. They wanted to pick more and I explained to them a little about supply and demand. See, I have a lot of pecans now, so I don't need as many as I did before... so I won't pay as much as I did before. The new deal was $1 per pound to be split between them. They went out and played and picked and talked... and picked... and picked... and came home from school each day talking about how they couldn't wait to get home and pick more pecans. Well, at this point, they have picked a grand total of 39 pounds of pecans. Just under $20 per kid! Do you know how far $20 goes when you're five? Good grief.

An Elf of our Own

When we got home the other day, there was a package on our doorstep. It was a box. It was wrapped in simple white paper and addressed to Asa, Addison and Ivey from the North Pole! We all sat in the floor and the boys unwrapped this mysterious gift. Inside was a box. The box had a little elf, dressed in red, and a bood entitled, "Elf on a Shelf".

We read the book and learned that in this box was our very own elf. We were instructed to give him a name (we chose "Squirt") and told that he would watch us all day long and leave every night to tell Santa how we were that day as well as what we would like for Christmas. The one important rule is- DO NOT TOUCH! We cannot touch the elf or his magic will go away. He cannot talk to us, but he can listen. We finished the book and decided to set Squirt's box on the mantle. At first we wondered if we should get him out of the box. I wasn't sure how to get him out of the box without touching him, and since the box had a clear front we would be able to set him on the mantle and see if he got out the next morning.

Sure enough, the next morning Squirt had left the tiny red twist ties on the mantle, climbed down, went to the North Pole, and then hid on top of our kitchen cabinet. The boys were delighted. Over the last few days, the boys have made sure to let Squirt know what they would like to get for Christmas. I even caught Asa taking an toy catalog that we got in the mail and holding it up for Squirt to see, pointing out his wishes. Yesterday, Asa told me that he wanted to get a bunch of candy canes for Christmas and "not share any of them". He quickly dropped his voice and said, "I hope that elf didn't hear that." I'm sure the elf did, but I am betting that Asa has been good enough to excuse such a comment.

Each morning, Asa and Addison get so excited running around trying to find where Squirt decided to land. He has been on the light fixture, on the entertainment center and has hung from the curtain rod. He's quite the kidder. I'm not looking forward to Squirt leaving us Christmas Eve night, but at least we all know he will show up again next year... probably when we least expect it...

The Problem Patient Just Won't Go Away

Wow. Leave it to me to continue to be the difficult and bizarre patient. After my D&C at the end of October, I felt better for a while. After a few weeks of recovery, the bleeding had never subsided. It wasn't much, but after 8 weeks postpatrum and 6 weeks post D&C I was still having at least some each day. I was crampy and just knew something wasn't right for weeks. I had called the doctor's office on various occasions to ask about signs of infection, bleeding, etc. I just didn't have enough wrong to justify my concerns. So, I did nothing. At the end of November, I had a day of intense cramps followed by a day of a 102.5 fever. No other symptoms. I went in to see the doctor the next day.

The fever was attributed to a "bug". She did an ultrasound because of the continued bleeding and saw that my uterus looked the exact same as it did before my last D&C! It was enlarged and full of "junk". Not normal at all. Instead of jumping in and doing another D&C, we discussed the option of going on progesterone for 4 weeks and then going off, causing a pseudo-period. This would work to decrease the lining and then cause it to all release, in the theory. Well, I didn't want to go in for another D&C, so I took my prescription and went on my way.

By the weekend, the pain was increasing to the point that I was no longer just taking prescription strength ibuprofen, but I was having to take a half of the left over Percocet from Ivey's birth and the previous D&C to get through. Jeff was going out of town the first week in December, so Dad came to help me out with the kids. He came on Monday and boy was I glad he did. I was having to take the Percocet and didn't want to drive while taking it. So, he stayed with us Monday through Thursday. Throughout the week, I was doubled over in pain. I called the doctor and she told me to stop taking the progesterone, thinking it was the cause of the pain. I knew this wasn't the case. I was having the pain before the progesterone. The intense cramps were what finally pushed me to go to the doctor last week!

By Thursday, I was unable to go 4 hors without the Percocet. Unlike after having Ivey, the Percocet was unable to totally kill the pain. Something was very wrong and I knew it. Jeff came home from his trip and Dad left on Friday. I did not take the Percocet and relied on the ibuprofen so I could get the boys to and from school. Jeff was at work. I was in such excruciating pain that I spent the whole day on the phone with the doctor, trying to get help. At first they dismissed me completely. I panicked. As the pain increased I tried to make them realize how bad it was. By noon, Roland was planning to come here to take me to the ER. Instead, I got the doctor herself on the phone. She said that she would see me on Tuesday. For some reason, probably because I was incapable of rational thought at this point, I agreed. Within 30 minuted of hanging up the phone, I began shaking uncontrollably anf was freezing. I don' mean that I was a little chilled. I was freezing. I couldn't talk because I would chatter so badly. I couldn't dial the phone. I was so cold that all I could do was curl up in a ball in bed with blankets and blankets.... but only for about 45 minutes. That's when the fever began. In 1 hour I was up to 102.5. I called Jeff and made him come home. I called Susan to come watch the boys. I called the doctor and didn't ask... I TOLD them I was coming in. The nurse told me it was too late in the day to come to the office and I should come right to the ER. When she asked me what I'd taken for the fever I yelled, "NOTHING. I will not take ANYTHING for this fever so that you can SEE that I really HAVE it when I get there and take me SERIOUSLY." She asked how far away I was and said she would let the doctor know.

When we got to the ER, I didn't have to sit through all the registration. I was obviously so bad they sent me right back to triage, no wait. After some work up in the ER, I was given Tylenol and Percocet and was admitted. I was poked and prodded and given a catheter to collect a "clean" specimen. They said I could refuse the catheter, but at this point I didn't want to make ANY decision that would make anyone dismiss any facts that were collected. So, I screamed and sobbed my way through. I felt like I was going to die. Pain plus fever made me dilusional. Jeff said I made some comment about how Ivey's birth was like the Clinton staffers leaving the White House. I tried to explain that it was like how they took the pictures off the walls and left a mess as they left... it made perfect sense at the time... not so much when the fever left. I was put on three different IV antibiotics to try to get the fever down. They needed to keep me on them for 48 hours. When the fever was down, they could work on fixing me.

Well, after 48 hours, my fever was still in the high 102's. It ended up taking percocet, morphine and tordol to finally get rid of the pain. I cried. I was scared. Ivey and Jeff stayed with me so I could continue to nurse. The only time I couldn't was when they gave me the contrast for the CT scan. That stuff had to get out of my system for 12 hours before I could nurse her. I wanted Jeff to take her home to use my frozen milk, but I was too scared for him to leave me. I thought I was going to die. The nurses called our pediatrician and found out what kind of formula she recommended. They supplied us with the formula, diapers, everything we needed. My little breastfed baby was a trooper and did just fine.

By Sunday, the doctor realized that the fever was not going to come down. She scheduled me for surgery the next day. A D&C. But, this wasn't the typical D&C. She explained that this was a D&C on an enlarged, infected uterus. The risks go up. There was a higher risk of perforating the uteran wall. She wanted to make sure that I knew that it was very possible I could go under for one thing and wake up being told that they had to do an emergency hysterectomy. I was scared. I was sick. I hurt. It was no fun.

The next day, they wheeled me to surgery, leaving Ivey and Jeff in the room. I went by myself, trying very unsuccessfully to hold it together. The nurse in pre-op read my sheet and looked at me with a concerned look on her face. As soon as she asked me, I knew what she was doing. "What do you think they are doing today?" she asked with a funny tone. I explained that I knew it was a non-routine D&C with a scope, guided by ultrasound, and had a risk of a hysterectomy. She looked relieved that I knew the risk. I wasn't relieved at all. I told the anesthesiologist that I was breastfeeding but was going to "pump and dump" so please give me anything you can to make me feel better. They started me on the anti-nausea med and then whatever it is that puts you to sleep. Unlike the last D&C, I didn't want to get wheeled back wide awake only to go under when I was back there. I wanted to be out. I wanted to stop being scared.

I woke up and vaguely remember freaking out that I had to pee so bad. I couldn't stand it. Looking back, I know it was probably because they gave me a catheter and I just felt that urge. I also know now that I was loopy from being put under and probably looked like a lunatic demanding to get up and finally begging for a bedpan! I don't even remember if I went in it... I probably just fell asleep on top of it.

It turned out that I was able to keep my uterus. They went in and found quite a surprise. We always knew that Ivey had a "vanishing twin". That is, there was a second little sac in there from the beginning, but a baby never grew inside it. There was never a fetal pole or anything large enough to be detectable on ultrasound. It was odd that the sac was always evident on the later ultrasounds... I always wondered if it would be a problem. Well, it was. That empty sac grew its own placenta. A round placenta the size of a golf ball. The doctor, nor any of the colleagues that she consulted, had seen anything like it. It was attached to the roof of my uterus by a string of some sort, and did not come out easily at all. After a lot of effort, it came loose. When it did, my fever and pain completely went away.

I left the hospital the next day, after a 5 day hospital stay, feeling much better. Since I left I have had no pain, fever or bleeding. I was able to come home and decorate for Christmas, sing carols and read stories to the boys. It feels so good to feel good!

All smiles

My little girl is growing like a weed! At her 2 month appointment today she weighed 10lbs 14oz. She is still eating every 3 hours, but is only waking once during the night to eat! We usually get in a feeding at 7:30 and then she doesn't quite make it until 10:30 before spiraling into a wild inconsolable fit of exhaustion. I feed her a little early, around 9:30 or so and then she wakes around 3:30am and then again at 7:30 to start the process all over again. She isn't especially crazy about tummy time, but does alright as long as she is just up from a nap and ready to play!

Asa is concerned that her hair might change one day. He told me that he doesn't want her hair to grow or change at all. Not longer, not curly, nothing. I asked him why and he explained, "Then it might not be so soft like yellow blanket!"

Decision has been made...

Okay, it's official. I am going to be a homeschool mom. I have no idea what I'm doing, have no idea if I will lose my mind, and have no idea if the boys will actually like it. But, it feels a lot better knowing what we will be facing as opposed to wondering what we will do. I have been looking up homeschool groups in our area- there are a bunch! It looks like there are tons of homeschoolers nearby. In my opinion, the only way this will work is in a group. I want to find families with kids this age that want to meet Tuesday and Thursdays for lessons and playtime. Maybe Wednesdays would be just lunch and play. I have already accepted that I will probably be starting my own group, making a website and just jumping in full force.

As Jeff and I leaned heavier and heavier towards this option, I wondered how the boys would feel about it. I explained to them that they would be going to a different school next year for 1st grade and told them that I was thinking about maybe teaching them here at home. I explained a little about what homeschool was. Asa was excited right off the bat! Addison, however, had some concerns about my credentials. He wanted to make sure that I would know what to teach, would I have the right books and things, etc. I explained that I went to school to be a teacher and, to be honest, interviewed with my 5 year old to be his teacher. I must have passed.

Once the interview process was over, they got so excited about having me be their teacher! Asa wanted a chair with his name on the back so he would know which chair was his. Addison wants a calendar on the wall. I told them about meeting with other kids. They are in love with the idea! Honestly, their enthusiasm has helped me get over some of my fear and just jump in. The more I think about being able to adjust their curriculum to meet their needs, the more I get excited. Sure, I may lose my marbles, but at least I'll know my kids are learning. We will be able to continue violin, we can work on whatever math level they need to without having to add 2 apples plus 3 apples when we are already multiplying, we can USE the content and really learn it instead of just filling the answers down on a sheet of paper. I think it may work. (Please remind me of this enthusiasm this time next year!)

Decking the Halls

We got our Christmas tree today! We all headed out to the tree farm to pick out the perfect tree.

When we got home, the boys were very excited to decorate. This, of course, meant to hang as many ornaments off the same 5 limbs as possible.

But, the tree looks great and the house has that warm, happy, Christmas glow!

The secret behind good smiles.... (it's poo)

As you can tell, Mommy got progressively funnier as she snapped these photos. Yes, as she usually does when she needs the good smiles, she pulled out the big guns and used the diaper jokes. Works like a charm. This time the voice was changed as if Ivey herself was speaking...

"If you boys don't hurry up and smile for Mommy, I'm going to poo right in this diaper!"

It was followed up by various incarnations of the same idea, with increasing hilarity.
Although successful in causing huge smiles, the humor was not appropriately regulating and did, in fact, end in laughter that was so intense that it caused a pee pee accident. Next time, although potty humor should still be utilized, it should be controlled in a way to avoid additional laundry for Mommy.

My crazy hippy options

Okay, so I visited the Montessori school in Athens today and loved it! I think it would be a great school for the boys. It is a tad cheaper than the options around here (you know we're talking a ton of money when $350 is a tad cheaper) but it is 23 miles away. That would be 92 miles per day. Roughly the same as Jeff's commute. That's a lot of driving.

So, I continue to lay out my options, each with pros and cons. In the spirit of looking at all of my options, I have decided to spend some actual effort in researching the homeschooling option. As it stands, I am no domestic goddess. The idea of taking care of a baby, teaching 2 five year olds, keeping my house clean, fixing dinner, and managing to stay sane while being with my kids all day while Jeff habitually works past 7:30 and having to take all of my kids with me to every doctor's appointment and Walmart trip sounds, well, impossible. I know there are Superwomen out there who could totally tackle all of that with a smile, hot meal and perfect hair... but this is not me. BUT, what if we took a percentage of the money that we would spend on private school and put it towards some help during the week? If I had a little help here and there with laundry, baby watching, cleaning up, and had someone to watch the kids while I went to the store... it MIGHT be a possibility. This might also allow us to continue violin, which we would surely have to quit if we were managing to somehow spend $1100+ per month on school. I also couldn't even attempt homeschooling without a good group. As it turns out, there is a big group in Monroe. According to the boys' teacher, there are also groups in Winder. There are field trips, dances, small groups that meet for certain classes, etc. Knowing this does help ease my mind a little. A LITTLE. The fear of being overwhelmed from being in a house with three kids all day every day with no adult interaction, a disaster of a house, and all of my hair pulled out into my clenched fists is the main thing that comes to mind when I think of this option.

Where oh where will we end up??

Edumacation

I am freaked out. I mean, totally, completely, stressed out. When we decided to buy this house, we figured that we would be sending our kids to private school, so it didn't really matter about the school system. Well, now that the time has come to make a decision, it is overwhelming. The amount of money that is spent on private education is just amazing. I am looking at schools close by, schools in Athens, Christian schools, Montessouri schools, & Catholic schools. Honestly, I'm looking at everything but DUI schools and doggie obedience schools.

Yikes. I would love for the boys to go to school in Monroe, but for $1440 per month, I don't see how. There are some choices in Athens for more like $1100-$1200 per month... but they are farther away. There is a choice here nearby that is more affordable, but doesn't fit my beliefs. What on earth are we going to do? My boys are way too smart and way too important to screw this up. I go tomorrow to check out the Montessouri school.

Homeschooling may seem like an option, but I am insanely intimidated by this. First of all, I have a baby. Second of all, with no family nearby I would be setting myself up to have to take all three kids to every grocery store trip, doctor appointment, etc. No alone time. Ever. I don't see how homeschooling jives with getting anything else done... like cooking or cleaning. It would be like running errands with them in the summer... except all year long. With Jeff getting home around 7:00-8:00 or later, I see a nervous breakdown in my future. Maybe with the money saved I could pay for a housekeeper/cook. Beyond that, I don't see how it works. Hats off to homeschoolers everywhere.

Now, I will continue to give myself an ulcer as I compare tuition, driving distances, and crazy religious doctrine on a bunch of places that I cannot afford...

Big day for a little girl!

Today Ivey had a big day! She decided that she didn't want to be on her tummy and with a lot of work... flipped! I knew she had no idea what she had just done, so I flipped her back over and watched. Sure enough, within a few minutes she did it again! I grabbed the video camera and caught her in action!



I have a very similar video of Asa and Addison on the very day they learned to roll over... on the bed, just like this one. It's amazing how quickly they develop!

Speaking of milestones, the boys got their very first report cards on Friday! Of course, they were both filled with good grades and comments. They have done a fabulous job in their first 10 weeks of Kindergarten! I'm very proud of them... and I am also very thankful that Ms. Kim told the boys at carpool this afternoon that she would see them on Monday or else we would have had a big shocker tomorrow morning.

An Elf Bed

We went to Mom and Roland's house yesterday for an early Thanksgiving dinner. The house was packed with family and lots of yummy food. It was a a full house and a great day! Mom wanted to get a picture of the grandkids for her Christmas card. She didn't just want to picture, she wanted a picture of all the kids dressed up like little elves. She had collected various items of red and green clothing, striped socks, the whole nine yards. Actually, there probably were 9 yards of it.

Now, Brittanie is older and Ivey is a baby, but please imaging trying to get the other six kids into elf attire. The playroom was a madhouse. The kids were running in and out of the room. Cameron loved his elf clothes and kept leaving half dressed to go show his mom and dad. Somehow, all the kids were dressed (enough) and it was picture taking time. Mom had a tree set up, but the background was lacking. It was in the playroom/garage, so she had thrown a blanket up over the garage doors. I knew I could work with it in post-production so just focused on trying to get these eight squirmy bodies to sit still, look in one direction and hopefully even smile.

After a billion and one shots, I was satisfied that I had enough to work with. Once I told them they could get up, it seriously looked as if elves lived underground in mounds and someone had kicked an elf bed. They scattered in every direction, yelling and singing and ripping off their little elf clothes. It was insane... and very festive... and it made for a fabulous Christmas card!

Recital

Asa and Addison had their group recital last weekend. They just started learning "Lightly Row" 2 1/2 weeks prior!

Little Dumplins

Tonight I had a good time with the boys. They haven't grown up enough to think that helping me in the kitchen is lame... and I decided to catch it on camera before it slips away.

It was a nasty dreary winter day today so we made chicken and dumplins. I taught them to roll the dumplins really thin... it makes them good! (And yes, Asa is wearing his skeleton shirt in November because when he wears it he gets to be "Mr. Skeleton" on the playground and chase all the kids).

Smile

Happy Days

This morning I got the best little present ever... Ivey's first smile! I had to work awfully hard to get it... lots of ridiculous faces and that annoying high pitched baby talk that people do, but she gave me a couple big sweet smiles! I called Jeff upstairs, and she performed once for him, too. Asa could only get her to stick out her tongue (which she did each time Asa came up to her... and it cracked him up!). Later in the day, I got one more!

Jeff now refuses to believe that they were the real thing, but I think they definitely were. He can call it gas now if he wants, but she raised her little eyebrows and gave such big grins... right at us! I don't buy it!

The Reluctant Iron Chef

During my prolonged recovery, there was a period of time where we had virtually no food in our house. So, Jeff loaded up the van and took Asa and Addison to the store so that we could have something for dinner. Upon returning. I was both surprised and amused to see what they returned home with...

A ginger root
A $6 block of fancy-pants cheese
A $6 bottle of fancy-pants Stone Ground Dijon mustard
A coconut (yes, a whole coconut)
A pound of sea scallops
A squash
A yellow bell pepper
A mixed container of bizarre Japanese mushrooms

All three boys bounced into the house with their loot. A very confused and still recovering mother made pasta with stir-fried mushrooms, pepper, and ginger root and pan-seared scallops. Being given a random assortment of foods made me feel a bit like the Iron Chef. It was a little more effort than I had planned for (since I planned for no effort at all on my part), but it was still a pretty good meal... and the boys were very excited about the coconut, until they opened it to realize they didn't like it.

Dinner was successful, but the next time I think I'll send him with a list.

Voting Update

As it turns out, the boys did vote today, but not for who they wanted to be President. They went behind a cardboard screen and voted for a Pizza Party or a Popcorn Party. Pizza Party won by a landslide, and the day probably progressed without much political discussion from my two kids.



Voter ID Cards? Wonder if any of the liberal kids are going to complain that the teachers were trying to suppress the minority vote? How on earth is Mickey Mouse supposed to cast his ballot?

Get Out The Vote

Today was a teacher work day. What this means is that teachers, which get out of work earlier than most other professions, get to have flexibility to go and vote today. What it also means is that everyone out there has to drag their bratty kids (including me) to the polls. Great planning. So, the boys and Ivey and I walked across the street to our polling place. I made sure to go after the morning rush and before lunch... and it paid off. I walked in and went right to the booth. Our neighbor, J.P., was there working the polls and kept an eye on the boys as my back was turned. I had told them to stand in the rectangle made of masking tape that was on the carpet. I think it only half worked. But, my ballot was cast and my civic duty was done. We each got a sticker and we were out the door.

Asa and Addison informed me that they would be voting at school tomorrow. They knew that one choice was Obama, but couldn't remember the other (yeah- you can tell who's monopolized the media, huh?). I told them the other guy's name was McCain and they asked me who I had voted for. McCain, I told them... and they asked why. Well... let's see...

I told them that Obama wants everything to be "fair" by taking money from rich people to give to poor people. I told them that I believe we should give to charities and help through our churches but that I didn't think the President should make everyone give money so that he could give it to other people. I asked them to think back to last year's school Easter Egg Hunt.

"Do you remember when you all hunted eggs at school?", I asked.
"Yes"
"You know how you guys ran around and looked really hard to find eggs and found a bunch, but then the teachers took all the eggs and made sure that everyone had 12... even the kids who didn't feel like hunting eggs?"
"Yes, that wasn't fair!" They exclaimed.
"Well, I don't think Obama would be a good President because he wants to take our eggs to give them to people who didn't work to find their own."
"Well, Mim's egg hunt doesn't do that! We get to keep all our eggs at Mim's house!"
"Yes" I said. "And if Cameron only found 4 eggs but you found 64..."
"Then we could help him to find more!"
(At this point I smiled a huge smile at the fact that my five year olds understand the benefit of a hand UP versus a hand OUT.)
"Or, you could even share your eggs with him. But, I don't think Mim should take everyone's eggs and divide them up."
"No, that wouldn't be fair at all!"
Then, Addison asked, "If Obama takes people's money to give out to other people and there's any left, does he keep it? That wouldn't be nice at all!"
My boys are thinking. Five year olds understand the faults with the concept of wealth redistribution. It doesn't sound patriotic, neighborly, or fair. It sounds wrong.

Now, I get to find out if the boys explain to the teachers why they aren't going to vote for Obama... using the school's very own Socialist Egg Hunt! I'm sure I'll be a great topic at the Parents Meetings!

Big Girl

Ivey is big enough for our cloth diaper stash! The FuzzyBunz are still a little big on her, but the Happy Heiny, BumGenius, and Drybee (Hybrid) fit great! Here she is sporting a Drybee Hybrid (purple), a BumGenius All-in-One (pink), a Happy Heiny One Size (cow print), and a Happy Heiny Retro Flower....

And a picture from tonight's bath just because she's so darn cute...