I've been going through clothes the past couple of days. The Lupus foundation called a couple of days ago and asked it I had any donations. I knew I could come up with at least a bag so I said put me down for a pick-up.
The first drawer that I went through was Erin's "top" drawer. It's the one with undies, socks, tights, hair bows, jewelry and a few other odds and ends. This drawer was far beyond cluttered. I dumped everything out and threw it on Erin's bed. I threw away a bunch of cheap jewelry and some socks without matches and then I made a pile of things to pass on down to Brooke. Despite the girls being born in different seasons, it has worked to pass the clothes on down the line. Erin has grown out of some of her underwear so I made a pile to transfer to Brooke's drawer.
Later in the day Brooke decided to change her clothes - happens too often and usually at least once a day. She came running downstairs with a handful of underwear and exclaimed, "Mom, these aren't mine, they're Erin's." I explained that Erin had grown out of them and they were here NEW underwear. She was visibly excited and ran off giggling. I'm sure this is only the excitement of a three year old and soon hand-me-downs won't be so exciting.
A few minutes later Brooke appeared without pants. She had managed to put on ALL (including those she already had in her drawer) of her pairs of underwear! She looked very padded. I told her we needed to go pick up Erin from school so she needed to put on a pair of pants. She managed to pull a pair of pants on over the underwear, but then started to cry because everything was too tight. Imagine that?! We took her pants off and I searched for the camera because I knew her "padded" look wasn't going to last much longer. ARG! I couldn't find it! I'm so sorry that you won't see the look, but I did count as I took each pair off...1..2...3...4...16!! Yes, my daughter put on 16 pairs of underwear! Talented, huh?!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Valentine's Day (2007).....
will forever be a reminder of my Grandma Everton. I got a call from my mom shortly after 8:00 this morning that my Grandma had passed away. Grandma has been going down hill over the past couple of weeks and though she has proved to be quite a fighter over the past few years, this time she didn't pull through. I was lucky to be in Utah a couple of weeks ago so I got to see her before she passed away. I didn't know it would be the last time. She was weak and while I was there she fell asleep while holding a sandwich in her hand. When I said good-bye I told her I loved her and gave her a kiss. She smiled and told me she loved me. I know she did. I have so many good memories of growing up near she and Grandpa.
Birthdays were special because we got to spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's. They would pick me up and on the way to their house we would stop at Dick's grocery store. I got to choose ANY kind of cereal for breakfast in the morning. This was a big deal because at that time my mom and dad rarely bought "sugared" cereal. I remember going up and down the aisle as I made my choice. Grandma and Grandpa waited patiently for me to choose. We would play ping-pong down in the basement and I would sleep in the bedroom upstairs across the hall from their room.
I remember going to Grandma's in the summer with my sister Lisa. We would make a s'mores recipe that we developed: miniature marshmallows, graham crackers, and M&M's melted in the toaster over. During the summer I also remember being hired by Grandma to help her clean her house. The one job I remember was washing her walls in the living room. I don't know how all of this came about, but I enjoyed the time with Grandma.
Every Christmas I can remember Grandma and Grandpa coming to our house early Christmas morning. They made their rounds to all of their children's homes because they lived so close. I looked forward to the doorbell ringing so I could show Grandma and Grandpa what Santa had brought. I also remember buying Grandma Christmas presents. She was always on my list of people to buy for. The funny thing is I don't remember ever buying her anything but a skein of yarn because she liked to crochet.
I remember sitting in a circle on lawn chairs in Grandma's driveway shelling peas from Grandpa's garden. We'd laugh and talk to help the time pass as we took the peas from shell after shell.
I remember sitting on Grandma's couch as she taught me how to crochet. She was patient as I crocheted the longest chain you've ever seen.
I remember Labor Day breakfast at Mueller Park, Thanksgiving at Zarahemla and holiday lunches at Casa Melinda.
Most of all, I remember Grandma's love. She was such a Christ-like person. She was always so concerned about how everyone felt. She wanted people to be happy. If she saw me picking on one of my siblings she quickly asked me to stop in the kindest way. I will miss her sweet smile and the way her face would brighten when she said my name.
I love you, Grandma. I will miss you.
Birthdays were special because we got to spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's. They would pick me up and on the way to their house we would stop at Dick's grocery store. I got to choose ANY kind of cereal for breakfast in the morning. This was a big deal because at that time my mom and dad rarely bought "sugared" cereal. I remember going up and down the aisle as I made my choice. Grandma and Grandpa waited patiently for me to choose. We would play ping-pong down in the basement and I would sleep in the bedroom upstairs across the hall from their room.
I remember going to Grandma's in the summer with my sister Lisa. We would make a s'mores recipe that we developed: miniature marshmallows, graham crackers, and M&M's melted in the toaster over. During the summer I also remember being hired by Grandma to help her clean her house. The one job I remember was washing her walls in the living room. I don't know how all of this came about, but I enjoyed the time with Grandma.
Every Christmas I can remember Grandma and Grandpa coming to our house early Christmas morning. They made their rounds to all of their children's homes because they lived so close. I looked forward to the doorbell ringing so I could show Grandma and Grandpa what Santa had brought. I also remember buying Grandma Christmas presents. She was always on my list of people to buy for. The funny thing is I don't remember ever buying her anything but a skein of yarn because she liked to crochet.
I remember sitting in a circle on lawn chairs in Grandma's driveway shelling peas from Grandpa's garden. We'd laugh and talk to help the time pass as we took the peas from shell after shell.
I remember sitting on Grandma's couch as she taught me how to crochet. She was patient as I crocheted the longest chain you've ever seen.
I remember Labor Day breakfast at Mueller Park, Thanksgiving at Zarahemla and holiday lunches at Casa Melinda.
Most of all, I remember Grandma's love. She was such a Christ-like person. She was always so concerned about how everyone felt. She wanted people to be happy. If she saw me picking on one of my siblings she quickly asked me to stop in the kindest way. I will miss her sweet smile and the way her face would brighten when she said my name.
I love you, Grandma. I will miss you.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Overwhelmed...
I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since my last post. Today is a day in my life I'd like to forget. Everything seemed overwhelming and I just wanted to run away from it all.
Is it just me? I wish I was more patient. I really do. I have such a short temper and my kids usually get the brunt of it. The fighting that goes on in our house seems never ending. We can't go for a ride in the car peacefully. I have a minivan and when I ride with all my kids it feels like I'm riding in a compact car. The screams are piercing and only exaggerate my headache on days like this. Calgon take me away.
I called Rex in tears. I'm sure he thought I was having a nervous breakdown. I only called to get Jacob's math books out of his car, but everything else came gushing out - very incoherently. He came home and offered to take the kids to work so I could get a nap or something. Rex is such a good husband.
I guess part of the problem was that I didn't sleep well because Brooke woke up at 10:00 last night. I went to her room and she had puked twice: once on her bed/next to her bed and by the door. It took about 1.5 hours before she got everything out of her stomach and fell back asleep. I didn't sleep very well the rest of the night. Sleep deprivation isn't good especially when you're trying to patient.
How do you get siblings to stop fighting? How? How? How?
Is it just me? I wish I was more patient. I really do. I have such a short temper and my kids usually get the brunt of it. The fighting that goes on in our house seems never ending. We can't go for a ride in the car peacefully. I have a minivan and when I ride with all my kids it feels like I'm riding in a compact car. The screams are piercing and only exaggerate my headache on days like this. Calgon take me away.
I called Rex in tears. I'm sure he thought I was having a nervous breakdown. I only called to get Jacob's math books out of his car, but everything else came gushing out - very incoherently. He came home and offered to take the kids to work so I could get a nap or something. Rex is such a good husband.
I guess part of the problem was that I didn't sleep well because Brooke woke up at 10:00 last night. I went to her room and she had puked twice: once on her bed/next to her bed and by the door. It took about 1.5 hours before she got everything out of her stomach and fell back asleep. I didn't sleep very well the rest of the night. Sleep deprivation isn't good especially when you're trying to patient.
How do you get siblings to stop fighting? How? How? How?
Thursday, February 1, 2007
7th Grade
I have some pretty vivid memories of 7th grade. I remember accidentally slamming my "locker" neighbor's hand in my locker. I remember Mr. Gillespie's 7th period Pre-algebra class. I remember my first dance - wow, it was sooooo cool and I couldn't wait until the next one. I remember Home Ec. - making minature versions of all these different recipes. I think I still have some of those recipes filed away. My favorite was the "Hello Dollies" recipe. I remember having a Diet Coke and Munchos for lunch. I remember that NO ONE ever offered me drugs even though in sixth grade I was convinced that "pushers" would probably approach me daily. I remember my first report card and I'm sure my mom does as well. I honestly don't know what happened. Up until that point I had done really well in school. I'm not sure why but my first quarter of 7th grade I brought home a pretty sorry report card - several "C's" and one of those was in Home Ec. How does someone get a "C" in Home Ec? From what I recall I seemed shocked like I had no idea that those grades were coming. I think my mom was scared to death. What had happened to her little girl? I remember she went out and bought me a planner so I could organize myself, my assignments and my homework. Looking back I think it was just a big transition - seven teachers, moving from class to class, no one to really report to like in Elementary School.
I didn't ever think those grades would come back to haunt me, but they have. My mom is a fabulous historian. She is amazing when it comes to keeping a journal and she has saved some really special things, but when I open my scrapbook and have to answer my boys' questions about grades, I really don't know what to say. "Mom, you got a 'C' in Home Ec?! What is Home Ec.?" They don't have Home Ec. in Middle School here. Okay, so I'm been a bit embarassed.
Now Michael and Jacob are in 7th grade at the Colorado Virtual Academy. They are in Pre-Algebra as well. Today was a day when I really wish Mr. Gillespie was around. Sometimes it is really hard to be the "teacher." I slip into parent mode and my patience runs thin. Michael and Jacob slip into child mode and start to say things like, "I can't" and "I don't want to do another problem." They say things that I know they would never say to Mr. Gillespie. This homeschool thing is teaching ALL of us patience.
Tomorrow I will have more patience. I won't get frustrated when they don't understand. I received my degree in Secondary Education, so tomorrow I will pretend that the boys are two students from Wasatch Middle School where I did my student teaching. I had lots of patience for those goofy kids. I promise.
I didn't ever think those grades would come back to haunt me, but they have. My mom is a fabulous historian. She is amazing when it comes to keeping a journal and she has saved some really special things, but when I open my scrapbook and have to answer my boys' questions about grades, I really don't know what to say. "Mom, you got a 'C' in Home Ec?! What is Home Ec.?" They don't have Home Ec. in Middle School here. Okay, so I'm been a bit embarassed.
Now Michael and Jacob are in 7th grade at the Colorado Virtual Academy. They are in Pre-Algebra as well. Today was a day when I really wish Mr. Gillespie was around. Sometimes it is really hard to be the "teacher." I slip into parent mode and my patience runs thin. Michael and Jacob slip into child mode and start to say things like, "I can't" and "I don't want to do another problem." They say things that I know they would never say to Mr. Gillespie. This homeschool thing is teaching ALL of us patience.
Tomorrow I will have more patience. I won't get frustrated when they don't understand. I received my degree in Secondary Education, so tomorrow I will pretend that the boys are two students from Wasatch Middle School where I did my student teaching. I had lots of patience for those goofy kids. I promise.
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