Cool Video

It's a bit long, but if you've got the patience, it's worth it & very entertaining...

9-1-1

I haven't had the best of luck when it comes to staying perfectly healthy. So when I think about Jeff picking me up from the bathroom floor last year, it makes me shudder to think of the fact that it could've been 2 hours later & he could've been gone.

Which would've meant Flynn finding me on the floor, instead of Jeff.



Scary isn't it?



And the fact is that my kids are not allowed to play with the phone. The one time I left Flynn with full access, she dialed someone. It was the pastor's home, and the phone remained off the hook (possibly w/ them on the other line) ALL EVENING.

With us "going about our evening" with them possibly on the other line.

Mom & MIL, quit reading...

"About our evening"

Kids asleep.

Us "not asleep"

Us "not sleeping" in the living room.

Are you following me?

And if you ever have said, "no way, I want to die." It was after a moment like me realizing that the phone was off the hook & the last number dialed (pastor & boss) had heard any or all of what had went on that evening.

Mom & MIL, you can resume...

SO,

From that point on, the phone was off limits for the children. As a matter of fact, I (not always Jeff) make my best effort to keep the phone hung up, on the cradle, which is out of the reach of the children.



Convenient, but not always safe. So it had me thinking. What if I fell down the steps (which I've done before, not surprisingly) & was knocked unconscious. Or had a heart attack. Or just plain old die? Not only do I lay there unattended by emergency personnel, but even more scary is that my children are left to fend for themselves until Jeff gets home? -- possibly 12 hours (or so, dependent upon when this hypothetical emergency happens) later?

That's scary & sad.



So, today was the day I decided to teach Flynn 9-1-1.



It went something like this:



Mommy: Flynn, if there is ever a time where Mommy maybe doesn't wake up, or gets hurt or sick, & you can't get Mommy to answer you... there's something you'll need to do. Do you know what you should do if that happens?

Flynn: No-uh (spoken w/ major inflection)

Mommy: #1 you should find the phone. Where is it?
She knew right where it was, went to where it hangs & pointed to it.

Mommy: But it's too high...what would you do?

Flynn: I would get a chair.

Mommy: That's right, let's do that.

Mommy: Okay, now what?

Flynn: I don't know-uh. (again w/ the inflection)

Mommy: You will have to dial emergency. Press TALK. Press 9. Press 1. Press 1.

(I had turned the phone off before the dialing obviously)

Mommy: Then you say, "My name is Flynn and my mommy is hurt."

Then we talked about different things that are or aren't emergencies.

Then, being the odd-ball I am, I made her a paper phone, fashioned to look identical to ours. And we practiced.

Okay Flynn, here we go...

And I pretended to have some type of attack-arrest-faint. She stood there stunned. And stared, like she was scared & maybe thought it was real.

But not Gabe, he laughed & picked up his really heavy sandal & threw it at me. It hit my chest which delighted him. And I took that opportunity to tell Flynn it was time to call 911 on her pretend phone. Gabe took the opportunity to throw his other sandal, which this time hit me in the face. And so Flynn said that she dialed TALK 9 1 1. And she said, "I'm Flynn. My mom is sick."

Tomorrow I teach her how to sleep in.

I wish.

Memories, Installment #1

There is always guilt to be had when you are a Mom. There's always something you did...or didn't do....or said....or should've said.
And when baby #2 comes along, your time is divided & with that the fact that you can't do all that you did with baby #1.
But for my baby #1, there's something I did for baby #2 that she didn't have at that age, and that's this blog.
From the point at which I started this blog, 18 mos ago, I've been able to anecdote most cute things the kids have done & said. That 18 mos encompasses most of Gabe's life.
But not Flynn's. There are several cute things she's said & done in her life that never got recorded.

The other night I tucked Flynn in. She asked me to tell her a story. One thing that I've learned from my dear nieces is that no story is better than a story about yourself especially from when you "were little".

And so, I searched the dusty corners of my mind for a story about Flynn as a baby, that I thought Flynn as a preschooler would appreciate.

I came up with this one....

It was three years ago. A very hot & sticky September day. Jeff's school district was 'marching' in the town parade & at my urging, we were participating along with his school. The theme was patriotic, so I put Flynn's cute Ralph Lauren red & white striped polo dress (thank you Ms Heather) & sunglasses on her. It was nap time, so less than 10 minutes into our 45 minute walk, Flynn had nodded off in her stroller. It must've been in the 90s & thanks for Missouri humidity, we were all sweating & thirsty. I rested my can of soda in the cup holder, which sat in front of Flynn....because she was after all, asleep.

As we reached the end of the parade route, we spotted someone we knew, a parent of a former student of ours. We detoured off the parade route & started chatting with her. As we were catching up, I motioned toward our baby whom she'd never seen or met. As I drew back the stroller's 'umbrella', there sat 10-month old Flynn, can upside down over her face....

enjoying her first coke.

Your results:
You are Supergirl

You know, I have always said I can get a lot done...multi-task. So perhaps this title is fitting. But can I say, I always liked Wonder Woman a little more. And as you can see, I was also 80% Wonder Woman (& Green Lantern, whoever in the heck that is). But what is funny is that I am not lean at this present season in my life. Nor am I feminine. And if you had seen me at church this morning in my skirt & heels, you would've thought the same thing I did.... Janet Reno. Supergirl 80% Wonder Woman 80% Green Lantern 80% Iron Man 70% Spider-Man 65% Hulk 65% The Flash 60% Superman 50% Robin 30% Catwoman 30% Batman 15%

Lean, muscular and feminine. Honest and a defender of the innocent.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

Even Without a Turkey Dinner

I thank God today for a thankful spirit He has given me.




Unfortunately, and because of my own downfalls, it often takes hearing of someone's misfortune, to be gracious for my blessings.

The photos I post alone, could display how much God blesses us.

We don't have a lot of money. Our home is modest. Our "possessions" are nothing to brag about. But the more I bask in God's greatness, the more aware I am that those things sometimes just get in the way.

Here are a few of the many ways that God blesses us...

About once a month, someone gives us clothes for one of the kids. They're hand-me-downs, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Did you know, that I only have to buy my kids clothes about twice a year? -- and at that, the spending is usually in the clearance aisle?

About once a month, I find a really great garage sale treasure. Like tap shoes for Flynn, for when she grows out of these. Or a J Crew wool green sweater for Flynn (then, Gabe when she grows out of it). Or dress-up slips, for the few times a year that I 'doll' Flynn up. Or "Marble Works", a Discovery Toys game (the kids' favorite game for the last few months).

An occasional curb-side find. Like our new grill, or the bookshelves which serve as Flynn's "chest of drawers" (chest of baskets).

Or the way certain family members help us out to make sure our kids get to enjoy the extra things. Or that we are always able to get all of Flynn's meds.

We have family, and church family, and tons of friends, who love our kids so much. Our family is showered in affection.

My body, though it's seen its better days & I've had my share of weird diagnoses, was strong enough to bring two babies into the world... and it works well enough everyday to play with and take care of those two babies.

I was raised with the skill & creativity to be frugal & inventive. I'm sure when my mom brought me up the way she did, she had no idea how she was instilling me with values I'd depend on in my adulthood.

And if none of the previous reasons existed,

I'd still be so thankful....

Because of these two.

BucketHead

A Great Quote

"When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen.

When they're finished, I climb out."

--Erma Bombeck

quote brought to you by Lynn McKnight, creator of the Monkey Butts photograph which is portrayed on my bio

Could Have Something To Do With The Binky

Yawn.

We haven't had a good night's sleep in at least three days.
Besides monitoring poor little asthmatic Flynn, who has reacted to the beautiful Fall presence like any fall-allergic person does, we have dealt with Gabe waking in the wee hours and having a crying party.
I'm tired.
And I know Jeff is tired too.
You see, he's the sweet one who will get up & try to get Gabe back to sleep, while I'm the one who figures that he'll cry himself to sleep.

You go through all these questions like,

"Is he cold?"

"Did he have a bad dream?"

"Does he need us?"

"Is he not feeling good?"

"Maybe his tummy hurts."

But the truth is,
it probably has something to do with this...

Oh Binky, we miss you. You made sleeping so much easier.

For everyone.

Sliding

Our first fall-like day and we took outdoors. Spent our whole morning out there (or until Flynn's allergies could take no more).
Gabe & I found a bucket & collected acorns.
I watched him take his bucket to the top of the playset.
Then I hear the acorns sliding down....
he was taking 1 acorn at a time & sending it down the slide.
He'd laugh an evil laugh as they sailed off the end & plummeted to the ground.

I laughed along with him. But in the back of my mind, I had a thought that made me shudder.
It went something like this:


*If you can't see the video above, clicky click here.

Settling It Once & For All

Moms,
Ever notice how your husband's family all thinks your kids look like him; while your family sees your resemblence in your children?
Go to this heritage website & put their idea to the test. They analyze your face & come up w/ a Look-Alike Meter.
These results were no surprise to me...
Jeff & I look so much alike, we always said there'd be very little variance in our gene pool.
Have fun!



I would've thought Flynn looked 15% more like Daddy (& maybe Gabe looked 15% more like me)?

When the Moon Hits Your Eye...

Like a big dairy-free pizza pie...

That's amore!

(and a dirty oven)

While the pizza pies baked,

Flynn & Gabe made a pizza that can not be eaten (well, Gabe might beg to differ)

Can you guess which is the 'real' pizza?

Skunk

Watching a Curious George episode with the kids sparked this memory of mine....

now, mind you, this happened when I was probably 7'ish, so I can not be held responsible for any fabrications or embellishments...

My Grandpa lived next door growing up, the way I think it should be. And he had a part in just about everything we did. Eating supper with us most nights, etc.

My Dad had just finished building our garage. And being in a somewhat rural area, we got a visitor. A skunk had decided to check out our garage & everything in it.

Long story short (only because I don't remember the in between), my Grandpa cornered the skunk in the garage.

And you can only imagine what happened.

Him & everyone around him (don't remember who) was sprayed.

And most likely bathed in tomato sauce that night.

Just like George.

Daddy Will Think This Is Funny

Last night, while I was at work, I called home to check on them. Flynn told me they went to the "movie store & pet store."

Just now, the kids were playing dress up. It's quite the occasion when I bring up the box of dress up clothes (because I know that a good hour of clean up is sure to follow).
I was pulling things out of the box, showing the both of them what they were & what they could be by donning the ensemble.
I found some sunglasses & told Flynn, "You can wear these & be a 'Movie Star'."

Just now, Flynn came in with a pink & shimmery silver boa on.

She told me,

"I look like a MOVIE STORE."

Before I Was a Parent

I used to think that these:

Were cruel.

Now?

Now I think they're practical. ;)

Bubby, the Care-taker

I think it's strange & worth mentioning, that Bubs -- even tho he's younger & "the boy", is always taking care of Sissy.

When he gets his cup out of the fridge, he also gets her's & takes it to her, "Sis, cup! Sis, cup!"

And really, it's not limited to her cup ... anytime he sees ANYTHING belonging to her, he RUNS to her with it, "Here Sis! Here Sis!"



It's cute & certainly a trade of roles.



Too bad Sissy doesn't appreciate it like we do.

B-I-N-K-Y

And the binky is good bye-o!



Yep, day 3 of no binky. And can I tell you? -- aside from the first day, it was easier than I thought. The toughest part of all of it is trying to get him settled down at night. The binky was a sedative of sorts. His nightcap. And now it just takes our strength of 'convincing him' that he's ready for bed.

A little sad I am. It's just yet another step, like weaning from the bottle, like learning to walk... steps closer to boyhood, and steps away from being my baby boy.

Who am I kidding.... he'll always be my baby boy.

Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes

Did you ever know that Aunt G won a car? For real. A brand new Honda hybrid car. I was on the phone with her when the package came informing her of her big win. She thought it was a hoax. I told her, "I'll let you go so that you can go & call & figure out if it's for real."
Well it was.
And I consider her to be one of the luckiest people I know (she wins everything).
But it's worth mentioning that shortly before she won this car, she & her husband helped open an orphanage in India.
For real.

I never win anything.
But you might...
There's a contest going on for a new pair of Ryka shoes.
You have 2 days to get there & enter. And you have 2 chances to win.
Click on both the above blogs to get your 2 chances.

Good luck.
Even tho Angie will probably win.