The View from Our Van

My friend Susan recently completed training to be a CPR instuctor. To get experience in teaching, she offered a babysitting class today at her house which Evan and Matthew attended along with two of her sons. The CPR portion of the class will be next week. I am thankful for the opportunity for the boys to learn practical childcare skills and lifesaving strategies from a mom that I trust. It has been too long since I was trained in CPR and rescue breathing.

Susan invited Sophie to stay and play with her youngest son, but I selfishly kept Sophie with me to keep Logan company. Logan enjoyed riding around in the "white van," sitting up high and watching the parade of vehicles go by. On the way back home, we ran several errands.

At a used bookstore, I "turned in" two paperbacks to be sold, which gave me in-store credit. When I walked in the store, I thought, "What happened here!" The usually neat establishment had books piled on the counter and boxes of books in the aisles. A gruff young woman reluctantly pulled herself away from looking at books to help me at the counter. I told Sophie that she could take Logan to look at the children's section, but when I walked back to it after giving the woman my books, the kids were in the wrong aisle. They apparently could not recognize the children's area for all the books lying around. It was a total mess! I looked with interest at a hardcover version of a book that we own in softcover, but which is falling apart. I raised my eyebrow at the $3.00 price-tag, and then re-shelved it in disgust when I opened the book to a torn out page.

As we attempted to find a treasure amidst the junk, the woman up front talked loudly with another worker about how she had just been fired from another job and how she had attended an event where everyone got smashed. Great atmosphere! I soon gave up finding a good book in order to use my credit and walked with the kids to the door. The woman, and two men who apparently worked there as well, stood talking near a sign requesting volunteers to help shelve books. One of the men asked me, "You didn't find anything today?"

I replied, "Not today, thanks," while thinking "and not any day!"

I predict a storefront vacancy soon.

In the afternoon when Logan took a nap, Sophie helped me to do some blitz-cleaning of the kitchen and other high traffic areas. I gave her some dried blueberries to snack on and sweeten the job. I appreciated her cheerful help!

I picked up Logan out of his crib to drive and retrieve the boys in the late afternoon. Logan did not fuss about the abrupt ending to his nap when I quickly told him we were going in the white van.

Driving away from Susan's house after picking up the boys, I asked them several questions about their day, when I heard a different voice say, "Hi." I glanced in the rearview mirror to spy a stowaway in the backseat. I laughed and threatened to take him to our house to be our slave, but instead turned the van around. Susan smiled questioningly when she saw us pull up in front of her house again, and then we all laughed when her son Ryan popped out of the van. She walked to the van door and joked that Ryan would be paying us $5 for gas money.

This evening, during our family worship, Evan gently interrupted me during my prayer to let me know that Logan had removed his diaper. We had to laugh and paused our prayer time while Evan re-diapered the boy.

On Logan's Birthday

Logan woke up this morning a little too early apparently, because he began the morning full of yawns and fussiness. James led us in singing "Grumpy Birthday To You."

James is taking vacation time this week, and our goal is to tackle projects that need attention around our house. The thought of packing for a trip while dealing with a baby and allergy issues did not appeal this year. Though we are spending vacation time to do work, it is pleasant in that it is a different kind of work than what we normally are responsible to do, plus we are able to work together as a family.

As James began tackling the garage this morning, sorting stuff into piles, I piled the kids in the van, stopping at the Post Office to send in the boys' standardized achievement tests, at the recycling center to empty our overflowing containers, and at Target to purchase containers. At one point as we drove, Evan asked, "What time is it?" I looked at the clock to read "9:04" which was precisely the time of Logan's birth one year ago! We sang "Happy Birthday" for real... Logan hit empty on his contentment reserve before the end of the trip. The kids and I sang "Old MacDonald" most of the way home for him, covering every farm animal in existence, I do believe. We exchanged one noise for another.

Logan fell asleep earlier in the morning than usual and slept through the sound of the power saw that James used to cut openings in some of the new containers. I can say with satisfaction that a section of the garage around the doorway got dejunked, swept, and organized. Each person in the family now has a tub for shoes, boots, hats etc. and each category of recyclable material has its place. "A place for everything and everything in its place." Happy sigh.

Following his nap and lunch, in lieu of a birthday cake, Logan enjoyed a popsicle (naturally egg-free and dairy-free ;-) on the front lawn and a dip in the wading pool. At various times throughout the day, he opened gifts and played with some new toys and a book.

(Click on a picture to view larger.)

In the afternoon, I rocked him and sang "Happy Birthday" again with a catch in my throat and tears in my eyes as I prayed for family missing a daughter. I felt pulled between the joy of celebrating life and the sorrow of grieving its loss.

In the evening, Logan went into high gear as usual, crawling, standing, playing and babbling. He enjoyed pointing between the painting in the kitchen featuring a lamb and the painting in the family room of horses, reviewing the different sounds the animals make. It sounded to me like he said, "Neigh."

Bye Now!

Waterfowl and Wildflowers

The kids and I set out for an expedition to the pond in the morning, hoping to avoid afternoon rainshowers (which did not materialize anyway.) Sophie gathered a wildflower bouquet along the way while the boys "collected specimens" to be identified at home.

Once again, we were treated to new sights at the water. An American coot family swam among the reeds at the pond's edge, including two little red-headed youngsters. Loons soared overhead before landing. (I think that is the first time I've seen a loon flying.) Canada geese drifted in a row to the center of the pond. After spending some time gazing at the water, I noticed some flecks reflecting light near the big birds. I finally realized that they must be goslings but was surprised at how tiny they were! Ducks landed nearby, skidding as they chased each other. Matthew spotted two small ducks, the male with a white patch on its face and a blue beak. Later at home, he identified it as a Ruddy Duck. (See last picture on linked page.)

Matthew pushed the jogger stroller awhile on the way home while Logan and I played the "Cough Game." (We made it up on the spot). Logan fake coughed, and I whirled suddenly around to look at him each time he hacked while he crowed with laughter in between.

At home, the older three once again eagerly pulled out their nature notebooks to record some of their discoveries.

"Home James"

As I said to the kids as they went to bed last night, "It is always better when Daddy is home." James was gone for work for three days this week, and we sure are glad that he is home. The days get long without adult reinforcement come evening...especially when there is no chocolate in the house to speak of (well at least not of the gluten-free, dairy-free variety.) James came back and brought chocolate, the dear man.

I'm not sure of the point, but in some meeting that he attended, someone shared a video called "Herding Cats" which we looked up on YouTube. Here it is for your viewing enjoyment:

Colorado Birds

We took a break this afternoon from lawn-mowing, weed-pulling, laundry and dishes to take a walk as a family to a local pond. We were treated to the stunning sight of Yellow-headed Blackbirds in the trees by the reeds along the water as well as the ubiquitous Red-Winged Blackbirds. While we often see a lone loon with its periscope head poking up out of the water, this time we spotted a loon on a log spreading its wings. And half-hidden along the edge of a partly submerged stand of trees, a Great Blue Heron warily waded in the water, then spread its wide wings to fly to a more distant spot of the pond. We enjoyed the calming fresh breath of nature in the midst of the mundane duties of our day.

Word Detectives

As far as I can tell, this week I've been hit in succession with a cold virus and a stomach virus. I'm looking forward to feeling better and getting out of survival mode. I'm sure that my whole family feels the same...I'm glad they didn't haul me out to the corner with the broken-down washer!

In recent weeks, I've read aloud to the children from historical novels set during World War II. We finished Escape from Warsaw and are currently reading The Winged Watchman which is proving to be quite captivating and well-written. I am also reading aloud The Good Fight: How World War II Was Won, an excellent pictorial history. The children have read other non-fiction World War II books on their own as well.

Two nights ago for supper, we ate grilled bratwursts and some chorizo (spicy Italian sausage which James alone could tolerate) along with sauerkraut and succotash made with corn and edamame. We noticed that we were eating foods common to Germany, Italy and Japan (stretching it with the edamame) and called it our Axis powers dinner. I know, we're bad.

We have continued with our beginning Latin studies which, surprisingly to me, has added more enjoyment to our read-alouds. The kids can earn a penny for any Latin derivative that they identify, defining both the Latin root and the English word. Sometimes the kids even catch derivatives that fly under my radar (or is it over?). I remember several months ago, reading from Caddie Woodlawn and beginning to explain the meaning of "portage." Before I got the definition out of my mouth, Sophie piped up, "Portage comes from porto which means I carry!" Well...Yes!

And today, while reading The Good Fight, Matthew stated, "Primitive comes from primus which means first." I had to say, "You might be right! Let's look it up" and read "Middle English primitif from Old French from Latin primitivus from primus, first." I read the definition and asked, "Can you give me an example of a primitive weapon?"

"An atom bomb?" answered Matthew.

"Actually, an atom bomb is the opposite of primitive, because it is very technologically advanced," I explained.

Evan answered, "A spear."

"Yes, a spear is primitive," I replied, "because it is a simple weapon and it was one of the first weapons used."

I learn something new every day!

On Lemons and Luxuries

Our washing machine would have cost over $400 to repair. The Sears repairman did not charge us a thing for his trip and diagnosis. I think he realized that we had purchased a lemon from Sears and felt sorry for us. The machine was not old.

I did research on the internet to figure out a replacement machine. James went shopping Thursday evening, but without success. Today he decided to take the day off to get the job done. Good thing. It took most of the day for him to purchase the washer, drive to a warehouse and pick it up, unload it at home and hook it up. If he had waited until tomorrow to do this, there would not have been time to get the laundry done this weekend.

Now I have Mt. Laundry to tackle, and it is pleasant to do with a new machine. This washer has a sanitary cycle which takes longer to run, but means death to germs!

I accidentally ran a load of darks last night without laundry detergent. Several of the jeans were caked with mud. I thought I'd have to run them again, but when I inspected the clothes, they smelled clean and were stain free. So far, very good...

Our dishwasher is dying a slow, lingering and loud death. It also is beyond repair. Funny how appliance failure often seems to happen all at once! Yesterday, as I blew dry my bangs, my hairdryer popped and died in a flash of sparks.

I could get by without a hairdryer or a dishwasher if necessary, but a washing machine? I've been reflecting on how necessary that appliance seems to modern life. I could wash dishes by hand easily, but clothes? My grandmothers have stories to tell about how they used to do dishes or laundry. My father's mother at one time, while living in Kentucky, had to get water from a creek and wash clothes in a washtub, including diapers.

I'm very thankful to the Lord for providing James with a reliable job and savings to go out and replace appliances right away.

After James took out the "old" washer, he contemplated how to get rid of it. He recalled that our town was scheduled to have a once-a-year, large item curb-side pick up sometime in May. He looked it up on the web and found the pick up scheduled for...this weekend! What a blessing that he could just wheel the lemon out to the curb this morning! The trash guys heaved the machine into the truck and I watched as it crunched the washer flat.

This whole episode causes me to realize how easy my life is, to thank the Lord for his good gifts, and to remind myself that my treasure needs to be in heaven even in times of plenty.

Fact Building

Can you smell that? Sorry. Our washing machine put a spin on things by running through its cycles today...without water. I didn't figure it out until I "washed" the diapers twice~ first on "cold" then on "hot". Water did run into the drum initially, but then right on out, leaving behind a lot of suds to mingle with the mess. A Sears repairman is scheduled to show up sometime on Wednesday. Sigh. I've gotta do something with the diapers before Wednesday.

On a cheerier note, Logan just discovered that his knees work well for getting around and is crawling "for real". He has even managed to crawl up the stairs several times. The older kids make great "spotters" and cheerleaders.

We kept a program from the piano competition for posterity. Evan had to write a short blurb about his interests and future plans for the performing arts when he applied for the competition. The program listed "fact building" as one of his hobbies. I wonder if anyone scratched their head about that one and thought "geeky homeschooler". Evan actually wrote "fort building." (He knows some facts, but doesn't presume to build any!)

Snippets

An Actual Conversation At Our House Today:


"Mom, can 3 go into 11?"


"No."


"I wish it did, because then the answer to this problem would be right."


An Actual Product Available At Our Local Grocery Store:

Yes, I'm going dairy free for now as well as gluten-free permanently. This chocolate is actually good.


The Wait is Killing Me:


Not really. But I seem to be thinking more about Evan's upcoming piano performance than Evan himself. Of course, he is a ten year old boy!


This past weekend, we attended a seminar at our church and Evan played his pieces for the attendees. I was thrilled that he performed them nearly flawlessly under pressure. (He bowed when he was done and ran out of the room while people were still clapping.) I hope he plays that well this week!

One of THOSE Days

It has been a topsy-turvy day in many ways. This morning, while I ate breakfast, Logan bounced manically happily in the Jumparoo on loan from Elijah. ("He" traded the exersaucer for it.) After a while, I noticed his eyelids drooping. bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy Head drooping. Bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy Eyes closing. bouncy bouncy Eyes Closed. Still bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy!

I grabbed my camera, snapped a few shots and took a video. In keeping with the topsy-turvy day, it is sideways. (Youtube will only do horizontal frames and I forget and hold my camera vertical.) If you have a laptop, turn it sideways. If not, I'm sorry...



The piano music you hear in the background is Evan practicing.

This afternoon, we began the ordeal process of getting everything and everyone into the van to go to Sophie's cello lesson. CelloX ChairX Hair brushedX Socks and ShoesX CoatsX Books for boys to readX Feed LoganX ...and...Change LoganX Coat and hat for LoganX ...At this point, Evan informed me that the car seat was not in the van. I called James to inquire as to its whereabouts. He informed me that it was indeed in the van. I question Evan and find out that he meant Matthew's booster seat, not Logan's car seat. Trip still a go. Put Logan in carseatX Spit ragX CheckbookX WalletX KeysX Ask Sophie if cello and chair are FOR SURE in the back of the vanX.

We arrive at cello teacher's house. Unsack the cello...

NO BOW in the bag! Nooooooooooooooooooooo! (Okay that was in my head.) Why is it that the one time I do not ask if the bow is in the bag or check myself, it is not in the bag?! All the other times that I've checked it has been there. Sigh. The teacher looked at me with raised eyebrows, blinking and shrugging. I asked, "Pizzicato?"

After Sophie's lesson was cut short by the teacher who could not think of enough to do without the bow, we drove home. I very clearly instructed two of the children to put the cello and chair inside the door, come straight back and get buckled again. One child was to get #1 the Ergo and #2 the shopping list on the refrigerator. I stayed with Logan in the van. Children ran inside.

I waited.

I tapped the horn.

One child came back. Another child appeared at the door, and I inquired as to the whereabouts of the other delinquent brother who was to come straight back. He had taken his boots off. We waited for him to reshod and get in.

We drove to the store. I reached for items to take into the store. As I picked up the "shopping list" my eyes focused on...

THE MORNING ROUTINE CHECKLIST! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! (That was in my head again.) My chest began to hurt.

We drove back home. The miscreant child who got the mists lixed up ran in and got the real shopping list. I looked at it carefully and turned the van back around...

We're okay, and I'm hoping that we are right side up now.

What's Up?

This is the snowiest winter that I've ever experienced. Normally in Denver, if we get socked with a blizzard, the sun and warmth return quickly, melting the snow in short order. Of course, the biggest storms in the thirteen years that I've lived here, usually occur in the spring.

I love the beauty of the snow and am glad for the fun the kids have playing in it, but I do not like driving in it one bit! Maybe I'd like it if I had a Jeep, but the mini-van isn't built for the snowy terrain. There have been several times recently that I've held my breath at intersections, wondering if the van will actually come to a stop. Most of the side streets have turned into one-lane rugged roads hemmed in by plow-created drifts. I am impressed, however, with the job our city has done in clearing even side streets. One morning, at 4 am, Logan and I enjoyed watching out a window as a large front-loader struggled to plow a path in our cul-de-sac.

The Jeep pictured above is not on our street, but has been a humorous landmark that we've driven past several times.

The Weather Outside is Frightful...

We've been hit with around 20 inches of snow, the most snow the Denver area has seen in three years. The storm was forecast to be a big one, but many of the powers-that-be didn't decide to cancel work or school until it was too late to avoid a huge traffic mess.

James drove to work, but then had to turn around and come home at 12:00 pm. His drive of 20 miles lasted until 3:30 pm! Tonight on the news, we heard a woman interviewed by cell phone who was stuck on a full bus which had been sitting for 6 hours.


James couldn't reach the driveway (starting at the mailboxes) when he arrived home. The second picture shows the depth of the snow when he opened the garage door.

The front of our house The view out our back door
The kids cut out the paper shapes (snowflakes, hats, angels & penguins).

Matthew standing behind a snow drift in our backyard


The kids stayed warm inside most of the day and enjoyed decorating the boys' bunkbed.


The kids decorated the tree themselves the other day but decided to add a popcorn cranberry garland.


This (taken yesterday) could be our Christmas photo...if I could edit out the dirty feet, the spit-up, the hole in the jeans, and the blink! It's reality, though!

Saturday

James and the boys just moved the piano back into place in our family room! James and I agreed to forgo painting at this time with Christmas around the corner. We will move one thing at a time as we get to painting. Moving furniture proved not to be as daunting as expected with the use of these handy gadgets. You might not be able to tell from the picture, but these Movealls have a thick pad of fluffy felt on the bottom of a plastic bowl containing a foam pad where the furniture wheels or legs rest. We moved our refrigerator into place easily without risking the wheels scratching the floor. Ditto with the armoire and the piano. They will come in handy again when we move things aside to paint.

The only Christmas decoration up at our house so far is a wreath on the front door. Maybe later today, or next week, the kids can put up the Christmas tree in the family room (after we put felt pads on the stand!) By the way, I agree with Jen Ig and her take on Christmas. She already said it so well.

An aside: My husband just asked me, "Do you want some sardines?" That had to be a joke, right?

Okay, back to photo-blogging!

Yeah, so I'm sitting up. Big deal. And what's a little drool?

I actually just moved my leg long enough to snap the picture, then put my leg back in case he toppled over. He is starting to get the balance of it though!

What Logan lacks in skill, he makes up for in intensity.

Fall Must Be Here

Yesterday morning, the kids noticed flies buzzing around the guinea pig cage. Later, as I walked down the stairs, I noticed black specks scattered around on the ceiling. No room was immune to the invaders. One pest even had the audacity to land on my finger. Shudder. We began to swat those we could reach and began the count. My husband joined in the extermination last night, continuing this morning. So far, total, we have killed 29 flies. Ugh! Two more are marked creatures.

At this point, I feel the need to assure those reading that we do not live in a pig sty. Nor do we leave our doors open. I'm not sure how they are all getting in.

The bugs must have sensed that cooler weather was coming. Today, the temperature has dropped and there is a chill in the air.

I wonder if it will be a cold winter.

Update: We killed 41 flies total by the end of this anti-pest campaign!

Sophisms

This morning, I listened to Sophie singing "stream of conscience" style in the bathtub. When she trilled, "I really love Christmas, because that is when I get some presents," she apparently heard me snort with laughter, because she immediately edited her refrain to include, "but I'm happy with what I have right now."

This evening, she tried to sing Psalm 46A, the version in our Psalm book set to the tune of "America the Beautiful" (which by the way, is VERY distracting to me--not her singing-- but the problem that the tune automatically brings the original words into my head!) She told me that at first she thought that the line, "And, therefore, tho' the earth remove we will not be afraid" was "...we will not be his friends." Silly gi'l.

The kids bundled up tonight and watched the lunar eclipse progress for awhile from the front porch. They even got some rakes out and raked up a pile of leaves on our front lawn while they were waiting to see the moon turn reddish. I really need to get a bench to sit on out front. I stayed inside where it was warm and made a grocery list. (James wasn't home yet.) Later we looked at the moon from our front bedroom window.

What State?

It's Beaver Fallsing here... It is gray and dreary outside; actually cold. Our furnace keeps coming on. For the past three days it has been raining on and off all day. Today looks like it might offer more of the same. The past two days have been scheduled for the Father/Son camp out which the boys have been really looking forward to. They didn't go up last night, but are leaving soon to try it out today and tonight. I'm very thankful for the rain. It is just funny weather for June. In two more days it is officially summer and we are wearing sweatshirts and jackets!

Girls Day In, Boys Day Out

Today was "Take Your Child to Work Day". James took the boys to work, because they were both old enough this year, and Sophie and I spent the day together. We went shopping and then came home for lunch and tea. I made Sophie pb&j sandwiches which I cut with cookie cutters in the shape of a heart, a flower, a little "S" and a music note. The flower sprouted out of "grass" which was actually frozen peas. I also served her little melon balls. She sipped vanilla tea out of a miniature pink china cup. I lit a candle and decorated the table with flowers as well. For dessert, we both ate a rasberry chocolate truffle.

After cleaning up the kitchen, I lit candles in the family room and turned on (!) the fireplace (it is a dark, dreary, rainy day today) and read poetry aloud. We played two games of dominoes, then watched an episode of "Little House on the Prairie". Sophie played with dolls while I started laundry. Next, we worked on spelling on a white board, then Sophie read some Bob books to me. When she got tired, I read to her. Now it is time to get supper.

I wonder how the boys enjoyed their day with James!