Tuesday, July 26, 2011
working mom
It's Tuesday and the second day that I said goodbye to my son with a kiss and left him with my dear mum for the evening, 5:00-8:00, for VBS. You are going to think I am totally lame but sheesh I love that boy and I hate leaving him for three hours. When I get home I could seriously kiss him and hold him all night. It's crazy. It doesn't make sense. It's motherhood.
Vacation Bible School 2011 Topics and Crafts
Vacation Bible School in our neighborhood has begun! Since I have spent about 50 hours this month organizing these crafts, I figured I'd share them all and maybe someone out there can use these ideas--for something in your own home or with a group.
The challenge with our VBS is that we really needed crafts that didn't need to dry (so no paint, no glue) and could be done in about 15 minutes. We also just did crafts as a station, so it has to all be cleaned up and ready for the next group immediately (nothing too messy) and all the crafts were for kids THREE to TWELVE. So, I made crafts slightly different for the little kids without being too complicated, and here is what I came up with.
So I pretty much hated my life last week as I tried to get this all together with my seriously obsessive crafty two year old pulling at my skirt, begging (BEGGING) for this and that and everything else. But now that VBS is here, I love seeing it all come together and am not stressed at all about whether or not the kids really love it...or if it's all going in the trash as soon as they get home...or if doing coloring sheets would have been just fine....etc...not stressing at all about that. Not. At. All. ;-)
This is me. This is what I do! I came up with crafts that I thought were going to be pretty lame-o, but really, I am very happy with these! We figured in 100 kids for each day, and I only spent $230 on ALL this stuff--paper, card stock, contact paper, tissue paper, blotters, millions of stickers, lots of yarn and ribbon, markers, crayons, the pretty crosses and sand art, etc...for 100 kids, for 4 days--that's 400 crafts!!
Thanks to Target, where I got most of our craft supplies. Who knew, right?
And Jo Ann's who had the stuff Target didn't have (yarn and ribbon).
And a BIG THANKS to our neighborhood people who sponsor it all!
So, here it all is...sorry for the errors and funny fonts and colors, whatever. :)
Monday: Who is God?
Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”
Trinity craft supplies: popsicle sticks (write Father, Son and Holy Spirit), crayons and markers, Elmer’s Glue All, yarn
3-4 year olds: pre-glue triangles, write Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Directions: Introduce craft, discussing the Trinity. In school we learn that 1 + 1 + 1 = 3, but God is 1 + 1 + 1 = ONE! He is one God who makes himself known in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We make special note to the children that none of the crafts we make hold special powers or are holy in anyway. This craft just helps us remember that God is ONE God. And there is only one true God.
Each child finds a Father stick, a Son stick and Holy Spirit craft stick, writes their name on the back of one stick, colors and glues them together to form a triangle. Then we tie the verse Deuteronomy 6:4 to the triangle.
Tuesday: The Law is love.
Deut. 6:5 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
Materials for 3-6 year olds (Heart Door Decorations): pink, red, purple, white construction paper, stickers, labels, blotters, glue
Materials for 7-12 year olds ("Stained Glass Hearts"): large thick paper, contact paper, tissue paper
Below is the big kid craft, which would probably work well for any age, really. We used contact paper for this rather than glue--very easy and surprisingly cheap. Cut the black heart out of some extra posterboard we've had in the closet for ages, cut out some contact paper hearts, stick the contact paper onto the black side, and stick the tissue paper squares all over it, hang it on the window and voila, a beautiful sun catcher.
Wednesday: Salvation through Christ
Romans 10:9 “…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
3-6 year olds: Fuzzy Crosses, Crayons, Thin Markers, glue (for verse)
7-12 year olds: sand art kits (put sand in bowls with baby spoons)
Above you see our little kid craft for Wednesday, which Maryn was happy to make a sample for. I love these, which we found at Oriental Trading. I think each kid is going to be able to make two. Super! I think they are beautiful. We bought them 12 for 3.99. Not too shabby.
The big kids will be doing little sand art pictures. I am really excited because sand art pics were one of my favorite things as a child. I hope it doesn't create too much of a mess. I haven't made a sample yet, so I'll try to come back and post a pic later.
Thursday: God’s Word is for life
2 Tim 4:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…”
3-6 year olds: Jesus is Lord bookmark (verses, Romans 10:9), labels, stickers, dye cut shapes or foamies, blotters
7-12 year olds: Heart Pockets: twine, yarn or ribbon, thick paper, label w/ psalm 119:11, plastic needles, index cards
The big kids will put their memory verse cards in these heart pockets on Thursday to take home. I am so impressed with how these turned out. They really look beautiful. We got some really colorful quality card stock and several colors of ribbon. I wrote Psalm 119:11 on each heart: "I have stored up Your Word in my heart, so that I might not sin against You."
The little jeweled stickers were only a dollar for a sheet of 100 or something.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
a little photo update
Our camera card is all filled up, so I've just been taking pictures with my phone. But it's such a pain to load them onto the computer. I really can't neglect my children that much. But today I am...sigh.
Maryn inherited Gabbi's loft. She's not sleeping up there for another year or so though! But it makes a fun clubhouse for now.
Loving the outdoors!
At the Powells' house the other night for dinner, playing with Julia (6 months old).
I should give you all a potty training update. For my own record, too. We have had a real trip with potty training. Maryn was peeing in the potty so well, with zero accidents for about two or three weeks. But all her poops were either in a pull-up or her undies. Ah! So I was very patient about it for those two or three weeks. I didn't want her to get freaked out or scared of poop, so I just said that's okay, we'll try again next time, etc. But one day I burst--we were running an errand and she pooped in her undies out in public--and I told her, hello, poop is kind of yucky and no, we don't want it in our undies.
So...we buckled down on her. We took away some privileges, including television and desserts. She wasn't allowed to watch television (her beloved Blue's Clues, ah!) or eat desserts for two days. And I stocked our freezer with ice cream sandwiches, frozen lemonades, and cookies and cream ice cream (with cones too!) and told her those treats and Blue's Clues are for big kids (preschoolers) and she couldn't have them till she started pooping in the potty. AND we got her NEW princess undies, which are pretty much the same that she had before, but they were super special. So, about one day of that and she started pooping on the potty. So there you have it, rewards didn't work well, but withholding them sure did.
We are no longer doing stickers and a treat for peeing in the potty, but she is still getting rewarded with a Blue's Clues and a treat for pooping. She likes to sit on the potty now without her special little seat on top, which is actually very nice and makes it easier when we're in public. And she's been doing great in public!
I'm so proud of our big girl. She is truly a gift. :)
God is Good
One of the joys of college and seminary life is that so many people around us are in the same boat. Many are passing through. Some finish in three very quick years, some move along slow and steady, and some families have to stop, save, and start again. When we moved here, the Andersons were at our door to greet us (actually, they greeted John, had him over for dinner, and made me feel better about him being in an empty house with nothing to eat!). They helped us with all the necessities when our moving truck was a week and a half late--air mattresses, bedding, pots and pans, toilet paper, paper plates, etc. Betsy's cheerful smile at all hours of the day, along with her honesty and openness about everything from well, you know what, to you know what, and other you know whats...were a blessing to me when I otherwise would have been shut indoors with two little ones day in and day out.
She was there whenever we needed craft supplies or advice, baking and cooking supplies or advice, and her boy was around to knock on our door relentlessly to ask to come play, to borrow a movie, or to tell us he was eating an apple. Gabbi was always available to love on my children like no one else quite could, to play silly games no one older than ten could, and with the patience no one younger than 8 could have.
We said goodbye to the Andersons the other day, with many many tears but with overwhelming joy that God has taken them back to Betsy's home, where Dennis will serve as the Pastor of her parents' church. What a tremendous blessing they will be to a church full of people and a new neighborhood. I have had Betsy almost to myself for two years, and now it is time to share her with many more who will be blessed by her, her husband, and their children.
God gives and he takes away. His will is perfect and He always knows best.
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:26-28
I'd like to share some photos with you from our Anderson family send-off!
Tara and half of her brood. Downstairs and down a few doors from us.
Yay! And here's Jonathan, Rebekah and Avery. They are expecting a baby in November. We love all these neighbors and friends so much. And we are blessed by every one of them. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Thank you God for so many amazing friends.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
almost three
Maryn ran out of her room during "quiet time" yesterday, with a great look of concern, panting quite profusely, and very quickly explained,
"Mommy! There was a spider in my Napping book House and so I closed it and I ran out my door and I shut my door so the spider won't come out and bite. my. toes."
Oh dear.
She's also learned how to play dead. "Mom, I'm dead." Yes, she's been calling me Mom. It's dreadful. Anyway, she says, "Mom, I'm dead." And lays still, eyes closed, in kind of awkward positions as though she just fell off a building. It's really kind of weird that she's old enough to do these things.
"Mommy! There was a spider in my Napping book House and so I closed it and I ran out my door and I shut my door so the spider won't come out and bite. my. toes."
Oh dear.
She's also learned how to play dead. "Mom, I'm dead." Yes, she's been calling me Mom. It's dreadful. Anyway, she says, "Mom, I'm dead." And lays still, eyes closed, in kind of awkward positions as though she just fell off a building. It's really kind of weird that she's old enough to do these things.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Get crafty, and get back to school!
I have been using Evernote to make running lists of pretty much everything, including birthday and Christmas ideas. I love this because John and I can both access it on our phones and our computer. So if we are out and see that the used book store is having a huge sale, we can bring up his school book list or the list of home school books we want, and start searching for them.
Anyway, I thought I was going to have trouble thinking of birthday and Christmas ideas for both Maryn and Josiah and boy was I wrong. I started those lists months ago and they just keep getting longer and longer. In fact, I just ordered some things for our neighborhood VBS that's coming up from Oriental Trading and was so pleased with what we got, that I looked through the magazine for birthday presents for Maryn. Sometimes my aunt Cathy sends us these mini stampers and we LOVE them. They last for a really long time (our Valentine's Day ones are still working!) and are less messy than stamps. They're also less annoying than stickers (Josiah loves to eat stickers, which are a huge choking hazard, and of course Maryn LOVES to stick them all over the place).
So if you have a three year old who likes to get crafty, please get him/her some of those stampers. A whole set of ABC stampers costs $7.00. 24 dinosaur stampers, 24 ocean stampers, 24 zoo stampers, etc. all cost $7.00 per set. Fantastic!
And, did you see the dollar spot at Target lately? They have lots of great school books to get ready for school, for just a dollar. Workbooks for ABCs, phonics, 50 states, presidents, math, etc., and quite a few good easy readers for kids K-3, plus lots of classics (Anne of Green Gables, Robinson Crusoe) for cheap, cheap. We got Maryn an ABC one and she's having a blast coloring it. She doesn't really follow the directions, but those books always have such easy pictures to color...plus she loves to trace letters.
Happy back to school season!
Anyway, I thought I was going to have trouble thinking of birthday and Christmas ideas for both Maryn and Josiah and boy was I wrong. I started those lists months ago and they just keep getting longer and longer. In fact, I just ordered some things for our neighborhood VBS that's coming up from Oriental Trading and was so pleased with what we got, that I looked through the magazine for birthday presents for Maryn. Sometimes my aunt Cathy sends us these mini stampers and we LOVE them. They last for a really long time (our Valentine's Day ones are still working!) and are less messy than stamps. They're also less annoying than stickers (Josiah loves to eat stickers, which are a huge choking hazard, and of course Maryn LOVES to stick them all over the place).
So if you have a three year old who likes to get crafty, please get him/her some of those stampers. A whole set of ABC stampers costs $7.00. 24 dinosaur stampers, 24 ocean stampers, 24 zoo stampers, etc. all cost $7.00 per set. Fantastic!
And, did you see the dollar spot at Target lately? They have lots of great school books to get ready for school, for just a dollar. Workbooks for ABCs, phonics, 50 states, presidents, math, etc., and quite a few good easy readers for kids K-3, plus lots of classics (Anne of Green Gables, Robinson Crusoe) for cheap, cheap. We got Maryn an ABC one and she's having a blast coloring it. She doesn't really follow the directions, but those books always have such easy pictures to color...plus she loves to trace letters.
Happy back to school season!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Cowboy Day
We are at the end of a grocery week. A glance at our pantry (who am I kidding?), or I mean, our two little cupboards, told me that choices were slim tonight. I had some black beans. We always have black beans thanks to WIC. I had some baked beans, courtesy of our neighborhood Food Line (food pantry, which I volunteer for...well, I'm kind of paid to do it, etc.), and a pound of beef I accidentally told John to get last week. And of course we had some bbq sauce because who doesn't have three or four bottles of bbq sauce almost empty in their fridge? Now I'd heard a lot about Cowboy Beans, and always thought about making them, but who wants to use one of two meat nights per week on beans? It seems like a waste. Well, tonight was the perfect opportunity.
Knowing Maryn wouldn't be thrilled with this meal plan (she loves beans but doesn't like barbecue sauce), I decided to call today Cowboy Day and got her all pumped up for our Cowboy Beans and Cowboy Cornbread (aka, cornbread that actually doesn't come from a box!). So we wore our cowboy hats all day, spoke like cowboys, played "outlaw," danced around to some cowboy songs which I'd had from my teaching days, and decorated our lovely rocking horse Maryn calls "TuTu."
Maryn always wants to be the bad guy when we play games like "Outlaw," but she doesn't want to be locked up in jail or put into the stocks, of course. Which I find absolutely shocking. LOL
Some days she is just unbearable. Today was awful, yesterday was great. She had three pee accidents in her room today. She hasn't had a pee accident in probably a week or two. And this time they were all in her room, so it was very tricky to find all the places where she might have peed. I had to wash all her blankets and pillows and of course she freaked out about me putting her pillow into the washer. Oh my word. And she really doesn't care that she peed on her books, her kitty cat, and her floor. She just danced around, naked, "La la la, I'm a cowboy! Look Mommy! I peed! I peed on my pillow! I peed on my kitty!" She might as well have said, "La la la, Mommy! You are one step closer to the final phase of my plan to destroy you!" And she didn't eat her cowboy beans. She had a cold hot dog instead.
Josiah is my cuddle bug, and thank God for him. I love my kiddos both the same but I praise the Lord for his sweet little smiles that remind me all kids have tough phases and I'll get through this phase with Maryn. And it'll be on to something new and different (maybe worse) and I'll ache for these times when her cute naked bum pops around the house like a little white dandelion seed.
Heaven help me, she says the funniest and cutest things all day long. My favorite yesterday was when we were reading the story in Daniel, when the hand is writing on the wall. The picture is pretty creepy. I mean, there's a hand without a body attached to it, writing something in Hebrew on the wall. Scary. But she just looked at it very nonchalantly and quipped, "Oh, we have that on our computer, Mommy."
And so we do. Sometimes our mouse does look like a hand on the computer, especially on her games at Starfall.com. Sheesh.
As for pictures, I posted some great ones on Facebook. I'm still having trouble posting pictures to my blog. Sorry :)
Knowing Maryn wouldn't be thrilled with this meal plan (she loves beans but doesn't like barbecue sauce), I decided to call today Cowboy Day and got her all pumped up for our Cowboy Beans and Cowboy Cornbread (aka, cornbread that actually doesn't come from a box!). So we wore our cowboy hats all day, spoke like cowboys, played "outlaw," danced around to some cowboy songs which I'd had from my teaching days, and decorated our lovely rocking horse Maryn calls "TuTu."
Maryn always wants to be the bad guy when we play games like "Outlaw," but she doesn't want to be locked up in jail or put into the stocks, of course. Which I find absolutely shocking. LOL
Some days she is just unbearable. Today was awful, yesterday was great. She had three pee accidents in her room today. She hasn't had a pee accident in probably a week or two. And this time they were all in her room, so it was very tricky to find all the places where she might have peed. I had to wash all her blankets and pillows and of course she freaked out about me putting her pillow into the washer. Oh my word. And she really doesn't care that she peed on her books, her kitty cat, and her floor. She just danced around, naked, "La la la, I'm a cowboy! Look Mommy! I peed! I peed on my pillow! I peed on my kitty!" She might as well have said, "La la la, Mommy! You are one step closer to the final phase of my plan to destroy you!" And she didn't eat her cowboy beans. She had a cold hot dog instead.
Josiah is my cuddle bug, and thank God for him. I love my kiddos both the same but I praise the Lord for his sweet little smiles that remind me all kids have tough phases and I'll get through this phase with Maryn. And it'll be on to something new and different (maybe worse) and I'll ache for these times when her cute naked bum pops around the house like a little white dandelion seed.
Heaven help me, she says the funniest and cutest things all day long. My favorite yesterday was when we were reading the story in Daniel, when the hand is writing on the wall. The picture is pretty creepy. I mean, there's a hand without a body attached to it, writing something in Hebrew on the wall. Scary. But she just looked at it very nonchalantly and quipped, "Oh, we have that on our computer, Mommy."
And so we do. Sometimes our mouse does look like a hand on the computer, especially on her games at Starfall.com. Sheesh.
As for pictures, I posted some great ones on Facebook. I'm still having trouble posting pictures to my blog. Sorry :)
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Home Schooling, ages 5 and under
Don't Miss These Precious Years
Posted by Julie B
You want your 4-1/2 year old to be more interested in learning? I'll tell you what...you will be home educating for at least 15 more years. Do you really want to get started right now? These young years are so fleeting.
I skipped kindergarten for my kids. Instead we went to the park, listened to stories on tape, read books, went to the library, baked cookies, read books, planted seeds, read books, wrestled on the carpet, made dorky crafts, did I mention reading books?
Pace yourself. Structure for a 4.5 may undermine his ability to learn to read when the time actually comes--intimidation because of repeated failures or the association with it being drudgery. My two oldest didn't really "get it" about reading until they were eight. They now read constantly and well (several grade levels above their current grades).
So relax and continue to enjoy that "light of your life." Don't be so eager for the carefree years to end. You will wistfully look back on them as some of the freshest, most delightful times of your life.
Schooling...the rigorous part...well, that seems to go on and on and on. But once you start in earnest, you will truly be ready for it and so will your boy.
Last little note: I have noticed that moms who have researched homeschooling and have committed to it before their kids are old enough want to start too soon. What you can do during this waiting period (since you are the one who is ready for more structure and a sense of achievement) is to continue your own education. Start reading the classics for yourself (Jane Austen, Dickens, Hemmingway, etc.) or pick a period of history and dive in. Go to an art museum or listen to classical music.
If you are growing as a person and are engaged in learning, it will spill over into your child's life, AND you won't feel like a race horse at the gate waiting for the gun to go off.
Posted by Julie B
You want your 4-1/2 year old to be more interested in learning? I'll tell you what...you will be home educating for at least 15 more years. Do you really want to get started right now? These young years are so fleeting.
I skipped kindergarten for my kids. Instead we went to the park, listened to stories on tape, read books, went to the library, baked cookies, read books, planted seeds, read books, wrestled on the carpet, made dorky crafts, did I mention reading books?
Pace yourself. Structure for a 4.5 may undermine his ability to learn to read when the time actually comes--intimidation because of repeated failures or the association with it being drudgery. My two oldest didn't really "get it" about reading until they were eight. They now read constantly and well (several grade levels above their current grades).
So relax and continue to enjoy that "light of your life." Don't be so eager for the carefree years to end. You will wistfully look back on them as some of the freshest, most delightful times of your life.
Schooling...the rigorous part...well, that seems to go on and on and on. But once you start in earnest, you will truly be ready for it and so will your boy.
Last little note: I have noticed that moms who have researched homeschooling and have committed to it before their kids are old enough want to start too soon. What you can do during this waiting period (since you are the one who is ready for more structure and a sense of achievement) is to continue your own education. Start reading the classics for yourself (Jane Austen, Dickens, Hemmingway, etc.) or pick a period of history and dive in. Go to an art museum or listen to classical music.
If you are growing as a person and are engaged in learning, it will spill over into your child's life, AND you won't feel like a race horse at the gate waiting for the gun to go off.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Good Times
We went to our friends' house last night and had a great, fun time with our Sunday School class.
Here's Eva and Elisa, Maryn's friends. We met them and their parents first because of AWANA Cubbies. I helped in their mom and dad's (Junior and Adrian) room. They are Maryn's best buddies from Honeybees.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Potty Training
I forgot to blog about potty training.
I wish the kids in the hall way would shut up.
Okay.
So, here's how it started.
We had our trip to Minnesota. We were very busy there, and Maryn poops three times a day. She was getting terrible rashes because we were unable to keep up with her poops. So I kept telling her, "We gotta get rid of these diapers. You have to start going to the potty because poop in your dipey is giving you rashes." So seriously the next day after we got home, she wanted to the diapers off and the undies on. So we started.
The first day we had zero successes. Three poops, lots of pees, zero successes.
The second day we had two successes (both pees). Three poops in the undies, lots of pees in the undies.
The third day we had only two pee accidents! And I think she pooped in her diaper at nap time and bed time. I don't really remember.
Anyway, we have now gone something like 7 days without any pee accidents, but mostly all her poops are in her undies or in a diaper or pull up at nap time or in the morning. Yesterday I was desperate to get her to poop in the potty and kept her from taking quiet time (although she usually does make it through nap time in her undies just fine) and told her she could have a frozen lemonade if she pooped in the potty. And she did! She has pooped in the potty now twice, or maybe three times. She's gotten ice cream sandwiches or frozen lemonades for pooping in the potty. She's also gotten a Rapunzel dress for filling up her first sticker chart, and a hula hoop for filling up her second. Her third sticker chart is for a new set of beads.
She also gets two mini M&Ms every time she pees or at least tries on the potty. But we went one day giving her a whole BAG of snacks for every pee (2 animal crackers, 3 pretzels, and some raisins). We have been really inconsistent, as in, we didn't have a plan and just made it all up as we went. And took advice from about a hundred people and just kind of did whatever they suggested here and there.
Right now Maryn is awake after her nap, still in a Pull Up. I know she probably pooped and peed in it. She would not go in the potty before her nap. I know it was because she thought I'd let her skip her nap till she pooped or peed, but that's all right. I'm pretty she's got it, and I seriously can't believe how far she's come. I can't believe she holds her pee like she does. And goes all on her own!
There's a lot of things I want to remember for next time. I'm glad we had the potty seat that goes on the big potty. We also have a little potty, and that was useful too. And the stool to go by the big potty, which I think helped her poop. Or putting her feet on my knees while I sat on the tub.
Poop in the undies hasn't been too bad. She knows right away and it bothers her immensely so she waddles over to me and tells me, and we just take them off in the tub, rinse them out in the potty, say bye to the poopy, and get cleaned up with the wipes. She hates wipes (she associates them with diaper rash I think) so she gets it now--that pooping right in the potty is much easier and cleaner. Then I bleach out the tub and throw the undies in the washer, where I have water ready with detergent to soak them. I'm doing a ton of laundry these days.
I'm not sure why she doesn't want to poop in the potty except that she says "It's scary," but I think it feels weird to be sitting down with her feet not on the ground. She is used to pooping standing up. So Dr. Sears says use a little potty or put a stool under their feet. For some reason she prefers putting her feet on my knees while I sit across from her on the tub. I don't know why.
I'm not sure what we will do about church tomorrow. I think we're going to put her in a pull up and offer her a great, great prize if she poops and pees at church or makes it through her Sunday School class with zero accidents. I don't think we'll talk John into lunch at McDonald's or Moe's or whatever, but we shall see!
Her teachers at church are fantastic but with it being summer, she may have different teachers. Plus I know how kids are when they are playing and with a bunch of friends. We had so many accidents in Cubbies! Parents swear their kids are potty trained but then they come to Cubbies and pee all over the place. But our church has great little potty seats just like ours and little potty chairs, too. I really, really hope she tries!
I knew she was ready, by the way, because she likes to be called a big girl now. A few months ago, she said, "No, I don't want to be big. I'm a baby." And she does NOT want to have diapers on any more. She hates them. And she really doesn't like to be wet. Yay.
Way to go, Maryn. Mommy is so proud of you, big girl!
I wish the kids in the hall way would shut up.
Okay.
So, here's how it started.
We had our trip to Minnesota. We were very busy there, and Maryn poops three times a day. She was getting terrible rashes because we were unable to keep up with her poops. So I kept telling her, "We gotta get rid of these diapers. You have to start going to the potty because poop in your dipey is giving you rashes." So seriously the next day after we got home, she wanted to the diapers off and the undies on. So we started.
The first day we had zero successes. Three poops, lots of pees, zero successes.
The second day we had two successes (both pees). Three poops in the undies, lots of pees in the undies.
The third day we had only two pee accidents! And I think she pooped in her diaper at nap time and bed time. I don't really remember.
Anyway, we have now gone something like 7 days without any pee accidents, but mostly all her poops are in her undies or in a diaper or pull up at nap time or in the morning. Yesterday I was desperate to get her to poop in the potty and kept her from taking quiet time (although she usually does make it through nap time in her undies just fine) and told her she could have a frozen lemonade if she pooped in the potty. And she did! She has pooped in the potty now twice, or maybe three times. She's gotten ice cream sandwiches or frozen lemonades for pooping in the potty. She's also gotten a Rapunzel dress for filling up her first sticker chart, and a hula hoop for filling up her second. Her third sticker chart is for a new set of beads.
She also gets two mini M&Ms every time she pees or at least tries on the potty. But we went one day giving her a whole BAG of snacks for every pee (2 animal crackers, 3 pretzels, and some raisins). We have been really inconsistent, as in, we didn't have a plan and just made it all up as we went. And took advice from about a hundred people and just kind of did whatever they suggested here and there.
Right now Maryn is awake after her nap, still in a Pull Up. I know she probably pooped and peed in it. She would not go in the potty before her nap. I know it was because she thought I'd let her skip her nap till she pooped or peed, but that's all right. I'm pretty she's got it, and I seriously can't believe how far she's come. I can't believe she holds her pee like she does. And goes all on her own!
There's a lot of things I want to remember for next time. I'm glad we had the potty seat that goes on the big potty. We also have a little potty, and that was useful too. And the stool to go by the big potty, which I think helped her poop. Or putting her feet on my knees while I sat on the tub.
Poop in the undies hasn't been too bad. She knows right away and it bothers her immensely so she waddles over to me and tells me, and we just take them off in the tub, rinse them out in the potty, say bye to the poopy, and get cleaned up with the wipes. She hates wipes (she associates them with diaper rash I think) so she gets it now--that pooping right in the potty is much easier and cleaner. Then I bleach out the tub and throw the undies in the washer, where I have water ready with detergent to soak them. I'm doing a ton of laundry these days.
I'm not sure why she doesn't want to poop in the potty except that she says "It's scary," but I think it feels weird to be sitting down with her feet not on the ground. She is used to pooping standing up. So Dr. Sears says use a little potty or put a stool under their feet. For some reason she prefers putting her feet on my knees while I sit across from her on the tub. I don't know why.
I'm not sure what we will do about church tomorrow. I think we're going to put her in a pull up and offer her a great, great prize if she poops and pees at church or makes it through her Sunday School class with zero accidents. I don't think we'll talk John into lunch at McDonald's or Moe's or whatever, but we shall see!
Her teachers at church are fantastic but with it being summer, she may have different teachers. Plus I know how kids are when they are playing and with a bunch of friends. We had so many accidents in Cubbies! Parents swear their kids are potty trained but then they come to Cubbies and pee all over the place. But our church has great little potty seats just like ours and little potty chairs, too. I really, really hope she tries!
I knew she was ready, by the way, because she likes to be called a big girl now. A few months ago, she said, "No, I don't want to be big. I'm a baby." And she does NOT want to have diapers on any more. She hates them. And she really doesn't like to be wet. Yay.
Way to go, Maryn. Mommy is so proud of you, big girl!
Fourth of July and other madness
Fourth of July
My dad came for a visit on the 4th and 5th! We were so excited. My dad has never been to visit us...as in, he's never seen any house that I've lived in since I was in college. So I was pretty excited to have him see how we live and how we do things, and how our kids act when at home--you know, to really know them beyond a one or two hour visit.
And we had a great time! Dad drove from Ohio to Louisville on his Harley. It took him about 6 hours, and the weather predicted rain, so he was ready to go with a rain jacket and everything. But it never rained. It was just overcast and blazing hot, so he got a wicked sun burn. I felt so bad, but he didn't get sick or feel overly tired, so he was still able to go to the fireworks with us.
FIREWORKS! It was Maryn and Josiah's first time ever to see any fireworks. We figured Maryn would freak out last year and the year before so we skipped them, but this year we were pretty sure they'd both like it. And they did.
First, we got Maryn all ready for bed. Jammies, teeth brushed, every thing. And then we said, "Get your Crocs on!" And she looked at us, dumbfounded, and said, "Why???" with her big, big eyes. I said, "Because we aren't going to bed silly! We're going to see the FIREWORKS!" And she was just so excited. We had to park at the seminary, so it was cool my dad got to see where John goes to school, and a real, real live trolley came to get us. The trolley took us to the location because there's very little parking there. We got there at about 8:15, walked around a bit (they had what they call an "Old Fashioned 4th of July" set up) and got lemonade and funnel cakes. They also had some booths set up by several businesses, like Usborne books, Avon, Louisville Speedway, etc., all selling stuff or doing games and crafts for the kids and whatnot. There were also some bouncy houses, etc., which we didn't do any of, because the lines were crazy and it all cost money. Maybe next year.
Anyway, when the fireworks were about to start, Maryn hopped in John's lap because she said she was scared. But she laughed like a crazy person the whole first two minutes of them, and Josiah just looked at them with about as much enthusiasm as looking at a blank ceiling. They played music through them almost the whole time, which I've never experienced before, and I didn't like that at all. Especially when they played Celine Dion songs (Canadian!) and Beatles songs (English!) that seriously had nothing at all to do with patriotism or anything remotely related. Anyway, the fireworks weren't really anything special---mostly just the starburst type fireworks---but they were decent for a little family like ours, and the grand finale was pretty cool.
So anyway. The first night dad was here we had enchiladas and the second night we had baked spaghetti. We mostly just played indoors since Dad had his sunburn and it was about 90 degrees out. And we watched Toy Story 3, which Dad had never seen before, and of course he loved it.
Today we went to a Family Fun Day at the seminary and met up with some friends from church and some friends from our neighborhood. And tonight the kids and I are going to an Ice Cream Social for our Sunday School class. Maryn is so excited to see her friends Eva and Elisa since she never sees them any more since Honeybees ended. Her Honeybees teacher, Miss Dena, and her little girl Victoria (another Honeybees friend) will be there as well. It will be neat to see how the little girls actually play together since I never really observed Maryn's Honeybees class before.
John worked last night, tonight, and tomorrow night. So it's a sucky weekend pretty much...and without a car...but our friend is picking us up for the social tonight. Hurray! And we still got to go to Family Fun Day, so it worked out. Potty training has made this week super crazy. Our house is a wreck, I haven't been making Maryn take naps (trying to get her to poop, etc.), and Josiah is just being a little terror (trying to get into the potty all the time or climb in the tub while we are trying to help Maryn go). It is seriously just crazy around here. Plus I still haven't been able to fall asleep until almost midnight every night. The other night John stayed up with me and we had a conversation about milk and honey that lasted about an hour. No joke. Milk and honey. I'm totally losing it.
And now I will bring my totally boring, random and psycho blog post to a close. Now you understand why I haven't been blogging much. :))
My dad came for a visit on the 4th and 5th! We were so excited. My dad has never been to visit us...as in, he's never seen any house that I've lived in since I was in college. So I was pretty excited to have him see how we live and how we do things, and how our kids act when at home--you know, to really know them beyond a one or two hour visit.
And we had a great time! Dad drove from Ohio to Louisville on his Harley. It took him about 6 hours, and the weather predicted rain, so he was ready to go with a rain jacket and everything. But it never rained. It was just overcast and blazing hot, so he got a wicked sun burn. I felt so bad, but he didn't get sick or feel overly tired, so he was still able to go to the fireworks with us.
FIREWORKS! It was Maryn and Josiah's first time ever to see any fireworks. We figured Maryn would freak out last year and the year before so we skipped them, but this year we were pretty sure they'd both like it. And they did.
First, we got Maryn all ready for bed. Jammies, teeth brushed, every thing. And then we said, "Get your Crocs on!" And she looked at us, dumbfounded, and said, "Why???" with her big, big eyes. I said, "Because we aren't going to bed silly! We're going to see the FIREWORKS!" And she was just so excited. We had to park at the seminary, so it was cool my dad got to see where John goes to school, and a real, real live trolley came to get us. The trolley took us to the location because there's very little parking there. We got there at about 8:15, walked around a bit (they had what they call an "Old Fashioned 4th of July" set up) and got lemonade and funnel cakes. They also had some booths set up by several businesses, like Usborne books, Avon, Louisville Speedway, etc., all selling stuff or doing games and crafts for the kids and whatnot. There were also some bouncy houses, etc., which we didn't do any of, because the lines were crazy and it all cost money. Maybe next year.
Anyway, when the fireworks were about to start, Maryn hopped in John's lap because she said she was scared. But she laughed like a crazy person the whole first two minutes of them, and Josiah just looked at them with about as much enthusiasm as looking at a blank ceiling. They played music through them almost the whole time, which I've never experienced before, and I didn't like that at all. Especially when they played Celine Dion songs (Canadian!) and Beatles songs (English!) that seriously had nothing at all to do with patriotism or anything remotely related. Anyway, the fireworks weren't really anything special---mostly just the starburst type fireworks---but they were decent for a little family like ours, and the grand finale was pretty cool.
So anyway. The first night dad was here we had enchiladas and the second night we had baked spaghetti. We mostly just played indoors since Dad had his sunburn and it was about 90 degrees out. And we watched Toy Story 3, which Dad had never seen before, and of course he loved it.
Today we went to a Family Fun Day at the seminary and met up with some friends from church and some friends from our neighborhood. And tonight the kids and I are going to an Ice Cream Social for our Sunday School class. Maryn is so excited to see her friends Eva and Elisa since she never sees them any more since Honeybees ended. Her Honeybees teacher, Miss Dena, and her little girl Victoria (another Honeybees friend) will be there as well. It will be neat to see how the little girls actually play together since I never really observed Maryn's Honeybees class before.
John worked last night, tonight, and tomorrow night. So it's a sucky weekend pretty much...and without a car...but our friend is picking us up for the social tonight. Hurray! And we still got to go to Family Fun Day, so it worked out. Potty training has made this week super crazy. Our house is a wreck, I haven't been making Maryn take naps (trying to get her to poop, etc.), and Josiah is just being a little terror (trying to get into the potty all the time or climb in the tub while we are trying to help Maryn go). It is seriously just crazy around here. Plus I still haven't been able to fall asleep until almost midnight every night. The other night John stayed up with me and we had a conversation about milk and honey that lasted about an hour. No joke. Milk and honey. I'm totally losing it.
And now I will bring my totally boring, random and psycho blog post to a close. Now you understand why I haven't been blogging much. :))
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
What's Cooking
I intend to try this recipe out this weekend for our Sunday School breakfast.
Banana Bread
It's supposed to go in a Bundt pan, and I don't have one of those. I know I could probably use another type of pan, but it sure does look nice in a Bundt, doesn't it? I wonder if I could drizzle a glaze over it, if that would be weird. I'm not a big fruity bread fan myself, and definitely not a glaze or frosting fan either, so what do I know. I just think it would look pretty.
Here's another recipe our neighbor, Betsy, tells me I must make. Maybe if I post it here, I'll remember to try it sometime. John loves this type of thing, especially if we have olive oil and seasonings. I really should try to remember things like that for his birthday.
Artisan Bread Awesomeness
Banana Bread
It's supposed to go in a Bundt pan, and I don't have one of those. I know I could probably use another type of pan, but it sure does look nice in a Bundt, doesn't it? I wonder if I could drizzle a glaze over it, if that would be weird. I'm not a big fruity bread fan myself, and definitely not a glaze or frosting fan either, so what do I know. I just think it would look pretty.
Here's another recipe our neighbor, Betsy, tells me I must make. Maybe if I post it here, I'll remember to try it sometime. John loves this type of thing, especially if we have olive oil and seasonings. I really should try to remember things like that for his birthday.
Artisan Bread Awesomeness
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Hi :)
I haven't been blogging much lately, or taking any pictures, etc. One reason is because we've been busy with RA stuff, potty training, and just feeling run down. Since our return from MN, we are just having a lot of trouble getting with the program. I sleep four hours one night and ten the next. I can't seem to sleep deeply if I'm even lucky enough to fall asleep at all. My mind isn't running...I lay there and tell myself, sleep. Sleep. Sleep. But my body just wants to leap up and do something. But I'm exhausted. Do you ever feel that way? Like you should be doing something? Or talking to someone? But generally I'm just tired of people. I still love everyone the same, but I'm just tired of people. I guess you could say I need some alone time. Shocker.
Anyway, I got away on a little trip to Sam's Club with an RA friend, and the whole trip together was four hours. Four hours! It was kind of a nightmare because I hate Sam's Club, and I had only slept four hours the night before. But when I got home I realized that it was the longest I'd ever been away from John, Maryn and Josiah. And since Josiah is almost one, that means I have done almost nothing on my own in at least a year. That is very sad. Especially for a solitary ("introverted") person such as myself. Little hands and little toes, God bless them, I love them, are always touching me. Little eyes are always looking at me. Little teeth are always biting me. Little cries are always screaming for me. Or talking back to me. Or saying things like, "I want you to die," or my favorite, "I don't love you any more, Mommy."
Well, so that's all. Don't take it personally that I'm being a little more solitary than usual. I might be hiding in my closet by Tuesday.
Anyway, I got away on a little trip to Sam's Club with an RA friend, and the whole trip together was four hours. Four hours! It was kind of a nightmare because I hate Sam's Club, and I had only slept four hours the night before. But when I got home I realized that it was the longest I'd ever been away from John, Maryn and Josiah. And since Josiah is almost one, that means I have done almost nothing on my own in at least a year. That is very sad. Especially for a solitary ("introverted") person such as myself. Little hands and little toes, God bless them, I love them, are always touching me. Little eyes are always looking at me. Little teeth are always biting me. Little cries are always screaming for me. Or talking back to me. Or saying things like, "I want you to die," or my favorite, "I don't love you any more, Mommy."
Well, so that's all. Don't take it personally that I'm being a little more solitary than usual. I might be hiding in my closet by Tuesday.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Maryn's Art Work
I've decided to make a link to all of Maryn's best art work here on my blog. I try to keep a few special things in a file in our desk, but we all know what tends to happen to things like that. So here, I shall store some photos of my favorites.
Above, this is a picture of Maryn's room. You see her pink blankey with pink dots (which she started doing multi-colored), her bed (which she tried to draw flowers on and started her purple blanket), her Snuggie (the pink blanket with sleeves! Haha, see it?) and she tried to write ELI there in the corner (her friend downstairs).
Okay, sorry this picture is on its side, but as you can see, it's a chair! She loves to draw beds for some reason, so I got her to try drawing a chair today. Not bad!
Above is her picture she called, "Painting with Mommy." It's also on its side. The crayon part is apparently her and me, and the circles are the paint.
I'm not sure what she was doing in this picture above, but she told me that it's "Stripes" and I think it's beautiful. It looks like she was trying to write some letters, too.
Good job, Maryn! Mommy is proud of you.
Good job, Maryn! Mommy is proud of you.
Wedding Day, Just Kidding...
I am having a seriously hard time getting some wedding photos on here. I guess you will all have to wait even longer. Anyway, I will try to post some of Mark and Melissa on my facebook page so you can at least see her dress and her pretty rehearsal dress, too! Both were soooo pretty. We say YES to your dress, Aunt Melissa!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Wedding Day
Mark and Melissa had a beautiful wedding ceremony in Minnehaha Park, home of Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I Wikipedia-ed it for some more information:
Minnehaha Creek is a tributary of the Mississippi River located in Hennepin County, Minnesota that extends from Lake Minnetonka in the west and flows east for 22 miles (35 km) through several suburbs west of Minneapolis and then through south Minneapolis. Including Lake Minnetonka, the watershed for the creek covers 181 square miles (469 km²). The creek might have been unremarkable except for the 53 foot (16 m) Minnehaha Falls located near the creek's confluence with the Mississippi. The site is not far from Fort Snelling, one of the earliest white settlements in the region.
While the name is often translated as "Laughing Water", the correct translation is "curling water" or "waterfall". The name comes from the Dakota language elements mni, meaning water, and ȟaȟa, meaning waterfall.[1][2] Thus the expression "Minnehaha Falls" translates as "Waterfall Falls". The "Laughing Water" translation comes from Mary Eastman's book Dacotah, published in 1849. On the Fort map of 1823, the falls were named Brown's Falls. The Dakota called Minnehaha Creek, "Wakpa Cistinna", meaning "Little River".[2]
I found myself doing a lot of research on our trip, since we'll probably be driving up to Minnesota other times in our lives. As a homeschooling family, we'll have to be on top of these things right? So I intend to be able to tell my children exactly what all those windmills and silos were for in Illinois and Indiana. And we can stop and sightsee in Chicago and visit a few cheese houses or dairy farms in Wisconsin.
Well, I was supposed to be talking about the wedding, right?
Maryn and John had to be back at the hotel at 9:30 or something in the morning, so Josiah and I stayed back for his morning nap at Grammy and Grampy's house. He napped from 9:45 until 12:45! Which was good, because he was busy the rest of the day. It was lovely because I had ample time to get ready and make myself look pretty for the thousands of family pictures that were taken and will be plastered on everyone's walls for the next 20 years. Too bad it poured down rain all over my hair, which now includes bangs--not so lovely! Bangs are terrible when wet. And my very pretty dress, which I acquired from Beth, kept turning itself around so that at one point, it was completely backwards. Yes, backwards, as in the zipper was going up my belly button instead of down my back. I guess it's the risk you take with strapless dresses.
So Grammy, Grampy, Josiah and I drove to the hotel and from there all the wedding guests were bussed to Minnehaha Park. It was raining quite a bit--not a downpour, but not what you'd hope for the day of your wedding either! But the rain subsided just in time for the ceremony. I stayed in the back with our sweet little flower girl until it was time for her, the other flower girl Annie and her brother Ryan, the ring bearer, to walk down the aisle. It was a little awkward, because everyone could clearly see Annie and Ryan's dad (Melissa's brother) and I shepherding the little rascals to the aisle, and then we just kind of let them loose. Annie went in one direction, Ryan went in another, and Maryn nervously chewed on her basket handle--carrying her basket down like a little doggy, tossed out two petals, and ran to Daddy. Thank goodness he was the best man and was standing right at the front, so she was the only little one who made it down the aisle completely.
Maryn then sat with Grandma and Grandpa Erdman (John's dad and Donna) in the front row, where she realized she had not thrown her petals, so she threw them on the ground right there where she was sitting just in time for Melissa to walk down. But Melissa didn't walk through her petals (because they weren't in the aisle), and Maryn was very upset about that. Sigh.
Maryn then sat with Grandma and Grandpa Erdman (John's dad and Donna) in the front row, where she realized she had not thrown her petals, so she threw them on the ground right there where she was sitting just in time for Melissa to walk down. But Melissa didn't walk through her petals (because they weren't in the aisle), and Maryn was very upset about that. Sigh.
I had several hundred helpers the whole time, but the problem with that was that everything got separated and the quiet toys I had chosen for Josiah were quite a ways from me. So he just took off his shoes and played with those for a while. My goal the whole ceremony was to keep him mostly quiet, so he chewed on the empty chair in front of me, and spit graham crackers all down the front of it. I didn't see or hear much of the ceremony, but it was very beautiful and the priest did a fantastic job--marriage is an illustration of Christ and the church. Amen.
Pictures soon...I'm waiting for some of Mark and Melissa to be posted on facebook...and maybe some of me!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Minnesota Trip Summary (so far)
Tuesday
We left Louisville, KY at 6:15 am in a Dodge Grand Caravan that we rented. We borrowed a portable DVD player from our neighbor friends, Matt and Jen, which proved to be an absolute gift from God on our 12 hour journey to the north. Our trip absolutely couldn't have been better. Our children were fantastic. Maryn quickly grew tired of Mommy, however. I think Maryn gets a little frustrated on trips since Daddy always drives and "ignores" her while Mommy, who she sees every day, attends to her. She has been absolutely anti-mommy our entire trip. Josiah stayed busy with about 3 toys the entire travel time. We got to St. Paul right in the middle of rush hour, so we called John's mom, Laura, and met up with her just off an exit at a restaurant my mom always talks about, Noodles and Co. It's very good, but kind of girly. The serving sizes aren't very big so we had to buy some extra food to go. I had a Thai Curry something and John had a Shrimp something, but we got some potstickers to go and our lives have forever been changed. We even figured out how much it would cost to buy 50 potstickers and tried to work it into our budget.
Then we went to John's grandparents house, who live in a quaint little suburb outside of Minneapolis, which is where we have stayed during our visit. They live in a small house but their basement is enormous and refinished to be almost an entire apartment. Three bedrooms, a small kitchen, a living room, dining area, and restroom. One bedroom is equipped with all the toys a little girl could possibly desire and a closet full of Grammy's old clothes and shoes for dress up mania.
Wednesday/Thursday
Wednesday we went to Uncle Mark's "work," where we had a little cookout and John, Maryn and Josiah went swimming. We spent the afternoon with Aunt Melissa (Uncle Mark's WIFE! Yay!), Mark, Laura, John's sisters, Meghann and Anna, and we got to meet Meghann's boyfriend Dan for the first time, finally!
After that, we went to Mark's apartment for a visit with Kristie and her sister, Terry. Kristie is John and Mark's former stepmother, who they spent most of their childhood with. We had some relaxing chill time there. Then we returned to Grammy and Grampy's house for dinner, where Laura came back over and I don't remember much after that...but Maryn got a fever...and sure enough, she was throwing up soon after. Maryn continued to not feel well and have a fever into Thursday morning, so we scrapped any plans that day and laid low, watched a lot of tv, read a lot of books, and other relaxing things. Josiah had some signs of the stomach virus too, but praise the Lord, John and I have stayed well. John's mom came over on Thursday as well and brought little presents for Maryn an Josiah, including new markers and a beautiful ballerina outfit! Maryn was feeling well enough to prance around for us a bit.
Friday
Friday was rehearsal day. We left Grammy and Grampy's house by ten am to meet up with the Erdmans who were arriving at Embassy Suites just a short drive away in the city. We ate at Jimmy Johns for lunch, which was not the best experience (they wouldn't sell me or give me a piece of bread for Josiah to eat, duh). Made a short run to Target (we go there almost every day to get things we forgot to pack). Spent the day running around with the Erdmans, everyone at the hotel, including Grandma (Joyce, John's paternal grandma), Aunt Sharron (her sister), Grandpa (John) and Grandma (Donna), Aunt Lori (Big John's sister) and John's cousin, Jenny. Kristy and Terry were also there, and Aunt Martina, her fiance Brant, and Uncle Dayton came later from Kansas.
Josiah and I didn't go to the actual rehearsal, but just Maryn and John went. Josiah and I stayed back while he napped and I watched CNN. Yippeeeee. I watched the Casey Anthony trial and learned more about Syria than I have ever even learned about Syria in my entire life.
The rehearsal dinner was at Cowboy Jack's, which seemed like a great place to have a rehearsal dinner. They had great big banquet rooms and a mechanical bull! And great, great food. Man, thinking about it makes me think maybe we should go back there before we leave...but then we should stop for some potstickers at Noodles and Co. too!
Saturday
Well I know you all are waiting to hear about the wedding! Unfortunately, I have run out of time and have to attend to my children. I have posted some pictures on facebook. See you all later!
We left Louisville, KY at 6:15 am in a Dodge Grand Caravan that we rented. We borrowed a portable DVD player from our neighbor friends, Matt and Jen, which proved to be an absolute gift from God on our 12 hour journey to the north. Our trip absolutely couldn't have been better. Our children were fantastic. Maryn quickly grew tired of Mommy, however. I think Maryn gets a little frustrated on trips since Daddy always drives and "ignores" her while Mommy, who she sees every day, attends to her. She has been absolutely anti-mommy our entire trip. Josiah stayed busy with about 3 toys the entire travel time. We got to St. Paul right in the middle of rush hour, so we called John's mom, Laura, and met up with her just off an exit at a restaurant my mom always talks about, Noodles and Co. It's very good, but kind of girly. The serving sizes aren't very big so we had to buy some extra food to go. I had a Thai Curry something and John had a Shrimp something, but we got some potstickers to go and our lives have forever been changed. We even figured out how much it would cost to buy 50 potstickers and tried to work it into our budget.
Then we went to John's grandparents house, who live in a quaint little suburb outside of Minneapolis, which is where we have stayed during our visit. They live in a small house but their basement is enormous and refinished to be almost an entire apartment. Three bedrooms, a small kitchen, a living room, dining area, and restroom. One bedroom is equipped with all the toys a little girl could possibly desire and a closet full of Grammy's old clothes and shoes for dress up mania.
Wednesday/Thursday
Wednesday we went to Uncle Mark's "work," where we had a little cookout and John, Maryn and Josiah went swimming. We spent the afternoon with Aunt Melissa (Uncle Mark's WIFE! Yay!), Mark, Laura, John's sisters, Meghann and Anna, and we got to meet Meghann's boyfriend Dan for the first time, finally!
After that, we went to Mark's apartment for a visit with Kristie and her sister, Terry. Kristie is John and Mark's former stepmother, who they spent most of their childhood with. We had some relaxing chill time there. Then we returned to Grammy and Grampy's house for dinner, where Laura came back over and I don't remember much after that...but Maryn got a fever...and sure enough, she was throwing up soon after. Maryn continued to not feel well and have a fever into Thursday morning, so we scrapped any plans that day and laid low, watched a lot of tv, read a lot of books, and other relaxing things. Josiah had some signs of the stomach virus too, but praise the Lord, John and I have stayed well. John's mom came over on Thursday as well and brought little presents for Maryn an Josiah, including new markers and a beautiful ballerina outfit! Maryn was feeling well enough to prance around for us a bit.
Friday
Friday was rehearsal day. We left Grammy and Grampy's house by ten am to meet up with the Erdmans who were arriving at Embassy Suites just a short drive away in the city. We ate at Jimmy Johns for lunch, which was not the best experience (they wouldn't sell me or give me a piece of bread for Josiah to eat, duh). Made a short run to Target (we go there almost every day to get things we forgot to pack). Spent the day running around with the Erdmans, everyone at the hotel, including Grandma (Joyce, John's paternal grandma), Aunt Sharron (her sister), Grandpa (John) and Grandma (Donna), Aunt Lori (Big John's sister) and John's cousin, Jenny. Kristy and Terry were also there, and Aunt Martina, her fiance Brant, and Uncle Dayton came later from Kansas.
Josiah and I didn't go to the actual rehearsal, but just Maryn and John went. Josiah and I stayed back while he napped and I watched CNN. Yippeeeee. I watched the Casey Anthony trial and learned more about Syria than I have ever even learned about Syria in my entire life.
The rehearsal dinner was at Cowboy Jack's, which seemed like a great place to have a rehearsal dinner. They had great big banquet rooms and a mechanical bull! And great, great food. Man, thinking about it makes me think maybe we should go back there before we leave...but then we should stop for some potstickers at Noodles and Co. too!
Saturday
Well I know you all are waiting to hear about the wedding! Unfortunately, I have run out of time and have to attend to my children. I have posted some pictures on facebook. See you all later!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Happy Birthday, Eli and Caleb!
Two of Maryn's little back yard friends, Eli and Caleb, turn four years old tomorrow. We celebrated last night in our neighborhood's community room and big field. It was a good time, and I finally got some pictures of some of our friends. I wish I had taken the time to get some pics of the adults and kids posing cheesily but alas, we were just so busy. So I am mostly posting these pics with annoying captions explaining who everyone is for my close family and friends who hear me talking about our friends ALL the time. Maybe this will help you put a face to each name.
Below, you see Ella Grace (2 1/2) standing on her chair, then Sydney (7), then Miss Rebekah who is expecting their second baby, then you see Emmy in the background, who is expecting their third baby, then you see William (7), Caleb(4) in the Spiderman costume (he always has a costume on!), and turning around to the front of Rebekah you see Chloe (6) in the blue shirt, sweet little Avery (nearly two, Rebekah's little girl), Eli (4), and Lilia (2 1/2).
Here they were trying to round up the kids for a game. You see Miss Jen and her husband there, Matt. He's an army guy :) And off to the side in the red shirt you see Adam and his wife Joanna with baby Nathan in the Baby Bjorn. Chloe and Lilia are their girls.
There's Miss Jen! I almost got her face. She was teaching the kids how to play musical webs.
It was a Spiderman party...
Somehow John and Brian (Elise's husband) avoided pictures totally! Also missing is our other friend Jennifer and her husband (William's parents, who also have a new baby). And Emmy's husband was at work. :-(
We love our neighbors!
We love our neighbors!
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