3/16/2008
I'm not her...
This is what the door to Jackson's bedroom currently looks like. It took me awhile to realize he meant "here" not "her". That tells you how off the wall he is. I totally thought he meant "her" and that he would have a perfectly good explanation of it. There is a second sign on the bathroom door. It's just the "I'm not here" one. I guess he wants to hide in his room or that bathroom. This amazes me, because, if Jackson could actually stay quiet long enough for me to wonder where he was, believe me, I probably wouldn't go looking.
CSI: My Mommy
So, for those of you who don't know, I can call myself a "photographer" I guess, for going on 14 years now. I was talking about it recently with Jimmy, and I was telling him how I feel like becoming a mother has totally changed my photography. I used to be totally artsy but now I've become predictable and I feel, boring. I feel like a crime scene investigator half the time, snapping photos of the destruction of my home. The other half I feel as if I have to document the way my children look, because I'm afraid I won't be able to remember them otherwise. Thus, I'm always trying to get them to look into the camera, give a smile or at least "normal" face, and I can check it off my mental list--to get a historical representation of so-and-so at such-and-such age.
So, since I've been feeling rather frustrated about this, (and since I borrowed my friend Sandra's ultra nice camera) I tried to get some nice candid shots of the kids today. Artsy fartsy, if you will. But it's really hard when your six year old hides his face, your three year old just wants to see the pictures you've just taken, and your toddler hits himself in the face every time he hears the shutter open and close. No complaints about the baby yet, just that it's impossible to get a picture of her without siblings in it too.
Anyway, just to prove the dichotomy of my life as a mother/photographer, I've included a few moments I tried to capture today and also some crime scenes from the last few months. Enjoy. (And yes, this is a separate powder incident from the one mentioned in a previous blog. Lucky me, it happened again. I got another chance at documenting it for posterity.)
So, since I've been feeling rather frustrated about this, (and since I borrowed my friend Sandra's ultra nice camera) I tried to get some nice candid shots of the kids today. Artsy fartsy, if you will. But it's really hard when your six year old hides his face, your three year old just wants to see the pictures you've just taken, and your toddler hits himself in the face every time he hears the shutter open and close. No complaints about the baby yet, just that it's impossible to get a picture of her without siblings in it too.
Anyway, just to prove the dichotomy of my life as a mother/photographer, I've included a few moments I tried to capture today and also some crime scenes from the last few months. Enjoy. (And yes, this is a separate powder incident from the one mentioned in a previous blog. Lucky me, it happened again. I got another chance at documenting it for posterity.)
2/28/2008
My life is a comic strip
Okay, well, I really have some things to note but I will probably get interrupted. Here goes anyway. This is about going crazy. I have to keep it at bay. Yesterday I sat down on the couch, put my elbows on my knees, plugged my ears, and began rocking back and forth while humming a drone to block out all noise. I started praying. For what, I can't even remember but I'm sure it had something to do with keeping craziness at bay. I sat in this position for approximately 30 to 45 seconds, thinking everything was going on as normal, but when I released my ears and stopped the drone, I looked up only to have three small children staring at me about 6 inches from my face. And Cash was rocking and droning with a big smile on his face. He thought it was a game. My prayers had been quickly answered. I was rescued from near craziness by laughter. It was a close one.
Jackson has been reading Calvin and Hobbes comic books. I ask him to read it out loud to me sometimes to see if he can. His expression and inflection is practically perfect. Obviously he doesn't get all of the humor but he is practicing reading, but hopefully not learning behavior from Calvin.
There is another famous strip where Calvin's mom tells him to go get into the bathtub. He goes into the bathroom and sits in the tub with his clothes on, waiting for his mom to discover his "obedience." She screams from the other side of the house, "I DON'T HEAR ANY WATER RUNNING!" The other day I sent Libby to the back of the house to do or get something. I don't remember what it was, but she got distracted and Jackson looked at me, smiled, and said, "I don't hear any water running!!" And then started laughing.
Jackson seems to be speaking in capital letters with exclamation points at the end these days. Yesterday I was nursing in the living room and Jackson was in time out on his bed. Cash and Libby went in there and a few moments later I hear Jackson, with no breath in between, shouting, "DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! DOUBLE DANGER! DOUBLE DANGER!" (slight pause) "DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! DANGER!" I finally got a word in and asked what they were doing. "Dumping powder!" So I said, "Then take it from them!" He walked it into the kitchen to put it up high where Cash couldn't reach, saying nothing but giving me an eye roll as if to say, "Here I go again, saving the day." and then went back to his bed.
Another punch line to my comic strip life was the other day when I was made half crazy by some mini-crisis and Jackson told me, "At least you didn't pull all your hair out, Mom."
So I guess that's about it. But just for your information, later that day, after the powder incident, my friend Carey, and her kids, Ellie and Clark came came over to play. She was changing Clark's diaper in Cash's room, and I was changing Penelope in her room. We came out to the living/dining area only to find the entire pathway from the front door to the back door and into the hall COVERED in powder, with Cash holding the container, and three other kids playing in it. What happened to "DANGER DANGER DOUBLE DANGER?" Oh well. I guess you can't rely on a six year old to save the day every time.
Jackson has been reading Calvin and Hobbes comic books. I ask him to read it out loud to me sometimes to see if he can. His expression and inflection is practically perfect. Obviously he doesn't get all of the humor but he is practicing reading, but hopefully not learning behavior from Calvin.
There is another famous strip where Calvin's mom tells him to go get into the bathtub. He goes into the bathroom and sits in the tub with his clothes on, waiting for his mom to discover his "obedience." She screams from the other side of the house, "I DON'T HEAR ANY WATER RUNNING!" The other day I sent Libby to the back of the house to do or get something. I don't remember what it was, but she got distracted and Jackson looked at me, smiled, and said, "I don't hear any water running!!" And then started laughing.
Jackson seems to be speaking in capital letters with exclamation points at the end these days. Yesterday I was nursing in the living room and Jackson was in time out on his bed. Cash and Libby went in there and a few moments later I hear Jackson, with no breath in between, shouting, "DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! DOUBLE DANGER! DOUBLE DANGER!" (slight pause) "DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! DANGER!" I finally got a word in and asked what they were doing. "Dumping powder!" So I said, "Then take it from them!" He walked it into the kitchen to put it up high where Cash couldn't reach, saying nothing but giving me an eye roll as if to say, "Here I go again, saving the day." and then went back to his bed.
Another punch line to my comic strip life was the other day when I was made half crazy by some mini-crisis and Jackson told me, "At least you didn't pull all your hair out, Mom."
So I guess that's about it. But just for your information, later that day, after the powder incident, my friend Carey, and her kids, Ellie and Clark came came over to play. She was changing Clark's diaper in Cash's room, and I was changing Penelope in her room. We came out to the living/dining area only to find the entire pathway from the front door to the back door and into the hall COVERED in powder, with Cash holding the container, and three other kids playing in it. What happened to "DANGER DANGER DOUBLE DANGER?" Oh well. I guess you can't rely on a six year old to save the day every time.
2/20/2008
This is Today
A lot of crazy things happened today. So, it was a normal day. I'm going to record it for historical purposes. When I am out and about since having a fourth child people say a lot, "Looks like you have your hands full." I just keep thinking about all the families in this world who have small children and their normal is crazy too. But if anyone who reads my blog wonders about my personal chaos, you can read the following. If not, just skip the text and enjoy the photos. I'm just hoping that I'll read this one day and it will help me remember why I can't remember anything.
6-7 a.m. Jimmy gets up
7-8 a.m. Jimmy leaves, Jackson and Libby read books, I get Cash up and make breakfast.
8-9 a.m. We eat, Penelope wakes and I feed her. Meanwhile, the kids are sliding down the stairs into the playroom on our six foot table that is propped up against them. No one breaks any bones, although there is injury and screaming. I get Penelope changed and dressed. I try to get a cute photo of Penelope.
9-10 a.m. I do random chores. I get myself and Libby and Cash dressed. Penelope goes down for nap. We make our way to the school room and try to start doing something educational. Cash dumps an entire container of colored pencils on the floor and I end up putting the pre-schoolers in front of the computer doing ABC's. Libby has to go pee so she makes her way up the table slide/ramp, doesn't make it all the way and pees at the top of the table, only to have her pee slide all the way down the table onto the floor.
10-11 a.m. I clean up pee and decide it's time for the table to become a table again. I send Cash and Libby to the playroom. They play, but pretty soon turn on Sesame Street. Jackson and I look up some things online we've been talking about, do some worksheets, and then he dictates a story to me. My only requirement was that it was fantasy. I got a story about the whole family flying around the house and eating Fruity Pebbles. He was pretty excited about it and after I read it back to him, he began to edit it relentlessly. I finally had to cut him off.
11-12 a.m. I change Cash's poop. We play toys, have snack, clean up, I change Cash again, I fix lunch, and the kids eat while I nurse Penelope.
12-1 p.m. I declare, "RECESS!" and make everyone go outside. I eat lunch and talk to my friend Carey on the phone. When I dialed her number everyone was quietly playing outside. 60 seconds into our conversation, Jackson is asking me for more food and Cash is ticked because Libby won't let him into the pop-up playhouse because he is "the bad guy." I referee. I change Penelope. Jackson follows me, asks to hold her, and keeps an eye on her while I read to Cash.
1-2 p.m. I take Cash to his room to lay him down for nap, Jackson interrupting twice to inform me that "Penelope yawned, Mom." I lay her down for nap. Jackson, Libby, and I do a little school stuff, I e mail Jimmy and then talk to him on the phone, and I give Jackson his afternoon work. We read books. I can't finish the last one because I am falling asleep.
2-3 p.m. I set the buzzer for 30 minutes and Libby and I pass out while Jackson does math. Jackson tries to wake us up when the buzzer beeps but I ask him for five more minutes. I check Jackson's work.
3-4 p.m. I start bread in the bread machine. Jackson, Libby and I make a Little People village in the playroom, but I have things to do. They say, "Mom! You said you would play with us!" and I try to pretend with them but they have much better imaginations and begin to leave me out of the role play. I nurse Penelope when she wakes up.
4-5 p.m. Jackson lifts Cash out of bed. He comes over and kisses Penelope, singing her the Strawberry Shortcake theme song. I have to get up and make the bread. I scrub potatoes too and Jimmy comes home with a rotisserie chicken and some other staples from Sam's. I go outside where everyone is playing and Penelope is swinging, and try to write in my journal. I end up with three people touching me and reading them a book.
5-6 p.m. Penelope lies down for a nap. We eat, have family Bible reading, (this is a recent addition to our day and Cash likes to scream "BIBLE!" at the top of his lungs while Jimmy is trying to read it) clean up, and Libby and Cash play toys in the playroom. Jimmy and I have a conversation, in between Jackson asking questions about how tall Abraham Lincoln was and lying down next to his extended tape measure to compare himself to our tallest president.
6-7 p.m. Jackson and I go for a walk, he on his bike. He asks me for the 10th time today, "Mom? Can I ask you a question?" He wipes out at the exact moment a truck drives by, frightening him and making him cry. We make it up the big hill taking turns walking his bike. Bath time. Jimmy and I take turns gushing over Penelope's cuteness while she plays in her crib. No one wants to get out of the bath so I have to cut them off eventually.
7-8 p.m. Jimmy decides to let Cash sit on the potty after drying him off. He pees a drop so Jackson rewards him with a marshmallow and Jimmy decides to put underwear on him. He grabs a pair of Jackson's underwear and we all have a good laugh watching Cash walk around in Jackson's underwear because they totally fit him. His little love handles were even bending over the waistband. I guess all the size 2 and 3 underwear I saved for him will be going in the garage sale. Meanwhile I'm trying a dress on Libby because she has to wear red, white, and blue to preschool tomorrow. Jimmy tries to get a picture of Cash and (of course) I discover that Cash has peed on the couch. I can't handle it and head for the shower. While in the shower I begin writing this blog in my head. I am so distracted by this that in trying to make the shower a little warmer, I practically scorch myself and end up leaning on the shower curtain for support. So, I fell down in the tub, screaming making Jimmy come and ask me if I was okay. I was, and felt glad that I never did something so stupid when I was pregnant. The kids are watching "Max and Ruby" a DVD from the library that has become a fave. We try to get Libby to go #2 with no success. Snack. Nurse the baby. Put in a load of laundry.
8-9 p.m. BEDTIME!!! Libby gets to stay up and play for a bit because she napped. I eat ice cream while watching American Idol, then start this blog. Penelope cries and I have to get her up.
9-10 p.m. I put Libby to bed, end up nursing Penelope again, and get her back to bed around 10. I put the laundry in the dryer.
10 and beyond. I try to finish this blog even though it is eternally long and Jimmy tells me "it's who you are" I will now try to upload pics and make my guest bed...my parents are coming tomorrow. Maybe if they read this blog they will forgive me for not getting around to scrubbing the mildew out of my shower today.
We do it all again tomorrow. Having my hands full is difficult at times but it is anything but dull. I feel so blessed to have such a full life.
6-7 a.m. Jimmy gets up
7-8 a.m. Jimmy leaves, Jackson and Libby read books, I get Cash up and make breakfast.
8-9 a.m. We eat, Penelope wakes and I feed her. Meanwhile, the kids are sliding down the stairs into the playroom on our six foot table that is propped up against them. No one breaks any bones, although there is injury and screaming. I get Penelope changed and dressed. I try to get a cute photo of Penelope.
9-10 a.m. I do random chores. I get myself and Libby and Cash dressed. Penelope goes down for nap. We make our way to the school room and try to start doing something educational. Cash dumps an entire container of colored pencils on the floor and I end up putting the pre-schoolers in front of the computer doing ABC's. Libby has to go pee so she makes her way up the table slide/ramp, doesn't make it all the way and pees at the top of the table, only to have her pee slide all the way down the table onto the floor.10-11 a.m. I clean up pee and decide it's time for the table to become a table again. I send Cash and Libby to the playroom. They play, but pretty soon turn on Sesame Street. Jackson and I look up some things online we've been talking about, do some worksheets, and then he dictates a story to me. My only requirement was that it was fantasy. I got a story about the whole family flying around the house and eating Fruity Pebbles. He was pretty excited about it and after I read it back to him, he began to edit it relentlessly. I finally had to cut him off.
11-12 a.m. I change Cash's poop. We play toys, have snack, clean up, I change Cash again, I fix lunch, and the kids eat while I nurse Penelope.
12-1 p.m. I declare, "RECESS!" and make everyone go outside. I eat lunch and talk to my friend Carey on the phone. When I dialed her number everyone was quietly playing outside. 60 seconds into our conversation, Jackson is asking me for more food and Cash is ticked because Libby won't let him into the pop-up playhouse because he is "the bad guy." I referee. I change Penelope. Jackson follows me, asks to hold her, and keeps an eye on her while I read to Cash.
1-2 p.m. I take Cash to his room to lay him down for nap, Jackson interrupting twice to inform me that "Penelope yawned, Mom." I lay her down for nap. Jackson, Libby, and I do a little school stuff, I e mail Jimmy and then talk to him on the phone, and I give Jackson his afternoon work. We read books. I can't finish the last one because I am falling asleep.
2-3 p.m. I set the buzzer for 30 minutes and Libby and I pass out while Jackson does math. Jackson tries to wake us up when the buzzer beeps but I ask him for five more minutes. I check Jackson's work.
3-4 p.m. I start bread in the bread machine. Jackson, Libby and I make a Little People village in the playroom, but I have things to do. They say, "Mom! You said you would play with us!" and I try to pretend with them but they have much better imaginations and begin to leave me out of the role play. I nurse Penelope when she wakes up.
4-5 p.m. Jackson lifts Cash out of bed. He comes over and kisses Penelope, singing her the Strawberry Shortcake theme song. I have to get up and make the bread. I scrub potatoes too and Jimmy comes home with a rotisserie chicken and some other staples from Sam's. I go outside where everyone is playing and Penelope is swinging, and try to write in my journal. I end up with three people touching me and reading them a book.
5-6 p.m. Penelope lies down for a nap. We eat, have family Bible reading, (this is a recent addition to our day and Cash likes to scream "BIBLE!" at the top of his lungs while Jimmy is trying to read it) clean up, and Libby and Cash play toys in the playroom. Jimmy and I have a conversation, in between Jackson asking questions about how tall Abraham Lincoln was and lying down next to his extended tape measure to compare himself to our tallest president.
6-7 p.m. Jackson and I go for a walk, he on his bike. He asks me for the 10th time today, "Mom? Can I ask you a question?" He wipes out at the exact moment a truck drives by, frightening him and making him cry. We make it up the big hill taking turns walking his bike. Bath time. Jimmy and I take turns gushing over Penelope's cuteness while she plays in her crib. No one wants to get out of the bath so I have to cut them off eventually.
7-8 p.m. Jimmy decides to let Cash sit on the potty after drying him off. He pees a drop so Jackson rewards him with a marshmallow and Jimmy decides to put underwear on him. He grabs a pair of Jackson's underwear and we all have a good laugh watching Cash walk around in Jackson's underwear because they totally fit him. His little love handles were even bending over the waistband. I guess all the size 2 and 3 underwear I saved for him will be going in the garage sale. Meanwhile I'm trying a dress on Libby because she has to wear red, white, and blue to preschool tomorrow. Jimmy tries to get a picture of Cash and (of course) I discover that Cash has peed on the couch. I can't handle it and head for the shower. While in the shower I begin writing this blog in my head. I am so distracted by this that in trying to make the shower a little warmer, I practically scorch myself and end up leaning on the shower curtain for support. So, I fell down in the tub, screaming making Jimmy come and ask me if I was okay. I was, and felt glad that I never did something so stupid when I was pregnant. The kids are watching "Max and Ruby" a DVD from the library that has become a fave. We try to get Libby to go #2 with no success. Snack. Nurse the baby. Put in a load of laundry.
8-9 p.m. BEDTIME!!! Libby gets to stay up and play for a bit because she napped. I eat ice cream while watching American Idol, then start this blog. Penelope cries and I have to get her up.9-10 p.m. I put Libby to bed, end up nursing Penelope again, and get her back to bed around 10. I put the laundry in the dryer.
10 and beyond. I try to finish this blog even though it is eternally long and Jimmy tells me "it's who you are" I will now try to upload pics and make my guest bed...my parents are coming tomorrow. Maybe if they read this blog they will forgive me for not getting around to scrubbing the mildew out of my shower today.
We do it all again tomorrow. Having my hands full is difficult at times but it is anything but dull. I feel so blessed to have such a full life.
2/09/2008
Airplane crash in Tallahassee!!!
Something new something old something crazy. Well, we were playing a game the other night (not a game the game Settlers of Catan) and about 9ish the lights flashed on and off a couple of times. We looked at each other and made brief mention of it and kept playing. Well about twenty minutes later the phone of one our guests rings and her sister tells her that a plane has crashed at the intersection of Tennessee and Ocala. This is about two miles from us. And the flight path goes right over our house to the airport. So were a little excited to say the least. Anyway, turns out it was a single engine prop plane and nobody was injured except the pilot. Just thought I would share the excitement with everyone. Here is a picture. Notice the Albertson's in the background. That is my Albertson's where I shop for the good deals.
I also want to say that this is big news in Tallahassee. Julie commented, and I agree-- I am glad I live in a town where this is the big news.
I also want to say that this is big news in Tallahassee. Julie commented, and I agree-- I am glad I live in a town where this is the big news.
2/04/2008
Penelope Jane at 3 months
Here is Penelope. She is three months old today. I am totally in love with her, she is so sweet and precious. Very quiet and calm. Probably the most quiet of all of us, come to think of it. Everyone around here just wants to kiss her all the time. She is full of the best part about babies--warmth and softness. She has her share of fat rolls but is my smallest baby, still able to wear 3 month clothes. I'm sure all my others were busting out of them by this time. Be healthy, Penelope, but don't grow too fast! We love you!
1/27/2008
The CD gods and marriage
When I first met Jimmy Alley, he drove a Ford Ranger pick-up truck. Since we were pretty much inseparable from the time we met, it didn't take long for us to travel together in each other's vehicles. I was driving a four door Mazda 626. Music was important to both of us, but I was still listening to mixed tapes made from my CD's, or using my portable CD player with the tape adapter to make it come through my car's speakers. Imagine how impressed and excited I was to discover that Jimmy had installed a 10 disc CD changer in his truck, allowing him to choose from 10 CD's at just the push of a button. I was rather fascinated with it and enjoyed choosing songs and trying to remember which CD was in which numbered slot, so as to find it easier. Jimmy however, liked to put his player on "mix all" and let the "CD gods" as he would say, choose the next song for him. I didn't much like relinquishing control, but it was fun to let the player do it's thing and decide whether or not the CD gods had done a good job choosing a song that was appropriate for our mood or day or whatever we were doing or wherever we were driving.
Recently Libby stuck approximately 9¢ in our vans CD player and we had to replace it. Jimmy made sure it was equipped with a way to hook up his iPod, so now we bow to the "iPod gods" while driving around. I could go on about how many times we laugh or are amazed at what is chosen at what time, but the most recent one was the song "Trust" by Sixpence None the Richer. It was less than two weeks until our friends Brian and Andrea were getting married, and they had asked us to sing together at their wedding ceremony, and we had been unable to agree upon a song. One day Jimmy was on some errands with some kids and he came home suggesting this song as what we should sing. I said, "what made you think of that?" and he said with a grin, "it just came up on the iPod while we were out. Sometimes these things just happen, Julie." He's still trying to convert me.
Our kids were in their wedding (except Penelope). It was wardrobe overload for me (I barely ever dress myself up from head to toe, much less the whole family!) but I didn't forget anything huge and managed to get everyone ready in time too. (With the help of Jimmy's mom and various others at the church!) In the midst of all the zippers, buttons, shoes, etc. we were privileged to bless them with the song.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your path straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
P.S. This is Cash's latest sharpie endeavour.
Recently Libby stuck approximately 9¢ in our vans CD player and we had to replace it. Jimmy made sure it was equipped with a way to hook up his iPod, so now we bow to the "iPod gods" while driving around. I could go on about how many times we laugh or are amazed at what is chosen at what time, but the most recent one was the song "Trust" by Sixpence None the Richer. It was less than two weeks until our friends Brian and Andrea were getting married, and they had asked us to sing together at their wedding ceremony, and we had been unable to agree upon a song. One day Jimmy was on some errands with some kids and he came home suggesting this song as what we should sing. I said, "what made you think of that?" and he said with a grin, "it just came up on the iPod while we were out. Sometimes these things just happen, Julie." He's still trying to convert me.
Our kids were in their wedding (except Penelope). It was wardrobe overload for me (I barely ever dress myself up from head to toe, much less the whole family!) but I didn't forget anything huge and managed to get everyone ready in time too. (With the help of Jimmy's mom and various others at the church!) In the midst of all the zippers, buttons, shoes, etc. we were privileged to bless them with the song.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your path straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
P.S. This is Cash's latest sharpie endeavour.
1/08/2008
the Breakdown
So, our Christmas tradition of traveling all over Florida has finally come to an end. It went something like this:
12/25 drive to Waldo
12/28 drive to Brandon
12/31 drive back to Waldo
1/2 a.m. Jackson and Libby drive to Brandon
1/2 p.m. Jimmy, Julie and Penelope drive to Tally
1/5 Jimmy, Julie and Penelope drive to Brandon
1/6 all drive home, picking up Cash at a Gainesville exit on the way
Why?? You may ask. Well, for a lot of reasons, but the dropping off of children to give Jimmy and I three days here with just a baby was much of the motivation. As my mom said as I left, it was to get a fresh start. And that is just what I needed. A fresh start, a new year, a clean toilet. I had not done much housework since Penelope was born. So I got my fresh start. I cleaned, reorganized, and put away as much foolishness and mayhem as possible in two days. At one point during our time off I said to Jimmy, "don't you feel like all the life has gone out of our van? It's like we've let the air out of a balloon." To which he responded, "NO. I'm having a great time!" Well, anyway...
What I would like to address is the Breakdown. It's happening. I had this fresh start. Not only were my surfaces clean, my attitude was rejuvenated. But I have realized that you can't stay rejuvenated forever. If you could, rejuvenation wouldn't exist. I tried in my mind to keep my attitude and laundry looking and feeling fresh, but then tonight it hit me that we're back to normal, and normal, around here, is not always clean and organized. Oh well. And it's not one big event, it's just the day to day. It's Libby peeing on the floor of my pristine bathroom less than 10 minutes after we arrived home. It's me opening the refrigerator only to have syrup start dripping on the floor, because it's been dripping down the condiments in your refrigerator door, just waiting for you to open it and discover it's sweetness. It's Cash, while you're wiping out the refrigerator, pulling out the bag of tortillas, eating through the plastic, and then taking a King Kong sized bite out of the entire stack of them. Heck, it began before we even got home. It's me, the matriarch of this troupe trying to take a nap in the car Sunday afternoon, hearing a Disney video coming from the back of the van and Jimmy's punk music coming from the front. (Do YOU think you could sleep with "It's a small world" and some Greenday song playing at the same time? I can, I did, and I am proud.)
So in the midst of all this, I am just thankful that I am not personally having a breakdown. It's not possible with these fun-loving kids. AND Penelope slept over 8 hrs the last two nights so that's huge for my sanity. She is a great baby and still quiet and easy. And to prove I'm always able to find something to laugh about: Tonight I told Jackson we were taking Penelope to the Dr. tomorrow for her 2 month checkup. I said that she was going to have to get some shots. He said, in an excited, drawn out voice, "And then she's going to get a special treeee-eat!" And I was thinking I was going to have to remind him that she can't have candy, when he pats me on the boob and says, "And it's going to come from right heeee-re!" Am I really living in the middle of this hilariousness? I think I am, and I think I love it. Bring on the breakdown. We'll laugh all the way to the nasty, dirty floors.
She's super baby!
Diaper buddies 
Jackson got a bike!
12/25 drive to Waldo
12/28 drive to Brandon
12/31 drive back to Waldo
1/2 a.m. Jackson and Libby drive to Brandon
1/2 p.m. Jimmy, Julie and Penelope drive to Tally
1/5 Jimmy, Julie and Penelope drive to Brandon
1/6 all drive home, picking up Cash at a Gainesville exit on the way
Why?? You may ask. Well, for a lot of reasons, but the dropping off of children to give Jimmy and I three days here with just a baby was much of the motivation. As my mom said as I left, it was to get a fresh start. And that is just what I needed. A fresh start, a new year, a clean toilet. I had not done much housework since Penelope was born. So I got my fresh start. I cleaned, reorganized, and put away as much foolishness and mayhem as possible in two days. At one point during our time off I said to Jimmy, "don't you feel like all the life has gone out of our van? It's like we've let the air out of a balloon." To which he responded, "NO. I'm having a great time!" Well, anyway...
What I would like to address is the Breakdown. It's happening. I had this fresh start. Not only were my surfaces clean, my attitude was rejuvenated. But I have realized that you can't stay rejuvenated forever. If you could, rejuvenation wouldn't exist. I tried in my mind to keep my attitude and laundry looking and feeling fresh, but then tonight it hit me that we're back to normal, and normal, around here, is not always clean and organized. Oh well. And it's not one big event, it's just the day to day. It's Libby peeing on the floor of my pristine bathroom less than 10 minutes after we arrived home. It's me opening the refrigerator only to have syrup start dripping on the floor, because it's been dripping down the condiments in your refrigerator door, just waiting for you to open it and discover it's sweetness. It's Cash, while you're wiping out the refrigerator, pulling out the bag of tortillas, eating through the plastic, and then taking a King Kong sized bite out of the entire stack of them. Heck, it began before we even got home. It's me, the matriarch of this troupe trying to take a nap in the car Sunday afternoon, hearing a Disney video coming from the back of the van and Jimmy's punk music coming from the front. (Do YOU think you could sleep with "It's a small world" and some Greenday song playing at the same time? I can, I did, and I am proud.)
So in the midst of all this, I am just thankful that I am not personally having a breakdown. It's not possible with these fun-loving kids. AND Penelope slept over 8 hrs the last two nights so that's huge for my sanity. She is a great baby and still quiet and easy. And to prove I'm always able to find something to laugh about: Tonight I told Jackson we were taking Penelope to the Dr. tomorrow for her 2 month checkup. I said that she was going to have to get some shots. He said, in an excited, drawn out voice, "And then she's going to get a special treeee-eat!" And I was thinking I was going to have to remind him that she can't have candy, when he pats me on the boob and says, "And it's going to come from right heeee-re!" Am I really living in the middle of this hilariousness? I think I am, and I think I love it. Bring on the breakdown. We'll laugh all the way to the nasty, dirty floors.
She's super baby!
Diaper buddies 
Jackson got a bike!
12/24/2007
T'was the night before Christmas
T'was the night before Christmas
and in every room
Noise maker fans were blowing
I was using a broom
The stockings were hung
by the door with thumb-tacks
For Penelope, Cash,
Libby, and Jack
With Jim in his boxers
and I in my chair
J-train miracles
were filling the air
I've nursed the baby
and put her to sleep
The presents under
the tree in a heap
When all of a sudden
there arose such a clatter
We muted the T.V.
To see what was the matter
Libby's crying I think
she fell out of her bed
"You help her," "no you!
She might've hit her head"
I'm trying to blog,
Jimmy's got gas
I hold my breath
for this too shall pass
Just wanted to share a picture of our first Christmas here with ourselves. Jimmy is taking it hard, being the party animal that he is. He's being a good sport even though I know he'd rather be with a crowd. I told him I would post a picture of his Christmas pizza. For the record, my pizza included spinach, making it red and green AND good for you. Jackson said, "pickles are good for you mom, they're cucumbers!" Anyways, we also unlocked the key to a group photo with Cash. Turn on T.V., Place camera on tripod directly in front of T.V., Place child on couch, Promise a lollipop if he sits still. This is our first family photo without me sitting on a hospital
bed.
God has come to earth in the form of a baby. I have a newborn baby. It is truly a humble being. Babies cannot do anything on their own. They need help for everything. It was truly a humiliating thing to become not only a man, but a tiny helpless one. Accompanied by angels and cow poop. My baby is angelic and poopy. And I don't give serving her a second thought. May it be the same for my Savior. May I serve Him freely and selflessly.
Peace to You.
Merry Christmas to all
And to all a Good Night!
12/22/2007
12/11/2007
stuff I don't want to forget
Just making notes of things I'd like to tell my kids one day, but am afraid I won't remember...
- Whenever Jackson gives Penelope a kiss, he plants his lips on her cheek, goes totally still like a statue and holds his lips there for approximately (I've counted) 12 seconds. I always have to ask him to back off, it lasts so long. He responds with, "Mom, I wanted to give her a wedding kiss!"
- Libby saying that Penelope is the cutest baby in the "whole white word" (whole wide world)
- Yesterday I asked Libby to wash her hands and face after dinner. She did her hands but not her face and when I told her that her mouth was still dirty, she told me that it was not lasagna on her face, but that her freckles had just moved around.
- My children have used sharpie to write on clothing, wood floors (twice), tile floors, my dry erase board, our dining room table, a decorative pillow sham, and themselves. These markers to me have begun to represent my identity as a person outside of being a mom. I love them so much, I still keep them around even though they are "mommy markers" and are NOT for children. I refuse to rid myself of sharpies. I will put aside breakable items, valuable books and documents, and electronics, but sharpies will remain plentiful in my home.
- Last week Cash bit the tip off a yellow Crayola marker. I did NOT look for this in his diapers. If he wants to make art on the inside of his body, that is his choice as a modern artist. If only something recognizable came out into his poop--maybe we could take the kid to NYC and make a buck.
- My favorite kissing spot on Penelope is right between her eyes. I don't want to forget this because I know I've had a favorite spot on all my kids when they were infants, but I can't remember the others for sure. This makes me sort of sad.
11/28/2007
King Kong
Well, I am adjusting to life with an additional J. It has been described to me as "a new normal" and this is true. Life as I knew it no longer exists and now I have to figure out how to maintain some sort of safe, sane, and somewhat sanitary environment for my little people.
We get the cheap basic cable and because they block out all the extra channels, there are a few we get that we aren't supposed to. The Style network is one of them. We like to watch "Clean House" in which a team of four people visits a family with intense clutter, has a yard sale, and uses the money to fix up and reorganize their space. The show is hosted by Nicey Nash, a large lipped always well dressed African American woman who is never without a flower in her hair. She always has a heart to heart with these people who live in clutter and she is always using the adjectives "foolishness" and "mayhem" to describe their home.
This is my new normal. FOOLISHNESS. And MAYHEM.
Contributing to much of my mayhem is my toddler. I now would like to remind those who may not know or remember, that I previously described Cash as a big squooshy marshmallow. And he is. Although a marshmallow I believe, is a little bit lighter. Anyways, Cash has weighed and measured average for his age, so when I make comments about how huge he is, it's not really that he's all that big, it's just the way he carries himself. And throws himself around. He is a full blown male toddler. I add the "male" part because he has an aspect that is quite masculine. He likes to destroy, take apart, and tear things apart. I think the squooshy marshmallow part applied to Cash, the baby. As my friend Carey says, we won the baby lottery. He was laid back, quiet, and calm. Cash the toddler is not so much. If the bathroom door is open, he is in the toilet. If the pantry is open, he is in it. If it's locked, he tries the trash can. He is fully equipped with that toddler radar that hones in on anything that is NOT a good idea for him to climb on, touch, eat, or throw.
What spurred this whole blog is what happened yesterday. I was attempting to teach Jackson school. We were sitting on the bed in the playroom (trying to be away from Cash) using some paper triangles to make shapes of things. We had a child's encyclopedia open next to us, which we were referencing, trying to imitate their shapes. Cash bounds up on the bed, much to my frustration, and does a spread eagle on top of the encyclopedia, hoisting his ample belly right on top of the pages, wrinkling them up as he grabs for our project. Jackson got frustrated too and said, "Cash, you're like King Kong!"
Unfortunately, ever since Jackson made this observation, I keep having these visions of Cash, our little King Kong, climbing into Penelope's crib, (the top of the Empire State Building, if you will) grabbing her by the torso, and waving her around while he speaks his toddler-ease that no one can really understand. While he may be a gentle giant at heart, I fear for my newborn's safety, I must confess.
We get the cheap basic cable and because they block out all the extra channels, there are a few we get that we aren't supposed to. The Style network is one of them. We like to watch "Clean House" in which a team of four people visits a family with intense clutter, has a yard sale, and uses the money to fix up and reorganize their space. The show is hosted by Nicey Nash, a large lipped always well dressed African American woman who is never without a flower in her hair. She always has a heart to heart with these people who live in clutter and she is always using the adjectives "foolishness" and "mayhem" to describe their home.
This is my new normal. FOOLISHNESS. And MAYHEM.
Contributing to much of my mayhem is my toddler. I now would like to remind those who may not know or remember, that I previously described Cash as a big squooshy marshmallow. And he is. Although a marshmallow I believe, is a little bit lighter. Anyways, Cash has weighed and measured average for his age, so when I make comments about how huge he is, it's not really that he's all that big, it's just the way he carries himself. And throws himself around. He is a full blown male toddler. I add the "male" part because he has an aspect that is quite masculine. He likes to destroy, take apart, and tear things apart. I think the squooshy marshmallow part applied to Cash, the baby. As my friend Carey says, we won the baby lottery. He was laid back, quiet, and calm. Cash the toddler is not so much. If the bathroom door is open, he is in the toilet. If the pantry is open, he is in it. If it's locked, he tries the trash can. He is fully equipped with that toddler radar that hones in on anything that is NOT a good idea for him to climb on, touch, eat, or throw.
What spurred this whole blog is what happened yesterday. I was attempting to teach Jackson school. We were sitting on the bed in the playroom (trying to be away from Cash) using some paper triangles to make shapes of things. We had a child's encyclopedia open next to us, which we were referencing, trying to imitate their shapes. Cash bounds up on the bed, much to my frustration, and does a spread eagle on top of the encyclopedia, hoisting his ample belly right on top of the pages, wrinkling them up as he grabs for our project. Jackson got frustrated too and said, "Cash, you're like King Kong!"
Unfortunately, ever since Jackson made this observation, I keep having these visions of Cash, our little King Kong, climbing into Penelope's crib, (the top of the Empire State Building, if you will) grabbing her by the torso, and waving her around while he speaks his toddler-ease that no one can really understand. While he may be a gentle giant at heart, I fear for my newborn's safety, I must confess.
11/07/2007
Little Red Caboose
Hey, it's Julie. I thought I would record some highlights from the birth experience while they are fresh in my mind. The best part for me was getting to photograph the birth of my own baby. I have always wanted to do this, but haven't been able to while in the pains of labor and pushing. I finally accomplished it by getting an epidural and having my baby slide out with no pushing required. Jimmy stood watch of two screens- my contractions and Sunday afternoon football. My mom was the normal queen of support, but I'm sure glad I remembered to pack the crossword puzzles, since most of the day was pretty boring.
My Dad gets a gold medal for babysitter of the millennium--he watched my kids on an incredibly exciting and unpredictable day. You think I'm referring to the birth of Penelope? Well, that's exciting and unpredictable but really I was referring to the time change. Also, three days worth of Pop-Pop's morning oatmeal, which he lovingly makes for the kids when he's visiting, decided to blaze on through to Cash's diapers. Dad got to deal with all of it. When Jimmy called him after she was born, Jackson got on the phone, heard the news, yelled at Jimmy "I'm pumped!" and then promptly hung up.
Libby sat next to me on my hospital bed, looked over at Penelope and said, "We're three girls." (I usually say to Libby, "We're two girls.") Cash lovingly held my hand while sitting in his stroller next to my bed in the hospital. We are pretty much experts at the whole hospital stay, and Jimmy was very gracious to get off his lame excuse for a bed just to turn on a light or get me a drink. He ate cheese grits from the cafeteria like three times. He also provided plenty of laughs for me, as usual, with his mispronunciations of words we only use during or after childbirth. For example, a baby's first bowel movement, called "meconium" was called by Jimmy condonium and plutonium, among a few others. I kept correcting him, even though I knew what he meant and knew it would do no good, he won't remember what it's called and it really doesn't matter, I guess. When a nurse technician came in to draw my blood at 5 a.m. missed a vein twice, and then sent in someone else, I managed to pretty much sleep through the whole thing. Later, another nurse came in to tell me about the class for new mommies. When she left I announced, "I think I'm going to skip the class this time." I'm not proud, but I don't really need a demonstration on how to use a car seat or put on a diaper.
Enough of all that. I really wanted to post a few pictures that I actually got a chance to take in all the chaos. Penelope has proven to be no trouble so far-- a good sleeper at night, I'm hoping it sticks! Jackson wants to hold her ALL the time. Libby regularly announces she loves her, and Cash, though he's having a little trouble adjusting, likes to bring her what she needs. Tonight my mom was holding her, and Cash brought her a blanket, cloth diaper, and my bed pillow, since those are the items I've had with me every time I hold her. He pays attention.
Penelope is little, red, and bringing up the rear of the J train. Our caboose.
11/05/2007
Baby Penelope!
10/27/2007
Poop cycle
Well, here I am again with another poop story. But you know what? Flatulence and poop are always good for a laugh. And I do like to try and make things funny. It's not hard when things like this happen to you. I need to give a little background before the payoff, so please stick with me.
In the middle of the night last night Libby fell out of her bed. It finally registered what happened after probably a minute or more of scream-crying. I went to get her up and realized she was wet. I told her to go to the bathroom and take off her pants. She did, and I took off the sheets and grabbed fresh underwear and pj's, meeting her outside the bathroom door, where she was trying to get her wet pants off her ankles. I helped her, tossed them in a pile with the wet sheet to be washed tomorrow, and helped her step into her clean pants and night shirt. I then saw some poop on the floor behind her. Gross, right? Well, this is not uncommon (here's some background on the background part: Libby does not always poop when she has the urge, we're working on it, but because of that she often poops in her sleep and also because of that her poop is so hard it rivals in size and consistency a golf ball. Prune juice, anyone?) So I grabbed some TP and plopped it in the toilet, trying to stay sleepy despite the fact that it stunk. I put on a clean sheet, she went back to bed, I washed my hands, peed, of course, and also went back to bed.
Okay. So this morning after breakfast I put the soiled laundry in the washer, added enough to make a load, which included her pillow (it's a small one I can put in the wash) and started the washer. I got everyone dressed and playing outside, and then had them wake up Jimmy. I then proceeded to do more cleaning in the kitchen than usual, because I'm going to have this baby soon and I want everything to be Queen-ready. Feeling rather proud of myself that I actually wiped down the inside of the microwave, I heard the washer stop. I decided to switch the laundry over to the dryer. I was also feeling proud of myself about this, because, sometimes soiled laundry sits for a while if it's not laundry day and when I wash laundry on NON laundry day, I tend to forget about it. I walked into the laundry room and told Jimmy something stunk. I assumed it was the full kitchen trash can, which sits right outside the laundry room door. (At this point I'm beginning to wonder if all this background is really worth a stinky payoff.) I open the washer and smelled inside. Something wasn't quite right. I pulled out Libby's pillow, buried my face in it, much like one might see on a laundry soap or fabric softener commercial, and took a big whiff. It didn't exactly smell like soap, but I still wasn't sure I wasn't just smelling the trash can. I put the pillow and a few other items into the dryer and then I discovered something. Libby's sheet had some brown flecks on it. And then I saw it. A poop terd in the bottom of my washer. Gross! I had just done a super sized load of laundry with soap and poop! I ran out to report my finding to Jimmy, only to go back in and find two more terds, the last and biggest stuck to the bottom of my washer looking large and in charge.
Well, of course I proceeded to look through every piece of laundry to make sure I didn't repeat the "Poop cycle" when I rewashed everything, and started the clothes again--with hot water and oxyclean this time. Did you believe me when I said her poop was like a golf ball? Well, obviously since it barely even disintegrated in an entire laundry cycle. And do you remember the part where I buried my face in the pillow? This is what has stuck with me all day. Me, proud of myself for doing my laundry efficiently, burying my face in a pillow that was washed with golf ball poop. Just when I thought we had seen every poop disaster known to man, another one rears it's ugly head. Or should I say it's ugly rear end?
In the middle of the night last night Libby fell out of her bed. It finally registered what happened after probably a minute or more of scream-crying. I went to get her up and realized she was wet. I told her to go to the bathroom and take off her pants. She did, and I took off the sheets and grabbed fresh underwear and pj's, meeting her outside the bathroom door, where she was trying to get her wet pants off her ankles. I helped her, tossed them in a pile with the wet sheet to be washed tomorrow, and helped her step into her clean pants and night shirt. I then saw some poop on the floor behind her. Gross, right? Well, this is not uncommon (here's some background on the background part: Libby does not always poop when she has the urge, we're working on it, but because of that she often poops in her sleep and also because of that her poop is so hard it rivals in size and consistency a golf ball. Prune juice, anyone?) So I grabbed some TP and plopped it in the toilet, trying to stay sleepy despite the fact that it stunk. I put on a clean sheet, she went back to bed, I washed my hands, peed, of course, and also went back to bed.
Okay. So this morning after breakfast I put the soiled laundry in the washer, added enough to make a load, which included her pillow (it's a small one I can put in the wash) and started the washer. I got everyone dressed and playing outside, and then had them wake up Jimmy. I then proceeded to do more cleaning in the kitchen than usual, because I'm going to have this baby soon and I want everything to be Queen-ready. Feeling rather proud of myself that I actually wiped down the inside of the microwave, I heard the washer stop. I decided to switch the laundry over to the dryer. I was also feeling proud of myself about this, because, sometimes soiled laundry sits for a while if it's not laundry day and when I wash laundry on NON laundry day, I tend to forget about it. I walked into the laundry room and told Jimmy something stunk. I assumed it was the full kitchen trash can, which sits right outside the laundry room door. (At this point I'm beginning to wonder if all this background is really worth a stinky payoff.) I open the washer and smelled inside. Something wasn't quite right. I pulled out Libby's pillow, buried my face in it, much like one might see on a laundry soap or fabric softener commercial, and took a big whiff. It didn't exactly smell like soap, but I still wasn't sure I wasn't just smelling the trash can. I put the pillow and a few other items into the dryer and then I discovered something. Libby's sheet had some brown flecks on it. And then I saw it. A poop terd in the bottom of my washer. Gross! I had just done a super sized load of laundry with soap and poop! I ran out to report my finding to Jimmy, only to go back in and find two more terds, the last and biggest stuck to the bottom of my washer looking large and in charge.
Well, of course I proceeded to look through every piece of laundry to make sure I didn't repeat the "Poop cycle" when I rewashed everything, and started the clothes again--with hot water and oxyclean this time. Did you believe me when I said her poop was like a golf ball? Well, obviously since it barely even disintegrated in an entire laundry cycle. And do you remember the part where I buried my face in the pillow? This is what has stuck with me all day. Me, proud of myself for doing my laundry efficiently, burying my face in a pillow that was washed with golf ball poop. Just when I thought we had seen every poop disaster known to man, another one rears it's ugly head. Or should I say it's ugly rear end?
10/18/2007
...begins with the letter E
This week is letter Ee. Libby drew an amazing elephant on Monday and then asked me how to spell it and made every letter so well that I brought it out at dinner time and bragged about her to Jimmy. Jackson also did a good job portraying an egg- in every form he could think of. Jimmy said, "You should put these on the blog" so Jackson remembered and has been bugging me to post them. I will ask them to talk about their pictures.
This is Libby's picture and Libby drawed this and then she drawed the eyes and the eybrows and then she drawed the elephant. This is my elephant. I did it and my mom did it on the computer. That's what I want you to say. (Libby was given a prompt page that looked like Jackson's and did eyes and eyebrows first before she moved to the elephant.)
Eggs can be lots of things. They can make a baby chick and the chicks grow. They can make scrambled eggs. And then you eat them all up. They can make boiled eggs. They can make eggs that you can eat plain.
This is Libby's picture and Libby drawed this and then she drawed the eyes and the eybrows and then she drawed the elephant. This is my elephant. I did it and my mom did it on the computer. That's what I want you to say. (Libby was given a prompt page that looked like Jackson's and did eyes and eyebrows first before she moved to the elephant.)
Eggs can be lots of things. They can make a baby chick and the chicks grow. They can make scrambled eggs. And then you eat them all up. They can make boiled eggs. They can make eggs that you can eat plain.
10/11/2007
This too shall pass
I have been thinking I should post something before I have this baby (I'm due Nov. 4) but I think I am censoring myself because when you are 9 months pregnant for the fourth time in 6.5 years, certain words are just a part of your vocabulary that most people are not very comfortable with. I am afraid that if I blog it will be filled with words like groin, nipples, uterus, bottom (and whatever else you may call it), contractions, cervix, and discharge. At least I didn't include hemorrhoids. Which is a very interesting word by the way. I believe there are a few acceptable spellings. Probably because no one wants to think about them.
So this explains my lack of gumption to write, but I have now successfully gotten it all out of my system and you can rest easy. No more pregnancy lingo from this obstetrical patient. I will be good.
Today I lugged both Jackson and Cash to my Dr.'s office for a routine ultrasound and check-up with my doctor. Cash seems to be over the whole waiting room scene but luckily I had Jackson around to keep him happy by doing many things, one of which was pushing him around the waiting room in the stroller, only running into someones toes once. To make a long story short, I had to have two ultrasounds, the second being a "level 2" which means I went upstairs to a nicer ultrasound machine. They were making sure I had plenty of amniotic fluid, which I did and all is well. The baby passed with flying colors and I actually got to see her in 4D which was cool but scary because her face was smooshed against me and my placenta. (Oops I promised no more buzz words.) So we were a Hansel and Gretel of sorts, scattering all kinds of "keep your children occupied" snack food crumbs over waiting rooms, exam rooms and hallways over the course of 2.5 hours. All of this culminated with Jackson announcing in quite a loud voice to a nurse, "We're having NO MORE BABIES after this!" I just laughed because, what else is there besides laughter after a morning such as ours? Oh that, and the fact that Cash was fussing and my big round belly was full of jelly when Jackson dropped his declaration. As if he makes all the life-altering decisions in our family.
So this explains my lack of gumption to write, but I have now successfully gotten it all out of my system and you can rest easy. No more pregnancy lingo from this obstetrical patient. I will be good.
Today I lugged both Jackson and Cash to my Dr.'s office for a routine ultrasound and check-up with my doctor. Cash seems to be over the whole waiting room scene but luckily I had Jackson around to keep him happy by doing many things, one of which was pushing him around the waiting room in the stroller, only running into someones toes once. To make a long story short, I had to have two ultrasounds, the second being a "level 2" which means I went upstairs to a nicer ultrasound machine. They were making sure I had plenty of amniotic fluid, which I did and all is well. The baby passed with flying colors and I actually got to see her in 4D which was cool but scary because her face was smooshed against me and my placenta. (Oops I promised no more buzz words.) So we were a Hansel and Gretel of sorts, scattering all kinds of "keep your children occupied" snack food crumbs over waiting rooms, exam rooms and hallways over the course of 2.5 hours. All of this culminated with Jackson announcing in quite a loud voice to a nurse, "We're having NO MORE BABIES after this!" I just laughed because, what else is there besides laughter after a morning such as ours? Oh that, and the fact that Cash was fussing and my big round belly was full of jelly when Jackson dropped his declaration. As if he makes all the life-altering decisions in our family.
9/05/2007
Firsts
Well, this week is a week of adjustments on the J train. Monday I started homeschool, and Tuesday Jimmy started his new job (of which the first two days have proved it is indeed the perfect job for him--YES!) and Libby went to pre-school. She will be going two mornings a week. Everyone seems to be adjusting fine. I am just amazed at Jimmy going to bed early and getting up BEFORE me. (Even if it's only five or ten minutes before me.) It has been years since this has been the case. Here are pictures. Noodle Names from our first day of school (it's letter N week), Jimmy out the door, Libby ready for school, and what Cash and Jackson were doing while I had her sitting on the front porch. Poor Libby. And a shot of Cash eating breakfast in the background because my other two are ready to learn! Ha!p.s. An apology to all who have left comments in the last three or four months. I didn't know you commented and I finally published them all. Sorry!
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