Nothing exciting going on around here. Just a regular-ol’ Tuesday. And I kinda like it that way. A few errands. Hide-and-seek with Caleb. A workout. Homework with Jacob. And carpool to Scouts. Very easy. And we even had some downtime this afternoon to just play. The kids were all at the base of the stairs. Just doing whatever they pleased. I opened the door to let some light in. And grabbed my camera.
Our littlest dude turned 15 months this week. He’s walking all the time now…slow and steady. He learned how to go from a sit, to a squat, to a stand, to a walk! Let me demonstrate:
We could watch him walk all day…he’s just so proud of himself and has a big grin on the whole time. And most often he can be seen crawling or walking with a ball in hand (see pictures for proof). He rarely, if ever, cries and when he does it’s usually very short-lived. He takes an almost 3 hour nap every afternoon. He adores his brothers, especially Caleb since that’s who he sees the most. He hates it when Caleb cries. He points and grunts at things that he wants. He says NO WORDS! Actually that’s not true…he says "Uh-oh" very clearly. But no mama, dada, ball or anything! Just a lot of grunting and "uh-oh". 🙂 He throws his bottle when he’s done with it. He is happiest in our game/media room. He could stay there, with the balls and toys, all day. He loves baths. He’s getting little blonde curls around his ears. The other boys both got their first hair cuts at this age…Samuel will NOT be needing that anytime soon. And he sleeps from 7 pm to 8 am. Could he be an easier/happier/better baby?! I don’t think so. Such a joy!
On Monday, my mom was awarded the Extended Service Award by her PTA. Here’s a description: "In 1987, the Texas PTA board of directors developed the criteria for awarding an Extended Service Award. Honor those individuals who have been actively involved in PTA for at least 10 years and who have already received a Texas Life Membership by presenting them with this certificate."
It was a complete surprise to her…the award, and the fact that we were there for the announcement. We hid back stage until it was time. The best part was seeing the audience give her a standing ovation. If you remember the incidents of 2006 and the art teacher, you’ll remember that the media made her out to be quite a witch. But her school loves her, the district loves her, and we love her.
Congratulations, Mom!
I made my usual trip to see Frances today at the nursing facility. I try to go see her on Wednesdays. I missed last week because of an appointment, but she was in the hospital again for fluid in her lungs. She has congestive heart failure. She was brought back to her nursing home on Monday, so I was anxious to get out to see her again today. Me and Samuel always enjoy sitting with her. One of the things she asked me is "Has my son told you when I can go home?". And then when I told her I would see her next Wednesday, she told me to call first "in case she had moved back home". Home, for her, is a very small apartment in the same facility. But it’s her bed, and her furniture, and her things. I can imagine that home is a place she longs for. And, yet, her son has told me that she will probably never go back home. She can’t care for herself. And he even said he’ll probably put her things in storage and allow someone else to have the apartment. That’s not something he’s felt he could tell her just yet. What kind of life is it if you can never go "home" again?
It’s just been weighing on me heavily. How dependent you become at that age. Despite the life you lived and the things you did or the money you had or the people you knew, you end up (if you live that long) leaving this earth very much the same way you came in to it…completely helpless and dependent on others.
While I was there, her roommate (in the next bed) spilled some coffee on herself. I ran to get some nurses. The nurses came and were not very kind. Frances told me that one of the nurses is "icky". I asked her what that meant and she just made a face. I made her promise to tell us if anyone was ever unkind or hurtful. She promised she would.
So, I go every week. For so many reasons. One, because I love Frances. And she loves me. And she is my friend. I go because if my Momo (great-grandmother) and Momus (grandmother) were alive they would go. I go because of James 1:27, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction". And I go because I hope that some day when I’m old, and those that I love are gone, someone who loves me will come and remind me that my life has meaning and purpose in this world…they’ll tell me about the garden they’re planting, and the azaleas that are blooming just outside my window; they’ll tell me about the weather, and they’ll remind of stories about the past…they’ll rub my hand, and reassure me; they’ll help me remember things and places and names, if only for that moment; and they’ll look me in the eye and tell me they love me.
My mom celebrated a 50-something birthday yesterday (she loves me for sharing things like that). And we (Me and Derek, Mark, my brother, and his girlfriend, Anne) decided to surprise her for dinner on Sat night at Jasper’s. It was a late reservation, so first we met and went to see Miss Pettigrew lives for a Day at the Angelika. That was fun! Then we walked down to Jasper’s and surprised Mom. It was a great evening…good movie, great food, and fun conversation! Happy Birthday, Mom. We love you.
And, yes, after all that amazing food this weekend, I am officially on a DIET today. I’ve already done 40 minutes on the treadmill this morning and I’m on my second bottled water. I would like to continue to eat this way on the weekends so I’m determined to cut back Mon – Fri!!
Have I mentioned that I love Gourmet Club!? Ok, it was a little taxing when it was our month to host. I’ll admit it. But the rest of the months are pure joy for me…great food and conversation, with beautiful table settings, etc. It’s just grand!
Friday night was our March meeting (I use the term meeting very loosely).
The theme: Flavors of the Mediterranean
The menu:
Virigin White Sangria
Sea Scallop and Artichoke Kebobs
Cibatta Bread with Oil and Vinegar
Tomato Bisque
Greek Salad
Artichoke Pesto Pasta
Pork Chop and Feta Skillet, Torta di Riso, Pan Roasted Asparagus with Thyme
Cream Cheese Tart with Blood Orange Marmalade
Lemon Sorbet served in a Ice Dish (this was spectacular!)
DELICIOSO!
It was so good. Everything was divine. Way to go, Tricia and Claire!
Really enjoying my three boys this week…they just make me smile and laugh. And, yes, they also make me crazy and grey and exhausted and frustrated. Take, for example, when I realized this week that Jacob had just completely ignored the nice sandwich I had packed for his lunch, and bought one of these instead. But mostly they just make me happy. Here are some of the latest things that they do.
1. Jacob is an amazing reader. We bought him the book, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, for Easter. And he’s already finished. Two nights ago I went to check on him before going to bed, and found his book laying on the end of the bed with a flashlight beside it. No wonder he gets thru them so fast…he stays up late reading! It seems that every week he’s reading and finished with a new book. I can’t keep up! Although I would like to. I’m starting a new book called Laddie, by Gene Stratton Porter. And not only is he a fast reader, his comprehension is thru the roof. So pleased that my kid loves to read!
Here he is doing his dunks…he made a list of all of his original dunks and performs them for us…360s, thru the legs, flying,… (he even asked if I could take pictures and put them on my blog!).
2. Caleb has said some of the funniest things lately…
a) We were talking about the boys serving missions one day. Jacob, always the thinker, asked what would happen if a young man decided not to serve (a legitimate question). Before we could answer, Caleb very matter-of-factly chimed in, “You get arrested by Jesus.”
b) Caleb is a little pickier about food than usual lately. He’s given up peanut butter (is that allowed?). And when he doesn’t like something, he makes a grumpy face, and whines, “It tastes like ROT.” So, the other day, I mixed some cranberry juice with ginger ale for him (one of my personal favorite combinations). And he thoughtfully said, “Mom, it’s only half rot. The juice is rot. The soda is yummy. So it’s just kinda rot. I like it!”.
c) This morning I opened up the windows. It was so warm yesterday that the house is stuffy. And this morning it’s nice and cool, but also misty and damp out. He went to the window, took a big sniff and said, “Aaahhhh, it smells like fish!” Is that good?, I asked. “Oh, yes, mom it means it’s going to rain, and I like the rain.“
Cute, funny, sweet kid.
Here he is with the boat that he and Derek made out of wood, when Jacob was working on his pinewood derby car.
3. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but we continue to be amazed and astonished at Samuel’s eating ability. The kid has YET to turn away from ANY food. ANY food. Here’s just a sampling of what he’ll eat…deviled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, celery, craisins, chicken, rice, beans, tomatoes, any and all fruit, corn, peas, asparagus, green beans, black beans, beef, crackers, cheese, ham, zucchini, meatloaf, potatoes, milk, juice, water, etc, etc, etc. And the list goes on! And he scarfs it down, like it’s going to disappear. He only slows down when he’s getting full, but even then he would keep eating. I have to admit that at times it wears me out, because he ends up eating most of my food, and keeps me from sitting for very long at meals. But, mostly, I love it. It’s always satisfying when your kids eat good stuff!
And, he’s really walking! Only 6-10 steps at a time. But he’s trying all the time, and just so pleased with himself.
I have decided, on looking again, that I LOVE this picture more and more every time I see it. Samuel had just woken up from his nap. I was so sad that I had cropped the big boys (I was intending on just getting Samuel because he was smiling shortly before I snapped this). And it’s the only GOOD one that I got of all 3 of them, so I wish it was zoomed out some. BUT, just look at how content Sam is, and how happy Caleb and Jacob are. And look at their hands wrapped around him…his neck, his hand, his waist. They LOVE that baby. And they are so handsome. It just melts my heart. So, here it is again, in case you missed it on first glance.
I love this holiday. I love what we celebrate. I love that we have a knowledge of the Savior and his Atonement and Resurrection. I love the hope that it brings and the comfort. I love that because of Him, we sing… "Love’s redeeming work is done, Fought the fight, the vict’ry won. Jesus’ agony is o’er, Darkness veils the earth no more. Lives again our glorious King, Where, O death, is now thy sting? Once he died our souls to save, Where thy victory, O grave?" (hymn, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today")
I love that Easter comes at spring, a time of renewal and looking ahead. I love the colors of spring, the warmth of the days and the cool of the nights. I love new church clothes and wicker baskets. I love the eggs, the ham, the asparagus. I love it all. And this year was no exception.
We ended the day with a beautiful dinner at my Mom and Steve’s house with Kay, Mark and Anne also. It was delicious and fun. Sadly, I forgot my camera in the craziness of getting there with deviled eggs, salad, a starving, fussy baby, and a sick 5-year old. BUT, it was wonderful nonetheless. Thanks, mom.
What a great week we had! The weather was great, with the small exception of flooding-torrential-rain on Tuesday. But it was only one day!
Here was our list of to-do’s:
See this movie:Â CHECK
Play with friends: CHECK (at one point I had 8 kids over, playing in the front yard…very good times!)
Give mom some time away: CHECK, CHECK!
I went and had a facial and did some shopping for me and the boys. It was fabulous. I also had time to read a Mary Higgins Clark book. I usually try to read something that I can learn at least a little from, but this was a “just for fun” read.
Take the boys fishing: CHECK
Derek took 3 days off this week. The first day he went golfing with a friend. But also took the guys fishing.
Yard work: CHECK
Derek is a work horse! He’s amazing. On Thursday he worked ALL DAY out in our yard. He rented a trailer and hauled 3,000 pounds of dirt and mulch all over the place, transplanting plants, pulling up grass, etc, etc. It looks so much better! He really outdid himself.
Go see Frances: CHECK, and she is making great strides in her recovery.
Visit the Frank Buck ZOO: CHECK
It was a small zoo, to say the least, but we loved seeing the giraffes up close, and two bears playing. It was gorgeous weather too.
I loved it when this giraffe spread his legs out so he could bend down to get some water! It must be tough to be that tall!
Samuel’s FIRST zoo.
These three are so loving and attentive to one another most of the time. It warms my heart.
And as usual, we wore ourselves out…
And there were other things too:
A girls night with Dana and Shelley – always a good time!
A game night with a family Derek home teaches – I made lemon creme brulee and we had a blast!
Lunch with my mom.
And lots of Easter goodies…see the next post for that.
All in all, it was a GREAT week.
Now Jacob’s back in school, and Derek’s on his way to California and I miss them both.
Caleb’s on the couch with a high fever and Samuel’s sleeping in.
Looks like Spring Break is over. 😦
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