1. You know you married the right guy when he busts out his electric guitar to learn the Strawberry Shortcake (Berry Bitty Adventures) theme song.
I cannot even describe the awesomeness. We had one berry good jam.
2. I'd like him to learn the theme for Franklin next. We changed the words to "Hey, it's Polly!" Maybe Edmund could learn how to play a jaw harp?
3. Speaking of theme songs, I may have mentioned once or a dozen times that I came up with lyrics for the theme to Monarch of the Glen.
Love that sexy sax.
Problem: Since they keep changing who the Laird is, I have to change the words fairly often.
4. My wonder son Peter, who is in Pennsylvania this weekend for a national collegiate level golf tournament, penned words to the theme close to everyone's hearts, Downton Abbey.
"Dog is walking.
Open shutters now.
Bells are ringinging.
The mail is here, the kettle's warm.
Measuring the places.
Petals falling.
Lamps are on.
DUST, dust the chandelier."
5. YES! I used up 5 takes on theme songs! #winning
Time for a gratuitous baby pic.
6.
Last night, Lucy and I watched Sense and Sensibility with *swoon* Alan Rickman.
Lucy commented that it was remarkably like the movie, Scents and Sensibility on Netflix.
no words. #fail
7. I beg to disagree with Mr. T.S. Eliot. September is the cruelest month. Maybe October. There were snow flurries this morning.
Polly will not abide car seats or naps longer than five minutes.
I hear a baby crying in my head when I go to sleep at night.
This season of life is dang hard. So many people with so many needs.
Sorry blog readers, but I blew off WWRW this week. I chose to shower, walk the whole brood the whole way to the library, and stop at the playground on the way home. I let Edmund and Jill play as long as they wanted.
I'd like to promise it won't happen again, but most days are difficult days. Not a lot of reading is happening and even less blogging.
It's just going to have to be that way for awhile. I know you'll understand.
Any bloggers wanna take a turn guest hosting WWRW? Shoot me an email. Or just leave a comment.
My troubles aren't really troubles. All these people in my life to love are treasures. I get that. But here's to a day when I go to the bathroom and nobody talks to me through the door!
Linking up with Jen. A day late. That's how it's gotta be.
1. Forget Anna and Elsa. Jill is only interested in Leonor and Sofia. She's been asking repeatedly who the Real princesses are, and I was finally able to deliver some names and images besides Princess Kate.
2. Father's Day was super lame around here. I thought I'd have somethingone for Patrick for the big day, but it he/she has not arrived as of yet.
I keep checking my email for tracking info, checking those baby apps hoping to see "Today you will have your baby." but nope. Nada.
Patrick spent most of Fathers' Day re-creating our Korean Barbecue experience. Food is his recreation and his love language.
These are Korean dumplings and the traditional 12 side dishes at the authentic restaurant we went to when our kids were out-of-town. We don't know what most of those dishes are, and neither did our server.
His Father's Day gift to himself. Omelet thingies here ^.
He made the Galbi beef short ribs, sauteed bok choy, pickled kimchi cabbage, Asian cucumber slaw, and those little omelet roll ups with the green onions served room temp. Those omelet bites are incredible with a little soy/chili sauce mixture drizzled on them. Everything was scrumptious. Even Jill cleaned her plate, eating mostly omelet bites and beef.
Korean beers and water. I'm pretty sure the water is Gangnam Style.
Some of the credit for that feast goes to Micaela for inspiring me to seek out the mysterious flavors of Korean cuisine. Go check out her series of interviews with homeschoolers, including one with yours truly.
3. Run out of summer fun yet? Multiple rainy days in your part of the world?
Yesterday, I got a package from my sweet sister-in-law, Adaire. A care package! With chocolate, and lip balm, and hair ties, and jewelry, and the cutest mug you ever saw! The hair ties and lip balm are going straight in my birth center go bag, should I ever need to actually go there and birth someone. The chocolate might not be with us very much longer.
The whole kit and kaboodle was adorably packaged. You really made my day, Adaire. The package and the prayers. Thank you!
Go check out Ruthiebox, and send someone some love in a care package.
5. Speaking of surprises and prayers, sometimes you find things where you least expect them.
My kids know their phones are subject to random checks. Technically, their phones are our phones, since we pay for them.
Earlier this week I found someone's phone surreptitiously peeking out from under a sofa cushion and decided to take a peek at what she's been up to.
She had been texting a male acquaintance the usual, "hey" "what's up" stuff. He asked if she was going on the upcoming group trip to a theme park this weekend. She replied, "Idk. My mom is due any day."
His response, "Oh, that's right. I've been praying for her."
Some kid who likes my daughter is praying for me?
Sigh.
Tears.
6 & 7. How to Cope with Being 40 weeks Pregnant at the End of June when Temps are in the 90s and You Don't Have Central Air Conditioning
Aside from window units, box fans, ceiling fans, and plenty of Red Raspberry Leaf Tea (iced), I rely on two very important products.
This is Culver's Lemon Ice. Culver's Lemon Ice is my very best friend. One scoop is 100 calories and zero fat. For $1.99, I can face another day. Cue One Day More theme music...
This is Dr. Teal's Lavender Epsom Salt Soaking Solution. I put about a cup or more in my bath before bedtime and I not only watch my cankles disappear, but I can sleep comfortably until the birds start chirping at the buttcrack of dawn. The 4 to 40 bathroom trips don't even phase me. Grace told me about this magic brew, but my midwives recommend it too.
That wraps up another whiny week with Jessica. Go see Kathryn for people with better quick takes and better attitudes. Do I dare to hope that I'll be in a better mood next week with better news?
1. About this post's title,
when someone gets "owned" around here, we say "owned IN THE FACE!" Owning something IN THE FACE (it always has to be in all caps) is so much more satisfying.
Now, I have made an indelible mark on the English language. My work here is done.
2. All of these things happened yesterday:
Woke up.
Out of tea. (Coffee is gross, people. Tea is good for you and doesn't give you nasty breath.)
Took Jill and Edmund to the library, where Jill and I went to Toddler Storytime.
Jill kept swatting the hand of a would-be friend (we don't like to be touched).
Edmund used his 30 minutes of unsupervised library time to check out 59 DVDs which are due in one week.
Emergency Costco run.
COSTCO WAS OUT OF TEA!!!!!!
Would they EVER EVER EVER run out of coffee?!???
Stopped at overpriced grocery store WHERE THEY WERE OUT TOO! At least the shelf for the big boxes (100 bags $4.99) was empty, so I got 48 bags for $3.99. Normally, Costco has 300 for like $6 or $7.
Went home. Opened back of car, 24 eggs immediatlely fell out and broke on the driveway. Jill stomped on a few on her way in the house.
While I went outside to clean up the damage, Jill stomped her eggy, snowy, salty boots all over the upholstered living room sofa.
Tears. Hot angry tears.
Then I called Patrick and itemized all of the above and included complaints about not watching Once Upon a Time with me the previous night, because HE doesn't know anyone who likes it.
Sorry Internet friends. Your opinions hold no cred with him.
Next, I put away the groceries and sent Edmund and Jill to watch a few of these animated DVDs about Greek Mythology (they are only 23 minutes each) so I could lie down on the sofa, before I had to drive to tutoring.
Heather's tale reminds me of the time we had three under four, and had just moved into this fixer-upper house, which came with a pink-tiled bathroom and a pink toilet seat.
Right after we moved in, on the hottest day of the year (no a/c here!), with our six-week old newborn (crazy much?), we got some take-out from KFC. Covered in fried chicken grease and instant mashed potatoes and gravy, my two toddlers were wrestled into the bathtub.
I took a moment of private time to use the facilties, only to discover that I now had KFC gravy on my behind.
KFC gravy is roughly the same color as 1960's shellfish pink bathroom decor.
You never wanted to know that, did you?
(I admit I am curious to know what kind of pictures Heather would draw to tell my story. Perhaps that's why it happened to me and not to her.)
She looks so sweet. Yet, all week she has screamed at me as though she is the commandant of this German POW camp and I am the American GI. I think she's going to break me.
--- 2 ---
WARNING: WHINING AHEAD. SKIP TO QUICK TAKE #5 TO AVOID THE PITY PARTY.
--- 3 ---
Whoa, Nelly. This whole "being screamed at all week and not getting any sleep" coupled with "back to school early alarm clocks and making two meals before 7am" might be part of my problem.
--- 4 ---
Plus, some of the residents here had unwelcome visitors. Not the kind that bring suitcases either. The kind that require a fine toothed comb. I am somewhat of an expert on that type of thing now. This was our third go-round in two years. I may grace you with an in-depth post answering everything from "How can you tell?" to "How not to melt the headbands and barrettes." I know you're interested. (Hint: For the baseball season: Each child needs his or her own batting helmet.)
I am so, so, very grateful that I made this discovery at 2 pm, and not at 11:30 pm like last time.
Thank you, Jesus.
--- 5---
NOW, FOR THE GOOD STUFF...
In other news, I was the recipient of some very direct, in my face, divine intervention on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary no less. I had every intention of telling you all about it, but I got all teary faced that day, and then I got busy with Rid on Thursday. So what was meant to be a post, will now become a Quick Take.
Last Christmas, I had a heart to heart with my sister, Mary about her godson, Edmund, and his difficulty reading. As a teacher herself, she had lots of insight and encouraged me to get him tested for learning disabilities.
We looked into testing through the state and testing privately. We had him privately tested in the spring, and lo and behold, he's not stupid. He's not lazy. He has a learning disability in reading that might be overcome with help, or might end up as lifelong dyslexia. In either case, he needs a lot of support in reading.
Early in July, his wonderful, wonderful tutor moved away. In mid-July, my sweet sister passed away. And I really was stressed about what to do for Edmund educationally all summer, with very little guidance.
But Jesus and Mary, my sister, and I'm sure Mary, His mother had it all under control.
First of all, our Catholic parochial school has a new principal, as of July 1st, who has an amazing background in special ed and has parented a child with learning disabilities herself. She encouraged me to keep Edmund at this school, and assured me that she would do everything in her power to make sure his accommodations are met.
I have to point out that private schools are legally under no obligation
to make any modifications for students with disabilities. But she is willing to make changes for my kid, that she legally doesn't have to make, because she cares about kids. She cares about MY kid.
Coincidence? I don't think so.
Then, I had a very long meeting with Edmund's teacher. Even though she, herself isn't trained to work with children who have learning disabilities, she is very willing to work with Edmund, with his long list of modifications and with any tutor that Edmund might have. This woman is ready to give freely of her time for my child. She wants to help him. And she is going out of her way to do so, in an underpaid position, as a diocesan teacher, because she cares about kids. She cares about MY kid.
She also wept with me when I told her about Mary, and the impact Mary has had on Edmund and his education.
And she asked me to ask Mary to guide her this year as she tries to guide Edmund.
That's why I love my Catholic parish school.
Oh, and did I mention, that I saw this teacher in the front pew every night of the Sacred Heart novena back in June?
Coincidence? Nah.
Only one problem. I had no tutor for Edmund. No specialist with the necessary training to meet his needs and to help re-educate him in reading using a multi-sensory curriculum. This is the one piece of the puzzle that could really impact Edmund and turn his disability into ability.
I had made a few inquiries, sent an email, left a voicemail, and heard nothing.
But on Wednesday, which was the first day of school, I was driving home, and thinking about Mary, and asking her again to intercede for her godson that he might have a positive learning experience, if not academically, at least emotionally.
And when I got home I got a phone call from a fabulous and energetic tutor, who is excited to work with Edmund this year, understands his disability better than I do, and wants to meet with his teacher.
chills.
Thanks, Mary.
You totally rock.
--- 6 ---
While I was "treating" Peter, he asked if I was going to give Baby J the treatment. I said no, and explained that children under 2 shouldn't get the treatment and that even older children have had bad reactions to it. I mentioned that I've even heard of this toxic stuff causing seizures and such.
Then, I kind of, accidentally, got some it in his eye.
He moaned and said, "Oh, no! Now, I'm going to have a seizure in my eye! Well, at least I won't have any lice in my eye."
He makes me laugh. And Lord knows, I needed a laugh right about then.
---7---
Call Me Maybe + The Dark Knight + I know this kid from Peter's school, and I can't believe he has a half a million hits already = AWESOME!
1. You know you married the right guy when he busts out his electric guitar to learn the Strawberry Shortcake (Berry Bitty Adventures) theme song.
I cannot even describe the awesomeness. We had one berry good jam.
2. I'd like him to learn the theme for Franklin next. We changed the words to "Hey, it's Polly!" Maybe Edmund could learn how to play a jaw harp?
3. Speaking of theme songs, I may have mentioned once or a dozen times that I came up with lyrics for the theme to Monarch of the Glen.
Love that sexy sax.
Problem: Since they keep changing who the Laird is, I have to change the words fairly often.
4. My wonder son Peter, who is in Pennsylvania this weekend for a national collegiate level golf tournament, penned words to the theme close to everyone's hearts, Downton Abbey.
"Dog is walking.
Open shutters now.
Bells are ringinging.
The mail is here, the kettle's warm.
Measuring the places.
Petals falling.
Lamps are on.
DUST, dust the chandelier."
5. YES! I used up 5 takes on theme songs! #winning
Time for a gratuitous baby pic.
6.
Last night, Lucy and I watched Sense and Sensibility with *swoon* Alan Rickman.
Lucy commented that it was remarkably like the movie, Scents and Sensibility on Netflix.
no words. #fail
7. I beg to disagree with Mr. T.S. Eliot. September is the cruelest month. Maybe October. There were snow flurries this morning.
Polly will not abide car seats or naps longer than five minutes.
I hear a baby crying in my head when I go to sleep at night.
This season of life is dang hard. So many people with so many needs.
Sorry blog readers, but I blew off WWRW this week. I chose to shower, walk the whole brood the whole way to the library, and stop at the playground on the way home. I let Edmund and Jill play as long as they wanted.
I'd like to promise it won't happen again, but most days are difficult days. Not a lot of reading is happening and even less blogging.
It's just going to have to be that way for awhile. I know you'll understand.
Any bloggers wanna take a turn guest hosting WWRW? Shoot me an email. Or just leave a comment.
My troubles aren't really troubles. All these people in my life to love are treasures. I get that. But here's to a day when I go to the bathroom and nobody talks to me through the door!
Linking up with Jen. A day late. That's how it's gotta be.
1. Forget Anna and Elsa. Jill is only interested in Leonor and Sofia. She's been asking repeatedly who the Real princesses are, and I was finally able to deliver some names and images besides Princess Kate.
2. Father's Day was super lame around here. I thought I'd have somethingone for Patrick for the big day, but it he/she has not arrived as of yet.
I keep checking my email for tracking info, checking those baby apps hoping to see "Today you will have your baby." but nope. Nada.
Patrick spent most of Fathers' Day re-creating our Korean Barbecue experience. Food is his recreation and his love language.
These are Korean dumplings and the traditional 12 side dishes at the authentic restaurant we went to when our kids were out-of-town. We don't know what most of those dishes are, and neither did our server.
His Father's Day gift to himself. Omelet thingies here ^.
He made the Galbi beef short ribs, sauteed bok choy, pickled kimchi cabbage, Asian cucumber slaw, and those little omelet roll ups with the green onions served room temp. Those omelet bites are incredible with a little soy/chili sauce mixture drizzled on them. Everything was scrumptious. Even Jill cleaned her plate, eating mostly omelet bites and beef.
Korean beers and water. I'm pretty sure the water is Gangnam Style.
Some of the credit for that feast goes to Micaela for inspiring me to seek out the mysterious flavors of Korean cuisine. Go check out her series of interviews with homeschoolers, including one with yours truly.
3. Run out of summer fun yet? Multiple rainy days in your part of the world?
Yesterday, I got a package from my sweet sister-in-law, Adaire. A care package! With chocolate, and lip balm, and hair ties, and jewelry, and the cutest mug you ever saw! The hair ties and lip balm are going straight in my birth center go bag, should I ever need to actually go there and birth someone. The chocolate might not be with us very much longer.
The whole kit and kaboodle was adorably packaged. You really made my day, Adaire. The package and the prayers. Thank you!
Go check out Ruthiebox, and send someone some love in a care package.
5. Speaking of surprises and prayers, sometimes you find things where you least expect them.
My kids know their phones are subject to random checks. Technically, their phones are our phones, since we pay for them.
Earlier this week I found someone's phone surreptitiously peeking out from under a sofa cushion and decided to take a peek at what she's been up to.
She had been texting a male acquaintance the usual, "hey" "what's up" stuff. He asked if she was going on the upcoming group trip to a theme park this weekend. She replied, "Idk. My mom is due any day."
His response, "Oh, that's right. I've been praying for her."
Some kid who likes my daughter is praying for me?
Sigh.
Tears.
6 & 7. How to Cope with Being 40 weeks Pregnant at the End of June when Temps are in the 90s and You Don't Have Central Air Conditioning
Aside from window units, box fans, ceiling fans, and plenty of Red Raspberry Leaf Tea (iced), I rely on two very important products.
This is Culver's Lemon Ice. Culver's Lemon Ice is my very best friend. One scoop is 100 calories and zero fat. For $1.99, I can face another day. Cue One Day More theme music...
This is Dr. Teal's Lavender Epsom Salt Soaking Solution. I put about a cup or more in my bath before bedtime and I not only watch my cankles disappear, but I can sleep comfortably until the birds start chirping at the buttcrack of dawn. The 4 to 40 bathroom trips don't even phase me. Grace told me about this magic brew, but my midwives recommend it too.
That wraps up another whiny week with Jessica. Go see Kathryn for people with better quick takes and better attitudes. Do I dare to hope that I'll be in a better mood next week with better news?
1. About this post's title,
when someone gets "owned" around here, we say "owned IN THE FACE!" Owning something IN THE FACE (it always has to be in all caps) is so much more satisfying.
Now, I have made an indelible mark on the English language. My work here is done.
2. All of these things happened yesterday:
Woke up.
Out of tea. (Coffee is gross, people. Tea is good for you and doesn't give you nasty breath.)
Took Jill and Edmund to the library, where Jill and I went to Toddler Storytime.
Jill kept swatting the hand of a would-be friend (we don't like to be touched).
Edmund used his 30 minutes of unsupervised library time to check out 59 DVDs which are due in one week.
Emergency Costco run.
COSTCO WAS OUT OF TEA!!!!!!
Would they EVER EVER EVER run out of coffee?!???
Stopped at overpriced grocery store WHERE THEY WERE OUT TOO! At least the shelf for the big boxes (100 bags $4.99) was empty, so I got 48 bags for $3.99. Normally, Costco has 300 for like $6 or $7.
Went home. Opened back of car, 24 eggs immediatlely fell out and broke on the driveway. Jill stomped on a few on her way in the house.
While I went outside to clean up the damage, Jill stomped her eggy, snowy, salty boots all over the upholstered living room sofa.
Tears. Hot angry tears.
Then I called Patrick and itemized all of the above and included complaints about not watching Once Upon a Time with me the previous night, because HE doesn't know anyone who likes it.
Sorry Internet friends. Your opinions hold no cred with him.
Next, I put away the groceries and sent Edmund and Jill to watch a few of these animated DVDs about Greek Mythology (they are only 23 minutes each) so I could lie down on the sofa, before I had to drive to tutoring.
Heather's tale reminds me of the time we had three under four, and had just moved into this fixer-upper house, which came with a pink-tiled bathroom and a pink toilet seat.
Right after we moved in, on the hottest day of the year (no a/c here!), with our six-week old newborn (crazy much?), we got some take-out from KFC. Covered in fried chicken grease and instant mashed potatoes and gravy, my two toddlers were wrestled into the bathtub.
I took a moment of private time to use the facilties, only to discover that I now had KFC gravy on my behind.
KFC gravy is roughly the same color as 1960's shellfish pink bathroom decor.
You never wanted to know that, did you?
(I admit I am curious to know what kind of pictures Heather would draw to tell my story. Perhaps that's why it happened to me and not to her.)
She looks so sweet. Yet, all week she has screamed at me as though she is the commandant of this German POW camp and I am the American GI. I think she's going to break me.
--- 2 ---
WARNING: WHINING AHEAD. SKIP TO QUICK TAKE #5 TO AVOID THE PITY PARTY.
--- 3 ---
Whoa, Nelly. This whole "being screamed at all week and not getting any sleep" coupled with "back to school early alarm clocks and making two meals before 7am" might be part of my problem.
--- 4 ---
Plus, some of the residents here had unwelcome visitors. Not the kind that bring suitcases either. The kind that require a fine toothed comb. I am somewhat of an expert on that type of thing now. This was our third go-round in two years. I may grace you with an in-depth post answering everything from "How can you tell?" to "How not to melt the headbands and barrettes." I know you're interested. (Hint: For the baseball season: Each child needs his or her own batting helmet.)
I am so, so, very grateful that I made this discovery at 2 pm, and not at 11:30 pm like last time.
Thank you, Jesus.
--- 5---
NOW, FOR THE GOOD STUFF...
In other news, I was the recipient of some very direct, in my face, divine intervention on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary no less. I had every intention of telling you all about it, but I got all teary faced that day, and then I got busy with Rid on Thursday. So what was meant to be a post, will now become a Quick Take.
Last Christmas, I had a heart to heart with my sister, Mary about her godson, Edmund, and his difficulty reading. As a teacher herself, she had lots of insight and encouraged me to get him tested for learning disabilities.
We looked into testing through the state and testing privately. We had him privately tested in the spring, and lo and behold, he's not stupid. He's not lazy. He has a learning disability in reading that might be overcome with help, or might end up as lifelong dyslexia. In either case, he needs a lot of support in reading.
Early in July, his wonderful, wonderful tutor moved away. In mid-July, my sweet sister passed away. And I really was stressed about what to do for Edmund educationally all summer, with very little guidance.
But Jesus and Mary, my sister, and I'm sure Mary, His mother had it all under control.
First of all, our Catholic parochial school has a new principal, as of July 1st, who has an amazing background in special ed and has parented a child with learning disabilities herself. She encouraged me to keep Edmund at this school, and assured me that she would do everything in her power to make sure his accommodations are met.
I have to point out that private schools are legally under no obligation
to make any modifications for students with disabilities. But she is willing to make changes for my kid, that she legally doesn't have to make, because she cares about kids. She cares about MY kid.
Coincidence? I don't think so.
Then, I had a very long meeting with Edmund's teacher. Even though she, herself isn't trained to work with children who have learning disabilities, she is very willing to work with Edmund, with his long list of modifications and with any tutor that Edmund might have. This woman is ready to give freely of her time for my child. She wants to help him. And she is going out of her way to do so, in an underpaid position, as a diocesan teacher, because she cares about kids. She cares about MY kid.
She also wept with me when I told her about Mary, and the impact Mary has had on Edmund and his education.
And she asked me to ask Mary to guide her this year as she tries to guide Edmund.
That's why I love my Catholic parish school.
Oh, and did I mention, that I saw this teacher in the front pew every night of the Sacred Heart novena back in June?
Coincidence? Nah.
Only one problem. I had no tutor for Edmund. No specialist with the necessary training to meet his needs and to help re-educate him in reading using a multi-sensory curriculum. This is the one piece of the puzzle that could really impact Edmund and turn his disability into ability.
I had made a few inquiries, sent an email, left a voicemail, and heard nothing.
But on Wednesday, which was the first day of school, I was driving home, and thinking about Mary, and asking her again to intercede for her godson that he might have a positive learning experience, if not academically, at least emotionally.
And when I got home I got a phone call from a fabulous and energetic tutor, who is excited to work with Edmund this year, understands his disability better than I do, and wants to meet with his teacher.
chills.
Thanks, Mary.
You totally rock.
--- 6 ---
While I was "treating" Peter, he asked if I was going to give Baby J the treatment. I said no, and explained that children under 2 shouldn't get the treatment and that even older children have had bad reactions to it. I mentioned that I've even heard of this toxic stuff causing seizures and such.
Then, I kind of, accidentally, got some it in his eye.
He moaned and said, "Oh, no! Now, I'm going to have a seizure in my eye! Well, at least I won't have any lice in my eye."
He makes me laugh. And Lord knows, I needed a laugh right about then.
---7---
Call Me Maybe + The Dark Knight + I know this kid from Peter's school, and I can't believe he has a half a million hits already = AWESOME!
