As I've been walking Ryan to school these past weeks, I have noticed how big his hand has felt in mine. Maybe because it's the end of the school year and I am nostalgic anyway, how his hand feels in mine has been a distraction.
I held his hand as a baby, amazed at how little his hand was in my palm. As a toddler I held his hand for safety in parking lots, having to close my hand more to keep his secure. I remember him trying to twist away from my hand when he was angry with me. Now my heart leaps when he voluntarily takes my hand as we are walking along. For him, demonstrating affection is more rare and precious. The tips of his fingers would meet the edge of my palm, now they curl around it. His growth has been so much more than physical and holding his hand shows me how much he has grown. "I know, Mom" he says.
He quietly accepts my hand as we walk and sometimes I feel he is humoring me. I still need it. Hopefully, for awhile, he will too.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Every Sunday
Every Sunday should be like this Sunday. First, and maybe most importantly..I got to sleep in..until 9:20. This never happens. Up, eat, talk Greg out of bike ride (too cold). But he's rearing to do something, so he starts yardwork. I feel guilty, so I start work on the back porch. At the end of the yard work stretch, the lawn is mowed, front and back. The back patio is clean--it really does look nice and it has warmed up. Greg grills burgers and hot dogs for lunch after making a Kroger run for Stewart's orange cream (Ryan's favorite) and some grape soda (my favorite)--for some reason this tastes so good after yard work! We are all relaxed, Ryan is happy--he got to help grill. We also found a frog and 2 bunnies in the back yard. Charlotte rehoused some earthworms that were under the kids basketball hoop and held the frog.
We just have to go to Kettering for Trader Joe's run and to drop off a Little Tikes car for Levi. Playtime for kids at the Kuperman's. AJ and I check out an open house next door. Awesome room size, (great neighbors:), but hasn't been cosmetically updated in many many decades--read exposed insulation and scary dark basement. On the way we just have to stop and get some Coldstone. Did I mention it was gorgeous out at this point? And everyone is happy. I mean just relaxed and happy.
We get home and squeeze in a bike ride. Charlotte gets to use her new Camelbak--it's pink. Beautiful ride in Yellow Springs along a converted bike path. It still shows up on maps (on my iPhone!!) as a railroad. So Ryan and I played "what kind of train would you drive here" on the way home. We saw Young's in the distance which really helped the kids get an idea of how far we went. Lots of Honeysuckle in bloom. Charlotte insisted it was Daddy's turn to pull her on the trailer bike--my turn next time. On the drive to the bike tril Charlotte was talking about how she wanted to be a "mommy that stayed home" when she grew up so her "children would never be sad when she would go to work" Just twist the knife a little more sweetie.
Home, late dinner then promised smores over the fire out back. Showers, books and bed. The kids are out in 5 minutes. Fun, happy Sunday.
We just have to go to Kettering for Trader Joe's run and to drop off a Little Tikes car for Levi. Playtime for kids at the Kuperman's. AJ and I check out an open house next door. Awesome room size, (great neighbors:), but hasn't been cosmetically updated in many many decades--read exposed insulation and scary dark basement. On the way we just have to stop and get some Coldstone. Did I mention it was gorgeous out at this point? And everyone is happy. I mean just relaxed and happy.
We get home and squeeze in a bike ride. Charlotte gets to use her new Camelbak--it's pink. Beautiful ride in Yellow Springs along a converted bike path. It still shows up on maps (on my iPhone!!) as a railroad. So Ryan and I played "what kind of train would you drive here" on the way home. We saw Young's in the distance which really helped the kids get an idea of how far we went. Lots of Honeysuckle in bloom. Charlotte insisted it was Daddy's turn to pull her on the trailer bike--my turn next time. On the drive to the bike tril Charlotte was talking about how she wanted to be a "mommy that stayed home" when she grew up so her "children would never be sad when she would go to work" Just twist the knife a little more sweetie.
Home, late dinner then promised smores over the fire out back. Showers, books and bed. The kids are out in 5 minutes. Fun, happy Sunday.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Can I put the winter stuff away?
73 today. Wonderful wonderful.
I am looking at the sea of papers on the desk--it's not even my desk, it's Greg's but I have totally taken it over since he has the totally great and huge monitor... anyway, it's all school stuff! Journal articles and assignment sheets and books! I now know more about social marketing and radon which I suppose would be useful if I were going into marketing or environmental health. Though I suppose you could apply social marketing to teaching. That would actually be useful and maybe a little fun. Sorry, tangent. Now I have to find a place to store all of it--though the floor seems to be working fine.
In two weeks I will get my first informatics class! Hooray. I'm trying not to worry about it. I wish I had gotten some computer certifications first!
In other news. Another bike ride today. We all went on the bike path between Bcreek and Xenia. Kilkare was open so we got to see some drag races form the bike path. I always forget how much i like those. Big engines loud noise. Greg doesn't get my fascination with monster trucks or tractor pulls either. Must be the Witt coming through. Ryan was fascinated and Charlotte was content picking flowers. She sang most of the bike ride--either Disney stuff or hummed Loreena McKinnit. She is such a hoot to listen to! She kept herself completely occupied. The trailer bike is working well and she loves it.
Ryan's second tooth is growing in. When he talks I am constantly reminded of a little old man missing his partial. He has the big gap on his bottom row:)
I hounded the rescue lady again. It's been 3 weeks (I think) since this adventure started and I am ready for a dog already. Word is the home visit folks will be calling soon! There won't be any word until after that I suppose. Area breeders of AKC pups are asking between $800 and $1200 for a golden puppy. That's nice. And for everyone saying there are dogs at the pound, yes I know. The last dog lived 11 years. I liked him. I picked him out as a puppy. If I am going to look at another dog for 10+ years I want to like it too. My conscience won't let me buy one from a pet store--though by golly it sure is easier than all of this!
George will be here Wednesday! Hooray! I don't know how long he's staying. Greg may or may not have another trip after this one.
No word on the job front. I will go ahead an enroll C for public K next year. Even f I don't get a day job in the next few weeks, one could come up in the next few months and I would have to move her anyway if we homeschooled. So now I will be depressed for awhile. It was so hard taking Ryan out of Antioch. It will be hard taking C out too. She talks to all the teachers and all the kids. This sucks. Damn money.
I am looking at the sea of papers on the desk--it's not even my desk, it's Greg's but I have totally taken it over since he has the totally great and huge monitor... anyway, it's all school stuff! Journal articles and assignment sheets and books! I now know more about social marketing and radon which I suppose would be useful if I were going into marketing or environmental health. Though I suppose you could apply social marketing to teaching. That would actually be useful and maybe a little fun. Sorry, tangent. Now I have to find a place to store all of it--though the floor seems to be working fine.
In two weeks I will get my first informatics class! Hooray. I'm trying not to worry about it. I wish I had gotten some computer certifications first!
In other news. Another bike ride today. We all went on the bike path between Bcreek and Xenia. Kilkare was open so we got to see some drag races form the bike path. I always forget how much i like those. Big engines loud noise. Greg doesn't get my fascination with monster trucks or tractor pulls either. Must be the Witt coming through. Ryan was fascinated and Charlotte was content picking flowers. She sang most of the bike ride--either Disney stuff or hummed Loreena McKinnit. She is such a hoot to listen to! She kept herself completely occupied. The trailer bike is working well and she loves it.
Ryan's second tooth is growing in. When he talks I am constantly reminded of a little old man missing his partial. He has the big gap on his bottom row:)
I hounded the rescue lady again. It's been 3 weeks (I think) since this adventure started and I am ready for a dog already. Word is the home visit folks will be calling soon! There won't be any word until after that I suppose. Area breeders of AKC pups are asking between $800 and $1200 for a golden puppy. That's nice. And for everyone saying there are dogs at the pound, yes I know. The last dog lived 11 years. I liked him. I picked him out as a puppy. If I am going to look at another dog for 10+ years I want to like it too. My conscience won't let me buy one from a pet store--though by golly it sure is easier than all of this!
George will be here Wednesday! Hooray! I don't know how long he's staying. Greg may or may not have another trip after this one.
No word on the job front. I will go ahead an enroll C for public K next year. Even f I don't get a day job in the next few weeks, one could come up in the next few months and I would have to move her anyway if we homeschooled. So now I will be depressed for awhile. It was so hard taking Ryan out of Antioch. It will be hard taking C out too. She talks to all the teachers and all the kids. This sucks. Damn money.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
GPS and other tidbits
So I am back to work. Having a few days off was wonderful. It will be even more so when I do not have schoolwork to contend with! Trips in NC--the Scrap Exchange, a cool bookstore, 2 excellent ethnic restaurants, swimming. A night for RockBand and a night for movie night. Visited 2, yes 2! REI stores--ended up buying a trailer bike.
Learned a few things too. Using my GPS on the way home, I was looking for a McD's--Ryan asked very nicely for lunch there and I wanted to indulge them a little bit. They were so good eating their snacks and using their water bottles. So when the GPS says it's 7 miles away--it's not necessarily 7 miles up the road. This was 7 miles, I think perpendicular to the route I was on. So after spending way too much time getting there, I ended up on a different route home. We saw and entrance to the Blue Ridge parkway and I thought "Cool, won't that be pretty, we're not in a rush..." The next sign was for Roanoke 82 miles away. I eventually pulled off to see which way I was going--Roanoke was no where near the direction I needed to go. So I ended up driving thru different "gaps" before I could manag to turn around and I was reminded of some books I read that were set in a gap. It was absolutely beautiful country. I haven't seen an ugly part of Virginia yet. The kids continued to travel very well and it took a bit longer to get home. Ryan lost his second tooth in West Virginia--yeah--it caused him a lot of grief on the trip.
From now on, the kids will either be read books made into movies before seeing the movies or read them themselves. We listened to The Tale of Desperaux and Nim's Island on CD and they were wonderful. Tale was a little much I think for the kids--I liked it. Ryan like the part where the shark blew up in Nim's Island--so he was listening. Skippyjohn Jones was a favorite of Charlotte's.
In other exciting news, Charlotte can ride a two-wheeler! We took her to the same lot that Ryan learned on. She does great with the balance, it's just getting her to pedal hard enough to keep up her momentum. We also tried out the trailer bike. Greg isn't sold on it yet, but I think it will be good for long bike rides since Charlotte won't even fit in a trailer.
All in all , it was a wonderful time to spend with the kids. Not being distracted by house stuff let me focus on them and I think we are closer. I just have to tell myself to sit down with them at home. There is always something to be done. Sitting with them, reading to them, playing games with them is my job too:) Not that I don't do that. I need to do it more.
BTW, Greg's trip is finally set. He is out of town the week I am off school. Don't you just love irony?? Now what to do...scrapbook, quilt, clean, catch up on series and movies I want to see...
Waiting to hear back on job app. It will determine if we will consider homeschooling or not. Antioch is our first choice but we just can't afford it:( Public has been beneficial to Ryan in many ways, but so much is missing too.
The wait for a rescue pup continues. We haven't heard back from a rescue yet, but 2 of our "references" have been called:)
Learned a few things too. Using my GPS on the way home, I was looking for a McD's--Ryan asked very nicely for lunch there and I wanted to indulge them a little bit. They were so good eating their snacks and using their water bottles. So when the GPS says it's 7 miles away--it's not necessarily 7 miles up the road. This was 7 miles, I think perpendicular to the route I was on. So after spending way too much time getting there, I ended up on a different route home. We saw and entrance to the Blue Ridge parkway and I thought "Cool, won't that be pretty, we're not in a rush..." The next sign was for Roanoke 82 miles away. I eventually pulled off to see which way I was going--Roanoke was no where near the direction I needed to go. So I ended up driving thru different "gaps" before I could manag to turn around and I was reminded of some books I read that were set in a gap. It was absolutely beautiful country. I haven't seen an ugly part of Virginia yet. The kids continued to travel very well and it took a bit longer to get home. Ryan lost his second tooth in West Virginia--yeah--it caused him a lot of grief on the trip.
From now on, the kids will either be read books made into movies before seeing the movies or read them themselves. We listened to The Tale of Desperaux and Nim's Island on CD and they were wonderful. Tale was a little much I think for the kids--I liked it. Ryan like the part where the shark blew up in Nim's Island--so he was listening. Skippyjohn Jones was a favorite of Charlotte's.
In other exciting news, Charlotte can ride a two-wheeler! We took her to the same lot that Ryan learned on. She does great with the balance, it's just getting her to pedal hard enough to keep up her momentum. We also tried out the trailer bike. Greg isn't sold on it yet, but I think it will be good for long bike rides since Charlotte won't even fit in a trailer.
All in all , it was a wonderful time to spend with the kids. Not being distracted by house stuff let me focus on them and I think we are closer. I just have to tell myself to sit down with them at home. There is always something to be done. Sitting with them, reading to them, playing games with them is my job too:) Not that I don't do that. I need to do it more.
BTW, Greg's trip is finally set. He is out of town the week I am off school. Don't you just love irony?? Now what to do...scrapbook, quilt, clean, catch up on series and movies I want to see...
Waiting to hear back on job app. It will determine if we will consider homeschooling or not. Antioch is our first choice but we just can't afford it:( Public has been beneficial to Ryan in many ways, but so much is missing too.
The wait for a rescue pup continues. We haven't heard back from a rescue yet, but 2 of our "references" have been called:)
Monday, April 6, 2009
We made it!
The kids and I made it safe and sound to NC. The trip was great--the children traveled so well. Ryan enjoyed the landscape changes, from flat to hills to mountains. We went through two tunnels and the weather was perfect. Ryan also helped "find" the exits we needed. The invisible pen coloring books were a huge hit. We didn't stop nearly as often as I thought we would. We listened to books on CD, but often the radio stayed at a low hum. We had snacks in the car, no fast food stuff-thanks Greg. Two gas fill-ups and three bathroom breaks. The GPS only had an issue once--an apparent black hole just west of Durham.
So the kids saw Kristin and Kaylynn and it was like old times in no time flat. Kal is so beautiful. He cooes and smiles and loves his Mama. The Dungans have a light but delightful schedule planned, it took little time to feel at home. A treat for me was watching part (a very small part) of Transformers on the really big screen with really big speakers. The jalapeno cheese burgers were good too--we need to find a recipe for those! The kids however, did not want to go to sleep. Ryan was so tired but they were so chatty--hence the abbreviated viewing of the movie. We divided them up and they finally fell asleep. I laid down withthe kids. Schoolwork will involve a few phonecalls tomorrow and some more reading on social marketing. But it should be manageable--I just can't panic.
Near as I can tell, I only forgot the camera--not bad really. I bought a disposable to get us through tomorrow and Greg will overnight the digital.
All in all, I am glad we came. I'm just starting to realize I'm not working for a few days. I am ready to have some fun!! And we have been so welcomed.
So the kids saw Kristin and Kaylynn and it was like old times in no time flat. Kal is so beautiful. He cooes and smiles and loves his Mama. The Dungans have a light but delightful schedule planned, it took little time to feel at home. A treat for me was watching part (a very small part) of Transformers on the really big screen with really big speakers. The jalapeno cheese burgers were good too--we need to find a recipe for those! The kids however, did not want to go to sleep. Ryan was so tired but they were so chatty--hence the abbreviated viewing of the movie. We divided them up and they finally fell asleep. I laid down withthe kids. Schoolwork will involve a few phonecalls tomorrow and some more reading on social marketing. But it should be manageable--I just can't panic.
Near as I can tell, I only forgot the camera--not bad really. I bought a disposable to get us through tomorrow and Greg will overnight the digital.
All in all, I am glad we came. I'm just starting to realize I'm not working for a few days. I am ready to have some fun!! And we have been so welcomed.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
iPhone versus Blackberry
I was due to upgrade my phone with Verizon. I like my phone. I like the texting and all the ringtones I have collected--the Peanuts stuff is great! But the iPhone looks so cool!! And the apps look amazing! They have a Kindle reader app now! Anyway, because the iphone costs some money and my verizon upgrade is essentially free, I went with the Samsung Omnia. I test drove it for 29 days and took it back. The applications were pitiful and the touchscreen problematic. So now I am down to a Blackberry or iPhone. There are raves about both so I am really torn. I will test drive the iPhone while I am on break from school and see how it goes. The Blackberry will still be free....
So in a few hours, the kids and I will head to NC. I have made some headway in schoolwork, so hopefully I can relax! And still do schoolwork--the last spring break I will ever have to do so! We will make the trip sans DVD player. Feel free to pray for me during the 9 hour trip there and back:) We have a couple of books on CD and I uploaded a couple to the ipod. Ryan loves to read and will be engrossed in his books most of the time. Charlotte has some sticker books, reading books and a paper doll kit. We'll see how that works in the car!
The first retriever rescue turned us down. The vet couldn't dig out Snicker's records so not all of the info they wanted was complete. Sigh... we applied to 2 others so we will be patient. I am applying to adopt a dog and hate waiting. How do people adopting children stand it? If the rescues do not work out, we will reconsider our options. Who knows, we may end up with a puppy anyway!
No work until next Saturday. Haven't goten used to that idea yet!
So in a few hours, the kids and I will head to NC. I have made some headway in schoolwork, so hopefully I can relax! And still do schoolwork--the last spring break I will ever have to do so! We will make the trip sans DVD player. Feel free to pray for me during the 9 hour trip there and back:) We have a couple of books on CD and I uploaded a couple to the ipod. Ryan loves to read and will be engrossed in his books most of the time. Charlotte has some sticker books, reading books and a paper doll kit. We'll see how that works in the car!
The first retriever rescue turned us down. The vet couldn't dig out Snicker's records so not all of the info they wanted was complete. Sigh... we applied to 2 others so we will be patient. I am applying to adopt a dog and hate waiting. How do people adopting children stand it? If the rescues do not work out, we will reconsider our options. Who knows, we may end up with a puppy anyway!
No work until next Saturday. Haven't goten used to that idea yet!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
A Dog Journey
After about a year and a half, we are ready (we think) for another dog. The kids have been asking forever. We were looking at summer, then Greg capitulated and said we could look now (thanks honey!!). After looking through rescues and talking to friends, we seem to be leaning toward a golden retriever. We just keep coming back to them! We applied a few days ago at a golden rescue. Yes, applied. They have already talked to our vet--and I am actually worried we may not be accepted! The vet tech said they were very ah-hem..."thorough". Code for zealot(?)...anyway. We wait. Ryan helped me fill out the application on-line and we discussed getting a dog that could have puppies (no), getting a puppy (probably not) and had an interesting talk about a 3 legged pooch up for adoption. "I do not want a 3-legged dog" Ryan says. Then we had a talk about whys and why nots. Each kiddo has picked out a dog toy--Ryan is giddy about a toy that helps through a ball for fetching--Reagan has one for her shepherds at the AS and she lets Ryan play with her dogs with it. Charlotte picked out a squeaky squirrel. The kids can't wait to pick out a leash and collar--they have to wait until we get a boy or girl and see how big they are. So we are back in the land of nylabones, treats and dog baggies. I am looking at dog crates, beds and brushes. And yes, I am considering a puppy shower:)
I am excited about a warm furry beast to pet every day. I am anxious to get back in the routine of taking daily walks with a pooch. And I absolutely cannot wait to hear the kids squeal in delight as they play with a new member of the family.
I am excited about a warm furry beast to pet every day. I am anxious to get back in the routine of taking daily walks with a pooch. And I absolutely cannot wait to hear the kids squeal in delight as they play with a new member of the family.
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