Just when I felt bad enough about working all these hours lately, I get dissed by Skylar's classroom mom. She doesn't bother calling me to ask if we can bring snacks for the Halloween party Thursday.... she calls George to ask him. What a slap in the face. What woman would honestly call the DAD and expect him to remember the date and time and show up with snacks, too? I should just let her learn her lesson when George shows up with an opened package of Ritz crackers and a bag of M&M's from the pantry.
Anyone want to nominate me for Worst Mom of the Year?

The sweetest thing

Lucy fell asleep in my arms today after a hard morning at the library and playing baseball in the front yard. I didn't want to put her down in her crib. I just wanted to hold her for hours like I did when she was a newborn and I complained about having to hold her for hours. Ahhh. These are the rewards of motherhood. I can't think of anything else in the entire world that's quite as precious as holding a warm baby while they sleep against your chest, their chubby little hands clutching your shirt and their favorite blankie. In ten years I am going to read this entry and start bawling because all my babies will be big.

This weekend, Lucy tried a new food: corn on the cob. Even though there is not really any corn left on this cob, she is not letting go of her treat.

Finally, I had to pry the gnawed-on corn cobs out of her greasy little fists and make her go play.

Today was the primary program at church. The children all were wonderful. Honestly, this was probably one of the least-wiggly, best-rehearsed programs I've seen - and I've seen/directed a lot of primary programs. Skylar and Bart got to sing a duet: The 4th Article of Faith song. I was so proud to see them both up there singing together, and even if it wasn't in perfect harmony, it was beautiful. Next year, Drake will be up there singing, too.

BZZZZZZZZZZZ

That's the sound of an angry bee....

Lucy seems truly dismayed that her own mother would subject her to such indignities.

Well, folks, I'm pretty sure I have the next Nobel Prize in the bag. I've already got the reckless spending down. I'm just working on the telling blatant lies with a straight face.

Books, Movies, TV

In the world of books, I've been making my way through Glenn Beck's "Arguing With Idiots" this past week.

I'd really like to go to the movies, but there's nothing out that I am interested in seeing. I guess I'd just go for the popcorn, though.

As for TV, I've been DVR-ing the CW's "Vampire Diaries". I read all the books when I was in high school. I love some of LJ Smith's earlier books. She wrote "Night of the Solstice" and "Heart of Valor" which were probably two of mine and my sister's favorite books when we were growing up. I read "Night of the Solstice" to Skylar a few years ago, but I've had a really hard time finding a copy of "Heart of Valor" - I don't know if it went out of print or something?? But LJ Smith's books have been a lot easier to find lately, so maybe I can get my hands on a copy.

Anyway, I really liked the Vampire Diaries books. Twilight has some things in common with it. However, I am UTTERLY disappointed that the series on the CW is chock full of sex and drugs. Honestly, half the stuff in the TV show never happened in the books. I am really ticked off because they omitted a bunch of characters, changed names, made Elena a brunette instead of a blonde, gave Elena a druggie teenage brother instead of a little sister, and basically just crapped up the whole thing. I really wish they had stuck to the books. It's too hip (read: worldly). I don't really care if high school kids these days are really out there smoking pot, popping pills and sleeping around - that wasn't in the books and it really wasn't necessary to put it in. I guess it's going to just turn out to be another "Gossip Girl" or "One Tree Hill" with some vampires and werewolves thrown in. Ugh. The bad part is that even though it annoys me, I'm still watching it.

The kids recently discovered the movie "The Sandlot" and LOVE it. I had forgotten there was some swearing in it, because it's rated PG, but it's such a good movie. Drake calls it the "Dog movie". Monday we went to the park with Vanessa and the kids because the Big Two had a teacher workday. Let me tell you, the park can be such a dangerous place! In the period of about an hour, Taylor, Lucy, and Skylar all hit their heads. Skylar wound up with a dent and then a huge goose egg on her forehead. She was pretty whiny about it until I took them all to Walmart and let them spend some of their money. Bart opted for a Star Wars toy, even though I tried to persuade him to buy a tennis racket for tennis practice. Skylar bought several yards of fabric so we could make a Renaissance-style dress for her to play in. And Drake decided he wanted a baseball glove (actually it's a tee ball glove). He loves his glove!



As you can see, pretty much all we did on Tuesday was play catch outside. We would've been out again today except it was rainy.





This summer Drake will finally be old enough to play tee ball and I think he'll be a good ball player. He's always had a good arm. I nearly lost a kneecap playing catch with him without a glove of my own. He throws hard and fast and most of the time pretty accurately. The bad part is that he likes to fire one at you from about five feet away or when you're not looking.

On Tuesday, Drake got his hair cut at Kids Cuts and he even got to have blue gel in his hair. He was pretty excited.


Lucy, however, was mad that she didn't get a lollipop.

Last week George recovered from "the flu". Miraculously, he's fine now.
What a nice weekend we had. I always love Conference weekends. It's so relaxing and even though I usually don't get to hear most of what's said, it's just the point that it's Conference. Somehow, even though the kids are fighting or playing loudly or demanding juice, I still end up coming away with something I needed to hear. In between, we decorated the house for Halloween and I think it looks pretty creepy....
We went to the Nicolaysens on Sunday and ate WAAAAAY too much, but it was so good. Vanessa, I want that roll recipe. It's the best. We also came home and Skylar had a long talk with me about wanting to be homeschooled. I am considering it because she's been asking me about this for several years now and I think she's really serious about it. Plus public school is pissing me off. Skylar was told the other day that she couldn't bring this Special K 90-calorie pretzel and chocolate granola bar because it wasn't healthy. Honestly, I buy the Special K 90-cal bars BECAUSE they have less calories and less sugar than regular granola bars and fruit and grain bars. Skylar said that if kids bring something for snack that the teacher deems "unhealthy", she throws it away. I hit the roof when I heard that. Throw away food?? Then perhaps the teacher would like to reimburse parents for the cost of the thrown out food? First of all, public school has no business telling me how and what to feed my kid. Second of all, if they were really so concerned about unhealthy snack choices, they'd harp on those sugar-laden gummy fruit snacks and mini soda-pops kids bring.
One more thing and I really do think I am going to jerk my kids out of public school and homeschool them, which is a shame because I really want them to get the whole elementary school experience.
Anyone out there want to join together and start a charter school???? Trust me, we would not be teaching the kids about global warming and we will DEFINITELY allow the Pledge of Allegiance and CHRISTMAS parties (as opposed to "holiday" parties).

Waaaa me

Well, I've pretty much lost all reason to live.
Drake gave up his naps this week.
We struggled on for the last few days, trying to wring even a small one out of him, but today it was pretty much official.
No more naps for Drake, not unless I want him to lie in his room and scream for me for an hour. This is the kid who has always napped really well, with hardly a protest. He's definitely telling me he's done with napping.
I'm the one not done with it. I'm in denial. I want my ME time!!!!

George and I watched the Last of the Mohicans as a sort of date night. It's my all-time favorite movie. I've loved it since I was a kid, but then I discovered through geneology research that one of my ancestors was taken captive by the Indians during the French and Indian War. Her parents were killed, and her brother and sister were separated and taken into captivity, too. Her sister was taken north and was later rescued by Daniel Boone. My ancestor married an Indian man and had a daughter. Later, after the wars, when English captives were released, the daughter was made to go back to live with white relatives. She was persecuted for being half Indian, but she ended up marrying Daniel Jarrell, my paternal ancestor. I think their story would make a really good book, and I've been thinking of writing it someday.

I wish I was kidding

Check it out.

https://www.chiaobama.com/flare/next

Today Lucy started running