Hannah's 9th Birthday

The month of September is one long party in this house.  We closed out the month with a celebration for Hannah. 

All three of my kids have had many, many, many themed birthday parties.  I love getting friends together and putting a cute spin on it.  We have done everything from Elmo to Dinosaurs to Dora to Snakes.  I love putting them together and having fun with them.  Now that the kids are older, they have their own ideas of what they want.  Earlier this month when Rachel had friends sleepover, she was horrified (Or was it mortified?) when I asked her if she wanted me to plan a craft for her friends to do.  I told her last year they painted shirts to which she replied, "Mom, that was twwwooo years ago."  In my defense I was thinking something slightly more sophisticated than popsicle stick picture frames.  Wouldn't teen girls love to make earrings?  Apparently, not. 

When Hannah and I were planning her party, she wanted her friends to sleepover.  Her circle of friends tend to be a bit high maintenance at sleepovers.  There is a lot of drama that the four of them have shared since kindergarten.  I had suggested that she could invite one friend and we would go out to eat at a restaurant of her choice and that friend could sleepover.  As the time approached, she let me know she wanted a party where her friends would DO. A. CRAFT.  How could I say, "No" when I just learned from recent experience that my years of entertaining her and her friends with glue and sequence are numbered.  We decided she could invite her crew plus one new friend from church for a party.  It would last from 4-7 and one girl was invited to sleepover.  Due to busy schedules, two of the other girls needed to sleepover.  All but one girl was spending the night.  I called the last girl's mother and explained what had happened and asked if her daughter could stay over for the festivities.

Hannah wanted Nacho Bar for dinner.

 

There was cake.  I waited until the last minute to pick up her requested cookie cake and the ones the store had ready weren't the best, so I opted for this flowerpot made out of cupcakes.  It was cute, but messy and not very good.  The next time I will stick with our traditional cookie cake.

 



 

We moved on to opening gifts.  One of her gifts was a movie she had asked for which may have strategically been planned as a party activity for later in the night.  Then the girls asked if we could go to the playground. 

 

 

They all climbed a tree.  I sat quietly letting them have fun and praying this would not result in any broken bones. 

 

Then we went back home to do the craft!!  Sadly, there are no pictures of that.

 

The girls didn't stay up too late.

 

Breakfast the next morning was Omelet Bar.  I really like the "bar" meals.  It allows the kids to make their own food which doubles as a party activity and everyone can choose what they like.

 

I put everything needed in bowls on the island and wrote each girl's name on a Ziploc with a Sharpie.  They cracked their eggs and had more fun than expected just whisking the eggs.  Then they added what they wanted in their omelets.  Everything was poured in their bag.  I labeled paper plates with their names and cooked the omelets.  This was easy and fun.

 

 

Now we get a party break until June.  







Hat Day

Aaron and Rachel were heading to the car for school this morning, when I see Aaron wearing this hat and Rachel slipping him a dollar.

 

"Why are you wearing that hat and why are you giving him a dollar?"  Every week there is a Spirit Day at the middle school.  This particular day was Hat Day.  The kids can wear any hat they want and they pay a dollar.  The money raised goes to a charity.

I think Rachel thought it would be fun to wear this hat, but she was a bit too concerned about what others might think.  Aaron doesn't care what people think and is always looking for a way to make money.  So many life lessons in those two sentences.

What it Takes to Make a Boat

Hannah had to do a project for her Target class.  The assignment was to choose a picture of herself by a body of water and explain any historical significance and how the waterway is used today.  She chose a picture we had taken in Beaufort, NC.  The pirate Blackbeard had a home in Beaufort and one of his ships was found there.  It is also home to Carrot Island where descendants of Spanish ponies live.  Part of the assignment was to present the project in a creative way.  Hannah decided to make a pirate ship.  Her photo was one side of the pirate flag and her report was on the other side of the flag.

We hot glued two file folders around an empty cardboard box.  Then she poked a hole and put in a wooden dowel.  We hot glued her flag to this. 

The Morning He Turned 40

PK has a crazy work schedule.  His birthday happend to fall on a Monday this year which meant he wouldn't be home until late, so we had to celebrate early.  He got up and went to the gym about 5 a.m. and the kids and I got up to surprise him when he returned.  We turned out all the lights and sat on the windowseat in the kitchen.  When he finally (he must have been motivated to do an extra long workout since he hit the big 4...0....) returned he walked into the kitchen and we all yelled, "Surprise." 

 

Then we all had cookie cake for breakfast because that is how this family rolls.



 

The Orange Bike

Aaron was about three when one of my dear friends decided to practice tough love on her boys.  They had several bikes between them and would not put them away.  My friend told her sons that the next time they left a bike out, it would go in the garbage.  The next time a bike was left out, she was true to her word.

One of the boys left a rather nice bike out and she put it with the trash cans on garbage day.  The bike was designed for freestyle tricks.  It was expensive and she didn't really want it to be hauled away as garbage.  Our neighbors, my family included, were really good about passing around things our kids had outgrown or we no longer used.  She saw my husband and said he should take the bike to save for Aaron, so PK did.

Aaron eventually grew into the bike and got great use out of it.  Then he outgrew it.  Hannah had Rachel's old bike, so we no longer needed Aaron's old bike.  I had a yard sale one day and my friend who happens to be on staff at our church came to sit with me.  She said if we didn't sell the bike she would buy it for her son.  I insisted that she immediately load it up.  I would much rather pass things on to friends who need them than try to sell them at a yard sale.  After all, the bike was given to us.

My friend's son learned how to ride a bike without training wheels on that bike.  She mentioned several times what a blessing that bike had been to her son.  I really thought nothing of it as I was very glad he was having fun with it.  He also outgrew it.

This past Saturday our church preschool had a yard sale.  Families from the preschool and church members donated a variety of items.  When I came to work the yard sale Saturday morning, I saw that the bike was for sale.

My friend was at the yard sale all day.  Toward the end she sent a text asking if Aaron could sleepover with her son.  When she came to pick Aaron up, she said the bike sold.

A little boy rode the bike around and around the church yard.  He asked his dad if he could have the bike, but the dad did not have the money.  The little boy came to the table and asked how much the bike cost.  My friend asked how much money he had.  He pulled out his little wallet and counted out his coin.  "I have seventy cents."  The reply, "That is exactly how much that bike costs."

Who knew how many little boys would be blessed by one orange bike?

Touched By a Life

Growing up, I was never comfortable around elderly people.  Even as a grown up, I've never really been comfortable around elderly people.  Until a couple of years ago, my aunt worked at a nursing home.  I would stop by to see her there when I was in town, but she knew I was afraid of the little old people.

In the last couple of years, that has started to change.  Probably because I am getting older and none of them seem as old.  Perhaps I have realized what a wealth of information they are.  Hearing their life experiences first hand can't be replaced by reading it in a book. 

There are two ladies at my church.  They are 82 year old twins.  Their names are Elspeth and Beverly.  We know them as Beth and Bebe.  It is one of the cutest sights to see them come in dressed in matching outfits.  My church holds WOW (Weekly on Wednesday) every Wednesday night during the school year.  This year I am not working with the kids and decided to take a class on Wednesday nights.  The class I am attending didn't start until after Labor Day so I had several weeks to look elsewhere. 

Beth and Bebe started a knitting group.  I can't knit or crochet.  My grandmother tried to teach me and I can still see her looking at my chain which was backwards and asking, "How did you do that?"  All of the items they make are donated to hospitals or others in need.  They make little iv covers for babies and blankets for those babies who don't make it amongst other items.  They are very passionate about their ministry.  The first Wednesday night I sat with them, I left feeling so happy just having sat and listened to them talk.  One had a career in radio and the other a career in television.  They have met Perry Como and the Beatles.  They asked me where I grew up and they both looked so surprised when I said, "Indiana" because that is where they grew up.

As we progressed through Wednesday nights, I was able to assist them to the car or help them into the church.  The Wednesday night before last, Bebe was in line for her dinner.  One of the ladies uses a walker and the other a cane.  I told her I would carry her plate.  We stopped at the station for salad and she leaned over and whispered, "Get the firm lettuce because I can't chew well."  I smiled and obeyed.

The following Wednesday one of the ladies from church poked her head into the class I am taking and asked us to pray for Bebe and Beth because Bebe had been taken to the hospital.  The next morning our church family was very saddened to hear that Bebe had passed away that night. 

When I found out, my heart ached.  First, because I was afraid of what that would do to Beth.  Beth lost her husband and her only daughter.  Beth and Bebe told me they were the only family each other had left.  Second, I was a bit selfish in my thinking because I was just getting to know her and loved her. 

The funeral was yesterday.  I really wanted to go, but wasn't sure if I should since I had just met them.  Several of the ladies from the church were meeting at the church and riding together.  I joined them.  I was so glad I went. 

There was a short one hour visitation time followed by graveside services at the cemetery behind the funeral home.  Just before time to progress to the cemetery, visitors were asked to stand in a circle for prayer.  Beth had been sitting to receive guests.  When she stood her mouth literally dropped open in surprise at the number of people in the circle. 

I spoke to her when I arrived at the funeral home and told her how sorry I was.  She said she was glad Bebe didn't suffer and was now in a better place.

What the Lord spoke to my hearts was that we should all be living our lives and touching people in such a way that after just after meeting us we have managed to bless their lives in some way.

I will be taking lunch to Beth this Friday.  My selfish thought...I can't wait to sit and listen to her tell her stories and learn from her.

A Hole in My Heart

I've been running again lately.  I've done four miles, but generally do three.  The hills are killer.  I really do live where it is up hill both ways. 

At the top of the steepest hill, I often see this little old lady walking around her yard.  She wears a duster.  A duster is a light, loose fitting, long housecoat.  It seems that if my grandmother was at home, she was wearing a duster.  The lady I see while running looks like my grandmother.  Nah, she isn't a dead ringer.  However, the duster, her build, her hair, the way she walks and the slight grumpy expression she wears are strong reminders.

The other morning she was on the sidewalk.  As I passed, I took out my earbud and said good morning. 

She spoke, "I wish I could jog." 

I stopped and turned to look at her, "If I can do it, anyone can." 

She smiled and said, "I have two holes in my heart."   

"Walking is good for you."

"Yes."

Smiling, "Have a great day."

She smiled and waved.

I ran and tried not to cry.

When I see her I think of my grandmother and talking to her reminded me of the hole in my heart.  Today marks a year since Grandma met Jesus.  I know that sounds so cliche', but it really is what happened and what I try to think about when I find myself missing her.

Today is Grandparent's Day.  How fitting for the one year anniversary.

Why Skunks Stink

My preschoolers are in the middle of a camping theme.  I have a tent set up in the classroom and we have been talking about things we might see or do if we were camping.

I've covered one side of my easel with felt to make a felt board.  I trade out the things to stick to the felt depending on the theme or skills we are focusing on.  Velcro works well on felt boards just in case anyone needs to know.  Ha!

Since we are camping, I found a set of numbers that have a picture of a woodland animal on each number.  Today I was helping the kids put the numbers in order.  When we came to a number with a skunk on it, I held it up and asked the kids if they knew what the animal was.

***Warning...bad word in the following***

Kids:  It's a skunk!!
Me:  What do you know about skunks?
Preschooler:  They piss. (Seriously, the child was serious and didn't mean for there to be a shock factor which made it funnier)
Me:  (Trying not to fall out on the floor laughing) Wh..wh..huh...what did you say?
Preschooler:  No, I mean they fart.
Me: Hahahahahahahaha!

Wasn't it Just Last Week?

Wasn't it just last week that I was admitted to the hospital after being in California all of two days?  Wasn't it just last week the doctor handed me a little 4lb 14oz bundle?  Wasn't it just last week when I was walking through KMart in Yucca Vallery with a baby propped in her carseat in the shopping cart who looked at me and blew her first raspberries?  Wasn't it just last week she was taking her first steps trying to reach our neighbor who stopped by for a visit?  Wan't it just last week that she wouldn't go to sleep witout her "pasibabyblanket?"  Wasn't it just last week we were spending our days in the cul de sac with all the other neighborhood toddlers?  Wasn't it just last week when Barney, Dora and VeggieTales were the shows we watched over and over and over?  Wasn't it just last week when I snapped that picture of her standing on her tip toes trying to peak at her new baby brother in his bassinet?  Wasn't it just last week when we took her to Disneyland and she insisted on waiting in line to meet every. single. princess?  Wasn't it just last week when I was strapping three little kids into the triple jogging stroller every morning?  Wasn't it just last week when my friend Christine and I took her shopping "down the hill" for her new kindergarten wardrobe which happened to be entirely pink?  Wasn't it just last week she was trying to talk me into letting her ride the bus for her first day of kindergarten?  Wasn't it just last week when she caught the Tooth Fairy trying to slip the dollar under her pillow (so busted)?

Wasn't it just last week?

Someone.  Anyone.  Please tell me how we went from just last week to having a teenager in our house.