Friday, October 31, 2014
Halloween
Great day! Dropped Sophia off at preschool and then spent the morning helping Cindy get food ready for trunk or treat. Then lunch and a much needed chat with Nan. Home in time to help kids put together costumes and get to the church. Handed out candy with Holly and made kids happy :-)
Brit's Mad
Brittney's mad and refusing to take Sophia trick or treating tonight.
Sophia was supposed to dress up as a really cute little cheerleader and they were both super excited about it. Brittney was going to fix her hair with a big bow and let her wear makeup.
However, Sophia was digging through our Halloween tote this morning and discovered a Spiderman costume. Now she insists on being a spidergirl cheerleader. By child number six, I let them be whoever they want to be.
Brittney is not happy!
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Today's Project
I actually have the day off today so I'll be trying to finish the demo in the girls room before my friend Amy comes over this afternoon.
If you look closely in the last picture, you'll see the multitude of hornets nests I found inside the wall!
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Taylor Says
In response to being told numerous times to go to bed, Taylor stomped out of the kitchen and screamed, "I'm not stupid! Or Helen Keller!"
Wait, what?
I think she was trying to imply that she wasn't blind or deaf. Maybe?
Carrots
I was finally able to get my carrots done. I only had two peelers but the kids all wanted a turn helping. I spread a garbage bag out on the kitchen floor and we started peeling. Taylor noticed that our peels made a heart shape. By the time I finished tonight, I had fifteen quart bags of sliced carrots and a big blister on my finger from using the knife so much!
Monday, October 27, 2014
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Sunday - Preschoolers & College Kids
We started the day with the 3 year old Sunday school class first service and finished the morning by cooking for 200 college kids. They continue to be amazed that the three of us (Rebecca, Linda and I) can cook & serve that many hungry kids! We do get extra help from our husbands and kids. Our kids love hanging out with the big kids!!!
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Zeke Update/Cheer/Hobo Day
I just realized that I never gave an update on Zeke. He has bronchitis and is on medication and getting lots of rest. I'm officially done for the season with Berndt Produce so now I'll be concentrating on home stuff for a while before I leave for Oregon in two weeks. Time to get everyone healthy and organized!
This morning, I got child #1 off and running to the State Cheer Meet in Watertown. There was a major crisis yesterday between Brittney and her coach, eventually involving the AD (not to be confused with the DA ;-). After an entire season of letting things go, I finally jumped in and got involved. I was prepared to go the mad momma bear route but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the coach was just young, threatened and scared, not much older then Brittney herself. A wise woman told me that these young people probably actually view me as more of a mom-figure than a peer. Not just a mom to my kid, but like a mom to them too.
So when I called the coach back after her multiple messages, I spoke to her like I would to Brittney or any of my kids. I listened sympathetically, then gently questioned so I could try to understand. I was able to tell her some things about Brittney that she was completely unaware of and got her to understand that as adults, it's all about developing relationships with these young kids and knowing their heart so we can better help them develop. I let her know that kids sometimes say or do things in anger that they don't really mean and then they don't know how to fix it. By this point in the conversation, I also let her know that it's our job as adults to keep information to ourselves instead of spreading partial facts around as the kids are prone to do. We need avoid putting up walls between the kids and stay out of the drama. I gave her the bonus advise that for every negative comment it's a great idea to build up the kids with at least five positives to help them build their self-esteem a little instead of just tearing it down.
At the beginning of our conversation, the coach was very defensive but by the last 20 minutes, she was apologizing and sharing her heart with me. The short version is that I now have a teenager ready and willing to compete at the state cheer meet and a young coach who understands Brittney a little better and is willing to talk to me with concerns.
I have about an hour before child #2 needs to be delivered to march in the Hobo Day Parade. The plan is that Steve will drop Riley off at his bus at 8am and then take Zeke downtown by the bank to save a spot for the rest of us. I'll bring the rest of the kids closer to start time and we'll watch the beginning of the parade together. Then Steve will go get Riley, who has to be picked up as soon as his band reaches the end of the parade route. As soon as Steve returns with Riley, I'll put Sophia in the van and head to Watertown. I'm not sure we'll make it in time but I'm going to try. Brittney's cheer team performs at 12:10 and their routine only lasts 2.5 minutes.
Meanwhile, back in Brookings, Steve will take the remaining kids to the bank's SDSU tailgating area after the parade. I'm not sure if he's grilling for them or not but it's a free meal either way. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by the 1st Bank & Trust tent for a free burger. The SDSU game starts at 2pm so it'll be a quick party.
The cheer awards in Watertown won't start until after 4pm but I need to be home fairly early in the evening since Steve needs to be at the Swiftel Center for a concert by 5pm.
Tomorrow we'll be teaching our last session of 3 years olds at church and then helping with 20's Diner.
Thus ends the weekend.
This morning, I got child #1 off and running to the State Cheer Meet in Watertown. There was a major crisis yesterday between Brittney and her coach, eventually involving the AD (not to be confused with the DA ;-). After an entire season of letting things go, I finally jumped in and got involved. I was prepared to go the mad momma bear route but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the coach was just young, threatened and scared, not much older then Brittney herself. A wise woman told me that these young people probably actually view me as more of a mom-figure than a peer. Not just a mom to my kid, but like a mom to them too.
So when I called the coach back after her multiple messages, I spoke to her like I would to Brittney or any of my kids. I listened sympathetically, then gently questioned so I could try to understand. I was able to tell her some things about Brittney that she was completely unaware of and got her to understand that as adults, it's all about developing relationships with these young kids and knowing their heart so we can better help them develop. I let her know that kids sometimes say or do things in anger that they don't really mean and then they don't know how to fix it. By this point in the conversation, I also let her know that it's our job as adults to keep information to ourselves instead of spreading partial facts around as the kids are prone to do. We need avoid putting up walls between the kids and stay out of the drama. I gave her the bonus advise that for every negative comment it's a great idea to build up the kids with at least five positives to help them build their self-esteem a little instead of just tearing it down.
At the beginning of our conversation, the coach was very defensive but by the last 20 minutes, she was apologizing and sharing her heart with me. The short version is that I now have a teenager ready and willing to compete at the state cheer meet and a young coach who understands Brittney a little better and is willing to talk to me with concerns.
I have about an hour before child #2 needs to be delivered to march in the Hobo Day Parade. The plan is that Steve will drop Riley off at his bus at 8am and then take Zeke downtown by the bank to save a spot for the rest of us. I'll bring the rest of the kids closer to start time and we'll watch the beginning of the parade together. Then Steve will go get Riley, who has to be picked up as soon as his band reaches the end of the parade route. As soon as Steve returns with Riley, I'll put Sophia in the van and head to Watertown. I'm not sure we'll make it in time but I'm going to try. Brittney's cheer team performs at 12:10 and their routine only lasts 2.5 minutes.
Meanwhile, back in Brookings, Steve will take the remaining kids to the bank's SDSU tailgating area after the parade. I'm not sure if he's grilling for them or not but it's a free meal either way. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by the 1st Bank & Trust tent for a free burger. The SDSU game starts at 2pm so it'll be a quick party.
The cheer awards in Watertown won't start until after 4pm but I need to be home fairly early in the evening since Steve needs to be at the Swiftel Center for a concert by 5pm.
Tomorrow we'll be teaching our last session of 3 years olds at church and then helping with 20's Diner.
Thus ends the weekend.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Challenges
I remember now why I can't work full time, even though I have been putting in nearly full time hours lately. Yesterday I got a call from the school. I always dread answering those because it's never good. Zeke was sick and running a temp so I picked him up. The good news is that he got a lot of rest and I got a lot of laundry done. (I have a working washer again but that's another story for another time)
So today Steve & I are juggling schedules to stay home with zeke and get him into the doctor. He's had a bad cough for over a week and now we've added in the fever. Because of his CP he's really susceptible to pneumonia, bronchitis, etc. Thanks to grandma Sandy, we've got an appointment at 11:45.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Friends
These are my friends: David, Josh and Gerald. They have my back so don't mess with me ;-)
Plus, they've all made it on the list for my zombie apocalypse team!
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