too tired....

I had so much on my mind, so many things I wanted to mention and remember about this week and the kids. Right now, my brain is just fried. I am tired and can't sleep. Trent is off in a frozen field, and the bed is too empty. It was 3 days from our first kiss to our first night sleeping and waking in the same bed. It was three years before we spent another night apart, and even then it wasn't willingly spent apart. After a two years of being a "lineman's wife", I got better at sleeping without him. But, it has been a while since we have been in this situation and it isn't clicking tonight. I could just be wired from the great baseball practice Taylor had, but, I doubt it. With Trent's livelihood being our only, part of me is sitting in that field, too. Maybe that was the sleepy part, so the anxious, fidgety part got left at home. Good thing I have shit to do. Jewel and Trevor hung out with Dad during practice (dad wanted game time) and so the messes abound. And, I am trying to get the game back together and flowing by Monday. We have been whizzing through lectures lately, so I am looking for ways to include them in the game in exciting ways, but so far, I've only found boring and predictable ways. Jewel has been talking up a storm this week, copying Taylor mostly. She says anything he asks her to, but won't even say "Bye, Bye" when I ask. She said, "Big Daddy, I'm pretty, and your weird" among other funny things. Taylor's favorite car game is "what will Jewel say?" Trevor is like a new kid this month. He is not arguing with the rules quite as fiercely, and has even eaten when he didn't want to without a fight. Although he has gagged pretty frequently, something that Taylor struggled with ferociously for a long time. Taylor runs like I did as a child, he hunches his shoulders forward. I was relieved that his coaches were patient and understanding with him, and that I didn't have to ask them to be. He had a blast and they gave him great advice and guidance. One in particular impressed me with the way he stepped up and gave kindly advice to Taylor right from the start of practice. Then, he complimented him at the end for listening so well. I have seen some real jerks, so it is good to get nice coaches. Taylor was worried that the others will have played more than him, but if they have it barely shows. We plan on going for a run tomorrow to practice holding his chest up and shoulders back. The last few times we walked in our neighborhood Jewel and Trevor have gotten out of the stroller and walked with us, so it will be interesting to see what they think of a run. Time to finally dust off the double jogging stroller.

Jellybean's party

We had a lot of fun, Jewel got into her cake on her own, so we decided to sing to her suddenly. But, I did catch a video of it. She let finger strokes in 4 cupcakes before it was over. Trent had to work but made it home before his family left. I have about ten more "you won't believe what she said" and "you won't believe what he did" things, but no more time. For now, here are the videos.

whew!!!

This has been an insane week and a half! The conversation I hear right now, Taylor says, "Trevor, are you breathing?", Trevor says, "No". Taylor says, "OK, get to the cave entrance, save us, turn on the fan." Jewel was playing, but by now she has decided to escape on her own and as Taylor, says "Jewel where did you go, are you ok?", she says, "No, there I are." They are playing in the adventure bubble again, because it is raining outside. Thank goodness, because our grass is brown, brown, brown. Yesterday Jewel learned to cut with scissors (so far, only paper and allowed material), Trevor learned to organize things by size (on the computer game), and Taylor started the Geometry and American History lectures (because he wanted to)! If that isn't enough, I have spent the entire week upgrading computers and learning all about home wireless networks. Well, networks in general, but I never did get the file sharing or printer sharing figured out. I will have to try again in a few weeks because I have a few secretarial jobs that need attending. I have to hang up the IT hat and get out the ?secretarial gloves?, I don't know. I also have to throw a birthday party for Jewel, and that means the house needs to be cleaned (better than 'normal'). When we had the parties for Trevor and me and Taylor the house was so easy to just tidy up. But, as always happens, we bought things (stupid holidays) and we made things and did stuff, and now the garage and 2 closets have looked better, and everything could use a good scrub. So, I need to get off the blog and on the job. I guess I better get out the maid gloves first and be a secretary on Monday. The revolving to do list that is Mother/Wife, well, in this situation. I suppose I could have chosen a different type of role. I'll just stop whining now, relative to other options, this one rocks! So..I did get a little media from the week. I got Jewel to wear a pony tail, so look for that. She hated it at first, but this morning she let me put it up without a fight.

Despite the colds....

The babies have been feeling fine during the day. Last night Jewel gave her self away as a smarty pants. I caught her with a toy in her mouth, and because she knew I would take it away, she tossed it over her shoulder and gave me a sly smile. Later I said, "Where is your cup?" except in spanish and she said, "I find it." It is like overnight she decided to act like she understands what I am saying. This morning I said, "Do you want some cereal?" She said, "Yeah, I eat." Trent asked her, "Are you daddy's girl?" She said, "Trent's girl!" Trevor, before even a good morning, said, "The sun is up, can I play hindergaten weader wabbit." I made him eat an apple while he played. I can tell that he has been over the toddler programs for a few months now. He wouldn't play them for 10 minutes at a time, but he played the Kindergarten program for almost 2 hours, only getting down twice (to get milk and pee). AAAAH, I'm in a house full of game junkies!! At least it isn't the TV. He really is surprising me with the activities he is able to figure out on the game. Somethings he can't and he'll ask for help, but at least 5 of the games he's already played on his own. I am definitely going to be outsmarted by my kids one day, I hope I can laugh when it happens! Last night, thankfully, I got to sleep. Friends stopped by and the hubbub helped to wear out the little ones. So, at 8, I was able to sit down and watch Trent play his game and read. Finally, a normal night!

Dang time and it's marching on....

I spent the night comforting one child and fixing their stuffy nose, only to have the other wake up needing me right after. Poor Trent, he ended up sleeping on the couch. I "slept" from 3am to 6am. Despite the fact that I slept for 3 hours, tryouts happened today. (funny thing about time and how it never stops) We did however decide that the birthday party will wait for next weekend. This morning we scrambled to cancel and reschedule. Taylor had a great practice with Trent yesterday, and got his new bat. Trevor asked to play a new game today, so I pulled out Taylor's old Reader Rabbit Kindergarten. I wasn't sure how it would go, but he is actually progressing through it. It is like an adventure game, where you collect items to progress. Taylor says he remembers it, and I know it helped him learn numbers and letters, so this is exciting. The tryouts were kind of long and Taylor's part in them was very sparse, so after seeing him bat, I had to leave with the babies. But, thanks to my mom, I got a full report and pictures. Taylor batted as well as any of the other boys, and was in good spirits despite some catching mishaps. He's a fast learner, so I am sure he'll feel more confident after a few practices. Now we wait to see what team he gets. I am sure he is hoping for the pirates, as there are no Werewolves.

Vapor rubs and computers and Princes?....

Tonight, Trevor obtained the runny nose that has plagued Jewel the last two days. He is sleeping well now, thanks to some vapor rub, salt water nasal solution, and cuddling with mom and dad. It gave me an excuse to drive after dark, on friday, which hardly ever happens. That reminded me of how much I love Ludacris, it's something about word play I suppose. But, that isn't enough to make me wonder if breathing in those vapors could cause ...something... I don't know, some kind of bronchial thing or something later. I am almost refusing to look it up. Seriously, I don't have time for that. While at the pharmacy, I (for shits and giggles) read the ingredients (active and inactive) in some of the little medicines in the section around the vapor rub. I don't think I am qualified to select any of that stuff. But, knowing that the nasal spray makes them cry every time (and so wake up), I refused to read the ingredients on the rub and used it. I am not a robot and sleep is required. (he he that sounded like a robot in my head.) I'll look it up and make a more informed choice next time. But, several pharmacists have recommended it as an alternative to medicine over the years, (in person, not commercials :)) so that is reassuring. Many of them also had bad things to say about cough syrups and nasal decongestant medicines. So, he's breathing easy now and Jewel's nose is getting better. I can definitely tell that they hold on to cold symptoms for fewer days since we have stopped eating as much processed food. Jewel barely was exposed to that time in our lives. But, when Taylor and Morlynn were in school and we didn't eat as many whole grains and ate fewer veggies, there were several long colds a year. It did get less frequent when we started homeschooling, but it would go through the entire house for several weeks before. Now, it is usually only one or two of us at a time and for only a few days. What a relief! It makes life so much easier to not get interrupted and knocked out by colds several times a year. And, we have to buy and take less medicine. Pretty cool. Also cool, I told Taylor to hook up his computer and he did it without help. I don't think he has ever watched us do it. It is pretty easy, what with the color coding and caveman pictograms, but still cool he did it. It needs more RAM, but, thanks to Mimi, we were saved from buying a computer. And, my mother, also Mimi, gave us her super old computer for Trevor and Jewel to play on. I refuse to hook a keyboard to it, they are bad enough with the mouse. But, at least now they can play Reader Rabbit and Dora (and others) without me worrying and without interrupting Taylor's lesson. The only downside is the guilty feeling I get from having more computers in the house, if only I could find a way to self-power them. Like a bike or treadmill (he he). Here's a gem from dressup time earlier this week. And some videos of Jewel.

What??!!!

I knew it was coming, but I didn't know it would scare me so much! Taylor informed me (and then showed me) that he has hairs growing in his armpits. We're not old enough for this. At least he didn't yell, "I hate you" after he told me. Or, say,"Can I have a playboy mag.?" He did say, "I guess I'm becoming a man." Ha ha ha, 'becoming' is not quite the word I would use, but I suppose he is on the path in that direction. Hold on to yer hats, things are going to get a little hairy!

Jackpot!!!

Almost every time I see my mother, I am rushing. I don't know why, but probably because I am trying to keep track of so many children. Today, she stopped by to pick up my niece who stayed with us for a few days. (Yippee) She often drops off newspaper articles that she thinks I will like or that I may need to read. We were talking about baseball equipment, missed appointments, the inauguration, lessons for school, and college money. All in rapid succession, between the "where did Jewel go, who is on the drums, and who let the do out?" She, at some point, handed me one page from one section of her paper, and another entire section. I'm sure she probably told me what she intended me to read, but like so many other times, I didn't really "listen". Often people have asked, "Where are your parents today?" and despite being sure they told me, I have no idea. So, here I sit with the paper sections thinking, "Did she mean to show me the story about the Center for Great Apes? I doubt she even knows that they are a cause I have been supporting for almost two years. Did she mean for me to see the geocaches website? No, that was something Trent and I were talking about. Ok, it must be books section on the back. There is definitely one book that will be added to the 'want to read' list. Aha, maybe it is the local Vagina Monologues performances. Wouldn't it be fun if I could get her to go with me." Well, I guess I'll just have to call and ask her. But, what about this other piece. Either she wants me to get the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series for Taylor to read, or she is giving me the parenting section for the advice column about the two year old who wakes up at 3 am. Probably the latter. But, still, there is growing talk about that book series. I wonder if she knew that everything in the paper would be so interesting. I still don't know why she gave me the paper, but it felt like 'Jackpot!' when I opened it. I know I have never felt that way about such a small section of a newspaper before. Generally, I can't find 4 articles in the entire paper of interest. Thanks mom!

Teeniest tidbit on Taylor....

I found one of his stat sheets from the rpg games Taylor invents. The babies must have hid it from him under the kitchen cabinet, in the stew pot. One section that describes the character he created (Stratora) says, "Blind in his right eye, Stratora often does not wear a shirt because he has many spiritual markings on his upper body, and prefers a staff." At the bottom it says, "Do not worry my troops, for I have seen the path to victory." He also recently told me that the hero of the story he is writing is the seventh son of a seventh son. Very clever.

Jellybean is Two!!!!

What! I can not believe she is really two! She is saying (very short, very cute) sentences, and has captured everyone's hearts. Every morning we wake up with her in our bed and marvel at her soft skin and beautiful eyes. Even when she is breaking things and making a mess, everyone in our house (well, maybe not Trevor) will kiss her head as we tell her "no". Spoiled is not a strong enough word for this little princess. Her pouting is so cute, that even as I am saying, "I said no!", I am smiling or laughing. She thinks that it is funny when Trent and I kiss. (Trevor gets jealous, but Jewel just laughs.) All the grandparents think she gets more beautiful everyday, and we have a hard time disagreeing. I am relieved that she has learned to stand up to Trevor, too. She never hesitates to tell him "no" if he tries to be stingy with toys. I always said I wouldn't let my daughter where pink or have a pink room, but I was delusional. Everything in her room is some shade of pink or purple. But, her favorite 'dress up' outfit is the clown costume. And, boy can she eat. She eats better than Trevor by miles, sometimes she eats more than me. Other times she throws her food on the floor for Hogan. She and Hogan are becoming best buds, mostly because of the food, but she thinks everything he does is funny. Lately she has been singing a lot. She sings, "tinkle, tinkle, ittle tar, onder, onder, ou are." Very sweet!